Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 300, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 April 1924 — Page 1

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

VOLUME 35—NUMBER 300

If CRAY RESIGNS AS GOVERNOR EMMETT F. BRANCH BECOMES STATE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

com REPORT ON ‘CITYGRAFT’ President of Safety Board Indignantly Denies Charge of Probing Committee That Patrolman Testified as to Seejng $725 ‘Pass,’ Recommendation that the special investigating committee proceed with its probe of city government was made to the Councial at a special meeting this afternoon, in a public report of the committee’s findings to date. Charges that ErnestsL. Kingston, president of the board of safety, in company -with William H. Armitage, political director of the Shank administration. accepted money from an alleged gambling house on the south side were contained in the report. Stroh Testimony Basis This was based on reputed testimony of Patrolman John Stroh. former sergeant and chauffeur for Chief Herman F. RikhofT. It was charged that about 1725 changed hands. The place of Thomas Dillon. Twelfth ward Republican leader was named. Kingston indignantly denied the charge, and Chief Rikhnff promised to take up the charges direct with Stroh. “I was never near Dillon's place, ’’ said Kingston. That faulty paving has been accepted by the city through the board of public works was also charged by the committee on testimony gathered from A. L. Donaldson, of the State board of accounts. The Twenty-Ninth St. paving was cited as a specific example. Deals of Fred Cline, member of the park board, were also cited by the report as bearing further investigation. It Is charged that Cline was interested in property on W. Michigan St., which the city purchased for $78,#OO. which was really worth only •40.000. Cline Has Denied This That Mayor Shank attempted to get money to finance his campaign for Governor from certain owners of drydrink places, is also hinted by testimony of certain witnesses. Shank denied this. Mayor Shank’s sale of part of his front yard to the Standard Oil Company for $15,000 for use as a filling station is questioned because it was understood that the city would issue permit for the filling station erection without question, the report states. Mayor Shank denied any irregularity In this procedure or in the construction of Brookville Rd. Blvd. east of his home. Barefoot Play Fatal By Times Special NEWCASTLE. Ind.. April 29—A desire to go barefoot was fatal to 9-year-old Rossie Todd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Todd. Several days ago he removed his shoes and stockings while playing and got a splinter in his foot. Lockjaw developed and he died today. FIVE-CENT REBATE ON GASPETITIONED Company Asks for Increase in Minimum Charge. Petition asking permission to put reduced gas rates in effect was filed with the public service commission today by the Citizens Gas Company. The company requests it be allowed to give a rebate of 5 cents a thousand cubic feet on the first 50,000 cubic feet consumed when bills are paid within ten days after presentation. The new schedule, however, provides that the minimum charge be set at i96 cents instead of 60 cents, as at ' present. Reductions for larger users are also provided in the new rate schedule, the petitions says. The schedule: First 60,000 cubic feet used. $1.15: second 60,000. $1.10; third 50.000: $1.05; fourth 5%,000, $1 and over 200,000, 95 ce.ts. HOURLY TEMPERATURE 6 a. m 60 10 a. m 61 7 a. m 61 11 a m •• 64 la. 66 IS utoon) 66 • a. ak.v„ it ip. m. M

The Indianapolis Times

Friends Gather in Office at Statehouse V. to Talk With Executive, Permitted by Judge Anderson to Leave Jail in Custody of U. S. Marshal. A prisoner in custody of United States Marshal Linus P. Meredith, Warren T. McCray visited the Statehouse today for the last time as Governor of Indiana. He remaned almost two hours behind closed doors in his private office winding up affairs of State and receiving farewell visits of friends still loyal to their chief. Granted the right -to leave the Marion county jail to attend to necessary business by Judge Albert B. Anderson McCray was taken to the Statehouse hy Meredith. He had been locked up Monday night. It was just 11:02 a. m. when the Governor entered the executive chambers from which he has directed State affairs for more than three years. Tense Moment It was tense moment as the Governor* accompanied by Meredith, John Moorman of Knox and E. J. Fogarty alighted from Moorman's ear at the east entrance of the Statehouse and walked up the steps and through the almost deserted corridors. Members of the graduating class of public school No. 2, Center Township, in charge of Roscoe Kirkman, principal, gazed about the Statehouse as the Governor passed by, utterly unconscious of the drama being enacted before their eyes. Conversation Stopped Typewriters ceased clicking, conversation stopped as the Governor entered the executive chambers. Speaking to his office force quietly, sadly, he stopped ar.d talked a minute with Adah Sush, his private secretary. Pictures of Indiana’s Governors of the past looked down from the walls, walls which may never bear the picture of Warren T. McCray, the only Governor in the history of the State to he found guilty of a felony by a jury.

COOLIDGE OFFERS JAP COMPROMISE Would Postpone Exclusion for New Treaty, ■ By United Perss WASHINGTON, April 29.— Confer- j j ence committees of the Senate and ; i the House on the immigration bill j met today to consider President Coolj idge's con promise plan—finally rel vealed —by which the Japanees exclusion feature of the measure would be maintained, but a provision Inserted to poslffione at a future date the time when exclusion would be applied o Japan. Such a postponement. President Coolidge is understood to believe, would give Secretary of State Hughes an opportunity to negotiate anew immigration agreement. NEJDL WILL BE SECOND IN LINE 9 Next to Succeed When Branch Is Inaugurated, When Lieut. Gov. Emmett F. Branch succeeds Waren T. McCray as Governor Wednesday, James J. Nejdl of Whit- i lng, president pro tern, of the State Senate, will be the next man in line of succession for the governorship. No regular session of the Leglsla- ; ture is scheduled before the end of the present term, which expires next Jan- . uary, bsit if a special session should | be called Nejdl will succeed Branch . as president of the Senate. Nejdl is a road contractor. He I ' was born in what is now Czecho-Slo- : vakia. He has been a member of the ! ; Senate for a number of was elected Republican floor leader; j and president pro tem. at the 1923 I | session. YOUNG WIFE SHOOTS SELF Seeks Death After Failure to Patch Up Troubles. Police Say. ! Bu United Press TERRE HAUTE. Ind., April 29. I Mrs. Dia Snyder, 20. may die as the i result of a bullet wound, self-inflicted ! ’ this morning following her failure to j effect a reconciliation with her husband. Roy, 26. after a quarrel, police sav. j GYROS TALK BUSINESS ■ Dunwoody \nnouncra Golf Tourney i for Middle of May. Gyros talked over plans for the i ' national convention at Detroit and the . district convention at Indianapolis at j luncheon at the Lincoln today. Jess- Dunwoody, golf committee ■ chairman, announced a tournament j for about the middle of May on the Oqffir, course. He asked player* to submit scores for handicap hating.

Into his private office the Governor walked and ;he door closed behind him. Soon the outer offices were filled with friends Little more than three years ago the same offices were thronged with a shouting, happy, ' ictorious gathering of supporters eager to congratulate the Governor, elected by one of the largest pluralities in the history of the State. Different Gathering Many of the same faces were in the throng today, but it was a different gathering. Joyousness had given place to a deep funeral air, smiles to half concealed tears. Among the callers were Henry Marshall, editor of the Lafayette Courier Journal; Eben Wolcott. State bank commissioner; Winfield T. Durbin, former Governor of Indiana; John McCardle, chairman of the public service commission: U. S Lesh, attorney general of Indiana; James W. Noei, the Governor’s personal attorney; Benjamin Burris, State superintendent of Instruction; Cairey Littlejohn, director of the State bureau of mines and mining; Thomas Roberts and Thomas A. Riley, members of the State industrial board: Ben Urbahn, assistant treasurer of State; Lawrence Orr, chief examiner of the State board of accounts, and Walter Owens, deputy examiner. Bernard Griffey, brother-in-law of the Governor, who has stood by him steadfastly through the brilliancy of victory and gloom of defeat, was among the first to arrive. Statehouse employe, Janitors, stenographers, clerks came in to say farewell to the Governor. On the desk of Miss Bush was a stack of telegrams. They -were messages of condolence and sympathy, she said, from friends, officials and Governors of other states. Luncheon in Office So great was the crowd, so willing the Governor to receive them, that little business was transacted before noon. It bad planned originally to eat luncheon In Greenfield, but at (Turn <o Page 2) BOY CANOEIST DROWNS Daughter of Edgar Ix*e Masters, Poet, and Another Youth Saved. By United Pro* GARY, Ind.. April 29.—Wendell Bayne, 17, Chicago, was drowned in | the Miller Park lagoon here late yesterday when the canoe in which he and two playmates were paddling capsized. Robert Holmes. 15, and Marcia Master. 15, daughter of Edgar Lee Masters, the poet, clung to the canoe until rescued. COUZENS UNDER KNIFE Michigan Senator Undergoes -OperaHon in Baltimore. By f nited Pros BALTIMORE, Md„ April 29,-r-United States Senator James M. Couzena of Michigan was taken to the operat'ng room for an operation for gal lstones at Johns Hopkins hospital at 11 o'clock. Senator Couzens has been a: the hospital for two weeks, resting preparatory for undergoing the operatlo. Recilal to Bt Given Miss Dorothy Sylvester will present her pupils in a recital at 8 p. m. tionight in the Public Library auditorium -

INDIANAPOLIS, TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1924

In Custody of United States Marshal

\ 1 *JS v ; - GOVERNOR WARREN T. M ORAY (LEFT) AND UNITED STATES MARSHAL LINUS P. MEREDITH LEAV ING MARION COUNTY JAIL FOR FEDERAL BUILDING TODAY.

Lieutenant Gt

By WALTER A. SHEAD Times Staff Correspondent M ARTT N BVILLE, Ind., April 29.—“ The office of the governorship is not vacated and I have no duties to perform. Heretofore I have taken no interest in any effort to cause the office to be vacated and will take no interest,’’ said Lieutenant Governor Emmett F. Branch at his home here this morning, before he had received word of the Governor’s resigna- ♦ ion. “In event the office is vacated, I will then assume the responsibilities and discharge the same to the best of my ability, in the interests of the State of Indiana.

SEWER PROJECI - BIOS RECEIVED Only One Made for All Five Sections. Bids on the estimated $600,000 sewer Interceptor project were received by the sanitary board today. Bids were asked for five sections, including the Pleasant Run section and the Harding St. extension west of the river. Hammond & Cos. of Detroit bid $5#6,915.47 for the entire project. The * Subway Engineering Company of Chicago bid $171,956 on two sections. A bid of $479,396 for three sections was submitted by the Columbia Construction Company. Henry W. Miller of North Vernon bid $143,653 for three sections and Sheets & Canfield of Columbus Ohio, bid $214,498.33 on one sertion

overnor Awaits Word at Home

“Until such circumstances arrive, I can give no interviews pertaining to this matter.’’ The Lieutenant Governor denied himself to callers and only his closest personal friends, among them S. C. Kivett, Martinsville attorney, were permitted to see him. Branch refused an invita tion to go to Indianapolis Monday night. lie will remain in Martinsville until he takes the oath of office. The Lieutenant Governor kept in close touch with Indianapolis, however. lie stated that upon receipt of word from the capital, he probably would have a statement to make.

DELINQUENCY IS ALLEGED Children Sell Beer to Men, Accident Prevention Officer Says. Alleged discovery that two young girts, 7 and 12, have been selling beer to men led to the arrest of Mrs. Alina Haines, 25, of 1502 N. Keating Avt, charged with contributing to delinquency, vagrancy and assault and battery. police say. . The disclosure was made by Frank Owens’, accident prevention investigator who went to arrest Mrs. Hafnea after a boy was struck by an automobile. While there lie arrested Charles Huggins. 2901 Moore Ave., who, Owens said, admitted he came to the house to buy beer, which was sold to him by the young girls. Taxi Ordinance Upheld The city traffic ordinance #hich prohibits parking of taxicabs except In prescribed stands Is valid, Circuit Jndge Harry O. Chamberlain has ruled Judge Chamberlin sustained a demurrer in an appeal of Carl F. Wall, 1214 W. Thirtieth St,, from a fine of $1 and costs for violating the ordinance.

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

According to Kivett, who is close in the councils of Branch, the Lieutenant Governor will take the office upon resignation of Governor McCray, under obliga tion to no persons, politically or otherwise,' The Lieutenant Governor spent Monday night in seclusion at his home. He received telephone reports of the jury verdict in Federal Court when Governor McCray was found guilty. Governor McCray’s resignation would be certified to the Secretary so State. Branch would be notified. Under custom Branch would go to Indianapolis and be sworn in by the chief justice of the State Supreme Court.

WILSON REGIE ISJSSAILED Senate Probe Witness Charges Neglect of OH, By United Press WASHINGTON, April 2.—T h e Wilson Administration failed to protect fully the California naval oil reserves, t Willlard A. Cutler, geologist, charged before the Senate Oil Investigation Committee tfoday. Before the Republican Republican Administration came into offloe%larch 4, / 1921 > the Government lost $3,200,000 by failing to drill proper offset wells in the California reserves, Cutler said. Adjoining Standard Oil wells drained out Government oil from the reserves, he contended.

Action Follows Conviction in Federal Court Monday Successor Automatically Takes Place Plans to Receive Oath at Once. Governor Warren T. McCray resigned today following his conviction on a charge of using the mails in a scheme to defraud, in Federal Court Monday evening. Emmett F. Branch, Lieutenant Governor, Martinsville, automatically succeeds McCray. Branch planned to take the oath of office immediately. The resignation was written in pencil and was directed to “The Honorable Ed Jackson, Secretary of State.” It read: “I hereby resign the office of Governor of the State of Indiana, to take effect at 10 a. m., April 30. “WARREN T. M’CRAY.” John Moorman of Knox, close personal friend of McCray, gave the resignation to newspapermen at 1:18 p. m. to Residence The Governor left his office about 2 p. m. in the automobile of E. J. Fogarty, warden of the State prison, and l nited States Marshal Meredith to go to his home at Fall Creek Blvd. and Pennsylvania St., for his last visit with his family. He was to return to jail at 4 p. m. Branch Notified A telegram notifying Branch of the Governor's action, signed by Secretary of Stale Jackson, was sent this afternoon. It read : “Governor McCray filed his resignation as Governor of Indiana at 1 :20 o clock today, to take effect at 10 a. m. April 30, 1924. \ ou will therefore proceed to take such steps as may be necessary to assume the duties of Governor of Indiana at that time.’’ Sentence will be imposed upon McCray by Judge Albert B. Anderson Wednesday morning. He will be taken to the Federal orison at Atlanta, Ga.. by Linus (’. Meredith. I nited States marshal. the same day. With these events the curtain will fall upon the final act of s he stormy, turbulent administration of Governor McCray.

The jury was out only thirteen min utes Monc’ay. At 6:17 p. m the jury filed from the room. Judge Albert S. Anderson at first said he would go home and receive a sealed verdict at 9:30 a. m. today. He changed his mind, however, and aryiounced that he would wait fifteen minutes in case the jury reached an immediate verdict Out Only Thirteen Minutes Thirteen njinutes later, at exactly 6:30 p. m., Charles LaSalle, court bailiff. appeared in the corridor leading to the courtroom from the jury room and word went flashing down the line that the jury was ready to report. There was no doubt in the minds of any one in the courtroom, except Governor McCray himself, that the ver diet was guilty. The Governor, with the supreme optimism and confidence which has characterized him throughout his difficulties, political, financial and personal, was hopeful of an acquittal until the verdict w'as read. Thomas Hamilton, chief engineer of the Gary Street Railway, foreman of the jury, handed the verdict to William P. Kappes. ' Kappes read the words which sealed the doom of the Governor. With unexpected suddenness Judge Anderson launched into a denunciation of the Governor's acts, which ended when he ordered Meredith to take the Governor to jail and confine him there until Wednesday at 10 a. m. when he is to be brought before Judge Anderson for sentence. Denunciation Scathing The denunciation, one of the most scathing ever delivered by Judge Anderson, w-as caustic and biting. He branded the Governor as a forger of hundreds of notes, as a man who obtained money under false pretenses. Turning to the jury. Judge Anderson said: "Honest men could come to but one conclusion. It }s a question in my mind w'hether 1 ought not immediately order this defendant into cus tody. Here is a mad who, according to testimony, devised a scheme which he himself admitted was carried on almost wholly through the mails. "He wrote 2,500 letters, each one a violation of the postal laws. He was guilty of forging literally hundreds of notes. He was guilty of uttering and publishing hundreds of fictitious, forged, fraudulent notes. He was guilty of obtaining money under false pretenses. "He had a trial by a fair, conseien tious jury. If ever there was a time a man forfeited his right to liberty, it is now. I think 1 will order him to jail immediately. “In my twenty-one years on the bench I have seen bootleggers, postoffice robbers, mail clerks, take the stand and commit rank perjury. It has been my invariable custom to com mit these men to jail. There is no difference between the lowest criminal and the highest. "The evidence is of reotOTkable character, as his attorneys have

Forecast Showers tonight and Wednesday with a change in temperature, bringing cooler weather in this vicinity Wednesday.

TWO CENTS

stated. The circumstances are to enormously bad that there is no excuse for them. "Look what he has done. In my forty years' experience I think I have seen greatei criminals, but never have I seen anything to approach this in the number of continuous felonies. I think it is my duty to put an end to this right now', and to show' him that no matter <f he is Governor, regard(Turn lo Page 3) SUNDAY SHOWS UPHELD Kokomo Ordinance Banning Performances Held Invalid. By United Press KOKOMO. Ind.. April 29. —Judge John Marshall in C.rcuit Court today held invalid an ordinance of city council prohibiting Sunday shows. The ordinance was passed after Mayor Burrows voted to break a dead lock in the council. Judge Marshall held Mayor Burrows could not cast the deciding ballot breaking the tie, the mayor being the presid ng officer and not a councilman-elect. APPEAL WAS CONSIDERED International Arbitration Board Discussed Plea of Bricklayers. International arbitration board of contractors and ‘bricklayers did not refuse appeal of the wage question here, according to Walter Wise, president of the Mason Contractors’ Asso-i elation. j According to Wise, the International] board was meeting on the question when settlement was reached directly between contractors and bricklayers, giving the workers a 16-cent increase. HIGH SPEED CARS ASKEp — Board of Safety Urges Purchase T wo to Chase Bum Kunner^^^H Two high-powered chs o nooze rum runners w-eiSSftlrtfSl of :.ie city council by the safeqHreSgl today. Appropriation of needed. For the fifth time, the case of Patrolman Forest Romlnger, charged With unbecoming conduct, was continued. Patrolman Roscoe Wilkerson was found guilty of the same charge and suspended thirty days fronK April 11. — Cornelia Vanderbilt Weds By I niled Press ASHEVILLE. X. C.. April 29. •>f the oldest families in the States anJ Great Britain were iMjtfeaia here today with the marriage of#jsfe&S| Francis Cecil, son of Lord 7 •* Cecil, and Miss Cornelia Van ss|plt§|i Cecil has resigned from tbs diplomatic service to help his br a rlministering her vast estate.