Indianapolis Times, Volume 44, Number 55, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 July 1932 — Page 1

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PROBE FAKED BOOZE RAIDS; COP QUIZZED Police Sergeant Charged With Leading Bogus Agents to Shop. QUESTION TWO OTHERS Hint Former Officers May Have Taken Part in /Fixing’ Plot. Two alleged fake liquor raids are under scrutiny of city and federal authorities today. In one, a police sergeant has been questioned, and in the other a man who formerly held that rank and a former deputy sheriff spent most of the morning facing a barrage of questions by detectives. They were released when a woman failed to identify them. The sergeant was involved Sunday night in an affair at the Tasty Toasty shop. Seventy-first street and United States highway 31. The two former officers were questioned concerning & raid, by several men July 1 on the home of John Reese, 4423 Allisonville road. S3OO to “Fix" Case Mrs. Reese was forced to give the men S3OO to "fix - ’ the case after they' found three quarts of home brew in the house. She w r as unable to identify the two former officers when she confronted them today. The sergeant, according to Chief Mike Morrissey, has admitted he and three of his civilian friends visited the sandwich shop Sunday night, but denies a raid was staged or any federal badges carried,. The charges were presented by John McGrady, 36 West Thirteenth street, a waiter in the shop, which was closed by the owner Monday night as a result of the incident. Flashed Badges, He Says McGrady today said six men and a woman came into the sandwich shop Sunday night and sat at tables, one of the men asking him lor some liquor. •■I told them they were in the wrong place, and started to the kitchen to prepare an order from another party,” McGrady related, ••and when I reached the kitchen door, three of the men grabbed me, said they were federal men, flashing badges, and told me they were going to raid the place lor liquor. "One of them, a police sergeant I have known for years, showed me his gold police badge. They took me down the basement and threatened me, and when they didn’t find, any liquor, took me back upstairs. Left Without Paying "Just then the owner of the place telephoned. One of the men held the receiver to his own ear and I was told to tell the manager, Herman Rudy, to come out. Finally one of the men told him the ‘feds' were there. "Then they sat at tables and ordered sandwiches and coffee, later leaving without paying when Rudy failed to arrive.” Morrissey said he first learned of the incident Monday through detectives Stewart Coleman and Morris Corbin, who were told about It by federal investigators, with whom they were investigating the Reese case. The police sergeant was called in and readily admitted being at the sandwich shop, Morrissey said, but gave a different version of the incident. • I went to the shop with three friends and mv girl for sandwiches,” Morrissey said the sergeant told him. Tells of Near Fight "One of the men with me asked the waiter (McGrady) for a drink, and at first he refused, later saying he would get some. "One of the men asked the waiter how he knew we weren't federal dry agents, and the waiter said he knew we weren’t. "Then the waiter asked who I was. mentioning my name. My friends gave him a fake name for me and asked if he knew me. " 'Sure I know him. He made me give him S6OO to fix things once when he caught me with a load of liquor,’ the waiter said. "I jumped up and showed him my badge, told him I was the man he was talking about and that he was a liar. I was going to ‘kick hell out of him,’ but my friends interfered and we went downstairs to have it out. "After I told him what I thought of him, we went back upstairs and we left.” Denies Officer’s Version McGrady denies the officer's version. McGrady, the detectives who investigated. the police sergeant, his three friends and federal investigators met with Morrissey Tuesday afternoon and the several versions were related. Morrissey said McGrady failed to identify any of the four men who admitted being at the shop. McGrady explains this with the statement that the sergeant sent one of the four to see McGrady Monday night with the promise he would be "taken care of” if he went easy on the four. "i didn’t see any sense in causing them to lose their jobs, so I didn’t identify them,’’ McGrady said today. Denied College; Leaps to Death By United Press HOUSTON, Tex.. July 14.—Despondent because his parents were unable to send him to college this fall, John Padgett, 18, committed suicide by leaping from the twentysixth floor of a Houston skyscraper.

The Indianapolis Times Generally fair and continued warm tonight and Friday.

VOLUME 44—NUMBER 55

Cripple's Iron Will Goads on Capitol Bonus March

BY HARRY FERGUSON United Press Staff Correspondent (Oopvrisht. 1932. bv United Pressi WASHINGTON, July 14.—The unbending will of a crippled man kept 400 World war veterans in line today as they marched under a blazing sun in their strange siege of Capitol hill. Back and forth across the hot concrete outside the senate and house of representatives swayed a line of men—many of whom have been without sleep for thirty-six hours—pitting the last ounces of strength against a congress that is about to adjourn, apparently without passing a bonus bill. Time and again, great gaps appeared in the writhing line of march as men sank to the pavement exhausted by weariness and the heat that was climbing past 89 degrees. a a a UP and down the ranks of the army stormed a strange figure, his head incased in steel to support an injured neck. From under his helmet peered eyes, strained and bloodshot from need of rest. It was Roy Robertson, commander of the California contingent

LITTLE RELIEF IS IN SIGHT FOR CITY FROM HEAT WAVE

Counts 10 Now By United Press ALBION, Neb., July 14. George Cook, farmer, stops and counts ten now. Waxing wroth at one of his horses, he let fly an uppercut to the animal’s jaw. The horse was not hurt. Cook is nursing a broken hand.

(2,000,000 LOSS IN CONEY FIRE Thousands Homeless After Night of Terror. By United Press CONEY ISLAND, N. Y„ July 14. —Victims, possibly trapped by flames or crushed when 100,000 terrified merrymakers stampeded, were caught today in the ashes of a $2,000,000 fire that started in a rubbish pile and swept America’s most famous playground. So far as could be learned early today, a rubbish bonfire under the boardwalk, a fire that grew into the greatest Coney Island fire since 1911, left this toll: About 200 persons received minor injuries treated by ambulance surgeons and field hospitals set up near the scene. Damage. $2,000,000. according to Fire Marshal Thomas P. Brophy. Boardwalk burned along a 1,000 foot front, with all adjacent buildings. At least fifty dwellings, two large apartment houses, and several tenement buildings destroyed.

MILLION-DOLLAR HEART BALM SUIT ‘SHAKEDOWN,’ ASSERTS ARTHUR JORDAN

Referring to a million-dollar breach of promise suit as a "shakedown,” Arthur Jordan, Indianapolis multi-millionaire, today denied he had refused to carry out a promise to marry Mrs. Margaret E. Melter, former Goshen rooming house operator. The 76-year-old philanthopist, gay and appearing unworried, apparently was taking the matter lightly. Impression that he would take legal steps to prevent a hearing on the suit in superior court four was given by conversation with a filing clerk at the courthouse. A copy of the complaint was the object of his visit. "She hasn't a thing on me,” he said. Mrs. Melter charges Jordan proposed to her four years ago, Aug. 5, 1928. and was accepted. At that time. Mrs. Melter’s complaint states, Jordan described him-

LIBBY STILL BRILLIANT, BEAUTIFUL, ‘SCHOOL GIRL’ TO CINCINNATI

BY EUGENE SEGAL United Press Staff Correspondent /CINCINNATI, July 14.—1n Cincinnati, persons do not think of Libby Holman as the fascinating singer of "I'm Yours, body and Soul,” but as schoolgirl wearing plaid skirt, woolen hose and flat-heeled shoes. That’s the type of youngster she was before she left the apartment of her father, Alfred Holman, Cincinnati lawyer, in 1924, to carry her secret aspirations to New York. But her close friends felt certain of one thing—she would get what she wanted. In school, she took scholarships, awards for extra-curricular activities. and just about her choice of admirers among boys of the University of Cincinnati fraternities. Even today, some of her former girl classmates express an antipathy, perhaps based on her successes. Her character was irreproachable.

INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1932

—a fighting battalion of men who swung into the Capitol grounds two days ago, and announced they would stay there until congress either adjourned or acted on the bonus bill. Occasionally, veterans their shirts damp with perspiration and their faces lined with fatigue—sank on the lawn of the Library of Congress, imploring Robertson to let them sleep for ten minutes. "Get up,” he shouted, prodding them with his boots. "What do you think you are, sightseers?” a o a WRECKING WAGONS of the police department rattled across the pavement, and began to drag away the battered automobiles in which the veterans trekked across the Rocky Mountains and the hot plains of the mid-west. Here and there, a man would break line, trying to retrieve his car, but Robertson seemed to be everywhere, now pleading, now commanding, and always pushing his followers back into line and starting them on the march again. American flags drooping at their staffs in the heat of this windless day—headed the parade.

Four Are Prostrated as Records for Season Are Shattered. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 78 10 a. m 90 7a. m 80 11 a. m 90 Ba. m 86 12 (noon).. 92 9a. m 89 Ip. m 94 With a temperature of 94 at 1 today, Indianapolis will find no relief from the first severe heat wave of the summer before Friday night, according to J. H. Armington, weather bureau chief. Anew heat mark for this year was set at 3 Wednesday afternoon with a temperature of 95. The high today will be at least 95, Armington said. Summer is laying siege to most of the country, an area extending from the Rocky mountains to the Atlantic seaboard, press dis patches indicate today. As far north as Williston, N. D., temperatures above 70 are reported, while most of the heat-swept territory reports more than 80. Four prostrations were reported in the city Wednesday. Victims were Mrs. Tony Miller, 2408 East Wilkins street; Shoula Venta, 1245 Massachusetts avenue; C. H. Triaffinger, Van Wert, 0., and David W. Kirkman, 221 East Michigan street. All were treated at city hospital. Kokomo, with a temperature of 100, was the hottest city in Indiana Wednesday. Other readings were: Vincennes, 99; Evansville, 96; Bloomington, 98; Warsaw, 97; Columbus, 96; Princeton, 95; Anderson, 93; Huntington, 93, and Crawfordsville, 96. One fatality was recorded in Indiana. Louis Mussio, 30, died of heart disease at Ft. Wayne, while swimming. r

self “as the happiest and most satisfied man in America.” Jordan accepted the complaint copy from the clerk and, with an air of finality, said to the small group of clerk office attaches and attorneys: "There's nothing to this. Yet, boys, one can’t let a millon dollars slip through his fingers these days. "She won’t get a dollar.” This was his laconic reply to Mrs. Melter’s allegation that she was made “a mental, physical and financial wreck,” due to the alleged broken engagement. She has explained, since filing the suit, that “I’m not an adventuress. I love him; perhaps I still do.” "Did you know Mrs. Melter?” Jordan was asked. "Yes, I know her. I was introduced to her some time ago. But there never was anything between us.” "It never will come to trial and I don't want to make an appearance in that court," he explained.

SHE was a personality girl. Even in earliest appearances before Girl Scout groups and university shows, the rar° talent of reaching the audience” was manifested. It was the talent which directed her ambitions. She was an unusual girl, but not exotic. There was natural color in her face, brilliance in her black, oriental eyes. She laughed much. Her hair was wild, as it is now. But she was bundled in plaid skirt, woolen hose and flat-heeled shoes. She was born Elizabeth Lloyd Holzman. The "z” was dropped from the last name during the war. when Cincinnati was ex-German-conscious. She was born May 23, 1904, twenty-eight years ago. Her mental agility was revealed in the inquest over the bodv of her youthful husband. Smith Reynolds. at Winston-Salem, N. C. Her friends here were not surprized at that.

ANOTHER 1,000 veterans, attracted by tales of the fortitude of the Californians, idled near the capitol, watching with unsmiling faces while Robertson's shock troops clawed at sandwiches, and leaned against one another’s shoulders in their attempts to keep on the move.

Think This Over, Legislators

WHaT ABOUT THE UK/gMPLQYg?aMfeA 1 VV ;. ** r ft v ... Ct'RO -

Hides Under St. Car; Lets Wheels Kill Him

Strange Suicide Results After Several Weeks of Despondency. After several weeks of despondency, in which solace was sought in liquor, Frank Manthy, 40, of 922 Greer street, deliberately committed suicide this morning by crawling beneath the rear trucks of a southbound South East street car. The motorman of the car, Dee Moxley, 51, of 2241 Union street, had stopped the car on a siding in the 1000 block South East street to await passage of the north bound car. He was unaware of Manthy’s act when he started the car until passengers screamed. The street car was halted within five feet, police said. Carl Gutzwiller Jr., 3716 Watson road, told police he had been following the street car several blocks. He saw the man crawl beneath the trucks, but supposed he intended to make a repair. A passenger on the street car, Leo Courtney, 623 Weghorst street, felt the impact when the wheels struck the man. Jumping his seat, he shouted to the motorman, "Stop! You’ve run over something.” Manthy’s body was held .between the wheels of the rear trucks. The fire department repair crew at 1024 Sanders street removed the body, which was sent to the city morgue by Sergeant Timothy McMahon of the accident prevention bureau. The body was mangled horribly, and Manthy’s artificial leg cut in half. Joe Sieler, a distant relative of Manthy’s and his landlord, told police of the despondency into which Manthy had sunk recently. “We knew he had been drinking a lot, and I thought this morning when he left the house that he was going to buy liquor,” Sieler said.

SHE inclined to romance languages and writing in school, fanciful essays with humorous touches. She graduated from high school in two years less than the normal term. She graduated from Cincinnati university, with a B. A. degree, in 1923. She began at that time to hear plaudits of friends, who saw her in home-talent shows. Tupper Greenwald, later prominent in short story writing, composed “Herrlinger's Son,” of her first vehicle^. In musical shows she sang in husky, but .pleasing voice. A story that a throat operation accidentally caused the huskiness in her voice is imaginary. Her voice always was so. a a a THE girl went to New York in 1924, with her interest fastened on writing, studying and singing. She entered Columbia university to study short story writing.

Thousands of other veterans sprawled on the outskirts of the city in camps that resembled a second-rate circus with barkers, side-shows and lemonade stands. . a a OUT of the bonus expeditionary forces’ headquarters came Doak Carter, acting commander, anxious to make an alli&nce with

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‘ALL LAUSANNE BETS OFF UNLESS U. S. CANCELS,’ MEAT OF DEBTS PACT

By United Press The problem of how Europe can get out of paying the $11,000,000,000 war debt it owes the United States was bogged -'oday in a morass of misunderstanding, high-flown diplomatic phrases and conflicting official statements. The statesmen at Lausanne, when they ended reparations—"maybe”— did some below-stairs talking and reached a “gentlemen’s agreement” that is causing red faces in Paris and London, now that it has become public, and considerable bewilderment and indignation in Washington. The gentlemen's agreement, smoked out by the press, reluctantly was published in London and Paris today. It provided, under its diplomatic verbiage, what may be expressed in

She “drifted around” to a casting office casually, and the Libby Holman of the stage was torn. Cincinnati folks saw her first as an end girl in the Greenwich Village follies. The talent for reaching the audience did the resv “Garrick Gayeties,” then “Little Show” featured her. Her songs “Moanin’ Low” and “I’m Yours, Body and Soul,” in the second “Little Show,” carried her to the limelight. Broadway would give her anything now, night club and radio offers. The income ran up to $4,000 weekly. There were a Long Island home, a great Dane, liveried chauffeur. Miss Holman carried a lorgnette. All the glitter was there and Libby Holman s voice kept the theatrical world at her command. a a a SMITH REYNOLDS, heir to millions amassed by R. J. Reynolds, tobacco manufacturer, asked her to leave New* York.

Entered as S.-conU Class Matter at l’ostuftice. Indianapolis

Robertson, and perhaps to learn the secret of his power over men when their muscles no longer responded to marching orders. Robertson did not halt his march up and down the line as* he responded curtly to Carter’s overtures: "Nothing doing. I’m going to run my own show.”

BARE CHANGE IN COURTRECORDS Man Sentenced to Farm Is Serving Time in Jail. Another instance of altered municipal court records was revealed by The Times today and an investigation was opened by Judge William H. Sheaffer. Charles Edward Dicks, sentenced in March to the state penal farm for six months on liquor charges by Sheaffer was found to be serving his term in the county jail. Dicks, who hs.s a police record, has been named a jail trusty, working on the "chain” gaing.

simple American that "all debts at Lausanne are off Uncle Sam forgives our debts.” To complicate the situation, London and Paris published the text of a private agreement they reached at Lausanne. It would seem to say, if its language means anything, that France and Britain will work hand in glove, and that neither will play any such maneuver as fixing things up privately with Washington without letting the other in on the deal. So Premier Herriot interpreted it. But London threw up its hands in horror, and said it implied no such thi.ng. Downing street issued a statement today saying there is "no truth” in any statement that the declaration is applicable to the British debt to the United States

They were married and moved to Reynolda. a magnificent estate at Winston-Salem, N. C. The denoument was so sudden and tragic that it brought the one-time plaid Skirt and flatheeled shoe Libby of Cincinnati into a blaze of national attention. Behind her lay the favor and praise of Broadway. The future offered the position as hostess of one of the most beautiful estates in the south. At this point fate laid a cold finger on Libby Holman's destiny. She awakened, she said, to hear a shot reverberate through a great room and to feel “Smith’s cold blood coursing over my arm.” tt a a “ A LL the universe suddenly -cA crashed.” according. t.o her words, in that luxurious room where fortune had taken her. Libby, the girl in plaid and woolen hose, who said good-bye to relatives and a group of friends at a Cincinnati depot in 1924, returned Wednesday in widow's weeds and tears.

WETS WIN FIRST BATTLE FOR REPEAL OF BONE DRY LAW; VOTE IS 51 TO 41 Third Reading- and Passage of Bill Due in Next Twenty-Four Hours in House; Lame Ducks Answer ‘No.’ STATUTE IS LAUDED BY MILES Cites Benefits to State; Drug-gist Assails Arid Leader’s Arguments, Resents Slur on Pharmacists. Wets of the Indiana house of representatives met the drys today in the second skirmish of their fight for repeal of the Wright bone dry law, and won by 51 to 41 vote. The battle was over the question of whether the minority report signed by the four drys on the public morals committee, postponing consideration of the repealer, should be adopted over the majority report signed by nine, recommending passage. Third reading of the bill for passage in the house will be in the next twenty-four hours. It then will be presented the senate. Eighteen Democrats joined with the Republicans in voting for postponing consideration of the bill, while two Republicans went along with the wets. Four members were absent.

Majority of the Democrats who went with the drys were the “lame ducks” defeated for renomination, or who did not run because of their dry stand in the last session. Chairman John F. Ryan (Dem.), Terre Haute, of the public morals committee, announced later that the bill legalizing the sale of medicinal whisky with 50-cent pint tax, would come out of committee Friday on a divided report. Knapp Leads Drys James M. Knapp of Hagerstown, Republican leader of the house, spoke for the dry report, which, instead of stating its stand for indefinite postponement of the repealer, as is customary, was a campaign document, setting out that the special session was called for tax relief, and, therefore, consideration of the bill should be deferred until all tax measures were out of the way. ‘‘l am sincere in my opposition to this Wright law repeal bill,” Knapp said. “Majority of the members of the house agree in the opinion that the special session was called for tax relief. I can’t for the life of me se how the liquor question relates to this.” Knapp scored Ryan for his statement several days ago that this was an economic question, because repeal would open the breweries and distilleries and give farmers a market for their grain and thus bring back prosperity. Prohibition Needed, He Says "I am sincerely a dry and there is a need for prohibition, in my opinion,” Knapp said. "I saw my mother's hair turn gray because of the terrific onslaught of drink. I saw my father age and his torch dwindle, swept away because of the awful curse of drink. "I can’t honestly vote for passage of the bill because of this, and because it is not pertinent to the session.” His question of pertinence was challenged by Walter Stanton (Dem.), Gary, who declared: “We decided several days ago that these bills be sent to committee and reported out. If there is to be any argument on the merits for passage it should come when the repeal measures are up for passage. I ask for the previous question.” Answered by Chorus "Who is this ‘we’?” challenged Miles Furnas of Winchester, Republican whip and a minority signer. A chorus of "the house” came from the Democratic majority side. At this moment, John D. T. Bold (Dem.), Evansville, an ardent wet, shouted: "Mr. Speaker, there is a lobbyist for the Anti-Saloon League on the floor. He has been whispering to members.” Speaker Walter Myers declared: "No lobbyists are allowed on the floor.” Furnas asked, referring to a joker in the resolution presented to

8,000 EGGS ARE FRIED BY SUN INTO OMELET Bloomington (111.) Pavement Stove After Truck Is Wrecked. Bn United Press BLOOMINGTON, HI., July 14. The biggest omelet in the city’s history was fried here in the broiling sun of the heat wave, and then went to waste. Fred Miller, Kansas City, was driving into town with a truck loaded with 8,000 eggs. His truck upset on the pavement, breaking the cargo of eggs into a huge omelet. In a few minutes the burning sun had fried the eggs. 23 YEARS TO GET CARD Mailman Finally Delivers Letter Sent From Mexico City. B<i United Press MAMARONECK, N. Y„ July 14. A post card addressed to Mrs. Edward A. Britton, and mailed in Mexico City, was handed to Britton at his home here. He gave is a good second look, i and found that it was one he mailed twenty-three years ago.

HOME EDITION PRICE TWO CENTS Outside Marion County, 3 Cents

the house requiring lobbyists to wear uniforms, ‘ Has he his uniform on?” Myers retorted: “Where is he? I don’t see the red pants required.” Furnas demanded a roll call and the confusion was so great that it ' v ’as necessary, on motion of the wets, to re-poll the house, which showed 51 for advancing the bill and 41 opposed. Several Republicans later said that, in spite of their caucus pledge to vote “dry,” approximately ten of their group would vote for passage when final action comes. Roll call on the Wright bone dry law repeal measure in the Indiana house of representatives today follows : FOR MAJORITY REPORT (51) Democrats (!!)) AUardt Kaespert g atcs , McClain Martin Masselink S'*®* 5 Modisett Monnig Braujhton Morgan Byers Phelps Combs Place Conner Reisingor - Cory Rvan Curry Salata Dahllng Simpson ®F. an Stamp Eikenbary Stanton Ellyson Stein Stolte Finney lValsman Galloway Watson Gwin Webb Hawkins E. C. White Hoffman Wilson Kennedy J. F. White Kreuger (Republicans (2) Denny Grimm FOR MAJORITY REPORT (41) Republicans (23) Adams Guernsey Bibcock Kistier Baehtenkircher Knapp Coleman Knight Cromer McGaughey Eshclman Remiey Evans Smeltzly Farrell j. Frank Foster Smith Furnas Stauffer Street Guard Trent Democrats (18) Ale Linke Cantley McCammon Crawford Nelson Douglass Priddy Fitzgibbon Schlegel Fries Russell Smith Haines Stoops Journay Vanderver Lee Vcllom Representatives Absent: Democrats (4)— Bennett, Frailing. Karrer and McKesson. The action came after Ethan A. Miles, attorney for the Indiana Anti-Saloon League, at the open hearing of the committee late Wednesday, declared the Wright law is ‘ the most beneficent legislation in state history, and, under it, Indiana has ‘become prosperous, with building and loan companies reporting more deposits and life insurance greater business.” Law Is Assailed Miles was the only speaker for the dry side, giving the same speech as on previous occasions, but amplifying it a bit, to complete mystification of Democrats present, with the .statement that neither party had pledged Wright law repeal. Democratic members explained that their own platform plank on temperance specifically pledges death of this measure. The dry league spokesman pointed out that if the Wright law is repealed there would be no state enforcement act and Indiana would come under the federal act. “I didn’t come here to argue,” declared William Stokes, secretary of the Association Against the Prohibition Amendment. “The people want the Wright law repealed. The public is sick of the obnoxious features of the law. It has made the state a laughing stock and has cost incalculable amounts. “A great deal has happened since the Wright law was enacted and the people want a change.” Stokes challenged Miles’ statements that if the Wright law is repealed there would be no laws against drunken driving and public intoxication. “Os course there are laws on the books to take care of these offenses,” he declared. Bought From Bootlegger Explaining that the duty of a druggist is to supply the physician with medical necessities, Albert Fritz, representing the Indianapolis Retail Druggists’ Association, told the committee that last winter he purchased whisky from bootleggers cn two occasions to fill prescriptions. “The doctor who asked for the whisky was not a drinking doctor and needed it for his patient. I would do the same again if he prescribed whisky,” Fritz shouted, in challenge to the drys. “The druggist never could enter into competition with the bootlegger, because medicinal whisky is far too expensive and there need be little fear of that.”