Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 222, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 January 1928 — Page 3
JAN. 24, 1928.
SLAYER OF HOOSIER SET FIRE TO BODY BEFORE DEATH
FIEND'S WORK LAID BARE IN MEDLOCKCASE Inquest at Bloomington Lays Murder to Unknown Person. KILLING WITHOUT CLEW Probe Under Way Since Sunday Fails of Results. BY CHARLES C. STONE State Editor, The Times BLOOMINGTON. Ind., Jan. 24. One of the most brutal killers in the history of Indiana is still at large today—the person who ended the life of Ellis A. Medlock, 23, farmer near Kirksville, Monroe County, setting fire to an inflammable liquid on the body while it still held life. Sheriff W. S. Curry today gave little hope of an early capture of the slayer, if ever. It is “the murder ; case without a clew.’’ Although Medlock had been miss- | ing since Friday, 13, the case was j not reported to authorities until i last Friday. Sheriff Curry declared today that this delay gave i the slayer a good start in escaping, j Slayer “Unknown Person’’ The inquest held by Dr. F. F Tourner, Monroe County coroner, resulted in a finding that Medlock; came to his death by being struck! on the head with a blunt instrument, “in the hands of an unknown per-] son.” That Medlock was still alive! when flames enveloped his body was proved, the coroner held, by the fact that there were blisters on the body. Burning of a corpse will not produce blisters. During his investigations Monday, Sheriff Curry was handed a note by a man known to him but whose identity he refuses to disclose, and he is also keepipg secret the contents of the note. He said today, however, that the note “didn’t amount to anything,” comparing it to missives school children pass to each other. Women Accusers, Belief Other information regarding the note was to the effect it contained the names of men suspected by the writers, evidently three women. The sheriff denied any persons were accused. So far there has been no developments affecting the theory that Medlock was the victim of liquor dealing trouble, his wife having admitted that when he left home Saturday it was for the purpose of delivering a gallon of white mule whisky. The battered, partially burned body was found in a thicket near the Medlock home, Sunday. Body Frozen in Ground Sam and George Hughes, brothers, found the body. It was badly frozen and so deeply imbedded in frosty earth that steel crowbars were used in loosening it. After removal to a morgue here cold water was played over the body to thaw it sufficiently to be prepared for burial. Funeral services for the murder victim were held this morning. Besides the widow and two daughters, 2 and 5, respectively, Medlock leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Medlock, three brothers and two sisters, all living here. CLUB TO HEAR WETZEL Keystone Press Head Will Speak at' Dinner Tonight. Julian Wetzel, president of the Keystone Press, Indianapolis, will speak at the January meeting of the Men’s Club of the Carrollton Avenue Reformed Church, tonight, William Lilly, president, announced today. Wetzel will speak on “Old Boys and Young.” The meeting has been designated as Father and Son night. Dinner will be served at 6:30, by members of the Women’s Service Circle of the Church. Musical numbers by Herbert Rennard, violinist, and the Carrollton Avenue Quartet, and other entertainment will be presented. The dinner and meeting are open to all men of the community. INSTRUCT STATE POLICE Criminal Bureau Officials Teach Cooperation to Men. Twelve members of the State police assigned to the northern district were given instruction today in the best methods of cooperating with police authorities in the apprehension of criminals, and in working with the recently established criminal identification bureau. The meeting was held at the Lincoln. Speakers were Chief Robert Hume, Chauncey Manning, bureau head, and Frederick E. Schortemeier, secretary of State. QUESTIONED ABOUT FIRE Negro Held by Police Quizzed In Four Arson Cases. John Barber, 35, Negro, 652 Athon Bt., is held in city prison today for ijuestioning in the investigation of four incendiary fires on Johnson, Douglas and Kinney Sts., in the last month. All the fires were within a half block. He was arrested on a vagrancy charge by Sergt. John Sheehan Monday night. “Ghost” Dodges Bullets By Times Special BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Jan. 24. The latest episode in the effort to lay “the ghost of the Red Hog quarry district,” south of Clear Creek, was a shooting party led by Noble Sicoe and including six other men. Shots were fired, but the “ghost” is still at large.
BOY, 13, USES GUN TO ROUT BURGLAR
Reading Alone, His Parents in the living room of his home, 73G Osborne, were away. \ Suddenly Robert saw the family **. cat arch his back and spit in the direction of a bedroom door. Then Robert heard a footstep in T Cold chills electrified the young- . \ ster, but his nerve stood the test. He tells the rest thus: gjAm ; “I knew where my father's revol- /.mHmlAM’'" ..... I ,'U II out „ ,11'. 111, l„l- i„
Reading Alone, His Parents Gone, Lad Chases Away Intruder. Robert Osborne, 13, sat reading in the living room of his home, 736 Cottage Ave., late Monday. His parents. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Osborne, were away. Suddenly Robert saw the family cat arch his back and spit in the direction of a bedroom door. Then Robert heard a footstep in the bedroom. Cold chills electrified the youngster. but his nerve stood the test. He tells the rest thus: “I knew where my father’s revolver was. I got it out of another bed-
room and was just starting for the room where I had heard the noise when a man opened it. He jerked when he saw I was pointing a gun at him and began in a nervous voice to try to talk me out of it.
GAR PLUNGE IN RIVERJKILLS 7 Family Trapped in Sedan by Crash. By United Press NEW LONDON, Conn., Jan. 24. Seven members of the family of Robert Whittaker were drowned today when their motor car plunged off a bridge into the Thames River collision with a motorcycle. Mi and Mrs. Whittaker and their five children were in the machine. The bodies of all but two of the children have been recovered. The auto was struck by a motorcycle ridden by Harris Preston. His leg was fractured. Apparently none of the occupants had opportunity to escape from the closed motor car before it fell into the river. One door was partly open and only three bodies were found in the sedan, so it was believed ths mother had tried to get her children out of the car to safety. It was extremely cold and the shock of the icy water contributed to the deaths of the seven. Five Burned to Death B.y United Press RAWLINS, Wyo., Jan. 24.—Five members of a family were burned to death at McFadden, an oil town ten miles north of Rock River, today when their home caught fire from an over-heated stove, reports received here said. The dead were John King, his wife and three sons, aged 6, 8 and 10. RULES ON PARK LANDS Gilliom Decides State Has Power to Condemn Property. Attorney General Arthur L. Gilliom ruled today that the Governor and the State conservation department have the power to exercise the right of eminent domain in condemning property wanted by county commissioners for parks to be turned over to the State. The ruling came in relation to the formation of the Tri-County Park, where 105 acres remain to be pin-chased by commissioners of Sullivan, Clay and Greene Counties. All such parks must have approval of the Governor and the conservation department. WOMAN TRIES SUICIDE Desire for Her Children of Former Marriage Blamed. Despondency brought on by desire for her children of a former marriage who are living with their father, caused Mrs. Elsie Hall, 31, of 637 Arbor Ave., to attempt to commit suicide by poison, police said. Mrs. Hall at first refused to go to city hospital, declaring, “Let me alone. I want to die if I can’t live with the children,” police said. Hospital attaches said she will recover. Find Helium Gas in Europe Bn United Press BERLIN, Jan. 24. The first known deposit of helium gas in Europe has been found at Ruesselsheim, Boden, 600 meters under the surface. The deposit is said to be extensive.
HARVARD ISN’T HARVARD ANY MORE—TO ALUMNI —FOR ‘COPEY’ HAS RESIGNED
By United Press "VTEW YORK, Jan, 23.—Life may go on at Harvard, the old school may take its annual football lickings from Yale and even Princeton, but for many of Its most famous alumni and equal numbers of Its most obscure hinds, the tang has gone out of Harvard. “Copey” has retired. “Copey” is Charles Townsend Copeland, and he resigned the Boylston professorship of rhetoric while the ink was still wet on an article in the New Yorker by Hey-
Robert Osborne
“He said if I wouldn't shoot or call the police he would go and ran out the back door." The boy notified neighbors and then called police. The burglar had ransacked the bedroom.
TRAFFIC CLUB ELECTS OFFICERS ON THURSDAY Choice of Two Shipper Members for Presidency. The Indianapolis Traffic Club will elect 1928 officers at its annual business meeting at the Severin
# JP w fHj,
Helm
Helm automatically will become a board of governors members for two years. Jazz Step to Art NEW YORK. Jan. 24.—The “jazz age” is the beginning of a great cul- | tural and artistic movement in the! United States, Otto Kahn believes. I BURGLARS ACTIVE Negroes Sought for Thefts at North Side Homes. Police today hunted two Negroes suspected of robbing two north side homes Monday night and attempting a burglary at another. Mrs. Bertha Brown, 3650 Fall Creek Blvd., found two Negroes attempting to open a window as she arrived home. They walked leisurely away, she said. The same two men are believed to have broken into the home of Albert Metzger, 3120 N. Meridian St., taking clothing valued at S3OO, and L. Schmutte, 5426 Carrollton Ave., taking jewelry at $365. The Metzgers are in Cuba. The burglary was reported by a maid. Max Merritt, 5414 Guilford Ave., reported a child’s bank and $3 stolen from his home. Mrs. F. S. Hassler, 1450 College Ave., valued a ring taken from her home at S2OO. MAYOR ASKS DIVORCE Herbert Males, Evansville, Says Wife Won’t Live With Him. By United P. ess EVANSVILLE, Ind., Jan. 24.—Asserting that his wife, Mrs. Anna Males, has refused to live with him for three months, Herbert Males, Evansville mayor, has filed suit for divorce. The complaint contains charges that Mrs. Males “quarreled, nagged and fussed” at the mayor and finally refused to live with him. The mayor and his wife were married in 1895. Two Sued in Auto Death RUSHVILLE, Ind., Jan. 24. Death here of Miller J. Ogden has caused filing of a SIO,OOO damage suit against two motorists by Chester M. George, administrator. It is alleged that after Miller was hurled to the ground by a car driven by Jesse M. Poe, another driven by Dr. John M. Lee ran over him.
wood Broun predicting that while “Copey” for the last ten years “has talked constantly of dying, or at any rate, retiring” he would do neither. This is some measure of the shock with which the news from Cambridge was received by New York literati. “Copey,” said one of them today, “is the only Harvard professor, the possibility of whose resignation is worth a magazine article and whose actual retirement is front page Metropolitan news.” Broun was not “Copey’s” favorite pupil, although he has
ALLOW BISHOP STATEMENT IN JACKSON TRIAL Deposition of Minister in Favor of Governor to Be Used Feb. 7. The State will permit introduction of the deposition of Bishop H. H. Fout of the United Brethren church in favor of Governor Ed Jackson in his conspiracy to bribe trial. Feb. 7. Prosecutor William H. Remy arid Special Prosecutor Emsley W. Johnson announced this today. Bishop Fout, regarded as the chief witness for Jackson, has started on an European tour and will not be here for the trial. Defense attorneys several days ago submitted his statement to prosecutors. They must approve it before it can be used. Bishops Explains Deal Fout declared in the deposition that he asked Jackson (than secretary of State), in December, 1923, to go to Warren T. McCray, then Governor, and urge appointment of James E. McDonald as prosecuting attorney to succeed William P. Evans, McCray's son-in-law, who was resigning. The State contends that Jackson, George V. Coffin, Republican county chairman, and Attorney Robert I. Marsh conspired to induce McCray to appoint McDonald—so they could enhance their political control—in return for SIO,OOO and a guarantee McCray would not be convicted in an Indiana court. McCray was in financial difficulties at that time. It was agreed Monday afternoon that Special Judge Charles M. McCabe would grant the three defendants separate trials and that Jackson would be tried first, Feb. 7. Will Call Special Venire County Clerk George O. Hutseli announced that in anticipation the drawing of a special venire of 100 names for the Jackson jury a number of new names will be placed in the jury box soon. The box is nearly empty, he said. The defendants will be arraigned either before or on Feb. 7, the judge said. McCabe said he will be prepared to come to Indianapolis any time between now and the trial date to receive the pleas and to grant formally the separate trial motions. The court signed an order for two special jury venires of fifty persons each. They will be drawn Jan. 30. The first will report the morning of Feb. 7 and the second on the following day. Body Found in Field MUNCIE, Ind.. Jan. 24.—Funeral services were held here today for Newell Jester, 71, whose body was found in a corn field near the city Monday. Death was due to heart disease. The aged man disappeared Dec. 29 from the home of his son, Floyd J. Jester. The body was found by John Anthony who went into the field to husk corn. CHURCH CLASS WILL GIVE 3-ACT COMEDY Victory Players of Woodruff Place Baptist Form Cast. “Civil Service,” a three-act comedy, will be presented Wednesday at 8 p. m. by the Victory Players.
Thursday evening. As the club constitution provides j the presidency be alternated between the carrier and shipper groups of the club, a shipper must be chosen as the new president. Nominees are L. E. Banta, Board of Trade traffic manager, and Edgar E. Mills. Fair-banks-Morse Company traffic manager.
Mm
Paul Tuttle (above), Mrs. Leah Saunders
Cook, Herbert Bissel, Harry Cook, Byron Saunders, Frieda Wicknian, Grace Patten, Ruth Patten and William Boyer. Ben Harris is director. TAKE LIVES FOR CANDY MULLENS, W. Va„ Jan. 24. Enoch Tolliver, 85, and his wife were killed In their little store at Pierpont, near here, for the price of a pound of cheap candy. The aged couple, authorities believe, gave their lives for the small change, totaling 58 cents, found near the scene of the double tragedy.
written since leaving school at least one story annually concerning the man who has been Harvard’s best-loved professor for thirty years. Robert Sherwood, dramatist and editor of “life,” was not “Copeys” favorite, either. u * EITHER was Robert Benchley of Life, nor Cameron Rogers, author of “The Magnificent Idler” and latest of many pupils to achieve literary fame. Nor Waldo Pierce, Kenneth McGowan, Willard Huntington Wright, Marshall Best, Maxwell
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
FORD’S FLIVVER PLANE OFF FOR FIRST ENDURANCE TEST
' -*K. i ■ : ’• ‘ ••••••¥ •••••• t
Hr / ip* .mmam
Ford’s flivver airplane and Harry Brooks, pilot.
HOLDUP VICTIMS TO VIEW SUSPECT TRIO Bloomington Youth Confess Robbery of City Gas Stations. Three Bloomington (Ind.) youths held as bandit suspects were to be viewed by Indianapolis filling station attendants today. Police said the trio, Fred Smith, 23; Russell Tapp, 18, and Herbert Duncan, 24, confessed to Bloomington authorities that they robbed the Pure Oil Company filling station at Oakland and Washington Sts. and the Standard Oil station at Fall Creek Blvd. and Thirty-Eighth St., Jan. 12. They used an automobile stolen the night before at Bloomington, they said, and went to Chicago where they spent the SBO loot. Gets $lO, Fails to Return When Mrs. T. long, proprietor of a confectionery at 150 N. Illinois St., entrusted a 14-year-old newsboy, who had frequented her place, with a $lO bill to get changed Monday, the boy went out of business. So did the bill, so far as Mrs. Long is concerned, she told police.
SHORTAGECHARGED Trustee Books Show $8,295 Is Missing. Report of an $8,295.94 shortage in the accounts of John M. Brown, Union Township trusteee, Porter County, was referrred to Attorney General Arthur L. Gilliom today by Chief Examiner Lawrence Orr of the State board of acounts. Notation on the report stated that Brown had promised to make restitution. Examiners Earl Coble and F. L. Crowe, who audited Brown’s books, declared money was taken by making out false warrants, signing and cashing checks. A sample was a $325 check to M. Coash & Son, which, it is alleged, was never received by the firm, the examiners said. Audit, they said, showed $2,992.45 of such transactions in 1926 and $5,303.49 in 1927. pleads for Tost son Debt That Caused Worry Has Been Paid, Says Father. “Come home, Leland, your mother is ill from grief and the debt that worried you has been paid.” This message was broadcast today to Leland Dorsett, 15, of 1928 Lexington Ave., by his father. The boy left home Sunday with another boy. They were last seen walking south on Michigan Rd. Leland was wearing a bright red sweater. Police Questions Negro Woman Mrs. Lola Brackenridge, Negro, 28, of 1433 Shepard St., was held for questioning by police today, after regaining consciousness at city hospital Monday. She had left her home Sunday night and was found by her father, Richard Gartin, in a dazed condition at 327 Toledo St. Monday. She had a cut in her leg and her money was gone.
in the gymnasium of the Woodruff Place Baptist Church. The play is sponsored by the Bureau class of the church. The Victory Players are members of the “Our Friends” class of Victory Memorial M. E. Church, Woodlawn and Villa Aves. Paul Tuttle, 1631 E. Minnesota St., will play the leading male role and Mrs. Leah Saunders, Beech Grove, is the leading woman. Arrangements for the play .were made by W. S. Arnold, 546 Eastern Ave., business manager. Others in the cast are Harold Winkley, Frances
Perkins, Conrad Aiken, Royal Brown, Holworthy Hall and many others. “Copey's” favorite student, among all the host who have trembled at his double-edged tongue in “English 12” since 1893 was Jack Reed, who now lies buried, a Communist hero, in the Red square at Moscow. It took years for “Copey” to recover from the shock of seeing turn pacifist and later lose his life as a Red rebel. Copeland is of diminutive stature with the voice usually asso-
Harry Brooks Starts Non-Stop Dash From Detroit Plant to Miami; Only Fifty Gallons of Gas Carried for Long Trip. By United Press FORD AIRPORT, DETROIT, Jan. 24.—The flivver airplane started on its initial endurance flight today, when Harry Brooks, Ford Motor Company pilot, left here at 7:15 a. m. on a nonstop flight to Miami, Fla. Brooks, who piloted Mrs. Evangeline Lindbergh to Mexico City to spend Christmas with her son, taxied the newest Ford creation across a field muddy from snow and rain. The two-cylinder motor, just perfected, responded with a roar to the throttle pressure and almost leaped into the air and on to the Southern metropolis. The plane carried fifty gallons of gasoline and five gallons of oil. That was regarded as sufficient for the trip, as it consumes but two and one-half gallons of fuel an hour. Brooks expected to complete the journey inside of fifteen hours.
Ford can manufacture and sell| the “flivver planes” for $2,300, the 1 United Press learned today. The price was computed from Ford’s experiments on small seals production and probably could be reduced considerably on large scale production, it was said. Plane Is Brand New Brooks’ plane is a brand-new creation, far different from the “flivver” plane which Ford exhibited on his birthday year before last Changes from that type of plane were suggested, it was learned, by Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, when he flew the old type “flivver” plane at the airport last summer. The new type planes can do sev-enty-five miles an hour, though the normal cruising speed is sixty miles an hour. Mileage, it was said, is approximately thirty miles to the gallon of gasoline. The plane is equipped with an engine which produces between thirty-six and forty horse power. The engine costs about SBOO and the rest of the plane, with gasoline tanks in the wings, about $1,500. Ford Keenly Interested Ford has taken a personal interest in development of the planes. He is believed to have known, however, that the big problem to be solved before they can be sold on an extensive basis is teaching a large number of persons to fly and banishing the fears of the rest ot the people that air travel is unsafe. Brooks has been using the “flivver” plane to commute to work daily for several months. He has found it satisfactory, it was stated, and has so reported to Ford. The millionaire industrialist was at the airport this morning to witness Brooks’ departure and was described as intensely Interested In the endurance flight.
THREE PEONS KILLED BY MARINES IN NICARAGUA Slaying Follows Attempt to Stop Drunken Knife Battle. By United Press MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Jan. 24. Three peons were killed by two of the United States forces near Granada Sunday, according to an official announcement. Sergt. Harold I. Crowell of the Marine Corps and Chief Pharmacist’s Mate L. F. Newton, U. S. N., attempted to separate four peons who were fighting with machetes. The peons were said to have been intoxicated. The report said the four peons attacked Crowell and Ntwon and the two Americans were forced to kill three of them. DRY OFFICIAL IS NAMED Michigan Administrator Selected Under Civil Service. By United Press WASHINGTON. Jan. 24.—Prohibition Commissioner Doran today l appointed Thomas Stone permanent prohibition administrator under civil service for Michigan. Stone has been in charge of enforcement work in Michigan for about a year, and previous to that was head of the brewery investigating squad of the Prohibition Bureau. CONFESSES GEMTHEFT Man Held at Dayton Also Admits Robbing Dempsey’s Case. By United Press DAYTON, Ohio, Jan. 24.—Richard J. Dalton, 30, sentenced to the workhouse on charges of vagrancy, confessed today, according to detectives, to a $35,000 jewel theft in San Francisco and to robbing a Los Angeles restaurant owned by Jack Dempsey. Dalton also said he was wanted in St. Joseph, Mo., on charges of manslaughter growing out of the death of a 14-year-old boy.
dated with a great actor. He Is recognizable at a great distance by his atrociously high derby hat, his hom-rimmed glasses and bigknotted tie. a u HIS private life at Harvard has become legendary. His “English 12,” limited to twenty students, was popularly supposed to be more boisterous than a burlesque show and more strictly disciplined than the Marine corps. “What makes you think, young man, that I’ll have you in my class?” was his invariable demand of applicants.
Taken by Death
William H. Freeman
GETS HIS CAR BACK Turns Driver Over to Police After Capturo. Another alleged automobile thief is held at city prison today because an employe of the owner of the stolen automobile was on the alert. Earl Rodgers, 1419 E. Pruitt St., saw the car of his employer, Otto Wente, 111 Spring St., stolen Sunday night, parked at Missouri and Market Sts. Rodgers called Wente and the two waited for the thief. At the city prison the alleged thief gave his name as Harry Overly, 29, of R. R. 8., Box 201.
REFUSE TAX CLAIMS No Funds, Says Auditor to Plea of Attorney. Flat refusal to pay horizontal tax refund claims allowed by county commissioners last year for test cases was given today to a demand of William Bosson. attorney that seven claims aggregating $4,804.90 be paid by County Auditor Harry Dunn. Bosson pointed out the claims were allowed April 18, 1927. He seeks a warrant for payment. Dunn, In his reply to the request, stated county funds are depleted to such an extent that a temporary loan of $350,000 was negotiated this month for paying current debts and that the county council at its September, 1927, session refused appropriations to pay tax claims. Dunn said the claims were allowed by the commission last year so litigation testing their validity might be carried into the courts. Shortly before this action the State Supreme Court held the horizontal tax increases of 1919,1920 and 1921 invalid. Bosson has a mandamus petition pending in Circuit Court requesting an order to make commissioners hold a hearing on all claims. SLAYING MARKS STRIKE Gunman Shoots Down Leader as He Dines With Friends. . By United Press NEW YORK, Jan. 24.—A painters’ strike, which began last September and has been marked by shootings and bombings, was held responsible today for the death of Alexander Berkowltz, 33. A gunman, hiding behind a parked car outside a restaurant in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, shot Berkowitz last night as he sat dining and talking to friends, the bullets crashing through the front plate glass window. Tht slayer escaped in a waiting car.
According to Alexander Woolcott, the World dramatic critic, Heywood Broun is still afraid of his old instructor and at sight of “Copey” shifts uneasily “from one foot to the other, like an elephant with something on its mind.” Scribner's publishing house, now that “Copey” has retired, hopes he will write his autobiography. Years ago, Perkins of Scribners wired “Copey” after trying for years to get him to write it, “will be up on next train to get the first installment.” “Come up eight years from now,” answered “Copey,” collect.
PAGE 3
W. H. FREEMAN, FORMER G. 0. P. LEADER, DEAD 111 Only Two Days; Held County Chairmanship in 1924. William H. Freeman, 64, former works board member and Republican County chairman, died Monday afternoon at his home, 5159 Park Ave., after two days’ illness of uremic poisoning. Private funeral services will be held at the home Wednesday at 10 a. m. Burial will be in Crown Hill cemetery. Friends may call at the home from 2 to 5 p. m. and from 7 to 9 p. m. today. Mr. Freeman was secretary of the State board of forestry during the administration of Winfield T. Durbin as Governor, and two years later served in the office of State auditor. He was a works board member under Samuel Lewis Shank’s second administration as mayor and was county chairman in 1924. In Lumber Business fix- twenty-two years he had Associated with C. B. Townsend, a brother-in-law, in the lumber and railroad tie business, with offices at 315 Traction Terminal Bldg. Mr. Freeman continued the business alone when Townsend left the firm a year ago. Mr. Freeman was born in Wabash, Ind., Sept. 11, 1863, and spent his boyhood there. He took a commercial course at Valparaiso University and later attended Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute, where he received his A. B. degree. Entering the teaching profession, he became principal of the Urbana (Ind.) High School, and ltaer principal of Anderson High School. Member of Masonic Order He was a member of the Methodist Church, Masonic Order, Elks and Columbia Club. Surviving him are the widow, Mrs. Lelah Towsend Freeman; a son, Russell, at home; two brothers, Frank Freeman of North Manchester, and Edward Freeman of Wabash, and his mother, Mrs. Martha Freeman of Wabash. PENSION FUND GAINS BY COP’S POLITENESS Mayor, Chief Praise Officer for Courteous Manner of Arrest. Commendation from Mayor L. Ert Slack, Police Chief Claude M. Worley and others came to Motor Policeman Alva Behyl Thompson, who added $lO to the police pension fund by being polite. Thompson arrested H. E. Haywood, 1701 N. Delaware St., Saturday for driving his automobile without lights. Arraigned in court, Haywood was fined $lO and the fine suspended. He donated the $lO to the pension fund with the statement that it was because the arresting officer had been so polite. Commenting on the event, the mayor pointed out that he had urged politeness by the force when he addressed them at roll call several times. Worley stated that the action of Thompson is in line with the department policy of making Indianapolis police the most courteous in the country. DOWNTOWN SCHOOL OFFICE NOT FOR SALE Commissioners Deny Plan to Sell Old Library Site. Denial that the Indianapolis school board Is contemplating sale of the school office building at Meridian and Ohio Sts., formerly the Central Public Library Bldg., was made by President Theodore F. Vonnegut today. Vonnegut suggested it might be wise to erect anew building on the site, but that it would be foolish to sell the property, which Is rapidly increasing in value. Board members haven’t discussed such a sale for more than a year, he added. Commissioner Charles W. Kern said it might be wise to sell If the “right price could be obtained, but $375,000, as suggested, is a long way from the right price.” APPROVE CHURCH DAY Monthly Event Will Bring Noted Speakers to City. A monthly church day was approved by the Indianapolis Methodist Ministers’ Association meeting, Monday, at Roberts Park M. E. Church. The idea will be submitted to the Church Federation for approval. Plans include bringing a speaker of national prominence here each month to speak In favor of Increased church attendance. Cooperation of cific bodies will be asked. Speeches will be broadcast by radio. Suit Raises Race Issue By Times Special PRINCETON, Ind., Jan. 24. White patrons of the Baldwin Heights School have filed suit in Gibson Circuit Court here asking a ruling on the question whether or not school authorities can be compelled to provide hacks for transportation of white and Negro pupils. One hack is now being used. No More Street Shinny By Times Special BICKNELL, Ind., Jan. 24.—Another worry for motorists Is to be eliminated here. Boys playing shinny on streets left battered tin cans, a menace to automobile tires. Police have ordered the boys to take their games off the street^.
