Indianapolis Times, Volume 43, Number 52, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 July 1931 — Page 1

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ENGLAND PUTS DEBT HOLIDAY INTO EFFECT Britain Does Not Expect Reparations Payment on Wednesday. FIRST NATION TO ACT Whole Empire Joined in Announcement Coming From London. By United Tress LONDON, July 10.—The British government announced that the Hoover plan was effective today, as far as Great Britain is concerned. Great Britain sent a letter to the bank for international settlements at. Basle announcing that in view of the Hoover plan, it would not expect the reparations installment due from Germany next Wednesday. Great Britain, it was announced, has issued invitations tt> the United States. Prance, Italy, Japan, Belgium and Germany to attend a conference in London, beginning next Friday, to co-ordinate the Hoover plan and the Young plan. It was announced that the nations named were invited because they were concerned with the drawing up of the Young plan Other nations were not invited because of the need for speed in making the Hoover plan effective, the announcement said. The letter to the World bank, 6igned by Arthur Henderson, foreign secretary, anounced that Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Australia, Canada. New Zealand, South Africa and India, had decided to refrain from claiming any payment with respect to installments, both of Germany’s conditional and unconditional annuity falling due. next Wednesday. The purpose of Great Britain and her dominions, the letter said, was to give “immediate relief from the existing difficulties in Germany in accordance with President Hoover’s proposal by complete suspension of transfers.”

Situation is Menacing By United Press BERLIN, July 10.—Germany's financial situation was regarded tonight as more menacing than ever, despite the Hoover plan. In the absence of formal announcement from Paris, it was feared Dr. Hans Luther’s whirlwind trip to London and Paris for sorelyneeded credit may have failed, because of French political demands which Chancellor Heinrich Bruening refuses to accept. CIGAR RUSE IS FAILURE Police Find “Boy” is Wife who Fled from Husband. By United Press CLEVELAND. July 10.—A long black cigar failed to hide the sex of a suspicious person arrested here today by New York Central railroad detectives and the “boy” in overalls and a dirty cap told police she was Mrs. Patricia Rachac, 19, of Portland, Oregon. The girl “hobo” displayed calloused hands and told of her experiences since leaving her husband for the open road nine months ago. She said she wearied of domestic life and “rode the rods” into Mexico. STARTS ONE-STOP HOP War Flier Leave* for New York; Not After Hawks’ Record. Bh United Press *LOS ANGELES, July 10.—James Goodwin Hall, war flier, took off from United airport today on a proposed one-stop flight from Los Angeles to New York. Hal! announced shortly before he left at 4:18 a. m. that he was not attempting to lower the record of Captain Frank Hawks, w’hich stands at 13 hours 35 minutes and 43 seconds, but was flying to get anew propeller to use in a later west-east record try. DRAWER YIELDS ‘ALKY* Cops’ Search Ends With Finding of Secret Compartment in Home. The “clothing highball” of George Thomas. Negro. 959 Indiana avenue, was spilled Thursday night by Lieutenant Dan Cummings and squad. Police entered the residence on a search warrant and hunted high and low for an hour without finding trace of the cache. Picking up shirts and other wearing apparel, they discovered a false bottom in a bureau drawer. The secret compartment yielded three quarts of alcohol, police said. RAILROAD IS CENSURED WASHINGTON, July 10.—A special presidential committee today censured the Louisiana & Arkansas railroad for reducing wages in violation of the While House agreement of 1929 for maintenance of existing wage scales. The Louisiana & Arkansas is the only major line to abrogate the agreement. On Feb. 9 it cut wages of shop workers from 80 cents to 75 cents an hour and changed working conditions. The committee held the wage reduction was unjustified and criticised the railroad for refusing to arbitrate. /. Former Resident Dies ' BLOOMFIELD, Ind., July 10. Mrs. Deborah Miller, former resident of Bloomfield, is dead at Albuquerque, N. M , according to word received here. She was the widow of O. P. Miller, once a manufacturer here.

