Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 241, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 February 1930 — Page 1

SCRIPPS-HOWARD

YEGGS BLOW SAFES; FAIL TO GET LOOT Arrival of Police on Scene Balks Thugs in Two Rite's Shops. BATTER THROUGH WALL Bakery Robbery Attempt Is Futile: Fireman and Boys Bound. Blowing open three safes in Rite's Jewelry Shop, 43 South Illinois street, and In the Rite’s Cloz Shop, 45 South Illinois street, yeggmen fled without loot as police appeared early today. A woman was seen to enter the car used by the yeggmen for their getaway. Blowing of the safes in the Illinois street stores followed an unsuccessful attempt Saturday night to blow the safe in the Omar Baking Company office, 901 East Sixteenth street, in which four cracksmen bound and gagged the watchman and three boys, but were frightened away when the company sales manager, C. A. Denton, 81 West Twenty-eighth street, Apt. 101, rang the front door bell. Forcing of safes in the two Illinois street stores was discovered at 1:30 this morning. The yeggmen left trays of rings piled on the floor. John F. Greer, merchant policeman, noticed lights over the safes were extinguished. He telephoned R. D. Evans, manager. 3039 Central avenue, who went to the store in a axi. Woman at Scene, Meanwhile. Sergeant Victor Houson and patrolmen Roy Barrett and Orville Hudson passed the stores and noticed they were darkened. As Evans neared the scene he heard a man. standing near the aley, whistle, he said. Shortly afteward a car roared south on Illinois street, picking up a woman and a man as passengers, a witness told police. In their flight the yeggmen left behind them wires and batteries used in blowing the safes. Expensive cloaks and suits were used to muffle the explosions, the damage to clothing being estimated at more than $700. Leave Blast Charge In the store, police also found two bottles, each containing an ounce of nitroglycerin, a glove, a magazine for a sub-caliber machine gun, and a clip of shells for an automatic revolver. Entrance to the stores was gained by cutting a hole fifteen inches square through a twenty-inch solid brick wall. The yeggmen worked in a vacant store building at 41 South Illinois street, gaining entrance to it through the Solomon restaurant, upstairs. Doors Blown Off While cutting the hole in the wall, the yeggs ate sandwiches and drank soft drinks, police learned. A safe in the clothing shop had been opened, but it contained nothing except records. Doors of the safes in the jewelry shop were blown off. but inner doors had not been forced when the yeggmen were frightened away. The safes contained a large sum of money and diamonds, proprietors said. At the Omar Baking Company office Saturday night, four men handcuffed Blueford Elliott, night fireman, to a guard rail before boilers in the basement and used adhesive tape to bind Elliott's son, Calvin Elliott, 11, of 401 North Noble street; Charles Archer, 10, of the same address, and Roy Melville. 12, of 707 North Noble street, to the rail. The boys were visiting Elliott when the four entered. Combinations Hammered When Denton reached the plan and rang the front bell for admission, the crackmen fled, leaving an eight-ounce bottle of nitroglycerin, twelve percussion caps, three loaded magazines for a sub-caliber machine gun, a pair of handcuffs, a pair of pliers, two jimmvs. two punches and a sledge hammer. Combinations had been hammered off two safes in the office One safe contained more than $4,000.

BANK CLOSING IS FATAL Aged Pierceton Resident, Despondent, Takes Own Life. By United Press PIERCETON. Ind., Feb. 17.— When the Pierceton State bank failed to open for business today, Charles Weaver, aged resident of Pierceton, could see no hope for recovering his savings of a lifetime which were on deposit in the bank. Overcome by despondency, he committed suicide by hanging shortly after it was announced the bank was taken over by state examiners. TREAT 6,400 CHILDREN Year’s Work of 49 School Nurses Outlined by Health Chief. Forty-nine school nurses provided medical treatment to 6,400 children in schools last year, according to Dr. Herman G. Morgan, city health officer. Defective teeth were found and -.rested for 10.447 children during the year. The report shows that 4.200 children. suspected of having contagious diseases, were treated.

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VOLUME 41—NUMBER 241

EGAD!

If you follow The Times comic page every day, you know who made that word famous in the United States—bombastic Major Amos Hoople. the leading character of Gene Ahern’s famous cartoon. Our Boarding House. We are not talking like the Major when we say that he is as well known as any man in public life today. In fact, he admits it. You will get a laugh every day out of the Major and his friends on the comic page. A-R-Rumpf!

U. S. STEPS UP TO AID IN WAR ON RACKETEERS Chicago’s Alien Gangsters Will Be Deported by Government. BY RAY BLACK Cnlt-<1 Press Staff Correspondent CHICAGO, Feb. 17.—Immigration officers signalized the entry of the United States government into Chicago’s war on crime by watching pretty Irene Berent, 23, suspected of being the blond, who takes the pants, as well as the money, of taxicab drivers, run away with the latest underworld “revue” with its cast of 232 gunmen, hoodlums, racketeers, bandits and suspects. Under the glare of the “showup” arc lights at police headquarters, the motley assortment of prisoners passed Sunday, while police, federal immigration officers and hundreds of victimized citizens looked on. There were 470 other “players” who did not appear, the latest batch of the more than 4.000 persons arrested in the drive against crime. Approximately 1,000 arrests have been made since Saturday. Among the seven who were carrying guns was Myles Clark, 14. He was seized while riding with three youthful companions in an automobile rented with money the boys admitted getting in a holdup. Thirty gunmen already have been indicted and eighteen of that number appeared today for arraignment. More than 500 crimes have been cleared up and some 200 men started on their way to prison, according to Police Commissioner William Russell. The United States government entered the Chicago war on gangland when the immigration officers took notes at the “showup” with a view to deporting those who entered the country illegally. Mincing along in the line of glowering footpads, machine gunners, sluggers and racket muscle men on Sunday came Irene, defiant ingenue of the revue. - With her was Barbara Mayer, also 23, and also suspected of banditry. Two other girls strolled under the merciless glare. They were Dorothy Andrus, 23, and Winifred Down, 24, arrested after Winifred cashed an alleged stolen check. Today Jail cells were packed full and still the wholesale roundup went on. Under the furore of the campaign crime decreased to a minj imum. Taft's Condition Unchanged WASHINGTON, Feb. 17. The condition of former Chief Justice '< Taft was said to be unchanged, although he spent a comfortable ! night, a bulletin signed by his two physicians said today.

CONFESSES KILLING OF CITY MERCHANT

Murder of Frank Baden, store keeper at 3501 East Sixteenth street, in a holdup the night of March 3, 1928. may be solved, police believe, by confession of George Williams, 68. held with Charles Hannick, 21, at Cleveland, on murder and banditry charges. In alleged confession of six murders and more than 200 holdups and robberies. Williams said, according to Cleveland. police, that he and Hannick shot a business man in a holdup here “about three years ago.” Indianapolis police, checking today, believed the confession may clear up the slaying of Baden, who resisted the holdup men and was wounded fatally. A passerby in an automobile was wounded in the hand in the shooting at Baden’s store. Baden died on the operating table. Williams and Hannick were indicted today by the grand jury at

ZEPPELIN CRASHES AT SOUTH POLE! READ ABOUT IT IN THE TIMES GREAT SERIAL

"FALLING! Falling! Only 300 feet above the Ice pack! Falling! We are about to crash. . . Out of the darkness this message sputtered over the radio, bringing news of a tragedy of The air to anxious millions. It tells part of tire story of The Lost Zeppelin.’’ which will start in the noon edition of The Times Thursday, to run only in the street editions of this paper—the noon and the pinks. It is an epic drama of spectacular adventure, heroism, and romance,

