Indianapolis Times, Volume 43, Number 255, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 March 1932 — Page 1

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INSIDE JOB. KIDNAP

LULL IN WAR ENDS; CHINESE BATTLE FOES Clash Renewed After Order 's Given by Japanese to Cease Operations. TERMS ARE REJECTED Idea of Neutral Zone Met With Flat Refusal by Defenders. BY H. R. EKINS Tnilfd Pre* Staff Corresnondent (CoDvrlsht, 1032. bv United Press* SHANGHAI, March 3 Fighting va<* in progress tonight at Nanzinng and Liuho, the Chinese announced in an official communique. The announcement ended hopes of immediate peace in the Shanghai sector, although the Japanese .Mated earlier that all military operations had been ordered to cease. Nanziang is twenty miles west of Shanghai, on the railway to Nanking. Liuho Is north bf the city, on Hie Yangtze. The Chinese refused today to accept the Japanese idea of a neutral zone around Shanghai, demanding immediate and complete withdrawal of the Japanese troops. Japanese Control Chapei The Chinese later announced officially that Chiang Kwang-Nai, com-mander-in-chief of the Nineteenth Chinese route army, would order cessation of hostilities tonight, unless the Japanese renew their attacks. The Japanese were in complete control of Chapei and announced no C&inese jvpuld be allowed in the area under any circumstances for the next three days. / Chambers of commerce representing business men of nine nations jointly protested to United States Consul-General Edwin Cunningham today the continued usurpation of police powers in the international settlement by Japanese military and naval forces. The British, American, Belgian, Danish, French, German, Italian, Netherlands and Norwegian chambers asked Cunningham to make urgent representations to Japanese authorities. They claimed the usurpation has been somewhat modified, but that its continuance is injuring trade.

Japanese Occupy Fort The Chinese forts at Woosung, end Woosung village were occupied by the Japanese shortly before the operations were halted. A final twohour shelling enabled the Japanese to take the fortifications. The Japanese military and naval high commands issued statements identical with that of the consulgeneral. General Shirakawa, new commander of the military here, said: “We have decided to order the halting of our forces for the time being, at points actually held, and to stop fighting provided that the Chinese forces do not resort to further hostile actions.” The end of the Japanese offensive found the countryside in ruins on an 18-mile battle line from the international settlement to the Lion Forest forts on the Yangtze river. Chapei in Ruins At the doors of the settlement, the once prosperous Chinese city of Chapei was reduced to a mass of blackened remnants of homes and buildings. Fires still burned in the ruins of cotton mills in the district. With danger over, hundreds visited what a few days ago was a no man’s land of sudden death and destruction among abandoned and ruined dwellings along north Szechucn raid. The fighting began at Chapei, Jan. 2R. then spread over the eight-een-mile front. Fierce combat continued until Wednesday, when the Chinese Nineteenth route army announced it was withdrawing to Quinsan, twelve and one-half miles from Shanghai. The Chinese called the movement a tactical withdrawal. The Japanese claimed is as a rout. Pledge Troop Withdrawal By L nited Press WASHINGTON. March 3.—'The Japanese government, through Ambassador Katsuji. today informed Secretary of State Henry L. Stimson that fighting at Shanghai was ended and that Japanese troops would be withdrawn as soon as possible. Debuchi assured Stimson of Japan’s willingness to have neutrals participate in a round table conference to liquidate the Shanghai situation and arrange for future security of the foreign settlenrnt. He also communicated a statement from General Yoshlnori Shirakawa. chief of the Japanese land forces, ordering his forces to halt a f their present positions. Debuchi said this statement ras issued at 4 p. m. today in Shanghai. Hourly Temperature* 6a. m 38 10 a. m 41 7a. m 37 11 a. m 42 Ba. m 39 12 (noon).. 43 9a. m 40 |lp. m 44

The Indianapolis Times Unsettled with rain tonight and Friday, not much change in temperature; lowest tonight about 38.

VOLUME 43—NUMBER 255

Grave Offense By United Press KANSAS CITY, March 3. Miss Marx Hamptcn was out of her grave today, but she still was in her casket. The girl was continuing her 144-hour nap supervised by Rajah Yogi, known as a hypnotist. The rajah first buried her four feet underneath a tent. The city health department objected, and he was ordered to exhume her “forthwith and immedately.” He did Wednesday night, removing her, coffin and all, around the corner to a theater lobby, where he said she would complete her long trance. The rajah contended in court he had hypnotized and buried 588 persons.

