Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 191, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 December 1929 — Page 1

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UNMASKED BANDITS HOLD UP SOUTHPORT BANK; ESCAPE IN CAR WITH $2,309 CASH Two Employes Are Kept at Bay by Armed Raiders Soon After Opening - of Institution; Shoved Into Back Room. GANGSTERS HEAD FOR INDIANAPOLIS Young - Robbers Make Attempt to Hide Identity by Smearing - Faces With Mud; Cashier Ordered Not to Ring - Alarm. Two unmasked bandits held two en ployes of the Citizens bank of Southport at bay with revolvers shortly after the doors opened this morning' and escaped with approximately $2,300 in cash. The loss was covered by insurance. Threatening to lock Sid E. Wright, cashier, and Mrs. Margaret Hendricks, bookkeeper, in the safe, the two bandits apparently became excited as their escape neared and shoved the two employes into a back room, but did not lock the door. Unmasked, the two had made some attempt to hide their identity by smearing their faces with mud. One, about five /eet ten inches tall, about 26 years old, wore a brown suit and tan overcoat, with a felt hat pulled down over his eyes. The second, about five feet six inches tall, about 24 years old, wore a gray suit, black overcoat and a cap.

The two, driving a Hudson coach or sedan, parked just east of the bank on Union street, better known as Buck Creek road, shortly after the bank doors opened this morning. They entered the bank. Wright went to a window, believing them customers. He w T as menaced with a gun and a demand that he put up his hands. “Don’t ring any burglar alarm if you don’t want to get shot,” the taller bandit ordered. The sc ;ond bandit approachedf Mrs. Hendricks and told her to “sit still ” “I won’t hurt you," he said. The tall bandit vaulted a railing and scooped all the cash off counters. He then compelled Wright to open a small safe in the vault and to hand out the silver, tied in bags. He next demanded the paper money and, dissatisfied with what was handed him, looked into the safe himself to see if more money was there. The two left the bank and drove toward Indianapolis. George B. Saylor, president of the bank, was not in the institution at the time of the holdup. A hurried check fixed the loss at $2,265.86. Car Is Planted Planting an automobile on Madison road, near Epler avenue in Edgewood. the bandits visited the bank in an automobile stolen from Dewey W. Palmage of 5446 Guilford avenue. Abandoning the stolen machine in front of the home of Mrs. Frank Miller, 1034 Epler avenue, Edgewood, one bandit ran back to where his partner was waiting with the other car. In the abandoned machine, John Hardy, 15, of 10055 Dudley avenue, found a roll of 250 nickels, part of the loot from the Southport bank. The machine used in the actual holdup was stolen Thursday from a parking place on Market street between Capitol and Illinois streets. GIRL WINS BALM SUIT Awarded $450,000 From Former Ford Partner; New Trial Asked. Bn l iiiled I'rrst DETROIT, Dec. 20.—8 ertha Cleavenger who loved and lost John Castle, today had some compensation to assuage her loss—a jury in Judge Homer Ferguson’s court late Thursday awarded her $450,000 of the $750,000 she asked for breach of promise. But her battle for the money has only begun, it was indicated by Ralph B. Clark, attorney for Castle. Clark’s motion for a twenty-day stay of Judgment while he prepares to ask for anew trial, was granted by Judge Ferguson. Castle, former partner of the late John Ford, Henry Ford's brother, is said to a $2,500,000 fortune. SEEVERS FOUND GUILTY Jury Recommends Life Term for Slayer of Wife. By United Pres* NEW CASTLE, Pa., Dec. 20.—A jury returned a verdict of guilty of first degree murder, recommending life imprisonment, today in the case of John Dewey Seevers, Cleveland who was tried in connection with the killing of his wile, Estella, July S5, last. The Jury was given the case late Thursday and arrived at the verdict after five hours’ deliberation. City Business Is Suspended City officials and city hall employes suspended business this morning to attend a concert of Christmas hymns by the Emmerich Manual Training high school choral Club, in the rotunda of city hall.

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The Indianapolis Times Mostly fair tonight and Saturday; slight temperature change; lowest tonight, 10 to 15 degrees.

VOLUME 41—NUMBER 191

REPORT CALVIN SEENJN CITY Lost Business Man Believed Victim of Amnesia. Otis F. Calvin, 65, missing president of the Indianapolis Sand and Gravel Company, believed a victim of amnesia, was reported as having visited the lunch room of the Traction Terminal building Thursday night. Police, in search of him, also believe he was the man who entered the Wheeler City Rescue Mission late Thursday and, after sitting in the lobby for some time, left. Rescue Mission officials today said the man did not ask for lodging there, but that he tallied with pictures of Calvin printed in newspapers. Had he ask for lodging, he would have been accommodated, they said, correcting reports that he was turned away because the mission was crowded. Police, the sheriff’s office and public aid have been enlisted in the search for Calvin, who disappeared from home last Friday while suffering from a nervous breakdown, due to illness. He is known to have visited the Marguerite Beauty shop at Thirteenth and Pennsylvania streets Saturday, looking for work to earn money for a meal. Beauty shop patrons raised a fund of $1.75 for the man at that time. Early today police made a run to 401 West Washington street, but found a man answering Calvin’s description was not the missing man. M'NAUGHT SENDS WORD New State Dry League Appointee Is Thinking It Over. Dr. C. H. Winders, acting Indiana Anti-Saloon League superintendent, today received a letter from Samuel P. McNaught, lowa Anti-Saloon League superintendent, elected to the Indiana superintendency by league trustees Tuesday, acknowledging notice of his appointment. McNaught wrote that he had not had time to consider accepting the appointment because of concern over injuries to two officials of the lowa league who were in an automobile crash. AIR SEARCHERS TAKE OF Crack Pilots Leave to Renew Hunt for Eielson. Bu United Press NOME, Alaska, Dec. 20.—Pilots Joe Crosson and Charley Gillam took off from Teller today to fly across the Bering straits to Siberia in search of Captain Ben Eielson and Elmer Borland, who have been missing for more than a month. Their projected rescue flight was considered extremely hazardous, due to the poor visibility over the route.

BLONDE STAGE BEAUTY GOES BACK TO NEGRO HUSBAND IN BLACK BELT

BY GEORGE H. BEALE United Presa Staff Correspondent Hollywood, cai., Dec. 20. Helen Lee Worthing, the blonde beauty '"ho once was the toast of Broadway, went back to the "Black Belt" today. She returned to her husband, Dr. Eugene C. Nelson, Negro physician. “I hope no one feels badly about It,” Miss Worthing said today. “I love him too much to leave him.

Just a Rum Go The law—and his conscience —told Bee Ford, Negro, 29, of ICO3 West Michigan street, not to drink. His appetite and his bootlegger told him to keep his thirst down with liberal draughts. And Ford says the bootlegger backed up his argument with a gun, threatening to shoot him if he stopped purchasing liquid supplies. Thursday night five shots were fired at Ford as he passed the home of demon Taylor, Negro, of 651 Blake street, one striking him in the knee. He is in city hospital and is charged with vagrancy. Taylor, arrested on vagrancy and blind tiger charges, denies he fired the shots.

SEEK WOMAN IN CHASE OF KILLER BURKE Weakness of Gang Leader for Girl Pals May Be Cause of Downfall. By United Press ST. JOSEPH, Mich., Dec. 20. “Cherchez la femme (look for the woman) was the word passed today to hundreds of police patrolling the blizzard-swept roads of Michigan over which Fred R. Burke, alleged scientific bank bandit, gangster extraordinary and Lake county (Ind.) vote fraud fixer, was reported to be fleeing toward Canada in an automobile. Seemingly unmindful of the fact that the woman who posed as his wife here had turned state’s evidence against him and would claim part of the SIOO,OOO reward for his capture, “the most dangerous man alive,” wanted as a suspect in at least twelve murders and scores of bank and train robberies, was believed to be traveling with a beautiful girl. Officers braved the zero weather all Thursday and Thursday night In .block Burke’s escapCSawSapfe. S. H*. Jarvis re-' ported he spent Wednesday at her tourist lodging house near Flint. Mrs. Jarvis positively identified newspaper pictures of Burke and described accurately characteristics of his appearance which did not show in the photographs. “He seemed all wrapped up in the girl, whom he introduced as his wife,” she told police. “She really was beautiful, with golden hair and long curling eyelashes. He said they were on their honeymoon.” Burke fled from his cozy bungalow in St. Joseph last Saturday after killing policeman Charles Skelly during a trivial argument over a traffic accident. In his house was found a veritable arsenal, $300,000 in stolen bonds and many text books on chemistry and metallurgy. Reports from Chicago indicated he was held in high esteem for his scientific methods.

