Indianapolis Times, Volume 37, Number 160, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 November 1925 — Page 1

'Home Edition READ about what a modern girl did when she was left a million dollars. Her name is Joanna. On the back page every day.

VOLUME 37—NUMBER 160

SUICIDE, STEPHENSON’S OPENING GUN

ACTIVE MANAGER PLAN CAMPAIGN TO BE RENEWED Committee of 1,400 Citizen s Will Start Machinery Soon to Seek Change in Indianapolis Government —Cite Spoils System as Showing Need.

City Manager Plan T~7jNDER the Indiana law the city manager plan for InLJ | dianapolis would operate as follows: The people would elect a council of seven on a nonpartisan ballot. The council would have legislative powers. It would also employ a city manager for an indefinite period and would have power to discharge him. The city manager would appoint the heads of various departments. His power would be purely executive. This is the plan now in effect in such cities as Cleveland, Cincinnati and Kansas City.

Active campaign plans for a city manager form of government in Indianapolis will be formulated by the executive committee of the city manager committee of 1,400 citizens within the next few days, it was learned today.

SENTENCES ARE GIVEN TO FOUR Criminal Court Judge Metes Out Punishment. A woman, three men and a youth were fined and given sentences by Judge James A. Collins today when convicted in Criminal Court. Mrs. Lena Gigure, 25, of 1012 Charles St., was fined SIOO and costs and sentenced one to five years at the Indiana Woman’s Prison on a for-, gery charge. Roy Lawson, -1-8, and Roseoe Shoptaw, 24, apprehended in Flora, Ind., after they escaped from the Indiana Reformatory, were fined SIOO and costs and sentenced three to five years at the Reformatory on vehicle taking charges. David L. Reese, 30, colored, was fined SIOO and costs and sentenced two to fourteen years at State Prison on a forgery charge. He was also fined $1 and costs and sentenced one to fourteen years on a grand larceny charge,. Charles Thurman, colored, was fined $25 and costs and sentenced to six months on the Indiana State Farm on a vehicle taking charge. STEAMER . IS AGROUND A. liostwiek, Oil Tanker, At Mouth of Missippl. NEW ORLEANS, La., Nov. 6. (Vlo Trophical Radio to United Press) —The steamship J. A. Bostwick has gone aground off South Pass at the mouth of the Mississippi river, according to advices received here today. The Bostvvick is a 7,930 ton tanker owned and operated by the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey. DISCOVER MURDER PLOT Premier Mussolini Intended Victim of Assassin, Police Announce. Bu United Press ROME, Nov. s.—Police today reported they had discovered a plot to shoot Premier Mussolini. Following discovery of the plot, Mussolini ordered all Masonic lodges be occupied by the military and ordered the Unitarian Socialist Party be disbanded. HOURLY TEMPERATURE 6 a. m 48 10 a. m...... 48 7 a. m 48 11 a. m 48 8 a. m 48 12 (noon) 49 9 a. m 48 1 p. 49

WHOLE CITY TO BE DOING ‘CHARLESTON'

Dancing Lessons at Riverside Palace Prove Popular, "I’ll have most of Indianapolis dancing the ‘Charleston’ before the end of my stay,” declared Gene La Verne, California dance expert, who, through arrangements with The Indianapolis Times and Manager Thornton of the Riverside Dance Palace, is giving Indianapolis per sons a chance to learn the fascinating new dance, absolutely free. Every night until Nov. 23. La Verne will teach the “Charleston” free, then prizes, which will be announced later, will be awarded at a final big occasion. The "Charleston" is peppy and not difficult. La Verne, who has taught dancing from coast to coast, shows both plain and fancy steps, and any one who likes to keep time to music with his feet will have a wonderful time under his instruction-

The Indianapolis Times COMPLETE WIRE SERVICE OF THE UNITED PRESS Jl. WORLD’S GREATEST EVENING PRESS ASIJOCIATION

Leaders of the movement indicated they expect to file a petition with the present city council asking an election next May on the proposed new form of government. Several thousand additional names will be secured before filing the petition which contains over 20,000, the necessary number required by law. The citizens’ committee is composed of civic leaders, business and professional men who have united to secure an efficient municipal government for Indianapolis. Indianapolis Real Estate Board, Federation of Civic Clubs, and a number of civic and luncheon clubs have indorsed the plan. An educational campaign will precede the election. Tired of System Citizens are tired of the political epoila.and the time is right to launch the movement for a businesslike city government, leaders declared. That only 95,000 of the 172,000 registered voters went to the polls Tuesday, indicates an indifference on the part of voters as to which party is in power, it was pointed out. f “To the ox which pulls the load goes the fodder,” the motto over the desk of George V. Coffin, Republican city and county chairman, at Republican city headquarters In the (Turn to Page 14) BURGLARS GET JEWELRY LOOT Brick Thrown Through Store Window. Two burglars early today threw a brick through a display window at Rite’s Jewelry store, 43 S. Illinois St., and escaped with watches and jewelry worth $250, according to an estimate by William Gabrett, clerk. Approximately $3,000 worth of watches were overlooked, Richard D. Evans, manager, said. Evans said he believed the men were frightened away as they dropped fifteen wrist watches worth SSOO on the street. Claude Gilliam, 1231 N. West St., janitor at the Regent Theater, reported the robbery when he heard the window crash and saw the men run. Two youthful bandits held up Shane’s Oasis, 18 W. Ohio St., near midnight and escaped with SIOO and checks valued at $25. Sergt. John Richter saw the bandits run and was afraid to fire at the men for fear of hitting pedestrians.

Wednesday night the several hundred dancers were asked if they enjoyed learning the “Charleston” and they almost took the roof off with their enthusiastic applause. So cut today's coupon from The Times, come out to Riverside Dance Palace tonight from 8 to 10:30 and begin on your “Charleston” lessons It is necessary that you bring the coupon.

This coupon entitles you to admis3sion to the Riverside Dance Palace and to free lessons in the “Charleston.” You will not be admitted during the time when “Charleston” Reasons are being given without this coupon. \

“Dutch” Anderson’s “Waterloo” Charles Hammond This is Detective Charles Hammond of the Muskegon, Mich., police force, who shot and killed “Dutch” Anderson, desperado and pal of Gerald Chapman, and was himself killed by Anderson. His family is expected to receive the big rewards that had been offered for the capture, dead or alive, of Anderson. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS PLAN TO COOPERATE Three, Newly Elected, Stress Value of Harmony With Others. Cooperation and harmony between the newly elected members of the Indianapolis school board and the two present members of the board, whose terms do not expire until Jan. 1, 1928, was the keynote of Interviews given by the new members today. The new members, who will take their offices Jan. 1, 1926, are Mrs. Lillian Sedwick, Theodore Vonnegut and Charles W. Kern. They were elected Tuesday on the United Protestant ticket, supported by the Ku-Klux Klan. The two present board members, who will continue, are Charles R. Toke and Fred Bates Johnson. The new members will aid in carrying on the building and other programs already outlined by the board, if, after investigation, they are found satisfactory, they said. "No Obligations” “When we take office we will not be obliged to anyone for our election,” Kern said. “However, one of the first purposes of the new members will be to establish hearty cooperation between ourselves and the other board members. “Anything the present school board has In progress, which is for-ward-looking and progressive in nature, will receive my support." Vonnegut said he would go into the office with an open mind and that the three new members will exercise independent Judgment in deciding qoestions. Opposes Sale “I oppose the sale of valuable real estate, /such as the old Shortridge High School site,” he said. "I believe lon/* time leases should be taken, but am not in favor of the outright sale of any good piece of property owned by the board.” Mrs. Sedwick said she was in sympathy with the school building program and hoped to aid in continuing it along resonable lines. She urged the erection of the proper type of schools to give the children better housing conditions. She is in favor of following the policy of “a better moral education.” The new commissioners may attend the meetings of the board between now and Jan. I, they said. They are expected to meet for several conferences before that time. IS $3,500 Officials Attempt to Learn Origin of Blaze at Home. Fire officials today were attempting to learn the origin of a fire that caused a $3,000 damage at the home of Fred Grimm, 2257 Brookside Ave., late Wednesday. Blaze was communicated to the home of W. D. Brooks, 2253 Brookside A've., where it caused a SSOO damage. Entire roof and part of the second floor of the Grimm residence was destroyed. LONr~MOTORIST "TAKEN Speed Cops Make Only One Arrest— Three Charged With Drunkenness. One alleged speeder was arrested during the past twent-four hours, police records show today. Jack Roberts, 18, of 2008 E. Washington St. was charged late Wednesday. Louis Bogie, 37, of 941 Leslie Ave.; George Sharp, 43, colored, 838 W. Tenth St., and Charles Jackson. 23, colored, 421 Leon St„ were all charged with driving while intoxl rated. v Clyde Utfterwood, 38, of 1123 Jnion St., was slated on a charge

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, NOV. 5, 1925

TO RAINBOW’S END IN COVERED WAGON Drove From Montana to Find Indiana Property Worthless, Aged Man and Wife Say.

After a five-months’ trip from Montana in a covered wagon drawn by eight horses, John W. Hahn, 69, and his wife, over 60. found a fortyacre Martin County farm for which they had traded their 280-acre MonSUPREME COURT HALTS MOVE TO JAIL TAX MEN Temporary Restraining Writ Issued Against Rochester Judge. A temporary writ to prevent Judge R. R. Carr of the Fulton County Circuit Court from enforcing his citation for contempt of court against members of the State tax board was issued by the Supreme Court today. The judge was ordered to appear before the Supreme Court Nov. 17, to show why the writ should not be made permanent. Members of the board Wednesday received notices from Judge Carr asking them to appear in his court Nov. 12, to show, why they s'hould not be sentenced for contempt of court because of a mandate issued by them ordering the Fulton County auditor to put town lots in the county on the tax duplicate at a valuation 10 per cent higher than at present. The mandate was issued Saturday folllowing the issuance of injunction by Judge Carr restraining the auditor from putting the lots on the tax duplicate at the higher valuation. The action of Judge Carr tests the statutory power of the tax board to equalize real estate valuations. CONVICTED, WALKS OUT Loral Man Hunted After Disappearing From Courtroom. Hu United Press KOKOMO, Ind., Nov. 5. —A cell in the Kokomo jail was empty today, while police hunted Lawrence King, of Indianapolis, its rightful occupant. Convicted of liquor law violations and sentenced to Jail, King walked out of the courthouse while the attention of his guards was turned elsewhere. HEARING MAY END TODAY Sewer Case Near Close Before Special Judge. Hearing on appeals from assessments for the Pleasant Run and Bean Creek interceptor sewer, held in Circuit Court before Special Judge James M. Berryhill for the past ten days were expected to end today. Only a portion of the 200 appeals are being held at a time. The properly owners charge assessments are too high for the benefit they will gain. BUY NOBLESVILLE CAMP Camp Fire Girls Purchase Farm on Cicero Creek. Du Times Special NOBLESVILLE, Ind., November s—Camp Fire Girls from Indianapolis has bought the Charles Hunt farm of 100 acres near this city for summer camping grounds. Buildings, swimming pools and other Improvements will be placed on the property. Cicero creek, the second largest stream In this part of the State, run through the grounds. FAST ACTION IS SEEN Bu United Press WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 —The Administration’s tax bill will be passed by the House of Representatives before Christmas, Representative Nicholas Longworth, Republican, Ohio, speaker designate of the House said today following a conference with President Coolidge. BOV REPORTED MISSING Harold Newsom, 9, of 142S N. Colorado Ave., today was reported missing by his father, who said he might have gone to Martinsville.

Pathos Enters *Mercy Murder ’

Bu Times Special LITTLETON. Colo., Nov. s.—Another touch of drama today entered the “mercy murder” trial of Dr. Harold E. Blazer, with the announcement of the prosecution that the 60-year-old country doctor’s only living daughter will be summoned to testify against him. In one of the strangest cases that ever made Its way into an American court, Dr. Blazer is accused of first degree murder because he chloroformed his older daughter. Hazel, to rid society of the burden of her de formities and impecllltes. The old man. visibly broken by this climax to a life that knew lit- ■ .

tana ranch to be without a house or barn and isolated by bad roads, they testified in Federal Court today. William Sheldon, Solon Freeman and Clarence Kirschner, Terre Haute, real estate brokers, on trial on charges of using the malls in a scheme to defraud, represented the Indiana farm as being "well cultivated, near four summer resorts and markets, with access to paved roads,’’ Mrs. Hahn testified. Nearly Deaf Mrs. Hahn, nearly deaf and tottering with age, used an ear horn to hear questions of United States Attorney Albert Ward. The old couple left their homestead in Montana on April 15, 1923. and arrived at the farm they had acquired in the trade Sept. 19. “Why, when we got there, there wasn’t no house, or barn or anything on the property,” Mrs. Hahn told the court. “The roads were so bad we couldn’t even attend church on Sunday.” Ijved in Wagon She related how they lived in their wagon until Oct. 13, 1923, and then went to Washington, Ind., where she worked in a hotel for $4 a month and room and board. She said the fences on the farm had such large holes In them that the horses escaped and that some were killed by railroad trains. Hahn testified he paid the real estate men $75 commission for negotiating the trade. Mrs Grace Easley, colored, was sentenced to serve a year and a day in the Woman’s Prison on charges of forgery. FALLS DOWN SHAFT Elevator Worker in New Building Sustains Injury. Walter Moore, 26, of 644% Middle Dr., Woodruff Place, was Injured about the hips today when he fell twenty feet down the elevator shnfr in which he was working in the new Illinois Bldg., Illinois and Market Sts. Moore, an employe of the Otis Elevator Company, fell when the board on which he was standing slipped. CIVIC FUND TO OPEN CAMPAIGN Workers Will Attend Luncheon Friday Noon. The sixth annual Community Fund campaign will begin officially with a noon luncheon meeting In the Riley Roof of the Claypool, Friday. Several hundred campaign leaders and district workers are to attend, Alfred Kauffman, general chairman, said today. The meeting will start with music by the Hotel Severin trio. There will be short talks by divisional di rectors and first contributions to the fund will be announced by Dick Miller, chairman of the special gifts committee. Final Instructions will be given workers by Homer W. Borst, executive secretary. All next week report luncheons will be held at the Claypool daily except Saturday. These luncheon clubs who use the Riley Room for their weekly meeting have given over the room next week: Rotary, Kiwanis, Advertising and Optimist The campaign this year has for its goal $650,662 and according to Kauffmann, every indication points to complete success for the fir*t time since the fund was organized here. Y. M. GROUP TO MEET Indianapolis Delegation to Attend Reunion of Overseas Workers. C. Monroe Jester, 116 S. Capitol Ave.. Is marshaling an Indianapolis delegation to attend the annual reunion of the "Y. Overseas Union,” which will he held at the Y. M. C. A. Bldg, in Chicago Saturday. All men and women who served overseas with the Y. M. C. A. are welcome at the meeting, according to Jester. He said he expected at least thirty from Indianapolis to attend.

in the courtroom and heard prosecuting attorneys announce their star witnesses would be Mrs. Frances Bishop. 28, younger daughter of the accused doctor. Mrs. Bishop will be aticcd to affirm her statement, said t j have been made at the time of her deformed sister’s death, that she had noticed nothing peculiar about her father’s actions. The State, in this way, will answer the defense plea that Dr. Blazer was Insane. The questioning of prospective Jurors thus far has brougi.t out that the struggle in the coilrttftom will be one between what tty- defense de-

Vice President and Wife to Be Here Vice President Dawes Mrs. Dawes

DAWES TO GIVE SENATE RULES SPEECH TONIGHT Reception Will Be Held for .Vice President and Party. Vice President Charles G. Dawes will arrive in Indianapolis at 6 p. m. today from Chicago, to deliver his famous address urging reform of Senate rules, at 8:15 tonight at Cadle Tabernacle. In the Dawes party will be Mrs. Dawes. Senator and Mrs. Charles S. Deneen, Mrs. Medlll McCormick, wife of the late Senator McCormick, Francis J. Kilkenny, Investment banker, and E. Ross Bartley, private secretary to the Vice President. Headed by Senator James E. Watson, a State reception comilnittee will greet the party at the Union Station. Governor Jackson is a member. A W. Buschmann is chairmna of arrangements. Arrange Escort John B. Reynolds, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, which Is sponsoring Dawes's visit, has arranged for the Eleventh Infantry Band from Ft. Benjamin Harrison to lead the escort which will lead the party to the Claypool, where a dinner will be served In the Riley room. William T. Bailey, assistant city attorney, has arranged for a corps of mounted police and motorcycle officers, and Police and Firemen’s Band to head the parade. A few minutes before 6, a genernl reception, at which the Vice President and members of his party will be presented personally to all dinner guests, will be held in the parlors off the mezzanine floor of the Claypool. Dinner, which will be Informal, will be served at 6. At Speakers’ Table Those who will occupy the speakers’ table at the dinner besides Dawes and his party are: Senator Watson, Senator and Mrs. Arthur R. Robinson, Governor and Mrs. Jackson, Representative Ralph E. Updike, Mrs. Updike, Mayor and Mrs. Samuel L. Shank, Walter Myers and Mrs. Myers, Judge Robert C. Baltzell and Mrs. Baltzell, Mr. and Mrs \lcholas H. Noyes, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Ruckleshaus, and Mrs. Moxley. Mayor-elect John L. Duvall, today expressed regret that aisence from the t ; tv would prevent his being present. Doors of Tabernacle will open at 7 p. m. No seats will be reserved except for members of the recep tion committee.

law against taking the life of another. Armless, legless, speechless, the pitiable monstrosity. Hazel, was chloroformed, and the defense will not deny it. What the defense will deny is that it was milrder. "The killing of tljls soulless husk of a human was a kindly act by a kindly old man," says the defense. “It was murder, nevertheless, as a human life was taken,” says the prosecution. How the defense will prove that Hazel had n u soul has not been revealed. but that, and the plea that Dr Blazer was Insane when he administered the anaesthetic and then tried to kill himself, form the basis a# - V dofmoo •tiMMtnrA

Enter*<l ah Herond-cUs* Mutter at I’oatoffloe, Indlmmpollß Published Dnily Except Sunday.

Defense Waives Opening Statement, Introducing Indianapolis Doctor to Battle State’s Charge Madge Oberholtzer Was Murdered. WITNESS TAKES STAND AFTER ACQUITTAL PLEA IS OVERRULED Dr. Smiley Testifies Girl Was Beyond All Medical Aid if She Kept Secret for Six Hours Fact She Had Taken Poison. By John L. Niblack and William L. Toms Times Staff Correspondents CIRCUIT COURTROOM, NOBLESVILLE, Ind., Nov. 5. Attorneys defending D. C. Stephenson, Earl Klinck and Earl Gentry, on trial here, spent the morning developing the theory that Madge Oberholtzer, 28, of Irvington, committed suicide instead of being murdered by their clients, as the State charges. The State rested its case late Wednesday. The defense opened this morning with motions asking Judge Will M. Sparks to instruct the jury to find the defendants not guilty. The motions being promptly overruled, the defense waived its opening statement and began immediate introduction of testimony Dr. Orvall Smiley, 148 W. Thirty-Fifth St., Indianapolis, the only witness during the morning session, testified that in his opinion, a woman who took forty-five grains of bichloride of mercury on an empty stomach, and kept it a secret for six hours, was beyond all aid of medical science, no matter what was done later for her.

“Now doctor," said Eph Inman, chief defense attorney, “keeping in mind, the history of the case I have assumed, (Inman had read a hypothetical question based on the dying statement of Miss Oberholtzer) after concealment of the fact that she had taken poison for six hours or more, In your judgement would medical aid have saved her life?” "After six hours had elapsed a lethal quantity would have been absorbed and the patient would have been beyond aid of medical science." Inman then referred to the fact that Stephenson, according to the dying statement, as soon as lie became aware that Madge had taken poison, forced her to drink milk. "Is milk a recognized antidote for bichloride of mercury. "Yes." "Is pouring a quantity of milk Into the stomach the proper thing to do?" "Yes." "But after six hours had elapsed, could even that have saved her life?” asked the veteran attorney leaning forward In his chair. “No, sir," replied the doctor, emphatically. New Angle Inman then turned to another angle of the case, namely, the State’s contention that Miss Oberholtzer died from a germ Infection resulting from an Infected wound. “Is it possible to inject germs by blood transfusion, or catherizatlon?" "Yes', sir.” Faulty technique in oatherization (drawing samples from the bladder by an instrument) might inflame the tubes connected with the kidneys, or even result in genus getting into the kidneys, the doctor said in a series of answers. Dr. Smiley was recalled for additional examination by the State when court reconvened at 1 p. m. for the afternoon session. Dr. Virgil H. Moon, pathologist, who appeared as State’s witness, sat at the Stato table and assisted the prosecution in cross examination. Deputy Sheriffs Kossell, Clar and William Anderson, of Indianapolis, were In court as witnesses for Kllnck. Klinck was a deputy for Sheriff Omer Hawkins until his arrest. Cross-Examination Attorney Charles E. Cox, assisting the State, subjected Dr. Smiley to some ingenious cross questioning, but failed to confuse the witness very much. /• "Do you know any of the defendants?" asked Cox. "I’ve seen Mr. Stephenson a few times." “Have you ever been In his house?” "Why, ye es,” replied the doctor slowly. "Whom did you treat there?” "I don’t remember now. It was eighteen months ago." “Did you ever treat Shorty, (Stephenson’s chauffeur). Klinck, Gentry or Stephenson out there?" “No, sir." “Did you ever prescribe for Mr. Stephenson?" “Yes, sir, four or five times.” “How many cases of bichloride of mercury poisoning have * you had yourself?" "About thirty.” The doctor said that most of the cases were those of persons who had taken the poison by mouth. Fatality Percentage "How many of yoifr thirty cases got well?" “1 non’f mw Os tH*

Forecast GENERALLY fair and colder tonight and Friday with temperature near freezing Friday morning.

TWO CENTS

mouth cases, less than 10 per cent." “How many took the poison by mouth?" "At least twenty." "Only two or three of them got well? Do you know of the record of a Cincinnati hospital where out of 131 cases only 6 per cent died?" "Yes; but most of them took the poison on a full stomach." “Who employed you In this case?" "Mr. Inman." The witness said that Mr. Inman had not told him what to say. He said he did not know who recommended him to Inman. "You had nothing to do with the Madge Oberholtzer case at the autopsy?” "No, sir." In answer to another question the witness SaJd; "On an empty stomach Immediate vomiting would leave a fatal, or lethal, dose sticking on (lie walls of the stomach, absolutely.” "Why. doctor, don't you know that there have been recoveries after forty or 800 grains of bichloride of mercury have been swallowed?" Full Stomachs "Yes, sir, I know that; but their stomach was full," Insisted the witness. Inman In previous questioning had brought out the alleged fact that Miss Oberholtzer had taken the poison on an empt) stomach. "How do you know their stomachs was full,” queried Cox laying down his papers and looking at the witness. "Prom my own experience, and I read It.” "Where did you read It?" The witness then rapidly detailed a long list of medical authorities. “You have read most of those in the last few weeks, haven't you?" “I’ve read some of them in the last few weeks.” The doctor said the time of death after taking bichloride of mercury Is from thirty minutes to forty-one days. Sixty one per cent of such patients die before eleven days, hm said. "Now doctor, what Is the longest reported interval In recognized medical literature, between taking the poison and death?" Kane Objects "Blair, a great English authority Ralph Kane State’s attorney, objected that the witness was not answering the question, and wanted Blair’s name struck from the record, to which Judge Sparks assented. "Forty-one days,” bawled the witness, irritated at what he thought was unwarranted interference with his testimony, “I wish you would Just describe what Blair says," Instructed Cox. “Now, Your Honor, we object,” said Floyd Christian, defense attorney. "Blair’s name hns been struck from the record. It Is a fact that Blair Is neither In nor out." The judge sustained the objection, and so Cox could not question the doctor on Blair's article, until he laid the foundation himself. Ten Minutes Lost “Blair says that forty-one days such patients can live," said the witness finally, after ten mtfiutes were lost In the objections, and counterobjections. "If a person swallowed the poison as tablets, what effect would they have?" asked Cox. "Followed by watei"?” Inquired the doctor.