Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 102, Decatur, Adams County, 29 April 1923 — Page 1

Extra BEC A TUR DAILY DEMOCRAT Extra

Volume XXL Number 102.

BODY OF JUDGE MORAN IS RECOVERED

JUNIORS MAKE SIG HIT WITH CLASS PLAY Capacity Audience Sees Annual Play at IL S. Auditorium ROLES WELL PLAYED Fine Combination of Comedy and Mystery; Two Fine Specialities Given An audience which filled the large high school auditorium to rapacity last night, laughed and applauded for more than two hours while the Juniors staged. "And Home Came Ted," one of the funniest and most cleverly v.riii n comedies ever staged in this ciiy. The acting of the Juniors was «x. -Ilent for amateurs and the cast was well chosen. Bon Farr played the role of Sheet Kelly, the clerk of the Rip Van Winkle Inn. and he fitted into the part splendidly. This was one of the leading roles in the play and was difficult to portray. The part of Miss Diana Garwood the heiress, who was a guest of the inn was capably played by Miss Margaret Zwick. One of the comical roles, that cf Miss Loganberry, a spinster, was portrayed by Miss Josephine Suttles. Miss Suttles had a fine makeup and her imitations of a spinster were excellent. Niles White was the villian of the play, taking the role of Ira Stone. His gruff voice and sarcastic smile made his acting very good. ThcX role of Aunt Jubilee, the colored cook, was relayed by Miss Glenys Elzey. The blackface roles are always difficult to play, but Miss Elzey is deserving of much praise for the man ncr in which she acted the part. Deane Dorwin, who was known as .Mr. Man, darning the plh.vj, turned o.tt to be the’ real Ted and the hero of the play. The role was a heavy one and Deane deserves credit for his acting. One of the most difficult roles in the play was that of Jim Ryker, the lawyer, which was played by Howard Brumley. In the first act he was a dashing young attorney, while In the second and third acts he was disguised as an old man and it was necessary for him to change his voice entirely. Howard’s acting was practically faultless. A character who appealed to the sympathetic side of the audience very much was Mollie Macklin, the housekeeper at the inn. This role was played by Miss Helen Kocher This was one of the heaviest roles in the play, also, to Miss Kocher goes a world of credit. The role of Henrietta Darby, a widow from Honolulu, who turned out to be a former wife of Jim Ryker and who had remarried when she believed that Ryker had been drowned, was played by Justine Hocker. The role was well played. Earl Chase played the role of Ted, the groom, and Harriet Myers, the role of Elsie, the bride. This Ted was mistaken for the real Ted and many complicated situations arose as a result. He and his bride had eloped and the bride got drunk on some Scotch drinks she found in the inn. Senator McCorkle, Elsie’s father, came when notified by Diana Garwood, who was Elsie's cousin. The role of the senator was played by Don Lammiman. The climax w»as reached in the last act when Mr. Ryker made known his identity, exposed the real Ted, and Ira Stone was defeated in his scheme to obtain control of a furniture factory which | rightfully belonged to Ted. The love affairs necessary to make the play a complete success were furnished by Mr. Man and Diana Garwood and by Skeet and Molly. The play was directed by Mrs. J. IL Blair and Miss Agnes Sellemeyer, who is class chaperone. Miss Mildred Butler was pianist. Little Mary Kathryn Sellemeyer. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sellemeyer, gve a speciality dance between the first and second act which drew much applause from the audience. Between the second and (Continued on page two)

CENTRAL SCHOOL PLAY "Her Honor, the Mayor," at H. S. Auditorium Next Week "Her Honor, the Mayor," a threenet comedy filled with good hearty laughs, will be given in the high school auditorium on Thursday and Friday evenings of next week by the pupils of the Central School. The members of the cast hnvo been hold ing rehearsals for some time, and the production promises to be another one of those good ones for which the Central School pupils are noted. HOUSE OF DAVID IS CLASSED AS AFRAUDTODAY I — Judge Statter Says King Benjamin Is Guilty of i Betraying Girls i GETS .lUI)GMENT| Court Awards $15,000 Judgment in Suit Against Cult; SBO,OOO Asked (United Service.) Grand Rapids, Mich., April 28 — (Special to Daily Democrat)—The House of David is a fraud and King Benjamin Purnell, ruler of the cult, is guilty of betraying young girls, according to an opinion expressed by | Judge John Satter, whose decision in , ,he suit of John and Margaret Han-. sell against the colony ami its leaders, was filed in the federal district court today. The court awarded the Hansels 115,000. They sued for SBO,OOO, but Judge Satter declared he though' this was excessive. In commenting on Benjamin’s relations with young girls, Judge Satter said: "That a man may so dominate, young girls or mature women as to, render themselves submissive to him! may be doubted and disbelieved by, some but not to a person who knows, ; the details of general white slavery i cases. In this case these submissive girls received their keep but in the name of religion they were taught that subjection was a holy right and , ■ insured immortality to their bodies. ■ "Many of the immoral acts to • which plaintiffs respective witness ■ testified occurred when Benjamin and the girl ruined were alone. None i of the defendants witnesses could i know of such acts or give testimony concerning the same." , o I MERCHANT FLEET FOR SALE (United Press Service) . Wallington, April 28.—(Special to Daily Democrat) — America’s mer chant fleet was for sale today tn the, , open market. > If buyers do not appear by May 28 I the fleet will be with drawn from tl'e| I counter and the goverrment will run 'it. I! The shipping hoard asked for bids i on the vessel. No statement was i, made as to the price which the | ’ government will consider reasonable. 1 * —" New Dance Record Made in Ohio Today (United Press Service) 1 Youngstown, Ohio, April 28. —(Spe- • cial to Daily Democrat)—Albert Kish 3 passed the world's record for non-stop ’ dancing at four a.tn. today when he had danced 112 hours with only three ’ minutes out for rest every seven 3 hours. 1 He had danced 117 hours at 9 a.tn. l! and expects to dance until midnight 'tonight. ’ I When he passed the world’s record ’’ this morning the big crowd watching ’.the show broke into cheers and ap1 plause. '•I •— *l TEACHERS EXAMINATION “l 1 ' A large number took the examina"j tion held in the Central School build“ling here today for state teachers" | license.

PROBE (TILT’S ALLEGED EXPLOITATION OF GIRLS — : ~-A -ft »W A 1 " (Pacific nnd Atlantic Photo) i Two youthful brides, members of the House of David colony, which the state of Michigan is investigating as a result of charges that girls of 14 and 15, members of the colony, were debauched. St. Joseph, Mich. —Midnight meetings in corn fields, “courtships” in the girls’ dormitory rooms, and wholesale weddings when reports were circulated that officials were going to raid the colony, are some of the charges under investigation by the state of Michigan, which is probing the affairs of "King” Ben Purnell, head of the House of David, a religious cult here. So far authorities have been unable to find Purnell, but they have quizzed many of its members. The state is particularly interested in the ‘‘hurried" weddings of scores of the young folks of the colony. According to stories told officials male members of the colony, old andyoung. visited the girls’ dormitories after dark. "King” Purnell, authorities were told, participated in many of the alleged orgies. Girls were taught that whatever Purnell told them they should do witnesses, slated.

MISTO MEET ’ BAND DIRECTOR Meeting of All Boys Interested in Forming Band on Tuesday Evening The attention of the young boys of I Decatur is called to the meeting to Ibe held Tuesday evening at seven ■o'clock at the Decatur industrial rooms with Mr. Ralph Bailey, band ’director of Marion, who desires to organize a Boys Band in Decatur this summer. The meeting will be called at seven o’clock and every boy in Decatur who is interested in forming 1 juvenile band is urged to attend. Within the last two weeks the ■ names of several boys who want to join the band have turned into this office and given to Mr. Bally. A boys 'band has been organized at Bluffton by Mr. Daily ami it is hoped that a similar organization can be formed in Decatur. Boys between the ages of twelve and fifteen are eligible. The parents of the boys are also invited to attend the meeting and hear Mr. : Bailey explain the purpose of the | purpose of the organization.

Business Men Catch Spirit of 'Paint-up Movement; Second Street to be Transformed

The owners or proprietors of i fifty-nine business houses in the city ' have signed a petition agreeing to paint the front of their business house during cleanup week which will be from May 1 to 8. More names are expected to be added to the list. When this bunch of live wires get through painting up, the business district of Decatur certainly will look fine. If while the fronts of the buildings are being painted, the signs and awnings will be painted and repaired, and those which have served their time torn down, the movement will be a complete sue* cess. The painters are co-operating to get the work done and within a few days, Second street and its tribu-1 taries will be transformed into a beautiful thoroughfare. Following; are the names of the establishments' to be painted: Schafer Hardware Company Niblick and Company Colchin Cigar Company P. Kirsch and Son

Decatur, Indiana, Sunday Morning, April 29, 1923.

GET READY All residents of the city are urg ed to gather up all tin cans and bottles around their premises, put them in boxes or barrels, and place them in the alleys or along the street where the city trucK i driver can get them next week. | which is cleanup week. The driv- ; er of the truck will dump them in the truck and haul them away free of charge. Ashes will not bo hauled by the city. The schedule to be followed by the truck will lie announced later. G. R. & I. Time Table Not to Change Here It was announced at the local ticket office of the Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad today that the change in time table which becomes effective tomorrow, will not affect any of the trains which stop at the local station. The Florida sleeper, which has been operated since last fall, will make its last trip south tonight. The Triweekly passenger extra, pulling the Florida sleepers northward, will make its last trip north at 6:55 a.m. Monday. o Miss Della Sellemeyer was visiting in Fort Wayne today.

Stepler Brothers The Kuebler Company M. Deininger Company Peoples Cash Shoe Store Charles Brock C. E. Baughman Lose Brothers Pumphrey's Jewelry Store American Security Company K. of C. Building H. Knapp and Son Cloverleaf* Creameries, Inc. Anderson’s Restaurant Miller’s Bakery Star Grocery Decatur Fruit Company Doy Lhamon Mutschler’s Meat Market Burdg's Barber Shop Yager Brothers Furniture Store Gay, Zwick & Myers F. McConnell & Son Holthouse, Schulte & Co. Graham & Walters Decatur Dry Cleaners Fred Fullenkamp Burdg’s Millinery

TALENTED ts D*’ 1 701 j aZ Miss Vera Hutchinson, leader in j younger London society, who is male i lug her mark as an authoress. Here I latest book, "Sea Wrack." is hailed ias a success. She is a sister of A. :S. M. Hutchinson, noted English, author. CONFIRMATION SERVICES Large Class to be Confirmed at St. Mary’s on May 20 First communion services for the 1 large class of boys and girls who > will make their solemn services at ! the St. Mary’s Catholic church will t i,-> held on the third Sunday in May, | Father J. A. Seimetz, rector of the j i church, stated this morning. Con-' Urination services will not lie held at the St. Mary’s church this year. LOCAL DOCTORS GO TO MUNCIE Four Adams County Physicians Attend Medical Meeting Last Night ' Four Adams county physicians attended a medical meeting held in Muncie last night. Dr. Miller, ofChicago, delivered a very interestin ’, and instructive lecture on “Newly Discovered Causes and Treatment j ' for a group of diseases, including | j epilepsy. migraine, eczema and | others. • The Adams county physicians who I attended the meeting were Dr. Frank lj Lose and Dr. C. C. Rayle, of Decatur; I I Dr. Summers, of Monroe; and Dr. , ißeusser, of Berne. The four doctors I went byway of Hartford City and 1 made an inspection of the new Black- ■ ford County hospital which has been '.completed recently. They report that the hospital is a very modern building, well equipped. There is a I splendid spirit of cooperation shown in the hospital there, the doctors say. i every room in the building having | been furnished by individuals or ■ organizations. The superintendent lot the Blackford county hospital is ; Miss Stahl, formerly of the Hope 1 Methodist hospital of Fort Wayne.

E. A. Beaver’s Furniture Store I). N. Erwin Ileal Estate Fisher & Harris Western I'nion Lenhart & Heller | Citizens Telephone Company (two buildings.) Peoples Restaurant Decatur Daily Democrat Vance and Linn Crystal and Mecca Theaters Cort Theater D. M. Hensley & Son 1. Bernstein Northern Ind. Gas & Electric Co. Charlie Voglewede Callow & Kohne White Stag Cigar Co. Schmitt Meat Market Mills Grocery Central Grocery Smith. Yager & Falk John T. Myers E. F. Gass & Son Joseph & Lang Confer Ice Cream Co. First National Bank Eats Restaurant

FAST DRIVERS WARNED Chief-of-Pohce Reynolds Says Arrefits Will be Made Fast and careless automobile drivers are warned to cease their dangerous actions at once or arrests will follow, according to a statement made today by Joel Reynolds chief. of-Police. Mr. Reynolds stated that many complaints hud been made by local citizens and that the practice must bo stopped at once. Besides driving on the city streets at a rapid rate of speed, many drivers cut corners and pay no attention to the "blind traffic cops" in the center of I tlte street intersections. HEAVY FINES AND PRISON I TERMS GIVEN Mayor Johnson Sentenced for Eighteen Months and Fined $2,000 FEW GET NEW TRIALS Majority Expected to Carry Cases to U. S. Dist. Court of Appeals (United Press Service) Indianapolis, April 28. — (Special to Daily Democrat) — Heavy prison sentences and fines were given principals among the defendants in the Gary booze conspiracy case today after Judge Ferdinand A. Geiger in federal court today, overruled motions for a new ■ trial for all but three of the 55 'defendants convicted of conspiracy against the federal prohi,bi tion law. The sentences: Roswell O. Johnson, mayor of Gary, one year and six months in prison and $2,000 fine. William M. Dunn, who re- | signed as city judge when he was convicted one year and one (lay in prison and SI,OOO fine. Dwight M. Kinder, Lake County prosecutor, one year and one day and .SI,OOO fine. Clyde Hunter, former Lake County prosecutor, one year and one day and SI,OOO fine. The minor sentence ranges from one day to six months and the heaviest fine was SIOO. Refusal to grant a second trial came after long arguments by defense attorneys, in which the competence of the evidence introduced was attacked. Before sentences wore announced, district attorney Elliot divided the ■ defendants into four classes. The first consisted of those who sold booze, according to evidence introI duced at tile trial, the second of those whom evidence showed operated resorts at which the law was violated. The third class included police officers, constables and Ralph Stagnaich hotel proprietor, who figured as a leading character in the case. The fourth consisted of public off! cials. Those granted new trials were: sheriff Win. Olds, Charles I. Clemens, Justice of the Peace, and Ered Seabright, former prosecutor in Clemens court. It was reported the government will not further press these cases. “I have always done my duty,” Mayor Johnson said when given an ■ opportunity to talk. He said he had ; nothing more to say. Prosecutor Kinder broke- down and ; cried. Hunter went to him. patted hint on the shoulder and told him not to worry. It is believed generally that a majority of the defendants who are city and county officials will carry I their cases to the U. S. district court |of appeals at Chicago. I All who received sentences of , more than a year will be sent to the federal prison at Atlanta. Those sentenced tb a year or less will be confined tn the Marion county jail. The court gave defendants who expect to appeal, 120 days in which to file bills of exceptions.

Price: 2 Cents.

SEARCH ENDED LAST EVENING j AT FORT WAYNE I' Body Found in St. Mary’s River by Fifteen-Year-Old Boy Named Starke. ■ | DROWNING, ACCIDENT Is Verdict Returned by Corner — Judge Had Been Missing Nine Days Almost to the Hour—Romains Are Brought Here. A search which had contin- | tied almost nine days to the I hour ended hist evening at 8:15 when Paul Starke, a fifteen year (,ld boy assisted by another hid [ j named, ScfhlebeekiT, removed the lifeless body of Judge John '('.. Moran, of this city, from the muddy waters of the St. Mary’s , river at a point about 81X1 feet ' cast of the Clinton street bridge at Fort Wayne. . The Starke boy had been playing along the river during the late afternoon and noticed an object floating out quite a distance from shore. By ; use of a long stick and a rake he . finally got it near enough to shore ■ until he noticed a shoe protrude . | from the water. He ran for help and . soon the two boys pulled the body 1 j from the water. • The word was sent to officers and .; the body removed to the Rodenbeck undertaking rooms where Dr. D. R. i Letminghoff held an inquest, declar- ’ J ing death due to accidental drowning. The features were so badly marred i that identification could not have . I been made by recognition, in the pockets was found $35.00 in bills and some change, an Elks card, letters, ' several checks, a rosary, prayer hooks and some legal papers, all ! bearing his name. 'I Ther was no signs of foul play, and jit is believed the judge dazed and ' | helpless, walked into the river. The theory believed by several, is that, when he left the restaurant on South Calhoun street, he turned at the alley just north, went a block west to I Harrison and then straight north to the Wabash right-of-way near the railroad river bridge, where he walkinto the river. The body was found ja long distance from there, but show 1 ied that it hail traveled, being cover oil with mud and the lungs wore full iof water. The body was found in a 1 j small eddy w here it had been whirlling around, perhaps for days. The nows that the body had been 'discovered reached here about 9:30 when Guy Colerick. attorney, who ' had searched constantly since the Judge’s disappearance, and who was called to identify hint, called T. J. Durkins and told him that the search . was over. A few minutes later the details were received at this office anti several telephone calls gave the sad .11i formation to the crowd who waited ■here. Rev. Seimetz. Mr. Durkin and C. J. Lutz went to the Moran home immediately and gave them the facts as heard. The bdoy was brought here during the night ami taken to the ’ Yager morgue. ' The community is downhearted I and very sad indeed, anti the sympathy of thousands is extended to the bereaved family. ' The judge disappeared the night of April 19th. He had been at Huntington during the day trying a law ' suit ami was returning byway of Ft. 1 Wayne. He visited there during the evening and boarded the nine o'clock ; traction ear at the station. It was ' noticed he was ill and he left the car at Baker street. He was seen at ?9:30 in a small restaurant a block Jand a half south of the railroad and that was Hie last information obtainable. A continuous search was kept 1 I un beginning the following day and I ending only after identification of f the body last night. Plans for hun“idreds to scour the country between B here und Fort Wayne had been comB pleted. Judge Moran was Ixiru iu Jefferson ’" township, Adams county. February □ — ——»—— (Continued on page six)