Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 198, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 January 1929 — Page 1

WIFE FORGETS STORY BEFORE MURDER CASE Woman Who Lost Mate’s Love to ‘Gen’ Stults Falters as Witness. RECALLS SSO PAYMENT Mrs. Reyher Admits Telling Defendant to Scare Rival Away. BY ARCH STEINEL Times Staff Correspondent ELKHART. Ind., Jan. 8.—“I just don’t remember," gloved hands twitching, eyes shifting, and in the weak voice of a child who fears she is going to be whipped, firs. Janie Reyher, wife of Charles Reyher, South Bend real estate dealer, stammered this phrase repeatedly today on the stand as a state's v/itness in the trial of Harvey L. Smith, charged with the murder of Mrs. Genevieve Stults, and tc'tif and of a SSO bargain to "scare Mrs. Stults out of town.” Mrs. Reyher told how she hired Smith to trail her husband on his calls to the apartment of Mrs. Stults in her beauty parlor at Mishawaka. | But when the state sought to bring out details of the actual bargaining the mother of two boys whose twen-ty-two year-marriage to Reyher was blighted by the soul charming of "Gen" Stults, said: "I just don’t remember." Ordered Shadowing She testified that she met Smith In his detective agency office in the Gladstone building in South Bend. Asked what conversation she had with Smith regarding trailing of her husband she said: "I told him to shadow Mr. Reyher." Questioned by state's attorneys j as to details of her conversation with I Smith abort trailing her husband she reiterated. “I don’t just remember." Disgusted, the prosecution sought to tear from the wife who lost out to another woman the conversations nhich it hopes will send Smith to the electric chair but to no avail. Mrs. Reyher said Smith made ver- j bal reports to her of the clandestine meetings between Reyher and Mrs. Stults. She testified that she lent Smith the family car the night of the alleged slaying—the state contends the car was the death car—and that it was left for him in front of the Y. M. C. A. in South Bend. "My son Keith drove .it there. Then my husband and I went to a show," she averred. “After the show’ we went to a friend's house, then home. I received a telephone call from Smith and later he came to the house." Forgets Conversation "What did Smith say to you over the telephone?" she was asked by state's attorneys. "I just don't remember—you see. I haven't charged my mind with those things," she retorted as she smoothed her brown goulard print dress nervously. Testifying that Smith came to the house later—about the time the defense says when Mrs. Smith disappeared of was slain —she said she could not remember the conversation she had with him. She said her husband talked to Smith. Mrs. Reyher said payment for Smith's services as a detective was made in three installments. A $lO bill In his office, a few dollars on one occasion in her home and the SSO which she turned over to her brother. Jack Kimball, to be given to Smith for "scaring Mrs. Stults out of town.” SHOW GREAT AID OF CHRISTMAS CLEARING Reports Reveal Many Hundreds of Duplications Prevented. The Christmas Clearing House prevented 768 cases of duplication in Christmas giving to the needy, thereby spreading cheer over a vastly greater number of families, the annual report oh the committee in charge, headed by Herbert S. King, show ed today. The clearing house handled 3.185 families. Examples of the duplication prevented were: Four families listed seven times, two listed six times, eight shown five times, twenty-five four times, ninety-two three times, and 424 twice. Sixty-six organisations used the clearing house services. STUDY BUDGET CUTS State Committee and Governor Consider Department Reductions. Members of the state budget committee and Lawrence Orr. chtef examiner of the state board of accounts and ex-officio member of the committee, conferred today with Governor Ed Jackson on proposed cuts in the departmental and institutional budgets. Similar conferences will be held with Governor Harry G. Leslie, who htt twenty days after his inauguration before it is required that he submit the final draft to the legislature according to Orr.

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The Indianapolis Times Mostly cloudy tonight, probably followed by rain or snow Wednesday; rising temperature, lowest tonight about 30.

VOLUME 40—NUMBER 198

Break in Cold Is Predicted Mercury Drops to 4 Above This Morning; Above 20 for Tonight. Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m 6 iO a. m 12 7 a. m 7 11 a. m 16 8 a. m 8 12 (noon).. 21 9 a. m 10 1 p. m 27 A break in the cold wave with a rising temperature today and Wednesday was predicted today by weather bureau officials. The low mark tonight will be about 20 degrees above zero and Wednesday the thermometer likely will rise slightly above freezing, said J. H. Armington, United States weather bureau head. The mercury failed to drop quite as low as expected during the night, but reached a low point of 4 above zero at 4 a. m The brunt of the cold wave passed further north, according to Armington. Ft. Wayne reported the lowest temperature in the state, 2 below zero. Zero Over Mid-West Bu fail'd Press CHICAGO. Jan. B.—Temperatures ranging from zero to 20 degrees below prevailed today in the middle and northwest, causing more than a score of deaths and intense suffering. All records for this. winter fell before the sub-zero wave which swept down from the Canadian northwest two days ago. The temperature in Chicago ranged from zero to 8 and 10 degrees below, but even more intense cold was prevalent over the northwest. Among cities reporting extreme sub-zero temperatures were: Moorehead, Minn., 24; Duluth, 16; Green Bay. Wis., 12; Madison, Wis., 14; Ledges Park. la.. 23: Rockford, 111.. 14; Peoria, 111., 8 and Milwaukee, 8.

WAKES TO FIND BED IN FLAMES Runs Block Barefoot to Summon Aid. Waltt-r Hudson. 50. of 2034 South State avenue, woke in bed at 2:30 a. m. today to find ‘he bedclothes on fire and the flames searing his legs. His two-room frame home was filled with smoke and flames. Grabbing his clothes from a chair by the door, but not waiting to don them. Hudson ran bare-footed through the near zero breezes more than a block to the home of Jess Miller. 2020 Quill street. Mrs. Sofia Jaegers. 1643 Le Grande avenue, heard his yells and turned in a fire alarm before he got there. Hudson lost all his clothes except the few articles he grabbed up in his rush in the fire which destroyed all the home furnishings and caused a iotal damage estimated at $1,200. His wife, visiting a daughter, Mrs. Anna Longer, 918 North Delaware street, had taken her clothes with her. The blaze is believed to have been started by an overheated stove in the bedroom. FIRE LOSS GROWS Total Over Million for City in 1928. Fire losses in Indianapolis in 1928 totalled $1,275,000 Fire Chief Harry E. Voshell reported today. The loss was an increase of $462,000 over 1927. There were 4,047 fire runs In 1928 compared with 4.127 the j’ear before. Three heavy losses boosted the 1928 figure according to Voshell. They were the Bethard Wall Paper Company $114,000 fire; the Edward Traugott and Emroe Sporting Goods Company explosion which did $145,000 damage and the $72,000 Roesner storage house blaze. There were 445 fires in December with an estimated loss of $300,000 compared with $162,000 in 1927. DEPLORES ‘DOG RISK’ Humane Society Favors Ban Against Canines on Running Board. Needless risk of the lives of dogs through permitting them to ride on running boards of automobiles is opposed by the Indianapolis Humane Society. The society today ; spread on its records a resolution J favoring legislation making it an offense to permit dogs so to travel.

IGNORE JACKSON IN PLANS FOR INAUGURATION OF GOVERNOR-ELECT LESLIE

FOR perhaps the first time in the history of Indiana the retiring Governor will be given no chance to account for his stewardship at the inauguration of the incoming Governor. The committee in charge of the inaugural ceremonies and reception of Governor-Elect Harry G. Leslie at the statehouse next Monday morning entirely has ignored Governor Ed Jackson.

‘NO DEATH,’IS NOTE TO WIFE FROMJOUDINI’ Spiritualist Repeats Code Message Left by Dead Magician. HEAR WORDS IN TRANCE Seance Was Arranged by Foe of Mediums Before End Came. BY HARRY R. ZANDER United Press Staff Correspondent (Copyright, 1829, by United Press) NEW YORK, Jan. 8. A code message left by Harry Houdini with his wife when he died was repeated in a tranfce by a spiritualist medium today to Mrs. Houdini’s satisfaction. Houdini, master magician and arch-foe of spiritualism while he lived, added to the message, the medium said; "There is no death.” It was Houdini’s last request that his wife attempt to reach him at a seance. If a medium could repeat the words of the code, locked up by Mrs. Houdini in a safe deposit vault, then immortality might be proved, he said. Connected With Control Last Saturday. Arthur Ford, minister of the First Spiritualist church here and editor of “Immortality’’ received part of the code message, from Houdini’s spirit, he said. Today, he visited Mrs. Houdini at her home. With him were: John W. Stafford, associate editor of Scientific America; Mrs. Stafford; Francis R. Fast, a broker; Mrs. Minnie Chester, lifelong friend of the Houdinis; a United Press representative and a woman reporter of a New York newspapers. Mrs. Houdini lay on a cot. Her spine had been injured in a fall New Year’s eve. Ford pulled down the shades in the room. He drew chairs about the cot where the spectators sat. Then he went into a trance. Presently, lit said he was connected with a "control" named Fletcher, in the "spirit world.” Uses Wife's Pet Name Fletcher, speaking through Ford, said: "The same man who came Satur-

was Houdinis last request that, ;J. .f. wife attempt to reach him at a if - ds of the code, locked up by Mrs. •' ■ , ichni m a .alt deposit vault, then SB torialUy might be proved, he ( onnerted With C ontroJ . JMtreala % ‘ "■ Sauuda\ Arthur Ford. fTt - ir-4yf ister of the First Spiritualist tality'" received part of the code jj|' sage, from Houdinis spirit, he elate editor of Scientific Amer- If Mrs. Stafford Francis R. Fast, , Led Press representative and a Year's eve. md pulled down the shades in I ■ jj • . room He drew chairs about the L , 111(0 trance - . Presently. * "". . . ’ mol" named Fletcher, in the - ’ lit vorld." f t ->?' J® yv leulier, speaking through Ford, , In-- .-ann man ". ho i arm Satur- '' * C ’ VI. ' .

da ynight is coming again. He says ‘Hello, Bess (Houdini’s pet name for his wife), my sweetheart.’ He says he wants to repeat the code you used in your mind reading act with him. > “First of all, he says ‘Rosabelle.’ Do you know what that means?” Mrs. Houdini replied in a weak voice, “Yes.” NOW RHAPSODY IN SHOE Lavender Hieroglyphics on Crepe Is Latest Fashion. Bu United Press CHICAGO, Jan. B.—Rhapsody crepe in lavender hieroglyphics is one of the new materials for ladies’ footgear this spring, members of the National Shoe Retailers Association learned today as they visited the style shows of their national convention here. The rhapsody shoe was designed by Joseph Urban, creator of stage effects. Linen, silk, crepe, spun straw and lizard skin has supplanted leather for the spring modes, most of which comes in vivid colors. AIM AT BAD BOOZE Poison Liquor Bill Introduced to New York Legislature. Bu United Press ALBANY. N. Y.. Jan. 8.— I The socalled poison liquor bill which would make it a crime to sell liquor containing poison of any kind was introduced in the legislature today. A similar measure was proposed a year ago but was defeated. The sponsor is assemblyman Louis A. Cuvillier, leading wet of the legislature.

No speech will be made by him and unless present plans are changed he neither will appear on the platform nor in the receiving line. Admission that no provision is being made for Jackson was made today by Charles L. Biederwolf, clerk of the supreme court and chairman of the inaugural committee on arrangements.

INDIANAPOLIS, TUESDAY, JAN. 8, 1929

Lagoon Lures Skaters; Ice Perfect

Skating at South Gove lagoon! Real old-fashioned skating that lasted longer than a day and on ce that near-zero weather had made nearly perfect. The photograph* show the youngsters indulging In all the famijiar stunts and getting warm by one of the coal-burning heaters the park board supplied.

FIND TWO IN PROBE Await Call in Steuben County Crime Inquiry. Bu rimes Special ANGOLA, Ind.. Jan. B.—Two missing witnesses in the probe of Steuben county’s crime ring were discovered today as the grand jury convened, but Charles Bridges, state police lieutenant, refuses to disclose where they are. However, he promises they will be on hand when the jury is ready to hear them. Those reported missing were Misses Nellie Coleman and Berdino Dando. Last week they had been interviewed by investigators but Monday disappeared from their apartment home in South Bend. It was not until today that Bridges disclosed he knew there whereabouts. Among those scheduled to testify during the day are George McHie, assistant chief of state police; Ray Dunlap, state policeman; Forrest Huntington of the state bureau of criminal investigation and identification; Emory Powers, Steuben county farmer; Frtmk Garman, a janitor, and Mrs. Will Purdy and Mrs. Warren Purdy. VOLCANO TAKES TOLL Five Known Dead, Number of Missing In Chile. SANTIAGO, Chile. Jan. B—Five persons are known to be dead as a result of Sunday's eruption of Calbuco volcano. Property damage was not believed considerable. A number of towns reported missing persons.

Archie Bobbitt, state auditor, who also is a member of the committee, stated that Leslie will be the only one to speak, but he thought maybe a seat on the platform would be provided for Jackson. MUM THE seat was not mentioned when Biederwolf detailed plans today.

APPARITION, NIGHTLY, STIRS CONGREGATION Luminous Figure on Church Door Puzzles New Jersey City. Bu United Press KEANSBURG, N. J., Jan. B.—The congregation of St. Anne’s Roman Catholic church is seeking an explantation for the nightly apearance of a luminous figure on the church door. The Rev. Thomas A. Kearney, rector of the church, suggested a peculiar reflection through Hhe surrounding trees caused the figure, w! ich resembles a statue of Saint Anne, supposed to have been the mother of the Virgin Mary. But when the street lights were turned off. the figure still was on the ddor. Crowds gather each night in front of the church BLIMPIbINS HUNT FOR MISSING BOY, 4 Ohio Lad Gone From Home Ten Days; Dirigfcle Sent Up. By United Press _ AKRON. 0., Jan. B.—The Goodyear dirigible. Puritan, joined the search today for Melvin Horst, 4-year-old Orrville (Off boy who has been missing from his home for ten days. The craft, piloted by Jack Boettner. veteran balloonist, took off at noon. Mrs. Vanderbilt 111 RENO. Nev., Jan. B.—Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Jr., wife of the former newspaper publisher, was confined to the Reno general hospital today suffering from pneumonia.

He stated that Leslie, Edgar D. Bush. Lieutenant-Governor, and lyliss Genevieve Brown, who will take the oath as supreme court reporter, will meet in his office at 10:30 a. m. From there they will march to the platform in the statehouse rotunda, accompanied by Chief Justice Clarence R. Martin. who mill administer the oaths, and Dean Stanley Coulter of

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Posttffice, indianapolis

REPARATIONS SOUGHT Firms Seek to Recover Excessive Freights. One of the biggest reparations cases ever heard in Indianapolis mill be conducted at the Federal building Friday by the interstate commerce commission and the public service commission of Indiana, in which various fertilizer companies are seeking approximately $500,000. The reparations asked cover alleged excessive freight, rates paid by numerous fertilizer companies, including Smlft and Armour, Chicago, over a period of two years. The complaint is based on a rate reduction of 30 per cent ordered Oct. 5, 1928. The hearing is expected to continue three or four days. BOOSTS SOLDTeW FUND House Appropriates $150,000 More for Marion (Ind.) Home. B.y United Press WASHINGTON. Jan. 8. The house late Monday appropriated $150,000 for a fifty-bed building to be added to the veterans psychiatric hospital at Marion. Ind. The appropriation will be added to SIOO,000 already appropriated. Tobacco Magnate Dead NEW YORK. Jan. B.—Benjamin Newton Duke, brother of the late James P. Duke of the Duke Tobacco company, died today at his New York residence. He was also a member of the tobacco company.

Purdue university, mho will preside.

The One hundred thirty-ninth field artillery oand from Lebanon mill provide music. Seats mill be provided for the 150 members of the legislature, who will attend in a body. The remaining 500 seats will be at the disposal of the public.

IRVINGTON STATE BANK IS LOOTED BY BANDIT CREW; SIO,OOO IS ROBBERS’ HAUL Four Men in Gang Work Calmly and Systematically, Herding Employes and Patrons Into Vault. REFUSE TO TAKE CUSTOMERS’ CASH Three Thugs Carry Sawed-Off Shotguns, Which They Train on Victims; Fourth Has Two Revolvers. (Other Details and Pictures, Page 3) Four “hard-boiled” bandits held up the Irvington State bank, Ritter avenue and East Washington street, at 9:30 a. m. today and took between SIO,OOO and $12,000 loot. Smoking cigars and cigarets and working coolly, the bandits systematically took practically all the cash on hand. The bank is affiliated bank of the Fletcher Savings and Trust Company and the entire loss is covered by insurance. The bandits refused to take money from customers. Asking one if the deposit he held in hand was insured and being told that it was not, they ordered him to put it back in his pocket. After holding eight employes and nine or ten customers together in one corner of the front of thfe banking room while they gathered up all the cash in the cages and vault, the bandits forced the entire group in the vault. They closed the door, but did not lock it. • -

TEX RICKARD LIES IimRDEN' Body Rests in State in Sports Arena. By United Press NEW YORK, Jan. B.—ln somber splendor, heaped about with the floral offerings of friends, the body of Tex Rickard in it's magnificent bronze casket lay in state in the heart of Madison Square Garden today. The vast sports arena, a monument to the late promoter’s unparalleled genius, arched the bier, about which employes who had served Rickard for many years took up the death match. Until tonight, when the public is to be admitted to pay tribute to Tex, the casket will lie in the huge garden npw strangely silent, visited only by close friends of the late promoter. >'he body of Tex Rickard mas brought to Nem’ York city today aboard the "Havana Special” and taken directly to the Garden by a police escort. Mrs. Rickard bore up well under the ordeal of the close-pressing throng at the Pennsylvania station, but quickly sought the shelter of a limousine with her mother and was whisked away from the clamor. Jack Dempsey, who accompanied the body from Miami Beach, at once took charge of arrangements here. Steve Hannagan, representing the city of Miami Beach, also was in the party. The former heavyweight champion announced that the Garden would be opened to the public from 6 p. m. to 9 p. m., and again Wednesday morning from 10 a. ra. until the funeral services early in the afternoon. These services, Dempsey said, also would be open to the public.

AUTO CLAMP URGED Crash Toll ‘Appalling,’ Says Colorado Governor. Bu United Press DENVER. Colo., Jan. B.—lnjuries and deaths from automobile accidents have reached "such appalling numbers that drastic steps’must be taken to remedy the condition," Governor W. H. Adams of Colorado said today in a message which he sent to the legislature from his sick-bed. "I am reluctant to have legislation attempted or demanded to meet every problem of modern life." said the message, “but reckless driving of automobiles has become such a menace, not only to those who ride in them, but to pedestrians, and especially to children, that there seems no other recourse for relief.” Bandits Shoot Grocery Clerk

Fl’. WAYNE, Ind., Jan. B.—Clem Foley, 54. chain grocery clerk, is in a critical condition as a result of being shot by one of three bandits who robbed him of S2OO in the store.

UNDER the present arrangement it may be Jackson will have to secure one of these from the state police, who will act as ushers.

Biederwolf declared that all officials elected last fall will be in the receiving line with Governor and Mrs. Leslie and that was all. except that a harp ensemble will Play.

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Three of the bandits, accordmg to the descriptions given detectives, wore short coats. The fourth, apparently of foreign lineage and the leader of the gang, wore a light overcoat. Three carried sawed-off shotguns and the fourth two revolvers. All except the leader were under 30. He was older. The only clew they left behind was an empty flour sack similar to one in which the loot was carried away. It carried the name of a local grocer, whom police will question. According to W. B. Gates, a dentist with offices over the bank, they drove away in a dark blue or green sedan, speeding west toward the downtown section. Four Believed in Gang Whether a member of the gang was left at the wheel of the car could not be determined. Customers and bank employes differed as to whether three, four or five bandits came into the banking rooms, but detectives believed there were four. They entered the bank just behind Verna C. Zander. 402 South Butler avenue. Zander said he thought* he saw their car driven up in front as he came in. Ted M. Campbell, manager 65 North Layman avenue, was seated with Miss Margaret Askren, note teller, at his desk at the front, to the left of the room. One of the bandits advanced toward Campbell waving a roll of bills. When the bandit got close he pulled a sawed-off shotgun from under his coat. Bandit Gets Rough ‘What’s the matter? What's that?” asked Campbell. ‘‘Get over here. This is a sawedoff shotgun. I’ll show what’s the matter,” replied the bandit. In the meantime, Zander had lined up with customers at one of the windows. One of the bandits pushed against him and Zander told him, “Get back in line.” “You get back if you want to live,” said the bandit, and drew his shotgun from under his coat. Previously one of the bandits had questioned James Moffett, 20, 306 North Irvington avenue, teller in cage two, about travelers’ checks. At the same time the other gangsters drew their guns, the bandit in front of the cage produced his and pointed it through the window at Moffett. Employes Herded Together Another bandit had gone to the rear of the cages and. with the aid of the bandit with the revolvers, “gathered up” Gale Eaton. 22, of 1016 North Oakland avenue, teller in the third cage; Miss Merl Davis, bookkeeper, 133 Downing avenue; Joseph McClanahan, 18. bookkeeper, 541 North flfural street; Ed Mulvaney. 18. bookkeeper, of 201 North Walcott street, and Moffett. The bookkeeper had been working in a space in the rear of tire three cages, which are along the right side of tht banje. R. C. Wright, 31, assistant cashier, Beech Grove, h_id been working in a space on the right side of the bank in front of the cages. All the employes and customers were herded into the enclosure at the front and right side, while the cages and vaults were looted, and then were shoved into the vault. The vault door was left open a few inches. Campbell waited a few minutes after hearing the bandits leave, to make sure that no one wa* in the banking rooms and Ui danger from bullets, before he sounded a burglar alarm in the vault. Thirty-five police and half a dozen deputy sheriffs searched roads southeast of the city as far as Shelbyvllle. Several susplrim* cars were reported speeding east immediately alter the robbery.