Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 217, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 December 1926 — Page 9

Second Section

ROUNDHOUSE BLAZE DOES $15,000 DAMAGE

CINDERELLA NO. 2 SEEKING $500,000 FROM BROWNING Mary Spas Includes Attempted Assault in Allegations of Suit. Bu United Press NEW YORK, Dec. 16.—“ Daddy” Browning’s other Cinderella girl wants $500,000 for the “mental anguish” of being adopted by the millionaire real estate man. Edward W. Broivning, who already Is paying S3OO a week to his third Cinderella girl and present wife, the former Prances (Peaches) Keenan, pending trial of their joint suits for separation, conferred with his busy legal staff today about the newest suit. Mary Louise Spas, adopted by Browning two years ago, has served notice of a suit for $500,000 damages, charging assault, threats, coercion and mental anguish. Browring, who has been much in the news through his adventures as a foster-parent, announced through his counsel that he would fight the newest suit to the limit. Miss Spas was No. 2 in the Browning menage. He first adopted little Dorothy Sunshine, who is still his ward. Then he adopted Miss Spas as a companion to Dorothy, but they parted when it turned out she was 21 instead of 16, as she claimed. Then came Frances Heenan, whom he married and who now wants her freedom. ' The golden-haired Miss Spas is suing on four counts: Alleging attempted assault in Browning’s aprytment in New Gardens, she asks SIOO,OOO. Alleging threats to kill her if she told of the Incident, causing nervous shock, another SIOO,OOO. Alleging she was imprisoned in Browning’s apartment, with consequent great mental anglish, $250,000 more. Alleging she was forced to sign -•certain papers” when her adoptl>fT was annulled, she asks $50,000.

Santa Stuff

DETROlT.—Mildred Pickert, bank employe, who has just Inherited a $12,000 estate p.a a Christmas present, will continue her position in the bank, she informed her friends. TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.—Motorists liave been hacking clown spruce trees for use as Christmas trees, according to complaints made to local police by farmers. Many farmers are posting guards to watch the trees until after the Yule season. . NEW YORK. —Mayor Walker, al though he has no whiskers, plans to play Santa Claus to 10,000 municipal employes by putting through a $2,625,000 general pay increase in time for Christmas. NEW YORK.—It won’t be a merry Christinas and happy New' Year foi* the night clubs. Mayor Walker said he would sign today tlu* curfew bill closing all cabarets at 3 a. m. NEW YORK. —The biggest family In New York will have the feed of Its life on Christmas. The Hotel Roosevelt had Invited the American father and mother in New York with the most children to be its guest. NEW YORK.—About 2,000 crippled eliiidren will be made happy by being guests at a Christmas feast next Tuesday on the Leviathan, largest American ocean liner. NEW YORK —Uncle Sammie Claus spoiled Christmas for the Hotsy Totsy Club and seventeen other convivial resorts by harming eighteen nice iron padlocks on their front doors, which will still be thfcre until it is almost time to observe the Fourth of July. PARIS. —Crown Prince and Princes Leopold and Astrid of the Belgians were discovered window shopping on the Rue de la Palx. The newlyweds went to the Riviera from Brussels and were here incognito three days buying Christmas presents.

Gone, but Not Forgotten

Automobiles rei>orted stolen to police belong- to: Fred Clark, Brooklyn, Ind., Ford, 153-353, from Market St. and Senate Ave. Clarence Ostheimer, 265 Parkview Avg., Ford, 528-001, from Pennsylvania and Washington Sts. Carl B. Coombs, 1018 E. Michigan St.t, Essex, 506,073, from in front of that, address. Edward Bryan, Seventy-Fifth St. and Sylvan Ave., Ford, from 600 N. Noble St. SEATTLE, Wash.—" Take this home to the little woman,” urged a. sign over a valuable opal pnl In the window of a jewelry store. Some one apparently did, for when employes opened the shop they found the window broken and the pin missing.

THE WIRE THAT CARRIES THE UNITED PRESS IS A LIVE WIRE

Arson Charged to Texas Flapper

Above, Mrs. Rebecca Bradley Rogers. Below, Mrs* Rogers in court with her mother. Bu United Press AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 16. —Troubles of Mrs. Rebecca Bradley Rog ers, 19-year-old alleged flapper bandit, had been added to today with the filing of a charge of arson against the young woman. The charge was brought a few hours after she had been released under bond on a charge of holding up the Farmers National Bank of Buda last Saturday. Mrs. Rogers was rearrested as she sat at the bedside of her youthful husband, Otis M. Rogers, who was hurried to a hospital yesterday suffering from a bronchial attack. According to officers, Mrs. Rogers was in Round Rock, a small town near Buda, last Friday. She was said to have loitered about the Farmers State Bank there and to have asked employes of the hank what they would do in case of fire. Later, Mrs. Rogers was said to have rushed into the bank shouting “Fire!” A small unoccupied house near the bank was in flames. The young woman was reported to have been seen entering the house a few minutes before the fire was discovered. Officers believe she had planned to rob the bank in the excitement attendant on the fire. However, employes of the bank refused to become alarmed, y The girl left Round Rock a short while later. RE-ELECTED CHAIRMAN Hu United Press CHICAGO, Dec. 16.—Charles A. Dean of the Ilinois Athletic Club has been re-elected chairman of the Central A. A. U. championship track and field committee. He has served in this capacity for many years.

No Overcoat at Zero

‘ " -‘ ~~

Although the mercury was at zero. Prince George of England, Wales' little brother, didn’t stop to don an overcoat when he stepped from his train at Montreal to pose for this picture. The befurred individual at the left Is E. W. Beatty, president of the Canadian Pacitlc.

The Indiananolis Times

COUPLES MARRIED BY EX-JUSTICES SEEKING ADVICE ‘What to Do?’ Question Asked of County Clerk, Deputy Prosecutor. What to do? This is the question bothering several couples recently married by four justices of the peace in Center Township, who refuses to stop their activities despite the municipal court law, which provides for only one justice in the tow’nship. The qualified justice under the law is Edward L. Dietz, but Isidor Wulfson, Conrad Keller, Walter Glass and Alvin Mosley, assert they will not cease activities until the suit filed in Superior Court. Five, by Mosley, seeking abolishment of the municipal courts, is tried Dec. 23. Couple Asks Advice County Clerk Albert Losche was prepared for another day of interrogation by the married couples. Losehe’s advice to newlyweds is: “Wait and see what happens in the court case." • Although \yulfson and Keller were charged with usurping a public office for marrying persons, Wulfson married Harry Brandt and Ruth Chappelle of Ben Davis, Ind., on Wednesday. The youthful couple went to the office for advice. Are We Married? “We're between the devil and the deep blue sea,” they said. “Are we married or not? And what shall we do?” Whereupon Deputy Prosecutor John L. Nihlaek shrugged his shoulders and said: "If I were you I'd got remarried by a preacher." “Yes. but Wulfson won’t turn the certificates over to us,” they said. I„ate Wednesday a man, wearing a haggard look, entered the clerk’s office. “Whew, gosh, will somebody put me wise on this marriage stuff ” he asked. "My wife has been riding me right and left after she found out there might be something wrong in it. “She thinks I’m trying to fool her. It certainly is a pleasant third marriage. I've been married twice before and divorced and now I don’t know whether I'm married or not.”

Peanut Barons Act After Hall Threat The ’ element of business acumen today was a factor in the warfare of the peanut machine that has waged for several days about the corridors of the city hall. Attacked because of the ''unfairness" of a glass-covered machine on the second floor, those trade barons who control the local peanut supply today had substituted a sllvercolored machine of truly remarkable powers. This contrivance shoots forth both a penny and a nickel’s worth of nuts —one twist of the wheel for the penny and five for 5 cents. The warning pasted to the machine that was removed read: "This machine Ts not fair. You had better fix it to deliver 1 cent’s worth or all your business will go downstairs.”

Christinas Play at Fresh Air School

Chris!mas kiddies of many lands, portrayed in a playlet by eliiidren at the Theodore Potter fresh ail school on the Technical High School grounds, featuring their annual Ch ristrruw party and program.

Firm in the belief that the good Santa Claus has brought them the best of presents—that of increased weight and stronger bodies—-children at the Potter fresh air school on the Technical High School grounds enthusiastically presented a pageant-playlet Wednesday rfternoon as the feature of their annual Christmas exercises and party.

MATSON ASKS FOR DATA ON MERGER (Continued From Page 1) partment has been done with funds belonging to the public and that the report of the commission's engineer should have been available to the publia immediately, especially in view of the importance of the pending proceeding, "It is obvious that It will be entirely impossible for the interveners in this matter to render any assistance to the commission or to the public, unless adequate time is given for study of the evidence which the con\mission itself will make available on the hearing, and, in addition thereto, adequate time is given for providing such additional evidence as the intervene™ may deem necessary in order to arrive at a Just determination of the ealuatlon of these properties, "The unfortunate result to the city and the public in the telephone rate case and wnter rate case cannot bo overlooked or forgotten by the commission at thin time. In each of those cases, tho public suffered needless lncreaso in rates, because of the Inadequate and insufficient character of the evidence submitted at the hearing.” Commission Decided Tho merger opponents went before tho commission for the hearing on the Jurisdiction question with little possibility of winning their point. Ruling of Attorney General Arthur L. Oilllotn that the commission has Jurisdiction over the odmendod path tlon asking merger of tho Indiana polls Light and Heat Company and the Merchants Heat and Light Com--000,000 win govern tho commission, pany with a capitalization of $55,according to Commissioner Frank Wampler in charge of the hearing. May Hear Arguments Although oral arguments may be heard-this afternoon, they will be unavailing, Wampler declared, aa the commission will abide by the attorney general's opinion. Tho motion asking dismissal of the amended merger petition on grounds the commission has no Jurisdiction was filed by attorneys representing the city, Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Community Civic Clubs.

A ruling on the jurisdiction of the comrnlsson on the amended merger petition was volunteered by Gilliom. Previously, on request of the com mission, he had ruled that the commission had no jurisdiction on the original merger petition because the Indianapolis Power and Light Com pany, the concern which it is proposed shall absorb the two utilities, is as yst a mere dummy and not a public utility. The amended petition, which Gilliom upheld, asks the commission to declare the company a utility. Ell/s Starts Work Ellis, former commission secretary appointed to the commission by Governor Jackson Tuesday, sat with other commissioners at; the hearing. Ellis took the place of Samuel Artman, who was appointed to chairmanship of the industrial board upon resignation of Dixon Bynum. The Ellis appointment coming in the face of the merger hearing. created a furore of adverse comment. Successor to Ellis as secretary may be chosen at the weekly conference of the commissioners Friday. The only written application for the position has been filed by Edward Bohne, Indianapolis, former secretary to former Senator Albert J. Beveridge. Beveridge wired Jack, son assuring him of-Bohne’s qualifications for the position, and he has the backing of newly elected Supreme Court Judge Clarence R. Martin and others with polttlcul strength. The wording of another change in

Christmas children of many lands were, portrayed. Dr. Alfred Henry, president of the Marion County Tuberculosis Association, presided at a luncheon served to guests and the children before the program. Mayor Duvall, Superintendent of Schools E. U. Graff. Dr. Herman G. Morgan, city health officer Theodore F. Vonnegut and diaries W. Kern of the school board.

he petition filed Wednesday is cause of considerable comment. The terms “physical property” are •hanged in the newest petition to used and useful," which, according to students of utility laws and practices, places an entirely different light on the situation. It is believed by many that if the public service commission places its stamp of approval on the purchase of tho property as being "used and useful" with the price remaining the that amortization of the duplicated equipment as the lines are combined would not take place. In other words, it had been the hope of some of the opponents of the merger in its original form that cognizance would be taken of the equipment and plants which would not be necessary after combining the two companies, and that in time value of the discarded capital could be removed from the capital account. The changed petition would obviate such a possibility because it places everything in the class of being “used and useful.” That the utility later will ask for a “spot reproduction” value a little later is also seen as a possibility now by those not in favor of the merger as now conceived. They fear that, if the commission grants the petition as amended, all further recourse to the courts would not bring relief. COYOTE MAN’S ANCESTOR Indian I/Ogend Offers New Tlieory of Origin. Hu V f.'A Hen ire BOISE, Idaho, Dec. 16.—-The first people were created by the coyote, accoYding to the old New Pierce Indian legend. The story says that the animals once lived In fear of a dragon which the coyote promised to kill. The soyote leaped down the beast’s throat and pierced its heart with a sharp stone. Coyote then washed the blood from his person and next day when the sun came out the water germinated and by night the Nez Perces were born.

Head Juniors of S. H. S.

Shortrhige High School jurlor class oflioem. Front: Virginia Holt, class secretary and Crescendo Club member; Ralph Coble, treasurer and Roman State officer. Rear: Harold Lewis, class president, Math Club president, and Senate president, and Iris Hollins, class vice president, editor of tlie Monday Echo, and officer of the True Blue Club.

Carl W. Burton, school official; Milo FL Stuart, Technical principal, and others interested or connected with the fresh air school movement attended. The program was given under the direction of Mrs. Jeanette Williams, principal, assisted by the teachers. The entire student body of 120 pupils took part in the playlet and the singing.

?00E RELIEF BILL UNDER DISCUSSION BYC.OFC.GROUP Would Finance Charities in County Through Taxation. Introduction of a bill in the coming Legislature to dispense poor relief through a county organization, funded through taxation, will be discussed at a luncheon of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce civic affairs committee today. The proposal, applicable only to Marlon County and sponsored chiefly by the Family Welfare Society, would finance charities through taxation rather than by voluntary contributions. Would Have Board It would provide for appointment by the Marlon County Circuit Court Judge of a board of six persons to be known as the county board of public welfare, which would supervise all charitable institutions. Present control of institutions and relief is vested in county commissioners and township trustees. Closing the county Infirmary and transfer of its inmates to the Julietta Hospital for Insane, which would yield its patients to State institutions, also was expected to be discussed at the luncheon. Discussed Informally Despite the fact that the system would threaten the prerogatives of the Community Fund, Homer W. Borst, executive secretary, said today “I rather believe in it.” William H. Book, assistant clvio affairs committee secretary, said the Chamber has n6t yet decided whether to back the bill, but admitted it had been discussed informally.

/ Second Section

Fires From Sparks and Overheated Stoves Continue fn Large Numbers. BUT COLD PASSES ON Gradual Rise Predicted on Friday by Bureau. Damage of about fifteen thousand ollars was caused by a flra*at the ‘rnrla &. Eastern Railroad rnundnuse machine shop at Washington md Greeley Sts. this morning,, this :-mg the thirtieth call answered by he fire department since 7 p. m. V ednesday. The E. 4 K. Is a branch of tlie ’.Jig- Four railroad. The roundhouse coper was not seriously damaged. Most of the destruction was to machinery as result of water used to iiglit the flames.

Harry 1.. Kepner,. dark, said the ilasa started when a needle valve Yew out of a crude aiL brazing outlt. Fires started from sparks and overheated stoves continued in record numbers, though the frigid wave which has paid Indianapolis a visit most of tills week packed op Its baggage and started moving on. According to the fire department, forty-three runs were made from 7 p. m. Wednesday to noon today. During the previous twenty-four hours the department had answered thirty-seven, alanna. Temperature Higher While the balmy atmosphere of May and June was not discernible In the city this morning, the temperature at 7 was 13, or 7 degrees above the mark for the same hour Wednesday. 91owly rising temperature is predicted for Friday. At noon today the mercury registered 22 and It may advance several more degrees this afternoon, Meteorologist J. H. Armtngton said, the cold wave, which came from the Northwest, is passing along to the Southeast. Fair weather is in prospect tonight and Friday. Probably the mercury will dip down to only about 15 degrees tonight, Armlngton predicted. Another False One Early this morning the fire department was called to Walnut and West Sts., on a ring from an alarm box only to find there was not any fire In that neighborhood. Officials stated this is’the fourth time this week they have been called to answer this box and found the alarm to be false. They urged the police department to help them find and prosecute the person who is turning in the alarms. It was mentioned that In Long Island, N. Y., a judge recently sentenced a man to jail for six months for turning in a false fire alarm. BODY IN SNOW BANK Man’s Death First Cold Fatality of Season in Upper Michigan. Bu United Press SIDNAW, Mich., Dec. 16.—The body of Charles Beck, local resident, was found yesterday near his home here, party covered by a snowbank. Beck left the house Tuesday, and according to the coroner, died from exposure and cold. It was the first such fatality in the upper peninsula this year.

MODERATION FORECAST Middle West, However, Will Be Cold at Least Twelve Hours Longer. Bu United Press CHICAGO, Dec. 16.—Held for three days in tho grip of the coldest weather of this winter, the Middle West today faced at least twelve more hours of frigid temperatures. Relief from the midwinter cold, which was brought down from Alaska on a northwest wind to spread over almost the ehtire United States, is not expected until tonight or tomorrow, the weather bureau said. Today dawned clear and cold in most sections, but, according to the forecast, a slight cloudiness is expected to spread this afternoon and begin a moderation of the weather. By tomorrow afternoon the moderation will be well under way, the pre31ction said. From Norfolk, Neb., came the report of the coldest middlewestern temperature during yesterday, 23 below.

COW CALLING CHAMP Mrs. V eager Wins Short Course Contest; Governor's Wife Honored. A silver cow bell and the cow calling championship of central Indiana were won by Mrs. William Yeager at the Purdue University agricultural short course contest at West Newton Commmunity House Wednesday. Presentation of the title and bell by Governor Jackson was a feature of the baliquet following the con test. Tied with William Edwards in the afternoon contest, Mrs. Yeager won the final round. An amateur hog-calling contest at the banquet was won by Mrs. Jack son. with a tumbler of pennies as the prize. The short course program closed in the. afternoon. There is every prospect of a scien tifle pilgrimmage to Wales ftnd the north of England at the ned of next June, when an eclipse of the sur will be total in these parts of Great Britain.

BANKERSTO MEET AT FT. WAYNE TO FURTHER DEFENSE State-Wide Plans Made to . Trap Bandits With Silent Alarms. Allen County Bankers' Pmteethr* Association will meet at Ft. Wayne tonight, to further State-wide plan.* to combat bank banditry. A. similar meeting will he held at La Porte. Ind., Friday night. Details of the State bankers* campaign were revealed at a meeting of the Hamilton County Bankers' Association at Noblesvill© Wednesday night. Death Trap Plans caTl to make every bank a “death trap" for bandits. Silent alarms will be installed with half dozen to a dozen hidden buttons in each bank, easily accessible to the employes. Pressing of these buttons will sound the alarm at vigilante posts in the town or city. The alarm, however, will not sound in the bank and bandits will not know of the trap until they leave the bank and face vigilante guna. Plans also calls for the establishment of sirens that can be heard for miles. These will sound In case the bandits escape the hank. In connection With this, Frank H. Dunn of Zionsville has arranged a road blockade. Black Race Under this scheme, citizens would gather at the sound of the siren at designated posts, halt the first auto and block the road with it.* .Then they would hide and ambush the bandits. The plan calls for a mobilization of vigilantes in a radius of fifty miles within half an hour after the robbery. The bankers also plan to Install telephones and ventilation In bank vaults, so in case employes are locked within by bandits they can flash word to police and escape suffocation.

Far and Near

OTTAWA, Ont.—The history of Sable Island, a community on a dot of land 170 miles southeast of Halifax, for the year 1026 as officially reported to tho Canadian government: “A horse died, a half keg of liquor washed ashore and one of the fifty-five men, women and children who make up tho population left.” WILMINGTON, Del. John Montcalm, 13, n pirate bold, buried his loot under a fencepost and fired shots into the post so he’d be able to find it again. His freebooting career ended with full confession after his mamma missed . her Jewel box and called In police. LONDON —The new lord mayor of London, Sir Roland Blades, who had to work hard to scrape a living only a few years ago, has been complaining that because of his rank he will not be alowed to ride in a trolley car, omnibus or taxicab for the next year, it’s a custom. NEW YORK.—Such a ticking, tolling, striking and clanging as seldom occurs this side of a necromancer’s pipe dream took place hero when 289 clocks of tho valuable collection of Lyman C, Flint of Monson, Maas., were put on sale. One rare mahogany steeple clock had a wagon spring- as its motive power. PARADISE, Nov,—A rat as large as a rabbit lias been captured in a coyote trap here. John S. Case, who caught the huge rodent, said that the animal had killed his house cat and that it had escaped from throe gopher trails. NEW YORK—AII bidding ceased at a police auction of unclaimed articles when a pair of crutches was put up and an aged cripple hobbled forward on a cane with a bid of 25 cents. Ho discarded his cane and hobbled away on tho crutches. GREENS FARMS, Cnnn.—Dry agents finished raiding the country estate of Edward T. Bedford, aged millionaire dry advocate, really dry today when the last vestiges of a distillery that had been operating in full blast were removed. It was being run by a hired man on the estate unknown to the owner. Bedford, who is 77 and one of the richest men in the country never took a drink in Ills life. BALTIMORE —Judge Joseph Ull man lias installed a microphone and amplifier in the witness box In Superior Court so jurors will be able to hear the testimony of weak-voiced or timid witnesses. NEW YORK.—The New York Edison Company reported a yearly increase of one million dollars in revenue because the radio keeps people up later, increasing their electric light bills. NEW YORK.—lt’s no orime to smile nt a pretty woman, Supreme Court Justice Ford told Mrs. Helene Tatelman, in refusing her a separation on the ground that her husband was flirtatious. “It’s abnormal for a man not to like to look at a pretty vVoman,” Justice Ford told her. "I’m trilling at you now in the presence if your husband.”