Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 88, Decatur, Adams County, 13 April 1925 — Page 1

Vol. XXIH. Number 88.

NIBLICK AND COMPANY STORE ROBBED

exhume bodies TO SEARCH FOR SIGNS CF POISON Authorities Exhume Bodies Os Five Members Os Cunningham Family , mother is GUARDED Mrs. Cunningham Guarded In Hospital After Attempt At Suicide Wheeler, Ind., April 13.—The bodies of Walter Cunningham and his three sons and one daughter were exhumed from a cemetery near here today in the investigation to determine whether the five came to death by poisoning. The first body brought to the surface was that of Harry. The bodv of Walter followed. Examination of the vital organs was started in a little' I shack on the grounds. Mice of Gary. Ind.. where the five died within a period of six years were ah',,i by Chicago officials including Coroner Oscar Wolfe. Arsenic was found in the Cute - Ingham home nnd police suspect the five were given the 1 , poison. Mrs Walter Cunningham, a frail* little woman of 50 is under guard in the county hospital at Chicago. She will he taken to Gary late today. Chicago. April 13. —(I'niteil Press.) -A double guard today was placed on Mrs. Anna Cunningham, SO. ■ wten tried to commit suicide while held in a hospital here pending investigation of the deaths of uer husband and four children. A police woman found Mrs. (unningham had wrapped a strip of her skirl around her neck and was slowly strangling to death. Police of Gary, Ind., the woman's home, aided by Chicago officials, plan-, nod to exhume the bodies of the livetoday. Chemists will examine the l bodies for poison.

Physicians observing Mrs. Cunningham told police she was an epileptic. She collapsed Saturday night after many hours of questioning by Chicago police. She was arrested here at the home of a niece. Relatives told police the woman suffered impairment of the mind in 1918 when one of her aons, now dead, shot and killed a chum while playing with a shotgun. (Continued on page thr**> —o — Id ASK FOR MORE POLICE Industrial Association To Discuss Matter At Meeting Tonight An interesting meeting of the Decatur Industrial Association will be held at the Industrial rooms at 7:30 o'clock this evening. Several committees appointed at the meeting two weeks ago will make their reports and subjects of interest will be dismissed and acted upon. It was stated today that the matter of more police protection for Decatur would be brought up and. in all probability, a committee will be appointed to call on the council and ask that one or two more policemen be appointed to patrol the business districts at least on Saturday night. The holdup of the Niblick and Company store Saturday night brings up 1 •he subject of more police protection and business men and bankers are of •he opinion that one or two extra 1 men should be employed here ot). Saturday. However, some ot the largest holdups are staged in cities where they' have hundreds and thousands of Policemen and it is doubtful if extra Policemen can be just at the place "hen a hold-up is being made. ftiver bank beautification and the' big farmers meeting planned for April 23 in this city will be brought up for discussion, it was stated.

DECATUR DALLY DEMOCRAT

| Many Violators Os Auto Law Arrested —oamuMtm Press Service) Indianapolis, April 13,—(Sppckil io Daily Democrat) —Ono hundred and 1 sew nly-fivo violators of state auto | mobile laws have been arrested with in the last week Secretary of State Schortetnier announced today. Schorlemeier said srate and local officials are putting forth every effort to enforce the new laws and stressed the need of public co-opera tlonj in their enforcement. ■ Forty-one drivers were taken for operating without license plates. Other arrests . were on various charges. JOHN G. ADLER DIED YESTERDAY Well Known Resident Os City Expires After An Extended Illness John G. Adler, age 75 years, well I known resident of this city, died at his home on Winchester street, at r.:;.u o'clock Sunday evening. Mr. Adler had been In failing health since he was injured when struck by an automobile about a year ago and he had been bed-fast for the last four I months. Death war due to a complication of diseases of the heart, kidneys and liver. Mr. Adler, who was a cabineti maker, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Adler, and was born in Koningsburg. Saxe Weitnar. Germany, June 1. 1849. He came to America with his parents in 1851 ami the .family .juillled ut UaUbuQlC* j Maryland. The family lived in Balti more until 1864 when they moved to Fort Wayne. John G.. grew to manhood in Fort Wayne and he learned the cabinet-maker's trade. He came to Buena Vista. Adams county, to | live in 1877 and the last ten years

