Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 198, Decatur, Adams County, 21 August 1923 — Page 1

Volume XXI- Number 19K.

anthracite coal miners to strike

TRAIN ROBBERS take valuable registered mail Daring Holdup On The Katy In Oklahoma Rivals Stories Os Olden Days NO ESTIMATE OF LOOT Dozen Masked Bandits Do The Work; Escape Into Hills; Fpllowed (United Press Service) Bartlesville, Okla., Aug. 21.—Train | robbers escaped with valuable shipments of registered mail after holding up the Missouri. Kansas and Texas passenger train No. 23, near here at midnight. The daring and bold ness with which the holdup was car ried nut riveled stories of the days ot Al Jennings. The train was nearing the end ot a long grade and curve, moving slow ly through a desolate country one mile east of Okesa when the engineer saw a red lantern waving across the track a short distance ahead. The brakes were applied with a jar and the train jolted to a dead stop, within a few feet. A dozen masked men. all heavily armed, began firing as they covered the engine crew, exprss.; messenger, and mail clerks. The express and mail was cut from the train and the engineer, with a revolver pressed Against his back, obeyed the bandit's orders and pulled the ears about 300 yard from the passenger coaches. Ideal Spot Chosen The spot chosen for the holdup was ideal in every respect for the bandit operations. The country around has few settlers. Several outlaw gangs make their hiding places in the rocky hills that extend for miles on either side of the railroad tracks. Automobiles are unable to go close to the scene ot the holdup, back from Okesa because of the rocky roads. Able to work without fear of interruption, the bandits took their time and carefully went over the contents of the car. No official estimate o! the loot was obtainable, but it was said to include at least a score ot packages of registered mail A constant revolver firing as maintained while the holdup was in progress. Passengers Not Disturbed After obtaining their loot from the mail and express car, the bandits ap parently were satisfied and did nol further disturb the passengers. They warned the engineer to take his time about coupling onto th< main part of the train again, and disappeared into the darkness. Authorities believed the robbers have a well stocked cave hidden ir. the recesses ot the hills, where they took refuge. As soon as the train, bound from Kansas City to Oklahoma City reached Okesa, the alarm was spread, and a Quick pursuit was organized. Sheriffs of surrounding counties w<re called upon for assistance. All roads surrounding the hilly country where the bandits are believed hiding, wete guarded. Deputes were stationed at quarter mile intervals. Authorities believed there would be little use in attempting to storm the robbers' stronghold immediately. The holdup, men have undoubtedly fortified their position well and are prepared to resist an attack. Plans were made to keep the outlaws bottled up in their den until they attempt to leave for provisions; to cash in on their loot, or to separ a,r in order to avoid detection. Railroad detectives who arrived on the scene early today are confident that it would be. but a short time 'ihtil the robbers become tired of ’heir desolate surroundings and at tempt to make a break for Bartiesvi »e or Okesa. •— — • Ms- and Mrs. L. H. Kleinhen? and family and Mrs. Carrie Ehinger mo tored to Fort Wayne yesterday at teruoon.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Klan Is Permanently Injoined In New York (United Press Service) Albany. N. Y„ Aug. 21 —(Special to the Daily Democrat) —The Ku Klux Klan and the Kamelia, its sister order, were today permanently enjoined as membership corporations In NewYork state, when the final order of Supreme Court Justice Staley was filed in the office of the county clerk here. Has Tonsils Removed Miss Mary Macy underwent an operation for the removal of the tonsils at the Adams county hospital this morn ing. She is doing nicely. BUDGETS BEING PREPARED NOW Township Officials Holding Meetings To Estimate Expesnes For 1924 The advisory boards and township trustees held meetings in most of the townships last evening and prepared their budgets or estimates of expen ses for next year. The first of the budgets are printed in today's Daily Democrat. In Washington township, trustee Glen Cowan and members of his ad visory board are asking for a rate of 34 cents on the hundred dollars, a reduction of five cents in the town ship rate for this year. The total expenses in the township are estimated at 114,666.00. the figures being printed in detail in the legal notice given to taxpayers in the township. In Jefferson township, John M. Bollenbacher trustee and the advisory board prepared the budget, the total estimated expenses being. $22.335.95., and the rate asked for is $1.28 on the hundred dollars, an increase in expenses over this year of about foul thousand dollars. The budgets of the different townships must be published before the tax rates for next year are fixed. The rates will lie finally adopted by the trustees and advisory board members on Tuesday. September 4th. OREGON PEOPLE VISITING HERE Mr. And Mrs. G. F. Brozier Motor To This City; Make Good Record Mr. and Mrs. G. F. Brozier of Silvertown, Oregon, arrived here this morning having motored the nearly 2,700 miles in eleven days. They are visiting a sister, Mrs. Samuel Yost and will go from here to Dayton, Ohio for a visit with Mr. Brozier’s people. Mrs. Brozier is a former Adams county lady, a sister so David and Jeff Klopfenstine and is having a fine time. They are engaged in the hotel business at Silvertown. where they have been located four years. Their two daughters are taking care of the business while they are making the trip. The journey to Bluffton, where they vfsited last evening, was made in ten and a half days. They traveled in a new- Overland "Red Bird” and made the 2,653 miles on 105 gallons of gasoline and a gallon of oil, and without trouble, of any kind. They followed Columbia River drive out of Portland and then took the old Oregon trail all the way to lowa with good roads and wonderful scenery They will visit in eastern Indiana and Western Ohio several wekes before returning to the west. Mr. Brizier’s father, who lives at Dayton, is in poor health and the trip was made especially to spend a few days with him. — o— Corn Prices Going Up Chicago, Aug. 21. —September corn sold for 8G l-2c a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade, today, setting a new high record for the crop. Other grains were up in sympathy.

