Indianapolis Times, Volume 42, Number 257, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 March 1931 — Page 1

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VETO OF GOVERNOR LESLIE IS STAMPED ON INDIANA’S OLD AGE PENSION MEASURE “Executive Goes in Person to Floor of Senate and Sounds Knell for Hopes of * Aged and Infirm. NEJDL DELAY PLEA IS REJECTED Senators Change Front and Refuse to Override Verdict; Marshall on * Scene as ‘Prop.’ Governor Harry G. Leslie went in person today to the floor of the senate to kill the Old Age Pension bill. It may have been in a spirit of gloating over the death knell to the hopes of the aged or in a spirit of courage in defying the universal demand of the humanitarians behind this measure. Not trusting his veto message to the ordinary routine of reading by clerks; he added his personal presence to the influences behind the opposition to the measure. That personal touch gave to the renegades in the senate who had voted for the measure sufficient courage to change their votes and, a little later, sustain the veto.

Thus was killed for this session a measure approved by both houses and which has the approval of many other states which have tested it and by experience, proved untrue every reason given by the Governor for his veto, save the one that the measure was too limited to be practical. The Governor called Is a dole system. He stood firmly behind the poorhouse, the humiliation, < the hopelessness of condemning * the aged to institutions when they reach declining, years in poverty. , The forces of opposition, coming largely from intrenched wealth and power, were 1 well organized. Cold to Nejdl Pies Ihe senators refused the dramatic plea of Senator James J. Nejdl, <Rep., Lake), whose voice quavered with emotion, as he asked the poor privilege of delay for a. day on the vote on the veto, that he marshal facts and figures to prove that the argument of the Governor was baseless. It was Senator John L. Niblack (Rep., Marlon), who was selected to give the final death thrust to the measure by, a motion to refuse the plea of Nejdl for the privilege o's bringing to the senate and the people a refutation of the Governor’s excuses for slaughter of the measure. Before Leslie went to the senate chamber for his personal appearance, newspaper . men were called to his office. Beside him sat Henry Marshall, mentor and adviser, rich publisher of Lafayette. The Governor read the veto’ to the reporters. He had difficulty in pronouncing some of the words used in the message. He stumbled at times, as one unfamiliar with the document. Possibly it had been written for him by those others. Avoids Nejdl’s Eyes In the senate, Senator Nejdl, battling to the last for his measures, stood at the secretary’s desk, his eyes fixed upon the Governor, who avoided his gaze as he stepped from the rostrum. ‘ So the bill is here and vetoed?” were his first* words to LieutenantGovernor Edgar D. Bush. ‘‘Well, then, I hadn’t anticipated the Governor would>how as much consideration as he has. His appearance here With a veto message is a thing no Governor of Indiana, no President of the United States, has done, to my knowledge.” ‘‘The Governor talks about economy. Did he say anything about cutting his emergency fund from $200,000 to $35,000? 'Nothing for Poor Devil’ “Has he said anything about cutting the fund for maintenance of his residence from SIO,OOO to $3,000 a year? “Do you hear him ask us to reduce the appropriation for Purdue university? No!” “When it comes to the poor devil, the Governor comes in with a “sixhour’ speech and yet you will let me have but five minutes to reply! When Senators Niblack and Robert Moorhead (Reps., Marion) questioned Nejdl’s right to debate on reconsideration after a veto, the veteran drew his rule book from his pocket and read constitutional procedure on the matter. “The treatment accorded me by senators who voted down my motion, as well as the treatment by the Governor, is a raw deal. Now vote it up or vote it down!” Sims Flays Governor When the roll was called, Senator George W. Sims (Rep., Vigo) was the only senator to explain his vote. Shouting that the Governor himself has not practiced economy, Sims declared: “Has he practiced economy when he spent $53,000 from his emergency fund in one year’s time? “I wish I had a hundred votes to say ‘No’!” And his shout echoed to the galleries. Learning of the Governor’s message, Representative Fred S. Galloway (Dem., Marion) offered a motion in the house that the Governor be invited to reepat his veto message there. Speaker Walter Myers ruled the motion out of order, pointing out that the measure was a senate bill, properly returned to the senate and

