Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 166, Decatur, Adams County, 15 July 1925 — Page 1

Vol. XXIH- Number 166.

SCOPES INDICTMENT UPHELD BY COURT

STORM DAMAGE IN COUNTY IS ABOUT $7,000 Loss In Decatur And Vicinity Conservatively Estimated At $4,700 REPAIRS BEING MADE Electric And Telephone Wires Nearly AU Placed In Use Again Ccnservative estimates place the ptoperty loss from the Saturday storm at 14.700 In Decatur and vicinity. and at about $7,000 for the county The United Brethren church suffered the greatest property damage when falling bricks from the chimney which was struck by lightning, tore a hole through the roof of the church and water seeped in and ruined the plastering in several roonxs This loss was estimated to be about $1,200. Repairs on the chimney stack of the new school building will cost about 1600. according to recent estimates A similar disaster occurred several months ago at the school building and the loss that time was about that amount. Homes and barns in the city were damaged to the extent of about S9OO, according to insurance adjusters. Loss by lightning and wind to the city electric system will amount to about 1800, M. J. Mylott. superintendent of the light plant, estimated today Most of this damage was due to wires and poles being tom down Several transformers also were put [ -ut of commission. The Citizens >lephone company, of this" cWy\~sut tered a loss estimated by Herman Khinger, general manager, at about SSOO. The Ohio Bell Telephone company, which has a line passing through Decatur, suffered about S2OO worth of damage by poles being biown down. Trees, automobiles and other miscellaneous property losses are estimated to be between SSOO and S6OO. Most of the wreckage has been cleared away and the city electric system is again working full force. Most of the broken down telephones have been repaired, and Mr. Ehinger stated this morning that the company's trouble men reported that practically all phones would be repaired by tonight; Losses at other places in the coun (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) o — EARTHQUAKE IS FEIT IN ILLINOIS Edwardsville Shaken By Tremors Tuesday Night; Damage Is Small Edwardsville, 111., July 15. — (United Press.)—Little property damage was reported from the earth tremors which shook Edwardsville early last night. The tremors lasted for several seconds and during that time houses were shaken, dishes knocked from the shieves and some windows broken. Adjoining towns around here today reported that the tremors had been felt only slightly. The tremors started shaking the city shortly before 6 p. m. and lasted for upwards of five seconds. There was an accompanying low moan — some believing it thunder —with the tremors. While there have been a few indistinct tremors here during the past several years, last nights was the most distinct shocks felt in more than 25 years. No general excitement accompanied the shocks. Many persons were, on the streets returning from work when they started and hurriedly sought their homes. However, inasmuch as there was no falling debris the excitement soon passed. Property damage this morning was estimated at only a few hundred dollars, this mainly from broken windows and a few broken bits of household goods.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Arson Officials Probed Fifty-six Fires In June Indianapolis, July 15. — (United Press.) —Fifty-six fires in Indiana were investigated by the arson division of the state fire marshal s office during June, according to the monthly report made public today. Eight confessions to arson and seven convictions were obtained during the month. Thirty-eight cases resulting from investigations in June or previous to that time still pending in court. ; ■ ——■ —° —•—•— GENEVA TO HAVE CHAUTAUQUA I Fine Program To Be Given During Week Os Julv 26-30 ! (Special to Daily Democrat) Geneva, July 15—The sale of sea- , son tickets for the Mutual Chautau- , qua to be held in Geneva, July 26 to 30, is now in process. The Mutual > chautauqua has been shown in Geneva for the last several years and . the talent has been such that all I speak well of it. [ This year, some of the very best , talent that money can produce will i be brought to Geneva under the direction of Mn Glen MacCaddan. The . program for the five days is as follows: Sunday, July 26 Afternoon ' Organization of Junior Town —Junior Director. Evening , Concert—Comor-Smith Duo Entertainment, Protean character sketches —J. W- Zellner « Monday, July 27 I Afterneon Preludr -r Efler WilloffThby LaflW Orchestra lecture "Laughter and Life"—Wallace Bruce Amsbary Evening ; Concert — Eiler-Wiiloughby Ladies' . Orchestra Lecture. "The Poet Seer of Lockerby ■ Street" (James Whitcomb Kiley)— Wallace Bruce Amsbary Tuesday, July 28 Afternoon Prelude. Artist Recital—Cowan SlackSnider Trio • Lecture. "Americanism —The Goal of i History"—Dr. E. E Violetie Evening Concert —Cowan Slack-Snider Trio 1 Lecture. “The Passion Play" (Illustrated)—Dr. E. E. Violette i Wednesday, July 29 Afternoon Dramatic Sketch—Elias Day Players Miscellaneous Readings—Zeda Reid Evening “The Great Commoner" —Elias Day Players Thursday, July 30 Afternoon Prelude—Ye Okie Towne Quartette Lecture. "The Heroic Present"—A. D. Klontz Evening Junior Pageant-Junior Chautauqua Concert—Ye OldJ Towne Quartette — 0 Lightning Struck Brass Ball On Top of Flag Pole On Murray Hotel Saturday One of the interesting occurrences of last Saturday’s storm was revealed yesterday afternoon when employes ! of the Murray Hotel were examining , the flag pole on top of the building. The brass ball at the top of the pole . had been struck by lightning and , split directly in two. During the storm one bolt of lightning shocked everybody who was in the hotel at the time, but Manager Dan Beery remarked that it surely must have been very close. It was , In fact it struck directly above where I he was sitting and since the workmen , have revealed the fact that the flag pole was struck, Mr. Beery admits he was slightly scared. Elks Elect Texas Man Grand Exalted Ruler 1 Portland. Ore., July 15 —W'illiam H. Atweel, of Dalias, federal judge of i the northern district of Teaxs, was 1 unanimously elected grand exalted : ruler of the Benevolent and Protec- ’ tlve Order of Elks Tuesday. Riley C. Powers, of Montpelier, i Vt., was elected grand esteemed loyal knight. Walter F. Meier, of Seattle, | i who is retiring as president of the • Washington State l|lks association.' - was elected grand esteemed lectur- - ing knight. The 1925 convention will be held at Chicago. j

MURDERS GIRL HEHADWRONGED South Dakota Youth Tells Officers Girl Begged Him To Kill Her Watertcwn. S. D. July 15—Imprisonment at hard labor for the remainder of his life was the sentence meted out in the circuit court heart today to Winifred Meeks, 21, of Garden City, S. D. after he pleaded guilty to the charge cf murdering Byrle Healy . 17-year-old Garden City girl, Sunday. The youth was taken to the state prison at Sioux Falls at once Garden City, S. D., Ju.y 15—Fearing violence, police today secreted William Meeks, 21, who is alleged to hue confessed to kil.ing Byrle Healy his puppy love sweetheart, Part of a mob of 200persons reached the Clark connjail to find that Meeks had been spirited away to another jail. A coroner’s jury viewed the charred body of the girl, whi.e the county physician told of her unborn babe. “I killed her because she wanted me to,” Meeks wrote in a signed confession. according to Prosecuting Attorney Hanson. It was his second signed confession, in which he repud.ated implication << Robert Depeel, a Crocker boy. Hours of grilling broke down the boy. not quite 21. and he sobbed out a story of love and folly, fear and tragedy. Pretty little Byrle Healy .17, captivated him. She was one of four pret ty daughters of a highly respected Garden City family. They fell in love. ‘ TlJSlFfo’v’e tnr bounds of wisdom and not long ago Byrle and William faced the first tragedy of their lives. Resolved not to bring disgrace upon her fami.y, Byrle decided that death was sweeter than the life she faced, (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) PLANS ARE MADE FOR CHAUTAUQUA Committee Chairmen Appointed At Meeting Os Directors Last Night The local organization for the Decatur Community Chautauqua Association was perfected at a meet-j ing of the directors held last even-! ing at Dr. Fred Patterson’s office,j the officers appointing chairmen for the different committees. The officers who were elected following the Chautauqua last year are the Rev. H. W. Thompson, president; Miss Fanny Hite, secretary; Dr. F. 1. Patterson, secretary, and C. S. Niblick, treasurer. The chairmen appointed are: Clifton Striker, newly-1 elected county school superintendent | chairman of the Teachers’ Institute arrangement committee; John S J Peterson, chairman of the ticket! committee; W. A. Lower, chairman of the grounds committee; William Linn, chairman of the advertising committee, and A. R. Holthouse, chairman of the publicity committee. This year the chautauqua will be held during teachers’ institute week. August 31 to September 5, and all of the teachers will attend the sessions throughout, the week. A wonderful program has been arranged for this year's chautauqua. The season tickets will be placed on sale within a short time. A meeting of the officers and chairmen will be held next ( week, at which time plans for the chautauqua will be furthered and the work of advertising the big program will be started. o ' — Seven Thieves Sentenced Ind : aapo!is, July 15—Speedy justice was meted out in criminal court yes- | terday to seven men charged with thievery. I In rapid succession, the men were found guilty and given sentences ranging from oue month to two to four- | teen years.

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, July 15, 1925.

[ Observe sixtieth wedding anniversay""] liiv fl ■ > h k’ C- 9 > gi| . fl MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM BREINER.

Union Township Couple Holds . Celebration Sixty years ago today, at the home of the bride’s parents. Mr. and Mrs. Hower, in Kirkland township, occurred the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. William Breiner, well-known residents of Union township. Today. Mr. and Mrs. Breiner. together with their seven children and immediate families, were celebrating their sixtieth wedding anniversary and receiving the good wishes for many more happy years from their host of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Breiner were married .by the Rev. Joseph Smith, whose ■ death occurred several years ago lUntil about eighteen years ago they resided in Kirkland township and at that time moved to Union township, where they own a farm and where both of them are more or less actively engaged in farming. In all of their sixty years of wedded life, their joy and happiness has not been saddened by a deatli in their immediate family. Their seven children are all living. The children are, John W. Breiner. Pittsburgh, Pa.; B. (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) SHADE TREES TO BE TRIMMED L Experts To “Doctor” Beautiful Maples On Court House Lawn The beautiful maple trees around the county court house building w ;ll be trimmed by tree experts this summer, the county commissioners in session yesterday employing two men who offered to do the work. The trees have not been trimmed for several years. Some of the limbs have been broken by storms and an effort will ! be made to ‘'patch" the trees and trim them in an artistic style. Mrs. Grace Erb, of west of the city, was admitted to the Irene Byron sanitarium. Port Wayne, as a county patient. Mrs. Erb had been at the hospital for several weeks and as the county reserves one bed in the institution, the privilege of taking it was given to her by the commissioners. Weather Fair tonight. Warmer in northeast portion; Thursday partly overcast, cooler by afternoon or night.

I French War Bride, Left A Widow,Returning Home Petersburg. Ind., July 15. —Left a widow by a mine accident, Mathilda ’ UiT Ma3o*T)iggs. a" French war bride, was on her way back to her native » * land today. Her husband. Cecil Biggs, was kill- • ed in a mine near here. The couple ■ -met while Biggs was on overseas I duty during the war. STATE PROBES WRECK OF BUS Public Service Commission Investigating Accident Near Greenfield Indianapolis, Ind.. July 15.— I United Press.) — David Matthews, chief inspector of the state public service commission, was sent to Greenfield today to probe the bus wreck which caused the death of Virginia Hover, six, of Indianapolis. The little girl was fatally hurt Saturday when an auto driven by her father, D. M. Hover, collided with a bus on the Hiner Red Ball line near G: eenfield. John W. McCardle, chairman of the comniision, directed Matthews to ' question witnesses of the accident and make a thorough investigation of its cause. The investigation was the first of its kind ordered by the commission ' since busses were designated as common carriers by the last session of the legislature. The act establishing the commission in 1913 authorized it to probe (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) | o EXPECTED TO RECOVER Robert Braun, Injured Ay Automobile At Berne Last Week, Appears To Be Improving. (Special To Daily Democrat! Berne. July 15—Robert Braun, the 9-year-old son of George Braun, proi minent blacksmith of Berne, who was | severely injured when stru<* K «u automobile driven by Raleigh Sipe, ' last Thursday evening, appeared to be > improving yesterday, and the physi- ; cian who has charge of the lad said | that he has a good chance of recoverj ing now, although the danger is still ' great. The boy is conscious most of the time now, but complains of severe . pains in his head, as this was the place where he recelvt/ his injury.

U. S. Police Chiefs Are A Heavy Race Indianapolis, July 15. — (United Press. I—Police chiefs of the United States and Canada are a heavy race. The average weight of the 200 delegates attending the annual convention of the International Association of chiefs of police is between 175 and 210 pounds. County Cork and other sections of! Ireland arc well represented by native sons who have become arms of the law in America. o SENATOR WATSON TO SPEAK HERE Will Be Guest Os K. Os P. Celebration; Committee Chairmen Meet The chairmen of the various com- , i mlttees in charge of arangements for! (he Golden Jubilee celebration to be staged in this city on August 20 by| the Knights of Pythias lodge, held a' meeting in the Pythian home on Third street last night and further plans for the big event. Another meeting of the chairmen will be held on next Tuesday night, at which time complete reports will be made by each. It was reported at the meeting last night that United States Senator, James E. Watson has definitely accepted the invitation to attend the celebration and give an address. Senator Samuel M. Ralston has been invited also. The event will be held in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the fending of the Knigths of Pythias lodge in this city. Many high officials in the lodge wiU be present at the celebration, which wifl he hel<) at Bellmont Park. A big chicken dinner, served by the Pythian Sisters that evening, will be a feature of the celebration. The members of the various committees in charge of arrangements are as follows: Finance committee —W. A, Lower Grounds committee —A. R. Ashbaucher] James Kocher, Fred Ahr. Joseph Linn and Walter B. Johnson. Refreshment committee — E. V. Mills. Same Hite. M. E. Hower. Burt Hunsicker and Charles Beineke. Advertising committee — William Linn. W. h Adams and H. F. Callow Parade committee—Dallas Brown, Carl Fisher, Ed Beery. Garth Hoover and R. D. Myers. Music committee —Dr. J. Q Neptune, Henry Michaud, W. F. Beery and Fred Hancher. Decoration committee — John E. Nelson. Fred Blosser. Ben Hoagland, Doyle Amspaugh and Harry Helm Reception committee —James Bain, Lee Annen. George Myers. James Hurst, Arthur Suttles, C. E. Bell, Sim Fordyce, D. N. Erwin. E. A. Mann and John Tyndall Initaition committee —Roy Mumma., Elmer Chase, Marion Hoagland. Millard Baumgartner and John Beineke. Program committee —John R. Parrish, M. F. Worthman, W. Guy Brown, Harry Staley, Archie Foley and Forest Schnepp. invitation committee —D. B. Erwin, Carl Pumphrey. F. M. Schirmeyer. Freeh Hower and W. H. Lee. Registration committee — Joseph Hunter. Fred Stauffer. Fred Kolter, Ira Fuhrman and H. H. Lammiman. —— o Motorist Leaps To Safety Elkhart, Ind., July 15. — (United Press.) —Leaping from his auto as it was struck and demonlished by a fast train on the New York Central railroad, Hugh Ellefritz escaped without a scratch. 0 Two Youthful Burglars Sentenced At Shelbyville Shelbyville, Ind., July 15. —(United Press.) —Two youthful burglars today faced prison terms of one to fourteen years in the state reformatory for grand larceny. Archie Short, 20, of Franklin, and Wayne Morison, of Morristown, were sentenced for robbing a store at Morristown last winter. Their companion, Earl Spencer, of Franklin, from jail early this week and is still at large.

Price 2 Cents.

PLEA OF NOT GUILTY MADE Bl DEFENDANT Evolution Trial Gets Under Way After Decision Is Announced PROSECUTION SCORES State Wins Big Victory When Judge Holds Law Constitutional (United Press Service) Dayton, Tenn., July 15—John T. Scopes. 24 year old Dayton school teacher, pleaded not ffuiltv of violating the antievolution law in Rhea county court house today. The central figure of the trial sat in his shirt sleeves at the i defense table with his collar I open. “What do you plead?” asked Judge Raulston. I “Not guilty,” replied Scopes’ counsel J. R. Neal, without rising. "Not guilty,” echoed the judge. With Scope’s plea the trial I was placed fairly underway ! after five days of wrangling, confusion and frequent adjournments. Scopes’ plea was made alter Presiding Judge Raulston overruled the motion to dismiss the indictment. Devton, Tenn.. July 15 —The Scopes evwfwtion trial moved forward today' when Presiding Judge John T. Raul ston overruled the defense motion to quash the indictment of John Thomas Scopes. "The court, having passed each ground chronological l )' and given the reasons therefor, is now pleased to overrule the whole motion and require the defendant to plead furth er,’’ said the judge. The decision was a big victory for the prosecution because in upholding the indictment the judge had to ami did rule that the Tennessee antievolution law was thoroughly constitutional, violating neither Tennessee nor federal constitutions. The judge’s opinion was 5,000 words long and dealt exhaustively (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) — o - TOURISTS TO VISIT BERNE Poultry Fanciers Will Inspect Globe Hatchery On Thursday, July 23 (Spec ial To Daily Democrat I Berne, July 15— Between 250 and 300 visitors from all over Indiana are expected to be in Berne. Thursday forenoon, July 23. The visitors will consist of poultry raisers both men and women from all over Indiana. The people will leave Purdue University next Monday morning, and will visit some of the largest poultry farms in the state. They will come here from the north, from Mentone, f through] Warsaw and Huntington, to Bluffton, the to Bertie, they will visit the Globe Hatchery aujl poultry farm east of town. It is expected that a large crowd will turn out to see the tourists, who will travel in 75 automobiles. Practical methods of breeding and feeding will be discussed at every stop, and this will, undoubtedly, be of much value to all. The party will go south from Berne to Greenville, where the tourists will disband. Alleged Rum Runners Nobelsvilie, Ind., July 15. —D. H. Arnold and Dwight Fritchey. of Indianapolis, were held in jail here today charged with rtitn running. The two men were arrested when eighteen gallons of grain alcohol were found in their auto at a camp on White river.