Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 29, Number 191, Decatur, Adams County, 13 August 1931 — Page 1

■ vvEATHER JlKner Fridayin —

ALL IS DENIED EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY

IfOL WHICH ■LEO YOUTHS I DISCOVERED Lan Torch Murder &e Still Unsolved; ■governor Lends Aid Bril PERSON ■ being sought I BULLETIN Lnti. Mxh.. Aug. 13—(U.R)—! ■-. smith, a 21-year-old form- ■ icni gan corv.ct and alleged ■. e s the revolver used in the ■' torch murders near ■ v,as taken tt> Ypsilanti police ■carters shorty before noon ■ was questioned oy a halt ■ officers. ■th is sa'd to answer the de■ion of the ragged stranger" ■ with the 'teen aged couples ■ Milan. Mich., restaurant ■ximately two hours before were found in a burn■n Arbor. Mich., Aug. 13 K The pistol used in the ■ murders of four 'teen- ■ motorists near Willis, ■ Tuesday night is in the ■s ol intestimators, it was ■ tiled todav, and the ■li lor its owner is under ■. weapon, a 38 Iver-Johnson, ■med over to Wayne county ■tutors by Chief of Polite ■I. Southard of Ypsilanti. A ■ by Lieut. Earl O. Stevens, Kies expert of the Detroit K. showed it to be the gun ■ fired the fatal bullets. ■ rusty pistol had been fired ■tly. Stevens said, and ecor■on its test projectiles corrmi■l with those taken from ’he ■of 16-year old Harry Lore, of ■nti l/> re was shot to ■ and burned in an automobile ■ lonely county line road. His ■ minor companions. Vivian ■ and Anna May Harrison, both ■eveland. and Thomas Wheat■f Denton, Mich, were clubbed ■ath an<| burned with him in ■gley's automobile. ■th finding of the pistol, and ■ laibrlousl-. scrawled note a ■ss handed to Ypsilanti police ■rting to bear the names of ■slayers, investigators concen■d search for a fifth man. and ■He accomplices. ■ witnesses testified the four fetters were accompanied by ■h person a shabbily-dressed, ■ily-built man in sweater and ■ when they ate sandwiches in ■lan. Mich., case at 2:30 a.m. ■lay—less than three hours ■? the flaming pyre at their ■not lie was seen. ■tailed description of the man I furnished by Norman Eng--119 year-olj night waiter in ■case. Deputy Sheriff Thomas ■ridge, on night patrol In Mil■cstablished that the stranger ■not enter the case with the ■WINDED on PAGE SIX) I o taxpayers Will Meet I" taxpayers of Union township Fleet Wednesday evening AugP ! ' at 8 o'clock In the Kore fl house ,for the purpose of or■mg. EDIE IN MICHIGAN FIRE R Creek Garage Explosion Fatal to at Least Five Ittle (reek Mich., August 13. — L a,t fivp Persons were burned r'“ 1,1 an explosion at an east patage and service station here persons were in the buildpen the blast occurred, it was JM pnen rescued several individ- [ lai ’Pe , l in the burning strucill Receive Bids ’p Roar ' l of Trustees of the AdMemorial Hospital will bids September 5, for the ,j‘, and re P airiu 8 of the root &lu hospital.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXIX. No. 191.

476 Passengers Get On Excursion Here There were 476 paid passenger fares from Decatur, on the Toledo, Ohio excursion and Methodist Sunday School picnic. Wednesday, it was announced by the station master at the local Nickel Plate railroad today following a final check-up on tickets sold. No casualties were reported on the holiday picnic, except a small boy who was lost and was later returned to his parents. The Metht* dist Sunday Schtxtl picnic and trip to Toledo is an annual event. o 'CLUB show is DRAWING CROWD Many Attend 4-H Cluh Displays at Berne; 41 Calves Shown Large crowds attended the second day of the Adams County 4-H ClUll and Extension Exhibits held at Berne, today, and much interest was shown in the various Cali Club. Pig Club and Girls 4-H Cl tb exhibits. x A special feature or today's p'cgrani was the parade at 2:30| o’clock this afternoon when the boys and girls of the county participated as separate club units. The 41 calves being exhibited by the Calf Club were also a part of the parade. Os the calves being exhibited 22 are Holsteins. 14 are Guernseys, and 5 are Jerseys. The Calf Club exhibits are being held in the Berne Hardware building and judging will take ' place Friday by Mr. Ice. county agent of Randolph county. The Girls Exhibits are held in ! the auditorium where 125 exhibits Including specimens of canning, baking, food preparations. and sewing are arranged. Mrs. Staxley Hunter, home demonstration agent of Randolph county will have charge of the judging this after-: noon. Twelve pigs are being exhibited by the Pig Cluhf in a building south of the Berne Hardware company. The final day of the exhibits will be held Friday. 26 Killed in China Hongkong China August 13 — > (UPI — Twenty-six persojjg were I killed and 62 injured in the explo- | sion early today at Macao Portugese j concession seaport 35 miles southwest of hete, it was found after investigation. Ten tons of powder blew up with autorities have been able to learn autorities have been able ty learn. Spontaneous combustion was the cause of the blast. WANTS TO ADD MOREJMPLOYES Auditor Says Bootleg Gas Peddlers Can Be Caught Indianapolis, Aug. 13.— (U.R)— Employment of seven additional field auditors, bringing the staff to 12 members, in an effort to prevent bootlegging of gasoline into Indiana, was proposed by State Auditor Floyd E. Williamson. It is the work of the fiield auditors to check the books of the 354 gasoline firms in Indiana to prevent gasoline tax delinquency, he said. Williamson said a check of , 103 firms in the last eight months had resulted In collection of nearly $200,000 in back taxes. He further explained that shipment of gasoline tax-free into Indiana from Illinois and other states was not within the jurisdiction of his department, since it did not i constitute an evasion of Indiana tax laws. o Cotton Prices Rise Chicago August 13 —(UP) —Cotton prices rose $1.25 i>er bale on the board of trade at the opening today in sympathy with a similar rise at New York and in line with a $2.00 advance at Liverpool. The request of the farm board that farI era plow under every third row of i cotton, made to governors of 14 ! states last night, was the principal factor.

Furnished Hy United Prenn

WOULD DESTROY ONE THIRD OF DROP IN SOOTH Farm Board Believes Cotton Crop too Big for Present Demand WOULD MAKE PRICES RISE Washington, Aug. 13. —(U.R) — Immediate destruction of a third of' I his growing cotton was demanded .of the southern farmer today as the Federal Farm Board's plan for bolstering prices and avoiding financial disaster in the south and indirect distresi in the nation as a whole. The idea of destroying wealth in ian effort to create wealth is an extraordinary proposal. It brings basic economic theories’ into direct I clash. It demands the closest cooperation among thousands of individuals. Hence widespread controversy appeared certain. The plan was laid before the (governors of 14 cotton producing I states in telegrams from the board. The governor’s first reaction was one of willingness to cooperate. Agreement to the plan by September 1 and completion of, the crop destruction by September 15 was called for by the board. It | will continue to drive home the I need for a quick response. Cotton picking already has started in some sections. The Farm Board was hesitant to advance such a drastic measure. For a time it seemed acreage reduction would ease the situation which had developed from the constantly increasing cotton surplus. Then the Department of Agriculture's August estimate of the new (CONTINUED ON PAGE FAVE) CONFERENCE IS NOTPROBABLE Labor-Industrialist Meet Opposed by Administration Men Washington, Aug. 13.—(U.R) —The i Administration is opposed to call- ' ing a joint conference of industrialists and labor leaders as urged by the Executive Committee of the American Federation of Labor, it was learned today. The opinion is expressed among officials here that it labor and employers met face to face at a conference table, the former would be confronted immediately with proposals for a considerable reduction of wage scales. President Hoover's view is that employers are doing everything possible to maintain wages. But Administration officials believe that if called into conference with Labor, the question of revising the policy probably would be raised by some of the employers, and that lin the end. Labor might have difficulty in sustaining present wage scales. Some in the adminiwtratCONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) CUBAN REVOLT BECOMES GRAVE President Visits Interior of State to Inspect Troops Havana. Cuba, August 13 —(UP) —While government forces throughout Cuba moved against the most Intensive revolutionary movement in 14 years, President Gerardo, Ma-* chado left the capital today for a personal inspection of military preparations in the interior. He took a special train, accompanied only by hi* military aides an escort of 48 well-armed soldiers. The President’s destination was unknown but was reported he was headed toward Pinar Del Rio, scene of the most serious recent outbreaks. President Machado wore a white suit and a broadbrimmed Panama hat. He appeared in excellent health and spirits and told several of his friends he would be back shortly. (CONTINUED ON PAG® SIX)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, August 13, 1931.

Murder Victims _ ■■ >■ —IIII'I ■SfcWWfc.S. A Ur I OdbiE 1 K A - I ■ IHirl Wr - KWojMb-x- - -» » Vivian Gold. 15 (left); Anna May Harrison, 17 (right); Harry Lore, | 16 (inset), whose todies and that of Thomas Wheatley, 17, were found I burning in an automobile on the road near Willis, Mich. Police are ! Peeking the murderers who clubbed the four to death.

FORMER BERNE MAN EXRIRES Amos Sprunger, 65, Is Death’s Victim; Funeral to Be Friday Word has been received of the death of Amos Sprunger, 65, of Dalton, Ohio, and a former resident of. Berne, who died at his home near i Dalton. Tuesday noon at 12 o'clock, j Death was the result of an illness of, more than two years, from partviy- | sis. Mr. Sprunger was born east of' | Berne, the son of David and Barbara Lehman Sprunger. He resided in the community until about ten years ago when he moved to Dalton Ohio where he owned a farm home. He was united in marriage in August 1913 to Mrs. Caroline Fuhrer Sprunger. who survive. Two children, Goldie and Gordon and one Miss Della Sprunger, survive. . Four sisters, four half sisters and one half brother survive. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at the home and at 2 o’clock (EST) at the Salem Mennonite church near Dalton. The Rev. A. R. Kaiser will officiate and burial will be made at Dalton. RADIO TROUBLE IS DISCOVERED Wire Transformer Holder Found Defective in This City The cause of radio disturbance in Decatur the last several days was discovered this morning by employes of the city electric light department. The trouble was located in a wire transformer holder on South Winchester street near the Standard Oil Filling station at Five Points. A wire had come in contact with ' the transformer and was causing an intermittent disturbance for receiving sets. The trouble was eliminated at once, M. J. Mylott, superintendent said, and it is believed that reception in the city will be much clearer now. The disturbance did not occur in t all parts of the city, and was not continuous. Mr. Mylott explained that the loud buzz would occur only when the wire touched the transformer. The city’s trouble finder has been working on the interference for the last several days. Gets 5 Blue Ribbons E<l. Newhattser of French Township received five blue ribbons for horses he entered in'the Jay County Fair, today. Mr. Newhattser entered five horses in the horse event and each of them received first place. There were more than 100 horses in the department.

— Catches Gold Fish There may be ?l gold rush to the Hough stone quarry, next to the river on state road 27. Gerald Brodbeck was fishing i there this morning and reports that he caught a 12-inch gold fish. The fish was placed in a tut at the Brodbeck residence and is i getting along fine in its new ■ neighborhood. It is the first gold fish caught in the county for some time. KIDNAP PLOT IS REVEALED] I Four Youths Confess to Kokomo Police of Abduction Effort Kokomo. Aug. 13. (U.R)~A kidnapping plot in which ransom of $57,000 was to be demanded of L. iW. Stout, weathly Russiaville undertaker, was revealed here by four young men who said they were hired to abduct Stout, and Thomas O. McCoy, 52, of near Akron, was charged with being the potter. The youths told officers that they were offered $5,000 by McCoy to bring Stout to him. and that they planned to carry out their part of the plot, but lost their nerve after determining the risk involved. They then told Stout of the plot, and authorities were summoned. Patrolmen Howard Gilbert and Kenneth Johnson, posing as accomplices of the four boys, accompanied them to McCoy’s home and arrested him. Sheriff Clifton Small, Howard county, swore out three warrants (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) ALLEGED BANK BANDIT CAUGHT Driver of Pennville Car Captured: Taken to Jail Hartford City, Aug. IS—(U.R)— Arrest here of Lawrence Dilly, 24, ended temporarily the search for I the third of the trio whose attempt to hold up the Pennville State Bank yesterday came to a disastrous - conclusion because of the timely sounding „f a factory whistle. Dilly answered the description of the man who drove the bandit machine, find was held on suspicion when it was learned that he was a friend of Lester Walker and Paul Garwood, who were captured soon after their robbery attempt. Walker and Garwood rushed from the bank, where they had just forced Hal Coffel, cashier, to raise his hands, when a factory whistle (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR)

State, National And International News

DAIRY GROUP PLANS EXHIBIT Street Fair Committee Meets to Compile List of Awards The dairy committee of the Decatur Free street fair met last night j' at the office of the Cloverleaf Creameries, Inc., and plans for carry ing out the department’s program at the fair were formulated. The meeting was attended by all committee members and L. E. Arch- ‘ bold. county agent, who is general I chairman of the agriculture show. The members of the committee are. W. A. Klepper superintendent; S. E. Brown, chairman; Norbert Holthouse, secretary; C. W. R. Schwartz. Sol Mosser, Noah Rich, Roy Price, E. H. Kruetzman, P. B. Lehman, Peter D. Schwartz and Andrew Fuelling. Judge is Selected The committee selected E. A. Gannon of the Purdue Agricultural Extension department as judge of the cattle show. New Class Added In addition to the Jersey, Hol I stein, and Guernsey classes, the deI partment had added ayrshire catI tie to the show The committee also (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) monroegTrl I DIES SUDDENLY Esther Brown Is Found Dead in Bed Today by Her Mother j Miss Esther A. Brown. 16 year old j daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Bi own of Monroe was found dead in bed at 4:30 o'clock this morning by hbr mother. Mrs. Brown. Accord-1 ing to Dr. J. C. Grandstaff, county coroner, who held an inquest at 5 o'clock this morning, death was caused by acute indigestion. Miss Brown had enjoyed her usual good health and had retired at 10 o’clock Wednesday night, feeling well. No sounds were heard by her parents during the night that might indicate the girl was ill. Mrs. Brown called the girl at 4:30 o'clock this morning and when she failed to get up the mother went to her room where she found her lying in bed, dead. The deceased was born in Adams County, west of Monroe, July 16, 1915, the daughter of R. E. and Bessie Brown. Surviving are the parents and a brother. Harry M. Brown, at home, the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Lobsiger of west (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) BRITISH MONEY PROBLEM TENSE Conservative Leader Rushes to London to Aid if Possible London, Aug. 13. —(U.R) — The gravity of the financial and political situation in Great Britain was emphasized today by the dramatic and sudden arrival of Stanley Baldwin, conservative party leader, in London. Baldwin arrived from Aix-Les-Baines, almost without baggage, to he present in case of an appeal , from Premier J. Ramsay MacDonald tor the co-operation of the parties in the labor government’s urgent efforts to meet the nation's pressing financial problems. Meanwhile, the labor cabinet's economy committee resumed its special sessions of No. 10 Downing Street at 11 a.m., for a further searching study of the economic situation. It adjourned 90 minutes • (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) oFuneral Held Today Funeral services for Mrs. Amanda Ehlerding, wife of Gust Ehlerding who died at her home in Preble township, Tuesday morning, held at 2:30 o'clock (Sun time) this afternoon at the home, 4 miles west , of this city with Rev. Robert Gaiser t pastor of the St. Paul's Lutheran church officiating. Burial was in the chinch cemetery.

Price Two Cents

Auditor Confers with State Officials Today County Auditor Albert Harlow is in Indianapolis today coffering with the state board of tax commissioners relative to matters pertaining to the issuing of road bonds The Attorney General lias given an opinioti that all bond issues must be submitted to the state board before they can be issued. Mr. Harlow’s conference with the state board was jin connection with the bond issues for the Second street improvement in Decatur and the Husser road improvement in Berne. The bonds have not yet been approved. POLICE FIND SPRUNGER LAD Boy Enjoying Picnic at Toledo Disappears; Found Later Ernest Sprunger, 4-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Sylvan Sprunger of Monroe township, who with his parents, went to Toledo, Ohio, Wednesday morning on the Methodist Sunday School excursion, became lost at the park during the late afternoon, but was later located by Toledo police. Thg small lad, while walking about the park during the afternoon, wandered away from his parents and into the residential district who found the small boy crying on the streets, notified police of the lost child. When the train left Toledo for Decatur last evening, the Sprunger family had not yet been able to locate the child, and Mr. Sprunger remained behind to search for him. The Toledo police got in touch with Mr. Sprunger thirty minutes after the excursion train left, and MT. Sprunger and son returned on j a later train. WATER WALL TAKES LIVES Five Believed Dead as Mountain Water Goes Wild Tehachapi, Cal.. August 13 — (UP) —A twenty-foot wall of water which raced out of the Techcahapi mountains was believed today to have carried possibly five persons to their deaths. Two were known to be dead. A six-inch fall of rain within a half hour turned the dry Mathrone canyon into a raging torrent which swept down almost without warning upon the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Davis. The owner saw the flood coming and tried to escape with his wife in his arms, but she was swept away. William M. McFarland, of Portland. Ore., and Robert Olive and a A. L. Cooper of Los Angeles, driving 10 miles east of here, became stalled in the rising water. Th«/' tried (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR) ■ — o —~ Bridge Bonds Ordered The bonds for the Scheumann bridge were ordered today by County attorney Henry B. Heller. The series wil iconsis't of 50 bohds of SSOO each and the will bear four per cent’interest. The bonds were purchased by the Old Adams County Bank and were approved by the state board of tax commissioner* last week. They will be printed in , the job department of the Daily DeMocrat next week. O— Gives Address Here S M. Salisbury. Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, delivered an address before members pf the Indiana Ayershire Breeders A.ssoI ciation at the Henry Aeschliman farm in French township. Wednesday. Thirty members of the association and their wives from this city, Kendallville, Indianapolis, Peru, Portland, Bluffton, and Berne, enjoyed the meeting. At the noon hour a i cafeteria dinner was served and ; Henry Aechliman, president of the . association, had charge of the after- . noon',< program. Following Mr. Salisbury’s address i the members were taken to the Aesi chliman barn where they inapected his Ayershire cattle.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

FORMER MEMBER OF CABINET IS DENIED PARDON Must Serve Year and Day in New Mexico Prison for Bribery JUDGE FAILS TO RECOMMEND Washington, Aug. 13 (U.R) j Attorney General Mitchell announced todav that executive clemency had been denied for Former Secretary of Interior Albert B. Fall who is now serving a sentence of a year and a day in Santa Fc, N. M., for bribery. Mitchell announced that neither the judge nor the two prosecutors in the case had recommended clemency and under the rule, it was not required to submit the matter to President Hoover. He said this amounted to a denial of the application for executive clemency. The former interior secretary, through friends and attorneys had pleaded with the President for clemency at the time he started to serve his sentence a few weeks ago. The President turned the matter over to the attorney general's department, saying that he would act on the recommendations of that department. o Bus Drivers Named Berne August 13 —(Special)—The bus drivers for the Monroe and Wabash township schools have been [chosen, it was announced today. C. W. R. Schwartz received the bus driver award in Monroe township where there is only one route There were nine bids submitted. Five bids were awarded to bus drivers in Wabash township, Earl Mann, Chris Liechty, Clint Mathys, Clyde Kramer, and Homer Felty. o — Oil Prices Advance Dallas, Tex., Aug. 13—(U.R)—The * Magnolia Petroleum company today posted a five cent a barrel increase to 25 cents for crude oil in the East Texas area. The price hike was announced 12 hours after the Texas legislature in special session, passed an oil conservation bill. The Magnolia company’s action was the first advance since the law was passed. o Local Firm to Sell Final details involving the safe of a local busines concern were being completed this afternoon and announcement of the deal will he made tomorrow, owners of the business stated. .o _ , Moose Conclave Begins Kokomo, August 13—(UP) —The annual state convention of the Moose fraternal order opened here today with a heavy registration. The visitors were welcomed to Kokomo by Mayor Henry Quigley, with W. O. Ulrey, Huntington res: ponding. ’ o— ■■ — FOUR KILLED IN AUTO CRASH Car Plunges into River at Toledo; Returning from Picnic Toledo, 0.. August 13—(UP)—> Four persons were carried to their deaths late last night by a car which swerving from the roadway plunged into Swan creek near the downtown business district. The victims were Joseph Keogh, 40; liis wife, Irene, 25; their guest Mrs. Julia Huber, 50, Lafayette. Indiana and Miss Tillie Sclagheck 42. Mrs. Lucille Yenor, 28, Lakeside Michigan was in a serious condition in St. Vincent’s hospital suffering from shock and cuts. The four women, returning from an excursion to Cedar Pblnt, had been met at the dock by Keogh who was driving them home when the car hurtled into the stream.