Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 29, Number 289, Decatur, Adams County, 8 December 1931 — Page 1

■leather ■ south and rain ni.lth P or ' ■robable t 'night El Wednesday; ■ r tonight.

ONGRESS RECEIVES HOOVER’S MESSAGE

HIE SCORED ■ STAND ON |TRA SESSION HI Senators State ■ernor Is Failing B s Party Leader K])S stay r WITH OPINION Dec. 8. (U.R) —P"l rs divided pro and con i i-dative session protoday to extricate lie net of respon ;,iH>ut them yesterday EL ~ , Governor 11 trry I1 Die t inted Press. his willingness ,\n.i session, hut onl> I dets of both were able to |m that its purpose—tax relid be accomplished. He Bly dubious over the ability llitically divided house and a reach such agreement. Senator Winfield Miller, an. Marion county, retalih the charge that the gov[s avoiding the responsibilidership. In a time when such an obvious and crit- | of reform legislation, he people look to the goverptidance, gram to which the majorth the Republican senate Democratic house would . shouldn't be so difficult ■ Miller said. "F believe ■do it myself.” ■coff. I Leslie's prediction ■special session would not ■ few days what the regular ■ failed to accomplish in 61 ■ie regular session." he re- j ■ ‘‘we were confronted with ■. and had little time to de■tlte weighty tax problem, ■edal session devoted en- ■> taxation would solve the ■n short order.” ■ rapped the action of Wal■rs. Democratic house lead■riting all over the income i B which passed both houses I ■ last regular session. He ■ P that this voided a tangi cdiment toward relief property taxpayers. ler Republican, Senator AlLindley, has upbraided the r for his purported failure the leadership in formulatTINUED ON PAGE SIX) n Burk To Funeral Burk left last night for Des Kansas to attend the funertis brother -in-law, Robert an. 34, son of Judge and T. Merryman of this city, erryman's death occurred evening, following a few ness of scarlet fever. Funvices will be held Wednesi the body will be taken to La., home of the widow for Mr. and Mrs. Don Quinn of o, the latter a sister of the Ml left Sunday for Des Ark. ULI DENIES UNTRIBUTIONS y Head Declares His icern Has Not Dotted Big Funds hington, Dec. B—(U.R)—MarInstill, president of the West Utilities company, id at a federal trade invesn today that if any funds company had been diverted ditical purposes he had no edge of it. Hl was questioned regarding !! >t of $44,100 on the comi books, consisting of vouchade payable by him in 1926. id the money had been turner to E. A. Davis, vice presifor a “special payment." fe Robert E. Healy, commisotmsei who is conducting the l>g on public utilities and )g companies, asked if any 6 money was used for politiKpenditures. Instill said he mot rec&ll it. ni mean it did not happen?”! ** to my knowledge." Instill d. J1 that his Inter-1 *TINUED ON PAGE FOUR)

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT — __ ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Vol. XXIX. No. 289.

Drivers’ Licenses May Not Be Renewed 1932 Indianapolis, Dec. 8 (U.R)— A savings of approximately $700,000 Ito Indiana autoists may result from a decision now being considered b(y Secretary of State Frank Mayr, Jr. Mayr said today he believed it would be unnecessary to ask auto drivers to lenew their driver’s licenses during the coming vear The 1930 and 1931 revenue which amounted to $126,427, will provide sufficient funds for the original purpose, Mayr believer!. The law provides that licenses expire July 1932, and the secretary of state is empowered to require their renewal, Funds acruing from sale of licenses are to be used specifically for conducting educational campaigns for promoting more careful driving. JUDGE KISTER VISITS RIVER Special Judge Inspects Territory Affected by Proposed Dredge Special Judge Henry Kister of Princeton, arrived here last even-i Ing and this morning opened i court at the K. of P. home, enter-I ing a record of postponement ini the Wabash river drain case, from yestei\lay until today and' from today until Thursday when! the cause will again be heard. The case was started in Septem-' her and went along until the funds were exhausted. The spe-l cial session of the county council | granted only half of the $1,560 appropriation asked to continue | the case and since this would only | permit alfout three weeks of trial.; adjournment was taken until December 7. Thus also gave the attorneys an' opportunity to attend to business' which had piled up on them dur-; ing the long drag and ('. J. Lutz ! assisted in the prosecution of Joseph Everett for murder, representing the state with Nathan Nelson. It is expected the ditch, case will continue until about i December 23 or 24 and then adjourn until after the first of the (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWOI

POWERS' LIFE IS AT STAKE Mail Order Romeo to Face Hope of Escaping Death Today Clarksburg. West Va.. Dec. 8. — (U.R)—The lits of Harry F. Powers, mail order romeo, will To gambled against local technicalities with the accused slayer preferring death to a ruling that he is insane, it was indicated as his trial swung into its second day. J. Ed Law, defense attorney, has permitted the state to admit all evidence concerning discovery [ of the body of Mrs. Dorothy Press-1 ler Lemke in the drainage ditch behind the Powers garage at Quiet Dell. He has attempted to keep some testimony front the jurors who were named so speedily yesterday, but those efforts have failed. Judge John C. Southern has overruled every defense motion, including a plea for a change of venue. Therefore, it was felt today, the trial which has been made the occasion for a Roman holiday in Clarksburg, will furnish the evidence on which Powers' counsel will appeal to a higher court. The defense probably will charge the (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR) o — Feast Is Celebrated The feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virsin was celebrated today in the Catholic church. It is a holy day of obligation and one of the principle feast days of the year. Masses at the St. Mary's Catholic church were held st five, 7:30 and nine o'clock this morning. Following the 7:30 mass thd school children who were not enrolled in the St. Maiys sodality were given their pledge by the Rev. Father J. J- Hennes, assistant pastor.

‘fiile. National Ami ■ uteruiitiounl

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Ibis photo shows scene in House of Representatives at Washington as the Rev. ,J. S. Montgomery led in prayer at opening of seventy-second session of Congress Monday.

SENIORS WILL PRESENT PLAY — t Comedy to Be Given Here! December 10-11 By I). H. S. Pupils Members of the Senior class of Decatur high school are working hard for the three-act comedy, "Easy Pickin’s" to be presented: ,at the high school auditorium, Thursday and Friday. December 10 and 11. The story centers aronnd George and Marge, who after years of struggling have built their home of dreams. They move into it and then decide to have a house party for their pals of college days. The guests include a noted movie actress, a rather timid clerk, who is also a budding playwright, a hypachrondriac a federal agent, a CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX* 0 Negro Found Dead Grand Rapids, Mich.. Dec. 5— (U.R) —A murder inquiry confronted officials here today following the discovery of the body of Ralph ‘ Meriwether, negro, 724 East 13th avenue, Gary, Ind., in a boxcar! near Waverly, Mich. Meriwether, released from jail yesterday after serving 10 days for “hopping" freight trains, hail been beaten and shot. Officials said he was murdered and his ‘ body thrown into the car before the freight train left East Saugatuck.

(J GET NEW GLUE ON POISONING Roomer Says Screams Were Heard; Bodies To Be Examined Attica. Ind.. Dec. B—(U.R)—Disclosure8 —(U.R)—Disclosure that Mrs. Dorothy Woods screamed for help shortly before she died in the James King rooming house here 'Sunday night was made today by William Milburn. Milburn, who lives in a room directly above where the body of Mrs. Woods and Clyde Smith were found, said he heard Mrs. Woods cry for King about midnight Sunday. She called three times, Milburn reported. Since’Kfng w-as known to be away from home, Milburn said he believed Mrs. Woods was merely crying in her sleep. Dr. J. G. Fisher, Danville, 111., performed an autopy on Smith’s body. He sent the stomach and two capsules found in the room to Dr. Rollo N. Harger at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, for examination to determine caused hi» (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR)

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, December 8, 1931

Congress Meets

New Year’s Dance To Be Given By Phi Delts The Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity will p.esent the annual New Year’s Eve Ball at the Decatur Country Club on December 31. Plans for the dance were made at the regular meeting of the fraternity, Monday evening, and committees were appointed. The affair will be a program dance and is exclusively for couples. Subscriptions will be sold by members of the fraternity. Ca.l Brenner and his orchestra frqtn Fort Wayne will furnish music for dancing and a special j soloist will be secured for the I New Year's even program. Dane-1 ing will begin at 9:30 o’clock with ! a Grand March to be held at 10 o”clock. The program will include six special dances and six regular dances, together with a military dance to be held just before midnight. The customary noisemakers will be given out after the military dance. o ALL IS READY FORCORNSHOW Racks, Tables Are Placed In Corridor of Court House For Exhibits The racks and tables for the I display of corn in the Adams : county corn show were being . erected in the corridor of the I court house, where the show will be held. I The exhibits are to be entered by Wednesday evening and judging of the corn will begin Thursday. An experienced judge will be in charge. Victor Bleeke is chairman of the show. The Decatur Chamber of Commerce sponsors the show as part of its agricultural program. Last (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX, o Green New Constable

Ed Green was appointed Constable in Washington township by the board of commissioners today. Mr. Green fills the vacancy caused by the death of George Massonnee last October. Mr. Green was notified of his appointment this afternoon.

(—J I z GseKTiNos i I I 1811 - BShoppingddys, till Christmas

AUTO LICENSES SHOW DECREASE Passenger Plates Are Less This Year Than Any Year On Record Indianapolis, Dec. 8 — (UP) — There were 13,722 fewer passenger auto license plates purchased by Indiana residents during the first J 11 months of the year than during . I the same period last year, j James W. Carpenter, head of the I auto license bureau, who announci ed the figures today, said this was . probably the first time that the sale • of auto licenses had shown a de- ■ crease. Ths total of licenses for passen- ; ger machines was 731.065 this year, compared with 744,837 last year. The number of licenses for trucks increased 978 to 128,671. Motorcycle licenses decreased in number from 2,862 to 2.780. An increase in the number of auIto trailers of 4,746 was recorded. ', Sale of dealer licenses <1 e.eaesed (CONTINUED ON PaGE SIX o

Good Fellows Club The Good Fellow Club, which is being sponsored by the Delta Theta Tau Sorority received a donation of $15,000 from the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity of this city, today. The total contributions to date include: Previous total $41.02 Phi Delts 15.00 Friend .11 'Total $56.13

McERLANE IS UNDER ARREST Chicago Gangster Will Face Charges of Murdering His Wife

Chicago, Dec. 8. — (U.R) — Frank McErlane, by reputation Chicago's most vicious gangster, today was in custody of Chicago police who had trailed him since his wife was found shot to deatli in the gangster’s automobile two months ago today. Authorities indicated they would seek an indictment charging him with murder. McErlane arranged through his attorney, Joseph Roach, to surrender at Madison, Wis., late yesterday to Pat Roache, investigator for the state's attorney’s office. Heavily guarded against possible kidnaping or assassination by his gang enemies. McErlant- made the trip to Chicago in a police squad car. He was believed to have been in hiding at the Winter, Wis., home of Joe Saltis. his friend and business associate in the southwest side beer industry. Roche and his aides said McErlane refused to discuss the slay(CONTINUED ON PAG® SIX)

Furnimhed Hy I lilted PrraM

ALICE LENHART NAMED DEPUTY Present Deputy Treasurer To Be Retained By Wechter • John Wechter, county treasurerelect, who will take office January 1, 1932, announced today that he had appointed Miss Alice Lenhart, deputy county treasurer for his first term. Miss Lenhart has been deputy county treasurer for the last four years, being appointed by County Treasurer Ed A. Ashbaucher. She is an efficient and accommodating public servant and is well acquainted with the affairs in the treasurer's office. During Mr. Ashbancher’s recent illness, Miss Lenhart has been in charge of the office and following the November payment of taxes balanced the treasurer’s books for the tax payment period. Miss Lenhart also served about a year as deputy treasurer during the last yeaer of the term of Louis Kleine. Mr. Wechter was elected county treasurer in 1929 and in the past few months has been acquainting hinjself with the responsibilities of the office. He stated today that because of Miss Lenhart's able service in the office, many persons had requested that she be named deputy and in recognition of her splendid services he was making the appointment.

Plans Dance Revue Miss Violet Reinwald, will stage a Revue here in January, as a formal opening of a dancing school. Miss Patricia Fullemkamp. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fullenkamp, of this city, will assist Miss Reinwald in her school here. o Revival In Progress Revival services at the St. Paul Church, located four miles south east of Decatur are in progress, having begun last Sunday. Rev. J. E. Smith is pastor of the church. 'The public is invited to attend these services which begin each night at 7 o'clock. The revival will continue indefinitely. COMMISSIONERS BUY WASHERS Low Bid Is Accepted On Equipment For Infirmary Superintendent The county commissioners this afternoon accepted the bid of the Lutes-Sinclair Co., Benton .Harbor, Michigan, for furnishing two washing machine outfits and a clothes extractor at the county infirmary The company's bid was $825, with an allowance of $25 for the old washer. The Schwab Machinery and Supply Company of Toledo submitted a bid of $1,344.80, which was rejected. The commissioners purchased a typewriter, equipped with an apparatus for making out the etax receipts, for use in the county treasurer's office. Following an inspection of the Scheimann bridge in Preble township, the Koeneman road in Preble township, the McGuffigan road in Jefferson township and the Myers road in St. Mary’s township, the commissioners accepted all four improvements today. (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) o ' — — Office Move Studied

The county commissioners are figuring on moving the County assessor’s office from the annex to the auditor's office to the second floor of the court house building and in the office to be made vacant by the county agent. The county agent will move to the new postoffice building and the commissioners are considering taking the partition out of the commissioner’ll room and the present assessor's office will be moved to the second fice making a larger room for the commissioners and county council. If tlie change is made the assessor's office will be moved to the second floor, but the board has not yet decided on the matter.

Price Two Cents

Pythian Sisters Hold Their Annual Election

At the meeting of the Pythian Sister lodge held in the Knights of Pythias Home on Third street, Monday night, the election of officers was held.

Preceding the election, a pot-luck supper was served in the dining hall of the home, and later the regular lodge meeting was held. The o.ficers chosen are as follows: Mrs. A. D. Suttles, past chief Mrs. Grant Fry, most excellent chief: Mrs. Tillman Gehrig, excellent senior; Mrs. Fred Ahr, excellent junior; Mrs. John Schug, manager: Mrs. Giles Porter, protector; Mrs. Lloyd Ahr, guard; Mrs. Delton Pass water, mistress of finance; and Mrs. S. E. Shamp, mistress of records and correspondence

EVERETT WAITS NEXT ACTION Convicted Man Remains In County Jail Awaiting Court’s Decision Joseph Everett, convicted Sunday morning of first degree murder by a jury in Adams circuit i court for the murder last June 29 of Doras Werling, sat in his cell at the Adams county jail today awaiting further action by his attorneys irt an effoit to get a new trial. The first action, a motion for i arrest of judgment, was expected I to be filed immediately and if that is overruled a motion for a new trial will be filed. Defense attorneys today re-affirmed their intention of appealing the case to the supreme court if necessary. Judge Erwin likely will not sentence Everett until the motions expected to be filed in Adams court this week have been argued. In case it is necessary to appeal the case to supreme court. Everett will begin serving his sentence, it was pointed out. Everett is still optimistic concerning his future and sticks firmly to the belief that if he goes to prison at all. it will be only for a> short time. Jury Drawings Arranged

Adams county's new jury commissioners for 1932, Jacob A. Long. Geneva druggist and James Bain, retired Decatur merchant met today and received their oath of office. Immediately after taking the oath the commissioners arranged for the jury drawings for next year. o Brown Chief Speaker W. Guy Brown, principal of Decatur high school, delivered an address before teachers of the town of at the regular teacher’s meeting held Monday night. His talk was on the subject of “The Work of the Adams County Board of Children's Guardians." Mr. Brown is secretary of the board. HUNGER MARCH PURPOSE FAILS Marchers Return Home After Being Ejected From Congress Washington, Dec. B——(U.R) — The “hunger marchers” who paraded here at the opening of congress yesterday, left for their today, vowing a determination to continue organization of the discontented for new onslaught against the capitalistic system. The coldest morning of the season so far added to the discomfort of the demonstrators as they boarded their trucks for the journey home. They planned to journey together to Baltimore before dividing into western and northern columns. Telegrams of protest against the refusal yesterday of President Hoover and congress to see a delegation of the marchers reached the White House today. They were sent by numerous labor organizations in various parts of the country. Os the nine telegrams made public, five were from (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX)

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

MESSAGE URGES ENDURANCE DE RISE IN TAXES — Program Is Outlined By President; Both Houses Listen NO COMMENT FORTHCOMING By Raymond Clapper. UP. Staff Correspondent Washington, Dec. B.—<U-R> —President Hoover today asked the people to accept a twoyear increase in taxes and’ urged congress to form a natI ional reconstruction finance to aid in rehabiliitation of business. Those two proposals were !the cornerstones of the President’s program given to congress today in the most momentlous message a chief executive has delivered since the war. The time has come for aggressive, forward action, the President maintained. The nation s resources 1 are greater than ever before, hi, said. He expressed confidence in the country's ability largely to overcome the depression regardless of conditions in other parts of the world. All that is needed is to revive confidence, he said, summon courage and determination, loosen credit and put to work the country's huge resources and stores of money. He emphasized that aid to the railroads must form a part of the ! reconstruction program as they as- ! feet the vitals of the country's economic life. He proposed a temporary tax in- | crease to end July 1. 1934. which iit is unofficially estimated, would 'amount to almost $1,060,009,000 a [year. Details were reserved for a later time, but Mr. Hoover gave a general warning that the country must prepare to take on an increased emergency burden due to the sharp declines in tax revenues. The outstanding credit proposal in the message was for creation of a reconstruction finance corporlatlon to extend emergency help to I business and agriculture. Its cap(CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) PRINCE LOSES ROYAL RIGHTS

Prince Nicholas Marriage Annulled; Carol Wins Victory Bucharest. Roumania, Dec. 8. — (U.R) —Prince Nicholas of Roumania lost his bride and his rights as a member of the royal house of Raumania by a decision of the Bucharest district court effective today. The court annuled his marriage to Mie. Lucia Deletj. a commoner, on grounds that the mayor who performed the ceremony was not authorized to do so. it also ruled that a prince who marries without royal consent automatically loses his rights as a member of the royal house. The court's decision was a complete victory for King Carol, who despite tlie fact that he once renounced his rights to the tlirono to live witli a commoner, Madame Magda Lupescu. was furious when his brother married beneath hi) rank. Carol treatened Nicholas with exile and loss of his income unless he deserted his bride, but Nicholas ignored his requests. A summons to attend the court hearing was nailed to the door ot (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR) Q Sorority Plans Sale The Psi lota Xi sorority will hold a rummage sale Saturday. December 12 in the Obenauer building on South Second street, it has been announced. The proceeds from the sale will be used tor charitable purposes. Mrs. Earl Adams is chairman of the group sponsoring the sale and other members Include the Misses Bernice DeVoss. Neva Brandyberry and Charlotte Elzey, and the Mesdames Sim Burk. Leigh Bowen. Carrel Cole, Paul Edwards and Alfred Beavers.