Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 190, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 December 1929 — Page 1

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FIVE DEAD IN INDIANA AS WORST BLIZZARD SINCE 1918 RIPS THROUGH MIDDLE WEST State Struggles to Restore Communication; Traffic Demoralized by Sleet, Snow Storms Since Wednesday. RELIEF FROM COLD WAVE PROMISED Gradually Rising Temperature Forecast for Friday; Two Injured When School Bus Goes Over Bluff. While Indiana struggled today to restore traffic and communication, the sun broke through the clouds for the first time in ten days, promising relief from the worst blizzard experienced here since January, 1918. Following more than a week of high temperatures and excessive rainfall, sleet and snow storms descended on the midwest Wednesday to paralyze automotive, steam and •lectric. travel, and to impair communication for more than twelve hours. Three deaths in the state were attributed directly to the cold wave, while two others indirectly were traceable to the weather.

Rural schools in northern Indiana counties were closed today because of blockaded roads, and in southern Indiana many pupils were unable to reach their classrooms over ice-coated pavements. A bus, loaded with youngsters bound for school, slipped over a bluff on an icy highway on a hill near Bedford this morning, injuring Bessie Hosier, 15, and Judith Ray, 12. Pour persons were injured and many automobiles demolished in Indianapolis because of icy streets. Other cities reported many accidents. The street cleaning department today added thirty-five trucks and 200 men to its force, assigning them to clear the streets in the business district, between New York and Georgia streets and Alabama street and Senate avenue. More than 300 loads of snow* were taken from this area Wednesday night. Awaits Lull Except in cities, highway traffic virtually was at a standstill throughout the state this morning, while maintenance crews awaited a lull in the storm to cope with the elements Wednesday night. Hope for relief was held out this morning by J. H. Armington, U. S. weather bureau meteorologist, who said that following snow flurries and continued cold today the weather w'ould clear gradually. Rising temperatures were forecast to begin Friday night, and continue steady until the season normal of 31 degrees is reached. Lowest temperatures recorded here during the night was 9 degrees, at which the mercury stood today at 7 a. m. In upstate points, readings slightly lower were recorded. Practically all highways north, east and west of Indianapolis are blocked, A. H. Hinkle, maintenance superintendent of the highway department said. Extra crews laboring today were expected to clear the main highways by night. State Road 52 was blocked by drifts between Thorntown and Lafayette. Choked by Drifts State Road 29 was choked with drifts at the intersection with State Road 32, near Lebanon. State Road 34 was blockaded between Indianapolis and Crawfordsville, and west of Crawfordsville. State Roads 36 and 43 were choked near Morton, in Putnam county. All highways in the northeast portion of the state, near Ft. Wayne, Vc impassible. The highway to Madison is Clear, Hinkle said, and will be open for • w, torists wishing to attend the Friday dedication of the new bridge spanning the Ohio river at Madison. While snow blocked the roads in northern Indiana counties, water and ice menaced tre' south of Indianapolis. In the /ansville district many roads wei inundated. United States Rd. 50 U covered with twenty inches of water near Medora, and it is expected the road will be closed there Friday, with no possible detour. United States Rd. 31 was flooded near Seymour, where six inches of water swirled over the pavement. In the La Porte district, all highways are blocked temporarily by snowdrifts, reported in some places as high as the telephone wires. Farm families were marooned. More than fifty cars were stalled between La Porte and Michigan City during the night, and occupants were sheltered by farmers. Interurbans in northern Indiana were resuming service slowly at noon. Twenty-five telephone circuits were out Wednesday night, the majority of them in the northeastern portion of the state where the blizzard was at its greatest fury. All o! these had been repaired and communication throughout the state was perfect today, officials of the

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The Indianapolis Times Probably light snow tonight followed by fair Friday; lowest tonight about 10; somewhat warmer Friday night.

VOLUME 41—NUMBER 190

Temperatures

6a. m 9 10 a. m 10 7a. m 10 11 a. m..... 11 Ba. m 10 12 (noon).. 12 9 a. m 10 1 p. m 12 Indiana Bell Telephone Company, declared. Damage was not great. While railways throughout Indianapolis reported delays of not more than a few minutes, New York and Chicago lines, particularly those crossing northern Indiana were four to five hours behind schedule. No hope of better service was held out until the storm ceased A Pennsylvania train, which left South Bend at 5:05 p. m. Wednesday, bound for Indianapolis, was derailed near Plymouth when the locomotive struck a snowdrift. No one was injured, although traffic on that division of the railroad was halted. Several interurbans were derailed Wednesday night by snow drifts in different parts of the state, but none of the accidents was serious, and there were no personal injuries. Service on interurbans from Indianapolis to outstate points was being resumed today on all lines except that to Lafayette, on which cars were snowbound. All interurbans were behind schedule. Bus service out of the city, except the Louisville route, was suspended. There were no bus accidents reported in Indiana. Street car service in the city W'as impaired somewhat by a broken feeder line Wednesday night. Cars were running behind schedule today because of drifts and icy tracks. City busses were running almost on schedule. Found in Drift Oliver Snavely, 80-year-old farmer, living at Syracuse, Ind., was found dead in a snowdrift Wednesday, between his home and a farm he owned, two miles from the town. Charles Keefer, 64, farmer, residing near Warsaw, was found dead in his barn early today. Charles Guston, 50, was found today in a six-foot snow drift near the E. J. & E. railroad yards in Gary. J. C. Snyder, burial vault manufacturer, dropped dead from heart disease on Wabash street Wednesday night. Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Harrold, 22, Cincinnati, was killed and two other women were Injured when their automobile skidded on an Icy pavement near connersville Wednesday night and overturned in a ditch. Mitchell Summit, 40, was struck by a Big Four passenger train in Crawfordsville Wednesday night while picking up coal along the right-of-way. He was injured critically. Many motorists who disregarded weather bureau warnings of the cold wave were caught on snow-blocked highways Wednesday night. Cam Abandoned Between Marion and Peru, forty autos were reported abandoned. Scores of cars and trucks were stalled near Fowler, and school hacks filled with children were snowbound outside the city. Eleven children were imprisoned several hours in a school bus that stalled near Ft. Wayne. Although no estimates were available, wind and snow damage in Indiana cities was believed high. At Warsaw snow caved in the roof of the Munison Commercial automobile garage, causing loss of SIO,OOO. Many plateglass windows , wires, trees and poles were blown down. Rejoicing ov;er the cold wave was felt in the Wabash valley around Terre Haute, where citizens were confident It was the only thing that saved them from a serious Christmas flood. The Wabash river had riven to 15.2 feet in Terre Haute when the mercury began its rapid descent. Twelve days of almost continuous rains had made the situation critical. Floods also were imminent along the west fork of White river, until the cold set in. but water were receding today. They may return to flood stage when temperatures ascend Saturday, Armington said.

Consideration The Christmas spirit actuated two holdup men who robbed Wilford Clauser, taxi driver, 29, of 923 Ft. Wayne avenue, Wednesday night. Taking $lO from Clauser in Brookside park, the two men forced him to get out of the cab, which they drove away, but gave him 50 cents “for car fare.”

ALGER SEEKING JUDGE CHANGE State Will Contest Move on Technicality. P,u Times Special VERNON, Ind., Dec. 19.—Motion for a special judge to try Gene Alger, parole violator and alleged bank bandit, in Jennings circuit court Dec. 26 on robbery charges, was filed late Wednesday by Claude Mcßride, defense counsel. Circuit Judge John R. Carney Friday is to name three candidates from which one will be selected to hear the Alger trial. Prosecutor Earl Wolfinger said he will contest the motion on grounds that it did not comply with the statute requiring filing ten days previous to the trial date. Following arguments on this question Friday, Alger is to be taken to the state reformatory, Pendleton, for safe keeping until his trial is called. JURORS IN DEADLOCK Disagreement Refused in Franklin Case. Hu Vnited Press MOUNTAIN VIEW, Ark., Dec. 19. —The overalled jury in the Connie Franldin ‘ghost trial” reported at 11:05a. m. today, after thirteen hours’ deliberation, that it could not reach a decision. The foreman reported the jury stood equally divided over the question of whether four men were guilty of Franklin’s murder. Judge S. M. Bomer ordered the jury to return and “stay there until you reach a verdict.” DEATH PROBE HINTED Officials Silent at Rushville in Case of Mrs. George Kolb. Bu United Press RUSHVILLE. Ind., Dec. 19. Officials in Rushville today would not comment on a report that the Rush county grand jury which convened here today was investigating the death of Mrs. George Kolb of Mays. Mrs. Kolb died unexpectedly while visiting her mother. A coroner’s finding showed that death was due to poison. The coroner did not say whether Mrs. Kolb took the poison accidentally, with suicidal intent or whether it was given her.

