Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 63, Decatur, Adams County, 14 March 1923 — Page 1

V o |„me XXI. Number

or niffl CONSPIRACY CASE STARTS -sawaS”’’ Witnesses SEVERAL. ' WITNESSES Between Seventy-live and Eighty Persons to Testify for State 14-ASP-lul to JI Democrat)— Armed government loitered in the corridors of federal building here today at opening of the trial of the Gary liquor consiAracy case. They had orders to prevent the intimidation of prosecuting witnesses who will testify against Mayor Rosswell Johnson, city judge William Dunn. Prosecutor Dwight M. Kinder, other officials and many foreign born residents of the Calumet region named as defendants. Shortly before court opened at 10 o'clock the guards were seen to drift in an apparently aimless manner out of the offices of the United States marshal, the district attorney, the prohibition department and the bureau of investigation of the department of justice. All forces of the federal government in Indiana were concentrated in the effort to protect 75 or 80 witnesses, following the murder of fiaspari Monti, “king of Little Italy" , in Cary. District Attorney Elliott had relied strongly ors the testimony Monti was prepared to make in the trial. While the guards took their places in the district court and in the porritjpre, oilier government agents in Cary started out on the trail of two men who approached Monti on the streets there, and ftred two sawed oc shot guns, killing him instantly. Local authorities of Gary - att r H>uL* ed the murder to a vendetta plot but prohibition agents who uncovered evidence in the case said it was committed to silence forever the incriminating evidence which Monti is said to have possessed. ( 1 “I have added an extra force of men said Fred Cretans, chief deputy I’nlted States marshal. “There are guards from the other departments too.” I Every precaution is taken to protect the/ other witnesses because District Attorney Elliott considers the alleged Gary conspiracy the largest ever uncovered in the middle west. He said this trial will lead to further disclosures involving other officials and persons high in the civic and social life of “the magic city.” I The grand jury investigation which led to the present trial was traceable to some extent to the testimony of pretty Agnes Szabo, a Souh Bend girl , Hungarian parentage, who con tossed to buying confiscated booze from constables and other officials L™* an<l runnin * U alon K roa<ls s ed with hi jackets to her point « distribution. By these operations Cr ° wned " QuePn of Boot - •furors to End Probe of Hooded Murder RastrA? nil , ed PreM Service) ’ p ’ La., March 14.—(Special, Dal,y Demccratl-Final adjourn nif, nt tomorrow was the goal today of ’rind Jurors probing kidnapings and 't'lirders !a Morehouse Parish. The’ P‘r.v has practically completed inves I hgatlou of the deaths of Watt Daniel ' ,in 'l I honias Richards, who were kid B “PPed by a hooded mob last August an< 1116 se Mion today was devoted to nt (nidations and misdemeanors in nn "ilon with the reign of terror > masked bandits in the community. hpr ‘HP to Montana. — ENGLAND TO PAY SOON Press Service) •xhington, March 14.—(Special •illy Democrat)—Great Britain to,rri>" is expected by treasury offia i to make the first payment under , <cnfi' Var dPl>t fluidin 8 agreement re States nPffW,a,Pd wlth thp United j of\ a ?< mPnt Will 81 *ghtly in excess * .000,000 being the amount necesevon »°, CUt t ’ le tota ' debt down to an tun ,<,OI) ’ 000 i°00 as provided in the Ending agreement. I

