Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 29, Number 285, Decatur, Adams County, 3 December 1931 — Page 1

WEATHER ■L', extreme po'tion Fri-

tVERETT TELLS STORY: DEFENSE RESTS

■L COMPANY ■IS CONTRACT ■IN THIS CITY ■ Wavne Engineering Mninanv Will Install ■J Electric Unit H NEXT ■ TO LOWEST i: :. . otincil in session . -warded the conj, building the up- , ■ the city’s elec-u’-i<’H system to ■ [ Engineering and iK i..hi?, of Eort Mie. ii, no Engine . nstruction Com- !■< but was $27,796.60. It , lowest bid suli--p.. , . v.-land, was low : The oth> r tlli’ted to the ranged from to $33,249. M i" ■ ut ' i,is s i" j ' r . neral Elect thte .it job- The ML. tor also agreed where BMp, tents an hour for : . also “Ereed to ••moving o! th" hand labor. ' of the evening, beginK ’ lock. G. W. Emery ' "“1 Enter}' ' Toledo. BB >: - representing tin- ■ b' l' a( l a H H’e bids M... (or ’be council and met body. ■re---s of the Collier K ' ' tt-e-s were heard by .. after two hour's tlie council decided to ■ 11,1 contract to, the Deel ■I • ting and < i< lint! - r than the low bld. : council point te.i.,l ih.it the differenc e' ■L:--.- a..ide up in the kind oi specified. -of the council did not tie- -t.g of holes for the P’des to be done by maaid Mr Deel agreed to let ■job to hand labor. The eqtt..ini i.-inioiiig of the large on S- .nd street will also Mo 1 oil labor, according ■•' contract with Mr. Deel. a the rebuilding of the i-'sit’n the Light and Power M and mot of the territory ly- ■ 1 .''li and First streets. B : will be started as the material is laid on the The contract specifies shall be done in 3U days pdi shall be compl-"-6n days. B Aged Parrot Dies ■('linuiml. Ind., Dec. 3 — <UP)a centennarian immaparrot brought to this coun- ■ quarter of a century ago ■' Ira Heard, a missionary, has of the infirmities of old age. Ethel Black of Arba, last r of "Polly,” s aid her age was to be over a 100 years. In FORCES I CEASE MARCH B Invasion, “If Chinese ■ehave” Leader AsI serts To Press ■“kden. Manchuria, Dec. 3— Japan's forces will refrain ■ Moving southward on ChinB* ? th® Chinese “behave," GenB ™ a igaru Honjo, commander ■ ' Ja Panese troops in ManchurB' e< 'lare(l today. B'-jo, interviewed by the United at General Staff headquarters B> „ B J ipilla ted that the Chinese B “ehave and refrain from as■lllK offensive.” Banchuria, if jt were more inB n ent ot banking and friendly B pan '" Honjo said, “Would not B s reagthen Japan's line of Na- ■’ “Ofense, but would bring aBtv e , awn °f Manchurian pros- ■.’’ 1 would be beneficial to ■r-^J^£, a _ n . eße ant * a " toreign■oNt INUED ON PAGE SIX)

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Vol. XXIX. No 285.

I WABASH DREDGE CASE Judge D, B. Erwin has writ- ! ten Special Judge Henry Kist- I I er. presiding in the Wabash i dredge case asking that the II hearing be postponed until De- | cember 14, in order that C. J. . Lutz, one of the attorneys can , look after other legal matters ’ l and in order that Miss Anna i Smith, court reporter may have \ a short rest following the ; strain of the murder trial. '* ' * MAYORFACES OUSTER TALK I South Bend Democrats In Battle; Controller Leads Fight South Bend, Ind., Dee. 3—(U.R) —Rudolph Ackerman, uosted city j controller, told the city council’ today that Mayor W. R. Hinkle 1 was “permitting commercialized i vice” and announced that he was prepared to file charges against : the mayor upon which impeach-] ment proceedings could be based. I The announcement was the first' definite and open development in i the rumblings of impeachment | sentiment against the mayor which ] grew out of Ackerman's dismissal ' last week, and plunged the Demo-' cratic organization into a turmoil. “The chief reason for Mayor Hinkle’s action (the discharge of Ackerman’ was my repeated at-i . (CONTINUED 0?: PAGE THREE) FIRST HEALTH BOND BOUGHT t Tri-Kappas Get $5 Bond From Tuberculosis Association , The Tri Kappa Sorority of this ' city officially started the 1931 Christmas Seal Sale by purchasing a $5.00 Health bond from the Adi ams County Tuberculosis Associa- • tion. it was announced by W. Guy . Brown, president, today. Letters containing seals have i been mailed to individuals throughi out this city and Adams County, ; and to the various county schools, and those desiring to keep the seals i may send the money to Mr. Brown. ■ E.B. Macy of this city who has been ■ the first individual to respond to , the letters mailed in past years, was i first again this year, Mr. Brown i stated. i Health bonds may be purchased . from the association in any desired amount by various organizations. The Association urges everyone in the county to purchase the seals during the campaign, which will continue until Christmas day. and help in the work conducted by the ■ association. The money derived from the seal sale and Health bond sale is used i to aid tuberculosis patients, for feeding undernourished children, and to attempt to stamp out tuberi culosis. During the past year the association sponsored a tuberculois clinic in this city, whch was oonsidered of great benefit to the peo- ’ pie of Adams County. W. Guy Brown, principal of Decatur high school, is president of the association; Mrs. E. M. Webb of Berne is vice-president, and Albert Scheumann, assistant cashier of the Old Adams County bank is trea--1 surer. ■ o Local Women Attend The W. O. M. of Bluffton were hostesses to a number of visiting women from this city, and Marion. . at a conference for chapter development held in the Moose Home at Bluffton, Wednesday evening. Mrs. Nell Mahoney of Indiana- ] polls, deputy grand regent, was the ] principal speaker and an interesting program for all lodge officers and committee chairmen was presented. A luncheon was served fol- . lowing the meeting by the Bluffton ladles. Those from this city who motored to Bluffton for the meeting were Mrs. J. M. Breiner, Mrs. Ervin Schafer Mrs. Bert Haley. Mr. and Mrs. ' Bert Haley. Mr. and Mrs. William Huffman. Miss Florence Magley and Charles Breiner.

MiUe. Viitlnnnl An<l inleriiiHiviiul News

NEW BRIDGE TO ’ OPEN SATURDAY Scheimann Bridge Will Be Opened To Public Contractor Says The new Scheimann bridge, located in Preble township, about i six miles north of Decatur and spanning the St. Mary’s river, will ■ | be opened to traffic Saturday, Cal i Yost, contractor on the job stated today. The approaches to the bridge will be completed by Saturday, pro- ] viding it does not rain, Mr. Yost i stated. If weather intereferes with ‘ i completing the approaches the bridge will not be opened until | next week. Work on constructing the bridge started August 1. The general con- ] tract was awarded by the county | commissioners to P. B. Putman of : Fort Wayne who sublet it to Yost ' ■ Bros., of this city. The new bridge is a steel strucI ture of two 100 foot spans. The , new bridge replaces the old Schei- . mann bridge built more t,han 50 1 years ago and the removal of the | covered wooden structure was the j passing of one of the old land- ] marks in the county. i The county commissioners will ■ inspect the bridge next week while i they are holding the December (session of the board. o Home Talent Play To Be Given Dec. 5, 6 The Young People’s Society of j the St. Paul's church at Preble will i present a three act comedy-drama i “Madam the Boss,” Saturday and I Sunday nights, December 5 and 6. 1 The curtain will rise each evening at 8 o’clock' (Standard time). The plot is an interesting one and the action takes place in. Higgin's political headquarters and the office of the Mayor of Kindall. The public is invited and tickets may be secured front members of the Young People's Society or at the ] door. Following is the cast of characters: Sally Webster. Helen Werling John Watts Harold Hagerfelt Sammy Bright Herman Bittner Robert Higgins ... Arthur Bieberich Gilda Wakefield Martha Weber I Henry Wakefield Clarence Weber ] Mrs. Robert Higgins Viola Ewell i Tom Robbins Gerhard Bieberich o Two Are Bound Over Indianapolis, Dec. 3.—(U.R)—Max i Huston, Logansport, and Oran’ |Chattin, Washington, Ind., were i ■ bound over to the county grand ; i jury under bonds of $2,000 each on charges of robbing Lloyd Lewis, ] Indianapolis, last week. o CHURCH PLANS SPECIAL MEET Pleasant Dale Plans AllDay Religious Program Sunday A special all-day program has been planned for the members and friends of the Pleasant Dale Church Sunday, December 6. The program will be in three sessions, morning afternoon, and evening. H. L. Hartsough will deliver an , address at the morning worship period on the subject “Facing the Problems of tjie Modern Home". This program will start at 10:30 o'clock Sunday morning and following it a pot-luck dinner will be served. The afternoon session will open at 1:30 o’clock when Mrs. Alice K. Ebey will talk on “The Future of Missions.” A forum of questions and answers will be held, and a conference of children's workers will be conducted. (At 7:30 o’clock in the evening the District B. Y. P. D. will present a Peace Dramatization, “Foolishness” and "The Soldier’s Dream.” Mr. ’ Hartsough will talk at the evening ' session on “The Church of the Brethren and World Peace.” o Drink Parlors Robbed i Fort Wayne, Ind., Dec. 3—(UP) — . Two bandit gangs invaded two soft drink parlors and a rural store here last night, terrorizing seven customers in one place. They obtained loot of $245.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, December 3, 1931.

Children To Greet Santa Claus Saturday Morning Jolly Old Fellow Will Arrive on Dog Sled From Northland; to Entertain Children; Stores Have Special Displays For Opening of Christmas Shopping Season. The children of Decatur and vicinity are invited to join jthe reception committee which will meet Santa Claus, that yi° w h° will arrive in Decatur about 9:30 o clock Saturday morning. Accompanied by the Decatur Junior Band, the children will march to the Monroe street river bridge, east of Decatur, where Santa Claus will “pull in” on his sleigh, harnessed to eight Northern dogs.

i The band and children will 'then accompany Santa Claus land his efficient helpers, the Indian guide and Musher, i who takes care of the dogs, to the court house square on Second street. Santa Claus will unpack and remain in Decatur all day. Isl the weather man sends a layer of snow the dogs will pull the' sleigh through the business dis-1 trict and possibly give several of! the children a ride. It’s to be one of the biggest re- , ceptions ever accorded a distinguished visitor and children in a ' radius of 100 miles of Decatur are invited to meet Santa and see his interrsting and faithful dogs who have traveled over the northern snow and ice to get to Decatur on Saturday. Santa Claus visited here last year with his reindeer, much to the delight and surprise of children i and grown-ups. His visit is anticipated with even more interest than a year ago, because the children know that he is the real Santa ' Claus, whose sole purpose is to CURTLBROWN FUNERAL HELD Former Adams County Man Dies at Seattle Last Monday Funeral services for Curt L. ■ Brown 48, of Seattle, Wash., former c Adams County resident, who died at his home in Seattle, Monday, fol1 lowing a several months illness, were held Wednesday, December 2. interment was in the Mausoleum in 1 the Masonic cemetery at Seattle. 1 Mr. Brown was born December 29, 1883, in Root township, Adams county, the son of Adam and Mary Harkless Brown. He taught in the ; Dent school tor five yea,rs. and later ,■ spent three years in the Smith. Ya- , ger and Falk Drug store here. I After completing'his pharmacal i course in Angola in 1910, he was j manager of one of the Meyer Brothers Drug Stores in Fort Wayne. | He left that city in November 1910 far the West. Since that time he had made his home chiefly in Seattle, Wash. , Surviving are his wife, Jessie Brown of Seattle: his father, Adam Brown and a sister Mrs. William Sattler of Fort Wayne. An aunt, Miss Clarissa Brown and an uncle, , Isaac Brown, both of Decatur, survive. S. E. Brown and Mrs. Robert Garard of this city are cousins of the deceased. o Dale Wins Victory 1 Indianapolis, Dec. 3.—(U.R) —The 1 ever-turbulent career of Mayor ' George Dale of Muncie was punctuated with another triumph today 1 with appointment of Arthur Meek- ’ er as auto license plate distributor 1 at Muncie. Dale fought bitterly against re1 appointment, of Earl Everett, city councilman and Delaware county ’ democratic chairman. The fight was climaxed when Dale went into 1 conference yesterday afternoon with James Carpenter, chief of the auto license bureau. He “ran the gauntlet” through a group of Everett's ■ friends in the corridor, and a short time later emerged smiling. Carpenter soon thereafter announced Meeker’s appointment. > —' —-o — Seek Missing Fliers El Paso,*Dec. 3 —(UP) —Believed forced down by a snow storm in desolate desert land. Clarence Robey, commercial pilot, and James W. Sheppard, El paso Herald-Post reporter were being sought today by a rescue plane. The men left here yesterday after noon to deliver newspapers to Carlsibad, N. M„ which had been Isolated for two days by the severe snowstorm.

make the heart’s of youngsters glad at Christmas time. Stores Are Ready Decatur merchants are ready for Santa’s visit. They have their stores and windows decorated in Christmas style and everyone is anxious to welcome the fine old fellow. | The attention of grown-ups is I called to the city-wide Christmas opening on Saturday and to the exceptional offerings and bargains made in Christmas merchandise. With Christinas checks mailed out this week, the regular Christmas shopping rush is expected to get under way Saturday. Santa Claus’s visit is sponsored by the Decatur Chamber of Commerce and the Decatur Advertising Asociation and Mayor George Krick and other city officials will join in welcoming him to Decatur. The parade and reception of Santa will be in charge of Bryce Thomas. Decatur scoutmaster, who extends a special invitation to the Boy Scouts to meet the Indian and famous dog Musher. ♦ -* TRIAL NEARS END | | The defense rested at 2:45 | o’clock this afternoon. The ] state began offering rebuttal evidence which will be con- | eluded Friday morning, i Twenty-two witnesses 11 av e been subpoened. The defense may offer sur- i j rebuttal evidence on new mat- i | ters if they desire. | The courts instructions will i require about 1% hours. The | I state has offered 20, the de- , ' sense 40 and the court will j j have several of his own. | Judge Erwin announced this 1 afternoon that he would not I limit the arguments but the 1 state expected to use about j three hours and the defense I from two to two and a half I hours. It is believed the case | will go to the jury some time | Saturday, perhaps by noon. j ♦ 4 POLICEGUARD “ BANK SUSPECTS Returned Bandits Are At Albion Under Special Surveillance Albion, Ind., Dec. 3—(U.R)—Special guards were stationed about the county jail today by Sheriff William Hoffman, who feared an attempt might be made to free Bert Angus and Joe Hanley, alias Roberts, suspects in the Kendallville Bank robbery. Tlie pair was returned here after dark last night from Coldwater, Mich., under guard of 11 police officers from Albion, Auburn, Fort Wayne. Rome City and LaGrange. They were whisked out of Coldwater in an armored car yesterday immediately after waiving extradition. Confederates of the two were believed loitering about the Coldwater jail, according to Sheriff Hoffman. The men were arrested last month when SIB,OOO in bonds taken in the Kendallville robbery October 16, were found in their car. o Red Cross To Meet A meeting of the Red Cross Executive board will be held tonight at 7:30 o’clock in the Chamber of Commerce rooms, Miss Annie E. Winnes, county secretary, announced today. A notice previously stated this meeting would be held Wednesday, but all members are requested to note this correction and attend the meeting tonight.

ITiriilwlic<l ||, I niletl I'resH

SENATESEAT ’ IN QUESTION Bankhead. Successor To Heflin May Not Ge Awarded Senate Seat Washington, Dec. 3—(U.R)—Serious doubt as to the legality of the election in which J. Thomas Heflin lost his senate seat to J. H. Bankhead was expressed today in a formal report of the committee which heard Heflin’s contest. “It is my judgment,” said Chairman Hastings, “that the serious 1 question confronting the committee and the senate for the present is whether, in view of the many violations of the law by the election officers, it is possible to say 1 that there was a legal election of 1 aU. S. Senator in Alabama in I the year 1930.” On the face of the returns, I I Bankhead defeated Heflin by a 1 1 vote of 134,430 to 97,507. Hastings. | however, reported that 19,238 votes 1 1 had been rejected in the recount, I and that violations of the election j law had been general throughout 1 the state. “In this election,” he said, “obeying the law was the excep--1 tion and not the rule.” The contest was a development | of the 1928 presidential campaign, in which Heflin bolted the SmithRobinson ticket. Bankhead and his supporters contended, in op--1 posing Heflin two years later, that • it was the prerogative of the in- ’ dividual voter to bolt a party ] ticket, but that a man who had (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) —o COMMISSIONERS EXPLAINSTAND Cuthbertson, West Say Policy Is To Build Large Utilities Indianapolis, Dec. 3.—<U.R) —Comi missioner Harry K. Cuthbertson explained today that the recent dismissal of the North Manchester | power plant case was in direct ac- | cord with a Public Service Commission policy to encourage expanj sion of electric utilities into large systems. His opinion was concurred in by Chairman John W. Mc- ■ I Cardie, Joined by Commissioner Jere West, Cuthbertson and McCardle signed the dismissal order last SatI urday which denied the city of i North Manchester authority to ac- • quire by condemnation a power - plant in the city, operated by the I Northern Indiana Power Company. No explanation of the dismissal accompanied the order. . j Commissioners Frank Singleton I and Howell Ellis voted against the ) dismissal and wrote dissenting opinions. Cuthbertson said the case was 4 dismissed in line with previous rulings of the commission and also because the situation at North Manchester did not come within the scope of the condemnation pro- - visions of the state utility law. t He pointed out that the law gives { municipal governments the right to condemn for public ownership a 1 utility which has a major portion 3 of its property within the corpor--3 ate limits of the city. Then he • emphasized that “tlie major part of the property used in servicing 3 North Manchester is not located in . the town but that the distribution I system in the town is only a small . part of a distribution system servI ed from centralized power plants.” I In summing up his views of the I commission’s policy, Cuthbertson r said: "If a law is to be administered 1 by any branch of our state, that branch must consistently travel in one direction and can not build up t today and tear down tomorrow. “If the petition of the town of , North Manchester in this case r were sustained and authority conferred upon that town to purchase the property within the town now owned by the power company, a precedent would be set whereby every city and town in th® state could purchase the used and useful property within that municipal--1 ity and adjacent territory, install • their own individual generating plants and leave all of the trans'(mission systems which have been built up throughout these years ’ and all the large centralized gener.CONT’NUED ON PAGE SIX)

Price Two Cents

GUILTY OR NOT Under the indictment return- I | ed by the grand jury Joseph I | Everett is charged with murd- I | er in the first degree and by | an act passed in 1929 and | known as the Hartzel law, a defendant in a murder case j j cannot be convicted of a lesser I ] crime than that for which he j j is indicted. The position of I | Judge Erwin seems to be that j unless the defendant should I j ask an instruction otherwise, | I the jury will be required to re- j | turn a verdict of “quilty” or | | “not guilty,” of murder in the | f first degree. The court in case I | of conviction fixes the punish- i I i ment which may be either life imprisonment or the death pen- i g J 23 STATES IN SEAWAY DEMAND Delegates Want Immediate Action; Leslie Attends Session Chicago, Dec. 3.—{U.R) —Demands for immediate construction of a St. Lawrence-Great Lakes seaway which would give inland cities the status of ocean ports were prepared for consideration today by representatives of 23 states and Canada. Governors of eight states, delegates of 15 others and a Canadian representative were here to discuss progress of Canadian-American negotiations for the treaty enabling construction of the ocean waterway via the St. Lawrence river. Delegates said they would urge early ratification of tlie necessary treaty at the meeting called by the council of states of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Tidewater Association. Charles F. Craig, vice-president and executive director of the association, said the meeting was called “in the firm expectation that a treaty will be presented to the senate early in the forthcoming congressional session. On these premises we are going ahead with an appeal to congress for prompt ratification and adequate legislation which will enable construction to begin in 1932”. Governors George F. Shafer, of North Dakota; J. E. Erickson, of Montana; Warren Green, South Dakota, and Floyd B. Olson. Minnesota, were called to lead the discussion in behalf of agriculture, with Governors Harry G. Leslie, Indiana, and George White, Ohio, presenting the viewpoint of indus(CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT) MAN, KNOWN IN COUNTY KILLED Rev. Amos Oyer Dies After Being Shot In Gun Battle Chicago, Dec. 3— Caught in a cross fire between bandits and a druggist in an attempted holdup, the Rev. Amos Oyer, once an East Africa missionary, was shot and kill ed just a block from the Gospel Tabernacle, where he was to have preached last night. Oyer was on his way to conduct services at the tabernacle which he founded two years ago. He stopped in the drug store and was sitting at the fountain when two bandits entered. The men ordered him to the rear of the store where the druggist, Charles W. Kenney, was preparing a prescription. Kenney heard the bandits say "This is a stickup.’’ Taking a shot gun from a near by rack, the druggist emerged and fir ed at the hold-up men. The bandits (CONTINUED ON PAGF EIGHT) o Officers Are Elected At a business session of the First Evangelical Church, Wednesday night, the following general Sunday School officers were elected for 1932. Superintendent: Adolph Kolter; First Assistant Supt. Earl Fuhrman Second Assistant supt. Amos R. Ketchum. Secretary: Marsha Martin. Treasurer: Fred Chronister. The Department Officers are appointed by the Executive Board.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

STATE CALLS 22 WITNESSES FOR REBUTTAL Accused Man Denies He Ever Pointed Gun; Was Attacked, He Claims COURT ROOM IS CROWDED BULLETIN The defense rested at 2:45 o’clock this afternoon and the state immediately began offering rebuttal evidence, Albert Reppert, county commissioner being the first witness called. The state will use a number of witnesses to prove the good character of Doras Werling, this being permissible in cases j where self defense is made as i f was in this case. Joseph Everett, 53, bachelor, defendant in the murder trial which has occupied the Adams circuit court nearly two weeks past, went on the witness stand this morning to testify in his own defense. Joe appeared slightly nervous as he took the stand, clasping his hands and occasionally weaving back and torth but showed considerable courage as he struggled through the ordeal. Joe said he had been in jail since the evening of June 29, that he made his home with two bachelor brothers, John and Pete in Blue Creek township. His father was Barney Everett. Joe said lie had four brothers and three sisters that he had worked for numerous people, was never arrested before or charged with any crime and had never seen inside a jail until June 29 On the evening before the shooting Joe said he had slept in Garwood’s barn as he had for several weeks since about June 1 while lie was fishing the quarry. Occasionally he slept on leaves along the river bank and he had only been home once during the month. He ate at lunch shops in Pleasant Mills while fishing. He said during June he fished all the time day and night, running his set lines about every two hours. A big part of his job was getting bait. Ha used crab, fish, frogs, or night crawlers, had 46 or 47 hooks on his line. He said lie ate some of the fish, sold some and gave some away. He asserted he had revolver four years, and had traded for it. He carried it in fish sack with other stuff. Everett identified the revolver found along river bank as his and said he also had a 22-calibre rifle and a shot gun. The revolver was used to shoot fur (coon and possum), also for frog fishing and t<i scare off had dogs. He owned a | boat 12 feet long, and saw Gerald Fry that morning and again towards evening. He ran line at 3 in morning and each two hours through the day. Joe said he did not know Doras Werling and "never saw him to my knowin.” Knew Tom and James Halberstadt. Just before the •CONTINUED ON PAGE TWOI DEPRESSION IS DISCUSSED Delegates Fr o m Every Part of Nation Begin Important Work Washington, Dec. 3—(UP)—Delegates from all over the Country got down to serious work today in an effort to figure out a practical financing program by which every person in the United States who wants to can own his own home. The delegates—a group of financial and building experts—set to work under the inspiration ot an unusually eloquent and at times distinctly emotional address delivered by President Hoover at the opening of the conference last night. The President told tlie gathering of delegates atm others who packed constitution hall that lie wanted them to do something practical to permit every American who so de- • sires to build and own a home “Next to food and clothing." he said, "The housing of a nation is (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX)