Indianapolis Times, Volume 45, Number 67, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 July 1933 — Page 1

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CYANIDE CARRIES DEATH INTO RIVER; LIVESTOCK PERISH Deadly Waste From Manufacturing Plant Flows Through Ditch Into Big Blue, at Newcastle. CATTLE AND FISH ARE VICTIMS Once-Favored Pools for Angling and Swimming Now Are Taboo; Warning Is Sounded by State. BY ARCH STEIXEL Times Staff Writer Motor cars skim a state highway skirting the Big Blue river on Newcastle's southern border. “Look, Mother! Isn't that pretty! Look at those cows down by the creek. Look. Mother! They're drinking,” calls a naive miss to her parent in the car’s tonneau. “Quite a pastoral scene. Daughter. Quite!” she adds, as she adjusts a lorgnette to watch the scene that shifts from view with the pacing motor of the car.

The cows that drank water from that creek—better call it a ditch—died. The motor car that took its occupants past that "quite pastoral" scene caused the death of those cattle It killed them as swiftly, hs surely as if it had struck them traveling at seventy miles an hour and had been incarnated into a fast passenger tram Cyanide, Is Vrrdict ' It killed thpm that \vu might ride by and admire them grazing and drinking in a ditch cf death. Chemists lifted test-tubes at eyeslant. looked, tested, and re-tested. This is the fifth of a series of stories on pollution of Indiana streams. Saturday the story of Big Sugar creek, once the favorite fishing haunt of General Lew Wallace, will be told. the water from that creek ti.tch and the vitals of the dead *att!e “Cyanide!’’ was the verdict. "Cyanide! Cyanide!” babbled the creek in its soft disguise of rocks, moss, and tall grass growing on banks, but was unheard uv passing motorists on the highway above. That was in 1930 at Newcastle along a ditch that empties into the city's Big Blue river. Canal for Wastes The ditch is a canal for wastes from the Chrysler Corporation, motor car manufactures, at Newcastle. And just a few days ago. the meek innocent ditch again carried its cargo of death for livestock and fish down into Big Blue. "Eight to ten parts of cyanide per million.” was the report of laboratory experts of the state bureau of sanitary engineering. No cattle or other livestock died Farmers living along the ditch banks learned their lesson in 1930 Now they know that the meek ditch that meanders through their land is a potential slaughter house Not nil the time, but who can know the time? Faint Smell Is Warning The only warning if the breeze is on the clover of the fields, is the faint bitter almond smell that spells in capital letters: "CYANIDE!” Several law suits resulted from the poisonings of 1930. One verdict for SBOO was rendered in the favor (Continued on Page One. Second Section* DOG FINDS LOST PURSE $159 Recovered by Ft. Wayne Teacher Because of Collie. /:•/ l nihil Prrm FT. WAYNE. Ind. July 28—A purse containing $159 83. las' by Miss Grace M Brennan, school teacher, was returned to her after it was found by a dog. The school teacher called at the home of Mrs Wililam Hohnhaus during a house-to-house canvas in search of the money and discovered that Shep a Colli? owned by the Hohnhaus' had found the purse and carried it into the back yard. TAGS MENJOU GAMBLER Wife Asks Divorce: Says Actor Liked Play For High Stakes. Bn t nitfd LOS ANGELES. July 28Kathryn Carver, screen actress Thursday denounced her film husband Adolphe Menjou. as a man who gambled for high stakes, as she filed a petition for temporary alimony pending settlement of the divorce action she brought Wednesday. Times Index Berg Cartoon 18 Book Nook 17 Bridge 11 Broun Column 18 Classified .. 26. 27. 28 Comics 29 Crossword Puzzle 15 Curious World 19 Dietz on Science 11 Editorial 18 Financial 25 Fishing 11 Hickman Theater Reviews 16 Lippmann 25 Radio 10 Serial Story 29 Sports 24 Stream Pollution—A Series 1 Vita! Statistics 25 Woman's Page 12

The Indianapolis Times Fair tonight and Saturday; slightly warmer Saturday.

VOLUME 45—NUMBER 67

CASHIER HERO BALKS BANDITS Bank Employe Shoots One of Band in Holdup at Metamora. BY DANIEL M. KIDNEY Time* Staff Writer BROOKVILLE. Ind., July 28 George Lennara. 35, cashier of the Farmers State bank at Metamora. is Franklin county's foremost hero today. On Thursday afternoon he shot It out with a bank bandit and won. It was Leonard's third experience in such affrays, so he is kissing off” the congratulatory Franklin county citizenry and pooh-pooh-ing" it as being “all in the day s work. Remnants of a posse still guards the knob country forest where two of th’ bandit gang fled, while state police have entered Ohio to track a fourth member. They are acting on a confession procured from Homer Carter. 25. Dayton. 0., the bandit who lost in the pistol duel. He lies writhing on a cot in the Franklin county jail here, with a channel plowed through his right Arm by a 44-caiiber bullet from Leonard's gun The lead entered the arm at the elbow and was removed by a doctor from behind a shoulder blade Three shots were fired. Lennard says he shot first ani missed, then the bandit fired, almost simultaneously, and the cashiTurn to Page Twenty-Six) FAST BROKEN BY BEER State Couple Drinks Brew. Eats Pretzels After 17 Days Minus Food. 111/ I nih il Preen BERNE. Ind . July 28 —A 17-dav fast bv Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Bruchv was broken here Thursday when police and health officers persuaded the coupie to eat some pretzels and drink some beer. Bruchv, bajelv able to talk when officials went to investigate the case, explained that the couple had eaten nothing since July 10.

■S g __ NIC.H- FORGOTTEN wartime slogans reappear . . . heels click, bayonets flash . . . grim militarism and intense nationalism return to Germany under the twen-ueth-centurv Caesarship of Adolf Hitler. Don't Fail to rend UNDER THE HOOKED C ROSS (Germany's Forr Month of Hitlerism an authentic highly interesting word-picture of Germany today, by Morris Gilbert. The first of x articles will appear on Mondav. Julv 31. IN THE TIMES.

EX-MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL ENDS OWN LIFE Suicide of M. W. Ferguson by Gas Is Discovered by Neighbor. NO DEATH NOTE LEFT Duvall Administration Figure Was Active in West Side Politics. Millard W. Ferguson. 48. of 373 North Holmes avenue, city councilman during the Duvall administration. today committed suicide at ms home by taking gas. The body was found shortly after noon by S. A. Gibson, owner of a grocery at 380 North Holmes avenue. He found all jets of a kitchen stove open. Ferguson formerly owned the store. Ferguson had been active in politics since his service as councilman and was prominent in west side affairs. It was said by police officials that recently he had been operating an agency, attempting to get city jobs for Indianapolis men and women. During his term on the council. Ferguson was indicted in criminal court, along with other members of the councilman group, after the county grand jury investigation of alleged political corruption in county and city. H-* resigned his post in 1928. Gibson and radio patrolmen G. Johnson and R. Smith said Ferguson had been dead about six hours. In addition to opening the gas jets, he had covered his head ! with a blanket, inhaling the gas, before he slumped to the floor. When police arrived, they had to fight off a small dog. owned by Ferguson. which stood near the body and growled. According to neighbors. Ferguson and his wife recently were separated. No note was left by Ferguson. Only the widow survives him.

WIFE’S PLEA SAVES HUSBAND FROM JAIL $lO Weekly Wage Only Support for Family, Mother Tells Court. Plea of his wife that his $lO weekly wage was the salvation of her and her two children today saved Charles Idlewine, 30. of 1630 Churchman avenue, from fines and sentences on a series of charges growing out of a wild ride in a borrowed car. Municipal Judge Sheaffer dismissed counts of vagrancy and reckless driving, suspended a fine on a drunkenness charge, and suspended a jail sentence on a charge of operating an auto while drunk. Testimony showed that Idlewine Wednesday hit two cars in the vi* cinitv of McCarty street and Virginia avenue. MISS DUNN REGAINS WOMEN'S GOLF TITLE Defeats Mrs. P. G. Skillern. 5 and 4. in Finals. • romnlMf riHftil* on *i*ort patf> Miss Elizabeth Dunn of Indianaoplis. ex-state champion, won the Indiana women's golf championship today at Highland course, defeating Mrs. P. G. Skillern. 5 and 4. in the title match. Miss Dunn won the last five holes in succession, after reaching the turn all even with the defending champion. HEN MOTHERS QUAIL Nest Is Found in Field Near Coop in Ohio Town. By I nitrd Prt ** ZANESVILLE. 0.. July 28—This bantam hen is not particular about the kind of babies she mothers. The hen. owned by Robert Serrell, 12. has been mothering a brood of five chickens and twelve baby quail, the latter found in a nest the hen preempted in a field near her coop. HELD FOR GRAND JURY Watch Repairer Is Charged With $375 Embezzlement. Edward Hopkins, whose address was given as a downtown hotel, today was bound over to the county grand jury on a charge of embezzlement. A watch-repairer. Hopkins is charged with failing to return eighteen of the many watches turned over to him for repair. Total value of watches was listed at $375.

Severed Hand of Man Is Discovered at City Home

Mrs Leona Bray walked to the front porch of her home at 2304 Pierson street today, and literally froze with horror. A piercing scream broke from her throat There, on the porch before her. lay the hand of a man. cut off at the wrist, with long, pointed fingernails, resembling those perhaps of the mythical Dr Fu Manchu. Over Mrs. Bray's shoulder peeped Mrs Robert Buell, also of the Pierson street address, who also screamed. Miss Buell called police. Police arrived at the scene, confiscated the hand and started their

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1933

1,200 TO GET COUNTY ROAD JOBS; CITY PLANTS’ PAY ROLLS BOOSTED

Stutz Announces Increase of 10 Per Cent or More in Factory Pay. INDUSTRY ON UPGRADE Improvement in Personnel and Business Shown by Times Survey. Boost of 10 per cent or more in wages of employes of the Stutz Motor Car Company of America. Inc was announced today at a meeting in the Stutz factory. Colonel E. S. Gorrell. president of the company, made the announcement, asserting that he hoped business of the firm will warrant another increase. Action at the Stutz plant climaxed a series of activities in which a Times survey showed that several Indianapolis firms, awaiting enforcement of the NRA program, already had increased in business and anticipated additions to pay rolls. 500 Now Employed Officials of E. C. Atkins Company, 402 South Illinois street, said 500 men now are employed and the Sergeant-Garke Paint Company. 323 West Fifteenth street, said a 10 per cent business increase has been noted from April through June. The American Leather Products Company. 1103 West Twenty-second street, has had an increase in the last three weeks, and the American Lead Corporation. 1600 East Twentyfirst street, announced an increase in personnel, a 20 per cent boost in six months' business, and said a third working shift will be in effect under the NRA program. Output Near Normal At the American Foundry Company. 1535 Naomi street, officials said the output now is near normal, while the A. Burdsal Company, 206 South Capitol avenue, said a full force has been in operation for three months. The Earbasol Company 814 North Senate avenue, dealers in toilet goods, “never felt the depression,” officials said. Within the last few weeks, the Link-Belt Company has rehired 117 of its former employes and announces purchase of raw material has increased rapidly. FINDS $2,500 IN CABIN Tourist Camp Operator Returns Sum to Losers After Hard Search. IS'j United Preen PECOS. Texas., July 28.-A mid-dle-aged eastern couple have reason to be thankful for the westerner's proverbial honesty. When W. W. Rossman was cleaning one of several camp cabins he operates, he found a strong box containing $2,500. With some difficulty he found the couple who had occupied the cabin the night before and returned the money. GOLF BALL KILLS BIRD Club President Brings Down Creature With Long Drive. li<i United Preen HOLLY SPRINGS. Miss.. July 28. —Harris Gholson. president of the Holly Springs Golf club, shot a birdie the other day. It was a sparrow that dropped dead when hit by Gholson’s drive as it flew along about twenty-five feet above the golf course. GROWS SMALLEST BUSH Tiny Rose Plant Cultivated by Oregon Woman. W u I nited Preen PORTLAND. Ore . July 28.—Contender for the prize for the smallest blooming rose bush in America is Mrs. Ruby Nichols of Portland. She boasts of two bushes, four inches and four and one-half inches high, having eleven buds between them. WOMAN HEADS AIRPORT Wife of Laundry Operater Manager of Field in East. fill U nitrd Preen REVERE, Mass.. July 24.—The only woman airport manager in the East is Mrs. Doily Bernson. wife of a laundry proprietor, who manages Muller Field here. Though an accomplished aviator with many hours to her credit. Mrs. Bernson rarely is seen in flying togs. HOURLY TEMPERATURES 6a. m 67 10 a. m 72 7a. m 69 11 a. m 74 Ba. m 71 12 'Noon* .. 79 9 a. m 72 1 p. m 36

investigation. It seems that Mrs. Bray has a pet bulldog. Patsy, 3 months old. and Patsy just has begun to learn to explore. Patsy came across the hand somewhere on the north side, and decided the prize was too good for any place but home So home the prize went. "I'm never going on that porch again.” proclaimed Mrs. Bray, "for fear I'll see the head that goes with that hand.” The hand, that of a white man was an exceptionally large one. police said. They said it was about a month old.

NRA Enlistment Blanks Cram Mails

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Left to Right—Lloyd Pierce. R. R. 6. Box 528: John Stettler. 316 Terrace avenue, and t harles M. Reed, 2243 Brookside parkway.

Mail sacks bulged in Indianapolis today as thousands of agreements were distributed to industrial firms for signatures to align them with the mammoth army of the NRA. More than 5.000 pacts were is-

Members of Proposed Board to Guide NRA

Drive in Indiana Are Named by Van Nuys

KILLED IN FALL OUT OF WINDOW Percy Nicholson Suffers Broken Neck in Tumble. Falling from the window of his room, twenty feet above the sidewalk. Percy Nicholson, 61. of 240 East Ninth street. Apartment. 29. was killed instantly early '.edav. His neck was broken in the fall. Police were told by the son. James Nicholson, that the father had gone to bed before midnight. The elder Nicholson slept on a couch in front of a window, and it is believed that, in an effort ‘o get some air. he tumbled backwards from the window. Nicholson was a World war veteran.

LETS DOWN BARS TO DRAUGHT BEER SALE Ft. Wayne Judge Balks at Keg Brew Sentence. Bjf I'nitcil Pri * FT. WAYNE. Ind . July 28 —Citywide sale of draught beer appeared probably today after Judge Bert A. Fagan balked at sentencing August Hoffman when he was arrested for selling keg beer. The case was taken under advisement. Asa result, it was said, many dealers were planning to sell the draught beer as soon as arrangements could be completed. City Attorney William Freuchtenicht intimated that those selling draught beer would not be molested as long as they had a state license. MEMORIAL TO BE HELD Bar Association to Hold Services Honoring Charles Orbison. Memorial services for Charles J. Orbison. former superior court judge, who died Thursday morning in Los. Angeles, will be held at 11 Saturday by members of the Indianapolis Bar Association. William C Kern, association secretary. announced that services will be held in superior court one. the room formerly occupied by Mr. Orbison as judge. BALBO HOP IS DELAYED Unfavorable Weather Reports Forestall Return Sea Flight. P.U 11l ilt <i Prim SHOAL HARBOR. Newfoundland. July 28—Unfavorable weather reports from the other side of the Atlantic delayed General Italo Balbo s air squadron from taking off toda\ on a mass flight across the sea. Chicken Was Gold Hoarder BURR OAK Kan.. July 28 —Persons are not the only geld hoarders. One of La Verne Ayres’ chickens had three fair-sized gold nuggets in its gizzard when dressed.

surd front the downtown pastoffice and thousands of others were sent front substations throughout the city. In Indiana, those signed by heads of firms will be collected byairplane in a whirlwind roundup

Gray-Clad Couriers of Postoffice Department Deliver 15.000 ‘Compliance’ Letters to Indianapolis Employers During Day; Planes to Aid Campaign. * While gray-clad couriers of the pastoffice department delivered more than Ia.OOO “eompliaiice'' letters to Indianapolis employers today, two alive-drab army airplanes were prepared to bear the signed covenants to Indianapolis from all sections of the state.

Announcement of the recommendation to the President of the | state recovery board for Indiana was made today by Senator Frederick Van Nuys at Washington. Members of the proposed board are: Daniel Wertz, Evansville, lumber dealer Adolph Fritz, Indianapolis, secretary of the State Federation of Labor. Rudolph Leeds. Richmond, publisher. Joseph M Cravens. Madison, agriculturist. M. M. Dunbar, Indianapolis banker. G. M. Leslie, Ft. Wayne, manufacturer. Frederick Kroegcr. Anderson, business man. W P. Gleason. Gary, industrialist. Charles Templeton, Terre Haute, coal operator. State Towns to Comply The board, to serve without compensation, will advise and report upon the execution of the national industrial recovery act in Indiana. Governor Paul V. McNutt will issue the call for the first meeting of the board. Francis Wells. Indiana recovery director, announced that he had received pledges of co-operation from a number of Chambers of Commerce in the following c.ties and towns, ali stating that they had held meeting or would hold them immediately: Decatur, Evansville, Michigan City. Columbia City, Roachdale, Kendallville. Hartford City, Hammond, Columbus. Auburn. Gary. Batcsville. Jasper. Fowler, Bloomington. Muncie and Seymour. Wells stated that in the deluge of questions reaching his office, section seven of the employer s’ covenant is the one most frequently mentioned. City Grocers Accept Code This section binds the signer "not to reduce the compensation for employment now in excess of minimum wages hereby agreed to 'notwithstanding that the hours worked in such employment may be hereby re- • Turn to Page Twenty-Sixi

International Brewing Cos. to Get Last State Permit

After much bickering, the twenty, second and last beer manufacturing permit will go to the International Brewing Company Indianapolis, it was indicated by Paul Fry, rtate excise director, today. The company, stock of which was placed on the market Thursday, will occupy the old Lie'oer brewery. 1300 Madison avenue. A recent fire there caused A1 Feeney, state safety director, to investigate it as a possible arson case. Feeney said today that his investigation report will disclose that no arson was discovered, and ail

Fntered ns Second Clns M*ft**r at Postoffice, Indianapolis

conducted by the Indianapolis Chamber of Comm-rcc. Pledges of co-operation byhousewives of city and state will go into the mails within the next twenty-four hours, after clearance of the industrial agreements.

Patience Wins Catches Fish After Six Weeks’ Angling: Happy Though Only Carp.

PATIENCE has been rewarded, even though the reward is only a carp. Persistently, lor six weeks Mrs. Leo Lewis, wife of a city garage employe, living at 214 North Rural street, has fished in Brandywine creek. In that time she used two 48-pound sacks of doughballs as bait, with never a fish to show for her efforts. Thursday nigh', still on the .iob, she felt a powerful tug on her line. A moment later an right-pound carp flopped on the bank beside her and she went home rejoicing. FINED IN AUTO MISHAP Two in far Which Hurtles Embankment Tried In Police Court. Two men. whose car carried them over the bank of Fall Creek at Maple road, after they had consumed 3 2 beer in a roadhou c e. received minor fines today in municipal court four The men were found the night, of July 18. after their car. of 1926 vintage, had slithered down the, embankment. Bernard Reister. 2531 Prospect street, was fined $1 and William Phillips. 447 North Alabama street. Paid the court $5 for the adventure. TAXES EXCEED MILLION Income. Sales Levy Payments Still Coming; $10.28 Average. State income and sales tax return for May and June have exceeded the $1,000,000 mark and still are coming in. it was reported today by Collector Clarence Jackson. Average return on ncarlv 100 000 is $10.23

concerned in the investigation will be given a clean bill of health." Rehabilitation of the brewery was begun under the Home Brewing Company, of which John J. Darmody was president. Failing to procure a permit, the property was transferred to the International company. Fry said today that he believed the property should operate and indicated that the last permit under the law will go there. Other requests are pending, he said, includj ing one received this morning for the old Madison brewery, at Madij£on - 1

HOME EDITION rRI C E TWO CENTS Outside Marion County. 3 Cents

$1,000,000 to Be Spent on Construction Soon. Say Officials. SEEK SHUFFLE IN FUNDS Authorities Initiate Move for Reallocation of Federal Aid. Employment soon of 1,200 men for more than $1,000,000 worth of county road and bridge construction was announced today by Bruce Short, county surveyor. Meanwhile city officials started moves for reallocation of funds to begin a federal aid street improvement program without financial difculties. Short announced that, within a few weeks. 1.200 men will be working on county road jobs, including construction of the county belt road system and bridges. First of the county contracts, under NRA specification, providing a 30-hour week and 40-cents an hour minimum wage, will be let within a few days. The work will be for a bridge on the German Church read, near Sunnyside. to cost 58.500. 575.000 Worth of Paving Second award will be for $75,000 worth of concrete paving on Seven-ty-third street, near state road 29. From 200 to 300 men will be employ’d on each of the projects, the employment roll increasing as fast as contracts for the work are awarded. Short said that he and other county officials are awaiting telephone communication from Washington on approval of the entire program. * Under the present set-up, the first group of men probably will receive jobs not later than Aug. 7. It originally had planned to start Tuesday. One of the bridges to be built under the plan will be the federal aid project at Sixteenth street and White river, dovetailing with the city s extension of the thoroughfare. Suggests U. S. Aid Basis City Engineer A H. Moore urged that the works board appeal to the state highway commission, asking for a reallocation of federal aid funds on the basis of population, to allow Indianapolis to complete its ma jor improvements. Moore broke down state figures t<> show that on the basis of a population reallocation. Indianapolis will receive a fairer share of the public works funds Moore, with Short, pointed out that $4,800,000 is available for the state's six districts. Indianapolis, he showed, is in the Greenfield district. which has a total population of 1.000.09 Q persons, one-third of the state's population of 3.283 503. SBOO,OOO for District For the district SBOO,OOO has been allocated Moore asserted that, on a population basis, the district would be allowed $1.004 300, of which $300,000 could be used in Indianapolis. and the remainder for the other cities in the district. Hf estimated that the West street boulevard improvement would cost 8203.300 The improvement calls for extension of the boulevard from one and a half miles south of Raymond street to the junction with BlufT read, and widening of the boulevard north from Raymond to the junction of Northwestern avenue and Twenty-first street. Jog to Be Eliminated Included in the project is tht elimination of the jog at that point and widening and improving of Northwestern avenue from the boulevard north to the junction of State Road 29 and Thirty-eighth street. Resurfacing of Madison avenue from Southern avenue, north to South street, Moore estimated, would cost $152 030. Resurfacing of North Meridian street from Sixteenth street to Fall Creek boulevard will cost $40,000, he told the board The West Sixteenth street improvement from West street to Indiana avenue, he said will cost approximately $331,000. of which amount the county is considering paying 5290.C00.

Don 't Bite! Racketeers aireav have taker. advantage of the appaient whole-hearted effort of the city to lift itself out of the depression. According to Francis Wells, Indiana recovery director, racketeers representing themselves as employes of The Indianapolis T.mes and other local newspapers. telephoned city merchants today, offering to furnish reproductions of the NRA eagle and other recovery emblems for specified sums of money. The Indianapolis Times wishes to inform its readers that the recovery emblems may be secured only through federal government channels. The emblems and other literature, including posters and stickers, will be distributed at the postoffice when employers return their signed compliance papers. Reproduction of any of the federal reoovery emblems, except by special permission from Washington, is expressly forbidden.