Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 194, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 December 1923 — Page 1

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VOLUME 35—NUMBER 194

MADMEN ROAM AT LARGE

WATSON IS ON FENCE AS TO TOSSING HAT Senator, Here for G. 0. P. McCray Conference, Says ‘I Have Not Reached the Point Where I Can Make * an Announcement Either Way,' Senator Janies E. Watson today indicated he still is considering the possibility of becoming a candidate for the Republican nomination for President. The Senator arrived in Indianapolis from Washington to attend the party conferences at the Severin concerning the attitude of Indiana Republicans toward Governor McCray.

"I have not reached the point where I can make an announcement either way.” Watson said. He was asked whether he expected to discuss this possibility with his friends while in Indiana. "Naturally, naturally,” he replied. WaJb Sent Invitation "That is not my purpose in coming here, however.” he added. "I have come at the invitation of State Chairman Clyde E. Walh to attend a certain series of conferences." He said an announcement as to whether he would be a candidate would not be made while he still is in Indiana. He refused to discuss the McCray situation. Watson sees the enactment of both a soldier bonus and tax reduction leg islation by the present Congress. He indicated a pessimistic attitude toward the possib.lity of many of President Coolidge’s recommendations being enacted into law. "The Mellon tax plan is admirable,” he said. "It will go through if any tax plan can go through. It is difficult to get any plan through the House and the Senate with their conilicting ideas. This is particularly true during a campaign year. Tax Reduction Seen , "My own judgment is there will be some sort of a reduction in taxation. At the same time the situation is such that a bonus bill will pass over the President’s veto. This may be a modified bonus bill. Many schemes art- being proposed looking to a bonus With tax reduction.” The outcome of the President's program is “shrouded in mystery.” the Senator said. He bemoaned the fact the Republicans do not have a working majority. No human being can predict the outcome of the fight over the chairmanship of the Interstate Commerce Committee in the Senate, Watson believes. He indicated he anticipates a continued deadlock, at least for a time, between Senator Cummins. Republican, and Senator Smith, Democrat. Watson expects to return to Washington Monday or Tuesday. Walb was at the Severin alt morning receiving visitors and talking over the McCray situation. He said definitely he will call a meeting of the State committee- He refused to make any further statement. Prominent Men Present Committee members present included Stuart Fisher, Princeton, Ind. First district: Ewing Emsion, Vincennes, Second district, and George M. Foland, Crown Point, Tenth district. Among other Republican present was George Lockwood, Washington, editor of the National Republican. He denied he was in Indiana for the McCray conference, but it was said he had an appointment with Walb. The conference is the third of its kind since McCray's financial crash. The first was held Oct. 1, when a subcommittee of the State committee was appdinted. Later the subcommittee met and this meeting was followed by a statement from Walb demanding the Governor’s resignation. It is for the purpose of considering this statement that the present conferences are being held.

OLDAUGUSTA ASKS FORM A ROAD’ Residents Besidge Commissioners for' A Way Out.’ Residents of Old Augusta today stormed county commissioners demanding “a road, some road, any old road,” so they can get In and out without plowing through mud “a yard deep." "If someone should die there, and we didn’t want to bury him In town, we’d hare to carry the body out. You can’t haul a thing over the roads,” declared one. Access to the town is cut off, they said, because the only gTavel road that touches the place is the Michigan road, now being built into a cement road. County commissioners goid they* would lay the case before State highway officials. HOURLY TEMPERATURE 6a. m.... • •.. 46 10 a. m • - 48 7 a. m 45 ll a. m 49 8 a. m 46 12 (noon) 49 9 a. m 4" 1 p. m 55

WHAT DOES LLOYD GEORGE THINK OF INDIANAPOLIS? READ HIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW IN THE TIMES SATURDAY

x * The Indianapolis Times

EX-WIZARD SEES FEUDAL WARFARE IN KLAN STRIFE Edward Young Clarke Urges President Coolidge to Take Hand, Bu l nited Pres WASHINGTON. Dec. 27.—Warfare which will make the rauuntain feuds of Kentucky look like play will break out between factions of the Ku-Klux Klan unless present conditions are removed. Edward Young Clarke, formerly imperial wizard of the Klan, predicted today. Clarke arrived in Washington to make a personal appeal to President Coolidge to take the lead in a move to clean up the Klan or stamp it out entirely. After an ope nletter from Clarke had been left at the White Houre by Edward Fuller, his representative, Clarke declared he was through with the Klan: that a reign of lawlessness ‘‘almost bey >nd belief" la attributable to Klan strength in Texas. Louisiana. Arkansas and Oklahoma; that in Ohio. Michigan and parts of Illinois the Klan is becoming “a master political machine." Gun licenses Dangerous "In Pennsylvftnia and Indiana licenses to carry guns have been and are being obtained by lvlansmen under an old law with relation to the protection of cattle and other animals.” Clarke said. "I am informed within the last few days about 150 such commissions were issued at one time in Indiana and Ohio.” He is making himself a target, Clarke said, out of a feeling it is his duty to “make war on a condition and a process of development through which the Klan is passing and which, unless checked, will mean either the destruction of the Klan or the development of an organization to the ppint where it will be a real menace to the Nation. “The Klan today, on the inside, is a seething mass of animosity, strife and hatred and unless something is done to change the situation there will be practical feudal warfare. The far-famed mounts! nfeuds of Kentucky w'ere but play in comparison to the bitterness and hatred now existing between the two factions and bloodshed is as certain to come as night follows day.” Good men in the Klan are afraid to speak out, he said. Legislators, Senators and Congressmen “are being whipped into line,” and for this reason, he said, "it has become necessary for me to declare myself or prove untrue to the allegiance of my country.” Clarke is head of the faction which opposes control of the Klan under . Evans' administration.

The open letter presented by Fuller was a violent attack on the present control of the Ku Klux Klan. Is Real Menace As now operated, Clarke's letter said, the Klan is ‘‘.a real menace to law and order,” individual rights and Democratic political government. He said "the thing which alarms me most in connection with the organization Is the apparent trend of thought inside the ranks of the membership toward disregard for law and order and the tendency of the membership to assume local. State and na:lonal political dictatorship and In my judgement when any powerful secret organization assumes either of the above attitudes it immediately becomes a real menace to free Government and the rights, privileges and liberties guaranteed under the Constitution. ”1 have received from widely scattered sections of the country direct and authoritative information the Klanis widely developing nationally as a cheap political machine and in sections where it is strongest brazenly and openly superseding the authority of the courts through character assassination, intimidation and actual physical violence.” Hard Work for Quarter Robbers cut a hole through the floor to enter the grocery of H. J. Claffee, 6055 College Ave., Wednesday night. They got twenty-five pennies and some tobacco.

Times Safety Club Enrolls 196 Initial Members in Campaign to Check Accidents and Fatalities

Every Auto Driver in Indiana Eligible—Watchman Cites Dangers,

Sr—“ — IXTY-TWO persors have died as the result of motor vehicle accidents in Marion County this year. What will the total be next year? In the belief that it will aid motorists to got down in black and white their New' Year resolution to be careful. The Times announces “The Times Safety Club.” All you have to do to join the club is sign the accompanying coupon and mail it to The Times Safety Club Editor, The Times. Indianapolis, Ind. To remain a member in good standing throughout the year is to avoid accidents —drive carefully all the time. Every motor vehicle driver in Indiana, regardless of age, is eligible. The club starts with an initial membership of 196 drivers of Indianapolis taxi-cab companies. Charter Members These managers of taxi lines indorsed the alub and entered membership of their drivers: Yellow Cab Company, Mike Maroney, seventy drivers. * Diamond Cab Company, William H. McLaughlin, fourteen drivers. Indiana Cab Company, F. J. McKennan, twenty drivers. Red Top Cab Company, A. F. Davidson, ten drivers. Donn Herr Cab Company, Don Herr, twelve drivers. Checker Taxicab Company, A. C. Metcalf, seventy drivers. William O’Connor, crossing watchman at the Belt railroad and W. Washington St., who looks out for the WVes of thousands every day, believes it wi 1 do many drivers fcood to sign the safety pledge. Not many drivers are dangerous, O'Connor says, but “some of those who drive in Indianapolis haven't got sense neough to drive a wheelbarrow. "Why some people only can not keep from getting hit, but they try to knock the train off the track.” Are Ihlvers Blind? He related an incident a few’ nights ago w’hen a long line of traffic was held up by a passing train. One driver cut around all the others nnd forging ahead, smashed into the side of the train. "Couldn't 'you see that train? C’Connor asked. "Welt, I didn't,” the driver meekly replied. Even a crossing watchman isn't safe in the street, O'Connor has concluded. One night he had just let a line of machines go ahead after a train had passed. Another machine came down the street and striking him aft, knocked him across the tracks. O'Connor now’ directs traffio from the sidewalk. "Probably the biggest chance an autoist takes is driving past a ‘cutoff’,” O'Connor said. "When a string of cars is standing near the crossing with an engine on the opposite end you never know’ when the engineer is going to ‘kick back.’ ” “Yet, it almost is impossible to keep machines back. Because they can't see the engine they think there is no danger. But, the worst accident that ever happened here was last May. A machine was caught and crushed betw’een two sections of a train when the engineer ‘kicked back’ to couple the cars.”

STOCK ISSUES APPROVED Utility Board Authorizes .Salt* for Improvements. The public service commission has authorized the issue and sale of stocks and bonds for two utilities in the Joseph A. Brewer group. The Wabash Valley Electric Company was authorized to sell at 90 per cent par $39,600 in 7 per cent pre ferred stock, for betterments and extensions already made, while the Northern Indiana Power Company was given power to sell at 90 per cent par, $396,000 in 6 per cent bonds, and $191,000 in common stock. WAITER GOES TO JAIL Divorce Case Defendant Absent—- " Contempt,” Says Judge. James L. Sowders, Mars Hill, a waiter, was sentenced to five days in Jail today by Superior Judge T. J. Moll on contempt of court charges. Sowders failed to appear In answer to a personally served subjoena In a divorce cdse in which his wife alleged non-support. "They said I didn’t have to come if I didn't care to oppose the divorce.” Sowders informed Judge Moll when a deputy sheriff marched him Into the courtroom. “Well, they were misinformed, to your sorrow,” the Judge replied. Civic Hubs to Discuss Finance Ways and means of raising funds for promoting the 1924 program of the Indianapolis Federation of Community Clubs will be discussed Friday evening by executive officers of the federation in the office of Edward O. Snethen, 416 Indiana Trust building. There will be no general meeting of tfcA federation until Jan. 25.

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, DEC. 27, 1923

* s; . iff TRYING TO BEAT A TRAIN AT BELMONT AVE. AND C„ I. & W. CROSSING.

LOSS OF FRENCH DIRIGIBLE BECOMES STATE SCANDAL

Times Safety Club m PLEDGE THAT: 1. I will drive carefully in 1924. 2. I will particularly watch out for children at the curb or playing in the street. 3. I will observe all traffic rules. 4. I will drive to the curb and stop when I hear fire truck, police emergency or ambulance sirens. 5. I will stop at dangerous crossings. Name ........... Address . Clip and mall to Times Safety Club Editor, Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Ind.

TRAFFICMEN WARN 7,956 MOTORISTS New System on Traffic Laws Effective Jan, 1, Since last August, when police began placing tags on cars. of traffic ordinance violators, 7,956 violators have been {brought to police headquarters and warned. Traffic Captain Michael Glenn said today. Beginning Jan. 1 there will ha no more instruction, he said. Regular fines of $2, $3 and $5 will bo assessed. A now system, of warnings will be introduced whereby officers will place a warning and instruction tag upon the car of a driver w’hose Infraction of the rules shows an attempt to abide by the ordinances, but incomplete knowledge. City headlight ordinance will be enforced to the letter, Glenn said.

GAS DIVIDEND IS SEEM YEAR Company Says It Hopes to Rebuild $418,000 Surplus, The Citizens Gas Company today announced it hopes to resume the payment of dividends to common stockholders next .year. The announcement was in the form of a letter to stockholders. The announcement says the company expects to re-establish the surplus of $418,000 paid in by stockholders and to resume dividend payments, “should no untoward circumstances arise In the meantime.” The Question of gas rates still Is pending before the public service commission and it has been indicated there will be a slight decrease soon. The letter cplls attention to the fact that because of the mild winter the company has 25,000 tons of surplus coke on hand. Music Leader 111 Mrs. M. J. Porterfield, 80, prominent in musical circles of the State, and mother of Homer Porterfield, Indianapolis, is seriously ill at her home, "Sunshine Cottage,” in Richmond, Ind., friends here learned today. Dr. Hurty Improving The condition of Dr. John N. Hurty, former secretary of the State board of health, who underwent an operation forHnfected salivary glands Wednesday at St. Vincent's hospital, was reported as "good” today.

TWO WOUNDEOAIDING DRUNKEN FARM HAND John Torok lodged in Jail; Condition of Injured Not Serious. Bv United Press ELKHART, Ind., Dec. 27—John Torok, a farm laborer, was held In Jail here today charged with shooting John Albert, 51, and his grandson, Homer White, 15. The two wounded men are not in a serious condition. Elkhart County officials said Torok was drunk and fired at the two men ■when they went to help him, get his buggy out of a ditch. SHAW WILL FILE MOTION SATURDAY Man Sentenced to Die to Ask New Trial, A motion for anew trial will be presented Criminal Court Judge James A. Collins when John T. Shaw, colored, 21, is sentenced to death at 9 a. m. Saturday, his counsel, H. B. Pike, said today Shaw was found guilty Monday by a Jury for the killing of Mrs. Helen Whelchel. Pike said the motion would be made "to kedTf the record open,” in case -.any one wanted to appeal to the* Supreme Court. A colored attorney retained by Shaw’s sister has announced his determination to carry the record to the higher court. Pike said he would withdraw from the 1 case after filing the motion. Shaw still maintained his innocence, and told Sheriff George Snider he hoped he ‘‘will get better treatment from the Supreme Court.” LAST MULE TEAM PASSES Hanitary Board Orders Span Sold at Public Auction. 'With Old Dobbin daily giving way to gasoline transportation, the last span of mules owned by the sanitary board was added to the long list of "by gones” today by decree of the board. The mules were “sentenced” to be sold af public auction by the board. The charge was "inefficiency.” Motor trucks have proved more economical. The mules will be? sold Jan. 5 at 10 a. m. at 770 Oliver Ave., for a price not lower than that set by appraisers. Wedding Ring Stolen Mrs. ModJeskah Geillespie, 1618 N. Delaware St., today told police a man stole her wedding ring set with twenty diamonds valued at SIOO, and $1.50 in money from room 307, Indiana Trust building. She described a suspect.

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

'Deputies Demand Probe of Disaster to Airship and Crew of Fifty, Bu United press PARIS, Dec. 27. —Loss of the naval dirigible Dixtnude and its crew of 50 somewhere in the Sahara was conceded by the French cabinet this afternoon and the affair developed into a scandal of which explanations are-to be demanded from the government. Deputies aroused by the concussion of reports regarding "last messages” from the missing airship, today demanded an investigation and Deputy Girod will Interpolate the ministry of marine in the chamber. Airplanes which searched m i’ain over hundreds of square miles in Algiers and Tunis extended their hunt to the Libyan wastes and to Cyrenla. The ministry of marine was convinced the airship no longer is held aloft by storm, nor is it believed pos siblo tile Dixmude fell into the Mediterranean. Cruisers continued to scour the coast of Tunis, how’ever, while cavalry and camel corps pushed Into the desert et dawn, for day of rov ing search for the missing air liner. Last Message Friday At noon today, it was offlcialls announced the last wireless message received from the Iflxmude wai picked up at Bizerte at 8 p. m. Friday. It gave the ship's position as half way between Biskra and Touggourt. The Dlxmude's commander reported he was proceeding toward Algiers at seventy kilometers an hour and asked what the weather conditions were. The station i.t Bizerte flashed back a W’arnlng of westerly gales but no further word came from the Dixmude, leading to belief she may have met with an accident at that moment. Eight airplanes on Wednesday covered the territory around Biskra, whence the last authentic reports of the Dixmude were received and today the search was extended farther to the south. Sighted on Dec. 20 The rjiinistry of marine announced the dirigible last w r as sighted over Ouledd Jellal, forty five miles southwest of Biskra, at twilight on Dec 20. At that time the ship was headed eastward and a violent westward storm wes blowing up. Some aeronautical experts believe that first violent storm may have caused the Dixmude to explode and crash to earth. Officials of the ministry of marine, ’however, still held to the view that the dirigible drifted and came to earth in the trackless wastes of the Sahara, thousands of square miles of which have never been traversed by white men.

FARMER WOUNDED IN LIQUOR HUNT Mistaken for Robber by Daviess County Man, Bv United Press WASHINGTON, Ind., Dec. 27. William Bunch, of Daviess County, was shot and seriously wounded by Earl Sneff, another farmer, during a hunt for illicit s£a uor Wednesday night. Bunch and four other men went to Sneff’s home to question him about alleged liquor law violations. Sneff said he thought the men were robbers. He got his shotgun. Sneff claimed the shooting was acv cidental. He said the gun exploded whan he put a shell in it

Insane Fugitives From Fire-Razed Hospital Being Rounded Up—Death Toll May Reach 20—Seventeen Charred Bodies Recovered. • OFFICIALS SEEK TO PLACE BLAME FOR TRAGEDY M Six Hundred Patients in 'Death House’ Break Into Wild Stampede as Flames and Smoke Fill Room —Riot Calls Sent. Bu United Press CHICAGO, Dec. 27.—The list of dead in the fire horror last night at the Chicago State hospital for insane probably will total twenty, Judge C. 11. Jenkins, director of the State department of welfare, estimated today. Seventeen bodies have been recovered. Three others are buried in the debris of Annex Nd. 4, Jenkins believes. Jenkins made a special trip here from the State Capitol in order to direct personally the gathering of evidence to place the blame for the tragedy.

Police in automobiles ranged the country for a number of insane patients who escaped in the mad confu- ’ sion following outbreak of the Are in the flimsy frame building after dinner last night. The known dead were: Elijah Carraker, 52, an attendant; Mrs. Mary Carraker, 50, wife of Elijah; Lowell, 11-year-old son of the Carrakers; Michael Ledwith, 43, a patient, Chicago; John Bennett, 38. patient, Chicago. Officials said they would not he able to make up the complete list of dead until the escaped patients are found. Many of the bodies were burned beyond hope of recognition;. The list of men not accounted for, including the twelve unidentified victims, follow: Thomas J. Donohue 53; Otto E. Wolff, 45; Thomas Hail, 903 E. Washington St., Syracuse, N. Y.; Wojak Swickocz. 41: Gustav Burghardt, 57; George Howellett, 69; Joseph Farley, 22; James R. McElliott, 56: Adolph Roller, 84; Henry Scheffler, 52; John Sullivan, 63; Michae! Tracy, 72; Thomas Hogan. 74; Charles Allaby, 36; John O’Donnell. 28; David Ward, 31. All except Hall were from Chicago. Practically AH Insane Practically' all the victims were insane. The others were epileptics, Dr. Daniel G. Coffey, superintendent of the institution, said. Herman Hacker, an epileptic, gave the alarm of fire. - He had finished his dinner earlier than the rest and had gone to his room when he noticed smoke coming fiom a closet. He threw open the door and a huge tongue of flame shot out. Hacker ran through the building shouting fire. A mad stampede followed. From the 600 paiients in the dining room rose a terrifying chorus of howls and shrieks. They ran about like maddened animals. Some leaped from window’s, faking glass and sashes with them. Most of the others made a rush for one narrow exit- ignoring sew. eral other avenues of escape. Here the pile of humanity kicked and shoved and screamed, the weaker 1 going down under the super-strength of their fellows. Still others ran aimlessly about the hall. Smoke Fills Room

By this time the flames had bitten into the flimsy walls and were rapidly I eating their way into the huge room. Smoke billowed into the room. Into this inferno plunged three woman attendants—Mrs. Anna Haevens, Mrs. Margaret Gunn and Mrs. Hannah Saunders. They were on duty in a nearby pavilion when the fire siren wailed its warning. None of the three remembers clearly what followed. All they recall i3 a nightmare x>f fighting madmen, of suffocating, acrid smoke, leaping flames, the noise of which cut with the sound of ripping cloth through howls of the men. By superhuman efforts i hey restored a semblance of order and what was left of the patients into line nad marched them out into the night. “I remember very little,” said Mrs. Haevens. “I almost collapsed when the cry of Are was madfe. I ran into the pavilion and found the patients in a panic. Flames were shooting up all around us and the smoke was bad. I don’t remember much except that we finally got the men out.” Break for Liberty Once outside, some of the patients made a break for liberty. Male attendants and residents of the vicinity, aided by a few policemen, gave through the mud and rain. Some of the patients were captured after a struggle; others gave up on being cornered. In the meantime, fire alarms had been sent to Chicago proper and nearby villages. Scores of pieces of fire "apparatus clanged to the scene. Some of the machines sank to their axles in the yielding mire, and firemen and residents literally pulle£ and shoved them to the fire. Riot calls were sent in and scores of policemen arrived. Chief of Police Collins of Chicago took personal charge of the men. Flivver squads joined in the hunt for fugitives. Other police were put on guard at the score of other buildings of the institution to prevent a panic among the 3,000 other patients. The men who died were found In bedrooms on the second tioor, where it was believed they ran to save little trinkets presented them on Christmas. Died to Save Valuables The Carrakers were believed to have returned to their rooms to save some valuables when they were trapped. Three of the maddened patients locked themselves in a lavatory of

Forecast UNSETTLED, with rain tonight. possibly turning to snow flurries. Much colder by Friday morning.

TWO CENTS

the burning structure. Three policemen tried to induce them to open the door and on their refusal smashed the door with axes. A struggle followed, but the officers finally subdued the men and carried them to safety'. The flames shot many feet into the air and within a hour after the alarm was given the building was gutted. Defective wiring caused the fire. It is believed. Five separate investigations are under way. State, county and city authorities, the fire marshal and poUce are trying to plack the responsibility. In the last ten years a dozen fires have visited the asylum. None of them was serious and no loss of lives was Incurred. Wing Named "Death House” The destroy'ed wing received the name of the "death house" several years ago because of its flimsy construction. Daniel J. Ryan, Cook County commissioner, said the Dunning institution was overcrowded. He said he understood the same conditions prevailed at State hospital in Elgin. Thirty'-three patients still are missing, Dr. Coffey announced, after a careful check-up. This number is exclusive of the dead. Two fugitives were captured early today. One was in a restaurant and the other was walking the streets In a daze. Neither offered resistance. Residents in Panic In the meantime residents of northwest Chicago were in a near panic in fear of the fugitives, normally mildly insane, but who may have been excited to a dangerous state by the night’s happenings. Homes were locked up and the men ware at home to guard against an attack.

FALL AFFIDAVIT ‘ . DENIESCHARGES Former Cabinet Member Says He Never Received Money. Bv United Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.—Former Secretary of the Interior Fall denied today he had ever received money or advances of money from oil interests leasing naval reserve oil lands. In an affidavit read before the Senate Public Lands Committee Investigating the lease of Teapot Dome, Fall stated he received SIOO,OOO from Edward B. McLean, Washington newspaper publisher, for the purchase of the big Harris ranch in New Mexico in 1920, shortly after the lease of Teapot Dome. - Extensive improvements made simultaneously on his 6,000-acre “home” ranch were provided by a loan of another SIOO,OOO from the N. V. Thatcher estate ift Pueblo, Colo.* FREEZING WEATHER DUE Cold Area May Turn Slight Rain Into Snow, Weatherman Sa; ■>. The low temperature of the last few days is the advance guard which \a cold wave has been pushing before it over the Ohio valley since it started from the middle Mississippi valk r In the last day or two, according to J. H. Armington of the United States Weather Bureau today. Late today the cold area will envelop this vicinity and a slight raise, may be turned into a light snow flurry before it stops, he said. Xhe temperature will continue to fall and will be slightly below freezing Friday morning, it tvas forecast. OHIO RISING AT EVANSVILLE Flood Stage of Thirty-Five Feet Exf pec ted to Be Reached Saturday. By United Press EVANSVILLE, Ind., Dec. 27.— The Ohio River in this district is expected to continue to rise for the next three days, the weather bureau station reported today. The river at the head waters is falling. The stage at Evansville was 84.2 feet this morning, a rise of seventenths in twenty-four hours. Flood stage of thlrty-flve feet here is expected to be reached late Saturday.