Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 29, Number 84, Decatur, Adams County, 8 April 1931 — Page 1

MeathEß ■ a nd ’bflhtiy ■ r to n i 0 n 1 ■ ly increasin'.) ■eu. followed Mowers and ■ at niflh*-

ANGSTER WILL FACE MURDER CHARGES . n -■ - -'■■■ 1 —.— „ .... __

■EI sums ■hpaignfor ■nomination —■ K. Republicans Say Evident Should Be Kiied Second Time Brs are W \SKEI» TO JOIN April B.—<U.R) ••••nonun-pn-LO n’ Hoover to take torn). . republicans, is” directly "i’h thl ‘ admimscd Iheniln f ax or of entrusting l>ai the Presi■Krain. K... s. n It f Moses of N.w K stand .Macy. ir k . Burke ot Pitts;iHil General have not only the:-. • o - ~ Mr. Hoover, |K r o; .il'O have urged ~n.l o: the party to ( ~1 th-ir views is be- ■■ nr from a per■rip thi.aiyh the south, dur■rhjc: !■>■ understood to have the delegate situation publican national in mind. His reports .■iiranc io the Hoover . leaders have 1 . misgivings the I activity of Cel. Horace, 1 Hoover ally in the i Mann's agents' hav.. help of former ■l ehairm in (la'idills Huston effni' align southern against Mr. Hoover next SBThey :..ve spread reports exp.-, t more than 200 to be unpledged or for, f former President report of conditions Mason Hixon line is said the chances of Mann M; in line any formidable southern delegates. all these signs point to of a definite camHin Mr. Hoover's behalf, the national committee here, Hoover himself are yet 1 ■ Reorganization of Hie comMin preparation for the cam- ■ has been delayed, the leadin'. Generally they feel the My wants a relaxation from activity ihis summer. They that tlie reorganization Me undertaken in the fall. ■ Hoover is to undertake a E°f eight speeches beginning M 3 and ending June 17, which Meview the accomplishments Mopes of his administration as ■NTINUED ON PACE SIX) ■~ o ■ne Company Rate ■Unchanged For 1931 y na Polis April B—(UP)—The ■a Public Service commission Beet he valuation rates of the ■>s Telephone Company of De- ■ at $207.40 the same as last JEPHENSON APPEAL SET Fer Klan Dragon’s EsFor New Trial To |Be Heard April 17 ■'esviiie, Ind., April 8. — RJ.R> F Petition of D. C. Stephenson, 861B 61- grand dragon of the Ku I K *an in Indiana, for a new I p‘ n TT be hfiard April 17, Judge I “■ Hines has ruled. I • Jenkins, Gary, attorney for penson, and Emmet Fertig, | state, appeared in the case, |, Attorney Genbit s M. Ogden in his coram Proceedings, filed a few days sphenson, who is serving a life »., nl On . conv * c^on on a charge 11 mg Madge Oberholtzer, ct s „ appeal °n alleged errors • Us principal contention is h ® » uld not testif y !n his nst h S because of treats ‘ >8 life. He claimed that t „ U . nn ’ en were in the court--10 influence the jury.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXIX. No. 84.

Baseball Bat Strikes George Engle In Eye George Engle 12 year old son ot Mr. ami Mrs. Clay Engle, received painful injuries at I o'clock Tuesday i afternoon when he was accidently struck in the eye by a baseball hat I that slipped from the hand of a player at the South Ward baseball diamond. The lad was taken to a physician where It was necessary to take two stitches in the eye. The attending physician stated the injuries are painful, but are not serious. The lad was watching the baseball practice when the accident occurred. REST ROOMS TO REMAIN OPEN Commissioners, Council Make 30-Day Agreement On New Plans The city council and county commissioners nave reached an agreement for a 30 day trial to keep the comfort stations in the court house ' open at night and on Sunday. The custodian of the court house |is to supervise the stations during the day and up to six o'clock in the evening. This job he has been looking after for several years. . The city council is to employ a person to clean the stations early in ! the morning and to have the city I police officers patrol the places every half hour. With two men on ■ duty every evening one policeman I will visit the places each hour beginning at six-thirty o'clock in the. ' 1 evening. | Articles of agreement were draftbed yesterday with the county comII missioners and approved by the city i council last evening. The arrange- ■ ment is made for 30 days and if it i proves satisfactory the same plan will lie carried out throughout tlw ; year. File for Job i Four applications for appointment ■ on the regular fire department force were filed with the city council last evening and placed on file. Those , who filed were Adolph Hart, a mem- , her of the old Decatur fire department; Freeh C. Hower, Floyd B. , I Hunter and Albert Aeschliman. Joe Linn filed an application for the , place two weeks ago. Agreement Is Filed , An agreement with the county , I commissioner for the city light and I power plant to take over the line to ’ the County Infirmary and a franchise to extend the line south was ' filed with the council last evening. Bills are Allowed Bills were read by Hernia* Gillig ' chairman of the finance commit ee and approved. Lions Hold Meeting The Lions Club program Tuesday night, was in the charge of , Dee Fryback, and included selections by the Whip-Por-W ill orchestra and several musical numbers by the Lions Club quartet. CENTRAL PLAY TO RE CIVEN Eighth Grade Pupils To Present “Looks Like Rain”, Next Week 1 The pupils of the eighth grade of the Central school will present the play “Looks Like Rain" in the high school auditorium. Thursday and Friday nights, April 16 and ■ 17. The play will be presented under the direction of Miss Grace Coffee. The three acts take place in the library and writing room of ' the Sherwood Inn in the Catskill Mountains, and the characters who will take part in the performance are as follows: Monty Mansfield, the proprietor Harry Moyer Reggie Van Wert, an ambitious author Robert Engeler (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) o Commissioners to Meet Soon To Buy Trucks ’ The county commissioners ad- • journed continued session last even--1 ing, to meet iu the next few days to 1 award the contract for furnishing 1 two heavy duty trucks to the coun- ■ ty highway department. Bids were ■ received Tuesday by the hoard, but • the contract was not awarded. Several bidders submitted proposals.

Fiirnlalied Hy

NEW LIGHT AND ! POWER SYSTEM BEING PLANNER 'i... 1 (ity to Employ Electrical Engineer to Work Out All Details PROJECT TO COST $12,000 The city council will employ the jservices of an electrical engineer in I the near future to prepare plans for | I building a new electrical distribution system for the City Light and I Power plant in Decatur. For several years the council has investigated the matter of rebuildI ing the electrical lines in the city It was learned that an underground |syster. with provisions for future I growth would cost approximately t $150,000 by the time the system ■ | was completed. The council is of the opinion that ■|the underground system is too ex- ■ pensive an undertaking and a new plan has been suggested. i. A new line would be started a* : {the city plant, run south to Marshal) ( i street and then east to the alley { ”between First and Second streets. .The line would be placed overhead and the poles would be placed in the : alleys. All ot the large poles on Second street would be removed ; Tlie cable lines would be in the ali ley and the other lines fed from the { i main line. The council plans to build the : line from Marshall street to Adams street and on Monroe street west • of Eighth street this year. It is estimated that this year's ’ program would cost about $12,000 ■ and give the city new distribution : lines in the principal par's of Decai tur. Before steps are taken detailed i plans wiU-be prepared by -a. fanable. engineer. Contracts Are Awarded . i The contract for furnishing gro- ■ ceries at the county infirmary was ■ awarded to Fisher and Harris on • their hid of $295.78. The commis- . sioners also awarded the dry goods ! contract to Niblick and company on ■ their bid of $152.94 and the breail contract to Miller's Bakery. MAY STOP ROAD I ! IMPROVEMENTS Second Street Resurfacing May Be Halted By New State Law Washington and St. Mary’s townships will be unable to build or improve roads under the three-mile { road law this year, due to the enactment- of Senate bill 131, passed hy the last legislature making it unlawful to increase tax levies in 1931 and 1932. The law reads, “that budgets of governmental units in 1931 and 1932 shall not exceed budgets formI ulated in 1930. Provided, that unttil June 30, 1933, all mandatory minimum tax levies are suspended and the officers having charge of making the levies may fix a levy ' less than the fixed minimum, but may not exceed the fixed minimum levy for such purposes." The township road bond levy is , a separate tax and is levied to pay bonds and interest on them as they i become due. In Washington township only one bond, that on the Frisinger road is paid oft in full. This bond is for SBOO and on a ten-year basis is equal to a credit of SB,OOO. If the law prevents Washington township from improving roads . this year, Second street from Adams to the north corporation line cannot be improved under the three-mile road law. The county commissioners held action on the road improvement this month, pending an opinion ’ from the attorney general. Some authorities are of the opinion that if an improvement lias been started before the law is effective that it can .be carried out. O — Two Die In Wreck Brownstown, Ind., April 8. —<U.R) , —Henry Hall, 45, and his son, - James, 8, were killed when the auto in which they were riding was struck by a B. & O. freight train at Stewardts Crossing, 13 miles west of here. Another son, Junior, 4, was unhurt.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, April 8, 1931.

Chicago’s New Mayor-Elect n w **■ 113 z jpKWM&Mh K -a. n Anton J. Cerrnak. Democrat, piled up the biggest majority ever accorded a Chicago mayoralty candidate in Tuesday's city election. He defeated Mayor William Hale Thompson, three times head of the second largest city in the United States.

FAST TIME TO BEGIN APRIL 25 11 1 Decatur Clocks To Move i Forward Midnight of Saturday, April 25 Daylight saving time, which turns the clocks at Decatur forward an , hour, will go into effect Saturday I ■ April 25 at midnight according to; Jthe city ordinance passed May 7.1 i 1929 and approved by the mayor. | The fast time, which places De-, i catur on the same time basis as, i eastern standard time will be effec-l I tive until Saturday September 26. at midnight. The last clause of the ordinance { reads that "This ordinance shall be , in full force and effect on and after { its passage and approval by the | ! Mayor," The ordinance was passed (here in 1929 after a referendum was { Lheld in connection with the city pri-1 Imary election. < There have been some attempts j .I to repeal the ordinance, but the l general opinion ot citizens of Decatur apparently is to retain the rase time. Last summer almost every city in northern Indiana adopted the ■ fast time. Fort Wayne will have the dayi light saving time again this year, it ■ going into effect the same time I that Decaur clocks are moved for- : ward. o LONGWORTH IS REPORTED ILL 1 Nicholas Longworth Said To Be Suffering From Single Pneumonia ' Aiken, S. C., April 8. — <U.R> — ■ Physicians attending Nicholasi . Longworth, speaker of the House > of Representatives, issued a verbal, bulletin today stating their patient t was suffering from pneumonia but t that his condition was as good as could be expected. [ "There is no immediate danger," i the bulletin said. Mrs. Longworth reached Aiken . at 10:25 a. m. , Dr. Robert H. Wilds made the statement of Longworth's condition I in behalf of himself and Dr. Thom- ■ as Brooks. The' statement was as i follows: ' (CONTINUED, ON PAGE SIX) Miss Helen Holthouse Is Latin Instructor Miss Helen Holthouse left today to accept a position as instructor I of five years of Latin at St. Mary’s - college, Notre Dame, Indiana. Miss ■ Holthouse was graduated from St. i Mary's college with high honors last i June and was recently chosen from i thirty applicants tor the teaching , position. She will conduct her first classes Thursday.

Attorney Says Salary Cut Bill Is Illegal Hammond, Ind., April 8. —<U.R> — ! Legality of action taken by the last { legislature which slashed salaries) of county officials will bo attacked ■ here, it was announced today. One attorney here, quoting from section 2. article 4, of Indiana statutes, pointed out the alleged t»nconstitutionaiHy of the new law. He termed it "special" legislation. Section 2, article 4, as interpreted by lhe attorney, provides that; ino regulation shall be made of | compensation to be received by county and township officials. The new law reduced the salary ■of the sheriff here from SIOO,OOO 'annually to SIO,OOO, it was revealI ed. LOCAL PASTOR IS ON PROGRAM Rev. Paul Schultz Will Take Part In Lutheran Conference This Week Rev. Paul W. Schultz, local Luth-! eran pastor, will take part in the program of the annual Easter conference of the Northeastern Indiana Circuit of the Lutheran Churches in I the Missionary Synod, which will be held in the Trinity Lutheran Church. Fort Wayne, from Wednesday to Friday inclusive. Delegates: it'rom approximately forty congregations will be represented at the meeting. Rev. C. B. Preuss of Adarna County will also take part in the program, together with a number lof other ministers of the circuit. Rev. Phillip Wambsganss. senior pastor of the Emmaus Lutheran Church of Fort Wayne who has served as president of the conference for the last twenty years, will preside over (he meeting, and the {readings of papers, discussion of future policies and activities and rei ports of various committees will be I features of (he sessions. Rev. Herbert Lebihn, pastor of the Trinity Church, is chairman in charge of the arrangements for tne conference, the first session of which will open Wednesday morning at 9 o’clock. Sessions will be held in the mornings and afternoons of the three day conference, and noon-day luncheons will be served Iby the women of the Trinity Church. o Successor To Rockne May Be Warren Brown South Bend, Ind., April B.—<U.P.) —Reports were circulated here today that Warren Brown, Chicago sports writer, would succeed tlie late Knute Rockne as athletic director at the University of Notre Dame. Brown was in conference with university officials yesterday afternoon. For years he has been on close terms with university offie- . ials, and was an intimate friend of Rockne’s.

Mntr, Nuflontil And I lite run Hu uh I

GERM AK BEATS THOMPSON FOR MAYOR'S POST ■I Illi ■ ' IM I Hill — • Democrats Sweep Chicago In History’s Greatest Landslide Election HAILED AS “REDEMPTION” Chicago, Aipril 8 <U.R) William Hale Thompson, master politician who served three terms as mayor of Chicago has been turned out of office in favor of Anton J. Cermak, former Bohemian immigrant whose career began in the coal mines of southern Illinois. Ceimak's smashing victory at the polls l.y a majority of almost 192.000 was "Big Hill's" first taste of deteat during his spectacular career. Complete returns today from the 2,987 precincts as compiled by the police gave Cerrnak 666.439 and Thompson 474,808. Followers of the Democratic president of the Cook county board hailed Cermak's victory as “tlie of Thompsonism, waste, exitravagance and crime.” Civic leaders called the Republican incumbent’s defeat a "tremendous step toward good government and (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX .

u MG NUTT DRAWS ! LARGE CROWD Jay County Jefferson Club Entertains 350 At Annual Banquet — | "Every time there is a crisis in . | governmental affairs, the Democratic party is called on." These were the words of Paul V. McNutt, dean of Indiana University law school who was the chief speaker at the annual Jefferson club banquet at Portland last night. The meeting was attended by more than 350 Democrats from all parts ot the] state. McNutt gave a short description of the creed of Thomas Jefferscui, founder of the party, whose birthday was observed at the banquet. { He then praised the Democratic {state administration and urged the { people to complete the job of “house cleaning” in Indiana in 1932. I The speaker reminded the audience that the Democratic party had fulfilled every bit of its platform pledge to the people of Indiana ami that tlie parts which failed to become laws, failed because of the Republican senate. | McNutt received a great ovation lat the close of his address. R. Earl I Peters, Democrat state chairman, (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) o MURRAY RAPS FARM HOARD Board of Trade Head Says Holdings Are Menace To Future Crops Chicago, April 8 —(UP) — The Federal farm board has failed to maintain wheat prices at a satisfactory level and its grain holdings , constitute a menace to coming crops James C. Murray, president of the Chicago Board of trade, declared { today in an address before the association of commerce. These charges were followed by Murray with Board of Trade recommendations that the government should “divest itself entirely of the business of merchandising grain, permitting the handling of stored surpluses by private traders; that government funds should not be thdl merchandising of commodities used at lower rates of interest in in competition with the established 1 (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) Boy Hit With Stone Harold Hitchcock, 12 year old son ’ of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Hitchcock received an injured eye when he 1 was accidently bit with a stone ' while playing at tbe new postoffice 1 site, at 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. ■ The lad was taken to a physician ■ where it was learned his injury was not serious. ,

Price Two Cents

Man Near Death After Battle With Policeman Fort Wayne, Ind., April 8. —(U.R) —A man. believed to be Elmer ulated In 1930. Provided that unhere today with a bullet wound suffered after he barricated himself in a room and battled a policeman. He was shot when lie attacked the patrolman with a knife. The victim refused to reveal his identity until questioned by a minister. Ho said his home was in Finland. Tlie patrolman was called to the ecene when three uiegro women said a man attempted to stab them. o MANY THRILLS ARE PROMISED Junior Class Play To Be Held Thursday And Friday Nights Here “Take My Advice" is a popular, thrill-comedy in three acts, which | the members of the Junior class of the Decatur high school will present in the high school auditorium. Thursday and Friday nights, April 9 and 10. The play will begin at 8:15 o'clock, and tickets are 40c for adults and 25c for children and high school students, may be secured from members of the junior class or at the door of the auditorium on the nights of the performance. The play takes place in Eureka which is one of those little towns where the principal diversion is watching the daily flyer pass through. Bob Mannion, a part portrayed by Ival Newliard, who runs the I Daily News and who is completely I under the subjugation of John Warl grim, the role taken by Edward Martz, has about decided that one could not wake up Eureka with a discovery of gold in the middle of {Main street. Just when things are the deadest, Jimmy Samson of Bickley Slogan Company, breezes into town. Richard Schug as Jimmy, a human alarm clock, boasts the distinction of having awakened old Rip Van Winkle, and promptly proceeds to wake up everybody and .CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) DECATUR LADY IS OFFICIAL Mrs. Chris Lehman Named Vice-President of Church Society Mrs. Chris Lehman of this city was chosen first vice-president of the Woman’s Missionary • Society classical of the Reformed Churches in the Fort Wayne classis, at the election held in the Cross Reformed Church at Berne this morning. The two day session opened Tuesj day and business sessions of the Organization were held throughj out today. Mrs. John Balzer of Huntington was chosen president of the classis, and Mrs. A. M. Rolig of Culver was elected second vice-president. Other officers chosen at the morning session were Mrs. R. B. Meckstroth of Huntington, re?

cording secretary; Mrs. Fred Heuer. Decatur. corresponding secretary; Mrs. F. W. Rupnow of Fort Wayne, statistical secretary: Mrs. W. Rippe, Fort Wayne, historian; Mildred Mollett, Fort Wayne, treasurer. The depart mental chairmen chosen were Mynne Ehrsam, Berne, literature; Mrs. Margaret Bretz, Goshen, temperance; Mrs. V. A. Eichenberger, Berne, stewardship; Mrs. Paul Casey, Goshen, organization of membership; Mrs. C. G. Parks, Bluffton, thank offering; Miss Eleanor Reppert, Decatur, Girls Missionary Guild; Mrs. (CONTINUED ON PAGE S!X> —o Moose Lodge Re-elects Ralph Burnett Dictator Ralph Burnett was re-elected dictator of the Loyal Order of Moose at a business meeting held at the Moose Home, Tuesday evening. Lloyd Kreischer was re-elected vicedictator, Archie Long was elected prelate, Roy V. Miller was chosen treasurer, and George A. Hahnert was elected trustee. These officers will be installed at the last meeting night in April and will serve for one year.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

FREOBURKE IS ROUND OVER TO CIRCUIT COURT / Is Known In Northern In- | diana As Dangerous Gangster, Gunman TO BE TRIED IN MICHIGAN St. Joseph, Mich,, April 8. —KU.Rj —Fred Burke was bound over today to the Circuit court for trial on a charge of murdering Policeman Charles Skelly of St. Joseph. On April 120 he will be arraigned before Judge Charles W. White to enter a plea. His trial is exI pected to start late in April i or early in May. The notorious gunman was abi sent from his county jail cell f>r only a few minutes. He was guarded by six state police officers ind by extra deputy sheriffs. The preliminary hearing m-k held before Justice of the Peace Joseph R. Collier in a small anteroom adjoining the bullpen of tho county jail. Burke was attired in a new, light brown suit, with dark blue shirt and tie to match. The suit had been shipped to him from Kansas City. Mo., yesterday by ills young wife, Mrs. Bonnie Burke. Charles Gore, Burkes attorney, chose to waive preliminary examination and Justice Collier, with a stroke of his pen, held Burke for arraignment in Circuit court. Before the hearing, two Detroit attorneys, Charles L. Bartlett, a former municipal judge, and Thomjas F. Kennedy, a former associate lof Gerald Buckley, slain radio an- | nouncer, attempted to confer with i Burke, but the gunman would not see them. Bartlett and Kennedy consulted Gore and finally were admitted to Burke's cell. It was indicated that. Bartlett had been retained by friends of Burke. After the meeting, Burke said Gore would continue as his attorney. o Couple Pleads Guilty Portland, Ore., April B—HUP I — Nelson C. Bowles, Portland capitalist, and Irma G. Loucks, formerly his stenographer, who recently were acquitted of a charge that they murdered Mrs. Leone Bowles, pleaded guilty to a morals charge today in circuit court and were fined S3"O each. o—i ■reConference Opens At Mishawaka This Morning Mishawaka, Ind., April B—(UP)8 —(UP) — The annual memorial service of tne North Indiana Conference of tlie Methodist Episcopal church was to be held here this morning. More than 200 pastors, attending the group's convention, were to lie present. The yearly sessions, which will continue for seven days, opened yesterday. Organization of the <;pnference and reports of district superintendents were completed at a business meeting last night.

STRIKE ATTACK FATAL TO TWO Longshoremen Strikebreakers Attacked On Return From Work New Orleans, April 8. — )U.R) — Two longshoremen were dead ami five olhers were suffering from gunshot wounds today after a hold attack on a truck in which police were escorting 35 men from the waterfront. A volley of buckshot was fired by unidentified persons into the truck as the longshoremen, all negroes, were being taken home from work last night. It was the bloodiest outbreak of the two months’ longshoremen's strike. Three policemen riding in the truck with the workers were uninjured. Four others, riding behind the.truck in a police ear, were not. fired on, but answered the fire of tlie attacking group. They injured no one, however. At least a dozen charges were fired by the attackers, the police said.