Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 29, Number 59, Decatur, Adams County, 10 March 1931 — Page 1

■leather ■ cloudy; ■d *' St ■ portions: Wr>

TATE LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS TODAY

Bill Puts Adams County In Fourth District

Im PASSES ■sure early |jHIS MORNING ■ House Accepts IBferciice Report On ■ Bill, 33-1 itES ADAMS AND ■ ILS WITH ALLEN ■upolK Mo" 1 ' 1"-<U.R)-.Adams hill. adopted by Of tlm lecislatui'e and govmnoi' .liortly l>efore ■ Bien , divides Hie state in■listriets. with Lake county distrilt Marion from cursory n i Hi.' mea-mre that the Rewould (.m'rol five disDemocrats four and would be doubtful. r terms of the bill, the b- liivided US follows: Lake county. Kj I’ortei. Xeivton. Jasper. T.l-petanoe, White. Pulas-M.it-bol. Fulton. Cass. M, Kosciusko. ■ I.ahoiie. St. Joseph. ElkLaftraiuro. Steulten. De-MD-n. Weils Miami. Wabash,. HuntingBlackford. and Tipton. K- Visa. i nlll ii>n, Warren, . Parke I’litnam. Mania, Morgan and Johnson. Posey, Vanderburgh, Pike. Spencer, Dubois. Harrison, Floyd. Law r Orange. WashJackson. Brown. Bartholo- ■ Jennings. Scott. Clark. Jef- ■. Ripley. Franklin, Dearand Switzerland, Delaware. Henry. Rush. Decatur. Fayette, Union, and Randolph. Madison. Hancock. ■a»r-: : ... Warren. Franklin townships in Marion Kt. and the first, ninth, and Mwards of the city of IndianKami tin- land unincorporated ■tinted ON PAGE FOUR) ■knife Robber I In Custody Today ■anapnlis, March 10— (UP)--■Youthful "Penknife” robber, ■or several weeks has terroriz■all hoys by pressing a knit ! ■ agains l their throats and tak■oney from them was in cus■here today. ■n Burton, 15, confessed to po■hat he had committed nearly B’s of robberies, all of children, B his knife as a weapon. Bton said he had been an inHos a correctional institution. ■y Name Meeting ■Postponed For Month B t to inclement weather the of the Holy Name society ■ e St. Mary's Catholic church ■ Postponed last evening. J. ■ a!l Buetter, hanker and Ed ■•y attorney of Fort Wayne ■ front Fort Wayne, Iflit as ■ was only a few men present, ■as decided to postpone the |2‘ R until next month. IWORKEXTRA Ml THIS WEEK Plant to Run Five This Week And 1 ossibly Four Next « General Electric plant will e ive days this week and po«our da ys next week, E. W. .^ na '!', superintendent of the r Works stated this morning. a< tOry bas been running ays a week for many months .. 7‘ g " lar sf 'hedule will be reafter next week, Mr. Lar--111 stated. »«m UPPIy of a certain model ~ ng machine motors was reto such a point that it be- . e cessar y to replace the stock nm, or tl,ree extra days ruu .... de enough of these motors e Bu PP*y back to normal. Lankenau slated.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXIX. No. 59.

Funeral Rites For Three Held Today Kokomo, Ind., March 10—(UP) — A triple funeral service for members of one family was to be held at Santa Re, near here, this af’.erI noon. | Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes B. Holcomb and their granddaughter, Evelyn Eckelharger, 14. all have died witnin a brief space of time, and all ’ were to be buried at one time. Holcomb, 72. died of Pneumonia, the granddaughter died after un operation, and Mrs. Holcomb. 74, died of influenza, all since Saturday OPLIGER CASE IS COMPLETED Court Takes Case Under Advisement; To Make Decision This Week A decision in the insanity heat- , ing held on L. E. Opliger, in the ' Adams Circuit court, will be made this week by Special Judge Henry B. Heller, who at the conclusion of the case late Monday afternoon took the case under advisement. The court stated today that decision would be rendered probably this week. Following the hearing of a num- ! her of witnesses yesterday and Mr 1 Opliger’s own testimony on the j stand .the concljtding arguments | were presented to the court by C. J : Lutz, attorney for Opliger and by W. H. Eichorn. Bluffton attorney, j who represented the plaintiffs In ' the case. Court was continued until six o'- , dock Monday evening and the attorneys stated that their case was, completed. The court is going over the evidence and testimony given during the hearing and a decision is expectjed within a few days. Opliger was arrested last November on a charge lof Insahity. and inquest was held ■and a hearing before the court was I asked by the defendant. Opliger testified in his own behalf yesterday and later was cross-examined by Attorney Eichorn. He is still confined to the jail. iARLENE BRAVES' SISTER FAINTS Mrs.Murrell Clemens Collapses During Lawyer’s Argument Valparaiso. Ind.. March 10 —(li.R) —Mrs. Murrell Clemens shrieked, ’ fainted and was carried from the courtroom today in a dramatic ’ interruption of Virgil Kirkland s trial on charges of murdering her s'ster. Arlene Draves. Edward Freund, Valparaiso attorney for the state, was denouncing the defense for causing Arlene's body to be exhumed for a second autopsy, when Mrs. Clem- , ens collapsed. "Oh, oh, my God,” Mrs. Clemj ens cried, and swooned. Her father, Chailes Draves, and brother, [ Kenneth, carried her from the ( courtroom, past the judge's bench , and into an anteroom as the jurors watched. . Kirkland, immaculately attired, sat immobile as Arlene’s other sisters. Elsie and Carolyn, buret into tears. His mother, Mrs. Elmer Kirkland, arose but her husband pulled her back. Freund waited until Mrs. Clemens was out of the room, then continued his plea that Kirkland be 1 convicted and sentenced to the electric chair. Other defense and prosecution counsel waited to - make their closing arguments, expecting to submit Kirkland's fate to the jury tonight. A quiet, almost unnoticed mem1 (CONTINUED nN °AGR TWO’ . Blood Transfusion Saves Baby Girl ; j Indianapolis, March 10 —(UP)— - Successful transfusion of blood of an adult into veins of an eight-weeks old baby girl was made at Metho1 dist hoslptal here when Harry Pear- - son, Purdue Student, gave a halt- - pint of blood to save the life of tne t daughter of Senator and Mrs. Harry i Cuthbertson, Peru. The mother atid • daughter were to be taken to the . Mayo Clinic .Rochester, Minn., for observation.

I’urulnliril lly I lilted PrernM

Defeat Death in Terrific Storm E..~ if 4- j WI H - 1&J ■PUH* T Jt Buffeted about l|y mountainous waves in one of Hie worst storms on Lake Michigan in many years, the fiftv-foot fishing tug Palmer of Kenosha, Wis., limped into the Chicago harbor under its own power late Sunday night, (’apt. Alfred Shellswick and his crew of three battled the story for forty hours before hev made their wav to safety. They are shown here on hoard their ice-incrusted craft, which left Keno- . sha. Wis.. early Saturday morning aftd was caught in the blizzard, which prevented its return to home port.

FORMER COUNTY f RESIDENT DIES I I Mrs. Louise Buechner, 38, r Dies At Fort Wayne < Hospital — p Mrs. Louise Buechner, 38, wife of I ' Arthur Buechner and formerly ai' resident of Adams county, died at the Lutheran Hospital at Fort ' Wayne at 5.30 o'clock Monday evening. Death resulted from an in- , section following the extraction of a tooth two weeks ago. Mrs. Buechner was removed to the hos- I pital Sunday. She was horn in Union township, August 19. 1892. the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Henry Blakey. She spent the greater part of her life in Union township, moving to a farm two miles south of Convoy. Ohio, when she married Arthur | Buechner on June 8, 1919. Surviving are the husband, the father, J. Henry Blakey who resides in Union township, and the following brothers and sisters: Arthur Blakey, trustee of Union township; John of Union township;. Rev. Henry Blakey of Milwaukee, Wis.; Mrs. Julia Kurbach, Mrs. Amelia Waldo, Mrs. (CONTINUED ON THREE) CAPTAIN EAKER STARTS FLIGHT I < I Leaves California on NonStop Flight To New York Wichita, Kan., Mar. 10.—<U.R> — Capt. Ira Eaker, crack army flier who is racing across the continent to prove the airplane a wartime instrument of transportation, was'believed today to have sought high altitudes for greater speed in his , effort to break the record. , An hour and a half after Eaker j was due to flash over the Wichita , airport in his yellow and silver , airplane, he was unsighted by the t crowd of watchers who gathered to L wave him goodluck as he speeded j eastward in the ship loaded with j gasoline tanks which in time of c war might be removed and replac- £ ed by troops. Visibility was excellent. Had Eaker flown over at moderate altitude, it appeared probable he would have been sighted. No concern was felt for the army flier, a veteran of many years in the air. ’ Watchers recalled that Charles Lindbergh in his record cross- > country flight ascended as high as 10,000 feet and concluded Eaker had followed suit in order to take I advantage of any ,ai^J vinria that J (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) (

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, March 10, 1931.

Marion Negro Must Face Trial April 23 Anderson, Ind., March 10 —(UP) —Herbert Cameron. 17, Negro who escaped the fury of a mob in Mai - j ion which hanged two negroes last | AUgust-7, must go on trial in Madi- [ son circuit court Gtere April 23. charged with first degree murder. Judge Carl Marrow refused to quash the indictment. It is charged that Cameron was implicated in the murder of Claude Deeter. 23, fairmount, slain while defending his finance. Miss Mary Ball, 18, Marion, from attacks' of three negroes. Those lynched were Tom Shipp and Abe Smith. WELLS GOUNTT FARMER DEAD William Van Buskirk, 53, Born in Adams County Dies at Ossian Bluffton, Ind., Mar. Iff —(Special)—William Van Buskirk, aged 53. died at his home two and one half miles southeast of Ossian, at 12:45 o'clock this morning. Death was due to kidney trouble and complications. Mr. Van Buskirk suffered a stroke of paralysis two weeks ago, and had been bedfast since that time. The deceased was born in Adams county, near Decatur, February 27, 1879, the son of Joseph and Elmira I Riley Van Buskirk. He was married January 11, 1911, at North Liblerty, to Miss Emma Beard of Fountain. Three years ago he moved to the farm near Ossian. Previous to that he was a train dispatcher for the Indiana Service Corporation. (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) o Prosecutor’s Salary Bill Sent to Governor Indianapolis, March 10' —(UP) — The prosecutors uniform salary bill was sent to Governor Harry G. Leslie for approval today carrying the following conference committee amendments: Allen county prosecutor salary, increased from $5,500 to $7,000; Marion county deputy hir? increased from $3,500 to $3?800, Ripley county prosecutor salary sl. 900; Laporte county prosecutor salary, increased from $3,000 to $4,009 John T. Kelly Will Speak Wednesday John T. Kelly will address the meeting of the United Brethren Wednesday evening service, tomorrow night, at 7:30 o’clock, Rev. R. E. Vance, pastor, announced today. Mr. Kelly will speak on some phase of prayer, and the public is invited to this service which promises to be of special interest to every person.

SCOUT CAMPAIGN GETS UNDER WAY Campaign Opens to Raise $750 Here; Three Towns Go Over Top The canvass for funds for Decatur's quota of the Boy Scout budget in the Anthony Wayne Area Coun- - cil got under way today and it was , expected that the campaign would Ibe completed this week. Word was received here today ' that three towns in the area. Kendallville, Ligonier and Rome City 1 had gone over the top on the first | day of their drive for funds. Decatur’s ipiota is $750 this year Hand six captains have been named Iby General James Kocher and H. I F. Ehinger to carry out the drive. (The captains will appoint lieuten-1 ’■ants to help in the soliciting. The drive captains are Judge J. (’. Sutton. E. W. Lankenau, Avon Burk, M. F. Worthman.'Ed Ash- - baucher, Martin Mylott. Tatters I have been mailed to lodges, clubs, > societies and fraternities anyl to t manufacturing establishments askII ing for contributions and already I, several donations have been re- :! ceived. | — — CCNTINUF'- ON PAGh THREE) DEATH TOLL IN EUROPE HEAVY , Storms Continue; 200 Are Known Dead, Thousands Homeless London, March 10 —(U.R) — The greater part of Europe • and its surrounding seas continued today ' under the lash of storms which were lessening in intensity but still were severe after four days of blizzards, high gales, floods and earthquakes. The known death toll in the European area was high—close to 200 —and thousands were injured and homeless. The material damage was immense, but could not be estimated due to Incomplete . advices. Snow covered the British Isles I ' from Scotland to Cornwall and the most severe March snowstorm in 20 years took a toll of eight dead and hundreds injured. The steam trawler Lochlong wrecked off Fifeshire; sailors in ’ the channel reported the blizzard 1 so dense that they could not see from one end of their ships to the ■ other: the Hampstead observatory. • -1 ing—the coldest since 1909 —roads 1 in many districts were itnpassabje ’ due to snow drifts six feet deep; > —.—— — — | (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

Mate, Niiit Imiiil Ami iiiternnt iomil Newa

SUMMARY GIVEN OF WORK DONE IN 1931 SESSION Nine Hundred Five Bills Were Introduced During Session TAXATION PROBLEM PROVES DIFFICULTY Indianapolis, March Iff —<U.R) * The 1931 legislature today became | >nly a matter of history. It died , ■shortly before noon, and in dying ; sang the same sing which marked ts birth— "Something must be done about the tax situation.” Divided politically, its success was doubtful at the outset—also at the finish. The two housses did agree, however. on passage of the *76,000,(M)0 appropriation bill, ami a congressional reapportionment 101 l which was drawn up by a conference committee. There was no dearth of bills in this session. During the 61 days, there were 905 bills poured into the hoppers, and 35 resolutions. In 1929, there were 800 bills. It was expected that approximately 125 bills will be signed by Governor Harry G. Leslie, compared j with 243 in 1929. and 271 in 1927. Attempts to settle the taxation relief question were divided beI tween the parties, with no agreement on the major proposals, although several Mils passed were intended to relieve taxation on property to a small degree. The democratic house attemptedjto enact income taxes, both corporate and intfividual, and special ’tixury taxes. Republicans attempted to divert auto license fees rom the highway department to the general fund as a means of reducing the state levy. The G. O. P. will claim, that this was a sound move and would have saved the taxpayers about 12 cents of their 29-cent state (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) 0 TWO SCHOOLS CLOSED TODAY Snow Drifts Make It Impossible For Pupils to Get To School Two rural schools in Adams county were closed and the rural mail carriers encountered difficulty in covering their routes today, due to the snow drifts which have obstructed the roads since last night. The snow plows were out Monday clearing the road for traffic, and were used agai ntoday to open those roads where the snow had drifted. The school at Pleasant Mills, and the Brandyberry school in l Washington township were closed today, as pupils were unable to get’ through the snow. None of the rural mail carriers returned from their routes at the usual time, and Lavere Engle, carrier on rojite 4, stripped the gears on his car. in an attempt to get out of a snow drift. Other minor accidents were reported as a result of the heavy snow c Metzger Funeral Held ThisTMorning Funeral services for Miss Anna Metzger, who died at the Adams County Memorial Hospital Sunday, were held at nine o'clock this morning at' the St. Mary’s Catholic church, and burial was in the St. Joseph Cemetery. o < Additional Funds For Vets Received Indianapolis, March 10—(UP) — An additional SBOO,OOO for payment to world war veterans under the 50 per cent adjusted compensation act, was received in Indianapolis yesterday. John H. Ale. regional director of the U. S. Veterans ' Bureau, announced. To date there has been approximately paid from the Indianapolis office, and checks are I being mailed out at the rate of 1,000 daily, Ale said.

Price Two Cents

- . Loss In Farmhouse Fire Estimated $1,500 Loss cn the dwelling house and furniture of the George Kern farm | which burned to the ground Monday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock was ( estimated at $1,500. The origin of ‘ | the fire is unknown as no one was in the house when the fire started. The flames were' first noticed by a neighbor. i The local fire department was called but the fire was too well under way to' save anything but outbuildings and the barn. About j half of the furniture belonging top 'the tenants, Mr. and Mrs. David'. I Deitseh, was saved. AGED DECATUR j MAN IS DEAD. Charles Baker. 86, Dies at Home In This City i] This Afternoon , ■’< I: Charles Baker. 86, well known , resident of Decatur, died at his i home. 216 South Eighth street at 1 two o’clock this afternoon follow- ' ing an extended illness of infirmities. Mr. Baker took ill about four years ago, suffering from a stroke i of paralysis and for the past 13 | months had been l>k>dfast. The deceased was a native of | Adams county and was born in i Wabash township, near Geneva. February 28. 1845, the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Baker. Mr. Baker was a resident of Decatur for 57 years and years ago was employed by the Smith ' and Bell Lumber company. lie i was also employed at the Shack- I i ley Wheel Works in Decatur, when i that establishment was ruined by an explosion in 1870. In recent years he was not actively engaged in business. On September 26, ISSI he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Nidlinger. Surviving besides the widow, are two sisters, Mrs. Sarah Ham- , tnell of this city, Mrs. Belie Knoff, ! Sturgis, Michigan and one brother, Tilden Baker, also of Michigan. One brother. Lase Baker, preceded him in death. A daughter. Mrs. Nettie Parrish, died in 1903. The deceased was a member of the Methodist church of this city. ; Funeral arrangements had not been completed this afternoon. o D. E. .Jones Purchases Henry Barkley Farm Col. Roy Johnson, auctioneer, had charge of the sale of the Henry Barkley farm, just south of the city this morning. It is an excellent | eighty and sold for $80.50 per acre, I the purchaser being D. E. Jones of just across the Ohio line, whose j son will occupy the farm, moving there at once. COURT SUSTAINS DEFENSE MOTION County Clerk Ordered to Pay Damages To Defendants Judge Dore B. Erwin today sustained a motion by the defendants to order payment of damages award »d them in condemnation proceedings by the state for land to be used in the construction of state road 27 near Moilroe. Judgment had been awarded the defendants previously in the cases of the State vs. Hehman, Shoemaker and Gottschalk and the amount of these awards had been paid in to the Adams county clerk. Attorneys for the State then filed exceptions to the judgment (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) Five Bouts Staged At Legion Meeting Five three-round bouts were staged following the regular meeting of the American Legion post here la»t night. The bouts were ail interesting and some piomising fighter.s shown. Those participating in the bouts were: Brown and Burkheud, Sheets and Heins, McDoughal and Fanning, Brown and Moser and Snyder and Beard.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

BUDGET BILL IS PASSED BY BOTH HOUSES TODAY Senate Adjourns at 1:48 o’Clock This Afternoon MANY BILLS FAIL OF PASSAGE TODAY Indianapolis March 10 — (I’Pl — The Indiana legislature adjoilmed at 1:48 this afternoon immediately after Lieut. Go’.’ Edgar I). Bu.'h signed the budget and reapportionment bills, tints ending the 77t1: general session in perhaps the most turbulent and confusing last day ever experienced in this state. Actual work of the session was 'completed at 7:30 a. m., by the ex- | hausted legislators, who had been i held seven and one-half hours beyond the scheduled time for final ! adjournment, awaiting action on -the $76,000,000 bienniql appropriation bill, and a congressional reapportionment measure. Passage of these two bills and the doubtful passage by the senate of an individual income tax measure, marked the closing hours. Tin* “rump” session, the longest in many years, was caused by Speaker Walter Myers, of the house of representatives, an d Lieutenant Governor Edgar D. Bush. Bush awaited action by the house on the appropriation bill, Itefore ho I would consider having the senate act upon the reapportionment nteas- ! ure, and Myers held up action on the reapporpriation bill until a conference committee had agreed upon a reapportionment plan. Bush expressed his attitude at 2 a. m„ in answer to a committee | from the house, which was sent to I the senate to inquire if the latter 'body had any more business with the house. This action is preliminary to final adjournment, "In the words of John Paul Jones,” Bush told the committee, "we haven’t even begun to fight yet.” His statement was seconded by Senator Harry Cuthbertson. . Democrat, Peru. later during the rump session, lie said he was opposed to a reapportionment bill “that was the work of the Democratic state chairman.'' It was difficult to decide whether his delay in allowing action on the redistricting bid was caused by 'opposition to it or to his desire to await house action on the budget. Sentiment of the senate, however, was almost unanimous in favor of adopting the conference committee report and the chamber was thrown into wild confusion for more than three hours as the senators sought to force Bush to take action on it. At one time, an attempt was made by Senator French Clements, | Republican, Evansville, to pass a ! (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) o Revival Continues At Calvary Church The revival services at the Calvary Evangelical church _ continue with interest. A good audience has been present to hear the evangelist D. R. Heil each night, in spite of the inclement weather. Services will be held each night: this week at 7:30 o'clock, sun time. According to present plans the services will close next Sunday night. o RELIEF WORK IS STARTED TODAY King Supervises Relief For Homeless In Jugoslavia Belgrade, Jugoslavia, March Iff —(U.R) —The work of relief for thousands of homeless, injured and hungry refugees in the earthquake stricken districts of southern Jugoslavia was hurried today under supervision of King Alexander. The King drove by automobile through the devastated area, which has suffered repeated earth shocks, rain and intense clod since last Thursday evening. When his automobile reached the town of Piravo there was not a building left standing. Nineteen (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO)