Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 158, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 November 1927 — Page 1

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G.O.P. STARTS RETREAT OUT OF CITY HALL City Administration Has Democratic Tinge; First Since 1918. HOLTZMAN TO GET JOB Alfred H. Moore May Be Made City Engineer to Succeed Brown. For the first time since the Mayor Bell administration ended in 1918, city hall and Mayor L. Ert Slack’s office assumed a Democratic tinge today. With Paul R. Brown removed as city engineer Alfred H. Moore, civil engineer of the firm of Jeup & Moore, 307 Indiana Trust Bldg., was considered the leading candidate for the city engineer’s post. B. J. T. Jeup, Moore’s partner, was city engineer in the Bell administration. Jbhn W. Holtzman, former Democrtic mayor, who is now a special prosecutor aiding in the political corruption investigation, was expected to be appointed corporation counsel to succeed Schuyler Haas, Republican Seventh District chairman. Settled on Appointments The appointment might come late today, someone said. He is "pretty well settled” on his major appointments, Slack told newspaper men today at a press conference this morning. He outlined his program for the afternoon, a speech at the Community Fund luncheon, attendance at the Real Estate Board luncheon at the Chamber of Commerce and a speech at the Butler University corner stone laying at Fairview, but made public little news A number of Democrats flocked to the mayor’s office this morning. Leroy J. Keach, Democratic chairman, was one of the callers who got to see the mayor. Confers With Peters Slaok said he conferred with R. Earle Peters, Democratic State chairman, Wednesday night. Among Democrats who were’in the mayor’s outer office, but didn’t see Slack were Frank Baker, Democratic county election commissioner; Charles Murphy, former State board of agriculture member; Thomas Colbert, police chief in the Bell administration, and Byron King, former city assessment bureau employe. Fred Hoke, city manager leader Voted on by council for mayor, and Councilman Austin Todd were others there, but not inside. Sol Schloss, former health board president, cornered the mayor in the corridor. Sweep Out G. O. P. City Controller Frank Cones and Corporation Counsel Haas discussed business of their departments briefly with Slack during the morning, and Samuel A. Pickens, bar association official, also was granted a conference. While Slack refused to discuss specifically the men he has in mind for appointments, the tenor of his talk made it plain he generally will sweep Republicans out of important positions and put in Democrats. He has declared that he w'ill move slowly and cautiously. Admitting that he will name a preponderance of Democrats to important positions Slack said: “But they will be the kind of men Who will put municipal service ahead of party. They will not be the kind of men who will sit around •the table and play politics.” Denies Playing Politics At the same time he insisted that he is not ‘ playing politics.” That is one thing he will not tolerate in any department, particularly the police and fire departments, he said. Among the early requests for resignations are expected to be those of City Controller Cones; John J. Collins, Republican, city purchasing agent; the three members of the board of safety and the three members of the board of works. Asked if he were going to appoint William L. Elder, former collector of Internal revenue for Indiana and leading Democrat, as city controller, Slack said he had not named him and declared; “That is a most important position. I cannot go out here and find a high grade citizen capable of filling that place on every street corner. I am going to be sure of what •I do and take my time before I name anyone.” Wonder About Worley Politicians still wondered what would become of Police Chief Claude M. Worley and Fire Chief Jesse Hutsell. Slack said he had telephoned both of them to stay on the job for the time being and perform “100 per cent efficiently.” Observers believed Worley has a more than even chanae of keeping his job, despite Slack’s assertion he would not play politics. Worley commanded the four indicted councilmen who voted as a unit in the council election until three of them suddenly switched to support Slack

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The Indianapolis Times dloudy and warmer with showers *• probable tonight and Friday.

VOLUME 39—NUMBER 158

CHICAGO GANGS ARM FOR GAMBLING WAR

Is That Nice? Bu United Press NEWARK, N. J., Nov. 10.— Five men, one of them carrying a sawed-off shotgun, entered the Circolo Italia, an Italian social club early today, stole SBOO in cash and jewelry from twenty members, and compelled them to remove their trousers. The man with the shotgun poked that weapon into the pile of trousers, mixing them up, and as the hold-up men were leaving the clubrooms, he called out, cheerily: “Don’t catch cold, boys!,”

MAYOR SPEAKS TO FUNDJjROUP Slack Praises Organization for Drive. Indianapolis Community Fund today received $579,737 with reports of workers at today’s luncheon at the Claypool, at which Mayor L. Ert Slack spoke. Today’s donations totaled $65,552, with divisions reporting as follows: Special Gigts A, $38,579; Special Gifts B, $874; Branch House, $1,390; Mile Square, $2,506; Women’s Army, $5434 and Emplayes $16768. Mayor Slack who was seated between William H. Insley and Charles F. Coffin, leaders in the city manager movement, said he hoped he could get as efficient organization in his official family as the city manager sponsors have. Walter C. M&rmon, campaign chairman of the Community Fund, introduced Mayor Slack, as the “first mayor to take an interest in the Community Fund.” Fund officials continued somewhat pessimistic concerning the outcome of the campaign because individual gifts of less than SIOO were not being reported in sufficient numbers. Music was furnished by the Turner trio, and the George Irish quartet from Indianapolis Athletic Club. Mrs. Sue Hayes Adams and Fred Ensminger led the community singing.

MURDER TRIAL WITHOUT VICTIM’S BODY BEGINS Vera Martin in Court at Columbia City Accused as Slayer. Bu Times Svecial COLUMBIA CITY, Ind., Nov. 10.— Vern Martin, Elkhart, is on trial today in Whitley Circuit Court here charged with the first degree murder of Franklin Tucker at Warsaw Jan. 28 last. This is the murder case without a victim’s body. Martin, the prosecution alleges, with John Baumgardner and Martin Ross’, also of Elkhart, waylaid Tucker and after beating him unconscious with robbery as a motive, threw his body into Center Lake near Warsaw. But despite a diligent search, authorities have not found Tucker’s body. Soon after their arrest Martin and Baumgardner took a change of venue from Warsaw and three weeks ago Ross brought his case here. DISMISS MIDSHIPMEN Academy Authorities Charge Students Were Drinking. Bu United Press ANNAPOLIS, Md., Nov. 10.—Two midshipmen were dismissed from the United States Naval Academy today for drinking. In accordance with academy custom, their names were not made public. One was a first classman, who was to have been graduated next June. The other was a second classman. BAN ON POLITICS Slack Tells Realtors He’ll Draft Both Parties. “I am not a factional man, though a Demtcrat, and I’ll not be a ‘political mayor’” said Mayor L. Ert Slack in a brief address before the Indianapolis Real Estate Board at its luncheon meeting at the Chamber of Commerce today. “I am going to pick the type of men on boards who are qualified to serve the interests of everyone,” the mayor continued. “If I can draft the right kind of men from both Democratic and Republicans ranks you realtors can go about your business without troubling yourself about public matters." “And if I succeed in this, I hope to show the press of other cities they can ‘lay off’ of Indianapolis for a while.” Bankers Offer Reward Bu United Press „ DALLAS, Texas, Nov. 10.—Tho Texas Bankers Association has announced a standing reward of $5,000 for any person killed while robbing a bank which is a member of the association.

Charity by Accident or Charity by Design?. Give Your Answer to the Community Fund; Indianapolis Dares Not and Will Not Fail

Disregard of Division Lines of ‘Districts’ Leading to Hostilities. Bu United Press CHICAGO, Nov. 10.—Chicago today apparently was on the verge of anew gang warfare which gave prospect of being as fierce and bloody as tne battle of beer barons in years gone by. Desertion of the "beer racket” by gangsters who saw likelihood of bigger profits from gambling houses caused the new flare of enmity between rival cliques. Police made a desperate effort to prevent the war by closing all gambling enterprises, but though most of the establishments locked their doors in response to word from headquarters that “the racket was off,” it was believed they would be opened again after a few days. Competition Is Keen The cause of the war threat was entirely economic. The beer business has been falling off for months, partially because of excessive competition ar.d partly because retailers learned the secret of mixing a barrel of “real” beer with three barrels of near beer to obtain the product sold to drinkers. That cut down the profits of the beer runners to such degree that they were threatened with starvation, or at least with having to sell some of their limousines. Asa result, the beer runners started opening gambling houses, and for several weeks new establishments dedicated to faro, black jack, poker, coon can, policy games and, in the better residence districts, roulette have been cropping up constantly. Territory Is Invaded Competition became keen. Members of the West Side gang started invading the South Side; the South - siders went into the North Side district; and Northsiders spread back to west and south. Already first signs of warfare have appeared. Eight bombings occurred within forty-eight hours. One was in a Hammond theativ and two were blackhand affairs with no bearing on the gang war. The others damaged gambling houses and beer shops, and were regarded as the first flares of the war to come. More significant than the increase in number of bombings—three or four a week is normal for Chicago—was the fact that TNT and nitroglycerine bombs apparently were being used Instead of the relatively harmless black powder bombs heretofore favored. 12 BID ON WILD ASSETS Receivers of Defunct Bank to Submit Deal to Court. Twelve bids for parts of the assets of the defunct J. F. Wild & Cos. State Bank were received by Cos Eugene H. Iglehart and Richard Lowther today. They said the bids will be submitted to Prcbate Court Judge Mahlon E. Bash Friday for approval. Efforts of receivers to sell the bank assets for $3,650,000 failed after they were advertised five weeks. Judge Bash then ordered sale in parcel lots.

CONTEMPT WITNESS OUT Pastor Hubbartt Willing to Give Deposition. Another witness in the Shumaker contempt hearing, set by the Supreme Court for Nov. 21, has been stricken. Sheriff Willitm Resener of the court today received a letter from Rev. G. F. Hubbartt, Auburn, Ind., stating that he would be unable to answer the subpoena to appear as yitness, but stating that he would give a deposition. DEATH NOT TO BAR TRIP Millicent Rogers and New Husband Ready to Sail. Bii United Press NEW YORK, Nov. 10.—Despite the death today of her grandfather, Dr. George Hillard Benjamin, Mrs. Millicent Rogers Ramos and her husband, Arturo Peralta Ramos, planned to sail for South America. Shortly before noon, the couple who were married Monday, left the St. Regis Hotel for the pier of the Munson liner Santa Eliza. Mrs. Ramos was dressed in black as she left the hotel. ORDER ‘LINDY’ TO DUTY Flier Will Serve at Selfridge With Other Reserves. Bu United Press WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.—The War Department made known today it had ordered Col. Charles Lindbergh, “with his consent,” to active duty at Selfridge field, Michigan, from Nov. 9 to Dec. 31. Though Lindbergh is hailed as the Nation's greatest hero, he had no objection to being called, with other Army air reserves, to servp his allotment of annual duty.

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 1927

POLICE GO ON 12-HOUR SHIFTS IN BANDIT WAR Hold-Up Wave Brings Drastic Action;. Worley Orders Cleanup. ROB GROCERY MANAGER Car Conductor Also Victim; All Loiterers Will Be Questioned. Indianapolis police were ordered on a twelve-hour day basis by Police Chief Claude M. Worley today, as the opening shot in a fight against banditry here. Two hold-ups Wednesday night were given as the immediate cause for the order. In one of these, two bandits obtained S7O from the manager of a Kroger grocery and in the other an armed bandit took $8 and 102 street car tokens from a Minnesota line conductor. Worley’s order affects about 400 men now on eight-hour shifts, who work from 7 a. m. to 3 p. m. and from 11 p. m. to 7 a. m. Those on the former shift will add four hours to their time, working from 7 a. m. to 7 p. m., while those ' on the 7 a. m. to 3 p. m. shift will work from 7 p. m. to 7 a. m. Full Protection Given The 115 men now on the shift from 11 p. m. to 7 a. m. will work from 6 p. m. to 6 a. m„ which will permit adequate force to protect the city during the time required to change shifts, being assigned to plain clothes, shotgun squads, riding squads and other details, Worley said. The order affects all members of the police department except matrons, turnkeys and telephone operators, Chief Worley said. Worley denied that his order was designed to effect wholesale raids, but stated that all suspicious characters, habitual loafers, vagabonds and others lacking visible means of support will be questioned. Unless suspects can prove they are or recently have been employed, they will be jailed, Worley sai(U. , Convictions Wanted. “We are not after any arrest records. It is convictions we want,” said Worley. Points in the city advantageous to bandits will be patrolled and guarded by police, Worley said. “Banditry must cease in Indianapolis. Hold-ups, on the street, in filling stations and chain stores have been too frequent recently. Bandits have become too flagrant in their activities recently and they must be checked,” he declared. “This Is a drive on criminals, brought about through clean-up orders issued in Chicago and Detroit. Many of these criminals are migrating to Indianapolis. On arriving here these refugees will be arrested,” said Wotley. “This is not a drive on Innocent citizens, but a drive on the poolroom loafer and the loiterer with no visible support. These men are our bandits” Worley explained It was only in extreme emergency that members of the police department are put on a twelve-hour shift, but that the situation makes it imperative to do so at this time. Two Are Robbed Bandits obtained S7B and 102 street car tokens in the two holdups Wednesday. Joe Kiefer, 417 N. Chester Ave., manager of a Kroger grocery at 825 Lexington Ave., was robbed of S7O taken from the cash register by two armed bandits who locked him in a rear room of the store. He was released by J. C. Reynolds of Brownsburg, Ind., attracted by beating on Theodore Mcßride, 102 W. Nineteenth St., conductor on the Minnesota line, was held up at State Ave. and robbed of $8 and 102 token by a bandit who boarded the car with pistol drawn. Henry Fischer, a passenger of 1816 Hoyt Ave., was searched, but not robbed. Willard Kennedy, Negro, 1945 Cornell Ave., another passenger, was not molested.

WATSON TO TESTIFY Gilliom Will Take Deposition of Senator. Attorney General Arthur L. Gilliom will go to Washington Nov. 17 to question United States Senator James E. Watson and Henry Lane Wilson, former ambassador to Mexico, and take depositions in his motion to increase sentence in the Shumaker contempt case. Subpoenes had been issued for both Watson and Wilson to appear in the State Supreme Court Nov. 21. Watson wired Gilliom and the court that he Is unable to travel, due to recent illness. Others subpoenaed to appear are United States Senator Arthur R. Robinson, State Republican Chairman Clyde Walb, Paul G. Davis, Indianapolis, and the Rev. G. F. Hubbartt, Auburn.

Science Sends Sanitation

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Osculation, were a girl inclined to it, can be made sanitary, by a discorvey of some members of Butler University chemistry classes. Miss Esther Barkley, Butler Delta Gamma, is showing how it is done in the above picture—the sanitization, not the kissing. You buy a quarter bottle of that

‘BYE, BYE BEN,’ BIDS JUDGE TO CULT KING

‘Nize Bandit’ Bu United Press CHICAGO, Nov. 16.—While two bandits ransacked the home of Will Josephs of $2,500 in jewels and clothing early today, a third cuddled Joseph's six-months-old baby. IgMflU 4 ) |i

FIREBUG GETS LIFE SENTENCE Church Burner Is Declared Habitual Criminal. With hands clenched and head held high, Maurice De La Tour, 50, tofiay was sentenced to life imprisonment by Criminal Court Judge James A. Collins after a jury found him guilty of arson and habitual criminality. The jury deliberated less than three hours. \ De La Tour was tried for burning St. Patrick’s, Our Lady of Lourdes and Joan of Arc’s Catholic churches in June. When Judge Collins summoned him before the bench for sentence he said, “Thank you” to members of the jury as he walked past the jury box. “You are sentenced one to ten years for second-degree arson and to imprisonment for your natural life at the Indiana State Prison for habitual criminality,” Collins stated. De La Tour was arrested June 22 after the attempted burning of the Joan of Arc Church. The habitual criminal finding was based on evidence submitted by the State showing that De La Tour had served sentences after conviction for three felonies. St. Patrick’s Church, which he fired, was destroyed with about one hundred thousand dollars’ loss. Hourly Temperatures 7 a. m 44 11 a. m 51 8 a. m 45 12 (noon) .. 53 9 a. m 47 1 p. m 56 10 a. m 49

MOVIE HOMES LOOTED Burglars Active in Screen Celebrites’ Houses. Bu United Press SANTA MONICA, Cal., Nov. 10.— Motion picture celebrities have been robbed by a thief who raided several Malibu Beach homes. Among those whose homes were entered were Warner Baxter, Neil Hamilton and Louise Fazende, the sheriff said. Thousands of dollars worth of clothing and furnishings were reported stolen. NOBEL PRIZE TO WOMAN Italian Grazia Deledda Gets Literary Award. Bu United Press ' , LONDON, Nov. 10—The Nobel prize for literature for 1926 has been awarded to the Italian woman writer, Grazia Deledda, a Stockholm dispatch said today. It was said the 1927 prize would be awarded early in 1928.

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice. Indianapolis

fiery red antiseptic that has all but driven iodine into a corner—mercurochrome—and use it instead of lipstick. The result is attractive and It stays on longer than rouge. The new adornment lacks the disadvantage of lipstick, which gathers germs and dust.

Fead Says Colony Is ‘Public Nuisance;’ Asks Receiver. Bu United Press LANSING, Mich., Nov. 10.—The House of David, Michigan’s notorious religious colony, tottered today as Judge Louis Fead held that the cult dominated by "King” Benjamin Purnell, was a public nuisance on account of the immorality practiced there for more than a quarter of a century. Fead refused to dissolve the colony, but recommended a receivership which would take care of the claims of past and present members of the colony, who, he sa'id, had been defrauded of their property and labor by the “divinity” claims of Purnell. An Injunction also will be Issued restraining Benjamin Purnell from further association with the women of the colony “except under proper protective conditions.” The entire property of the colony, variously valued up to $6,000,000, will be held under receivership pending settlement of the claims of members and former members. The decision was sent from here today to St. Joseph, to be formally filed in the circuit court. It was believed practically certain that the Israelite defendant would appeal. The decision upholds the main contentions of the State in its suit which included, besides gross immorality and fraud, a “system of perjury drilled into members and practiced on the occasion of this hearing.” Judge Fead refused to recommend dissolution, on the ground that the court had no statutory authority to dissolve the organization and that it would be unconstitutional to Interfere with the practice of religious rites. He made it plain, however, that he held Benjamin’s claim to be the “divine messenger” fraudulent, Inasmuch as he was immoral. He also found that Benjamin’s immoral practices had extended from the time the colony was organized, March 17, 1903, until he became physically incapacitated.

PLAN ‘MUNY’ DANCES City Takes Over Casino Gardens for Center. The city of Indianapolis will enter the dance business for the first time about Christmas when it opens Casino Gardens, Lafayette Rd., north of Sixteenth St., as a community center. R. Walter Jarvis, park superintendent, announced today there probably would be supervised dancing two nights a week. Recreation Director Jesse McClure is arranging to open a large gymnasium in the basement. Purchase of the property was concluded Wednesday when the city received a deed to the property which it bought from the Casino Gardens Realty Company for $45,000. Opening of the resort will be delayed to recondition the interior of the building.

GUY PERFECT PAROLE BARES WIELDING OF POLITICS CLUB BY WALB ON PRISON BOARD Stock in G. 0. P. Chairman’s Company Sold to Family of Convict He Championed; Denies Any Connection. CLEMENCY SUDDENLY IS GRANTED Huntington Man, Convicted in Girl Case, Had Been Refused Freedom on Previous Occasions, After Hearings. Fenton Letter to Walb Page 1, Section 2. How the influence of Clyde A. Walb, chflirman of the State Republican committee, was exerted to obtain the parole of T. Guy Perfect from the penitentiary after the board had refused clemency was revealed in a report made to Walb by Harry Fenton, secretary of the committee. It also developed that the brothers of Perfect, wholesale grocers of Ft. Wayne, purchased $2,500 worth of stock in the Walb Construction Company, whose permit to sell $250,000 worth of preferred stock was revoked by Secretary of State Fred Schortemeier on Oct. 10. Both Walb and A. H. Perfect, who purchased the stock, state that there was no connection between the sale of the stock and the activities of Walb in getting the parole of Perfect.

The explanation of Walb of his activities in behalf of Perfect is given in this statement which he made to The Times: “Walb Construction Company securities are owned by several parties in the city of Ft. Wayne. Among those who bought these securities was Arthur H. Perfect, who made his purchase on or about Sept. 1. No Connection Seen “To my knowledge this sale of securities to Mr. Perfect had no connection with any assistance rendered the family of T. Guy Perfect. "As for the matter of his release from prison, I want to say that the judge and prosecuting attorney, Protestant and Catholic ministers, and the public in general In that vicinity joined in requesting that Guy Perfect be paroled. This to me showed the justice of the petition for clemency. “I asked Harry Fenton to investigate the matter and report whether the parole board would feel justified in taking further action in the matter. Also whether the board members felt that they would consider it favorably. “Harry Fenton made his report to me as per his letter of July 11.” Parole is Granted On Aug. 3. after the Republican State chairman had intervened In this matter, the prison board granted Perfect the parole which It had refused In May. The parole had been repeatedly refused by the old board of pardons, abolished by the last Legislature. Frederick Schortemeier, Secretary of State and responsible for the securities commission, said, when questioned regarding the matter this week, that the permit to sell $250,000 of the stock had been withdrawn after $67,000 of the securities had been sold by Walb. The activities of Walb and his Interest in the release of Perfect became known through a letter sent to the State chairman by Harry C. Fenton, secretary of the committee. That letter shows that Fenton was directed by Walb to make a survey of the prison board to discover the chances of obtaining liberty for Perfect, which had been denied in May, just two months previously. * One of the rules of the prison board is not to consider a case within a year after clemency has been denied Fenton reported that one member of the board. John L. Moorman of Knox, was willing but that two others had “yellow streaks” and might balk on a matter which would arouse public indignation. Wanted to Help When interviewed, Fenton readilv admitted having written the letter and explained that he was willing to help anyone in trouble. When asked if the sale of the stock for $2,500 had anything to do with the matter he replied: “I have had nothing to do with Mr. Walb in business. Our relations have come about through politics/’ Perfect’s parole by Governor Ed Jackson on recommendation of the prison board, after he had served but fifteen months of a 2 to 21year sentence, caused surprise, because previous efforts in his behalf had failed and the board of pardons abolished by the last Legislature pejaistently had refused to listen. The crime for which Perfect was convicted shocked the city of Huntington, when it took place several years ago. The charge was made by a 14-year-old girl. It was proved that the girl had been attacked by Perfect while in his employ. She was below the age of consent, a girl whom the law says Is entitled to protection and care and not mistreatment from mature men. At the time of his arrest, Perfect was accounted one of the wealthy men of Huntington, j The case was fought bitterly

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through the lower courts to the Supreme Court. Perfect was defended by the best lawyers, who sought vainly to find technical fault with the verdict. The Supreme Court confirmed the verdict of the Circuit Court. U?e of the influence of the powerful State Republican committee, Walb’s orders to the secretary of the committee, the appeal to Joe Hutzell, political factor at Ft. Wayne, to Influence Michael Foley, member of the prison board and member of the same church to which Hutzell belongs, all are revealed in the report which Fenton made to his superior. Close to Family The Walb had been in close contact with relatives and the famtly of Perfect, to whom the stock in his construction company had been sold, also is revealed in Fenton's letter. What happened between July 11. the date of the letter and Aug. 3, the date of the parole, Is not kndVn. The prison board met the latter part of July. At Its meeting in May, the members of the prison board, which started to function as a pardon board under anew law in May, had refused to grant clemency But the board members voted for mercy. They did more. They went to the Governor and saw him sign the release of Perfect from prison. Influence is Evident What Walb did. if anything, after the survey made for him by Fenton, who frankly gave his size-up of the members and especially of Foley, is not yet disclosed. That some influence changed the minds of the various board members in this notorious case is evident from the record. In discussing the affairs of the construction company, which specializes in ditch and drain work, Schortemeier said: “The regular semi-annual financial statement of the company was filed in this office July 1, 1927, and at that time affairs were reported in excellent shape. “Along about Oct. 1, I heard rumors regarding the LaGrange bank, of which Walb had been vicepresident. and after conferring with tne State Banking Examiner’s office I sent Securities Commissioner Wallace Weatherholt to LaGrange to investigate these stories. Stock Sale Halted “What was learned there and ty Chief Securities Examiner Earl Coble at‘the Ft. Wayne banks that held much of the Walb paper, where Mr. Walb did business, resulted in an order revoking the company’s license to sell stock. We were told, however, that no stock had been sold since July 5. “So far as our office Is concerned, we could do nothing but grant permission on sworn facts presented to us. There never was any political significance In the affair." Organized several years ago, the Walb Construction Company voted to increase its capital stock from $250,000 to $500,000 on March 29. 1926. The report showed that at that time Walb personally held 489 of the 500 shares issued. The increase in stock was to consist of preferred shares to pay 7 per cent annual Interest and not to sell for less than 85 per cent of the face value. According to records on file In the office of the securities commission, official permission for sale was granted March 31, 1027. Attaches of the securities commission office stated that records disclosed that $67,000 of the preferred stock had been sold when the order to stop was Issued, Oct. 10, 1927. No complete list of persona purchasing the stock could be obtained. The First National Bank at Lagrange, of which Walb had been an officer, recently was closed by a national bank examiner, caused, it was said, by a run on the bank.