Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 266, Decatur, Adams County, 10 November 1925 — Page 1

Vol. XXIH. Number 266.

DEFENSE RESTS IN STEPHENSONICASE

MAKE SLASH OF $100,000,000 IN NUISANCE TAXES Ways And Means Committee Reduces Levy On Autos, Tobacco, Shows VARIED INDUSTRIAL LEVIES ARE SLASHED M* P. Staff Cn»respon«lenH Washington. Nov. 10 Eliniinaling and slashing nuisance taxes, the house ways and means committee today wrote into the new tax hill a SIOO 000,000 reduction on automobiles. tobacco, alcohol and varied industrial levies. The present rates on automobiles were cut $70,537,000; cigars, twelve million dollars, and alcohol four million dollars. The committee eliminated entirely «7 soo 000 on automobile trucks and the $22,737,000 annual levy on tires and accessories. The present rate of 5 per cent on pleasure cars was cut to three per cent, with an estimated annual loss of revenue of $40,000,000. The committee decided to remove theater admission taxes entirely on the legitimate drama opera and instructive musical entertainment, retaining the present tax on musical shows, movies, circuses, baseball, prize fights and vaudeville. The repeal was made subject to working out of a suitable agreement between theatrical showmen and the treasury department on a provision which draws the fine line of distinction between educational and noneducational shows. o Farmers Declare War On Flwks Os Blackbirds Warsaw. Ind.. Nov. 10—Farmers in | this community have declared war on great flocks of blackbirds which have caused thousands of dollars damage in the corn fields near here. Anti-Saloon League Is Pedged To Enforcement Chicago, Nov. 10. —(United Press) — The Anti-Saloon League of America was pledged today to a five year program for the effective enforcement of the eighteenth amendment and Volstead law. depending upon the highest executive power in the land to aid its i cause. The league closed its national "crisis convention" last night by adopting resolutions, chief of which was a de-1 mand that Secretary of Treasury Mellon “manifest equal concern and exert as great effort to affect the enforcement of the prohibition law as he manifests and exerts to secure the collection of the income and other taxes." The resolution, brought to the convention from the executive committee, was greeted with thunderous applause and was adapted without a dissenting vote. 0 CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK AT LIBRARY Pupils And Teachers Visit Library Each Afternoon; New Books Here Children's Book Week is being observed by the Decatur Public Library this week. A large number of new books for children have been received recently, intruding several jubilee books- Children's Book Week has, been (bbSlervled lannuaffily | during the month of November since 1919. | A schedule has been arranged ■at the local library,- whereby teachers of the different grades in the schools and their pupils visit the library each day between the hours of 2:30 end 3:30 p.m. American Education Week will be observed at the library and in the schools next week. Pupils of the higher grades and the high schools will visit the library next week.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