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The Indianapolis Times Fair tonight, Saturday partly cloudy; little change in temperature

VOLUME 43—NUMBER 52

Mans Not Safe By United Press HAlft\ Mich, July 10.—Declaring that he is in danger of being married against his will, . Peter Miller, 63-year-old farmer, has appealed to the probate court to defend him against the amorous attentions of an unnamed woman. Although the woman remained incognito in the court petition. Miller's action followed the appearance of Miss Elizabeth Bertrand, 38, his housekeeper, at the county clerk’s office where she applied for a license to wed him.

GAMING BLAMED BY EMBEZZLER Herbert A. Ralls Is Given 2 to 14-Year Term. Talebearing didn't help Herbert A. Ralls, 36, of 342 South Emerson avenue, today when he faced Criminal Judge Frank P. Baker on -a charge of embezzling $2,800 from the Hare Chevrolet Company. “What did you do with the money?” asked Judge Baker as Ralls plead guilty to the charge. “Gambled.” replied Ralls. “Where?” questioned the jtfdge. Ralls named a prominent “dive.” “I don't think you’ve learned your lesson. Two to fourteen years in the Indiana state prison,” Judge Baker ruled.

$125,000 Is Pledged for World Race

By Scripps-Howard Newspaper Alliance WASHINGTON, July 10.—Plans for one of the most fantastic ventures ever conjured up in the minds of promoters—an international around-the-world air derby for prizes of sl2s,ooo—were announced here today. The Tex Rickard of the affair is Paul Keogh, a young ex-radio announcer, who has never before dabbled in aviation in any form. Keough says he thought up the idea immediately after Post and Gatty started their world flight. He went to New York and there, he says, obtained the pledges of a dozen big business men to put up the prize money. Seeks Official Sanction Thursday he went to the National Aeronautic Association with his idea, seeking official sanction. The N. A. A. is not expected to take action for a week or two. According to Keough the race is to start around the first of September, depending on the weather. He thinks it would be a fine idea for the American entrants to start from Cleveland the first day of the National Air Races on Aug. 29. Thus, if the winner beat or equaled the Post-Gatty record, he would be back in Cleveland before the races ended Sept. 7. One feature of Keough’s idea is that entrants from other nations could start anywhere along the line, wherever their home port happened to be. The proposed route would be the same one over which Post and Gatty flew. 15 Division Listed The $125,000 prize money would be divided up fifteen ways—sso,ooo for the winner, $25,000 for second, $15,000 for third, SIO,OOO for fourth, $5,000 for fifth and ten prizes of $2,000 each. These latter are to provide a recompense for those who may encounter trouble on the way and fall far behind. Keonugh says he is informed several Americans, two Englishmen and one Russian will enter the derby. The excuse for the race according to Keough. is “to prove once and for all the practicability of long distance flying under changing climatic conditions.” No definite arrangements along the route of the derby have been made. It is the plan to let all competing pilots make their own arrangements for passports, fuel supplies and so on.

POLICE SMASH AT BALL POOLS; TICKETS SEIZED

Raiding the Silent Salesman Company, 14 North East street, Thursday afternoon, police confiscated a truck load of lottery tickets, valued at $5,000, and claim they have blocked the largest source of baseball pool gambling in the city. Emil Rahke, 48, head of the company, was arrested on charges of keeping a gaming device and operating a gift and lottery enterprise. The raid of the company, which has been operated several years, was mapped by Police Chief Mike Morrissey. Confiscated tickets and books, that filled a large truck, were dumped Into the basement at police headquarters. Printing presses used in the place for the manufacture of the tickets were not molested by police. Rahke will be. tried on the charges before Municipal Judge William H. Sheaffer this afternoon. Arresting Edward Fahey, 40, of 436 North Keystone avenue, police jarly today charged him with operating a gift enterprise. Fahey, according to police, had six books of baseball tickets In his possession. He is an employe of Andy Bruce, 132 West Maryland street, who was arrested on similar charges earlier this week and was reslated followarrest. Rjflice this afternoon arrested

TWO INJURED AS EXPLOSION ROCKSJPLANT Tremendous Damage Is Done to 8-Story City Elevator. tfURTS ARE NOT SERIOUS Tons of Machinery and Motors Are Lifted by Blast. Two employes were injured and tremendous damage was done to the eight-story plant of the Midwest Elevator Company, Twenty-third street and the Belt railroad, today by an explosion caused by spontaneous combustion. Two railroad cars had been loaded with com and the surplus grain was being raised through steel tubes back to the bins when the blast occurred. Simultaneous flashes of flames in one of the two steel tubes, through which the grain was being drawn, were reported by workmen on the first floor of the building and on the top floor, 110 feet above. Tons of motors and machinery were lifted a foot or more on the eighth floor, where virtually all of the damage was caused. William Skiff, 28, of R. R. 17, Box 60, and Ray Bartholomew, 30, of the same address, were burned, but not seriously enough to be taken to the hospital for treatment. Two other employes, Ed Golstein, 1906 West Washington, and Harry Willis, elevator superintendent, who lives at Sixty-fourth street and Michigan road, were uninjured.

DOHERTY SUES MISSOURIPfIPER Asks $12,000,000 Libel in Gas Rates Fight, By United Press KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 10.— Henry L. Doherty, head of the billion dollar Cities Service organization, struck back today at the Kansas City Star with a $12,000,000 libel suit. The suit was filed in the Jackson county circuit court naming the Kansas City Star Company, George B. Longan, publisher; Roy A. Roberts, managing editor, and Fred C. Trigg, Kansas state editor, as defendants. Six causes of action were cited in the suit, each asking for $1,000,000 actual and $1,000,000 punitive damages. The suit was based on statements made by the Star in its fight to force reduction on natural gas rates charged by subsidiaries of the Cities Service organzation in Kansas. WEATHER FAIR, COOL That’s Forecast for City Next 24 Hours. Cool weather Thursday night that caused blankets to make their appearance in many Indianapolis bedrooms for the first time in weeks, is due to prevail during the next twenty-four hours and probably the week-end. Forecast of the bureau promises fair weather today, with partly cloudy weather Saturday, but little change in temperature. With the mercury standing in the early 60s and then rising to 80 and above by afternoon, Indianapolis is enjoying what the bureau terms “ideal weather.” Nights have been cool and Thursday night the mercury dropped twenty-one degrees in a few hours. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 62 10 a. m 76 7a. m 66 11 a. m 78 Ba. m..... 71 12 (noon).. 76 9 a. m 73 1 p. m,.... 81

Pete Pereh, 28, of 731 East Maryland street on charges of gaming and operating a gift enterprise. It is charged he had baseball pool tickets in his possession. Three men were nabbed and five baseball ticket -books confiscated Thursday afternoon when police raided a poolroom at 808 Ft. Wayne avenue. Those arrested, charged with gaming, are Fletcher Tyman of the Ft. Wayne avenue address, Paul Derringer, 1101 North Alabama street, and Ben Wonsch, 713 North Delaware street.

TOM CAN EAT WIENERS AS HE DIRECTS JAIL TRAFFIC

HAT in hand and a sack of wieners in the other. Tam Dietrich, 52, of 3161a West Ohio street, directed traffic late Thursday at Washington and West streets. And what a Job of directing traffic! According to police testimony in municipal court today, first one lane and then another was jammed. Autos crashed, motorists cursed, and Dietrich hopped wildly in the center of the street, dodging careening autos to save his weiners, his hat and himself. But he made the fatal mistake of flagging the police car of Sergeant John Volderauer and squad to a stop. This morning he stepped from the “mourners’ bench" in the court room and walked to the bench of Paul Rochford, pro tern, judge. “Good morning, your honor,” he boomed. Rochford eyed the warrant charging drunkenness ani replied: “Good Ssorning, Tom.”

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1931

Where Horror Death Came to Light

Top Photo—View of air shaft in Central high school at Muncie, with X showing where skeleton of boy was found. Bottom—Plumbers who found skeleton (left to right), Francis Clevenger, Ott Armstrong and Zord Clevenger.

