Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 304, Decatur, Adams County, 26 December 1923 — Page 1

Volume XXI. Number 301.

AUTOS, LIQUOR AND EIRE TAKE TOLL OF LIVES Many People Die During Christmas Festivities Throughout U. S. ACCIDENTS IN LEAD Auto And Train Accidents Take Heaviest Toll Os Lives P.loominKton. 111., Dec. 20—-Thy** ( pi-roons were killed and five were seriously injured when a Nickle plate train ttlruck the victim's automobile three miles from litre last night. Pannvfllc, 111., Dec. 26—Throe per sons were killed here yesterday when an interurban car struck their automobile. The dead were Madge Spencer, Robert Spencer and Margaret Peyton. Train Hitt Auto Chicago, Dec 26—Two perrons weer killed and two wore perhaps fatally hurt when their automobile was demolished by an Illinois Central suburban train here last night. The dead: Dr. F. R. Rutterfiled and Mr*. Annette Shoemaker. The iccident occurred at an unguarded crossiing. The train, speeding to Chicago with Christmas merry, makers, dragged the ear 300 feet. One Negro Ki'led St. Ixmift. Dec. 26 —One negro was killed and ten other persons were injured In Christmas auto crashes in St. IxMti*. In three of the accidents, including that of the death of the negro, the motorist* aped without stopping after striking their victims Polson Liquor Fatal New York. Dec. 26—Poison Christmas liquor brought death to a man and two women and another woman and four men are in Ballevne hospital In a critical condition today. I teaidea. more than 20 alcoholic poisoning case*. Including a 15 year old hoy. were reported in the city. In contrast to Christmas last year, when 12 yrsons were admitted to the hospital as result of drinking. 22 entered the institution this season. with three death* and more expected. There were no fatalities in 1922. Chicago. D*«. 26—Christmas ‘hooch*’ killed one man here yesterday. The victim was found In an alley, with two partly filled bottles of the lethal liquor in his pocket*. Philedaphia. Des* 26—Polson liquor killed one man and 25 persons were treated at hospitals for acute alcohollam as the result of drinking on Christmas day. police record* show today. The lowest record for Christmas drunk* In the history of the city was reported, only 249 Intoxicated person* falling into the hands of the poller. Thres Suicides Pittsburgh. Dr - M—On* man died from alcoholism yesterday. Three persona commuted aultide. •" 111 1 ■ Diaastious Fit* Ijtplata. Mo Dec 26 Bucket brlcades fought four hour* Christmas unsuccessfully against a fire which destroyed the entire business block on the south aide of the city square, causing damage of |IM.MO. Autos Injur* Faur ladlannpoll*. Dev jO.-Four persons were Injured in chrlstm«» day auto nccldinta in Indianapolis Po lire were searching today for three nt the driver* who failed In • ln l» ter the accident* A woman wa* left lying umon Selous on the street when *n “' ,,n •obtaining two young Christmas rider*, bit her. a m»n *•» atrm * wails waiting In a safety sona. and another man *»• knotked do*n * bl1 " vroasing a street In the south l’-»" of the city. / Commits tuieidv Chicago. Dec. 26— Ending an a" night Christmas party. .Mrs. Edward (Continued on P*< ( ’ tlxrw* l

l •- - ■ ULCATIR DALEY DEMOCRAT'

( ars Collide On South Second Street Today Two cars came together this mornon Second street, at tj H . Liberty way inierse.-tion, both ears being ' iama *““' l Clark F. Fink, who drove here from Geneva, was attempting to I "lake a short turn" from Second 1*1.77? ’° I - I ’"' r 'y w,, y and Burton • Ihliek, Who was driving south on Second street, jammed into the sid. of the ,-ar. Niblick Calmed he had 'he right-of-way. The damage was adjusted, but the Fink ear had to be ’aken to a garage for repairs, if be.in * the most seriously damaged of the two. The occupants of the cars were not hurt In the least. FIRE DESTROYS WRECKED AUTO Mr. And Mrs. Jonas Hoffman Escape Injury In Accident Near Here An Overland touring car turned over into the ditch at the side of the Fort Wayne road, just south of Monmouth. yesterday afternoon, and was destroyed by fire. The ear was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. .Jonas Hoff man. of Michigan, who were enroute to Kirkland township to visit relatives. when the accident occured. Mr. Hoffman stated that his car caught fire shortly before it ran into the ditch, and that he lost control of his car while investigating the fire. The ear headed for the ditch and turn ed over when Mr. Hoffman attempted to steer it bark into the road. It turned over on the right side and threw Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman out of their seats. They crawled out of the wreckage. uninjured. The <ar burst into flames and it was Impossible to save it. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman came to Decatur in another car which came along, and notified their relatives ot the accident from this city. oMr. and Mrs. Harold Swarts and Mis* Lula Swart* motored to Fort Wayne where they attended a show Christmas afternoon. PETERSONS HOLD FAMILY REUNION Isarge Family Os Mrs. Fannie Peterson Met At K. Os P. Home Mr*. Fannie Peterson was hostess iyesterday to tony-six member* ot her Immediate family. in« ludlng vhll dren. grund< hildreu and great grand children The children who live here assisted her and the affair, which was held at the K. of P. home and in eluded a big turkey dium-r aud »up per. was a happy and most delightful one. enjoyed by every member us the family from the youngest to the old e»t. It wa* the first time the mem bens had all been together and they came from far and near. The dinner included four turkeys and several chicken* and every thing vi*e which went with it At the com < lu*iou ea< h guest wa* presented with a born or drum or bell und such a noise a* followed had perhaps not been hoard tor some time. After a happy afternoon In reunion, supper was served and the party did not break up until eight o'clock. The guest* from a distance Included Mr and Mr*. Frank Alweln ami children. Mary Catherine. Alii* and Tommy. Shelby. Ohio: Mr. snd Mrs. Tom Peterson. Morris. HI; Mr. and .Mtn. C. O. Frame ami Mr. ami Mr* E. B. Mit’ullomh. Gary. Ind . Mr, and Mr*. John Magley and children. Dora Marl*. Florence. Charles. Hob and Cal. ot Root township. Mr. ami Mr*. Dick. Peterson, of ImllanapoH*.Mr und Mr». Robert Paterson and son. Robert. Jr., and Mr. and Mrs. J. Dwight Peterson and daughter. I» tricl*, of Indianapolis; Mr. and Mr*. Carl France und .hildrm. IMrk and Hannah, of Coliimhi* (W- «'• •nd Mr*. I W- Me-T »"* Martha. nt Routh IWd Those from here who aaatotoed **r. Mr. and Mt*, t a Peterson and daughter. Lol.'; Mr and Mr. W. A. UweftMr, •ml Mr*. J. H tidier ‘ ,n ' l M,n ’ . Mt and Mrs Cal K. Peterson, and M toa EllMbelh Mr and Mrs. li”>y Gaunt *«"• Kenneth motored to Fart V4*yne ?•* terday afternoon

26—Christ mu*

JAPAN PROTESTS U.S. ANTI-ALIEN LAND MEASURE Protests Against Law Restraining Aliens From Holding Land NOTE NOT ANSWERED United States Expected To Reply To Note Within A Short Time (V. P. Staff Correspondent) Washington. Dec. 26- (Special to Daily Democrat) Japan has made formal representations to the United States, amounting to a protest against 'he anti-alien land laws of California :nd other western states, it was learned on reliable authority here today. Th. protest is understood to have been made in a communication delivered to lhe state department by Ambassador Hanihura, Japanese envoy 'n Washington. This step by Japan followed closely upon decisions of the United States supreme court confirming the constitutionality of the western laws barring Japanese from holding land in any way in those states for agricultural purposes. The Japanese communication Is not understood to protest against the opinions of the supreme court themselves. but to object to the situation that results from the court’s decisions. The protest from Japan, according to the view in some quarters here is lie natural consequente and climax to the long history of the western inti-alien land legislation, as the diplomatic correspondence that previously had passed between lhe Unit’d States and Japan on the subject has foreshadowed such a step as he present note from Tokio. The American government has not replied to’tffiT Japanese note, but is expected to do so in the near future. • Since Secretary Hushes came into iffice. it has been the tacit under--landing between the United States nd Japanese government* that nothng practicable could be done towards irgoHatlon* for a settlement of this o-riou* question until the supreme •ourt had pu»*<*l on the constitutionality of the anti-alien land laws, as brought up in different suit* before 'he court. Earl Blackburn visited friends at Newcastle over Christmas. COUNTY CLERK NAMES DEPUTY Mrs. Vincent Borman Selected To Be Deputy Under John Nelson John E> Nelson, wlto will take office as County Clerk on January Ist. announce* that Mrs Vincent Bor man will be hl* depty during the first rear of hi* term Ml** Florence Holthouse who ha* been deputy under John T Kelly, pre went county clerk, will retire and take a needed rest She ha* nerved most efficiently a* deputy clerk for nearly four year*. Mrs. Borman I* not a stranger In the county clerk’s office, she having been deputy under .Mr. Kelly, during the first year of hi* term. She also worked In the office previous to that time and I* well acquainted with th* work. During the year Mr, Nelson will take hi* daughter. Mis* Bernie Nelson I* the office, She will grad ustr next June from the Docntufr high school Mr Nel«»n will look after the dot Ic* in court, the county clerk also bemg < l*rfc of the Adam* (’bruit Court. Mrs Itormsn will lake rare of the work dowintalr* while court I* In session. Other imiu’y officials who take ofthe on J*nu*ry !*«. U»ule* W Kleine, who *Ht succeed Hugh D. Hile as treasurer of Ad*m* County. Ml** Ooldie G*» Will b" hl* deputy. Ernest Conrad will Iwgin hi* second term as rommlwlnner from lhe first .district on January Ist. There will not Im any other change* in the county office* nest year, most of lhe of flcial* serving their lain., year, begin uluK wilh January Ist 1924.

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, December, 26, 1923.

I Three Operations At County Hospital Today j Three operations were held nt the Adtims County Memorial hospital this morning, all three patients having I their tonsils removed. Those who I underwent the operations were Miss i Mildred Blosser, of tliois city, dangh I ter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Blosser; Gertive Keever, a young man of Monroeville; nnd Mrs. Zelda Jackson, of this city. On Christmas Eve, Mrs. Jerome Coffee, of this city, under went an operation for the removal of the appendix. It was stated at the hospital this afternoon that arrangements were being made to perform five operation* tomorrow. There were ten patient* at the hospital on Christmas day. LEADERSPLAY CASEYS TONIGHT Fast Professional Teams Open Holiday Baskethall Schedule Here Fred Kolter, manager ot the leaders, announced this afternoon. that the price of the seats in the east balcony for tonight’s game, has been changed from seventy-five cents to fifty cents. Reserved seats on both sides of the gym are one dollar each. The Decatur Leaders will start oft j the Holiday basket ball season this evening when they take on the famous Fort Wayne K. of C. basket hall . team in what promises to lie on. l of . the classiest games that ha* ever been played on a local court. The Casey* are without doubt the fastest , team that ha* ever appeared in Decatur. is one of the best teams in the world, and is touted a* lhe team that will replace the original Celtic* of . New York City a* the un-«ii*put«d champion* of the world. The Fort Wayne aggregation Carrie:- six men on the road, among them George (Horse) Haggerty, for merly of the Celt*, snd now i-aptalu , of the K. of C'«: Barney Sedran. formerly of Buffalo. N. Y. and now a , forward on the Fort Wayne team, and reputed to be the fastest man , that ha* ever trod the hardwood; i "Tilly" Vow*, one of the greatest , stars that ha* ever been turned out . by the Western Conference: Homer Stonebraker. the daddy of all West- , ern basket ball, and one who is so well known to local fan* thut nothing more need be Maid; Ripley, another great player, who i* better known in Eaatern basket ball circles; and Rulpli Mill t, former Philadelphia National league base ball player, and the only Fort Wayne man on the team. J Leaders Lineup Strong It I* an unusual opportunity for fans of thi* city to lie able to »ee such an aggregation of stars In action. and one that *hould not lie ml** ■ ed. While the impression seem* to be that the game will be onesided, the name should lie close. The laud er* will start tonight with the strong e*t lineup they have, und a* the* have had several practice* together . lately, they will play a game In which (Continued On Page Four) MASONS PLAN FOR BIG TIME ■„ • ' Six Candidates To Receive . Concluding Work Monday Afternoon i O L. Vance. Worshipful Master of t the Masonic lodge. I* planning for n big tlm« next Monday afternoon and ■ cvnalng when the concluding lecture* and degree work will be given to «lx candidate*. Three of these will ho . given the degree Friday afternoon »f this weik the work starling at 2 JO * Monday afternoon at >:M tw® candl , date* will he initiated and * Iwnqiiet | served at six o'< Im k by th* Eastern ■ , Star, after which one candidal* will | th» lectures, Th* work will ron< lud* , lhe taken tn and all six will he given a bu»v and Mcressttil y*nf under Mr. . I Vsuc* who has b*en re-elm t*d mas 4 ter tor th* ensuing year also Weather !■ —— I Mostly cloudy tonight and Thurs I day; probably rain; warmer tonight

MAKE DILiCENT EFFORT TO FINO LOST DIRIGIBLE No Trace Found Os French Airship Carrying Crew Os Fifty Men MAY BE WRECKED French Authorities Searching On Land And Water For Dirigible • United Pre*t» Staff Correspondent) Paris, Dec. 26—(Special to Daily Democrat)—By cam*l carriers, by cavalry and by fleets of airplane*. French military and naval authorities redoubled effort* to find the missing raval dirigible Dixmude. lost today n northeast Africa. At th- same time the government ordered the cnisier Strasbourg and five torpedo boat* to rush to Bixert* and thence to sea. to do their utmost to finil the airship in case it had been blown down in the Meditcrrer.ean. "We expect nothing but bad news now." Commander Duroc. attache of the ministry of marine, told the United Press in an interview. "Our only hope is that the Dixmude'* crew has reached the ground." Lacking definite word from the giant air liner since 2 a m Friday, the French government doe* not know whether the Dixmude still hovers. powerless to land, over the Medlleiranean coast, or has come down, a wreck on the Sahara wastes. "Those of the Dixmude’* crew that could land safely on the desert an.l find water might subsist for three weeks by stretching their emergency rations." Commander Duroc said. The Dixmude. which sailed from Cure* Pierrefeu a week agl* Tuesday ami was taken from her course by gales on Thursday, carried ordinary ■ations for four days. ifer tons of gasoline became exhausted In a fruitless ba’tle with ■he elements over Tunis and the airship reported herself "drifting *ielple»*lv." with many of the crew sick and her bovish commander impotent to bring her to earth. \(I 1 ire Aianns Her.On Christmas Holiday It was a flreles* Christmas in Deca tur. so to speak, a* far «» call* lor help from the city fire department wa* •concerned. Not a single fire wa» reported to the fire departmnet over the holiday and the fire laddie* are grateful for that. CALLED HOME ON ACCOUNTOFFIRE Frank Alwein’s Hotel At Shelby, Ohio, Damaged By Fire Yesterday

Frank Alwein. who came here from Shelby. Ohio. .Monday evening to attend the Peterstm family reunion. WII* summoned Imine early ye»tel«iay morning bv a telephone message which said hl* hotel, the Shelby Hotel, hud has n badly damaged by (Ire He drove io Fort Wayn* und taught a train which reached Shelby about noon, and * message during the afterntwn said that on* man. j IClyda Holmes. 37, who roomed at the I hotel, had lo*t his life In the fir* According pres* dlsput-he* till*, mninlnc. th* blase alerted In th* I room <M-fiipi*d hy Mr. Holme* and I* ( believed Hi have Itecn canned hy a cigarette he had Iteen smoking in. ; lied. The explosion of cartridge* from hl* revolver save th* alarm . The third fhmr of th* hotel wa* gul ted and fon»ld*rahl«- damsg* done to th* real of th* interior by water ami smoke A doxen occupant* of the third floor *•»» r**<u*il in their nlßht < lothlntt Th* damage |* **• I tlmated at Th* hotel I* a three st'try ImlldlnK with shout fifty rooms and th*, | Alweln* occupy »patim*nt* op th* th* first and aecond floors ft I* p«rt i thought their peramml Itelongipgx were greatly damage! Mt* Alwein and children b«d expected tn return to Shelby today, but wilt await fur th*r word from Mr, Alwein now be fore leaving. ■in—.i.n .win , ill iiin mw Shelbyville -The Shelbyville Elba !*r* planning a new |7s.nnn hulMing.

Reiter And Hunter With Panther Company The Bluffton Banner says: "It was J learned Saturday that John Reiter J former travelin-: representative of the Hood Company at Portland, at pres ' ent employed tn the Action barber: shop on East Market street, will again take up the grip and represent lhe Bluffton Wholesale Grocery Company. | He will assume hl* new duties on De-* t ember 31 und will < over the Iminedi-1 ate territory. Mr. Reiter was on the road for thirteen years selling gro-. ceries and his long experien< e will make hi* services valuable to the local wholesale house." CHILD HURT IN AUTO ACCIDENT — Daughter Os Harvey Hart Injured In Accident At Fort Wayne The Harvey Hart family, who reside at Bellmont Park, east ot Decatur. figured in an automobile mishap at FT. Wayne ye*|eirday afternoon at 2:40 when their Ford car collided . with the rear of a Buick sedan, driven by Mr* Fred Kell. go". Kin ' nurd avenue. Fort Wayne. Little Mary Roseamond Hart, aged six. whs quite badly hurt, all the rest escaping without injury. Decatur people who were visiting nt the Bell home reported that the aretdent occurred when Mr Hart with his wife and two children in the car. drove east on Kinnard *nd his ma< hine collided with the rear of the Bell car which was going north on Fairfield. Hart'* car over turned and pinned the four occupants beneath. None were hurt except the little girl who received a fractured forehead and wa* hurried to the Lu theran hospital a block distant where it wa* said late last evening she wa* ■ not in a serious condition and <ouM probably lie brought home today ■ Mrs. Bell wa* alone in her car and wa* uninjured by the accident. Both < ar* were badly damaged DECATUR’S LOSS BY FIRE IS LOW ... Loss In This City During Past Year Was Next To Lowest In State ladlanapolis. Dec 26—Kendallville ‘ suffered less from fire than any other city in Indian*, its per capita loss be- ' Ing 26 cent* In the fiscal year of 1923. ending S. plemb.-t 1" »< • oni n • to * | report just compiled by the atate fir* | marshal J Frankfort * per capita !<>»« of 972 61 wa* the largest of 66 < itle* ami town* reporting M«<H»on. a town of 6.7<» population, had only »li fire*, th* smallest number in the state. Its per

capita lo**, however, was 47 cent*. , Bluffton, with a per capita loss of , 914.31. along with Frankfort, far ex re<>ded that suffered by any of th* other conimunltle* which reported. There were 52 fire* in Kendallville during th* year, according to th* re l*rrt. Th* town has a population of 4 ML The total value of th* property which caught nr* wa* 945,261 snd the i total damage amounted to 91.2*9 The total inanrance on th* buildings I which were ahlaxe amounted to 426.72.1 Decatur waa a t lo» • second In low '*•l p*r esp'ta !<>«» by nre. with 29| ic*nt*. The town, with a popuatlon ofi 4 76? had .12 fitea which caused a! I daman* of 11.3*7 Whiting was third with * p*r capita !<•“* of 37 cent* • I‘mlland waa fourth with 3* cent*, and Shelbyville waa fifth with 45 rente « indiamtpnia. th* largest city In Indi ( ana, had » p*r capita lo»« of 12 16.1 .There were .1,226 Urea in th* state capital, eaualna * total dumage of »*7«.215 i j The above figure* do not ln< lude th* In** suffered In th* fir* *• the Reaver* A Fccbai k fticultut* store 1 and the b E Him k underUklag parlor* l»a*t foil The year referred tn •bnve ended on September 9ff. ■ 4 am * H. • BAXtTffALL PRACTICE The high school basketball team will hold praithe between 5 and 6, ■ n'tlMtk thia evening nt the high sehrnd gymnasium

Price: 2 Cent*.

CHRISTMAS DAY I WAS A JOYFUL I OCCASION HERE Left In Its Wake A Profusion Os Toys, Candy And Other Gifts DAY PASSED QUIETLY Exchange Os Gifts, Big Dinners And Church Services Predominated Another Christmas has come and gone, leaving In it* wake a profus- | ion* of horns, drams, hohby horses, i dogs, all kind* of mechanical toys und enough randy and peanut* to cause hundreds of cases of stomachache and Indigestion Ami thi* Christmaa was not altogether a green, black, brown nr what not Christmas, a* the weather man sent a beautiful, yet abbreviated, snow yesi.-nlay morning For a few hours the ground and tree branches were white, hut later the sun came out from behind it* hiding place and turned the "white <'hri*(ruas" in.o ont Pf the other varltie*. The umial exthange of gifts, family dinner* and reunion* church serilces and other functions which have charactierited Christmas for many years past, were carried out yesterday tn all their splendor. Turkey» proudly gave their lives thut thi* (M-cßsion might ire duly celebrated, and r hit kens, duck* and geese substituted for Mr Turkey in many r aaM. Kiddies Enjoying Toys Today the kiddies were busy playing w-hh their toy* as father and older brother* had gone to work and left them alone to enjoy their gift* themselves. Several men and young men cautiously slipped luu> cimlimg stores and <*igar store* to exchange shirt*, ties and cigars for tlo ir favorite style color nnd brand The men were not alone playing the change* an dfew little disap|M>iii> representative* of the fairer sex were not alfogether satisfied with lhe shade of color or the style of |lh*i' gifts I'ul. In spite of th* necessary ox- | ■ hang*- and few ht'l. disap|u| Xinenis. this Christmas wa* a happy lone. Santa Claus did come to the t*sir < hildren of the < By, th'inks to the (food Fellow* Club and manv faces which otherwise would have been gloomy and hearts that would have IteeU sad. were brightened lip and made happy Th* inmates of the county Infirmary were made happy yesterday by ■ fine dinner »erv»*l by the Superintendene, Harry laiF’oiintaine. and his good wife, and hy treat* of candy, cigar* and other delick le* disirilmted among them by the Tri Kappa sorority. Church hell* rang out a walcom • invitation to *ll yesterday morning, to jinn In the ol»ervau> e of the hirtli

of i'hriat. Beautiful. Indeed. were the aervlrea whit li eommemorated thin event of event* tn htatery. Day Pa»»«d Quietly Th* day »■» »|»-nt quietly In the buatna** wanton «( the «tty All plaeea of bualnew* with the ti<m of r«wtaurant» and eonfectlonarlea, were r|naad all day. The eminiy clerk’* olfhe Waa the only office open at th-< inirt hum** The postoffice waa open until noon hut there wen no rural or ’ tty deliver!**, The owner* amt employe* of the Itully Itetnovrat joined in the obaerranr* of the day am! did not |mhll«|i a |M|* er yeaterday, There waa no dlaturl* amen of any nature during the day and onlv a few minor aiHono Haile accident* occured Min* Maatra On Chnatmaa Nine maaaea were celebrated at Hi Mary a Catholic chttreh on t’hrlat I ma* morning, the flrat ma** being at five n'lhxh Two other regular maaaea. one at seven thirty ami the I other at nine forty five were nJ** held and »i« ntaaa •« wer« aoid in be ■ tween the regular m*»*e*. the prteiit* i eaeh aaying three ma*aea. Ker • Father Heimetg, rertor, and Her. (Htu jlhter*. aaalatant were aaalMad hy an • nut of tow n prleat !Th* aervhea were largely attended the ntetnltera nf the congrenatlon heating twn or three maaaea. The ’ aamtnary and alum ware a mana nf Churning enntfle* and vigil llgth* and I (Continued on page threw)