Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 31, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 April 1935 — Page 1

GROSSARTS UNPAID TAXES NOT LISTED ON ’35 DUPLICATES Levies Wljich County Auditor Did Not Pay Under Moratorium Plan Fail to Appear On Current Rolls as Provided by Law. SEVEN LOTS DEEDED TO MARK GRAY Properties That Do Not Appear to Be Recharged Are Same Tracts Which Were Missing From Advertised Lists. His unpaid 1930 and 1931 taxes, upon which County Auditor Charles A. Grossart took a moratorium in 1933, do Hot appear upon the current tax duplicates although the first installment was shown as unpaid after it became due last May, The Indianapolis Times learned today following an Investigation.

Chapter 30 of the laws of 3.933 provides: ‘The failure to pay any of *uch installments of delinquent taxes and interest, and Current taxes, at the time when the same are due and parable, as herein provided, and as otherwise provided by law, shall fcause such taxpayer to lose any and all rights under the provisions •f this act ...” The same chapter also provides: “The failure to pay any of such .Installments of delinquent taxes and interest, and current taxes at the time when the same are due and payable as herein provided, shall cause the county auditor to recharge auch unpaid delinquent taxes together with current penalties and interest on the current tax duplicate." Lots Are Deeded The current tax duplicates on file In the office of the County Treasurer, show only the current taxes Hue, and the delinquency of the |933 taxes, due in 1934. The properties that do not appear to be recharged upon the curtent duplicates are the same properties assessed to Mr. Grossart and which did not appear in the list of properties advertised for sale for non-payment of taxes in 1932. Seven of the lots in Center Townihip. assessed to Mr. Grossart in 1931, were deeded by him in December. 1933. to Mark R. Gray. Meanwhile Mr. Grossart drew his •6000 a year salary from the county treasury. When the tax delinquency moratorium law went into effect in 1933, Mr Grossart accepted its provisions, a* applied to the taxes charged to him on 14 lots in Center Township and on his residence, 5148 N. Me-fidian-st. assessed to Mr. Grossart and his wife. Unpaid, Records Show At that time $2128.02 unpaid taxes and interest, charged against the properties assessed to Mr. Grossart. were transferred to the moratorium lists after Mr. Grossart had paid both installments of the 1932 taxes, Hue in 1933. His first moratorium installment fras due May 7, 1934. County Treasury tax moratorium fleeords do hot show that the inliallment has been paid. Overdue tax moratorium installments charged against scores of bther properties also do not appear cs delinquent on the current tax duplicates. Mr. Grossart became County Auditor in January, 1931. The taxes Charged to him and not shown as paid on the County Treasurer's records are: The 1930 taxes, due in 1931: the 1931 taxes, due in 1932, •nd the 1933 taxes, due in 1934. Held City Job According to official records, hi' 1929 taxes, due in the year preceding his taking the office of Auditor, had been paid when his properties did not appear on the 1932 tax sale advertised lists. Before becoming County Auditor Mr. Grossart was Indianapolis Btreet commissioner. His salary then was $3300 a year. According to the tax moratorium record in the County Treasurer's office, accrued penalties of $115.34 charged to Mr. Grossart and his wife on Washington Square lot 32. were dropped when he accepted the moratorium plan. Accrued penalties of $74.43 charged against the 14 lots in Center Township also were dropped, the record ■hows. Interest at 4 per cent to November, 1933. amounting to $149.04, was added. The 1933 tax moratorium law provides for the restoration of dropped penalties upon the failure to pay moratorium installments. Times Index Page Beautiful Indianapolis 2 Bridge 9 Broun 13 Comics 19 Crossword Puzzle 19 Curious World 19 DIONNE BABIES 3 Editorial 14 Financial 15 Hickman—Theaters 17 Hugh 8- Johnson 4 Junior Aviation 20 Pegler 13 Radio 11 Bport* 16-17 Stampa g Btate Newt 5 •tory of Easter 20 F’A U Woman* pages ....... v ....8-9-10

. The Indianapolis Times Generally fair tonight and tomorrow; frost tonight with lowest temperature about 27; rising temperature tomorrow.

NR A, an BO OUB PART

VOLUME 47—NUMBER 31

RUG SNATCHERS BAFFLEPOLICE There’s Apparently Little Cops Can Do; $11,873 Is Total Loot. Indianapolis and Marion County homes have been robbed of $11,873 worth of expensive oriental rugs in the last six months and the Indianapolis police force admits that apparently there is nothing it can do about it. Not a single one of the rugs has been recovered: not a single rug thief apprehended. More than that, police dmit they haven't the sligntest idea how the rugs are put on the market again. Moreover, there seems to be no certain way of protecting the rugs in the home. If a burglar can gain entrance, often by the simple expedient of breaking the glass in a door or window, then the rugs are his so long as he isn’t interrupted before he gets them out, police pointed out. You can't lock a rug to the floor, or put it in a safe when you leave home for a few hours, they commented. Rugs, they said, make attractive loot even though cumbersome, because they are hard to identify, and because they can be. and probably are. peddled by door to door peddlers for a fraction of their real value. Such bargains are attractive and few householders, with cash on hand, can resist them, especially when the rugs are represented as having been smuggled into the country duty free and thus can be sold so cheaply, the police said. STRIKE OF 1000 OHIO CONVICTS CONTINUES “Passive Resistance'' Campaign Still on. Despite Warden's Efforts. Rjf United Prett i COLUMBUS. 0.. April 16—The "passive resistance” strike of more than 1000 Ohio Penitentiary convicts continued today, despite Warden James Woodard's efforts to persuade the men to return to the prison workshops. The prisoners demanded more paroles and fewer delays by the parole board. There was no violence; they merely refused to work. Prison officials so far have been unable to find ringleaders of the strike. The prisoners had no spokesmen. although a few volunteered to answer questions of the warden.

Morrissey Moves to Put Teeth Into Traffic Code Two ordinances, designed ta put teeth into the citv's traffic laws, win be introduced at the next session of the City Council under the sponsorship of Chief Mike Mon Issey and City Prosecutor Albert Thayer.

One ordinance would require that all traffic sticker cases be called in open court. A sticker, under the present ordinance, may be satisfied with the appearance of the driver in traffic court and the payment by him of a nominal fine, witn no open court action. The new ordinance also would repeal the 72-hour summons provision. Chief Morrissey said the proposed law would make practically impossible the fixing of a sticker by any one. The other proposed ordinance would make the owner of an auto responsible at all times for it. This. Chief Morrissey said, would make the owner liable for any sticker his car might get. regardless of whether he was driving it, or parking it. and would make him personally responsible for the violation of the ordinance. These proposals were announced today at a meeting of the Safety Board In the wake of week-end traffic deaths that brought Marion County's total this year to 44. Municipal Court judges convicted 105 traffic law violators yesterday and today, and police arrested 36 more drivers on a variety of charges. Betty Jean Holt. 8. of 36 W. Vermont- at. was reported in a critical condition at City Hospital today. She was struck by an automobile at N. Meridian and Michigan -sts yesterday while returning home from school Witnesses said the child was hurled 15 feet. The auto was driven by Charles Brenner, 43, of 4160 Col-

-.1 ■- " " ' • "

(Photo by Margaret Bourke-White; Copyright. 1935. KJ2A Service, lnc.j As dust, storms again scourge the Southwest. Margaret Bourke-White’s camera shows you better than words the aggravated plight of thousands of plains farmers. This man. emerging from his house to clean up after the “duster” has passed, pushes desperately against the door of one of his outbuildings, sealed shut by the drifted dust which has heaped itself over implements, tools and equipment, a literal mantle of death. After two crop failures, he has no money to repair the badly-damaged buildings.

SPEEDER, TAKING HIS VICTIM TO HOSPITAL,’ LEAVES LAD IN DITCH

By United Prett CHICAGO, April 16.—Three small boys played in the street. A motor car sped around a comer. Edward Costello, 9, fell screaming beneath the wheels and his two companions reeled from the impact of glancing blows. A panicky driver glanced at angry men and women streaming from nearby houses, lifted Edward to the seat of his car and announced: “I’m taking him to a hospital." Twenty minutes later a pedestrian found the child, moaning in unconscious agony, in a roadside ditch. Today every policeman in Chicago received a mimeographed slip ordering a constant watch for the guilty driver. Edward may die. INGALLS SEEKS NEW AIR SPEED RECORD Famed Woman Flier Wings East Over U. S. By United Prett BURBANK. Cal., April 16. Laura Ingalls was winging her way toward New York this afternoon in a black monoplane in which she hopes to set a transcontinental nonstop woman’s record. Miss Ingalls hopped into her $40,000 Lockheed “Vendetta” shortly after daybreak and sailed into the air at 7:10 a. m. (Indianapolis time). She expects to reach Floyd Bennett Field, N. Y., in 15 hours, clipping more than two hours off Amelia Earhart Putnam's 1933 record of 17 hours 7 minutes 30 seconds. Miss Ingalls plane is equipped with a "robot” pilot.

lege-av, who later was arrested on a vagrancy charge.

Whispered Conferences, Attorneys' Huddles and a Lot of Conversation—But Still Marion County Justice Doesn't Budge

uie macninery oi Marion uounty justice developed a flat wheel yesterday and stalled in the afternoon in *ne cases of five men accused of assorted offenses. While L. Ert Slack. Criminal Court Judge pro tern., will continue to hear other cases, adjustment of the judicial machinery in at least one of the cases must await the return of Judge Frank P. Baker, who is said to be out of the city. In the morning a covey of deputies from Sheriff Otto Ray's jail came into court escorting heavily manacled Donald Nye, James Flaherty. Harry Pierson and Benny DeWitt. In their wake hobbled Ernest Tait on crutches, needed, police say. because he didn't dodge shots fired after an attempted bank holdup. A grand jury had indicted Tait four times; Flaherty. Nye, Pierson and De Witt, each twice. Then the attorneys began to arrive. Howard Bates. Clyde Karrer, Ernest Brown and Edward W. McElfre&h. and bearing bulky files, went to work for their clients. More than 30 citizens, summoned

INDIANAPOLIS, TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1935

HAVOC GROWS IN SOUTHWEST IN WAKE OF NEW BUST STORMS

Move Condemning Nazis Pushed by Three Powers Great Britain, France and Italy Adopt Tactics to Force Strong Action by League. By United Prett GENEVA, April 16.—Great Britain, France and Italy adopted steamroller tactics late today to force through the Council of the League of Nations a resolution strongly condemning Germany for re-arming in

violation of the Versailles Treaty. The three powers adopted a firm, united front and passage of the resolution tomorrow was virtually assured. The resolution implicitly providfyi that treaty violations shall be dealt with by the members of the league as provided in the covenant—thus opening the way for economic penalties against Germany if necessary. The council adjourned without taking a vote. When the vote is reached. Denmark and Poland, who oppose such strong condemnation of Germany, probably will abstain. A unanimous vote is required, which the abstentions would permit. The resolution says that the Council “declares that Germany failed In the duty which lies on all members of the international community to respect undertakings which they contracted, and condemns any unilateral repudiation of international obligations.” Further, the resolution said, “this unilateral action, by introducing a new and disturbing element into the international situation, must necessarily appear to be a threat to European security.”

Highlights in Today's Headlines

Hey! Hey! Here's Hey wood Back Again! Heywood Broun, popular Times columnist, is back after a well-earned vacation, with some pointed comments to make about the recent anti-war demonstrations. You'll find his column in its usual spot . . >' On Page 13 of Today's Times The Dionnes Go In for Sun-Bathing!. . Sunshine or no sunshine, the Dionnes get their sun bath just the same. You'll see how On Page 3 of Today’s Times More About TV A. The second of Talcott Powell's interesting ar.icles. based on a personal on-the-ground study of TV A. appears . . . On Page 13 of Today’s Times

for grand jury duty, had been directed to remain in the court, as their services might be needed on a trial jury. A reporter examined the indictments against the five. Deputy Prosecutor Edward Brennan announced to Judge Slack that he had discovered there was an indictment against Pierson, charging conspiracy to commit a felony, in addition to one charging vehicle taking, upon which Pierson was to plead guilty and accept a three-to-ten year sentence. After Mr. Brennan's discovery, he said he would not agree to accepting the plea. There was a buzz of whispered conversation aipong the attorneys. Husky detectives trooped in the court room bearing an arsenal, said to have been taken from the defendants. and bearing satchels full of burglar tools. Judge Slack ruled nothing would be done that was not acceptable to the prosecutor. Mr. Brennan announced that Prosecutor Herbert M. Spencer was ill and could not be reached.

INVERTED STOMACH OPERATION IS FATAL Upside-Down Boy, 9, Dies at Truesdale Hospital. By United Prett FALL RIVER, Mass., April 16. Nine-year-old William (Buddy) Spiegelblatt of Newport, R. 1., died at Truesdale Hospital today following an upside-down stomach operation. The operation. performed Saturday. was similar to those from which Alyce Jane McHenry, 10, of Omaha. Neb., and Jimmy Neilson. 13, of San Jose, Cal., are recovering. The operation on the Spiegelblatt lad was performed by Dr. Philemon Edwards Truesdale, nationally famous diaphragmatic hernia surgeon. Os 26 such operations performed by Dr. Truesdale, this was the first fatality in the case of a child. Tjvo other unsuccessful operations were performed on adults.

But in the afternoon Mr. Spencer was in court, apparently fully recovered from his illness. By now, Charles B. Clarke, former County Attorney, had arrived before the bench and announced that he had been retained in the Pierson case and desired a continuance, because he knew nothing of his defendant's case. Joel A. Baker, Criminal Court investigator, talked with Judge Slack.' Judge Slack indicated the presence of three separate sets of attorneys in one case at the last minute would not be permitted to delay Pierson's trial. There were more conferences. Some of these took place between Flaherty, one of the defendants, and attorneys. Others took place between Mr. Brennan and the members of the bar. Every' one was getting exactly nowhere, when Judge Slack emerged from the court's private office and summoned a conference of all the attorneys. Returning to the bench, Judge* Slack announced the lawyers

Entered • Seond-CU* Matter at Poatofflc* Indianapolia. lad.

‘WHAT! NO DINNER?’ IS JUROR’S CRY AS CASE IS DISMISSED

When Clyde Karrer, Criminal Court special judge, ordered a directed verdict of acquittal in the case of Michaeli Hayes, charged with robbery and grand larceny, today, one juror was puzzled. “What does that mean? Does that mean we won’t get any dinfter?” asked the juror. Judge Karrer said that he was sorry but that the jurors would have to buy their own dinners. WAR FINANCING PROBE PERILOUS, BRITISH VIEW U. S. Warned About “Old Scandals,” Baldwin Reveals In Commons. By United Prett LONDON, April 16.—The British government has expressed hope to the United States government that its proposed investigation of wartime international financing will not revive old scandals and disturb the present situation in Europe, Stanley Baldwin, lord president of the council, revealed today in the House of Commons.

$27,000,000 to Be Income of State Wheat Growers Indiana wheat growers stand to gross considerably more than $27,000,000 this year, thanks to the western dust storms and the acreage reduction contracts of the Agricultural Adjustment Administration, farm experts gathered here today at the Claypool estimated.

The average yearly crop in the state is 27,000.000 bushels, and with cash wheat today at 90 cents a bushel and $1 wheat a reality on the Chicago Board of Trade, and the price virtually certain to rise, wheat will be a profitable crop for the state.. The farm experts, gathered here frAi seven states, were arranging for a vote of wheat growers on May 25 to decide whether the AAA wheat acreage reduction plan will be continued another three years. The present’contracts expire at the end of the 1935 season.. < For the continuation spoke G. E. Farrell, AAA division of grain director. He said that the reduction of acreage is the best means of keeping the nation's wheat prices above the world market which today, he said, is between 30 and 35 cents a bushel lower.

should have their minds made up by 2. because Pierson was going on trial at that hour. Sheriff Ray's deputies trussed up their prisoners and marched them back to jail. The prospective jurors, the group of attorneys and a crowded court room went to lunch. At 2 Judge Slack ascended the bench. Thomas McNulty, an attorney. who had not been in the group during the morning, said he had at one time represented Pierson in filing certain papers. These papers consisted of petitions for a jury trial and change of from the judge, Mr. McNulty declwed. Judge Slack thumbed through the bulky minute book and declared the minutes did not show the filing of the petition for change of judge. Charles F. Steger. court clerk, looked through the files and come back bearin„ leg*.' papers. He told Judge Slack he had found the petition for change of venue folded inside the petition for a jury trial. Judge Slack examined the papers, and announced they were apparently in order, became the rawing

WILTED CROPS ARE LEFT IN WAKE OF FREEZING STORMS Leading 1 Northwest Winds and Severe Frosts Cause Heavy Losses to Farmers, Florists and Orchardists. MERCURY TO DROP AGAIN TONIGHT Peach Growers Anticipate High Damage Due to Blowing About of Smudges; Temperature Tumbles to 25 Here. Lashing Northwest winds, severe frosts and below freezing temperatures have caused heavy loss to Indiana farmers, orchardists and florists during the last two days of bitter cold, Minor Justin, Lafayette, state agricultural statistician, revealed today. From all corners of the state came word of damage to

COLD DELAYS OPENING TILTS Near-Freezing Weather Mar to Start of Big League Campaign. B linitrd Prm Overcast skies and near-freezing weather marred today’s major league baseball openers. ' There was a distinct possibility that many openers would be postponed. Here are midday weather reports: National League Brooklyn at Philidalphia. rising temperature after early day nearfreezing weather and occasional snow flurries. New York at Boston, cloudy and cool. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati: near- • freezing weather after a light snowfall during night and an early morning frost. American League Cleveland at St. Louis; chance of postponement because of sharply cool weather. Chicago at Detroit; snow flurries and sub-freezing weather during forenoon forced postponement. Philadelphia at Washington; postponed. cold. Boston at New York: partly cloudy with temperature around 40.

TODAY’S WEATHER

Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 28 10 a. m 31 7a. m 28 11 a. m 32 Ba. m 29 12 (noon).. ?3 9a. m 30 Ip. m 35 Tomorrow’s sunrise, 5:04 a. m.; sunset, 6:25 p. m.

Among other things, he revealed that with the contracts this year, and the dust storms, the United States figures to produce, nearly to the bushel, the exact amount it will consume. The amount is estimated at 625.000,000 bushels. There is, however, a 120.000.000-bushel carryover. or surplus. Mr. Farrell said that one reason for the necessity of retiring some of the acreage is the collapse of the foreign market. Indiana, for instance. once grew many millions of bushels of wheat for export to Italy, but Mussolini rearranged things, ordered wheat to be grown, and now Italian wheat goes into Italian spaghetti. The experts are here from Indiana. Ohio, Illinois. Michigan. Wisconsin, Tennessee and Kentucky.

paper had been stamped with a filing stamp bearing the date of Feb. 25. as had the petition for a jury trial. Preparatory to ruling on the petition, judge Slack examined into his own power to act on the request. He found that while he is Judge pro tern, he also had been named special judge in the Pierson case. There was a nodding of heads as the judge ruled he could not pass upon the petition for change of judge. That was the sole power of Judge Baker, who was away. Mr. McNulty told Judge Baker he had not filed an appearance for Pierson when he filed the petitions. Russell B Duncan, another attorney, filed one in the Pierson case, bringing the number of attorneys in the case in excess of the number of defendants. Before sending the prospective jurors home and the prisoners back to Sheriff Ray'u jail. Judge Slack said the situation was so confused he would noUthen pass on the eases in his capacity as Judge pro tern. Court adjourned with the usual impressive ritual.

HOME EDITION PRICE THREE CENTS

early vegetables, fruit trees and spring flowers. Although grain was said to have escaped damage, H. E. Abbott, Marion County agricultural agent, said that if the cold continued, oats which have been in the ground three weeks would have to be replanted. Tonight the farmers r.ere faced with another staggering blow as the United states Weather Bureau forecast a heavy frost and continued cold. Beets, cabbage, rhubarb, peas and carrots were nipped severely last night. Marion County farmers waited for the sun to appear before being able to estimate the total damage to the crops. Peach orchardists anticipated heavy losses because smudges set out last night were blown about by strong winds from the Northwest. Unguarded pear, plum and apple trees were reported ruined in some sectors. Not content with blowing gales over the state and sending temperatures far below the freezing mark, the weather tonight will send another shivering blast over Indiana, the United States Weather Bftreau forecast. A damaging frost will accompany the cold. Lashing winds drove snow flurries throughout the streets yesterday and last night. Less than an inch was recorded. Although the normal temperature for today is 52, the mercury fell to 25 at 9:30 last night in Indianapolis. At 9 today the temperature was 30. It had risen to 33 at noon. Weather forecasters predicted that by late tomorrow the temperature again would return to normal. Cold Spell Is Aid There are approximately 800,000 peach trees spread out over 50,000 acres in Gibson, Pike and Knox Counties in southwestern Indiana. In 1931 the crop was valued at $814,000, an exceptionally good year. Indiana peaches have been noted for their quality rather than their quantity. Mr. Justin said. Some of the finest peach orchards in the country are located near Vincennes. “ A cold wave killing off 50 per cent of the peach blooms is not particularly damaging to the peach crop, because there are too many blooms on the trees early in the spring,’’ Mr. Justin said. “If all the blooms matured, the trees would be over-crowded and produce a mediocre type of fruit.” “Asa result, many orchardists look forward to at least one late cold spell to kill off excess blooms and insure a crop of large, luscious peaches. “The smudges which are kept going through the entire cold wave raise the temperatures at least 5 degrees if the wind is not blowing with too high a velocity. The peach orchards would not be affected seriously unless the mercury fell at least 5 degrees below freezing.” Florists Report Damage A cold wave coming this late in the spring is not exceptional in Indiana. During the last 10 years several such cold periods have occurred. Late in May. 1925, corn and tomatoes were killed by an extreme cold spell. Amateur orchardists near Indiana suffered irreparable losses duo to the cold, because few, if any. had smudge pots available. Throughout the city back yard peach trees drooped from the cold, their dead blossoms falling off on the snowcovered ground. Many early flowers, encouraged by warm weather, had budded earlier and were blighted by the severe temperatures the last two days. Florists with outdoor gardens took extra precautions last night to save their flowers from ruin. Several local florists reported that the daffodils. rock garden plants, peaches, plums and pears were frozen last night Entire Midwest Hit By United Prett CHICAGO, April 16. Gusty “baby” blizzards drove spring far back into the Southland today and threatened destruction of fruit and field crops in virtually all the Middle West. Government forecasters said temperatures may rise late today to nearly normal levels but warned gardeners and farmers to keep smudge pots burning and truck beds covered overnight. Th#y expected minim ums of 20 to 25 degrees this morning from Canada to Kentucky and Montana to Pennsylvania. Snow, dust, gales and freezing temperatures made life a misiry for residents of both farms and elites yesterday from the Rocky Mountains to the Northwest coast.