Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 74, Decatur, Adams County, 27 March 1925 — Page 1

Vo |. XXIII. Number 74.

PRAIRIE FIRES SWEEPING OVER SOUTH DAKOTA Three Villages Wiped Out \nd Three Casualties Reported driven by wind More Than 100,000 Acres Burned Over; \ olunteers l ight Flames Siou t R/h'. S. !>.. March 27-(Sp? cial to Dally Democrat)—Prulrle lu '.„ terrorized mtth <♦•>»'al South : lUota today. TbrM > vil'ages have boon destroy t hI and three casualties are reported.. The villages of Tuthill. St. Francis I and Vet« were reported to have; l“ n v.iied out as the flames swept ■ onward On the South Dakota Nt braska lin° this-e st-arate fires have burned over more than 100.00® acres of prairie’ land. f !rP . on the North Dakota line and nt the wt stern edye of the state in the Grand river valley were r.-p- 't-. h1 today to have been brought under ( tantrol. Thete are scores of scatter-: wl fires throughout the prairie rrrfon. Driven by a forty mile gale, some of (he fires got beyond control and seared everything in their path. Farm biddings were rated and livejock petlshed as the flames spread. Reports that three persons perished at Tuthill were not confirmed early today because of the failure of communications in the fire zone. No. other casualties have been reported. A new fire m rilled Fort Yates on o,» mu.’oijH jh.r in th? west end of the state today. The fire was report- ■ ed to hare spread q.rer a w|de area Towns nearby nave turned out cn fnasse to fight the flames. —- Great Property Damage Pierre. 8. D.. March 27— (Special to Daily Democrat) —Prairie fires in widely separated ureas of Nebraska South Dakota and North Dakota are causing great property damage and menacing lives, according to reports here today. Four lives already have been lost. Including a man near Walter, S. D-. and a woman and two children at Tuthill, S. D.. reports stated. One of the fire zones in south of Bismarck. N. D„ on the North and South Dakota boundary, while another is in the Rosebud territory of South Dakota extending toward Valentin®. Neb,. Practically every resident of Gregory, S. D„ was called into action to keep fire in that district from sweeping the town. One of tiie fire zones extends from White Rivier, S. D.. to Merryman. Neb., a distance of fifty miles. No moisture has fallen in this territory for several weeks. Fire In Oklahoma Hugo, Oka.. March 27 —(Special (Continued On Page Five) PREPARING FOR CONFIRMATION Class Os Fourteen Has Examination At Reformed Church Next Sunday On next Sunday a class of fourteen youths will be examined in the fundamentals of Christianity at the Zion Reformed church, in connection with the morning service beginning at 1'1:36 o’clock, The class began its course of instruction with the Rev. R. R. Elliker and has completed the course with the present pastor, Rev. A- R. Fletkderjohftnu. While the charge was vacant Superintendent M. F. Worthman had charge of the work. The instruction and examin itiou forms its solemn completion in the contirniation service which is to take Place on Palm Sunday, April 5, with 4 special sermon for the occasion on th « subject, "Building As Ye Have Been Taught." The members of the class are: Rae Belle Andrews, Gaynell Graber, Marcella Gerber, Josephine Jaberg, Marie Rolter, Madgelene Miller, Helen Moeschbergsr, LaVera Shoaf, Leia ' oßt - Ralph Egley, Thurman Elzey. p »ul McGill. Arthur Shoaf, and Harold Shoaf.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Gerald Chapman Settles Down To Fight For Life

H’NITED PltllSS HEHVICI'D llaitfnrd, Conn., March 27—(8pe clttl to Duty l>rnocratl—Gerald Chapman has settled down to fight it cut with the Mate in the contest for hie life Prosecutors in his trial for murder p’attned to launch into the burden of their evidence today and hoped to r.'ov? that it was Chapman who mitrtiered Policeman James Skeliey of New Britain. Conn. Hut Chapman, with the advantage !of u jury, every member of which ■ has received his personal "okay" and the added advantage of a failure of the state in its first effort to Identity him, has added his wits and bls J sharp gaze to those of his attorneys i in an effort to break up the prose | cut ion’s case. Chapman won his latest advantage I yesterday when a sales girl failed to' Identify him us the man who had been lurking around the store in ’ which she worked and during the robbery of which Skelley was killed. Orders Income Tax Figures Kept Secret Washington, March 27. — t United Pies'.) ’.e treiMtiry department toi day ordered all internal revenue colileetois not to make public the new income tax payments until Internal, 1 Revenue Commi-isoner Blair had scrutinized all figures on returns and given an offeial order for publication.! This will delay publication of the 1 figures, expected within a few days, for at least two months, officials said. SEN. WHEELER IS INDICTED AGAIN Montana Senator Charged With Conspiracy To Defraud Government i (UNITED PRESS SERVICE) Washington. March 27. — A true bill indicating Senator Burton K. A I Wheeler. Montana, democrat, on a charge of conspiracy to defraud the, government In connection with Montana oil deals, was returned today by the District of Columbi t grand jury. > Edwin Booth and Gordon Campbell. of Montana, were Indicted with Wheeler on the same charges. Tiie indictment charges Wheeler , and the two other men with “conspiracy to obtain i legally” the use of land In Montana which was part of the public domain of the United States. ) James McGowan, who was also named in the government’s case, was not indicted. He appeared before the grand jury and testified recently. ’ This is the second indictment of , Wheeler in connection with his alleged activities as a lawyer before the interior department for Campbell, his cl ient, for whom, it was charged. I he was using his influence. The first indictment was returned last fall in Great Falls. Mont , short- 1 ly after Wheeler had become a candidate for vice president on the independent ticket with Senator La Fallotte. The first indictment has; never been brought to trial. Former Attorney General Stone started this second investigation be-; tore the local grand jury, claiming he had new evidence in tiie case. Wheeler, Campbell and Booth also are charged jointly with offering a ( bribe to Francis M. Goodwin, while. Goodwin was assistant secretary of, the interior, to facilitate issuance of prospecting permits. Twenty-four separate overt acts are charged against each of the three 1 defendants. Booth also was charged with having used his influence to obtain per- ■ mits while lie was solicitor of the interior department, and later while ■ he was acting as special assistant to ’ the United States attorney general. 1 Senator Wheeler was playing goEf 1 today when the indictment was an- ! ncunced. 1 The indictment charged that. 1 Wheeler trieU to obtain control of ’ 20,000 acres of land in Toole county, Montana, which were legally subject ’ to permits for prospecting for oil and ’ gas. It was charged he and Campbell ! conspired to do this in the follow--1 Ing manner: 1 Campbell Obtained for prospectors • legal permits to prospect, but with (Continued on page three/

Muncie Man Fined For Toting Gun At Capital Indinnapolls, March 2" Court Asher, of Muncie, Jnd., stopping here at a hotel was fined $1 and costs on charges of earn Ing concealed weapons I’utrolman Walsh told Judge Pro Topi In city court that he saw Asher alight from a taxicab and get into his own car. Walsh said h? searched him and found the gun in his own pocket. _oOR. J. N. HURTY DIES AT Secretary Os State Hoard Os Health For 25 Years; Nationally Known —— —— Indianapolis, Ind.. March 27 — Dr. [ John N. Hurty, 73. who served as | • secretary- of the Indiana stat" boon of health for 25 years and became : national medical authority, died i his home here today. Dr. Hurty was a pioneer In th? fide ■ of public health, participating it; i health work throughout th? U:'!'’t States. Retiring from active work in this n?ld in September, 1922. when ,he voluntarily surrendered his po : i us secretary of the state board o>” I health, he became a representative in the state legislature to fttrihfi the interests he had so long repre ’ sented. Dr. Hurty had been in failing health since shortly before his retirement 1 from the state board. He had an , attack of influenza and other lung . infection recently and this caused his death. Fiechter Baby Dies A baby daughter born Tuesday j night to Mr. and Mrs. William Fiechter. living east of Bluffton, in French township, Adams county, passed away , late Wednesday. Funeral services ! and burial took place yesterday af- ' lernoon at the Christian Apostolic i church. ■ o . —— Former Jay County Man Dies At Hamilton, Ohio Allefl Andrews. 75. former Jay county resident, died at his home in J Hamilton, Ohio, Wednesday morning. Death was due to pneumonia. Mr. Hamilton formerly practiced law in Jay county and was well known by many Adams county citizens. Funeral services were held in Hamilton this afternoon at 2 o’clock. I o I CLUBS TO MEET AT BLUFFTON Mistrict Meeting Os Federation Os Women’s Clubs To Be Held Apr. 22 The Eighth Congressional district !of the Federation of Woman’s Clubs will meet at Bluffton Wednesday. ,I April 22. Mrs. Charles C. Deam, dis- . I trict chairman, will have charge of I the meeting and an enthusiastic program has been arranged for all-day ,j session. An address by the state presi- , | Mrs. O. M. Pittenger, will be followed J by a half-hour discussion of the value iof the local and state federation. Addresses on "Mental Health,” The ! Scientific Feeding of the Family," i: and on "Memorial Trees,” Will also i'be special feature -of the program. A luncheon will be served at noon • and at the close of the afternoon ses- • sion a banquet will be served by the 1 Methodist ladies. The Bluffton High ’ School Orche tra will furnish music ' during the dinner hour. Plans are beJng made to plant a Memorial Tree following the lecture on the subject. The Biennial Council of the General Federation of Clubs will be held ■ at West Baden June 1-6. This will be the first time Indiana has ever ■ entertained the National Federation and big plans are being made for the 1 event. Many ladies of this city are planning to attend the Bluffton session, April 22, and clubs that have ’ not already appointed delegates to • attend are urged to take cure of th»- : matter within the near future.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, March 27. 1925.

H.S.GIRLSPROVE EXCELLENT COOKS ■ 11■■■■«. Prepare Fine Dinner For Rotarians; Minister Addresses Club The Rotarians were trrnie,l a kn? , dinner prepared by the girls of th? | | i Domestic Sei< nc ■ class of the D'< atur High school nt the hl"h school , building last evening and then had i the pleasure of listenin'-! to r,n in-! spiring uddrrs ; r.n Rotary by Rev. |' T. It. Allston. patsor of the ITeaby- ; , teiian church at Bluffton and a mem . ; her of the Rotary club in that city. The meal was prepared by the girls i I t.nder the supervision of their tsach-l er. Miss Naomi Christen. The menu Icon isted of fresh ham, mashed pota-1 toes ami gravy, creamed peas and i carrotts. buttered rolls, fruit jello i whipped cream, wafers and coffee. Tables were neatly arranged in the I teception room n< rth of tie Domostic I Sc ience kitchen and the mem’J rs | | of the class waited on the tables, tnd I in M. F. Worthman. superntendent so ; chools stated, the "girls also took . pointers on how men ate and what. | they liked.” The food was delicious : nd hungry appetites were satisfied, i The members of the class who.pre . lair, d the meal were the Misses Hel-1 t n Eady, Sadie Fi her, Margaret Mills | Vivian Thomas, Lillian Worthman. | Juunita Baumgartner. Nedru Abbott j Delia Johnson, Geraldine How?r. j Helen Schroll and Betty Erwin. . Rev. Allston Spoke Rev. All«:on. who is conducting a i series of Lenten services at the Fres-1 hyt. tian church in this city, deliver- : ed an inspiring addre s accompanied by the Rev. B. N. Covert, pastor of the local church, to the Rotarians in the purpose and object of Rotary. 11? took for his subject the sixth object o't‘ltoluty. Th? ■udvaE-aement of. on derstamling. good-will and internation j al peace through a world fellowship i if bushiess and prof? sional men united in the Rotary Ideal of service.” Rev. Allston stressed the point that Rotary was trying to bring alsnu an understanding between all men. at a> time when differences seemd to be I many and that he taw In the Rotary ■ principle the medium of accomplishing peace and good will among men. Henry Heller, who retired as president of the club last evening, presided ami introduced the new . ofti'.rrs and thanked the members of the . board of directors and members o. : the club for their loyal support durIng the year. Citv Firemen To Hold A Meeting This Evening — The city firemen will hold a meeting at the city hall, at 7:30 o’clock this evening. All members of the I regular and volunteer departments; are urged to be present. HOUSE DAMAGED BY FIRE TODAY Roof On House Occupied By Eno Lankenau Badly Damaged Today Quick work by the Decatur fire department quenched the prospects of a destructive tire at the C. H. Boknecht property, 703 North Third street, where E. W. Lankenau, superintendent of the Decatur branch of tiie General Electric company, resides. The tire, which started cm the root at about 9 o’clock this morning, was caused by sparks from the chimney, firemen say. Wind spread the blaze over the whole roof and it took considerable time before crntrol was obtained. Ij. C. Helm, who carried the tn stirBiice for the property, estimated the d'amage at about $201). He said that it probably would take an entire new roof, because the sparks bad been blown in all directions, and small blazes had cropped out on all parts of the house. Weather Indiana: Fair tonight and Saturday. Warmer Saturday in south awl central portions.

Local People Generous In Giving To Relief Fund

Industrial Association Smoker Monday Evening The members of th? Decatur Industrial A i"clr.llon ttr? invited to attend the regular meeting and smoker to be given at the Industrial rooms next Monday evening, March 30. at 7:30 o'clock. Avon Burk, president , of the Association, has severti) mn tors hi wishes to present to the members ami everyone Is urged to attend. YOUTH DIED OF STRANGULATION Funeral Services For Pierce Andrews At Monroe Saturday Afternoon Funeral services wi'.l bn held from the John F. Ct Ist home in Monroe at 1:30 o’clock and from the Methodist chut ch at Monroe at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon for Albert Herce Andrews, age 17, who died at a sanitarium in Butlerville at 6 o'clock yesterday morning. The Rev. S. I. Zcchtel wi I have charge of the services. Burial will be made in th?, P easant Dab- cemetery. Tiie youth died from strangulation.. He suffered infantile paralysis about; ' ten years ago und he was left an in , ; valid in his legs and throat. He j strangled while eating breakfast yesi tetday morning and died before a fhysician could reach him. He had i been at Butlerville for the past few months. Albert Pierce Andrews was a son of Mr and Mts. John Andrews, and; was born at Monroe. October 2. 1907. His father died May 1. 1924. The h.'-b.“ u .>?v-'’. vd bj-lrl.v'«n>theT; -Mr-.?.-Hattie AaidrewS, and three sisters. u» foilcawi; Leu D. Andrews, of Detroit. Michigan; Mrs. Lewis Prising =>r. of Rockford. Ohio: and Pauline Andrews, of Decatur. To Test Drinking Water At Gritlin Indianapolis, March 27. — Dr. Wil Ham I l ’. King, secretary of the state board of health, und B 11. Jeup, of tiie department of water tnd s-wage left today for storm swept Orifl’iit I Ind., to test and purify v.ut< r-. Dr. King received a telephone call ! from the National Guard unit at Grlf ' j tin telling him the water supply was’ I eon laminated and unlit for drinking : K.«FC TO HOLD MEMORIALSUNDAY — Order To Pay Tribute To 35 Deceased Members Os The Council — Memorial service t in memory of the 35 deceased members of tiie Knights of Columbus will lie held by Decatur Council, No. 564. at the K. of C. Hail Sunday evening, beginning ut 7:30 o’clock. The exercises w ill i be held in accordance with tiie ritual of the council ami will he in charge of the officers, assisted by John Carmody and M. J. Mylott. On Sunday the Knights, of Colum- > bus will also observe the annual eusotn of inarching to the St. Marys Catholic church in a. body and atend the 7:30 mass and receive Holy Communion in a body. Members of the council are asked to meet ut the hall at seven o’clock Sunday morning. The 35 deceased members of the Decatur council, in whose memory tiie services will be held are: Charles P. Ehinger, Leopold Yager Roman Holthouse. Bernard Wemhoff. Oscar Colchin, Albine Smith, Charles Rumftclittrg. Rev. H. Theo. Wilkin, Ulrich Deininger, Thomas Maley, H. H. Bremerkamp, J. .Henry Meyer, Daniel Donovan. John Wertzberger, Bernard Smith, A. H. Bremerkamp Clem Heidetnan, Thomas Mylott. J. T 5. Holthouse. Joe Knapke, Dr. D. D. Clark, John T. Lose. George Keller. Bernard IT Meyer, Jacob Omlor. Mar tin Luughlih, I’. K. Kinney, James K. Niblick. John C. Moran, Dr. C S. ■ Clark, Jaeob Martin E. X. Ehinger, I C. L. Meibers, Mkhttf-l Mill r and John Schur..,'‘r.

| The generosity of the Doeniur anti] Adams County people was evinced again today when th? Red Cross fund for donations for the tornado storm sufferers In southern Indiana was In- ] i creased from $125.96 to SI4I.PR since , yesterday. Miss Anna Wlnnes. secretary of I Die local Red Cross chapter received i rommufneation thl- morning from ! the 'ice-chairman in charge of the St. Louis division of the Rod (To- s 1 which is in charge of tit? relief work in Indiana. Illinois und Missouri, stating that the need now was for funds ami that the need for clothing hud been satisfied. Miss Winnes wish- . en to send another SIOO to the sufferers this week. Tim clothing was ' sent yesterday. Donations received * e as follows: t Previous report $125.69 ! . D. M. Teeter $2.00 1 ( A Friend SI.OO ( Ed S. Mosrs SI.OO . ' Mr. ami Mr-. C. E. Peterson $5.00 , Charles Malom-y SI.OO i A Friend SI.OO i No Name $2.00 • Change tn boxes ~ . .... $2.92 1 - i Total $141.99 Contribution boxt‘% c»e located In the three banks, the Winnes shoe store ami the Daily Democrat office. < Thurman A. Gottschalk, chairman < ' of the Red Cross at Berne, stated to- < I day that SIOO would l>? sent to the ' • stale headquarters trorn Bertie, the ' I Berne citizens having rallied to the call for aid. HEAR PHYSICIANS IN TYPHOID SUIT Two Fart Wavnr PhyskUns Testify Todav In Damage Suit Here — Two Fort Wayne physicians tedi- ' tied today in the trial of th? typhoid fever datnaxe suit agt.inst th? Pi-nn- ' sylvania Railroad companv and tiie City of Fort Wayne, which is in pro- ' cess in the Ajdams circuit here. The I physicians. Dr. Gilpin and Dr. Underwood. are reported to have treated ! typhoid fever patients in tiie infected ! area of Fort Wayne in the fall of 1923. The case on trial was filed by the 1 Lincoln Trust company, administrator v of the estate of Herman Bam rmeister Judgement for SIO,OOO for the dt-a'h ( .of Mr. Bauermeister Is asked in the ( I complaint. ■JhxF'tvf®! L protding extrenie’y slow, due to the fact that the defense objects to practically every question . asked of the witnesses by the coun- , stel for the plaintiff. In man}' instan- ( ces relatively long arguments are led by the attorneys in support of or , against the objections and occasion- , ally the court calls for a recess while certain questions are settled. It is estimated that many more days will be consumed by the trial of the case. , Court is expectetl to adjourn at noon tomorrow over the week-erfd. j Missionary To Speak ’ At Pleasant Mills — Miss Anna Herrod. who recently returned to her home in Hoag.and from five years of service as a missionary in India, will occupy the pulpit of the Methodist church at i Pleasant Mills. Sunday morning. March 29. Miss Herrod lias had a remarkable experience and she tells it in a very 1 fascinating manner. She has a great ; number of curios that she shows in : 'el ing if her work und the life of the ! natives. Miss Herrod is in grout tle- ' tuand and tiie Pleasant Mills comi munity has a rare opportunity. New Evidence Hinted As In Trial Os "Jazz Girl” . San Francisco. March 27 — Intima- , tions of a second line of defense for , Dorothy Ellingson, to supplement her } plea that she was mentally deranged . when her mother was shot to death injected new interest into the trial of the 16 y'-ar old queen of the caf's ■ | today. sj The defense, in questioning pros- ;. I pec.ti'.-i? jurors indicated that evidence ■. j might be introduced to show that :i! Dorothy herself did not fire tin shot ; that kiled her mother.

Price 2 Cent#.

TWO SENATORS TELL OF MAKING OWN HOME BO Federal Authorities Plan Investigation of Wisconsin Senators SAY THEY ARE READY Wet And Dry Issue Waxes Warm In Wisconsin State Legislature Washington, March 27. (United Press.) —Federal piobibliion authorities will investigate the two Wisconsin senators who publicly announced they were breaking the dry law and will prosecute them if they are, Prdhlbition Commi.-sionfr Haynes told the United Press today. Haynes said federal dry authorities in Chicago and Madison would immediately inquire into the senators’ lioin® brewing activities, und if basis for prosecution is found, they will take the legislators into court. The senatois are Bernard Getielman. Milwaukee, anti Junies A. Baker, Antigo. They announced during u committee hearing on a propsed memorial to congress asking legalization of 2.75 pt-r cent beer that they anti their wives made home brewed wine with a “kick” in it. Haynes broke his silence on the -tatement of Herman Suchtjon. state prohibition director of Wisconsin, that the dry law could not be enforced in that state and th it lite federal government should step in. declarin; it ’’ridiculstts.” "The constitution of the United States provides for a division of responsibility tor prohibition enforcement between state ami federal atitb-ori’J'.-s.” S.. W.. ..Htyne.-;. . vv . assumed iter share like every other 'st.WTn *h? ntrioir. except New York ami Maryland, it is utttbiakable that Wisconsin will not continue to Jo tj.-r duty." Madi on, Wis., March 27. (United Press.) — Senator Ben Gettehuau. Milwaukee, left tiie Wisconsin senate chamber in the middle of an addte-’.s today to confer with his attorney. Ralph W. Jackson, when informed by the United i'teis that federal authorities would investigate admitted violations of tiie Volstead act revealed ■in committee hearing earlier in the ' week. “Let till .it go ss far as they lik ,’’ Gettclman said "We’re ready for them.” The Milwaukee solon said he would leave for Milwaukee tiiis afternoon. He will have :t sample -of his wine analyzed today, when lie will turn it over to federal authorities for evidence as soon as asked for Gettelman immediately got in touch witli his wife in Milwaukee and warned her not to let federal authorities seize 15 gallons of fruit juice wine stored in the cellar. ROY GOMER GUES ON TRIAL TODAY Charged With Aiding In Robben of Mr. and Mrs. John Harmon Van Wert, Oltio, Match 27 Roy F. Comer was scheduled to go on trial in common p’.'eas court here this morning charged witlt taking part in the robbeiy of Mr. and Mr . John Harmon, of near Wren, ut ultoiit 5 o'clock on tiie morning of June 14 1924. For several weeks, officers were puzzled; then Hurt.' Zimmerman ami Roy F. Comer were arrested and placed in jail at Marion, Ind. On tho day that Comer was to have been ”turnecT - over To local authorities he broke jail and left Marion in a high powered motor ear said to have been purchased by him while he was yet a prisoner, it was a little after this time that Comer became known to local people as a key maker, lie is said to have mailed a wooden key to Marion authorities explaining that it was with it that he opened a jail door to liberty. Zitumemiau was brought to Van (Continued On Page Five)