Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 26, Number 182, Decatur, Adams County, 2 August 1928 — Page 1

I weather I Moitiy « loudy Httled toni B ht and I 1 s*” North portion.

increase in assessments ordered

British Trans-Atlantic Fliers Forced Down In Mid-Ocean

6APT, COURTNEY SKI COMPANIONS CALLFOBHELP live Steamships Kush To lid Os Stranded Fliers •00 Miles West Os Azores \'i) immediate danger ACCOKDINii TO REPORT BULLETIN \h(»ard S. S. Columbus, via Chatham, Mass., radio station. -Aug. 2. (5 p. m.)—The S. S. Winnewaska rescued Captain Frank C. Courtney and three o her members of his seaplane, the Whale, late this afternoon, -wording to a wireless message from the Winnewaska intercepted bv the S. S. Columbus. he enplane was sighted by the Winnewaska at latitude l-.-t north and longitude 39.05 west, having drifted a considerable distance from the spot 500 miles west of the Azores where u had fallen into the Atlantic ocean this morning on its flight from the Azores to Halifax. New York. Aug. 2. (IMS) — The following radiogram was received this afternoon from tlie radio Marine corporation; wireless station at Chatham, j Mass. "Informed that steamship President Haves is on position! jven bv Courtney plane and is mw in search for it.” VW York. August 2 (INS)— A fleet i of at least five trans-Atlantic steam- , blips are rushing t day to the aid of Captain Frank T. Courtney and his toe companions. whose seaplane was forced down into the ocean approximately 500 miles west of the Azores while attempting a 1.800 mile flight item Horta U Newfoundland. The rescue fleet includes: the President Hays, Minnewaska. Columbus, Cedric ami Celtic. The liner Franconia notified British wireless stations that Courtney and I his fliers were in no immediate danpt and that the Celtic ami Cedric were going to their assistance. Caph Courtney accompanied by E. B Hosmer Montreal banker, Cred Fierce, mechanic, and E. W. Gilmour, radio operator, left Horta today at >:■«> a.m„ EST.. after waiting there for more than a nu nth since their flight from Lisbon on June 13. They wtemled to fly to Newfoundland am! wn down the coast to New York. Weting the first westward crossln!:ofthe Atlantic with a stop in the Mores. SPANISH FLIERS FORCEfI TO LAND Franco And Companions! Forced Down At La Rahida oy Engine Trouble to Pi!' f H, ! Plva ■ s l’ ain - August 2— to Elding the surf at the Little Port intibr ' \ b " d ' Wherp ''Hristopher Col- ± Mar ' p " v yage that red'.' ' n discovery of America, the dav to staTt a, ‘ lane N " mancia waited ‘oto reach tl a ni ° re lll,)( lern method that game America. knonVran, 1 " I '” P ' 1 b >’ Commandant UIL b d '■ Wi ' S forceil t 0 la " d at t ”£X e d es f ,H ' ,iay ,norni "K affp ’- Par: of an J flo . ni Cadiz 011 the first EngL o!', nii II,P wor,d fight. first hour nt“'!n ° develo P |n K in the A Hight that flight trom Cad >z— H rtTV 0 haVe itStirß ‘ *- Sponsible forth! 0 , 68 WaS believed U Rabida he torced landing at aJ h ‘ S "teeJat p P a "‘ Em “ io Galiarza ‘"'it'ded after t,, r° Rada ~remained th «y desired f a ding ' Tbp y indicated Azwe "as« oon Htart again f or the The x * . WaR B!er -Wai plane' i, 3 / I ’,’." Ulotored Dor 11 ' 1 dfficulty 111 tab ' on( * in the Jir tt ad yesterd *y. “" Cb “"l»g perfectly. S66n ' Pd be to a rep oCarrriPd 0 Carr r iPd , a rad ‘° a n<l ex- ?" le ’o the Azov. gU ar pro g r ams en“““d'and. Rut t h a " d then to New'Deming he rpp °rts were not

DECATUR BALIA DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXVI. No. IK2.

Mrs. Cooiidge Unveils Memorial

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Photo shows Mrs. Calvin Coolidge unveiling a memorial tablet as part ' of the dedication ceremonies in honor of William Colvill, leadei of the fam-1 ! ous First Minnesota Volunteers and a Gettysburg hero, at Cannon Fal«I ' Minn. Twenty thousand persons were there to pay respects to the heretofore . unsung Cohill and to the Coolidges.

SEN. WATSON TO VISIT DECATUR Indiana's Senior U. S. Senator To Be Here On Tuesday Os Old Home Week Senator James E. Watson, senior! United States senator rrom Indiana.J has accepted an invitation extended! him by the Old Home Week committee, to be present on “Umbel lost Day" which will be observed in connection with Old Home Week, as a tribute to the late Gene Stratton Porter, former Adams county author. Senator Watson's letter of acceptance is as follows: > United States Senate i Committee on Interstate Commerce I j July 30. 1928. Secretaiy “Old H me Week". I Decatur, Indiana. My Dear Quinn: Answering yours of recent date, peimit me to say that I | shall be pleased to be present on the i occasion to which you invite me, September 11th, and shall consider it a I p; ivilege to do so. “To making many books there is no I end", but some live on for generations because of their true worth. And th «e given to our country by Mrs. Gene Stratton-Porter?have woven into them that quality of literature that will always appeal to students of language, inter mingled with that love f nature that always will appeal to those who see things in this life in their right relationssind in their true proportions. Your efforts to memoralize her work and w.rth, her genius and achievements are most commendable and should receive the sincere-support and the genuine cooperation of all those people of ; ur State interested in keeping Indiana to the front in all matters pertaining to literature. I thank yon for the privilege afforded me and shall consider myself fortunate to avail mvself of this opportunity. Very sincerely, \ James E. Watson | o - Gov. Jackson Visits Pokagon State Park Indianapolis, August 2—(U.R) —Governor Ed Jackson was to leave here today for Pokogon State Park Lake James. He Is to attend the celebration cf the opening of state road No. 20 between Lagrange and the Steuben County line. Later he is to fejoin his fantily at Dunes state park. On August 15 the Governor is scheduled to review Indiana National Guard troops in training at Camp Knox. Attendance At Epworth League Institute Is Large Warsaw, Ind., August 2 —(U.R) — A new attendance record was expected today at the annual Epworth League Institute at Webster Lake.-Six northern Indiana Methodist conference districts are sponsoring the meeting. Forty-six classes are being conducted under the leadership of Dr. W. T. Arnold, dean of the Institute.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

State, Natlunal And Intevunlluuul Am.

Two Actors With Circus Put On An Added Thriller Here People arriving at the Ketrow Bros., trained wild animal show last night were given an added thriller, not in- I | eluded in the regular bill. Two of the I actors got into an argnnwnt and for a i few minutes they Staged a hot fistic I fight. The biffing and slugging kept no I for-a couple of minutes, the eve't beI ing staged outside of the tent. No arj rests were made. o_ —_ Special Band Concert To Be Given At Geneva A special band concert will be given at Geneva, by the Geneva band, on Wednesday evening, August 8. A number of players of the famous*G. E. band of Fort Wayne, will take par' in the program, which will be fiveii ' under the direction of Perry A. ShobI er, Fort Wayne. TOLL OF BLAST ! MOUNTS TO NINE Others Burned In Explosion At Lawrenceville, HI., Likely To Die Vincennes, Ind., August 2 —(INS) — The death toll of the Indian refining company's still explosion at Lawrence ville. 111. west of here rose to nine today, with the deaths of seven more of 51 injured men. Physicians feared that at least ten more of the injured would die. The still exploded during a fire at the plant with a deafening roar and showeted more than 150 fire fighters with buirning oil. The men that were most seriously hurt inhaled the flames. Thirty-six of the injured were rushed to the Good Samaritan hospital here while fifteen received treatment in Lawrenceville. The cTead were: Jack Freese 47, C. F. Caddey. 34, Louis Hensley, 50, Ar-1 lington Jackman, 21, W. E. Hinton 56, Harry Johnson, 38, John Fitch 19 Clyde Moote 22. Lee Lynch 49. Indescribable confusion and horror followed the blast. Men with flaming] clothes ran in all directions. Some jumped in mud puddles, others rolled ] in sand. Then those who escaped the awful concussion and liquid flames ran down ffre human torches an tore off their flaming garments. Ambulances were called from all neighboring cities. "It was like a great ball of fire that rolled on and on," said G. W. Hornbuckle, one of the men who escaped injury except for scorched hands, describing the explosion, “It lasted jilst a minute, then I saw men, clothes afire, running.’’ The still which exploded was one of a group. The still next to ft had caught fire. Every witness said it appeared that the bottom of this still dropped out spilling flaming oil over an acre or so of ground, the fire whistle was blowing and ail available employes were mobilised to fight the fire.

Deactur, Indiana, Thursday, August 2, 1928.

County Jail Is Empty First Time For Months; Sheriff Is Lonesome Sheriff Harl "Spot" Hollingsworth and family found life lonely around the Adams county jail this afternoon. For the first time since many months ago, the county jail Is now empty—that is, it was empty when this story was written. The jail became empty about 10 o’clock this inarning, when the sheiiff ol laike county removed Robert I.ee Wheatley and his wife, Gladys Wheatley, from the local jail to the Lake county bastile. Tlie local jail has been occupied by a large number of pris. ners during the last several months. During the month of July, the prisoners' board bill was more than ssl. Tlie i county pays the sheriff twenty > cents pet meal per prisoner. ANOTHER LETTER SENT TO SHERIFF Mysterious Writer Sends Second Letter Offering Details About Murder Huntington, Ind., Aug. 2.— (INS)—Another letter from the mysterious writer who signs himself “George C. Claudson,” i and who claims to know the de- ■ tails of the strange murder of Mrs. Pearl Ballard, 31, of Muskegon, Mich., whose battered! j body was found near Roanoke. Ind.. July 17, was received today : by Sheriff Garl Rudicel. The letter was written from the Keenan Hotel at Fort Wayne. Ind The writer asserted that Mrs. Bal ! l lard died on tlie road between Fort i Wayne and Roanoke, declared "Mi< key" Alfee, suspect in tlie case, was innocent and offered to surrender if assured of fair play. An answer through the Cleveland, Ohio, PlainDealer was requested. Another Received July 25 This was tlie second letter the myr- i terious "Claudson" has written to | Sheriff Rudicel. Tlie first reached the sheriff July 25 from the Statler Hotel | in Cleveland. In tlie letter today, the written said he had been in Huntington to give himself up, but had decided lie would | ! get a better deal at the hands of j Cleveland police. Sheriff Rudicel said in his answer i to the first letter that the writer would lie given fair play and every chance i ! to prove his innocence, was his only | I reply to today's communication. The sheriff expressed the belief that the I letters either were the work of Alfee | himself or of some crank. The sher- ! iff forwarded the envelope in which today's letter came to Fort Wayne police, to compare with tile writing ! on the Keenan Hotel register. . l ire Destroys Power Station Os WAIU Today Columbus, Ohio, August 2 -Fire believed to have been started by a short circuit, destroyed the 5.000 watt power j station of WAIU, kcal radio broad casting station, at a loss of apptoxi-1 mutely SIOO,OOO. TWO WOMEN HURT IN AUTO ACCIDENT Two Cars Collide Northeast Os Berne This Morning; One Car Wrecked Berne, August 2 —(Special)— Mrs. Melda Dro, of Berne, and Mrs. Ice, of Newcastle, sustained injuries about 6:30 o’clock this morning, in an automobile collision which occured one mile east and five miles north of here The Fold sedan in which the two women were riding, with Mrs. Dro driving collided with a car driven by Mr. Rice residing east of Monroe. Tlie Dro car turned over twice and was a complete wreck. Mrs. Dro had cuts on her left arm and shoulder which required ten stitches to close. Mrs. Ice was badly bruised. Mr. Rice escaped with bruises and a few minor cuts, but his car was damaged. The two women were enroute to Bucyrus and Fremont, Ohio, for a visit.

