Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 27, Number 159, Decatur, Adams County, 5 July 1929 — Page 1

WEATHER Local thunderahowerl probable tonight and Saturday, not much change in temperature.

HOLIDAY DEATH TOLL IN U. S. IS 125

HEAVY RAINFALL STRIKES COUNTY! CROPS DAMAGED Heaviest Rainfall In History Recorded At Berne Thursday Night GENERAL OVER NORTHERN INDIANA Rain, which assumed the proportions of a cloudburst, struck Adams county and northern Indiana late Thursday afternoon and night and did damage to crops, which farmers saywill cause a loss of thousands of dollars. The storm in Adams county was the most severe at Berne, where the heaviest rainfall ever recorded was marked up. The rain at Berne started at about 8 o'clock last night and lasted until after midnight. More than 3 inches of rain fell and fields were washed out by the storm. Lightning and thunder accompanied the rain, but the water did the greatest damage. Creeks, streams and rivers in the southern part of the county were far out of bank and the Wabash river was reported across the road in several places in the south part of the county. Monroe and Wabash townships were the hadest hit by the storm and farmers of those two townships say their losses will mount into the thousands of dollars. A hevay rainfall and storm was recorded west of Decatur and a heavyloss was reported in Kirkland and Preble townships. The rain fell so rapidly that it swept with a strong current across fields and tore out crops. The storm in Decatar was not so severe and came early this morning. A light rain fell about 9 o’clock last night, and was accompanied by a strong wind which did some damage. A heavier storm occured here about 2 o'clock this morning and there was a great amount of lightning, but no damage was reported. The heavy wind last night blew in the large north window in the Decatur Country Club building. The rain came in and did some damage. The window was a large one overlooking the grounds on the north side of the chib house. Bernard Clark, manager of the club, stated that the loss was covered by insurance. The storm was general in this part of Indiana and it was felt severely in the entire north half of the state. Rivers were swollen today and both the St. Marys and Wabash rivers in this county were rising rapidly. The storm approached from the northwest and a heavy wind forced the water across fields. Many holiday tourists were forced to abandon their homeward trips until this morning and several automobiles full of vacationists were stranded along the roads until early this morning. Taxables In Wells County Show Decrease Bluffton, July 5 —A decrease of $254, 820 in the personal propeity taxables in Wells cunty during the past year is shown by figures compiled by the county board of review, which adjourn ed this week. The total of personal Properay assessed this year is $5,580,650. No horizontal increases in personal Property assessments were ordered by the board of review. The board added >o the tazables $22,233 by listing real estate mortgages that had not been fisted with the assessors. - MAKE CHANGE AT EXPRESS OFFICE Elzey Transferred To linin, Ohio; Robert Krick New Manager Here nf«/' hange ln the managership of the ‘®“ °' the , American Express commorni? th ‘! city went into effect this chir U - 1111. Wheng ’ l . When Rfibert Krick assumed POBitfon” th l * oCal ° rtice> taking Ute gVon made Vacant when B. El. Pan?, transf9 ™ to the comsimilar ! at Tlffin ' Ohio - ln * Z. a tX C , ty ' Mr Elxey began >‘is pects tn T ff n thlS n ' or ning, and ex- £ the ne famlly there with »ext few weeks. the ft'rnmr , S^ ickler has taken over have char/ ut ’ es , ot Mr - Kr tck and will charge of all express delivery

DECATUR D AILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXVII. No. 159.

