Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 29, Number 246, Decatur, Adams County, 17 October 1931 — Page 1

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OHIO MOTHER KILLS SELF, 4 CHILDREN

■ERETT ASKS ■OR MORE TIME ■j) ENTER PLEA H ( harmed With Mur- . h Arraigned To|n Adams Court •®L\IG\MENT W IS DELAYED '^■ l . .-■•.•.charged L n-a' ■ indictment ■i r .| murder as ri .i; fatal shootp. . .Tinig last June . !'• ■ Mills follow-a-gi," ■ ever swim- . St. Marys a .k, >i mere time r a piea when n;..r> ( ;! .it 10 O dock. a granted the eared before p v. ate! He- • letk, Miss Bet \. . l 0 11,,. riHni for a few the ■■ ~, November . . mploy at- * . oiihl the BKh a, 'la lai' it was mi | BL .<><i tli. . ...;: would appoint ation. i- the night h. ' bond and will ■ the .Adams Kly ja.l 1 the case is disof. inext few d.i> ■ a plea. MB - o - ‘. B Charges Alienation UUf sued W ar B -for $.-,». 1 •’ i 1 •"'" ' ■ - ill Sliperio: M' hied ill ( hi - alter he I.orrain. . see |.;| uni | ast Malt , h ■eATRE WAR I NEAR CLIMAX IBlieve Bomb Exploded Man's Pocket Be- ■ lore Released

IP'c’go. Oct. 17 _(UP)— The P* r bomb war. and the moving f arp 'laming dynamite" reachclimazes at the same time f n '^ bt ’ n the colony theater on I southwest side. F’ 1 as the climax ot the picture P* f ’ la, nes shot upward from the r r “1 the audience of about 800 L*" ls A man arose, his clothes F'O'K He screamed and fled. P other patrons, one a fireman F l u tackled the fleeing man f "at out the flames. All three P ’oriously burned. l ' Dlan wbo w as P*ter po'ioy. 30 a former convict. Police . '. couv inced he carried a sub onib into the theater, intend--0 ''‘Jrortzc patrons by tossing "' Ar Nl’KO on PAGE SIX) P r ain Case Recessed b ® ,ore Judge Kister at the ill ti H all lasted an hour and a 30 ( .‘ s mor ning, from eight to a< ’ joUr " me, “ t bei '* ondav hour until nine o’clock W a k. n l Or,,hlK - Jacob w - Meyers i t on tn 1 township, Jay county, 'win?' 1 , this mornln ß antl li mm be for Bome time as *t to ® rstood the petitioners exag„ 3 an? 76 the be “ ef 'ts and daere, 10 eacb of three hundred Sons ? rOperty attected. If this 'ited h, ev ® ral w eeks will be reer em l, 1 e . BtabUshlil * that hefore ■bonstrators begin.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAP ER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Vol. XXIX. No. 246.

$30,000,000 Bahy S* ** “■' *■ > /Ml - . < ’•« Vk / /4>.r ‘ '■■- /\v \ k -**" T x..:. I .. jhjk -ii'jri ' i Mh&T-’ ’ ■w*’*' ®T£ssaa nrflnffiW v W* / BSk *< "'Wwik fc», I'4 ®S;W rji KiP-s'Ciiifesj WhII 1 ® Rwfl « ok t Jflii Wrvmwnrr-i ise l «»raiww«iaawiw» - Katherine Barker Hickcx, 5 months old. who was christened in St. Mary's Catholic Church at Michigan City, Ind., Thursday. She is a granddaughter of the late John Barker, multi-millionaire manufacturer, who died in 1910. having a 130,000,000 estate to his daughter, the former Catherine Barker, who is now Mrs. Charles V. HickoX. Mr. and Mrs. Hickox now make thoir home in New York City.

GIANT AIRSHIP ON TEST CRUISE U. S. Akron Travelling Through Midwest On 48-Hour Test Trip Chicago, Oct. 17. — (U.R) — The giant U. S. Akron, biggest dirigible in the world, was reported sailing lazily over the midwest today on a 48-hour cruise made solely to prove it was ready for service in the | navy. The ship was reported early i roaring through the darkness over St. Louis. Later, the naval reserve station at Kansas City reported the j ship was believed to have turned northward and would not soar over either Kansas City or Omaha as previously, announced unofficially. Government radio stations at St. Louis, where the ship actually was seen about midnight, were closed tor the night so no official reports were available there. Tiiey believe that the plan to fly west as far as, Kansas City had been abandoned ; was based upon the fact that in' passing over St. Louis the ship' circled first to the south, turned, and was last seen living northward Although no definite schedule ■ was announced, it was understood reliably the ship would be flown this afternoon over Dyche football stadium at Northwestern Vnivers(CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR) o POISON TRIAL IS RECESSED Defense Busy -Gathering More Witnesses For Monday Hearing Lebanon, Ind.. Oct. 17 —(U.R) — With the trial of Mrs. Carrie Simmons recessed until Monday, defense counsel today marshalled additional witiHesses to testify to her reputation as a devoted mothed incapable of poisoning her daughters by means of strychuinefilled sandwiches served at a family picnic last June 21. At yesterday's session, numerous neighbors of the Simmons family testified that Mrs. Simmons had been an "ideal" mother. Testimony also was introduced designed to show that procedure amounting almost to "third degree" meth(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX)

Furnlmhed By United Pres*

Assures No Tanglement South Bend.. Ind., Oct. 17—(UP) —Senator James E. Watson, after i a telephone conversation with a colleague in Washington, announced at a G. O. P. rally here that participation of the United States in the League of Nations discussion of the Manchurian Crisis would not entangle this country in other League affairs. Watson predicted that an assurance to this effect would be issued from Geneva today. Addressing a meeting of third district republicans. Watson said ‘ he was not opposed to American i participation in the sino-Japanese I controversy, but believed that the i i. lie should be settled by signers 'of the Kellogg Peace pact. These i Nations should send a protest to i Japan, asking her to avoid a br£ak i with China, Watson said. DEATH GALLS MRS. BERNARD Well-Known Woman Expires At Home Os Her Daughter Near City , , Mrs. Rosa Barrone-Bernard, 63, ! for many years a resident of this 'city, died at the home of her 'daughter, Mrs. Iva Teeple, 6 imiles east of this city at 11:55 I o'clock Friday night. Death was . caused by heart trouble and followed an illness of several months. Mrs. Bernard was bedfast since the first of June. She was born in Van Wert County, Ohio, December 14, 1867, the daughter of Edward and ElizaIbeth Geier. She was united in marriage to John Barrone who ':preceded her in death on February 26, 1917. Later she was married to William Bernard who died ; on July 16, 1928. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Bertha Cappaert of Clare, Michigan; Mrs. Iva Teeple of near this city; a son, Arthur Barrone, near this city; 4 broth.CONT'NUED ON PAGE SIX) o— —-— Mr. Sshafer Undergoes Eye Removal Operation Fred Schafer, 80 year old Decatur hardware merchant who lost the sight of his right eye in an automobile accident here, Thursday evening, submitted to an operation at the Adams County Memorial hospital this morning. The right eye was enucleated and he is reported to be resting well this afternoon, it is believed he will retain the sight of his left eye.

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, October 17, 1931.

NOTED DOCTOR VISITS HERE Dr. E. N. Kime, Guest Os County Medical Society At Banquet Dr. Edwin N. Kime of Indianapolis, an authority on electro surgery and all kinds of physical therapeutics, delivered an interesting address before members of the Adams County Medical Association and their guests at the Decatur Country Club, Friday evening. Dr. Kime is a member of the faculty of Indiana University Medical school in Indianapolis and he is president of the American Association of Physiotherapists. His talk was on the field of electro surgery and the treatment of skin diseases and cancer. He exhibited mortality tables to show the success of this type of treatment for cancer. Dr. Kime discussed the latest technique for the removal of tonsils by electro coagulation, which is a bloodless and painless procedure and is rapidly supplanting the old -surgical method of removal for adults. He also illustrated the mode of application of high frequency currents to living tissues both for the purpose of building up tissue and for destruction of undesirable tissues and tumerous tissues of the body. Dr. Kime does experimental and research work in cooperation with the City and Robert Long Hospitals in Indianapolis and has been in this line of work for the past 10 years. He illustrated his address by the use of slides and photographic case reports. The talk followed a chicken dinner served at 6:30 o'clock.

AUDITOR GETS BOARD’S ORDERS Schedule of Cuts In Highway Department Are Announced Certified copy of the order of the State Board of Tax commissioners, ordering the county highway repair levy reduced from 15 cents to eight cents on the hundred dollars was received today by County Auditor Albert Harlow. The copy also showed where the cuts were made in the appropriation and set the amount allowed in each fund. The board’s figures for the highway budget follow: County State Item Council Order Assistants $5,000 $4,000 Truck drivers 9,000 8,000 Teams 5,000 4,000 Hands 11,000 9,000 Gasoline 5,500 5,000 Stone & screenings 55.000 38,000 Road Tools 2,000 1,500 The budget for next year’s operation of the highway department will have to be adjusted in keeping with the reduced budget. To Medical Meeting Dr. C. C. Rayl left today for Milwaukee, Wise., where he will attend the Interstate Medican meeting, which will open Monday. The following week. Dr. Rayl will motor to Rochester, Minn,, to visit at the Mayo Brothers Hospital. CAPONE CASE GOES TO JURY Government Ends Arguments; Instructions Are Given Federal Building, Chicago, Oct. 17—(U.R) —United States District Attorney George E. Q. Johnson launched the government's final attack on Al Capone today with the charge that Capone spent more than $1,1)00,001) in underworld profits, but never paid a cent of taxes. Johnson ended the nearly two days of arguments in the gangster's trial on charges of evading income tax. The defense side of the case was already before the Jury, which was expected to receive the case early in the after(CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO)

Masons Attend Meeting Wilson Lee, I Bernstein, A. D. Suttles, 'H. T. Vail and Rev. H. H. Ferntheil of this city went to Indianapolis today to attend the interstate Royal Ai ch Chapter convocation of the Masonic order. Rev. Ferntheil was in a class of Royal Arch candidates to receive Mark master, Past master and Royal Arch I degrees of the order. The convocation lasted throughout today and was scheduled to close late tonight following a banquet and addresses by prominent Masons present. The Decatur party will return here tonight. JANITOR NAMED ATCOURTHOUSE Harry Sipe Will Replace J. M. Breiner On November 1 Harry Sipe, 310 North First street I has been selected janitor of the Ad- I ants County court house, the ap- I pointment becoming effective Nov! ember 1, 1931. Mr. Sipe will succeed Mat Brel- ! ner, who has served as custodian ' at the building for about eight years lhe selection was agreed on ' by the county commissioners yesterday. Mr. Sipe agreed to do the work for S6OO a year and the contract with the board of commissioners will specify this sum. The county ! council fixed the appropriation for | janitor hire at S9OO a year and the commissioners decided to receive proposals from those who wished to apply. Thirty-two applicants were received by the board, a majority of the men agreeing to accept the appointment for less than S9OO a year. Mr. Sipe has been employed in several jobs of similar nature and investigation of his qualifications was made by the commissioners before they agreed on the election. Cyclist Loses Life Bluffton, Ind., Oct. 17 —(UP) — Chris Baller, 71, was killed near here when the bicycle on which he was riding was struck by an auto driven by Rev. Edward Antle, Butler, Ind., Rev. Antle said he was blinded by lights of another auto. Seek Bank Robbers Richmond, Ind , Oct. 17— (UP) — Eastern Indiana officials joined Ohio authorities in a search for two I bandits who robbed the First State ' bank at West Manchester, 12 miles | east of here, of $3,316. One report I said the bandits headed toward Indianapolis. FORMER LOCAL RESIDENT DIES Harry Peterson. 30 Is Death's Victim At Ft, Wayne This Morning Harry Peterson, 30, oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Peterson of Fort Wayne and formerly of this city, died at his home on South Anthony boulevard, Fort Wayne, this morning according to word received by relatives here. The deceased lived here when he was a child but had resided in Fort i Wayne for a number of years. Surviving is the wife and 4 children at home; the parents, Mr. and I Mrs. Robert Peterson of Fort j Way tie; the grandfather S. W. Peterson of this city; three sisters and 2 brothers. The deceased was a nephew of Frank Peterson, Char-1 les Peterson. Mrs. S. E. Whitman I of this city, T. R. Noll of Washington township, and William Noll of near this city. Funeral services will be held Monday at Fort Wayne. — o Bandit Is Identified Frankfort, Ind., Oct. 17 —(UP) — — The picture of a man under arrest in Martinez, Calif., was identified here as that of one of the participants in the robbery of the Farmers bank here last December In which $65,000 was obtained. It was reported to local authorities that the man. known as Omar was arrested when he attempted to cash travelers’ cheeks taken from the bank.

Stale, National And International Nena

JAPAN SENDS NEW CHALLENGE TO LEAGUE MEET i Seeks Briand’s Proposals For Further Action Os League NINE OFFICERS REPORTED HELD Tokio, Oct. 17 (U.R) The i imperial government, defeatbed in its stand against an American observer at the i league of nations council and fearing military plots at I | home, sent new challenge to ' Geneva today. Kengchi Yoshizawa, Jap-1 j an's representative at the! council sessions now inquiring in- I ! to the delicate Manchurian situa-' j tion. was instructed to ask Presi- J | dent Aristide Briand to explain j the league's proposals for future [ action. I Meanwhile, it was reported the I high military commander in Tokio I was detaining nine junior army I officers following investigation of | rumors that the men were discussing political activities and possibly planned a coup d’etat for the, establishment of a military dictatorship. The government pre-1 vented publication of details in I Tokio newspapers. In enlarging on its first objec-1 lions that the league’s action in, welcoming an American was illeg-' al, the government instructed 1 Yoshizawa to determine if the' league proposes to study the cor-' redness of the vote on the admisI sion Yoshizawa voted against the (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) o_ MOONSHINING IS DESCRIBED Murder Trial Reveals Illict Whiskey Operations In State Brownstown, Ind., Oct. 17 —(UP) Details of illegal whisky operations , became involved in the trial of! John and Pleas Spurlock here as I Pleas testified regarding the slay-1 ing of Patton Gibson, 69, last Dec- | ember 14. In a low voice, Pleas Spurlock I told the court that his brother kill- j cd Gibson in self defense. Gibson had drawn a revolver and was attempting to shoot John, his brother testified. He said that he and his brother and Gibson operated sev-1 eral stills in Washington county and that they frequently quarreled. The state contends that Gibson was murdered by one of the Spurlock brothers while the other held him. Before it rested its case yesterday afternoon, the state attempted to prove that Pleas was the slayer Mrs. Angelina Gibson, widow of he slain man. was one of the past witnesses for the state.' She testified that Pleas shot her husband while John held him. State police, deputies and game wardens maintained their vigil around the court house and jail, although there had been no indication of a flare-up in the purported feud between the S.purlocks and Gibsons. ROWBOTTOM IS GIVEN PAROLE India na Congressman Will Be Freed From Prison In November Washington, Oct. 17 (UP) —The Federal parole board today granted a parole to former representative Harry E. Rowbottom, republican Indiana, who is serving a sentence at Leavenworth Federal penitentiary for conviction on charges of selling postmasterships. The parole becomes effective November 9. Rowbottom’s sentence of a year and a day would have expired February 9 next year. He became eligible for parole on August 21. The ' case was heatd recently at Leavenworth by a representative of the Federal parole board.

Fights for Mate / , ■* KM, , ■ L. ■ This is the first picture to be published of Mrs. Esther Wolf, who has been in seclusion since Iter husband, Walter E. Wolf, | trusted Chicago bank employe, j confessed he embezzled $3,500,000. i She has retained an attorney in defense of her mate, who was sentenced to serve 10 to 100 years in , prison. iShe expressed the belief i Wolf was a dupe in the case. FEDERAL SUIT ON WATER RATE Vincennes Concern Is Plaintiff Seeking Old Rate Schedule Indianapolis. Oct. 17 —(UP) —The Vincennes water company field suit in Federal court here today, seeking to enjoin the public service commission and the city of Vincennes from putting into force on November a new schedule of water rates recently approved by the commission. The suit charges that action of j the commission was unconstitution- | al in that it would he confiscatory ' of their property. It cites a ruling by the United States circuit court I of appeals on April 17, 1929, which i set valuation of the property, in- ! eluding intangibles, at $1,032,064. Real estate was valued at $800,422 Land at $16,000, and the remainder (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX» 11 AUTO UPSETS: SEVEN ESCAPE — High School Football Players Unhurt When Car Turns Over Seven members of the Decatur high school football team escaped injuries when the car in which they were riding, driven by Louie Litterer, turned over, about 2 miles south of Fort Wayne on state road 27. Tlie accident occurred at 5:30 o'clock, Friday afternoon following a football game played with Central high school at Fort Wayne. The boys in the car were Ed Musser, Gerhard Schultz, George Helm. Dick Schug, Dick Parrish, Glen i Roop, and the driver, Louie Litterer. I A car, just ahead of the Litterer! automobile, turned oft of the road I without giving any warning and the driver, in an attempt to avoid an accident swerved, sliding in the gravel at the side of the pavement and turned over into the ditch. None of the occupants of the car were injured. The car was damaged and was brought to this city for repairs. Cast Is Entertained About 80 members of the east and chorus for the musical comedy. “Why Not” given at the Catholic high school auditorium, Thursday, and Friday nights, were entertained with a party at the Phi Delta Kappa fraternity hall, Friday evening, ■ following the performance Dancing was enjoyed and refreshments were . served by a committee of the PhiDelts in charge.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

POVERTY GIVEN AS GAUSE FOR GRIM TRAGEDY Bodies Found By Husband Returning From Work At I'actory OLDEST CHILI) WAS ELEVEN Wi'mington, ()., Oct. 17 (U.R> While a radio surged with the tunes of a iazz orchestra, Mrs. Lucille Ward, 3X, shot and killed her four children and then herself, because she and her husband could not provide them with I the comforts and luxuries of | their playmates. Tlie five bodies were found by ] the father. Russell Ward, 40, a j toolmaker, as he returned home from his daily search for work. The children, whose bodies were piled in the living room and kitchen of their humble home, at Reesville, were Arlene, 11, Audrey 8, Edith 7 and Ritchie 4. A I‘ullet had pierced the head of each victim. A sixth cartridge, unexploded. was in tlie 32-caliber revolver which the mother clutched in her hand. Although no note of explanation was left by the mother. Coroner C. E. Kinzel and Sheriff Gus J. Miller in reconstructing tlie shootings said there was no doubt but what mortification of povertv had actuated her to put the children and herself to death. They said she had complained frequently to her husband that their children were humiliated in school because their clothing and mode of living were, inferior to those of their playmates. One? before she had threatened to kill them, authorities said. Turning on the radio to drown the sound of the revolver, Mrs. Ward sent Arlene on an errand and took three of the smaller children into tlie kitchen. A bullet was fired in their heads. Arlene also was killed as she stepped into the living room. The mother then turned tlie gun upon herself. Returning home from his futile search for work. Ward stumbled across the bodies of his family. (CONTINUED 0N PAGE SIX I — _ .. -.0 Hunters In Argument: One Man Is Wounded Warsaw, Ind., Oct. 17 (VP) — Au argument between two hunters at Palestine lake over possession of a live duck decoy, resulted in the wounding of Charles Baker. 40 Warsaw. He was shot in the head and shoulders. Benjamin Seely, 23, 12 Elizabeth street, Hammond, was arrested on a charge of assault with intent to kill, and lodged in the Kosciusko county jail. o Men To Have Charge The Mens Brotherhood of the Methodist Episcopal Church will have change of the Sunday evening program at the Methodist Church. C. L. Walters will talk on the subject. “Present Day Challenge to Men.” Music will be furnished by the boy’s choir of the local Zion Reformed Church. The public is invited to attend. MUDDLE WORSE IN LOUISIANA State Now Has Volunteer Senator To Succeed Gov. Long Baton Rouge, La.. Oct. 17 —(U.R) The Ixiuisiana political burlesque grew even more involved today when Joseph C. Lahd, a Shreveport contractor, had himself sworn in as United States senator. Lalid’s entry was promoted by his belief that Gov. Huey P. Long, and tlie United States senator elect, had so much trouble on liis ' hands trying to keep two other gubernatorial claimat.es from seizing tlie executive mansion here, ' tiiat the senatorial seat “must bo vacant," Lahd announced his primary (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX)