Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 45, Decatur, Adams County, 21 February 1923 — Page 1

vv|. Number 45. Volume aai.

CLARENCE M’KINNEY gets RELEASE ebon life term

MN KNOWN IN kchturfreed if CONFESSION Former Resident oi Bluftton Cleared of Murder Charge in Ohio SERVES FIVE MONTHS , Man in Jamestown Confesses to ('rime and Is Sentenced for Life (United Pre*’ Secvice) Columbus. Ohio, Feb. 21—(Special ln Daily Democrat)—Clarence Leßoy McKinney stood on the threshhold of freedom today after serving five months of a life sentence for a rnur der he did not commit. "I've always had w feeling I would get out." McKinney said, when in ' fofflied that Louis Vandervoort. Jamestown. had confessed to the crime tor which McKinney was held, the slaying of Special Officer Emory McCreight at Wilmington, February 14. 1922. McKinney bears no hard feelings against those who sent him to prison. "I think.” he said, ‘‘the state should pay back the $6,000 my wife and others spent trying to keep me out of prison.” Twenty-one witnesses in McKin ney's trial testified be was in Cincinnati the night of the murder, which was committed during a Wilmington store robbery. McKinney and his wife testified they were at a movie whea McCreight was killed. Vandervoort, following his confession. was sentenced to life imprisonment. Since her husband’s prison term began, Mrs. McKinney, in Cincinnati, has worked as a waitress. All her earnings have gone to pay attorney fees and to buy luxuries tc he sent to her husband at Ohio penitentiary. Bluffton, Ind., Feb. 21- Clarence L. McKinney, who has been serving a life sentence in the Ohio state penitentiary for the murder of Special Officer Emery McCreight. at Wilmington, 0., and who is soon to be released as a result of a confession by the actual slayer, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. McKinney, living two miles west of this city. lie had been living at Cincinnati at the time the murder charge was brought against him. shortly after February 15, 1922 and at that time he was being held on a charge of violating the liquor laws. He was sentenced on the liquor charge, and that sentence still stands in the Ohio court. McKinney was arrested with his uncle, James W. Reno, and was identified by a companion of MeFreight, as the man who had done the shooting. The identification was retracted after the arrest and con-1 session of Vandervoort. McKinney as arrested at Decatur, Ind., some time ago on a charge of violating the liquor law, and served a l>*nal farm sentence at that time. — — notice to red men I here will he a meeting of the lied den lodge Wednesday evening at 7:30 eclock at the new quarters located above the Holthouse Drug Company, -dll members please be present.

GIRLS SHOULD HAVE HOPE CHESTS lonian Physician Says Business Women Should ConcenIrate on Getting Married If They Want to he Pretty

(United Press Service) 11( ' a Ro, Feb. 21—(Special tt> Daily Democrat) -a hope chest is an im-l-onant to a young girl as a job. 11 business women would concen(■‘te on getting married, they would 2 tter looking, happier amt l 'we«ter. nhv f < K- SaiUer, leading woman vom ° an ° f Chicago, today advised ir.s/f m induaC ’T “ever to let their P ,._,, Of " ,nat ‘‘ their lives to such an t^ Ht lhey forget marriage. g( . °? z 018,17 tirla Distead of paying wom. n'° , tQ tlle maln 1,ln K s ,n every are heauty and marriage—o'il m t * ,en,Be *ves to become °-' 1 she said.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

INDI'STI AL ASSOCIATION Reports And Election Os Directors To Feature Meeting Tonight Attend the annual meeting of the Decatur Industrial Association at their rooms at eight o’clock this evening at which time keports will be read showing the exact condition of the assocla tlon and a board of directors will be elected fur tlie ensuing year. The association is in excellent financial condition and ready to go ahead with plans to make this a better city every day and every hour. Come up and “spill your ideas,” and show a real constructive interest in the affairs of Decatur. Tonight at eight o'clock. ROTARIANS CO TO CONVENTION Fifteen Members of Club Accompanied by Eight Ladies Leave Today Carrying a banner, "Decatur Rotary Club, the sweetest City In Indiana.” and the "Schnitzle Bank" chart, h. teen of the Rotarians, a number of them accompanied by their wives, left this morning at eight o'clock over the Interurban for Fort Wayne, v. her ■ at nine-forty they boarded a special Fullman train for Michigan City to attend the annual conference of the Twentieth District oT International Rotary, comprising all Indiana clubs in Indiana. The conference will bo in session two days, Wednesday and Thursday and a big program has been arranged. Among the notable speakers are: A abbey Jones, * Atlanta. Georgia, termed the “Bryan of the South": A. O. Eberhart, former governor of Minnesota: Herbert Wilson, Worcester, Mass; Hi Martin, St. Lotti-. | Mo; and Earnest W. Tickle, Liverpool. I England. The conference session will lie held at the Spaulding Hotel, while th- group meetings will be scattered over the city in the different churches ant’ places available sot hoi-l-ing meetings. Tomorrow the Rotar i ians and their woman guests will b - 'the guests of Warden Fogarty at th ■ ' Indiana state prison, anil the noonday lineal will be served in the mess hall ; of the penitentiary. Decatur In Croup Two The Decatur Rotary club is in group two with Senator George Saunders of Bluffton as chairman. Group two is composed of six clubs, including Bluffton, Ft. Wayne, Kendallville an other clubs in this part of the state, and at luncheon today,which will be held in the Congregational church, Dr. Fred | Patterson will lead the crowd in coni munity singing, while Francis Schmitt I will direct the members of the Decatur I club in singing the famous old song. "Schnitzle Hank." A big chart with (the "Schnitzle Bank” symbols was I drawn by Architect Oscar Hoffman (and taken to the convention where it I will he used in singing the song. Much fun is expected. ! Dore B. Erwin was in charge of the tielegation and arrangements for the Pullman car and other details were made by him. The local people will sleep on the Pullman train, the hotel facilities not being ample for the big c rowd that will attend the convention and a Pullman City will he established (Continued on page three)

"Beauty, while not essential to marriage, is the desir ■ of every woman, and a good stepping stone to the alter. "There are only two beauty secrets which girls need know-—a clean conscience and a hope chest. "The hope chest serves to keep the girl's mind centered on the main object—marriage." Dr. Sadler declared girls who keep ‘he important points of marriage and beauty before them, will do better work. “Employers make a mistake when they attempt to hire girls who they believe will not be married,” sbo said

FIREMEN SEI DATE FOR BIC MEETING HERE Officers and Executive Committee Hold Meeting Here Last Night .lIIN E 2 0 AND 21 Many Visitors and Several Bands Expected to Attend Convention Approximately I’oo firemen from 36 towns and cities, 16 or IS bands and hundreds of visitors will attend the annual Firemen's convention of the Northeastern Indiana Firemen's Association to be held in this city on June 20th and 21st. At a meeting of the officers and executive committee held in this city last evening, at the city hall with Fire Chief Amos Fisher and Captain Jack Freit of the local tire department. L. C. Helm. Peter Gaffer, and other hsal volunteer firemen, who are members of the Northeastern Indiana Association, it' was decided to hold the big convention in this city on the above dates. Decatur was the convention city for the firemen in 191:1 and at that time was host to hundreds of firemen and visitors. It was one of the biggest conventions ever held here and , suffice to say, the local firemen and | citizens will be glad to entertain tile visitors again this year. The selec-1 tiqn of DecJtur was made at the convention held at Winchester last year.' Many Out-Door Events A business session will be held onthe night of June 20th, at which the delegates from the digerent firemen’s' organizations in the association will be present and one the following; day. Thursday, a big parade, water! battles, tug-of-war, and other outdoor events will take place, the complete program to tee nntrotmeed later. Officers Were Here Decatur has the honor ot’ having one man. L. C. Helm, former lire chief, on the executive board of the association and the officers and; members of the executive association, who were present last evening, were: President. O. Headington, Portland: vice-president, F. G. Duryee. and secretary treasurer, G. Fl Rogge, both of the General Electric lire department, Fort Wayne. The' members of the executive committee | who were present were: George Butts, Mishawaka Woolen Mills lire, department. Mishawaka, Ind.; George Kihm, Kendallville; E. E. Yahue, Roanoke; R. S. Osler, Knitting mills: department, Fort Wayne; and L. ('. Helm, of this city. The firemen were an enthusiastic bunch and a committee was appointed to spread the news and inform the other firemen in up-to-date methods of fire fighting and to encourage every means of better fire protection

PETITION FOR NEW SIDEWALK Want Walk Constructed on Patterson Street; Improvement of Streets E. D. Engler and three other property owners, petitioned the city council last evening for the construction of a cement, sidewalk on the north side of Patterson street, the petitioners asking that a four foot walk be constructed. Upon motion the matter was referred to the, street and sewer committee who will' make a report at the next meeting. . To. Work Unimproved Street* As soon as weather conditions pet-' mit, repair work on the unimproved streets in Decatur will be started by, Street Commissioner Ed. L. Augenbatigh, the council In regular session last evening authorized Engineer Orval Harruff to purchase six cars of stone for use of the street commissioner in repairing those streets not bricked in this city. This winter has been an extremely hard one on gravel roads, duo to tba thawing weather of a few weeks ago and the heavy traffic which the roads are subjected to. Commissjoner, Augenbaugh and his force of men have, however, been able to keep the city streets in as good repair as was possible to do in view of the weather conditions and traffic. |

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday Evening, February 21, 1923

♦ IT'S NICE TO BE i POOR SOMETIMES I ! f I New York—(U. P.)—Tilly Cold ♦ blatt, janltres*, arretted for fall I Ing to clear snow from her side ) > walk, proved so poor that the | I J policeman bought her a lunch I while the judge fined her one dol I lar, paid it himself and gave hei | ? a bank note. APPROVE PLANS FOR BUILDING New Catholic School Building to Contain Two Stories and Basement According Io the plans prepared by Architest Herman Gaul, of Chicago. and approved with slight alterations by Father J. A. Seimetz. rector of the St. Mary's Catholic church, and members of the finance and building committee of the con gregation, the new school house to be erected by the Catholic congregation will be two stories high with a basement under the entire building. The main entrance to the school building will be on Fourth street, the building being erected at the corner of Fourth and Monroe. There will also be an entrance on Monroe street. The new school building will be built of brick and besides containing class and study rooms sufficient to provide ample room for the future growth of the school, it will contain an up-to-date gymnasium and auditorium, domestic science kitchen, manual training department, and other conveniences found in modern school buildings of the present day. The building will occupy nearly the entire plat of ground on Fourth and Monroe streets, now owned by the congregation. a deal having been closed recently for the purchase of the corner lot from tho Christian church congregation. It Is doubtful if work on the construction of the school will commence before the first ot May as the Christian congregation retains possession of their property, including the church building, until May first. Architect Gaul will be in the city within a few days to consult fith Father Seimetz and members ot the finance committee and plans will be discussed pertaining to the new school building. —• Secret of Marriage Finally Leaked Out The sesret leaked out, so Clarenle Stevens, city lineman in the electric light department, who became a benedict about a month ago brought a box of cigars to the City hall this morning and was treating the boys. He and Bertha Venis quietly slipped over the slate line to Sturgis. Michigan, where the ceremony was performed. returning here the following day. Both are well known people and they will continue to make their home in this city.

♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ :♦ WEATHER ♦ >* + + *.*+ + + + + + ♦♦ + * Generally fair tonight and Thursday; except probably snow in extreme north portion; colder Thursday. LARGE CROWD HEARSSERMON Father Seimetz Gives Lenton Sermon at St. Mary’s Catholic Church The St. Mary's Catholic church was filled to capacity last evening | to hear the pastor. Rev. Father Seimetz, deliver the first of his Lenton sermons. His subject being, “The ' Mercy of God for the Sinner." Father Seimetz will deliver only two more sermons during the Lenten season and his subjects will be along the lines of preparing the congregation tor the Mission, which | will open on March 11th and continue until March 25th inclusive, during which period the two Franciscan missionary priests, Father Daniel and Father Andrews, of Cincinnati. will deliver the sermon*. Thft weak following is Holy Week The next two sermons to ho delivered by Father Seimetz are, "The Necessity of Prayer” and “Prepare | Ye the Way of the Lord.”

BILL BOOSTED STILL FORTNER Minor Amendments in Senate Bring Total Up to $17,653,002.22 EXPECT OPPOSTION — Lower House Considers Measures, of Little Importance Today I Unit, il Press Service) Indianapolis, Feb. 21 —(Special to Daily Democrat I Many minor amendments still further increasing the total of the appropriation bill were added by the stale senate today while the house spent the morning considering measures ot little importance. Indications in the house were that the action of the senate in boosting 'the total by more than s2,tltMi,ot»o above the figure sei by the repre I sentatives would be stoutly opposed by some of the republicans as well as by the entire democratic minority. The. bill now. carries a total appropriation <>l' $17,653,102.22. It now rests in the senate after a day and a half of consideration. It is ready to he brought up for second reading'. The sum of $64,665.85 was added today. Os this $44,000 went to the state department of conservation as an additional appropriation for the next two years. Another close fight on the reformatory appropriation resulted in a victory for the administration. Senator Alonzo Lindley, republican moved to strike out the $2,000,000 appropriation and to instruct the senate finance committee to draft a hew appropriation bill for the reformatory showing in itemized form where every dollar to be spent would go. * 1 Lindley, said the taxpayers had a right to know for what their money bi being spent. A motion by Senator Richards to table Lindley's motion was carried 26 to 21. Six bills failed in the house when committee reports recommending their indefinite postponment were adopted. They included hills: Conferring power to land owners lor occupants to arrest anyone violating fish and game laws on their property. Permitting counties to issue bonds to pay for repairs on roads built under the three mile road law. tho cost of which would exceed SSOO. Prohibiting smoking in cafeterias or restaurants frequented by women. Indianapolis, Feb. 21—Appropriations continued to hold the center of the stage in the legislature today with continuation of the senate fight (Continued on page three)

ST. JOE TEAM GOING TO LIMA Local Catholic High Net Team Gets Invitation to Play St. Rose The St Joseph high school basketball team has received an invitation from the St Rose Catholic high of luma, Ohio, to play a game in that city either on March 9 or lt», as a feature attraction in connection with a big celebration being planned by that school. Coach "Lank" Linn, of the. local team stated today that he had accepted the invitation. The St. Joe team defeated St. Rose at Lima earlier in the season, and the Lima fans liked the Decatur cag ers very much. A game was scheduled with St. Rose to be played in this city next month, but the St. Joe team has found it difficult to make expenses playing at home and Coach Linn decided to accept the invitation to play in Lima. St. Joe had a game scheduled with Monroe for last night but Inability to procure the use of the community building at Berne for the night caused the game to be postponed. Coach Linn refused to permit his team to play Monroe in the small halt at Monroe. Monroe will ha played later if the Berne floor can be obtained on a suitable date.

PLAN TO IMPROVE CITY LIGHT AND WATER PLANT

HESSLER FUNERAL HELD Former Adams County Farmer Buried in St, Joseph Cemetery The body of John Hessler, former Adams County farmer, whose death occured at tils home 1313 East Wayne street, Fort Wayne. Saturday afternoon, was brought here yesterday and burial was made in the St. Joseph Catholic cemetery. Mr. Hessler had been ill only two weeks, suffering from a severe ease of grip and asthma. Funeral services were held at nine o'clock Tuesday morning at the St. Mary's Catholic church. Fort Wayne. Mr. Hessler moved Io Fort Wayne about ten years ago. o K. OF P. LODGE PLANS CONTEST Roy Mumma to Compete With 2 Ft. Wayne Men in Conferring; 3rd Rank On the night of March 15. three men will compete here for honors in conferring the third rank of the Knights of Pythias lodge. Roy Munima, a member of the Kekionga lodge of this city, who is very proficient in conferring the third rank by himself, recently issued a challenge to other Knights in the state for a contest in conferring that rank. His challenge was accepted by two members of the Fort Wayne lodge. A prize of $25 will be given to the winner of the contest. The judges have not been selected yet. (’. V. Hoke, of Van Wert, Ohio, who is a past grand chancellor of Ohio will he invited to attend the meeting and act as a judge. Ralph Gaylor, of Mishawaka, grand chancellor of Indiana, and Carl Mitcheal. of Indianapolis. grand keeper of records and seals, will attend the meeting. Mr. Mumma lias often demonstrated his ability to confer the third rank by himself and members of the- Kekionga lodge feel confident that he will win the contest with the two Ft. Wayne men. There is a large number pf parts in the rank. Arrangements have been made by the Fort Wayne lodge to put on the ritual of knight in full form by the famous Phoenix triangle team next Monday night. A large number of Knights from the Decatur lodge will attend the session to learn something of the work in preparation for the contest to he held hero on March 15. On the Tuesday following the Decatur meeting, the members of Phoenix lodge of Fort Wayne will*hold an entertainment for tho lodge members, their families and their friends. The affair will bo in charge of Louis Schroeder. The program includes music by the Wishor ladies' quartet, the Phoenix orchestra and quartet, and several numbers by the Black Smoke Nuisance trio. ' Refreshments will be served. Mrs. Mary Rundell Dies in Fort Wayne Mrs. Mary Rundell, 74. died at. her homo in Fort Wayne yesterday morning from pneumonia. Surviving are three sons, Martin A. and Charles, of Fort Wayne; and Will, of Toledo, O. The latter lived here for some time a number of years ago. Mrs. Rundell was a member of the Cathedral of the iiniaeiilate Conception.

