Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 26, Number 108, Decatur, Adams County, 5 May 1928 — Page 1

I WEATHER 1 Fair tonight and ■ Sunday- Slightly war ■ mrr south and east ■ par's.

PAM CRUMBLES; RICH VALLEY FLOODED

ROY, 17, ADMITS |HE KILLED SEVEN ■ OF HIS RELATIVES ■xiinsas Youth Confesses He I Killed Parents, Brothers And Sisters aggst * ■ff'RNS BODIES IN THE FAMILY HOME ’ Ehlonulo. Kaos., May 5. (U.R) ■ Owen Oberst, 17-year-old boy, confessed to police ■oil iv that be killed seven nieiii■x rsDi his family and burned ■h, family home near here 2d. s l Oberst showed no emotion, Riffieers said, as he detailed how Bie had shot to death his father || .mil mother, three brothers and ■wo' sisters, because he was an■>rv over being refused use of K [he family automobile. Confesses After Grilling ■I Young Oberst was arrested imnieda ately after the seven bodies were ■lotind in the embers of the home. ■<.' denied any knowledge of the murat that time. Officers continued investigations and yesterday him. '«! After a night of grilling, the sher- ' announced today that the boy had I Oberst said he quarreled with his <onstantly. He had been givhut little spending money, he said, rarely was permitted to use the automobile. ■I He asked for use of the car April he said, and was refused. While worked in the fields during the 'Mtlay. he planned revenge. "I went home that night," the con■fession related, “and took a rifle I ■bad All the kids were in the house ■with mother and dad.” ,f| Ho said he shot Herbert 6. Edith ■B. Hugh 10, and Ralph 14. Then he ■killed his mother, Mrs. Willianl ■Oberst, his sister, Dorothea, 16. and ■later his father. "I got some kerosene and poured ■it over the bodies, lit a match to it ■and then left,” the confesskin said. ■"I went to town, and went to a movie. ■ They were showing the ‘Shepherd of ■ the Hills'.” 1 He returned home before the ■ house was destroyed and told neigh■hors he knew nothing of the fire. Ail ■ the members of the family were ■ home when he left, ne told the ■neighbors » f formal charges of murder were to ■be filed later today. I Kendallville To Dedicate New Hospital Tomorrow Kendallville, Ind.. May 5—(U.R)— This city's new SIIO,OOO Lakeside hospital will be dedicated and opened for use Sunday. A donation of S.lO, by E. E. RJcCray, president of the McCray Refrigerator Corporation started a fund to which other citizens contributed. 0 , ROOT TOWNSHIP RESIDENT DIES Mrs William Zimmerman Succumbs To Illness Os Uraemic Poisoning Mrs. Bessie A. Zimmerman 66. wife of William Zimmerman cf Root township, died at 5:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon at the Zimmerman home in the northern part of Adams county, following an illness of a week’s duration. Death was said to have been due to uraemic poisoning. Mrs. Zimmerman became ill last Sunday and never regained consciousness. Bessie Young Zimmerman was born December 25, 1861, in Allen county. She was a daughter of Steven Young and Margaret Aker Young. Five years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman moved to Adams county where they ha -e since resided. Surviving, besides the husband, are two daughters, Doro.hy M. Johnson of St. 1 ouis, Mo. and Bessie L. Blow, of Detroit, Michigan. One son preceded the other in death several years ago. brother, Tillman Young, of Fort Wayne, also survives. Funeral services wil be held Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the home in Root township. Burial will be made in the Decatur cecetery. The Rev. R. W. Loose, of the Evangelical church of this city, will have charge of the services.

DECATUR DA ILY I DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXVI. No. 108.

Life Term Punishment ■ > - • * I R Mrs. Alexandria Kedrock. of Lansing. Mich., who faces the possibility of spending the rest of her Ifie in Michigan State Prison as a result of her arrest after the finding of two pints of hooch in her home. She has been convicted three times in the past on similar charges and Michigan Law prescribes life imprisonment as a possible punishment for four convictions. baptTstwomen HONOR MRS, BELL Decatur Woman Elected Treasurer Os Mission Societies Os District Mis. C. E. Bell, of Decitur, was elected treasurer of the Women's American Baptist Foreign and Home Mission Societies cf Indiana, Ohio :wtd West Virginia, and the conference held in Peru. Thursday. She succeeds Mrs. Daisy Riley, of Lebanon, who resigned. Mrs. Bell is chairman of the finance committee, also. Charleston. West Virginia, was selected at the 1929 meeting place for the societies. Two hundred and fiftyeight delegates, representing the 1,800 churches in the district, registered at the Peru conference. Os the tctal registered,* 207 were from Indiana, 33 from Ohio, 11 from West Virginia, two from Japan, two from New York City, two from Chicago and one from Seattle. Mis. C. W. Craig, of Indianapolis, and Mis. S. F. Glascock, of Morgantown, W. Va., were elected to the board of directors. Committees Appointed The following committees were appointed at the Peril conference: New Board of Directors—Mrs. G. E. Bartlet, of Parkersburg, West .Virginia, and Miss Lyde Jenkins of Canton, 0., clerk. Nominating Committee — Mrs. W. G. Everson, of Muncie; Miss Ruth Shipley, of Wyoming. Ohio, and Mrs. M. L. Wood, of Huntington, West Va. Finance Committee — Mrs. C. E. Bell, Decatur. Indiana; Mrs. E. E. Mor gan, Fort Wayne, and Mrs. R. I. Hutchinson, Huntington, West Virginia. Program -Mrs. C. W. Kemper, Charleston, West Virginia; Mis. .1. F. Jones Red Star West Virginia. Publicity— Mrs. S. F. Glasscock. Morgantown, West Virginia; Mrs. Harry L. Bond, Wheeling, West Virginia and Mrs. William Barr, Bluffton, Indiana. Civics—Mrs. W. H. Alexander, Columbus, Ohio, and Mrs. L. C. Trent, of Indianapolis. Blind Couple, Admirers Os Mrs. Porter, Visit Elephant Rock Memorial A touching incident happened yesterday when a husband and wife both blind, who had been singing on the streets during the day, stopped before Elephant Rock and asked the landscape gardner there if that was where the Gene Stratton-Porter tablet was and, being answered that it was stated that they had had Mrs. Porter's books read to them and she had brought very vividly to them all the great outdoors and requested that they be led up to the tablet that they might "read” it with their fingers. Prisoners Must Earn Keep Lebanon, Ind., May s—(U.R)—Effectivelys—(U.R)—Effectively immediately the prisoners in Bsone county Jail here, must earn their lodging and board, officials announced. One of the jobs will be painting street traffic signs.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY'

Mate, N'ntlnnnl And Intermit leant New.

TAXPAYERS MAKE LAST HOUR RUSH — Hundreds Crowd County Treasurer’s Office As Deadline Nears A rush was on at the county treasurer’s office today, hundreds of taxpayers calling at the office to pay the spring taxes without the ten per cent penalty being added. Friday was also a heavy day at the treasurer's office. The spring installment of taxes totals about $400,000 and u pto the first of week less than one-third had been paid. Much cf the tax money is teceived through the mails. Banks through the county c. operate by ge’ting the tax receipts of their patrons and remitting io the county treasurer for the entire amount. County Treasurer Ed Ashbaucher stated that the office would be open until four o’clock Monday afternoon. o Von Huenefeld Refuses $12,500 Prize For His Flight Across Atlantic New York. May S—(U.R) —A fresh outburst of enthusiasm for the crew of the trans-Atlantic monoplane Bremen occurred today when it became known that Baron Gunther von Huenefeld had gracefully waved aside $12,500. The baron and his comrades, Major James C. Fitzmaurice and Captain Heimann Koelil, were honor guests at a banquet last night at which the $12,500 prize offered by the Electrolux Company for the first westward flight across the North Atlantic was to be presented to them. The prize previously had been tendered to Dr. Hugo Junkers, designer of the Bremen, who declined it, insisting the money should go to the men who made the flight. When Von Huenefeld atwo to ac cept the prize, instead of making a speech he turned to Miss Herta Junkers, head of the Junkers interests in America, and handed the check to her. “The money must be dedicated to further experimentation and research in aviation,” he said. o Steamer Damaged In Collision Portland, Eng., May 5. —(U.R) —The steamer Bacchus was towed into port today after it had been damaged ijt a collision with the Italian steamer, loannis Fafalios, in which the latter ship was sunk. WARD SPEAKS TO LARGE AUDIENCE Union City Man Speaks On “Community Cooperation” At Geneva Don C. Ward, cf Union City Democratic candidate for nomination for congress from the eighth district pleas ed a large audience at Geneva last night when he delivered an address on “Community cooperation” to the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. The meeting was nonpolitical. W. D. Cross, of Geneva, presided ami introduced Mayor George M. Krick. Senator Thurman Gottschalk and Dore B. Erwin, all three made short addresses. Following these three addresses, Mr. Ward was introduced and he entertained the audience with an inter esting and constructive talk, which lasted about an hour. Mr. -Ward did not mention his candidacy, but adhered closely to his subject of co-opera-tion. Following the public meeting Mr. Ward held several conference 'with Adams county Democrats. He was accompanied to Geneva by his campaign manager, Russell Wise, of Union City. Don’t Write On Ballot The Daily Democrat has been asked by several voters whether or not they can write in the name of any candidate for President not appearing on the ballot. YOU CAN NOT AND TO DO SO WILL SPOIL YOUR BALLOT. The name of Evans Woollen was the only filed by Democrats in Indiana. In some states, it Is permissable to write in the names of other candidates on the ballot, but this is not true in Indiana. Don’t, lose your vote Make no marks on your ticket, excepting in the square in front of the name of the candidate you wish to vote for.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, May 5, 1928.

Aim 94 Percent True jJHsraH-''' c.iH?)! ■fW? If x <^'lmSr* Miss Edna E. Cristoferson, deputy sheriff of Portland. Ore., who shot a score of 94 out of a possilde TOO with a revolver. Her deadly accuracy witli tlie revolver equals the New York police (’hampionship mark. CONVICT ADMITS TAYLOR MURDER Inmate Os Folsom Prison Brands Self As Slayer Os Movie Director Folsom state prison. California, May S—(INS5 —(INS) —In a dramatic fashion, J. G. Barrett, a convict, today branded himself as the slayer of William Desmond Taylor, in a confession which purported to solve the six-year-old mystery of the slaying of the Los Angeles motion picture director. Summoned to the warden's office to explain a letter he had written to a federal official, Barrett prefaced a startling statement with the assertion: “I killed William Desmond Taylor. I am making this confession freely and voluntarily to clear my conscience and because I was double crossed," he continued, according to the report given out by Warden (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) o Three Indicted For Theft Os Man’s Will Marion, Ind., May s—(lNS)—The Grant county grand jury has indicted Max A. Bartels, Matilda Bartels and Herbert Bartels on charges of secreting a will and conspiring to commit a felony in connection with the disappearance of the will of John Prior who died here recently leaving an estate of $600,000, it became known today. Max Bartels and Herbert Bartels also were indicted on the separate charge of larceny of a will. SENATOR WALSH QUITS CAMPAIGN Decides “It Is Futile” To Contest Party Leadership Os Al Smith Washington, May 5— (INS) Senator Thomas J. Walsh’s withdrawal from the Democratic Presidential race was accepted today by all shades of Democratic opinion in Washington as Coo-per-Riveting and nomination of Gov. Al Smith. All but a few of the most radical bit-ter-enders against Smith concurred in Walsh's analysis of the situation, — that “it is futile to advance claims of any other party leadership in the ensuing campaign.” even these are convinced that Smith cannot be stopped, but they are not saying so publicly for their <Wt'n political reasons. The withdrawal of Walsh, who was sponsored by Wm. G. McAdoo, leaves in opposition to the New York Governor, Senator James A. Reed of Missouri who lias approximately 65 votes to date, as against well over 500 for Smith. Senator Reed does not intend to quit. He lias based his entire campaign on the issue of “corruption in government’’ and he intends to go ahead with it.

ALL AMERICANS AT TSINAN SAFE Situation In Chinese City Is Grave; Looting and Massacres Continue London. May S—(INS)—AH Americans at Tsinan have reached places of safety according to advices from Peking this afternoon. Tokio. May 5 — (INSI -Grave fears were held today for the safety of ill foreigners in the environs of Tsinan. Three hundred Japanese have been massacred by Nationalist Chinese treops looting the town, according to official advices here. Three thousand Japanese treops are still I'll inly entrenched about the Japanese settlement where all foreigners are concentrated for safety but the Nationalists have laid down a heavy bombarjdment on the settlement. It is feared that the Nationalists will break down the Japanese detachment’s resistance before reinforcements arrive ft .-in Tsing-Tao. Chaing Kai Shck, Commander-lnchief of the Nationalists is repotred to have destroyed bridges over tlie yellow river and torn up the railroad that runs from Tsing-To Tsinan. This will seriously delay the arrival at. Tsinan of 5,000 Japanese tioops now rushing there. No American Casualties Washington. May 5 —(INS)— There have been no American casualties in the fighting at Tsln-an-Fit, so far as is known, minister MacMttrray advised the state department today, hut five Japanese officers and men were kiled and 200 others wounded. There was much 1 oting of foreign property and several Japanese civilians were reported killed. MacMttrray said, by Chinese nationalists operating under Gen. 110-Yae-Tu. Mac Murray reported lie had made inquiries concerning the safety cf constir Price and vice consul Stannard and other;Americans known to have been in the city, but has received n > information. o Putnam County’s Oldest Resident Dies; Age 101 Greencastle, Ind., May 5—(U.R) — Putnam county’s oldest resident, Uriah Gasaway. 101. died at Reelsville last night. Gasaway, one of the last survivors of the Mexican war, hail lived in this county for 75 years. Serving under Gen. Winfield Scott, he participated tn the capture of tlie city of Mexico. ‘'CLARENCE' 1 HAS CLEVER STORY I). C. H. S. Seniors Present Tarkington Plav Here Sunday And Monday “Clarence," the play by Booth Tarkington to be staged in the Catholic school auditorium Sunday, afternoon and Monday evening by the senior class of the Catholic high school, contains an interesting story, involving adventure, love and humor. A matinee performance will be given Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock and the final performance will be given at 8 o'clock Monday night. D. M. Rice, former Decatur resident who has played in many of the leading bands of the country, will be heard in clarinet solos at both the matinee and evening performances. Mr. Rice and his wife are spending a vacation in this city nt present. One of the “four million,” Clarence served where he was sent though this was no farther than Texas; At the end of the World War, Clarence' finds himself out of the army, and in a last extremity applies for a position at the private office of Mr. WTieeler, a prominent business man of New York City. Here, for the first time he is brought into contact with the members of the distracted (Covrutl Kn ow pa<;V. two; Keynoter For Republican State Convention Chosen Indianapolis, Ind., May 5 —(INS) — George M. Barnard of Newcastle, an attorney and a former member of the Indiana public service commission will deliver the keynote address at the Republican state convention here on May 23 and 24. Barnard was selected for that honor by the arrangements committee ac cording to an announcement by Harry C. Fenton, secretary of the republican state committee.

Ily The United I’rena nnd Internnllounl Newi Service

Beats Lindy's Record, het ; ■■■■■■■■■■■■■ , Lieutenant Royal V. Thomas, above failed in his attempt to creat a new airplane sustined flight record, but lie broke the sustained flight record for solo flights, held by Col. Charles Lin'dbergh, by keeping his Reliance monoplane Reliance in the air for 35 hours. The present record for sustained flight is 53 hours and is held by Eddie Stinson and George Haldeman. BERNE CITIZEN DIES SUDDENLY Abraham M. Habegger Falls Dead At His Home Early This Morning Berne, May s—(Special)—Abraham M. Habegger, 79, a resident of Berne and community most of his life died suddenly at 3 o'clock this morning at ills hme in Berne. The cause us Mr Habegger's death has not been definitely ascertained, but it is believed that he was stricken either with paralysis or heart trouble. Mr. Habegger arose front his bed about 3 o'clock and told his wife he was going to the gitchen to get something to eat. When he reached the kitchen, he fell backward ami when Mis. Habegger went to the kitchen to see what had caused tlie noise she found her husband lying on his back, dead. Mr. Habegger had frequently complained of having heart' trouble, but his ailment was not considered serious. Mt. Habegger was born in Switzerland, Novetnbet 28. 184 S. He came t : America when a child and spent the remainder of his life in the southern part of Adams county. He was married twice, his first wife, Lena Moser Habegger having died twenty-five or thirty years ago. His second wife, Catherine Zink Habegger survives. Eight children, Sam, Abraham, Peter, Robert Mention, Jacob and Mrs. Denhart Lehman of Berne, and Eli. cf near Geneva, and the following brothers and sisters surive: Mis. Jacob U. Amstutz David Habegger, J. P. Habegger, Louis Habegger and Soloman Habegger, all of Herne. Funeral services will be held at the home at 1:30 o'clock and at the Menncnite church at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon with the Rev. P. It. Schroeder officiating. Burial will be made in the M. R. E. cemetery. o Rev. Stoakes To Attend Methodist Conference The Rev. Ross W. Stoakes pastor of the First Methodist church of this city was granted a leave of absence by tlie Church Board in an official meeting Iteld Wednesday avening, f< r the purpose of attending the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church which is being held throughout the month of May in Kan sas City. Rev. Stoakes expects to leave the latter part of next week t' :r Kansas City, to attend the Conference session for about a ten-day period. The Confetence is general and includes Methodist organizations from all parts of the world. o Bluffton Banks To Close On Wednesday Afternoon Bluffton, May S—(U.R)5 —(U.R) -\Xnnouncement was made today that beginning next Wednesday, Bluffton banks the Wells County Bank and Union Savings and Trust Company Would close at 12 o'clock, noon, each Wednesday for the remainder of the day. The noon closing will continue the remainder of the summer, but will not lie effective on Booster Days, as the banks will remain open on those days.

Price Two Cents

SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS FLEE TO HIGH GROUND — Power Comp an y Dam Breaks, Releasing Six Billion Gallons Os Water LARGE TOWNS LIE IN PATH OF FLOOD ■ Greenville, S. C., May S(INS)— I The grim spectre of devasta- ; tion hovered over the rich Saluda valley cotton mill and 'farming region today as the giIgantic power company dam al ITable Kock Cove, 30 miles from here, began crumbling, and 6,000,000,000 gallons of water began flooding over the vast area. Engineers at the power house adjacent to the dam believed that it; would be only a short while before, the crumbling dam would give away entirely. Early today a small crack was discovered in the structure, and by 11 o'clock this morning this had widened io a gap of more than thirty feet. Towns Mostly Deserted Although the towns in the area were mostly deserted, and the people moved to higher and safer ground, it was feared there still might lie some loss of life in case the giant dam suddenly breaks today. Many persons in the outlying farming districts had not left their ltoir.es, and a few remained in the towns. Several large towns and cotton mill sections were in the path of the threatened deluge. There is Piedmont, a place of 4,000 inhabitants a few miles below here, then Pelzer, with a population of 6,000 or more, and further down tlie valley is another town. Ware Shoals. The water, which had been leaking from a drain pipe throughout the night, rushing in great volume to tlie Saluda river below, after the dam cracked, and the Saluda river was rising at a fast rate. Front 6 P.M. yesterday until midnight tlie river was rising at tlie rate of a foot and a half each hour, but the rise of the stream was much (COXTIN’IT.n ON PAOE TWO> — —() Showers And Warm Weather Are Forecast Washington. May S—(INS)—-Weather cntilouk for the period, May 7 to 12. inclusive: Ohio Valley: Generally fair, except, showers about Thursday or Friday. Warmer Monday and Tuesday, cooler Thursday or Friday. Region Great Lakes: Fair at beginning of week, probably followed by showers period in middle or near close; temperature near or somewhat below normal first half; somewhat warmer latter half. TRUSTEES TO MEET MONDAY Enumeration Figures To Be Turned in At Meeting Os County Board The county board of education will meet Monday in the office of the County school superintendent Clifton Striker. The township trustees and presidents of school boards will turn in the figures for the annual enumeration of school children in the counity. The census of children of school age including those t»om 6 to 21 years, was made during tlie month of April and the figures are turned in to Mr. Striker. Mr. Striker will also take up tlie matter of fixing the date for tire county eighth grade school commencement with the trustees. The commencement will be held sometime about the middle of June. Mr. Striker will engage the speager and, as soon as the date is fived, plans will lie made for the commencement. The exercises will be held in Decatur this year. o —_— ‘ Neither Tardy Nor Absent In Eight Years Os School • Windfall, Ind., May s—(U.R)—Shirley t Tennell, 14 neir here, has the recortf ( cf attending school eight consecutive ' > terms without being absent or tardy. - He was graduated from grade school this term.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY