Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 36, Number 296, Decatur, Adams County, 16 December 1938 — Page 1

XXXVI. No. 296.

hild Is Murdered 3y His Mother At Fort Wayne Today

spondency” Believed otive For Act; One hild Escapes From razed Mother. HELD IN JAIL t Wayne, Dec. 16- —(U.R)—Potbis morning said that "des(ncy” was probably the mohat caused the crazed acts of f ear-old mother who murderie of her small children and 1 to kill another. ! woman is Mrs. Ruth Reaser, of Charles Reaser, a WPA [r . About three o’clock this lug she climbed from her bed with a twelve inch butcher nearly decapitated her three half year old son Alfred Jtinea ser. i then attacked her other son, n Leroy, age five, known to • iy niates as "Tommy." Tomhowever, escaped before his , er had seriously injured him. . ties awakened Mrs. Reaser’s laughter. Ernistine, 18, who led the knife from her moth[rasp and ran with the dead ' d in her arms to the home of , ghbor. » neighbor called police, jail. Mrs. Reaser admitted the i, but police say she has giv- > motive as yet for her mad ' However, they said, they found a note at her home. contents of which they are tolding for the time being. b woman had separated from usband less than three weeks and may have been desponover this, authorities indicatThey said they could find no nee of drinking. ILDREN ME WEN WARNING —-. „i ice Warn Children To ay Out Os Old School Buildings ty police today issued a warnto all children, urging them ay out of the North and West d school buildings, notv in the ess of being razed. e officers stated that they had j ived several complaints from lents in that vicinity and on pr two occasions bad been forco drive children out of the y wrecked buildings. is officers asked the cooperaof parents in keeping their ren from frequenting the buildand playing in or near there, ey called attention to the fact a wall of one of the gutted lings, parts of a wall bricks and onery might fall on the childkal officers have signified their ntions of cooperating in an rt to keep youngsters away i the buildings. O : tarians Enjoy Musical Program splendid Christmas musical Tam was presented at the weekneeting of the Decatur Rotary 1 Thursday evening at the Rice 1. eenty members of the high »1 glee club, under the direcof Miss Helen Haubold, muiupervisor, sang several Christselections accompanied at the o by Miss Marjorie Miller. Miss a Reinking sank a solo, and s Patsy Edwards played several • ‘bets on the xylophone, oy Johnson was chairman of tho Irani. The club will not meet I week but will hold its next •bing Thursday, December 29. ta gschMm

h t' ST i uy" as Teals,

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

STATE ELECTION LAWS STUDIED Prospective Revision Os Indiana Laws Considered Indianapolis. Ind., Dec. Hi—(UP) — Prospective revision of Indiana’s election laws was attacked on two fronts today as both the Governor's election law study commission and Republican leaders met to consider .he subject. The commission’s session was an ■open one and leaders of various civic groups and public officials were on hand to testify. Compulsory use of voting machines in every precinct of the state is on revision under consideration by the commission, at an estimated cost of $1,600,000 for 1,400 additional machines. The commission also was expected to hear recommendations that the direct primary be instituted again for all state offices and the convention nominating system be abolished. Republican leaders headed by state chairman Arch N. Bobbitt also are expected to decide whether to contest the re-election of Senator Frederick Van Nuys to the floor of the senate. Fred 'Bays of Sullivan, member of the public service commission, is chairman of the election law study commission. o Native Os Decatur Dies In Arizona Mrs. Willis Magner of this city, lias received, ikord at-the deaXli. oL, Miss Lucille Gillig. a native of Decatur, who has been living in Phoenix, Arizona for the past 24 years. Miss Gillig was principal of a Phoenix school. She was born in this city November 30, 1831 and died November 21 after a long illness. 'Burial was made there. Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. O. Andrews of Douglas, Arizona and Julia of San Francisco; a brother, John of Lexington. Kentucky. o Monroe Firemen Select Officers New officers have been elected for the Monroe volunteer firemen association. They are Paul Bahner. president. Chester Brodbeck, vice-, [resident; Roger Blum, secretarytreasurer, and assistant secretarytreasurer. Harold Ray. The next meeting of the organization is to be Monday, January’ 9.- - * | Good Fellows Club J Previous total Rotary Club 14 "“ H. J- Yager 1 Friend of kiddies l H L. Center 2.00 So Cha Rea »•®’» Delta Theta Tau Alumnae.. 4.50 Good Fellow 10 . Total AUCTIONTERM I TO OPEN HERE Plan For Opening Os Reppert Auction School December 27 The 34th semiannual term of the Fred Reppert School of Auctioneering will open in this city on Tuesday, December 27, Col. Fred Reppert, founder and supervisoi of the school announced today Classes will be held daily at the Yager building on Second street during the term of three weeks. The first of the public auction sales will be held Saturday. Decembei ~ 31 on the downtown streets. Th" same instructors, including Mi Reppert and Roy Johnson, local nationally known ® uction ®® r a “J graduate of the school, will be letters were ina Ted in answer to inquiries Mrnonnert stated and one of the targ Tat classes in the schooll’s history is anticipated.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

NO SUCCESSOR NAMED YET FOR CARINET POSTS Roosevelt Says No Further Resignations Anticipated Washington, Dec. 16 — (UP) — President Roosevelt indicated today that resignations of secretary Roper and attorney general Cummings completed revisions of , his cabinet. At the same time he I warned against speculation upon successors to the retiring admlnist- ■ ration officials. The chief executive said no decisions have been made as to a successor to the attorney general who leaves the cabinet Jan. 1, or to the secretary of commerce, whose re- ' sfgnation becomes effevtive next \ Friday. He said he did not anticipate further resignations from his cabinet, and added at his press conference that it would be safer not to speculate upon possible successors to those who have retired. The president, replying to questions about possible appointments to several other federal vacancies said a vacancy on the Home Loan Bank board will be filled shortly. Lut he said he had no announcement on other vacancies—including more than a score of federal Judi- ' cial posts and the vacant seat on the supreme court bench. o Mother, Son Are Killed By Train Farmland, Ind., Dec. 16—(UP)— ’ A mother and son were killed instantly here last night when their car was struck by a freight train at a main street crossing. The dead are Mrs. Rosie Porter, 42. and her son, Ralph, 17. Ralph was a senior in the high school here and was driving the car at the time of the accident. LAST VARIETY SHOW MONDAY Final Show For Good Fellows Benefit Monday Night The final variety show, presented under the joint sponsorship of the Delta Theta Tau sorority and the WP4 recreation department, will be staged at the Catholic school auditorium Monday night at 8 o’clock. All proceeds from these shows are contributed to the Good Fellows club, Christmas charity organization sponsored by the sorori i’yAdmission to the show will be 10 cents per person. Tickets are on sole by the various members of the sorority. Prizes will be awarded Monday night to the performers adjudged best on the program. The complete program follows: Piano solo —Reginald Clifton Sagebrush Ramblers — J. Brite Family. Piano duet —Darwin Leitz and Marjorie Miller Violin solo—Betty Young, accompanist. Anne Young. Accordion solo — Rosemary Kohne Plano duet—Mildred and Alice Geirn tr German Band —R. Buckley. G. Light, R. Gentis, J. Gerber, R. Scott. Piano solo —Virginia Lee Kuhnle Tap dance —Ann Gass Vocal solo—Milton Hoffman Geels Family Mountaineers Coronet trio — Max Johnson, Fred Bierly, Robt. Ktihnle. Tap dance—Donabelle Fenimore Clarinet quartet V. Kuhnle, N. Keller, J. oJhnson, P. McAlhany Accordion solo—Norma Meyers (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) Q — Four Are Sentenced For Kidnaping Cop Lebanon, 0., Dec. 16.—<U.R>—Two men and two women who pleaded guilty to charges of kidnaping state highway patrolman Parker .W. Powell on Dec. 8 were sentencI ed today to five to 30 years imprisonment on the kidnaping charge and to 10 to 25 years on an armed robbery charge. The sentence was passed by Judge Charles B. Dechant in common please court upon Coy Russell, 29, Houston, Tex., David I. Cross, 29, Hamilton, Pa., Marie Day, 25, alias Hatfield, Ashland, Ky., and | Naomi Hayes, 25, Steele. Mo.

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, December 16, 1938.

Seized in New “Spy Trouble” Ws MVTW *. ‘ A I tK A A 1 \ U ; < I \ M if '- •-a r aS 1 1 4 l - wi fcOk M.A IIP- * ’ W Ip M1 Lj I 1 Mikhail Gorin, left, and Hafis Salich Latest outbreak of "spy troubles” in the United States concerns Mikhail Gorin. 34. left, manager of Intourist, Inc., a Soovlet agency, and Hafis Salich. 33, right, Russian-American formerly attached to the United States naval intelligence department, who were arrested in Los Angeles on espionage charges. A spokesman for the federal bureau of investigation said that "what these men did was to steal the secret information we had obtained on the Japanese military, and converted it to their (Russia's) own use.” They are held under $25,000 bail each.

DEATH CLAIMS ALFRED DANIELS Bobo Resident Dies This Afternoon After Extended Illness Alfred Daniels. 59, a life long resident of Adams county, died at his home in Bobo at 2 o’clock this afternoon after an extended illness of carcinoma. The deceased was born in St. Mary’s township January 3, 18179, the son of Harvey and Ellen DeJarDaniels. Surviving besides the widow are seven sons: Arthur, Jess and Charles Daniels, all of Decatur; Llold and Doyle Daniels, near Decatur; Carl of Bobo and George at home. Also surviving are three brothers Hugh, of Decatur; Harry of Convoy. Ohio and Ott, of Huntington; and two sisters. Mrs. Curtis Moser and Mrs. Jess Tricker, both of near Decatur. Funeral services probably will be held at the Mt. Tabor M. E. church in Bobo Sunday afternoon. o Road Contractor Is Killed In Accident Rochester, [nd., Dec. 16- (UP) — lay V. (Baker, 47, a road contractor, was killed instantly yesterday when Jacks, supponting a truck under which he was working, collapsed. causing the heavy truck to fall on him. Baker, a graduate of Purdue university, had built many roads for the state highway department in Indiana and other states. Surviving are the widow, the mother. two sisters and two brothers. o — INJURED GIRL LITTLE BETTER Slight Improvement Not-| ed In Condition Os Mrs. Deßolt —— — While some improvement was noted today in the condition of Mrs. Juanita Deßolt, 17-year-old Decatur girl, whow as" critically hurt Monday in an auto-train crash, her hus-. band, Lloyd, was reported unchang-! ed. Both are confined at the Adams' county memorial hospital. The attending physician stated today that Mrs. Deßolt was slightly improved and conscious at times. X-ray taken Thursday revealed that she sustained a skull fracture, in additionto a concussion, a fractured right leg and fractured right arm. The physician for Young Deßolt stated that he was still serious and had not improved. He also Is suffering from a fractured skull, in addition to a concussion, and a compound fracture of the right leg. Xrays also revealed that he is suffering internal injuries, Dale Bedwell, of the Homesteads driver ot the car, was released to-: day from the hospital. He had been: suffering from chest and body bruises, but was not seriously hurt.|

Local Man Fined, License Revoked Harvey Lewis, of High street, who was arrested Wednesday night by Officer Ed. P. Miller on a charge of drunken driving plead guilty to charge when arraigned before Judge Huber M. DeVoss ia Adams circuit court late Thursday Lewis was fined sls and costs and his operator's license was revoked for a period of six months. Lewis allegedly drove his car into a parked auto and trailer owned by George Sqttier. GIVE PAGEANT AGAIN MONDAY Christmas Pageant To Be Repeated At Request Os Public The Christmas Pageant "The Way”, by Ethel Gesner Rockwell, which was presented by the music section of the Roman’s club Monday evening, will be given again for the public Monday evening. Dec. 19, at 8:00 p. m. at the Zion Reformed church. The play is being repeated as the result of a popular request on the part of many who witnessed the first showing on last Monday evening. The Decatur Ministerial Association will sponsor tho presentation, which will be free to the public. A free-will offering will be taken to defray expenses ot the production of the pageant. The pageant combines dramatic and musical features in a beautiful setting, bringing out the Christmas story in a very impressive way. It has been pronounced by many persons as being the equal of, it not superior to. anything that has ever been produced in Decatur of this nature, “The Way" is a dramatic presentation of the theme of universal peace, recognizing that only in the spirit of Christ can the nations solve their problems and come to live together in brotherly understanding. In the closing scene the representatives of the various nations of the world, each dressed in native costume, come to worship at the feet of Many and the Christchild. 0 - Post Office Open Saturday Afternoon The Decatur post office will remain open Saturday afternoon to take care of the added Christmas business, Carrol Cole, assistant postmaster, announced today. —o- —— temperature readings democrat thermometer 8:00a.m 25 2:00p.m 40 10:00 a.m... ...31 3:00 p.m 40 Noon 38 WEATHER Considerable cloudiness tonight and Saturday, possibly light rain in extreme south Saturday and in extreme southwest tonight; somewhat warmer In east and south tonight, colder Saturday except in extreme southeast portion.

Head Os McKesson Drug Firm Commits Suicide As Federal Officers Probe Huge Swindle

U. S. STIFFENS ITS STAND IN WORLD AFFAIRS Strong Note Sent Hitler Over Rights Os American Citizens By Joe Alex Morris (Copyright 1938 by United Press) The United States is stiffening its position in world affairs. On Fuehrer Adolf Hitler's desk in Berlin today there is a sternlyworded note from Washington stating that the time has come for Nazis to declare that they will respect the rights of American citizens. In the corridors frequented by diplomats at Washington, the word hat gone around that former British foreign secretary Anthony Eden had been given the impression that the United States was far from convinced an Insurgent victory in Spain would serve the interests of world democracy. In the halls of the eighth PanAmerican conference at Lima. U. S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull labors energetically against fotmidabie obstacles to unite the 21 American republic in a system of freer trade and an accord against foreign military and ideo-| logical invasion. In the controlled newspapers of | Germany, caustic comment dem-i anstrates that Nazi resentment is still intense against President Roosevelt's denunciation of racial intolerance. in Washington, announcement was made that the government's export-import bank had authorized $25.0-)t),000 in credits for financing export of American farm and manufactured goods to China which has been seeking aid in her struggle against Japan. But the full importance of American foreign policy developments !-• illustrated only against a background of what has happened in Europe. In a broad way. two trends appear to be emerging. 1. A definite stiffening of the British-French front against the

Nazi-Fascist dictatorial bloc, without abandoning a desire for general appeasement on the basis of reason instead of threatened war. 2. A tentative drawing together of Poland. Rumania and the Soviet Union in eastern Europe, not because of intrinsic friendliness but because ot the danger that a Nazi-sponsored Ukrainian independence movement would cost them important territories. Proposes Mediation Lima, Peru. Dec. 16 — (U.RI — Cuba proposed to the Pan-Amer-ican conference today that the American republics attempt mediation of the Spanish civil war. The Cuban proposal was opposed by Uruguay, among others. (CONTINUED ON PAGE FOU St) FIND OHIO MAN FATALLY BURNED Johann Gunsett Found Dead Thursday At Farm Near Convoy Van Wert, 0., Dec. 16. — Karl Johann Gunsett, 60, prominent Harrison township cattle raiser, w’ho found burned to death late Thursday at his farm near Convoy. The body w T as found beside a ditch, where he had been burning weeds and brush. Dr. W. E. Beach of Middle Point. Van Wert county coroner, said Gunsett probably had suffered a heart attack or fainting spell and had fallen into the path of the fire he had started to destroy the weeds. His clothing was still smoldering when the body was found at 5:30 p. nt. Dr. Beach said he probably had been dead about two hours. Search was started when Gunsett failed to return to the farm home late yesterday. The body was discovered by his brother, Herman Gunsett, with whom he lived and a neighbor, John Schmidt. Surviving :|re three brothers, Albet Gunsett of Harrison township. William Gunsett of Convoy and Herman, and a sister, Lizzie Gunsett, who lived with him.

WIRING SCHOOL IS ANNOUNCED Arrangements To Be Made Monday Night At Monroe School A school for those persons who l will be effected if the final approval is obtained on the proposed rural electrification program In the south half of Adams county and Jay county is being arranged, according to Leland Ripley. It is proposed to make preliminary arrangements for ths school at a meeting to be held Monday evening at 7:30 o'clock in the Monroe high school. I At this school (best methods of I wiring and making electrical attachments will be explained. This will be of great value to all who will be explained. This will be of great value to all who will receive electricity in their farm homes if the proposed electrical extension is made, proponents of the school I have stated. All easements for the light lines in addition to the necessary petitions and other requirements have been sent by the local committee to Washington for final approval. It is necessary that an appropriation be made before the government can I loan the money for the construction I of the lines. • Residents of the south half of I Adams county joined with Jay coun- ' ty in oder to have sufficient potential customes to make the project . possible. —— o— —— NEW AIR MAIL SERVICE GIVEN Local Post Office Announces New Schedule In Air Mail Mrs. Lola P. Macklin, acting postmaster. has announced a new air , mail scehdule, which became es-

fective Thursday. Eastbound air mail, if in the local post office by 11:45 a. m. each day will be taken to Fort Wayne and then by air to New York, arriving there by 10:43 p. m. the same day, an 11-hour service. A 22-hour service is offered to the west coast. Air mail is to be in the office at 11:45 a. m. and will arrive in California at 9:30 a. m. the next day. Eastbound planes leave Fort W’ayne at 10 a. m. and 4:55 p. tn., westbound planes at 12:30 p. m., and 8:15 p. m., under the new schedule. The use of air mail has been urged by the local post office, as well of those all over the country to increase speed in delivery. Air mail requires three cents per ounce more than the regular postage. An ordinary letter, which would require three cents, needs six cents in stamps to travel by ■ air. I Postal officials here issued a statement, informing patrons that I service could not be speeded up by ■ using air mail to such points as Chicago and closer points. School Busses Are Inspected Today ’ Officers Truman Bierie and Russell Prior of the Indiana state police this morning inspected all school tusses used in the northern halt ot Adams county. The busses in tho .southern half ot the county were to be inspected this afternoon. . o—■ * - -4 Buys Health Bond Delta Theta Tau sorority has voted purchase of

a $5 health bond, W. Guy Brown, chairman ot the Christmas Seal drive, announced today. Proceeds from the health bond fund are used to aid in the fight against tuberculosis and to provide milk for unde rnourlshed children.

CHRISTMAS SEALS ,j>,i igHi i ’■ Help to Protect Your Home from , Tuberculosis

Price Two Cents.

F. Donald Coster Shoots Self While Authorities Probe Swindling Acts Os Company. AN EX-CONVICT New York, Dec. 16. — (U.R) —F. Donald Coster, one of the boldest swindlers of the century, killed i himself at his suburban estate at Fairfield, Conn., today as investigating agencies unearthed increasingly fantastic facts of his activities as president of McKesson & Robbins, Inc., the nation’s third I largest drug firm. Exposed as Philip Musica, eldest brother and "brains” of the swindling Musica family which perpetrated a $1,000,000 “human hair” larceny in 1912. Coster put a bullet into his head as United States authorities closed in on him in the drug company scandal. His suicide ended a swindling career which extended over nearly 40 years, the first 20 as the brilliantly daring Philip Musica and the second as the mild-mannered and apparently conservative F. | Donald Coster. Coster and two of his brothers —who posed as George Dietrick, assistant treasurer of McKesson & Robbins, and George Vernard, Canadian manager—had been indicted on charges of violating the securities act of 1934 in connection with $18,000,000 in missing assets of Mc-Kesson-Robbins. But, following the disclosure that Dietrich was George Musica and Vernard was Arthur, federal authorities were prepaing to re-arrest Coster on new and more serious charges. Involvment of the Musica family, abuptly returned to life after more than two decades of obsurity, apparently did not end with Philip. Arthur and George. Arthur Musica, alias Vernard. ad- | mitted after his re-arrest here that Robert Dietrich, who posed as the brother of the assistant treasurer and was a McKesson & Robbins production manager, also was in reality a Musica. Authorities had not known of the existence of a fourth brother but Vernard, asked if Robert Dietrich was indeed his brother, replied: “Why should 1 try to kid you?” Federal authorities said also they were investigating the possibility that Mrs. Coster, involved in the inquiry when a SIOO,OO balance in her brokerage account was tied up by court order, might actually be one of the Musica sisters, Louise or Grace. The unmasking of Coster as a man with an unsavory past was the second blow to fall upon his associates in Wall Street. His firm, I third largest of its kind in the world, with $87,000,000 listed assets and a $174,000,000 annual business. had failed two weeks ago with an $18,000,000 shortage. It was a shortage not of cash but of tangible goods —huge warehouses stocked with drugs—that had been carried on the books but did not exist. The enigma of “Coster” was comparable only to that of his company. He had the admiration and respect of the leading financiers; they had lent him $20,000,000 and distributed $16,000,000 worth of his firm's bonds so that he could expand his business—he had spent three years in prison for perpetrating a celebrated "human hair” swindle that cost his backers more than $1,000,000 25 years ago. He pulled his company through : the depression with an untarnished credit rating—his first business venture as a youth had been smuggling Italian cheese. He had written a brilliant biography for himself in the latest edition of Who’s Who —he had , been charged with perjury in 1920 (CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX) —O State Accountants Audit City Records J. H. O’Neall and G. H. See ot , the state board of accounts hava i begun the assignment of auditing II the utility records at the city hall. I They are auditing the books for 1937 in thq electric and water dei partments. Mayor A. R. Holthousa ■ today wrote William P. Cosgrove. • chief of the board of accounts, that ■ the audit also be made for 1938, I bringing the examination of the ’ public records up to January 1, I I 1939, when the present adminisj tratlon expires.