Indianapolis Times, Volume 37, Number 2, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 May 1925 — Page 1

Home Edition BARRY DUNNE returns to Chickie after a trip to the west. Will he leave here again? Raek Page today.

VOLUME 37—NUMBER 2

CORONER TO ACT ON ‘DEATH CROSSING’

LEE CAPTURED A T KNOXVILLE

HOUSE or EX-DRAGON ISJEDE3 Document Shows Irvington Property of D. C. Stephenson Was Transferred Before Death of Madge Oberholtzer. IRA HOLMES IS NEW OWNER OF PROPERTY Attorney Says Consideration in Deal Was $20,000, of Which $15,000 Is Mortgage—May Be Taken Over by Some Fraternity. With the tiling of a deed by Ira M. Holmes, lawyer and Republican election commissioner, to the former home of D. (’. Stephenson, 5432 University Ava.. Stephenson’s legal affairs developed further ramifications today. Stephenson, former errand dragon of the Indiana Ku-Klux lvlan, with his aids Earl Klinck and Karl Gentry are in jail charged with murder of Miss Madge Oberholtzer, 28. of 5802 University Ave. According to the deed filed Tuesday Holme,? purchased the property April 7. Holmes said the consideration was $20,000, $15,000 of w,licit is represented by a mortgage held bv the Marion County State "dank due Sept. 7. 1920. He said the property probably would be used as a fraternity house. The transfer was before the death of Miss Oberholtzer April 14 and the damaging of the house by fire believed by police and fire departments officials to have been of incendiary origin. Holmes Was Silent, Holmes said nothing, at that time about owning the property. Tt also was prior to the bringing of attachment proceedings by Mrs. Nettie Stephenson Rrehm of Poteeau. Okla., who says she is Stephenson’s di vorced wife. According to Holmes he took the property as a payment for attorney fees in representing Stephenson in legal proceedings. He said he received a bill of sale for household goods, against which garnishee and attachment proceedings are pending on behalf of Mrs. Brehm. These goods, he said, now are In storage In his name. Holmes announced last Saturday that he had joined Stephenson’s legal staff. Garnishment, St4>ps Further steps in the garnishment proceedings to tie up Stephenson’s (Turn tin Page 15)

FIRST BODY IS FOUND IN RIVER Twenty Victims Still Lie in Graves Where Boat Sank. Bu United Pm* MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 13.'—The first body of a victim recovered since the sinking of the river steamer Norman came to the surface near the scene of the disaster today, according to a, wireless message. It was the body of Earl Simonson, Memphis, engineer on the Norman. Twenty bodies are still hidden In the Mississippi where the vessel sank. It was believed many of them will be recovered before night. A RARE PUfICH m I MEET THEM

The Indianapolis Times COMPLETE WIRE SERVICE OF THE UNITED PRESS fl WORLD’S GREATEST EVENING PRESS ASSOCIATION

Alleged Bandit-Slayer, Who Escaped Franklin Jail Twice, Is Caught in Tennessee, Local Police Notified. Ralph Lee, 26, of Indianapolis. charged with the hold-up and murder of Abner Peek, Speedway Ave., grocer, last July, and who escaped county jail at Franklin twice, has been recaptured at Knoxville, Tenn.. according to word received by police here today. County Prosecutor William H. Retny asked Governor Jackson for authority to hold Lee In Marion County jail upon his return to pretent further escapes. Lee was arrested at Knoxville, i*n a hold-up charge, it was said. Word From Ontario He was identified by Anger prints, which Knoxville police sent to Windsor, Ontario, when Lee told them he was from that city. Windsor police had Lee's record on Ale and notiAed Indianapolis. Similar word was also received from Detroit. Mich. Lee escaped from Franklin March 15, on the eve of his trial at Franklin. On Jan. 2fi, he had escaped before, but was captured in Brown County two days later. > He made a clean get-nway on his second escape and was thought to have Ana need his escape from a cache hidden away by other robbers. Yenned to Franklin Lee's case was venued to Franklin. Abner Peek was fatally wounded when he and his brother Charles resisted a hold-up at their grocery. Abner grabbed a gun when the bandit told him to throw up his hands. law was arres*d at Seattle. Wash., and returned here on; information given by his wife. Mrs. Lee lives here at 1011 Concord St., and he hns a mother. Mrs. Mary Lee Mcllvain, 4050 Cornelius Ave. Lee has had a spectacular criminal career. He has made Ave escapes from penitentiaries.