Mrs. Thomas Taggart, Jr., Is Buried At Indianapolis Indianapolis, July -(U.R>— Funeral services for Mrs. Adele Wilson Pringle Taggart, wife of Thoma, Taggart, Jr., who died Wednesday at the French Lick Springs hotel, were to be held here today. Death, which came suddenly, was due to an acute dilation of the heart according to Dr. A. EL Herold, the family physician. Mrs. Taggart has been in poor health for some months and has been treated at various American health resorts. DRY AGENT HELD AFTER SHOOTING One Man Killed, Another Wounded In Gun Battle With Prohibition Agents Shawnee, Okla., July 5. —(U.R)—Jeff Harris, federal prohibition agent, was a prisoner in jail today, pending an investigation into a shooting yesterday in which James Elarris was killed and Oscar Lowery wounded critically. The two were shot during a gun battle with Jeff Harris and other dry agents who went to EEarris’ farm near Tecumseh, bordering the Seminoe oil field, to search for a still. Jeff Elarris was arrested after authorities obtained a deathbed sttaement from the farmer charging that the agent fired after ordering him to throw down a gun. The farmer insisted he complied with the order although he believed the searchers were bandits since they had shown him no search warrant and did not identify themselves otherwise. That statement was contradicted by the dry agent who said the farmer rushed at him, gun in hand. Mrs. Harris, who witnessed the shooting, said she was' not sure who fired the first shot because there was so much confusion. The raid was led by W. W. Thompson, veteran prohibition agent who has seen 20 years of service in the secret service and prohibition departments. The arrest of the entire raiding party was ordered by County Attorney Randall Pitman, but only Harris was taken into custody. Pitman explained further investigation was necessary to determine if action should be taken against the other men. iThe other members of the raiding party were Tom Little and John D. Williams. Prohibition commissioner Dee Mondun is in Shawnee investigating the case. It was reported from Oklahoma City federal headquarters that Harris was not a federal officer. o Mrs. Emma Mock, Former Decatur Resident, Dies Mrs. Emma Mock, 47, former resident of Decatur, died of heart trouble, Wednesday, at her home 14 miles north of Fort Wayne. A few minutes after she had complained of a tooth, her husband returned to her bed and found her dead. Mrs. Mock was born in Decatur She resided in Fort Wayne for 25 years. Surviving are the husband, Victor Victor Mock; one son, Clarence, of Columbus, Ohio; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Fisher, one brother, Fred of Fort Wayne, one sister, Mrs. Ethel Burton, of Indianapolis. Funeral services will be held at the residence (at 1:30 o'clock Saturday aljernoon, daylight saving time, with burial in the Eel River cemetery. o Decatur Man Saves Girl From Drowning Roy Steele, 109 North Eighth street an employe of the city water works saved a young lady from drowning ju a stone quarry at Middlepoint, Ohio, last Tuesday evening. Mr Steele happened to be in the neighborhood of the quarry Tuesday evening when three young ladles were bathing in the quarry. One of them. Miss Alice Klausing, residing on rural route No. 2, Delphos, Ohio, got beyond her depth and started to sink. Mr. Steele plunged into the quarry and rescued the girl. Mr Steele received a letter from Miss Klausing this morning, expressing her gratitude for his heroism in saving her life. o JEWELRY STORE ROBBED Evansville, Ind., July 5 —(UP) — Jewelry valued at $25,000 was stolen from the National clothing and jewelry store here, it was learned today when the store was opened-

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

State, National And laleraatluual Nr no

LUTHERANS TO HOLD JUBILEE NEXT SUNDAY; Churches of Decatur Circuit To Celebrate Anniversary Os Luther’s Catechism TO MEET AT ST. JOHN’S CHURCH I A celebration, rarely of greater I magnitude in Adams county, is planhied for this coming Sunday, July 7. j The ten Lutheran church of the Dei catur circuit will dismiss regular ser- | vices this Sunday and jointly celel brate the four hundredth anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther's Catechism in the spacious and renowned picnicgrove of the St. John's Lutheran church, on the Decatur-Fort Wayne road. Elaborate preparations have ben made, with delegates of all ten churches participating, and a gathering of around four thousand is estimated. Not only the members of the various Lutheran churches of Decatur, Fort Wayne and vicinity, but the public in general is most cordially invited. Services will be conducted in the morning and afternoon, and are announced according to central standard time. Special Music Planned The morning service will be held in the German language, beginning at 9:30 o’clock, with the Rev. Theo. Schurdel, of Cleveland, as speaker. The band of Zion church at Preble, the men’s choir and mixed choir of Immanual church, and a large children's choir will take a leading part in this service. For the afternoon, a double service is arranged, which will begin at 2 o’clock. The Rev. Walter Lichtsinu, of Hammond.npreSTdent of the central district, will have the jubilee address in the German language, followed by the Rev. Frank Lankenau, of Napoleon, first vice-preseident of synod, with an address in the English language. Assisting in a special way in the afternoon will be the band, the men’s choir of St. Paul’s church, the mixed choir of Immanuel church, ami the children’s choir. The collections taken during these (CONTINIED ON PAGE I’ol 111 o POLICE BATTLE WITH STRIKERS Bloodshed Marks Strike Os Street Railwaymen At New Orleans — New Orleans, La., July 5. —(U.R) — Every available police reserve was called out to cope with a renewal of rioting and bloodshed in clashes between police and striking street railway men here today. Police headquarters reported two strikers were shot, one critically, today, when a mob attempted to storm the Canal street car barn and seize a strike breaker operating a car. Police guards, using riot guns, fired on a group of 200 men as they advanced with bricks and clubs on the second strikebreaker operated car to leave the barn. The- first car had passed out half an hour earlier without any demonstration. Sylvan Thibodeaux, a striker, was shot through the head and was not expected to live. William Foret, was shot through the shoulder when the crowd failed to heed orders of police to halt their advance on the car. The size of the mob increased rapidly and police feared the men might ; attempt to storm the barn and take out the 400 strikebreakers imported . yesterday by the New Orleans Public Service company. o - Sees Thief Drive His Automobile Away ’ Shortly after Mr. and Mrs. Frank 1 Gillig had retired for the' night, last ’ night, a thief stole their automobile, which was parked in the yard at their home, a few feet from their bedroom ; window. Mr. and Mrs. Gillig returned home in their car during the rain last night and they parked their car at the side of the hopse. A few minutes later, after they retired, they . heard someone start the niotor in the i car. Mr. Gillig ran to the door just - in time to see his car being driven i away. No trace of the car has been found.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, July 5, 1929.

Mysterious Return I """ ” Williard J. Elliott, Jersey banker, whose disappearance had the police worried.’ returned under circumstances as mysterious as his departure. His tale of being kidnapped is being challenged by the police who found him near his home, in his own car. calmly reading the news of his whereabouts. Four women witnesses have told of seeing Elliott taken away. CLANCINGBUTLEf' STRIKES FARMER < Wells County Man Seriously Injured In Accident; Shot Fired At Sparrows Bluffton, July s—Orva Roberts, 39, accidentally shot by a neighbor while ploughing corn at his home, two miles north of Montpelier, about 10 o’clock Thursday morning, is in a critical condition at the Wells county hospital here. The bullet fired by Don Chapman. 17, is supposedto have recocheted from a tree in a field adjoining that in which Roberts was working, then struck him in the left side. The bullet was located in the pleural cavity, but attending surgeons were unable to withdraw the slug. Chapman was shooting at sparrows with an uncle. Roberts walked a quarter of a mile to his home after the shooting and was very weak when he arrived. He was taken to the hospital immediately. He Is a tenant on the Merle Wilson farm. o Hiram Evans Addresses Klan Meeting At Kokomo Kokomo, Ind., July S—(U.R) —Hiram W. Evans, imperial wizard of the Ku Klux Klan addressed an Independence Day crowd of nearly 3,000 persons here. The Ku Klux Klan official, in commenting upon the recent presidential election, credited the klan with the defeat of Al Smith, Democratic candidate. “We operated on the religious question in the country in 1928 and we are here to celebrate. The klan went against Smith because he is an honest Catholic and his conscience is controlled by an outsider.” A monument in Malfalfa Park, owned b.v the klan, was unveiled. o Lake Michigan Undertow Claims Lives Os Ten Grand Haven, Mich., July S—(U.R5 —(U.R) — Ten bathers were dragged to their deaths by a Lake Michigan undertow yesterday. Nine of the victims were carried far out into the lake after attempting to swim ashore from a float moored near the beach, while life guards battled to rescue four persons carried from a pier by turbulent waves. After saving all but one of the four persons, the guards sought to rescue the undertow victims but failed when their light boat was swamped by the heavy surf.

BERLIN-BOUND PLANE LOCATED AT GREAT WHALES Chicago Tribune Plane Found This Afternoon; Missing Since Yesterday ENCOUNTERS BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS Ottawa, Ontario, July S—(U.R) — The government radio station at Ft. Burwell in the Hudson Bay district reported this afternoon that the Chicago Tribune transAtlantic plane ‘Untin' Bowler had landed at Great Whales, 250 miles north of Port Burwell. Montreal, July 5 —(U.R) - The: Uniled Press has been informed that a message, timed 9:37 a.m., was received by the department of marine and fisheries at Ottawa from the Hopes Advance station, which is situated at the uppermost tip of the Province of Quebec, staling that an airplane, presumably the ‘Untin’ Bowler had been heard calling. The message read: “PCane heard calling—weather bad —signals loud." The information was confirmed by a later message received by the Montreal Star to the effect that the dominion government wireless station at Port Burwell at the entrance to Hudson Straits had broadcast a message stating that it had picked uip calls from an airplane shortly after 9:30 a.m. Port Burwell reported that the weather along the straits is bad o Mrs. E. E. Stanley To Speak At Pleasant Dale Mrs. Elizabeth E. Stanley, state president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, will give an address at the Pleasant Dale church in Kirkland township, Sunday evening, at 7:45 o’clock. Mrs. Stanley is noted as a forceful speaker. Special musical numbers will be given, also. The public is invited to attend. FIRE DAMAGES RADIO STATION Blaze At Fort Wayne, Started By Fireworks, Causes SBO,OOO Damage Fort Wayne, July s.—Fire starting in the Main Auto Supply company’s store on West Main street at 5:45 o'clock Thursday evening, caused heavy damage to the store and stock and to the studios of radio station WOWO, located on the second floot of the building. The damage was estimated at SBO,OOO, entirely covered by insurance. The broadcasting station is located at the rear of the second floor of the building and was damaged only by smoke and water. Officials of the Main Auto Supply company, who own and operate the radio station, said they hoped to be able to broadcast a program from the studio tonight. The sporting goods section suffered the smallest damage but the entire store will be closed for at least a week. Mr. Zieg said. Fire Chief John C. Stahlhut and Battalion Chief William Brandt directed the fire fighting and their department was complimented by officials of the company for quick work in checking the spread of the flames to the second floor of the building and saving the broadcasting station. The fire started, according to witnesses, when someone tossed a piece of fireworks commonly called a “devil chaser" on the sidewalk outside the door. The napping, flaming firecracker rebounded into the store and landed on a table filled with fireworks, setting off hundreds of dollars’ worth of the explosive, mostly those used in night displays. Skyrockets and flaming balls from Roman candles were swishing out the front of the store when firemen arrived. Several lines of hose were connected in front of the building and within a few seconds thousands of gallons of water were pouring into the building under heavy pressure.

Furnlahrd Hy Lulled I’reua

Bids On Four Roads To Be Received August 6 Proposals from contractors for the macadam roads in this county commissioners on Tuesday, August *>. The roads on which bids w 11 be received are the William Yager road in Kirkland township, the Andy Zeser hard surface road Improvement in Decatur, the Daniel O. Reinhart road in French township and the Charles Ahr road in St. Marys township These roads will be improved this summer. The Andy Zeser road improvement extends south over High street in Decatur. o WILLIAM MOUGEY VISITS DECATUR Manager Os Stockholm Plant Os General Motors Visits “Old Home Town” “European countries are rapidly adopting American manufacturing methods and the American automobile is the most popular car in Swedlen and Finland today,” William I Mougey. former Decatur boy. now I managing director of General Motors Nordiska corporation, in Stockholm, Sweden, stated this afternoon, when he came “back home” to meet old school box friends and visit here over the Fourth. Mr. Mougey arrived in the city yesterday afternoon with h* parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Mougey. from Toledo. This is his first visit here in several years and, since he left Decatur in 1917, he has been in China. India, Java, Denmark and Sweden, wheie he has Keen identified with the Geneial Motors corporation. He ie now manager of the Stockholm plant, where he employs 1,000 persons in the manufacture of American automobiles, namely the Buick. Oakland. Pontiac and the Chevrolet. Last year, nis > company manufactured 15,000 cars and trucks. Mr. Mougey has been in nearly every country on the globe and has resided in more than half a dozen countries since he became identified with the General Motors corporation. European countries are rapidly taking to the American automobile. They like its snap. American trucks are in great demand and production is being speeded up in those countries where General Motors and other large American manufacturing plants operate. Mr. Mougey came back to the States to attend an executive conference held in Pennsylvania last month. Mrs. Mougey and their three children came back with him. The' intend to return to Stockholm next month. The distance between Sweden and the United States has disappeared along with the old horse and buggy days and although out of this country for many years, Mr. Mougey is as conversant with American topics as the person who has lived here all his life. Mr. Mougey is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Holthouse today. He and his parents will return to Toledo tomorrow. ——o — County Council Makes Appropriations Today The county council met this morning at the auditor’s office in the court house and made appropriations to certain funds totaling $659.70. The largest appropriation was for $450, to cover a defficit in the fund for the testing of cattle. The members who attended the session this morning were M. Kirsch, James Kenney, Henry Dehner, William Baumgartner. August Conrad and Chris Eicher. o Rev. Fledderjohann And Family Plan Vacation The Rev. “and Mrs. A. R. Fledderjohann and daughters, Virginia and Letha, expect to leave next Monday for Winona Lake, where they will spend a number of weeks. Rev. Fledderjohann is planning to attend the Winona Summer School of Theology, which opens on July 10. Services at the local Reformed church will be held as usual as Rev. Fledderjohann expects to return for the week-ends. — — o Need More Rooms For Letter Carriers More rooms are neded to accommodate the visitors expected in Decatur to attend the state convention of rural letter carriers, to be held here July 6,7 and 8, it was announced today. Persons having rooms available are asked to telephone 243, 1021 or 328.

Price Two Cents

INDIANA TOLL LIGHT; SEVERAL PERSONS HURT Only One Death Occurs In Indiana During Celebration Os July Fourth FEW DEATHS DUE TO FIREWORKS Chicago, July 5. —<U.R)—Death rode the highways and stalked the beaches when Uncle Sam celebrated the 153rd anniversary of his freedom, more than 125 persons paying with their lives for the holiday, a nationwide survey by the United Press indicated today. Millions who dipped into oceans, lakes and rivers to seek relief from the heat, and those who motored to cooler sections, suffered the largest death toll. Estimates of the injured were placed at 400. No definite figures were available. Fireworks Not Blamed Contrary to other years, fireworks were responsible for almost a negligible numbeA of deaths. Two were reported from New York and one from Ohio. The death toll this year represents a substantial decrease over last year when nearly 200 persons paid with their lives for celebrating the Fourth. Twenty-one drownings in one state, Michigan, brought that c'assification total to 55. Ten were drowned at Grand Haven when they were caught in the Lake Michigan undertow. Automobile accident deaths were distributed over the nation, each state contributing from one to five for a total of 54. Indiana Toll Small Indianapolis, July 5. —(U.R)—Celebration of Independence day in Indiana took its usual toll of injured, reports received by the United Press in Indianapolis said today. It was unusual, however, in that no deaths attributable to the celebration were recorded. Although authorities said it was the most “safe and sane’ 'Fourth of July in Indiana in many years, many automobile accidents, fires, fireworks explosions and near drownings were reported. In Indianapolis, Edward Rice, negro racing car driver, was injured seriously when his machine overturned while he was competing in a 100-mile race. Rice was said to have driven his car into the rear of another in a cloud of dust. He was thrown high into the air and clear of his automobile which overturned. One traffic fatality was the only death recorded in Indianapolis by accident over the holiday. Martha Chamberlain, 5, died today of injuries received last evening when the auto in which she was riding was struck by an interurban car. Nine year-old Catherine Biltz, was injured seriously at Fort Wayne when a two-inch firecracker exploded in her mouth. The cracker had been tossed into a street and when it failed to explode the girl picked it up and placed it in her mouth while she lighted another. A residence was slightly damaged when a "home made" cracker crashed through the wall. No one was injured. Haskill Syers, 23, Yonngstown. ()., may lose the sight of an eye as the result of a cannon cracker explosion at Muncie. UNION SERVICE SUNDAY NIGHT First Os Series Os Services Scheduled To Be Held Next Sunday Night The first of a series of 'union evening services will be held at the Unit‘ed Brethren church on Sunday July 7, at 7:30 o'clock. Seven Protestant churches are cooperating in this effort, and it is hoped that a good attendance will be held at all of the set vices. The membership of the Presbyterian, United Brethren, Baptist Evangelical, Christian, Reformed and Methodist churches are urged to attend these meetings and an invitation to evetybody is hereby extended. The United Brethren church will have charge of the devotional and music programs and the Rev. M. W. Sunderman, pastor of th Eeavngelical church wil preach the sermon.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY