Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 18 January 1939 — Page 1

/ gaan with her.

RERIE S = HOWARD g

. HUNT GUEST OF . WOMAN: SLAIN

IN APARTMENT

Police ‘Lock Doors, Make ~ Scientific Analysis in Quest for Clues.

ves VISITOR COFFEE

D. “A. R. Member Reported To Have Had $15,000 in Jewelry.

Behind locked doors and drawn window shades, police this afternoon sought through scientific analysis to identify the man they believed called on Mrs. Carrie Lelah Romig yesterday and killed her with a claw hammer.

Throughout last night and today they have refused admission to the first-floor apartment at 120 W. 12th © St. where the 54-year-old victim was slain in her bedroom.

Mrs. Romig was said to have-pos-|-

sessed about $15,000 in jewels and considerable cash. Modestly furnished, the two-bedroom apartment was advertised by a window card as containing sleeping rooms for “ent. Police refused to say whether they had yet obtained a fingerprint or other clues to the identity of the slayer. - Mrs. Romig’s skull was fractured by a blow just above the left temple with a claw hammer. The blow apparently shattered the threequarter inch handle,

Believed Slain About 1 P. M.

Deputy Coroner Norman Booher said the slaying occurred, as nearly as he could tell, about 1 p. m. yesterday. He said that H. Daniel Romig, 28-year-old husband of the victim, probably will be released from technical custody as a witness after he testifies tomorrow at the inquest. Mr. Romig is employed in the F. W. Woolworth store on W, Washington St., and Robert Chapman, manager, said he worked all day and remained in the store during his lunch hour, 1:49 to 2:18 p. m. yesterday. Mrs. ‘Charles A. Tucker, Shelbyea ste of Mrs. Romig, said A always kept between $15 and $16,000 worth of diads and from $300 to $500 In

A high police official.

said investigators believe the killer

was an old acquaintance and that ‘the motive was not robbery. ‘Prosecutor David Lewis said he would take no action in the case until police had completed their inves- : tigation.

Believes Some Gels Missing

Mr. Romig, who was questioned during the night, said he believed some jewelry was missing. Mr. Romig told police that he returned from work, let himself into the first-floor apartment and called to his wife but received no answer. . He reported he then went into one of the two bedrooms and found the body of his wife lying diagonally across the bed, her hands folded. The bedclothes were rumpled and bloody and he found the broken hammer nearby, he said. He then called police,

‘Known for Charity Work

Mis. Romig, who was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and who was widely known for her charity work in Shelbyville where she formerly lived, had entertained a guest at her apartment during the morning, police said. Mrs. Clara Corey, who manages the apartment house and whose apartment is directly above that of the Romigs, said a man knocked at her door about 10 a. m. yesterday and inquired about Mrs. Romig. “Where is the person who wants to sell the restaurant?” she said he asked. She directed him to the Romig apartment, and he left, she sai

Hallway Was Dark

Mrs. Corey said she saw the man vaguely in the dark of the hallway and that she believed he wore a reddish brown suit. She said she could not tell. whether he was young or old, or. give any more detailed description. Mrs. Gale Clure, who lives across the hall from the Romigs, said her son called e Romig apartment before noon yesterday and asked for Mrs. Clure. Mis. Romig, she said, called her to answer and admitted her to the apartment. The phone, she said, was in the dining .room. She said she heard a man’s voice in the front room but did not see the man. She completed the call and left the apartment. She sald Mrs. Romig said to her: “I'm transacting’ s a little business. Will you excuse nie?” as she entered the: apartment. :

Believe Coffee Served

When police arrived they found twa coffee cups arranged in such a way. that they believed Mrs. Romig invited the man in and served him coffee. From the cup he used they hope to get a fingerprint that will aid. in learning his identity. _ Roderick Rae, police scientific investigator; was fo make a thorough check of the cup and all : other. objects in the apartment. 7 Romig ‘told police that the ons cups: were of the best china, usually reserved for guests. . . He said the hammer was one they had kept in the pantry and that he had not seen it “in: a long time.” When he left in the morning his Yule x was a. an bed, he said.

Police |s

VOLUME —— —

SLAYING SHOCK T0 SHELBYVILLE

Mrs. Romig Well Known for Work in Aiding Town’ S Unfortunate.

By HEZE CLARK Times Staff Writer SHELBYVILLE, Jan. 18—This town, where Mrs. Carrie Lelah Romig was noted for extensive charity work less than four years ago as the wife of a leading citizen, was

shocked today to hear of her mur-|

der in Indianapolis.

Known here when: she was’ wife of Fred W. Kennedy: ‘president

Mrs. Carrie Lelah Romig

of the ICehineas Garliner and Bag

‘years ! that helped many ‘unfortunate ¢ citizens here. Mrs. Charles :A. Tucker, 211 W. Franklin St., Mrs. Romig's sister, said she ran a hotel while she was married to Mr. Kennedy. “She did ‘it to have something to} occupy her: time,” she said. “And! she also found much time to help unfortunates. She took one old woman out of the poorhouse and found her a home and supported her.” She paused a moment then said: “Why do you suppose she was killed?” Then she went on: “I think it was robbery. My sister had between $15,000 and $16,000 : worth of diamonds, most of them the gifts of Mr. Kennedy. She habitually - carried them around with her. 1 pleaded with her to leave them in a safety deposit vault, and sometimes she would. “But more often she weuld have them in her purse. Also, When she was in Shelbyville, she usually had between $300 and $500 cash. with her. “7 can’t believe there is any other motive,” she said.’ Other persons in Shelbyville said they had known Mr. and Mts. Romig well before they moved to Indianapolis. Many. of _ them praised Mr. Romig as “a fine, upstanding type of young man.”

U. A.W. TO CONTINUE FORD. NEGOTIATIONS,

Conclave Is Set March 20 on Split in Union.

DETROIT, Jan. 18 (U. P.). — The executive board of the United Automobile Workers’ Union today “authorized and instructed” President Homer Martin to proceed with negotiations with the Ford Motor Co. The board, which ‘convened hastily

‘| to hear a report from Mr. Martin on

his attempts to: organize the Ford company, said. it hoped a proper settlement would. be reached between the company and the union in order to “restore to Ford workers the jors to which they. are entitled.”" The board voted to hold a special convention in Cleveland March 20 in hopes of settling the factional batile that has split the union,

FEENEY 0.K.'S ONLY THREE _ BONDSMEN

“Only three of 11 Indianapolis professional hondsmen will be accepted as sureties hereafter on bonds of suspects arrested by deputy sheriffs, Sheriff Feeney said today. Two weeks ago Sheriff ‘Feeney asked all professional bondsmen to send statements of their financial status, including ‘the amount of bonds they now have in force. “Only three eof them complied with the request and as a result I have instructed my deputies not’ to accept bonds signed by any of the persons failing to make a financial it.” eriff said,

Hammer Victim and Husband

- OFFICE TO OPEN

Branch Here Will Provide Conciliation. Service, ‘Mayor Says.

“A branch office of the U.:S.- Department of Labor will be established in the Federal Building here to provide labor and employees with a conciliation service, Mayor Sullivan announced today. The Mayor said he had received definite word from Washington that the branch will be established. He said also that Dr. John R. Steelman, director of the Bureau of Conciliation of the Labor Department in Washington, will address labor representatives and employees in the City Council chamber at 2:30 p. m. Friday. o Dr. Steelman, the Mayor said, will explain the:work of his’ bureau and provide information on the manner in which the branch office will operate. Officials of the. National T.abor Relations Board here and the State Labor Board said they would. cooperate with the branch.

FAY WRAY SEEKS TO DIVORCE SAUNDERS

HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 18 (. P).— Fay Wray, dark-haired screen star, today filed ‘suit for divorce against John Monk Saunders, film writer. She charged extreme cruelty. THe complaint charged that Saunders ‘“nagged, harassed and tormente dhis wife and repeatedly requested her to divorce him.” Mr. Saunders also was accused of publicly saying that married life was boring and that it .restricted

NLRB RULES AGAINST * 6 RELIANCE PLANTS

Urges Hoosier Workers Be ~. Returned to Jobs. CHICAGO, Jan. 18 (U. P)—A | trial examiner’s intermediate report charged today that the Reliance Manufacturing Co. of Chicago: vio-|

Act and recommended that the | company offer. immediate and full

employees in six of its plants. The company has seven plan:

ington, Bedford, Kokomo, Columbus

“Tyrone, Pa. . the - examiner recommended :

{much deeper in outlying districts.

|areas, officials said.

: {car north of Franklin. Forty pas- ‘| séngers escaped injury when the : pk crashed into an automobile be-

a stalled on the tracks. The mo-

the freedom he had as a bachelor. ;

lated the National Labor. Relations reinstatement with back pay to 546 lega

Indiana—at Michigan City, Wash-|

"Of the 546 employebs for whom [here

MERCURY DE.

TODIP, 1

STREET SLUSH

Heavy Snowfall to End Te Afternoon or Tonight, Is Prediction.

[3 HURT IN 9 ACCIDENTS|

40 Pascangers Escape In- |}

jury When Interurban {{ Hits Stalled Auto.

TEMPERATURES 6a. m... 33 10a. m.... 79a, Mm... 33. 11a m.... 8a m... 33 12 (Noon). 9a m 32 1p m....

. DE 18 (U. P)— ‘Former U. S. Senator Edward Prentiss Costigan (D. Colo), an. early supporter of New Deal labor

and relief measures, died at his home. last night of a heart attack, It was induced by lobar ‘pneumonia. He was 64. : Mr. Costigan presented the first Federal relief bill, and saw if through. He was an authority on trade and tariff. As a liberal, he usually fought shoulder to shoulder in the Senate with “Young Bob” La ‘Follette of Wisconsin, George W. Norris of Nebraska and Bronson Cutiing of New Mexico. ~

3 | 31 31 1

Freezing temperatures late this afternoon and tonight were expected] to glaze.the City’s streets, now cov-! ered with slush. The Weather Bu-| reau predicted colder temperatures tonight, ranging from 20 to 25. Snowfall was expected td stop this afternoon or evening the Weather Bureau said. Meanwhile police reported three received minor injuries in nine traffic accidents. The Weather Bureati reported 1.7 inches of snow, adding that it was

—_ NATE BLOC

Clean Thoroughfares

City Street Department officials said they expected to have major thoroughfares cleaned but that slush might remain on numerous side streets. : The worst driving conditions in the State are in districts around Greencastle, Terre Haute, Green-

field, Crawfordsville, Richmond and Martinsville, State Highway Comniission. officials reported. Slick road surfaces there resulted from packing and freezing of four to five inches of snow.

Roads in districts near LaPorte

11 ARE UP FOR REVENUE POST

Named at Washington Late Today.

By DANIEL M. KIDNEY Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18.—Eleven

land Ft. Wayne were reported slick names now are under: consideration

while driving conditions were good|py Indiana Democratic ‘leaders in the Seymour and VINCeNNes .,..iing here to select a successor Snow was blamed for -the de- to Will H. Smith, Internal Revenue railmént of an electric interurban |Collector at Indianapolis. But the only point of agreement seated at noon today was that

ed, ; finued from yestorman was unable to see the flash- terday, is id held in the office ing lights of the automobile which |of Senator 'VanNuys, Attending are Mr. Bader abandoned Just before ‘Senators VanNuys and Minton the crash, and ‘Frank McHale, national committeeman from Indiana, and Omer S. Jackson, State

Passenger Hurt

Airline’ trafic at Municipal Airport was ‘at a standstill. -No trans-| Democratic chairman. ports had arrived at the airport] Those now under consideration since yesterday evening and none include, according to Senator Vanwas expected to take off today. John A. Burch, 64, of 1707 Wade member of the National Bituminous St., received a fractured rib and|Coal Commission; Paul Fry, Linton, Mrs. Beatrice Johnson, 44, a pas-|former State Purchasing Agent and senger in his car, received cuts on |excise director; Leroy Keech, Inthe face in a collision with a car |dianapolis provision merchant and driven by Gale Banta, 31, of 2319 former Marion County chairman; Nowland - St. Prank Mayr Jr., South Bend, former William Fries, 30, of 2433 Broad- Secretary ‘of State: Earl Crawford, way, was slightly injured in ‘a crash |Milton, former State Highway of a car driven by Thomas S. Faust, | Chairman; Leonard Marshall, Terre 22, of Anderson, and one driven by |Haute attorney; L. Ert Slack, former Urban Kerbertz, 26, of 1728 Madison | Indianapolis Mayor and U. S. DisAve. Mr. Fries was in the latter car. |trict Attorney; Fred Bays, Sullivan, Fay Lemons, 13, of 229 Detroit | member of the Indiana Public ServSt., ‘was treated at City Hospital |ice Commission; Anderson Ketchum, tor a fractured arm received when |Greensburg, State Budget director; she fell from a bicycle in the 200|Alden Baker, Westfield businessman block Detroit St. Charles Miller, | and ‘former sixth district chairman, 12, of 1307 E. Vermont St:, received |and Harry Gottschalk, defeated for minor cuts and bruises when he was mayor of Pf. Wayne. : pushed off the curb by boys into Senator VanNuys also announced the path of an automobile on New he has selected Charles E. Kemper York St. opposite Highland Park of Columbus and Indianapolis to relast night, police said. place Wray Fleming, Shelbyville, as

! : customs ‘collector at Indianapolis. Auto and Interurban

Senator Minton will select a suc- : " cessor to U. S. Marshal Charles James Collide Near Franklin

when his term expires in June, Senator VanNuys said.

blinding snowstorm was blamed to= day for the collision of an inter-|that Mr. McHale could "visit and urban car of the Indiana Railway |lunch with Attorney General MurWith ar. automobile Forty. Pas-ipey. With. whom he lived atthe sengers had a close brush with | Universtiy of Michigan. ET ea To Se en be Sipser d a; wires aropped he Te tom: is expected late today as both Mr. ne e passengers on the etyrning to Indianapolis tonight. car was Dr. William Gear Spen- ‘At Yesterday's Sa the lente cer, president of Franklin® College.| ,nnroved a plan to permit the ape accident = occurred where Democratic organization of the e railroad parallels U. S. 31 8|.ommunity involved to pick the

mile north of here. An automobile driven by J. W. Bader of Indian-| Dorn ie nde Republican

apolis skidded during the storm; bounced over a ditch: and onto the railroad tracks. Mr. Bader said he flashed ‘his headlights but his signals were not seen by the motorman. Mr, Bader leaped from the automobile. No one was injured.

FOOD DEALERS URGE | 1.orcoavic Sronsn-spspis ren INCOME TAX REPEAL fe Jan. 18. (U. P) Spans

alist troops . ‘have. definitely, if

Approximately 250 ‘northegr ana food dealers today manded repeal of the gross

Indi-| come indicated today, = ‘A United Press Staff CorMeeting here they voted ‘unani- respo mously a refusal to make further|to- Col. “Enrique Lister, one of the payments of the tax. : ‘most brilliant ‘Loyalist field com‘Organizations represented him cluded the St. Joseph Valley Food |Rebe

Mitchell and Seymour — one atl Huntington, Ww. Va. and another. at!

Successor to Smith May Be

land three and one-half dependents, |

“| 5" Tour milliort-or five million "per-|"

Democratic:

Nuys, - Pleas Greenlee, - Shelbyville,

as| benefit our nation.”

FRANKLIN, Jan. 18 (U. P.).—A| The morning meeting was brought : to a close shortly after convening so|.

McHale and Mr. ‘Jackson plan on 3

SOUTH BEND, Jan, 18 (U. P)— bos temporarily, stopped: ‘the Rebel offensive in Oatalonts, dispatches |

ndent, touring: the front; talked |

“that the)

mS was higher than it bad

Etered as Second-Class Majer

at Postoffice, Indianapolis, In

MOVES TO CUT WPA FURTHER

NATIONAL AFFAIRS SENATE antispenders seek an-

other cut of 225 millions in relief funds.

GALLUP poll indicates majority ., favors two-party relief board. (Page Six.)

. SENATE Committee reports Hopkins’ appointment favorably. ‘ ROOSEVELT’S plea for Florida canal and Quoddy faces opposition.

WALLACE says lack of industrial balance threatens geneyal welfare, PRESIDENT reported ready to. “abandon” Smith, name another to NLRB.

REMOVAL of tax exemptions on U. S. Securities urged.

Legislature Today \ HOUSE

Received the Republican State Committee Bill to abolish beer importer system. Advanced to second reading its measure to exempt municipally owned utilities from ‘State taxation. Advanced to second reading a bill to appropriate $10,000 to enor action against Southern states seeking freight rates in their favor. Received bill to establish uniform system of traffic signals. Received bill to set up “State Bar of Indiana.” Received bill to prohibit the renewal of temporary teacher contracts at reduced wages. Advanced to second reading measure to prohibit municipal court sessions on legal holidays. Recessed until 10 a. m. toMorrow.

WASHINGTON, Jan, 18 (U. P). —The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Relief, it was learned today, will be asked to chop another 225 million dollars from the deficiency relief appropriation bill,

reducing it to 500 million dollars. Administration leaders appeared ready to concede that there was little chance of restoring the figure requested by President Roosevelt— 875 million dollars. They were concentrating on efforts to hold the appropriation at least to the 725 million voted by the House: last week to continue work relief until July 1. The move for a 375 million dollar cut in the President’s estimate of WPA needs will be made by a prominent member of the committee who is a close adviser to the Senate antispending bloc. He said that if the committee rejected his motion he would “g0 along” with those supporting the House figure. The President’s statement at his press conference yesterday, that the 150 million dollar reduction approved by the House would force more than a million workers off WPA rolls by June 1, was disputed immediately by Chairman Alva B. Adams (D. Colo), of the Appropriations subcommittee.

Claims. Wrong Impression Mr. Roosevelt said that because each WPA worker<has between three

SENATE

Textbook Investigating Committee plans to call remaining members of the State Board of School Book Commissioners to testify. Announces a public hearing is to be held Tuesday on the Senate bill to amend the Workmen's Compensation Law. Passed bill to permit cities to regulate pedestrian traffic. Passed bill repealing act which makes County Surveyor . the Road Superintendent (affects only Grant County). Received bill to provide for secret primary voting. Passed bill permitting school corporations to sell abandoned buildings and land. Recessed until 10. a. m. tomorrow.’ Received favorable committee report on bill to permit . township trustees to require persons on direct relief to do any work need a government unit in a county. Received favorable commit_iee report on. bill to permit Indianapolis to have daylight saving time. "

SENATE PASSES JAYWALK BILL

Traffic Safety Measures Are Considered in Both Houses.

an a tion of only 725 million dollars would deny relief assistance

sons. Referring to these figures, Chairman Adams said: * “They create a wrong impression. The whole thing boils down to a question of cold-blooded _mathematics.” He said that an estimate based on the 150 million dollar reduction and on relief costs of $62 per month per man, the net reduction in the rolls over the next five months would be approximately 500, 000. “Those are the facts,” he said. Mr. Roosevelt indicated agree(Continued on ‘Page Seven) ;

00 MUCH RED TAPE, LANDIS SAYS OF WPA

Ludlow Raps Proposed Public Works Department.

The Legislature today continued to consider the problem of traffic safety. The House received a measure for a uniform -system of stop signals and the Senate passed a bill to permit cities to regulate pedestrian traffic. Meanwhile, the Senate Labor Committee announced a public hearing for next Tuesday night on the pending bill which would amend the Workmen's Compensation Law in several respects. The uniform traffic light bill would mandate the Division of Publie Safety to prescribe a system of signals, lights and signs for use on all roads. Local officials would be forbidden to erect signs that are not approved, and the division would have the power to. order removal of. any Hens not meeting: the ‘prescribed

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (U. P).— Rep. Gerald W. Landis (R. Ind.) today accused the Works Progress Administration of “too much politics, delay and red tape to really

“I have received many discouraging letters from my district and from other sections of Indiana, complaining about politics in WPA,” Rep. Landis says. “It is shameful that such a situation should exist.” Mr. Landis expressed sympathy for persons. recently removed from WPA because of a shortage of funds. Rep. Louis Ludlow (D. Ind) charged that the proposed Department of Public Works is the “Worst proposition. that has so far been offered in connection with relief.” “Such a plan,” Mr. Ludlow declared, “would bring relief to a large group of persons who want to fasten themselves on the permanent bureaucratic, tax-eating personnel of the Government, but. it would be of little assistance to the poor Ppeople who actually Reed relief . oy

George W. Wolf (D. Peru) would give the State { Commission ‘the right to assist the enforcement. local authorities, the bill said: leading and conflicting signals and

highways.”

{Continued on Page Three)

pri tain Keeps. Wa teh for Bom nbings;

Lf FOREIGN - . AFFAIRS

LONDQN—Precantions taken against possible bombing campaign. HENDAYE-Loyalist spirit rises as Rebels are curbed.

BERLIN—Goebbels returns to his desk after illness. g BROWNSVILLE, Tex. =Coryespondent in Mexico explains. ouster. RANGOON—British liner arrives with arms for China. ey ~ PARIS—Cabinet rejects plea to aid Loyalists. .GENEVA—Jewish spokesman ‘makes pledge on Holy Land. TOPEEA--landon ud speak on Lima in Tali address, :

| probably

*The bill was introduced by Rep. n

Pointing out that erection of traf-| ic. fic signs has been in the hands of |

“There are many obsolete, mis- 2

'UNDATED—Inside look reported to reveal German weakness within, 4

activity SpPagently; was pe straighten the long front exte: |from the Tarragona sector to

for: two weeks; since the combi

man forces of the Rebels began their ‘French frontier. . s a Pons is an important dross toads \C ‘center with two ‘highway Sranciiss ard Barcelona— the

Measure Would End Control of Board By Governor.

ASKS TAX CHAN GE

Urges Abolishment of Port-of-Entry System.

A liquor bill drafted by the Republican State Committee and de-

|signed to remove the Governor's

control over the Alcoholic: Bever= ages Commission, was introduced’ in the House today. 2 The measure, to be presented by Rep. Glenn A. Markland (R. Zions= ville), also’ would abolish the port= of-entry system and change - the present method of collecting liquor taxes. : : - The G. O. P. liquor bill follows the introduction last week of a Senate Democratic bill to repeal the beer importer system and:per=~ mit wholesalers to import and sell anywhere in the State. This measure is being held in committee,

Commissioners “Provided

The Republican bill would pro= vide for four commissioners to serve for four years and have. staggered terms of office. Although the bill does not set forth .the method of their appointment, party leaders explained this provision will be added by an amendments, Deputies would be named by the Commission in equal numbers from both parties Under the proposed system the Governor merely would designate which commissioner was to be administrator and ‘the administrator would be responsible only to the Commission. Such would he the only part played by the: Goyernor in formation of the group. : : missioners and an Be all appointed by the Governor, who can remove them at will, ~The bill further provides that the ; port-of-entry system could not be re-established by the Commission and port-of-entry permits would expire March 15. Permit holders would be refunded $1000 of ths $1500 they have paid. Taxes would be collected by: the Commission through a system of “tax-paid” caps or lids for bottle and cans and stamps for kegs. brewer would designate a manu: facturer to make these caps. The manufacturer would be under ‘bond and taxes due on caps, lids and stamps would be paid the Com=mission. : The measure also provides for: a reduction of from $50 to $100 for grocers, druggists and others sell ing package liquor. : : The section of the present requiring each brewer to ‘have permit to ship outside of Ind would be killed by the new bill. If also would be impossible for person holding a permit to beverages of a specified | alcohol to. possess or se.

for selling or Re a beverages of a higher con

signs in use on our streets and|,,

The measure to ‘permit cities to is ¢