Indianapolis Times, Volume 36, Number 242, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 February 1925 — Page 1

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VOLUME 36—NUMBER 242

Shepherd Letters to Nurse Read at McClintock Inquest

COOLIDGE SCORES INHERITANCE TAX AS CONFISCATION Present High Levies Verge on Socialism, President Declares in Speech at Conference, DISGUISED LEGISLATION People Should Decide if They Desire to Carry Out Policy, He Says, - By United, Press WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.—President Coolidge today condemned present high Inheritance taxes, both Federal and State, as verging on socialism or confiscation. In a speech to the National Tax Association conference on Inheritance taxes here, he advocated reduction and restriction of State Inheritance taxes and gradual withdrawal of the Federal Government from this form of levy. "We have come to a point of estate and inheritance taxation, reaching as it does 40 per cent in the Federal law and perhaps higher In some States, where the total burden clearly approaches confiscation, If It does not actually confiscate,” declared the President. "I do not believe the Government should seek social legislation In the guise of taxation. We should approach the questions directly where the arguments for and against the proposed legislation may bd clearly presented and universally understood. "If we adopt Socialism, it should be presented to the people of the country as Socialism and not under the guise of a law to collect revenue. The people are quite able to determine for themselves the desirability of a particular public policy and do not ask to have such policies forced upon them by indirection. "Personally, I do not feel that large fortunes properly managed are necessarily a menace to our institutions and therefox , ought to be destroyed. On the contrary, they have been and can be of great value for our development." The President said the present systern of State and Federal inheritance taxation had developed tc a point where the tax frequently exceeded (Turn to Page 11) OBSERVERS SEE LEGISLATIVE JAM Speed Records Must Fall if Books Are Cleared, Persons who have seen previous legislatures perform today declared this body would have to show even more speed than heretofore if it hoped to clear the books by March 9, the closing date. A terrific fight for economy is forecast when the biennial appropriations bill comes before the as a committee on the whole. Speaker Leslie announced a Saturday session of the House would be necessary. The House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, Wednesday night agreed oit these tentative increases in appropriations: $65,000 for a hospital at the Indiana State Reformatory, and $87,000 for a deficiency; SIO,OOO for the attorney general to enforce the prohibition law, and $7,000 for furnace stokers at the Indiana State Dtrm.

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Guardian of Chicago 'Millionaire Orphan’ Gave Her Stock Certificates, Girl Testifies at Probe Into Mysterious Death, Bv United Press CHICAGO, Feb. 19.—Endearing letters written by William D. Shepherd, foster-father of William N. McClintock, dead "millionaire orphan,” to a pretty young nurse were introduced today at coroner’s inquest into young McClintock’s death. The letters were offered in an attempt to show Shepherd’s relation to the nurse as a possible motive should it be found McClintock met an unnatural death. “Precious Sunshine," the letters — four in number —started. “You are the dearest and sweetest girl in all the world," one of the letters declared. ‘“You put new life into me when I am with you. I cannot do without you. I need you. I love you more than life Itself. “Sometimes I want to kidnap you and carrjJ you away where I’ll have you as my very own.” Kiss Promised One of the letters concluded with the words "I’ll kiss you by-by.” The nurse, Miss Estelle Gehling, a beautiful young woman of about 26, was on the witness stand, ’u'ntifylng the letters and telling of her meetings with Shepherd. Most of the meetings occurred some time before Young McClintock, heir to his parent’s $3,000,000 estate, died from what appeared to be typhoid fever. His death came Just a few hours before he was to have married Miss Isabelle Pope, a popular society girl and former co-ed at Northwestern University. When McClintock’s will was made public, leaving all of his estate to Shepherd, except an annual pay ment of SB,OOO to Miss Pope, Municipal Justice Harry Olson, a friend of the family, started an investigation. Shepherd, who was called as first witness today, refused to answer questions of the coroner. Nurse on Stand Miss Gehling, called immediately afterward, told of meeting Shepherd when he was a patient in her hospital. She identified a M,ock certificate for 25.000 shares of (itock in the Liberty Silver Mining Company, par value $25,000. This, she said was a gift from Shepherd He also gave her considerable cash, she testified. This stock, Olson contends, was the property of young McClintock. Shepherd, in his last letter to the nurse, said he was "broke” and could give her no more money. William D. Shepherd was reared near Franklin, Ind., and spent his young manhood in Indianapolis. He served in the Spanish-American War as a member of an Indianapolis company of volunteers. Shepherd’s mother, Mrs. Martha Shepherd Haydon, lives at 2394 Roosevelt Ave., and his sister, Mrs. Amos Pedigo, at 6404 College Ave. EXTRADITION HONORED Four Charged With Auto Theft to Be Returned. A United P*-ess dispatch today from Springfield, 111., said Governor Small had honorfed extradition papers for Hazel Dunlap, James Dunlap, Harry Tickers and Frank Velay, arrested at Marshall, 111., when found in an auto there belonging to Walter T. Murray, 1443 S. Richland St., of this city. Detectives Irick and Giles are at Marshall to bring back the four. ‘STAY OUT OF"'POLITICS’ Shank Hands Out Advice to Salesman Seeking City Job. "Get a good job, stick to it. There’s nothing in politics for any one,” was Mayor Shank’s advice to a young salesman hunting a city Job today. "I know hundreds of poor devils who are working in politics and making a precarious living. Half the time or more they are out of a Job when they guess wrong on a candidate. The man with the steady job wins in the long run every time,” Shank said. ASSESSMENTS TcTfALL Schedule Adopted at Conference Representing Eight Counties. Bv Times Special NOBLES vILLE, Ind., Feb. 19. Farm land in the eight counties of the Ninth district will he assessed from 10 to 80 per cent lower this spring, according to a schedule adopted by district assessors here late Wednesday. There will be but little If any reductions on Improvements. Livestock will be appraised at market price less hauling cost. ANOTHER TAX PROPOSED Bill Creates One-Cent Levy for Property Improvements. General taxation for raising expenses necessary for local subdivision Improvement would be brought about in a bill introduced In the Indiana House today by Representative Mendenhall, Indianapolis, creating a 1-cent levy for street construction and improvement. Under the i present law owners of abutting property share such costs.

ONE-WAY TRIAL PLAN SMOOTHED OUT BOARD Auto Clubs Approve Tryout for One Week —Council . Attitude Still Question, TO REROUTE BUS LINE Rush Hour Regulations on Capitol and Meridian Begin Friday, Preparations to put new traffic legulatlons for Meridian St. and Capitol Ave., New York to ThirtyEighth Si., into effect Friday, were made by city authorities today. The approval of the regulation providing that the two streets be used solely for southbound traffic from 7 to 9 a. m. and for north bound traffic from 4:80 to 6:30 p. m. was expressed by Hoosler Motor Club and Indianapolis Automobile Trade Association representatives today. The new system will be tried out for one week and a report will be made to the city council at that time. City council members were insistent, however, that the board of safety has no legal authority to put traffic regulations In force without an ordinance by the council. Busses to Be Re-Routed Ernest Jl Kingston, president of the board of safety, said that after a conference with A. Smith Bowman, president of People’s Motor Coach Company, operators of bus lines running out Meridian St. to North St. and then across to Delaware St., arrangements had been made to reroute the cars satisfactorily. Kingston said he suggested that busses tur.i east on New York St., Instead of North St., and Bowman agreed to the change. Meantime Interest centered in what steps the city council would take to establish their right to regulate traffic by ordinance. One of the possibilities was that council members might join In an injunction suit to determine the question. Want More Safety Zones In approving the try-out of the new regulations the Hoosier Motor Club arid Indianapolis Automobile Trade Association made the following suggestions: , Complete approaches to the Delaware St. bridge over Fall Creek, place safety zones in Senate Ave., New York to Twenty-First Sts.; Twenty-First St., Senate to Northwestern Aves.; Northwestern Ave., Twenty-First to Thirtieth Sts., and Illinois St., New York to Sixteenth Sts., so automobiles may pass street cars without stopping. Mayor Shank todaj ‘nstructed Police Chief Herman F. Ri*Vinff to take up the question of installing safety zones In Illinois St. from New York St. to Sixteenth St. with the board of safety Tuesday. The plan was abandoned ca E. Wash.ngioy. St., between Pine and Rural Sts., after a trial last year. YEAR’UWORK OUTLINED Chamber of Commerce Industries Committee at Luncheon. Policies and activities for the year were outlined by Chamber of Commerce Industrie* committee luncheon today at the chamber. G. M. Williams, chairman, pres'ded. FREE BOOKS ‘HISTORY’ House Adopts Report *or Indefinite Postponement. Free schoolbooks for Indianapolis became a matter of history today when the House adopted a committee report favoring indefinite postponement of the Hinkle measure. The measure authorized school commissioners to levy a special tax for the purpose. Premier Recovering Bv United Press ROME, Feb. 19.—Premier Mussolini continues to recover from his attack of inr jenza. The conditions of Ministers De Stefanl and Rocco, ill of the name malady, also have improved.

1 Three persons have beer In- 8 lured in traffic accident* ir I Indianapolis I I M I I

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, FEB. 19, 1925

World’s Greatest Bareback Rider Long Ago, in Poverty

MRS. ANNA JACKSON. C?. ONCE "GREATEST EQUESTRIENNE” OF CIRCUS. NOW POVERTY-STRICKEN. PICTURE SHOWS HER WITH HER DOG AND. IN BACKGROUND "VISION OF THE PAST”

MAYOR OUTLINES POLITICAL MOVES Shank Tells'Real Estate Board Committee Withdrawal of Commission Petitions Depends on Lemcke,

City manager form of government was to bo discussed at a conference of Mayor Shank and the Indianapolis Real Estate Board civic affairs RESIDENTS BEG FOR CINDERS Mr, Fixit Learns City Can Not Reach Every Point at Once, Write your complaints or requests for information about municipal service to Mr. Fixit of The ludlanapolsi Times. It's his job to look thing's up and try to get things done for Times readers’ at city hall. D" "IEMANDS for cinders for streets and alleys In bad condition still continues to swamp the street commissioner's office and increase Mr.' Fixlt's mail. Officials of the department say they are doing all In their power to get cinders distributed as rapidly as possible, but there necessarily is delay because It Is impossible to reach all places at the same time. Answers to complaints:. * • • RESIDENTS OF CONCORD ST. Petitions for Improvement of Concord St. between Tenth and Sixteenth Sts., have been referred by the board of works to the city engineer for his report. Regarding the petition for lights no new lights c*n be installed until the present lighting contract expires. April 16. • • • RESIDENT OF SUGAR GROVE AVE. As soon as the weather permits street intersections will be eut down, and an outlet given streets in your vicinity. • .* * B. H. TRUCKS or any other vehicles have right to use the alleys. They are public thoroughfares. •• • , A CONSTANT READER. The board of health will order residents to clean up trash they have thrown in the alley. • * • MRS. H. P. B. Asking for cinders in alley south of Gimbgr St. and west of Boyd Ave. Mrs. Sibert and Constant Reader asking for cinders on Eleventh St. from Bellevieu PI. to Mount St. Cinders will be placed as soon as the street department can get to the work. BANDITS GET $12,000 Hold-Up Bank in Suburb of Chicago —Lock Up Cashier. CHICAGO, Fab. 19.—Two bandits today held up the Morton Grove Trust and Savings Bank. a. suburb of Chicago, and escaped wt*h $12,000. The cashier and two customers were locked in r. vault while the robbers looted tin© cuthltr’ti cago

committee, headed by H. L. Richardt, at the mayor's office this afternoon. * "If Ralph Lemeke comes out for mayor I will tell Police Captain John Zener to stop circulating petitions for a commission form of government.” Shank said. "Meantime, thye are a good thing to have and we are taking good care of those that already hßve been turned in.” Lemcke, rival claimant of George V. Coffin for the Republican city chairmanship, would have the backing of the Shank-Jewett-Leincke faction should he make the race. Several weeks ago Shank Instructed Zener to recall the petitions, saying he was Tor the city manager plan. This was not done. Richardt said the hoard would not ask Shank to favor the city manager plan, but wanted a decision ‘on what he expected to do. The board voted unanimously to get behind the movement with all Its forces Wednesday at a luncheon at Chamber of Commerce. Circulation of city manager petitions was believed to be the only way to combat the movement of Mayor Shank for a commission form of government, Frank E. Gates, president, said. Hetfiey T. Hottel, executive secretary, said “the board will cooperate with every organization which bellevea she city manager plan would be a forward step for Indianapolis." “We have no political motive whatsoever. We believe the city manager proposal is for the best interests of Indianapolis citizens.” John F. White, secretary Federation of Civic Clubs. announced that a meeting of the executive committee will be held Friday night at office of Edward O. Snethen, president. 602 Meyer-Kiser Bank building, to consider plans for cooperating In the circulation of petitions. The meeting was postponed from tonight. f DRUGSTORE IS ROBBED Proprietor Up by Man Who Asks for Cigarets—s3l Taken. Police today are seeking two colored men who robbed Thomas H. Prewitt, proprietor of a drug store at 1302 Roosevelt Ave., of s3l. > One of the men asked for a package of cigarets and covered him with a revolver when he turned to get them Prewitt said. The other waited In an automobile. Police obtained the license number.

