Indianapolis Times, Volume 42, Number 262, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 March 1931 — Page 1

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BEAUTY QUEEN MAY NOT FACE MURDER TRIAL Investigation Bears Out Charlotte Nash’s SelfDefense Claim. CALLED ‘GOOD MOTHER’ Family of Slain Husband Is Unlikely to Push Prosecution. By United Press NICE, France, March 13—Police Investigation of the death of Fred (i. Nixon-Nirdlinger indicated today that his widow, the former Charlotte Nash of St. Louis, who admitted .shooting her husband, might never face trial for the Wiling. As police were re-enacting the shooting at the home of the couple on the Promenade Des Anglais, it appeared likely that the traditional French attitude toward "crime passionel’’ would come to the aid of the girl who won second honors in the 1924 Atlantic. City beauty pageant. Preliminary investigation was said to bear out her contention that she shot in self-defense. It was pointed out that the police had partly verified Mrs. NixonNirdlinger's story by determining the angle at which a. bullet found in the wall of the room had been fired. She said she fired the first shot from the bed while her husband was choking her. Doctors also said that the bruises on her neck indicated she had been severely handled. Charge Not to Be Pushed Furtnermore, Charles Loeb. the American lawyer representing the Nixon-Nirdlinger family in Philadelphia, did not indicate that he would push the prosecution. He arranged to have the body of the theatrical man sent to Philadelphia. Police questioned friends of the couple at Nice and Saint Moritz, where they were frequently seen at sports events, and redelved a favorable report on Mrs. Nixon-Nird-linger, who was widely praised as a good mother. It was said that most of their friends also testified to her husband’s jealousy and blamed the tiagedy on "another case of 54 marrying 20.” The Philadelphian and his wife had returned only a few days before the shooting from St. Moritz, where Mrs. NlxOn-Nirdlinger was one of tfie best fancy skaters. "Never Marry Beauty Queen It was recalled .that soon after their return an Englishman acquaintance had complimented the American on having such a beautiful wife. "Let me warn you, young man, never marry a beauty queen,” Nixon-Nirdlinger was said to have replied “Nature can not give intellectual companionship and a perfect face." The American girl was often mistaken for the daughter of NixonNirdlinger, who was 1 more than thirty years her senior, but he always appeared to be amused by the error. Their two children, one 18 months old and the other 3 years, were in charge of a Swedish nurse at the villa where the tragedy occurred. Mrs. Nixon-Nirdlinger was clad in pink pajamas when police arrived at the villa. Mrs. Nixon-Nirdlinger wrote her confession in jail, using a Jewelled fountain pen which was a gift from her husband. "We had dined together." she wrote. “My husband had been drinking wine and whisky and later I went to the boudoir to put on my pajamas. I returned to the living room, where my husband was working on a crossword puzzle. I started to study Italian when he said: ‘You must have an Italian lover. I will change my will and disinherit your children.’ Fired Several Times "Then he stalked Into the kitchen and drank more whisky. I went to the bedroom and placed the revolver under my pillow’, because several times before he had threatened to kill me. My husband came into the room and undressed, saying, ‘I will kill you rather than let you have an Italian lover.’ “I answered that he need have no fears on that score. Then he started choking me. I grabbed the revolver and flred point blank. He staggered out of the room an.i I pursued him. firing several times. Then I fainted. As soon as I revived I started searching for the concierge, but fainted again." FIGHT HARVARifCHAPEL Proposed Memorial to War Dead Is Opposed by Student Editors. By United Tress CAMBRIDGE, Mas*., March 13— The proposed Harvard World War Memorial chapel w'ould represent religious discrimination, editors of 'The Crimson, undergraduate daily, charged today enlisting student opposition to the project. Work on the $1,000,000 chapel, to commemorate Harvard’s hero dead in the World war, was to start In June. TOM MIX SPEAKS HERE Western Star Addresses Members of Optimist Club. Tom Mix, screen star, addressed members of the Optimist Club today at the Claypool. Roy L. Davidson was master of ceremonies. Hourly Temperatures 8. m 38 10 a. m 43 7 a m .... 38 11a m 44 Bam 40 12 <noon>.. 44 9 a. m,.... 41 lpm 45

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The Indianapolis Times Unsettled with light rain tonight and possibly Saturday morning; lowest temperature tonight about 40, somewhat colder Saturday.

VOLUME 42—NUMBER 262

Alls Lost Jobless, Destitute Man Suicide for Allowing Wife's Disgrace.

By United Press AKRON, O. March 13—A jaded romance that led a wife to disgrace and her husband to suicide, today provided one of the most dramatic tragedies on Akron police records. Jobless and driven to remorse for having permitted his wife to disgrace herself for love of him, Amos N. Shenk appeared at the women’s detention home, where she was taken after her arrest, and asked for her. I want to bid farewell to my wife," he told Mrs. Anna Deneen, custodian. "I am going to kill myself in a few minutes." He handed her his nurse containing $23, his watch and a diamond ring. Alarmed, the matron retired from the room to call police. Seeing them arrive Shenk lifted a vial to Ws lips and gulped the contents. You're too late, boy.” he said calmly. "It's the most, deadly poison known." tt tt it HE walked to the police car, staggered into city hospital emergency ward and died two hours later in the arms of his wife. > An impassioned note of love and self-condemnation was found on his person. It read: "Oh, how I. love you, but I am not worthy to be your husband. If I could only hold you in my arms again. I love you, I love you, I love you.” Weeping bitterly, Mrs. Shenk told officers she had gone to a disorderly house after her husband futilely had sought work and their funds were exhausted. She was arrested in a police raid.

MURDER SPOT BELIEVEDFOUND Police Think Virginia Brooks Was in Shack. By United rrcss SAN DIEGO, Cal., March 13.—1n the belief they may have located a shack in which 10-year-old Virginia Brooks was held captive prior to her murder, police today sought identification by the girl’s mother of portions of an undergarment found in the building. During the night, chemist Maccy of the police department) subjected the fabric to a chemical analysis. Investigators received a setback Thursday night' when Dr. Earnst Mundkowsky announced after an examination that the girl’s body had not, as at first believed, been mutilated. Its condition, he said, was due to the natural decomposition." Jerry L. Davis, 21, under sentence to San Quentin prison for burglary, was questioned by police in connection with the slaying. Davis’ admission that he was in San Diego, Feb. 11. when Virginia disappeared and that he had herded sheep on the Mesa at Camp Kearney, where her body was found, led police to delay his removal to San Quentin pending word from San Diego authorities.

Going Places When 10-year-old Leroy Boardman, 1206 Cruft street, left home this morning he had as company two small playmates and $620. Ostensibly he was school bound, but w’hen his mother missed the purse with the money she was dubious. A telephone call revealed he did not show up at school. Police w’ere asked to search for him.

MILLION ASK LOANS $40,358,811 Paid to Veterans, Gen. Hines Says. By United Press WASHINGTON, March 13. Nearly a million applications for government loans to veterans in the relief program w’ere received within the first week of the operation of the new law, BrigadierGeneral Frank TANARUS, Hines, administrator of veterans’ affairs, today reported to President Hoover. The bureau mailed 105,766 checks totaling $40,358,811.79 during this period up to the close of business March 7, Hines said. Young Man Dies By Twtes Special BLOOMINGTON, Ind.. March 13. —Funeral services were held today for Clarence Minnirk. 24, who died after a long illness. He leaves his parents, Mr, and Mrs. Fletcher Minnick: Herbert and Lotis, and a sister, Mrs. Ethel Cavaness,

By United Press Chicago, arch 13— This was Francis X. Bushman’s busy day. He was picking a wife wealthy enough to support him in Hollywood style. Thirty-three women—spinsters, widows and girls—are each willing to place their fortunes of varying size at his disposal to provide luxuries if he will lust marry them. Three of the applicants were

LIBERALS AIM DEFINITELY AT THIRD PARTY Immediate Formation Is Barred by Electoral College System. ALL DENOUNCE HOOVER ‘Full Dawn’ Is Visioned by Norris at Progressive Conference, BY RAY TUCKER Times Staff Correspondent , WASHINGTON, March 13. Creation of a permanent, bipartisan organization to mobilize and advance liberal thought and legislation loomed today as a probable outgrowth of the progressive conference held here by Republican, Democratic and Farmer-Labor members of congress and outside experts. Although the conference did not discuss third parties or candidates specifically, the movement definitely was headed in that direction by Senator George W. Norris (Rep., Neb.), conference chairman. Only the electoral college system prevents immediate formation of a third party, he said, and one of the chief legislative proposals adopted by the conference contemplates abolition of that machinery for election of the President. "Full Dawn to Come" In the moving scene that marked Norris’ turning over of "the torch of liberal thought’ 'to Senator Robert M. La Follette (Rep., Wis,), the Nebraskan spoke of the “full dawn” to come. He predicted that the progressives could "sweep the nation" if the Democi-ats nominated a conservative like President Hoover, and if the electoral college system did not bar a third party. It was generally believed that the progressives, consciously or not, had served notice on the Democrats that, if that party wants the support of liberals throughout the country, it must nominate a liberal candidate. It also was felt that, in view of the friendly exchange between the conference promoters and Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, of New York, he would stand the greatest chance of obtaining progressive support. Denounce Hoover’s Policies Almost every speaker, including the senators and industrial and agricultural spokesmen, denounced the Hoover administration’s policies. Owen D. Young of New York, General Electric chairman, also was assailed, by. many who took part in the public utilities discussion. Without mentioning names Norris indicated he thought the "power trust" was seeking to nominate Hoover on one side and Young on the other. As Norris pointed out, the conference simply laid the groundwork for the task of arousing public opinion behind a definite program to be framed in detail between now and December. Meanwhile, the unemployment committee headed by La Follette will make a rapid survey of conditions with a view to demanding a special session of congTess for direct federal relief, if necessary. La Follette’s report said there were public and private funds available for “only a month,” and that suffering might become even more acute after that period. He impressed on his committee the need of immediate action. Deplores Federal Action "Tills committee,” his report read, “goes on record as imploring the federal authorities to make provision for the millions of American citizens who are on the verge of starvation at a time of general agricultural and industrial breakdown. The adjournment of congress at a time of a great national crisis is an evasion of its primary duties." The La Follette committee proposed creation of necessary public machinery for planning and control and a national system of coordinated employment exchanges. It will make an investigation of the advantage of imemployment or insurance funds, the problems involved in a stabilizing industry, the place of public W’orks in industrial stabilization, means to increase purchasing power, a shorter work-day and w’eek, co-ordination of local, state and federal relief activities. The tariff report of the committee headed by Senator Edw r ard P. Costigan tDem.. Colo.), urged downward revision, summing up its proposals concretely. "Administrative and other changes (of the Hawley-Smoot. act) should include more certain standards for prompt and efficient determination of excessive tariff rates, and the recapture by congress of the tariffchanging powers now exercised by the President," the report said-

‘MARRY A MILLION’ BUSHMAN SWAMPED IN RUSH OF APPLICANTS

booked for interviews during the day. Bushman’s offer to ’’marry for money" created a danger, however, that the motive—failure to obtain continued success in motion pictures—may be removed, for at least one film colony offered to star the former matinee idol, providing its terms were agreeable. 'But after all," said Bushman. "It might be only temporary." Nevertheless, he proposed to confer with the film /wduccrs.

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 1931

Schroeder Hears the Bad News

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BANK ROBBER SUSPECT HELD Confession Is Claimed in Attempted Holdup at New Augusta. Attempted holdup*of the New Augusta (Ind.) bank, Jan. 22, w’as solved today, police claimed, with arrest and purported confession of Ralph Gifford, 25, of near Cicero, Ind., alleged participant, and the questioning of three other suspects. That Gifford and an accomplice whom he refused to name, also might have been implicated in hold* up of the Farmers State bank at Scircleville, Feb. 19, when $1,402 was stolen, and in the Broad Ripple State bank, Feb. 12, was belief of Charles Bolte and Ben McMillan of the state bureau of criminal identification, who obtained the tip leading to the arrests. Bolte and McMillan w’orked with Detectives William Miller and John Gish in the investigation. Stole Auto Jan. 21 Police said Gifford, in liis purported confession, admitted he and the unnamed accomplice stole an automobile here Jan. 21 and the following day engaged in a gun battle with bank officials at New Augusta in the attempted holdup. Bandits in the New Augusta robbery fled when they found bulletproof glass resisted their ’—’lots, officers said. Officers also said Gifford admitted he and Wilbur King, living west of Ben Davis, held up a poker game in a pool room at Honeycreek, Ind., New Year’s eve, shooting the proprietor in the leg when he resisted. King and his brother, Laurel King, are held for questioning. Three Bandits Fled In the Broad Ripple holdup three bandits fled after Morris Dodd, bank teller, sounded a burglar alarm. Patrolman Mowrey Johnston engaged in a running gun battle with the bandits, pursuing the car in w’hich they made their getaway with a commandeered truck. Johnson said he believed he wounded one of the bandits. The bank custodian was wounded by the bandits’ bullets. Officers Thursday searched a shack on Sheridan road one mile east of State Rd. 31 which the suspects are alleged to have used as headquarters. Gifford, officers said, admitted he had served a one-to-ten-year sentence for burglary in 1928. 13TH AND TWINS! ‘We're Not Superstitious,’ Father Beams, Friday the Thirteenth is all the way you look at it. And one city couple, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Herbst, 3022 Phipps street, can only see it as one day when your "blessings’’ are doubled. For at three minutes past midnight, twins were bora to Mrs. Herbst at the home. "The boy weighs seven pounds and the girl. six. and we're not superstitious about it even though they do add up thirteen," Papa Herbst said. "No bad luck in that. Maybe we’ll give them the names Josephine and John—those names total thirteen letters," he said beamingly. Herbst is attorney for the Grain Dealers’ National Insurance Company.

The women who wrote, wired or telephoned Bushman of their willingness to support a 47-year-old screen actor m return for his companionship, his guidance on world tours, and his advice for social success, were all put aside with promises of interviews—“if necessary." a m a SOME of them even stormed his dressing room at the Kedzie theater. One group met him at the stage door. ’’Ladies, ladies," sail Bushman.

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Guilty! Verdict of the criminal court jury that Thursday night found Harold Herbert Schroeder guilty of voluntary manslaughter shook the defendant and sent his wife sobbing to his shoulder as these exclusive pictures of the courtroom scene show'. In the top photo, Mrs. Schroeder is shown, w’eeptng, with her husband’s arm around her. Schroed-

LYNCHING CHARGE DROPPED BY STATE

By United Press MARION, Ind., March 13.—Affidavits against six Marion men and Jacob C. Campbell, former Grant county sheriff, filed by the state after the lynching of two Negroes here last August, were today in Grant circuit court upon written motion of Merle Wall and LESLIE SIGNS MEASURE HIKING LICENSE COSTS Bill Provides Secretary of State to Collect Extra 25-Cent Fee, Auto license costs will be boosted after Governor Harry G. Leslie today signed the house bill providing for the secretary of state to collect a 25-cent service charge on all auto license plates, applications and permanent registration certificates. The law also gives auto license distribution branches authority to receive the same service fees and requires motorists to call for the plates. Leslie also signed senate Bill 207, which gives the secretary of state increased powers "to protect surface or physical portions" of highways.

“One at a time—please! I must ask you to write out your applications, giving all information about yourself and inclose photographs." “If wealth is the only qualification you require of a wife, ‘why the photographs?" Bushman was asked, “Ah,” intoned Bushman in his precise English accent, “I might consider discounts to those who are charming and beautiful.” “Charms and beauty not considered,, what minimum would you

er’s jaw sagged ate he heard the verdict, and the depth of his emotion plainly was visible. In the center picture, another glimpse of Schroeder and his wife. Tfle same sullen, despondent mien characterizes the defendant here. Lower picture, Edward W. Pierson, Pike township farmer, and foreman of the jury, handing the -verdict to Roy Lowe, court bailiff.

Earl Stroup, deputy attorney-gen-eral. Charges of participation in the lynching were dismissed against Chester Pease, Arnold Wallers, Phillip Boyd,. Everett Clark, Asa Davis and a sixth man known only as Prame. All but Prame have been arrested and \Vallers has been held in jail since Dec. 20. The affidavit charging Campbell with neglect of duty because the Negro prisoners were removed from the county Jail, also was dismissed. Wall and Stroup, in their motion, said dismissal was made because there appeared no likelihood of obtaining convictions. Two men have been tried, Robert Beshire and Charles Lennon, and were acquitted of the lynching charges. $1 Fine for Coal Theft By Times Special GREENSBURG, Ind., March 13— Charles Christman, owner of a restaurant, pleaded guilty in city court to a charge of pstit larcenfr and was fined $1 and costs. He was convicted of stealing coal from a train stopped near his place of business. Earl Robbins, . facing a similar charge, is to be tried later.

place on the fortune of your wife?" a a a million dollars," Bushman answered promptly. Bushman was asked if any of the women who had made known their applications in person were, in his opinion, beautiful. "Only one.” sighed Bushman, "and she had almost no money.” “Were any of them young?" “Yes. young and giddy, and not wealthy enough. There were

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

JURY RULES SCHROEDER IS GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER; 2 TO 21 YEARS IS PENALTY Verdict- Reached After 3V2 Hours’ Deliberation in Torch Car Murder Case; Sentence Monday. HOLMES BLAMED BY DEFENDANT Pitifully Weak Defense Held Reason for Conviction; New Clew to Victim Is Probed. BY EDWARD C. FULKE Two to twenty-one years in prison is the punishment that Harold Herbert Schroeder of Mobile, Ala., faces today under the verdict of a criminal court jury. When twelve men filed into the jury box at 8 p. m. Thursday, their verdict of “guilty of voluntary manslaughter” was the last chapter to the grewsome High School road torch car crime of nine months ago. Schroeder’s guilt of the murder of an unknown man, as charged by the state of Indiana, was deliberated by his peers for 3 hours 35 minutes. Sentence will be pronounced Monday morning by Judge Frank P. Baker.

Dissatisfaction over his representation in court seemed to be the convicted man’s only grudge. To his attorney, Ira Holmes, who presented a pitifully weak defense against a pyramid of circumstantial evidence, Schroeder had this to say: "If it hadn’t been for you and your attitude, I would be a free man today.” And Holmes’ answer is: "You are lucky that you didn’t get life." No Appeal, Is Decision As though stunned, Holmes announced no appeal will be taken, and declared further prosecution of Schroeder is possible. "The state has an ironclad arson case against Schroeder and the penalty on that charge is three to ten years." At 3 p. m. Thursday when the jury retired to its deliberations on instructions of Baker, fourteen days of trial and nine monthes of waiting had ended, and the state had asked for Schroeder’s life. Schroeder’s peers cast six ballots, first three of which were seven for guilty on any charge and five for acquittal. On the fourth ballot, jurymen sought a compromise, and two held out for life imprisonment. Compromise on Sixth Ballot On the fifth ballot five jurymen voted for involuntary manslaugh-ter-seven for acquittal. Involuntary manslaughter is the lightest penalcy under Indiana murder statutes. On the sixth ballot a compromise was reached on the voluntary manslaughter verdict. While the deliberating was under way a tense mob awaited a verdict. Scores mille daround the courtroom, while Schroeder sat for an hour and a half with relatives. At 4:30 Schroeder was taken back to jail for his dinner. At 6 Baker adjourned court) until Bp. m. When the jurors returned from their dinner at that time their verdict apparently was ready, and shortly after reaching the deliberating room they sounded the buzzer for the bailiff. Defendant Pales Tense moments followed as the jury filed into the box and the verdict was handed to Baker’s clerk. Cameras clicked and flashes blinded spectators. The verdict was read, and Schroeder paled. His wife, Mrs. Leah Schroeder, broke into sobs and dropped to the convicted man’s lap as spectators shoved forward to the nearby railing. Several women sobbed as they looked on, while members of the male contingent gave Schroeder sympathy for his "tough break.” Schroeder then clashed with his attorney. Immediately afterward a photograph of a man believed by a mother to have been the torch car victim was shown to Schroeder. Thinks Son Is Victim The mother. Mrs. Louise Crooks, R. R. 2, Box 673, had been in court a few hours before with a photograph which she gave to Baker. She believed, she said, her son was the hitch hiker whose charred torso was dragged from Schroeder’s flaming sedan on the morning of May 31. "No, that isn’t him," Schroeder said, glancing at the picture. "I never saw that man,” he added. Authorities credited the clew as one of the strongest found in nine months of attempting to establish the unknown man’s identity. Prosecutor Herbert Wilson said Schroeder will be questioned about it. The mother said her boy, Harold Webb, 23, wrote her a letter last

widows, too, who had inherited fortunes from their late husbands, and wrote that they felt would be an ideal companion." Bushman ended the interview in order to receive cameramen. He was very mysterious about when he will make his decision, but one gathered that he wants to interview at least one “million dollar" applicant and weigh her charms and beauty—ls any—against these of known charm and beauty with smaller fortunes.

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May from Mt. Vernon, Ind., declaring he intended to hitch hike his way to Indianapolis for the speedway races. He might have carried a rosary, as he had attended a Catholic school in Vincennes, she said. Remnants of a rosary were found in Schroeder’s burning car. Mrs. Crooks’ description of her son tallied almost identically with the partial description authorities hold of the unknown victim. She said the boy weighed about 145 pounds, was 5 feet 8 inches tall, with reddish-brown hair and blue eyes. Prom the races, her son was going to the wheat fields in the west, Mrs. Crooks said. Schroeder told authorities the man who died in his car w r as going to the wheat fields. Identity May Never Be Known Identity of the man probably never will be known. Authorities have traced hundreds of clews without success. To frame the bulwark of state's case, thirty-nine witnesses took the stand. Their testimony covered the crime from the time Schroeder rode into Indianapolis until he was captured in a weed patch in Mobile. Alabama authorities testified to taking Schroeder’s only statement of the crime. Indianapolis authorities narrated how Schroeder was returned to Indianapolis, and told of fist fights, and legal tilts that recurred during Schroeder's nine months’ imprisonment. Probably most damaging of all state’s evidence was the testimony of a motorist to seeing a man of Schroeder's description driving slowly in the vicinity of the crime scene seven hours before the burning car was discovered. Judson L. Stark, former prosecutor, took the stand to describe how Schroeder was questioned. Stark and Winkler declared that Schroeder refused to show authorities where the accident occurred. The defense case, sensationally brief, ended after only three witnesses took the stand. Father Gives Testimony Schroeder’s gray-haired father testified that Schroeder’s mother and grandmother were inmates of an asylum for the insane. Holmes argued that hereditary insanity was the cause of the “uncontrollable impulse’’ that led Schroeder to set the car and “dead” man afire. Autopsy of the charred torso of the unknown man disclosed a distinct stab wound in the right lung, Dr. Lawrence Lewis, former deputy coroner, testified. The wound showed on the breast of the man, Dr. Lewis declared. Holmes answered this charge with twelve theories as to how the wound might have originated. These theories ranged from the contention that the lung exploded under terrific heat of the fire, to the charge that firemen, in obtaining the seared corpse, drove a fire ax into the breast. USE OF LODGE CARDS IN RAID IS UPHELD Confiscated Certificates Used to Get Liquor Evidence. By United Prtsa PITTSBURGH, March 13.—Federal dry agents who used confiscated membership cards to secure admission into Eagles lodges to secure evidence were within their rights, Pederal Judge Nelson McVicar ruled today. The ruling affects a number of western Pennsylvania Eagles lodges, charged with violation of the prohibition laws on the basis of evidence obtained in this manner. Entrance was made by agents using cards confiscated in a ’•aid on the Homstead aerie, P. O. E., last fall. GIRL 13 ON THIRTEENTH Nancy Drohan Celebrates -Day Others Fear. While most of her schoolmates maintained healthy respect for Friday, the thirteenth. Nancy Drohan, 402 North Oakland avenue, found it a day for celebration. And why not? Nancy was 13 years old today.