Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 27, Number 69, Decatur, Adams County, 21 March 1929 — Page 1

I WEATHER u„.tiv cloudy <0o T ,y nd EHd.y nit JLhablv »hO'*Jnd north port'™ toniflM-

Vol. XXVII. No. 69.

FEAR 50 ENTOMBED MINERS ARE DEAD

HE IDENTIFY ' JIIEGED BANK BANDITS HERE Bankers From Burkett, Pennville And Wawaka Make lidentifications cni’NSEL RETAINED byfovk DEFENDANTS Completing of identifications nf the four alleged bank bandits . h l in the Adams county jai [ in connection with the 1928 and inoo Linn Grove bank robberies was the chief interest in the investigation today. Bankers from Burkett, Penn- ( ville and Wawaka picked out the men whom they claim robbed IJeir banks in la! * 1 >’ esr The feature of the identification* was that the bankers are positive of their men , In practically every instance. With the arrival yesterday afternoon of Elmer Wood, 44. Pennsylvania railroad employe from Richmond in custody of Sheriff Harl Hollingsworth and Deputy F. J. Schmitt, all four men were in custody of local officials. Counsel Employed Attorneys Parrish, Colerick and Jackson, of Fort Wayne, have lieen . retained to act as counsel for the men. Everett D. (Jack) Gaither stat- , ed at noon today that he thought he , would employ a separate attorney to represent hint in the case. r C. Panish, of Fort Wayne, interviewed the men at the jail today, but did not issue a statement as to what course his firm would take concerning the cases. Because of the lack of separate cells in the local jail, where the men could be placed in such a manner that they would be unable to converse with each other, one of the alleged bandits was removed from the local jail to a nearby prison last night. He was returned this afternoon, however. to talk with attorney Parrish. It is understood that Parrish, Jackson and Colerick will represent Robert Siniff, Wood and J. Phillip Chamberlin. Gaither stated to local offic(COXTIVt F.n OW VAGI* TIIHItF.t MARY I, HOCKER DIES AT ELKHART Former Adams County Resident Found Dead In Bed This Morning Mrs. Mary I. Hocker, 73, well-known resident of Elkhart, and mother of Mrs. E. B. Macy, of this city, died this morning a( her home in Elkhart. Heart trouble caused the death of Mrs. Hocker and she was found dead in her bed at 7 o’clock this morning. The deceased had suffered an attack of influenza just before Christmas, which left her with a weak heart and weakened constitution. She had not been bedfast, however, and her unexpected death came as a great shock to family and friends. Mary I Hofer was born at Massll°n, Ohio, on February 25, 185fi, the daughter of Michael and Mary Hofer, in 1874. she united in marriage with • W. Hocker, who preceded her in death five years ago. As a result of ’his union, five children survive, the loath of the father having been the "Nt to break in the family circle. The surviving children are: Mrs. E. » Macy, of this city; Mrs. P. T. Longaehre and Mrs. T. C. Wertz, of Elkhart; Mrs. Gertrude Long, of ’leveland; and A. S. Hocker, of utnberland Mills, Maine. Seven and five greatgrandenildren, also survive. J J. Hofer and Miss Lou Hofer, of ■onroe; Adolph Hofer, of Bluffton; *"ert Hofer, of Kansas City; and 'nd Hofer, of Colorado Springs. slater^ 0 ’ ar<! BUrvlvinß Mothers and ''lien quite young, Mrs. Hocker „’ ei With her Parents to Adams 1 y. and settled in the vicinity of Was during her residence (’ w It' She uni, ed in marriage with am« Hocker - They moved from Adan,. i.? Unty ,0 B, 'ownstown, Indiana, ed tn. Elkhart where she tesidp. 1 tle PHSt twe “ty-OPe years. bean ra arr angements have not Place ln% P il e 2 e<l, but burial wiH take Elkhart ti hart ' Mrs ' Macy went t 0 a mesoL " mornin R. in response to her mother. ann ° UnCing the death of

DECATUR D AILY DEMOCRAT

Communist Uprising Breaks Out In China Peplng. China. Mar. 21 ;U.R) The American legation here received a telegram from an American missionary today advising that a great communist uprising had occurred in the southern part of Kiangs! province. The missionary said 100 persons were believed killed. Several American missions were burned but all missionaries escaped, the telegram said. 16 FREIGHT CARS PILED HP IN ERIE WRECK AT PREBLE Considerable Trackage And Several Cars Damaged By Derailment TRAFFIC DELAYED FOR MANY HOURS Sixteen loaded freight cars of a 115-car eastbonnd Etie freight train were derailed at Preble, five miles west of Decatur, bout 9 o'clock last night. The wreck delayed traffic in both directions on the Erie railroad and ft is doubtful if transportation between Decatur and Huntington can be 1 established before tonight. Erie trains r are being sent from Huntington through Fort Wayne to Decatur. A brake sticking, whisch caused a hot box that burned off a journal, caused a car to drop down on the tiacks, tearing up a stretch of track The next 15 ears were derailed when 1 they struck the torn part of the track and freight cats were sent in al! directions, tearing up both the east and west bound tracks. Tanks of Gasoline In Wreck I The hot box occurred on about the forty third car and the next 15 were pulled off the track. Some of the ears upset while others ran off the track and stopped. Amonk the cars were two gasoline tanks. Both cars sprung yeaks and the gasoline ran cut on the ground. -i Section gangs and a wrecking train 1 were called to the scene so the derailment immediately after the wreck last: night and work was started on reconditioning the track. It was though by those in carge of the wreck that both tiacks would be cleared some time today and that the regular sched- 1 tile would be resumed this evening. One of the men in charge of the ' train stated last night that he noticed a brake on one of the cars sticking a ‘ bout 10 miles west, of Preble, but h< 1 supposed the train could be pulled to Decatur where the brake would be repaired. Those who were near the scene of the wreck stated that when the cars began leaving the tiack there was a loud crash, but several men who were congregated in one of the Preble stores near the scene -said that the noise was not much greater than when ' the cars are switched. A wreck car arrived at Preble about ah hour after the derailment and work stalled immediately on clearing the tracks. The Isss had not been esti-11 mated today, but it is thought the damage will amount to thousands of dollars, because most of the derailed cars were badly damaged and some of the contents were damaged. BAPTIST REVIVAL WELL ATTENDED Fine Spirit Prevails In Series Os Evangelistic Meetings _____ The special series of evangelistic meetings at the Baptist church are be- ( ing well attended and a fine spirit prevails. The music under the leadership of Mrs. C. E. Bell, supported by a large chorus, is proving a very helpful part of the services. The new song books are much appreciated by the congregation from night to night. Last evening the Rev. O. E. Miller used as the subject of the message, “God is Love’-’. The subject this evening will be “God's Love and Human Suffering", Friday evening, “Our love for God", Sunday morning. “Our love for each other”. Tomorrow evening. Friday, the ordinance of baptism will be administered to several waiting candidates. The services will entinue each night next week. There will be no services Saturday evenings- The spirit of revival is on in this church. A cordial invitation to attend is extended to all.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Stale, Xnilonnl «■■<( lulerntiiluuni V«-wa

ii-i w-ar 1— a- -m - Alleged Bank Robbers Held in Jail Here g/nK JBf s ‘ Ji • / M JSPiam U : tx JKMi j •' . I ' M ’ J? k i S ufteliy it ill W W Iw! ' Mp l Above are shown the four aCleged liandits held here in connection with the robbery ot the Linn Grove bank l<«it Thursday and on March 27, 1928. Grouped about them are shewn several of the officers responsible for the round-up of the alleged bandit gang. Tho-e in the picture are: ..... ...» ~ ■ Standing, tear row —left to right: Forrest Huntington, state bureau ol cr.minal identificat on. Sheriil Hail Hollingsworth; Deputy Sheriff Elixson. Fort Wayne; Special Adams County Deputy F. .1. Schmitt. Standing second row: J. Philli’i Chamberlin. Columbia City; Elme r Wood. Fort Wayne. Seated- Jack Gaitlu r. I’oi t WajfM; Rol. H Sinitf. E'ort M aytu .

Decatur Basketball Fans Fly To National Tourney

CHILDREN TO GIVE OPERETTA North Ward Pupils To Present Annual Play Friday Night, April 5 Pupils of the North Ward grade school are preparing to stage their an nual home talent operetta, in the Decatur high school auditorium, Fridav | evening, April 5- Tickets for the play will be placed on sale this evening' and they may be procured from any j pupil of the North Ward school. March 22 was the original date set for the operetta ,but a change was made necessary by conflicting attractions. The title of the operetta chosen for this year's entertainment is “Peter Rabbit.” an operetta for children written by Henry P. Cross. All pupils of the North Ward school will take pait in the production. The i admission prices will be ten cents for children 12 years cld and under and twenty-five cents for all older persons D. H. S. JUNIORS PRESENT PLAY Large Audience Sees First Performance Os “The White Elephant” A large crowd viewed the annual Junior class play, “The White Elephant," last night in the Decatur high school auditorium. The play was directed this year by Miss Verneall Whalen, Junior class guardian. I: J will be given again tonight, at 8:15! o'clock. I The story of the play, centered around an old colonial inn and a house in Jonesboro, Virginia. Both proved to be a problem on the hands of the owners. Johnny Allen, a part abbplayed by Chalmer Fisher, inherited the inn from his uncle as none of the other relatives would take it. When he came to the sleefiy little town he decided to put the town on the map. The housekeeper of th<T inn was Miss Jane Justice, well played by Anne Winnes. There, also, Johnny met Mary Lake, or Mary Mclntosh, who cleverly added the romance to the play. Robert Schraluka contributed comedy to the play with the part of Silas Green, the sleepy grocery boy with a slow Southern drawl and also the rival for the hand of Mary Lake. A broken bottle in front of. the inn brought in the first persons who ever(CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, March 21, 1929.

George Wemhoff And Margaret Mylott Charter Plane At Fort Wayne The Daily Democrat received a telephone call from Mr. Wemhoff. in Chicago, at 3 o'clock this afternoon, saying he and Miss Mylott arrived safely, the flight taking more than one and onehalf hours. Flying conditions were bad. I Decatur has many rabid basketball [ fans, who have devised various means ! of following the local teams to games ! on foreign floors, but it remained for George Wemhoff, local monument merchant and a 14-Carat basketball fan, and Miss Margaret Mylott, an equally enthusiastic follower of the hardwood sport, to be the first Decatur fans to charter an airplane to convey to the scene of battle. The urge to attend the national I Catholic interscholastic basketball tournament, which started in Chicago last night, became so great this morning that Mr. Wemhoff decided to j go to Chicago and go right now. A friend agreed to accompany him on the i air ride, but is said to have lost his nerve later, so Mr. Wemhoff invited Miss Mylott to be his guest on the trip Tlie two weie taken to Fort Wayne I in an automobile by Robert Passwater ' and Russel White At the Means Air- ■ port, located four miles north of Fort Wayne on the Kendallville road, they | secured passage in a four-passenger cabin type monoplane, with Lieutennnl Clarence (' rnish veteran flier who is well known in Decatur, as pilot. At 10:50 o'clock, the big ship, its powerful motor roaring a noisy fare well, skimmed over the terra firma and rise gracefully into the ozone. <ro\'"iNt i:i> on page o BLUFFTON BANK RE-OPENS TODAY Checkup Shows Union Savings And Trust Co., In Good Condition Blufftoq, Ind., Mar. 21.— (U.R) — The Union Savings and Trust company bank, after being closed since Feb. 14 to avert art unwarranted run and to conserve resources, was re-opened today. Since the close of the- bank a complete check of its conditions was made to assure creditors their deposits were in good condition. The re-opening of the Trust company was expected to relieve the banking situation in this section which had become somewhat aoute due to the closing of several institutions

MISSING FARMER IS FOUND ALIVE Albert F. Moser Appears At Manes Wulliman Home; Temporarily Insane Albert F. Moser, 42, Adams county farmer, who was the subject of a diligent search all day yesterday, was found about 8 o'clock last night, about one mi’e west of his home. Children of Manes Wulliman were sitting in a car which stood in the I barn lot at the Wtilliman farm home, when the family dog began barking wildly. Looking'up, they saw a man coming up the lane toward the car. They recognized him as being Mr. Moser, for whom the search had been instigated throughout the day, and were frightened. As a result, they kept very still in the car and he passed within four feet of them, not noticing them. ■ Mr. Moser's son, Curtis, was inside the Wulliman house, and as the demented man approached the house, he looked up and saw his son looking out of the window. He turned about immediately and started away. Mr. Wulliman and the son rushed from the house and followed him for about forty feet before they finally caught (('ONTINI El> ON PAGE SEVEN) 0. T, HENDRICKS DIES AT MONROE . Prominent Retired Farmer Dies Os Pneumonia This Afternoon Oliver Thomas Hendricks, 83. retired farmer and one of Monroe’s best known citizens, died at 2:30 o'clock | this afternoon, following a four days illness of pneumonia. Oliver T. Hendricks was born May 2. 1845, in Monroe, the son of Basil ami Mary Hendricks. His entire life period was stpent in Monroe. Mr. Hendricks was twice married. His first wife, Mary Etta Walton Hendricks, preceded him in death about eighteen years ago. He. then married her sister, Mariah Walton. No children were born of either union. Two brothers, Jacob D. Hendricks, of Monroe, and John W. Hendricks, of Pit'sburg, Florida: one half-broth-er James A. Hendricks on MonroeT and two half-sisters. Mrs. Hattie Fells and Mrs. Minta Tlbaugh, the latter of Denison, Ohio, survive. Mr. Hendricks retired from active farming about 20 years ago. He was a member of the Methodist church in Monroe, and one of the leading workers in that organization. No funeral arrangements have been njade.

■ urillahvil IIX I tilled Frr»»

Crown Prince Os Norway i Weds Swedish Princess | Oslo, Not way, March 21 (UP) — Crown Prince Olaf of Norway and Princess Martha of Sweden were married In the. Lutheran Cathedral of our Savior today. The marriage joined reigning houses of two kingdoms and united the Scandinavian peninsula in a common and frlendsly celebration. ( LEVEE BREAKS IN ILLINOIS; FARM LAND INUNDATED. About 1,000 Persons Driven < From Homes Along Mississippi River REHABILITATION IS STARTED IN SOUTH Quincy, 111., Mad. 21.— ,U.R) —The ( levee at Point Pleasant, ,six miles , north of here, gave way today, flood t ing 19,000 acres of some of the rich- ’ esl farming land in the country. ( yiccQiding to word received here, approximately 1,000 persons were < driven from their homes when the ■ flood waters of the Mississippi river poured in. Hamburg, 111., was under water and < many of the residents there have mov- 1 ed from their hoi es to higher levels. 1 Rehabilitation Started | Montgomery. Ala.. Mar. 21. —<U.R) — ' I The tedious tasks of rehabilitation i are on in full swing through the flood devastated regions of Alabama, Georgia and Florida. The toll of known dead went to 25 today when Grace Taylor, 9, and her brother Garl, 6, drowned near York,, Ala. Flood waters of record height still burst into towns along the Apalachicola in Florida and the lower Flint in Georgia. The Chattahoochee also moved southward, flooding lowlands. Most, of the tri-state area, however, was rapidly drying out after heavy 1 rains. Serum arrived in sufficient qnan-1 titles at Caryville, Fla., to end the typhoid threat there. More than 500 have been inoculated. Conditions at River Junction, Fla., described as serious on first reports, were said to have caused only slight suffering. o Classes In Extension Work To Meet Saturday An extra session for Adams county school teachers desiring extra credit in the extension courses on “Tests and Measurements, “Music and Art Appreciation," and “Home Nursing” will be held at Monroe. Saturday, March 23. The classes will meet all day. o— — Five Alleged Robbers Held At Crown Point Crown Point, Ind., Mar. 21. —fU.R) - Confessions that they had participated in a robbery in Lowell, Indiana, from a gang of five held in the county jail here as suspects of a series of robberies in Lake, Newton and other counties, police announced today. MEETING HELD AT HOAGLAND Approximately 400 Persons Attend Good Will Farm Meeting Wednesday Approximately four hundred persons attended the good will farm meeting, held at Hoagland last night and sponsored by the Decatur industrial Association. Dr. J. A. Brock, of Toledo, Ohio, delivered the principal address of the evening. Short talks were made by John Tyndall, Amos Graber and Mayor George Krick, of Decatur. Several Decatur business men also attended the meeting Motion pictures were shown by the county agent, F. E. Christen. Similiar meetings will be held at Geneva Friday night and at Berne on Saturday evening. Free lunch, consisting of weiner sandwhiches, coffee and ice-cream, was served at the meeting last night. The subject of Dr. Brock's talk was “Organization, Rotation and Fertilization

Price Two Cents

BLAST WRECKS MINE, TRAPPING NEABLY 300 MEN Officials Fear Many Os Entombed Miners Have Been Killed EXPLOSION SHAKES ENTIRE COUNTRYSIDE (',;ini:tssiis, I’ll., Mar. 21 '9.R) The Itile ol' til Ivnsl "»0 miners entombed in the Kinloch mine of the Valley Camp Coal Company, bv an explosion, was doubtful this afternoon, rescue workers and mine company officials reported. It was feared the men may hive l>een killed in the explosion which wrecked the mine wot kings and entombed between 250 and 300 men. Hoi>e for the entombed men was aroused late today when rescue workers penetrated the main entrance if the mine and brought out one man alive. The entrance from which the injured man was rescued was the one from which the flames shot forth after the explosion setting fire to the tipple and a nearby engine house. Blast Shakes Countryside Parnassu-. Pa., Mar. 21 (U.R) —The lives of 300 miners were endangered today by an explosion in the Valley Camp Coal company’s Kinlock mine, company officials announced. The men were caught in the workings by the blast which shook the countryside for miles around at 7:30 am., shortly after night and day shifts changed places. An unverified report to the United States bureau of mines at Pittsburgh estimated tliat 50 men had been killed. Rescue crews were rushed to the mine from adjoining properties and a mine rescue car of the bureaus of mines was brought from a siding a few miles away. The rescuers included memtiers of the Kinloch mine's icovmt i;n ox r igi: TO GIVE PLAY AT PLEASANT MILLS Senior Class Os High School To Present. “In Plum Valley” Friday The senior class of the Pleasant Mi'ls high school will present “In Plum Valley. ’’ a rural comedy drama, in four acts, at the high school auditorium, Friday evening, April 22. at 8 o'clock. Following is a synopsis of the play: Act 1 -Scott, a verdant country boy, tells Sallie of his love for her. Elkins plots to rob Uncle Jared of his farm and he also accuses Markham of being a forger. Act 2. —Scott overhears Elkins’ plan to rob LTncle Jared. Through crookedness Elkins has Markham arrested for forgery. Act 4.—8i1l Stouter who is affected much by the high altitude, promises to aid Grace Stollard to frustrate Elkins plans. Jared secures documents to farm and tells Elkins to go plumb to Jericho. Act 4. —Grace tells of her relation to Elkins and Elkins is arrested for stealing Hazel’s jewels. Markham and Hazel receive LTncle Jared's blessing. The cast is as follows: Charlie Scott, a Plum Valley Rustic Eldon Habegger | Sallie Brown, a romantic farm maid Dorothy Johnson Aunt laicinda Wilkins. Uncle Jared's wife Pearl Ray Hugh Elkins, an adventurer, quite crooked Marion Foor Bill Stouter, who can’t stand the high altitude Charles Brunstrup Hazel Wilkins, Uncle Jared's daughter, in love Ruth Smith Uncle Jared Wilkins, an eastern farmer Charles Burkhart Dr. Arthur Markham, a young physician Bryce Danihls Ted Simpkins, a constable Glenn Ray Grace Stollard, a woman with a past . Juianita Evans The Pleasant Mills orchestra, under the direction of Joe Danner, will furnish music lietween acts. This is the first public appearance of the orchestra. Admission prices will be: adults 25c; children 15c.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY