Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 190, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 November 1926 — Page 1

Home Edition Interperting the Days’ News. That’s the Job of M., E. Tracy. He Does It On The Times Editorial Page.

VOLUME 37—NUMBER 190

RUCKER CHARGES UTILITIES PAID $19,000 TO CONTROL COMMISSION

KIN OF DEAD TILS STORK OF ROMANCE Sister of Mrs. Mills Testifies Slain Woman Admitted Love for Dr. Hall. POINT SCORED BY STATE I Witnc,: Declares Widow’s Face Bore Wound. Bu United Frees SOMERVILLE, N. J., Nov. 15. Mrs, Elsie Barnhardt, younger sister of Mrs. Eleanor Mills, told the Jury In the Hall-Mills murder case today secrets of the romance between her sister and the Rev. Edward Wheeler ' Hall. She testified, when called by the State In Its case against Mrs. Frances Hall, Willie and Henry Stevens: That Mrs. Mills told her "she cared more for Dr. Hall’s little finger than for Jimmy Mills’ whole hand.” That Mrs. Mills planned to "go away to Japan with Dr. Hall.” That Mrs. Mills did not care ' who knew of her romance with the minister. That Mrs. Hall and Mills were not friendly and once she saw Mrs. Hall refuse to enter an automobile In which Mrs. Mills was a passenger. That the minister and Mrs. Mills often met in Buccleuch Park, New Brunswick, N. J., where they would go over his sermons together. "Did you ever see Dr. Hall at the Mills home?” asked Prosecutor Alex Simpson. "Yes,” said the witness. "How often?” "Oh, four or five times. One of these was shortly before they were killed. "What were the relations between them?” “I thought they liked each other very well.” Mrs. Bernhardt then revealed that • (Turn to Page 13) MAN IS KILLED IN AUTO-TRAIN CRASH North-Bound Monon Passenger Demolishes Car. John E. Corbin, Sheridan, Ind., was killed instantly today when his automobile was struck by a northbound Monon passenger train at Six-ty-Third St. and the Monon tracks. The driver, It is said, was coming from the east, and apparently was on the tracks when he saw the train. According to .the train crew he tried to bacK off tlie tracks. The car was knocked about flffy feet and demolished and Corbin, who was alone was thrown into the back seat. 300 MENACED BY FIRE Seventy-Five Women Faint as Flames Raze Dance Hall. Bn United Press NEW YORK, Nov. 15.—The lives of 300 merrymakers were endangered early today when fire swept the hall In whloh they were attending a dance, trapping many and forcing police and firemen to carry seventyfive young women down ladders.' Four firemen were Injured and 3100,000 property damage done. Many of the women were treated for hysteria. Residents of nearby hotels and apartment houses were also forced to flee.

Splendid Selection Closed Car‘Model Used Cars

Automobile dealers, during Closed Car Week, are offering a splendid selection of closed model Used Cars at attractive prices. Closed cars of nearly every make at practitically every price, are included in the offerings. If you will turn to the Automobile for Sale • columns of today’s Want Ads, you will find a list of attractive closed car values. Select your car now during this “Opportunity Unusual.” ,

The Indianapolis Times COMPLETE REPORT OP W ORLD-WIDE NEWS f Sfiß TICE Os) THE UNITED PRESS

SUCCESS IN BRIDGE DEPENDS ON STUDY Times Presents First of Daily Lessons on Great American Game by Famous Expert. (Milton C. Work, the international authority, will answer your auction bridge questions. A stamped, self-addressed envelope must accompany each request for replies. Mall your request to Work in care of The Times-) By Milton C. Work. In Inaugurating the Bridge articles, which start today and will appear in The Times daily hereafter, I wish to asssure my readers that there are now more Auction Brfdge players in the United States and Canada than ever before there were players of any one game in the whole world. The inherent intellectual charm of the game is mainly rsponsible for this; but most of the recent enormous growth of Bridge popularity has been due to the realization that the game produces infinitely greater success and pleasure when played soundly, conventionally and correctly. Poker used to be called the national American card game; It Is a game of individual initiative, bluffs and "hunches.” In the past, too many Bridge players have played "Poker Bridge”; but gradually—lately not so gradually—the players of the country have had their eyes opened to the realization that tactics they once thought clever have been decreasing their gains when they were winning, and increasing their losses when they were losing. They have simultaneously realized the desirability of being a partner who is sought rather than one who Is shunned; also the enjoyment and gratification that come from successful participation in scientific Bridge cooperation. Accurate inference is crowding out blind guessing, and cooperative partnership bidding and play are superseding the old "I-play-my-own-cards” attitude. Asa result, thousands who did not play Bridge at all, or who played a little and did not care for it, have been transformed into real Bridge fans. Mathematical probability is the basis of practically every Bridge convention, and it Is obvious that when any given bid or play will win more often than it will lose, the player who uses it must be the gainer in the long run. To be the partner who Is sought, to be the player who wins far oftener than he loses, is to be the player who obtains maximum enjoyment from the game; to attain all this, It is necessary to understand and follow the recognized conventions which have passed the mathematical tests and been approved by the experts. While it may seem to be a strange comparison, Bridge in one respect resembles football; in that game, it is of vital importance for every member of the team to fully understand and accurately follow the signal given at the start of play. 4 So inj Bridge, a player must comprehend and be guided by the information given by his partner's declarations and plays. To team satisfactorily, partners must be able to accurately speak and to fully understand the conventional language of the Bridge table. The object of these articles will be to aid all who wish to become dependable partners; by clarifying’ points that are not generally understood, and by calling to their attention Instructive Bridge situations of real interest. DO NOT BID A NO TRUMP I F YOU HAVE A* BLANK SUIT OR A WORTHLESS SINGLETON Many players who know the hlgh-card strength needed to justify the original bid of No Trump, do not appreciate that there are No Trump danger signals In the face of which a sound bidder would be less apt to bid No Trump than a careful engineer would to run past the red light at full speed. For Instance, a blank suit is an absolute No Trump taboo, no matter how strong the hand may be. The stronger the hand, the better It Is for a suit bid; but the menace of a cardless suit Is just as great for a No Trumper, no matter how many Aces and Kings the hand may contain. With a worthless singleton the danger that the adversaries will save the game by running that short suit is almost as great. It may even be that an adversary will have sufficient length In that sjiort suit to defeat the No Trump contract of a declarer who could have made game at a sult-bld. I have often said, "Never bid a No Trump with a worthless singleton, unless you have a worthless partner;” and the partner would have to be pretty bad to justify risking id, merely to make him Dummy and thus avoid the loss of tricks which he might be expected to throw away if he played the hand. Today’s pointer and those for a few days to come, all refer to the Initial bid of a No Trump. Initial bids are made by players whose partners have not been heard from; that Is, they are bids made by. dealer or by second hand after a pass by dealer. The bid by third hand after two passes (the partner having been one of the passers) requires greater strength and I shall give a pointer about that later on. Now for a hand for you to think over until tomorrow. Suppose dealing at the beginning of a rubber, you hold; Spades: King. Hearts; Ace-x-x-x. Diamonds: Ace-x-x-x. Clubs; A-x-x-x-x (x means any cartl of lower value than the ten). What would you declare? Os course, you understand in stating the question this way I am not suggesting that you should bid, because a pass Is a declaration. Tomorrow’s article will answer the question. "* Copyright, Milton C. Work.

Two Storms Brew; One May Hit Florida Bu United Press WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.—Two North American storm areas, both of which may endanger shipping along the United States coast, were reported by the weather bureau here today. A tropical disturbance of slight or moderate intensity is central east of Yucatan, but has curved north or northeast and may sweep across Florida. No strong winds have been reported to the bureau and unless the storm increases, no danger except to shipping is expected. Southeast storm warnings were ordered displayed from Delaware Breakwater co Eastport, Maine, and gales all along the northern Atlantic coast were forecast as a result of a storm arear of marked intensity now central over Lake Superior and moving northeast. Illinois Gangmen Fire on Hoosier Bu Tfnited Press EVANSVILLE, Ind., Nov. lfr. —A running gun battle between the Shelton and Birger gangs that occurred on a highway between Marion and Carbondale, 111.,, Sunday, and in which an Evansville Press staff photographer had his automobile liberally perforated with machine gun and revolver bullets, was described in a long-distance telephone call from Charlie Birger to the Press today. The photographer, Gustav Oetterman, escaped unhurt, despite the shower of bulle’s aboutyhim. Birger, said. Likewise there were no casualties among Birger’s men. It was Oetterman’s desire to secure “action pictures” for his newspaper that led him to join Birger gun-laden cavalcade'in its sweep through Williamson County Sunday—one of the daily tours in search of the Shelton gang. HOURLY TEMPERATURES 6 a. m 52 10 a. m 61 7 a. m 62 11 a. m 49 8 a. m 52 12 (noon) .... 47 9 a. m 51 1 jp. m...... 49

Entered ae Second-Class Matter at Postofflce. Indiananolls

Couple Wed in Air Begin Honeymoon Bu United Press GALVESTON, Tex., Nov. 15 Lieut, and Mrs. Chester Dawson were honeymooning today following their marriage' over the Gulf of Mexico Sunday. Dawson, an aviation officer, and Miss May Fantom of Brockton, Mass., were married in a giant Douglas plane as it circled in a driving rainstorm over the gulf. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. C. T. Steward, Baptist ministertand former army chaplain. Mother, 2 Children Die in Auto Plunge Bu United Press BARBOURVILLE, Ky., Nov. 16. —Plunging in an automobile over a high bank into a pool of water, Mrs. Homer King and her two children drowned here today. Mrs. King lost control of the car on a slippery road. She and the children, six months and two years old, were pinned under the car. 1,000 HOMELESS AFTER FIRE Bu United Press TOKIO, Japan, Nov. 15.—A thousand persons were homeless today after a great fire which swept before high winds through the suburbs. In the suburb of North Shlnagawa, fourteen factory buildings and fifty houses were destroyed. Fifteen factories and 240 houses were wiped out in Nippoi. Damage was estimated at 600,000 yen. MOUNT VESUVIUS ACTIVE Bu United Press NAPLES, Nov. 15. Mount Vesuvius was In eruption today, but the observatory said there was no danger. The Volcanic pyrotechnics were attracting tourists. — r TRAIN VICTIM DIES Bu United Press LA PORTE, Ind., Nov. 15. —Funeral will be held here Tuesday for Fred Deidrich, 39, -'who died after being crushed between a coal truck and a freight car.

INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY, NOV. 15,1926

AFTERNOON RECESS BY PROBEJURY Remy Says Hr Desires to Clear Up Some ‘Loose Ends.’ STATEMENT BY GILLIOM V Calls on All Persons to Turn in Information. „ After a brief session this morning, the Marion County grand Jury, investigating charges of political corruption In Indiana, While D. C. Stephenson was in power, adjourned until Tuesday morning, Prosecutor William H. Remy explaining there were some “loose ends” he wanted to trace down by himself. Prior to the opening of the -morning session, Attorney General Arthur L. Gllliom made public a statement in which he asked every person in the State who possesses knowledge in connection with the charges, originally made public by Thomas Adams, Vincennes, publisher, to bring it before quiz body. Gllliom Is aiding Remy In the probe. This was considered a move to bring all possible testimony before the grand jury in order to make a final drive for cleaning up the evidence In the matter. Quizz Mrs. Elliott Mr*. George S. Elliott, wife of the former Marlon County Klan cyclops, was before the jury for about half an hour before adjournment time. She was brought to the jury room by Jesse McMurtry, special investigator in the prosecutors’ office, on a "forthwith” subpoena. Every person who has knowledge of dealings of public officials with the Klan which * violated the criminal statutes of the State was asked, in Gllllom’s statement, to take that (Turn to Page 13)

ANNOUNCES TRIAL WILLBEDELAYED Judge Says Prosecutor Is Too Busy for Arson Case. Trial of Fred Butler, D. C. Stephenson, Earl Kllnck and Earl Gen-' try <Tn arson conspiracy charges, growing out of the burning of Stephenson’s Irvington home, probably will not get under way for a month, Judge James A. Collins of Criminal Court announced today. "The trial will not be held until Prosecutor William H. Remy is ready,” he said. It was set for Nov. 22. Remy is now conducting the grand jury quiz into charges of political corruption in this State. Butler formerly was Stephenson’s secretary and Klinck and Gentry were his aids. Iri*. Holmes, attorney for defense, announced he will withdraw from the case because no retainer fee has been paid him. Thomas V. Miller, Muncie (Ind.) attorney for Stephenson, hass subpoenaed prominent politicians, officials and business men as character witnesses for Stephenson and announced he would petition for a court order to bring Stephenson to Indianapolis for the trial. FREIGHT MOTOR ROUTES Petition Filed for Two Lines to Crawfords ville. Establishment of motorized freight lines from Indianapolis and Lebanon to Crawfordsvllle is proposed today in a/ petition filed with the public service commission by S. H. Carey of Frankfort. The Lebanon-Craw-fordsville route would pass through Dover, Shannondale and Smartsburg and th e Indianapolls-Urawfordsvllle line would go through Pittsboro, Lizton, Jamestown and New Ross. HEAVY QUAKE IN ALASKA By t Press CORDOVA, Alaska, Nov. 15.—An earthquake of unusual violence was felt at Kodiak Sunday night, the United States Naval radio station there reported. The Quake was of sufficient Intensity to sway buildings of the town. No damage was reported. Advices from St. Paul, on Bering Sea, and Sitka today reported the shock •** W* at those two poiatg

HITS AT MERGER

p .f. Jlha

Alvah J. Rucker, corporation counsel of Indianapolis, former prosecutor of Marion County, who today charged utilities gave $19,000 to Ed Jackson’s campaign fund in a conspiracy to control the public service commission. |

Central Point of Plea

Rucker’s complaint reads, in part, as follows: “The plaintiff further alleges that in September of 1924, one Ed Jackson was a candidate on the Republican ticket for the governorship, and that on good information and belief of the plaintiff, said Jackson, John W. McCardle, Martin Insull, Samuel Insull, Harley L. Clarke (Chicago utilities man), D. C. Stephenson, Harry Reid (president of the Interstate Public Service Corporation), Robert I. Todd, (Street Railway Company president) and others whose names are not known to the plaintiff did conspire, confederate, and agree with each other and others to plaintiff unknown that in consideration of the sum of $19,000 to be paid said McCardle, and Jackson and others to plaintiff unknown and for the purpose of the political campaign in which the said Jackson was then and there running for the office of Governor of said State and for other purposes unknown to plaintiff, and in consideration of the promise of hereinafter named persons to support with money and other means the said Jackson and others to plaintiff unknown, for future political office, and for other considerations and inducements now unknown to plaintiff to be paid, delivered, made over, promised and executed through the said Jackson, McCardle and others unknown, and that the said Jackson, if elected as Governor would appoint and retain only such individuals as members of the public service commission who would be unduly and illegally favorable and have friendly interests to the plans, schemes and wishes and desires of the defendants, and that the said Jackson would reappoint J. W. McCardle on the day of May, 1925, at expiration of his term, and that one of the personnel of the said commission or a majority of the members thereof should be those who would violate the terms, purposes and intentions of the Spencer-Shively utilities commission act.”

Denials and Comment

Persons Involved in the charges of City Corporation Counsel Alvah J. Rucker that $19,000 was paid Into Governor Jackson’s campaign fund in a conspiracy to control the public service commission denied or refused to comment on the charges. John W. McCardle, commission chairman, said: “The only campaign contributions in which I have been interested in recent years have been my own.” From Employes McCardle said that in a few cases he had turned over to the Republican State committee contributions from minor employes of the commission. “It Is the same old story we have been hearing over and over during the last few months," he asserted. Samuel Artman, commission mem4ier, when informed of the charges, said: “I am ready to try the case tomorrow.”* “Nothing to Say” Harry Reid, president of the Interstate Public Service Corporation, said: "I have nothing to say. There Is nothing to It. I do not care to see the charges.” Governor Jackson made this comment: “It looks like they were overworking the old horse.” He refused to say anything further. Robert I. Todd, president of the Indianapolis Street Railway, was in conference and “extremelyjhusy,” a reporter was told at his ofl*e.

Outride of Marion Count* 12 Cents Pet ffesk Slnrle Cools*

Norman Perry, president of the Indianapolis Light and Heat Company, also was in confeence, A reporter was informed at his office he had no statement to make. John Ferguson, vice president of the Central Indiana Power Company, in the absence from the city of L. B. Andrus, president of the Merchants Heat and Light Company, said he had nothing to say, but declared the entire matter was “news” to him. Rucker Explains Rucker said, "As corporation counsel of this city, my duty was to halt this Iniquitous merger b$ exposing the circumstances of poltical intrigue that preceded its proposal.” “There is nothing political In this matter. It was not delayed until after the election. The facts are that 1 have been investigating this subject for a long time and have just completed exhuming the facts. “I believe good citizens of Indianapolis and Indiana will Join us In opposing this attempt to swindle the public out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in higher electric light rates. It is to fight this maneuver that I filed my complaint.” Whether Mayor Duvall is backing Rucker’s action could not be determined, inasmuch as Duvall was reported confined to his home with tonsllitis.

THKEE CENTS

Petition for Injunction Against Light Merger Alleges Conspiracy With Governor Jackson. CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION STORY Magnates Dictated Appointments, Corporation Counsel Says. Charges Corporation Counsel Alvah J. Rucker, files suit in Circuit Court for injunction against Indianapolis power and light merger, charging: 1. Utility magnates entered into conspiracy with D. C. Stephenson and others whereby for a $19,000 contribution to Governor Ed Jackson’s fund in 1924, Jackson was to name public service commissioners who would do the bidding of the utilities. 2. that Public Service Commissioner Samuel R. Artman entered into a conspiracy with utilities for their support for his candidacy for Republican nomination for Supreme Court judge last spring. 3. That Chairman John W. McArdle of the public service commission has been unduly favorable to utilities. 4. That Samuel M. Insull and Harley L. Clarke, Chicago utility magnates, by liberal donations to campaign funds of Governors and a United States Senator in Illinois and Indiana were able to control appointments of utility commissioners so that securities might be bought for less than their true value and sold later at par or a premium for large profits. 5. That the Indianapolis Power and Light Company, which seeks to merge the two local light companies and the Merchants Heat and Light Company, an-Insull concern and one of those in the proposed merger are dummy corporations. 6. That Insull and Clarke in their merger moves sought to organize companies in other States in order to avoid Indiana restrictions. 7. That the merger would create a vast, fictitious utility valuation resulting in abolition of competition and increase in electric rates for Indianapolis. 8. That the merger plan contemplates restraint of trade and that the city will seek relief in Federal Court or before the Federal Trade Commission. Rucker asks for an immediate restraining order without notice. Circuit Judge Harry 0. Chamberlin sets hearing for 9 a. m. Tuesday. • Prosecutor William H. Remy declares he will investigate the charge that a $19,000 campaign contribution was intended to sway the utility commission. Power users file amended petition before public service commission charging that commission engineers are accepting without verification statements of officials of the two light companies in making physical appraisals of the properties and asking a complete, actual inventory and appraisl. Power users also ask investigation of present “excessive” electricity rates. Charges that public utility magnates of Chicago and Indianapolis gave $19,000 to the 1924 campaign fund of Governor Ed Jackson in a conspiracy of which D. C. Stephenson, former Indiana Klan grand dragon was a part, whereby Jackson was to name as Indiana public service commissioners men who would serve the interests of the utilities were contained today in a suit filed in Circuit Court by Corporation Counsel Alvah J. Rucker. Rucker* asked that the Indianapolis Power and Light Company, the Indianapolis Light and Ileat Company, and the Merchants Heat and Light Company, and the men controlling them, be enjoined from carrying out the petition of the first named firm to take over the two latters firms. Rucker charged that the alleged conspiracy and other circumstances prevent Indianapolis citizens from fairly defending themselves against the proposed merger before the present commission. Upon learning of the Rucker charges Prosecutor William 11. Remy immediately announced that the Marion County grand jury would investigate the allegation that $19,000 changed hands in a move to control the public service commission.

* “Some witnesses have already been examined concerning some of the charges made in the petition,” said Remy. “This charge, as well as all others, will be investigated thoroughly. Other witnesses will be summoned at once. We are following the trail of every charge, no matter where it leads.” Rucker asked an immediate restraining order. Circuit Judge Harry O. Chamberlin set a hearing for 9 a. m. Tuesday. Defendants Defendants in the Rucker suit are: Indianapolis Power and Light Company and Norman Perry as president. Indianapolis Light and Heat Company and Norman Perry as president. Merchants Heat and Light Com-

Forecast Rain and much colder tonight ; lowest temperature near freezing; Tuesday fair.

MARION COUNTY

TWO CENTS

pany and L. B. Andrus as president. Central Indiana Power Company and Martin J. Insull, Chicago, as president and Paul J). Blrdsall as secretary. Public Service Commission ot Indiana and John W. McCardle, Samuel R. Artman, Clyde Jones, Frank Singleton and Frank Wampler as members. Inventory Asked In the meantime Attorneys A. B. Cronk and Curl Wilde, representing three large Indianapolis users of electric power, filed an amendment to a petition asking sivty days of postponement of the commission’s hearing on the merger' plan and asked that a complete inventory and appraisal be made of the property of the two companies. The hearing now is set for Thursday. ’ The admended petition charge^ 1 (Turn to Page llf