Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 133, Decatur, Adams County, 5 June 1925 — Page 1

Vol. XXIII. Number 133.

HEAT WAVE SETS NEW RECORD FOR JUNE

■ GEORGE FETTERS I IS ACQUHTED OF ' MORRERCHARGE I Celina. Ohio, Youth Found Not Guilty In Trial At Wapakoneta, Ohio WAS CONVICTED ONCE I Found Guilty In Trial At Celina But Wins Appeal For A New Trial Wapakoneta, Ohio. .June 5 I (Special lo Daily Democrat) I George Fellers, •'23. of Celina, I Ohio, once found guilty of first I degree murder and sentenced to I lite imprisonment, was aequittI e<| of the charge by a jury in I (he common pleas court here al I 1:15 o’clock Thursday afterI noon. The court of appeals I granted a new trial to Fetters I recently. I’he jury deliberated only I two hours in reaching a verdict I of not guilty. Fetters was ar- | rested immediately after the I verdict was read, and will be I taken to Celina, where he is I wanted on a charge of burglary. Fetters was charged with the I murder of Ed Moyer, a farmer residI ing near Rockford, Ohio, who was I shot to death in a lane leading to his I house one night in August. 1922. I after he had found thieves in his I meat house. Four Celina youths. I George. Janies and Dick Fetters and I Jesse Smelser. were arrseted for the I crime more than a year afterwards. I George was reported to have signed a confession that he fired the shot I that killed Moyer. In the trial here j he declared that he signed the coni session only after he had been forced to do so. The other three youths arrested (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) 0 Girl Killed In Auto Accident On A Bridge — Brazil, Ind., June 5. —One girl was killed and another was probably fatally hurt early today when three | automobiles attempted to cross a narrow bridge at the same time on | state road nine south of here. Dorothy Aitken, 18, of Midland, was killed. Hester Strainfield. 17, was taken to a hospital in Terre Haute with injuries that are expected to cause her death. OLD DOBBIN IS STILL IN LEAD Horses Outnumber Automobiles In Adams Co., By More Than 1,500 Horses outnumber the autotnob les in Adams county by more than 1.500. according to figures compiled by the county board of review in session in this city. There are 3,099 automobiles in the county and the total value is estaiinated at $631,202. There are 4.539 horses in Adams county with a total valuation of $368,070. The figures show that ‘Old Dobbin" is not yet a th ng of the past, but his services in the cities and towns are greatly reduced. He has managed lo hold his own on farms. Most of the horses in the county are work horses. The tabulations show that , there are at present 248 mules in the county and the valuation is $18,985. There are 1,502 farm implements, including harrows, plows, tractors and threshers, which are valued at $214,350. Milk cows outnumbered all other farm animals. There are 8,567 with a valuation of $413,074. Other fattie total 4,719 and are valued at $118,183. Sheep total 5,988 and are valued at $64,946. The Adams county population of sows is 3,548 with a value of $83,746,1 and other hogs number 15.10 t with' a total valuation of $98,270.

BECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

1 I—, I Keeping cool With Coolidge Judge J T. Menyniun i< an old- ' fashlcnetl Jacksonian democrat who never falters in doing his duly 1 and voting It straight, but he is worried today, for he has just a been notified, official?., that the weather man at Fort Wayne | 9 a democrat and that he is pulling 1 off this het., wave to erabarass the | Coolidge administration. The judge I think.-that’s carrying things too far ‘ and Is seriously con Iderlng habeas corp is proceedings, injunctions J and other legal proceedings to make the gentleman remember I t that under this pressure, ileumj ctat” are suffering as well as those who be!.eve in ‘keeping cool with | Coolidge" Go to it Judge. o ; SWIMMIN’ HOLES' I POPULAR PLACES t s Hundreds Os Decatur Pers sons Hunt Places to Swim These Hot Days ‘ The It,st few days, since the heat has swept down on Adams county, • hundreds of persons have been se.-k- --■» ing. ‘‘Old Swimmin’ Hoes." in an es • fort to keep cool while the thermometer continues to mount higher and ■s higher. s Probably the best public place near • Decatur is the stone quarry commonly s known as Green Waters, north of ■ town on the Fort Wayne road. The I water is clear, but is very deep and ' is not regarded as a safe place for ’ young children without an escort. ' Several other quarries near this viI cinity also are being used as bathing pools. 'l Hundreds of young boys and older persons, too, have been taking ad vantage of Colonel Fred Reppert’s invitation to swim in the lake at ! Be’lmont Park. The lake, comonly I known as Steel's Lake, is a fairly clear body of water and is the safest ' place near here for younger swimmers land children to go. Il is estimated that I at least 100 persons swim there each day. I Fred T. Schurger has constructed a private swimming pool near his country home west of Decatur by means of widening and darning the creek known as “Second Creek". Tills pool is private because it is not la ge 1 enough to accomodata a great number of persons and because during the day , there is no one at the St hurger property and it is not safe to permit anyone to use the pool unless there is someone there familiar with it because of a deep-step off. Mr. Schurger tells an interesting story of how he discovered the pool, i He was wading in the creek one day several years ago with hip boots on when suddenly he hit the step-off and be dropped from knee-deep water into water several feet deep. His ability to swim with his clothes on saved the incident from being a tragedy and Bince that time lie has erected a tine (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) ■ — ■ ■-() — Probing Fatal Traction Wreck Near Lebanon, Ind. Lebanon. Ind.. June 5.—A coroner's investigation was started today into the interurban wreck near here last night in which Walter Wilhelm, 42, a motorman for the Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Eastern Traction company, was killed. A livestock car in charge of Wilhelm ran into a passenger car that developed trolley trouble /and was ( darkened while the crew repaired the trolley. , • i Wilhelm's left arm was crushed off and his right leg was nearly amputated in the crash. oWilliam B. Mitchell Is Named Solicitor General Washington, June s—President Coolidge today appointed William B, MitI chell of St. Paul, Minn., to be solid- , tor general of the United States Mitchell succeeds [ormer Solicitor 'General James M. Heck, recently re- ' signed.

APPRAISEMENTS | i IN GENEVA AND | BERNE CHANGED Assessment On Improvements Lowered In Geneva; Raised In Berne NO CHANGE HERE Decatur’s Valuation, Less State’s Assessments, Is $6,096,420 In their progarm of equalization, the county boaid of review in session ,his morn,ng reduced the assessment of real estate improvements in Geneva lit per cent., and increased he real estate improvement a sessments In Berne “tt per cent. No change w,s math* in the real estate appraisements , in Geneva or Berne and no changes j were made in any of the assessments' In Decatur or Monroe. The improvements on real estate in Geneva were assessed at $327,720 while the improvements in Bertie Berne were assessed al $659,160. The board felt tl.at these assessments wen not in conformity toother ur.se.is- I ments and in keeping with the assess-1 ments two years ago and th.-r fore ' made the changes. In Decatur the real estate is assess j ed at $1,603,680. while the improve-1 ments thereon are assessed at $2,646,420. Personal property In Decatur is | assessed at $1,786,220. making a to-1 tai valuation in Decatur, t xelusive I of the state’s assessments on railroads utilities and banks, of; 65.096.420, which i: h'gherTPr.tn a yMr film. The real estate in the town of Monroe is assessed at $22,370 and the improvements at $139,250, making a total of $161,620. Personal property is a sussed al $141,680, malting a grand total of $306,300. The real estate in Berne was appraised at $303,800, improvements at $659,160 and personal property at $1,108,070, making a total of $2,071,030. In Geneva the real estate was appraised at $65,299, the improvements at $327,720. personal property at $263,567, making a grand total of $654,586. The average for farm lands in the different townships, previous to the action of the board yesterday, when it lowered and increased the asse s ments in several townships follows: Union, $80.00; Root. $77.62; Preble. $78.55; Kirkland, $81.82; Washington. $90.98; St. Marys, $77.78; Blue Creek, (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) JUDGE SUTTON GIVES ADDRESS Speaks To Rotarians Last Night On Workings Os Juvenile Court Judge Jesse C. Sutton, of the Ad-j :>ms Circuit court, was a guest of the Decatur Rotarians at their luncheon meeting last evening and in a thirtyj minute address he explained the purpose and workings of the Juvenile court which was established in this county a few years ago. Without any publicity the juvenile court aims to correct the children’s faults and misdoings and at the same time shield them from public scorn. | Judge Sutton gave the history of the local juvenile court, of which he is the executive head. The probation officer keeps in touch with those boys or girls who have been summoned into court and cooperates with the court in trying to bring about good results. Under the provisions of the cour‘, a boy under sixteen or a girl under eighteen is not arrested by the sheriff and hailed into court before the public eye- As a last resort the probation officer brings the offender into court, accompanied by his parents and an effort is made to induce the hoy or girl to mend their ways before he or she is sent to a correction' school. The speaker related several (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) '

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, June 5, 1925.

[to write FOR I DAILY DEMOCRAT, I ’J 'A .I’wJOj EDGAR A. GUEST The Daily Democrat takes great pleasure in announcing that Edgar A. Guest, one of the greatest poets of the present age, soon will become a I regular writer for the Daily Democrat, i Mr. Guest's popular poems entitled. Just Folks", will appear daily in the 'Daily Democrat, beginning Saturday, June 6. I Edgar A. Guest is commonly called the poet that all America reads. His verse is read by senators and congressmen, by stenographers and saleswomen, by business men and clerks, and by the hosts of plain people who look | for his poem daily in their favorite [paper. More (han ion great American Dailies print Mr. Guest's poems. Mr. Guest’s poems soon will be a I leading feature in the Daily Democrat. I Watch tor them. EPWORTH LEAGUE TO HOLD A RALLY Sub-district Rally To Be Held At Monroe Church Sunday Afternoon A sub-district rally of the Epworth League will be held at the Methodist church in Monroe next Sunday afternoon. The meeting w.ll open at 2 o’clock. The annual election of sub-district officers will he held at the rally next Sunday, and a large attendance is desired. Mr. John E. Nelson, of Decatur, is president ol the sub-district at present. The district piesident. Jay Olinger, of Garrett, will be present . and deliver an address at the rally., There will be several musical numb ! ers. The Lake Webster institute, which will be held from August 3 to 9. will be boosted at the rally Sunday. Following the program, the Monroe chapter will serve a lunch. Q “Missing” State’s Witness In Shepherd Case Returns Chicago, June s—(United5 —(United Press) — Miss Estelle Grilling. "missing” state’s witness in the trial of William D. Shepherd for the murder of Billy McI (’Unlock. today was in conference with Assistant State's attorney John Sharbaro and declared she was ready to testify. Reports reached tlie state’s attorney's office yesterday that Miss Gehling, Shepherd's alleged former “affin [ ity” had tied because she was “dis--1 gusted with the whole business." She volutarily called State’s Attorney Robert E. Crowe to correct the rumor. intense heat in the courtroom today and the long tedious process of jury selection discouraged thrill seekers from attending. o Discuss Purchase Os Dunes Land For State Indianapolis, June 5 — (United Press)—Governor Jackson was to meet this afternoon with members I of the state conservation commission | 1 and the Dunes Park commission to discuss the aquisition by the state of a strip of dunes land in Lake county , for use as a state park. I The land will be aqulred through a cumulative appropriation obtained through a special tax levy. Twenty thousand dollars is now available for 1 the purchase. | Sen. J. J. Nedjl, of Whiting, and Representative Gottschalk, of Berne, jure members of the dunes commission.

■ILS. AND OTHER I POWERS SEND A NOTE TO CHINA ; Place Full Responsibility j For Disorders On Demonstrators And Rioters SITUATION IS SERIOUS Foreign Powers Refuse Demand For Release Os Arrested Rioters I Washington. June 5 (United press) | —The United States government has | I joined with other powers in directing a sharp note to the t’h'nese government at Peking, rejecting its demands and placing full responsibility for the disorders and bloodshed at Shanghai on the demonstrators and rioters. The note from the powers followed) receipt of a note from China which ' demanded release of arested rioters and he'd the foreign authorities responsible for the killing of Chinese Students. The note, as made public by the state department here today, said in part: "Demonstrating groups who were distributing .subversive and antiforeigu pamphlets in the concession on Nanking road were requested to disperse and the leaders were arrested. "Tlie crowd which refused to obey the orders of tlie police then attacked them and attempted an assault on the police station. “It was only then (bat the foreign l>oH«MiWi*Tise <rf their arms. “It would therefore result that the responsibility of 'the event which followed rests on the denion.siTutors and not upon the foreign authorities of the concession. Washington. June 5-(United Press) —Several American mis-ionary institutions in China have sided with the students’ revo't and against United States diplomatic officials and foreign police, it was learned here author!lively today. The American legion at Peking, much embarassed by the missionaries action, has protested to them on the ground that their attitude is gravely [ ' inexpedient at this time. ) Faculties of some American and ' union missionary institutions have published statements reflecting on the actions of foreign police in firing on ,and killing Shanghai demonstrators. CALL MEETING OF GANG MUSICIANS Matter Os Reorganizing De- ' catur Band Up For Consideration Monday Whether or not Decatur will have a band this year will be decided at a meeting of all interested persons nt the Peoples Shoe store in this city nextt Monday night. Several prominent musicians in this city have expressed the desire of having an organization and arranging concerts ths summer. A reorganization will be held if there are sufficient persons interested and come to the meeting next Monday night at eight o'clock. Those who come are asked to bring their instruments in order that a practice may be held immediately following the reorganization. It is highly probable that there will be sufficient interest shown, ac-i cording to those who are planning the reorganization. Efforts will be made to have the largest and best' band Decatur has ever had. The 1 name of the band has not yet been ■ considered. Weather Generally fair and continued warm .tonight and Saturday and probably through Sunday.

' HOT NEWS Pittsburgh, Pa., June 5. Because no appropriations have been made, city swimming pools will not be opened until June 22. despite the terr sic heat. New York, June s.—Men may attend the Rev. George Egbert's church in their shirt sleevs during the hot weather. They need not ever bother to wear a collar. New Jersey, N. J., June 5. —Coincident with the sweltering heat, the city's water eonnumption I reached a new record of 59.600.0(iu gallons. Sunday's consumption—about average for June was only 42.000,000 gallons. HEAT WAVE O NEW RECORD HERE Mercury Continues to (’limb As Hottest Day Os Season Is Recorded "You can't keep a good man down", said the olil thermometer as it began early this morning lo soar to the peak of its climb so far this season. Wednesday was the hottest day ol the year until Thursday came along and heat it. but today lias them all beaten The crisp breeze that aided in curbing the intense heat of (he sun's rays yesterday was absent as old Sol peaked up in the skies this morning, and citizens of this county are experiejning the most intense heat wave of the year. Crops continue to roast before the burning rays of the sun and the nier cury is mounting hourly. All predictions of tain are given with lots of "prohablys” before and after the forecasts. Early this morning, the various thermometers in Decatur registered from 87 to 90 and ten o’clock this morning tlie mercury had mount ed to 94 degrees. Shortly before noon the mercurw stopped for a short time at 98 and shy little breezes carried with it hopes of a cooler afternoon The breeze soon died down and at one o’clock the Peoples Loan and i Trust company th rmometer register | rd 102 dugrees. A very tender and al most unrecognizable breeze began blowing, which amateur weather fore casters said kept the mercury from mounting to at least 105. At various times this afternoon the sky became < loudy for brief periods, but the c'ouds failed to bring rain that is becoming I very much of a necessity for the crops. I Several older citizens of the city say that they can remember about thirty years ago when this county experienced a similar heat wave about this time of the year and that relief did not come until the change of moons If there is any truth to this prediction cooler weather will not se' in until the first of the week. Howevei more optimistic people say that they I believe rain and cooler weather will j come by mid-night tonight. Probably ! a rain wi'l hit part of Indiana late this afternoon and evening, according to state bulletins. - ■ —————— o ———-— ~ - Bluffton Thermometer Registers 105 Today Bluffton. June 5 The Studebaker ] Bank thermometer registered 105 here today and the government thermome- ' ter registered 99. Today is the hot ' test June weather ever recorded here Th state highway commission has isued warnings for people with new cars not to use the state highway be I tween Bluffton and Fort Wayne because the tarvia on the road was melt- : ing and splashing on cars. It is almost ; impossible to get travia off the cars )' and it ruins the finish. — o Secretary Weeks Is Improving Steadily Boston. Mass., June 5. — (United Press.) — Continued improvement is reported in today's bulletin on the t condition of Secretary of War Weeks, f convalescing from an operation performed a week ago yesterday.

Price 2 Cents.

SCORCHINC SUN SENDS MERCURY STEADILY HIGHER Temperature Is Highest Ever Recorded In Indiana In June MORE DEATHS RESULT -Toll Mounts To 112 in Nation: No Relief In Sight For Three Days « Unite t Pi» Scr\ iu»> • Intlittntipolis. June 5 (Spei eiiil lo Dtiily Democrtil) A scorching sun drove temperalures steadily higher in Indiana i today as the slate remained in ’ the grasp ol the most intense [ .lune heat wave known in the ! history of the local weather J bureau. the temperature was ;<St,3 in Indianapolis, the highest 'ever recorded in .lune. I’wo deaths were recorded in Indiana from the heat yesterday. One man was prostrated in Indianapolis this morning. Schools were dismissed and numerous ollice forces were given a part holiday. So terrific was the heal that streets and sidewalks literally exploded. Five cases where the bricks blew up from the pavement were reported lo Street Commissioner Smelzer. The water supply at Bicknell was exhausted and citizens appealed to tlie state public commission for help, lieports from I.aPorte said heat had wrecked part of the Dunes pavement, t'riqis were seared by dry weather, and reports show the damages mounting. Dozens of truck growers report ' that their crops had been ruined Vincennes, June 5 The weather bureau thermometer elimbed to 103 H’ONTINUED ON I’AGE SIX) Plot Against Life Os Spanish King Frustrated l.ondon, June 5 il'nited Press) — An Evening News dispatch from Cerbtre on the Franco-Spun sh border today reported the friistnrtion of I lots against the lives of the Spanish king and queen by discovery of bombs laid on ■ tracks near Barcelona and in the Barcelona cathedra! where King Alfonso was to attend mass yesterday. WEED EXPERT TO HE HERE SOON Purdue University Man To Explain Methods Os Eradicating Weeds Albert A. Hansen, of Purdue University. known throughout Indiana as an authority on weeds and the r eradication. will be tn Apitams county Thursday of next week as the result of an urgent request placed for him some time ago by County Agent Buscite. The forenoon will be devoted, by Mr. Hansen to a "weed identification’’ meeting at the county agent's office. A discussion of poisonous plants, noxious weeds ami their eradication will be featured at the tneetng. At one-thirty in the afternoo!'. of the same day a "Canada Thistle" meeting will be held on the Roll; 1 Sipe farm, just opposite the Amos Huser place about 4 miles east of Heron on the “Herne Pike" Farmers will meet there to hear Mr. Hansen explain the be: t methods of getting rid of the troublesome pest as well as other noxious weeds Due to the rapid increase of the thistle in Aadams county, it is expected a large number will be present. ' Mr. Hansen is also well known from t the fad that he lias carried out num--5 erous experiments with poisonous . plants. His articles are frequently '• seen in the "Indiana Farmers Guide" and similar farm publications.