Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 281, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 April 1924 — Page 1

Home Edition FULL service of the Unitet Press, the NEA Service, the Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance and the Scripps-Paine Service.

VOLUME 35—NUMBER 281

FRIEND OF HAMON SAYS OIL MAN PAID HARDING HOTEL BILL Put Up Total of $400,000 for Republican Victory in Oklahoma Marsh on Stand, DON’T RECALL DONATIONS Magnate Fails to Develop More Facts Concerning 6,0, P, 'Deal' in 1920, By United Pres* WASHINGTON. April 7.—The late Jake Hamon spent $400,000 “for a Republican victory" in the election of President Harding, J. B. French of Oklahoma City, Okla., friend of Hamon. told the Senate oil co nun it tee today. “ "When Jake came back from the 1920 convention I asked him if he was going to get in the Cabinet,” French said. "He told me he would not, but he said, however, he had spent too much money—about $400,000 for a Republican victory.” F*rench said he knew nothing of reports that Hamon swung money and votes to the late Mr. Harding at the convention in return for a promise of the secretaryship of interior.

Marsh on Stand .Wilbur W. Marsh, treasurer of the Democratic national committee, was the first witness called when the session opened. Marsh resigned Jan. 15 this year. Marsh said he could not remember the amounts contributed by E. L. Doheny to the party fund, but he said the records are accessible at national headquarters. W. L. Kistler, president of the Producers and Refiners’ Corporation of Tulsa. Okla., was the second witness. His testimony failed to develop any of the facts concerning the reported attempt of oil men to put over a “complacent” secretary of the interior at he last Republican national convenion about which he was questioned. Paid $50,000 Hotel Bill French said that Hamon told him ie had given $50,000 so that Mr. Hardng’s hotel bills could be paid. "Who did he pay that money to?” Walsh asked. 'Bill Miller, former Attorney Genial of Ohio and campaign manager or Harding in Oklahoma.” “How did he come to pay Mr. Hardng’s hotel bills?” "I don't know.” " *1 told the boys I would take care of Oklahoma,' Hamon told me," he continued. Senator Spencer then began crossquestioning the witness. “When you say Hamon paid Mr. Harding's hotel bills, you mean ” “I mean the bills of his committee — his headquarters—not his personal bills.” Disbursed in Checks . Senator Stanfield, Oregon Republican. then asked how the $400,000 liamor contribution was disbursed “By bank checks I think.” “Then there probably wanl£ be a record of his expenditures in >Oklahoma banks.” "I Imagine so.” French was then dismissed. Robert F. Wolfe, of Columbus, Ohio, was next called. Asked about the Ohio pre-con-vention campaign, Wolfe said: "I supported General Wood in the campaign. We elected eleven Wood lelegates out of a total of 38. I went - o the convention—but not as a delegate.” “Do you know anything about 'the offer made to Wood by the late Jake Hamon at the convention?” Only Read Paper "Senator, I know nothing about that except what I’ve read in the papers." “What part did you have in attempting to get Wood nominated?” “My friends and I decided, Mr. Harding being a newspaper publisher —we would take no vigorous action against him. That was the course we followed. I was never in the Harding headquarters and I was in the Wood headquarters only once in Chicago. I stayed in my hotel room most of the time.”

BOOKS REPORTED TANGLE Orr to Investigate Books of Sullivan Mayor. Lawrence F. Orr, chief examiner. State board of accounts, will make a personal investigation this week into the books of Walter B. Walters, mayor of Sullivan. Orr said today. Field examiners of the board, assigned a month ago to check up county and city accounts, report that Walters' books are badly tangled. No shortage has been reported, however. In capacity of mayor, Walters acted as Judge of the city court and handled fines an 1 penalties. HOURLY TEMPERATURE 6 a. m. ■ ... 45 11 a. m.... 62 7 a- m 48 12 (noon) .. 62 8 a. m 53 1 p. m 65 9 a. m.. 68

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TAGGART IN HOSPITAL Hoosier IVmocratie Leader Expected Home This Week. Thomas Taggart, Indiana Democratic leader, who has been at the Presbyterian Hospital, Chicago, since last Wednesday, is expected to return to Indianapolis Tuesday or Wednesday. Taggart is suffering from stomach trouble It was said his condition is not serious an dthat he is in the hospital for observation. He was in the hospital several weeks ago.

STATE OPERATION OP POLICE DREED BY MAYOR SHANK Wave of Law Violation in Force Seen by Executive as Result of Poor Pay, A State law putting police forces of every city under State regulation with rigid civil service provisions was favored by Mayor Shank today following an outbreak of law violation in the Indianapolis department. Shank made the suggestion in commenting upon The Times espousal of civil service regulation of police. Four policemen have been charged with drinking or possessing liquor within the last two we?ks, and a fifth has been charged with accepting a bribe. Os this number, two have resigned and three have cases before the board of safety. “I would favor the State regulating the qualifications of our policemen by conducting frequent examinations,” said the mayor. "I would remove the appointment of policemen as far as possible from the hands of politicians. That would tend for uniformity among all our cities in enforcing laws.”

Tells of “Poor Pay" Policemen get into frequent trouble because they are poorly paid, the mayor pointed out in advocating increased salaries. "It's no wonder we have trouble, with the wages our policemen get,” continued the mayor. "They don't make anything.” Stability in the department would be realized if a man was assured of a definite position when once appointed. the mayor said. An applicant should first take the examination for patrolman, and then after certain service, should apply for higher rank. Ernest L. Kingston, board of safety president, said the State law would have to be changed before Indianapolis could get the benefit of civil service. He said the present law only provides equal division of men politically. Corruption In the department was attributed by Kingston to the fact that policemen are subject to a great many temptations not met in average employment. ’ Takes Strong Man” "A policeman has constant opportunities to wink at latv violation, aad in some cases it takes a strong man to resist such practices,” Kingston said. We have 534 men, and in that number there Is almost sure to be some men who would violate the law, said Kingston. “We have trouble every once in a while, and we find it usually runs in several violations at once, followed by a comparatively quiet period when the force operates smoothly.” The board will consider cases of two policemen Tuesday morning.

STATE PROBES ACCIDENTS Inspector Ixoks Into Fatal Mishaps in Lake County. The public service commission to day began an investigation into a series of fatal aeiedents recently in Lake County. Ray Gibbons, railway inspector, was detailed to make a report. Accidents lr. the past ten days include the deaths of Joe Sindowski and Ed Hosier, both of Hammond, at city crossings; George Kauffman, Elliotts, at Crown Point, and two men at Lydiek. < Recomendations may be made to have railway ciossings .safety signals installed. Approximately 100 warning devices were Installed by railway companies in 1923 throughout the State. Democrats Plan Convention The committee on arrangements for the Democratic State convention will meet at the Claypool at noon Thursday to name a keynote speaker and officials for the convention June 5. It was said the keynote speaker may be an Indiana man, and in any case, one of the speakers will discuss State issues. An Expensive Cigarette A cigarette stub thrown between the baseboard and the wall at the Will Brown barber shop, 226 S. Illinois St., cist the city more than it did Brown. All downtown apparatus was called. The c:garotte did not damage. Independent Party Conference The executive committee of the Independent party of Indiana will meet Tuesday eveidng. Plans for district nominating conventions in every district of the State will be made. The national convention of the party will be held in Indianapolis May 30.

STATE CAMPAIGN FOR GOOLIDGE TO BE ‘SPEECHLESS’ Sentiment Manifest Without ‘Customary Creative Work,' Says Statement, JOHNSON IDEA DIFFERENT Hiram to Make' From Fifteen to Twenty Speeches Before Hoosier Voters, While Coolidge headquarters announced there will be no speaking program for the President in the Htate during the primary campaign, Clarence R. Martin, campaign manager for Hiram Johnson, announced today that a tentative program' of fifteen to twenty speeches in Indiana has been arranged for Johnson. Martin said Johnson will be in Indiana during the last week in April and will appear at all the larger cities of the State. He sa‘d he does not know the exact time Johnson will be here and for that reason can not announce his itinerary definitely.

Others May Talk It was said that a number of Indiana speakers also probably will appear with Johnson and that there may be some meetings in behalf of Johnson at which the candidate will not appear. “The Coolidge sentiment is making itself manifest without much of the customary ‘creative’ work, such as State-wide oratorical barrages and traveling organizers,” a statement from Coolidge headquarters at the Severin said. Martin said he is confident that Johnson will carry the Illinois primary Tuesday, and that he has a good chance in Nebraska the same day. Ha made no claims for the Michigan primary today. Coolidge Conference Tuesday District managers f,tr the Coolidge campaign will meet at the Severin at 11 a. m. Thursday. Ewing R.‘ Emlson, State manager, announced these managers will attend the meeting: Judge Philip C. Gould, Evansville, and Mrs. George J. Waters, Poseyville, First District: C. H. Stratton. Sullivan, and Miss Faye Cochrane. Spencer, Second District; James Dunbar, New v Albany, and Mrs. Edna Needham, Scottsburg, Third District; Dr. Scott Shields, Brownstown, and Mrs. Grace Copeland, Vevay, Fourth District: Judge James E. Piety, Terre Haute, and Mrs. Mark Nebeker,' Clin ton, Fifth District; J. L. Kennedy,' Connersviile, Sixth District; John C. Hampton. Muncle, and Mrs. J. A. Van Osdal, Anderson, Eighth District; Ed Staley, Tipton, and Mrs. Carrie Itpuch, Frankfort, Ninth District; Fred N. Prase, Lafayette, and Mrs. F. B. Chester. Valparaiso, Tenth District; Edgar F. Metzger, Logansport, Eleventh District; William M. Griffin, Ft. Wayne, and Miss Clara Gilbert. Kendallville. Twelfth District; Arch Graham. South Bend, and Mrs. Edward Riggje, Goshen, Thirteenth District.

BOY REPORTED MISSING Case Pending in C-ourt Against Lad Gone Since Sunday. Ray Norris, 14. of 2432 Burford Ave.. was reported missing from home since Sunday. When lat seen the boy was wearing blue serge knee trousers, a brown sweater and cap. He. has blue eye? and brown hair. There is a case pending against the boy in Juvenile Court. FLIERS AGAIN DELAYED Struts on Plane Broken in landing at Prince Rupert. PRINCE RUPERT, B. C., April 7. —Additional delay in the American round-the-world flight was declared necessary today as a result of daage to Major Martin's plane. Martin's air cruiser broke two struts in landing Sunday and the flight can not be resumed until damage is repaired. LEAGUE SEEKING POOLS Civic Body to Discuss Obtaining Swimming Facilities. Brookside Civic League will meet tonight at the branch library, Commerce and Nowland Aves., to formulate plans for urging the park board to provide sufficient swimming pools in various parts of the city. A delegation of representatives from civic organizations appeared before the park board Saturday in the interest of more swimming pools. BANK CALLS ARE ISSUED National and State Reports for Quarter Ending March 31, Ordered. A call for financial statements of national banks in Indiana for the quarter of 1924, ending March 31, was recejved today by E. H. Wolcott, State lwtnk commissioner, from the Treasury Department, AVashington, D. C. A subsequent call to State banks was issued by Wolcott for the same period.

and bis Buddies of the Comic Page, creations of Blosser, Times artist, who i3 in this city especially to greet readers of this paper. Mr. Blosser will be at the Home Complete Exposition all this week. We miss our guess if he doesn’t make your visit worth while. Take the kiddies to see their favorite comic strip creator, who will “do his stuff” in The Times’ Booth at the State Fairground. 4

INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY, APRIL 7, 1924 s

U. S. Makes Nine O'Clock Town Out of Juarez, the ‘ Wickedest City ’ on Other Side of Rio Grande

HERE’S THE ifiOG-WIRE GATE ON THE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE CONNECTING EL PASO, TEX., AND JUAREZ, MEXICO. WHICH MADE “THE WICKEDEST CITY” A 9 O’CLOCK TOWN.

By XE. 4 Service L PASO, Texas., April 7. Prohibition laws and the k__J American constitution have no authority across the Rio Grande. Bui U. R customs men have made a 9 o'clock town out of the wickedest city’ on the other side of that border river. They did it with a hog wire gate. The gate is at the center of the rickety old wooden International Bridge that spans the Rio Grande. Every iight at 9 the customs men swing shut the gate. Americans in Juarez, the “wickedest city,” can not come home. And Americans in El Paso, thirsty and ready for naughty adventure, can not cross the line. Quiet by 11 The hog-wire gate has had a deadening effect on the gambling frhalls, the cabarets and dance halls. The Calle del Diable —the "Street of the Devil”—is as quiet as Main street, Gopher Prairie, by 11. Here and there are a couple of Mexican cabaret emfftbyes, homeward bound or a little group of Americans who Ignored the curfew bell that wrings before the hog-wire gate is swung shut. Business is poor at the Hotel Rio’ Bravo. There are plenty of rooms there now. A month ’ ago a room was difficult to get.

Tivoli Empty The Tivoli gambling house, biggest of all. tried to ignore the gate on the bridge, tried to continue business as usual. Now at 10 p. m. the two roulette tables each twenty feet long, each with four playing hoards—-are empty, although two weeks ago one could hardly get near enough to drop a coin on them. The man at the craps table whistles "Three O'Clock In the Morning,” and the two-score employes and the six customers applaud. A few weeks ago the hundreds in the place ignored a gun fight at the front door —so engrossed they were with their games. Beer Cheaper In Pike’s California Bar at 10 o’clock the girls and the barkeepers are sitting on the bar. They are percentage girls and when a straggler happens in, five rush to him. “Buy me a drink, dearie,” they plead. “I'm a stranger in town.” the straggler replies. "I have only enough money for a room and to get back to El Paso. And I must pay a dollar for a bottle of beer when I buy it from one of you girls.” "Oh. no! Not now. It will cost only 25 cents for a little drink.” Uncle Sam's hog-wire fence has even cut the cost of beer 300 per cent in Juarez after 9 p. m. The Central and Big Kid Cabarets are closing their doors at 8:45. And by 10:15 the Central, Annex Toltec. Club, Gem, Jimmie O'Brien’s, Stag, Mint and Rio Bravo bar-rooms are in darkness. TOURIST CAMP CHARGE Jarvis Believes Small Fee Will Keep Undesirables Out. A charge will be made for automobile tourists using the camp In Riverside Park this summer, R. Walter Jarvis, park ' superintendent, announced today. The camp will be opened about April 15. The charge probably will be 25 cents. The city provides cooking utenstls and other service free. Some difficulties have been encountered by certain classes using the camp. Jarvis said he believed the charge would exclude undesirables.

INTERIOR TTPICAE JUAREZ RESORT.

AMERICAN TOURISTS FREQUENTLY TOOK CHILDREN INTO JUAREZ RESORTS, A SITUATION WHICH IS PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR CLOSING THE GATE ON THE BRIDGE AT 9 P. M.

Landlords Bar Child; Two Dead By United I’r‘ss CHICAGO, April 7.—Edward Schneider, a machinist, and his 2year old son, Eddie, Jr., are dead today because "landlords wouldn't have the kid." The two died of asphyxiation last night when the elder Schneider turned on the gas and took the boy in his arms “to rock him to sleep. Schneider's suicide and the murder of Eddie, Jr., followed the father's fruitless search for an apartment Sunday. He four.d ail landlords like the one who ordered him to move May 1, didn’t want children in the house. His wife was continuing the search when Schneider killed himself and the boy.

CHUCKHOLES ARE CAUSE OF INJURIES Woman Trips as She Alights From Street Car, Mrs. Bura Chapman, 1954 Ruckle St., reported to police today that she alighted from a Central Ave. car at Twentieth St. and tripped in a hole in the street. She said that the conductor picked her up and some women helped her to her home. Police said that there are holes four Inches deep in the stre t at this place. Mrs. Chapman suff ved a sprained ankle, a bruised shoulder and wrenched knee. SPARKS CAUSE OF FIRE Yenoor Plant Blaze Not Incendiary, Chief Says. Fire Chief John O'Brien said today that the $25,000 fire thought to have been of incendiary origin at the Thiesing Veneer Company's storeroom, Harding St. and the Belt Railway, started from sparks from an electric ventilating fan. The one-story structure is about 200 feet long and was just completed. A fire last January destroyed a building formerly used as a supply house. Twenty-Acre Tract Purchased Twenty acres of land in Center township adjoining Forest Manor has been purchased by John O. Cottingham from James Alexander. The property will be improved and sold in small lots, Cottingham said.

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

NINTH SMOKE LECTURE I’rof. J. A. Newly of Purdue to Speak Tuesday Evening. Prof. J. A. Needy of Purdue University will deliver the ninth lecture on smoke abatement at the Chamber of Commerce at 8 p. m. Tuesday. His subject will be "Boiler Room Economy.’’ 11. F. Templeton, assistant chief smoke Inspector, will preside. The tenth and last of the lectures will be given April 22 Prof. A. W. Cole of Purdue. The lectures are public. TRANSFER MAN INJURED C. Pond Sustains Broken While Moving Safe. C. Pond, Palace Hotel, suffered a broken right leg today while he and three other men employed by the Otto Suez Transfer and Storage Company, 720 N. Pine St., were moving a 3, 500-pound safe from the Reserve Loan and Life Insurance Company, 429 N. Pennsylvania St. The men were pulling the safe by a rope wound around an iron pipe. The pipe slipped and struck Pond on the leg. LEGIONNAIRES TO PARADE Veterans Will March Tuesday In Interests of Movie. A parade of American Legion men will be held Tuesday noon in Interest of "The Whipping Boss” film, being shown- at the Apollo Theater by the Legion. The parade will be headed by city officials and State and national veterans’ officers. The Police and Firemen's Band will play. Representatives from many Legion posts and auxiliaries will see the show tonight.

my MOVE TO TAKE CASE AWAY EDOM JURY IS BLOCKED BV iODGE Court Overrules Motion Contending That Acts Governor Is Charged , With Do Not Constitute Commission of Crime of Larceny. ATTACK ON EMBEZZLEMENT COUNT UNDER ADVISEMENT Defense Attorneys Seek to End Trial Without Presentation of Evidence, but Fail After Lengthy Arguments Are Made by Both Sides. A motion of attorneys for Governor Warren T. McCray to instruct the jury to return a verdict of not guilty on an indictment charging the Governor with larceny and embezzlement of $155,000, being tried in C riminal Couit, was overruled, as to the larceny count, by Special Judge Harry O. Chamberlin today. Judge Chamberlin announced he would make his ruling as to embezzlement at the opening of the afternoon session. In making his ruling, Judge Chamberlin said : “If the eourt had concluded, under the evidence up to this time, tliai this was a loan to the Governor, your argument would be conclusive as to larceny. But there certainly can be larceny, it seems to me, if the theory of the State is correct as to the manner in which the money was applied.

"The whole point is whether this was a loan to the Governor or to his bank. That is a matter for the jury to decide. For me to decide would be to Invade the province of the jury. Rule Does Not Apply "The rule that a court must decide a question of law ‘does not apply where reasonable men can differ.” The "loan” to which the judge referred is the transaction whereby the Governor obtained $155,000 of funds of the Indiana board of agriculture. The State contends this money was given to McCray to be deposited in the Discount and Deposit State Bank at Iventland, of which he formerly was president The defense contends it was a direct loan to the Governor. The motion to instruct a verdict of not guilty was made by George M. Barnard ,one of McCray's attorneys, when court convened today. The prosecution completed presentation of its evidence Saturday, k. Jury Is Removed Judge Chamberlin ordered the jury from the room before the motion was presented. The motion was made upon the assumption that the State had failed to make a case; that none of the counts in the indictment upon which the Governor it being tried states an offense against the State, and that the State had failed to prove any count in the indictment, or any crime charged in the Indictment. It was expected that the first witness for the defense would be a member of the finance committee of the board of agriculture at the time the $155,000 transaction occurred. The defense is expected to attempt to show that it was the understanding among members of the board of agriculture that the $155,000 the Governor is charged with embezzling from the board was intended as a loan to him personally. State Has Different Theory Brown testified as a witness for the prosecution that McCray asked repeatedly for money for the Discount and Deposit State Bank of Kentland, and that he repeatedly promised to obtain from the bank certificates of deposit to be turned over to the board. Barnard attacked the indictment and the testimony on the charges. "The indictment charges the Governor with embezzlement and larceny of funds of the State of Indiana,” he said. "The fact is. New Brown loaned the money of the board of agriculture —not of the State at all —to the Governor as a private individual.” "Charges Do Not Fit Facts” Brown admitted on the stand that he took the Governor’s notes for the money, Barnard argued. A loan, he said, passes title, consequently there could be no larceny or embezzlement. The Governor had a perfect right to buy clothes with the money, or do what he pleased with the loan, Barnard said. McCray was not charged by statute with safe-keeping of the board of agriculture funds as Governor, the attorney said. The indictment charges the Governor "came into possession" of the funds, which is not a crime under any Indiana statute, Barnard said. "The statute says that only those

At the Home Complete Exposition ,

Forecast FAIR weather is the prediction for tonight, followed by increasing cloudiness Tuesday in this vicinity. Not much change in temperature.

TWO CENTS

officials ‘charged and entrusted with' care of the money can be guilty of embezzlement,” Barnard said. "The Governor does not come within that class in respect to these funds.” Indictment Sufficiency Stands Judge Chamberlin put a stop to attempts of McCray's attorneys to attack the sufficiency of the Indictment, by saying: "At this time, at least, I am not going to review the decision of this court as to the sufficiency of the indictment. What I may do at a later time. I can’t say now.” Judge James A. Collins, in whose place Judge Chamberlin is sitting, held the Indictments against McCray good ■when the matter was argued before him on demurrers. Judge Chamberlin asked the lawyer* to restrict themselves to a review of the State’s evidence, with particular attention to that part bearing on embezzlement. At the conclusion of Barnard’s argument, which lasted about an hour, Eph Inman, assistant special prosecutor, argued for the State. . . He said that Brown's evidence clearly showed that he Intended to part with the title of the checks In juestion to the Discount and Deposit State Bank of Kentland, but not t® Governor McCray. The Governor formerly was president of the Kentland bank, which closed Its doors last fall. Intrusted With Checks “The minute Governor McCray took those checks,” Inman declared, "he became Intrusted with their control and custodj\ until he should put them In the Kentland bank. When he cashed those checks and converted the money to his own use he became guilty of embezzlement. "This money found Its way Into the Governor’s pocket. The bank never knew anything about It.” Attorney Michael A. Ryan then took up the argument for the defenM, "It is not for this court to say that Governor McCray committed some crime,” he said. "The question is wholly as to this particular crime charged here. There Is no charge In this Indictment that he was given a check to deliver to the Kentland Band nnd that he failed to do so.” "Brown's Power Limited” He answered Inman’s argument that wb.n Brown delivered the checks to the Governor, the Governor became "ch irged with the custody of the money,”’ by saying that Brown had no right to charge anybody with the custody of the money. He said that was a power belonging wholly to the board and not to any Individual. The defense is expected to devote considerable attention to an attempt the refute this testimony. McCray is expected to take the stand in his own behalf. He will contend that the money was lent him by the board; that in listing his indebtedness in a financial statement given the board he meant approximate direct Indebtedness and did not Intend to Include direct liabilities; that he signed the names of farm managers and others to notes given the board; (Continued on Page 11)