Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 31, Number 301, Decatur, Adams County, 22 December 1933 — Page 1

■ WEATHER ■vniHtird. probably ■ . north port,on K ( toh'Ut'’- turning K\rww (lurries Sat Krd» w» rnl,r east ■ rJ su-th portions tomsl h< '

IHREE DILLINGER GANGSTERS KILLED

By Series Os Robberies

■0 CITIZENS i Slugged here ILAST EVENING K. Louis Schraeder, AdKan Lenhart Slugged ■ By Prowlers Kenty-seven I DOLLARS TAKEN Ktizens of Decatur were ■ |v aroused Friday after a ■s of depredations WedKay and Thursday nights, Kn at least fifteen houses ■his city were entered, vliKed with brutal attacks on KDecatur residents early ■rsday evening. ■rs. Lois Schraeder, 204 ■th Eleventh street, was ■ r k 0:1 the side of the head and dazed when she surprised ■ prowlers at her home about ■ ovluek Thursday evening, ■drian Lenhart was knocked mi shortly before 9 o'clock ■ night when he went to the coal ■ at the rear of his residence ■t6 South Fifth street. ■rs Schraeder was returning to ■ home and just as she stepped ■ her back porch, a man came ■of the house. Grabbing Mrs. ■teller with one hand, lie struck ■on the side of the head with ■other hand. The elderly lady ■ slightly dazed by the blow but ■ight the man ran back into ■kouse. ■ number of neighbors surround ■ the house, and when Sheriff ■ Johnson. Chief of Police ■hi. and Night Officers Cottrell ■ Miller arrived, they Immed■y searched the residence but ■nee was found of the intru I ■me of the neighbors figured ■ewere two of the intruders, as ■e Instated that lights in the ■e were turned off at about the ■torriNTEn on page three) ■s. LaFontaine I Suffers Injury ■rs. Harvey LaFontaine. matron ■the Adams County Infirmary, ■least of Decatur, suffered an ■ry to three fingers on her left Od Thursday afternoon when the ■ed members were caught in ■ electric sausage grinder. ■rs. LaFontaine was engaged in ■lag the sausage grinder about ■ o'clock Thursday afternoon ■ the accident happened. Three ■rs on her left hand were sever■>t the middle joint. She was ■wed to the 'Adams County Me■>*l Hospital where the injuries dressed. KE TO LOW ITAXONWHISKY — ■use Committee Agrees |To Levy Only $2 A I Gallon In Taxes ■ashington, Dec. 22.—(U.PJ—Th” ■c ways and means committee yf virtually completed drafting ■uor tax bill carrying a levy of [pet gallon on whisky. $5 per ■*l on beer, and low taxes on lies. ■ was estimated the taxes would Bd the federal treasury $500,000,- ■ annually. ■he committee, anxious to get ■ bill through early next session, ■ardec. the plan for sharing lid- ■ revenues with states and indilite measure would not carry Revision for adoption of a trade < gaining policy on liquor imf - These two proposals, it was , ■ e d, would prolong congression- t ■ebate and delay passage of the ■he vote for a whisky tax of $2 ■ gallon or 50 cents per quart ■l3 to 0. The Democrats lined I solidly for the levy and the ■ Republicans voted “present." , she bill calls for a 10-cent a gal- [ tax on still wines of not more 14 Per cent alcoholic volume: ■cent a gallon tax on still wines I" to 21 per cent alcoholic con- ■* ' and 40 cents on wines be21 and 24 per cent, and sparkling wines fONTINUBD ON PAGE THREE)

DECATUR DA nA DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXXI. No. 301.

Safely Home ■ Jfek JIW® J 1’;. V BB K <■ Ijpj Jesse L. Livermore, well-known New York stock market plunger, who, it had been feared was in the bands of kidnapers, returned to his home 24 hours after he was first reported missing. He had spent the time in a New York hotel. SEVERAL BIDS ABE ACCEPTEB County Commissioners Award Contracts For Supplies Thursday The county commissioners awarded several contracts yesterday for : supplies and material required by the highway department and for barn rooting at the Adams County infirmary. The board adjourned in continu- ' ed session until Saturday at which time the stone and gravel bids will be acted on. tabulations being made yesterday. The different quarries submitted a price of 90 cents a ton for stone at the quarry and specified the delivered price at various points in the county. No general contract i is awarded to any one concern, the I blds being placed on file and the commissioners purchasing stone, gravel and screenings as needed during the year. Meshberger Bros., Blue Creek Stone quarry, Lybarger Stone quarry. Erie Stone Co., Somers Gravel Co., and the Plymouth Rock Stone company submitted bids. The Stuckey Cash Coal and Supply Company was awarded the con ! tract for furnishing the galvanized ; sheet iron roofing for the barns at I the county infirmary. Their bid was $928 65. Other bidders who filed proposals were A. R. Ashbaucher Tin Shop. Decatur Lumber I Co., E. A. Girod. Berne Lumber Co. The W. Q. O’Neil Company was awarded the contract for road sewer and pipe culverts needed during the year. W. P. Robinson of this city was awarded the contract for furnish ing posts, railing and bridge plank required by the department. The contract was awarded to him on a combination low bid for all lumber material. Lenhart & Son sub mitted a bid on the material, The contract for tires for trucks *"*<cc>nt7nurd on page stx> Maver Infant Dies ' Thursday Afternoon Harriet Phyllis Mayer, infant daughter of Mr. end Mrs. Arthur Maver of 213 North Third street, died at her home at 3:25 Thursday afternoon. She was born at 7 o clock Thursday morning. Surviving are the parents and two sisters. Dorothy Ellen and Marjorie. and the grandparent M sJohn Mayer of Decatur; Arthur Kaiser of Ohio, and Mrs. Sarah Gauze of Decatur. Funeral services were held at 110 o’clock this afternoon at the home on North Third street, with the Rev c - M - Prugh offll ' lating ' BuriaT was made in the Decatur Bunai removed ; »• «• z ’ m Ll Son mno”' ing.

■late. Natloaal Aat ■ateraatloaal Newt

GOVERNMENT TO BUY SILVER TO RAISE PRICES President Roosevelt Announces New’ Plan To Aid Gold Buying PURPOSE IS TO AID RECOVERY Washington, Dec. 22. (U.R) — A new price lifting plan supplementing its gold operations was adopted by the government today when it offered to buy newly-mined domestic silver for limited coinage. Tlie new plan was announced by President Roosevelt who availed himself last night of part of his wide powers under the Thomas currency inflation amendment to the agricultural recovery act. In an official proclamation the President said he found it necessary to enhance and stabilize the price of i silver to aid recovery and protect . the United States' foreign trade. His plan conditionally opens the mints for the coinage of standard i silver dollars for four years. The dollars will be coined from at least 24.421,410 ounces of silver taken yearly from mines in the United States and its possessions. Only silver mined after yesterday will be coined. Last year’s domestic silver production was approximately 25,000,000 ounces. Miners who take to the mint an ounce of newly-mined silver worth 43 cents on yesterday’s commodity market, will be paid 64% cents for it. ’ The price of 64% cents au ounce *7cONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) O SUBMIT CODES TO ROOSEVELT Construction, Graphic Arts And Newspaper Codes Are Submitted Washington Dec. 22 —(UP)—Administrator Hugh Johnson said he expected to send the construction, graphic arts, and newspaper codes to President Roosevelt today. Johnson said practical agreement had been reached on the codes and he hoped to put them through speedily. The newspaper code still contains the provision for freedom of the press. Johnson, while believing the provision to be superfluous, consented to its insertion at the insistence of the American newspaper publishers association. Johnson has said on several occasions that a code without such a clause would not In the least threaten the traditional American free press because of the guarantees coltaine in the constitution. Johnson said he had asked the heads of the press associations to ■ surnbit a coe.i After some preliminary conver- * * CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) o Correction Made In Estate Report Vance Mattox, administrator of j j the estate of John S. McClain, was not named as a beneficiary In the will, as stated in the article in Tuesday’s Daily Democrat. The estate has not yet been settled and although the inventory sfhows that the residue of the estate is $4,811. it is not known how much money the Adams County Memorial hospital will receive until all money loaned by Mr. McClain is collected. The hospital was named to receive the residue of the estate. * Good Fellows Club Previous total - Mary Rita Smith l I Patty, Betty, Junior and Donald Schmitt Eddie and Bobby * 00 A Good Fellow -■ 6.00 iA Good Fellow J 00 ; i Marlene Thoms ‘ Friends... I B. P. O. lilks Lodge a.OOj I Total * 175 ' 33

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, December 22, 1933.

Decatur Prepares For Christmas; Churches Plan Special Programs

In happy anticipation of Christmas, plans were being made by everybody today for the double holidays Sunday and Monday. Churches announced special programs for Sunday and Christmas day in observance of the greatest , holiday of the year, both in point of spiritual significance and wordly observance. Celebrating the 1833 birth anniversary of the Christ Child and the ' fulfillment of the prophecies of the coming the Savior, church goers looked forward to the happiness which grips the heart and soul of | man on Christmas day. Business will cease entirely. Public offices in the court house, city hall, the postoffice, manufacturing plants, stories, banks, and offices will be closed. Next to the church services, family reunions will predominate in the observance of the day and on Christmas Eve. WOMEN PLEDGE COOPERATION Women Os Indiana Farm Bureau Promise to Use Local Sugar Product W’omen of the Indiana Farm Bureau will assist in every way possible to increase the sale and use of Crystal White sugar, an Indiana product, made by the Central Sugar company of this city. At a meeting held here yesterday, women leaders of the Farm Bureau ; tn r’XHit 20 counties were repre- ■ sented and through t'heir spokesmen pledged to use Crystal White beet sugar and to carry the message of “buy and use Indiana best sugar throughout the state." 1 The cooperation extended in the beet sugar campaign will be done as one of the projects in the women's bureau of the educational department. Harvey Hull, manager of the Indiana Farm Bureau also attended the meeting and spoke on the buy and use Indiana beet sugar. He extended tilie cooperation of the Farm bureau in the effort to have Hoosiers demand and use a product made in their own state, employing at least two million hours of native labor to produce. The women and representatives of the Farm Bureau, including E. J. Fricke, district manager, were guests at dinner of the Central Sug--1 ar Company. The dinner and program was held in the basement of the Christian church. A trip of inspection was made , through the local sugar mill and the women were present when the last pound of the 20,000,000 came | through the factory at the end of the 1933 sugar making campaign. SUES FAMOUS GBAIN TRADER Government Sues Arthur Cutten On Stock Transfer Taxes Chicago, Dec. 22. — (U.R) U. S. j District Attorney Dwight H. Green today filed suit against Arthur W. Cutten, famous grain trader, seeking recovery of $22,310.98 in stock transfer taxes which the government claimed Cutten failed to pay in 1928. The suit is the outgrowth of Cutten's testimony before the senate stock market investigating committee. The suit was filed only two days before the statute of imitations had run on filing the civil action. The statute for criminal action has already expired. The government action claimed J that Cutten acquired on Oct. 14, 1928, 1,130,000 shares of Sinclair I Consolidated Oil Corporation stock [ and that he transferred almost all . | the stock two months later to 14 | individuals without paying the 1 transfer tax. Those to whom the transfer was I made, according to the government suit, were: Frank Tipping, Jr., James J. Griffin, James J. SuIII'(CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

The Dally Democrat will not be ■ published on Clirtetmas day, it be- ■ Inga custom ever since the paper . was established not to print on the • joyful holiday. i This year many families will en- . joy Christmas in a mood and sur- . roundings more pleasant than for ■ several years. Due to the CWA >ork program more than 500 men • have been given job's in this county, > earning funds for the purchase of > food or presents for their families, i It will be a happy Christmas for i many of them. ! i The Good Fellows club will see : that Santa Clause does not miss ■ 1 the needy children and plans were ’ being made today to have Santa ; visit the homee that might otheri wise be forgotten if the Good Feb i lows did not make it possible for ■ i him to do so. The Good Fellows i fund was climbing today, assuring 11 the c.illdren that they would not be ! missed Christmas Eve. ; ♦ Decatur Business Men Extend Season pi Greetings Tonight Through the columns of today’s ' Daily Democrat manufacturers, , I merchants and professional people I wish you a Merry Christmas. There are two sections to today's paper and several pages are filled with cheery greetings to you. The regular Friday grocery and . meat market ads are also published . in the issue, giving the housewife i | every opportunity to make up her ■ i list of eatables tor the Christmas [dinner. Last minute shopping sugI gestions are also listed by advertis11 ers. THREEKILLERS ABEEXECUIEB A Three Men Convicted Os Murder Are Electrocuted In Illinois 1 Chester. 111., Dec. 22. — (U.R) - Three men convicted of murder—--1 one singing a hymn, another protesting his innocence and the third 1 speechless from fright - were put ! to death in the electric chair at state prison here today. Six shocks, reaching a maximum ’ of 2,300 volts, were qecessary to ■ kill Harry Shelby, first of the trio 5 to be executed. He was pronounced dead at 12:31 a. m. John Allen. " 19, Shelby's nephew, was electrof cuted at 12:44 a. tn., and Martin Gray, negro, was pronounced dead ’ at 12:57 a. m. s Shelby and Allen were convicted 1 of the torture-murder of Mrs. Mary » 1 Schrader, 84-year-old widow. She r ' was tortured for five hours and ■ finally killed when she refused to i reveal the hiding place of money lhe men believed she had hidden in i her farm home. I Gray was found guilty of killing I a negro woman, Mrs. Susie Greg- ' ory, during a quarrel over money. I He sat down in the chair, his eyes wide and staring from evident fright. He mumbled a few’ words • which no one understood. The three men were marched (CONTINUED ON PAfIE SIX) o— ■“ Charles Hickman , Released On Bond Charles Hickman, former Decatur : resident, who has neen held in the • Adame county jail since December ■ 11, was freed today when bond of $1,890 was furnished. Hickman, in-1 • dieted on a charge of first degree t rape by the grand jury during the • November, 1932, term, was arrested in Meadville. Pennsylvania, and rei turned to the local jail by Sheriff > Burl Johnson and night officer Ed • Miller. i o I fBUYSHEALTH BOND i[ ■ _— * The Psi lota XI

sorority today! purchased a five dollar health bon d from the Ad-1 'ame C o u n t y f i Tuberculoses I Association W. i Guy Brown,

i Buy Christmas Seals J T Grcehngsj > Fight Tuberculosis

' president, has announced. >

Famtalietf By tail rd I‘rrM

ADAMS COUNTY SELECTED FOR RURAL SURVEY This County Is One Os Nine In State Considered Representative THIRTEEN PERSONS M ILL MAKE SURVEY Indianapolis, Dec. 22. — (U.R) — Selection of nine representative Indiana farm counties which will be surveyed completely in the Federal civil works project to determine lural housing conditions was announced today. They are Noble, Laporte, Pulaski, Benton, Adams, Clinton, Rush, Lawrence and Knox counties. Approximately 18,000 farm homes, 10 per cent of those in the state, will be surveyed. In each county one leader trained in home economics work, one engineer or contractor and 11 enumerators will make the survey. Each farm home will be visited with residents asked to answer a questionnaire of 300 questions. The survey will start as soon as i county organizations can be perfected, according to Miss Leila Gaddis, head of Home Economies Extension at Purdue University, who is state chairman of the survey. Most needed home improvements will be shown so that low cost in- i stallation of such equipment as water systems and bath rooms may be worked out. Explaining purposes of the surI vqy, Miss Gaddis pointed out that i since the federal government lias undertaken a farm relief program, i it is anticipated that farm residents (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) 0 Four Diphtheria Cases Reported Four cases of diphtheria were re- ’ ported in Adams County according to the morbidity report of the Indiana division of public health for the week ending Saturday, December 16. An appreciable decrease was noted this week in the incidence of diphtheria in the state, as compared with the past four or five weeks. o Butterfat Prices Unchanged Today The butterfat market remained at 10 and 12 rente today, prices which have been in effect for a week. The 12 cent price is for delivery at the creamery and 10 cents delivered to station. The hog market also stayed at the three cent price for tops. The egg market was quoted at 10, 12, and 14 cents a dozen, the difference being on grade. 0 RAIL BUSINESS IS INCREASING Survey Shows Heaviest Holiday Passenger Traffic In Years By United Press Return of some measure of prosperity to the nation’s railroads I w’as indicated today in a United: Press survey which revealed the heaviest holiday passenger traffic i since the depression began. The increases ranged from 10 per cent to five times greater 1 cial trains carrying holiday celebrants in and out of the major than last year. Hundreds of specifies were being added to regular train, schedules. Railroad officials believed the large increase was due to greater employment and increased confidence in the future causing people to spend money for things not absolutely essential. Detroit reported a:> increase of five times over last year, the best since 1929. New York and Pittsburgh reported a 50 per cent in- [ crease. Chicago had a 10 per cent j gain. The increase in the Kansas i City district was estimated at one-third. New York, Dec. 22— <U.R) — A 1 TcONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

Price Two Cents

Physician on Trial Ts*- J i : I k i/fI ■ s Dr. N. S. Ferris, of Chevy Chase, Md., who, with Dr. H. R. Street, is on trial at Rockville, Md., on a manslaughter edarge, resulting from the death of Mrs. Cora L. Britton, whom they are alleged to have treated for cancer with a “black salve,” which, prosecution ; charges, was the immediate cause . of Mrs. Britton's dead). MIDDLETON js~ IN TOWN TODAY — Representative of Subsistence Homestead Division Confers Here E. L. Middleton. representative of the Subsistence Homestead division, in charge of the house building project in this city, stated this morning that he hoped construction work would be far enough along to permit home owners to put out gardens next spring. Mr. Middleton stopped in the city for an hour this morning and conferred with Ferd L. Litterer,' local attorney, concerning preliminary steps to be taken regarding the organization of the local corporation. As soon as'the topographic survey is completed, the building of the streets and extending the city water mains to the site will begin. Following the completion of these two jobs the building of the 48 homes will begin. All of the house will be built next year. Many applications have already been received from interested parties. Selection of the occupan s will be made later. Mr. Middleton stated that the A’vira Cade farm at the southeast edge of Deca'ur had practically been decided on as the home building site. It adjoins Decatur, i is within a few hundred feet of a concrete street leading into Deca ur. In all probability it will be annexed to the city and receive Mty facilities, such as fire protection. water and light service. Mr. Middleton spoke in high : terms of the gover m'int’s plans for the sub-division. “Your people will be proud of the place,” he told a Daily Democrat representa-<rnVT-Tvr-rn-> nv p»gw I 0 Nathan Nelson Named Berne Bank Attorney Nathan Nelson, well known Dei catur attorney has been named attorney for the Peoples State Bank Berne. Randolph Schug is liquidating agent for the bank. The appointment was received today, effective December 12. The appointment was made by the Department of Financial Institutions, Indiana banking department. o — Henry C. Miller Dies At Evanston Henry C. Miller, aged about 68, brother of Mrs. James Place and i uncle of M. J. Mylott, died at his home in Evanston, 111, last night after an illness following a nervous breakdown. He visited here frequently in his younger days and will be remembered by many of the older people. He was a successful broker and business man in Chicago for years.

OFFICERS KILL THREE THOUGHT GANG MEMBERS n illirj;er Escapes Trap Set In Theater; Used Apartment As Hideout ONE OF TRAPPED MEN ON PAROLE Chien co, Dec. 22— <U.R) — A special sauad of detectives nuestioned four persons for hours todav in an effort to ’mee the connection of John Dillinger and his canc of Indiana outlaws with three men killed hv police last nicht in a vicious cun battle. Captain John Ste«e, who directed the raid on an apartment in fashionab'e Ropers Park in which lhe men were killed, an ounced that he had learned that the three were Involved in the killing of two policemen last July and In a SIO,OOO holdup in St. Paul. The slain men were identified as Louis Katzwitz, 28; Sam Ginsburg. 33. and Charles Tat'lebaum, 30. Katzwitz and Ginsburg were wanted on bank robbery charges and Tattlebaum was a paroled convict. Police believed that connection of the trio with the St. Paul robbery made it certain that they were working here with the notorious Dillinger gang. St. Paul authorities believe that the holdup there w-as perpetrated by the Chicago ga'.’g of Roger Touhy and tlie Touhy gang was reported earlier this week to have joined forces with Dillinger. Three women and a man were held as an aftermath of the battle last night in which more than 40 i shots were fired. They were Mrs. Harriett Marnier, 26, in whose apartment the shooting occurred; Miss Jeanette Le Noble, sister of Mrs. Manner: Miss Lucille Scher, who arrived at the flat with Miss Noble just after the battle, and Leonard Prizament, 25, brother of Mrs. Marnier. Stege organized the raid on information that Dillinger was using the Marnier apartment as a hlde(CONTtNUFTn ON PAGE TWO* * High School Holds Christmas Program A Christmas program was presented at the Decatur high school by the senior class under the direction of Dean Dorw’in, this afternoon. Gerald Strickler, president of the senior class, presided at the program and the girls trio sang “God Rest You Merry Gentlemen”. The Girls Glee Club sang "O. Holy Night,” and the mixed Glee Clubs sang “Christmas Memories.” A poem, “Christmas Packages” was read by Milton Hoffman, after which Santa Slaus arrive dand delivered gifts to the various teachers and pupils. MANY PROBLEMS FACE CONGRESS Congress Will Convene January 2; Taxation Subject of Dispute Washington, Dec. 22 — (UP) — Congress meets Jan. 2 still under domination of the administration, but confronted with puzzling fiscal, social and legislative problems. Taxation already is the subject of dispute between the White House and powerful ocngresalonal opinion. President Roosevelt has Intervened in House Ways and Meaue committee labors to urge liquor tax levels low enough to permit legal beverages to compete with the bootleggers wars. Powerful congressional support is developing for a soak-the-rich income tax law beyond the limits of administration policy. There is agreement all around, however, on ' revision of the tax laws to prevent Income tax avoidance auch as that legally accomplished by J. P. Morgan and others w’ho testified before the senate stock market committee. There must be some give and take between Congress and the J White House this session. But vetteran legislators predict the presi*7coNTlNUFX> ON PAGE TWO)