Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 37, Number 105, Decatur, Adams County, 3 May 1939 — Page 1

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■S, OFFICERS MJYPLANTO h DEFENSES Xaval Bases Lur <i To Bolster I MOI . ■ <■ -JBpi» - """ W, ■Mm- o and Ecuador on ul K n was indicated that official* many possible 1,., the- bar ’ . ‘upti.i«iz. .| * , L) . • Ht»' ~ -I. f. nw- • ley It k 111 I , l<»i'.l|plan for hemispherical . 'li' 't>. B" - t<> v "t .■\ . x - - < a. ! a tti.' < .1.-. |. th.' , ' ix ||H Sth III.Ko .111.1 .it 1.-usi an u|r ' " ' ' " P’TMOVETO ■IDICATE IB ( onunixsioners Contract With ■Bate \ ctcrinarian gBSBIII — -—I.. I '■' ' . JwH"'' 1 ‘"'ill ~| .otnuiiM ■t”- 1 •• . out,a. . ®HW. ' ' ' -tai- x. I..|| h 1 ’ '■•' I", th,, i,uulu, i ' ' ■■"* '■ *t» BI ,„„, K ■B' ( V! ‘->'- ...lintv until 111. g||£? ' 'bnt.il t„ n„t mor.. ‘tiul on. half jmi emit M ' * ' '■ 'I in«|>..< tl.mi. :.!.■ 1 Him to |B' l '.',’ ■"•»«•<. by ~ <>f mu ppt . mo „| h BBT >l " “' lh " "f flv.""I- I» Io |„, |W |,| h> . 'bf total coat to '« not to Jr,!,,, Ma.'"“'"> l» utao to furnish "' I'ottka. ahi, h Wllll ;.| 88, " l ""'» which h><».. Mr AM, ’ y "PJ”*"' MBT *, ' '-btra the. board SB '■'"""••nltiK of th.. 1>... : , '"""' F "b md Agil.nl '., "'"'•< lai lon «|„| || |> lv '" , "« k chairman. alao ” for " ' br ’-••rd and ar ■ * to use the t| h ** r on First ■tarn. '”'"' k ""' btlr R^Kr>,«" r " 1 " * ,,,n " “* I'* prev |B Mper ature readings CR *T T HRRMOMETER Boam ra *OO pm. 68 ■ !z'' 5, 3 00 p m 78 ■' *tATHtR not to cool tonight; K warn,,""***'" 8

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Accident Victim In Taken From Hospital Mra. Herman Vfhril. of ton. Mho waa in J Hind in an •evident at Rerrnth and Monroe atrewla teat R.itutttey ntehf. waa taken i 0 a p„ rt I Wayne hospital today ana placed i ui. h-r the rare .rs the family phval clan, the attending physician h-re stated Further X rays proved Hut Mra. I ftell sustained a fractmed ver-‘ terbrae In the neck, the piiyalctea .dated. She la reported l.nprovkng i however. PETITIONS ARE GIVEN COUNCIL Eight Petitions Presented To City Council Tuesday A abort session «»f the Decatur 'city council test night In the council chambers of the city hall waa featured by an avalanche of pet I Ilona from local citigena. Kight petitions were formally presented to the council, some of which were represented In persoit by one or more signers. A petition for the Improvement of the north end of Re -ond street between U. 8. road ST and the Pennsylvania railroad tracks by the installation of a curbing on em;h aide was read to the council The petition was signed hy Della Moser. Ram Acker. Central Sugar company and others The petition stated that property owners would pay for material coats, and pro- ' ptmed that WPA labor lie used The matter was referred to tht' street and sewer committee. A petition for a sidewalk on the south aide of the same sett ion of Second street waa signed by the i Central Sugar company. Samuel Acker and others It was also referred to the street and sewer com mlttee. A petition hy Charles and Am anda Berning for a rural light line ■ in R.xot township along the Otegen road waa read to the council. The I propose. I line would be three-fifths of a mile In length and would start |at the line already constructed which terminates at the Albert • Schroeder farm The petition waa referred to the board of publlc worka and safety. A petition, signed by John Smith . •nd others, asked the council to order the opening of the alley from Marshall street at the rear of the Robert Gage residence to Park street to permit passage of i vehicles The matter was referred to the street and sewer commit tee with power to act. Ask Fire Protection A petition signed by the Wsyne Novelty company. Sam Acker and others, asked for the installation of a water main from Washington street to Tenth street and a hydrant at the intersection of the two streets as protection against tire haaards. The petition cited the lack of adequate Are fighting facilities and stated that the installation of the main was endorsed by Fire Chief Ed Hurst The matter waa referred to the water committee. A petition for the improvement lof North Walnut street was received from Floyd Acker and otb era. The petition asked that stone be placed along the side from the bard surface to the curbing mid that It be re-surfaced where needHXMiTtNCKD ON PAOW riVKI MURDER TRIAL JURY OBTAINED Allen County Prosecutor Asks Death Penalty For Miller Fort Wayne, hid.. May 3.-~fUN> —After almost three days of quaotloning nearly I<W perspective Jut ors. Prosecutor C. Bynm Hayes and defense attorney Wayne Miller today agreed on li men to try Adrian Miller, 81. on the charge of rape and murder. Hayes Immediately began hie opening statement to the jury, asking for the death penalty Miller Is charged with rape and murder of an 18 yeur-old Alice May Olrton. a Winchester. Ind., farm girl who came to Fort Wayne in the hope of entering a bualneaa career She and Miller lived In the same morning house. Last October 18. her nude body was found oil the floor of her bedroom. her own underclothing forced down her throat choking her to death Uss than U hours later police announced Miller had confessed the crime. Throughout the flrat two days of the trial Miller has t-een attentive. his eyes downctfct. sitting i iCONTINUBD ON PAGE BIX)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

JAPS DEMAND CHANGE MADE AT SHANGHAI I demand "Thorough Reorganization" Os Shanghai Settlement Tokyo. May 5,- <U.PI--Japan Informed Great Britain and the Vnlted Rtatea tonight that she demands a "thoroughgoing reorganisation" of the international settlement at Rhaughal The Japanese demands were conveyed to Joseph C. Grew. Vnit•il States ambassador, and Nir Robert L. Cralgle. British envoy, by Renso Rawada, vice-minister tor foreign affairs. The vice minister demanded a "revamping ' of the Rhaughal land regulations —a step which might lead to abolition of the settlement in which the British have investments running into hundreds of millions of dollars. The ambassadors called at the foreign office separately, at Raw-t ada'a request, and were given ana-1 were to represenlationa they preranted two montha ago relative to 1 incldenta In and around the Shanghai settlement in which Japan. Britain and the United States all are interested. Sawada said that It Is obvious. In view of the changed situation In China, that the whole set-up at Shanghai needs to be re-examiiu-ii and pointed out that criticism of the present complicated arrangement generally are “justifled” The criticisms cited by the vice- • minister included assertions that: 1. The British dominate all important posts In tbe mundpal council, the settlement's general government. I The British hold a majority of all offices at the disposal of the . council. 3. The present control of the I settlement tends to the continuation of power of a British-controll-ed '•oligarrby " < Japanese groups in the set-, tlement deserve a larger represen-' tation in all settlement affairs "be- ’ cause of our enormous holdings tn : the Shanghai area." BLUFFTON MAN DIES TUESDAY Charles W. Decker, Court Bailiff, Dies In Chicago Charles W. Decker. 82. promln-, ent Bluffton citlsen. and well known in Decatur, died Tuesday night in Presbyterian hospital in Chicago, where be submitted to removal of a brain abscess last Ratutday. His condition had been regarded as Improved until a few hours before death. .Mr. Decker was injured when he was struck by an automobile at Huntington on the night of the regional basketball tournament He had failed to respond to treatment, although his condition was not considered serious until a tow days ago Mr. Decker was prominent in county and civic affairs Beginning in 1310 he served four years as Wells county surveyor. He also had served as a member of the' city school board and was a former city eotmcilmab His inAst recent position was that of Wells circuit court bailiff. Born In Rockcreek township. I Walls county. March 15. 1877. he had resided fc Bluffton most of his life. He Is survived by the widow, Lillie M Decker; two daughters. Mrs. Verdi Vllman and Mra. Ruth Frensh: both of Bluffton; a son, Charles. Jr., of Bluffton; five brothers. Judge John F lAecker of Wells circuit court; Jesse, trustee of Rockford township; Rufus, George and D. N. Decker, all of Wells county, and two sisters. Funeral services will be held at the residence in Bluffton Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rer. Matthew Worthman. pastor of th" Bluffton Reformed church, will officiate. Duke And Duchess To Visit America Paris, May 3—<VP>—Tne Duke ' and Duchess of Windsor plan to virlt the world's fair in New Vock late this summer after George and Queen Elisabeth return from ’ their American tour, It was reported today. A member of the Duke's entourage said that no date had been set for the trip but that ths Windsors would not leave France While the Klug and Queen were away from England, fn accordance with an understanding with the British gov-i jenment.

Ih’catur, Indiana, Wc dnesday. May 3. IS3U.

They’re Beating Conscription I : VWw !— "—- —a These English youths, pushing their way Into an army recruiting >fflce in B<-ottend Vard. London, want to enlist before the new conscription tew liecoines effective and they are drafted into service.

DEFENDANT IS FREED BY JURY City Court Jury Acquit* John Engle Shortly Before Noon After deliberating only AS min- ■ utes. a city court jury shortly bafore noon today acquitted John' Engle. es thia city, of a charge of I driving an auto while under the | influence of Intoxicating liquor The jury retired shortly after 111 o'clock this morning with the case, | after hearing the final arguments i of ‘Prosecutor Arthur E. Vogle-' w«de and defense attorney Hubert R McCTenahan and the Instrue- : Hous of Mayor Forrest Eltey. At 11: AS o'clock they knocked at the door aud annonnceu they, '• had arrived at a verdict. It was reported that eight ballots were taken and that on the first ballot the vote wan nine to three for acquittal. Introduction of evidence was concluded last evening before adjournment. when the defendant, John Engle was called to the stand. The defendant and each 1 of the defense witnesses called to testify on thst phase, stated that Engle had but one bottle of beer i and that he did not stagger, talk incoherently nor appear under the Influence State Policeman Russell Prior > and other state’s witnesses test Isled that Engle staggered, mumbled Incoherently and did appear to be intoxicated. State's witnesses Included Offlecr Prior, who msde the arrest on April «; Sheriff Ed P. Miller, who received Engle at the jail: David B Heller, who was with Officer Prior at the time of the arrest: | Daymen Case. Itartender at a local store, where Engle allegedly purchased beer. The defense wit- • CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUKI TAKE STEPS IN i ROUTING OF 27 Council Gives Board Or Works Power To Further Action Another step toward the proposed re-routing of federal road 27 vis Thirteenth street through the city of Decatur, was taken Inal night during the regular meeting of the city council. The council, upon motion of Morris Plngry. moved that the board of public works and safety be empowered to Investigate further Into the proposed changing of the highway. The power given the hoard of public works and safety by the motion. Mr. Pinugry explained, is only that of furthering the movement but Is a definite step toward securing the proposed change As yet no word has been received from the state regarding eat I- > mated coats of procuring rights of way In making such a change. Estimates by interested parties vary, although several have suggested that tB.OOO would be an approximate figure. Upon receipts of the estimates from the right of way department of the state highway commlasion, definite action on the proposed re-, I routing la expected to be taken j by the council.

Recreation Craft Shop Sponsored Here One of the most worthwhile ac tivitiea sponsored by the WPA recreation department la the craft shop, located In the Central school At the present time about ItMi lioys are taking advantage of thia opportunity to work with tools. Dowell Kinger, an experienced craftman is supervising this project. instructing the boys in the use of woodworking tools Bel sides the hand tools, the shop also j is equipped with an electric wood lathe and a jig-saw. Adults are also cordially invited to use the shop, which la open I from 1 to It p in. HEAR CHARGE OF MONOPOLY City Council Receive* letter Charging Gas Monopoly A communication from the citv council of Detroit, regarding an alleged monopoly by natural gas companies, was read to the city council by clerk treasurer H. Verrun Aurand last night and teferred to the board of public works and safety. The communication urged the council to pass a resolution asking that the federal government investigate the charged monopoly. The communication charged violation of the anti-trust law by th«» Panhandle Eastern Pipe tine company and the Columbia Um compauv in supplying natural gas. The council au» passed in ordln ! i.nce form last night during thn meeting the fixing of a number of i regular paid firnmen and the salary which they are to receive The < uuncll voted at a previous meeting upon the question in motion form. The ordinance as read to the conn’ll last night, fixed the number of | firemen as four and the salaries as foilown: foreman of building and (CONTINUED ON PAGE MIX) Montgomery Named Deputy To Jackson Indianapolis. Ma;‘ 3—(UTl—Th" sppolniment of Chester R. Montgomery, former Indiana securities commissioner as deputy attorney general was announced today by [Governor M. Clifford Tovnsetnl Montgomery succeeds Joseph ■O. Hoffman. Who was yesterday named securities commissioner to sutceed Montgomery. 0 Dog Owner* Asked To Call At Office All persona who have not .l-een assessed or have not paid their dog taxes wcer urged today by Washington township assessor Will' Winnett to call at -the county assessor's of- | fice. Mr. Winnea and E. 8. Beavers >n*.arted working on the township assessing books today. o — Legion Auxiliary To Hold District Meet A district meeting of the American Legion auxiliary will be held at Churubusco Thursday, May, 11. All auxiliary members planning to ' attend are asked to call Mrs. Dal- | la* Brown not later than Monday.

Britain Ready To Consider Giving Assurance To Hitler On Non-Aggression Proposal

OPERATORS OF MINES SUBMIT NEW PROPOSAL Producers Propose Contract To End Soft Coal Dispute New York. May 3 XUJ9- Wagehour negotiators for miners in the ' Appalachian soft coal industry toI day questioned certain legal aspects of a contract proposed by operators to end the suspension ' whi< h hus kept 33s.immi men and MM mines Idle since April 1. | They indicated, however, that they considered the proposal, submitted yesterday, a basis for furtber discussion In today's Joint conference John L. I.ewl*. president of the I’nited Mine Workers of America, and three union attorneys went over the proposed contract carefully with a View to suggesting whatever changes they might consider necessary from a legal stand point. The union leader, who alao heads the committee of industrial organisations. Indicated no flat rejection or acceptance of the operators' formula would be forthcoming until both sides had hud further opportunity to discuss It jointly The suggested contract, designed to replace the two-year rsemen t which expired March 31. was submitted to the wage-hour conference after southern opposhk.n in the operators' group had been overridden. It was intended, its author said, to give L'MWA complete jiirisdic- , Donal protection in the eight-stat" area which produces 7» per cent >f tbe nation's soft coal. and. at the same time, to preserve all rights of management. t'nder the proposed contract, which retains the wage-hour pro-! viskms of the 1337-39 agreement operators' would apply the check-1 , off system to all mine employes I regardless .of union affiliation. The money thus deducted from ' pay envelopes would be turned over to the UMWA as a b-e tor "administering the contract* and ' not as union dues. The checkoff would not be applied to collect Initiation fees or 1 special assessments except where the employes 'hemselves gave ex press autoriiallon. The VMWA would be the exclusive bargaining agent under the ' Wagner act and would handle all grievances One legal aspect over which the union leaders expressed concrti was the matter of the bargslulug , unit which. Lewis said, was not • clearly enough defined In the op- , orators' draft. Both aides consider , the Appalachian area, for which , they have !■ rgalned collectively since ISIiJ. to be the uult. but the • tCONTtNVKD ON PAUS FOUR) CHURCH NAMES I NEW OFFICERS First Baptist Church Elects New Officers Tuesday New officers for the First Baptist church of Decatur were electr ed Tuesday evening tn the election conducted at the* church from 6 to ’ 7:30 o’clock. All new officers will be formally , Installed at the regular church service Sunday morning. I The new church officers are us follows: C. E Peterson, deacon for three years. 8. E. Hite, trustee for three years. 1 Jessie Wlnnes, financial secretary. 1 C. E Peterson, treasurer of the ’ church Ralph Kenworthy. Sunday school superintendent. Mra. R. E. Rlmntp. missions i treasurer. Mrs. Darrell Bedwell, church clerk. Darrell Bedwell, Lester John--1 son, Ralph Kenworthy. Vnughn • Hllyard, Max Boxell and Leroy 1 Huffman, junior deacons. Ned Johnson, chairman of uah- • ere.

WILL ENTERTAIN"! BOYS AND GIRLS Woman's And Rotary Clubs To Entertain Youth Thursday Thursday will be Entertainment day in the city's observance of national boys and girls week, which opened teat Saturday and will dose Friday, Decatur's observance Is sponsored jointly by the Rotary and Woman's clubs of thia city. Tbe Woman's club will entertain the girls of the seventh and eighth grades of both the public and Catholic schools at 330 o’clock Thursday afternoon. A program is being arranged and will lie presented in the dining rooms of the new junior-senior high school. Mias Eloise Lewton is chairman of the committee, assisted by Mrs. P. B. Thomas. Mias Mildred Worthman and Mrs. Ralph Yager. Members of the junior ana department of tbe Woman's cluh will alao assist the committee. The Rotary emo will entertain captains of the basketball, baseball and track teams of the Junior high and St. Joe schools at the weekly meeting of the club Thursday evening at 8:30 o'clock in the Rice hotel. Russel H. Earle, of the department of speech of Fort Wayne Central high school will be in charge of a program of musk and youth discussion. Bryce Thomas will conduct the program. The feature of today's observance of Athletic day will be the exhibition softball game at 5:80 o'clock this evening at the South Ward diamond between the Junior High school team, city grade champion, airt! a team composed of members of the Rotary club. SUIT FILED ON FORMER TRUSTEE Damage Suit Is Filed For Failure To Transfer Students A damage suit has been filed in Adams circuit court here by Fred Bilderback. of Blue Creek township against David D. Habegger, torvner trustee of that township for alleged neglect, failure and non-feasance of is duties." The suit. In which Builuerback sues as trustee sot hims. If. Leo Hoblet Intend Ripley ana Vercll Hoblet, demands judgment for |9:<s. 55. In Hie complaint, it is charged that former trustee Habecger during the last two years of Lis tetm ■•fused to trsnsfer children of the complainants to the Willshire, Ohio high school. It charges that for the past '!t> years students had ‘been transferred to WiUsiiire. because no commissioned high school was kwated tn their home township and that a staute requires the trustee to make such a transfer when requested. The complaint charges tnat Habagger did make the transfer the first two years he was In office but did not the tetter two and that the complainants paid the tuition thems.’iveq, which they seek to recovtr. cover. The summons was issued returnable May 24. , o " —— ll ■—■ Rudy Meyer Heads Conservation Club Rudy Meyer has been re-elected president of the Country Conserve- ( tlon, according to announcement 1 inrde today. Other o*’lcers are' r Theodore Kleine, vice-president; W. E. tlffelman. secretary-treasurer; , Adolph Stoppenhagon. Rutty Nord. Carl Etoergor. A. Doehmiann. Carl , Wiegman. Theodore Reiter and Honry Getting, directors. Tbe club i Is planning the annual picnic Sunday. May 21. I 0 ---* Giris 4-H Club To Meet Friday i An organteation meeting of the . Decatur girls’ 4df club will be held i Friday afternoon at 3:30 oclock In • the new high school building. AU intert sted girls are urged to attend. Miss Mildred Worthman will be in charge.

Price Two Cento.

' Great Britain Offers To Take Up Adolf Hitler . On Peace Promises; Denies Encirclement. POLES CELEBRATE Ry Joe Alex Morris Vnlted Press Foreign News Editor Great Britain offered today to take Adolf Hitler up on his pea<e promteea. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain told the house of commons that Britain was ready to consider giving Germany reciprocal assurances of non-aggreaskm. such as Hitler Yefused to give In blanket form to President Roosevelt but which he offered to negotiate with individual nations. Again Chamberlain denied any desire or Intention of encircling Germany. The prime minister’s statement assumed greater importaaoa In view of the fact that Britain, pushed by France, waa struggling with great difficulties In attempting — vainly so far — to bring Soviet Russia Into the European anti-ag-gression front on terms agreeable to the western powers After a three-hour British cabinet meeting. countei proposals were dispatched to the British ambassador at Moscow to be taken up with Soviet foreign commissar Maxim Litvinov. The chief Bfltlah difficulty at the moment is a desire to avoid any agreement with Russia which would antagonise Japan. Portugal, or other nations that fear communism and might la* pushed further Into the totalitarian camp. The tempo of developments increased. Germany's approach to the tra dltional neutral Scandinavian and Baltic Sea nations was a plan to assure their neutrality in event of war and thus achieve two Important objectives: 1. Protect the retch's vital northern flank 2. Maintain communication lines with Scandinavia which sup- | plies such war materials as Iron to Germany In return Germany would agree to fortification of the Aaland Islands in the Baltic Sea hy Finland and Sweden The Nasis also renewed with unusual vigor their newspaper barrage against Poland in advance of the speech which Polish foreign minister Josef Beck will make to parliament on Friday, presumably rejecting or making counter-pro-posals to Adolf Hitler's d»n.and for return of Dansig to the relch and for a motor highway acroaa the Polish Corridor. Whether the Nasis were preparing for a quick thrust at Poland or merely seeking to worn Be< •< against any drastic action such as declaration of a Polish protectorate over Dansig—in hla Friday speech remained to lie determined. but the German tactics w« re similar to those used In the |>..at against Csechoalovakia In Warsaw the Poles celebr.tted a national holiday -anniversary of the first DemiKrutlc constitution (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE! PROFESSOR 1$ CLUD SPEAKER Concordia College Professor Speaks To Decatur Lions Club ' Robert Gent Is. son of Mr. uni Mrs. Ralplt Gentta and a student a| Decatur junior-senior high school, will go to the Hoosier Boy s State ■lndianapolis June 17-24 under tnq sponsorship of the Decatur Lions club. Selection of Gentis as the Lions representative boy waa mads last eight during the regular weekly meeting of Ute club. Several other local organisations are expected to sponsor local youths In trips Utere. The speaker at last night's meeting of the club waa Ptof. W. HerrlIng head of social science and ecom!cs at Concordia college in Fort Wayne. The speailier talked regarding the European ait nation and expressed hte theories on the United State’s chances of remaining neutral. He related facts and figures gathered iti historical surveys to aub> stantlate hte ar»'rtiona. Hetman H. Krueckeberg was in charge of Uq program last night.