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The Indianapolis Times Cloudy with snow probable tonight and Saturday; not much change in temperature; lowest tonight about 28.

volume 42—Dumber 257

requiring no house action unless passfed over the veto by the senate. The senate roll call today: For Passage (19) REPUBLICANS (5) AUdrcdrt Sims Martin Strey Neldl DEMOCRATS (15) Brewster Gorman Chambers Holman Clouser Ketchum Cuthbertson Edgar Perkins Denniran Raber Dooes Wade ' Druley Williams Against Passage (28) REPUBLICANS (22) Adams Lindlev Beckett Miller Berkey Moorhead Brown Niblack Clements Pell Friedley Rowley Garrott Sherwood Hartzell Shull Hoffman Slenker Holmes Southworth Huff Tormohlen DEMOCRATS (6) Ballard Lochard Drake Morris GottschaHr • Chester Perkins Absent REPUBLICANS (2) Hoadley Walter DEMOCRATS (1) Kehoe LAW REQUIRES NOTICE / V Plan to Wed Must Be Announced Five Days Before Ceremony, By United. Press CHEYENNE, Wyo., March 6. Acting Governor A. M. Clark late yesterday signed a measure requiring couples to file an intention-to-wed notice five days before they can take out a marriage license in Wyoming. The bill was sponsored with the slogan “end gin marriages.”

PROFITS ON DECREASE Postal Telegraph Reports Drop in Net Earnings. By United Press NEW YORK, March 6—The Postal Telegraph and Cable Corporation today reported net income after interest and. all charges for 1930 amounted to $96,769, compared with $2,972,671 in 1929. Total earnings for the year were $37.923357, against $40,258,363 in 1929. HOUSE AFIRE, BOY HIDES Richard Weber, 3, Secretes Self in Closet While Home Burns. By United Press GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 6.—“1 don’t like fires,” said 3-year-old Richard Weber when he was hauled from a clothes closet after a fire had damaged his parents’ home. Firemen and the frantic parents had searched the house for an hour before they found the child. JOBLESS AID IS VOTED Los Angeles to Issue $5,000,000 in Bonds for City Improvements. By United Press LOS ANGELES, March 6.—A $5,000,000 bond issue, to be expended in improvements as a measure of relief for the city’s unemployed, was voted by-a small margin at Thursday’s election. Voters will pass on two school bond issues totaling $12,720,000 on March 27, to afford additional employment in the building trades. Instill Would Buy at Goshen Northern Indiana Public Service Company (Insull) has petitioned the public service commission for permission to purchase the Goshen municipal electric system for $9,400. Cash Stolen From Home A pass key burglar stole $4130 and an overcoat Thursday from the home of Charles R. Jones, 656 West Twenty-ninth street, police were notified today.

No Connection A number of queries and complaints have been recived at The Times office, concerning photographers who represented themselves as connected wiifc The Times in seeking orders for interior pictures of city business houses. No photographers engaged in this work have any connection with The Times. They are not authorized. to use the name of The Times in their solicitation.

Ashes May Solve Death Riddle

Ray J. Hinkle, state policeman, in the upper photo, is seen digging in the ruijjs of the Lee Brown farm home near Nashville, Ind., from which two charred bodies, believed either those of Mr. and Mrs. Brown, or Mr. Brown and his son Paul, were removed Dec. 15.

SGHROEDER STORY IS GIVEN BLOW BY SURPRISE WITNESS Surprise testimony, that a man of Harold Herbert Schroeder’s description was in the vicinity of High School road seven hours before Schroeder’s flaming sedan, a charred body within, was found on May 31, was heard today by a criminal court jury trying Schroeder for murder. Tracing last details of state’s evidence, prosecutors this morning startled spectators and the jury by producing a witness who drove behind the man, alleged to be Schroeder, at the tragedy scene.

Telling of the occurrence, William E. Harris, 3513 East Twentyfifth street, a railroad conductor, testified the man’s car bore an Alabama license plate and carried a rear tire cover which had been described before by witnesses. As the man and the car drove within a few hundred feet of the scene where the tragedy later occurred, the driver slowed his auto and apparently surveyed the location, Harris testified. Spectators Are Jarred This bit of evidence, heretofore unknown, brought spectators to the edge of their seats in one of the most tense moments of the trial. When court adjourned for the noon hour, three state’s witnesses waited to testify before the state’s case is rested. In seven days of battling to send Schroeder to the electric chair, prosecutors this morning summed up evidence heard fro mthe stand since the trial began. The session opened with corssexaminaiton of Judson L. Stark, formre prosecutor, who narrated the ! graphic story of the tragedy and its “solution.” Stark reviwed events following Schroeder’s flight from Indianapolis after the tragedy, and of the : Alabaman’s capture in a weed patch near his Mobile, home. Noted Alabama Plate Harris succeeded Stark on the stand and on direct examination told of attending the Speedway motor race classic, where Schroeder was, and of driving after the race to a lunch stand a mile west of Washington street on Rockville road. “My wife and I had a sandwich and coffee. As we were about to drive back into Rockville road, I waited for a car to pass. It was a large sedan, and was going very slowly,” Harris testified. “After it passed, I fell in behind, and talked to my wife about it. On the rear of the car was a colored tire cover advertising a well-known make of radio. I noted the license plates were for the state of Alabama. and that two of the numbers were T and ‘o’,” Harris continued. Surveyed the Road “We followed behind the car at a slow rate of speed and I said to my wife that the car probably contained some Alabama Negroes. The driver then turned his face and I saw he was a white man. “The man had dark hair, wore heavy-rimmed glasses, no hat and dark clothes,” Harris testified. As they parsed a detour at High School road Harris said he noted

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, MARCH' 6, 1931

the driver of the car ahead slowed down and appeared to be looking closely at surroundings. “He turned his head first to one side of the road and then to the other side. My wife and I both noted it,” Harris continued. At the county line road, Harris testified, he (Harris) turned south, and the car ahead continued on. That was about* 6 p. m. May 30, Harris said. Schroeder, Prosecutor Herbert Wilson says, stated he did not leave Indianapolis until about 9 that night—that he returned directly from the races to Indianapolis for dinner. Substantiating testimony of Stark and George L. Winkler, former sheriff, George Eggleston took the stand to retell happenings in Mobile when Shroeder was questioned and a statement taken. Detectives Jack Stump and Sam Golder and Fred Fox, former deputy sheriff, who went to Mobile with Winkler,-were to take the stand in the afternoon session. They will tell of Schroeder’s being (Turn to Page 2)

Local Sectional Lineup TECHNICAL ()...\ 9 a. n>. Friday i TECH m C AL \ OAKLAXDON (13) 7 ) 3:30 a. m. WASHINGTON (45) \ \ 10 a. m. Friday • WASHINGTON .... j CASTLETON (15)..) ! 2:30 p. m. Saturday) ••••• W. NEWTON (17)..\ 1 11 a. m. Friday j WEST NEWTON... l '/ LAWRENCE (16).../ I ! 9:30 a. m. Saturday ' ‘ SOUTHPORT ) \ 2 p. m. Friday > ' VALLET MILLS ...) * Sum. Saturday SHOE FRIDGE ...\ 3 p. m. Friday / v BROAD RIPPLE / 10:30 a. m. Saturday ' NEW BETHEL ....\ j \ 4 p. m. Friday ? NEW AUGUSTA ...) , ( 3:30 P: m. Saturday ) BEN DAVIS \ l 7:30 p. m. Friday - 1 BEECH GROVE ...) I 11:30 a. ns. Saturday > ACTON ) S:3O p. m. Friday ' MANUAL )

Inset, left, Is Coroner Joshua Bond, who refuses to credit report of Indiana university physicians that the bodies are those of two men..lnset, right, is Dr. M. G. Murphy, one of two physicians who examined the bodies immediately after the fire. Below is another view of the ruins of the home, (Story On Page 1, Section Section).

TECH GOES TO SECONDROUNO Washington and West Newton Also Are Winners. (Detail Play on Sports Pages) Technical, Washington and West Newton crashed their way into the second round of the Indianapolis high school sectional basketball tournament today at Tech gym. Tech, favored to advance to the final round of the local tourney, crushed Oaklandon, 44 to 13. Washington trampled over Castleton, 45 to 15. Castleton weakened after a gallant first-quarter stand and the west siders found the going easy. West Newton managed to eke out a 17 to 16 victory over Lawrence in a thrilling nip-and-tuck fray. GROTTO HEAD HONORED Crowd of 1,500 Attends Ball Given for Monarch Carl B. Schey. * Annual monarch’s ball of Sahara Grotto drew a crowd of 1,500 persons at the Columbia Club Thursday night to honor Monarch Carl B. Schey. Dancing pupils of Louise Powell, with Billy Shirley as master of ceremonies, presented a program. Navy Bombers to Cost Million CLEVELAND, March 6.—Construction work on thirty-two large bombing planes for the United States navy, costing more than one million dollars, has started at the Great Lakes Aircraft Corporation plant here, it was announced today by Charles F. Barndt, general manager.

KIRKLAND SOBS STORY OF LOVE FOR ARLENE; ENGAGED, HE TESTIFIES

Gary High School Youth Takes Stand in Fight for Life, LAYS DEATH TO FALL Romance Began and Grew in Dance Hall, Accused * Boy Asserts. (Other details on Page 8) By Times Special VALPARAISO, * larch 6. Twice this morning silence of a courtroom was tribute to the sobs of Virgil Kirkland as the debonair composure of the youth, at which., spectators have marveled, succumbed to emotion as he testified of his love for Arlene Draves, for whose murder he is on trial. His first breakdown followed the question of Defense Attorney Barrett O’Hara, former Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, who after a dramatic pause, gently asked: "Did you love Arlene, Virgil?” The boy’s voice choked as he answered: “Os course I did.” Case to JiA-y Soon Again he was shaken when he recounted a love scene on a davenport and their intimacies on the porch v of their host’s home during the gin party, Nov. 29, to which Arlene’s death was a fateful sequence. Kirkland stepped blithely to the stand, the first witness today, and next to the last witness the defense will produce. His mother will testify to the youth’s age and then O’Hara will prepare the closing argument on which douotless will hinge Virgil’s fate with the jury. "What is your name?” O’Hara asked. "Virgil Kirkland.”

Mother Took in Washings “You are the defendant in this case?” “Yes, sir.” ‘"//here were you born?” “Kaskee, Mo., in 1910.” “Now describe your early life.” “We lived there three years, and then went to Williamsville.” “In Missouri?” “Yes, Missouri. Father died when I was a baby, 15 months old. Mother took in washings to- support us. She went to St. Louis and married my stepfather. He was a locomotive engineer. We were in St. Louis tv 7o years, and then dad went to Gary. Later on he sent for the family. I was 8 years old then.” “Where did you go to high school?” “At Horace Mann, in Gary.” How He Met Arlene “Tell the jury, Virgil, where and when you first met Arlene Draves.” “I’ve known Arlene three years I met her the first time in the Gay Mill dance hall, near Gary. I went there, like other boys do, to dance. I saw Arlene and she attracted me, so I asked her for a dance. We danced together.” “What happened after that?” O’Hara asked. “We danced and talked and kidded each other. I asked her for a date. She said her folks wouldn’t allow her to make any appointments because she was only 15. In the kidding, I told her I was a sophomore at Purdue, and she told me she was a senior at Emerson high school in Gary.” “When did you see her again?” Romance Grew in Dance Hall “The next night. We danced together Sunday night and I saw her Monday night.” “Hew did you happen to see her?” “1 was carrying ice. She saw me and hollered, ‘What ya doin’, training for football?’ Then I asked her where she lived, and she told me. I said I'd be over that night, and did go over. When I knocked at the door she asked, ‘Who’s there?’ “I said, ‘lt’s Virgil,’ and we talked about a date. I was 17 then. “After that I used to meet her at the Gay Mill. We danced all the dances together. But she wouldn’t let me take her home because she wasn’t old enough to make dates. “One night we were dancing there, and she asked if I’d like to take her for a ride. I said I would, and she told me her sister Carolyn and her sister’s boy friend were going to drive to Chicago and we could go along. Tells of First Kiss “We left before the dance was over and went to Chicago, up to Carolyn’s place. She worked at the University of Chicago. We rode in the back seat up and back.” “Had you ever kissed Arlene?” “No, not then.” “When did you first kiss her?” ‘‘Well, in a football game, it was between Horace Mann and Froebel j high schools, I got hurt, and had |to go to the hospital. Arlene and a girl named Marguerite Hock used i to come and see me. “One day Margy said, ‘Babe’s got. something to tell you : . . she’s goj ing~ to surprise you.’ When they | left, Babe leaned over and kissed me on the lips. That was a kiss I ! never forgot,” Kirkland said. Engaged, Boy Asserts Before the next question Attorney O'Hara paused. Kirkland stared I grimly ahead as the lawyer leaned over the table and asked: “Did you love Arlene, Virgil?” For a moment the boy did not

