Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 195, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 November 1926 — Page 2

PAGE 2

FOUR SHIPS WEATHER ICY GALE ON LAKES

4 King Ben ’ Profitably Mixed Religion and Business

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(Copyright, 102 G, NEA Service, Inc.) BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Nov. 20. —Speaking of Big Business and the Cult of Success — "King'' Benjamin Purnell, who fell afoul of the law after reigning over the House of David for nearly a quarter of a century, started in life as ti e penniless offspring of a poverty stricken Kentucky farmer. By his own efforts he built up an enterprise here worth $12,000,000, besides laying away a large personal fortune. Whiskers or no whiskers, that was an acln. .ement. It means that the long-haired cult leader is something more than a mere fanatic, a deluded religionist. He also is a business executive of ability. King Ben's past is not too clearly lighted, but it is known that he was born in 1861 in Maysville, Ky. He had little education, except that he faithfully studied the Bible. As a youth he worked in the hill country at various trades. His Career Begins It was in 1902 that Purnell started on his strange career.

SMUGGLING ARMS CHINESE DESPITE 11 - POWER PACT 11 Nations Signed Treaty, but Illegal Traffic Continues. Bu Times Special SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 20. Wholesale smuggling of ar ns and ammunition into the Chinese republic is going on in violation of the 1919 dplomatic agreement. Vrtually all of the eleven nations, signatory to this agreement, are guilty of the breach of faith. Proof of these two facts lies in the .general knowledge that the 1,500,000 Chinese under arms cannot be equipped and kept in fighting form by the output of the nineteen small “arsenals" operating in China, by various seizures of smuggled arms, including several shipments of out of Pacific coast ports, and by the common reports coming back from China that foreign airplanes, mortars and small arms abound among the six revolutionary armi s now devastating the republic. Great Powers Agreed On May 5. 1919, a dozen of the greater maritime powers entered into ,i diplomatic agreement to halt all shipments of arms into China. These nations included Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Japan, Brufcil and the United States. Russia was committed to the agreement by her minister, then recognized in Peking but * not recognized in Moscow. Since then, although the embargq Is technically in effect, arms are known to have been reaching China by sea in great quantities. It is known that Italian artillery, French airplanes. British stokes’ mortar tubing, American-made pistols and rifles and other equipment and parts manufactured outside of China are in general use by the warring armies and that It Is these sinews of war that is making possible the continued warfare now tearing China in ap parently futile strife. These armies now number six big units and occupy all of the eighteen provinces. Efforts at Restriction Some sincere efforts have been made by British and American au thorities to stop the shipments. Two years ago the captain of an American lumber schooner was arrested, 1 and a considerable shipment of guns taken from his vessel, which had shipped out of Portland, Ore. Another shipment of rifles, secreted behind the panels in the staterooms of a big trans-Paciflc liner, was seized lit Hongkong. The British have also stopped and searched several vessels. STREET CAR FIRED ON No One Struck, However—Police I,ook for Person Who Shot. Investigation of a shooting was being made by police and detectives today, following a call Friday night to Shelby St. and English Ave., where an unknown person had fired a shot through a window of a street car, which was filled with passengers. Ted Roberts, 2325 Jackson St., conductor, told police he was passing the 1100 block on English Ave. when the bullet came through the window and lodged In a casing on the oppo site side. Passengers were thrown in a turmoil for a time, but quieted down or gangsters were not In sight. *

Startled farmers near Fostoria, Ohio, saw a bearded man riding by on a junk cart, proclaiming to all and sundry that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ. Failing to impress Fostoria, he drifted to Michigan, and there, with his wife, Mary, met one Michael K. Mills, who had established at Detroit a colony similar to the present House of David. Mills eventually was arrested and the colony broke up, but Purnell had The Idea. He headed for Benton Harbor and there proclaimed himself, not only Christ's younger brother, but also the seventh angel mentioned In the Book of Revelations. A handful of followers, sloughed off from the wreck of Mills’ colony, followed him and the House of David was born. In Benton Harbor was a family named Bauscke, with & fortune of $75,000. Purnell converted these people and induced them to turn over their money to him, and the prosperity of the colony was assured. With the $75,000 nest egg business began to pick up. More converts came. They came, some of them, from England; others

Tanker Blast Death Toll May Reach 16 Bu United Press BALTIMORE, Md., Nov. 20.—The life toll of an oil explosion which ripped the Norwegian tanker Mantilla in two in dry dock here yesterday, stood at eight today, with indications that it would mount, perhaps to sixteen, when eight missing workmen are accounted for. Five oY the score injured are expected to die. Nine of the seventeen missing immediately after the accident had been accounted for over night, while no additional bodies were found, leaving the number of known dead at eight, as reported hy the United Press yesterday afternoon.

GIRLS MAY HAVE BEEN BANDIT AIDS Accomplice Theory Held in Robbery Probe. That girls who were riding with the Noblesville youths Friday night when they were held up and robbed may have been accomplices of the bandits is a theory being investigated by police today. Cliff Johnson and Victor Black admitted picking the girls up on the streets and taking them for a ride. When they arrived at Keystone Ave. and Sixty-Third St. a large auto approached and. crowding them to the curb, made them halt the machine. Two bandits leaped from the big car and robbed the youths at the point of a gun. The tloot included $9 in cash, a SIOO dlmond ring and an SBS watch. Johnson threw sl2 to the floor of the car and this was overlooked by the robbers. The gArls were not searched. When police arrived they refused to give their addresses. COOPERATION IS URGED U. S. Must Work With Europe, Professor Tells Men’s Club. Need for United States cooperation in European affairs was stressed in a speech by J. Raymond Schultz, professor of economics at Manchester College, who spoke before the Men’s Club of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church FViday night. He cited the raise In coal prices here as the result of the British strike as one instance of how affairs are interlocked. Unless the United States takes the initiatiive In this cooperation, Europe may unite against us, he stated, and said that France already was urging such a movement. A program of moving pictures and music preceded the address.

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were drawn from the sandy western Michigan farm lands. One and all, they turned over their property to Purnell and worked for him much like serfs. Purnell’s title of “King” was no empty one. He ruled by divine right and brooked no opposition. The end of the world, he announced, was close at hand. The last trumpet soon was to sound. The ordinary run of mortals would die and be raised from the dead, passing into heaven —if they merited it—as sexless creatures who would taste of a very mild eternal happiness. But members of the House of David, who followed the rules strictly, would not die at all ,and would be given a paradise on earth, to enjoy with their earthly bodies, tasting freely of all the bodily joys they had previously denied themselves. They would marry and be given In marriage. * Immortality the Lure So came the peculiar state of affairs in the House of David. The 700-odd converts lived simply, clad in homespun, their long locks hanging about their shoulders, hard-work-ing and austere; but King Ben

Community Fund Coupon As it is Impossible for Community Fund workers to personally see all of the 365,000 residents of Indianapolis, Community Fund officials ask those who have not been solicited, but desire to aid in the work of the organization, to fill out this coupon and mail It to: Indianapolis Community Fund, 301 Old Chamber of Commerce • Bldg., Indianapolis, Ind. Please add my contribution to the gifts of others for the Community Fund. I enclose my pledge (or cash gift) for the amount indicated below: Name $ Address If cash or check is not enclosed, please indicate here that you desire to pay your pledge in months.

Far and Near

Bu United Press LONDON—Prevented by law to wed In England, Captain Klnow, Norwegian sailor, placed his bride in a launch, shanghied a pastor and chugged to the three-mile-limit for the ceremony. MIDDLETOWN, Conn—Strange birds, identified as Rocky Mountain goshawks, a Canadian barred owl, and an Arctic owl, are keeping hunters awake nights. The fowl have never before been seen in these parts. HACKENSACK, N. J.—The New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad has been found guilty of manslaughter as the result of an accident. Instead of going to jail, the road will probably be fined. PLAINFIELD, N. J.—After eat lng eight pies, four New Jersey mayors declined to pick the best pastiv from the entries of fifty housewives. The chief of police of Somerville stepped up and made a selection. CHICAGO A honey - tongued salesman who went to William Wrigley Jr., with samples of honey from contented, alfalfa-fed bees, obtained an order for 200 boxes. Wrigley, presuming the boxes like the sample would contain but a few j ounces. Instead, when the shipment came it amounted to several hundred pounds. "It have been so bad,” Wrigley said, “as I can give the honey away, but they sent it by express and It cost me $197.” ALTON, 111.—A flood of telegraphic bids are pouring in upon Kirby Alton for two coveted ducats to the Army-Navy game. Receiving two extra tickets for the game, Kirby announced he would sell them to the highest bidder and turn, the proceeds over to charity. LOS ANGELES, California— A reward Os $50,000 has been offered for recovery of an ofd family Bible, which It Is claimed will establish the rightful heirs to the millions left by William P. Cowan,

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dressed in flowing silk robes, lived in a palace called “Shiloh,’’ enjoyed the -best of food and drink, consoled himself with feminine companionship—it is even said, on apparently good authority, that he maintained a harem, a real one. How did he get away with It? Easy. To his followers he explained that he, personally, already had attained immortality. He had been sent back tb earth to lead the humble to righteousness. Consequently, what more fitting than that he should give them a perpetual object lesson of the felicity that was* in store for them? What he was now they would be in the future, when the thunder of the trumpets of the night had been loosed over land and sea. Sells Amusement On the outskirts of the colony Purnell established a big amusement park, which was highly profitable. Through it he rode in a palatial glass-enclosed car, monarch of all he surveyed. The colony had investments which prospered, and the coffers became full. Purnell taught his followers not to

former president of the Standard Oil Company (Indiana.) NEW YORK. —Benjamin Grogan, 18, thartked Policeman Robert Wood for shooting him recently while escaping from an attempted jewelry store hold-up when he saw the officer In court. “If you hadn’t shot me I might have killed somebody and then I would have got the chair,” the youth said. NEW YORK.—Frank Storey, former corporation lawyer, was so certain that his conviction seven years ago would be reversed by a higher court that he married and has two children. The conviction has been sustained and he now faces a prison term. He appealed to Judge Otto Rosalsky to impose a suspended sentence. The judge took the matter under advisement and gave him until Dec. 7 to wind up his affairs if he has to go to jail. NEvv YORK.—Max Wunschauer, Importer of Jewish Bibles, was questioned by customs authorities about 450 bottles of cognac found in false bottoms of twenty-four cases of Bibles sent to him. He denied knowledge of the liquor. NEW YORK—Excessive publicity has been a handicap to Governor "Ma” Ferguson of Texas, Governor Nellie Ross of Wyoming and other women in public life, Miss Sarah Schuyler Butler, vice chairman of the Republican State committee, said at a meeting of the Women’s Forum. NEW YORK—Helen Hurley, 14, the “smiling patient” of Bellevue Hospital. Is dead. She was a favorite of all the doctors and nurses in the institution because of the cheerful way she endured numerous operations during the, four years she spent In the hospital. In salvaging the German battleship. Hindenburg, which was scuttled in Scapa now, divers have to patch up 700 holes. The cruiser weighs 27,000 tons and is estimated to contain 6,000 tons of water.

FRECKLES AND TITS ERTEVDS—Rv PT ORSER

believe in death. If a member died, it was a sign he had sinned secretly, and his fellow-members would have nothing to do with his body, which was buried in “unconsecrated" ground in the land of the Gentiles. For the House of David members believe that they are the descendants of one or more of the ten lost tribes of Israel. Strangely, however, not one of them is what the modern world would call Jewish. In connection with death there are ugly rumors in the House of David. A bleak dot of land off the north shore of Michigan, “High Island,” is owned by the colony. To this island a number of members were sent after they had been inveigled Into the famous "lottery marriages,” and some of them, It is whispered, never returned. High Island, so far as is known, never has been investigated. Life at the colony went smoothly enough, however. There is a huge restaurant for the members, where no meat is served —all are vegetarians. There are sulphur springs with therapeutic qualities, on the grounds, and many non members pay well for the privilege of using them.

Predicts West, South Rule of Democrats Bu United Press NEW YORK, Nov. 20.—Politicians were interested today in the statement of E. T. Meredith, Secretary of Agriculture in the Wilson Administration. that “the progressive Democrats of the West and South” would control the 1928 Democratic convention, and that they would favor the nomination of William G. McAdoo, Meredith stated that the Democrats “undoubtedly will stand strongly for the enforecemtn of law, the dry law included.” “I do not believe Governor Alfred E Smith could run on the sort of platform the convention will adopt,” he added. Retention of the two-thirds rule for nomination and the unit rule for voting by States in the convention was predicted by the former Secretary or Agriculture.

STILL QUARRELING ON MARES TRAIN Bright Note Is Good News Regarding King. Bu United Press ABOARD QUEEN MARIE’ SPECIAL TRAIN EN ROUTE TO NEW YQRIC, Nov. 20.—Queen Marie, today, was on the last lap of her jour ney across North America, a trip of 10,000 miles that has consumed almost a month and exhausted the endurance of everyone aboard the train. When the train comes to Its last stop, Jersey City, a score of weary passengers will alight to face the city they left last month In the best cf spirits. Their faces worn and their nerves on edge from the strain of never-ending controversy. Not even the excitement over the illness of King Ferdinand succeeded In surmounting hatreds. They were in fact increased. Factions fell on the return as another bone of contention and quarreled Incessantly over the route, the time and sort of demeanor the Queen should assume. Despite the anxiety of the Queen over the Kjfig’s condition, the royal train stopped over in the Shenan doah valley today to permit visiting Civil War battlefields. It is sai.l Her Majesty is In better spirits today, having received a cablegram from Queen Marin of Serbia, her daugh ter, stating that F’erdlnand was better and there was no reason for worry. From Jersey City the royal party will motor to Tuxedo to the estate of Charles E. Mitchell, New York banker, to await sailing of the Beren garia Wednesday.

The whole colony, in fact, Is a sort of glorified amusement park and health resort, and does a huge business each year. Hope of (he World House of David members, however, despite their indulgence in worldly sports like baseball, believe themselves ordained by God to save the world, and for the most part live very simply and frugally. The rank and file still are devoted to King Ben, full of confidence in him and accepting his declaration that the charges against him are brought by emmtsaries of Satan. They believe him when he tells them that the end of the world is nigh. The fact that he twice has set a date for it, only to be disapointed, Is discounted by the explanation that the printers made a typographical error. It would take long acquaintance and great skill in gauging character to appraise King Ben fairly. But looking on the prosperous colony here, and considering the size of its bank balance, one feels compelled to admit this much: King Ben, whiskers and all. Is a business executive of high rank.

‘G. 0. P. FUND NOT TO SWAY VOTERS’ —. j Election Cost Republicans $29,752, Says Report. Asserting that no money was spent to influence voters in favor of any Republican candidate in the recent election, Roy C. Shaneberger, treasurer of the Republican county central committee, filed an expense ascount Friday with County Clerk Albert Losche. It showed that $30,306 was collected through personal contributions or subtreasurers. The total expenditure, $29,752. Expenses for headquarters upkeep and general expense totaled $23,062. According to the report $6,690 was expended for precinct messengers. A balance of $553.92 remains. The highest personal contribution was $250, from H. H. Woodsmall. SINGER’S DEBI T TONIGHT Bu United Press NEW YORK. Nov. 20.—A new Santuzza will be heard at the Metropolitan Opera House tonight, when Elda Vettorl, soprano, of St. Louis, makes her debut in "Cavalleria Rustlcana.” Born in Italy. Miss Vet tori came to America with her parents ns a child. She has sung here and abroad and took leading roles

‘PIG WOMAN,'STORY TOLD, A WAITS END State’s Stellar Witness in Hall-Mills Murder Case Said to Be Suffering From Cancer.

Bu United Press JERHFIY CITY, N. J.. Nov. 20. “I have told the truth and am ready to die,” Mrs. Jane Gibson, star witness In the Hull-Mills murder trial, said in a dictated statement from her cot In the Jersey City Hospital Friday. Mrs. Gibson, who was taken to the trial Thursday, and from a bed in the courtroom accused the three defendants of the murder, feels she is dying, she told the doctors, and wanted her statement put on paper to justify herself to the world. It was reliably reported Friday that she has cancer, that an operation Is Impossible, and that her death with in six months Is probable. The statement, signed by Mrs. Gibson, said: “I have told the truth, now let justice tnkee Its course. I told it four years ago, but people did not and would not listen to me. It seemed to them as if every one con-

Masterly Seamanship of Captain in Use of Anchor Saves Rudderless Steamer—Drifted 150 Miles. MILWAUKEE, Wis., Nov. 20.—Several lake steamers which were delayed as the result of the sto-rm tliat swept Lake Mich igan during the past two days, have arrived in port, relioving fears for their safety.

Friday night the Monroe C. Smith, the Samuel Mitchell and D. D. Morton all pulled into the harbor after having battled the high waves on the lake. Although a stiff northwest wind continued to sweep across the lake today, marine men declared shipping continued as usual and there was no fear of storms. The storm abated during the night and most of the vessels that had been delayed were able to steam Into the harbor. Crews of two other boats reported as in danger are now safe, it developed today. The crew of the Cottonwood, which went on the rocks in Lake Superior Monday off Coppermine Point, reached shore in lifeboats, according to D. H. Biddings, first mate, who arrived at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., in a gasoline launch. The twenty-four men are in a fishing station at I’pint Maminse, he said. % The freighter Widener, lying six miles offshore at Superior. Wis., escaped disaster through the masterly maneuvering of Its captain, marine men here say. The Widener lost its rudder near the Rock of Ages Wednesday and drifted 150 miles, while dangerous reefs were avoided skilfully by dropping of the anchor at strategic points. CITY EATING LESS THAN IN CO UNTR Y Bu United Press WASHINGTON, Nov. 17.—White collar workers cat 20 per cent less food than farmers, home economic experts of the Agricultural Department said today after a survey of food consumed by tillers of the soil. Farmers eat the best food, and plenty of It. While the rity worker usually eats more tasty food, which, however, contains 37 per cent less energy. From 60 to 65 per cent of the farmer’s food supply comes from his own crops, but when a retail price on the food is fixed the cost is about 24 per cent greater than the meal of the city dweller because of the quantity and quality, the department found. The city worker, according to the department pays about $133 a year for his food, while the average cost of feeding a farmer is $175. The department found farmers do not eat sufficient fruit to balance their diet, while the city folks usunlly have fruits every day. On some farms the owners even have to buy their buttermilk and eggs from neighbors or nearby community stores. Store bread is used in rural centers almost as extensively as in cities. Farmers purchase about 40 per ceht of all the foodstuffs consumed by their families, because they do not have vegetable and fruit gardens to care for their own needs. While the city worker consumed more cereals than the rural citizens, the consumption of meat, eggs, milk, cream, fruit and vegetables by farmers’ families is much higher than the Metropolitan dwellers.

nected with the case was looking tp r money. They tried to poison my stock and burn down my home; they foreclosed the mortgage on my prop erty right after the 1923 grand jury affair, and I was compelled to sell forty-one acres of my land to clem the mortgage on the other twenty for less than I paid for it. “A few days after I sold the land the man I sold It to was offered twice what he paid for It. When I went to get a mortgage on the property 1 was told by the police in New Brunswick, who I know are connected with the Halls, that the property had no value. They have continually hounded me. but thank God, there are some honest men In the world and money could not reach Mr. Simpson of the Jersey City officers, and at last I have been allowed to tell the truth. “I have told the truth and I am ready to die with a good, clear conscience.”

NOV. 20, 1926

TAKES 555-FOOT DEAIU LEAP IN NATION’SCAPITAL Man Jumps From Washington Monument —Believed War Veteran. j Bu United Press WA&nl ui,uN, Nov. 20. —a man believed to be Henry Anderson, re ccntly a patient at Soldiers' Honuj Hospital, jumped to his death today from the top of the Washington Monument here. The man, a cripple, was shabbily dressed. He was waiting at the monument when guards arrived this morning and went to the top In the elevator on its first trip of the day. Six tourists were passengers with him. When the elevator carried the tourists down the man refused to go, saying he would wait until the next trip. When the tourists reached the ground they found monument guards gathered around the body of the man they bad left at the top. The body was badly mangled by the fall. The monument is 555 feet high and the windows nenr the top. from which the man jumped, are more than 500 feet from the ground On the elevator going to the top of the monument, Charles Ward, a Cuban, was talking In Spanish to a companion. The man who a few minutes later jumped to his death overheard Ward and addressed a few words to him In Spanish. Ward explained later he thought from the ; man's shabby appearance that he was a “panhandler,” and therefore Ignored him. In m\e of the dead man's pockets, was found a letter addressed to “Henry Anderson, Soldiers’ Home Hospital.” It was from Mrs. 11. C Anderson, St. Paul, Va. Police have records of three other deaths caused by falls from the | Washington monument. In 1905, a painter, at wo k on a scaffold on the structure, plunged to death. In 1923 j a man jumped to his death from the! top, and later, in the same year, a woman fell from the stairway Inside the monument.

Ministers Must Be Versatile Persons “The old saying that a minister itexpected to have the strength of an eagle, the grace of a swan, the gentleness of a dove and is to live on the food of a canary, is alas, only too true,” the Rev. E. C. Jaberg of Linton, said at the fall session of Reformed Churches of the Indian apolis district Friday at the Carroll ton Ave, Reformed Church. Other ministers discussed materia! and spiritual problems of their profession. Sports and hobbies were said to lie essential to physical and mental recreation, while the opinion was against a recent assertion of a scientist that mental efficiency is increased by curtailment of sleep However, a number of ministers said in the summer 4 a. m. was a fitting hour to prepare sermons, while others found the period from 10 p. m. to 1 a. m. sttitnble. Ready for ‘Reds* Taking Red Lights City red |ights were lights that failed Friday night. City Engineer Chester C. Oberleas was wrathful because motorists again removed red lights plneed at points where W. Harding and W . Raymond Sts. were being repaired. I “An dthey did the same thing me S. East St. Thursday night," said Oberleas. “Tonight we will station inspectors and police at all the red lights to arrest those 'reds’ who have no respect for our warning signals." RIDPATH RITES MONDAY Physician Was Brother of Historian and Teacher. Funeral services for Dr. Henry W Ridpath, 61, of 1815 N. New Jersey St., will be held Monday at 10 a. m. at Planner * Buchanan mortuary. Dr. Ridpath. who died Friday, was the brother of the late John Clark P.ldpath, the historian, and Miss Martha Ridpath, widely known teachers in Indiana.. Born of Put nam County pioneers, Dr. Ridpath attended De Pauw University and was graduated in 1881. He was graduated from Central College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1884. For six years Dr. Ridpath was sec. retnry of the Marion County board of health. The widow, a son, Raymond Ridpath of ChUtogo, and a daughter, Mrs. Joseph Do Zoy, city, survive. LOSES IN “LITTLE GAME*’ Bv Vn"-* PrrM MONTREAL, Nov. 20.—Harvey .1 Hill of Detroit, said to ho head of a hotel company which operates oev oral hotels and'a sanitarium at Mt Clemens, Mich., met John Jackson, a young man, on the train on whirl), he was journeying to Montreal. A little card game resulted and Hill dropped $1!)0, due. it was claimed to Jackson's cheating. Jackson, alias Lyon, alias Arnold, was arrested and held in bond of $1,900. Another man took part In the game, hut he left the train before it reached here. A hearing will be held Monday.