Cloudy and probably unsettled tonight, followed by fair

ENVOYS SEEK COMPROMISE WITH JAPAN First Efforts Are Made to Solve Sea Strength Problems. AMERICANS SEEK ‘DEAL’ Nipponese Firm on Demands for 70 Per Cent Naval Ratio. BY WEBB MILLER, rnlted Press Staff Correspondent LONDON. Feb. 17.—First determined effort to reconcile Japan’s demand for a 70 per cent ratio in naval power with the views of the United States and Great Britain was made- today when the American, British and Japanese delegates met at St. James palace. Secretary Stimson, Prime Minister MacDonald and Reijiro, Wakatsuki took the leading roles in the negotiations. Senator Robinson and Senator Ree 1 of the American delegation and Tsuneo Matsudairo and Admiral Takarabe of the Japanese also participated. It was the first time the delegates had met in private since the conference began. Both British and Americans have indicated they believe Japan should compromise on her demand for a 70 per cent ratio with them in auxiliary vessels. The Japanese, backed by strong support from home, have firmly held to their claims. FLOCK OF BLUEBIRDS SPRING HARBINGERS University Heights Residents View Visit as Weather Tip. While the rest of the northern states await the first robins as harbingers of spring, residents of University Heights look for another feathered colony to predict mild weather’s annual return. They are a flock of bluebirds that for years have been the first summer birds to come up from the south to sound winter’s death knell. Today they arrived, according to R. J. Dearborn, 4100 Otterbein avenue. Temperatures today were climbing rapidly above freezing, with forecast of mild weather tonight and Tuesday. EIGHT FOUND GUILTY Convicted of Liquor Law Violations in Oklahoma Oil Fields. Bv United Press OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 17. Eight men, including a former sheriff, were found guilty by a federal court jury here today of conspiring to violate federal liquor laws in Oklahoma oil fields. The jury acquitted four others. The verdict closed a sensational trial in which the government brought a cross-section of humanity, from dance hall girls to officers, out of Pottawatomie county oil centers to face charges of participating in a huge w'hisky ring. SEEK EXPLOSION CLEWS Bombing New Development In Textile Workers’" Outbreak, Belief. Bn United Press MARION, N. C.. Feb. 17.—Authorities were without definite clews today to the dynamiting of the R. W. Baldwin home here Sunday, when one wing of the structure was demolished. No one was injured. It was said, however, that the incident may be linked in some manner with numerous textile strike disorders here in recent weeks. Baldwin is president of the Marion Manufacturing Company.

Cleveland on charges of first-degree murder and bank robbery. Their alleged confessions have implicated William Shields, alleged bandit, in robbery of banks at Columbus, O. and Cincinnati. The robberies which Cleveland police say the two confessed were in Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Wheeling, W. Va.; St. Louis, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis and Cincinnati. In St. Louis, police say the confession indicates, the two shot and killed a grocer in a holdup four years ago. In Cleveland the two are said to have confessed they shot and killed two men in a holdup of a fruit store Now 25, 1924. They confessed, according to Cleveland police, they killed a grocer at Columbus, O., last March during a holdup and they already were alleged to have confessed slaying of a Cleveland police officer.

INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1930

Pajamas All Day, Slippers to Match

ARREST FOUR IN HAMMOND RIOT Demonstration Held After Criticism of Cops, Bv United Press HAMMOND, Ind., Feb. 17.—Three men and a young woman are free under bend today, charged with rioting in connection with a clash between Hammond police and a group of alleged radicals, most of them young girls in their teens, here Saturday night. The demonstration followed a meeting of the Young People’s Communist League. After the meeting three detectives, who had attended the affair, threatened to arrest Eric Thomas of Chicago for “unfit remarks he made against the Hammond police force.” Some thirty persons immediatelystarted to mill around the three officers, while a passing patrolman turned in a call for more police. The crowd was dispersed before any one was injured. SCORE TARIFF VICTORY Republican - Democratic Coalition Slashes Steel Duty. Bv United Press WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.—The Independent Republican-Democratic coalition in the senate scored a victory early in today’s tariff deba (\ adopting, 39 to 38, an amendment by Senator Barkley, to reduce the duty on hollow steel bars and hollow drill steel. The amendment eliminated an additional- duty provided by the hoase of 1 3-10 cents a pound on these, products valued at more than 4 cents a pound, which was over and above the existing duties ranging from 3-10 cent a pound to 20 per cent. THEFT ” BAFFLES SEER Loses Auto, But Consults Police Instead of Occult, “Your money is in the ash can,” Prince Ali, appearing at an Indianapolis theater, tells his audiences daily. But, when Prince Ali awoke at a downtown hotel today, lie found his automobile gone from its parking place nearby. Instead of consulting the occult, Prince Ali took the course of Tom, Dick and Harry and reported the loss to police. Police already had the car, having taken it in belief it was a vehicle planted by yeggmen, who blew two Illinois street store safes early today. PILOT KILLED IN BLAST Aviator on Battleship Victim of Catapult Powder Expbision. Bv United Press GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, Feb. 17.—Lieutenant James Maser, senior aviator aboard the battleship Nevada, was killed in an explosion of powder from the ship’s airplane catapult Sunday. Lieutenant Maser was standing beside a girder supervising the catapulting of a plane during flying practice. Two fliers who occupied the catapulted plane were unaware of the tragedy until they returned. M'NAUGHT GETS POST Given Appointment as Roil Clerk in Barrett Law Department. Frank McNaught, 2354 Kenwood avenue, today was appointed roil clerk in the Barrett law department, by the board of works. Mrs. Frata McCabe, 20 Johnson avenue, was named works board stenographer. Albert H. Losche. city purchasing agent, named William Gibson, Sixth ward Democrat, assisting purchasing agent.

into which is woven the thrilling tale of the woman who was loved by two men—and who loved them both. A huge Zeppelin is lost at the south pole. On board is an intrepid band of explorers who believe that they have no hope left for life. And two of these men have in their hearts & feeling entirely out of keeping with their surroundings. Back in Washington is the wife of the commander. And he believes that she is in love with his chief lieutenant on the Zeppelin. It is a grim battle for life acid through the struggle ever runs this love triangle.

Tuesday; warmer, lowest temperature tonight 35 to 40 degrees.

Shoo! you men sheiks! For 1930’s feminine “shoosie” is the subject under discussion. Snuggle • r, girls, and we’ll tell you of the ultimate in feminine beauty for pvu. extremities which will be shown in the style show tonight at the annual convention of the Indiana Shoe Travelers’ Association at the Claypool. Embroidery has taken to shoes like Grant took Richmond. The needlework is done on toe and heel on natural linen in green, brown and lavender shades. It is the smartest of the smart for sports and afternoon wear. Fear that pajamas would wane in milady’s favor with the resultant decrease in slippers’ use is dispelled by E. C. Smeltzer of the Best-Ever slippers, Brooklyn, N. Y. “The correctly attired woman will have pajamas for breakfast, afternoon tea, the beach, with slippers to match.” he forecast. ‘ The embroidered pump shown in the above photo was loaned through courtesy of J. P. Lucas, salesman of the Selby Tru-Poise Company, and is in” the stock of the Marott Shoe Company. The slipper in the pajama photo is a Best-Ever. Approximately 1,000 shoe dealers are attending sessions of the convention, which opened today.

FIREMEN BLAMED FOR JOB GRABBING

BY DICK MILLER While thousands of Indianapolis men are without employment and a civic commission is considering apportionment of available jobs among as many as possible, to avert a serious economic situation, many city firemen not only are on the city’s pay roll, but have other employment during hours off and on duty. Central Labor Union recently sent a delegation to Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan to protest participaMENINGITIS TOU 73 Two Are Victims of Spinal Malady Over Week-End. Total fatalities from cerebrospinal meningitis since Dec. 9 mounted to seventy-three today with the death of two persons at city hospital over the week-end. Clorine Brewster, 4, of 221 Minerva street, and John Bratton. 23, of 377 East Morris street, died at the hospital. City prison was ordered fumigated and cultures taken of attaches and prisoners by Dr. Herman G. Morgan, health commissioner, after a prisoner was taken to the hospital Saturday with meningitis. James Carter, 42, Negro, 41 South West street, was the victim of the malady. Other new cases, bringing the total to 117. were: John Taylor, 37. of 720 North Delaware street; Paul j Rogers, 11, of 926 Moreland street; i his sister, Clara Rogers, 6; Maxine i Brewster, 4 of 221 Minerva street. Two Motorist Killed Bv United Press LA PORTE, Ind.. Feb. 17.—Two La Porte residents were killed by violence over the week-end. Howard Slater, 30, was killed when his car overturned near WestviUe. Alvin Jonnshaitis, 13, was killed when a truck he was riding was struck by a train in Porter county.

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis

Nadine Henselmeier. 221 East Michigan street, Apt. 604, is pictured cuddling the latest style of embroidered footgear for women to her chin. Below. Nadine, a model at the shoe travelers’ convention, is stretching during a “dummy” wait at a pajama bridge party in her 1930 heel-strap mules.

tii nos firemen in other lines of work, thus preventing many union men from obtaining employment. Investigation of their protest revealed that firemen frequently work as painters, plasterers , musicians, mechanics, salesmen, etc, And they do not confine their outside duties to the alternate days on which they are free from duty at fire houses, despite departmental orders that when a fireman is on duty he must remain In the station house to which he is assigned. For example, department records show that Eari R. Lombard, 847 Lincoln street, draws a monthly salary as a fireman, while city directory lists him as a Naturopath. Firemen say he is net assigned to any company, but attached to Company 27. They declare they are told to visit him after fires if they wish rubdowns for sprains and bruises and to prevent catching cold. No fire department record has been unearthed to indicate the appointment by the safety board of a department naturopath, although regular police and fire surgeons are listed. Asa fireman, Lombard is paid $l6B monthly. Lombard's office is in connection with his residence. A telephone call revealed that: “Mr. Lombard is in his office every day, from 2 until 6 in the afternoon and from 2 until 8 on Tuesdays,” a woman’s voice declared. ' Union officials have charged that firemen constantly seek employment outside the fire houses. Firemen with musical talent have been asisgned to jobs that engage them only during daylight hours, so they may be free to accept orchestra employment at night. Addefl to these charges today was the allegation of a West Indianapolis resident that two firemen live outside the city, send their children to county schools, and pay no taxes to Indianapolis. Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m..... 31 10 a. m 39 7 a. m 30 11 a. m .42 8 a. m 32 12 (noon).. 45 9 a. m 35 1 p. m 49

The party carries radio apparatus. Messages for help are sent out. An airplane arrives. There is room for one man. Who shall it be? You'll find all these thrills and scores of others in this great tale of "The Lost Zeppelin,” which will start Thursday in The Times. And when you’ve read the story, you'll have a chance to see it in one of the greatest all-talkie pictures yet made, at the Lyric theater, where it will open Saturday, March 1. Watch for further details of this story and picture for the big contest which will bring prizes to scores of children in the city.

CHICAGO GUNMAN SUSPECT HANGS SELF IN CITY JAIL; NABBED AFTER TRAIN LEAP Michael V. Berg Uses Muffler to Commit Suicide in Padded Cell Here; Held in Default of $5,000 Bond. 13 POLICE ARE NEEDED IN CAPTURE Believed to Be Precinct Leader; Jumps From Moving Car as Detectives Appear; Makes Efforts to Escape. With a muffler secured to a cell-door bar and knotted around his throat, Michael V. Berg, 45, suspected as a Chicago gunman, hanged himself in a city prison padded cell today. Arrested after a leap from a Monon passenger train in north Indianapolis Saturday night, Berg was held in lieu of $5,000 bond, while detectives investigated his record. Because of repeated attempts to escape, strange actions and words and his own confession to police that he was afraid of going insane, Berg was confined alone in the padded cell after Bertillon experts photographed and fingerprinted him this morning.

HUNT FRUITLESS FOR BUT'S BOOT Child Murder Confession Is Branded as Faise. Bv United Press WOOSTER, 0., Feb. 17.—Deputies who have been digging since before dawn tn the yard of Charles Hanna, who told them they would find the body of Melvin Horst, 4, there, abandoned the yard later today and declared they believed another false story had been “sworn to” in the baffling mystery of the boy’s disappearance. Hanna, had been questioned all night. Finally he blurted out that Earl Connold, old crony of his, had killed the boy and buried the body in th eyard of Hanna's former home. He led authorities, deputies and street department workers to the yard and they dug five feet into the ground over an area of seven square feet before they realized they had been misled again. Authorities are convinced that Hanna’s story that Connold killed the boy to “get even” with Roy Horst, uncle of Melvin, a marshal, who had been hard on the neighborhood bootleggers, was false. They took him back to Wayne county jail and gave up hope of finding the body. GOLD SNAP BROKEN Mild Weather Forecast for Today and Tuesday. A week-end cold snap that brought the coldest temperature thus far in February, was broken today as the mercury began an upward march to above freezing. The thermometer stood at 35 degrees at 9 a. m. today. While Indianapolis will have unsettled and cloudy weather tonight, Tuesday probably will be generally fair, J. H. Armington, United States weather bureau meteorologist, said today. Lowest temperature tonight will be between 35 and 40 degrees Weather conditions will be almost uniform over the state. Lowest temperature over the week-end was 13 above Sunday at 7 a. m. and 7 p. m. HEAR SALARY ACTIONS County Employes Seek Mandate for Payment of Increases. Arguments on a defendant's demurrer to suits filed by twentyseven employes of County Clerk George O. Hutsell for salaries as included in the clerk's budget for this year, will be heard today by Superior Judge James M. Leathers The demurrer is in behalf of county council, county commissioners and County Auditor Harry Dunn, who were made defendants in each suit. The suits, identical In form, seek a court order mandating the council to allow the salary items as requested by Hutsell. Industry Fund Rises Forward Indianapolis campaign workers reported $11,232 in new subscriptions at today’s noon luncheon, bringing the total subscribed to date to $52,800.

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Shortly af ; • oon, Turnkey WiT : ' ni Norman and Patrolman \V. A. Clary went to the cell. They found Berg 1 hanging limp from the bar, which is less than five feet off the ground. Death was due to strangulation. City hospital ambulance physicians said Berg had been dead about half an hour when the body was cut down. Indianapolis police are awaiting word from Chicago, where Berg’s fingerprints and photographs have been sent. Berg was arrested Saturday night after he jumped from a Monon train en route to Indianapolis from Chicago. Detectives boarded the train at ThJrty-eighth street. Berg leaped from the swiftly moving train at Thirty-fourth street, as the officers entered the car In which he was seated. The detectives pursued and Berg broke a window and fled into the home of Isaac Ammerman of 1807 East Thirty-fourth street. Thirteen officers were needed to capture him when he fought the detectives. He had no w'eapon when arrested. Detectives had boarded the train on information nine gunmen were en route here from Chicago. Berg claimed he thought the detectives were gunmen and feared an attempt on his life. Detective Chief Fred Simon haa been informed Berg is a precinct leader in the Forty-second ward in Chicago.

TWO HURT IN BLAST! Bomb Explosion Hurls Women From Beds, Demolishes Store. Bu United Pres* DETROIT, Feb. 17.—Two young women were injured and the grocery store of Tony Lafata completely demolished in a bomb Explosion here early today. The blast hurled Alice Nickel, 17, and Mrs. Frances Bernandino, 21, out of their beds. Both were taken to receiving hospital for treatment, Mrs. Bernandino suffered a broken leg. They live near the Lafata store. Lafata had received several threatening letters recently, neighbors told investigating officers. FIRE DAMAGES~GARAGE Overheated Stovepipe Blamed sot Coal Firm Building Blaze. Damage of SI,OOO resulted from fire Sunday night in a sheet metal garage building of the A. B. Keeport Compnay, coal, lime and cement retailers, 620 North Senate avenue. An overheated stovepipe is believed to have started the blaze. , Fire at the home of F. Allen, 714 Torbett street, was attributed by firemen to incendiary origin, after traces of inflammable material were found. Damage was $25. Cabinet Given Scare Bu United Pret* PARIS, Feb. 17 —The government of Premier Tardieu, forced to absent himself from the chamber because of illness, received only a scant majority of twenty votes today when a vote of confidence was passed on a minor question.

Step in Style Are you stepping in style? If you aren’t it's your own fault, for The Times dally is presenting one of the best dancing series of recent years, written by Arthur Murray, internationally tamed as a dance expert. You’ll find the third of the series today on Page 5. It's carefully illustrated and diagramed. with all the instructions you need to get busy and learn it. Watch for the rest of these interesting lessons. There’ll be twelve in the series.

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