Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 26, Number 301, Decatur, Adams County, 21 December 1928 — Page 1

WEATHER Mostly unsettled W | t h local snow tonight and Saturday. , lowly rlalno te,T'Pmature.

COOLIDGE

death threat HANGING OVER RANIERI TRIAL Judge, State Witnesses, Prosecutors And Police Officials Threatened BLACK HANI) DEMANDS THAT TRIAL CEASE Chicago, Dec. 21 —(U.R) —The black hand threat of impending death hung over the Ranieri kidnaping trial today. The judge, star witnesses of the lata, prosecuting attorneys and police officials, all have been warned that death will result if they go ahead with the trial of three Italians, charged with kidnapping Billy Ranieri and dem indlng 160,000 ransom. Frank Ranieri, father of Billy, was warned today that his home would be bmnbttl Saturday night unless the prosecution is stopped. This latest warning, one of many that Ranieri ha t received since the tiial started, was mailed to the Ranieri home and telephoned to Ranieri, who is staying at a Loop hotel, guarded by several policemen. Judge Threatened Again Judge Robert Genzel, presiding at the trial, received another crudely printed note through the mail telling him "yon are too late. You are to die. Quit our case." Ten important witnesses for the state have fled the city or are in hiding because they heard threatening whispers that bombs would be tossed into their homes or their children kidnapped if they aided prosecuting Angelo Petitti, accused as the head of an extortion ring and on trial for the kidnaping of Billy. Two assistant state’s attorneys have sent their wives and families out of Chicago until the trial is over. .They have taken rooms in dtrotrtown-hwteK with police guards always on duty. Both were warned that to prosecute the three Italians would mean death. Geneva Man Fined In City Court Here Today James Nelson who resides near Geneva, was fined SIOO and costs and sentenced to serve thirty days in jail when he pleaded guilty in city court this afternoon to a charge of violating the prohibition law. The jail sentence s was suspended. Judge J. T. Merryman rerved as special judge in the case, after the defendant’s motion for a change of venue from the judge was sustained by Mayor Krick. Nelson was attested by Sheriff Harl Hollingsworth recently, following a raid on the farm where Nelson resides. A quanitty of moonshine whiskey was confisOjted. Baby Is Killed When Automobile Hits Bridge Richmond, Ind., De. 21.—(U.R) -The young baby of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Mohler, Logan, 0., was killed instantly and six other persons were slightly injured near here today when the automobile in which they were riding, struck a bridge abutment. The injured, the baby's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roland Nutter, their young child of Boonevi.le, Ind., and another chi’d were taken to a local hospital where attendants said their condition was not serious. RESTRAINS YOUTH FROM DRIVING CAR Court Also Fines Berne Young Man For Failing To Report Auto Accident Henry Ehrsam, 20, of Berne, was fined SIOO and costs and restrained from operating a motor vehicle for a period of four months from date, late Thursday afternoon, after he had entered a plea of guilty before Judge Jesse C. Sutton, in the Adams circuit court, to a charge of failure to report an automobile accident. Ehrsam was driving an automobile which struck and fatally injured Mis. Ben Sprunger, 51, prominent Beim woman, as she was crossing a street near the Mennonite church in Berne on Sunday evening. October 14. He failed to stop and report the accident to proper authorities, but instead drove to Celina, Ohio, where he and his companions, three Berne young men, attended a dance,

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXVI. No. 301.

Two More Health Bonds l( Are Purchased In City IJ ■ Two more antituberculosis health bonds have been purchased here, w Guy Brown, chairman cf the Christmas Seal sale in Adams county, announced toda y. , Five dollar bonds k were purchased by the Psi lota Xi sorority and Hie Moose lodge. The sale of Christinas Seals is progressing nicely, also. < CLAIM HARNESS AT WR.SON FARM! — Alleged To Have Bid In 1 Harness At Sale But Fail- 1 ed To Pav For It 1 A double set of work harness, in- ( eluding the horse collars, which was i fount] at the home of R. L. Wilson, I Adams county farmer residing east of l Decatur, was identified today as a set I that was sold at the Hubert Breuchy 1 farm sale north of Berne last April or May, but never paid for. The purchaser is said to have given the name of R. 1.. Wilson, of Jay county, to the sale clerk, but proceeded to remove the harness from the premises without sett ing for the same. The harness was bid in at the sale for $54. Walter Ryf and Amos Neuenschwander, the latter town marshal at Berne, accompanied Sheriff Harl Hollingsworth to the Wilson farm today and identified the harness. Mr. Breuchy now resides at Canton, Ohio. Wilson was arrested early this week and later sentenced at Bluffton to serve six months on the penal farm, after pleading gui.ty to a charge of petit larceny, in connection with the theft of several chickens from a farm in Wells county. Wilson admitted that he bid the chickens in at th* sale, but removed them from the premises without settling for tlieni and without giving his correct name to the sale clerk. So far, two cows, a calf, the harness and nearly a hundred chickens found on Wilson’s farm have been identified as property which he had bid in at public sa.es, and hauled away without making a settlement. It was said today that if Wilson pays for the harness, no charge will be filed against him heie. The harness was taken to the county jail by Sheriff Hollingsworth, to be held until Wilson has been questioned in regard to the matter. o — Local Interference Mars Radio Reception Radio fans in all parts of the city complained today' ol strong local interference iast night and today. The interference appears to be strongest I in the north part of the city, and is worse today than it was last night. In some places, it is impossible to tune in even the strongest stations through the interference. .So tar, the troub.e lias not been located. Christinas Program To Be Given At M. E. Church A Christmas program will be given at the Methodist church, Sunday evening, at 7 o'clock. A two part cantata, entitled. ’The Redeemer of the World, and a playlet, "The Nativity,” will be given In connection with the cantata and playlet, the White Christinas will be observed, in which each c.ass will present canned fruit to be given to the needy people. Fire Damages Residence At Geneva This Morning Geneva, Dec. 21.— (Special)—A fire at the residence of Kenneth Shoemaker at 7 o’clock this morning caused only a few dollars damage before it was extinguished by the Geneva fire department. The fire started from a defective chimney between the ceiling and roof of the kitchen. Fireproof shingles on the roof prevented the fire from breaking out. Members Os The GOOD FELLOWS CLUB Os Decatur Previous total ... ...$218.88 Beta Sigma Alpha Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schafer 2.00 _ $225.36 T "“' ®

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

National And | ut«*rnMih ll «Ml Nrwa

SIGNS BOULDER DAM DILL

SAYS DECATUR MERITS LOWER INSURANCERATE Superintendent Os City Water Works Urges Action To Obtain Reduction SPEAKS AT MEETING OF ROTARY CLUB Orval Harruft superintendent of (he water department of the city plant, in an address before the Rotary Club last evening, expressed the opinion that, in view of the modern facilities, the well equipped fire •department and an ample water supply. Decatur should lie given a lower basic fire insurance rate. Mr. Hariuff. after enumerating what fire fighting facilities Decatur had, remarked, “We are paying the same rate o,f fire insurance premium as has been charged in this city for the past many years and it seems to me that we. witli all these added facilities, should be entitled to a reduction of rates. As a suggestion, this might be one of tlie objectives ol' our commercial organizations or clubs and by so presenting this condition to the Indiana Inspection Bureau, you might render further service to your community by receiving sonic financial returns for these invest ments." _ Municipal Plant Profitable Tlie water superintendent gave an instructive talk and brought out what the city plant, municipally owned, meant to the community'. He said, "our plant, as you all know, is a municipally owned plant and Hie profits at the present are used for the interest on bonds, operating expenses, depreciation reserve, the retiring of onds and improvement of the plant and distribution system.” Speaking on a privately owned plant, he said “wtfh the privately owned plant there are certain items of expense which enter into tlie cost of service to the public, such as large sums paid to executives in distant cities, tlie retaining of legal counsel, values of cost of original plants which are constantly being adjudged upwardly in the terms of present values, all of which must enter into the rates paid by the consumer in addition to tlie actual cost of operation and maintainence of either plants. In addition to those itbms. there must be a fair return on the invest-

(CONTIMEI) ON PAGE FIGHT* PLAN TO PREVENT RIVER DREDGING Bluffton City Council Plans Steps To Kill Wabash River Petition Bluffton, Dec. 21—(U.KI—Definite 1 —Definite action toward preventing the dredging of the Wabash rive rfrom a point in Ohio the Wabash river from a point in Ohio ty is expected to result from a spirited discussion of the matter by local citizens and officials during the last few days. G. T. Markley and O. E. Lesli, members of the city council, stated today that they were cf the opinion th it dredging of the river as stated would be a serious menace not only to property in the eastern section of the city I but would be a hazard to tlie city's municipal light and water plant. Since tlie dredging of the Six Mile creek, which empties into tlie Wabash river east of this city about two miles it has been noticed that the river rises more rapidly here, and last spring, the high water camb very close to the municipal plant. Last March-, when the guage under the Main street bridge showed water at 10.075 foot level, an engineer from the weather bureau was here and he figured that at that time 6390 cubic feet of water passe dunder the bridge per second and that the velocity was 3,678 feet per second. The 11-foot mark at the bridge is flood stage When the water gets to that level it overflows the river hanks and inundates the lowlands east of the city. Residents have seen the river at this stage on several occaosions and can readily imagine what will happen if an aditional wall of water is dumped into the stream above here. Members of the city council, who were among others discussing the situation today, agreed that it would be be a wise plan to have the city attorney, John Decker, investigate and see how far the drainage petition had pro- ( CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT)

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, December 21, 1928.

In Cabinet Scandal F ■ ri- M I Ji * fibfc ■ Lucien L. Klotz (above) ex-finance minister in cabinet of former Premier Clemenceau of France, who is charged witli passing worthless cheeks amounting to millions of francs. He recently resigned from the French senate. (International Newsreel)

FINU NO TRACE OF BANK BANDITS More Than $25,000 Taken In Clinton Holdup, Check-up Shows Clinton, Ind., Dee. 21—<U.R>—An incomplete check-up by bank officials revealed that the five bandits who robbed the First National bank here ami escaped, obtained more than s2s,()<>o. Three of the bandits entered the building while two were left outside. Several customers and batik employ ees were forced into a back room and made to lie face down on the ft > r ; while the men went liesurely about their woik of scooping up the cash. • Police throughout tlie state lui"» been notified to tie on the lookout for , the men. said to have been driving a i large black touring automobile. Bandit Car Believed Found Danville, Jud., Dec. 21 'U.R)' — Au- > tho;Ries today continued their search • for three bandits who attempted to i rob the Danville state bank here The bandits escaped after engaging ■ in a pitched battle with Raymond I’ier- • cy, 30 bookkeeper, without obtaining

any loot. Piercy, who was in the rear of the bank, obtained a revolver and started firing. The bandits returned the fire for a while and then made their escape An automobile believed to belong to the bandits, was found wrecked near Clayton, Ind. SI .700 PAYROLL TAKENINHOLDUP Youthful Bandit Robs Two Messengers At Indianapolis This Morning Indianapolis, Dec. 21. .U.R) —Staging a payroll robbery near tlie city hall today, a youthful bandit escaped with tlie $1,700 payroll of a local printing company, which lie obtained from Iwo employes of the concern. While scores of early morning shoppers bustled near the scene, I lie two messengers felt a stiff poke in tlie back, muttered command to "keep walking, I'.l shoot if you cry out or disobey,” and were marched into an alley half a block away, where the robbery occurred.

Near Riot Occurs In Oriental Restaurant South Bend, Ind., Dec. 21—(U.R)- A 1 dispute between four white persons ’ and a Chinese waiter in an oriental restaurant here last night sent cue of the patrons and tlie waiter to the hos- ’ pital witli bullet wounds. 1 Zade Ollie, 36, Plymouth, Indiana, : restaurant proprietor, is the wounded 1 patron. He is in a serious c ndition ' witli a bullet in his abdomen. He was ' one of a party of two men and Iwo w- ' men who offered Earl Yung 3!) a $3.St) 3 check in payment for a meal. Yung re--1 fused the check, and a fight ensued ’ that involved tlie entire corps of Chinese waiters. Police report that Yung 3 shot Ollie, and then in the scuffle, fir- ’ ed a bullet into his own left foot. 8 The scene outside the restaurant as- " ter the shooting resembled a small*iot B for a few minutes with whites and or- ’■ ientals hurling chairs ami floundering in the snow.

SEVEN DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO COLD IN MIDWEST — Lo w Temperatures And Blizzards Strike Several States NEW COLD RECORD FOR PRESENT SEASON Clicago. Den 21. — (U.R)- Seven] deaths were attributed to low temper-1 attires and blizzards In the midwest today. Near Munica. Mich., Norman Campbel. Stephen Ix-igliton un<V Ralph Doolittle. Albian College students, perished when their automobile left the road in a snow storm and turned , over in a ditch. They were on their way home •lor Christmas vacation. St. Paul reported two deaths, Nich--1 olas Haynes, who dropped dead from cold and exhaustion while shoveling 1 snow, and Mrs. James Blckinson. !. who was run down by an automobile

while gi ping her way across the street through a blizzard. in Chicago Miss Mary Klingenberg set her house afire while trying to keep out the cold and was smothered to death in her bed room before firemen aould rescue her. Air Mail Flier Killed Leo J. McGinn, flying tlie airmail route between Cleveland ami Chicago was killed when a blizzard struck down his airplane while he was flying over the village of Huron, O. From through)! "AtJ the midwest came reports of zero or subzero tern peratures. in Chicago the moist end of your clgaret froze between puff's in the bitter cold wind that blew in off lAike Michigan. Snow and forecasts of snow before Christmas were reported from lowa. Kansas, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan pud Ohio. Temperature Drops In Indiana Indianapolis, Dec. 21. (U.R) Indiana today was in tlie grip of the i coldest weather witnessed so far this season. Following in the footsteps of spring-like weather, tlie temperature dropped steadily since yesterday to ■ reach a new low mark of eight de1 grees above zero early today. 1 Predictions for today was urtsettled with perhaps some snow. : Somewhat cloudy witli probably • snow flurries was forecast for the : state tomorrow.

o < LOWER RITES TO BE HELD SATURDAY Body Os The Rev. J. W. Lower To Be Returned Here For Burial Funeral services for the Rev. J. W. Lower, 76, former Adams county resident, who died of heart trouble at his home in Warsaw Wednesday night, will be held at the United Brethren church in Warsaw at 10:30 o'clock Saturday morning. Following the funeral services, the body will be brought to Decatur for interment. Tlie funeral party is expected to reach Decatur about 3:30 o'clock and the casket will be opened at the Decatur cemetery, in order that friends and relatives may view the remains. Rev. Lower died at 11:45 o’clock 1 Wednesday night. He was stricken on- ' ly thirty minutes previous to his death. ' He had pleached tlie funeral service of ' Richard Hayward at Warsaw, Wednesi day afternoon. John Wesley Lower was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, August 2,

1852; died in Warsaw, December 19, 1928. He came to Indiana witli his parents when in his youth located in Adams county. He acquired his early education in tlie district schools and Butler high school. After finishing high school, he took up tlie profession cf teaching, which he followed only a short time. Feeling a call to enter tlie ministry, he entereil Otterbein University and later took his theological training at Union Biblical Seminary at Dayton. Ohio, now known as Bonebrake Seminary. Ordained in 1882 He was graduated from the seminary in 1881, having completed the full course. He was ordained in 1882 by Bishop J. J. Olossbrenner. His first pastorate was at Dunkirk, Ohio, and lie served the following charges in Auglaize conference: Dunkirk, Lockington, St. Marys, Fort Wayne, Saratoga and Sidney. He also served for six years as presiding elder r ... .a-.—,— -— - . (CONTKM'EU ON PAGE EIGHT)

I'lirnlahrd 11/ lulled l’r>-»

Winter Arrives, Both Officially And In Fact; Mercurv Dips To 3 Above ! Today was the first official day I of winter, and it wasn’t difficult for Mr. Public to believe it. AcI cording to the calendar. December 21 is the first day of winter, and also is the shortest day of the year. The sun rose this morning I at 7:03 and was scheduled to sink I below the horizon at 4:16 o’clock this evening. Street therometers In Decatur registered as low u three degrees i above zero this morning, the cold- I J est weather of the present season. , | PAGEANT TO BE GIVEN BY CHURCH “The Light Os The World” To Be Given At Evangelical Church Sundav * A pageant, entitled, "The Light of

the World,” by H. Augustine Smith, will be presented at the First Evan gelical church Sunday evening, beginning at 7 o’clock. Approximately 100 persons will appear in the cast. The pageant is especially adapted for the Christmas season. There are five scenes to lhe pageant. as follows: ‘‘Prophecy of the coming of the Messiah; The manger of Bethelehem;” “Vision of Isaiah;’’ “Tlie Light from Bethlehem spreads into all the World,” and ‘‘Consecration and Coronation.” The personnel of tlie east, in the order of the appearance of the characters, is as follows: Pianist —Mrs. Francis Eady. Quartet—Mrs. Eugene Runyon, Mrs. Henry Adler, Ernest Foreman. Orval Harruff. Trumpeter—Fred Stauffer. Ohl Testament Prophets—Ed Macy. C. E. Hocker, Jesse Tricker i Three Kings — Fred Engle. Junies Darr, Wm. Ruekman. Kings attendants — Fred Harman, Fred Chronister, Coy Martz. Five slieplieids L. A. Harman, Wm. Meyers, M. N. Schnitz, Earl Butler, Charlea Knodle. Madonna—Mildred Llddy. Attending Angles — Vivian Lineh, Mary Engle, Ruth Hammond , Spirit of Christianity —Esther Sunil- , ertnan. Education —Mrs. Robert Garard. /a— MnLlAoo I? fin Aoanutitrh

Grecian Maidens — Etta Anspaugtl, Martha Erma Butler, Madeline 1 Spain', Thelma Darr, Leona Smith, Martha Jane Linn, Mary Marguite Meyers, Mildred Gause, Helen Gay, Helen Becher, Katherine Brown. The Church —Mary Macy Crusaders —Dick Engle, Marion Hare, Geo. Roop. First Ambassador Elmer Ansuagh. Second Ambsaddor —Mrs. Bessie Koos. Third Ambassador—Mrs. Orval liarruff. Fourth Ambassador—Paul Spitler. Fifth Ambassador—Eugene Runyon. Sixth Ambassador—Cleora Baker. Seventh Ambassador Mrs. C. E. Hocker. Bible Group — Edward Martz, Carl Buffenbarger, James Klingenpeel, Charles Swaggard. A group of happy children. Burdened Souls Mrs Esther McConnell, Mrs. Francis Graber. Mrs. Alta Smith, Mrs, Edna Sheets, Mrs. Glen Barkley, Mrs. Ralph Gentls. Religious Teachers - Harland Jackson, Dorothy Spuller, Melvina Smitley. Business Men Dwight Sheets, Win. Linn, F. L. Becker, Ralph Gentis. H. 11. Foreman. National Group Marsha Oler, Violet 1 Squire, Arline Recker, Gladys ’ Cook.

Internationa'. Group Mrs. Charles Knodle, Mrs. Frank Butler, Mrs. Alva Buffenbarger, Mrs. Fred Engle, Mrs. Tom Cook, Mrs. Esta J Liddy, Mrs. Wm. Meyers, Mrs. i Anna Adler. 1 Stage Craft committee—Henry Adler, i Eai 1 Buffenbarger. Workman Injured At Packing Plant Thursday John Richert, who is employed nt the plant of the Mutschler Packing . company in this city, sustained painful but not serious injuries Thursday while unloading coal at tlie packing plant. The coal was being taken from ' the bottom of the hopper car with the ’ coal unloading machine. When it fail- ' ed to feed through, Richert climbed ( onto tlie car and broke tlie frozen ’ crust. As it broke, he fell into tlie ea--1 vlty beneath, sustaining injuries about his head.

Price Two Cents

CONSTRUCTION OF DAM ON COLORADO RIVER IS ASSURED Measure Carrying $165,000.900 Appropriation Becomes A Law EIGHT-YEAR FIGHT IN CONGRESS ENDS Washington, Dee. 21. (UP.) — i President Coolidge signed lhe j Boulder Dani hill nt 10:20 | o'c lock today. With that act the famous incisure earning $16.5.000.000 I became a law and a giant dam : will lx- constructed on lhe Coloi i’tido to water the vallevs of the Jar southwest, control floods and create power, The bill provides for construction of a 550-foot dam at either Black or Boulder Canyon in the Colorado river as an irrigation, flood control and f hydro-electric project.

Long Fight Is Ended S gnature of the bill by President Coolidge ends a fight which has proceeded in congress for eight years. Arizona has been the principal opponent of the legislation claiming that California would receive more than a fair share of the benefits at tho expense of states further up the river. The secretary of interior is given authority to build the dam after the elapse of six months if contracts are obtained for sale of water and hydroelectric power rights and provided six of the seven interested states ratify 'he Colorado river compact for distribution of water. The financial plan upon which the bhl is based is that sale of water for irrigation and domestic use and of hydroelectric water power or of water power rights will pay the entire wst of the project. The authorized cost is 11(15,000,000. Including the dam. hydro-electric plant and all-American canal, which will carry water into California. City Teachers Give SSO In Gold To Mr. Worth man The teachers of the Decatur public school system showed their appreciation of services and kindness rendered during the past year by Superintenden of Schoo s M. F. Worthman, when they presented lilm with |sl) in

gold today. o Man (Jets Marriage Annuled Because Wife Lied About Her Age Fort Wayne. Dec. 21. —<U.R)—Homer D. Frank.in has obtained in Allen superior court here an annulment of his marriage to Rose C. Gerline last June, because she said she was 26 years old at the time of the marriage in fact she was 45. ♦ o Pneumonia Ano Flu Take Toll At Anderson Anderson, Ind., Dec. 21. — <U.R> — Twenty-four pel sons have died here in the last three weeks from intluenza and pneumonia, Dr. K. M. Conrad, city health officer, has reported. JOHN W. KELLY DIES AT GENEVA Retired Hardware Merchant Dies At Age Os 80 Years; w-w 1 ft 1 1

Funeral Saturday Geneva, Ind., Dec. 21. (Special) — John W. Kelly. 80, retired hardware merchant of Geneva, died at his home here, Wednesday night, December 19, 1928. death being due to infirmities. The deceased was born February 13, 1848 in Zanesville, Ohio, lie moved to Geneva April 12. 187 G. and for a period of 45 years was actively engaged in the hardware business Surviving are the widow'. Mary A. Kelly, and two children, James 11. Kelly and Miss Ella A. Kelly, both residing at home. One brother, James Kelly, aged 85 years, resides at Science Hill, Kentucky. Mrs. James Arnold, of Decatur, is a niece of the deceased. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 o’clock Saturday moving, at the St. Marys Catholic church. 8 miles east of Geneva. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY