Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 225, Decatur, Adams County, 22 September 1923 — Page 1

Volume XXI. Number 225.

MORE MILITARY COURTS ESTABLISHED

RELIEF FUND IS OVERSUBSCRIBED IN THIS COUNTY Total Reaches $1,234.57; Dr. and Mrs. I). G. M. Trout Donate SIOO. G. E. DONATES $226.50 Adams Co. Makes Splendid Record In Responding For Japanese Fund. With the announcement today of contributions totaling $332.50, Adams county has far exceeded its quota of SI,OOO in the Red Cross Japanese Relief Fund. The total announced today was $1,233.57. The gift of SIOO, promised when the total reached S9OO, was made yesterday evening, the contributors being Dr. and Mrs. D. G. M. Trout of Mercer avenue, well known residents of this city. Dr. and Mrs. Trout were greatly moved by the disaster which befell Japan a few days ago, when earthquakes shook the country, wrecking buildings and causing tires which killed men and destroyed thousands of homes. A few days ago Dr. Trout, in a letter to the Daily Democrat, announced that he would give SIOO to the fund when the total had reached S9OO, to complete the Adams county quota. The splendid gift of Dr. and Mrs. Trout is greatly appreciated by the Red Cross and the entire community and it is destined to accomplish much good in aiding the suffering in Japan. General Electric Gives. Another splendid gift announced today is that of the employes of the Decatur plant of the General Electric company. Their gift amounted to $226.50. The employes of this flourishing industry gave liberally to the cause. The other two gifts announced today were Japanese Relief, $5, and Mrs. D. B. Erwin, sl. A total of S6OO was forwarded to national headquarters of the Red Cross on September 11. More will be sent in next week, it is said. Several churches in the county are planning to take up their collection for the fund tomorrow, making it probable that the fund will mount still higher next week. The executive board of the Adams county chapter will hold a meeting on Monday. Adams county has made an enviable record in responding to this cause. Several counties in the state, which had smaller quotas, are having difficulty in raising the stipulated amount. Relief Measures Taken. National headquarters of the America Red tross have announced the punhase of five hospital buildings for immediate shipment to Japan, as part of the relief program for victims of the earthquake. These buildings will be included in a cargo of lumber now being loaded on the steamship Dewey, which clears from Portland, Ore., within a few days. They will be available for use almost as soon as they are received at Yokohama, for they are already cut and require only assembling, and they will be placed at the disposal of •Japanese officials to utilize as they see fit. Barracks housing thousands of refugees have been erected in Tokio and Yokohama, according to a message frßm the Emergency Relief Bureau. The barracks built by perfectures. Tokio City and the MeMropolita Police cover 44.1 acres, and those constructed by private gift cover 18.8 acres. One of the outstanding features of the campaign for funds in America has been the response of greater New York to the appeal. With a quota of 51,000,000, New York reported at noon today contributions of $2,299,000. That the Japanese disaster is expected to be among the chief topics for discussion at the annual convention of the American Red Cross, which opens in Washington next Monday w ith more than 1,000 delegates attending. Continental Memorial Hall will be the convention place and President Coollidge will preside over the opening sfession. o The Misses Eva and Carolyn Acker spent the day in Ft. Wayne visiting friends.

DECATUR DAIRY DEMOCRAT

Big Fire At Indianapolis Indianapolis, Sept. 22. —Fire of unknown origin swept the main building of the Acme Manufacturing comrials estimated the loss at SIOO,OOO. Representatives of the state fire marshal's ofice immediately started an investigation to determine whether the fire was of incendiary origin.. The Acme company manufactures auto accessories. BAPTISTS WAME BELL MODERATOR C. E. Bell Honored By Salamonie Association of Baptist Church. The next meeting of the Salamonie Association of the Baptist church will be held at Dunkirk, September 16 ami 17, 1924. Over one hundred and thirty delegates registered for the three-day meeting at Montpelier this week. New officers chosen were: Moderator, C. E. Bell. Decatur; vice-moder-ator. R. Roy Henderson. Montpelier; elementary superintendent, Mrs. A. I. Wilt. Montpelier; clerk treasurer, W. E. Waggoner, Newcastle. The reports show twenty-seven deaths in the year and a net gain of thirty membership. The missionary giving of the association churches amounted to $22,817.31. This came from nine as the eleven churches, two churches being only partly selfsupporting. Mr. Henderson, by virtue of his office as vice-moderator, is also made president of the oung Peoples’ work. Rev. H. N. Spear, of Bluffton, will deliver the annual sermon next year. 0 DATE FOR AUTO' RACES CHANGED Races At Bellmont Park To Be Held October 13 Instead Discovery Day. D. W. Beery and J. B. Meibers, local race promoters, announced today that the auto races scheduled for Discovery Day. October 12, at Bellmont Park, had been postponed until the following day, Saturday. October 13. Factory men in this city and Ft. Wayne, as well as other towns and cities in this vicinity, had complained to the management of the races saying that they would be unable to attend the races of Friday, but as the factories close on Saturday afternoons, they could be here if the races were held on Saturday afternoon. Desiring to hold the races on a date which would satisfy the largest number of patrons, the management postponed the races one day. Prodiving the weather is favorable, the races on October 13 are expected to excell those held on Labor Day. in both speed and interest. The management has been assured that many of the fastest dirt track racers in the game will be here for the October races. The local men attended the 100-mile race held on the Funk Motor Speedway at Winchester last Sunday, and they secured the promise of nearly all of those entered there, including the Roof Special in which Ralph Ormsby, of Fort Wayne, won the race, that they would be here next month. Among the cars which will be here are three R. & B. specials, one of which won third at Winchester last Sunday; Turner Special, which won second; Huff special: two or three Roof Specials belonging to the Laurel Motors Company of Anderson; and several others. More bleachers will be ehected for the races next month, it is said, and other improvements made to care for the spectators. There will be three events on October 13—25-mile race, purse $350; 40-nrile race, purse $500; and a 10mile race for the non-winners in the other two races, for a purse of $l5O. Local merchants are boosting the races by giving away admission tickets with purchases of merchandise.

MANY DONATE CANNED FRUIT FOR HOSPITAL Root Township Has Largest Donation So Far; Fruit On Display. WILL EXHIBIT TONIGHT Building To Be Left Open Tonight So That Public May See Donations. Canned fruit, juices, jams, jellies and vegetables in abundance are on display in the building at the corner of Second and Monroe streets, all tile donations of the good people of Adams County for the patients of the new Adams County Memorial hospital. The donations are being received by the local League of Women Voters, who sponsored the movement. To the people of Root township goes the honor of having the largest donation to the cause. There are more than two hundred cans of fruit, jellies and jams besides sacks of potatoes and apples, and a few bouquets of flowers, in the Root township donation. Next in line in amount given is Kirkland township. Practically every church in Decatur and several from over the county gave donations there. The Baptist church of Decatur has the largest donation of any of the churches. Many Have Donated Towns, townships and organizations have donations in at noon today were: Preble, Getleva, Monroe Root township, Kirkland township, Wanash township, Union township, Friends church of Monroe and the following Decatur churches: Baptist, Methodist, Evangelical, Reformed, Christian, Presbyterian, United Brethern, Catholic, Zion Lutheran. There are three cans of fruit donated by Wells county residents, also. The gifts will be left in the building at the corner of Monroe and Secand streets tonight, providing lights can be obtained, so that the people may see the wonderful display. The people have responded in a fine manner to the appeal sent out by the League of Woman Voters. The.cans will be saved after they are emptiea at the hospital and next spring will be returned to the people who donated the fruit this year. Not only will the donations save the hospital a good sum of money, but fruit and jellies raised in Adams county and canned by Adams county people will be greatly appreciated by the patients at the hospital.

