Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 26, Number 223, Decatur, Adams County, 20 September 1928 — Page 1

I WEATHER p-rtly cloudy *o 4 l»udy ton.flbt .nd cHday- Shower Fri'north*..* pora.’—' " a centra 1 ’ _____

BERNE PEOPLE KILLED IN HURRICANE

I Toll Os r lortda Hurricane Grows; Now Estimated At 500

ONE ESTIMATE PLACES NUMBER OF DEAD AT 800 Survey Shows Approximately 12,000 Families Without Shelter DISEASE THREATENS MANY WHO SURVIVED Miami, Fla.. Sept. 20.-(U.R)-The number of dead in Florida's hurricane-swept area was estimated al .>OO b>j Dr. A. Ziebold, field director of Miami’s relief work, today. West Palm Beach, Fla., Sept. 20 (y|>) A complete survey of the hurri-cane-stricken area around Okeechobee and Miami Lock has revealed that there are about 800 dead. The trip through the section was made by C. Howard Rowton, state adjutant of the American Legion, accompanied by a United Press correspondent. Estimates 800 Killed Dr J. W. Buch, post commander o[ the American Legion at Bel’.eglade. furnished the estimate of 800 dead and said the devastated area covered about 65 square miles. Adjutant General Vivian Collins of Florida, after a survey of Palm Beach | county estimated today the number of shelterless citizens of the twin cities at 8,000 and refugees from the west and south at 4.000. He said that “probably 350” persons perished in this county alone. An unofficial estimate reported by W. R Stuckey, stationed at Pahokee, placed casualties as follows: Pahokee white 35. negro 75; Creamer Island. 8 negroes; Torry Island, whites 10, negroes 6: Miami Locks, white 40. negroes 60; Belleglade, whites 50, negroes 150. J L. Hutchinson of the sugar project in the Glades, after a hurried survey, said he estimated that at least seventy .percent of those who remained at their homes before and during the storm, with exception of Pahokee, were dead'. Disease Is Feared Today disease threatens those who remain at Pahokee and women and ch'ldren will be removed. Fred Stuckey of the Palm Beach Red Cross Post, accompanied by Charles Barheld, W. G. Long of Pahokee and Boatswain Gates of the coast guard, brought back a story of appalling destruction and death and threaten’d epidemics. lake Okeechobee’s waters overhead thousands of acres of land, i e overflow had lieen subsiding ar v today with the water flowing a< into the lake, hut this recession was checked. Scores of negroes, it is known, livalong the dlke ridge between Pa . kee a nil Belleglade. The few that >ve faced distressing conditions, te „ WaS a thr| ving farm cen°w there is no building or home •cnvHV’ '‘2 SCCIDENTALSHOT FATALTO WOMAN Mrs. Harry Priest, 46, Os ear Portland, Accidentally Killed By Brother for Mr" ll u KePI 20—Pun eral services accidental! ar , ry Priest ’ 46 > who was "ear he, m S ' Ot t 0 death at her home «r. ii iri *. “ esday ni sht by her broth*ere t.'s y J arrison of Arcanum. 0., O’clock" :? el “ this afternoon at 2 Ha-,-t th< * Pleasant drove church, was test" 1 ' W * 1 ° ‘ s a n * g ht watchman. Prie s h'" B a " ew solver at the red. R«r le w,len accident occurbeen fired* V' 8 shat aH buHcts hatl Pointed tn r ° m tbe gun ’ Harrison and pulled' ? eapon toward the house to'"et went thr ,ri l ge r° ra teßt ' A the house ough the open door of the left lßtruck Mrs - Priest in and died wt U ,h< er ’ She fell to * he floor Th to* wt 'hln a f ew minuteß of accident C ° rOner fi,ed a ver(lict *lth Harr death 'Mr. Priest was ,he revolver" 1 *^ 111 . 1 ® h ® Was testlnK en over tt Harrison is grief-strick-the tragedy.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Vol. XXVI. No. 223.

Island Relief Head [ w i i$ * t . J 7 *■■■ i ■ I 1 w J! Vw*’ I I JU Brigadier-General Hugh A. Drum, commander of First Division, Ft. Hamilton, N. Y„ who has been ordered to take charge of relief work in Porto Rico. He will sail on S. S. Bridge with cargo of Red Cross su.pp.ies. johnTparkeF TO SPEAK HERE Democrats To Open Campaign In Adams County On Friday, October 5 B. F. Roller, well known local attorney and known among his acquaintances as "Doc", is acting as secretary for the Democratic county committee and v&ilors are welcome. The pole is being taken this week and all details arranged for thg campaign. which will open formally in this city on.the evening of Friday, October 5. with Hon. John M. Parker, former governor of Louisana and one of the greatest figures in American politics, as the speaker. Arrangements are also being made for speeches in other parts of the county and there will be plenty of it during October. J. H. Heller is also assisting at headquarters during the absence of his son, Dick, the county chairman, who is working at state headquarters. o Pleasant Mills Church To Hold A Home-coming A delightful piogram has been arranged for the home-coming to bd held at the Pleasant .Mills Methodist church next Sunday, September 23. The regular morning service will be held, followed by a basket dinner at the noon hour. The afternoon program will begin at 2 o’clock. A feature of the home-coming service will be the burning of the church note, all indebtedness on the church having been paid. A welcome is extended to all former members of the church and to the publie in general to attend the services. The Rev. A. E. Burk is pastor of the church Radio Installed At Democratic Headquarters Milton Werling has installed an RCA super-hetrodyne radiola in Democratic headquarters and, each evening, it is being enjoyed by those who drop in. The Oklahoma speech of Governor Smith, to be delivered this evening at 8:30 o’clock will be heard and those who desire to hear It will be welcome. Come up any time, is the invitation issued by those in charge. —o North Tenth Street Opened To Light Traffic North Tenth street, which has been improved with Kentucky Rock, has lieen opened to light traffic. Automobiles may travel over the street, but horses and tractors are forbidden on the street until the surface of the road is firmly set. The street was improved by Macklin and Zehr, local contractors, who had several other road improvements in this city this summer. Quaker Minister Killed Carmel, Ind., Sept. 20 —<U.R) — The Bev. Orla Smith, 55, Quaker minister, is dead of injuties sustained here when struck by an automobile driven by Miss Viola Jones, of Bridgeport, Illinois. Miss Jones was enroute with her father to Gas City, Indiana where they had been called by the death of a relative. xJUH

Mate, National And International Newn

ALLEGED MURDER FARM OPERATOR HELD IN CANADA Authorities Plan To Bring (Jordon Northcott Back To Los Angeles NORTHCOTT DENIES CHARGES OF CRIME j I Los Angeles, Sept. 20.— <tKß>— With Gordon Stuart Northcott I under arrest in Canada as the I suspected murderer of four or more boys on a ranch near Biverside, authorities mapped plans today to bring him back to California. Four prominent Los Angeles scientists have announced that bits of hone and blood soaked earth found on the Northcott chicken farm undoubtedly were from the bodies of two boys. > The statement helped substantiate the story of Sanford Clark, who charged that Northcott was responsible for the murders of at least four boys. New Development In Case The scientists who helped in the InvestigiUion were Rex Welch, city chemist; J. Clark Sellers, criminologist; Professor J. W. Lytle, paleontologist at the Los Angeles museum, and William A. Bryan, museum director. A new development came with the confession of a youth returned to Los Angeles from DeKalb. HL, that he was not Walter Collins, kidnapped son of u San Quentin convict, as he had pretended to be. “I do not know who I am,” the lad said. "But I know I am not Walter Collins.” The mother of the real Walter had refused to accept the boy, but others had expressed belief that his claims to be Collins were genuine. Clark had intimated that Walter was one of the victims of Northcott. Northcott and his mother, who were arrested at Calgary, Alta., probably will be taken to Vancouver, B. C., to await extradition to California. Both admitted their identities. Northcott denied any connection wit it the Riverside crimes. G. A. R. VETERANS IN CONVENTION Plan To Elect Officers Today After Five Days Os Play At Denver Denver, Colo., Sept. 20. —(U.R)— Turning to business after five days of play, the Grand Army of the Republic prepared today to elect national officers and sound the retreat call. Easy chairs and dippers backhome were a bright prospect for tired veterans after miles of marching in parade formation yesterday. Rumbles of inter-council strife over federal pension measures were quieted today. Little remained to be done except routine business. Col. Scott reported that $69,683,556 had been paid to Civil war veterans last year, and $79,958,659 to widows of veterans. A total of 79,929 Union veterans still are alive, Scott said. John Rees, Broken Bow, Neb., and Samuel P. Town, Philadelphia, will test their voting strength in a central assembly of the encampment. Town appeared early today to be virtually assured of election as com-mander-in-chief, although Rees was gathering additional following. Civil war songs were In abundance at the annual camp fire ceremonial of the organization last night. The Betsy Ross quartet of Canton, Ohio, and Cotton Blossom Singers from Piney Woods, Miss., gave the veter-. ans the songs they wanted to hear for more than an hour. o Body Is Identified IndianapoCis, SplpL 20. —(U.R) —The body of a man, allegedly slain, found in White river near here Sunday, was identified today as that of Harry Linfert, 56, of Cincinnati, Ohio, by his brothers, George and Frank LinleTt, of Cincinnati.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, September 2(1, 1928.

Dr. Stratton To Have Seat On Platform With Governor Smith Tonight Oklahoma City, Okla. Sept 20 — (U.R) —Possibility of a dramatic climax 13 Gov. Alf.ed E. Smith’s speech which begins here at 8:30 P. M. central standard time tonight was seen when it was announced that a place had been reserved on lhe platform for Dr. John Roach Stratton, Calvary Baptist pastor, of New York, who has been fighting the Democratic candidate. It was rumcred Stratton might challenge Smith from the platform. R ASKOB FAMILY IS THREATENED Blackmailer Demands SIOO,000 To Spare Life Os Smith's Manager Philadelphia, Sept. 20— (U.R)—An extortion plot against the family of John J. Raskob, manager of Gov. Alfred E. Smith's campaign for president. was disclosed in court today when the alleged blackmailer was arraigned. A letter Frank Mooney, of Philadelphia, is accused of sending to Mrs. Raskob, was placed in evidence in connection with charges of extortion against Mooney, former auditor of the Pennsylvania railroad. The letter contended the writer was responsible for the failure of an elevator in a New York hotel several weeks ago. when Raskob and a number of prominent Democrats were in a cage that fell several floors before it was stopped. Federal agents charged Mooney was arrested in the North Philadelphia while mailing a letter in which payment of $11)0,000 was deICONTINIED ON I’IUK WHKM —OMan Standing In Safety Zone Killed By An Auto Indianapolis. Sept. 20 —(U.R) —Daniel Dane. 55, was killed here when struck by an automobile while waiting for a street car. Dane was hulled twentyfive feet when hit by the car, which witnesses say sped across a safety zone at a high rate of speed. Everett King, 25, and Hazel Cochran, J 9. Were held by police. King, who said lie was drivet of tile car, was held ver or the car, was held on charges of manslaughter. 0 Relatives Os Decatur People Safe In Florida — Mrs. H. R- Tuttle, Winchester street has received a telegram announcing the safety of her brother. Arthur S. King, of West Palm Beach, Florida. Mr. King stated that he and ills family were safe, but that their home had been badly damaged. Mrs. L. W. Plagman, a sister of Mrs. Tuttle, is also reported safe at Miami. Florida. Mrs. Tuttle's mother. Mrs. M. ('. King lives at Titusville, Florida, No word has been received from her as yet, but it is not believed that Titusville is in the stricken area D. H. S. SENIORS HOLD ELECTION Harry Dailey Elected President Os Class; Miss McCrory Is Class Guardian rfarry Dailey was elected president of the senior class of Decatur high school, at a meeting of the class held this morning. He was president of the junior class last year. Other officers elected today include: Joe Krick, vicepresident; Isabel Hower, secretary, and Don Koos, treasurer. Miss Blanche McCrory, instructor of mathematics, was chosen class guarddian. ;Miss Mildred Kelley, instructor of History, English and Journalism, was chosen faculty advisor for the school annual, Ravelings, Miss Kelley will assist with the publication of the monthly issues of Ravelings, also. The other three classes have iK>t organized, but organization meetings will be held within the net few days. The seniors will hold another meeting next week to discuss finances and plans for Ravelings, class plays, parties and other affairs.

GREAT WELCOME GIVEN TO SMITH IN SOUTHWEST Cheering Throngs Greet Candidate At Oklahoma City; Speaks Tonight CURTIS’ HOME TOWN ( HEERS SMITH WILDLY Oklahoma City, Okla., Sept. 20 (U.R) I’lie southwest gave a tumultous welcome today to Allred 11. Smith and his brown derby. . ('.heel ing throngs greeted him as he stepped from his special train at It) A.M. alter the long southward journey from Omaha, anti along the streets of the city through which he headed a monster parade. Democrats from all 77 counties of the state and cities of nearby states were in the line of march. Governor Smith is ready to meet the "whispering campaign” against him in the second speech of his western tour tonight. To Discuss Religious Issue , As is his custom, lie lias picked, for a discussion of the charges about his religion and his personal life, the state in which it is reported the relig'ous issue lias becomo outstanding. He is expected to talk frankly and plainly. Smith will devote some attention to former Senator Robert L. Owen, who bolted to Herbert Hoover with a denunciation of Smith’s tammany affiliation, and John Roach Strati n. 4 York Baptist pastor. State tn Doubtful Class Democrtatic stptei leaders insisted on Smith making a personal appearance in the state to bolster up their forces. Republicans are making a strong bid and the state, regarded as Democratic in presidential elections, is decidedly in the "doubtful” class, with both sides claiming it. Harding carried it in 1920. Democrats carried it in 1908, 1912, 1916 and 1924 but not by overwhelming majorities. Oklahoma has 10 electorial votes. The Democratic candidate came into Oklahoma highly encouraged by the enthusiastic receptions accorded him titrough the corn belt. He was kept busy yesterday wavingliis brown <CONT«NVFI» «V TWO; PRISONER BUYS RELEASE FOR S3O Man Held At Capital Tells How He Bought Freedom From State Farm Indianapolis, Sept. 20 —(U.R) —Harry Hedley, 45, Indianapolis, held at the county jail as a fugitive, today told how he bought his release from the Indiana state farm at Putnamville, from a trusty employed in the office for S3O, of which he only paid $lO, tlie Indianapolis Times said today. The date of Hedley’s escape was after state farm officials and state charity board members had discovered more than a dozen other prisoners had escaped by alleged alteration of prison records. Alertness of Sergt. Thomas Bledsoe and Charles Quack, lead to Hedley's arrest here Wednesday. They saw a man on the street and knew lie had been sentenced to 60 days at the farm and fined SSO and costs on a driving while drunk charge at Greenfield. Ind., Aug. -13. Hedley was to be returned to the institution today to serve the remainder of his term. Superintendent Ralph Howard, of the farm, said lie would investigate immediately to discover the truths of his story that he bought his way out. Howard declared, however, that he believed Hedley’s story was untrue. "I believe Hedley escaped in the regular way without, bribery,” Howard said. “At the time of his escape we had discovered the escape of fifteen men by alleged alteration of recotds. "Five of the fifteen men have been returned, but we have not yet caught the trusty who changed the records permitting the escapes."

riirnlalied lb I lilted I’ri'HK

Our Mary’s Double j— MF "'I iWW'' K" :: ■ j w V / r ,/ /: V r y Z '• ’ No. it isn’t our own Mary from Hollywood. It is Miss Peggy Todd, 207% Alexandra street, Rochester, N. Y.. who frequently is mistaken for the famous movie star. Note the resemblance? ENROLLMENT IN SCHOOLS GIVEN Rural Public Grade Schools Os Adams County Have 2,107 Pupils Enrolled A total of 2.107 children are enrolled in the public elementary schools of Adams county, outside of Berne and Decatur, according to the reports made by the various teachers to Clifton E. Striker, county superintendent. This total does not include the pupils of the rural high schools or the rural parochial schools. Hartford township, with 543 pupils enrolled, has tlie largest enrollment of any of the townships. Preble township. witli only 74, has the smallest number. However, the parochial schools of Preble township have a large enrollment. Not all of the parochial school teachers have reported their enrollment to Mr. Striker. Following are tlie enrollment figures for each township and for each room, the name of the teacher indicating the room: Union: Paul Spuller, 29: Matte' Stevens, 19; Dorothy Spuller, 20; William Noll, 25. Root: Lois Fuhrman. 12; Dorothy Rabbitt. 12; Harve Haggard, 34; Electa Oliver, 38; May Jewell Falk, 14; Mary Suttles. 29. Preble: Edward Jaberg. 22; Milton Werling, 27; Edna Borne, 25. Kirkland: Margaret Geisel, 30; Dorothy Dilling. 29; Alton Corson, 20; Dolores Buckmaster, 25; William Griffith, 25; Berteline Zitnmerman, 36. Washington: Lloyd Bryan, 33; Pauline Steele. 23; Chalmer Edwards, 20; Mildred Coppess, 28; Beatrice Dettinger, 20. St. Marys: Bessie Carter, 24: Margaret Schneck, 31; 110 Johnson, 28; Evangeline Steele, 22; Myrtle Clements, 25; Elmer Ehrsam, 31. Blue Creek: A. C. Cook, 28; Beryl Merriman, 22; Magdeline Hirchy, 23; Myron Lehman, 22; H. M. Crownover, 42; Mary McCullough, 20. Monroe: Crystal Sells, 16; Mary Ann Habegger, 40; E. Snyder, 30; Eldon Sprunger, 46; Marguerite Lewellen, 17; Leo Strahm. 25; Neola Habegger. 33; Harry Johnson, 27; Francille Oliver, 24; Mardelle Hocker, 25; Sylvester Everhart, 28; Albert Coppess, 27. French: Mildred Sprunger, 26; Lester Reynolds, 15; Vaughn Schlagenhauf. 23; Agnes Biery, 27; R. M. (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) K. Os C. To Hold Election October 1 jEe annual election of officers of the Knights of Columbus will be held Monday, October 1, at the K. of C. hall The election was postponed from Sep tember 3 until next month. At the Oc tober meeting, a banquet will lie serv ed at 6:30 o’clock in the evening ant a piogram will be held later. Invita tions have been sent out by the loca council to all members and a good at tendance is desired. Reservations foi the banquet should be made early si that the committee In charge cat make arrangements.

Price Two Cents

' E. E. SCHLECHTER, WIFE AND FOUR CHILDREN KILLED Granddaughter, Visiting Them, Also Killed: Relatives Here And At Berne FIVE CHILDREN, NOT AT HOME, ESCAPE Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Schlechter, former Berne residents, and their four children, Erma, aged 16 years; Emma, aged 11; Esther, iiged 7; and John Daniel, aged 3; and a grand-daughter, a three-year-old daughter of Mrs. Dorothy Schlechter Mitchem, of Miami, Florida, were killed in the hurricane which swept across the southern part of Florida, early this week. Mrs. Mary Schlechter is a daughter of the Rev. Daniel Neuenschwander, a retired minister of Berne, and formerly lived in Adams county. She is a niece of John Selntg. of this city, and it was witli the Schlechter family that Mr. and Mrs. Sehug visited during their trip to Florida last winter. The Schlechter home was located in the Florida Everglades, just one mile from Lake Okeechobee, and near Chosen, Florida. Mr. Schlechter was a farmer in the Everglades. Relatives At Berne Notified A message announcing the sad news was received by relatives in Berne, from Alvin Schlechter. of High Point. North Carolina, who is a son of the victims, and who had, in turn, received his information and a request to come at once, from his two sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Mitchem, of Miami, Florida, and Miss Clara Schlechter, who was visiting with her sister in Miami at the time of the hurricane. Miss Ruth Schlechter, another daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Schlechter, is a nurse in training at tiie Lutheran hospital in Port Wayne. Walter Schlechter, a son, escaped deatli in the hurricane due to the fact that lie had gone to Noitli Dakota this summer, where is was working in the harvest fields. Father Lives At Berne Mrs. Schlechter, besides her five children and aged father, the Rev. Daniel Neuenschwander, is survived by tlie following sisters and brothers: Mrs. Grover W. Sprunger, Mrs. Martini Price, and Mrs. A. L. Tailman, of Berne; Mrs. J. A. Kunkle, of Lakeworth, Florida; and Calvin and Otto i Neuenschwander, of Sessenden, North Dakota. Mrs. J. A. Kunkle, who, together witli iter husband and three children, have been visiting her brothers in Ninth Dakota, are now enroute to Berne, being expected to arrive there sometime this evening. Tlie Kunklt* family escaped possible death in the hurricane by their absence from home. They had received no information as (COXTl'‘*'«n ON' IMGB TUOI FEW CONTRIBUTE TO RELIEF FUND 1 Appeal Made To Citizens Os Community To Help Victims Os Hurricane i i Officials of the Adams county chapter of the American Red Cross today issued an appeal to citizens of this , community to contribute at once to the fund being raised for ths relief of victims of the hurricane which struck Florida and Porto Rico a few days ’ ago. Only 8.63 had been donated to the ’ fund when the contribution boxes were opened this morning, although the boxes were placed in each of the three banks, the post office and the Daily Democrat office two days ago. Miss Annie E. Winnes, secretary of the local chapter, received the fo 1 - L lowing telegram this morning from John Barton Bayne, national chairtf man; “Wire tonight amount disaster d fund raised your chapter to date and 1. probable total you can pledge." The p- seriousness of the disaster grows with c- each report received from the stricken v- areas. id Following are the contributions a- made to date: al Mat Kirsch $5.00 t- Chester Brandyberry 01 ir Everett Sheets 01 io Clarence Beavers, 01 tn Friend 1.00 Annie E. Winnes 2.00

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY