Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 49, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 July 1923 — Page 1

' Home Edition FULL services of United Press, United News, United Financial, NEA and Scripps Alliance.

VOLUME 35—NUMBER 49

POLICE FORCE IN SHAKE-UP

MISSING GAS BAG FLOATING ON LAKE ERIE IV" % Balloon, Manned by Lieutenants Roth and Null, With Basket Submerged, Is Located at Place Where Water Is 125 Feet Deep, By United Pres* > CLEVELAND, Ohio, July 7.—A balloon, believed to be the missing giant entry in the Indianapolis air race, was found early today floating in Lake Erie, 25 miles south-southwest of Port Stanley, Ont., according to a message received here. There was no sign of life and the large basket had sunk beneath tire folds of the bag, which still contained a small amount of gas. x Two tugs left Port Stanley shortly before noon in an effort to tow in the balloon reported to be floating in the lake, twentyfive miles south-southwest of here. The tugs Elsie Doris and the Frank H. Stanley are not expected back here until about 5 o’clock, even if the balloon can be brought in. As the lake at that point is 125 feet deep, fear was expressed that Lieut. L. J. Roth of Lakehust, N. J., and Telford B. Null, his aide, may have lost their lives in the water. The balloon was sighted by the quartermaster of the-steamer Colonial.

"We went cff our course and circled the big bag twice,’’ said the quartermaster. "We noted that the basket was submerged. We determined that we could do no good, so we went direct-

Pilot Honeywell Sees Little Hope for Safety of Navy Men

"If the balloon found in Lake Erie was Lieutenant Roth’s I think there la little hope in finding him or his aide alive,” said H. E. Honeywell. Pilot of the City of St. Louis while relating hia experiences at the Chamber of Commerce here today en route to his home in Clayton, Mo. Honeywell landed at Broctun, N. Y., 460 miles from here, at 9:11 Thursday evening. “If Roth and Null had been rescued by a passing boat word would have teen wired immediately to the Chamber of Commerce,” Honeywell said. “I hope Roth comes in and wins the race,” the veteran pilot said. “I’d take a back seat to see Roth win.” Honeywell said that Roth's balloon was flying behind him in a northeasterly direction as he was passing

GEORGIA PEACHES ON (MARKET Prices Range From $2,50 to $3,25 a Bushel. Georgia peaches were coming in early this morning at the city market. Prices ranged frofn $2.50 to $3.25 a bushel or two pounds for 25 cents. Northern "peaches are expected to arrive early next week. A purple variety of raspberries are now on the market. They are priced at 20 cents a pint. Black raspberries average 36 cents a quart. Cherries are priced at 15 cgpts a quart. Other garden produce at the market today. Include beets at 5 cents a bunch, cabbage at 5 cents a pound, green beans at 15 and 20 cents a pound, onions at 5 cents a bunch, and carrots at three bunches for 10 cents. Plums of all varieties sell two pounds for 25 cents. California fruits will be here about the middle of the month.

What I Was Doing at 20 — By — Samuel Lewis Shank, Mayor

STOVES and furniture claimed my attention at 20. I was polishing and moving them from early morning until late at night at the furniture store of my good friend, Charlie Hutchinson, then at 280 E. Washington St. I did it for 86 a week. The next year I went to Kansas, then came back and went Into the eattje and sheep business. I lost 830 In It. I didn't lose more because that was all I had. Guess I didn’t know much about the business. HOURLY TEMPERATURE 6 a. m 68 10 a. m 68 m. 69 11 a. m. 70 8 a. m 69 12 (noon) 76 - ° “ 1 -•-■

nni t - sr• -i ° nn® Ihe Indianapolis limes

ly into Port Stanley and called for a tug. The quartermaster said it would be impossible to determine if there are any bodies in the basket until the bag is towed into port.

aiong the southeastern £dge of Lake Erie, Thursday evening. Ascend to 19,000 Feet “The storm was coming due east. We immediately ascended to an altitude of 19,000 feet to escape the fury of the storm. “In my twenty gears’ experience in ballooning I never saw such , a stoijn as the one we got out of. ,We remained over Lake Erie sever, hours while the storm raged. “Lieutenant Roth told me before we left the Speedway that he would fly low as long as he possibly could to save ballast.” Honeywell -left Indiana polis at noon for St. Louis. His .aide, J. P. McCdllough of St. Louis, remained In Detroit, Mich., to visit friends. Hofieywell landed with very little ballast within two hundred feet of Lake Erie. The wind was about to blow him back over the lake as he landed, he said. Olmstead May Be Leader Unless Lieutenant Roth and his aide are safe, Lieut. Robert G. Olmstead, in an Army entry, holds the distance record for the race, unofficial Chamber of Commerce figures show. Landing at Marilla, N. Y., Olmstead had covered 480 mites. Other landing places and distances: noneyweli, Brocton, N. Y., 4ov; Lieut. -J. B. Lawrence, Navy, Glen Campbell, Pa., 400; Capt. C. E. McCullough, American Legion, Frankfort Springs, Pa., 400; Capt. Lester T. Miller, Army, Ford City, Pa., 400; Lieut. F. B. Culbert, Navy, Alliance, Ohio, 310; Lieut. James R. Jordan, Army, Macedonia, Ohio, 300; Jack Boettner, civilian, Fremont, Ohio, 250; Roy F. Donaldson, Bryan, Ohio, 160; Ralph Upsqn, civilian, Wapakoneta, Ohio, 150, and W. T. VanOrman, civilian, Hartford City, Ind., 75.

CONSUMPTION OF WATERCOMPARED Groninger Says House Takes 90 Per Cent, That only 10 per cent of water used by the Indianapolis Water Company In the canal goes to the consumer and 90 per cent goes toward operating a power house was indicated today by Taylor Groninger, city corporation counsel, as he continued gathering evidence to present at the public service commission hearing July 10, of the petition to Increase water rates. Employes of the city engineering department are co-operating with the legal department in gathering data. City Engineer Elliott is today checking the company’s valuation of the canal and preparing other estimates. SEA TRAGEDY INDICATED Message States Small Boats With Men Picked Up Off Cape Cod. By United Preta WASHINGTON, July 7.—A mysterious tragedy of the sea was indicated in cryptic terms in a dispatch received today by the Navy Department from the coast guard cutter. "Tamarac.” The message stated the Ashing schogsier "Sybel” had up off Cape Cod several dories with men in t hem. but gave no \further Information at me riiwto,-

Lieut. Roth Had Premonition Before July 4 Race That Bad Luck Would Come From Number 9

X-> Jph

LIEUT. L. J. ROTH

SEARCHERS lURN 10 FAR WEST IN MISSINGGIRL HUNT Miss Webb Has Been Gone for 30 Days— Believe Miss Metcalf Has Eloped. Searchers today turned their attention to the far West in investigating clews to the whereabouts of Frances Vinnie Webb, 16, of 420 N. Emerson Ave., who has been missing thirty days. Detectives, accompanied by Len S. Webb, the g.rl’s father, spent the entire day Friday going back over ground covered soon after she disappeared. They questioned a number of persons who had seen her after she disappeared from the front’ porch of her home on the night of June 7. These people threw little light on tl situation, repeating their stories fcof having seen Miss Webb up to the tiihe she was seen near E. Washington St. and Bolton Ave., where the trail ends. Clew Kept Secret The clew leading to investigation in the West was not made public. * Mrs. C. E. Sawyer of Brooklyn, Ind., wrote to Webb, saying a girl who walked past her home early in June told some men working on the State highway that she ran away from home and that she lived in Broad Ripple. Webb left for Brooklyn today. Police Lieut. Charles Metcalf, grandfather of Mary Metcalf, 15, who disappeared Wednesday, stated today he was positive she eloped with Oren Lee, 12. son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Lee, 206 Minerva St. Lieut. Metcalf s&ld he had not believed this until a chum of Lee had volunteered the Information that Lee and Mis 6 Metcalf had planned to elope soon after she graduated from No. 5 grade school In June. No trace of Mary or Oren had been found today. They are believed to have left the city in an automobile. While searching for Mary Metcalf Friday, police visited a camp at S. Harding St. and White River. They arrested Agatha Fitzgerald, 14, of 1268 Standard Ave., Catherine Wilsorg 13, of 927 Division St. and Harold Zimmer, 12, of 631 S. Harding St., on charges of delinquency. Police said Neoma Johnson, 16, of 928 S. Warman Ave., slipped out of the back of the tent and escaped. The girls said their parents thought they were in Edinburg.

