Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 24, Number 72, Decatur, Adams County, 25 March 1926 — Page 1

Vol. XXIV. Number 72.

PART OF REMUS LIQUOR IS MISSING

liquor polls have no effect ON CONGRESS Poll Os Senate Shows That . B O dy To Be Overwhelmingly Dry At Present 68 “DRYS”, 15 “WETS” AND 13 “DOUBTFULS” By Juliam Snyder, (f f> Staff Correspondent) Washington. Mar. 25. - (tailed p ress ) - The tremendous "wet majc: v' rolled up in the newspapers nationwide “wet-dry” proposal has had comparatively little effect on the prohibition lineup in congress. A United Pi ess poll of the senate disclosed today that it was overwhelmingly d:y. There ar e 68 “drya", 15 ‘wets" and 13 "doubtful” in the senate. Several senators asserted that the newspaper polls meant nothing. Others charged that "only those who patronize the bootleggers voted.” On the other hand, the few "wets” said that the newspaper poll was significant and indicated a definite trend against prohibition. Some of those classed as “doubtful" suggested that the question ought to be put to a nationwide referendum to end the argument. Other "doubtful" senators said they wanted to "see what legislation was offered in the way of modification before declaring their stand." g It is certain from the results of the United Press poll that any "beer" or 'modification" proposals now will be defeated. jw ‘ o ■ Man Sets Fire To HwHouse, Burning His Wife And His Mother-in-law West Union, Ohio. Mar. 25. — (United Press)- The burden of caring for his crippled wife, Eliza, 62, and her aged mother, Mrs Rebecca Cragmeil, 92. "was unbearable,” Thomas Hill, 50, West Union farmer, told police today in a confession in which he recounted how he deliberately fired his home, burning the two women to death. Fire Causes Big Loss Valley City. 111., Mar. 25 —(United Press)—Fire of undetermined origin partially destroyed this town today, resulting in a loss estimated to be in excess of $500,000. TOO ABSTRACT FIRMS MERGE Decatur Abstract & Loan Co., And Schurger Ab stract Co., Consolidate The cor.aolldation of two of Decatur’s oldest business firms, effective April 1, wtj,, announced today. The Schvf ger Abstract Company, and the Decatur Abstract and Doan Compan" have merged and will be known in the future as the Schurger Abstract Company, with offices at 133 South Second street, where a suite of rooms has been letsed in the Laman building. The Schurger Abstract Company was started in 187 Q by the late John Schurger. Mr. Schurger wrote the first abstract ever written in Adams county. Several years ago, his son, Fred T. Schurger, joined the firm and the latter has been conducting the business since the death of his Hither, about a year ago. The Decatur Abstract and Loan Company was incorporated in 1903 by E. "urt Lenhart and Henry B. Heller, who have continued to operate the business since that time. Mr. LenWirt was engaged in the abstract business P r or to that time with the late Pau} Hooper. The members of th enew firm are IJ. Burt Leifhart, Henry B. Heller and Fred T Schurger. All three members of the firm are members of the Adams county bar, also. r *te firm of Lenhart and Heller has been located at 157 South Secund street for several years.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

| Democrats Os Eighth District Meet In Muncie Muncie, Ind., Mur. 25 (United Press) Democrats of the eighth district were assembling here today for I the “love feast” which is to be held | this evening, al which time definitej plans for the coming campaign will be outlined. Candidates ior state .offices and at least two of the sens- ' torial aspirants will be here. Mayor W. A. Faust of Elwood, candidate for congress from this district will be the principal speaker. James R. Fleming, Portland, district chairman, 1 will preside. SEED CORN IS BEING TESTES I ! ' Hidiana Farmers Taking Precautions To Insure Successful Crops LaJxyctte, Ind., Mar 25. — (United • Press)—lndiana farmers are rapidly ■ taking precautionary measures, to in- > sure harvest of their crops. This was indicated today in a -urvey which revealed that between forty i and fifty communities in more than i ‘wenty-two counties hlive installed cooperative community seed corn testers! ranging in capacity of from twenty to fc ty bushels of seed corn a week 1 since Feb. 1. The survey was taken by the soils and crops department of Purdue University. The department also reported that, in addition to these new testers, farmers had nearly 100 in operation in various sections of the state Lett year with whioh they tested a total of 15,000 bushels of s«“ed corn. The counties which have started or are starting new community seed corn 'Testers are: Allen. Adams, Monroe, Rush, Shelby, Hancock, Henry, Jay, Porter, Grant, Greene, Kosciusko, Ohio. Whitley. Huntington, Hamoiton, Pike, . Clinton. Benton, Carroll. Parke, Tippe- • canoe, and Knox. The testers all have ■ a total weekly capacity of 1,000 bu- , shels The counties which have made the recent additions are Rush, Hancock, I Bartholomew. Henry, Franklin and , Benton. That Indiana farmer® are concerned with the seed com situation this spring is indicated by the fact that all the testers in the state are new operatI ing at full capacity and will continue J to do so until corn planting time. i o Girl Born To Mr. And Mrs. Paul Edwards Today Patricia Rose is the name of a I seven and one-half pound girl baby born to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Edwards, jat their home, 215 Jefferson street, i at 11 o'clock this morning. The i mother and babe are getting along ’ nicely. This is the first child in the family. The mother, before her marriage. was Miss Jennie Wechtc-r. Mr. Edwards is proprietor of the Edwards Studio. o City Officials Attend Meeting At Lafayette Mayor George Krick and several city offic'als went to Lafayette today to I attend the nineteenth annual session ,!,;f the Indiana section of the American ’ ■ Water Works Association. Officials , j from municipally and privately owned t water plants in all parts of Indiana are ‘ attending the two-day meeting. In adL dition to Mayor Krick, those from De-| ' i catur who are attending the meeting are Orval Harruff, superintendent of j the local water plant; Jack Freidt, fire chieti. and members of the water 1 works committee cf the city council. o Drivers Cleared Os Blame In Fatal Auto Accident • ————— t Anderson, Ind., Mar. 25. — (United i Press)—Ward Shetterly and Marshall 1 Baker, drivers of the automobiles • which figured in the accident in which . Mrs .Rebecca Worthington was killed 1 a short time ago, have been exonerated -of any responsiblity in the accident. The crash occurred when Shetterly's i car collided with the one in which Mrs. I Worthington was returning from a fuI neral.

' ' Ice Jam Smashes Big Bridge 1'4»111 wii j Va 1. f 1 - a . . i / 1 A.-, 3, ' *&■'-' « I These two views show how the Allegheny River ice jam crushed the Big Rock Bridge near , Franklin. Pa. .Above is shown the half of the bridge which withstood the tremendous pressure , Below is the other half which was swept downstream with the great masses ol ice, • s

MRS. PILLARS EXPIRES TODAY _■ Pioneer Resident Os Adams County Dies At Home Here This Morning Mrs. Benjamin Pillars, pioneer resident of Adams county, died at her home, corner of Madison and Seventh streets, at 9:50 '/cU[k this morning. Mrs. Pillars had been seriously ill for the last two weeks, suffering from heart trouble and paralysis. Mrs. Pillars was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John MrCcnnehey, and was born in Root township, Adams county, July 4. 1857. Her entire life, with the exception of two years, while she was in Kansas, was pent in Adams county. She had resided Ln Decatur for the last twelve years. Surviving, are the husband; ne son. Lewis E. Moodward .of Fort Wayne; one daughter. Mrs. Nellie L. Behnke, of Fort Wayne; one half-sister, Mrs. C. L. Walters, of 'Decatur; one half-brother, Lauren Q. Long, of Lake Bluff, Illinois; eleven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Her half-brother, Mr. Long had been at her bedside for the last few weeks. One son, Noland D. M oodward. one infant daughter, and two sisters preceded Mrs. F.liirs in death. o FOUR TRUSTIES MAKE ESCAPE Prisoners Scale Walls Os State Reformatory And Make Their Escape Pendleton, Ind., Mar. 25 — (United Press)— Scaling the high prison wall by using ladders tied together, four prisoners made their escape early today from the state reformatory here. The men who escaped were Robert Booth. 23, of Rushville, Harold Fortune, 19, 'of Indianapolis, William Roy, Somerset. Ky., and Frank Golden, Dayton, Ohio. I All were metpberjj of n gang of trus- 1 ties working on a night shift in the j heat and power plant of the reforma- ( tory. Shortly after midnight, they secured two ladders and scaled the prison wall at a point where they were shielded from view of the watch tower by the prison industrial building. Their escape was not detected for some time. A general alarm was [ sounded after officers .learned of the I escape and all available guards were assigned to posses to search for them. George Pritchard, a farmer living near the reformatory, reported .the theft of his auto and it is believed the four convicts took it for their flight. Police of Indianapolis and all nearby cities were notified to be on the lookout for the men.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, March 25, 1926.

Indiana Has Enough Limestone To Last 200 Years, Estimate Shows Bloomington, Ind.. Mar. 25.—(United Press)—lndiana has enough limestone to last 200 years at the present rate of consumption, according to Lawrence Whiting, president of the Chicago banking firm, which promoted the recent merger of Indiana stone quarries. In making public the details of the merger for the first time, whiting today said the company wtis modelled after t'lie plan of the United States Steel Corporation. TO GIVE PYTHIAN PLAY AT MONROE Decatur Dramatic Team To Stage “Damon And Pythias” Wednesday Night The dramatic team from Kekionga lodge, Knights cf Pythias, in this city, will present the play. “Damon and Pythias,” in the Monroe high schorl auditorium next Wednesday night, March 31- The production will be staged ar a benefit for the Monroe high school. The local lodge purchased new paraphernalia for the dramatic team about a year ago and the telam has staged the play in this city and surrounding towns and cities several times and has received much far .Table comment. Admission prices of 25 and 35 cents will be charged for the entertainment at Monroe. Wednesday night. I 0 _ Negro Sits In Death Cell At State Prison Michigan City, Ind.. Mar. 25.— (United Press.)— Henry Smith, negro sat in the death cell at the state prison here today and watched the clock slowly tick away the remaining hours of his life. Known as the .“Tennessee killer,” Smith was convicted in Lake county of the murder of Martin Smith of Gary. He will go to the electric chair sometime after midnight tonight it was said. — o Caleb Denny, Ex-Mayor ' Os Indianapolis, Dies Indianapolis, Ind., Mar. 25 —(United Presiii) —Tentative plans were made today for funeral services Friday af- | ternoon for Caleb Denny, 75, who died from a heLirt attack last night. Denny served three terms as mayor I of Indianapolis and at the time of his death was secretary of the state pard ns board. He was a native of Monroe county. Weather Mostly cloudy tonight and Friday. Colder tonight and in .south portion I Friday. I

NAME SPEAKER i FOR MEMORIAL Hon. C. Byron Hayes, Os Fort Wayne, Selected To Speak At K. Os C. Services Hon. C. Byron Hayes, of Fort Wayne, district deputy of the Knight.; of Co-j lumbus, will deliver the address at the annual memorial services of the c uincil to be held in mem> :ry of the deceltsed members, Sunday evening, at the hall. The ritualistic work will be in charge of the grand knight and| his staff of officers, the services starting at 7:30 o'clock The local Knights of Columbus couji-, cil has 42 deceased members. Six died during the last year. they being: Patrick J. Hyland. Charles S. Niblick, Dr. H. F. Costello, Nick Miller, Mathilts Miller and Dr. H. E Keller. | On Sunday morning, at 7 o’clack, the members of the < tincll will assemble at the K. of C. hall and then march to St. Mary’s Catholic church, to attend mas; and receive Holy Communion in a body. It is an annual custom for the members of the council to attend services in a body and the presence of every member is requested. PYTHIAN FUND IS BEING RAISED Decatur Lodge Contributing To Fund For Erection Os New State Home The local lodge of Knights of Pythias is progressing nicely in the campaign to raise its additional contribution for the erecton of the state Pythian Home, it was reported today by the committee in charge. Recently, the Decatur lodge and all other Pythian lodges in the state, were asked to contribute more money, in addition to their original contributions. to make up a total of $200,000 ! which must be in the treasury of the 1 state lodge before work on the new home can be started. The local com- ! mitttee believes that the apportion- ’ ment of the Decatur lodge will be raised soon. Il Former members of the Decatur lodge are contributing to the cause. Although persons who are not members of the Pythian lodge are not 1 asked to contribute to the fund, they ' are not barred and any person may contribute and their gift will be • greatly appreciated. W. A. Lower is chairman and treasurer of the committee in cb.'trge of raising the fund here. Any member who is not seen • by the committee may leave his coni tribution with Mr. Lower at the Peoples Loan & Trust company bank.

Berne Band To Play At Bluffton College] Berne, Mar 25. The Dunbar Band, • ,f Herne, has accepted an invitation to give a benefit concert at Bluffton College, Bluffton, Ohio, on April 8. The pregram will be given as a benefit for the Bluffton College Athletic Association. A well-balanced program is being arranged for the evening. O. N. Smith, manager of the band, is receiving inquiries from all parts of the state in regard to engagement, for the coming summer. Inidcatlons are that the band will have one of the busiest seasons in its history , Q PRIZES AWARDED FOR CLUB WORK Interesting Meeting Held By Farm Club Members And Boosters Last Night A threatening thunder storm interfered greatly with the attendance at the farm club meeting in the Decatur high school auditorium last night, but an interr ting meeting was held and 1 those present profited greatly from the instructive talks given. During the evening, prizes were awarded to l»oys and girls of the county who took part in the farm club work during the past year. Many of the winners were unable to be present to receive their awards, but the prizes will be sent to them. Avon Burk presided as chairman of the meeting. Educational motiofi pictures were shown by L. M. Busche, 'county agent, at the start of the evenI ing’pj pr gram. I Mr. Burk introduced John W. Tyndall, president of the Old Adams County Bany, of this city, who gave a short address of welcome. A response in beI half of the club members was given by Mr. Busche. The principle address of the evening was given by Mr. E. L. I Austin, of Purdue University, who is at the home of the farm club work in I Indiana. Mr. Austin delivered a very interesting address and told cf club work being carried on in all parts of the state. Mr. Austin paid Adams county a fine tribute for the excellent club work accomplished during the . past year. A meeting similar to the one held here last night will be held in the] community auditorium at Berne tonight. Mr. Austin will give the principal address there, also. Eli Luginbill j will give the address 'of welcome tonight. 0 Utilities At Richmond, Indiana, Change Hands Richmond, Ind., Mar. 25. — (United Prt.-s) —For the second time within aj period of two weeks, two large Indiana I utility companies today came into the I hands of new owners. Purchase of the Richmond Light. Heat and Power Ocmpany, and the Citizens Gias and Fuel Company, of Terre Haute, by the Gas Utilities, In-| corporated, of Columbus, Ohio, was an-1 nounced today. Two weeks ago, the utilities were | purchased from local owners by the Empire Power Company of New York, which negotiated the latest transfer. Report Urging Seating Os Steck Is Adopted Washington, Mar. 25. — (United Press) —The majority report urging seating of Daniel F. Steck over Senator Smith W. Brockhart, republican, lowa, was adopted today by the senate privileges and elections committee. The report, drawn by Senator Caraway, democrat, Arkansas, asserts that the recount conducted by the senate . investigating committee shows a maijority of 1,240 for Steck in the election Oif November. — o Kincade’s Trial Postponed i Noblesville, Ind., Mar. 25. —(United Press.) —The fact that two material witnesses for the state in the case which James Kincade is charged with murder, are on a world tour today caused postponement of the trial of the case. Kincade, who has been tried twice before, will face a jury for the third time in May.

Price Two Cents.

DISAPPEARANCE OF CONFISCATED LIQUOR ADMITTED Bert Morgan Savs 220 Cases Were Missing Two Years Ago ADMISSION FOLLOWS CHARGE IN CONGRESS Indianapolis, Mar. 25—(United Press) —Two hundred and twenty cases of the $350,000 worth of confiscated liquor formerly belonging to George Remus. of Cincinnati and stored in the Federal building here, were missing two years ago, Bert Morgan, former prohibition director of Indiana, admitted today. Morgan's statement came as a startling sequel to the charge on the floor of the House of Representatives in Washington yesterday that 350 cases of the confiscated liquor stored here was missing. The Remus liquor was seized at the W. P. Squibbs’ distillery at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, in 1923, after activities of the Remus bootlegging syndicate had been linked with it. United States Marshal Meredith had the liquor moved to Indianapolis in freight cars and it was stored in the basement of the Federal building. “When we sealed the liquor at the check.” Morgan said. “There were a ‘ distillery we made a very -careful few less than 1,500 cases. “About two years ago. hearing a lot of rumors, I decided a check should be made of the liquor nt the Federal building. "Since we had no control over the liquor we had some difficulty in get(CONTINI El> ON PAGE THKKEI O Six-Year-Old Girl Is Crimally Assaulted By Tramp At Terre Haute Terre Haute, Ind.. Mar. 25—(United Press) —Dragged into an empty I store room by a mysterious trampj assailant, a six-year-old girl was , beaten and her clothing torn from her body in a criminal assault early this morning as the child was on her i way to the grocery store. | The child is in a hospital in a serI io-us condition, while police are engaged in a frantic search for the assail- ’ ant. Police of every city connected by I rail with Terre Haute, were notified. REPORTS MADE ON ASSESSMENTS Township Assessors Have Assessed About $2,000,000 Worth Os Property The township assessors have assessed about two million dollars worth of personal property this year, according the reports filed with County As>- ' sessor Zimmerman. Mr. Zimmerman has compiled the totals and averages for the first three weeks and has forwarded a copy to the state board of tlxx commissioners. The average assessmert for farming implements, automobiles, household goods and diamonds and jew’elry are lower this year as compared with ] the same weeks last year. All other assessments, which include horses, mules, milk cow®, cattle, sheep, sows, other hogs and poultry, tare higher than the averages a year ago. The assessors have until May 15 to complete their w>crk and each two weeks they must file reports wit it Mr. Zimmerman. The averages to date are: Implements, $139.50; automobiles, and trucks, $180; horses, $79.50; mules, SB4; milk cows, $50.75; other cattle, $28.50; sheep. $9.25; .sows, S3O; other • hogs, $8; poultry, dozen, sß.7s;house- ■ hold goods, $170; diamonds, and jewelry. $67: the total of the money and > notes turned in for collection amountI ed to $363 683. Merchandise lias been assessed at sl2, 545.