Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 April 1939 — Page 1
The Indianapolis Times
OPPS owaSe] VOLUME 51—NUMBER 36
FORMER STATE BANKER GETS JYEAR TER
$42,000 Shortage Made Up But Judge Rules He Must Pay ‘Debt to Society.’
GUILTY PLEA IS ENTERED
Pastor and Friends Urge Leniency; Court Won't Oppose Parole.
Clarence V. Crockett, 64-year-old former cashier of the Shelbyville Farmers’ National Bank, who embezzled $42,432.80 and then paid it back, pleaded guilty today in Federal Court and was sentenced to serve three years in prison. He did not ask mercy, although his pastor, the bank president and the bank attorney urged leniency and said the bank’s directors had voted not to seek criminal prosecution. Judge Robert C. Baltzell said that he did not want to impose a fine, but that Crockett must pay his debt to society. According to law, Crockett could have been fined a total of $70,000 and sentenced to a total of 70 years in prison.
Tried to Cover Loan
Crockett told Judge Baltzell that his original embezzlement, for a little more than $3000, occurred in 1933 to cover a loan to a Shelvybille firm that had defaulted. He said he considered it his moral duty not to reveal it to either the public or the bank directors. He said he had not personally profited through it. “Why did you make the other embezzlements?” Judge Baltzell asked. “I don’t know,” Crockett answered and bowed his head. When the shortages were discovered by bank examiners in August last year, Crockett, who rose to his $3300-a-year position from a start as bank messenger, resigned. He not only paid back the entire shortage—forfeiting farms he had bought with the embezzled money, his life insurance and even his home —but paid $2000 for a complete audit of the bank’s books to determine the exact amount of the shortage, the Court was told.
Paid Back Too Much
The private audit revealed that he had overpaid the bank for the shortage and his home was returned to him, although heavily mortgaged. Judge Baltzell said a fine prob-
FORECAST: Fair and not so cool tonight; tomorrow fair and warmer.
SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1939
‘Mommy Was Dead; 1 Couldn't Leave,’
Says Girl, 6, Who Guarded Body 4 Days
OS ANGELES, April 22 (U. P) 6-year-old child sitting in a
the bed in which her mother lay dead. “Mommy ‘is dead,” she said. “She's been dead for
four days.”
“Then why didn’t you call someone?” “Mommy was dead. I couldn’t leave mommy.” The child was exhausted from hunger, from not having slept for days, and from fever.
measles.
She identified herself as Marie, was Mrs. Rose Anderson, 38, and apparently she had died of a natural cause, the nature of which an
autopsy will establish today.,
Some women looking for a house to rent had
AXIS SEEKING JUGOSLAV AID
Ciano Seeks to Build Bloc In Balkans to Check ‘Peace Front.’
FOREIGN SITUATION
VENICE—Ciano meets Jugoslav Foreign Minister. BELGRADE — TItalian-Jugoslav collaboration “cemented.” n ” 2
(Page Three) BERLIN—Rumania snubs Nazis in reply to questionnaire. WASHINGTON—Penalty duty on Nazi goods in effect. LONDON — Government may take over radio as weapon. GIBRALTAR — Three French cruisers patrol Straits.
VENICE, April 22 (U. P.) —Ttaly moved to swing Jugoslavia into close support of the Berlin-Rome “axis” today. Count Galeazzo Ciano and Alexander Cincar-Markovitch, the Italian and Jugoslav Foreign Ministers, came here for a two-day conference. Jugoslav reports said that Count Ciano was prepared to agree to reduce the size of the Italian army in Albania and to refrain from fortifying the Albanian-Jugoslav frontier or building strategic roads which might be regarded as a threat to Jugoslavia. : Further, it was reported that Count Ciano, acting for Premier
. | Mussolini, sought to form a Balkan
bloc consisting of Jugoslavia, Hungary and Bulgaria as an offset to British and French “peace front” moves. Count Paul Teleki and Count Stephen Csaky, the Hungarian Premier and Foreign Minister, had
ably would have deprived him of | just returned to Budapest after con-
this home and that he gave the sentence as an alternative. The judge said the Court would not oppose a parole, to which Crockett will be eligible in one year. “The fact that your friends and associates feel you should not be
prosecuted does not satisfy the)
Court,” Judge Baltzell said, as he passed sentence.
ferences with Sig. Mussolini and Count Ciano as the Italian-Jugo-slav conferences started here. Ttaly was said to be negotiating
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with Jugoslavia and Hungary, trying to arrange a nonaggression treaty between them. Dispatches from Budapest forecast that as the result of the Italian conferences with Hungarian and Jugoslav lead-
“Although no recommendation for " lers, Hungary and Jugoslavia would parole has been made, the Court ier girect negotiations aimed at a |general minorities agreement and
will not oppose one.” Wife Sobs Softly Crockett did not move or speak as
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settlement of Hungarian-Jugoslav differences. The importance of the Italian ne-
the sentence was passed. His wife, |oqtiations was emphasized in disdressed in black and sitting at the patches from Bharat which said rear of the courtroom, sobbed softly, that there was great uneasiness in
and his son, a Detroit motor eXecu- | ginlomatic quarters there.
tive, comforted her.
dent and attorney, and the Rev. Charles Bowler, First Presbyterian Church pastor at Shelbyville, testified to the previous good character of Crockett and told the Court that if the Federal Government had not prosecuted, no one would have placed a charge against him. Crockett had pleaded not guilty to the charge March 24 and was to
Italian
success in lining up Jugoslavia and Charles Sullivan, bank president; od a To collapse Herbert C. Jones, bank vice presi- of the Balkan Entente, which in-
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(Continued on Page Three)
DAMAGE 1S $6000 IN DOWNTOWN FIRE
have gone on trial May 4. He will Hatfield Electric Co. Scene
surrender Tuesday and be taken to prison to begin his sentence. He now is on $5000 bond.
VANNUYS IMPRCVES AFTER OPERATION
{ | |
Of Night Blaze.
Firemen today sought to determine the origin of a fire which last night caused an estimated $6000 damage to a downtown building and resulted in a traffic tieup and
ROCHESTER, Minn., April 22 (U.; slight injury to one fireman.
P.).—A Mayo Clinic physician said today that Senator VanNuys
The blaze in the four-story brick
(D.! building at 108 S. Meridian St,
Ind) who underwent an operation occupied by the Hatfield Electric
for a bladder ailment yesterday, Co. Inc, for a time threatened ad-
may be able to revuin to Washington within 10 days. Dr. G. J. Thompson said Senator VanNuys' condition was excellent and that, barring any complications, he would be able to leave the hospital In five or six days.
MEN, GRASSHOPPERS FIGHT ON WIDE FRONT
COALINGA, Cal, April 22 (U.P). ~All available manpower concentrated on a 50-mile battlefront today in a desperate effort to halt millions of grasshoppers moving: toward 20,000 acres of farmland in Pleasant Valley. Already the hoppers have devoured nearly 4000 acres of crops. Vast hordes of additional insects crawled and hopped toward the same area.
TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES
Broun seca 10, Movies . Churches .... 5 Mrs. Ferguson 10; Music ....... 14 Obituaries ... Pyle
cssssennne
13 11
sense
Crossword ... Curious World 14 | Questions .... Editorials .... 10 Radio ....... Financial .... 13| Mrs. Roosevelt
Flynn
Grin, Bear It. in mdpls.....
ae re
15
14 Society ......4. 5 3 {Sports assesses, ¥ 9 Deaths
10
g
1 10
joining buildings. Albert Bannon, salvage corps member, was cut on the nose by a falling meter box, but returned to duty after first aid. : All downtown apparatus was ordered to the scene of the fire which started about 8 p. m. on the third floor. Raising two aerial ladders, one on Meridian St. and another on Maryland St, they chopped holes into the roof and poured in water from three lines of hose. The water soaked through to the basement, damaging stock on all floors. Firemen saved much of it on the first floor by covering it with tarpaulins. The Romer Electric Co, 106 Meridian St., and the Hibben Hollweg & Co, 110 S. Meridian St., suffered slight damage from smoke and water. Damage by fire early today at the Zenite Metal Corp. 201 N. West St., was undetermined.