Memories of Decatur's Own Circus Recalled In Interview With Sig Nevada, Veteran Clown

Memories of the old time circus, way back in the eighties when Decatur had a circus all its own, and the people here were given the opportunity to see the first of the season’s performance on the lot where the Beavers Furniture store and other buildings adjacent to it on South Second street now stand, when Harve Hart, later “Chief” of police of Decatur, and F. E. France, of this city, were the Barnum and Baileys and the Ringling Brothers of the circus world were recalled in an interview with Sig Nevada, former Decatur man and dean of clowns, which was published in the Indianapolis Times Thursday. Fred La Dolle (Kirkpatrick) former Decatur man was also a member of the circus. The interview recalled those days when Decatur was the training and winter quarters for the famous Hart and France circus, which for several years traveled over the Middle West and pleased thousands with their performance. Those who remember Sig Navada will be glad to learn that he is still living. The interview stated that lie would be at Hartford City this month to perform at the county fair. The interview published in the Times is as follows: “Why do you laugh at circus

Decatur, Indiana, Satruday, September 22, 1923.

Bootle Booze Blamed New Albany, Ind., Sept. 22. —Bootleg booze was blamed today for a murder-suicide tragedy here. William Porter. 40, shot and killed his divorced wife. Nellie Porter, 30, and then turned the weapon on himself, dying instantly. Porter had been following bis former wife for four days with a threat to get her. He had been drinking heavily, members of the“family said. READY TU POUR OONCRETESOON Contractor To Begin On the Basement of New Catholic School Building. If weather conditions permit the pouring of concrete for the trench walls and foundations for the new and beautiful Decatur Catholic high school will begin Monday, the superintendent of construction stated this morning. The excavation work for the gymnasium and the foundation walls was completed between rains, during the past week and many wagon loads of crushed stone, sand and concrete are on the grounds ready for use next Monday. Medland Brothers, of Ix>gansport. have the general (Contract for the building of the basement and foundation. It is hoped that the walls and foundation can be completed before cold weather. The work will then be carried over until next spring, when it is hoped that building conditions will be adjusted to a lower level, permitting the congregation of the St. Mary's Catholic church to go ahead with the construction of the two story and ground floor basement building. The building will occupy nearly the entire site from the corner of Fourth and Monroe streets, south on. Fourth to the alley alongside of the Catholic parsonage. A complete description and outline of the proposed new building has been published in this paper several times, giving an idea as to the completness of the building. It will be modern in every respect and will contain a gymnasium and other advantages found in up-to-date school buildings now-a-days. It is estimated that the cost of the new building will be around $2.00,000.00. Weather Fair tonight and Sunday; not much change in temperature.

clowns? To a former Indianapolis man, one of the oldest clowns in the United States, it's because they always do the unexpected. "Humor is an old thing." Sig Navada mused. “In all my thirty-eight years with the white tops, vaudeville a little and county fairs, I've always found that it was the unexpected thing that brought a laugh.” Nevada, whose hair is gray and whose mustache is slightly drooping, is not the spry acrobat he used to be. He still has a spirit of humor that has enriched his' life by making others happier, and, despite his 62 years, he is a young man in heart. "A circus clown’s life isn't so plea sant as people think,” he philosophized. Old Wagon Shows of ‘B7 "Back in 'B7 I joined the old wagon circus of the Whiting Bros. Gasoline torches were’ used in those days. Then 1 played with the Hart & France circus and the Charles Vartine show. They are dead and forgotten today. “They didn't have many animals then. An elephant and a lion formed the menagerie, but they attracted the throngs of city and country people

REPUBLICANS MAY ASKM'CRAYTO RESIGN OFFICE Governor’s Financial Difficulties To Be Aired At Committee Meeting. WALB CALLS MEETING McCray Says He Has No Intention of Resigning; Asks For Time. (United Press Service) Indianapolis, Sept 22 —(Special to Daily Democrat)- The financial difficulties of Gov. Warren T. McCray will be aired ala meeting of the republican state committee here next Saturday, it was learned on good authority today. The purpose of the meeting it was said was to decide whether or not the republican state organization through the state committee would ask the governor to consider his resignation in view of the possible effect of his personal adversities on the fortunes of the republican party in the next campaign. 'fhe governor refused to comment on the purpose of the meeting further than to say that he had no intention of resigning. The governor insists that his creditors will be paid and that he has done no .wrong in his transactions. The only necessity in his present circumstances he declared is to be given time to recover hts personal fortunes with the improvement of agricultural conditions generally. Call for the special meeting of the slate committee was issued after a number of conferences of party leaders throughout the week. Clyde A Walb. state chairman. Postmaster General New, Senator Watson and former Governor Goodrich were among those taking part in the conference. If McCray should resign he would be succeeded by Emmett F. Branch, of Martinsville, Lieut. Governor. McCray’s personal friends take the attitude that his personal affairs are none of the party's business. They contend that his difficulties are between himself and his creditors and that they should not impair his servicability as governor. Mrs. George Cramer of east of the city, was here today shopping.

just the same as the big shows do today. “What else have I done? Nothing but be a clown. I’ve been making folks laugh since I left Indianapolis in 1887 from my dad’s grocery at 82 Yandes St., and started with a juggling and slack wire ’trick’ at county 'airs. “But I’m getting old now, you see.” be added with a slight sm’le. “And I'll keep agoin’ till' the wind blows me away.” Former E3arnum and Bailey Clown As for the kind of humor Americans like best, here's the opinion of this veteran Hoosier smile-maker: "You don’t have to resort to low stuff to be funny. Good humor is usually the clean humor. “And my advice to a young man is stay home with your mother until you get some sense. Then learn aI trade and stick to it.” Nevada, who has seen better days with Barnum and Bailey and with Ringling Brothels, left Indianapolis with his partner, Ed McElroy of Columbus, Ind. This time he will be at Hartford City where a county fair is being held. He wants to make more people laugh.”

Cop Was Too Rough Chicago, Sept. 22. —L. V. Colvin was freed from a speeding charge because Michael O’Shea, policeman, used "rough” language in arresting him. "Some policemen think a citizen has no rights.” said Judge Charles P. McKinley. "A citizen has a right to respectful treatment even though he may be a law violator. 'Hard boiled' talk has no place in making an arrest." M. E. CONVENTION • ON OCTOBER 2 Churches In Fort Wayne District To Meet At Ft. Wayne; Good Speakers. A convention of the Methodist Epis copal church of the Fort Wayne dis* trict, will be held in Fort Wayne, will be Bishop W. F. Oldham and Arthur Nash, of Cincinnati.. Ohio,, golden Rule" Nash as Mr. Nash has come to be known, is one of Cin- ■ cinnati's most successful business men. He conducts his business on Christian principles and has attract- i ed national attention. He is greatly 1 in demand for addresses. At Fort l Wayne he will speak on the theme. I “Christianity in Business.” All mer- ■ chants and everybody in genera) are most cordially invited to hear J.r. Mr. Nash. A full program of the convention wil Ibe given later. —-— Portland Tax Rate Is Fixed At $3.67 For 1924 The total tax rate for the city of Portland, adding the 30 cent state tax rate, will be $3.67. CHAMN ESS GETS TERM IN PRISON Former School Teacher of Berne, Given Sentence of From 1 To 5 Years. Emory Chantness, former school teacher in Berne, who disappeared shortly before the close of school last spring, leaving behind a number of unpaid bills and fraudulent checks, was sentenced to serve? from one to five years in the state penitentiary at Michigan City, when he was found guilty of forgery at Richmond this week. A warrant charging issuing a fraudulent check, was filed in the circuit court here last spring, Vance and | Linn, local clothiers, signing the affidavit. It is likely that Sheriff John Baker will send a warrant to the warden at the state prison, so that he can arrest Chamnss when he has finished his sentence or is paroled. Chamness made his first appearance in Berne last November when lie applied for an eighth grade teaching job at the school board to till the vacancy made by Mr. Potter of Geneva. Chamness had on his person at that time a recommendation which he had gotten from a teachers’ agency. He was given the position and proved to be a good instructor, but on the other hand was soon found to be a clever professional crook. Later investigations have shown that Chamness had obtained his recommendation through lies and that this was only one of the long list of crooked deals of his career. Several years ago at Petersburg, in the southern part of Indiana, he pretended as preacher and is charged witli having stolen a considerable amount of church money. Bad records tire also found at Indianapolis where he had made his former home and also at Richmond where his wife and seven : children are living at present. Soon after he began teaching in i Berne he began to use his clever stunts and succeeded in getting at least SSOO from various persons in Berne. He appealed to the sympathies of a number of persons whom he knew had money, for hospital bills which were to be met because of 111(Conttnued on page two)

Price: 2 Cento.

MANY KLANSMEN ROUNDED UP BY WALTON'S MEN Oklahoma Governor Declares “The Klan Is Whipped”; Scores Examined. WORK SPEEDS UP Governor Hopes To Complete Investigation Before Legislature Meets. • United s -vlre) Oklahoma City. Okla.. Sel l. 22 (Snecial to Daily Democrat) Two additional military courts to examine witnesses in the investigation of alleged lawlessness and Ku Klux Klan rule in Oklahoma were establish'd today by Governor Jack Walton. Scores of klansmen rounded up bv special agents of the governor wire examined by the military 'inquisitors as plans were speeded to complete the proceedings before the date set I by state Igislators for a special session to impeach Walton. Testimony already uncovered Ibv the governor's military aides has placed entire responsibility for whippings by night riders and other acts of lawlessness at the door of the Ku Klux Klan. On the strength of this evidence, the governor caused the arrest of H. C. Jewett. grand dragon of the Oklahoma realm of the klan. a|id made the sensational declaration ’‘the klan is whipped. Rule of th? invisible empire in Oklahoma is done for.” Oklahoma City, Okla., Sept. 22. — "T*lte Ku Klux Klan is beaten," Gov- | ernor J. Walton declared today following the arr»it of N. C. Jewett, grand dragon tor the organization in Oklahoma, and other sensational . developments in the executive's warfare on the invisible empire. Warrant for arrest of Jewett was issued by Prosecutor J K. Wright, who admitted lie had personally paid I an intiation fee into the klan. Jewett I was releas'd on SI,OOO ao;: : after : pleading not guilty. Evidence on which Jewett's arrest • was based was given the military 1 court of inquiry by Dr. A. A. Naupin, i a dentist and former klan member, i He said Jewett atmitted to him that ' he had “laid on the lash" personally in the flogging of E. R. Merriman. The governor is still determined | that the meeting of the Oklahoma teg- | islature called for next Wednesday to start impeachment proceedings will never assemble. Calls Legislature Klansmen “If the legislature meets I will /■onsider it an assemblage of klansmen and the military authorities will be ordered to deal with it just as any other gathering of the invisible empire." the governor said. "Sixty eight of the assembly members are Ku Klux Klansmen and a little more than 50 per cent of the senate belongs to that organization. The man who intends to assemble plan to meet not as legislature, but as klansmen.” Walton said he had information to prove “beyond doubt a doubt" that »v’. I). Mcßee, loader in the move for the spec ial session of the legislature, is an active member of the Dunean, Okla., klan. The governor accused the "klan- , kept press” of Oklahoma or refusing , to print the tacts developed by the f I military court of inquiry. However, , he said, a great many newspapers I outside the state were giving "spteut did service”. i To Print Circulars In order to put the facts of martial 1 law developments before the people r of the state, Jimmy Mathers of Art (l)iiore plans to have thousands of 1 circulars printed and dropped over - against the klan obtained by the mill--3 tarv court. s The governor said he would prove that" the klan shipped its records to (Continued on page two)