Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 25, Number 59, Decatur, Adams County, 10 March 1927 — Page 1

RATHER r.; p toniflht fol- , by increasing *t»>. tonight-

BLUFFTON SURGEON COMMITS SUICIDE

jSPEARTHQUAKE Ml CONTINUES 10 GROW TODAY Final Death List Expected To Be ( lose To 3,000, Reports Indicate FIRE ACCOUNTS FOR M AN Y DEATHS Tokio, Mar. 10. — (United Press) Additional deaths front fin, wounds and exposure (luring Mondav s earthquake were reported today, indicating that, the final complete accounting upon the disaster which spread destruction ami suffering in] Central Japan would swell the death list close to 3,000. Reports made public at 4:20 p.m., today said that in the four northermost subfltrefei titres of Kayoto prefecture. where the earthquake was the most severe, there had been J.IJ9 deaths Those sub-.prefectures were Yosa. Naka, Takeno and Kttmano. | In those four sub-prefectures 88 persons were listed as missing; 6,900 I buildings had been destroyed by fire; 1.7 W buildings had been partly destroyed. In Osaka prefecture, which was also shaken by the quake, 21 persons were listed as dead: four in Hyogo prefecture; one in Nara prefecture, and in Tottori prefecture there was some damage but no deaths were reI ported. The combined death list numbered 2,485. I Fire accounted for thousands of j the casualties, as the flames spread so rapidly after the collapse of dwel i Ungs that there was scarcely any chance for escape. — o G. E. Orchestra Makes Hit ith Radio Progrrm The General Elect! ic orchestra of i this city made a real hit in its broadcasting program over station WCWK. at Fort Wayne, Tuesday night. Mure! le,tfci „ ami telegiar » were re-1 wived during the program, which last 1 t rd aa hour and a hair. The management of the broadcast- ■ »g station has contracted with the fowl orchestra to return every other Tuesday night, from 9:30 to 11 o’clock for an indefinite length of time. Telegtanis weie received fioin several western and eastern states, be- , a great number from Indiana. o Edward H. Potthast Dies •tew York, Mar. 10—(United Press) I War d Potthast, 69, widely known i ‘ rllßt ’ was found dead in his mid°»n studio today, apparently of disease. Potthast had been at , ° n a painting. His body was "d beside an easel while the pale and brush lay near him. MttRY revival COMES TO CLOSE Sl tnl’ U fU L SerieS Os EVan ‘ g S ,c . Serv »ces Closes Wednesday Night E Xlic V a? I ch mee l ingß at ‘ he Calvary fame tn hurcll east of Decatur, eve hin , -Jh’T — Bfu - ljPe last many L. hol,Be was )> a <*ed and very h' 6 standin S- There were two happy conversions last night. in? and Saved duriu « the me9t - ' ieVers were greatly A number w ? F ? rlstian experierce infirmity i ? 880 healed of bo,,li y ness ana ke at Deca * ur - a sweetrival v ? anlty charact -erlzed this ° P ‘ e fr ° ,n Decat,,r and services onimuni ’y attended the Last PV ? ’ aßted jußt wp «“s. L oose, presented h et heVanße,ißt W ‘ th a People tn\ 16 ' 30 ’ tle of ferings of the revivals * s believed those Trlhb...; ■’ Uer the Preaching of Mrs not only'??' f® Bu!tod in great good, to ’he other e . Evanßellcal church but ”’e meetings * ' Urches wlllch enjoyed

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXV. Number 59.

Scientific Fight Against Death Gains Slightly — Evantton, 111., Mar. 10.—(United Press l—Man's fight to beat back the death that threatens Alfred Frick, who Is suffering from paralysis, was ' gaining slightly an the 95th hour of the scientific battle was passed. "The paralysis ■of the palate is slightly receding, giving a faint ray of hope," Dr. Charles F. Read, nerve specialist, announced at 9:15 a.m. There has been no recession of the paralysis which grips the muscles of Frick's diaphram— making breathing , impossible and necessitating artificial I reapirating by 57 of Frick’s comrades I —but doctors are hopeful there will be relief within the next 12 hours. i "We hope that the receding of the paralysis of the palate will continue . to the diaphram," Dr. Read said. FORMER BERNE YOUNG MAN DIES Albert Biberstine Dies Os Dinhtheria At State ReReformatory Today Albert Bibetstine, 22, formerly of Berne, died at the state reformatory at Pendelton, Indiana at 1:11 o’clock this morning, ofdiptheria. Young Biberstine was sentenced more than a year ago from the Allen circuit court on a charge of theft. The young man is survived by his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Noah Biberstine, of Fort Wayne. The young man is a cousin of Lloyd Biberstine. who was sentenced in,in the Adams circirit court IrfSf sass on a charge of forgery. Funeral sei vices will be held at Berne Saturday, and burial will take place in the Menonite cemetery. Ohio High School Youth Ends His Life By Hanging Marietta. O„ March. 10. —(Unite'’ ! Press) —Difficulties with school auth < rittes was blamed today for the sal- . ~a of Clyde Seevers. 15, Junior High school student, who hanged himself in a shed near his home here. The boy used his belt as a noose. AWARD GIVEN TO MISS KUHN Coffin Award Presented To Decatur Girl By General Electric Co., Today Amid the applause and congratulations of her fellow employees. Miss Florence Kuhn, of the local General Electric plant, was presented the Coffin award, the highest award given by the General Electric Company, by Walter G. Gall, general manager of the Fort Wayne General Electric factory, at 1 o’clock this afternoon. The award was made because of a suggestion which Miss Kuhn made eliminating considerable unnecessary work in the department in which she was working. Mr. Gall, in presenting the award, stated that of the 75.000 employees in the United States. Miss Kuhn was the only woman to receive the award this year, and the second in the History of the General Electric company. There were 27 awards made in the United States this year. Mr. Gall continued to explain the meaning of the award and why sever al were given to employees each year. He gave a brief history of the plant and of the General Electric company in general. He was introduced by Eno Lankenau, head of the local factory. Foilowing- the presentation, E. A. Barnes, general superintendent of the Fort Wayne branch, congratulated Miss Kuhn, for the honor she had received and also congratulated the local branch for having Miss Kuhn in its service. He continued to urge all other fellow employees to strive for the high award and the other awards made each month, on merit (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

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JAPAN ACCEPTS I COOLIDGE PLAN ’ FOR CONFERENCE J - f i Three-Power Naval Limitations Conference Assured By Japan’s Action ACCEPTABLE TO GREAT BRITAIN r , Tokio, Mar. 10. —(United Press) — II Foreign Minister KJuro Shidehara to- ’ day was understood to have instruct- ' ed Ambassador Matsudaira to notify the United States department of , Japan’s acceptance of President Coolidge’s invitation to a 3 power naval limitations conference. Washington, Mar. 10. — (United Press)—Great Britain today informal11 ly assured the United States that it 11 would be willing to participate with I Japan and the United States in a conference to limit auxiliary naval ’ craft. Sir Esms Howard, British ambassador here, gave the assurances verbally to acting Secretary of States Joseph ('. Grew. Following the anticipated favorable reply from Japan to the American proposal the Japanese and British acceptances will probably be formalized in an exchange of notes. The thre<»-powier conference will meet in Geneva, probably this summer. o Jury In Sinclair Trial Excused Until Monday Washington, "March 10) —(United Press) —The jury in the Harry F. Sinclair senate contempt trial was excused today by Justice William Hitz until Monday. The justice dismissed the jury to enable him to hear defense claims that the questions Sinclair refused to answer before the senate oil committee were not pertinent to he invesi- ' gation then UiideT way. Judge .Hitz ordered the jurymen to stay away from the courthouse and refrain from reading newspaper ac counts of the trial. 0 Junior Band Not To Practice This Week The Junior band will not hold a rehearsal this week, owing to the fact that several members are ill with the mumps. FARMWOMEN HOLD MEETING Millinery Project Meeting Held At Library In Decatur On Wednesday The first leaders' meeting cf the second year millinery project was held at the Public Library, in Decatur, Wednesday, when seventeen ladies from five Home Economics Chibs of the county met for instructions given by Miss Nellie Flaningham, state specialist from Purdue University. The lesson was entitled "Hat Frame Mak’ng" Much interest was shown by the ladies, of the correct size and individaulity. The women molded and shaped the frames to suit their faces. These frames are inexpensive, are very soft, flexible and stylish and can be easily made. Each group developed the new crowns which were shown by Miss Flaningham. Many new ideas were worked out in the trimmings. According to the orginization of the work, each unit in the county which is carrying on Home Economies work, sends two leaders to the county meetings. in turn, these leaders explain the work to the members of the Clubs at their meetings which follow. Union, Root, St. Marys and Kirkland townships are organized. Representative? of the community surrounding Berne were present in the meeting Wednesday and it is expected a home economics club will be organized the-e soon.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, March 10, 1927.

Scientist Spends Three Years Weighing Mother Earth; Busy Figuring Now (By Thomas L. Stokes, United Press Staff Correspondent) Washington, March 10—(U.P.)—The giant mass of mother earth, a ci us y old woman with an Iron heart, has been weighed by a elightly built scientist at the Bureau of Standards He has taken three years to adjust

and observe the delicate instruments. The weighing process is over, and now Dr. R. Heyl is computing figures, day after day, there are many figures, three books of them already and two more will be read when the mathematics is completed within another . month, in time for Dr. Heyl to give his results to the American Physics Society meeting here in April. Each book is about the size of an ordinary school atlas. Believed To Be Getting Fat ; Heyl may not even apply the figures to find out how much mother earth weighs, because he says it is impossible to determine how much he has gained or lost. He has other scientific purposes. The earth has been weighed before, the last time 30 years ago. She tips lie scales at around 6,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 tons, according to past calculations, and a few hundred thousand tons one way or the other would not show. She loses weight by rocks thrown from volcanoes, and gains through the fall of meteors. Dr. Heyl thinks she is growing fatter, but infinitesimally so, and the gain is impossible to determine. o Governor Signs Bill To Abolish Pardons Board Indianapolis, Manfh 10, — (United Press) —The state pardon board will pass out of existence when the acts of the 1927 legislature are proclaimed in May under a bill which today bore the signature of Governor Jackson. The governor signed 75 bills yesterday including the bill to abolish the pardon board and the Biennial appro-, priation bill. When the pardon board passes out of existence its powers will be delel ..... , state penal inStirtti ns. The board of each institution will make recommendations direct to the governor on clemency for its inmates. I The Hailin bill authorizing the state public service commission to disregard excessive salaries and promotion costs in setting rate making valuations on Biibiib utilities was approved by the Governor. No action has yet been taken on the medical injunction bill or the bill authorizing city officials to complete the terms for which they were elected when, there is a change to the city manager form of government. o_ Bandits Loot Jewelry Store Madison, Ind., March 10. —(United Press) —Three bandits looted two jewelry stores here of SI,OOO worth of gems and watches early today and escaped before the alarm was spread. TU BROADCAST FROM CHICAGO ■ Meredith Stewart, Former Decatur Young Man, To Be On Air Friday Night Meredith Stewart, son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Stewart, of Dayton, Ohio : former Decatur residents, is attending , the Chicago Musical college where he is making good as a violinist with promise cf a successful future. He will broadcast from station WWAF, the Grand Rapids Furniture company, Chicago, Friday evening, March 11, between G and 7 o’clock. He will be on a program given by the Personality Studios, and Meredith will play three numbers the Prize Souk from Wagner’s opera Die Meistersinger, a poem by Fibich and the Sarabande" from Bach's B minor Pastita lu Additoin. He will play in obligato for Hazel Eden, who is a soprano from the Chicago civic opera, and bis instrument will be a $3,000 Gagliano from Lyon and Healy collection. Wave length of the WWAE station is 242 meters.

DEATH ENTERS PLEA OF GUILTY Decatur Young Man Admits Charge Os Contributing To Delinquency Dan Death, arrested a few days ago on a charge of contributing to the delinquency of two Marion, Indiana, girls, appeared in the Adams circuit court yesterday afternoon and entered a plea of guilty to the charge. The court postponed the sentencing until Saturday, in order that he might give the case more consideration. In the meantime, Death was returned to the county jail. o Kirkland Senior Play Postponed One Week The home talent play to be staged by the senior class of the Kirkland township high school has been postponed from March 11 and 12 to March IS and 19. on account of the illness of one member of the cast, it was announced today. The title of the play is “A Fortunate Calamity.” r o Fire Causes $300,000 Damage At Whiting Today I Whiting. Ind., March 11—(United Press) — Fire early today destroyed nearly a block of buildings in the business district of Whiting, causing loss estimated at $300,000. | For a time the blaze, which burned ! for nearly six hours befeore it was brought under control, treatened the entire busines district cf the city. Gran. County Sheriff Returns Girls To Marion The two young girls arrested in I this city Monday on a charge of deI nquincy were turned over to the sheriff of Grant county late yesterday afternoon. The girls were taken back to Marion by the sheriff and his wife. DENIES CHARGE DFNON-SUPPORT Howard Eley, Os Berne, Pleads Not Guilty To Charge In Circuit Court Howard Eley, of Berne, charged with non-support, was arraigned in the Adams circuit court yesterday afternoon and entered a plea of not guilty. His bond was fixed at S2OO. At noon today, Eley was still in jail, but it was understood that his bond would be furnished this afternoon, and that he would return to Berne tonight. Eley’s wife and daughter left their home in Berne Sunday, presumably to visit relatives at Geneva. The. wife left a note stating that they would not return, according to Eley. The charge was filed against Eley, Tuesday. oAlbert Ward Resigns As State District Attorney Indianapolis, Ind. Mar. 10 —(United Press) —Planning to take up the private practice of law’ in Indianajolis, Albert Ward, U. S. district attorney for Indiana, has forwarded his resignation to Attorney General Sargent at Washington. Ward today confirmed rumors current aout the federal building for some time t.hat he was shortly to leave his government position. The resignation becomes effective May 1. Ward was appointed district attorney March 1, 1925.

Noll Baby Dies At Age Os Seven Days i Robert J. Noll iiilunt sou of Mr. and I Mrs. William Noll, t, siding one mile ■ north of ihe I lent schol house, eai t of this city, died at 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. The child was born March 2 and was the tiiirteenth child in the ■ family. Surviving are the parents ami the following brothers and sisters: ■ Helen of Tort Wayne. Gerlad. of Fort Wayne; and lutwrence, Martha, Ruth. Genevieve. Lowell, Vivian, Max; Marlon; Betty and Thelma, all at home. Short funeral services were held at ' the home at 2 o'clock this afternoon the Rev. Cecil R. Smith, pastor of the United Brethren church, of this city, I officiating. Burial was made in the , Decatur cemetery. PROVIDES FOR DEPUTY HIRE Bill Passed By Legislature Legalizes Appropriations For Recorders 1 Among the bills passed by the recent legislature was one legalizing county commissioners to appropriate money for the county recorder’s deputy hire. Tlie bill provided that in counties of 10,000 population, that sl.000 be appropriated. The appropriations were increased in larger counties up to $4,000 a year in counties of 100,000 population. The bill provided that in counties of the size of • Adams county, population of 20,000, the appropriation be not to exceed $2,000. Ed Green, Adams county recorder, received notice from the secretary of . the state reoerder's association that the bill-bad passed both nouses. GovI ernor Jackson has not yet signed the bill, as far as known here. The bill provided that the county commissioners “shall appropriate the money" and that, if no appropriation was made in the budget, the money be paid out of the general fund. Mr. Green will ask for the appropriation if the governor signs the bill. He did not state how much he would ask for. i hut intimated that tie would' not. ask I for the maximum. TO MAKE PLANS FOR DEDICATION Committee To Meet Monday To Plan For Dedication Os Elephant Rock C. C. Pumphrey, chairman of the committee to make arrangements for the formal dedication of "Elephant Rock," in memory of Mrs. Gene Strat-ton-Porter, noted authoress and former Adams county resident, who brought national fame to the Limberlost region, in this county, through her wonderful books, has called a meeting of his committee to be held Monday evening at 7:30 o’clock, at the Decatur Industrial rooms. Plans will be made to dedicate the rock, which was placed in the court house lawn, last summer. The bronze tablet, with the inscription that the rock was dedicated to the memory of Mrs, Porter, has been placed on the boulder. It is desired that the event be made a community affair and that the ceremonies be of such importance to attract nationally known authors. The great boulder was taken from the bed of the St. Marys river, at a point about six miles southeast of Decatur, and was brought to this city more than a year ago. Members of the committee have been selected from the different civic and srvice clubs in the city and it is hoped that every member will attend the meeting Monday night and help make arrangements for the dedication. United States Navy Buys 130 Airplanes Washington, March 10. —(United Press) —The U. S. Navy today bought 130 airplanes. Contracts to four companies called for aggregate payment of $1,708,907.

Price Two Cents.

RAZOR BLADE ■ USED TO SEVER ARTERYINLEG I Dr. Luzerne Cook, Age 70, Ends Life At Bluffton Early This Morning ILL H E AL T H IS HELI) RESPONSIBLE Bluffton, Ind., March 10.— •Special to Daily Democrat.) — Dr. Luzerne Cook, age 70, leading surgeon of this city, ended his life at about 6 o’clock this morning by severing an artery in his right leg with a safety razor blade and bleeding to death. He was found by his wife in the bath room of their home, in a pool of blood. It is thought that des- . pondency over ill health caused him to commit the act. Dr. Cook suffered a stroke of apoplexy last November and was bedfast for six weeks. Seemingly, his condition became better, but within the lasi month his strengtli began to ebb and his condition became worse. Dr. Cook was, for many years, the leading surgeon in this city. He was an active and public spirited citizen and his reputation as a physician extended over this part of Indana. Dr. Cook was a native of Wells county. . He was born in Bluffton on December 6. 1556. He was graduated from the Bluffton high school when he was IS years of age and for several years engaged in clerical work. Later, he took ’ up the study of medicine and surgery and. in ISBS. was graduated from the Medical College, at Cincinnati. He returned to Bluffton and has been practicing in this city ever since. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. Mrs. Barton Wood. Detroit, and Mrs. John Hohman, River Forest, 111. One brother, Arthur Cook, of Chicago, who is in a critical condition, and Mrs. Hugh Studebaker, Whiting. Indiana, also survive. Three sisters, Mrs. W. A. Work, of Gary. Laura and Emr".. Cook, and one brother. Dottglas. preceded him in death. Two other sisters died in infancy. Dr. Cook was a member of the Wells comity uitd i - medical a'i-.c.;., Funeral arrangements had not been completed late this afternoon. o — Insane Man Kills Family. Tacoma, Wash., Mar. 10.— (United Press.) — Gripped by insane frenzy, Harold Jensen, a carpenter, early today killed his wife and three children with a hatchet, and then committed suicide by swallowing poison. The mad man attacked his family as they slept, wielding a sharp hatchet with one hand and a hammer with the other to cleave and crush their skulls. PROBE FINDING OF EXPLOSIVES Pennsylvania Railroad Detectives Make Investigation In This City Detectives of ttie Pennsylvania railroad were in this city today, investigating the finding of two sticks of dynaminte near the G. R. and I. bridge north cf this city. No clues as to who placed the explosive beneath the bridge have been found. Officials investigating the mystety stated today that, in all probability, young boys had found the dynamite some place and were experimenting with it. The fuses had been lit, but had gone out before reaching the dynamite. There is also a possibility that the dynamite might have been thrown from the train window or elst thrown from the bridge. It was said that the location of the dynamite did not show evidence that an attempt was made to blow up the bridge. Local officials are assisting the rail road detectives in the investigation. No one lias yet been found in this city who had any dynamite stolen. Efforts are being made to secure evidence or some sort of clue that will lead to a further investigation.

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