DENIES PAY ROLL JOB Alleged Gas City Bandit Pleads Not Guilty. By United Press MARION, Ind., Dec. 20.—A plea of not guilty was entered by Joe White, alias Joe Taylor, when he was arraigned in circuit court today on two counts in connection with a Gas City pay roll robbery July 12, 1929, in which SIO,OOO was obtained. White recently was extradited from St. Clairesville, O. He is charged with auto banditry and committing a crime with a deadly weapon. Neither trial date nor bond was fixed, but Sheriff Jacob Campbell said he would request a high bond, perhaps $40,000. White is represented by a Marion attorney. It was expected that William King would be arraigned on the same charges this afternoon. SKATING RINK BURNS Adjoining Cider Plant Damaged by Fire at Night. Fire Thursday night destroyed the Victor Michaelis skating rink in the 3500 block on Madison road with damage of $4,000, partly covered by insurance, and caused SSOO damage to an adjoining cider plant owned by William Cotten. An unoccupied residence at 3949 Bartlett avenue, owned by the Security Trust Company, was damaged SSOO by fire started by a furnace, kept heated to protect pipes from freezing.

I know he has Negro blood, but he’s all the world to me. “I left a stage career and a screen career to marry him in 1927. I still love him too much even to care what people think about it. I want to be back with him—that’s all that matters.’’ o a ts LAST Saturday Miss Worthing left Dr. Nelson, to whom she had been married for more than two years.

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1929

HIGHWAYS ARE REDRIFTED BY FIERCE WINDS Snow Blockade Cuts Off Rural Dwellers From Food Supplies. MONTICELLO ISOLATED Death Toll Stands at Six; Banks Up to 15 Feet Reported in North. Having dug itself out of mountainous snowdrifts that followed the worst blizzard in more than a decade, Thursday and Thursday night, northern Indiana again was snowbound today as fierce winds whipped across the prairies, redrifting almost all highways. Southern Indian roads were blockaded by floods, and made dangerous by ice. Steam and electric rail transportation was impaired seriously by snow and ice. Telephonic communication suffered little. Relief from the cold wave wihch hit Indiana and the midwest on Wednesday is believed due here Saturday night, J. H. Armington, United States weather bureau meteorologist, said today. Temperatures tonight were expected to rise slightly to between 10 and 15 degrees. Food Runs I/>w Anew hardship of the blizz-'.rd was reported today by northern Indiana farmers, whose food supplies are becoming dangerously low. Drifts held them away from all sources of supply. It may be several days before those living on side roads can reach any towns, and transportation can not approach normal before Christmas, it was believed. All rural and many city schools were closed until after the holidays. With reports of suffering from famine came others of sick persons -££3eive-raMf?£l attentiofr. Fred Henney, living near Kendallville, went for almost a day with a fractured arm before it could be set. Physicians are using telephones to prescribe for rural patients. The state highway maintenance department’s force of three thousand ni-.i was enlarged to five thousand, A. H. Hinkle, superintendent, said today. All men available are being hired to operate plows and scoop shovels. Monlicello Cut Off Monticello is isolated by drifts. A state snowplow is stranded three miles east of Monticello, and another plow was sent this morning from Delphi to delieve it. John J. Brown, state highway commission director, issued warnings to motorist against attempting trips into the northern part of the state. Travel is impossible, he said, and stalled automobiles only hinder work of the snowplow crews in clearing the highways. The sixth death in the state resultant from the blizzard occurred near m Porte Thursday night, when Michael Engel, 70, walked in front of an automobile during a blinding snowstorm.

Skull Fractured In Indianapolis, Francis E. Gates, 40, suffered a skull fracture when struck, by an auto driven by Russell Fitch, Danville, in the 4300 block Rockville road Thursday night. C. F. Hattendorf, 59, of 213 Leota street and Southeastern avenue. Twenty inches of water covered state Road 50 at Medora, and traffic was expected to be suspended there today. Eight inches of water on state Road 31, north of Seymour forced state trucks to the scene to pull cars through. Almost all highways north of Indianapolis were blocked at some points by huge drifts. In the La Porte region, state highway employes reported drifts as high as fifteen feet. Air mail and T. A. T. routes were operating for the second day after a week’s vacation because of dense smog over Indiana. COMMITTED TO ASYLUM Mother Confesses Tossing Child, Five Weeks Old, Over Cliff. By United Press LONACONING, Md., Dec. 20. Mrs. Marlon Izzett, 40, was committed to an insane asylum for the insane here today after confessing she threw her 5-weeks-old child over a forty-foot cliff into a furnace pit. A coroner’s jury reported the child died of “bruises, malnutrition and exposure.” Mrs. Izzett was said by her physician to have been despondent since the birth of the child.

She confided in friends that she intended to divorce her husband, a graduate of a Tennessee medical college, because of another woman. She met him in her attorney’s office Thursday night and plans for a divorce were called ofi. She rushed into his arms and he embraced her. "We belong to different races,”

Like Their Blizzard

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A blizzard is not all hardships. Just ask George F. Miller, 115 Leona street (upper left) who has been waiting this chance with his “one hoss’ shay”—eliminating radiator troubles. Coasting is great on the hills near the city as is attested by

50 ARE HURT IN SUBMPANIC Short Circuit Spark Cause of Fright. ill/ United Press NEW YORK, Dec. 20.—The spark of a short circuit caused a panic on an inbound Bridge Plaza train of the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Company today and sent hundreds of passengers scurrying through a smoke-clouded tunnel under the East river. Transit company officials reported fifty person had been treated at an amergency first aid station at the Queensborough Plaza station, but said none of the injured was hurt seriously. Sixteen of the fifty subsequently were taken to St. John’s hospital, Long Island City, where it was said their conditions were not critical. John Corbey, motorman of the train, said he just had taken his cars into the tunnel that leads to Manhattan. It was the height of the rush hours, passengers were packed in tightly and the train was proceeding at a moderate speed. Suddenly there was a flash on the floor of the tunnel and smoke rolled up into the first car. Corbey threw on his emergency brakes. The smoke brought panic; passengers shoved through the narrow car doors toward the rear of the train; screaming women smashed at windows with their fists and the air was thick with flying glass. GIRL IS jm VICTIM Child Succumbs, Result of Stove Burns Dec. 2. Sarah Ann Winburn, 2-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Winburn, died in city hospital early today from burns suffered Dec. 2 in her home at 3411 Carson avenue. Playing in the kitchen, the little girl clambered on a chair on which w’ere hung several articles of clothing. It toppled against a red-hot stove and the clothing ignited. Mrs. Winburn and a neighbor carried Sarah Ann, and her three small brothers, Glenn, Charles and Joseph, from the blazing kitchen. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 8 10 a. m..... 9 7a. m 8 11 a. m 9 Ba. m 8 12 (noon).. 10 9a. m 8 Ip. m 11

he told reporters, “but we both are intelligent and our love surmounts any racial barrier.” They first met three years ago, when she came west to seek fame as a motion picture player. She was beaten in her home one night when she surprised robbers. Dr. Nelson was called to treat her wounds. They developed a friendship and then a romance. They were married in Ha Juana.

Entered as Second-Class Matter at 1 ostoffice, Indianapolis

the five youngsters pictured on their toboggan. They are, left to right, Lorene Payne, James Duvall, Lindabelle Brocket, Richard Small and Charles Payne. Just as happy are Russell Menhennett and Robert Laycock (right) as they prepare for an-

Birds Needy “Give the birds a Christmas present” was the plea today of the Audubon Society. Birds are starving to death with the ground covered with snow, the society stated, urging citizens to place food outdoors for the feathered tribes.

SLAYER CONFESSES Leads Police to Log Tomb of Sweetheart. Bu United Press ROANOKE, Va„ Dec. 20.—Buren Harmon, who led police to a log tomb, where they found the body of his sweetheart, faced murder charges today, sullen and nervous. “I guess she’s dead by now,” he admitted as he watched police remove a pile of logs and reveal the body of Freeda Bolt, 18-year-old school girl. A rope encircled her neck. Miss Bolt left her boarding house in Willis, near here, a week ago, saying she was “going away to be married.” KIZER TO BE COACH Succeeds Phelan at Purdue, Reports Indicate. By Times Svccial LAFAYETTE, Ind., Dec. 20.Noble Kizer is the new head football coach of Purdue university, it was learned here today. He succeeds James Phelan, who resigned recently to accept a more lucrative berth at the University of Washington, Seattle. * Kizer has been assistant to Phelan several years and has been line coach of the Boilermakers. He formerly was a star at Notre Dame and learned his football under Knute Rockne. Many midwest grid critics have given kizer much credit for developing the strong Purdue line the past season that was a big factor in the Boilermakers capturing the Western Conference championship, the first time In history for the Lafayette institution. Gen. Houston’s Drummer Dies CHICAGO, Dec. 20.—Richard Evans, a drummer boy for General Sam Houston in the war with Mexico, is dead here at 92. He recalled when Chicago had only six houses not made of logs, and when wolves roamed the streets day and night

FOR some time they lived here and associated with Miss Worthing’s friends, although her friends did not know that her husband had Negro blood. Miss Worthing, fancying slights, gradually withdrew. Finally she came to live in the “black belt” with her husband, the one-time owner of the “Humming Bird,” most famous of Los Angeles' black and tan night clubs,

CONGRESSMAN AMONG FIVE KILLED AS AIRPLANE TWISTS INTO NOSE DIVE AND CRASHES

other swift ride at Coffin golf course. Below (left) is a snowy view of the long steps at the Coffin course, and (right) Harold McClure, Coffin course manager, putting for the eighteenth, despite a heavy handicap by Old Man Winter.

FOUR FREED IN OZARKIORDER' Jury Finds Connie Franklin Still Is Alive. MOUNTAIN VIEW, Ark., Dec. 20.—Connie Franklin’s obstreperous “ghost” has been laid and the most baffling mystery in Ozark history solved by the verdict of a Jury of mountaineers acquitting four men of his “murder.” Twenty hours the twelve good men and true of the hill country labored with the case before they agreed Thursday night that Connie Franklin had not been murdered. Thrice they went to Judge S. M. Bones for aid. Two of the four defendants, Hubert Hester and Herman Greenway, face trial next May, however, on a charge of assaulting Tiller Ruminer, the 17-year-old Ozark girl who claimed her sweetheart, Franklin, was beaten to death and his body burned on a brushpile by the four last March 9. “Shucks, I knew all the time 1 was Connie Franklin and not some other feller,” Conrtie said with a grin after the verdict had been brought in. “But I don’t never aim to marry Tiller now,” he added. Tiller Ruminer had denied all along that the “murdered man” was the Connie Franklin who had "soarked” with her and who was with her the night they set out to get a marriage license. Cheers burst from the court room, packed to the doors with woodsmen from the hills and visitors from all over the region, when the jury foreman drawled his "not guilty” report. THREE DIEJN CRASH Five Others Injured in Auto Accident. By United Press BAKERSFIELD, Cal., Dec. 20. Three persons were killed and five others were Injured when three automobiles and a truck piled up on the Golden State highway, twenty miles south ->f here during a heavy fog today. The dead; Mrs. N. S. Osborne, Los Angeles, wife of N. S. Osborne, X-ray specialist; Maxine Osborne, 18, daughter; Edna Mitchell, 18, Brawley, CaL

Miss Worthing formerly was a Ziegfeld Follies girl and she once was reported engaged to B. C. Tomlinson, son of a prominent New York attorney. She played here in "Don Juan,” with John Barrymore, and in “The Swan,” with Adolphe Menjou. Harrison Fisher, the noted portrait artist, once said she had “the most beautiful profile in America.’*

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Representative Kaynor Dls as Huge Fokker Falls After Takeoff. MOTOR FAILS SUDDENLY, Tragedy Occurs as Party Leaves Washington on Holiday Jaunt. By United Press WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.—One of the worst airplane tragedies of the year occurred here today at Bolling field, when five men, including Representative Kaynor (Rep., Mass.) and his secretary, Stanley B. Lowe, were killed instantly. They were bound to arrange family Christmas festivities when their lives were crushed out without an instant’s warning. The dead: Representative William K. Kaynor, Springfield, Mass., member of the house military affairs committee. Stanley B. Lowe, 40. his secretary, Springfield, Mass., former newspaper man. Captain Harry A. Dinger, crack army pilot. Private Vladimir Kuwma, army air corps. Arthur A. McGill, friend of Representative Kaynor. First Time in Air The party had planned first to go to Springfield, Mass., where Lowe ! was to see his new-born baby and bring his family back to Washington for Christmas. Later it was planned to inspect national guard units at Hartford. It was Lowe’s first time in the air. It all happened with sickening swiftness. The giant three-motored Fokker just had taken off from Bollinf field, and had risen 300 feet in the air. Gracefully It began to curve toward the north, when suddenly one motor failed and the huge craft shot downward. In a second the tragedy was complete. The Fokker hit the ground not more than seventy-four feet from where Lieutenant Cuddihy, ace navy j nilot, crashed a few weeks ago. That i hole now is marked with two red flags. Not Buried Far Unlike Cuddihy’s plane, the Fokker was not buried far into the ground. It hit first on the right side, burying the right motor and wheel. The center motor was buried just level with the ground, while the left motor made a two-foot hole in the ground and then bounced back. The rear part of the fuselage and the roar part of the cabin were left intact. The cabin door was not touched. The glass in the door was not broken. Some of the chairs in the cabin were not even scratched. Dinger and Kuwma were in the cockpit. They were killed instantly. Dinger’s watch stopped at 9:35 a- m. The three men, riding in the cabin, were thrown forward when the plane hit and also were killed instantly. Although the fore part of the plane was smashed badly, there was little difficulty in getting the bodies out. Wreckage Cleaned Up Within half an hour after the crash, the fusilage had been dragged out by a tractor to a dump on the edge of the field. Soldiers were busy digging out the motor and the wreckage was all cleaned up by 10:30. Officials and fellow congressmen were stunned by the accident. President Hoover learned of it from Secretary of War Hurley, who was on his way to the cabinet meeting when he heard of the crash. Mayor-General Summerall, chief of staff, said Captain Dinger was one of the best pilots in the army air corps. For that reason he had been selected to fly planes bearing oengressmen on special missions. Little could be learned about McGill, an intimate friend of Kaynor. He left a forwarding address in the name of Mrs. Sullivan Burgess, Scarsdale, N. Y. Asked for Plane Representative Kaynor asked Assistant Secretary of War Davison Thursday for a plane to take him to Massachusetts. Davison assigned his own plane for the trip—the tri-motored Fokker. It was fitted especially with a desk and Davison had flown thousands of miles in it, usually taking his stenographer and using the plane as a aerial office. Davison personally selected Captain Dinger as the pilot because of his high reputation. Eye-witnesses declared the takeoff was perfect and that in starting the turn at the heighth he did. Captain Dinger was doing the customary thing. BYRD BILL IS PASSED Senate Approves Promotion Resolution Without Debate. Bp r nit'd Pres* _ __ WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.—The Swanson bill raising Commander Richard Byrd, scientific explorer, to the rank of rear admiral on the retired list of the navy, was passed unanimously without debate In the senate today. It now goea to tb*# house.

Outside Msrloa County Cent#