Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 182, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 December 1923 — Page 1

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VOLUME 35—NUMBER 182

BLIZZARD CLAIMS LIVES OF TEN

WABASH RIVER VALLEY IS MENACED BY HIGH WATERS

SIGN A PETITION! Shall a Yankee Army Officer Spend Christmas in a German Jail? Fall in Line!

SHE movement sponsored by The Times to have readers sign petitions which will be forwarded to Charles E. Hughes. Secretary of State, urging release of Corliss Hooven Griffis, former American Army officer, who Is In a German prison, has received spontaneous indorsement. On a charge of attempting to kidnap Grover Bergdoll, notorious draft dodger, who took refuge in Germany. John M. Caylor, attorney and member of the Rainbow Division, who was one of the first to sign a petition, writes: “It is a rare occasion that I am enthusiastic over newspaper move ments to place my affirmation in writing, but I want to state as an ex service man, that I heartily approve this latest movement to free Corliss Hooven Griffis of Ohio from a German prison. "Can you picture an Englishman staying in a German prison?” If you feel as Mr. Caylor does and sign the following petition, forward it to The Times. (If you care to obtain additional signatures, paste the petition on a sheet of paper a-.d let your friends sign).

PETITION SO CHARLES E. HUGHES, Secretary of State: We most respectfully request that the American Government employ its good offices to bring about the release of Corliss Hooven Griffis from the German prison to which he has been sentenced. Since the processes of justice have been completed in bis case, we feel that our Government may now with propriety intervene for his release, or modification of his sentence. In this connection we recall the noble efforts made by our Government in behalf of Edith Cavell after her conviction. Signed ~ U r***~

SHAW IS RETURNED TO COUNTY PRISON Judge Collins Orders That Only Attorneys See Defendant in Whelchel Murder Case,

John Thomas Shaw, 24. colored, 1418 E. Maryland St., indicted for the murder of Mrs. Helen Whelchel, 22, of

KU-KLUX MURDER TRIAL UNDER WAY Jury Ready to Hear Story of Coburn Slaying, By United Preaa ATLANTA, Ga., Dec. 13.—A jury was ready today to hear the story of the killing of W. S. Coburn, leader of one faction of the Ku-Klux Klan by Phil E. Fox, publicity director of the imperial palace. The State first called eye-witnesses to the shooting of Cobum. Among these is Mrs. M. L. Heyman, of Cleveland, Ohio, who was discussing a civil case with the attorney of the Simmons group when he was killed by Fox. Clarence A. Everett, first witness told of selling a long dirk knife to the accused man. Everett is clerk in •- sporting goods store. Mrs. Heyman said Fox. after talking a moment with Coburn, went out of the office. ‘'He immediately re-opened the door and poked a gun in and began firing past me,” the witness declared. Pinkerton Rites Saturday By United Preaa CHICAGO, Dec. 13.—Funeral services will be held at the Fourth Presbyterian Church Saturday for Wll liam A. Pinkerton, head of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, who died Monday at Los Angeles, Cal.

9 more SUOPPiNG DAVS BEFOQE

The Indianapolis Times

; 1854 Applegate St.. Is back in the Ma- | non County jail today. Judge James |A. Collins of Criminal Court announced. Shaw was returned from the State I Prison at Michigan City by Detectives | Radamacher and Allen on Wednesday J night. I Collins ordered Sheriff George Snider not to permit any one to see Shaw excepting his attoftieys, H. B. Pike and C. H. Thurston. Shaw was taken to Michigan CityDec. 3 for safe keeping. He continues to assert his innocence, although he does not explain where he was on the night of the murder, detectives say. He is charged with having abducted Mrs. Whelchel at lowa aruj East j Sts - being responsible for her death, and throwing her body from the High School road bridge, one mile north of Ben Davis, to the Big Four'Rallroad Nov. 28.

‘PRICE DESCENT TO AFFECT VALUATIONS’

Bemis Prophesies Downward Trend in Materials Included in Phone Company Construction,

The tendency of prices during the next few years will be downward, Euward W. Bemis, Chicago, engineer, testified in Federal Court today in the | hearing on the petition of the Indiana Bell Telephone Company for a peri manent Injunctlo to prevent the pub j ,ic sendee commlsslo nfrom lnterfer- | Ing with present telephone rates. Bemis, a witness for the commission ! testified as to prices in connection | with the valuation of the company’s property. He declared there will be a decline In prices of materials entering Into the construction of telephone property. Rates are based on property valuation. Much of the testimony given by 1 Bemis was ruled out as Incompetent or lrrevelant. This was particularly true as concerned testimony on the | subject of depreciation and going value. Companions Discussed Judge George T. Page, who is presiding In the case, discussed. In connection with questions asked Bemis, | exhibits previously Introduced by attorneys for the commission tending | to show independent companies are ; operated more cheaply than Bell companies under similar conditions. Judge | Page also objected to Bemis testifying as to the condition of the Bell property without having examined it. “If you are insisting on putting into j the record evidence as to other properties as compared with the Bell prop- ; erties, you should get representatives | of other properties in court and let them testify,” the court said in con-

NEW CONTRIBUTES SSOO TO HARDING MEMORIAE FUND Postmaster-General 'Sorry Subscription Is Not Larger,’ Harry S. New. Postmaster General, today Indorsed the Harding memorial campaign in a letter to William Fortune, Indianapolis, chairman. New contributed 5500 to the Indianapolis fund. I Contributions thus far total $6,086.96. The size of New's contribution was a source of gratifying surprise to Indianapolis friends, who said they realize he is tnaking a personal I sacrifice. Wish it Were More New wrote: “I am enclosing iry j check for SSOO, payable to the Hard ! ing Memorial committee, to be dej voted to the purpose fc*' which that ' committee was created. 1 wish with all my heart I could make the sum greater.” The committee is greatly encourI aged with the response. Subscriptions [ of SIOO were recorded from Allen A. j Wilkinson, Kiefer-Stewa.rt Company, W. B. Burtord, Louis Hollweg, A. C. I Babson and George J. Marott. Many Subscribers Subscriptions of SSO were received from Robert H. Hassler, John N. Carey, Joseph C. Schaf, Mr. and Mrs. Irving Lemaux and Thomas C. Day; $25, John J. Madden, James W. Lilly, Julius C. Walk & Son. Kahn Tailoring Company. Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Bryson, Lynn B. Millikan. E. E. Crane and Thornton-Levey Company; S2O, ! Samuel Rubens. The Times received $5 from A. Grant Brown; $2 from the Tuesday i Club, Kountaintown. Ind., and $1 each from J. D. Edwards, Elmer E. Bentley, A. W. Meyer. A. C. TANARUS., and Jessie j L. Thompson, Fountalntown. Ind.

In Italy By United Xetcs ROME, Dec. 13.—Soldiers, searching mud fiats about the hamlet of Dezzo, wiped out bv*the great flood there, came upon the figure of a dead girl, upright, immersed in mud to the waist. Standing, in death, she seemed unconcerned by the destruction about her. The troops fled, panic stricken, and were induced with difficulty to return and bury the body.

nection with the comparisons contained in the exhibits. O. O. Shirley, an attorney for the commission, explained this would require a long and complicated investigation. "Evidence Worthless” “Tour admission proves the utter worthlessness of this evidence,” Judge Page said. "You should get into the record evidence to show whether these differences In operating costs ca nor cannot be accounted for. I am convinced that every reasonable fact based on values and exjenses can be brought before this court. There is no time watch on this court.” It was finally agreed that an engineer of the commission and one representing the company should examine the properties involved and attempt to .agree on facts. Judge Page (Continued on Page 11)

LLOYD GEORGE Great Britain’s former war premier has resumed writing special articles, which will be published exclusively in Indianapolis in The Times. His opinions on the British election, in which he refers to Premier Stanley Baldwin as a “reckless amateur,” will be In The Times Saturday

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, DEC. 13, 1923

SHOPPERS THRONG DOWNTOWN WITH CHRISTMAS DAY NEARING

SHOPPING CROWD ON WASHINGTON ST

EPH INMAN IS NAMED DEPUTY PROSECUTOR IN M’CRAY CASE

GRIFFIS’ RELEASE SOUGHTBYLEGION Quinn States National Body Desires Justice. The American Legion, through its national headquarters, Is exerting every effort to secure release of Lieut. Corliss Hooven Griffis, of Hamilton, Ohio, sentenced by a German court to twenty-one months In a German prison for an attempt to kidnap Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, draft evader. National Commander John R. Quinn, said today. “The legion is not making a publicity campaign,” Quinn said. “But it is keeping in close touch with the situation." "Legion posts throughout the country are adopting resolutions asking us to help secure release of Griffis.” "The legion is trying to see to it that Griffis is given Justice.” SKULL BROKEN IN BY FALL Woman, 70, Is at City Hospital As Accident Result. Mrs. Annette McCarty, 70, of 955 N. Dearborn St., was In the City hospital today as result of a fall downstairs at the home of Earl Stansbury, 1729 Park Ave., where she was employed. She received afractured skull and a broken left arm, hospital authorities said.

FREEZING TEMPERATURE IS FORECAST FOR INDIANA

Resigns as Trustee of Insane Hospital Because of Appointment, Eph Inman, widely known criminal lawyer, was retained by the State today to aid in the prosecution of Governor McCray in Criminal Court. Inman's appointment ns deputy to Clarence W. Nichols, special prosecutor, was iatifled by Judge James A. Collins of Criminal Court. Immediately following his appointment Inman tendered to Governor McCray his resignation from the board of trustees of the Central Indiana Hos pital for the Insane. Talked with Governor "I saw the Governor the other day and told him I would resign because I thought it the proper thing to do in view of my accepting the position to aid in the prosecution of his case in Criminal Court,’’ he said. of the hospital are appointed by the Governor. Inman was appointed In 1916 by Governor Ralston, and was re-appolnted by Governor Goodrich. His term would have expired Jan. 1. In Murder Trials Inman has conducted the defense in several murder trials. He came to Indianapolis years ago from Washing ton, Ind. McCray’s arraignment has been set for Jan. 7, 1924, the first regular arraignment day following his Indictment on charges of forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money under false statement and grand larceny. Two deputies in Criminal Court are busy pasting copies of the McCray indictments in court records. They have spent two days at the task.

, “FIRE-TONGUE” By Sax Rohmer, the most interesting, thrilling novel of the year, starts serially in The Times today. An American millionaire, wan dering In the Far East, becomes an initiate in a terrible murder cult as the only means of saving his life. Begin reading this thriller. It Starts Today on Page Eight

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

SHIDELER'S BODY HONORED AT BIER Funeral Services in Marion This Afternoon, Upon a bier in the State Capitol rotunda, where the bodies of Governor Thomas A. Hendricks, James Whitcomb Riley and ex-rresldent Benjamin Harrison have lain In state before him, today rested the body of George A. H. Shideler, superintendent of the State reformatory, who died Tuesday. The body was taken to Marion at noon. Funeral services were to be held at 3:30 p. m. at the First Presbyterian Church. A squad of Indiana National Guardsmen guarded the body. Among friends who passed often was seen the face of an ex-inmate of the reformatory who learned to respect his chief. Honorary pallbearers include Governor McCray, three former Governors and State officials. Active pallbearers were selected from Mr. Shideler’s staff at the reformatory. Khvanians Back Fanner Meet By Timea Special NOBLESVTLLE, Ind., Dec. 13. — The Noblesville Kiwanis Club, Wednesday, voted S2OO to finance a two /days agricultural meeting here in January. The club also voted to back a movement to employ a health nurse for Noblesville.

Terrific Cold Weather Takes Toll in New Mexico Local Bureau Warns Lowland Dwellers of Danger in High Waters,

By United Press ALBUQUERQUE, N. M., Dec. 13.—Ten are dead in a blizzard which swept New Mexico Wednesday. Three women and two children were frozen to death on Blue Springs ranch, fifty miles southeast of Albuquerque. Bodies of two boys and a man were found near Vaughan. A railroad employe, blinded by the snow, fell into a canyon at Bisbee, and a sheep herder was found frozen in his camp near Vaughan. At Blue Springs raneh, Mrs Monteria, her daughter, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren were frozen while driving from Lincoln, N. M., to the ranch. WHITE RIVER FLOODS LOWLAND First Snow fall of Season Is Recorded at Waaliington, Ind. By United Press WASHINGTON, Ind., Dec. 13.White River has overflowed its" banks in Daviess County as a result of tne recent heavy rains, but there is' apparently no danger of a serious flood stage. The first snow of the season fell during the night. SNOWFALL AT VINCENNES Wabash River Rises Rapidly From Continued Rains. By United Press VINCENNES, Ind., Dec. 13.—A light skift of snow covered the ground early today. Tho temperature dropped several degrees over night. The Wabash River was rising slightly.

Keep Your Eye on ‘Cold’ City Health Officer Tells How to Avoid Serious C omplications as Winter Progresses.

ON'T get your feet wet. I 111 Watch your diet closely. L... J Take plenty of exercise. Sleep at least eight hours every night. If you feel 111, remain in bed. Don't put off doctoring a cold. Keep homes and offices ventilated. Don’t hesitate to consult a physician regularly. REMEMBER —An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Observance of these rules will reduce the present epidemic of colds and sore throats 20 per cent and check pneumonia and influenza later. Dr. Herman T. Morgan, secretary of the city board of health, said today. Colds are keeping physicians busy. The outbreak is not considered unusual for the time of year, but efforts are being made to confine Illness l'> mild forms. An epidemic of pneumonia usually starts the second week of February, reaching its peak the third week of March. City health records show January, February and March the banner months for serious sickness. Despite common belief, July and August are months when health Is best. The present epidemic, which is entering the second week, is caused by climatic conditions of this locality. Dr. Morgan said, coupled with the fact that few persons have normal repiratory organs. Smoke comes in for a share of the blame.

NINE-YEAR-OLD BOY SENTENCED 12 YEARS Mother of Lad Who Passed $25 Fraudulent Check Beats Head Against Stone Wall and Wails,

The age-old wailing wall in Jerusalem, where people knocked their heads against the stones in sorrow, had nothing on the stone partition just outside juvenile court today. The mother of Marion County’s youngest forger, who had just received his sentence from Juvenile Judge Frank J. Lahr, knocked her head against it, and emitted wails heard all over the courthouse. Nor was her 9-year-old son, who heard the Judge commit him to the Indiana Boy’s School until 21, a whit be-

MAH-JONGG FREE Nearly everybody is interested in this mystic game from the Orient. You often hear folk say they would like to play MahJongg if they only knew the rules. J. P. Baboock, recognized authority, is giving fiee instructions to Times readers. Today’s Lesson on Page Four

Forecast • FAIR weather predicted for tonight and Friday. Colder tonight with lowest temperature about 25.

TWO CENTS

The weather man looked at the calendar today, saw that Christmas was almost here, turned off the rain and turned on the snow. That was just after 7 a. m. HOURLY TEMPERATURE 6 a. m 35 10 a. m 29 7 a. m. . 3411 a. m. 29 8 a. m 32 12 (noon) 30 9 a. m 30 I p. m 29 Girls, getting ready for school and work, took out galoshes and woolen mittens. Mothers hurriedly pulled “heavies” out of cedar chests. Motorists glanced out of the window and reached for their private stock of alcohol—for their automobiles, of course. For two hours Indianapolis had a taste of what December should be like. Then the weatherman remembered that Christmas shoppers would have a hard time getting through snow, so he turned off the white flakes and said, “that’s all.” Perhaps a Little More •“Well,” he relented later, "perhaps just a little bit more; but certainly not much.” The rain was shut off, too, after more than a week, during which Christmas shoppers looked at “Shop Early” admonitions and laughed scornfully. From 7 a. m. Wednesday to 7 a. m. today, 1.77 inches of rain fell in Indianapolis. Thus far this month, rainfall has amounted to 3.96. Normal rainfall for December is 3.04. Freezing weather was predicted for tonight. , Streams May Overflow Although Indianapolis was in no danger of floods, warnings were sent out by the weather bureau today that streams In the middle and southern parte of the White river valley probably would overflow their banks. White River stood at 8.6 feet at 7 a. m. today, after a rise of .9 of a foot during the night. A greater rise was expected today. Flood stage la 18 feet. Police were kept busy during the night guarding fallen wires. Firemen responding to an alarm at Tenth St. and the canal discovered a live wire had set Are to a telephone pole. FIRST SNOW AT TERRE HAUTE Wabash River Will Roach Flood Stage Unless Freezing Prevails. By United Press TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Dec. 13. The first snow of the season fell throughout the Wabash Valley area early today, following an all-night rain and sleet fall. Unless freezing temperature prevails within the next twenty-four hours, Wabash River at points near here will reach the flood stage. Bottom lands already are flooded, doing considerable damage to wheat and ungathered corn. BLANKET AT WARSAW Temperature Drops Following Heavy Snowfall. By United Press WARSAW, Ind., Dec. 13.—An Inch of snow fell here early today. It was the heaviest snowfall of the season. The temperature dropped rapidly during the morning. Dp Fauw Fresliman Pledge §28,503 By Times Special GREENCASTLE, Ind, Dec. 13. Freshman class of De Pauw Wednesday pledged $28,503 to the $1,000,000 endowment fund. - The average subscription was $45.

hind his mother. On the other side of the wall he cried until women probation officers almost stopped up thfci? ears. Treading the primrose path of ailcay suckers and movies brought about the lad’s down-fall. A raid on a news stand at Washington and Illinois Sts., that netted 15 cents failing to provide enough means for riotous living the lad passed a $25 forged check on the Postal Savings State Bank.