Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 173, Decatur, Adams County, 23 July 1925 — Page 1

Vol XXIII. Number 173.

SCOTT REFUSES toabandonhope of BEING FREED Draws Near PRIEN DS WORK HARD Wife And An Attorney Visit Governor In A Last Last Effort il’nltA'l Press Service) Springfield. HL, July 23 - Mrs Bussell Scott and Arthur Keitels, a Chicago attorney, drived here this afternoon in .. i iis t effort to save Bussell Scott from the gallows. Fhev hoped to see Governor Small, but refused to make any statements. (By James T. Kolbert, United Press , Staff Correspondent) j Chicago. July 23 — Refusing to abandon hope. Russell Scott, former ! millionaire, cheerfully paced his, 1 death cell today whie his wife, attor- t n eya and friends made another last ( desperate effort to stave off execu-1 < Russell played cards with the mem- I hers of the death watch until 3:15 am and then went to bed. He was vp after some five hours’ sleep, and, smilingly reaffirmed his faith in eventful escape from the gallows. Letters and telegrams asking for i a stay of sentence or clemency are] deluging President Coolidge and Governor Small. Backed by a $5,000 defense fund. I two new attorneys for Scott are gathering testimony which they say will r throw doubt on the testimony that c Scott murdered Joseph Maurer, drug ) store clerk. The attorneys announc- 1 ed that Governor Small had granted c them an interview today, the time and place to l»e announced lati>T" "* i Indications from Springfield were that the governor would not Inter- j sere and that Russell would hang at t sunrise tomorrow' unless his brother, | Robert, appears. . 1 Mrs. Catherine Scott. Russell's wife, and his father, Thomas Scott. 5 are concentrating in the hunt for i Robert. Last night, Mrs. Scott made j two appeals over the radio, hoping ( against hape that Robert would be t listening in and answer her plea to j surrender. o f ROB HUCKSTER TRUCK I Thieves Take Merchandise Vafaed At c SSO From Truck In Front Os < Store In Vera Cruz. t Thieves stole about SSO worth of g merchandise from a huckster truck . belonging to the Fred Schafer store t in Ver Cruz, Tuesday night, and haul- f ed it away in a large truck. Mr. Shaf- ( er reported to Wells county officers yesterday. Mr. Schafer had loaned his . huckster truck early in the evening and left the truck stadding in front of ( the store during the night. The truck in which the thieves hauled- te loot away trailed by the officers as far as the school building where it was turn ed around. I Mr. Schafer listed the goods stolen as follows: Twelve pair of overalls, 8 blouses, 3 or 4 rompers, dry goods, 1 sack of Hour, oil cloth, 11 or 12 ( pounds of coffee, some mustard, peanuts and some baking powder. The list of articles is valued at SSO. - ( Corn Crop In Elkhart t County Ahead Os Season (United Press Service) Nappanee, Ind., July 23 —Northern Indiana is assured of the largest corn crop in more than a /decade, accord- _ Ing to farmers of Elyiart and adjoin- ( ing counties. f f Wann weather and frequent show- ( p rs have resultedJin a remarkable ( growth of corn tljoughout this, section. i I The crop is r a Vfrom one to three weeks ahead i'j O f < usual season. ( .. i 1 Boy A Suicide < ’s * ' f Logansport.! July 23—The father , iof Robert Hiller. 13, refused to let ( him accompan/v farm hands to the hay ■ ■eld. ■ Despondent, Robert hanged himself ivith a leather strap. The mother found |h'' body. I 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

PASSES AWAY —— n r B - +- I — - CARRDINAL BEGIN. Quebec Begin, primate of the Catholic church in Canada, died Sunday, July 19. after a week’s illness. Cardinal Begin was 85 years old. He was stricken with uremia on July 12 after he had laid a cornerstone of a new church in the archdiocese of Quebec. HANDLE CASE Washington Evolution Suit Is Placed In Hands Os Attorney General Washington, July 23—The department of Justice will act for District of Columbia authorities in the suit which has been brought here to test legality of teaching evolution and other sciences in the public schools. Under Secretary of the Treasurer \f!TOn TfcnW tW thaCth.jase had been placed in the hands of Attorney General Sargent by the treasury department which is involved because it pays salaries of feat hers here. The suit seeks to enjoin Frank White, treasurer of the United States and others, from paying school authorities who permit use of scientific texts, citing a la w which prevents teachings -'disrespectful to the holy Bible”. Legislation passed by congress to forbid such teachings in the public schools in the District of Columbia is unconstitutional and should be wiped out. Corporation Counsel Francis Stephens, who will direct Washington's evolution, case declared today. Stephens indicated that he would submit this position when school authorities are arraigned next Tuesoay tn the suit instituted by Loren Wittner. government clerk, as a taxpayer, to test validity of the act. o— MORE QUAKES COMING Professor Bendandi Predicts Earth Tremors For Alaska And North America On July 25 And 26. Farena, Italy, July 23 — Professor Bendandi Italian seismologist, whose predictions of earthquakes in recent years have been fulfilled almost without exception, today, through the United Press predicted a “terrific earthquake in Atlanta and North America on July 25 and 26. He likewise predicted that a new earthquake would strike Japan on the thirtieth. Three Decatur women were the principals in a fistic affair which promised, for several minutes, to be a thriller. The combat occurred at the corner of Monroe and Second streets last night about 5:30 o’clock, and was said to have been caused by as yet no charges have been filed. — o * COLUMBUS—The old fashioned poato bug is playing havoc in Bartholomew couty. according to S. R. Mines, of Columbus, county agent. Many patches of potatoes and other garden crops, and even corn have been destroyed. Weather Fair tonight and Friday: somewhat warmer Friday.

AMERICAN IS SLAIN IN CHINA BY BANDIT GUNS Another American Is Imprisoned According To Peking Reports U. S. MAKES DEMANDS Requests Central Government Strong Enough To Protect Foreigners (By Randolph Gould. United Press Staff Correspondent) Peking. July 23 —While defending his experienced ranch on the Sun-1 gari river, near Harbin. Morgan Palmer, American organizer of the Nanchurlan Development company.) was killed by as was his. servant. Dr. Harvey Howard, head of the. optical department of the Rockefeller* foundation, Peking, has been irnpris-l oned by the Chinese. The American consul at Harbin is malting representations to Marshal Chang Tso L'n. war lord cf Manchuria. in the Palmer case, while the Peking legation is presenting a preliminary statement of facts to the foreign office. (By Ludwell Denny. United Press Staff Correspondent) Washington. July 23 — America's demand for a responsible central Chinese government strong enough to protect foreign lives and property will be made more severe following the killing of the American. Morgan Palmer, in the Sungari river district and the seizure of Dr. Harvey Howard. Official confirmation of United Press reports of the killing by Chinese bandits of Morgan Palmer and capture of Dr. Harvey Howard. Americans, in the Sungari river district of Manchuria, was received at the” state tfepartmenT'here 'at 10:30 aim today. No new details were given in the official report. Officials here were inclined to absolve the Peking government from any direct responsibility since it has only nominal control over the Sungari region. That area, around which has center ed the conflict between Japanese and Russia spheres of influence, has long been a king of no-man's land. Infested by desperadoes Officials see in the Palmer case added necessity for bringing about a strong Peking government capable of maintaining order throughout China as the present provisional regime is not. TRIAL OF POISON WIDOW NEARS END Defense Expected To Rest Today After Mrs. Cunningham Is Questioned (United Press Service) Crown Point, Ind . July 23 Trial of Mrs. Anna Cunningham, of Gary, charged with murdering her sou. Waltef, neared an end today. Mrs. Cunningham, placed on the, witness stand late yesterday by the ( defense, was to be uestioned further by her attorneys today and aftr she is cross examined by state's attorneys, the defense will rest its case. Mrs- Cunningham denied again confession she made to authorities of Lake country that she pqisoned Walter and two other of her children. She said she had no memory of having made the statements credited ■ to her. The defense contends Mrs. Cunningham was not mentally responsible yvhen the statement was made. Pleads Not Guilty To Charge Os Intoxication Sam Gehring, of Vera Cruz, pleaded not guilty to a charge of public intoxication when arraigned in the justice of peace court of 'Squire Weibert in Bluffton, Tuesday night. H.ls case was set for a hearing on July 25, at 7 pm.. Mr. Gehring furnished bond for his appearance. The charge was preferred against him late Monday by Sheriff Noah Frau-, higer.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, July 23, 1925.

“EVOLUTION KNEES” Omaha, Neb.. July 23—The first pair of ‘‘evolution knees” wore wrecked on the rocks of parental discipline. Mary Bell, 17 year old flapper, who yesterday appeared on the streets with a portrait of Clarence Darrow painted on her right knee and another of William I Jenings Bryan on her loft, was spunked and put to bed on her re- | turn home from the artist's j studio, her mother admitted today. : Mary’s plans for tripping the I'ght fantastic with her new knees ala fashionable dance last | night went a glimmering when her father saw the gleaming connten- | ances of Clarence and Bill on Mary's dimpled knees. Instead of being the belle of the hall, Mary spent the evening scrubbing Bryan's smile and Darrow's scow) off her knees. BAPTIST CHURCH CHOOSES PASTOR The Rev. (X E. Miller, Os St. Paris, Ohio. Accepts Call To This City The First Baptist Church has extended a unanimous call to the Rev. O. . Miller, of St. Baris, Ohio, to become Its pastor, as the successor of the Rev. F. D. Whitesell, and Rev. Miller has acepted. Rev Miller is not a stranger in Decatur. as he was pastor of the Baptirit church a few years ago. He made a good record while he was here, and was well liked by the Baptist people and the people of the city. He is a married man. with two children, the older of whom Will enter Decatur high school this fall. Mr. Miller is well prepared for the ministry, and is a strong Gospel preacher. He is a devout student of the Scriptures, and a spiritual man in every respect. He has had goofl success in every pastorate that he has held, having built a new church at Mentone. Indiana. Mrs. Miller is an accomplished and well-trained church worker, having been connected with the Indiana State Baptist Convention, as an official worker before her marriage; and also for a time she was church missionary for the First Baptist Church, Fort Wayne, and a settlement worker in Pittsburgh Penn. Rev Miller and family will move here about the first of September, or soon thereafter. Rev. Whitesell has accepted a position as associate professor of Evangelism and director of Practical work in the Northern Baptist Theological seminary at Chicago, and will begin his new work early in September. He has been pastor of the local church for the last three and one-half years. — o Large “Gasser” Uncorked In Vicinity Os Sullivan Sullivan, Ind.. July 23.—After blowing sand rocks and boulders more than 100 feet into the air for over 60 hours with the roar of a tornado, younger number two, the largest “gasser” ever uncorked in this section. was under control today after defying all attempts to cap it. The pressure was so great that parts of the casing and equipment were blown from the well. The well was drilled by the Dome Gas company, and is located in Gill township. Sullivan county. ■ o Land Values Decrease Newcastle, Ind., July 23. — (United Press.) — Records of the auditor of Henry county today showed a reduction of $3,000,000 in assessed valuation of farm land this year as compared with 1924. There was a substantial increase in property valuations in Newcastle o — ALEXANDRIA — Chief of Po’ice Dave Benedict of Alexandria had some fun at the expense of two youths from Elwood who are pretending that they were intoxicated. He locked them up in jail, but released them before the last car left for Elwood. o— SEYMOUR — Lawrence Higgins of Seymour, is to face trial on an assault and battery charge because he shot fnecrackers said to have been more than three inches.

PARDON OF MRS. KRAUSS CAUSES MUCH PROTEST Citizens Os Hartford City Resent Action Os Governor Jackson RELEASED WEDNESDAY Pardoned Woman Leaves Immediately For Bedside Os Father In Buffalo Hartford City, Ind. July 23—Citizens of Hartford City today expressed resentment over the action of Governor Jackson in pardoning Mrs. Rae Krauss, who was sentenced to life imprisonment from here in 1904 for the murder of her stepdaughter, Crystal Krauss. “If there had been a public hear-j ing on the pardon petition Hartford, City residents would have been there to oppose,” declared A- G.| Fmsweiler, attorney who fought previous efforts of Mrs. Krauss to secure her freedom. John Burns, who as prosecuting ( attorney, sought the death penalty for Mrs. Krauss in 1904. Declared he would go to Indianapolis and at-j tempt to have Governor Jackson rescind tlie pardon. Burns characterized the pardon as a “miscarriage of justice.” Mrs. S. J. Farrell, who was a neighbor of the Krauss family, volunteered to accompany Burns to the governor’s office to “tell him the truth about, the murder.” Mrs. Farrell's young son was sent by Mrs. Krauss to buy the poison with which she killed her stepdaughter. Indianapolis. July 23 — Mrs. Rae Krauss, 46. women prisoner pardoned by Governor Jackson, was speeding to Buffalo. N. Y-. today to the bedside of Hmt «W»1 UUbor. F. W. Andernum. She was released last night from the Indiana women's prison where she had served nearly <wenty-one years for the murder of h>«- stepdaughter. Crystal Krauss, at Hartford City, Ind. Prison officials, after announcing she would be liberated today set her free during the night to shield her from the curious. The prison board of trustees recommended her for pardon because she had been an “ideal daughter” to her aged father. She supported him for many years witii needle work done in prison. Mrs. Krauss killed her stepdaughter because of jealousy over the attentions paid her by the father. William Krauss. oAUCTION SCHOOL OPENS AUGUST 3 • Large Number Os Students Signify Intention Os Attending Session The Reppert Auction School.; which has been held each summerj and winter in this city for the last several years, will swing into action Monday, August 3. according to Col. Fred Reppert, president and founder of the school. Between 35 and 401 students have signified their inten-. tion to take the course offered by the excellent staff of instructors. Col. Reppert will take an active part in the instruction of the students ( and Will have the same able assist- ( ants who were connected with the school last year. The classes Will be held at Bellmont Park and the sample auctions will be held in Decatur During the three weeks of inten-, sive study, the pupils will receive all forts of instruction pertaining to the j making of a. good auctioneer. Voice culture, public speaking, psychology and other subjects dealing with the art, will be taught thoroughly. Many graduates of the Reppert school in the last tew years already have achieved considerable fame in the auctioneering profession. The summer term will last three weeks, Col. Reppert stated today. The students will arrive August 1 and 2 and will be ready for first classes Monday morning, August 3. They will be kept busy during the entire three weeks, learning methods and fundamentals of auctioneering.

CHAPLAIN DIES — .. IL «?«•»»■... I THE REV. JOHN WHELAN Rockford, 111., — This picture presents the Rev. John H. Whelan, pastor of St. Mary's church. Rockford, one of the largest in Rockford diocese. He (lied Thursday, July 16, in St. Anthony's hospital here. He was one of the chaplains in the thirty-third division and saw much service in France. His illness was attributed to the hardships and gassing he experienced overseas. LEMUEL FISHER DIED LAST NIGHT Former Decatur Resident Expired At Paw Paw, Michigan Word was received here at ooon by relatives informing them of the death of Lemuel Fisher, age 65, former Decatur resident, which, occurred at his home at Paw Paw. Michigan at midnight last night, following an illness from oancer. Mr. Fisher took ill about, two years ago. following injuries which he received when struck and trampled upon by an infuriated bull. He was born in Root township, in 1860. and lived in this county until about 30 years ago when he moved to Huntington and was employed at the Erie railroad. While a resident here he was engaged in the bridge building business. He moved to Paw Paw about twenty years ago and engaged in farming. The body will be brought here Friday night and the funeral services will 'be conducted from the Decatur Methodist church at ten o'clock Saturday morning. Burial will be made in the Decatur cemetery. He is survived by four children and three brothers,. Amos Fisher, fire chief of this city; Lace Fisher of Eaton, Ind., and Jonas Fisher, of Lefufburger. Ohio. Two sisters, Mrs. Harry Butler, and Mrs. Mary Hurst, of this o'.ty, also survive. o REDECORATE CHURCH Contract Let For Painting Os Interior Os First Mennonite Church Os Berne. Berne, July 23—The contract for redecorating the First Mennonite church of Berne was let Tuesday to O. J. Kover & Son, of Fort Wayne. The bid was more than $2,000 it is said although the exact figures were not made public. Five painting firms submitted bids on the job. The interior of the church will receive five coats of paint. The original decoration was made with water paint, but oil paint will be used for the redecorating. Two tons of paint have been bought for the work. The wood work will not be refinished. The redecorating will be done during the month of August. No provision has been made so far tor the church services during the time the redecorating is in progress. —o Another Damage Suit Filed Against C. & O. Marion, Ind.. July 23—Damages in the sum of $50,000 are sought from the Cheasapeake & Ohio railroad in a suit on file here today for the death of Daniel Nichols, killed in the wreck at Converse in June. | The suit is the second resulting from the wreck, in which eleven railroad workmen were killed.

Price 2 Cents.

YOUNG FARMER ELECTROCUTED IN HIS GARAGE Lawrence Durbin Found Dead After Turning On Electric Light CORONER REPORTS Cause Os High Voltage In Light Switch Undetermined So Far Lawrence Durbin, age 29. an Adams county farmer residing five miles east of this city, near Pleasant Mills, was electrocuted about 7 o'clock Wednesday night, when he touched an electric light switch button in the garage at his home. The switch button is believed to have carried a heavy voltage, although the cause has not been determined. Mr. Durbin was unmarried and lived with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joel Durbin. The body was found lying on the ground about twelve feet in front of the garage door. Harold Mattax, of Geneva. Adams county coroner, stated late this afternoon that his report would be accidental death by electrocution. Mr. Mattax completed his investigation th):s afternoon. It was at first thought that. Mr. Durbin's death had been due to heart trouble, superinduced by a slight shock from the light switch, but the family physician told the coroner that the man’s heart was not defective and that he was in good health. The only burns on Mr Durbin's body were slight burns on the thumb and index finger on his left hand, where he had caught hold of the switch button. An. investigation cf the wiring system and transformer will not be made until representatives of the insurance company in which the Pleasant Mills light and power company is insured, arrive. The current has been turned off at the house. Other persons operated the light switch last night after Mr. Durbin's body was found and they stated that they received slight shocks. The only explanation so far is that the transformer. may be defective probably due to an electrical storm, that a high current is carried by the Tight wires at certain times. One side of Mr. Durbin’s face was bruised, indicating that he had fallen heavily to the ground. A little Rfrl who is making her home with the Durbins, received a shock earlier in the evening when she turned on a light in the basement of the house. The fingers on one of her hands were badly burned, it is said. Otherwise the girl was not injured, it is said. Electricians state that it is likely that the transformer across the road from the Durbin home was damaged by lightning in an electrtical storm which occured at Pleasant Mills Monday. Several transformers were burned out. but the Durbin family stated that the one by their house evidently was not damaged, as their lights were still on. Consequently, the transformer was not examined. It is probable that the transformer was leaking and that a current in excess of the 110 volts was carried by the wires!. However, this cannot be definitely determined until a thorough investigation has been made. Mr. Durbin had worked in the harvest fle'd. cutting oats, all day. It was his custom to go to Pleasant Mills each evening to spend a few hours before retiring and Carl Burkhart a neighbor usually went with him. The two men planned to go to Pleasant Mills last night and Mr. Durbin started for the garage to get his car shortly after 7 o'clock. Mr. Durbin had run his car out of the garage before eating supper and it is not known why h- 1 returned to the garage before starting to Pleasant Mills It its supposed, however, that he wanted to get something in the garage to take to town with him. A little boy who Is visiting at the Durbin home, who was going to town with Mr. Durbin, went to the garage about 7:20 to get into the car and found the man’s lifeless body lying in front of the garage. He rau back to the house and told Mr. Durbins father and the elder Mr. Durbin ran (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)