Indianapolis Times, Volume 37, Number 268, Indianapolis, Marion County, 11 March 1926 — Page 1

Home Edition ARL children worse than they used to be? Read discussion starting in The Times next Monday.

VOLUME 37—NUMBER 268

COURT GETS CHARGES ON DRYJEADS Facts in Anti-Saioon Body Fight Presented High Tribunal by Attorney Genera! Gilliom —Contempt Is Alleged. JURISTS GET COPIES OF COMPLAINT; NO ACTION I Dinner to Honor Dr. Shumaker Postponed Until April League Superintendent Attending Conference in Washington, D. C. Crisis in the lengthy controversy between Attorney General Arthur L. Gilliom and certain officials of the Indiana Anti-Saloon League was reached today when State Supreme Court received a copy of Gilliom’s request that the high judicial body try contempt charges against Dr. Edward S. Shumaker, superintendent of the league; Ethan A. Miles, legal counsel, and Jess E. Martin, a trustee. Certified copies of Gilliom’s information were transmitted to the court at 9 a. m., when the judges went Into conference. One copy of the complaint -was provided for each of the jurists. No action was taken on the request, it was learned after adjournment of the court’s regular morning conference. At a later session this week or next the court probably jvill take the matter under formal consideration, it was believed. Information Filed If the court should decide Gilliom’s charges are well-founded it probably would, fix a date for the triaf. Prominent members of the Indiana bar-are' expecting to participate in the trial if the judges follow Gilllom's suggestion that they be admitted of record as “friends of the court.’’ Giiiiom’s information was filed Wednesday following receipt of a letter from headquarters’ committee of (Turn to Page 2) y

$75,000 for Kindness

Because she took in a "tramp” boy, gave him a home and cared for him, Mrs. John Winstead, who once lived at 218 W. Vermont St., will receive a fortune of about $75,000 if she can be found. Police today started a search for Mrs. Winstead, following receipt of a letter from O. G. Dowsery, 19 W. Main St., Marietta, Ga. She does not live at the Vermont St. address now. “She was the only mother I ever knew,” Dowsery said. “She took me in when I was a little

ONE KILLING SOLVED; SECOND IS MYSTERY Ft. Wayne Man Confesses Shooting Patrolman to Death —Does Not Know How Brother Met Death.

By United Press FT. WAYNE, Ind., March 11.— Clifford Mohler, 21, today confessed to detectives that lie killed Matthew Gebhardt, patrolman, at midnight last night when the officer attempted to take his brother, Bert Mohler, 35, into custody for intoxication. The body of Bert Mohler lay near that of- the policeman when they were found, both mortally wounded. Clifford Mohler steadfastly denied he knew how his brother was kiUed. Clifford said that Bert had been drinking heavily and that he had started to take him home when they met the policeman. Gebhardt started to take Bert Into custody and shoved Clifford aside and drew a gun when the latter attempted to intervene, according to the confession. Mohler told detectives he picked up a paving stone lying near by and hurled it at Gebhardt, knocking him to the ground and the gun from his grasp. He shot Gebhardt with his own gun and fled, throwing the revolver down an alley on his way from the

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The Indianapolis Times

BURGLARS MAKE THEIR GET-AWAY

Two Escape From Police in Chases —Officers Fire Four Shots. Sherlock Holmes might help the Indianapolis police department today. William Tell also might file an application for a star. Both probably would receive an ardent welcome from Chief Claude F. Johnson. To Sherlock the chief might assign the job of finding two burglars, one of whom police tracked several miles only to lose the trail In a railroad yard, and the other of whom they chased several blocks, firing three shots at close range and lost when they thought they had him cornered. Bill Tell -would get the job of training the cops in marksmanship. To the Harry Berry drug store, Blake and Walnut Sts., went Patrolman E. Heller, early today. A burglar had broken the front door glass. A pool of blood Indicated he had cut himself. Heller and reinforcements from headquarters followed the blood trail to Indiana Ave. and Blake St. Three “Barks” There Heller's gun barked three times. The burglar bounded from the corner where he crouched and fled out Indiana Ave. Police saw him dash between buildings in the triangular block at Tenth and Pratt Sts. They surrounded the block and closed In. The burglar has not been seen since. Bert Jackson, 5329 Lowell Ave., telephoned headquarters a burglar had just pried open a side door and departed with sl2 from his trousers and $4 from the trousers of his father, James Jackson. The burglar had walked out the front door. Motor Policemen Jake Mullen and George Mueller followed footprints in the fresh snow through yards and alleys to the home of Robert Cordell, 352 S. Audubon Rd. The burglar trail led to a side door. While the police laid plans they heal'd a noise in front of the house. Mueller dashed around in time to see the burlar leap over a porch railing. The policeman fired. The burglar kept right on. Reinforcements Reinforced by Sergeant Russell and emergency squad the motor policemen followed the trail in the snow for several miles around Irvington. The trail ended abruptly beside the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks near Police beUeVe the burglar hopped a freight train. Meanwhile, a civilian had better luck at burglar-baiting than the police. L. S. Sanford, 1102 S. Rich and St., brought down an' alleged burglar with- a flying tackle when he heard (Turn to Page 2)

boy, just a tramp, gave me a home, food and clothing. Now I have come into a fortune of $150,000, left me by an old Chinaman. Half of it is hers, if I can find her.” Dowsery said the last he had heard of Mrs. Winstead, she lived at the Vermont St. address. “Tell her to write to me at once,” he said in the letter. “I don’t stay in one place verylong, but I will be in Omaha, Neb., March 26, and she can reach me by General Delivery there. She was the best little mother in the whole world."

scene of the tragedy, Clifford told detectives. Though grilled for nine hours, Mohler continued steadfastly to deny that he knew how his brother met death, even after confessing the slaying of the patrolman. Both Gebhardt and Bert Mohler died shortly after being taken to the Methodist Hospital. Physicians said the latter’s skull was fractured, a bloody paving stone being found near the body.

KLAN MEETING STIRS UP RANKS Grand Dragon Calls Session —Politicians Wonder. Electricity prevailed in the political atmosphere today because of a meeting of Klan members called at Tomlinson Hall tonight by W. Lee Smith, Indiana grand dragon. The meeting is a cause of considerable speculation, because a number of prominent Klan politicians who have paid their dues have not been invited to attend. , The invitation to the meeting says it is to be attended by members and “worthy former members.’’ The invitation also threatens that failure to answer may result in denial of entrance to future meetings. After a disagreement between Smith and Walter Bossert, Smith succeeded Bossert as grand dragon. The Smith faction Is understood to be supporting Senator Jan)es E. Watson for renomination while the other Klan leaders are on the opposite side of the fence.

Thief Brought Back the Money A thief can have a conscience, Howe Abbott, druggist at 1701 S. Meridian St., says. Wednesday a purse and $lO were stolen from Abbott's store. Two hours later the thief, suffering a change of heart, brought back the money. "I Just couldn't prosecute him after that,” the druggist stated.

NATION - WIDE BALLOT ON DRY LAW UNDER WAY More Than 400 Newspapers Take Poll —Show Overwhelmingly Wet. /'nmiriflh f - 1 n, 6, 6v United Pres* NEW YORK, March 11.—The country is now engaged in the most extensive referendum on a question of national policy ever attempted—the newspaper polls on prohibition. More than 400 newspapers from coast to coast and from Canada to Mexico are taking straw ballots In their communities to sound out sentiment. Dry leaders have warned prohibitionists not to vote, charging the poll is not representative, that it is dominated by wets and that “repeating” by interested voters is not prevented. Dominating Lead / Wet leaders point to the balloting, in which their case thus far has a dominating lead, as proof that the country is tired of prohibition. The United Press tabulation of the vote up to 10:30 a. m., today from the polls of newspapers in twentythree representative cities showed this result; For modification or repeal of prohibition 171.363. Against changing present law, 19,034. These figures give those favoring either repeal or modification of the present law a9to 1 lead. New York lias shown a poll of morn than 40'tj; 1 in favor of changing the existing conditions. California, a wine producing section is about 10 tp 1. according to the newspaper figures, in favor of a change. Dry Districts Wet The supposedly dry districts of the middlewest, in the newspaper polls are represented as overwhelmingly in favor of changing the law. It is shown, however, that in 'almost every cape, the vote is heaviest in favor of modification, complete repeal being less favored in the tabulations. The detailed vote: <r For modi- Against fleation change - / or present repeal. law. Atlanta Georgian 2,870 228 New Orleans TimesPlcayune 1,342 62 San Francisco Daily News * 16,207 1,866 Sandusky (Ohio) StarJcmrnal 849 85 Cleveland (Ohio) Press 26,723 2,141 Oklahoma City News 600 141 Houston (Texas) Press 4,566 429 Dallas (Texas) Dispatch 1,073 246 Ft. Worth (Texas) Press 965 307 Peoria (111.) Journal.. 179 27 Milwaukee Sentinel.. 20,569 3,055 Chicago Herald Examiner 17,704 677 Omaha News 3,691 970 Columbus (Ohio) State Journal v 1,880 231 New York Daily News 29,185 692 Boston Traveler 14,305 4,831 Great Falls (Mont.) Leader 4,485 551 Bowling Green (Ky.) News 222 516 Los Angeles Examiner 9,057 243 Portland (Ore.) News. 3,236 209 Sheridan (Wwo.) Post Enterprise 3,364 430 Evansville (Ind.) Press 5,44S 278 Terre Haute (Ind.) Post 2,270 £69 Totals 171,363 19,034

CHINA WARRED' TO OPEN PORT Joint Naval Action Is Threatened. By United Press WASHINGTON, March 11.—The United States Government, in agreement with the other protocol powers, bas decided to intervene forcibly in the Chinese situation unless China immediately removes mines from Taku Channel and other obstructions to foreign shipping. L T nless China meets these demands, which is considered probable, Joint naval action by the United States and foreign Asiatic fleets to open Taku, Tien Ssin harbor, is inevitable. In a Joint note to the Peking government and military commanders, made public by tlm State Department here today, the powers protested against such shipping obstruction as violation of the 1901 treaty and threatened “protective measures to be applied against either party without discrimination.’’

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1926

SHORTAGE INJUNCTION DUEJODAY Site Protesters’ Legal Committee Expected to Take Court Action to Stop Erection of New Building on Forty-Sixth St. CONFERENCE BEFORE FILING IS PLANNED Authorization Given at Night Meeting Where School Welfare Association Is Formed and Officers Are Elected. Filing a petition for an injunction to prevent the school board from abandoning the new Shortridge High School site, Thirty-Fourth and Meridian St., and purchasing an other on Forty-Sixth St., between Washington Blvd. and Central Ave., was deemed likely today. Members of the legal committee of the Indianapolis Public School Welfare Association, composed of north side residents opposed to the board’s move, met this afternoon to decide whether to act at once or not. Many organization members be lieved it would not pay to be “too hasty” in beginning legal contro versy, while others were in favor of filing immediately. Some leaders of the association said since the board had discovered illegality in contracts to buy the Forty-Sixth St. property from Frank F. Woolling, real estate man, who hold options on the ground. It might retract and abandon its purpose. Authorization to file a petition for an injunction against the school board was given Wednesday night by protesters at a meeting in the Tabernacle Church ? 'ben the \v *lf xe association was formed. Officers elected were: J. Clyde Hoffman, president; Mrs. J. W. Thompson, vice president; Noel Whlte f secretary; C. C. Katterhenry, treasurer, and Henry 1.. Dithmer, Walter T. White, Harry Myers, Fred Hoke, B. M. Forbes, Dr. O. E. Yeater (Turn to Page 13) BANDITS TAKEN TO PENDLETON Ten Make Trip in Special Interurban. By United Press FT. WAYNE, Ind., March 11Ten bandits under sentence' of a maximum of 250 years’ imprisonment were taken today to the Indiana State Reformatory at Pendleton. All were rounded up in police raids Sunday and Monday and entered pleas of guilty to auto banditry after they bad been linked with numerous hold-ups and robberies in Ft. Wayne. A sentence of ten to twenty-five years was imposed on each man. Reports that friends of the convicted men were planning a jail delivery caused Sheriff Marlin to keep secret plans for the departure for Pendleton. The bandits were taken to the Reformatory on a special Interurban car, which was heavily guarded. HEAD SPLIT IN TWOJY SAW Victim Lives Five Hours With Brain Cut in Half. By United Press BRAZIL, Ind., March 11,—Vflth his head sawed through the brain and almost down to the jaw, Ralph Houser, 31, a sawyer at the Houser Caw mill near Poland, died In a hospital here today. Houser’s coat sleeve caught in a chain as he was at work and his arm was drawn into the saw and severed at the elbow. The shock cause him to throw his head against the saw and it was laid wide open. Though his brain was almost cut in half, he was conscious for five hours after the accident. SEATTLE RECHECK ASKED City Manager Backers See Peculiar Circumstance. SEATTLE, Wash., March 11 With the count on the city manager proposition standing at 36,717 against it and 36.606 for the plan, election officials were preparing today to reopen the voting machines and make a re-check. Thp peculiar circumstances which caused the county ejection office to first announce victory for the city manager plan and later show figures which resulted in its defeat, brought a demandn for a recount from the dty manager backers.

Would You Like to Live Here?

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Couiny i aahiu- nogio ri-- jmijmmhi a uew Ui'tvuuun Home. Tlie present one at 1102 N. Capitol Ave., is a fire trap and wayward children, kept there so they will be shielded from jail Influences, live in deplorable conditions, a survey by The Times showed. Above: Boys sitting room showing broken walls and celling. The table to the right and two broken park benches are the only furniture. There Is one window. Below: Stairway leading to the girls dormitory, showing cracked plastering. . u

SHOWDOWN FOR LEAGUE DELAYED

Special Meeting Called Off to Allow Private Conversations. By Henry Wood United Press Btatf Cortesnondent OENEVA, March 11.—The meeting of the League of Nations Council, scheduled for 4 p. m., at which a showdown In the dispute over council memberships had been expected, was postponed today to permit further efforts toward agreement In private conversations. Mello Franco, the Brazilian delegate who threw the League into a turmoil Wednesday by declaring that he had been instructed to veto Germany’s election to the League and then to withdraw herself unless given a permanent seat In the council, visited Chancellor Luther of Germany for a long conference today. Premier Briand of France arrived early and Immediately took part In the conversations In an effort to solve the crisis which involves the possibility of failure for the work of Locarno and even a rupture within the league itself. Mello Franco’s statement surprised and impressed the German delegation. But even if the Germans should change their attitude regarding enlargement of the council, thp situation would remain in menacing stalemate unless Sveden yielded. The Swedish minister, Unden stands on his refusal to approve the election of Spain, Brazil or Poland os a matter of principal. Mello Franco’s threat to the council precipitated the stormiest scene in the history of the league. Brazil, Mello Franco explained, was willing merely to occupy the place in. the league council already held for the United States and to withdraw when the United States entered the League of Nations. Paul Boncour, spokesman for France, interrupted him to declare that unless a solution were found, the league, and Europe as well, faced an extremely grave situation. Austen Chamberlain appealed for conciliation In behalf of Europe. It is understood that Boncour and Chamberlain, by their appeals barely prevented a rupture. HAYNES BUILDING SOLD KOKOMO. Ind.. March 11.—The Davis Manufacturing Company of Chicago has purchased the assembly building of the defunct. Haynes Automobile Company at Kokomo, according to announcement by the Fantus Factory Loca ing Service. The building, one of the most modern in the group, is the second to be sold. *

Even Weather Man Is Victim

Only the doctors who specialize in colds were pleased by the rainy weather which held sway in Indianapolis Wednesday. The rain proved even too much for Meteorologist J. H. Armington of the United States Weather Bureau, and he was kept at home with the flu. Cloudy weather is included In the forecast for tonight and Friday. Little temperature change Is expected. The mercury, registering 31 at 7 a. m., was 3 degrees under normal. Rainfall Wednesday and Wednesday night totaled twenty four hundredths of an Inch.

WILL PUT MORE MEN ON BEATS Number of Police on Assignments to Be Reduced. Police Chief Claude F. Johnson today started a move to cut down the number of police on special assign- . inents and put them on beats. Johnson estimated there are thirty-five on special assignments. He said he would ask Prosecutor William H. Remy to get along with one detective Instead of the two now assigned to his office as investigators, and Juvenile Court Judge Frank Lahr to release a man doing bailiff duty. All patrolmen are also to be removed from the Traction Terminal and some from municipal courts. One policewoman will be released from the city legal department and the controller’s office. Johnson said from six to nine districts are covered daily by patrolmen on adjoining beats because of the lack of men for patrol duty, NO HOPE FOR MINERS Four Men Are Still Fn tombed in West Virginia Shaft. By ITnited1 T nited Press ECCLES, W. Va„ March 11.— Hope that any of the four men still entombed in shaft number five of the Crab Orchard Improvement Company, following the blast Monday night, were still alive, was abandoned today. One body was recovered last night bring the total number of dead removed to fifteen.

Kntered as Second-claaa Matter at Poaiofrice, ludlaDapolta. Publlahed Dally Except Sunday.

‘WET’ PLANK IN PLATFORM OF WARD B. HINER Volstead Law Modification Favored by G. 0. P. Senatorial Aspirant. Declaring a great majority of American people are Volstead law violators, in fact or In spirit. Ward B. Hiner, Republican aspirant .for the senatorial short-term nomination, today became the first advocate of jlrohlbltlon law modification among those in the senatorial race. Hiner suggested “the government have dispensaries in every town of one thousand or more throughout the country where whisky, beer and vine could be sold in limited quantities to people who carried cards they hal never had any ! convictions” and (hat liquor so Issued be used only in the citizen’s home. Hiner declared he believes Indiana citizens should vote to decide the issue of changing the law, and said lie believes in enforcing the law as long as it exists. His statement contended the people wish a change in the luw and it is one of the predominating issues of the day. ‘ The overwhelming evidence from all States clearly proves the Volstead law is a complete failure.” Hlner's statement read, "that its enforcement is growing more and more impossible and that the organized graft and prostitution resulting from this condition Is rapidly undermining the citizens’ respect for all law.” •’ 20 to get Lark jobs Board Will Pass Out Plums at Meeting, I>uvail Says. Mayor Duvall said the park board would name twenty laborers and a few j.rk custodians, matrons and watchmen at its meeting today in preparation for spring activities in that department. During the morning Duvall was closeted with park board members. I A late caller was George V. Coffin, i Republican county chairman. Duvall denied a report there would be changes in administrative offices of the parks department. ACT ON BOOZE BILLS _____ Senate Judiciary Committee to Name Sub-Body. WASHINGTON, March 11.—The Senate Judiciary Committee decided today to appoint a sub-committee to consider the pending bills for modification of the prohibition laws. The sub-committee would decide whether be' r hearings should be held and would report its recommendation to the full committee, which would make the final decision. SECRET DEBT PARLEYSBARED - Mellon Negotiates With French Ambassador. By United Press WASHINGTON, March 11.—Secret negotiations for the settling of ; France’s $4,000,000,000 war debt to j the United States are being carried j on between Secretary of the Treasury Melllon and French Ambassador Berenger, it was revealed today. High treasury officials said today that Mellon and Berenger were holding "conferences” at frequent Intervals to dlscv s funding of the huge obligation. At these meeting*, it is hoped a tentative plan for settlement can be worked out and the final phases of the negotiations completed as soon as the Italian debt pact is ratified by Congress.

HOI HI A TEMPERATURE 6 a. m 31 10 a. m 31 7 a. m 31 11 a. 32 8 a. 80 it (neon) .... 83 it a. m. 80 1 P, qu. m , Si

Forecast PARTLY cloudy tonight and Friday; not much change in temperature; lowest tonight about 30.

TWO CENTS

m SAYS BOOZE FEES FAIR Remy Defends Work of His Three Deputies, Who County Commissioners Assert Are Being Highly Overpaid. ‘ENFORCEMENT OF DRY STATUTE IS DIFFICULT’ So States Official—Points Out That More Money Is Pouring Into County Through Convictions Secured. An emphatic denial that the three special deputy attorneys general In municipal and Criminal Court* are receiving exhorbltant fees for convictions in liquor cases os alleged by County Commissioner Cassius L. Hogle, was made today by Prosecutor William H. Keray. The i deputies work under Ilemy’a direction. "One of the duties which as 1 prosecuting attorney I have sworn to perform Is tile enforcement of the liquor law. The fact it is an exceedingly difficult law to enforce docs not relieve me of the responsibility of putting forth my best efforts toward that end,” Kemy said. “Ono of the greatest difficulties was the great number of cases which wore tried in city court. It woe impossible for my deputies In that court to prepare and present these cases, together with the great number of other case, that came as a , part of the jury calendar. “1 appealed to the county council for some additional men in the city court to relieve the congostlon. My request was denied. I turned to the , attorney general as a last resort and asked for help ns provided in the statutes. Mr. Gilliom furnished me with four special deputies. “I called these men into my office and told them I wanted to see the liquor law enforced. For some weeks they stayed around the city court, observing the procedure nnd watching the methods used by the j police. Then they began to bear down and the results are, I believe, sufficient justification of their existence. “When these assistants were appointed I was well aware they would not meet with favor in certain clr(Turn to Pago 13)

WILDHACK IN BANKRUPTPLEA Automobile Man Files Petition in Federal Court. George O. Wildhack, former head of The Wildhack Company and The General Chevrolet Sales Company, today filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy In Federal Court, listing his liabilities at $135,458.67 and assets at $41,268.15. Wildack for many years was a figure in automobile circles. He has moved from his residence, 27 W. St. Joseph St., and is said to be living with Carl Verbarge his secretary. The petition lists several pieces of properly which are heavily mortgaged. It is shown the Indiana National Bank holds $51,200 In note* and the Railroadmen's Savings and Loan Association $27,500 In notes. The General Chevrolet Company was taken over by the Marlon Sales Company last October. 119 ON HONOR ROLL By United Press LAFAYETTE, Ind., Maroh llv— President Elliott of Purdue has announced a list of 119 Purdue students who completed their work for the first semester with high distinction. FLAPPER FANNY ... I <>• •* MM MSVICC Wfe Too many people would sooner borrow trouble than pay book money.