; Boy Takes Life Easy While Doff Digs Potatoes Hope, lnd„ Nov. in. Clark Romine, 14. residing near here, has a new way of digging sweet potatoes. , Recently the lad's father instructed him to dig the potatoes and later In the 'lay returned to find Hie boy sit ting beside a row while his dog dug the soft ground. I All the boy did was pick up the potatoes. place them 1n a basket and carry them to the ismse. CREAMERY OFFICE IN NEW LOCATION Temporary Offices Established In American Security Company — ' Temporary offices of the Cloverleaf, I Creameries. Inc., have been located in the American Security Company building, on Monroe street, first door west of the postoffice. The offices of I the company will be maintained in , the new location until the remodeling work is completed at the plant on Winchester street. All business matters will be transacted at the now offices on Monroe street and those having business with the com- | pany are asked to take note of the change. , Work on the remodeling of the creamery building started this week C N Christen and company of this citv haye th?, ivueral contract. . addition will be built at the rear of I the building and a second story added to part of the old building. J New machinery will also be installI ed in the plant, making it one of the I most modern and efficient, creamery i plants in the middle-west. o Italian And American Debt Commissions To Resume Parley Today Washington, Nov. 10. — (United Press.) —Subcommittees of the Amer- | ican and Italian debt commission will -resume their negotiations at 3 p. m. today in an effort to reach a mutual i understanding that will lead to funding of Italy’s $2,138,000,000 war debt. Both sides continued optim’stic and predictions were made that a settlement would be reached. FATHER AND SON WEEK IS PLANNED Sunday Schools Os Community Phn Observance; Banquet Tuesday Niffht Each Sunday school of the city land in the surrounding community is carrying out the plans to observe the .annual Father and Son Week. Thel different Sunday school superintendI ents agreed to close this special , week on next Tuesday evening, witli a banquet for the boys. Each church will entertain its own organization. The Sunday school superintendents, with their pastors, are working out an impressive program. The annual observance of Father and Son Week is for the following three purposes: 1. To help fathers to have a deeper respect for their sons and an appreciative and sympathetic fellowship with them. 2. To help sons to have a deeper ( respeCt and appreclatiort for their I fathers and the home life. 3. To lead botli fathers and sons | to experience Christian fellowship in the home and in the community, and to help them to cooperate fn the program of the church and to recognize and discharge their obligations and responsibilities to all people. The Sunday school superintendents hope that each church will have 100 per cent attendance of all fathers and sons on Tuesday evening, November 17. Individual programs will be published later.

COL MITCHELL SUBMITS PROOF Flying Colonel Continues to Weave His Web Os Proof In Court-martial By William J. McEvoy, 11'. I’. Staff Correspondent ) Washington, Nov. 10. — (United Press.I —Colonel William Mitchell today continued to weave his web of proof that the war and navy departments have mismanaged the nation’s air defenses. From Capta’n Robert Oldy's. war I plans division of the air service,! Mitchell hoped further to substantiate! his charge that the war department has permitted the air force to fall be low its required peace time strength, both in personnel and equipment. Captain Oldy’s took the stand upon the convening of the court and submitted records showing the 1 strength of overseas a'r garrisons 1 which he had been requested to bring. These showed garrisons as follows: Hawaii -Officers. 85; enlisted men, 930. Panama—Officers, 58; enlisted men, 658. Philippines — Officers. 57; enlisted men. 621. Representative Reid, attorney for Mitchell, questioned him about the secret Lass'ter report, which proposed a ten-year program of air service expansion. Although approved by Secretary of War Weeks, the program was never put into effect. Students Os Purdue To Celebrate Armistice Day • I — ' Lafayette, Ind.. Nov. 10. —The students of Purdue University, and the citizens of and West Lafayette tomorrow will take part in a gigantic Armistice Day celebration in the Ross-Ade stadium at Purdue University. Dean Paul McNutt, of Indiana University will be the principal speaker and will review the military units of the school. THIRD SPECIAL VENIRE CALLED - — — • Attorneys Have Difficulty In Picking .Jury For Trial Os “One Arm’’ Wolfe Muncie. ImU Nov., 10.-(United Press) Examinat'on of members of the third special venire was started in I the Delaware county court this afternoon in an attempt to select a jury tor the triaPof Charles “One Arm" Wolfe, charged witli complicity in the murder of lien Hance and his wife, last August. The second special venire was exhausted dt 10:30 o’clock this morning and court adjourned until afternoon, while the 50 men, comprising the third venire, were rounded up. Ten men had been tentatively accepted by attorneys for the state and i the defense when the forced adjournment was taken. It is doubtful, however. if more than six of these men will lie in the jury box when the panel is finally completed. Sixty-six men have been examined 'and excused in the efforts to obtain a jury. The greatest difficulty experienced by the attorneys in the case is I to f'nd men who have not formed opinions as to the guilt or innocence of Wolfe by reading the newspapers. I Pythians Investigating Sites For State Home I — ! W. A. I.ower. chairman of the location committee of the Kn’ghts of Pythias for the selection of a site to build the proposed state Pythian home, is with members of his committee, visiting the cities where sites and other | inducements have been offered. The selection of a site will take place sometime during the early part of December and the Knights of Pythias will erect, a home, to cost at least $200,000. Ten cities in Indiana have made liberal offers fur the securing of the home.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, November 1(1, 1925.

■ ' Prosecutor In Stephenson Case Has Black Eye t Press) Ralph Kane, assistant prosecutor in the Stephenson trial, who nearly came to blows with Ralph Rigdon, a defence witness, at Monday’s session, appeared in court today with a black eye. Kane said he stumbled on the stairs to the basement of his home and hit eye on a timber. Prosecutor Remy said he took Kane home in his auto and that Kane didn't have a “shiner" when he left hint. REHEARSALS STARTED ’ ! Cast For Elks Musical Revue, “Cheer j Up," Scheduled For Each Afternoon And Evening. Rehearsals for the big musical revue, “Cheer Up." to be staged bv the Elks lodge, next Tuesday and Wednesday nights, November 17 and 18, started last night and from now on until the , nights of the production, rehearsals will be held each afternoon and even-1 ing. Groups of school children will' practice each afternoon immediately after school is dismissed. Other roups, consisting of high school pupils and adults, will hold their rehearsals at night. The cast, which numbers about 150 local persons, has been selected. with the possible exception of a few characters. Window cards, advertising the production. have been placed in many downtown stores and the ticket sale will he started tomorrow. The proceeds from the show will be used for the Elks Christmas charity fund. WARNS AGAINST CLOSING SCHOOLS Dr. King Says Epidemics Can Be Controlled Easier In School Than Out Indianapolis. Nov. 10.—Declaring that the closing of schools, except in cases of extreme emergency is more dangerous than leaving them open. Dr. William King, secretary of the state board of health, today issued a statement regarding the handling of epidemics of contagious diseases. “Whenever an outbreak of diptheria, scarlet fever, or other communicable disease ocurs in any school community there is usually a demand upon the health officers to close the schools,” Dr. King said. “The people who make this demand are of course sincere In believing that the closing of the school is a measure of protection. "They do not consider the fact that with the schoo's closed, children are permitted to gather together and play on the streets without supervision of any kind and that this increases the chances of infection. "The schools should not be closed by health officers except in cases of great emergency and such emergencies will seldom arise if the parents and health officers work together. Dr. King pointed out that it is mulch easier to control a contagious disease, and much cheaper if the children are perm'tted to remain In school under medical supervision. "There is nothing mysterious about diptheria or scarlet lever that calls for the burning of “incense" in the buildings to proplate the wrath of some mysterious gods of disease." Dr. King said. Neither are school buildings. school teachers or school children special objects of the disease's wrath." The points to be observed in preitnvriMKit ox page six> To Give Card Partv And Dance Tonight A card party and dance will be g'ven in the Knights of Columbus hall this evening. Card playing will begin at 8 o'clock. The public is invited to attend. Weather Indiana: Partly overcast tonight and Wednesday. Warmer tonight and In east and south portion Wedensday.

CLAIM VICTORY FDR OR. BLAZER — Attorneys Believe They Have Prove Physician A "Guiltless Murderer” Littleton. Col., Nov. 10. — (United Press) —Defense attorneys believe, they have proven Dr. Harold E. Blazer a “guiltless murder." and that he will !< be freeil of the charge of poisoning ills invalid daughter. "There is no question but that the jury has been affected and that its sympathies are almost wholly with the old. broken country physician who I | devoted his life to the care of his im-i beetle daughter." said Lewis De Riggs Mowry, chief of defense counsel, short- ! ly before noon today. When court was called for the fifth day’s session, Cyril Norred. a photographer who took pictures of Blazer's slashed throat in the hospital, was called to identify photographs that had .been exhibited in the trial. I Dr. Howell T. Pershing, alienist, fol- | lowed Norred to the stand and was -qualified as an expert. He is expected to be the last witness for the defense. Blazer appeared none the worse this morning for the ordeal on the stand yesterday. He entertained himself with another batch of mail that has been pouring into him from all parts of the country, offering sympathy and calculated to stimulate his courage. His daughter Frances Bishop sat with him for a short time before eotjrt opened and cheered him with affectionate words. In juries Sustained In Auto Accident Prove Fatal Gary. Ind.'. Nov Iff. —I United Press) —Unconscious far nearly 24 hours front injuries received when an auto driven by her husband crashed into a Wabash freight train. Mrs. Paul Holloway died here last night. Fog, which covered the road, was the cause of the crash. Holloway is one of the principal officers of the Gary mills of the American Sheet and Tin Plate plant ELKS MEMORIAL WILL BE PUBLIC Annual Service To Be Held In Lodge Home On Sunday Afternoon, Dec. 6 Plan's were completed last night for the annual Memorial services of the Decatur lodge of the It. P. (). Elks, to be held at the Elks home Sunday afternoon. December 6. The program, which will be published later, will last about an hour. Respect will be paid on December 6. by all Elks lodges to the deceased members of the organization with similar meetings. Two short addresses by prominent Decatur Elks and special music will compose the program here, together with the memorial ritual. The service in this city will be public and Decatur citizens are cordially invited to attend. The program will he held in the lodge room of the new Elks heme. Herman Yager is chair- i man of the committee in charge and jis assisted by J. T. Merriman. Harry Frtlzinger, Dick Heller. F. E. France. M .1. Mylott and I). M. Hen-ley » I Connersville Planning To Organize A Boys’ Band Connersville. Ind.. Nov. la. Steps are being taken here for the organization of a boys' hftnd. The organization will be sponserode I by Hie local civic organizations and ’plans will lie perfected at a meeting! to be held November 16. Indianapolis Not To Annex Beach Grove Indianapolis, Ind. Nov. Iff- The town of Beech Grove will not be annexed to Indiananolis, it was announced today. The city council by a unanimous vote killed the ordinance which provided for the annexation of the suburb.

Jury Costs In Stephenson Case Mounting Rapidly Noblesville. Ind., Nov. It). (United I Press.)- —One of these days Ham'ltoti I county will hand its neighboring county of Marion a staggering bill for jury service. The jury costs in the Stephenson trial have already broken all records for Hamilton county. When court opened today the jury hill amounted to $2,202.80. This includes payment of the 228, men who were examined. but were not accepted for duty. DELINQUENT TAX LIST IS SMALL! Less Than $7,400 Os 1924 Taxes. Payable This Year, j Went Delinquent Less than $7,400 of the 1924 taxes, payable during 1925, went delinquent, tecords in the office of County Treasurer Louies Kleine showed today. To Ito exact, the total was $7,368 45. which j includes the spring ami fall installments. As ha« been the custom, much of this will be paid before the de-; liooitent tax sale next February. The total of the delinquents this] year is about the same as in former years and is small, compared with the • total paid. The total taxes amounted | to $945,000. Practically all totals have been compiled hv Mr. Kleine and deputy. Miss i Anna Smith, and the tax receipt book credited witli the payments. The rush during the last few days of tax-pav-ing time was a heavy one and it kept everyone busy taking care of the patrons. It is thought that the total taxes for this year, payable in 1926. will bo less than a year ago for Hie reason that the valuation in Hie county is less and several of the rates were reduced over those of a year ago. o C oypmerci' l ' T qw fiascos To Meet Wednesday Night The class in commercial Law. held i in connect'en witli the local chanter | of tile American Institute of Banking. I will bold its third meeting of the term in the Industerial Association rooms at 7 O'clock Wednesday. Fifteen mem-, hers are enrolled in the class. Attor- I ney Earl B. Adams is instructor of the class. TO CONCOCT RED CROSSROLLCALL Civic Section Os Woman’s Club to Make Drive Here; To Open Wednesday The civic section of the Decatur Woman s club will have charge of the annual Red Cross Roll Cali in Decatur this year, mcord'ng to an an-, | nouncement made today by Miss Anna ’ | Winnes, secretary of the Adams ; ■County Red Cross. The annual Roll ■ Call will open Wednesday, November I 11. and continue until Thanksgiving I Day. November 26. Mrs B. R. Farr is chairman of the civic section. During the Roll Ca'l, memberships I in the Red Cross may In- renewed for $1 each or now memberships may be enrolled for the same price. latst year, between 500 ami 600 memberships were secured in Adams county. ! The organization for conducting the I Roll Call in other parts of Adams 1 county has not been perfected Miss Dorothy Williamson, of Dayton, ().. 1 a field worker for the National Red | Cross, will be in Decatur either Thors- | day or Friday of this week to assist I in the organization work for the Roll • Call. The work of the Rod Cross is well- ■ known to practically everybody. The money raised from the membership foes is used in bringing relief Io victims of various kinds of disasters, in eating for wounded war veterans and in conducting various other forms of relief work.

Price 2 ('ents.

DEFENDANTS NOT GALLED TO TESTIFY Final Thrust at State’s Medical Testimony Is Made Bv Defense Counsel PROMISED SENSATIONS FAIL TO MATERALIZE (UNITED PRESS SERVICE) Noblesville. Ind., Nov. 10— With :i finttl llhtisl al Hie stale’s tnodical testimony, the defense rested its ease shortly before otton today in the trial of I). (’. Menhenson. Earl Klenck tint! Ettrl Genfrv. charged with tpi>r<lorin<r Madge Oberholtzer. The defense attorneys coninlefed their presentation of evidence without calling Stephenson or either of hjs henchit’on (o the stand. The announcement of Eph Inman, head of the defense battery of attorneys, came after a morning of dry medical testimony offered by physfcfms called to testify for Stephenson. Inman seemed satisfied that he bad established his theory that the girl's death was a case of suicide following a drunken party. The defense had spent four days ->n<i a half in attempting to show that. Madee Oberholtzer had been intimately acquainted with Stephenson for several months and had gone •"t’Unglv on the party which ended in her death. Through its. medical experts, the | defense developed a mass es evlrienae to show that Miss Oberholtzer died from poison taken with suicidal intent. Physicians who attended the girl testified for the state that infection from wounds inflicted hv Stephenson during an alleged attack caused her death. Judge Sparks recessed court until 'his afternoon after the defense rested. At the afternoon session the state began its rebuttal evidence. Numerous acquaintances of the dead girl are expected to be called on rebuttal to testify that her private life wafe blameless and to destroy the picture of a gin-drinking flapper seeking the attention of the former rrand dragon that was painted by j defense witnesses. I A louk of satisfaction was apparent lon the face of Stephenson and his ; two co defendants as they filed hack : nto the courtroom after a few minutes secret conference with their << <> VI'I \ l I'.D OA PAGE SIX) ' - — O j Cessation Os Business For Few Minutes Asked Bulletin Wash'iigton. Nov. 10. (United Press) - Cessation of all business activities for a few minutes at 11 a m. tomorrow was suggested by President Coolidge today as an appropriate manner for the country to observe Armistice Day. ENROLLMENT IN SCHOOLS GROWS Total Os 3.044 Pupils In Schools Os County During Second Month A total of 3.1141 pupils were enrolled in the public and 1 parochial schools of Adams county, exclusive of Hie public and parochial schools in Decatur and Berne, during the second montjh of the pi'enent school year, according to Hie report issued from the office of Clifton Striker, county superintendent of schools. This is an increase of 20 pupils over the enrollment for the first month of 'the present school year The average daily attendance for , i all schools in the county during the second month was 2.947, while the ) ‘ per cent, of attendance during the I month was 94 6 No school in the j county had a 100 per cent attendance (I'O.VFIMEU OX PAGE SIX)