Mother Sobs for Child’s Return Given to Guardian Home When Only Two Months Old.

IVVANT my baby,” sobbed I IMrs. Mildred Fleming’, 20, 1 1 -lif 957 W. Thirty-First St,, former school teacher, who testified during habeas corpus proceedings in Superior Court Four, today for custody of Robert Fleming, 2. Proceedings were against the Childrens’ Guardian Home, 5751 University Ave,, into whose care the child was given when it was 2 months old by Clifford Fleming, the father, through the Juvenile Court. Soon after the baby was made the nemo's ward on June 1, 1923, it was put into the home of Clifford J. Collins, 320 Ave., with whom it has been since. Since the father took the child away the mother said she had not seen it. She said she appealed several times to the Guardians’ Home to learn about the child, but they refused to tell her where it was. According to Frank A. Symmee, attorney for Mrs. Fleming, the couple was married March 31, 1922, in Orange County. The child was born Feb. 28,. 1923. Mrs. Fleming was granted a divorce over a year ago. Unknown to the mother, Fleming brought the child to Indianapolis and was in Juvenile Court on charge of child neglect, it was said. Opening of the trial was delayed when Special Judge Fred J. Masters instructed the child ho brought into court. ECONOMIST IS WITNESS Speaks for Petition of Grain Marketing Company. VT. Jett Laucke of Washington, D. C., . eonomlst-accountant, an peared as a witness today before the State securities commission hi connection with petition of the Grain Marketing Company of Chicago to sell slock. Answering questions on the recent merger t,y which the petitioning Arm whh formed, Lsuc-Ke said the net income of the four original companies was le*s than the amount anaticipated under the merger, by virtue of the sa ’lng that could be effected, William H. Settle, president of the Indiana Form Federation, la proles! ■ wsg against issuance of a certificate to the company

PROBE COST OF TRIP BY ! PLAN BODY * Mayor Shank and Controller Confer on Expense Accounts Filed by Commission After Jaunt to Conference in New York. DELEGATES SAY THEY PAID PART THEMSELVES Hogue Asks ‘What Is Valet?’ —Say Charges on Hotel Rooms Varied, Though All Were Supposed to Stay at Same Hostelry. Joseph L. Hogue, pity controller, and Mayor Shank went I into executive session Tuesday |to solve problems that arose with tiling of five expense accounts of members of the city plan commission who attended the recent national city planning conference at New Ynnk at the public’s expense. Eight , members attended. “What is a valet, anyway?' was Hogue's first question to Mayor Shank. Hogue questioned legality of an item of $3.50 on an expense account for valet services. Hogue also said he was unable to reconcile varying pricee for hotel rooms, named on expense accounts, because it was his understanding that all members had stopped at the Hotel Pennsylvania. Expenses of eight members of th < ommlssion will total approximate’ I .'1.500. Hogue said. Accounts of ft y members tendered to date amount .o $ 300, an average of SIOO each, ac- | cording to Hogue. Members of the commission were j careful to reduce expense aocounts {l l the home, according to J. W. j Atherton, who was one of the delegates. Spent More “I charged to the city much less than I spent and I believe that was true of all delegates,’’ Atherton said. "To attend meetings of the conference, it was necessar yfor me to use taxicabs every day. I did not charge the city 1 cent for this expenditure. My hotel room cost $7 a day, but you have to pay that In New York.” Valet service is an automatic charge on a guest's bill at the Hotel Pennsylvania, Gustave G. Schmidt, another member said. “We questioned this Item, hut learned that it is a custom of the i hotel,” Schmidt said. “It covers pressing of clothes and other services.” SOUTH BEND RAIDS FAIL Advance Notice in Press Blamed—--300 Warrants Sworn. Bu United Free* SOUTH BEND, Ind., May 13. Three hundred search warrants, drawn on places suspected of concealing liquor, are in hands of police here for service. Early raids brought no results. Reversal of police policy In announcing this morning through the Press is believed to have given bootleggers notice to “cover up.”

City Manager Plan Success , Quick Believed

Editor's Note: For three year* Herbert Ouidk. dletingutahed novelist. snd economist, had been a regular contributor to The Times. Hie death occurred Sunday, May 10. At that time he had completed several ar Idea for thl* newspaper, one of which appears herewith. The others will appear from day to day. By Herbert Quick mWENTY years or mors ago, McClure's Magazine was carrying on a campaign of constructive exposure of city government In the United States undar the title, 1 bellece, of "The Shame of the Cities.” In his most Interesting autobiography, published In 1913, Mr. McClure tells us how deeply disappointed he was at the failure of the people to respond It looked as though they must rise almost at once and < hmuis things; hut they were largely unmoved. Anyhow It looked as If they were. McClure's Magazine the lead In advocat-

INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1925

Interurban Derailed in Fatal Auto Crash

_ jHS U'-j Lt iniiW>jSHWiSL

Photographs by Brown's Studio. MoorfMville. Above: I>ernlled T. 11., I. A E. traction car after crash with atiio at crossing at Maywood, Ind. Below: All that, was left of auto truck of llusscll llelfenberger after being struck by interurban.

RECOUNT IS SOUGHT

Councilman Candidate From Fifth District Says He Will Petition. Election of Otis E. Bartholomew, 1236 S. Senate Ave., as Republican candidate for councilman from the Fifth District, will he contested, Andrew Alexander, 317 W. Morris St., who ran next to Bartholomew in the city primary, said today. Alexander said he would file a petition in Circuit Court, asking a recount of the ballots. Official Returns OfTicia! primary returns showed Bartholomew’ received ninety-one more votes than Alexander. Alexander said he would ask the recount on grounds that there were errors made in the official count. Unofficial tabulations reported to him showed that he was elected by a margin of 381 votes, he said. “I welcome a recount,” said Bartholomew. ‘‘l have been wondering what became of all my votes. You can’t tell me I never received a bigger majority than reported.” "I wasn’t going to demand a recount myself, but if he starts one I will be ready.”

ing the commission form of government, which has now been developed into the City Manager Plan. The people seemed to be dead on their feet; but an Investigation recently made by the Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph. Mo., must g've him much comfort by proving that his work and that of others on the same line a quarter of a century ago was not futile. It has, in fact, been marvelously fruitful. The old commission plan of city government had Its vogue, and many cities adopted it. The city manager plan was developed and has been adopted In scores and scores of cities. It has proved Itself In the smaller cities and now Is carrying one after an other of them and Is sweeping city after city of the metropolitan

$30,000 BLAZE ATLAKECICOTT Postoffice, Store and Rail Station Burn. Rv f'nitrd Prr*H s LOGANSPORT. Ind., May 13. Fire early today destroyed the postoffice, the Good General Store and the’ Pennsylvania station at Lake Cicott, ten miles west of here. The loss was $30,000. Cause of the blaze, which started In the general store, has not been determined. CLOTHESPINS INCLUDED Boyce, Nominated for Clerk, Lints Primary Expenses. William A. Boyce Jr., Republican candidate for city clerk, spent $205.24 on h!s primary campaign, according to expenses listed with the city clerk. One item shows 16 cents for clothes pins. Boyce’s name was included in the Ku-Klux Klan slate distributed the night before election. William J. Fahey, defeated Republican council candidate First district', spent $283.20.

class, like Cleveland, Kansas City and Cincinnati, The questionnaire sent out by the Bt. Joseph people was answered by hundreds of business men, professional men and Just men and women In the cities which have adopted the city manager plan. They were asked to reply to all the objections which have been made to It by those wedded to the old mayor and city council system. The answers are astonishingly favorable to the city manager plan. I suppose that If one were to send out an appeal for opinions rs to whether or not a pure water supply Is a good thing, they oould hardly he more favorable than they are to the city manager plan from those who are living under It. The answers are something like 95 per cent In favor of The

REPORT ON TWO RAIDS 1$ ASKED Rikhoff Starts Investigation of Liquor Arrests. In accordance with a warning Issued Tuesday that patrolmen would be held responsible for liquor arrests made In their districts, Police Chief Herman F. Rikhoff today started investigation of two raids. Rikhoff asked Lieutenant Cox for a detailed report of a raid Tuesday night at the saloon operated by James Sullivan, 50, local politician, at Harrison and Pine Sts. Sullivan and Joseph Cropper, 31, bartender, were arrested and 3T6 pints of mule seized, police said. Investigation also was being made of arrest of Carl Wolsifer, 22 operator of a soft drink place at 932 E. Washington St., In a raid today by Lieutenant Halstead and squad, who said they found a gallon of colored mule. Thomas Campbell, 22, colored. 426 W. Sixteenth St., and Daisy Daugherty, 26. colored. 941 Indiana Ave., were held on blind tiger charges after police said they found small quantities of mule in their homes.

thing Is a success. It is recognized as a proven success by the test of experience. We should not allow ourselves to be cast down when the people fall to leap enthusiastically Into a reform which seems clearly demanded. It takes many men n long time to accept anew iruth —even scientists, to say nothing of the mass of voters, It takes still longer for them to get together on a plan for making any important change, The Shame of the Cities is gradually being wiped out. Then* is much Improvement even In the government of them under the old plan. The “drag” between the exposure of the evil and the cure of It has been so far about a quarter of a century. And this not so bad, after all. Cheer up, fellow agitators! It might be worse.

Entered ns Second-class Matter at PostofPlce, Indianapolis. Published Pally Except Sunday.

Order for Safety Guards at Maywood May Result From Crash Between Interurban and Truck Fatal to Camby Man. TRACTION CAR LEAVES RAILS; PASSENGERS ARE SHAKEN UP Twelve Others Killed at Same Place, Say Police—Bedford Motorist and Daughter Lost Lives There Last November. Corner Paul F. Robinson said today that he would recommend that the T. H., I. & E. Traction Company install safety guards o-r signals at the Maywood “death” crossing, as result of an automobile crash Tuesday night, in which one man was killed and two were injured. •’ Robinson said two persons were killed there last November. Police said at least twelve had been killed at the crossing.

Grover Hawkins, 45, and his daughter Ruth, of Bedford, Ind., were killed at the crossing last Thanksgiving, Robinson said. Mrs. Hawkins and another daughter were in the hospital for weeks. Robinson said there was a depot’ at the crossing and motorists are under impression all cars stop there and do not take precautions. Limited cars go through without stopping, he said. Dead in crash Tuesday night: Russel Helfenberger, 23, of Camby, Ind., driver of the truck. The injured were. Cassell Bowen, 33, of Prospect St., and Fountain Square. Indianapolis, riding on the truck, and Thurman Rariden, 37, of Mooresville, Ind., motorman, cut and bruised. Driving North Helfenberger drove north on State Rd. 12 into the path of the interurban. Scores of passengers were shaken up when the front trucks of the traction car left the rails and mowed down telephone poles for ninety-two yards. The truck was demolished. Helfenberger was killed Instantly. Bowen escaped with minor injuries. He was taken to the city hospital. Coroner Robinson, who investigated, ordered Motorman Rariden slated on an involuntary manslaughter charge. He was released on his own recognizance. Bowen, at the city hospital this morning, said Helfenberger was driving slowly. View Obscured “He told me to look to the right to see If everything was clear,” Bowen said. “I couldn’t tell as the view was obscured by a clump of trees and the depot. Too, the tracks cross the road at an angle. We then both looked to the left and when we looked to the right again, we saw the traction car bearing down on us at high speed. I was knocked fifteen feet. Guess I'm pretty lucky to be alive, as I was on the side of the truck, struck by the car.” Bowen was hired by Helfenberger, a contractor, as a cement laborer. Lights Installed The public service commission took action against the crossing several months ago. John D. Williams, directo* of the State highway commission, and Frank Single on, of the public, service commission, conferred on different occasions with officials of the Pennsylvania railroad and the T. H., I. & E. traction line on the subject of reducing the public hazard at the Maywood double crossing. The highway commission at that time had in mind changing the route In such a way that the crossing would have been eliminated. Falling to agree on a change In the routes of the highway and the rail lines, agreement was reached for the Installation of a double set of signal lights, It was said. G. K. Jeffries, general superintendent of the T. H., I. & E., said lights had not been ordered In at the crossing. Blew W histle Jeffries said the motorman of the car declared he whistled for the crossing. ''All the safety lights and crossing warnings would not have saved that fellow," Jeffries said. "He struck the corner of our car. He hit us as much as we hit him.” Jeffries said he did not consider the crossing a dangerous one. All the accidents, he stated, occurred with the car coming from the north. The car enn be seen a mile ahead, he said. AUTOMOBILE HITS CHILD Girl, Age 3, at Hospital With Tuts About Head. Mary O'Gara, 3, of 810 Woodlawn Ave., was at St. Vincent’s hospital today with cuts about her head and face. She was struck by hii automobile driven by Emery Vaughn, 620 Woodlawn Ave., Tuesday evening. Police were told the child, playing In front of her home, darted from between two parked ears In front of Vaughn's car, Vaughn was charged with assault and battery.

Forecast IN CREA ST NO cloudiness with probably showers late tonight or Thursday; cooler Thursday.

TWO CENTS

Dry Agents Quiz Clubwoman Bu United Preen CHICAGO. May 13.—Federal prohibition agents today questioned Mrs. S. K. MaeKen/.ie, former president of the Federated Women’s Clubs of Chicago, who is alleged by Federal operatives to have smuggled three trunk loads of whiskey the United States front Bermuda. In addition Mrs. MacKenzie is said to have carried a dozen bottles of rare liquors into the United States in a harness si rapped about her body.

TEMPLARS ARE GIVEN WELCOME Business Session of Grand Commandery Opens. Governor Jackson and Arthur R. Robinson, attorney, welcomed delegates at the opening business session of Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of Indiana, today at the Masonic Temple. Granting of charters to Bloomington Commandery, and anew Indianapolis commandery to be named In honor of Calvin W r . Prather, for many years grand recorder, was to be considered. Election was expected to be held late today. Deputy Grand Com mander George F. Hitchcock of Plymouth, will he elevated to grand commander, Conclave will end Thursday. Kokomo Commandery won the State drill title In a contest Tuesday, Muncie took second place. Attendance prizes went to Noblesville, Clinton and Plymouth commanderies. ‘QUAKE’ IN ILLINOIS Slight Shock Recorded at Chicago University Observatory. Ru T nitrtl Frrt* CHICAGO, May 13.—Central and southern Illinois felt slight earth movements early today, no damage was reported. The seismograph of the University of Chicago, indicated the shock was close to Chicago. Residents of Cairo and Metropolis, both cities on the Ohio River, said they felt the shock. HOURLY TEMPERATURE 6 a. m 54 10 a. m W 7 a. m 67 11 a. m 70 8 a. m 62 12 (noon) .... 70 9 a. m 66 1 p. m 71

FLAPPER FANNY

¥ T '• ins itnwwiwi. '.

A dance can be roasted even though it isn't well dona.