Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 105, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 September 1927 — Page 13

Second Section

FuU Leased Wire Service el the United Press Associations.

INCREASE IN TRADE HERE BESTJN U. S. Indianapolis Retail Gain for August 7 Per Cent Over August, 1926. GOOD FOR SEPTEMBER Cool Weather Recently, Big Farm Business, Plenty of Jobs Cited. Indianapolis retail trade was 7 per cent greater last month than in August of 1926 and general trade prospects here for September are “excellent,” according to the Dartnell sales forecast. Indianapolis and Oklahoma City, Okla., which also had a 7 per cent trade increase, led the country, according to the report. Many of the cities over the country showed a decrease for August, but the majority enjoyed an increase of 1 or 2 per cent. Local merchants assign various causes for the better business here, and many of them declare that business is more than 7 per cent increased this year compared to last.

Cool Spell Is Boom The August cool spell was responsible for the boom in the business of dry goods stores, one company official said. The hot weather this month probably will result in a slackening of trade, he predicted, however. Another large store official declared that the better trade of his store was due to good employment conditions which must be existing in Indianapolis, contrary to some reports, to good farm conditions throughout Indiana and to improved roads which bring the farmers to the city to conduct their business. Indianapolis wholesale trade increased 2 per cent in August, compared to last year, somewhat above the average of conditions in other cities of the country, but not the largest increase, according to the Dartnell report. Upturn to Continue The upturn in business which began in August will continue in September and while most firms will not be uhie to set new sales volume records, they should be able to do as much business this autumn as they did last year. The report said. The general improved conditions ever the country are due to “the admitted fact” that the American farmer is better off this year than he was last, to plentiful and cheap money, and to the prospect of firmer prices, the forecast said.

POISON ENDS GIRL’S LIFE Daughter Found Dying in Bathroom by Her Mother. Despondent because of 111 health, Miss Alice Marie Feeney, 32, of 550 N. Tremont St., ended her life today by drinking poison. Mrs. Kate Feeney, the mother, heard the daughter groaning in the bathroom of their home and found her dying. Employed by the American Central Life Insurance Company for fifteen years, the daughter suffered a nervdus breakdown two months ago and was granted a three months’ leave of absence, the mother said. A brother, Miles A. Feeney, and the mother survive her. CLUB SEASON OPENS Indianapolis Athletic Dinner Dance Planned Saturday Night. Indianapolis Athletic Club will open its fall season Saturday night with a dinner dance at 6:30 o’clock, followed at 10 o’clock by after theater dansant. Music will be provided by an orchestra directed by George Irish. Swimming classes will begin next week, the first swimming contest to be held Wednesday with a feature race of 5,300 feet. Two bowling leagues have been organized. Athletic classes will begin about Sept. 15. Arrangements for October tournament have been made by the auction bridge committee.

Economy By Time.s Special GARY, Ind., Sept. 9.—According to Mrs. Lela J. Smith, her husband, was such a poor provider that when she went to a lawyer’s office to start divorce proceedings, she borrowed a pair of shoes and a dress in order to be properly attired.

Rough and tumble fighting has been going on along the Florida "liquor front" between United States coast guardsmen and embattled rum runners, on land, on water, and in the air. The coast guard, short-handed, has experienced some very rough handling. Rodney Dutcher, Washington representative of The Times and NBA Service, has written five stories of the conflict. He describes some extraordinary Incidents. His Information Is official. Here is the first story. BY RODNEY DUTCHER NEA Service Writer (Copyright, 1927, by NEA Service, Inc.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 9.—Piracy, murder, corruption and terrorism ha vs led the coast guard to declare a war to the finish with the rumrunners operating off the long, ragged coast of Florida. Thla wa§< only about to begin insofar as the coast guard is con-

Murderers Behave Best in Cells, Says Head of Womens Prison

1 if 1

Greatest Joy Is to Work in Garden; Keep Love for Beauty. BY ELDORA FIELD Life prisoners—murderers—make the best behaved, the most exemplary prisoners. This is the conclusion of Miss Margaret M. Elliott, who has had twenty-nine years’ experience in prison and institutional work and has been superintendent of the Indiana woman’s prison for thirteen years. “A life prisoner here once explained tlUs to me,” commented Miss Elliot* “She said, ‘when we are sentenced, every interest, every hope narrows into the possibility that an exceptional record on our part may sometime free us. This thought becomes our very life, our only goal.’ Like Flowers, Growing Things The flowers and growing things in the yard and garden of the prison are intensely interesting to all the prisoners, Miss Elliott said “It is their greatest joy to work outside in the garden,” she says. The privilege that all the women prisoners crave is that of having a canary bird under their care. “These little yellow bits of life mean so much to them that I am surq the care of the birds is a good character builder,” said the superintendent. “One of the most exciting times that we ever had here and which was almost in the nature of a riot, was when one of the prisoners here had done harm to one of these birds,” related Miss Elliott. Yearn for “Pretty Things” The prisoners never lose their feminine proclivity for pretty things. It is indicated in the intense treasuring of any bit of color, In the attempts to trim their window ledges, in their love and admiration for flowers. “They even take great satisfaction in seeing me, the attendants or visitors dressed in anything that includes trimmings,” said Miss Elliott. Prisoners are allowed to have lace on their pillow slips, made in their off hours. “I think real moral good has come from this simple fact,” said the superiintendent. "Once, when the judge under whom she was sentenced visited the prisoner, she almost had nervous prostation for fear he would miss seeing her handiwork. After he was gone she came breathlessly to me, ‘Did the jedge see that lace I made?’ she asked. “When-told that his attention had, been called to it, she drew a breath of itense satisfaction. ‘“Betcha he couldn’t hardly believe his eyes, though,' she ruminated.” .

AGREE ON BOOZE RAIDS Federal Men to Obtain Evidence for Search Warrants. George L. Winkler, deputy prohibition administrator; Police Chief Claude M. Worley and Municipal Judges Paul C. Wetter and Paul F. Rochford have reached an agreement whereby six policemen will be assigned by Worley to the prohibition offices to work with dry agents. Federal agents will gather evidence for search warrants, the officers assisting agaents in making raids and arrests. Auto Kills School Boy B// United Pres* VINCENNES, Ind., Sept. 9. Wesley McCammpn, 10, was fatally injured today when he leaped from a school wagon into the path of an automobile driven by James McCarter Jr., at Oaktown, north of here. The boy was brought to a hospital here where he died an hour later. McCarter was held not responsible for the accident.

Coast Guard and Desperate Rum Runners Locked in Death Grapple Off Florida Shores

cerned, is a war in every sense of the word. It is being fought on the water, on the land, in the air, and even under the ocean’s surface. Weird tales of the beginnings have been reaching Washington for months. Reprisals against. coast guardsmen by smugglers of liquor, aliens and dope, astonishing in their extent and their vicious nature, have been reported to coast guard headquarters here. Although Florida is regarded as a dry state, its coastal front is the wettest territory in the country insofar as concerns liquor, according to the coast guard.

The Indianapolis Times

frali ■ ♦ P s. > • ■* •* • -' . ,

(Above): Main building: of the Indiana Woman's Prison, E. Michigan St. (Below): The entrance.

POLICE TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE Patrolmen on Guard Until Boys Learn Duties. 1 Preparations to protect school children in traffic until the schoolboy traffic forces thoroughly are organized ~nd trained were completed today by Police Chief Claude M. Worley and Traffic Captain Lester Jones. Seven children were killed and 118 injured in the school vacation just closing. Worley said this is less than last year, and he hopes that, with public cooperation, the toll may be cut during the school year. District patrolmen were assigned to guard streets near twenty-five schools where traffic is heaviest, beginning Monday, when public schools open. Crossings will be watched morning, noon and afternon. School traffic squads will be ready in about three weeks. Worley issued these suggestions to motorists and parents: Drive about ten miles an hour In school districts at dismissal times; be on lookout for juvenile traffic officers and assist them; do not pick up children in the street asking for rides; parents should see that children do not play in streets or on their way home from school, and compel children to obey juvenile traffic officers.

LIGHTS FAIL: TWO CARS IN HEAD-ON COLLISION Three Persons Are Injured in Crash on Rockville Rd. Failure of the lights on an automobile driven by Ralph Caldwell, 17, of Whitcomb Rd., was blamed for a head-on crash with a car driven by James Gibson, 1440 Astor St., on the Rockville Rd. at Stop 4 Thursday night. The Caldwel car was purchased an hour before by Harold Houch, R. R. C, Box 320, who asked Caldwell to drive it home. Miss Mary Girten, 18, and Glenn Bingham, 13, both of R. R. £, Box 116 M, Caldwell’s passengers, were injured. Mrs. Lena Worth, 1440 Astor St., Gibson’s passenger, was injured.

Got ‘Em Yet By Times Special LINTON, Ind., Sep:. 9. Harold Shannon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Shannon, provided this city with its best flrst-day-of-s ,- iool story. He had been told that his baby teeth would come out about the time he was old enough to go to school. Returning on the first day, the little boy ran to his mother, opened his mouth and exclaimed, “I’ve still got ’em.”

Fourteen patrol boats now are trying to break up the liquor traffic in Florida waters and these are nowhere jnear enough. Florida boasts, the longest coast line of any State, and her shores are within fifty miles of the great sources of supply at Bimini, Gun Cay and West End. Reinforcement ships gradually are being added to the fleet. The West coast as well as the East coast of this great Southern playground is penetrated by the “rummies,” and patrol boat bases at St. Petersburg and Fernandina have been added to those at Key West and Fort Lauderdale. The East coast patrol area, which sees most of the trouble, is under

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, SEPT. 9,1927

HILL EN ROUTE EAST FOR TRIAL Confident of Acquittal for Mother’s Murder. By United Press SEATTLE, Wash., Sept. 9. Adopting a sudden change of tactics and waiving extradition, Harry Hill, accused of matricide, was enroute to his home town today, in custody of Sheriff Floyd Clark of Streator, 111. Protest against extradition had been filed with the Governor of Washington and a habeas corpus proceeding was begun in court by attorneys employed by Hill’s father, the divorced husband of the woman the boy is charged with killing. Dr. H. C. Hill arrived here by airplane Wednesday night. He spent yesterday in conference with his son. Then they made the sudden announcement that they would return to Illinois. Hill’s appearance was markedly changed when he was taken to the train. He was clean shaven and his clothing had been pressed. “I’m ready to give myself up,” Hill explained. “I want to stand trial and prove I didn’t kill my mother. I know it will come out all right.” . His appearance and manner confirmed that confidence. His father was more nervous.

U. S. IS PAID BY DOHENY Thirte' , *i Millions to Government on Oil Contracts. By United Press LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9. Litigation over the Elk Hills naval reserve leases and the Pearl Harbor contracts virtually was at end here teday, following payment of $13,900,507.80 to the Government by the Edward L. Doheny interests. The question of interest still remained to be settled and Federal Jydge Paul J. McCormick took under advisement' the attempt of the Government to collect interest on the sum paid from May 10, date of the filing of the judgment of the United States Circui- Court calling for the payment.

THIRTY DAYS AND S6O Negro Draws Fine cad Sentence on Three Charges. Virgil Colbert, 42, Negro, 2205 Martindale Ave., was fined S6O and costs and sentenced to thirty fiays in jail on three charges Thursday by Municipal Judge Paul C. Wetter. He was arrested late Tuesday by Patrolman Royce Wilkerson on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of liquor, reckless driving, inadequate brakes and transporting liquor, after his car had crashed into one driven by-John Brennon, 46, of 415 Walcott St., at N. New Jersey and Puryear Sts.

the command of Capt. P. W. Lauriat, one of the service’s “flghtingest” officers. The “better class” of rum runners, it is said here, long since have quit the game and left the field open to murderous hijackers and cutthroats who stop at nothing to deliver the goods and dssti >y the enforcement effort. A patrol boat has but one machine gun aboard, wh.*rots many “rummies” have two, and are sheathed with armor. Several seaplanes are used in the rum-running traffic; they are able to fly fronu foreign soil to Florida or back in a matter of minutes, and from their aerial vantage point can

CITY SANITARY BOARD FRETS OVER SAURY Members Wonder Whether Pay Will Be Cut From $3,600 to S6OO. SLASH, SAYS EXPERT Statute Fixes Lower Sum When No Construction Is Under Way. Whether city santiary board members will receive $3,600 yearly salary or S6OO in 1928 is “worrying” the sanitary commissioners. It is understood the statute fixes the salary at $3,600 when “construction is under way” and S6OO when there is no construction work to supervise. William H. Book, Chamber of Commerce civic expert, raised the question in connect on with the 1928 budget: “Is any construction work under way?” Construction Work Ended “All construction work, of the department has been completed for several months, with opening of the garbage plant early in the summer. It is true some construction items are planned to be built, such as a small sewer extension from the Jackson St. drain, and. there is discussion of additions to the city’s sewage disposal system. “However, the time has arrived and passed when the commissioners should retire from these salaries, and these items should be reduced in the 1928 budget,” declared Book’s report to the civic committee. Ctiy council fixes only the tax rate and the commissioners arrange the budget appropriations. A levy of .0710 was fixed by council in addition to the .044 for sanitation bonds. A levy of .004 is provided in accordance with the State tax board order, in conformity with a court ruling, which is to care for bills in the last year of the Shank administration. Seeks Legal Opinion Russell T. Mac Fall, sanitary board president, said he expected to seek a legal opinion of the salary question and ask the State board of accounts to rule on the issue. “We are doing as much work as ever and have to pay someone to do it. If the board didn’t do the work, we would have to pay some one else, so it would not be any saving,” Mac Fall said. Charles H. Hurd, consultant engineer, is studying the Broad Ripple sowage area, with view to recommending augmenting of the city sewage disposal system to care for Broad Ripple and an area north and west of Fifty-Sixth St., according to Mac Fall. FLYING BEAUTY IN AIR Ruth Elder Plane Starts Nonstop Trip—Detroit to Florida. By United Press DETROIT, Sept. 9.—Ruth Elder, 22, flying beauty, who hopes to duplicate Lindbergh’s New York-to-Paris flight later in the month, left Ford Airport early today for Lakeland, Fla., on a nonstop trip. Her navigator, Capt. George W. Haldeman, was with her. After tests there Miss Elder proposed to return to Roosevelt Field, N. Y., via Wheeling, W. Va., business men of which are backing her The ocean trip will start as soon as weather conditions are favorable, Miss Elder said.

Honesty By Times Special MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich., Sept. 9.—Here’s real honesty. Seven years ago a woman filched a teaspoon from a hotel and her conscience kept nagging until this week she sent cash to the Grand Hotel here to pay for its long lost spoon. Her confession, in distinctly feminine script, postmarked from South Bend, Ind., reads, according to Manager W. S. Woodflll: “I am sending $1.50. to the brand Hotel to cover the expense of a teaspoon taken from your hotel seven years ago. Our crowd had such a good time at your lovely resort that we wanted a souvenir, and decided to take a spoon. I still have it, but often have wished that I had pa and you for it that night. I hope $1.50 will cover the price of the spoon.” It was signed “A Friend.”

assure themselves of safe landing places. Submarine rum-running, however, is the latest trick of the smugglers. Generally the method is to construct a submersible tank with compartments to be filled with liquor, which is towed by an ordinary craft. If capture seems imminent the submarine is sunk and anchored, pending the owner’s return. These submersibles are from twelve to sixty feet long. A large one cap ured off the North Carolina coast some time back had an engine and pilot room fitted for human occupancy. This Taft was able to proceed by her own power on the surface. She could not travel

SORROW ON MIDWAY

Tragedy Perils Carnival Romance

* v iSjfc

Miss Virginia Lee and Sam Smith

BY RADER WINGET “And now, ladies and gentlemen, you see Virginia Lee, the world’s youngest fancy diver and trick swimmer,” barked the ballyhoo man to a gaping throng on the midway at the Indiana State fair. The sideshow band blared an encore, and Virginia stepped to the front of the platform of the “bathing beauty” show to receive the applause. There was a stage smile on her lips, but in her eyes lurked a vision of terror. Her sweetheart, young Sammie Smith, of the wild west show in the midway, vas battling for his life in the Methodist Hospital. Sammie was thrown from a bucking bronco Tuesday night during the show and suffered a compound fracture of the skull and Interna] injuries. Virginia knew that her sweetheart's chance;: of recovery were slight, but she carried on with the determination and fortitude of an old trouper, inherited from her mother, Mrs. Alma Lee, in the show business for years. “I always waa afraid Sammie

Costs Third of Income for Divorce in Russia

No Arguments in Court Over Alimony There; ‘Catch’ in Law. By United Pr-ss STERLING. 111., Sept. 9.—There is little immorality in Soviet Russia today, even if the new laws do permit easy marriages and divorces, according to Gerald Marfleet, news reel cameraman, who has just returned to his home here after four turbulent months in Russia. There is a "catch” in the law, according to Marfleet, which prevents its being used as a pretext for free love, although a marriage or divorce can be obtained merely by appearing before a government clerk and signing the docket. “When a man divorces his wife he must pay her 30 per cent of his income,” Marfleet explained. “The maximum pay for a Russian worker is sll2 a month, making it almost impossible for a man to pay alimony to .more than one wife at a time without going to the poorhouse.” Living costs are high in Russia, he said. Cocoa retails at 40 cents a cup, while a room with bath can not be had for less than $25 a day. Coffee is not obtainable at any price, because the government does not permit importation of food stuffs. Marfleet, who was accompanied by E. M. Newman, Chicago travel lecturer and author, said he was arrested an average of three times a day during his stay in the Soviet nation. Despite the fact that he was armed with an official pass, he said

under water, but she wps able to sink herself whenever desirable. The smaller submersibles can be towed under water behind small motor boats. One story which has reached Washington tells how a rum-run-ning “king” imported seventeen gunmen from Chicago. This mob was sent out to loot a British booze ship between Miami and the Bahamas. But the British ship beat off the pirates. Two gunmen were killed and the British captain wounded. Thte thing which has most enraged the coast guard is the onshore tactics c terrorism adopted by the enemy.

Second Section

Entered as Second-class Matter at PostoSlce. Indianapolis.

would be thrown from that wild horse,” Miss Lee said. "Sammie joined up in St. Louis, and I met him for the first time while we were playing in Richmond, Ind. “He is a fine lad and I love him,” she said as tears welled in her pretty brown eyes. “He just can’t die.” Sammie and Virginia are the youngest troopers on the lot. “The Alberta Kid.” Hughie Long, Saskatchewan. Canada, was the first man to ride the vicious “critter” after it threw Sammie. Stiff-legged jumps failed to dismount “The Kid,” and the horse finally rushed the fence. The rider’s leg was caught between the horse and a heavy post.' Unmindful of the bruise,' Long guided the horse to the center of the ring before dismounting to “take on” another horse. Breathless from his hard ride, “The Kid” staggered inside the stockade. “How’s Sammie?” were his first words. “Not so good,” another cowboy replied. “Well, don’t tell Virginia how bad he is. Hey, where’s some iodine, I gotta get ready for this next show.”

Bobbed Peril By Times Special EVANSVILLE, Ind., Sept. 9. —Bobbed hair makes business for barbers and it can also make trouble, according to Armendt Ashley, local barber. Suing for a divorce, Ashley alleges his wife was jealous of every woman who came into his shop.

each time he set up his camera he was arrested and made to explain before he could continue. While preparing to leave Russia, Marfleet received notice from Moscow that he would not be permitted to take his films out of the country, but succeeded in obtaining permission to do so by appealing directly to Madame Kamineff, sister of Trotsky, who interceded with Soviet officials on his behalf. VIENNA IS ALL SAUSAGE So Thinks Irish Tourist, Pinched on Two Charges. By United Press VIENNA, Sept. 9.—When Michael O’Flaherty, tourist, dropped a street car ticket on the sidewalk here, a policeman fined him $1.25 for violating a civic ordinance against throwing waste paper. Disgusted, O’Flaherty threw away the receipt the officer had given for the fine, whereupon he was fined $2.50 and given another receipt. Then came a fine of $5 for abusing the policeman.

Reliable information has been received that rum runners have offered rewards of as high as SI,OOO apiece for the lives of some of the men most active in breaking up the industry. One instance was reported in which a roadhouse man purposely ran down two of them in his auto, fatally injuring both. Another bad feature, according to the coast guard, is that local authorities often have been found cooperating with the outlaws. Commanding officers have had to protect their men from some of the courts as well as from the gunmen. Only the most vigorous measures in some instances have obtained

STATE READY 1 FOR START OF DUVALL TRIAL Mayor Faces Court Monday; Corrupt Practices Act Violation Charged. SHIRLEY TO BE JUDGE Names of 58 Prospective Jurors Drawn; 28 on Witness List. Mayor John L. Duvall will go on trial Monday in Criminal Court beore Special Judge Cassius C. Shirley charged with violation of the corrupt practices act. Duvall’s attorneys and Drosecu X s filed 6 " tWS thlr d ’ one of whic h alleged former City Controller William C. Buser and Duvall consnired £ a f el°ny. When th e P tr£ on the one affidavit opens, the prosecutors will be planning to carry out prosecution on other counts. The trial affidavit, filed with the hers May 17, charges Duvall with fnri Pt f ng slo ’ ooo for his campaign fund from William H. Armitaf? local politician, and not listing the vrith°the , expense hst g flled the county clerk, it also is aiged that for this amount Duvall ST -* ■ A f rmitage he could have the appointment of the city enginr and two board o( works S. 58 Names Drawn eioh? rifr Hawkins ls serving fiftyuSL ProSpective Jurors for the trial, whose names have been drawn by County jury commissioners. V nifnrc 11 S efens i? attorne ys and proseSt of Ve been sup Phed with a list of the prospective jurors and have studied them. As the time for the trial nears, aU kTn a r nd , State announced that nil ln , readiness. Prosecutors believe a jury will be selected in two days, while defense attorneys are of mnvTT 10 ” that the jury Section may take several days, possibly exhausting the list already drawn, Twenty-eight persons, including cit # y employes, politicians, members of the Ku-Klux Klan and newspapermen were included as states witnesses in the affidavits drawn up. Expect 20 Witnesses ' R was not believed all thess b e called. Prosecutors indicated the number of witnesses might not total twenty. Defense attorneys said that unless larger fields of questioning than were expected are opened, they Mould not introduce the testimony of a large number of witnesses. Since May 17, State and defense steadily have progressed on the road toward the trial. Nine names for special judges were submitted before Shirley was selected. After this, the defense filed motions to quash, which were overruled. When it became apparent that all charges would stand, the defense immediately asked for selection of one of the affidavits for trial. This was done more than a month ago and was followed by naming Sept. 12 as the trial date. Special Venire Ordered Tuesday, attorneys asked for a special venire of petit jurors for the trial and Shirley ordered fifty. Judge James A. Collins also issued an order for service on eight additonal members of the regular panel, in case they are needed. The Duvall affidavits were filed by Special Prosecutor John W. Holtz - man, Emsley W. Johnson, William H. Sheaffer and Prosecutor William H. Remy, after the second grand jury probing alleged political corcuption was discharged. The second group went out of service after James E. Armitage, brother of William H„ was sentenced to three months in jail and fined SSOO for attempting to bribe Claude Achey, member of the second jury. The first jury was discharged in December, 1926, after it failed to bring in any indictment*. First Group Hits Duvall The Duvall affidavits were the first of a group returned by the prosecutors in May. The second group charged Earl S. Garrett, former city market master, with charging exorbitant and illegal fees for leasing market stands.~7 The third group charged City Purchasing Agent John J. Collins, with soliciting a bribe from a local surgical instrument firm, promising the company a SIO,OOO contract with the city. Special judges to try these cases will be selected Saturday.

Federal court trials for accused coast guardsmen and thus assured them against being “framed” or “railroaded.” On the other hand judges, civil officers and private citizens have been terrorized in some Florida sections, according to reports here, and on more than one occasion the coast guard has had to protect United States officers whom booze thugs had determined to kill. NEXT: The story of “Red” Shannon, who thumbed his nose at Gen. Lincoln C. Andrews and made a specialty of rammnig coast guard boats.