Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 271, Decatur, Adams County, 16 November 1925 — Page 1

Vol. XXIII. Number 271.

D. C. STEPHENSON GETS SENTENCE TODAY

[STRONG EVIDENCE |S INTRODUCED [AGAINST WOLFE k ii jKtate Scores Several Points i In Trial Os Muncie Man For Murder Lurder WITNESSES i RECITE HAPPENINGS I Muncie, Nov. 16—" I hope Hance ■iniis Anderson and that Dutch fills Lint full of lead,” Charles ‘one Arm’ Wolfe said last summer after Hance find left for a Michigan lake where Le was to meet the notorious bandit" j This statement was made in an L.,ion barber shop at that time, the Irate showed the morning when Iciinan Smith, a barber of that town. Las called to the witness stand. j Wolfe is on trial here charged Lith the murder of Ben and Mary Stance on August 14. last. I Smith testified that Wolfe knew of lhe arrangements made between llaace and Anderson and expressed ■he wish that the bandit would till ■he farmer. | Marshal David Booher, of Middletown. the first officer to reach Hance. Metalled their conversation. I Hance, when asked who shot, him, Lasped out ‘‘Anderson and Wolfe,” ■he Marshal said. I Several witnesses of the murder Leeited the happenings along the load, but were able to remember Inly that Anderson’s companion wore L white shirt. I The state will attempt to show ■hat Anderson’s companion at York■own a short time afterwards was KVidfe and at that time he w r as wearing a white shirt. o Three Men And Woman Drown Near Cleveland I Cleveland, 0., Nov. 16. — (United tress)—Three men and a woman cook mere drowned Sunday night when an feo-mile-an-hour gale whipped three marges loose from a tug while being [towed from Cleveland to Buffalo, ae[cording to a report received here tokiay. The tug, the Barryton, limped into [Buffalo harbor bady battered from the [storm and with but one of her load [of four barges still fast. The captain of the tug did not know [exactly at what hour during the night the three barges broke loose. To Make Ruling On Spiritualists Petition Anderson, Ind., Nov. 16. - (United Press) —A ruling on the petition of spiritualists from the Chesterfield camp near here, to quash indictments < harging conspiracy, will be made within a few days by Judge Kittinger, it was announped today.

SWITCH ENGINE STRIKES AUTO Sain Cook Escapes Injury In Accident At Monroe Street Crossing Sam Cook escaped serious injury this morning when a Ford automobile wh’ch he was driving was struck by a switch engine at the Pennsylvania crossing on Monroe street. Mr. Cook was driving east at about 5:30 o'clock this morning anil the train was going north. The train was moving slowly and It is evident that Mr. Cook failed to hear or see the train approaching. The car was struck on the side and carried several feet down the track, but Mr. Cook escaped without any serious injury. The automobile was damaged considerably. Mr. Cook is employed at the Sugar factory and on his way to work. The switch-crew was headed for Fort Wayne from Ridgeville and was going particularly slow' at the crossing. Except for a few minor bruises, the driver of the car was not injured. Mr. Cook was the lone occupant and tvas able to continue to work.

DEC ATIJ R DAILY DEMOCRAT

Auto Futilities This Year In Chicago And Cook County Total 686 j Chicago, Nov. 16 --(United Press) 'Automobile fatalities this year In Chitag.) and the rest of Cook county tojday stood at 686, compared with a total of 684 for the entire year of 1924. Four deaths occurred dining tin past 24 hours, making a total of 36 for the past two weeks. Officials estimate tile j dealh i<dl tor 1 *26 *ill :ii 'ound FATHER AND SON ' DAYTfIMnRROW Local Churches Plan Observance Os Event: Dinners And Programs Planned “Father and Son Day," will be observed in the various churches of De catur by banquets and evening programs Tuesday night. All fathers and sons will meet at thdr respective churches tomorrow night and each congregation will have a special observance of the event. Dinners at 6:30 o'clock and short ( talks afterwards have been planned by most of the churches. Special announcements were made concerning I the affairs nt the various churches yesterday and in the church announcements appearing in the Dally Democrat last Saturday. All churches will limit their pro- | grams, so that the observance will be concluded before other meetings sched tiled for tomorrow night begin, it was announced today. Short talks will be made at all churches by Dads and Sons. The observance of "Father and Son Day" has become a national event ami Decatur has observed the day for the last several years. It is sponsored by civic organizations and Rotary clubs throughout the I'nited States. New Member Os State Pardons Board Named Indianapolis, Nov. 16. — (United Press) Rev. George S. Henninger, id' Indianapolis, today succeeded Rev. I Frank Hovis of Frankfort as a member of the state pardons board. | Announcement of the appointment I was made yesterday by Governor Ed Jackson.

TAG DAY NETS $123.25 HERE (Neat Sum Contributed To Volunteers Os America For Relief Work Decatur people opened their hearts and purses on Saturday" to help the destitute women with children and other unfortunates in the care of the Volunteers of America by contributing the sum of $123.25 to that worthy cause. Every one connected with the affair was deeply grateful to all who in any way helped ake the day successful. The above sum represents the total amount contributed last Saturday and the preceding Saturday A statement issued by the organization’s reprfe4enl®itivei says: “to the city officials, the newspaper, the 1 merchants who furnished the incentives for the children's efforts as well as to Miss N. V. McGath’s capable leadership, full credit should be given; neither must the public's generosity in patronizing title youthful workers he omitted. From early in the morning until late in the afternoon each of the girls and boys played the merry game of “competi'tion” for the prizes and movie tickets and at the dose of the “contest” it 'was found that Wilma Case was 'entitled to the first prize, having 'collected $8 63. The second prize ' was won by Paul Hancher who bad $6 85. Martha Moser had $4.49 and received the third prize. The fourth and fifth were won by Nedra Clancy and Eleanor Steel. A number of other children were mad|e happy with, the movie passes.

RETIRED FARMER CALLED BY DEATH ■ .1 Frederick Hilpert, Prominent Resident Os Blue Creek Township, Dies Frederick Hilpert, 83, prominent retired farmer of St. Marys township, died at ills home near Bobo al 9:30 o’clock Saturday night Death' w ns due to apoplexy. Mr. Hilpert having been strickn ten jiays ago. Frederick Hilpert was ,a son of George and Margaret H Ipert and was born in Wllllamsdorf. Germany, June 10. 1842. He was educated in the school of Williamsdorf until lie was 16 vears oil. At that age he came to America, landing in New York harbor in 1857. HV came to Adams county in 1.870, Mr. Hilpert married to Margaret I Merrill, soon after coming to Adams county. To this un'on were born two sons. Milton Samuel, of Huntington, and William Frederick, at home. Mrs. Hilpert died March 18, 1918. Mr. Hilpert was a prosperous far iiier. He was highly reap. -eted In the community where he t esided. He was a memhr of the United Brethern church ai Boho, having been converted when lie w; s young. Funeral service:! will be held from Hie homi- at 1:30 o'clock and from the Bobo United Brethern church at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, the Rev. Mr. Spiker officiat'ug. Burial will bo made in the Decatur cemetery. o — - - Barge Traffic On Ohio River To Be Revived • Evansville. Ind . 16. — (United Press) —A revival ot barge traffic on the Ohio rtver-is being ‘'predicted by local rivermen. The rivermen say that before another year passes the wharves will lie crowded by fleets of barges, being used by large shippers. With tile canalization ot the Ohio liver and the extension of the federal barge lines, a big revival of river business is seen.

FIRE DAMAGES NATIONAL HOTEL Blaze Os Unknown Origin Starts In Basement; Loss Estimated At S2OO Fire of nnkown origin, which started in the basement of the National hotel, corner of First and Madison streets, threatened to destroy the entire building for some time yesterday afternoon about 2 o'clock. Quick work by the Decatur fire department confined the damage to the basement. The fire started in the room used to store coal. The room is several feet from the furnace and it is not thought that the fire in the furnace had anything to do with the blaze. The smoke quickly spread through the entire building and occupants of the several rooms were forced to hurry out into the open. For some time the flames threatened to burst through to the first floor, but the firemen were able to entinguish the blaze before this occurred. A crowd gathered at the scene shortly after the alarm had been tinned in and several people aided in extinguishing the blaze. The damage was confined io about S2OO, it was estimat. ed. The National hotel building is owned by Ed Ahr and. at present, is being managed by J. \V. Meibers. The loss is covered by insurance. ..— o Suits For $250,000 Commission Are Filed Indianapolis, Nov. 16 —Suits for $250,000 commission were on t'i.le here today against Frank Milliken, Indianapolis, and Arthur B. Ayres, of Newcastle, and the Union Gas and Oil company]. The plaintiffs were Hubert J Smith and David Lorbash who asserted the. defendants refused to sell the capital stock of the defendant company after arranging with them to sell it on a commission basis.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, November 16, 1925.

Keeping House In Stale Capitol Costs $85,481 Last Year Indianapolis, tnd., Nov. 16- Keeping house in the state capital cost *85,481 10 In the fiscal year ended Septi .10, according to n report of Henry Roberts, superintendent of the building made public today. This was about $lll,OOO in excess of the legislative appropriation the deficiency being met by acquiring 110,000 from the governor's emergency fund. ITALY PLEASED WITH DEBT PLAN Premier Mussolini Says Americans Have Been Generous And Logical By Thomas B. Morgan Copyright 1925 by United Press Rome. Nov 16 (Un ted Press) Premier Benito Mussolini is well pleased whh the debt settlemerit negotiated by Italy in Washingion. "Th. Americans." he told me In an exclusive I'nited Press interview in the t'higi palace, "have been logica'. generous and broad in the negotiations with the Italian debt miss on funding tile Italian debt in the I'nited States." wiio in the course of the talk, described himself as "made of iron.” appeared extremely pleased and quite affable as he talked of the falrnes of the American debt commission icoxtixi i:i> ox i'4<;K

TO ATTEND PRESS ASSOCIATIONMEET Miss Monai Butler To Represent Decatur High School At Convention Miss Monai Butler, editor of the D. 11. S. Raveling*, will represent Decatur high senool at the annua! convenI tion of the Central Interscholastic i Press Association, to be held Novem- , her 27 and 28, at Madison, Wisconsirt. Miss Butler will join the Fort Wayne delegates Thursday and leave ; from that city. A two-xlay program of interest has been arranged for the national conclave and delegates from all high I schools in the middlewest will be present. The convention banquet ' will be held at the Men's Gymnasium ' at the University of Wisconsin. The program] inteil siting talks, instructions, tours of Madison and other interesting events. After the convention, Miss Butler will go to Milwaukee, where she will visit relatives over the week-end. Delegates have been invited to spend the week-end as guests of the various organizations at the state university, also. I - Relief From Snowfall In Indiana Is Promised Indianapolis. Nov. 16 (United Press)—Relief from a heavy snowfall through central Indiana today was promised by the weather bureau in its forecast of rising temperature Tuesday. As a result of rains. White river was reported above flood stage in several places. Flood stage has been reached on the lower west fork of the river, and at Elliston and Edwards-j port, the water is about a foot above the flood mark. State road twelve is! inundated where it skirts tile bottom! lands between Martinsville and Spencer. o Six Suicides In Seven Days At Anderson Anderson. Ind., Nov. 16.—(United [Press) —The sixth suicide in the last I'seven days was reported here today /with the death of Harry Weaver, who [ shot himself Friday. Weather i Fair tonight and Tuesday. Rising temperatures Tuesday

RED CROSS ROLL CALL IS STARTED Lena And Emma Guth, Decatur, First In County To Renew Memberships The annual Red Cross Roll Call has started in Adams county. Lena and Emma Guth, two Ge'niau young ladies, who reside In this city at the Fred Heuer home, were the first two people hi Adams county to answer the Roll Call for 1926. The two young ladies renewed their membership last Saturday night. The annual drive started officially today. The Misses Guth came to th's city I from Germany three years ago mid they realized the value of the American Red Cross in their own country. For three years they have .been Ihe j first members in Adam scounty. They ■ are both employed at the Genera! Elee i trie company in this city and are ardent supporters of tile Red Cross. Canvas Starts Today The annual canvas for members starts today under the supervision of the Civic section of tile Woman's dull. Mrs. It. I’,. Farr is chairman of th. drive and it has been announced that the canvas will not slop until every person in the county has been seen. The goal this year is 1.000 members. List year the Adams county membership was more than 500. The American Red Cross is support ed by the entire nation. Ils work is not limited, however, to America Whenever fate spreads its arm over a community, any place In the world, this organization is first on the scene and last to leave. Worthy Branches of Service Among the many worthy causes it has aided tn are th's ohf o cyclone, rhe Sullivan mine disaster. Hie IndianaIllinois cyclone, the Alaska fever epidemic. a fever epidemic in Greece and thousands of other disasters. This is only one of tlie many worthy branches of service. Educational work, homes for aged, icoxtixi i:i» ox pmie twoi

REPORT IS MADE BY COW TESTERS David .1. Mazelin Herd| Leads In Year’s Production Os Butterfat The anmtal report, of activities of the Adams County Cow Testing Association, just completed by R. L. Price, tester, cooperating wiih the county agricultural agent, reveals that David J. Mazelin. Monroe township farmer, holds the honor of leading the entire membership of the association in point of average amount of butterfat produced by his cows. His five purebred Holsteins averaged 4110.3 pounds butterfat each, bocal dairy enthusiasts consider tiiis a remarkable record in view of the fact that the average Indiana dairy cow produces only 163 pounds of fat. Sol Mosser, of Jefferson township, whose herd of 13 purebred Jerseys led the remaining 24 Holstein herds a merry chase for honors during the year and who took the honor position during two different Months, was forced to lie content witli second place, the average being 371.2 pounds per cow. The Jacob J. Schwartz herd of five purebred Holsteins averaged 368.1 pounds. Joseph D. Schwartz won fourth place, his eleven Holsteins, a number of which were purebred, averaged 342 pounds, while Hudolph Steury won fifth place with an average of 332.4 pounds made by 12 cows. The next ti n highest ranked as follows, in order of average production per cow: ('. P. Steury, John D. Mason. Dan H. Habegger, David L. Mazelin, (' W. R. << ONTINVEI) ON PMiB TWO) ...... (, — Boys Use Shingle Nails In Air Rifles Indianapolis, Nov. 16. — (United Press) —Using shingle nails instead of air rifle shot, two young boys succeeded in puncturing their playmate's lip and perforating several dogs before they were stopped by firemen.

U. S. Steel Corporation Aids Churches And Civic Organizations In Gary) Gary, Ind.. Nov. 16 (United Press) —The U. S Steel corporation has Just donated more than $60,000 to church and civic organizations in Gary, it was announced today. One gift of *4(1.000 will go toward a unit for the Christ Episcopal church and another is for the Salvation Army building. Popular subscription will be resorted to ho raise *76,000 additional. A gift of *76,000 toward a site for a municipal gymnasium was announced a week ago by the corporation. EDUCATION WEEK BEING OBSERVED Adams County Schools .Join In Nation-Wide Observance This Week Incooperation with schools throughout the United States, schools of Adams county will join in tin ouservance of National Education week. Various plans have lieen made in the different schools of the county for the week's program. The Decatur schools will have a fitting program during the week. Each day this week has been set aside as a special day to observe one phase of the week's program. Today is observed by tile schools as Constitutional Day. and special stress will be paid to the constitution of the United States and Indiana. Most of the schools in this city will give special programs Friday of this week, and plans are being made now for appropriate programs. Other ucliools in. the county will observe the week in various ways with short pro grams. A proclamation, urging the observance of the week has been issued by President Coolidge. The various points tCOXTIXIEIt OX PICK FOI H) o — Four Men Wounded In Free-For-All Fight Indianapolis. Nov. 16 — (United Press) Four men today are recovering from wounds sustained yesterday in a free-for-all fight in a ]>ool room here. Carl Hyatt. William Hyatt, owners of the pool room, and Albert and Joe Wernke. were arrested and released on bond, charged witli assault ami battery. FINAL REHEARSAL FOR “CHEER UP” Cast For Musical Revue Ends Practice Tonight; First Show Tuesday The final rehearsal for the musical revue, "Cheer Up.” to be given Tuesday and Wednesday evenings under the auspices of the Elks lodge, will be held this evening in the auditoriuim of tlie new Catholic school building, where the production will be staged The production was put together for the first time Sunday afternoon and , everything moved along smoothly. Costumes were given out to the various characters today by Miss Forgey, the director in charge of the production The costumes, which are furnished by the Bock Producing company, are said to be gorgeous. Special scenery is furnished by the producing company, also. The proceeds from the event will be used by the Elks in providing Christmas cheer for the poor people of the city. Tickets, which are selling at fifty cents tach, may be bought from any Elk or at any of the following business houses,; Eats restaurant.. Peoples restaurant, Joseph & Lang confectionery, M. & O. confectionery. Fred's Place, Hensley & Son jewelry store. Lose Brothers cigktr store and the Old Adams County bunk. The play will start promptly at 8 o'celock Tuesday night*. There are tour acts.

Price 2 Cents.

LIFE TERM IS GIVEN TO FORMER DRAGON OF KLAN Fallen Leader Emotionally Protests Innoncenee As Sentence. Is Bead PLANS APPEAL; TWO AIDES ARE ACQUITTED (I’. P. Stuff Correspondent I Noblesville, Nov. Hi Emotionally protesting innocence. D. Stephenson? former klan dragon of Imliiina, was sentenced to life imprisonment here today, following conviction on a charge of murdering Madge Oberhollzer. lie plans tin apneal to tlie supreme court and his attorneys tire expected to file a molion for freedom on bond (hiring the year required lor Ute supreme court to review the case. No motions were tiled today, however. Stephenson probably will not be taken to prison until tomorrow. Smiling and cheerful the ex-klan dragon was taken into court at 1:50 pm Asked by Judge Sparks if he had any remarks before sentence, he spoke in a voice, quivering with emotion. Claims He Is Innocent "I am not guilty of murder or any lesser degree of murder or manslaughter. It always has been mv impression that no man should be deprived of bis liberty without due process of law. “1 believe it is the universal opinion that this was not in due process of law. Three hundred peope of three and one-half million in Indiana attending this trial, with outbursts of applause anil hissing, rendered it impossible for the jury to return a fair verdict. "Time will unfold the cold white light, of truth—that D. (' Stephenson is not guilty of murder in any degree or in any degree of homicide ’’ Regains His Calmness Follpwing this outburst, Stephenson. again culm and collect, walked back to iiis seat. Judge Sparks characterized the statement as gentlemanly. but said he had heard no hissing. Floyd Christen, defense attorney, aid that during bis speech to the jury lie had been hissed. The fallen leader was escorted back to jail by Sheriff Gooding, who will take him to prison. Stephenson's * two aides, Earl Kb nek and Earl Gentry, who were acquitted, surrendered today to tlie Hamilton county sheriff to answer to ■ltarges of arsen in connection witli tlie burning of Stephenson's. Indianapolis home. O GENEVA SCHOOL TEACHER DIES Miss Dilma Woods Succumbs Today Following Appendix Operation (Special to Daily Democrat) Geneva. Nov. Hi— Miss Hilma Woods, 20, a teacher in the Geneva schools, died at tlie home of her par ents, Mr. and Mrs. John Woods, six miles east of here at 8 o'clock this morning. Miss Woods was taken to the Lutheran hospital at Fort Wayne seven weeks ago for an operation for appendicitis. She never recuperated after the operation and site was brought to her home last Thursday, with no hopes for recovery. Mi s Woods was graduated from the Geneva high school in 1924. Later she attended Huntington college ami last fall begau her work a* teacher of the fourth aud fifth grades in the local schools Site is survived by her parents, two brothers and three sisters. Funeral services will lie held from the Methodist church at 1:30 o’clock Wednesday afternoon Burial will he made iu the Weallawn cemetery.