Reward in Cunningham Case

f pIEWARD of SSOO for | arrest and conviction of the murderer of R. N. Cunningham, feed dealer, Advance, Ind., who was found dead At his place of business, 328 W. Maryland St., Feb. 12, was^.nnounced

Faces Eviction for Failure to Pay sll a Month Rent for Room, Bv 'SEA Service jTT|EW YORK, Feb. 19. lIN I “The Greatest Horseback Rider of the Greatest Show on Earth.” In huge varicolored letters, the words appeared upon the billboards of half a century ago. • • • Not since back in 1890 had the name of Anna Tompkins appeared in the newspapers. Then there was a paragraph relating how the circus rider had fallen from a horse and injured herself. The name appeared again Just the other day and this time the newspaper paragraph read something like this: "Anna Tompkins Jackson, 82, former equestrienne, will be evicted tomorrow for failure to pay her rent of sll a month unless neighbors help her find a way out.” * • • The woman once referred to as "the greatest horseback rider in the world” was hobbling down an ice-covered street, guided by an alert terrier. Numbed fingers of her other hand clung to a scrub pail. Her head was wrapped in a woolen shawl. From beneath the shawl blew strands of steel-gray hair. Mrs. Anna (Tompkins) Jackson, aged 82, was returning from a futile search of work. She was very tired and her rheumatism had become so bad with the winter months that even light work was becoming too much for her. But at one mention of the circus her eyes lighted. "Yes, they once called me the 'greatest circus rider,’ ” the old lady said. "It started when I was 15. I was living in Newark. N. J., where I was born. My father took me to a circus. Os course I wanted to be a performer right away. And, of course, my father argued. I went home and I learned to ride horses. And I kept trying and trying when I was 17 the old New York circus tn Union Square gave me a chance. It was Just about that time that girt boxers were wanted by circuses and I learned to box and fence and did all those stunts, but I did a lot of riding on the side. , "They gave me the hard horses to work with, finally—the kind you had to use two bits on. Well—l finally got with Bamum and Bailey’s and that’s where I became known as ‘the greatest rider.’ • • • “Well, after I fell I was through with the circus,” the old lady continued, after a pause. "I hadn’t saved much money and I was in my forties. I had to go to work. Lately it’s been housekeeping, bfct my rheumatism is getting too bad for that. I don’t know what I’ll do next.” SCHOOL PURCHASE FOUGHTjN HOUSE Committee Named to Appraise Dental College, Opposition to purchase by the State of Indiana of the Indiana Dental College for $40,000, as pro-, posed in a bill by Representative J. Glenn Harris, Gary, dveloped today when Representative De Haven, Indianapolis. offered a resolution calling for an official valuation of the physical property of the institution. De Haven’s original resolution called for the speaker to appoint a House committee of seven to meet with a like Senate committee to visit the school, accompanied by the Governor. and fix a valuation. After heated argument Speaker Leslie called De Haven to the chair and suggested the resolution be changed to call for merely a House committee, without mention of the Governor or a Senate committee. De Haven changed the resolution and Leslie appointed De Haven, Harris of Gary, Barlow, Harris of Monroe, Bond, Williams and Kissinger. / Gmil Is Discharged Ell Gmil ,31, of 1144% N. West St., professional bondsman, arrested In an upstairs corridor at police headquarters by Trafflcman Morrlsey. was discharged by City Judge Pro Tern. Garrett Olds, on ’ a vagrancy charge today. Judge Delbert O. Wilmeth had ordered Gmil from the building.

today by R. A. Cunning ham, 1926 W. Washington St., a brother. Advance citizens, under direction of Glenn Waters of the State Bank of Advance, raised the reward money.

Entered ns Second-clss* Matter at Postofflre, TW(Y f 'kXTTfI Indianapolis. Published Daily Except Sunday. A TY VJ VAEJJ.X Ikj

SIPE. FREED OF CHARGES. GIVES STATE EVDENCE M COIINIY fIIHD FRAUD CASE Says Hunt and Latta Knew He Had Small Personal Bank Balance When They Urged Him to Invest Money in Private Enterprise. PROSECUTOR REMY NOLLES • COUNTS ON FORMER CLERK Attorney for Defense Bitterly Contests Efforts to Gain Information —Witness Tells of Steps Preceding Loan. That Edwin A. Hunt, real estate dealer, 3939 Washington Blvd., on trial in Criminal Court on charge of conspiring with Richard V. Sipe, former county clerk, and Will H. Latta, attorney, Claypool, to embezzle SIO,OOO in county funds, knew Sipe had a very small personal bank account was admitted by Bipe today in testifying for the State. Sipe took the stand late Wednesday afternoon. He was still testifying this afternoon. The State charges that Hunt and Latta induced Sipe to invest county funds in private enterprise.

When Sipe resumed the stand he asserted his constitutional right to ••©fuse to answer questions which he thought might incriminate him. Prosecutor William H. Remy then nolled the charge against Sipe and informed him he was free from prosecution. Attorneys Clash Clashes between Inman and Remy began at the trial opening, when Sipe refused to answer Remy's question as to. whether or not he knew the defendant, Edwin A. Hunt. The Jury was taken from the courtroom while Judge James A. Collins ruled Sipe need not answer questions which he believed might Incriminate him. As the trial went on Pipe appeared to forget to refuse to answer questions. Although when he was reluctant he would turn toward Judge Collins and ask whether he should answer or not. In every instance he answered when the court directed him. Sipe was asked by Remy to detail the circumstances which led up to his loaning the SIO,OOO to Hunt. “Hunt came into my office when I was county clerk and said that he had an option on the Indiana National Life Insurance Company that was about to expire and that he wanted $60,000 to close the option. I said I did not have $50,000 which he might have.” Request is Renewed “He returned a few .days later and again told me that the option was to expire in a day or two and wanted to know how much I could let him have. I told him I might let him have SIO,OOO, if he would get It back to me by Oct. 1, when I must make my quarterly report to the county. “Hunt then asked me if there wasn’t anything else that I might draw on. I said no, except some collateral which aggregated between (Turn to Page 11) DIMMER BILL OFFERED Stiff Fines Proposed In New Headlight Measure. Failure of a motorist to dim his headlights when meeting another automobile at night would be punishable by fine, through a bill introduced in the Indiana House today by Representative Harris, Ellettsvllle. Fines: $lO, first offense; $26, second offense, and SIOO, third offense. PENSION BILL IS UP Hard Fight Led Against Measure by IJndley. State Senator Nejdl, Whiting, Republican floor leader, called out his old age pension bill for final vote this afternoon in the Senate. A hard fight, led by Senator Llndley, King man. Republican, immediately developed. Llndley said the bill Is socialistic. It provides a $26 a month pension for needy persons over 65. Nejdl said the bill will do away with poorhouse evils. Each county will have a local pensioning hoard.

Cunningham was struck on the back of the head and robbed of about SIOO. His brief case was found in the canal the next day. Detectives are seeking clews to the slayer.

Forecast FAIR tonight with lowest temperature about 25. Friday increasing doudinesa j somewhat warmer by afternoon or night.

SENATE PASSES ANTI-EDUCATION BOARDMEASURE Substitutes Four Citizens for College and School Officials, Senator Llndley'a bill, abolishing the present board of education of thirteen members and substituting one of four “interested citizens" and the State superintendent of public Instruction, today passed the Indiana Senate. 32 to 8, and was sent to the House. “This is the most important educational bill since 1866." said the author. “The present board is composed of seven ex-officio members, who can not give their time to the work. The whole system is topsyturvy, and run for the benefit of the colleges. Too little practical education to fit common school children as useful and contended citizens of their community is provided by the board. The whole aim Is to prepare them for college, and the majority never go to college." The present board composes the presidents of Indiana and Purdue Universities and Indiana State Normal: city school superintendents of Indianapolis, South Bend and Evansville; the State superintendent of public instruction, and six members appointed by the Governor. The bill provides the Governor shall appoint two members from each of the two predominant political parties, who are not actively connected with education work. No salary is attached to the offices. Senator Cravens, Madison, Democratic floor leader, voloed the only opposition to the passage of the MM. Presidents of the State oollegse form the only safeguards to the board, he said. Llndley said that the presidents of Indiana and Purdue are in favor of the change, because they hay* enough to do to run their lnstltu tions. EM ISON NAMED JUDGE New Court Created at VtaczaaF When Governor Signs Bill. Governor Jackson today signet Hose bill 71, by Representative Willis, Vincennes, creating a Superior Court of Knox County at Vln cennes, and appointed John Rabb Em I son, assistant United States district attorney, for more than a year, an judge of the court. Emlson. a graduate of Ds Paow University and Harvard Law School, Is a brother of Ewing Emlson, Vincennes. Indiana manager for President Coolldge during the last campaign. He 1# a member of Phi Kappa Psl Fraternity. Woman Clerk Sworn In Miss Lucy Lenars Evans, of 4716 E. Michigan St., was sworn in as deputy olt>rk of the Federal Court today by William P. Kappea, clerk. Miss Evans succeeds Mrs. Mora Clark Quellhorst, who has resigned. HOURLY TEMPERATURE 6 a. m 31 10 a. m.. 29 7 a. m SI 11 % m Sft 11 JS