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice. Indianapolis. Ind.

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Virgil Kirkland.

answer. Then he proke down, sobbing. “Os course I did.” O’Hara asked for a recess, but Judge Grant Crumpacker sustained objection of Deputy Prosecutor John Underwood, who insisted the trial should continue. “Were you engaged to marry Arlene?” asked O’Hara when the boy’s sobs had quieted. "Yes.” "Tell the jury the circumstances surrounding the time you asked her to be your wife ” "Your honor, I object to this question,” underwood shouted. "It means everything in the world to this boy, your honor,” O’Hara pleaded. "The love of these young people is the most important part of the case.” The judge sustained Underwood’s objection.

Asked Her to Be Wife “Virgil, did you ever ask Arlene to become your wife?’ ’asked O’Hara. “Yes.” “Did she accept?” “Yes.” “When did she give you her answer?” “About two weeks before her death. It was at an Elks dance.” “Were there any arrangements made for the marriage?” “Yes.” “Was there not a gathering of friends to celebrate the coming marriage?” “Yes.” “When was the marriage- to have taken place?” “The Tuesday night following the Sunday night I . asked her to marry me.” “Tell the jury about that Tuesday night.” * Planned to Be Married “We all met at Shirk’s home (Henry Shirk is one of the defendants on the murder charge, yet to be trie:’) then we started for Valparaiso, all of us.” “Were you married there?” “No. Babe got sick, and we put it off. She asked me to. Then we drove to some small town and ate, and went back home.” Swiftly the defense went from that point in the love affair to the gin party at the home of David ; (Shorty) Thompson, another of the five boys charged with Miss Draves’ murder. “When did you see Arlene the night of Nov. 29?” “About 7:30, at the Clemens’ home. Mrs. Clemens is her sister. We made plans for the party the Saturday night before. Clemens and his wife were playing checkers when I called for Arlene.” Tells of Drinking Orgy “We went across the street to a friend’s house, and then I called a cab apd we went to Shorty’s. Shorty and his wife were alone then. While they dressed, Arlene and I danced to the radio. Paul Barton, Leon Stanford (the others charged with the crime) and the rest of the party came in, and three of the boys went for liquor.” “Did you help get the liquor, or bring any to the party?” “No. I heard < the other boys talking about getting some. While they were gone Evan Madera found a little over a half-pint of alcohol m the pantry and we mixed it with water and Mrs. Madera and Arlene drank some. When the boys got back they had a gallon of alcohol and a gallon of wine. They put it on the kitchen table and we ganged around it and started drinking.” Love Making Is Aired “Were you on the davenport with : Arlene?” i “Yes.” I “What did you do there?” “We talked about love, and we ! wanted to be by ourselves, so we went out on the porch.” “On the porch were you intimate } with Arlene?” The boy sobbed. “Buck up, Virgil. Come on, boy, I answer the question,” O’Hara said. The state objected to the procedure. “Be decent about this, will you?” O’Hara snapped at Prosecutor Underwood. “Yes—on the porch,” Virgil said. “After that, did you go back in the house and dance and drink?” “Yes, anr then we went on the porch again.” Spectators are Warned “What was Arlene’s condition?” “She was under the influence of liquor.” j “Did you smack her face?” “No.” O’Hara stepped to the witness I stand and placed his hands on both i sides of the boy’s cheeks, and pushed j from side to side. In corridors outi ride the courtroom spectators se* | up an uproar of laughter- “ Your honor, I ask that the courtroom be cleared,’* QHara demanded. The Judge warned spectators to remain silent.

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TWO CENTS

Details of Gin Orgy and Love-Making Related; Denies Attacks. 'NO BLOOD ON HANDS’ Re-Enacts With Attorney His Version of 'Shaking’ That Caused Tragedy. “Is that how you shook her?” O’Hara asked Kirkland “It is.” “Did she feel better' Denies Blood on Hands “Yes. We walked to the front porch and she sat in a chair. I put my arms around her and told her I loved her. She said she wanted to go home, and when she got up she fell, face down, on the floor. Before I could pick her up Dick Sturtridge had lifted her in my arms. I asked if she was hurt, and she said ‘No, I’m all right.’ T took her out to the car to get air ” “What happened then?” “Barton and Shorty came out, got in the car, and we went after sandwiches, I talked with Arlene all the way.” “Did you wash your hands in the restaurant?” “Yes.” “Was there blood cn them?" “No.” Kirkland denied conversation attributed to him in the hot dog stand by Victoria Leonard, waitress, and others, and said the boys got the sandwiches and returned to the Thompson home. . , Had Some More Drinks “I asked Arlene if she wanted to go in, but 6he told me she’d rather sleep in the car a while. I went in the house and had some more drinks. Finally the party broke up, and seven of us got in the car. Babe was slumped over, and I thought she was asleep. On the way to take the Sturtridges and Josephine Rukas home Babe and I lav with our heads together. “After a while I shook her, but she didn’t wake up. Then I got nervous, and finally we stopped and tried’to get a doctor.” The boys took her to the home of Dr. R. O. Wharton, who pronounced her dead. Girl’s Death Is Revealed “Dr. Wharton told us to stay there while he went upstairs. I went out to the car to get Babe’s coat and things, and while I-was fumbling around the car Barton and Shorty came out and drove away. “They took me down to within two blocks of Clemens’ house and let me out. I told Clemens that Babe was dead from bad booze. Mrs. Clemens fainted, and then Clements called Dr. Wharton and then phoned for a policeman I waited until he came.” Refuses Companions’ Story When defense attorneys have finished questioning Kirkland the state doubtless will open with a scathing interrogation with which Deputy Prosecutor John Underwood and his aids hope to establish the fact that. Virgil’s moral histOTy is dark, if not black, and they may attempt by their questions to draw Kirkland into impeachable statements. One thing the defense admittedly fears is queries concerning the boy’s dismissal from Horace Mann high school in Gary last June because j of sexual delinquency. Perhaps the defense would not ; have placed their client on the 1 stand had not the state last Satur - day introduced two companions of Kirkland, who testified that two oth/ee weeks before the tragedy Virgil told them he was not “getting anywhere with Arlene, but would pretty soon or knock hell out of her.” AUTO SALESMEN MEET Chevrolet Agents Prepare for Spring Business Increase Sales convention of 500 retail Chevrolet salesmen opened todav with a luncheon at the Claypool, to be followed by a meeting this afternoon at English’s theater. The meeting, the first of its kind to be held by Chevrolet, retail salesmen, is to equip Indianapolis zone salesmen with complete facilities for obtaining a share in the expected increase in volume of business this spring, according to C P. Fisken, Indianapolis zone manager. R. C. Williams of the Johnson ; Chevrolet Company, president, and Emil J. Voelker, Hare Chevrolet ! Company, Indianapolis, vice-presi- ! dent, were among zone officers of the “100-Car” Club installed at i the luncheon. Hourly Temperatures C a. m 29 10 a. m..-... 27 7 a. m 29 11 a. m,.... 29 Ba. m 30 12 (noon).. 30 9a. m 29 Ip. in..... 31

That’s a Pal By Times Special MUNCDE, Ind., March 8 Ted Rains permitted a friend, Guy Morris, to leave two gallons of whisky at his horfte for two hours. While it was there Sheriff Fred Puckett raided the house and confiscated the liquor. City Judge Frank Mann heard Rains’ story, then held him guilty, fining him SIOO and sentencing him to sixty days at the penal farm.

Outside Marlon County S Cents