Indianapolis Times, Volume 36, Number 14, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 May 1924 — Page 1

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VOLUME 36—NUMBER 14

COUNCILMEN URGE PROBE Letter to State Board of Accounts Recommends New Edifice at Poor Farm Costing $130,000 Be Razed and Reconstructed, CONCRETE FLOORS SAG AND WALLS LEANING Engineer Declares Collapse Is Expected at Any Time at Julietta Asylum—Fire Hazard Also Pointed Out —Water Pipes Burst, County councilmen, in special session today, after inspection of the county insane hospital at Julietta Monday, forwarded a letter to Lawrence F. Orr, State examiner, requesting an investigation of new buildings at the asylum and the county poor farm, and recommending the new mens’ building be razed and reconstructed. The buildings at Julietta were accepted in 1923 and the new mens' building at the poor farm has not yet been accepted. Both were built by the contracting firm of George A. Weaver & Son. The new building at Julietta cost $138,000 while that at the poor farm cost $130,000. The letter: “Lawrence F. Orr, State examiner, Indianapolis. Ind. “Dear Sir:’’ “The Marion County council has made a personal inspection of the new buildings located at the asylum for the insane and the asylum for the poor. We refer this matter to you for your quick action, as we feel these buildings should not be accepted for the following reasons: Floonrg Is Sagged “Asylum for the Insane—Crossbeams on each floor running north and south sagged at least four inches. Beams on all floors running east and west have sagged accordingly. Flooring on all floors is bowed and cracked. Cement floor in garret is cracked. In several places has sunk at least ten inches. “Cement work c-.n be removed by scraping with foot. We consider this in a collapsible condition. “Attic, where it connects onto the old building is very hazardous, especially as to fire. We recommend that you, yoursc-lf, and the fne marshal mae this inspection, due to the fact that this building is liable to fall, in at any time. “Asylum for the poor. Our understanding is that the commissioners have not acepted this build(Tum to Page 11) MASONS HEAR MARSHALL Indiana Grand Lodge in Session at Teni Former Vice President Thomas R. Marshall opened the 107th annual meeting of the Indiana Grand Lodge of Masons at Masonic Temple today. Grand Master Charles A. Lippincott presided. Business was transacted this afternoon. A special train will take the lodge to visit the Masonic Home at Franklin.. Ind., Wednesday morning. FOUR CONVICTS HUNTED Meat Escaped From Michigan May lie in Indianapolis. Police emergency squad scoured the east section of the city in vain today for four men thought to be escaped convicts from Jackson, Mich. The men seemed to have diswith an automobile they drove past a traffic signal at Pennsylvania. and Washington Sts. A telegram was received saying the escaped convicts had stolen an automobile in Detroit and headed toward Indianapolis. Club Meeting Postponed Edward O. Snethen, president of the Indianapolis Federation of Community Civic Clubs, announced today the regular meeting of the federation scheduled for Friday night at the Chamber of Commerce has been changed to the following Friday. June 3.

Ready for Rush The housing bureau of the Chamber of Commerce, which has 1,500 rooms listed for Speedway visitors unable to secure hotel accommodations, announces It expects its heaviest demand from strangers Wednesday and Thursday, and asks those who have listed rooms to have someone at home to receive callers. Under pressure of last minute demand, Earl L. Ferguson. bureau manager, says it wijl be impossible to call by phone before sending prospects to the homes until after 9 p. m. The bu~au has established headquaiters in its booth at Illinois and Washington Sts.

h. 10-Hftpolis TPimes

BOY, 6, AN OLD TRAVELER

Crosses Ocean Alone Without Fear, Yet Dreads Streets, Jin XFA Service mORONTO, Canada, May 27. Horace Home, 6, is afraid to cross the street alone. But when it comes to crossing the ocean, he is a hero. He has just completed a 3,000mile jourapy from Margate, England. “And I wasn’t scared the least bit.” he says. .“My daddy was over here, and I just-had to come.” There was no one to take him, so he decided to come alone. “First I took a train,” he explains proudly, "and then a steamer—the Minnedora.. It’s a hard name but I can spell it all right. “There were three other boys on the boat and we had a fine time. We weren’t seasick, and we didn’t have to worry about getting lost. “But here in Canada I'm scared of the strange streets. Maybe I’ll go up one and then never find my way back. “And I don't ever want to miss my daddy again. So I'm going tfe stick close by till I grow up.”

EARLY SIGNATURE FOR TAX BILL IS SEEN AT CAPITAL | Mellon Has Withdrawn His Objection, Observers Point Out, By United Press WASHINGTON, May 27.—Early action by President Coolidge on the new tax bill was indicated, by those close to him today. All parties at the Capitol expect the President to sign it. The eonI vincing way in which the measure ! was indorsed in both House and Sen ate, coupled with a statement from Secretary Mellon’s office that he would not recommend a vote, caused leaders to believe Mr. Coolldge would not fail to accept it. The Treasury Department, to which the President referred the measure last night for a report on i its effect on the national revenues, j will deliver its statement to him late ; today or tomorrow. He has until j midnight, June 7. to act. If Congress adjourns before that hour and j the bill is not acted on, it dies by a | “pocket veto.” If it is still in sesI sion, then the unenacted bill would I become a law. BRANCH NAMES BOXING ‘BOARD’ Army Officers to Watch Carpentier-Gibbons Bout, At the request of Governor Emmett F. Branch, Adjutant General Harry B. Smith and three Army of fleers of his selection, will witness the Carpentier-Gibbons fight at Michigan City Saturday to determine whether it remains within the statutes as a boxing contest. The others: Gen. L. R. Gignilliatt, commandant. Culver Military Academy; Capt. B. B. Latamore, instructor in the Indiana National Guard, former athletic director at Ft. Sill, Okla., and Maj. Albert H. i Whitcomb, 151st Infantry, Indiana National Guard, director of athletics of the Indianapojis area of the guard. Smith said the officers will merely advise civil authorities of Lake County. CADLE MUST APPROVE | Otherwise Court Action Is Promised Against “Speedfest Jubilee.” If the “speedfest jubilee” planned by Sahara Grotto for Thursday. Friday and Saturday nights at Cadle Tabernacle does not meet with the approval of E. Howard Cadle, former owner of the tabernacle, he will take court action to stop it, Cadle said today. “I have not ok'd the Grotto show, but I am assured by the management there will be nothing in it contrary to our contract,” Cadle said.

$1,500 MORE REPORTED Salvation Army PYesh Air Camp Fund Totals 58,500. Additional subscriptions to the Salvation Army’s fresh air camp totalling $1,500 *were reported at m on-day meeting at the Chamber of Commerce today. Frank B. Flanner, chairman, said the drive will be continued until the quota is obtained. Total of $6,600 has been raised. Additional workers announced by Flanner includes the Rev. Leroy James, H. C. Mitchell, C. E. Clift, Lee Bishop, George M. Spiegel, W. R. Kemper, Clem C. Voorhis, A. P. Stephenson, Mervin Hammel, Harry Shapiro, E. L. Barr, A. H. Adams, W. A. Jones, W. R. Hancock, J. G. Thomas, and K. M. Mnaiman.

HORACE* HORNE

BISHOP ON TRIAL FOR BEREST WILL TURN TO SCIENCE Rev, Mr, Brown Will Ask Noted Men to Hear Case, By United I’nss CLEVELAND, Ohio. May 27.—1f Bishop William Montgomery Brown of Gallion, Ohio, is found guilty of heresy by the tribunal of the Protestant Episcopal Church here he will appeal to noted scientists of the world to try his case. Bishop Brown, charged with heresy for alleged heretic utterances jji his book, "Communism and Christianism.” published in 1920, went on trial here today before nine Episcopal bishops. Brown, a few hours before his trial, said he had win and several noted scientists, asking them to try his case, and that several had accepted. He refuses to make public their names. "If the church throws me out, the scientists shall try me and I will abide by their results,” he said. Brown’s big hope of the trial is that he may put to the bishops who try him his celebrated list of questions on the virgin birth and miracles of Christ. ‘HOUNDED’; TAKES LIFE Paroled Convict- Commits Suicide When Arrested in Kansas City. Paroled by ex-Govemor McCray from State prison, where he had been committed for life a-s an habitual crirninr 1, Howard Cerf committed suicide in Topeka, Kas., after his arrest by Kansas police, prison authorities learned Monday. Lesli, lee Sanders, 2358 Broadway, prison reform worker and parole officer for Cerf, said Cerf had been “hounded” and had written him telling of “playing the game agtdnst odds.” CONFESSES TO MURDER Overgrown Schoolboy Admits Brutal Murder of Girl. Hy Timm Special ELLSWORTH, Maine, May 27. Ronald MdoDOria'ld, 15, overgrown schoolboy, was held in jail hero today, after confessing to the brutal murder of his teacher, Louise Gerrish, 19. The boy shot and killed the girl with a charge of buckshot, took her ringij and watch and buried the body in a shallow grave. His brother, 13, Is held as a material witness. SERVICES FOR VETERAN Wilfred Riley, Gas Victim, to Ise Buried at Marion. Funeral services of Wilfred Riley, 30, World War veteran, will be held Wednesday morning at the National Sanitarium at Marion, Ind., where he died Monday. Mr. Riley, who w.os gassed and shell shocked while in tHe aviation corps in France, was a brother of Mrs. M. A. Neville, Miss Regina Riley and Leo Riley of Indianapolis.

Administrator Wonders When Chinese Funeral Ends

f—“IUTIES of administrators of IJ I tstates often lead to unI I usual circumstances, is the experience of Arthur J. .Tones, member of th.i law Arm of White & Jones. Cits Trust Bldg. Jones has on hands, as the result of three appointments by Probate Court in the last sixty days, the superintending of a Chinese burial, the care ‘‘of six cats, two parrots—one 28 years old —one dog, and an ancient horse. The mortal remains of Chin Young Kim, 60, erstwhile Chinese lau-’drymun on W. Washington St., ore now on the bounding

INDIANAPOLIS, TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1924

SPEEDWAY PILOTS IN EXHIBITION Lap Prize Fund to Benefit by Annual Drivers’ Day Admissions Advance Guard of Crowd Begins to Arrive, JIMMY MURPHY WINS HONOR IN TIME TRIAL King of 1922 to Have Pole Position When Starting Bomb Is Fired Friday— Field Is Shown to Be Unusually Fast in Tests, By BLYTHE Q HENDRICKS With the lineup of the leaders at the start of the great 500-mile race at the 1.-dianapolis Motor Speedway Friday decided, drivers turned their attention to making Drivers’ day thin afternoon a great success. All gate receipts will be t trned over to the lap prize fund v hich is awarded in SSO bits to the l->a,Dr of each of the 200 laps of the rice. The first scouts of the great army of visitors from all parts of the country which will invade Indianapolis for the greatest of all American motor races made their appearance today. The number will Increase slowly tonight and Wednesday, but by Thursday the vanguard will arrive in force. Murphy Wins Pole To Jimmy Murphy, winner of the race in 1922, and his Miller special will fall the honor of the pole position at the start of the race. Jimmy won the highly prized right by turning up four laps In his qualification round Monday at the rate of 108.04 miles an hour, a shade less than the four lap track record set by Tommy Milton last year. The front row will be completed by Harry Hartz in a Durant and Tommy Milton in a Miller. Joe Boyer, in one of the most sensational drives ever seen on the In dianapolis track, landed his brand new I)u* senberg in first position in the second low. Second place went to Bennie Hill in lii.s Miller and the outside, position to Karl Cooper in a Miller motored Studehakur. It was a Miller day, for Millermotored cars captured five of the first six positions and every one of the fourteen Miller-motored flyers qualified on the first trial. Record Time Expected That the race will be fast from the very start was indicated by the fact that the eight leading cars qualified at better than 101 miles an (Turn to Page 11)

TAX BOARD HEAD SAYS CITY IS LATE Groninger Filed Protest After Proper Date, Corporation Counsel Taylor Groninger was a day late with his protest against the taxation valuation of the Indianapolis Water Company, John J. Brown, chairman of the State tax board said today. Groninger protested against valuation of $17,500,000, an increase of $5,414,300 over lest year, on the ground citizens will have to meet the increased taxes through water rates. Brown said the final day for protests was Monday. He said the valuation had been placed high so that in case Federal Court found in the water injunction that the valuation fixed for rate making purposes was too low the taxation valuation, being I high, would correspond. If the court finds the valuation for rate making purposes too high the taxation valuation then could be cut., Brown said. Music Week a Success “I am more than gratified at the phenomenal success of the recent Music week observance in Indianapolis,” said J. 5. Holcomb, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce fine arts committee, which met today. Plans for promoting the week in 1925 were begun today.

Pacific, the coffin addressed as follows: “Canton, China, Hoy Pang; care of Sant Gong; Ho Ten Lee.” The trip to his last resting place cost the estate $265.02, and will take sijX weeks.” Chin Young Kim left half interest in the laundry, $948.01, and other money in bank at Anderson, the amount not determined. In addition, he left valuable property in China and a wife, Mrs. Ming Se Kim, Jones said, who had not seen her husband for years. Chin “just lay down one day recently and died,” Jones said.

Every Year Is ‘Last ’ but Boys of '6l Keep Right on Marching

... ■ - ■ COL. A. B. C RAMPTON

JNOE again ihe G. A. R. veterans will parade for the L___l "last t.me” Memorial day. Every year the Boys of ’6l close up their fast thinning ranks of blue and march from University Park to the Monument for the ”!ust time,” and every time the veterans do the same over the following year. "For the last fifteen years the boys have be,-n marching for the 'last time. ” A B. Crumpton, past commander of the Indiana department. G. A. R., formerly governor of the Soldiers' Home at. Marion, commander of the Loyal Legion, said today. "Every year they say they have marched their last march, and , ext year when they hear the shrill note of the fife and the roll of the drum, the blood rushes through their Vi In-,, they square their shoulders, throw out their chests and fall in line again. Just mark my word, the boys will bo found marching Memorial day just as long as there are any of them left. And so once more the veterans of '6l will be found in the parade ahead of the younger vets of World and Spanish American Wars.

Silk Stocking Age? Sure! fTTjpn HIS is a silk stocking age. T ike thf word of a reporter who stood at Illinois and 1 1 Washington Sts. for ten minutes this morning and saw for himself. Os 133 women rounding the corner, twenty-two wore cotton hose. Three had dresses so long their stockings could not be seen. Straw hits’ The men just simply can’t be driven to wear ’em according to the calendar. Boys we’ve got some sense. Although May 15 was the official day for donning summer headgear, the reporter saw only five straw hats on the 234 men who passed in ten minutes. Women haven't supplanted men as automobile drivers —entirely. Os 132 passenger cars passing In ten minutes thirteen were driven by women.

DELEGATES VOTED UPON Minnesota Democrats to Hold State Convention Saturday. By United Press ST. PAUL, Minn., May 27.—Delegates to the Minnesota Democratic State convention to he held here Saturday were being selected today in county conventions throughout the State. The State convention wil 1 be asked to indorse a State ticket for the primaries June 16, settle on a State platform, and pick delegates to the National convention of the party in New York. A fight between supporters of William Gibbs McAdoo and his opponents is likely to develop. Girl Found I>ead in Hotel By Times Special HAMMOND, Ind., May 27.—Police today wore holding Daniel Lesager, 34, following finding the body of a woman believed to be Edna Gregory, Bedford, in a room in a hotel here. Police believe the girl took her own life.

Duties of the administrator required him to take the first money and eat. the first piece of sugar passed around in the Union Station here, in observance of religious rites. “What puzzles me is when my duties end,” said Jones. “The body will be buried three years, they said, and then the bones will be exhumed and hid in a vase. It is my duty to pay funeral expenses, and I would like to know when the funeral ends, j “I am afraid much of the estate

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

Their step may be slow and halting. their eyes dim, and their backs bent, but their hearts will beat as lightly and their spirit be as undaunted as in those long gone days when, in the full strength of their young manhood, they stemmed the tide of defeat-at Chicamauga, and stormed the heights of Missionary Ridge and Tunnell Hill. In the sunset of their life, the short march to the Monument will be far longer than the ones they took back In 64, when, at Ringgold. Dalton, Resaea. Kenesaw Mountain and Peachtree Creek, they hurled themselves against the stubborn, hard fighting. desperate gray clad ranks and battered their way to the gates of Atlanta, but they will take it gladly. cheerfully, as in the days of old. “You ask me how old the oldest veteran is?” Colonel Crampton said. “There are no old men; they are grown-up hoys. But I can tell you who I believe is the youngest of the Indiana boys. I think It is Arthur Coffin of Newcastle. He enlisted as a drummer boy when 14 years old. I don’t believe he is much over 60 right now.”

SENATE PASSES POSTAL INCREASE Edge Bill Sent to House for Action, By United Press WASHINGTON, May 27.—The Edge biy. increasing salaries of 300,000 postal service employes, was passed today by the Senate by a vote of 73 to 3. It now goes to the House. Estimates as to the cost of the increase range from $60,000,000 to $85,000,000. Clerks and carriers salaries would be raised about S3OO a year. HOURLY TEMPERATURE 6 a. m 56 10 a. m 61 7 a. m 67 11 a. m 64 8 a. m 68 12 (noon) 63 9 a. m 60 1 p. m 64

will be eaten up by funeral ceremonies and reburials.” The death of an aged widow, who left no relatives, resulted in Jones being given charge of six cats, the two parrots and a dog, among other assets. “I don't know what to do with them,” he said. “One old parrot was with the lady twenty-eight years. It refuses to be comforted, and calls ‘Mamma! Mamma’ every now and then. The horse and a few collars are the sole assets left in another estate. The horse is about to eat up the rest of the assets, Jones said.

TORNADO HITS SOUTHERN STATES SECOND TIME IN MONTH; 30 BELIEVED DEAD Cyclones Sweep Mississippi and Alabama, Killing More Than Score, Injuring Twice as Many and Doing Huge Property Loss. CLOUDBURST FOLLOWS WIND; ATLANTA TRAFFIC PARALYZED Communication Lines Down, News From Storm Area Is Meager—Ten Killed in Town Near Birmingham —Flood Feared. Between twenty-five and thirty persons were reported killed and nearly two score injured last night and early today in cyclones which swept Mississippi and Alabama. Tiie second disastrous disturbance in the southeast within a month struck first in the area around Jackson, Miss., taking fifteen lives and leaving dozens of persions seriously injured. Heavy damage to crops and buildings were reported. A few hours later the cyclonic wind crashed into northern Alabama, killing ten persons, including Mr. and Mrs. YCilliam Robbins and their six children at Creelton, atallv injuring four others and splintering ten dwellings. The same gale swept the little ton of Elkmont. near the Tennessee line, here several persons ere reported dead. Gadsden, Ala., as visited by the high wind and a half dozen residents injured:

Rains of almost cloudburst proportions came in the wake of the tornado. In Atlanta street car service was partially paralyzed during the morning rush hours. The high winds over Mississippi and Alabama disrupted telephone and telegraph communication. With the storm-swept area vir tually cut off. details of the disaster were meager. Tornados and cyclones wrecked villages in Alabam, Georgia, North and South Carolina just a month ago, taking a toll of 109 dead, injuring nearly 400 and causing property damage estimated at $10,000,000. CASUALTY LIST COMPLETED Memphis Reports Twenty-Nine Known Dead in Southern Storm. By United Pre.it MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 27. —Twen-ty-nine known dead were reported in dispatches reaching here from sections of Alabama and Mississippi swept by storm early today. Two storms apparently swept the State's, one striking the south central section and causing the greatest loss of life, and the other the northern section. Casualty lists compiled here follow. Creelton, Ala.—Ten dead. Mr. and Mrs. William Robbins and their six children from 6 to 18 years of age. daughter; Mary Davis and Nellie Four injured. Johnson Station, Miss. —One dead. W. H. Dickerson. Five injured. Carmiachel. Miss. —Seven dead. Mr. and Mrs. John Broadway and their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Buck Broadway and their daughter; Mary Davis and Nellie Anderson. Bay Springs, Miss.—One dead. Victory Cook. One injured. Waynesboro, Miss. —Two dead, both unidentified negroes. Elkmont, Ala. —Eight killed, including Will Collins and seven members of his family. Gasden, Ala. —Eight reported injured. DEATHS IN MISSISSIPPI Series of Storms Hits Sections of State Simultaneously. By United Press JACKSON, Miss., May 27.—A tornado, which swept many sections of Mississippi during the night, took a heavy toll of life and property damage, according to reports today. Communication with the stricken areas ,vas Impossible as all wires were down. Johnson Station, a village near Brookhaven, appeared hardest hit. Unverified reports that eight were killed there were received at Brookhaven where six injured were brought for treatment. Two were killed and several injured at Collins, Miss. The dead are: Myria Bass, 15 and Sarah Jane Robertson, 14. Three are Killed The town of Rollins was damaged and twelve were hurt there. Three colored, persons were killed on a plantation near Greenville in Washington County. A large number were reported injured in Jones County in the central part of the State. Hospitals at (Turn to Page 11) Right on the Trail Benjamin Batchfield, 2301 E. New York St., today told police he saw a man take his automobile from its parking place, Vermont and Alabama Sts., drive a block and get out. Bachfield followed him, saw him get into a second automobile and start It, and called police. The man was gone when police arrived.

Forecast UNSETTLED with showers tonight, followed by generally fair Wednesday. Not much change in temperature in this vicinity.

TWO CENTS

WAITER ARRESTED AS ‘JOHNSON’ IN MURDER MYSTERY Gray Automobile Resembling Car Used by Kidnaper Found, By United Press CHICAGO, May 27.—Adolph Popritz, a waiter, answering the general description of the “George Johnson” sought for the murder of Robert Franks, 14, son of a Chicago millionaire, was arrested today on the south side. With Popritz was taken a gray automobile answering the description of the car in which Robert was kidnaped. Popritz was found in his room and the machine was found in a garage near his home. Popritz is rather tall and thin, studious and in a general way bears the appearance of the man sought by the police. Chief of Police Collins and Chief of Detectives Hughes, and dozens of officers are examining him. Typewriter in Room Captain Murmane of the Hide Park station, who arrested Poprita at first telephoned headquarters saying he had arrested “George Johnson. Later, however, he corrected his statement to headquarters. Murmane said he had seized Q typewriter in the man’s room. The ransom letter was written on a typewriter. Scores of police officers, armed with picks and shovels and working in little squads, today started digging operations in an effort to recover the clothing stripped from the body of the Franks boy. Will Drag Pond Chief of Police Collins ordered his men to di ? up a sewer near the home of Mott Kirk Mitchell, 52, an Instructor at the Harvard private school, attended by Robert. Mitchell has been held by police since last Thursday and has admitted to psychopathic tendencies. Collins said he would start digging operations at the Barrens* where Robert’s body was found. A pond in the same vicinity will be fished, on the theory the boy’s clothing was weighted with rocks ar.S thrown in. Detectives made a number of mysterious visits to loop hotels during the night. They' visited at least four hotels, questioned several persona and finally wound up at one of the biggest hostelries outside the loop, where a temporary “crime headquarters” was established. Masked Men Tie Up Woman By Times Special NOBLESVILLE, Ind., May 27. Police today' are searching for two marked men, who entered home of Raymond Mills Monday night while he was absent, bound and gagged Mrs. Mills and drove off in their auto. Mrs. Mills was not hurt and npthing was stolen fron> the house. The purpose of the visit ip unknown.