Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 235, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 February 1930 — Page 1

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GUNS BLAZE AS COPS WAR ON GANGSTERS ‘Cleanup’ Drive Continued by Chicago Police; 1,000 Arrested. TWO YOUTHS ARE SLAIN Shots Are Exchanged With Holdup Men in North Shore Hotel. BV RAY BLACK United Press Staff Correspondent CHICAGO, Feb. 10.—A strategic victory was claimed by police today tn their offensive against gangland, although of the approximately 1,000 persons arrested not one was a ranking officer in the host of racket sharpshooters, machine gunners, "pineapple’’ hurlers and underworld uhlans that has made the city streets its "no man’s land.” Two murders and three shootings occurred as police picketed the city, rounding up hoodlums, known criminals and suspicious characters. The eighth and ninth killing in ten days of street war came when an automobile load of intoxicated youths aroused the ire of a machine load of Negroes. Guns blazed from the Negroes’ car and two of the youths were wounded mortally. Anthony Kilburg, 20, slumped over the steering wheel, and Herbert Gers, 19, slid to the floor from the back seat. 451 Pass in Parade Under the arc lights at the detective bureau Sunday 451 prisoners passed in parade. The remainder of the 917 had satisfied authorities they had no connection with the crime wave and were released. Os the suspects who walked through the gigantic “show-up,” while police, newspaper men and victims of holdups, robberies, kidnapings, sluggings and assaults looked on, there were 271 with police records. “These drives are to continue without letup.” Police Commissioner William F. Russell said. "The police are going to kill these hoodlums, put them in prison or drive them out of the city. I am tired of having a lot of cheap gun carriers think they can rule a big city like Chicago.” Police Guns Roar Police exchanged shot for shot with the gunmen in the drive. At the Orrington hotel on the north shore, officers fought a pistol battle with three youths, who just had held up the clerk and a guest. The trio. Oliver Dilworth, Arthur Miller, and George Sturgeon, and a fourth, Roscoe Kilpatrick, who waited in an automobile outside, were among those in the show-up. James Riley and Thomas Sawyer, both of Detroit, were shot and wounded w’hen they tried to rob Policeman Herman Heyers. Detective Frank Vitek was shot in the hand when he sought to question four men in an automobile. He emptied his gun at them.

RUSH SERUM TO CHILD Police Car I'sed in Effort to Save Baby, 111 With Mastoiditis. Rv T'nited Press BROOKLYN, N. Y„ Feb. 10.—A police motor car, with all traffic cleared before it, today was called upon to bring from a Manhattan hospital a quantity of anti-strepto-coccus serum with which it was hoped to save the life of a child in Trinity hospital here. Trinity officials declined to make know the name of the patient, wno is 2Vi and suffering from mastoiditis. JANE GIBSON IS BURIED Famed ‘Tig Woman” Laid in Final Resting Place Before 11 Persons. Ru l nited Press JERSEY CITY. N. J., Feb. 10.— Out of the millions of persons to whom Jane Gibson was a familiar figure in the Hall-Mills murder case three years ago, there were only seventeen to follow her to her grave today Three of them were policemen, who were there because they had been so ordered. Mrs. Gibson died from cancer. CLERKS. TYPIST NAMED liutsel] Discharges Employes and Announces New Appointees. Appointment of three clerks to succeed those discharged last week •‘for the good of the service" was announced today by County Clerk George O. Hutsell. Miss Mary Peaks will succeed Mrs. Stella Cobum as typist at a SI,OOO yearly salary. Miss Fay White will succeed Miss Clara Henry as transcript clerk, and Mrs. F. M. Kem will be copy clerk in placeof Mrs. ! Alice Richards. Salaries of the latter two appointees are $1,500 and $1,200 yearly. Saved by Aerobatic Cop Ru United Pres* * CHICAGO. Feb. 10.—Practice on the trapeze he used to keep in his back yard helped Policeman Anton Scharek rescue a man who fell inZo the river. The officer hung by his knees from a bridge support and caught Lawrence Renkai as he was swept under it.

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VOLUME 41—NUMBER 235

U. S. PROPOSAL TO BUILD BIG WARSHIP IS PARLEY BOMB

Stimson’s Secrecy Criticised Energetically by Other Delegates; Contemplated Craft to Be Armed Heavily. BY RAYMOND CLAPPER United Press Staff Correspondent LONDON, Feb. 10.—The United States has proposed to Great Britain that America be permitted to build one new battleship equal to the British battleship Rodney, it was learned today on highest authority. The proposal was made in the recent memorandum outlining the United States’ position and needs. The Rodney, completed in 1927, Is a 33,900-ton' ship, oil burning and armed with nine 16-inch guns, twelve 6-inch guns, six 4.7-inch guns and twenty-eight smaller weapons. %

CHARGE LOVER WITHAKRIME Police Claim Confession in ‘Jealousy’ Murder. By United Press MUSKEGON, Mich., Feb. 10.— Forest E. Weaver, 29, was up for arraignment today on a charge of murdering Mrs. Gladys Erhardt, pretty 20-year-old divorcee, whose body, cut in several pieces and buried in the snow, was found Friday night. Sheriff William Tssue declared that Weaver confessed to the murder. Tissue said Weaver told him he and Mrs. Erhardt were skiing Friday night when she told him she no longer loved him. Tissue quoted Weaver as saying he cut her body into pieces with an ax and buried them in the snow. Weaver told the sheriff that Mrs. Erhardt had promised to marry him. “Then she told me she loved another,” he said. “I guess I lost my head.” TWO DIE IN AIR DIVE Passenger Ship Crashes at Croydon Landing Field. Bu United Press PARIS, Feb. 10.—The French air union was informed that a French Goliath passenger plane crashed while landing today at Croydon airdrome, near London, and that two persons were reported killed. The plane, carrying three passengers, caught fire and fell at Marden, near Croydon, the advices said. In addition to the two reported killed, one occupant of the plane was injured. The plane was en route from Le Bourget field, near Paris, to Croydon. In addition to the passengers, the plane carried a pilot and two mechanics. The passengers were a Mr. and Mrs. Hodge, who were on their honeymoon, and a Mr. Curzon. Their nationalities were not known, and it had not been ascertained which two were killed.

FIGHT MENINGITIS AS MOTHER DIES

Two children, 5 and 2, ill with spinal meningitis in city nospital, were left motherless Sunday when Mrs. Frances Jones, 32, cf 3037 TRAIN KILLS COUPLE Two Other Auto Occupants Injured Seriously. R a United Press GALION, 0., Feb. 10.—Miss Garnett Hazen, 22. of Galion, and Bernard Keither, 32, of Crestline, were killed today and two others were seriously injured when their automobile collided with an express train on the Erie railroad here. The injured: Miss Dorothy Craner, 24, Galion, and Willard Klahn, 30, Crestline. The train crashed Into the auto at the Erie crossing and earned it several hundred yards up the tracks. The two survivors were carried along, while those killed were thrown clear of the car at the first impact, it was said. Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m 30 10 a. m 29 7a. m 29 11 a. m 30 Ba. m 29 12 (noon).. 31 9a. m 29 Ip. m 32

SENATE GROUP INDORSES HUGHES AS CHIEF JUSTICE

Bu United Press WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—The nomination of Charles Evans Hughes to be chief justice of the supreme court was approved. 10 to 2. by the senate judiciary committee today. Chairman Norris (Rep., Neb.) and Senator Blaine (Rep., Wis.) voted against Hughes. All the Democrats favored confirmation. The committee action virtually

No American vessel is as heavily armed. The American suggestion contemplates the scrapping by Japan of one battleship, by Great Britain of five, and by the United States of three—with the provision that a fourth older ship, such as the Arkansas, for instance, could be replaced by anew battleship of the Rodney type. Built in 1912 The Arkansas and Wyoming were built in 1912, and are armed with twelve 12-inch guns, sixteen 5-inch guns and eight 3-inch guns. This suggestion was contained In the draft of the American proposal submitted to the British and Japanese, but the suggestion of the new American battleship to replace a discarded vessel was suppressed in the summary made public by Henry L. Stimson last week. The United Press learned authoritatively that it is not planned to revive the order in which British ships will be scrapped under the terms of the Washington treaty, but that the British will be expected to go .'traight down the line in their scrapping program, beginning with their older ships. Last of Powers Until confirmation of reports that America would seek to build one new battlship was obtained today, it had been assumed everywhere that the United States would be the last of the powers to propose building any new ships of that type. In ’Stimson’s statement to the public, he made no reference to this proposal, and the inference that there would be no such suggestion was draw:, everywhere until the terms of his secret provision leaked from other quarters. Protests Energetic Confirmation of the proposal to add one battleship to the American navy was obtained in officiar circles only after most energetic protests to Stimson against the policy of secrecy. , Stimson curtly declined to deny or confirm the reports, declaring “we’re not going to turn this into a debating society.” The information then was obtained from other officials, in spite of a written circular issued by Stimson requesting that no one at the American headquarters discuss the matter. It is known that there has been a vigorous protest from within the delegation to Stimson regarding failure to take the American public into his confidence.

Bellefontaine street, died at the hospital with the disease. Funeral services will be held at 4 p. m. today at Crown Hill cemetery. Mrs. Jones and her two children, James, o, and Anna, 2, had been battling the malady for a week, the three members of the family having contracted the disease last Monday. The hospital reported the condition of the children as being slightly improved. The husband, Harold M. Jones, an optometrist, survives her. The death of Mrs. Jones and of Roy Hollowell, Negro, 1030 West Walnut street, brought the total fatalities to sixty-four since Dec 9. There have been 101 cases in Indianapolis and vicinity. ARGUMENT DATE FIXED Supreme Court to Hear Appeal of Murder Case, Feb. 20. Oral argument in the William J. Keifer murder case was set by the Indiana supreme court today for Feb. 20 at 10 a. m. Keifer's case twice has been before the court. It was reversed when he was found guilty of manslaughter in connection with the cSFath of a Kokomo woman. On the retrail he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. First sentence had been two to twenty years.

assures Hughes’ confirmation by the senate. The only important protest against confirmation was filed by Henry L. Doherty, millionaire oil man of New York, head of the Cities Service Corporation. Doherty charged in a letter to Chairman Norris that Hughes’ appointment “will lead to disintegration of the court.**

INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1930

BIG ALKY RING IS UNCOVERED BY UJ. JURY Diversion of One Million Gallons a Year Cited in Indictments. TRUE BILLS NAME 156 List 31 Corporations Also in Alleged 7-Year Dry Conspiracy. Bu United Press CHICAGO, Feb. 10.—The federal grand jury today indicted thirtyone corporations and 156 individuals in disclosing the operations of a nation-wide alcohol ring, which, according to the charges, has been diverting industrial alcohol since 1923. The government charged that 1,000,000 gallons of alcohol a year has been diverted into bootleg channels for seven years.. After Year of Work The indictment returned today, after a year of undercover investigation, covered ninety-six typewritten pages and cited 297 overt acts. The seven-year conspiracy, the government charged, extended from New York to Los Angeles, having branches in Philadelphia, Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis, Minneapolis, St. Paul and North Bergen, N. J. The center of the huge bootleg ring, the indictment charged, was in Chicago. Still Hold Permits Fourteen of the corporations or individuals indicted, still hold permits to withdraw industrial alcohol, the government said in a statement issued with the indictments. Twenty-nine of the corporations or individuals are former permitees, the permits in many cases having been revoked before last July. The alleged central figure in the nation-wide ring is Abastassoff Srebren, a B V?arian chemist who, the indictment charged, found a process by which preparations made from industrial alcohol could be redistilled and the alcohol recovered in its pure state. Alexander O. Jamie, chief of the special government agents, was named as the man mainly responsible for disclosing the conspiracy. He had been working on the case since last July, it was said.

HELD FOR PRISON FIRE Convict Wired Gasoline Can at Canon City Is Charge. By United Press CANON CITY. Colo., Feb. 10.—An unnamed convict, held responsible for the incendiary fire that caused $15,000 damage to the state penitentiary here a week ago, was in solitary confinement today. Colonel Patrick J. Hamrock, newly appointed dictator of the institution, announced he had established that the convict, a former expert electrician, had run wires into a tobacco can, partly filled with gasoline, hidden in the tailor shop. SEEK MURDER VENUE State to Continue Prosecution of Ex-Texas Jurist. By United Press AUSTIN, Tex., Feb. 10.—Motions for anew trial and change of venue from Travis to Williamson county in the case of former Judge John W. Brady, charged with the knife murder of Lehlia Highsmith, court stenographer, came before Judge J. D. Moore for action today. Both motions were advanced by state prosecutors as the result of the dismissal Saturday of a jury that deliberated more than ninetyfive hours on evidence submitted in district court here. The original jury was deadlocked nine for the death penalty, two for life imprisonment and one for acquittal, it was learned. 19 NAMED IN AFFIDAVITS Burglary and Grand Larceny Head List of Crimes Charged. Nine persons were charged with crimes in ten affidavits filed today m criminal court by Prosecutor Judson L. Stark. Burglary and grand, larceny charges headed the list with fourteen defendants. Embezzlement j charges were brought against three I persons, and two others face trial i on assault and battery and bad j check charges. ROBBER FLEES IN PLANE Flying Burglar Makes Escape in Biplane at Airport. By United Press COLUMBUS, 0., Feb. 10.—After looting the offices of Air Express, i Inc., at Port Columbus, today, a flying burglar jumped into a Travel Air biplane, belonging to E. R. Gewart of Newark. 0., and escaped. The robber obtained articles valued at SBBO from the air express office. The plane was valued at SI,BOO. Admiral’s Condition Satisfactory Bu United Press WASHINGTON. Feb. 10.—The condition of Admiral Charles F. Hughes, chief of naval operations, who suffered a mild stroke of paralysis last week, was reported satisfactory today.

‘Gives Hoot ’ for ‘Hoot *

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Sally Eilers Bu United Press HOLLYWOOD, Cal., Feb. 10.—Hoot Gibson, genial cowboy of the movie lots, whose hobby is airplanes, is scheduled for another flier in matrimony. Sally Eilers, actress now appearing in Gibson’s latest film, "Trigger Tricks,” today was flashing the latest thing in diamond rings, admittedly given her by the actor. The couple said they would be married shortly after completion of their picture. Gibson obtained a divorce last week, but Miss Eilers never has been married.

MAN SLUGGED AND ROBBED BY NEGRO

Coal Firm Official Suffers Injuries in Attack; Nab Suspect. Slugged on the head with a heavy railway bolt, wrapped in cloth, by a Negro bandit in the MusselmanSinger Coal Company office at 2075 Martindale avenue, today, O. Frank Musselman, 50, of 2935 North Delaware street, suffered a serious skull fracture. The Negro, giving the name of Henry Franklin, 35, was arrested a short time later, on charges of banditry and with assault and battery with intent to kill. Passersby saw the Negro run from the office and found Musselman on the floor, unconscious. Franklin was arrested as he ran from an alley a few blocks from the scene. The Negro obtained slls in the holdup, according to official records. | Police recovered sll2 when they ar~ | rested him. He made no resistance to arrest. Musselman was taken to city hospital. DEFER FARMERS' AID Board Is Forced to Delay Wheat Surplus Move. By United Press WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—The scheduled meeting of the federal farm board to consider authorizing creation of a $25,000,000 grain stabilization corporation to control the surplus wheat problem has been postponed until Tuesday, it was announced today. The absence of Samuel R. McKeivie, wheat representative cf the board, who is reported returning to Washington to attend the conference, and the sudden illness of Carl Williams, cotton representative, who returned from a tour of the south in order to be present, caused the delay. jCRASH CAUSES BLAST Train Crew Burned When Engine Hits Gasoline Truck. By United Press VENTURA, Cal., Feb. 10.—The south-bound limited of the Southern Pacific lines crashed into the trailer of a gasoline truck at a crossing here today. The fuel carrier exploded, sending flames over the entire train. The only injuries were suffered by the engineer and fireman. Members of the University of Southern California basketball team, returning from a game Saturday with Stanford, were among the passengers who fled in night clothes from their compart- ' meats.

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Fostoffiee, Indianapolis

Dead Broke! THE second largest city in the United States is broke. It is even unable to pay salaries of policemen, firemen and other municipal employes. How did Chicago get into this predicament, how is it going to get out and how can other cities profit by the warning of its example? Bruce Catton, staff writer for The Times and Nea Service, gives the answer in a series of three exclusive stories, the first of which is on Page One, Section Two, today. 1. Why Chicago has no money in its treasury . . . a warning to other cities. 2. “Big Business” takes over a city ... a citizen’s committee comes to the rescue with millions. 3. Curbing bombings and gang murders . . .an unpaid young detective who says he could make $1,000,000 a year in graft. Remember, these stories are to be published exclusively in this city in this newspaper. Watch for them in THE TIMES BEGINNING TODAY

ATTACK CASE STARTED Special Judge to Hear Evidence on Criminal Assault Charge. Selection of a criminal court jury to try George Fellows, 31, Indianapolis, on a charge of criminally assaulting a 10-year-oid girl last summer, was under way today before Special Judge Robert R. Dalton. Deputy Prosecutors Paul Rhoadarmer and William R. Ringer are conducting the state's case. The jury probably w'ill be impaneled late today.

FORCED LANDING OF AIR MAIL PILOT REPORTED

Bu United Prexx ST. PAUL, Feb. 10.—Colonel L. H. Brittain, president of Northwest Airways, today announced he had been informed Maurice Miller, air plane pilot, missing in the northern Minnesota wilderness, is safe at Oak Island, Minn., after a forced landing. More than sixty miles of the wildest country in northern Minnesota separates Baudette and Penasse, the region over which Miller flew. The district is thickly timbered

DOWNTOWN KIDNAPING OF TICKET AGENT AND WOMAN NETS BANDIT PAIR SII,OOO Holdup Men Force Traction Employe and His Companion Into Auto at Market and Illinois Streets; Freed Hour Later. POLICE SQUADS ELUDED BY ROBBERS Abandoned in Old Farmhouse on Millersville Road, Hands and Feet Tied With Window Sash Cord. Kidnaped and robbed of SII,OOO, of which $5,000 was cash, Wiliam Gerard, 38, of 230 East North street, chief agent for the Indianapolis Joint Ticket Office in the traction terminal, was left bound hand and foot, with a woman companion, kidnaped with him, in an old house on the Millersville road an hour later this morning. Working calmly, two bandits kidnaped Gerard and Miss Nettie Hayes, 43, of 239 North Illinois street, barely seventyfive feet from Illinois street on Market street at 10 this morning as Gerard started to a bank to make a deposit. A traffic officer was at Illinois and Market streets at the time the two were forced into a car parked at the curb and the bandits turned north on Illinois street with the traffic signal in their favor as they fled.

SLAYS THREE CHILDREN. SELF Stepmother Is Absent at Time of Tragedy. By United Press COVINGTON. Ga„ Feb. 10.— Rogers Smith, a farmer, ordered his three small children to bed today, shot and killed them and then committed suicide. The stepmother of the three children, who were 7,9, and 11 years old, was not in the house at the time. The tragedy occurred at Salem camp grounds', a small settlement, six miles from here. PA R ROTA ITOXINU SE D U. S. Health Service He&d Critically 111 With Psittacosis. Bu United Press WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.—A psittacosis antitoxin was used for the first time today in the case of Dr. Charles Armstrong of the United States public health service, who is critically ill of parrot fever at the Naval hospital. The serum, prepared from the blood of persons who have recovered from the malady, was used immediately after Dr. Armstrong’s case was diagnosed definitely as psittacocis by the hygienic laboratory of the public health service. The antitoxin had been brought here from Baltimore. RESIGNS POSITION HERE Light Company Employe to Go With Utility at Baltimore. Jesse E. White, 3905 Katrine avenue, superintendent of heating department, Indianapolis Power and Light Company, will leave Feb. 15 to accept a post with the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light and Power Company at Baltimore, Md. White came here in 1921 from Schenectady, N. Y. He has been active in the Northwood Christian church, as adult Sunday school superintendent. WALES READY FOR HUNT British Crown Prince Near Jungle After Big Game. By United Press DAR ES SALAAM. Africa, Feb. 10.—The prince of wales was near the jungle today, ready to start his hunt for big game. The prince’s party will go inland from this port to Dodoma, about 370 miles by railways, from which point he abandoned his last hunt to start a race homeward to his father’s bedside. Appointed Prosecutor Lawrence E. Carlson, Republican, was appointed by Governor Harry G. Leslie today to succeed Howard R. A. Wiley, Democrat, as prosecutor in the Fifty-sixth judicial circuit at Huntington. Wiley died last week.

and cut into a labyrinth of lakes and islands. Miller set out in a raging blizzard Saturday to carry mail and food to isolated families in the many tiny settlements between Baudette and Penasse. He was employed by H. Mitchell, who holds a government contract to carry the mail. Anxiety over the pilot’s safety first was aroused about 4 p. m. Saturday when Miller had been gone several hours in the storm. Postal authorities in St. Paul were notified Sunday. ___

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“Come on, get in here,’* Gerard told police was hi* first intimation of the holdup. “You’re going with us. this morning,” he said the bandits told him and Miss Hayes. “There’s four men behind you with guns. “As long as you remain quiet we won't hurt you.” As he spoke the bandit, aided by another man who had approached from the opposite direction, pushed Gerard and Miss Hayes into the parked car. Kept Silent “We kept still and made no outcry,” Gerard told officers. Doubling through the north part of the city the bandits eluded mo?§ than twenty police emergency squads, sent out to intercept them. On the MillersvUle road they drove up to an abandoned farm where an old well-house resembles and artificial cave. In it they left i Gerard and Miss Hayes, tied hand and foot with window' sash cord. “We’ll telephone them where they can find you,” one of the bandits promised. Half an hour after Gerard had worked loose his bonds, a man telephoned the traction station to inform officials there where the two were “tied up in a cave.” Police are endeavoring to trace the call. After ten minutes work, Gerard succeeded in freeing himself and called police. The bandits left anew hunting knife, with which they cut the cord to bind Gerard and Miss Hayes. Police seek fingerprints on it. Except for suspicion of George McAffey, street car motorman of 248 North Randolph street, the kidnaping and holdup would not have been known to police until Gerard and Miss Hayes were released by the bandits. Forced Into Car McAffey, with Louis Stribel of 2915 North Capitol avenue, saw Gerard and Miss Hayes walking east on Market street, just east of Illinois street. Behind Gerard and Miss Hayes a roughly-dressed man was walking. Another man came from the east on Market street. At the parked car, the two men converged upon Gerard and Miss Hayes and shoved them into the car, parked at the curb, facing west. One of the bandits ran to the driver’s side and the car pulled out. making a right turn at Illinois street where Traffic Officer Gish was on duty and speeding north on Illinois street. Gerard carried the funds, with W'hich he had started to a bank, wrapped in a newspaper, under the arm. A check by traction terminal officials showed he carried more than $5,000 cash and $6,000 in checks. Alarm Is Sounded Miss Hayes, employed as a clerk in the traction station soda fountain, had started home and walked with Gerard as he left the station. Seeing the two pushed into the car, McAffey and Striebel believed they recognized Gerard. When they inquired for him at the traction terminal building a few moments later, P. J. Gore, an official, notified police. A heavy cordon of police was thrown about the north side, all police emergency station crews being ordered by police radio to take up the search. Off-duty police officers were called by telephone to wa£ch streets in front of their homes, but the bandit car slipped through the net. Fourth in Two Weeks The kidnaping and holdup was the fourth of its kind in two weeks. An employe of the Gibson Auto Company was kidnaped, robbed of SBSG and locked in an empty house as he w'ent to a bank to deposit company funds. A taxicab official and an employe were kidnaped and robbed of $2,000. A motorist was kidnaped and robbed of S2OO. In all except the taxicab official holdup, the two kidnaper-bandit* operated in the downtown section.

Outside Mario# County 3 Cent*