Indianapolis Times, Volume 44, Number 240, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 February 1933 — Page 1

NEW NOTE ASKS $50,000 RANSOM FOR MILLIONAIRE Kidnapers and Police Wage Battle of Wits as Search for Missing Denver Man Is Intensified; All Clews Tracked Down. By I nited Press DENVER, Feb. 15.—A battle of wits was fought today between police and kidnapers with youthful Charles Boettchei 11, 32-year-old Denver millionaire, as prize at stake.

A police blow was struck with arrest of two reputed gangsters. A kidnapers' move in the cruel contest took the form of anew note to Claude K. Boettcher, father of (he missing man, setting the ransom at $50,000. Young Boettcher has been missing nearly sixty hours since he was kidnaped Sunday night. N. W. (Red> Mitchell, 35, and George Zarlino, 40, asserted alcohol runners for a Denver gang, were arrested early today and held on an open charge for investigation in connection with the kidnaping. Police Chief Albert T. Clark assorted the men were connected with an outside gang, suspected of having staged the kidnaping. Liberty Price $50,000 Detectives continued to deny knowldege of the note received at the home of Claude Boettcher. It was known, however, that the note was received, and that it set the price of young Boettcher's freedom at $50,000. Detectives questioned Mitchell for hours Tuesday night and today. James Quigg Newton, member of the brokerage firm of Boettcher, Newton & James Grant, Boettcher attorney, were summoned to the police station during the questioning. Zarlingo was jailed without questioning. Thousands Join in Hunt Clark revealed a police theory that the groundwork for the abduction of the young millionaire was laid by a Denver gang, but that outsiders were called in for the actual kidnaping. Developments in the mystery included receipt of an extortion note by a second Denver capitalist, Oscar Malo. Contents of the note were a police secret, but they believed it the work of cranks. City firemen and 1,000 members of the American Legion were sworn in an special officers today to conduct a house-to-house canvas of the entire city.

5.000 FARMERS TO MARCH ON STATEHOUSE Group to Moot in Indianapolis, Present Demands to McNutt. Approximately 5,000 Indiana farmers will meet in Indianapolis Thursday to carry demands for immediate property tax relief before Governor Paul V. McNutt and the legislature. Bearing petitions with signatures of about 50,000 farmers containing the demands, the delegates will meet at Tomlinson hall at 2 and later inarch en masse on the statehouse. The organization is demanding imposition by the legislature of sales, income and intangible taxes to lift burden of taxation from real property, Moore said. MOOR GRANTED DEATH STAY UNTIL APRIL 7 Reprieve Is Granted to Permit Filing of Appeal in High Cmnt. p>i Timm special SPRINGFIELD. 111, Feb. 15.—Reprieve until April 7 was granted Hubert C. Moor, Robinson dll.) teacher and former Butler university student, by Governor Horner here Tuesday night. Sentenced to death in the electric chair Feb. 24 for murder of his wife Marjorie, because she left dirty dishes in the sink, Moor asked for the reprieve to permit filing an appeal with the state supreme court. JIM CORBETT SINKING News of F,rnie Schaaf’s Death Kept From Former World's Champ. NEW YORK, Feb. 15.—James J. Corbett, former heavyweight champion, was reported growing gradually weaker today, but still was conscious this morning. His condition was so grave that he was not told of Ernie Schaaf's death. When he asked for morning newspapers, he was told the boy forgot to deliver them.

Get a Thrill Fighters who fight for glory, not cash—and really fightwill battle in the second round of The Times-Bruce Robison post, American Legion. Golden Gloves boxing tournament at Tomlinson hall Thursday night. At least thirty scraps, each scheduled for three rounds, will be presented. Last Thursday there were twenty-four, with seven knockouts and plenty of stirring action. A field of 136 started in the chase for city crowns and a right to carry Indianapolis colors in the Golden Gloves touiVy in Chicago next month. Sixty-seven remain. With the competition getting tougher, there should be some thrillers Thursday night. Turn to Page Nine for details.

The Indianapolis Times Fair tonight and Thursday; lowest temperature tonight about 23; rising temperature Thursday.

VOLUME 44—NUMBER 240

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Upper Left—Claude Boettcher, who controls one of the greatest fortunes in Colorado, is confident his son, Charles Boettcher 11, friend of Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh, will be returned safely by kidnapers. Right—Mrs. Charles Boettcher II has offered to pay the kidnapers of her husband the ransom they demand. Boettcher was abducted when he returned to his home with his wife. She was not harmed. Lower —The palatial home from which Boettcher was kidnaped.

POLICE SNAG IS HIT BY M'NIITT Legislation Is Needed to Remove Force From Mayr’s Control. First snag in the McNutt governmental reorganization was encountered today, when it was found, that, without additional legislation, the state police can not be removed from jurisdiction of Frank Mayr Jr., secretary of state. With Governor Paul V. McNutt out of the city, administration leaders at once set to work to draft a bil to remedy the situation. The Governor’s approval being secured, the measure may be introduced in the senate late today, it was said. In the interim, A1 Feeney took the oath of office as director of the division of public safety in the executive department, and assumed the office vacated by the ousting of Alfred Hogston, state fire marshal. Feeney will have charge of activities of the fire marshal, state police, criminal identification bureau and possibly other duties added from time to time as McNutt’s reorganization plan becomes effective. Those drafting the state police bill encounter the matter of giving the officers full police powers, which constantly has been opposed by organized labor. Until now the state police merely have been deputy secretaries of state, with police power limited to catching offenders using motor vehicles. They were financed from the automobile theft and license transfer funds. ALLOTMENT BILL READY Much-Amended Measure Approved by Agriculture Committee, By l nited Presti WASHINGTON. Feb. 15.—A much-amended domestic allotment bill simplified in its major provisions and restricted to cotton and wheat was approved today by the senate agriculture committee.

Homer Elliott Is Named State Savings Receiver

With instructions to make an in- 1 ventory of remaining assets of the defunct State Savings and Trust Company, Homer Elliott, former district attorney, today was named temporary receiver. Elliott, who has been acting as receiver for Eben H. Wolcott, was named to the post by Circuit Judge Earl R. Cox shortly after Cox received Wolcott’s resignation. As attorney for Wolcott, court records show that Elliott already has beeA paid fees totaling $13,000. similar to the amount paid to Wolcott. Cox said the temporary’ appointment was necessary to fill the gap left by Wolcott’s tendered withdrawal. Formal acceptance of Wolcott's resignation will be withheld until Cox studies the final report of the former receiver. Wolcott said his resignation is "not due to any differences w’ith the court.” “I am resigning.” he declared, “so that Cox may have a free hand in administering the trust.” Final report of the receivership will be filed immediately, Wolcott said.

WIFE AND FATHER SPUR HUNT FOR ABDUCTED DENVER MAN

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JAPAN MOVES TO QUITLEAGUE Representative Ordered to Leave Geneva Late This Month. Bp United Pimx TOKIO, Feb. 15.—Foreign Minister Uchida today telegraphed Yosuke Matsuoka, Japanese representative at the League of Nations, instructions to depart from Geneva about Feb. 23 on his return to Tokio. Matsuoka’s departure from Geneva will signify Japan’s first step toward withdrawal from the league. It was understood Matsuoka and members of his delegation will return to Japan by way of the United States. It was understood at Geneva that Matsuoka was anxious to explain Japan's case to Americans, including President-Elect Franklin D. Roosevelt. Face Island Dispute (CovmTaht. 1933. bv United Press) GENEVA, Feb. 15.—J apan’s threatened withdrawal from the League of Nations may involve the United States and other powers in a serious dispute with Japan over possession of the 1,600 islands in the Pacific which form a “bridge” of 2.500 miles east and west between Japan and the United States. The islands, formerly German, are held by Japan under mandate from the League of Nations, acting as custodian for the victorious powers in the World war. Nobody in Geneva believes Japan would relinquish the islands when she quits the league, although she would have no legal right to retain them. The islands are too valuable for strategic reasons. They control American communications in the far east. The United States never has recognized the league mandate as giving the islands to Japan, and theoretically still claims a share. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 19 10 a. m 24 7a. m 19 li a . m 28 Ba. m 19 12 (noon).. 28 9a. m 21 lp. m 30

Testimony by Wolcott at recent hearings before Cox indicated the bank’s 8,000 depositors can expect little or no dividends. Wolcott's last partial report, filed Jan. 31. shows the institution had only $3,282 cash on hand Jan. 27. It lists receipts totaling $1,347 and disbursements of $7,296 by the receiver for the period, Oct. 31, 1932, to Jan. 27, 1933. “Please accept my resignation as receiver of the State Savings and Trust Company of the State Property Company and the New Haven Realty Company, effective at your honor's pleasure,” Wolcott's notice to Cox read. Request for grand jury action against State Savings and Trust dTAcials recently was made by Paul Rhoadarmer, attorney, who represented Arthur Lynn and Charles Hasse in a successful circuit court suit for recovery of S6OO from the collapsed institution. Cox is studying information already bared in the investigation of three defunct banks under circuit court jurisdiction. Other hearings will be held in a few days.

INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1933

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Mother Beaten by Bandits, Two Shot Down by Youth One Alleged Robber Slain, Another Suffering Throat Wound as Boy, 19, Defends Woman. By United Press PEORIA, 111., Feb. 15. Nineteen-year-old Stephen Marsh came to the rescue of his mother Tuesday night and shot down two bandits who had beaten Mrs. Marsh.

One of the alleged bandits, [ “Heavy” Adams of Detroit, was I killed and Lloyd Cox, 27, of Decatur, 111., his companion, was j wounded. Hearing the cries of his 54-year-old mother, Stephen rushed to her defense with a butcher knife. The bandits took one lock at the enraged youth, and fled to their automobile without obtaining loot. Close on their heels came Stephen, j armed now with a pistol he had I snatched from a bureau drawer as ! he raced through the house. As the robbers entered their car,! Stephen opened fire and Smythe crumpled and died with three bullets in his body. Cox, suffering a bullet wound in his throat, escaped temporarily, walking to Bartonville, a Peoria, suburb. There he was captured when he entered a restaurant to call a taxi -ab. He was taken to a hospital. Cox, unable to talk because of the throat w T ound, answered police questions by writing notes. Mrs. Marsh recently had collected $1,500 on an insurance policy following the death of her husband, and police believed the plan Tuesday night was to kidnap Stephen and hold him for ransom.

15-DAY EXTENSION GIVENON UCENSES Deadline to Be March 1, Is McNutt Announcement. Hoosier motorists today were granted another fifteen days to purchase automobile license plates. Governor Paul V. McNutt, rather than Secretary of State Frank Mayr Jr., announced that the deadline will be March 1, following a conference wtih James Carpenter, chief of the license bureau. Under the law the date for plate purchase is set at Jan. 1, with possibility of a one month extension. But the period has been extended doubly due to the depression. EX-GOVERNOR ‘BROKE’ Former Michigan Chief Wires His Secretary for SlO ‘Help.’ By United Prefit LANSING, Mich., Feb. 15—Former Governor Wilbur M. Brucker telegraphed to his former secretary', Don B. Smith, today as follows: “Send me $lO at once to Detroit. I’ve only got $1.50 and I can’t cash a check." The former Governor’s home is in Detroit.

Rug Sold 12 Other Calls RUG—9xl2. brown velvet; A-l condition: $5. HU-4773. The above ail was placed in The Times Want Ad columns by Mrs. F. M. Fawkner. 5142 College . avenue, on Monday. Before dark thr.t same evening the rug had been sold for spot cash. After the rug was sold, more ' than twelve other people railed and wished to purchase it. The cost to sell the ruy was only 27e for the one-day ad. Three cents a word is the price of a Household Goods for Sale ad in The Times. To Place your ad, call Ri. 5551, or you can Bring lour ad to Tiroes Want Ad Headquarters, 214 W. Maryland St.

QUIZ INSULL JR. IN STOCKPROBE Senators Seek to Learn If Public Officials Were on ‘Favored’ List. By I ailed Prefix WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.—The senate stock market investigating committee today leached into the muddled affairs of the collapsed Insull utilities empire to determine if “any persons in public office” received Insull’s securities from Samuel Insull Sr. at bargain prices. Ferdinand Pecora, committee counsel, handed Samuel Insull Jr. a list of persons who shared in a block of 250.000 shares of common stock of Insull Utilities Investments, Inc., which was parceled out at sl2 a share. “Do you know of any persons in the list being persons in public office at the time of distribution?” Pecora asked. “I don’t know them all personally,” the chunky 32-year-old witness replied, scrutinizing the list. Insull told the committee he was not sure that the stock was sold below current quoted values because it may have been distributed before the shares were listed on the Chicago Exchange. Owen D. Young, one of the persons on the list presented by Pecora, was in the committee room. He told questioners he had come to Washington in answer to a subpena. The list had a notation of $4,000 after Young's name. The stock sold for S3O on the first day it was quoted on the Chicago stock exchange, Pecora said, and went to S4O the next day. The stock eventually went to $149 a share, showing a profit of $137 for the favored buyers. FIRE DAMAGE IS $3,500 Valuable Papers, Relics Destroyedin North Side Blaze. Valuable papers and relics estimated to be worth more than $2,000 were destroyed by fire which today caused damage of .$3,000 to the home of Ferdinand J. attorney, 3237 Washington boulevard. A roof fire, originating from sparks, spread into an attic storeroom where the papers and family relics were kept. Damage was confined to the upper section of the house. The blaze communicated to the home of Foster H. Clippinger, 3231 Washington boulevard, causing damage of SSO. firemen said.

Pari-Mutuel Bill Favorably Reported; Provision Puts Damper on Dog Races

Slapping at dog racing, and designed to bring approximately a million dollars annually in revenue into the state's coffers, a revamped pari-mutuel betting bill was given favorable consideration today in the house of representatives. It was handed in with a recommendation for uassage by the public morals committee. In the revised measure, the state is divofeed from partnership in gambling and receives its revenue from the SI,OOO a day license fee to be paid by the racetrack operators and 20 cents on each paid admission. Among amendments incorporated in the bill by the public morals committee is one reducing the annual racing meets from seventy-two to fifty days, which could be divided as desired. All tracks must be at least a mile in length, with county fair association tracks exempt. County fair tracks would pay only a $25 a day license fee. The slap at dog racing is taken through a provision limiting the daily racing time from noon to 7

WAY PAVED FOR MOST OANKS IN MICHIGAN TO REOPEN DOORS AT ONCE

AMAZON WAR LOOMS; RIVAL FORCES CLASH Colombia Breaks Diplomatic Relations With Peru After Battle. By United Press BOGOTA, Colombia, Feb. 15. Colombia broke off diplomatic relations with Peru today after Peruvian planes attempted to bomb a Colombian flotilla near the disputed port of Leticia. Colombian planes repelled the attack in an aerial encounter above the jungles. Colombian forces at 9 a. m. today occupied the town of Tarapaca, on the Putumayo river, 100 miles north of the disputed Amazon river port of Leticia, it was announced officially. Capture of the town, northern outpost of the Peruvian troops in the undeclared warfare between the two countries, was preceded by a bombardment from Colombian gunboats on the river.

Aimed at Transports Official sources here said the Peruvian air bombs were aimed at transports carrying soldiers en route to Tarapaca, 100 miles north of Leticia, but the bombs fell in the Putumayo river and did no damage. It was stated officially that the attack occurred in neutral Brazilian waters before the flotilla reached | Colombian territory. I Colombian airplanes commanded !by Major Boy, a German flier, j drove off the Peruvians, an official | announcement said. Aggression Is Charged Colombia charged Peru with aggression in attacking the transports. A communique issued soon after midnight by the chancellery said: “In view of the attack by Peruvian forces on a Colombian flotilla navigating in neutral waters completing its mission of policing Colombian | territory, the government has 1 ordered the Colombian minister at Lima, Peru, to make formal protest ! to the Peruvian government against aggression and to ask for his passports immediately.” During the day, passports will be given the personnel of the Peruvian legation at Bogota. Hostilities between Colombia and Peru have threatened since last September, when Peruvians occupied the port of Leticia, ceded by treaty to Colombia. The port is 1.200 miles up the Amazon from the Atlantic, and was of considerable commercial importance during the rubber boom.

MUSSOLINI DENIES GERMAN ALLIANCE Secret Pact Report Refuted by Italy’s Premier. By United rrexx ROME, Feb. 15.—Premier Benito Mussolini flatly denied reports of a secret alliance between Italy, Germany and Hungary today. The premier said it would not be worthwhile denying the reports if they had not been brought up before the foreign affairs committee of the French chamber of deputies. COSSACKS FACING EXILE TO SIBERIA Boycotted for Failure in Russian Program. By United Prefit MOSCOW, Feb. 15.—The entire population of ten Cossack settlements in the North Caucasus was w?*.~ied today that the government was considering their wholesale exile into Siberia. The communities have been officially blacklisted for failure to deliver seeds for the spring sowing. Blacklisting amounts to a virtual economic boycott.

p. m. Practically all dog tracks are conducted at night, when the greyhounds chase the electrically lighted papier mache rabbits about the oval. Administration of the act would be under the state agricultural board, limiting the state expense by abolishing the racing commission formerly proposed. Revenue derived would be apportioned 25 per cent to the state fair board, 25 per cent to the county fairs, and the remaining 50 per cent to the state general fund. Only new state job created would be that of an auditor for each track, and this official would be paid $25 a dav by the licensee. Representative Charles J. Allardt (Dem„ South Bend; is author of the bill, and is joined by several representatives from larger cities of the state. Allardt pointed out that the racing revenue last year in Florida was $773,000, and approximately $1,000,000 in Maryland. He expects the Indiana revenue to be approximately the latter amount.

Entered * Second -Clasp Matter at I’ostoffiee. Indianapolis

Governor to Permit Institutions to Resume Their Business in Communities Where Sentiment Sufficiently Is Quiet. GLOOM ROUTED; CHEERY IN CRISIS $40,000,000 Aid Ready in Detroit; Comstock Backs Up on Charge That Ford Is to Blame for Troubles. BY RAY BLACK United Press Staff Correspondent DETROIT, Feb. 15.—Governor William A. Comstock paved the way for most of Michigan’s banks to reopen immediately, despite his eight-day moratorium. While he refused to authorize end of the bank holiday, which he had ordered Tuesday ‘o preserve the financial stability of the state, the Governor issued the following statement at Lansing: “The state will not interfere if banks, which open despite my proclamation, do not prefer one creditor against another ” Governor Comstock gave assurance that the state would not take action against banks “which feel that sentiment in their communities sufficiently is quiet to permit them to open 1 their doors.”

BLAMES BRITAIN FOR LOW PRICES Ruthless Policy to Force * War Debts Adjustment Is Charged. By United Press WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.—Charges that Great Britain is attempting to "keep world prices down so as to reduce debtors' capacity to pay” were made before the senate pros-perity-seeking committee today by Rene Leon of New York, money expert. Leon charged that Britain is using such a “ruthless policy” in order to obtain readjustment of her war debts on a reduced basis. Leon, a retired financier, and recently technical advisor to the house coinage committee, asserted Britain is carrying out such operations through a 150,000,000 pounds "secret exchange equalization fund,” purchasing gold currencies in the exchange market, and thus obtaining "control of the dollar exchange, and, consequently, the control of American prices.” Leon was the first witness at the senate finance committee's “best minds” clinic today at which opinions of Wall Street figures and steel industrialists on how to end the depression were sought. “Self-defense” measures, he said, would include a gold embargo which would make impossible the further purchase of dollars by the British “for control of American currency.” Asserting that if the barter system spreads in this country “government as we conceive it can no longer function,” he said he favored remonetization of silver, with congress authorizing the purchase of $200,000,000 worth of the metal at not more than 50 cents an ounce.

Legislature Today

SENATE Five-minute speaking rule invoked to speed action. Hearing on beer bill by public policy committee at 7:30 tonight. Administration claims to economy for session attacked by Republicans. HOUSE Pari-mutuel bill recommended for passage. Split session of legislature is sought. State blind aid fund measure advances to second reading. Bill passed to reimburse state treasury for funds lost in collapsed state banks. Conditional sales contract bill saved from death. Integrated bar bill killed. Biennial appropriation bill considered by house as committee of the whole.

HOME EDITION PRICE TWO CENTS Outside Marion County, 3 Cents

Immediate reopening of many of the 420 state and 120 national banks closed by the executive decree was expected, since the financial predicament responsible for the moratorium was local to Detroit. Less than thirty-six hours after Governor William A. Comstock acceded to bankers’ pleas and decreed an eight-day bank holiday. $40,000,000 aid was ready in Detroit, and relief measures were taking form all over this peninsular state of 5.000.000 peopleTuesday, when all the state’s banks were ordered closed under an emergency decree “for the preservation of peace, health and safety,” gloom settled over Michigan. It lifted today before the spirited gust of aroused industrialists, civic leaders and citizenry. Denies Ford Is to Blame The name of Henry Ford, through his Ford automobile company, flickered strangely through the maze of events. Governor Comstock accused the Ford Motor Company of failing to co-operate with the General Motors Corporation and the’Chrysler Corporation in sustaining the Union Guardian Trust Company of Detroit. It was imminent collapse of the Guardian Trust that prompted the bank moratorium. Later the Governor issued a contradictory statement in which he said that he had “misunderstood the facts,” and that neither the Chrysler corporation nor General Motors was a depositor in the Guardian Trust, and that his interpretation of the cause of the moratorium was ill-founded. Cite Causes for Optimism Cause for optimism was seen by Michigan folk today in these ds> velopments: Detroit banks arranged to release $25,000,000 today to faciliate business. From New York and Chicago came $15,000,000 more cash. The “big three” of the automobile manufacturing industry—General Motors. Chrysler and Ford—announced they w’ould meet pay rolls in cash or would see that employes got their checks cashed. Milk and coal dealers promised that children would have milk and that no family would go cold for lack of fuel in Detroit. There was no sign of unrest over the snow-clad rolling hills of southern Michigan. No riots had broken out in Detroit, automobile capital of the world. People stood staunch against panic. Various ways were devised, with the characteristic Yankee ingenuity that gave Detroit its mushroom growth, to thwart the menace. Some Smiles In Situation The Continental Motors Corporation allowed employes to charge food and gasoline. Grand Rapids business men organized a “change bureau.” Metal money was planned by the Dow Metal Company at Midland. Some notes of lighter and some of graver tone were struck. Judge Theodore J. Richter suspended all alimony payments during the moratorium. Circuit Judge Harry Dingeman suspended all fines in his division of criminal court. The state insurance commissioner ! urged all insurance companies in the state to acept checks as payments on insurance policies. Assurance that more than $40,000.000 would be available for Detroit today came after action Tuesday night of the Detroit Clearing House Association, which voted to allow depositors to withdraw up to j 5 per cent of deposits. That action was expected to free $25,000,000 for j immediate use. Millions of dollars in cash was be- ; ing rushed from federal reserve banks in Chicago and New York.