Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 29, Number 146, Decatur, Adams County, 20 June 1931 — Page 1

KT leather HI cloudy t 0 L^H udy tonight and Thunder '' " s afternoon m central /^■ d rlu rth portions. k'^^Hole r Sunday.

Relief

■TOHAVEN CO. IFFICE RAIDED; [HOAX IS FOUND ■am Bubble of $85,000 Eel Near Decatur Is ■Masted By Police ■S PLAN TO ■ sell BLUEPRINTS ■, National Autohaven ■ which had announced K for construction of an ■)00 tourist hotel at the ■ of Decatur and a score ■llicr Indiana cities, blew ■ last bubble in the world ■nance according to inHation reaching this city K ■raeo police authorities Friday Hoon raid'll the offices of the Knv and discovered that the ■ scheme to lAiild 1,000 hotels ■shout the middlewest was a ■ sky" promotion game. ■ j Williams alias Wheeler. ■of tlie promotion outfit was ■rresti'd but police searched Kriril and found that a short ■ atm he served a term in a Hl prison for embezzlement. Hun- address is Philadelphia. H present scheme, according ■ieatro authorities was to sell Ke number of blueprints to Kctors for $25.00 each. It was Kered that the original set of ■ cost Williams $2.50 and the, Ktatie duplicates cost only a ■ Kents. Katur contractors evidently ( Ki that a scheme was being ; ■'l for none sent the $25.00 ■ set of plans. One local con ’ ■or stated several weeks ago ■ some plan was evident be-1 K blueprints never cost over K set. ■deputy states attorney in Chi- ■ stated today that probably ■arges would be filed against Hams, but that his office had ■ padlocked and the plans Kloned. ■also was reported that a few lago business men had invest- ■> the company but not to any ■ extent. Engraved bonds had I secured and were ready for ■market it was found during ■raid. ■ire than 400 contractors in middlewest had sent Williams ■or a set of the plans. Many ■papers and magazines through■the country had published ■tints of the concern’s plans for ■lishment of hotels. ■- o J). Adams’ Condition I le Reported As Fair Be condition of John D. Adams ■onroeville, aged step-father of ■ Roy Andress of this city, who ■red a serious injury to his ■ Friday morning, when he ■from a scaffold in Monroeville. I reported to be fair today. ■ Adams received a crushed ■hr vertebrae when he fell, and ■ patient at the Adams County Burial hospital. lIUSTRIES IN MATE IMPROVE [ s '»nal Gains Are Retorted In Several of [lndiana’s Factories fcianapolis, June 20 — (U.R> — A I Indiana industries experienced I s during the month of May, the f nt issue of the Indiana Busr Review said today. These f largely jue to seasonal infra, however, and were not infive of the trend of industry as Idle. J 1 most cases gains were not of l a Se proportions," the Review r “A large part of the March I April increase in the general pess curve was cancelled in F business index for May was I For April it was 80.7 and for fb 78.3. r* and used auto sales declinr ‘ P er cent from the figure for Previous month and 4 4 per [below 1930. pall hardware sales were 32 "‘it fewer than in May of last PTINUED ON PAGE TWO)

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY D AILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNT Y X

Vol. XXIX. No. 116.

FROM HEAT

Out for Governor w- ■ - ■* 1 r i I I ( ■ t A o Michael L. Igoe, minority leader of the House of the Illinois Legislature and Democratic national | committeeman of Chicago, an-' nounced Thursday that he is a candidate for the Democratic nomination next April lor governor. NO ARRESTS IN DOUBLEMURDER — jßoy’s Bodv Is Found In Lima. Ohio, Ouarry; Police At Work No arrest has yet been made ini • the double murder case at Lima.: ; Ohio, where the bodies of Earl j Truesdale, 20 and Miss Thelma i Woods, 17, were found weighted I down in a stone quarry. Trues-1 dale’s body was found late Friday afternoon after the quarry was pumped dry. The couple disappeared Decoration Day. Truesdale's body, almost unrec- ( ognizable after three weeks in tlie' quagmire at the bottom of the huge pool, was located by grappling hooks while about five feet of water still remained to be pumped j out. The body was recovered by 1 If. I. Martin and Ed J. McPherson! of Lima. The murder of Truesdale was j carried out in the same manner’ as that of Miss Woods, whose body was revealed by the lowering of | the water a week ago today. 1 Truesdale had been struck in the | Back of the ipead. behind and be-[ low the right ear. with a blunt 1 weapon. Then his trousers had been transformed into a sack by tying the legs and a number of fair-sized stones then were put into the improvised death bag. This was belted to his body by passing his belt through two or three loops of the trousers and then around the body. Truesdale's hands were not tied, as were Miss Woods’, and he was fully clothed except for his trousers. Dr. Frank Smith, Alien county [ coroner, said after an autopsy. that he believed Truesdale was ( drowned. He said the youth had been struck four times with sufficient force to cause unconscious(CONTINUED ON PAOE SfX) Kirkland Township To Hold Farmers’ Meeting A special farmer's meeting will be held in Kirkland high school. Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock (Central standard time) for all farmers in Kirkland township. The public is also invited to attend. Police Guard Construction Clinton, June 20. —<U.W—Construction of bridges on U. S. highway 36, east of Rockville, proceeded today under the protection of state police and deputy sheriffs to prevent further interference by men protesting against the existing w«ge scale. The work was halted last week when a group of men objected to the reported wage of 25 cents an hour, when the contract had been let on a basis of 50 cents an hour, according to their statements. Yesterday, Governor Harry (>. Leslie instructed Sheriff William ( Moore, Parke county, to take all steps necessary to halt interference with the bridge work, and 24 men were placed on guard.

■ 'urulKheil By United Prena

HANGING HOAX IS CONFESSED BY MINISTER Texas Supply Pastor Admits He Taped His Own Mouth; Tries Suicide CONGREGATION HEARS STORY Dallas, Tex., June 20. — (U.R)--- : Speaking from the same pulpit ( over which he was found hanging i from a chandelier last Thursday, I the Rev. B. P. Brown, 30 year old I Baptist minister, confessed last | night to his congregation that his i story about four men trying to ; lynch him was a hoax. "I intended to kill myself and I then just couldn’t do it when I was hanging there and Tackling death right in the face,” declared tlie young minister who got hit on the head by burglars last year and whose story of the “lynching" attracted nation-wide attention. To his congregation, assembled for a revival, Brown told in detail of how he entered the church at . night, taped his own mouth, stripp- , ed off his clothes, climbed upon j a chair, hanged himself to the ! chandelier above the pulpit, kicked the chair—and then changed his mind. Realizing, he said, that he slowly was strangling to death, he fought desperately until, as the I new rope stretched, he was able ; to rest his toes upon the chair | and keep life in his body until he | was found hours later. Brown came here from Midland, 'Tex., early this year, a short time | after burglars beat him insensible .when he surprised them robbing .the hotel’where he worked. Here j he worked as a baggage clerk at I the Adolphus hotel and acted as ' "supply preacher” for the Baptist i church. When police found him Thursday hanging above the pulpit, he told a sensational story of being | (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR) MRS. MELCHER I DIES FRIDAY I Funeral Services To Be Held Monday P. M. At St. Peters Funeral services for Mrs. Amelia I Melcher, 77. Adams County woman who died at her home, 6 miles northeast of this city at 2:45 o’clock Friday afternoon will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock (DST) at the home and at 2:30 o’clock (D. S. T.) at the St. Peter’s Lutheran church. Rev. H. B. Kohlmeier of New Haven will officiate and will be assisted by Rev. L. J. Dornseif, pastor Mrs Melcher was living with her daughter, Mrs. Charles Kuklehan I at the time of her death. She was born in Root township. | Adams County, March 19. 1854. the | daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William | Aurnann. Her husband Frederick j Melcher, preceded her in death 14 years ago. Surviving are the following children, William, Madison township, Allen County; Mrs. Charles Kukelhan, Root township; Otto Melcher New Haven; Gottlieb Melcher, Madison township, Allen county; Edward Melcher, Garcreek. and a Brother, William of Preble township. o— Man’s Body Recovered Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., June 20 —(U.R) —Finding of a body, believed to be that of Charles A. Ferguson. today had substantiated the report that three Lansing. Mich., men drowned in Whitefish Bay when their boat overturned May 17. The body of milliard Hootman was recovered June 6 while the Body of the third victim, John R. Ferguson, was found June 13. Do-X Reaches Brazil Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, June 20 (U P) —The German seaplane Dormier DO-X completed its transAtlantic flight to Rio De Janeiro when it landed here without incident at 1 p. m. The seaplane flew over the city before coming down. It had flown in easy stages from Bahia.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, June 20, 1931,

Mrs. Charles Rice Is Dead At Canton, Ohio Word was received by relatives here today of the death of Mrs. Charles Rice, 50, which occurred this morning at her home in Canton, Ohio. She was the wife of Charles Rice, a former Decatur man. Death was caused hy complications following an operation she underwent several weeks ago. Surviving is the husband, a daughter Lucile and a son Joseph all of Canton, Ohio. Mrs. H. F. Callow of this city is a sister-in-law of the deceas ed. Funeral services vjill be held Tuesday at Canton, Ohio. o LOCAL WOMEN ARE DELEGATES Three Return Here After Attending Psi lota Xi Convention Mrs. Chalmer Porter, Mrs. William Linn and Mrs. Carrel Cole have returned from the Psi Jota Xi convention which was held Thursday and Friday at the West Baden Springs Hotel, West Baden. Special features of the convention were a Blue and Gold tea, a banquet, and a bridge party. The election of officers resulted with Thelma Sines of Logansport chosen as grand president. The sorority voted to equip an "oxygen chamber" in the Riley Hospital for treatment of children having pneumonia. The surgeons at the hospital informed the sorority that with this equipment the lives of children could be saved and great good accomplished through its use. This room consists of a specially constructed and equipped room commonly looked upon as air tight and filled with appliances tor filling with oxygen and regulating the oxy gen content to meet the condition of the patient. This will be the first oxygen chamber in Indiana and will cost seventy-five hundred dollars. Muncie was chosen as the city t’oi the convention of the Psi lota Xi sorority next year, and the Muncie chapter will be hostess.

BULLETIN Harvard, Ky„ June 20.—<U.R) —Three men were dead and a woman seriously wounded today as result of a gun battle on Wooten’s Creek in Leslie county. Those killed were Will Joseph, Findley Bailey, and Harry Engle. Mrs. Joseph was wounded. According to authorities, the shooting occurred when the Josephs, accompanied by their son, Warren, were accosted by Bailey and Engle. Warren was said to have killed Bailey and Engle with a shotgun after the latter two had fired at his father and mother. Legion To Meet There will be an important meeting of Adams post, American Legion at Legion Hall here Monday night at 8:30 o’clock, daylight saving time. WHITESLAVE RING EXPOSED Two Girls Tell Stories of Large Circuit In Four States Springfield, 111., June 20. —'(U.R)r— Alleged white slave operations in four midwestern states and a number of Illinois cities had been disclosed today as the result of testimony yesterday by two women in United State district court here yesterday in the trial of a group of men and women charged with violating the Mann act. The girls, Catherine Flynn, 19. and Lee Burke, 18, who were accused with the men, pleaded guilty to the charges and turned state’s evidence. They told a story of being taken to disorderly houses, in Peoria, Bloomington, Springfield and Cicero and in city In Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, including South Bend, and Michigan City, Ind., Battle Creek, and Kalamazoo, Mich., and Toledo. Cleveland, and Sandusky, Ohio. Miss Flynn named W. T. Stallings, one of the defendants, as being the recipient of part of her Income and Miss Burke said that she (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX)

WAVE IS PREDICTED

POPE ASSERTS CONTROVERSY IS UNSETTLED Denounces Italian GovI ernment for ‘Hateful Watching and Spying’ FASCISTS NOT TO COMPROMISE Vatican City, June 20—(U.R) - The Pope, addressing 700 members of the propaganda of the faith | congregation today denounced the | Italian government for maintaining the most, hateful watching, odious spying and stood pigeoning Bnd continuous menaces" over Azione Cattolica, Catholic layman’s organization which has recently been a special Fascist target in tlie Italo-Vatican crisis. “No accords are in sight," the Pope said, “nor has it been possible to start negotiations. “Not only has normality not returned. but they (the Fascists) have done everything toward maintaining a menacing horizon. They even went so far as to say that our youth, which they want to disband, cannot even silently reorganize. >- “Nine thousand party branches have then instructed in the task of preventing such reorganization and seeing that things run in the manner that they desire. Therefore the bishops report to us that life remains perturbed." The Pope went on to denounce the government for its alleged spying and menaces toward Azione Cattolica. “Everything may be summarized in these words,” the Pope continued. It- is not only in Mexico, not only in what is called ’Bolkhevik land, that the church is persecuted. It is a persecution which they do not call persecution against the church or the Pope, perhaps because it is aimed against what constitutes the Pope's very heart and the pupil of his eye." (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR)

GOVERNMENT TO HELP GERMANY President Busy On Method To Lend Financial Aid To That Nation Washington. June 20.—<U.R)-- The administration was engaged today in a major effort to help Germany out of the economic mire into which the World War dragged this country’s former enemy. President Hoover is seeking ways to save Germany from the dangers of bankruptcy and political turmoil, and at the same time to stimulate business at home by. unclogging the channels of world trade. What he will do is not yet known definitely, but fundamental changes in the war’s heritage of debts and reparations may result from a series of White House conferences that the President is holding. As Mr. Hoover summoned administrative and congressional advisors to the White House again today, two possible courses of action were advocated by the informofficials: First, and apparently more important, Germany might lie indirect(CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR) Will To Be Settled Attica. June 20 —(U.R) The estate of the late David S. Ferguson, Democratic candidate for state auditor several years ago, will be settled as provided by him in a statement to a friend, subject to compromises readied by numerous persons in court suit over tlie estate, it was decided here. One suit sought to settle; the estate according to provisions of what was believed to be a carbon copy of the original will. Another was filed by Mrs. Mabel York, Hammond, claiming she was the illegitimate daughter of Ferguson, who was not married. Numerous other suits extended litigation over the estate for three years. Fourteen persons, including Mrs. York, will share in the estate under tlie court ruling. It was believed the residue would not exceed SSO 000 after lawyers and litigation fees were paid.

State, Nnttunal Aad liitvrautloiiul Newt

To Reimburse Employes Hammond, June 21 —(U.R)—lmmediate reimbursement of employes by the Lever Brothers company here, for deposits made in the defunct First Trust & Savings Bank, was promised today by Bruce Vernon, general manager of the plant. Veimon said his company would accept First Trust deposit books of employes for the amount of deposit. The money will be paid immediately and thje company will hold the books until receivers of the bank liquidate its assets and make payments, he said.

—o SWIMMING POOL OPENS SUNDAY — W. Guy Brown To Super- j vise Pool During Sum- | mer; Plan Schedule The Decatur municipal swimming pool at Waterworks Park will be opened to the public Sunday afternoon at 1 o’clock, it was announced today by W. Guy Brown, superintendent of the pool. The schedule of hours for boys and girls on week-days will be announced soon, he said. The pool will remain open Sunday afternoon until 5 o’clock, and this schedule will be carried out through the rest of the summer. All people with health certificates are permitted to use the pool Sunday. The dressing rooms have been cleaned and everything is in readiness for the opening. A large crowd is expected, especially if the present weather continues. The pool will be supervised at all times, during tlie scheduled hours. I it was said today, Mists Lillian Worthman will have charge of the pool when girls hours are established. Location Is Undecided Washington, June 20 — (UP) — Final Decision in the selection of a site for the New fish hatchery in Indiana awaits arrival of Topographical maps of the four sites now under consideration, director of fish culture L. C. Janies said here today "The most favorable site shown thus far is Rochester," James Said, “But we are also still considering Rome City, Angola and Kuntz Lake". Janies intimated he probably would make a final inspection of these four sites in the near future. o Gary Bank Is Closed ) — The First State Bank of Gary was closed today, with Thomas Barr, deputy state banking commissioner in charge, it was anounced at his office. Frozen assets were blamed for the closing. C. J. Dunn is president of the bank. The latest financial statement gives capitalization at $75,000, loans $465,000 surplus $26,000 and deposits $650,000.

MINISTER TO DENMARK DIES Ralph M. Booth Victim of Heart Disease In Gastein, Austria Copenhagen, June 20 — (UP) — Dispatches received here today said that Ralph H. Booth, United States minister to Denmark had died of heart disease today at Gastein, Austria. Ralph Marmon Booth was born in Toronto, Canada. September 29, 1873. in 1881 the family moved to Detroit and his career began with a position in the Detroit National Bank in 1888. In 1892 lie went to the Detroit Tribune as cashier and later business manager, shifting in 1895 to the Chicago Journal as secretary and manager, later becoming editor and publisher. He returned to Detroit to become editor and publisher of the Detroit Tribune and in 1905 be became president and publisher of the Grand Rapids He"aid, later becoming president of Booth Newspapers. Inc. Including papers in Grand Rapids, Flint, Saginaw, Kalamazoo, Jackson Ann Arbor and other cities. In 191718 he was vice president of the associated press. Bootli was appointed minister to Denmark Jan. 22, 1930.

Price Two Cents

Minister Hanged; Saves Own Life ' < ■■WdßaaHMiv A band of four masked and armed men stopped the Rev. B. P. Brown (above), Baptist minister of Dallas. Tex., took him to his church, bound and gagged him. then tied a rope around his neck and suspended him from a lighting fixture with only his toes touching a chair. He succeeded in removing the gag from his mouth, and his screams brought aid. The Rev. Mr. Brown had received several threatening letters from men who disagreed on church policies. GUN BATTLE IS FATAL TO ONE Deputy Sheriff Killed In Wisconsin; Assailant Is Wounded Lake Geneva, Wis., June 20.—(U.R) —A deputy sheriff was shot through the heart and killed and his assailant, a . neighbor, was critically wounded today in a gun battle which developed at wnat authorities said was a drinking party in a private garage. Tlie shootings occurred in a garage owned by Walter Morgan, who was named as the slayer of Deputy Al C. Exner and who himself was shot over the heart and so seriously wounded physicians said he could not recover. Morgan was shot, witnesses said, by Deputy Sheriff Herbert Debler, who went with Exner to investigate the party. Authorities were told that there previously had been trouble between Exner and Morgan. Exner, who gained some fame last year when he captured the kidnaper of Betty Ann Foster of Valparaiso, Ind., was awakened early today by shots. He dressed and started toward Morgan's garage, nearby. On the way, he met, Deputy Debler, who accompanied him. Debler said when he and Morgan entered the garage, five men were there, one standing in corner and Morgan himself at tlie far side. (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) Q Hearing Date Is Set Washington. June 20 —(UP) —The interstate commerce commission today ordered the application of the railroads for a 15 per cent freight rate increase be set for hearing and that the railroads state, within 15 days whether the authority sought is to apply to all existing rates or whether some exceptions are to be made. The commission also ordered the carriers to state within 15 days whether any international rates are concerned in the application. o Plans Work Campaign Washington, June 20 —(UP) —A National campaign sponsored by President Hoover's emergency committee tor employment to promote relief through local agencies during the coming winter was announced today by Fred C. Croxton, acting chairman of the committee. Tlie President's committee will act as co-ordinator for relief campaigns to be carried on by several National Welfare and relief organizations, four of which already have bzeen enlisted by the Federal Government.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

SHOWERS BREAK INTENSE HEAT IN SOME PARTS Rain Predicted Within 24 Hours; Return of Normal Temperature MANY DEAD FROM HEAT Chicago, June 20 -(U.R) (Summer's first onslaught of (oppressive heat, which took a .high toll of life and drove hundreds of thousands to (beaches and parks for relief, (was retreating today front I North Central states before a series of cooling showers. Temperatures close to normal were reported by the Chicago weather bureau to have been restored in Minnesota and Wisconsin. i The heat wave apparently was beginning to break rapidly in lowa and Northern Illinois. The sipreading counter attack of showers was expected to advance well into the Ohio, middle Mississippi and lower Missouri valleys by tomorrow. Around the Great Lakes veering winds indicated approaching relief, although a sortie of showers in and around Chicago last night increasied the humidity and made the city's millions uncomfortable in temperatures that lagged only slightly behind those of yesterday. Instead of losing intensity I along the Atlantic seaboard and in states below Mason-Dixon I line, tlie heavy heat that has over- | spread the greater part of the , I country for nearly 4S iiours proi>- | ably will Ijecome more oppressive ( over the week-end. it was predicted. The only sections of the country to resist super-normal temperatures for the season were the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast states. Idaho stood out as an oxi caption. On the other hand, from Oregon came a report of a snowstorm near The Dalles. An accounting of deaths attributable either directly or indirectly to the inordinate outburst of heat showed that scores had died Heat deaths in Canada, where the mercury went to 109. and in i states along the Canadian border in the central west reached 35. (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) a BULLETIN St. Paul, June 20—(UP)—Thunder storms accompanied by winds of near toronado intensity brought relief from a 4 days heat wave today but left 1 dead and property damage estimated at $250,000. Ths dead man was John Smith a farmer, living near Hayfield, lowa. All sections of Minnesota were struck with the storm which extended into Northern lowa and Northern Wisconsin. I The most severe damage was • done in south Minnesota near Albert Lea and in the centra: section of the state near North Branch. I Q STOCK MARKET MAKES GAINS More Than Two Billion Dollars Added To Values of Stocks By Elmer C. Walzer, UP Financial Editor. New York, June 20.— (U.R) —Announcement that the government i was considering plans which would i strengthen Germany's economic ' position, brought favorable reaction in the financial district today and the stock market shot forward 1 to 17 points. More than $2,000,000,000 was added to paper valuation of the trading stocks on a market that saw activity return after a week of I lethargic trading. There were times , the tickers could not keep pace I with the trading. ; Stocks in which a large short interest prevailed, were first to reI spend to the news that President Hoover was conferring on the Ger--1 man situation. Shorts covered hurriedly and holders were reticent to 1 sell until prices were bid up sotne(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX)