Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 36, Number 304, Decatur, Adams County, 27 December 1938 — Page 1

(L XXXVI. No. 304.

Nation’s Violent Death Toll Over Holidays Is 508

affic Accidents Cause More Than Half Os Violent Deaths On Christmas Holiday. 26 IN STATE By United Press lojent deaths from the nation's if4jay Christinas holiday sur#(j the 500 mark today, more i twice as many as were reed a year ago'for a two-day lay t mid day the total reached with traffic accidents blamed SSO. At least 158 others died anting accidents, fires, drownmurders and suicides. let year approximately 250 mt deaths were reported durthe Christmas holiday. (lifo’nia reported 45 deaths, light, ay accidents; Texas 43, isylvania 40, New York 35. . ’a and Illinois 29. iow, sleet and rain contribute o many of the traffic acciI te District of Columbia. Delae. Idaho, Montana. Nevada, de Island, Vermont and Wyig sported no violent deaths. State Toll Heavy he Christmas holiday toll of dental deaths in Indiana at?d to 26 Tuesday as the vic’lm of freezing temperasi was reported. Sester McDonald. 35, a facworkman, was found frozen leath in an alley in the indussec’ion of Muncie. The body, [only in a light suit, was found Floyd Swain. slice said an investigation dised that McDonald had been Sting. Tracks in the fresh r revealed that he had walked n the alley and stumbled over le of cinders ighteen persons were killed in tic accidents over the threeweekend. The other violent th' resulted from miscellan i accidents. stomobile accidents accounted the majority of the fatalities 115 reported ’deaths. Miscelous accidents — burns, gun ads. electrocution — brought auir.ber of known dead to 22 le scores were Injured re. Al Scheer, 51, Logansport her son, Al, Jr., of Washing D. C., were killed in a headon Ision last night at Union Hills state road 6, six miles south a Porte. >’ wis the wife of a LogansI tavern operator who had ed baseball with Indianapolis in American association about years ago. Her car collided i one driven by Maurice Wolfof Chicago. She was killed sntly and her son. home for holidays, died several hours >■ Wolfers received minor in ii. ir. Edward Habegger, 52. Mr of the Hope Evangelical rch near Celiita, 0., died early if from injuries received when bNTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) «pital Patients Are Entertained Christmas Indents of the Hawkins school 3 of Monroeville, taught by Mrs. rlVan Horn, sent favors for all trays and a»gift for all, which 1 used Christmas day in the Ad--1 county memorial hospital. The ' and Martha class of the Me“st church sent Christmaa sting cards to each of the patPristtnas even, a group ot carolrinder the leadership of Rev. R. iGraham, entertained the patif with carols and Christmas p. Sunday, a male quaytet from r' e sang for the patients. The F et was composed of Louis and pst Worthman, John HUderman. r William Kruetzman. [Buys Health Bond — ♦ Eastern Star lodge has vot-

ed purchase of a $5 health bond. W. Guy Brown, chairman of 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 tor unde rnourisbed children.

k’STMAS pALS ®l F (o Protect E Nwn e#iwn p'ltufofig

DECATUR DA! LY DEMOCRAT

SEVERAL MINOR ACCIDENTS ARE REPORTED HERE Snowstorm, Ice Cause Numerous Traffic Accidents Over Holiday Hazardous driving conditions and an unusualy heavy amount of holiday traffic prbdueed a series of auto accidents near Decatur over the Christmas holiday with but one or two persons badly hurt. Probably the most severely hurt was Jack Holthouse, who sustained a fracured jaw, loss of four teeth, face and scalp injuries, when the auto he was driving was sideswiped by one driven by Charles Wood of Ohio City. The accident occurred on federal road 224. east of this city at 2 a. in. Sunday. Bryce Harvey, of east of Decatur, w’ho was riding with young Holthouse, was unhurt. Merle Stetler, of Van Wert, 0.. and DeWitte Koch and Ronald Sheehan, riding with Wood were not hurt. Holthouse was brought to the Adams county memorial hosital, but was to be released today after The advent of the snowfall late Monday created a series of accidents with no major losses reported in property damages or serious injuries. Cars driven by Thural Stults, of route one, and Dewey Wells of Fort Wayne, collided Monday about 4:15 o'clock on federal road 224 east of the city. Wells' young daughter sustained a cut on the right eye. The drivers were unhurt. The girl was brought to a local physician’s office for treatment. ' State Officer Russell Priffr investigated. Fifteen minutes later, cars driven by Robert Anderson of route three and Otto F. Miller, \an Wert, Ohio, collided on federal road 224 several miles east of the first accident scene. Mrs. Miller leceived minor injuries. Mrs. August Wilson and her niece, who were riding with Anderson, escaped injury. Officer Prior investigated. Cars driven by Clarence A. Baminger of Ontario. Virginia, and William Price of Berne, collided on federal road 27 north of Decatur about 4:30 o'clock at the height of the snowstorm. Sheriff Dallas Brown investigated. A series of minor accidents -were also reorted on federal road 27 after the snowfall and rain turned the pavement into a glare of tee. At one time 11 cars were rented in the ditch between Decatur and Fort Wayne. Saturday night at 10 oclock two • roNTTN1 jED ON PAGE FIVE) —-o — DEATH CLAIMS EDMOND FULTON Spanish - American War Veteran Dies After Year’s Illness Edmund Spanish-Ara-orinnn War veteran, died this Is at 9 50 o'clock at the ' no ’ " Ml . an d Mrs. Frank Car- '» Md -'AX Passwater or Willshire, Charles ’“ i “ direction ot Arthur tt l"l l ’ r e, B C '7"l'l l el M ot <" ■*- Church of Goa, ceased was a member.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

DELEGATES TO PAN-AMERICAN SIGN PROJECTS Eighth Pan - American Conference Ends This Afternoon Lima, Peru, Dec. 217—(UP)—Delegates to the eighth pan-Americ.au conference met today to sign 111 resolutions, declarations and projects which they have approved, including the “declaration of Lima” with its pledge of continental solidarity against aggression. The first signature was that ot Narciso Garay, foreign minister of Panama, who was the first to arrive at the conference hall The singing was by order of arrival rather than alphebetically. The conference will end this afternoon at a plenary session where delegates will sign the conference's “final act" which lists all its activities. United States delegates, content with the declaration of solidarity signed after many days of dispute planned to sail tor home •□morrow morning in the liner Santa Maria, after attending a banquet tonight at which President Oscar R. Benavides. of Peru, and secretary ot state Cordell Hull, leading tne United States delegation, will be the principal speakers. Alf M. Landon. Republican Presidential candidate in 193 G and a member of the United States delegation, left for home by airplane yesterday. Delegates, discussing their work today, listed their main accomplishments as follows: 1— The declaration of Lima on continental solidarity against aggression. 2 — A declaration on stimulation ot trade. 3— The denial ot the right of foreigners to exercise collectively in on American country such political rights as they would enjoy in their own countries. 4. The denial, to the same end of preventing infiltration of foreign ideas in the western hemisphere, of the right of foreign groups to (CONTINUED on PAGE FIVE) 0 CHURCH CHOIR PLANS CONCERT First U. B. Church Choir To Give Cantata Wednesday The choir of the First United Brethren church, corner of Ninth and Madison streets, wil present the Christmas cantata, "Prepare Him Room,” Wednesday evening at 7:30 P. M. This is a cantata for mixed voices, based on popular Christmas Carols. The program is under the direction of Harold Mumma, and is open to the public. The following selections will be sung: “Det Every Heart Prepare Him Room”—Choir. “The Silent. Holy Night”—Choir, soprano solo by Mrs. Glen Hill, duet by Mrs. Hill and Miss Clara Mumma. “Oh Come to Us, Abide with Us —soprano solo by Mrs. James Weber. “The Angels”—the choir. “Omay in a Manger”—woman's trio Miss Naomi Ward, Miss Kathryn Jackson, and Miss Margie Foughty. “Three Kings of Orien. mens three-tpart chorus, tenor solo by Edward Deitsch, baritone solo by David Wynn, and bass solo by Sephus “There is Room in May Heart — alto solo Iby Miss Julia Passwater, choir refrain. „ "The Herald Angels Sing —Duet tor women’s voices. „ “Glory to the Newborn King — choir. Stolen Automobile Is Recovered Here A car belonging to Laurence Braun, reported stolen early Saturday evening from in front of the Chevrolet garage on North Third street, where Mr. Braun stopped briefly, was recovered on East Monroe street about 10 o’clock the same night. An alarm had been broadcast by the state police radio station at’Columbia City. The car was found bv Night Officer Roy ChilJ ote it was not damaged and evidently had been driven only a few blocks before it was abandoned.

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, December 27, 1938.

Innocent Cause of Killing

> j n * vX I M Juwjx' V W** I 1 * WwW*4 % A 'Siu : A A' N. 4

Because their unemployed father. William Rousseau, too poor to buy a Christmas tree, tried to take one from a nursery at Grafton, 0.. belonging to William Case, Geraldine and Rose Rousseau spent a tragic Christmas. Their father was shot and killed, their mother gravely wounded. Case, 84, was jailed.

WINTRY BLAST STRIKES CITY Temperatures Drop To 10 Above Zero After Ice, Snow Storm The first real wlntery blast of the season struck the city and community with full force Monday night, making local residents appreciate for the first time the extremederate weather of the past few weeks, despite the latenes’ of tha season. Opening with a soft, wet snowfall Monday afternoon, the weather change corroborated the predictions of weathermen who forecast weather such as the city was experiencing today. Close on the heels of the light snowfall Monday came rain, sleet and Ice that made driving and walking both uncomfortable and hazardous. This morning a strong wind continued, holding the therometer down to 10 degrees most ot the morning. At 8 o’clock the Democrat thermometer recorded 10 degrees above zero and at noon, had moved up but one degree. A continuance of the cold spell was seen for tonight by weather prophets. - — Fremont Girl Is Suicide Victim Fremont, Ind., Dec. 27 —(UP) - * Funeral services are being arranged today for Miss Frances Schafer, 19. who shot herself here yesterday. HlHealth was believed the motive.

George Geisler Tells Story Os Being Shot In The Head

How it feels to be shot twice and lie bleeding and could with two bullets in the head for 39 hours has been described by George Geisler, 74, wealthy Van Wert, Ohio, county farmer whose vitality and physical vigor displayed at the Adams county memorial hospital are astounding physicians and furnishing one of the most amazing cases in medical history. Geisler will recover, physicians believe, barring complications which are now considered unlikely. It was said today that after enduring suffering and privations which would have “killed an ordinary man,” about the only result of the shooting as far as Geisler Is concerned Is more suffering than usual from his rheumatism, especially in his knees, probably caused by lying for such a long time In the cold summer kitchen of his home in Willshire township, Van Wert county, three and a half miles east of Willshire, Ohio, and near Schurnm, Ohio. Describes Attack Van Wert county, Ohio. Sheriff R. B. Stevens, who is heading the |

Schafer Salesmen In Annual Conference The annual salesmen's conference of the Schafer Company, wholesale hardware concern, opened this morning at the company's office on First street. The salesmen from all the territories covered by the company are attending the meeting. Company officials are in charge of the conference, which will also be attended by the different department heads of tile —o AUCTION TERM OPENED TODAY Semi-Annual Term Os Reppert School Opens Today The semi-annual winter term of the Fred Reppert School of Auctioneering opened this morning in the >ager building on Second street. Classes were opened by Col. Fred Reppert, founder of the school, who addressed the students. Instructors ot the school, including Col. Roy Johnson, Cel. Earl Garten, Col. Guy Pettit and Rev. Harry W. Thompson, also spoke briefly. The complete list of students that had enrolled in the course could not be compiled by school stenographers today. The inclement weather had prevented several from reaching the city after leaving their homes. Approximately 30 students report<CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE)

investigation to apprehend the assailant, said today he has some slender clues to work on, chiefly gained through a conversation with Geisler, who remained completely conscious throughout, the ordeal and was able to describe the attack with accuracy born out by evidence unearthed at the scene of the crime. The hour of the shooting has been fixed at approximately 7:30 o'clock, Thursday night. Geisler said he was reclining on a chair in his summer kitchen when he felt “a sting" at the back of his head, which knocked him to the floor. Shortly after he was able to crawl back to and partly on the chair, when another shot hit him, also in the back of the head. This again toppled him to the floor, where he lay until discovered. He saw or heard no one. The investigation revealed that two shots had been fired at different angles through the screen, and window of the summer kitchen. Tracks around the window In(CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)

SEVERE GOLD WAVESWEEPS DOWNONU.S. Below Zero Temperatures Forecast Tonight, Wednesday By United Press A col<- wave swept down from ; Canada today bringing sub-zero temperatures to the United States and sending thermometers to their lowest points of the winter. Canada and the north central states felt the brunt today but U. 8. Forecaster J. R. Lloyd at Chicago said the cold would nip the Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of Mexico tonight or tomorrow. Gales roared across the Great Laker region with winds reported as high as 42 miles an hour at Wausau, Wis. Snowfall stopped in tne coldest regions but the high winds caused drifting and blocked ■ many roads. Major airlines reported many of their planes wete grounded last night but said today that service J was being resinned on normal scheduler. Coldest temperatures in the United States were recorded at Minot and Devil's Lake, N. D.. where the thermometer reached 22 degrees below zero. Bemidji. 1 Mina., reported 2d below and | Duluth 14 below. The minimum reported in Canada was 58 below at Mayo, Yukon territory, where the cold wave first struck after a mass of cold air formed over Nome, Alaska. Edmoi.ton and Battleford in western Canada shivered at 34 degrees below zero while the temperature touched 24 below at Winnipeg and 28 below at Regina. Lloyd said the cold wave had reached western Ohio this morning ard predicted severe cold for the Atlantic states in 12 to 24 houis. Even Florida, where Mitral reported a 70 degree temperature today, will not be spared, he said Some southern cities already have semi temperatures drop 20 degrees in the past 24 hours. At Memphis the recording fell 22 degrees to 22 above zero. Snow was said to be still fall i ing in parts of Michigan, Ohio and northern New England. Twenty Inches of snow was reported i ON PAGE THREE) I O Infirmary Inmates Here Entertained A group of local citizens was host to the men and women of the county infirmary Saturday evening. A large lighted Christmas tree and Christmas decorations helped keep the holiday spirit. Cigars were given to the men and handkerchiefs were given to the women and candy was given to everyone. After the program, the group was taken on an inspection tour of the home. Many gifts were sent out by citizens and the handkerchiefs were given by the Elks lodge, the cigars by McConnell and Sons and the candy by Mrs. Jesse Rice's Sunday school class of the Presbyterian church. CIVIL SERVICE EXAMSATDRDAV Applicants For Postmaster To Take Exams Saturday

The civil service examination incident to the appointment of a postmaster of the Decatur post office will be held Saturday afternoon in this city, according to notices received by applicants and an announcement made by Carrol Cole, secretary of the local civil service board. The exact hour of holding the examination has not yet been determined. In all probability the gathering of 18 applicants for the federal post will be held at the new junior-senior high school building. Mr. Cole stated he would ask permission of the school authorities to hold the examination at the school building. A requst has also been made by Mr. Cole to have the civil service commission send a representative here to conduct the tests. Eighteen applicants have filed to take the examination. Os the three highest certified to the civil service commission, one of the three will be appointed postmast- ' er. It is exected that the appointment will become effective early I in February.

Two Adams County Persons Are Fatally Injured Monday

CITY TO WORK AFTER HOLIDAY Two-Day Christmas Holiday Celebrated In Decatur Although lessened somewhat by the sudden cold wave, business in the city and community returned to normalcy today after a two-day commeroration of Christmas. Business men and emp'oyes re- 1 turned to their work today, as did factory workers and laborers after I celebrating the event with families I and relatives. The celebrating of Christmas was brought to a close last night with [ the annual charity ball at the Deca ! tur Country Club, sponsored by the ' Psi lota Xi and Delta Theta Tau sororities. Family gatherings and theater parties for the most part comprised the second day's commemoration on Christmas. Large crowds attended the churches of the city Sunday, to hear Christmas programs, and Christmas sermons delivered by the respective church pastors. Crowds attended te nine masses at the St. Mary's Catholic church, beginning early Sunday morning. Today was a return to normalcy for most everyone but school children. The students of Decatur are still on vacation and will not lie required to return to classes until I Tuesday, January 3. The students in the rural schools of the county are also on vacation, but will return to classes one day earlier January 2. Stores in the city were preparing today tor annual after Christmas axid January clearance sales as a stimulant to the shopping let-down experienced each year after ths cerebration of Christmas. LEO GILLIG IS NAMED DEPUTY Sheriff-Elect Miller ReAppoints Present Deputy Sheriff Sheriff-elect Ed P Miller announced today the reappointment of Leo Gillig as chief deputy sheriff of Adams county. Deputy Gillig has served as deputy sheriff during the past four years under retiring Sheriff Dallas Brown. Mr. Gillig will atsume the office under his new appointment at midnight Saturday, December 31. when Mr. Miller assumes the office of sheriff ol Adams county. Mr. Gillig will continue to handle the office duties of the sheriff's department in the county courthouse. The deputy appointee has also served as riding bailiff under Judge Huber M. DeVoss during! the past four years. No announcement of the riding bailiff appointee has been made to date by Judge-elect J. Fred Fruchte. Mr. Gillig is a former General Electric factory employe, is married. has six children and resides on Jonn street.

-v Meat Market, Home Damaged By Fire A fire believed to have originated f.om an overheated stove did damage estimated at between S3OO and S4OO Sunday night at 8 o’clock befor it was extinguished by the city fire department, at the Earl Sudduth residence and meat market ou South Thirteenth street. The fire began in the southwest part of the dwelling and quickly spread through the frame structure. Damage to the front part of the house and the meat market was i chiefy done by smoke. o TEMPERATURE READINGS DEMOCRAT THERMOMETER 8:00 a.m 10 2:00 p.m 14 10:00a.m 10 3:00 p.m 12 Noon 11 WEATHER Generally fair tonight and Wednesday; considerably colder tonight

Price Two Cents.

Fatally Injured In Two Accidents In Wells County Late Monday Afternoon. RITES THURSDAY Two Adams county persons lost their lives In auto accidents in Wells county over the Christmas holiday. Rev. Ed O. Habegger, 53, pastor of the Mt. Carmel church in Jefferson township and of the Hope Evangelical church near Celina. Ohio, died this morning at 4:30 o'clock in the Wells county hospital of Injuries received at 3:30 p. in. Monday in an accident on state road 118 near Mt. Zion, Wells county. Miss Mary J. Sprunger, 73. of Berne, died at 5 o'clock Monday evening in the Wells county hospital of injuries sustained in u collision two miles east of Bluffton. Monday evening at 4 o'clock. Rev. Habeggei suffered a skull fracture, a triple fracture of the left leg. when the auto driven by his son, Orlyn, 18. skidded, left the road and almost wrapped itself around a tree. The son and Mrs. Habegger are in the Wells county hospital but are not thought to be seriously hurt. Mrs. Habegger suffered three broken ribs, while Orlyn was knocked out but was not seriously hurt, and anotner son escaped with only minor bruises. Miss Sprunger died in the hospital of a fractured skull and other 'n.iuries sustained in the accident about one hour earlier. Charles Fisher. 17, of near Petroleum. was the driver of the other car in the accident. The Fisher auto is reported to have skidded directly into the path of the other car. Fisher is iu a critical condition in the Wells county hospital with a crushed head. Lee Wittwer, 36. of Bluffton, driver of the car in which Miss Spruugei wh» riding escaped with head lacerations. Mrs. Wittwer sustained a fractured left leg, cuts on the head and body Their son, Larry. 4. received slignt bruises and a sister of Miss Spi unger, Mrs. Selma Lannert of Monroe, received minor injuries. With Fisher were his son, Charles; a younger son, Francis, who received minor bruises; his wife, 45. who received a compound fracture of the left leg and a severe neck Injury. Both of the families had been attending Christmas gatherings and were enroute home. Habegger Rites Thursday Funeral services for Rev. Habegger will be held Thursday at 12 o’clock noon (CST) at the Celina, Ohio Evangelical church and 2:30 o'clock (CST) at the Berne Mennonite church, with burial in the M. R. E. cemetery. Rev. Habegger was born in Berne, the son of Solomon and CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) o 76THCONGRESS MEETS JAN. 3 Congress To Bring Fight Over Control Os Democratic Party Washington, Dec. 27 — <U.R) — The 76th congress, elected last month In the first major new deal political reverse, meets one week from today for a prolonged contest over control of the Democratic party. Anti • administration Democrats are maneuvering to divert the new dea 1 to less experimental paths leading directly to the nomination of a conservative presidential candidate ir. 1940. None is yet certain whether President Roosevelt will compromise or i fight. Neither is it established [ that conservative Democrats will go through with their plan to regain a controlling voice in party affairs. Mr. Roosevelt will define the general battle lines in two messages to be delivered during the first week of the new congress. On Jan 4 he will deliver his annual message to a joint session of house and senate. The budget message probably will be read to congress by clerks the following day. The nature of Mr. Roosevelt’s (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE)