Indianapolis Times, Volume 45, Number 1, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 May 1933 — Page 1

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TWO WOMEN SHOT IN BANK BANDITS’ MACHINE GUN FIRE

Felled by Bullets as Gang Blazes Away Wildly at Crowd. FLEE WITHOUT LOOT Two of Lucerne Holdup Band Are Dressed in Girls' Clothes. /<// I "Itrri /'rr LUCERNE, Ind., May 12. Four bandits, two of them dressed as women, fired wildly into a crowd of pedestrians here today after failing' to hold up the Lucerne State bank. Two women were wounded. One of the bullets struck Miss Ethel Witters, 20, a pedestrian, in the left arm. One of the several shots which went through the home of Court Minor struck his wife, Dora, 24, in the left arm. It first was believed that two of the bandits were women, but one of them was driving the car and the other was operating the machine gun from the rear seat. Local and state police asserted that it was improbable that women would be assigned to such important jobs. They believe women's clothing was used as a disguise and to avert suspicion. Rankers Return Shots Before firing into the crowd, two of the bandits had exchanged shots with Everett Gregg, cashier, and Lawson Zeller, bookkeeper, inside the bank. Before the bank opened, the two bandits secreted themselves in an alcove above the vault. Gregg enter- and the vault after some money and Zeller started to follow when the robbers poked guns out of their hiding place and commanded, ' Hands up.” Zeller dashpd into the vault as the bandits opened fire. He and Gregg obtained guns and returned the shots. Citizens Scatter in Panic The bandits fled out a rear door without any loot. They jumped into a waiting automobile. One of the accomplices dressed like a woman was at the wheel. The other was in the rear seat with a machine gun. The bandit ear drove north, then west, and circled back through the Main street. An excited crowd had gathered in front of the bank. The bandits drove straight toward the crowd, and the machine gunner started firing from almost a block away. The pedestrians scattered in panic, and the car sped out of town on highway 16. Sheriff Homer Stanebraker traced the bandits for three miles west of Lucerne, but lost their trail. The bandit car was equipped with Indiana license 625-097, reported stolen Thursday from Paul McCormick, Russellville.

HARD LIFE BETWEEN GOLFERS AND PETTERS Park Patrolman Will Have a Busy; Year, It Seems. James Cunningham, park patrolman, was instructed today by the park board to keep one eye open for petting parties in city recrecation centers and use the other eye on small boys who help balls get lost at the Coffin golf course. The petting party order was in general terms, but Cunningham was j given details about the golf ball case. Players complain that boys cruise the river in a boat and pick up balls at every opportunity. Another group of boys are given the balls and try- j ing to sell them to players, in some ! instances to those who lost them. FAIL TO HALT WORK State Mine Pirkets Balked; Disperse at Somerville. fit,' I nitfri /’, PRINCETON. Ind.. May 12.—Pick- i ets at the Somerville coal mine No. 2 today failed to deter fifty-five men from working in the diggings. The pickets dispersed after all the employes had entered the shaft. Women scheduled to join the picket lines today failed to appear, it was reported. The mine is operated on a nonunion co-operative basis, j WIDOW LEFT $50,000 Will of Fdward A. Ramsay Is Filed in Probate Court. Will of Edward A. Ramsay, former city clerk, county treasurer and recorder, who died April 28. filed today in probate court leaves his entire estate valued at approximately $50,000 to the widow. Mrs. May Ramsay, 814 North New | Jersey street. Times Index Page Block Section 31-46 Book Nooks 17 Bridge 23 Classified 27-28 Comics < 29 ! Crossword Puzzle 27 j Curious World 26 Dietz on Science , 21 Editorial 18 Financial 26 Hey wood Broun 18 Hickman Theater Reviews 13 Money—History in Pictures 17 Obituaries 27 Radio 14 Serial Story 29 Sports 24-25 i Tnlburt Cartoon 18 Vital Statistics 27 Woman’s Paces 10-11 World Fair Marvels 17 ‘

