Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 37, Number 110, Decatur, Adams County, 9 May 1939 — Page 1

Inxxii- ,HL

lot Pius Urges world Powers To -H Work For Peace __ -

Ml Calls On' Lin- Os Europe To .Km toi..flier Io Settle Disputes. May KM • ■• n vtrrt <r ■ couxtr iMllfl • !■.,.<• iv i,. >-k * ißsi** I Bswr > ■ e.i.irophh v.l I " Hos A ■ ' Im < Kok ■!■ pope .ailed r.n K*. i Unmany. Italy ' togelh'-r uv Ix-twcn Kfl !' .IH well as the . - i fiance |x>pe had pro■fl- lowers Involved a Hk* 'I-.,.-« for ■pmi" • •»••■" Fiance .nd h.iI . I \<l-.lf In hl« ' ■•> i> le v.i |>i,-pared to unit - tn M.mo 'h- tefore appeared tot tn the any friendly " ■-I Ininieasnri.ldy Vladimir Potemkin. ot Riism.i "X I'AUS FIVE) ■IHCOMPANY [USES IN SUIT ■Buth Erwin (liven Verdict On Hotel rt for the plaintiff for the •nt asked was returned ►May by a Jury In the cult court at Bluffton In M damage suit of Mrs. In of Fort Wayne against m Hotel company, also of ■* The jury deliberated • and reported u> Special n M Link of Auburn at I* »aa baaed on allege--1 stock of the par value 1 was posted as collaterPlaintiff and waa wrong*rted to Its own nee and defendant company to Keenan. Mrs. Erwin In *«nt sought to obtain >°r the difference be-roii.r-ded Indebtedness of Pd the market value of at the time It was sold •“ded that the stock wan *• P»r share for the «3t> “He the defense contend°r* was not worth par. « was taken to Wells 1 * change of venue from Sty. tRATUR t READINGS RAT THERMOMETER [ 5‘ 2:00 p.m.... 71 1 I* 1:00 p.m. ..74 *•—7l *«ATHER • nl ßht and Wednesday; * nl lM. and m extreme *» Portion Wednesday; eait ln d •outh por •dnetdiy.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

MURDER RING EXTENDEDTO i OTHER STATES Arsenic Murder For Insurance Ring On Huge Basis Philadelphia, May 9 t|Lft l( arsenic murder for Insurance ring, the greatest group of killersIn American criminal history, op erated a branch in New Jersey which wan so large that 35 men and women In that state already have been Implicated. It waa revealed today investigating authorities said they had gathered enough evl dence to arrest all of those Implicated. but indicated that they Were waiting until they could mike their cases “sir tlgh’." The thriving New Jersey branch wan only one of the many operated by the merchants of death, who used arsenic as their chief weapon and widows tired of their husbands and willing to poison them for their life insurance as their beet customers Authorities declined to reveal the number of deaths traced to the New Jersey branch, but they indicated that the number of vic tlms might he In excess of the 100 attributed to the Philadelphia headquarters of the mass murdei syndicate. The ring also is known to have operated in New York, Delaware and Connecticut. In addition to Pennsylvania and New Jersey and also was reported to have "mall” connections with the Pa cffic coast Secret descriptions of six persona. descrllx-d as the leaders of ( the New Jersey branch, have 'wen ' furnished New Jersey stale police I with a request for their arrest on sight as fugitives from justice. The operation of the new branch was revealed after homicide squad detectives uncovered another key figure—the syndicate's suspected "banker*—and predicted the Im (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) 0 Sons Os Legion To Meet On Wednesday The Sons of the American Legion will meet Wednesday night at 7 o'clock at the focal Legion horn-’. Ail members are urged to attend- ’ Camera Club Will Meet This Evening There will be a meeting of the Decatur Camera Club at the club rooms on North Third street tonight nt 7:30 o'clock. A print competition on the subject “hope" will be held. Following thia, a before on photography will be given There wilt also be an election of a vicepresident’. AREA MEETING HERE THURSO AY Knights Os Pythias To Hold Area Meeting Here Worttmen are completing, thia week, the redecorating of the lodge room of the Knights of Pythias home In preparation for an area meeting to be held Thursday night at 8 o'clock. The walls have been re-palnted and the furniture ia to be renovated All new lighting equipment lias been Installed. Thia completes the remodelling program begun a few yeara ago at the home. The downsaira portion of the building was finished last year. Committee* are now working ou’ arrangements for the large meeting Thursday night when -opresentatlves of 62 Indiana and Ohio iodaes are ewpected to attend. The feature of this program is to be the third rank Initiatory work to be elven by an outstanding team made up of Indiana and Ohio lodges A class of candluates from Decatur and other lodges Is to be Initiated. Refreshments are to be served. i

ORGANIZATION BILL IS GIVEN I TO CONGRESS Roosevelt Says Plan To Cut Costs Million And Quarter Washington. May 9. — <UP) — President Roosevelt today submitted to congress another comprehensive plan for realigning government agencies which be said should reduce federal costa by fl,-I 260.000 a year. Au outstanding feature of the i . plan waa the complete abolition of ■ ihe much ci it kited national bituminous coal commission and the. transfer of all of Its functions to j the Interior department. Mr. Roosevelt's reorganisation second to be submitted to congress since approval of the government reorganisation act, ia the last to be presented at this session. he said. A third reorganisation program will be drafted for submission early in the next session of congress, he said. Highlights of reorganisation plan No. 2; Transfer of functions of the foreign commerce section of the bureau of foreign and domestic commerce and the foreign agricul- , rural service from the commerce and agriculture departments to the slate department. 3. Transfer of the bureau of lighthouses from commerce to the treasury and its merger with the coast guard 3. Abolition of the virtually defunction war-time agencies of the War Finance Corp., and the direct-or-general of railroads. 4. Transfer of the Federal Prison Industries. Inc., and the uatkmal training school for boys to the , justice department. 5. Abolition of the bituminous coal commission and transfer of all Its functions to the secretary ot interior. d. 'Transfer of the bureau of insular affairs from the war department to the interior department 7. Transfer of the bureau of . laheries from the commarce de- ' partm.-nt and the biological survey bureau from agriculture to the ln(CONTINVKft ON PAGE TWO) CITES REFUSAL TO ISSUE BOND Kbter Formally Notified Os Commissioners' Action Homer L. Teeters, commissioner of construction In the Wabash river dredge case, legally known 'as the Penning drain, in his current report notified Special Judge Henry Klster. of Princton. of the Adams county commissioners' refusal to issue the bonds in the proposed improvemet. Judge Klster was here today and approved the report filed by Mr. Teeters No claims were presented by the superintendent. Judge Klster was paid <6O for two days' Services as special judge, the doc- > ket showing he traveld from Prlnctton to Decatur on May S. The per diem of Judge Klster. who was appointed by the late Harry 0. Leslie, governor of Indiana, Is <26 a day. At two previous meetings with the board of county commissioners, the board refused to Issue the 112R.000 in bonds. The last meeting waa held on April 4th. and Mr. Teeters states In bls report: ' , "I again appeared before the board of commissioners and the hoard Informed me that upon the advice , of county attorney they refused to take any steps In this mutter and would not take any steps until compelled to do so by a court ordi er and agreed to make an entry to that effect upon their docket. It has not been determined just what action should he taken and I have no claims to present and nothing further to report at this time,* The Indiana supreme court last January issued a permanent Injunction against Judge Kilter's jurisdiction In the teat of the question on the Issuing of the bonds. Ix>gal ' effort In Issuing the bonds by Ad(CONTINtfKt> ON PAOW FIVRI —O Basement For New Home Constructed I' ——» The basament for the new Cletus Miller home on Nuttman avenue Las been constructed add work IS proceeding on the frame. A modern six room house will be constructed. It is one of severs I new homes being built In the city J this spring.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUN T Y

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, May 9. 1939.

Speakers At Lutheran Jubilee

• w- , -soRev. F. Niedner

Rev. Niedner of St. Charles. Mo. and Rev Sl;leter of Evansville, will be the principal speakers at the Lutheran jubilee and centennial celebration, which will be held at the junior-senior high school auditorium Sunday They will speak at the Sunday morning service.

APPOINTMENTS ARE ANNOUNCED .ludjfe Fruchte Appoints Tax Adjustment And Review Boards Appointments to the Adams county board of review by Judge J. Fred Fruchte of the Adams circuit court were made known today. Judge Fruchte appointed Charles E. Hocker, former assistant postmaster; Herman Yager, furniture dealer; George Sults, grocer and John W. Tyndall, former county auditor, to the tax adjustment board. All of the men named to thia board are residents of the city of Decatur. They will serve one year from a period beginning list April IS. Fred V. Milla. Decatur Democrat and Amos Burkhalter. Berne Re. publican, were named to the board of review by Judge Fruchte. The board of review meets June 6 and the tax adjustment hoard meets the last week of Angust. Mr. Mills and Mr. Burkhalter will serve with Ernest Worthman, Victor H. Eichter and Jeff Liechty. county assessor, auditor and treasurer. respectively, the ex-officio members. The men appointed to the tax adjustment board will serve with a member selected by the trustees, one hy the county council and either the mayor of the city or his representative. 0- — Martin Miller Rites Held Monday Afternoon A number of friends and relatives from out of the city attended tha funeral services for Martin Miller, flecatur resident, held Monday afternoon at tile Zion Rffotvneq church. Those from Fort Wayne Included Miss Mary Belnwke. Mr. and .Mrs. O. Crum. Mr and Mrs. C. E. Crum. Miss Betty Lou Crum. Miss .Martha Ann Crum. Mr. and Mrs George Yager. Mr. and Mra. L. 8. Broun.. Miss Virginia Broun. Mrs. Johanna Peters, Mr and Mrs. J. B. Walker; also Mr. and Mrs. Charles Houck of Muncie; Mrs. Emtna Hihlman ot Cincinnati. Ohio; Mr. and Mrg. Harold Murphy and children of j Winchester.

Veteran Correspondent Says 1 Only Miracle To Prevent War

New York. Muy » —(U.B-Wehb Miller, general European manager of the United Press and the only person In the world who personally witnessed the abdlctlon of Edward VIII, the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and the coronation of George VI. arrived In the Queen Mary last night to accompany the British King and Queen on their tour of Canada and the United States. Miller, a correspondent In Europe since I*l7. will join the royal party In Quebec on May 15 and will write a day-by-day account of their trip for United Press newspapers. Fresh from handling the recent European war crisis, Miller said he was "convinced that sooner or later there will be a major war In Europe, barring a miracle.'* He said he saw no Indication that there would be a miracle. Miller covered the World War. the Ethiopian war and the Spanish war. He covered the German anechluaa with Austria, the historic Munich meeting of Chamberlain with Hitler and Mussolini and the nail aelture of Chechoslovakia. Dean of active American corres-

r "■ -T;T I Rev. T. W. Stricter

Confesses Theft To Finance Wedding I Warsaw. <ml.. May » — (VPI — I Charles Anderson, 21. today confessed to Warsaw police and Mate officers he hsd stolen Id', from Uta I state house at Indianapolis to finance his elopement and marriage a*. Peru, Ind. He was returned to Indianapolis foior arraignment. Police said bls 1 bride knew nothing <rf th- theft ’ | before his arrest. BUILD SHELTER HOUSE AT PARK NY A Boys Erecting Shel- ' ter House At Hanna* Nuttman Park i An invitation to visit Hanna-Nutt-tnan park and view the shelter I house beln.- erected -by 'he NY A , was extended today by Jack BrunI tun. aupervisor. i Throughout Indiana the people are being acquainted with the work done by the NYA. The building ot ■; the shelter house In the west part of the park la one of the major proI jects undertaken hy the NYA in ' this city. The shelter house is 22 by 40 feet. ’ It Is built ot stone, with timbers forming tne supports and around i the sides. It has a slliugl d root. , The floor is of <xmcrete. Mr. Brunton stated that 17 boys were employed on the job. They i are given employment after school aours and on Saturday. A number of I people visited the perk last week and were favorably impressed with , the progress made ou the building. , Work waa started on the shelter last fall. All the labor and part . of the material waa provided hy the I NYA, of which Con J. Sterling of i Fort Wayne, is the district superI'visor. 4 *■( Louise Sprunger Is Berne Valedictorian l Miss Louise Sprunger, a member : es thia year's graduating class at t tne Berne high acnool. has been t runted class valedictorian. Super.Jsttendent E. M. Webb announced* t the selection Monday. No salutator-l fan ia named at Berne.

pondents In Europe and in constant communication with colleagues In every European capital, none Is better qualified than Miller to answer the question foremost In America: •‘what about war In Europe?" “When or where It will come I or no one else knows," he said. "Perhaps ! can describe It this way: The nations seem to be In the position of a person on a high place, afflicted with vertigo, who throws himself over In spite of hts desire to live. When the war comes they will slip Into It hi spite of themselves. "Britain's fear of war la demonstrated by the revolutionary change In her cardinal foreign policy. Never before In peace time has Britain been willing to engage In military commitments on the continent and look at them now. “Also new. and almost unheralded. la the astounding turnabout of British public opinion regarding dealings with Russia. The day hefore 1 sailed there was published an authoritative poll of British (CONTINUED ON FAUE FOUK), ,

LUTHERANS TO HOLD JUBILEE HERE SUNDAY Thousands Expected Here Sunday For Centennial Celebration An event of unusual import and significance tor thia city and Ita environs ia expected to bring several thousand people to Decatur Sunday, when all Lutherans of De catur and vicinity will join in a mans centennial celebration at the junior-senior high school auditor- ' ium. In commemoration of the soo Lutheran pioneers who immlgrnt••d to America, landing at St. Louin. Missouri 100 years ago. and who became the leaders in establishing the Lutheran Synod of Missouri. Ohio, and other states, with a total membership today of 1.400.000 persona. The eleven Lutheran churchI es of the Decatur circuit are members of this body. Two prominent speakers have been obtained for the celebration, which will begin at 9:30 o'clock Sunday morning, in the persona of Rev. T W. Stricter, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran church. Evansville. and vice-president of the central district of the synod, and Rev. F. Niedner. pastor of Immanuel Lutheran church. St. Charles. Missouri. who is chairman of the Lutheran synodical church exten- . sion board. Both men are acknowledged as outstanding speakers and leaders In the Lutheran church. Featured also on the program of the morning jubilee service will he the Fort Wayne Concordia a taiwdla choir, a aut-cessful and artistic group of <7 singers directed hy Prof Walter Buscin. The group will be on the program with two special selections. This choir I Is composed of outstanding singera selected from the student-body * of Concordia college and high school, and it has established for itself a high mark of acclaim al though Ita organization dates back only two years. They will sing ■ at the World's Fair in New York on June 16. In providing a praiseworthy close to the centennial celebration activities for the day. the a capella choir will present a concert at the high school auditorium Sunday evening at 7:30 o'clock, under the direction of Prof. Buaxlit. The choir will present the same concert here Sunday evening which they will give at the World's Fair in New York In June. In remarking about next Sunday's celebration. Rev. Paul W. Schults, who has charge of arrangements. stated that the Decatur Lutheran circuit Is cordially welcoming all people of the com-' ■nunlty. who may be interested In attending the festivities in the morning and the concert in the evening Pastor Schultz stated that the main objective of the celebration is a fitting remembrance of the staunch faith and ardent labors of the Christian fathers, and the sincere praise and thanksgiving tp God for His gra clous benediction in preserving scriptural doctrine for mankind a eternal salvation pure and unadulterated. The Lutheran churches and their (CONTINVKD (IN PAOB FIVE) I. U. BANQUET MONDAY NIGHT Annual I. U. Alumni Banquet To Be Held Here Next Week "" The annual Indiana alumni banquet and meeting Is to be held Monday night, G. Remy Bierly, county I. U- alumni president, auuouucmi today. Mr. Bierly also announced committees, who are making arrangements for the affair. Mrs. Ralph Yager and Mrs. Helen Maun are to lx In charge of the menu. Min Helen Itaubold Is chairman of tha music committee and Mlaa Catherine Kauffman ia chairman of, the decorationa committee. The nominating committee Is composed of Rolland Sprunger, Mrs. Helm Mann and Bob Heller. Invitations are tw-lng extended to two nembon of the board of trusters of the university aa well as other prominent offlciuh and alumni in thia area to attend the event. The meeting la to be ope,: to all graduates, former students, extension center students and others who have attended the university as well aa prospective atuder.ta and I their parents. Flach la to be per- [ tnitted tv bring a ft lend.

— -f-- foSBMMMaa* Roosevelt Makes Direct Appeal To Coal Negotiators

SELECT JURORS 1 TO HEAR CASE Account Suit Is Being Tried In Adams Circuit Court presentation of evidence in the account null of Hubert R. Me Clenahan. local attorney, agulnat Ollie J.. Beryl and Florence Harmon was to begin thia afternoon. The jury to hear the account suit was passed by lx,th defense and plaintiff's counsel shortly before the noon reo'ss The tnemiters of the jury are: Harry Edgell. Mrs. Hannah Buuck. Paul H. Gallmeyer. Mrs. Lydia Bleeke, Melvin Mallonee. Mrs Freda Bowers. L. E Scherry. all ot Decatur rural routes; Herman lainkeiiau. Charles Morgan. George Flanders and Don Waite, all of fh-catur and Mrs. Matilda Von Gunten of Berne. Mrs. Fern Byerly of near Decatur. Jess Lautlenheiaer of Monroe, and Fred Geimer of near Decatur, me miters of the regular April panel were excused peremptorily. Scherry. Waite and Flanders are the talesmen .who were summoned by Deputy Sheriff Leo Gilllg In his suit Mr. McClenahan is asking for |s<«> for professional services, allegedly owing him by the defendants in his defense of Berly Harmon, who waa tried on a charge ot first degree rape last year The complaint admits pay tnent of <6 L Harry T. Grube Is counsel for the plaintiff, while D Burdette Custer represents the defendants It will be remembered that Harmon was acquitted of the charge by an Adams circuit petit jury. The plaiutiff had first arnul on ac--1 count and a note. The cauaea <4 action were later separated. MRS. PUSEY IS TAKEN BY DEATH Mrs. Charles Pusey Dies Monday At Residence Near Berne Mrs. Charles Pusey. M, died late I Monday afternoon at her home ; near Berne, after suffering a heart attack Saturday. She waa born in Hartford town ship June 11. 1X72, the daughter ( of Peter and Maryann Moser Liechty. She married Charles Pusey February 12, 1900. Surviving are the husband, two eons. John Pusey of Hoagland and Richard Pusey of Fort Wayne; five daughters. Mrs. Margaret Kenyon. Mrs. lx>ona Meahlierger und Miss Grace Pusey of Fort Wayne. Mrs. Edith Kitxuas ot Hluffton and Mrs. laiwrence Perkins of Detroit; three brothers. Daniel Liechty of Berne. Jonas Liechty of Geneva und John Liechty of Robinson. 111. und two sisters. Mrs. Anna Pusey und Mrs. Katherine Lybarger of Geneva. Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Vnlon Chapel church in Hartford township. Burial will lie iu the Alberson cemetery. 0 Two Residences Being Remodeled Two of the major house remodeling jobs In progress are located on North Tenth street. The houses being remodeled are those of Ralph! Stanley and Ralph J. Roop. The latter house Is about completed. | Decatur Man Fined For Failure To Stop Elmer L. illurtacher of thia city i waa fitted <1 and coats, -it.iounting to <ll this afternoon In city court when he pleaded guilty to a charge of falling to atop for a preferential highway before Mayor Forrust KI--1 rey. Harlacher was arrested by state policeman Russell Prior. ■ — O"" — - ■■ No License. Auto I Driver Arrested Clifford Baker of Berne, route ns, was arrested Monday by State ' Policeman Rusnell Prior on a charge of operating a motor vehicle without a driver's license. He will ■ he arraigned Thursday before Jus- ; tics of Peace John T. Kelly.

Price Two Cents.

(’alls Representatives To Washington In Effort To Halt Dispute, End Coal Shortage. IMPAIRS RECOVERY Washington, May Soft coal operators and United mine workers officials, at a 76-minuta conference with President Rooeevelt. today agreed to resume negotiations In New York tomorrow in an effort to settle the tteup of bituminous mines. Washington. May 9 — tuPJ — President Roosevelt today made an urgent, direct appeal to deadlocked Appalachian bituminous negotiators to settle their dispute for the gocul of the nation, which la facing an alarming coal shortage. Mr. Roosevelt called nine repreaentatlvea of the coal operators and the Vnlted Mine Workers Vnlon Into a joint conference with himself and Secretary of Labor Francea Perkins to try to .-nd the dispute With 460.0<i0 miners idle. Mr. Roosevelt waa believed to have told both groups that their dispute was Impairing buaineaa recovmy. and threatening a complete shutdown of industries and vital transportatkm services which depend on soft coal. It was not known whether he would present a specific settlement proptwal. but such a move was considered unlikely since the single point at issue la the I'MWs demand for a "union ahop" or elimination of present penalty clauaes for unauthorised strikes and lockouts. Operators and union officials already have agreed to extend the present daily wage scale of <S In the north and <5 go in the south and the present 36-hour week for two yeara If the union shop issue Is resolved. Considerable confusion surrounded arrangements for the conference. which waa decided on last night after Miss Perkins found the conferees could reach no agreement In their New York sessions. The While House meeting was scheduled for 11 a. m. CRT., then advanced to 10:30 a. tn., and then moved back to 11 a. m. No reason waa given for the shift The coal operators' group. Iliad--d by Chalrmau W L. Roblaou. of Cleveland, arrived first. It Included L. C. Gunter. J. D A. .Morrow. Charles p. O'Neill and L. T. Putman. VMW president John L. Lswbi led three other representatives of the mine workers union into Mr. Roosevelt's office. The others Were Vice president Philip .Murray. Van A Bittner and John A. Owens. Secretary-treasurer Thomas Kennedy, former Pennsylvania lieutenant governor, remained In New Yorle for anthracite contract negotiations. Neither group would comment before the meeting opened. Miss Perkins did not know if Mr. R<x>srve|t Intended to make a specific propoaul for nettlemmi but she gave him statements prepared l>y each side this morning so that he could familiarise himself (CONTINUED ON PAGM FIVE) FINISH BOOK WORK MONDAY Book \\ ork On Assessinx Records To Be Finished Monday Book wort, on the asserting records of ths county will be completed by Monday, May 15, fftMMo? Ernest Worthman stated today. Anyone omitted from the list is urged to call at the assessor's orflee Itefore that day. Otherwise they will have to wait r.ntll the board of review meets In June. Witt Wlnness, S. E. Beavers and T. Ray Baker are working on the cUy of Decatur Itooks. What la thought to be the lasi aesessment Ja Washington township was mads today by Deputy John Stonebumer. These records will be turned over for compiling. The report ot county anteanor Ernest Worthman will be made to the state tax board on May 18, three ■ days after the records are compluv cd.