Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 185, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 December 1929 — Page 1

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SENATE SEATS GRUNDY; READY TO SLASH TAX Rancor Manifest in Debate as Pennsylvania Solon Is Sworn. DEMOCRATS UNOPPOSED Couzens’ Move for Cut in Capita! Gains Levy to Slow Enactment. BULLETIN WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.—An indication of strength favorable to the administration tax bill in the senate was given when that body voted, 60 to 15, today to keep the measure before the senate. BY PAUL R. MALLON United Press Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.—The new senator, Joseph R Grundy (Rep., Pa.), moved into the Capitol today from his downtown tariff headquarters as the senate laid aside the tariff bill temporarily to pass the house $160,000,000 tax reduction resolution. Debate on the Couzens amendment proposing a reduction of from 1214 to 10 per cent in the capital gains tax may prevent final enactment of the resolution before adjournment tonight, but the leaders are confident of adoption Saturday. They plan no change in the simple resolution of the house lowering individual and corporation taxes by 1 per cent all along the line. They expect to send the measure to the White House for signature as soon as it has passed the senate.

Bitterness in Debate It was with obvious relief the senate turned to a bill upon which it is almost unanimous, after the hectic tariff sessions of recent days and the bitterness manifest Thursday in the debate before Senator Grundy was sworn. The Grundy case was accepted as a closed matter, except that the presence of ‘‘the granddaddy of all lobbyists” is expected to arouse spectacular senate debates. No untoward action against Grundy is expected from the reference of a resolution proposing to oust him, which was sent to the privileges and elections committee. Tire committee undoubtedly will report Grundy’s credentials were authentic and he will be permitted to continue in his seat. Even some of Grundy’s political enemies appeared glad to see him The defense of his right to a seat came mostly from Democrats, and Denv winor Leader Robinson refer. „ “an. amiable gentleman.” Insult to Senate Senator Wheeler (Dem., Mont.) said his appointment was an insult to the senate and the country. and Senator Norris (Rep.. Neb.) said it created a “stench in the nostrils of decent citizens.” Frequent reference was made to Grundy’s attacks upon western states as “backward commonwealths” and Senator Blease (Dem., S. C.) sought to infer the political associate of Secretary of the Treasury Mellon were not eager to seat Grundy's unsuccessful predecessor, William S. Vare, because, in reality, they wanted Grundy. The 66-vear-old legislative agent for the Pennsylvania manufacturers’ association is not thin-skinned and he stood the barrage of criticism with a smile on his ruddy face, as if to say: “Well, I’m here.” HOOVER IN SUGAR QUIZ Friendship of Cuban Firm Official Cited at Tariff Session. Bn l nit id Prexs WASHINGTON. Dec. 13. —The friendship of Edwin P. Shattuck. employe of the Cuba Company, for President Hoover was the “strongest weapon" of American sugar interests In Cuba in their campaign against a higher sugar tariff, the senate lobby inquiry was told today. The disclosure came in a letter from Herbert C. Lakin. to President Machado of Cuba.

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Complete Wire Reports of UNITED PRESS, Tfie Greatest World-Wide News Service

The Indianapolis Times Unsettled tonight and Saturday, with rain and snow; colder Saturday morning, near freezing; below freezing Saturday night.

VOLUME 41—NUMBER 185

Cole and Rain H'l T'nitrfl Prrftn WASHINGTON. Dec. 13. The capital chuckled today over published reports of a street car incident that sent Senator Cole Blease fDem., S. C.), plodding through the rain to his hotel. The car was crowded. As he approached his hotel the senator pressed on the stop buzzer. A number of passengers surged toward the door. Before Blease could reach It the car had started. The fiery South Carolinian thereupon demanded the car be placed in reverse. It was raining hard. The motorman said “no.” “I told him I was Senator Blease,” the senator said today. The motorman still said “no.” The car stopped. Blease walked.

MERCURY TO START SHARP . SLIDE TODAY Temperature Down to 10 Below Freezing Is Predicted. A steady decline in temperature from a high tmark of 61 degrees at 7 a. m. today to probably ten or twelve degrees below freezing by Saturday night was forecast by J. H. Armington, meteorologist, this morning. Rain, changing to snow Saturday, was predicted with the colder weather. For two days, Indianapolis was enveloped by dense smog, under which the thermometers soared almost 30 degrees above seasonal normal, Saturday’s temperature decrease will not approach a cold wave, Armington said, and probably will not be accompanied by thermometer readings below 25 degrees. Upstate points today reported temperatures 20 below those in this city, while cities along the Ohio river were from two to five degrees colder than Indianapolis.

URGE LUXURY TAX FOR SCHOOLS AID

Special Session of State Legislature Also Is Recommended. BY BEN STERN, Time* Staff Correspondent SHOALS, Ind., Dec. 13.—A special session of the legislature was urged and two measures for relief of bankrupt Southern Indiana schools proposed at a conference here today of county school superintendents and trustees. Legislative proposals were: A bill to place all Indiana schools in one special unit for taxation. A bill creating a luxury tax to raise the $1,000,000 needed immediately to provide state aid for schools in poverty-stricken counties. More than 150 superintendents and trustees heard the plan and gave their approval. Fifteen Deep In Debt A report made at the conference showed fifteen counties in southern Indiana are SBOO,OO Oin debt, $85,000 of which is owed teachers in back pay. The unified effort for relief of the schools will be fostered by the Southern Indiana Superintendents’ Club, organized at today’s meeting. Ortha O. Hall, Lawrence county school superintendent, waa elected secretary of the club. The president will be the superintendent of the county in which the club holds meetings. Carl Gray, state senator of Petersburg, and Representative Fabius Gwin of Shoals, spoke at today’s sessions and outlined plans for relief. Both are Democrats. Urges Luxury Tax Senator Gray declared a luxury tax would yield up to $20,000,000 annually. and estimated the division as $3,000,000 from a tax on tobacco, $5.000.000 from new car sales, and $12,000,000 from taxes on radio, cosmetics and soft drinks. “With these taxes Indiana would be able to advance from eighteenth to first place in its schools,” he asserted. He called attention to the large sums spent for penal institutions and declared the state should make good citizens through education. Shepherd Whitcomb, Jennings county school superintendent, declared conditions in Jennings county are “appalling.” “Our teachers are looking for other places and I know that unless some provision is made for raising funds, we will not be able to open many schools next year,” he said. “Mortgages have been foreclosed on sixty farms in our county during the last year. The school enumeration has shrunk from the 6,600 of fifty years ago to barely 3,100. Onethird of the land is producing nothing, not even poll taxes.”

POLICE AFTER FARMHAND IN CLUBMURDER Officers From Muncie Go to Kentucky, Seeking Alleged Slayer. SEEN WINDOW PEEPING Investigation Hindered by Reticence of Elderly Pair’s Relatives. Bv Times Snccial ‘ MUNCIE, Dec. 13. Delaware county and Muncie officers are in Kentucky today with a warrant for the arrest of a man believed to have murdered George Heath, 80, and his wife Elizabeth, 62, in their farm home four miles south of here. The wanted man was employed until a few weeks ago on the Heath farm. It is believed revenge was his motive, but it has not been disclosed what caused him to have that attitude. Tuesday night the man appeared at the home of Jason Reese, a neighbor of the Heaths, and is said to have acted strangely. Mrs. Reese noticed him peering through the window. She called her husband, who seized the prowler. He complained to Roose, saying he had been at the Heath home and that a German police dog kept there had chased him. He wanted. Reese to call the Heaths by phone and tell them about the dog. Investigation at the murder scofie authorities declare, indicates that the killer was acquainted with the premises and was friendly with the dog. Apparently the man was able to execute the crime without any interference from the dog. There also is some indications that robbery accounts in part for the murder. A watch belonging to Mr. Heath was found in the front yard of the home. Relatives of the couple prevented photographers from taking pictures at the scene of the tragedy, and were reticent in discussing family affairs.

COOPER SIGNS PAPERS Ohio Governor Agrees to Extradition of Gas City Suspect. COLUMBUS, 0.. Dec. 13.—Extradition papers for the return to Gas City, Ind., of Joseph White, wanted in a SIO,OOO pay roll robbery, were signed today by Governor Myers Y. Cooper. White was arrested at St. Clairsville, 0., with William King and Joe Saracino. The latter two waived extradition. OOHENY’S TRIAL SET March 10 Date for Hearing on Alleged Bribery. Bit United Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.—Edward H. Doheny, multimillionaire California oil man, will go on trial here March 10 on bribery charges growing out of the Elk Hill oil leases. The date was set by Justice William Hitz of district supreme court, the judge in whose court former Interior Secretary Albert B. Fall recently was convicted of accepting a bribe in connection with the same transaction. Doheny specifically is charged with having given his friend, Fall, a bribe of SIOO,OOO to induce favorable leasing of the Elk Hills reserve to a Doheny company. Fall is free on bond pending an appeal of his aentence of one year in jail and a fine of SIOO,OOO. PREMIER STANDS FIRM Denies Rumor of Determination Not to Boost Newsprint Price. By United Press QUEBEC, Dec. 13.—Premier Taschereau of Quebec denied today published reports claiming that as a result of Canadian newsprint makers’ informal conferences with him, it had been determined not to increase newsprint prices sot 1930.

There’s Two Sides to This Friday 13th Luck

Bn Unit'd Press /'-’VSSINING, N. Y., Dec. 13. Frederick W. Edel, convicted as the murderer of Mrs. Emeline Harrington in New York, is positive that Friday the 13th is his lucky day. Just fifty minutes before he was scheduled to begin the death march to Sing Sing’s death chair, Warden Lewis E. Lawes notified him that Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt had granted a reprieve until Dec. 30.

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1929

It May Be an Arid Christmas, at That

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This isn’t a weather map, but it forecasts a more or less wet Christmas season for the United States, showing just where the holiday liquor is coming from. An area of high pressure moonshining extends over the Ohio river and Mississippi valley sections; heavy moisture (not rainfall, however), is reported approaching the Atlantic coast; an area of beet sugar

LICENSE PLATES ON SALE DEC. 16 Fifield Defends System of State Purchasing. Announcing that automobile license plates for 1930 will go on sale Dec. 16 and urging early buying to avoid the rush, Otto G. Fifield, secretary of state, today defended action of his department in purchasing license plates without competitive bids. An article in The Times showing no bids were advertised for the license plates caused state-wide criticism of the procedure. Secretary Fifield defended his department with the statement that the state is getting plates at lower cost than any other state having plates of similar description. The 1930 license plates, Secretary Fifield said, were manufactured by the National Colortype Company of Lawrenceburg, Ind., and cost 8 cents a pair and 5 cents for single plates for trucks, trailers and sub-trailers. Secretary Fifield declared other states pay from 12 to 22 cents a pair for similar plates, with the lowest price for any state outside Indiana 10 Vt cents. While bids were not asked, competitive prices were compared, Fifield says. The new plates are blue and gold, the state colors, letters being in gold on a blue background. The state will use approximately 925,000 pairs, which necessitate the use of 462 tons of metal and sixty barrels of enamel. Distribution will be through the license bureau and its branches over the state. SCORES ARE ARRESTED Nationalist Mine Strikers Taken Into Custody by Troopers. Bv United Press TAYLORVILLE, IIL, Dec. 13. Scores of Nationalist mine strikers and sympathizers were arrested in the Central Illinois coal fields today on warrants charging them with disorderly conduct and attempting to incite rioting. By a ruse, forty were arrested at Nokomis when 100 strikers accompanied by 200 sympathizers, many of them women, descended on several mines which employ about 1,000 men. Twenty-three more strikers and sympathizers, sixteen of them women, were arrested at Bulpitt, 111., and brought here by national guardsmen. MENINGITIS IS GAINING Fifth Case of Disease in City Is Reported to Dr. Morgan. The fifth case of spinal meningitis in the city was reported today to Dr. Herman G. Morgan, city health commisisoner. Leroy Thomas, 18, of 2069 Boulevard place, is critically ill from the malady. There have been four deaths in the past week, three children and one adult. The health department is using every precaution against spread of the disease.

Bn United Press SAN QUENTIN PRISON, Cal, Dec. 13.—Two convicted murderers were to be hanged together on the gallows here today—Friday the 13th. They were George Costello and Antone Negra. Their execution will be the first double hanging in the history of the prison. Costello was sentenced for the murder of an Oakland bank teller, and Negra for the murder of his partner and brother-in-law.

whisky is observed in the Rocky mountain region storm warnings have been hoisted along the Pacific coast against rum runners from Mexico; and a cold wave, featured by ingredients for ice-capped mint juleps, is blowing down from Canada. With the gigantic raid staged in Indiana today, however, the Christmas temperature in the middle west may be quite clear and dry.

Huge Indiana Raid May Make Dr. Doran a Prophet of Note. Bit NBA Bon ier WASHINGTON. Dec. 13.—T>'erc will be plenty of liquor available for the Christmas holidays, but not quite as much as heretofore. And there will be less pre-war or imported stuff than ever. That is the Yuletide prediction of Dr. James M. Doran, United States prohibition commissioner. The tremendous raid staged in Vermillion county, Indiana, today may make Dr. Doran quite a successful prognosticator, 44,000 gallons of mash, probably intended to be Yuletide joy, being seized. It’s a Problem No one knows how much liquor will be consumed in the United States during the But it appears as if there ought to be at least a drink of whisky or gin, or a glass of wine or a pint of beer for every adult citizen in the country. Possibly several. Students of prohibition agree that there probably will be as much liquor unseized and available during the holiday season as federal prohibition agents seized last year. Some think a lot more. But assuming that it’s about the same, that would make 73,000,000 glasses of spirits whisky, gin, brandy and alcohol; 23,300,000 pints of beer and about 3,500,000 glasses of wine. It’s Kept Quiet Is there any town in the country where a man can’t get a drink? Dr. Doran says there undoubtedly are some such places, but no one seems to know just where they are. Those who can afford to pay the higher prices will get the imported liquor, while those not so prosperous will drink up the bulk of the moonshine product.

NEW STRIKE OF NURSES REPORTED

A strike of all student nurses in Indiana Christian hospital, settled temporarily earlier in the week, was reported today to have broken out KILLER CAPTURED Slayer of Two Is Arrested at Newport, Ky. Bv United Press NEWPORT, Ky.. Dec. 13.—John Gann, 40, who shot and killed his estranged wife, Catherine, and her stepfather, Richard Price, at Charleston, W. Va., shortly after midnight, was captured aboard a C. & O. passenger train here today. WILL' HAYS GETS SNUB Movie Czar and Aid Dropped From Church, Drama Group. Bv United Press .... __ NEW YORK, Dec. 13.—Will H. Hays and Carl E. Milliken, president and secretary respectively of the Motion Picture Producers of America, no longer are on the board of directors of the church and drama association: The Rev. George Reid Andrews, executive secretary of the association, said “it was deemed wise not to have representatives of the motion picture industry on the board of directors, so a committee appointed to look into the matter decided six months ago that it would be best not to re-elect Mr. Hays and Mr. Milliken to the board.” Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m.... 60 10 a. m 60 7 a. m.... 61 11 a. m..... 61 8 a. m.... 60 12 noon .... 61 Ba. m.... 59 ip, m..... 60

Xtitered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis

DUSHANE ACTING SCHOOLS HEAD Columbus Man Is Appointed to Temporary Job. Acting on mysterious “information” that Donald DuShane, Columbus (Ind.) school superintendent, would accept the Indianapolis superintendency, the school board in executive session today named DuShane acting superintendent. The board Tuesday night, in executive session, attempted to name DuShane permanent superintendent to succeed Charles F. Miller, who was dismissed, but later found such action could not be taken until the next regular meeting, Dec. 31. DuShane told reporters Thursday he did not intend lo accept. The board is expected to make the appointment regular Dec. 31. Attempt of Mrs. Lillian V. Sedwick to rescind the dismissal of Miller and permit him to resign, failed. It was reported the plan of naming Miller acting superintendent was considered. Miller was present outside the board room during the session and when Ross Teckmeyer, state board of accounts field examiner, who previously had been in conference with the old majority faction members and later with Miller, called Lewis F. Whiteman to the door, Miller started into the board room, retiring a moment later. It was reported following the session that Whiteman told the board he had positive information DuShane would accept the post. When asked for details, Whiteman told reporters he had based his information on the fact DuShane had not rejected the offer.

anew as the result of an alleged broken agreement by hospital authorities. Grievances against three subexecutives, pent up for several months, is understood to have been the cause of the walkout Tuesday morning. Meeting with a committee of hospital heads, led by Charles Young, superintendent, an agreement is said to have been reached whereby the strike was ended, provided the grievances against the sub-executives were settled by Saturday. None of the students would be discharged, the agreement stiplated. Thursday night the directors of the hospital are alleged to have attempted to call the students singly for questioning before one of the board’s sessions. After the first girl refused to answer questions except in the presence of the other students, five girls were discharged, according to one informant. The three sub-executives are said to have locked themselves in their rooms. The strike has the support of the alumni nurses of the hospital training school, it was learned today.

Girl, 6, Battles Storm to Get Aid for Mother

By United Press CHINOOK, Mont., Dec. 13. An unsung little heroine lay on a hospital cot today, while physicians battled against the necessity of amputating her feet. Six-year-old Agnes Hundley's love for her mother, a widow, seriously ill at her home near

SMASH GIANT STATE BOOZE RING IN RAID 44,000 Gallons of Mash Confiscated in Drive Staged by Federal Officers on Huge Illicit Distilling Stronghold. SIX MEN ARE CAPTURED IN ATTACK Dry Agents Creep Through Vermillion County ‘Jungles’ to Strike at One of Largest Liquor Plants in Nation. BY HEZE CLARK Times Staff Correspondent TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Dec. 13.—The tale of a budding 1 gang reign of terror that threatened to rival the history of Illinois’ Sheltons and “bloody Herrin” was poured into the ears of federal dry agents here today by gangsters and Vermillion county farmers, twenty-five miles north of this city. Early this morning a squad of prohibition agents and special deputies crept through Vermillion county “jungles” to strike at one of the largest illicit liquor manufacturing points uncovered in the United States, and the largest found in Indiana since prohibition. The raiders took possession of an intricate distillery, equipment of which was estimated to have cost more than $30,000, and confiscated 44,000 gallons of mash and a small

amount of whisky. They arrested two men operating the still, four others who attempted to deliver 10,000 pounds of sugar for the day’s whisky run, and summoned farmers of the vicinity for questioning concerning a liquor ring said to involve not only nationally known gangsters and racketeers, but influential business men of western Indiana towns. From the farmers, John W. Wilkey, recently appointed deputy prohibition administrator in Indiana, and his aids heard of terrorization practiced by agents of the giant booze ring. 880 Gallons Daily From those tfnder arrest they learned that for more than two months the big still turned out 880 gallons of whisky daily. During the same period, J. D. Sturm, Dana (Ind.) farmer, was paid SIOO weekly rental for a small farm on which the plant was located, the dry agents were told. Thursday a shipment of several thpusand gallons of whisky drained the supply of finished product, the operators of the still confessed. Lon Clearwater, a farmer living near the Sturm farm, was the first to relate the inroads of the liquor industry in Vermillion county rural districts. “About six weeks ago,” he told Wilkey, “two fellows came to my farm. Without any provocation one of them put a big gun on me, and said:

‘Put on Spot!’ ‘“You dare snitch, and we’ll put you on the spot!’ * Yeah, you just dare squeal on us,’ the other said. He struck me across the face.” Grant Kearns, school bus driver, also a neighbor, told Wilkey that almost three months ago two welldressed men approached a truck driver working for him, and asked that a road be graveled from the main highway back through a valley to the bam. The road was begun, but never completed. A mule team and wagon were used to haul the whisky from the still to the highway. Wilkey said he would question Sturm, Carl Snodgrass, an employe of Sturm, and several others living in the locality near the still. The dry agents and their prisoners left Terre Haute for Indianapolis shortly after noon. Thomas Crone, 24, Clinton, and Joe Prohoska, 49, Shepardland, Ind., were surprised at 3:15 a, m. in the barn that hid the still, located in a valley one and one-half miles north of state road No. 36, several miles west of this city. While the raid was in progress four other men,, were captured by deputy sheriffs from Indianapolis, sworn in as federal officers in the emergency. They gave names of Angelo Steffam, 24; Theodore Choleva, 26; William Choleva, 20, and Albert Moore, 22, all of Clinton. They were charged with conspiracy, and taken, to Terre Haute jail. Another automobile load of men,

Clear Creek, caused her to face a blinding snowstorm, without shoes or stockings, to bring her aid. Near exhaustion from the intense cold and snow, the child reached a neighbor’s home nu aid was sent to the siek mother. But Agnes, her feet frozen, was removed to a hospital.

HOME

TWO CENTS

Wrong Mule Creeping through the early morning darkness to surprise operators of the huge still in Vermillion county early today, Deputy Sheriff Ollie Mays was the first to reach the barn in which it was housed. He flung open the door, and rushed inside, almost colliding with a pair of mules used to haul booze from the still to the main highway. They were black as the night. “Heck,” he shouted, “I’m looking for white mule, not a black one.” Then he discovered their names were Tom and Jerry.

believed members of the gang, who drove to the point where the raiders left their automobiles to seek the still, and then turned and fled, were pursued between here and Clinton by a patrol of deputies, but escaped. Wilkey Leads Raid Sworn in by United States Attorney George R. Jeffrey, who accompanied the squad, were Sheriff | George Winkler and sheriff's ! deputies, Ollie Mays, Ernest Crick- ! more, Harry Kramer, Harvey Shipp i and Jack Lindsey, all of Marion county. Federal Agents Charles Rukes. A. W. Donahue and Harry Upchurch completed the party. The still, which Sheriff Winkler, formerly a federal dry agent, said was the largest and most complete I he ever had seen, for more than [ two months had turned out 880 gallons of whisky 7 daily. It was steam-operated, with eleven tanks, total capacity of which was 750 barrels. ranged along the walls of the big barn. It was located on a farm owned by J. D. Sturm, Illinois farmer. Two other smaller stills in the vicinity were visited by the squad before raiding the master liquor factory, but at each nothing but a small amount of mash was discovered. Wilkey said he believed operators had been tipped off.

Cut Signal String Leaving their autos in a grove off the highway, the raider* crept through underbrush and tall grass to within a few hundred yards of the barn, where Deputy Mays, creeping in advance of the others, found a signal string. The thread was stretched for more than a quarter of a mile around the site of the still. He cut it and the party surrounded the barn. In it they found Crone asleep and Prohoska attending cooking the mash. Gigantic proportions of the apparatus had forced the operators to build an additional story on the barn. A huge boiler, copper condensers and coolers were stored there. The cracks of the barn were stuffed with sacks. Guards Around Barn Indiana licenses on the two sugar trucks were issued Jan. 31, 1929, on Graham & Graham panel trucks, to a person whose name, as signed, was Marin Bonacom, 707 North Ninth street, Clinton, according to state auto registration lists. The name on the registration cards was typed “Bonacorsi,” however. Guards were stationed around the barn and at the entrance of the lane leading through the valley, to keep out curious persons. Several auto loads appeared early today as ; rumors of the raid spread through the countryside. j With main highways leading | from Vermillion county to Chicago, Wilkey said he thought much of the i finished product was diverted to the Illinois metropolis. “We did not get the higher-ups, Wilkey said. “However, we smashgaj the ring, and I think there wilL|gw| developments soon.”

Outside Marlon County 3 Cents