Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 26, Number 201, Decatur, Adams County, 25 August 1925 — Page 1

fil VXVL Number

TO REDUCE CITY TAX RATE TEN CENTS

I MID HIGHWAY I ROBBERY NETS I lANDITSSILOOO I Rank Messenger Held Up I By Five Highwaymen ! Near Clinton, Ind. I ESCAPE IN CAR I Bandits Surprise Victim By I Hiding In Corn Field; I Shots Are Fired ggl —I * I H'nitf‘l Press SerVi<*J I Paris. HU Aug. 25—The Cadillac I touring car used by O>« St. Ber I 1 nice payroll bandits Tuesday I morning «as found this afternoon I Between this city and Chrisan, I by Sheriff Fitymore. bf Edgar I County. It had been abandoned I apparently in favor of a fresh car I The car proved to be one stolen | at Terre Haute last night from I Fred Faust. I (Linton, Ind.. Aug. 25-Armed with I nwed off snotguns and revolver*. I five bandits in a spectacular highway I robbery today seized 111.000 in cash from Fdyd Reed, bank; messenger, betseen Clinton and St. Bernice. Ind. Reed ate otnpanled by an armed fuard. left the First National bank, here by auto for St. Bernice early thi* morning. The money was consigned to the State bank at St. Bernice and was to inert the payroll of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St Paul railroad there. At a point on the highway almost had way between C”,inton and St. grniee. three bandits leaped from a cornfield at the side of th» road and opened fire on Reed's auto. Taken By Surprise Reed and his guard were taken by surprise and were covered by the bandits before they cou'd return the (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) ——o ICCMTS TAKE TOLL OF 10 LIVES

Many Others Injured In Mishaps In Indiana During Last 24 Hours Indianapolis, Aug. 25 — Another heavy to'l from accidents in Indiana during the last twenty four hours was counted today. Ten were dead and several others were injured. Automobile accidents caused three fatalities in Indianapolis. William Bowman. IL, wied when his anto was struck by an interurban car. Aloyslus Hallemeyer. 35, was thrown from his »“to and killed when it struck another car. ixtuis Hollweg, 17, died from injuriwt suffered as his auto clashed into •he abutment of an elevated railroad I crossing An auto overturned while rounding a curve near Marion, killing Lucille Heddon, 16, of Gas City. John Anderson, 51, living near was killed by lightning in a field on his farm. Wilbert Haywood, 18, of Lovilia. ,n wa. died in a hospital at Gary after i*iug struck by an auto on the Dunes highway while repairing his own car. A similar accident on the Dun n s highway near Michigan City cost the J’ I'* 1 '* of Walter Saglais, of Chicago. ‘Sglais was struck by an auto driven hy John Kerwin of Michigan City, *hile repairing a tire. Albert Kivett, 20, jumped from an auto when he thought it was going to R(ri > c k by a Pennsylvania train at Alartinsville. He fell under the train and was killed. ' bite of an insect caused the a ea,h of George Love, Jr., 5, at South Bend. Richard Headly, 6,- fall under a * weeper at Goshen and was •rushed to death. hi^» ranlC Scbowe, 22, was seriously itnl W ? en a tree he was cutting < fell on him al Columbus. icru pffrßonß were injured in auto u Pn,s near Anderson.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Farmer Breaks Ribs In Fall From Granary Wil iam Falk, of near Monroeville, suffered painful Injuries this morning. when he fell while working In a grain ary on his farm. Several ribs were fractured in the fall Mr. Falk Was brought to the Adams County Memorial hospital where he received medical attention. PEOPLES SHOE STORE IS SOLD * L. R. Lepird •'& Company, Os Kendallville, Buy Business In Decatur The Peoples Shoe Store, located on North Second street, has been sold by Ferd Peoples to L R l*plrn & Com pany, of Kendalvlile. The new owners Will take possession on October 1. The Lepird company operates, a chain of shoe stores, owning about six stores. Mr. peoples has owtied the store here for the last 15 years, with the exception of about one year a few year ago when it was owned by the Gay Brothers. He Is undecided as to his future. The new owners of the store will install a complete line of shoes, the same line that is carried in lhe other stores owned by the company. Mr. Peoples will open a big sale next Saturday and he hopes to cose out the entire stock In the store at present, to make way for the stock to be put in by the new owners. The store will be closed on Thursday and Friday of this week. _

MORE RESIGNATIONS Three Engineers Os Staff Os State Highway Commission Step Out: Dissatisfied With Upheavel. Indianapolis, Aug 25—Three more resignations of engineers on the staff .of the stale highway commission were before John D. Wili ams, director, to day. Stepp ng out after five years as of flee engineer of the constntdion department. John Henry said ho ‘•would , not take orders" from William Titus, new- chief engineer for the commission. J. S. Neibert, an employe of the commission since 1919, handed his resignation to Williams without a word of explanation. It was understood he was dissatisfied with a recent upheaval in the department. The third resignation is from J. E. Sheldon, resident engineer at the And. erson headquarters. ' Rumors of other impending resignations of highway engineers were current about the state house ——— —o — Victor Lawson Leaves $2,250,000 To Charity Chicago. Aug 25—More than $2,250. 000 of the estate of Victor Lawson, tiblisher of the Chicago Dally News, goes to charity, it was announced today with publication of his will. W’hile the total value of the estate is not given one paragraph states that $4,775.000 In specific bequests had been made The Illinois Merchants Trust company Is executor and trustee of the estate with full power of management of all pprofrerties, both real and personal, including the Daily TJews. _... —— —o—— —■■• —-*•— Evansville Bankers May Protest McCray’s Pardon Evansville, Aug. 25.—(United Press) —Bankers of Evansville may make formal protest against the proposed pardon of Warren T. McCray, former governor of Indiana who is serving a ten year sentence in the federal prison at Atlanta for fraudulent use of the mails. The question of a protest was considered after South Bend bankers sent a protest to President Coolidge but no formal action has been taken here yet. Several Evansville banks had cattle notes issued by McCray before his financial failure.

FUN FESTIVAL OPENS WITH BIG CROWDPRESENT Elks Indoor Fair Gets Started Monday Night; Continues AH Week NEW' FEATURES ADDED Dance In K. Os C. Hall Each Night; “Gallysnipper’ Band Plays A large crowd attended the opening of the Elks Fun Festival on Liberty Way last night. All booths and con cessions were opened early and werf in full swing until about ten o'clock last night. Several new features will be added tonight and another doot prize will be awarded at ten o'clock. A dance will be held each night at the K. of hall. The dance is run on the park plan and admission to the hall is free. A first-class orchestra will furnish the music and everybody is invited to attend. Fred Schurger'a "Gally-snipper’’ band including ten pieces, opened last night's festivities. No one was able to ascertain whit instruments were used or what, pieces were played, but everybody was of the opinion that it was good music. Walter Wilkinson, gener-al chairman of the fun festival has promised new features for tonight and everybody is invited to attend, 'the big gift distribution will be held Saturday night as the closing feature of the Festival. Contribution tickets are on sale at all booths and by ail Elks. A ■ Ford auto, radip sets, silverware and a washing machine will' be among the tffiany' |fft< Wat wffF fie awarded on the closing night. Among the merchandise available in the booths each night are canary birds, floor lamps, cedar chests, blankets, candy, and hundreds of other Valuable pieces of merchandise. The Elks home will lie open each night to the public and everyone is invited to inspect the new home. The Festl val will bo open each night during the next week and on Saturday afternoon.

— o GASOLINE PRICE ISCUTTWOGENTS Standard Oil Company Leads Way In Reducing Prices In’ Decatur The gasoline price reduction fever struck Decatur this morning when tho Standard Oil company of Indiana announced a two-cent reduction, and a drop of two cents a gallon was made at a,'.l The drop is said to be the result of a price war in Indianapolis and other parts of the state. The price in Decatur at present is 22.4 cents. The price prior to the cut this morning was 24.4. Gasoline prices are dropping all over the state and it was authoritatively learned here today that another reduction in this part of the state would not be surprising. At Winchester the price ranges from 17 to 19 cents a gallon. Indianapolis dealers led the field. An independent company was the first to cut. The Standard Oil company followed with a larger reduction and the war was on. About a year ago this week a similar price war caused gasoline to drop to 16 cents in most of the middle western states. It is not thought, however, that prices will be that low here, for a while at least. — —o Photographed Girl In • The Nude; Arrested Anderson, Ind., Aug. 25 —The picture of a pretty young Alexandria girl taken in undress attire today resulted In the arrest of Earl Alamack photographer. Alamack was charged with displaying an obscene picture and contributing to the girl’s delinquency.

—»-■ ■ : — ~ f , L j ' 11,»„ - — , v f i ■ Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, August 25, 1925.

Boy Hitches Goat To Lawn Mower; Hand Is Mangled In The Machine Connersvil.e, Ind., Aug. l. r >— Francis Manlove, 9, is of an inventive turn of mind. He hitched a goat to a lawn mower as a labor saving device while cutting his father's lawn. The goat started to run away and the boy caught his hand In the power. The band was badly mangled. PAVING WORK BEING RUSHED Brick Layers Promise To Complete First Street By Tomorrow ‘We will complete First street by tomorrow evening and will have Jefferson street in by this time next week”, said !>>e & Ix-e, the colored contractors from Marlon. Indiana, who came here Monday with eighteen men to lay the brick ort the streets iwider contract by Julius Haugk. They are old hands at the business and are the same men who put in First, Fifth and Seventh streets for Mr. Haugk. They do this kind of work all the time and came here from Massilon. Ohio, where they are putting in four mi.es of brink pavement. They know their work and one can tell it by watching them work a few moments. This morning at six o'clock they were unloading grave; on First street and had brought it here from the state line. SPEAKERS FOR PICNIC NAMED

Rev. Thompson And French Quinn To 'Give Talks To War Veterans The Rev.. Harry W. Thompson, pastor of the Christian church, and Mr .French Qulnu, well-known Decatur citizen, will he the principal speakers at the annual picnic to be given by the W. R- C. Friday, August 28. at the home of Samuel Chronister tor veterans of the Civil War. Spanish American War and the World War. The picnic is the second annual event of its kind to be given by the W. R. in celebration of the anniversary of the enlistment of the local Civil War veterans, who enlisted in service on August 28, 1861. The veterans of the three wars named above, together with their families are invited to attend the picnic and bring a basket dinner. The dinner wll be spread on the lawn at the Chronister home. - —o D. IL S. Graduate Enters Nurse’s Training School Miss Margurite Lankenau of this city, who was graduated from Decatur high school last spring, left yesterday to enter the Lutheran hospital in Fort Wayne, where she will assume studies In the school for nurses. Miss Lankenau is the first 1925 graduate of D. H. S. to enter school. The course is one of the best of its kind in the state. Other 1925 graduates are planning on leaving later this fall to enter various schools for nurses. o Township Trustees To Meet Here Wednesday A meeting of th, township trustees of the county will he held in the office of the county superintendent of school. Cl fton Str’ker, in the court house, Wednesday, Mr. Striker announced today. Final plans for the opening of the public schools in the county on Monday, September 7, will be made at the meeting. Several other important matters likely will be brought up for discussion. This will be the first meeting held by the trustees since Mr. Strikes took office as county superintendent. August 15. Weather Fair tonight and probably Wednesday; slightly warmer tonight in central portion.

MAYOR’S SALARY IS REDUCED TO $1,200 PER YEAR Pay Os City Clerk And Treasurer Increased In Proposed Budget COUNCIL’S PAY CUT Appropriation For CityAttorney And Police Is Increased The salary of the mayor of Decatur wi.l be reduced from $2,000 to $1,200 a year, according to the appropriation made In the budget of estimated expenses for next year. This amount has been fixed by the council as the salary of the mayor and beginning next January, the new mayor will draw SIOO per mouth, unless the proposed budget is changed. Although the mayor's salary received a slice, the salary of city clerk and city treasurer will receive an increase. The clerk will receive the largest boost, the salary being increased from SI,OOO to $1,500. The sa ary of the treasurer will be incerased from SI,OOO to $1,200. The clerk and treasurer are entitled to the extra increase, due to the fact that they act. as clerk anil treasurer of the city light and power plant and receive or expend all money connected with the operation of the city plant. The salaries of the city councilmen will be cut to SIOO » year. Four years ago when the city of Decatur was rated as a city of the fourth class the council fixed the mayor's salary at $2,000 yer pear. Decatur remained in the fourth class only one year and then slipped back again to the fifth class, but the ordinance which fixed the salary for the term of office, four years, could not be changed and the present mayor was entitled to draw the new salary The councilmen are now drawing $l5O and during the next four years will receive on'y SIOO. The salary of the city attorney will also be increased next year to SSOO a year. The present salary is S4OO. The appropriation for ornamental (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) CONFESSES TO BANK ROBBERY

Factory President Admits He Held Up Dayton Bank August 14 Dayton, O, Aug. 25—Fred Nickel waived preliminary hearing and pleaded not guilty when arraigned today on charges of robbing the North Dayton branch of the Savings and Trust company, and was bound over to the grand jury under $50,000 bond Nickel has confessed to being the "Blue Phantom” who got away with $28,000 in a daring daylight raid. DAYTON—, 0.. Aug. 25—"1 played a lone hand. The holdup was the child "f my own brain. Once started all the details seemed to have been executed machanically.” Fred Nickel, 46. Dayton's "phantom robber” bowed his iron gray head on his hands as he sat in his cell here today and told his own story of the spectacular holdup of the North Dayton branch of the Dayton Savings bank Aug. 14. It was a story of tortured atempts to escape financial straits hy desperate daring: of pride of position which refused to be cheated: of a courage which ebbed with discoverey and left Nickel alone with the ashes of his ambition. —, 0 Rush County Property Valued At $50,023,990 Rushivtlle, Ind., Aug. 25. —(United Press)—The total taxable valuation of property in Rush county has been placed at $50,023,990. This amount is more than two million dollars less than the amount for last year.

Train Kills Farmer And His Young Son Weeping Water? Neb., Aug. 25 Two men were killed and two seriously hurt last night when a Missouri Pacific passenger train smashed into a truck. The dead: Faye Hutchens, farmer. Kenneth Hutchens, 4. his son. LEGION TO MEET IN MARION NEXT

Grant County City 'Chosen For Annual Convention Os War Veterans Fort Wayne, Aug. 25—Marion was chosen as the 1926 convention city of the Indiana American Legion in the seventh annual convention here today. Kokomo and Indianapolis made strong blds. Kokomo entered the race at the last minute. Indianapolis delegates in a caucus voted t.o withdraw their invitation in favor of a smaller city. Clarence A. Jackson. Newcastle, past commander of the Newcastle post, was slated for election as state commander at the final business session this afternoon. Wm. P. Evans, of Indianapolis, lost support in caucuses held today. Ills name may not be submitted. o Petitions For Right To Operate Bus Line Here Ind'anapolls, Aug. 25 —The public service commission today set a hearing for September 9. to be held at ten a. ns,. in regard to the petition of Alfred Lanson, of B uffton. for a certificate of convenience to operate a motor transfer fine between Fort Wayne and Portland. operathig through Bluffton, Decatur and Dunkirk o

To Probe Indiana World War Memorial Project Indianapo ls, Aug. 25—A sweeping investigation of the Indiana world war I memorial project is to be made by | the state board of accounts, I Orr, chief examiner, declared today. The investigation will include a review of all construction details of the new $600,000 American Legion national headquarters building, Orr said. The building was recently completed at state expense and turned over to the Legion as a permanent home for national headquarters _— o— Trustee Denies That He Misappropriated Funds Evansville, Ind.. Aug. 25 —Heated denial of charges oi misappropriation of funds in the conduct of his office was niade today by Ralph Stevens, I trustee of Pigeon township, Vanderburgh county. A report of the state board of accounts charged Stevens with misappropriation of $9Ol. Stevens said a thorough invest’gal ion would show nothing dishonest. o Farmers Residing Near Wren, Ohio. Go On Tour A party of motorists comprised of j five families of farmers of near Wren ; left Monday morning for a week’s tour during which time they expect to see Niagara Fal.s. The members: of the party are, F. W. Bowen and family, B. H. Clinton and family, Gale Poling and family i William Mauler and family and Frank Sheets and family. _______o— Claim Bus Drivers Violate Traffic Laws Indiana Harbor. Ind.. Aug. 25. —United Press)—Traffic regulation violations hy bus drivers operating in Indiana Harbor are understood to be under investigation by the state public service commission. Reckless driving, failure to stop at through streets and disregard of boulevard signs constitute the alleged offenses.

Price 2 Cents.

COUNCIL AND MAYOR TO MAKE CUT IN BUDGET New Rate To Be 73 Cents Per SIOO, Tentative Budget Shows TO RAISE $49,415 Cut To Be Made Possible By Reduction In Indebtedness Os City Ten-ccnt cut in the city tax rate, collectable in 1925, will be made by the city council, accord, ing to the tentative budget of estimated expenses prepared by Mayor H. M. DeVoss and mem‘bers of the council. The rate will be reduced from 83 cents t< 173 cents on the hundred dollars. Tim estimated expenses to operate the city government total $53,115.69, from which □ credit of $4,000 for nontaxable income is made, leaving the net amount to be raised by taxation at $49 415.67. Last year the budget totaled $54.61<17. while th? nontax.able revenue amounted to $2.017-.I 'leaving the net amount to be raised by taxation at $. r 2,C04.74. Indebtedness Is Decreased Within the last four years lite bpnd. ad indebtedness of the city has been decreased, mat ng it possible to reduce th” levy in the sinking land. .The proposed budget call- for only $2,112.69 to be taiseil for the payment of bonds and interest the bonds on the city light ami power plant bains ‘ paid for out of the earnings of the city plant ( ’i The total of the general fund amounts to $47,302.96, which includes , the payment of salaries of al! cky officials. ornamental street lighting, water hydrant rentals, salary of policemen and extra police, and apptopriations for street repair, parks, side(CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

TO HAVE SCHOOL EXHIBIT AT FAIR Thirty-eight Awards To Be Made For Best Samples Os Work Thirty eight awards w:ll be made in the School Exhibit department of the Northern Indiana fair, to be held at Bel.mont Park, September 15 to 18 Considerali'.e interest has been shown already and Superintendent M. F. Worthman. of this city, who is chairman of the School exhibit, stated today that he expected the best school erhibit ever shown at a fair tin this county. Awards will be made for work during the year ending June, 1925. All departments of school work will be represented at the exhibit, and all schools in the county are eligible to enter. One dollar Will be paid each winner and fifty cents will be paid to each second prize award. Exhibits will be held in botany. History, physics, chemistry, science, English composition, bookkeeping, music, drawing, advertising, landscaping. ap|>aratus drawing, still life drawing, lettering, monogramingmanual, training and domestic science. The exhibits wifi be for high schools in Adams county, only. Rural elementary schools will have the following displays: map of Adams county, map of Indiana, copy book, arithmetic tablet manual training, domestic science, spelling tablet, illustrated booklet and physiological tablet. Mr. Worthman advises that all teachers in the county obtain a premium book and look carefully through the school exhibit and award offered. This is the first time for several years that such an extensive list of awards have been offered for school work and it is highly probable that there will be sufficient entries in each department to insure a good exhibit, Mr- Worthman said.