Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 29, Number 120, Decatur, Adams County, 20 May 1931 — Page 1

WEATHER kK, tonight and ®lK rsl l.iy ■ cooler to■K lt '"-i*'* ,rost iP places HBllon.

MAIN STORE TAX REHEARING IS SOUGHT

®L CONTEST "Wise before Il COURT TODAY Known Effort In ■ Indiana To Set Aside Will of .Mute INTEREST |T SHOWN IN CASE will contest case in * Whir;. the tlecedant who! the will was a deal E|h. believed to be the first E-it’iei case where a deal' ]v will is questioned, Kgencd in Adams cir c u i t Erl t<Hlav. ‘O.xtßTli'' case is entitled Aaron ami Bell Young vs. >e [.autzenheiser, Lavina ,1 Gertrude Michaels. r H!^^V ri| Rawipy. Roy Rawley ami Rawl.-y, suit to set aside plaintiffs allege that they « <K p , l > l .. r and sister, respective the late William Ijtutzen- . and that they are the sole | ipi ,. s to the estate. The further alleges that llm william Lautzenheiser, in 1914 should be set because William LautzenWiH of unsound mind; that duress: that the execution ei - under undue infill--11 and that it was unduly exeK will, written in 1914. gave Eg Lis sister-in-law, Mrs. Pass- - (then Mrs. Rawley) his 40f arDl in southern Adams as long as she lived and at the tract was to be diequally among her children. ’'■.■Kiorily before Lautzenheiser’s a writ cf habeas corpus was in Adams circuit court to and sister that the should be delivered to them jury in the case includes Marshall. Will Noll. Luther Ernest Doehrman, John Raleigh Houck, George (’<>!- Ben Kiting, Harry Ray. Thieme, Will Ohler, Lee ('. Parrish of Fort Wayne anil Nelson of this city are for the defendants and DoVoss represents Hie . tiffs. was expected the ease would at least two days, as a numwitnesses were to be called. < i - ■ —— M)ys' Exhibit Continues I- Bos's Hobby Week Exhibit centiniied this afternoon and in order that those who not seen the exhibit may have oportunity to do so. Eno and Ainos Ketchum are ot the exhibit which is be--1 I in Ute Public Library buildexhibit will be open from 1 to this afternoon, from 7 to X 9:.T<> to 10:30 o'clock tonight, anil after the commencenn nt Ilian 260 people visited the MyM Tuesday afternoon and praise wae heard from those »aw the objects made by the Ims COURT I IS ATTACKED |y yp ns Say Dust Is Cause Damage To HouseI hold Goods BBotnplaint over the use of the MBnis court on Monroe street, of the Eoknecht Filling stawas made last evening by SB er “' residents to the city counElizabeth Costello. Mrs. Fritzinger, Harry G. appeared liefore the counami stated that the dust from mill Waß il d urlng household in the Schulte home, ownh.v Mrs. Costello. Mrs. Fritz■F er complained that her garden ■' . flowers were damaged by the and girls. objections to the court were f in writing and verbal comnt was also registered with the ■to i ' T^e matter was referred BK he committee on public safety.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXIX. No. 120.

County Eighth tirade Commencement June 13 The County eighth grade commencement exercises will be held Saturday afternoon, June 13, at two o'clock at the Community auditorium at Herne, Clifton E. Striker, county superintendent, announced today. The exercises will be for all eighth grade graduates of the rural schools of Adams County. George C. Cole, State Superintendent of Public Instruction will deliver the principal address. DEFENSE CALLS WITNESSES IN KIRKLAND CASE Gary Youth’s Attorneys Call Important Witnesses To Stand CLAIM FALL CAUSED DEATH Valparaiso, Ind., May 20.—(U.Rlt — Attorneys for Virgil Kirkland began today building a story of love and romance, shattered by an accident at a liquor party, in their attempt to clear the 20-year-old former Gary football player of murder charges growing out of the death of his sweetheart, Arlene Draves, 18. They promised to summon 20 or 30 witnesses to testify that the youthful couple were lovers and that Miss Draves’ death resulted from a fall rather than from criminal attack by Kirkland, as charged by the state. At a previous trial, the youth was convicted of causing the girl’s death by a blow during a gin party in Gary last autumn. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, but obtained the new trial. The second defense battle was started late yesterday when a doctor, a policeman, and one of Kirkland's pals were called to the stand (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) o ‘BARBER JAKE' BEFORE COURT Alleged Stock Swindler Asks To Be Arranged At Once Chicago, May 20 —(U.R) — John Factor, the former “Jake the Barber,’’ surrendered to Federal authorities today just as they had about given up hope of bringing him to justice on charges of swindling English investors of around $5,000,000 in fraudulent stock transactions. Factor and his wife appeared at the United States’ marshal's and asked for a hearing on charges that the suave land and stock salesman is a fugitive from British justice. Factor appeared confident that he would be able to obtain release on bond pending determination of England's claim for his extradition. He was not even accompanied by any of the numerous lawyers who have sought to negotiate with federal authorities for surrender terms. (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) Lions Conference To Be Held At Kokomo South Bend., Ind.. May 20—(UP) — Kokomo was chosen as the site for the next convention of Indiana Lions Clubs, at the closing session of the assembly here. Harry E. Northam, Michigan City was elected governor of the Northern Indiana district and Jap Jonee, Martins ville, governor of the Southern district. G. E. Plant Employes To Get Two-Week Vacation The Decatur and Fort Wayne plants of the General Electric company will be closed two weeks tn August, according to announcement made today by Walter S. Goll, general manager of the company. Ihe plants will be closed for the vacation period and employes are asked to arrange their vacations during the weeks of August 3 to August 17 Other G. E. plants will follow the same policy this year, it was announced.

Furnlaha-d Hy Felted l’r<-»

Seven Die in Auto-Train Crash W » Hl * i V £ F - Jk lu . < l j jj A * i a. vwJMjS/ jjp This wreckage bears testimony to the terrific force with which the automobile in which seven persons. six of them children, were killed was struck by the Columbine, crack North Western train, at Calamus, la. The automobile was hurled seventy-five fi st, then dragged a block.

“Honey Bee” Problem Is “Stinger”For Council

CANNING PLANT NOT TO LOCATE R. W. Morris Wires He Will Not Locate Factory at Present The proposal of a canning factory locating in Decatur will not materialize, it was learned today in a tele gram from Ross W. Morris. Greenfield. who had been negotiating with the Decatur Chamber of Commerce for the last two weeks. The telegram from Morris was as follows: Decatur Chamber of Commerce, Decatur, Indiana. Was at Elwood last night. Account general conditions have decided not to do anything with canning factory this season and not necessary to have meeting. Thanks for cooperation. Ross W. Morris.” Mr. Morris previously had arranged to come to Decatur today for final decision on whether the factory would be located here. After hearing several reports concerning the proposition, five members of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce went to Greenfield and Elwood yesterday to investigate the matter further. The findings were not completely satisfactory and Deciitur nierchanfs (CONTINUED ON PaGE SIX, CORN PLANTING IS PROGRESSING Report Shows Corn Is Up In Southern Part of State This Week Indianapolis, May 20 —(U.R) — Corn planting progressed rapidly in Indiana during the warm days between Friday and Tuesday, according to the crop report of the United States weather bureau here, issued today. Corn up in southern areas shows moderately good stands despite early cool weather, the report said. A portion of the southern and central crop was said to be yellow. Wheat made excellent growth generally and much in the northern section was jointing, some in the southwest was heading. Progress of oats was not so favorable, many areas lacking moisture and warmth. In northern section soy beans were planted during the week. 'Rye was (CONTINUED dN PAGE FIVE) Winchester Man Arrested Don Dohrty of Winchester was arrested by Sheriff Burl Johnson on a charge of failure to provide for his wife and family at Winchester, and was placed in the Adams County Jail at 7 o'clock Tuesday evening. Mr. Dohrty was found at the Baker residence on West Monroe street where he has been boarding. Sheriff Johnson turned him over to Sheriff Breiner and police officials of Winchester at 9 o’clock, Tuesday night.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, May 20, 1931.

Citizens Complain to City Dads; Relate Many Incidents Residents living on West Monroe street, near Thirteenth street, appeared before the city council Tuesday evening and complained that honey bees were "so thick out there that fruit trees were being destroyed and that children were confined to their beds suffering from stings of the bees” They appealed to the council that sognething be done, "Last year we had only about half a crop from our pear trees and nearly all our grapes were destroyed by the bees”, one ot the residents stated. “A greater invasion of the bees is expected this year because last year there were only 10 hives ami this year there (CONTINUED ON PAG® SIX) o THREE CITIES SEEK MEETING • Christian Church Delegates At Logansport For Conference Logansport, Ind., May 20 —(UP) —selection of a city for the 1932 convention of the Disciples of Christ in Indiana was expected to be made today at the organization’s ninety-second annual convention here. Danville. Martinsville and Seymour delegates were attempting to obtain the assembly for their respective cities. Mrs. E. F. Daugherty, Muncie, was named president of the Ministers’ wives organization. Others elected were: First vice president, Mrs. Audrey Moore. Indianapolis; second vice president, Mrs. W. C. Aschencourt, Flora; and secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Ira Williams Scottsburg. W. R. Warren, Indianapolis, led a discussion on the ministerial pen(CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) MINOR RIOTS ARE REPORTED f Union President Is Speaker; Warns Men Against Violence Mishawaka. Ind., May 20 —(UP) Numeroous minor disorders were reported to police here as the strike of 2,000 employes of the Mishawaka rubber and woolen mills entered its third day. William R. Stayton, president of the local rubber workers’ union, addressed the strikers in a gathering in labor hall. He warned them against demonstrations and violence. Virgil Stutsman, 20, was slashed by a woman when he and other strikers stopped her as she came from the plant at closing time. Mayor Mason L. Petro announced after a conference with company olficials that no steps would be taken by authorities to halt the strike. Plant ofifcials ordered the factories closed to prevent strikers from injuring employes who wished to return to work.

AUTO AGENCY TO BE OPENED John Neering Secures Hain Building; Will Open Saturday John Neering, former assistant superintendent of the Holland-St. Louis Sugar company in this city, announced today tliat he would open a Chevrolet auto sales agency next Saturday. The new agency will be known as the Neering Chevrolet Sales and Albert Sellemeyer, Fort Wayne, a former Decatur resident and experienced auto salesman will ba associated with Mr. Neering. The agency will be located in the Simeon Hain building, coiner Monroe and First streets, formerly occupied by T. J. Durkin. The new Chevrolet cars are expected here Saturday, Mr. Neering stated. Mr. Neering is an experienced mechanic and is well known in Decatur. He was connected with the Holland-St. Louis Sugar company for a number of years and will devote his entire time to the auto business. Mr. Sellemeyer was formerly engaged in the auto business in Fort Wayne, being one of tile owners of a well known agency in that city. He stated that he intended to move to Decatur in the near future. The Chevrolet auto has not been represented in Decatur for several months and the new agency intends to promote the sales and give service to Chevrolet owners in a new and business like manner. 0 LEAGUE PLANS FALL MEETING T Disarmament Conference To Be at Geneva Early In Fall Geneva, May 20. — (U.R) — The I,eague of Nations council today decided that the proposed world disarmament conference early next year will be held at Geneva. The effort by Germany to force the conference to consider limitation of trained reserves and to reduce conscript armies and military material stocks failed before the combined opposition of Aristide Briand, French foreign minister, August Zaleski, Polish foreign minister, Dino Grand!, Italian foreign minister, and the representatives of Japan and Jugoslavia. Germany vainly insisted once more that the tables which the various governments will furnish the conference should include full information on armaments. Briand declared, on the contrary, that the tables furnished the preparatory commission represented the maximum concession upon which agreement was now possible. W. L. Thornhill Will Deliver Address W. L. Thornhill of Geneva will deliver an address at the Monroe M. E. church, Wednesday evening, May 27, at 7:30 o'clock on the subject. “Wanted, A Man.” A special invitation is extended the public to hear Mr. Thornhill's talk.

State, Nattunal And InlrrniKlouul Ne»n

K. OF C. LODGE PLANS SILVER ANNIVERSARY Class of 35 Will Be Initiated at Celebration May 31 CARMODY WILL ATTEND MEET Plans are going forward for holding a banquet and the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the Decatur Knights of Columbus in connection with the joint initiation to be held in this city on Sunday, May 31. A class of 35 or more candidates from Decatur, Fort Wayne and Huntington will receive the degree work at the K. of C. hall Sunday morning and afternoon and the banquet will be held at 6:30 o’clock at the Decatur Country club. The Hon. Martin Carmody, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus has assured Dan M. Niblick, grand knight of the Decatur council that he will attend the initiation and banquet. The local council took steps the first of the year to celebrate the Silver anniversary of the founding of the Decatur Knights of Columbus, but had to postpone plans on account ot the illness of Mr. Carmody, who at that time suffered an attack of pneumonia. The wives and sweethearts of the Knights of Columbus are invited to the banquet and plans are i being made to accomodate at least 500 persons. It will be the outI standing event of its kind in the [history of the local council. Mr. Niblick has also received acceptances from several state officers of the Knights of Columbus and it is expected that the gathering will include men prominent in K. of C. circles from all parts of the state.

BOOKS AO DITED BY EXAMINERS All County Records to Be Examined by State Tax Board Auditors O. A. Hutchens and C. L. Lautbenheiser, field examiners for the State board of Accounts, started to work this morning on the auditing of the records of the county offices in the court house. The audit will cover a two year period and will be for the years 1929 and 1930. No audit was made last year. The examiners started to check the records in the auditor’s office and will follow with the county treasurer, county clerk, recorder and all other county officers. The examiners will also check the books of the (ownship trustees, school boards and incorporated towns. It is expected that it will require three months to do the work. The books of the civil city of Decatur and in the towns of Berne and Monroe were checked last year tor 1929 and the audit of these records will be for 1930. Both of the field examiners live in Fort Wayne and will drive each day to this city. Mr. Lautzenheiser is a former resident of Decatur. He is the son of Norman Lautzenheiser of Blue Creek township, —o Mrs. Emma Smith Dies Mrs. Ben Beckmeyer received word today of the death of Mrs. Emma Dillery-Smith who died at her home in St. Paul, Minnesota, Sunday morning, May 17. She had been in ill health for more than a year. Funeral services were held Wednesday morning in St. Paul. Mrs. Smith was a former Decatur resident, and has many relatives and friends here. . —- .... o Named Bank Examiner Indianapolis, May 20 —(UP) —Ozro J. Butler, Greensburg has been appointed state bank examine;’, Luther F. Symons, state banking commissioner .announced yesterday Butler will take the poet left vacant recently; by the resignation of J. E. Grabill, Churubusco. He will assume office Monday.

Price Two Centa

Commencement Speaker F * Dr. Homer P. Rainey, president of Franklin College, Franklin, Ind., will giv6 the commencement address at the graduation of pupils of Decatur high school tonight. He will speak to the graduates on the theme, “Two Demands Upon One Supply.” HORSEMENAT COUNTY MEET P. T. Brown, Purdue, ExPlains Method of Organizing Association P. T. Brown, Extension Animal Husbaudryman of Purdue University, David Habegger, Edwin Neuhouser and L. E. Archbold, county agent, 20 Adams county farms, Tuesday, and inspected horses. Tuesday evening a meeting was l eid in the Chamber of Commerce rooms with Mr. Brown in charge. He told the 32 men present that Adams county has as good a foundation of seed stock as many of the other counties. He mentioned the good brood mare. Decatur Belle, purchased by Purdue University from Deleware county. This mare was foaled on the Beatty farm in Union township. Adams county. He also named a fine male colt now owned by Mike Meyer of Elwood that was foaled on the William Mitchell farm in Monroe township. In order to secure better advertising Mr. Brown advised Adams county farmers to enter the gold medal colt club. To gain membership in this club the owner pays a 50 cent fee to the Indiana Live Stixik Breeders Association, weigh (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) i_O 22 COUNTIES SEEK RATE CUT Petition Asks Study of Rates Throughout Southern Indiana Indianapolis, May 20. — (U.RU — Adjustment of electric and gas rates in 22 counties in southern Indiana served by the public service company of Indiana was sought in a petition filed with the public service commission here today. The action was a cross bill to the rate protest by the city of Bloomington, pending before the commission. The petition urged the commission not to confine the rate study to Bloomington alone, but to make an investigation to determine proper and non-discriminatory schedules for gas mid electricity in other southern areas. Towns in which the rates would be studied if the petition is granted include: Oakland City, Owensville, Princeton, Bloomfield, Seymour. Franklin, Bicknell, Vincennes, Bedford, Wheatland, Mitchell, Bloomington, Loogootee, and Shelbyville. o Remodeling Referred For Committee Probe The receiving of bids for the remodeling of the city hall on Monroe street was referred to the commitlee on Public improvements at the meeting of the city council last evening. The matter will be investigated by the committee and a report made to the council next month. It is likely that bids will be received in June.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY •

ATTORNEY WILL ASK REVIEW OF TAX DECISION Decree Not To Be Certified Until June 7; To Ask Second Hearing COLLEtTION BEING PLANNED Indianapolis, May 20. Petition for a rehearing by the I'nited States supreme court on the Indiana “chain store” tax act, will be filed within the next two weeks by counsel for Lafayette Jackson, Indianapolis, president of (he Standard (irocery company. Under the law, the court will not certify its decree holding the tax act valid until 20 days after the ruling, this period to expire Sunday, June 7. (Samuel Ashby, attorney for Jackson, said that filing the rehearing petition automatically will l|lock enforcement of the law until the litigation is disposed of Passage on the rehearing petition probably will delay this more than the 20-da.y limit. The state tax board, which will have control of the collection of tax fees, however, was prepared to outline plans for the tax assessments, o — Will Protect Property Bicknell, Ind., May 20-(UP)—Of-ficials of the American No. 1 mine diere were ready today to take any steps necessary to prevent violence and disorder among striking miners following an orfler issued by Carl Wilde, referee in bankruptcy, permitting the officials to protect the property. The American mine is owned by the bankrupt Knox (kmeolidafed coal company. The petition for the order wag made by Theodore Stempfel, trustee in bankruptcy. Striking workers continued to picket the mines, attempting to dissuade o'her employes from going to work. Few acts of violence were reported to police, and authorities believed no drastic action would Ih» necessary.

American Acquitted We, France, May 20—(U.R) — Mrs. Charlotte Nixon-Nlrdllnger, St. Louis prize beauty who shot and killed her jealous husband during a quarrel was acquitted by p French jury today. 0 ~ o Frost May Arrive 0 — o Indianapolis, May 20. — <U.R> — A warning that light frost may strike northern Indiana tonight was issued by the United States weather bureau here. J. H. Armington, senior meteorologist at the bureau, advised farmers and truck growers to protect their produce. Tomatoes, beans and corn are most susceptible to the cold. Armington said. He predicted the mercury would fall as low as 40 degrees in some regions. Warm weather and clear skies will return by Friday, the bureau predicted. o MAN CONFESSES TO 3 MURDERS Young Filling Station Attendant Admits He Murdered Family Charleston, 111., May 20.—<U.R>— Merle Johnson, 25-year-old filling station attendant, surrendered to Mattoon, 111., police today and reported, they said, that he hud killed Mrs. Carrie Bowel's. 40-year-old widow, and her two sons, 6 and S, because “they asked to be killed” and that "I had to get rid of them.” Johnson was brought here by Sheriff Vint Aye and put in the Coles county jail. The young man said he drove Mrs. Bowers and the boys about two miles into the country from Mattoon and there killed them, Mattoon police reported.