Indianapolis Times, Volume 37, Number 293, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 April 1926 — Page 1

Home Edition BX)TS in New York with brother BiLI paying the bills! Enjoy life with her on The Times Comic Page.

VOLUME 37—NUMBER 293

Hamstring Butler, Plan Fighting Marine Tells How Philadelphia Used Double-Cross.

Editor s Note—This is the third tnstiillment ot General Butler • etory ot his work ss head of Philadelphia poltee and ids dismissal early this £ , ’ ararticles will appear daily. The Times owns exclusive ritfhts to the articles in this territory. By Sin edit’.V D. Butler With the blare of trumpets ar.d the beat of drums, Mayor Kendrick and a group of Pennsylvania politicians descended upon Washington and the President of the United States on Dec. 6, 1923. Mayor Kendrick made one of his eloquent and inimitable orations to the President. “Mr. President.’’ he said, “extraordinary conditions existing in Philadelphia demand heroic treatment. “Our police force has become demoralized. Banditry, promiscuous sale of poisonous liquor, and lawlessness of all kinds are rampant. Frankly, Mr. President, 2,000,000 people in Philadelphia are awaiting anxiously and hopefully your answer.” On Dec. 13 the answer came—one year’3 leave of absence, granted by order of the President. Os all those who accompanied the mayor to Washington to plead so earnestly that I might come to their city, not one supported me openly, or even secretly, during the next two years. None of them fought me openly, but some off them did so in the dark. Try to Stack (arils Immediately after announcement of the President's oction the politicians began to try to stack the cards by selecting my immediate subordinates for me. The mayor urged upon me dismissal of the Superintendent of Police William B. Mills. I didn’t act. Mills served well and was superintendent when I left Philadelphia two years later. For my assistant director the mayor advocated appointment of (Turn to Page 2)

WAR ON DOGS IS CONTINUED Hazard Keeps Up Man Bitten on Leg. The savage dog hazard continued today. Police had two calls before 8 a.m. At the office of the Polar Ice and Fuel Company, Lynn St. and the P. & E. Railroad tracks, they found Alva Lova, 112 N. Miley Ave., an employe, bitten in the leg. He said a dog ran into the yard and attacked him. Motor Policemen Hague and Petit ordered the dog, owned by Joe Weber, 301 Cable St., penned for ten days. Lova was taken to the city hospital. Police failed to find a dog reported lying in tlie street at Oriental and Washington Sts., frothing at the mouth. I’olice Chief Claude Johnson issued orders to patrolmen to take no chances with vicious dogs. Ho ordered owners of dogs be instructed to pen them and stray dogs taken in tow for the city dog pond. “There will be no drive by this department to bring about a record number of dog deaths, by shooting them,” Johnson said. “We do intend, however, to protect citizens, even if we have to use firearms to do it. MURDER CASE TO JURY TODAY Defense Alleges Shooting Was Accidental. The case of Herbert Thiesing, charged with first degree murder, was expected to rest with the jury late this afternoon. Although Judson L. Stark, deputy prosecutor, said he would ask for life Imprisonment, it is believed that if the jury finds the defendant guilty he will be convicted of manslaughter, penalty for which is two to twenty-one years in the Indiana State Prison. Thiesing is charged with fatally shooting Orla Vemard, 43. of 1530 Sheldon St., in the poolroom of Raymond Hoffbauer, 1609 Ludlow Ave. The State endeavored to prove Tillering shot Vernard while under the Influence of liquor. Frank Baker, defense attorney, declared Vernard was accidentally shot. Baker said Thiesing, thinking the •weapon was loaded with blanks, fired Into the poolroom to make the men think the place was raided. WATSON FOR FARM AID Addresses Meeting Called by State G. O. P. Chairman. Need for farm relief was stressed by Senator James E. Watson at a meeting today at the Severin of prominent Republicans, called by State Chairman Clyde A, Walb to discuss the farmer's plight. Senator Arthur R. Robinson also atttended. Tonight Watson will speak at Kokomo. He will return to Washington * Saturday.

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

35 MEN MISSING IN BOAT BLASTS ON MISSISSIPPI One Ship Fired in Dry Dock —Two Others Crash in Midstream. CAUSES ARE IN DISPUTE Oil Tanker Disappears With Decks Mass of Flames. Bu United Prat* NEW ORLEANS, April 9. —’The port of New Orleans today recovered from a night of horror and relief workers set about caring for those rescued from a succession of ship disasters that brought death, injury and destruction. A check-up of hospitals and among tli© seamen along the docks revealed thirty-four men were still missing from two of the vessels which within twelve hours were rocked by a sorles of explosions. Five men who were aboard the O. T. Warring, which was fired in dry dock Thursday, have not been heard from. Twenty-nine members of (he crew of the Dutch tanker Silvan us have not been located since that vessel collided with the Standard Oil tanker Wheeler in the Mississippi River at Point ala Hache, fifty miles south of here. The Wheeler was beached after the collision with slight damage. The Silvanub wns last seen with her decks a mass of blazing oil, helpless In tho flow of the Mississippi. The origin of the fires and explosions was In dispute today. The fire in the drydock was said by the captain of the O. T. Waiving to have started from sparks carried by a shore Are. This was denied by company officials, however, TWO OIL FIELDS ABLAZE

Men Conscripted to Fight Fire In California Tank Farms. BU United Preen LOS ANGELES, April 9.—A1l night flee burned in two tank farms of the Union Oil Company—one at Anaheim, some twenty-five miles from here, and the other at San Luis Obispo, 200 miles north—destroying thousands of dollars’ worth of oil and tanks and causing losses counted In niillllons. Men conscripted from the streets of Brea and Anaheim fought the oil fire there which started Thursday when a lightning bolt struck one of tlie greet tanks. At Han Luis Obispo the fire has been burning more than two days and several hundred men with plows and tractors have thrown up great dykes of earth In their efforts to confine the burning of black oil, and prevent its spreading. Already more than 100 acres are covered by the flaming mass and the black smoke hangs thick for miles around. The tires thus far have cost four lives, REPAIR TRAFFIC SIGNALS Policemen in Charge for Time at Meridian and Ohio Sts. Traffic direction by police at Meridian and Ohio Sts. v-ill last only until repairs to the automatic signal at that corner are accomplished, Claude McCoy, board of safety secretary. announced today. It was necessary to remove the old signals to make the repairs: MONEY SENT SCHOOLS $239,729 Receipts From Sale of Meandered Land Distributed. Distribution of $239,729.66 to schools of the ninety-two Indiana counties was made today by State Land Clerk Edward Spray from Calumet district meandered land sale receipts for the last ten months. Amounts ranged from $535.34 for Brown County to $25,879.31 for Marion County. The apportionment was made on the basis of an enumeration of 826,654:

CONDEMNED SLAYER CRIES FOR MOTHER

‘I Want to See Her Before I Man Who Killed Officer. Bit United Press TERRE HAUTE. Tnd., April 9. That age-old cry of men facing death was echoed once again in the Vigo County Jail today by a man doomed to the electric chair—that cry which millions have uttered—- " Mother!” Dreyfus Rhoades, sentenced t.o die in the electric chair July 19, told a reporter, "I want to see my mother before I die.” He said he was sure she would come to see him. no matter to what prison he was taken to await paying the oenalty for killing Detective Simon Caries of Vincennes. “She always stood by me no matter how much trouble ! got into,” he said. "And I believe she'll come to me now.”

White River Nears Crest Here

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CANCELLING OF TONIC PERMITS IS ANTICIPATED Shumaker Says He Has Been Given Inside Information. Early cancellation of permits to manufacture malt tonic beer, issued by Assistant Treasury Secretary Andrews to Pabst of Milwaukee and Anheuser-Busch of St. Louis, is ex. pected by Superintendent Edward S. Shumaker of the Indiana Anti-Saloon League, Shumaker said today. The withdrawal, he said, will be another victory for the nation's dry forces in one of the biggest fights since enactment of the Eighteenth Amendment. Indiana h..s played a leading part in the fight, ho deck red. Shumaker would not disclose the source of his information, but said he had been informed by a person who had talked directly to Andrews that tho “dry czar” was surprised at the protests against the order and that about the only thing to do, to preserve prohibition laws, was to cancel the permits. Shumaker, relenting from a previous stand, said he now believed Andrews issued permits believing the tonic beer would be a "health booster,” as its manufacturers claimed, and not a beer. Meantime. Shumaker said, nothing is being done to curb sale of the tonic beer in Gary, where three druggists have ordered large stocks. He thinks the permit cancellation will block the sale. THREE DEAD IN ITALIAN RIOTS London Hears Seven in Clash With Fascist Police. Bu United Preen LONDON, April 9.—A dispatch from Chiasso, Italy, to the Daily Herald today reports three persons killed and many wounded in Merceduse, Calabria, during a clash between Fascist police and the population. Twenty homes of anti-Fascists in Milan have been wrecked and burned and their occupants beaten, the dispatch says, in reprisal for Wednesday’s attempt of a demented British woman to assassinate the premier.

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Dreyfus Ithoades

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1926—28 PAGES

White River over banks at Ravenswood, nor tli of city

Rise Due to Continue for Two or Three Days Downstream. HOI KM TEMPERATERE 6 a. m 35 10 a. m 41 7 a. m 37 11 a. m 43 8 a. in 40 12 (noon) .... 45 9 a. m 41 1 p. m 45 Following a rise of 3.8 feet Thursday to a mark of 16.1 feet. White River at Indianapolis should reach its crest of the early April flood period before evening, the United States weather bureau announced today. The river in not expected to pass 17 feet, while 18 feet is Hood stage. Upstream on White River the crest of the flood, brought about by heavy rains earlier in the week, was passed Thursday, but downstream a gradual rise for the next two or three days is expected. Rise Gradual Rivers all over Indiana are at flood stage or near that point, and many of them have overflowed their banks, damaging farm lands. The rise was so gradual, however, that all persons were able to escape with personal belongings. At Elliston, Greene County, on White River, the stage was 21 8 feet this morning, while flood stage Is IS feet. The water Is expected to reach 24 feet here. Edwardspert, farther down stream, reported 17.6 feet. 2.6 feet above flood. A mark of 19 feet is anticipated there. The river at Decker, near where it empties into the Wabash was 17.5 feet, just a half foot below flood. It is expected to pass the flood mark today and go up to 20 feet. The Wabash continues to rise, according to reports. Terre Haute reported 38 feet and Mt. Carmel, farther south, 18.1 feet. Flood stage at both these places is 16 feet. Over Banks Though flood stage has not been reached in Indianapolis, the river is over its banks in several places. At Troy Ave. and Harding St. six inches of water covered the streets. On the west bank the water is over Raymond St., but no immediate danger was anticipated. The river was menacing cottages at Ravenswood. For the first time in two years the street superintendent’s department was forced to close gates to about twenty-five sewers. In northern Indiana streams were high and the Maumee at Ft. Wayne had forced many persons living near the river to leave their homes. Unsettled weather, with some possibility of rain, was the forecast for tonight and Saturday. Little change in temperature Is expected.

END SEEN FOR 20-YEAR WAR France, Spain Agree to Talk Peace With Krim. Bu United Press PARIS, April 9. —France and Spain today agreed to discuss peace terms with Abd El Krim and end the war which has waged in Morroco for twenty years. Negotiations between the European allies have been in progress for some time in an effort to find terms which would be mutually acceptable. The conference is expected to tiegin within ten days. BRITISH™ STRIKE LOOMS Miners Reject Proposals of Operators on Wage Schedules. Bu United Press LONDON. April 9. —Representatives of Great Britain’s hundre.ls of thousands of coal miners today rejected the proposals of the mine operators for settlement of the wages and hours of labor dispute which may result in a general strike May 1.

SPLIT BETWEEN GOVERNOR, ROAD BODY WIDENED Highway Commission Ousts McClelland. Jackson’s Friend. Strife between Governor Jackson and the majority faction of the State highway commission reached a climax today with the peremptry dismissal of Howard D. McClelland, chief clerk of the roads body and personal friend of the Governor. Other developments included: Report that Earl Crawford, Democratic member, who was deposed by Jackson effective April 17, will succeed McClelland. Crawford denied the report although It was well founded. Shake-I'p Likely Indications that Jackson, in an effort to break) up control of the road body, will demand the resignation of Chairman Charles W. Zeigler of Attica, because of his financial interest in automobile timers which have been sold to the commission. Desperate move by friends of commission, admitting its supremacy is endangered, to retain control. Report that Jackson, if he is able to subdue the commlmssion's faction, will make McClelland director tto succeed John D. Williams. Term Expires Crawford’s term as a member expires April 17. Pleas of his friends for reappointment were spurned by Jackson, who named Robert B. Boren of Fountain City as his successor. Crawford and Williams, together with a group of local junk dealers and a former employe of the commission, are under indictment for conspiring to embezzle unused war material. There has been no indication of an early trial, although tho Indictment is more than a year old. Commission advocates declare the chargee against Williams and Crawford are false. Jackson’s reason for not reappointing Crawford, however, is known to be based on the charges. Decision to oust McClelland was reached at a commission meeting on Thursday.

HOOSIER LAD KILLS FATHER Says He Beat Parent to Shotgun. Bu United Press BRAZIL., Ind., April 9.—A1l his life John Truman Brown, 19-year-old farmer lad. had lived in fear of his father, as had his mother and his ten brothers and sisters. Wednesday night the father, James Brow r n, ran a younger son away from home, started in on a drinking bout and according to young John terrorized the rest of the family all day Thursday. When he Anally engaged in an altercation with the son and started for a shotgun John beat him to the gun and shot him dead. The youth is held without bail in jail here today awaiting the convening of the grand jury Monday. The boy’s mother told neighbors she had kept vigil all night Wednesday while her husband, shotgun In hand, voiced threats of violence. U. S. BAN ON MERCURY April Issue I’ninailable Because of “Hat rack.” WASHINGTON, April 9.—The April Issue of the American Mercury, edited by H. L. Mencker, has been barred from the mails by the PostoAlce Department. The magazine was held unmailable because of an article written by Herbert Asbury entitled "Hatnuck."’

SENATORS HEAR BEER AND WINE PLEA OF LABOR Committee Told Health of 4.000,000 Menaced by Prohibition. CITES TRIP OVER U. S. Found Homes Turned Into Breweries, Distilleries. Bu United Preen WASHINGTON. April 9.—The health of 4,000,000 workingmen is menaced by prohibition, William S. Roberts of the American Federation of told the Senate prohibition investigating committee today, presenting labor's plea for beer and light wines. Roberts announced himself as a | personal representative of President William E. Green of the Federation. He pleaded for good beer and wine. Outling a 30,000-mile trip he took with the late Samuel Gompers, Roberts said: "Everywhere there was plenty of distilled liquor, but seldom real beer. We found homes turned into breweries and distilleries, turning out dangerous concoctions which would ruin the health of those who drank them to any extent. They alt asked us when Congress was going to realize that manufacture and sale of l>eer would make true temperance.” Effects of prohibition law, he said, were: General disregard of the law. including those who made the law. Creation of an army of moonshiners and bootleggers. One thousand million Uallars a year increase in city, State and Federal taxes. Senator Walsh, Democrat, Montana. dry, acting chairman of the committee during illness of Senator Means, Republican, Colorado, questioned the labor leader concerning how many individual organizations of the Federation hud gone on record for beer and light wines. He said all organizations had joined with the Federation in the movement. William J. McSorlie, president of the building trades department, and Andrew Furuseth, president of the International Seamen's Union, protested what they called the unfairness of the Volstead act to the workingman.

$40,000 GIVEN TO RILEY FUND Arthur Newby Makes Second Contribution. A $40,000 gift to the building fund of the James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children, by Arthur C. Newby, Indianapolis business man and official of tho Indianapolis Motor Speedway, was announced today by the specal finance committee of the Riley Memorial Association. A meeting of team workers and leaders in the Indianapolis campaign, which opens Monday, was held at noon at the Claypool. Newby's latest gift brings the total of his subscriptions, to tho Riley Hospital to SIOO,OOO. making him the largest individual contributor to the hospital fund. In honor of his previous gift of $60,000 to the hospital, the Joint State executive committee established and named after Newby the out-patient clinic. ADAMS - FOR ROAD AID Favors Greater Expenditures by Federal Government. Bu United Preen FT. WAYNE, Ind., April 9. Predicting the smashing of the Watson-Thurman political machine, Claris Adams, Republican long-term senatorial candidate, Thursday night pleaded for more Federal aid in the construction of roads.

BARRETT LAW COSTS TAXPAYERS $268,641

Figures for Administration of City Fund Up to 1924 Compiled by State Board of Accounts Examiners.

Administration of the huge Indianapolis Barret I jaw fund cost the city’s taxpayers $268,641.26 up to 1924, State board of accounts examiners have discovered since starting their investigation of the system. It was learned today. Just who should get the interest from the fund has been the subject of much discussion. County treasurers, ex-officio city treasurers. pocket the interest. Meantime, a deficit in the fund grows, and sooner or later, according to Councilman Edward B. Ilaub, the taxpayers must meet this deficit. A deficit existed in 1913 and the Legislature authorized a 1-cent tax

Entered as Second-class Matter at Postoffice, rpWA Indianapolis. Published Daily Except Sunday, xtt \ju±.e L

•\-\ §|jgg Dr. V B. Ross, escaped Muncie murderer.

Tried to Sell City Parking Sign Police failed to capture an elderly man who attempted to dispose of a city parking sign at the junk yard of Abe Saperstine. 331 W. Maryland St. Saperstine said the man fled when he inquired if he knew it was city property. Police did not learn from where the marker was stolen.

PROBABLE BELL VALUATION SET $30,680,976 Is Tentatively Fixed by Tax Board. Valuation of the Indiana Bell Telephone Company was tentatively set at $30,680,976 today by the State tax board. The figure, which is subject to adjustment, represents an increase of $1,133,894 over last year's tax valuation, which included real estate and other property assessed locally. Although tho Bell operates under a $35,500,000 rate valuation fixed recently by the public service commission, a $.15,342,389 tax valuation was asked by B. G. Halstead, Bell appraisal engineer. Halstead later said he would be satisfied with a $27,000,000 appraisal. Tax board members were unable to agree with Halstead's argument that the Bell Is assessed higher than other utilities. Halstead said the company could not earn a fair return this year on the public service valuation, but indicated the company would abide by tho decree. He said the tax board's last valuation, $29,547,092, is excesslvve and asked It be reduced. WRECK IN EAST FATAL TO THREE Score Injured When Train Leaves Rails. Bu United Pres* CAMDEN, N. J., April 9.--Thrce persons are dead and more than a score are In hospitals seriously injured, as tho result of the wreck of a Pennsylvania Rail road train bound for Atlantic City from New York which left the rails near Morris Junction, RALLY SUNDAY NIGHT Attorney Wilt Give Address at Citizenship Gathering. Asa J. Smith, attorney, will speak on “Self-Determination,” at the fourth of a series of citizenship rallies at the Communal Bldg., 17 W. Morris St., Sunday evening. An historical film, furnished by the Indianapolis Board of Indorsors of Photoplays, will be shown.

levy to go into the city improvement sinking fund to keep the deficit from growing. But, says Raub, the tax levy, reduced to four mills by economical city councils, is Inadequate. Treasurers, as agents between contractors and street and sewer Improvement debtors, handle the fund under the Barrett law, providing Installment payments by property owners for tho Improvements. Bonds are issued for the amount of the unpaid installments. Prepayment by debtors of their assessments to escape interest charges causes the deficit. The treasurer takes the interest on the prepaid money and taxpayers must pay the interest on the bonds.

Forecast MOSTLY cloudy and unsettled tonight and Saturday; not much change in temperature.

Signature on Letter, Postmarked New Orleans, Received by Times, Identified by State Officials as That of Missing Murderer. BLAMES POLITICS FOR LONG STAY IN PRISON Sister of Muncie Doctor Expresses Doubt as to Whether He Sent Missive —Failed to Return When Parole Was Up. Hunt for Dr. N. B. Ross, fugitive Muncie (Ind.) slayer, turned today to New Orleans, La., and Havana. Cuba, foUowing receipt of a letter from Dr. Ross by The Indianapolis Times. The letter was postmarked New Orleans. The envelope bore a return request asking the letter be returned In ten days to Havana. Hunt for Dr. Ross was started when he failed to return to Michigan City State Prison when a parole expired April 1. The parole was granted so he could visit his aged mother, who was ill here at the home of his brother-in-law, Michael J. Walsh, 3208 E. Thirty-Eight St. Left Here April 1 Relatives said he left here on the morning of April 1 to return to the prison. They said he had been much depressed over the death of a doctor friend and feared he had taken his life. “I can’t understand such a letter. Certainly he could not be that far away,” said Mrs. Walsh, Dr. Ross’ sister. “He had only his railroad fare to Michigan City. We have worried terribly about him, because he was under such a mental strain. You don’t know what one will do when in such a nervous condition,” she said. Mrs. Walsh said the family had no relatives in the South. Condition of Dr. Ross’ mother was said to be worse today. Extension Refused He was granted a thirty-day parole, Jan. 30. A thirty-day extension was granted, but appeal for a third extension was refused by t(ie State pardon board. Pardons board employes compared the signature on the letter to Dr. Ross’ signature on a pardon plea and said they were Identical. Thomas K. Kaylor, Indiana National Bank cashier, said the signatures seemed the same. A handwriting expert at the bank also said the signatures resembled each other. Ross was convicted of seconddegree murder for the slaying of Daniel Linder, Muncie street car conductor In 1909. The slaying occurred after an argument over a fare.

Thanks HLs Friends In the letter Dr. Ross charged that politics was responsible for keeping him in prison. The letter: April 7. Dear friends in good old Moneytown: I thank aTI of yon from the bottom of my heart who have used j our influence to try to restore me to the arms of my poor old njother. I thank all of yon a thousand times. Just think I may never be able to see my poor mother anymore. Then they talk about justice. God help such justice as Indiana Itands out. They admitted to me and to other friends that they were keeping mo in prison on account of polities in Hartford City. That gang of politicians In Indianapolis said that if Piney Woolford and Governor Jackson turned me out that Blackford County would vote against them and beat Jackson. (The next two paragraphs of the letter contained a childish attack on Governor Jackson.) Xours for justice, Dr. N. B. ROSS P. S.—ls you people publish thia article please send copy of It to Eugene Debs who is a friend to the poor man and the convict. Just think of it—l had to run away to keep from dying In prison. P. B.—They are paying lots of attention to Governor McCray’s blood pressure, but they are not or did not pay any attention to mine, and it was 215 degrees. Dr. N. B. Boss. But it may get lower now. I have been using saehirine. Authorities Informed The Rev. George S. I-lenninger, pardon board president, said Michigan City officials would be informed at once and authorities In New Orleans and Havana asked to watch for Ross. If Ross escapes to South America it would be difficult to bring him back to this country, ho said. If he goes to Cuba, however, it will be easy to effect his return, Henningei said. Possibility that the letter might have been mailed in New Orleans by a confederate of Ross was advanced. The fugitive might have taken tills step to put searchers on a wrong track, it was pointed out. However, as pardon authorities had believed Ross was fleeing to South America, the letter was probably mailed by the doctor himself, It was believed.