Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 186, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 December 1928 — Page 1

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HOOVER AND PARTY ENJOY YULEAT SEA Tropical Sun Blazes Down on Celebrants as They Observe Holiday. GATHER AROUND TREE Chaplaii Stresses Good Will Mission’s Success in His Sermon. BY THOMAS L. STOKES United Press Staff Correspondent ABOARD THE U. S S. UTAH. Dec. 25.—Santa Claus came aboard the Utah mopping his brow under the burning tropical sun in which Christmas was celebrated by Pres-ident-Elect Herbert Hoover and his party. Happy in the knowledge that they were homeward bound, all members of the party joined with the crew . of the vessel in enthusiastically I celebrating the day despite the 1 scorching sun of the tropics. Occasional cool breezes were the only relief for the party which gathered around the Christmas tree in the morning to exchange gifts. Special Christmas services were held on the quarterdeck of the ship by the chaplain, Lieutenant-Com-mander H. E. Rountree. The chaplain pointed out that while the entire part was absent from relatives and friends at home, the Christmas was an attractive one, in that it was the climax of a good will mission on behalf of the United States. Both the President-elect and Mrs. Hoover personally autographed Chrisams cards for all members of the Utah’s crew. They helped in the distribution of presents today. Under a full moon last night, the ship’s personnel gathered on the quarter deck and sang Christmas carols. The President-Elect and Mrs. Hoover and their son Alan stood on the deck watching. Later they sent a message of Christmas greetings to their son, Herbert Hoover Jr., his wife, and their infant daughter Peggy. The newspaper aboard the vessel ioday published excerpts from a dispatch of the commander of the United States fleet revealing that the projected trip of the fleet to the west coast of South America had been modified to include only operations off Panama in the spring. The Christmas dinner menu included turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet and white potatoes, ice cream and other delicacies. DRIVER’S LICENSE LAW TO BE ASKED IN STATE More Power Will Be Sought for State Police. Passage of a driver's license law and an amendment to the present code which will give greater power to state police in apprehension of reckless drivers will be sought in the 1929 legislature by the Hoosier Btate Automobile association. Elimination of the reckless driver and stricter enforcement- of traffic regulation, rather than added rules, will be sought by the association, which has declared that one of the primary objects of motor vehicle legislation is to make the laws uniform as far as possible. Effort will be made to have added to the definitions of reckless driving, the act of passing or attempt- , ing to pass another machine while on a curve or the brow of a hill. u.sTfunds to care FOR MADAME CURIE Americans to Help Carrying On o* Scientific Research. j ßit United Press NEW YORK, Dec. 25.—Mme. Marie Curie received assurance from America as a Christmas present that her daughter, Mme. Irene Curie-Joliot, would have sufficient funds to continue her scientific work after Mme. Curie dies. Professor John Erskine, of Columbia university, sent a message to Mme. Curie in France that the University Association of Women had decided to endow her daughter. Mme. Curie has been working in scientific research in radium from a trust fund. Her only worry has been that her daughter, one of hecollaborators, would not be provided for after her death. Mrs. William Brown ..vleloney, who initiated the radium fund for Mme Curie, wrote members of the association and they decided this week to endow the daughter. BANDITS GET S37TOOT Two Filling Stations Are Targets of Marauders. Bandits looted two filling stations of a total of $37 Monday night. One bandit held up Charles Hippie, attendant at station at 3402 West Washington street, and rifled the cash register of s3l. Two armed men obtained $6 from a station at California and Ohio streets. $1.05 round trip to CHICAGO by telephone (basic rate). Quick, per- | sonal.—Advertisement. _

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The Indianapolis Times Fair tonight and probably Wednesday, slightly warmer Wednesday.

VOLUME 40—NUMBER 186

Joy Is Supreme in Bicknell, as Santa Swoops Into Town Dreams That Seemed All Too Hopeless Come True and 2,500 Children Revel in Homes as Toys and Candy Appear as If by Magic. BY ARCH STEINEL BICKNELL. Ind.. Dec. 25.—Bicknell is reborn on the birthday of the Christ child. A left-over bit of love that slipped out on the wing of a draught through the manger door at Bethlehem found its way to Bicknell on Christmas eve into the hearts of 2,500 children, bringing back the age-old belief that "there really is a Santa Claus.’’ Children don’t cry in Bicknell today—they smile. Tears have been supplanted by laughter at jumping-Jacks, mechanical tops, bisque dolls. Smiles are growing where the sob-flower bloomed. Sunken, adolescent souls are garlanded with hope hyacinths, not the futile fennel of weed-high gardens. Candy—a dream garnish—is an edible reality. ‘‘They’ll make themselves sick if they don’t quit eating it,” is the plaint of one Bicknell mother. Anew Bicknell, and all because Indiana stepped out of an apparent cloak of lethargy and sent three truck loads of toys, food and candy and approximately $3,000 to a city of want on Christmas day.

The "now I lay me down to sleeps,” of Bicknell children are sending their spirit Dack to you Mr. and Mrs. Indianapolis. Trucks sputtered protests at the chilled air as they pulled up hills and waded through mires, to cariy Christmas into the homes of the 2,500. Candy, nuts, and fruit were dis tributed, bread line style. What a line! Skinny bean-fed, lads, girls with starving eyes, overalled gentlemen of tomorrow, jostled and joked as they pushed toward the counter fit for a Magi—to them. Consideration for weaker ones is a daily thought of the 2,500 and so if Johnny Spindle-Legs and Maggie Scrawny found the pressure of those behind them in the line too great, others gave them their packages of "goodies.” "I didn’t get no peanuts,” sang a famished one. "Here’s half o’ mine,” murmured a doll-mother. Make ’Em Last Long Chocolate drops were curiosities. “Um-hm, I’m gonna make mine last a long time, Louise, you suck like this,” urged one, who understood all the intricacies of a chocolate drop. “No, that’s not the way, you’re letting all the juice run out,” remonstrated Louise of the tom coat. Juice from a chocolate • sweater dripped down the boy’s sweater front. He eyed it ruefully a moment, then with a sweep of a finger experienced at swabbing up plates at feeble meals, cherry juice met tongue. Oranges were tossed about for baseballs until balls took their place. Apples were stuffed in pockets, caps and nuts in empty corners. A friendly Christmas knock at doors of the 2,500 opened a vista of humility before such a kind world as to remember, “Why Bicknell’s a long way from Indianapolis and to think we got all this,” vouchsafed a mother of five. Hearts Are Gladdened At Joe Cargal’s dwelling the lights were dim, but the heart radiated. Joe asked Santa for one flashlight and he got eight. He gave one to his brother Roland, 14, the others will go to his pals. Someone sent Joe a dollar bill. He spent it to buy medicine for his sick father, Homer Cargal. “The ones who gave it to me won’t mind, will they, mister?” was his apologetic question, and without waiting for an answer he continued, "And did that Joe-boy and Mary-giri that wanted a flashlight to find Santa—didn’t they get there’n?” Told that there was no need this year, he flipped on the bright beam of the novelty light that hung from his belt. "See how it works—find any one.” Renewed faith—and only a week ago Joe wouldn’t have bet a rock “pretty” he picked up near some mine tipple on the chances of Santa coming to his door. Dolls Awaken Tots House after house exuded the same perfume of happiness intermingled with soft coal soot, baconladen air. In the cottage of Mrs. Flossie O’Dell three children, abed, were awakened Christmas eve by the cold chill of dolls carried through th-; night ■ mist —cuddling near their chins. “I’ve got the prettiest,” screamed sleepy-eyed Edna, 7. “No, mine is,” and the the fight was on. “You don’t know what it mean; to them. They’ve the flu. It’s bad here. Maybe mine’ll take the medicine the doctor left, now,” explained Mrs. O’Dell. On and on went the Santas, walking into dreams of their own longbearded selves —and if they weren’t en masque, well, so much belter, for the 2,500 were brought from a fairy world into the actuality of dolls

FATHER AND SONS HELD AS ROBBERY SUSPECTS

A father and his two sons are held by police in connection with a filling station holdup Monday night. One of the sons, a bullet hole through his chest and right lung, seriously w'ounded, is in the detention ward of city hospital. The wounded youth is Martin Becker, 19, of 122 West Vermont, street. His brother, Walter, 21, and his father, Otto Becker, 47, also are detained for questioning concerning the holdup of a filling station at Northwestern avenue and Fall Creek

that cried "mama,” sheep that "oa-ed” and toys that hopped, skipped, and jumped. Take Leslie Snyder, 4, remember the boy who’s only plaything was a coal shovel for damming up gutter driftings? He won’t play in gutters now. A pair of skates nuzzled close to Leslie’s white cheeks Christmas eve. S-s-sh, don’t wake him. Look! the chin drops close, to the frigid steel rollers. No more topsy-turvy dream ventures in the knighthood of fairyland armed only with a coal shovel. He has a steed, a steed of steel that will skate him past all the dragons and ogres of 22 months of unfulfilled desires. And Charles Commodore Funcannon no longer stares wishingly out of his short three years of life at airplanes that fly overhead. Charles Is commodore of “the Spirit of Indianapolis.” A floor-pilot of his own ship with a bedroom landing field, a parlor hangar and the kitchen for his Atlantic ocean. It’s Christmas in Bricknel! Visitors’ backs are turned. There are cries in laughs sometimes. For Bicknell’s happy 2,500 acclaim the cross of unhappiness carried in the lean days. But today, why, today’s Christmas in Bicknell. Just as it is in Indianapolis. Gourmandlty is king.* Hearts are- light. The yesterday# are mirages. As for tomorrow, well, who cares for tomorrow, when one’s a child and can play nurse to a dolly, pilot a toy airplane, get stuffed on fruits and candy after twenty-two months of using coal-lumps for baseballs, coal shovels for implements of warefare, wooden spools for wagons, and, hearts for crying in. Fire Takes 8100,000 Toll CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Dec. 25. —The Glenn hotel and an adjoining building on Market street were damaged badly by fire early today, with loss estimated at SIOO,OOO. More than sixty guests at the hotel escaped without injury.

CRASH KILLS MAN ON WAY TO REUNION WITH HIS WIFE

On his way to a reconciliation with his wife, from wffiom he hs-:* been separated for tw'o months, William Clyde Rather, 24, w'as killed instantly Monday night when the automobile he was driving, crashed into another machine about three miles southwest of Indianapolis. Rather and his w'ife quarreled two months ago. She and their two children, Junior, 3, and Buddy, 1, AIR VICTIM RITES SET Reserve Officers to Honor Flier Killed in Crash at Fort. Funeral services for Lieutent William H. Senges, 39, of 1522 North Dearborn street, who died Sunday from injuries when his plane crashed at Schoen field. Ft. Benjamin Harrison, will be held at 10 a. m. Wednesday, at the home of the widow's mother, Mrs. William Meyer, 2645 Madison avenue. Burial will be in Crown Hill. A military funeral will be conducted by reserve officers and regular army soldiers from Ft. Harrison. Crosses Atlantic 140 Times LONDON. Dec. 25.—Lauderdale Duncan, of Hove, when six months old, made his first trip across the Atlantic to America. At 77, his present age, he has crossed the Atlantic 140 times.

boulevard, in which S2O was taken. The attendant, Harry Faulk, fired several shots at his assailant as they fled. Martin Becker was arrested thirty minutes later at city hospital, where he had been taken for treatment, and the arrest of the brother and father followed immediately. Although Faulk identified the wounded Becker as the holdup man, the latter and his brother denied the theft. He declared he had been wounded by holdup men.

INDIANAPOLIS, TUESDAY, DEC. 25, 1928

CHEERING NEWS OF KING GIFT FOR JIGIAND Doctors Give Christmas Present in Form of Hopeful Bulletin. FAMILY AT BEDSIDE Monarch is Awakened by Carols, After Night of Good Sleep. BY KEITH JONES By United Press LONDON, Dec. 25.—Buckingham Palace officials gave the people of the British empire a Christmas present today in the form of an authoritative indication that they are confident that King George ultimately will recover. Sir Stanley Hewett, surgeon apothecary to the king, who has been in constant attendance at the palace since the king first became ill, told the United Press correspondent at Buckingham Palace about noon that the king’s condition was unchanged. The noted physician shqwed the strain of the long weeks of close watch at the palace, but was preparing to celebrate Christmas in the knowledge that the /king was maintaining the progress which he began after the return of his son, the prince of Wales, from his African tour. While the queen and the prince of Wales knelt in prayer in the royal chapel of the palace, the king awakened to hear the Irish guards playing old English carols. Around the center gate, 3,000 persons stood with bared heads, singing in subdued voices the hymn, “Praise the King of Kings.” Tattered beggars moved in and out of the throng, pleading for alms. The king passed a fairly comfortable night, with several periods of good sound sleep. His progress, although slow, was maintained. In the churches throughout the country today, prayers were said in connection with the regular Christmas services for his recovery. The king received members of the family including the duke of Gloucester, who was greatly affected by his father's changed appearance. Shortly before leaving the sickroom, he bade the king a happy Christmas. The prince of Wales left the palace on a motor trip, but he arranged to return again this evening for the Christmas day dinner, which will be attended by twelve persons. The banquet will be most simple, it was learned. It will be given in the magnificent "Chinese room,” which was prepared by order of George IV. The room is situated in the front of the palace on the same floor as the king’s sick chamber, which is about fifty yards away.

had been living w’ith her sister, Mrs. Emma Shipman, 534 Chase street. Only recently they had settled their quarrel and planned to spend a happy Christmas together today. Rather was to have taken them to a Christmas eve show. As he was about to leave for the show, John Gill, with whom he had been rooming in the 1200 block, Oliver avenue, asked him to take his new Ford to the garage. Rather, his brother-in-law Earl Calvert, 534 Chase street, and brother Clarence, 551 Division street, went with him. On the way they adecided to try out the new Ford and drove southwest of the city, where the fatal crash occured. SPEED HERE BY PLANE Chicago Couple Come by Air to Visit Sick Relative. Flying through the night to be at the bedside of a relative here critically ill, Mr. and Mrs. S. Hess, Chicago, landed at Indianapolis airport at 5:55 a. m. today. They made the trip in a Blue Goose Line Stinson monoplane piloted by Carl V. Vickery. Hess is connected with the Chicago Herald and Examiner. MAIf~SLAIN Af~DANCE Stabbed at Evansville Home—Two Accused as Killers. Bn Times Seerial EVANSVILLE, Ind., Dec. 25. James C. Murphy, 36, a Chicago salesman, is dead as a result of knife wounds suffered at a dance brawl at his home. James and Levi Coffin are held, charged with his murder. James Coffin, police were told, was a caller at the Murphy home and the fight which led to the tragedy started when he attempted to separate Murphy and his wife as they danced. Hotel Charges S4OO Theft By Times Special RICHMOND. Ind.. Dec. 25.—Police of Detroit. Mich., have been asked to search in that city for John Cochran, former clerk of the Leland hotel here, who is alleged to be S4OO short in his accounts.

Are They Happy? Yes, Both Ways

Christmas is more Shirley Mooney 722 than Christmas to these £ ' Fletcher avenue, above five persons and the % is one of t the stre ® c £ ar thousands of Indian- Mi conductors who has apolis workers they been doinghisbit. typify. It means the big £ The girl in the center rush is over and they of the cross is Miss Beucan rest from the task " w&M lah Held. 836 North of helping the city en- Gray street, L. S. Ayres joy a merry Christmas. | & Cos. sales girl, one of At the left is Aaron the thousands of store Stern. 3637 North Illi- K Wm?' ' < i clerks * ho s P end many nois street, who has car- ! weary hours serving ried Christmas parcels Christmas shoppers, to Indianapolis homes And don t forget the for thiry-seven years. rffw|||L .. Vo. 'TfJt traffic cops who have Rondle Miner, 1223 kept the rUS , h Erookside avenue, Wil- HIPII, JllllpF: 'Vy * > traffic moving. Belov: is liam H. Block Company, ffjjl J John Schaffner, 867 is one of the hundreds I ‘f.J'illli /ar 5 North Drexel street, of deliverymen who has fvßp? -V -I traffic officer at Mendbeen seeing the things $ \ ian and Washington get to the homes. '?■, streets. ® t “r'

Christmas is more than Christmas to these five persons and the thousands of Indianapolis workers they typify. It means the big rush is over and they can rest from the task of helping the city enjoy a merry Christmas. At the left is Aaron Stern, 3637 Nf rth Illinois street, who has carried Christmas parcels to Indianapolis homes for thiry-seven years. Rondle Miner, 1223 B’.ookside avenue, William H. Block Company, is one of the hundreds of deliverymen who has been seeing the things get to the homes.

CAL TO TAKE ISLAND HOLIDAY President and Wife Rest for Trip to Georgia. By United Press WASHINGTON. Dec. 25.—President Coolidge spent his last Christmas as chief executive busy with last-minute plans for his holiday on Sapelo Island, off Brunswick, Ga. The President planned to remain indoors until leaving the White House to board the special train that will take them to the palatial island estate of Howard E. Coffin, vice-president of the Hudson Motor Company, which will be their home until after the new year. The presidential party will include Frank O. Salisbury, noted British artist, commissioned by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society to paint Coolidge’s portrait. The President is to arrive at Brunswick early Wednesday morning and his party will continue by motor car and boat to Sapelo Island. He has not decided when he will return to Washington. Both the President and first lady participated in Yuletide activities Monday. Mrs. Coolidge aided in distributing toys and Christmas baskets and the President lighted a municipal Christmas tree. Later, religious and Yuletide carols were sung by a choir of sixty voices on the north portico of the White House. AUTOISTS IN CREEK Driver and Wife Plunged Over Embankment. Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Brow'n, Columbia City, took a cold bath just tw r o minutes after midnight Christmas morning. Blinded by the lights of an approaching car, Brown ran his machine over the embankment at Fall Creek and Central avenue, and the couple plunged into the waters of the creek. They were uninjured. s a ntaToodWgotha m Stories Report Sales of Tremendous Volume; Mail Records Fall. By United Press NEW YORK, Dec. 25.—Santa Claus was a bountiful Santa Claus in New York. Mail records were broken. Stores reported tremendous sales, some managers estimating that this year found the greatest buying in the history ot their stores. The New York postoffice reported that 141,000,000 pieces of mail had been handled this year. This was the greatest Christmas mail supply ever handled out of New York City. Three City Residents Fined By Times Special SHELBYVILLE, Ind.. Dec. 25. Two men and a girl from Indianapolis were fined $1 and costs each in city court here when they admitted stealing four automobile tire covers. They are: Clifford Freeland. 22, of 609 Lockerbie street; Everett Hurt, 330 North East street, and Miss Stella Bailey, 19, of 1037 Concord avenue.

Entered as Second-Class Mntter at Postoffice, Indianapolis

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PLANES AND OXCARTS BRING JOY TO MARINES Real Christmas Is Provided for DevL’ Dogs in Nicaragua. By United Press MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Dec. 25. Modem Fokker planes and much slower oxcarts and pack mules combined in providing a real Christmas today for the United States marines now stationed in Nicaragua. As the result of more than a week’s preparation, each marine today had all his Christmas mail, an individual box from the American Red Cross and, to cap it all, a turkey dinner with cranberries and all the fixin’s. Uncle Sam made every effort to see that each marine, regardless of his outpost in this country, had everything possible to make it a good Christmas. SLAIN BY MISTAKE, ON WAY TO HOLIDAY FETE Saloonkeeper Shoots When He Thinks Robbery Is Threatened. By United Press DETROIT, Dec. 25. While his family was waiting on him to join a Christmas party this morning, Robert Affelt, 35, was shot to death by a saloonkeeper, who mistook him for a robber. Affelt was not armed, but Eugene White, owner of the saloon where the killing occurred, said Affelt ordered him to "stick, ’em up.” At the command, White, who was counting his $1,600 Christmas eve receipts with his back to the bar, whirled around and shot Affelt. "I am sure he was just joking when this happened,” John Affelt, father of the dead man said.

CARTOON BRINGS JOY TO ESTRANGED CHICAGO PAIR

Bu United Press CHICAGO, Dec. 25.—Emory Westlake Jr., 3, romped around his mother’s south side home today, because a local newspaper published a cartoon with the caption, "a tragedy of the divorce court.” The cartoon depicted a man leaning against a lamp post and gazing mournfully through a lighted window at his children receiving presents off a Christmas tree. Emory Westlake Sr., who is being sued for separate maintenance by Mrs. Marie Westlake, saw the cartoon yesterday. He called his at-

Shirley Mooney 722 Fletcher avenue, above, is one of the street car conductors who has been doing his bit. The girl in the center of the cross is Miss Beulah Held, 836 North Gray street, L. S. Ayres & Cos. sales girl, one of the thousands of store clerks who spend many weary hours serving Christinas shoppers. And don't forget the traffic cops who have kept the holiday rush traffic moving. Below is John Schaffner, 867 North Drexel street, traffic officer at Meridian and Washington streets.

PEACE NEARER IN SJMERICA Conciliatory Answer Is Given by Bolivia. By United Press WASHINGTON. Dec. 25.—Attuned to the holiday spirit, a note reached here today from Bolivia, answering the Inter-American conferences questionnaire on its position toward conciliation in the Para-guayan-Bolivian border dispute. Bolivia, already having accepted the conferees good offices, replied to the q lestionnaire in what Bolivian Minister Diez De Medina characterized as a tone "favorable to conciliation.” By United Press BUENOS AIRES. Dec. 25.—The Asuncion correspondent of the newspaper La Prensa reported the receipt today of an official dispatch which stated that Bolivian airplanes flew over Paraguayan troops in alleged recent clashes and dropped four bombs. The Bolivians, according to the La Prensa dispatch, also used machine guns upon Paraguayan forts and troops, but no casualties resulted. The unexploded bombs were reported to have been delivered to President Jose Guggiaria of Paraguay yesterday. By T lilted Press ASUNCION, Paraguay, Dec. 25. The minister of war today announced that all was quiet in the Gran Chaco. ‘GREEN'JfULEJN EAST Balmy Weather Prevails in New York City. Bu United Press NEW YORK. Dec. 25.-Most of the east enjoyed a balmy Christmas day today. In New York City, mild temperatures prevailed. Temperatures this morning were in the upper thirties, and weather bureau officials predicted that by mid-afternoon the temperature would rise as high as 45 degrees. The warmest Christmas day on record for New York City was in 1889, when the temperature rose to 65 degrees. Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m 33 9 a. m 34 7 a. m 33 10 a. m 37 8 a. m..... 34

tomey, who in turn called Mrs. Westlake's attorney. Mrs. Westlake, when called by her lawyer, agreed Santa Claus should visit Emory Jr., just as he had last year. Westlake bought some toys and last night helped his wife decorate a Christmas tree. “I’m glad to call a Christmas truca for the sake of the child,” Mrs. Westlake said. "But there was no reconciliation.” Westlake is the son of the late Emory W. Westlake, wealthy packer. His wife charged cruelty in her separate maintenance bill.

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CITY HALTS ROOM TO iUERRY Thousands of Children Are Guests at Parties; Needy Are Fed. CAROL SERVICES HELD Salvation Army G,ves Out 4,000 Baskets; Feast for Prisoners. All Indianapolis halted its routine today to observe Christmas day and its spirit. Throughout the city, churches, organizations, and indU viduals were busy with Yuletide celebration. In West Indianapolis, 2,000 happy children gathered to celebrate one of the most novel Christmas parties ever staged in the city. William D. Beanblossom, funeral dhector, 1321 West Ray street, threw open the doors of his home and funeral parlors to the children. Youngsters from all parts of the city w'ere invited to Beanblossom’s party. Two Christmas trees around which the gifts were placed decorated the scene of the party. Given Candy and Toys f Beanblossom had 2,000 half-pound 1 boxes of candy, contained gifts, for I distribution. He also had dolls. ( roller skates, scooters and other gifts ( that were given to the children. More than 100 needy Indianapolis boys were supplied with overcoats, suits and caps today by L. Strauss & Cos. R. S. Norwood, vice-presi-dent of the company, obtained the names of the boys from the Family Welfare society. Shortly before 9 a. m. the boys were taken to the store, where they were outfitted with all the apparel they needed. Christmas carols were sung in sixteen Catholic and four Episcopal churches Monday night, followed by special services today. Carolers from the Boy and Girl Scouts, Camp Fire Girls and Girl Reserves visited various parts of the cKjL Monday night. Slack Presents Baskets Mayor L. Ert Slack this morning presented the first of 4,000 Christmas baskets that were distributed by the Salvation Army from the army headquarters, 24 South Capitol avenue. Several Indianapolis civic clubs and local police aided in sending the baskets to needy families. The army also served a free dinner to the homeless at the industrial home, 127 West Georgia street. Maple Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, distributed twenty-five baskets of food from the hall, 322 East New York street. Prisoners in the Marion county jail also had their opportunity to celebrate Christmas. Under auspices of the Wheeler City Mission, services were held at the jail at 9 a. m. The Rev. O. W. Fifer, district superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal church, spoke. Dinner for Prisoners The annual Christmas dinner was served to prisoners this afternoon. Woodruff Place community house was crowded Monday night with hundreds of Woodruff residents attending the annual Christmas eve party. Children from School 33 sang carols. At the Julietta hospital for the insane Monday evening, an old-fashioned Christmas party was staged by the North Side Liops club. Old-time melodies were sung around the Christmas tree and 250 gifts were given to patients. AFGHAN CAPITAL^QUIET Airplane Passengers Report Lull in Civil Strife. By United Press CALCUTTA, Dec. 25.—Passengers aboard a British airplane which arrived at Peshawar today from Kabul, reported that all was quiet in the Afghan capital. The passengers included eleven French women and ten German women and four children, belonging to the respective legations at Kabul. Some w'ere anxious about the safety of foreigners who remained in the capital. FOUR IN AUTO BURNED Lantern Used to Keep Car Warm Explodes at Bloomington. By United Press BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Dec. 25. Four persons were badly burned here when a lantern in the rear seat of an automobile exploded. The four, Walter Lyon, 40; his wife, Margaret Lyon, 30; Earl Ross, 7, and Sarah Qualter, w r ere en route to English to spend Christ ■> mas when the accident occurred. The lantern was carried to keep the auto's occupants warm. When it exploded the entire automobile was filled with flames. The machine was destroyed. Asks $15,000 in Love" Suit By United Press MADISON, Ind., Dec. 25.—Frederick Eckert is defendant in a SIS,OQQ alienations suit filed here by William Torrance. The defendant allegedly took Mrs. Torrance to Louisville, Ky., on a love tryst, a a :