Indianapolis Times, Volume 36, Number 72, Indianapolis, Marion County, 1 August 1924 — Page 1

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VOLUME 36—NUMBER 72

JULIETTA . BUILDERS INDICTED Weaver and Son Charged With Perjury and Filing False Claim by County Grand Jury in Probe of Hospital Structures. CONTRACTORS' BONDS ARE SET AT $2,500 Collection of $17,000 in Final Payment Upon Statement Work Was Completed Is Questioned —Expense Involved,-. Indictments charging perjury and presenting a false claim were returned against George A. Weaver and Windsor J. Weaver of the Arm of George A. Weaver & Son, which erected the new buildings at Julietta, county asylum for the insane, in Criminal Court today. The buildings, which were erected at a cost to the county of approximately SIIB,OOO. have been the subject of investigations and criticism by the State board of accounts, the grand jury and a special arbitration committee, selected by county commissioners and contracting firm. The indictment charging presentation of a false claim asserts that the defendants presented a claim for $17,673.25, which is 15 per cent of the contract price of the work, to Leo K. Fesler, then county auditor, June 16, 1923, knowing at the time that the money was not due them. Claim Is Allowed The claim was allowed by the county commissioners soon afterward and the money was paid to the Weavers. The charge is made that the Weavers, when presenting |rr.e claim,' knew their did not Comply with the provisions of the contract. In contracts granted by the county it is customary to withhold final 15 per cent payment until the work is complete^. The perjury indictment is fcased on payment of a premium on the contractor’s bond Insuring faithful performance of the provisions the contract. The premium amounted to $1,771.73. Advertisement Cited County officials explained that where the advertisement for the work carries with it the provision that bond will be required then the contractor must pay for the bond premium. The advertisement for bids in this case, carried such a provision, the indictment states. Despite this the Weavers swore to a claim for the amount of the bond premium, and the claim was allowed and paid. In case of conviction prison sentences are compulsory. Penalties are: perjury, not less than two or more than twenty-one years at the i Indiana State prison and a fine of 50 to $1,000; presenting false claim, j two to fourteen years in the Indiana j State prison and a fine of not more than SI,OOO. Frank A. Symmes, Judge pro tem., received the grand jury report. CENTER LEVY IS LOWER Lawrence Township Will Pay Higher Tax Rate. ■ Center Township’s tax levy, Ma- I r rion County, will be lower and Lawrence Township’s higher in 1925, ac- i cording to budgets completed today. ’ Trustee Charles C. Lyle of Law- 1 rence reported the township would need $52.210 in 1925 as compared with $76,810 this year and the new levy would be $1.04 with estimated property valuation of $7,952,100. Trustee William H. Evans of Cen- ! ter submitted a budget calling for $100,239.63 in 1925, compared with $136,562.06 in 1924. The new levy will be sl.Ol on a valuation of $3,591,030 on territory outside Indianapolis. MYSTERY AT HOSPITAL Coroner Robinson Probes Death of ' Man. Circumstances surrounding the death of Grant Griffith,- 39, of 1016 Harrison St., at the city hospital today, were being thoroughly investigated by Coroner Paul F. Robinson. Robinson stated that complete mystery surrounded the man’s case and that, he did not know how or when he was sent to the hospital.

War on Russia Ten years ago today Germany declared war on Russia. The Czar refused to heed the appeal of King George of England for peace. Arrangements were made for the withdrawal of German representatives from Paris. England recalled all men on military leave. The German ambassador at St. Petersburg had ’’been handed his passports. War was beginning in earnest.

The Indianapolis Times

Two-Year-Old Tot Drinks Fly Killer

FRANCIS M. WADDY, 2, little son of Mr. and Mrs. Waddy, living two miles east of Lawrence, Ind., today was dead, the victim of “pretty flowers.” His death, according to Dr. Paul F. Robinson, county coroner, was due to drinking poison, contained in whaf is known as a “Daisy Fly Killer.” The child, the coroner said, became sick late Thurs-

•GOING TO BE WARMER’ " Weather Bureau Predicts Jump In Temperature for Saturday. Warmer weather was forecast for Saturday by the weather bureau today. Temperatures this morning were moderate, the thermometer at 6 a. m. reading 64. MAN WIELDS HATCHET Woman Struck on Head Is Not Seriously Injured. Police are searching for Frank Sonker, alias Coker, who formerly roomed at 752 Haugh St. Police say he entered the house i early today by the roof and struck I Mrs. Christena Lescha on the head j with a hatchet. j Hospital doctors said Mrs. Lescha ' was not hurt seriously. ■ FATHER GIVES HIS LIFE Rushes Into Burning Home to Save Wife and Children. By United Free* COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. I.—W. E. Wider gave his life to save his wife and three children when fire i destroyed his home today, j Rushing back into the house to - make sure his family had escaped. ■ Wider’s way was cut off by flames. ! He leaped from a second-story win- ; dow and was killed. Mrs. Wider | and the children escaped uninjured. THIRST CAUSES MISHAP Attempts to Cross Street When Struck by Auto. Thirst today cost Joe Bady. 624 S. Illinois St., motorman on a West Indianapolis street car, a broken leg. Bady stopped his car at Morris and Harding Sts., and attempted to cross the street when he was struck by a machine driven by Hilden Kaiser, of Camby, Ind., police say. Bady was taken to the city hospital and Kaiser was arrested on a charge of assault and battery. CASE IS APPEALED (Jity Still Seeks to Keep Patrolman Bedford Off Police Force. The fight of the city to keep Patrolman Harvey W. Bedford off the police force was carried to the State Supreme Court today when James M. Ogden, city attorney, filed an appeal from the decision of Circuit Judge Harry O. Chamberlin ordering Bedford reinstated. Bedford and Lieut. Arthur McGee were dismissed after a sensational hearing before the board of safety on charges of insubordination in in-1 vestlgating the Robert Watson mur- j der.

WATSON IS DISSATISFIED Will Not Drop Morgan Affair, Friends Say. Senator Watson will not be satisfied to leave the situation in regard to Bert Morgan's removal from the office of prohibition director, as it now is, Watson’s lieutenants said today. The report Watson was not wor ried about it and the inference Morgan would be allowed to remain in office until after the fall election were disparaged by Watson cohorts. The Senator might be waiting for Secretary of the Treasury Mellon to return from abroad before he takes further action in the matter, it was said. Morgan had no comment to make. NEW FURNITURE STORE Henry Solomon Adds Seventh Place to Chain. The Capitol furniture store will be opened Saturday at 211 E. Washington St., under management of Robert Thompson. Souvenirs will be given to women. The store is one of a chain of seven, six in Indianapolis and one in Kokomo, under general management of Henry Solomon. Solomon started business seven years ago with the South Side Furniture Company. EXTEND BILLMIRE HUNT Kiwanis Club Secretary Hears From Other Cities. Search for Dell Z. Billmire, 52. of 719 E. Thirty-Fourth St., missing since July 8, is being made in various cities of the United States, according to letters received by Mervin J. Hammel, secretary Indianapolis Kiwanis Club, in response to a Dulletin sent other clubs. Police and hospital authorities are on the lookout for Billmire. Insurance Picnic Today Policy-holders of the Public Savings Insurance Company were to be guests this afternoon and evening of the Boosters Club of the company at a picnic at Garfield Park. Guests were to bring basket dinners. Games and contests were provided.

CROWN PRINCE SAYS WORLD IS LOSERIN WAR American Legion Conducts Symposium Upon Question of Gain in Great Struggle/ ! PRINTED IN WEEKLY General Pershing, Newton D, Baker, Eliot and Others Quoted^ Results of the World War were hardly worth the price. This is the tenor of some of the answers in an international sym poslum upon “What did the world gain by the World War,*’ published in a copyrighted article in the American Legion Weekly today. National Legion headquarters here gave out some of the answers by way of observance of the‘tenth anniversary of the beginning of the war. A letter addressed to the former German crown price. Frederick Wilhelm, In exile at Doom, Holland, brought this rep|y from his secretary, Admiral H. von “ Rebelr Paschwitz, director of tbs German naval rfrademy at Kiel; “Nothing! It lost everything!’’ “The result of the war was that all nations are arming as hard as they can, and what about democracy?—Just look at the cables from over the whole world Dictatorship of some sort or other is the favorite idea. The only good the war did is to show that a nation, not well armed. Is powerless, and that such a nation gets no help from anybody.” NEWTON D. BAKER, former Secretary of War; “Taking the long view, I believe it is possible now to say that the world is at last convinced that the balance of power theory is an uniTura to Page 13)

FOG BLANKET DELAYS FLIERS U, S, Airmen Will Try Again Saturday, By United Press ABOARD THE U. S. RICHMOND, HOUGHTON BAY, Orkney Island, Aug. 1. —The American world flight could not be resumed today oecause of a blanket of fog over the sea and over the Iceland coast. Lieut. Lowell Smith, commander of the expedition, smiled grimly as he announced cancellation of today’s flight. "We’ll try again Saturday,” he said. “August and September are the best flying months up here We’ve plenty of time.” When noon rolled around there was no improvement in the weather, which was what the native phraseology describes as "hazy.” The airmen remained aboard the Richmond; the three planes bobbed at their anchorage; the sea was me derately calm By United Press TOKIO, Aug. I.—The bureau of aeronautics has had no word of Major St'art A. MacLaren, British world flier, since he was reported to have arrived at Petrcpavovsk. a week ago Thursday. It is presumed he is being delayed by bad weather. Factory Inspector Named John Dickson, Whitslard, Ind., today was appointed factory inspector for the State Industrial Board by the bpard Dickson is interested in the title business in Wheatland.

Postoffice Survey Shows Indianapolis Is City of 127,928 Homes

mNDIANAPOLIS has 42, 481 more places in which families may dwell than in September, 1921. Indianapolis is a city of 127,928 homes. These are facts shown, by a survey' just completed by the Indianapolis postoffice. Mail carriers checked every house and apartment in th city. A similar survey is being conducted now upon business rooms

INDIANi/POLIS, FRIDAY, AUG. 1, 1924

day. A doctor was called, but the child died early today. Coroner Robinson said the fly killer contained poison as high as 35 per cent, and despite this did not bear a poison label. He said he would confer with State and county authorities in regard to the law on such fly poisons, and if there was sufficient authority he would make an immediate drive to force labeling.

Neighborhood Lays Aside Grudge Against Goat and Permits Him to Attend Party

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FIRST ROW. LEFT TO RIGHT: MISSES LUCILE TUCKER. IRENE BLAKELY., AND ROSCOE SEAGER WITH HIS GOAT. SECOND ROW. LEFT TO RIGHT: MISSES, MILDRED SCHMINK, IRENE SEAGER, DOROTHY MAY STRICKLIN AND MILDRED ARBUCKLE. THIRD ROW', LEFT TO RIGHT: MISSES RUTH SEAGER AND LILLIAN SCHMINK.

EIVEN a goat has his day, and night. fc—■ ■■ Roscoe Seager, 1838 Holloway Ave, and his goat, alleged terror of the street, yvere the center of attraction Thursday night at a community celebration of residents on Holloway Ave., between Roosevelt Ave. and Fernway St. Roscoe’s mother, Mrs. Elmer V. Seager, wrote a poem about himg and the goat which Roscoe recited as part of a tableaux. The children above took part in it. "Billy” was said to be “gentle as a lamb,” but he created "bloody murder” when he performed his many pranks. With all -his faults residents of Holloway Ave. won’t Jet any neighborhood have their goat.

FRIGHTENED MULE DRAGS WORKMAN William Timbs Is Almost Scalped in Accident, Dragged 100 feet by a fractious mule, Wrr4 B. Timbs, 41. of 1054 W. McCarty St., is in the Methodist Hospital with serious injuries today. Timbs, employed in preparing a jjbV' addition two miles north of Broad Ripple, -was riding the mule to the barn of C. E. Smith, north of Broad Ripple, Thursday evening when the animal threw him. His foot caught in harness and the mule “ran away.” Practically all of the skin was torn from Timbs’ back, he was almost scalped, several ribs were broken and he suffered other internal injuries. ' § HOURLY TEMPERATURE 6 a. m 64 10 a. m 74 7 a. m 67 11 a. m 76 8 a. m 70 12 (noon) .... -78 9 a. m 74 1 p. m 79

and buildings. In 1921 there were a total of only 85,447 places in which families cpuld live. The stfrvey shows 9,716 more apartments than in 1921. The figures show there are at present a total of 117,566 dwelling houses and 10,353 apartments. Os this number 116,095 dwelling houses are occupied and 1,471 are vacant. There are 9,249 apartments

Every family, composing about 180 persons, took part. Games and contests were provided for young and old. Although the event was held to celebrate the recent paving of the street. It was also called a ’ know-your-neighbor” party. Mrs, Busan Lackey, 72, of 1814 Holloway Ave., is the oldest resident on the street. Bhe is a native of Indianapolis and had lived six years on the street. She was presented with j^hermometer. Wayne three-months-old son of Clarence J. Arbuekle. 1906 Holloway Ave., is the youngest child. Winners of other events were: Fred B. Lane, 1922 Holloway Ave., best lawn; Mrs. L. D. Shelton, 1964 Holloway Ave., heav-

Ice! Ice should keep its place—in the refrigerator. Has no business on the streets at 6 a. m. That’s what Bernard J. McCloskey, 719 McCarty St„ told police today. / He said that every morning at five, an ice wagon driver woke him up, crying: "Ice-Ice.” Says none of the other neighbors can sleep either. He asked police to stop the practice.

$459,485.15 IN JUNE Gas Tax for Month Reaches Higher Figure Than 1923. Charles C. Benjamin, State gasoline tax clerk, today reported the State had collected $459,485.15 in gasoline taxes for the month of June. Benjamin pointed out this figure is higher than the June returns last year. He explained a large part of the increase is due to the fact the law took effect in June, 1923, and tax was not paid then on gasoline which consumers had stored and which they did not ‘ exhaust until August.

occupied and 1,103 vacant. These figures indicate Indianapolis has caught up with its housing shortage for the first time in many, years. The rapid growth of a,partment house popularity is attributed to the decrease in large families in the city and the great number of the younger married women who are employed. Many large forty to eighty apartment buil&iigs have been completed recently.

lest woman: A. Courtland Bishop, 1910 Holloway Ave., heaviest man; Mrs. Stella Schrnnik, 1915 Holloway Ave., best soprano: Mrs. Robert C. Gatts, 1956 Holloway Ave., prettiest woman; Jesse F. Street, 1960 Holloway Ave., cracker-eating contest. William H. Leonard. 1838 Holloway Av., spoke on the community as it was thirty-five years ago. Flag drills by the children rujd special music and singiDg wct provided. The jubilee opened with Meldern Lantz, 1934 Holloway Ave., calling the neighbors out by playing on his trombone. Ladies in charge were Mrs. Edwin R. Buckner, 1834 Holloway Ave., and Mrs. Gatts. Ice cream, cake and lemonade were distributed.

HARDING’S DEATH 10 BE OBSERVED Marion Will Pay Tribute to Late President, By United' Press MARION, Ohio, Aug. L—Marion will pay a quiet tribute to the memory of the late President Harding at 7 p. m., Saturday, the first anniversary of his death. For five minutes the entire town will bow in reverence. The only sound will be the tolling of church bells which are to ring during the five-minute tribute. Mrs. Florence King Harding, the late President's widow has asked no speeches be made. The Harding tomb will be banked with flowers. Woman Found Dead in Bed Mrs. Mary Frances Schaaf, 74, of 104% W. Ohio St., was found dead in bed today by her daughter, Mrs. Barbara Thomas. Coroner Paul F Robinson stated death was due to heart trouble.

According to the statistics rental houses are on the increase and despite the number of vacant dwellings and apartments there is no apparent disposition to lower rents. Instances are cited where dwellings and apartments have remained unoccupied for months, owners or agents preferring to have them remain empty rather than lower the rent.

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

DESIRE OF SLAYERS FOR ‘PERFECT CRIME’ LED TO MURDER, ALIENIST SAYS Defense Wins Victory When Judge Makes Final Ruling Permitting \ Introduction of Medical Testimony at Hearing. . DOCTOR TELLS OF DREAM LIFE OF RICHARD LOEB / - Youth Imagined He Was Notorious Criminal With Leopold Had Plotted to Kill His Parents, Insanity Expert Testifies. By United Frees CRIMINAL COURTROOM. CHICAGO, Aug. L—The object of Leopold and Loeb in killing Robert Franks, 14-year-old schoolboy, was to commit the “perfect crime,” Dr. William A. White, Washington, D. C., alienist, testified today at the judicial hearing of Nathan Leopold Jr, and Richard Loeb for the murder of Robert. Dr.- White said that Loeb told him he and Leopold had discussed committing a murder long before Franks was killed and had considered various persons, including their parents. But they decided that to kill a member of the immediate families would hamper free movement.

“The real object in the murder was to commit the ’perfect crime,’ ” Dr. White testified. “The Tdea was for the master criminal to do a good job. It was to be thoroughly and completely planned and be the object for great concern in the immediate vicinity. There was to be no clew. An intellectual feat was to be accomplished.” Dream Life Over repeated objections of State’s Attorney Robert E. Crowe, Dr. White sketched the dream life of Loeb. He described a succession of phantasies which he said existed in the minds of the youthful defendants. “He looked upon himself.” Dr. White said, “as a master criminal —the master criminal mind of the century— directing great bands of criminals in their underworld activities. • “He also thought himself a great detective. He plotted great crimes and then imagined himself as the detective unfolding the plot and capturing the criminals.” Dr. White also told how Loeb walked the streets, giving secret signs to his imagined criminal band, directing what houses to rob. Dr. White also pointed out that Loeb admitted being an Inveterate liar, and had started lying at an early age. Judge Rules The defense scored an important victory—a victory which may save the youthful slayers from the gallows when Judge Caverly todaymade final ruling permitting introduction of medical testimony by the defense. It -was this ruling which made possible Dr. White’s testimony. “After hearing arguments of the State and the defense,” Judge Caverly stated in making his ruling, “it is still the opinion of the court that it should hear evidence in mitigation as well as evidence in aggravation. “Therefor© the objection of the State's attorney to the testimony for the defense witness is over-ruled.” The court’s decision ended some ten court hours of bitter fighting between the State and defense on the admissability of medical evidence. While Justice Caverly did not so state in his final ruling, he has stated at various times during the arguments that he would not listen to testimony tending to show insanity, but would merely permit the introduction of testimony showing evidence of mental disease, “in mitigation of puffishment.” Dr. White, who is connected with the United States public health service and other public institutons, then took the stand. Crowe Fights Crowe scored a point when the court sustained his objection to have the witnesses tell how he arrives at the mental condition of a patient. The defense then asked the question in another form and again Crowe objected and was sustained. Again Crowe objected to a question along the same line and was sustained. A fourth objection by Crowe was overruled. When the witness started to answer, Crowe objected again and said ’ “the wit(Tum to Page 2) BOY DIES OF BURNS Myher, Deaf, Unable to Hear Screams of Child. By Times Special BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Aug. I. George Freeman, 3, of Ellettsville, is dead from burns, chiefly because his mother, Mrs. James Freeman, is hard of hearing and did not hear his screams. The child was playing with matches and his dress was fired.

Forecast FAIR tonight. Increasing cloudiness and warmer Saturday, probably becoming unsettled by night.

TWO CENTS

SHANK PEEVED AT WAUSACTION Mayor Charges His Primary Workers Are Ignored, An attack against the Republican State organization wis launched by Mayor Shank today in a letter to I Clyde Walb, State chairman, in which Shank charge! his primary workers in the gubernatorial campaign were being left out in the G. O. P. organization for the fall election. Shank was in conference with Mrs. Edith Longfield of Ft. Wayne, his woman campaign manager. She is said not to have been indorsed by the Allen County chairwoman for a place in the State organ zation. The mayor is reported to havs said that if Walb thought Republicans would win without Shank sup. port they could “go ahead.” wmm WiLNOT RISE Bakers Say Stock Will Be Exhausted First, There will be no immediate In- i crease in the price of bread in Indianapolis, local bakers indicated today. Although wheat prices have advanced, they will not materially affect retail bread prices until their present stock is exhausted, which was purchased at the# old price. George Joslin. office manager Grocers Baking Company, said the large baking companies see no change at present. Officials of Acme-Evans Company, flour mills, said although flour had increased from 40 to 60 cents a barrel, they were endeavoring to keep the price as low as possible. Average price of flour at present is $7 a bar re l . By United Press CLEVELAND, Aug. I.—General Increase in the price of bread was expected here today following 1 cent increase by small bakeries. The boost, attributed to a rise in wheat prices, brings the pound-and-a-half loaf to 12 cents. POSTAL RECEIPTS GROW July Figure 533,040 Over Same Month Last Year. Receipts of the Indianapolis postoffice Increased $33,040.40 in July over last year. The total for the past month was $323,744.88, as compared with $290,704.48 in 1923. BIG FIRE AT CHALMERS Grain Elevator Bums With Loss EsJ tlmated at $35,000. By Times Special MONTICELLO, Ind., Aug. I. early today destroyed the elevaJßp||3 Ross, Ross and Barr pany at Chalmers. More thfJKfrlvffi! bushels of <-orn were destrerapT ' was estimated at $35,000. '