Indianapolis Times, Volume 46, Number 138, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 October 1934 — Page 1

I SCRirp^^fOW AMD

SPENCER EDUCATOR NAMED PRESIDENT; M’NUTT IS PRAISED New State Teachers’ Leader Triumphs Over Crawfordsville Woman on Sixteenth Ballot; Pick Other Officers. GOVERNOR’S POLICIES COMMENDED Retention of Gross Income Tax Is Urged in Resolution; Thirteen Sections Are Reinstated; 1935 Meeting Set. J. Albert Free, Spencer (Ind.) school superintendent, today was elected unanimously president of the Indiana State Teachers’ Association for the year 1935-36 in the session at Cadle tabernacle. Miss Golda Milner, Crawfordsville school supervisor, was named vice-president, and Miss Josephine Shea, Whiting, and Harold Moore, Terre Haute, Vigo county superintendent, were chosen as executive committeemen-at-large.

Rrrakinjr a deadlock on the sixteenth ballot, the teachers’ nominating committee earlier today submitted the name of Mr. Free. The deadlock was over Mr. Free and Miss Milner. From the first ballot In the nominating committee. Miss Milner and Mr. Free led in the balloting with O. W. Nicely, Indianapolis, Washington high school teacher, third in the standings. Mr. Free led throughout the committees balloting. Mr. Nicely’s vote never reached higher than two votes. A resolution indorsing the administration of Governor Paul V. McNutt in behalf of the schools was adopted unanimously when expected opposition failed to materialize. The teachers also indorsed a resolution favoring the gross income tax over other forms of taxation. Thirteen sections were reinstated by the convention. They are platoon, speech, deans of women, handwriting. Bible study, library, modern languages, clasical. nature study, biology, economics and sociology, geography and physical education. Last year it was decided to merge these with other sections. Resolution Is Withdrawn When a battle arose over his resolution that a commission be appointed to study possible coordination of education facilities. J. R. Mitchell. Seymour, asked that it be tabled. The opposition claimed that the commission tended to make the association bureaucratic and not democratic. The teachers voted to hold their convention at the same time next year as this. Other resolutions adopted included the appointment of a committee to investigate the establishment of a credit union, a committee to design anew constitution and the reduction of the secretary's salary from $6,000 to $5,000 a year. Retirement Art Stands The convention failed to pass a resolution reducing the maximum age retirement from forty to thirty years of service. The legislative committee strongly urged the teachers to support its program and resist any efforts to abolish the gross income tax. Other reports at this morning's meeting included the necrology committee, the secretary-treasurer, the auditing committees and the Indiana teacher committee. National Chief to Speak Speakers at the session at 2 today at Cadle tabernacle were Dr. Henry Lester Smith. National Education Association president^who will discuss “Our Program of $ Action." and James H. Richmond. Kentucky superintendent of public instruction, whose subject was “The Responsibility of Government for the Support of the Schools.' Simultaneously a meeting was to be held at Murat theater at which Dr. Fred B Smith. New York, was to talk on "Why They Don't Fight;” and Dr. George S Counts of Columbia university teachers' college (Turn to Page Three)

Today’s Times Contains Three Sections . . and every one of them is brimful of profitable buying information for you. In a special section of sixteen pages the Wm. H. Block Cos. presents detailed information about the tremendous amount of merchandise they offer to thrifty buyers during Block Days. In the other two sections other local merchants offer you mfire hundreds of profitable buying opportunities. If you like to get a hundred cent’s worth of buying power out of every dollar you have to apend. you can do your poeketbook no bigger favor than to Read the Ads in Today's Times

The Indianapolis Times Cloudy tonight; tomorrow occasional showers and somewhat warmer.

NRA M wi oo ouo >*rr

VOLUME 46—NUMBER 138

SIGMA DELTA CHI TO HEAR DEAN ACKERMAN AT NATIONAL PARLEY

By Times Special GREENCASTLE. Ind., Oct. 19. Dean Carl W. Ackerman of the Columbia university school of journalism, will be the principal speaker tomorow at a Founders’ day luncheon of Sigma Delta Chi at which President G. Bromley Oxnam of De Pauw will be the honor guest. Dean Ackerman will speak on “Leisure Under ‘Lieu-Lieu Governments.” The nineteenth annual convention of the journalistic fraternity got under way here today with forty-two active chapters represented and Walter R. Humphrey, Temple. Tex., national president, presiding. A debate today between Jonathan Eddy, executive secretary of the American Newspaper Guild, and Stephen C. Nowland, Indianapolis News editor, with the latter in rebuttal, was scheduled for today. The delegates to the convention will go to Indianapolis tonight to be guests of the Indianapolis alumni chapter at a stag dinner and will return tomorrow.

COMPROMISE ENDS BROADCAST DISPUTE Democrats Go on Air Tonight as Usual. A comprimise was reached today wherpby the Democratic county committee, barred from Radio Station WFBM because of censorship requirements, can return to the air tonight. Although the original deadline for submisison of manuscripts to the station’s attorney was fixed three hours ahead of the broadcast, the arrangement reached today allows the county committee until 4:30 p. m. to submit the copy of the scheduled address. The Democratic committee took the position, in the face of the station's deadline demands, that the time was fixed too early in the day for any speaker or candidate, at this point in the campaign, to have his address ready. ' The Republican county committee, whose broadcast time follows the Democratic period, also was barred last night by the censorship ruling, but was expected to go back on the air under the same arrangement agreed to today by the Democrats.

TODAY’S WEATHER

Hourly Temperatures 6 a. m 45 10 a. m 50 7a. m 46 11 a. m 54 8 a. m 46 12 (noon) .. 55 9 a. m 46 1 p. m 58 Tomorrow's sunrise, 6:01 a. m.; sunset, 4:49 p. m. In the Air Weather conditions at 9 a. m.: North wind, eight miles an hour; barometric pressure. 30.27 at sea level; temperature. 47; general conditions. overcast: ceiling estfmated at 1.600 feet; visibility, two miles, light fog.

BY HAROLD LA POLT Timrs Staff Writer THE downright stupidity and rank amateurishness of Thomas H. Robinson Jr.'s plans for the kidnaping of Mrs. Alice Speed Stoll. Louisville <Ky.> society matron, were responsible for early conclusions that the crime was not a ransom kidnaping. The kidnaper's stupidity began with the writing of the long ransom letter. He left a clear thumbprint on the paper. He had been arrested previously in Nashville, Tenn., and fingerprinted. He had named his father. Thomas H. Robinson. Nashville, as intermediary. When his father failed to pick up the $50,000 ransome money sent to Nashville by express. Robinson sent a letter to a member of the Stoll family

-w: lli—M m

J. Albert Free The Indiana State Teachers’ Association today elected J. Albert Free. Spencer (Ind.) schools superintendent, as its next president. He will assume office next year. Mr. Free was Owen county schools superintendent from TO 16 to 1928 and has taught in Spencer and Owen county schools. Born in Greene county, he attended Indiana university and Indiana State Teachers’ college. He has lived mast his life in Owen county.

Stoll Ransom Banknote Found Here; Spurs Hunt $lO Bill Obtained by Telephone Company Employe Proves Part of Kidnaper’s Loot. Discovery of one of the Stoll ransom banknotes here last night today spurred department of justice agents and police to renewed activity in the hunt for the abductor of Mrs. Alice Speed Stoll. The ransom note, unquestionably one of the $lO bills included in the $50,000 ransom obtained by Thomas H. Robinson Jr., was fourfd in possession of Albert Paul Johnson, employe in the automatic department of the Indiana Bell Telephone Company.

Mr. Johnson, who resides at 3434 North Rural street, had cashed his check at 11 yesterday morning at the telephone company cashier's office and was leaving the building when he was stopped by Earl Woehler, 427 Exeter street., telephone company window washer, who just had cashed his check and received a $lO bill. •'Got two fives for a ten?” asked Woehler. Johnson had received the ransom bill from woehler, of course unaware of its significance. Extremely interested in the Stoll kidnaping, Mrs. Johnson had asked her husband to bring home a copy of yesterday’s Louisville CourierJournal, in the hope that it might contain more pictures than those appearing in the Indianapolis papers. She noticed last night that there was a full page of numbers in the Louisville paper, reproduction of ali the ransom note numbers. Explaining that he had a "crazy hunch,” Johnson started scanning the list and comparing the money he had on his person with the ransom numbers. He discovered his $lO bill number only about one-fourth down the first column of small type. The bill was A-000714 issued by the First National Bank of Mt. Healthy, 0.. and had on it the penciled number 20. Johnson immediately called department of justice agents and informed them of his discovery.. Raid Is Fruitless Department of justice operatives conducted a fruitless raid at a downtown hotel Tuesday morning for Mrs. Frances Robinson, wife of the kidnaper of Mrs. Alice Speed Stoll. The Times learned today. A woman, positively identified by pictures as Mrs. Robinson, registered at the hotel about 7:11 a. m. Tuesday as "Mrs. Katherine Beech, St. Louis.” She appeared extremely nervous when taken to her room according to Eddie Cox. bellboy, brother of Tracy Cox. well known local boxer. Mrs. Robinson had only a small handbag. She took off her coat and started smoking a cigaret with shaking fingers* when she reached the room, according to Cox. "Has any one been here looking for me?” Cox said she asked him. Cox said he didn't know of any inquiries. He left and later was sent back to the room. The woman he is positive was Mrs. Robinson appeared even more agitated this time, Cox said, and asked him if there was any way she

Stoll Kidnaping Establishes New Low for Stupidity

designating his wife as the substitute intermediary. Harold Nathan, assistant director of the bureau of investigations department of justice, suspected Robinson from the start of the investigation. Facts withheld from newspaper investigators at the scene of the crime forced the reporters to invade secret precincts in search lor facts. As these facts piled up they were forced to believe Mrs. Stoll had not been kidnaped a a a IN the beginning, no one could understand why the kidnaper had remained from 1:30 to 4:30 with Mrs. Stoll in the mansion on Lime Kiln Lane, ten miles out of Louisville. No kidnaper, investigators rea-

NAMED PRESIDENT BY STATE TEACHERS

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1934

could get out of the hotel unobserved. He told her she could not. “Isn’t there a freight elevator I could use?” Cox said the woman asked him. He again replied in the negative and teld her the best chance of being unobserved was to go downstairs and take a less-used street exit. About an hour and a half later, approximately a half dozen department of justice operatives came to the hotel to inquire about the woman, The Times learned. They identified themselves to the management as federal men. A visit to “Mrs. Beech's” room disclosed that she had fled, leaving only the handbag which contained a few toilet articles. This was taken by the federal men. Cox said she asked him how to get to Meridian street he told her and in answer to the question, “How far out?” she replied: “Oh, not very far.” With the department of justice pamphlets on the Stoll ransom in their possession now, local banks are keeping a close watch for any of the money. Persons who suspect that they have ransom money may check with either The Indianapolis Times or the banks for verification. The money is believed to consist mostly of Federal Reserve bank notes. The bills are of $5, $lO and S2O denominations and do not follow any consecutive serial number.

BUSHMASTER IS SHOT AFTER KILLING 4 DOGS 18-Foot Snake Ready to Attack Men Before Slain. By United Press PORT OF SPAIN. Trinidad. Oct. 19.—A thrilling encounter with a giant bushmaster, one of the deadliest snakes known, was reported today from the Alston estate. It was believed to be one of the largest ever shot. Felix Rudolfo and Alfred Logan, while hunting, encountered the reptile, which was about seventen or eighteen feet long, with a body about the size of a mans thigh. One of their dogs stirred up the reptile, which struck it six times with its deadly fangs. The dog howled and dropped dead. Three other dogs suffered the same fate. The reptile was about to attack the two men when Rudolfo shot it.

soned. would take such a risk. That the kidnaper neglected to take any precautions against identification was another baffling development. Surely, experienced reporters speculated, no professional kidnaper would be so naive. The kidnaper had talked with Mrs. Stoll's maid, who admitted him to the mansion. He had walked through the house many times after trussing the maid with telephone wire. He had asked for a glass of water. This he drank, leaving fingerprints on the glass. He left fingerprints everywhere. This writer discovered early in his effort to penetrate the censorship established by the Stoll family and the authorities, that the kidnaper had left his automo-

INTENSIVE HUNT FOR KIDNAPER OF MRS. STOLL UNDER WAY IN EAST; CAR BELIEVED IN PENNSYLVANIA

■MYOlini RELEASED II KnUPGJWG Neighbors and Kin Rejoice at Return of Junk Dealer’s Son. By United Press NEW YORK, Oct. 19.—The family of Louis Esposito, 23, and the neighbors celebrated until daylight today his safe return from kidnapers who had held him since Monday night for $20,000 ransom. Louis returned to his home in the Bronx last night, saying he had been released without payment of ransom. He was driven up to the house in the automobile of a friend and dashed past a knot of reporters and curious into the arms of his family. Shortly afterward, Detective Lieutenant Thomas Sullivan talked with the youth. He admitted Louis’ return had been accomplished without co-operation of the police. Members of the famliy had asked authorities not to interfere. His home-coming was cause of great rejoicing in the neighborhood. Reporters, who from time to time had been ’shooed from the house by different members of the family, were invited to the party. In an interview, Louis’ father, Anthony, said to be a moderately wealthy junk dealer, related that the youth was freed after tne kidnapers discovered the family did not possess sufficient money to make the abduction profitable. Held in Apartment He told how last Monday night, while Louis stopped his automobile for a red light, two men leaped in from another car and ordered him to keep quiet. The men gave him a pair of pasted-over glasses and made him lie down. Finally, about two hours later, he was taken into an apartment. He had no idea of the location. During his captivity, the youth was treated with consideration. Last night, they put glasses on him again, and drove him for about a halfhour before letting him out with a warning not to remave the spectacles for ten minutes. Early today, District Attorney Samuel Foley of the Bronx and Henry Bruckman, Bronx inspector of detectives, visited the Esposito home. They emerged a few minutes later and Mr. Foley said the family was “stubborn.” He added the father might see him today. Ransom Note Received Only a few hours before Louis’ return the family acknowledged receipt of a ransom note from the kidnapers twenty-four hours be- '■ fore. They said the note was delivered j by a small boy. The note was written, they said, by Louis and contained instructions for payment of the demanded ransom. Joseph Esposito, Louis’ younger brother, indicated the demand was for $20,000. “The amount doesn't mean a ' thing.” he said, “because we can’t j pay $20,000. We are trying to ne- i gotiate for the return of my broth- ; er. It is only a question of how ; much. If the police will only let ! us alone, my old man and I can settle this.”

RETRIAL OF HOODLUM BEGINS HERE MONDAY Judge Who Sentenced Youth Four Years Ago to Preside. The retrial of Jesse Finke, 22-year-old hoodlum, on robbery charges will be held in criminal court before Special Judge James A. Collins, who four years ago sen- ! tenced Finke to the Indiana state farm for several holdups here. Finke last March was convicted by a jury of charges of having commit- , ted three holdups. Criminal Judge Frank P. Baker authorized anew | trial because of "erroneous instrucI tions to the jury.”

bile in a position on the winding driveway to the Stoll home that made it necessary for him to maneuver after loading the kidnap victim in the car. No kidnaper would do this, this reporter believed. Why would nqf a kidnaper plan a quick get-away? All fragments of evidence assembled pointed to another type of crime. m * a the case finally broke. ’ * however, all these baffling discoveries were explained. Up to that time, the ransom letter was regarded by private investigators as a ‘ plant” to throw police off the trail. Robinson Jr., a paroled patient from a Tennessee asylum, had been a law student. Everything that he plotted laid

SIX TEACHERS ROBBED DURING OCCUPANCY OF LARGE HOTEL ROOM

“If six young women had $94 last night, and this morning they had empty purses, what’s the answer?” This was the problem in mathematics which stumped six Indiana teachers today. The appealed to police for its solution. The six teachers attending the state convention, occupied a large double room in a local hotel last night. This morning their purses were gone. They recalled hearing a noise in the room before daylight, but each thought it was of her roommates. Included with the $94 in cash which was stolen were transportation tickets, drivers’ licenses, gloves and fountain pens. The empty parses were recovered. The teachers were Mrs. Herman Nedisett, Mrs. Perry Black, and Misses Bonnie Frazier, Charlotte Creal, and Nellie Neil, Terre Haute, and Miss Lois Payton, Clinton. GEN VON KLUCK IS DEAD AT 88 Commander of First German Army at Battle of Marne Passes. By United Press BERLIN, Oct. 19.—General Field Marshal Alexander von Kluck of the German imperial general staff, who commanded the first German army at the battle of the Marne and its advance on Paris, died today. He was 88. Death was attributed to senility. Von Kluck commanded the first German army, which formed the right wing of the German drive in 1914, penetrating Belgium and outflanking the French and British troops. The vanguard of his army actually sighted Paris before it was compelled to withdraw when.' because of its own unprecedented speed, it lost contact with supporting German forces. Von Kluck went into retirement in Berlin and played no part in the stirring post-war events in Germany. GUFFEY FINANCIAL AID ADMITTED BY MELLON Only Guaranteed $75,000 Payment. He Replies to Pinrhot. By Un ilrd Press PITTSBURGH. Oct. 19—Andrew W. Mellon disclosed today that he guaranteed a $75,000 payment for Joseph F. Guffey, Democratic senatorial candidate, but denied that he had ever lent Mr. Guffey any funds, as charged last night by Governor Gifford Pinchot. PRANKSTERS ARE~BUSY Chief Morrissey Directs Police to Curb Halloween Stunts. Chief Mike Morrissey today issued orders that all policemen break up youthful bands engaged in preHalloween pranks. The chief reported several incidents of lights having been smashed and other property damage inflicted by mischievous boys and girls. Roosevelt Begins Trip By United Press WASHINGTON. Oct. 19.—President Roosevelt left Washington at 9:58 a. m. today for Roanoke. Va., where late today he will speak at the dedication of a veterans’ hospital. Times Index Beveridge on Police 12 Block Section 39, 54 Bridge 17 Broun 21 Comics 37 Crossword Puzzle 7 Editorial 22 Financial . 32 Food Pages 25, 26 Pegler * 21 Radio 33 Sports 28, 29 State News 38 Woman’s Pages 16, 17

particular emphasis on legalistic elements. The kidnaper pointed out in the kidnap letter that the family would have no insurance claim if the body of the victim was not found. All the facts indicate that Robinson. his twisted mind retaining only fragments of his legal education, considered the legal phases of the kidnaping and thought nothing about what he should do to prevent apprehension. This startling fact continues to characterize his flight. He used a stolen Illinois automobile to carry Mrs. Stoll from her Lime Kiln lane home to Indianapolis. He did not make any effort to change the plates, it is believed. He kept the car and left the original plates on it.

Enrprrd as Second-Class Matter at Posoffice. Indianapolis, Ind.

Trameup,’ Is Charge of Mrs. Thomas Robinson, Wife of Abductor, Held as Accomplice in Stoll Case. CLAIMS LINK TO FEDERAL MEN Took Ransom to Husband at Behest of Authorities, She Tells Lawyer; U. S. Agents Deny Whole Story. By United Press KANE, Pa., Oct. 19.—State police armed with rifles this afternoon blocked all highways toward here from Marienville after a hitch-hiker told police that a man resembling the description of Thomas H. Robinson Jr., dropped him Trom his car there. James Eck. 22, the hitch-hiker, told police that the man carried two sets of license plates in his tord 5 -8 sedan, together with a blackjack and a revolver. He ordered Eck from his machine at Marienville, the youth told police, and turned north toward Kane. The youth “positively identified” Robinson as the man who gave him a ride, police said, by means of photographs. (Photostatic copy of the full ransom note will be found on 3) BV TIPTON BMSH Timfs Staff Writer LOUISVILLE, l\y., Oct. 19.—The hunt for Thomas H. Robinson Jr., fleeing kidnaper of Mrs. Alice Speed Stoll, st retched across the Alleghenies to the eastern, seaboard this afternoon. Reports that Robinson had been seen came from * a dozen states, but the search was concentrated in eastern Pennsylvania and in Delaware. Police teletype systems reported that Delaware police had vainly pursued three men, one of whom answered Robinson’s description. The car escaped into Pennsylvania. Previously the car had been reported at Reading, Pa., and Wernersville, Pa. The swing of the search to eastern states started terday when an automobile, positively identified as Robin-

HAUPTMANN'S ALIBI BROKEN BY EVIDENCE Employer Denies He Worked Day of Kidnaping. By United. Press NEW YORK, Oct. 19.—New decumentary evidence said to prove that Bruno R. Hauptmann did not work at the Majestic apartments the day of the Lindbergh baby kidnaping, as contended by two of his witnesses, was produced today. Reinol C. Grelich of Passaic, N. J., accountant for the Reliance Property Management. Inc., trustee for the Majestic apartments, appeared at the office of District Attorney Samuel J. Foley of the Bronx with records showing Hauptmann started work at the apartments March 21, 1932. The baby was kidnaped March 1. 3 YOUTHS ARE HELD IN CAR THEFT CASE Trio Also Accused of Taking Part in Holdup. Three youths were held to the grand jury today on charges of vehicle taking and robbery by Municipal Judge Dewey Myers. They are Joe Rolland and Melvin Briggs. 309 Arbor avenue, and William 1026 Blaine avenue. They are alleged to have stolen an automobile and committed a holdup Oct. 8. Rolland and Cangnav were out on bond on similar charges when the holdup occurred U. S„ JAPAN NAVAL DELEGATES CONFER Nippon Ambassador, Admiral Call on Davis, Standley. By t iiitrd Press LONDON. Oct. 19.—The first direct contact of United States and Japanese naval delegations occurred today when Ambassador Tsuneo Matsudaira and Admiral Yamamoto visited Norman H. Davis and Admiral william H. Standley. They remained twenty minutes. Navies were not discussed.

THE Nashville radical revealed but few indications of the smartness that ordinarily marks the operations of kidnapers. He bungled from the beginning. His bungling left a wake of such incredibly positive proof leading to him that everyone, excepting perhaps Harold Nathan, the department of justice chief, thought this could not have been a ransom kidnaping. He bungled when he went to the home of Berry V. Stoll instead of to the Louisville home of Berry’s father. Carles C. Stoll, the intended kidnap victim. This bungling offered another mysterious element in the investigation. Thomas H. Robinson Jr.’s plans will go down in crime history ax establishing anew low for stupidity.

HOME EDITION PRICE TWO CENTS Outside Marion County. 3 Cents

I son's by means of fingeiv j prints and Indiana license I plates issued in his wife's j name, was found abandoned I at Springfield. The kidnaper’s father, T. H. Robinson Sr., was under arrest at Nashville, Tenn.,,on charges of aiding his son and the latter’s wife in the kidnaping of Mrs. Stoll. The elder Robinson, to whosft home the ransom money was sent by the victim's millionaire husband, was at liberty under $25,000 bond pending a hearing on his removal to Louisville. Today one of the most puzzling of the many questions remaining unanswered is the holding under $50,000 bond of Mrs. Frances Althauser Robinson, wife of the accused kidnaper. Through her counsel, Clem W. Huggins, well-known Tennessee criminal lawyer, Mrs. Robinson claimed that she had been the victim of a ‘‘frameup." She told Mr. Huggins that she was in Nashville at the time of Mrs. Stoll's abduction and the first time she realized that her husband was the kidnaper was when he telephoned her there Monday. Had Lived in Indianapolis Her story, as related by Mr. Huggins, after two conversations with his client, follows briefly: She said that she had been living with her husband in the Indianapolis apartment until the Monday before the kidnaping when she returned to Nashville to visit her mother and small son. After she had received the phone call from her husband sne understood that her father-in-law had gone downtown to attend a conference. She told Mr. Huggins that she believed this meeting had been attended by J. Carlton Loster, Davidson county (Nashville) attorneygeneral, a Nashville federal investigator and a representative of the Stoll family in addition to the elder Robinson. Mr. Huggins said he had understood her to say that former Ambassador Frederic M. Sackett was the Stoll family spokesman at the conference. Given 5125 for Expenses At this meeting, it was decided that Mrs. Robinson should deliver the ransom money to her husband. Shf understood that she would be acting with the full knowledge of federal investigators and others at the conference. The ransom was turned over to her and she was given $125 by a Nashville attorney to cover her expenses on the trip to Indianapolis. She said she understood that this money had been provided by the Stoll family representative. She then was driven to a town near Nashville where she boarded a train for Terre Haute. There she engaged a taxi to drive her to Indianapolis. Arriving there she was worried, she said, because cf the large sum of money she was carrying and left the cab in a garage. From the garage, she told Huggins she had gone to the traction terminal. Eventually she took an Illinois street car to Twenty-eighth street, near her husband's apartment, which she said she reached about 9 Tuesday morning. She said she immediately took the brown paper package containing the ransom money from her suitcase iTurn to Page 27)