TWO ARE HELD IN HIJACKER’S KILLING

Morris Davis Nabbed by State Cops as Owner of Rum Car. State police today turned over to Putnam county authorities two men they believe can clear up the slaying of William Kempe Jr., alleged hijacker of Indianapolis, near Bainbridge, Ind., Tuesday night. They regarded their case complete with the arrest this morning of Morris (Mose) Davis, alleged Indianapolis rum runner, in the office of Eli Gmil, professional bondsman, opposite police headquarters here. Davis is believed owner of the alcohol-laden automobile which Kempe attested to hijack. Davis was taken to' state police headquarters in the statehouse, where officers already were holding Roscoe Pearson of Evansville, captured in a North Alabama street apartment Wednesday night by Lieutenant Charles Bridges and Policeman Nicholas Rawlings. The same officers arrested Davis today. Davis and Pearson are charged with possession of liquor. They were to be removed to Greencastle this afternoon by Deputy Sheriff L. A. Bryan. Putnam county, where, officers say, a charge of murder will be lodged against Pearson. He is believed to have been the driver of the rum car. Davis was endeavering to raise $2,000 bond. No bond was allowed Pearson. In Pearson’s apartment were found a mud-stained suit of clothes, overcoat and hat, identified as having been worn by one of the occupants of the rum car, who the police claim was Pearson. Pearson was seen standing near a Ford coupe in front of the Y. M. C. A. here at 1 a. m. Wednesday. He hailed a cab and went to Davis' headquarters. The Ford coupe was traced by state police, who learned It had been stolen at Bainbridge, where the fight with the hijackers occurred Tuesday night. State police believe Pearson stole the coupe, and made his escape after the rum car had turned over.

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1929

‘KILLER’ BURKE CLEWS FOUND IN MICHIGAN Woman Identifies Pictures as Those of Man Who Was in Flint. GIRL IS WITH FUGITIVE Watch Is Kept in Blizzard for Gunman Along Country Roads. Bu United Press FLINT, Mich., Dec. 19. —Search of highways between Flint and Detroit failed to reveal any traces of Fred Burke, notorious gunman, reported marooned in the snow somewhere between the two cities today. Sheriff Frank Green told the United Press he was inclined to discount reports that Burke was in this /vicinity. State police and deputy sheriffs watched roads of Genese county in a driving blizzard all night, after Mrs. S. H. Parvis identified newspaper pictures of Burke as those of the man who spent Wednesday at her rooming house and drove off toward Detroit. The man and his companion, a pretty young woman, had been gone for hours before Mrs. Jarvis chanced to pick up a newspaper. One glance at the picture of Burke and she fainted. Police said she was positive in her identification and even described characteristics of Burke's appearance that did not show in the newspaper photo. The blizzard which howled down from the north Wednesday made roads between Flint and Detroit almost impassable, and if Burke started for Detroit, officers say, he is at some farmhouse along the way. The landlady’s “identification” is the latest of a series of reports that Burke has been “seen” fleeing with a woman companion through southern Michigan. He is reported to have slept in an oil station at Jackson Monday night. DRY REPORT IS ASKED ' Senator Harris Calls on Hoover for Prohibition Action. Bu United Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.—An effort to force a report on prohibition out of the federal law enforcement commission was inaugurated in the senate today when Senator William J. Harris (Dem., Ga.) prominent dry, proposed a resolution calling upon President Hoover for such action. Harris pointed out congress soon will undertake the problem of appropriating funds for prohibition enforcement next year and needs the commission’s report for guidance.

DIES IN ELECTRIC CHAIR State Takes Life for Criminal Assault; Cool in Last Moments. Bu United Press HUNTSVILLE, Tex., Dec. 19. Ben Aldridge, 24, died in the electric chair here today because of his criminal assault upon three Dallas high school girls. “I hope I am the last man ever to be executed,” he said calmly just before the current was switched on. Aldridge’s electrocution came less than a month after that of Lee Roy Merriman, convicted for the same crime. Basketball Player Dies SMITfiVILLE, Ind., Dec. 19. Leslie Siscoe, 16, high school student and str basketball forward, is dead of spinal meningitis. His last game was played against Greenfield Friday night.

LIBRARY COMMISSION IS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR

Governor Harry G. Leslie today appointed the state library commission, charged with locating and building the new $1,000,000 state library provided by a special levy passed, by the 1929 legislature. Four of the membership are from the Indiana Library and Historical beard. They are William M. Taylor and Charles N. Thompson of Indianapolis, Mrs. Elizabeth Claypool Earl of Muncie and Mrs. Bess M. Sheehan of Gary. , William P. Dearing of Oakland City, who Is the fifth member of the board, declined appointment to the commission, it was announced at the Governor’s office. The act creating the commission provides for but four members from the board. Senator C. Herman fßep.' Carbon, and Representative George L. Saunders, tDem. Bluffton), are the representatives chosen. The act also provides for three members drawn from the citizenry at large. These are Arthur R.

Aids of Incoming Administration

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Charles R. Myers

Members of the Indianapolis board of safety who will take over supervision of the police and fire departments Jan. 6, by appointment today by Mayor-Elect Reginald H. Sullivan: Charles R. Myers, president; Donald S. Moms and Frank C. Dailey. Morris is the Republican minority member.

PROBE IN HAITI IS SIDETRACKED Hoover’s Plan Apparently Doomed to Delay. Bu United Press WASHINGTON. Dec. 19.—President Hoover’s plan for an immediate investigation of Haitian conditions appears doomed to indefinite delay. Although a resolution authorizing appointment of a commission ’Of seven members and expenditure of $50,000 was adopted in the house late Wednesday. It encountered a cloudy situation in the senate today. Chairman Borah of the senate foreign relations committee, who never has been sympathetic with the marine policy in Haiti or Nicaragua, declared his committee would be unable to consider the matter until after the Christmas holidays. As the senate already has entered a gentleman’s agreement to consider no matters save tariff after the holidays, the resolution may not reach the senate floor until February or later. As matters stand now the resolution probably could be adopted in the senate if brought to a vote.

CHARGE SHIPP DOMINATION OF TWO STATE DEPARTMENTS

BREAKS LEG IN FLIGHT Negress Leaps From Window Fleeing From Armed Roomer. Pursued by a roomer armed with a shotgun, Mrs. Mary Stewart, 50, Negro, 911 West Vermont street, jumped from an upstairs window at .ier home Wednesday night, suffering a broken right leg. She Was taken to city hospital. The roomer, Glenn Walton, who was angered at finding another roomer in his bed, according to Mrs. Stewart, escaped.

CITY STORES ARE SHOPLIFTERS’ PREY

‘GOOD TURN’ COSTS LIFE Boy Scout Run Down While Aiding Stalled Motorist. CHICAGO, Dec. 19.—The attempt of Alfred Van Steenberg, 18-year-old Boy Scout, to do his daily “good turn” during* the blizzard, cost his life. While aiding a motorist, whose car had stalled in a snowdrift on Wednesday, Steenberg was run down by Stanley Anderson, a chauffeur, who was blinded by the snow.

Baxter of Indianapolis, Charles T. Sansberry of Anderson, and James R. McCann of Lebanon. Within sixty days the commission must meet and elect officers, the statute provides. The director of the state library, Louis J. Bailey, will serve ex officio as secretary of the commission. The commission is empowered to select the building site, select plans and let contracts for the work. It will carry on until the building is completed and dedicated, when the structure will be turned over to the custodian of state property and the commission ipso facto dissolves under the law. First funds for the commission will be available when the 1929 semiannual payment is made next June 'The law provides a half cent special levy for 1929 and 1930 and a 1-cent levy in 1931. All funds will be not collected j until the close of the fiscal year] 1932, as taxes levied one year are] collected the next.

Entered as Second-Class Matter at FostofHee, Indianapolis

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Donald S. Morris

Warning

An impostor, representing himself as a Times radio interference engineer, is victimizing radio owners of the city. The Times has only one man representing its radio interference department, John T. Hawkins, radio editor, who always makes radio interference calls in a Roosevelt car, labeled “Times Radio Interference," and carrying a radio receiving apparatus. No charge is made for his services: , R. O. Jackson of 5211 Carrollton avenue, reported today his wife paid a man, representing himself as Ray Cheney, $8.25 for “repairs” to a radio set. The man was about 22 years old, with brown hair, weighing about 140 pounds and 5 feet 7 inches tall. In another case a woman paid the same man $4.50. Hawkins, sole representative of The Times radio department, is 5 feet 4, of dark complexion, with small mustache, weighing about 110 pounds. Citizens are urged to report immediately to The Times or the police department visits of any other person representing himself to be a Times radio representative.

NANCY ASTOR INJURED Suffers Spinal Injury W 7 hen HoTse Falls; Condition Serious. Bu United Press LONDON, Dec. 19.—Nancy Phyllis Astor suffered a spinal injury Wednesday wheYi her hunting horse fell. An X-ray examination today revealed that the condition of the daughter of Lord and Lady Astor was more serious than first indicated. Her horse fell at a fence when she was following the Pytchley hounds in Guilsborough park.

Fur Coats, Valued at $1,790, Are Lifted by Thieves. Expert shoplifters, apparently keen judges of furs, operated in Indianapolis Wednesday afternoon. Police were seeking a woman and girl of about 16 years, while two stores repo: od losses of fur coats aggregating $1,790 in value and two other stores reported visits by the fur thieves. I A mink coat valued at $1,495 was stolen from the William H. Block Company by the woman and girl. A Hudson Seal coat valued at $295 was stolen from the New York store by the same pair. The same two visited H. P. Wasson & Cos., and the L. S. Ayres store, Wednesday afternoon, but both stores reported nothing missing. The woman, wearing a mink coat, and the girl, wearing a brown pony coat with beaver trimming, visited > the stores and the woman tried on coats. While clerks served them, the two disappeared with the missing garments. KING TO OPEN' PARLEY British Monarch Is Scheduled to Address Naval Conference. Bti United Press LONDON, Dec. 18.—King George ■ will open the five-power tiaval con- j ference here next month in person. Premier J. Ramsay MacDonald, j making the announcement in the j House of Commons today, said the i king would deliver the opening ad- j dies* of conference,

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Frank C. Dailey

FOUR ORPHANED IN SUICIDE PACT Widow Ends Her Life With Invalid Lover. Bu United Press WESTERLY, R. 1., Dec. 19.—While her four young children were asleep in a single bed in a nearby room, Mrs. Edith Stewart, 35-year-old widow, died in a suicide pact today with George Shippee of Pawtucket, her invalid lover. They left a note which read: “This is a suicide pact." It was signed with both their names. Mrs. Stewart’s four children were asleep in a stuffy little front room, entirely unaware of the tragedy, when police entered the three-room flat and discovered the bodies and the farewell note. Behind the double shooting, authorities discovered evidence of a love affair which had extended over several months, since the death of Mrs. Stewart's husband Harry, a World war veteran. It was learned that Shippee, also a World war veteran, had been confined recently to a sanitarium.

Accounts, Health Boards Cited in Statement by Township Trustee. Charge that C. C. Shipp, heating specialty manufacturer, “controls the state board of accounts and the state health department’’ was made by Albert Yeager, Decatur township school trustee, before the state tax board today. Yeager based his allegations on a direct statement Irom Frank Copeland, one-time Shipp employe, he said. Copeland was present and made no denial until qustioned after the hearing by newspaper men. He admitted being employed by Shipp and circulating a petition to halt erection of a $175,000 school in Decatur township, Marion county, under the holding company plan. The hearing was on the proposed bond issue for the school and was continued until the supreme court rules on holding company constitutionality. Plans for the school were upset once by the health board and board of accounts. Yeager charged that after that action, Copeland came to him and said: “You never will build that school house unless you get right with C. C. Shipp. He controls the board of health and the board of accounts both.” BIAS BROTHERS ESCAPE Charleston Robbers Sever Cell Bars With Saw, Jump to Freedom. Bu Unit'd Press MOUNDSVILLE, W. Va„ Dec. 19. —The daring Bias brothers, Dana and Adrian, Charleston robbers, who led police a thrilling chase across half the continent last spring, have escaped again. Using saws apparently smuggled in to them, the youthful gunmen severed the bars of their cell in the state penitentiary late Wednesday and jumped to freedom. A third prisoner, Basil Childers, also escaped. FLIER HUNT RENEWED Concerted Search Is Started for Eielson and Borland. Bv Upitril Brett JUNEAU, Alaska, Dec. 19, j Alaska marshaled airmen and aircraft today for a concerted search i for Carl Ben Eielson, Alaska Air-, ways pilot, missing in the north ' cape region since mid-November. Dispatches from Teller indicated that Pilots Joe Crosson, Young and! Gilman were ready to start flights, Into Siberia. Eielson and his *ne- j chanic, Earl Borland, were lost while j flying to the relief of the icebound I trading schooner fisnuk, _

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PERSONNEL OF SAFETY BOARD IS ANNOUNCED Myers, Dailey and Morris First Appointees of Mayor-Elect. ALL THREE EXPERIENCED Displacement of Police Chief by Democrat Is Thought Next Step. (BiopraDhir* on Pa ft IS) After six weeks of careful study and conferences, Mayor-Elect Reginald H. Sullivan today appointed the board of public safety which will serve during his administration, starting Jan. 6. The three safety board members were the first appointees of the new regime. They are: Charles R. Myers (Democrat), 71, retired, of 2323 College avenue, former Big Four railroad general agent, board president. Frank C. Dailey (Democrat), attorney and defeated Democratic nominee for Governor in the November (1928) election. Donald S. Morris (Republican), 51, of 524 Buckingham drive, vicepresident and trust officer of the Fletcher Savings and Trust Company. Holds Conferences Sullivan's first announcement j came after hundreds of conferences with party leaders, personal friends and civic leaders. He is expected to proceed steadily with the selection of his official family. It was indicated other boards will be chosen within the next few days. Sullivan will confer with the new safety board soon on the selection of a fire chief and police chief. The safety board is not distributed geographically, but "was picked to serve the city at large,” Sullivan said. “There is a straight board,” he said. “Those men are strong, firm and fair. They all are busy men and It is a sacrifice for them to devote their time and energy to the city’a business. “The fire and police chiefs are going to run their own departments and will be held responsible for their success or failure. It is not necessary for every one who wants a job or promotion to see the safety board. Department chiefs will work out those things. Ilands-Off Policy “This board of safety means business and will function,” Sullivan continued. “The personnel has brains and character and I shall maintain a hands-off policy, attending to the duties of the mayor s office. The mayor is responsible for everything and will know what’s going on, but will not deal with details. “I think every member of the board is conscientious, level-headed and will study the situation carefully. It Is believed generally by party leaders that Police Chief Claude M. Worley, Republican, will be replaced by a Democrat, and that Fire Chief Harry E. Vo. shell, a Democrat, will be reduced. Battalion Chief Ross McKinney Ls mentioned prominently as the next fire chief. Kinney Mentioned Jerry Kinney, detective chief and veteran member of the department; Detective Fred Simon, Charles (Buck) Sumner, police captain under the Shank regime, and Ira P. Haymaker, Democratic safety board member, are mentioned for police chief. With the exception of Frank Dailey, former United States district attorney, the safety board members never have held public office or been identified closely with politics. Mayor-Elect Sullivan announced that Meyers will devote his entire time to the presidency of the safety board and will be in the board office “full-time.” “Mr. Myers is shrewd and has had a world of experience,” Sullivan commented. “He is tactful and straight and I’m sure will work tirelessly at the Job.” * Safety board members receive $1,200 annual salary each.

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