, \ The Indianapolis Times

VOLUME 45—NUMBER 1

FALL KILLED LINDY’S BABY, MEANS SAYS Accidental Dropping of Child Caused Death, He Testifies. By I nilnl Prmf WASHINGTON. May 12.—Gaston B. Means testified today that during his connection with the Lindbergh kidnaping case he was informed that the child was killed when it was dropped accidentally by kidnapers moving it from its original place of concealment. Means said that he confronted one of the men whom he has named as having been involved in the kidnaping with this information and was told, "there’s not a damned word of truth in it.” Means, a witness in his own defense. said he was told by two whiskey runners, "Max Ha'sell" and "Max Greenburg” stole the baby on March 1. and dropped it accidentally March 7 when moving it from the dugout v here they concealed their liquor stores. Continued Rescue Efforts The information was brought to Means, he said, by, Ed Aubinger, j whom he had retained to investigate reports that the baby was dead. Aubinger made the report on March 26, and Means confronted Irving Fenton,” whom he has named as being involved in the kid- | raping, with the information on March 27. Means and Norman T. Whitaker | are on trial on charges of extorting | $35,000 from Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean on their claims fifirst they j could bring about the safe return of the kidnaped Lindbergh baby. Means, px-convict and former | justice department investigator, said | Fenton's denial that the baby was ! dead caused him to continue with ! his efforts to have the child re- : turned. U. S. Agents Doubt Story ! Continuing his amazing recital : wherp he left off Thursday, Means j plunged into the second phase of his I "inside story” on the Lindbergh | case. | Government investigators are skeptcal of the narrative and say ! frankly the ybelieve most of it had its inception in Means’ imabination. Aubinger, according to Means, (Turn to Page Twelve)

Production, Price Control Plan to Roosevelt Today

BY RUTH FINNEY Time* Special Writer WASHINGTON. May 12.—A completed plan for eliminating unfair competition in industry through production and price control, wage and working hour agreements will be laid 'before President Roosevelt today. The President may make the bill public today. In general the measure follows these lines: Trade associations will be invited to make agreements covering their industries as to production and prices, minimum wages and working hours, regardless of inhibitions of the anti-trust law's. These agreements will be submitted to a government agency, probably a board composed of three or four cabinet members and civilian appointees selected from employers and employes.

This Man McNutt! Read His Life Story in The Times

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CONVICTED OF MURDER

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Harry Murch Convicted by a New York jury for the knife murder of William Bender, 12-year-old alleged “tattletale,” Harry Murch, 16, faces a 20-year-to-life sentence for the crime. Harry received the verdict without emotion Thursday night, despite the fact his mother had collapsed and a juror entered the courtroom in tears. He will be sentenced May 19. Story on page 23.

POWERS ADOPT TARIFF TRUCE World Economic Conference Organizing Committee Accepts Plan. Ily I nilril Prr*x LONDON, May 12.—A tariff truce was adopted unanimously today by the organizing committee for the world economic conference. The truce will remain in effect until the w'orld economic conference is completed. The agreement was reached at a special session of the committee at w’hich Great Britain, -the United States, France, Italy. Germany, Belgium, Norway and Japan were represented, Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m 63 10 a. m 70 7 a. m 64 11 a. m 73 Ba. m..., 67 12 moon)., 73 9 a. m..... 69 1 p. m...... 73

The board would approve them if it found that w'age and working hour agreements had been negotiated with organized labor and were satisfactory to labor, if it found the prices fixed fair to the consuming public, and if the arrangement was satisfactory in other respects. The goevrnment board would have pow'er to enforce the agreement, once approved, on all members of Industry whether or not they had been parties to the agreement. It w'ould have pow'er also to fix and enforce conditions upon an industry that failed to make agreements of its ow r n. The bill will carry $3,300,000,000 for public works, and provide some sort of new tax sufficient to raise approximately $220,000,000 annual carrying charges for bonds to produce this money will be included.

THIS man McNutt! From the mud-puddle of a schoolyard to the maelstrom of politics; from the orle of "King of France" in a college play to the so-called Mussolini of Indiana to his political enemies; from a gawky, lanky boy to the title of the nation’s best-dressed and most "handsome" governor: from the obscurity of a lawyer’s son to a man of power. From a stile that wends its uneven way to the Bucktown school in Martinsville to the Governor's office in Indiana's Statehouse you'll be taken, beginning Monday, when The Indianapolis Times starts a series of six stories on the life, romance, honors and heartbreaks of Govedrnor Paul V. McNutt. Ycu'll see the McNutt of the days of his parental leadinvgstrings and in the days when war paraded past homes and servicestars. It'll be a jaunt from crib to Democratic cabals, babyhood to beer battles. nan THE series will be printed daily in The Times from Monday through Saturday. But let's skim some of Monday’s installment on his early life. Death hovering at his birth... the high school prank that nearly turned a building into havoc... "stuffing his will down the school trustees.. .the Martinsville druggist with whom he traded black eyes...how he became a Thespian. Then on Tuesday you'll read of his collasa. days, when wingcollars werftrtn flower.

Showers tonight or Saturday; little change in temperature.

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1933

CITIZENS RUSH TO BUY STOCK IN NEW BANK Pledges Are Signed by Many: $1,800,000 Must be Subscribed. SPEED REORGANIZATION American National Officials Await Full Details From Capital. Success of the new American National bank, to be formed to assume' assets of the Fletcher American National bank, today appeared assured with scores of persons indicating intention of subscribing 'for stock. While actual stock subscription blanks have not yet been received, a number’ of persons who Thursday telephoned the bank for information, today visited the bank and signed pledges for stock, the .first before the bank doors opened at 9. Bank officials, while explaining they could not divulge names of persons signing stock pledges, announced that one subscription called for the sum of SIOO,OOO, and that an eastern insurance company is pledged to take a large block of shares. Under the financial plan approved by the government, the bank must sell $1,800,000 in common stock to match a similar amount being put up by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. . New Balances Available Upon consummation of the government's requirements, the new bank lyill be opened and 50 per cent of the impounded deposits of the Fletcher American bank will be freed and assumed by the new' bank. Also it will take over the unrestricted balances deposited since Feb. 25, which, until the new bank is opened, will continue to be available at the Fletcher American bank. The remaining 50 per cent will be paid upon liquidation of non-liquid assets amounting to $10,670,000. Stockholders of the old bank will pledge their stock equity until all depositors have been paid in full with 3 per cent interest and the government has been repaid its loan of $1,200,000, which is in addition to the R. F, C. stock subscription of $1,800,000. While awaiting full instructions from Washington as to procedure in carrying out the requirements, members of the organization committee, of which J. H. Trimble is chairman, today prepared to facilitate printing of subscription blanks and a stockholders’ and depositors' agreements to the plan. In Mails by Monday Tt -was believed these would be in the mails by Monday morning unless delay is encountered in Washington. Members of the organization committee reiterated today that the opening of the new- bank may take several weeks, and that no restricted deposits can be released until the plan has succeeded, or failed, a long liquidation being faced in- the latter event. Desks have been placed in th lobby of the Fletcher American bank building, whicn wall be occupied by the new bank, to facilitate signing of stock pledges. LECTURER BOOKED HERE Rosicrucian Editor Will Give Three Addresses in Lincoln Hotel. Joseph Darrow, editor and national field lecturer of the Rosicrucian fellowship, Oceanside, Cal., will give a series of three free illustrated lectures at the Lincoln, starting Sunday. Lectures also will be given Monday and Tuesday nights. The Rosicrucian Felow-ship is an international organization of Christian mystics. Classes are held at 319 North Pennsylvania street twice weekly.

How the co-eds of balloon-dress era wrote sonnets to his jet-black hair...the royal welcome and surcease from paddlings at the hands of fraternity brothers... the mixing in I. U. politics.. .and how they called him a "grind .his baseball days. nun *s ON Wednesday you'll jump with McNutt from assistant law professor at Indiana to an army captain. You'll read of a Christmas nighs in 1917 when ’ he danced with a girl and love played its

‘ Goofy'From Marathon Dance; Robber Is Paroled

Because the judge who sentenced him ‘thinks he was “goofy” from doing a marathon dance, George Swif, Cumberland bank robber, was paroled today by the state clemency board. Swith was sentenced to ten years in the Indiana state prison March 15. 1930. by former Judge James A. Collins. He and two companions had robbed the Cumberland bank getting $235 each. They were captured and the money returned the same day, Cojilns made the following recommendation to the board: "The prisoner was a marathon dancer, and I am of rthe opinion that he was so dope that he became irrespon * ,le.”

