Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 183, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 December 1928 — Page 1

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4 MAJOR JOB SHIFTS SLATED AT CITY HALL Appointment of Oren Hack as Corporation Counsel Is Expected. ALL DEMOCRATS NAMED Holtzman to Devote Entire Time to Study of Gas Case. Pour significant changes in major administration positions, effective Jan. 1, were expected today at city hall. They are: Appointment of Oren S. Hack, Works boa’-d president, as corporation counsel, succeeding John W. Holtzman, who will be named special counsel to devote his entire time to study of tne Citizens Gas Company case. Appropriation of money to pay Holtzman and Fred C. Gause as city legal aids by city council. Appointment of Theodore Dammeyer, chief clerk of the assessment bureau and Barrett law department to succeed Hack as president of the works board. All Are Democrats Selection of Glenn B. Ralston, defeated Democratic candidate for county treasurer, as chief Barrett law and assessment bureau clerk to succeed Dammeyer. All are Democrats. Mayor L. Ert Slack was understood to be contemplating the shifts although he did not make any announcement of his plans. It is known that he conferred with all those involved. It was reported that none of the city officials desired to leave their present positions but agreed out of deference to “personal freindship with the mayor.” Hack in Second Term Hack is serving his second term on the works board, having been named president when Slack took office in November, 1927. He has been one of the important cabinet bmembers of the Slack administraition. Dammeyer took over the assessment bureau work about a year ago and has inaugurated numerous new methods for handling the hundreds of detailed cases. He is familiar with that' division under the works board and has had experience as a real estate man. Ralston is associated with his father, Boyd M. Ralston, realtor. MRS. COOUDGE VISITS BED OF SICK MOTHER Parent of President’s Wife Is Still in Serious Condition. Bn United Press NORTHAMPTON, Mass., Dec. 21. —Mrs. Grace Goodhue Coolidge, first lady of the land, paid another visit to the bedside of her elderly mother, Mrs. Lemira Goodhue, at Cooley-Dickinson hospital here today. Hospital authorities reported that although Mrs. Goodhue’s condition remained serious, she appeared to enjoy the hour her daughter spent with her. Mrs. Coolidge was expected to visit the sick room again this afternoon. Arriving here from Washington Wednesday night, Mrs. Coolidge spent considerable time with her mother yesterday. Between visits to the hospital the President’s wife is doing some Christmas shopping.

GOES TO SEE WIFE ABOUT DIVORCE; SHOT Takes Rabbi Along for Safety, Remembering Last Visit. Bn United Press Sl’. LOUIS, Mo., Dec. 21.—Because his wife had fired at him once Joseph Boxereman, attorBly, took a rabbi with him when he Mrs. Anna Boxerman to discuss a financial settlement in connection with their pending divorce. In spite of that precaution, Mrs. Boxerman shot her husband in the left leg, right arm and right hand. He was recovering in a hospital today and Mrs. Boxerman was released under $5,000 bond on a charge of assault to kill. They have four children. MEMORIAL GETS 0. K. Coolidge Signs Bill for Plaza of President at Nashville, Bn United Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.—President Coolidge today signed a bill providing for a President’s plaza and memorial at Nashville to Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk and Andrew ohnson, former Presidents.

Thrice Blessed Bu United Press COLUMBUS. 0., Dec. 21. Today was “license day” for Laurence Shriver, 25, of Amlin. Shriver appeared at the courthouse and obtained a oog license, an automobile license and a license to marry Hazel Spindler, 21.

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The Indianapolis Times Mostly cloudy tonight and Saturday, possibly with snow flurries; slowly rising temperature, lowest tonight about 15,

VOLUME 40—NUMBER 183

PAY ROLL BANDIT TAKES $1,700 IN STREET HOLDUP

Daring Robbery Is Staged Half a Block From City Hall. Staging a daring pay roll holdup half a block from the city hall this morning, a youthful bandit escaped with the $1,700 pay roll of the Rough Notes Printing Company, which he took from two employes. While scores of early morning shoppers bustled along Ohio street at Delaware street the two messengers felt a stiff poke in the back, a muttered command to “keep walking, I’ll shoot if you cry out or disobey,” and were marched into an alley half a block away. So quietly and swiftly was the deed performed that the crowds were unaware of what occurred. Forcel Into Alley The messengers, who were returning to their office from the Indiana National bank, were Harry Heckman, 21, of 1439 South Illinois street, and Jess Roe, 21, of 670 River avenue. Roe was carrying the money in a canvas sack under his arm. The bandit, who wore a cap pulled low over his face, was not seen by either of the men until he had taken the money and was making his escape by losing himself in the crowds. Almost casually he first accosted the messengers. Fearing for their lives, they obeyed his soft-spoken commands to walk on without looking around and to turn down the alley on which the printing company, at 222 East Ohio street fronts. •Blow Your Brains Out’ As the trio turned into the alley Heckman ventured a fleeting look at his captor, but a quick thrust in the ribs and a command to turn around halted his efforts to learn the bandit’s identity. Halfway up the alley the bandit demanded the money sack. Roe resisted for a time but turned over the money when the bandit threatened to “blow your brains out.” With an order to “keep on walking and don’t look back, the bandit wheeled and darted from the alley. Roe turned to see him flit from the alley and step into the passing swirl of pedestrians. No Accurate Description The messengers ran through the alley, told the story of the holduc. to a traffic policeman, and a police emergency squad hurried to the scene. Neither of the men could give an accurate description of the bandit. Roe said he appeared to be about 21, wore a gray cap and tan overcoat. Neither were certain their assailant carried a weapon. A. J. Wohlgemuth, secretary-treas-urer of the printing company, said $1,300 of the money was insured. Roe, asistant bookkeeper of the firm, has carried the payroll for the last three years. He often is accompanied by Heckman.

KING IS IMPROVED Duke of Gloucester Due Home Christmas Eve. By United Press LONDON, Dec. 21.—King George was making definite progress along the road to recovery today and all members of his family but one were about him. Prince George, youngest son of the royal family, arrived in London at 6:05 p. m. The duke of Gloucester was expected to reach London on Christmas eve. He is on board the mail steamship Balmoral Castle which he boarded at Cape Town, South Africa. A bulletin Issued by the king’s physicians shortly before noon today said: “The king had a restful night. There is no appreciable change to be noted.” UPHOLDS $4,000 VERDICT Appellate Court Sustains Judgment Awarded Harold Dinsmore. The appellate court today sustained the judgment of $4,000 granted Harold Dinsmore by the Marion superior court against the Rubin and Cherry Shows, Inc. Dinsmore sustained a broken arm and other injuries in September, 1923, when the bleachers in a diving show at the fairground collapsed.

MERCURY TO 8 ABOVE; COLD IS TO CONTINUE

More than fulfilling cold wave predictions the mercury dropped to 8 degrees above zero today, ‘the winter’s low temperature record. This was a drop of 15-degrees sir.ee Thursday morning. According to J. H. Armington, Upited States weather bureau head, it will remain cold, but not quite so cold tonight. Tonight’s lowest temperature will be a}>out 15, he predicted. There likely will be some snow

Carry Em “PLEASE CARRY YOUR PARCELS,” is the request of stores that are members of the Merchants’ Association. If shoppers will take small packages with them, it will make certain the delivery before Christmas of all larger parcels

COOLIDGE 0. K. GIVEN TO DAM Signature of President Ends Fight of Eight Years. Bn United Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.—President Coolidge signed the Boulder dam bill at 10:20 o’clock today. With this act, the famous measure carrying $165,000,000 became a law. Under it, there wil be construction of a giant dam on the Colorado to water the valleys of the far southwest, control floods and create power. The bill provides for construction of a 550-foot dam at either Black or Boulder canyon, in the Colorado river as an irrigation, flood control and hydro-electric project. Signature of the bill by President Coolidge ends a fight which has proceeded in congress for eight years. GET CHRISTMAS OFF I Bryson Gives Employes of Postoffice Holiday. Indianapolis postoffice employe., will eat Christmas dinners at home next Tuesday, thanks to an orderissued today by Postmaster Roberi H. Bryson. The postoffice will cease all activity at midnight, December 24. until midnight Dec. 25, all employes being excused from duty except a sufficient number to make regular holiday collections and dispatches. The special delivery section will be open and all special delivery mail and perishable parcels will be delivered. MISCONDUCT CHARGED BY GILDA’S HUSBAND Lived With Manager in London, Boag Says in Reply to Suit. Bn United Press PORT WASHINGTON, Wis., Dec. 21.—Gilda Gray is charged with misconduct with her manager in an answer to her divorce suit, filed in the circuit court here. The answer was filed by A. W. Grady, attorney for Gil Boag, Gilda’s husband. It charged Gilda has "habitually committed misconduct with C. D. Krepps and with other persons.” Krepps was Gilda’s manager while she was in England making a recent picture. The answer charged that Gilda "openly lived at Picadilly hotel at London, England, with Krepps.” The period of this instance was set as Aug. 8 to 17 of this year. AWARD KROGER DRIVERS Six to Receive $25 Christmas Gifts From Company. Six truck drivers for the Kroger Grocery Company will receive Christmas presents of $25 from the company. The presents are prizes in the accident prevention campaign launched last April by the concern, and the prize winners all drove for six months without an accident. The winners are William Alexander, George Harrington, James Easterday, Cash Killon, Foy Smith and James Alexander, ADMITS DOPE GUILT Unger Waits Sentence on Narcotic Charges. Bn United Press NEW YORK, Dec. 21.—Joseph Unger, arrfested in Buffalo, after police had seized $2,000,000 in narcotics at the Grand Central terminal today, instructed his attorney to enter a plea of guilty on the various charges growing out of that seizure. Sentence was deferred until Jan. 4.

flurries Saturday, but there are no indications of a heavy snow, he said. Ft. Wayne reported the lowest temperature of the state, 6 degrees, this morning. The mercury here read 12 at midnight and dropped to 8 shortly after 3 a. m. It remained there until 9 a. m. when it arose, to 10. Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m 8 10 a. m...... 10 7 a. m 8 11 a. m 14 8 a. m 8 12 (noon).. 15 9a. 8 Ip. 17

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, DEC. 21, 1928

PATRONS PAY METER PROFIT TO WATER CO. Corporation Takes Its ‘Bit,’ Plumber Gets Another from Consumer. STATE PROBES SYSTEM Mass of Evidence to Be Presented at Hearing December 27. How the Indianapolis Water Company makes a profit on the installation of its own meters by plumber.-, was disclosed today in the investigation being made by the public service commission in preparation for the hearing Dec. 27. The commission has ordered the entire meter installation program of the company halted. Hearing was set by Commissioner Howcfi Ellis after numerous complaints of alleged gouging by plumbers and high-handed forcing of meter installation by the company. Heretofore the company has taken refuge in a somewhat ambiguous order passed by the commission in 1923. It urged carrying out a meterization program and company officials have used it to force property owners to install meters or have their water cut off. Deny Profit Made In an informal hearing before Commissioner Calvin Mclntosh, company officials pointed out that they do not profit on the installation itself, since the work is done by plumbers. The city-wide survey of costs being made by the commission engineers disclosed, however, that these plumbers purchase all meter boxes, and in many instances tiles, from the Indianapolis Water Company On each of these items the company has opportunity to make a profit. Meter boxes and tiles are required for each pit installation. Complete equipment for a pit installation consists of two tiles and one meter box consumers are charged $7.75 for the outfit. The plumbers pay the water company $3.75 for the meter boxes and the company pays the manufacturer, Ford Meter Box Company, Wabash, Ind., $2.66 each. Tiles Add to Profit Such are the figures made public by Harry Wenger, chief engineer, in charge of the commission survey. On tiles, some of which are not bought from the water company, the selling price to the consumer is $2 each. The company buys them at $1.20 each. Wenger stated. The Indianapolis Water Companymakes $1.09 on each meter box. better than 40 per cent of the cost price. It makes 80 cents on each of the two tiles. This gives the concern a profit of $2.69 on each pit installation where all materials are bought from it. In any case, the company is assured of $1.09 on a pit installation, the facts unearthed by commission engineers disclosed. Can’t Buy as Cheaply Plumbers do not buy meter boxes direct from the manufacturer, because they are unable to obtain the same price as the water companydoes on quantity purchases. The Wabash concern lists its meter boxes, as used here, at $3.60, which is 15 cents less than the water company charges the plumbers, Wenger said. There were thirty-three pit installations the first week of December. All these figures will become part of the evidence at the hearing, he asserted. Ellis has requested all who are interested to attend and testify i*: they have anything to offer in evidence. NO CHRISTMAS PAROLES Governor Not to Follow Custom Set by Predecessors. There will be no Christmas paroles for inmates of state institutions, Gaylord Morton, secretary to Governor Ed Jackson, announced today. The Governor has not followed the precedent of his predecessors in granting paroles during the Yuletide. INDIAN HOLDS OFFICE “Big Goose” Explains Why He and Curtis Carried Township. Bn United Press \ PONCA CITY, Okla., Dec. 21. The first Ponca Indian ever to hold office near here is Leonard Big Goose, a township constable. Big Goose is a Republican, and he said the reason he and Vice-President-elect Charles Curtis carried Big Goose’s home township was that nearly all the voters were Indians. HEADS COUNTRY CLUB Ward H. Hackleman Named President at Annal Election. I Ward H. Hackleman today headed the Indianapolis Country Club. He was named president at the annual election. Elmer W. Stout was re-elected vicce-president, and Alfred H. Johnson| was again named secretarytreasurer. ,

HUNGER IN BODY AND HEART

Give now to the Bicknell Christmas Cheer Fund. Money gifts should be sent to William Dobson, vice-president of the United Labor Bank and Trust Company, 2 East Market street, or to The Times, Gifts of candy, fruit, nuts, toys and food should

Appetites in Bicknell are gauged by the days of the week. If it’s Friday, one look at the larder supplied by the union commissary foretells a slim supper until next week’s rations are issued. In the top photo is shown Mrs. Lulu Ward and her supply for the week for her family of three. The ration issue shown above consists of two pounds of lard,

OPERATORS AID BICKNELL FOND $350 Given to Aid Santa in Coal Town. (LUt of Contributors, Page 34) Joining in the movement to bring Christmas to the children of Bicknell, officers and directors of the Knox Consolidated Coal Company today sent their individual checks to the Christmas fund totaling $350. William Zeller Sr., no longer active in the company, but one of the early Bicknell operators, and E. D. Logsdon, president, each contributed SIOO. Contributions of SSO each were made by William Zeller Jr., Simon Zeller and H. A. Glover. Among the donations received to date was one of SSO from Governor Ed Jackson. “Regardless of points of issue between the Knox Consolidated Coal Company and the miners of Knox county, our sympathies at Christmas time are with these children and we are glad to make these contributions for this eminently worthy cause. We hope that no child in that community, whether from familes directly connected with the coal mining or from those engaged in other occupations, will be cheerless at Christmas,” said a letter forwarding the checks. Money contributions up to today for the Bicknell Christmas Cheer Fund had reached a grand total of $1,398. Checks sent to The Times and William Dobson, vice-president of the United Labor Bank and Trust Company, 2 East Market street, boosted Thursday’s total of $496.50 to the new figure. HELD FOR CAR THEFT Two Arrested in Brazil After Auto Is Stolen Here. Charged with stealing the automobile of L. D. McEwan, 2244 North Pennsylvania street, Alva Banks, 1138 South Meridian street, and Hugh Molden, Brookside avenue, are held by Brazil authorities. The car was stolen several days ago from in front of McEwan’s home.

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be taken to 137 North Meridian street, headquarters of the fund committee. Mrs. Hugh H. McGibney is in charge. The headquarters of the fund committee on North Meridian street wil be open all day Sunday to accept gift contributions and money.

25 cents worth of sugar, eight pounds of flour, eight pounds of potatoes, two pounds of beans, two cans of condensed milk, two pounds of bacon. Mrs. Flossie O’Dell, right, below, is holding her watered-canned-milk baby, Barney Franklin, 7 months old. At the left, below, is Leslie Snyder, 4. The shovel In his hand is his only toy.

BY ARCH STEINEL INTO the NOBODY HOUSES—homes of the 2,500 children in Bicknell where Santa Claus may not smile this Christmas — where nobody ever comes ’round unless it’s the county doctor treating the sick, a bill collector—and even they have given up retracing steps to doors of want. (For the Nobody Houses are inlets of woe where Nobody ever comes Wound.) The Nobody Houses come dozen lots in architectural style. One realtor has his United States series—every house carries the yellow painted name of “Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri,” and so on Here’s “Indiana.” Thumping on its weak door vibrates the cheap wood. (And the windoivs dark as the eyes of a doc and the doors are never bound.) mm* nan A wan face peeks suspiciously from an opened crack in the door. Not a word! Just the look of query, "We don’t want anything today. We haven’t any money to buy anything with.” Heat waves from an over-coaled stove swing through the door crack upon visitors. Long curls opens the door wider by nudging their mother’s knee back. "Won’t you stay for dinner?” Apologetic phrases flow for the uncarpeted floor, the line of underthings drying near the basebumer. The meal. Everybody sops something and you sop, too. Sop with thin-grained bread, the sugar syrup, the bean juice. Curly-locks licks a baked potato peeling, for it’s mealy food. No coffee to drink. The well water is rank with rust. The meal lasts five minutes at most. The rest is spent looking for what’s left. Scrape! Scrape! sound knives on clatters. "My kiddies had their LAST GLASS OF MILK FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS AGO,” explains the mother. U M M MUM | (In the Black of their lea, one can always see in the House i Nobody Knows ) The waiters—for it seems that’s all they do in Bicknell—is wait for something. What it is, God Only knows! They can’t leave the city which won’t give them credit for groceries, drugs, meats, because they haven’t the money to go. The merchants of Bicknell are at the end of the proverbial rope. Credits extended in the early starvation days of the parents of the 2,500 have placed business on a cash-and-carry basis. Just the lucky few, with jobs, can afford that luxury. The Nobody Houses don’t turn up their noses at their more fortunate companions with dwellers who work. Selfishness is a thing of a world where’s there’s something to be selfish over. "Mrs. Jones’ son is sending her twenty dollars’ worth of groceries this Christmas. Just think what a lot. He’s a mechanic in Chicago. She needs it. Poor soul’s been sick a lot—and got two children—just mine’ns age,” asserted Indiana’s Housewife. She didn’t complain because bacon and beans would be their fare for Christmas dinner, didn’t complain because Curly-locks wouldn’t get that "Mama” doll she wanted—for she knows —as other parents of the 2,soo—that (In the black of its lea, one can always see In the House Nobody Knouts „ A nail, with a key—called Poverty In the House Nobody Knows.)

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GRAND JURY POOR FARM QUIZURGED County Commissioners Ask Collins to Take Action at Once. FOOD LACK INTIMATED Investigators Also Advise Cleaner Quarters for * Inmates. County commissioners today sent a “demand” to Criminal Judge James A. Collins tnat he immediately impanel a special grand jury, with instruction to make complete investigation of the county pocr farm. This followed filing of the final report of the present grand jury, which, stating it had not had time to go into the poor farm thoroughly, recommended a sweeping investigation by the next regular grand jury jury, which will start work in January. The jury charged in the report today that better and cleaner quarters should be provided at the farm and then said it had information “which leads us to believe that all food products raised on the farm do not find their way to the table, as they should.”

Soup Main Dish Upon information from poor farm inmates, The Indianapolis Times investigated several months ago and found that the principal item of the poor farm menu was a species of soup and that the menu which officials of the institution themselves submitted showed no great quantity of fresh vegetables and dairy products, although the county operates a farm on the property. County commissioners declared that Incomplete report of the grand jury contained "serious insinuations’’ and it "is due” the superintendent, J. V. Carter, that a thorough inquiry be made. The jury, which was discharged after making the report, declared its information about the poor farm food was received too late for action. Commissioners George Snider and Charles O. Sutton, after a long conference with Carter, prepared this demand to the court: "After reading the grand jury’s report on the various institutions, we have investigated some of the things and find the report is not complete. Urges Jury Probe “At the county poor farm, the grand jury went into a very few of the departments. They have made some insinuations that we feel arc very serious and we demand that the criminal court immediately impanel a grand jury to find out the facts. “We feel that this is due Mr. Carter, superintendent of the poor farm, and the county commissioners, responsible for his appointment.” The commissioners and Carter had planned this morning to present to the court a list of questions about other departments at the poor farm for the grand jury to answer, but while they were conferring, the jury brought in the final report and this move failed. It was understood that Carter’s questidhs were designed to bring out facts about those department which are in good condition and thereby lessen the force of the unfavorable insinuations. The jury was emphatic in its praise of Deputy Prosecutor William H. Sheaffer, who has served eight grand juries as prosecutor. Would Move Library A suggestion was made that the comity law library be moved from its present quarters on the third floor of the Courthouse to the fourth floor, to shift the grand jury room to the present library quarters, and establish the prosecutor’s office in the present grand jury room was made. The jury recommended that the small county garage back of the jail be razed and a modern garage be erected. The detention home was branded “inadequate and unsafe” and anew structure was recommended. All other county institutions were reported in good condition and their managements praised. Hans Clausen, county maintenance superintendent, was lauded for his work in renovating the Courthouse. Judge Collins declared the county jail should be sold to the city for a police headquarters and a wing housing the county jail be added to the Courthouse. PROBATE PATTEN WILL Estate Set at $17,991,000; Widow to Get Money. Bn United Press CHICAGO, Dec. 21.—The estate of James A. Patten, "wheat king,” who died recently, is valued at $17,991,000, according to his will on file in probate court here today. Income from the estate will go to the widow, Mrs. Amanda Patten, until her death, when it will be divided between charitable institutions and two children, Mrs. Agnes Wilder of Santa Barbara, Cal., and John L. Patten of Evanston. Basic rates for out-of-town telephone calls are low'. To CHICAGO and return, only $l.O5,—AdV, , ..