Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 35, Number 12, Decatur, Adams County, 14 January 1937 — Page 1

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■RIOUS FLOOD ■reateneo in Routh Indiana ■inued Rain Brings ■ hrc . H Os Serious K I Flood* In State H ■>„! ,l “’ U: ‘ ha ' 11 “ n ' E. -h <f Imlianapo1' v • da. » llm . ■<tn. > bureau MB 1 b ’" ■M... "a li'-nu-. !■ K t , ia-l -< ■M. . , ’ ’ h ’ ~ r.'a! 11 Oie K) irnrlli for ?, |gH IljUt- -'>lllll |K 'll" While ■, , A ,„ t branch at ,i„ Wabash and Whit.' ;,<lv H •- .- showers _• . ■ ■ fall over thand dmi l’f’ s deputi'S. ■ families from Mp nomndly dry. Tile famv, ... ■ n I’WA work - re.-k, west « ■': han f**t |^M i: .. 'hM| -adiiy and expected to it.n-liSW-lod. resort. |Bi . • • by the T- fr.itu M ■K . . f- - ail day yes- ■ rising ■ de. a- Terre is |HM>« . •■ and the MF* .eiilxiiiv to rise. throughout the aid-. tlm |M' . ,x- p ai: i? six i |m RAINFALL IS EXPERIENCED |||||||l x Rains Bring Rivers To Near Flood ■ Stage Today 'id..- di>\vn!,,,iir f.ilhiiir upon "d Adieus - -unty during ' inniKlnt-d fields, streets sidaw ilk- reused small pro||W diniint'. :eid r"~hed alreadv streams ?.nd rivers to a stage. S. 111 ,-lff.' ter. official observ'T. -■'. i.-d at noon tie m I,IP St Mary's river was di.i’-lv at the flood ,‘ ,f 111 The depth at S this morning was 14.G0 A rapid ris- was experiencmorning, he stated. |M* r r;l adfelter o'neerved that the »as steadily rising, despite ■Ba let-up in -Jip showers which Mpe- ted tn send it over the mark. |H, and sidewalks were cov- -■"* night with a 'blanket of ||K < ' ! during the downpour, many IM'" "awfing out of their beds |M op,,n overworked sewers. r E -rn« Flooded from Herne state that |K e north end o f town, streets stdewajks were still under dt noon ; Tile north part of n l9 .' a * ! ' ' n a lowland. .ons living there also stated ■, SUs,,lr "'d some property |KL . e " chickens were found ,, n their coons this morns " VPral idp.'TH mon were ■»« " a<lp wa,er U P to ’heir eM ,llHr a ‘'tos out of the !n Eerne durIB in<l.e' ght l Was r< T><>rted to be ' lere ’’ was reported roads In’Ti, that hi ki‘«'ays i... , he county have been B"1118n V ain ' wtth atate HEr in / ar Bprne covered with Part Inh nV<?r in the s °uth- ■ Ol >t Os It. > e count y is reported ■ £i «ltU and r anks ' n<K,din K nearH| “« farmjwrds.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Grand .Jury Indicts Van Wert, 0., Killer Van Wert, 0.. Jun. 14.— <U.R> — A manslaughter indictment was re- j turned yesterday by a grand jury against Charles DeCook, 39, filling, station operator, charging him with the death of Walter Behm. DeCook may be arraigned today. | 'He has been held In county jail without bond since his arrest. | ■ Behm died January 4 of a bullet wound allegedly received at De- j Cook filling station While the men and their wives were spending the evening there. o URGES GROWING OF SUGAR BEETS County Agent Urges Farmers Grow Sugar Beets In 1937 County Agent Archbold warned farmers assembled at the annua,l meeting of the Central Beet Growers Association, held in Decatur this week, against expecting to receive the present high prices for corn, wheat and other grains through 1937. He pointed out that the present high prices for these farm products result largely from two factors, first, the extreme drought conditions pievailing over most of the grain producing area of the United States in 1936, and second, the government agricultural conservation progre.m. Mr. Archbold said, “it is easy to -ee what is going to happen to grain prices with a good growing season over the corn lielt this I coming summer. Most of the young clover seeded last spring, l wan completely burned out by the hot. dry weather of July a.-id | August. A lot of this land intend- : ed for hay and rotation pasture in 1937 was planted to wheat last fall, with the result that we find ourselves with the greatest acreage of winter wheat ever planted in the hiwtory of this country, and I the spring wheat is yet to be planted.” Continuing, he said, “present indications are that on top of the already greejly increased acreageplanned for corn much of this remaining land intended for hay will be planted to corn." He asked, “is it any wonder that we are fearful i a,bout the prices for these grain crops a year from now?" Urged Sugar Beets "Let me urge each farmer in the Decatur factory district who has suitable land tor beets to grow a reasonable acreage of this non-surplu-s crop in 1937. Sugar prices are much stronger than during ; the past few years, and the chances are that every farmer in this area, who has a crop of beets to harvest hext fall, will be well pleaded with the returns from i this crop." I “The contract under which beets will be grown this year is more favorable to the grower than ever ■ before, and the department of agriculture by mea.ns of the existing quota system can readily maintain a price for sugar which will guarantee a good return to growere of sugar beets.” E. W. Busche, president of the Central Beet Growers association, presided at the meeting. Three directors were elected by the growers to serve for a term of three years. The directors elected were Martin Etzler of Convoy, Ohio, George Wallenhorst of Fort Jennings, Ohio, and Perry Morris of Van Wert, Ohio. There are > more than 1500 members of the (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) DEATH CLAIMS MARION ELZEY Decatur’s Oldest Active Business Man Dies . This Morning Marion S. Elzey, 87, Decatur’s oldest active business man, died at the Adams county memorial hospital at 11:45 o’clock this morning. Death was caueed by infirmities. Mr. Elzey, who for more than 20 ■ • years was a jeweler in this city, ' was taken to the hospital several ' days ago when he became ill. Until ' that time he had been in good heath , despite his advanced age, and con- ' ttnued in his work- ' The deceased was born in Adams ' i county on September 29, 1849, the i son of John andMariah Pyle Elzey. I His wife, Cordelia Mann Elzey, pre1 ceded him in death nearly 20 years ‘ ago. At the time of his death he had 1 been making hie residence on Moni roe street near his shop. He was , j a member of the Decatur M. E. i church and of the 1. O. O F. lodge I ON PAGE EIGHT)

LEADERS MEET IN CONFERENCE IN AUTO CRISIS Labor, Capital Heads Meet In Office Os Governor Frank Murphy lensing, Mich., Jan. 14.-KU.RP— First face-to-face negotiations between General Motors executives and strike leaders started at 11:12 :a. m. today with Gov. Frank Murphy as mediator. Murphy sat down in his office with both sides in an attempt to | find a basis for negotiations on the strike which has caused the closing of 34 of General Motors' 69 i plans and thrown 115,000 men out of work. The governor’s objective was to reach an agreement that will permit “resumption of normal business activity" and end a threatening situation which caused him to order more than 2,000 national guardsmen to Flint. Homer Martin, president of the Unite d Automobile Workers, brought his entire hoard of strategy to Imnsing. His advisers in the governor's conference were John Brophy, director of the committee for industrial organization, and Wyndham Mortimer, vice-presi-dent of the automobile union. "In accordance with the governor’s request." Martin said before going into the conference, “we are entering this meeting without condition or preudice, and hope to I reach an amicable settlement. We i hope we will be able to reach a basic understanding at this conference that will pave the way for a permanent settlement.” Martin's face was serious as he posed for photographers. Smiles spread across the faces of the General Motors executives while they were being photographed outside Murphy’s office. On the train from Detroit to Lansing. Martin charged that Joseph R. Joseph, prosecutor at Flint, who has obtained more than 300 warrants against strikers because ’of the rioting there earlier in the week, owned 61 shares of General Motors stock. Martin said Joseph admitted ownership of the stock to several union members, and added that, therefore, he was not qualified to prosecute the strikers. William S. Knudsen, executive vice-president of General Motors, made no statement as he made his (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) 0 SAM STEINER IS SENTENCED Berne Man Fined $lO And Costs, Sentenced To Serve 30 Days Stating that it was “a matter of justice and right.” Judge Huber M. DeVoss in Adame circuit court this morning sentenced Sam Steiner, of Berne, to serve 30 days in the county jail and pc.v a fine of $lO and costs on charges of driving while under the influence of j intoxicating liquor- His driver’s license was also revoked for a period : of 60 days. Steiner was arrested January 4 on a grand jury indictment cha,rg- . ing him with the act. allegedly resulting in an auto accident south ' I of Decatur, in which Rollie Richards, of this city and Steiner were both injured. The attorneys for Steiner entered a plea of leniency to the court ' on behalf of their client, whom they said “had a small daughter. : sick at home and that the family I was in need of money.” , Reminding the attorneys that, ' "he (Steiner) should have thought I of that before,” and that, "he not . only endangered his own life but that of others as well.” Judge De- ; Voss passed the sentence. C. H. Muselman and A. D. Un- , . versaw, of Berne, were the attor-. ( neys for Steiner. Steiner entered his plea of guilty today. On Jan- , ( nary 5 when he was arraigned, i ( Steiner did not enter a plea and . i asked for more time to consult . life attorneys. He had been released from jail ' twice, on a. bond of $590 each time, !, the first time immediately after ' the accident on November 23 and ' the second following the grand ! (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR) ‘ i Oi Announce K. Os C. Dance Is Postponed The Knights of Columbus dance, ’ which was planned for Friday night • at the K. of C. hall, haa been post- ’ ponded indefinitely, officials of the . ’ i -organization announced today.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, January 14, 1937.

Hoover Takes Charge of Hunt S r tx-x' ■' ■ J. Edgar Hoover Discovery of the battered nude body of Charles Mattson. Tacoma. Wash., kidnap victim, spurred efforts of G-men to apprehend his abductor. J. Edgar Hoover, chief of the federal bureau of investigation. is shown as he stopped off in Chicago en route to Tacoma to take , personal charge of the man hunt.

LOCALBARBER IS ARRESTED Willis Fonner Is Arrested For Violating License Law Willis A. Fonner. local barber, was arrested, arraigned and released on bond this afternoon, after charges of operating hits barber shop without a license had been filed, against him. Fenner was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Leo Gillig in the corridors of the courthouse after Fonner. hearing of the charge, had voluntarily come to court. When arraigned before Judge, Huber M. DeVoes in Adams circuit court he plead not guillty to the cha.-ge and his bond was fixed at SIOO. After furnishing bond he was released. The specific charge against Fonner alleges that he in engaged in the practice of barbering without the certificate of registre.'ion as a registered barber pursuant to the law of September, 1933. A similar charge against the barber had been pending in the circuit court for some time. On February 11, 1935 he wad a.rrested on the charge. He also plead not guilty at that time and was released on $250 bond. The case was set for trial twice and continued. Finally on April 28. 1936 on a motion of nolle prosequi the case was dismissed. Fonner signified to the court his intentions of acting as his own attorney when the case is brought to trial. EXERCISES WILL BE HELD FRIDAY I Reppert Auction School To Graduate Students j Tomorrow Twenty-eight young men will be graduated at the 32nd senft-annual commencement exercises of the Reppert School of Auctioneering, to be he’d in the Hensley building on South Second street Friday morning at 8 o'clock. Col- Fred Reppert, president and founder of the school, flew to Decatur from Colorado to ipereonally award the diplomas at a special program Wednesday night. Col. Reppert left by plane again for lowa, where he will conduct a sale. Col. Earl Gartin, of Greensburg, 1 will deliver the commencement address Friday, with Col. Guy L- Pettit of Bloomfield, acting as master of ceremonies. Those two men have been in charge of the school in the abeence of Col. Reppert, who is crying sales in the west. Col. Roy Johnson and the Rev. (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

League Receives Rabbit Shipment The Adams county fish and game I conservation league has received a shipment of 96 Kansas cotton tails. These were distributed this morning I in the county. Another shipment is expected 'at r. These rabbits are smaller than the rabbits around . here but are considered gamer. FARM MEETINGS START MONDAY Soil Conservation Program To Be Explained At Meeting Adams county farmers will be given an opportunity to learn about the provisions of the 1937 agricultural conservation program and about how some of them differ from the ones included in the 1936 plan, according to a statement made today by L. E. Archbold, county agricultural agent, in announcing a series of community meetings to be held, starting on January 18. In addition. County Agent Archbold said that one of the features of the community meetings will be the reorganization of the community associations for the new 1937 program, which will include an election of community committeemen. This year the community committee will be composed of four farmers, one an alternate. The chairman of each of the county's township community associations will make up the personnel of the county board of directors, which will be reorganized later. The date and place of the community meetings are as follows: Monday, January 18 1 p. m. —Monroe township, Model Hatchery. I 7p. m. —Kirkland township, Kirk- ■ land high school. ' 7 p. m.—Wabash township, Ge- , neva high school. 7 p. m.—St. Mary's township, i Pleasant Mills high school. Tuesday, January 19 1 p. m. —Root township, Mon(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) Nothin* Wakes ifO UpYow Like >— Newspaper/ 1 £ I

“LITTLE NRA” OFFERED TODAY IN LEGISLATURE I Would Replace Federal Recovery Measure < Later Outlawed i Indianapolis. Jan. 14 — (UP) — A "little NRA” to replace the oral recovery legislation outlawed by the U. S supreme court was offered today in the Indiana general assembly. > Trevention of monopolies in Ind- J iana,” was given as the object of the measure when it waa introduced I in the house of representatives by I dity of juries was attacked in the tieton. ( Providing fines ranging from SIOO ( to SIOOO to which may be added six < months in jail, the bill proposed to , outlaw rebates and bonuses, use , of loss leaders to attract trade, and 'set rigid regulation over advertis- t | ing of sale. ! ■ Attempts of Indiana prisoners to , i obtain freedom by challenging vali- , tion of ovters, provided by a 1933 i senate when Sen. Walter R. Arnold D. South Bend, proposed that the jury commissioners be required to t ■ take an oath to support the coneti- i i tution. The measure was sponsored by > i the Indiana judicial council because i of a recent outbreak of habaes cor- i | pus, and coram nobus petitions, t . charging jury commissioners had not taken such an oath. The senate also received a joint ' resolution which would make the 1 clerk of the state supreme court ap- > pointive instead of elective. Rep. Wnt. Black, D., Anderson, 1 proposed in the house that registrawas proposed by Reip. John S. act. be limited to cities of more than ■ 40.000 population. Increased compensation for min- , or Injuries in industrial accidents , Gonis, D. Mishawauka, in another of the labor-sponsored measures- It would award double indemnity in fa(CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) —o Huntington Machinist Found Dead Wednesday , Huntington. Ind., Jan. 14 —<U.R) , James E. Moran. 57, machinist, was found dead last night beside ( e.n Erie railroad spur, Coroner R. S. Galbreath said exposure after ( I becoming unconscious from a fall ( pro-bablv caused death. ( o , “Hard Times” Party Here Is Postponed The “Hard Times” party, which was to ha.ve been held at the First United Brethren church Friday night, haa been indefinitely postponed because of the temperance meeting. o Coon Roast, Rabbit Supper Here Monday t All members of the Adames county fish and game conservation league were requested today to attend • the coon roast and rabbit supper, to 1 be held Monday night in the Moose * home. ‘ o 1 WEATHER Unsettled, probably rain south portion tonight and Friday and snow north portion Friday; ■ colder tonight and extreme i northeast Friday. o , i BUSINESS LOT SOLD TO RICE Niblick Lot On Monroe ; Street Purchased By £ Jesse Rice The Jesse Niblick lot west of the j Niblick Company store was sold to 1 Jesse Rice for $3,806 by the Old Ad- 1 ams county bank. It has a 66 foot • i frontage and extends 132 feet to the rear. i. No bids were received on the vacant lot on the Northeast corner of the intersection of Seventh and Jefferson streets and the vacant j Burdge lot at 652 Mercer avenue. ( These will be offered for sale at ( the Old Adams county bank build- ( ing. j Kenneth Runyon purchased the , vacant lot on 327 North First street south of the Elmo Smith property. It was erroneously reported Wednesday that Clyde Butler bought this lot. All sales are subject to the approval of the Adams circuit court. The high bid of $1,060 on the Gin- : ley property was rejected because it 1 was -below the appraisement.

Receives Word Os Death Os Sister William Barton. Monmouth, has received word of the death of his sister, Mrs. Elnora Burgess, Tuesday at Monroe, Mich,, Mrs. Burgess formerly resided in Bluffton. Surviving are two children, four brothers and a sister. Funeral ser vices were held at Bluffton this afternoon, with burial in th© Six Mile cemetery. DIVE VERDICT FDR PLAINTIFF Plaintiff Awarded $75 In Suit Tried Before Jury After three hours and a half of deliberation, a jury in the Adame circuit court returned a verdict of $75 for the plaintiff, in the suit to i collect expenses in connection with the filing of a temporary in- I junction against the filing of suits to collect assessments from dairies ! who refused to pay minimum prices for milk in the Fort Wayne area. The case was venued here from Allen county. The suit arose from efforts of the government to establish minimum prices of milk in large a.reas. The milk control board of Indiana was set up by the state legislature and is assisted in the Fort Wayne area by the Fort Wayne milk control board. When dairies refused to pay minimum prices the milk control board threatened to bring suit. Several dairies lianded together and filed a temporary injunction suit against the milk control board, preventing them from bringing suit. Tliis was filed on July j 15, 1936, by the following dairies. 1 who were defendants in the case tried here: Crescent dairy; Flaugh and Son dairy; Kings dairy; Associated Dairies Co., Inc.; Chris Bullerman & Son; Lea.uty Brand dairy: Rowe Dairy Co.; Carl H. Yoste and Robert J. King. Tn prder to file a temporary injunction without notice, the plaintiffs are required to file a bond or undertaking in which they guarantee to pa,v the damage met by the defendants. This undertaking supplied. was the grounds upon which the ease here was brought. Damages of $590 were asked for the expense of attorneys. The temporary injunction was i dissolved July 22. 1936. The suit for a permanent injunction against the collecting of the penalties and equalization fees is still pending. NAME CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEE Co-Chairmen Are Named For Card Games At Birthday Ball Mrs. Laura Hancher and Mrs. David, Adams were named co-chairmen of the card committee for the Birthday Ball for the President to be held in the Decatur Catholic Auditorium, Saturday, January 39, it was announced by Edwin Kauffman and Dorothy Young, co-chairmen. The card games will begin about 7:30 o’clock and tickets will cos* sl. However, the tickets will permit the purchasers to remain for the dance which will follow. Other members of the card com-1 mittee are: Luetta Smith; Mrs. L. A. Cowens. Florence Holthouse. Mrs. A. R. Ashbaucher, David Adams Mrs. Eno Lankenau, E’eanore Pumphrey, Eileen Burk, Helen Haubold, 1 Bernstein, Robert Frieinger, and I- Kalver. As in the past, bridge, pinochle and five hundred will be played. Other games may be scheduled if a demand arises before the party. The ticket committee for the dance will meet Friday evening at 7:30 o’clock in the Decatur Democrat office. Co-chairmen of this committee are Severin Schurger and Charlotte Elzey, Publishers Exempt In Case Os Newsboys Washington, Jan. 14 —(UP) —The internal revenue bureau ruled today that newspaper publishers are exempt from the social security act in the case of newsboys who purchase newspapers, sell them and retain the profit. o- — Indianapolis Police Chief’s Mother Dies Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 14 —(UP) —Mrs. Catherine Morrissey, 72, mother of police chief Michael Morrissey, died today of pneumonia after a long illness.

Price Two Cents.

TWO SUSPECTS INKIDNAPING CASE ARE HELD Search For Mattson Kidnaper On; Believe Several Are Involved Everett, Wash., Jan. 14—<U.R) — Two suspects, a blood-stained automobile. and a rusty hammer were held by authorities today as the search for the degenerate kidnap-er-slayer of ID year old Charles Mattson moved relentlessly forward. The search centered in Everett, I near where the naked body of the I little victim was found Monday in a snow bank. The automobile was virtually established to he the machine used by the criminal in disposing of the body, and there was a possibility that the hammer I was the weapon that smashed the child's skull after he had been j knifed and subjected to an unnatural assault. The two suspects were held at Olympia. One was a known de- > generate. The other was aa exconvict and had been partly connected with the burglary of a home near that of the Mattsons in Tacoma—a crime that, before the body was found, had been connected by some authorities with the I kidnaping itself. Anomer man was arrested here last night, but released after being questioned. G-men impounded the 1936 black Chevrolet sedan picked up on an Everett street. The hammer was found imbedded in mud at the side of the Ed-monds-Beverly Park highway, two miles south of the snow-covered field where the boy’s frozen body was disewered. another ronort from r'vorett police headquarters, where the 1 900 manhunters now have established ; their working base, said that searchers had found a house where the boy had been held captive prior to his death. | Meanwhile, a,t Tacoma. C. C. Spears, federal bureau of investigation aide to J. Edgar Hoover, signed a John Doe warrant for the rarrest, of the kidnaper, changing I him with kidnaning, attempted exI tortion, using the mails to defraud. murder, and conspiracy to [ kidnap and extort. The warrant will permit officers to hold a, suspect indefinitely, whatever hfe name. The conspiracy charge was included as a safeguard in the event more than one ! person is found involved. In reporting their investigation iof the abandoned Car, police revealed that its tires checked with the tracks found in the woods near the spot where the boy’s body was found; blood-stained chains were found in the back j seat, and may have been used to bind the boy; mud found in the 1 car checked with that found on the hands of the young victim. Gmen were cheeking fingerprints on the car and flood stains with the blood of the boy. The automobile first was noticed by Mrs. Victor Foreland a.nd Orbin Stover. Stover reported it to the FBI. An agent, who inspected the car briefly, asked to use Mrs. Foreland’s telephone. "It’s the car.” the agent told his superior, Mrs. Foreland said. The automobile was identified as one stolen from Verne Williams ;of Everett. Its license plates had i been replaced by plates stolen I from the car of E’. E. Parish, Ar(CONTINUED ON PAGE? SIX) DECATUR MAN FREE ON BOND Glen Martin Pleads Not Guilty On Drunken Driving Charge Glen Martin, local young man arrested Saturday night, was released from the Adams county jail late last evening after furnishing bond in the sum of S3OO, as fixed by Judge , Huber M. DeVoss in Adams circuit 1 court. When he appeared in court yesterday afternoon. Martin waived arraignment and plead not guilty to the change of drunken driving placed against him by Robert Hart, of Rockford, Ohio, as an aftermath of an auto collision near the Decatur ! Country Club. The bond was filed, examined and > approved and Martin ordered released by the court a short time after his appearance. No action has been taken as yet on the charge of reckless driving filed against Martin with the forj mer charge.