Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 22, Number 34, Decatur, Adams County, 8 February 1924 — Page 1

v ||||| , cXX |l. Number 3L

auto license law unconstitutional

■ CLAIMS TO HOLD I || SECRET LEASE I WITH SINCLAIR I Denver Im ■ portant Testimony In ■ Gil Scandal Probe I \ PRIOR CONTRACT ■ Ritter Fractional Hatred I Grips Senate A< Probe H Continues ■ Washington- hl>- s K rial to Dail' !>■ inoeral) 1 i*’«l B G RonliK. publish, r "I the H Dcrvcr Post- t"l«l th-.- senate ■ remittee i.n.MiealiiuA the -ul K »an(lal today that he has a ■ Teapot Dcnu contract ■ rlh Harry I’. Sinclair, lessee ■ if 'hi’ naval rest ne. H Sinclair already has paid him B i'jjlt.lNNl. Be.iilils said. ■ Under the contract Sinclair B giust soon’Dav s] .000,000 it he H r;ishes to drill c- rtain ;nTett<4< B in Teapot Dome. ■ -Cotn.-em. e.fi. r th* T-'!'"' Domi B V’ s "- Vi ' p ' ien ‘" l un '• •unntaini - 9 gain- I- 1 " St;* k. sho«---I in.' a > B twt tie hail." B<>nfib's said, "He » (himol ;• wts a prior r-wrii-t a id 9 tel 'll* Sini l iir base had beet! B jnn'. il over hi . head I had my at ■ !«•».-look m.r Stui k' .ou'r-i.t ; B tt leral. ■ ■S" ' »!>•• rd a I • rt'. ’ with S a.! ■ nii’»hi<h we w-r.- to cite him the 9 I'm i.V'i.i'i'ii ami if would divide th' ■ i,, ~.v partner and B ij attorn y. MS "I hoard a many rumors so 1 WmiliidM to rend a man to New |K Mexico to investigate.” H Ractional Hat-ed Bi Wa.diincton. F-l> s I.ini', factionat hatred gripped the s.-nat • in th • Btixandal dispute today as the torn B «itt«» us inquire ’v d further in its B krntiagtinn. ■ Then- were signs of an imp. ndinc ■ g* ia beam. rah. -.ink. mi de Hob ■ then resolution ii.llin;; fur resign- ■ *0 «f Secretary <-; the Navy im.iln H Ta Mi ll propert up lias the breat h B Wnaul that mi, <rt« > votes may r- ■ ** i" victory or defeat lor those at--8 Imp:.ng to oust the n-vy secretary. § Ucograged hy tiifs t int of affair 1 BnytlLvan. were rallying a strong B **'•’" “f I'-nby's action in signing ■ 'vase which the senate formally B fcclaretj were "without autho-ity of ■ k» ud against the expressed win of ■ <Mtre»" BIITUTE WAS ItU. ATTENDED I Splendid Interest ManifestI At Kirkland FarmI ers’ Institute B '-aoti attendance and splendid Inter Bg *** * r ‘ or *'*d nil three sessions ■mJ ‘ rk, - nrt T " w nshlp Farmers’ InI held In t h( . Kirkland school I festerday Splendid addreaE d " u * , ‘ r *' ”y H. R. Mailer, us I cuuttv nnil Mrg K(u Q|n| 1 a > s W ' ,o,R '’ rn, rv < ounty. | ”<k*l dinner was enjoyed hy a I “ noO °’ Th,,r " w ‘ ,r '‘ I «•» e " lrtM ,n ,h * I Ts An A,ll, * r , ’" y Hrwt I '"'fc l **’ ‘orn «nd a (Jeis«| I * s h " nnr * '• ,|low ' nrn I'b «hor, * ! Wi ** heW f,,r b ” s ’" ln IXr Mun n " nrt " r 'b* «<»r»**ttv>n of | X Xti«h7 ia<l ,h * " ,un, y wnt. u I <,| " b h "'' “ I km ."' ” tn th * ■fteraoon. OsI **»«/'* »n«l the ladles Th- hy Mr "’ Onllllams. I X»»|| /. ' ’’’"'•'lng wag exceptional ' ’’’Wk » n T, ”‘ •’•■onrnm In the I b,?, ,n,tn, y Uimry. Agri b th. r ’” on were shown Co **« I M fmi.M*” 01 lh " a» elect- ?* V ** r * H p ( ' ru »- • hnlrI Mr« m*' *lco-chalr I *trrra .» n ‘ ,n, ' rb ''n- "oerrtnry. ’ Adler, treasurer.

DECAT U R D All A' DE MOC RAT

Damon And Pythias At Bluffton March 4 lil.ifTton. Feb. B—The8 —The Knights of Pythias lodge has engaged the Grand opera ho i <• for Tuesday eVcnlnirX I March fih, on which date the drama □f Hamon and Pythias will be preor.icd by the company of th«- local lodge. The east wiil appear in their •nlire new costumes. Popular prices will be chnrgcd. The public prenentationofthc tlrunia will be given in lien ■if a rec -pilon it had been planned at first to rive at the Pythian home. I EXTINGOiSHERS OUT OF ORDER I Passenger On One Os The Wrecked Interurbans Testifies Today I (Vyi'ted Press Service) .' Indianapolis. Feb. 8— (Special to Daily Democrat! Fire extinguishers 1 on the trailer of the eastbound interurban in the Fortville interurban r wreck were not in working order, according to a statement made today hv Claude Miller, a passenger on the astbound ear. The Vnion traction company-says it • keeps two extinguishers in each car ■ ind inspects them at regular interval*. I Miller said be thought the fire in i which several persons were burned to death might have been prevented had | th- extinguishers been in good order He said he and another man ru-h---ed into the trailer to get the ex- > tinguisher. "The man took the extinguisher I down front the rack ami tried it." Mliler said, "and then he threw it i bet the window saying it was empty."; M'ller ssid he took down th- - and found it contained about a pint of water. The public service commission continued its investigation ut Anderson today with ‘the strb test secrecy sur--vunding the investigation. Policemen stood guard at the doors of the hearing ront and only witnesses and stenographers were admitted. Efforts were being made today to establish the identity of a "baby about 1 H’o years old which perished in the wreck Skull bones of a young cliild were found yesterday among thr» rem rants of the human body in tl' 1 * morgue at Anderson. Another of the bodies In ’he "I morgue was definitely identified when relatives of David S. Alverson, a Chicago Insurance man claimed his y. The official death HM stands ai 14: but the actual nurtlber who periahod I is probably 18 or 19. Alverson was known in Decatur and had Halted this city a day or two Il la fore the wreck. Walter Staley Lo*es Finder In Accident Walter Staley, who has been work Ing in the Oldsmobile factory at lain sing. Michigan, returned home last night to enend a few day*. Mr. Staley j' met with an accident at the factory a . Week ago last Monday when hl* left I hand caught In an electric tool grind- . er. It was necessary to amputate the > Index finirer on the left hand at the second Joint. Th- Injury Is hc-allng nicely, however, and Mr. Staley exi 1 pert* to return to work before long. Italy Recognizes Russia i Moscow, Feb. 8 Italy has granted full diplomatic reiognltlon to Hussla. The lialian diplomatic repreaeatar tiree herb thl* afternoon Informed the foreign office Ihat hl* government recogaitea fully the present depura k government of Itussisn and I* prepared to appoint an ambassador Im , mediately. FOR WOMEN ONLY I ) Madrid. Feb. B—A number of women and girls from some of Mad- . rid’a moat arlstrocratic families . | were caught when police raided a . i secret gambling <duh- for wntn*ti ; I only. I

MORE DEMOCRATS HAVE ANNOUNCED Two Commissioners Seek Re-election; G. M. T. Houck For Recorder Three more Democrats announced their candidacy today for county offices. they being County Commissioners Geoige Shoemaker, of Geneva, and Frtytk Ereiner, of Washington township. who seek to he renominated for the office ot commissioner from the thiid and second districts, and G. M. T. Houck, oi Kirkland township, who is seeking the nomination for county tocorder. Mr. Breiner is now serving the third year of his first term, ami Mr. Shoemaker i«r serving his second year on the board of conunissioners. Both have been faithful and efficient public servants. .Mr. Shoemaker represents the third district, while Mr. Breiner is th'- representative front the second district. The latter is one of the well known farmers es Washington tow nship. while Mr. Shoemaker, is i president of the Farmers and M -rchants state bank of G-neva. and a retired farmer. George M. T. Houck, of Kirkland t township, today announced that h--; will be a candidate for r -corder of i Adams county subject to the decision | of the democratic primary election to be held May 6th. Mr. Houck is the second candidate to at noun<- » for the office. Mrs. Clara Anderson, of Geneva having made her announcement a few j days ago. Mr. Houck, is a pioneer of the conn 1 ty having resided here sixty-eight - years. He is a fanner and has served ; his township in vuyious offices a ‘ total of twenty years, as trustee, about eight years, aste-xor one term and as road supervisor ami justice I of peace a num tier of years. o Large Crowds Are Attending Revival The revival meetings at the Evan geli< al church are being attended by I large crowds. i-a«t evening a special! program was given by the Men's Bro-1 therhe-od < lass and the church was fill 1 ed to capacity. An interesting program has been arranged for tonight when Sunday school work will be the xitb.ee i of dtsctissicm Rev. R W. IxMise. the pa.-tor. is in charge of the meetings and Is much encouraged ever the splendid altendance and the interest taken in the meetings hy the entire congn—.atioa. ■ — --r—o — Five Negroes Electrocuted Huntsville. Texas. Feb. B—Flv* negro murders were electrocuted at the state prison here today as the state inaugurated electrocution a* it* means of legal execution in place of: hanging. G. [. EMPLOYES BUYING BONOS General Electric Company Offering Good Investment To Workers The sale of U. K. employee security corporation bonds, hearing eight per cent Interest, was started In the focal Oeneral Electric- plant thl* morning This I* considered the beat bond offer, ad by the company to It* employe* The bond* can be purchased either by dedueilon* front the salary or by cash. Each purchaser I* limited to J.'ito. There is an interest aecumlatIng echeme connected with the bond* It the holder of the bond does not draw out the Interest, the Interests will he compounded and arc umulate greatly. The bond* may he cashed in at any time Nearly !!.••# worth of th* bond* had been sold before nona today K W Lankenau. superintendent of ’he plant I atatoA today ’hat be believed approxi | mately fifteen of twenty thousand dol tars' worth of th* bond* would be sold here.

Decatur, Indiana Friday, February 8, 1921.

Portland High Plays I). 11. S. Quintet Tonight I Pori land high Hchool's basketball 'trains coiiihn to Decatur tonight for a game with the local high school team. ! Decatur defeated Portland on the Jay J county floor lercently hy a score of i29-2J. Much interest has been shown lin this evening s contest and a large I crowd is expected to be present. I Buschic of Ossian, will referee the 1 game. A preliminary game between | the Bulldogs and the Tigers, tw< ’ • teams from the high school will hi played, starting at 7 o'clock. The | main game will start ut s o'clcek. FEABPNUEMONIA ! WILLDEVELOPE Lima, Ohio, Hospital Attendants Say Ross Lee Is In Grave Danger Word front Lima. Ohio. Is to the effect that Ross Lee, Decatur man who was shot while he and a companion were attempting to stage a holdup there last Monday night, is in a critical condition. Hopital attendants i say that there is muih danger that nneumonia will set in and Lee's con | ditlon is not believed to be strong , enough to resist the disease. Police are still searching for Lee's , companion, who escaped after Lee was shot. The officers have strong tines | and they believe they know the iden , ity of the missing man An arrest is , expected soon la-e claims that he i does not know who his companion I was. as the man had asked him to , take a ride in thw stolen car which | wds used by the two men. He say* I that he was stunned when his torn panion pulled a revolver on John Dawson. th,- proprietor of th- oil filling I station, who shot in returning the fire. Lee's wife, who has been staying with Lee's brother-in-law and sister. Mr. and Mrs. William Ohler, in | this city, has gone to Lima to be nt the bedside of her husband. The .3 i children are here. ROTARIANS HEAR REV. R. W. LOOSE Evangelical Pastor Gives Interesting Address Last Evening Rev. R. W. Loose, pastor of the ' Evangelical church, spoke to the | Rotarians last even'ng on. "The Relation Os The Church To The Commiin Ity." His talk was inspiring and filled with good thought. Rev. Ixxise told of the different feeling the busy mnn had for the church now-n-daya ■ and urged a doser tie and more co- | operation between the church and ) the Individual. The suci-essful man.] the out- who is a leader In hl* community realises that the church la hl* best friend and that what the world needa more than all else I* a doser observance of the teaching* of I the chun h I Rev. txvose dwelt on the Ideal* of : Rotary and stated that America I would not advance unless there were idenls In buslm-** and in government "Christianity has taught u* thl* much, that it Is foolish to think that our brethren, althouah of a different faith, dors not stand for the same high Ideal* and t»«i-h<ng* of the Master and that he is trying to live accordingly." he said. Rev. Ltiosr's talk as different from the ordinary after dinner speech and served a wonderful purpose, that of bringing « closer relationship between all. Rev. Ixurne also urged the making of a better community for the boy and girl of today. Hl* talk **» well received and worth hearing. o —— John Miller, of near Mnffley, looked after business Interests here today. - Weather Partly cloudy tonight and Saturday. Hsing temperature in Month and central portion Saturday. I » *

I BUY LINN GROVE : POWER COMPANY l, f Marion And Blurtton Traction Company Makes Purchase Today Bluffton. Feb. 8 " (Specie! to Daily Democrat)- A contract was closed late this afternoon whereby the Marlon and Bluffton Tract'on company purchased the Linn Grove Light and Power company from Hurry and Oscar Meshberger. The lines, equip -nt-nt and franchises were purchased by tin- new company The utility purchases Its electrical power front tin-' ’ city of Bluffton and supplies Vi ra Cruz. Berne, Linn Grove. Geneva. Craigville and Chattanooga. Ohio, with light and power. The considera- I tion was not given. The company’s contract with the city of Bluffton for the furnishing of power runs until, August 1928, It being made in 19LS, for a ten year period. I ’ Fruchte Funeral Held At M. E. Church Today Funeral services for Lewis ETuchte. I . well known Decatur citizen who died at the home of his son, J. Frt-d Fruchte I , here Wednesday morning, were held ' from the Methodist thurch at 2:'W , o'clock this afternoon, the Rev. R. Il ' i Elliker. pastor of the Refored church , officiating. Mr. Fruchte was a nter.l- 1 her of the Reformed church, but 1 ; funeral services wire held in the 1 , Methodist church because the Reform j' ed church I* not completed yet. I 1 i Burial was made in Maplewood 1 cemetery. Members of the board o i charities and children's guardians, ot j which .Mr. Frttchty was also a member and faithful worker, attended tb*|] ; funeral in u body. , o - —- Sinclair Sells Oil To Hugo Stinncs Today Cologne, Feb. 8 Harry F. Sinclair I today sold oil to Hugo Stinm-s. money master ot G -rinany. The American promoter, leasee ot the Teapot Dome naval reserve. <«on eluded agreements for delivery of oil to the German industrialist begun when the latter's son visited Sin< lair ' in America. New Ideas \\ ere Not Forthcoming; Ends Life Whitley Bay. England. Feb. 8. — The celebrated English novelist Queenle Scofrt Hooper committed , suicide here tislay by slashing her throat with a razor, because she was unahb- "to think up any new Ideas for stories.” ANNUAL MEETING MONDAY EVENING I , Industrial Association To Elect New Directors At Meeting r • Th* Decatur Industrial A»-«h tatlon ' will hold th*ir untiuul meeting n*xt | Mondiiv evening at seven o’clock »• I * which time wll loccu} the election ot 1 directors. 1 i'nder the by law* one third of "t these should be elected eitch rear ; permitting n part of the old member* ' itn hohl over and thus carry nut any' Jprojcct that might b* on. For some: I reaaon thl* ha* not b -»-n done In the > j past but will be established thia '*ar. | President Dan Niblick hn* appointed | h 'a nominal Ina committee who will r® ; ~ port a’ th* meeting at which time] , member* will be given th- right «»t I voting for their favorite candidate* I The association has served the com munlty for several year* and ha* 1 ' taken cure of a number of Important ' tnattcra. many of which th* public > doe* not know abont for they are taken care r»r »' meeting» of t'i* directors. T.hrre is a splendid field for activity and th* sssoclation should toward thia y*at better than ever j Attend the meeting Monday evening and help put Decatur over.

Nine Fall Into River When Ice Bridge Breaks Montreal, Feb. s Breaking of a ' [natural ice bridge and the swot-pin;.-:' [ down the raging St. Lawrence of nine persons proved upon investi;..i---1 tion today to have resulted in no casualties. All those who were trapped when . the Ice gave away with a terrific t oar, managed to e./amide a.-ltore late r on the south side- of the- river, but die! not re port their safely. Ferries Ininte-d for th-tn throughout th* night. ! — — ■—l. -- -I J— -... MANEXECUTED BY POISON GAS Chinese Murderer Executed In New Manner In Nevada At 10 a.m. Todav Carson City, Nev., Feb. 8. A civil population whi< It was horrified as Germany introeluceil poison gas as a weapon of war. today called upon that saute weapon as its legal means of [ taking the law's toll of a "life for a life." Once regarded too horrible for war hydrocyanic acid gas this morning will be used to bring "a kindly sleep Ing death" to a man condemned to I die for murder. Gee Jon. Chineses representative of the world's oldest civilization, is the man who will be re.orded as the first to die by this new means of inflicting capital punishment. He will die in a ' little cell house of stone; ten by ten feet square, sitting apart from all else in the prison yard of the Nevada state penitentiary here. For two years he has waited, while < ourts. prison boards, politicians and finally "experts” on poisons and dead ly gases, debated first one phase and then another of his fate. Finally the highest tribunal* available to him put the stamp of the law's , approval—Hie stamp which ni -ant at least legal acceptance by society—on lethal gas as a mor* humane method of taking human life than the firing squad or the hangman's noot*Today was appointed as the day | fi.r the gr-at experiment the official [ test on a human subject of science's ; newest development. Tin- «-ond--mned mttn faced death as he awakened this morning with only a little more certainty than might u man desperately ll’. He km-w the day on which he was to die but not the | hour. That detail, under the law, was , withheld from him. But at 10 a m. hi- I* to be let to th* littl* stone house, strapped hand and fisit to a cot; given Ills last opportunity to see a human f.u-<- and , speak a word in answer to a human I voice; hear the last prayer intoned i by a priest; and then lie face upturnled toward Heaven, awaiting death to i < om*. A MtethlMOpe will be attached to ] his body, that physician* watching 'through one tiny window letting in the light of day. may count the second* 1 required for th* passing of his life. Outside th* Imilffng thr<-e guard* -wll spin little wheel* at a given ».gI nal. tine of th* wh**l* none know* : which one—will admit th* deadly vu f per from which will art** the sp*‘tr<' death —to aath*r It* harvest. "He »id die a painless death." was • the Dim declaration of E. E Walker, lof California, railed In by D S. Dick [ i-rson. prison ward*i. a* '‘advisor. I Walker l» i. chemist, expert In th* u**' of Hie hydro-i yiinie ai Id. "H* will die within -1" second* us I ' ter ill* valve I* turned It strik** im I ' mediately at heart and lungs There f i will b<- no death agony. Tin r-- will ■ not even be time f<>r eoniurtlnn of th- [ I face." Thirty minutes nfti-r the valve I* turned, the physicians and th* prison | warden will enter th* <-<>ll to mak ■ the official pronouncement of deuth A* to the crime which l*d fate tn nam* tl** Jon u* the siibjict ot thia l-guf experiment In death, it was in wav simple. Ge* .loti rtf* because he aided in the murder of Tom Qii-ng Ke*, who wan thn town laundryman fur Mina, N.-v. T*m wn,i murdered in a Tong war whli h starh <1 lu San Fram iseo's t'hinatnwn Hitt, regardless of th* details of (Continued on page two)

Price: 2 Cents

STATE SUPREME tOBBTUPHULOS PREVIOUS ORDER Inheritance Tax “Rider” Makes New State Law Invalid MANY FEES COLLECTED More Than Two Million Dollars Already Collected In Fees Indianapolis. Feb. B—(S»e--cial Io Daily Democrat)—The state supreme court today upheld the decision of .Judge Oare of the St. Joseph county superior court declaring the stale auto license law of 1923 unconstitutional because of an inherita"re tax “rider." Chief Justice Eubank gave a di-er ling opinion. Other justices held that the •;iw was faulty in that it had a double title. “The act is clearly double and embraces two subjects which are not properly connect’d." the decision said. "It is not permissible to let the part of the act relating ’o auto licenses stand and to deciare invalid that part dealing with the inheritance tax. i "Tbi- m t both in its act and in the titl-- treats with two differ-nt sub- , je«-ts. An act of sinh «harder is i absolutely void because it is in direct conflict with the constitution ". ; The opinion was written by u~ <- : ate JiiMiii-e Fred Gait.qe of Ni w Castb-. It was signed by associate Justice Davie Meyers. Greensburg; Juliit- <' ■Gravis, of Papeete and Benjamin M. Willoughby, Vincemie... AttorneP General L- >ll s::i:l a petiI tion for a rehearing of th* case vas being planned. He will confer w ith Govt rttor Mc|('ray today on the matter. Officials of the state highway -i .it- [ mission who had completed their plan* for the con- irucjca of 4-at miles of road in 11'21 «*r< making a tentative revision ot their program because of the decision i Eil Jackson Secretary of State, had j collected |2.1 13’>71 ill fees under Hunew law. He said he would try to retain siiffici'-nt f«-es to make repay- ' ment of excess set-s already collect'ml. No statement was made as to wh*n ; repayment of fees would start and it i seeni'-d {trobable that repayment »f [thi- excess fees may lu- held up p.-nd , Ing action on a petition for rehear Ing LEADERS WON FROM PHI BELTS Won Thrilling Overtime (’ontest At Blutlton By Score Os 2l> To 20 By staging a great aecontl half rally wblih Heil the scor* and then playing a whirlwind aatne tn thi over I time perh d. th- Iteea'itr la-aters defi-ati-d the Bluffton Phi Dell* at , Bluffton ltiHt/-nlrht. 2< 20. The scon aim tied at 20 points at th* end of the ngular playing i* riod. In the overtime, the Lenders s<<»re*t lhr>-* field grttiU, two hy Yag.r and on* by Oliver. This third tlm- thl* suasion the Leadara have won fruu I th* Phi Dell*, w hile th* Blitflto* 1 totim ha* stored only one win ov*r I th* locals, i ■ Th* gam* last night was v*ry rough. It w-tiM wltn*M-<ed by a fair i j *ix*<l crowd, Including n few fan* Irnm Decatur and Adams County. • The l/’ad*ni got away tn a *lnw start '[and w*re trailing II I at the n-st period a l*»n* field anal b? Oliver. f ' a fire tlirnn hy Praat and we by * Andrew* were all the points scored * by th* lot-ala in the first half. 1 The Decatur eager* opened up th* (Continued on Pag* Eight)