WHEATLEY AND WIFE ARE TAKEN TO LAKE COUNTY Couple Held Here For Bank Robbery Now Face Conspiracy Charge CHARGED WITH TAKING AUTO USED IN HOLDUP R bert Lep Wheatley and his wife, Gladys Wheatley, of Hammond Indian i I who have been held in the Xilatns j county jail here for several weeks on j a charge of bank robbery, in conneci tion with the holdup and robbery of the Linn Gr ve bank, today were released by Sheiiff Harl Hollingsworth to Lake county authorities, who held warrants for'their arrest on a charg • of conspiracy with intent to commit a felony. Tlie e nspiracy charge resulted from an alleged <-onfession»by Wheatley and I his wife that they stole tlie Peerless | coupe automobile, which was used in the robbery of the Linn Grove bank, at Hammond. Authorities have been I unable to connect the Wheatleys with the actual robbery of the liank.Bond Fixed at SI,OOO Sheiiff Hen Strong and a deputy, of j Crown Point, and Detective Beasley. of Hammond, came to Decatur this | morning after tlie Wheatleys. They i started on their return trip with their I prisoners ab ut ItPo’clock. , Tlie bond of Wheatley and his wife has been fixed at SI,OOO each, it is bei lieved that they will be aide to furj nish bond for their release soon after i reaching the Lake county jail. They have tie*.ll held here tlnough default of $25,000 bond each. Arrested At Hammond The Wheatleys were arrested at ! Hammond several weeks ago, at the time that Charles Makley. Eddie Meadows and Mrs. Edith Markley were taken into custody. Makley was sentenced here to serve from 10 to 21 years in the state prison at Michigan City, after lie confessed to taking part in the holdup and robbery of the Linn Grove bank. Mrs. Markley was released i after atith rities were unable to uncov|er evidence against her. Meadows pleaded not guilty to the charge of bank robbery here, and later was turned over to authorities at Lafayette, Indaina who wanted him in connec tion witli the robbery of a bank there and the murder of Police Captain K'OVTI' • os p»<;k twoi O — REVIVE REQUEST FDR NEW DEPOT — Movement To Obtain New Nickel Plate Station Here Started Again —— The movement to secure a new i passenger station and freight depot for the Nickel Plate railroad in this city has been revived by S. E. Shamp, local agent for the road. Local citizens and civic organiaztions are coI operating with Mr. Shamp in urging j the officials of tlie railroad to erect | a new building here. The old Nickel Plate station here ! lias long been an eye sore to the I community and years ago efforts were I made to obtain a new building, but i without avail. Officials of the company are said to be looking with favor upofi the request at this time. F. J. DeGrief, of Frankfort, general [ superintendent for the Clever Leaf [ division of the Nickel Plate, and the general manager were in Decatur a few days ago and looked over the station here in response to a letter written to them by Mr. Shamp regarding the matter. Mr. Shamp has been working tirelessly to improve the appearance of the station and grounds recently. He lias a beautiful lawn and flower garden between the station and Winchester street. Within the last few days, the old pile of cinders that has served as a bumper to stop freight cars at the end of the Burk elevator switch, just north of the station, has been removed and a standard steel bumper placed there instead This improvement has greatly improved the appearance of the grounds. Mr. Shamp intends to improve the appearance of the station and grounds more l\ tween now and Old Home Week, he stated today.

Hy The I'nlieil Preu nn<l liilrrunilouial service

Suffers Stroke

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• WILLIAM S. VARE I < International I Hast rated Newr> Atlantic City, N.J., Aug. 2.—(U.R) -a United States Senator-elect William S. Vare, of Pennsylvania, suffered a stroke of apoplexy today at Ventnor, near here. His condition is said to be serious. PROBLEM IS DIFFICULT ONE Few Persons, So Far, Have Solved Problem That Occurs In “Inheritance” Ony a few persons, so far, have successfully worked out the problem that occurs in the "Inheritance," th" home talent p'.ay to be presented in the Catholic school auditorium. August 5 and 8. It must be the heat, for surely the probit m of "a penny for the first day and thereafter doubled every, day for 30 days is not so-difficult. “Toph" (Herman Myers) is promised a salary as above stated, but at the end of 30 days lie makes a blunder and is discharged. He then presents liis bill which was far too great for Dr. Lathan (Fred Schurger) to pey even though the Doctor has just inherited a vast sum of money. What -was the bill? Herman Myers is well known as a great stage comedian. He is a sure hit in any show but when he plays the character of “Toph" in the Inheritance he is unsurpassed. The people who attend the “Inheritance" may think that they can't laugh, but when they see “Toph’’ they will find that their systems were just full of laughs, chuckles and even screams of merriment. “Toph” will make one forget the hot weather, your income tax, bunions and what have you? —— 0 Two Autos Collide On Monroe Street Touring cars driven by Mrs. James Ivetich and'John Dierkes, of this city, collided at about 10:30 o'clock this morning on West Monroe street, near the Thirteenth street intersection. Dierkes was driving east and Mrs. Ivetich was driving west. The cars were damaged to some extent, but neither of the occupants was injured. Dierkes had his car insured against accidents. —: o Junior Band To Give Regular Concert Tonight The following program will be given by the Junior Band, beginning at eight o’clock this evening on Liberty Way. March. Booster Club —Beyer Ovet tut e. Fraternity—Mackie Waltz, Spanish—Fredman Lullaby, Wild Irish Rose—Olcott Ovet titre—Bennett Serenade, Idle Fancy Bennett Intermezzo, Fairyland—Beyer March, Call To Arms Mackie Star Spangled. Banner—Key. ■ 0 Carload Os New Oats Shipped From Berne Berne. August 2 (Special)—A car load of new oats, the first shipped out of Berne this season, left town Wednesday. The car contained 2,2(10 bush els. Ixtcal grain dealers are paying 32 cents per bushel for the oats.

Price Two Cents

STATE TAX BOARD INCREASES VALUE HERESI,II4.B6O Assessments On Improvements Boosted In All Taxing Unites In County SMALL INI REASE ON LANDS ORDERED The state board of tax commissioners has ordered increases in the assessments on lands and ! improvements in the various j taxing units of Adams county, totaling approximately $1,174,1860. The increases ordered by the state board are: Berne 30 per cent on improvements. increase equal to $229,570. Decatur 10 per cent on improvej ments, increase equal to $274,370. Monroe, 10 per cent on improve- ] ments, increase equal to $11,950. Geneva, 10 per cent on improvements, increase equal to $23,740. All 12 townships, 4 per cent on lands, increase equal to $523,840. All 12 townships, 4 per cent on ihiprovements, increase equal to slll,390. Ordered to Meet Aug. 7 The state board of tax commissioners ordered the Adams county board of review to meet in special session Tuesday, August 7, for the purpose ' of considering the increases and niaki ing the adjustments. The board will | be called into special session, Martin Jaberg, county auditor, stated and 1 1 action adopting the increases or rejecting the order will be taken at the meeting. Mr. Jaberg was ordered to notify the state board by August 13 of the uetion of the eotmfy board of review. l ! Mr. Jaberg got in touch with Mr. ■ Brown, chairman of the state board, , this morning and suggested that if the local county board of review was willing to abide by the state order, that the board be permitted to increase tlie improvements on farm lands 20 per cent and thus omit the 4 per cent increase on farm lands. This would eliminate about half of the work. Mr. Jaberg stated. Mr. Brown agreed to the change, providing tlie change increased the assessments about the same amount. Mr. Jaberg lias figured out that the 20 per cent increase on farm improvements will yield about the same in- < t ease. The assessed value on farm lands is $13,202,150. Tlie 4 per cent increase would increase this $523,840. The assessed valuation on farm improvements is $3,393,040. Action Not Known What action the local board of review will take in tlie matter is not (COXTiNi i:n oiv »•<«;« two; 0 — SMITH AND PEEK HOLD CONFERENCE Nominee Would Discuss Farm Problem With Men of Both Parties If Elected By Thomas L. Stokes (U. Staff Correspondent) New York. Aug 2 —(U.R) Such Republican leaders as former Governor Lowden of Illinois, as well as Democrats who have studied the farm problem. will lie called in to discuss the agricultural situation with Governor Alfred E. Smith, if he is elected president, The Governor said today 1 ; after a conference with George N. Peek, chairman of the corn belt committee. _*o Another Pays Fine For Keeping A Slot Machine Jess Rice, proprietor of the Rice hotel in this city, appearetj in mayor’s court last night and pleaded guilty to keeping a gambling device, commonly known as a slot machine in his place of business. He was fined $25 and costs amounting to $35, which he paid. Mr. Rice was one of seven persons arrested in Decatur for keeping a slot machine. Mayor George Krick, who heard the case, also ordered the slot machines destroyed and it will be 'he ' duty of Sheriff Harl Hollingsworth to destroy the devices when the ten dav ■ limit expires. It was stated that the money in the slot maeliines would be - tourned over to the owners of the machines or to those places from which the machines were taken. Sheriff Hollingsworth now has the machines.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY