Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 292, Decatur, Adams County, 11 December 1925 — Page 1

Vol. XXHI. Number 292.

LAFAYETTE GETS

§0 BODIES ARE REMOVED FROM ALABAMA MINE Estimates Os Number Os Deaths In Disaster Run As High As 60 MOST OF DEAD are COLORED MEN

Birmingham. Ala.. Dec. 11. (United Press->—With estimates of the deaths running as high as 60, fresh rescue crews went into the depths of the Overton No. 2 mine today in search of additional bodies of miners killed in a g Ixsopesai etaoin shrdlu killed in a gas explosion yesterday. All night long, workers, stimulated by cups of steaming coffee cooked at small stoves set up at the mine mouth, labored to remove some of the debris and at 10 a. m., had brought the bodies of seven wlytes and 43 negroes to the surface. Officials of the mine IteKeve that two whites and a number of negroes still remain below. Groups of sorrowing relatives of the miners rema : ned about the scene until an early hour today and then, shaken by the bitter cold, sadly left for their homes only to return in a few hours. There was no hone that any of the miners still below the surface are alive uovriM ei> on PAGE eight* ■ o Liquor Raids Net 39 Persons At Evansville Evansville, Ind., Dec. 11. — ithnted Press)—Federal agents, who todayopened a sudden cleanup of the liquor traffic in Evansville, this afternoon, had arrested 36 men and .women. Raids were continuing throughout the city with 26 persons yet to be apprehended. Among the 39 arrested, half a dozen were old violators, some having been arrested earlier this week by county officers. o Chinese Artillery men Fire On Train Bearing American By Randall Gould (IT. P. Staff Correspondent) Pekin, Dec. 11.—(United Press I— Chinese artillerymen today fired on the international train enroute to Tien Tsin from Pekin with American and European passengers, including the widow of former American Minister Calhoun of, China and Tiffany Blake, representative of the Chicago Tribune There were no casualties and only onwindow smashed. o — Purnell To Introduce Bill Aimed At Slot Machines, Washington, D. C., Dec. 11. —(United Press) —Representative Fred Purnell., of Indiana, will introduce a bill prohibiting Interstate shipment of ■‘-I" 1 gambling machoines, he said today. The same measure was introduced last year and reported favorably by the judiciary committee but did noi reach a vote "1 am particularly concerned because these machines teach children to gamble,” Purnell said. o_ K.OFP. LODGE ELECTS OFFICERS Ed Beery Elected Chancellor Commander Os Kekionga Lodge, No. 65 Ed Beery was elected Chancelloi Commander of Kekionga Lodge. N'° 65, Knights of Pythias, at the annual election of officers held at the home °n Third street last night. Other officers elected were: John Nelson, v i< chancellor commander; Dtoyal AntsPaugh, prelate; George Myers, master at arms; Elmer Chase, inner guard; Riley Chrisman, outer guard: Joseph Hunter, keeper of records and seals, J. R. Parrish, master of finances: "• A. Lower, master of exchequer; and Roy Mumma, trustee.

J2ECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Detroit Instructor Visits I Decatur School Teachers' Miss Anna B Smith, supervisor of the primary grades in (he p llM ; P schools at Detroit, Michigan, visited with the Decatur teachers yesterday. Miss Smith spoke to the teachers of the first, second anu third grades in the city schools about the new pcture story system of teaching reading ■ o —— INDIANA HISTORY PROCRAM IS DIVEN

Instructor and Pupils of D. IL S. Give Talks At Rotary Meeting An instructive and entertaining program on the history of Indiana was given last evening by Ralph Tyndall, history instructor in the Decatur high school, and two members of his class, Harold Zwick and Evan Kek, before members of th e Decatur Rotary club. The program was given in observeanee of Indiana Admission day, today, December 11. it being the 109th anniversary of Indiana’s admission to' the union. Mr. Kek told of the very early history of this section of the country, going back to the time of the mound builders. Mr. Zwick told of the period before Indiana became a territory and Mr. Tyndall told of the early pioneer history of the state, a fewyears before and immediately following it admisson to the Union. The program was in charge of C. E. Bell, and a talk on Rotary attendance was given by Dr. Fred Patterson. Trio Os Youthful Bandits Held in Indianapolis Jail Indianapolis, Dec. 11. — (United rresst—Three uandits, all under 19 years of age, were in jail here today in default of SIO,OOO bond each following confessions said to have been made to police. The trio, Julian Paterson. 19, Newton Brown. 17. and John Tay.or, 17, are said to have signed a statement saying they became bandits ecause “it was an easy way to get money. Police believe the arrest of the trio will clear up a number of .uuianapolis holdups which have occurred during the last few months. Robbers Get SI,OOO At Richmond Store Richmond, Ind.. Dec. 11- (United Press)—Authorities today are seeking clues in connection with the robbing of the William Kromer store. The robbers, gaining entrance through a rear door, carried oft money, jewels and a bond valued at $l,lOO. COLO WEATHER EXPECTED SOON Sun Sends Mercury Upward Today: Unusually Warm For This Time Os Year The sun peeped through the low clouds early today and sent the thermomete rupward several degrees, and though the air is still crisp, it is considerable warmer than yesterday. It is probable that the warm weather will remain at least for 24 hours, according to weather reports. The present weather is unusually warm for this time of the year, and cold weather is due almost any time now. according to comparisons with A vear aso, the thei 1 previous years. A . . lliome ter Hovered around the 20 de - “n:”? ----- cinity. - Husband Gets Life Je™ For Murdering His \V n« „ ‘ Joseph Scheonberger, 43, Pr !. ?tv today was under sentence Fell City, ent j n the state prisof life imprisonment in ° n at M ‘ C convicted’of second degree He was convicts .. , wite , killmurder tor the death of his wit e d iu a drunken row.

■PLANS COMPLETED EDI! DAIRY SCHOOL Purdue Men On Program For Three-Day Session At Berne Next Week Plans are now completed for the "Dairy Feeds anu Feeding School." to bp held at the Condensery, in Berne, next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, afternoons and evenings. According to the program which has been distributed to farmers of the community, the first day will be devoted to discussions of soybeans, alfalfa and other legumes for dairy cattle. Mr. K. E. Beeson, of the soils and crops department at Purdue will speak, using as his afternoon subject, “Soy beans—Old Bossy's Greatest Relish." A discussion of the growing of soybeans will be led by M. A. Ripley, successful soybean grower of Blue Creek township. The evening session will open with community singing, led by K. E. Beeson. Young people will probably find this session interesting and are especially invited. Following the singing. Mr. Beeson will use as his subject. "Alfalfa—The Dairyman’s Insurance." Thursday afternoon, G. A. Williams, director of Cow '1 -sting Associations in Indiana will speak on the subject, "The Dairy Herd Sire,” the discussion following the lecture to be led by Jacob .1. Schwarts. The evening subject will be "Milk.” Friday afternoon’s subject will be. "Feeding For Economical Production," the discuss . ion being led by John D. Mason, while i in the evening the subject will be "Building Up The Dairy Herd.” Motion pictures probably will be shown at the evening meetings. The aflerauuu. uieetlufs will begin | at one o’clock and the evening sessions at seven. No forenoon sessions

[ are planned. Everyone planning to i attend the meetings is cautioned to ■ be there on time, as meetings will | . start at scheduled time. i A guessng contest will he conducted in connection with the registration. . All meetings are to be held at the Condensery. the same room, as was used last year now being prepared for the occasion. 8, C, H. S. HONOR ROLL ANNOUNCED Frances Schultz Again Leads School With Average Os 95 3-4 Per Cent The second six weeks’ examinations were held at Catholic high school last Rriday, December 4. Frances Schultz again leads the school on the honor roll with an average of 95 3-4 per cent. Other freshmen, who are on the honor roll and have an average of 90 per cent or above, are: Agnes Baker, Elsie Brunnegraff, Mary Virginia Hyland. Margaret Biting, Helen Lengerich. Raymond Gase. Cornelius Durkin Sophomores —John Dowling, Magdalene Schmitt, Margaret Voglewede. Juniors— Mary Harris, Dick Miller, Fred Connell. Seniors —Bernardine Christen, Helen Holthouse, Alice Clark, Anna Nesswald. In the class averages, the Sophomores lead with an average of 88 2-3 per cent; Seniors, 88 per cent; freshmen, 87 13-16 per cent; Juniors, 87 9-16 per cent; Commercial 11, 85 1-15 per cent; Commercial I, 84 3-4 per cent. In the attendance averages the freshmen rank first. Th ea revasgerae men rank first. The averages are as follows: Freshmen, 99.6 per cent; 1 Sophomores and Seniors, a tie, 99.1 per cent; Commercial 11, 96.7 per cent; Commercial I, 96.5 per cent; Juniors, 94.4 per cent. — Lake County Convicts Three Murderers This Week I Valparaiso, Ind., Dec. 11. (United 1 i-ress)— Henry Smith, negro, the third 1 murderer convicted in Lake county . u .i s week today faced tne electric chair. me jury deliberated only one-half . hour before finding Smith guilty and fixing the penalty at death. J

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, December 11, 1925.

STATE PYTHIAN HOME

REPORT HEAVY Decatur Merchants Doing Big Christmas Business; Fine Line Os Gifts Are In Stock Local merchants are reporting heavy Christmas sales nnd Indications are that most of the Decatur Christmas shopping will be done before Christmas Eve. Many stores have bad to reinforce their Christmas supplies to meet the demands of the shoppers. Many fine gifts are numbered among the displays in the various windows. . Heavy shopping was reported at most business houses yesterday and indications are that it will continue until I Christinas. EASTERNSTARS HOLD ELECTION Old Officers Os Local Chapter Re-elected At Meeting Held Last Night « ■ -• Mrs. H. B. Heller was re-elected' worthy matron of the Decatur chapter of the Eastern Star at the annual election of officers held at the Mason- : ic hall last night. G. T. Burk was reelected worthy patron and Mrs. Alma Frisinger was re-elected associate matron. Mrs. R. D. Myers was selected to . act as secretary again and Mrs. Marton Gilson was re-elected treasurer. Mrs. J. R. Blair was chosen as con- . ductress for the third consecutive time and M ss Goldie Gay was elected to act as assocate conductress. , After the election, of officers the local chapter voted to accept the Ma- ! sons’ invitation to hold a joint installation of officers with them. The date j of the installation has not yet been decided, but it will be in the next few , weeks, it was announced .

O f RADIO RECEPTION IMPROVING HERE; 1 Many New Stations Heard; Dealers Report Large Sales Os Sets Radio fans in this community have been obtaining new stolons in almost every state in the unite, lately and many are of the reception the last few days has > een the best for some time In this city. The new Fort. Wayne station is being received plainly and many new Flo. ida stations are coming in good, it is reported. All radio sales services in the county report good sales records the last month and the papularity of the instrument is greatly increasing, they]' report. Many farm homes now have radios installed and a large per cent of Decatur residents have sets. Most of the local interference has been remedied and reception is good almost any time of the day and night. As soon as an interferenc is reported, the various sales agencies in Decatur make an effort to ascertain the trouble and do away with it. State Os Indiana Celebrates Its 109th Birthday Anniversary Indianapolis, Dec. 11. — (United Press)—The state of Indiana today celebrated its one hundred and ninth birthday anniversary. Special exercises were held in public schools, oh order from Dr. H. N. Sherwood, state superintendent of public instruction and pioneer and historical societies held anniversary meetings. Indiana was admitted to the Union Dec. lx, 1816. poyour Christmas SHOPPING W » Weather 1 Partly cloudy tonight uy mostly fair Saturday; somewhat colder Saturday.

LA. GOTTSCHALK EXPLAINS STAND Adams-Wells County Repretative Opposes Special Session Os Legislature Thurman A. Gottschalk, of Berne, joint representative from Adams and Wells county in the state legislature, and minority leader in the opposes the proposal of certain legislators in the state to call a special session of the legislature to investigate the record of the state highway commission. In a letter written to the I Indianapolis Times in response to an inquiry regarding his stand on the question. Mr Gottschalk states that he would view the greatest amount of misgivings any such session, explaining that it would result in a political fight to get control of the highway department and slow up the good roads program. Mr. Gottschalk's letter is as follows: "Gentlemen: — I don't believe that any one takes the possibility of a Special Session of tne legislature with any great amount of seriousness. Personally, I would view with the greatest amount of misgivings any such session and cannot see where any good would result. "Just now the people are giving the State highway program serious con--1 Hideration and not a few fee) that the 1 work should |bc speeded up. more roads hard-surfaced and more miles I added to the system, which, of course, ' will call for more revenue for the De- ' partment. Undoubtedly Indiana is not ‘(keeping pace with Ohio. Illinois and I I Michigan in its construction pnNßram. ' The people will not vote for increased revenue for highways if they have

even a suspicion that there Is going ( to he personal favoritism shown in road construction. A Special Session of the legislature at this time, to investigate the highway Department would result only in a political fight to get control of the Department with the inevitable result icovrni i:i> <>x page Fot m REPPERT MAKES A RECORD SALE Famous Decatur Auctioneer Sells Champion Steer For $3.05 Per Pound ‘ Meveland, Ohio, held her first big lirtttock show this week, featuring the flays’ and girls’ steer club show |of Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. Several hundred boys and girls, members of calf clubs -in three states, attended as guests of tl>e city of Cleveland, the chamber of Commerce and the stock yards. ¥ The show drew wonderful exhibits in quality uneqtuUing, if not surpassing, the winners in the International show at Chicago, according to the Judgment of the jtMge, Prof. H. H. Kildee, of Ames Agricultural college, Ames, lowa. The grand champion steer of the show, owned and showed oy Raymond Leffert, of Clarks Hill. Indiana, sbld to the Hughes Commission company, of Cleveland, for $3.05 per pound, a world record price, this being five cents per pound over that paid for the grand champion, Maj Yong, at the Chicago show. Col. Fred Reppert, of this city, conducted the sale and thus adds another world record to his long list of achievements in this line. After the show and sale, the stock (COVI'IM El> ON PAGE KIGHT)

GOOD FELLOWS CLUB Be A Good FeJlow And Help Provide A Merry Christmas For The Kiddies. Contributions to the Good Fellows’ club today were as follows: Previous total $84.56 Dr. Lose Friend Erlend 1 w Friend 50 r Bob Cratchet 26 Total $88.32

One Hundred Stray Dogs Are Killed In Warsaw Warsaw, Ind., Dec. 11. — (United Press) —No less than 100 stray dogs have been killed here during the lust week, and the streets are still overrun by the canine. It is .believed the dogs were abandoned by their owners to evade tax payments. ELEPHANT ROCK IS BEING MOVED Large Boulder, To Be Used For Porter Memorial, Is Loaded On Truck The almost imposlble feat is being j accomplished by A. M. Mead, contractor, of Convoy, Ohio, and four other men, in the moving of the great Elephant Rock, a boulder weighing between forty and fifty tons, from the bed of the St-Marys river to this city where it will be placed on the court house lawn and form a memorial to Mrs. Gene Stratton-Porter, noted Hoosier writer, who died a year ago in Los Angeles. The rock was moved from the bed of the river up to the field back of the Gage farm, about three miles southeast of Decatur on the Pleasant Mills road, recently and today It was moved from the field to the barnyard and by night will be in position to get it out on the road, headed for Decatur. The great rock has been placed on a truck, twelve large truck wheels, 12 inches wide and 24 inches high being placed under the truck. The rock i.s being moved on the same plan a house or by the turn-stile method. Mr. Mead stated, that if permission was given him to haul the great boul-

der over the road next week, he could bring it ino Dcaur within a day. or two at the longest. The rock resembles a large elephant lying on its side and, acordmg to plans made by the Gen Stratton Memorial association, the rock, after being placed in the court house yard, will bear a tablet on it. dedicated to the] memory of Mrs. Porter. Man Pays High Price For Driving While Intoxicated Indianapolis, Dec. 11. (United Press)—Ben West today paid a high price for driving his car while under the influence of liquor. West was fined SSOO and sentenced to thirty days at the state farm by Judge White, who prohibited him from driving a ear for a year.

NEGRO WITNESS SHOOTS MARSHAL Man Draws Gun During Recess In Liquor Trial At Fort Wayne Today Fort Wayne, Dec. 11.—Linius Meredith, U. S. marshal was wounded in .the right hand here today by George vVashington, a negro witness at a liquor trial in federal court. During a recess in court the negro drew a gun and fired shots at Meredith and E. C. Nutter. Fred Hoyland and Wallace Banner, federal dry agents from Chicago. Meredith received a shot in the 1 hand when he grappled with the man ' in an attempt to take his gun away. ! The other shots went wild. Washington was lodged in the Al ; len county jail following the shooting.

Fred Hockemeyer Dies Os Apoplexy This Afternoon Fted Hockemeyer, 65, a prominent resident of near Hoagland, died this afternoon after a two weeks illness of apoplexy. Mr. Hockemeyer has been in a critical condition for several days, following a stroke about two weeks ago. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made. Mr. Hockemeyer has lived two miles from Hoagland, about 12 miles from this city, i for many years and was well-krtown : in Decatur and Adams county.

Price 2 Cents.

ISITE SELECTED FROM LISTOF 20 PROPOSALS Site Os 117 Acres Chosen; City Pays $50,000 On Cost On New Home DECATUR MAN HEADS SITE COMMITTEE (United Pi'Mß) Indianapolis, Dec. 11 Lafayette today was sciecled as tin* site for the proposed Pythian home for the aged and orphans by a committee appointed by i the lodge to make the selection. A tract of 1 17 acres in the eastern part of the city was picked tts the home site. In its report, the committee points out that the Lafayette merchants and manufacturers association will give $50,000 to the home fund, a part of which must be applied on the purchase of tlie land. Ute iahd will be purchased tor $25,000. Plans for the construction of the home were attfliorized at the meeting of the grand lodge In October, 1923, and since then efforts have been made to raise the $200,000 for th' l construction of the initial unit of the home and to select a site More than 20 cities were bidding for the location and at the last meeting of the grand lodge a committee composed of Nath.m J. Lane, grand chance’lor. and William A. Lower, Decatur; Ray Cash, Salein; Charles Pulliam. Terre Haute; Alonzo Moore Kokomo; John Craig. Greensburg: William Eichhorn. Bluffton: Roy Cox Darlington; AJHson Wise, Washington and Claude Kitterman. Cambridge City, was named to select the site Mr. Lower was chairman of the committee. *WI Work on the construction of the home will begin about the first of the year it was said. Insurgent Bloc Is Ousted From Its Power Washington, D. ('.. Dec. 11.— (United I Press!—The once powerful house insurgent block lias been ousted from its place of power. With the republican majority large enough to beat both democrats and insurgents combined. the last blow was to strip the independent republicans of all important committee jobs. With the exception of Representative Henry Allen Cooper, Wisconsin, dean of the house, all Wisconsin in-

surgents and Representative Sinclair, North Dakota, were ousted by the republican committee on committees. A subcommittee today asigned the rebels places on unimportant committees. Jefferson County Man Wins In Corn Contest — Lafayette, Ind., Dec. 11.—(United Brass)—John Barnes. Jr., of Jefferson county, today held first prize in the annual five acre corn growing contest conducted by Purdue university. Barnes raised bushels an acre on his five-acre tract. More than 700 fanners were entered ' i in the contest. o MEDICAL SOCIETY i ELECTS OFFICERS — Dr. C. C. Rayl, Decatur, Elected President Os

County Organization Dr. C. C. Rayl was elected president of the Adams County Medical Society at the meeting held at the Adams County Memorial hospital. Dr Ernest Franz, of Brene. was elected vicepresident. and Dr. W. E. Smith, nt Decatur, was named secretary and treasurer. Dr. C H. Mead, of Bluffton, hud an interesting paper on the subject. ’Ni- ■ trous vXltle Aneathes.a in D'is'i trti's. ' The paper thotoughly discus.eu tne i subject in a clear and md. active manner