Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 224, Decatur, Adams County, 21 September 1923 — Page 1

Volume XXL Number 224.

MILITARY COURT EXPOSES KLAN WORK

KOHLER LIQUOR CASE CERTIFIED TO THIS COUNTY Special .Judge Kenner Decides That Wells County Has No Jurisdiction. STATE’S EVIDENCE IN State Had Completed Its Case Yesterday; Will Be Tried In Local Court. BlulUon. Sept. 21—(Special to, p a iiv "Democrat)—The case of thei state of Indiana vs. Fred Kohler. Ad ! ams county farmer charged with violation of the prohibition law. was certified to the Adams circuit court! this morning. Special Judge Sumner Kenner, of Huntington, decided on his own initiative when court convened | this morning that no crime had been committed in Wells county but tliatj there was evidence to show that a crime possibly had been committed in Adams colnty. The .case will be filed in Adams circuit court and the case tried there. The state completed giving its evidence yesterday evening and rested the case. The defendant is repre-| seated by Attorneys David E. Smith ard R. <’■ Parrish, both of Fort Wayne. The defendant is charged with a vio lation of this statute in four counts ! as follows: The first count of the affidavit I charges that on the sth day of De-! ember, 1922. at and in the county of Well.;, the defendant did unlawfully manufacture intoxicating liquor. The second count charges the same l Tacts, as to date atH" pTNl't*. ton! that the defendant unlawfully possessed intoxicating liquor. The third count charges the defend ant with unlawfully having in his 1 possession intoxicating liquor with intent to unlawfully sell, barter and exchange the same. The fourth count alleges the same facts as to date and place, and charges the defendant with unlawfully trans ! porting intoxicating liquor. The facts shown by the evidence are substantially as follows: "The defendant resides on a farm in Adams county not far from the Adams and Wells county line. In the latter part of July, 1922, a man by the name of Seegar came from his home in ( Hart. Michigan, to the town of Berne, in Adams county, and in a few days thereafter engaged in the manufacture of intoxicating liquor. In a short time he was taken by an acquaintance to the home of the defendant, whom he had never met. After a... conference with the defendant, the defendant and Seegar arranged to enter upon the business of the manufacturing of torn and rye whiskey. The defendant located Seegar at the home of a brother of the defendant, living near, where a considerable quantity of liquor was manufacturetf, the defendant and Seegar each furnishing grain and other ftigredients entering into its manufacture. The eviilente does not disclose with what success they met in this particular enterprise, or whether any liquor was sold that was manufactured at such place. Seegar sometime in September went back to Michigan, but returned to the defendant’s home about November first. In the meantime, the defendant, as shown by the'evidence, had destroyed the improvised still of Seegar and had in his possession a large copper still and from its appearance it is probably an article manufactured for such purpose. The defendant at this time took Seegar into his own home and furnished him shelter and board. They at once fitted up an upper room in a log house near the Kohler residence, which was formerly occupied as a residence, and •he defendant placed stoves therein, a nd they prepared the room for making corn nnd rye whiskey’. They purchased large quantities of sugar, sraln and other ingredients for such ' nte,, Prise and Seegar was placed in charge. Soon after December first, a blacksmith by the name of Martz living at and operating a shop at that (Continued on page two)

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

I Fire In California Strikes In New Place San Francisco. Sept. 21 —(Special |to Daily Democrat >—Fire which has been working havoc in California for six days, today struck in a new place and tied up traffic on the main line! of the Southern Pacific to the east.' A box ear on a siding at Spruce, near here, caught fire, the blaze spreading until 1.000 feet of snow sheds, the station and coal cars had been burn-' cd. All trams east and west were tied : up. It was expected the tracks could Ibe cleared an 1 traffic resumed to i night. NEW TAX RATES WILL BE HIGHER State Rate of Thirty Cents Makes Most Rates In County Higher. ! The state tax rate has been fixed at 30 cents on the hundred dollars, an increase of 3 cents on the hundred dollars over this year. The i thirty-rent levy will yield approxi- ' inately *16.000,000.00 for state purposes next year exclusive of the gosloline tax, increased auto license fees inheritance tax and other fees collected by the state, which it is esti I mated will total between twelve and fifteen million dollars for next year, giving the state approximately $30,1000.000.00 to spend. With the announcement that thestate rate would be 30 cents on the I hundred dollars, the total rate in the different townships and in Decatur. •Berne. Geneva and Monroe, ca nbe I given They are as follows: TMlng unit 1933 1921 rate rate i Union $1.60 $2.20 Root 1-80 1.’.'l Preble 1.64 1-82 (Kirkland 1.74 1.85 Washington 1.44 1.57 St. Marys 1.85 2.05 Blue Creek 2.38 2.48 I Monroe- 1.83 2.02 French 1.98 1.99 I Hartford 2.58 2.58 Wabash 1 74 2.09 Jefferson 2.53 ’2.78 Decatur-Washington 3.07 3.31 Decatur-Root .... 3.35 3.25 LA Monroe Corp 2.16 2.32 Berpe Corp 2.85 3.52 Geneva 3.55 3.89 The above rates will stand unless objections are filed against them and the state tax board reduces them. Mrs. Stokes Says She Was Conspired Against Chcago. Sept. 21. (United Press.) —lndictments for conspiracy are probable in the charges made by Mrs Helen Elwood Stokes that her millionaire husband, W. E. D. Stokes, had sought to bribe a score of persons to testify that she had been an inmate of the notorious .Everleigh club of Chicago. State's Attorney Robert E. Crowe, who is investigating the case, said today that he would not hesitate to ask the grand jury for indictments if the evidence justified it. Plans to ruin her name by showing she had lived in the resort were concocted sometime during the famous divorce trials in New York, Mrs. Stokes said. —o — bulletin Indianapolis. Sept. 21.—A petition for the removal of Bert Mcßride as receiver of the International Note & Mortgage Co., a subsidiary of the R. L. Dollings Co., of Indiana or for the appointment of co-receiver was filed in superior court today by Grant Sanders, a stockholder in the International Note & Mortgage Co. Sanders charged that the interest of the various Dollings concerns now in receivership are so conflicted that one receiver could not in justice handle all of them. , 21 2 , Mcßride declared that he could see no necessity for filing suit.

TOMMY O'CONNOR CHICAGO GUNMAN BELIEVED TAKEN Illinois Sheriff Captures Man Answering Description of Fugitive. IS TAKEN TO CHICAGO Prisoner Taken To Chicago Where Detectives Will Look Him Over. Springfield, 111., Sept. 21.— (United Press.) —Whereabouts of Sheriff Russell of Macoupin county, his chief deputy and a man suspected of being “Terrible Tommy” O’Connor, Chicago! gunman, was shrouded in mystery early today. The suspect, who gave his name as Edward Sullivan, was • picked up by authorities in a corn field near Atwater, Macoupin countv. The sheriff got in • touch with Chicago authorities! and started giving a description of the suspect over the telephone. He was stopped with the order to “bring him on to Chicago.” Sheriff Russel and his chief de puty left Carl.nville on a sleeper a’ 2:20 o'clock this morning with the' suspect ostensibly to meet Chicago .authorities at Lincoln where SulliI van was to be looked over by detec.' 'fives who know O'Conner personally. Lincoln authorities prepared a cell for the prisoner but the Macoupin county sher'ff failed to arrive. It is presumed lie went straight through to Chicago with his prisoner, to prevent any of O'Conner’s friends from helping him escape. Sheriff Russell is convinced his prisoner is the much , wanted Chicago gunman. Chicago, Sept. 21. —Chief of Police . Morgan A. Collins said today he (ltd not believe the man taken into custody at Carlin , ilie, 111., on suspicion of being Tommy O'Conner, was really O'Conner. He said he would investigate thoroughly ,, however. Carlinville, 111., Sept. 21—An injured man. captured in underclothes after he apparently had fallen or been thrown from a freight train, today was taken by Sheriff John Russell to Lincoln ,111., where officers from Chicago, rushing southward, will attempt to identify his as "Terrible Tommy" O'Conner. Chicago! worst bad man. The susject, who says his name is O'Sullivan, said he had been bumming bis way from Beardstown to Carllinville, was found by authorities in a serious condition, apparently after spending a day and night in the open with a broken collar bone. His body, was black and blue all over. He put up no resistance. May They Live Happily Muncie, Ind., Sept. 21.—" We both needed a home and we decided to get married." This was the explanation given today by Elizabeth Baney, 69, a domestic, and John Adkins. 22, a farm hand, for their “December and May marriage." Mrs. Baney had been married three times before, but outlived all of her husbands. This is Adkins’ first venture. By the marriage he becomes stepfather of the bride's only son. who is only 50 years old. Watson In Indianapolis (Knifed Press Staff Correspondent) Indianapolis. Sept. 21 —(Special to Daily Democrat) —Senator James E. | Watson arrived in Indianapolis today | and immediately began a series of, conferences with republican leaders. Clyde A. Walb, state chairman, who has been here for several days, remained in the city to see Watson. Watson denied that his visit had any unusual political significance saying that he merely was here to talk things over with the boys.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, September 21, 1923.

INDIANA’S SMARTEST f„: T # OSRMMW «■■■«—■ —urM.i . -

MISS CECILLE ROBINSON Shelbyville. Ind. Miss Cecille RobI inson of Shelbyville, Ind . was selectI ed the other day as the "most intelli- | gent girl" in Indiana's colleges. The selection was made through a questionna're issued bv the eduea- ! tional board. Miss Robinson received a rating of “100 per cent” on her ! replies.

GENEVA MAN IS ! FOUND GUILTY — Frank Morical Fined $1 and Costs In City Court for Public Intoxication. Frank Morical, of Geneva, was found guilty on a charge of public intoxication in the city court today and fined $1 and costs, amounting to $1’4.40. The ease was heard by Special Judge J. Fred Fruchte, in the temporary absence of Mayor Huber M. DeVoss. Morical stayed the fine, i Morical was arrested in Geneva on ; the night of September 12, at 11 i o’clock, by Marshal Holingsworth. A large number of witnesses from Geneva wore brought to Decatur this morning for the trial. Attorney L. 1 IC. DeVoss, of this city was retained by the defendant as counsel. The case was started this morning, but. not completed until 2 o'clock this afternoon. One of the witnesses who test'fied at the trial today was Dr. C. P. Hinchman, of Geneva, who was called to make an examination of Morical. following the arrest. The physician testified that the man was intoxicated. CHICAGO MARKET CLOSE Wheat: Sept. $100%; Dec. $1.02%, May, $1.08%. Corn: Sept. Btf%c; Dec. 67%c: May 68%c. Oats: Sept. 39c; Dec. 39%c; May 42%c. HARLOW IS DELEGATE Will Represent Local Detective Association At National Convention. Harlow Mann will attend the national convention of the Horse Thief Detective Association which will be held at Columbus. Indiana on Octo-! her 2nd. Mr. Mann was elected a delegate from the Adams County H.| T. D. association at tlie meeting held, here a week ago. The officers of the association were reelected at the recent meeting, they being, Homer Ratidebtish. president; Harlow Mann, vice-pres'dent; Janies Hurst, treasurer; J. D. Stults. secretary; Roman Breiner, assistant secretary and Grant Owens, captain. The Adams County Horse Thief Detective association is doing much good and the | members are using their efforts to eliminate losses from thefts. The local association was organized here | in 1905. | Weather • I Fair and cooler tonight; Saturday fair; warmer in north and central portions. |

GERMANY MAKES PROPOSALS FOR LEAVING RUHR Belgium Said To Adhere To Plan; Consulting With France and England. MUST STOP RESISTANCE No Areement Will Be Made As Long As Passive Resistance Continues. Prp«-• Staff > Brussels, Sept. 21 —(Special t« Daily Democrat) —It was officially i confirmed today that Chancellor, Stresemann of Germany has made concrete proposals for evacuation of the Ruhr to the Belgian minister. Count De La Fille, at Berlin. (This information was carried exclusively by the United Press on Wednesday, Sept. 29, twenty-four i . hours before it was senti-officlally confirmed by the German government and made available t'or other press associations.) It is understood that Belgium is de termined to adhere to her present policy whereby she will make no! agreement with Germany as long as passive resistance continues. Meanwh'le. the Belgian government is consulting with Britain and France . before replying to Stresemann. Poincare Scores Victory Paris. Sept. 21 — (Special to Daily■ Democrat) — Premier Poincare has scored a great victory and AngloFrench solidarity is restored, the Par s morning papers declare, in commenting on the German offer to. surrender. A marked change in the attitude of England is noted, following publi-! cation of Germany's peace offer, made through the Belgian minister to Berlin. o Dan Niblick Attends Meeting At Indianapolis i Dan M. Niblick, of the Niblick & Company store, went to Indianapolis early this morning to attend a meeting of the board of directors of the Indiana State Retail Dry Goods Association. The program for tile year will be mapped, out at the meeting. Mr. Niblick was elected to the board at the annual state meeting held in Indianapolis last June. Hundreds of merchants from all parts of the state are members of the association. . , Does Anybody Here Know Robert Anderson? A letter was received today by Joel Reynolds, chief of police, from C. M. Anderson, 737 East Jefferson street, Louisville, Kentucky, asking the local officer to aid him in learning the present whereabouts of one Robert Anderson, known as "Little ' Bobby." The letter states that when • the boy was last heard from, in April, 1911, he was in Decatur. The young man’s mother is very sick, according to the letter, and his relatives are anxious to get in touch with him. Anyone having any information regarding the whereabouts of Robert Anderson, are requested to report to Mr. Reynolds or to Mr. Anderson at Louisville. , 0 Dollings Creditors Must File Claims By Oct. 4 - ' Indianapolis. Sept. 21.— All credi- ’ tors of the R. L. Dollings company of Indiana and its subsidiaries must file their claims not later than October 4, Harold Taylor, attorney for Bert Mcßride, receiver, announced today. Taylor declared an audit of the books of the Dollings company failed to show anything of a criminal fail ture in the conduct of the business by officials of the Indiana company. —o Fatal Wreck On Santa Fe | Phoenix, Ariz., Sept. 21. (United Press.—Weakening of the road bed , ' following recent heavy rains was held | by railway officials as the cause of the fatal wreck of the California Limited of the Santa Fe line near here late | yesterday.

Local Men Leave For Pennsy Track Meet W. W. Mesel .local G. R. & I. teleg.tipher, and M. A. Kenworthy, ata-1 tion agent, left today for Altoona.! I ennsylvanla, where they will take, part in the fourth anhual traek and field meet of the Pennsylvania rail-1 toad employes, which will be held ! Saturday. Mesel is entered in the! 12-pouud shot put, having won first I plate in the regional meet held at Grand Rapids, Michigan, on September 1- Kenworthy is entered in th? | rifle and trap-shooting events. B >,li ' men are considered probable point winners for the Grand Rapids division. “PEP MAN’’TALKS j TO ROTARY CLUB Howard Wisehaupt, Decatur Man, Gives Splendid t Talk Last Night. Howard Wisehaupt, Decatur young man who is known from coast to : coast as the "Pep Man" and a business , analyst, gave one of his splend'd talks to the Rotarians last evening on “bet1 ter business." "Howard did not use a set speech. ' (bis t'lk being along an impromptu- ■ line, tint the facts, theories and principles advanced by him were instrucI five and showed that he was a student ' • and an analyst of better business i methods and knew what he was talk ing about. “Mental attitude has much to do , with bringing about good or bad busi- ! ness,” Mr. Wisehaupt stated. He ’ went on and proved that a person could bring about bad conditions by i thinking that such a condition was gsf . ing to exist. “Be an optimist, but I ' dont be a nut' optimist," the speaker said. “Don't expect your business to grow and the public to patronize you just by sitting still: you must show your customers that you want and appreciate their business.” Mr. Wisehaupt told how big business concerns like Marshall Field and com pany, the United Cigar Stores and other big commercial institutions studied their field and tried to give their customers what they wanted. Mr. Wisehaupt with his private secretary, Mr. Crest, left this morning for Cleveland, where he will open an office of his own. Just recently he completed a tour ot' the United States, Canada and the Hawaiian Islands. His talk was greatly appreciated by those present. The program was in charge of France Conter and short talks were made by D. B. Erwin. John Carmody and others. Investiating Mystery (t'niteU Press Stair Correspondent) Chicago, Sept. 21 - - (Special to Daily Democrat)—Police here today investigated a story of a partly unclothed woman, whose body was covered with blood, rising from the floor of an automobile and screaming “Help! They are murdering me.” John McNeil, operator of a filling' station at West Hammond. 111., near here, told police that such happened Monday night while he was re filling the gasoline tank of a large automobile driven by a negro and a white man. He said he did not have the courage to report the inc dent until yesterday. Hard Coal Price Goes I p Wilkesbarhe. Pa., Sept. 21.- An anticipated increase in the price ti domestic coal at tlie mines, because of the 1(1 per cent increase in wages under the new contract, went into effect today. The new price 'lists of several large producing companies show increases ranging from sixty to ninety cents per ton at the mines. Gets Military Appointment | Herman M. Myers, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Myers, of this city, who is a senior at Indiana University this year, lias been appointed a captain and adjutant in the R. O. T. C. at the state school. The appointment was made by Major H. B. Crea, head of the R. O. T. C.

Price: 2 Cents.

WALTON SEEKS ' TO WIN PUBLIC • SENTIMENT NOW Oklahoma Governor Hopes To Win Support In Stand By Baring Acts. TWO-GUN MEN RALLY Famous Two-Gun Men of Southwest Rally To Support of Gov. Walton. Two-Gun Men Rally. Oklahoma City. Okla.. Sept. 21. (United Press.) —Famous two-gun men of the southwest were in Oklahoma City today to back up Governor J. C. Walton in his fight against the Ku Klux Klan. Among those noticed in the lobbies, of ' local hotels were: “Buck” Garret, old-time territorial gunman from Ardmore. “Bill" Ward, companion of “Bud” Ballew, twogun man who was killed in a battle with a Texas Ranger. “Uncle Foote” Dillard and his son. “Cub,” famous Indian battlers Nash Millikan, decorated by General Pershing for extraordinary bravery during the world war. All hold commissions from the governor and all say they are ready to defend him to the last Ounce of their strength and loyalty. Military Court Speeds Up Oklahoma City. Okla., Sept 21. — (United Press). —The military court investigating operations of the Ku Kl'tx Klan in Oklahoma county ttxlay I speeded examinations of witnesses iu hope of completing its work before the special session of the legislature called to impeach Governor J. C. Walton meets next Wednesday. Tlie governor hopes that hy ttn’overing sufficient testimony involving th" Klan and its members iu lawless acts, that the public sentiment of the state and tlie nation will support his stand and oppose the impeachment action. In making public first sensational testimony obtained by the military court, the governor decleared: "If necessary, 1 will arm every man in the state who is opposed to the invisible empire.” The testimony made pulilic included declarations by Dr. A. A. Maupin, a dentist and klan member, who said that N. ('. Jewett, grand dragon of the Oklahoma klan, had admitted to him that he wielded the lash iu a Hogging. He quoted Jewett as saying: ' I want you to understand I am tlie man who laid it on. I led that part; I held the whip and put it on his back made him confess." "If there was ever a time since 1776 thttt red blooded Americanism ! should assert itself, this is tlie time." I Oklahoma's “Patrick Henry" declared today. "Patrick Henry" is the I mime his fellow legislators have applicd to W. I). Mcl'ee, obscure country lawyer, who has become the leader of the "revolution" against Governor J. C. Walton's drastic military rule in Oklahoma. Defies Governor Walton II re iu the stale capital where machine guns frown down upon lhe streets and martial law prevails. McBee lias defied Governor Walton by calling a special session of the legislature to impeach him. "We have < ailed the I.■gi.->!.i;ure together," Mcßee contin’ied, "for an impartial investigation of charges of the existanee of conditions in this state that are in direct opposition to the principles for which our forefathers fought. The legislaturi will try the issue as a court. "We intend to be impartial, fair < and honest. We shall be governed by the facts that the inquiry dis- ' (doses. We shall be just as ready 1 to exonerate as to condemn. To Uphold Government 1 “The men who have issued this ’ call represent no particular class, fac- ’ tion. religion or party. We stand (Continued on page two)