(Continued er Vage Six) o— —— WILL EXPLAIN BIBLE SCHOOL Leaders To Explain School ' To Pupils And Parents This Week Announcements concerning the Community Daily Vacation Bible School, which will be conducted in this city during the summer, under the auspices of the Protestant churches of the city, will be made to the pupils in the public schools of the city this week. The pupils will receive enrollment cards and a copy of a circular letter of explanation for the parents. The parents and children are asked to give the ment cards and letter their consideration and return the enrollment cards, properly filled out, at the earlfest convenient time. Announcements concerning the school were made in the churches Sunday. The school will open about the first of June. Final arrangements for the school have not all been completed, but the enrollment committee is anxious to get the enrollments in as soon as possible in order to make proper arrangements for teachers and courses of study. 0 Assault Victim Still ’ Clinging To Life Today Indianapolis, April 13. — (United Press.)— Clinging to life with a tenacity that surprised physicians, Miss Madge Oberholtzer, assault victim, was slightly improved today. There was a marked drop in her temperature and physicians postponed their plans to operate for an infection of the kidneys. The girl has been unconscious for fourteen days from bichloride of mercury poison taken arter an alleged attack for which D. "C. Stephenson, former grand dragon of the Ku Klux I Klan of Indiana, is under indictment. The case is almost without precedent in medical history, Dr. John Kingsbury, her physician, said.

FAIR WEATHERAIDS IN EASTER OBSERVANCE HERE Thermometers Register Highest Mark Os Spring Season During Day SPECIAL SERVICES .. All Churches Report Splendid Services And Large Audiences With perfect weather, Easter was appropriately observed in Decatur. Local thermometers registered a high mark for the spring season of 71 degrees above between 2 to 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Not a drop of rain fell throughout the day, which blasts . I' the old hoodoo of "if it rains on East-i er it'll rain for six consecutive Sun days.” Local churches enjoyed the large.’! ■ congregations of the year. The first service on Easter Sunday was the five o'clock solemn high mass held at the St. Marys Catholic church. . ...s mass was attended hy a capacity cong.'e gation and practically every person present received Holy Communion. A i sunrise service was held at the z.io.i Reformed church at 6:30 o’clock by the Senior and Junior (’. E. societies and it was largely attended. During llie morning, afternoon and I evening special services were held in the churches and several cantatas were given by the choir. These services were also largely attended and the real religious meaning of Easter

wa* iuoiuslu uUUin aU J-hc . SiTtumui. and throughout the services. Reception of new members in several of the Protestant churches took place on Easter Sunday ami local ministers report exceptional interest in the services. Special sermons on "Christ Has Risen”, were delivered from every pulpit and the glorious tidings interwoven in their Easter sermons, j Owing to the line weather most people took advantage of the opportunity and took their families on a drive through the country. Easter finery was worn by the girls and women and even the men donned a new spring hat for the The Easter Rabbit* ma .e his usual visit around to the homes of the children and left in the baskets bright colored eggs and other gifts Sigftltieaiil of the Easter holiday. LITTLE SHOWING OF OIL IN WELL 'Oil Well At Monroe Shot ' This Afternoon; Dry

Hole Indicated The oil well drilled by a stbek ' company, composed chiefly of Adams county men, on the J. N. Buckhead farm at Monroe, was shot at 2:30 o’clock this afternoon. When the water and other debris reached the top of the derrick there was very little oil apparent. One hundred quarts of nitro-gl>cerine were used in the five shots that were sent down 1.200 feet. Oil men who witnessed the well shooting were generally of the opinion that the well would be a dry hole. Bailing, in an effort to obtain the oil if there was any in the well, had not started at 3:30 o'clock, but arrangements were being made to continue the work until the owners were positive of the worth of the hole o_. 0 _. Motorist Killed In Accident Near Muncie / Muncie, Ind., April—Earnest Brown 18, of Mechanicsburg Ohio, was killed and Mrs. Anna Black and daughtre of Springfield Ohio, were injured when the automobile they were driving overturned twelve miles cast of here today. “He must have gone to sleep driving" is the statement said to have been made by Mrs. Biack to the coroner who investigated.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, April 13, 1925.

1 Third Suspect Held For Kokomo Bank Robbery Kokomo, Ind . April 13.—(Special to Daily Democrat)—Roscoe Hayes, a third .suspect in the recent holdup of the- South Kokomo bank, was In ■ ihe county jail today awaiting trial. Although he claims an alibi and says he has boon steadily employed in Detroit, where ho was arrested, witnesses of the holdup identified him aS one of the bandits. Two other suspects. Thaddous ' Skeer, und Harry Pierpont, were ! taken to the Pendleton reformatory for safe keeping after they had tried to saw their way out of jail here. Hayes may also be taken to the re fotmatory pending trial. SERVICES WERE WELL ATTENDED Splendid Easter Services Held At Zion Reformed Church Sunday Splendid and largely attended East or services wore held at the Zion Reformed church Sunday, the programme being carried out in detail. The services h -Id Sunday were a climax of ihe Lenten program. The spirit of ; the day reigned in message and song. The sunrise service ,was attended by an unexpected large audience and a well arranged musical program was | rendered. Short addresses were given. The Sunday School and morning worship service wore attended by large audiences (also the communion service at the morning worship was the best attended in the history of the church, and a splendid interest

■ vw manifested. •• —— —.... . There was one more accession to the church at the morning service making a total of 25 members for the church roll since February 1. An offering was lifted for the storm sufferers in the Sunday Schoo! and morning worship service, and a totai of $87.71 was donated sot the relief of the i tornado victims. In the evening at 7:30 o’clock the church choir rendered a sacred cantata, entitled. "The Thorn-crowned King." The spacious auditorium and balcony of the new church were filled to capacity and extra chairs were brought in to accomodate the overflow. The offering in the evening totaled $43. — Catholic Pupils To Honor Father Seimetz The pupils of the St. Joseph Catho-1 lie schools will honor their pastor, Rev. Father Julius A. Seimetz. with ' a special program at the school Tuesday afternoon. Sunday was the feast . day of St. Julius, patronal feast of the beloved pastor and. in keeping

with the annual custom, the school children will give a program in his honor. All the pupils of the grades and the students in the high schoo will participate. Father Seimetz has , been pastor of the St. Marys Catholic , church for ten years, coming here from Uifayette. following the death . of Rev. Theo. Wilkin. _ —o Joanne Wilkenson Dies Two Hours After Birth i Joanne was the name given a girl b.iby born to Mr. and Mrs. Walter 1 Wilkenson at the Adams County Memorial hospital at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon and which died about two ' hours after birth. Mr. and Mrs. Wilk- ’ enson reside at 121 North Fifteenth street. The child is survived by its parents, one. sister, Dora Jane, and one brother, Harry Walter. Funeral , services were held from the home at 2 o'clock this afternoon, the Rev. U. S. A. Bridge, pastor of the First Methodist church, officiating. Burial • was made in the Decatur cemetery. Weather Showers and local thunder storms tonight followed by generally fair ■ Tuesday. Slightly warmer tonight • in extreme northeast and cooler in southwest portions. Cooler Tuesday.

CHAUTAUQUA TO ! BE HELD WEEK ► ; OFADGUST3I l To Be Held During Week Os County Teachers’ Institute Here I i TO HAVE GOOD TALENT i Directors And Guarantors To Hold Meeting Soon To Make Plans The Decatur Community chautaui qua will be held during the week of I Adams County Teachers’ Institute. August 31 to September 5, Rev. 11. W. Thompson, president of the local ,association, stated this morning. Rev. Thompson and his board of directors were notified this morning front Indianapolis that the Chautauqua program will he given here at the same time of the teacher's institute and those who are interested hi the success of the Chautauqua are grateful for the change in date. Among the headliners this year will be Ex-governor Edwin P. Morrow, of Kentucky; Charles Milton Newcomb; Joel W. Eastman: Arthur Holden; Dr. Henry Black Barns and others. The music program is composed of community players, Oliver's Philippine concert company; The Lombard Entertainers; The Imperial Syncopalors and the Chicago Concert com party. Several fine uramatic produc-

• - ....V.. tions willinr givcfi at the FhautaiiqTta this year and the Junior chuutauqua will also be a feature during the week. The Chautauqua date was arranged for the county teachers' institute week so that the teachers could attend the program and at the same line use the lectures to speak to the teachers. In several places this plan is bring carried out with great sm A meeting of the ehautauqua directors and guarantors will be held in the near future at which time plans for the big week will be carried. The Central Community Chautauqua Association of Indianapolis will again furnish the talent for the local chautaqua and the program promises to be one of the best ever held here. o FARM MEETING HERE APRIL 23 Meeting Os Farm Club Boys And Girls And Their l AOl,l zirl

rarents riannea A big meetingof farmers and their children, including the boys and girls who entered the Junior farm clubs, will be held in this city on the evening of April 23. The meeting, sponsored by the general committee of the Junior farm clubs of the Decatur Industrial Association, will be held at the old gymnasium on First street and every farmer in the county is invited to attend. George Krick, who is chairman of the committee on arrangements, stated today that the purpose of the meeting is to get the fathers, sons and daughters together at a meting at which time the Junior farm club work will be explained. An effort is being made to secure a well known speaker for the evening and an interacting program is being arranged. A similar meeting was held at Berne several weeks ago at which time more .than tilltl farmers were present. More than 150 boys and girls have enrolled in the junior farm chibs, which are sponsored by the Decatur Industrial Association. It is planned to serve a lunch after the meeting and the committee in 1 charge of the arrangements extends . a cordial invitation to every farmer in the county to attend. The program . will start at 7:30 o'clock.

Mrs. Coolidge Wears Left-over (’oat Easter Wurhinrton, April 13 (I’niled Press) a spring coat which him * been part of hr r wardrobe for some time was worn by Mr.s Coolidge io Easier services Sunday but lo r dress and hat were new to those who watch- ■ eq her come and go The dress, one of several bought ! for spring wear recently, was a blond - cn-pe de chino, in the latest mode. , i with ruffles down the front. The coat I was of blue si.k with tan lining. tier I hat wits a black straw with deep blue ' roses, on the side, she wore stockings to match her dress and black satin slippers. o — CO TO MEETING OFPRESBYW Rev.Covcrt And Amos Biggs Represent Local Church At Warsaw The Reverend 13. N. Covert and Amos P.iggs left today for Warsaw, where they will attend the district 1 meeting of the Fort Wayne I’resby try. The meetings will start tonight and will last until tomorrow night. Mr. C. J. Lutz, of this city, is the out going moderator and Rev. Covert Is the in going moderator. This is the first time in several » / , Rr years that the same church has had two consecutive moderators. Rever- I 1 end Covert has been projpinent in church affairs of the Fort Wayne Presbytry since his coming to De O'lltir fl fftuy von I J ttpn

..ffUur ajlew yeais.apo. 1 There ar tv chinches rep ‘ resented in this district. A?U Pres byterian churches In '»northeastern Indiana are represented. Air. Biggs 1 is the delegate from Decatur ami will represent the local church in the affairs at the meeting, while Reverend I ' Covert will preside. i ° GOOD PROGRESS IN CLUB WORK l 1 Calves Obtained For Most Os Calf Club Members; Other Clubs Busy I J. D. Winteregg, chairman of the ! boys and girls club work being conducted in Adams county this year with support of the Industrial Association of Decatur and business mon of the other towns of the county, reports that the various clubs are pro ; gressing very nicely. According to a summary completed Saturday, 29 of the boys and girls in the dairy

calf 1-11111 now have their calves or I wil receive them within a very few days. Considerable labor and expense has been incurred in locating high grade calves for the contestants. However. the leaders of the club work are gratified in that a very goon quality of calves has been obtained. According to a questionaire returned from the members. S 3 of them have llolstien calves, 5 have Jerseys and one has a Guernsey. Only a few more Holstein calves, remain to he locat ed and all of the members wanting Jerseys have been supplied. II has been practically impossible to find desirable Guernsey calves at prices the calf club committee would permit members to pay. However, several prospective calves are in view anil those members not yet having their calves are asked to report same t.o either Mr Winteregg at the Bank, of Berne, or to the county agent at Decatur. Several members in the corn and sugar beet clubs have reported that work on their respective acres is already being done. Most of tlmm have the ground already plowed and some are considering the seeding of their beets within a short time. Those not having seed corn are requested to notify one of the club i leaders who will see that the same is furnished them at cost.

Price 2 Cents.

BOLD HOLD-UP OCCURS DURING ‘ BUSINESS HOUR Approximately 51,200 In Cash And Checks Taken Saturday Night CUSTOMERS IN STORE Hold-up Staged By Two Youths; Make Good Their Escape ' One of the boldest holdups in the history of this city occured lat 9:45 o’clock Saturday night , when two unmasked men enteri cd the Niblick & Company store, corner of Monroe and Second streets, and held up Mr. Dan M. Niblick and John Henry I'remerkamp in the office while there were six clerks and five or six customers in the store. The bandits escaped with between $l,lOO anti $1,200 in cash and checks. Most of the loot consisted of checks, there being only about S3OO in cash. Mr. Niblick has notified the persons who gave the checks to the store to stop payment on them and duplicate checks will be obtained, thereby i reducing the amount of the loss 1 to merely the amount of actual I cash taken by the bandits. The bandits were young men, their age being estimated at 23 or 24 years. Each had a revolver and wore coat and cap. They were of "medium

build. Police and detectives in nearby cities wore notified Immediately as tor the hold-up and efforts are being made to trace the bandits. Money Drawer Found The money drawer which contained the loot and which was taken from the safe by one of the bandits, was found on a lawn on North First street, indicating that the bandits had removed the money from the drawer and (list it aside before jumping into an automobile and escaping. A few cheeks of small d< nominations wi-ie dropped by the bandits as they tied from the store and a few cents it: change were found with the money drawer. The two bandits entered the store through the grocery department entrance on Second street. One of the men stopped at the tobacco counter (Continued on Page Stxt o PLAINTIFF WINS POINT IN TRIAL Plaintin In Ft. Wayne Typhoid Fever Suit Scores Victory Today The plaintiff in the bitterly contested typhoid fever damage suit from Fort Wayne, which is on trial in the Adams circuit court here, won an important point today when a physician was permitted by the court to testify that, in his oplnibn. the typhoid fever epidemic in Ft. Wayne during the fall of 1923 was due to the condition of the city water. In asking the question of the physician, it was assumed that residents of that part of the city where the typhoid fever epidemic, was prevalent had found worms and other foreign substance in the water, and that all of the residents of that district had not purchased their groceries and milk at the same place. The question was objected to by the defense, the Pennsylvania railroad company and the City of Fort Wayne, very strenuously. Only two witnesses had been on the stand today up until 2:30 o'clock this afternoon. The plaintiff is still introducing evidence and it is not probable that the defense will start ' introducing evidence before Wednes- ' day, at the earliest. The trial has ’ been in session seventeen days, already.