Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 244, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 February 1930 — Page 1

SCRIPPS-HOWARD

YOUNG MANIAC CALMLY TELLS | OF 8 MURDERS Confesses Poison Slayings After Capture by Detroit Police. HELD FOR N. Y. OFFICERS Blames Killing ‘lmpulse’ as Motive for Brutal Crimes. . * Hy United Press DETROIT, Feb. 20.—James Baker, regarded by police as one of the most dangerous homicide maniacs the country has harbored in years, today sat in a cell and calmly recounted how he killed eight men In different parts of the world. “I killed them to watch the efi< :: of the poison I administered, - ' Baker, who is but 25, told officers. “It wasn’t that I wanted to kill any one in particular. Any one who was around when the impulse seised me would do.” Baker, arrested on a farm near Farmington, Mich., wall be turned over to New York police for the brutal murder of Henry Gaw, an aged night watchman at the Guggenheim laboratories. Baker admitted he gave Gaw poison in 1928, Ciom which Gaw died. Never Used Gun A 17-year-old girl, with Baker when he was apprehended, threatened the lives of officers. She was not arrested and her name was withheld. Baker said he had been living on the farm since he left New York after the Gaw murder, which was his last. A revolver, notched eight times, was found on Baker when he was arrested. “I never used the gun In a murder." he said. “It was just for an Occasional robbery. I always usedpoison." Baker, whose home is in Warren, 0., said he left home when he was 16, learned the steamfltter’s trade, and then shipped on an ocean freighter. “I always was interested in poisoning and always carried some with me," Baker told officers. “The impulse to kill never came until one day I was sitting in a sailor’s restaurant in Houston. Next to me sat a man drinking coffee. Suddenly, I felt I wanted to see him die. When he turned his head I dropped some poison in his coffee. He drank and almost immediately dropped dead. Later I learned his name was Honneycutt. Poisoned Ship Crew “After that I poisoned a sailor at Hamburg, Germany, and a Hindu at Bombay. I also killed a man with poison at Iloilo, in the Philippines. Then, on a Standard Oil tanker out of Bayonne, N. P., I put poison In the coffee of the crew. Twelve were made ill and three died. "I was employed as a chemist's assistant in the Guggenheim laboratories, and I hoped to be sent to South America for the company, and when I w asn't I quit. " rhen one night I came back to tiie place. There was anew 7 watchman on duty, but he let me in. in this case I wanted to test the poison —cyanide—as well as see a man die. I had exposed the stuff and I wanted to see what that would do to it. I overpowered the man and forced him to drink two cups of coffee into which I had put the poison. It didn't seem to affect him, so I placed some on the muzzle of my revolver and forced the gun down his throat. Then he lost consciousness. • As I started to leave two truck drivers arrived. I recognized them, let them in and then held them up. I bound them and intended to kill them, but one said he had a wife and some small children, so I took their money and left.” Police said they were tipped by an informer that Baker was wanted in New York, and last week when two New York detectives were in Detroit they described him. Wednesday they received a wire asking his arrest for Gaw's murder. Deny Report Bv United Prt*g HOUSTON, Tex., Feb. 20.—A checkup of police records as far back as 1919 shows no murder tallying to that described by James Baker in Detroit as his poison death of Honeveutt.

‘Chuck’ at Bat Times sport readers can get set today for the biggest treat of the Hot Stove League season. Chuck Klein. Indianapolis boy. champion home run hitter of the National League, starts his series of stories in the Pink editions of The Times this afternoon, and diamond fans will admit it’s a knockout. Chuck's first story will tell of the day when Punch Knoll, manager of the Ft. Wayne Central League team, broke the news to him that he had een sold to the Philly Na-

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The Indianapolis Times Partly cloudy tonight, becoming cloudy and possibly unsettled Friday; continued mild temperature.

VOLUME 41—NUMBER 244

Flagstaff Sitter ; Endurance Dancer Are Bandit Suspects

Harry Reed

DR. OXNAM MAY BE OUSTED AS RESULT OF D. A. R. ENMITY

BY DANIEL M. KIDNEY Daughters of the American Revolution may be successful in silencing or even ousting Dr. G. Bromley Oxnam as president of De Pauw university, it was learned today. When the board of trustees of the Greencastle institution meet there Friday, they may warn Oxnam to cease making what the D. A. R. calls “pacifist speeches,” it was said. Trustees have been armed by the D. A. R. members and other likeminded super-patriots, with ammunition with which to attack President Oxnam. Attention is centered on him at this time because of an open attack on an address he made at the InPUMPER ENGINE AND CAR CRASH Seven Escape Hurts on Way to Church Fire. Assistant Fire Chief Michael Murphy and members cf the crew of pumper engine No. 8 escaped injuries Wednesday night when the engine and a large car in which Assistant Chief Murphy was riding collided at Twenty-fifth street and Sherman drive. Captain William Arther, and Firemen Roy Tose. Edward Albers. Lee Kuhner, Cecil Richardson, and A. R. Leonard were on the pumper. Several were thrown from the engine when the car in which Assistant Chief Murphy was riding struck the center of the truck. Both were en route to a twoalarm fire at the St. George’s Syrian Orthodox church, 2747 North Sherman drive. The accident is being investigated by File Chief Harry Voshell. Tlie church was damaged seriously by the roof fire but repairs will be made immediately, church officials announced. DEALT PERFECT ‘HAND’ Local Man Draws Thirteen Spades in Bridge Game Perfect bridge hands, which statisticians say are dealth only once in several million hands, are becoming common in Indianapolis. The fourth since December was held Wednesday night by John E. Fehsenfeld. manager of the Great Western Oil Company. Playing at the home of Miles T. Niman, 5814 Pleasant Run boulevard, Fehsenfeld picked up his cards &t the beginning on one hand,, and found them all spades. He bid seven spades, and scored 368 points. K. of C. Official Before Lodge D. E. Butler, supreme council representative, Knights of Columbus, will come to Indianapolis Monday from council headquarters in New Haven. Conn., to address members of the Indianapolis council. He will discuss various lodge problems.

PARK SHIFTS SLATED Changes Minor Except for Sallee Appointment. Further changes in park department personnel were expected to be made by the board today after conferences with Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan. Appointment of A. Charles Sallee, prominent Democratic politician, as superintendent to succeed R. Walter Jarvis, who resigned, was to be made this afternoon. Adolph G. Emdardt, park president. indicated the changes to be made other than the appointment of Sallee, will be minor. The appointment of about three hundred recreation employes will be made later in the spring.

George E. Swift

diana state reformatory recently. The attack was launched in a letter to Attorney-General James M. Ogden from Mrs. Electa Chase Murphy, Muncie, national defense chairman of the Indiana D. A. R. She asked Ogden to prevent further speeches of the kind, objecting to Oxnam’s asking that “America First” mean “first in world service rather than first into Mexico to steal oil lands.” Mrs. Murphy denounced this as unpatriotic. In a telephone conversation with a reporter for The Times, she cited Plain Talk magazine for December 1929, as "showing where Dr. Oxnam stands.” The article touching Oxnam is entitled “Liberals in Los Angles” by Louis Ademic. It may be offered in evidence against the De Pauw president. The paragraph dealing with him specifically follows: “A rev,' years ago there was in town a Methodist minister —Methodist in name only—Bromley Oxnam, a man of tremendous personal force, who ran a dingy institution called the Church of All Nations, preaching in a vacant storeroom in an out-of-the-way street, interesting himself in all sorts of liberal and radical movements, fighting for atheistic wobblies who got into jail, pacifists, anarchists and other victims of police persecution; running for office on independent tickets; speaking from all sorts of platforms five or six times a week. “He wanted to stay in Los Angeles, but it was no place for a man of his sincerity and capacity; and so when he received an offer of the presidency of De Pauw university in Indiana, he wisely accepted it.” It now appears that he may have hard sledding at De Pauw. Since coming there, the school has been outstanding for its awakened interest in social problems. The traditional American idea of "free speech” has been carried out to the extent that today Norman Thomas, eminent socialist, spoke in. chapel. A one-time Presbyterian minister and ardent pacifist, Thomas was candidate for President on the Socialist ticket and recently ran for mayor of New York, polling several hundred thousand “protest” votes. Just what • attitute the trustees will take, could not be ascertained today. It was indicated that an attempt will be made to get Oxnam to “tone down” his speeches, and to talk of “education” and not “war.” Roy O. West. Chicago Insull utility lawyer, and target of senate criticism when appointed to the Coolidge cabinet, is president of the trustees. Henry H. Hornbrook, Indianapolis, is secretary and L. B. Town, Greencastle, treasurer. $32,000 Appropriated Resolution providing expenditure of $32,000 for improvement of the dehydration plant at the city sewage disposal plant was adopted today by the city sanitary board. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 52 10 a. m 61 7a. m 52 11 a. m 63 Ba. in 52 12 (noon).. 65 9 a. m 55 1 p. ni 66

SEEKS PRIMARY PROBE Norris Demands Investigation of Senate Candidates Expenditures. By United Press WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.—A Senatorial investigation of the camraign expenditures of the thirtyfive senatorial candidates in the coming primaries was sought today in a resolution introduced by Senator Norris (Rep., Neb.). Norris asked an appropriation of $100,000 for the investigation. SHOT BY RUM RUNNERS Coast Guardsman Wounded; Civilian Police Join in Search. By United Press DETROIT, Feb. 20.—Canadian provincial police today joined local federal officers in searching both sides of the Detroit river district for two rum runners who shot and wounded Walter Whittoe, 26, United States coast guardsman, Wednesday night.

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1930

William H. Stone

Adventurous Spirit, Cheap Sandwiches Blampd in Cumberland Holdup. An adventurous spirit caused Harry Reed, 17, of Canton, 0., to venture to the top of a flagpole, 200 feet above street level, at Canton, where he sat for 480 hours to break the then-existing flagpole sitting record. A like urge caused George E. Swift, 23, R. R. No. 11, Post road, and Reed to enter the gruelling dance marathon contests at Detroit, at Columbus, 0., and at Monroe, Mich. Swift winning the Columbus contest. Adventure, a diet of cheap sandwiches and the pressing need for rent money had landed the two, with William H. Stone, 20, of Justus, 0., in jail cells here today under charges of the $737 robbery of the Cumberland State bank Wednesday and of auto banditry. Police say they have confessed. In making the arrests, police recovered a total of $496 of the alleged stolen funds. The three had burned a number of checks and several bonds taken from the bank, at the home of Swift’s sister, Mrs. Gladys Wilson, 1225 North Riley avenue, they are said to have told officers. Mrs. Wilson did not know of the crime or of the fact they burned the checks and bonds at her home, she said. “I got $350 for the flag pole sitting,” Reed told police. “Swift was the only one who got anything from the dance marathons, but we got our meals, anyway, during the time we danced." Reed and Swift, they told police, met at Meyers Lake park, near Canton, where Reed was a life guard and Swift had a refreshment stand last summer. Coming here Feb. 8, the two became acquainted with Stone, they said, and engaged an apartment at the Cambridge. “I w as tired of eating cheap sandwiches and had nothing else for three days,” Reed told police. | “Our room rent was due and w'e had to have money. “Then, too, I guess, the adventure appealed to all of us. It looked like easy money. We didn’t stop to think whether we’d be captured or whether we would shoot any one if we were trapped. “After the holdup, we were frightened and we decided to get out of town for a day or so. We started to Richmond and the tire went flat on the car we had stolen just after we got there. “When the police car came up, I was certain they knew who we were and I ran without stopping to think.” All three prisoners declare the robbery was their first, crime. Police find no criminal records against them. JAIL-BREAK THWARTED Convicted Bank Robber Found Sawing Bars at Portland. By United Press PORTLAND. Ind.. Feb. 20. Charles O. Ross, convicted of a | charge of robbing the Fennville State bank, was discovered in an attempt to saw his way to freedom from jail here early today. He was i held pending an appeal of the conviction before the state supreme court. Ross is under sentence to serve I ten years in the state prison.

SNOOK PLEA LOSES Governor Denies Move to Save Slayer. By United Press COLUMBUS. O., Feb. 20.—Governor Myers Y. Cooper today refused a reprieve to Dr. James Howard Snook, former Ohio State university professor, who is to be executed Feb. 28 for the murder of Theora Hix, his co-ed inamorata. Snook’s counsel had asked a reprieve on the ground that the former professor’s appeal to the United States supreme court can not be acted upon until two weeks from Feb. 24. when the court will receive the appeal formally. Even if the appeal is received formally, Snook, unless the court grants him a stay, will be executed while the appeal is pending.

WRECKAGE OF PLANE YIELDS EIELSONJBODY Noted Arctic Flier Met Death Instantly, Searchers Say. HAD COLORFUL CAREER Trip to Fur Ship Ended in Crackup; Visibility Is Blamed. By United Press NOME, Alaska. Feb. 20.—The body of Carl Ben Eielson, aviator who was lost Nov. 9, 1929. has been found. A radiogram from the rescue ship Nanuk said the body was found in the wreckage of the Eielson plane, about ninety miles southeast of North Cape, Siberia. Finding of the body ended a search that started a few days after Eielson and his mechanic, Earl Borland, were lost while flying from Teller, Alaska, to the Nanuk, a fur ship at North Cape. Borland’s body was found last week buried in the snow near the wrecked plane. Joe Crosson, rescue pilot, signed the message which said the body had been found. He said that Eielson, like Borland, had been killed instantly when the plane crashed. The bodies of both aviators are to be sent to Fairbanks. Indications were, Crosson said, that the plane crashed due to poor visibility, and was smashed badly by its impact with the earth. Pieces of the ship were scattered over a wide area. On Jan. 25 the wreckage of the plane was located and last week Borland's body was found buried in the snow and Wednesday the body of IJielson was found. Eielson was one of the bestknown airplane pilots ever to engage in exploration work at the opposite ends of the earth. He had guided planes over both Arctic and Antarctic wastes. His best known feat was accomplished in April, 1928, when, with Captain George H. Wilkins, he flew the 2,000 miles from Point Barrow, Alaska, to Spitzbergen. This flight preceded the similar exploits of Roald Amundsen and Lincoln Ellsworth in a dirigible and Commander Richard E. Byrd in a plane.

PRISONER ADMITS SLAYING OHIO LAD

By United Press WOOSTER, O , Feb. 20.—Charles Hannah, 61, struck Melvin Horst, 4, on the head with a piece of wood on the night of Dec. 27, 1928, and killed him “for spite,” according to Hannah’s signed confession, made public today. Hannah confessed the murder to his questioners Wednesday night, but the details were withheld pending implication of several others in the plot to have revenge against Roy Horst, Melvin’s uncle. Horst, a marshal at Orrville, Melvin’s home, had been making it uncomfortable in his vicinity for liquor law violators. Melvin, called the “Little Boy Blue” of Orrville, had been missing fourteen months and the mystery was the most perplexing in Ohio’s criminal history. Hannah, in his sworn confession, named Arthur Arnold, son of Elias

Swell Show By United Press CHICAGO, Feb. 20.—Mr. and Mrs. Peter Dogert were $1,250 richer today because they cuddled and kissed in a moving picture theater. The jury verdict which awarded the wife that sum as damages because the couple were ousted from the theater by the management, was welcomed by the loving couples as a blanket insurance policy against interference in the future. The Dogerts did not take their marriage license to the movie, of course.

TARIFF RAISE DEFEATED Brookhart Amendment to Boost Lard Rate Is Spurned. By United Press WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.—Senate Democrats called a halt today on the coalition's boosting of farm food rates. When Senator Brookhart (Rep., Ia.) sought to raise the tariff rate on lard to 4 cents a pound, after it already had been raised from 1 to 3 cents, Democrats told him he was going too far and defeated his amendment, 23 to 53. Courthouse to Be Closed Offices and courtrooms at the Marion county courthouse, with exception of criminal court, will be closed Saturday in observance of George Washington's birthday, it was announced today by County Commissioner John C. Shearer, board president.

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice. Indianapolis

At End of Sky Trail

NEA

Carl Ben Eielson The finding of the body of Carl Ben Eielson, noted Arctic flier, has ended one of the longest and most highly organized searches in the history of the far north. Eielson add his companion, Earl Borland, were killed instantly in their flight to the fur ship. Nanuk.

MORE GIVEN WORK BY REDUCED WEEK

Reduction of the working week from five to four days at the Marmon Motor Car Company’s plant has provided employment for 135 additional men and women. Announcing this figure today, G. M. Williams, president of the company, declared that figures gathered to date indicate 500 more persons are employed in Indianapolis today than a week ago, due to adoption of the plan or modifications of it by various business firms. Additional reports from factories soon are expected to bring the total

Arnold, both of whom were tried twice on charges of child stealing, being convicted the first time and freed the second time. The confession said Arthur, but not Elias, was implicated in the plot to murder Melvin. Hanna said Arthur told him where to go at Akron, O., to get a jug of whisky and final instructions as to how and when to deliver the body of Melvin Horst, “dead or alive.” Hannah declared he delivered the body, which he placed in a sack, to two Akron Italians, Tony Lefatch and Carl Tressko, who came to Orrville in an automobile to get the boy. Lefatch was held in Wayne county jail today, having been arrested earlier today at Akron. Tressko can not be located. Hannah’s confession is said to absolve Earl Conoid, 42, his drinking partner.

STATE TAX PARLEY GETS UNDER WAY

Indiana’s state tax conference, authorized by the legislature for sessions in 1929, was to hold its organization meeting this afternoon in an executive session in the directors’ room at L. S. Ayres & Cos. State Senator J. Clyde Hoffman is chairman. He and Senator Joe Rand Beckett have been the prime movers in the conference and induced Governor Harry G. Leslie to shift from the original Idea of a general conference, as the joint

j MALADY AFFLICTS 2 Children III; Meningitis Case Total Is 126. With two more children reported j as spinal meningitis victims, the total in Indianapolis and vicinity since Dec. 9 mounted to 126 today, j There were no additional deaths : since Wednesday. Sarah Bratton, 6 months old, of 377 East Morris street, whose mother died Sunday from the malady, and June Smith, 3, of 521 East Ohio street, were admitted to city hospital. The increase in number of cases among children is indicative the meningitis germ is losing some of its virulence, doctors say. It is likely that there will be cases continuing j through March, spring weather being likely to curb the malady, they ! added.

of increased employment to above the 1,000 mark. Based on present figures, President Williams estimated today that 1,500 persons are being cared for by the earnings of the 500 men given employment under the plan. Reports from industries are being received by Williams and by the Chamber of Commerce, and all industries have been urged to report plans adopted and the additional employes reinstated in jobs. Out-of-town unemployed persons should not come to Indianapolis seeking employment. This was the warning today of Chamber of Commerce officials and of employment stabilization committee members. Efforts of Indianapolis industries to provide employment to additional men by reducing the working week and maintaining production at present capacities, will be devoted entirely to caring for former employes and for Indianapolis residents who are in need of employment, the officials declared. BELIEVE GRAHAM ALIVE Wife and Flying Mate of Lost Pilot Maintain Hope. Bv United Press SALT LAKE CITY, Utah.. Feb. 20. —Two persons have not given up hope that Maury Graham will be found, and today they were believed riding the sky-lanes of Utah and Nevada searching for the missing air mail pilot. Mrs. Maurice Graham and Jimmy Carson, his flying companion of the Western Air Express, were recognized when they landed at Ely, Nev., according to a report received here.

resolution provides, to a small study group. Both Beckett and Hoffman declared this morning that the press was not invited to attend. “This is to be only a preliminary organization meeting,” Hoffman explained. “We feel that representatives of various groups will feel more free to express their ideas of how the commission should function, if they are not to be quoted. “We want this to be a study group and expect to hold many sessions and bring forth something concrete. Today we have data on taxation gathered from the legislative reference bureau, Indiana university bureau of economic research and from the state tax board, upon which to base our plan of operation.” Public hearings may be held in the future. Hoffman asserted. Demented Man Held Bn Times Hvecinl COLUMBUS, Ind., Feb. 20.—A man giving his name as Leslie Harris, 36, Harrodsburg, Ky., who says he is a World war veteran, is held in the Bartholomew county jail here, due to insanity. Deputy Sheriff Wynn Thompson arrested him on complaint of citizens at Azalia, where Harris was found pushing part of an old buggy, a set of wheels on an axle. Harris wept when the officer forced him to leave tho wheels.

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PROTEST RUSS SACRILEGE HI CHURCHORDER All Sects Meet at Capital to Battle Outlawry of Religion. HEED PRELATES’ APPEAL Soviet Regards U. S. Move as Part of Political Crusade. By Unitrd Press WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.— A movement was under way today to call a general meeting here of all religious denominations in protest against alleged Soviet Russian persecutions of Christians and Jews. The meeting would be held at the D. A. R. constitution hall either March 2 or March 9. according to tentative plans. It would be pre-* sided over by Bishop James E. Freeman of the Washington Episcopal cathedral. The movement is in conformity with appeals broadcast last wee* by Pope Pius XI, the archbishop of Canterbury, and Bishop Manning of New' York, asking the clergy and congregations of all denominations to join in prayer for Russian Christians, who said they have been persecuted relentlessly by the Soviet government. Close All Churches By United Bn ss MOSCOW, Feb. 20.—Villagers in Lotoshinsk, Sergeyevsk and other rural communities near Moscow held mass meetings today and voted to close all churches and remove all bells. Such action has become increasingly evident in recent weeks and the first effect of the foreign crusade against anti-religious activities doubtless will be to stimulate the campaign against God. It is difficult to estimate how many churches have gone under in the aggressive crusade, but literally hundreds have been devoted to secular uses. The church bells of Russia, always a characteristic of the country and an expression of the Russian mystic spirit, have disappeared by the thousands into the melting pot, to emerge as metal for industrial uses. The anti-religious press of Russia continues to treat the ~vusade abroad as merely part of £ military and political campaign rgainst Russia. Editorials regard the pope, Kerensky, the archibshop of Centerbury. Sir Henry Deterding, General Alexander Koutepoff and others a3 aliens in one cause. In one article, the United States w r as credited with leadership of an anti-Soviet bloc. English Open Attack Bv United Press LONDON, Feb. 20—Lord Birkenhead opened a strong attack in the house of lords today on the antireligious movement in Soviet Russia, attributing the "persecutions” of churchmen to political motives. He demanded that the government protest against the anti-religious campaign in Russia. “The biblical massacre of innocents was, I conceive, a political act. It might have been b 4 politics though, in my opinion, it was little worse than those which are in evidence before our eyes.” Lord Birkenhead is a noted industrialist, scholar and lawyer. He iormerly was secretary of state for India and lord high chancellor. Plea Made by Church Bv United Press ATHENS, Feb. 20.—The metropolitan of the Orthodox church in Greece today made public a statement calling upon the civilized world to “unite against the enemies of modem civilization,” which he sees threatened by events in Russia, “The Greek church,” he said, “repeatedly has protested to the civilized world against the atrocities of the Bolsheviks, not because it believes its protests, or the protests of the other churches will halt the unbelievable crimes of the tyrants of Russia, but in hope the world will be induced to unite against the enemies of modem civilization, and because prolongation of the situation in Russia Increases the danger of further propagation of Bolshevik ideas.”

Basket Fans! The biggest event of the year in basketball is only a few weeks away—the state cage tourney, finals of which will be played here in March. The Times, as usual, will take the lead in giving fans all the news, first. Sectional drawings will be made Saturday morning and a complete list will be carried in The Times that day, covering all sixty-four sections. In addition, the drawings will be broadcast from station WFBM, with Blythe Hendricks, famed sports announcer, at the mike. Watch for The Times and listen in on WFBM for the first complete story. The finals, as has been the custom for several yearn, will be broadcast by The Times, with Hendricks again playing the star role.

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