Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 104, Decatur, Adams County, 1 May 1925 — Page 1

Vol. XXIII. Number 101.

BOYS DISPLAY THEIR LOYALTY THIS AFTERNOON Hold Parade In Connection With “Boys Health And Loyalty Day” SPEECHES ARE GIVEN Boys’ Week Celebration Ends Saturday Morning With Breakfast Ono of the fliwt programs In the W< el. observance being givin this afternoon from 2:30 to 4 o'clock, when the proprain for “Hoys L'ea'th and Loyalty Day" was carried out. Headed by th" Hoy Scouts and Fredtriok Sihafer. boy mayor, and tbcntln r junior city officers. who were in Charge of the city government last Tuesday af>e:noon, the boy-i of the fifth, sixth. seventh and eighth grades, marched from the corner of Monroe and Fifth streets, where they a enilded, around th" c ity and were to meet at the court house where a short program was to be given. hr. 1.. E. Somers, chairman of the day. and his c ommittee were in charge <u the even* Flags and banners were carried by the boys as they matched through the sweets and the scene v.as an in piling one.. A brisk wind kept the flags and banners flying in the air and the buys i■. pt step with the music furnished by the drum corps. At ih<- court house French Qu’nn was scheduled to make a short talk on loyalty and Dr. C, <’. ilay. wu to give a three-minute ta k on health, th- m.-etlng adjourning wi h the singing of America by the boys and girls, (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) o— — Mitre Trouble Heaped Upon 1). C. Stephenson tl'nife.l I’ic Service! Indianapolis, May I.— Addtional trouble clouds gathered today about the head of It. I'. Stephenson, former grand dragon of the Ku Kux Klan, in jail for the murder of Miss Oberlioltzer, an Indianapolis girl. Nettie Stephenson Brehm, of Portrait. Oklahoma, divorced wife, of Stephenson, brought suit to attack cash and securities deposited by the former klan leader with the Fidelity Trust and Deposit Company of Maryland. COUNTY AGAIN ESCAPES FROST Clouds And Drizzling Rain Save Crops And Garden Vegetables Cloudy weather until early this morning and a drizzling rain that lasted most of the night again saved Adams county from the hazzards of a damaging frost. Cold snappy weather, slightly off-color for this this time of year, for the last three days has made it highly probable for a heavy frost, but the heavy clouds that have encompassed the skies have warded it off. A slow drizzling rain set in late last night and put to flight the fear of ruined crops. The state weather forecaster continues to predict warmer weather for this slate today. The temperature is slightly higher than it was yesterday and it is believed that by late tonight all dangers of a spring frost will have vanished, for the present at least. Crops and gardens continue to grow and farmers predict a good harvest this fall unless weather conditions interfere. Some farmers even predict that this fall’s crop will surpass any in the last five years in value and amount. Gardens are growing rapidly, and gardeners say that most of the small gardens in this city are from three to five weeks ahead of the regular season. Spring vegetables are beginning to supplant those of a hothouse variety, and all local groceries have large supplies of fresh commodities on hand at present. It is predicted that prices bf vegetables will be slightly lower this year, if the spring weather continues favorable.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Mrs. John P. Simmons Dies At Home Near Geneva (Special to I tally Democrat) Geneva, day 1. — Alice l.iincinda Simmons, age fil years, wife of John I’. Simmons, died at her home west ' of Geneva at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon. The immediate cause of deatli rns pneumonia, but Mr . Simmons had been ill for the last few years. Funeral arrangements will not be made until a son arrive-, from the west. TRIO EXECUTED IN SING SING Three Men Pay Supreme Penalty For Murder Os Bank Messengers il’ntted Press Servlci i Ossining, N. Y., May 1. —As calmy as if they were stepping into the barb< i s chair for a suave, Morris and Joseph Diamond and John Farina faced filly witnesses in Sing Sing's death chamber shortly before midnight and paid gamely for their murder of two New York bank messengers. In silence broken only by their last words, the three men who two hours previous had kissed their mothers good-bye marched stoically to tile scene of their doom and were inhered into eternity while a priest and rabbi mumbled prayers. One by one. at 11 minute intervals, the condemned men were led through the little green door that they had watched so nervously from their death cells during their last hours on eat th. They had been reported on the verge of collapse and were expected to wither as they reached the chair. Joseph walked to his death with his hands in his pockets. Morris delivered a brief oration in a calm, clear voice. Farina, miffing leisurely on a .JvUtUied Hying to give the impression that he actually was .njoyIng himself. Ae he sat In his cell a scant fifty feet from the chair that was to snuff out his life, Joseph Diamond wrote following his last supper. It was a message “to tlie young people,” and reau: “Keep away from bad company. I.ove your parents, honor your father and mother. Abide by their wishes and remember always that it would be better to be a 1» 10 a week clerk in a small store than be a notorious bandit. ‘‘When wrong ideas come into your head, think of your mother and fattier, sisters and brothers, and you will lose any such ideas. Your greatest friend is your mother and sisters. There is no love like a mother’s love." The face of Morris Diamond, paled as he entered the chamber of death. But he walked unfalteringly over the (CONTINUED ON PAGE SEVEN) — o — ABANDON SUNDAY AFTERNOON SHOW Local Theaters Not To Operate On Sunday Afternoons This Summer There will be no Sunday afternoon movies in Decatur during the summer mouths, it was decided at a recent meeting of the two owners of the Cort and Adams theatres in this city. The ruling becomes effective, Sunday, May 3. This action was taken owing to the fact that baseball games, motoring and week-end visiting through the summer months make it impossible to attract persons to the theatres in the afternoons. It was decided, however, to continue the Saturday matinee and also Sunday night shows. Both of the local theatres have been showing ii|<-to-dute pictures the last few months. For the last three weeks, al! of he shows in the leading Fort Wayne theatres have already been shown in Decatur. Shortly after release, dates, the local managers have the best movies booked tbr their theatres here, and in this way the Decatur fans are able to see the pictures before they ap pear in most of the larger cities of this state.

COMMENCEMENT WEEK EXERCISES TO OPEN MAY 15 Junior Reception To Open D.H.S. Festivities; Commencement Muy 22 PROGRAM ARRANGED Total Os 19 To Be Graduated According To Tentative List Arrangcmehts have almost been completed for the annual commence- J tnent week exercises of the Decatur high school to lie held in this city May 15-22. Superintendent M. F. | Woribman announced today. The Junior reception will be the first' event of (he week’s program. It willbe held at tho Masonic hall, Friday. May 15. II Reverend 11. N. Covert, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of this' ( city, will deliver the baccalaureate sermon. Sunday night, May 17. at th" i Methodist church in this city Th' senior class day exercises will be 1 held at the high school. Thursday. May 21. at two o'clock in the after- 1 noon in the auditorium The annual commencement will be' held Friday evening. May 22. at the ! high school auditorium. The cer • j tnony will start at eight o'clock ami 1 will end with the annual Senior re-|< (•option and dance immediately fol- ' lowing tho commencement. Honor-! able Emmerson E. Ballard, of Craw- I fordsville, will deliver the commence- i rnent address, ami Superintendent MJ < F. Woribman will present the'i diplomas. I! The commencement program is as' follows: < "Blossom Time", Scliubc rt-P.erte i Quintette , invocation Rev. A. I!. Fledderjohann Prelude and Sicilians from the Ooora Cavalieria Rusticana— I Mascagni ’■* Quintette , Address, "Who Are You and I. Where are You Going?" Hon. Emerson E. Ba’lard Presentation of Graduating Class Principal Walter J. Krick Presentation of Diplomas Superintendent M. F. Worthman Music from “The Clinging Vine" Harold Levey. Quintette 1 Presentation of Commercial ; Awards. Miss Blanche McCrory | Presentation of the A. A. I'. W. Prize Miss June Ossenberg 1 Benediction Rev. A. A. Ball < Exit Music Quintette The music for the exercises will be ■ ‘ furnished by the Chambers Music I Players of Fort Wayne. The orches- r| (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) PRESIDING ELDERS 1 ARE RE-ELECTED ( ———— I Rev. Lozier Re-elected Edi- 1 tor Os Evangelical Church Journal Reverend O. (J. Lozier, pastor of the Fort Wayne Evangelical Church, has been re-elected editor of the conference journal of that church for nxt year, according to word received in this city from the annual conference in session at the Crescent Avenue church at Fort Wayne. All of the presiding eiders were re-elected at the business session held yesterday afternoon, it was announced by Bishop L. 11. Seager. ( Reverend C. P. Mass was elected ( elder of the Elkhart district; F. C. ( Berber, Fort Wayne district, and J. ( O. Mozier. Indianapolis district. Ap- ( pointments of pastors for the ensifing year will lie made at the final session next Sunday afternoon, Bishop Sea- ; I ' ger announced. ! ( Reverend 11. W. Loose, pastor of , the Decatur Evangelical church was ( placed on the Conference and Central < Budget Apportionments and Adjust- 1 meuts committee. Reverend F. S. Erne , of Berne, was placed on the Temp* erante and Sabbath committee. Ixist night, the Conference observ- < ed Young Peoples’ night and the large auditorium of the Crescent Avenue church was crowded. The junior vested choir of the First Evangelical churh of Fort Wayne, sang several ' selections. Reverend L. E. Smith, of Huntington. president of the Indiana division of the Young Peoples' society, presided. Several other officers (CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT)

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, May, 1, 1925.

Local Contratcors Get Contracts In Allen County Macklin & Stoneburner, Decatur contratcors. were the succusful bid■d< rs for the contracts for improving roads five and even in Scipio town ship, Allen county, yesterday, und ti e contracts were awarded to them by the Allen county commissioners The estimated cost of grading ami covering with gravel of road live is i »!»,051, while is cost of road seven Is about $U1.!1?5. Tlie highways are to be completed by October 1. and the contractors are to start work not later than June 15. — o JUNIORS TO GIVE RECEPTION MAY 15 I). 11. S. Juniors To Give Banquet And Dance For Graduating Class Plans have been practically competed for the Junior reception to b? held at tho Masonic hall May 15, according to Robert' Macklin, president of tho Junior class of the Decatur high school. The reception will be in the form of a banquet and dance this years, it Is said, and will be given by tho juniors in honor of the graduating elas- of the high school. Juniors, seniors, members of the f: on ty and members of the school board will be guest-, and several of them will be called on for short talks during the banquet, it is said. The several committees in charge of the annual social function, which is the first official function of the commencement week activities, have practically comp’eted all their arrangements for one of tlie best receptions ever held here. Miss Josephine Anderson. Miss Helen Farr and Donald Leßrun are in charge of tlie entertainment for the evening ami they have been busy for several weeks arranging a fitting program of interest ami pleasure. Ileretta Elzy, Ruth Johnson. Leia Reffcy ■and Hubert Myers are in charge of the banquet. They say that jdans have been completed for the menu, already. Katherine Nichols, Eleanor Pumphrey, Lloyd Ileal ami Doyle John son are in charge of the decorations for the reception and for the dance afterward. The dinner wi 1 lie served by the members of the Eastern Star lodge and will be held in the banquet room of the Masonic hall. The guests will be s< uted at small tables, which will be decorated In the colors of the graduating e.ass and the juior class, according to tentative plans. The dance that follows the dinner will be held in the ball room of the Masonic ball. Music has not been ar-1 ranged for yet, but it is probable that a Fort Wayne orchestra will supn y the music for the affair. The junior reception each year generally opens Hie spring festivities hold in honor of the senior class. This year's party is in charge of the graduating class of 1926 and Miss Josephine Myers, who is guardian of the class. .______ o PURDUE TO HAVE AN EXHIBIT HERE Big Exhibit To Be Brought To Local Fair From State Fair i The big Indiana State Fair exhibit of Purdue University will be brought to tlie Great Northern pidiaua Fair, to be held here from September 15 to 18, the week following the state fair, according to word received by E. It. Williamson, secretary and man ager of the local fair, from W. F. Graham, of the division of short courses and exhibits of Purdue. This will be the first time in the history of the Decatur fair that the biv Purdue exhibit has been brought here. This will be a big attraction for the public, especially those interested in agriculture and engineering work. Mr. Williamson states that concessions of all kinds are coming daily for the Decatur fair and, even at this early date, everything points to a highly successful fair for this city, county und community. Weather Fair tonight and Saturday; rising temperature Saturday in south portion. Probably light frost.

WOLFINGR HELD BY DETECTIVES AT FORT WAYNE Man Taken From Erie Train Here Recently in Trouble Again HAS POLICE RECORD Arrested For Throwing Acid On Woman; Believed Criminally Insane Jack Wolfinger, tlie man who was shot in this city, April 17. after Inattempted to escape from Night Policeman Melchi, who had taken him into custody off of an Erie passenger train on which he had terror ized passangers, was arrested yesterday in Fort Wayne, in connection with the throwing ofacid on Mrs. Nettie Mumy, whom Wolfinger says is a relative of his. Detectives investigating his case hav< uncovered a long police record. Wolfinger told authorities here that he had never been in jail before. Fort Wayne officials believe that ho is criminally insane. He admitted throw Ing some marked papers on the mumy porch in Fort Wayne several days igo. with several murders und other stories of crime marked with a lead pencil. On the bottom of each each page was written. “You shall sow what you reap." Wolfinger said that he wanted to warn the family. That is all he would say relative to that escapade. Wolfinger has not confessed to the throwing of the acid, but when questioned as to where he was during the time of the crime, he was unable to give satisfactory answer. Mrs. Mumy porch in Fort Wayne several ious conditon. Wolfinger has a long police record ranging in crime from assault and buttery to grand larceny. He has .sexved lime iw Fort Wayne. Detroit anil Toledo, for petit larceny, grand larceny, assault, forgery and desertion from tlie United States navy. He has escaped from prison several times and later given himself up to authorities. Wolfinger, when tried in police court in this city, told a patheticstory of how he had separated from his wife at Gary, but was going back and "go straight". He seemingly got as far as Fort Wayne and began his old tricks again. He was released here because of the inability of Erie (CONTINI'ED ON PAGE KIGHT) 0 WANT TICKETS PUT IN BASKETS Woman’s Club Wants Drawing Tickets Kept Ofl’ City Streets (By Civic Section) We have been reading quite a little about clean-up week, and what we are hoping will be done this summer. There is a day now arriving, just before cleanup week begins, that we think should be spoken of. The God of,nature during the last few weeks has been pitting forth his greatest efforts to beautify every nook and corner with grass, flowers, and leaves. Everything is clean, new and beautiful. Tomorrow is gift or drawing duy. Usually our streets are littered and dirty with old tickets and scrap paper after the drawing. This is not necessary and, in order to take care of this situation, baskets are being placed in convenient places in order that you may dispose of the tickets after the drawing is over. The haskekts will be left on the streets permanently. Tourists driving through tlie city on Sunday will form the opinion that we have no civic pride if our streets are untidy. Let everyone lend a helping hand to keep this one of the cleanest cities in the state of Indiana, that strangers may form a desirable opinion of our community and speak of us with words of praise. --Civic Section, Woman's Club. ... o Evansville. — A new meat packing plant Is to opened here in a few weeks by Tlie<U\sre Weil, of Pittsburgh, Pa.

I Butcher Injured At Packing Plant Today Ellis Skip's wus painfully Injtireil at the Mutsehlcr Packing company plant this morning when the Knife which he was using to butcher hogs. ' slipped and hit his left arm. Mr Skiles was litirrii d to a physician's iitl'ii e where hi: injury wits dressed. 11l wa.i unco-- ary to take about < ven I stitches in ids arm. 0 HOWARD M'CORD KILLED BY TRAIN Cousin Os Decatur Man Fatally Injured At Kendallville Howard 11. McCord, 63, of Auburn, a cousin of Walter Johnson, of this city, was fatally injured last night when ho drove his Ford automobile into the side of a Grand Rapids and Indiana northbound passenger train at a crossing one-hulf mile south of Kendallville. Ho died at tho Lakeside hospital in Kendallville, within a f«w minutes after the accident. Mr. McCord has other relatives and man.v friends In Adams county. The train was moving rapidly and it was believed that McCord, who was alone in his machine, did not hear the approaching train. Tile crossing is at an angle and it. is probable that McCord did not see tin 1 train until it was too late to stop his car. The machine bit the train squarely between the engine tender ami the first car. The automobile was demolished and tii • wrecked machine and McCord's body were thrown a distance of 40 feet. The train was stopped and the injured man was brought to the local station and taken hurriedly to the hospital He died shortly after he had been received at the hospital from concussion of the brain und othir injuries. Mr. MeCord was one of the bestknown residents of Auburn. He conducted a drug store in Auburn for many years disposing of his store eight years ago. For the last three years he has held a position as a state oil inspector and had been in Lagrange. Woleoitvii). and Topeka yesterday on otficia! business Hi' was prominent, in Masonic circles, als-o. Mr. McCord is survived by a widow and two children. Victor McCord. of G endale, California, and Mis. Leon Eagles, of Albion.

Young Pierpont On Trial I Kokomo. May 1 I'Ted Pierpont. IS of Itruzil, went on trial hero today charged with assisting his brother I Harry in an attempt to escape from the Howard county jail. Authorities say h- furnidied saws on a visit to tlie Jail last month. Tim brother is held in collection with the robbery of the south Kokomo state bank. _. o GENEVA SCHOOLS CLOSE NEXT WEEK L. C. Ward, Os Fort Wayne. Chosen To Give Commencement Address L. C. Ward, superintendent of the Fort Wayne schools, will deliver the commencement address of the Geneva high school Friday. May S. according to word received by the Daily Democrat this morning. Final examinations will be held at that school next Monday ami Tuesday. The annual Junior reception will be hefil Wednesday night and Thursday night will be observed as Senior night at the Baptist church, of Geneva, at which time the senior program will be given, including addresses by the graduates and a class play entitled. “Freddie Goes To College.'' The week of festivities will close Friday night with the annual commencement exercises. Nino students are to be graduated this year from the Geneca high school. They are Ruby Miller, Ailee.n Bliss, Rhea Morrival. Daniel Neal, Nelle Green. Joseph Anderson. Roscoe Bradford. Ruth Armstrong, and George Severance. The baccalaureate sermon will be given this year at the Geneva Metho(CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT)

Price 2 Cents.

MAY DAY PASSES IN QUIET MANNER IN EUROPE TODAY ‘Communist Menace,” Feared Bv All Europe, Fails To Materalize PRECAUTIONS TAKEN All Countreis Have Extra Police and Troops Ready For Emergency /United Press Servko) l'p until a late hour, the “communist menace’’ against i which practically all Europe Iliad slot led itself had failed to ' materialize this Mav day. Observances of the first of May. traditional strike day for workers, were ordt rly in the world capitals where trouble ; had been most feared. Paris was quiet under the airplanes <>f watchful jiolice and the luoliiliza- ! tion of thousands of troops; in Sofia May day celebrations passed without trouble; Spanish workers took their families and picnicked in the fields; while workers marched in Tokio, i Berlin. Lisbon and Mexico City without untoward incident. In Mexico ('ity. tlie American ambassador could use Ills automoliile because of a mandatory chauffeur's strike. In the United States there was little attempt to cause disturbances in tlie larger efties. in certain parts of tlie country, including the finan•ial district of New York, special precautions were taken to prevent trouble. Considerable loss of life was sustained in a train wreck in the polish corridor, presumably caused with i criminal intent. o —. .. Episcopal Bishop Is Consecrated Today i - Fort Wayne, May 1 — (United ' Press) With fourteen bishops for I clergymen and more than 200 promI inent laymen participating tlie Rev. I Campbell Gray, of Peoria, ill., was ■ -onsecrated )>isliop of tlie Northern Indiana diocese of tlie Episcopal church in service at Trinity church here today. Th" diocese includes tho north part of Indiana, including I! nlim. White, Carrol, Howard. Blackford. Jay ami Grant counties on | the south.

LADIES GUESTS OF ROTARY CLUB Ladies’ Night Proves To Be An Enjoyable Affair Last Night The ladies' night entertainment and banquet, given last evening by tlie Rotarians for their wives and sweethearts, was a delightful affair. Features of the evening's program were tlie talk by Attorney Clark J Lutz, of this city, and the splendid readings and impersonatiioits by Miss Marjorie Porterfield, of Fort Wayne. Words of welcome were extended by Arthur Holthouse, president of the club, and Wai B. Wemhoff, chairman of the monthly committee, acted as toastmaster of the evening. Martin J. Mylott gave a toast to the women. The Catholic Ladies of Columbia served a three-course chicken dinner, which was delicious. Miss Porterfield’s readings were among the finest ever heard in Decatur. She was called on several times during the evening and her reading of "Springtime” and "The Highwaymen" were gems. With her pleasing personality she captivated the audience and responded liberally to the encores. Mr. Lutz, in his delightful way, gave the principal talk of the evening and mingled serious and inspirational thought with the comical side of things. He made a hit with till and gave a splendid alter dinner talk. Dr. Fred Patterson led the crowd in singing and .Mrs. Avon Burk and Miss "Billy" Butler acted as the pianist during the evening. Martin Worthmail gave i short report on hoys' week. About eighty-five guests, including the Rotarians, were present. , at the banquet, and for two hours the crowd enjoyed themselves immensely.