Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 June 1939 — Page 9

SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1939

The Indianapolis Times

SECOND SECTION

Hoosier Vagabond

NEW YORK, June 3 Frenchman who escaped from Devil's his way to the U. S., and then wrote last year's seller, “Dry Guillotine.” He is living now in New York, and I have had the great privilege of getting acquainted with him. If there was ever a man who shouldn't be alive who has gone into hell and come cut again—it is Rene Belbenoit. When we talk I just sit and look at him, kind of awe-struck, and can't believe it is really he. Anvbody who has read “Dry Guillotine” will understand what I mean. I had pictured Belbenoit as sort of a lost and dismal soul here in the big city. Unable to adjust himself to freedom and crowds. Lonely, harassed by our regulations, haunted by the fear of a return to Devil's Island, scraping along on a penny picked up here and there. But it is just the opposite. Belbenoit is happy and complacent. He has all the money he needs, from his book royalties and an occasional lecture. He lives simply, but well. He says he spends about $200 a month. He has put his extra money in Government bonds. He has no fear that he will ever be sent back to Devil's Island. For a long time he was here just from month to month on extensions from the State Department. Bu: now he has an indefinite stay. and there will soon be a bill in Congress to make him an American citizen. = = =

Escaped Four Times

He feels it will go through. By two vears of thoroughly good living in New York he has proved himself a desirable citizen. And as for being lonesome, he said: “Lonesome? lish word. What So 1 explained. lonesome,

—Rene Belbenoit is the little Island, worked best

Lonesome? TI don't know that Engdoes it mean?’ and he said, oh,

no, he was neve:

Our Town

To this day I can’t figure out what possessed my parents give me a musical education. Certainly it wasn't because they wanted music around the house. Indeed. now that I look back I can't remember Father and Mother ever leaving home to hear music, except. maybe for an occasional Maennerchor concert. As for myself, I couldn't carry a tune— at a time, too, when South Side boys were measured. more or less, by their ability to whistle. To tell the truth, I didn't have anything to start with— not even a piano. That's why my eves popped the Friday afternoon I saw two husky men unloading a black upright piano from Rich & McVey's big van and carry it into our house. Next morning a teacher showed up—on Saturday, mind vou, the one day of the week I had always counted on as being my own to do with as I pleased. He proved to be Julius F. Kohl who had been here but a short time, arriving straight from the Leipzig Conservatory. At the supper table. that same evening, father casually remarked that Mr. Kohl was a pupil of Clara Wieck. the wife of Robert Schumann. and hoped I would profit by it. Had I profited the way I should, 1 could have cleared up the mystery surrounding Clara's love affair with a young upstart named Brahms which, as far as I can find out, hasn't been settled yet o Still Another Surprise 1 still remember how Mr. Kohl started me off. It was bv way of a big book full of little tunes called Damm’s Klavierlehre Mr. Kohl always pronounced the author's name in the German way, giving the a” the sound of “ah.” and insisted on my doing the same which is why nobody knew my innermost feelings during the first vear of my musical education After a vear of “Damm’s Kiavierlchre” and some fiendish finger exercises by one Czerny. I had my next surprise, One morning--I believe it was on the

10

5 bd

Washington

Francis E. Townsend experienced his moment of triumph as he sat in the first row of the House gallery, gray and gaunt,

and peered through his horn-rimmed spectacles like a haunting ghost while the House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, June 3.—Dr.

voted on his famous old-age pension plan. It was a triumph for him. even though his monumental scheme, inspired by depression hardships of the aged and nursed by the political ambitions of office-seekers, was voted down by more than three to one That had been anticipated The measure oi this triumph was written on the worried faces of the voting Congressmen and their anxious glances toward the solemn watcher in the gallery. It is no small feat for an old man. armed only with a crackpot idea, to thus set the teeth of Congress on edge. This scheme simply provides a heavy, super-sales tax with which to create a special income for aged persons. One Congressman said that if the vote on the plan were secret, not a single member would vote for it. Its power lies in the fact that groups of elderly persons have held the threat of political death over

office-seekers who did not support it. o on =

Dead for This Session

This pressure, plus the threat of Huey Long's share-the-wealth campaign, spurred the Roosevelt Administration to drive through social security legislation. Dr. Townsend can take considerable credit

for that i T.e remarkable thing is that he could have made

My Day

BOSTON, Mass., Friday.—I find myself unexpect-

edlv in Boston, The night before last, our youngest: son called me in Washington and said that the doctors were a little worried about his wife during the dav. Even when I reached New York late yesterday afternoon, there was no further news. I took a friend of mine, who has for some time been unable to go about a good deal, out te the New York World's Fair. With two or three other friends we went to the French Pavilion for dinner so that we could see the lights when the fountains played a little after 9 o'clock. It is an unbelievably lovely sight. : As I returned to my apart- ® oT . ment, the telephone was ring- > ing. It proved to ke my son, who told me that things were not going very well with his wife. It always seems particularly hard when voung people meet the first disciplines of life. We knew these have to come to all of us, but it never makes it any easier. I wondered what to do, feeling that it was probably too late to make the night train, when my husband called me on the telephone, I

¢

Belbenoit was sent from France to Devil's Island in 1923 for robbery. He escaped four times, but the

first three times was recaptured, and spent long years |

in solitary for it. His fourth escap: stuck. 15 years of a man's life in torture. in New York he had 50 cents, no teeth, bad eyes and almost no clothes. But the very first week of his stay in New York was a story of good luck. A New York paper bought an article on his experiences; a dentist made him a set of falsz teeth for nothing: an eye doctor fitted him with free glasses. He still wears the same teeth and glasses (he uses the glasses only to read by). He lives in a rooming house in the West 80s, and his name is in the telephone book. He has been In the same house ever since he came here. He has a bedroom, sitting room and kitchen. = = =

Eats Very Little

He eats almost nothing. He pounds, but has a fear of getting fat. butter or drink milk at all. Despite all the physical punishment he has taken, despite years of starvation diet and tropical disease and endless torture, his stomach is perfect. His whole general health is perfect. Belbenoit still has his “pipe-lines” into French Guiana, and occasionally corresponds with friends there. Recently he bought a steamship ticket from Cayenne to France, and sent it to one of his convict friends. But the ticket was sent back. The friend had not yet served enough time to be free You may remember that I spent a week in French Guiana last winter, writing about the convicts and liberes in the penal colony. Not many Americans ever get to French Guiana. and I had thought that would be a common ground between Belbenoit and me But it didn't seem to make any difference te nim. one way or the other. We spent parts of two days together, and I think we became quite good friends. But the fact that I. too, had looked upon Devil's Island didn't seem to interest him especially. Rene Belbenoit keeps busy in his new freedom. He works hard, and has a future outlined for himself,

He had spent the best

weighs only He won't eat

By Anton Scherrer

occasion of my 10th birthdav—I wandered into the sitting room and found the old piano gone. In its place was a beautiful rosewood affair built by Wm. Knabe & Sons of Baltimore. Then I learned that the first piano was a rented one With the new piano came the sonatinas of Clement, a collection of musical essays which, I remember, rather impressed me at the time. As a matter ol fact, I still like them. but I sometimes wonder whether Clementi's coming right on top of the Damm stage hasn't warped my critical faculties a little. Then came the sonatinas of Kuhlau and Haydn followed by the songs of Mendelssohn and Schumann. At long last, too. came the easier sonatas of Mozart and Beethoven separated. as I remember, by periods of Schubert and Chopin. My only reason for going into such detail today 1 to impress you with my classical background. Only occasionally did I get anvthing gay in the shape of sheet music. Which brings me to the day Mr. Kohl unrolled The Blue Danube Waltz. one of the few things I ever learned to play bv heart. ”

S

n

A Visit to St. John's

It was during this period. I recall. asked me whether I'd like to see how an organ works. Sure, I said. and on the following Saturday the two of us went to St. John's Chnrch, right up the narrow stairs into the organ loft. It turned out that Mr Kohi had a perfect right to 20 that way. for he was organist of the place. Well, Mr. Kohl showed me the workings of an organ, and just before it was time to leave he asked me whether I wouldn't like to try my hand at it. I pitched into The Blue Danube Waltz and had just about reached the middle. going good. when Mr. Kohl tapped me on the shoulder and said I'd better stop Seems that while T was playing the old waltz, Mr Koh! had looked into the little mirror—the kind they have on organs placed in the rear of churches—and discovered Father Gavish. then a comparatively young priest, conducting a funeral at the other end of St John's

u

that Mr. Kohl

made advance registrations for

By Raymond Clapper

his scheme such a general political threat. Republicans flirted with it in varying degrees—even such respectable conservatives as Senator Taft. Democrats, whose record on social security enables them as a group to offer a constructive alibi for opposing the Townsend Plan. decided to force a showdown. This had the triple effect of embarrassing Republicans who had been kidding the Townsendites along with friendly winks: second. of burving the plan and getting it out of the way for a whiie (they hope), and third, of clearing the path for a broadening of the Social Security Act which will be undertaken immediately. With the House on record now. there is little excuse for attempts to revive the issue during the life of the present Congress. Although many members will have to answer for their vote in next year's election, they will be spared for a while the constant harassing of the old-age pension groups. which are the most troublesome and most persistent of all. n ” on

Security Act Changes

And now, having voted down this scheme. the Democrats can come forward with the offset, their plan for liberalizing the existing Social Security Act through which they expect to take much of the sting out of the defeat of the Townsend bill. There will be little opposition and the Democrats will take the credit | These expected changes will boost the schedule of payments to older workers who are soon due to retire, will add annuities for aged wives and widows. will start old-age payments next vear instead of in 1942, and the scheduled increase of one-half per cent in the present 1 per cent tax paid by both employers and employees will be deferred instead of going into effect next January. These changes will considerably increase the payments and bring them from the future into the present. The ghost of Dr. Townsend is always present.

|

By Eleanor Roosevelt

voiced my doubt of being able toc make the midnight train and he said firmly: “What are vou thinking about? It is only 11 o'clock.” And sec it was by standard time, which I had entirely forgotten. Then he added: “You can get the train that goes through the Pennsylvania Station at 12:45,” which I did. I was fortunate encugh to obtain a section. I had almost forgotten how to dress and undress in a berth. Fortunately, the technique is soon reacquired. | I can’t say, however, that the night was a very restful one and I was glad to arrive here this morning. If T did nothing else, I was able to answer the ques-| tions of the various reporters and take that much off | my son. To nave hoped for a baby, and then not to have, it is always a very bitter disappointment. but these! two young people realize that they have much to be | thankful for in that Anne herself is well and strong. | They are young and the future lies before them and| they have the courage which makes us proud of youth. Like all other disappointments and sorrows,

things in life, everyone stands on the same level and God sends us disciplines in order that we may better understand the sufferings of other people.

When he arrived |

i gineer

[to

it will] probably make them more conscious that, in the real!

By Emiie Pie. Public Inspects

North Side Sewer

T'S open house today at the 38th St. storm sewer.

Citi-

zens and school children can get that “underground feel-

ing”

Assistant city engineers tours

finished about mid-July, will drain the northeast side. entrance is at Carrollton Ave.

Works Board members

'spected the sewer vesterday, 120 |

were unanimous in stating |

that it is “one of the great-|

est engineering feats ever performed by the City.”

Board President Louis 38th St. The sound of traffic roaring overhead was hushed. He stood for a moment peering into the misty tunnel which disappeared into perspective. “This 1s a wonderful thing,” he said. “Everybody ought to see it.” Board members and City EnM. G. Johnson were led the duct along a boardwalk by George Woods Jr. superintendent of construction. Mr. Woods estimated that it was 10 degrees cooler in the tunnel than above the ground.

Technical points in the construction were discussed. Board members frequently paused in the gloom examine the steel sheath in which cement is to be poured — nine inches thick. The way was lighted by a string of bulbs. Some of the more venturesome Board members explored the tunnel east of Winthrop Ave. which will be the exit for sightseers. There workmen were “concreting the arch.” or overhead curve of the sewer.

The concrete

through

was being forced through a pipe by compressed air into a circular mold. The noise of | the compressor was _ deafening.

TOWNSEND CLUB

MAPS NEW FIGHT

and

Brandt | climbed down the 32 steps below

by inspecting the huge duct between noon and 8 p. m. 3 [lasve ‘today. suver-rimmed | y . . : er and WPA guides will conduct

