Indianapolis Times, Volume 44, Number 117, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 September 1932 Edition 02 — Page 3

SEPT. 24,1932.

13 INJURED IN AUTO MISHAPS; ARREST THREE • Drunken Driving Charges Are Faced by Trio Held by Police. Traffic accidents caused injury of thirteen persons Friday and three men face charges of drunken driving. Marshall Edwards, 49, of 3729 East Twenty-eighth street, was the most seriously hurt. His right arm was crushed when the car in which he was riding with Charles F. Grundin, 54, of 2743 North Denny street, collided at Arlington avenue and Tenth street with an automobile driven by Miss Frances E. Luke, 27, Covington. Miss Florence Hiatt, 29, Knlghtstown, riding with Miss Luke, was injured slightly. Drunken driving charges were filed against Everett Boswell, 27. Danville; Herman Borroo, 45, ot 943 North Alabama street, and Joseph Cernaha, 30, Detroit. Strikes Parked Truck Boswell’s car struck a parked truck of the Indianapolis Power and Light Company. A car driven by Borro struck one driven by Theodore Hurst, 1140 North Temple avenue. and Cernaha's car struck one driven by Mrs. Flora Hubbard, 2830 North Illinois street. I Cuts and bruises were incurred by seven persons when two automobiles collided at New Jersey and Vermont streets. The injured are Mrs. Emil Rahke, 4146 North Meridian street, one of the drivers; her daughter, Joyce, 1-year-old; Mrs. Robert Lawson, 125 East St. Clair street, and her son, Robert, 4; passengers in the Rahke car. The others injured, passengers in a car driven by H. A. Sanders, 333 North DeQuincey street, were Miss Olive Magruder, 420 Goodlet avenue; Miss May Sullivan, 1328 North Drexel avenue, and Ray Demaree, 337 North DeQuincey-street. Injured in Collision Injury of the right foot was suffered by Ralph Smith, 21, of, 951 Eugene street, when a motorcycle he was riding collided at Walnut and Illinois streets with an autcw mobile driven by Herman Legth, 36, of 2727 North Pennsylvania street. Miss Beulah Holmes, 20, 2458 College avenue, and her sister June, 19, were injured slightly when a car driven by the former collided with another at Fjfty-ninth street and Washington boulevard. The Other driver, a woman, refused to give her name, and left the scene soon after the crash, the sisters told police. Driverless Car Injures A driverless automobile caused injury of Mrs. Cora McKinney, 60, of Whitestown, who is at St. Vincent’s hospital with lacerations of the head and legs. The automobile of William Meyers, 15, R. R. 17, moved into Road 29 at Sixtieth street when he cranked it while the gears wefe engaged. It struck a car in which Mrs. McKinney was riding with her daughter, Mrs. Geraldine Zenor, 25. ‘SLAVERY’ CHARGED IN FLOOD CONTROL WORK Woman Investigator Tells of Conditions Along Mississippi. Bn Scripps-tfoward A' eimpapcr Alliance WASHINGTON, Sppt. 24.—The personal story of what a woman investigator saw in Negro labor camps along the Mississippi flood control project was before the war department today, for use in connection with its inquiry into charges that conditions of virtual slavery on the levees. ' This investigator, Helen Boardman, former Red Cross worker, told her story to Brigadier-General G. B. Pillsbury, assistant to the chief of army engineers, in charge of the flood control work. Her complaints were against conditions in camps maintained by contractors, to whom levee and other flood control work has been Jet by army engineers. Miss Boardman told Pillsbury that Negro laborers were subjected to brutal beatings, were paid low iwages and worked extraordinarily long hours, and that insanitary living arrangements and other conditions amounting to virtual slavery prevailed. TWO FLEE STATE FARM City Man Among Pair to Get Away From Putnamvllle. Police were advised today of the •eiape ot two men from the state penal farm at Putnamvllle. The fugitives are Andrew Sexton, 21, whose address at the time of his conviction was 621 East Maryland street, and Jack Zelgler, 25, Ft. Wayne. Sexton was sentenced on conviction of larceny and drunkenness.

Gone, but Not Forgotten

Automobiles reported to police as stolen belong to: Mike Agmv, Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Ford roadster, 59-486, from 403 Harris street. Frank Parkhurst. 1533 Sturm avenue. Chevrolet coupe, 67-659, from 500 North Noble street. James Sant, 5527 North Pennsylvania street, Ford roadster 64-858. from parking apace at Shortrldge high school. A. C. Northrock. Oreencastle, Ind., Studebaker sedan, 604-637, from Greencastle, Ind. Dr. Ross A. Cooper. C&gmel, Ind., Nash coupe, from Carmel. Ind. William Fulton. 873 West drive. Woodruff place. Bulck sedan. 30-582. from garage at 873 West drive. Woodruff Place.

BACK HOME AGAIN

Stolen automobiles recovered by police belong to: Paul Collins. 1635 Central avenue. Ford roadster, found near Rockville road on first road west of Pennsylvania railroad automobile stripped. Oldsmobile coupe. 771-434 Ohio, found t Toledo and Vermont streets. Lawrence Duff, 1514 Asburv street Chrysler sedan, found at 1122 Orange street. The Rev. George Dunn. Fourteenth and Meridian streets. Nash sedan, found at Hillside avenue and Thirtieth street. Rehllng Rent-A-Car Company, 25 Kentucky avenue. Bulck sedan, found at Little Rock, Ark. A L. Curry. 131 West Fifty-first street, Chrysler sedan, found at Washington street and Eagle creek. M Nester, Lebanon. Ind . Chevrolet coach, found at 5602 East Michigan street. Edward Fite. 6439 West Washington street. Ford coupe, found et 1300 west Tenth street. Hupmobile sedan, 57-413, found in rear •f 3336 Yandea street.

MILLIONAIRE DISAPPEARS

Doctor's Fate Is Riddle for Sleuths

it a? DID ME WQ\TE TMOSE LETTERS TMAT RED mjmL DRIFTED BACK SO MYSTERIOUSLY ? OIRAPFnAWtU On: n (l Robins friend of third of a on Amer- ™

Colonel Rivmond Robins, friend of President Hoover, has Joined the ranks of the 50.000 persons who vanish annually in the United States. This is the third of a series of six stories on America's most famous mystery disappearances.

BY ROBERT TALLEY’ NEA Service Wfiter (Copvrißht, 1932, NEA Service, Inc.) WHERE is Dr. Charles Brancati? He came to America from Italy as a barber, worked his way through medical college in New York, turned to business and made a million dollars in some way that is not at all clear. Then he vanished as though the earth had swallowed him, leaving his present even a deeper mystery than his past. It was on Nov. 19, 1928, that Dr. Brancati left the stately old Gouverneur Morris mansion in New York's Bronx, for which he had refused an offer of $400,000 only a short time before. He said he was going downtown to his office. That was the last ever seen of him. The authorities incline to the belief that Dr. Brancati engineered his own disapearance “for personal reasons.” His brothers say they are convinced that he was kidnaped and murdered. Each theory seems to fit known facts equally well. The subsequent linking of Dr. Brancati's name with various sinister activities easily might explain why he should choose to disappear; could jtist as well explain a motive for a murder. Various rumors have linked his name with a huge counterfeiting ring, with the Arnold Rothstein murder (which occurred just sixteen days before Brancati’s disappearance and with the smuggling of narcotics on a tremendous scale. tt * tt THOUGH the millionaire physician vanished on Nov. 19, Dr. Brancati's brothers did not report his disappearance to the police until the following April. And in the meantime, these strange things were happening: From Passaic, N. J.; Albany, Boston, Ottawa, and London came a series of letters, telegrams and cablegrams, all signed with Dr. Brancati’s name and ostensibly written by him. The letters were typewritten, but the signature looked very much like that of the missing physician. The first communication —a telegram—came from Passaic the day after his disappearance. Addressed to Ercole Brancati, one of the brothers, it read: “AM HUNTING WITH FRIENDS STOP IF ANYBODY CALLS FOR ME WILL BE BACK IN ABOUT WEEK STOP WILL WRITE LATER. . . . CHARLES.” Ten days later came a telegram from Albany, saying he was there on business. Then * letter postmarked at Boston, which assured his brothers that he was “doing well” and would return soon. There were more of such letters and telegrams, followed by a cablegram from London which announced that Brancati had arthere. Then came a letter from London. postmarked Dec. 26, which

MERIDIAN AUTO LAUNDRY FRED H. BOWEN, Mgr. Now at Its New, Modern Quarters 824 N. Meri^n Opposite Public Library We Invite Four Inspection

3% Paid on Savings Security Trust Cos. ill North Pennsylvania Street

TRUSSES For Every Kind of Rupture, Abdominal Supports Fitted by Experts HAAG’S 129 West Washington Street

LOANS AT REASONABLE RATES FOB ALL WORTHY PURPOSES The Indianapolis Morris Plan Company Delaware aed Ohio Hie, BHey IMS

said he would be there several weeks. That was the last that the brothers ever he #l, so far as is known. tt tt tt NOW the triangular question arises: Did Dr. Brancati disappear voluntarily and write these letters and telegrams himself? Or was he kidnaped and forced to write them by his captors? Or was he murdered by men who slew him, then forged his name to this chain of missives? There is no satisfactory answer. But a still stranger thing happened: A day or so after Dr. Brancati’s disappearance on Nov. 19, 1928, his brokers received from Dr. Brancati a note which directed them to turn over to the bearer—one Luigi Romano—his $234,000 account, which the brokers did. It is said that Dr. Brancati h&d introduced Romano to them the previous autumn. Romano—who now has become a first-class man of mystery—drew out all but $9,000 and deposited $225,000 in cash in a bank in New York’s Italian section. In less than two weeks he had withdrawn the money from the bank, $25,000 at a time, 'until only $292.82 remained. Then Romano vanished, adding another baffling chapter to the mysterious chain of events. No trace of Romano ever was found. tt a * IN April, when Dr. Brancati's brothers finally reported his disappearance, detectives searched the old mansion where the missing millionaire had lived. In Brancati’s bedroom they found three bullet holes in the ceiling and another in the mantelpiece. From woodwork near the mantel they dug a .38-caliber bullet. In the room were a number of other things; three dozen bottles

GASOLINE SPECIAL TODAY—6O-62 Gravity 410 Endpoint... Quick Starting war Bk WB jHnv H ■BH| '!2V 9 qiy. hHhRI PER GALLON...TAX INCLUDED 5 GALLONS 65c I Special Today and Sunday, t Sept . 24, 25 PU PT With the purchase of 6 gallons of gasoline we will give I pi EL EL y°h absolutely free of charge a Blue Point Thrift Coupon Book entitling you to a saving of $30.00 on future purchases of your auto needs. BLUE POINT Drexel 5678-7955 * Corner Delaware, Madison and Ray Sts. 9 BLOCKS SOUTH ON DELAWARE OR MADISON

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

of ginger ale, a pair of woman’s slippers, some medical books and surgical instruments, a lot of torn letters. One of these, written in Italian, addressed Dr. Brancati as “You Big Villain” and threatened him because of an affair with a woman. it tt IN November, 1929, Captain Thomas Brancati, for thirty years a police detective in Italy, came to America and conducted an unsuccessful search for his brother. He said he was convinced his brother had been kidnaped and later killed when the money was removed from his account. Later, Brancati’s brothers petitioned t|e courts to declare the doctor dead, so disposition could be made of his estate. But before this. District Attorney McGeehan announced that he no longer was interested in the case, being convinced that Dr. Brancati effaced himself deliberately. If a crime had.been committed, McGeehan added, it had not been committed in ETonx county. Meanwhile, Assistant United States Attorney Alvin Sylvester dug deeper into reports that Dr. Brancati had been a partner in a huge drug ring. Others expressed the opinion that Brancati’s flight had a connection with the murder of Arnold Rothstein, the big-time gambler, who was said to have been interested in narcotics on a wholesale scale. But, dead or alive, Dr. Brancati Is still a mystery. Next—The strange disappearance of Hisashi Fujimura, 38. millionaire Japanese silk importer of New York, who vanished from an ocean liner near New York while returning ‘from a gay “whoopee cruise” to Halifax with a beautiful blond show girl. The English government spent $333,000,000 on the unemployed last year.

SIMS' AMERICAN LEGION GESTURE CALLEDjSTUNT' Not Honorary Member So He Couldn’t Resign, Says Commander. National Commander Louis A. Johnson of the American Legion today denied that Admiral William S. Sims. United States navy (retired), was an honorary member of the American Legion and said that his “resignation” merely was a publicity stunt. In a letter received by Johnson at the national headquarters, Sims tendered his resignation as an honorary member of the Legion because of “the action on the bonus in its recent national convention at a time of national distress.” Sims referred to the Legion’s stand for immediate payment of the bonus. Johnson, who arfived by plane Friday, is on his way home after attending the national legion convention in Portland, Ore., at which he w r as elected. With Mrs. Johnson, he will leave the city tonight. Johnson served part of his enlistment as a member of the officers’ training camp at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, he said, and has visited Indianapolis on several occasions to attend executive committee meetings.

NATIONALISTS FILE Complete Ticket Is Put in Field by Party. A complete ticket for Marion county has been nominated by the National party, which held its county convention Friday night in the Illinois building. The ticket follows: Lewis A. Warrenfelt, 1209 Marlowe avenue, candidate for judge of the circuit court; Forrest L. Hackley, R. R. 10, Box 400, prosecuting attorney; R. R. Singleton, 612 Carlyle place, county treasurer; Roy C. Hess, 1058 North Pershing avenue, sheriff; Paul D. Lucas, 3034 North Illinois street, coroner; Lawrence W. Rube, 3629 East New York street, surveyor; Tonie Ludwig, 1690 West Riverside drive, commissioner Second district; Otis M. Burnett, 233 South State avenue, commissioner, Third district. Candidates for state senator are: Mrs. Lillie M. Sterns, 1640 Troy avenue; Robert G. Stuck Jr., 444 Trowbridge street; Paul B. Elliott, 30714 North Arlington avenue. and Fred Roper, 2115 Wendell street. For state representative; Herbert Green, R. R. 5, Box 144-D; John M. Noe, 605 North Gladstone avenue; James L. Tanner, 22914 Indiana avenue; W. Heagy, 43 Harris avenue; Charles H. Doty, 1046 North Pershing avenue; C. O. Baudendistel. 321 Villa avenue: Will Pugh. Ben Davis; Mrs. Eulah V. Potter, 3532 North Capitol avenue; Mrs. Genevieve R. Lett, 1063 North Pershing avenue: Thomas J. Johnson Jr., R. R. 5, Box 461-G: Carl C. Reeves, 3220 East New York street. JAFSIE STILL ON HUNT Hope Held by Dr. Condon That He Yet Will Find Lindy Hoaxers. H/ 1 United PreSf x NEW YORK, Sept. 24.—Dr. John F. (Jafsie) Condon, emissary in the Lindbergh kidnaping case, still hopes he will find the man who hoaxed him into tossing $50,000 of Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh’s money over a cemetery wall in the Bronx. Last week he went to Canada on the trail of the money. He confers with federal secret service men twice a week.

Air Menace Airplane smokers constitute anew menace to state forests and Hoosier woodlands, it was reported today by Ralph Wilcox, state forester. A survey has disclosed that fires often are started in the woods by cigaret butts dropped from airplanes, he said. Wil- # cox urged airmen and passengers extinguish the lighted ends before throwing them overboard.

MANY POLITICAL RALLIESSLATED Rival Party Leaders Will Cover State Thoroughly. Leaders of Indiana political parties today announced the following meetings for next week: Monday—Raymond S. Springer, Republican candidate for Governor, Bedford; Paul V. McNutt, Democratic Governor nominee, South Bend in afternoon, Delphi at night; Frederick Van Nuys, Democratic candidate for senator, Vernon. Tuesday—Opening of Democratic state ?£2\P a „ lgn by radio broadcast over stations WFBM. Indianapolis: WOWO, Ft. Wa.vne, and WGBF, Evansville. Springer, fx>ogootee in afternoon, Jasper at night. Wednesday—Springer, Petersburg in afternoon, Washington at night; Van Nuys, S ? 1 c ’ McNu ((. English in afternoon, Tell City at night; Professor Clarence Manion. Notre Dame university, Anderson Democratic meeting; Mrs. A. P. Flynn. Democratic state vice-chairman, Hartford City. Thursday—McNutt, Campbellsburg in afternoon, Bedford at night; Van Nuvs, Noblesville in afternoon, Crawfordsville 'at night; Springer, Vincennes. Friday—Springer. Sullivan in afternoon. Linton at night; Van Nuys, Shoals in afternoon Vincennes at night; McNutt, Rushvrlle; Manion. Loganspnrt. Saturday—Springer. Columbus in afternoon, Indianapolis at night; Mrs. Flynn, Vevay. BUTLER ALUMNI WILL HOLD MEMBER DRIVE Committee Headed by Henry O. Goett to Conduct Campaign, Membership campaign of the Butler University Alumni Association will begin Oct. 10, directed by a committee headed by Henry O. Goett, Indianapolis, who will be assisted by Samuel Offutt, Greenfield, and Henry F. Bruner, Chicago. Bruner will have charge of the national campaign. Goett will conduct the local campaign, and the state activities will be in charge of Offutt. Effort will be made to solicit nonmembers of the association in all parts of the country to join. Formatin of a permanent Butler luncheon club will be a part of the local campaign. A year’s free subscription to the Butler Alumni Quarterly will be given all new members.

Checking Accounts Interest Paid on SAVINGS And Certificates of Deposit AETNA Trust and Savings Cos. 33 North Pennsylvania Street Lincoln 7371

Robert E. Throckmorton Fire Insurance Riley 3334 911 Chamber of Commerce Bldg.

Wf* OUTLET I

I fT\ T he "Economical Vn*i i if nfflfi.i The Watched Dinner Never Burns! A PLEASANT THOUGHT, thati :: to be able to answer those -Ax telephone calls right in the kitchen. No more ruined meals just because Aunt Agatha calls to inquire ajx>ut Junior’s health, or the corner grocer telephones for your order. The handy extension telephone, placed within easy reach of your kitchen work-able, eliminates running to that telephone in the front of the house ;; sand think of all the steps it saves! Economical, too. A few cents a day pays for this added convenience and peace of mind Just call the telephone Business Office, today; Indiana Bell Telephone Company I ' i

BAD LOAN OF SCHOOL FUNDS BOOSTSTAXES Deficit Causes Additional 2-Cent Levy to Be Added by County. Forced to appropriate $50,000 to meet interest deficits on loans from the county common school fund, county councilmen today scored officials responsible for “loaning on worthless real estate.” An additional 2 cents was added to the tax levy because of school fund deficits, asserted Walter C. Boetcher, council president. The county recently offered at auction several hundred vacant lots remaining from a real estate “bubble” that took $61,360 from the school fund in 1928 and 1929. Failing to sell the properties, the county now is assuming the in-

[jk Opposite thn#X tsf* sp) war memor,al _/ famous Pool MNTLERS at 7 50 N. Meridian Strt

ABUNDANT HEALTH The best physicians advise regular exercise. No hotel in Indianapolis offers so many advantages for healthful and pleasurable indoor sports. You can select a room the Antlers for as little as $2 per day and $lO single or $11.50 double per week, and have the same free recreational privileges as others occupying a magnificent suite. • Club features (free to guests): Swimmingpool; gymnasium; game rooms for bridge and backgammon; library; lounge rooms’ and parking space. Also bowling alleys and coffee shop at reasonable prices.

Season of 1932-33 Winter Cruises Complete details, literature, cabin plans, etc., are now available on the following—and other —cruises: Round the World—South America, Mediterranean, Egypt, Holy Land, West Indies and Caribbean Sea Every year the popularity of these cruises grows. Early reservations will insure better service and accommodations. May we not discuss with you your plans for winter travel at your earliest convenience? We will gladly furnish you with any and all information you may require. Richard A. Kurtz, Manager Travel Bureau The Leading Travel Bureau of Indianapolis gidJNION TRUSTS 120 E. Market St. RI ley 5341

PAGE 3

debtedness and the 6 per cent accrued interest. Involved in the financial load to be met by taxation are scores of unimproved lots in Rainbow Ridge addition, near Speedway City. Wesley Ryan, Indianapolis contractor, obtained loans totaling more than $60,000 on these lots, on approval of Harry Dunn, former county auditor. According to statements of officials, revealed by The Times, the law. limiting loans to $4,000 to any individual, was evaded through use of nineteen persons’ names in the transaction. “This law that makes a real estate office of the county auditor’s office is all wrong,” Boetcher declared, vHe referred to the law creating the school fund, and requiring the county to loan It at 6 per cent interest. The county must pay interest annually regardless of failure to collect from borrowers. “The public should know about these loans, and understand how they 4 are made," John S. Newhouse, counciln\pn, said. The council advised County Auditor Charles A. Grossart to limit future loans from the common school fund.

ART SAYS: The perfecJBr 1 * tion of real T. artificial silk K shoiild make <** ' the lowly silk j worm feel on ' a par with the J lowly nights crawler. ,/ ea * d,iTjf|sgk W n e m ocrats’ Hopes High In ART ROSE C o lor a do.” It’s the right altitude for high hopes. m m * Now that we’ve seen the pictures of the Better Babies how about a few poses of the Better Parents. * tt Fall slipped' in officially yesterday while you were trying to cocoon yourself in the bedcovers and wishing for a little of that July weather. tt a tt Open tonight until 10 p. m. and all day Sunday. Open a charge or budget account “Where Your Car Gets Careful Care.” Two stations to serve you. k it The Chief Tire Changer ROSE TIRE CO., Inc. 930 N. Meridian St. 365 S. Meridian St. MILLER TIRE DISTRIBUTORS