Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 28, Number 169, Decatur, Adams County, 18 July 1930 — Page 1

[ weather ■ mv f»l f ,outh '

Innamed witness saw lingle murder

SESMES h DEFEAT: ||S SARCASTIC Lien Senatorial Lien Chairman la [Leading hght E'l.i:chai {,:e1 ’ L»«* ,'VT Eting l« * lu, ‘. h ‘ ‘ j L as “the indecent I with which consideraI; this treaty is being L|" Senator Moses, New Lire, chairman of the Lean senatorial caniI committee amt an» L n senate leader, conL| the London naval Lotlav and urged its rSech w« s Rharp and " ar ‘ | Ho finished it with the re■that he was thankful of the Lnity to speak today "outside Lbw of the garotte." referrrthe threat of cloture or L«tons made by Majority L Watson. Lent Hoover and Secretary L Stimson, Moses said, had L|r offended the repreeentaLs the American people” by Liner and method of placing Ealy before the senate. ■ 0 — Ld Civil War Vet [Dies At Indianapolis Lnapolis. July 18—<UP) —MilLbinson. 90. negro Civil war L, died at his home in InLoli> after having been over [by heat. [itbon served in the G4th Mas■etts volunteers, the first regi[of negro soldiers to be organ|tn the same basis as Hied on the eve of the annivern the capture of Fort Wagner, | during which his regiment ■early wiped out in a charge ■ the confederate earthworks ■tris Island, opposite CharlesBe battle occurred July IS, pts State Forest In All Indiana Counties lanapolis, July 18. —(U.R)— I Wilcox, state forester, today laced the goal of the state pation department is ”A Iforest in ( every county." lan effort to interest business

hull other citizens in the movel Wilcox has arranged for a r tour of the state forest next fc, start.ng from Indianapolis. | otor Truck Crashes | ia| iapii!/is, July 18—(UP)—A liwck and trailer carrying $5,F nl ' of merchandise careened I"* ™ ad ai ‘d was destroyed by Indianapolis today. FY Richs, 22, Chicago driver P? ri ' and severe cuts truck crashed into a tree L the road. He said Icur™ r ° 'h o transport L~ —o— ffl WORSHIP ’ll CONTINUE to Dew Sunday Night SerInon at 7:30 P. M. F« n 7°3O Se m iCe neXt Sunt * av Jh be T a ; e the fc li r e wlt h Truth" 6 Tv, eme: “ Face vital in. h ' Thls is a suble ’»luiitary re wlli° , £Verybody - Wntv-J) J ,)e Played pffhesira- ’"Th® f ohn pounded." he 1Ia “ d lhat pwSwni b’ P Plrat Kvaib the Benina b ®, present and iron’s i A!s oolation S w 0 [ n tb ®' ocal Min ' wshlp. wll ,akft Part in . ?'^”ulton° rdially invited t 0 ie lnt «rest of t h rVlCe arran Bed ot the general pub- , i

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXVIII. No. 169.

One of the James • •» - \ I J r Wk* ' - < ' ’’iiyl' IS I ZIM isb s ’ * ■» 'TV ..«<SS»W Jesse James 111, grandson of the bold, bad man from Missouri, who in the ’7os was looting banks and expt ess trains, and was finally slain by a member of his band, is in jail in Chicago following his attempt to obtain a black checkbook in a bank. Jesse blames his name for his "bad luck." MURDERFARM WOMAN FOUND Former LaPorte Worman Believed Located In Mississippi Town BULLETIN Jackson, Miss., July 18. —(U.R) — The whereabout >of a woman suspected of being Mrs. Belle Gunness. accused as an Indiana "murder" balm proprietor more than two decades ago became a matter of conjecture in Mississippi today. Officers here were bitter in their criticism of Indiana authorities, who, they said, ‘‘let the cat out of the bag" when they permitted reports to be published that capture of a woman known as Mrs. J. V. Smith and suspected of being Mrs. Gunness was planned. Laporte. Ind., July 18. — (U.R) — Belle Gunnes, whose disappearance in 1908 was followed by charges that she had killed 15 men on her "murder farm” near here, may be under arrest before night, it was indicated today in messages received by police from Jackson, Miss. • The messages, from Sheriff Tom

Moore of Hinds county, Mississippi, stated that Moore felt certain a woman who has been living in his county for a numlier ot years is | Mrs. Gunnes and that he expected to arrest her late today. Suspicion was directed at the Mississippi woman, who has been known and respected there under the name of Smith, by a man who once worked at her "murder farm," according to reports received here. This man, tt was said, recognized Mrs. Gunnes, now about 70 years old, watched h r for months until lie was certain of his identification, then notified Sheriff Moore. Belle Gunnes for years has been one of the most notorious characters in the annals of American crime and her disapp arance has been called one of tlie country's greatest unsolved mysteries. Doubt often has been expressed that she was alive, some believing that she and her three children may have been burned to deatli in the fire that destroyed her farm home and led to discovery of her “private graveyard," in which were found the bones of 15 men whom she was charged with killing to (CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT) Many People Visit , New Funeral Home Hundreds of people visited the new funeral home of Ashbaucher & Maynard, Inc., opened in the Adams property on Mercer avenue, recently purchased by the new firm, last evening and today and many more are expected to do so this evening and tomorrow, tiie occasion being the formal opening. The home is splendidly equipped, is modern in every way and the company carries a large stock of every thing in their line. The home ie well designed for the purpose and the funeral home is one of the finest In this part of the state.

Faralahrd Ry I ailed rreaa

RAIN FORECAST IN FEW HOURS Weather Forecasters Say Rain and Cooler Weather Will Arrive Soon With a promise of rain before Saturday night, Decatur and Adams county continued to swelter under a hot sun today as the mercury moved upward toward new levels. Cornfields were in serious danger of burning up, according to farmers in all parts of the county. State weather forecasters said that in all probabilities northern Indiana wAould feel real summer showers tonight or Saturday at the latest. The sky remained clear most of today and at 2 o’clock this after noon the temperature was back tn the nineties. in several parts of the countv theie has been no rain for six weeks and farmers in these localities say that some of the corn is damaged beyond aid. Other farmers say several hours of rain will aid the corn materially and perhaps will save the entire crop. Rivers and streams are the lowest they have been in years and several small streams running into the Wabash and St. Marys rivers are completely dry. Quarries, sandpits and ponds also are at low water marks. o Pythian Picnic Sunday The annual Indiana picnic of the Grand Lodge, Knights of Pythias will be held next Sunday at the state Pythian’s Home, Lafayette. Hundreds of members and their families are expected to attend the annual summer meet. Several prominent workers in the national organization will attend. A number from Decatur will motor to Lafayette Sunday. Q Fire Damages Town Oaktown, Ind., July IS. —(U.R) — Loss of $30,000 was suffered in a fire in the business section of Oaktown last night. Buddings razed were those occupied by the Oaktown bank, a clothing store, doctor’s office and the hall of the 1. O. O. F. lodge. Origin was undetermined. Brook Allen, volunteer fireman, suffered injuries when lie fell from a truck. Vincennes firemen brought equipment, but as Oaktown is without a water system, water was obtained from tenders of the C. & E. I. railroad locomotives, which made special runs for the purpose.

BANDITS SHOOT DOWN POLICE Captured After Chicago Hold-up, Two Men Draw Concealed Weapons Chicago, July 18. — (U.R) —Two bandits who were captured holding up a garage and were being held awaiting, arrival of a patrol wagon suddenly drew guns today, shot down the two officers who had arrested them, killing one and seriously wounding the other. The bandits escaped. The policeman killed was John Guiltanane, who was shot through the head. His companion, officer Anthony P. Wistort, was shot through the abdomen and it was feared ids wound would prove fatal. Guiltanane and Wistort had been looking for the two men in a small sedan, only one light of which was burning, who had held up an oil station earlier today. The officers decided to visit the Morgan Auto Sales Agency in the belief the bandits might have gone there to have their auto headlight repaired. Whent he officers stepped into the garage tliey discovered one of the bandits holding up Elisha Alford, negro night porter. Surprised from behind by the officers, the bandit surrendered without offering resistance and ■ his companion, who was waiting outside, also surrendered immediately. The bandits handed over their guns as Policeman Fred Jergun, on patrol duty, walked past. Guiltanane and Wistort asked Jergun to call a patrol wagon for them and stood with their prisoner awaiting UN PAGE EIGHT)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, July 18, 1930.

Find Body of Air Mail Pilot • **** * The search for Maurice Graham, Western Air Express mail pilot, who lias been missing since January 10, ended July 17 when his body was found near Cedar City, Utah, six miles from where his wrecked plane was discovered late in June.

DECATUR MEN'S BROTHER DIES Isaac Sprague Expires at \an Wert Hospital Thursday Night Isaac Sprague, 68, Rockford, Ohio farmer and brother of Harve and John Sprague of this city died at 6:30 o’clock last night at the Van Wert, Ohio hospital following injuries received in an accident whica occurred five weeks ago. Mr. Sprague received a fractured leg and other injuries when a train struck his car five weeks ago and since that time has been in the Van Wert hospital. Complications developed and caused his death. Surviving is one daughter. Hazel at home and seven brothers. Harve and John Sprague of this city, Willis Sprague of Fostoria, Ohio; Charles. Lewis and Elmer Sprague of Monroeville, and Jess Sprague of Columbus Ohio.. Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the home in Rockford and at 2:30 o’clock at the Rockford M. E. Church Burial will lie made at Rockford.

British Steamer Strikes Iceberg; Is Held Fast London, July 18 —(UP)' — The British steamer Dalryan, en rou'e to Montreal from Swansea, struck an iceberg and is still held fast. The Dalryan ran head-on into the iceberg. She gave her nosition as approximately 51.50 north and 55.59 west, and reported that two holds were shipping water. Repairs are being completed while the vessel is still on the ice. An attempt to pull away will be made when the weather Clears. The steamship Athenia is standing by, Lloyds says. GRANGE WILL ASSIST BOARD National Organization Does Not W ant to Join Debenture Plan Washington, July 18 —(UP) —The National Grange will give President Hoover’s federal farm board every opportunity to work out a solution on the existing farm problems. Lewis J. Taber, master informed the President at the White House today. Taber said the Grange is declining to join in the farm bloc effort to revive the equalization fee or debenture plan of relief. “As soon as business and financial America realize that commodity prices now are at rock bottom ther« will be an upturn," Taber said. “We will stand behind the board and give it every possible chance." o— Gaukers Visit Here Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Gauker and daughter Miss Mildred of Indianapolis arrived in Decatur today to spend the week-end at the home of Sheriff and Mrs. Harl Hollingsworth. The Gaukers formerly lived in Adams county. They will return to their home Monday.

STREET FAIR DRIVE STARTS NEXT MONDAY Finance Committee To Solicit Farm Show Funds From Merchants GREAT EVENT IS PLANNED The finance committee of the Decatur Free Street Fair association, of which C. O. Porter is chairman, will call on local merchants and professional men next week to obtain funds for the agricultural show to be held in connection with the 1930 Street Fair; September 9-13 inclusive, it was announced today. Letters were mailed today by the committee, explaining the approaching drive and urging that all merchants and professional men aid in making the agricultural show a success. Almost all the space along Second street has been sold for concessions and indications are the Fair this year will be a great success. Considerable money is needed to make the farm products show possible and all money obtained from merchants will go as premiums and tent rentals for the various farm exhibits. Among the farm shows will be the horse, dairy cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry, farm products, pet stock, flower, beef cattle, and woman's departments. All residents of Adams county are invited to eater stock in the various shows and from present indications the farm product shows will be larger than last year when new records were established in every department. It is impossible to put on the show without financial aid from the merchants, Paul Grahamfi general chairman pointed out. “We are particularly desirous of getting the money early this year,’’ Mr. Graham said, in order that we migh' know just how large the shows will be.” _ o Farm Bureau To Meet Joe Winteregg, business manager of the Adams County Farm Bureau announced today that a Farm Bureau meeting would be held at the Kohr School in Union Township Monday evening. July 21. W. A. Wherry will preside as chairman of the meeting. L. L. Needier, Secretary of the State Farm Bureau will be the principal speaker. Two reels of motion pictures will also be shown. CLAIMS TOBE 156 YEARS OLD Turk, Born in 1774 is Here For Visit; Will Aid Experiment Providence, R. I. July IS—(UP)--Zaro Aglia, who claims to have posi-. tive proof that he was born Feb. 16, 1774 arrived today from his native Turkey aboard the S.S. Sinaia, not, he said emphatically, in search of a wife. Reporters who greeted him expected to find a wizened old gentleman looking fully his 156 summers but were met by a rather affable person in conventional American attire—light gray felt hat, blue serge suit, and a bamboo cane. He looked to be about 85 or 90, according to some, and the only indication of extreme age was his furrowed skin, which had taken on a somewhat leathery appearance. Garo Acha cannot speak English but his great-great-grandson, Ashmut Musa, who is 33 acted as interpreter. “1 want you gentlemen to understand one thing,’’ Acha said, “and that is that 1 am not looking for a wife. 1 have had 11 wives and am now living with my eleventh, who is 64. 1 married iter four years ago and I am very sorry ahe could not accompany me to America. She is back in Constantinople. We are very happily married and I want the good women of America to know that I am not in the marriage market.” Agha believes the husband should be the boss of his home, if possible he said. He prefers brunettes. Agha, who claims never to have drunk intoxicating beverages, said his purpose in coming here was not propaganda but to visit physicians scientists, and hospitals in the effort to help find the secret of longevity.

State, National And Intereatloual Newa

KOLB TRIAL IS NEAR FINISH Greenfield Farmer Will Know Fate Soon; Takes Stand In Defense Greenfield, Ind., July 18. — 'U.R) — George Kolb, 55, Rushville farmer, today raced th.- cut, of his trial in Hancock circuit court charged with the murder of his third wife Edna Dagler Kolb. Kolb was the last defense witness yesterday when he sat before the court and denied that he gave strychnine to his third wife or his second, Mattie Laramore Kolb, with whose murder he also is charged in a Rush county indictment. Kolb told of amicable relations with the two wives that the state charges lie killed with strychnine. He told of marriage to his first wife, in 1909. Then he related his second matrimonial venture, in 1926, and of the death of the second wife. He described her as a nervous woman, inclined to hysterics and fainting spells, and having a weak heart. She died in April, 1927. The third wife, Edna Dagler Kolb, the defendant said, was a quiet, lovable woman, tor whom he held great affection. The morning of her death, Kolb said, she complained of sleeping poorly. For some time she had grieved over her son's death on an auto race track, Kolb testified. “Edna said she took a capsule of quinine and thought it would be good for me to take one, too,” Kolb told the jury. He saw her take nothing, he said, but he swallowed the potion she offered. Kolb admitted having attempted suicide after the body of his second wife had been exhumed last December 27. “It was more than I could endure," he said. He testified he had taken strychnine in the attempt. BULLETIN Hartford City, July 18— (U.R)— At 11:30 o’clock today a Ion; unmasked bandit entered the Commercial Bank at Daleville, south of Muncie, in Delaware county, and after holding up Newton Barnard, cashier and his assistants, Miss Margaret Good, escaped with S4OO in cash and currency. Mrs. Billy Sunday, Jr., To Marry In California

Hollywood, Calif., July 18 —(UP) Just one year from the date she was granted interlocutory decree of divorce from Billy Sunday, Jr., son of the noted evangelist, Mrs. Mae Sunday will marry Wallace Davis, Los Angeles attorney, she announced today. The wedding will be held in the Congregational church here September 20, with Bebe Daniels, film actress, as bridesmaid. The couple met when Mrs. Sunday was preparing to divorce her husband and Davis acted as her counsel. o THREE GUNMEN DIE IN CHAIR Buffalo Gangsters Pay For Life of Restaurant Proprietor Ossining, N. Y., July 18—(U.R) — Three Buffalo gunmen paid the state’s penalty for murder last night and died within 20 minutes of each other in the electric chair at Sing Sing prison. The men were Alexander Bogdenoff, Max Rybarczyk, and Stephen Grezchowiak. They were convicted of killing Ferdinand Fechter, restaurant proprietor, during a holdup. Bogdenoff's attempt to assume ail the blame failed to result in reprieves for the others but Rybarczyk and GrNc))g SHRDL SHR S their innocence to the last. Grezhowiak, a World War veteran, was smoking a cigarette as he entered the death chamber. He asked Warden Lewis E. Lawes permission to finish the cigarette, and inhaled one deep puff. Then he sat down in the chair. “Take a good look, gentlemen,” he said. “You are seeing an innocent man die." The straps were adjusted and (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO)

Price Two Cents

Going to Galveston Sih i IHI ■ f Ji Miss Bernice Decker, who was selected as Miss Chicago, to represent that city in the International Pageant of Pulchritude at Galveston. Texas, which will be staged August 2. TWO TAKEN TO INSTITUTIONS Mrs. Grace Ruckman Is Committed to State Hospital at Richmond Sheriff and Mrs. Harl Hollingsworth motored to Richmond Thursday afternoon where they entered Mrs. Grace Ruckman of this city in the Richmond State Hospital. Mri. Ruckman had previously been at the hospital for a year and was recommitted yesterday. A 16-year old son of Mrs. Ruckman was placed in jail yesterday and will be emmitted to the state colony tor feeble-minded youths. Two physicians were named recently by the court to assist the Ruckman family doctor in examining the lad. He was adjudged to be of a below normal mental degree, and following the examination was placed in jail. Sheriff Hollingsworth, accompanied by his son Edwin and Arthur’ Clark today motored to Putnamvilie where Ira Carpenter will begin serving a sentence at the state penal farm. Carpenter was found guilty of public intoxication and was unable to pay his fine. o . RUTH TAKE TO ATTEND FAIR Wins Trip to State Fair at Picnic at Berne Thursday The Purdue extension service pic nic held yesterday in Lehman s grove at Berne and sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce in that town was a huge success. More than 150 people interested in extension service enjoyed a basket lunch and then gathered in the pavilion for the formal program. Emanuel Jarache and his wife opened the program with three Mexican songs. O. F. Gilliom welcomed the guests for the Berne Chamber of Commerce. Earl Knaus, state leader of extension service gave the principal address and (Tifton Striker, county superintendent of schools spoke of the pi ogress of (CONTINUED ON PAGE SEVEN) 0 Admits Cause For Quitting State Job Indianapolis, July 18—(UP)—Repot ts of Incompetence led to resignation of Bruce E. Cooper as field auditor of the state gasoline tax department, he had admitted. Cooper denied that he was asked by Archie N. Bobbit, auditor of State, to resign but said he had heii’d reports that he was inefficient, and because of them, withdrew from office.. Reports had been turned in by Cooper, it was learned, that bootleg gas distributors in northern Indiana, were paying their share of the gas tax. Subsequent to these reports Leland K. F’ishback, gas tax collector, went north himself, and uncovered fraud against the state totalling approximately SIOO,000, in addition to other irregularities on the part of three companies.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

SWANSON SAYS WOMAN CLAIMS I TO BE WITNESS | State’s Attorney Did Not Say If Murderer Was Identified MAY SOLVE MURDER PLOT Chicago, July 18. — <U.R> — I State’s Attorney John A. j Swanson announced today a ’solution of the murder of Alfred J. Lingle, Chicago Trib- | une crime reporter, has been II obtained through an unnami ed woman eye-witness. “She saw the killer shoot Lingle,” Swanson said. 1 The experience caused the woman to suffer a nervous breakdown, and she is under the care of a physician, the state’s attorney said. Swanson's announcement was made with evident jubilation at the possibilities opened up by the discovery of the witness. "We regard her as the ’key’ to the Lingle killing," he said. “It is the first tangible progress we have made toward solving the I mystery." Because, he said, it might hamper the investigation started by the mystery woman's story, Swanson ’ would not say whether the slayer had been identified. Neither would he give details of the witnesses story, or reveal whether a motive had been found. “The woman is a ’key’ witness. [ We cannot give the details of her i story," Swanson said. t St. Louis, Mo., July 18. —(U.R) — . Harry T. Brondidge, reporter for the St. Louis Star, in a copyright - story from Miami, Fla., today said ' that Al Capone, Chicago gang leadi er, had given him the friendly advice to "lay off Chicago and the ■ money hungry reporters.” Brundidge quoted Capone as tell. ’ Ing hint that there were “plenty” ' of newspaper men on the gang leader's payroll, that Chicago police knew who killed Alfred Lingle, murdered Tribune reporter, and that he. Capone, is “through witli the racket." Brundidge is to appear before a Cook county grand jury Tuesday prepared to elaborate on charges he made in a series of articles that several Chicago newspapers are engaged in racketeering practices. Hartford City Closes Its Bootleg Houses Hartford City, Ind., July 18 —(UP All liquor aiul gambling houses in. Blackford county were reported to have needed an order by county an thorities to close. One official said notice had been served on about 25 places. Reports were central that the recent charges of Attorney general Ogden concerning crime conditions in Indiana, had inspired the enforcement campaign. GERMANS PLAN NEW ELECTION Reichstag Is Dissolved After President Is Voted Down Berlin, July 18.—(U.R)—President Paul Von Hindenburg dissolved the German reichstag today. The dissolution left Chancellor Heinrich Bruening at the head of a modified dictatorship in Germany for a period of not more than 90 days. The German constitution provides that new elections must be called within 60 days after the dissolution of the reichstag, and the new reichstag must meet with- , in 30 days after the elections. The dissolution was ordered to permit Bruening to carry out his financial reports, which the reichstag has fought tor months. President Von Hindenburg dis- . solved th' reichstag after that . body had defied him by rescinding • the “tax reform dictatorship’’ he . previously had bestowed on Brueni ing. The vote was 290 to 221, with , no abstentions. > It was announced general elec- - tions would be held before Sept. • 14 and a new reichstag convened . before Oct. 14.