Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 172, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 October 1926 — Page 1

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VOLUME 37—NUMBER 172

REED HEARS ABOUT ‘POISON SQUADS'

Grand Jury Sends Agent to Get Strader

CITY SCHOOL LEVY IS CUT NINE CENTS State Board Slashes Figure to Even Dollar —Building Program Hit. $586,918 LESS MONEY Will Have to Issue Bonds for New*Structures. ‘ By reducing the $ 1.09 Indianapolis school levy 9 cents to an even dollar, the State board of tax commissioners today sliced a total of $586,918 from the 1927 school budget. Force of the reduction fell heaviest on the building program, the State board eliminating a total' of $410,000 which had been anticipated for this purpose. Declaring that local taxes already are too high, the State board members recommended that Ihe deleted amounts be raised by bond issues. The tax board reduced the special school levy from 59 cents to 52 and the library levy from 7% cents to SV& cents, making a 9-cent cut in all. The kindergarten levy of .85 of a cent and the tuition levy of 41.65 were allowed to remain. At a conference with city school officials the State tax board members declared they were entirely neutral toward the extensive building program of the board. The State board virtually approved the ouilding program, but opposed such a high tax rate as plans contemplate. School board members practically were assured of the tax board's approval of the necessary bonds, if the buildings are constructed economically. Analysis of the library levy showed that 7 cents would have raised the budget. The new library levy will raise a total of $374,600 when collections other than taxes#re added. Bast year the library budget totaled $363,848. Remonstrance against the $1.09 levy was filed several weeks ago through efforts of the Indiana Taxpayers’ Association. The hearing was held shortly afterward.

EARTHQUAKETOLL PUT AT 300 DEAD % All Villages Destroyed, Says Polish Wireless. Bn United Press WARSAW, Oct. 25.—More than 300 persons were killed in the Leninakan earthquake, the Polish government wireless announced today, quoting advices from the Caucasus. "More than half of the houses in the area and all _ villages were destroyed,’’ the broadcast said. NO AMERICANS KILLED American Orphanage Radiy Damaged, However. Bu United Press CONSTANTINOPLE, Oct. 25. Several American employes of the Near East Relief were injured dur ing the earthquake, which devastated a large area in Russian Armenia, according to received here from Erivan, capital of the shaken district. None of Americans was killed, according to the report, but several were suffering from shock today. The American Near East Relief Orphanage at Leninakan, the largest In the world, with facilities for sheltering 15,000 children, was severely damaged and many of the children were injured, the local Near East Relief office was advised from Leninakan today. PLANS NEW LEE TRIAL Prosecutor Announces Course as Murder Case Jury Disagrees. Ralph Lee, celebrated jail breaker, will bd kep in the Johnson County jail at Franklin and will be tried again on a charge of murdering Abner Peek, Speedway Ave. grocer, in a hold-up here, as soon as possible. Prosecutor William H. Reray said today. After deliverating more than sev-enty-two hours a murder trial jury disagreed at Franklin and was discharged late Saturday. The jury stod seven to five for acquittal, it was reported. Lee, according to police records, has escaped from police and prison institutions more than a dozen times. HOURLY TEMPERATURES--6 a. m 32 9 a. m 34 7 a. m 32 10 a. m 34 f 8 a. m 83 1 p. m. 86

The Indianapolis Times COMPLETE REPORT OF WORLD-WIDE NEWS j| SERV 1C £ OF THE UNITED PRESS

GiHiom Promises Immunity i to Former Stephenson Secretary. SENATOR FACES BODY And Subpoena Is Sent Out for Arin Davis. The Marion County grand jury renewed activity today in the investigation of political corruption, growing out of the D. C. Stephenson charges, smuggled out of Indiana State Prison at Michigan City three weeks ago. The visit of Thomas H. Adams, Republican editor, who first made public the Stephenson charges; Will O. Feudner, Republican editor of Rushvllle, Ind., an associate of Adams in the fight to purge Republican politics; Court Asher, former Stephenson lieutenant, and Deputy Prosecutor William H. Sheaffer with Stephenson in prison Saturday served to spur the investigators on. Adams’ statement that Stephenson again indicated that he could prove his charges of graft and election frauds, but that he would not give the location of his documents which would furnish indisputable evidence because he was in mortal fear of his life, added impetus to the search fdr the documents, centering in the hunt for L. G. Julian, former business associate of Stephenson, who has been missing from his home in Evansville f . two weeks. Send for Strader Another mark of renewed activity was the sending of a special messenger to Mt. Washington, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh to Foster Strader, former secretary of Stephenson. This messenge bore a subpoena from the grand jury for Strader and a letter from Attorney General) Athu B. Gilliom, who is assisting in the probe, guaranteeing Strader immunity from prosecution if he will api>ear before the grand jury at once, Strader was located in the Pennsylvania village by Charles C. Carll, an Indianapolis Times reporter, a week ago. The reporter had nothing but a Pittsburgh telephone number as a clew. At that time Strader said he believed Stephensoh could prove his charges, but insisted he would not come to Indianapolis voluntarily. The reporter had no means of forcing Strader to come here. , Sheaffer Reports Sheaffer reported the conversation with Stephenson to the grand jury today. He also, it is supposed, told some of the circumstances surrounding the visit, such as the fact that certain persons knew the trip was to be made, despite the fact that it was supposed to have been secret and that J. H. Klpllnger and Bloyd O. Hill, attorneys whose movements in the affair have been mysterious, (Turn to Pago 11)

Chief ‘Tightens Up ’ as Election Nears Asserting that he would not stand responsible for the jobs of men, who slacken up on their work, because the election date is approaching, and threatening to remove badges and prefer charges before the board of safety, if he found that outside gossip, to the effect that the town is -“wide open,” is true, Police Chief Claude F. Johnson, prodded his men into action over the past week-end. The result was' that 113 men and eighteen women were arrested, Saturday night and Sunday. This is about half the total for week-end arrests thirty days ago. Thirty-seven men and one woman were charged with intoxication, eleven men and four women with operating blind tigers, twenty-seven men and four women with vagrancy, and six persons with speeding. No arrests were made on gambling charges. Records show that Sergeant Reilly, Cliff Richter and Chitwood, and Patrolman Honago and squads were busy, arresting two alleged resort keepers and eleven women and one man on statutory charged. Few Flakes, but City Has ‘First Snowfall * Ah, he! It’s come. Indianapolis had its first snowfall today, though many residents may not have known it. A few flakes of the “white blanket” were seen about noon, and little boys thought, with delight, # of the days ere long when there would be enough snow for sledding. But the papas of these samq little boys groaned inwardly. They were thinking of coal bills, und possible bursted water pipes later. Incidentally, the 'city had its first freezing temperature today, the mercury registering 32, just freezing’, at 7 a. m. At 1 p. m. the mark was oqly 36. Slowly rising temperature is predicted Tuesday. Bii !’•>'W Pr^ss KENDALLVILLE, Ind., Octy2s. KendallviUe awoke today to find housetops covered with a light coating of snow. It was the first snowfall of the season in this section of Indiana. f The mercury dropped to 27 (degrees.

KING SAYS TO MARIE:' COME HOME Official Communique Orders Queen to Curtail Tour Because of Illness. TOO MUCH PUBLICITY? Rumor Says Roumanian Royalty Fears for Prestige. % Bu United Pres* BUCHAREST, Oct. 25.—Queen Marie will curtail her present vis't to the United States and her return to Roumania was announced as imminent today in an official communique. The communique said that the shortening of the royal tour of the U T nited States was due to the advice of her majesty’s physician, who had pronounced her to be suffering from grippe. 1 ; The inepssant rain in the United States had induced this illness, according to the communique. Reports that King Ferdinand had summoned Marie were circulated Saturday night from Vienna, where it was said that Ferdinand was anxious lest the criticism of the commercial spects of Marie's visit should lower the dignity of the Roumanian dynasty. There had also been considerable comment in Bondon newspapers and it was reported tiiat' King George and Queen Mary, the latter Marie’s ‘cousin were displeased and that this feeling was general among. Huron's royalty. There is in Roumania a political faction which opposed Marie’s coming to the United States and this, coupled with the fart that domestic (Turn to Page 7)

‘RED’ COHEN WRITES HIS SWANSONG Famed G. 0. P. Worker, Leaving City, Reminds Mayor of Promise. Aaron (Red) Qohen, famous south side Republican leader, sang his political swan song today. Intricacies of Indianapolis politics have become too involved for Red, therefore he soon will be on his way to the frurer atmosphere of Bos Angeles. In a letter sent to Mayor Duvall Cohen revealed some of his perplexities. Bong a cog in the G. O. P. political machine, Red admits he is bewildered, non-pulsed, defeated. Cohen, although a Jew, worked for Duvall and the Klan slate in the last election. Reminded of Promise “You remember when, at the beginning of the campaign, you promised me and the poor people on the market stands, at a meeting at my house, 902 S. Illinois St., that we would be absolutely taken care of,” Cohen reminded Mayor Duvall. “Furthermore you said to rhe, ‘Aaron, I will put you on this market as assistant market-master,’ and your promise was believed. “Your wife called my wife orj the Saturday before you took office and congratulated my wife because I got ♦he office of assistant market master, and on Monday Mr, Buser (WilliamC. Buser), city controller and brother in-law of Duvall) called up Earl Garrett (present market master) and told him I was appointed assistant to him. Not Appointed ’ “I did not know what Earl Garrett answered Mr. Buser, but anyway I was not appointed.” ( There followed in the letter a recountiis(? of eighteen years of party service, words of farewell to the people of his ward and an appeal to ’ Duvall to investigate market conditions. “I couldn't stand it any longer," Cohen wrote. I must leave and go to a, place where I can get fair piay and a square deal for justice ana right and forget all the years I haw neglected my family for dirty politics. Never since I have been a committeeman have T lost a precinct." INDIANS MUST PAY TAX Bu United Pres* WASHINGTON. Oct. 25.—The United States board of tax appeals today held all members of the Osage Indian tribe are subject to income tax on royalties and proceeds from mineral rights pt the tribe.

INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY, OCT. 25, 1926

Julian Box Examined by Grand Jury

Here is (he box, property of 1,. (I. .lulian of Evansville, former business associate of 1). C. Stephenson, which the grand jury examines! Friday ill hopes of finding some of (he missing Stephenson documents said to prove cliarges ot political corruption. The box was in (lie Shrink Storage Company warehouse here.

GIRL, BURNED WHILE DRESSING FOR SCHOOL NEAR STOVE, DIES

G. 0. P. SONG OF ' SUCCESS WEAKER THANCUSTOMARY Republicans Admit Fears for Senate, County and State Candidates. For the first time in many years, Republican State leadere admit their senatorial, State and county candidates are in peril. Predictions of heavy majorities, recorded early in the campaign, today were thrown overboard from the god ship G. O. P. and the slogan was “every man for himself.” Whether the call for self preservation will cause the factions of Senator James E. Watson and Senator Arthur R. Robinson to begin firing at other was a matter of concern. *'• Belief is that someone must face the music for the revelation of the Thomas 11. Adams editorail committee, and the chief interest is in who will be the “goat.’* “The people will demand a change of leadership; the Republican battle cry, ‘Why change?’ has been answered by the Republicans themselves in the persons of Thomas 11. Adams and his associates," one prominent Democrat said. Two in Most Hanger Clyde E. Robinson, G. O. P. candidate for county treasurer, and Judge JAjnes A. Collins of Marion County Criminal Court, face greatest danger of defeat among county candidates, the Coffin organization leaders admit. Robinson has the liability of Mayor Duvall’s personal support, whilf Collins is engaged in a struggle with the political forces of the Indiana Anti-Saloon League. Another close contest, the politicians declare, will be between Sheriff Omer Hawkins and former Police Captain Charles Sumner. Many elements of the Republican party arc openly backing Sumner but Hawkins (Turn (o Page 11)

DEMOCRATS FIGHT FOR FAIR EJECTION Checking of Voters’ Lists and Warning on Federal Crarge Charge in Fraud Cases Among Moves.

L. J./Reach, Democratic county chairman, served official notification today that tfie Democratic organi zation is making a special effort to guard against election frauds, and said a corps of checkers has been verifying lists of registered voters to insure that poll workers will have a list of all persons entitled to vite. "One instance was found where one person had registered In fouc different precincts and others had registered in two or more,** ICeaoh said. “Four persons in the Seventh ward were' registered from a ‘boarding house,’’ which proved to be the home of a professional nurse, who said she had never heard of the persons reported as registering from her house. m All attempts at illegal,voting will

Mother, Downstairs, Hears Screams and Rushes to Save Child. Burns received, it is believed, when she got too close to an overheated stove, while dressing for school this morning, proved fatal to Alevla Thompson. 6-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Thompson. 1257 W. McCarty St. The little girl, her whole body and one side of her face a mass of burns, and her pretty red hair scorched and singed, was taaken to city hospital, where she died about four hours later. Just how the tragedy occurred is not known, for the child’s father was away at *ork, at the MartinParfy Body Corporation, while the motrter was downstairs talking with two neighbors, Mrs. Eva Hunt. 1261 W. McCarty St., and Mrs. Hattie Shearer. 1269 W. McCarty St. Hears Screams Hearing the little girl screaming, the mother remarked: • “I am going to have to get her out of that habit of screaming. She screams whenever something does not suit her, and I am afraid she will wake the baby.” The baby, 3, i* the only other child in the family. However, when the screams continued, and grew louder, the mother rgn upstairs, to fisd her daughter's clothes a mass of flames. The girl was standing on the back porch. She threw off her coat and wrapped it around the child, finally extinguishing the fire. She suffered severe burns on her hands. “I didn’t with the fire; 1 didn' tplay with the fire!" Alevia shouted over and over. It was all she would say. When last seen before the fire, she was standing by a coal stove, and It was presumed her clothes caught fire from that. The father arrived in a short time, reaching home before the ambulance drove up. First aid was rendered by Dr. W. L. Deitch, 1211 Oliver Ave. Mike, Ike and Tike, Then Fred and Ted Bu United Press CHICAGO. Oct. 25. Eleven months ago, triplets were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gun Wambler. Sunday, Mrs. Wambler gave birth to twins, Fred and Ted. The tripleia are named Mike, Ike and Tjke and they look alike.

be reported to the Federal grand jury. Reach said, inasmuch as the Federal government will huve jurisdiction because of the vote for United States Senators. Illegal voters will be arrested at the polls, he said, and they must defend themselves in Federal Court. That the absent voters law is being taken advantage of by unscrupulous persons was indicated by a large list of so-called absent voters’ applications, which proved on checking, that the applicants did not make out their applications, and that many others listed on applications as "sick," “crippled” and "absent” were not only not sick or crippled, but working and able to go to the polls, Reach bald. j

SAYS MOTION FOR EX-DRAGON IS NOT DUE UNTIL DEC. 13 Kiplinger, Attorney for D. C. Stephenson Gives View on New Trial Move. John H. Kiplinger, attorney for D. C. Stephenson, whose frequent trips to the Indiana State Prison at Michigan City have been timed to precede visits to Republican editors investigating political graft charges, today contended Stephenson has until Dec. 13 to file a nation for anew trial on charge of murdering Madge Oberholtzer, for which he is serving a life sentence. “The time limit is one year from the date Judge Saprks denied Mr. Stephenson anew trial,” Kiplinger said. “That date was Dec. 13, 1925.” However, other attorneys have contended tha: the date of expiration is Nov. 15, one year from the dr.te of Stephenson’s sentence to prison. “Soon,” was Kiplinger's laconic response to a query when he would file papers to obtain anew trial for the former Klan grand dragon. “I expect to confer with Thomas V. Miller (another attorney for Stephenson) at Rushvllle Tuesday In regard to the papers,” Kinplinger added. Asked whether lie had enjoyed his “race” to Michigan City Saturday with Thomas 11. Adams, chairman of the Republican editors’ probe committee, to see Stephenson, Kiplinger smiled. “It wasn’t a race," he said. “Just a coincidence that we were there the same time.” Kiplinger was at the Statehouse this morning, dropping in at various offices. He first called at offices of the clerk of the State Supreme Court and declared the appeal would be filed within “the next two or three days.” He then conferred with Chief Justice David A. Myers concerning details of filing the documents. , Met at the door of the State pardon board by a Times jeporter, Kiplinger asked where the State industrial board was located. To ascend to the four/h floor of the Statehouse. where both of the after offices are located. Kiplinger chose the back stairway in preference to the public elevator. British to Continue Rubber Restrictions Bu United Press LONDON, Oct. 25.—The British government has decided to continue its restrictions on rubber for another year. This decision was made known when the government Issued its new rubber regulations, operative under the Stevenson restriction Os production plan, which will become operative Nov. 1. The Stevenson plan was conceived after the war when Rubber prices slumped and ruin menaced the growers of Malaya and Ceylon. Since the plan became operative, rubber users, most of whom are In the United States, have paid high prices and the British growers have thrived. This plan is the one which caused Herbert Hoover, United States secretary of commerce, to condemn the creation of such price fixing restrictions.

Indianapolis Published Daily Except Sunday. Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postofflce,

Famous Interview With Mrs. Wheatcraft, Substantiated hy Reporters When She Fails to Appear.

SENATOR REED NAILS ‘CHICKEN FEED ’ LIES , KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 25.—Senator James A. Reed today declared that he had never said that the Indiana investigation had resulted only in “chaff and chicken feed.’’ When shown headlines and statements published in the Indianapolis News and the Indianapolis Star Senator Reed said: “I did not say that the Indiana investigation was chaff and chicken feed. I did say that minor matters, left undone when I was compelled to leave, were. “I think the investigation proved conclusively that the chairman of the Republican committee put out a deliberate falsehood and was utterly discredited. 1 “Walb said the State was being flooded with money at that time, Oct. 12, and what he meant was a lot of cheap pamphlets. Then it was discovered that the office from which the pamphlets were distributed closed July 1. “I would not make this statement, but since some Indianapolis newspapers have misquoted me, I feel in duty bound to clarify the situation.’’

Bu United Brest KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 25.—Senator James A. Reed, .continuing his inquiry into Indiana politics here today, did not obtain the evidence ot“ Mrs. Vivian Tracey Wheatcraft, Indiana Republican State vice chairman, but he did reatj into the record the famous interview in which she described her “poison squads” of whispering women, •five to a couniy. * It was that interview which caused Mrs. AVheatcraft. to be promoted outside of Indiana during the present campaign. Mrs. Wheatcraft is in a hospital in St. Louis, ller husband wired to Senator Reed that, she could not be present. She went there Saturday morning. A telegraphic demand for her presence at Kansas City was wired late Friday afternoon by Senator Reed to Congressman Will Wood of the Republican congressional committee, under whose direction she has been working.

The interview printed in the Baltimore Sun was written by W. A. S. Douglass, who was placed upo.i the stand after It had been read Into the record. Douglass declared that he had quoted Mrs. Wheatcraft accurately when he had written us her statement: , “I had them drilled, all right. I have a little clack book which con tains the names of five women In each county whom I call my ‘poison squad.’ When I want to start something I tip off my ‘poison squad.’ Inside of twelve hours it’s buttered all over the State.” Another Interview The similar interview printed in the Richmond Palladium was also read into the record and F. J. Prince, correspondent for that paper and other Republican papers, substantiated the truth of the statement. Details of the circumstances and conditions under ■ which the interview was given were then obtained from these correspondents. Before resuming the hearing Senator Reed announced that Ralph Bradford, Crown Point, Ind., and Ollie Granger, deputy State fire marshal, would testify on Indiana late today. Bradford, it was announced, is bringing documentary evidence alleged to prove/he existence of a plan whereby support of the Klan was pledged to Senator Watson, contradicting all assertions made in Indianapolis by Walb that the non partisan association had spent huge sums in an effort to defeat Senator Watson' and Robinson because of their World Court vote. Reed indicated that he might hear Mrs. Wheatcraft in Indianapolis later this week. Myers On Stand Joseph Myers Jr., former Indianapolis newspaper men, now assistant pastor of a Christian Church here was the first witness before Reed. Myers, who was the secretary of the League of Nations Non-Partisan Association, Indiana office In Indianapolis until July 1, Is the man who Republican State Chairmnn Clyde A. Walb tried to infer was passing out thousands upon thousands of dollars of international bankers’ money to defeat Senators Watson and Robinson. “Huge Conspiracy” Myers’ testimony showed that Walb’s "huge conspiracy” amounted .to this; Myers had $3,600 a year, including his $3,000 salary and 1,000 (Turn to Page 7) ALCOHOLISM ENDS LIFE Coroner’s Verdict in Case of Man Arrested as Drunk. Dan' Finley, alias McGrew, 60, City, died at the city prison, early Sunday, the result of acute alcoholism Coroner Paul F. Robinson said today. Police found Finley, Intoxicated, lying on a pile of junk at the Berstein yard. 209 S. East St. He was arrested on an Intoxication charge. The body was taken to the city morgue, where it is held pending a search for relatives)

Forecast Cloudy and unsettled with probably light rain tonight and Tuesday; slowly rising temperature.

TWO CENTS

HINT M’OERMOTT HAS CONFESSED Man, Hunted in Mellett Murder Case, in Jail. Bu United Press CANTON, Ohio, Oct. 25. —Patrick McDermott, hunted more than three months in connection with the murder erf Don R. Mellett, Canton publisher and former Indianapolis man, was in county jail here today followlrig his capture Sunday in Twin Rocks, Pa. He is believed to have made a full confession of his part in the murder for which he is under indictment and to have implicated others. "All I will say Is that what McDermott told us strengthens our case against the men we are holding and will widen the scope of our investigation,” Prosecutor C. B. McClintock said. Louis Mazer and Ben Cudner are indicted on first degree murder charges along with McDermott. Capture of McDermott was arranged by his brothers, who first demanded a square deal for him. McDermott’s capture has been regarded as the missing link in the chain of evidence forged by authorities and special investigators since Mellett was shot down, in the back yard of his home here. Husband, Blinded by Wife, Spurns Aid Bl> United Press BROOKLYN. Oct.. 25.—Two years ago, Mrs. Isidore Meyerson threw caustic soda In the eyes of her husband to "fix him so that he couldn’t see how pretty were the customers at his woman's dress shop.” They continued to live together, although Meyerson became totally blind. Recently they quarreled and Mrs. Mey* erson had him arrested. Then Meyerson discarded pride that had sealed his lips and told the story of how ho was blinded. Mrs. Meyerson was indicted. A jury found her not guilty Sunday. Judge Nova asked Mrs. Meyerson to take care of her husband, who is making a living peddling on the streets. She agreed. i But Meyerson still has pride. "Tell her if she wants to come hack and keep house for me wldle I support her, that's all right. But 1 won’t take money. I can take carq of myself.” . SNOW AT WARSAW Bu United Prt’HS AVARS AW, Oct. 25.—Nearly fout) inches of snow today covered upper Silesia and the Cracow district, th<j Polish government wireless reported. FREIGHTERS COLLIDE Bu United Press SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. 25.— Thflj freighters Robin Gray and ManauraJ collided today on fog-blanketed San Francisco. Mr. Slew-- 1 - v'-o-M