Indianapolis Times, Volume 42, Number 285, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 April 1931 — Page 1

F-SCKJr" ”nWA R D i

FUNERAL ‘GRAB’ TACTICS LAID TO CORONER 'Rush' Embalming System Arouses Complaints Against Vehling. OWN BUSINESS THRIVES Bodies Hurried to Morgue * of Official, Extra Fee Charged Relatives. BY DICK MILLER “The body was sent to Coroner Fred W. Vehling's own undertaking establishment.” This statement of fact, oft-re-J’leated in The. Times, has aroused the wrath of Coroner Vehling. It also has resulted m an investigation of public records that reveals Vehling lias sent sixteen bodies srom the scenes of accidents and tragedies to his establishment at *122 Virginia avenue in the city ambulance. In many other cases, Vehling's tindertaking equipment has been tushed from his south side address to near the county line north of Indianapolis, the bodies being returned to the Vehling establishment. Some instances of removal of bodies from the scenes and also from the city hospital have brought complaints from persons who have had bodies of relatives involved in transactions with Vehling. Forced to Pay Fee Tn at least one case, it was repealed, the body was taken from the death scene and embalmed before members of the family and friends tv ere able to get to Vehling’s place. Consequently, they had to pay fc2o for the service, under threat of litigation if they refused, they fharge. Since Vehling took office, Jan. 1, lie has handled 265 death cases. Os the 103 of these that went to city hospital, Vehling obtained the bodies of fifteen victims from the institution. Because Vehling's own records ostensibly public—are incomplete, <not having been touched since March t. an investigation Tuesday showed*, it is impossible to give an accurate and up-to-date account of the disposal of the other 157 bodies. Vehling admitted his records were *'behind.” Denies Students Embalm Bodies If his records were in proper lhape, it. would be possible for The Times to slate the number of bodies that have been sent to his establishment from other Indian* ppolis hospitals and homes. The coroner also was presented with the charge that much of the embalming on bodies was done by students of the Indianapolis School of Embalming, who are serving interneships at his establishment. This, he denied, declaring that only experienced embalmers did the work. The practice of rushing bodies to his morgue and removing them from city hospital which, outfitted with the latest type of morgue equipment, is not countenanced by tounty officials and has not been {he practice of former coroners, uncss such action was ordered by relatives or friends of victims, it was learned. Vehling said he removed bodies to his morgue after preliminary investigations. so that relatives, when they do find where the body was, would find it in good condition. He denied employes of his establishment urged persons to permit the fcoroner to carry out the funeral end burial, although several instances of this and the $25 charge ijfnr embalming were bared in The Times inquiry. Undertaker Gives Version G. H. Hermann, 1722 South East street, undertaker, said he recently Was called by a family, the husband of which had been killed in an auto accident. Vehling had notified members of the family of the death and said the body was at his funeral home. Hermann obtained an order for the body from the family. When he turned it. over to Vehling, the latter told him the body already had been embalmed and demanded the $25 fee, Hermann charged. According to Hermann, a protest was entered, but relatives finally agreed to pay it, after an attorney, said to have represented Vehling. threatened suit. Hermann said $lO additional had to be spent for plastic surgery. Vehling recently suggested that one of his hearses be used to obtain bodies outside the city limits, when county and city officials were discussing the plan to assess the county $4 each time it was necessary for a city hospital ambulance to go outside the city limits. Warned by Snider George Snider, county commissioner, said he warned Vehling against charging more than $4 and also stated he believed Vehling eventually would be criticised tor his activities. According to Snider, Vehling said that if he were given the burial privileges, he would add the $4 fee to the funeral bill. If relatives insisted on having the burial conducted by another undertaker, Vehling said he would bill that undertaker for the fee. Auto Kills Tedcstrian By United Press GARY, Ind., April 9.—Luther Harknder, 22. Calumet City, 111, died of injuries suffered when r struck by a hit-and-run motorist. He was found unconscious in a i street here by police, who are seeking the din er.

Complete Wire Reports of UNITED PRESS, The Greatest World-Wide News Service

The Indianapolis Times Rain tonight and probably Friday morning; considerably cooler.

VOLUME 42—NUMBER 285

N. Y. Street Paving Fight Is in Court Protest against widening and paving of East New York street from Gale street to Emerson avenue today v.as carried into court with | the filing of an appeal bond in superior court five by attorneys for : remonstrators. At the same time, City Clerk Henry O. Goett filed a copy of the works board's resolution for the project together with a copy of the 1 remonstrance filed with the board which the board overruled Monday. The remonstrance, Attorney Merle N. A. Walker said, represented 40 per cent of the abutting property owners. Estimated cost of the project, which is part of proposed widening and improving of the street to provide a through artery from the business section to Irvington, is $124,760. of which the city would pay 75 per cent and abutting property owners 25 per cent. FREE BOYS OFDEATH BLAME Dismiss Charges Against Parents in Shooting. Charges will be dismissed against parents and six boys involved in the fatal shooting of William Ruthart, 52, of 5006 College avenue, a huckster, who was killed under the Delaware street bridge at Fall creek a week ago. Prosecutor Herbert Wilson made this announcement today following an investigation. Wilson declared he could find no violation of the state law in the case and pronounced the shooting as “excusable homicide.” “Investigation of reports that merchants in the city were selling ammunition to minors lias revealed no violations,” Wilson said. HELD AS STRANGLER Racketeer Is Charged With Vivian Gordon Killing. By United Press NEW YORK, April 9.—A Broadway racketeer was booked by police today as the alleged slayer of redhaired Vivian Gordon. Harry Stein, 32, whom the authorities know as a dope peddler and petty thief, was accused and police said they had evidence to show he strangled the adventuress to rob her of a fur coat, a ring and a wrist watch. With him. they held three other men as material witnesses. Stein, they said, already had served a prison term for strangling a woman, and they claimed to have evidence that he had in his possession, after the mysterious killing articles of the slain woman. LOVE IS DEFINED BY THREE ARTIST JUDGES It's ’’Season Pass on Shuttle Between Heaven, Hell,” They Decide. By United Press ' NEW YORK. April 9.—Three distinguished artists, called upon to select from a list of several hundred, a fitting definition for the word “love," paced the floor of a Manhattan studio Wednesday night and at length, after much hemming and hawing, announced today they had hit upon a winner. It was: “Love—A seasop pass on the shuttle between heaven and hell.” The winning definition was submitted by Don Dickerman, artist and night club owner. HEROINE OF FAMOUS HOOSIER NOVEL DIES Mrs. Maggie Johnson. 51, Was “Alice of Old Vincennes." By United i'ress VINCENNES. Ind.. April 9.—Alice of Old Vincennes is dead. Alice —Mrs. Maggie Johnson—died after several months illness here, i She was 51 and a direct descendant of Colonel Francis Vigo, one of ; the pioneers o fnorthwestern terriI tory. She was the heroine in the | famous novel of early Indiana life i written around Vincennes by Mau- ! rice Thompson, Hoosier author.

A MAN’S MAN, A WIT, A SCHOLAR-THAT WAS NICK

Scintillating Personality Carried Longworth to Top in Politics, Social Life

By United Press Nicholas longworths death today occurred far from the scenes of his political and social triumphs. His triumphs were those of a personality which cut through the fact that he was a son-in-law of the dynamic Theodore Roosevelt, the husband of the glamorous Alice Roosevelt, a rich mans son, an epicure, fond of spats, an artist on the violin, piano and pipe organ; in appearance a natty clubman type, in taste almost a dilettante—the whole load enough to blight the average political career. “Yet he fought his way up in a man's game where the rough and to the strongest and quickest. He not only won the

EX-PRISONER DECLARES HE ‘BOUGHT’ JOB Printing and Tailor Shop Heads at Pendleton Are Accused. BOTH DENY CHARGES Suits of Incoming Convicts ‘Peddled,’ Assertion of Former Inmate. BY DANIEL M. KIDNEY Times Staff Corresnondent PENDLETON, Ind., April 9 Bribery charges, brought by a former prisoner, were denied flatly in writing today by two veteran officers of the Indiana state reformatory. Having read the charges to them on Wednesday, Superintendent A. F. Miles of the institution ordered them to give their answer in writing to him “within twenty-four hours.” They presented the denials at noon today. Miles said. Both are highly incensed over the allegation, he declared. The charges have been made by Walter Arnold, former Ft. Wayne police officer, discharged from the reformatory July 6, 1928. They involve several officers who no longer are at the institution and tjjfo who still are in service here. Tlic latter arc H. A. Allen, who has a twenty-five-year service record with the Indiana penal institution, and Fred Phelps, superintendent of the reformatory print shop for the last six years. Paid for Job, He Says Arnold alleges he paid Phelps and Allen $5 apiece for a job in the clothing department under Allen, when he had been employed in the print shop. He also alleges Allen was in a frame-up to sell prisoners’ clothes and received commissions on sales of shoes to prisoners. He accuses Phelps of intercepting a smuggled letter containing two $lO bills and alleges Phelps kept one and spent the other for him for contraband goods. The officers’ explanations and the Arnold charges will be taken before the prison trustees, meeting Friday, Miles explained. Arnold made his charges public in an interview in. the April number of the Hoosier Observer, a Ft. Wayne publication. They appear under the heading “Politics at Pendleton,” and the Arnold story is the second of a series. Smuggled Money Split Arnold’s first charge is that of. the S2O split of smuggled money with Phelps in the print shop. He then continues: “Through this connection with the outside world. I was able to pave the way to getting a job in the clothing department under Allen. I paid $5 apiece to Phelps and Allen for the job. My imprisonment was becoming easier every day because I was establishing communication with the outside world through officers.” Telling of an alleged agreement with one of the prisoners, who acted as tailor, to sell incoming prisoners' clothes to officers, Arnold charges: “Allen would get $5 cash for his share and the tailor and I candy and cigarets for ours. By the way, Dr. Williams (house physician) sent his topcoat over to be pressed. I thought it looked like the one I had worn to Pendleton. I looked at the label and knew it was mine. Told His Coat Was Sold “When I told Allen about the coincidence, he laughed and said: “ ’Your suit was sent home, but the tailor sold your coat to Williams for five bucks.’ ” Miles thoroughly discounts the Dr. Williams purchase, pointing out that Arnold was sentenced to the institution June 27, 1925, and didn't bring any topcoat with him. Arnold did time for second degree burglary. He had joined the Ft. Wayne Ku-Klux Klan as an undercover man and broke into a safe and stole Klan records. Father of Five Killed By United Press KOKOMO, Ind.. April 9.—Charles Rogers. 45, employed by the Kokomo Waste Material Company, was killed when a fragment of metal struck him as he was working on a cutting machine. He leaves a widow and five children.

Speakership, but promptly made it again by force of his personality much the same powerful office it was in the days of Reed and Cannon, though without the aid of the old-time rules which made their czardom easier. Had Longworth been a more somber character, this achievement would have been most prominently linked with him. But the good-fellow in him, the play-boy singing, telling stories, playing the organ and the piano in the drawing rooms of Washington, the endless anecdotes—these so fascinated the capital by their contrast with the dull, ignorant, witless sun of hack politicians that Longworth probably will have to wait for historians to fix his rank as a parliamentary figure.

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1931

Speaker Longworth Is Dead , Losing Fight in Short Illness

A True Gentleman Has Gone

Intimate glimpses into the life of Nicholas Longworth, who as a young Ohio congressman married President Roosevelt’s daughter and rose to become Speaker of the house, are shown above, At the left below' is the Longworths' wedding picture, taken after the ceremony in the White House

DEATH IS KEPT FROM PAULINA Longworth’s Daughter to Be Told Later. By United Press CINCINNATI, April 9.—“ The task of telling Paulina Longworth, 6, that her father, Nicholas Longworth, is dead, fell to the child’s governess, Miss Dorothy Waldron. She did not tell Pauline immediately. Tire child was reading a book of fairly tales at the moment her father died, and Miss Waldron, unable to control her own grief, postponed the ordeal. Paulina has a mature conception of what death means, Miss Waldron said. “She will understand,” Miss Waldron said, “but I am afraid of the impression it will make on her. I have tried to teach her the rules of life and death. “I have taught her that just as the trees and flow'ers and plants grow and die, man lives and dies. But I have brought home to her the thought that the spirit of man lives after him. “Paulina lias shown a keen interest in this elementary philosophy, and I am hoping she will not be too unhappy.” CREW OP SIX SAVED Sailors on Disabled Craft Picked Up at Sea. By United Press NEW ORLEANS. April 9.—The crew of the disabled New Foundland fishing schooner, Harry and Verna, has been rescued in mid-At-lantic by the New Orleans steamship Sapinero, according to a radio message from the vessel’s captain, A. J. Joannsen, received here today. The crew of six was taken aboard before dawn, the mesasge said.

IN the elections last November Longworth had his troubles in the First Ohio district, and like some other Republican leaders of congress he came through, but without the customary comfortable margin. But his personal popularity constantly increased. Longworth perhaps was the foremost present-day example of how a man bora with a golden spoon in his mouth can be a statesman and a good fellow to everyone. His bitterest political enemies were among his best personal friends. He made politics his life work, and starting as a precinct worker in Cincinnati, he rose to the speakership—a place field by many to be the second most powerful in the federal government. Longworth was a stalwart regular Republican and coriStienuous

in 1906 and showing, left to right: Young Nick Longw'orth, “Princess Alice” Roosevelt and President Roosevelt, the bride's famous father. Speaker Longworth is shown, upper right, with his charming little daughter, Paulina, who also is shown in a closeup at the lower right. Upper left is a recent picture of Mrs. Longworth.

Nation’s Loss By I nited Press WASHINGTON, April P.~ The happiness, honesty and courage of Nicholas Longworth were praised today in a statement issued by President Hoover soon after he received news of Longworth’s death. The passing of the prominent Ohioan is a loss to the nation. Mr. Hoover said. The statement follows: “Mr. Longworth served his fellow-countrymen in state and nation for over thirty-three years—nearly the whole of his adult life. In his services he contributed greatly to the welfare of the American people. “His happy character, his sterling honesty, his courage in public questions, endeared him and held the respect not alone of his myriad of friends, but of the country at large. “His passing is a loss to the nation.”

SPEAKER'S SISTER ILL Countess’ Condition Is Serious; Has Bronchitis. By United Press TUNIS, Africa, April 9. The Countess De Chambrun, sister of Nicholas Longworth, is critically ill w'ith bronchitis. The countess was bitten by a caterpillar on the eye five weeks ago and her illness developed into bronchitis. The bite w'as inflicted by a fourinch carterpillar while the countess was asleep in an unscreened bed. Serious inflammation set in behind the eye, and then blood-poisoning developed. The bronchial trouble cane subsequently, brought on by the countess’ general condition. The American countess is the wife of Count Jacques # Adalbert De Chambum, who is American born.

about it. He refused to leave his party even in 1912. when his longtime political leader and father-in-law, Theodore Roosevelt bolted the party. His service in the House dated from 1903 straight through to the end, with the exception of two years following the 1912 election. He served three two-year terms as Speaker, starting in 1925, and was unanimously nominated by a Republican house conference in February as his party’s candidate to succeed himself in the sevenlysecond congress meeting in December. a *tt a BORN Nov. 5, 1869, of a wealthy old family in Cincinnati, he was educated in Harvard, receiving a a A. B. and taking a law course there and receiving his

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postofficc, Indianapolis, Ind.

Tbto FUNERAL Longworth to Be Buried at Cincinnati Saturday. By United Press WASHINGTON, April 9.—President Hoover will attend the funeral of Speaker Nicholas Longworth at Cincinnati Saturday, it w'as announced at the White House today. Services will be held at the Longworth Cincinnati home at 2 Saturday afternoon, it w ; as said at the Speaker’s office here, following a telephone call from Mrs. Longworth. The funeral train will leave Aiken Friday. The congressional delegation w'hich is to attend the funeral will consist of committees from the I house of representatives and the j senate, still to be appointed, j The delegation will leave here ! Friday evening. BOARD WON’T TOUCH NET_MEETJS CLAIM ; School Chiefs Will Dodge Issue, Insinuates Senator Friedley. State board of education mem--1 bers will not even try to abolish the annual Hoosier high school basketball tournament, it was pre- | dieted by Senator Roy M. Friedley 'Rep., Delaware), who visited the I statehouse today. During the last legislative session the senator from Muncie at- ; tracted considerable attention by an 1 effort to put the high school basketball tournaments under the state 1 education board. His prediction today, he said, is based on talks he has had with various board members. Book Poisons Nose EVANSVILLE, Ind., April 9. Mary Crowder, deputy county clerk, put her nose in a book and as a result is suffering from an infection. Her nose was cut by the end of a page as she turned it.

law degree from Cincinnati Law school in 1894. He was admitted to the bar the same year. He joined a precinct Republican club, and marched in torchlight parades. One of his favorite stories was that in one of them he complained to a gray-beard march-ing-mate that he couldn't even hear the band. “I’ve been marching in these parades for twenty years, and I never have heard the band, young feller,” was the reply. But Longworth heard the band. He headed the parade, on legislative matters, for nearly a decade. He was named to the board of education in Cincinnati in 1898. The next year he was elected to the Ohio house, a|d two years *

PNEUMONIA ATTACK IS FATAL TO HOUSE G. 0. P. LEADER AT S. CAROLINA MANSION Doctor’s Gesture From Window to Reporters Is Word to World That Striking* Figure in Politics Has Passed. ‘PRINCESS ALICE’ NOT AT BEDSIDE End Comes Two Days After Serious Sickness Had Become Known to Nation; Final Chapter in Epicurean Setting. BY FOSTER EATON I'nitcd Tress Staff Corresnondent AIKEN, S. C.. April 9.—Nicholas Longworth, 61, Speaker of the house of representatives in the sixty-ninth, seventieth and seventy-first congresses, died today. Death came within two days after Longworth's serious illness with pneumonia had become known. Only the doctors and nurses were in the room when Mr. Longworth died. Mrs. Longworth was in an adjoining room. At 10:52 a. m. Dr. H. C. Wilds, chief of the medical staff attending Longworth, came to a. window in the old Curtis’ colonial mansion, lie raised his hand in one slow gesture to the waiting newspaper men. It was a signal to the world that the Speaker of the United States house of representatives was dead.

Longworth died in the kind of a setting he loved best, amid the elegance of a millionaire’s winter home with its flowering magnolias sweeping the windows, where sport and laughter and ease reigned, an epicurean’s paradise. For hours, Longworth had inhaled Etir artificially richened with oxygen. A physician stood almost constantly by his bedside. Within the oxygen tent the labored breathing continued, but at last Longworth was not equal to the strain his illness forced upon him. Four nurses worked in relays to case the stricken statesman. Two physicians worked over him as day broke and still others came to his bedside near the end. Just before the signal of death was waved from the sick room window, a doctor was rushed up the driveway at terrific speed and, without pausing to give his name, ran up the steps and burst through the door, apparently in answer to a frantic call. But Longworth had passed beyond the help of human hands. Mr. Longworth had been annual guest of the Curtises. He arrived about April 1, a month after the RAIN IS PREDICTED IN CITY FOR TONIGHT Mercury to Drop; New Record Set by Temperature at 78. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 57 10 a. m 63 7a. m 57 11 a. m 72 Ba. m 6t 12 (noon).. 74 9 a m 66 1 p. m 74 Although the day started with high temperatures and spring sunshine, weather bureau forecasters stuck tc* their prediction that rain will fall -tonight and cause the mercury to drop several degrees. J. H. Armington, bureau chief, said the temperature today might reach the year's record of 78 set Wednesday. At noon the mercury had reached 74. Former Resident Dies By Times Special VALPARAISO. Ind., April 9. Bertram Bowser, former resident here, is dead at New York. He is a brother of Arthur J. Bowser, Valparaiso, former state senator.

later to the state senate. In 1902 he was elected to the house of representatives from the First Ohio district. a a IN the capital, his affable personality made him at once a popular figure. He was entertained at the White House by his party leader, President Roosevelt, and there he met Alice Lee Roosevelt, the President's daughter, a girl whose escapades excited and amused the nation for years. He wooed “Princess Alice” and they were married in the White House, Feb. 17, 1906, in a magnificent formal wedding, which set nearly all the nation to talking. During his years as a congressman in the rank and file, Longworth was a leader in legislation, working mostly in committee Turn to Page 1, Second

HOME

TWO CENTS

end of his most strenuous session as Speaker. He was suffering from a cold. On April 6 he was ordered to bed and his physicians diagnosed pneumonia. Hour after hour during the night Longworth inhaled air enriched with oxygen. There came from the bedside a succession of alarming bulletins. At last Mrs. Longworth, the “Princess Alice'’ of twenty-five years ago, who became Longworth's bride in the White House, gave her estimate of the grave situation. Condition Changes Quickly “I have just spoken to Mrs. Longworth,” said Mrs. James F. Curtis, in whose home Longworth is a guest, “and she told me to tell the newspapers that Mr. Longworth is a desperately ill man.” Dr. T. G. Brooks sat with the patient until early morning. In the nearby room Dr. Wilds, physician in charge, slept against today's futile battle to save Longworth’s life, A nation retired Wednesday night with reassuring news that Longworth, despite his 61 years, was in no immediate danger. For only twenty-four hours had it been known he was ill. A 9 p. m. Dr. Wild announces: “Mr. Longworth's condition failed perceptibly today. Condition critical. Much worse than at any previous time.” Physicians in Conference Within an hour the two Aiken physicians are in consultation with Dr. V. P. Sydenstricker, lung specialist, from Augusta, Ga. The hour has dealt severely with their patient. “Mr. Longworth has grown rapidly worse during the day,” they announce, “and the outlook is extremely unfavorable.” At midnight comes Mrs. Longworth's brief message. The colonial mansion becomes silent. Lights blaze from all rooms excent one. Dr. Wilds probably sleeps there. Mrs. Longworth must be up. At 3:15 another room is darkened. That is the sick room. The patient apparently had gone to sleep. A telephone call to the great house determines Dr. Wilds and Dr. Brooks have retired. There is no word of Mrs. Longworth. Then Death Wins Battle There is no movement whatever in the house, but a gentle spring breeze ruffles the magnolia trees and the japonica in the yard. A profusion of evergreen and southern shrubbery sways with the soft wind. The house is still, with the bustle of dawn, but three hours away. Four nurses, three physicians, oxygen and its tent for administration are waiting to resume the effort to save Longworth’s life. Shortly after 4 a. m. the lights reappear in Longwwth’s room. The battle again is renewed, but death wins.

Don’t Wait! If your paper is not on the porch at a reasonable hour Telephone Riley 5551 Circulation Dept. It may be that the carrier missed you although TIMES carriers are trained to render •MISS-PROOF' service. We will see that our special messenger gets you a paper that evening. Call before 7:(V) P. M. any evening.

Outtida Mrl"9 County 8 Cent*