Indianapolis Times, Volume 45, Number 235, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 February 1934 — Page 1
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ALLEGED ARMY FRAUD BARED BY CITY FIRM Marmon-Herrington First to Notify U. S. of Purported Bribe. REPORT STARTED PROBE Prominent Men Said to Be Involved in Suspected Graft Plan. Officials of the Marmon-Herring-ton Company of Indianapolis were revealed today a-s the public benefactors who first gave the government the opportunity to pounce upon a band of alleged lobbyists w’ho are said to have planned to fleece the government in a $10,000,000 army motorization program. Although Colonel A. W. Herrington, president of local automobile company, and ether officials refused to be quoted. The Times learned today that the alleged attempted bribe of the Indianapolis officials supplied the department of justice operatives with the missing link in the purported widespread conspiracy. Reaching deep into the inner circle of Washington political life, the probe of the alleged conspiracy will include not only persons high in official positions, but nationally-known legionnaires, it was said. Ex-Army Men Approached The ex-army personnel of the Indianapolis concern and a sacred regard for government dealings were the factors which tripped up the alleged conspirators in the reported $10,000,000 scheme to defraud the federal government, The Times learned. Both Colonel Herrington and Daniel C. Glossbrenner of the Indianapolis company are members of the reserve corps. Bert Dingley, ex-racing driver and sales-manager of the Marmon Herrington Company, unable to enter the army because of physical injuries suffered in a racing mishap, stands high in •army circles because of his work on the Liberty motor in the war. To these men, The Times learned today, came the suggestion from the alleged conspirators that the Indianapolis concern become a party to the reported wholesale conspiracy. Suggested by Telephone The suggestion, it was learned, j came over the telephone, the alleged conspirator suggesting that representatives of the local concern meet with him in Washington. The alleged conspirator, it was learned, is one of a group of nationally-known lawyers, prominent in legion circles. The Indianapolis automobile officials. it was learned, insisted on meeting the alleged conspirators here. Then it was that the department of justice operatives stepped into the case. •Army contracting." a former army officer told The Times,” always has been very much on the “up and up." •'An army officer who takes a meal or a cigar from prospective bidders puts himself under suspicion. I will be surprised greatly if high-ranking army officers are found to be involved in this alleged conspiracy.” The huge expenditure of $10,000.000 for army motorization, around which the alleged conspiracy centers. is said to be the largest armycontract since 1917. •Bribe Fee’ Asked Persons familiar with the situation said today that the alleged conspirators took advantage of the fact that the money to be expended came from public works administration funds and not war department funds as heretofore and would pass into many states. Not only the local company but at least a score or more large automobile concerns throughout the country were reported approached in the deal, it was said. The suggestion to the MarmonHerrington Company, it was said, was that a ‘bribe fee' was to be paid on a percentage basis. The local company entered bids totaling $3.000.000 for the army work, of which 5 per cent was said to be added to the bidding price to be paid later to the alleged conspirators who represented themselves as "having an in" with the war department. JONES APPROVES RFC ADVANCES TO CITIES Chairman Thinks Loans Should Be Moderate. However. He Says. B'• t nited f*rc WASHINGTON. Feb. 9—Jesse Jones, chairman of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, said today he favored moderate use of the R F C.'s funds to aid municipalities to meet financial problems. Times Index Page Bridge 11 Broun 15 Classified 23.24 25 Comics 27 Crossword Puzzle 14 Curious World 27 Editorial 16 Financial 26 Food Section 20.21 Hickman—Theaters 15 Our Gang—A Series 15 Pegler . 15 Radio 18 Sports 22.23 State News 8 Unknown Blond 27 War Pictures 3.17 Woman*! Pages 10.11
OVER THERE!—REMEMBER THOSE DAYS OF SHRAPNEL AND MUD?—PICTURES TODAY ARE ON PAGE 17
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VOLUME 45—NUMBER 235* *
Kidnaper Ends Life in Prison Verne Sankey Hangs Self With Necktie; Faced Life Term. By United Pm* SIOUX FALLS, S. D . Feb. 9. Verne Sankey, confessed leader in two abuduction plots, was dead todays, having chosen suicide rather than life imprisonment. Sankey hanged himself from the bars of his cell in the South Dakota state prison last night by a noose fashioned from his necktie. He faced a life imprisonment sentence for the confessed kidnaping of Charles Boettcher I of Denver He also confessed to the abduction of Haskell Bohn, St. Paul youth. Sankey was questioned about the kidnaping and murder of the infant son of Charles A. Lindbergh, but denied paraticipating in that crime. The suicide occurred while two federal marshals, Frank Gilmore and A. P. Nealy, stood within a few feet of his cell. He wadded up a handkerchief and crammed it down his throat to drown any noise he might make while strangling. The marshals were inspecting the cell of Gordon Alcorn. Sankey's chief lieutenant in the Boettcher kidnaping. Federal officials who were in ; charge of prosecuting Sankey moved today to bring Alcorn into court to plead guilty. They likewise prepared to prosecute .Mrs. Fern Sankey and other persons who will be charged with violations of the Lindbergh anti-kidnaping law. TEACHER FACES HEARING TODAY Miss Cora Steele’s Trial for Alleged Bond Theft Speeded. Asa sequel to frequent huddles between defense counsel and Prosecutor Herbert Wilson, Miss Cora Steele. Terre Haute school teacher indicted for grand larceny, w'as scheduled to be brought into criminal court thi: afternoon before Judge Frank P. Baker. Trial of Miss Steele, originally set | for next Tuesday, will be for the alleged theft of $25,000 in bonds | from the state teachers’ retirement j fund. Waiving arraignment Jan. 9, Miss Steele pleaded not guilty to the grand jury indictment of grand larceny. Asked the significance of the sudden change in schedule. Mr. Wilson said he had no statement to make. Asked if the change meant an agreement had been reached between defense counsel and the prosecutor's office, Mr. Wilson reiterated he had no statement to make. The penalty for convicition on the charge of grand larceny is one to ten years. Mr. Wilson denied Wednesday reports that Miss Steele would be permitted to plead guilty and in return be given a suspended sentence. Asked today if there has been any change in his attitude on this question. Mr. Wilson repeated that he had nothing to say.
Four More Alleged CWA Graft Cases Discovered
Results of Investigations Sent to Administration for Decision on Further Action. Four more cases of alleged graft on civil works projects in Indiana were reported at headquarters of the state civil works administration today. Four somewhat similar casks were made public two weeks ago.
Two of the four cases reported today were in Marion county, one in Tipton county and one in Greene county. The results of the investigations made in each case have been sent to the federal civil works administration in Washington, which will decide whether further action shall be taken. In one of the Marion county cases, a group of foremen is charged with collecting from 10 to 25 cents each from a number of the workmen on one of the levee projects. as contributions toward the cost of sending a telegram of greeting to President Roosevelt for his birthday anniversary. The telegram actually was sent, but the investigation showed the total collected, said to have been S2O or more, was considers by more than the cost. One foreman is said to have admitted he had taken $3 out cf the fund, because, he is reported to have said he had put in a good deal of overtime collecting the money and arranged for the telegram. and he thought he was entitled to it. He was reduced from foreman to laborer, with a consequent reduction in pay, and referred to another job. In the other Marion county case, a foreman is alleged to have used a CWA truck and workman on CWA time to move his household goods. He was discharged. Two members of a town board in Tipton county are accused of pay roll irregularities. They acted as voluntary supervisors of CWA projects in the town, ostensibly without pay. But they admitted, on investigation. it is charged, that they
The Indianapolis Times Fair and cold tonight with lowest temperature between zero and 5. Tomorrow, fair with rising tempetature.
SENATE DEFIED BY HOOVER AID IN MAIL PROBE Arrest of MacCracken Is Ordered After Refusal to Appear. AIRLINE HEADS APPEAR Former Commerce Assistant Challenges Authority of Order. By United Pre* WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—VicePresident John W. Garner signed the senate order for immediate arrest of William P. MacCracken Jr., and Sergeant-at-Arms Chesley Jurney left the capital a few minutes later to arrest the former assistant secretary of commerce. By United Pre** WASHINGTON. Feb. 9. The senate today ordered the immediate arrest of William P. MacCracken Jr., after the former assistant secretary of commerce had challenged the senate’s constitutional right to question him further regarding air mail contracts. On a motion of Majority Leader Joseph Robinson, proceedings against three officials of major airline companies, summoned to appear with Mr. MacCracken, were suspended until the Hoover administration official can be brought before the bar of the senate. Mr. MacCracken, in a letter to Vice-President John W. Garner, refused to appear before the senate on the ground that the senate’s functions were legislative and not judicial. Chairman Hugo Black of the special committee which has been investigating airmail contracts offered the order proposing Mr. McCracken’s arrest. It was adopted after objection by Senator William E. Borah (Rep., Ida.). Mr. McCracken's action was a surprise to the senate. The airline officials, Harris M. Hanshue, president of Western Air Express; Gilbert L. Givvin, Mr. Hanshue’s secretary, and Colonel L. H. Brittin, vice-president of Northwest Airways, were waiting in an anteroom while the senate heard the MacCracken communication. The MacCracken defy provided a sensational development in the inquiry which is dealing with awards of airmail contracts under Former Postmaster General Walter Brown. The senate sat in silence as it heard Mr. MacCracken's lengthy letter read by the clerk. As soon as the reading was completed. Senator Black offered his order for the arrest. Senator Borah's was the only voice raised in question and he withdrew objection when Senator Black explained that in his opinion Mr. MacCracken had shown a “contemptuous disregard” for the senate's inquiry. Mr. MacCracken said he had ‘‘the greatest respect” for the senate, but added he considered the contempt action against him "a violation of my constitutional rights.” He informed the senate he would seek protection in the court.
obtained the appointment of one of the laborers on the job as foreman, at an increase in pay from fifty to seventy-five cents an hour, and that for six weeks he drew $22.50 a week instead of sls a week, and paid the extra $7.50 each week to the two town board members. None of the other workmen on the job knew this man was foreman, it is alleged. As the town board members were not CWA‘employes, no disciplinary action could be taken, but the case was reported to Washington. In the Greene county case, a field investigator reported that money had been collected from CWA workers with the explanation that it was to pay the expenses of a city employe who had been active in promoting the projects on which the men were working. A careful record had been kept, and it showed that $32.24 had been collected, of which $12.12 still was in the fund. The announcement from the state CWA office said that a foreman on a Marion county drainage project, who was accused of graft in one of the four cases first reported, had repaid the entire amount of his wages. $132. This man had his own truck on the job. and when the driver assigned to that truck became sick, the foreman is said to have put other men on as drivers, but made out the pay roll in the name of the sick man, collected the money and paid the drivers himself. He also used this truck and drivers, on CWA time, in hauling tile from a Brooklyn tile factory to the drain, although the tile had been bought f. o. b. the plant, it is charged.
INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1934
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Lazily, an American observation balloon floated over the Argonne woods pear Montfaucon, France. Hawklike, a German plane swooped, its machine guns clattering a song of death in a minor key. The balloon plunged in a mass of flames, but the raider didn’t go unscathed. * The American anti-aircraft guns swiftly went into action and the plane’s gasoline tank was punc-
131 County Traffic Deaths Bring Only One Court Sentence During Last Year
YOUTH WRECKS JAIL, BUT FAILS IN MOVE TO FREE SELF, GIRL
By United Press DAYTON, 0., Feb. 9.—A youth’s efforts to free himself and his sweetheart from jail were unavailing, and he was on his way to the reformatory today, leaving a badly battered jailer behind. Daniel Fitzgerald, 17, tore away a section of window sill and attacked Jailer Daniel Wagner, beating him severely. He then ran to the third floor of the jail where his girl friend, Roxie Desonia, was held, and shouted: "Hey, Cikey, I’ve done .it.” A deputy jailer overpowered him before he could tree the girl. Ten stitches wre taken in Mr. Wagner’s head at a hospital. u. s. wiTlnot AID APPRAISAL Federal Board Unable to Finance City Light Company Survey. Basil Manley, vice-chairman of the federal power commission, today notified Shermon Minton, public service commission, that the government is unable to finance an appraisal of the Indianapolis Power and Light Company. . In his- letter to Mr. Minton, the federal official said that the power commission contemplated making a study of distribution systems in municipalities which would not be useful in court proceedings. Mr. Manley added that the federal power commission was at the service of Indiana at any time. DILLINGER OFFERS TO PLEAD GUILTY Proposal Rejected; Trial Set for March 12. By United Press CROWN POINT. Ind., Feb. 9 John Dillinger, notorious leader of a gang of escaped Indiana convicts, offered today to plead guilty to first degree murder in return for a life sentence. His proposal was refused by State's Attorney Robert G. Estill and he was held, after arraignment, for trial March 12. Previously a motion by attorneys for Dillinger, indicted as' a bank robber and murderer, to release him on a writ of' habeas corpus had been overruled by Judge Joseph T. Sullivan. Judge William J. Murray immediately mounted the bench to open the arraignment hearing. City Boy, 3, Burned Raymond Price, 3. of 2S South Pine street, was severely burned about the face, arms and legs today when his clothiftg caught fire in the kitchen of his home. Police said the child had been playing with matches.
Times to Print Series on Hoosier Statesmen Indiana has produced its share of America's statesmen. There have been Benjamin Harrison. Warren Fairbanks. Albert Beveridge, and a host of Other Hoosiers who have climbed the political ladder to the top. Starting Wednesday, The Times will present a series of articles about Indiana's statesmen. Written by Daniel M. Kidney of The Times, this series will tell you the stories behind each of Indiana’s most famous statesmen. Whether you are interested in politics, or not, you will be gripped by this great series of stories. It starts Wednesday.
tured. Vainly, Oberleutnant Hans Hendrick Marwede maneuvered his stricken plane and he made a forced landing in an open place in the woods. Oberleutnant Marwede attempted to heed one of the most stringent orders of the German high command. He tried to burn his plane to prevent it falling into the hands of the enemy but American doughboys were on the job. Pictured above holding the captured German flier’s arms is R.
Lone Driver Serves Term on Farm, Pays Fine of SIOO. BY ARCH STEINEL Time* Staff Writer When death becomes bookmaker for car drivers of Indianapolis, it offers 4 to 1 odds against the driver of the automotive scythe being arrested and 33 to 1 odds that he won’t serve a prison sentence. Simplified, into statistics of the city and county for 1933, it means that only one person was sentenced in criminal court and served that sentence in connection with an auto fatality. Marion county had 131. auto deaths in 1933 and yet but thirtythree persons were arrested on charges In connection with those accidents. One year on the state farm and a SIOO fine with costs was the most severe sentence meted out to a driver of a death car in the past year. One Sentence Suspended Two men received that sentence in criminal court and but one of those men served the sentence. A suspension gained leniency for the other. Two cases, one involving, failure to stop and the other murder in commission of robbery, still are pending. The murder count resulted in the death of George Hughes, July 1, 1933, when it is alleged his auto was boarded by an alleged bandit and his car swerved striking a utility pole and killing Mr. Hughes. Lloyd R. Harmon faces trial in Boone county in connection with the death. High cost of maintaining traffic departments, accident prevention bureaus, the courts, as well as ambulances and coroner’s deputies failed to halt either the yearly toll in auto deaths or to place car killers behind bars. “Unavoidable” is the one word that gives quick pardon from liability in the auto tragedies of the past year. Accident Costs Listed Approximately 100 of the fatal accidents are checked up to that word or the blame is spread to include the drivers of both cars in the case of a collision or both the pedestrian and driver. Each fatality by auto costs the taxpayers of the city from S2O to S3O for officials merely to go and return from the scene of the accident. The cost for the coroner or his deputies to visit the accident scene is $9 or about one-seventh of his yearly activity. Add to the cost of sending the coroner the salaries of patrolmen in squad cars, first-aid car, expenses of ambulance, and one finds that an (Turn to Page Five) DISCLOSE INCREASE IN FEBRUARY CARLOADINGS Gain Over Similar Period in ’33 Is 78,039 Cars. By United Press e WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—The American Railway Association today announced that carloadings of revenue freight for the week ended Feb. 3 totaled 564,098. This was an increase of 2.532 cars over the preceding week and 78.039 over the corresponding week in 1933.
L. Ray, 814 Virginia avenue, then Corporal Ray of the Thirtieth infantry, Third division. Note the wound on the German’s cheek. It was put there by a blow with the flat of Corporal Ray’s pistol as he dragged the German from the plane and prevented him from burning it. If you have photographs of this nature, see other World war pictures on Page 17 and read the conditions of The Times War Picture Contest. *
IT’S 78 ABOVE ZERO IN FLORIDA AND 59 BELOW IN NEW YORK
By United Press WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—Official temperature readings reported by United States weather bureau stations: ‘ Lowest in United States, Old Forge, N. Y., 59 below zero. Highest in United States, Ft. Myers, Fla., and Brownsville, Tex., 78 above. Other low readings: White River, Ont., 52 be’ow. Canton, N. Y., 28 below. Boston, 18 below. Albany, 20 below. New York City, 14 below. Philadelphia, 10 below. Indianapolis, 7 below. Washington, 6 below. Detroit, 16 below. Chicago, 2 below. CABINET FILLED BY DOUMERGUE 8,000 Troops Patrol Paris to Avoid Renewal of Rioting. By United Press PARIS, Feb. 9.—Gaston Doumergue completed his “salvation” cabinet today as 8,000 troops marched into the capital and camped at public buildings and barracks. Premier Doumergue completed his cabinet this morning. He decided to take only the prime ministry instead of occupying also one of the ministerial portfolios. The 71-year-old former preisdent planned to announce his cabinet list this afternoon after Prssident Albert Le Brun decreed it as official. It will be published in tomorrow’s official journal as final. The troops, symbols of the republic’s authority, came to reinforce the Paris garrison in anticipation of a twenty-four-hour general strike.
Federal Agents Press Search for Kidnapers St. Paul Banker, Released for $200,000 Ransom, Aids in Hunt; Six States Combed. By United Press ST. PAUL, Feb. 9—The search for Edward G. Bremer’s kidnapers spread to six states today, with nearly 200 federal, state and police investigators striving to strike a fresh trail after going up a half dozen
blind alleys. The young bank president, under orders to get another twenty-four hours of quiet to avert a nervous breakdown, rested in seclusion of his own home, where he was removed during the night from the residence of his father, Adolf Bremer, wealthy brewer and friend of President Roosevelt. Arrangements for a conference at which Mr. Bremer was to have told selected details of his twenty-one-day captivity were canceled and the meeting was postponed indefinitely. | Meanwhile, federal agents, state i criminal apprehension operatives and detect.ves strove to catch up with the half dozen or more members of the kidnaping gang. Urged on by President Roosevelt's personal interest, they ran down clews, some supplied by young Bremer, in Minnesota, Wisconsin. lowa, North Dakota, Missouri and Illinois. The first arrests were made at Milwaukee, when police picked up the two motorists speeding through the city and found $2,000 in small bills on their persons. Investigators were unable immediately to identify the bills as part of the $200,000 ransom, though they have obtained serial numbers of the latter.
Entered is Second Cla** Matter at I’oatoff.-ce. Indianapolis
MERCURY HITS 7 BELOW IN DROP OF 22 DEGREES
Score Dead in Bitterest Temperatures Ever Recorded. • EAST HIT HARDEST All-Time Low Marks Are Set at New York and Boston. By United Press Cold, sharp and keen as a knife, struck eastern United States today and sent a score of persons to their deaths in the bitterest temperatures ever recorded in many cities. The subzero wave reached west to Wisconsin, but was most intense in New York state and New England. In New York City, an all-time low record was set with a reading of 14.3 degrees below zero. In slum districts families sufffered severely. Lodging houses were stormed by transients seeking relief. Traffic in New York harbor was hampered by floating ice and the upper reaches of Hudson river were frozen from shore to shore. The lowest temperature in the east was recorded at Mt. Washington, N. H., where a ninety-mile northwest wind dropped the mercury to 40 below zero. New Record at Boston Boston established an all-time record of 18 degrees below zero and six deaths were reported in Massachusetts attributed to the cold. It was expected to be almost as cold tonight. In the Adirondack mountains, 30 below temperatures were frequent and at least one death was reported. In Buffalo, three deaths occurred, and for the first time in modern times, Lake Ontario was frozen over. The forty-five-mile sweep from Rochester to Cobourg, Out., was a solid mass of ice. One person died at Antigo, Wis., in a train wreck believed due to the 30-degree below zero cold. A frozen switch wrecked a southbound Chicago & Northwestern passenger train. Rescue work was difficult due to the cold and a score of persons suffered frostbite and minor injuries. The fatality was that of a trainman. One Hoosier Dead At Kenosha, Wis.,' four fishing tugs were jammed ih ice just outside. the harbor. The temperature at Chicago was 2 below zero with one death reported. i The temperature on the Colgate university campus at Hamilton, N. Y., today reached a low of 51 degrees below zero.. A tabulation of deaths attributed to the subzero weather showed most fatalities in the east with scattered deaths in the midwest. The dead: Massachusels, 6; Buffalo. N. Y., 3; Albany, N. Y„ 1; Connecticut, 1; New York City, 1; Pennsylvania, 1; Ohio, 1; Michigan, 2; Wisconsin, 1; Indiana, 1; Chicago, 1; downstate Illinois, 1. Sneak Thief Gets Sl2O A sneak thief entered the room of R. A. Kirkly, in the Claypool, last night and stole $l2O, police were notified today.
The only information regarding Mr. Bremer’s ordeal was made public through the United Press by Dr. H. T. Nippert, aged Bremer family physician. Dr. Nippert revealed, after treating Mr. Bremer upon his return, that the young banker had been beaten into submission by two kidnapers who entered his automobile last Jan. 17 when he stopped for a traffic signal. The men sprang into Mr. Bremer’s automobile and clubbed him with pistols when he sought to resist. The kidnapers then drove Mr. Bremer’s automobile to a place where they had an automobile of their own. Dr. Nippert said. Althought dazed, Mr. Bremer did not lose consciousness at any time, Dr. Nippert . ;vealed. The stalwart victim was carried fiom his own automobile to the abductors’ car and blindfolded. After his preliminary rough handling, Mr. Bremer was not harmed. Dr. Nippert said. He quoted Bremer as saying: “I got to be rather sociable with them. They fed me well and since there was nothing else to do, I got plenty of sleep.” The kidnapers required Mr. Bremer to write notes, two of which were delivered through Dr. Nippert.
HOME EDITION PRICE TWO CENTS Outside Marion County, 3 Cents
Frigid Wave to Retain Grip - on City Tonight and Tomorrow. COLDEST DAY IN YEAR Man Reported Near Death; Marion Girl Killed in Fall. Hourly Temperatures 12 (mid- 6:10 a. m. —7 night) .. 3 7a. m.... 8 1 a. m.... 1 8 a. m.... —5 2 a. m— —1 9 a. m —3 3a. m.... —2 10 a. m... 2 4 a. m.... —5 11 a. m... 4 5 a. m.... —6 12 (noon>. 6 6 a. m— —6 1 p. m 10 Indianapolis awoke this morning to find the city gripped in subzero weather for the second time this year, the mercury having taken a nose dive during the night to 7 below zero. The extreme drop came rather unexpectedly. as temperatures ranging from 10 to 15 above zero had been forecast for last night. The frigid wave was expected to maintain its icy grip on the city tonight and tomorrow, with slight moderation possibly tonight and tomorrow. The lowest temperature tonight probably will be between zero and 5 above, according to J. H. Armington, local meteorologist. Tomorrow probably will be fair with slowly rising temperature, he said. By noon the mercury had risen to 6 above zero, he said. The cold wave is general through this section of the country, Mr. Armington said, extending from the lower lakes region southwest to Texas and eastward to the middle and north Atlantic states. In Indiana, temperature drops of from 20 to 28 degrees were reported. Here, the mercury slumped 22 degrees in the twenty-four hours, from 16 above zero at 7 a. m. yesterday to 6 below at 7 this morning. 6:10 a. m. today, the official government thermometer registered 7 d*low. Coldest in Year Today was the coldest day since Feb. 9 last year, when the mercury touched 10 degrees below zero. The coldest Feb. 9 on weather bureau records was in 1899, when 18 degrees below zero was reported. Three eastern cities reported the coldest weather in their history this morning. Boston, with 18 below; Buffalo, with 20 be'ow, and New York, with 14 below zero. The cold weather here partially paralyzed business and traffic early today. Hundreds of motorists, unable to get their cars started, or finding their radiators frozen, vainly sought to get taxicabs, which were enjovng a rushing business. Street railway service was reported somewhat behind schedule early today, despite the placing of extra street cars and busses in service, because of the greatly increased number of passengers. CVVA Workers Dismissed Most workers on civil works projects were dismissed by "their foremen when they reported for work early today, because of the inclement weather. The Indianapolis Water Company reported the usual number of calls from patrons whose exposed waterpipes were frozen. The sudden cold wave snapped a number of telephone wires during the night but practically all breaks had been repaired early today, Indiana Bell Telephone Company officials said. Railroad trains were reported running practically on schedule. Indianapolis school officials said this morning that no reports of schools being unable to conduct classes because of the cold had been received, although several classes had to charge to warmer rooms. Many pupils were absent, because of the weather, and scores of others throughout the city were late in reaching their schools . because of transportation conditions. Girl Falls on Ice; Dies Mary Wilson, 24, Negro, 804 Utica streetrslipped on ice and fell, breaking a bone in her hand, as she was pumping water at a well in a yard in the 800 block Indiana avenue this morning. One death in Indiana was attributed to cold when Marsellaise Thiebert, 16, Maiion, slipped on an icy sidewalk near the high school which she attended. Her neck was broken. Nearly frozen to death, Emil Neumeister, 63, of 1321 Pleasant street, was found in alley between Woodlawn avenue and Prospect street early today with his legs and arms paralyzed and frozen. He was sent to city hospital in a semi-conscious condition. Mrs. Frances Carter, a daughter, with whom Mr. Neumeister lived at the Pleasant street address, said her father left home shortly after 8 last night. He was found by the driver of a bakery wagon. At city hospital his condition was said to be critical.