WANTS S2S,(MH) FOR A KISS

Chicago Young Lady Asks Jury lo Award Her Bi" Sum for Kiss Alleged to Have Been Forcibly Administered

(United Press Service) Chicago, Feb. 21. — (Special to Daily Democrat) —For the second time Miss Mathilde Benkhardt today appealed to “twelve good men and true" to give her $25,000 for a kiss. Miss Benkhardt alleged a kiss was forcibly administered to her by Dr. Justine L. Mitchell, in the nursery of the German deaconuess hospital, where she was a nurse on April 24, 1919. She said that because of events which followed the kiss she was discharged from the hospital without just cause and seeks $25,000 damages.

Price 2 Cent*

ENGINEER IS EMPLOYED TO MAKE CHANCE Estimated Cost of Improvement Is $40,000; Present Capacity Taxed ORNAMENTAL LIGHTS Council Considers Changing Five Cluster Lights to One Light I The electric light committee reported to the council last evening that M. B. Gouty of Fort Wayne lias been employed as the consultin'; engineer to advise and plan the installation of tlie contemplated improvements at the city power and water works plant, which includes the 'installation of two new boilers, a brick stack and stokers under the boilers, and a small addition to the building to house the machinery. Mr. Gouty is recognized as one of the foremost engineers and authorii ties in his line of work and for a number of year was in tho employ of the traction company of Fort Wayne and also supervised the installation of the machinery in tho municipal plant. Ho was highly recommended by those who are acquainted with his ability and work as a consulting and electrical engineer. The present boilers in the city plant have seen about 16 years of service and in view of this constant wear, may “go down" at any time. Since last August the city plant lias been carrying a capacity load every day and on several instances the load has more than taxed the capacity of the plant. The General Electric company is the biggest power user and if Decatur is to progress tho city must be aide to furnish power and light to the industries. With this thought in view, coupled with the present condition of the boilers, it is necessary to make a number of improvements at the plant. It is estimated that tho proposed improvements will cost about $40.u00, it to come out of the earnings of tho plant. After Engineer Gouty lias completed his inspection of tho plant and prepared plant for the proposed improvements further action will be taken by tho council. Other Council Action The board of safety recommended that the salary of Night Policeman Seph Melchi be increased from S9O to slotl, the same as that paid Hie day policeman. • The Ornamental Lights No report was made on the speci tleatior.s for the ornamentia! street lights oi. l oth sides of Second street front ickson to Jefferson street, as • the committee has under consideration the recommendation of changing the present live cluster lights to one light, a sample of th's style of post being erected in front of the city hall The change to the one light post can easily b 1 made and the owners o the j present five cluster lights mav be asked Io make the change and thus c inform with the ore light post which tile council thinks would be of m< ■ e sc: vice and less expotir.ive in upkeep. . — • Jacob Huser, of Berne, attended to business interests here today.

Tlie, jury disagreed at the first trial. The nurse who was known as "Germany” ;tt the hospital, took the stand before a packed court room aud told her story in broken Eng lish. She said that Mitchell met her in the nursery and alter kissing her, at tempted to attack her hut was prevented by the entrance of another nurse "Later l was dismissed," she said. "They told me that they didn’t want to lose Dr. Mitchell and that Dr. Mitchell wouldn’t have me around”