Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 139, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 October 1927 — Page 1

> ::rrr3il|"

SCRIPPS-HOWARD

POINT WON BY U. S. ON FALL’S FAMED NOTE Defense Builds Bulwark of 'Patriotism’ to Account for Oil Deals. DENBY 'IN’ ON LEASE Admiral Robison to Carry Part of Blame, to Clear Two Defendants. P" BY HERBERT LITTLE United Press Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, Oct. 19—The Government won its first legal skirmish in the Fall-Sinclair oil over defense objection, it obtained admission of Fall’s famous letter of July, 1921, to E. L. Doheny, California oil magnate, asserting that he (Fall) then was in complete chargee of Government oil reserves. The victory came just before luncheon recess, after a morning in which Martin' Littleton, defense chief, had told the jury former Secretary Fall and Harry F. Sinclair, oil magnate, would prove they were acting in the interest of the national defense in signing the Teapot Dome oil lease. Plan Laid to Robison Martin W. Littleton, in an advance summation of the case for the two noted defendants, charged with conspiracy to defraud the Government, did the following: 1. Credited Admiral J. K. Robison, naval oil chief, as originator of the oil leasing plan under which Teapot Dame and Elk Hills were leased. .2 Said Secretary of the Navy Denby knew of every step in the lease negotiations. 3. Said Sinclair never owned a share of stock in the Continental Trading Company, the alleged source of $230,500 of Liberty bonds found in Fall’s possession following execution of tjre Teapot lease. 4. Said that Sinclair’s $250,000 payment to Fall in 1923 was made in Liberty bonds, “because bonds were easier to send than a check.” (This payment was in connection with Fall’s trip to Russia as counsel for Sinclair, it is claimed). 5. Termed the Government’s charge that Sinclair gave the bonds to Fall, “a fugitive and phantom thing.” Recess Is Taken Littleton concluded after a speech of two hours and forty-five minutes, and a recess was taken, preparatory to opening of the Government’s testimony. Littleton said that the famous New Year’s Day, 1922, conference at Three Rivers, N. M., between Fall and Sinclair, was primarily to discuss Osage Indian oil land leases. The prosecution had said it would attempt to show this meeting between the aged secretary and the powerful oil-race horse man was the origin of an arch conspiracy to defraud the Government in connection with the Fall lease of Teapot Dome to Sinclair. Littleton said Sinclair asked Fall at the conference if he intended to lease the Dome, but insisted the Osage land question was foremost. Patriotism Is Talked Littleton contended that, instead of a conspiracy, his client was taking one step in connection with the Navy’s attempt to obtain fuel oil for battleships. He previously had indicated that Sinclair and Fall would declare they merely were aiding national defense plans—not conspiring to cheat the Government. Announcement today that the court would sit four hours daily, and recess over Saturday and Sunday, raised prospect of the trial lasting until winter. Fall in Fair Condition The aged Fall appeared in fair condition today, although he is watched closely by his family and physicians because of a cold, according to his attorneys. Sinclair and his family smiled as they entered court, the oil multimillionaire pausing to congratulate a cartoonist on a sketch he did of Sinclair yesterday. Littleton indicated the defense inItends to shunt responsibility in the case from Fall’s shoulders to those of other officials. BABY HURT IN CRASH Child Jolted From Mother’s Lap to Pavement. William Newhouse, the year-old baby of Mr. and Mrs. James Newhouse, Lawrence, Ind., suffered serious head injuries today when he was jolted from his mother’s lap to the povement in an auto crash. The car, driven by the baby’s father, collided with one driven by Howard Taylor, 325 N. Dearborn St., at Hazel St. and Massachusetts Ave. JACKSON ON HUNT Governor and Adjutant General Are on Kankakee River. Govevr/’r Jac’~on and Adjt ; Gen. Wiliam H. Kcrs' ner are on a hunti - expedition ?''n T the Krnkakee r: er, near Montlcello.

Complete Wire Reports of UNITED PRESS, The Greatest World-Wide News Service

The Indianapolis Times Generally fair tonight and Thursday; slightly warmer Thursday, frost tonight.

VOLUME 39—NUMBER 139

Ruth's Hubby

--TIB ’ jgjgßk jgpr

It was Lyle Womack, Ruth Elder’s husband, who first suggested the trans-Atlantic flight to her. Then, when she decided to go, he opposed it. Womack, Ruth’s second husband, is an engineer in Balboa, Panama.

SEABOARD FURY CAUSES DAMAGE TO LOT CRAFT Many Wrecks Reported as Gale Whips Atlantic; 13 Rescued. By United Press WASHINGTON, Oct. 19.—A series of wrecks of schooners, barges and small craft, with some rescues at sea, were reported to coast guard headquarters here today as an Atlantic storm continued to paralyze light shipping. The captain and crew ofter of the schooner William Burnham of Mobile, Ala., were picked up by the liner President Adams at 6:39 a. m. in the ship lane off New York. The schooner had been fired before abandonment to prevent it becoming a shipping menace, but the guard sent a cutter to see if it could be salvaged. The guard cutter Gresham, which had been standing by a derelict schooner forty miles off Cape May, N. J., was forced to leave in response to anothef distress call and rescued at least two persons from the coal barge Old Dominion. The steamship Hela reported a sunken schooner in steamer lanes fifteen miles east of Atlantic City, with only two spars showing. The steamship Newton wirelessed it had passed a sunken vessel thirty miles off Ocean City, N. J. Only the deckhouse of this boat was above water. Two additional wrecks were reported off Delaware Bay. The guard cutter Kickapoo has gone to aid the schooner Cressy, in distress off Rockland, Maine. Wreckage from the schooner Maurice Thurlow of Boston was reported by the steamship Yarboro as menacing navigation off Diamond Shoals, on the Massachusetts coast. The cutter Manning continued to search for the schooner Flower Dew, ignited and abandoned off Savannah, Ga., by its crew which later was picked up in lifeboats. Six separate calls for assistance in removing injured sailors from tankers and coastwise vessels off the Florida coast were received at guard headquarters. \ FATHER IS ACCUSED Decker Ij/lan in Jail on Arson Charge. “You know damn well you burned those barns. This forceful language of 19-year-old Noble Dunning is responsible for his father, Daniel Dunning, Decker, Ind., being lodged in Knox County jail, where he faces arson charges brought by Deputy State Fire Marshal Albert Fowler, head of the arson investigation division. The youth gave a statement to Arson Deputy Harry Gates in which he accuses his father of burning three barns, two in and one near Decker. The fifes occurred shortly after 10 p. m., Labor day. Their mysterious origin since has been under investigation.

CARROLL, SHAMED BY PRISON, MAY SHUN OLD LIFE ON BROADWAY

BYJ2DWARD W. LEWIS United Press Staff Correspondent STLANTA, Ga., Oct. 19.—Earl Carroll will leave the Federal penitentiary here on parole within a day or two—probably tomorrow—but he may never return t<J Broadway. Dr. Charles P. Nellans, prison physician who has attended Carroll, te’d the United Press today he did not believe Carroll would be - Ie to go back to the revue producing which brought him fame,

GIVES $37,000 SURETY; ONLY $4,210 BACKING Probe of Robbery Reveals Shakiness of Horesthief Detective Bonds. $6 FEE FOR EACH ONE Report Works Board Member Boosts Louis Brown for 'Official Bondsman.’ Although official records show him to own property worth only $4,210, Louis Brown, Jr., of 326 E. Pearl St., has been permitted to become surety on Horsethlef Detective bonds aggregating $37,000, in addition to bail bonds approximating $7,225 in two rooms of the municipal court. This disclosure came to light in an investigation of the Horsethief Detective Association prompted by the robbery of D. J. Murname, Greencastle merchant, on the Allison villle Rd„ Saturday night, when a S2OO diamond ring was taken. According to records in the office of George Hutsell, clerk of the court, Brown signed thirtyseven of the 321 active horsethief bonds now on file. Under the law, Hutsell passes on fitness of the surety. Others Have Expired Each of the bonds is for the sum of SI,OOO and is held for indemnification purposes ifi event of wrongdoing on the part of the detective. Other horsethief bonds on which Brown was surety have expired, their tenure being one year. The Commercial Casualty Company is listed as being surety on 246 of the horsethief bonds, while the Metropolitan Casualty Company is on thirty-seven such bonds. It is understood that Brown has been collecting a fee of $6 each for signing bonds. Charles L. Riddle, board of works member, has been active in having Brown’s bonds accepted and inducii g members of the independent companies of detectives to use Brown as surety. The busrsethief -detectives organization functions under an old law, passed in 1852, amended several times. Under its terms only a captain of a company can suspend the man for wrongdoing during the term of his bond. Killed by Steve’s Legislature Effort to give the Governor the right to suspend and making rtcommendation of the judge and sheriff necessary before a commission is granted was killed in the Legislature controlled by D. C. Stephenson in 1925 Brown has been signing bonds for the independent group of detectives at $6 while members of the Marion County Council of H. T. D. have been paying but $5. Oren E. Davis, president of the Marion County Council, said that but one member of his group had bond signed by Brown, as far as he knew. Most of the bonds sighed by Brown are for men affiliated with Baline No. 49 of the H. T. D. A. and with the Royal Oak Company, in which Jesse McClure, city recreation director, has been reviving interest of his candidacy for sheriff. Members of these two companies were active in passing handbills recently, seeking to engender racial prejudice. Signs Bonds for Many Those for whom Brown signed bonds are Glenn Burkett, Emmett Stephens, Tom Lincks, Roy Breedlove, Milie Schenck, Howard McMillon, Charles" Becker, Joseph Sowers, Byron Icenbarger, Hershel Foxworthy, Howard Lee Hampton, Alva O. Foster, Wayman Byers, B. L. Wocherling, William C. Meyer, F. D. Pierce, Thomas A. Butler, Harry S. Hoover, Isam Dillon, Roger Hoffman, Walter Ray, Otis Rybolt, C. F. Dillingham, Herbert L. Cox, Ben F. Scott, Roy Evans, Karl O. Schmidt, Carl M. Meyers, Ernest J. Branham, Steve Watson, John J. Bowman, Levi Newland, Fred A. Clements, Ray C. Uhls,- Noah P. James, Arthur Russell and Henry McClain. DISCUSS SCHOOL LEVY Hilkene Is Before State Board at Hearing. Further cuts in the Indianapolis school building program were discussed today when Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Jacob Hilkene appeared again before the State tax board. Another meeting will be held later in the week.

wealth and, indirectly, a prison sentence. “Nobody with the sensitive temperament of Carroll can go out of prison the same as he came in,” said Dr. Nellans. “He is not exactly depressed, but he is humiliated in the extreme.” And in response to a direct question as to whether Carroll would be able to overcome his humiliation and flasff his name again in electric lights on Broadway, Dr. Nellans said: “No, I do not.”

INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19,1927

Cross This Corner? Easy—for Birds

s mstimk 1 . mssm

jjgljgra j n

Why Indianapolis needs provision for pedestrian safety in its traffic ordinance, in seven leap; and fourteen dodges. The pictures taken at Illinois and Washington Sts. at noon show how walkers are forced to lodge Street cars make right turns on the “go” sign and the traffic from diagonal Kentucky Ave. cote into the moving Washington St. traffic across the path of pedestrians.

ITALY GRUUMS FUR PULE RACE Two Ambitious Projects for Explorations Formed. Bn United Press MILAN, Oct. 19.—Italy jumped first off the mark today in a prospective race to explore the North Pole region. Plans for two ambitious exploration expeditions, one by General Nobile, who accompanied Amundsen’s balloon flight tothe pole, were announced after a meeting of industrialists and local officials. One expedition is to explore the Himalayan mountains, the other to explore the polar regions in a dirigible bigger than Nobile’s Norge in which the Amundsen flight was made. Committees were appointed to make arrangements for Nobile’s expedition and to raise funds. It was announced that the expeditions would start next year in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the World War’s end.

GALE HITS JAMAICA Millions of Banana Trees Are Destroyed. Bn United Press KINGSTON, Jamaica, Oct. 19. Gales destroyed millions of banana trees in the northern section of Jamaica, reports showed today. What the effect will be on crops in future years has not been determined. * Starting in the afternoon, the gales continued into last night. j Torrential rains have blocked roads at several points. Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m 40 10 a. m 47 7 a. m 40 II a. m 53 8 a. m 42 12 (noon) ... 55 9 a. m 45 1 p. m 55

R. NELLANS attended Carroll after the producer was brought here on a stretcher from Greenville, S. C., where he had suffered a severe nervous breakdown en route to the prison. “Is Carroll well now?” the physician was asked. “Physically, yes,” he said. “He weighs from twenty-five to thirty pounds more than he did when he arrived. Reports that there is something wrong with his heart are not true.” ,

9 Bloomington Ordinance ‘Agin ’Falling Aviators

B" Times Bveeinl | LOOMINGTON, Ind., Oct. 19.—Falling aircraft will not wreck R Bloomington property nor cause loss of life or limb to BloomingI u 1 ton citizens keeping within the city’s boundaries—not if anew city ordinance can prevent it. Five of the nine city councilmen were so insistent that Bloomington be safeguarded from injury out of the air that Tuesday night they outvoted the other four at a council meeting and passed an ordinance regulating the city’s doings. It is known as “an ordinance for the regulation of flying and operation of aircraft over the city of Bloomington.” Bloomington citizens and Indiana University students are getting a great “kick” over the ruling. They inquire “How are they going to catch the plane?” Even the Notre Dame football game to be played Saturday was dropped in discussion over the new ordinance around the more popular meeting places of students. “No person, firm or corporation shall drive, fly or operate over the city of Bloomington aircraft or flying device of any kind whatsoever, except such person be engaged in the service of the United States Army, Navy, mail or flying corps,” reads the ordinance. f Violators “shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than SIOO and not more than $500.” Mayor H. L. Hetherington suggested the ruling could be enforced through tracing the plane’s number in the national registry at Washington, D. C. “But if a ship files above the clouds, how* are they going to see the number?” asks a I. U. student. The majority of the councilmen cast their “aye” vote because, they said, “many Junk planes were being flown over the city, risking citizens’ lives and property.” Stunt flying was condemned by the council.

BOY KING MAY BE ILL Fear Exposure to Infantile Paralysis Perils Michael. I'.u United Press BERLIN, Oct. 19.—Fear that 5-year-old King Michael might be exposed to Infantile paralysis, prevalent in Rumania, his mother, Princess Helena, has taken him hurriedly to a resort in the Carpathian moimtains, according to a dispatch from the Telepgrah Union’s Bucharest correspondent. The dispatch said a case of the disease had been diagnosed in the Royal Palace. BOMB CATHOLIC CHURCH Pittston, Pa., Is Shaken for the Fourth Time. /! VITTsVoN* Pa., Oct. 19.—St. John’s Catholic church was bombed today. The explosion rocked the city. It was the fourth bombing in Pittston in recent months.

But he explained that Carroll’s humiliation is extreme, despite the apparent composure he has maintained in his work on the prison farm and in the prison library. • • • OHERE was little fundamentally wrong with Carroll when he collapsed at Greenville, he said. “He ‘thought’ himself into a breakdown.” The physician indicated he believed if Carroll tried to go back to Broadway and the stage, he would

Entered as Second-Claaa Matter at Postofflce, Indianapolis

CORUNNA BANK SHUT State Audit Follows Death of Owner, Brings Action. State bank department officials today announced the closing of the Commerce and Exchange Bank, at Corunna, Dekalb County. The bank, a private institution with $25,000 capital and $125,879 deposits, was ordered closed by Deputy Bank Commissioner L. K. Billings, who audited the bank books following death of Milo Thomas, owner of the bank. Hasing Penalty Causes Strike LEXINGTON, Va., Oct. 19.- -More than 700 cadets of Virginia Military Institute here entered their second day of “peaceful strike” today In protest against a series of dismissals climaxed by suspension of W. F. R. Griffith, senior, for hazing.

be in danger of another breakdown. It was in a theater that Carroll gave the party which led to his imprisonment. On the stage a nude girl bathed in a tub containing what purported to be champagne, according to guests. Carroll was tried for violation of the prohibition law and was acquitted, but he testified no nude girl bathed in a tub during the party, and for this he was convicted of perjury and sentenced to a year and a day.

FARMER AND WIFE IDENTIFY EWING AS MAN WHO STOLE - MURDER AX FROM GARAGE Abandoned Car, Located in Laurence County Hills, Proves to Be One Taken by Fugitive From Plainfield. WORKED ON FARM AFTER ESCAPE Employer Tells Police of Suspect’s Action From Short Time Following Jail Break Until Night Before Killing. Positive identification by Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Jones of near Plainfield of photos of Willard Etving as the man who stole from their garage the hand ax used in the Mt. Comfort double murder fastened about the fugitive bigamist a strong chain of evidence today. * Their proof followed return of. an automobile found in the hills of Lawrence County, ten miles south pf Bedford, Ind., identifiedlas the one stolen by Ewing from the Jones farm Saturday night, when the crime was committed. It was the Jones’ hand ax that was found, blood covered, a short distance from the hacked bodies of Mrs. Zenith llurress Ewing and her stepfather, David O. Boyles, on E. Thirtieth St. lid., eleven miles east of Indianapolis Monday morning.

Police laid down a barrage of photographs and descriptions of Ewing on cities and towns in southern Indiana and the principal cities to the south. At the same time they sought to learn if any cars were stolen Saturday night or Sunday morning in southern Indiana, believing Ewing might have stolen a second car when the Jones machine stalled. Detectives and Lawrence County authorities did not discount the possibility of Ewing taking refuge in the wooded hills and ravines of southern Indiana, where he might avoid capture for days. Authorities today were concerned with the fact that the car was found only about twenty-five miles from Loogootee, Ind., where victims of the si&ying were buried this morning. Some fear was felt that Ewing might attempt to take the life of Mrs. Boyles, whose home here, i at 2342 Brookside Ave., iftd been under vigilance of neighbors. From Jones detectives got a straightforward account of Ewing’s activities since Sept. 25, six days ; after his escape from the Indiana i State farm, where he had served | three days of a six months’ sentence | for bigamy. Ewing had deserted his first wife, Mrs. Mary Day Ewing of McCordsI ville, more than a year ago, to marry Miss Burress bigamously. Jones told detectives that on Sept. 25 a man, now known to have been Ewing, appeared at his home asking for work. The man said that he had been working at Pittsboro, painting a house and garage for a farmer: but that crops were bad and he had to quit, receiving as pay $65 and an old Ford roadster. Applies for Job Jones said the man related how he set out from Pittsboro with his clothes and the money In the car, only to have the auto stall a while later. The story told how Ewing went down the road and enlisted the aid of a farmer to get him some gasoline. When they returned with the gas, he told Jones, they saw the car being driven away by thieves from a second auto and did not recover it. Ewing then walked Into Plainfield hunting a Job, he told Jones. When Jones asked him why h}s hair was clipped so short, he replied that he had suffered typhoid! fever and lost his hair and that it was Just coming back in. “I gave him a job," Jones told detectives, “and he worked and lived with us. But he was nervous at night. While we were eating a meal Oct. 4, he said, ‘a year ago today I was married. Three months ago my wife died—that accounts for my being restless and despondent.” Hand Ax Is Missing Records show that Ewing and Miss Burgess were married at Washington, Ind., Oct. 4,1926. Her death was by violence last Saturday night. Jones said that he paid Ewing his wages last Saturday afternoon and that Ewing should have had about S2O left after buying some clothing in Plainfield. Late Saturday afternoon, Ewing told Jones: “I’m going over to Pittsboro and see if I can’t find some trace of that Ford and my clothes. I’ll be back Sunday night.” He left the farm. Saturday evening at 6:30, Mrs. D. O. Boyd, Jones’ niece, heard an automobile sputtering at the door. Jones Reassured her he had locked the garage and nothing more was thought of the incident. Sunday morning they found that a pinch bar, ordinarily left in the garage, had been secreted outside and used to pry the staple off the door. A hand-ax, which Jones had bought in Plainfield last week and left in the garage, also was missing. Monday morning, the same day the bodies were found, Jones reported to police here that his Studebaker light-six sedan was stolen. From the description he gave of the hired man, Mrs. Bertha Duclus, in charge of police auto theft work.

HOME

TWO CENTS

noticed the similarity to that broadcast of Ewing. Detectives Staggs and Mangus questioned Jones at Plainfield and at the same time Lawrence County authorities reported the car found south of Bedford. It was unscratched and bore no stains or other evidence of its occupants having been attacked while in the car. Plainfield authorities have returned the car to Jones today. The Joneses said when they last saw Ewing, late Saturday afternoon, he was wearing gray and black moleskin ‘cotton trousers, a brown coat and *a black cap. He is 46 years old, weighs 210 pounds, is six feet one inch tall, and has a small mole on each cheek just below the eye. His hair is close cropped. The stolen car was found Monday and Constable Urban Bowman of Plainfield, sent by Marshal C. R. Franklin to return it, brought it back to Plainfled Monday evening. Carburetor Stalls Car The authorities found that the i car had stalled because of a defec- | tive carburetor adjustment, proving that Ewing did not desert it voluni larily; After the carburetor was ad- | justed, the auto was driven home under its own power. Ewing’s picture, from the police Bertillon room, was positively identified by Jone# as that of the man he had given employment. • Smooth-Tongued Talker From Jones’ story, police had new evidence of the peculiar persuasiveness that has characterized Ewing’s activities. He used it to blind his first wife, Mrs. Mary Day Ewing, to his intentions of abandoning her when he wooed and ‘married Miss Burgess. It won fOr him a job when his Plainfield employer had serious misgivings about him, and it enabled him to induce his second wife and her stepfather to accompanying him on the tragic auto trip to Greenfield on the pretext that a Greenfield attorney was preparing papers for annulling his marriage to Boyle’s stepdaughter. Detective Chief Claude F. Johnson today continued to put all detectives available on the case. Search for Ewing Is concentrated in the southern end of the State, although authorities throughout the country have been asked to keep a sharp lookout for him. Horsethief detectives continued a careful watch over the Melvin Day home at McCordsville, where Ewing’s first wife and their 4-year-old son, Robert, live with her parents. May Have Been In City While detectives were establishing that Ewing fled southward, reports came to police that a man answering his description was in Indianapolis. A man fitting the description was refused an auto because he could not give references when he made application to the U-Drlve Indianapolis Company, 130 E. New York St., Tuesday afternoon. Fred Howson, day manager, told police he had not seen Ewing’s picture until after the man appeared seeking a car. but that he noticed the resemblance when he saw newspaper photographs. A bread wagon driver called police headquarters at 5:30 a. m. today, saying a man he believed to be Ewing was working on the motor ol a red Buick at Hazel St. and Massachusetts Ave. Lieut. Fred Drinkut and emergency squad failed to find the auto or the driver who made the report. ADOLPH MENJOU IS ILL Actor to Stay in Hospital, bat Operation Is Unnecessary. Bu United Press LOS ANGELES. Oct. 19.—While his condition is not considered serious, Adolph Menjou, film actor, will remain in the California Lutheran hospital at least two weeks, his physicians said today. Menjou is suffering from acute stomach trouble. Physicians believe an operation will be unnecessary

Outside Marion County 3 Cents