Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 26, Number 94, Decatur, Adams County, 19 April 1928 — Page 1

I weather Fair and colder tonight with frost. Friday fair and not *o co ld In north and central parte-

FORD PLANE TO TAKE FUEL TO BREMEN

SINCLAIR FAILS TO TESTIFY IN OWN DEFENSE Defense In Oil Conspiracy Trial Rests Case Unexpectedly Today OIL MAGNATE IS CONFIDENT Washington- April 19 (UP’ Tlie defense in Harry F. Sinclair's trial for conspiracy suddenly and unexpectedly rested ji s case at 11:12 a. m. today without putting Sinclair on the stand or introducing the deposition of former Secretary ot Interior Albert B. Fall. Martin W. Littlet<m, announced the defense action on the eleventh day ot Sinclair’s trial on a charge of conspiring with Fall to defraud the government in the Teapot Dome naval i eserve lease of 1922 Fall's Deposition Omitted The defense caused a surprise by its failure to question Sinclair or introduce the 200,000-Word Mck beddeposition of Secretary Fall. In the deposition Fall was reported tc have defended the lease as honest and one motivated by natiohal defense reasons and to have defended his receipt Oi $233,000 in Liberty Bonds front Sinclair six weeks after the lease was si'.med April 7. 1922, as a legal payment by Sinclair for a one-third interest in Fall's New Mexico ranch properties. Die defense case took less than 3'o days to present. Its closing feature was the glowing testimony of a dozen oil men. neighbors and associates of Sinclair* including finley Peter Dunne, famous humorist, tha' Sinclair's reputation for honesty and lair dealing was "very gooi’” up to May, 1925. when the conspiracy indictment was voted. The government in rebuttal read briefly from (he senate Teapot Dome testimony of the late J. W. Zevely, Sinclair's lawyer. Then followed a whispered conference among the attorneys. The sudden close of the defense's case was regarded as an indication that Sinclair was confident of acquittal and that he did not wish to go into the complicated retails of the Fall Sinclair transactions fujrthev. The sudden stop excited the little room in which Justice Jennings Bailey of the District of Columbia supreme court has been conducting the trial. Two Aviators Killed San Francisco, April 19—<U.R>— Mik< Brown, pilot, and M. Beuger, passenger, were killed when their airplane went into a tailspin and crashed here yesterday. o MANY ENROLL IN FARM CLUBS I • May 1 Is Deadline For Entering Calf And Corn Clubs In Adams County Entries into the various 4-H clubs in the county are being received at the county agent’s office and from all indications there will be a record enrollment. Most of those wherare going to enter the calf club have already sent in enrollment cards and May 1 has been set as a deadline for entering. A committee will take a tour next week of the various dairy herds over the northern part of the state in an effort to secure some good heifer calves for those entering the first year calf club. The enrollment in the three dairy calf clubs will reach about sixty. About forty members are expected to enroll in the one-acre corn club. May 1 will be the last day to enter. AB members of the one-acre corn chib are using the same kind of corn •his year. An early maturing corn of good quality was imported by the Burk Elevator Co., last year and distributed to club members. This corn has proven very satisfactory and will be used exclusively in the corn club this year. All entrants In the calf and corn clubs will compete for the many cash Prizes and trips that will be awarded. A schedule of prizes and trips will be announced at a later date. Further information as to rules and regulations of the various clubs will be furnished upon request by the county agent.

DECATUR 11 \ll .Y DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXVI. No. 91.

, Western Leade: IB ahi One of the oldest members in point of servlet of 'he Democratic National Party is J. Bruce Kremer, committeeman from Montana. MRS. CONGLETON CALLED BY DEATH Pioneer A dams County Woman Dies At Home Os Daughter In This City Mrs. Mary Ann Congleton, 78 wellknown and beloved Adams county pioneer, died at the home of her son-'n-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Dore B. Erwin, North Second street, at 7 o'clock last night. Mrs. Congle‘on had been in failing health for the ’ast several .weeks and her death was expected momentarilyMary Ann Crawford Congleton, was born in Adams county, June 1. 1849. She was a daughter of John and Mary Crawford. Her father was a pioneer Decatur merchant, being associated with the firm of Niblick and Craw’ord for many years. Mrs. Congleton came to Decatur from Wabash ‘ownship at the age of five years, hen her father was elected county easurer, and, with the exception of few months in Detroit, she has liv'd the rest of her life in this city. Mr. Crawford was a member of the irst state legislature after the adoption of the new constitution in 1853. In 1875. Mrs. Congleton was united in marriage to Winfield S. Congleton, editor »nd attorney of Decatur, who died in ISBS. Following the death of Mr. Congleton, Mrs. Congleton made her home with her father in Decatur. Two daughters survive. They are Mrs. BesoJ E. Erwin, of this city, and Mrs. Jane Owen, of Pontiac, Michigan. One daughter, Josephine Maddy, pre ceded the mother in death. Mrs. Congleton also reared a grand son, Winfield Maddy, who at present is a mechanic at the plant of the Ford Motor Company in Detroit. A granddaughter, Mary Bess Owen. also survives. Mrs. Congleton was the last surviving member of the Crawford family. For many years she was active in the affairs of the Methodist Episcopal church, having united with that church when still a young lady. Funeral services will be held at the D B. Erwin home Friday afternoon at 3 o’c’ock. The Rev. Ross W. Stoakes, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, will have charge of the services assisted by the Rev. Harry H. Ferntheil. pastor of the First. Presbyterian church. Burial will be made at the family lot in the Decatur Cemetery. Van Wert Publisher Dies Os Peritonitis H. Glenn Fester, 48, one of the owners and publishers of the Van Wert, Ohio, Bulletin, died of peritonitis, Wednesday forenoon, at the Van Wert county hospital. He was taken ill with appendicitis a week ago last Sunday. He underwent an operation on Tuesday of last week. Funeral services will be private and will be held at the home Friday afternoon. o - Stutz Holds Edge Over French Car In Short Race Indianapolis, April 19. —(INS) — Although the first Stutz Black Hawk stock car lost the *25,000 24-hour international speed race, at the Indianapolis speedway to the French built Hispano-Suiza. a second Stutz machine this afternoon had the edge over Ihe foreign car in a 3>£ hour exhibition race.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Sint*-, National Auil Intvrnnlionnl Nrnn

Charlie Birger Is Hanged

GANGSTER GOES | TO DEATH WITH SMILE ON LIPS “Scourge Os Egypt” Executed At Benton, Illinois, For Murder Today ORDERLY CROWD OF SPECTATORS PRESENT Benlon. 111., April 19.—(INS) With a cheery “goodbye” and a 'mile ’ipon his lips. Charlie Birger, badnian. gangster chief and “scourge of Egypt,” shot down through the death trap at 9:51 a.tn. iodav in expiation for the hired murder of Mavor Joe Adams of West Citv. 11l As nonchalantly as he -hided his enemies before he shot them down in cold blood, as fearless as he has stood in the withering hail of gangster bullet tire. Piruer ascended the thirteen steps to the scaffold and stood calmly as the sheriff and other officials of Franklin county busied themselves in preparations for their first and last hanging. Many Spectators Present Hundreds of spectators who had assembled at dawn were gathered about the little stockade. Other hundreds clung to trees, windows and precarious perches for a last glimpse of the man who once ruled "Bloody Williamson” county with an iron hand. Unaided Birger walked from the iail. There was a smile upon his face. He had refustsjl opiates or nepenthes to steady his nerves. Slightly ahead of him strode Rabbi J R. Mazur of St. Louis, whose relig- . CUXTIXT Fl> ON PAGE SEVEN) O PICK DELEGATES FORCONVENTIO" Democratic And Republican County Chairmen File List Os Candidates Delegates to the state convention have been filed by both Democratic and Republican county chairmen of Adams county, and only one complete Ist has been filed for each party, signifying that there will be no contest for delegates in the primary election May 8. The delegates filed by Democratic county chairman, Dick Heller, and signed by ten prominent Democrats of Adams county are: Phil Sauers, Milton Werling. Bernard Kohne, David J. Schwartz, Wesley Neuenschwander, Martin Moeschberger, John Bollenbacher, William Heeters, France Conter, Phil Macklin and William Linn. Paul Graham. Republican chairman, filed the following petition for candidacy: Ralph Rice, O. J. Suman, Clinton Soldner, 11. O. Jones, W. D. Cross, Harry Magner and Roy Muntnia. No candidate for delegate on either party filed separately, and both tickets will he elected at the primary election May 8. It is generally thought that the Republican delegates are favorable to the candidacy of Frederick Schorte-,-neier for governor. There is a possibility of the delegates splititng, however, in the Republican senatorial race, as some favor the candidacy of Arthur Gilliom while the majority are for the re-election of Senator Arthur Robinson. Among the Democratic delegates, there is sentiment for both Dailey and Frederick for governor. It is thought that most of the delegates favor the former in his candidacy for governor on a “clean up Indiana” plattor. There is some Frederick sentiment in the county, and political leaders say that Earl Crawford also is likely to have some -support from Adams county. The county primary races were creating the most interest in Adams county this week and all candidates were busy all week canvassing the county in an effort to secure support. From all appearances, the Democratic primary races will be closely contested, in most instances. There are practically no contests in the Republican ranks with the exception of three precinct committeemen, who have opposition.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, April 19, 1928.

First Person To Greet Bremen Crew Tells Story

Resident Os Greenly Island Describes Flight And Landing EDITORS NOTE: Only a handful of people were on little Greenly Island when the trans-Atlantic airplane Bremen swung down out of the sky lust Friday and ended its history making Might from Dublin. Among this handful of people was J. T. Wyatt, the first man in the world to know the Atlantic had been spanned from east to west and was the first man to congratulate the German and Irish crew. The United Press herewith presents the graphic story that Wyatt tells of the landing and the story of the flight as the aviators told it to him—their first telling of the story. J. T. Wyatt, Written for the United Press Copyright 1928, by the UP. Pt. Amour, Labrador, via Fogo, N. F„ radio. April 19.—(U.R)—The German airplane Bremen landed at Greenly Island April 13. I personally Interviewed the flyers and welcomed them to Canada; and congratulated them most heartily. They seemed to be very glad to see me, this being their first hand-shake on this side of the Atlantic. The story the aviators told me fol’ows: The Bremen left Dublin last Thurslay in fair weather. This continued mfor about two-thirds of the distant across the Atlantic. Then the aviators encountered fog and a terrifie mowstorm near the grand banks about 500 miles off the coast. Fire Bopib Rocket The flyers could not tell the direction from which the terrifie wind came. Afraid they would be blown off their course, they fired a bomb rocket into the air. Its direction as the plane continued, proved that the wind was from the north. The Bremen was brought down -om an altitude of 1,500 feet at which it was erasing to within 100 'eet of the waves. So huge were the seas that the aviators were compelled to take the plane up again. The fog intervening made it necessary to go up 1,000 feet. Then the oil fuel pipe broke. (This had not been revealed previously.) Col. Fitzmaurice repairs the break. The flyers caught a view of the Polar star through the fog. From it they ascertained that they still were flying west. But finally the crew lost all their bearings. They believe that the compass failed to function properly. The direction in which the Bremen flew then for hours is practically unknown. The Bremen herself was working well. None of the snow had adhered to the wings or to the body of the plane. The sun peeped through the clouds for a few seconds. The flyers held a consultation. They decided they still were steering west —but they were uncertain. Then the fog cleared a little and the flyers discerned an immense forest leading into a large river. The wind became so terrific that the plane was compelled td descend (COXDXI'Rn ON PAGE FIVE, WILL NOT ELECT COUNTYCOUNCIL Voters Will Not Be Called Upon To Elect Councilmen This Year There will be no election of council men for Adams county this year, it was learned today. The law states that councilmanic offices hold for four years and Inasmuch as a complete council was elected in 1926, there will be no election for councilmen for two years yet. The present council, with the exceptio nos Henry Eitlng. resigned all, filed for re-election and since there was no republican opposition, all would have been re-elected. At present, there is a vacancy in the second councilmanic district, including Washington township, and this vacancy will be filled by the council, according to the statutes governing the conty council.

YOUNG MOTHER DIES AT HOSPITAL Following Childbirth, Causes Death Os Mrs. Arley Welker Mrs. Christena E. Weiser. 30, wif# of Arley Welker of Wren. Ohio, died at the Adams Countv Memorial hospital at 6:30 o'clock. Wednesday evening, April 18. 1928. Death was due to peritonitis, following child birth. Mrs. Welker gave birth to a daughter 12 days ago. Infection developed, and Monday evening, she was removed to the hospital for treatment. Her condition gradually grew worse, however, until death came last night. Christena E. Rumschlag Welker was the daughter of Joseph and Rosa Rumschlag. The father is living, but the mother died several years ago. She was born April 7, 1898. in Decatur. and has spent, most of her life in this vicihity. Surviving, besides the husband and father, are three small children: Herbert. aged three; Eugene aged one and one-halt years; and Irene May, an infant of 12 days. , Five brothers and six sisters survive as follows: Ed Rumschlag, Lou Rumschlag. Albert. Rumschlag, Joseph Rumschlag. and Bernard Rumschlag. all of Decatur; Mrs. Barney vVertzberger of Decatur, Mrs. August Lengerich, Mrs. John Holman, Mrs. ItONTINI I'll ON PAGE NEVFAI ELKS REPORT ON WELFARE WORK Decatur Lodge Spends SBBS In Social And Welfare Work During 1927 The annual report of social and community welfare activities carried on by the Decatur Lodge, No. 993, of the B. P. O. Elks, was made last night a t the regular meeting of the lodge. A large number of Elks attended the meeting and an interesting session was held. The grand lodge requires each subordinate lodge ip the country to compile a report of its social and community welfare expenditures during the year and to send it to the Grand Lodge committee. The report of the local lodge showed a total expenditure of SBBS during the year, for social and welfare work. Two hundred and fifty dollars was spent in furtherance of playgrounds, and juvenile athletics. The Elks maintain a tennis court for boys and girls at the Elks home, open to the sons and daughters ct the members, without charge. During the winter. SSO was spent for food for the needy and $125 for supplying clothing. At Christmas time, $125 was expended for food and clothing, for the needy. Christmas dinner baskets were distributed to thirty families in the' city. A donation of $25 was made to the Boy Scouts of this city and SIOO was expended for medical relief to the needy. The sick were also remembered during the year, SIOO being expended for flowers. Floral offerings sent to deceased Elks and members of their immediate families amounted to $75. A donation of $lO was made to the Red Cross and $25 donated to flood relief during the year. At the meeting last night, a committee was appointed to cooperate with the American Legion and other service organizations in the furtherance 6$ the community playgrounds in the south part of the city. The Elks will continue to maintain the tennis courts on Third street, back of the Elks home, and committees have been appointed to carry on community and welfare work throughout the year. o L. G. Ellingham Reported Better; Leaves Hospital L. G. Ellingham, editor of the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, who ha» been confined to the St. Joseph hospital in Fort Wayne for the last two weeks, is reported as greatly improved. Mr. El- , lingham was able to 'be tip yesterday ; and will be at his office in a few days. He left the hospital Tuesday evening.

By The United I‘re.» nnd luleruntluuml Ncw> Service

Mother of Hero Jr' ’ An old photograph of Mrs. Fitzmaurice, mother of the Irish aviator, who spanned the Atlantic East to West with his German companions. DRINKS ACID BY MISTAKE; DIES Mrs. Magdalena Egley Believed To Have Mistaken Acid For Medicine Mrs. Magdalena Amstutz Egley. 62, highly respected woman, residing four miles southwest of Decatur, died ■>t 9:30 o’clock this morning, after iking a quantity of carbolic acid, be : eved to have been mistaken for ned'.clne. Mrs. Eg'ey had not been feeling well for several days and this morning she told one of her daughters that she believed she would ’ie down nd rest a while, as was often her ’lutom. She was in the habit of ’aking a dose of medicine before lyng down, also, and it is believed hat she took the carbolic acid by •n’stake, before lying down. Later, her daughter entered the room where Mrs. Egley was lying on a davenporl nd noticed that she was breathing r> ep!y. Further investigation showid that she had taken the poisonous "id. A physician was summoned, but Mrs. Eg'ey was unconscious ami -oon passed away. Buys Acid Wednesday Yesterday, Mrs. Egley and her children had planned to disinfect their i-'oultry' brooder and they discovered j *hat they had no carbolic acid. Mrs. ! "'gley came to this city yesterday afternoon and purhased a small bottle of carbolic acid for that purpose. It was that acid that she drank this morning. Mrs. Egley was the mother of sevnteen children, sixteen ot whom are •iving. She was a daughter of Abra ’lam and Elizabeth Amstutz and was horn at Beaverdam. Ohio, April 3. 1866. She was married to Emil Egley i August 5, 18S4. Mr. Egley died Oc . tober 20, 1915. Mrs. Egley was a i member of the Zion Reformed church in this city. The sixteen surviving children are: Albert, of Poe; Mrs. Bert Seesenguth. Mrs. Clarence McKean and Noah, of j Monroe; Edwin and Glen, of Convoy. Ohio; Mrs. Charles Markey, Mrs. Wil liam Wittmer and Lewis, of Bluffton; Mrs. Alva Millei. of Domestic; Mrs. John Borne, of near Magley; Levle nnd Clara, of Decatur; and Edna, Ra’ph and Walter, at home. Another son, Hugh, died in 1909. Twenty-nine grandchildren and the following brothers and sisters also survive; Mrs. David Kauffmann, of Lafayette; Mrs. William Cavanaugh, of Hartford City; Mrs. James Nelson and Mrs. David ZuoTluh, of Lima, Ohio; nnd Dorsey and Jacob Amstutz, of Bluffton. Ohio. F literal service! will <>e held at th*. 1 •rsidence at 1:30 o'clock and at the Zinn Reformed church nt 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon, with the Rev. A. R. i'ledderjohar.n ii 'barge. Burial wl’l lie made in the St. Luke cemetery, at Honduras. Trans-Atlantic Fliers Accept Chicago’s Invitation Chicago, April 19 —(INS)— Chicago thrilled today over the news that the three trans-Atlantic fliers, temporarily marooned at Greenely Island, had accepted Mayor Thompson's invitation to visit Chicago. The Fliers are scheduled io reach here next Saturday, April 28. after they visit New York and Washington The greatest celebration since the Armistice is being planned for their arrival. The aviators, it is understood, will come by plane, perhaps in the Bremen

Price Two Cents

REPAIRS AND FUEL TO DE CARRIED TO MAROONED PLANE Trans-Atlantic Fliers Still Determined To Complete Hop To New York VON HUENEFELD OUTLINES PLANS New York, April 19. — (IMS) — A huge tri motored Ford monoplane capable of carrying in one trip all bhe replacements and fuel needed to start the Bremen on its way to Mitchel Field, will get away from Detroit this afternoon enroute to Greenly Bay. This announcement was made here today by the Junkers offices in NewYork who said they have received that information from Detroit. Floyd Bennett, who flew to the pole with Commander Byrd, and Bernt Balchen. trans-Atlantic flier, will be at the controls of the big monoplane. Parts Reach Quebec Quebec, Que., April 19. —(INS) —Spare I parts for the repair of the trans-At-lantic plane Bremen passed through Quebec today enroute form Montreal to Murray Bay. Major James E. Fitzmaurice is awaiting the parts at the Murray Bay air port and is expected to hop off with them for Greenly Island as soon as they arrive. The spare parts consisted of an under carriage of two wheels, a box of tools and a drum of oil. Local exnerts believe it will be 10 days before the Bremen can leave Greenly Island or New York. P'ans Are Outlined By Leslie Roberts, INS Staff Correspondent - 1928, by lulerualional News Service. Reproduction in whole or part prohibited.) Clarke City, Que., April 19.—The first definite and official information as to the plans of Baron von Huene'eld and Capt. Herman Koehl, of the German trans-Atlantic plane Bremen, vas received here today by radio and log sledge from Greenly Island where he famous ship landed. Baron von Huenefeld, in a statenent to International News Service, revealed that the flyers are still determined to reach New York in the Bremen. "After the arrival of aviator Charles A. ("Duke”) Schiller at Greenly Island it was deteimined that Major James E. Fitzmaurice should fly back to Murray Bay witli Schiller for replacement parts so that the Bremen could lie repaired." said the Baron. (< <)XTIM i:i) OX I’AGB SEI EX I CONFESSION IS BEING CHECKED Authorities Are Skeptical Os Man’s Confession To Hall-Mills Murder El Reno. Okla., Apr. 19.--(U.R)— A square-jawed, bushy-haired man of 29. who startled the country yesterday with the sudden announcement that he was the slayer in the famous Hall-Mil’s murder case, was held incommunicado here today. Authorities, skeptical of Elwin F. Alien's confession, awaited word from New Jersey officials who are checking the details of the confession. Allen reopened the widely known murder mystery with a 2,000 word confession in which he described in detail how he purportedly was hired by a dentist, a relative of Mrs. Eleanor Mil’s, to kill her and the Rev. Edward Wheeler Hall, near New Brunswick, N. J., the night of Sept. 14, 1922. The relative ordered the killing because the family had been “disgraced.” Allen charged. A woman, whose name he would not reveal because ot his love for herg ' helped him murder the couple, he said. The name of the dentist, a resident of Elizabeth, N. J., was witlv 1 held by authorities here until his story could be investigated. r Wife Os Hermann Koehl I Departs For New York Beilin, April 19— (U.R)— Mrs. Her mann Kc?hl. wife of the trans-Atlan-II tie pilot, departed for New York toi. day aboard the liner Dresden.

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