Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 29, Number 111, Decatur, Adams County, 9 May 1931 — Page 1

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RAN KILLED IN GARY GANGSTER WAR

ADMITS altlNß BULLET r Itire pistol !H] C hl Church Play When (Jun Is Kj by Companion talent ends DEATH SCENE III.. Muy ■ (U.R)— M year <>l<l Arlli u r recalled today Sf>< was the one who pul Ml bullet in the stage killed Mildred last night during a of the home talent .lade God.” said he had (lie pistol for tarbetween rehearthe church dramatic had left it loaded. cleared u? a mystery that rivalled the plot of God," itself. Randall. 19. villian of was toying with the pistol in-ginninu of the rehearsal discharged, killing Miss heroine, and wounding another actor. HI.. May 9—UR)—Robihe villain in a church este<l today to police that not know the gun was loadhe pulled the trigger and Miss Mildred Hughes, hj heroine. Hii.iil and Earl Weisenburger, s ' the pistol, were ordered .in iinpieo after Randall Hughes during rehearnisht in ilie parlors of the Episcopal church. . also denied knowgut: i lined a real bule young members of the were rehearsing the play the tragedy occurred. All in the costumes they wear when the play was bi'foi !- an audience. Some as Randall pointed the IM 9 ' Miss Hughes, made melo[BStie display of villainy, and the trigger. !■ bullet went through Miss S graZet ' l *’ e arm .' l Vincent, another of the actors. HB o JBrs Records To {■ Secretary of State May 9—(U.R)—Dick clerk of the House, of the | Indiana General Assembly, before Circuit Judge ||B 0. Chamberlain today to I ■*>><> house journal over to I^B 1 Mayr, Jr., secretary of I■' immediately. Heller appearI 1 a BU, ntnons to show cause |j^B tllp journal should not become i record. I e Journal was filed by Mr. |^B r with the legislative bureau I weeks ago. Ambassador I Given Approval j May 9 _ (up )_s ee . I (ls State Stimson announced ! "'at President Hoover had j " le a PPointment by the I M Spanish Republican govern- | 01 Salvador De Madariaga as JfRMAKSTARTS |FU ND INQUIRY M ore Than $40,000 Taken ■ r om Chicago Funds ReBraced With I. O. U.’s I. ' J’ cago ' May 9. —(U.R)— How Klh' 1 ' 4 sa PP eare d from Chicago’s Fl' * sury t 0 he replaced with B| . 8 . may he aired in the Lu 1 " B ’.’ 1 appeared today, unless IB*? 6 ' s fixed otherwise and the ■ uri returned. behind the investiga■C»r hto'uding Mayor Anton J. annuonced “the matter ff. 8 ' be cleared up, if only to Bty ourselves.” ■Meanwhile, a grand Jury will R? 5-, l ,^' ilnony of James Kearns, ■CONTINUED on PAGE SIX)

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXIX. No. 111.

Fathers And Sons To Attend Breakfast

More than 400 men and boys are expected at the father’s and sone breakfast to be served Sunday morning at the Decatur Catholic high school building following the seven o’clock mass. The fathers and sons will attend the mase, receive Holy Communion in a body and then partake of a breakfast to be served by the Holy Name society. C. . Voglewede, president of the society will preside as chairman and Dan. Flannigan. Fort Wayne will deliver a short italk dtflngi the breakfast hour.

DECATUR WOMEN ATTEND MEETING Tri-County Meeting of Pythian Sisters Held At Ossian Friday A large number of women from this city, members of the Pythian Sister lodge, attended the Tricounty meeting of the Pythian Sisters lodges, held in the Knights of Pythias home in Tocsin, Friday. The tri-county group includes Wells, Blackford and Adams counties, and representatives were present at the meeting from lodges in Bluffton, Roll, Ossian, Decatur and Tocsin. Sixty-three women attended the all-day meeting, and a dinner was served at the noon hour. During the afternoon session, Mrs. Dailey of Bluffton, president of the tri-county organization, conducted the business meeting, and it was decided to hold the next quarterly meeting in Montipelier in August. An interesting program was held, in which each lodge represented at the meeting took part. A musical reading was given by the Tocsin chapter, and readings by the Ossian and Bluffton organizations were enjoyed. The women from Decatur entertained with an old fashioned “last day of school.’’ Those from this city who attended the meeting were the Mesdames Grant Fry, S. E. Shamp. Jess Burdg, Tillman Gehrig. James Bain, Ed. Ahr, Fred Alir, L. C. Annen. Florence Patton. Wilson Lee. M. E. Hower, Delton Pass ! water, Fred Linn. Earl Butler and Floyd Manley.

Jolietville State Bank Opens Today Westfield, 111., May 9-(U.R)— The Jolietville State Batik opened here today. Half of the stock was purchased by local citizens, and it was announced that the name would be changed, and new officers elected, as soon as a charter is granted. Roy Hadley, cashier of the Jolietville bank, was temporarily in charge. It was announced that the Westfield State bank, which closed several weeks ago, will lie liquidated as soon as possible. o — OERNEBANKTO OPEN MAY It Peoples State Bank to Open Saturday; D. J. Harkless, Cashier Berne, Ind., May 9 (Special) At a meeting of the board of directors held last night it was determined to reopen the Peoples State Bank on Saturday, May 16. D. J. Harkless, Decatur, former cashier of the Old Adams County Bank and for several years connected with the Peoples Loan and Trust Company, also of Decatur, will be the cashier of the bank. Mr. Harkless is an experienced banker. The .bank is capitalized at $60,000 and will open for business in its former location. It has been closed since May 6, 1930, during which time Thurman Gottschalk has acted as liquidating agent. Mr. Gottschalk resigned as liquidator at the meeting Friday night and turned the affairs of the bank over to the board of directors. Gordon Liechty will be teller and Miss Glorine Lehman, Berne will be bookkeeper at the new institution, assisting Mr. Harkless in conducting the affairs of the bank. , Fred Rohrer, postmaster is chairman of the board and Grover Sponger is president of the Institution.

Furn| M |iiul By I uhrff l*rr««

t REVIEW BOARD TO MEET JUNE 1 i Annual Session of County Board to Convene; Memhers Not Yet Named County auditor lAlber| Harlow stated today that the county board of review would meet on Monday, June 1 for the purpose of reviewing personal property assessments and taking whatever action the board deemed advisable in the matter of adjusting assessments. Judge Dore li. Erwin has not yet iannounced the two members of the 11 board who shall be named by the i j court. The county auditor, the I county assessor and the county treasurer by virtue of their office ! are the other members of the board. The board will be in session throughout the month of June. County Assessor John Felty will be the chairman of the board. The legal notice states that the board shall hear complaints of any owner on his assesments of personal property; to equalize the valuations made by the assessors, to review all assessments to make necessary changes, to determine rate of increases or decreases, to add ommitted property, to correct errors, to make recommendations and to carry out those provisions set out by law. Friday, May 15 is the last day for personal property schedules to be filed, Mr, Felty stated. Most of the assessors have completed their work and balance sheets and personal property schedules bf corporations must be in by Friday. It is expected that the 1931 assessments will be below the 1930 valuations, due to the drop in farm produce prices and a general reduction hi all commodities. - Father Seimetz Is Hospital Patient The Rev. Father J. A. Seimetz, pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic church, who has been a patient at St. Joseph's hospital, Fort Wayne, for several days is reported to be getting along nicely. Several X-ray pictures have been taken. He hopes to be able to return to Decatur next week. DIES AT HOME OF DAUGHTER * Mrs. Margaret Eley, 79, Dies at Home of Daughter In Pleasant Mills Mrs. Margaret Eley, 79, wife of William A. Eley, deceased Civil War veteran, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Joseph D. Durbin in Pleasant Mills, Friday evening. Death was due to complications of' old age. The deceased was born near Portland, August 15. 1852, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alezander Johnston. She was first united in marriage to Lawrence Aspy, who died 55 years ago. She later married William A Eley, who departed this life thirty six years ago. Mrs. Eley has made her home in Portland, where she was a member of the Christian Church, resided with her daughter in Richmond, and spent many years of her life near Berne. Surviving are the following: daughters; Mrs. Lon Blowers of Cherubusco; Mrs. J. C. Blossom of Richmond; Mrs. Joseph D. Durbin of Pleasant Mills; Mrs. John Hyatt of Detroit, Michigan. One daughter is deceased. The following brothers and sisters survive: Mrs. D. R. Wright of Portland; and Alert Johnston of Branch, Michigan. One brother, William, died three years ago. Funeral services will be held at 12:39 o'clock standard time, Sunday afternoon, at the Durbin home in Pleasant Mills, and at 1 o clock standard time, at the Spring Hili Church, near Berne. The Rev. F. S. Burns will officiate and interment will be made in the Spring Hill Cemetery. — o Bond Furnished By Indicted Bankers Frankfort, ’lnd., May 9. —(U.R)I — Bond of $2,000 each has been furnished. for Albert I. Yundt, president of the defunct Mulberry Bank and Trust Company, Mulberry, Ind., and his daughter, Mrs. Genevieve Rhodes, secretary of the bank, arrested on Clinton grand jury indictments charging overdraft by bank officers.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, May 9, 1931.

Girl Defies Bullets a w • Helen Walsh, the sweetheart of Francis (“Two Gun”) Crowley. New York gunman wanted for police murder, who was in the midst of the battle which resulted in the capture of the bandit, his pal and herself in New York. Crowley, 'who held the police at bay for an hour in a spectacular battle, was shot tour times, but his sweetheart escaped injury.

COMB STREETS TO GET JURY Judge Orders Sheriff to Recruit Persons For Kirkland Jury Valparaiso, Inrt.. May 9 —(U.R) — The Virgil Kirkland murder trial was recessed today while Sheriff Burney Maxwell went out on the streets to recruit disinterested persons willing to sit in judgment of the 20-year old Gary athlete charged with the death of his sweetheart, Arlene Draves. 18. The kirastic measure, unprecedented in this district, was ordered Hy Judge Grant Crumpacker after the fifth special venire had been exhausted and only 9 jurors tentatively selected. The trial, which is Kirkland's second, has been in progress nearly two weeks, during which time more than 300 men and women have been questioned for jury duty. The first trial resulted in a life sentence for the youth. Weary of the endless questioning. Judge Crumpacker late yesterday ordered Maxwell to “go out on the streets of Valparaiso and (pick up every able bodied man and woman under 60 willing to serve on the jury." Attorneys expect that the jury will be completed from the group which Max(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) UMRERLOST REPORT FILED Engineers Report on Survey Made of Region For State Park Portland, Ind., May 9 —(Special) —Reports made to Richard Lieber head of the state conservation department. by engineers of this department, in regard to the proposed Gene Stratton Porter memorial near Geneva have been received. These reports were made by John C. Diggs, assistant superintendent Division of Lands and Waters and Daniel Doggett, assistant state engineer. The two men were here January 30 of this year, at which time a tour was made of the Lob region where it is proposed to establish the memorial. A number of Portland, Geneva, Decatur, Berne and Pennville people accompanied the representatives of the conservation department on the trip. The reports are quite lengthy, but may be considered favorable although the engineers believe the cost will be great, due to the fact that it would be necessary to purchase a large acerage of land, to provide an area large enough for a park and lake. (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX)

[Masons To Meet Tuesday Evening The regular monthly banquet of I the F. & A. M. Blue lodge, will be held next Tuesday evening at 6:30 p. m. in the Masonic dining rooms, Dan H. Tyndall, worshipful master, ' announced today. Guests will include Samuel Geake, Frank Stouder, Heely Link and others from Fort Wayne who will . also be on the banquet program. The regular monthly meeting of the lodge will follow. Tickets are fifty cents and all members are 1 cordially invited. These meetings held during the past two or three years have proven very successful and interesting. ELKSTO HONOR THEMOTHERS Mother’s Day Program to Be Given Sunday at Elks Home The public is invited to the Mother’s Day program to be given by Decatur lodge No. 993 of B. P. O. Elks at the Elk’s home at three o’clock (D.S.T.) Sunday afternoon. Members of the lodge, their mothers and friends will attend. A musical program in charge of Mrs. L. A. Holthouse will be given. The program follows: processional. Opening by Exalted Ruler. | Sweet and Low Barnby Mrs. Louis A. Holthouse, Dr. James G. Neptune. Mrs. Willian P. Schrock, Elmo Smith A Tribute to Mother Hon. Clark J. Lutz (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) o 64 Prisoners Are Released Today Pendleton. Ind», May 9. — NU.R)' — Sixty-four prisoners who had served the minimum of their terms, were released from the state reformatory here by the institution’s board of trustees, sitting as a parole board. Fifteen petitions for parole were continued, two persons were dismissed to he sent to the Butlerville Colony for Feeble-Minded, and two were paroled for deportation to Mexico. o— Capt. Robt. Dollar Not Expected to Live San Rafael, Calif., May 9.—(U.R) —Captain Robert Dollar fought valiantly today to recover from a serious illness, but physicians of the 85-year old Pacific coast shipping magnate reported lie was growing gradually weaker. A bulletin issued late last night by Dr. Rafael G. Dufficy said Captain Dollar was resting comfortably with a pulse of 120 and respiration at 34. His temperature earlier had dropped to 100.

Muir, Nnllona) And lutrrunllouul

SCHOOL PLAY WELL RECEIVED I). C. 11. S. Seniors Please Crowd With “Trapped,” Four-Act Comedy “Trapped,” a snappy four act comedy presented last night by the Senior Class of the Decatur Catholic High School in the school auditorium. was received by an appreciative audience, and brought before the public a different type of high school play. The comedy is of a modern trenrt~ with a few songe and dances by two would-be movie stars. Hannah and Nate Spooner, the characters portrayed by Mary Helen Lose and Leo Dowling. Plenty of fun is provided by a bewhiskered villian. who is Romeo to a pert little back-fence newspaper. Gales of laughter are provoked by the amusing situations created by an over zealous amateur detective and his sweetheart. The play is centered about the home of Mr. and Mrs. Goodenough, the roles enacted by Marcellus Miller and Flotilda Harris. Their son. Dr. Jim, played by Robert Holthouse, a small town doctor from a great big town, and his quaint “ma" and “pa" in their own home lend an air of “The times way back when” and set off the visitors to the home in a pleasing and humorous light. The play moves swiftly, gathering speed front scene to scene, and (CONTINUED ON PAGB SIX)

MANYTEACHERS MAY LOSE JOBS Schools in Southern Indiana Must Reduce Teach-, ing Staffs Next Fall Indianapolis, May 9. — (U.R)I—Approximately 1 —Approximately two hundred teachers in southern Indiana will lose their positions next autumn as the result of new rules adopted by the state board of education, according to George C. 'Cole, state superintendent of public instruction. Under the reduced teaching staffs, Cole said, many schools will be unable to meet teaching requirements and will be cut from the state aid list. He indicated that the reduction would be a serious blow to the educational system of southern Indiana. Cole pointed out that schools in that section have been operated at minimum cost, to still meet standards demanded by the state board. An effort will be made, he said, to keep the best schools on the list, at the least possible cost. Approximately 50 county superintendents and principals protested against reductions, in a conference with the aid committee of the state board here. W.'A. Wirt, Gary, chairman of the committee, said the changes would save the state almost $200,000.

CLUB ROUND-OP AT PURDUE ENDS More Than 800 Boys And Girls Attend Banquets; Prizes Awarded Lafayette, Ind., May 9—(U.R) — The thirteenth annual round-up of Indiana’s outstanding 4-H Club boys and girls closed here last night with two banquets, attended by 550 girls and 260 boys. Round-up visitors joined in the visit to Purdue’s open house prothe characters taking part in the production portary their parts in an excellent manner, and received a fine response from the appreciative audience which witnessed the play last night. “Trapped" will be repeated in the Catholic School duditorhun, Sunday night, May 10. at 8 o'clock, day(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) ■ 'O Man Killed By An Erie Train North Judson, Ind., May 9.—(U.R) —A railway crossing crash cost the life of Frank P. Irmiter, local contractor, and his daughter, Mamie Irmiter, 32, was injured slightly. Their auto was struck by a Chicago and Erie train.

Price Two Cents

Men’s Brotherhood To Meet Sunday A meeting of the Methodist Men's Brotherhood will he held at the church Monday evening. 7. 30 o'clonk I). S. T. The meeting will he in charge of Alva Lawson and the nten in his division. There will be a short business session, special music and a naddress. “Stewardship of Life” by Mr. Luring N. Scott, of Fort Wayne. A cordial invitation is extended to men outside the church who are interested atul every member of the Decatur Methodist Men's Brotherhood is expected to be in attendance. Refreshments will be served in the church dining room at tlie, close of the meeting. MOTHER'S DAY TO BE OBSERVED Churches, Lodges And Clubs to Pay Tribute To Mother Sunday Special programs have been planned by churches and organizations in this city and throughout Adams county for the observance of Mother’s Day. Sunday, May 10. The various churches of the city, and county have completed plans for the. special entertaining programs for the worship periods. The members of the B. P. O. Elks will entertain their mothers with a Mother’s Day service to be held in the Elk’s Home. Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Mrs. L. A. Holthouse is chairman of the committee in charge of the arrangements. The Phi Delta Kappa fraternity tnembers with their mothers will attend the Mother’s Day worship service Sunday morning, in the Methodist Episcopal church, as a special feature of the day. The Brotherhood of the Evangelical church will have charge of the Sunday evening service in the church, during which an illustrated program with picture slides will be shown on the screen. The pictures are in keeping with the spirit of Mother’s Day. An interesting program of music and readings and dialogues have been planned for the Zion Reformed church service, in which the children of the church will participate. The ministers of the local churches will deliver Mother’s Day sermons together with their entertaining programs. The public is urged to attend these services at the various churches in the city Sunday.

Interurban Lines Are Abandoned Indianapolis. May 9. —i(U.R)I-Aban-donment of lines of the Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Eastern Traction Company, between Terre Haute and Clinton, and Terre Haute and Sullivan, was ordered by the public service commission. Ambassador to the United States. o Come To Church Sunday Page— Beginning with today's issue the Daily Democrat publishes its first “Come to Church Sunday page" and it is expected, that the Saturday feature will prove very popular to the readers of this paper. The interesting features which this page carries include "The illustrated Sunday School lesson," Questions on the LessoYi. an article about Famous Churches of the world, the half-minute sermon and a short story for the children. In addition the regular announcements of the local churches are carried on the page. There is a popular demand for a religious page and the Daily Democrat feels that it Is helping a good cause when it offers its readers this interesting feature. This page is made possible only through the co-operation of the following public spirited business firms of Decatur: Ashbaucher’s Tin Shop S. E. Black Carl Fisher Greenhouse Decatur Floral Co. Decatur Hatchery Decatur Lumber Co. Eastern Ind. Oil Supply Co. Miller's Bakery Mutsc.hler’s Meat Market White's Service Station.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

STOOL PIGEON MEETS DEATH IN SHOOTING Man Accused of Informing Police Killed by Gangsters; Two Wounded POLICE SEARCHING FOR OWNER OF GUN Gary, Ind.. May 9 (UR) Gangster retalliation against the activity oi an allegctl [stool pigeon have resulted today in the death of one man and the wounding of two others. Dominick Gonzales, 35. suspected of being a police informant, was fatally wounded late last night in the rear of a pool room managed by Angecelo Trafican. 35. who was shot when he went to the aid of the wounded man. Hans Hansen, a patron was wounded by the unknown assailant when he walked to the rear to investigate. Gonzales died today after refusing to name his assailant. Police were searching for Joe Moncano. alleged head of the alcohol racket in Gary, after a snub nosed 38 caliber revolver, believed to be his, was found in the room after the shooting. The belief that two men had engaged in the shooting was revealed with the discovery that Gongales and Hansen had been shot with a 38 caliber pistol while Trafican was shot with a 32 caliber weapon. — o Second Presentation of Play Is Given “The Deacon's Second Wife," the public school faculty play which make its second appearance in the Decatur High School auditorium, Friday night was witnessed by a large and appreciative audience. The play was entertaining from beginning to end, and the characters took their various parts in a capable manner. The proceeds from the production will be given to the Junior Band. o Dr. Michelson Clings To Life Pasadena, Calif., May 9.— *U.R) — The tenacity with which Dr, Albert A. Michelson, veteran scientist; clung to life today surprised his physicians, who, nevertheless, declared they did not expect him to recover consciousness. Stricken more than a month ago by a paralytic attack, Dr. Michelson lapsed into a coma Thursday night and his death has been expected hourly since that time. o “Two Gun” Crowley Pleads Not Guilty New York May 9 —(UP) — Francis Crowley, the undersized gunman who was captured after a great police bombardment Thursday, was speeded along toward punishment today on the charge.of killing patrolman Frederick Ri/sch. Less than 48 hours after his capture in an apartment off riverside drive. Crowley —* who prefers tho more glittering name of "two gun" —was arraigned in a Mineola hospital on an indictment drawn yesterday. He pleaded not guilty.

HOOVER TAKES UP EXPENSES President Gives Up Trout Fishing Today to Discuss Army Budget Orange, Va., May 9 (UP) —President Hoover turned his back on inviting trout streams today to discuss with high officals of the war department possible means of reducing army expenses. The President arrived at his mountain camp on the Rapidan shortly before 11 A. M. and immediately went into conference with secretary of war Hurley. General MacArthur, chief of staff, and Will Wood chairman of the house appropriations committee. These three drove from Washington in the Pre(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX)