Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 113, Decatur, Adams County, 12 May 1925 — Page 1

/<»l. XXIII. Number 113.

BELIEVE MURDERER IN NEARBY TOWN

IG!RL OFFICIALS ■ CWEIWTYFOR I JNHOIMOMY Knlarge And Build Upon | T'rogressAc Program Inaugurated By Boys H.IRL COUNCIL MEETS ■\;itious Offieais Make Reports; Two “Arrests” Made By Police I® At 2:20 yesterday at’Kruooii. immcafter roll-eu'l . .Miss Harriii ree.•nti.v < lee-tr-d girls' mayor Decatur, as limed th»* high dillios her office with the following inaddress to her fellow oft'iand members of the council: "Ladies of the council ami citizens Itectlnr: I assume the office of the ■mayor of the city of Decatar fully of the responsibility incurred, ■it is my hope that the members of jglit-~ council and other officers of this will join me in assum-j their full share of Hie burden. I predecessors, the boys, gave the a splendid administration and it] ■tv’ll not be our purpose to change the program innaugnrated by ■them. It will be our purpose however, enlarge and imi.d npen the splen- | foundation. Toward this emt, lad-, of the Council and citizens of DeI ask your earnest eo-op.-ration." . Officers Make Report: B ' i "' r iss Wallace, completed her j dress ;i report of thj officers was :

■tailed for. The .-;treet commissioner j that the Erie rattrntwl eras ■» on Mercer avenue, was 12 impesvi ■bi hove the street level. A motion was ■made that n resolution be adopted to ■isk the railroad to tlx the hazard. The was adopted by th? eoun■ril. ! The fire chief had no report but ■the fire captain asked that tie wcord ■tires be purchased for the fire truck. ■This was changed to a resolution and the resolution wits adopted. The city engineer gave no report. The city clerk and treasurer hat! no additional reports. The superintendent of the wafer works reported that the plant was in fine condition. The cisterns were clean and the water supply was good. The electric light superintendent reported that ornamental (Continued From Page Three) o DECATUR BANK NAMED RECEIVER Old Adams County Bank Appointed Received For Bank Os Tocsin The Old Adams County Rank of this city has been appointed temporary receiver for the Bank of Tocsin, which closed its doors recently. This was decided at a meeting of 80 per cent, of the stockholders of the institution yesterday afternoon at Tocsin. The bond tiled by the receiver for $25,000. The board of directors which mot recently, voted a receivership for the bank and this movement was approved yesterday by the stockholders. It is believed that with a 100 per cent, assessment on stockholders, the bank will be able to pay its depostitors, and liquidate. The principal stockholders met previous to tile called meeting and decided that it was best to quit business rather than assess for the purpose of gathering sufficient funds to cover the uncollectable paper anil continue business. Some of the paper classed as uncollectable by the examiners is said by the president of the bank to be collectable. It is thought that altout SIO,OOO will have to be made up by stockholders. The total liability of the Bank of Tocsin has been placed at $170,000 according to officials of the hank. A case entitled the sate of Indiana, on relation of Eben 11. Wolcott, bank commissioner, vs. the Bank of Tocsin for a receiver, was filed in the Wells Circuit court yesterday afternoon.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

[Winona Extension School Operate Throughout Year I Winona Lake, iml.. May 12 (t'nlt j r«| I’ross.) Cnder pat.s now be ng dr i veloped the Winona ummer < x»<n f on i hool, which attracts about t; ■,(» iiiotits, will |,< opcffiivd the y» ar a- , (Omid, Winona otfh-a ;.ie 11 e.-itln ; i toop, ration from the Warsaw < ham- . her of Commerce. Included in ,the i plans is the idea of Increasing the eni rollmenl of the schools Io 1,2*.'0 wliieh would mali<- the schools almost self. ■ upporl ing. HINDENBURG'S INAUGURATION IS GALA EVENT Imperial Colors Predominate As New German President Takes Oath SWEARS ALLEGIANCE , Devoted Friend Os Former Emperor Promises To Support Republic Ber in. May ]l2 Airing the reieh-i Mag. where friends and enemies sat silent for a moment after the tumultI ov.s roar that greeted him, Paul Von ’ Ilindeiiburg. erstwhile field marsha l of the imperial armies, today took . (he oath of office that made him prej sidenl of the German republic. "I swear." rumbled Hindenburg in the gruff, deep voice known to his i . .. . ... ...

staff and soldiers in war-time, Pto dedicate my power to the welfare of , Hie German paoftle, to augment their advantages, to shield them from mis fortune, to observe the constitution land laws, to perform my duty con scientiously and dispense even-hand-ed justice. "So help me God," he added, using the religious formula, which was op- j tionai and which was omitted by the l late President Eberl. A storm of cheers and cries of ' "Hoch" hurst from Hie crowded galleries and was taken up by an immense throng of men and women outside tlie reiehstag building, held in check by Innumerable jiolice. Flags of tlie old empire, in red 1 white ami black again today outnumbered those of the republicans as tho inauguration took place. The familiar imperial song, "Deulcli- ' lamb Deutchland Über Ales,” swelled from thousands of throats beyond : the sharply drawn police cordons as the new president left the rostrum and marched smartly from tlie reichstag building past an honor company of his old regiment to the automobile 1 in which he was whirled to the Wilhelmstrasse palace. Tlie soldiers who clicked to salute as the president passed were picked j men from the regiment in which the field marshall served as a rec-rtiit more 1 than half a century ago. The gate through which he passed was that formerly reserved for tlie kaiser. Throughout inauguration day, the ■ paradox of Hindenburg’s presidency was manifest. Himself loyal y devoted , to the fromer emperor, the preisdent swore allegiance to tlie repubic constitution, which would be treason if a monarchy were restored. Having won his fame as a warrior, lie took office upon a platform of peace and tranquility. The defeated general had become ON PAGE THREE) 0 : Indianapolis Welcomes Knights Templar Today Indianapolis, May 12. — Downtown streets of Indianapolis weje gaily , decked today for the annual parade of the state coinmandry of the Knights Templar of Indiana. Two thousand plumed Knights were ' expected to partic’pate in the colorful event with William H. Kershner, adjutant general of the Indiana National Guard, as grand marshal. Prizes will be awarded to the three best teams in competitive drills fol- ' lowing the parade. The state conclave will be in session until Thursday.

TWENTY-THREE .DROWNED WHEN BOAT CAPSIZES IN MISSISSIPPI RIVER < ; - V ' r I*-’ i t ilu !'• v , iiiui .-ver tali ■ oi ihe M!s-i.sppi river steamboat M. E. Norman -''ll- I'olumuia Liuii'ing. Miss., while car ~ig a j-arfy of engineers on an exiiir-ion trip. Twenty two persons were drowned.

HANBCUFF KING VISITS DECATI'R A. W. Dithnore Speaks To Police; Free Demonstration This Evening A. W. D.ttmore, known throughout the country as the “handcuff king" and “expert jail, break or/” arrbed in this city last TfTl'Trt ,Tnd this morning gave a private- demonstration to police authorities. Sheriff Baker, Deputy Hower, Mayor De Voss and County Attorney H. B. Heller. Tonight at 7:00 o'clock Mr. Dlttmore will give a free demonstration of escaping from handcuffs and stra : ght-jackets in front of the court house. Everybody is invited to attend the demonstration. It is free and no collection will be taken. The private lecture this morning was of special interest to city and county authorities. Mr. Dittraore does not use keys to make is escapes. He lectured for some lime on various ways of "covering" u man with a revolver and showed favorite methods of escape by banuits. The ‘‘miracle man" then showed the officials many secrets of professional "safe-experts" and bandits. There are no handcuffs in Ihe world that Mr. Dittmore’s system will not overpower and he made an escape this morning from Sheriff Baker’s cuffs in about "0 seconds. When in Elwood recently the escape expert broke from tho Elwood jail in a few

minutes and so startled officials there that plans are being made to build a new jail. Mr. Dittmore will address his audience tonight on tlie present crime wave, criminals in general and also give his demonstration on escaping from any kind of locks. After his performance, he will be at tlie Hollhouse Drug company store where he will meet personally and talk with any interested persons. He has travelled intensively for several years and -at present is one of tlie five world-famous "escape" men. He served several years in the secret-service in this country ami lias gathered his knowledge of escapes first-hand from bandits and "thugs” all over the country. Mr. Dittmore stated that he knew Gerald Chapman, who was recently caught at Muncie and convicted of murder in the east, and some of his private demonstrations this morning were learned from that master "crook." Mr. Dittmore is a booster and tonight will also prove to his audience that it pays to buy in Decatur, lie is a strong advocate of abiding by the law, and says that the end of every "bandit” is sooner or later behind the bars. Tlie lecture and demonstrat on tonight will be of unusual interest to children, because there is considerable mystery connected with the man’s escapes. There are no tricks used and his escapes from lock-sealed (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, May 12, 1925.

Kusriusko County School Superintendent To Retire Mentone. Ind., May 12. — (United Press. 1 Jesse Bruner, superintendent of ihe puldii schools of Kuselusko county, will not seek re-election at the end of his term in September and has accepted an offer of the superintency of th- Mentone public schools. o TOTAL OF RELIEF FONO IS $651.56 Adams County Citizens Give Freely For Relief Os Cyclone Victims Miss Anna Winnes. secretary of the Adams Counjy Red Cross chapter, today made a final report on tile fund raised in the county for the relief oft tlie victims of the recent cyclone in .-.outhvru Indiana and lliinoi . According to the report, a total of was donated to tlie fund in Adam county. A total of $352.20 was contributed by tlie citizens of Berne and community. while Decatur and vicinity contributed a total of $2!>8.38. In addition to the cash donations, many contributions of clothing and bedding were made at both places. Six large boxes of clothing and bedding were sent from Decatur and a Irage amount was shipped out from Berne. Thief Enters Two Stores At Berne Borne, Ind.. May 12. —The West Main street grocery anil Emery Pool room ure reported to have been looted by a thief sojpe time last Thursday night. Evidences are that il was the same fellow that entered both places. '1 ne process of breaking into both places was exactly the same. The thief used a hammer in both places to knock out a window pane and climb in. Little loot was obtained by the thief, but he left a general uisorder beh nd him. Berne Orchestra Gives Good Account Os Itself Berne, Ind., May 12. — The Berne high school orchestra returned home from the state musical meet at Indianapolis, Sunday morning. Although failing to win first place, they gave a g.-od account of themselves and won fifth place. | Shortridge high of Indianapols won first place; Technical won seconu; and Central of Evansville, third. A very small audience enjoyed the concerts\ The Judges gave the decisions at 12 o'clock. IVeofhier Increasing cloudiness tonight, probably becoming unsettled Wednesday rising temperature.

ANOTHER FROST VISITS INDIANA ■ «■ V St. Joseph County Experiences Killing Frost; Danger Tonight Indianapolis, Ind., May 12. —Another general frost throughout tlie central and northern parts of the state Inst night was rejiortod to the local weather bureau today. The frost was killing in St. Joseph county and did slight damage around Marion and Royal Center, according to 1 lie weather bureau. lee was reported at Angola ami Wheatfield had a temperature of 22 degrees. The frost extended as far south as Coliimlius, but did i’ttle damage in the central part of tile state. Likelihood of another frost tonight was precluded with tlie announcement of unsettled weather ami rising temp-I erattires. o Berne Junior Class Stages Three-act Comedy Berne, Ind., May 12. —The Jun'or class of tlie local high school presented. "The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary,” a three-act comedy play. Tuesday evening. The east of characters was splendidly selected and everyone acted his part well. Josephine Reusser liail the leading part to perform and did a good job. A fair crowd witnessed ihe pleasing play. / o Thinks Toledo Bandits Held Up Local Store Dan M. Niblick, of tlie Niblick and Company store, stated tAday that lie believes one of the four men arrested at Toledo, Ohio, last week, for several robberies, was the man who held him up in his store here one Saturday night a few weeks ago. One of the men shown in the picture printed iu a Toledo newspaper looks very much like the man who committed the local hold-up, Mr. Niblick states. John Foreman, who was in tlie grocery department during the hold-up. states that another one of the men shown in picture was the man who held-up Clyde Cline, clerk. Mr. Foreman and other customers in the grocery department while the other man held up Mr. Niblick in the office. Mr. Niblick may go to Toledo to further identify Ihe men. A fifth man arrested with those four at Toledo w’as Chalmer Sheets, former Decatur youth. One of the men was a gunman, another an expert mechanic, another a salesman who sold the stolen property, and the fourth was an automobile driver Sheets was the mechanic. They are alleged to have held up persons, stolen from : their pockets and took their clothing llf it appealed Io the bandits.

Yoder Bank Depositors Get Another 10 Per Cent. The Farmers Trust Company, of Port Wayti", liquidat Ing iigi nts for the Vodet State bank, has annoutic oil another 1(1 par cent, di-Irih.ilion of assets of the haul, which will be made Tuesday. Th- will he Ihe seventh payment to stockhold.- -s, matInga total of 7(1 per cent, of Ihe bank's assets since the <■ mecru decided on liquidation two years ago. The total of all collections will amount to fill.(me. SEEKING PLAN FOR SETTLEMENT OF FRENCH DEBT United States Negotiating With France In Attempt To Form Plan PLAN NOT DISCUSSED Comment In U. S. Might Irritate French, Presi- . dent Cooidge Says Washingtoil. May 12 (United Pre s President Coolidge today told callers at the while house that his government is currying on negotiations in an attempt to work out some plan of settlement of the French debt oi 1 St.min,(mo.mm. The president has decided not to I discu-s this question, however, he-j cause comment from this side might irritate French opinion and make a settlement more difficult. Washington, May 12 - (United Press —The memorandum which Ambassndor Herrick will present to Finance .Minister Gaillaux today or tomorrow is a full and aulhoritive statement of I the United States position on refund- I ing the French dcht of $4,000,000,000 I which wu • prepared by the debt fund-j ing commission and not by the state department it was learned here today. Increased importance was attach'd to the communication in diplomatic circles when its origin in the debt funding commission was learend. It is beleived that Herrick probab’v will transmit the memorandum verb aly since Gaillaux has insisted that the negotiations so far be upon an informal and unofficial basis which leaves him less liable Io attack from Ills political opponents. Calls Woman Statesman “Another Ananias’ Wife” Chicago, May 12 —(United Press! Because she voted for the Illinois boxing bill at Springfield, Mrs. Rena Elrod, representative from the twenty fifth district, is "another Ananias’ wife" according to the Rev. Thomas A. Quayle, Oswego. 111., who wanted (he bill killed. Reporting to the Chicago Church Federation here yesterday. It< v. Quayle said that "as Mrs. Elrod is 1 pretty brunette and young, a crowd of men representatives gathered around her talked her into support of the bil . "We’ve had plenty of Ananiases in politics," lie said. "Now conies Sappiiira, his wife. She was tin- only woman who voted for the bill, mid she said she did it because "it’s a shame not to let the youth have their fun.” Awaits Papers For Return Os Hawkins Indianapolis, May 12. —Albert Ward. United States district attorney, today awaited receipts of the formal order for the return from Cincinnati of Morton Hawkins, Portland, Ind., before going ahead with preparations for Hawkins’ trial. 'The United States circuit court of appeals in Cincinnati yesterday denied Hawkins' petition for a writ of habeas corpus and thereby ordered him back to liuuauapollsi to stand trial for fraudulent use of the mails. Upon rece’pt of the order for Haw kins' return a deputy marshall will bring him limit from Cincinnati.

Price 2 Cents.

lOFFICERS MAKE -TDUR OF COUNTRY -NEAR FORT WAYNE J _+— Evidence Points To One Man As Author Os Dual Murder TWO SUSPECTS FREED Two Men Arc Released After Proving Alibi To Detectives 1 i I’nltcit Pr, ,-i-vs.-. I Fort Wayne, .May 12. — EviIdence pointing to one man as the author of the dual murders of Miss Katheryn Berbers and ; Howard Fisher, who were found shot to death in Fisher’s auto on a country road nere here last Thursday, is in the hands of police. 'i_ Detectives with Sheriff Marljin and Prosecuting Attorney Sam Jackson, are touring the I country to locate the man. He iis believed to be nearby in a small town. A bit of bicycle tire with a tread corresponding to the tread of the machine ridden by the bicycle bandit, who has been infesting roads in the vicinity of the murder, is one piece of the chain of evidence : which detectives declare to be the best in the case. The new lead followeii apparent ex- : operation of two suspectK. St.iniey j Pokora. living near the scene of the : murder who was ehasod into n woodi nearby when he fled and fai ed to heed shots tired to halt him. It is b. • leived he fl<-d because of fear of arrest on a liquor charge. Ar Elkhart. Monday. Hairy •"Burk’* (Haflis wlas taken into custody and questioned in I hi* case He proved lie had not been in Fort Wayne at the time of the ' murders. Fort Wayne, May 12 -Search for the slayer of Miss Kathryn Heritors j .Old Howard Firher wa.. renewed in Fort Wayne today following tlie release of a man taken into custody at Elkhart in connection with thedoublo killing. Working on a clew last night, a party headed by Prosecutor .Jackson and Coroner Erwin w< til to E khurt Io | arrest Harry Huck Harris, of Elklmrt. After questioning Harris, authoities (CONTINUED ON PAGE iiIVE» " HOSPITAL HAS MANY VISITORS National Hospital Day Observed At County Memorial Hospital Many Decatur and Adams county citizens called at the Adams County Memorial Hospital today, which was designated as National Hospital day. and inspected (he local institution. T'ne visitors wire esccirted over the building by the nurses. The wonderful good work that Is being done by Ihe hospital wus pointed out to tin- guests today. National Hospital Day is observed throughout tlie country for the purpose of impressing upon the minds of tlie people the great need of hoc-pitals and the greut work being dope by them in curing tlie sick and caring for (lie - suffering. I Many of the cullers at the Memorial I hospital today brought tlower.s for , the patients and hospital attendants, j The flowers were greutly appreciated, and Miss Emille C. Christ, superintenf dent of the hospital stated this afterI noon that she wished to express h arts felt thanks for them on behalf of her it s'-lf and the other n r and tin- par tieuts. The Adams County Memorial hosc pitai was dedicated netirly two years II ago, and since that time it has cared for hundreds of jiatients.