Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 22, Number 189, Decatur, Adams County, 8 August 1924 — Page 1

Volume -«"■ N,inll,, ‘ r

VIOLENT STORMS SWEEP FOUR STATES

flfflS PLEAB Jilin I BONU S fIIEOATSI,OOO — I Fry And Magley Are Bound Over To Circuit Court; Identified By Crum DENY other THEFTS Magley’? Real Name Is MeOleaster; Wanted On Another Charge Elwood Fry and Cleo Magley enter- . ed pleas of guilty when arraigned in court before John W. Merriman, justire of the peace at 3 o'clock this as- | ternoon on charges of robbery, in con- ' nection with the holdup and robbery of H. P. Crum. Honduras storekeeper, on the night of July 26. The two youths were bound over to the circuit court and their bond fixed at SI,OOO , each. Neither of them had made ar-' ranycments to provide bond late this j afternoon, and they were returned to jail. Magley was also wanted on a charge I of beating a board bill at the Obler I restaurant, but this case wa s continu-1 ed. Magley said he thought he could nuke arrangements to pay the bill. . Mr. Crum, who was robbed of nearly ISO, today identified the two youths ! as the men who held him up. He said Magley was the one whp pointed a i gull at him and demanded his money.' Magley told Sheriff Baker that the ( gun he used is in Fry’s car, which they were driving on the night of the ; holdup. Elwood Fry, 21, and Cleo Magley, 21. were scheduled to Hove a hearing in the court of John W. Merriman, justice of the peace, this afternoon, 1 on a charge of robbery in connection with the holdup and robbery of H. P. Crum. Honduras storekeeper, on the night of July 26. It wa s expected that the youths would be bound over to the circuit court and their bond de- > termined. Both youths were arrested yesterday. Fry was arrested at his home in Union township and Magley was arrested by Fort Wayne police. Magley was returned to this city by Sheriff Piker yesterday evening and locked in the county jail. The Fort Wayne police, who had arrested Magley on a charge of obtaining a suit of clothes under false pretense, surrendered him to Sheriff Baker in order that he might be fried on the more serious ~ nn Pqp-p WM*** SCHOOL HINDS ALL LOANED GOT Auditor Receives Extra $5,000 To Loan; AH Loaned Already Although County Auditor Martin Jaberg received an additional $5,000 of state school funds from Robert; Bracken, state auditor, today, he has n ° surplus in the school fund, the demands for the borrowing of the money exceeding the supply. Because Wayne and LaPorte conn-j ties had a surplus in the common school funds which could not be loaned t n property owners, Mr. Bracken ordered the transfer of the $45,000 surplus to several other counties and Adams county received $5,000 in the distribution. j I-ast year Mr. Jaberg also received ““ additional $5,000 from the state, 1 ■ i<-re being requests for the money Property’ owners who wished to, »>an it. common school fund money, -mu i with the congressional and rmanent endowment funds, are oancd to property owners at 6% in-j icst. No property owner can secure onn of more than fifty per cent, of o appraised value of the real estate r °r taxes. ( «nn da f ma county more than SIOO./ nert° SUCtI niL ' ney 'oaned out to proden/ ° wners in this county and the the f ° r t,lf> EGns " always keeps money j n circulation.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Beet Worker Threatens Wife At Liberty Center Bluffton. Aug. 8 - The little town of j Liberty Center, 6 miles west of Bluff J ton had some excitement Wednesday night, when a Mexican I; u t worker I reported laboring Under an attack 1 of jealousy, quarreled with his wife. I ami was alleged to have attacked, or attempted to attack her. One report was that he struck her and another that he hail a knife in his hand, with which he threatened her and his son took the knife away from him. A party of citizens was reported to have visited the scone of trouble, anil the “beet dump,’ and to have restored j order. It was said the Mexican threatened what he would do eventually, He is known as Rev. Andres Gutierres. o VAN SWERINGENS COMPLETE GREAT RAILWAY MERGER — Join Nickle Plate, C. & 0., Hocking Valley, Pere Marquette And Erie TRACKAGE, 14,357 MILES Brothers Become Outstanding Railroad Manipulators Os Generation I New York. Aug. B.—The Van Sweringen boys of Cleveland, Ohio, one time newspaper peddlers in Geneva, Ohio, today stand out as two of the outstanding railroad manipulators of the generation. By the consolidation of the Nickle . Plate system with the Cheaspeake & Ohio, the Hocking Valley, Pere Mar- • quette and the Erie, they have reached the crest of their operations which started with a tram car system in a Cleveland sub-division. The merger, semi officially announcI ed. will mean a single system with total assets of $1,500,000,060 and a total trackage of 14.357 miles, the fourth largest railroad system in the east. The terms of the merger have been agreed to be larger stockholders in each railroad. Following action of the boards of directors the plan will be submitted to the stockholders of each road sometime this month. Like Characters In Fiction The central figures in the mamj mouth deal which rivals those in the ; day of E. H. Harrison and Jay Gould, . are like characters of fiction. Orris P. and Mantis J- Van Swearingen are from the old school of hard knocks. Theirs is a history of self-education and of the ability to grab opportunity ’when it rapped at the door. After selling papers in Geneva, the two boys and their mother moved to Cleveland some thirty years ago. The boys went Io work as office boys. Their mother died about that time. From office boys they advanced to under-clerks in a real estate office. There they saw the profit to be real--1 ized from speculative investment. Af- ' ter manipulating with small lots they finally had an opportunity to purchase 2.000 acres on the outskirts of Cleveland. They did this with bori rowed capital. Build Tram System I Seeing the need of a tram system in the sub-division they appealed to the Cleveland Railroad and were met with a few laughs. That was where the Van Sweringen railroad control , started. The two boys built their own tram system, I The sub-division and the tram system proved profit gleaned within a few years the Van Sweringens were I wealthy. This wealth was added to I and in 1916 the Van Sweringens first became known in the railroad circles through the purchase of the Nickle Plate system. Then they visualized the merger which would give two eastern outlets —New York and Newport New s to ( such cities as Chicago, Cleveland, St. 1 Louis. Peoria. Toledo, and Detroit. Both under 45 years of age, they apparently have made good their visualization. (Continued on Page six) (

j WHERE U. S. WORLD FLYERS ARE RESTING

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[ Famous harbor of Reykjavik, Iceland, the landing place of the American avaitors in northern seas. |

LOEB FAMILY DOCTOR HEARD I Defense Springs Surprise In Hearing Today; Trial Near End (United Press Sei vice) , Criminal Court Room. ( hicago Aug. 18.— The defense in the Leopold-Loeb murder hearing today sprang a surprise when ft shelved temporarily its lay witnesses and placed Dr. Robert Bruce Armstrong, family physician of the millionaire Loeb family, on the stand. I The physician came here from ( Charlevoix. Michigan, where the parnets of Richard Loeb, co-defendant i with Nathan Leopold, Jr. have their . palatial summer home. J Dr. Armstrong said Dick was brought once to his hospital after an , automobile accident, but he found no , injuries. After staying at the hospit|al about two hours, Dick was disi charged as a patient, Armstrong said. Young Loeb, the doctor said, dis- > played nervous symptoms which led ■ him to believe he was slightly "abnori mal.” This nervousness was not caused by the accident, the doctor said. (Continued on Page Eight) AUTO ACCIDENT NORTH OF CITY Cars Owned By Ft. Wayne Men Damaged But Occupants Uninjured f Automobiles driven by Chester Lott ’ and Lewis Schafhnarst, both of Fort I Wayne, were badly damaged in an acI cident about two and one-halt miles I north of the Monmouth railroad crossing bn the Fort Wayne road about 10 I o'clock last night, but luckily, none of 1 the six occupants were seriously inl jured. i Mr. Lott, who is a son-in-law of Mr. George Wemhoff ,of this city, together with his wife, mother and stepfather, were returning to Fort Wayne after a visit in this city. Motor trouble was experienced and Mr. Lott stopped his car at the right side of the road where the accident occurred. He was engaged in putting in a new spark plug when the other car approached from the rear. Mr. Schafhnarst says he could not see the Lott car in time to prevent striking it. His car crashed into the rear of Mr. Lott’s car with sufficient force to send it down the road several feet and into the ditch at the side of the road. It did not turn over and none of the throe occupants were thrown out. Mr. Lott caught hold of the front of Mr. Schafhnarst’s car and was dragged a few feet. He was scratched and bruised considerably, but sot seriously inI jured. A lady was riding with Mr. Schafhnarst.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, August 8, 1921.

"OLD SWIMMIN' HOLE” BECOMES BATHING BEACH IGreensfield. Ind., Aug. 8, —James Whitcomb Riley's "Old Swimmin' Hole” in Brandywine creek, this city, is being made into a bathing > beach for children of the eastern part of Greensfield by the citizens of that part of the city. The city is preparing to buy the land along Brandywine creek to include the “swimming hole” for a I public park, but this will not be consummated before next summer. , ; Employes of the T. 11.. I. & E. traction company have arranged wires and lamps for the beach and the | company has offered to supply the electric current. — —» ALLEGED WREN ROBBER ESCAPES I ————— Roy Comer, Wanted For Robbery. Breaks Jail At Marion Roy F. Comer, of Fort Wavn wanted at Van Wert. Ohio on a charge of robbary in connection with the robbery of Mr. and Mrs. John Harmon of $1,200 on June 11, escaped from the Grant county jail at Marion, Indiana, yesterday afternoon, by pick- I ing the lock on the door of a dumb I waiter and sliding down the shaft F from the first floor of the jail to the , basement. Comer was also wanted ; at Marion on a charge of assault and battery with intent to murder by I > shooting. C 'iter's escape occured within a , I short time after he had sold his auto;mobile to a Marion man for $325. He I was arrested in Huntington several , weeks ago. suspected of being one | of the four men who blew a safe at 1 ; the Marion office of the Standard Oil , . company and stole S2OO. >1 . — o Establishment Os Pythian Home Will Be Discussed Indianapolis. Aug. B.—Establishing ' of a Knights of Pythias home in In- ! diana will be the main topic at the an- ' nual convention in Indianapolis Octo- ' her 6-19, Carl R. Mitchell, grand keep- ’ er of records apd seals, announced to- ! day. r A committee to draft legislation ■ necessary to establish a home wa s ap- ■ pointed last year. The committee al--1 ready has reported. • ( If the proposition is accepted by the • convention, it will mean an ultimate * expenditure of $250,000. A site has * not been considered. Weather l _____ Partly overcast tonight and Satur- j . day with local thundershowers cooler Saturday.

KLANDENODNCED BY LA FOLLETTE Independent Candidate For President Attacks Order By Name (United Press Staff Correspondent) Washington, Aug. B—(SpecialB—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Robert M. LaFollette met the Ku Klux Klan issue today with an onen denunciation of the order by name. "I ahi (malterffab'y "opposed to the evident purpose of the secret organization known as the Ku Klux Klan, ns disclosed by its public acts.” the I independent presidential candidate i declared. “It cannot long survive. "Replying upin the sound judgment and good sense of (he people, it is my iopinion that such a movement is foredoomed. It has within its own body the seeds of its death.” La Follette’s first official statement of the issue was given in a letter to I Robert R Scripps, editorial director of the Scripps-Howard newspapers. ' who wrote the senator suggesting that hla position should be made known because of the national prominence—justly or unjustly—given the question. Heretofore LaFollette has shunted (Continued on page three) COUNTY MOTOR CLUB ORGANIZED Officers Elected And Plans Outlined At Meeting Last Night | Twenty-five motorists enjoyed an enthusiastic meeting at (lie Industrial ( rooms last evening, called for the purpose of forming a county club to work-in conjunction with the Hoosier Motor Association. Splendid talks were made by J. I’. Hutchins, district manager of the Hoosier State Automobile Association. Charles F. Rowden, of Muncie and T. A. Gottschlak. of Berne. Officers were elected and the new organization looks like a big winner, much depending, however on the interest manifested by the local members. C. S. Niblick called the meeting to order and Herman Gillig was chosen temporary chairman with Wilbur Shannahan. secretary. A committee was named. J. 11. Heller, Raymond Harting and Wilbur Shannahan, to nominate pernament officers and the) reported as follows: President. Heiman Gillig; Vice-president. E. Lankenau; Treasurer. Fred Kolter, secretary, W. A. Lower, Manager. M alter | Wilkinson; Directors. L. C. Waring. T. A. Gottschalk C. S. Niblick. D. \\ . Beery. James Cowen, C. A. Dugan. I John Carmody, Dr. J. W. Vizard, Ciar-; Ipnce Smith. James Briggs, Walter (Continued on Page Seven)

Invents Device For Cleaning Upholstering Fred Cob bin, better known as “Jim"! lias installed a new device for cleaning the upholstering of automobile«. the, work being done in the same principle a’ the air cleaning method used in cleaning rugs. Mr. Colchin operates a rug cleaning works on Rugg street and beginning next .Monday morning his place of business will be known as the “Rug and Auto Cleaning Works." The upholstering of automobiles can be made like now, “Jim" says, and he invites auto owners to call on him. A number of im- , [irovements have been made to his place of business, including a new cement floor in the building and a new driveway. —„ . o ASSESSMENTS ON UTILITIES ARE CERTIFIED Assessment On Utilities To Total Near $7,000,000 Here TOTALS NOT ADDED — Total Assessed Valuation In County To Be Near $41,000,000 County Auditor Martin Jaberg this morning received a certified list from the state board of tax commission ?rs of the state’s assessments of the public utilities, railroads and banks in this county. The totals are not yet tabulated, but it is thought that the assessements will be near the total for last year, which was more then seven million dollars. Mr. Jaberg will commence next week to distribute the assessments among the townships and various taxing units in the county. In cases where the assessments are made on the basis of so much per mile as in the case of the telephone, telegraph, railroads and express companies, the assessments are distributed accordingly. It is expected that the total assessed valuation of property in this county this year will be near the s4l,Cum,000 total for last year. The exact figure will not be obtainable until final action has been taken by the state in the matter of the automobile assessments and after the county auditor had made up th ’ tax duplicates for next year. The assessments as sent to the < runty auditor to 'i y are ns tollcws Berne Electric Lights Co.. $23,8,40. Northern Indiana Gas and Electric Co.. $87,552. Farmers Light and Power Co., Union Township. $3,500. Marion and Bluffton Traction Co.. $40,770. Pleasant Mills Light and Power Co.. $4,500. Preble Light and Power Co.. $5,300 Sherman-White Co.. $679. Berne Savings and Loan Association. $960. Bank Assessments Herne: The Bank of Berne, $169.- . 33 per share .$127,000: Peoples State Bank. $104.50 per share, $62,700. Decatur: First National Bank. <l’s 40 nor share. $125 500: Old Mi.-ms County bank. $35 50 per share. .$42 600; Peoples loan and T.ust , Co.. $74.20 per share. $37,100 Geneva :Bnnk of Geneva. $130.00. nor share $65,000; Farmers and Merchants Stat- Bank. $114.57 per . sure. $40,100. Linn Grove: Bank of TJnn Grove. $123<00 per share, $12,300. Monroe: Moir’oe Slate Bank, SB4 00 pro share. $21,000. ITeble: Farmers State Banks, $97.20 per share, $24,300. Public Utilities The following utilities were assessed at so much per mile: I The Pullman Car Co. 55.71 $520. : Western Union Co., 272.74 107. I Adams and Jay T. Co.. 16.00 60. I American T. and T. Co.. 533.64 142. Bingen Farmers T. Co. 8.00 20. (Continued on page three)

Price: 2 Centa.

FIVE PEOPLE KILLED; BIG PROPERTY LOSS Nebraska, lowa, Wisconsin And Minnesota Hit; $3,000,000 Damage CROPS ARE RUINED Hail Beats Crops Into The Ground: Des Moines Is Hard Hit Chicago, Aug. B—(Special to Daily Democrat) — Five tire dead, at least a score injured and property damage estimated to exceed $3,000,000 inflicted in two violent storms which swept Nebraska. lowa. Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota Thursday night and early today. Two persons were killed at Black River Falls. Wis.. Thursday night and additional deaths were reported from Ossea, Bloomer and New Auburn. Wis. The storm struck Black River Falls at fi p. m. Il swept southwest ward and struck Des Moines at 5:1."» a. m. deluging the town. Damage there was not as heavy as was first reported. Heavy hail that accompanied the storm beat crops to the ground and rain washed out fields, highways and culverts. The property and crop damage in Wisconsin's storm wtas estimated from various sources at around sl.009.000. lowa and Nebraska property and crop damage according to railroad agents in various towns may reach $2,000,000. 1 Business Men Urged To Attend Meeting The directors of the Decatur Industrial Association invite and urge all Decatur business men to attend a meeting at the Industrial rooms at 7:30 this evening at which time Mr. T. M. Palmer, of the farm products devc’opment service of the Erie railroad. and Frank B. Astroth. of the American Jersey Cattle club, will explain the proposition of bringing the Erie agriculture train to Decatur. Mr. Palmer an interesting proposition to preswit to the Decatur business men and everyone is invited to attend the meeting. MAKEPISNSFGR ROTARY RONNIIIIP Rotarians’ Wives Meet Tonight: Many Visitors Are Expected A meeting of the wives of the Rotarians will be held this evening at 7:15 o’clock at the Old Adams County bank building and everyone is urged to attend in order that final arrangements for the entertainment of the women nn Bob Heun’s day, August 13th, at B 'limont park can ba made. Mrs. C. V. Connell is general chairman of the women and a clever program of entertainment has been arranged for the visiting women. The women will also look after the details of the dinner to be served at the park in the evening. Last evening at the regular luncheon meeting of the Rotarians, plans for holding the big program at Bellmont park were discussed further and practically all details have been disposed of. Personal invitations have been extended to everyone of the thirteen clubs and it is expected that several hundred men and women will attend. A majority of the clubs have notified the local club that they will send a good sized delegation here for the picnic and out-door program and a happy time is anticipated. Abraham Simmons and Dr. Spively, of Bluffton, members of the Rotary club in that city, were guests at the (Continued on Page Three)