Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 255, Decatur, Adams County, 27 October 1923 — Page 1

Volume XXI. Number 255.

RALPH LINDSEY BEGINS SERVING SENTENCE TODAY Former Adams County Man Sentenced To From 7 '/ 2 To 15 Years for Murder. SENTENCED ON FRIDAY Tells Story of a Quarrel Which Led To Shooting of His Wife. Sturgis, Mich., Oct. 27.— (Special to Daily Democrat.)—Ralph Lindsey, 34, of near here, who confessed last Thursday night to murdering his wife, Hazel Lindsey, 28, on September 26, today began serving a sentence of from 7>/i to 15 years at hard labor in the Michigan state prison. LindseV was sentenced yesterday afternoon bl Judge Clayton C. Johnson, of the St. Joseph circuit court, after Lindsey had entered a plea of guilty to a charge of murder in the second degree. Lindsey was taken to the prison by the sheriff last night. The confession of Lindsey, which was made to Detective Harry McKee. of Chicago, and officials, came as a complete surprise to citizens here and at Centerville, where the confession was made. Sime the fatal t shooting T.indsey had stoutly maintained that his wife committed suicide while he was putting his automobile in the garage. When the coroner's jury completed its investigation at Sturgis about two weeks ago, it was believed the jury would order the release of'l.’ndsey. who had been held in jail since the shooting on a < barge of carrying a concealed weapin. When the jury did report, after a considerable recess, it recommended that Lindsey be held for murder. For two hours Thursday night while the accused man was being grilled by detectives, he refused to say one word. Then all of a sudden he admitted that he killed his wife while she was on her knees before him begging for mercy. The confession was then written out and signed. Friday was the date that had been set for the arraignment of the prisoner before Justice W. I. Ashley. He entered a plea of guilty to murder and was immediately bound over to the circuit court where he was given permissio nto plead and take his sentence without delay. The judge recommended that Lindsey should not be released for 10 years. According to the story told by Lindsey in his confession, he and his wife had been engaged in a bitter quarrel over his illicit relations with Mrs. Neva Nicholls, 19. with whom Lindsey had planned to elope on the day of the murder. Mrs. Lindsey took his automatic pistol from the drawer, where he kept it and rain upstairs to hide it. Her husband ran after her and a scuffle ensued in which Mrs. Lindsey was brought to her knees. While she begged for her life, Lindsey said, he shot her through the forehead and she fell dead at his feet. He laid the gun by her side and then went down to the police station and told Mrs. Nicholls that he wished she had been killed, according to detectives. Mrs. Nicholls admitted her intimacy with Lindsey at the coroner's inquest. She admitted that she and Lindsey had intended to elope on the day of the killing. Mrs. Lindsey was the second wife of her husband. They had been separated for a time and while they were separated Mrs. Lindsey gave birth to twins. One died at birth and the other lived for nine months, but Lindsey nevcv saw either of them. It .is said that he has a child. 12 years old, by his first wife, but that he never contributed to its support. Mrs. Lindsey had consulted a lawyer about obtaining a divorce two days before she was murdered. She was a trained nurse and was regarded as the superior of her husband. The parents of Lindsey live in Adams county. Ind., near Decatur, and he has a brother, at Bluffton. Lindsey was regarded as the “black sheep" of the family. _• Mrs. Walter Schug and Mrs. Irvin Sprunger of Berne, were visitors here yesterday.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Col. Reppert To Auction At McCray’s Cattle Sale Indianapolis, Oct. 27 -Sixty head of cattle will be offered for sale nt public auction at the stale fairground F Wednesday afternoon at 2 p. m. The cattle are pure-bred of the Orchard Lake stock farm of Warren T. McCray, and. Governor McCray said, are mostly polled HereI fords. He said the cattle are mostly cows with calf or with calf by side, but that among them are two or three r bulls. The cattle are of the line highly ■ esteemed among Hereford breeders, and which has been bred by McCray for many years. Colonel Fred Reppert. of Decatur, who is known wherever fine stock is - auctioned in Indiana, will be the ! auctioneer, the Governor said. ; MRS, M'WHIRTER ■ DIES HERE TODAY Aged Lady Died At Home of Her Daughter, Mrs. Dallas Hunsicker. i II Mrs. Margaret McWhirter. 76, died J at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Dallas Hunsicker, in this city, at > 5:35 o’clock Friday evening. Mrs. McWhirter had been in failing health ’ for several vears and during the past I summer was bedfast at different k times while visiting her daughter. • Mrs. B. E. Miller, at Lake Gaorge. k During her late illness she was < onfined to her bed for but one week. Mrs. McWhirter was the widow of H. McWhirter, a Civil war veteran who died six years ago, being buried in the Decatur cemetery on August 1 29, 1917. Since this time she had made her home in this city with Mr. and Mrs. Dallas Hunsicker, spending some time each year with her other children. The following children sur--1 vive: Mrs. Hunsicker, D. J. McWhirter. 1 of Geneva: Mrs. B. E. Miller, of Lake ' George; Mrs. G. B. Robinson, of ' Sturgis, Michigan, and H. E, Mei Whirter, of Kalamazoo. Michigan. Mrs. McWhirter was born in Ireland. 1 December 25. 1846 and came to America with her parents when ten years old. They settled in Ohio near ’ Zanesville. Mrs. McWhirter was a member of the First Methodist church ’ of Decatur. Funeral services will he held from 1 the Hunsicker residence. 334 North Fourth street, at 10 o’clock Monday morning, the Rev. IT. S. A. Bridge, pastor of the First Methodist church. ’ officiating. Burial will be made in 1 the Decatur cemetery. o CENTRAL SCHOOL i TENNIS CHAMPS 1 1 • Billy Bell and Dick Stoneburned Win Honors; ; Girls Not Through. Billy Bell and Dick Stoneburner won the championship in the doubles tennis tournament at the Central school this week. They won the title iby defeating John Engle and James ’ Kocher in the final match. The girt < I tournament has not been completed , The final match was started yesler day but was called before completed with the score tied. Geraldine Hower , and Virginia Hite are playing Helen I Haubold and Sadie Fisher for the > championship. When the play was [stopped by darkness yesterday even- > ing, each had won sets and each had .'two games In the next set. The 'via- > tiers of the Central school tourna- ( ments will play the winners at the St. . Joseph Catholics schools sometime - ( next week, providing the weather is i favorable. , | Basketball will start at the Cental • school next week, it is announced by Principal Guy W. Brown, today, -[Ralph Tyndall, who was graduated > from Purdue University last spring I and who is teaching in the Cenlral - school, will coach the basketball team. [The Central school pupils are taking 1 a great interest in indoor baseball ■' this fall, also, and several teams have ■ been formed. t — Mrs. Fred Sellemyer and daughter, Della, spent the day in Ft. Wayne. i The Misses Eva Acker and Serena > Hornada went to Ft. Wayne to spend the day with friends.

USEDNAMEOF BANK TO OBTAIN PERSONAL LOANS Governor McCray Says He, Deposited $155,000 I i Own Name, Not Bank's. TO PROBE RECORDS Records of Agricultural Board To Be Investigated Thoroughly. I BULLETIN CT’nitP'’ Pres Indianapolis. Oct. 27 (Special Io Daily Democrat) Governor McCray, in a formal statement this afternoon, ex- , plained the method he used to obtain money on checks given him by the slate board of agriculture. “The money I borrowed from 1 the board was transferred by Indianapolis banks to Hit banking connections in Chicago of the Discount A Deposit i Bank of Kentland, for their credit and in turn the Kentland bank gave me credit for it as it was paid out of my (hecks." he said. I - Indianapolis, Oct. 27. —Governor McCray today admitted that he had frequently used the name of the Discount and Deposit bank, of Kentland, of which he was formerly president, in con- ■ rection with bis own name for 1 the purpose of obtaining funds for his personal use. McCray, when questioned rt--1 garding the statement of Wm. Darroch, receiver for the bank : in which Darroch declared the ' $155,000 of state board of agriculture money had -not reached • the bank, said: ■ “Os course it didn’t. It was ’ deposited there to my own • credit, and did not go to the credit of the bank.” , McCray denied he had given the i, board of agriculture any leason .tu i doubt the destination of the funilt ' He insisted that while some of tie i checks involved in the $155,000 Iran i action were made out to the Kent land bank, it was understood that m< i money was to be used by him as a 1 loan. The entire $155,000 was paid back • to the state board with funds f.om • the $350,000 pool raised by nr..:.. 1 Governor' Goodrich. Prepare For Probe Preparation for a thorough probe of the records of the state board of agriculture were speeded today tin,’ u orders from Lawrence Orr. chief ex I aminer of the state board Os a tin I '. I Scope of the investigation «:■- nt' revealed by Orr, but it was unfit rstood the examination would ,o thoroughly into the governor's >1 1 ings with the board, with particular reference to the $155,000 "'loan.'' (Continued on page five) M. E, REVIVAL OPENS NOV. 4 Dr. and Mrs. Earl Naftzger, of Winona Lake, To Assist In the Services. Revival services will open at th' First Methodist church here' on Suui clay, Nov. 7, and c ontinue for tht ■■ weeks, closing on November 25. The evangelist will be the Rev. Earl N;iitzger. D. D.. of Winona l ake, Indiana, and Mrs. Naftzger will assist as a pianist and worker among woman. . Dr. Naftzger is a member of the North Indiana Conference', and i number of years was in the pastortit* Dr. and Mrs. Naftzger are evangel i-. - I extraordinary and both are excellent musicians. Dr. Naftzger is an able j preacher. | Dr. and Mrs. Naftzger recently clos !ed a successful revival at Orange i New Jersey and they are now in a meeting at Montpelier, Indiana, rour I years ago they assisted the Rev. I , |s. A. Bridge, now pastor of the local Methodist church, in a meeting in which there were nearly five hundred I decisions. The public is cordially in | vited to attend the services.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, October 27, 1923.

ON LONG TRIP I fya;-. — I A I Wl i IWI V ’ ■-? -, '■ .... "BABY PEGGY" MONTGOMERY Chicago. Tree above photo shows "Baby Peggy" Montgomery, famous little movie star, who stopped off here Wednesday (Oct. 24) en route to New York with her parents and sister. The picture was taken as the I little queen was standing on the cow catcher of the California Limited. The following was gleaned from the catechism of the infant star: Q. —What is a nireitor? A.— A man who hollers at you. Q. —What is a vampire? A. —A lady with spit curls. Q. —Are the women of the movies intelligent? A. —Well, the y’re very beautiful So recited Baby Peggy, the movie starlet. Wednesday at she visited Chicago with her fatjier anil mother. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Montgomery. The 1 answers to the questions wore given promptly by the 5 year oil girl. If she had learned a lesson, she had learned it well, but draw your own conclusions. Baby Peggy, according to her par ents, is going to receive an enormous salary for the next five years of hetlife. Something like a Jljam.OOO a year, they said. They are taking her to New York so that sig; may absorb a bit of the famous Broadway’selfconfidence "so. necessary to the life i of an_actress.” artSmeyTrF AjiDWVEBURNED Mrs. Myers Probably Fatally Burned In Explosion At Van Wert Today. Arthur Meyers, former Decatur resident, and hit wife Mabel, age 25, were seriously burned at their home in Van Wert, Ohio, at 6:40 o’clock this morning, when kerosene which Mrs. Meyers had poured on seme kindling in the kitchen stove, exploded. Mrs. Meyers lies in the Van Wert county hospital, with very small hepes of recovery. Mr. Meyers suffered severe burns en both hands, bui will recover. Mrs. Meyers went to the kitchen to, start a fire in the stove this morning. She placed kindling in the stove and poured kerosene on the kindling. There had been fire in the stove last night and a few live coals caused the kerosene to explode. The burning kerosene was thrown over Mrs. Meyers’ c’othing and she ran from the house screaming for help. Hearing his wife's screams, M. Meyers .ran after her anil , "up ■>. to smother the 11.’in s with a rug > " the rag caught fire anil he beat out 'he flames with his hands, suffe'Leg -eve-re b T-rn in o doing. a Meyers was terribly burned from liins down and Ict left shoulder, 1". arm, and hand were badly burr " I. She was rushed to the hospital, b i physicians stated this afternoon tiuo •he had a small chaa ' • to r and if she does live she likely will he permanently crippled. The flames blazed up to tin* e.eitr.'.g in the kitchen and the fire rep:tr’.uient was called, but is ig libers li ■ 1 succeeded in ex:ingui filing the fir 1 sere tin fin-men arrived. M'. and Meyers have one child, Virginia, i;. (Continued on png ' five) ‘ W eat her Mostly cloudy tonight and Sunday, probably light rain; little''change in temperature.

THBEE MEN ANO SOY IMPRISONED | IN INDIANA MINE I Little ( ’-unce That Any Wil! Be Re 'cued Alive; Imprisoned By Fire. F.XFLCSION IS CAUSE Ge -iine Engine Explodes, Cut ing Off Escape This Morning. i S!:iunt< n. Ind., Oct. 27 'Mp,| to Daily Democrat) ‘There is very slight chance het any of the four will he tnk-[ n ' nt alive.” Th : s '"as the statement of former Mine Inspector Mike Scollard al noon today as he directed work of attempting to rescue three men and a hoy iniorisen< d by lire in the Noah Hunt mine, less than a mile direct Iv south of this town. The hoy. George Hardy, 7 vears old, went into the mine with his father. Joe Hardy, Ibis morning when he went to work. Ihe lad went; in “just 'o see the mine.” Hopes'had been held up to the time [ if Sci Hard's statement that the men would b-> taken out alive. At shortly liefo-e 11 ok lock there was tapping heard at the mouth of the mine which indicated to the rescuers that the men were still alive and signalling ■ for help. Explosion of a gasoline engine farted the fire. Terre Haute. Oct. 27—(Special to Dail ' Democrat)—The I’. S. bureau ’. as mines rescue squad from Vinceni nes was heir, rushed to Staunton this morning to help in rescuing four ‘ men raht to b<- cut off from escape by fire tn the Noah Hunt wagon mine ■< vt.hensl of the city. Explosion of a gasoline engine tacted a fire which cut off the men while three others, rushing from the work'ngs were reported severely InI jured in making their escape. The four men imprisoned in the mine are: Zeke Butterman. Joe Hary, George Hardy, son of Joe. and an unidentified man. It was said at Staunton that it the mine rescue squad reached the scene within one hour the men could be saved but if the arrival was delayed longer than that it was feared they would be lost. Small Pox Epidemic At Pleasant Mills Controlled The epidemic of small pox which ' has been prevalent at Pleasant Mills 1 for the past few weeks, has been ' placed under control and, although i there are between fifteen and twenty cases under quarantine at present; no new eases are expected and those 'under quarantine will be released soon. School uas resumed last we< k. The epidemic was very mild. WALTON TO FACE TRIAL ON NOV. 1 Suspended Governor of Oklahoma Must Face Impeachment Court. Cklahema City, Oct. 27.—J. ('. Wa: ton, suspended governor of Oklahoun will stand trial November 1. In■i'»"o tb ■ senate, sitting a: an impeachment •ouit, upon 22 charges voted by tie’ house. The hearing at which th- governor was ordered subpoened for pers ’mi! i' jeqrance will open at ID o’clock - • Thursday with J. T. Johnson, chief justice of the state, supreme court, presiding. In the interval, Governor Walton '( is the right to file an answer to 'he charges with the senate. Kirkland Township Won ' Kirkland township high school won two games from the Bryant high school last night in the old high school gymnasium here before a fair- . sized crowd of fans. The Kirkland i boys and girls both outclassed their I Jay county opponents.

Arrested for Beating Bill For Room Rent Frank Marbaugh, 18, of Toledo, ().. . was arrested by Chief of Police Joel Reynolds yesterday afternoon on a charge of defrauding u board bill and room rent. The affidavit was filed against Marbaugh by Floyd Smitley, who alleged that Marbaugh owed his I mother. Mrs. John Smitley, a sum of money for room rent. Marbaugh was ; arrested at the Clover Leaf station where he was waiting for a train to | leave town. He was placed in the | Jail last night and this morning was arraigned before Mayor DeVoss in city court. He settled his bill with Mrs. Smitley and the charge was dismissed. Marbaugh had been in Decatur for the past few weeks and had been work in- at the sugar factory. < MRS. CAROLINE BUEHLER DIES Wife of Berne Man Dies In East Haven Hospital At Richmond, Ind. Mrs. Caroline Buehler. 78, wife of Fred Buehler, of Berne, died at the East Haven hospital in Richmond, at | 6:30 o'clock Thursday evening. The I cause of her death is unknown, but it is thought that infirmities of old age were the cause. Mrs. Buehler, was taken to the Richmond asylum, about’ 25 years ago. because of mental derangement She was well known in Berne and the news of her death came with much surprise. For many years while at Richmond she was well mentally, and would have been fit to have been at her home, it is said, however, she desired rather to remain at Richmond. Last reports stated that she was in charge of the asylum laundry. Mrs. Caroline Buehler was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Moser, deceased, of Vera Cruz, and was born on February 5, 1845. When she reached the age of womanhool she was married to Frederick Buehler who survives her. She is the mother ' of two children, Miss Emma at home with her fattier, and a son. Edward Buehler, abroad. Iler husband and daughter live in Berne on East Water street. A sister. Mrs. Sarah Hilt of Lafavette also survives. Funeral services were held at the home this afternoon at 2:00 o’clock. Interment will be at the Vera Cruz cemetery. Miss Leota Habegger has returned from a several days' visit with relatives at Berne. ALBERT BUCHER EXPIRED TODAY Cancer of Stomach Claims Victim In Root Township Early Today. Albert Bucher, 31. son of Mr. and Mrs. Christ Bucher, died at his home* six miles northJtast of Decatur in the Fuelling settlement, at 6 o'clock this morning, following an illness of catyer of the stomach. Mr. Bucher had never married. Albert Bucher was born in Root township. Adams county, July 8, 1892. He spent his entire life in that locality. His parents and eight brothers and sisters survive. One brothers and sisters who survive are: sister preceded him in death. The Mrs. Sophia Shafer, of Ft. Wayne;. William Buc her, at home at present. . but a member, qf the United States I army for the past several years; j Christian Bucher, of Decatur; Henry I Bn; her, of Ft. Wayne; Mrs. Ella j Neffler, of Ft. Wayne; Mrs. Anna Wagner, of Root township; Mrs. Iva Franks of Allen county and Harvey Bucher, of Freidheim. Funeral services will be held from the home at 1 o'clock Standard time, on Monday, and from the Fuelling Lutheran church at 1:31) o'clock, the Rev. Moeller, pastor, officiating. Burial will ho made in the church cemetery. ——■— CHICAGO MARKET CLOSE Wheat: Dec. $1.06%; May $1.11%; July, $1.07%. Corn: Dec. 73%c; May ■ 71%c; July 72c. Oats: Dec. 41%c; May 44%c.

Price: 2 Cents.

BLOODY RIOTING IS REPORTED IN THE RUHR TODAY Disorder Widespread As Officials Await Information On Peace Move. — FAVOR NEW MOVE i Germany. However, Fears Conditions Attached By France. Will Hinder. H’nlfM Pre‘-« S<*rvlrs») Wrishinuton, Oct. 27 (Special Io Daily Demoeral) A cnnl'crence of tin* powers, includin'* the United St iles, will orohahlv b<* convened before Christmas for the mirpose of settling the reparations nroblem. ttecortlint' Io belief exmessed in informed tpitirters today. The fact that high officials of the American government regitrd as satisfactory Ihe French reply to the pronosition of this country, as set forth in the note of Secretary Hughes to Groat Britain, makes it probable that such an economic conference will be held. Formal invitations will go out soon. Just where the conference is J Io be held is not known so far. ill is thought probable, however that the parlev will be convened in one of the allied caoilals and then will move to Berlin. BULLETIN (By Carl D. Groat) W TT . P Staff Cor-osnondent) Berlin. Oct. 27,—Wi(’.?8pread and i bloody rioting throughout the Ruhr [ was reported today as government ficials waited for additional information on the peace move started In London and Washington for setele. ! ment of the reparations question. Barmen dispatches said seven peisons were killed and forty wounded [in scattered fighting in the occupied zone. Communists, engineering ilemoistrations of unemployed, started tb rioting. German police were regaining on trol today, late dispatches said, at though clashes continued in many districts. The government, in a semi-offie’ul statement on the reparations situation.let it be known that Chancellor Stresemann regards the Anglo-Am-erican demarches as a "stop forward, which should serve to lessen the tension of the foreign situation." At the same time, however, offi rials indicated the chancellor fears the condition attached by France to the proposed investigation of Germany's capacity to pay will make the investigation practically useless. V’ewpoints Are Differ e nt (By John De Gandt) (U. P. Staff Correspondent) Paris. Oct. 27-The gull separating the Franco-British viewpoints regarding German >< portions payments is much deeper than is generally supposed, according to indications in of- ! ficial circles here today. Premier Poincare does not cons',l r his conditional acceptance of tfie .-m---glo-Ameriean proposals for a commission of experts to examine Germany's capacity to pay as in any way constituting a deviation from his original viewpoint. As stated in United Press dispatches yesterday. France insists that the reparations commission; which she controls, still must remain the final aurlto; (ty on now nit;; it Germany can pay. I France welcomes American co-op-■eratinon in settling the reparations problem, officials said, but indicated lat the same time that this gov. •rnJ ment has no intention of abantlon'ng its previous expressed viewpoint. Replies Are Received Londan. Oct. 27. Tile British foretiign office lias received tile replies ot . | France and Belgium, accepting on--4 ditionally the Anglo-American sug'igestion for appointment of a commiti tee of experts to assess Germany's ■ capacity to pay reparations, it wn learned from an authoritive source today. Italy has also replied favorably, it ' was said. y The proposed international on(Continued on page five)