Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 37, Number 111, Decatur, Adams County, 10 May 1939 — Page 1

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DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Local Lad.v’M Mother Diet At Fort Wayne Funeral wrvtaw will bn held at > t:M a tn (CBT) Thursday at the Mt Rone t'athtill, t hurrh In M<m-I roeylllr for Mrs lamia Meyer, rnothv of Mm. Catherine Ihahbo .of Ihiatur. who died Monday night at St. Joseph*a hospital | n F<, r t Wayne after a long Other aurvivora are the liusbaml. i two aona, and a alater. .Mrs Meyer waa a native of Germany and had lived In Monroeville the past ' IS years. TESTIFIES TO FORGED CLAIM IN WPA TRIAL Witness Tells Os Forgeries At Kokomo Officials* Trial Indianapolis. May 10 — <u.pj — Signatures were forged on claims and warrants against the elty of Kokomo for payment of materials' used on WPA projects, according to testimony today In the trial of 11 former city and WPA officials in federal court on charges <>( con spiracy to defraud the government. The witness who testified Io the forgery waa Roy Revolt of Koko mo .tail driver and part lime worker for George Mix. forme, assistant city engineer who in onof the defendants in the trial. District Attorney Vai Noiaii handed Revolt a claim for 4512 against the city and a warrant paying tt. both containing his name In endorsement. He said that the signature on the warrant was his but that he did not sign his name to the claim Nolan then handed him six claims and warrants in the | amounts of l.tmi and 028.20. all { of whir h bore his name Revolt ' said that he had mil signed any o'* the sis. adding that of the eight claims and warrants presented to him this morning, he actually had signed only one, The one warrant he did sign Remit said was brought to hint by Mix for his signature He ’ affixed his name and returned It immediately to Mis, he said Revolt asserted that he did not receive a cent of money from any of the warrants which contained his name, nor had he ever sworn to former city clerk Mel Good also a defendant, that he had received payment for any claims. He waa working aa a cab driver at the time, he said, although he had done part-time work for Mix Another alleged forgery was 1 sworn to by Clarence Neuma>tn ; a clerk tn the township trustee’s ' office at Kokomo. Nolan handed him three claims , and three warrants for payment I for crushed atone, all of which bore the name of Joe Tarkington former Investigator for the gover I nor's commission on unemploy ment relief and a defendant in the present trial. Neumann said he had worked closely with Tarkington for two years and knew his signature well and that Tarknlgton'a name on the claims and warrants was certain ly not signed by him. I Mae Rayl, deputy city clerk. ' waa recalled to the witness stand today to Identify the signatures on i records of the Kokomo Ism rd of (OONTINURO <W FAOM FIVR) CHINESE RAID JAPANESEBANK Guerillas Loot Japanese Owned Bank In Hon& Kong Hong Kong. May 10.— <U.R> Chinese guerillas. In the moat dar Ing raid of the Chinese-Japanese war. have looted the Japanese owned bank of Taiwan (Formosal nt Canton. It was asserted today In moat reliably quarters. .1 About 100 guerillas penetrated I the strong Japanese lines protect Ing the city, raided the bank, bayonetted three Japanese guards, forced thr doom of ih<* tat® *nd escaped with a clear lead of 20 minutes, taking with them »2H0.000 In notes and 00.000 In silver coins. It was said. Informants asserted that the darllfg attack was the explanation of mysterious announcements during the week-end that martial law had been declared throughout the . Canton area. The Japanese declared martial law at Canton Sunday night. A few hours later the declaration , waa withdrawn. Japanese author I Itles explained at the time that | tCONTLNUBb ON fAUB fflVßj i

ADDED MURDER RING VICTIMS- : ARE DISCLOSED Victims Os .Murder Syndicate May Go Over 200 Mark Philadelphia. May 10. — <U P) — i Bodies of suspected victim* of a murder merchandising syndicate ■o clogged police laboratories today that district attorney Charles F. Kelley ordered extra shifts of I analysts to day and night duty. As detectives turned in an in- ' creasing list of possible victims of America's most amusing criminal band, exhumations were ordered by the doxeti. laboratory workers fell far behind In their task of determining (be scope of the murder merchants' operations, so extens-' ive that police now believe the vici thus may total 200. or certainly more than the 100 at Ant estlmat- ’ ed. • Detectives also found evidence ‘ that the crime corporation's work waa to an extent competitive, that i it conducted two branches — one specialising in arsenic murder for insurance, the other murd-*'lng tor a flat fee. payable In advance. Kelley a speed-up order came aa he and hie staff of assistants resumed questioning of a key mystery witness whose identity waa guarded closely. This person. It waa learned, has been In secret custody several days and baa given authorities information which will result in additional arrests. Kelley said bodies of possible victims were “piling up so fast" that the police laboratory had been ungble to keep pace. He wanted all exhumations made immediately ao that he can proceed with the trials of 24 persons already in cueI tody Only two of the 24 have yet been ' tried. Herman Petrillo, olive oil and spaghetti salesman and a director of one of the syndicate's branches, was convicted of first degree murder, with the death penalty mandatory. Mrs. Carina . Favato Interrupted her murder .trial with a confession of the arsenic slayings of her comimmtCONTINUKD ON PAUS? FIVE) MALE QUARTET TO SING HERE Shrine Quartet Os Detroit At Zion Reformed Church May 21 The male quartet from tthe Moslem Shrine Tcmide. Detroit Michigan. will present a prograsu of sacred music in the Zion Reformed church on Sunday, May Slat, at iiu A. M . according to announcement made today by Rev. C. M. Prugh. The quartet ia composed of men who are soloists In the leading churches of Detroit, and have travelled from coast to coast, as well aa appearing regularly on radio broadcasts from Detroit atat mna. The quartet Is a part of the Mos- ‘ Jem Shrine chorus. "The Chanters'' which Is made up of 45 trained ••olces. This chorua holds two cou- ■ certs each year in the Shrine Audi ’torlum of Detroit, and the entire capacity of the andltorium. five tnouaand seats, is sold out tor each performance. I The coming ot this unusual organisation has lieen arranged throtign the courtesy of Henry Weldler, iiember of the qimrtet. and native (CONTINUBD ON FAOK TIIKEKi — —-O — Chinese Officials Kidnaped By Japs Shanghai. May 10. - (U R) - Ten armed Japanese, using Japanese army automobiles, today kidnaped five Chinese officials From a res tauranl In the International settlement. The officials Included Chiang Hou. director of the Chinese “new life" movement In Shanghai, and Soa Liang-Ju. chief of staff of guerillas operating In the Paoahun area. o —■— Elks Final Dance Saturday Nitfht The Decatur lodge of the B. P. O. Elka will hold a May dance at the home on North Second street Saturd.ty night, starting at 9:30 o’clock. Thia will be the final dance until next fall. The dance is limited to mem- , berg, and admission will be JI por couple. Tickets may be obtained at i the lodge home or from members of thr ticket committee.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COU NT Y

Decatur, Indiana. Wednesday. May 10, 1939.

I’riceM WPA Be Continued —?— ’. Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia Pleading for a continuation of the Works Progress Administration before a hearing of the house committee in Waehlngton. Mayor Florello H Ui Guardia of New York City Is pictured addressing the committeemen. Mayors of other large cities also attended the hearing. *

BILL APPROVED BY COMMITTEE Reorganization Bill Would Transfer NEC Functions Washington. May 10 — <U.R) — President Roosevelt's latest government reorganisation order gives him direction and supervision of the most arnslllve and elaborate ears-to-the-ground device developed In American politics. Transfer of major national emergency council functions to the president establishes a national organization undei his personal' supervlHiXn for feeling the public pulse and checking the performance of new deal policies and office holders. The emergency council shift and other feature* of reorganization order No. 2 sent to congress yesterday by Mr. Roouevelt Were approved after brief deliberation today by the senate special government reorganization committee. The committee reported unfavorably to the senate a technical resolution of disapproval Introduced by com'i.lttee chairman James F. > Byrnes. D.. S C.. for the purpose of Insuring speedy senate action on the plan. The NET stute-hy state organization could short cut and chock for accuracy all other channels by which the White House might ole tain Information. Including the Democratic national comml'tee, i the various department* and other agencies which have personnel distributed throughout the country State NEC administrator* coordinate state and federal activities and report to the central organization on iMillcle*. people *nd conditions All other channel* of information will remain for the use of the president. But the NEC. always (CONTINUED <>N PAGE FOUH) BERNE NATIVE DIES SUDDENLY Enoch Sprunger Dies “ Suddenly At Home In Orrville, Ohio Relative* In Adam* county have receiver) word ot the sudden death at tyrrvlllo. Ohio. Monday night of Enoch Sprunger. 61. a native of Berne. He had been in apparent good health anti his death was a shiH'k to friends *nd relative*. The decedent wa* born In Berne October 23, 1877, a *on of Mr. and Mr*. Jacob Rprunger He left Berne 34 year* ago. Surviving besides the widow, the former Edith Steiner, are the children. Mr*. Evallna Royer and Stanley Sprunger. both of Orrville. Willie Sprunger of lowa. Ralph. Lee and Arthur Sprunger. all at home, and the following brothers and slatera: Sila* and Nathan Sprunger of Berne, Jacob Sprunger of Fort Wayne. Mrs. P. P. Welty of Pandora, O„ Mrs. Selma Lannert of Wells county, Mr*. Levi Amstutz of Kidron. O„ and Mrs. J J. Felber of Bluffton Mr. Sprunger was a member of' the Mennonlte church. Funeral services will be held at > Orrville Thursday.

Haydn's Oratorio At Berne/Sunday Night Haydn's oratorio. "The Creation." will be preeeated at the Berne Metinonlle church Sunday evening, starting at 7:30 o'clock. 1 The rendition will serve as a climax to the observance of national music week at Berne. Freeman Burkhalter, supervisor of music in the Berne school*, direct* the choir composed of 125 voices. Soloists for the event are Mrs Frank Callahan, soprano: F. Marian Cheney, tenor; Wilson Jones, haaa. all of Lima. O. Mrs. Sher, man Stucky. Berne. Is pianist mid Prof. C. L Edwards. Fort Wayne, will serve aa organist. COUNCIL ORDERS BILLS BE PAID City Council Issues Order Regarding Delinquent Bills By a decree of the city council in special session Tuesday night at the city hall, residents of the ' city who have allowed light and 1 power bill* to fall delinquent wil be forced to pay the deinquency 111 addition to making the current payment*. The order of the council provides that all delinquent bills of 810 or lea* must be paid at the city I'lerk-treaiurer'* office within 30 days. • The same order also provide* that delinquent bills of 810 or more | must be taken up by the resident at the rate of 10 per cent of the bill per month. Failure to comply with this order will result in the Immediate discontinuance of service, according to the order. The order specifically states that the delinquent payments must be turtle In addition to the current payment*. The order also calls for the enforcement of an old ordinance, which requires property owner* to sign applications before water can be supplied to a tenant. > College President To Speak Thursday i Dr. W. O. Spencer, president of Franklin college, will apeak at two meeting* In Decatur Thursday. Dr. Spencer will speak at a apecial chapel meeting for all students of the junlor-aenlor high school at :i o'clock tomorrow afternoon. The public is invited to attend. The college president w’ll also speak at the regular meeting ot the Rotary club Thursday evening at tit the Rice hotel. Cal E. Peterson will hsve charge of the program. -" 1 o William Coffee Named Club Vice-President William Coffee waa unanimously elected vk'c presldioit In charge of still photography at the regular meeting of the Decatur Camera Club Tuesday night. He succeeds police chief Jame* Border*, who recently was elected president of the club. At the meeting Tuesday night ale ten re on the element* making a good picture was delivered by I Rev. Homer J. Aspy. Dr. Joe Morri* 1 gave an Illustrated demonstration ! on the effect of dust on projection | lens.

CITY TO SEEK PWA GRANT TO ENLARGE PLANT Project Would Be $300,000 To $400,000 Plant Improvement The city council In special session last night authorised city attorney Vincent Kelley to prepare a preliminary application to the PWA for a grant to be used in remodelling and enlarging the facilities at the city light and power plant. The project, which will Include a new boiler of at least 1.000 H.P. capacity, a 5«<M» KWH turbine, condensers, switchboard facilities and remodeling of the building will total between |OO.(NU and 8400.0410. The PWA will be. asked for a 45 percent grant of the entire project, the exact amount not being known until engineers have prepared estimates of the coat of a laiiler installation, turbine and other accessories required in the generating department of the plant. The application will be filed an a preliminary step in launching the proposed Improvement at the city plant, contingent on the '.-deral government making another appropriation for the public works administration. Congress has not yet enacted a new PWA appropriation bill, but It Is presumed that President Roosevelt will request an allotment of about 8400.<m*0.090 In order to encourage public work programs for the next flacal year, beginning July 1. IfctA The application will be signed by the board of public works and safety, of which the mayor, city attorney and one councilman are members. Engineers have recommended a 5,000 KWH turbine in order to procide a reserve of electrical energy for the future. Last year it was recommended that a 1.000 HP. (toiler be installed, but the council refused to authorize the tiling |of the application. A project, to- . taliliK 859. MM), waa Hied for the cooling tower, changing the old piping system and remodeling of the building. The grant waa not made and the present administration proceeded on the cooling tosler Installation without the aid of PWA funds The contract for the cooling tower totaled 82M.IUM. no action being taken on the balance of the work. The preliminary application will (CONTINUED ON PAGE' FIVE) - 1 O - - New Equipment Is Installed At Bakery Workmen Tuesday completed the Installation of new equipment at the Hon-K-Kruat Baking Co. on North Second street. This include* a new modern air conditioned oven, dough broke moulder and proof box and slicing machine. Thia equipment la all of the newest type. It waa said today that the new equipment will enable the Hon-E Kruat Baking Co. to bake a rich, golden brown loaf completely controlled In the process of manufacturing by humidity and air conditioned ovens and clock liming to insure even baking. Thia will improve the flavor, texture and whiteness of the loaf, 11 waa said. CLEAN-UP WEEK OBSERVED HERE Annual Clean-Up Meek Campaign To Close Here Saturday Report* Indicate that the annual Clean-Up Week campaign here la progressing rapidly with scores of truckloads of debris being carted away by the city. Tin can*, rubbish and old junk la being carried away by city coat at no coat to the property owner* In an effort to clean up uud beautify the city. The rubbish I* being hauled to the old Frltzlnger quarry on North Second street and dumped there. The campaign will continue throughout the week, cloning Saturday evening. Property owner* and tenant* have been requested to cooperate In the movement by collecting rubbish and piling It In container* for the truck* to pick up. The cutting and cleaning away of weed* and brush from lawn and lots, especially those close to streets. Is urged. A crew of men under the direction of Sain Butler, street commissioner. ha* been busily engaged In trucking away the rubbish since Monday.

Soviet Russia In j Leading Role In European Crisis

ACCOUNT SUIT NEARING JURY Attorney’s Suit On Account Likely To Go To Jury Today The account suit of attorney lluliert R. McC'lenahan against Ollie J.. Beryl and Florence liar- , mon. which opened here In circuit court Tuesday, waa expected to go to the jury late thia afternoon. Still more evidence was to be preaenh-d after the noon recess. Following cliMilng arguments and Instruction* from Judge J. Fred Fruchte the jury waa to receive the ca*e. The suit asks OM. allegedly owing Mr. Mcf'lenahan for defendIng Beryl Harmon lit a trial last , year. In which Harmon wa* t harg ' ed with rape. The defense counsel, D. Burdette Custer, called witnesses to the stand to testify that the elder Harmon. Ollie, did not guarantee payment of attorney fees nor enter Into an agreement to that effect Beryl, hla wife, hla twin brother. . Earl. Ollie J. Harmon and Mrs . Ollie J. Harmon all were called to the stand to testify to that effect, lade Tuesday afternoon Mr. Me(’leiiahan testified that the elder Harmon had employed him a* counsel during a conversation at the jail, where he had been called. . The attorney testified that after ] Beryl had been acquitted of the charge, the elder Harmon refused to pay. staling that Beryl waa 21 years of age. married and out of , his "jurisdiction" and that a* tar . as “he (Ollie Harmon) was cott- . cerned. it would have lieen just as ; well If Beryl had gone to the penl- - ten Gary and then the county would •' have had to support Beryl's wife I and family and he would not have — (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) BUSCHE SPEAKS TO LIONS CLUB L. M. Busche Speaks On County Agent System To Lions (Jul) L. M. Busche. of the Purdue agri1 cultural extension system, and former Adam* county agent. *pok» ', to the member* of the Decatur Lions club last night In the week- . ly meeting at the Rice hotel. Mr. Busche talked regatdlng the , celebration of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the RmJth-Lever get and the beginning of «he county agent system, now In progress. He also outlined the activities nf the county agent and compared . Ute duties of the office today with those of earlier year*. i Dr. Joe Morris waa In charge ot the prograsu County Agent L. E. I Archbold and E. \V. Busche father of the speaker, were guests at thn meeting. The meeting next week will >ba held at the Roy Price far.n in the form of an old fashioned party. An ' orchestra will furnish the music for a burn dunce and all those who at--1 tend will be required to wear old clothes. Personw "dressing up" will oe fined. A chicken dinner will bo I served. 1 O ! ■■■*. II Decatur Man’s Father Dies At Monroeville i' ■ Funeral service* will be held Thursday afternoon for Jeremiah Barkley. 81, father of Alpnla Barkley of Decatur, who died Monday night at his home three mile* south 1 of Monroeville. Death was caused by a heart attack. Service* will lie held at 2 o'clock ' (CDT) Thuraduy afternoon at the I East Liberty U. B. church. Rev. J. ( W. Dickinson of latketon and Rev. \\ ii 11 i'ii"ld offi, luting. Burial II will be In the Monroeville I. O. Q. , F. cemetery. Survivors Include th* widow, five ■ sons, and three daughters. I —— l 1 ■» ■ ■■—III I—l Pastor To Conduct ' Bible Study Here , The Bible study of the Christian . church will be held at the church I nt 7:30 o'clock this evening. The • pastor. Rev. Kenneth Timmons, will ( eonduct ihe meeting.

Price Two Cent*.

Great Britain Is Still Opposed To Military Alliance of Britain, France And Russia. DECLINE OFFER Soviet Russia assumed the key I ole in the Huropenn augment picture today. Great Britain, seeking to draw Russia Into a security agreement which would entail armed resistance to aggression by Germany, assured Russia that »h,- would bo egpetted to asalat victims of aggro slon in eastern Hur.rpe only after Britain and France, coming to the aid ot those vlcttons were actually engaged In war. The statement was made by Prime Minister Neville (Chamberlain In the House of Common*. However, both Chamberlain and R. A. Butler, foreign undersecretary, told questioner* that the govern.neut still Is opposed to a military alliance of Britain, France and Ruaala. Chamberlain's statement correcttil a Soviet Impression that aid by Russia waa to be one-sided. The Importance of the Russian poslUon waa Illustrated by the report in Paris that the Pope's failure to include the Soviet In hl* mediation proposals was a marked factor iu the coldness shown by Britain and France to the Pope's suggestion. Russia gained two diplomatic vlo "ories in an indication by Rumania that It ia ready to accept a Russian wiurlty guarantee, and a report tint Poland is willing to accept Russian material aM.'unde- certain conditions to be specified, io event of war. It tended to remove one of the Blrtish objections to a threo power military agreement. Britain having instated that m-ltlwr Poland uor Rumania la willing to aaaociatd I'self with Russia. Vladimir Potemkin. Sov.el foreign vicecomsniaaar, who la returning to Moscow from a tour of Balkan capitals and Turkey, conferred !.a Warsaw with Foreign Minister J taef Beck. It wa* understood he sought an informal agreement rather than a treaty, apart from the 19.32 non-aggression pact, which will remain in force. The Scandinavian countries, Norway. Sweden. Denmark and Finland decide dto decline Fuehrer Adolf Hitler's offer of mutual non-aggrea-slon pacta. Their separate replies will be couched in polite terms, explaining that the tkandinavlana desire to retain their traditional neu-t-allty and enter into pact* wit* uo one. Germany. It appeared I’kely, will not lie offended by the replies. On the contrary, the German’ view seemed to be that the Important thing la that they do retain their neutrality, whether or no’, by nonnggresalon pact*. Gemiaoy, which recently negotated an advantageous trade pact with Rumania's and I* now dickering with Lithuania, also moved U* achieve a dominant economic position In Spain. Ixmdon learned that Fuehrer Adolph Hitler and Gen. Francisco Franco, have agreed to arrange «i» (CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE) i HOLY NAME TO ATTEND MEET Holy Name Society To Diocesan Confresa At Fort Wayne Members of the Decatur Holy Name society will go to Fort Wayne Nunday to participate In the first annual diocesan Eucharistic congress to be held In that ctty t The member* from thl* city will i take part In the huge parade pianu ad for Hund*y* afternoon a* a part, c-f the congress. The local delegation will Tnavo fr»wn the Decatur Catholic high school at 12:20 o'clock Sr.uday afternoon. Persons de«irou* of attending and 1 who do not have away of going are akked to be at the school i promptly and a means of tianspori ation will be arranged. Persons hav- • mg a car available or who are will- > Ing to take other* to the event are asked to contact Clarence iHalmauo.