Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 146, Decatur, Adams County, 20 June 1923 — Page 1

Volume XXI. Number 146.

VANGUARD 0 CITY FOR BIG f* * FIRST SESSION OF CONVENTION THIS EVENING City Prepared To Welcome Hundreds Os Visitors To Gathering TOMORROW IS BIG DAY Parade, Band Concerts And Contests On Program For Thursday "All ye Fire Fighters WELCOME to Our City,” lettered in large red letters on a banner strung across the street in front of the City Hall on Monroe street Is the greeting extended by the Volunteer Firemen and citizens of Decatur to the delegates and members of the fire companies who were gathering here today for the eighteenth annual convention of the Northern Indiana Industrial and Volunteer Firemen's Association which will be held here tomorrow. The vanguard of the delegates from the thirty-seven companies in the association were arriving in the city this afternoon, the first delegates registering at the fire department in the city hall being, J. Raab and Carl Ramsey of Dodge Brothers Mfg. Co., Mishawaka, Ind. At least fifty deelgates will be here for the business meeting this evening, each company having one delegate for every ten men in the company. At six o'clock this evening a reception and banquet will be held at the Knights of Pythias home, the Pythian Sisters serving the dinner. During the evening the Harmony Four will furnish music. Mrs. L. A. Holthouse and Mrs. Dan Tyndall will sing and C. J. Lutz will be called upon to make an address of welcome. C. O. Headington, of Portland, president of the associaiton will preside at the meeting. To Elect Officers Following the banquet a business meeting will be held at which time new officers of the association will he elected. The present officers are C. O. Headington. Portland, president; F. G. Duryee. Fort Wayne, vice-president; G. F. Rogge, Fort Wayne, sec’y. and Treasurer; Joseph Hunter, Decatur, assistant secretary. To Select Convention City Up to press time today, it was stated that the Hartford City fire company was the only organization in the association that had asked for the 1924 convention. During the business meeting this evening the convention city for next year will be selected. This is the second convention for Decatur, the firemen convening here for the first time in 1913. State Fire Marshall Coming Newton T. Miller, Indiana state ytre wired Amos Fisher that he would attend the convention, arriving in the city sometime this afternoon and will speak to the delegates at the K. of P. home this evening. Big Crowd Expected Between eight hundred and one thousand firemen are expected to be here for t,he ' convention and the total crowd is estimated at from ten to fifteen thousand. It will be a big day and hot one if the present heat wave continues unabated. Firemen Meet at Six A. M. Chief Fisher requests that the local firemen meet at the city hall at six o’clock Thursday morning so that reception committees to meet all the trains and escort the visiting firemen to the city hall can be appointed ami other details looked after. The Decatur firemen will wear their new blue serge uniforms. "The big noise,” so to speak, will start tomorrow. A reception foi tin visiting delegates will be held at tin headquarters in the city hall during the morning. A band concert will be held at 10 o’clock. The parade is scheduled to start at 1 o clock on First street. The parade will move north on First street to Marshal street, west to Second street. 901 lt _ 1 (Continued on page three)

becatur daily democrat

F FIREMEN IN CONVENTION Harding Sells Newspaper (United Press Service) Washington, June 20.—1 Special to Daily Democrat)—President Harding has sold the Marlon, Ohio. Star, it was announced at the White House today. The sale is to Louis H. Brush, publisher of the Salem. Ohio, News, and two newspapers at East Liverpool, Ohio, and to Roy I). Moore, a resident of Columbus. Ohio. Gordon vizard GETS DIPLOMA Adams County Youth Accepts Position With An Advertising Agency Gordon Vizard, son of Dr. J. W. Vizard, who was graduated a few days ago from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., has arrived home for a two weeks rest before taking up work with an advertising agency at Kansas City. Gordon, who took a journalistic course, majoring in advertising, was offered a number of good positions including one in Shanghai, China, by the American Tobacco company, but concluded to remain in this country.. He will go to Kansas City about the first of July. When he left Columbia he turned his room over to his older brother, Paris, who came from Oklahoma to complete his education. Paris had concluded his sophomore year when the war came on and prevented his finishing. While he has been very successful, he realizes the importance of an education and will devote the next two years to securing a diploma, lie will go to Missouri one year and then finish probably in Penn State or else in Michigan. —o POISON PLANT CAUSES DEATH • Clover Leaf Section Worker Died Near Curryville Yesterday Afternoon Clyde Filmore Shady, 48, a section hand on the Toledo, St. Louis & Western railroad working near Curryville, died at 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, thirty minutes after being stricken with convulsions. Mr. Shady resided near Tocsin. Two theories were advanced as to the cause of Mr. Shady's death. One was that he suffered a sun stroke whicji was followed by apoplexy, and the other theory was that he was poisoned by eating Hemlock which he thought was Sweet Annis. The physician who was called to attend the sick man. believed that lie had suffered from a sun stroke. The Wells county coroner was called ami he decided that death was due to poison from Hemlock. A quantity of the plant eaten by Mr. Shady was taken to a botanist, a Mr. Williams, in Bluff ton, and he diagnosed it as Hemlock, which is deadly poison. Mr. Shady is survived by a wife; one daughter. Mrs. Henry Murphy, of Bloomington; and one step-son, James Moore, of Fort Wayne. Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon from the Littleville church. Attempt To Lynch Negro In Savannah Georgia (United Press Service) Savannah. Ga„ June 20-(Special to Daily Democrat)— Martial law was proclaimed in Savannah today following a night of rioting during which one man was killed and several others injured in an attempt to storm the jail ami lynch Walter Lee negro, alleged to have attempted assault on a white woman. Sales of fire arms were prohibited. Although | the town was quiet on the surface as uni ts of the state militia patrolled the streets, Governor Hardwick old-1 ered martial law declared to prevent further outbreaks.

CONTRACTOR IS SUED FOR $1,500 Wabash Stone Company Files Suit Against Chas. F. Bragg Here A suit entitled, State of Indiana on relation of William R. Smith and Theodore W. Baker, doing business under the firm name of The Wabash Slone Company, vs. Charles F. Bragg and Southern Surety Company, was filed in the Adams circuit court today. The suit is a complaint on a bond in which the sum of $1,500 is demanded. ( The plaintiffs in the suit allege that , the defendant, Bragg, purchased . crushed stone and screenings from them to be used in the construction ' of the Abe Bebout macadam road in , Adams county, the defendant having been awarded the contract for build-1 ing the road by the county commissioners. The Southern Surety Company signed Mr. Bragg's bond as surety. The plaintiffs say that the stone and screenings purchased by Bragg and the labor performed by the plaintiffs in hauling the stone, amounted to $2,533.46, of which amount, only $1,200 has been paid, leaving a total of $1,333.46 upaid and due. They aver that the defendant has collected all of the amount due him from the county on his contract. The complaint was filed through the law firm of Lenhart A- Heller. o - Supt. Christen At Meeting County Superintendent E. S. Christen is attending a county superintendents' meeting at Indianapolis today. From there the county superintendents will go to Muncie to attend an educational conference which is being held there the 21-22. _____ () NO TAXPAYERS HAVE OBJECTED None Appear Before Board Os Reviews To Object To Assessments Although taxpayers in every township in the county have had an op-1 portunity to make objections to assessments on their property made by the township assessors, not a one has appeared before the county board of review. Today was the date set for objections in Berne, Geneva and Monroe to appear before the board and tomorrow will be set aside for Decatur taxpayers. The corporation objectors will be heard on Friday, if there are any. The assessments in most of the townships is coming up to the average and the board noes not intend to raise the assessments. However, in two of the townships, it is said, the assess- , meats on a few items are too low, but the assessors in those townships have signified a willingness to raise the assessments. The hoard of review has been checking up the mortgage exemptions in the various townships according to the schedule for hearing objectors. o— Krick-Tyndall Company Gets icargo Tile Contract Columbia City, Ind.. June 20.—County Surveyor Claude Anspaugh sold, the Grant Sellers ditch, in Troy township. in his office, Saturday. It consists of a main line and six branches and is made up of 14 stations of open work and 90.66 stations of tile. The i Krick-Tyndall company, of Decatur, will furnish the tile for $1,575 and the construction work was sold to H. S. and R. W. Cummins for $1,265.95. The total assessments will be $3,457.54. 0 — Seniors Refuse Diplomas (United Press Service) Amherst, Mass., June 20 —(Special to the Daily Democrat) —Twelve Amherst college seniors today refused to accept their degrees at commence-1 ment as a protest against the forced resignation of Dr. Alexander Meiklejohn. | Dean Daniel Olds, professor of mathematics, has been appointed 1 president of Amherst college in place of Dr. Meiklejohn. I Carlisle Bolton Smith of Memphis, ' orator of the senior class, was the I first man to refuse his diploma.

Decatur, Indiana, Wednsday, June 20, 1923.

BACK FROM CHINA <1 Ella C. Jorgens Pasadena, Cal.—How bandits in China are terrorizing the population and making traveling unsafe for foreigners is'the story brought to the United States by Ella C. Jorgens of South Pasadena. Miss Jorgens visited the bandit territory tnd told vivid stories of bandit exploits. CITY COUNCIL ORDERS TENTH STREET PAVED Orders Brick Street From Monroe To Adams Streets; No Objections Heard PETITION FOR LIGHTS Line Street Residents Want Ornamental Lights; Streets Being Oiled South Tenth Street, from Monroe to Adams, will he improved with brick and cement sidewalks and bids for its construction will be received by the city council on July 17th. No objections or remonstrances were filed against the proposed improvement last evening and the final resolution ordering the Improvement was I passed and adopted. The brick street ' will be 35 feet wide and a five foot cement sidewalk will be built on each side. It was rumored that property owners would petition to have a boulevard built, the street being 86 feet wide from property line to property | line, but no action has been taken and the orignal specifications have been 1 adopted. Want Ornamental Lights If their petition is granted, residents on Line Street from Adams Street south to the Chicago and Erie railroad, which is now being macadamized, will be the first property owners to erect ornamental street .lights in the residence district in Decatur. A petition signed by P. Conrad, Arthur B. Kleinbenz. L. G. Hammond. W. H. Engle. Glen Cowan, Geo. M. Krick and Orval Harruff was filed with the city council last evening requesting that the ornamental lights jbe installed, the cost of the posts being assessed against the abutting property owners. It was stated that a majority of the property owners living on the street had signed the petition which, upon motion, was referred to the street and sewer committee. Objects To Sidewalk E. B. Adams, representing his father, L. D. Adams, appeared before the council and offered objections against the building a cement sidewalk on the west side of Mercer avenue from Rugg to Winchester, stating the present brick sidewalk has been relaid within the past few years and that it was in good condition. The objection was referred to the street 1 and sewer committee. W. A. Klepper petitioned for the improvement some time ago. Hoffman Sewer Adopted The preliminary assessment roil in the matter of the Jacob R. Hoffman sewer was adopted and July 3rd set as the date on which objections will he heard. Awarded Sewer Contract Joseph Metzer was awarded the 'contract for the building of the Albert Minnick sewer, his contract price •being $965.00 plus sixty cents each for additional tile. No other bids were filed. (Continued nn page four) Weather Continued warm and generally fair tonight and Thursday.

DISCOVER “GIRL | BANDIT” IS MAN I I —- . I Person Who Killed Richard Tesmer Unmasked As Man By Physicians (United Press Service) Chicago. June 20. —(Special to Daily Democrat) —"Mrs. Francis Thompson." 32, identified as the "smiling, blue-eyed girl bandit,” who killed Richard Tesmer, was unmasked ns a man by physicians today. Dr. David J. Jones, city physician, and Dr. Clara Sleppel of morals court, made the examination, disclosing one of the strangest cases of masculine and feminine personalities ever brought before Chicago police. The two physicians reported that while the prisoner lias prominent femine characteristics he must lie given legal status of a man and be handled on that basis. "Mrs. Thompson" was arrested yesterday and identified by Mrs. Richard Tesmer as the "girl” who killed the latter’s husband during a robbery in the rear of the Tesmer "Gold Coast” home. She was dressed in feminine attire and claimed to police to be sexually abnormal. The prisoner, now on police records 1 as Fred G. Thompson, has been the legal "wife” of Frank Thompson, also held, told police. For hours after the arrest and identification, "Mrs. Thompson" convinced police, physicians and newspaper men that he was a woman with an abnor- ' mal feminine nature. Preparations were to take “her" to the women's detention home when Doctors Jones and Seippel made the discovery of . sex and police placed the prisoner in t the men's ward at the Hyde Park station 5 FLOW OF LAVA X IS DECREASING l Two More Townships De- ' stroyed. However, By Lava From Mt. Etna fUnited Press Service) Catania. Sicilv, June 20— (Special ( I ! to the Daily Democrat)—The destructive flood of molten lava flowing from 12 craters of Etna decreased ■ today. 1 Two more tiny townships were completely seared from the face of the , earth by fiery streams during the night and the railroad station at Cas- . tiglione was submerged but hopes . were entertained that more impor- . ant cities might lie spared. The town of Giarre, which has I 20,000 inhabitants, has been completely evacuated, only carabiners and i militia remaining. i Unlss fresh explosions occur, how- ; ever, it is believed the worst may be ; over. The lava is forming a crust i and advancing more and more slow- > lyDestruction of the little village of - Piesimente began this morning. The houses went down in flames as white hot masses, now resembling a gla- - Her crept towards them. > . i hi— W '* ■— : Rotarians Discuss Ethics Os Business At Convention (United Press Service) 1 St. Louis, Mo„ June 20. —(Special to 1 Daily Democrat) —Business ethics and ’ the influence of the individual Rotart lans in bringing about honest bust - ness methods were discussed at the 1 morning session today of Ilotaty international at the Coliseum. Thoses who spoke were Met! i Sidener of Indianapolis, a member of i the vlgilence committee of the Advert Hsing Clubs of the World: Sydney A. 1 Fascall. of London; Raymond Ravens of Kansas City, president of the I Rotary International; Sherman Rog-1 e ers of New York, known as "The I- Lumberjack Orator.” and Bert Serib-1 8 ner of Pueblo, Colo., head of Rotary's n ‘ business methods committee. s Sneak thieves, forgers, embezzlers, | plain burglars and yeggmen of busi-j . ness were dealt witli in plain terms by Sidener. ■ --—•— - CHICAGO MARKET CLOSE Wheat: July $1.04; Sept. $1.04: < y Dec. $1.06%. Corn: July 82%c; Sept.) |77%c; Dec. 66%c.

EPWORTH LEAGUERS CLOSE CONVENTION THIS EVENING

MEETING NIGHT CHANGED The attention of the Loyal Daughters S. S. class of the Evangelical | church Is called to the fact that the I meeting of the class which was to| have been held on tomorrow evening $ .at the home Mrs. Arbie Owens, on Mcßarnes street, has been postponed until Friday evening. Members are asked to tell others of the class of the change in dates. HEAR PETITION FOR LOWER RATES Public Service Commission Hears Petition Os The Craigville Company The petition of the Craigville Electric line company against the Linn Grove Light & Power company, for reduced rates, was heard by Oscar Hatts and Maurice Douglass, repre sentatives of the State Public Service commission, at Bluffton yesterday. Evidence was taken in the case hut decision will not be given until later. Tlie Craigville patrons of the Linn Grove company are asking a reduction from 15 to 12% cents on the fit st 100 kilowatts and corresspondlng | decreases throughout the scale ol rates. The 12% rate was in effect under the original contract, hut an increase was granted by the board two years ago. at the same time an increase was given to the city of Bluffton for current supplied to the Linn Grove company. A reduction from $2 to $1 as the minimum rate is included. I Tile case of the Geneva Milling XI Grain Co. against the Lian Grove IJght & Power company was heard yesterday morning. The Geneva con cern is asking for improved service. — o OPEN MEETING OF LUTHERANS San Francisco Man Preach es Sermon At Opening Session This Morning (United Press Service) Fort Wayne. June 20. —(Special to Daily Democrat)—Delegates repre Renting the 27 districts of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri. Ohio and other states assembled at St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran church at 10 o'clock this morning for a divine service which formally opened the trennial convention of the synod. The Rev. Bernthal of San Francisco Third vice-president of the body de livered the sermon after which delegates presented their credentials at Concordia college preparatory to the opening of the business session schedule for this afternoon at the college. Extinction of Lutheran educational institutions will be the chief matter of business before the convention it was said today. The fifteen colleges and theological seminaries were overcrowed. Leaders say that provisions amounting to millions of dollars must > be made for new buildings principally for Concordia seminary at St. Louis. It is estimated that more than $1,000,000 will have to be provided for tlie annual expenses of the Synods missions at home and abroad, South America, China and India. Automobiles Collided Mrs. E. C. Phillips, of South Seventh street, received a severe cut on lone of her arms when the automobile I band collided with another car driven | in which she was riding with her hitsby a Mr. Spangler, who resides in the I county, on West Adams street near 'the high school building about 9 o'clock last night. Cors were parked on both sides of tlie street, as the I Epworth League convention was being held in the high school building. and there was scarcely room enough for the two cars to pass. The I front wheels collided and the windshield on the Phillips car was broken, 'cutting Mrs Phillips' hand and arm.

Price; 2 Cents.

PICK HAMILTON AS CONVENTION CITY IN 1524 New Officers Elected Today; Decatur Girl Named First Vice President TOUR ABOUT CITY Wawasee Banquet This Evening; Dr. Gratz, Os Chicago, Lectures Tonight More than 325 delegates had registered at the annual Epworth league convention of the Fort Wayne district this afternoon, which is in session nt the First Methodist church here. Great Interest is being shown nt every session of the convention, which will come to a close this evening. Hamilton was chosen as the meeting place for the 1924 convention at the afternoon session today. Four places asked for the convention, the other three being Monroeville, First ••hiirch of Fort Wayne anil Garrett. Hamilton received the most votes, however, and on a motion by Monroeville. tlie selection was made unanimous. The officers of the organization were elected at the forenoon session today. They are ns follows: president. J. F. Olinger, of Garrett: first vice-president. Miss Mary Brown, of Decatur; second vice-president. Lawrence Pontius, of Fort Wayne; third v i<e.-president. K. O. Houser, of Fort Wayne; fourth vi< >4 president. Marvene Isenluirger. of Monroeville; secretary, Thelma Fitch, of Garrett; treasurer. George Monesmith, of Fort Wayne; Junior Superintendent. Mrs. S. I. Zechiel. of Monroe: Booth Festival Booster. Rev. Seth Painter, of Coesse. Tlie afternoon program began at 1 o’clock. Dr. Luther E. Ixivejoy. who was unable to arrive in the city in time to speak during the forenoon ■ession as was scheduled, spoke at tin- afternoon meeting. The election of officers was hold during the forenoon session at tlie time when Dr. Lovejoy was supposed to speak. Tlie Junior demonstration and report of auditing committee were other numbers on the afternoon program. The tour about tlie city and to Belmont Park was scheduled tn start from the church at 2:30 o'clock. A rew athletic events were to tie held ■it the park his afernoon in charge of Miss Marvine Isenbarger and Setli Painter. The Wawasee banquet will lie held in the high school gymnasium at 5 i'clock this evening A number of yells and Wawasee Institute songs will lie given at tlie banquet, in charge of George Rinehart of Bluffton, yell leader. The banqueters will then proceed to the high school auditorium where a short program will be given by the Decatur U-aguers. The program will include three songs, including "Lake Wawasee." led by W. F. Beery; a talk on "Wawasee Institute,” by James Downs; and a one-act play, "A Bunch of Roses.” The evening program will lie held in the First Methodist church, beginning •it 7:30. At tilts session, various reports will be heard penants awarded, and an address given by Dr. W. E. J. Gratz, of Chicago. The convention will close this evening. Stunt Night Entertaining Stui.N night, held in the high school auditorium last night, was highly entertaining. Tlie evening session was opened at 7:15 o'clock with music by the General Electric orehitra. This orchestra provided splendid music. The first stunt was given by the Angola sub-district, and was entitled. "To Drive Old Gloom Away.” The other stunts given were: "Poky Hontas”, by the Auburn sub-district; "King Tut." by Bluffton sub-district; "The Stolen Princess." by Decatur sub-district; and "The Kitson Orchestra," by Fort Wayne sub-district. All were very clever and produced much amusement. (Continued on page three)