Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 28, Number 308, Decatur, Adams County, 31 December 1930 — Page 1

Morally fair to- ■ t and Thursday. ■L unsettled toK' in rx t r m h: toKt. i S*' I _- - *

two DIE IN NEW ORLEANS BANK ROBBERY

■OINTMENTS ■ADE PUBLIC I 0.6. ERWIN .EMi ■. l avc Knapp £ Probation Officer; few ' • M’H S » bailiff 3u HOWER TO fl" BE RETAINED ■p, l ive Smith Knapp. n eiit in Adams counlv liv and club work jfc was named Adams SKi v iniibation officer bv ■Kn'leel I). B. Erwin to Mrs. Maude Dorwin him expires today. Knapp wi 1 be sworn as officer at 9 o'clock rooming. immediately F-win becomes judge. ■■v Mills, retired grocer and ..- Democratic circles of and Adams county for a ... >. ars was named ccuit the place of William Mr. Mills will assume |K > . . Thursday morning ■H M. Hower, who will remain sheriff under Burl John|Khi succeeds Sheriff Hail ■ptciii Thursday morning d riding bailiff by Judge MErwin. It has been the ellsAdams county for a number : >i the deputy sheriff to 'hi court's riding bailiff. tlir ■ ■■■ appointees will take ■,V Mr. firwin does ThursSMmo"nim.>. Mrs. Knapp and will serve for a term of and Mr. Hower will serve two y.-ar term, it was ttnde:Knapp is well qualified for post. She has been active welfare work and for time has been chairman of SS s lli>cal group which sponsors thboard of health baby health in Decatur each month. Knapp also has been r ■in Democratic circles for a of years and during the last fall she made a of political speeches for and state candidates. ■. Knapp’s duties are largely IBfnied with the juvenile court ■ which Mr. Erwin will preside with the regular ■ Her duties concern Investiof delinquent cases among girls and young men and |B«. Dmwin has served as prooft i< ..)■ under Judge Sutton nuni! who have been closely con|Hed with her work, praise ■>>’ her many efforts. Much cf officer's work goee because of the court |Bz that juvenile court news j |Mot be published in newsMills. who will become comt i- well-fluelified. He has ! held the bailiff's position, served on both the grand juries and knows considof the duties of the bailiff. BMMi!l> for many years was preaSß committeeman of Decatur. ward. A. Sheriff Hower who will f “ in that, capacity and also bailiff for the court was ■■ named under the first term John Baker. He lias the best knowledge of the work connected with the ■’NTINUFD ON~PAGE FIVE) ■ted jurist ■RETIRESTODAr ■ion County Criminal Leaves After 16 ' i s Years on Bench S' fl "ia polls, Dec. 31—(U.R) A ' career of 16 years' servic? ■ bdge of the Marion county court was closed today by A. Collins. Frank Baker jurisdiction over the court - fir' 11 disposes of more criminal ( ■* annually than any other such t in the middle west. F ■ ncs taking office in 1914, Judge .- ■ ln « has handled 23.501 cases, t ■ et ‘ or d that has few equals He Bs nt 9,568 persons to penal in- ' ■j*'ions, the death penalty being.' upon seven-. ‘ Only five, ■' !?Vr r, were executed. ■’ has sent 1,462 to the state ■jnffary at Michigan City, 2.- " ■ cn PAGE SIX) ’

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXVIII. No. 308.

! Billie” Schamerloh, ; T o End Service Today

I Named Under Moran AdI ministration 11 Years Ago Last November I William ‘Billie'’ S-hamerloli, known by almost every resident of Adams county today retired as bailiff of Adams circuit court. Mr. Schamerloh has probably established a record never to be equal I led, having served continuously as <<Virt bailiff for 11 years and one [month. Dining his official service in • the county, Mr. Schamerloh was r only o:f duty one week, during ; which time he suffered from an ; attack of influenza. ’! The well-known and prominent II bailiff took office November 24, 11 1919 under the late Judge John , i Moran. When Judge Moran died ami I Judge Sutton was appointed to fill ; the unexpired term, ‘•Billie" contin,CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX* II O O.C.H.S. LETTER MEN ORGANIZE I Athletes Form Permanent Club at Banquet Held Tuesday Night A Decatur Catholic high school '[letter men's club was organized Tuesday ‘night following a banquet! at the K. of C- hall held for the pur-I nose of organization. All Catholic . high school athletes who have earr- , ed letters for their ability during their school years are eligible to i membership in the new club. , 1 Andrew Appleman was elected president of the new club; Hugh , Hblthouse was named viee-presi- : dent; Sebert Humschlag was elected secretary and Rev. Joseph Hennes was chosen treasurer. By-laws for the club will be written by the officers and a forma) meeting will be held at a later dateit was stated today. There are sev-| en honorary members in the new club including Rev. Seimetz. Rev. Joseph Hennes, Rev Otto Peters, Rev. Theodore Fettig and Re'-, toseph Hession and two former j -oaches Lawrence Linn and France! n onter. Forty Decatur Catholic high | school graduates are eligible for; membership in the club. No official i name has been chosen for the or[ganization but. it is understood it j will be known as Decatur Catholic] ■ High School Letter Men's Club. ' The chief purpose is to suppor' athletics at Catholic high school. [At the banquet hall last night The. Rev. Father Koontz of Elder high j school Cincinnati, Ohio was a guest. Work to Stop Disease Indianapolis, Dec. 31. (U.R) j Precautions, as strict as possible : with inadequate facilities, are being taken at the stat? p nal farm ! to prevent an outbreak ot cerebro spinal meningitis, according to Superintendent Ralph Howard, who visited the statehouse late yesterday. Four deaths from the disease occurred at the farm in December, and one inmate died a day after being released. Howard said he planned to employ a full-time technician to take , throat cultures of incoming men. : and steps were being taken o equip a laboratory. o —' License Protest Made Indianapolis, l|? c ' 31—(I'P’ ' A [ protest has been registered with , the Kentucky tax commissioner by , WBliam Schmidt, deputy L-cense , commissioner for Indiana, who threats ot' arrest of Indiana truck- ( ers who do not have their machines eSlipped withjtentuckyjicenses. [ Terre Haute Has I ire , Terre Haute. Ind., Dec. 31-(UP> , -Damage estimated at was caused by fire that Gr *jn- ' tr oved the home * < S£t°X supply hampered ( i home wl’ en lhe ''ILL), was used 1 by-

DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

F»»«l.k,d By Pre..

BANK 6UILOING BEING CHANGED f Lobby and Offices at First State Bank to Be Made Larger ! The front of the First State Bank i is being remodeled and a new entrance on the north side of the build I Ing is being made so that the space I in the lobby can tie utilized fori counter room and an enlarged office j ’ for C. A. Dugan president of the J bank. The entrance to the bank will be moved from the center of the building to the north aide and the cash-1 ier's cage, occupied by Theodore! Graliker, cashier and Roscoe Glendenning, assistant cashier will be squared and windows placed on the north side of the counter. ! On the south side of the room the office of Mr. Dugan will be enI I larged and the marble partition a--1 [round thep rivate office will be re [placed with a railing about four or five feet high. d The remodellug of the building will give the bank additional counter room and office space and is being done, Mr- Dugan stated to accomodate the increasing number 1 of patrons of the bank. New signing reading the First State Bank will also be placed in J front of the building and the rej modeling program will entail an I expenditure of about SI,OOO. The work is now under way and the , contractor hopes to have it completed in a short time. Baer Funeral Saturday Fort Wayne, Ind.. Dec. 3L—-(U.R) — Funeral services for Paul Baer, Fort Wayne aviator and World war ace, will be held here Saturday. The municipal airport here was named for him. He was killed in I China when the mail plane he was piloting struck the mast of a junk in a river at Shanghai. The body was in transit for a month. o No Mail Delivery No mail deliveries will be made | in this city on New Year's Day, ach ording to an announcement made l oday by Postmaster L. A. Graham. [The postoffice will be closed all day Thursday, in order that the eni ployees and clerks may observe New Years Day. OPINIONS MUST BE IN WRITING Supreme Court Rules on Appellate Actions; to Begin at Once Indianapolis, Dec. 31. — (U.R) — Written opinions must be handed down in all cases decided by the [state appellate court, it was held late yesterday in a decision of the supreme court. In the past the appellate court has speeded decisions by handing down notices of reversal or affirmation signed “per curiam,” which means “by the court." But the new ruling, written by Judge Clarence Martin, holds that since the supreme court is constitutionally bound to write opinions, setting forth issues and findings in each case, the appellate court must also follow this procedure. The ruling reverses a former decision of the court. Judge Julius C. Travis dissented, and Chief Justice David A. Myers joined in the majority conclusions. The case was that of William It. Hunter, who sought to forge the appellate court to set forth its findings in an opinion. After the Martin decision was handed down, appellate judges joined the supreme court in conference yesterday afternoon. The decision was said to have been discussed, as was also the fate of 53 misdemeanor appeals from the appellate court, which the high court has not acted upon, all of which raise the question of constitutionality. . ~ , The jurisdiction of the appellate court in misdemeanor cases expires today.

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, December 31, 1930.

YEAR'S REVIEW SHOWS DECATUR IS FORTUNATE Business Conditions In City Better Than In Many Communities BETTER DAYS ARE PREDICTED Old 1930 became a page in history today and most persons viewed 1931 optimistically, as they began to sum up and probably forget some of the events of the old year and plan for the new one. The old year brought the drought and economic depression, but with the dawn of the new year most everyone was grateful that conditions were not any worse and in most instances everyone had something to be thankful for. There is a feeling of optimism about Hie new year and farmer, laboring man, hanker and merchant believe that better times, more employment and better markets will be realized in the coming twelve months —not that the calendar makes any difference, but on the law of supply of demand and satisfactory adjustment which has been going on for the past six months. In Decatur business the past six months was “slow”, generally speaking, although Christmas shop-, ping was better than most merchants expected. Banking conditions which reached a climax in this community last June, never were better or more encouraging. Each of the three batiks has more cash on hand today than at any tine in history. The reorganization and readjustment of the banking business has brought about a stronger financial condition in the community and what Decatur did six months ago is reflected in the soundness and splendid financial standing of the (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) o — Faces Murder Charge Madison. Ind., Dec. 31 —(U.R) —■ An unsuccessful robbery attempt night before last was the first rime Frank Allen, 20, ever committed. he said, but it was only a few hours until it led to his second—the killing of Frank Knoebel, 38, patrolman. Allen was held today on a charge of first degree murder. Feeling was so high here that permission was granted to remove him to the state prison in Michigan City. Allen was cornered in the basement of the Odd Fellows building, and Knoebel anwered a call to get him. Allen shot Knoebel twice in the abdomen during their struggle, but w r as unable to free himself from the policeman’s grasp before reinforcements arrived. BLASTS WRECK MOVIEHOUSE More Than Score Hurt When Theatre is Bombed Early Today New Orleans, La., Dec. 31 —(U.R) —Three explosions in a suburban motion picture theater early today destroyed the slructure, damaged adjacent buildings and caused minor injuries to more than a score of persons. Those injured were mostly residents of a tenement which adjoined the theater. The explosions aroused residents in a radius of several blocks. Police said the explosions were either due to bombs placed in the theater, to escaping gas, or ignition of film. The movie house, the Valentino Theater, was a small structure. The wreckage caught fire after the blast destroying what was left ot the building. Most of those injured were cut by flying glass as windows throughout the neighborhood were shattered. Many of the tenement dwellers were thrown from their beds. The blasts occurred shortly after 3 a.m. It at first was feared that several lives might have been lost. Damage was estimated at 850,000.

Wins Clemency o (3 «f ■j V; ’ Arthur C. Rich, son of a Battle Creek. Mich., millionaire, who ‘ lias served five years of a life sentence for attack on Miss Louise King, also of Battle Creek, will have his sentence commuted by Governor Green, according to report no jurFfor LYNCHING CASE Marion Court Unable to Find Jurymen to Try First of Four Cases Marion, Ind.. Dec. 31 —(UP) —Difficulties in the palh of trying suspects in the lynching of two negroes j here last summer, became more ap-, parent as court convened in the | third day of the case of Robert Be-1 shire 45, with the jury still Incom-1 plete. A new venier appeared today bringing the total number of men summoned to 118. Eleven men were in the box. accepted tentatively,, but the defense still had 17 peremp-, tory challenges, and could discard | the entire group if it wished. The j state had exercised all 20 of its (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) Would Stop Short Selling Washington. Dec. 31. —(U.R) — Elimination or restriction of short selling on the nation’s wheat ! markets was recommended today ! by Chairman Alexander Legge of the federal farm board. CHICAGO RUM STATION FOUND Police Arrest Nine in Bootlegging Offices After “Phone Call” Chicago, Dec. 31.—(U.R) —A squad of Chicago police were convinced today that, more through accident than design, they had delivered one of the most severe blows ever dealt a New Year's Eve celebration in the city. Informed by an anonymous telephone call that a handbook was In operation at a south side address, four sergeants raided the apartment last night, arrested nine men, all armed, and halted the business of what they believe was the central office for a huge liquor ring. With the men under arrest, the sergeants remained during the night at two telephones in the place. They received scores of calls, all orders for from one to five cases of whisky or beer. The officers took the orders, but, they said, no deliveries will be made. Three men were in the apartment when the officers arrived. Revolvers, loaded with dum-dum bullets, were found in such odd places as the refrigerator and behind a piano. The other six men entered the apartment, one at a time, during the evening, unaware that officers instead of their friends were waiting for them. Five shotgun shells were found in a golf bag hidden in the apartment. The officers recalled that during the last year several gang murders have been committed by men who concealed sawed-off shotguns in golf bags. Early today police raided two of Chicago's most fashionable night clubs, in one of which Paul Whitman’s orchestra was playing. They confiscated all liquor found in possession of customers and sald[ it probably would be used as evi-[ dence in starting padlock proceed-j ings. No arrests were made.

State, Klatloaal Aa< iateraattuaal Newa

COUNCIL HOLDS [ SPECIAL MEET County Appropriations Are Made by Group to Finish Year’s Work The county council met in special session this morning and made appropriations totaling $1,645.00 All of the members attended the meeting. The appropriations were made from the general fund to eight special funds so that claims against 'them could be allowed and the record closed for the year. i The appropriations made were, | Riley hosiptal fund. S2OO treasurer's ■six per cent fees, $800; coim’y school superintendent's office. $100; jail expense, $100; legal advertising, $125; expense of prosecuting attor ney, SSO; salary of county council. S7O; Irene Byron hospital. ♦x.vO. A meeting of the county commlssioners will be held Thursday morning at the auditor’s office for the pm pose of electing a president of the board- F. O. Martin will take his office as commissioner from the second district, succeeding B. F. Breiner. 0 Weather To Be Clear Indianapolis, Dec. 31. — (U.R) — Clear, moderately cold weather will be the New Year's day potion for all of Indiana, the U. S. weather bureau office here predicted today. Temperatures will be near, but perhaps slightly below, seasonal normal. Joffre Is No Better Paris, Dec. 31.—(U.R)—The following bulletin on Marshal Joffre was issued at 3 p. m.; “The marshal’s condition is ataj tionary, although there was a slight lapse of consciousness this | morning for one hour, which left j the pulse weak and intermittent. I Actually the patient is resting calmly, although nourishment remains I difficult." It was signed by the five doctors attending him. o Statistician Is Named Indianapolis. Dec. 31. —(U.R)' —Al-1 bert F. Dickens, of Princeton, will succeed Wendell M. Adamson, of Bloomington, as statistician in the state legisaltive bureau, it was announced today. Adamson resign d to accept a position in the bureau of business research of tile University of Alabama. Would Prescribe Wages Indianapolis. Dec. 31 —(UP) —A [legislative bill prescribing minimum wages for labor on all public work u in Indiana, on the basis of prevailing rates in the vicinity where the work is done, has been drawn up by representative E. Curtis White, (of Indianapolis. Contractors would be required to , file with the state or local govern ment a schedule of wages paid. o BOOK CHANGE IS OPPOSED Rep Galloway Appears at Hearing To Protest Contract Letting Indianapolis, Dec. 31 —(U.R) —Vig- ! orous opposition to the proposal that text book contracts for the next five years be let by the state ' next week, developed immediately after the state school book commission convened today. Representative-elect Fred Galloway, of Indianapolis, appeared to protest the letting on three grounds; ' I—That it would place an un1 necessary burden on parents at this time. 1 2—That the legislature may pass a free text book law. 3 —That the present notice to '• publishers relative to receiving sealed bids was not signed by all members of the board, hence is not . legal. Galloway urged that the commission wait until the legislature has acted upon the free text book proposal, stating that he knows personally of 38 house members 1 [ who will support such a bill. ' If the contracts are let before (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

Price Two Cents

l» »' PRESS AT NOON i As has been the custom for . several years the Daily Democrat will go to press at noon ■ Ii on Thursday, in observance of ! j New Year's Day. I I 0■ —, ——....—_ —...— . w Receives Burns From Discharge of Gun Robert Rumsihlag received an in jury to a hand Tuesday night when a timekeeper's gun accidentally dis charged prior to the Elder-Decatur basketball game. Rutnsehlag was removing the gun from his pocket when the trlger caught and caused the blank shell to explode. His hand was painfully burned, but the Injury whs not regarded as serious. 0 SALESMEN ARE LIONS' GUESTS Members of The Schafer Co. Staff Entertained by Local Service Club Salesmen and buyers of The Schafer Co., of this city were guests of honor at the regular meeting ot the Decatur Lions Club at the Christian church dining hall Tuesday night. Twenty salesmen and their buyers who are visiting in Decatur this week making purchases for 1931 attended the meeting. H. R. McClannahan Decatur Attorney addressed the club and D C. Boxell, of Marion, district salesman of The Schafer Co., gave an tnterestign talk on “Salesmanship" The dining room was decorated with holiday appointments, and a special dinner was served. The affair was arranged by G. H. Wehmeyer and Ralph Gentls, both mem bers of the local service club and also members of The Schafer Co. personnel!. To Preach Tonight — Rev. Herman Yager will deliver a sermon at the Baptist church a> 7 o'clock tonight at the regular midweekly prayer meeting. All members and friends of the church are [lnvited to attend. TO RECOMMEND TAX CHANGES Governor Leslie to Seek Revision of State’s Laws on Taxation i Indianapolis, Dec. 31 —(U.R) —Gov- . ernor Harry G. Leslie probably will . urge enactment of revised taxation > laws in liis address to the stale legislature next week, he told the United Press today. He also will i advocate reduction in governmenti al expenditures. Sweeping reductions of expenditures will not be recommended, lie said, as it has been found that several branches of government need larger funds. The governor said he had talked I personally with heads of the de- | partments and institutions and had formed a clear idea of lhe needs of the various state , branches. ■ Although he will be guided by findings of lhe several commissions that have worked during the year on special reports. Leslie will not be bound by their recommendations, he said. The governor previously had ’ said he was dissatisfied with the report of the special school aid 1 commission, and intended to draw ' recommendations of his own. He declined to say what stand he " would take on reports of the tax > commission and crime commission. 1 Allan Hoover Is Host At New Year’s Party Washington. Dec. 31 — (UP) H Youth and Gaiety reigned in the White House last night nt the au- » nual New Year dancing party for < Allen Hoover, younger son of the I President. t About 250 guests attended the party. Young Hoover had the first ,- dance with Miss Fanny Homann, e greafegreat-groab-granddaughter otl t John Adams, second Preldent of the H United States, and escorted her to H supper at midnight The guest list included sons and ~ daughters of cabinet members and I the younger members of the Washington social set.

YOUR HOME PAPER—LIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

THREE BANDITS, WEARING HOODS, MAKE GETAWAY Two Wounded as Bandits Open Fire; Escape With More Than $2,500 BANDITS GIVE NO WARNING New Orleans, La., Dec. 31. —(U.R)—Two persons were killed and two wounded today when bandits fired on customers and employes in a branch of the Whitney Bank & Trust Company. Reports of the shooting said three bandits, wearing hoods over their heads, entered the suburban bank and without, warning opened fire on thos? inside. Pierre N. Rizon, watchman, and Janies Dietrich, a teller, were shot to death. Albert Branson, cashier, was wounded critically an I Charles Dietrich, customer and brother of the teller, was shot In the hand. The three robbers entered the batik shortly before 11 a. m . and opened fire. As Rizon and Dietrich dropped, one of the bandits leaped over a grating, scooped up all cash in the tellers' desk and tossi'd It into a bag. The bandits then broke through a crowd which had gathered at the door, and entered an auteur.obi'e driven by an accomplice. The automobile speeded away several minutes before police w re notified. More than $2,500 was reported taken in the holdup. Witnesses to the slaving! said the bandits walks d calmly into the bank, drew pistols and tired without warning. Several women customers fainted, and others fell to the floor out of range of the bullets. More than a dozen customers were in th- - at Hie time. Spencer Gets Bequest For $50,000 Hospital Spencer, Ind., Dec. 31. —(U.R) -A $50,000 bequest for a hospital building here, was provided in the will of Miss California Sch 11, which was probated yesterday. If the fund is not accepted within 90 days, however, the Riley Hospital, Indianapolis, and th Protestant Hospital nt Terre Haute shall receive the money In equal shares. — —o —— —- - Officers Are Elected Members of the Pleasant Grove United Brethren Sunday School met In the church last Sunday morning for a special meeting at which ' time officers for the coming year 1 were elected . Tile officers include: 1 Superintendent, Mrs. Nettle Harden assistant superintendent, Clyde Harden; treasurer. William Bitt- ■ ner; secretary. Harold Burger. ' assistant secretary, Frank I larkless; Cradle roll superintendent, Mrs. Ruth Suinan; Librarian, Elizabeth Harkless and Warren Harden: 1 Executive committee, Rev Walter ‘ Johnson. Clyde Harden. J. C. Hark--1 less, Nettie Harden. Rosetta Juck- * son, and Edna Harden. o COUNTY SECOND IN TON LITTERS I i Medals Will Be Awarded At Farmers Banquet Next Thursday Eve. 1 Adams county stands second in ' the state in number of litters finishing in the Ton Litter contest. According to the records sent from ' Purdue the following men finished litters and qualified for medals: Pigs Lbs. ’ First Ardon Mouser 11 2750 Second—Otto Hoile 1 I 2708 r Third—Sol Mosser, Jr. 9 2333 B Fourth -Hugo Boerger 10 2172 Fifth—L. F. Sprtinger 10 2160 l ( Sixth- Peter B. Lehman 9 2001 ( The medals wfil b? awarded at the Farmer's banquet to be held p i at Monmouth. Thursday evening, January 22. The Silver Loving Cup given by Hubert Schmitt will tl go to Ardon Mosser. dl Ton Litter entries will he taken ( tor 1931 beginning January 1 and close March 15.