Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 29, Number 295, Decatur, Adams County, 15 December 1931 — Page 1

WEATHER p a ir tonight and ed nesday; not uc h change in temrature.

CONGRESSIONAL POLICIES ARE FORMED

|KSPROBE OF |ORT SELLING I STOCK MART ( upper Demands -’■festitfation of What § falls Panic Cause i, Solution || INTRODUCED ■ bulletin ngton. Dec. 15—(U.RI — Capper, Republican, ' introduced in the f W lt! today a resolution to s an investigation of «, K-t selling and other stocs r ket practices which he ' r have "been a major . of prolonging the deSSi ° n " ___ Dec. 15 -<U.P’ sitaiM) W;tlJ street practice »1' — America short" is ;i senatorial investisoon. ' n on the Hastings calling for an inwas annarentlv assured wlh ii Republican Floor Watson announced in favor of it. of conservati'cs to ®Wa drastic move against th>1 arts makes the senate unininious in favor of dir le , t^Btd ,i- N> more con-u rva- ■ exist than W ’ 1. ader. and Ha.-t::n:<. Del.. who introduced the — ' come around to this posit because prices cotito sag on the exchange . - restrictive arrutnn instigated by president some months ago. told the United Press he had received reports — ■ ..rt selling pra< In ■ ' to do with the present <!•'■ Prices. He said the exstopped the practice for about eight weeks ago Richard Whitney. PresiHie exchange, was making now against-further rewants to stop legit ishort selling," the floor lead "it is just as good as But stock gamblers advantage of a situation to ON PAGE FOUR) Ki) • • -Mj’rnstein Is Receiver bclß : m for a receiver for the Burdg properties bought at “ s sale yesterday by the old County Bank to handle the profits for the bank was Adams circuit court by .1. attorney for the bank. was granted and Isarnsiein was named to act Bond was fixed at sl. 11 M' Mr. Bernstein was given in which to qualify. fMR local •MAN EXPIRES B William Smitley Dies Sturgis, Mich., of >iEg Heart Trouble a r J has been received hero by ! es of the death of Mrs. , m Smitley of Sturgis. Mich., i resident of Decatur. who at her home Monday mornB; la-ath was due Io heart trou1 v ' v >ng are the husband Wiland several chil- , K Funeral services will be ■ Sturgis Wednesday. Mr. BHMrs. Smitley lived in DecaMr. Smitley was em1 at the Krick and Tyndall until about eight years . they moved to Sturgis. I John Smitley. Floyd and Smitley. and Henry ForoB» w ill leave Wednesday morn K’ nr Sturgis to attend the |^B al services. Vets To Meet will be a meeting of the Spanish American War vol ■■ 31 Kitson’s Barbershop, Wedbight, December 16. at 8I • ■ Alfred Hahnert, command Camp No. 52, has announced.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ■ ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Vol. XXIX. No 295.

World’s Smallest Bible I ' ■ J LL . A Whf- ■ JIM Lwk >, 8 “' Scotland ’ in 1895 - On the exhibition of the book rercntly, it had an insurance protection of $15,000.

LIGHTED TREE TO BE ERECTED ) _______ Tree Will Be Placed On Square By Local Club Women ’ I Decatur will have a Community ‘ Christmas tree this year, the same ‘I to be erected on the Court House 11 square sometime this week, it was announced today. The Woman's 1 Club will purchase the tree which ' will be decoraied with colored elec- ‘ trie lights to be furnished by the ! city. No special program will be ar- ■ 'angeu tor Christmas eve, but '.be ■ tree will be erected the same as in i former yea.« and will bring before ’he public the spirit of Cliris'mas. i Mrs. W. E. Smith, «ho has been - in cha ge of securing a tree for the ■ past several years, will again pro- . cure one this year. As soon as a : suitably tree can be found it will be placed <n the Court House i square, and it is the plan of the I W ‘man's Club to have the tree dec- [ orated by the end of the week. . • In former years children of '.’ais . c immunity sang Christmas carols . about th .• tree on Christmas eve , and treats of candy and fruit were given, but the Woman's Club ae- ■ cided to dispense with this part of . the piogram this yea.. The money formerly used for thi treats will be turned ver to the Good Fellows Club and the United Ca'ities, it was stated. ELECTRIC UNIT WORK TO START Committee Head \ance Says Work On First .Unit Is Planned O. D. Vance, chairman of the electric light committee of the city council, stated today that work on the construction of the new electric distribution system for the City Light and Power Plant would begin Wednesday. The Deel Electric Engineering and Construction company of Fort Wayne, has the contract for the job and the necessary material to start the job is now on the scene. The first unit will be the underground leads from the power south to Closs street, where the new poles will be erected. Work will continue as long as weather conditions permit and it is hoped that the removal of the large poles on Second street, between Marshall street and Adams street, will be completed in the next 60 days. Robert Deel of the company thaHi has the contract agreed to complete the work in 60 to 90 days. His contract price was $27,796.60, Including all labor and material necessary to complete the job. Bush Wants Session Frankfort, Ind., Dec. 15—(U.R)Reiteration of a plea for a special tax session of the Indiana legislaI ture was made by Lieutenant Governor Edgar D. Bush in an address here. He predicted that the legislature, with proper leadership. would quickly adopt a relief program. Bush threw full blame for "unbearable conditions” on the legislature. "It got us into most of our troubles and now it alone can get jus out," he said. He granted, i Tiowever, that the Democratic conI trol in the house and Republican i control in the senate might complicate a relief program.

State, National And luternatlounl .Newn

t ♦ You Oujjht to Know I Since the complete world's census figures are now available, some interesting items are outstanding. The total world's population is 1,878,679,562. The census per con--1 tinents is as follows: Asia 997,903,260 Europe 494,262,755 North America 165,629,575 Africa 133,631,459 South America 80,879,294 Australia 6,373,219 The population per square mile ' in the six different continents is as ' follows: Europe 130.5 Asia 61.8 North America 19.2 Africa 11.7 South America 11.3 Australia 2.1 BELL PLACED IN CHURCH TOWER l —— ■ Bronze Metal Bell Is Set Up In Tower at Reformed Church — A crew of men headed by A. R. Ashbaucher and Ben Shroyer were busy Monday hoisting an 800 pound bronze metal church bell into the Zion Reformed church belfry tower. There has not been a bell in the 10-1 1 cal church since the building of the edifice about eight, years ago. The bell is of branze metal and wa; made by the Baltimore Bell F .undry of Baltifore, Maryland. It i is about 36 inches in diameter and I has a substantial frame with iron 1 standards, a tolling hammer and a tom foot wheel. The bell will be used for the regular worship services in the church, and a formal dedication of the bell ‘ will probably be arranged later. Yjst Brothers of this city with their block and tackle equipment placed a strong beam over ths church tower and by means of a strong rope running to the ground and attached to Ashbaucher’s truck lhe bell apparatus was drawn into' the bell chamber. o PRISON RIOTS ARE DISPELLED Quiet Rules At Leavenworth After Siege of Many Convicts ' Leavenworth, Kans., Dec. 15 — - (UP) —Leavenworth prison, scene ’ of disorder during the past 48-hours “ was quiet today, but the guard patrolling its massive grey walls reJ mained at double strength. No sound other than the methodical stamp of the gaurds was heard . inside the huge federal prison after I the gong sounded “good night.” A tew hours before, however, prisonI e:s had set up a din. They yelled, pounded on the bars to their cells and cursed the guards who for the first time were armed within the ' prison. • Eight hundred prisoners joined • in a chorus of noise. They could be heard outside the walls. Extra guards were called and the men quieted. The last of seven prisoners who escaped in a break late last week ' was in solitary confinement today ' as were the other three captured ' alive. The other three took their own lives after staging a gun bat- ■ tie with guards. Earl Thayer, last of the escaped 1 convicts captured, was taken on ON PAGE TWO)

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, December 15, 1931.

GUN WOUND IS FATAL TO MAN Judge Kister’s Son-In-Law Killed When Revolver Is Discharged BULLETIN Evansville, Ind., Dec. 15.— (U.R) —Derbin Myer, 47, superintendent of the Mid-States Rubber Company, died at midnight of a bullet wound in the head. His body was found in the garage at his home by his wife. Coroner Ed Kraft expressed the opinion that a revolver Myer was carrying dropped from his pocket as he got out of his auto, and discharged when it struck the floor. Durbin S. Meyer, son-in-law of Special Judge IHenry Kister, sitting in the Wabash drain case here, was killed about 11 o’clock Monday night at his home in Evansville, according to word received by Judge Kister early today. The young man and his wife had been about driving in their automobile and had returned home about 10:30 o’clock. Mrs. Meyer had gone into the house, according to the message received here, when she heard a shot in the garage. She went to the garage where she found her husband lying in a pool of blood. Meyer was rushed to the Vanderburgh county hospital where he died in a short time. The man always carried a revolver in his automobile, Judge Kister said, and the coroner stated thgt he believed the gun was accidental(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX! Announces Candidacy Laporte, Ind., Dec. 15.—(U.R) —E. W. Cooper, attorney, has formally announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for state senator from and Starke counties. Cooper, a graduate of Valparaiso University, has been secretary of the Democratic county committee for two years. He is one of the five persons in the United States to receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Oratory from the British Royal Academy, Christ College, Oxford, England. ATTACK STORY IS VERIFIED Four Men In Jail Had Attempted Attack Previously On Farmer George Yake, of the southwestern part of Adams county verified a story circulating through the coun- ' ty that John'Gillion, Ralph Gilliom, Obed Gilliom and Jehu Bertsch, prior to their attack on Fred Kohler and his wife in French township Friday night had attempted an attack on Yake and his aged mother who resides with him. Yake was in the yard of his farm when the men came there Friday night. He went into the house and the four young men attempted to break in at the side door. On failing all four went to the rear of the house where they forced entrance into the summer kitchen. A short time later all four returned and called for Yake to come out. He came as far as the front porch when someone of the four, who were riding in a Fort roadster called: - “Come on out you pudgy faced—Yake said that he started back (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) o f Good Fellows Club Those who would like to see some poor children have a happy Christmas, with toys and some of the necessities given them, are invited to contribute to' the Good Fellow Club, which is being sponsored by the Delta Theta Tau Sorority All of the money received by this club will be used to make the poor and unfortunate children of this community happy on Christmas. Contributions received include: Previous total $83.00 Friend I Total

♦— — ♦ 11 Good Fellows Sponsor Charity Net Contest ♦ — - ♦ Ths Good Fellows club of Decatur will sponsor a charity basketball game here Thu.sday night at Decatur Catholic high school gymnasium it was announced today. Decatur Cloverbafs will play Huntington Claverleafs at 8:30 o’clock. The two teams met last week and Decatur won after a hard contest. Members of the Delta Theta Tau sorority are selling the tickets and a big attendance is anticipated. JURY TRIAL BEGINS TODAY f Erie Railroad Seeking To Collect Transportation Charges A transportation charge law suit started here in May, 1929, entitled Erie Railroad Co., vs. John A. Hartman, was re-opened! today before Judge D. B. Erwin 1 and a jury of 12 Adams county men. The railroad is asking transportation charges due on a car of straw shipped from Craigville to 1 Garrettsville, Ohio, and the defendant is charging that the shipment was refused at the Ohio point because rain, coming in through a leaky car roof damaged the straw. When the case was opened at a previous date the attorneys for (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) ■ AUTO PLATES I DISTRIBUTED Floyd Smitley, Millers Bakery Ge t First Licenses In County J. L. Ehler, manager of the; local automobile license bureau. | began issuing the new 19321 license plates today. Floyd Smitley, living east of Decatur received the first passenger auto license. The plate was 425,201. Miller's Bakery received the first truck license, number I 86301. The 1932 plates are green with! white figures and are the same | size as those in use this year. Mr. Ehler stated that more than 50 licenses were issued today. Owners of automobiles must produce a poll tax receipt in order to secure a license. If their 1930 poll tax. payable this year, is not' paid they cannot secure a license. 1 Mr. Ehler stated that several people called at the bureau office without the poll tax receipt and that licenses were refused. In most cases the poll tax is (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWOI WOULD MUSTER NEW SENTIMENT Senator Fess Calls On Colleagues To Aid President Washington, Dec. 15. — (U.R) — Chairman Simeon D. Fess of the' Republican national committee ap- 1 pealed to his party lieutenants today to join in a campaign to win greater public recognition for the achievements of President Hoover. Addressing the Republican national committee assembled here to select the convention city for 1932, Fess thrust indirectly at the defeatism which has spread among many republicans as a result of Mr. Hoover's difficulties. “It is the purpose of this committee,” Fess said, "to assist in convincing the disaffected that the President is not responsible for the: spots on the sun, the storms at sea,! the droughts on land, nor the num-, erous epidemics that frequently! sweep sections of the country. Our 1 business is to place Mr. Hoover in j ithe minds of the public where his. studpendous efforts and brilliant leadership justify. This stage reached there will be no doubt [ about the results of the contests next November. (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR)

FumlMhed By I uiti-.l I'rei s

MAN SENTENCED TO ROAD WORK George Manns To Work For County To Pay Up Back Support Money Using an Indiana statute which provides for men who fail to pay support money to children in divorce cases where the mother has custody of the children, Judge D. B. Erwin today sentenced George Manns to work for the county at the rate of SI.OO a day and remain at jail in custody of Sheriff Burl Johnson at nights, until further orders. The SI.OO a day earned by Manns will be turned over to Mis. Manns until the delinquent support money for the child is paid up. It is the first time in the history of the county that the statute has been carried out. Manns was cited for failure to comply with the couit order, eight days ago and was given a week to secure the back money. He failed to do so and Monday morning he asked Judge Erwin for one more day in which to seek employment. Judge Erwin sentenced the man this morning ami he immediately started working lor Chris Eicher, county highway superintendent. Judge Erwin stated however that if Manns received a call to his old job at Inteinational Harvester Co., Fort Wayne he probably would release him. Manns told Judge Erwin (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX. G. O. P. Will Ballot Washington, Dec. 15 — (UP) — The Republican National committee prepared today to ballot among probably five cities, to determine where the 1932 National convention will be held. Chicago was the favorite. Cleveland, once legarded as the probable choice has been unable to raise the $150,001) needed as a quarantee of expenses and has decided to extend no invitation. o Orphans Give Testimony Shelbyville, Ind., Dec. 15 —(U.R) — Fifteen inmates of the Gordon Orphans’ home testified today before the Shelby county grand jury, which is investigating conditions at the orphans' home. Nature of,the testimony given by the children was not disclosed. RITUALISTIC WORKPLANNED Elks Will Initiate 11 Candidates Wednesday Night at Home Here Plans were completed today for the Elk’s initiation to be hjld Wednesday evening, December 16, by Decatur lodge, No. 993 of the B. P. O. E. at the Elk's home on Second street. A class of 11 candidates, including several prominent business men of this city, will receive the degree work. The degree work ■will be conferred by the Bluffton degree team, one of the best drilled teams in the state. The officers of Decatur lodge will open and close the ceremonies and every member of the local lodge is urged to attend the meeting. The initiation work will start at eight o’clock and following the ritualistic work, a cafeteria luncheon will be served. R. A. Stucky is chairman of this committee and issued a special invitation to (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO)

t CHRISTMASI/ x ‘/ I J GREETINGS , | • W&: 11 1 HAU 1 As. 8 Shopping days till Christmas

Price Two Cents

Will Speak Here Robert M. Zimmerman Mr. Zimmerman will appear at Decatur high school auditorium Thursday evening, December 17 at 8:15 o'clock as a part of the Redpath Lyceum course program. NOTEDIVER TO SPEAK HERE Robert Zimmerman, Famous Swimmer, Diver, Is Redpath Speaker Robert M. Zimmerman, noted swimmer and deep-sea diver will tell of his adventures on the Ocean's floor at the Decatur high school auditorium, Thursday evening, December 17, at 8:15 o’clock. His subject will be "On the Bottom of the Sea.” The program is the second of a series of four Lyceum numbers being sponsored by the senior class j of Decatur high school. Mr. Zimmerman will tell an absorbing story of his experiences at the bottom of the sea, combining interesting information and thrilling adventure, and illustrated by a fine display of deep-sea curios. He tells of the wonderful I submarine gardens, the ruins of sunken Spanish galleons, the I deadly barracuda and Hie much I feared man-eating sharks. Mr. Zimmerman spent many hours on the floor of the Atlantic off of the coast of Florida in the capacity of under-sea expert with the Williamson people who pioneered in the making of moving (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) o — Missionary Is 111 L. L. Merryman of this city received a cablegram this morning stating that his sister. Mrs. A. E. Rassman. who is a missionary in India, is seriously ill. Mrs. Rassman was formerly Miss Jessie Merryman of Decatur. She has spoken here on several occasions. Mr. and Mrs. Rassman have been in the foreign field for a number of years. 0 CHARGES FILED AGAINST MAYOR South Bend Scrap Continues; Ackerman Asks Impeachment of Hinkle South Bend, Ind., Dec. 15.—(U.R) —The long shouldering enmity between Mayor W. R. Hinkle and former City Controller Rudolph Ackermann burst forth anew when the city council, on Ackermann's plea, started impeachment proceedings against Hinkle last night. Ackermann, one of the newest figures in Democratic state politics, was deposed from Ills city office two weeks ago by Hinkle. Ackermann maintained that lie was ousted because he blocked Hinkle’s alleged support of vice and gambling in South Bend. Ackermann appeared before the council with his charges and the impeachment action resulted. A. M. Long, Republican member of the safety board, was named with Hinkle in written charges Ackermann presented the council. Hinkle and Long who are business associates, will answer the I charges in two weeks. The specific charges against Hinkle allege that he made no effort to raid gambling houses, (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY

MORATORIUM REJECTED AS PARTY ISSUE Each Democrat To Vote As He Desires On Moratorium Question ECONOMY IS WATCHWORD Washington, Dec. 15 —(U.R)- - Democratic congressional leaders decided today to let individual Democrats vote as they see fit on President Hoover's moratorium proposal. They will not make it a party issue. The decision was readied at a meeting of the joint house and senate democratic policy committee. Tlie policy committee also decided to make every effort in congress to reduce government expenditures. It reached no decision on a tax program nor from their tariff policies at the meeting today. Garner and Robinson, speaking for the committee, issued the following statement: "There was a partial interchange of views regarding the proposed moratorium, government expenditures. taxation and the tariff' "With respect to I lie morator--1 ium, it was the opinion of the ■ committee tliat the same is not subject matter for party consid- . oration. Democratic members of congress ! are expected to reflect their per- , sonal views and convictions. , "It was agreed that every possible e fort shall be made to reduce ( government expenditures and with I (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) • o Buys Valuable Mare ‘ Louis Sprunser and Ed Ahr have sold a four year old Belgium sorrel mare to Hubert Schmitt f r S4OO • which is probably the best sale of 1 hotse flesh in the county this y?ar. The mare is four years old and ’ 1 oks like the money. She weighs • 1,980 pounds is a handsome animal ; if you ever saw one. Eied Ahr dei livered the mare by truck last even- ■ ing. r o FOUR DEAD IN ASYLUM BLAZE Fire Destroys Hospital At Prince Edward Island Early Today , Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Dee. 15—(U.R) —Fire which drove 320 hysterical, screaming patients of the Falconwood hospital for the insane Into a raging blizzard of snow and sleet early today destroyed the institution and killed four patients. Many others were injured. Black, steaming ruins against a background of snow atood as a grim reminder of a night of hor- , ror. Only heroic work by attendants, aided by some of the minor cases at the hospital, kept the more violent patients in control and prevented a much greater loss of life. Property loss was estimated at ■ between $250,000 and $500,000. The fire broke out before midnight in tlie upper section of the (CONTINUE,D ON PAGE FIVE) Q Famous Band Coming Tommy Tomkins and his Oklahoma cowpunchers who will appear at the Cort theater, Thursday, December 17. will broadcast over WOWO at 11:30 Thursday morning land then motor to Decatur, according to word received here today by Jess Leßrun. Health Bond Is Sold

The Knights of Columbus today bought a $5.00 Health bond from W. Guy Brown, president

1 . CHHUTTAAS . 1 I Z GRfP TINOS .fUtojf’ I Ml

of flip Adams County Tubereul si • I Association.