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Illinois Legislature to Probe Massacre ■ Kllul/M t’re’» Service) Springfield, 111., March 14. —A legislative investigation of ihe Herrin inasaayrp nt last June as launched by the ilUnois house or representative today fijllowing a heated discussion In which democrat members strongly condemned adjutant general Black an«l attempted to lay at his door re sponsibillties for failure to prevent the .slaughter. ESTIMATE MUST BE KEPT SECRET Local Officials Think New Road Law Will be of Little Value In the opinion of local officials, the act passed by the legislature, requir . ing the estimates on county road 1 work to he kept set ret. will be of little value. The officials state that ’in the past the contractors have not i taken into consideration the estimate on the work when they sub mltted their bids. The new measure was signed by the governor and will i become a law in May. Martin Jaberg, county auditor, received notice today that the law hail been passed. At the present time the viewers re--1 ports on roads show the amount of 'material that wilt be required and I also the cost of the material, accord ing to the latest quotations. The to- . tai cost of the roail as estimated by the surveyor is also shown on these reports. | Under the new law, the surveyor 'as in the past, will show the amount of material required for the construe • tion of the road, but his report which I will not be open to public inspection. will not show any figures as to th.estimated or approximate cost of th ■ work. In stating that apparently the contractors have not considered the estimate in submitting their bids in the pointed to the bid t submitted ofi the last three road: sold in Adams county. The road were the Zimmerman road, the John Ludy road, and the Babertscher ami Braun road. The total of the estimates on the three roads was $40,'521.84 while the total of the thre ■ contracts let, was only $28,51”. The estimate on the Zmmerman road was $19,879.94, and the lowest bid submitted was $13,930. I In the past it has been compulsory for the county auditor to advertise contract letting ami bond sales in th ■ Indianapolis newspapers, but the a--tfon of the last legislature makes this option with the auditor. The contract letting ami bond sale must b.< advertised in the two county paper, however. I The legislature also passed a measure which provides that when the state lax board rejects a bond issue after bids for the improvement of a board have been re< eived, thost bids cannot be considered at a later date but, instead, new bids must be advertised for, and received. DIED AT FORT WAYNE Miss Ida Strahm, age 23 years, died [at the St. Joseph hosuital in Fort I Wayne at 5 o'clock yesterday evening, i following an illness with lung trouble The deceased was a daughter of Mr. , |and Mrs. Daniel Strahm, living four I miles east of Bluffton. Fifteen broth I era and sisters survive. Funeral ser- ( vices will be held on Friday. I ——o- - Mrs. William Franke Died at Noon Today Mrs. William Franke died at her home near Flat Rock, about noon today. Mr. Franke is a former county! commissioner of Allen county. Further details of the death and funeral arrangements will be given in tomorrow’s paper. —- o SUIT ON ACCOUNT A suit on an account, in which, judgment in the sum of SSOO is de- j manded, was filed in the circuit court today by Clarence A. Hunter against George Weber, C. J. Lutz is attor- ( ne.y for the plaintiff. “notice The Christian Endeavor Society of i the United Brethren church will gve a St. Patrick’s Day party Thursday! evening at 7:30 in the church l>asoment. Eats will be served by the so-, ciety and a good time is assured. All I are invited.

SINK BARGE TO TIE UP CANAL TRAFFIC

■ -—— r — ■, < S" i • I - It - .■ 7- • * I ■ ii ——ee——*- — —i ■ ■< , i ..... w —■* -■ r io,, - - i - - - - - - i -»i - - - -i — - ,i,i

BOTTROP.—The Germans, in an effort to bottle up traffic in the Ruhr canal, sank the barge shown above near Bottrop. The sinking of the boat was only another attempt to make trouble foU the French occupants.

DEMAND MADE FOR BRITISH INTERVENTION Liberals and Labor Want Intervention in the Ruhr District PEACE FEELERS 01 T Outside Power Secretely Interceding in Ruhr Dispute Now (United Press Service) London, Mar. 14—(Special to Daily, Democrat)—Demand for British intervention in the Ruhr was voiced by liberals and labor today following the government’s “narrow squeak" yesterday when Bonar Law just escaped defeat on the issue of his Ruhr policy by a margin of 48 votes —the smallest of his administration. Liberal newspapers demand in 1 concert that the government cease its inaction. The Daily Chronicle urges the matter be referred to the League of Nations, declaring the French i.i the Ruhr are disregarding British interests and interfering with British trade. Regarding the situation at Buer, I where two French officials and later seven Germans were shot. the Chronicle says: “Whatever is the truth regarding the conflicting stories of the Buer murders, nothing could justify the French words and acts that followed . ” Outside Power Intercedes Berlin, Mar. 14 —-An outside power is secretly interceding in the Ruhr dispute, trying to Induce Germany to make a new reparations offer, hazed ' upon withdrawal of the French j i troops, the United Press learned today. (Continued on page two) MAPLESM j ; I CAMP OPENED Total of 1,750 Trees Tapped on Farm of A. J. Smith in Michigan The A. J. Smith farm at Reading. ! Michigan, is a sizzling maple syrup camp, workmen on the place huving ' tapped 1.750 maple trees covering 55 acres of land, and the first day’s run [ totaled 20 gallons of the finest * and j 1 sweetest maple syrup a person could,' I buy. I Mr. Smith just returned from Read-| 'ing and stated that the trees wm tapped on Friday and that by Satur- 1 day the buckets were filled an indlca- ' tions were that many gallons of. syrup would be obtained before the •season is over. A Mr. Peters, is in charge of the work and this year is.’ the second time that the trees have 1 been tapped. Mr. Smith has already received orders ftom Detroit and other places , for the syrup and will be glad to ] supply those who want syrup as long , 'as the supply lasts. i

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday Evening, March 14, 1923.

! GENEVA LADY VERY SICK J Mrs. John L. Juday 111 With Pneumonia and Influenza Mrs. John L. Juday, who has been: dangerously ill at her homo tn Gene ' jva. from flu-pneumonia, is able to sit lup for a few minutes each day. Her daughter, Mrs. A. J. Mosure, of Bluffton. is nursing her. Another daughter. Mrs. Robert C. Hearn, of Bryan. Ohio, has returned to her home, to j care for her husband, after being called to Mrs. Juday’s bedside. Mrs. Hearn’s husband, a nephew of the late Patterson Morris Hearn, is con lined to their home from the flu. Mr. Juday has also been very ill from the flu but Is able to be about. Mrs. Juday is in her seventy-eighth year and her husband is nearing bis eighty-fourth birthday anniversary. STANDARD OIL CO. HAS POWER Sen. Lafollette Declares Company Can Raise Gasoline to $1 a Gallon (United Press Service) Washington. Mar. 14—(Special to i Daily Democrat) —The Standard Oil Company has the power to raise the price of gasoline to $1 a gallon because of its present dominance of the industry, Senator Lafoliette, chair-> man of the senate oil investigating ■ committee, charged in a statement; supplementary to the committee's! recent report and in reply to attacksl 'on it by Walter C. Teagle, A. C. Bed , ford and other Standard officials. The senator indicated his belief: that the Standard companies are also' in a position to control the manufae-l ture it gasoline substitutes. After stating that the committee’s reference to dollar gasoline was the principal point of attack on the committee’s report by Standard officials, Lafoliette says: “The Standard does not deny eith er the will to make the price of guso line $1 a gallon or the power to do it under the conditions described in the report, but its answer simply is that before gasoline reaches $1 a gallon a substitute will be found tot it. ; “And alcohol is the substitute suggested. If this is to be regarded merely as another evidence of the grim humor for which the Standard oil is noted, it is understandable.; But until there is some suggestion as to the product out of which the alcohoi is to bo manufactured iu cuantlties of billions of gallons, and a reasonable certainty that the Standard will not monopolize the patents and processes for Its manufacture, the suggestion to the motorist tnat <he can use alcohol instead o’ gasoline as a motor fuel will not bring much comfort. — .. » J. A. Zerkel, of Root township, attended to business here today. Mrs. Otto Pec Ml and son. of Preble were shoppers here today. ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦ WEATHER 4 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ INDIANA — Increasing cloudiness followed by snow or rain beginning late tonight Or Thursday. Slightly warmer tonight. Strong eastern I winds Thursday.

CORN GROWERS HELD MEETING HERE TUESDAY Many Farmers Heard Interesting Talk by Purdue University Man I MEDALS GIVEN OUT Twenty-five Adams County Men Enrolled in Fiveacre Contest A number of farmers attended the 1 coru growers meeting held at the | county agent's office yesterday aftcrjnoon, when medals were awarded the ! winners in the 5 tiers corn contest co.i'ducted in Adams county last yea.'. K. S. Thomas, of Purdue, who has been active in promoting the contest throughout the state, made a talk touching upon the reasons why the contest lias been carried out for the last several years and gave some of the results which have been obtained. Mr. Thomae stated methods of plant- ! ing. selecting seed and other phases iof the corn growing industry had (been changed in many cases by those in the contest. “Among the things which can be controlled by the in- | dividual corn grower, good seed which ; has been tested and fertile soil, are probably the most essential." stated ' Mr. Thomas. It was also stated that ' even in years when the germination of seed corn is known to be high, it ; is important that it he tested. Twenty-five Enter Contest Twenty-five men are now entered , in the contest In the county and it is j expected that several more will enter i before the time limit expires, so th<contest will undoubtedly create much local interest. Membership in the Indiana Corn Growers association is (Continued on page two) SAY JURYWAS TAMPERED WITH Evidence Gathered in Connection With Trial of Gov. Len Small (By The United Press) Waukegan. 111., Mar. 14—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Evidence gath ered In an investigation of alleged tampering with jurors in the trial of Governor Len Small, was prepared tor presentation to a grand jury today. The, governor was acquitted of charges of conspiracy to misappropriate large sums of state funds, after a six months trial. A. V. Smith, prosecutor of Lake i county in a secret investigation covering a period of two months, has I questioned scores of members of the I venire summoned in the Small trial. The probe was launched when a Chicago labor leader declared that a ' rival was paid $50,000 to “fix” the I jury, Two of the mon questioned are re- ; ported to have confessed and are now [ being held secretly in a fall . near j here.

Irish Insurgents Are Executed Today (United Press Service) Dublin. March 14.— (Special to Daily Democrat) —Four Irish insurgents wife executed al Drnmboe, Donegal, Imlay. They faced a firing squad shouting: "Up the republic." Their execution makes a total of ten in Iwo days, shot by orders nl the Free State. BUSINESS MEN LEND SUPPORT Catch Spirit of Special Review Edition of Decatur Daily Democrat Catching the spirit of the proposition in a manner that bespeaks the greatest success for the Daily Democrat’s proposed Review Number, and with assurance of hearty cooperation coming in front every side, Decatur business men and residents have, accorded the plan their undivided support, and a degree of interest has been manifest this week that is indeed gratifying to those having the work in hand, one of the most pleased of these being Tom Alleger, who spent his boyhood here, and who is compiling the data reminescent of Decatur’s past twenty-five years of achievement and advancement. As the work progresses, it becomes more and more interesting, and numerous features have been added which will appear in the edition. Old residents of Decatur, who have moved away and who, like Alleger, can recall fondly, events of former years, are invited to write briefly of their experiences, inchiding events of importance in Decatur —whether in business, social, political or industrial circles. The slogan is “Make it Snappy.” It is truly surprising the number of people who take a deep interest in recounting and reading these past events, and it is one of the' most stimulating things in the world, for residents past and present. Readers submitting articles should make them as brief as possible, and write clearly. There ought to be several columns of events of this kind, from former residents ami “old timers.” Should former residents, like Alleger. decide to return here, they will find wonderfnl improvements—improvements of the solid, substantial kind, that will agreeably surprise them. Their chests will swell out in pride and they will unanimously say' —“I lived here twenty-five years ago” i In addition to these features. tho| numerous articles concerning our' local business establishments will prove mighty interesting reading, and will form a gazeteer of modem business that rings with boosting power and enthusiastic pride in home circles. By catching the booster spirit prevalent in every business write-up. things will assume a much more “homey” aspect, and it will be read-. ily seen that the home merchants, the home dealer, and the home pro- j fessional men are the real leaders and the choice of home residents, every time. A penny or two may be saved on the surface by patronizing the mail order house and by sending for out of town goods, but in the long ruu, it is always best at home, for where the home ties are, there also is the genuine spirit of attainment and progress. I Boost your neighbor, Boost your friend; Boost the church that you attend. I Boost the goods that .you are selling, 1 Boos( street ott which you're dwelling., Boost for every new improvement, I Boost for your home newspaper. Boost for every forward movement. Cease to be a chronic knocker; Cease to be a project blocker. If you’d make Decatur better, to the final letter. REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS Calvin If. Hamrick to Harvey L. Sipe, one acre in Blue Creek township, for S2OO. Birthel Dynes to Jacob Sommer, 30 acres in Wabash township, for $2,700. Ada Fay Sliimp to Harold Schlagenhauf, lots 226 and 227 in Geneva, for j $675. James F. Sipe to Elizabeth Ire Jan, 20 acres in Blue Creek township, for $2,000. John Schelmann to Drayton W. Hill, lot 488 tn Decatur, for SBSO. David C. Reinhard to Reinhard. 36 acres in French township, for $3,600.

