Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 153, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 November 1928 — Page 1

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AUTO PLUNGES 18 FEET; TWO BANDITS FLEE Escape Made in Hail of Shots After Spectacular Three-Mile Pursuit. OUTLAW’S CAR WRECKED Try to Crowd Deputies Off Road; Hub Knocked •v Off Machine. A spectacular three-mile motor race between deputy sheriffs and two bandits ended on the outskirts of Ben Davis early this morning when the bandit car plunged over an 18-foot embankment and its occupants escaped on foot in a hail of bullets. The pursuit began on the National road, two miles east of Ben Davis, when three members of the new county patrol noticed a suspicious looking car and sped after it. Plunge Over Embankment. The two machines jockeyed from one side of the road to the other in an attempt to wreck each other and a hub was knocked off the sheriffs’ machine. At Earl street in Ben Davis, the bandits turned and sped north toward the Pennsylvania tracks. The street ends at the embankment and the bandit car crashed through the fence and over the embankment. Bandit Car Demolished The bandits were hurled free of the wreckage, and both scrambled to the tracks and dashed away, while the p trol members shot several times it them. It is believed they were injured, for both limped. TTie bandit car, which was demolished, had been stolen early Thursday night from Lowell Stanley. Plainfield. In the wreckage the deputies found several loaves of bread, some burglars’ tools, and a blackjack. A set of stolen license plates also was found. Tire deputies who figured in the pursuit were Ollte May! 'ClifforiTTS? j and John McDowell, the latter two appointed Thursday by Sheriff Omer Hawkins. It was the first official action of the new county patrol, which went into effect Thursday night under the new substation system. The trio of deputies ar# stationed at the Ben Davis station.

BOMBS IN PARLIAMENT Two Are Found in Minister’s Drawer. By United Press LONDON. Nov. 16.—Two Mills bombs were discovered beneath papers in a drawer in the ministers’ room of the House of Commons, it was repc- ‘•cd today. The bombs were found Thursday night. It was established that both bombs was souvenirs and were harmless. After inspecting the bombs, Scotland Yard officers searched the House of Corn-ions minutely. No further discoveries were made. The police guard was strengthened about the Parliament buildings. AGAINST GIRL ATHLETES Pope Frowns on Feminine Participation in Track Events. B.y United Press ROME, Nov. 16.—Participation of girls in public athletic competition again ha# met with the disapproval of the pope. Oservatore Romano, the official Vatican organ, commenting on the announcement of a Fascist gymnastic and athletic competition for girls in Rome next year, objected decisively to the contests. Augusto Tucati, Fascist secretary general, had praised the competition as being greatly in vogue in Anglo-Saxon countries. flo Twill pick - ’em lowa Co-Eds Dazzle Judges in Contest. By United Press AMES, lowa, Nov. 16.—The ravishing beauty of twelve lowa state college co-eds has so confused local beauty contest judges that their pictures have been sent to Florenz Ziegfeld in New York, who will select the prettiest six. Ziegfeld's judgment will break the deadlock and pictures of the six girls he selects will be printed in the beauty section of Bomb, the college year book. RUMOR GIANT CAR DEAL German Plant Denies Link With General Motors, By United Press BERLIN, Nov. 16.—A report was circulated here today, that General ‘ Motors was negotiating for the purchase of a large block of stock in the big German Opel automobile works. The production of inexpensive cars in Germany would be increased, it was said. Officials of the Opel works denied the report. If pressed for time, “travel” by Long Distance. Basic rate to CINCINNATI and return 70 cents. Adv.

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The Indianapolis Times Rain tonight and Saturday; colder by Saturday night.

VOLUME 40—NUMBER 153

Needle-ss to Say, We'll Disk-ontinue, My Dear By United Press BIRMINGHAM, England, Ncv. 16.—Beware of the strange-looking phonograph record. It may be the voice of a bailiff serving you with a summons or may bear a surprise similar to one received by a young man of Birmingham, who was rejected by his fiancee via the needle and sound-box. The young man found a letter and a phonograph record in his mail one morning. The letter explained the girl did not care to break the engagement personally, nor did the idea of a “cold and callous letter” appeal to her. He placed the record on the phonograph, turned on the machine and listened. “I have come to the conclusion . . . utterly unsuited . . . foolish to go on . . . returning your ring ...” The girl’s voice rasped. The young man put on anew needle. “Don’t take It too hard . . . wisest thing . . . save us misery.” He listened carefully until the record ended; then he took it off the machine and calmly smashed it to bits. The girl received the pieces the next day, and with them a note. “The record is broken,” it said, “but my heart is not.”

SHERIFF INDICTED IN EAST ST: LOUIS LIQUOR INQUIRY

Lost in Space Meteors Fail to Keep Date With Astronomers for Second Time.

By United Press 'T'VANSTON, 111., Nov. 16.—Lost: Swarm of meteors. Last seen in 1866. 1 Believes wandering in space. Answer to name of Leonids. And there won’t be any finders, according to Prof. Philip F..c of Northwestern university observatory'. Professor Fox scanned the heavens in vain early Thursday for the expected visit of the Leonids, a cluster of meteors which was due. Had the meteors appeared, Professor Fox said, it would have been an indication that there would be a recurrence of the brilliant display of 1866 and 1833. They were to appear again in 1899 but failed to keep their date. Now, Professor Fox believes, they are wandering around in space . and may never appear again.

ASK ACQUITTAL OFJTEWART Government Rests in Trial for Perjury. By United Press WASHINGTON, Nov. 16. The Robert W. Stewart perjury trial was adjourned today by Justice Jennings Bailey in district supreme court to give the judge further time to consider a motion for a directed verdict of aquittal. Defense lawyers asked for the verdict immediately upon resting of the government’s case today. Chairman Gerald P. Nye and Senator Thomas J. Walsh of the Teapot Dome committee before which Stewart gave the testimony on which the perjury charge is based, were the final government witnesses. Nye corroborated the charge that Stewart denied receiving any profit from the Continental Trading Company Liberty bond deal, and Walsh told of the senate committee custom of holding hearings without a full quorum of senators actually present. Justice Bailey excluded the jury of three women and nine men when the directed verdict motion was made, and Jesse C. Adkins opened arguments for the defense. He contended there was not sufficient evidence against Stewart to support the charge; that Stewart’s second committee appearance on which he told of his receipt of the $799,000 in Liberty bonds was continuation of the first appearance, and that therefore Stewart told the committee everything he knew before he was finished. THREATEN KIDNAPING Mark Hanna’s Granddaughter Warned Not to Pursue Jewel Hunt. By United Press WASHINGTON. Nov. 16.—Police protection was sought by Mrs. Betty Hanna Davidson, granddaughter of the late Mark Hanna, after she had received two warnings that unless she -refranied from further efforts to recover jewels valued at $15,000 stolen from her home last July her small daughter, Daisv, would be kidnaped.

Slapped on Back by Glad Hand —of Death By United Press NEW YORK, Nov. 16.—Wendell Jones, a radio operator on the fruit ship Princess May, announced happily to his shipmates that he and a girl in his home town of Carnarvon, Wales, would be married and that he would leave the sea. The shipmates congratulated. Among them was Leon Fiesta, an engineer, who slapped Jones on the back. Fiesta lost his balance and seized Jones. Both fell into the ocean. Fiesta was saved by the second mate, but Jones’ body never came to the surface.

Seventy-One Others, Including Deputies, Are Accused by Grand Jury. Bu United Pres EAST ST. LOUIS. 111., Nov. 16. Seventy-two indictments charging officials, former officials and alleged bootleggers of Alexander county, Illinois, with violations of the prohibition laws, were returned here today by the federal grand jury. In a partial report of its investigation of conditions in that county, the jury named: Sheriff Leslie B. Roche; Ernest R. Rink, chief deputy sheriff; Herbert P. Reddix, deputy sheriff; Joseph Joseph Mulham, deputy sheriff; LGuisette Jones, former deputy sheriff; Richard Fitzgerald, former deputy sheriff. UMBRELLA SAVES QUEEN Marie of Greece Escapes Injury From Shower of Glass. B,y L nited Press LONDON, Nov. 16.—Queen Marie of Greece escaped injury while walking today w'hen a third-story window was broken and showered glass into the street. The glass fell on the queen’s umbrella.

