Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 142, Decatur, Adams County, 16 June 1925 — Page 1

JJECATUR daily democrat

Vol. XXIII. Number 142.

EXCURSION TRAIN WRECKED: 28 KILLED

STEPHENSON'S ATTORNEYS WIN GREAT VICTORY Collapse Os Murder Charge Predicted; Get Girl’s Dying Statement DEFENSE ELATED Girl’s Statement Tells Os Her Relations With ExKlan Leader (United Press Service) Noblesville, June 16— (Special to Daily Democrat) Collapse of the state charge of murder against D. C. Stephenson and his two aides for the death of Miss Madge Oberholtzer was predicted this afternoon by Ira Holmes, one of the defense attorneys. Holmes was jubilant after studying the death statement of the girl which was turned over to the defense today at the hearing on the petition for rebase of the three on bail. Her own statement shows that the girl took poison at ten in the* morning at a hotel. Holmes said. “She admitted before she died that she didn’t tell anyone about it until the afternoon. That was six hours and doctors say that no matter what medical attention was given her after that it would have done her no good. "That hits the charge in the head The statement also shows that Stephenson wanted to many thejjrl and ■he refused.” The state's murder charge is based on the claim that the three became responsible for the death by refusing medical attention after she had taken the poison. Attracted by the apparent influence and power of Stephenson with state officials Miss Oberholtzer formed the acquaintance with the former grand dragon which ended in her death last April. This was revealed today in the death statement of the girl. Miss Oberholtzer met Stephenson at a banquet given for Governor Jackson in Indianapolis according to the statement. She said Stephenson danced with her several times and asked her for a date and that she had dinner with him at the hotel Washington on a later evening. "I was attracted by his influence and poweP with state officials and his general political influence,'' the statement said. "Subsequently I was at his home at a party with several prominent people. 1 was interested n> getting an educational bill before the legislature killed. Stephenson said he would - get the bill killed and it was (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) BIBLE SCHOOL OPENS IN BERNE » _____ Five - Week Term Opens Monday Morning; 2(10 Children Enrolled (Special To Daily Democrat) Herne, June 16 — The live week s term of summer Bible School, for children 5 to 14 years of age. opened yesterday morning at the school building here. The Bible School has been held tiie last two years, and much in tereat has been manifested therein Close to 200 children enroled in the school this year. The children will meet every morn ing at eight o’clock and stay until e’-sven. Various routes have ben esablished to bring the children to school, several town persons having arranged schedules. The .Rev. P. R. Schroeder has been appointed superintendent of the clas ees, besides a staff of eight other teachers. Abraham Beer, has been named janitor for the five week's course.

PATROLMAN is sentenced! Must Serve 2-21 Years For Killing Man He Tried To Scare. Covington, Ind., June 16. - Allen Shaft, former night patrolman, today faced a sentence of two to 21 years ‘n the state reformatory at Pendleton for a practical joke. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced yesterday for shooting Joseph Tague last April ami said he fired at Tague to scare him. Tague was killed. YOUNG PEOPLE TO GIVE PAGEANT — Young People Os Presbyterian Church To Stage Play Sunday Evening The people of the Presbyterian church will stage a pageant in the church next Sunday evening, starting at 7:30 o’clock. The tintle of the pageant is, "A Modern Christian Quest", which is a presentation of the quest to which the church summons young people today. Among the characters appearing in the pageant are: spirit of service, church community, poverty, needy for eigners in costume, a nurse and the young people who go out to help them There is a large cast in the pageant The cast will be assisted by an organist an,i singers. The young people will give the pageant as a benefit for the young peo pies' Winona fund, a collection of the evening going to that fund. Each year the Presbyterian church sends a delegation to the young peoples' conference 4 held .at WipptUL Laky., and the young people work throughout the year to raise money to defray the ex penses of the trip. In recent years, th Dcatur church has had one of the largest delegations at the conference of any church in the-state. The local young people will leave for Winona next Tuesday. A large delegation will go this year, it is said. MISS POPE IS WITNESS TODAY Tells Os Iler Love Affair With Billv McClintock In Shepherd Trial (United Press Service) Criminal Court, Chicago, June 16— Smiling and blushing, beautiful Isabelle Pope today went through the "hardest ordeal”,—she saw her love affair with Billy McClintock, the "millionaire orphan”, paraded in public in a crowded court room. Isabelle Was a witness for the prosecution. seeking to prove that William D Shepherd murdered young McClintock in order to obtain Billy's fortune. But it was under cross examination by William I). Shepherd, chief conn sei for Sbephed’s defense, that Miss Pope was called on to test her nerve She identified love letters she had written to Billy and heard them read in public. Stewart handed Miss Pope the orig inal letters she had written to Bill' when he was away at Dartmouth col' ege. She turned them over, looked al her own handwriting, read the endear (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) _ ■—o- — WANT STRAUB PAROLED Relatives Os Harry Straub Seeking His Release From Prison. A petition is being circulated by relatives of Harry Straub, asking for his release from prison by parole or par don. The petition will be presented to the state board of pardons and to the governor. Straub was sentenced to a term of from one to eight years in the Michigan City prison about two months ago, after confessing to having taken a sum of money from the soft drink store operated by Fred Filllenkatnp. A little daughter of the family has the petition out and it has been signed by a number of people including Mr. Fullenkamp.

MRS. SUSAN MOSES, 96, QUAINT MIXTURE GF MODERN GIRL AND OLD-FASHIONED GIRL OF 1850

* '" 4 ! f ’BO W / ► ' ' A- /ty * fib' J itw MB < Mil,;. : ’-ctl MRS. SUSAN MOSES

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following story and the accompanying photograph, of whicli Mrs. Susan Moses, a cousin of Miss Nettie Moses, E. S. Moses and J. C. .Moses, of this city, is the subject matter, appeared in a tecent issue of the Canton, Ohio, Daily News. Mrs. Moses is tiie old est woman in Canton. The story and picture of Mrs. Moses are reprinted herewith through tiie courtesy' of the Canton Daily News. A quaint mixture of the modern woman and tiie old fashioned girl of nearly a century ago is Canton': oldest woman. Mrs. Susan Moses She does all her own work, after the fashion of so many years ago. But she's very modern in her ideas of how much work a woman should TO GIVE AWAY AUTO Decatur Merchants To Give Away Ford Touring Car On July 3. A Ford touring car will be given away by the Decatur merchants on Friday, July 3, instead of the coupon books, as was stated in the advertisement carried in Monday evening's Daily Democrat. Tiie gift day will be held on Friday. July 3. in order that the* stores may close on Saturday. in observance of Independence Day, July 4. Tickets are being given away by most of the merchants in Decatur with each fifty cent purchase. SAYS ORDER IS BEING RESTORED U. S. Consul Jenkins Says Chinese Police Beginning To Function Washington, June 16- — (United Press.)—The American Baptist hospital at Wu Chow was stormed by a Chinese mob who shouted at the staff "kill foreigners," the state department was adv scd today by Consul General Douglas Jenkins, at Canton. The incident took place last Week. Jenkins said, adding that the mob did not follow up their threat with any disorder. Anti foreign agitation is cont inn ing in Canton, Jenkins reported, ini' he said the police department wa’t beginning to function again and "i now seems likely that order will b< (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, June 16,1925.

do. "My own washings? Indeed not. A woman shouldn't be a slave to the wash tub if she can help it. And I don’t like t do house-work either. Very few womernn do if they will but confess it,” she said with a charm ing smile. It's very difficult to realize that Mrs. Moses is 96 years old; that if she lives four years longer she will I reach the century mark. She is so j young in her talk and in her quaint I mannerisms. And she has just a | touch of obstinacy that makes her I all tiie more interesting to talk to "No, 1 don t like the »hort dresses ED .:N I'AGE Twin HEAR ARGUMENTS IN DAMAGE SUIT I Suit Against Telephone Company And City Goes i To Jury Late Today

The case of Zoe Zehrbach against ■ the Citizens Telephone company and 1 the City of Decatur, suit for $15,000' 1 damages, was expected to go to the ■ jury about 4 o'clock this afternoon. The defense rested about' 11:15 o'clock this morning and the opening argument for the plaintiff was given by Attorney Henry II Heller before I the noon recess. Mrs. Zehrbach is seeking to recover judgment for personal injuries suffered in an accident on North Second street on the evening of s August 1, 1924, when the automobile in which she was riding struck a guy wire on a telephone pole and was overturned. The plaintiff alleges I that the telephone pole and guy wire were located so that they were a st ructions in the street. The deY fetise maintains that there was be- , tween 24 and 25 feet between the I telephone pole and the grass on the ( other side of the street and, therefore. the street was in a reasonably " safe condition for traffic. The trial I opened a week ago Monday morning. | Weather ", Indiana: Mostly fair tonight ami ’’ Wednesday except probably local thunder storms in south portion. Slightly cooler tonight in northeast portion.

FINE WORK IS BEING DONE BY BIBLE SCHOOL About 300 Pupils Meet Daily To Learn Teachings Os The Bible WORK IS GRADED tirades For Various Ages Make Work Efficient And Interesting At eight-thirty o’clock each morn ing of the week, about three hundred Decatur children ranging in age from five to sixteen years, gather at the Central school building, under the tutelage of trained teachers, to learn the world’s great religion of God and of Jpsus. The school in non-denom-inational and has pupils from most of the Protestant churches in Decatur. A visit to the school will show one of the great work that the school is doing. Attendance, though not com pulsory, is almost perfect and the work is so artanged that none of it becomes toilsome or monotonous. The school has been made possible by contributions from the churches ami by a small entrance of 50 cents that pupils pay when entering the, tive-week training course. There are eight regular grades and a kindergarden grade in the Daily 1 Vacation Bible School. In the kinder garden, the Bible is taught by means of pictures, drawings and readings in simple words that will stay with the little tots through their life Stories are told in a plain, understandable and interesting manner and the pupils also help in cutt ng Bible pictures. In the first grade the work varies The pupils have some memory work, listen to simple stories of the Bible and also do some handwork Some very clever picture books are used in the first grade. Each page has a title based on a story and the pupils I (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) > o - SIX DROWN IN WABASH i Bathers Drown When They Step Into , Deep Hole In River. 4 , Terre Haute, Ind., June 16 Th" Wabash river had claimed its sixth ■ life by drowning here today. While I bathing Monday night John Lee, 34, A Bertram Hatton, 16 and the latter's sister, Jessie Patton, 18, were drown- • ed. Mrs. Lee, wife of the drowned man. narrowly escaped the same (ate. She her husband, and the two Hattons were wading hand in hand. Suddenly " they stepped off over their heads in a hole in the river bed. Mrs. Lee broke away from th others and another bather, Joe Adams, hearing her screams, it swam to her assistance and saved her.

REVIEW BOARDS COMPARE NOTES Wells County Board Os Review Visits Local Board This Morning The members of the Wells county board of review, including ('. W. Mar shall, county assessor; W A. Woodward, alditor; Ray Sawyer, treasurer and Kenneth Kunkel, of Bluffton, ami Charles Jennings, of Ossian, visited here this morning on a tour of Adams Jay and Blackford counties to com pare notes and to ascertain the best method of equalizing the valuations They called on the local board am visited with others here an hour ore: this morning. Indications are that li Wells county the average on fart lands will be reduced ten or twelvi dollars er acre, which, of courst makes town and city property it crease. The men declare their job very difficult one this year mid we ar sure from what we have heard her the situations are quite similar in tbi and other counties.

COUSIN DIES IN DAYTON Father Francis Schalk, Cousin Os Mrs. Adam Buettel, Is Dead. Mrs. Adam Buettel received word this morning from Dayton. Ohio, that her first cousin, the Reverend Father Francis Schalk, died suddenly on Sun day while he was preparing to conduct the morning services. The funeral services will be conducted Thursday morning at Curthagenia. Ohio, and Mr. Buettel and family will attend. OFFERS TO MOVE ELEPHANT ROCK — Man Asks S3OO To Move Rock Here forGeneStrat* ton-Porter Memorial A. M. Meads, building mover and ex pert, from Convoy. Ohio, was here today and with French Quinn and Geo. Wemhoff. visited Elephant Hock, which it is proposed to move to this city from its location near here and dedicate to the memory of Mrs Gene Stratton-Porter, the famous authoress who resided'in this city ami county for many years. Mr. Meads, who by the way has had much experience in moving large buildings and objects, says the job can be done within a week and offers to take the contract for S3OO. He caught the enthusiasm of those back of the proposition and says he will lie glad to do the job without profit lie is equilied and ready any time the word is given. Efforts to rase a fund of $750 to SI,OOO to move the boulder, place in on a concrete base and secure a iirou ze tablet, appropriately inscribed, will be made. Similar monuments can he found in many places, but few are as large as this one. Mr. Wemhoff be lieveg the stone is of meteoric origin and says the cost of mot ing it here would he less than the freight on the same size stone from any marble or limestone quarry'.The county commis sloners will be asked to grant the rigid to move the stone over the high way and the committee in charge wil decide where it will he located, if ar rangeinents can lie made to finance it SAXOPHONE BAND TO GIVE CONCERT Famous Cafaro Band To Play At H. S. Auditorium Wednesday Night Decatur's music lovers are assured of a treat Wednesday evening when the Cafaro Saxophone Concert Band gives a concert in the high school auditorium. The concert will be given under the auspices of the Chris tian church.

The Cafaro band is known as one of the best mueieal organizations traveling over the United States. The program to lie given here consists of selections by the entire band, instru mental and vocal solos and selections by a ladies saxophone quintette and a saxophone quartet. The program is as follows: 1— March-Project H. Bennett 2— Overture- Determination Al Hayes 3— Fox Trot Indian Boy U Bennett 4— M M. I. —March N. M. Aldrich Part Two 5— ladies Saxophone Quintette A Night In June F. King Irene Stiles, Naomi Webster, Gladys Days, Theresa and Carmela Cafaro 6— Violin Solos By Carmela Carfaro Accompanied by Theresa Cafaro (a A Spanish Dance Op. 58 No. 1 F. Rehfeld (b) Sarabande Carl Bohm (e) IJebesfroud Fritz Kreisler 7 — Vocal Solo Prelude from The Cycle of Life Carisslma Arthur Penn 8— The Clay School Saxophone Quartet Directed by Theresa Cafaro ECHOES from the OPERA Richard Hendricks, Carmela Cafaro, Max Beckler. Bernard Klein Part Three (Saxophone Band) 9— Military Escort 11. Benneti 10—The Little Grey Church. 11 March—Mister Joe. 12—‘‘The Star Spangled Banner.”

Price 2 Cents.

MANY VICTIMS ARE COOKED BY ESCAPING STEAM Train Bearing Scores Os Excursionists Wrecked In New Jersey CAUSED BY STORM Passengers Are Members Os Touring Party Enroute To Europe Hackettstown, N. J.. June 16 (Special to Daily Democrat) At least twenty-eight persons lost their lives anti more are injured tis the result of a Lackawanna excursion train piling up on a debris laden switch near here early today. Six bodies were recovered from the wreckage and 22 of the injured, who were cooked by live steam, died after being taken to hospitals. Hackettstown, N. J., June 16. (United Press.) —Plunging into a debris choked switch during last night’s lightning storm, a special train on the Lackawanna railroad was wrecked near here with a loss of 13 lives. Fifty persons were injured severely and probably a score more received first aid treatment. Six bodies had been taken from the wreckage of the train at noon, seven of 30 injured who were taken to a hospital iu Easton, died from their injuries during the morning and one died In a hospital at Dover Del. Those who died in the hospitals, in most instances were victims of burns from steam which poured into the cats after the steam pipes on the train had broken Many of the injured were still un(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) PAINLEVE HOME AGAIN French Ptemier Wants More Troops To Send Against Riffs. Paris, June 16 -Premier Painleve, home from the front lines in the Franco -Riffian wai in Morocco, announced today that he intends to ask authority to send more troops to the battleground. These would replace men tired by the continuous grind of operations since France began trying to oust Abd El Krini from tiie French zone. He announced further that two torpedo boats are now on the It ffian coast to supress gun running. Painleve Indicated it may lie necessary to ask the chamber for more funds for the campaign which he wants to reduce to tiie shortest possible duration. — ——— O 1

RAIN FINALLY STRIKES BERNE Community Gets Heavy Rain After Missing Previous Storms (Special To Dully Democrat I Berne. June lt> Everything comes to those who wait, was the slogan on the streets of Herne, last night. After being left out with only a few drops Saturday a week ago anil again last Saturday, rain storm broke at Berne and community, yesterday afternoon at three o'clock, and gave the crops the long needed rain. The rain began I falling at three o'clock, and continued i until 4:30 raining about 1 14 inches. r The wind also was strong at frequent intervals, but no damage was j reported, outside of blown down trees. The wind and thunder storm however, damaged the electric lines, and Berne was without electric current for about three hours. The rain yesterday, although too late for hay, and probably wheat, will be of immense value to oats, corn, ,f soy beans, and sugar beets, besides being of much value to the truck patches and various garden plants.