Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 24, Number 39, Decatur, Adams County, 15 February 1926 — Page 1

V() l. \xiv. Number 39.

500 MEN ESCAPE FROM WRECKED MINE

CERALD CHAPMAN MUST HANG. U.S. COURT DECIDES P "ijht in’ Federal * Court** Os Appeals Today ONLY RECOURSE LIES IN SUPREME COURT New York, Feb. 15—(United p ITSS ) _ Gerald Chapman, nrincc ol bandits, must hang ' un( | cr the sentence imposed on him bv Hie stale court ot Connecticut. the United Slates circuit court of appeals ruled here. The court held that Chapman had no right to refuse the commutation ot his federal prison sentence, given him by President Coolidge. Chapman was under sentence to a long term in federal penitentiary for mail robbery when sentenced to hang for the murder of a New Britain Conn., policeman. President Cpolidge commuted the federal sentence, thus leaving the bandit entirely within state jurisdiction. Chapman refused the commutation. Chapman's recourse now lies in an appeal to the United States supreme court and his attorney indicated that such an appeal would be taken. o • Indiana’s Education Bill In 1924-25 Sets Record Indianapolis. Ind.. Feb. 15.—(United Press.)—lndiana’s education bill for the firseal year 1924-25 was $48.415.tiW, the largest in the history of the state, it was shown by figures completed today by Charles Kettleborough, head of the legislative reference bureau. The sum was an increase of more than $6,00.000 over the previous year and represented the total expenditures of all governmental units for education. o —..., Charred Remains Os Man Found In Burned Shack Peru, Ind.. Feb. 15 —(United Press) —The charred hitman bones found in the ashes of a burned shack near here were identified today as those of Robert Hiers, 65, who had been missing from the home of a son since last Thursday. The blistered barrels ot a shotgun were also found in the ruins. It is believed he set fire to the shack and then shot himself. o NEW PASTOR The Rev. Paul Schultz Assumes Pastorate Os Zion Lutheran Church The Rev. Paul Schultz was officially installed as pastor of the Deeitur Zion Lutheran church at the services yesterday morning and the official duties of the local church were turned over >o the new pastor. The church was filled to capacity for th£ installation services. The Rev. Mr. Frosch, pastor of the Bleeke Lutheran church in Union township, conducted the installation and turned over the charge of the church to the new pastor. Rev. Schultz comes to Decatur from Cieevland, Ohio, where he has been a( ting in the capacity of supply pas,or for the Cleveland Lutheran 'hurches. The Rev. A. W. Hinz resigned from the pastorate here several weeks ago to become pasto rof a rburch in Cleveland, and the call to ev Schultz was made three weeks ®B°> he replying that he would accept 'be local charge. Re*. Schultz was reared in New York a 'e and .recently, was graduated om Springfield College at Springfield, a kUheran Seminary. The new a ' rea dy " as made many friends s city, having conducted services er several weekg ag(j He take <llarge of the lacol church at

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Electric Footpad Causes Trouble For Radio Fans Mount Vernon. Ind., Feb. 15.—(Unit-j ed Press) —Mount Vernon radio tuns have found the cause of Interference’ I they have been having during the last | few weeks it was an automatic electric footpad. The pad had been left turned on by , its owner, -and an automatic switch, which prevented‘overheating also prevented discovery. A radio set was used to trace the direction and location of the trouble. 0 —... , STRICKEN DURING ; CHURCH SERVICE ■* Mrs. Jesse Johnson, Mon1 ’ roe, Dies Few Hours As- ( ter Paralytic Stroke i Mrs. I.ooa Blanche Johnson, 44. of 1 r Monroe, was stricken with paralysis j while attending a church service at. i the Monroe Friends church Sunday - night, and died at her home at 2:10 .. o'clock this morning. The paralysis - affected Mrs. Johnson's brain and - she was unconscious from the time she was stricken until her death 1 Mrs. Johnson and her husband, j Jesse Johnson, had gone to church t together Sunday evening. About 8:15 o'clock, while they were sitting in the church listening to the sermon. Mrs. Johnson told her husband that I she was too warm and that she would have to leave the church as she didn't feel well. Mr. Johnson ' fanned his wife for a few minutes, but that did not bring relief so the two started for the church door. b Just as they reached the door. Mrs. Johnson said she. beUaved. she- had.. suffered a stroke, and then staggered. Mr. Johnson cajight his wife as she started to fall, and carried her to their car. He drove home and called a physician, but efforts to save her life were futile. Mrs. Johnson had suffered from high blood pressure for several years. Mrs. Johnson was a daughter of Ahsolom and Alice Ginter, and was i born in Adams county, July 27, 1881. She spent her entire life in Adams • county. Seventeen years ago she 1 was married to Jesse Johnson and r they moved to Monroe one yCar lat--3 er. Two children. Thetus and Crystal 1 Leota, were born to Mr. and Mrs. 1 Johnson, the latter preceding her mother in death two years ago. Mrs. 1 Johnson was a member of the United 3 Brethren church, but had attended j ' the Methodist church at Monroe for. several years. Mrs. Johnson is survived by her husband; one son. Thetus; her mother. Mrs. Ginter, who resides at Monroe; two brothers, Homer, of near I Decatur, and Harvey, of Bluffton; and one sister, Mrs. Charles Henschen. of near Craigville. Funeral services will be held from the home at 1:30 o'clock and front the Monroe Methodist church at 2 o'clock Wednesday aflternoon. The Rev. E. M. Foster, pastor of the Methodist church, assisted by the t Rev. Grant Whitenack. pastor of the i Monroe Friends church, will have - charge of the funeral services, s Burial will be made in the Ray r cemetery. o t MERCURY TAKES [ A SUDDEN DROP 1 . Snow And Sleet Accompany . Cold Wave Which Follows Pre-spring Weather i j After two days ot pre-spring weather, s the mercury took a decided drop late t last night and today the northern part of the state shivered in a mid-winter. c temperature. Weather predictions are 1 that the cold wave will not last long and it is probable that warmer weather v .will arrive within the next 24 hours. , s Snow and sleet accompanied the s thermometer drop, but it did not last e any length of time and only a few t flurries were observed in northern Indiana today.

MEMORIAL FOR SMITH PROPOSED "Plan To Honor Art Smith, Veteran Aviator, Endorsed In Many Quarters Fort Wayne, Feb. 15—Little was ( done yesterday in advancing the investigation into the fatal crash,! according to word from Cleveland, headquarters of the air mail division' to which Smith was assigned. A re-' port is not expected before the end' of the weekThe body is expected to arrive here at 11:50 Tuesday noon and will be taken directly Ip Lindenwood cemeI tery for burial. While plans were going forward in | Cleveland yesterday for the funeral j rites on Tuesday of Art Smith, Fort' I Wayne’s "bird boy,” who was killed I [near Montpelier, 0.. Friday night, the suggestion that a permanent memorial be erected in this city in honor of the fallen flyer was indorsed in many quarters. It was explained that nothing toward raising the fund will be done until after the body is laid to its eternal rest in Lindenwood cemetery shortly after noon Tuesday. This is the policy decided upon in harmony with the wishes of his mother. Mrs. James F. Smith, who has asked that no public service be held at the grave and that no pomp or ceremonial shall accompany the act of placing all that remains of Art Smith in the grave. Mrs. Smith has let it be known that she desires to be alone with her. dead to the last. Art's father. who j is nearly blind, it is understood, has' expressed similar sentiments on the grounds that that is the way Art would have wished. „ Tim Fort Wayne J.ranch ot the National Aeronautical society will be asked today to support the movement and several members yesterday expressed themselves as willing and anxious to aid the campaign. All agreed that the permanent memorial should be erected in Memorial park where Smith made his first flight, but the exact location will not be determined until after the drive for funds gets under way and surveys have been taken by members of the park board and Adolph Jaenicke, superintendent of parks. TAX BILL BEING RUSHED ALONG House Suuspends Rules And Orders Measure Sent To Conference Washington, Feb. 15. — (United Press)—Without a dissenting vote, the 'house today adopted a resolution by Chairman Green of the |iouse ways and means committee, suspending the rules and ordering the tax bill sent to conference to the senate for adjustment. Speaker Longworth, appointed representatives Green, Iowa; Treadway, Massachusetts; Hawley, Oregon, all republicans, and Garner, Texas and Collier, Mississippi, democrats, as conferees for the house. o— Rebellion Launched Against National Klan Indianapolis. Ind.. Feb. 15.—(United Press) —Leaders of the Ku Klux Klan rebellion launched against national, I officials of th e order at a meeting at • Kokomo Sunday were described to-j I day as ‘disgruntled, dissatisfied poll-| ticians,” by W. Lee Smith, Indiana, grand dragon. "Those feliyws arc not going to get anywhere," Smith said. They claimed they had three thousand men at the rebel meeting. An actual count shows there were only 1,500 there." Smith said most of the insurgents ! came from South Bend and Kokomo and that there were few representatives at the Kokomo meeting from Indianapolis or central Indiana. i 1 " Weather .Fair tonight and Tuesday. Colder tonight.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, February 15, 1926.

I Bobbed Copette

I gU. **' & Bl pG ERTKUDE >IX LLETaT}

Her bobbed hair and youlbful good looks do not prevent Miss Gertrude Miller from serving , efficiently as a constable al Unia. Ohio. According to records just published, she made more arrests during the year than any man who ever held the office. SEVENBURIED ' IN ONE GRAVE I Children Os Wisconsin Couple, Burned In Fire, Are Buried Today i ladysmith. Wis.. Feb. 15 —(United | Press) —Seven children of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bell who perished when their little home burned Saturday were to be buried in a single grave today. With the death of Raymond, 14. Sunday, there remained to the father and mother only one child, Thelma May, 2, who was thrown from a window of the blazing house to safety. Blanche. 12; Mabel. 9 and Audrey 7, perished in the blaze; Minnie. 16. and Walter? 4. died Saturday afternoon; Orville. 10. died Saturday night and the last boy, Raymond. 14. died Sunday. Cause of the fire is yet unknown for both father and mother are in too critical condition to give an account of the disaster. Six Others Burn To Death Portage Entry, Mich., Feb. 15.— (United Press.) —Six children, ranging in age from 2 to 10 years old were burned to death and their parents j and a four months old baby girl serI iously burned, when fire destroyed the Gottfried Rothenbojger farm home near here Sunday. 0. L SCHIRMEYER DIES SATURDAY Former Decatur Man Expires At Home Os Son, Bert, In Middletown, 0. Charles Louis Schirmeyer, 75, died Saturday, at the home of his son, Bert, at Middletown, Ohio, following an illI ness of several months, du eto compli--1 cations. He was a brothe rof F. M. Schirmeyer and Mrs. Phoebe Rice, of this city, and was born in this city, ’a son of Charles Schirmeyer. one of jthe pioneers of Decatur. He left here in 1873, moving to RiAmond, where ' he lived until three of four years ago, | since which time he has made his home with his only son a tMiddletown. I His wife and one so npreceded him in 'death several years ago. Surviving, besides the brother and sister mentioned, are three sisters, Mrs. Emma McConnehey and Mrs,. Elizabeth Young, of Montana, Mrs. Carries Keene, of Richmond, and a brother, Wil, of Fairbanks, Alaska. Mr. Schirmeyer was an expert machinist and continued at that trade until ill health farced him ti give up his duties. The funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at Midletown.

FINAL REPORT OF BEET CLUB GIVEN Six Members Os County 1 Receive Free Trips To Purdue University letters showing the final standings of boys and girls who participated in the Adams County Sugar Beet Club during the year just past have just been sent out from the county agent's office and undoubtedly are being read with much interest by the members and their parents. In all, thirty members finished the work in all respects, having complied with the four requirements, namely, growing one acre of sugar beets; showing beets in the county club show; submitting a complete record showing the cost of producing the beets; writing an essay on the prolblems confronting them during I the year’s work. s The final summary shows that Elva ’ Gilliom, French township, led the enI tire number with a total grade of 1 97.87 points, hxsed upon the follow- '* ing division; tonnage of beets, 20 points; sugar contained in the acre of 1 beets, as determined. by the analysis of the beets. 15 points; show of six • beets in county show, 15 points; low cost of producing each ton of beets. 15 points; record book and story, 35 points. Elva's sister. Lucy, followed 1 closely with 97.60 points. Flora Fuel--1 ling made a grade of 96.63 points and ' Albert Steutry, 93.97. Esther Jones, (laughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. J. I Jones, of Blue Creek township, won 1 sixth place with 79.81 points. The six above named will receive trips to the Purdue Club roundup, to be held at Purdue University during the first d ( week in May. The trip will require il four days. Miss Fuelling's trip will be _ I the compliments of the Holland-St 'Louis Sugar Company, since she does not reside in Adams county, while the other five trips will be furnished by , 1 thw county club fund, solicited by the r Decatur Industrial Association. g Other members placed as follows: Ludella Fuelling. Glen Rupert. Martin liabegger, Fyold Rupert, Elmer Inniv. ger, Robert Moser, Arthur Schamerloh, . Theodore Bleeke, Jr., Milo liabegger, .’ Hu'.dah Schwartz. Sylvan liabegger, f| (CONTINI’ED OK PAGE SIX) RUSH MADE FOR AUTO LICENSES Auto Owners Not Having 3 New Plates By Tonight Are Liable To Arrest A heavy last-minute rush on the local automobile license bureau at the Braham and Walters office Sat urday and today was reported by Miss Helen Eady, who is in charge of the license department. Truck licenses have been sold, and those who failed to obtain licenses will have to wait for a few days. More plates were ordered Saturday and are expected to arrive within the next . few days. More than 300 passenger car licenses were purchased at the local office Saturday and this morning, and only a few remain.* The time ' limit, given by the secretary of ' state’s office, is up today and those ‘ who fail to obtain their plates today ' are liable to arrest under the state law. f In case the supply is exhausted to- ■ day, those who fail to obtain their f plates, will have to suspend driving 3 their cars, or be liable to the penalty 3 of a fine. Many local automobiles were Seen 3 this morning with last year numbers • and Chief of Police Sephus Melchl 1 said that those who failed to comply with the law would be compelled tc 1 appear in mayor’s court. The ex • tension of time setting the deadline • as February 15 is thought by local ■ attorneys to mean until midnight to 1 night. After midnight all drivers with 1925 plates will be violating the ■. law. -j The passenger auto series for the s local bureau is 245—. Plates pur I chased later will have a higher seria 1 number. The new plates are greet with white numerals.

| Alleged Bandit Shot Through Leg By Police I Indianapolis. Ind., Feb. ls» —(United Press)—Melvin Butler, 19, of Maywood, alleged member of the "Red Sweater” filling station bandit ' gang, today was a prisoner in the detention ward of thp city hospital with a bullet wound through his leg. Shot while attempting to steal an 8 auto, according to the police charges, n Butler walked six miles to his home, I, where he was arrested. i o : FATHER FETTIG : ASSIGNED HERE 4 [ Fort Wayne Priest Appoint- >. ed To Succeed Father Pet--11 ers As Assistant Here r - The Rev. Theodore V. Fettig. assisa tant to the Rev. Thomas M. Conroy at the Cathedral of the Immaculate ,f Conception. Fort Wayne, has been assigned by Rt. Rev. Bishop John F. 0 Noll. D. D. as assistant to the Rev. ,f Julius A. Seimetz, rector of St. Marys s Catholic church in this city, to sucx ceed the Rev. Otto A. Peters, who v was assigned to the pastorate of St. Michael’s church at Summit. Rev. 5 Fettig will assume his duties here j Thursday or Friday of this week. |. Father Peters, who has been (1 assistant pastor here for nearly six j years, will succeed the Rev. Charles Schall, who has been granted a n short leave of absence and who will e be given another parish. It has not 0 been decided that the Cathedral will q be furnished a resident assistant , t until the June ordinations, but the p Rev. Michael A. Chapman, pastor of p St. Joseph's church, Roanoke, likely t will assist on Saturdays. s Father Fettig was born in Elwood. e Ind.. April 13, 1895, and was baptized y by the Rev. B. Biegel, who is still p pastor there. After his early education at St. Joseph’s parochial school, . Elwood, he entered St. Joseph’s Coln lege. Collegeville, Ind., in September, p 1909. and completed his course there , with high honors In 1916. His philosophical and theological studies , were pursued and completed at Mount St. Mary Seminary, Cincinnati, O, which he entered in January. 1917. On June 10. 1922, Father Fettig was ordained by the late Rt. Rev. Bishop Herman Joseph Alerding, D. D., at the Cathedral in Fort I Wayn<* and the following day celek brated his first solemn mass at St. Joseph's church, Elwood. After a short vacation he entered Upon his duties at the Cathedral in Fort » Wayne. During his stay in Fort Wayne Father Fettig has always taken an[ active part iu the work of the Cathe-: e dral parish. He was the spiritual. t director of St Augustine’s Academy' t- mission unit, one of the most prom-1 y inent of the school units identified e with the Catholic students' mission, k crusade. It was through the efforts e ot Father Fettig that the Queen’s 11 troop No. 9 Boy Scouts was organe ized in the parish. He was troop e chaplain, and also held the office of ,t assistant deputy commissioner in the Anthony Wayne Council of the Boy i- Scouts of America. . TO OPEN LENTEN ; SERVICES FRIDAY e ’-’Opening Services To Be r Held At St. Mary’s Catholic Church At 7 P. M. The first of semi-weekly Lenten n services will be held Friday evening H.at 7 o’clock at the St. Mary's Catholijlte church. The change in time from yj7:3o to 7 o'clock will be observed o, this week only. The Lenten service <• will open Wednesday morning with ea high mass at 7:30 o’clock. The seril vices on Friday evening will consist >I of the Way of the Cross and Bene■s diction and the series of sermons e will be given on Tuesday evenings. The Lenten regulations, sent out the Rt. Rev. Bishop John F. Noil,[ D. D., of Fort Wayne, were read in il the St. Mary’s Catholic church at the n Sunday masses. No changes were made in the regulations.

PricQ Two Cents.

ONLY ONE MINER LOSES LIFE IN TERRIFIC BLAST Twenty-five Men Injured In Explosion Which Rocks Countryside In Ohio GAS POCKET BLAMED FOR THE ACCIDENT Powhattan, Ohio, Feb. 15— (United Press) Five hundred miners calmly* walked to safety todav when a terrific explosion wrecked the main entrance of the Cleveland and Western Coal company's new mine here, killing one miner and injuring 25 others, five perhaps fatallv. The blast rocked the countryside, striking terror throughout this isolated little village. Houses trembled on their foundations and panes of glass fell out. Mine officials believing that more than 500 miners who entered the pit, had been entombed sounded a statn wide alarm, bringing relief trains, ambulances, and corps of physicians and nurses rushhig to the scene. Pocket gas believed tn have been ignited by a short circuit, was attributed as the cause of the blast. The entrance was converted into a veritable inferno, trapping those who were killed or injured. The blaze died down as quickly as it broke out. and the remaining miners apparently self possessed and following their foreman, calmlymarched from the pit. The victims were rushed from the mine and taken to hospitals, the more critically injured being sent to Bellaire. 0 Fire Causes $1,000,000 Loss At Dayton, Ohio Dayton, Ohio. Feb. 15. — (United Press) —Fifteen families were forced to abandon their homes and damage estimated at $1,000,000 was caused, when fire swept two business concerns and damaged eight others here early today. _o Fall And Dohenv Must Stand Trial In Criminal Court For Conspiracy Washington, Feb. 15. — (United Press) —Albert B. Fall, former secretary of interior and Edward L. Doheny, California oil magnate, must stand trial in criminal court here on a charge of i conspiring to defraud the U. S. through ! naval oil leases, Justice Staffard, of : the District of Columbia Supreme i Court, ruled today. NEW MEMBERS ARE BAPTIZED Large Class Received Into Membership Os Methodist Church Sunday Sunday, February 14, was a Red Letter Day for the Methodist Episcopal church. All services were well attended and full of enthusiasm. The revival spirit is still greatly manifest. Every department seems to voice tho same sentiment with reference to the Soul Winning program now being pressed by the pastor and officiary. After a remarkable session of the Sunday school, the pastor preached a sermon suitable to the occasion and baptized a large class and received several into the church. The large audience caught the spirit of the service and greatly profited thereby. Junior and Senior League services were we'.l attended and full of interest. A good crowd was present for the evening revival meeting. The chorus choir gave leadership in song, the pastor preached and. in response to the altar call, two men came I forward and were converted and received into the church. Others a:v Interested. The Sunday and Wednesday night revival services will be continued.