Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 109, Decatur, Adams County, 7 May 1925 — Page 1

Vol. XXIII. Number 109.

COUPLE FOUND DEAD IN AUTOMOBILE

WINE GIVEN TO GIRLS ALLEGED TO BE POISONED Two Decatur Girls III; Woman Who Gave Wine To Them Is Arrested PLEADS NOT GUILTY Woman Says Drink That She Gave To (Jiris Was Rhubarb Juice Two scventeen-year-okl becalm' girls are ill, supposedly from bring poisoned by wine, and one woman, alleged to have given the wine to the girls, is charged with violation of the prohibition law. The girls are Agnes Brown, 225 Grant street, and Clarissa Hahn, of High street. Mrs. Julia Hickman, of South I First street, who the girls say gave wine to them Tuesday afternoon, was arrested this afternoon on a charge of violating I the prohibition law and was released shortly afterwards, after i she had pleaded not guilty and : provided bond in the sum of j SIOO. According io the story iold h_, th* I girls who are emp.oyed al th* Peoples Restaurant, they stopped at tin Heckman home about 4 o'clock Tuesday aflernoon as they we. e on their way [ to the restaurant to work. They were I due at the restaurant at 5 o'clcok. While at the Hickman home. .Mrs. Hickman gave them soma nine, which they drank, the girls left there and went to the restaurant, ar riving there at 5 minutes before 5 o'clock. As soon as they reached the restaurant the two girls-became violently HI. They were taken to their homes and physicians summoned. A stomach pump was used on Miss Hahn. The two girls were much improved today, according to the attending physicians. It is thought they will soon lie fully recovered. Mrs. Hickman denies that she gave (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) MOTHERS' DAY NEXT SUNDAY Fitting Services Planned to Honor Mothers, Living And Dead Mothers’ Day will be commemorated in the United States next Sunday May 10. Churches, lodges and schools all over the nation will join in fitting services in metrtory of all mothers. Special' services will be held at all Decatur churches, and it is probable that some lodges wil join in the services. f Schools of this city and neighboring towns and cities will hold their Mothers’ Day services Friday, in order that all school chi.then may participate. The day was originally selected as a day to commemorate the deceased mothers only, but luter it became a national day for mothers, both living and dead. The carnation is the official flower for the occasion. A white carnation is to he worn If the mother is dead and a red one is to be worn if she is living. The day, which was formerly set aside by various states, lias become national and is always the second Sunday In May. Recently, a movement of national scope has prevailed to give presents, either flowers or candy to the living mothers and special floral boquets and specially boxed candy can be obtained for the occasion. The day originated several years ago and has become one of the most nationally commemorated days of the year. Special music and sermons will be given at all the local church services, it has been announced, and all children und mothers are urged to attend their churches.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Kendallville Enlarging its Chamber Os Commerce Kendalville, Muy "—A campaign is I being started in Kendalvil.e for a lar- ■ ger chamber of commerce. A goal has ; been ret for *<m members by Saturday night und a committee of proinent I merchants has started out to obtain j that number. It Is the idea of the pre I sent chamber of commerce to enlarge so that more work can be carried on I by the organization. One of the plans is to have a better yards contest ami also take other steps for a more beautiful city. Hoad signs wll lie pul up on all roads lead iiig into Kendalville. TO MAKE SOLEMN HOLY COMMUNION Forty-three Boys And Girls To Make Communion Sunday Morning Twenty-two girls and twenty one hoys will make their solemn Holy Communion at the St. Marys Catholic church In this city next Sunday morning. May Id. A special solemn high mass will be celebrated at sev-en-thirty o'clock, during which the members of the class will receive Communion. As has been customary Rev. Father Seimoiz. pastor, will deliver a sermon during the mass. The girls in the class are: Mildred Topple, Virginia If.*ntz, Agnes Benz, Anna Case. Mary Ann Lose, Edna Minch. Agnes Meyer, Mary Alice Pennington. Catherine Sehumaker, Maiihla Leona Martz *Mary*Mi!br Theresa Baker. Mary Staub. Mary Helen Lose, Flotibia Hanis, Mary Kohne, Loretta Malley, Amelica Lengerich, Monica Heiman, Mary Case and Alice Hain. The boys in the class are, William Kitson. Cletus Meyer, Thomas Malley, Herman Alberdlng, Traverse Arnold, James Fisher, Herbert Hess, Donald Klepper. Uawrence Kohne, John Lengerich. Richard Wertzberger, Lawrence Coffee, Cornelius Geimer, Raymond Leonard, Marcellus Miller. Robert Kiting. Herman Faurote, John Faurote, Walter Martz, Robert Heiman and Otto Baker. Instiuctions to the members of the communion class have fiieen given during the past several weeks by Father Seimetz. o Girls’ City Election Being Held This Afternoon The girls' city election was being held today, the polls being opened from 12 o’clock noon, until 1 o’clock this afternoon and from 3:30 to 4 o'clock. Three tickets were in the field, namely the Red, W r hite and Blue. The candidates were nominated in a junior convention held last Friday at the Central school building The Civic section of the Woman's (Tub is sponsoring the election and the successful candidates will till the offices in the city hal. one afternoon next week. A mayor, councilmen and other offices are being elected today and other offices wil be appointed by the winning candidates. WILL PROBE NAVY OIL LEASES AGAIN Second Investigation Will Start In District Os Columbia Tuesday Washington. May 7 — (United Press)—A second investigation of the naval reserve oil lease cases will start before a special grand jury in the District of Columbia supreme court next Tuesday. Atlee Pomerene and Owen Roberts, a special government oil counsel, declared today after a conference with U. S. District Attorney Gorden not to submit the case to the regular grand jury now in session and called for a special panel.

KOKOMO BANDITS ARE LINKED WITH ANOTHER ROBBERY. Identified As Trio Who Robbed New Harmony Bank Year Ago PIERPONT SENTENCED One Member Os The Trio Fdund Guilty And Sentenced To 10-21 Years Indianapolis, Ind.. Muy 7 (United Press) — Harry Pierpont. Charles Northern and Thuddeus Skeer. held in jail at Kokomo, Ind., have been identified as the trio who robbed the New Harmony bank and Trust company of SII,OOO more than u year ago, Harry Webster, of the Indiana Bankers' Protective Association, announced today. Pierpont was convicted of robbing tlie South Kokomo State hank ■ yesterday and sentenced to 10 to 21 years imprisonment. Skeer and Northern ..re awi.itiintrial i'or the Kokomo robbery. Webster said the identification was made by F. L, Steelman, cashier of the New Harmony bank, while the trio were in court at Pierpont's trial yesterday. Steelman recognized Northern as the man who struck him und knocked him unconscious during the holdup and Pierpont and Skeer as his con federates, Webster said. Steelman also identified s4ito in .Liberty L-AUd* - to.A* Uu" lwu..*ts sion of Skeer and Pierpont as part of the loot front the New Harmony bank, according to Webster. —— 0. Twenty-three Cases Os Smallpox In Small Town Francisco, Ind.. May 7—The town of Francisco lias been put under strict ouaruntiiic. These d;nsti< measures wre taken when it was discovered there are 23 cases of ema I. pox here. Al public meetings have bean cancelled and children under 1C have been forbidden to leave their homes. Francisco is jurt east of Princeton in Gibson county. FIREMEN GIVE BENEFIT SHOW City Volunteer Department Raising Money To Go To Annual Convention The Decatur Voluteer firemen wil 1 give a benefit show at the Cort theatre in this city tonight and Friday night in order to make sufficient money to defray expenses of the local department in atending the annual Nortwestern Volunteer and Industrial Firemen's convention, which will be held at Hartford (Tty this year. The title of the show to be presented is "The Fire Patrol.” ft is an allstar motion picture and contains a story of interest to al. Firemen are selling the tickets or they can be had by calling at the local fire station. Admission is 25 cents. o — Large Jewelry Robbery In Chicago This Morning Chicago, May 7—(United Press)— While thousands of pedetrains passed by, five bandits held up the Morris Bomash pawnshop in the heart of downtown Chicago today, and stripped the large establishment of between $40,000 and $50,000 worth of jewels and valuables. They escaped in an automobile. The owner and! clerks were tied up in a rear room, while tho place was looted. The scene of the robbery was less than a block from thp Harrison street police station.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, May 7, 1925.

List Os Jurors Drawn For George Fetters’ Trial A list of juror -for the trial of Co. Fetters, Celina, Ohio, youth charged with the murder of Ed Moyers, farmer residing near Rock fool, Ohio, 1 has been drawn in the Auglaize conn ty, Ohio, common piers court at Wapakoneta. The trial is scheduled to open on May 25. Fetters was con vie- , ted of first degree murder in a trial held ut Celina la.-.t summer and was'! sentenced to a life ter min the state *• I penitentiary. He started to serve his, sentence und has served several , months when the court of appeals I granted a new trial. NEW INDUSTRY IN j WHITLEY COUNTY Large Corporation Plans To Grow Grapes, Melons And Other Products . A new era for farming in Whitley I county is about to dawn, according to j announcement made by the Colitnt-1 l>ia Holdings Company, an Indiana corporation, which already has purchased 2.200 acres of land, and which plans to engage in the growing of grapes, canteloiipes, fruits ami asparagus. The ultimate plan of the com ! puny is. to build an immense rehydrating plant at Columbia City. The company has set out between 40 and 50 acres of land on a farm in Troy township, a.ready, and more will eb set out as soon as the ground can be put In condition. In add It'on to growing graftes, the company expoets to raise Immense quantities of ; canteloiipes. asparagus. rasplprries and other fruits and vegetables. The ultimate plan is to de hydrate canieloupes. blackberries, onions, grapes and other fruits and vegetables, und I ship lhe flour from them to all parts; of the world. The firm get < its name from Colune | bia River basin of Washington and j Oregon. The company has made an I exhaustive test of the sol Ha of Whit ■ ley county and in various parts ol lhe linion.ami the Whitley county com-j munity was found io be the best su't-t ed for the development of 'he under-1 taking. Many large financial concerns, are interested In the outcome of the I plan. Experts have been engaged to, test the soils. In Hie opinion of those I experts, the following land in the county will be highly adaptable to the grape industry and that .'and soon will be come the highest pric ed land In the county. Asparagus will be one of the main , crops before the grapes are old enough to bear. The de hydrating of | fruit and vegetables has not been prac-1 ticed in America to any great extent j but Germany has developed it to u great degree of perfection. I heplan , of making denatured alcohol which ; Germany has been using so success-1 fully will 1 be folowed at Columbia > (Tty. The de hydrating and alcohol I plant will not be started this It is said, as the firm is devoting u | great portion of its time to getting! production started on the 2.200 acres, of laud which they now have and in I interesting the farmers in the growing of grapes, canteloupes and other kindred products. The firm wants to get about 10,000 acres of tho crops mentioned. The company is capitaliz'd at sl. . 000,000. No stock is being offered to local people, it is stated. Uncle Joe Cannon Has Another Birthday Danvlle, Ilk, May 7— “Feeling bet ter than I have for several years,---and they tell me I'm looking better." Uncle Joe Cannon chirped today on the 89th anniversary of his birth. No celebration of any kind was planned for today, Miss Helen Cannon, the former speaker’s daughter, exp ained. Weather Generally fair tonight and Friday, except unsettled in extreme southwest portion. Continued cool. Frost probable in north und central por- ' tions tonight.

GENEVA H. S, WINS IN BIBLE STUDY Class Consisting Os Every Boy In School, Wins State ('hampionship (Special io Dai y Democrat) Geneva. May 7 The Geneva high chool Bible study class, has won the state champion.,hif> in Bible study by ' making the highest class average oi I any group of high school hoys in the state, according to an announcement made by the state Y. M. c. A. headquarters. The contest was conducted I by lhe slate Y. AL C. A. In grading tho different classes in tho contest, throe factors were considered, as follows; per cent of enrollment. per cent of attendance, and average grade made by tho members of the class in the final examination given by the state Y. M. (’. A. Every boy in the Geneva high school, twen-ty-seven in number, was enrolled in the class and their attendance record was perfect throughout the course, giving the local class 100 por cent in enrollment and attendance . In the final examination twelve of the hoys made 100 per cent and others ranged above 93 per cent, giving the class an average of 98.2 per cent. Kenneth Shoemaker, well known young banker of Geneva, was instructor of the class. Tho class was organized after Christinas und the study , included the Book of Acts. Each of the boys will receive one-half of a high school credit for their work in that course. Lizton, unoili- r > mall town, rank ed second, with a class of twenty four members. Their atendum-e and enrol ment records were perfect, also but their grade on the final examination was lower than that made by the Geneva boys. Geneva's record last year was equal’y as good as tbi: year, with the exception of enrollment. There were only sixteen in the class last year and in order to enter the state contest the class must havl twenty member,. Eddinburg, a small own, won the championship )a-t year. The state trophy will be awarded to the Geneva boys. It is a beautiful silver loving cup. which now is: in the hands of un engraver. Th. cup will be pre‘Hied to Hi boys by a representative of the stale Y. M. (’. \ at the commencement exercises next Friday evning. Th cup becomes pi rmanent property of any school winning it three times. o—— INDIANA HAS HEAVY FROST Frost Described As Killing At Several Points In The State Indianapolis, May 7—Another heavy frost in most sections of Indiana lust night was reported to the weather bureau today. The frost was described as killing at South Bend and Lafayette and several ohter points in the northwest part of the state. An estimate of the damage to early vegetables and fruit trees lias not been received by the federal crop bureau here. , lu Indiancpolis and the central por tiou of the state the frost was less severe, but considerable damage was reported. in the state was 31 degrees at Marion. The weather bureau predicted frost tonight in th north and central portion of the state. o Fires Bed Clothing Wrapped zkround Her Bloomington, Ind., May 7 Brooding 1 ov*er illness that had effected her I mind. Mrs. Abram Voyles, 53. wrapped bed clothing around herself and set : fire to it. She died before, a nurse attending 1 her could break open the door of the bedroom in which she lay.

MYSTERY SURROUNDS DEATH OF FORT WAYNE YOUNG COUPLE FOUND DEAD IN AUTO NORTH OF DECATUR Katharine Berbers, 25, and Howard Fisher. 27, found in Fisher’s coupe on Old Decatur-I t. Wayne road early this morning—Revolver found in Miss Berbers’ hand—disarranged clothing indicated petting party had been in progress—no money found in pockets of either party — counle reported to have been engaged.

Katherine Berbers. 25, 112; Howard Fisher, 2020 Brown st dead with bullets through their about 14 miles northwest of De Wayne road, near Hesse Castle, ent Fort Wayne-Decatur road t early this morning by Fred Hoa scene of the tragedy, f. P. A. MEETING AT FORT WAYNE Decatur Post Represented At State Convention Which Opens Today The state convention of the T. I’. A. | will be held tomorrow and Saturday at Fort Wayne with a complete progiam which will entertain both the mi'll ami their ladies. Headquarters will be at the Anthony hotel while the business sessions will be held at the Elk's Temple. Posi X of this city, which now has a niemls rshiu of about 115. will Ikr repre .< nt, d by four delegates. T. M. Reid. R J. Hart ing. George Flanders and John S. Uetersen. The latter will probably named .is a delegate to the national cont.-n tion to be field in Birmingham. Ala., ii June. D* legates will he accompanied by their wives and the Fort Wayne meeting promises to be a delightful one. The banquet committee for Post X Deeut'ir. compos d of It. J. Harting, ('al Peterson und ('. 11. t'olter, nn- ’ iiounceit' this morning that they are I planning to hold lhe annua Ibiu.qitei on the niglil of Monday, Muy 25, com (dele details of the plans to bo giren during lhe next n w days. The oval post has grown during the past year and s a sub tantiol organization. o Bulletin Indianapolis, May 7. — (Special to Daily Democrat) —Two persons were killed and a third was wounded in a shooting fray here this afternoon. Ernest Grabbie. 41, shot and killed Mrs. Leo Smith, with whom police said he had been living, and ran from the house and fired at Charles Engeahl. a passerby. Engeahl was wounded in the shoulder. Grabbie then shot himself through the head, dying ashort time later. In the bedroom of the house police found a half empty bottle of white mule. o— SAY RUM ROW IS BREAKING UP Wireless Reports Say The Strain Os Dry Navy’s Blockade Is Too Much (t'nitoil Press Service) Clifton. N. V.. May 7 Rum Row is breaking up, under the strain of lhe dry navy’s blockade. Wlre'ess reports received here today ware that several liquor laden ships had weighed anchor and were sailing northward, probably with the hope of establishing communication j with shore points unguarded by the federal fleet. Government picket boats are trailing the retreating rum runners the wirelest reports said.

Price 2 Cents.

5 Eliza street. Fort Wayne, and reet, Fort Wayne, were found heads, in Fisher's Ford coupe catur on the old Decatur-Fort about a mile east of the presoday. The Irodies were found rman, who resides near the A 38-calibre revolver was found tightly gripped in Miss Berbers’ left hand, and blood was found on both sides of the ear. The clothes of both persons was disarranged and the revolver rested on the bare left leg of the girl. When examined no money was found in Fisher’s pockets and it was said that he left home with a little more than $2.00 in cash. Hourman, upon finding the bodies. ' notified Fort Wayne police at once and they, with the Allen county coroner. Hr. Harry Erwin, immediately started an investigation to determine whether death was the result of a double shooting b) one of the couple or whether sum,one robbed and murdered them. The two peisoes had been going tf|getlii'i' for iiimie time amt were reported to lie engaged, and it UhU stated that they had not been qnarrek ing recently. Mss Hi rbers is thought to have had some money with her when she left home, but had none when she was found. Left Fort Wayne At 10 p.m. The couple left Fort Wayne about ten o'clock last night pre iimably to take a ride and had remarked lo some friends that they w, re going to slop ala barbecue before coming home. 1 Several per mis living near the scene I of the tragedy were on '.lie road about I, n o'clock last night and saw no car . (UONTINCED ON PAGE SEVEN) MAKING CAMPAIGN AGAINST PEDDLER National Chamber Os Commerce Tells Os NationWide Campaign A report front the national headquarters of the United States Chambers of Commerce received here recently, tells of tho nation wide campaign to stamp out fr.iurtulant selling of stocks, merchandise and house-to-house goods that is not as il is represented. Most chambers of commerce and similar organizations in tlie country have joined in a strong effort to remove such hazzirds from the American buying public. Laws are being passed by state and city authorities restricting all such grafts and misrepresentations and. according to information from tlie national chamber of commerce, the situation soon will be mastered in most states. The Decatur Advertising Association lias been urging cooperation for a similar move in this city and already bus obtained the passage of one prohibitive law. Several other petitions for protection of locnl persons and merchants are ready for presentation, and it is predicted that several protective measures will ho passed by the local council. • Several northeastern states have i passed protective measures as a ■ mean, ot stamping out fake liouset to-house selling by misrepreseutai tlon This city is annually infested ! by the "get more for your money” agents and peddlers and local per- - sons have been warned to thoroughly * investigate the wards of peddlers bei fore purchasing