Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 28, Number 52, Decatur, Adams County, 1 March 1930 — Page 1

WEATHER

L ..I, fair toniflht K’“ C ° ld CMd portion. Cold ’Sunday-

!entral-north side in final game

'oyd Booher Returns To Work After Acquittal Verdict

iJwICT READ ■iKNCOBRT CROWD Brhinv Sc ~actc(i 'Wihleini.'ni'- Mother K Grech Her Son E i children IOR DADDY" 1 — !Oh’T. went bark _K,;. at !he Geneva Mill- . ■ and Adam his employer greeted Hird morning f|c wa- >juil e the same Kg man v.ith perhaps a K broader -mile on his ami niih perhaps a Wtlv swi A r right hand. .Krr .1 i" •_•<! by a jury mo; in \:m < * ircuit emu t !..< k >■'>’ nisht on a „■ ' 1 murder, for '■ Bcrbower at I nights in the ,'nl. Booher once r>i;rnist io h's mother and U^Kni.i 1 kid.tn - I.- retla aged 5 I. June aged 3. It was family which left the in i's would have r hundreds of «. ni'-'i < add a congratu- ’ greeting before got away and so ’hey stayn.' fl ’■in tired, and upauvi”U- _.-t home. MufcIt;.-*.-■. Boyd a good ami a ■ .ip of coffee WIW K «;|| ibitno and the two little isinp. d up and down sayHB Daddy gets Mo honi” with ns." a event in the lives who saw tlie final minutes |Hth>- la-tlay murder trial. At - 1 . and Wabash town- ■ friemls us the Boohers rein ” hoping and pray an early verdict. ■' few minutes which elapsed the knock on the jury ■ loot ami the reading of the Bet seemed like hours. Decouiiseis. [> B. Erwin and Eii hoi a both showed slight of lo rvutisness. Booner. who Mttained a brave front through- ■ the trial sat between Erwin ■ Eichotn, a little behind them, ■his lap sa> ms youngest daugh- ■ Bonn e. \ i jttle behind him ■ “i‘ mother. Mrs. Jane Booher ■ 011 hpr lap was the oldest ■ftter, Loretta. ■datives occupied the first ■’rows on the north.side of the ■*' Across the way were two y l ** state'* attorneys. Mrs. Re- ■ a Bern bower and Mrs. Arch Mr""’ t ‘ t ' l mother and widow ’of ■ Beerbower left immediately ■ J he l" r - v "“’ired and did not ■ONTIXCkd ON PAGE FOUR) H - - o ISMERLOCAL HUMAN EXPIRES ?• Frank Mock Dies at Lutheran Hospital at Fort Wayne "Il Wayne, Mar. l—(Special)— ■ ‘auk Mock, formerly a resi- ' « Adams County for 29 years i ntlay night at 11:45 o'clock e Lutheran Hospital, Fort intones I<>Wille aU operatiou for inu u l,urviv ed by her husband A, °‘ k ’ OUe daughter Mrs. J. , d ' one son George Mock, Mrs. W. C. Martz K . k a, “ 1 one s'epaon, Clyde c Wayne. Her aged fath s '“ Pry and the step-mother, )hp I ’' ry rpside at Pon Wayne itlim-?' Pr ' Mrs. Maggie Bolyard. Otto Neirider of this city, .’tep-sister, Irene Neirider of tb»r “ y I lle also aufvlve. The dor 1111 tWo * ,r °thers preceded in death. nerai se rvi e9B wlll be he!d at «ldence at 1310 Euclid Avenue »ided yne ,, wher e the family hat tin nt he past Bix *ears. Th ° Itmnnn f ’' neral WiH be Monda J' ti de at 2 °' CIOCk ' B « rl “l W|l ‘ 7 at v U the o<l<i Fellows Cemey at New Haven.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXVIII. No. 52.

(Crouch Enters Prison At Michigan City Today ■ " Lloyd S. Grouch, age 34, former mayor of Columbia City was taken to the state prison at Michigan City i| today, to begin serving a sentence of two to 14 years. Grouch, who wes cashier of the Provident Trust Company, Columbia City, was convicted of emhetrUn;; J lA,one ! lri e] ; ■ A Juiy found him guiily last week 1 and he was sentenced by Special Judge Rex Knierick last Thursday. The judge in sentencing him made the statement that he rT’gretted the law did not permit a more severe sentence. SNOOK PAYS FOR is GIRL’S MURDER • I — l Goes to Chair at 7:10 o’Clock Friday Wife Breaks Down Columbus, 0.. Mar. 1. —(U.R) — Dr. James Howard Snook, was host at ■ a dinner last night to his’wife and four guests in a steel-studded cell, lighted by a single, dim electric light. Two hours later, after bis hyster- , is al wife had l>een virtually. car lied from his cell rollowing their farewell, he walked through the cell door into an adjoining room and paid with hie life for the murder of his illicit sweetheart. Theora Hix. Ohio State University student. Snook, only a shadow of the stoical rugged and sun-tanned proles or of veterinary medicine, sat down in ihe electric chair. Guards adjusted the straps. A black death ' masF was drawn, and the current I was sfnt through his body at 7:10 p. m. Four minutes later physicians pronounced him dead and his body was removed. Five persons, Mrs. Snook, Rev. Isaac Mil'er. the Rev. H. H. Wall, prison*chaplain; Oscar Roedell, of Pomeroy, a classmate of Snook’s at college and Mrs. Frank Landrum. Mrs. Snook's cousin, sat with Snook at his last meal. Snook vvas brought into . the death chamber in an ill-fitting suit. The pants gapped at the waist and the coat bung wrinkled and loose from his gaunt shoulders. Two guards supported him on either side. He walked wit’h firm hut confused tread. He sat down in the chair and closed his eyes. Guards adjusted the clamps. His eyelids trembled but remained closed. A guard grasped his chin to adjust the head electrode. He moistened his lips and the next instant the black, leather death mask was dropped and the current was tearing through his body. Outside, in a prison shop, squad < of convicts clustered at windows, were silent as the prison lights flickered. Arrangeijients for the professor's funeral were to la- announced today. It was said his body would be cremated and the ashes placed in a mausoleum here or at Lebanon. Ohio, his birthplace. A physician, culled last night, was still attending Mrs. Snook early this morning and funeral arrangements depended largely upon her condition. Stolen Auto Found The new Ford automobile stolen from Floyd Gilpen of this city, was found in Fort Wayne Wednesday night by police and was ordered recovered by Sheriff Harl Hollingsworth today. Assessor Hold Meeting The Township assessors met with Jay Cline, County assessor, this morning at the Assessor s office in the house and received instructions and supplies to begin work assessing Monday morning. —o Gets Life Sentence Hammond, Ind., March I—(UP)— Harley Cochrane is under a life sentence to the state prison on conviction on charges of wounding a person with a gun during a robbery. In November Cochrane shot James Kovich during a holdup and attempted to attack Miss Esther Chattier, Kovich’s companion, on aat auto ride, evidence showed. i

Furnlahrd lly < I l*rr»B

FAIL TO CATCH SUSPECT AFTER EXCITING CHASE I • Man Leaves Car as Police Stop Him; Auto is Brought to Decatur SEEKS SAFETY IN CORN FIELD An exciting chase with an aiito--1 mobile and through a corn fi-’lil for la suspected law violator or possibly a criminal triok place between i Monroe and Berne last night, end inc west of Berne when the wanted i matt jumped from his auto and ran into the corn field. , About eight o'clock last evening a man in a Ford sedan shipped at the Johnson filling station, on state road No. 27, in Monroe ami askeri for gas and oil. While the attendant was busy taking off the top to the gas tank, the driver of the car suddenly changed his mind and started away in a hurry. Those around the station suspected something wrong and telephoned Night Policeman Alfred Zunbrum cf Berne. He and Noah Neuenschwander, town street commissioner, stationed themselves along the state road nor.h of Berne ami stopped a number of cars during the even tig When the auto in which the man who was seen at Monroe approach-d, Policeman Zunbrum signaled him to stop, but instead he put on the gas and made a sharp turn into the street, west of the state Toad and then got back on the main highway and went west. Mr. Neuenschwander gave, chase in his automobile and drove the man off the road. He jumped .out of the car and ran into a corn field. Neuenschwander did not (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) DEATH CALLS NEVAGERBER Fort Wayne Girl, Known Here Dies After Short Illness, Friday Miss Neva Lucile Gerlier, 17-year old South Side high school girl and daughter of Professor C. A. Gerber, instructor of music in the Fort Wayne Bible Training School, died at her home at 440 West Rranning Avenue, Fort Wayne. Friday evening at six o'clock. Death was caused by a complication of diseases. The deceased had only been bedfast four days.' Tuesday evening Miss Gerber returned from school and since that time was bedfast. Since Christmas physicians have stated that her condition was becoming weakened but she continued attending South Side high school, where she was a senior, until last Tuesday. Miss Gerber together with her father had visited in this city on many occasions, when they conducted song servicee at the local Evangelical church during revival meetings, and Ihe deceased had a host of friends in this city. She was a devoted member of the First Missionary Church of Fort Wayne and of the Sunday school for many years. She was prominent in musical circles in Fort Wayne and had eung over the radio on several occasions. She was born at Fori Wayne, December 22, 1912, the daughter of Prof. C. A. and Mrs. Anna Laura Gerber, both of whom survive. One brother, Virgil G. Gerlier and one sister, Ruth Naomi Gerber also survive, and reside at home. The grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Wonser of Bryan. Ohio, and Daniel Gerber of Pandora, Ohio, also survive. Funeral services will lie held Monday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the Gerber home in Fort Wayne, and at 2 o’clock at the First Missionary Church in Fort Wayne. Rev W. O. Klopfenstlne of Fort Wayne will be the officiating minister and will be assisted by Mr. J. E. Ramseyer, president of the First Missionary Church Association, Fort Wayne. Burial will be made in the Lindenwood cemetery at Fort Wayne.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, March I, 193(1?

Not Guilty A .!■ jtf'-to’ A , I jalopy' | b-'i i-o f ' ; i 1 <' • fc' • Boyd Booher Boyd Booher was acquitted of the murder charge by a jury in the Ai.am ( ircu t court at 7:u5 hist night The charge against Booher was | administering poisoning to Arch Beerbower, who died June 2, 1929, i fol owing the taking of a drink of liquor.

FOUR CRIMINAL CASES ARE SET Two Rape Cases and Two Liquor Law Violation Cases Set Four criminal cases have been set in Adams circuit court for the next eight days the court calendar showed today. The most Important case probably is the one ventted here from Jay circuit court entitled state vs. Joseph A. Long, charging rape, it will be tried Marell 10. Long is a prominent Portland citizen and the alleged incident crea't d much comment when it occured at Portland some time ago. Prosecutor I Zo:i Wyatt of Jay county was here (.today arranging a date for the case, 1 I Mrs. Wyatt' ditl not say whe he l ' she would ask for assistance in prosecution of the case. Next Tuesday two liquor law violations are said to have occurred at different tints. Tlie petit jury will hear the cases. , On Thursday of next week the case of state vs. Lewis Sampson charged with rape will be tried. The case has been on the criminal docket for some time. The Court indicated today that docket for tlie rest of the present term would be crowded in order that the docket might be cleared of th*? congestion of cases caused by the lack of facilities when the court room was being remodeled. J.W,MEHSTU MANAGE HOTEL Purchases Fixtures of National in This City; ’ to Move at Once J. W. Meiliers, well known Decatur business man t today became the proprietor of the National Hotel, purchasing the fixtures from A. C. Houser. Mr. Meibers will operate th” hotel. He and Mrs. Meibers an I adopted daughter will move into an apartment in the hotel. The Nation al has twenty rooms and is oiie of the well known hotels in this part ot the state. Mr. Meibers operated the place several years ago and stated today that some remodeling would be done to the interior of the place at once. o Fogle Is Candidate S. J. Fogle, well known Adams County farmer, announced today that he is a candidate for the republican nomination for assessor of Jeffetson township. Mr. Fogle served as assessor tn his township several years ago and will make an active campaign for the nomination this year.

John Tonner Seeks French Township Post John ■Tenner. French towiisbip Ma MOF ttiday announced lie would seek the office for another term of fojtr years subject to the decision of the Democratic primary vot- [ ers next May. Mr.' Tonner. who has served a iTerm as assessor stated today that if su< < > .s<ful in the primary and general election lie would continue to serve bis people in the same efficient manner. MANIAC KILLED AT DEFIANCE Man Hol<|s Officers at Bay in Gun Battle for Hours; Kills. Wife Defiance, 0.. Mar. I.— (U.R)- - A scene' reminiscent of "no man’s land" ‘remained today to mark the place where an escaped lunatic who had slain h’s wife barricaded himself for five hours and wounded three ot his beseigers before a dynamite charge blew up his position and killed him. Windows wit.hin a radius of a quarter mile of th. l Hubert Floehr home were slialtin .’d by tha d,'. namite charge, there still lingered in the air faint traces of Hie tear gas with which police tried to drive Flos hr into tlie open and the neighborhood was scarred by bullets. Floehr. aged 6(1, a powerful buildtag contractor, escaped front a’To-| ledo asylum, came back to his wife! and son here and was given sanctn-1 ary. The son, William, 32, said his father and mother quarreled yesterday over a daughter, Elsie, a school teacher at Petersburg, W. Va., and Floehr in a fury shot his wife to death. William escaped out of the house while his father tired after him. When Chief of Police Karl Wenner and the ' entire police force reached tlie home, they found Floehr had provided himself with ammunition and was running from window to window, shooting at anyone who approached. (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) i—O— Stowaways To Return Honolulu. T. H.. March I—(UPI'-1 —(UPI'11. I. Groner, 22, Greensville, Ind., and D. E. Wheeler, 23. Winona Lake Ind., former DePauw university sophomores, were to start on their way back to the United States today under orders of authorities. The two youths spent yesterday and last niglit in the city jail after being taken from the steamer city of Honolulu as stowaways. They had "Deck-swabbed" their way to the Hawaiian Islands after announcing their presence on the City of Honolulu outbound from Los Angeles.

Slnlr, Solloiihl 4nd lulorvnilounl »<■«*■

IMPROVEMENT NOTEDJNTAFT ■ Belief Apparent That Condition Can Not be Maintained Long Washington. Mar. 1. (U.R) Wil liam Howard Taft rallied from his long hours of illness — an illness which doctors say will bring death at almost any time now—sufficiently to speak today and doctors said his condition was slightly improved. I Dr. Thomas Claytor. one of the jlwii attendants upon the aged former president, was the first pliysii cian to i-all on Mr. Taft today. He knocked at the door of the former I chief justice's room and Mr. Taft bid him "come in" with a low, alnm t inaudible voice. h was .tli” fiist time in more than 36 hours that Taft had be ’ i sib’e to speak., although he .bad been able to recognize variois persons. Igiter Claytor was joined by Dr. Francis Hifgner and they issued the following bulletin: "The condition of the former ' chief justice fs slightly improved as evidenced by a moderate rise in his blood pressure which had ; been continuously falling for the | past three days." BOARD DEFERS PAROLE ACTION 1 I). C. Stcohenson Must Wait 30 Davs to Learn Pardon Decision 1 Michigan City.. Ind.. March 1 — (UP) —D C. Stephenson, fm-nn r law. executive now serving a life term ; in state’s prison on charges of murdering Miss Madge Oberholtzer. must wait 30 days for a decision of the pardon board on bis petition for a temporary parole. His plea for a 90-day tempora r y I r lease was heard late yesterday by I two memliers of the board of trustees of the State prison and Gov. | Harry (1. Leslie. Two remaining I members of Ihe board w.ere in i Florida and will be sfu' transcripts lof testimony presented yesterday. The full hoard will meet March 2S to decide the case. Stephenson's petition was presented by attoj’ney Pan! V. Newman. Gary. It asked that the klan leader be given 90 days of freedom in which to gal iter evidence to be used in his appeal to the supreme court. Stephenson was convicted in Ham ilten county in 1925. The petition w.as based upon ari affidavit signed by Dr. Mabel C. Falls, formerly of Gary, now residing in Weed Cal., which stated Miss Oberholtzer may have died as a result of an illegal operation. Newman said lie had been invistigating this angle to the alleged murder since 1925. MISSING MAN IS FOUND DEAD Gas Filled Rbom Holds Body of Former Chicago Heights Police Chief Chicago, Mar. 1-—(U.R)—One of two missing men — one a police judge and the other a former chief of police—was found dead today in a gas-filled room in Chicago Heights, village on the south fringe of Chicago which last year wars seized for 24 hours by government agents and given a thorough dry’ cleaning. Police Magistrate James M. Ferom of Oak Park on the West Side—was being hunted today. His disappearance was ,clouded by mystery. His cb-workers said lie was safe but his family believed he suffered a nervous breakdown. The holy of Edward Cassidy, former chief of police ‘of Chicago Heights wlio started the crusade to rid the village of vice and gambling a year ago, was found today by Sergeant John Brick, a member of the police force Cassidy formerly headed. Cassidy resigned after tlie cleanup. When Brick stood in his front (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO)

Price Two Cents

Gets Sentence For Cruelty to Collie Dog lmliana.polis, Mar. I (U.R) Th” maximum penalty was dealt to Roy C oat, 32, when he was convicted on a charge of lying ami gagging a neighbor's Collie dog, and leaving it in an isolated place to starve. Cioai was fifii d s2.' a-twl sentenced to serve 60 days in Jail, upon conviction of a charge of cruelty to animals. His defense was that he had supposed someone would pick up the dog, and had not intended that it starve. PORTLAND CLUB PLANS PROGRAM Music Club to Give Reciprocity Program for Decatur Woman’s Club The Decatur Woman’s Cub will entertain Ihe ladies of the Portland Musical Club of Portland. Indiana at the Decatur Country Club, Monday evening. March 3, at 7:45 o'clock. On Friday. February 21. the local Music Section of the Woman's Club were delightfully entertained tv the Portland ladies and the Music section, together with the entire Woman's Club including the Junior Aits Department have united in issuing invitations to the Portland ladies for the affair Monday evening. The urogram wi'l lie presented by the Portland ladies and .will be as follows; Girls’ Chorus Piper of Love Molly Carew The Brownies Leoni Stebbefis Sung by—Helen Hall. Delore* Ashcraft. Daphne Scott. Helen Shinip, Mary Ross. Pauline Fulton. Helen Ross; Doris Harvey, director. Piano Morning Peer Gynt Suite-Grelg Delores Ashcraft, Mary Ross Vocal Friend of Mine Carrie Timmonds Piano Hungarian Rhapsodic No. 11 Miss Doris Harvey Quartette Little Bluebird of My Heart Tlie Night lias a Thousand Eyes Sung by: Mrs. John Baumgartner. Miss Carrie Timmonds. Mrs. C. V. Bibler, Mrs. James Hearn. Vocal Aghadoe, and The Call of Radhn Mrs. Paul Jaqfia String Trio Twilight Friml Forgotten Cowles Daphne Scott. Violin: Helen Hall, ce'lo, Kathryn Jaqua, piano. Chorus De Coppah Mooh Frazer-Shelley Heav’n - Heaven Burleigh Didn't It Rain Burleigh Vocal De Glory Road Mrs. Clyde Harris Chorus Goin' Home .... Dvorak-Fisller SOPRANOS: Mrs. John Baumgartner. Mrs. Orien Holsapple, Mrs. W. B. Schwartz. Mrs. Donald Hall, Miss Doris Harvey, Miss Helen Shimp. Miss Helen Hall. Mise Daphne Scott, Miss Pauline Fulton. Miss Helen Ross, Mrs. James Fleming. Mrs. Arthur Ford, Mrs. Clyde Harris, Mrs. A. W. Landauer. ALTOS: Misis Delores Ashcraft, Mrs. C. V. Bibler, Mrs. E. M. Haynes, Mis, Earl Cartwright, Miss Mary Ross. SECOND ALTOS: Mrs. James Hearn, Mrs. Lawrence Paddock. Mrs. Harold Siders, Mrs. Win. Downhour. Miss Carrie Timmonds. Miss Louise Timmonds, Mrs. Fred Smith. Accompanists: Mrs. Wm. Parks, Mrs. Orien Holsaipple. Mrs. Lawrence Paddock. Director: Mrs. Donald Hall. Bryant Man Faces Federal Sentence Indianapolis, Mar. 1. —(U.R) — Either a prison or sanitarium term awaits John Q. Carroll, 63-year-old Jay county farmer, who pleaded guilty ilate yesterday before Federal Judge Robert C. Baltzell, on charge of mailing poisoned gumdrop* to an enemy. Carroll told the court hr bought poison in Portland, and put a drop in each of the gumdrops that he addressed to William L. Girard, Gaston hardware • dealer, two montlui ago. An old grudge caused th<“act, he said. But he denied Intent to kill, saying he merely wished to make Girard sick.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

ILIBERTY CENTEROSSIAN MEET IN BLUFFTON TILT

No Upsets in Morning Sessions; Sectional Finals Tonight - 1 —• DAILY DEMOCRAT TO RECEIVE SCORES Central defeated South Side, j 17-16-in Ihe last of the semiI final basketball games in the I Fort Wavne sectional at j North Side gymnasium this I afternoon in one of the greatest games of the first round | games in Indiana yesterday and today. Tin* score at half time was tied 111-11. . South Sih’ took an only lead of four points in the second half and held it until the last stanza was half over. Central tied tlie count and went into a single point lead. Both teams had several shots at the basket in the closing minutes but failed to register. North Side defeated Huntertown in the other semi-final game and Central and North Side will meet in the final game at S o’clock at North Side tonight. Ossian and Liberty Center went into the finals at Bluffton by winning their semi-final games. Liberty Center defeated Rock Creek 23-14 and Ossian defeated Chester Center 23-10. After a few apMta in the Bluffton and Fort Wayne sectionals. Adams county awakened today to find out that not a single Adams county team remained in either tournament. At 9:30 o'clock Friday night when Berne was swept down in an overtime game at Bluffton by Liberty Center the last Adams county hope was.ont of the nt lining. At Fort Wayne, Central Tigers, tourney favoritec sinc<> lliev upset . the dope by trimming Decatur Friday afternoon went into the semi-finals bv defeating Teo netters 40-29.’ Leo staged a surprise in the opening half and made the Tigers extend themselves to get a lead. North Side bad a tussel with Monroevi'le before downing tlmt. tough lighting team 24-14 in the first, morning game. North Side (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) O ana, ('old Weather Forecast For Tonight and Sunday Indianapolis. March 1— (CP) — The proverbial March Lion will dis card its lamb's habiliments tonight for a shaggy mane and threatening roar, wording to foreasttf' of j. H. Armington . IT. S. weather bttrea meteoroligist Temperatures -will drop to he tween 29 and 30 degrees. Armington said, and a strong wind is expected Tlie cobl wave will probably lasi until Monday, and perhaps longer, he said. It will b” acute in northern Indiana, but probably will not be accompanied by snow in any part of the state. VIRGIL COOK FACES ARREST Local Young Man Indicted by Federal .Jury on Auto Theft Charge Virgil Cook of this city is named in an indictment charging him with violation of the National Motor Vehicle Theft act. He was arrested yesterday and posted a SSOO bond. Cook was sentenced last November to 30 days at the penal farm. PutmanviHe, for chicken stealing He and Dewey Shaler were charged with stealing chickens from Sherman Alexander, living east of Decatur. Shafer was given six months at the penal farm. The cases were tried in Mayor George Krick's court. When Sheriff Harl .Hollingsworth went to arrest Cook, the later stole an automobile from near Paulding. Ohio, and drove it to Decatur, when he abandoned it. He is charged with stealing this automobile. Cook has served his penal farm sentence. He and 56 other persons in the Fort Wayne district were indicted by the Federal grand Jury in session at South Bend this week.