Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 177, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 December 1928 — Page 1

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‘PHANTOM FLAPPER' KILLS SELF ON WAY TO SURRENDER FOR FRONT PORCH SLAYING Note Written in Moment of Despair Reveals Young* Wife as Mystery Girl Who Shot Coal Dealer at Own Door. “MADE MY LIFE MISERABLE FOR ME” “Take Care of Baby,” Murderess Tells Mate as He Starts With Her in Car to Give Up; Suddenly Ends Own Life. BY HARRY WILSON SHARPE United Press Staff Correspondent CANTON, 0., Dec. 14. —The “phantom gun girl,” who shot and killed Vernard Fearn, young Waco coal dealer, a week ago, shot and killed herself Thursday night as she was being rturned to the scene of the killing. The gun girl was Mrs. Margaret Heldman, 21, pretty wife of a Lorrain (O.) furnace salesman, Avho, in a moment of despair, wrote a note to her husband Wilbur, confessing she had killed Fearn. “He had made life miserable for me,” she wrote, simply. Heldman, only knowing that his young wife was wanted for murder, placed her in his car and began a race for Canton. On the outskirts of the city she whipped out the same automatic with which she killed Fearn and shot herself.

Mrs. Ileldman formerly lived in Canton, where she had met the rising young coal dealer. A week ago Thursday night Fearn was called to the front porch of his home in Waco, a suburb. Five steel-jacketed bullets felled him. He died in his wife’s arms, gasping that he did not know the gun woman. The gun-girl, after shooting Fearn, calmly walked to an intersection and hailed a Canton-bound bus. Crime Baffled Police Police completely were baffled. Early today Heldman sat in the office of Sheriff Edward Gibson for two hours and pieced together the story, as he knows it. For seven days after the killing Mrs. Heldman led the life of a contented housewife. But she had been brooding the last few days. Heldman had become acquainted with the story of the Waco shooting He said he suspected his young wife but was unwilling to admit the suspicion, even to himself. He read the papers, he said, following developments in the mystery, from day to day. The description of the gun-girl tallied exactly with the description of clothing worn by his wife. Suspected His Wife Mrs. Fearn, who answered the door the night the gun girl knocked, described her as slender, pale and very pretty. She wore a dark coat, apparently made of Chincilla, and a turban. Once or twice Heldman chided Margaret about her similarity. She' laughed it off, he said. Thursday he came home early in the afternoon. He noticed a bundle of papers in the hall. It was his custom to place the old papers in the furnace room. He was about to follow the custom when his fingers felt something hard. They were shells of bullets, He saw there were wrapped in paper on which the handwriting of his wife appeared. He read the writing. It was the letter of despair. He his wife and asked her for an explanation. The letter follows: Life Hell on Earth “I am leaving your life forever and I truly am sorry for all the trouble I have caused you and rather than try to go through the rest of my life under a lie I am taking this means of telling the truth. I can’t face you and tell you this, so I am leaving this to explain the things that you don;t know. .' “He has made my life a hell on earth. He came to our house when we lived at Poet’s and threatened to expose me if I didn’t do as he wanted me to. “The day you kicked me out because that fellow (Fearn) was there was one of the times and you didn’t know him, for I don’t think you ever met him. “I can’t stand the worry any longer and to be away from my baby so I do hope you can forgive me and give our baby a good home. Love him even if you don’t me, for I do truly love you. “MARGARET.” P.S Please don’t tell mothers “Come on,” Heldman ordered, “we are going back to Canton.” “Take Care of Baby”

Heldman bundled her into the car and the death ride began. Mrs. Heldman became calm. Heldman said he was excited. As Heldman became more nervous Margaret’s calm became deadly, he said. “Be sure and take good care of the baby,” she said. “Better than you did,” Heldman said he answered. “What do you think they’ll do to me?” she asked. "They might give you the electric chair.” * Silence.

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The Indianapolis Times Mostly cloudy tonight and probably Saturday, Slightly colder tonight, but with temperatures above freezing.

VOLUME 40—NUMBER 177

i iargaret moved suddenly, Heldman said: There was a flash and a shot. “Oh my God,” the gun-woman moaned. The car careened and Heldman grabbed up the form of his wife as its slumped in the seat. Heldman became semi-hysterical on arriving at the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Gibson directed Heldman to Mercy hospital. The girl died as she was being carried to an operating table. Philanderer by Day Heldman’s story painted this picture of Fearn: “A stay-at-home at night, with his wife, Mary, and daughter, Kathryn, 9. “Philanderer by day, parking his car boldly in front of the Heldman home. , “He first met my wife in a dance hall, the Smile Inn, before we were married. “My wife told me coming over here that he met her again on the street one night, offered to take her home in his car, but took her out in the country instead. She said he assaulted her. “Later he came to our house while I was at work. Margaret said he annoyed her all summer. “He danced with her, I remember, the night we were married. I don’t dance, and looked on, as a wall flower.” Quarreled With Mate Mrs. Heldman was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Horner of Dubois, Pa. She completed high school and “was aching for a career,” so she came to live with her sister, Mrs. Roy Pierce, in Canton. Margaret met some girls who worked at the Victor Furnace Company office and it was there she met Heldman. In the summer of 1927 she married him. Meanwhile the Pierces had introduced her to Fearn, the coal man. Shortly thereafter Margaret and Heldman quarreled. She did a lot of things “she shouldn’t have,” according to Heldman, and the latter treated her coldly and sometimes brutally, relatives said. Were Separated Twice They separated twice, but each time were reconciled. In the meantime, Heldman said, Fearn became very attentive to his young wife. They met frequently at dances. Then Baby Emmett Heldman was born and Heldman believed happiness was at hand. But jealousies and suspicions continued, he said. They separated again and were reunited, then they decided to leave Canton and seek contentment among strangers. They went to Jackson, Mich., then to Lansing and finally tt Lorain, where they settled six weeks ago. VILLAGE QUARANTINED Seven Die of Meningitis, Doctor Forbids Citizens to Get Groveries. Bu United Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., Dec. 14. —Dr. James Stewart, health commissioner of Missouri, today established a fifty mile quarantine area around Potsdam, near here, as a result of an epidemic of spinal meningitis which has claimed seven lives since Friday. Residents of the district are not permitted to leave their homes even to purchase groceries, it was said. HIGH JURY TO QUIT Term Scheduled to End Dec. 31; to Complete Work. The Marion county grand jury is expected to complete its work for this term within a few days. The jury’s period of service expires Dec. 31, but, it is understood, an effort may be made for dismissal of the jury several days prior to that time. Too late to write? Telephone instead. Basic rdte to CHICAGO only sl.os.—Advertisement.

Puppy Love Bu United Prexs LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14. Sorrow over the death of a puppy, which was all the family he had, was said by police to have caused Ed Gilson, 18, formerly of Louisville, Ky., to attempt suicide here today. The youth, found in the grounds of a parking station, was sent to the psycopathic ward of the general hospital for treatment and observation. He will recover. He told police he came here from Louisville after the death of his parents and obtained a position as janitor in a downtown office building, where he lived with the dog as his only companion.

BLOCK WILL 1$ FILED IN COURT Bulk of Estate Is Left to Family. The will of William H. Block Sr., who died Tuesday, was filed for probate today before Judge Mahlon E. Bash. The will, made last Sept. 21, disposes of an estate variously estimated at more than $5,000,000. No definite schedule of values has been made. % The entire estate, with exception of SIOO,OOO, which is to be distributed among William H. Block store employes, is left to members of the veteran merchant’s family. All personal effects, including the home at 1918 North Delaware street, were left to the widow, Mrs. Amelia Block, and she, with three sons, Meier, Rudolph and Edward Black, and Samuel B. Wheeler, close personal friend, confidant, and business associate of Mr. Block, were named as trustees of the estate. The Union Trust company is named executor. Mrs. Block will receive $50,000 a year from the trustees’ fund until the first partial distribution of the estate, then $37,500 a year until the second partial distribution, $25,000 a year until the third, and $12,500 until the final distribution. Remainder of the net income goes to sons and members of their families. Twenty-five thousand dollars a year for four years will be distributed among all Block employes with service records of three years or longer.

URGES.JALL TRIAL Seek to Try Former Cabinet Officer for Bribery. Bn United Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.—A motion to try former Secretary of In terior Albert B. Fall on a charge of bribery in connection with his Elk Hills oil lease to Edward L. Doheny, Los Angeles oil man, was presented to the District of Columbia supreme court today by Atlee Pomerene, special government counsel, and United States Attorney Leo A Rover. A hearing on the motion will be sought Dec. 18. The government contends Fall received SIOO,OOO bribe to influence him, as secretary of interior, to grant Doheny the Elk Hills reserve lease. POSTAL REVENUES OF CITY TO BE BbOSTED Abolishment of Real Silk Branch to Help Uncle Sam. Increased postal revenues at the Indianapolis postoffice will result from discontinuance by the Real Silk Hosiery Mills of its Salt Lake City distribution branch, Dec. 22, Postmaster H. Bryson said today. The branch was established two years ago to facilitate delivery, Bryson said, but the company plans to make all shipments in the future from here by mail. Salesmen will send orders by air mail to the factory and the orders will be filled and mailed the same day. The change is expected to increase postal revenues here $150,000 a year. The company at present spends nearly $700,000 a year in postage, delivering its orders. MAIL AT ILLINOIS DEPOT Urges Christmas Parcels Be Taker to Sub-Station. Suggestion that citizens mailing Christmas parcels use the Illinois street postal station at South street was made today, by Postmaster Robert H. Bryson. The Illinois street station, Bryson said, has facilities equal to those at the postoffice, is not as crowded and affords better parking facilities for motorists.

TAKES A DRAG, FLIPS BUTT—DIES IN CHAIR!

Bn United Press OSSINING, N. Y., Dec. 14. Thomas (Red) Moran flipped a cigaret away and stepped into the electric chair today with the strains of the popular song. “I Want to Be Happy,” coursing through his brain. Six minutes later he was flounced dead. The wizened gangster, found guilty of slaying -two policemen,

INDIANAPOLIS, FKIDAY, DEC. 14, 1928

PLANES WILL CARRY PEACE PLEA TO CITY Air Fleet Will Engage in Demonstration for Treaty Saturday, CLUBS AID TIMES MOVE Scores Send Letters With Words of Commendation for Campaign. A world peace message will come to Indianapolis from the air Saturday noon, when a fleet of planes will fly in formation over the city as a demonstration in favor of The Times campaign to push the Kellogg anti-war treaty through the senate by Christmas. Promises of co-operation came today to The Times from President Bob Shank and Secretary-Treasurer Harold C. Brooks of the Hoosier Airport; C. H. Jose of the Capitol airport, and Captain H. Weir Cook of the Curtiss Flying Service of Indiana. All will have planes in the squadron and others are expected to join. Among those present at the Real Estate Board, Advertising Club, and Amercian Business Club luncheons, Thursday, the vote was practically unanimous for the Kellogg pact. Many Send Letters Many persons found they could not express completely their enthusiasm for the peace movement by mere marking es the ballot and sent letters with their votes to The Times. Among such letters were: “I am so glad to add my personal indorsement to your plan to get the peace pact out of the senate by Christmas. It is, I believe, the most constrictive move in newspaper circles within the year.” —Mrs. Fred Millis, 4715 Washington boulevard. ‘‘l wish to express my appreciation of your effort to have our senate present the world one of the noblest Christmas gifts withfh the power of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, people on our planet.” —Francis W. Grossman, Indianapolis. “As the v'idow of a veteran, the sister of another one, and the mother of a son, I most heartily desire world peace.”—Mrs. Marguerite L. Keeney, 6108 Marion road. Lost Son in World War “I know we want no more war. I lost one son in the World war and that has given me enough sorrow. I pray to God that we never have another war.”—Mrs. Sam Scott, 708 East New York street. “I am in favor of the Kellogg Peace pact and would be glad to see it out of the senate by Christmas. It seems fitting to me that now, while the women, especially, are so busy with their plans for the Christmas holidays, they should oast their vote for the peace pact and give to the world a Christmas gift of peace.”—Mrs. John Connor, 604 East Twelfth street, president of the Children’s Sunshine Club of Sunnyside. “I am in favor of the Kellogg Peace pact, and hope to see it out of the senate before Christmas. There could be no better time of year to have such a pact ratified by the senate, in view of the coming season, and the mother of every boy who fought in the last war would be happy to see such a fine Chistmas gift from her country.”— Mrs. B. E. Bowman, 3245 Park avenue, president Carnelian Club. CHARGE CHILD STEALING Man Held on Affidavit Sworn to by His Divorced Wife. Wililam Pfeiffer, 46, of 817 North Jefferson street, was under arrest today on a child-stealing charge. He is charged with taking his two children, Thursday, from a West Washington street home where they had been placed by his divorced wife, Mrs. Ruth Pfeiffer, 536 North Illinois street. Police said Mrs. Pfeiffer, who signed the affidavit for the father's arrest, was given custody of the children by the court. She was Pfeiffer’s fourth wife, police asserted. TERHUNE HIT BY AUTO Author Struck by Car; Driver Runs; Condition Not Serious. POMPTON BAKES, N. J., Dec. 14. —Albert Payson Terhune, prominent author and short story writer, was struck by a hit-and-run motorist today. Examination indicated he was not seriously injured. He was taken to his home at Sunnybanks. Doctors said they could find no broken bones.

spent his last hours listening to the lilt of “Tea for Two,’ and “I Want to Be Happy,” floating in from the Sing Sing prison hall where the convicts presented “No! No! Nanette,” as their annual musical comedy. Seventeen months ago he was brought to the death house. He had seen twenty-five men travel past his cell down the corridor,

Dog Is Heroine of Fire

V ■ The dog here, Fannie, JPHglfl: 14-year-old fox M ’ terrier, saved IBBK.. ** (he mother MI BB children, shown m /'* * y lay below, from when she lllpt house was \ swept by flames. The rescued )• sv/ipBplI? .JajjLaKf ' members of 1 f the are * garet and Mrs. Talbott street. •v..-

Cast Your Vote for World Peace “Get the Peace Pact Out of the Senate by Christmas!” Ratify Kellogg Treaty as America’s Gift to the World Vote “Yes” if you favor this. Yes No Name Address Send to The Indianapolis Times Peace Editor.

KING AT CRISIS IN BATTLE FOR LIFE

Definitely Favorable Turn Reached If King Holds Own Today. BY KEITH JONES United Press Staff Correspondent LONDON, Dec. 14.—Doctors prepared for a long and difficult struggle to save the life of King George today, but there was high hope in London that if he maintained this strength until Saturday he had an excellent chance to recover. This morning’s bulletin by the doctors and the queen’s message to President Coolidge, thanking him for his expression of sympathy, both indicated clearly that Buckingham Palace did not expect the king to pull through without strenuous effort by his physicians. The bulletin said: “The slight improvement in the king’s condition noted last evening is maintained. Any progress must be slow and difficult.” The queen’s message to President Coolidge, signed by Lord Stamfordham, secretary to the king, noted that the recent operation treated only “one phase” of the king’s illness. It added that the general poisoning of the king’s system would entail “many weeks of slow anxious progress.” The forty-eight hours after Wednesday‘night’s operation, which expire tonight, were admitted to constitute a critical period, during which any fatal collapse would be most likely to manifest itself. As the hours passed and the king’s condition grew no worse, the palace was overjoyed. Drainage of the infected area around the right lung apparently continued satisfactorily through the tube inserted during the operation It was generally understood that the operation was essential to save the king’s life.

“they don’t come back from.” An hour before his execution his nerve still held firm. She state’s mourners followed him, guarded him, to the death chamber. Someone gave him a match. He lit a crumpled cigaret. Two puffs and fie threw it away. He stepped into the chair. Strains of “I Want to Be Hap- , py”—from the prison warden’s

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The dog heroine pictured here, Fannie, 14-year-old fox terrier, saved the mother and her two children, shown below, from burning to death at 2 this morning when she awakened them as their house was swept by flames. The rescued members of the family are, left to right, Charles, Margaret and Mrs. Norma Liddil, 2455 North Talbott street.

POLICE CHIEF AND AIDS COMMENDED FOR WORK Associated Employers Praise Worley for Hohlt Cuup. Police Chief Claude M. Worley and men who participated in the gun battle in which two bandits were killed and a third captured at the F. W. Hohlt & Son dry goods store, 1229 Kentucky avenue, last Saturday, were commended today by the Associated Employers of Indianapolis in a letter written by Howart T. Griffiths, president, and Andrew J. Allen, secretary. Men of the police department were commended for courage and determination and Chief Worley for effective plans and efficient generalship. ELECT OFFICERS MONDAY Scientech Club to Have Musical Program Following Vote. Scientech Club officers for 1929 will be elected at the regular meeting Monday in the Chamber of Commerce. A special musical program has been arranged.

FLU CONTINUES TO TAKE HEAVY TOLL IN MID-WEST

Bu United Press CHICAGO, Dec. 14.—With universities and schools closing daily, influenza and pneumonia still took their toll of life in the middle-west and west today. Ten deaths from influenza and eighteen from pneumonia were recorded here in the last twenty-four hours, while Denver reported twen-

phonograph—seeped dully in the chamber. “Well, I’m game,” he muttered as the mask was placed over his face. The cast-off cigaret glowed a few feet away. An order was given. “I Want to Be Happy,” moaned the phonograph. ~A guard crunched the halfburned cigaret out with his foot.

AROUSED BY DOG, MOTHER, 2 CHILDREN SAVED FROM DEATH IN BURNING HOME Downstairs of Residonce Mass of F lames When Pet Rushes Up Steps to Bark Furiously and Awaken Family. ESCAPE IN LEAP TO NEARBY ROOF Forced to Remain in Cold for Several Minutes Before Aid' Arrives; Damage Is $3,000. Sleeping soundly while flames swept theix* home at 2 this morning, a mother and her two children were awakened by a pet dog in time to save-their lives. They were rescued several minutes later by firemen and neiglibors, who carried the mother down a ladder from the front porch roof and the children from the roof of an adjoining store. The blaze, in the home of George L. Liddil, 2455 North Talbott avenue, transformed the downstairs into a mass of flames and destroyed the stairways before Mrs. Norma Liddil and her daughter Marjorie, 16, and son Charles, 13, asleep upstaii’s, were awakened.

DISCUSS CRIME LAW REVISIONS Action Postponed Due to Illness of Members. Special legislation directed toward the .problem of the “youth in crime” and legislation to make penalties more nearly fit various degrees of thievery was discussed today by the committee on criminal jurisprudence of the Indiana State Bar Association at the Claypool. The committee was directed by the last convention to study _Uie crime problem and make- contffeftf recommendations to the 1929 state legislature. Three committeemen were ill and the remaining four postponed definite action until a full session can be neld. Discussion, however, indicated that the committee believes the youths in crime must be more severely and at the same time equitably dealt with. They believe that there must be greater distinction in the punishment of the criminal who uses a gun and the criminal unarmed. It was pointed out that under the present law an unarmed man stealing SIOO gets as heavy punishment as the man who steals $25 abetted by a gun or another weapon. The armed man should be given far heavier punshiment, the committeemen indicated. Committeemen present were Frank C. Davidson, Crawfordsville, chairman; James J. Robinson, Bloomington; Judge Will M. Sparks, Rushville and Joseph Conroy, Hammond. Absent members are Ed Adams, Shelbyvllle; Emsley W. Johnson and Michael J. Ryan, Indianapolis. BUTLER~c“LOS~ES TODAY Takes First Christinas Recess From New Quarters. Butler university closes today at 4 p. m. to celebrate its first Christmas holiday season in its new quarters at Fairview. About 588 students, or one-third of the student body, will go to thier homes over the state and throughout the midwest after the holiday dances this week-end. Classes will be resumed Jan. 2. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 48 10 a. m 49 7a. m 48 11 a. m 49 8 a. m 48 12 (noon).. 50 9a. m..... 49 Ip. m 49

ty-one deaths from both diseases and Los Angeles ten. The Universities of Chicago and Wisconsin were ordered closed Thursday in an effort to check the spread of influenza among the students. At the same time the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks was closed. The universities qf Missouri and Kansas already have been closed until after the Christmas holidays. All middle western states reported many children out of grade and high schools but stress the fact that many of the patients merely have bad colds or mild cases of influenza The epidemic, which started a month ago on the west coast, has not approached the seriousness of the outbreak in 1918, health authorities are agreed. The epidemic apparently was dying out in the far west. Only 150 cases have been reported to Los Angeles authorities in the last twen-ty-four hours compared to a high mark of 800 one day last week.

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The dog Fannie, a 14-year-old fox terrier, dashed upstairp, apparently just before the stairways crashed, and after barking furiously in an attempt to awaken Mrs. Liddil, pulled the covers from her bed. Waking to And her room filled with smoke, Mrs. Liddil screamed and ran to the hall to warn the children, but was forced back by the dense smoke which poured upstairs. Leap to Adjoining Roof Sensing her intention, the dog dashed through the smoke clouds to Marjorie’s room, awakened her, and then warned Charles. The children, unable to advance through. the heJk shouted to .Muf* Liddil that they could easily leap to the roof of the A & P grocery that adjoins the house. Clad only in their night clothing, the children scrambled from the windows of their looms to the safety of the roof. Marjorie carried the dog to safety with her. The mother, also only partially clad, climbed to the front porch of the home and screamed for assistance. The father, an employe of the Big Pour railroad, was not at home. In the drizzling rain, the mother and children were forced to remain atop the roofs for several minutes before aid arrived. Blaze Loss Is $3,000 Hearing Mrs. Liddil’s screams, Timothy Harrison, 2451 North Talbott, dashed from his home, pistol in hand, believing burglars were in the Liddil home. Seeing the fire, and recognizing Mrs. Liddil’s plight, he turned in a fire alarm and obtaining a steplad-' der ran to Mrs. Liddil’s assistance. Aided by two other neighbors, he carried her from the roof just before firemen arrived. John Ryan and Henry Hand, firemen stationed at No. 2 truck company, carried the wet and half frozen children and the canine heroine from the store roof. The fire, of undetermined origin, was checked after it had done damage estimated at $3,000. Firemen believe the blaze started either in the kitchen or in the basement. Made 111 by Exposure The mother and children, made ill by the exposure, were much improved this morning, Fannie, a pedigreed terrier, has been the property of the Liddil family fOr three years, but has beep the family pet much longer. Former neighbors of the family in the east section of Indianapolis. were Fannie’s original owners, but the dog virtually lived at the Liddil home. When the neighbors moved three years ago they gave the dog to the Liddil children. ARRESTED FOR BIGAMY Second Wife Files Charges Against Soldier. Robert Victor Sheets, 4, soldier, Ft. Benjamin Harrison, was arrested today on a bigamy charge filed by his second wife Mrs. May Sheets. Detectives, who still were investigating Sheets marital records said Sheets was alleged to have married a Miss Thelma Brown in 1925, and without having been divorced, married the second wife in Anderson, Aug. 2, this year.

Biff! Fined Bp Times Special NEWCASTLE, Ind., Dec. 14. —Giving boys courses in sockology is not tolerated here. Earl Rosaa, 26, was fined in Henry circuit court for encouraging his nephew, Frederick Wiles, 8, and Junior Metteret, to engage in a fist fight. A charge of contributing to delinquency of a minor child was filed against Rosaa by the Metteret boy’s father.

Outside Marion County 3 Cents