Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 30, Number 53, Decatur, Adams County, 2 March 1932 — Page 1

wt IV rATr"* R ■ t:> , ' ■ < K* ,, 1 m >

■ESE BACK ■punoer FIRE I OP artillery Snare For Second D«K* ■ Stand: Hattie Line i j'lj.hi il liiii'kw 3rd -McrATioN ■ is m;i ‘ended 11, i• i r I<li tit ion t ions K, SlmiijilKii iiiiilrr a „ H,., 1,, lire 11 'mu the .l ii)H | ( „|;iv mill n cslahlislimill'" I" tl‘<- ivnr o'liim. nidi i-s ill |V|!i||i mull- armv. priiui()|*|ViiM‘ mill, ili-i larad /!'■ * 1: t roops an K- defense eva. shortly ~H,. spiral Ihreai-nin- ?« ,1 few i I In- I 'hinese K viv siili'tu lii-liiliil f"VI iti ji kili'Hi-’' mill's i 1 ■ around ... liMiii s|iOh.■small foi till’ 1 .■HI- t begin-, .His it... .1 ■'!'■ : Japanese i.tv from nimnlv bast’s anil warshitts there are tin roads to aid I .pokesin;■! the original l..it I It- lino at \V not sim ft OTHERS II KIDNAPED And low a Girl ■Mivsini;; Losses Are S Organized MO. Ma: (U.PJ Police .it: l iiiin■ ■■ search today |P r "-‘I” "l "I" is that James l-year-iilil ..nil of a prone Trumlr.i unity contractor ■ Mnapefl as he was on his H lO sehool. wa li his sister. P l -' *fre l • hat James |P* , *i' i!s *1" walked along the P" “"'I »'«* whisked away in a roa d«t< l r The ear disap■N in ’'in dir. i tinn of Warren,j ■ » >ai(l. Tim license number H I obtained. ■ »li"'saiil tw„ men were in the ■ l ’ (ar o, n jumped out of the ■ “''it- as it (in,vo up to the curb ■ grabbed Jan,os by the collar. ■ tussled Inn was pulled into , ■ : "* t!llne wliiili whirled away, 1 ■ linden avenue, one of the ® residential streets in Niles. ~ ,is,er r; tn borne where slie if story. Her story was court by a woman who lives on ave " U(l mid said she saw I ""inaping. °liie described the boy as four “half feet (all with dark hair con 'Plg*ioned. He was b i,* ealber coat, trimmed collar. He wore ON PAGE SIX) oll| d Members Named i, (i ' co, >f'<'il. in session last F Fic^ 1 MlS ' D ' i! ' Krwin and *tur Pff 38 member s- of the . ary board'i. L ' brary board - The aon 1T " w <om Posed of seven Dinted . ,° f ,he tnem/ers are 1 circuh the JUdgß 0f the A(| - ,01 C r t; two Ij y tl, e Areorpa. aiU • tW ° by thc coun * c lf<l m\ U rr meetinK of the t i Mr "'’ * heM in the near fu- ’ 1 Etiin«er nS . erS Uncle ' - he late ' bier» ’ * as , one ot l . h « «r»t * led a truai * h O31 * 1 - Hp was i I built whtn the library t \ ■

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT O N L V I) AI L Y N E WSPAPER IN ADAMS ((MIN T Y

Vol. XXX. No. 5.1.

Tights Smoke Evil , * ’ ' - W. A. Gill (left). United iitates Public Service engineer, explains to C. A. Donnel, Chicago's weather i man, the apparatus he is using to determine what part of the sun's | ultra-violet rays are screened from 1 large cities by impurities in the] I air. He is making the test in tew ! cities bv orders of Congress. CITY CONTRACT IS SURRENDERED f.eorge Drown, Collector Os Garbage Refuses To Continue Work George Brown, eilv garbage! collector has surrendered his con-| tract and stopped gathering gar-; bage on March 1. the council was notified last night. Mr Brown took the contract ’ last Septi mber at s27ii a year. \ few weeks later he tried to cancel the contract, stating that lie was losing money. He could not oh-| tain a surety bond and the councilj ! would not accept a personal bond 1 He was notified to carry out bis! j contract. Uisl Monday Mr. Brown notified George Appleman. chairman of the judiciary committee, that j he would not gather the garbage after March 1. He surrendered his contract. The matter was discussed and left in the hands of the committ-e and City Attorney .1, Fred Fnichte. Blown will be conferred with and an agreement of some kind tnav be reached. Brown is not a property owner and tile cilv attorneyholds that it would he useless for the city to sue him on contract. Brown's bid was several hun(t'ONTlNrKli ON PAGE FIVE) ROBERT PORTER TO LEAD CAST South Ward, Riley Play To Be Presented Thursday Nijrht At I). H. S. \ Robert Porter will impersonate George Washington in the three act musical playlet for the young. “When Betsy Ross Made Old Glory,” which will be presented by the pupils of the South Ward and the Riley schools, in the Decatur high school auditorium. Thursday night at 7:30 o'clock. Other principal characters in thf playlet will He as follows: Martha Washington Dixie Miller Colonel Ross Robert Baxter Betsy Kathleen Foreman Robert Morris Robert Bgtey Cuptain Anderson Robert Kicho.-n (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) To Attend Observance All local members of the Knights i of Pythias lodge who desire to at- ' tend the observance at Bluffton I Thursday night of the fortieth anni- I versary of the Bluffton Rotate are i asked to meet at the local K. of P. Home Thursday night between .6:3d i and 6:45 o’clock. Transportation < will be furnished. !

Stslr, Nniliinni Ami I Mir ■ Mill ionn | \r»»

•EXTRA TICKETS ! FOR DEMOCRAT i MEET ORDERED —— l Date Change Announced In All Counties; Plans For Net Proceed BIG CROWD IS EXPECTED | x Throe hundred additional tickets for the Democratic banquet and rally to be held here Monday night, March 14. I were ordered today by the ticket committee and indications now point to a crowd of lat least 750 people. The ticket committee has I asked that it be announcedj that the banquet and meeting, are for both men ami women. Several of the candidates for various I state offices are bringing their wives with them to the meeting. All ticket sellers were notified ■ today of the change in date for the i'ig event and were asked to telj | all who purchased tickets bearing the first date to note the change to 1 j Monday. March 14. Adtfms county Democrats are l urged to secure their tickets this > I | week because all unsold tickets will 1 he taken to Fort Wayne next MonI day. More than 100 tickets al- j I ready have been sold in Fort! Wayne and word was sent to J. L. | Khler, ticket committee chairman, there were demands for 125 more. Chris Eic-her stated today that j he had secured a 50-foot hickory j pole for the pole-raising which will I precede the banquet. County Chairman Ed A. Hosse announced lhat ;he had received letters verifying iihe change in date to March 14 ] I from state candidates and that . they would attend. The banquet will start at 6:00 I o'clock in the various lodge halls i and churches and the speaking will | start promptly at S o’clock at i Catholic high school auditorium, I 1 where seating arrangements are being made for about SOD people. WORKINGERON TRIAL TODAY Charged With Receiving Stolen Goods; Witnesses Are Summoned • The trial of William Workinger, charged with receiving stolen chickens, opened in Adams circuit court today before a jury with Judge D. li. Erwin presiding. Workinger is charged with buying stolen chickens from several Adams county young men last October. It is thought the defense will be that the man did not know the chickens were stolen. The jury was sworn in after a shov 6 questioning and witnesses; were called. It is believed the case will last a day apd a half. Workinger also laces a charge of operating a poultry business withniH a !i---(CONTINUBD ON CAGE THREE) Judge Names Three Members of the Decatur public board appointed by Judge Dore B. Erwtjn of the Adams today were. Martin Worth man, Mrs. < John Niblick and Mrs. (’. D. Rewton. i Mr. Worthman was named for the t on» year term, Mrs. Rewton for two ( years and Mrs. Niblick for three i yea s. Mrs. Niblick has been a t member of the board since it wa» < organized. 1 o . Third Sermon Delivered , i The Rev. Father Carl Holsinger , assistant pastor of St. Peter's Cath- t olic church, Fort Wayne, delivered f the third of hi.s series of RentPn f sermons at the St. Mary's Catholic church last evening. r Father Holsinger used for his y text the words of St. Paul to the t Corinthians, chapter 13-12, “But i a then shall know even as 1 am r known.” It was an interesting and inspiring discourse. Rev. Father J. J. Hennes, recited c the litany and gave the benediction t of the blessed sacrament in connec- a tion with the service. s

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, March 2, 11K12.

♦ ♦ Kidnaping of Famous Baby Rocalls Others ♦ <u.« ♦ Previous to (lie kidnaping of the world's most famous baby, (lo> I' son of Charles and Mrs. Anne 11 l.indhergh. the kidnaping of Char- ! les Rosh wus considered unequall- | od in news Interest. J That kidnaping, recorded July 1. ' 1(174. to this duy has remained unsolved. Charley lloss was the 4-year-old son of n Philadelphia merchant. He was taken from the lawn of his home in Germantown, Pa. 1 1 Charles and an older 1/rother, ! Walter, were lured into a buggy by two men A few blocks from tlie* home Walter was sent into a store to make a purchase. When he returned the buggy with its three ocenpants had disappeared. The ease lias become almost an American lpgend. Thousands of dollars was spent in seeking Charj ley Ross. Many worthless cities were followed. Even today per- - sons appear. claiming to he ! Charley Ross. Tfie abduction of little Edward Cudahy, son of Edward A. Cudahy, wealthy Omaha meat packer, on December 18, 1900, stirred the nation. Payment of $25,000 ransom brought the safe return of the child. Several years later Pat Crowe. (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) BIDDLE, MARTZ ARESENTENCED Two Who Confessed To Focal Hold-up Get 10 Years In Prison ~ „./•» Charles Biddle, 36. of Fort Wayne, was sentenced to 10 years in the Indiana Slate prison at Michigan City, and Roy .Vlartz, 22. also of Fort Wayne, was sentenced to 10 years at th ? State Reformatory at Pendleton on charges of auto banditry, late Tuesday. The case was tried in the Alien comity circuit court. The men have been i held in the Allen county jail since their arrest last Wednesday morning. The third man implicated in the charge. Kenneth Arnold, 20. of j Fort Wayne, was not tried Tuesday. His case was continued and i will be set for trial in the near future. Riddle and Martz will bo tak°n immediately to the prison and reformatory. it was announced by the Allen county deputy sheriff, this morning. The three men have confess'd to 15 major crimes, including larceny and auto banditry. Bid-lie and Martz were recently identified as the two who held up r he Wertzberger confectionary in this city on Tuesday. February 23, and confessed to the crime. They al<o confessed to stealing four new (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) LOWER RATES TO BE ASKED Lions Club Will Lead Scrap For Lower Gas Rates For Decatur Members of the Decatur Rions . club, at the regular weekly meet- i ing Tuesday night decided to start action for lower gas rates in De- i catur. A committee was named i and plans .ware being made today to circulate > petition which later will be presented to the public ser- J vice commission. President Harry Knapp appointed a committee of three including C.R. Walters, Dr. H. Frohnapfel and A ’ti- ’ Scheumann. The committee will make preliminary preparations for the petition and will gather data such as rates from neighboring towns and cities. Quick action was asked by club members when the matter was voted on, and it is believed that the petition will be circulated soon and filed at Indianapolis with the rate governing body. Sunderman Speaks Rev. M. W. Sunderman, pastor of the First Ijvaugelical church of i this city was the principal speaker ■ at the meeting Tuesday night. His subject was “Men.” I

CONGRESS MAY : PASS DRASTIC KIDNAP LAWS| i One Bill Is Reported Out; Other Actions Are Promised Soon PRESIDENT GIVES ORDER 1 Washington, Mar. 2. — <u.R), 1 —Demands for prorrtpt action by congress on hills empowerr ing the federal government to act in kidnaping cases were made in both the senate and ' house today by speakers who called attention to the Lindbergh baby abduction. 1 Senator Barbour, Republi- ' can, N. J., who succeeded the “ late Dwight W. Marrow, spake from the senate floor while RepreI sentative Seger, Republican. N. J.. - made 4 similar plea from the floor , of the house. ‘ The house post office committee - acted promptly today on a mens- » ure aimed at kidnapers, reporting out the bill of Representative Coch- ■ ran, Democrat, Missouri, which fixes a penalty of live to 20 years in jail and $5,000 fine for sending threatening, blackmail or kidnaping letters through the mail. Soon after the post office committee acted. Chairman Mead form- | ally reported the action to the I house. The nation was called upon to awake and throw off the rule of a , “super government" of criminals by Chairman Sumners of the house judiciary committee in a ringing speed) on the floor of the house. Barbour said the crime of kidnaping was more heinous than 1 murder. He invited the senate to consider the "ghastly tragedy” which had befallen the 1 indherglis in the form of "the dastardly and cowardly kidnaping of their baby from its cradle.” "1 am sure the hearts of the nation go out to this honored family as do the hearts of New Jersey,” (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX* ORGANIZATION IS POSTPONED Homo Defenders League Meeting Cancelled; To Organize Later The organization of a local unit of the Home Defendeis Reagtie of Indiana, was postpon'd this afternoon. J. F. Denney of Portland, was here and met with several farmers in the corridor of the court house and decided to postpone the meeting until a later date. The court room was In use this afternoon and therefore could not lie used for a meeting place. Not all of the townships were represented at the preliminary gathering this afternoon and no date was fixad for the organization meeting. Mr. Denney informed those present tbat he would return to Deca- , tur anytime those interested in 1 completing a unit o: the Home De- j fenders Reague desired to do so. A mass meeting was called last Saturday afternoon attended by several hundred persons who list- 1 ened to Mr. Denney e/ lain the purposed league and today set as the 1 time to elect officers and, secure I members. , Hoffman’s Trial Is Postponed Until April 1 Fort Wayne. Mar. 2.—Trial of i Walter Hoffman, 38, on a firstdegree murder indictment accus- < ing him of slaying his mother, Mrs. ( Elizabeth Hoffman, was advanced s from April 12 to April 19 in cir- | cuit court yesterday. f This action was taken, it was 1 said, because it was discovered, 1 that the court may be in vacation at the time of the trial as first scheduled. The trial is slated to be hold before a jury. Correspondingly, Hoffman s trial r on an indictment charging him i with murdering his father. Martin c Hoffman, was continued from e April 14 to April 21. t I

I lit I aitrvl l*r«*an

(Jets 11 Years for Poisoning’ Nephew f » ur i RPPSir ■ Mrs. Margaret Hummers of Chicago, called the'poison widow’, was found guilty Monday night of the murder of her 17-year-old nephew, Thomas Meyer.* Her sentence was fixed at fourteen years' imprisonment. MISS MARTIN GIVES ADDRESS State Club Leader Is Speaker At leaders’ Meeting Here Today Miss Meta fc. Martin, assistant state leader of home demonstration and ek>;'ring specialist from Purdue University, had charge of the | first project lesson for all Home Ki oiiuiraU s clul, leaders of Adams j County at the Ribiary Hall, today. Miss Martin talked during the afternoon session on "Synthetic Fabrics, or man-made fabrics.” She discussed the manufacturing of the synthetic materials, found in readymade clothes and in yard goods, told of their characteristics, how they are like,silk. and how they diifer from real silk. She explained their use, rare, handling, and presented a demonstration on home tests to differentiate between synthetic and real silks. The burning test was explained to the leaders. Miss Martin explained that weighted silks are njt synthetic silks. A short demonstration was also held on spring scarfs, either to brighten up an old suit or coat, or to add distinction 10 a new garment. Miss Martin explained how attractive scarfs may he made on. of tit w or old tali. ies. This was the first project lesson of five scheduled for the year's work, and was open to the public. (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) FENNIG GETS PRISON TERM Youthful Robber (Jets One To 10-Year Sentence For Thefts Ryle Fennig who yesterday fessed to a number of robberies in Adams county pleaded guilty to a charge of entering a building with intent to commit a felony wiien ar- . raigned before Judge D. B. Erwin. ; Fennig was sentenced to from 1 1 to 10 years in the state reformatory and disfranchised tor a period of five years. Fennig will be taken to 1 the state institution at once by Sheriff Burl Johnson. Fennig Is a member of the gang 1 of young bandits who have been 1 committing a number of robberies 1 and holdups in nmllftrn Indiana. He formerly lived at Geneva but for the last year or two has resided at Fort Wayne, where he was arrested Monday night. , o Father Seimctz 11l The Rev. Father J. A. Seimetz, t pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic church in confined to his home on account ■ of illness. IHis condition was report- 1 ed to he u little better today. He I took ill last Monday. 1

Price Two Cento

Petition Is Refused r Tin on public safety lof the city council refused the request of (lie Erie riillroad (o re- ! move the watchman at the Winchester street crossing and included in its report the Nickel Plate and Pennsylvania railroads. The report was made by Joe Hunter, chairman of (lie committee. Several weeks ago Attorney J. ('. Sutton appeared before the council and asked that the counj ell permit the removal of the I watchman at the Erie crossing. I Tile railroad maintains the flasher | signals at this crossing. They are I located on an island foundation | in the center of the street. FAMOUS BABY IS QUIET TYPE Rosumc of Short Life of Lindbergh Babe Is Recounted By U. P. Englewood, N. J.. Mar. 2 —(U.R> — ■ Ariivul of the blue eyed 7 4-5 pound Rindbergh baby on the birthday anniversary of his mother here June 22. 1930, caused more worldwide newspaper comment than any other birth on the North American continent. No royal child, for whose arrival a nation wailed with anxious interest, ever attracted more public speculation before its birth or j was watched more closely ulterI ward. Would it be a hoy or a girl ? Would he be a flier like his father? Numerologists. astrologers, and others wrote articles on the subject. But despite all tlie ceaseless, 24-hour vigil by newspaper men at the Morrow estate, the new» papers did not learn of tlifbfTth ! until several hours after young j Charles Augustus. Jr., uttered his j first lusty howls. He wasn’t Charles Augustus, Jr . then —and that led to another wave of newspaper speculation. What would his famous parents name their first born. The baby's first picture — his (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIXi POLICE AUTO IS PETITIONED Council Votes To Indefinitely Table Matter of Police Wagon A petition signed by 108 citizens asking that police patrol auto be provided the city police force was filed with the council last evening. The petition was presented by Attorney H. R. MeClenahan. It was signed by C. J. Carrol! and 107 other residents, including a number of business men. No action was taken on the petition and the matter was tallied indefinitely. One of the council- ! men stated that the city did tfot have an appropriation for such ' j equipment. Petitions for a street light on ' First street between Adams and ■ Jefferson streets and one in the alley back of the Metschler meat 1 market were filed and referred to 1 tlie electric light committee. The finance committee reported 1 that it had examined the reports of ' city plant and of the city clerk and that they were correct and should be approved. I The purchasing committee report- , ed that it had employed Dick Boeh as engineer to prepare plans and specifications lor the Acker side- ( walk and curb on Walnut street. An extension of the electric light * department's telephone from the | first to the second floor of the city ( building and the installing of a new , telephone on the second floor of the building was ordered by the council. Will Assume Duties R. R. 'Hotchkiss of St. Rouis Mo., 1 will assume his new duties as exe- ' cutive of the Anthony Wayne Area 1 council o: the Boy Scouts of Ameri- 1 ca, March 15. He will succeed Joint 1 R. Anguish who resigned his post 1 to eixter business. C. R. Danielson, who has been 1 serving as acting executive .since ’ the resignation of Mr. Anguish, has 1 been appointed assistant scout ' executive.

YOLR HOMF. PAPER—LIKE ONI OP THE FAMILY

NATION-WIDE HUNT STARTS: 1 CLUES LACKING State Police And Others Join Search For Stolen Lindbergh Child DEEP INTEREST IS MANIFESTED BULLETIN Hopewell, N. J.. Mar. 2— (U.R) —Feeling that the “main thing is to get the baby back” Col. Charles A. Lindbergh was preparing today to pay to the kidnapers of his 20-months c!d son, Charles A., Jr., $50,000 if he can get in touch with them, police advised this course. There were' reports that thletter, left in the babies’ crib threatened the child with harm if the ransom demands were not met. Meantime, two occurrences with possible significance took place. First, a mysterious plane this afternoon flew over the Lindbergh estate and dropped a streamer with a weight attached. It appeared to be a strip of canvas, and watchers suspected it might contain a note either from the kidnapers. or from air searchers. Second, a post card to "Charles Lindbergh, Princeton, N. J.” was found in a mail box at Newark this afternoon, with the tollowmg unsigned pencil message: • "Baby safe. Instructions later. Act accordingly." Hopewell. N. J. Mar. 2. - (U.R) - Charles Augustus Lindbergh. Jr., bine-eyed and fair haired 2u months old child ot Col. and Mrs. Rindbergh, is held today for $50,00(1 ransom. Seized in his crib last night as he lay slumbering and ill of a cold, the baby was taken away by kidnapers, one of whom it is believed to he a woman. With cold daring, the actual kidnapers crept up a short sectional ladder into tlie second floor nursery sometime between 7:30 and 10 p. m. last night, took the child down the ladder, and left behind the ransom demand. This note, demanding the $50,000 for the child's freedom was rcpoiTed to have said in substance: "We will be ha'( k tomorrow (Wednesday) .to talk business. Don’t talk to the police or the papers." Rindbergh. grim and reticent, aided in searching for the kidnapers, and was represented as ready personally to enter direct negotiations for the child's return. Meantime, the kidnaping created a world-wid? sensation. Literally thousands of police and state troopers were put on alarm guard, watching highways, and state and national boundary lines. Over the teletype wires of theeastern states and up along the Canadian border flashed word that, one of tlie nation's most famous babies had been stolen. Tlie kidnapers apparently bad not realized the furore and resentment their deed would cause. Police everywhere went to work with a will to come up w ith the kidnapers. while Gov. A. Harry Moore of New Jersey offered a $10,600 reward, and Hie federal departments of justice, commerce and treasury in Washington, offered to do all within their power to track down, the criminals. Aviators from many parts of the country offered their services, and an air comrade was sent aloft this morning to see if front the skies he could see anything along the roadways of value to the search. The commerce department was ready also to help with pilots. Col. Lindbergh worn by the anxiety of his predicament, worked side by side with the state police. During the night he helped te trace down tracks on his property in the fastnesses of the Sourlatul mountains. During the forenoon, he went on a mysterious errand with Lieut. John Keaton of the New Jersey state police. They sped away in a fast car, and came hack a couple hours later on foot through the woods. Rumor had it that they had visited Flagtown where a group ot suspected boot(CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)