STOCK TRADE DULL: WAIT HITLER REPLY
NEW YORK, April 22 (U. P) — Cautious traders, awaiting Herr Hitler's reply to President Roose-
9 velt's peace plea, transacted only
routine business in Wall Street today, and most leading issues sagged small amounts. Trading was around
/the lighest for the year.
The trading community watched closely the British action in prac-
tically a ge the
—Police found a
{the bacteria, when the victim was in
_steam- | floor shipping gold to, ok
was no response
chair staring at na dow.
forceful means to She had
6. Her mother $440.35. She had
to locate him.
Relays Medicine
called at the Anderson house for directions.
who lives in Long Beach, Cal.
There to their knocks and they glanced
They saw a child holding her head in her hands staring at “a woman in bed.” and the neighbors called police. At a hospital, Marie was fed and treated and fell into a deep sleep. The police, though, had to use
They told neighbors
take her away from her mother’s
body. The hospital said her condition was good. Under the mother’s mattress, police found a roll of currency wrapped around silver.
It totaled been separated from her husband Police were trying
The tragedy was discovered yesterday afternoon.
PLEA HEEDED ONCITY PARKS
Mayor to Choose Women’s Group to Assist in Recreation Plans.
Mayor Sullivan said today he
? | will select a committee from promii Inent women's i |other groups to develop a | recreation program in co-operation with City officials.
and local
organizations
The move is to be taken on the
petition of the League of Women
Voters, which said that improvements in the present recreation system are possible “if Board mem-
: | pers and administrative officials are
freed from political pressure and left
fe | at liberty to serve the people.”
GIRL GAMBLES "WITH SCIENCE
Takes Sulfanilimide Doses For Transfusion to Save Aunt’s Life.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., April 22 (U. P).—Doctors planned today to test the blood of 24-year-old Louise Rich, stenographer, to determine if sulfanilimide relayed to her through the body of her niece had stopped the spread of deadly streptococcic infection.
Miss Rich was semiconscious and in critical condition. But she had hung on to life tor 36 hours since receiving a transfusion of blood that had been fortified with the drug while still in the body of her niece, Wilma Rich, 17. The transfusion, believed to be the first of its kind, was made Thursday night. There was no immediate change in Miss Rich’s condition.
Condition Improves
Yesterday she seemed to rally, her temperature dropped one degree and she was able to eat a cereal. Last night, however, she lapsed into semiconsciousness and this morning her condition was reported unchanged. Doctors planned to run a test of Miss Rich’s blood to see if the fortified blood had checked the virus. A second transfusion would depend on the results of the first, they said. Miss Rich was stricken wich streptococeic infection during an attack of influenza. Doctors resorted to the new and powerful drug sulfanilimide, as the “only known cure” for
such a weakened condition. Transfusion Necessary But Miss Rich could not retain the drug in table form, nor would injections work, as her poisoned blood could not assimilate the remedy. As a last resort, it was decided to try a transfusion. Wilma Rich, her niece, was selected as donor because she was young, healthy, and possessed blood of the same type as the sick girl. Wilma was dosed with sulfanilimide at regular Intervals for 24 hours. The drug gave her violent headaches, and induced fitful sleep. The transfusion followed, and it weakened her, but after a few hours she began to regain her strength and now is apparently in normal health. Louise Rich came here from Whitwell, Tenn. 40 miles distant, where Wilma is a student in high school.
FATHER, 5 CHILDREN DIE AS HOME BURNS
OTTUMWA, Iowa, April 22 (U. P.) —Six persons—a father and five of his children—were burned to death today in a fire at their small house. The children were asleep upstairs when the fire broke out after a kerosene explosion.
CINCINNATI, O., April 22 (U.P). —Mrs. Eve Barbee, 28, and her 3-year-old daughter, Marilyn, were burned to death today in their thirdor aj t. Philip Jr
an
The petition further advocated
| close scrutiny of present procedure .|and personnel and an analysis of i [present recreation conditions.
It was presented yesterday by Mrs.
! Thomas D. Sheerin, chairman of : | the League's child welfare commiti | tee, and Mrs. Joseph A. Miner, sub-
committee chairman on recreation, who conferred with the Mayor and A. C. sallee, Parks superintendent, yesterday. Co-operation with the League in the movement to improve City recreation are the Indianapolis Parent-Teachers Association, the Indianapolis Council of Women, the 12th District American Legion and the 12th District American Legion Auxiliary.
The League said it had long been interested in recreation as a municipal need to further “the health, happiness and contentment of our citizens.” The Indianapolis Council of Women had previously requested the Mayor to abolish the present patronage system of choosing recreation employees in favor of the merit system.
SULLIVAN TO CALL WATER CO. PARLEY
Councilmen and Trustees Get Data on Costs.
Mayor Sullivan said today he will call a meeting of City Councilmen and Utility District trustees at a date to be determined to confer on the proposed Indianapolis Water Co. purchase. Brochures describing company operating costs, prepared by C. W. McNear & Co. of Chicago, have been distributed to Councilmen and trustees for study. In addition, copies of financial data on the company have been submitted to City department heads. Tie Mayor said that he will give Council members and trustees plenty of time” to study the data before calling the meeting. The City will move slowly in considering the proposed purchase, he said. A series of further meetings will be held before any action is determined.
S00 UNDER GUARD AGAINST SABOTAGE
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. April 22 (U. P) .—Royal Canadian Mounted Police patrolled the Canadian
ship canal, the International Bridge and the Sault powerhouse today after discovery of 50 pounds of dynamite in a little-used warehouse. Mayor W. J. McMeekan said he feared a sabotage plot and considered a request for a military guard at the canal. He said well-planted explosive charges could cripple or destroy the powerhouse, canal and bridge within 10 minutes. The Soo canal is the connecting link between Lakes Huron and Superior in the Great Lakes waterway.
ISTATE TO SUE
INTAX ‘STRIKE, IF NECESSARY’
South Bend and Ft. Wayne ~ Groups Face Criminal Proceedings.
JACKSON CITES FINES
Gross Income Division Head Says Politics Motivate Present Dispute.
Criminal proceedings will be instituted against Gross Income Tax “strikers” at South Bend and Ft. Wayne “if such means are necessary to collect the tax,” Clarence A. Jackson, Division director, declared today.
Mr. Jackson declined to say when criminal suits might be filed. “The Division at present is in the fortunate position of having neither yet invoked the full penalties provided for in the Act nor yet failed to give extreme and lenient consideration in unfortunate cases,” Mr. Jackson said.
Stricter enforcement of the law was ordered by Mr. Jackson yesterday in a bulletin to his 55 field representatives. He ordered that henceforth there should be no time concessions granted to retailers who are delinquent in their payments.
Tells of ‘Pressure’
Mr. Jackson told his representatives that his Division had drawn “heat” because of the refusal of some merchants to pay the tax and use the Division had “not enforced the law to the fullest extent.” Two main procedures may be followed in collecting the tax, Mr. Jackson explained. Either warrants may be served and sheriff sales held —the procedure which has led some Ft. Wayne and South Bend merchants to “strike”’—or criminal suits may be filed. The act provides for a $100 to $1000 fine or imprisonment of six months, or both, where persons are convicted of failing to file a return. Mr. Jackson charged “politics” was the basis of the present Ft. Wayne tax “strike.” On April 1
in Allen County, representing a de= lingtiency of $8740, he said.
Protest Law in ‘Wrong Way’
“If there are those who wish to protest the law, they certainly may do so but they are doing it the wrong way,” he stated. “The way to do it is to pay their taxes and then sue the State to recover.” April 28 has been set as the hearing date on a suit filed by the Ft. Wayne Food Council to enjoin the Sheriff from serving the warrants. The St. Joseph County Food Dealers Association at Soutih Bend has charged the tax is unfair.
Local Man to Aid
Ft. Wayne Group
FT. WAYNE, April 22 (U. P).— Robert I. Marsh, Indianapolis attorney, had entered the Ft. Wayne gross income tax fight today by declaring “the gross income tax law is an outstanding example of an unworkable law.” Mr. Marsh came here yesterday to associate himself with the Ft. Wayne Food Council which is seeking to enjoin Allen County Sheriff Walter Felger from serving warrants for alleged delinquent payment of the tax. A hearing will be held on their petition April 29.
HOME SHOW READY FOR RECORD GROWD
Foley of FHA Says Local Building Rise ‘Healthy.
An all-time Sunday paid attendance record for the Indianapolis Home Show was predicted today by J. Prank Cantwell, managing director. He said attendance through the week has beem good, in spite of bad weather. Tomorrow, closing day for the show, has been designated as “AllIndiana Day” and Mr. Cantwell said he expected many who last Sunday were unable to drive here from out of town would make the trip on the final day. At the same time, the steady growth of the building industry in (Continued on Page Two)
BYRD PLANS 3D POLAR TRIP JENKINTOWN, Pa, April 22 (U. P.).—Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd disclosed at a Beaver College dinner last night that he was preparing to make a third trip to the South Pole region.
Entered
Wants Divorce
Dorothy Lamour ” ”
HUSBAND SUES MISS LAMOUR
Beauty of Sarong Fame ‘Only Fooling’ When She Spoke of Baby.
HOLLYWOOD, April 22 (U. P). —Dorothy Lamour confesesd today that she had been “only fooling” a year ago when she said that what she wanted most in the world was a baby. What she really wants is a diverce because marriage and a career don’t mix. As she talked to reporters there were tears in the eyes of the glamour girl, occupant of a Beverly Hills mansion, who once ran a department store elevator. But she was no less eager than her studio that her public understand and sympathize with the reaons why. With her consent, her husband, the orchestra leader, Herbie Kay, sued for divorce in Chicago
there were 56 warrants to be served |Veste
rday. “I really think Herbie and I will be better friends now than ever before,” she said. “We learned that we could live together, if we only had the chance. But we had to live apart and we couldn't live like that and, oh, please, don’t be angry with us for doing this thing,” Miss Lamour said. Miss Lamour went from New Orleans to Chicago and got a job running an elevator. Kay saw her and hired her to sing. This throaty singing got on the radio and soon she had a devoted audience. Hollywood grabbed her, clad her lightly in a South Sea sarong, and featured her in jungle pictures from which came her present box office standing worth, to her, several thousand dollars weekly. She and Kay married May 10, 1935, before she became famous.
WARMER WEATHER DUE FOR WEEK-END
Maximum Temperature of 75 Is Forecast.
LOCAL TEMPERATURES
am... 43 10a m... mm... 45 11am... m
55 57 49 12 (noon) 58 53 1pm... 5
Fair and warmer weather was forecast by the Weather Bureau for the week-end, with a maximum temperature tonorrow of about 75. Tonight will be warmer, too, the Bureau said.
BROOKLYN RACKET TRIAL DATE NEARS
NEW YORK, April 22 (U. P).— Special Prosecutor John Harlan Amen prepared today for the trials of a judge, two prosecutors, a police lieutenant and two doctors-—defend-ants in Brooklyn Borough’s abor= tion and bail bond racket cases. He said he would ask next week for a panel of 200 jurors to hear the first case, that of County Judge George W. Martin, charged with having accepted a $1000 bribe to dismiss an abortion charge against Dr. Louis I. Duke.
WEST POINTER, 85, DIES ORANGE, N. J, April 22 (U. P). —Col. Herman Dowd, 85, oldest graduate of the U. 8. Military
6 7 8 9
Academy and retired Army officer, was dead at his home here today.
Dayton Is First Stop for Lindbergh; Indianapolis Next? That Is Still Secret
DAYTON, O., April 22 (U. P) — Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, piloting a new Army pursuit plane, flew here today to begin field work on his assignment to aid development of the greatest aerial fighting force in America’s history. The War Department had refused
to reveal his destination when he left Washington this morning. Likewise there was no indication whether he might fiy from here to
" rd
leave Sunday afternoon or Monday, according to flying conditions. He flew from Washington in 2 hours and 35 minutes. Col. Lindbergh was recalled to active Army duty to study American aviation research facilities and hake recommendations for improve ing them. This was deemed vital in connection with the extensive program to build the Army Air Corps up to 6000 first line fighting Bafies to match the aerial power
heh Sajor ations i
hout.”
ing both Government and private experimental stations. Before he left Washington, it was learned that Col. Lindbergh had brought to America information cons firming earlier reports that Germany is leading the United States in developing fast-striking military airplanes. A civilian officer sald that the U. 8. Army recently ordered bombing planes which would attain speeds “in excess of 250 miles
i
as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, Ind.
FACE $200,000 BOND ISSUE IN ARRETT LOSS
City and County Begin Study to Determine Full Extent of Deficit Accumulating in Fund Over Past 20 Years.
FINAL HOME |
PRICE THREE CENTS {
fund. It has been known for officials.
the money include sums lost
assessment roll to another.
TENSION SLOWS HOOSIER TRADE
World-Wide Unsteadiness Forces Revision of Previous Forecast of Gains.
BLOOMINGTON, April 22.-—Al-though the curve of Indiana business turned upward more than iour points for the first time since De= cember, previous estimates for conditions during the rest of the vear must be revised, the Indiana Business Review said today. “The revisions must be made,” the Review said, “because the first quarter of the year ended in an atmosphere of tense uncertainty and widespread hesitation over foreign and domestic political and economic problems as compared with the inore or less optimistic feelings at the beginning of the period.” “The first quarter of the year proved disappointing for those who looked for a resumption of the forward movement of last fall. The upturn checked, temporarily, at least, the sharp decline registered during January and February but by no means erased the losses incurred those months.” In Indianapolis retail sales were 41 per cent greater in March than in February and 8 per cent larger than during March a year ago. Building activity continued to show rapid expansion and brought the value of permits issued during the first quarter to a point 210 per cent above comparable figures of last ear. y Both new and used car sales in Indianapolis were 43 per cent greater than those of March, 1938, inpound freight car loadings increased (Continued on Page Seven)
9 BANK ROBBERIES
Confessions of Terre Haute Gang Announced.
Two Indiana bank robberies and other crimes were solved today by confessions of members of a Terre Haute gang, Donald Stiver, State Safety Director, announced. In prison in Louisiana for another crime, are Harry Mahoney, 32; Truman Mahoney, 37; Dando Davis, 20, and Herbert Skaggs, 35, Mr. Stiver said. In jail at Terre Haute was Ora Davis, 35. Mr, Stiver said Davis will be tried on the $250 robbery of the Burnettsville (Ind) State Bank. The other bank robbery Mr, Stiver said was solved in the confessions sighed by two of the Louisiana prisoners is that of the Center Point Bank in which $4000 was stolen. Other robberies Mr. Stiver said were solved were: Meis Department Store, Bedford, Ind, $1800; Lobe & Hine Depart ment Store, Lafayette, Ind. $500; Montgomery Ward Store, Lafayette, $1800; Schultz Department Store, Terre Haute, $000; Bedford, Ind, theater, “few hundred dollars.”
BARON ‘COURTS BARBARA
NEW YORK, Api 22 (U. P= Barbara Hutton, who has been mar-
ried to a prince and a count, now
is touring the night clubs with a d
Hubert Pans of Aus-
Ab)
REPORTED SOLVED
LAID TO STATUTE'S MANY CHANGES
Municipal Liability Defined by Last Legislature; Alternate Levy Plan Would Adjust Difference in Four Years.
The City probably will issue bonds to make up an estie mated $200,000 shortage in the Barrett Law fund, City Controller James E. Deery disclosed today. The shortage has been accumulating over a period of more than 20 years, leaving a corresponding deficit in the
some time to city and county
With the City’s liability for the missing money fixed by the 1939 Legislature, State Board of Accounts examiners and City and County Barrett Law clerks have begun a probe to determine the exact amount of the shortage. City and State officials are agreed that the principal portion of the shortage has accumulated through lost interest payments. Other reasons assigned to the disappearance of
through the closing of banks
during the depression and the diversion of funds from one
When the exact discrepancy is determined, the City will be faced with necessity of making it up to the holders of Barrett Law improvement bonds. This can be done by a tax levy to raise $50,000 a year,
retiring the estimated shortage in four years, or by a bond issue which would spread the burden over a 20 or 30-year period. Mr. Deery said he favored the bond issue because it would enable the City to liquidate the deficit over a period similar to length of time in
which it was accumulated.
One of the most complex mease ures on the statute books, the Bare rett Law, which boils down to a 10-year plan for property owners assessed for municipal improve= ments, has been amended so often that officials have had difficulty ade justing their books to changes. The latest change is the amende ment passed by the last Legislature which provided the liquidation of shortages by bond issues or tax levies.
Liquidation Provided
Officials are trying to determine how much money was lost to the City by a provision of the law which allowed property owners to evade interest payments by making pay ment for several years in a lump sum. Under the Law, those who took advantage of. its “easy payment” plan had to pay a fixed amount of principle and interest each year. If, after making two or more pays ments, the property owner decided to liquidate the balance in a lump sum, he could pay the remaining principal and six months’ advance interest and be written off the books. The remainder of the interest had to be assumed by the City in paying off bondholders. To find out how much has been lost, examiners are now auditing 2700 assessment rolls for which bonds were issued between 1929 and this year. A comparatively small amount of Barrett Law funds were lost in banks which closed with the depres sion. The City has succeeded in recovering all but an estimated $12,« 000 of this money.
Sums Lost in Diversion
An unknown sum was lost in the diversion of money from one ase sessment roll to another, A come plete audit of the rolls is expected to be completed in four or five months, officials said. Mr, Deery said he believed the first signs of the shortage were dise covered during the depths of the de= pression when the fund began to dwindle from lack of principal and interest payments, When the fund drained to its lowe est point, it was found that the actual cash balance in no wise ape proximated the balance on the books. Subsequent investigations, which have been recently completed, determined an estimated loss and how it occurred.
100 KILLINGS BLAMED ON ‘MURDER RING’
PHILADELPHIA, April 22 (U. P)), -Mrs. Carina Favato’s confession that she poisoned three persons, ie cluding her husband and stepson, to collect their insurance, convinced authorities today that her “syndie cate” had committed at least 100 murders.
hoe
2 4
For weeks, evidence had been ace |
cumulating of murders on a grand scale. in which poor and obscure
persons were heavily insured and 4
slowly poisoned with arsenic. & principal suspect was Paul Petrillt 45, a tailor, who is awaiting for murder. Petrillo’s cousin, man Petrillo, 40, weeks
be- ‘few