SLASHES THROAT WITH A POCKET KNIFE; SURVIVES _ Lawrence Schlagel Attempts To End Life Late Yesterady Afternoon INSANITY INQUEST Inquest Held Few Hours Before He Made Attempt On His Life Within a few hours after an in sanity inquest had been conducted over him, Lawrence Schlegel, 46. a j blacksmith residing on North Seven th street, attempted to commit suicide about 6 o'clock yesterday evening by slashing his threat w’th a pocket knife. He was found shortly afterwards by members of his fam ily, in the basement bf his house. He was taken to the Ad’ms County Hos pital, where his conJi I<n today was reported as being Improved. He very likely will recover. Mr. Schlegel has been an invalid for some time, being unable to work on account of his hips being partially paralyzed. Yesterday his daughter. Mrs. Pat Miller. 722 Nort Walnut street, had papers prepared for an insanity inquest. She alleged that her father had threatened to titer mother, that he used profane language in the presence of ladies and that he otherwise acted in an insane manner. The insanity inquest was held during the afternoon at the Schlegel home by A. C. Butcher, justice of the peace, and Doctors C. C. Rayl and Frank Lose. Mr. Butcher has not rendered his decision yet and he stated today that he might not make a decision in the matter before a few days and not until further investigation had been made. Mr. Butcher stated that at the time of the inquest he did not believe the man's mind was unbalanced, twit that perhaps he had brooded over troubles and feared that he would be sent to an insane asylum after the inquest was held, until his mind became deranged. When found by his daughter. Mr. Schlegel was sitting on the coal pile in the basement. He had cut a deep wound in the right side of his neck, but had failed to strike the juglar vein. He was bleeding profusely however. Chief of Police Joel Reynolds and a physician were called. Mr. Schlegel was carried to a bed up stairs and about 7 o’clock was re(Continued on page two! WAR ON COAL PRICES BEGUN Gov. Bryan, Os Nebraska. Announces Plans To Sell Coal To The Public (United Press Service-) Ijncoln, Neb.. Aug. 21 —(Special to the Daily Democrat —Gov. Charles W. Bryan, a brother of William Jennings Bryan, today notified coal dealers that unless their prices are lowered he will furnish coal to the public at $8.25 a ton. Bryan also directed his ultimatum at the Lincoln Municipal coal yard which expects to sell coal, costing $6.50 in carload lots, at $9.50. He said it is not costing the city more than $2.50 a ton to deliver it. Great quauities of coal are being stored throughout the country and an investigation reveals a movement by operators to force a strike to make possible exhorbitant prices, the governor asserted. "We expect to protect the people from a coal monoply/' he said, adding that he Is negotiating for purchase of coal to furnish to any municipality that wants it. The fuel will be sold by the state direct to the public at $8.25 whenever the municipal yard starts sale at $9.50, he declared.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, August 21, 1923.

Man Wanted In Bluffton Located Here; Escapes Shtriff Noah Frauhiger and Chief of Police Gehrett, of Bluffton, came to Decatur yesterday, when informed by Sheriff John Baker that Ben Smith, wanted In Bluffton on charges of petit larceny and wife desertion, had been located here. Local officers stated that they had located Smith at his brother’s home here, but that they were refused entrance' to the home without a warrant. The Bluffton officers brought a warrant with them but when they reached the home of Smith's brother here, they were informed that the Smiths had left for Ohio. They started towards Van Wert, Ohio, and when within six miles of that city, they learned that it was the brother who was moving so Ohio. Ben Smith is charged with stealing a saw from George Redd and with deserting his wife and child. He has "jumped his bond,” also. DELPHOS' MEN PLEAD GUILTY Change Plea On Liquor Charge Yesterday; Appeal Case To Circuit Court After pleading not guilty to a charge of manufacture of intoxicat ing lisuor. when arraigned before Justice of the Peace George Staley, in Geneva last Friday. Fred Morgan. Roy Sheeter and Edwin Lindeman all of Delphos, changed their mind and entered a plea of guilty to the charge, in the court of Mayor H. M. DeVoss late yesterday afternoon. Each wa fined SIOO and costs and sentenced to serve thirty days in the county jail. Immediately after the sen tences were pronounced, the three men appealed their case to the circuit court. Their appeal bond waj placed at SSOO and Morgan ami Lindeman furnished the bond yesterday evening and were released. Sheeter was expected to furnish his bond some time today. The three men were arrested in a raid on an unoccupied farm house situated on the farm owned by Mrs Homer Charleston, eight miles north east ot Geneva, last Thursday night The raid was conducted by Sheriff John Baker, Deputy Sheriff D M. Hower, David Baker. Frank Arman trout and Marshall H. Hollingsworth, of Geneva. The three men were found in the house with a large still five barrels of mash, a stove and other equipment used in the mantt facture of liquor. Attorney R. C. Parrish, of Fort Wayne, appeared for the three defendants in court yesterday afternoon It was intimated today that a new charge, that of possession of a still, would be filed against the three men when the case comes up for trial in the circuit court. Should they be convicted on this charge, their pun ishnient will be much greater than that given them yesterday, it is said Pleasant Mills Youth Makes Good At Purdue Lfayette, Aug. 21—Word has been given out today by the office of the Dean Engneering of Purdue University that Richard E. Davis of Pleasant Mills made an exceptional record at Purdue University where he is a sophmore in the School of Chemical Engineering. Young Davis made 9A's and 4B’s and IP. This is an excellent record, and reflects great credit on the boy. the Pleasant Mills High school, end his parents. Corn, $1; Wheat, 90 Cents ' Petersburg. Ind., Aug. 21—(SpecI ial to the Daily Democrat I—For the first time in many years grain dealers here are bidding higher for corn than wheat. Corn is bringing $1 a bushel while wheat prices are from 90 to 95 cents. Weather Thunder showers this afternoon or tonight: cooler in north and central portions; Wednesday generally fair, cooler in east and south portions.

RECOGNITION OF MEXICO BY IL S. BELIEVED NEAB Agreement Reached At Mexico City Conference Accepted By Coolidge MATTER OF FEW DAYS Announcement Os Recognition Expected To Be Made Soon Is Report (United Press Service) Washington, Aug. 21 —(Special to the Daily Democrat! —President Coolidge and Secretary Hughes have accepted the accord reached in the Mexico City conference between Mexican and American commissioners for a basis of resumption of diplomatic relations between the United States and Mexico, the United Press was informed on high authority here today. Extension of American recognition to the Obregon government of Mexico and the details of the complete agreement reached in the so-called recognition tonference at the Mexican capitol, will be announced within a few days, according to this authority. Everything is all fixed up. The agreement is acceptable to the govern- , ment her the United Press was told, I today, by an authority close to the Mexican negotiations and also in eon ! stant touch with President Coolidge and Hughes. Simultaneous announcements of the American-Mexican agreement and the extension of recognition will be made in Washington and Mexico City soon I it was said. Reward Offered For Slayers Os Sheriff Brookville, Ind., Aug. 21.—A reward |of SI,OOO was offered by Franklin county citizens today for the capture of the two automobile bandits who killed Sheriff William Van Camp yesterday morning when he attempted to arrest them in a woods eight miles east of this city. Offer of the reward came after 24 hours of fruitless search by posses ot hundreds of citizens of Southern Ind iana and Southwestern Ohio. Two suspects arrested at College Corners, Ohio, were released after it was found they had no connection with the matter. Dr. Herbert Smith, county coroner, returned a verdict ot first degree murder against the automobile ban dits. BOY PREACHER TO SPEAK HERE Fourteen-Year-Old I outh To Preach At U. B. Church This Evening Paul Van Deusen. the “boy preacher." age 14 years, jtravtMtag from coast to coast on a bicycle, will preach at the United Brethern church at 7:30 o’clock this evening and the public is cordially invited to attend The young preacher of the gospel arrived in the city last evening and made arrangements to deliver his address at the local U. B. church. He distributed a number of hand hills calling attention to the services this evening and at the bottom of the bill the following paragraph is printed: “The offerings taken at this meeting will be used to pay my tutition through the Johnson Bible College, at Kimberlin Heights, Tenn." The hill does not state wnero the boy lives. It was stated that the boy preacher, as he styles himself, has credentials showing that he is traveling from coast to coast on bicycle and that he has visited many other cities on his trip and has delivered his sermon in different churches.

Dr. Somers, Os Monroe, To Locate In Decatur Dr. Erskin Somers, who has been located In Monroe for a number of j years, will move to Decatur and open an office here within the next two weeks it Is said. Dr. Miller, of Rock | Island. Illinois, will locate In Monroe on September 1. Dr. Somers has enjoyed an unus-| ually fine practice at Monroe and in addition to his work as a physician he has taken a prominent part in the affairs of his community. He spent a large part of this summer in New York where he took a post graduate course. Before locating at Monroe, Dr. Somers practiced at Vera Cruz, and Craigville. FIREMEN LOSE LIVES IN BLAZE Six Known Dead In Collapse Os Old Masonic Temple In Brooklyn (United Press Service) New York, Aug.,21 —(Special to the Daily Democrat)—Six firemen are known to be dead and 32 injured in a j collapse of tire old Masonic temple in Brooklyn today, according to an announcement at police headquarters. The building fell while it was burn-j ing. Fifty firemen were buried in the , debris. There were many miraculous escapes. The police estimate of six dead,! however, was disputed by other tallies, which were being made. A careful check figured there were only two killed. The Masonic temple was a Brooklyn landmark. Recently at had been used as a dance hall. Fire was discovered in it shortly after midnight. After the blaze had been fought for two hours, the structure collapsed. Then the roof went down in a cloud of sparks, many firemen went with it. Others were caught beneath showers of bricks as portions of the walls toppled into the street. # First reports were that fifty had been killed. Then the rescue squads began pulling out the victims, and found that most of them were alive. VETS HONORED DECATUR MAN J. I). Andrews Elected Lieut.-Commander By Spanish-American Vets J. D. Andrews, of this city, was elected Lieutenant-Colonel of the 160th Indiana Volunteer Infantry at the state meeting held at Anderson ' yesterday. Mr. Andrews, Frank. Peterson and Mjr. Ed Miller of this | city, Tom Johnson of Dunkirk a mem I her of the local company, attended j the meeting. The convention next year wil'. be held at Bluffton, the veterans from that city making a strong bill forth? meeting, during the business session was voted that Bluffton be selected at the 1924 meeting place. The local Spanish-American coni pany is known as "Company B" of the 160th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The Decatur boys were among the first to enlist in the services of their | country when war was declared against Spain in 1898. Previous tel that time Decatur hail a militia com I pany. Ed .1. Miller, of this city, now located at the soldier's home, at Danville. was a major in the military or ganization. Between six and seven hundred i veterans attended the convention, and the reunion was thoroughly en joyed by all present. R. D. Myers, of this city. Is commander of the local company and Harvey Ulser, of Huntington. is state commander. CHICAGO MARKET CLOSE Wheat: Sept. $1.00%; Dec. $1.04%; May $1.09%. Corn: Sept. 85%c; Dec. 65%c; May 66%c. Oats: Sept. 38%c; Dec. 39%c; May 41%c.

Price: 2 Cents.

SUSPENSION UF WORK TU BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 1 Coal Conference At Atlantic City Ends Without An Agreement Today MINERS REMAIN FIRM Wage Increases Demanded By Miners Causes Conference To Break Up (United Press Service) Atlantic City. N. J.. Aug. 21 (Special to Daily Democrat) ’Bic coal conference called at request of President Coolidge to prevent an anthracite strike Senteniber 1. broke up without a decision being reached this afternoon. “It's all off boys.” said John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers of America as Ihe came from the conference room. Lewis said there would be a 'suspension of work in the anthracite field starting Sept. 1, The rock on which the conference split was the question of wages, the first question taken tin. The miners demanded a 20'< increase. ’ The operators then suggested i'he present working agreement be continued until April 1 but the miners voted this down, it was stated after the meeting. A suggestion that the matter he referred to the United States Coal Commission made by the operators although was turned down by the miners. Ambassador Hotel. Atlantic City. N. J.. Aug. 21 —(Special to Daily Democrat) — Anthracite miners and operators have reacher another deadlock on the first quesiton brought up for discussion in their renewed negotiations—the wage scale. Demand for a 20 percent increase for cutters and a $2 a day raise for laborers met with strong resistance from the operators. Samuel D. Warriner, chairman of the policy committee of the employers announced toi day that his conferees could not posi slbly accept the wage demands as I presented. John L. Lewis, president of the I United Mine Workers of America, said the increase must be granted if a suspension of mining September 1 is to be averted. The two factions resume their deliberations here at It) o’clock this morning in the state suite o nthe tenth floor of the Ambassador hotel, high above the rolling surf where I vacation crowds are frolicking. The ■ suite is luxuriously furnished with I plush purple lounges and easy chairs. Indications are that the factions will continue to fight out the wage question for several days. Lewis has - advanced statistics claiming that the anthracite mine workers are mining under conditions that must be improved. This hazardous occupation should pay the miners hotter, Lewis contends. His position is that the 20 percent increase must be granted, or the men will automatically walk out of the ■ mines in 11 days. New French Answer Is Delivered To British London, Aug. 21.—A courier hrougt a copy of the French reply to the British repart ion note to London this evening and it was forwarded immediately to Brittle Minister Baldwin I who is in the country. The British view of the note was decidedly pessimistic and Downing Street gave out an impression that the note offers hut slight, if any. has is for settlement. Officials indicated the reply of . Premier Poincaire was largely a re- ; statement of the French position and contained no constructive proposals.