HOW TIMES PUT OVER FIGHT SCOOP

How did The Times do it T Referring to the Dempsey-Gibbons fight pictures in Friday’s Pink edition. The 'photographs crossed .six States in three airplanes, traveling 1,805 miles as the crow flies, and much longer by actual mileage of the planes. They pas3?d through terric storms of wind and rain, detoured to avoid other storms, and finally came through when all other efforts by rival newspapers and news services had failed. Success in this big undertaking was due to elaborate advance arrangements of The Indianapolis Times and its sister concern, the great Newspaper Enterprise Association. At every point of possible trouble there were relay and relief planes, waiting t 6 carry on in case of mishap. Stationed just outside the arena at Shelby during the fight July 4 were two Curtiss planes of the latest type, humming and ready as the fight progressed. Inside the arena, close to the ring, were staff photographers snapping action pictures, and finally the dramatic scene when Dempsey’s hand was lifted by the referee. # lAt the sign of victory, the photographers made a dash sor ijhe planes, and a minute later the pictures were in the air.

INDIANAPOLIS, SATURDAY, JULY 7, 1923

•' " V'-X. "" " $i- ‘ , \ • .• * A A • fc- -v . ***-,:,. V.V:\.-V,;-- •- ■•••,> • • -V : ~>v

The missing Naty balloon, A-6698, piloted by Lieut. L. J. Roth, Lakehurst, N. J., with his aide, Lieut. Telford B. Null, Lakehurst, N. J., thought to have dropped in Lake Erie, is shown here as it left the Speedway last Wednesday afternoon in the national race. Roth had a premonition that something might happen, but Joked about it with newspaper men just before he took off.

LOCAL MAN’S SISTER ACCUSED OF MURDER \ Mrs, James C, Rickner in Preliminary Hearings at Anniston, Ala,— Harry Elder, Brother, Present,"

Mrs. James C. Rickner. brother of Harry" Elder of this city, went on preliminary hearing today at Anniston, Ala., accused of the murder of her husband, Lieut. James C. Rickner. Before a court room crowd, including many women and children, fellow officers at Camp McClellan told of events leading up to the shooting. Mrs. Rickner, accompanied by her brother, appeared highly nervous as CITY PUTS GHECK ON BILLBOARDS Boulevards Must Be Cleared Away at Once, All billboards along boulevards must be removed immediately, according to an order of the Park board today, Walter Jarvis, director of recreation, was instructed to notify property owners to that effect. This is an extension of an order made several months ago forbidding erection of new billboards.

MISSIN (j A 6698

Roth’s balloon was No. 9 in the race. Two years ago he had the same number in the national race from Birmingham, Ala. “Thai was my unlucky number two years ago,’’ said Roth. “I encountered one of the severest storms I ever went through and it forced me out early. Maybe the number will bring me good luck this time. I guess I have a wonderful chance to win now.”

the court bearing opened. However, when her little 4-year-old daughter climbed into her lap and caressed her hair, she Regained her composure. Capt. Charles F. Craig said on the evening of the slaying Mrs. Rickner came to the officers’ quarters and asked for hsr husband. She was told he was in the bathroom. “I heard an explosion of a pistol soon after,” Craig said, “and then heard a man scream ‘that woman shot me!'" Craig found the lieutenant dying. He said he had heard no conversation between husband an* wife previous to the shooting. ‘ADVICE’ IS HELD LEGAL Lesh Decides Point in Favor of Birth Uontrol Advocates. Advice given on birth control is legal, it is pointed out today in an opinion of Attorney General U. S. Lesh, submitted to Dr. William F. King, secretary of the State board of health. Although the sale of information apd advertisement of printed matter on the subject are forbidden, Lesh held the verbal transmission of such information as advice is not illegal.

Elaborate plaps for development of negatives and making of prints had been) perfected at Williston, N. D., where a complete photographic establishment was set up especially for this event. \ After a brief intervals at 'Williston the first plane hopped off with the prints, still damp from the fixing bath, and headed east. The second plane followed soon to backstop the first and make success doubly certain. One plane developed bngine trouble and was forbid out of the flight near Minot, N. D. The other sailed on, encountering severe storms of wind and rain. At times it was compelled to make wide detours from thp chosen route, via. St. P/iul, Minn., and Chicago. In the height of the storm it sailed by the disabled planes of various other newspapers and news services, and finally emerged safely from the bombardment of the elements at 5:10 p. m. Thursday over the ££. Paul air field. Flying southward toward Chicago in the night, it was forced to land at Janesville, Wis., for a brief interval, hopping off again at the first streak of dawn Friday. At Chicago a special courie:.* of The Times was waiting for the pictures? And to Page 7 and look at the pictures again, f

Entered as Second-class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis. Published Daily Except Sunday.

TELFORD B. NULL

EX-CUSTODIAN OF CAPITOL SHORT IN ACCOUNTS m + Roy Couch Said to Have Had Deficits on Books at Statehouse. From an authentic source it was learned today that the accounts of "Roy Couch, 4465 Guilford Ave., recently deposed as custodian of the Statehouse because of alleged irregularities in connection with his office, will show a shortage aggregating between $9,700 and $9,800, when an official report of an investigation is made. Couch was bonded for SIO,OOO with the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland, a surety agency with offices in this city, April 12. 1921, when he assumed office. An official of the company recently made the statement, it was learned, that he firm would lose practically the enti. e principal of the bond when the investigation was completed. Investigation of Couch’s affairs and books has been made by examiners of the State board of accounts, and a report of the investigation will be handed to Governor McCray probably early next week. Recovery of the State’s money probably will be sought through Attorney General U. S. lesh. Should an Indictment ensue the action probably would be instituted in one of the Marion County courts. Couch was not at his home today. Mrs. Couch said ne probably would not be back until the first of next wet t. She said she did not know where he was. U. S. TO BE REPRESENTED Legion Sends Delegates to London Conference. ~ The American Legion will be represented at the biannual conference of the British Empire Service League, to be held in London, starting July ’6, it was announced at. legffln national headquarters here today. Alvin Owsley national commander of the veterans' organization, has appointed the following committee at the meeting: Donald W. Smith, adjutant of the London post of the legion; Oscar N. Solbert, London post commander; Francis Drake, of Paris na Richard Tobin, United States minister to the Netherlands.

Fifteen Detective Sergeants Reduced to‘Rank of Patrolman on Order of Recommendation of Police Chief Rikhoff. SHANK DECLARES HOP MANY MEN IN DEPARTMENT Mayor Returns From Cleveland and Calls Confe/ence of Safety Board Members Order Is Result, Fifteen detective sergeants were reduced to patrolmen at a special meeting of the board of safety todays The action was taken after Mayor Shank had called the board, Police Chief Hermann F. Rikhoff and Fire Chief John J. O’Brien into conference.

Those reduced were Chauncey Manning, Clarence Golder, Kellar De Rosette, Frank Duncan, William Englebright, John J. Sullivan No. 1, B. Walker, M. Sullivan, Charles MacIntire, Everett Church, Ray E. Fletcher, John L. Stump, Frank Con?, John F. Dugan and William Larsh. Full responsibility for the recommeqclation was assumed by Chief Rikhoff. Had to Cut Down List “I discussed the matter with Inspector John Muilin and Capt. Jerry Kinney,” Rikhoff said. “Some of the men are capable of doing good work, but- the list of detectives had to be cut down.” “I want this board to meet and take action today,” Mayoi Shank said to the board at the end of the conference. “If we wait until next week I will be swamped with friends of detectives insisting and pleading that they be kept on. I have not made any recommendations as to the men. That is a matter entirely In the hands of Chief Rikhoff.” Got Idea at Cleveland On his return from Cleveland Thursday Mayor Shank insisted that the list of detectives be reduced. He said too many police officers w-ere employed in thal capacity, considering the size of Indianaoplis. Reduction of the fifteen detectives to pafroXman’s rank leaves forty-five men in the division.

IN CHINA IT ISN’T SO, SAYS FATHER Have to Obey Until 21, Lad in Court Admits, Association with an Irish prize fighter resulted in a Juvenile Court trial for Newton Harding Chin. 15, 239 N. Delaware St., son of G. S. Chin. Chinese laundryman, on charges of incorrigibility, stealing his father’s car and carrying knucks, according to court attaches who heard the trial. “How long does the law say you have to obey your father?” Judge Frank J. Lahr asked young Chin, a sophomore in Shortrldge high school. “Until I'm 21. I understand,” Newton replied, hitching up his Valentino trousers. “In China it is not so,” snorted the elder Chin. “There boys must obey parents until dead.” Newton, who has been penned in the juvenile detention home since June 28, to “teach him a lesson,” according ot his father, was paroled to his parent after a sermon from the judge on what became of boys, Chinese or American, who disobey fathers. BOY IS BITTEN BY DOG Animal Ordered Tied Up Until Examination by Health Board. Henry Vemd.i, 7, of 536 Amolda Ave., is suffering from dog bites on both arms. Kirk Vernon, his- father, told police the dog belonged to Jerry BWd, 3104 W. North St. The boy was taken to the Office of Dr. J. Titus, 2F.&4 W. Michigan St., for first aid. Police ordered the dog tied up until the State board of healthy couid make 4 an examination. v AUTO INJURES BICYCLIST Edmond Lagest, 18, of 901 N. Belmont Ave., was recovering from injuries received Friday night when he was struck by an automobile at Michigan St. and Warman Ave. The driver of the car stopped, asked the boy if he was hurt and drove away, police were told. Witnesses gave the license number of the automobile to police.

RELEASED PRISONER SADDENED BY DEATH V - “ Man, Held in County Jail Seven Weeks on Vagrancy Charge,

When Charles Hugley, 1526 Oxford St., was released today after being held more than seven weeks in the Marion County Jail on a charge of vagrancy, he learned for the first time that his mother, Mrs. Jennie Selmar, 1035 Temple Ava.. died at tke city hospital two weeks ago. Judge Delbert O. Wilmeth dismissed the charge ib city court. On request of Miss CaiUl Thaver. court nmha.

Forecast PARTLY cloudy tonight and Sunday. Probably local thunder showers. Warmer.

SMALL CYCLONE HITS SOUTHERN SECTIONOF CITY Thirty Trees Uprooted in Garfield Park-r-Lightning Strikes Houses, Thirty trees, some of considerable size, lay uprooted today in Garfield park, a sa result of a miniature cyclone at 6<30 p. m. Friday. Five residences and a switchman’s shanty were struck by lightningFriday night, without serious damage. H. Houston Tall, assistant superintendent of. parks, said the blow lasted about a minute, tearing off hundreds of-big limbs and littering the park with wreckage. The canvas tent over seats in the municipal theater in the park was wrecked, and a small wagon shed lifted from the foundation and turned over. Hundreds of glass panes were broken at the Garfield Gardens green?' houses, William Naylor, caretaker, said. - Goes Two Miles Southeast The wind started cutting a path a few blocks northwest of the .park, swept through Garfield In a general line along Pleasant Run and ripped its way through trees for about two miles southeast. Lightning struck the home of Fred Cook, 1040 Comer Ave., causing damage not estimated; the residence of Mrs. Maude Carr, 2233 Parker Ave., causing damage estimated at $200; a flat building owned by Bert McCammon, 3802 College Ave., damage $5; residence of Dr. Carl Ingles, 608 Home PL, the damage being $5; a two story double at 1344 Commerce Ave., lightning striking the side occupied by Carl Kincade. Water Ffcurs In A t the Cook home today water continued to increase the loss. Lightning knocked over the chimney and caved in the kitchen roof. No aid had been offered the family as the water poured In. Mrs. Cook called the salvage corp for'help. -The switchman’s shanty at the Belt Railroad and Shelby St. was struck early today. The shanty caught fire. Damage is estimated at $25. The city fire department answered calls to ah places struck by lightring. Clear Weather Predicted f J. H. Armington, weather bureau meteorologist, predicted that conditions would become better Sunday. Today he said considerable rain could be expected, but promised that Sunday the sun would begin to shine. The past twenty-four hours brought a wide variety of leather to different parts of Indiana. At Evansville there was no rainfall, -#hile at Psoll 2.19 Inches were recorded. At Indianaoplia .36 inches were shown on official records. • SKELETON UNEARTHED Workmen Find Human Bones on .Garage Site. By Times Special HUNTINGTON, Ind., July le—JL skeleton was unearthed by workmen excavating for anew garage. It_was in the remains of a coffin and was almost in powdery form. Pioneers assert Huntington was visited by a sweeping attack of smallpox and its victims were buried in the plot along Little River, where the garage is being erected. Net Window Curtains If you want your net window curtains to hang straight dry them by putting them back on the poles wet. They will fall In the desirable graceful folds.

Learns Mother Is Dead,

tion officer, Hugley' , was given $5 from the court's charity fund. Hugley was arrested May 16 by Sergeant ClaJfey and was held pending investigation of his mental condition police records show. He was said to be extremely nervous. Relatives refused to fin out papers necessary for a sanity inquest, police case was postponed several

TWO CENTS