Indianapolis Times, Volume 46, Number 44, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 July 1934 — Page 1
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EARL GENTRY, STEPHENSON’S j PAL, IS SLAIN One-Time Bodyguard for Ku-Klux Chieftain, Murder Victim. BODY FOUND IN AUTO Moved to Wisconsin After Acquittal on Charges of Killing Girl. fly I tUd Pre., JEFFERSON, Wis.. July 2.—The ’ murder of Earl Gentry, 47, who once escaped life Imprisonment in Indi- . ana when acquitted on a murder charge, mystified Jefferson county * authorities today. Gentry’, co-defendant with D. C. i Stephenson, former grand dragon of the Ku-Klux Klan. in an Indi- j ana murder trial in 1925. had i “plenty of enemies,” Sheriff Joseph ! Lange said today. The sheriff re- : vealed that his men were hunting j a suspect who lives in this vicinity, j Badly beaten and a bullet wound j in the head. Gentry's bodv was found under blood-soaked rugs and towels on the floor of his automobile late yesterday. Seen With Young Woman Sheriff Lange found the body aft- | er receiving a telephone call from . Mrs. Carrie Gill, 59, a widow with j whom Gentry had made his horn", j Mr. Lange said Mrs/ Gill told him Gentry was asleep in the back of ; a car parked near the Rock river. Investigation revealed that Gen- ! try was seen in Fort Atkinson Sat- , urday night until about midnight. He was with Josephine Probst. 28. j niece of Mrs. Gill, for a time, the ' sheriff said. It is believed that Gentry was killed elsewhere and his car driven (here and parked near the river after midnight Saturday. The car carried Indiana license plates which made it easily recognizable. Scores j of persons passed the car yesterday but rould not see the body which was jammed on the floor. Bodyguard for ‘Steve’ Gentry was bodvguard for Stephi mop at the time both were arrested oh charges of murdering Miss Madge Oberholtzer, young Indian- , a polls woman It was charged that Miss Ober- i holtzer died of poison after oenig • abducted by the men and attacked by Stephenson in Gentry's presence, j f Stephenson was sentenced to life j miprisonment and Gentry was * acquitted. He came to Jefferson shortly after the trial, but made frequent trips to Indiana. Cleared of Charges Bodyguard Earl Gentry, who served D. C. Stevenson during the height of the klan power in Indiane. was acquitted on Nov. 14. 1925. of charges of first-degree murder jn connection with the slaying of Miss ; *Madge Oberholtzer. for which Stephenson was sent to the peniten- ! tiary for life. Earl Klinck. another klan strongarm man. was acquitted on similar charges simultaneously with Gentry. and both were cleared more than two years later of kidnaping charges emanating from the case. Following her abduction from Indianapolis to Hammond by Stephenson. Mis Oberholtzer poisoned herself; and after being returned to Indianapolis, in a dying statement, she charged Gentry with having assisted Stephenson in the kidnaping, during which she was attacked. After acquittal on the kidnaping charge. Gentry filed suit against John H Kiplinger. Rushville attorney. who had represented him in the trial. He claimed that Kiplingcr s fee charges were excessive. The case was settled out of court. Neither Stephenson. Gentry nor Klinck took the stand at any time in their own defense during the Oberholtzer trial. It was under Stephenson in Evansville that Gentry got his start in the klan. He had removed there some years earlier from Atlanta <Ga* and had served periods as a day laborer and on the police force. He resigned trom the latter to assist Stephenson in his klan activities. Gentry, although he never resided in Indianapolis, often was a visitor here, and was well known to many local persons. Klan Busy Again fl* J •Mfrrt Press KOKOMO. Ind.. June 2 The Fiery Cross blazed again today on the hill around which 190.000 knights of the Ku-Klux Klan met in 1923. summoning remnants of the hooded order to anew campaign. Five thousands Klansmen from Columbus. Indianapolis. Chicago. tJrbana, Rockford. St. Louis and V other middlewestern points met Vhortlv afterward to lay the foundations of a drive to rejuvenate the Bjklan -for protection of the con- - iitution of the United States.'’ ' IThe Klan, dormant since Grand ixleagle D. C. Stephenson was Ijjßfntenced to life imprisonment Sight years ago for the murder of jKijiadge Oberholtzer, 28-year-oid nOlhool teacher, has shown new Htivity for several months. mJame* A. Colescott of Columbus, the national governing f>dy, said that tl>e oraanizaiion ,fcns to enter politics in several lyn this fall. A national tamTjgn for new members will be inaugurated immediately, he said. ’ORMER GOVERNOR DIES agjcnneaf< leader. 74. Passes at Farm Home. Bsy r Pt ,* A-gHAPEL HILL. Tenn. July 2 Governor Henry H. Horton, /messees thirtv-sy|th chief \died at his farm home
NRA W| OO OUR PART
VOLUME 46—NUMBER 44
1.464 AGED CITIZENS RECEIVE FIRST PENSION CHECKS FROM STATE
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Commissioners’ Court Is Jammed as New Plan Starts. County commissioners’ court was jammed with elderly men and women today as, with the distribution of 1.464 pension checks. Indiana began to take care of its aged citizens. Approximately 3.000 men and women applied for pensions. All applications were checked by Sheldon Key. Andrew Hoover, John Kirch and William McGill, special pension investigators for the commissioners. Commissioners received $90,000 for pensions this year. Payments will average about S8 each, according to Commissioner Dow W. Vorhies, shown dower) handing a check to 95-yoar-old Mrs. Armcnta Van Camp, the oldest person to receive a check. Mrs. Van Camp, a widow living with her only surviving child, also a widow, was on the relief rolls until she received her pension. Shown nipper, left to right) seated, are Mr- Mary E Rutan. 76. of 2447 North Dearborn street, and Mrs. Margaret Pinenrtz,, 80. of 311 Bright street; standing. Mrs. Elizabeth Yorn. 74. of 721 North Pershing street, and Mrs. Mary Belle Tripper, 72. of 134 South Misouri street. They are pictured in the commissioners - court, awaiting checks. Mrs. Mary Louise Stephens. 74. of 739’ 2 Massachusets avenue, fainted in front of the commissioner’s court while standing in line waiting for a pension check. She was revived, escorted to the front of the Imp and given her check. Payment of the first pensions was a cause for rejoicing to Otto P. Deluse. who for more than a decade led the old-age pension fight of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, original sponsor of the legislation. $3,200 FIRE CAUSED BY THIEFJS BELIEF Chicken Houses, Garages Destroyed by Blaze. Fire, believed started by a cigaret dropped by a chicken thief, early today caused damage estimated at $3,200 at the home of Mrs. Eva Wright. 4509 West Morris street. The flames were discovered shortly after 1 a. m. by Bruce Walters, 25. a neighbor, as he was bicycling home. Hearing the fienzied barking of dogs, lx? discovered a fire in one of two large chicken houses on the Wright place. He roused Mrs. Wright and her two sons. Firemen from Company 18 under Captain Cale Racobs were able to save the residence because a large artificial pond, six feet deep, on the Wright place afforded a water supply that otherwise would have been unavailable. MACDONALD TO SAIL FOR CANADA JULY 12 Daughter Ishbel to Accompany British Premier on Trip. By ( nitrrt Press LONDON. July 2. —Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and his daughter ishbel plan to sail for Canada July 13 on the liner Duchess of Richmond from Liverpool, it was announced today.
Mooresville Trembles With Fear as Federal Agents Roam Town Awaiting Possible Visit of John Dillinger at Home of His Father
BY BASIL GALLAGHER Timrs Staff Writer MOORESYILLE. Ind., July 2. —Strange things were happening last night and early today around the Dillinger homestead in this quiet town. News of John Dillinger's robbery 6f the South Bend bank Saturday had its usual effect of excitement on the community, but there was something else. too. On the surface, no extraordinary occurrences marred the Sabbath calm of the village which the nation's public enemy No. 1 calls home, but closer observation made it obvious that tha town was having a bad case of nerves. On a long sloping hill in the
The Indianapolis Times
Showers and thunderstorms tonight or tomorrow; cooler tomorrow.
South Bend Holdup Not Dillinger , Leach Claims Bank Raid, Slaying and Brutal Attack on Doctor at North Webster Laid to Detroit Gangsters. The bandits who Saturday robbed the Merchants National bank at, South Bend of $28,000. killed a policeman as they fled and yesterday brutally slugged an Indiana ph>sician. called to treat the wounds of one, probably were Italian gangsters operating out of Detroit and northwestern Ohio.
This theory was advanced by Captain Matt Leach of the Indiana state police, who scoffed at the idea that John Dillinger, the nation’s most feared terrorist, was leader of the South Bend robbers. Ohio license plates on ont of the two bandit cars were those used in the $25,000 holdup of a national bank in Fostoria, 0., two months ago. Dillinger was suspected, but never definitely identified. The attack yesterday on Dr. Leslie A. Laird. North Weboter, Ind., lent additional support to Captain Leach's argument, advanced from the first, that Dillinger was not the guiding mind in the crime. The physician was called to his office at 2 a. m. yesterday to treat an arm wound. He treated the wound and administered anti-tetanus serum under threat of violence. Then, one of the two men who had entered his office demanded cocaine. Dr. Laird said there was none in the office. He was slugged brutally with a pistol butt and was unconscious
southeast section of the town, overlooking a Dillinger farm, a nan scanned the horizon with binoculars. Other mysterious figures flitted up and down Mooresville streets. a a a TI7HEN the village “cutup.” a ▼ handsome youth driving a fast-stepping tan roadster, "barreled'' in from Indianapolis last night at sixty miles an hour and pulled up to a local filling station with a loud screeching of brakes, he got the shock of his life. From apparently nowhere three carloads of armed men suddenly converged on the thoroughly frightened lad. His driver's license and other credtntials in-
INDIANAPOLIS, MONDAY, JULY 2, 1034
half an hour. His assailants had cut the telephone wires in his office, but Dr. Laird spread the alarm as soon as he could walk across the street. Search proved futile, however. None of the known Dillinger gangsters are cocaine addicts, it is believed. Dr. Laird could identify none from pictures. The man killed Saturday was patrolman Howard Wagner, on traffic duty near the bank. He was wounded fatally as he ran toward the bank just as the bandits were emerging. Those wounded were P. G. Stahley and Delos N. Coen, officers of the bank, and Jacob Solomon, a junk dealer and depositor in the bank. Mr. Solomon was hurt the most seriously and is in a critical condition in Epworth hospital. South Bend, with wounds in his abdomen. Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m 74 10 a. m 87 7 a. m 76 11 a. m 88 8 a. m 83 12 (noon).. 90 9a. m 85 Ip. m 92
spected, the cars disappeared as mysteriously as they had come. His seamed face harassed with care, John Dillinger Sr. explained the strange happenings in the vicinity of his home. Dressed in his Sunday best and snapping a pair of yellow galluses while he talked, the elderly farmer explained that a large concentration of federal men were standing guard over Mooresville. "It's getting so a man can't call his soul his own.” said the aged farmer. "There must be twenty federal men around this place.” "I don't know whether John robbed that bank in South Bend or not. You know how it is. Every bank robbery m the coun-
24 NAZI CHIEFS EXECUTED; VON PAPEN FATE UNKNOWN
IRATE PATRON MURDERS CITY LAUNDRY MAN Killer Kidnaps Two Men in Flight Following Slaying Episode. Enraged over his failure to obtain a shirt he believed was his, a man known to the police only as • Mathews” shot and killed a Chinese laundry man and fled the city today, kidnaping two men in his flight. His victim was Tom Lee, 72, proprietor of a laundry at 438 East Washington street. The kidnaped men, both of whom later were released, are H. K. Jones, 5914 Lowell avenue, and Howard Foltz, 3510 Washington boulevard. “Matthews’—the name w'as taken from the laundry ticket —entered Lee's laundry this morning and asked for his laundry. He received two shirts. Then, according to witnesses, he insisted he should have received three shirts and, if he could not. get the third shirt, that he must have 75 cents. Jumps Into Jones’ Car Lee and his associate. Gong Yien Lun, spoke English poorly, according to two Negro women who worked for Lee. The argument waxed hot and “Matthews” suddenly pulled out a small caliber revolver and fired. Lee died shortly after he was shot. “Matthews” did not fire at Lun or the Negro women. He ran across the street and jumped into an auto driven by Mr. Jones. “Drive me where I say and drive fast,” the gunman ordered. “If you won't, I’ll kill you and drive myself.” Keeps Car, Drives O Mr. Jones was forced to take the murderer to Michigan road and Kessler boulevard. There, he was forced to swerve his car in front of a newer, faster and more powerful car driven by Mr. Foltz to force the latter to stop. The murderer, again threatening his driver with death, had Mr. Foltz take him to Lebanon, where he released him, keeping the car and heading for Frankfort. State police joined the search and authorities at Frankfort and Lafayette were notified by Fred Simon, city detective chief. YOUTH IS QUIZZED IN BEER TAVERN DEATH City Man Slain: Coroner Opens Probe. Coroner William E. Arbuckle today investigated the fatal shooting yesterday in a west side beer tavern of Harry Clark, 46, of 443 South Lyndhurst drive, an employe of the Indiana Asphalt Paving Company. Oscar W. Hale, 20, son of Charles Hale, proprietor of the tavern, which is located at 5320 West Washington street, is quoted by the sheriff's office as admitting the i shooting. The younger Hale told deputies, they say, that he shot Clark after the* latter crawled through a baspment window of the tavern early yesterday while Hale was sleeping in the basement, and then threatened Hale with an automatic pistol when told to halt. Clark was found lying face down near the bar on the floor above with a .45 automatic, cocked and i jammed, beside him. SHOWERS DUE HERE TONIGHT, IS FORECAST Today, However, Will Be Another Scorcher, Says Bureau. Today will be another “scorcher.” With the temperature rising 12 ' degrees in three hours, from 73 at 6 this morning to 85 at 9, the weather bureau predicted a day slightly warmer than yesterday. Yesterday’s high temperature was 93. It was 90 at 12:30 p. m. today. Showers and thunderstorms are due tonight or tomorrow with tomorrow somewhat cooler.
try is blamed on him. But I'm certain he won't come down here.” a a a sound of a car was heard A on the gravel of the farm driveway. Mr. Dillinger leaped to his feet and peered out of the window. He sank back in his easy chair with a sigh as Hubert Dillinger, the bandit’s half-brother entered the room with a gruff "hello.' "Yes, these federal men watch me all the time,” said Mr. Dillinger. wearily, “It's hard on a fellow who has tried to lead a decent life. Os course, John went wrong, but that's not as much my fault as the prison system in Indiana. “I had a big oiler from a vaude-
NAZIS’ ‘STRONG MAN’
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Strong man of the “second Nazi revolution” was Premier Herman Goering (above), reports from Berlin indicated today.
ROEHM REFUSED TOJCILL SELF Executed Only Because He Would Not Fire Own Shot. (Copyright, 1934, by United Press) MUNICH. July 2.—Five o’clock on a Sunday afternoon. A firing squad of brown-shirted storm troops stood at attention in the courtyard of Stradelheim prison. Ernst Roehm. trusted friend of Adolf Hitler and supreme head of all storm troops, was led forth. He faced the firing squad, a volley sounded, and the meteoric career of a fanatical mad pow’er in Nazi Germany w'as ended. He died at the order of a friend whom he had worshiped. Roehm’s end probably was the most dramatic event in the stirring happenings of a crowded, bloody Saturday and Sunday. Hitler, apprised of the plotting of Roehm and his accomplices, with his own hands stripped the Nazi insignia from Roehm’s uniform. In his cell, Roehm, a moral pervert, was left alone w : ith a pistol, giving him the choice of suicide. He refused to kill himself and Hitler gave him a second chance at suicide. Roehm refused. The drama reached its end. A pistol once more was taken to Roehm’s cell as a special dispensation “for use w'ithin ten minutes.” It was not used. LONGSHOREMAN KILLED IN COAST STRIKE RIOT State Police Guard Oil Plant After Fatal Clash. Btj Vnited Press SEATTLE, July 2.—State police were ordered to mobilize early today to protect the Standard Oil Company's plant after longshoreman Sheiby S. Daffon died from bullet wounds received earlier in a clash at the plant. The state police were to reinforce hundreds of armed guards who were stationed at the plant after it was reported .striking longshoremen, planned an attack. ROUSEVELT SLEEPS LATEDN CRUISER Houston Heads South; Off Carolina Coast. R>) Vvitcd Press ABOARD U. S. S. HOUSTON, July 2. —President Roosevelt, enjoying his first real rest in months, slept late aboard this cruiser today as it plowed through heavy seas off the Carolina coast. The w'eather, which had threatened rain earlier in the day, was clear as the chief executive allowed himself the pleasures of reading and of watching his sons. Franklin D. Jr. and John, engage in deck sports.
ville company to appear on the stage, but I turned it down because I don't think it's fair to exploit all John's misfortunes. And then I s'pose if I did try the show business these darn federal men never would give me any peace. "And I could use the money, too. The crops don't look so good this year.” Sound of another car in the driveway again brought Mr. Dillinger to his feet. More relatives arrived and the tense look left his face for a moment. “Oh. John's alive, all right,” said the farmer in answer to a question. “I had a letter from him a short while ago. The contents? Oh, I always burn John's iettersJ*
Entered as Second-Class Matter at FostolTice, Indianapolis, Ind.
Hitler Takes Steps to Prove Lepfal Justification for Deaths; Stamp of Approval Given by Von Hindenburg. GREGOR STRASSER SUICIDE, IS WORD Captain Roehm Put to Death Before Firing Squad; Crown Prince Wilhelm Still Is in ‘Protective Custody.’ BY FREDERICK OECHSNER United Tress Staff Orrfspnnd'nt (Copyright, 1934, by United Press) BERLIN, July 2.—After liquidating his political enemies in a bath of blood and bullets. Chancellor Adolf Hitler today; sought to present to the world legal justification for the execution of at least twenty-four high Nazi officials. “All executions of storm troop leaders," the Nazi high command declared, “followed summary court-martial proceedings, before courts-martial held in Berlin and Munich.’* Hitler erected another bulwark of defense for his strong position when he released telegrams from President Paul von Hindenburg, which put the stamp of approval on the “suppression of treasonable machinations” and gave the old warrior’s blessing to the bloody undertakings of the past week-end, which may result in an even higher death toll when the whole truth is known. The situation throughout Germany was tense, but “quiet.” Reports of cannonading heard at Munich were dis-
counted. Similar reports of trouble in Hamburg and other provincial cities were categorically denied by the government. In its “mopping up” process, the government denied, although in vague terms, some of the more sensational rumors surrounding the disposition of Vic e-Chancellor Franz von Papen, variously reported as executed or a suicide. Von Papen, close friend of President Von Hindenburg. was heavily guarded in his home by picked squads. Similarly, it w'as announced, Prince August Wilhelm, fourth son of the ex-kaiser, still was “in residence” at his Potsdam villa, in “protective custody.” Jews’ Position Uncertain The position of the Jew’s of Germany, under the “purified” Hitler regime, was regarded as uncertain.
Will Adolf Hitler's reign of terror surmount his difficulties as chancellor of suffering Germany? What does the future hold for (he Nazi regime? William Philip Simms, ScrippsHoward foreign editor, tells you today in a gripping analytical story of the “second Nazi revolution.” It is on the Feature page.
CITY WOMAN BURNED CRITICALLY IN BLAST Gasoline Explodes, Sets Clothing Afire. Mrs. Jessie Brady, 40, wife of Ralph F. Brady, 3428 Kenwood avenue, was burned critically shortly after noon today when gasoline with which she was cleaning the basement floor exploded. Mrs. Brady had a gas heater lighted in the basement and the motor of her electric washing ma- | chine also was operating. Appar- j ently fumes from the gasoline were ignited either by the heater or a spark from the motor. Another woman, whose name police did not obtain, heard Mrs. Brady’s screams and rushed to the basement. She found Mrs. Brady's clothing a mass of flames and extinguished them. The burned woman was rushed to city hospital. TRUSTY WALKS AWAY FROM INDIANA PRISON Marion Bank Bandit Escapes During Afternoon Rest. B;l I viterl Prcun MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., July 2 Lowell McCorkle, 30, Marion, serving a twenty-year sentence on charges of bank robbery, walked away from the state prison Sunday. | it was announced today by Warden Louis E. Kunkel. McCorkle was a trusty. His prison pants and shirt were found on the ground near where he and several i other trusties had been enjoying the ! afternoon shade. McCorkle's ab-| sence was noted at the evening checkup. He was sentenced from Rush county. MARIE DRESSLER STILL IN CRITICAL_CONDITION No Noticeable Change Reported by Actress’ Doctors. B’J United Pretn SANTA BARBARA. Cal.. July 2 —Marie Dressier, 65-year-old screen favorite, remained in a critical condition early today with no noticeable change reported by doctors at her bedside. The beloved trouper, who had emerged from a comatose condition to speak feebly to those surrounding her, continued to fight off death. Her physicians saw no immediate crisis. Motor tuned up. Carburetor adjusted. See Carburetor Sales. 214 E. Ohio.—Adv.
HOME EDITION PRICE TWO CENTS Outside Marion County, 3 Cent*
In many quarters it was believed that the crash of thp radical Nazi wings might, mean the end of the more vitriolic policy against the Jews. Chancellor Hitler made his first public appearance, under heavy guard, since Saturday, when he visited the king and queen of Siam at; the Hotel Adlon today. Extensive mobilization of police and gendarmerie was noted not only m the vicinity of the hotel, but the guards appeared even in the hotel lobby, which is unusual. It was reported that a dozen more storm troop leaders were executed last night. That would have brought the known list to twenty-four. Checkup to Be Made But it was understood from an authoritative nongovernment source that numerous additional storm troop men were executed yesterday afternoon and even as late as midnight, at the Lichterfclde cadet school. The informant said that manv of them died with the word “Heil Hitler” on their lips. Karl Ernst, Berlin-Brandenburg leader, whose execution was announced, was said to have died with that cry. J-C Gregffr Strasser, one-time clo? confldant of Hitler and a power li his Nazi organization, rommittri suicide when he learned of the ki; ing of General Kurt von SchleicM;|; it was reported on reliable author ' >1 today. In the early days of Hitler’s f Strasser was der fuehrer’s rMjfy hand man. His personality }■ j(f domineering, and he was regaii Jed as a forceful orator. gT Storm Troops on Vacation The 2,500,000 ordinary storm troops, on a long-planned onemonth vacation which started yesterday, were forbidden to wear their uniforms, hold meetings, or discuss the execution of their rebellious leaders. Members of the Berlin and Brandenburg general staff of the storm troops were under formal arrest pending Investigation of their -activities during the period in which Ernst Roehm, storm troop chief of staff executed yesterday, was planning his rebellion. One of Von Papon’s secretaries, Hubert von Bose, was among those killed Saturday. His death was announced as suicidal, and it was said the suicide was not connected with the revolt. Goering Is Strong Man Goering seemed the strong man. It was he who was intrusted with thp suppression of the storm troop revolt in Berlin, while Hitler took charge at Munich, national headquarters of the Nazi party. Goebbeis was among left wing Nazi leaders whose influence seemed ended as a result of the revolt. But he was called upon last night to make a wireless speech to the nation and the world and announced that any opposition to Hitler would be suppressed ruthlessly. All Nazi statements in Germany placed emphasis on the determination of Hitler to stamp our immorality among the storm troopers.
WITH ROOSEVELT The cruiser Houston steamed out into the Atlantic southbound ship lanes this afternoon, President Roosevelt in high good humor as the 10.000ton warship cut smoothly through the rough seas. It is the grandest vacation any President ever has had and, as Washington political writers point out, he really deserves it. On The Times' popular feature page today is the third of a series of five articles describing just what the President will see on his vacation trip. Today's article Is about Hawaii. Don't miss it. Tomorrow come* the one about the canal zone. Don’t miss that one either.