Indianapolis Times, Volume 44, Number 233, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 February 1933 — Page 1

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POLICE SERGEANT SLAIN BY BANDITS

ZERO WAVE IS ROARING HERE OUT OF WEST Mercury Will Dive, and Remain Submerged for 36 Hours.FIERCE BLIZZARD HOWLS Snow Rides Gales From Rockies to Alleghanies; Fall Is Heavy. Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m 34 10 a. m 38 7 n . m 33 11 a. m 38 Ba. in 35 12 (n00n)..39 9 a. m 36 1 p. ni 40 Temperatures ranging from zero to 10 below will accompany a cold wave expected to reach Indiana tonight, J. H. Armington, meteorologist, forecast today. The cold will last for at least thirty-six hours, and will be ushered in with heavy snow falls throughout the state, he said. A blinding blizzard howled across mid-America today as the major storm of the winter struck with the full fury of ice-barbed wind and freezing cold. The howl of the wind spelled death to many a jobless unfortunate. It meant suffering to millions. The wintry ordeal, dreaded in homes all over America, came all at once. Snow Rides on Gales From the Rockies to the Alleghanies, snow rode roaring gales, mounted in street and highway, trapped automobilists, grounded air craft, slowed trains. Beyond the margins of the day’s storm map, rain chilled the mid-south and the Ohio valley. Cities awoke to an Arctic scene. Street cars ran into drifts, hundreds of workers with shovels and plows got temporary employment. In Chicago, while a 34-mile-an-hour wind whipped the snow through the streets, 130 snow plows chugged through a six-inch fall of whiteness. Work was slowed in the loop because the city could afford to hire only 100 workers. Death Accompanies Storms Temperatures sank to lowest levels of the year. It was 36 degrees below zero at Miles City, Mont., equally cold at Bismarck, N. D„ and 40 below in a few spots in between. Forecaster C. A. Donnel of the Chicago weather bureau said the snow would keep falling over the mid-continent until Thursday, and then probably would spread to other sections. Death accompanied the storm in the usual tragic manner. Automobiles skidded in glass-slick streets, fires broke out in hovels, homes and apartments, people died from exposure and over-exertion. In Kansas City, where the mercury touched 50 degrees at 2 p. nr, Monday, the weather bureau thermometer recorded zero weather today. Terrific Damage Done Throughout the southeast, cattlemen fought desperately to save their stock. As far south as Texas,! zero temperatures were reported, ac- : companied by snow. Terrific damage was believed done' to the wheat crop, which was un- ! protected by snow as the blizzard struck. In somo sections, the! grain was reported almost blown from the earth by the gale before the snow fell. Even when the fall began, farmers saw slight hope that it would prove of much aid, since it was drifting badly. On Kansas City and Chicago markets wheat boomed more than a cent a bushel when first word of the approaching storm was given out. QUASH INSULL WARRANT Entire Jurisdiction Now in Hands of Supreme Court at Toronto. i>\'/ I nil, ,1 I‘itsh BARRIE. Ontario. Feb. 7.—A warrant on which Martin J. Insull was arrested last October as a fugitive from Illinois justice was dismissed today in Simcoe county court. The dismissal transferred entire jurisdiction in the Insull case in Canada to the supreme court in Toronto.

Rented $# FOR TWO—lncludes X meals, laundry and earase. couple pre. ferred. HA-2HI-M. Mrs. Dillon. IMS West r' Twenty liftli sirr-ot. had a vao an t room. Slip I'lHcod the above a<l in The Tini e s Room for Rent column and the room w:is filled quickly. The advertising cost was very low. A Room for Rent ad in The Times costs nl.v cents a word. Special weekly rate of seven days for the price of five. To Rent Your Vacant Room, ('all Rllpv 5551. or You Can Place Your Ad at Times Want Ad Headquarters, 214 West Maryland street.

The Indianapolis Times Rain changing to snow, probably heavy by tonight and snow flurries Wednesday; severe cold wave with temperatures Wednesday morning from zero to ten below.

VOLUME 44—NUMBER 233

Murder of Veteran Officer Climaxes Bus Go. Holdup

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CORBETT HOLDING OWN Former World Heavyweight Champion Gravely 111 at Home. Bn l Mill'll Press BAYSIDE, N. Y„ Feb. 7. James J. Corbett, once world heavyweight champion, who is gravely ill at his home here, was reported holding his own today.

Upper Lest —The riflles shotguns and cartridges abandoned by the bandits who robbed the Peoples Motor Coach Company and killed Sergeant Lester Jones early today. The munitions were found in the bandits’ car after they fled. Upper Right Patrolman Tom McCormick, an old ‘buddy” of Sergeant Jones, pointing out the dents from machine gun bullets that killed his superior officer, in the coach company's garage door. Jones was slain at the spot where McCormick points with his hand. Second Row, Left Sergeant Jones, a lover of horses, while astride Kentucky Bud. Bud was one of the traffic department’s horses when Jones was captain. Second Row, Center—Sergeant Jones. Second Row, Right—Scene of the slaying in the garage. The police car is parked at the spot where the bandit car stood when Jones stepped inside the garage. The patrolman in the shadow by

3,000 HUDSON BODY WORKERS ON STRIKE Quit Work Quietly After Demand for Pay Raise. Bn Vniled Press DETROIT, Feb. 7.—Three thousand employes of the Hudson Motor Company, ail workers in the body plant, went on strike today, after presenting demands for higher wages. The company immediately closed the body plant, pending settlement of the strike. There was no disorders. The workers left their places in the assembly lines quietly.

INDIANAPOLIS, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7," 1933

the door is standing where Jones stood when the bandit gunner mowed him down. Third Row deft to right)—Paul Farthing, 2326 Kenwood, cf; th company employe, who saw Jones slain; James Ball, one of the first men to reach the sergeant’s side, and Ray Hodges, bus driver, who was asleep in the driver’s room. He w r as one of three men who came in direct contact with the bandits. Third Row fright)—The windshield of the bandit car shattered by bullets from the bang's own machine gunner as he sprayed lead that killed the sergeant and kept brother officers at bay. Lower Left Patrolman Michael McAllen, who accompanied Sergeant Jones on his fatal police call. Lower Center—Drawers of the coach company's safe blown up by shotgun blasts. Lower Right—Patrolman Willard Hawkins, who participated in the gun battle.

BARRY OUSTER VOTED BY SENATE COMMITTEE Libel Action to Be Discussed on Thursday, Says Norris. Bit Vnitrd Press WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.—The senate judiciary committee recommended today that Sergeant-at-Arms David S. Barry be removed from office for writing in former Governor Alfred E. Smith's “New Outlook” that some congressmen sell their votes for money. Chairman George W. Norris announced the committee action. He said consideration of the Walsh resolution looking to libel action against Barry and “The New Outlook” would be taken up by the committee Thursday.

12 ARE ARRESTED ON MINE RIOT CHARGES Work Is Resumed at State Co-Operative Shaft. Bn l'ailed Press PRINCETON, Ind., Feb. 7.—Arrest of twelve men on riot charges and resumption of operations at the ! Co-Operative Francisco mine, east of here, brought out nearly 500 pickets today. Co-operative mine workers were escorted through the picket lines in automobiles directed by J. R. Henderson, superintendent.- Many !of the cars carried Illinois license plates. The men assembled at Hender- . son's office before starting. No violence was reported. Those arrested by Sheriff George Hitch were said to have participated in a riot at Francisco Sunday when Frank Rogers, a co-operative worker, j was kept from moving his wife and ‘two sons into a mine-owned home.

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CHARGES PLOT TO LOG-JAM CONGRESS Garner Refuses to Name Alleged Conspirators. Bn United Press WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.—Speaker John N. Garner today charged that early in the present session some members of congress deliberately set out to create a legislative log-jam and thus force an extra congressional assembly soon after the Roosevelt administration took office.

Entered as Second Class Matter at I'ostoffice, Indianapolis

LESTER JONES SHOT DOWN IN GARAGE HOLDUP Trapped Thugs Turn Machine Gun on City Officer as He Steps Through Doorway; Gigantic Man Hunt On. ALL ROADS IN COUNTY WATCHED Robbers Drop Part of Loot as They Make Getaway; Three Suspects Taken; Two Are Released. Shot down without opportunity to draw his revolver, Police Sergeant Lester Jones died by machine gun fire early today, when he attempted to halt five gunmen in their robbery of the Peoples Motor Coach Company. Sergeant Jones stepped into the company garage at Twenty-second and Yandes streets, the target for the roaring machine gun which one of the bandits was firing. The slayers escaped after holding off’ two other policemen, companions of Sergeant Jones, in a bullet duel.

From the time of the shooting, throughout the morning, the eastern section of city and county was the arena for one; of the greatest man hunts in years. Every available police officer was assigned to the task of nabbing the killers. Three suspects were picked up by police. One man, who gave four different names and said he was from Dayton, 0., was held on a vagrancy charge. The others were released a few minutes after being j taken to headquarters. Flee on Foot Police believe the bandits, who escaped on foot after leaving their weapon-loaded car in the garage, had fled from the county in another auto. The search turned toward city limits between the National road and Road 52, when it was reported that a car had been “planted” near an abandoned schoolhouse. Police followed the marks of the , car to New Bethel, where the trail was lost. Authorities believe the j bandits probably were taken to the scene of the parked car by a taxi j driver, who is sought. One of the slayers is believed to j have been wounded by gunfire in j their battle with Patrolmen Willard j Hawkins and Michael McAllen. Escape Out of Side Door The bandits were forced to flee i I from a side door, when McAllen and I Hawkins, who followed Sergeant | j Jones into the death garage, started ! shooting. The bandits could not j | reach their new, stolen car, because ! the patrolmen used it to shield them I from the ripping machine gun fire. The bandit car was riddled with bullets from the gun. The trail of the fleeing gunmen ; led to the Nickel plate railroad | tracks and south from Twenty-sec-ond street, then south to Nineteenth i and Bellefontaine streets. Police were rushed northeast sec- | tion of2 the city when three men drivj ing a coupe, bearing an Ohio license, | attempted to stick up James Black- | er. 33, of 4935 Sheldon street, ice wagon driver, at Fifty-sixth street \ and the Nickel Plate railroad, short- ! ly before noon. These bandits fled in the car, in which the third man sat at the; j wheel, when they found Blacker had only 35 cents. Both bandits who confronted Blacker were armed. Morrissey in Charge Morrissey took personal charge of the search for Sergeant Jones’ slayers and the staff of uniformed police were augmented by every available : detective within an hour after the | shooting. Before dawn, every rooming house j ! in the city was on the list of de- | fectives, to determine where the | bandits might have lived. Hotels in j all parts of the city were checked. Pslice in surrounding states were ; notified by Morrissey and state poj lice and sheriffs in all Indiana ! counties watched roads. Squads j were detailed to the Union station, j ! Terminal station and bus depot, j Railroad detectives searched yards j northeast and south°ast of the city for the fleeing murderers. Get Radio Report Sergeant Jones and the patrolmen were sent to the bus company ■ garage on a radio report that five men were arguing with employes. 1 The bandits saw the police car halt and one of them yelled: “Here they come; let them have it.” The gunmen, at the time of the shooting, were completing their j second robbery in less than twelve j hours. Monday afternoon they had obtained $2,000 at the Capitol Dairies, Inc., 1213 North Sherman I I drive, where four of them held j employes at bay with the warning : they would be "filled full of lead if you move.” Wayne Fritts, 1346 Waldcmere avenue, night foreman of the garage, told police the bandits obtained 51.869. all of which was found in t an open leather sack in the street ! after the shooting. ! According to Fritts, he was alone in the cashier's office when the

HOME EDITION P R IC F TWO CENTS Outside Marion County, 3 Cents

Help the Law Watch for Gunmen and Call Police If You See Them.

Indianapolis and the middle west today seek five gunmen responsible for the machine gun murder of Sergeant Lester Jones. Descriptions of four of the five gunmen were broadcast during the day by both local radio stations and have been dispatched to every police official in Indiana and surrounding states. Description of the fifth gunman was not obtained. If you see these men. call police headquarters immediately. The descriptions: No. 1 —35 years. 5 feet 2 Inches tall; 150 pounds; dark complexion and wearing a dirty light hat and light shirt. He is the machine gunner. I No. 2—30 to 32; 5 feet 2; 135 to 140 pounds; light complexion; no description of apparel. No. 3—32; 5 feet 6; 160 pounds; long black overcoat and light hat. He has a heavy face and is smooth shaven. No. 4—23; 5 feet 11 inches; 160 pounds; light compfcxion; wearing gray overcoat and felt hat. bandits drove their car into the building. One of them, carrying the machine gun, commanded Fritts to open the door of the office. When he did not obey promptly, one of the gunmen broke the door glass. Four of the bandits then began working on the safes in the office. While the machine gunner remained in the garage as a lookout. He cornered the bandit car that clocked the main entrance to the garage. Carry Machine Gun The two money sacks, with about the same amount in each, were placed in the car by one bandit, while the others ransacked the office. Shooting open a safe and riddling the strong boxes with shot. It was at this stage of the robbery that Jones entered. The machine gunner swung his weapon and opened fire as the door was opened. Standing twenty-five feet from the cashier's office, M. H. Wills, Negro. 1616 Columbia avenue, sought protection behind a post when the shooting started. “As Jones came in, the man with the machine gun was walking back and forth with his gun trained in the direction of the garage door and the bandit car,” Wills said “He yelled •They’re here’ to the bandits in the office. “One of them yelled back, ‘Don't let them in’.” Patrols and Fires Wills said that after the shooting the machine gunner continued his patrol, firing at the other policemen from each side of the car. When the bandits fled they ran through a side door “yelling like savages,” Paul Farthing, 2326 Kenwood avenue, said. Roy Hodges, 335 Colorado street, a bus driver, was asleep in the drivers’ office when the bandits entered. • “I heard them shoot off the lock of a door,” he said. "One of them came into the room and told me to lie still. He said, ‘We're sticking up this place and we're going to get it. Keep your trap shut.’ ” Negro Calls Police Luther Standard. Negro, 846 Roache street, an employe, made the phone call to police that Sergeant Jones answered. Standard told police that he had not seen the guns when he made his call, and later saw the machine gun. He said he was afraid to return to the phone. John Fox, 1018 Udell street, a car washer, hid in a bus and witnessed the slaying. He supplied police descriptions of four of the killers. The car which the bandits abandoned was loaded with weapons and (Turn to Page Seven)