Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 36, Number 284, Decatur, Adams County, 2 December 1938 — Page 1

XXVI. No. 284.

[h TOLL IN IMIN AND BUS fASHNOW 24 Hfs To Three Other cidren May Prove ‘ Fatal City. Dec. (U.R>—A cmvass establishET that 39 children and one i,. . n in a school bun freight train, roaring Ha blizzard at high speed, into it. Os those 41), 24 S| , (Iliff were injured so LjS, that they may die, and iotlntil volunteers had gone K to door of the school dishere from which the yrw came, asking, “did your an* return from school?” was number of the dead and t number of children who in the bus established. dead were killed outsome of the bodies had - so mangled, torn, and disHlc it had been impossible how many bodies the bodies represented. in this sparsely settled ariwhere the runs are long ■ roadbeds smooth, ordinartra 1 at terrific speeds and frlht frain which roared out fheiwirling snow blanket yesjiy| morning, apparently had around 60 miles an If. jThe » ose of ,he huge ,oco ‘ tirilstriKk the bus broadside, I. tk tgh the engineer had apid flic brakes even before the ■he caboose of the 82-car ■had reached the crossing ■ stopped. The bus, caught ■ across the cow-catcher, had along, scattering chiland parts of their ■school books, sandwiches, their toys along the investigation of auththat no human ■ entered into the cause of The bus driver, Farwas dead and could ■ his story, but his surviv■sengers said he had stop■the crossing as is required law. tried to look up and right-of-way through the ■ snow, then continued on. ■one in the section is fam■th train schedules, particu■is and automobile drivers, ■obably, he had felt that ■ras no chance of a train ■ then because the fast ■ of the Denver and Rio n railroad had been due to ■wo hours before. It had 1 delayed by the blizzard and ■Ur ling fast to make up its ■bus loomed to those in the ■ cab of the seeding loco- ■ when it was bearing down ■TTNTEn ON PAGE SIX) ■ 0 Kails Visit Os ■lainpion Walker Mere 26 Years Ago K- ■ "China” Schumacher, cuz■l the country courthouse totalled an event of 26 years Mt had the entire city agog—yial and departure of Ed■ayson Weston, “a world ■on walker.” ■n came through Decatur ■ar in his trek from the east ■ west coast. He averaged ■ h miles per day and in his ■rough this territory follow ■ Erie railroad. ■dent of the vicinity through ■ne was passing always ac■ied him to assure the pub•t he did not “hitch” a ride ■boose, or even handcar. ■ Schumacher, then an emId the railroad, met Weston entered the city and about bl the following night left ■im walking to the western ■ r > of the county. Estory of his arrival, his visit ||id departure was vividly des- || in an edition of the Daily of that day. fMPERATURE readings I’OCRAT THERMOMETER | a '“ 37 2:00 p.m 39 ■ 38 3:00 p.m 40 1 38 WEATHER Iccasional rain tonight and | lrda y; rising temperature ■9ht except in extreme Jhwest, somewhat warmer [northeast and colder in Jhwest portion Saturday as-

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Girl Returned * li IM F * ‘ Mary Brown. 18-year-old daughter of a federal government worker, was returned to her home on Oxon Hill. Md., last night. She had been missing since Wednesday, when two men forced her into a truck and dtove away. TAX EXECUTIVE - TALKS TO CLUB A. C. McCoy Speaks To Decatur Rotarians Thursday A. C. McCoy, executive secretary of the taxpayers research association of Fort Wayne, presented an interesting discussion of that organization's work at the weekly meeting of the Decatur Rotary club Thursday evening at the Rice hotel. Fort. Wayne recently was given national recognition and the title of the ‘'Blue Ribbon City" for its low taxes and work of the research association, which aided in lowering tax burdens. Mr. McCoy explained formation of the association in March of 1934 as the-result of meetings of numerous business leaders of Fort Wayne. The speaker told of the aid given by the association to public officials in mire economical conduct of government and pointed to large savings in taxes made through the assistance of the association. Henry E. Branning, Jr., president of the association, and Clem Steigmeyer. public director for the organization. were also in attendance at the meeting. Charles D. Ehinger, secretary of the Citizens Telephone Co., was introduced as a new member of the club. Carl Schultz of the Catholic high school, and William Melchi, (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) —o —- Negro Admits Beating Transient To Death Fort Wayne, Ind., Dec. 2 —(UP) Police said today that Ordangie Owens, 25, colored of Opp, Ala., had admitted beating to death Charles Flowers, 38. also colored of Detroit, Michigan in a transient home here. Owens told police Flowers tried to attack him and he hit in self defense. He is charged with murder and probably will be held for the next meeting of the grand jury. OPEN NE* GV il HERE TONIGHT Yellow Jackets Open Home Season Against New Haven leani

All plans have been Completed for the opening game in the new! junior-senior high school gymnasium tonight when the Decatur Yd-; 10 w Jackets meet the New Haven Bulldogs. Principal W. Guy Brown stated that season tickets will be sold at the door tonight, The tickets are selling for $2.25 and entitle the bearer to witness each of 10 home games during the season. Single game tickets will be sold at the door for 25 cents. Student season ticketst will b sold at the door for sl-50. There has teen a reduction of 75 cents in ao.dt prices and 50 cents in student pl plenty of good seats are still available to the public and will be •»' “ S-L O'clock, with the preliminary encounter between the Decatur and New Haven reserve squads opening the evening's activities at 7.15> Ushers will be on hand to aid in accomodating the crowd.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

FRANCE-ITALY RELATIONS AT CRISIS POINT France Asserts No Territory To Be Ceded To Italy Paris. Dec. 2 — (U.R> — France made it clear to Italy today that she would never permit territory to be slls»d from France and add'd to Italy as Sudetenland was cut from Czechoslovikia and added to Germany. Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet called upon Italian Ambassador Rafaele* Guariglia for an explanation of the demonstration in the Italian chamber of deputies for Tunisia and other French ten itorles. Bonnet also sent instructions to the new French ambassador in Rome, Andre Fran-cois-Poncet. to demand an explanation from the Italian foreign office. Poncet witnessed the chamber demonstration. It was understood that Guariglia had made an "informal apology. ' saying that the manifestation had been “spontaneous and unforeseen.' This differed, however, from the French official version. The French press was unanimous in Its demand that Premier Benito Mussolini should be made to-understand that no French territory would ever be reded to Italy. The incident also was taken up by President Provost Delaunay of the municipal council in a speech before that body. “Speaking in your name to everyone, I affirm when they speak of Tunis and Corsica on the other side of the Alps, we consider that a forbidden subject,” he said. "You never will find a Frenchman, regardless of his political party, who will consent to envisage certain eventualities.” Guaiiglla’s explanation was at (CONTINUED ON PAGE SEVEN) EDWARD DEBOLT IS BADLY HURT Decatur Young Man Loses Left Hand In Hunting Accident Edward Deßolt, 23, of this city, was confined today In a serious condition at the Adams county memorial hospital, suffering from gunshot wounds accidentally selfinflicted late Thursday while hunting. He was brought to the local hospital, where it was necessary to amputate the left hand above the wrist. The buckshot also entered his side, piercing The left lung. The attending physician stated today that his condition was “just fair.” He was in the company of his two brothers, Jerry and John DeBolt, Jr., when the accident occurred. According to the brothers’ story, Edward was awaiting his turn to crawl over a fence by the river road near the old fertilizer factory, when they heard the explosion. Jerry was crawling over the fence and John had just climbed over and neither of the brothers saw what actually happened. It is thought that he had let the gun, a sawed-off automatic shotgun, slide to the ground and that when the butt struck the ground the gun discharged. His left hand was badly mangled by the full force of the charge. After his arrival at the hospital, a surgeon was summoned and the mangled member amputated. It was reported that he lost considerable blood. Young Deßolt is well known here, having been engaged in the painting business with his father, John Deßolt, Sr., for some time. He is married and has one child. His wife is the former Alma June Wynn, daughter of Reuben O. Wynn, of this city. o Lehman Funeral Rites Saturday Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon for Mrs. Barbara Lehman, aged Berne woman, who died Thursday morning of injuries jjustalned when she was struck by an auto In Berne late Wednesday evening. Services will be held at the home at 1:45 P- ®. Saturday at the home, and at 2 o’clock at the Berne Mennonite church. Rev. C. H. Suokau will officiate. Burial will be in the M. R. E. cemetery.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, December 2, 1938.

College President Speaks Here Sunday , Dr. Win. F. McConn, (president of Marion College at Marlofl, will be ' the guest speaker at the First Me-1 thodist church, Sunday at 9:30 a.I m. Dr. Mc-Conn is well recommend- . cd as an able speaker and Christian educator. He has proven himself to be an outstanding leader in the Wesleyan Methodist church for a number of years. Members and friends of the church are urged to be present and are assured that ' they will be given .both inspiration and information. Those who are not worshiping elswhere are invited. BEET GROWERS GIVEN QUOTA Local Acreage Fixed At 14,228 Acres For 1939 Beet Crop The beet acreage quota for growers in the Central Sugar company's district has been set at 14,228 acres for 1939, a reduction of nine per cent under the number of acres planted this year, J. Ward Calland, field manager of the local company stated today. The 1938 growers will be given preference in contracting for the , 1939 crop and letters have been mailed to them from the Decatur office requesting that the former growers notify the company howmany acres they wish to plant next year. The balance of the acreage will then be distributed or allotted to new growers in the local factory district. The quotas were tentatively fixed by the department of agriculture. A reserve of 30.000 acres may be distributed to factory districts throughout the United States in cases where special circumstances justify the alloting of additional acreage. The Central Sugar company is satisfied with the 14,228-acre quota and does not intend to petition for additional acreage. Mr. Callatid stated that 16.300 acres were contracted for the 1938 crop. Ot this total. 15,800 acres were planted. The government's quota is based on the planted acres. The letters to growers, explaining the quota set-up. was signed jointly by the Central Sugar Co., and the Central Beet Growers Association, of which E. W. Busche is president. Dale W. McMillen, chairman of the board, signed for the company. The letter in part follows: “The high returns from sugar , beets as compared with the present low receipts from most other farm crops has brought about such an increased demand for sugar beet acreage that the secretary of agriculture has been compelled to announce acreage quotas for 1939. These quotas as announced will require the growers for the Deca"icONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) 0 COAL VIOLATION | REPORTED HERE Report Out Os Town Persons Violating Sale Provisions Local police stated todav that they had received numerous complaints regarding out of town persons selling coal within the city without properly qualifying according to law. They called attention to tbe state statute which requires that “the name and address of the persons, firm or corporation selling, delivering or attempting to sell or deliver the gross weight of the load, the tare weight of the vehicle, the name , or initials of the party weighing it j must be designated.” The size and grade of the coal| must also be given, according to the i statute. First violation of this act may (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX)

Be A Good Fellow As the Christmas season draws near Again the Good Fellows appear, Their object to till all homes with cheer, Won't you be generous again this year? Your donations either small or great By us—we shall appreciate. So bring on your each and every token For the Good Fellows Club has spoken. Your generosity again we’re asking As it’s a memory forever-lasting. _ So when "Tanta Tans turns down da timney — See that no child's Christmas will be skimpy. The dolls and drums, trains ind guns. Didn’t you enjoy them when you were young? Now do your bit and loose the strings Os your purse — and joy to all you 11 bring.

ABDUCTED GIRL RETURNED HOME Authorities Puzzled At Story Told By Maryland Girl Oxon Hill, Md, Dec. 2--(UP) —William B. Brown told reporter! today that his daughter, Mary, 19-year-old convent student was kidnaped for ransom but won her release when she convinced the abductors that her father had no money. Examination disclosed she had not been attacked. Oxin Hill, Md., Dec. 2.— — Police were puzzled today by the story of an 18-year-old convent girl who returned to her parents’ home 30 hours after her sister reported her kidnapep, with her clothes torn to shreds. Hundreds ot policemen and possemen had continued a constant watch of the roads leading into this suburb of the national capital, but the girl, Mary Brown, daughter of a government employe, said that the three men who kidnaped hed had driven through this cordon to release her a mile and a half from the Brown's farm home. ‘ Police of Maryland and neighboring states searched for the small, black-panelled delivery truck in which the girl said she was kidnaped and in which she said she was returned. Gov. Harry Nice ordered state police to stop all trucks and question their occupants. Police of Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia were asked to cooperate. Mary, whose kidnaping was reported by her sister, Lucy. 15. late Wednesday afternoon, walked through a back field to her father s rambling, old fashioned farmhouse , shortly before 11 p. m. last night. ■ She said the three men who dragged her into their truck a quarter mile from the house the previous afternoon had pushed her (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) CHAS. HECKMAN DIES THURSDAY Adams County Native i Dies At Home Os Daughter Thursday Charles Heckman. 73, native of ! Adams county, died at 4:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Robert McKee, in Fort Wayne. Death was attributed to carcinoma, following a three months' illness. The deceased was born in this county and had resided in Fort Wayne since 1913. He was a member of the Emmaus Lutheran Lutheran 'church. His wife, Mary, I died in 1934. Surviving are four daugthers, Mrs. Lydia Gerber of Decatur. Mrs. Emil Voigt, Mrs. Ed Franke and Mrs. McKee of Fort Wayne; a son, Henry, also of Fort Wayne; 11 grandchildren, four great-grand-children, a brother, Fred Heckman of Adams county, and two sisters. Mrs. E. J. Kruse and Mrs. Charles Freeman, both of Seattle, Washington. The body was brought to the (CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT) o Variety Show Is Held Last Night The first in a series of variety shows, sponsored by tbe Delta Theta Tau sorority and the WPA i recreation department, was presenti ed at the Catholic school auditorj lum Thursday evening. A total of | $6.20' in proceeds will be donated to I the Good Fellows club, chairtable I organization conducted by the sorI ority each year. The date for the second variety show will be announced within a few days.

M. E. MINISTER SHOT TO DEATH AT CHILLICOTHE j Dr. Russell H. Bready, Former Pontiac Mayor, Found Dead Chillicothe, 0., Dec. 2—(U.P>—| Dr. Russell H. Bready, Methodist Episcopal minister, was found shot to death at Bainbridge, near here, today. Snerlff Joseph Vincent said Dr. Bready’s son, Robert, 29, was be- t ing held for questioning in the; Bainbridge jail. Dr. Bready formerly was mayor of Pontiac, Mich. Dr. Bready’s body was found at 5 a. m„ a half block from the Bainbridge school by Ed Shoemaker. a PWA worker who was on his way to Kingston, O. Shoemaker summoned Marshal Earl Edgington. Deputy Sheriff Don Lowery said a bottle ot apple wine and an automatic pistol, with six bullets in it, were found in the Methodist parsonage. Dr. Bready was dean of Methodist Episcopal ministers in Ross county, and a widely-known after dinner speaker. He came here wo years ago. His wife died last luly. The son, who told friends he had served five months in the Spanish war in 1937, has been living at tbe parsonage. Dr. Bready is survived by two daughters-. Mrs. Stewart Watson. Detroit, and Mrs. W. W. Kenny, Wai saw. Ind., and an another son, Rust-ell. Jr.. Washington, D C. Dr. Bready was 62 years old. A bullet pierced his left temple, examination showed. His body was found two blocks from the ; parsonage. His nose was disfigured, possibly from falling. Authorities said no charges had been placed against Robert Bready. Prominent Churchman Pontiac. Mich., Dec. 2---(U.PJ - Di. Russell H. Bready, shift to death at Bainbridge, ()., was mayor pro tem of Pontiac in 1920 and was prominent throughout Michigan as a Methodisf churchman. . Dr. Bready was pastor of the ! Central Methodist church here from 1917 until 1923. He was one of the first commissioners elected when Pontiac adopted a commission torn, of government in 1920. and was elected by the other eight commissioners to serve as mayor pro tem. He was prominent in all civic enterprises in Pontiac during his political career as well as during his ministry. While on the commission he was chairman of welfare organization. Friends here said they knew of no relatives remaining in the city. Dr. Bready held pastorates in Michigan at Cadillac, Big Rapids, (CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE) O PLAN PURCHASE OF MORE WHEAT Federal Government To Increase Its M heat Purchases Washington, Dec. 2 — (U.P.)i The federal surplus commodities corporation increased wheat purchases today to fill a contract for the export ot 20,000,000 bushels to millers in the united kingdom. The wheat will be bought at prevailing prices on the cash markets and resold to exporters at a price which will enable them to meet world competition in the British market, officials announced. Officials declined to disclose details of the transaction, the largest completed under the wheat subsidy export program announced Aug. 29, but said the wheat would be delivered over a period of several months. It was said that no set price was agreed upon between exporters and millers, but would vary from shipment to shipment according to prevailing world prices. Recently the world price has been considerably under the American price. The transaction brought to 63,000,000 bushels the amount of wheat, sold abroad since July 1 under the program begun by Secretary of Agriculture Wallace to export 100,000,000 bushels this fiscal year. Exporters sold approximately 23,000,000 bushels abroad between Inly 1 at.d Aug. 29. when the subsidy became effective. Since (CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT)

Strikes Plague Nations Plants i Over Wide Front

- — " — I “It Was Just God” ' i n J Miss Dollie Board A 60-year-old Joplin. Mo., school teacher’s premonition of disaster saves the lives of many of her 34 pupils. The teacher, Miss Dollie Board, above, no sooner had ushered her children out of the primary room when the entire ceiling fell, crushing the desks. "I didn't hear the ceiling crack or see it bulge,” Miss Board says. “It was just God—providence that told me to get the children out of the room.” CLAIM ACTION NEARING JURY Claim Against Wendell ’ Estate To Jury This Afternoon A claim action brought by a son, Leslie Paul Wendell, against the estate of the late Phillip Wendell, who died in Berne in 1937, will proLably be given to the jury late this afternoon. Both sides completed the submission of evidence this morning and began the presentation , of the arguments. The son is asking $1,055 in his claim for personal services for the; care of his father during several .llnesses preceding his father's death. He alleged that he first' cared for his father from April 1. i 1931 to June 1. 1933. and continued at various times until February 1,1 i 19317. He said his services were' worth $lO a month. In the evidence, the son stated; he quit a job in the navy to help | ' bis father and understood that he. was to be paid. The defendant. John Wendell, ex-' ecutor of the estate, son of Phillip Wendell and half-brother of the plaintiff, alleged that under the law, | members of a family were expected to care for other members of the I (CONTINUED ON PAGE EIGHT) o Huntington Recount Making Little Change — Huntington, Ind., Dec. 2—(UP) — ’ Recount of votes cast in the Nov. !; 8 election here is proving to be' pretty much of a see saw. Mayor C. W. H. Banks, bead ot tbe citizens party that requested the recount, lias made a aet gain of only 15 votes in the first six l precincts counted. His gain came . yesterday in the seventh and eighth precincts where new totals wiped I out a loss ot ten votes he sustained in the second counting of the first i four.

KlwS BUY CHRISTMAS SEALS

Price Two Cents.

Factories In Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin Closed By Strikes; Probe Violence. 12,000 MEN OUT Newcastle. Ind., Dec. 2—(UJW - The Hern-y county grand jury met in special session today to Investlgate reports of violence at the Chiysler plant resulting from a dispute between unions affiliated with the American federation of labor and the congress for industrial organizations. Approximately 3.600 men were thrown cut of work yesterday when the plant was shut down. Rumors were circulated that men had been thrown from the plant, some over a high board fence surrounding the factory, and others through doors. One foreman, It was said, had received a broken jaw during a fight. Wlti.esses to the violence were asked by Prosecutor M. M. Edwaids to appear before the grand jury. He assured them Xhat the hearing would be private and that their testimony would be kept secret The United Automobile Workers union, a CIO affiliate, claims 98 percent of the factory employes and has been waging a campaign to gain the other two percent, most of whom belong to AFL unions. Max Shaffer, state labor conciliator. said the dispute has been progressing for about two weeks. Yesterday. CIO union members stationed themselves at the plant gates ana refused to allow anyone to e.iter who did not belong to the CIO. Then the electric power in the plant was turned off and this halted all w.irk. H- was not definitely established who shut off the power. One report said it was done by AFL electric workers in protest to the CIO campaign; another said It was ordered shut off by the management. Arnold Atwood UAWA secretary here, blamed factory officials with responsibility for throwing the switch, claiming the management preferred not to operate if workmen other than CIO members were not to be allowed inside the plant. Leaders of the die sinkers union. an AFL affiliate, said, how r--’ver, that another AFL group, the 'leetrical workers, had shut off he power. Strike at Flint Flint. Mich.. Dec. 2— (U.R) —A strike of United Automobile Workers closed production at Fisher body nlant No. 1 here today. Official’ of the company, a General Motors division, said that approximately 6,500 men left their jobs at noon. The strike was voted early today by local 581 of the UAW in protest against piecework wage scales. Henry Wilson, president of the local, said a dispute over piecework wages long had been a point es contention. Specifically, only about 1,000 men in the press and metal departments were affected by the wage scale in question. After the strike vote, however, all workers in the plant walked out. Fisher No. 1 supplies bodies for Buick, which is operating at peak (CO* T ”'TNTTED ON PAGE SIX) o Memorial Service At Elks Lodge Sunday The Decatur B. P. O. Elks lodge will hold the annual memorial service at the home on North Second street Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rev. J. J. Seimetz pastor of the St. Mary's Catholic church, will deliver the memorial address. Herman Confer, exalted ruler ot the Decatur lodge when It was chartered, will preside. Special musio is being arranged. The general public is invited to attend. o — Appelman Funeral Held This Morning Funeral services for Mrs. Andrew Appelman. whose death occurred Tuesday, were held th;s morning at 9 o’clock from St. Mary's Catholic church. The requiem high mass was celebrated by Father Alvin. The services were largely attended by relatives and friends of the deceased. Burial was in the St. Joseph cemj etery.