Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 257, Decatur, Adams County, 30 October 1923 — Page 2

TOOK SENTENCE 1 WITH STOICISM Ralph Lindsey Unmoved When Judge Pronounced Murder Sentence. The court scene when Ralph Lludsey was sentenced at Centerville, Michigan, for the murder of his wife, and other circumstances of the cas° are related by the Sturgis Journal in an interesting story. It is recalled in one of the stories that the State of Michigan does not impose a death penalty for murder. The Journal of Saturday says: "Ralph Lindsey left for the state prison at Jackson Saturday to begin his seven and one-half to fifteen yeat sentence for the murder of his wife on September 27. After Judge Johrson had informed the prisoner as to the nature and extent of the punishment he must undergo for the crime he had committed, an order was given to Sheriff Moore to conduct Lindsey to the state institution that the :nur direr might begin his term of hard labor immediately. Court's Comment "This sentence is not imposed to punish you. Mr. Lindsey, but as a lesson to society. The crime you have committed can never be atoned for and no amount of retribution on your part would pay for the life o> your wife, Hazel. Much could be said that would haunt you during the time you spend in prison but it would only be acting cruely toward you. Let the imposition of this punishment be a lesson to all and especially to yot who shot your wife because you had lost control of your temper. I hereby instruct the sheriff of St. Joseph county to conduct the prisoner to the state prison, at Jackson, immediately" The culprit swung on his heel, Jill with the same soldierly stride that marked his gait, all afternoon, strode to bis chair. No signs of emotion wcr > evident on the man's face, his air cf determination to have it all over as soon as possible, being kept throughout the procedure. Was Builder of Triangles The dappled life of a man which authorities proclaimed to be "a queer fellow,” and who had been led on by his impulses during his entire career, had run onto the rocks. He had been building triangles ever since the tirsi years-of his married life but the last <>m hud- proven hard to construct. The sides of the geometrical figure failed to fit and the builder became incensed with the result that he destroyed one of the human figures and in this ris'j deed, brought punishment onto himself. IJndsey proved himself an obstitt ate prisoner for nearly two weeks No amount of quizzing, cross-ex-amining, of coaxing could induce him to change the stor yhe told on the day he rode into town and informed Chief Storms that his wife had shot herself. Prosecutor Sloan doubted the tale and began an investigation that disclosed evidence making the theory of suicide almost impossible. ( ipe after due was traced out. Timo. Jacobs was employed to assist the prosecutor, two men of the Hurns detective agency were called in. Lindsey's entire past was traced out after the coroner's inquest was postponed several times. Only two days age. one of the dues, that, seemed to point conclusively to murder, proved a fizzle. The two Burns representatives from Detroit had packed up and w er? ready to leave. Chicago Man Wins Confession Then Harrj McKee, the Chicago agent of the great international agency came to town. He asked to be shown the scene of the shooting ami then requested the sheriff for an op portunity to quiz IJndsey. He was told it was no use as a fellow menibe" of the organization had talked to tl;° prisoner for three hours that very a: ternoon. McKee insisted on a chant iand the man was locked in th" with Lindsey. McKee worked on a different theory than the, others. Their contention !;:•-! been that Lindsey had shot his wil downstairs ami then carried her to the room upstairs where she wu t found. McKee concludetl from his ob serrations that the shooting had oc Curred in the upstairs room. He began driving questions at Lindsey. He told the prisoner that his investigation showed that the woman had been killed where she was found and hammered on a story of murder that coincided almost exactly with the picture that was burned on the memory of the accused. Nearly every tenth sentence was the question: "Ralph why did you Mil poor Hazel?" Then the detective went oa to explain how much easier it would be for himself and his parents to confess and throw himself onto the mercy of the court. Lie pictured the cold body oi the slain

woman lying in her grave with the blume of suicide carved on her tomb- { stone and the great relief he would experience when the confession had been made. Prisoner Praises Officers. Lindsey sat with arms folded, calmly smoking his pipe, and for two solid hours refused to even recognize the presence of the interrogator. But the constant pounding of McKee's words finally wore through and the silence was changed into a torrent of words that carried the confession of the whole matter. The stiff front put up by the slayer wilted and the man slumped into a sobbing heap. He soon recovered and then repeated his confession to tiitf sheriff and the prosecutor, and requested that he be sentenced as soon as possible. "Boys,” said Lindsey to the authorities after it was all over, "you have certainly treated me fine.” For two weeks, up to the telling of what happened in that room upstairs, Lindsey admitted that he and his wife were quarreling over the possession of letters written to him byMrs. Nickell's husband. Mrs. Lindsey, however, wanted the missives herself and argued that Lindsey showed more regard for Mrs. Nickell than for herself by bis action. Then the story of suicide inevitably came from Lindsey’s lips. After the confession was signed Lindsey was a different man. He was relieved. He had shaken a terrorizing load from his shoulders. The haunting look which had come into his eyes during the past week faded away. "I'm glad it’s over,” he said. "I want to get this settled up. I suppose it means my death.” He had forgotten that Michigan does not take a life for a life. IJndsey said that his wife threatened to kill him. that he himself became incensed. In the fight for the gun she fled through the house to the upstairs room. In a brief, fierce tussle, he wrenched the weapon from her and levelled it at her. She fell to her knees to plead for mercy and before the words of terrorstricken prayer were completely uttered, he pulled the trigger and sent a .32 calibre soft nosed bullet smashing into her forehead. Her Finger Marks On Gun. With the finding of the imprint of the little singes of Mrs. Lindsey upon the butt of the Mauser pistol recently, the authorities were made confident that Lindsey had taken the gun from her and killed her. “I, Ralph Lindsey, of my own free will and accord, without intimidation or coercion or any promise of immunity or reward, acknowledge and confess that during the scuffle with my wife, Hazel, for the possession of the automatic pistol and while she was on her knees and I was standing three feet away from her I shot her in the forehead and killed her.” "Ralph Lindsey," Lindsey is a former Adams county boy and is well known in Berne, Geneva and Linn Grove. It appears that he is a black sheep of a prominent and quiet well-to-do Hartford township family, who have been sticking close to the prodigal, taking care that good attorneys were on hand in the fight, in his behalf. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Lindsey, living several miles west of Geneva, who are devout Christian people. His father is superintendent of the Hartford township Sunday school. The convicted murderer is also a brother to Milo Lindsey, teacher in the Bluffton schools. He is also a nephew of Fred Lindsey of Geneva, president of Wabash township Sunday school association. v o rLiberty Center Basketball Schedule Is Announced Coach Austin Smith, of the Libert. Center high school was in the city this morning ami announced Lib ■ty Center basketball schedule for the coming season. The first game was played at Petroleum. The rest <>t the dates are as follows: Nov. 2 -Ossian at Liberty. Nov. 9—Berne at Berne. Nov. 16 —Union C -nter, there. Nov. 23 —Warren at Warren? Nov. 28 —Berne, here. Nov. 30 —Van Buren, there. Dec. 7—Decatur at Liberty. Dec. 15—Bluffton, there. Doc. 28 —Decatur at Decatur. Jan. 4 -Petroleum at Liberty. Jan. 11 —Montpelier at Liberty. Jun. IS—Bluffton at Liberty. ■lan. 25-—Lancaster at Lancaster. Feb. 2—Warrao at Liberty. Feb. 15 —Ossian tit Ossian. Feb. 22 —Montpelier at Montpejier. Sure to Come. “Mos’ nil men got a moment o' remorse cumin’ some time,” eaid Charcoal Eph, rumlnath ely, "but yo'all got t' admit hit usually come aftah yo’ ;'t s'imp’n fo’ : our hurt feelings.” —Richmond Times I’Lpatch.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30. 1923.

CLUB CALENDAR Tuesday Board of Guardians, Library, t\v> o'clock. Corinthian class of Christian church party, Mr. and Mrs .Floyd Enos. Rebecca Hallowe'en party—Rebecca Hull 7:30. Tri Kappa—Mrs. Marie Westsveld. 7 • 30. Evangelical Young Peoples Missionary Circle —Mrs. Robert Gawd. Wednesday So Cha Rea—Miss Marie Murtaugh 7:30. Historical club, Mrs. Hattie Be, ry. Shakespeare dub, Mrs. J. H. Heller. Pythian Needle club masquerade party, K. of I’. Home. Union Township Woman’s Club, with Mrs. C. D. Spooler, 1:30p.m. Thursday Baptist Woman’s Society—Mrs. H. M. Shroll. Monroe M. E. Ladies’ Aid society —Parsonage. Woman's Home an dForeign Missionary society, of Presbyter an church. Mrs. F. E. France, 2:30. Ever Ready class of M. E. Chin ch, Mrs. W. E. Johnson. E. V. Missionary Society, church. 2:30. Friday W. H. M. S. of M. E. church with Mrs. John Vail. 2 p.m. Saturday Cafeteria Supper by Epworth League, of M. E. Church, dining 1 ail of M. E. Church. 5 to 7.

Mr. and Mrs. Rome Becher, of Bluecreek township, entertained the following geests at Sunday dinner: Mr. and Mrs. Will Sipe, and s is, Rolla and Herman of Berne; Mr. and Mrs. Homer Sipe and son, of Ft. Wayne; Mr. and Mrs. John Burke, Mr. and Mrs. Will Myers and the Misses Mary and Harriett Myers of this city. ★ The Evangelical Missionary Society will meet Thursday afternoon at twothirty o’clock at the church. Mrs. William Alfather will be leader and members arc requestor to bring study books. ’ ★ Tbe public is cordially invited to attend the box social at Rhcnfck >r, one mile north of Monroe. Friday, November 2. * Mr.-. Cash Lutz entertained Hie ladies of tho Mooseheart Legion at her home on North Third street last evening, at a masquerade party. The home was attractively decorated in Hallowe’en style. During the eventog bunco was played and prizes wire awarded to Mrs. Jennie Miller, Mrs. Bertha Buffenbarger and Vereua Miller. A lovely luncheon was served to twenty-five guests. ★ Mr. and Mrs. Gust M. Borne, ot near Convoy, Ohio, delightfully <ntertained at their home Sunday evening. Games and cards were enjoy- i. Those present were Hugo Scear, M.-i -t, Paul Car. Oscar, and Victor E',:br; Emil Gretcb:: Ervin Zimmerman Fred Kruckenberg, Miss Prisciga a id Olga Scear; Della and Ora Storii; Emilie, Selma. Delma. Esther, Lcth and Frieda IJzler; Leota ami llil 11 Buckner; Edna Becker; May Bal;, cat; Halinda Muntzinger; Mr. ami M.;,' Ed Roehb, and children, Marjorie, Donald and Eugene; Mr. and M s. Gust Borne, and son Wayna Edxva.il * The women of the Moosheart Legion will meet at the Moose home on Third street on Thursday evening, November Ist ;;t 7:30. The nomination of officers will take place and every member is requested to be present. ♦ Mrs. C. C. Schafer, Mrs. Roy Ar- h bold and Mrs. E. G. Coverdaiu v ill entertain this evening nt a five hundred party and luncheon at the Sclia for home on Second street. A second party will be given Friday, wliieh will be a sewing party, and the third a bridge party, will be given Nov. 6. * The Monroe Methodist Ladies' Aid society will meet at the parsonage on Thursday afternoon. A good attendance is desired. * The regular social meeting of the Epworth Leagiic of the Mclhodi. t church was held at the home ot Miss Harriett Myers last evening. Members came masked and much fun vs; derived from the guessing ccnlest which followed. Light refresh me its were served by the hostess and her assistants. * The Baptist Woman’s society will meet Thursday afternoon ,at 2:;!!) o’clock at the Uoiqu of Mrs. H. M.

I Shroll. A missionary progruin will ;be given and Mrs. Blossom will be the leader. o — MOTHER OF MRS. STOKES SPEAKS Testifies In Trial To Defend Daughter Against Stain On Her Good Name. New York. Oct. 30.—A mothc' went on the witness stand here to day to defend her daughter agains' charges that would stain her hono and good name. Mrs. Emma Miller, mother of Hole Elwood Stokes, was the chief witues for the defense in the divorce suit o W. E. D. Stokes, who charges hi wife was unfaithful. Alert, careful, weighing every lega question lest it mask a trap, the mo ther told the story of her daughter’s life ever since she was a little girl leaving home for the first time, t< go to boarding school. S7-Year-Old Man Murdered Chicago, Oct. 30. (United Press. I — Two suspects were held today in the murder of Samuel E. Adams, 87, a storekeeper, in the presence of his 82-year-old wife. Adams was shot to death last night when he resisted rob- ' bery. The old couple had 115.000 in securities hidden in their little notions shop. Two young :;ien entered the shop and after making a pretense to buy some merchandise, one of them drew a revolver and demanded the securities. A scuffle followed and Mrs. Adams ran from a backroom into the shop jur-t as her busband was shot down.

I Complete New Line » WOOL AND COTTON BLANKETS I In this department can be found a fine assortment of High Grade Wool and Cotton Blankets—Made of High Grade Selected Yarns. ■ ■ I I I . Extra fine grade | Extra Quality '"x x. w«.i\’inßlink- \\ 001-Nap lilanh Cotton Blankets. /, | WCa WCA e ts in beautiful l-i, KSI ration Io >•'««*• P* 111 ; 1 " 5 ’ 1 . . . ' ) Tan and White, - | be had are used / % WfidlWll Black and White in Ibis blanket. J // // Bray and White, S I Size 70x80, Size 70xS(l, ® 50 $ 4' 95 SPECIAL SPECIAL SPECIAL SPECIAL Very Heavy Wool Nap GrjuJe Extra Fine Grade All Fine (Jualily Cotton Rnke ,in nice block <ll Wool Blankets in W°ol Blanket. Extra patterns; Blue & White, !•« i A BWnKeu* in . we i»-ht in-beauti-Blankets in Gray and Pink & White, Lavender e P G r a" B & B yvhite ful block patterns at K _ & White. Yellow & at cc Tan, special, pair While. Size 70x80. { Ink & 60 n-ja and Special Special •plwoO’w I S2>s ° $5 - 75 $9 - 50 sls>oo Now is the time to make selections while stocks are complete. Immense stock to select from. Niblick & Company

!! Court House [ Smith v«. Grim Can Continued The-case of Jesse O. Smith vs.' Charles Grim was continued today by agreement of the parties. Petition For New Trial A motion for a new trial in the case of Harry J Powell vs. Thomas Mack was filed today. > Petition For Partition Os Farm A petition for the partition of a farm of SO acres in Union township, was filed in the circuit court today by Clinton Stevens et al vs. Ruth Webster et al. The petition was filed through Attorney Dore B. Erwin, of Ulis city. Two Claims Filed Today Porter and Beavers today filed a claim against the J. W. Hoppel estate for S6OO. S. S. Buchanan & Son, of Willshire, Ohio, filed a claim against the William Hoppel estate for $223.50. General Strike Proclaimed Throughout Saxony Today Berlin, Oct. 30.—1 n the teeth of a nilitary decree prohibiting it, a gen'ral strike was proclaimed throughout Saxony today as a protest against he use of the mailed fist by the fedra| government. Proclamation of the strike had • -‘?n ! forecast for more than a week if ttie Stresemann cabinet carried out its threat to oust the Seigner cabinet of Saxony for communist tendencies. Genera] Mueller, federal dictator for Saxony, prohibited the strike. Dr. Heinze as civil commissioner for , Saxony, prohibited the meeting of lite Saxon diet and General Mueller followed this up by the arrest of some of its communist members. o. - Morse Opposed Sale of the Excelsior Springs Hospital Washington, Oct. 30.—Charles R. Forbes, former head of the veterans' bureau, strenuously opposed the sale to the government of the hospital and site at Excelsior Springs, Mo., by E.

L. Morse for $173,000 it was brought out in the testimony today before the senate committee Investlgaliug the veterana’ bureau. "Ho was very beligeran*," zuld Morse. Morse testified Forbes had I refused to see him and kept him I waiting for hours when Morse tried ito interview Frobes to urge the conclusion ot the deal. The Excelsior hospital project li.ii been one of the major points of criticism of the administrations veterans' bureau. ANOTHER GRAND JURY (Continued Rom Page One) According to Charles H. Henderson. attorney for the company. Governor McCray bought the farm from th i Service Realty company of Indianpc lie not long before his financial difficulties became public this year. The governor assumed a five-yea first mortgage of SIOO,OOO and gave n

THE CRYSTAL TONIGHT ONLY “When Love Comes” A big special featuring Helen Jerome Eddy From the springtime of youth to ripe old age true love makes of life an endless holiday. Also—The 11th round of the picture “FIGHTING BLOOD’’ A Real Show. Get new tickets all this week on the drawing next Monday evening. This week's gift will be a silverware set on display in the Keller Jewelry store. The pr»e last evening w.is awarded to Mrs. Curtis Baxter.

$25,000 gwoad mOrtKll<e | ico company. Henderson Bald Failure to meet interest wa a given us the cause et,he

JUST RECEIVED a new shipment of COATS Call and see them. Mrs. M. Moyer 131 N. Bth street