Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 22, Number 277, Decatur, Adams County, 20 November 1924 — Page 1

Volume XXII. Number 277.

■EL J, BUTLER I INDICTED TODAY I BY GRAND JURY ■•ormer City Letter Carrier Indicted For Stealing From Mails ■others ARE INDICTED ■•ederal Grand Jury Indicts Total Os Fifty-Six People i H The Federal C-and .Jury, in session ■tn Indianapolis tony, returned at'} awrfinst Mel J. Butler, letter < irrler in this city, for ■tealing from the United States Knuil- Tile jury indicted fifty-fivej ■>ilu-r persons. ■I Butler was arrested on .June 20 by ■inspector A. S. Kelly, of Winchester. , ■niter a "decoy" letter containing ten | ■me dollar bills were found on his ■person, after the envelope had been ■irnpped into u mail box in the west ■l iri of the city. Butler was given ■» heating before Commissioner T. .1 Blor.m. at Ft. Wayne, and bound over' ■to the Federal Court. Several local ■ men went his bond. His case will ■ come up later before Judge A. B. 1 ■Anderson at Indian t polls. Mr. Butler Iliac! been a mail carrier in this city [fur 22 years. (United Press Service) | Indi napolis. Nov. 20. —Forty-eight iimiicments against fifty-six defendants were returned by the federal [grand jury here today. Forty-five defendants are in jail or [under bond. Names of the other [eleven defendants will not be made public until they are arrested. There were no conspiracy cases of I indictments of unusual importance. [The grand jury was in session about | a week. i Investigation of liquor law violapions in Evansville. Jeffersonville. Madison and other cities was not I taken up at this session. Alvin A. Strekler, of Evansville,. was indicted on a charge of emhezzeling $7,300 from a national bank. | Twenty-seven persons were charged with violation of postal laws in. twenty-five indictments. Montgom-j ery Logedon and Robert Wilson. held in the Morion county jail, were charged with breaking into' the postoffice at Vienna and Underwood. Vasco Dave Williamson. Evans- : ville. and Melville J. Butler, Decatur, i both postal employes, were charged : with stealing from the mails. > Similar charges were contained in indictments against Steve Keleman and Frank Muir. South Bend; Edward (Continued on page three) ELKS PLAN DANCE FOR THANKSGIVING Public Dance Is First Os, Series Os Entertainments Planned The Decatur lodge of Elks will give a public dance on Thanksgiving I night, at the Knights of Columbus i hall, It being the first of a series I dances and entertainments to be given by the lodge during the winter season. At a meeting of the lodge | held last evening, R. J. Harting was I appointed chairman ( of the 1924-25 | ‘ entertainment committee and with the assistance of other members of his committee, Leo Ehinger, Ora Baker and L. A. Holthouse, the Thanksgiving dance was arranged. Babbitts Collegians, a six-piece orchestra from Van Wert, Ohio, has been secured to furnish music during the evening and many surprises • are in store for those who attend. The grand march will start at 8:30 and the affair will be informal. The public is cordially invited to attend. The entertainment committee is also planning several other events j during the year, including a dance to be given during the Christmas’ holidays. The exact date has not yet | been selected, but an effort is being n ’-ade to secure one of the best orchestras in the country. I-ast year the Elks gave several delightful social events and the program being made up this year by the entertainment committee promises to be one of real interest.

DECATUR I)ATTA DEMOCRAT

‘Ludwig Werling Dies At His Home Near Tocsin Ludwig Werling, 21. son of Mr. and I Mrs. Andrew Werling, living one and lone-half mihs northeast of Tocsin, died tit 5:30 Tuesday evening nt his i home, alter a three days sickness I with pneumonia, llmnorrliages which set in hastened his death. , The young man was engaged in [helping his father on the farm. He I was one of the community's bright jand energetic young men, and his death is mourned by many friends 1 and relatives. Besides his father and !mother he is survived by six brothers I and one sister, al! living at home or ;in the immediate vi dnily. as follows: I Theodore. Walter,, Fred, Victor, Andrew A . Arnold and IjOllise. The funeral will be held at one o'eloi k Friday afternoon at the house and at 1:30 at the Bethlehem Lutheran church. MARK NOBLE IS HOMESICK TODAY First Patient In Riley Hospital Is Forlorn As Parents Leave 1 Indianapolis. Nov. 20. (Special to Daily Democrat)-—Seven tripled children the first patients in the Riley Memorial hospital were beginning to feel at home today in their new surroundings. All were looking forward eagerly to going to school. Only Mark Noble. 10. of Decatur, the first patient to be admitted was forlorn. The stifle which he wore yesterday was gone and tears flowed freely ns he said good-bye to his paren s, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Noble who motored to Decatur today. Mark will be under observation for four days all patients being required to go through this period of observation to watch for any signs of coinageous diseases. ! Then he will settle down to the regular routine of hospital life. o 1 Annual Tri Kappa Charity Ball On New Year’s Eve i 1 At the meeting of the Tri Kappa Sorority Tuesday evening at the home of Miss Kathryn Dorwin, of First street, complete arrangements were made for the annual Charity ball which will be given at the Masonic Hall, New Year’s Eve. A very fine orchestra will furnish the music and the public is cordially invited to ■attend. Tickets will be sold at the regular price of two dollars. I “ — — Truck Collides With Tonring Car Here Today I A Standard Oil truck, driven by Wolford Ray. collided with a Ford touring car driven by a daughter of I James Dagtte, at the corner of Fifth I and Monroe streets, at about one o’clock this afternoon. The axel and one front wheel on the Standard Oil truck was broken and the Ford was damaged to some extent, the fender being bent. The Standard truck was going east on Monroe street and the ether ear was going north on Fifth street. No one was hurt. ' -—o Second Number Os Lyceum Course At Pleasant Mills - The second number of the Lyceum Course of the Pleasant Mills high school will he given in the high school building at that place Friday evening. November 21. The entertainment will be provided by the Beverly Concert Party, consisting of three talented voting ladies. The Beverly Concert Party blends ability as instrumentalists, singers, and entertainers into a program that interests every person in the audience. The public is cordially invited to hear the number. —o —— ’ Mrs. Harding Passes I Into A Semi-Coma Today (United Pres Service) I Marion.’ ().. Nov 20.--Mrs. Warren G Harding today was passed into a semi-coma and her physician entertain grave doubts that she will ever again completely regain consciousness.

I KLAN LOCATING HEADQUARTERS IN MONROE, REPORT I Reported To Have Purchased Monroe Home I Store Building J WORKING ON BUILDING ; | One Floor Mav Be Used As Basketball Hall; | Deed Not Recorded Monroe. Ind.. Nov. 20.—(Special to | Daily Democrat) Although no trail -1 for of the deed for the property or t articles of incorporation of the new company have been filed with the County Recorder at Decatur, it is reported here and discussed by many on the streets and around the town meeting places, that the "Adams ' County Benefit Association." alleged to he an auxiliary of tt secret organization. has purchased the east room of the Monroe Home Store building at this place. I At least, activities in furthering the completion of the second floor rooms in the building have started and workmen are busy plastering the walls and getting the room in readiness for occupancy. it Is said that the second floor of the building will be used as ’ a meeting place of the "Adams County Benefit Association" or alleged secret oragnization. Around the fire place v here men gather and where many talk about ’ the new organization in a knowingly way, the gossip has it that the ! “Adams County Benefit Association" is composed of members of the Ku K'ux -Klan. Some go so far to state that the rooms will be the county headquarters of the Klansmen. Names of republican politicians are also whispered into the deal. Sometime ago the Berne Hardware Company and the Herne Limber Company of Berne, purchased the Home store building, which is just about half completed, at sheriff's sale, the two companies holding mortgages on the building for more than $5,000. The sale of the building was placed > in the hands of a local real estate agent and it was stated that a con1 tract for the purchase of the building s by the new association was drawn up f in Decatur. s An effort is being made to underf write the purchase of the building • through the sale of membership fees. f ranging from $lO to SSO in the new ? "benefit’’ association. The purchase > ~—- ? (Cori.-limed on Pace six) MONROE GETS ' NEW HATCHERY r ■ ' Model Hatchery & Supply 1 Company Organized By Berne Men i 1 Berne, Nov. 20. —Model Hatchery & ’ Supply Company is the name of a r new firm recently organized which ’ will be located at Monroe. The company is composed by a number of 1 local men who will endeavor to try their hick in the hatching business. Erwin Stjicky, who has during the past year been engaged fn the rent 1 estate and insurance business with . Sam Nussbaum and who is the receiver of the Swiss Accordion Com-, pany, will be the manager and pro-, prietor of the new hatchery at MonI roe. The Mode) Hatchery & Supply Co., will have its headouarters in the new . Home Store building that has been . standing vacant for several years. The I west portion of the building will be i occupied by the company which is being arranged to quarter the equipments necessary for hatching. Three . incubators will be installed with a I capacity of 35,000 eggs. Mr. Stucky in-. tends to fill and start the incubators | tile fore part of February. * I j Mr. Stucky has been connected with Smith Baby Chick Hatchery at j Willshire. Ohio, and is acqi’finited with the hatching business. I He is discontinuing his work witlj i Mr. Nussbaum and will move his fami ily and household goods to Monroe - this week. The Stucky family will ■ move Into the home formerly owned- • by Menno S. Ltecbty, now owned by the Monroe hank.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, November 20, 1924.

• - - THANKSGIVING DINNER Chicago, Nov. 20. —The cost of a Thanksgiving dinner this year will he considerably less than last year. Joseph Rushklewlcz. secretary of the city council high cost i of living committee, stated today. With turkey tit 42 cents a pound. | the secretary said, the cost shouh total about 66 tents a person, or I $3.95 for a family of six. His | menu gives the cost of the various items to be: Turkey. $2.52; white potatoes. .05; sweet potatoes. .25: cranberries. .22; peas. .25; celery, .10: pie. .20; coffee. .07; bread. .08; turkey stuffing. | .15 total. $3.95. ROBBERS BLOW SAFE AT MAGLEY Secure S3O In Cash From Postoffice Safe; No Clues Found Robbers broke into the general store owned by G’.en Chronister, at .Magley. last night, blew a safe and escaped with approximately S3O in cash, belonging to the Magley postoffice. which is located in the store. No trace of the robbers has been found. The store was robbed about seven months ago and has been robbed several times within recent years. The robbers entered the store through the front door after break-' ing out the glass in the door. The store is located near the Erie rall-j road tracks and it is thought that the glass was broken and perhaps He safe blown while a freight train was passing through the town, making much noise. Nothing was missing when the robbery was discovered by Mr. Chronister about 6:30 o'clock this morning, with ilte exception of the money in the safe. The door to the safe was badly damaged hy the explosion. Nitro-glycerine was used by the robbers in wrecking the safe, it is thought. No stamps were taken and the merchandise in the store was not molested. The postoffice inspector has been notified of tile robbery and is expected to make an investigation soon, although he had not visited the postoffice at 2 o'clock this afternoon. No investigation has been made by countv officials. o Two More Red Cross Chairmen Appointed C. E. Strickler, of Monroe, and E. V. Scherling. of Pleasant Mills, have been appointed chairmen of the Rod Cross Roll Call in their respective districts, the appointments being made by H. Vernon Aurand, county chairman. Plans are being made for the annual renewal of membership in | this organization and the campaign will continue until Nov. 29th. o YOUTH FINED FOR LARCENY Julius Roon Fined $5 And Cost; Penal Farm Sentence Suspended Julius Roop, local young man. was fined $5 and costs sentenced to sixty days on the state penal farm and disfranchised for a period of one year, when arraigned in circuit before Judge Sutton this morning on a charge of petit larcenv. The court then suspended the sentence. Roop pleaded guilty to the charge. | Roop was arrested by Night Policean Sephus Melchi on the night of November I. after he had been caught in the net of stealing a spare tire off the automobile belonging to William Pennington. The car was parked on First street at the end of Madison istreet. Roop had been in the county pail since the time of his arrest. A small boy saw Roop take the tire off the automobile and hide it in the Kirsch-Reppert lumber yard, and the t boy then reported tbe theft to the of fleer. Weather Partly overcast tonight and Friday; warmer tonight.

FARMERS HOLD I A MEETING IN ‘ ROOT TOWNSHIP About 250 Present at DairySugar Beet-Drainage Meeting INTERESTING TALKS Similar Meeting Planned For November 28, At Hoagland Farmers of Root township and tbe surrounding townships, together with many women and children, held an in ' foresting meeting in the Fuelling | school building last night. About 25<i I people were present. The meeting I I was held in the interest of tin- dairying and sugar b,-i-t industries and drainage. The children present entertained the audience by singing several songs. [ in German and English. Refreshments of weinie sandwiches and ice cream were served. Three reels of moving pictures were shown by the county agent. L. M Bttsche. One reel 'dealth with hogs, one with sugar .beets and one with drain tiles. I Interesting talks were made by George Krick, of the Krick-Tyndall Tile company: John Carmody, of the , Holland-St. Louis Sugar company: E. J. Fricke, of the Holland-St. Louis .company; and County Agent L. M. Busche. Other Decatur men present were T. J. Durkin and James Staley. j Another meeting of this nature will be held at Hoagland on Friday night, of next week. November 28. In speaking of the advantages of good drainage, Mr. Krick said in part: I A good illustration of what drainage will do can be found in the history of the little town of Middleton. Mich . located in Gratiot county in the Sagiuaw valby. timing the period from 1905 to 1922. This history of this town was learned by a number of Adams county farmers making an auto tour through Michigan. By per sonal interviews with a number of business men and a banker hy the name of Mr. Hudson give the following description of this community as it was in 1905. Farm life was discouraging. most people there be caus" they could not move awav. The young people were disgusted and en- ; dured it only until they could find ,somewhere else to go. Social and mental life was at a very low ebb. This community was poor because NEW LICENSE : | PLATES HERE ! Issuing Os New Auto License Plates Starts About Dec. 12 I Tin- issuing of the new 1925 auto license plates will begin sometime be- ; tween December 12 and December 15. 'Miss Nova Vest, in charge of lite Hoosier State Auto Associaliou license bureau in this city, stated this morning. The new plates were received sometime ago. The background of the plates are painted in I cream color, while the figures and the letters. "Ind." are in brick red color. The new plates cannot be issued until j authority is received from Indianajiolis. Tbe year 1924 has been a record breaker at tbe local license office. Up until today, 2.927 passenger, 379 truck. 75 chauffer and 1(1 motorcycle licenses had been issued. During the year Miss Yost lias colh-eM'd. $28,563.75 but of this amount several thousand dollars was refunded to auto owners when the Increased auto license law was held unconstiutlonal. ( The exact figure paid for the licenses. I therefore, cannot be obtained. The new numbers allofed to Adams County are 224,051 to 226.750. a total of 2,700 plates. This liowever. is less than the number issued this year and |in all probability sevens! hundred ex , Ira plates will be needed before the do e of 1925. Miss Yost has been in charge of the local offii e in the Schafer Hardware! company building sine* the bureau | was established in this city two years ago. j

J Mayors And Police Chiefs To Hold Meeting Mayor H. M. DeVoss and Chief of Police Joel Reynolds of this city have I been invited to attend a traffic dinner in the chamber of commerce build I ing at Fort Wayne next Monday evening. The meeting will be held for the purpsse of formulating plans for trat I lie regulation. Col J. R. Sinke. traffic director of Grand Rapids. Michigan. will be the principal speaker. Thu object of the meeting Is to further in interests of good will between traffic ottici rs. merchants and private citizens. The mayors and chiefs of police of the following lownt) are invited to t the dinner: Huntington. New Haven Decatur, Bluffton. Wabash, Peru. Co ] lumbia City , Warsaw. Pierceton, I Kendallville. Angola. Auburn. Gar- I rett. Ligonier and Van Wert. ().. GIVE FAREWELL FOR MISSIONARY Fort Wayne Classis Os Reformed Church Honors Esther Sellemeyer The members of the Woman's Missionary Society and Girls' Missionary Guild of the Reformed church of Hie Fort Wayne Classis, gave a farewell service at the local Reformed church last evening, in honor of Miss Esther Sellemeyer. the only foreign Missionary in this classis. Approximately 300 people. inc tiding members of the (ongregation and many from Fort Wayne, Bluffton. Berne Mag ey and Huntington. at-tench-d the meeting. Miss Sellemeyer is planning to leave with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. A H. Sellemeyer. about December first, for Los Angeles. Californa. to visit with iter brother. J. O. Sellemeyer and family. Miss Sellemeyer has a condit’onal booking for January 10 to sail on the "President Cleve’tmd" for Shenchow. Hunan. China, where site will cont nite her missionary work, providing her health permits. Mrs. Edgar Gerber played the prelude after which Miss Sellemeyer r ed the G. M. G. processional. The lights were dimmed and the girls carried blue and gold candles and sang "Follow the Gleam.” The con gregal'on sang "Oh. Zion Haste." and Rev. Engleman of Magley bad charge of tbe devotionals. Mrs. Florence Spninger-Starr, of Bluffton, soprano soloist, greatly pleased tbe large audience with a beautiful solo. "Be Os 'Good Cheer,” was the subject of the impressive address given by Rev. Sauerwein. of Berne, after which Mrs. Abraham Simmons, of Bluffton, gave a short talk in behalf of the \V. M. S. of the Fort Wayne C'.assis. Mrs Neireiter. of Fort Wayne, spoke for Hie G. M. G. and Miss Sellemeyer responded with a wonderful talk on miss'onary work Mrs. William Rippe. of Fort Wayne who presided during the n\eeting. an- • nounced the special collection would be given for a Delco light system in the home of the missionaries in Shenchow, China, and Hie audience responded with a plate offering of $75 Miss Sellemeyer was presented w-'th a five dollar gold piece from the Berne Girls' Missionary Guild After the benediction. Mrs Starr sang the 1 Gu Id Hymn. "Take My Life and Let I? Be." during which time Hie G. M. G. repaired to the church parlors and prepared for the soe-a’ hour which fo’lowed. • The dining room of the church was Elaborately decorated with tin* blue and gold, colors of the Gu'ld. Re- ; freshments of sandwiches, coffee and ice cream were served and G. M. G. , songs and yells were given by the , members. Miss Sellemeyer spent six years in China, returning to the United States ( last summer and since last September has been visiting in this city. ( She is recognized as one of the most capable and sincere and earnest m sslonary workers in the Reformed field. a O Funeral Services For Mrs. Conrad On Friday The funeral services for Mrs Minnie Coqrad, wife of County Commissioner Ernst Conrad, will be held at I 1:30 o'< lock Friday afternoon instead |of this afternoon as was stated in the Daily Democrat Wednesday. Short services will be held at the bouse et [one o'clock Mrs. Conrtid died sudden ’y at noon Tuesday, death being due |‘o heart trouble.

Price: 2 Cento.

EIGHT BANDITS HOLDUP BANK AT CONVERSE TODAY Between $4,000 and $5,000 Taken From Bank About Noon ESCAPE IN CARS Posse Os Citizens Take Up ' Search; Most Os Bandits Young (United Press Service) (’.onverse. Ind.. Nov. 20 - (Specittl Io Daily Democrat) - IA gang of eight bandits swooped down on the town of Converse. today, held up the Fanners Bank and escaped with between and $5,000 in cash and securities. | The bandits drove up in front of the hank shortly before noon in two automobiles. While two men stood guard the other six enh'red and forced three employes and two customers to lie on the floor while they rifled the cashiers cage. A tall elderly man appeared to be the ring leader of the gang according to bank officials. Other members of the gang were young men tanging from eighteen to twenty-one years of age All were unmasked. With a final threat to the bank i inp oyes and customers not to move fion. their places on the floor the bandits backed out of the bank, entered their cars and fled. They fired into the air as they left to frighten citizens. Authorities of Howard. Miami, Wa bush and Grant counties were immediately notified to be on the lookout for the bandit cars. A posse ot citizens was organized here to tale up the J ursuit. o Small Roof Fire At John Colchin Residence The fire department was called to the John Colchin home on north Fifth street-at 12:45 this afternoon to put out a small roof f re The shingles caught fire front sparks from the chimney and with the aid of chemka's the blaze was extinguish cd. The damage was estimated at 1 $51)0. n At Jobbers’ Convention Prank McConnell, senior member ? of the firm of McConnell and Son, local tobacco jobers. is attending a convention of mannfaet upts and jobr bers of northern Indiana, at Coshen. today ami Friday — o—i JACOB BRAUN DIES IN BERNE Prominent Resident Oi Town Dies At Age Os 88 Years .laeob Braun, age 88 years, prominent resident of Berne and father of Fred Braun, of this city, died at his home in Herne at 5:15 o'clock Tuesday evening Death was due to a complication of diseases and senility. Mr. Braun had been feeble for some time and had been liedfust for three weeks. The death of Mr. Braun marks the close wf a long and useful career, as a devout and sincere husband and father and a diligent laborer. Mr. Braun, a graduate blacksmith from Germany, was a pioneer of that, profession in Berne He was one of the earliest smiths in Berne and in the minds of his hundreds of friends in the community, with Mr. Braun's name, blacksmithing is closely associated. For years he conducted a blai-ksmith shop where the Fulton Machine Shop now stands and his shop was the beginning of tbe fine up-to-date blacksmith shop on South Jefferson street owned by his son George Braun. Mr. Braun was born iu Germany. October IS, 1X36. He immigrated to America when lie was tweut.v-one years old and settled at Fort Wayne. While living in Fort Wayne h" m?t and was married to Miss Louisa (Continued On Page Five)