Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1918 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

|2.00 Per Year

STEPS TOWARD NEW CHURCH

Aain Being Taken Up By the Pastor tor of St. The matter of building a fine new church edifice by the congregation of St. Augustine’s Catholic church, which was held up by the great European war, has again been taken up by the pastor, Rev. Father Daniels, and subscriptions to the fund will now be solicited. The proposed new church will cost probably in the neighborhood of |IOO,OOO hnd will be one of the finest edifices in this section of the state. Nothing definite has been decided upon as yet in the matter of just when work will start, this depending on the success in soliciting subscriptions and also somewhat on the cost of building material and labor conditions. Several thousand dollars has been accumulated in this fund during the last few years which will give a substantial start toward the ultimate goal.

TRAIL LEADS TO RENSSELAER

Michigan Man Charged With Murder Was Married Here. Milo H. Piper, a wealthy insurance man of Muskegon, Michigan, was arrested a few days ago at Hamilton, Ontario, charged with the murder of Frieda Weichman of Chicago, to whom he was married on March 21, 1916, by Rev. P. C. Curnick, former pastor of the M. E. church in this city, the couple having driven here from Crown Point, where they had secured a marriage license and were married at the Methodist parsonage. In 1915, it is charged,Piper met Miss Weichman at a Chicago tennis club. She was married to him within a year and the two started on an automobile honeymoon. Until August, 1916, the girl’s relatives received letters from her, the last being from Fairbauldt, Minn. ”-iy in September, 1916, seetion hands working on the Grand Trunk railway in Eggleston township, Michigan, came upon a freshly turned grave near a railway crossing. A few minutes digging brought to light the body of a girl, clad in a night dress, a skirt and a sweater jacket. The body was n such condition that the coroner decided an autopsy would be useless. While vain efforts were being made to identify the body, Mrs. F. W. Klinke of Hinsdale, a suburb of Chicago, who had been a friend of Miss Wiechman, became alarmed at not hearing from her. After writing several letters to Muskegon, she came there and went to the Piper home, where she found a woman with a baby, who said she was Mrs. Piper. She went to Piper’s office but he denied ever having met Miss Weichman. Mrs. Klinke then, applied to the police. bief of Police Moray produced the clothing which had been found on the body buried beside the railway tracks. Mrs. Klinke immediately identified the garments as having belonged to Miss Weichman. Detectives were sent to find Piper, but he had vanished. He was traced to Chicago, from there to Detroit, and was finally arrested at Hamilton, Ontario. Piper is said to have been married about four years and his wife and three young children now reside in Muskegon. Pipfer, when questioned by the police strongly declared his innocence and accused a mysterious “John Sheldon” of having used his name to marry Miss Weichman despite his protest. Piper said that he urged Sheldon not to use his name in getting married, but that Sheldon so threatened him with trouble if he said anything about it, that he decided to remain silent. Muskegon, Mich., Dec. 16.—Milo P. Piper, charged with the. slaying of Miss Frieda Weichman of Chicago, admitted today that he had visited several Michigan cities with the, young woman in 1916 when they posed as man and wife, according to Prosecuting Attorney Broek, but insisted that he knew nothing of. her death and burial In a lonely spot in Eggleston township, where the body was unearthed a year later. Indianapolis, Dec. 16.—Accord' Ing to the Rev. Paul C. Curnick, of this city, field secretary for the Methodist hospital, Milo H. Piper

COURT HOUSE NEWS IN BRIEF

Interesting Paragraphs From the Various Departments OF JASPER COUNTY CAPITOL The Legal News Epitomixed—Together With Other Notes Gathered From the Several County Offices. County Agricultural Agent Stewart Learning went to Romney, Tippecanoe county, Sunday to visit his parents a few .days. Among the articles o,f incorporation filed with the secretary of state last Friday appeared that of “Jasper County Farms Company, Newland; capital $550,000; to hold and develop lands; directors, W. M. Schellinger, A. J. Deutschman, M. R. Adams.”

It is again time to apply for automobile licenses. Miss Mabel Nowels, notary public at The Democrat office, will be pleased to fill out and acknowledge your application and send same in for you. Don’t wait until after the first of the year. Apply now. ts

NO EFFORTS MADE BY OFFICIALS

To Stop Operations of Fortune Teller Here. While The Democrat’s calling attention to the statute prohibiting the operations of fortune tellers, palmists and other like fakes in Indiana, resulted in the Republican dropping “Mlle. Zara’s” advertising, it is understood that she is still plying her vocation in Rensselaer and that Sunday a steady stream of young girls were seen going to her room to cross her palm with silver and have the hidden mysteries of the future revealed to them. No effort has been made by the mayor or the deputy prosecuting attorney, so far as The Democrat is informed, to put a stop to her operations -or to prosecute for the offenses already committed. In fact, she is said to have stated that she had a “permit” from the city to operate here; that she knew it was against the law and she only went to places where she could get a permit. < Of course the city nor none of its officials could grant any such permit legally. T’ cy could just as well grant permits far saloons, gambling houses and houses- of prostitution —all of which are against the laws of bur State. But it could give quassi consent by making no effort to stop them and letting them operate until some citizen raised up and filed an affidavit in court against their operation. This is apparently what has been done, and while the damage done to the gullible youth of our city and surrounding country may be almost beyond compute, to say nothing of the hundreds of dollars being taken out of the community through illegal means, those upon whom the duty of seeing that such infractions of the law are not permittct, sit back and say to the public: “If you want.it Stopped, file an affidavit.”

IMPORTANT NOTICE To follow rulings of state commission, which compels us to change our rent and toll ledger January 1, all accounts must be settled in this month to receive proper credits on old ledger. Service will be discontinued January 1 on all accounts not paid December 30. JASPER COUNTY TELEPHONE CO. 17-20-24-27 An armload of old newspapers for a nickel at The Democrat office.

and Frieda Weichman were married by him at Rensselaer, Ind., March 21, 19'16. At that time Dr. Curnick was serving as pastor of the Rensselaer Methodist Episcopal church and there were no unusual circumstances surrounding the marriage, he ,said. As he recalled it, the marriage license was obtained at Crown Point and the cowpie, who were ni.cely dressed, came tr his parsonage in a big touring car and declared they were going to take their honeymoon in the south, traveling by motor-.

ER, JASPER COUNTY. INDIANA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18,1918

MUSTERED OUT OF SERVICE

Several More Jasper County Boys Home From Training Camps. Following are the names of several more Jasper county boys who have arrived home during the past few days fronj the various training camps: Grant Wynegar, from Camp Taylor; Jay Dee Roth, Purdue; Junior Benjamin, Newport News, Virginia; ■Lee Ramey, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Word has been received from Corp. Robert Blue, now stationed at Fort Monroe, Virginia, that he expected to be transferred to Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois, and be mustered out of the service soon. Philip Mosier, who has been in training at Camp Sherman, has received his discharge and spent a few days here with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. A. Leopold, and Monday went to his home at Hammond.

30TH DIVISION CASUALTIES

Were Very Heavy—Two Jasper County Boys In This Unit. Washington, Dec. 16.—General Pershing cabled the war department today that practically complete reports of deaths in action among the expeditionary forces should reach the , department by December 20, and of severely wounded by December 27. The report today from the American commander was in reply to specific questions cabled by the war department. In asking regarding the casualties in the thirtieth division the department said “there had been much apprehension’’ about the losses of this unit, which helped the British army break the famous Hindenburg line. Gen. Pershing said that the number)/ of unreported casualties in process of verification at the central records office of the expeditionary forces on December 14, was 40,440. They were divided as follows: Killed in action, 390; died of wounds, 353; accidently killed, 51; severely wounded in action, 39,371. These include all “suspense cases under ' investigation,” the general said. Total casualties to November 23 in the thirtieth (Wildcat) division, (North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee National Guard) were given as 7,625. The casualties were classified as follows: Killed in action, 1,168; died of wounds, 283; died of disease, 15; died of other causes, 5; severely wounded, 1,1-81;’ wounded, degree undetermined, 805; slightly wounded, 3,973; missing or captured, 193.

D. J. Babcock of Rensselaer and John Kriz of Newton township, are in this division. The parents of the former have not heard from him since November 7, but are looking for a letter each day now.

MRS. ALVA POTTS IS DEAD

Mrs. Alva Potts of Parr, who had been at the county hospital for several weeks suffering from a general infection. following influenza, died at that institution Monday at 7:15 a. m., at the age of 36 years,. 3 months and 27 days. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Myres of Parr, and a sister of Lee Myres of this r city. She is survived by a husband and three children. The funeral will be held at 2 p. m. today at the Brushwood church, services being in charge jlof Rev. Ade of Mt. Ayr and burial I made in the Sandridge cemetery.

COMING PUBLIC SALE DATES The Democrat has printed bills for the following public sales: Monday, December 23, Dick Peterson, 2 miles south, 1 % miles west of Demotte General sale, including horses, cattle, farm tools, etc. Tuesday, January 7, George Heil, on the Harvey Davisson farm miles due north of Rensselaer. : General sale, including horses, cattle," hogs, farm tools, etc. Monday, January 13, Elke De- : Groot, 4 miles north and 2% miles j west of Remington, 8 miles south land 2% miles west of Rensselaer, i General sale. Including horses, cat- • tie, hogs, farm tools, etc. Place your "Want Ad” in The Democrat and get result*.

THE TWICE-A-WEEK

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Parts ol the Gonntry. SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings in the Nearby Cities »nd Towns—Matters of Mind* Mention From Many Place*. DIED IN FRENCH HOSPITAL Glen Barnhart of Monon Called By Disease November 16. Henry Barnhart received a message from the war department Wednesday night, announcing the death of his son, Glen Barnhart, in a French hospital, November 16, following jyi illness from dysentary. The last letter received from him was dated November 6, and he was them fighting in the front trenches. He was a first class private in the 11th Artillery and entered the service as a volunteer at Indianapolis in the spring of 1917. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Barnhart and was born near Hicksville, Ohio, April 18, 1890. Two brothers, Lavon and Lloyd, are with the American soldiers in France. His brother, Virgil, died at Camp Custer, October 8, with pneumonia. The patriotism of the Barnhart family has already attracted attention. Four sons and a daughter responded to the call for military duty without any exemption claim or protest on the part of their parents. Mrs. Barnhart was at the bedside of Virgil a week before his death. The circumstances attending Glen’s death are even more heart-rendering because the consoling presence of mother could not be there.—Monon News.

A SEVEN DAYS’ VACATION

For Yankee Soldiers in England, AH Expenses Paid. London, Dec. 13.—Thousands of American soldiers in France probably will be given leave to come to England with their transportation expenses being paid to places in the United Kingdom. In answer to a request of the American authorities in France, if the men should be cared for in England, American army headquarters here has replied affirmatively. The men will be granted seven days dating from the time of their arrival in England. Up to this time the only American soldiers who have came to England have been those of the two divisions brigaded with the British armies in France. Since these divisions rejoined the American armies, only a few men have been permitted to come to 0 England.

SOLDIERS TO KEEP UNIFORMS

War Department Says Discharged Men May Retain Clothing. Washington, Dec. 13. —Secretary Baker informed Chairman Dent of the house military committee today, that the war department had decided that all discharged soldiers may permanently retain the uniform and overcoat they wear when mustered out. Mr. Dent prepared a bill embodying the necessary authority. Previously the department had planned to have the clothing returned to the governent three months after a soldier’s discharge.

PNEUMONIA DEATH NEAR KNIMAN

Guy Meyers, nephew of George F. Meyers of this city, died at his home near Kniman Monday at 1 p. m,, from pneumonia, following influenza. He was about 25 years of age and is survived by his wife and two children, now at the county hospital with the same disease, his parents and several brothers and sisters. One brother, Estel, and sister, Hazel, are both down with the disease at the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Meyers, just south of Wheatfield. The funeral will be held today and burial made in the Wheatfield cemetery.

The Democrat is*selling lots of holiday correspondence paper. There’s a reason. Game in and ctW.

MRS. DANIEL LAKIN IS DEAD

Union Township Lady Died Monday / Morning. Mrs. Daniel Lakin, of near Aix, who had been at the county hospital for some time suffering from influenza and asthma, died Monday evening, and the body was taken to the home of her sister-in-law, Mrs. Slielby Comer, in this city. The funeral will be held tomorrow, at 11 a. m., from the Christian church in this city, Rev. Ade of Mt. Ayr conducting the services, and burial made in Weston cemetery. She is survived by her husband and two daughters, Neva and Jessie, and her father, James Swaim of this (city; one sister, Mrs. Omar Kenton of Buchanan, Michigan, and two brothers, Glen, with the American forces in France, and Leonard, in a naval training camp in New Jersey. Mrs. Lakin would |have been 36 years old had she lived until the 26th of this (month.

LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS

Edwin Robinson Is Greeted By a French Girl. Mr. and Mrs. W. Robjhson have received a letter from France from their soai' Edwin, who was among the late arriving A. E. F., in the war zone: Hq. Co., Entrance Camp, Bordeaux Embark. Camp, Bordeaux, France, November 25, 1918. Dear Folks.—Thought I’d better write a few lines to let yaw know whales going on. Have been traveling around so much that I haven’t had time to get hold of anything to write on. Got a glimpse of the coast of Ireland and Scotland, and spent several days ini England, and have been running around In France since. Arrived in France the same day the armistice was* signed, so guess I didn’t start any too coon. Have enjoyed the trip fine, although we wefe rather up against it traveling as a casual outfit, but have been feeling fine, and don’t want to start home until spring anyway. Haven’t had a chance to see very much of the country /St, but will later on. The weather is fine here—much nicer than the southern states, and we have one of the best camps in France, baseball and football fields, and even have a tennis court. Are getting all we can eat, and have first class barracks with plenty of stoves. We are just organizing the headquarters company for this camp In a few days they should have things pretty well arranged for handling the fellows going back. There is lots of clerical work to be done, so imagine I can find a pretty good job around here some place or other. Just ran into Major Beyer here the day I got here. He was in command of the Training Battalion, 151st Infantry, Camip Shelby, where I worked for a while before they put us into the 13 7th F. A. Also saw Scott Chesnut. He is truckmaster of one of the truck companies here Major Beyer. He is the only fellow from home I’ve seen so far. Got on the track of the 38 th Division,, but lost it again. Was about three weeks behind them in England, but understand they have been broken up, so haven’t any idea where the 137th is. Well, guess it’s about time I was going to bed. Will write when I get a chance, to let you know what’s going on. Suppose it will tickle Luella to know that some French girl ran o'U't In the street and kiissed me as we were marching through Le Havre. Can’t say much for any I’ve seen yet, though. Yours, ED. Wood Spitler Writes From Northern Russia.’ Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Spitler received a letter Saturday from their son, Lieut. W. I. Spitler, who is with the A. E. F. in northern' and .with the exception of a son of C. E. Replogle is perhaps the only Jasper county boy in Russia: American Northern Russia Expeditionary Forces, October 16, 1918. Dear Mother. —The Wesstern Front situation seems to be rapidly clearing up. However, I see no opportunity for an early adjustment of affairs here. There are so many things entering into this expedition besides just fighting, that there is much to be done before we can leave. It is the Mexi-

(Contlnued on page two)

NOTICE There will be a box and pie social at the Lone Star school. In Milroy township on Friday night, December 20.,. Girls, please bring boxes or pies —MISS MARY HARVEY, Teacher. See our flour ad.—IROQUOIS ROLLER MILLS.

Vol. XXI, No. 7S

GERMAN CRIMES ROUSED THE U.S. SAYS PRESIDENT

Wilson Tells French People Foe's Sins Are Fully Realized In America FLAYS ENEMY FUR WRON6S

Executive Expects* to Visit the American Troops on Christinas and Celebrate Day With Them at Treves. __ —— Paris, Dec. 17.—President Wilson delivered an address at the city hall, where ceremonies had been arranged for. The president replied to the greeting extended him. "Your greeting has raised many emotions within me," tho president began. “It is with no ordinary sympathy; that the people of the United States, for whom 1 have the privilege of spiking, have viewed the sufferings of the people of Franca Many of oui> own people have been themselves witnesses of those sufferings. We were the more deeply moved by the wrongs of the war because we knew the manner In which they were perpetrated. “I beg that you will not suppose that! because a wide ocean separated us In space wo were not In cffAit eyewitnesses to tho shameful ruin that was wrought and tho cruel and unnecessary, sufferings that wero brought upon you. Those sufferings have filled our hearts with Indignation, We know what they signified, and our hearts were touched to the crick by them, our Imaginations filled with tho whole picture of what France and Belgium in particular had experienced. -Hearts Are Shocked." "When the United States entered the war, therefofre, they entered It not only because they were moved by a conviction that the purposes of tho central empires was wrong and must be resisted by men everywhere who loved liberty and the right, but also because the Illicit ambitions which they were entertaining and attempting to realize had led to the practices which shocked our hearts as much as they offendedi our principles. “Our resolution was formed because we knew how profoundly great principles of right were affected, but ous hearts moved also with our resolution. “You have been exceedingly generous in what you have been gracious enough to say about me, generous far beyond my personal deserts, but you have Interpreted with real Insight the; motives and resolutions of the people of the United States. We have merely established our right to the full fellowship of those peoples here and throughout the world who reverence the right of genuine liberty and justice. Pleased by Welcome. “You have made me feel very much nt home here, not merely by the delightful warmth of your welcome, but also by the manner In which you have made me realize to the utmost the Intimate community of thought and Ideal which characterizes your people and the great nation which I have the honor for the time to represent Your welcome t’o Paris I shall always remember as one of the unique and Inspiring experiences of my life, and| while I feel that you are honoring the people of the United States In my person, I shall nevertheless carry away; with me a very personal gratification In looking back upon these memqrablei days. “Permit me to thank you from a full heart" Pleased With Premier. President Wilson and Premier Clemenceau touched In only the most geiw era! manner the problems of the peace conference In the course of a conversation they had at the Murat residence, according to Marcel liutln of the Echo de Paris. Mr. Wilson was most Impressed with i he premier’s personality and Is reported to have expressed himself Un the most flattering terms, remarking: "lie is a most prepossessing man.” Mr. Wilson accompanied the premier o the door, shook hands long and heartily with him and said: “Thank you; thank you. Good-by till tomorI ow.” Wilson to Give Banquet. President Wilson on Thursday will attend a reception given In bls honor by the France-America committee. 0e will glVfe a banquet to President Poincare and eminent politicians and diplomats on Saturday evening. Covers will be laid for seventy.

Keep In mind the date of the Annual Jasper County Poultry and Corn Show, which will be held the .week of January 7.