Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 9, Decatur, Adams County, 10 January 1925 — Page 1

Volume XXIH. Number*

HAWKINS DEFENDANTS SENTENCED

early improvement of fl, WAYNE ROAD SEEN

SETTER ROADS BOOSTERS BOLD FINE MEETING

I land Owners And Business I ' Men Hear Plans For Improvement Explained I EXPECT early action ■ Committee Named To Get Signatures of Land Owners Along Road I Aboiil twenty-five property I owners uluiiti the Fort Wayne I rout! between this city and the I Alien county line were supper I cue is of the road committee of g the lii'li’strial Association in the I association rooms last evening I at six o'clock, al which time C. II W. Sir'll. sii|>erinlenilenl of the J Fori Wayne district, and V. C. I Ixe. assistant engineer of the I state highway commission. H made a clear and understandH able d itement of the probabilI ilics of securing improvement I of Hr road during this year. I President Avon Burk of theThduiI trial Association presided and, after R nipper, made a short talk in which | he iiir’iolzed the purpose of the as--1 sedation which is to assist the community in every way possible and invited the farmers to become memhers. Be introduced Attorney Clark J I.'.itzl who acted as chairman of , the meeting and explained that the session was one called to talk itn» portant business—that of discussing plans for better roads. He explained the cooperative intoret of the propertv owners and the business men of the city and read a letter from Mr. Earl Crawford, of the state commission. in reply to an invitation to attend the meeting and in which he said: “I do not think there is any doubt but what the type of improvement we are using on that road will be adequate for the situation and I believe will be an economical proposition in the long run as It does salvage the old base and in this partic(Continned On Page Four)

Mffl HOFFMAN DIES AT PREBLE Widow Os Late Dan Hoffman Dies At Daughter’s Home This Morning Mrs. Mary Bly Hoffman, age 67 Lears, widow of the late Dan Hotsn ’an, died at the home of her daughMrs John Smith, at Preble, at 8 o clock this morning. Death was due 0 bowel trouble, Mrs. Hoffman havlng 1)6611 111 f or the past five weeks. ' ll s Hoffman was a daughter of _ 1,1,11 and Rose Bly, and was born in , ret) ' 6 r f° wnß Wp. Adams county, May 1857. She spent her entire life ,ll!S county. She is survived by following children: Mrs. John mith, of Preble; Otto Hoffhtan, of ndianapolis; Mrs. William Mefchier a "d Mrs. Gottlieb Melchier. both of X Hoagland; Tony Hoffman, Mrs. 1 ' iam Bultemeyer and Mrs. Fred bS 6dt ' aU Os Port Wa * ne - Two o hers, William Bly, of Cable, Misbr» v- aDd ew Bly. of Madison, Neka, twenty-two grandchildren, vive "° rea t grandchildren also aurt joneral services will be held from at 1 °’ clock and from the 0 ‘ Lutheran church at 1:30 In th J ues,lay afternoon. Burial * i‘ riedheim cemetery.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

W. C. T. IJ. To Observe Prohibition Anniversary The Decatur chapter of the Women's Christian Temperance Union will observe the fifth anniversary ot National Constitutional Prohibition with a special program at the public library next Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The Rev. R. W. Loose, pastor of the First Evangelical church, will deliver the address. The presence of aN members of the Union is desired and all friends are invited to attend. GMS RULING ON BURIAL PERMITS City Health Officer Says Cemetery Sexton Must Keep Permits on File Dr. .1. M. Miller, city health officer, nt a mooting of the trustees of the

Decatu l ' Cemetery Association, /old of the regulations rclaf.ive to receiving a body for burial in the cemetery. Ho explained that instead of the bi rial permit being left in the hands of the undertaker for file, that this certificate, which is issued by the .■»•.} or ffi-aith officer. must .be delivered to the sexton of the ce»notery before the body can bo received. Heretofore the physician's and health officer’s report of the death and permit for burial have been loft in the hands of the undertaker. Dr. Miller explained that the burial or removal permit, which is issued by the Irnllajia State board of health, through Hie health officer having jurisdiction in the respective district, must lie filed with the sexton of the cemetery. The trustees of the cemetery association request that local undertakers take notice of the regulation which will be enforced, they say. The burial permits are to be presented to the sexton and not kept by the undertaker, it was poipted out.

MORE ASSESSORS WHERE NEEDED No Appropriation Here For Assessors To Appraise Real Estate With the ordering of the appraisement of real estate in Adams County and throughout Indiana in 1925, by the state tax board commissioners, several problems are confronting local authorities when it comes to doing the work. The first of these problems is that |no aditional appropriation for the (Paying of additional assessor's salaries. |3,00 a day, was made last year when the bidget for this year was prepared. According to law the real estate would not have been appraised until 1926. Only enough money to pay the regular assessors who will assess the presonal property has been made and it will be necessary to call the county council in special session to make the appropriations needed. Assessors to appraise the real estate in Decatur, Berne, Geneva ahd in probably one or two of the larger townships will be appointed, County Asessor William Zimmerman stated today. The assessing of the real estate on the orders the state board will begin March 1 and continue until May 15. Another problem which worries the county officials is how the new- assessment of real estate -will affect the total valuation of assessed property in Adams County. It is a foregone conclusion that the assess(Continued On Page Five) *

; STATE RESTS CASE FRIDAY I Court Adjourns In Trial Os Elwood Fry Until Monday Morning

The state rested its case In the trial of Elwood Fry, Adams county youth charged with grand larceny and robbery, about 3 o’clock Friday afternoon and court adjourned until 9 o’clock Monday morning. Six witnesses for the state were heard Friday. They were Homer P- Crum, storekeeper at Honduras, who was the victim of the holdup of which Fry is charged; Cleho McCleater, who was charged jointly with Fry for the robbery and who was sentenced I to the state Reformatory more than four months ago after pleading guilty to the charge; Dan Death. Charles Magley. Sheriff John Baker ami Deputy Sheriff D. M. Hower. Dan Death and McCleater proved to be strong witnesses for the state Death testified that Fry approached him in a local pool room on the night of the holdup, and’asked him for MeCleater’r, revolver, which Death had. He said he asked Fry what he want ed with it, and said that Fry replied that he had to have some tires for his automobile. Death then testified that McCleater, Fry and himself went to Death's room where they got the revolver. He said he met the two youths in this city the following morning and said Fry told him that they pulled the job alright Sheriff Baker and his deputy, Mr. Hower, told of arresting McCleater and Fry and what the youths had told them. ---<*■ •- One of the three counts in the affidavit against Fry was squashed yesterday morning. The three counts charged grand larceny, robbery and automobile banditry. The court sustained a motion to quash the third count. The affidavit did' not specifically name the location of the automobile while the robbery was being rqmmitted, it was said. The penalty for grand larceny is a sentence of from one to fourteen years in the state reformatory. The penalty for robbery is a sentence of from ten to twenty-one years in the reformatory.

Mrs. J. R. Tillotson Dies At Her Home In Lima, O. Relatives in this city today received word of the death ot Mrs. J. R. Tillotson, age about 40 years, which occurred at her home in Lima, 0., at 6:25 Friday evening. Death was due to typhoid fever, which was contracted by Mrs. Tillotson while she was in New York City with her husband, who was taking a post graduate course in medicine, nine weeks ago. Dr. Tillotson is a surgeon in Lima. Mrs. Tillotson was a daugter of Mrs. Ella Freidline, of Lima. She was reared at Delphos, Ohio. Mrs. Tillotson was a niece of Mrs. Hugh Hite and Mrs. John Shafer, of this city. She Is survived by her husband mother and one brother, dlatide Freidline, of Toledo, Ohio. Funeral services will be held in Lima, Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Hite, Mr. Oscar Lankenau and Mr. and Mrs. John Schafer will attend the funeral.

Motorist Who Killed One Man Surrenders Today Evansville. Ind-, Jan. 10 —(Special to Daily Democrat)—While police were hunting the driver of the automobile that early last night struck and killed George Axmiller, 26, Vincennes athlete, on the Dixie Bee highway, Russell Jackson, Fort Branch, Ind., coal mine superintendent, returned here and surrendered to authorities. He did not realize he had killed the man until he read about the fatal accident in the morning newspapers, he declared. He was released pending the coroner’s investigation. COUNTY PHYSICIANS NOTICE All physicians of Adams county ar? urged to attend the funeral services of Dr. D. L. Mattax, a Geneva, at 1:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, January 10, 1925.

Hotel Framework Collapses Killing Three Workmen (United rr:F!9s srnvicEi Ww York. Jan. 10. —Three men are dead, a fourth is reported dying and three others are i.n hospitals as a result of injuries received today when the skeleton structure of a .new hotel being erected here collapsed. Lives of scores of pedestrians were endangered when tons of steel and cement came crashing down after an arch support on the eighth floor gave way. All those killed or injured were employes.

WARREN PICKED FOR STONE’S JOB Michigan Man Nominated By President For Attorney General IVaehington. Jan. 10.—(Special to Daily Democrat) —Charles B. Warren, of Detroit. Michigan, today was nominated by (’resident Coolidge to be aftoi ney-general of the U. S. to succeed Attorney-General Harlan Stone, of New' York, who was appointed asociato justice of the supreme court. —— o Training School Classes Will Meet Tuesday Night The Community Training School began its second term last Monday evening under very favorable conditions. The enrollment was good and the students were pleased with the splendid courses that were offered. An excellent course for teachers of adult classes is being offered which has not the proportionate number of "Indents enrolled for the thurches represented. The churches of Decatur have in their schools a proportionately large enrollment of adults. The teachers of these classes ail should, if possible, enroll in this class. The next session will be next Tuesday evening and it will be possible still for new students to enroll then. A 'Publicity Costs Kokomo Young Man Sum Os SIOO Kokomo, Ind., Jan. 10.—Publicity in New York city newspapers hailing him as the scion of a wealthy Kokomo family living in New York to win a stage career cost King Kennedy SIOO he revealed in a talk here. Kennedy said two husky men entered his New York apartment and. •prodding a gun into his ribs, forced him to go to a bank and cash a ‘check. He said he was able to assure the men SIOO was all he had in the bank. The men also took a quantity of jewelry. Weather Cloudy and unsettled tonight and Sunday. Probably snow or rain in south portions. Not much change in temperature.

“Ginger” Didn’t See The Basketball Game, But He Had Plenty Os Thrills

Although E. F. “Ginger” Gass didn't get to see the Decatur Catholic high school eagers defeat the fast Cathedral five from Indianapolis last evening, his evening was| not void of thrills and excitement, for, on "Ginger’s” own statement, he played nurse and daddy to 126 children of the neighborhood at his home last evening. "Ginger” was taken up on his statement to a certain well-known citizen yesterday that he could not attend the basketball game, but that he would take care of all the children in the neighborhood so that the mothers and fathers could attend the game. The friend th whom “Ginger” made his proposition saw that due publicity was given to it in the columns of the Daily Democrat and a few minutes after the paper was published last evening the telephone at the Gass home, which is across the street

EXPECT DECREASE IN LAND VALUES Appraisement of Real Estate This Year Expected To Drop Greatly What will he the loss in the taxable valuation of Adams county following the appraisement of real estate In Decatur and Adams county between March and May of this year? This is a question being widely discussed here now. The state board of tax commissioners has ordered an appraisement of real estate throughout Indiana in 1925 instead of in 1926, as provided in the Goodrich tax law, and it is taken for granted that there will be a noticeable decrease in the value of farm lands and other real estate. The value of assessed real estate and Improvements thereon this year is $28,586,680, of which $21,695,690 is the value of fanu lands and lots In the incorporated towns pnd cities in the I county. The value of farm lands and i other real estate has not changed since 1920. when it was assessed. The average net assessable value of the farm lands, together with the improvements for this year is $110.33 per acre. The tqtal net assessable value of the property in the county is $40,475,730, the mortgages and other inI'debtedness being deducted. Estimates of the loss in the real | estate assessments run as high as I twenty per cent. If such is the ease. Adams connty will suffer a loss of from four to six million dollars this year, which deduction would reflect greatly on the tax duplicate of the county and in making the tax rales for 1926. | It is admitted that farm lands and city real estate are assessed higher in many cases than the actual value ;of the property and following the appraisement of real estate next March a loss will more than likely be suffered in the total valuation of ‘ assessable property in the county, i Last year the county suffered a loss I of more than one-half million dollars I in the personal property assessments. I . Illinois Man Shoots Wife And Ends Own Life | Rockford, 111.. Jan. 10.—J. K. Vandorfy, 58, Seymour. lowa, shot his wife through the head and probably I fatally wounded her at the home of E. H. Conrad here early today and I then committed suicide by firing a . shot into his brain. The double shootI ing is said to have resulted from a ' quarrel. British And American Delegates Reach Agreement Paris, Jan. 10. —(Special to Daily Demorcat) — Winston Churchill, British chancellor of the ex-checquer announced today he has reached provisional agreement with Col. James A. Logan, American representative regarding the claim of the U. S. to a share in the Dawes payment.

from the high school gymnasium, began to ring and the mothers of the city were making reservations f</’ their children. Mrs. Gass knew nothing of the open-house arrangements for the children and was a loss to know what to tell them. She intended to see the big game, so if her husband wanted to stay home and take care of the children, all well and good. She invited the mothers to “come over” and “Ginger.” looking a little haggard and sleepy-eyed today, stated that he counted 126 children in the house at one time and was unable to get them all in line and didn’t know how many more were stuck around in the corners and under the chairs. “Ginger” enjoyed the evening, however, and is convinced that the children can make as much noise as the fans and basketball players.

ALL MOTIONS FOR NEW TRIALS ARE OVERRULED

E. L. Os C. E. To Sene A Twenty-five Cent Supper The Christian Endeavor society of the Evangelical church completed all arrangements Thursday evening, to serve a twenty-five cent supper in the church next Saturday evening. Jan. 17. A good menu has been prepared, and with the help ot some of the ladies of the church the society expects to serve a real meal for such a small sum that nobody can afford to mis? It. The young people will have tickets for sale next week. The public is cordially invited. 0 CAR WRECKED NORTH OF CITY Roy Baker Has Narrow Escape in Accident On Fort Wayne Road Roy Baker, of this city, narrowly escaped serious injury last night when his automobile slid off the De-catur-Ft. Wayne road about six miles north of the city, and stood on end in the ditch at side of the road. Mr. Baker was returning to this city when the accident occured. The car was running in a rut in the road ami when .Mr. Baker attempted to stear it out of the rut the front wheels eaine out but the rear ones refused. The car ran a short distance with the rear wheels in the rut and then the i car slid off the embankment near a I culvert, the rear end going j down first and when the car came to p stop the radiator was protruding in the air. Mr. Baker who was riding alone, held to the stearing wheel until the car came to a stop and was not injured. The car, a Maxwell coach, was badly damaged. CHICAGO GRAIN CLOSE , Wheat: May’ $1.80%, July $1.54’4, Corn: May $1.28%. July $1.29%. Oats May 62%c, July 61%c. O —£ DENY ROBBERY OF OHIO HOME Three Alleged Bandits Plead Not Guilty To Robbery Near Van Wert Van Wert, 0., Jan. 10. —Pleas of ’ not guilty were entered Friday in the common pleas court here by Martin Walsh, 28; Frederick Miller, 32. and Samuel Gallagher. 30, to charges of burglary brought against the trio in | agrand jury indictment for ransack- ! ing the home of Jacob Sluterbeck located on a farm near here. Prosecutor Miller informed the court that he would be ready for trial iby January 26. Gallagher indicated | that they would be able to secure, I counsel and the court granted a continuance until Saturday morning at 9 o’clock. Under the Ohio law the defendants must have counsel, either procured by themselves or appointed by the court. Sheriff Johnson, assisted by several deputies and police, brought the prisoners Into , court this morning for arraignments They were returned to the county jail and are being heavily guarded. John Harmon and his wife, living near Wren, who were attacked several months ago by bandits, were in the courtroom yesterday, but stated that none of the men were among those who attacked them. Sluterbeck, his wife and daughter were bound and gagged while their home was ransacked on the morning of December 27. The bandits secured SIOO. The bandits were arrested in Terre Haute, Ind., last week.

Price 2 Cents.

FOURTEEN GET SENTENCES IN FEDERAL COURT Most Os The Defendants Sentenced To Serve Five Years In Prison GET HEAVY FINES Several Portland Men Arc Among Those Sentenced In Mail Fraud Case Indianapolis, Jan. 10.—After | overruling all motions for new . trials and arrest of judgment, : Federal Judge Ferdinand A. Geiger, in the Hawkins mail fraud conspiracy case in federal court today, passed these sentences and fines: Mord Carter, of Indianapolis, 2 years in the Leavenworth. Kansas, prison on one count and 5 years on each of the remaining 15 counts in the indictments and a fine of $2,000. This means a total prison sentence of 5 years for Carter, the sentences running concurrently. William Jones. Indianapolis, two years on one count. 5 years on the others and $2,000 fine, sentences running concurrently for 5 years. Frank J. Haight, of Indianapolis, two years and SI,OOO fine. Frank C. Willis, of Indianapolis, two years and SI,OOO fine. Anthony Scheib. Portland. Ind., two years on one count, five years on the others and $2,000 fine, sentences running concurrently for five years. | Harry J. IJovard. of Pittsburg. Pa.. | two years on one count and five years ion the others, running concurrently for five years, and $2,000 fine. William Webb. Dallas, Texas, two i years and five years, running conI currently for five years and $2,000 fine. William Sacks, St. Louis. Mo., two years on one count and five years on each of the others, running concurrently for five years and $2,000 fine. Carl B. Anderson. Portland, Ind.. | one year and a day on each count, (Continued On, Page Five) - o — DRAMATIC CLUB TO GIVE PLAY Dramatic Section To Have Charge of Woman’s Club Program Monday The Woman’s Club will meet Monday evening in the Library auditorium with a committee from the Dramatic department in charge of the program. Little nine-year-obl Virginia Beverforden, popular young reader of Fort Wayne, will give several readings. Virginia readed before the Woman's Club last year and greatly pleased . the large audience present. The second part of the program i will be the play, “The Fascinating • Mr Denby,” by Seldwin Sage and Howard Munford Jones. The play is ; a new and popular one and was pub- - lished in The Drama Magazine last 1 February. The characters are Grace, 1 Mrs. Raymond Kohne; Nita. Jose- ' phine Myers; Doris, Mrs. Chalmer Porter; waitress. Miss Helen Dugan, r Mrs. A. R. Holthouse is in charge of r the first part of the program and Mrs. 5 FRaymond Kohne is chairman of the - committee in charge of the play. i All members of the club are urged Ito attend.