Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 29, Number 74, Decatur, Adams County, 27 March 1931 — Page 1

■ - K ■ ' •• 1M... ■'•

IRIEST TESTIFIES AGAINST BROTHERS

■urches Plan For Impressive Observance Os Holy Week

■•tESTO ■msiinmy Ji MMES • Ol’serxance of if" Passion And Kthto Be Held Biss to ( Ease . FRIDAY of " niniemorating passion ami death on i/Us iM' ''alvary will 'llKindav in the I’rotes-, 'UBuhdir .m : Lutheran; reaching a ferventi M climax with the gen(l of Good rrtser'ios will be in 8 .: :P , !'r.-sbyti'ri::n. Hvansr'ii ;il. Baptist, .. ■ I'nit-tl Brethren. St. ;iiul II ■ Zion Luth-throlU-hoUt the Week. I th" < lie> the special I ■ Kin Sun.l.o and in sev-l |K|le ili:i!'chc> services will I'Veiii::'-’ of the week, Saturday. si-rvi ' es iln Protestant will be held at the Zion , on tlood Friday' M;., three o'clock and the! will be observed at the| If - .rch during Ivars <n (loud Friday. and r from 1:' to three o'clock On Faster Sunday i services will be held in in celebration of j . ■ ion front SB Services in Church iiMule of- -1 \ ices for Holy ■ r the 'liffi. :■ . iiltrcllei; fol- ■ B ion Reformed Church H nplete program of subjects. B nd ••mg sole, 1 ions for Holy B tervices to be held at the cliurclt beginning I is h< row ith published. [ membership of the ■ is expected to give their i attention to these ser- ■ aside all other engage. |Bau<l make it a week of sacMoti 'ii and • ' ifUcration. The servii < will have their ■in the ' .mt of Holy : - i- ii'a ruing and on Faster play. "I I'ross" on Easter Mf*ood i'l i. i . union service ■- o'clock noon to ;; o'clock MTI.XVE!) (,x PAGE FOUR) Bd Meeting of B Red Men Saturday " ■ be a called meeting of Vl_ -Men. Saturday evening at to arrange to attend M" uiirman inneral. All mem-requc-trii to be present. of the Sachem. ■| B. F. Breiner. Bmep. judge Ik suddenly ■ Smith, 77, Found B‘>o In Basement of B Portland Home B^ ll( l. Ind.. March 27—(SpeM s wrier Judge John M. Smith f'Urd dead in the basement onu ‘ here at 6:45 o’clock this B ... ' mp ' nl ’ers of his family. as <ause d t,J heart trouble M^ n:( n the deceased had suffersniile time. He had gone to to tend the furnace ■ ' dead when found. Br""' Served as j" of the cu t court from 1898 to 1904. Bth SerVSll twu tern >» as SenaEin *i ! ,I,liana General Assembly iB d' s first term in 1882 - “ (, ' as '‘(i W as bortvnear Redn ' . and Kliz a Jane Hoppesa . st studied law in the Mp william Bonham at HartBntini He Was admi tted to the ' ~ ar in 1875 and opened ■’'inkirk. In 1880 he B TIn UED ON PAGE EIGHT)

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXIX. No. 74.

Two School Girls Confess Killing Man Booneville, Ind.. Mandi ?7—(UPt Officials here today were planning action against two high school girls who confessed. According to poller, I Ikillh.g Gerhardt Roller, 71, in a hit | 'and-run accident. Miss Fonda Chapman, 15, said shu j was driver of the death car and was ' accompanied by Dorothy McKinney 15, when the accident occurred near Degonia Springs Tuesday night, the I two said lights of an approaching ; car prevented them from seeing Roller; who was walking along the i road. NAMED HEAD OF WOMEN'S CLUBS Mrs. R. I). Myers Chosen President of County Federated Clubs Mrs. R. D. Myers of this city was chosen president of the Adams County Federation of Womens Clubs at the meeting which was held in the Library Hall. Thursday night. Miss Kathryn Hyland | was chosen county secretary, and j Mrs. C. E. Peterson, treasurer, of the organization. Mrs. A. M. Decker of Anderson, the eighth district chairman, was present at the meeting and delivered an address of interest to all club women. She gave an interesting and I profitable talk on Club Activities and Federations. Mrs. Frank Downs, count ychair;man, presided over the meeting and ’ reports were given by < hairmen of 'the various departments as follows "reciprocity”. Mrs. John Peterson; j ”American i rtizmship’’. Mrs. R. D. (Myers; “'Education and Literature” ’Mrs. E. D. Engeler; “Art". Mrs. J. T. Myers; “Child Welfare", Mrs. Charles Knapp; “International Rela Itiot’s" Mrs. S. D. Beavers; “Rural Work” Miss Kenney. Mrs. Dale ■ Moses and Mrs. James Anderson. Mrs. L. A. Holthouse opened the evening meeting with a musical program. and Mrs. Holthouse, Miss Mildred Scott, Miss Gladys Schindler, Dr. J. G. Neptune and Paul Saurer sang as the opening song. "The I Rosary” by Nevin. Mrs. Holthouse I sang a group of songs: "The Trees |by Rasbach; “Meat Upon Mine Lit'tle Heart” by Nevin; and “Keep on Hopin' ”.by Maxwell. “Thy Beaming Eyes” by Ma - (CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT) CLUB LEADERS HEAR SPEAKERS / — Miss May Master, R. VN • Amick, Address 4-H Club Meeting The matter ot organization and a definite plan of work for boys and girls 4-H Club work, was stressed by . Miss May Masten and R. W. Amick leaders from the State Club Leaders office in Lafayette, who addressed the adult 4-H club leaders of Adams County at a meeting held in the Library Hall, Wednesday. Mr. Amick said in part. “‘We oo not want any club to organizo mcre- , ly for the purpose of holding meetings. or to perfect an organization Our sole purpose in urging club organization is for the members to gain something very definite from their experience in such groups '. 1 Some of the objectives of the organization as listed by Miss Masten were: to enable club members to hold regular or orderly meetings: train 4-H club members in parj liamentary procedure; to discuss methods which will improve praci tices in farming and in homemaleIng; to consider view and opinions ( ot others; to encourage a greater, respect for cultural attainments tn , develope rural leadership. , Local 4-H club leaders present at the meeting and entering into the , discussion were the Misses Lorine Rich, Mabie Fricke, Mrs. Virbil Wag ( ner, Charles Schenck, Henry Rum- , pie, Gilbert Hirschy, Ernest Zeigler, Maybell Meyers, Chauncey Clem. Mrs. Charles Knapp. Charles Teepht S. P. Kunkle, S. D. Beavers. George Squiers, Ernest Busche, and Miss , Irma Gage. ; Adult leaders of the agricultural , projects were Ralph Myers, P. BI Lehman, (teinhold Koldewey, !■ rank- , lin C. Mazelin, David J. Maxell!!. Osia Von Gunten, Bill Rupert, So! I Mosser, and Henry Rumple,

I'lirnlMhrd II y I Pr<*MN

Hoover in Porto Rico X ✓ Z’ > ‘ IS • . 4 »*•—w _____ ***** B if!?# Vi-r ‘ -A ’ i " BKdEMBk. / ’■ 33 '• Photo shows President Hoover speaking from the steps of the eapitol pf Porto Rico, at San Juan. This is the first time an American President lias visited th? island since the trip of the late Theodore Roosevelt. The Hoover party, having also visited Virgin Islands, now is steaming back to the United States.

Riley Harmonica Band In Public Appearance

150 MEN ATTEND LODGE MEETING Twelve K. of P. Lodges at District Meeting Here — Nearly one hundred and fifty men attended the district meeting of the I Knight of Pythias lodge, held by, Kekionga Lodge number 65 in De- . atur Thursday night. Twelve of the thirteen lodges in this district were i represented and there was also a ■ large number of members from Willshire, Ohio, present. Two members from "Michigan also attended. The meeting opened at 7:30 o'clock with tne welcoming address by Lee Walters. A response was given by a member of the Ossian lodge The principal address of the evening was made by Edwin R. Thomas, grand prelate of the Fort Wayne chapter. Carl R. Mitchell of Indianapolis. Grand Keeper of Record and Seal, also spoke. Major William John Purdue ot' the Salvation Army gave an interesting talk on ’he work of his organization. Judge Dore B. Erwin and Roy Mnmma gave an intestesting expiation of one part of the lodge ritual. The meeting was followed by a smoker. oGENEVA YOUTH BADLY INJURED Alva Nevil Loses Right Foot In Effort To Hop Train Geneva, Ind.. March 27 —(Special) -Alva Nevil. 19, had his right foot cut off and his left foot badly crushed when he slipped from a reight train on the Pennsylvania railroad, a Ynile north of here at 1:30 o'clock this afternoon. He was taken to the Adams County Memorial Hospital and is reported to be in.a critical condition. The young man had been visiting his sister, Mrs. John Pickering one mile north of Geneva, and hopped the train to ride to the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Nevil, who live on a farm one mile east of Geneva. He accidently slipped and fell beneath the wheels of the train. Mrs. Earl Mann, who lives near the railroad saw the accident, and took Mr. Nevil to a nearby farmhouse where a physician was summoned. He suffered greatly from tne loss oi blood, as well as from the painful injuries received. Mr. Nevil is employed on his father’s farm.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, March 27, 1931.

New Musical Organization Gives Program at Rotary Club; 43 Pupils ini Band, Directed by Missi Florence Haney. The Riley School Harmonica i Band, composed of'43 pupils of the I school, made its first public, ap- ' pearance in Decatur last evening, ! giving a half hour program before members of the Decatur Rotaryl | club. The band was directed by Miss I Florence Haney, teacher, of the grade at the Riley building, assisted by Master Ned Johnson, son ot Mr. and Mrs. Roy Johnson, whom Miss Haney introduced as "the (future band leader of Decatur." ! The program of music given by the children, ranging in age from seven to 12 years, was one of the most delightful and entertaining ever presented before the Rotary chib. Several parents and a few friends of the children were present at their debut and the program was received with much enthusiasm. The Harmon'ea players were dressed in their new uniforms, whife dresses and trousers, red capes and red doughboy hats, which (CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT) TO NAME BOARD j MEMDER APRIL 1 County Commissioners Will Name Successor To John Hoffman I The county commissioners Geo. ' Shoemaker and Frank Martin, will meet Wednesday, April 1 at nine o’clock A. M. to select a member on the board, succeeding John G. Hoffman, commissioner from the first district whose death occurred Monday. If the two Commissioners agree on the successor to Mr. Hoffman's place on the board County Auditor Albert Harlow will not vote in the; matter. Mr. Harlow stated today several men had made known their desite that (hey would accept the appointment If given to them. Between 15 ’ and 20 men have let it be known that they were candidates for the i place. The successor to Mr. Hoffman must be selected from the first dis trict. This district is composed of ■ Preble, Root, Union. St. Mary’s Kirkland and the north half of • French and Blue creek townships. • Decatur or Washington township is : not included in the district. The man appointed will fill out I Mr. Hoffman's unexpired term, which ends January 1, 1933.

JOHN A. FUHRMAN DIES THURSDAY Heart Trouble Causes Death of Retired Root Township Farmer John A. Fuhrman, 69, retired farmer of Root Township, died at his home north west of the city, Thursday night at 11:30 o'clock. Death was due to heart trouble. Mr. Funrman had been ailing during the last month with indigestion and heart trouble, but he attended the special services at the First Evangelical Church last evening ami seemed to be feeling well. After returning to his home, and retiring Mr. Fuhrman became suddenly ill. and death came before the doctor arrived. Mr. Fuhrman was born in Root Township. February 12, 1862. the son of Charles and Caroline Fuhrman. On Marqh 6. 1864 he was united in marriage to Emma Dutcher, who survives. The deceased was en gaged in farming in Root Township his entire life, and twelve years ago he and his family moved to the farm home near this city, where death occurred. t Mr. Fuhrman was affiliated with the Red Mens Lodge of Decatur and was also a member of the First Evangelical Church. He was converted in the Methodist Episcopal Chnroh forty-seven years ago. There were five sons and three [daughters in the family, and two 1 (CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT)

MEXICANS ARE FOUND GUILTY Three Adams County Laborers Sentenced at Ft. Wayne Thursday Fort Wayne, Ind.. March 27. — (Special)—Three Mexican laborers of Adams county were found guilty of grand larceny in the Allen Circuit court Thursday afternoon. Judge Clarence McNabb fined each of the three $1 and imposed a sixmonths sentence at the state penal farm. The three sentenced are Rafael Sanchez, Phillip Torres and Steve Torres. A fourth Mexican, Philemon Eguia, was freed by the judge when a number of witnesses from the vicinity ot Pleasant Mills testified in his behalf as to his previous good character. Burl Johnson, Adams county sheriff, and Dave Dubach, town marshal at Bern", testified for the prosecution at the trial. These two officers, arrested tne Mexicans Tuesday, March 10. for comphcity in the theft of sixty chickens from the Vanßusklrk farm northeast of Ossian.

Mute, Nnflonnl And Inl mint iouiil Vmh

BURKE WANTED IN MANY STATES FOR HIS CRIMES 1 L Notorious Gangster, Captured In Missouri, ' Charged by Many J. EIGHTEEN STATES < SEEK CRIMINAL ‘ — Columbia City, Ind , March 27 I i (UP) Authorities here gave no indication today that they would seek i i iextradition of Fred Burke. Chicago! gangster, to appear here on a charge of bank robbery and murder. Doubt was expressed that Burke could be convicted on a charge involving robbery of the Columbia City State Bank April 18. 1929, during which Mrs. Fred Binder, 40, was struck by a stray bullet. He was never positively identified With the robbery. St. Joseph, Mo„ Mar. 27. —<U.RX—| An afmost country wide fight for custody of Fred Burke. Chicago gangster whom officers term “the most dangerous man alive,” centered today in this north Missouri town near which he was captured without the tiring of a shot. Officers from several of the 181. i states in which Burke is wanted !on charges ranging from robbery (to murdering seven men in a bunch, 1 were hurrying here to battle for the privilege of trying him first, j St. Joseph authorities were be-j sieged wik’.i requests from thfoughqut the middlewest for extradition! papel* on the gangster charged I with killing a score of men and spreading depredation over half the country. Burke was held incommunicado in the county jail. He maintained a stubborn, silent attitude. “I’m not talking until I see my attorney," was his surly response! to all queries. He announced he would fight extradition. Chicago officers were among the first to ask for Burke. They believed he operated the machine gun which mowed down seven of George "Bugs" Moran gangsters in the i Valentine Day massacre of 1929. Five sergeants in the Chicago poI (CONTINUED ON PAGE SEVEN)

DRIVE REACHES HALF-WAY MARK Salvation Army Fund Subscriptions Total $103.14 Major William John Purdue of the Salvation Army reports that the organization drive tor funds has passed the half-way mark in the quota set for Decatur. The quota for this year in Decatur has been set at S2OO and the drive is expected to go over the top lyMajor Purdue has been conducting drives in Decatur for many years and is well known all over this part of the country for his great work in behalf of this relief organization, which is recognized as one of the most helpful in the world. This morning the contributions totaled $103.14, leaving a balance of $96.86 to be raised. The quota for Decatur this year was cut in less than half bedhuse of business -conditions and it is thought that this city will easily go ov§r the top in the drive for funds within the next few days. Contributions made since Thurs(CONTINUED ON PAGE SEVEN) Annual Indiana Air Tour June 15 to 20 Indianapolis March 27 — (UP) — The third annual Indiana air tour will be held June 15 to 20, the Indiana aircraft tradqs association announced a meeting here last nigh'.. Five night stops at points yet to be named will be made, according to Walker Winslow, president 'iof the organization. ! William Sturm, manager of the : I First tour in 1929, was chosen to direct the flight.

Price Two Cents

State Police Chief Plans Substations Indianapo'.ls March 27 —(UP)—A plan embodying substations for state police is being made by Grover Garrett, state police chief he said today. The plan will be modeled from the Michigan system, Garrett said, after returning from the Northern state where he and Robert (’odd. Chief deputy secretary of state, have been studying. Because of additional duties upon state patrolmen, and an appropriation provided by the last legislature about 40 men will be added to the force, Garrett said. JUDGE SPEAKS TO ROTARIANS

Dore B. Erwin Discusses Probation And Juvenile Courts Judge Dore B. Erwin gavq an interesting talk on the probation and ’ juvenile court before members <vf the Decatur Rotary club last eve-1 ning. Judge Erwin stated that the, juvenile court was not a place of i punishment for the delinquent child j and that the court worked along ! the line of aiding or assisting the I boy or girl who violated the law. "It is policy to help, rather than punish,” Judge Erwin stated, “and ■ as long as it is my duty to preside [ over this court I am willing to place ; the offenders on probation.” Judge Erwin explained that proceedings in the juvenile court were '' secret and that so far newspapers 1 and* individuals had not attempte4 1 to violate the secrecy surrounding ■ the court. “This is done,’’ the speaker stated, “so the child is not ' branded a criminal for minor of--1 tenses against the law." The speaker told of the many problems which come up in the juvenile court and the task entailed in trying to dispose of a case properly, “ft seems that there is no specific remedy for correcting ’ infractions against the law. because offenders are all different and the 1 children and parents are just as varied”, the speaker stated. 0 Widening Driveway At Standard Station Work was started Thursday noon to widen the driveway at the Standard Oil Station at the intersection of Winchester street and Mercer ' avenue. The new improvement will add I eight feet to the driveway north of the gas pumps, and will be constructed of cement. The improveI ment was necessary to accomodate large trucks and trailers to cars in turning into the station. The addition will make the total width of , the driveway about 18 feet. ' Dave Dejernet Is Offered Free Tuition 1 1 Washington, Ind., March 27 — i (UP)—Dave DeJernett, star Negro < high school basketball player here. - has been offered free tuition at any Michigan College or university by - Guy Hawkins, Negro who formerly ,• lived here. r “I’ve made good and I want to s help Washington’s great basketball f player do the same," Hawkins t wrote. * s 0 Judge Dore B. Erwin Acts As Critic Judge Judge Dore B. Erwin went to Fort Wayne this afternoon to act t as one of the judges in a constitutional oratorical contest of the B Twelfth district, sponsored by the Allen County Bar Association. The contest was held at North Side high , school and was tinder the direction ) of Judge William Ballou. y 0 Bank Statements ) Asked by Officials Washington, March 27 —(UP) — r The comptroller of the currency toI- day issued a call for a statement i- of the condition of National Banks .. at the close of business March 25. l , I- Indianapolis, March 27 —(UP) — t Luther F. Symons, state banking commissioner, today issued a call o for a statement of the condition of o state banks and trust companies at the close of business March 25.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

PROFESSOR AT NOTRE DAME IS STATE WITNESS Identifies Defendant As Man Who Fled Scene of Crime HEARD SHOT, SAW BROTHERS FLEEING Criminal Courts, Chicago, Mar. 27.— xtl.R)—Father Jonn J. Reynolds, professor of history at Notre Dame university, added the weight of his clerical integrity today to the state’s case against Leo V. Brothers, on trial charged with murdering Alfred J. Lingle, a crime reporter for the Chicago Tribune. The Catholic priest who saw Lingle in the Illinois Central suitway before the murder last June 9, walked into the court room through a barrage of flashlights. He was wearing the black suit and reverse collar of his religious office and strode up to the witness chair with a firm step. As with other state witnesses defense attorneys obtained leave to examine Father Reynolds in an ante ro6m before he was allowed to answer questions in open court. Rev. Reynolds identified Brothers as “answering the description of" the blond young man he sawfleeing after Lingle had been shot. “I came to Chicago June 9 to consult a physician and was walking through the Illinois Central tunnel from a South Shore train when I retraced my steps to obtain ian instruction book,” the priest said. As he approached the stairs at the west side of the subway, he said, he heard a shot “reverberate through the tunnel,'' and turned to look for a body, ready to give religious ministration. “I saw a number of men running up the east stairway. I went to the street. 1 heard a hysterical high voice, ‘stop that man, stop that man.’ “I looked across (he street and saw a blond young man making his way to tlie curb. I followed him with my eye. He paused. He ran 15 yards up the street and turned (CONTINUED UN PAGE EIGHI >

O Charlie Chaplin Is Decorated By French X... Paris, France, Mar. 27. — <U.R> — Charlie Chaplin was decorated today as a knight of the Legion of Honor, in recognition of his artistry. Tlie decoration was awarded at the foreign office by the general secretary of foreign afafirs. VVertzberger Rites Saturday Afternoon Funeral services for Mrs. M. J. Wertzberger who died at her home on Third street, Wednesday evening, will be held at 1:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the home, and at two o’clock at the First Presbyterian church with Rev. H. H. Ferntheil officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. JUDGE SUSPENDS JAIL SENTENCE Austin Centlivre Pleads CJuilty to Manslaughter Charges Fort Wayne, Ind., March 27 —(Special)—Austin Centlivre, 26. prominent. local resident, was given a suspended sentence of 1 to 10 years in the Indiana reformatory late Thursday afternoon by Special Judge John H. Aiken in circuit court on the defendant's plea of guilty to two charges of involuntary manslaughter. The charges, grew’ out of an automobile accident at Pontiac ant Reed streets May 23, 1930. Roy Krabill, taxicab driver and William Creigh. Pennsylvania railroad fireman, died of injuries received in the collision betweeu the cal) in which they were riding and the auto driven by Centlivre. Judge Aiken, in announcing the suspension of sentence, stated that in his opinion the evidence submitted was not sufficient for a finding (CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT)