Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 23, Number 293, Decatur, Adams County, 12 December 1925 — Page 1

I y 0 ], XXIII. Number 293.

COURT DENIES

I CITYTQHAVE I A COMMUNITY CHRISTMASTREE I Woman’s Club To Stage I Annual Observance On Liberty Way Dec. 24 COMMUNITY SINGING TO BE BIG FEATURE

Decatur will have a Community Christmas tree again this year, accordine to present plans of the Woman's club, which has sponsored the project for the last several years. Mrs. W. E. Smith, last year's chairman, will be In charge of the tree and program again this year. Definite plans have not yet been completed for the program, but it is probable that this year’s event will he similar to last year's. There will I be community singing hy local school children and church choirs and a treat for childrein under the high school age. The program will probably be held December 24. late in the afternoon. Several hundred people of this community attended the community program last year and the project has heen growing rapidly the last several years. A large evergreen tree will be erected on Liberty Way and will be lighted with electric lights. Santa Clans will take part in the distribution of sacks of candy. A complete program will be announced soon, Mrs. Smith said today.

Sheridan Man Claims Title Os Champion Cornhusker Sheridan. Ind., Dec. 12. — (United Press)—Fred Merrill today claimed the title of champion cornhusker of the central states. He husked 235 bushels in nine hours and 55 minutes. After the long ! grind a physician had to be called to I attend him. 101 SCOUTS TO HOLD BANQUET Local Troup To Observe Anniversary Os Organization Next Wednesday The anniversary of the organizing of the Boy Scouts in this city will be observed Wednesday evening with a banquet in the Decatur Industrial! rooms, the program being in charge of Scoutmaster Bryce Thomas and officers of the Boy Scout troup. About 60 Boy Scouts will be entertained, including the Senior troup 1 and members of the junior troup. Ten Scouts will take the Tenderfoot tests!

and plans will be made for carrying out a program during the winter, months. Scoutmaster Thomas took charge of the local organization two years ago and has met with much success in keeping the boys together and in Providng programs of interest to them. He is desirious that every scout attend the meeting and benquet next Wednesday. Officers of the local Rotary club will also be guests of the scouts at the banquet. o Overheated Stove Causes Fire Loss Os $50,000 Knightstown, Ind., Dec. 12 —-An | overheated stove was given today as •he cause of a fire which swept the Frank augh lumber plant Here last uight with a loss of $50,000. The company’s main building and a large stock of lumber were destroyed by the flames which raged Unchecked for more than two hours. Fire apparatus was called from | Newcastle and Greenfield to prevent the blaze from spreading to other buildings. Williamsport Ind., Decl 12)—Loss j from, the first which damaged the Kesiter elevator yesterday was plac'd today at $50,000.

jpcATun daiiy democrat

NO BAND MUSIC Chicago. De ( ~-(U nilP(l -There will be no band music at the double funeral of Mr. and Mrs. John Gruss. Gruss dropped dead as he was negotiating with a bandmaster to Provide music at the funeral of his wife who died Thursday. A daughter announced that her father and mother would be juried together on Monday but there will be no band music.

I NOT MANY FAVOR SPECIAL SESSION i Less Than Twenty Per Cent Os Legislators Want Body Convened I Indianapolis, Dec. 12. — (United Press—Less than twenty percent of Indiana's legislators favor a special session of the legislature to investigate the highway commission, members of the Marion county delegation I who backed the move have found i The Indianapolis delegates, in view of this fact, while still maintaining the need of the session have abandoned ! their efforts to obtain signers for a petition asking the governor to convene the house and senate in extra session. I A careful canvas of the situation among the leading legislators of the (State has revealed: 1. That a strong element in the legislature. including both Democrats and

, Republicans has thorough confidence in the highway commission. | 2. That many of the legislators believe there should he no further delay jin bringing the commission members to trial so that the charges against I them can he either proved or disproved. I 3. That less than 20 per cent of i the legis'ators favor calling of a sPpicial session although many feel the commission should be investigated. Among the legislators who opposed the session were Robert L. Moorehead, j Republican; Howard Cann, Republican; L. G. Bradford, Republican; I George Saunders, Democrat; Joseph I M. Cravens. Democrat; E. L. Leonard.l Republican; Will Brown. Republican; J. F. Lochard, Democrat and William Quillan, Democrat: Representatives Elizabeth Daugherty. Republican; Oliver LeFuze, Republican: T. A. Gottschalk, Democrat; J. G. Schwing. Democrat; J. Glenn Harris, Republican; D. E. Noland, Republican; J. P. ChrisI ney. Democrat, Frank MsElheny, Democrat and Charles Clark. Republican. Harry Leslie, of Lafayette, speaker of the house, objects to the session because of the high cost, but says, “personally speaking, I wish somebody would explain the handling of leftover war materials consigned to the state of Indiana.” Senator Leonard urged the people

to “quit knocking and help the highway commission build roads.’’ He ex- | pressed the opinion that this agitation has been stirred up by crushed stone interests and a small group of j discredited politicians who want to 'discard the present efficient and busi-'ness-like methods of supplies and the employment of labor, and return to ' the spoils system. Representative McElheny says a special session is too expensive a method of investigation and expresses every confidencee in the members of the .commission. —o I Gov. Jackson Appoints Superior Court Judge ' Indianapolis. Dec. 12. - (United Press)—Governor Jackson today ap- | pointed Lewis Hammond, of South Bend, as judge of superior court number 2, of St. Joseph county. Hammond will succeed Judge J. L. O are. pp ixA jhop

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, Decern he r 12, 19 25.

FURS VALUED AT ' $25 ARE STOLEN 1 hieves Break Into Maier Bide & Fur Co.. Building Friday Night Thieves entered the Maier Hide and Fur company building on West Monroe street early this morning and escaped with furs valued at about $25. More than SBOO worth of valuable furs were . ‘■hipped out yesterday afternoon and i only a few that had been bought yesI terday were in the store room. The I same sort of a rpbbery occurred at the Maier Hide and Fur company about I a year ago. Donald Hower, of the Hower Brothers Restaurant, heard some pounding In the building at about 1:30 o'clock this morning. He thought at first that the thieves were attempting o ener his building and immediately called night policeman, Clark. Officer Melchi was also notified and the two men made a thorough search of the build.ng, but the robbers had made a clean get-away. Entrance was obtained through the rear of the building and entrance to the hide and fur storage romm was made hy breaking the large lock used to protect the storage room. Ixical officers are working on the case today and several fur buyers in this vicinity have been warned to be on the lookout for the furs. Among the articles stolen were IK musk-rat and several possum furs. The big shipment, which usually is made about this time of the year, was only missed a few hours by the thieves. oParoled Man Must Take Family And Leave State Newcastle, Ind. Dl.ec. 12. —Jesse Booher and his family were preparing today to leave the state of Indiana forever. Judge Hinshaw suspended a prison sentence against Booher on that condition. Booher was brought into court for attacking his father during a drunken quarrel.

GOOD RESPONSE TO SEAL SALE Many Christmas Seals Being Sold In Decatur And In Adams County A large force of clerks worked all day today at the Central school office, where headquarters are being maintained for the sale of tuberculosis Christmas seals in Adams county. W. G. Brown, who has charge of the seal sale this year, said this morning that the response had been good this year and he predicted that the sale in Adams county would surpass that of other years. Other points in the county have not yet reported, but the sale in Decatur and vicinity has been encouraging, Mr. Brown said. A large per cent of the people to whom seals were sent have retained the seals of remitted. People throughout the state are being urged to use the seals on letters, packages and Christmas greetings and the response has been good throughout the state. The Tuberculosis society has been doing a good work in every county in the state and the sale of the Christmas seals is the only source of revenue by which the work can be carried on. All people are urged to buy the seals and the movement has been recommended by manyp rominent men throughout the country. The Christma sseal this year is a very attractive seal and many factories and offices are placing one on each letter leaving their place of business. — o Portland Man Gets Federal Prison Sentence Fort Wayne, Ind., Dec. 12.—(United Press)—Willard Ferris, of Portland, today was under sentence of eighteen months in the federal prison. He wag convicted of conspiracy in the theft of arms from the Portland armory. Attorneys for Ferris are planning an appeal.

STEPHENSON NEW TRIAL

The Last Salute ■ ■ A Aw Biffin ffx': JR j '* ■ ™ The entire regiment stood at attention when Master Sergeant Angus Walden, after thirty years service, retired from the Army at Fort Hamilton, N. Y. As a remembrance, Walden, who hails from Georgia, was presented with a watch and fob by his officers and men. Turks Fail To Get French Support In Mosul Dispute Geneva, Dec 12—The Turkish delegation's eleventh hour hope of securing French support for their position in the Mosul mandate dispute before the League of Nations council was shattered today when the Turkish envoy at Paris. Fethi Bey, telegraphed the Turkish foreign-minister delegate, Tewfik Rouschi Bey here that the latter's proposed trip to Paris would be useless. Fethi R-y was understood to have been Informed by Premier Briand that it would be impossible for France to interfere in the situation 1 , o House Completes Debate On Tax Reduction Bill Washington, D. C-. Dec. 12.—(United Press) —Much to the satisfaction of its members, the house today will complete general debate on the $325,000,000 tax reduction bill. Since Thursday many members have been clamoring to begin consideration of the measure for amendment, but leaders refused to abandon their plan for debate until late this afternoon. There is some possibility, however, that the debate will be cut short today and the reading of the bill started. Most of the speeches today were short talks in favor of the bill.

GOOD FELLOWS CLUB 1 Be A Good Fellow And Help Pro- f vide A Merry Christmas ? For The Kiddies. Only one subscription was made I today to the Good Fellows Club ’ Christmas fund. It was a donation < of $1 from Mrs. Margaret Mylott, of j I Chicago, Illinois. This brings the < total in the fund to $89.32. t Weather Mostly cloudy tonight and Sunday < except generally fair in extreme south ' portion and possibly light snow in ' northeast portion. Slightly warmer ‘ tonight in extrem south portion. Colder Sunday in north portion. Washington, D C., Dec. 12. — (United < Press)—Weather outlook for period * Dec. 14 to 19 inclusive: Region of the great lakes—Snows j about Tuesday and again the latter , part of tee week. Temperatures be- ‘ low normal. Ohio valley and Tennessee—Rains over south and enows or rains over north portion Monday or Tuesday and again near the end of the week. Colder Monday and again the middle of thhe week. Upper Mississippi and lower Mis- i sotiri valleys—Snows over north and < rains over south portions Monday and ji again the latter part of the week. Oth-.i below normal most of the week erwise generally fair, temperatures be- < low normal most of the week.

ONE MAN SHOT AT ROADHOUSE Guns Blaze In Resort Near Terre Haute This Afternoon; Two Injured Terre Haute, Dec. 12.—Guns blazed in a roadhouse brawl near Terre Haute this afternoon and when qu'et was restored to the place one man—a police character—was found shot to death, a woman was wounded |n the back and a deputy sheriff was suffering n wound in the leg. Participants in the battle had been drinking, authorities said, and the fight was started over the attentions of Pearl Linton, proprietor of the place. Fred Henry was slain hy Deputy Sheriff Holman Miller, when Millercalled to the scene by neighbors—tried to stop the riot and was assaulted by Henry. Fern House, wife of Al House, notorious Florida bandit, was struck in the back by one of the bullets fired in the battle. Miller was struck In the leg by another bullet. All occupants of the house not injured were taken to Terre Haute where they were placed in custody of police. Al House is now serving a long sentence in Florida for participation in tlte robbery of a cigar company. He was arrested, in .Toledo, Ohio, several months ago. in company with Fred Henry, the man killed today. Pearl Linton, proprietor of the' house, was the wife of Blacky Linton, who is serving a 25-year sentence in the state prison at Michigan City in connection with the Spencer bank robbery two years ago. 0 Hammond Woman and Two Small Children Missing! Hammond, Ind.. Dec. 12. —(United Press) —Police and county authorities today were searching for Mrs. John Mesmaid and her two small children, who have been missing since Monday. The woman disappeared after threatening to kill herself and the children.

MORE YOUTHS JOININC BAND Fifty Applicants Secured por Junior Musical Organization Here Fifty applicants have already been secured for the Decatur Junior band, which is now being organized in this city. Lessons ar L > being given the pupils by Signor Cafaro, of Fort Wayne, on Wednesday and Thursday, each week. Private lessons will be given the pupils until all are able to play in the musical organization. The musical instruments are arriving daily, a special agreement being made with the Conn Muscal company of Elkhart for the purchase of the pieces. The instruments can be purchased on a monthly or rental basis and the private lessons are given by the instructor in the Decatur Industrial rooms. Three of the large instruments needed in a band, namely the bass drum and tubas, were purchased out of a fund raised several years ago for a swimming pool, but as the band is in the interest of the boy and girl, it was thought advisable to expend the money for this purpose as those desirous of joining the band did not feel justified in purchasing such expensive instruments. These instruments will be kept at the h’gh school and let out by M. F. Worthman, superintendent.

Father Mistakes His Sleep-Walking Daughter For Burglar; Shoots Her Jersey City, N. J.. Dec.l2. — (United Press)— Mistaking his sleep-walking daughter, Rose, for a burglar, Anthony Carbone early today shot and accidentally wounded the 9-year-old child. Rose was taken to a hospital, the roof of her torn away and three teeth missing from her upper jaw.

A POPULAR METHOD Champaign, 111,, Dec. 12.—(Unit ed Press) H. <’ Bateman, wealthy retired farmer of Mansfield, followed the pattern of his cousin in committing suicide. Bateman walked into a hardware store late yesterday and asked for permission to examine a small calibre r.fle. He took it to the basement to test it and was found a short time later, a btAllet wound between the eyes. Two years ago his cousin. Wm. Howe, committed suicide in exactly the same manner.

BEN HUR LODGE ELECTS OFFICERS Walter Springer Named Chief; Christmas Party Planned for Next Week Walter Springer was elected chief of the Decatur lodge of the Ben Hur ' at the annual election of officers held j at the Ben Bur lodge hall last night. I Miss Millie Wise is Past Chief. Next Friday night, the Ben Hur lodge will > hold its annual Christmas party for members of the lodge and their fami ilies. A pot-luck supper will be served and presents will be distributed to thp children. Other officers elected at last night's meeting were: Ona Springer. Judge; Cora Burke, teacher: Mona Artman. scribe; Mrs. Emma Burke. Keeper of Tribute; June Miller, captain; Emma Pennington, guide: Emma Smith, Inner gate; Rose Venis, outer gate; Ruby Baker, pianist. The officers elected last night will serve for one year. o Friends Husk Corn For Harve Beery A large number of the neighbors and friends came inand husked about fifteen acres of corn for Harve Beery, living two miles south of Peterson, who has been unable to attend to his farming duties for several months past on account of the sickness of his son, Richard, who needs constant care, day and night, who lies so near deaths door, seemingly. Mr Beery is constantly at the bedside. It was because of this situation that alxnit thirty-five men came in from far and near on Friday morning and, as a neigborly act, began to husk the corn, some bringing team and wagons to haul the husked corn in to the crib, By night-fall between seven and eight hundred bushels of corn was cribed. Mr. Beery and Mr. AlHerb Rothl. w'ere partners on this crop of corn. Mr. Roth, it will be remembered, had the misfortune of having Ids leg broken last spring. He had part of the corn husked before the day set for the husking party. o

German Police Dogs Help Locate Stolen Mail Bags Berlin, Dec. 12. — (United Press) — With the aid of German police dogs, the authorities today recovered mall bags lost from the Berlin-Hamburug mail train, containing among other things, bonds and checks for the National City bank, of New York, valued at one million marks. It is believed the mail robbers threw the bags off intending to have accomplices pick them up but that in the night they missed the appointed spot. Nothing had been stolen, the police said. U. S. Invited To Join In Disarmament Conference Geneva. Deq. 12—The League of Nations council today formally de- | cided to invite the United States, Germany, Russia, Bulgaria, Finland, Holland, Poland, Rumania and Serbia to participate with ten members of the council on the commission for preparation of the league’s 1926 disarmament conference. All states which are not represented on the commission will be invited to übmit their views. The council's action constitutes a ratification of its disarmament committee's action earlier, in deciding to ask especially the United States, Russia and Germany to assist. The preparation committee has been summoned to meet February 15, at Geneva.

Price 2 Cents.

APPEAL TO STATE SUPREME COURT IS NEXT MOVE D. C. Stephenson Appears In Court At Noblesville For Hearing Today KINCK AND GENTRY ATTEND PROCEEDINGS Noblesville, Dec. 12.—Motions seeking a new trial for D. C. Stenhenson. former Indiana klan i leader serving a life sentence for I murder, were denied in Hamilton countv court today. Judge Sparks overruled the motions to have the judgment of the court set aside and to grant a new trial. Defense attorneys announced an appeal would be taken to the state supreme court when a transcrint can be completed. A supplementary move on the part of the defense seeking an arrest of Judgment was also denied hy Judge Sparks. While arguments on the motions were being heard, Earl Klenck and Earl Gentry who were acquitted of complicity In the murder walked in to the court room. Eph Inman, chief attorney for defense, obtained perntlss'on for Stephenson to confer privately with Kllnck and Gentry in a corner of the court room. The chief contention of the defense was that the indictment which led to Stephenson’s trial was faulty because it failed to charge the crime was done “purposely.” Stephenson started on the return journey to the state prison at noon. He smiled hut once during the session. At other times he was serious, much of the time busily hiding his cropped hair with his hands. o— Strikes Match To See Into Radiator; Bang! Noblesville. Ind , Dec. 12. (United Press)—Tracy Wilson struck a match to find out whether the radiator of ills automobile was full. The mixture of alcohol and water exploded, burning him severely about the face nnd h«‘ad.

FUNERAL WILL BE HELD MONDAY Last Rites For Fred Hockemeyer To Be Held At Flat Rock Funeral services for Fred Hockemeyer. 65, well-known farmer residing about two miles east of Hoagland, will be held from the home at 1 o’clock Monday afternoon and from the Flat Rock Lutheran church at 2 o’clock. Mr Hockemeyer succumbed to apoplexy yesterday afternoon, after an illness of two weeks The deceased was born in 186(1. He had resided near Hoagland many years and was well known in that community and also In Adams county and Decatur. He suffered a severe stroke of apoplexy about two wis-ks ago and never recovered sufficiently to be able to be up He is survived by his wife; one daughter, -s. Frieda Keiser, of Fort Wayne-; rjbur sons ( | Fn-dj, Charted. William and Harmon, all of Madison township,. Alien uoun'ty 15 grandchildren, and one twin brother, Herman. of near Hoagland. O : Thirteen-Cent Stamp To Be Re-Issued Soon Washington. D. Dec. 12. - (United Press) —The thirteen-chnt postage stamp, abandoned four years ago, is to be re-issued becattse ot the demands for its use on parcel post packages. Postmaster General .New announced today. 1 The Issue will bear a poftru’t of President Benjamin Her son, and is a revival of the Ha i 'ffi'i ■( the 1902 series The first issue will be placed on sale Jan. 12 at Indiunapoli:-. liur.ic city of Harrison.