Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 33, Number 8, Decatur, Adams County, 9 January 1935 — Page 1

.JL r.nn ton.qnt Thu' ’«•’>•

JAFSIE” ON WITNESS STAND TODAY

GANGSTER JoLLED, PAL i I E CAPTURED of Bremer KidII ( ’ ang S * ain ,iv ||| lll'ederiil Men MAN IS dfS;s\( RE Sl SPECT 3 i r) llpvra B"H' 11. < < >cnb< «l as a IM) the St. Valentines dlinviH" ! ‘ 'l’Uj'v jfkW"'"'l aS' nls last niuhl Jliif'idi L ‘ !l " l,ulli '’ 111 ilvhiij Ballnn’s companion, Gibson, was killed. i,l, i.titv ot Bolton was Ikentfceeiet bv the governEitlntil today. Both lie and (■r/bsai " ,11 ' mP,|lbp, ' s " f 'flb* ' r ’ ! " lr Barker-Alvin ggng kidnapers. ’ E TfeHgang is charged with the kidnaping of Edward G. ; ■Breme Federal agents here who : . . Hie latest coup against i: (H'ared Gibson was a I ■ principal in the gang and Bolton meniiier. Nathan, assistant to .1. tflflT Hoover of the division of tin department of IjastiC' said lie was investigating that Bolton is wanted for WMMSt'Liiiig in the bloody St. Val'«<mtiß.|'s day gang massacre here I sever U years ago. E )®ian refused to confirm or hie men took into cusI tody tit least two women at the j same time they fatally wounded and captured Bolton. widely bunted for his > part In a s7s."i"’ Oklahoma bank |- robix was shie’nifd with a ImlIJet p» 'f vest when he challenged |lsiaavi!y armed federal agent*|at th ar of an apartment buildJ it: J Ist midnight. outlaw had been warned by, who telephoned his from a nearby drug instructing him to surrender i IpeMt’iilly. Instead Gibson chose; I to ftin it etc single-handed. ArmBed Bt’ a snb-maciiine gun Gibson Ewas < riven by tear gas out of the ] I (CWTiXL’ED ON PAGE FIVE) WRNAS CLARK, I FOREMAN HELD ■ For Wayne Men Arrestfl d On County (Jrand I I Jury Indictments B j. * • ■ i BW Clark and Elver Foreman Ft Wayne were arrested today * •fought into the Adams circuit 1 on mdic'inents brought Kieni by the Adams tounty ■gwjt' Jury on November 37. 1 | fl 1 ' indictments charge them 1 auto banditry The two indict- ! its are part of four returned by | 1 |«l jury. The other two will not 1 *3 c ! lntil arrestjs are 1 jury indictments are al|^V y pending against the two men KWAarges of burg!' ry. They are I out on bond of SI,COO each on indictments. two men today pleaded not i to the < harge of auto banditry , fl; brought before Judge Huber' Their bond was eet at ea- h and they were released. ,rial da,e has not been set. ■ j? he tWu men ..ire accused of bePart of a gang which bound and »iJ ’ Amanda A .vers oa Aug- i ■u. 8 ' 1932 ' when they found her i I » 1 0D h< ‘ r 80 a( ' re farm in Blue township. Mrs. Ayers at that I was ,2 years old. I gang, under the impression |fl ,>x H.\TED ON PAGE THREE) ' HB. • • — ■Philips Funeral I Services Friday Kj"® ra ’ serv>C63 for Mrs ,Ba ' bel ' I lit whn J- kn °' Vn loCal rpßi - ' ■ M wiin d ed at the home Clf her ■to? ? r - in Lima. Bidav aft^ 5 ’ mornlng ’ be held ' Ks E m°% natl : 30 o ’ ctoc * at ■anistte a n funerjl home on K<, r of ttl L * ev - HR ' OJiwon. wni° icpiaoo P a * be imj officiate and burial The bod ” t! ' e Deeatur eeme -' | ■ la ' k funemiV 38 removed the, u ral home Tuesday after- 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXXIII. No. Eight.

“Now What’ll I Buy” i I K A <?-4l Eg Here la a picture study of a little girl pondering over what she in going to do with slßy.tnm. Eight-year-old Joyce Cissel, of Washington. I) <’.. won the money on a lottery ticket which had been presented to her by Captain Colon Alfaro, minister from Ecuador. BLUFFTON MEN FACE CHARGES Beer Dealers Charged With Violating Liquor Control Bluffton. Jan. 9.-—Prosecuting At- ; torney George E. Glass tiled in the Wells circuit court here late Tuesday affidavits against five defendants in which they are charged with violations of the Indiana liquor control law because of alleged sales of "spiritous beverages”, or whisky, at retail. It was said today that the affidavits, filed in two counts, may con stitute test cases in Indiana on the retail of ‘hard liquor" by the drink. \\ hile the Indiana liquor control law was upheld by a three-judge federal court a few days ago, attorneys point out that there is a question as to the interpretation to be placed on sections of the law. The prosecutor, in alleging that the defendants do not possess licenses to sell spiritous beverages, explained that they may have licenses to sell "alcoholic malt beverages," which he maintains do not include whisky. The first count hi the affidavits allege illegal sale of spiritous bev- . erages, while a second count alleges that the defendants are guilty of maintaining common nuisances. ‘Bonds were placed at S3OO in each case. MURDERS SEVEN, TAKES OWN HEE Reputed Associate of Dillinger Commits Wholesale Killings — Danville. Ky., Jan. 9. — (U.R) ; George Collett, 40, fugitive and reputed onetime associate of John Dillinger, today killed seven per- . sons with pistol bullets, then took , his own life. i Apparently crazed and vengeful, Collett shot his wife, her parents, and two brothers and two members of another family against whom he bore a grudge. He turned tne revolver on himself when a posse was closing in on him in the Cumberland foothills of the section.. The dead were listed as: William Helton, 65, farmer, father of county patrolman Modam Helton. Cincinnati. Mrs. William Helton. 60. Howard Helton, 30. their son. Harry Helton, their son. Mrs. Stella Collett, To, daughter of the Heltons and wife ot the slayer.. Julius Bordes, 50, a Kentucky 1 1 (OONTINLM) ON PAGE SIX) l>

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

LEGISLATURE WILL CONVENE THURSDAY A. M. Members of Indiana Legislature Will Hold Caucuses Tonight JOINT SESSION TO HEAR GOV. McNUTT Indianapolis, Jan. 9—(U.R) —With routine preliminaries completed, members of the Indiana legislature will caucus tonight to select officers for the session. The legislature will meet at 10 a. m. tomorrow. After brief organization meetings the houses will gather in joint session to hear the message of Gov. Paul V McNutt. House and senate Democratic l leaders were designated at a conference here last month but the choices will have to be ratified formally by the legislature tomorrow. Rep. Edward H. Stein, Detn., Bloomfield, is slated for speaker of the house while Sen. Jacob Weiss. Dem.. Indianapolis, will be * named president pro tern of the senate. Democratic majority members will caucus tonight at 7:30 in the statehouse. Republican members will meet in the Claypool hotel. Norman Gordon, Indianapolis, is slated for secretary of the senate. He is in charge of the store license division at the statehouse, i Bernard O'Neill, South Bend, is ' slated for assistant secretary; j George Evelo, Terre Haute, for postmaster, and John Huff, Auburn. for chief doorkeeper. Edward Beggs, Indianapolis, is slated for principal clerk of the house. He was assistant clerk last session. Wltli downtown hotels and th- ■ tatehouae crowded with leglslat-' ors. organizations desiring special (COXTTN ON PAGE FIVE) O ASSOCIATION TO GIVE SHOW Parent Teachers Association To Raise Funds For Recreation The parent teaifters association of the South Ward school is sponsoring a show on Wednesday and Thursday, January 16 and 17, to i raise funds to beautify the Scuth Ward recreational field. The association hopes to raise enough money to hire a recreational director for the field during the summer months. The director would en out' ge the interest of rschool -hiidren in a.l.ilekics during the summer. The rente of the eho-w will be i "Babes in Toyla-nd" wi'Jh the com- | edy team Laurel and Hardy as the chief actors. The show has been . anrroved by educational ..leaders -■ and h’s received the highest recommendations by thotter critics. It 1 will be held at the Adams theater. Botn public and parochial school • children will be able to attend the matinees given each afternoon. Tickets for the show’ will be given to the teachers in the city schools. The mem'bem of the South Ward p rent teachers association I as we’l as the pupils of the South; Ward have tickets. The price of the cfiow Will be 10 and 15 cents per 1 person. The Lankenau Co., has donated a window in its store at the corner of Monroe and Second streets to advertise the uhow. o— Rioting Breaks In Minneapolis Minneapolis. Jan. 9 — (VE I)—Rioting broke out in downtown Minneapois today as strikers engaged strikebrakers in a pitched battle. Three men were shot as special offi ers Joined in the fight. It was the first serious violence since a strike cf garage workers began last Friday over wages and union rec-. men were shot in a skirmish between strikers and special officers in the McDonaldOilflllan motor company when a band of 75 union men forced its way into the repair shop.

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, January 9, 1935.

Former Decatur Man Appointed Mayor John W. Kern, Indlama-1 polls. h>is reappointed Thomas T. i Haefllng superintendent of the I Gamewell department of that city, a post he held under former mayor R#ginald H. Sullivan. In this post- • tion he has charge of the electrical equipment of the city, including plaNng and maintenance of traffic sigtsih and maintenance of the fire alarm system. Mr. Haefling has relatives In the city and is 'well know'n here. He was born in Decatur; is a graduate cf the Decatur higli school, is 53 years old. and hau lived in Indianapolis for 26 years. He was in the electrical contracting business prior ] to his appointment. He Is Democratic chairman of the 10th ward . in Indlanalpote, is married and ha-s three children. o BANK OFFICERS ARE REELECTED Directors And Officers of First State Bank All Reelected Members of the board of directors and the officers of the First , State Bank of this city were reelected at the annual meeting of the etockholders and directors held yesterday. The directors are: C. A. Dugan, Dr. J. W. Vizard. Daniel Sprang. Dynois Schmitt, Theodore Hobrock. J. P. Braun. T. F. Graliker. Mr. Sprang is chairman of the board. The officers reelected by the directors are: Mr. Dugan, president; Dr. Vizard, vice-president; Mr. Graliker, cashier; Roscoe Glendenning. assistant cashier; Herman Krueckeberg. assistant , ca-shler. Reports showing a successful year were read at the meeting. A substantial growth in total de- ; nosfts in the bank was reported. Beginning with March 1933, a steady increase had occurred nearly every month, a $400,000 gain being made during 1933 and 1931. The bank has assets totaling more i than $1 300,000. The meeting was the fourth annual one of the First State Bank and the 51st meeting of the original banking institution, formerly the First National bank. | which in 1930 became a state bank under the present name. An optimistic note about condi(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) o— Former Magley Resident Dies Mrs. Minnie Beisser, 9'2, widow of the late Rev. Gottlieb Beisser, former pastor of the Magley Reformed church, died at 5 o'clock this morning at Cincinnati. Ohio. Funeral services will probably be held at th? Zion Reformed Vhurch in thin city Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock. J, C. BARKLEY IS PRESIDENT — County Farm Loan Association Elects Officers Tuesdav Forty-three members ot the Adams County National Farm Loan ! Association met in the Lenhart,! Heller and Schurger office in Decatur Tuesday afternoon and elected directors for the coming year.* The five directors elected are Jacob C. Barkley, Union township; Carl Koenemann. Preble township, Oswald A. Hoffman. Preble township, Fred M. Barkley. Union township and Harvey L. .Sipe, Blue Creek township. The directors elected the following officers for the organization. They are: Jacob C. Barkley, president; Oswald A. Hoffman, vicepresident; E. Burt Lenhart, secre-tary-treasurer, and Fred T. Schurger, loan investigator. The loan committee will be composed of Jacob C. Barkley, Oswald Hoffman and Carl Koenemann. The alternates of this committee are Harvey L. Sipe, Fred M. Blakey and Daniel Kaehr. A report was made at the meeting showing that there are now 104 members In the association. The members 0wn”,985 shares of stock at total par value of $14,925.

REDUCE NUMBER OF DISTRICTS Four-Man System of Caring For Adams County Roads To Be Used The Adams county commissioners decided late Tuesday after- ■ noon to use the "four-man system" | of caring for the roads In Adams county during 1935. Tlie system used laet year divided the county into 12 districts. In each district one man was charged with the duty of seeing that all the roads in his district were kept in repair. The districts conformed to the number of town ships. Thio year the number of districts has been cut to four. One man will be in charge of three townships. As far as possible an effort was made to select a man in the center of the district. The men in charge of each district will be known as assistants to the county road supervisor. They are: first district, including Union. Root and Preble townships. Hugo Gerke; second district, inc'uding Kirkland. Washington and St. Marys, Herman Ulenian: third district, including Monroe, Jefferson and Blue Creek. John Habegger; fourth district, including French, Hartford and Wabash townships. John Augsburger. The assistants will receive 10 I cents an hour and pay for their own transportation. The laborers used on the roads will get 25 ■ cents an hour. The commissioners did not act upon the appointment of a mechanic at the Adams county garage. Members of the board stated that -hey believed the county could save money having trucks repaired in private garages rather than hiring a man to work full time. Walter Gilliom, the new read supervisor, will be in charge 1 of the trucks and see that they are kept in repair. CONVICTION OF NIXON INVALID Indiana Supreme Court Rules Late Publisher Not In Contempt IndianapolM. Jan. 9 —(U.R) —Conviction of the late Don M. Nixon, newspaper publisher, on contempt of court charges in Wabash circuit ‘court was reversed today by the Indiana supreme court. Nixon was fined S2OO and sent-1 enced to 10 days in jail by special i : judge W. H. Eichorn for criticizing the appointment by Judge Frank O. Sweitzer of Quinten CarI ver as receiver for the Wabash ! County Loan and Trust company. The criticism wa«z contained in one of Nixon s newspapers, the Wabash Plain Dealer. The publisher died last year. The opinion, written by James P. Hughes, chief justice of the supreme court, ufdteld the right the press to criticize the past I action of courts. JiMtice Hughes poidted cut that Nixon was within his rights in criticizing the appointment and that Judge Switzer was within his rights in making the appointment. "The right to fully criticize actions. opinions and judgments of ! courts is of primary importance to the public generally.” the opinion ' said. “It is not only good for the pub- ; lie but has a salutory effect on the courta and judges as well. Courts and judges are not and should not be above criticism.” Justice Hughes pointed out that i (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

THE LADY DANCES ( A flaming, daring romance of the South Seas w ! ’l hold you spellbound. It starts in the DAILY DEMOCRAT Saturday, January 12. WATCH FOR IT!

COLLEGE YOUTH RELATES BEING HELD PRISONER Wabash College Student Tells Os Being Kidnaped Sunday FATHER DENIES PAYING RANSOM Chicago. Jan. 9 —(U.R)- Allen C. Bomberger, 21-year-old college student, reported to Chicago polic? today that he had been kidnaped ■and held for $50,000 ransom but released before his abductors obtained the money. Bomberger is the son of a prominent Hammond, Ind., attorney and had been attending Wabash college at Crawfordsville. ArI cording to the story he told police today he was seized from one of i the main streets of the college town last Sunday, held in a cottage presumably in Indianapolis while ransom negotiations were In progress, and released early today in Chicago after his cantors despaired of collecting the $50,000 they asked. At th? home of Lowden Bom berger, the father in Hammond, it was learned that a note demand ing the ransom had been received but that no money had been paid “because we didn’t have it." Young Bomberger told police he was abducted by two men and a woman who blindfolded him ami carried him away in an automobile. He did not explain how he arrived at the conclusion he was ■ held in Indianapolis but declared I he was forced to write a note to j his family asking for ransom. When negotiations for the ransom failed he said he was brought; tn Chicago and released, unharmed. Police were questioning him (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) Miss Merle Burdg Named Director Miss Merle Burdg. formerly of i Decatur a,nd Fort Wayne, was reelected a director of the Sun Publishing Company of Portland at a J meeting off tfhe stockholders of the company held in the offices of the newsp per this week. Other directors are A. A. Kist, Robert Kist, i Glenn Kist, Ed Ayers, Fred Beehdolt and M. V. Skinner. All of the directors are residents of Portland except Mr. Bechdolt, who resides in Indianapolis. Officers of the company are A. A. Kist, president: Merle Burdg, vice president; Fred Bechdolt, secretary; M. V. Skinner, treasurer. Miss Burdg is a daughter of Mrs. A. L. Burdg, and a sister of Charles A. and Dick Burdg of Decatur. She: was formerly Mrs. A. A. Kist. RELATIVES TO GIVE EVIDENCE Relatives Os Late Isidor Fisch To Testify At Bruno’s Trial Le Harve, France, Jan. 9. —(U.R) —Detective Arthur Johnson of the New York police sailed on the Isle de France today with relatives of the late lsl“or Fisch to testify against Bruno Richard Hauptmann in the Lindbergh case. Hauptmann claimed in his de- i sense tliat the ransom money found in his possession was given io him by Fisch, a business associate in New York. Fisch later returned to his home in Germany, where he died. Johnson is taking back Pinkus I Fisch, brother of Isidor, and three i other relatives. It was understood ; they would testify as to Isidor's financial standing in an effort to disprove that Fisch had mud) | money, or gave any to Hauptmann. Johnson made a thorough investigation Ln several German towns of Hauptmann’s pas" life and activities, and of Fisch and his family. His departure was accompanied by considerable secrecy, When he left Paris, it was reported his name was Henry (Red) Johnson, sailor friend of Miss Betty Gow. Lindbergh nurse, frequently mentioned in the case. Johnson refused to talk to reporters.

Price Two Cents

Quotes “Jafsie” h j ■ I IB This is Charles Dunnington, Brockton. Mass., druggist, who has informed authorities that Dr. John F. (Jafsie) Condon told him Druno Hauptmann, on trial for the Lindbergh baby murder, was : not the "John" to whom he paid the $50,000 ransom. The druggist . said Condon made the statenn-nt while visiting his store recently. ANNOUNCE COST OF GOVERNMENT Local Governments Cost $34.34 Per Capita During 1933 It cost $34.34 per capita to maintain the various local govern-' mental units in Adams county in 1933. according to an annual report just published by the Indiana taxpayers association. The costs were divided as follows: county, $21’0.527; civil townships. $145,346; civil cities, $46,310 l civil towns. $22,439; total schools. $270,685. and total $685,307. The per capita average was computed on the 1930 census for the county which gave the population at 19,957. The outstanding bonded indebtedness for Adams county on August 1, 1933 and January 1. 1933 was as follows: township three-mile road bonds, $411,383.88; county unit road bonds, none; all school bonds. $46,439.52; city and Lown bonds, $104,200; county bonds.: $65,000, and total $627,023.40. In ten years the property tax in Adams county decreased 54.2 j per cent. For the year of 1923 to 1924 the total tax was $926,591. From 1934 to 1935 the total property tax was $423,717. In 1934 $81,251.59 was given to the county as its share of the: gasoline and auto license foes based on a total mileage ot 742.2. From the same fund the city of Decatur received $4,889.84 in 1934. From May 1. 1933 to March 31. \ 1934 Adams county collected $40,243.12 from citizens for gross income tax. In January of 1934 $26,975.52 was returned to the : county. A similar distribution in July of 1934 resulted in a pay--nnmt-rrf-$26-.l6fi. The total distri- < button amounted to $53,375.52 fir these two payments. A total of $10,259.90 was collected for general intangibles tax from February 28, 1933 to June 30, [ 1934. The distributions to Adams ( county for this tax were: October 1933, $4,281.90; April, 1934, sl.854.98; October, 1934, $4,643.81, and total. $10,780.69. The distributions from the stale excise tax to scliool corporations i - 1 (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) ( ;, Forgery Charge In Circuit Court The ca.se against Ferdinand Rey- 1 nolds charging him with forgery 1 h' s been tiled in the Adams circuit court. The boy has not yet been ' arraigned. He is alleged to have •cashed a forged d'.ieck for $3.50 at a local grocery Tuesday and is now being held in the Adams county jail.' o 1 Mrs. Ruth Lenhart Dies In Missouri E. Burt Lenhatit of this city received word today that his aunt, Mrs. Ruth Lenhart, had died in tier' home at Neosha, Missouri. Death , was due to two strokes of paralysis. Funeral services were held in t Neosha on Wednesday. Mrs. Len- ; hart was a former resident of De-1; catur and was over 70 years of age. i i

CONDON NAMES HAUPTMANN AS RANSOM TAKER Ransom Negotiator Also Says Bruno Was In Nursery Room DEFENSE LAWYERS ATTACK TESTIMONY Motion Denied Flemington. N. .1., Jan. 9 — (U.R) — Defense counsel moved for a mistrial todayin the case of Bruno Richard Hauptmann because of a remark which attorney general David T. Wilentz made to a juror, but the motion was denied. Flemington, N. J„ Jan. 9 — (U.R) — Lawyers for Bruno Richard Hauptmann ripped into the story told on the witness stand today bv Dr. John F. Cnndon bv insinuating that “Jafsie” himse’f was involved in the Lindbergh kvlnam'ng. Jafsie was turned over to Fdwsird J. Reilly, defense counsel, for cioss examination, after he had hurled three charges <at Hauptmann that were the most damaging yet made against the prisoner. He said Hauptmann sat on a bench with him in Woodlawn I cemetery and identified two safe- : ty pins »•; being those that held down the covers in the crib of i Charles A. Lindbergh. Jr. That was the first time any witness has given direct evidence that Hauptmann was in the nursery on the night of the kidnaping. Jafsie identified Hauptmann as the man with whom he sat on a : bench for almost an hour in Woodlawn cemetery, the Bronx, during the preliminary ransom negotiations. Then be testified Hauptmann was the man who got the $50,0’0 ransom across a hedge in St. Raymond’s cemetery. Condon shouted when he identified Hauptmann. “And who was that man?” asked attorney general David T. Wilentz. "It was John." Condon yelled. "And who is John?" "John is Bruno Richard Hauptmann." Once in the afternoon session, Ccndon slipped up and said, “Bruno Rudolph—” but quickly corrected himself to Bruno Richard Hauptmann. Te prisoner made no move as Jafsie shouted these charges at him. His arms were folded across his grey-brown suit. He was quiet in contrast to yesterday when he muttered. "You're a liar" when a witness identified him. In the three statements, the 74-year old patriarch was vigorous, .1 ONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) AUCTIONEER IN TALK TU CLUR Col. Guy Pettit Addresses Local Lions Club Tuesday The Decatur Lions club held its usu 1 weekly meeting in the Rice hotel last evening. Col. Guy Pettit of the Rep,pert auction school gave a fine talk, on the subject "The Success Family.” The local club looks forward to t'je auction school sessions each time in order to have Col. Pettit adress the club. Walter J. Krick and Ralph Yager charter members of the organization, were re-inetated into Lions membership. Mr. Case, Mr. Summit of the government homesteads [ project and Grover Oliver, were guests at the meeting. Ladies night will be observed next Tuesday evening and the Lionesses w*lll have charge of the program- The Fort Wayne Lions Club "Dance and Talent Revue” will be held ta the Catholic Community Center Wednesday evening, January 23 at 9 o’clock. Two orchestras and over 100 of Fort Wayne’s entertainers will appear on tlhe program. Approximately 10 rouples frotn the Decatur Lions club will attend.