Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 33, Number 2, Decatur, Adams County, 2 January 1935 — Page 1

WEATHER Fair and warmer tonight; Thursday partly cloudy.

BRUNO HAUPTMANN ON TRIAL

Auto Accidents Lead Tragedies Over New Year’s 1 u . ecorded Deaths In Nation Total 124; Traffic Accidents Take Toll Os 60 Lives; Fires Claim 12 Victims; Slippery Streets And Zero Weather In Midwest Contribute To Many Wrecks; Nine > Persons Commit Suicide And Nine Are Shot.

*'opyright 1934 by United Press! Traffic accidents, fires, < lootings and suicides led -fie list of New Year latalimjs. a nationwide survey re- ‘ »led today. Recor <1 e<l due to accident or totalled 121. xAuto fatalities, the greatest tailed 60, fires 12, suicides shootings 9. train accidents m alcohol 2; frozen to death, 1; scella neous 21. WlSllppery streets, zero weather the midwest and the usual holiday combined to ■ count for approximately half ■ » deaths. juFive aged inmates of the ('heroHe county homo at Gaffney, s < frisked when the Institution [ ;rned. Four persons died in El 1 iso. Tex., when an overheated exploded. Mln New York, two aged women tjare burned to death. Mjs. Anna M Dunne fainted and fell over a fcjove as she was cooking dinner. rs. Mary McCrystal.a 70-year old ipple was unable to escape when heating lamp ignited bed clothg. women perished when a is tube to a stove in their Ebzai th. N. J., home was disconneet- | accidentally. * Two unusual accidents took one e each. Blair Schuman. 35, San -anclseo attorney, was found jzen on a bleak summit of a fountain. He had hit a tree while j iing. At Easton, Pa., Charles I jdomon, 47, died of suffocation Vuler a slide of clay at a rock arry. An airplane crashed nt Fayette, a., killing Cecil Grant, 47. pilot, ■XJNTINVHD ON PAGE FIVE) “ONGRESSWIIL MEET THURSDAY □employment. Bonus Issues Chief Problems Facing Solons » Washington, Jan. 2—(UP) — House Democrats today selected repreeentetive Jo-eph Byrns ' speaker of the 74th congress. The party caucus voted unanimously for Byrns. Representative Edward T. Taylor, Colorado, was elected chairman of the caucus, succeeding representative Clarence Lea, Calif., who held that pest last session. Byrns succeet’r the late Henry T. Rainey, Democrat, Illinois, | and will be formally inducted at opening of congress tomorrow. Washington, Jan. 2.—<U.R)~Presint Roosevelt has prepared for e first new deal congress which nvenes at noon tomorrow a messe of reassurance that the nation emerging from unprecedented cial and economic depression. , Unemployment is the foremost ministration concern as congressan gather. Bound up in the plight j t> the jobless are problems of rest, tagging industrial activity. I leral spending and, in general, a '[turn to normal living conditions. Controversy, cliques and issues |!‘<rs cross the majorities by which , ~,e Democratic party controls the “ use and senate. Democrats have CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE' I 0 _ lid-Week Service At M. E. Church 11 The mid-week tservl.es will be anmed at the local Metho list Jiaocpal Chur h tonight at 7 < clock. The pastor , Rev. H. R. Carfl will bring a special mewage for i embers of the official board. The i monthly meeting will follow , the close of the service.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXXIII. No. Two.

COUNCIL HOLDS * FIRST MEETING New City Council Meets With Mayor Holthouse Presiding The new city council hold its first meeting Tuesday evening, all of the councilmen being present and Mayor A. R. Holthouse, presiding. Councilmen who assumed their cffle were: Herman illig, Andrew Ap’elman. Albert Miller. George Stults. Forest Elzey, the I ter being the Republican member of the body. ’ Minutes of the previous meet-[ ing were read by Mrs. Ada Martin, clerk and approved. The bonds of Mrs. Martin in the amount of $5,000 for the Barrett, law funds and $25,000 for other city funds, were tiled and approved. Surety bonds were furnished. Appointments made by the mayor and oaths of office of the appointees were filed and approved. The appointments include departmvsital heads and civil city officials. Officials of the civil city as appointed by Mayor Holthouse are: Herman H, Myers, city attorney: Seplius Melchi, chief of police; Charles Robenold, fire chief; i Ralph Roop, street and civil works j commissioner: Dr. Robert Daniels, Dr. Gerald Kohne, Mrs. Paul Graham. members of city health board; Ed Miller, Grover Cottrell, Floyd Hunter, policemen; Jack Friedt, Joe Kortenber, Roy Steele, firemen at tlie engine house. Departmental heads of the city plant are M. J. Mylott. of the light and power department; Charles Brodbeck, maanager of water deportment; Andy Foos, plant engineer. I No committee reports were made ! (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) _ o Elks Lodge To Meet Tonight The first 1935 meeting of the B. P. O. Elks lodge will be held at the home or. North Second street tonight at Bo’clo. k. All members are urged to be present. DEATH CLAIMS ANNA B. FOOR — Mother Os Decatur Woman Dies At Ohio City This Morning Mrs. Antia B. Foor, 71, widow of the late William J. Foor and mother of Mrs. John Spahr of this city, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fred Akorn, Ohio City, Ohio, with whom she had made her home, Tuesday night, shortly afiter midnight. Death was due to complications. Mrs. Foor became ill suddenly ' Saturday. She was a member of , the Bethel United Brethren church for many years and had spent practically her entire life in Will- , shire township. Van Wert county. Ohio. Mrs. Foor visited in this city ■ frequently with her daughter. Surviving are the following daughters and a son: Mrs. John; Spahr, Decatur; Miss Agnes Foor, at home; Mrs. Fred A.kom of Ohio City. Ohio: Mrs. Chari Stover, of Rockford, Ohio; Mrs. Bernie Brubaker. Van Wert, Ohio; Mrs. Wai- • ter St'haadt of Fostoria. Ohio; Mrs. Vance Cribbs of Middletown. Ohio; Dr. Clifford O. Foor of Hills- ' boro, Ohio. A sister, Miss Olga < Cunningham of Middletown. Ohio, i also survives. Funeral arrangements have not i been completed. >

Goes On Trial For Murder . .safe i J W * A ' iSi < ■ M W WBruno Richard Hauntmann went on trial this morning, charged with the minder of the infant son of Col. Charles A. Lindbergh. Selection of a jury is expected t<- occupy the balance of this week, with presentation of evidence scheduled to start early next week.

Ralph Bentz To Fight Dismissal _— City attorney Herman H. Myers 1 has been notified that on attempt will be made to re-instate Ralph Bentz a.s a member of the regular fire ei ■ rtment. Bentz formerly drove one of the fire trucks. Mr. Bentz was notified by Mayor llulthoiise that “hie .services would net be required on and alter JanI nary 1. 1935" Frank 11. Vernor, at- ; tornev of Fort Wayn >. n tified local official; that Mr. Bentz was discharged without a proper he'ring, • iting several sections of Indiana 'aw pertaining to the dismissal of firemen. The new law gives power to t e mayor to make all appointments. Jos ph Kortenber has been named a member of the regul r depart- . ment and began his services yesterd:,y - EXPLAIN PLANS FOR CONTRACTS — Sugar Beet Growers And Officials Hold Meeting Here Today Forty county agents, agriculture! department representatives, direc- ; tors of extension departments of < Ohio and Indiana universities, ami field men and directors of the Cen-, tral Beet Gr wers Association met in the Mayor’s office in the city hell building today The purpose of the meeting was j to explain the plans for carryingl out the agriculture department’s! contn t f:r sugar beet growers! in the territory served by the Central Sugar company of this city. i The county agents are planning to begin educational meetings over the territory to exipltin the new contracts to the growers. These meet- j ings will be announced later. The first benefit payment to. growers who sign and comply with the government’s contract will 'be ; one dollar n ton. An a’ditional payment based on the parity price will be paid later. This will amount to t least 25 cents a ton and may go as high a>s 75 cents a ton for the beets produced under the contract.; Among those who attended the meeting tod.iy are: Clarence Oviatt, Lansing, Michigan representing the' eastern eugar beet district; John Sliffer, extension department. Ohio state university; E. W. Busche, i (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) o Berne Woman Has Sleeping Sickness Mrs. Victor Stucky of Berne Is ill at her home with sleeiplng sickness.! Mrs. Stucky became ill about a week ago with pneumonia. Her condition became worse and the dis-p e .»e was pronounced sleeping sick- ; ness by a specialist from Fort i Wayne Tuesday. Mrs. Stucky re-■ mains unconscious. Mr. Stucky is ' manager of the Berne Equity.

ON L Y DAIL Y NEW SPA PER IN A DAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, January 2, 1935.

BLUFFTON MAN DIES SUDDENLY Dictator Os Bluffton Moose Lodge Dies Os Heart Attack Reason Franklin McCormi' k, 56, dictator of the Bluffton Moose I lodge, died suddenly at hi-s home at 6:39 (.’clock Tuesday evening of a heart >.tttaik. Mr. McCormick was an employe of the Wells county highw y department. He was born in Wells county, April 1, 1878, a son of Abraham and Ennia Flowers-MoC’ormick. He was married to Carrie Snow in Adams County on January 15. 1899. Surviving besides the widow, are the father, a son. How rl McCormick of Blufft n. three grandchildren and a brother and sister. Funeral eervi - es will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock at tlie I CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

. Mayor Holthouse Reads Message To City Council Discusses City Plant; Hopes City’s Tax Levy Can Be Absorbed By Utility; Urges Estab’ishment Os Municipal Parking Lot. lirproved Street Lighting System; Advocates Training Os Firemen And Po’icemen; Suggests FERA Public Works Program; Asks Cooperation Os Public In Beautification Os Parks And City Building. Mayor Holthouse read the following message to the council at the first meeting of the couneilmanic

body he'd at the city hall ' I My Fellow Co-Workers: — Mingled with my wish for your happiness and prosperity, I hope : the New Year brings you an abundance of pleasures derived from I rendering worthy public service. It is a pleasure to greet you on this occasion and on behalf of the ; Democratic members of this administration, I wish to welcome our Republican member of the ‘ Council. We are also happy to have our new Clerk-Treasurer with us. I am sure we shall find both helpful and able co-workers. We assume office at a time, likely to be referred to as the period when the Nation definitely and determinedly began a new era. Faith and hope has been restored to the human heart and experience has 'taught us the advantages and • blessings of organized, peaceful ; government. Although our memor- : ies may be fresh with the hardships and uncertainties of the past, we have every right to believe that we stand at the threshold of a brighter sunrise. The indomitable American-splrit always conquers In the end any obstacle that looms gravfe because, first, as a people we believe In the old maxim of united cooperation in time of crisis. Our duties also begin at a time when the public expects more from Government and insists on paying

SENTIMENT FOR SALES TAX IN INDIANA CROWS Three Per Cent General Sales Tax Proposal Is Suggested MANY LEGISLATORS FAVOR SALES TAX Indianapolis, Jan. 2.-- (U.R) — R’*-1 placement of the gross income tax ' with a three per cent sales tax. a new $1.50 tax law and proposed changes in tangibles assessments catne before the governor's tax study committee at its third prelegislature meeting today. The committee of 22 members . representing various forms of bus-1 iness and labor interests, was nam- j ed by Gov. Paul V. McNutt, several , weeks ago to draft recommendations for tax legislation to be presented at the 1935 general assemb-1 ly which meets here Jan. 10. Already on record in favor of; lifting tax exemptions on millions j 'of dollars in religious, fraternal and charitable property, the committee today was expected to devote most of its session to the proposed sales tax. ■ Replacement of the gross income

tax with a tax similar to that which will go into effect in Ohio 1 this month has gained considerable favor among legislators recently. The sales tax is proposed by the ■ Associated Retailers of Indiana j (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) o__... 0 __... Mrs. Samuel Houk Dies Tuesday Noon Mrs. Dell Houk, 86. widow of! Samuel Houk, died at her h .me.in Madison townsl ip. Allen courfty, Tuesday noon following a eh rt ill-! nes.s. Deatli wan due to a heart dis- * oj.se. j Mrs. Houk had many relatives : and friends in Adams county. She I : was born in Woost r, Ohio, January 5, 1849. Surviving are three sons, Louis Houck, Charles Houk nd William R. Hcuk. all of Mudison township. Funeral services will- be held Thursday afterno n at 1:3“ o'clock at the home, just a, ross the Allen ; county line, and at 2 o'clo k at the Antioch Luther n church. Rev. R. H- Trojan will offic'nte and burial will be in the c'.iurch cemetery.

Tuesday evening: less. Budgets have been reduced > to the minimum and' in our own case the cost of all agencies of ' j local Government totals less than $.30,000.00 yearly. The paradox is 1 solvable only, by public officials giving two dollar’s worth of ser1 vice, where formerly one dollar’s “ worth would suffice. Our task should be pleasant I however, for the greatest of pleas- ' I ure comes in seeing things created II or bringing an ideal to attainment. 1 The job should not be difficult for we already have a solid foundation. The past administration ami those proceeding it have builded 1 well. Today. Decatur stands as a ' naragon among Indiana communities and our endeavor should lie ' ' i to keep it there. 1 i The spirit of our citizenry urges 1 Jus to continue to build. We should devote our thoughts and efforts to i ' striving at all times to accomplish constructive community projects, those of the greatest public good. It is our responsibility. Permit me to direct your attention to the following: — Power Plant The Municipal plant is one of I' the city’s greatest physical assets. | Patrons and taxpayers have al-' ready received many benefits from it. The reserve depreciation fund I 1 (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) 1

Alleged Killer Os Lindbergh’s Infant On Trial

Col. Lindbergh Attends Opening Session This Morning DEATH IN CHAIR ON CONVICTION Flemington. N. J., .Inn. 2 (U.R) Bruno Richard Hauplj mann. pallid, thin-laced, anti I tight-lipped, came to trial toI day charged with the murder iof the infant son of Col. Charles A. Lindbergh. He comes, heavilv shackl- |' d and close'v guarded, to s : » with a bewildered expresI -don in his mild blue eyes to hear ' himself described as the bru'al maraudei who, on March 1 1932, climbed into the nursery of the Lindbergh home, stole Charles A. Lindbergh. Jr., from his crib, and killed him in a lonely road in the Sourlands Mountains. His normally stocky frame looks I wasted from his weeks of imnris- ; onment. Yet if there was within I h's mind tlie slightest fear of con-, Eviction and the electric chair,; ; there was no betrayal of it in his I 'demeanor. His attorneys and his i jailors disagreed on his la<t night before trial. The attorneys said he was unnerturbed. confident of I acquittal. The jailors said lie was. nervous and frequently paced his* ' cell. Al! preparations for the trial! were completed. Prosecutor Anthony M. Hauck, Jr., who ques- ; tioned Betty Gow, the Lindbergh nurse maid, lust night, announced that Col. Lindliergh would attend i , today's session. Lindbergh will; I not be present at ail sessions, but ' will be available when wanted Hauptmann saw yesterday for the lust time in private eonvers.i(CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) RDBENOID ASKS MOREFIREMEN Decatur Fire Chief Asks More Volunteer Firemen Be Named Fire chief Charles Roben M np-| peared before the city council last evening and recommended that, the ranks of the volunteer firemen he: incre sed. Chief Robe-’old informed the ouncil that the volunteer depart- j ment now had only 12 enlisted T n. The deaa.i of Charles “Calle" Me:-' bers la-st week removed one man from the roster. 'Chief Robennld expressed the | pinion that the membership should I be incretsed to 15 men. He stated that in case of a<fire .six men would ! be employed on the hose line, leav- j ing only a h If d-zen firemen to; aid the regular members. The board of public works and safety agreed with the chief that; I the membership ghoul! be in rea-s---t ed. The selection of the men i.s up Ito the volunteer du artinent, the members voting on the appliicnt.s. ; Several years ago the department ■ hid a membership of about 21 men.; the ranks being decreased in the | last few years because of the reduced ity ai propriation for their | services. Volunteers are pnld one dollar for each fire at which they answer roll tall. o Austrian Government Extradites Poderjay Vienna, Jan. 2 —(UP) The government today de ided to extra ite; Ivan Poderjey. international adven-j turer .sttight by New York police in i < connection with the disappearance i, of Miss Agues Tufverson. Poderjay is expected to be .sent | to the frontier, turned over to Ger-p m n police at d escorted by them to ( , Harburg to be surrendered to d“-!, tectlve Ja ob Von VVeisens'teln of > the New York tpolice f rce, who has t ‘been in London awaiting orders. |t

Price Two Cents

Heads Commissioners • * * Wk' A L i Frank O. Martin, senior member | lof tlie Adams county board of commissioners, was chosen chair-; man of the board at the organization meeting held this morning.! Phil Sauer was named viee-cliatr-j man. Moses Augsburger attende I, his fir : session today. FRANK MARTIN TO HEAD BOARD Frank O. Martin Is Named Chairman of County Commissioners Frank O. Martin today was elect-! |ed chairman of the Adams county board of trustees in its tion meeting. Phil Sauer was j named vice-chairman. This was tlie first meeting of; the year for the new board. The I regular session will be held the; first Monday in the month, which will fall on January 7. The commissioners today will make the annual inspection and inventory of the county infirmary. I 'Those who are at the institution j ' today are Phil Sauer. Frank Mar-1 tin, and Moses Augsburger, com-! I missioners; Henry B. Heller. coun-| |ty attorney, and Harold Tiernan; |and Louis Fuhrman, the two ap- | praisers. in addition to the usual business i to be transacted by the board next* Monday a number of appointments! , must be made. A trustee must be named for! ! the Adams County Memorial hos- ■ pital. E. M. Ray of Herne, who is ! now serving, completed his term, !at the first of the year. Either .Mr. Ray must bo reappointed or a| successor named. The county road superintendent j I will also bo named at this meeting. Tho new law will permit the, i board to name the new county sur- | veyor. Walter Gilliom to this post. Ralph Roop, tho retiring surveyor, formerly held tho job. Thirteen assistants to tho road | superintendent will be appointed. Each township in the county is [now numbered and has one alssist- . ant road man commissioned to see that the roads are kept in repair. The thirteenth assistant has charge [ of the county garage here. Other appointments are the county health officer and county physician. o City Officials Change In State Indianapolis. Ind.. Jan. 2 —(UP) — Charges of ballot tampering in tho N vember 6 election echoed today behind changes in administrations in .ind'ona cities. i.Adminlstrative officers of 89 cities were shifted formally yesterday a; result cf the November elections. AA the now officers began their duties today, republicans once more gained control of a majority of the; state's cities. The G. O. P. won I mayoralty c-ntests in 53 local elec-! tions as compared to 3G victories for the democratic candidates. I

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Defendant Is Brought Into Court Under Heavy Guard JUROR SELECTIONS STARTED AT ONCE Flemington, N. J., Jan. 2. — (U.R) — The trial of Bruno Richard Hauptmann, charged with the murder of Charles A. Lindbergh, Jr., opened in Hunterdon county courthouse at 10:10 a m. today. Hauptmann was brought into tne room chained to a deputy sheriff simultaneously with the opening of court. By lb:15 a. m. all the principals at the trial including Col. Charles A. Lindbergh—had arrived at the courthouse. Attorney General David T. Wil- , entz and his staff, prosecutor Anthony M. Hauck, and George K. Large, special prosecutor, sat at the prosecution's table at the right side of the court room. At the defense table were Edward J. Reilly, chief of defensa .counsel; Lloyd Fisher. Frederick A Pope, and Egbert Kosecrans. On the bench was Supreme Court i Justice Thomas W. Trenehard. 'Common Pleas Judge Adam O. Robbins may sit with him later. Justice Trenehard. horn rimmed glasses perched on his nose, paid little attention to the roll call. He i conferred briefly with Sheriff John H. Curtiss and then, with hands i lasped. surveyed the crowded .court room. So tightly packed were those inI side the rail that opposing coun- | sei's tables almost touched. Lindbergh was but 12 feet away from the man charged with slaying his child. Sheriff Curtiss shook up tho box *eoniaining the talesmen’s names. “I.ulu B. Johnson, number 66.” ■ he said withdrawing a white capsule. She is a Delaware township housewife. “I have formed an opinion,” she 1 replied to a question. “But 1 would have to hear the evidence.'' Justice Trenehard asked if she opposed capital punishment. “I don't know." "Well, what you want us to believe is that you have an opinion strongly against capital punishment?'' "1 guess so.’’ Mrs. Johnson insisted that she would not permit her feelings against capital punishment to (CONTiNI’EI) ON PAGE SIX) DECATUR FIRE LOSS REPORTED Total Loss During 1931 $11,440; Only Two False Alarms The total fir? lass in Decatur laat year was estimated at $11,440, ar■cording to a report just completed by Ja-k Friedt, retiring fire chief. The value of the property in which the fires occurred totaled s7s,f>(M. Sparks from chimneys were the greatest causes of fires. Os the 4 - fires last ye'ar the department answered 20 for this reason- Only two false alarms were answered by the department. The total value of building in which fires occurred was $59,600 The value of the contents was sl6 - 000. The estimated cost of fires to buillinge was $8,260 and to contents at $3,180. The buildings carried insurance am anting to $23,004) and tho contents at $15,200. The causes of the .fires were p'c.i.ed as follows: atpaiks from c.’imney.s. 20| unknown, one; cigarettes, one; lighted matches, one; spontaneous combustion, two; * explosion of oil atover, one; explosS n of gasoline stove, one; hot ashes, one; overheated chimney. lone; grass fire, six, and false • alarms, two.