WITNESS IN PROBE DIES UNDER TRAIN

Gotham Engineer Kills Self Rather Than Reveal Office Secrets. BY SIDNEY B. WHIPPLE United Press Staff Correspondent NEW YORK, July 10.—On his way to undergo another day of grilling at the hands of the state’s inquisitors in New York City graft, Chief Engineer Traugott F. Keller of the department of docks hurled himself in front of a subway train today and died rather than reveal any more secrets of his department. His death was the signal for new revelations by the legislative committee investigating corruption which announced that Keller in two weeks of private examination, had admitted accepting $90,000 in “split fees” for “co-operation” with private contractors engaged in city business. Meanwhile, at the Old Slip police station, officials kept the identity of “a man who fell or jumped in front of a southbound express train at the Bowling Green station” secret until newspaper investigators obtained a description of him. Arid at ■ that point, the transit commission, making its own investigation of the tragedy, announced that the case was suicide. A subpena hurriedly was issued and served on Jacob Weiss, Keller’s secretary, commanding him to appear with “the black bag” in which Keller’s documents had been placed. When these were brought before the investigators, a quick appraisal of them, according to the authorities, revealed records ‘so interesting” that Samuel Seabury, chief investigator, postponed his projected week-end trip to his country home on Long Island, in order to study them. HELD IN DUAL DEATH Former Suitor of Slain Ohio Girl, Companion, in Jail. By United Press LIMA, 0., July 10.—James May, former suitor of Thelma Woods, 17, who with a companion, Earl Truesdale were slugged and then tossed to die in the depths of a quarry pool, May 29. still was held at Toledo today, despite the expressions of authorities he knew nothing of the murders. Ice Box Topples on Woman Mrs. Richard Glaser. 32, of 708 South Irvington avenue, was treated at city hospital this afternoon for head lacerations and bruises after an ice box toppled on her on a stairway landing leading to the basement of her home.

‘Guest’ Departs By Times Special FRANKFORT, *lnd., July 10. —Edward Owens, Negro. Is on his way for points east riding a freight train as a nonpaying passenger. Owens was shot in a leg by Frankfort police a month ago while they were searching for the alleged assailant of Lloyd Wolf, severely beaten late at night while putting his automobile In his garage. Although Owens was not the man wanted and his wound quickly healed, he remained at the jail despite efforts of Sheriff Dan Power to dislodge him. He was a familiar figure to many as he spent days and nights sleeping on a blanket in the jail yard. This week, however, with cooler weather, he suddenly decided to move.

FLAYS CHAIN STORES Create Virtual Monopoly, Charges Brookhart. By United Press CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., July 10— Senator Brookhart (Rep., la.) today condemned chain stores as “a phase of the great monopolistic phenomena is now is rapidly transforming the United States into a financial autocracy.” Speaking at the University of Virginia institute of public affairs, he estimated that chain stores now do 17 per cent' of the retail business. He said they gather in 40 per cent of all the retail profits on food and wearing apparel, 60 per cent of all retail profits on drugs and 75 per cent of profits on gasoline. If the growth of chain stores is not checked, Brookhart declared, they “soon will create a monopoly of the retail business of the United States.” # UNION HEADS CALLED Invited to Take Part in Capital ’ Parley on Mine Ills. By United Press ✓WASHINGTON, July 10.—Officials of the United Mine Workers of America today were invited to meet in Washington Monday with Secretary of Commerce Robert Lamont and Secretary of Labor Doak to discuss the difficulties of the bituminous, coal industry. Thursday the two secretaries met with mine owners and discussed the situation.

"Good morning, judge.” And, after the second salutation, Dietrich'launched into a speech ranging in subjects from hot weather to debt holidays, but was halted before he could get down to his case in point. Police testified as to Dietrich’s incapability as a traffic officer, suggesting that he not be recommended for a traffic squad post. ‘ What d’ya mean, traffic cop?” Dietrich challenged. “I wasn't directing traffic. I was looking for a ride. It ain’t my fault if these guys that drive autos got balled up. I had those wieners and w r as taking them out to a lady friend of mine out west. All I wanted was a ride, because I ain’t felt well since I lost $3,000 in a bank crash.” In answer to Rochford’s query, Dietrich admitted he had had a ride, but denied it was a “good ride” as Volderauer described it. Rochford fined Dietrich $lO and costs, suspending the latter. From all appearances, Dietrich will be d’t~ f ]ng traffic in cell block X for ten days, because the wage scale of yyv still is $1 a day.

FOUR ARE SHOT IN GUNBATTLE Fight Climaxes Farmer’s Hunt for Thieves. By United Press ALLIANCE, 0., July 10.—Four men were shot today in a gun battle between a trio of asserted Negro chicken thieves and farmers w’ho confronted the gang at the home of George Wallace as they were returning for a second raid upon a hen house. Wallace, his son, Alen, 18, and George a farm hand were wounded as they stepped through the hen house door and ordered the Negroes to surrender. A burst of gun fire greeted the command and in the exchange John Johnson, one of the Negroes, was seriously wounded. He was trailed through a wheat field and captured under a shock of grain, His companions. Ernest Tinker and William Reese, also were captured and lodged in Alliance jail. A veritable arsenal, police said, was found in Tinker’s home. Physicians said the elder Wallace w f ho was shot through the neck, probably would die. His son suffered a shattered wrist, which was said will be amputated. McPheek also was reported to be in a critical condition. SALARY SUIT IS "FILED Former City Building Inspectors Demand Back Pay. Suit to collect back salary to equalize salary cuts made several years ago, today was filed in superior court two by Mark O. Weaver, Jerry Glazier and Wesley C. Christena, former city building department inspectors. Weaver asks $1,059.65 while the other two ask $322.22. Church District Divided CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind., July 10.—The Crawfordsville district of the Methodist church was divided into four groups by a vote of sßtty ministers and laymen of the district in session here. The Rev. Homer Ivey, new district superintendent, presided. The principal speaker was the Rev. F. O. Fraley, Lebanon. The next meeting will be held at Linden in September.

But It Was By Times Special HARMONY, Ind.. July 10 k “It can't be done,’’ friends c 1 Lonie Walton told him when he announced his intention oi making a violin by using only two pieces of wood. However, he has the violin to prove that it was done. A large piece cf wild cherry wood, seasoned for thirty-five years, was used for the main part of the instrument and spruce for the top. Except for securing the top, no glue was used.

PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGES

Failing in efforts to quash an indictment charging him with embezzlement of $150,000 and grand larceny. Cornelius Holloway, former secretary of the Indiana Savings and Investment Company, today pleaded not guilty to the charges in criminal court.

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis. led

HORROR DEATH OF MUNCIE BOY IN SEALED SHAFT AT SCHOOL BELIEVED SUICIDE Orphan’s Body Lay Undiscovered for 9 Years • Before Plumbers, Making Repairs, Stumble Across Skeleton. MYSTERY IS PIECED TOGETHER Adolescent Despondency Is Revealed to Coroner by Uncle and Aunt of Lad Who Vanished Long Ago. By Times Special MUNCIE, Ind,, July 10.—An orphan, mirrored to himself on every hand as oppressed by burdens he could not bear, 16-year-old Perlie Guelsby Hogg dived into an air shaft at Central high school in Muncie, and for almost nine years lay undiscovered at its bottom. That, according to Coroner Clarence Peipho, today ap*. peared the solution to a mystery that lay before the world when plumbers stepped on a skeleton in the shaft while mak* ing repairs Thursday. The theory of suicide gained strength, the coroner said* as he matched stories of the boy’s guardians, neighbors, schoolday acquaintances, records and the meager facts un* earthed with the skeleton.

That the bones are those of the Hogg boy, authorities deemed certain, after both the aunt and uncle of the missing youth identified a knife, clothing and shoes found with the bones and dust. They insisted, however, on search for a belt buckle they had given him only a few days before he disappeared, Dec. 16, 1922. They also awaited recovery of a chipped front tooth from the dust before they would say conclusively that the remains were those of their ward. Unable to reveal any possible motive for mm*der, and convinced by tests with other boys approximately Perlie’s size that an acci-

RECORD IN WAR WINSLENIENCY Alleged ’Legger Is Shown Mercy by Court. Mike Suichevich, had no memory of two quarts of white mule that police say was found in the rear of his poolroom, 444 West Washington street but he didn’t forget his war record. And that, brought out by his attorney, James A. Collins, former criminal court judge, gained him leniency in municipal court three. The poolroom was raided by police Tuesday and he was arrested after police said he was operator of the place and the liquor was in the kitchen. Collins pointed out that his client was a volunteer in the World war and detailed his “splendid war record.” Paul Rochford, judge pro tern., withheld judgment but suggested Suichevich “watch that kitchen.” HOTEL TILL IS LOOTED Theft at Antlers Yields Crooks sl6l and Money Draft. Entering two rooms at the Antlers hotel, thieves today stole sl6l and a money draft for $396, according to reports to police. Dewey Campbell reported the theft of the draft and s2l and Paul Conrad of Cleveland, whose room is across the hall from Campbell’s told police a wallet containing $l4O was stolen from his room. JUDGES ARE SPEAKERS State Jurists on Program of RushFayette County Reunion. Judge John Titsworth of Rushville and Judge G. Edwin Johnston of Connersville will speak at the thirty-third annual reunion of the Rush-Fayettc County Association at Brookside park, Sunday, July 19.

Holloway was indicted recently by the grand jury charging; he took the firm’s money afld lost it in the spectacular stock market crash In the faU of 1929. Judge Prank P. Baker did not set a date for trial after overruling the quash motion. The writ set out the grand jurors had no legal right to return the indictment; that the indictment did not set out a public offense and it did not state the offense. Hollowoy, now employed in a store, is at liberty under SIO,OOO bond, pending trial. Holloway will be the principal figure in the federal court suit in which the American Surety Company of New York, which made up the company’s losses, is suing Thomson & McKinnon, brokerage firm, for $60,000. Due to the action of the brokerage firm, the Indiana Savings and Investment Company Uafuot jeporI dtecd by the losses. r

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dental fall through the shaft was improbable, the coroner turned to suicide as a possible solution to the mystery. Finds Suicide Motives There he found motives and. more than motives, threats of self-de-struction. Anew angle on the orphan's life with his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cooper, was given byneighbors, who said they often had seen both beat the lad. Mrs. Cooper said her nephew had difficulties at school. He told her. shortly before he disappeared, of a fight with one teacher, whose nam* she could not recall to officers. Threats were made, she quoted the boy as revealing, but the shadows of time have blotted out the details of information that might have aided the investigation. Had Threatened Suicide Mrs. Cooper also told the coroner that Perlle had threatened suicide on several occasions. He was poor. His father deserted his mother before the boy was born. The very clothes he wore were obtained on a school order, and the few pennies that ever came into his possession he earned as a grocer’s delivery boy in spare time. In those circumstances Coroner Peipho found cause for adolescent, despondency that might lead to suicide. After hearing the new evidence the coroner said he was inclined to believe the boy went to the airshaft and jumped. He also admitted the possibility that he may have stood! in the shaft on the second or third floor, clinging to some support with one hand while with the other he plunged the knife into his body. Knew of Shaft Perlie knew the shaft lay behind a door opening from the boys’ rest rooms on two floors, the coroner said, adding it was scarcely likely he would have stumbled into it. Testing the opening with other boys the coroner determined it was unlikely any one ever would have fallen accidentally Into the shaft, and likewise said it would have been difficult for a murderer to have towed the body into the passageway. However, investigation of the case is not concluded with the supposition that the boy killed himself, authorities say. They will question the aunt and uncle again, interview persons who have known the family during the past ten years, and seek other clews to wliat actually happened in the air shaft. Three Theories Studied “Perlie was carefree and happy that morning he left for school,’* Cooper told police. But, happy or sad, the youth that day was the victim of one of three fates: The suicide, prompted by despondency at having to battle the world alone, officials say, is the most plausible. It may have been that while, as boys did so frequently, school officials sealed the shaft four years ago, he leaned into its cool draught for a puff" at a cigaret, and toppled headlong to his death. Or, and the murder theory is the least valued by Investigators, he may have been killed and his body hidden there. BERLIN’S BEER ‘STRONG’ So Says American. Fined for Hotel Brawl, Drunk. By United Press BERLIN, July 10.—Paul Fischer of Philadelphia, who pleaded he was “unaccustomed to German beer.’ was fined 50 marks today for boisterous behavior. One hour after his arrival in Berlin, Fischer attended a party and returned to his hotel late Thursday night, where, police said, he quarreled, resisted the hotel attendants and then the police. He pleaded in court today that he remembered nothing about it. Asks License Revocation Recommendation for revocation of poolroom license of Nick Denetroff. 1542 North Illinois street, because of a gambling conviction, was made today by Captain Otto Ray, city license inspector. *