Price: 2 Cents.

AGED COUPLE SEPARATED BY DEATH TODAY Mrs. Martin Lord Dies at Her Home in Monmouth After Short Illness HUSBAND VERY ILL Pioneer Couple Celebrated Sixty-fourth Wedding Anniversary Recently Nancy Ann Lord, aged 83 years, one of the pioneer residents of Adams county, died at her home in Monmouth. north of this city, at 6:30 o’clock this morning, following a brief illness with pneumonia. Mrs. Lord took seriously ill last Sunday and had been confined to her bed since that time. Her husband. Mart in Lord, age 86 years, is seriously ill with pneumonia, al the present time, and little hone is held for his recovery. Funeral services rill be hold from the home in Monmouth at 1:30 o’clock Friday aitemoon, and bur'al will be made in the Monmouth cemetery. Was Bern in Ohio Mrs. Lord was born in Ross county, Ohio, December 1, 1839. She was the daughter of George and Nancy Dutcher. When she was twelve years old she came with her parents to Adams county, and settled ma. Monmouth. She spent the remainder of her life in that vicinity. At the time when Mrs. Lord camo to this county with her parents, this country was covered with timber ami wild’animals abounded in large num bers. The house in which Mr. and Mrs. Lord were living at the time of the latter’s death, was used for a hotel in the early years of their lives Travelers were brought th‘re by a 1 stage coach which operated between this city and Fort Wayne. When a young girl, Mrs. Lord worked in the tavern for fifty cents 'a week. Her duties consisted of caring for the rooms, assisting in the kitchen, doing chores around the barn, and in the fall assisting in the harvest of the crops. Married Sixty-four Years More than sixty-four years ago. Mrs. Lord met her husband and they I were married. They celebrated their sixty-fourth wedding anniversary glast summer, and they were looking forward to the sixty fifth anniversary when death separated them today. When the civil war, broke out, Mr. I-ord left his wife and three small children and volunteered his services for his country, and fought for fourteen months. Although he participated in a number of battles, he escaped uninjured. Mother of Eleven Children Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lord. Six of theinl preced led their parents in death. Those liv--1 ing are: Enos Lord, of Fort Wayne: ■ Arnetta Kurt, of Decatur; Minnie } Burr, of Monmouth; Reuben Lord, of Fort Wayne; and Catharine Davis, of Fort Wayne. There are 25 grandchildren ami 15 greatgrandchildren living. Mrs. Lord is survived by two sisters and one brother also. They are Mrs. L. N. Glandstaff, of Monmouth; Mrs. William Blackburn, of I Decatur; and George Dutcher, of Decatur. Mrs. Lord was a member of the Concord Lutheran church. The ' community is saddened by the loss of this pioneer. | Until they were taken, ill, Mr. and Mrs. Lord lived alone. Mr. Lord took sick about a week ago and since that time the children have bettn caring for them. ( HOOSE TEXT BOOKS State Board of Education Picks Text Books for Next Five Years Indianapolis, March 13.—Complete lists of textbooks to lie used in Indiana high schools during the next five years were chosen by tile state board of educators at a meeting here today, i The present textbook contract expires following the close of the present school term. Moro than forty bool's, Involving an estimated expenditure of J 1.000.000 arc to be chosen. Arrangements were made today for advertising of bid: and a date will be set tor the adoption. Fourteen publishing companies tinw hold slate contracts.