ORDER REALTY MEN'S RETURN Indiana Estates Promoters to Be Tried Here. Removal from San Francisco to Indianapolis of three men, indicted in the Indianapolis real estate frauds in 1930, is expected Monday, dispatches from the west coast said today. Removal of two of the men. James B. Hutcson and Mel J. O’Keefe, charged with using the mails to defraud in selling property of the defunct Indiana Estates Company was ordered by a United States commissioner in San Francisco Wednesday. The third man, William M. Dozier, is out on bond and his order for removal will be acted upon Monday. Hutcson had removal, claiming he had no other interest in the deal aside from loaning money to O'Keefe and Dozier. A. C. Garrigus, Indianapolis postal inspector, who recently went to San Francisco to appear as a witness against the trio, asserted today “Huteson is the central figure in the charges.”

PRESS FIREBUG HUNT Two More Houses, Garages Incendiarist Targets. Search for a vandal who has set fire to nearly a dozen vacant houses in the near-downtown area in the last few months, was pushed today by police and firemen after incendiary blazes damaged two houses and two garages, Wednesday night. The firebug set fire to houses at 1318 East Market street and 24 North Liberty street within an hour. Heavy damage was prevented when both blazes were discovered by adjoining residents. Total damage was estimated at SSOO. The same vandal is believed to have set fire to a garage in the rear of 2036 Linden street, resulting in S3OO damage to it and adjoining garages. Fire of unknown origin caused S6OO to the building and stock of the Talveron Bros., clothing store, 204 Indiana avenue, early Wednesday night. START HUNT FOR TWO, LOST IN MOUNTAINS Pennsylvania Girl, Fiance Feared Suffering From Exposure. By United Press LAS VEGAS. Nev., March 3. Miss Robin Kreutzberger, 21, daughter of a wealthy Bethlehem (Pa.) business man, and her fiance, Henry Adams, 21, also of Bethlehem, were lost on French mountain today in a region of deep crevasses and abandoned mine shafts. A posse began to comb the region at dawn, fearing the couple may have slipped from a ledge or be suffering from exposure. The searchers began climbing the mountain late Wednesday and were overtaken by darkness. leslTeTjvirFTTndys Express Sympathy in Kidnaping; Governor For Death Penalty. Sympathy for Colonel and Mrs. Charles A. Lindbergh was expressed in a telegram sent to the Lindbergh home Wedneiiay night by Governor and Mrs. Harry G. Leslie. The Lindberghs have been guests at the Governor’s mansion. Leslie also stated that he will urge the death penalty for kidnapers in Indiana at the next legislative session. The law now provides life imprisonment upon conviction FARM WOMEN CONVENE 700 Attend Annual Meeting of State Bureau at Severin. Approximately 700 women are attending the second annual farm bureau women's conference at the Severin today. VETERAN ACTOR DIES William Holden, Noted For His Character Parts, Succumbs. By United Press HOLLYWOOD, Cal„ March 3. William Holden, veteran character actor, died at his home today after a loim illness.

VEHLING WILL RECEIVE TERM OF 2-14 YEARS Special Judge Gause Slated to Pronounce Sentence Friday Morning. DEFENSE PLEA DENIED Former Coroner Also to Be Fined SIOO in Bribe Case Conviction. Fred V. Vehling, former coroner of Marion county, recently convicted of soliciting a bribe, will be sentenced Friday morning to two to fourteen years in the state prison and fined SIOO by Special Judge Fred C. Gause in criminal court. Gause announced the penalty would be imposed after listening for two hours today to arguments on a motion in arrest of*judgment and a motion for anew trial. He did not rule on either, but said bott would be overruled just prior to imposition of sentence. Maximum fine, under the conviction, is SIO,OOO. Appeal Is Scheduled Immediately after sentence, defense counsel will file notice of appeal and Vehling will be released on SI,OOO bond, attorneys said. Amount of bond was suggested by Prosecutor Herbert E. Wilson. Vehling’s present bond is SIO,OOO. Vehling was in court today with Epn Inman, Fred Barrett and Thomas McGee, his attorneys. He was accompanied by relatives. The courtroom was filled. In addition to Wilson, the state was represented by his chief deputy, Floyd Mattice, and Oscar Hagemeier, deputy in charge of grand jury proceedings. Inman, in his argument, referred to “poison” that had crept into the case and declared “Vehling would have been convicted without any evidence at all.” He referred to denial of a defense motion for a change of venue. Stigma Called Punishment “I think your honor would have done well in the interests of justice to have granted a change of venue from Marion county,” Inman said. “I realize it was within your discretion to refuse to do so.” Barrett contended the case, as presented at the trial, differed from that stated in the affidavit, but the court pointed out sufficiency of the affidavit had been upheld in a previous ruling. Gause expressed belief that every count of the affidavit had been sustained by the evidence. At the conclusion of agruments, Gause said: “I feel Mr. Vehling’s greatest punishment is the stigma of conviction, and for that reason he should be released on bond pending ruling on appeal.” Vehling, it was charged, solicited a bribe of $l5O following the gas deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Stickel and William Coble, under threat that if it was not paid, he would change a verdict of accidental death to one of suicide, thus blocking relatives in efforts to obtaining insurance money.

LADDER CHIEF KIDNAP CLEW

By United Press HOPEWELL, N. J., March 3. Capture of kidnapers who stole the Lindbergh baby from its crib in a second-floor nursery was believed today to hinge on a three-section white pine ladder, a $50,000 ransom 1 note and shoeless footprints in the mud outside the home. A multitude of clews have been reported. Many have been run down. Others, barring immediate safe eturn of the child, will be inveuigated. Most of them will be rliown to be false. Each section of the three-section ladder is seven feet long. The sections are made so each section will telescope into the other, each section being slightly wider at the bottom than at the top. Penciled markings on the ladder were examined carefully in the hope that they might reveal the lumber yard from which the timber was obtained. The markings consisted of a classification label, “YP Class D,” and faint initials, probably those of some inspector. The middle and top sections of the ladder were made with care. The steps were mortised into the uprights so their tops are flush with the side pieces. Four new eightpenny wire nails were used to fasten each step to the uprights. Newly made saw marks are distinguishable on the raw ends of the lumber. • The bottom section is believed to have been made after the kidnapers first made one trip to the Lindbergh home and discovered that two sections would not reach. This conclusion was reached when it was discovered that the steps are nailed to the uprights, without being inset into the beams. The entire construction of the bottom section Indicates it was hurriedly and roughly put together, when the two top sections would not reach the second-floor bedroom

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1932

Abducted Child’s Dimple Most Marked Feature

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Latest picture of Charles A. Lindbergh, Jr., given to The Times and NEA Service by Colonel Lindbergh, disclosing to the world for the first time the charm and beauty of the kidnaped child. By United Pres* HOPEWELL, N. J.. March 3.—A pronounced dimple in the chin is the most readily recognized feature of little Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr., according to Richard S, Scandrett, Jr., Mrs. Lindbergh’s cousin. ' Few complete descriptions of the baby have been given the public, Scandrett said. The baby is 20 months old. He has blue eyes, light, curly hair, and resembles his famous father. He weighs about 30 pounds, and is 33 inches tall—about normal for his age. He just has begun to w r alk and can take a few toddling steps. He can say a few words. • When taken from his crib Tuesday night he was dressed in a' white flannel and silk “sleeper.”

EVERY RESOURCE IS USED IN MANHUNT

By United Press HOPEWELL, N. J., March 3. Every official and private agency of justice in the United States was in action today, seeking to solve the kidnaping of baby Charles A. Lindbergh Jr. Federal, state and municipal lav/ enforcement departments threw their entire personnel into a search for the kidnapers. State and federal legislatures considered bills providing new and drastic punishment for kidnaping. Radio broadcasting companies dedicated their networks to bulletins on the man-hunt. Press associations and newspapers threw every energy into thorough reporting progress of investigation. Prayers were offered all over the country for the safe recovery of the child with every denomination cooperating. Messages of sympathy were received from Europe. Canada and

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Police examining ladder used In Lindbergh kidnaping for fingerprints and clews. It is shown against window of Hopewell home of Lindbergh in what was believed its exact position when the baby was stolen.

Mexico offered the aid of their governments where needed. In Washington, President Hoover followed the man-hunt for the criminals with deep concern. He had ordered every federal department to aid in the search. In the state capital of New Jersey, Governor A. Harry Moore, personally directed activities of the New Jersey state police from his office. At Albany, Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt issued instructions that the entire New York state police force aid in the hunt. FLAMES SWEEP HOTEL Deodar House in Indiana Harbor Damaged $20,000. INDIANA HARBOR, Ind., March 3.—Flames swept through the Deodar hotel here early today, forcing fifty guests to flee to the streets in night clothing. No one was injured.

SERVANTS OF LINDBERGH ESTATE ARE QUESTIONED IN SEARCH FOR CLEWS

Fingerprints of Employes Are Taken in Grilling by State Police. WAY CLEARED TO PAY Reporters and Camera Men Ordered to Leave Until Baby Is Found. BY BATES RANEY United Press Staff Corresnondent HOPEWELL, N. J., March 3.—Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh and his wife, tortured by many anxious hours, waited vainly today in their Sourland mountain home for news leading to recovery of their kidnaped baby, Charles A. Jr. Governor A. Harry Moore visited their retreat this afternoon and returned with word they had “not heard from the kidnapers today.” From within the home, the United Press received similar word of the discouraging situation. “Nothing has happened, ’’ it was said definitely. Thus, the high hopes of the night that the baby would be back soon, seemed frustrated, yet Lindbergh and his wife kept their courage high. There was a rumor the Governor’s visit had been to discuss immunity for the kidnapers if they would return the child unharmed. But Moore told the United Press at Trenton, on his return, that this had not been considered. Plea May Be Broadcast He and H. Norman Schwartzkopf of the state troopers had gone to give comfort and to offer an additional aid in the state and nation search now proceeding. The Governor anounced a microphone and a trooper’s teletype were being installed at the Lindbergh estate, to aid in fast broadcasting. It was conjectured Lindbergh might be planning to go on the air with an appeal to the kidnapers to take their ransom, and give back to the distraught parents the son who was seized Tuesday evening from his crib on the second floor of the Lindbergh home. The Lindberghs were calm but nervous and plainly under almost superhuman tension. No New Word Comes The air above the Lindbergh home, and the byways leading to the house from the main road were cleared of visitors and reporters, to give way for any agents of the kidnapers to make their way to the Lindbergh place. But today, no fresh word came, though during the night there had been word from the police that Lindbergh was confident of quick return of the baby after hearing from the kidnapers. Inspector Harry W. Walsh of the Jersey City police said Lindbergh haft not treated with the abductors. Authorities are proceeding on the theory that someone possessed of unusual inside information did the kidnaping. More than twenty-five persons had been examined today, including the servants of the Lindbergh and Morrow estates, and that members of the Lindbergh household and of the household of Mrs. Dwight Morrow—mother of Mrs. Lindbergh—had been fingerprinted. It was like the development of a mystery drama in the vicinity of the Lindbergh estate. Strange Happenings Related Men whispered of strange happenings. They pointed to the skies and speculated on the comings and goings of the fliers around the estate Wednesday and Wednesday night, and scented in their movements the possibility that they were messengers who were go-betweens for the men—and a woman aid—who took Charles Jr. away, leaving behind a i little more than a ransom note for a tracer. It seemed as though those hovering above the estate were “sky writers,” who might perhaps hold the key to the great question. Involved iq the mystery, too, was the question of how the kidnapers couid know that the Lindberghs would be at home Tuesday night instead of staying at Englewood as was customary except for the weekends. Look Up Gypsy Band Betty Gow. the nursemaid, and the butier-chauffeur, Whatley, were ! among the servants being questioned. Many others worked about the place. Autl orities were confronted with the qujstion: Did any of these conspire to abduct the child, or did the lure of easy money cause them to give important information to the ; kidnap plotters. There also wthe report of a

a t Post office, Indianapolis. Ind. Entered as Second-Class Matter

THEORY

Search Scene

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Closeup detail map shows center of greatest man-hunt in history of the eastern Seaboard. Lindbergh home is marked on ridge of Sourland mountains, about six miles from Hopewell, N. J., on the Stoutsburg-Werts-ville road. Carloads of curious sightseers’ flocked to the scene and autos were stalled for miles along the narrow, soft clay road when barred by troopers.

wandering gypsy band in the neighborhood. The townsfolk recalled the popular theory that gypsies often try kidpaping. Question Nursemaid Again John Tooley. secretary to Governor A. Harry Moore, of New Jersey and press liaison man, told the United Press today that Miss Gow, nursemaid, had been questioned Wednesday and again today, in the hope she could give some information leading to finding the kidnapers. There was no indication she could amplify her original story that she found the baby’s crib empty Tuesday night at about 10 p. m. Mrs. Dwight Morrow, grandmother of the stolen baby, was among those who held the theory that the kidnapers were persons unusually familiar with the habits of the Lindbergh family, the location of the nursery, and the fact that, contrary to custom, the Lindberghs extended their week-end stay in the country instead of stopping with Mrs. Morrow at Englewood, N. J. This theory kept state troopers active. They had questioned all available persons who had had employment around the estate, but it was said this questioning had developed no real information, and cast no suspicion. Anne Bears Up Well Meantime, mystery covered the Lindbergh family’s movements. The colonel and his young wife still bore up courageously under the strain of uncertainty and waiting. They were ready to pay the $50,000 ransom, and state police said Lindbergh had established a contact with the kidnapers. Through the night came word that it was only a matter of hours until Baby Lindbergh would be restored. Yet as dawn turned today, and the day passed on into noon, there was no positive evidence that this was to come true. However, mysterious developments indicated that the dwellers on Sourland mountain still lived with hopes of early restoration of fairhaired, blue-eyed Charles Jr, A plane again hovered over the hillside today, but its mission was as mysterious as the missions of those who flew above Wednesday and dropped secret packages. Aviators Offer Services There had been a theory that the silent travelers of the skies were emissaries of the kidnapers, but this was in part discounted by word that Major Lanphier, a friend of Lindbergh, and the state police had been air scouting to sight loiterers or parked cars along the roadways. The “silent birdmen," air comrades of the flying colonel, had offered their services to aid a colleague in distress. The comraderie (Turn to Page

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‘Site of Child’s Prison’ Is Told by Letter Mailed at Boston. HUNT FOR AGED WOMAN Enters Postoffice, Orders Airmail Missive Sent, Then Flees. By United Press BOSTON, March 3. A description of a house where, it was stated, “the Lindberjrh baby will be found,” was contained in an air mail letter addressed to Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh and posted by a woman here today, police announced. “It looks like a very good clew to me,-’ Police Superintendent Michael H. Crowley said. Superintendent Crowley declined to divulge the exact contents of the missive. Asked if the house were near Boston, Chowley replied: “No. It is in another state, not far from New Jersey.” The woman who pasted the letter was described as about 60, and spoke with a German accent. “I want this sent to Colonel Lindbergh,” she is reported as saying aq she entered the postoffice. “Spare No Expense,” Is Order Before she could be stopped for questioning, she fled from the postoffice. Later, from an unofficial source, the following purported excerpt from the letter was obtained: “I don’t want to tell you how I got this information in my possession. The information is urgent and you should act at once. I urge you to do so. Your son is held by two men and a woman at 163 —- Street .” The name of the town was poorly spelled but looked like “Princeton.’* On the outside of the letter was penciled: “Spare no expense. Deliver this with all speed possible.” Postal authorities awaited permission from Colonel Lindbergh to open the letter and inspect its contents Reports that she had alighted from an automobile bearing New Jersey registration plates were disproved when they found the car with its owner, Harry M. Spring Jr., at Parkman boulevard near the Jamaicaway. He explained he drove his mother and another woman to 755 Boylston street today and later went to city hospital to visit, a sick friend. He showed authorities the visiting card he had used. Coincidence Is Revealed After the hospital visit, he said, he drove to Station A, in the same section of the city, to transact some postal business. “As I was leaving the postoffice, ’* Spring related, “I passed a stout woman coming out about the time. I didn’t notice anything particularly unusual about her. She walked northward. I knew nothing about the case until an officer stopped my car.” An amazing coincidence was that his car—bearing a license issued within a few miles of Lindbergh’s home —should have been in front of the postoffice at the time of the woman’s visit. Mystery Boat Sought By United Press ASBURY PARK, N. J., March 3. —Coast guardsmen searched today for a dirty white, thirty-foot cruiser on which a baby is reported being kept, and which maneuvered in a strange manner when stopped Wednesday. Thomas Harris, a surfman at the Deal coast guard station, told his superior, Chief Mate William J. Butler, that he talked with a rum runner who, at 4:30 Wednesday afternoon, came upon the cruiser about thirty miles off Scotland lightship. The rum runner said the white cruiser had a green stripe along the water line and the letter “K’’ on the stern. The portholes were covered with drapes. BOSTON HURLER DIES Knife Wounds Prove Fatal to “Bir Ed” Morris. By United Press CENTURY, Fla., March 3.—Ed <Big Ed) Morris, Boston Red Sox pitcher, died in a hospital here afc noon today from knife wounds received in an altercation at a flsii fry given in his honor at Brewton, Ala., Monday. Officers are holding Joe White of Brewton, as the suspected attacker of Morris. Say ‘Yes’ to Noe; Uphold ’Held* MT. CLEMENS, Mich., March 3 Voters said “yes” to Noe when they nominated Alton H. Noe, incumbent, for justice of the peace here. At the same time they upheld Wilbur F. Held for a similar oflice,

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