FORECLOSURE HOLIDAY URGED RY PRESIDENT; SIGNS FARM AID RILL

Scores Are Homeless in State Floods Toll of Two Deaths Taken: Travel Is Interrupted; Damage Heavy. Two deaths, more than 400 per- | sons homeless and thousands of dollars in damage were included in the flood toll in Indiana today. Steam railroad and interurban service has been hampered. High water has stopped traffic on several highw’ays in the state. General outlook today is for a recession of the flood during the w'eek-end. Alfred Matson. 5. was drowned in Ia creek at Fairmount. He fell into the stream while at play. William H. Rhodes, 21, Ft. Wayne Negro. was drowned at Muncie when : a boat capsized in White river. Most of the homeless are at Kokomo, having left houses wiien WildI cat creek left its banks. It is estiJ mated 150 families, composed of more than 400 persons, w r ere forced to move. The waters were receding today. The Kokomo city w'ater w r orks is ; isolated by the flood, but officials (Turn to Page Tiventy-three)

FARM STRIKERS FINISH PLANS 900.000 to Join Revolt’ Saturday, Says Head of Holiday Group. BY HARTZELL SPENCE Fnited Press Staff Correspondent DES MOINES. la., May 12.—The focal point of the national farm strike, scheduled to begin Saturday, shifted today to St. Paul, where leaders assembled to hold a council of war, and to await from President Roosevelt a telegram on which may depend the outcome of the farm revolt threat. Milo Reno, head of the National Farmers Holiday Association, hurried to St. Paul to meet men in command of strike units in three other states. Reno Thursday night sent to President Roosevelt, the following telegram: “According to press reports you are willing to do all in your power to avert the farmers’ strike and its resultant confusion. Will you declare a moratorium on farm foreclosures and executions until farm production costs are conceded to the farmer? Answer. Important.’’ As he prepared to board a train for the north, Reno said: "If President Roosevelt answers In the affirmative, we have won our battle.” The men who were to meet with Reno in St. Paul were Walter Singler, Milwaukee, head of the Wisconsin Milk Pool; Arnold Gilberts. President of the Wisconsin Holiday Association: Usher ,L. Burdick, North Dakota president; John Bosch, Minnesota president, and a representative from South Dakota. Despite booming grain markets and rapidly spreading optimism, more than 900,000 farmers, according to Reno’s estimate, prepared to start Saturday on a "buy nothing, sell nothing, do nothing,” campaign. G. O. P. Club to Meet Business meeting of the Tenth Ward Republican Club, to be followed by a card party, will be held at 8 Saturday night at Woodmen hall, 1025 Prospect street.

chords ... of his wife and her cowgirl dress and how she could knock tomato cans to bits with a revolver . . . the part the Mexican revolution played ... of war bride and war cantonments . . march of booted n\en . . . glint of bayonets. Thursday will take you back home to "Indiany,” the law professorship, the near-tragedy that came to his family. You’ll see Louise, his daughter .*. che rapid rise in the American Legion . . . the legion commandership . . . the cry of his enemies

Cumberland bank directors also recommended clemency. His partners previous have been paroled.

46 Pages The Times today presents to its readeis the second largest issue published in recent years —46 pages of news and advertising. Every line of business is represented in the display and classified advertising columns of this edition. Featuring the display advertising in this issue is the six-teen-page section of the William H. Block Company.

FLAMES KILL i MOTHER AND 3 DAUGHTERS Perish Without Chance for Rescue After Blaze Is Discovered. Bu I'nited Prrss EL WOOD. Ind., May 12.—A mother and her three daughters, | trapped on the second floor, perished | today in a fire w'hich destroyed their ; home. Three other memoers of the fam- | ily escaped. The dead are: Mrs. Iva Sosbe. 42, and her daughters, Marjorie, 8, Beulah, 19, and i Mamie, 17. Two sons, Richard, 14. and Kenneth, 21, and the latter’s wife, sleeping on the first floor, were aw'akened in time to escape. No Chance for Rescue Cleveland Sosbe. the father, was working in a glass factory at the I time, having gone to work at midnight. The fire was discovered about 3 a. m. by an unidentified person who phoned in the alarm. When firemen arrived the house was in flames, and there w'as no chance to rescue the mother and girls. Mrs. Sosbe and Marjorie, although II hey slept in another room, w'ere found in the bedroom occupied by Beulah and Marjorie. Moved Into House Thursday Firemen said the mother probably had been aw'akened by the smoke, and had attempted to sound the alarm. Marjorie and Beulah were still in bed, indicating they had been suffocated in their sleep. The mother and youngest daughter were on the ! floor near the bed. The family moved into the house from another part of tow'n only Thursday. It is believed the fire started frem Ia chicken incubator in the rear of . the house.

LIVESTOCK MARKET SOARS TO NEW HIGH Hog Prices Up 25 Cents Over Thursday Prices. By United Pre ss CHICAGO. May 12.—The livestock market soared to new high price levels for the year at the Ghicago Union stockyards today, with hogs touching $4.80 a hundredweight and lambs an $8 peak. Hog prices were 25 cents above Thursday's peak and lambs were $1 higher. QUARANTINE ORDERED _AGAINST ‘CORN BORER’ Governor Takes Action on Urging of State Entomologist. Quarantine against "two generation corn-borer” was ordered into effect in Indiana today by Governor Paul V. McNutt upon recommendation of Frank N. Wallace, state entomooogist. Under the quarantine, all corn shipments, cut flowers and certain gevetables are barred from shipment into the state from the cornborer area. This includes all the New England states, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

when he was made dean of the law school . . . and read the greatest thrill Mrs. McNutt got from the Governor's successes. nan FRIDAY you’ll be taken on a globe-trotting expedition with McNutt. You'll see him meet the man he's likened to. Mussolini, and hear what he says about the comparison .. . he’ll dedicate buildings for you...form legion juntos... lobby for veterans' legislation... the year of his commandership of the legion will flow by...his start in Hoosier politics.. .the enemies he made... the mud that was thrown at him... With Saturday, the last installment, you'll meet McNutt—the Governor and husband. You’ll hear a wife coolly appraise her husband, who dictates state laws, jobs and turns men cut of office because of failure of a promise given to him. nan YOU'LL see him at work, closeup. making friends and enemies. and just as a surprise, he's going to tell you something that you’ve been discussing about him for months. With all the installments, pictures of the Governor will aid in depicting the history of the man's strength and facilities. Get your copy of The Times Monday. Start with the first installment. Republican or Democrat, whether you agree with his beer administration, like his other acts or not. you'll find him on the stage, in the spotlight, to be looked at as he realljwds—as Governor Paul V. McNutt, t

Entered a? Second-Class Matter at PostofTioe. Indianapolis

EX-BANK CHIEF TRIED

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Charles E. Mitchell

A federal court jury today is hearing charges of evasion of huge income taxes by Charles E. Mitchell, former head of the National City bank in New York. Story on Page One. Section Two.

M'NUTT FIGHTS EXTRA SESSION Governor Relies on Court Suit to Stave Off Call; Revoit Rising. BY DANIEL M. KIDNEY Times Staff Writer Governor Paul V. McNutt is counting on the supreme court to save him from calling a special session of the legislature. This became apparent today when the Governor explained that the state administration is backing a Richmond bond suit, which he expects to be rushed to final appeal in the supreme court within the next thirty days. Favorable ruling from the high court in the case would eliminate the difficulty over poor relief bonds, been mentioned as one of the reasons why a special session may be inevitable. The other difficulty is the beer control law, which has brought more cirtics to the McNutt administration than everything else combined. Asked if a special session would be necessary to correct its defects, or whether the supreme court would be relied upon, the Governor said“lt will not be done by a special session.” That a special session would prove disastrous to McNutt is indicated by (Turn to Page Seven) GANDHI MAY GIVE UPHISLONG FAST Doctor Has Hope to End Hunger Strike. By United Prefix POONA, India. May 12.—Dr. Ansari, Mahatma M. K. Gandhi’s physician, said today that he had high hopes of persuading his patient to abandon his twenty-one days fast of "purification.” Dr. Ansari believed his pleadings would be effective once there was unanimity of medical opinion that Gandhi's life is in danger. Gandhi is ill of jaundice and nausea.

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McNutt Today

HOME EDITION PRICE TWO CENTS Outside Marion County, 3 Cent*

New Agriculture Relief and Currency Measure Now Is Law. BOON FOR SOIL TILLER Mortgage Holder Counseled to Have Patience With His Debtor. By I nited Prrdi WASHINGTON. May 12. A plea that all persons having: I financial claims upon farmers j refrain from foreclosure proceedings until the new farm relief act can become effective was made today by President Roosevelt, as he signed the unprecedented currency and agricultural aid measure. The President appealed for patience on the part of all mortgage creditors. His statement, issued as he signed the momentous document which combines currency inflation authorization with a revolutionary program for farm aid was considered a direct answer to those who have appealed for a farm mortgage moratorium during the present farm crisis. The bill becomes effective immediately. Clemency Is Urged Mr. Roosevelt said that the mortgage refinancing section of the act could not become effective instantly, however, since it needed considerable book work. "I urge upon mortgage creditors, therefore.” he said, "until further opportunity has been given make effective provisions of the mortgage refinancing section of the farm relief act. that they abstain from bringing foreclosure proceedings and making any effort to dispossess farmer debtors.” The President's signature to the bill brought to enactment a measure which was one of the key parts of the administration’s emergency program.

Ends Long Battle It ended a stormy and lengthy congressional battle for enactment j m which the administration tri- ! umphed in a long series of opposition attempts to revise the infla-tion-farm aid program. The giant farm relief and infla- ! tion measure is three bills in one, It gives Mr. Roosevelt permission i —but does not compel him—to ex- ; pand credit by $3,000,000 through I federal reserve operations; to issue |an equal amount of new currency; to change the gold content of the ;dollar by 50 per cent; to order free | coinage of silver; to accept $200,000.000 of silver in payment of war debts. It gives Mr. Roosevelt and Secretary of Agriculture Wallace permissive power to invoke a variety of plans to bring farm commodity prices to to the 1909-14 average. They may pay bounties to farmers or rent of the lands of farmers who agree to curtail production of seven com- < modifies—wheat .corn, cotton, tobacj co, rice, hogs and dairy products. May Tax Industries They may impose taxes on millers, cancers, packers and other processors to raise funds to pay the bounties; they hold a power or business life or death over processors and middlemen to prevent unfair practices and profiteering, j 3. In farm mortgage refinancing, federal land banks are directed to issue up to $2,000,000,000 in bonds. | interest guaranteed by the government. The bonds will be used to : take up farm mortgages and to refinance mortgages at low interest, j with payments over a long term, j In addition, the Reconstruction ; Finance Corporation will advance $200,000,000 for direct loans to farmers. Chairman Morgenthou of the farm ■ board hailed the agricultural credit j section of the new farm relief law as the beginning of a smashing atj tack on farm debt oppression. Morgenthau Is Optimistic j Morgenthau. as governor of the | new farm credit administration, will direct this phase of the government's powerful offensive to aid agriculture. He outlined the aims and provisions of the credit section, as : follows; 1. Reduction of 44 per cent of \ interest rates on the more than $1,000,000,090 federal land bank loans to farmers. 2. Temporary waiving of require- ; ments for payment of principal on these loans. 3. Continuance of extensions on | land bank loans. 4 Provision for issuance of $2,000.- | 000,000 of land bank bonds for ex- ; change or purchase of farm mortj gages. 5. Provision for $200,000,000 of R. F. C. funds to refinance farmers’ debts. ! 6. Sharp curtailment in foreS closures. 7. Refinancing irrigation, drainage, and levee districts where out- ; standing securities have depreciated. 8. Provision of loans to joint stock ' land banks to facilitate “orderly j liquidation.” C. OF C. OFFICIAL DEAD J. B. Wiles, Ft. Wayne Manager, is Taken at Hospital. By United Pren FT. WAYNE Ind., May 12—J. 3. Wiles, manager of the Ft. Wayne Chamber of Commerce, died at a hospital here Thursday night of diabetes following a short illness.