Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 223, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 December 1926 — Page 1

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VOLUME 37—NUMBER 223

PAT SAYS HE WARNED lAELLETT Accused on Witness Stand Declares Phone Carried News of Plot. FAMILY ATTENDS TRIAL Widow and Children of Slain Editor Present. Prefix Ohio, Deo. 22.~Pat McDermott took the witness stand today to save himself from the electric chair in his trial on charges of conspiring with the underworld to assassinate Don R. Mellett, editor of the Canton Daily News. The day Kascholk declared he and Pat met Ben Rudner and Louis Mazer, who are alleged to have conspired in the reprisal murder —the witness said he spent the afternoon in a pool room and then went to Canton, registering under an assumed name on the advice of his companion, Kascholk. ‘‘Did he go out that evening?” Mills inquired. “Yes.” ‘‘After he came in what did you do?” "He said he had a job for both of us to beat up Editor Mellett! I told him he was crazy.” On Saturday, McDermott said, he called the Mellett home, . ‘‘l called the number,” he said. ‘‘A lady answered. I said, ‘Hello, Is Mr. Mellett there?’ She said he was not, and then I warned her about the plot.” The attorney began accounting for the defendant’s movements for the days that followed, but McDermott Interrupt "and: ‘‘But ou're getting ahead of the story. Don’t forge tmy call Sunday night.” Mills then suggested: ‘ Did you ceil Don Mellett?” “Yes, on Sunday night'. I told hi a there were several men hang- ■ ound his garage.” ’ , hat did he say?’’ "He asked who it was talking :n ! I said ‘an enemy of your enemies.’ ” Describes Movements McDermott then told of his movements on each day up to the Thurs; y preceding the midnight murder. ■ sai 1 he slept until 10:30 Thursly, walked around, went to a show and was in bed early, arising the next morning at 9 o’clock—nine hours after Mellett was ambushed. “When did you first learn of the murder?” “The next day,” replied McDermott. “I heard it talked about and I saw something about it in the paper.” McDermott was held In contempt of court when he stubbornly refuseef to answer a question to name the person who furnished him with funds while he was in hiding in Cleveland, following the murder. The court admonished him, but Pat clung to the code of the ‘‘underworld” and refused to divulge the information. "But what can I do about it?” said Judge E. W. Diehl in ruling the witness was in contempt. “I can’t throw him in jail—he is already there.” Under questioning by his attorney, E. L. Mills, the witness said he was 28 years old and his parents live Nanty Glo, Pa. McDermott charged that his accuser, Steve Kascholk, was the one who proposed that they ‘‘beat up” Mellett. Blushes at Camera The defendant was asked by his aL torney to sit quiet for a moment *vhile photographers snapped pictures. He blushed till his face was the hue of his auburn hair and nodded assent. He looked steadily at the battery of cameras trained on him and srpiled in his most pleasing fashion. As the debonair youth was called for his supreme moment and the climax of the three weeks’ trial of the reign of vice masters in Canton, Mrs. Florence Mellett, widow of the crusading editor, took a seat near the witness chair. Her four children acompanied Mrs. Mellett. Under an agreement reached before court opened today the case will go to the jury tomorrow and McDermott probably will learn his fate as a Christmas present. McDermott, dressed to imitate a fashion plate, was smiling with confidence as he took the wjtness chair and faced the crowded courtroom.

SANTAS GET BACK JOY THEY SPREAD “It Made Us So Happy,’ Say Two Girls After Taking Christmas Basket to Drab Little Home.

Today s list of Santa Claus opportunities is printed on Page 2. And now the joy that the Indianapolis Santas—l23 of them—have started to give out to needy families through The Times Santa Claus Club, is beginning to flow back! The very first enthusiastic Santa to talk to The Times Santa Claus editor after delivering a basket to a little home where drab cheerlessness had settled down these December (lays, was Miss Beulah Oldham, 1720 Prospect St. With her had gone her

The Indianapolis Times

FAIR, COLD SATURDAY PREDICTION Snow Friday May Make Christmas a White One, However. Christmas Day in Indianapolis probably will be fair and cold, but there may be snow on the ground, the United States weather bureau announced today. For snow is predicted for Friday, following rain tonight. A sharp drop in temperature Friday will carry the mercury down to about 10 degrees above zero by Friday night Meterologist J. H. Armington said. While the temperature may go up a bit Christmas Day, it is expected to go down again that evening. The cold wave is coming out of the northwest, Armington stated. He believes that the frigid weather will stay around over Sunday at least. "We can’t tell just how much snow there will be Friday,” Armington said. But small boys with sleds, and others whef expect Santa to drop such articles down the chimney, were hopeful that the fall would be heavy. Weather bureau records for the last forty-two years show snows on only seventeen Christmas days. Last year a fall of .3 of an inch was recorded. TWO LAOS DROWN WHEN ICEBREAKS BENEATHSKATES Brothers Witness Tragedy on Eel River at North Manchester. Bu United Prcfx NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind., Dec. 23.—Frederick Thompson, 12, and Eugene Wright, 8, both of North Manchester, were drowned in Eel River here late Wednesday when the thim ice on which they had been skating gave way. Their bodies were recovered late in the evening. ** The two lads went skating after school. They were near the center of the river where the Ice was thinnest when Eugene suddenly broke through. Frederick, a short distance behind him, was caught as the break spread from the spot where his companion struggled in the water. l’ounger brothers of the two lads playing nearer shore were helpless. They summoned aid, but the victims had disappeared by the time rescuers arrived. The youngsters who saw their brothers drown said it was two or three minutes before they went down. The accident occurred near the center of the city and a large crowd gathered at the river banks. Boats put out, breaking the ice ahead of them to search for the bodies. They were found a short distance below the place where the boys dropped into the water. Frederick was the.son of Mr. and Mrs. Earnest Thompson and Eugene of Mr. and Mrs. Galen Wright. HOURLY TEMPERATURE 6 a. m...... 34 10 a. m 36 7 a. m 35 11 a. m.‘<.... 37 8 a. m 34 12 (noon) .... 38 9 a. m 35 I p. in 38

Deaf Mute Fatally Shoots Self

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Luther Lyons, deaf-mute, who, discouraged by a hopeless battle, against ill health, shot and hilled himself in Ids room at (he Y. M. C. A. this morning.

assistant, Miss Goldie Brandenburg of 1224 Park Ave. ‘‘Why it just made us so happy—taking that basket,” both girls declared. “You see the family had really decided there was to be no Christmas for them, and the children just were tickled to death when they saw what we had for them. The little 10-year-ofd girl had wanted a doll—and she got it. The boy wanted some games. We took him two. Os course we had gifts for tjie rest too, and a basket of Ch :•! tinas food (Turn to Page 8)

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice. Indianapolis

OPPONENTS ASK DELAY IN MERGER BULLETIN . Opponents of the merger today asked a nr lety-clay postponement. The commission was to hear arguments on the postponement motion this afternoon. Opponents of the proposed merger of the Indianapolis Light and Heat Company and the Merchants Heat and Light Company with a $55,000,000 capitalization, were to tak the first step in their fight for a postponment of the rmeainder of the hearing this afternoon. The merger opponents plan to ask for a postponement of sufficient length that they may have made a valuation of th of the two companies to combat the valuations, all in the neighborhood of $50,000,000, presented by experts of tthc two utilities. Albert S. Richey of Worcester, Mass., electrical engineer who has been retained to make the proposed appraisal was to go on the witness stand immediately after convening of the afternoon session to testify as to the time needed for such a valuation. Richey must leave the city tonight, hence his evidence will be presented befere the untllity companies have completed their case. Charles W. Spooner, utility expert, was the first witness on the stand. representing the merger opponents objected to Chairman (Turn to Page 13) CONSIDERSSTATE DOG QUARANTINE Raries Prevalent, State Health Board Says. Rabies have become so prevalent throughout the State that a special meeting of the Indiana board of health has been calhd for next Wednesday, by Dr. Wil iam F. King, secretary, to discuss the advisability of placing the entire State under quarantine. Contrary to popular opinion, socailed “dog days” of July and August have mfthiug whatever to do with the increase of the-disease. More cases have been reported this month than at any time throughout the year, reports reveal. A map in Dr. King's office shows the increase. Marion County has led in the number of dogs’ heads sent in for examination. but every county in the State has had its quota. In August there were forty-six cases and after a lull the total mounted to forty-seven last month and is increasing dally. If the hoard decides that a general quarantine is tequlred it will have the balking Governor Jackson. Dr. King said. It would-mean that every dog at lnrge must ge kept muzzled, or it will be shot. Stock losses has already made necessary a local quarantine in Jackson County.

MUNICIPAL COURT CASEJSOPENED Justice Attacks Constitutionality of Law. Hearing on a suit attacking constitutionality of the 1925 municipal court law, brought Ijy Alvin Mosley, who has refused to give up his'of - five as Center Township justice of tiie peace, opened today in Superior Court Five. Municipal court judgf's, county and city officials, are defendants. , Henry L. Morrison of the Shelby Circuit Court is sitting as special judge. Walter Glass, Isidor Wulfson and Conrad Kelle who also are retaining their offices as justices, have joined Mosley in tiie suit. Under the law. Justice Edward Dietz, chosen in the last election and qualified to hold the office Nov. 14, is the only legal justice in the township. Wulfcon and Keller already have been arrested on charges of usurping a public office, for marrying persons since Dietz qualified. These charges are set for hearing Jan. 5. PROBING AIR TRAGEDY Government Authorities Seek Cause of Crash Fatal to Four. Bu United Prcxx RANTOUL, 111., Dec. 23.—Government authorities today launched an investigation to determine the cause pf the collision between the army airplanes here last night in which four officers were The planes crashed at a height of 550 feet. The dead: Capt. Harold O. Foster, Chicago; First Lieutenant Henry W. Kunkel, Rantoul; First Lieutenant Albert J. Clayton, Scott Field, Belleville, 111.: Second Lieutenant Ralph L. L.uter, Bolling Field, Washington. The machines were traveling rapidly when they collided and the crash was so terrific that motorists along the road for nearly a mile were attracted to the .scene. Both were in flames before they reached the ground. One exploded as It struck the _

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, DEC. 23, 1926

Postal Employes Do ‘Big Business *

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The "pea-huHer" working at full capacity of 500 sacks of parcel post matter per hour, at the Illinois St. parcel post station. The system was devised by Austin O. Sims, assistant superintendent of the local station

GAY CHRISTMAS DAY ONCE UNDER BUMS' BAN Festivities Forbidden in Massachusetts and Connecticut Centuries Ago. Bn VPA Service BOSTON, Mass., Dec. 23.—The oldtime blue laws tl.at stern-faced colonial forefathers liked so mucii are experiencing a revival. Only a few days ago a hundred people were arrexted in a New Jersey town for violation of a motheaten statute about Sabbath observance. v A century-old law kept the Sesquicentennial Exposition at Philadelphia closed on Sunday. These laws may seem • rather harsh nowadays. But Massachusetts and Connecticut, a little more than two centuries ago, lied a blue law that puts all the rest of these to shame—a law that forbade the observance in any way whatever of Christmas! Five-Shilling Line The Massachusetts law provided a fins, of five shillings for ui\y person who celebrated Christmas “either by forebearing of labor, feasting, or any way.” In Connecticut possession of a sprig of holly on Christmas made one liable to imprisonment in the stocks. The early American colonies got over this dour attitude ■- largely through the inlluence of the Jovial Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam. The Dutch, witli their celebration of the festival of Kris Kringle (the Christ Child), made Christmas a merry holiday, and in the end this view prevailed over the New England attitude. So the old Massachusetts and Connecticut laws were eventually repealed. t Probably those blue laws will never be revived. But they are worth studying by reason of their contrast to the present attitudo toward Christmas. Celebration of Christmas was originally looked on with a good deal of suspicion by devout Christian folk. This is because the holiday was based, in the first place, on a pagan ceremony. That statement sounds almost unbelievable. Christmas seems preeminently a Christian holiday. To begin with, exact date of Christ’s nativity is unknown. In the early days of the church some celebrated it in spring; others in January. It is pointed out that Dec. 25 falls 'ln the middle of the rainy season in Judea, when the shepherds and their flocks would not have been in the fields all night. Replaced Roman Feast The date of Dec. 25 was fixed for Christmas by Pope Julius I early in the fourth century. Ho took this date largely in order to make the Christian festival replace the old Roman Saturnalia, which was celebrated at the same time. And it I3 from the Saturnalia that many of our Christmas customs come. The Saturnalia was a holiday period. Distinctions of rank were forgotten. Slaves ate at their masters’ tables. All classes exchanged gifts, and all children were given little clay dolls. The makers of those dolls held a regular fair at this time. There is part of the origin of the holiday customs. Others are found in other pagan religions. The old Norse feast of Jul, or Yule, was a counterpart of the Roman Saturnalia. From it we get the custom of burning the ‘ Yule Log.” The liberal use of candles also is derived from the Y’ule ceremony. Plum pudding became a traditional feast dish then. The use of mistletoe at Christmas festivals is derived from the ancient Druids. Mistletoe was believed by them to be a gift from the gods and to possess magic virtues, and was, accordingly, given the highest esteem. In the records of the early European church we find many references to the fathers’ dismay at" the custom of using mistletoe In celebration of Christmas. Banned All Celebration During* the Puritan domination of England Christmas was outlawed. It was ordered that the only way in which the day might be observed was In prayer' and fasting, as a penefnee for the riotous way in which the day formerly ha dfceen observed. Soldiers searched suspected houses to seize holiday food and gifts. It was not until the restore-

1,500,000 Greetings Are Handled by Local Office in One Day. One million, five hundred thousand Christmas cards! Two hundred and twenty-five thou sand parcel post packages! liig numbers? Yes, and they meun something, for the main postoffice ! handled 1,500,000 Christmas greeting cards Wednesday, including several hundred thousand incoming local cards, in addition to the regular distribution of letters. And the Illinois St. parcel post station is handling 9.000 sacks of parcel post packages dally, averaging twenty-five t<> the sack. The regular force of 125 employes has been increased to 250 for the Christmas rush, and the "pea huller,” pictured above, has been passed into its annual service. The several thousand sacks of parcel post matter stream Into the station all day and night and are put through the system of sorting for the sixty-three delivery stations in the city and the many divisions for out city delivery. ‘‘The system works perfectly.” Superintendent Albert H. Steele said today. “Every morning the city trucks And their stacks waiting for the 6 o'clock delivery and wo keep the trucks filled as fast as they can return.” • The system In force is adopted during tiie rush season only, starting this year on Dec. 17, and ending Dec. 27. tion of King Charles 11. In IC6O, that a more liberal view was adopted. Although the exchange of gifts comes partly from the old Roman holiday. It comes more largely from the old legend of St. Nicholas. This sidnt, a fourtJY century Bishop of Myra, in Asia Minor, was regarded as tl>e patron saint of poor maidens, sailors and children—especially of children. His feast day happened to fall on Dec. 6. ami little by little this holiday and Christmas overlapped and were celebrated together, St. Nicholas is the original of .Santa Claus, and the Dutch are largely responsible for the jovial saint’s growth. Parents gave gifts to their children on St. Nicholas’ day, but did it very secretly, and told the children that Nicholas himself had left them. Then they extended the legend and said that the old saint rode by at night in a sleigh drawn by reindeer, coming down chimneys to give gifts to good little children. Santa Claus Himself There you have Santa Claus. The name Santa Claus is a corruption of St. Nicholas, and the traditional picture of fat, red-faced Santa are like the old-time pictures of St. Nicholas. The Christmas free itself is not of pagan origin, although tree worship was widespread among the Norse and Druid religions. Whether the use Os a Christmas tree was started in Norway or Germany is uncertain, but we do know' the first English child to have a tree. Princess Mary, daughter of King Henry VII, was the lucky child. One of the decorations set up for her when she was 4 years old w r as a green rosemary bush trimmed with red Jewels and silver ornaments nnd lighted with candles. Since that time the Christmas tree has been traditional. (Copyright, 1926, NEA Service, Inc.)

Heads 40 Homme's, 8 Chevaux

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Benjamin? A. WicneUc, who recently was elected president of the 40 Homines and 8 Chevaux, an or* ganization of American Legion members. i

Outside of Marion County 13 Cents i'er Week. Single Copies

FLOW OF LIQUOR THROUGH MAILS STOPPED BT H. S. Three Indiana Men Arrested —List of Customers Secured in New York. Federal prohibition officers today were rounding up Indiana customers of a New York City whisky-by-mail house, which was raided Monday during the pre-C’hristmas clean up. Using a list of customers, which was seized, they have arrested three Indiana mc>n already. Two of the defendants. Muncle business men, were granted a hearing before United States Commissioner Fae W. Patrick here Wednesday. They were Carl W. Ball, purchasing aeent for the Muncie products division of the General Motors Company, and Ray V. Sowers of the Tyler Manufacturing Company at Muncle, former president of the 1 Muncie Rotary Club. The men were arrested by Chicago Agents Frank Campbell nnd L. R. Reamer, on charges of violating the Federal prohibition laws, working with the cooperation of A. R. Harris, deputy prohibition administrator here. Admits Purchase Ball admitted he had purchased two eases of Mount Vernon whisky from a “cutting plant” at 45 E. Twenty-First St., New York City, known to hint as Goodman Bros., It was said. Sowers told Commissioner Patrick he had purchased a case of the whisky and had bought some from the same “firm” about three months ago. The labels on the whisky were faked, Agent Campbell said. Chicago Agents O. H. Groves and Richard Proud, known as a rum chaser In the Lake Erie region, arrested Wilbur S. Evans, garage owner, of Richmond, for alleged liquor law violation Bore “Fake” Labels One case of the* Goodman liquor was shipped by express to Evans, the agents said. Evans waived examination before United States Commissioner Charles W. Kern and was held to the grand jury. The “fake” labels bore the marking of King George XV, Scotch whisky, agents said. Ball, Evans and Sowers were released under $1,500 bonds. PLEADS ’THIRD DEGREE’ Slayer of Boy Would Deny Confession, Declaring it Forced. Bu United Pren CHICAGO, Dec. 23.—Harold Croarkln, scion of a wealthy family and confessed slayer of 6-year-old Walter Schmith, will repudiate his statement to police which designated him both a murderer and degenerate, it was indicated today. Warden Edward J. Fogarty of the county jail reported today that Croarkln constantly charges that he was forced to confess to obtain sleep, and that he will deny the confession. State's Attorney Crowe countered this by saying Croarkin admitted the murder when he surrendered to police, even before they asked him why he was in the station. BOY ADMITS SLAYING Lad of 10 Confessor Pushing Another, 7, Into River. Bu United Prexn WILMINGTON. Deb, Dec. 23. Otto Newman, 10 years old, today confessed he tripped Nicholas Gianetti, 7, and pushed him to his death in the Brandywino river here for revenge, according to. police. Otto is held in detention home on a charge of manslaughter. Nicholas, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rocco Gianetti, disappeared Nov. 19, a few hours after he had been seen playing with Otto. The younger j boy’s body was found yesterday, half buried in the mud of the river. Detectives showed Otto the body. "Why, it's Nicky," Otto said. He i showed no excitement or emotion. Detectives took him tc the police station. At first Otto denied he knew how Nicholas met death, but today, detectives said, he broke down and confessed he tripped the boy and shoved him into the river because Nicholas and an older brother beat him.

THREE CENTS

MD JURORS SHORE REMY. CALL ATTORNEY EEMERAL HTO MEEIIWG Deputy Prosecutor Is Informed His Presence Is Not Desired in Jury Quarters POLITICAL RUMORS NUMEROUS Pressure to Prevent Indictments Is Brought on Officials. The Marion county grand jury today ignored Prosecutor William 11. Remy, his deputy, William 11. Sheaffer; Special Prosecutor Ralph Kane, and Special Prosecutor Fred Clause and called upon Attorney General Arthur L. Gilliom for legal advice. | The grand jury is deliberating on its report in the probe of alleged political graft and corruption in the State, which has taken eleven weeks. Th ejury was ordered to submit its final report Monday by Judge James A. Collins of Criminal Court. This order came Wednesday when the jury, through its foreman, Wilson Furnas, said the quiz could he completed within two days. Collins then named Friday as the time for turning in the report, but the jury asked extension of time until Monday. r • Others Ignored The summoning of Gilliom was without notice to the other prosecutors in the case and came as a complete surprise to Remy and his assistants. His presence in the grand jury room was discovered when SheatTer, who has been in attendance upon the jury as its adviser in matters aside from the graft inquiry, entered the jury loom. Sheaffer was informed that liis presence was not desired. He left immediately.

Gilliom had not notified Remy of the request nor made any effort to consult with him later, although he holds an appointment from Remy as a special prosecutor for the grand Jury. “I was called to the grand jury rooms this morning to give advice as to some statutes,” said Attorney General GtUlom after he had left the rooms and gone to his offices at the Statehouse. He did not confer with his associates in the graft probe. The call to Gilliom had been made at an hour which did not permit him to go to his own offices in advance. He went to the grand jury before visiting the Statehouse this morning. Political Rumors In tlie meantime political rumors were in circulation that there would be no indictments as a result of the eleven weeks of probe and the calling of many witnesses. Some of tho rumors afloat were that two of the jurors were refusing to consider any indictments. Under the flaw, it requires five of the six votes in the jury to return any indictments. Pressure Put On For the past two weeks political pressure has been placed on prosecutors to prevent any indictments, and officials of the Republican party have attempted to suggest that any indictments would be hurtful to party interest, prefacing the suggestions with the comment that of course they did not desire to make any improper advances. The jury received the advice of Prosecutor Remy, Judge Gause and Ralph Kane last week as to the law governing the evidence which it had received during its probe. This advice was given at a lengthy conference. The law provides that the prosecutors can advise only as to law and not as to the weight of any evidence. The jury started on Its probe with the presence of Attorney General Gilliom in the Criminal Court. Gilliom had offered his services. At that time Prosecutor Remy announced that he had named Kane as a special prosecutor and Gilliom then asked that Remy name

SIGNS CHRISTMAS CARDS; KILLS SELF I Deaf-Mute Despondent Ove Hopeless Battle Against 111 Health —Not Reached for Some Time.

Despondent over a hopeless battle he was waging against ill health, Luther Lyons,*' 24, deaf-mute, room 59, the Y. M. C. A., addressed Christmas greetings to his mother, brother and other relatives and at 5:15 a. m. today fired a bullet into his head that brought death a short time later in the admitting room at city hospital. George Blose, also a mute, lay asleep on a cot in the same room, and it was after considerable difficulty that roomers In adjoining rooms, awakened by the report of the 32-caiibre revolver shot, gained admittance to the room, learned the trouble, and awakened Blose. The bullet entered the left temple and passed through the head. Lyons still clutched the gun that lay on his chest, police say. According to C. C. Isaacs, room clerk at the Y, Lyons had been told by a*doctor that he should have his tonsils removed. He had plannel to undergo the operation next wek.

Forecast Rain tonight, changing to snow Friday; much colder by Friday afternoon or night; Saturday and Sunday fair.

TWO CENTS

AfATIION COUNTY

Gause as a third assistant. Stephenson Charges Basis During tiie eleven week session, the jury had before it many witnesses who were called to testify to vari ous phases of charges made by D. C. Stephenson in his letters made public by Thomas Adams. During this time, various witnesses it desired disappeared for a time. Among these was L. G. Julian, former business partner of Stephenson, who was admitted to Stephenson’s cell In Indiana State prison and then was missing for a month. His wife repeatedly testified that she did not know where he had gone, Mildred confidante of Stephenson, to whom possession of safety deposit boxes belonging to Stephenson had been traced, also disappeared for a week after a conference with an attorney for Stephenson. George Elliott, former head of the Klan in this city, and Harvey W. Bedford were also among the missing for a season. Judge Collins has issued a call for new grand and petit juries. These bodies will he drawn Monday, following dismissal of the present jury. The new juries will tako the oath Jan. 3. JACK IN COURT AGAIN Pluiniiff Claims. Dempsey Refused (o Pay for Tickets. Bu United Pre * LOS ANGELES, Dec. 23.—Jack Dempsey was made the defendant in a suit filed here Wednesday to recover $1,193.69, The sum represents the cost of tickets for the Philadelphia fight Dempsey refused to pay for when he learned they were In the fifty-fourth row Instead of in the twenty-fourth. Morris Shewitt. complainant, said Dempsey had authorized him to buy the seats for friends of the then champion. He said Tex Rickard reimbursed him to the extent of $758.81. His suit against Dempsey is for the balance. Counsel intimated the suit was the forerunner of several more.

Blose told Motorpolicemen Riggs and Kinder that Wednesday Homer M., a brother of Lyons, who lives in Spencer, Ind., cams here to see him. He had written of his suffering from throat and lung trouble, and this was believed to bo the cause. When he left Lyons seemed nat* Ural and set about his task by writing cards and letters. Blose said Lyons was doing tha# when he retired, Blose wrote to police, who were forced to get information from him through script. Police believed that Lyons retired unmindful of suicide, but after a night of suffering, took the gun from be* neath his pillow and fired the shot. Coroner Paul F. Robinson con* ducted an investigation today. Th* letters were not opened. Lyons, a shoe cobbler, had been employed at the Richardson & Hail shoe repair shop, 31 E. Market Sti His mother lives at Patrlcksburgi Ind. 1 4