Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 212, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 January 1928 — Page 1

ZT-E1

SCRIPPS-HOWARD

Thrills

• -| ■' it, | if. j •i ! . H , : ;' X . : tv: v ' : i >• : 3 ] ’ : Y> ' 5 IAI®OER Z CASE (Jr S.S.VAN DINE

IT BEGINS MONDAY, JANUARY 16, IN THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES. WATCH FOR IT. On the dressing table, not far from the murdered body of Margaret Odell, lay the jewel case. It was twisted out of shape by the terrific leverage that had been necessary to force it, and beside it lay a brasshandled poker. ,Yance had glanced but casually at the different objects in the rooms, but when he came to the dressing table he paused abruptly. Taking out his monocle, he adjusted it carefully and leaned over the broken jewel case. “‘This steel case,” he said, “was never torn open by that wholly inadequate iron poker.” Heath nodded his head approvingly. “So you, too, noticed that, did you? . . And you’re dead right. That poker might have twisted the box a little but it never snapped the lock.” He turned to Inspector Moran.

“I say!” Vance commented. “Something devilish queer took place here last night.” “Oh,' not so queer,” Heath amended. “It was a thorough job, all right, but there’s nothing mysterious about it.” Vance polished his monocle and put it away. “If you go to work on that basis, Sergeant,” he returned carelessly, “I greatly fear you’ll run aground on a reef. And may kind Heaven bring you safe to shore!” And there you have the key to one of the most baffling murder mysteries in New York police history. THE “CANARY” MURDER CASE, by S. S. Van Dine, author of THE BENSON MURDER CASE, begins in The Times Monday, Jan. 16. Watch for it. You’ll want to read thrilling chapter.

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

The Indianapolis Times Partly, cloudy and somewhat unsettled tonighjt and Friday: slightly warmer tonight with lowest temperature about 34.

VOLUME 39—NUMBER 212

HGHT SHAKES WATSON RULE OVER PARTY Senator Is Unable to Put Across Chairman Choice in Long Session. MURDEN NEAR VICTORY Long-Time Czar Is Ready to Bargain for Peace, Is Word From Parley. The scepter with which Senator James E. Watson has held sway over Indiana Republican seemed slipping from his grasp today. Deadlocked with members of the Republican State committee over selection of a chairman to succeed Clyde A. Walb, Watson weakened after prolonged conference, it was understood, and as a last resort was seeking to bargain for peace. Candidacy of Jesse L. Murden of Peru for the chairmanship, persistently opposed by Watson, appeared likely of success as the hour of the committee session drew near this afternoon. Murden Is Anti-Watson Murden is a known anti-Watson man. When the Senator seemed unable to put across a chairmanship candidate outside of the committee at this morning’s conference, he agreed, it was understood, to oppose Murden’s candidacy no longer, provided: That Murden would not seek reelection as State chairman in May. That Murden would block any effort to change the State rules as demanded by the “new deal” Republicans, which would make the State, district and county chairmen subservient to the organization, rather than the autocratic form now used, which makes the organization subservient to the various chairmen. The “new deal” Republicans contend that if a county chairman could not remove peremptorily a precinct committeman, that higher type of men could be induced to become active in organization affairs.

Balks at Concession Murden flatly refused to make the concessions, it was said after the meeting. Watson, leaving at noon for the Severin Hotel, where committeemen lunched before their formal meeting, said: “There’s nothing new. We’ve agreed on just one thing, it’s time to eat.’’ The Senator stilf was anxious for election of an "outsider.’’ If his wishes finally were overruled, Murden was regarded as the most likely successor to the chairmanship, despite ambitions of several fellow committeemen. Wednesday night and this morning party leaders, committee members and “friends of peace” trekked in and out of Watson’s smoky quarters. Leaders Are Puzzled In the hotel lobby loitered political henchmen of both parties, speculating on the outcome and questioning Republicans who stepped from the elevator, still wearing puzzled expressions. The Senator was at last convinced that Henry W. Marshall, Lafayette publisher, positively would not accept the chairmanship deserted by Clyde A. Walb, if it were offered to him. Watson had looked upon Marshall as the man to quiet “new deal” demands while possessing an attentive ear for the old line group. Members of the State committee are: Stuart T. Fisher of Princeton, First district chairman; Mark Nebeker of Clinton, Fifth district chairman; Clarence M. Brown of Richmon, Sixth chairman; Schuyler A. Haas of Indianapolis, Seventh district chairman; Lawrence Cartwright of Portland, Eighth district chairman; George M. Foland of Crown Point, Tenth district chairman; Jesse L. Murden of Reru, Eleventh district chairman; Ewing Emison of Vincennes, ; Second district; Charles T. Brown of Paoli, Third district; Harry E. Nichols of Madison, Fourth district; E. W. Bowen of Delphi, Ninth district; Ralph Gates of Columbia City, Twelfth district and Earnest M. Morris of South Bend, Thirteenth district. Morris Is Absent Morris is in New York. District vice chairman, Mrs. Winnie Humrickhouser, of Plymouth, was expected to cast the district’s vote in his place. Friends of Murden said he could count on the votes of Foland, Gates, Haas and probably Bowen an* Nichols. As seven votes are required to elect, Murden, in this case, would need only one additional vote to win the chairmanship. Friends of John Stuart Hopkins, Evansville manufacturer and unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for mayor of that city, opposing Benjamin Bosse in 1921, were urging Hopkins’ election to the committee post. Hopkins appeared to be in a good position for success if the chairmanship went out of thel committee,

Life Term of Chapman Pal Upheld Muncie Judge’s Sentence to ‘One Arm' Wolfe Not Error, Says High Court. Another member of Gerald Chapman’s old gang which spread terror in eastern Indiana from headquarters at Muncie three years ago, was eliminated as a factor against the public peace today when State Supreme Court confirmed his life sentence to Indiana State Prison. The court held that Circuit Judge Clarence W. DearUi of Muncie did’ not err when he sentenced Charles (One Arm) Wolfe to prison for life for the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Hance on a road eleven miles south of Muncie, Aug. 14, 1925. Wolfe has been ii prison since his conviction. The gang began to disintegrate when Chapman was hanged for murdering a New Britain (Conn.l policeman. Chapman was captured by a nervy Muncie policeman. Then “Dutch” Anderson, who was said by Hance in a dying statement to have helped Wolfe in the attack upon him and his wife, was killed by a policeman at Muskegon, Mich.

M’CABE SILENT IN JUDGE CASE Crawfordsville Man May Not Try Jackson. It may be Saturday before Charles M McCabe, Crawfordsville attorney, can decide whether he will accept appointment as special judge for the Governor Jackson attempt to bribe trial in Criminal Court here. “I have so many irons in the fire that I will have to make a careful survey of all my own interests before I can decide, and that may take until Saturday,” McCabe told The Indianapolis Times by long-distance telephone. McCabe was selected by State and defense attorneys Wednesday afternoon. jVfcCabe was chosen after the name of Raymond Springer, former Fayette County Circuit Court judge was struck off by the State, and that of William Featherengiil, Franklin, Ind„ attorney, was eliminated by the defense from three submitted by Criminal Judge James A. Collins. This was done when Thomas E. Davidson of Greensburg, selected Monday, was unable to serve because of ill health. If McCabe cannot serve another list of three will be presented.

JUROR FIGHTS VERDICT Objects When Sealed Findings Are Returned in Court. Although Thomas F. Carson, real estate man, foreman of a Circuit Court jury declared the jurors agreed \yhen a verdict was sealed Wednesday nighC Juror Edwin Champer, R. R. 0., objected to the verdict when read to Judge Harry O. Chamberlin this morning. The court directed the jury to reconsider and a verdict of S3OO in favor of William Priesmeyer, 405 Indiana Trust Bldg., was returned instead of that of S2OO originally returned. The suit alleged that in 1925, Frank B. Flanner, Cold Spring Rd., agreed to buy property at 2238 N. Meridian St., from Priesmeyer, but later withdrew from the deal. SPEED JUUAITbTnURY Ten Los Angeles Business Men on Trial for $10,000,000 Crash. Rll United Press LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12.—A jury to try ten prominent Los Angeles business men on charges of wrecking the $10,0000,000 Julian Oil Corporation may be completed this week, it was indicated today. The new hope for completion of a jury arose when attorneys were limited to fifteen minutes’ questioning of each prospective juror. The previous limit was forty minutes. Hoosier Killed in China Bn Times Special FAIRMOUNT, Ind., Jan. 12. Clark Winslow, nephew of Mrs. Webster Winslow, this city, has been killed in fighting in China, she has been advised. He was a United States marine. Winslow once lived here.

Twb Girls Slashed by ‘Ripper/ Leaping Out of Shadows; Third Escapes Fiends Knife

B.n United Press ' COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 12.—Two girls were in a hospital here today, the victims of a ‘ ‘ripper,” who slashed them with a long slender knife. A third girl, sister of one of those attacked, was o nthe verge of a nervous collapse. The man made his appearance on the west side late last night, claiming Thelma Weaver, 13„year-old high school girl, as his first victim. She was on her way home Vhen he suddenly pounced upon her, snatched at her arm with what the overwrought girl described as “talons,” and knifed her in the back. _ JThe “ripper” fled as the girl am-earned. While police were searching

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, JAN. 12,1928

NINE BANDITS STRIKE FAST AND ESCAPE Gang Splits in Squads of Three for Sudden and Swift Forays. \ BURGLAR PUT TO ROUT Woman’s Screams Thwart Thief; Prowler Twice Dodges Bullets. Nine bandits who staged three early morning holdups, a burglar frightened from a woman's bedroom by her screams and a prowler who twice dodged police bullets to escape capture were the principal actors in the city’s crime activities early today and Wednesday night. The three hold-ups, which took place almost simultaneously shortly before 7 a. m„ were staged by a gang of nine bandits, who divided into trios to put over the series of robberies. Police Chief Claude M. Worley believes. The hold-ups climaxed a petty crime wave which broke out after midnight. Two filling stations and a grocery were robbed of cash loot totaling $lO3, and windows in five filling stations were broken. In one case the gas pump also was broken open. Rob Filling Station William Hawks, 32, of 3601 N. Emerson Ave„ attendant at the Pure Oil Company filling station, Oakland Ave. and Washington St., was the first hold-up victim. Three youths, well dressed and about 18 to 22 years old, drove into the station. One went inside for a drink while Hawks put gasoline into their machine. Directed to get his pay from the man inside, Hawks faced a revolver. The bandits took $45 from the safe and left. A few minutes later, two middleaged, mughly dressed men purchased tobacco from Ray B. Robinson, 43, manager of the Standard grocery at 4603 E. Twenty-First St. When Robinson went to the cash register one of the men drew a revolver and rushed at him saying, “Get back from that till, we’ll take the dough.” They took $18.37 and ran to a roadster in which a third nan waited.

Loot Cash Register Three men drove into the Standard Oil Company filling station, Thirty-Eighth and Fall Creek Blvd., at about the same time and ordered oil. When W. J. Hacker, attendant, asked if they desired anything else, one of the trio leaned out of the window with a gun in his hand and ordered, “Yes, brother, get inside. We also want the cash.” Two of the men took S4O from the cash register. Police believe stolen autos were used in the three hold-ups. “Call anybody you want to I’m not afraid.” a burglar told Mrs. Frieda Willis, 310 N. Alabama St., when she awakened at 3 a. m. and found him in her bedroom. But when Mrs. Willis screamed for her brother, E .C. Hines, sleeping in the next room, the burglar backed out the apartment door into the hall, threatening them with what Hines thought was a revolver. Fires at Prowler Sergt. Homer Dailey was walking in the 1300 block W. Twenty-Sixth St. earlier in the evening when he heard shots and found that John Young, 1333 W. Twenty-Sixth St., had fired five times at a man in his back yard. Police found that a young man living in a neighboring' house was not in bed, as he was supposed to be. Dailey hid in an alley and the young man appeared at 3 a. m., but ran when he saw Dailey. Patrolman Downs joined in the ambush, but the youth appeared again and also eluded Downs. He has not been found. Police think a man and a woman were responsible for smashing windows at the five filling stations. Pay telephones were taken from three places. Girl Dies In Auto Crash £n United Press SOUTH BEND. Ind., Jan. 12. Doris Keach, 28, formerly of Harriman, Tenn., was killed here on Wednesday night when the automobile in which she was riding with Harry Sill, 17, crashed into a street car.

Ducks Miss Miss ’ Misses

How’s a dancing girl to get any duck.hunting done? when Season closes next Sunday, and you can’t shoot then; She has folir performances Saturday—so that’s out; and Friday is the thirteenth—“ Mon dieu!” No day for firearms! Miss Teddy Burns, French beauty, a Publix artist playing here this week, sought the advice of the gun department man at an E. Washington St. department store. ’ V She smiled forgiveness when he handed her a flashlight and a salt shaker and suggested the time-honored sprinkling system.

MARINES ROUT FOE AND CAPTURE TOWN

But —Is It? Bp Times Special EVANSVILLE. Ind., Jan. 12. —This "A man’s home is his castle” stuff is due for a showdown in City Court here Saturday when Judge McCoy will pass on the troubles of Mrs. Flora Drash and her husband, Otto. The wife says Otto drew a knife and challenged her “to fight it out.” _ This is Otto’s story: “A man’s home is his castle and he ought to have a few rights there. She threw my clothes out of the house and said she wouldn’t live with me.”

CHAMBERLIN ON NEWAIRQRfND Fliers in Second Attempt for Enduranoe Record. Bu United Press ROOSEVELT FIELD, N. Y., Jan. 12. Clarence Chamberlin and Rogers Williams took off at 10:11 a. m. today on another attempt to regain the world endurance flight record for the United States. A similar attempt Wednesday by the fliers failed four hours after the start when their gasoline pump ceased to function, stopping the flow of fuel from the large storage tanks of the Bellanca plane to the gravity tanks in the wings which feed the motor. The New York-to-Germany pilot and Williams, a commercial flier, are after the mark which Germany took from the United States last summer, when Edward and Ristics, two German pilots set anew record of 52 hours 22 minutes and 31 seconds of continuous flying. Chamberlin was at the controls of the plane, which is owned by A. R. Martine, wealthy Wall Street banker, when it started. The fliers hoped to remain in the air for from 55 to 60 hours. Should they be successful, they would not land again until Saturday night. 35 Injured in Launch Blast By United Press HAMBURG Germany, Jan. 12. Thirty-five longshoremen were injured when a carburetor explosion caused a launch to burn in the river Elbe today. Several men were rescued from the water.

for him, he was stalking two sisters, Lulu, 16, and Mabel Thompson, 13, a few squares away. As the sisters turned into an unlighted street, the man, running on tip-toes, silently came up behind them. He brought the knife down on Lula’s neck, missing the jugular vein by half an inch. Mabel fled screaming and the “ripper” disappeared. Although both the girls attacked will recover, all three were in a highly nervous state early this morning. The Weaver girl’s back “bears a six-inch slash. Her coat was ripped more than twelve inches. A fiveinch slash was found in Miss Thompson’s neck and back and she was in a dangerous condition from loss of {flood,

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis

Five Nicaraguans Killed in Clash; Nine Slain in Bombing Raid. Bji United Press MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Jan. 12. Rebel casualties were increased after a sharp skirmish'between a combat patrol of United States marines and followers of General Augustino Sandino near Cujo, Tuesday, it was announced today. Five rebels were killed. Nine others rebels were killed in a bombing raid the same day near Quilali, it watf announced previously. There were no marine casualties and the marine patrol took the town of San Albino without opposition, it was announced. The combat patrol came upon the rebel band just outside of Cujo, which is not far from San Albino, and there was a lively engagement for a few minutes. Some rebels were wounded, but the number is unknown. The previous announcement of a bombing raid said that the marine planes had circled over Quilali and had scored a direct hit in the rebel ranks. Nine dead were counted and there were three injured. The air raid was made without damage to the marine fliers. The only marine mishap in the last sixty hours was when a plane came down near EsteJi, owing to engine trouble. None of the fliers was injured. It was announced that a sergeant and thirteen members of the Nicaraguan guard had deserted from Commotillo and supposedly were en route to join the Sandino forces. The deserters took a machine gun with them. A small force of marines and guardsmen is pursuing the deserters. Ba' United Prrtt * WASHINGTON, Jam 12.—Major L. B. Bourne and two companions took off from Anacostia naval air station here at 6:35 a. m. today in a huge tri-motored Fokker monoplane for Managua, Nicaragua. They expect to turn the plane over to United States Marines now fighting the Nicaraguan General Sandino. Bourne planned to reach Miami, Fla., about 4 p. m., today, for refueling. *He had not decided whether to stop overnight in Miami or to continue the trans-Gulf flight to Nicaragua. Asks $700,000 for Soldiers’ Home WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.—A supplemental War Department budget estimate submitted to Congress by President Coolidge includes $700,000 for the Soldiers’ Home, Marion, Ind.

STAY OF EXECUTION GIVEN RUTH SNYDER IS INVALID, ATTORNEY GENERAL RULES

Modern Hawks Bu United Press WASHINGTON, Jan. 12. The proprietor of the Cackle Comer poultry farm at Garretsville, Ohio, has complained to Postmaster General New that the airmail service is ruining his poultry business. The Cackle Corner man wrote New that airmail planes have been flying low over his farm, causing hens “to pile up and injure each other” from fright. He claimed the fowls refuse to lay eggs after they are scared. General New wrote the poultry raiser that he had suggested to the National Air Transport, contract operators of the New York-to-Chicago airmail route, that pilots fly higher when passing Garretsville.

LINDY ARRIVES AT COLON GOAL Flier to Miss Opening of Pan-American Congress. B,U United Press COLON, Canal Zone, Jan. 12. Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh arrived at France field at 10:30 a. m. today in his Spirit of St. Louis, after a flight from Lindbergh field, Panama. Bn United Press PANAMA CITY, Jan. 12.—Preparatory to leaving the western section of Panama, Col. Charles A. Lindbergh has predicted air connections that will bring Panama and New York within forty-eight hours of each other. The predictions brought ringing cheers from 2,000 canal employes he addressed. Lindbergh today will hop off for Colon. He is thus far undetermined on his flights after that, but he expets to visit in Venezuela. Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands, Porto Rico and Haiti. The sequence of these flights and the actual stops have not been determined. One thing is certain, however, Lindbergh is sure he will not be in Havana in time for the opening of the sixth Pan-American conference. URGES FIGHT ON CRIME Evangelist Warns Christians and Cites How Noah Was Unheeded. Christian Americans must arise and stem the titde of the movement of the mass toward lawlessness and crime, declared Evangelist Charlie Stewart at Cadle Tabernacle, Wednesday night. Mass movement of history were described by the evangelist, who pointed out that the trend was toward lawlessness in the days when Noah sounded his warning. The people did not heed Noah. Disaster followed. The evangelist will continue the meetings for three weeks.

TRADE OFFICE TO CITY Congress Passes Bill for Branch of Commerce Bureau Here. Establishment here of a district office of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce was made certain with the passage by Congress Tuesday of the Department of Commerce appropriations bill, according to word from Washington. The bill provided $45,000 for opening of three district offices. Senator Arthur R. Robinson said he had assurances one of the offices would be opened here next summer. AGED WOMAN INJURED Found Unconscious After Fall Down Stairs; in Hospital. Mrs. Susan Harlan, 72, fell down stairs at the home of Mrs. Blanche Bennett, 816 N. West St.. Wednesday night and is in serious condition at city hospital. She was alone in the house at the time and was found unconscious, badly bruised and her left wrist broken when Mrs. Bennett returned home. She was visiting here, her home being with her son, Raymond C. Hill, Brown County. WALB CREDITORS MEET Session Called by Receiver of Construction Firm. Creditors of the Walb Construction Company were to meet at the Severin this afternoon on call of Receiver Frank H. Cutshall, Ft. Wayne. Principal trouble of the company is lack of working capital, Cutshall said. Clyde A. Walb, president of the company, was to present his resignation as chairman of the Republican State committee today. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 32 10 a. m 42 7 a. m.... 33 11 a. m.... 44 Ba. m.... 35 12 (noon).. 47 S ft. BUt & l fi. SB-.* *9

HOME

Outside Marlon County 3 Cent*

TWO CENTS

Judge Lacks Authority to Halt Doom, New York Official Decides. SET HEARING FOR TODAY, Levy Will Be Asked to Vacate Order, Granting Hours of Life. Ell United Press ALBANY, N. Y., Jan. 12Attorney General Albert Ottinger ruled today that Mrs. Ruth! Snyder can be executed at Sing Sing prison tonight in accordance with her sentence, despite the stay granted by Supreme Court Justice Aaron Levy in New York. In an official decision, Ottinger ruled that Justice Levy of New York lacked authority to issue such a stay. Asa matter of courtesy to Justice Levy, it was arranged for an assistant attorney general to appear before him this afternoon and, after informing him of the ruling, ask him to vacate his order. In case Justice Levy refuses, the Appellate Court probably will he asked to vacate the order, but ih\ any case, it was not believed the execution could be delayed. The attorney general gave his decision orally shortly before 1 p. m., but did not have his written opinion ready. “My opinion is unchanged,” said Ottinger, when newspapermen asked him if he had reached a conclusion. Previously, he unofficially had said that he coiild see no reason whereby the Levy writ could be made to apply as a stay of execution. “Then you believe that the ap- t plication is not a stay?” he was * asked. “Precisely,” was his answer. “That is it.”

Suit Is Put Ahead B,<l United I’rcss NEW YORK, Jan. 12.—Supreme Court Justice Levy told newspaper men this afternoon that he had notified attorneys he would hear arguments on a motion for a jury trial in the suit of the Prudential Life Insurance Company to avoid payment of $95,000 insurance involved in the Snyder-Gray murder case at 2 p. m. today. It was this hearing, originally set for 10 a. m. tomorrow, which involved the issuance of a writ by Justice Levy last night, by which he designed to stay temporarily the execution of Mrs. Ruth Snyder. “My sole interest in this case is in seeing that the interests of the child (Mrs. Snyder’s daughter, Lorraine) are protected,” Levy said. The insurance involved is payable to Lorraine. Mrs. Snyder’s attorneys had contended that her presence as a witness in the jury trial thejf sought would be necessary, and hence sought to stay the execution. Levy’s announcement was believed to nave altered materially any possible effect of the stay issued last niglt. When told that Attorney General Ottinger had held that the stay was of no effect, Levy said: “Well my opinion is as good or as bad as that of any attorney.” Arrive to Say Farewell Bit United Perns SING SING PRISON, N. Y„ Jan. 12.—Mrs. Josephine Brown, mother of Ruth Snyder, and Andrew Brown, a brother of Mrs. Snyder, arrived at the prison here this afternoon to say farewell to their daughter and sister, who is expected to be executed tonight. Mrs. Brown appeared broken and tears filled her eyes as she was led swiftly through a crowd of reporters to her daughter’s death cell. Pleads for Writ Bil United Press NEW YORK, Jan. 12.—Samuel' Miller, attorney for Henry Judd Gray, spent more than an hour in chambers with Federal Judge H. W. Goddard today, pleading for a writ of habeas corpus to stay Gray’* execution, scheduled for tonight. When Miller left, both he and Judge Goddard refused to make any statement, but it generally was believed the writ had been refused. Goddard said the "matter has been disposed of one way or another,” but would not indicate how. ROGERS^KIDSNCONGRESS Flood Control Committee Gets Banter of “Ambassador.” Bn United Press WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.—Will Rogers appeared today as a socalled “Cgngressman-at-large” before the House Flood Control Committee and told -the committee and a throng which packed the huge caucus room that he is “one of the few Congressmen who have heard of toft flodd,’? , ,