Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 158, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 November 1929 — Page 1

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MANLOVE OUT AS CHIEF OF MOTORCORPS Relieved of Authority by Highway Director as Probe Result. UNIT ALSO ABOLISHED Deposed Head of Transport Section Continues to Manage Garage. BY DANIEL M. KIDNEY Omer S. Manlove, chief of the Motor transport division of the state highway department, has been shorn of his authority and the motor transport division no longer exists as a separate unit of the department. Announcement of this change In department administration was made today by Director John J. Brown. Manlove and the motor transport division were the subject of a series of articles last August in The Indianapolis Times which disclosed departmental inefficiency costing taxpayers thousands of dollars. The entire division now has been transferred to the maintenance department. of which A. H. Hinkle is head. In all major matters, decision will be made at a conference between Hinkle and Brown, the latter asserted. Good Man on Job Manlove remains in charge of the garage and is not likely to be replaced at this time, the director declared. He stated that Manlove is doing a better job in this position than any previous holder of the berth. “This shift of the motor transport to the maintenance department was required tinder the appropriation act which became effective last month,” Brown explained. “I feel that, it is a good move in that the fewer departments we have, the less friction there will be. “Manlove is a good man with machinery and we are not going to replace him so long as he does his job as superintendent of the garage.” It is reported, however, that a change may be made and that Governor Harry G. Leslie has become interested in the matter. In 1927, the legislature appropriated $1,480,000 for biennial expenditures *of the motor transport division. In 1929, it included the division in the $4,400,000 annual appropriation made for the maintenance department. Cent Put on Tax This w r as done when Manlove and the motor transport division became the target of legislative attack and proved an obstacle in the effort to add another cent to the state gasoline tax by which the highway department largely is supported. The cent was added. The department also draws revenue from the sale of automobile licenses. With the Manlove demotion, a new r system of checking expenditures, both in the central garage here and the branches throughout the state, is being worked out under the direct supervision of Ross Teckmyer, field examiner for the state board of accounts. A complete inventory is being made for the first time in two years. Teckmyer was in charge of a group of garage employes working to complete the inventory when the place was closed Armistice day and election day. Million Dollar Value It is estimated that the stock value of parts and equipment for the highway motor fleet will total more than $1,000,000. Value of the motor transport fleet and garage equipment is estimated at between $5,000,000 and $6,000,000. The Central garage is equipped completely as an automobile factory, having straight-line production for making over motors. It is estimated that thousands of dollars can be saved by overhauling and repairing if efficiently carried out. Under the new system. Installed by Teckmyer, each motor is to be charged with the exact time and material consumed in repairing It and all stock will be invoiced annually. Under the old system, as disclosed by the “work-sheet." which never reached the highway director or the legislative committee which investigated highway departments costs, repairs mounted to high figure* on antiquated trucks and passenger cars. Maintenance Too Large Including tires, but not gas or oil. one year's maintenance on a Ford passenger car was found to reach $1,082 while the average was about $325 on some 300 Fords. One old Dodge, it was shown, cost the state $1,871 for repairs and maintenance in one year’s time. In the fiscal year which ended Oct. 1, 1928, $827,124 was spent on the repair and maintenance of the department’s motor equipment. Teckmyer also is fostering anew accounting system for the entire department which is meeting the hearty indorsement of Brown. ‘'We want to know exactly where we ere every day and we want the public to be able to find out,” Brown declared. x

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The Indianapolis Times Rain tonight, probably turning to snow Wednesday morning, and clearing by afternoon. Colder. Lowest temperature tonight near freezing.

VOLUME 41—NUMBER 158

Millions Are Lost in Stocks Bear Raid on Steel Causes Another Terriffic Setback: Sales Exceed Six Millions for Three-Hour Day. BY ELMER C. WALTZER United Pres* Financial Editor NEW YORK, Nov. 12.—The stock market, took another terrific setback today, prices tumbling down rapidly when a bear raid was started on United States Steel. Millions were chipped from the already impaired market values in the raid which started after there was some semblance of recovery coming back to the market. Trading was at another tremendous pitch, going at the rate of more than 6,000,000 shares for the three-hour day. Sales exclusive of odd lots amounted to 6,440,500 shares. Tickers Far Behind Tickers were running way behind at the close and traders had great difficulty attempting to find the exact quotations on the floor. The setback came to the market after what had appeared to be a, rally. Steel had eased down to within an eighth of -a point of its low and then had gone to 163 1 •>, up 6 points. Strength came in. Then came the bear .raid and steel shot down. It set anew low for the year at 15314. The entire market followed. From ISS’i the premier industrial see-sawed back and forth in bewildering rapidity. It rose to 157. A minute or two later tickers flashed 156. Then came 15514, 155, 154 in intervals of a few minutes. A few minutes before the close it was at 15414. Support Is Lacking As the final gong neared, the earlier gains from lows were being squeezed out, and support was lacking all around. New lows for the year were made in hundreds of stocks. Curb prices suffered with stocks on the big board. Chicago prices were forced down as much as 20 to 30 points, making up for lost time in cltsing Armistice day. Gains in Chicago broke abruptly and cotton at New York made new lows for -the • season, several positions getting below the 17-cent level. Much of today’s pressure started from further liquidation of poorly margined accounts. The largest accounts in the street were receiving careful scrutiny and loans were being reduced as prices sank. Wealthy traders were heaviest losers in today’s market.

SNOW IS PREDICTED Falling Temperatures to Bring White Blanket. The gloom sign was displayed prominently at the United States weather bureau here today as J. H. Armington, meteorologist, predicted that today's rain probably will turn to snow Wednesday morning. The condition will prevail generally over Indiana, he said. The thermometer, hovering above forty-five during the last three days, is expected to drop to near freezing tonight. Wednesday afternoon will see the snow clear away, Armington declared. VICTIM OF WRECK DIES Death List of Ponce de Leon Crash Is SweUed to Five. ifu United Preg ROCKWOOD, Tenn., Nov. 12. Death of John Russell, Mills Springs, N. C„ here today increased the fatalities from Monday’s wreck of the Southern Railway train Ponce de Leon to five. Russell died in a hospital. His skull had been fractured. BYRD TO HEAR MOTHER Explorer in Antarctio to Get Message Via Radio. Bv United Press NEW YORK. Nov. 12.—Commander Richard E. Byrd, now in the Antarctic with his expedition, will hear the voice of his mother Saturday night when she talkt to him from Richmond, Va„ over the fortnightlv Antarctic broadcast of Station WGY.

STORY CLEARING MOONEY OF BOMBING CONFIRMED

' Bn Vnitrti Prc* * WHEELING. W. Va„ Nov. 12. Confirming the story of his sister, Mrs. George Monroe of Shady Side, A. L. Jess Smith or Wheeling, a brother of Lewis Smith, declared today that Lewis had told him of | throwing the bomb into the San Francisco Preparedness day parade } for which Tom Mooney now is serving a life sentence in a California prison. Smith, a steel worker, declared that his brother had told him of two other bombings as well as the San Francisco affair and also of having bombed the Canadian government building in Montreal. Smith wrote a letter Monday night

FORMER CITY FACTORY HEAD BANK BANDIT "■ ■ ■■ William Ragan Confesses Attempting Holdup in Home Town. WOUNDED BY MARSHAL Former Indianapolis Man Held Good Position in Chicago. * Bu United Press .FISHER, 111., Nov. 12.—Home to the little town where he was born and trudged to grammar school came Billy Ragan, while'news of his asserted confession to an attempt to rob the Fisher State bank buzzed among the 700 men, women and children who live here. As William S. Ragan, superintendent of the Chicago branch plant of the Linde Air Products Company at a salary of more than S4OO a month, the former Fisher boy was looked up to as a model of what an industrious young man can accomplish by the time he is 36.

With him was his wife, Mrs. Madge Ragan, mother of their three children, suspected at first of being the v.’oman who went to the bank last Friday morning and asked questions about the town shortly before Ragan pushed a gun through the grill and demanded the bank’s money of Miss Cecile E. Cook and W. L. Davis, assistant cashiers. Ragan, suffering from a bullet wound in each thigh, inflicted when Town Marsha] C. R. Potts fired as he was passing the bank and saw the revolver in Ragan’s hand, was brought here from Champaign, following his removal from the House of Correction hospital in Chicago. It was there that he admitted the robbery attempt and a number of other robberies, Chicago police claimed. “Must Have Been Drunk” “I did it,” the Chicago officers told local authorities that Ragan admitted. “I must have been dfunk.” I’m in too much pain to tell any more now.” * • Folk *in Fisher who knew Billy Ragan as a boy could not conceive why he would come here to rob, perhaps to shoot them. Officials of the Linde Air Products Company, by whom Ragan had been employed for twelve years, equally were amazed.

They said he was an efficient and trusted employe and was in line to receive an increase in salary soon. That Ragan had taken $1,300 of the firm’s money, later repaying it, was revealed in his confession. Ragan sought to exonerate his wife of blame. He said he had left her at Danville. 111., at the home of a sister and driven on to Fisher Friday. He got here Friday evening and they went back to Chicago without his wife learning he had been shot, he said. Changed Car Plates Authorities were inclined to accept that as true. Suspicion was directed toward Ragan as the result of a forty-mile pursuit of the bank bandit’s automobile by Leslie R. Mitchell, school teacher. At Danvillle, Mitchell saw the fugitive change the license plates on his car. Those put on had been issued to Ragan when he lived in Indianapolis. Ragan was said to have gone to the Fisher bank twice for change before he attempted the holdup. Bank officials said he could have got but $2,000 had he been successful. Mrs. Ragan said she believed her husband earned but $275 a month, that he formerly had been a heavy drinker and that she doubted his constancy. The Ragans were married fifteen years ago. They have three daughters, 13, 11 and 9 years old. Model Neighbor Here William S. Ragan, 40, alleged Fisher dll.) bandit, formerly was manager of the Linde Air Products Company, 2919 Roosevelt avenue. He left here in March to become superintendent of the Chicago branch of the company. Neighbors of Ragan, when he resided at 4111 East Washington street, said he impressed them as a “model neighbor.” Ragan has been connected with the company eight years. He has a wife and three daughters of school age.

to William J. Quinn, chief of police of San Francisco, in which he tells of his brother’s confession to him. The statement of Smith is similar to that of his sister, Mrs. Monroe, made public last week. He describes his brother as a soldier of fortune, who left home when 15 years old. He states that Lewis was in the German secret service before the war and was a German spy during the war. Smith said hLs brother told him he was to receive SIO,OOO for the San Francisco bombing, but actually received less than $2,000. Three other men and a woman had a hand in the bombing, Smith said his brother told him.

INDIANAPOLIS, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1929

LIKE VARYING CONTOUR?

Beauticians Chase Age With Method

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In the upper left photo, Miss Alice Horner, 12 Bungalow court, Is getting all “hot-headed” about a new hair dryer. Upper right, Miss Hlen Ehrman, New York Qperator, is proving, with Ben Pickard, of Chicago, that men DO get permanent waves. In the

CHINESE ENVOY, WIFE TOPRISON Sentenced for Smuggling Opium Into U, S. Bv United Preen NANKING, China, Nov. 12.—Kao Ying, former Chinese vice-counsel at San Francisco, and his wife, found guilty of smuggling opium and laborers into the United States, were sentenced today to prison terms and fined $5 4 000. Kao was sentenced to serve seven years on the smuggling charge.and sixteen months additional on the charge of illegally bringing laborers into the United States. His wife was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. Suen Foon, chancellor of the consulate, was acquitted of complicity. Kao and his wife were arrested by customs officers in San Francisco last July, when Mrs. Kao’s baggage was found to contain $500,000 worth of opium, and it was discovered that she was bringing laborers into port in the guise of her personal servants. They were released by federal courts there when they promised to return for trial in China. NEVADA IS DETERMINED State to Fight California Unless Power Demands Are Met. By United Prre* WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.—Senator Pittman (Dem., Nev.) indicated today his state may seek cancellation by injunction of any contracts signed between the interior department and California interests for Boulder dam power, unless Nevada demands are met. Representatives of Nevada are insisting upon a provision in the contract that the state may withdraw smalls amounts of power than the eighteen originally specified by Secretary of Interior Wilbur and also that she be permitted to s;ll power outside the state. THAW TO PAY $25,000 Girl Who Won $75,000 Verdict Accepts Cut in Sum. By United Prree NEW YORK, Nov. 12.—Marcia Estardus Hoday filed an acceptance on Justice Aaron J. Levy’s verdict, reducing her damage award from Harry K. Thaw to $25,000. Miss Es tardus won a $75,000 verdict in supreme court two weeks ago, but Levy lowered the award last week.

circle, Miss Glendora Stingley, educational director of a Chicago electrical corporation, is displaying “The perfect wave.” Below, Miss Kittle Costello, 1050 Church street, is giving Miss Dorothy Leßrac, 1620 Raymond street, a beauty treatment on the new “facial couch.”

BY ELDORA FIELD If every lady in Indianapolis shortly turns into a near-Hollywood beauty, it need surprise no one. For that matter, Indianapolis men may also take heart. At the second annual convention and trade show of the State Society of Cosmetologists and Hairdressers, which opened Monday at the Claypool, more than 500 beauty operators are demonstrating haw Your straight hair can crinkle, your last year’s complexion can take on this season’s tints and the general appearance of your grandmother's face can be made to resemble your baby sister’s. Changes Lines Contouration, changing the outline of form of the face, is the very last triumph in beauty culture, by the way. “Women have long known how to avoid wrinkles, and wonders have been done for the skin and hair, but these youthful effects often have been counteracted by an aging contour,” said Mrs. Mary Ristine, Terre Haute, state president. “The new contouration work—it is molding with oil and electric pressure, and not plastic surgery—will be revolutionizing in beauty culture.” A constant question at the beauty convention is: "What’s the latest conclusion about bobbed hair?” “We’re in for long hair coiffures because of the new trailing skirts, which fairly demand long l>air,” said Mrs. Ristine. “But mark me. both are a fad. By spring, ‘back to the bobs’ will be the battle cry of beauty.” Men Seek Beauty Men, in appallingly increasing numbers, are trying to get beautiful, beauty operators concede. “Why, only last week in Chicago, I saw a husky motorcycle policeman in uniform, calmly getting a permanent wave,” volunteered Ben Pickard, a visitor from the Windy City, who indicated the influence of example by himself annexing a permanent. with Miss Helen Ehrman, New York, as operator. Among the exhibits at the show are a facial couch, whereon the customer can take a nap while being beautified; a hair machine which fits like a hood, drying all parts of the head simultaneously; anew permanent waving apparatus, with no overhead attachment, so the customer can walk about, or even dance, while acquiring curly hair. Today’s program at the show included lectures and demonstrations. A banquet and dance will be held in the Chateau room tonight. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 45 10 a. m 54 7a. m 46 11 a. m 63 8 a. m 47 12 (noon).. 64 Ba. m 50 Ip. m..... 68

M’MANUS TRIAL IS POSTPONED ill Witness Is Cause of Delay Until Nov. 18. Bu United Press COURTROOM, NEW YORK, Nov. 12.—The effort to try big George McManus on a charge of murdering Arnold Rothstein encountered obstacles today and ordered postponed until No. 18, after one juror was. sworn. Illness of Titanic Thompson, one of the picturesque gamblers expected among the array of witnesses. caused the postponement. He is in a Milwaukee hospital. George McManus, associate of Rothstein, was called for trial accused of having been Rothstein’s killer. He was arrested nearly a year ago and now is the only man held in connection with the murder which has figured so largely in New York affairs for the last fifty-f ree weeks. With Judge Charles C. Nott, presiding, the scene qf the case is in the same courtroom where Police Lieutenant Charles Becker was tried years ago for the murder of Herman Rosenthal, gambler, whose successor Rothstein, in a way, came to be. The theory of the state was believed to rest upon a claim that the defendant actually shot Rothstein after he had joined others of New York’s sporting fraternity in an effort to collect a $300,000 gambling debt Rothstein allegedly had refused to pay.

LINK CURTIS TO NEGRO INVASION OF CONGRESS

By United Preen "Washington Nov. 12. —Plans for election of Negro Democrats to congress from St. Louis, Chicago and New York were discussed with VicePresident Curtis, by James A. Arnold, vice-president of the Southern Tariff Association, letters uncovered by the senate lobby investigating committee today indicated. The proposal to elect Negro congressmen was part of a general plan outlined in documents found by committee investigators in Arnold's office to organize a “southern Republican council’’ to hold the gains made by the Republican part yin the south in the last election. Arnold’s alleged visit to Curtis

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GENE ALGER MAKES OFFER TO PLEAD GUILTY IF WIFE IS ALLOWED TO GO FREE Statement Is Made After Hours of Quizzing* by State Policeman Carl Losey; Held Behind Bars at Vernon After Capture. BRANDED AS PARIS CROSSING BANDIT, Employes of Bank Name Slayer of Indian* ” apolis Policeman as Man Who Looted Till; Abandoned Car in Forest Reservation. Willingness to plead guilty and go to prison “if my wife is not prosecuted,” was expressed today by Gene Alger, 21-year-old Indianapolis parole violator and alleged bank bandit, after hours of questioning by Jennings county authorities and Carl Losey, state policeman, at Vernon, Ind. Alger, his wife Josephine and his brother Gail, 17, and the latter’s wife, are held in Vernon following their arrest Monday afternoon in Clark county after a four-hour auto chase by a sheriff’s posse. In a five-page statement, Alger said he would plead guilty to robbing the Paris Crossing State bank Aug. 15, when he is alleged to have scooped $750 from the cashier * cage, if “you will not prosecute my wife.”

Losey said he informed Alger there is no chance for his wife to escape trial at Vernon for alleged complicity in the Paris Crossing robbery. She is alleged to have waited in her car for her husband while he robbed C. W. Lowry, cashier. Alger’s statement was made after he had been brought to Vernon from Jeffersonville, where he and his wife and brother and sister-in-law were taken after the capture. Immediately on arrival In Vernon, Lowry and other bank attaches identified Alger as the bandit. In his statement, Alger told of his departure from Indianapolis on Aug. 16, saying he w'ent to Louisville, where he won money gambling. From there, according to the statement, he and his wife went to Detroit and then to Nanton, Canada, but relatives of his wife refused to allow them to remain there. Associated With Bootleggers Alger’s statement said he and his wife then returned to the United States and went to Chicago, where he was associated with “Bill Ryan, the bootlegger, one of A1 Capone’s old gang,” for whom he worked. He said he bought the auto, which police claim is a “hot car,” from Ryan. Alger stated he had been in Indianapolis twice since the hunt for him was started. Alger made no admission of thefts or bank robbing in his statement to Losey. “All I’ve got to say is that if you’ll let my wife go, I’ll plead guilty for the Paris Crossing bank stickup,” Losey declared Alger said. Alger is charged with bank robbery, auto banditry and commission of a crime while armed. His wife is charged with auto banditry. Alger is under $15,000 bond and his wife under SIO,OOO. Gail and his wife are held without bond, pending investigation. Governor Harry G. Leslie, who, in May, granted Gene Alger a reformatory parole on a two to twen-ty-one year manslaughter sentence, today said he was undecided as to what action he may take. However, it was said by Carl Losey, state policeman, who is questioning the Algers at Vernon, that Gene and Mrs. Alger will be tried there. If onvicted, the parole violation term could be added to the other sentence, and if not convicted, Governor Leslie then could return Alger to the state prison on the parole violation. Fire on Roadster Capture of the Algers Monday was the climax of a four-hour auto chase through the hills and over muddy roads of southern Indiana, during which Clark county authorities fired once on the Stutz roadster the Algers were driving. According to Sheriff Hal Hughes of Clark county. Gene Alger, his brother and their wives stopped at

was described in a letter he wrote to a co-worker, Vance Muse. The letter follows in part: “I went with the darkey today to see Vice-President Curtis and he thought well of our Negro congressman idea, but said it was a matter that should be taken up with Mr. Hoover, and that he would talk with Hoover about it.” The letter said Curtis tho.ught the solution of the Negro problem was to get “a better ilne of Negroes” to lead in the south. “But our line of apporach is more acceptable to politicians and to Negroes of equalizing by blackening the Democratic party than by whitening the Republican party,” Arnold wrote.

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the Diedrich service station at Henryville, shortly before noon Monday. After buying gas. Gene Alger stepped from the car and his brother started the motor. For several minutes Gene conversed with persons at the filling station and attendants became suspicious. A phone call was made to Hughes and the Algers fled. The chase ended when deputy sheriffs and members of a posse, hurriedly assembled, found th roadster at the entrance to a fores preserve, about thirty miles fron Henryville. The Algers were hid den in a barn, but offered no resistance to arrest. Pistol Found in Car A .45-caliber automatic pistol wa found in the car. Inspection dis closed that the motor of the ca had become overheated and "froze, 1 forcing its occupants to abandon Jtj After being taken to the Clark county jail at Jeffersonville, Mrs. Gene Alger was visited by her sister Haze], 14. Mrs. Alger’s parents livft in Jeffersonville. “It’s all right, Hazel,” Mrs. Alge! told her sister. The sister was followed to the jail by her mother. When reporters reached the jai later Monday, authorities would no> permit interviews with Gail or Gen< Alger and the latter’s wife refusec to talk. To each question asked. Mrs Gene Alger, replied. “I don’t know.* Mrs. Gail Alger, however, admitted she had been hailed on ar Indianapolis street by Gene and his wife Monday morning, but would not give any indication as to how her husband happened to be in the car. She declared she was going to work when she met Gene and his wife. Booze Hauling Alleged She said they started out for ft drive and she did not know the plans of the group unless they intended to meet Mrs. Gene Alger’s relatives at Jeffersonville. The car in which the /* - ...re riding is said to ha’'- ween stolen last week from A. Jobinka, at Riverside, 111. Jobinka will come to Jeffersonville to claim the car, Sheriff Hughes said. Alger first appeared on the criminal horizon in 1926, when, as a Butler university student, he shot and killed John Buchanan, Negro policeman, after a running gun battle in the Indianapolis downtown district* Buchanan discovered Alger in an attempt to steal an auto at New York and Ilinois streets. He chased Alger to a North Capitol avenue hotel, where the youth barricaded himself in a room and then shot Buchanan as the latter attempted to break in the door.

Alger was tried and convicted of manslaughter and given a two to twenty-one year sentence in the state reformatory on a manslaughter verdict at Danville, Ind. Ha was paroled by Governor Lesha after having served his minimum sentence. Then came successful holdups of banks at Matthews State bank, near Marlon; Summitville, Gaston and Lafontaine, within the last few weeks, Alger is alleged to have been involved in these, the loot of which amounted to about $3,000. Gari E. Alger, 409 North Walcott street, father of the youths, said ha ‘was not sorry the boy was caught,” following the arrest. Mrs. Alger did not discuss the situation, but said she could not understand how “Gail happened to be with him.” . Gail Alger is under SI,OOO bond In criminal court on a vehicle taking charge. The trial date has not been set. Gail was arrested with Lowell Edwards, 450 North Walcott street, for the alleged theft of an auto from Lester M. Rhoades, 2020 , Brookside parkway. He and Ed- ' wards pleaded not guilty when arraigned July 1. Tokio College Head Dies Bu Prntt TOKIO, Nov. 12.—Court Councillor Yonekichi Miyake, president of Tokio University of Literature and Science, died here today. His funeral will be held Thursday under auspices of the Buddhist church,