Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1917 — Page 1

Jasper bounty Democrat.

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FRENCH MURDER CASE CLOSED

Judge Hanley, who is sitting as. special judge in . the White circuit court, hearing the case of the state against Edward French for the murder of Ray Elston, resumed the hearing Monday after adjournment since Friday. Only one witness, John W. Rodgers of Brookston, remained to be examined, he being too ill to appear in court on Friday before the adjournment. French concluded his testimony in his own behalf on Friday. He told of the killing of Elston in self defense. He told how he ordered Perry Cuppy, William Smallwood and Ray Elston out of the establishment, and how after Cuppy and Smallwood had gone out Elston had said he wanted to talk to him. Blston then told French that ne wanted to marry his daughter, Anna. French told him she was too young and that he was drunk. Blston refused to leave and continued to talk until finally, grabbing a hatchet and attacking him, according to French, thus making the killing necessary and an act of self defense. The state did not cross examine French. It was thought that the lawyers would finish their arguments so that the jury would get the case yesterday.

CLASS OF TWENTY IS NEEDED

In Order to Secure Instruments From War Department. The first meeting of the class in telegraphy for conscripted. men was held at the high school Building Monday evening, and but half the required number was present. It is necessary to have a class of twenty students, when the war department will provide instruments for carrying on the study. Supt. C. R. Dean of the Rensselaer high school, and Miss Spaulding, local Western Union operator, were present and explained the work in hand as it has been given to them. In enrolling one does not in any way obligate himself for service sooner than would be the case if he did not take the course. Some erroneous impressions along this line have been held by some and kept them from enrolling. There is, however, one pertinent fact connected with the work, when you are called for duty if you have prepared yourself as a telegraph operator you will quite certainly not 1)3 put to digging trenches, and the work should appeal to many from this viewpoint. Others have expressed a belief that a high school education was necessary in order to take up the work and pursue it properly, and this is also erroneous. A common school education is ample. The next meeting of the class in telegraphy will be held at the high school building at 7:30 Thursday evening, and all who are thinking •f enrolling are urged to be preseat and talk the matter over. The new International code will be used in preference to the Morse code, and the study of the same is intensely interesting as well as full df future possibilities.

MRS. FRANCIS M. GOFF DEAD

Mrs. Nancy J. Goff, wife of Francis M. Goff of Fair Oaks, died very suddenly at her home in that place Friday night from an attack of heart trouble, aged 66 years, eight months and seven days. She is survived by her husband and eight children, Frank, Arthur' and Clarence Goff, Mrs. Walter McConnell and Mrs. Dave Overton of Fair Oaks; Mrs. Harvey Davisson and Mrs. Josiah Davisson of this city, and Philip Goff of Cissna Park, Illinois. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon, services being conducted by Rev. C. W. Postill, and burial made at Fair Oaks.

BACK FROM FRENCH WAR ZONE

Alfred Thompson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Delos Thompson of this city* and who for the past six months' u . has been an ambulance driver on the battlefields of France, arrived in Rensselaer Friday evening. He reached New York December 7, but since that time has been visiting his mother and sister Emily at Ann Arbor, Michigan, where' they are spending the winter. He was accompanied to Rensselaer by his father, who had also been spending a few days at Ann Arbor. Alfred is looking fine and has had more experience than usually befalls one in a lifetime. _

COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF

Interesting Paragraphs From the Various Departments OF JASPER COUNTY CAPITOL The Legal News Epitomized—Together With Other Notes Gathered From the Several County Offices. The county commissioners will meet in special session again on Monday, December 31, to close up the business of the year. Herbert Hammond, who went to Indianapolis Thursday night to enlist in the army service, failed to pass the physical examination and returned home. The county commissioners met in regular session Monday to let the annual contract for books and stationery for the various county offices. Classes 1, 2 and 3 were awarded to A. E. Boyce of Moincie, a new firm in the field here, they being SIBO lower than that of Levy Bros, of Indianapolis. Class 4 was awarded to the Jasper County Democrat.'

Marriage licenses issued: December 14, Joseph Ellis of Rensselaer, aged 56 February 6 last, laborer, and Ida .McOlintock Hartman, also of Rensselaer, aged 55 May 23 last, housekeeper. Fourth marriage for male, previous marriages dissolved by death. Third marriage for female, previous marriages dissolved by death, the last on November 14, 1917. Married' in clerk’s office by Rev. C. W„ Postill. December 15, William Rolland Smith of Huntington, aged 23 July 24 last, laborer, and Altha Clements of Rensselaer, aged 19 January 6 last, housekeeper. First marriage for each. Married at the Methodist parsonage by Rev. E. W. Strecker.