BIBLE TRAINING LAWSOUGHT Renew Fight for Classes During School Hours. The flight to compel public school boards to release children from schools during regular hours to attend church school for religious education will be renewed in the 1929 Indiana General Assembly, trustees of the Indiana Council on Religious Education have decided. The trustees held their quarterly session at the Lincoln, Thursday afternoon. The churchmen have been defeated in the last two legislatures. In 1925 they proposed a law requiring release of pupils to religious schools for not more than two hours a week, upon written parental request. It was vetoed by the Governor on advice of the attorney general that it w 7 as unconstitutional. A similar bill was defeated by the legislators themselves in 1927. ORDER JOND ISSUE School Board Authorizes $185,000 for New Sites. A bond issue of $185,000 to purchase new public school sites was authorized today by the school board. The bonds, which will run for two and three-year periods, will draw 4% per cent interest. The apportionment of the money obtained in the issue includes $75,000 for ;and in the rear of Crispus Att’.CßS high school, $22,880 for land adjoining Washington high school and the rest for new' .sites for Schools 9, 86, 87, 88 and 89. The board rejected bids for houses on recently purchased lots and the buildings and grounds department will raze the buildings and salvage them. DRESS BETTER ON CREDIT! H. & R. Clothing Cos., 29 East Ohio St.—Advertisement.

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, NOV. 16, 1928

PROBEHINTOF OWNERS’ BAN ON SOS CALL Radio Corporation Officials Ordered to Bare Copies of All Messages. CHECK WYOMING STORY Rumor Valve on Vestris Out of Order; Sea Poured in First Day Out. BY HARRY FERGUSON United Press St&flF Correspondent NEW YORK, Nov. 16.—Rumors that the Lambort & Holt Steamship Line wirelessed Captain William J. Carey of the Vestris not to send out an SOS on Sunday when the ship first showed a decided list opened up another avenue today for the investigation by Charles H. Tuttle, United States attorney. Tuttle immediately issued subpoenas for officials of the Radio Corporation of America, calling upon them to produce copies of all radiograms that passed between Carey and Sanderson & Son, agents for the Lamport & Holt Line. Tuttle also announced he was looking into a report that the Lamport & Holt Line sent three salvage vessels out from New York shortly after the Vestris -.ailed on the voyage that ended in disaster off the Virginia capes. Check Wyoming’s Story The third development in Tuttle’s investigation today was a request which he sent to the department of justice in Washington that testimony of the executive officer of the battleship Wyoming be sent to him as soon as possible. The Wyoming docked at Hampton Roads Thursday with eight survivors. According to Tuttle, an unnamed officer of the Vestris told the Wyoming's executive officer that a sea valve on the sunken ship was out of order and that water began entering the hold of the Vestris shortly after the vessel left New York. A law firm, the identity of which Tuttle refused to disclose, informed the federal attorney today that it had been retained to protect the reputation of Captain Carey in the investigation. At Sanderson & Son's, offices no comment for fortemoing bn Tuttle’s activities, except that the Vestris' owners would co-operate in the inquiry- It was pointed out. however, that the rumors of a Sunday SOS and the ordering out of salvage tugs before the Monday SOS was sent had been denied by other sources. Denies Sunday SOS Edmund Burgess, in charge of the Radio Corporation’s receiving station in Brooklyn, denied having heard a Sunday SOS or mention of one by wireless. Captain Walter N. Davis, salvage operations manager of MerrittChapman and Scott Corporation, said that a few minutes after the SOS on Monday the Sanderson firm ordered three relief vessels to be pin to sea from New York, but not before. At 2 p. m. United States Commissioner Francis O’Neill was to reconvene the hearing, and is expected to listen to the testimony of members of the Vestris’ crew. Thursday Tuttle brough men from three continents into the courtroom, and asked occasional questions while the witnesses spread on the record a story of negligence at sea. of fatal indecision on behalf of the Vestris officers and of clumsiness that cost the lives of women and children. The strongest case against the olficers and crew of the Vestris was made by Fred W. Puppe, who said he lost his wife and 7-month-old child because the first two lifeboats launched hung on the sloping deck of the Vestris. Screams Accusations Puppe, who is an engineer, spoke in a voice filled with calm confidence when he said the Vestris was listing ten degrees on Sunday morning and that it continued to keel over until it was on a forty-degree angle before 2 p. m. Monday. Puppe’s story was dispassionate until he reached the point where he had to describe how his wife and child were left hanging on the side of the stricken vessel while the crew of the lifeboat carried him farther from them. Then he gestured violently, shrilled out accusations against Captain Carey and ended by sobbing into his sleeve. The stories told by the passengers Thursday generally were* alike. The facts in general as told were: 1. One steward was so drunk he could not wait on one passenger's cabin. 2. There was no verbal order issued for the passengers to put on life belts. 3. All life boats were unseaworthy. 4. There had been no life boat drill. 5. '"he delay in, sending out the SOS caused the grjat loss of life. 6. There was indecision on the part of the officers in command when the crisis came about 2:30 p. m. Monday. Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m... 59 10 a. m.... 58 7a. m.... 58 11 a. m.... 59 8 a. m.... 58 12 (noon). 60 9 a, m.... 59, 1 p. m.... 61

Putting 07i Her Paint

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Painters giving the city hall its first redecoration since it was built, were not getting around to the assessment bureau office as fast as Miss Josephine Hatfield, 1615 Sharon avenue, bureau employe, desired, so Miss Hatfield took a brush and helped the painters hurry the decoration of the board of safety’s walls.

COMMUNITY FUND TOTAL REACHES $609,790; SPUR WORKERS TO LAST PUSH

Redoubled Efforts Urged to Achieve Goal by Monday. Workers were urged to redouble their efforts to reach the Community Fund goal of $781,800 by Monday when the report at today’s luncheon at the Claypool boosted the total pledge only to $609,790. Today's pledges totaled $33,570. Family relief agencies honored at today's luncheon of Community Fund workers were Family Welfare Society, Catholic Community Center, Jewish Federation, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Volunteers of America and Wheeler City Rescue Mission, Invocation by Bishop H. H. Fout, an address by the Rev. Edwin Dunlavy and special music by the Viennese Trio comprised the noon program. Following the limcheon a quartet from the Negro branch of the Y. M. C. A. sang several selections. Mr. Dunlavy, pastor of the Roberts Park Methodist church, w'ho gave the prinicpal address, declared that social service agencies dealing with family relief in Indianapolis are too modest in their requests for financial suppore. “Family relief deals with one of the three basic problems of democracy,” said Dr. Dunlavy. "The other tw'o are the church and education. The problem of family relief involves not only an economical problem, but an ethical and spiritual problem, as w'ell. “liie United States is In no danger from the soap-box orator, nor from the reddest of the reds. But those w'ho are doing most to break down this nation's modern civilization are the author who can write nothing except salacious stories concerning marriage and home life, the empty-headed judge who shuts his eyes to framed evidence in divorce cases, the low-type lawyer to whom a fee of $25 means more than the future happiness of his clients, and the divorce laws in many states which are travesties upon modern civilization. “Relief agencies in Indianapolis deal directly with these problems.”

Slays Wife for Cigaret Fad; Ends Life in Jail By United Press NELIGH, Neb., Nov. 16.—Ernest Witmer, young farmer, who killed his wife on Sept. 26, "because she smoked cigarets,” committed suicide in y his cell in the county Jail here. Witmer took strychnine. Witmer killed his wife by poisoning her beer and beating her over the head with a singletree and hammer. Then he buried her in a com field. Remorse drove him to confess the crime..

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Get Your Free Bridge Book Do you want to leam to play bridge or improve your game? If so. The Times and WFBM, radio station of the Indianapolis Power and Light Company will help you. Turn to Page 17 of this edition, clip the coupon there, and follow directions to get a free copy of "Easy Lessons in Auction Bridge.” The book is yours for the asking. Get it now, before the rush exhausts the supply.

AIRPORT SITE SOON Mayor Promises Decision Upon Return From Trip. An early decision on a municipal airport site was predicted today by Mayor L. Ert Slack. The mayor, back from a hunting trip in southen Indiana, said he w'iil concentrate on the airport prob lem. He discussed land prices and costs of conditioning various sites witii several members of hs airport committee. “It is only a matter of getting some detailed information on prices I would not be surprised at final selection most any time,” Mayor Slack said. The mayor said an effort is being made to obtain further reductions in land prices. “I will not ask the council for a $675,000 bond issue before a site is selected but the council may choose to adopt a preliminary resolution on the airport matter.” Site No. 8, south of Ben Davis and Site 30, north of Ben Davis, which was recommended by the citizens committee, are highly favored by officials. Gas~Clty Girl, 14, Missing By United Press GAS CITY, Ind., Nov. 16.—A state wide search was under way today for Anna Marie Smith, 14, missing from her home here.

CLOSE DEFENSE TESTIMONY IN ‘HOT CAR’ TRIAL; FORMER KLfIW LEADERS ON STAND Part of SI,OOO Mc'Nay Loaned on Stolen Auto Was Paid to Him by City Manager. League, Says Ex-Titan. CASE MAY REACH JURY TONIGHT W. Lee Smith, One-Time Dragon, Blames His Connection With Stolen Machine on One of Baldwin Brothers. Part of the SI,OOO which Robert F. McNay, former titaa of the Ku-Klux Klan, loaned on a car which turned out to have been stolen, came from the Indianapolis City Manager League, which paid him SSOO a month for his work in the city manager election campaign which ended in June, 1927. This was the testimony of McNay, in his own defense, in the trial of fifteen persons in the interstate automobile theft ring conspiracy case in federal court today. The defense ended its testimony this morning and the government began rebuttal at 2 this afternoon. It was expected that arguments would be concluded in time for the jury to get the case tonight.

The city manager league payments were brought out as McNay was quizzed as to how he happened to have SI,OOO cash, which he said he loaned on a “hot” car to “Charles R. Frater,” identified as Leo Baldwin, one of the leaders of the alleged conspiracy. City manager leaders, told of McNay’s testimony, said that they had paid McNay for information "as to crooks who were to be on election boards and politicians who pretended to be friendly. They said their financial report as required by law showed the regular payments to McNay, who conferred with them from time to time but did not participate in work at the polls. Also Bought Farm McNay had testified he bought a farm a short time before on payments. “Where did you get the money to loan this man SI,OOO on the car?” Albred S. Ward. United State district attorney, asked. “From money I made around town," McNay said at first. When the question was repeated, he replied: “Well, I got SSOO a month from the city manager movement.” He said he was paid the SSOO four or five months about the time of the election, and that one payment was made in July, after the election. McNay testified that he now is a politician living near Danville, Ind.. that he formerly was a lawyer and politician and resigned as state titan of the klan Jan. 25, 1926. He said "Frater” came to his office and attempted to sell him the machine, a Lincoln sedan. He refused to buy it, but loaned him SI,OOO and kept the car as security, taking the certificate of title in h>s own name. About nineteen days later “Frater" came back and got the car and he reassigned it to him, McNay said. Bridges Put on Stand He identified a photostatic copy of a Pennsylvania certificate of title obtained on the same car by “J. W. Garrett” as the one he signed over to "Frater." “Garrett” has been shown by the government to be Roy Hufflngton, fugitive defendant in the case and brother of Joseph M. Hufflngton, present head of the Ku-Klan Klan in Indiana. O. P. Bridges, a brother of Charles Bridges, state policeman who worked up the theft ring case, was put on by the defense and denied he had ever seen McNay either of the Huffingtons, Baldwin or W. Lee Smith, former klan grand dragon, also a defendant, together. Bridges is an employe of the auto license division at the statehouse, but at the time of the “hot” car deal was employed in McNay’s office. Smith Is Witness Smith, on the stand in his own defense, blamed his connection with a “hot” car transaction which involved him in the case on Ted Baldwin, brother of Leo (Ted) Baldwin, also is one of the defendants. Fred Binzer, Terre Haute optometrist on the stand earlier today, and Wolf Sussman, local jeweler, and Jacob Mortimer Wohlfeld, local furriers who testified Thursday, also blamed their purchase of “hot” cars on Baldwin. The government contends that although the Baldwins were leaders in the stolen car ring some of the other defendants knew they were buying stolen cars and others aided in the sales. Auditor Is Witness W. C. Wickerham, an auditor, testified that in January he changed the bookkeeping system at the Traugott. store aqd identified cards from the filing system of the'store which showed check transactions of the company since that time. The cards were admitted as evidence, being intended by the defense to prove that others among the alleged conspirators and business houses cashed numerous checks for Traugott to provide him with cash for his business. The govern-

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ment has introduced several checks to and by Traugott which it has hinted were involved in the alleged “hot” car transactions. Binzer, Terre Haute optometrist, told of his purchase of a “hot” car in November, 1927, from a “William C. Payne.” He identified Payne as Leo Baldwin. Judge Scores Deals “Payne” was sent to him by a friend and he bought the Packard sedan for S4OO and a diamond ring worth $1,500 which he had bought for $650, Binzer said. He told of coming to Indianapolis and meeting “Payne” and his brother, whom he identified as Ted Baldwin, one of the defendants. “Whal’s become of this country when business men deal with men like that,” Judge Baltzell commented. Binzer denied earlier testimony of Arthur Fairbanks of the Lincoln Loan Company, West Washington street, that Binzer and Baldwin came to him and Binzer filled out the application for an Indiana certificate of title for -the car, which he notarized. He said he had consulted his attorney, Herbert Geriink, Terre Haute, about the legality of papers showing “Payne’s” ownership of the car and Gerdink had approved them. Gave Money Back On cross-examination by Ward he said Wolf Sussman is his uncle and he and Traugott and Harry Sussman, Traugott’s business partner, are cousins. He admitted that on the day he came to Indianapolis to complete the purchase of the car he looked at another Packard, which he said “Payne’s” brother had offered to sell him. Binzer also told of selling the Packard sedan he had bought from “Payne” to Antone Hulman Jr. of Terre Haute for SI,OOO and an old Packard several months later, but said he gave Hulman his money back when the car was seized as a “hot” machine. Baldwin Sold Him Car Smith said that Ted Baldwin, posing as Thomas Warren, sold him a Cadillac sedan in January for $1,600. “Warren” said he had to leave town before Smith was able to arrange to raise all tire money for the car. and on “Warren’s” suggestion the car and its certificate of title were left in possession of McNay until the transfer of the car could be completed. He said there was nothing suspicious in the certificate of title of the car, which the government has shown was stolen from Cleveland, O. Other Trials Saturday Attorneys for Ted Baldwin, Miss Lloyd Harrison, Chicago actress, William Laffey, local poolroom operator, and William Jones, another local defenant, presented no defense. On request of Distrct Attorney Ward, Judge Baltzell set trial of Frank R. Wolf, vice-president of the (Turn to Page 12)

An Announcement of Far-Reaching Effect

The Times has made special arrangements with Indianapolis used car dealers to hold a city-wide co-opera-tive fall clearance sale of used cars, from Nbv. 16 to 21. Dealers are anxious at this time to reduce their used car stocks before winter sets in and the market quiets down. Hundreds of cars, nearly every make and model, are being featured. Big price reductions and easy time payment arrangements are being offered as inducements for buying. Fall clearance sale offerings will appear each day exclusively in The Times, Turn to pages 30 and 31 for the first lists.