Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 26, Number 302, Decatur, Adams County, 22 December 1928 — Page 1

WEATHER Mostly Air tonight jnd Sunday. Slight. i y warmer Sunday north and central oortlons.

CONGRESS ADJOURNS FOR HOLI

demands death FOR KIDNAPERS OF RANIERI BOY Another Black Hand heath Threat Is Received As Trial Nears Close PAT HER OF BOY RECEIVES THREAT Chicago, Dec. 22.— (U.Pj The kidnaping of Billy Ranieri was a "tor ,ifie drama" and the ‘‘arch criminals" who executed it must be pul to death for their crime, assistant State's Attorney John Huffman said today in a (losing argument before the jury which is trying two men and a boy for alleged participation in the plot Htbfman described the anguish suffered by Billy's mother while her 10-vear-old boy was held captive for 13 days las’ summer by extortionists wiio demanded $60,000 ransom for his return. “Even death is not severe enough for Andrew Capellano and Angelo Petitti," Huffman shouted at the climax of his argument. He made no mention of Capellano's 16-yerr-old son, who is a co-defendant with his father and Petitti. New Death Threat Received While the trial was nearing an end In Judge Robert Hentzel’s criminal court another death threat was added to the growing list of “b ack hand intimidations which have marked the case. “We will get you after we get Mike Di Vito," said an anoymous letter received by A. Frank Ranieri, father of the kidnaped boy. Di ' ito, a state s witness, had been named by Petitti as "the next man to die” after the murder this week of Ole Scully, who had been subpoenaed by the prosecution. Auto Carrying College Students Kills W oman Plymouth. Ind., Dec. 22.—(U.R'— Katherine Ladd, 45. Bourbon. Ind., was killed here today when struck by an automobile driven by Robert Winans, Fort Wayne, and occupied by five students from Kankakee. Ills., who were on their way home tot th" holidays. Witnesses said Winans swerved his machine to avoid striking anothei automobile. The maneuver hooked tlie front wheels of his car with those of another, and hurled the \\ mans machine against the woman, who was on the sidewalk. Miss Ladd was taken to a hospital where she died a short time later. Train Kills Christmas Shopper Warsaw, Ind., Dec. 22.- U.R) -Her vision obscured by a number of Christ mas parcels she was carrying. Mrs. Kate Ladd, Bourbon, stepped in trout of a Pennsylvania train at Bourbon last night was was killed. Her body was tossed 100 feet. CHILDREN RIOT AT GIFT DISTRIBUTION “Daddy” Browning Calls Police When Children Become Unruly New York, Dec. 22—(U.R)~ At least two persons were injured, many I" came hysterical and fainted, and 100 children were separated from then mothers today in a riot that feature! Edward “Daddy” Browning's annual Christmas "Gift Day.” Browning, who makes a yearly practice of playing Santa Claus to juvenile New York, was running low on presents. He was supervising the distribution of the gifts when the riot started. Santa Clauses —lots of them m Browning offices on Broadway were Passing out some 150,000 gifts. Ihi children went through the plate glass window. Browning immediately pit in a call for police. Traffic on upper Broadway was tied up for more than an hour and a half. The line in front of Browning s office formed before daylight. By 1J am., it stretched down to 60th street past to Central Park west, back to Broadway and up as far as ''2nd street. The gifts consisted chiefly of petfrnno, harmonicas, horns, paper hats and whistles.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT — - - only daily newspaper in adams county

Vol. XXVI. No. 302.

Eire Destroys Largest Church In The World, Located in New York RI v PW I ? 0 \ k ' npe -The new Rivet side church, largest in the world was destroyed in a spectacular fire last night. The loss was estimated at $1,000,000. John D. Rockfeller, Jr, made the cd.lice passible by his generous donations. It hud been completed except for the windows. Dr. Harry Emerson rosdick was pastor. Dining the fire, flames leaped high into the air and were visible for miles around on b th sides of the Hudson river. The cause had not been deter- , mined today. SNOW FORECAST FOR CHRISTMAS YY hite Christmas Predicted For Middlewest; Snow Starts Falling Chicago, Dec. 22 — (U.R) A white Christmas for the middle west was forecast today by the weather bureau as snow fell over most of the territory. The snow storm started in Chicago and vicinity last night and continued early’ today’. The mercury will remain lew enough, to keep the snow from melting before Christmas, the government forecast said. Snow storms of varying degrees of intensity’ were reported from lowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio. So far the snow laden c. Id wave which hit yesterday has taken a toll of ten lives, four of them in Chicago. Lower temperatures and snow has almost stamped out the influenza j epidemic in the middle west which already was on the wane. Temperatures were hovering about the freezing mark here today. Fair I and slightly warmer weather was predicted for Cblorado, Wyoming, ’ New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. BANDITS KIDNAP BANK OFFICIALS Missouri Bank Robbed Os $5,000; Kidnaped Bankers Are Released Crystal City. Mo.. Dec. 22. (U.R) A $40,000 payroll robbery was averted here today by a 30-minute miscalculation of three bandits who retaliated by kidnaping two officials of the Crystal City State bank. They escaped with $5,000 in cash. Fleeing in an automobile north toward St. Louis, the bandits liberated the officials, W. W. Bradley, cashier, and E. E. Blake, his assistant at Arnold, Mo. If the bandit trio had waited half an hour they would have encountered a special Christmas payroll of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass company. o K. Os C. Buys Health Bond A five dollar Tuberculosis Society health bond has been purchased by the Knights of Columbus lodge, it was announced today. o Fraud Is Charged Wabash. Ind., Dec. 22 — (U.R)“ Roy Wertenberger, a delegate to the last Republican National c invention from the eleventh Indiana district, was charged with fraud in a suit for $26,500 filed in Wabash circuit court here by the Kentucky Hock Asphalt Co. Louisville, Ky. It was charged by the plaintiff that Wertenberger transferred real estate to his wife to avoid collect) ,n of a note it held against him. Appeal is Dismissed In the case of the state vs. Robert Insley, which was appealed to the circuit court from mayor’s court, the appeal was dismissed today on motion of the defendant and the case was remanded to the Mayor s court. — o — Awarded SSO Damages Herbert Lyons, thiougb hto nex, friend William D. Lyons, today filed r sui in the circuit court against E D Osterman and Robert Osterman fcr injuries sustained when 1 atrnrk bv an automobile owned by-■ f"? Artornev E. D. Bosse appeared for £ Zt"« B Erwln represented the defendants.

Natt»..| A.rt loternatloual New,

Ranieri Judge Threatened by Mafia «■ - " - aj j W- ■-I wrifcifl Mt fill JEL r "Judge Robert Gentzels —You ar to late. Yon are die now. Qt<it our ease. Your truly.’’ Th s ir te was received by Judge Robert E. Geutzel, in whose court the Ranieri kidnaping case is being tried in Chicago. Ole Scully, witness, was Hain after a similar threat a few days ago.

Coolidges To Spend Holidays In Georgia Washfhgtoff?-nee. 22—-(U.R)-Presf-1 dent and Mrs. Coolidge will leave here Christmas day for Sahel o Island off Brunswick. Ga., to spend the holidays on the Howard E. Coffin estate, it was learned today. The President has not decided on the length of his visit but it was learned at the White House he is considering prolonging his stay until after January 3. The island is well stocked with deer, wild peacocks, pheasant and other small game and its own and nearby waters afford both fresh ami deep sea fishing, it was said. o Mary Brown Weaver Dies At Fort Wayne Mrs. Mary Brown Weaver, daughter of Abraham Brown, deceased, of east of Decatur, died at her home, 312 E. Wildwood street. Fort Wayne, at 11 o’clock this morning. Death was due to diabetic trouble, Mrs. Weaver having been in poor health for the last few years. She was a sister of Mrs. Amanda Helm, D. W. Brown and C. O. Brown, of this county. Funeral services like y will be held Monday afternoon. BRAZIL GREETS HOOVER PARTY Nation Tenders Spectacular Welcome To PresidentElect Os U. S. (By Thomas L. Stokes) (United Press Staff Correspondent) Rio De Janerio, Dec. 22 (U.R)' President-elect Herbert Hoover began today tlie last of a series of informal conferences with officials of South American governments. The welcome accorded the American statesman by Brazil was one of the most spectacular received on his tour of Latin-America. Mr Hoover and President Washington Luis chatted for some time yesterday afternoon when Mr. Hoover went to the Catteoe Palace after his ar rival. The program for today, included conferences with government officials and prominent business and industrial leaders on the subject of coffee The Brazilians will attempt to convince Mr Hoover of the soundness of the Brazilian coffee regulation policy. It is also expected the question of Brazil’s acceptance of the Kellogg An-ti-war treaty at some future time will be considered at the conferences. The residents of the city have been most hospitable toward the Presidentelect. Crowds gathered in the streets everywhere that it was known the American visitor would pass.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, December 22, 1928.

DEATH CLAMS IOSEPHH.SHEA Former Judge Os Indiana Appellate Cou r t And Prominent Democrat Dies Indianapolis, Dec. 22. U.R) Former judge of the Indiana appellate court, Joseph Hooker Shea, 65, and ambassador to Chile in 1916, died here today. Judge Shea, a Democrat, had been prominent in Indiana politics for a number of years. Since 1922, he had practiced law here. Judge Shea was bora at Lexington, Indiana. He was a graduate of Indiana University and practiced law in Scottsburg and Seymour before coming here. He served as prosecuting attorney from IS9I to 1595 and was a member of the Indiana senate from *1896 to 1900. From 1905 to 1912 he was circuit judge of the Fourth judicial district. Shea served on the appellate court bench from 1913 until his appointment as ambassador to Chi e in 1916. He held that post until 1921. Judge Shea was a trustee of Indiana University from 1893 to 1916; a member of the International, Amer- ' lean and Indiana State Bar associations and the American Foundation. o Small Fire Occurs At Martin Jaberg Residence — Sparks from a chimney caused damage estimated al sln at the Mar'm Jaberg home on N"t'th First street at 6 o’clock last night Firemen were able to extinguish the flames in a few min- ' utes and the damage was slight. i VIHAD-DA YW YhinK OF A FELUM Vino Woviv Q'.veHis Gmt Her t- Ring, fob, ft, XMAS t v — y 6*2 "lb -=r: — f I—--11

J. W. LANGLEY IS PARDONED President Coolidge Grants Full Pardon To Former Kentucky Congressman Washington, Dec. 22—<U.R> President Coolidge today approved the recommendation of Attorney-General Sargent to grant a full pardon to former Rep. John W. Lankley which restores his full rights of citizenship. Lankley, who was convicted In a liquor <• nsplrscy and served a sentence in Atlanta Federal penitentiary, is the husband of Katherine Langley, I a member of the house from Kentucky. I Moderate Temperatures Forecast For Next Week — Weather outlook for the period of Dec. 24 to 29, 1928. Frr tlie region of the Great Lakes: ; Temperatures mostly moderate for I season, but may become colder to-1 ward dose of week; occasional snow, mostly light, throughout week. o Bolivian Troops Marching On City In Disputed Area Asuncion, Paraguay. Dec. 22.-RJ.R) Thirty five hundred Boivian troops, consisting of 3.0(H) Infantrymen and 500 calvarymen are marching on tlie city of Bahia Negra, the newspaper La i’atria said today.

The newspaper added that should the Bolivian contingent attack the city, tlie encounter wou’d be one of major importance and w*ould nullify the efforts of the Pan-American arbitration and conciliation conference to settle the Bolivian-Paraguayan crisis. The new crisis over the disputed Chaco region began Dec. 5 when Paraguayan and Bolivian troops clashed. A series of clashes have fol.owed since. o Foster Parents Chcsen Winslow, Ind.. Dec. 22. (U.R) - Mr. and Mrs. Joseph 11 Powell, Mattoon, ill., have been chosen front among seventy-two persons to be foster par-1 ents of Catherine Fae and Maxine Rae Nolan, twins, whose mother died at their birth two weeks ago. , o Deaths Os Aged Man And Wife Occur 18 Hours Apart Rushville, Ind., Dee. 22. 'U.R) Peter Meisberger 78, died here eighteen hours after the death of his wife, Kate. 72. Pneumonia was given as the cause of death in each case. The couple had been married 47 years and her funeral, which had bppn sot f. r yosterduy, was postponed until today when both bodies wi.l be taken to their former home in Ripley county, for burial. 0 Frank Ball Re-appointed Chicago Dee. 22 —(U.R)— Frank C. Ball, of Muncie, Ind., has been reappointed by the federal reserve hoard as class C director of the Federal reserve hank of Chicago for a term of three years, beginning January 1. 1929. — o—

WILL DEDICATE CHRISTMAS TREE > Short Program To Be Held Around Community Tree; Children To Get Treat I Tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon. . it ‘ 4-30 o’clock, the community Chrlst- ' mas tree on the northeast corner of the court house yard will be officially ’ dedicated, and a Christmas treat will be distributed to the children of the city. An attempt on the part of the committee in charge to arrange a nice program to be given in connection with the dedication, has met with dissapointment, because of the serious influenza epidemic and largo amount oif sickness. Practically the entire membership of the Junior band Is incapacitated and other persons scheduled to appear on the program have been stricken with the illness, one by one. Outside of the singing of Christmas carols, the program will merely comprise the distribution of the treat by the Boy Scouts and Woman’s Club committee. Parents are cordially invited to accompany their children to the tree, and the committee is plann'ng to get the program over with as quickly as possible to avoid any risk on the part of children just recovering from the influenza or subject others to danger of taking cold.

l-'urnlahrd Hr lnlte.l l*rr„

GREETINGS Retail merchants, professional men ami manufacturers throughout the city, extend Carlstmas greetings ft the people of this community, through the columns of tonight’s Daily Democrat. The sixteen pages ' of tonight's Issue are devoted mostly to the Merry Christmas greetings. The l eal merchants and manufactures are appreciative of the pattonage extended to them and th°y want the world to know it. They wish you a Merry Christmas and, as one advertiser put it, “a prosperous Nineteen PLENTY nine”. Read the greetings in tonight's paper for they are meant for you. 0 CREAMERY HOLDS CHRISTMAS PARTY — All Employes Os Cloverleaf Creameries Receive Bonus (’hecks As Gifts The Cloverleaf Creamery, Inc , proved a real Santa Claus to their employees last evening, when they distributed a Christmas bonus, to their fifty employees of the Decatt'.r plant. It was a big celebration and the employees were asked to bring their families, and two hundred and fifty adults and children participated in the happy

time. The large general office of tlie creamery was decorated gayly in . Christmas colors, of red and green, ( and at the north end of the office a huge Christmas tree lent real Christ- ( mas cheer. The lights were hooded , in green and red. and holly wreaths were hung at the windows. The crowd had assembled at 7:30 o’clock and W. A. Klepper, vice president and general manager of tlie Cloverleaf Creameries. Inc., in a few well chosen words thanked the employees for their loyalty and co-oper-ation of the past and told of the custom of the Cloverleaf Creameries, Inc., in distributing a bonus to the employees, tit Chiisttnas time, and stated that he took great pride in announcing that one was forthcoming for tliis year. The bonus checks, a pleasant surprise to the many employees, were handed out by the general manager, in rotation of the oldest in service of the creamery. Mr. Klepper then called on John H. Heder, editor of the Daily Democrat, and he spoke briefly, praising the i fine spirit of the Cloverleaf Creameries and the splendid loyalty of its employees, and closed with the thought I that the city of Decatur would do well • to encourage other fine firms such as 1 the Cloverleaf. Mr. Klepper then - caked on M J. Mylott, superintendent of the Decatur light and power plant, and in a few words, Mr. Mylott stated that the city thought well of . the creamery, for it was the second >- biggest user of power in the city He, <1 too, had nothing but praise for the " splendid organization and its enters I prising officers and employees. ’• The Misses Mary Neptune and Delores Klepper gave several charming

readings, and they were enthusiastic- 1 ally received by the audience. Then 1 the big treat of the evening was forthcoming. for the tune of jingling bells > announced the coming of Santa Claus, and he climbed through the window, laden down with two huge sacks, | bursting with toys and candy, and each child present received a toy from Santa Claus and candy was given to all. Eskimo pies were also served to all the guests. Anothei interesting feature of the evening was the drawing for the Christmas tree, and the lucky child was Richard Nol . sou of T. R. Noll, who very generously gave the tree to little Billy Hartman. stating "he had a Christmas tree, and that little boy didn't." The presenting of Mr. Klepper's gift was made by Miss Ethel Ervin, who is the oldest in the service of the Decatur plant, and she very ably presented the same as a token of the high esteem that is felt for Mr. Klepper. as a real boss. Mr. Klepper was the recipient of a beautiful elks skin golf bag, and an English type pigskin traveling bag. the gift of all the employees of the p ant. Heber Humbarger, general superintendent of the Cloverleaf Creameries. Inc., was the recipient of a bathrobe and house slippers from the men and women of the plant, and N. R. Holthouse, secretary and treasurer of the Cloverleaf Creameries, inc., was presented with a hand tooled leather bill fold, the gift of the office girls of the plant. A social hour was enjoyed after the conclusion of the program, and Christmas carols were enjoyed as (COWTIF* W© oK Tftt»

Price Two Cents

DAYS

MOVE FOR FARM RELIEF EXPECTED AFTER CHRISTMAS Administration Support For Farm Legislation Assured By Jardine JANUARY 3 IS DATE FOR NEXT SESSIONS Washington, Dec. 22. —(U.R)— Congress adjourned today until January 3 for the usual holiday recess having set an enviable record for speedy legislation in the three weeks since it convened fcr Its short session. Brief sessions in which Christmas spirit predominated were heard in both houses. The senate meeting for 50 minutes and the house for 30

minutes. Washington. Dei. 22— (U.R) Son.e revival of the movement for farm r<“ Hes legislation at this session <>f congress rather titan a special session next year Is expected after the holiday recess. . A letter from Secretary of Afrtciilture Jardine to Chairman McNary Os the senate agriculture committee, made public yesterday, gave assurance of administration support tor such a program. Jardine Approves Bill

Jardine approved the bill, recent? introduced by McNary, embodying all major provisions of the old McNarjHaugen bill except the equalization fee, and urged Its passage in time to help the 1929 crop. This gave weight* to the argument of McNary that unless it is passed at the regular session, rather than postponing It until next, summer, tarmers will receive no help in marketing their next crop. Senator Borah. Repn., Idaho, nnd other advocates cf farm relief delay, however, are still determined to postpone agrlculaure legislation unt'l President elect Hoover calls a special session for its enactment. Belief was that adequate farm relief legislation cannot be passed in the limited time which will remain after the Kellogg treaty nnd the navy cruiser bills tire out of the way. Many members of both houses have not taken sides In the farm relief dispute and may be influenced by the Jardine letter. o — Woman School Teacher In Illinois Is Murdered Carmi, HL. Dec. 22. —(U.R)— Finger print experts from St. I-ouls were engaged today to solve the mysterious murder of Miss Anna i’relier, Carmi grade school teacher, nearly decapitated by an intruder who broke into iter four room cottage while she 1 slept- ~ , , , The crime detection facilities or • this small town were too limited to ■ cope with the murder in which the motive appeared to lie revenge or

robbery. Although the teacher's assailant hail attempted to burn the house to destroy evidence that might lead to his capture, there were few signs that robbery had figured in the motive.

KING IS BETTER; STILL SERIOUS Physicians, However. Believe He Is Definitely On The Mend London. <U.R) - King George was holding today the slight improvement in his condition noted early a week ago. A bulletin issued by bis physicians shortly before noon and t imed tit 11:30 a. tn. said: I "The king had a fair night. His majesty's condition remains unchanged." rhe king’s actual condition continued t > be serious, although not so alarming as it has been during several periods in more than a month of illness. Medical circles feel that he may now be definitely on the mend for the better. The improvement which set In twelve days ago when the Prince of Wales, arrived, has been slightly enhanced by the return of his youngest son, Prince George. ' For the last few nights, the king lias been sleeping better, but last 1 night he did not rest as comfortably ’ as usual.

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