Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 187, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 December 1929 — Page 1

NAME COPS IN SLOT MACHINE MURDER CASE Threatened Slain Rival in Racket, Authorities at South Bend Told. GRAND JURY PROBE ON Youth Cracks Under Strain of Long Grilling and Makes Statement. By Times Special SOUTH BEND, Dec. 16.—Two members of the South Bend police vice squad and a business man operated a slot machine racket of wide scope, and the two policemen had threatened to “get” Christ Tonneff, rival racketeer, who was killed in the doorway of his home Oct. 27, was the story awaiting the St. Joseph county grand jury as it resumed its investigation today of the underworld slaying that has baffled local police and county authorities for the last two months. The latest developments came Saturday night when Harry Cook, 19-year-old gang member, was grilled by Deputy Prosecutor Irvin Hurwich and Detective Russell Eberhart in Mishawaka after his arrest by Lafayette police. He “Knew Plenty” Cook, companion of Merle Cox, 30, a leader in the liquor and slot machine racket, who has been sought all over the country, broke after two hours of questioning and assured the officials that he “knew plenty” if he wanted to talk. But he didn’t want to talk. His lawyers, he claimed to have two, had told him to keep quiet, as did Francis Cox, brother of Merle. “But,” Cox yelled at him as he was leaving the Lafayette jail, “if they put pressure on you, tell ’em what you know about the South Bend coppers and the rest of that gang.” The Mishawaka officials used this statement in obtaining from Cook a statement of alleged threats made by the South Bend police against Tonneff. Police and Prosecutor Harry Taylor ref used to reveal the names of the Suspected officers, until Cook appears before the grand Jury today. Implicated by Cousin Cook was implicated in the case by Hollis France, 18-year-old Bourbon ilnd.) high school boy, another member of the Cox gang. France is a cousin of Cox, He fled the city at the same time that Merle disappeared. He w r as arrested in Florida, where he was traveling under the name of his cousin. Questioning of France brought out that he and Cox had been stealing slot machines and selling them to Tonneff. Tonneff -was shot down in the hallway of his home while his wife looked on. Two men called and asked for him. His wife called him. When he came, one of the callers shot him while the other stood guard with a drawn revolver. TWO KILLED IN BLAZE Minneapolis Apartment Fire Drives Tenants Into Street During Night. By United Press MINNEAPOLIS. Dec. 16.—Two bodies had been recovered today, as firemen probed through the ruins of a downtown apartment building, which was swept by fire Sunday. John Hosmer, one of the thirteen persons driven from the apartment in their night clothing, was burned severely. WATER SHORTAGE ACUTE Southern California. Untouched by Rains, Is in Distress. By United Press SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 16. Southern California is facing a water shortage which threatens to become acute. The Los Angeles district, untouched by last week’s rains, has received only one-tenth of its normal rainfall, and the municipal reservoirs are 38 per cent below last year’s mark. The Los Angeles water commissioners stated that unless rigid economy of water was observed, the city laced a serious shortage.

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The Indianapolis Times Unsettled with occasional rains tonight and Tuesday; slightly higher temperature.

VOLUME 41—NUMBER 187

BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

Hoover Likes This Caricature

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“Distasteful and disrespectful” was what some members of the Washington Arts Club called this unusual caricature in oil of President Hoover, so it was removed from the walls. But the chief executive himself heard about it, is reported to think it is “amusing,” and may add it to his personal art collection! The cartoon was the work of Charles Dunn, widely known Washington portrait painter, and was called by critics “an excellent study in interpretive psychology.”

BUTLER CHARGES PLOT TO KILL HIM

Assassination Attempt Is Alleged by City Newspaper Man. Bv Times Special HUNTINGTON, Jnd., Dec. 16. An attempt to assassinate him by firing a load of buckshot from a sawed-off shotgun into his automobile, because of his part in exposing crime and corruption in northern Indiana, was charged today by Robert Butler, Indianapolis newspaper man. Butler has been confined to a room at a hotel here since Saturday night when he was brought to this city by a farmer, after his wrecked automobile was discovered four miles north of the city and Butler himself was dazed and suffering from his injuries. The shot was fired from a car which had followed him from South Bend. Butler charges that he had been followed by the same car on a former occasion and that he frequently has been threatened with death since the probe of election frauds and political corruption was begun. “I have been followed frequently and threatened often,” said Butler in describing the attack upon him. "When I left South Bend early Saturday evening, a car which had followed me on a former occasion. took up my trail. Forced to Slow Up “I had intended to drive into Ft. Wayne, tyit when I was unable to shake off the car by fast driving, turned off at Columbia City and planned to stay all night at Huntington. “About three or four miles north of the city, I saw the lights of an approaching car. There was a small hill ahead and a culvert at its base. At the same time, the car following me speeded up. I saw that we were likely to meet at the culvert and slowed down. The car passed me, waited until the approaching car had passed. “There was a flash, my windshield was smashed about my face and when I regained consciousness my car was in the ditch. About a half hour later, a farmer came to my aid and brought me here. Undoubtedly, the men had fired a charge from a sawed-off shotgun, probably buckshot, into my windshield. Aside from the fact I have seen the same car before and on one occasion it trailed me from Gary to my home in Indianapolis, I have no means of identifying my assailants.” Center of Investigation Butler received some slight flesh cuts from the glass of the windshield. He was given an X-ray examination today to determine the extent of injuries to his back. Butler has been the center of the investigation in the northern part of the state and frequenly has

TRAFFIC towers, bullet and torch proof, with sentries armed with machine guns and bombs and levers to lower gates and halt traffic were advocated today by Governor Harry G. Leslie as a possible solution of bank robbery and banditry in Indiana. He will suggest the plan at a meeting of the crime conference committee to be held at the Statehouse Tuesday, it was said. The Governor returned to his office today after a week’s hunting trip in Pennsylvania. He stated he had been giving the problem considerable study while away. "Every new state paved road is anew tool or weapon in the hand of the bandit,” the Governor declared. “Statistics show that the city that is accessible most easily by paved roads has the most crime. It is because the roads offer an easy avenue of escape. “It seems to me that the solution lies in placing such roads under guard. To do this, towers should be erected at the state lines and at inlets and outlets of the principal cities. Fi

FORTIFIED ROADS IS LESLIE’S PRESCRIPTION TO END EPIDEMIC OF BANDITRY

clashed with the federal authorities in his efforts to present evidence of election frauds and the protection oi bootlegging and other crimes in the northern cities. He presented the first to the grand jury at South Bend, which started an inquiry into election frauds and since has been diverted to a hunt for protected bootleggers, resulting in the indictment of one mayor and numerous policemen. 15 ROUTED BY FIRE No One Injured as Flames Sweep Apartments. Fire of unknown origin, sweeping up from the basement of the Del Prado apartments, 4534 Washington boulevard, today damaged six apartments and drove fifteen persons out of their homes. None was injui'ed. Freeman Kennedy, resident manager of the apartments, discovered the blaze about 9:30 a. m. He routed nine families, and called the fire department. Although firemen estimated the loss at more than $1,500, neither Kennedy nor D. L. Avery, 4048 North Pennsylvania street, owner, would appraise the damage. It is covered by insurance, Avery said. Senate Passes Dill Bill By United Press WASHINGTON. Dec. 16.—The senate today passed the Dill bill to permanently extend the life of the radio commission. A similar bill had passed the house earlier in the day.

THREE ARE DEAD, 20 MISSING IN PAPER WAREHOUSE FIRE

Bv United Press BALTIMORE, Md., Dec. 16.—Fire in the Thomas O’Conner paper storage house here today is known to have taken the lives of three persons, and of the twenty more missing and injured, many are believed to be dead or dying. Five alarms were turned in, and the flames sent spurts of fire and clouds of smoke high over the city skyline. More than 100 persons worked in the establishment. About half of the number were employed on the third floor. In an attempt to leap three stories to safety, four women missed the fire net completely, and their bones were crushed from the impact on the pavement. A hook and ladder, rushing to the blaze, crashed into a police

INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1929

CHARGE WIFE WITH MATE’S BOMBDEATH Police Allege Marion (Ind.) Woman Plotted Auto Starter Blast. CITE INSURANCE MOTIVE Grilling Fails to Shatter Composure of Labor Head’s Widow. Bjt Times Special MARION, Ind., Dec. 16.—Mrs. Erma Legos, 36, is the first woman in the criminal annals of Indiana to be charged with first degree murder as a result of a bomb explosion in an automobile with the missile arranged so that stepping on the starter would discharge it. She is accused in the death of her husband. Andrew Legos, official of the local molders’ union. Authorities today indicated that the motive was collection of about $4,000 insurance carried on Legos’ life. The charge was filed against the widow by Police Chief Lewis Lindenmuth after fifty hours of questioning failed to produce any incriminating evidence. During the long grilling, Mrs. Legos, her questioners said, was not permitted any sleep, but was given food. Geoi-ge Coogan, deputy state fire marshal, and representatives of the police and the Grant county sheriff’s office conducted the inquisition. Bombing of the automobile was the second blast tragedy in Marion during October. In the first, two men were killed, another hurt severely and several others, including Legos, slightly injured, when an explosion wrecked the Labor temple. For a time it was believed the same persons were responsible for both explosions. In the first the dead were William Dean and Charles Humes. Serious injuries were suffered by Fred Dickens. FLIER IS PLANE SUIQIDE Crashes Ship From Despondency, Is Evidence at Inquiry. TORONTO, Ontario, Dec. 16. Robert C. Williams, 30, Toronto flier, deliberately crashed his plane into a tree to commit suicide, it appeared today when G. S. O’Brien, vice-presidnt of the company which employed the dead flier, told of the federal air board’s inquiry. Williams had been a pallbearer Saturday at the funeral of a fellowpilot and wes said to have been despondent. Sunday he nosed his plane toward the ground from a height of 300 feet. The plane crashed into a tree. COMMUNISTS ARE~FREED Group of Young Demonstrators Released on Hoover’s Order. By United Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 16. A group of young Communists who staged a demonstration in front c/v the White House Saturday were at j liberty today because President Hoover did not believe “any such discourtesy seriously endangers the republic and a night in jail would be doing them a favor of cheap martyrdom.” The President intervened after the demenstrators had been taken to a police station. They were released immediately after Mr. Hoover had issued his statement.

traffic box and the traffic officer on duty is believed to have been killed. The three given up as dead worked on the fourth and top floor. The fourth floors were stacked with paper and within a few minutes after the fire had started, the whole structure had been transformed into a roaring furnace. The paper consisted mostly of loose bundles of waste paper, collected to be pulverized and remanufactured. Flames starting at the bottom of the building, mounted to the top through chutes running the full height. When the first fire engines arrived they found the windows filled with frantic people. Others were on the roof. The firemen spread nets and many jumped.

“The city road junctions could be made to converge with an inner and outer circular drive and this would facilitate traffic. At the same time, it would form an island that could be used as a recreation center on the city’s edge and also make an ideal location for the traffic tower. From this vantage point a clear view of all traffic would be available. “These towers should be bullet and torch-proof and also should be erected at the state lines on all the principal highways. Here gates could be installed. When a crime, such as bank robbery or auto banditry, is committed, all details could be broadcast at once to 1 these towers on a low wave length. “The guards then could be ready to halt the bandits’ getaway. Those near state lines could lower the gates if necessary and halt all traffic. The towers will furnish a place from which the bandit car may be fired upon easily if necessary.

Faces Trial

Mrs. Erma Legos, who is facing trial for first dviree murder growing out of the Marion (Ind.) bombing cases. EIGHT VICTIMS OF AXSLAYER Mother, Seven Children Are Killed; Father Gashed. Bu United Press MONTREAL. Dec. 16. Sight members of one family were found dead today—their throats cut apparently with an ax—at the village of Three Rivers, about two hundred miles from here. Mrs. Andrew Day and her seven children, ranging in age from 1 to 14 years old, were the victims, while Day was found wandering along the streets with a bad cut on his throat. The killings were maniacal, police said. Thus far there h&s been found on trace of the weapon used, but police said there were indications the murderer had attempted to hack the heads from some of the victims. Day was too weak from loss of blood to talk. He was taken first to a police station and gave authorities' his address but could discuss the matter no more. He was taken to a hospital and officials there indicated he had a good chance of recovery. All of those found dead were in bed. DEFER GRUNDY ACTION Appointment May Be Held Legal by Senate Committee. Bu United Press WASHINGTON. Dec. 16.—Consideration of the Nye resolution seeking to oust Senator Grundy (Rep., Pa.), has been deferred until tomorrow by the privileges and elections committee. Members of the committee indicated they expected to present a report holding Grundy’s appointment by Governor Fisher of Pennsylvania as legal. Tax Board Meeting Set Annual meetihg of the county and township tax assesors with the state tax board will be held Jan. 79, in the house of representatives, it was announced today by the board. The meeting is provided by law so that local and state taxing officers may exchange views. Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m 38 10 a. m.... 40 7 a. m 38 11 a. m 41 Ba. m,.... 38 12 (noon).. 42 9 a. m,.... 39

They went into the building and brought others out. Lewis Allen, Negro, made four trips to the fourth floor, bringing a woman down on his back each time. Firemen, entering the building found him overcome with smoke and flame and took him to Calvert station to revive him. Meantime, the fire spread. On the Guilford avenue side of the building, the spreading flames endangered the United Railways Elevated. Firemen from the ground had to send their streams of water through the cross ties of the “L.” Others climbed to the “L n and wielded the hose from there. As they worked, tongues of the flames reached out and endangered their lives. Os the eight injured, whose usurps were known, three were firemen.

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis

ALGERS PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO BANKROBBERY Trial Dates Are Set for Gene and His Wife in Jennings Court. GUARD AGAINST RESCUE State Cops Present With Machine Gun During Arraignment. BY DICK MILLER, Times Staff Correspondent VERNON, Ind., Dec. 16.—Pleas of not guilty were entered before Judge John R. Carney, Jennings circuit coui't, today in behalf of Gene Alger, 21, parole violator and alleged bank bandit, and his wife, Mrs. Josephine Miller Alger, charged with robbery of the Paris Crossing State bank, Aug. 15. Alger will be tried Dec. 26. and Mrs. Alger Dec. 31, both before juries. There will be no attempts to free them on bonds, set for $20,000 and $5,000, respectively, said Claude Mcßride, Jeffersonville attorney, their counsel. Led in Cuffed Alger was led. handcuffed, into the courtroom this morning,, attired in a white shirt without a tie, brown trousers and black shoes, with hair disheveled, to hear an affidavit read, charging him with robbery. Mrs. Alger, confined iff the Ripley county jail, Versailles, Wis not in court. Although officials said they expected no attempt by Alger's friends to try to free him, Lieutenant Ross Reed, state police, stood guard in a rostrum at the rear of the courtroom, armed with a sub-machine gun. Other state police were posted at other exits. Mcßride asked for time to prepare a defense before the trial, stating that Alger’s family retained him only last week. The robbery affidavit will be amended to charge Alger with auto banditry and commission of a.crime with a fireai-m, said Earl Wolfinger, Jennings county prosecutor. Wife Driver, Charge Information against the pair accuses Alger of holding up the bank, taking $705 in cash, and escaping in an auto driven by his wife. They were hunted throughout the mid-west and Canada until Nov. 11, when they were captured near Jeffersonville. Suspicion of Sheriff Wilbur Bannister that Johns Ross and Howard Mackey, Chicago gunmen, arrested after they were seen loitering near the jail last week, inntended to try to free Alger and his wife, was strengthened Sunday night when a woman appeared, posing as Mackey’s sister.

DUSHANE REJECTS CITY SCHOOLS JOB

Board Meets Tuesday to Decide on Temporary Superintendent. School commissioners will meet at 11 a. m. Tuesday to name an acting superintendent following formal statement today by Donald DuShane, Columbus (Ind.) superintendent, that he would not accept the post. DuShane’s decision is believed to have been influenced by failure to obtain an expression of views of the incoming board members, other than the report that they intend to name an educator of nationally recognized ability. “We intend to name a nationally known educator, but at this time we don’t know who he will be,” saidS Julian Wetzel, one of the thre commissioners who will take of.’ Jan. 1. “We are studying the situation carefully and before taking action will obtain suggestions from some of the country’s foremost educators.” He denied the new board had decided not to select an Indiana man. DuShane appeared at the school board offices this morning and delivered a written statement rejecting the offer. He was appointed superintendent last Tuesday night when Charles F. Miller was dismissed by the board, but

“Such extreme measures are necessary in a state like Indiana that is mostly prairie and where the increased number of paved roads furnish a paradise for the gangsters in high-powered cars.” Governor Leslie feels, he said, that the criminal is now far in advance of the authorities in the use of modem weapons and ihethods and that it is time for the government to catch up. An efficient force of guards would be one of the essential requirements of the new plan, he declared, and pointed out that rigid tests should be required for these positions. David Ross, Lafayette manufacturer and president of Purdue university trustees, has been working on the traffic tower and recreational center idea with hiiA, Governor Leslie added, and has agreed to finance a survey to determine feasibility of the plan for Lafayette and Tippecanoe county. Purdue engineers win aid in the survey, and there will be no expense to the state, the Governor pointed out.

Files Sait

>. V*4.Vp>. V ternm** - Q <: 4-i & >: j'. She had been heralded as “America’s most beautiful and talented girl,” but that didn’t keep Dorothy Knapp (above) from being dropped from the star role of one of Earl Carroll’s Broadway revues, after it had opened. Now she is suing Carroll, Mrs. Frederic Courtland Penfield, wealthy backer of the show, and others for $250,000 for breach of contract.

FRENCH FLIERS CONTINUING HOP Off Cape Verde Islands En Route From Spain. By United Press PERNAMBUCO, Brazil, Dec. 16. The airplane in which LieutenantColonel Tadeo Larreborges and Captain Leon Challe are dh route from Spain to Montevideo was “flying well” at latitude 8 north, longitude 28 west, the French cable company reported. The position given would be about 575 miles south and west of the Cape Verde Islands. The message relayed from the French aeropostale ship Becfigue indicated that the fliers had avoided a zone of bad weather off the coast of Africa and found good conditions over the Atlantic. “Natal informs the local weather is threatening, but here it continues good,” the message from the plane said.

when board members found the appointment illegal because of a legal provision requiring a wait until the next regular meeting, he was named acting superintendent Friday. Board members recognized the necessity for an early meeting to name another acting superintendent inasmuch as the schools have been without a superintendent since Tuesday night. C. C. Underwood, director of elementary education, appeared to be the board’s choice as acting superintendent. It was understood Underwood w r ould accept if he is not required legally to give up his present position, in which he is under contract for the remainder of the present school year. DuShane’s letter to the board expressed appreciation of the appointment and of “the fact that the has not attempted, either directly or indirectly, to predetermine my policies, appointments or conduct should I accept this appointment. "From a professional standpoint the educational problems of Indianapolis constitute a real challenge, yet at the present time there are a number of other factors in the situation which, after careful consideration, lead me to reject my appointment,” his letter said. Marion Merchant Dies Bv United Press MARION, Ind., Dec. 16.—William Brunka, 40, merchant, died today after a short illness.

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TWO CENTS

HUNT CHICAGO GANGLAND FOR COPSSLAYER Killer Thought Fleeing to Protection of Capone After Murder. SHOOTS UPON REMARK Search of Home Uncovers Stolen Bank Bonds and Huge Arsenal. Bv United Press CHICAGO, Dec. 16.—The search for Fred R. Burke, bandit gang leader, extended to the haunts of gangland here today, after he apparently had eluded posses in south* em Michigan and northern Indiana, seeking him for the killing of Traffio Officer Charles Skelly in St. Joseph, Mich. • Word to police here from Fred Alden, St. Joseph chief of police, and Fred Bryant, sheriff of Berrien county, that they believed Burke would seek safety under the wings of the Capone gang, brought the Chicago force into the hunt that has extended from St. Joseph around the southern tip of Lake Michigan to Chicago. Burke was named last year as one of the two machine gun men who mowed down seven Moran gangsters in a North Clark street garage in what later became known as the St. Valentine’s day massacre. He was hunted for some time after the gang executions, but no trace was found until the murder Saturday night on (he streets of St. Joseph.

Traffic Mishap Cause Bv United Press ST. JOSEPH, Mich., Dec. 16— Murder flaring from anger at a traffic officer’s reproof today had set authorities of four states seeking a desperado whose Lake Shore drive mansion near here concealed almost $320,000 in bonds taken in a bank holdup and an arsenal sufficient to equip an army squad. The hunted man killed rather than pay $5 to a young farmer far denting the fender of his automobile. Although he had been known as Fred Dane, supposed wealthy oil man, the murderer was believed to be EYed R. Burke, notorious leader of a bank robber gang. His crime was almost inexplicable, unless in the light of the constant fear of capture that drives criminals to the point of madness. His escape was almost uncanny. Saturday, while hurrying to meet his wife here on her return from Chicago, the man known as Dane clicked fenders with George Kool of Muchanan, Mich. .Dane laughed at the young farmer’s demand for $5. He sped on with the other in pursuit. Traffic Officer Charles Skelly heard Kool’s complaint when a traffic light stopped both cars at an intersection here.

“Beter pay the $5 and save going to court,” the officer said. Shoots at Remark With a contemptuous glance, Dane blazed away with a .45 caliber pistol. The first shot pierced Skelly’s abdomen. As he slumped to the running board, another bullet ploughed into his side. Dane sent another into his body as the officer fell to the pavement fatally wounded. As the crowd at the corner ran toward him, Dane whirled his car about and sped out of town. Deputy Sheriffs Ben Pheras and Robert Inholz had started in pursuit, five blocks behind. At the city limits, the pursuer* found Dane’s car, two wheels shorn off by a telephone pole. They learned Dane had crawled from the wreckage, and cowed a bearded man in a big car into taking him on. At Stevensville, ten miles southeast, Dane tossed a $5 bill to the bearded driver, forced him to stop and got out. Youths Aid Getaway Fred Wishart then was compelled to drive Dane to the home of Stephen Kunay, cement worker. Kunay took him to Coloma, ten miles north of St. Joseph. From there the trail led to Paw Paw. There, pursuers learned that two youths had taken the killer to an undetermined destination. Search of Dane’s luxurious home, to which officers were admitted by a pretty 35-year-old woman who said she was his wife, revealed $319,850 in bonds. The bonds were identified as having been stolen Nov. 7 by five men who held up the Farmers and Merchants bank at Jefferson, Wis.

HELD IN STILL CASE Vermillion County Farmer Ninth Arrest in Dry Cleanup. J. D. Sturm, Dana, Ind., owner of a Vermillion county farm on which was found a $30,000 still Friday morning, was under arrest today, charged with conspiracy against prohibition laws. Eight others already have been held to the federal grand jury on | conspiracy and liquor manufacture 1 ing charges, while government j agents are probing tales of a / ge j booze ring that terrorized rear m j of western Indiana for mop oan two montha.

Outside Marlow County 8 Cent*