Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 289, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 April 1929 — Page 1

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PROSECUTOR IS BRANDED ‘WEAK SISTER’ Actions of Stark and His Aids in Wild Bank Case Bitterly Assailed. FEEBLE AND HELPLESS’ Enforcement of Law in County Is Declared Near Breakdown. Breaking down of the law ennlorcement agency of the county overnment,” is indicated by Prosecutor Judson L. Stark’s statement that he is dropping prosecution in the J. F. Wild and Company State Bank failure, Joseph R. Williams, attorney for a league of 3.200 depositors who lost money in the crash, declared in a formal paper, issued today. The prosecutor’s backdown on the Wild case was printed in his personal organ, Tuesday. Indication that the depositors, checked in their movement to obtain redress for their wrongs, by the prosecutor's “break-down,” might •eek anew avenue of procedure was contained in Williams’ statement.

Siark Is Assailed Williams said lie is “very much surprised at the attitude now assumed by the prosecutor's office.” Stark was criticised severely for waiting “until this late hour when the statute of limitations doubtless will expire in July.” “The reasons assigned In the apologetic statements of the prosecutor are flimsy, indeed, when not a single witness, not even the receiver, was called before the grand jury,” Williams asserted. “We do not criticize the grand jury, as grand juries usually follow the advice of the prosecutor, but six men, after heretofore heearing the evidence, voted an indictment that was returned into open court. This indictment, on account of the inefficiency of the prosecutor's office, was quashed on a legal technicality, which would not have occurred at the hands of any experienced lawyer. ‘law Agencies Feeble” “Is it any wonder that the President of the United States has called upon the public to assist in law' enforcement? We gently would suggest that Marion county would be a splendid place to begin, as the law' enforcement agencies here seem to be very feeble, if not helpless.” Williams said he did not see how Stark could come to the conclusion that there was any sign of solvency, after some of the bank’s officials did not deny its insolvency and did not make any effort to resist the receivership. He also pointed out that personal triends and relatives of the bank's ■fficfals had removed their finances from the institution. “Os course, the depositors have been aware of the "passing of the buck’ in this matter since the indictment- was quashed,” Williams said. One question on the announcement of the prosecutor's opinion remained without explanation today. This was why the report was not made to Criminal Judge James A. Collins, who ordered the probe reopened and who approved the appointment of Homer Elliott as special deputy prosecutor. Elliott placed too much credence on unreliable sources of information in his probe. Williams said. The depositors’ league will meet soon to discuss future moves.

ZEPPELIN PUSHES ON Dirigible Passes Through Straits of Gibraltar. ft it I Hi ted rrcn GIBRALTAR. April 24 —The Graf Zeppelin passed the straits early this evening l , headed from west to east toward the Mediterranean. ft a Unite and P<-’ ss TANGIER. Morocco. April 24 The Graf Zeppelin passed here at 5 p. m. HIGHBALL BRINGS DEATH Former Soldier Mixed It With Cyanide, Authorities Say. ft w United Press FLUSHING. L. 1.. April 24 A "cyanide highball" was believed by police today to have been the cause of death of a man tentatively identified as former Private J. Lange of Ft. Totten. His body was found in a subway retiring room with a can of cyanide, and partly filled bottles of whisky and mineral water. AUTO THEFT CHARGED North Capitol Avenue Man Is Held Under 55.000 Bond. Frank Lane. 40. of 328 North Capitol avenue, was arrested by police early today charged with motor vehicle taking. Bond was set at $5,000. Lane is alleged to have been connected with a car found near Crawfordsville about ten days ago which contained twenty gallons of alcohol.

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VOLUME 40—NUMBER 289

Roses Midst (T)horns

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A case of roses among the (t)horns. This large elk head trophy will be sold to the highest bidder at the Elks’ Club service party; Friday night. The auction will be conducted by the three women in the picture. Left to Right—Mrs. S. L. Trotcky, 611 North Pennsylvania street; Mrs. S. R. Lovick, 843 Eastern avenue; Mrs. William E. Ratcliffe, 5735 North Delaware street.

17-YEAR-OLD GIRL FLIER SETS ENDURANCE RECORD; ALOFT AFTER 26 HOURS

Kindergarten Tip in Manners, for Mr. Stark Judson L. Stark, Marion county's youthful prosecutor, today was digetsing a little lecture on how a lawyer should act in court, administered with biting emphasis by Criminal Judge James A. Collins. During the trial of Frank Meyles, Chicago, alleged bandit. Tuesday afternoon, Stark sat with his back to the judge when he announced that the state rested. Judge Collins rapped his gavel down so smartly that Stark whirled around as if he had been shot at. “Mr. Stark,” declared the court, “I am the judge of this court. When you address this court, hereafter, see that you face the bench.” Stark nervously shuffled some papers and turned away.

ENGLAND BACKS U, S, Shares Fully in Naval Views, Parliament Is Told. Bn United Press LONDON. April 24.—Sir Austen Chamberlain, the foreign secretary, announced in the house of commons today that Great Britain “shared fully the hopes and wishes of the United States” on disarmament. Making his expected statement on the arms proposals submitted at Geneva on Monday. Sir Austen said England, like the United States, desired reduction of naval armaments as well as limitation. Dies on Anniversary Eve By I'nited Press MARION, Ind.. April 24.—While preparing to celebrate her golden wedding anniversary, Mrs. Belle Clampitt, 65. Warren, died here.

HUNDREDS PLEDGE AID TO TIMES SAFE DRIVING CLUB

Motorists Rush to Sign Cards, Promising to Observe Golden Rule on City Streets

Stirred as never before. Indianapolis motorists are flocking to join the Golden Rule Safety Club sponsored by The Indianapolis Times and Loews Palace theater as a means of reducing the toll of the hundreds of traffic accidents occurring each year. State officials, business men and workers, all are praising the club as the ideal solution. The simple idea of a Golden Rule Club, calling Tor no dues, officers, or rules, but merely the desire and wish to "drive as you would have others drive" and "cross streets as you would want others to cross" is stirring a responsive chord everywhere. "To my mind, a simple cade of this sort is the epitome of all traffic regulations." declared Governor Harry G. Leslie today. "I would want no other code of

Drops Note Before Breaking Mark, Saying Stabilizer Went ‘Haywire.’ By United Press ROOSEVELT FIELD, L. 1., April 24.—Elinor Smith, 17-year-c’d Freeport (L. I.) aviator, landed at 2:94 p. m. today after establishing anew endurance flight record for women. Bu United Press ROOSEVELT FIELD, N. Y., April 24.—Miss Elinor Smith, the 17-year-old girl who once before held the women’s endurance flight record, today made every attempt to establish a record which would stand for some time to come. She broke the record shortly before 10 a. m. and at 1:43 p. m. she had been in the air 26 hours, 3 minutes and 12 seconds, four hours longer than Mrs. Louis McPhetridge Thaden remained aloft when she established the former record of 22 hours, 3 minutes and 12 seconds. Miss Smith is still flying. Shortly after her twentieth hour in the air. Miss Smith dropped a note saying her stabilizer had “gone haywire” and that she had both arms “wrapped around the stick.” FORD SEES POSTAL BOYS Flivver King Greets Party of Messengers Visiting Plant. B > United press DETROIT, Mich., April 24.—Henry Ford today received ninety Postal Telegraph messenger boys after they had completed a tour of the Ford airport, laboratories and the Dearborn plant. The motor manufacturer expressed admiration for the boys’ j new uniforms and questioned a few concerning their work. Drily Temperatures 6 a. m.... 54 10 a. m 66 7a. m.... 55 11 a. m 68 j 8 a. in.... 51 12 (noon).. 71 9 a. m.... 52

conduct but the Golden Rule and I am sure that the response to such a campaign will be overwhelming." "The Golden Rule Saiety Club fills a long-felt want in motoring and the results will prove of vast benefit to the entire state,” said Secretary of State Otto Fifield. “The importance of such a campaign can not be too greatly emphasized and I for one am glad to sign on the ‘dotted’ line and pledge myself to obey the Golden Rule.” I “Every motorist in Indianapolis and Marion county should be willing to pledge himself to obey the Golden Rule in driving and every pedestrian should be willing to do the same in walking,” Mayor L. Ert Slack said. "A campaign of this sort is deserving of whole-hearted support by all organizations and I am proud : to become a member of the club.”

INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1929

EDITOR UNDER FIRE AT HILL CHILD HEARING Prohibition, Court Integrity, Pink Paper Questions Shot at Gurley. ATTACK NEWS STORIES Seek to Cast Doubt on Truth of Articles on Case in Times. Em Times Special BLOOMFIELD, Ind., April 24. Prohibition, integrity of the courts and the reasons for pink paper in newspaper “sport extras” today engrossed the attention of the Greene county circuit court where Indianapolis attorneys are seeking anew trial for Daisy Sullivan, 16-year-old Bloomfield girl who was sent to the Indiana Woman’s prison for forging a $2.80 check. Boyd Gurley, editor of The Indianapolis Times, occupied the stand most of the morning, answering the cross-fire of questions from Judge Thomas Van Buskirk and Special Prosecutor William Vosloh on the source and authenticity of the newspaper’s accounts of the hill child’s arrest and imprisonment. Seeking to show the stones inaccurate, Vosloh asked Gurley if he knew whether Daisy had eaten the 20-cent purchase after cashing the two oranges that were a part of her forged check. The prosecutor declared she had not, newspaper accounts notwithstanding. Quizzed on News Gathering Judge Van Buskirk frequently interposed questions as the prosecutor quizzed Gurley on procedure in news gathering and publishing. Both charged The Times had not printed all the facts, although in possession of them.

“Sometimes you start a fire you can’t put out,” Van Buskirk declared. “I’m not charged with any crime, am I,” Gurley retorted. “I didn’t inspire the prosecution in this case. What I printed or wrote won’t help you one bit in determining whether Daisy gets anew trial.” “It seems to me that this is a case of Marion county against i Greene county,” Vanßuskirk said at one point. H. L. Ridenour and R. B. Harrison, Indianapolis attorneys representing the Sullivan girl in the corum nobis petition for anew trial, objected when the questioning did not have direct bearing on the case, but were overruled repeatedly. Judge and prosecutor argued that integrity of the court was involved. Replying heatedly to implications The Times and Scripps-Howard papers “sought to tear down courts,” Gurley said: “I resent your implication that we I are against the courts, for we have given too much of our time to upholding them for that to be true.” “Then how about the eighteenth amendment?” Voslch querried. Answer was prevented when Ridenour interrupted to ask. “what’s become of the coram nobis?” Voslch retorted, “This is a newspaper case.” Why Have Pink Editions Van Buskirk told Curley he wanted redress from “wrong” to the court as the result of his reference : to Daisy's conviction as “bewildered ; justice.” and added that a fair and ' impartial account of the hearing j would be satisfactory. Gurley told the court that inform- | ation on Daisy's case had been obtained from what were regarded as reliable sources. Questions ask him included: “Why do you have a pink edition?” Judge Van Buskirk exhibited a threatening letter he had received from Indianapolis. “You’ll be knocked off of this world if you do not free the girl,” it said. “We’ll get you. Hanging is too good for you. The Gang.” “Make arrangements with the undertaker,” a postscript read.

Too much praise can not be given The Indianapolis Times for its movement to halt the number of traffic accidents and I am wholeheartedly in accord with the Golden Rule Club campaign,” declared William A. Boyce Jr., city clerk, who came into the office of The Times to fill out a membership card. Not only did Police Chief Claude M. Worley sign a card, but he declared that every member of the Indianapolis police department would be eager to join. He also offered the services of his department in collecting the membership cards. “The showing of the film ‘The Penalty’ at Loews Palace theater will help to emphasize with telling effect the penalty of reckless driving and contempt for traffic regulations." he said. "The film is not a preachment—it

Brookhart in Bolt on Farm Aid Charges President Breaks Election Pledges to Agriculture. By United Press WASHINGTON, April 24.—Senator Smith W. Brookhart of lowa, leading campaigner for President Herbert Hoover in the farm belt, broke with Hoover in a speech to the senate today. He urged congress disregard the President and prepare to pass “a real farm bill” over his veto. Brookhart accused Hoover of breaking his campaign pledges to the farmer. Congress should carry out the pledges by adopting legislation to place agriculture on an equal economic footing with industry. The speech opened the second day of debate on the administration bill in the senate as the house was preparing to vote upon amendments to a similar bill with hopes of passing it before night. Brookhart told how he had made 200 speeches for Hoover during the campaign. In these speeches he said he read the Republican platform and the acceptance speech of Hoover promising equality. He contended the statements in the platform and in the acceptance and St. Louis speeches of Hoover differed materially from his message at the opening of the special session of congress a week ago Monday. Before Brookhart spoke, Senator Royal Copeland (Dem., N. Y.) introduced an amendment proposing that the old equalization fee system twice vetoed by President Coolidge be included in the administration bill. He said he did not wish to embarrass the bill but that he understood the debenture plan was to be eliminated by a vote of the senate and the bill -would be useless without some such project. THREE GET JAIL FOR GAMBLING Receive Stiff Fines; Judge Scores ‘Big Time’ Men.

Craps-shooting proclivities of three Indianapolis “big time” gamblers were interrupted today by jail sentences and fines imposed by Judge James A. Collins in Marion Criminal court. Found guilty of keeping a gaming house, Solly Epstein was fined $250 and sentenced to jail for thirty days. For visiting a gaming house, Sam Nedleson, alias Needles Nelson, and H. A. Burke, alias Burton, each received SSO fines and ten-day jail sentences. Judge Collins refused attorneys* pleas for suspension of the jail sentences. declaring with emphasis: “This is not going to be done, because the community must be rid of these men who make it their business to separate people from their money.” The t>ree were among the seventeen found in the Russell Avenue Athletic Club, 72613 Russell avenue, midnight Sept. 12. 1928, when Lieutenant Patrick O’Connor and squad raided the place. Epstein was nabbed as he ran for a rear door carrying two cigar boxes containing $1,409.15, a $42 check, dice and dice box, according to the testimony of officers. Epstein and Nedleson are expected to petition the court for return of the $1,499.15 held by Sheriff George L. Winkler. Marion Child Dies of Burns By United Press MARION, Ind.. April 24.—Donald Tusing, seven months old, died here today of burns received when an oil stove exploded in a room in which he had been placed while his parents were in another part of the house. Damage of $2,000 resulted from fire started by the explosion.

is, on the other hand, a mighty interesting story and clearly show’s the thankless task the police department faces, day in and day out. in the effort to enforce the traffic laws for the welfare of all. "There isn't a man or woman or child in this city who can not draw a lesson from this film. It is exceptionally well made and The Indianapolis Times is to be congratulated for evolving it.” “I read the articles in The Times and decided that I ought to join the Golden Rule Safety Club, so I dropped in to sign up,’’ declared James R. McNutt, vice-president of the Michigan Coin-Lock Company, as he signed the membership card. "This movement fills a long-felt want in the community and I am going to see 'The Penalty’ because cf the lesson it teaches without gruesomeness or preachment.”

Entered ss Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis

MURDER STARTS POLICE ROUNDUP OF GANGSTERS; MYSTERY SHROUDS DEATH

MILLION TO BE SPENT AT AIR MOTOR PLANT Allison Company Expansion Will Boost Number of Employes to 1,000. One million dollars will be spent for building and equipment to increase the number of employes of the Allison Engineering Company, Speedway City, to 1,000, Eddie V. Rickenbacker, who with associates purchased the company several weeks ago, announced today. The plan now employes less than 200 persons. Rickenbacker heads a syndicate which bought the plant for approximately $500,000 from the estate of the late James A. Alison. More Land Acquired The syndicate a few weeks ago bought eleven acres adjacent to the present plant and it was unofficially declared that the big development program was under way. The statement by Rickenbacker confirmed the report and added impetus to the movement to put Indianapolis prominently upon the air map of the nation. The Allison company hitherto has been concerned chiefly with experimental work on aviation motors. Rickenbacker announced that with the enlarged plant the production of airplane engines and superchargers will be the main activity. Air Center Predicted “I confidently expect Indianapolis to be one of the great air centers of the country,” said Rickenbacker.

The expenditures upon the Allison plant will represent the third million dollars Rickenbacker and his associates have invested in Indianapolis since they bought the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1927. Rickenbacker announced that N. H. Gilman will continue as president of the Allison company. JURY CALLS DUVALL Former Mayor to Appear Thursday. John L. Duvall, former mayor, has been sobpenaed to appear before the Marion county grand jury Thursday. This was learned today after It became known that the former mayor’s recent address in Cadle tabernacle has interested deputy prosecutors. It is reported that Duvall will be questioned about assertoins in this speech. Vinson H. Manifold, grand jury deputy, heard the address, but would not comment on whether the jury had called Duvall. SINGER SHUNS CONCERT Schumann-Heink Prefers Movie to Opera Star. By United Press ENID, Okla., April 24—When Madam Schumann-Heink has a “day off” she doesn’t like to spend it listening to soprano concerts, even if they are by leading artists. Stopping here, she shunned the concert of Cyrena Van Gordon, mezzo soprano star of the Chicago Civic Opera Company, for a movie. Madame Schumann-Heink was here en route from Wichita Falls, Tex., to Hutchinson, Kas.

I The more than 2,000 Boy Scouts in Marion county have been called into service by Scout Executive F. O. Be2zer to collect the thousands of membership cards. Executive Belzer declared that he was happy to have the Boy Scouts 1 join in such a worth-while movement. "Every motorist ..may give his membership card to any Boy Scout and the Scout will see that the card is delivered to The Times. "I am sponsoring a contest among the Scouts ,as to which one of the boys can obtain the largest number of membership cards.” Similar service has been volunteered by the Girl Scouts of the city and county who long have evidenced a sincere interest in safety. Miss Jean Adamson, director, said, i These boys and girls have an-

Slaying Victim

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George Lewis, 26, of 818 Union street, fatally shot in what police believe was a bootleggers’ quarrel Tuesday night.

TWO LIVES PAY FOR HIJACKING Liquor Thieves Are Slain With Ice Pick. By United Press

CLEVELAND, April 24.—Bodies of two slain men found in Brooklyn Heights village here early today were identified as Isadore Schiller, 46, and Morris Fuerstman 27, alleged hijackers. Both men had been stabbed with an ice pick, one of them having his eyes gouged out. The ice pick was found imbedded in the head of one. Police said Fuerstman was released about year ago from Atlanta federal prison. They said Schiller was paroled from Eastern penitentiary, Philadelphia. The pair was arrested a month ago on a hijacking charge after attempting to steal a truck load of liquor consigned to a Detroit bootleg gang. Samuel Abrahamson, Detroit professional bondsman, provided bond. Leaders of the bootleg gang censured Abrahamson and two weeks ago he was found slain. GLUE HAS NEW HEAD Hatfield Succeeds Dungan as Motor Group Chief. Frank D. Hatfield, president and treasurer of the Frank Hatfield Company, today succeeded James Duane Dungan, as president of the Hoosier Motor Club. Dungan's resignation, because of ill health, was announced Tuesday night at a farewell dinner for officers and directors of the motor club at the Indianapolis Athletic Club. His place on the board of directors will be filled by Robert H. Losey, president and general manager of the Losey-Nash Motor Company.

nounced their willingness to cooperate in the movement. "I wish that everybody would sign up as a member of the Golden Rule Safety Club, for then it would be much safer for the boys and girls on the street,” one child said. Throughout the nation the idea of the Golden Rule Safety Club has gained converts. Ex-President Calvin Coolidge is a member and with him many government officials. Value of such organization engaged in a humane work of such tremendous magnitude can not be estimated in dollars and cents. Won't you, be you motorist or pedestrian, join this club and save a life? It’s up to you—and you must make the decision. The coupon is on Page 18. SAVE LIVES BY JOINING THE GOLDEN RULE SAFETY CLUB. (Copyright. 1929, by The Times)

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George Lewis Was Victim of Bullet, Autopsy Reveals. FOUND NEAR HOSPITAL! One Suspect Arrested: Held in Solitary: Mum on Tragedy. Gangster gun play caused the death of George Lewis, 26, of 818 Union street, found wounded in an automobile in front of city hospital Tuesday night, police were convinced by new tacts uncovered today. The movements of two known gangs of rum runners and bootleggers were being traced, one associate of Lewis was sought, and another was under arrest in solitary confinement on a vagrancy charge, unable to provide $5,000 bond. Police believed that some story of gangster quarrel probably involving a case of hijacking, would be uncovered if they get to the bottom of the murder. Whether they would appear problematical, for the underworld clans met detectives with tightly closed lips. Death by Bullet It was not until Cornor C. H. Keever performed an autopsy this morning that it was discovered that Lewis had died of a bullet wound in his head, instead of from a blow from a blunt instrument, as the contusions on his head first indicated. The bullet was found buried in the skull. It had been fired from, either a .30 or .32-caliber highpowered rifle or automatic pistol. It was made by the Western Auto Cartridge Company of East Alton, 111. This slender clew was about as close as detectives had gotten to picking up a real trail to the murderer. Lewis’ movements of Tuesday gave the police little aid. His mother, Mrs. Frances Lewis, with whom he and his father, Alonzo, lived, said that she last saw him about 3 o’clock Tuesday afternoon. He came to the house then with a heavy set man and a child, neither of whom she recognized, stayed but a moment and drove away.

The mother said she knew little of her son’s movements while away from home. He was out of a job and seldom mentioned what he was doing. About 9 o'clock Tuesday night, Robert E. Kinneman, night switchboard operator at city hospital, received a telephone call from a male voice: “A man has been injured and is lying in his car in front of the hospital.” Kinneman ran out and found Lewis, unconscious. He died at 2:30 a. m. The car was not Lewis’. The license was issued to George McHenry, formerly of 1925 South Meridian street, who has been a pal of Lewis lately. Police still were searching for McHenry. Quizzing all Lewis’ known associates, detectives picked up Howard Harding, 31, Negro, 914 North Capitol avenue, who several weeks ago was arrested with Lewis in the same automobile in which Lewis v/as found. Lewis was fined $1 and sent to jail for a day for stealing license plates at that time. Harding would not talk much. He is the man held in a solitary cell. One factor which interested detectives was the story that Lewis formerly operated with a gang on the south side, but lately had shifted his allegiance to a group which hangs out around the 900 block of North Illinois street. The mystery was deepened by a report today from Mrs. Lewis, that while she was away last night someone ransacked her bedrooms, but apparently took nothing of value. Surviving Lewis, besides his parents are three brothers, Glen. Kenneth and Clovis, and two sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Hatfield and Mrs. Pearl Patton, all of Indianapolis. STREET REPAIRS RUSHED Two Gangs of IV rkmen Busy on Downtown Pavements. Two gangs of workmen under Edward Rochat. street repair superintendent, today rushed the repair of streets; in the -downtown district. Repairs are expected to be completed this week. After the business district is put ;n condition the workmen will start on the outlying districts. PULLMAN CHIEF DIES President of Company Since 1923 Passes at Age of 61. By United Press w CHICAGO, April 24.—Edward IL Carry, president of the Pullman Company since 1922, died of cerebral embolism today a r his home on the Gold Coast. Carry was 61 years old.