Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 205, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 January 1930 — Page 1
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TAYLOR DEATH KEY WITNESS TELLSSTORY Ex-Convict, Long in Hiding, Declares Movie Star Slew Director. TRIES TO GO STRAIGHT Informant of United Press Says Noted Victim Had Turned Squealer. BV FRANK 11. BARTHOLOMEW { nitrrl Press Staff C orrespondent (Copyright. 1930. bv United Press) SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 6.—Otis Hefner, missing key witness in the William Desmond Taylor murder mystery, was found today by the United Press. Hefner is the man who former Governor Friend William Richardson said had revealed to him the name of the person who murdered the famous motion picture director in February, 1922. He is believed to be the man to whom Buron Fitts, Los Angeles district attorney, referred two weeks ago when he said: “We have reconstructed the scene of the killing and we have built an almost perfect case. Only one link remains to be filled.” Found* by George E. Powers, a reporter for the United Press. Hefner repeated and amplified the disclosures made to the Governor and the state prison board secretly in 1926, which resulted in his release from Folsom penitentiary to save his life. Answers Press Questions These disclosures, intended by the Governor for presentation to the Los Angeles grand jury, leaked out prematurely, and, in the opinion of the state parole board, placed Hefner in danger of assassination at the hands of members of the dope ring in prison. Found in civic life under another name, supporting his invalid wife and baby, Hefner answered these direct questions put to him by the United Press: Q—Do you know' anything of the murder of William Desmond Tay- | lor? A—Yes. Q—Do you know who committed the murder? A—Yes. Q —Who was it? A—(He named a motion picture celebrity.) Q —How do you know this? Mixed With Dope Ring A—l was mixed up along with Edward Sands, formerly employed by Taylor, as valet. In a dope ring In southern California. Sands was delivering dope to Taylor. The night Taylor was murdered. I went with Sands to Taylor’s house. We saw leaving the premises, and a few minutes later Sands discovered Taylor’s body. Q —When was this. A—About 2 a. m.. Feb. 2, 1922. Q —Do you know' of any motive for the murder? A—Yes. I heard direct threats against Taylor’s life because he had turned “rat” and was informing on the dope ring. Also, Sands tqld me that Taylor was in trouble because of his love affairs. Q—Have you ever told this to officials? A—Yes, in 1926 I made a full statement for Governor Richardson to Thomas M. Gannon and other officials of the state prison board and offered to appear before the Los Angeles grand jury. Wants to Go Straight Hefner, tall, lean and bronzed, asserted that since his release from Folsom penitentiary he had been attempting to re-establish himself as a good citizen. “I'm still willing to go before the Los Angeles grand jury and tell what I know, to clear up this •ight-year-old mystery," he said. ’’l hope it can be done if it is absolutely necessary—without subjecting my wife to humiliation and sacrificing the place I've now won back by three years of hard work and no play. I don't want to be known as an ex-con. My new identity is clean. I've worked hard to make it so.”
102 ARE ARRAIGNED BEFORE JUDGE COLLINS 51 of Defendant* in County Jail; Others at Liberty Under Bond. Arraignment of 102 persons charged with crimes was held today by Criminal Judge James A Collins. Fifty-one defendants, including four women, are being held at the county jtil and the remaining number are at liberty under bond. Pleas of not guilty were entered by a majority of the defendants and dates for their trials were set. Walter Shepard, 27. Sulllivan. who was identified as the "hitch-hiker" who held up Deputy Prosecutor Harry Gause near Riverside park June. 1928. offered to plead guilty to a charge of robbery when arraigned, but withdrew the plea on advice from his counsel. He admitted having stolen Clause's automobile, which he said he drove until he was arrested last week. He was identified lot Qausa
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The Indianapolis Times Cloudy tonight and Tuesday; rain changing to snow; much colder, cold wave Tuesday or Tuesday night; temperature 5 above.
VOLUME 41—NUMBER 205
Policemen Promoted and Demoted
Captain Jesse Mc.Murtry, retained in same rank.
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Major Lewis Johnson, reduced to traffic captain.
COLD WAVE FOR CITY PREDICTED Mercury 5 Degrees Above, Tuesday Forecast. Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m 45 10 a. m 51 7a. m 46 11 a. m,.... 53 Ba. m 48 12 (noon).. 54 9 a. m 49 1 p. m 55 A cold wave, working its way southeast from the Canadian Rockies, probably will strike Indiana and Indianapolis late Tuesday, bringing some snow and temperatures ranging from zero to 10 degrees above, J. H. Armington, United States weather bureau meteorologist, forecast today. In this city the meroury is expected to go as low as 5 degrees above zero, while in northern sections of the state sub-zero temperatures may be experienced, he said. Snow will be light, borne on high winds from the northwest. Abnormal temperatures have prevailed in the midwest since Christmas, reaching 50 degreees and above here and in other points. Rain, changing to snow, was predicted for Tuesday morning and early afternoon. Strong southerly winds then w'ill shift to the northwest and bring dow'n the intense cold, according to Armington. Temperature here at 7 a. m. was 46 degrees. At the corresponding hour Tuesday it probably will be near or below freezing, said Armington. CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS 13 DAYS AFTER WORLD Millions of Greek Orthodox Believers Cling to Old Calendar. Bv United Prrsx , . MOSCOW. Jan. 6.—Millions of Greek orthodox believers tonight, thirteen days after the rest of the Christian w’orld. will celebrate their Christmas eve. The Russian churches I have clung to the Julian calendar, thirteen days behind the Gregorian calendar used throughout the world. A vigorous anti-religious propaganda has been in progress throughout the Soviet Union for weeks, aiming to keep the peasants from the churches tonight and Tuesday. While tens of thousands no doubt have been impressed deeply by this propaganda, the mass of faithful will attend services as in past years.
Hide-and-Seek Bv r nited Preen CHICAGO, Jan. 6.—Hideand seek, the way the McClatchies played it, was a typically Scotch game, the wife claimed in her suit for divorce. Gilva Rae McClatchie. the husband, hid 75 cents in odd places about the house each morning, Mrs. Mable Tagley McClatchie charged. If she found it, they had something to eat If she did not. he put it back in his pocket and they went hungry. In seventeen years of married life, the husband, an office manager bought her but one dress, according to the wife’s charge.
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Lieutenant Herman Rademacher, promoted to captain of detectives.
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Lieutenant Patrick O’Connor, promoted to uniformed captain.
Detective John Mullen, promoted to uniformed captain.
Coroner Jr. Coroner Charles H. Keever of 5216 College avenue, accustomed to emergency calls, was subject to one today in which the stork played the leading role. A son was born to the coroner and Mrs. Keever at the Methodist hospital.
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS WILL HOLD LUNCHEON Presentation of Banners Scheduled for Jackson Day Event. Democratic leaders of the city and county will attend a Jackson day luncheon at the Indiana Democratic Club Wednesday. Herbert Spencer, city prosecutor will be the principal speaker. Spencer will present the club two Jefferson banners which were the property of the Gray Club, the first Democratic club of the city. They bear the dates of 1882 and were used in election parades in Indianapolis during many campaigns. The banners will be received by Jack Strickland, president of the Indiana Democratic Club. MOTHER RESCUES FOUR Fifth Child Suffocated In Burning Home; Two in Hospital. Bv United Press CONNEAUT. 0., Jan. 6.—Mrs. James Scribner smashed a window and staggered through smoke and fire to save four or her five children from their burning home here today. The fifth, Florence, 5, was suffocated. The five children, were imprisoned in the home, two-story building. Joseph. 3, and Alva, 3 months were severly burned and are in a hospital. Thomas, 13, and Martin 6. were instructed to jump from a second-story window by their mother and escaped injury. Deportation Ordered pv Timex Pveeial MARION, Ind., Jan. 6—Selah Mahood. captured by Marion police and sheriff’s officers near here Nov. 26 after a struggle, will be deported to Palestine, according to information received by Police Chief Lewis Lindemuth from S. D. Smith, district director of tm migration at Chicago.
INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1930
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Detective Herbert Fletcher, promoted to major of police.
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Lieutenant Otto Pettit, promoted to uniformed captain.
EPIDEMIC TOLL INCREASED TWO Three Additional Meningitis Cases Are Reported. Two deaths, Saturday and today, raised the total victims of spinal meningitis here to forty-five, while three additional cases reported to city health authorities left twentyone active cases in the city, all in city hospital. Raymond Starks, 33, of 23 East McCarty street. Apt. 3, reported ill Sunday, died at city hospital early today, Lamon Brooks, 24, Negro, 1230 North Senate avenue, died in city hospital Saturday. New cases are: Thomas Coleman, 7, Negro, 2436 Indianapolis avenue; Rose Krappes, 14, of 735 North Warman avenue, and George Dancy, 8, of 716 West Ohio street. All private, parochial and public schools in the city today began an extra week’s holiday ordered by Dr. Herman G. Morgan, city health commissioner, because of the epidemic which medical science has been fighting here more than a month. Butler university, John Herron art institute, Indiana university extension school and other institutions also are to remain closed, at least until Wednesday. Almost all large gatherings of young people have been abandoned, pending a lull in the epidemic. One fatality from the disease was reported in Hammond, when John Betrow, 9, died Sunday. Kokomo health officials said they discovered three cases there, and four were recorded in Connersville.
FORCE IS NECESSARY IN SMUGGLER WAR Coast Guard Commandant States Severe Methods Essential. Bv United Press WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.—Force is essential in the fight to check smuggling, Rear Admiral Billard, coast guard commandant, indicated Sunday night in a radio address here. The coast guard must either use force against the smugglers, he said, ‘or wait for the smuggler to be kind and gracoius enough to accede to the command of the United States to stop.” He pointed out the coast guard does not enforce the Volstead act, but is concerned only in checking the importation of contraband of any kind, together with its lifesaving activities. He made no mention of the recent killing of three men at Newport, R. 1., attempting to land contraband liquor. FIRE DAMAGE $200,000 Flames Sweep Home of Board Head of St:el Corporation. B'J I'nit ft* Prraa PITTSBURGH, Jan. 6. Fire originating in a Christmas tree illuminating outfit today swept the home of E. T. Weir, chairman of the board of the National Steel Corporation and head of the Mudge Weir Securities Company, causing damage estimated at $200,000. Fire, smoke and water caused heavy damage to furnishings of the twelve-room, two-story studio apartIfiCQWk
POLICE SHIFT AS CITY HALL RULECHANGES ! Democratic Members of Force Promoted for New Regime. FLETCHER IS MAJOR Four Important Posts of Works Board Staff Are Filled. Ranking officers in the police department were named today by the Sullivan administration safety board following a series of conferences with Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan and Police Chief Jerry Kinney. Majority of the ranking positions were awarded Democratic members of the department the Republican officers being sent to lower posts or to the ranks. The changes: Detective Herbert Fletcher, Republican, former detective supervisor, was made major of police, the highest ranking office under the chief. He succeeds Major Lewis Johnson, a Democrat, who was reduced to captain, assigned to the traffic bureau. Rademacher Is Captain Herman Rademacher, a Democrat, was promoted from lieutenant of detectives to captain of detectives. Jesse McMurtry, Republican, was the only present captain retained in the uniform division. John Mullen, Democrat, former detective chief during the Shank administration, was promoted from detective to captain. Patrick O’Conner and Otto Pettis, Democrats, were promoted from lieutenant to captain in the uniform division. Sergeants John Sheehan, Michael Morrisey and Marion Van Sickle, all Democrats, were promoted to lieutenants. Lieutenants Ed Helm,, George Cox, custodian, and Frank Owen, accident prevention, will retain their present rank. Lieutenant Albert Parrott, assigned to director of the Bertillon department, was retained. Hynes Is Promoted Detective Sergeant Michael Hynes was promoted to lieutenant of detectives. Captains Walter Claffey, O. D. Thomas and Leonard Forsythe, Republicans, were reduced to lieutenants. Lieutenants Fred Drinkut and Ray Pope, Democrats, and Victor Houston, Republicans, were reduced to first grade patrolmen. Lieutenant Eugene Shine, assigned to traffic, and Sergeant William Rowe, Democrats, were retained and Trafflcman Anthony Sweeney, Democrat, was promoted to sergeant. Detective Sergeant Donald Tooley, Democrat, was promoted to detective lieutenant, replacing Rademacher, elevated to captain in the place of Edward Samuels, who was demoted, Hynes replaces Lieutenant Frank Reynolds, Democrat, who was demoted to detective. Lieutenant Ralph Dean, democrat, was demoted to the ranks in the uniformed division. Five Held Over Five lieutenants were held over, three promoted and five demoted. Police Chief Claud M. Worley turned over the chief’s office to Police Chief Jerry Kinney today and became a private citizen. He sent his resignation from the department to the safety board. The safety board planned to offer Worley a lieutenancy in the detective department until it was learned he intended to resign. Worley made no announcement of his plans for the future. Fill Four Posts Four important posts in the board of works staff were filled today by the new Sullivan works board. E. Kirk McKinney, board president, announced the appointments. Wilbur H. Winship, 45, of 1701 Broadway, formerly manager of the Baker Icing Machine Company, Speedway City, was appointed street commissioner, succeeding Charles A. Grossart. Both are Democrats. The post pays $3,300 salary. J. J. Gates, 39, who has been in the automobile business for the last fifteen years, was named garage superintendent, replacing Fabian W. Biemer. Both are Democrats. John D. Shea, custodian of the statehouse under the administration of the late Governor Samuel Ralston, was given the custodianship of city hall. He succeeds Christ Hoffman, Slack appointee. Salary is SI,BOO. Retention of Ernest F. Frick, works board clerk under Slack, was anounced. His salary is $3,600. PERSHING TO BE ‘33D’ General, Boomed for Senate Race, Honored by Masonic Lodge. Bv United Pren WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.—General John J. Pershing, commander of the American expeditionary forces during the World war, will receive the thirty-third degree, the highest honor in Masonry, at a special ceremony her* tod%g
Entered as Second-Class Matter at Fostoffice, Indianapolis
Mayor of Indianapolis
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IDENTITY OF SLAIN MAN IS MYSTERY
Police Check Meager Clews on Clothing of Victim Found in Street. Efforts of police today to trace laundry and dry cleaners’ marks to establish identity of a man found injured fatally at East and Market streets Sunday night failed. Bert PaiTOtt, police department Bertillon expert, compared the dead man’s fingerprints with those on recora at headquarters to no avail. The prints then were taken to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in the Statehouse for further inspection. The body of the man, at the Moore & Kirk funeral parlors, 2530 Station street, had been viewed by several hundred persons without identification. Believing the man was near home when he was slugged, a check of rooming houses in the vicinity was being made. A further check of laundries and dry cleaners also was being carried on. With three theories, police were attempting to solve the murder, hampered by lack of identity of the victim. Fight Is Suspected That a fight in a nearby rooming house may have ended in fatal injury of the man was one theory. Another was that holdup men had slugged the man as he walked along the street. The third was that his body had been brought to the spot in an automobile. Theodore Wells of 841 Broadway, filling station attendant at Market and East streets, reporting to police he saw two suspicions appearing men pass the station twice shortly before the body was found. They went down an alley near by, he said He watched them, fearing a holdup of the station. Police today were investigating, but discounted, a report of an abandoned truck at the stockyards in which a blood-stained club was found. First belief the man had been struck by an automobile were discounted today. No injuries were found on his body except for a wound, caused by a blunt instrument, on his head. His clothing was not tom or soiled. Woman Phones Police Mrs. Maude Raymond, 134 North Blast street, telephoned police at 10:35 Sunday night that a man, probably struck by an automobile, was lying in the street. Police Investigated and found the man’s body, his head and shoulders in the gutter and his body on the sidewalk. He died at city hospital without regaining consciousness. His pockets were empty. Clothier’s tags were missing from the sweater he wore, but police could not determine whether they had been removed recently. The victim was about 40 years old, 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighed about 155 to 160 pounds, of slim, wiry build, had a scar in his upper lip, three scars on his left hip (similar to vaccination marks), a scar on his right )me and a recent cut on
Reginald 11. Sullivan
The Lineup Mayor—Reginald H. Sullivan. Ciiy Clerk—Henry O. Goett. City Council —Ernest C. Ropkey, James A. Houck, Leo F. Welch, Charles Morgan, Carl A. Hildebrand, Clarence I. Wheatley (Democrats), and Maurice Tennant, Fred C. Gardner and George A. Henry (Republicans.) City Controller —Sterling R. Holt. Corporation Counsel Edward H. Knight. City Attorney—James E. Deery. Park Board Attorney—Russell J. Ryan. Purchasing Agent—Albert H. Losche. Board of Safety—Charles R. Myers. Frank C. Dailey and Donald S. Morris. Police Chief —Jeremiah E. Kinney. Fire Chief—Harry E. Voshell. Board of Works —E. Kirk McKinney, Louis C. Brandt and Charles O. Britton. City Engineer—Alfred H. Moore. Building Commissioner William F. Hurd. Market Master—Harry R. Springsteen. Secretary to Mayor—Walter W. Watson.
his right thumb. He had brown eyes and dark brown hair, thin on top. and had a two-day growth of beard. His teeth were irregular. He wore a brown vest, a blue work shirt, a heavy dark sweater, a light gray cap, dark blue trousers, black hose and black low shoes. On his left forearm was a small tattooed dove carrying a scroll with the initials "M. T. G.” STATION KWKH SCORED Senator Dfll Demands Broadcast of Profanity Be Stopped. Bv United Press WASHINGTON Jan. 6.—A demand that the attorney-general take steps to prosecute Station KWKH, Shreveport, La„ on a charge of broadcasting profanity was made in the senate today by Senator Dill (Dem„ Wash.), author of the radio control act. Dill said he heard the profanity, on a train west of Minneapolis last Friday and produced a letter from L. K. Walters, Minneapolis, also protesting. "It would not be so bad if it had not been the owner of the station, Mr. Henderson,, who was broadcasting,” the senator said. PERSHING WILL NOT RUN Famous War General Is Not a Candidate for Senate. Bv l~nitrd Press WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.—General John J. Pershing has decided not to be a candidate for the United States senate from Nebraska. Pershing has made no public expression of his Intention, but his associates here were positive today he would not oppose Senator Norris for the Republican nomination. Pershing’s refusal to join in a political contest is believed to have been made known to friends In Nebraska who suggested that he op£QK KfiOtfc
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SULLIVAN IS INAUGURATED AS CITY CHIEF Brief Rites Mark Opening of New Indianapolis Administration. OATH GIVEN BY FATHER Council Organizes at First Session: Ropkey Named President. Other inauguration New* on Pace Two. With a brief, simple inaugural ceremony, Reginald H. Sullivan, 53, Democratic attorney, today became the twenty-fourth mayor of Indianapolis. The oath of office was administered by Thomas L. Sullivan, 83-year-old father of the city’s new chief executive, who was granted a special notary public commission to qualify him to administer the oath. City council chamber on the fourth floor of city hall was the scene of the official change of administrations. Members of the incoming council were in their seats, with scores of friends of city officials as onlookers. Police Chief Jerry Kinney, Sullivan’s appointee, assigned a police squad to handle the crowd. L. Ert Slack, who was elected in 1927 following bribery scandals at city hall, opened the Inauguration ceremony with a brief speech. It was the first time in the city’s history that a Democratic mayor turned over the reins of government to a member of his party.
Mayor’s Father Acts The participation of Thomas L. Sullivan, who served the city as Its fifteenth mayor from 1890-1893, added color to the occasion, appropriately linking the present with the “'old days.” The mayor of forty years ago was inaugurated in a small room in the basement of the present courthouse, All city offices being housed there before erection of the present city hall at Alabama and Ohio streets. “We accept the responsibility placed upon us and must not fail in the fulfillment of our trust,” Sullivan said in a brief speech. “We must do our utmost to give an honest and efficient administration of public affairs.” The new cheif executive pleaded for “complete harmony” among the several branches of government, that the “best results might be obtained.” Sullivan commended the work of Slack and the councilmen "who brought order out of chaos and restored the confidence of the people of Indianapolis.” Slack will return to his private law practice. After the ceremony, Sullivan retired to the mayor’s office on the second floor, to receive congratulations and greetings from friends. Relatives Are Present Mrs. Slack, Mrs. Mary L. Sullivan and Mrs. John E. Howlett, sisters of Sullivan, and Dr. Thomas L. Sullivan Jr„ brother of the new mayor, occupied special seats at the ceremony. The council chamber and balcony were jammed with spectators and many were forced to remain outside in corridors. The mayor's office was fillled with floral tributes. After he swore in his son as mayor, Thomas L. Sullivan was introduced and made a brief speech. “Today culminates a jubilee season for Indianapolis,” he said. "It is the duty henceforth of the city governing family to preserve and increase the good-will of citizens toward the administration.” The incoming council held Its first official session at noon today to organize. City Clerk Henry O. Goett, Democrat, administered the oath of office to the new administration members. Ernest C. Ropkey, 22 North Audubon road. Democrat, and president of the Indianapolis Engraving Company, was elected president of the council. The Rev. Carl Hildebrand was elected president pro tem. Business Session Tonight The first business session is scheduled for tonight, following a dinner at the Indianapolis Athletic Club at which the councilmen will be guests of the retiring aldermen. New councilmen are Ropkey, Leo Welch, Charles Morgan, the Rev. Carl A. Hildebrand, James A. Houck and Clarence I. Wheatley, Democrats, and George Henry, Fred C. Gardner and Maurice E. Tennant, Republicans. Organization conferences were held by several new boards following the inauguration. Police Chief Jerry Kinney, who was promoted by Sullivan from detective chief to head of the department, was given the chief’s badge by Claude M. Worley, retiring chief. Struck by Hit-Run Driver W. T. Rhoads, 78, of 3524 East Tenth street, street car motorman, was struck by a hit and run driver at the McClain place car bams today as he left his car to change a trolley. He was taken to city hospita]
Oufulde Marlon County 3 Cents