BROOKSTON BANKER IS DEAD

John C. YanNatta Passed Away Last Friday Morning. John C. VanNatta, a prominent citizen of Brookston, died at his home in that place at 1 o'clock last Friday morning, aged sixty years. He is survived by a wife, formerly Miss 'Mary Kassabaum of Goodland, and three children. Tim deceased was born at London, Indiana, February 19, 1857. He was a member of the first graduating class of Purdue university and following his graduation farmed near Kentland for a few 0 years, going from there to Montmorenci, where he was engaged in the grain business, and from there he moved to Round Grove township, White county, and later moved to Brookston, where he founded the Bank of Brookston in 1890. At the time of his death he was also president and director of the Bank of Reynolds. He was prominent in the Logansport Presbytery, and at the time of his death was the owner of 1,800 acres of fine land in White county and formerly owned several hundred acres in Jasper county, in Gillam and Walker townships. The funeral was held ifrom the Presbyterian church at Brookston at 10 a. m. Monday, conducted by Rev. Truesdale, a prominent Presbyterian minister, assisted by Rev. Murphy. Burial - was made in Greenbush cemetery at Lafayette beside the graves of his parents. Mr. VanNatta had been in failing health for a year but his illness had only been of about a month’s duration. The immedate cause of his death was heart trouble.

NOTES FROM COUNTY HOSPITAL

William Garland, who suffered a broken hip one day last week, was taken to the hospital Monday. Mrs. J. S. Williams of near Aix entered the hospital Sunday fdr medical treatment.. Albert, the little nine-year-old son off Mr, and Mrs. Paul Schultz of Union township, underwent a minor operation Monday. Miss Rebecah Fendig was taken to the hospital yesterday morning, having received some burns about the arms and face when her clothing caught fire in some way at her home that morning. .

An armload of old papers for five cents at The Democrat office.

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY,. DECEMBER 19, 1917.

FUTURE PUBLIC SALE DATES The Democrat has printed bills for the following public sales: Thursday, December 27, Elzy Coffey and W. H. Craig, 2 miles northeast of Wheatfleld. General sale, including 9 horses, 100 head of hogs, implements, etc. Thursday, December 27, Mrs. Eva Fred, administratrix, 6 miles south and 2 miles east of Rensselaer. General sale, including 13 horses and mules, 8 head of cattle, shotes, chickens, farm implements, household goods, etc.

FURLOUGHS MILL BE GRANTED

To Soldier Boys at Camp Taylor for the Holidays. A dispatch, from Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky, of December 14, says: “Conflicting orders and reports about passes for the holidays were set at rest today, when it became known that the war department will leave the matter to the discretion of the division commanders. The commanding general here is said on good authority to favor letting as many men go as possible. One group of passes will be good for four days, including Christmas, and another will allow leaves of similar length, including New Year’s day.

TWENTY-TWO DEGREES BELOW

Mercury Dropped Friday Night to Lowest Point in Years. The apex of our December cold wave was reached Friday night when the quick-silver in the government thermometer out at St. Joseph’s college ducked to twentytwo degrees below zero. This was the lowest point the mercury has reached in this section of the country for several years and perhaps the lowest for December in history. Saturday and Sunday nights were also down to zero, but Sunday and Monday were bright and pleasant except for the cold. Monday night was quite a bit warmer, a little rain falling during the night and making the walks a glare of ice yesterday morning. The day was partly cloudy and at 2 p. m., the mercury in the shade stood at 10 degrees above freezing, and the snow. was melting fast.

ELEMENTARY TRAINING HELPS

Should Be Taken Advantage of by All Drafted Men. Under a recent ruling of the State Council of Defense, all male citizens between eighteen and fortyfive years of age, and who are physically arid mentally fit, are eligible to become members of the home guard organizations in the counties in which they reside. This includes those who are subject to draft, and this class is especially urged to join in order to give the men likely to be called into service an opportunity to acquire some elementary drills, and in time enable them to study the technical service manuals intelligently. It is a fact that those men who have had some training and who know something about military life are immediately “spotted’’ upon arrival at the training camp, and are generally the first ones selected for the lower positions in the non-commissioned grades. Ability and hard work, together with exemplary conduct, will invariably merit for the private favorable consideration of his superior officers. The armory in the K. of P. building will be open every Wednesday evening at 7:30 for drill of the local home guard company, and all others who desire to avail themselves of the opportunity to lean the elementary drills are urged to attend. It is important that every one, officers and men alike, report promptly at the appointed hour. By direction of the Countty Council of Defense. J. M. SAUSSER, Chairman Military Department.

A MOST USEFUL XMAS PRESENT

Having had people call on me for Christmas orders for glasses, has suggested the idea of a very useful gift, and in order to help carry out the useful gift proposition, which should be observed this year if ever, I have on sale attractive Christmas orders which may be had sit different prices either by mail or at the office. They can be presented to a friend in need olf good glasses, the name of the friend to be filled in blank space left for that purpose, and blank space left for the signature of the one who gives it. ,Thts, when presented at my office, entitles bearer to examination and glasses. —.DR. A. G. CATT, Rensselaer, Ind.

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Parts of the Country. SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings in the Nearby Cities and Towns —Matters of Minor Mention From Many Places. HOUSE PASSES DRY BILL 5282-128 ■ <X Senate Must Accept 7-Year Ratification, Then Up to Legislatures. Washington, December 17. —Na-tion-wide prohibition won in the house today arid only the adjustment of a slight difference in resolutions between the house and sebate now stands in the way of submitting to state legislatures an amendment to the federal constitution forbidding the manufacture, sale or importation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes in the United States or its territories. The vote in the house, taken after a day of debate before crowded galleries, was 282 to 128, with the parties dividing almost evenly. The margin for prohibition was just eight votes more than the necessary two-thirds of the membership of the house required for adoption, and twenty-six more than two-thirds of those voting. The resolution adopted by the house is identical with that passed by the senate last August, except that it gives the states seven years instead of six in which to ratify the amendment. Senator Sheppard, author of the resolution, predicted tonight that the senate would accept the amendment tomorrow. He said he had assurances that the seven-year period would be approved, arid that he did not believe a foil call necessary.

MAJOR G. V. MENZIES IS DEAD

Prominent Democrat and Lawyer 'Dies at Mt. Vernon. Major G. V. Menzies, one of the leading members of the southern Indiana bar and prominent in state and national Democratic ranks, died at his home in Mt. Vernon last Friday after a long illness. He was born in Boone county, Kentucky, and at the age of sixteen served with his father, Dr. Samuel Menzies, then a surgeon in the Ist Kentucky regiment, and went through the campaign in West Virginia in General Cox’s brigade. He is survived by two daughters and one son, Mrs. Walter A. Seymour of New York, Mrs. Juliette Fitzhugh of Mt. Vernon, and Lieut. Winston Menzies, now with the U. S. regulars in France. His wife, a daughter of former Governor Hovey of Indiana, deceased, died two years ago. !

ITEMS FROM THE RED CROSS

Do not fail to see the gar quilt in the Red Crooss window. It was knitted by the following school children: Eva Karnowsky, Helen Ranton, Orville Cain, Margaret Myer, Marjorie Hill, Norman Thom(as, Ida Myer, Mary Ann Ham, Gladys Griggs and Elizabeth Kresler, and it will be sent abroad to help relieve the suffering children there. Please leave your scraps of yarn at headquarters, as the little knitters are eager to finish another quilt. • American prisoners of war in Germany are to- be supplied with food and clothing by the American Red Cross. Already 1,800,000 individual rations, or enough food to feed 10,000 men adequately for six months, have been ordered. A special ration is being wrirked out for invalid prisoners.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

We are compelled to change our RENTAL AND TOLL LEDGER January 1. No due accounts will be transferred to new books. ACCOUNTS not paid before December 25, the service will be discontinued or intsruments removed. No statements or collectors will be sent out as same is payable at office. TOLLS MUST BE PAID PROMPTLY as war tax must be remitted. TELEPHONE SERVICE COSTS NO MORE, while materials cost us 200 per cent advance, we will insist on j prompt payments.-—JASPER COUXTL TELEPHONE CO, d-23

I*ORTER FARM I)I1> NOT SELL The Charles H. Porter farm, north of Rensselaer, advertised to sell at public auction Monday afternoon, did not sell, sllO being the best offer made. This is an excellent farm and is located well, in a section where a good crop is assured every year, but the weather was bad for selling farm lands, especially to ’people who are not much acquainted with lands in that section, as the ground was covered with several inches of snow.

FIRE DESTROYED FORD AUTO

The Ford automobile belonging to M. C. DeMuth, a local fertilizer agent who moved here recently from Whitehouse, Ohio, was practically destroyed by fire Sunday night. Mr. DeMuth had driven the car to the depot about 11:30 o’clock and on trying to start the car when ready to „ return home found he was out of gasoline. Procuring some gasoline he lighted a lantern to see to put it in the car and in some way the gasoline became ignited. The entire body of the car we destroyed. The damage was covered by insurance.

MUST MAKE OWN RETURNS

Law Pats the Barden of Obligation on the Taxpayer. Indianiapolis, December 18, —You won’t have to figure out your own income tax all by yourself hereafter. The government is going to send out men to help you. It will be up to you to hunt mp these men, who will bo sent into every oounty seat town, and some other towns besides, to meet the people. PosL masters, bankers and newspapers will be able to tell you when the government’s income tax man will be around, and where to find him. He will answer your questions, swear you to the return, take your your money, and remove the wrinkles from your brow. Returns of income tax for 1917 most be made between January 1 and March 1, 1918.

“The government recognizes,’’ Collector of Internal Revenue Kruyer said today, “dhat many persons experience a good deal of jdifficulty in filling outjjncome tax It recognizes, too, that taxpayers resident at points where collector’s offices are not easily accessible find it hard to get proper instruction in the law. Next year, when every married person living with wife or husband and having a net income of $2,000, and every unmarried person not the head of a family and having a net income of SI,OOO for the year 1917 must make return of income on the form prescribed, there will be hundreds in every community seeking light on the law, and help in executing their returns. ; My own and every other collection district in the nation will be divided into districts, with the County as the unit, and a government officer informed in the income tax assigned to each district. He will spend hardly less than a week in each county, and in some counties a longer time, very likely in the court house at the county seat.

town. In cities where there are collector’s branch offices, he will! be there, and in other cities poss-1 ibly at the city hall. My office will j in due time advise postmasters and j bankers and send out notices to the newspapers stating when the officer will be in each county. It , will be unnecessary for prospective taxpayers to ask my office for forms on which to make returns. The i officer who visits their county will have them.” -y '•]*r j “It may be stated as a matter of j general information that ‘net in- j come’ is the remainder after subtracting expenses from gross income. Personal, family or living expense is not expense in the mean- j ing of the law, the exemption being allowed to cover such expenses. “The new exemptions of SI,OO and s2,f>oo will add tens of thousands to the number of income taxpayers in this district, inasmuch as practically every farmer, merchant, salary worker and a great many wage workers will be required to •make return and pay tax. “The law makes it the duty of the taxpayer to seek out the collector. Many people assume that jif an income tax form is not sent, ,or a officer does not jcall, they are relieved from making I report This is decidedly in error. It is the other way round. The

TEUTONS SINK ELEVEN SHIPS

Morchantmen, Mine Sweepers and Destroyer Sent Down BATTLE OCCURS IN NORTH SEA Germans Attack Convoy Kn Route tp Norway, Sinking 8,000 Tons* Other Vessels Are Wrecked. [London, December 17. —One Brit* ish and live neutrfal merchantmen, a British destroyer and four mind sweepers have been sunk in tbo North sea by German naval forces. The losses were the result of an attack on a convoy bound front Scotland to Norway, Sir Eric Geddes, flrat lord of the admiralty, announced to day. The total tonnage of the merchantmen was 8,000. Eighty-eight Scandinavians, including two women, and ten British were rescued by four British destroyers detached from a cruiser squadron, which was hastened to the Beene. Other survivors reached Norway in boats. Washington, December 1 6. —Seventeen enlisted then of the United States army engineer corps were reported missing in action by General Derailing in a dispatch today to tho war department. They were missing on November 30, the day of the German turning movement at Camibrai, and are believed to have fallen into the hands of the Germans while fighting valiantly with the engineer contingent which distinguished itself helping the British to check the attack. Notwithstanding the terrible losses they have suffered, the Germans and Austro-Hungarians in the mountainous „ regions of northern Italy continue their efforts to break the Italian line and open up a passageway to the plains below. In France and Belgium there is little military activity except for small engagements by outposts and raiding contingents and artillery duels. Berlin, December 17—An armistice between the Bolsheviki government in Itussia and the Teutonic allies was signed at Brest Litovsk Saturday, an official communication «*ays. The text of the communication follows: An armistice agreement was signed at Brest Litovsk by plenipotentiary representatives of the Russian upper army administration on the one hand and those of the upper army administrations of Germany, Austria-Hnugary, Bulgaria and Turkey on the other hand. The armistice begins at noon, December 17 and remains in force until January 14, 1918. Unless seven days’ notice is given it continues in force automatically. It extends to all the land, air find naval forces of the common fronts. According to clause 9 of the treaty, peace negotiations are to begin immediately after the signing of the armistice.

POULTRY AND CORN GROWERS

The Jasper County Poultry and Corn show will be held January 1-5. Get your exhibits ready without further delay. See Secretary A. E. Wallace for premium list. Victrolas at S2O, $27.50, SSO, $75, SIOO and S2OO. Right in stock and ready to deliver—FENDlG’S REXALL DRUG STORE. We have a fall and complete line of rubber footwear. We bought a large stock early. Rubber goods are difficult to obtain now and are greatly advanced in price. You may havo the advantage of our early purchases both in selection and price.—B. N. FHNDIG, the exclusive shoe plan. Before you decide on your Xmas gifts visit Larsh & Hopkins’ drug store and inspect their stock. Don’t forget the next time you need a lead pencil to try one of those superior quality pencils haudled in The Democrat’s fancy stationery and office supply department —a fine Faber pencil at "bebefore the war prices,” 5 cents.

taxpayer has to go to the government and if he doesn’t within the time prescribed, h© is a violator of the law, and the government will go to him with its penalties.”

Vol. XX, No. 75