through 800 feet of the mile-long duct which, when

The and 38th St. Mayor Sullivan, who

nTo it was added the noise of a triphammer machine which “tapped” the cement in place. | Board members and other officials who made the inspection trip [learned these facts about the job: 1. The sewer is the first one in Indianapolis to be built by the tun{nel method. This saved property owners the inconvenience of having the ground torn up if the “open cut” method had been used. 2. It is guaranteed to last least 60 vears without repairs. 3. In addition to crete tunnel, which is the sewer proper, the duct will have a circular sheathing of reinforced steei Gradually this will rust away, leaving the concrete to withstand the pressure of the ground and water 4. The tunnel is 5100 feet long. It is 8 feet 6 inches in diameter from College Ave. to Fall Creek land 5 feet 6 inches from Central to College. 5. The mouth at Fall Creek will have an 8 foot 6 inch floodgare to prevent backwash from the Creek. This 1s said to be the largest sewer floodgate in Indiana. When Fall Creek floodwaters exert greater pressure on the gate than the water in the sewer. the gate shuts. When the sewer pressure is greater, the gate opens. 6. The sewer was built at a cost of $140,000 as part of a $225,000 North Side storm sewer project financed by bond issue last year. Taking approximately 18 months to build. it will go into operation about

at

midsummer.

Gen. Custer Was Warned, Scout States

Defeat of Measure Won't

Cut Attendance Here, Manager Says.

Defeat of the Townsend Plan bill

in the House will not affect attendance at the Townsend movement convention opening here June 22. in the opinion of Baxter G. Rankine, convention manager. Mr. Rankine, {former secretarytreasurer of the Townsend movement, said the defeat gives the organization a verv accurate check on sentiment in every congressional district “Out of the conve “will come a definite action between now and election “While our people were somewhat disappointed. they nevertheless were prepared for it, and as a matter of fact had not expected to see the bill passed at this session. More than 10.000 persons

ntion.” he said. program of the 1940

have the convention, he said. The first official delegate to arrive is Mrs. Janice B. McNeeley, Santa Monica, Cal.

SAFETY PIN REMOVED FROM GIRL'S THROAT

Miss Madonna Feld. 19, was back at work today at a restaurant next door to the police station with apparently no ill effects after swallowing a small-sized safety pin. Miss Feld of 638 Home Place put the pin in her mouti as she w as removing her apron. She dashed across the street to the police station and was taken to the City Hospital in a radio car. Hospital attendants extracted the pin from her throat.

OHIOAN LAUDS RESEARCH

FRENCH LICK, June 3 (U. P.).— Industrial research and promotion are ‘insurance capital,” Clyde E Williams. director of the Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, O.. told the Stoker Manufacturers’ convention here last night

A 94-year-old frontiersman who warned Gen. Custer before his massacre that he was outnumbered more than 10 to cne rested today at the Ft. Harrison hospital on his way to Ft. Sam Houston at San Antonio, Tex He is Raymond H. Gardner, familiarly known as “Arizona Bill,” and is on his way to New York City. Yesterday he became ill on his train and was taken to Ft. Harrison. Today as he regained his strength he told hospital orderlies of Gen. Custer, Sitting Bull. Geronimo. the Apache chiet;: Gen. George Crook and Gen. Nelson A. Miles. Just before the battle of Little Big Horn he mingled with the Sioux. he said. and talked with Sitting Bul and saw there were at least T7000 Sioux as against a few hundred of Custer’s cavalry. When he reported this. Gen. Custer answered: “Bill. you're dreaming.” according to “Arizona Bill.”

3 INJURED AS AUTO CRASHES ABUTMENT

14 Accidents Are Reported; 41 Drivers Arrested.

Three persons were slightly injured early today when their auto crashed into a bridge abutment at Williams Creek and Road 431 north

of the city. | George Hoyt, 24, of 522 Fletcher Ave., a passenger, received cuts. Clyde Wright, 22, of 537 Fletcher Ave., the driver. and Miss Mildred Joliff, 22, of 62 N. 13th St., Beech Grove. another passenger, were bruised. Only two other persons were hurt in 14 auto accidents in the city. PoIlice arrested 41 motorists.

53

the thick con- §

FHA LOAN PLEAS ‘NEARLY DOUBLE

May Gain Over 19 1938 Listed; Employment Decline Under Expectation.

Loans requested by cants in Indiana were nearly twice as great in May this year as in May vear., R. Earl Peters, Indiana FHA director announced today Meanwhile, diana declined ed from April cording to J, Bradley Haight, ing director of the Indiana State Employment Service There were 894 applications FHA loans totaling $3.5238.235 month as compared with 481 plications for loans totaling 892,755 in May, 1838, Mr. said. Thus far this year applications have been made for $14137.563 in FHA loans as compared with $7.715,427 last vear. Employment in Indianapolis last month was 23.2 per cent above that in May, 1938, and .1 per cent ter than in April, the report showed. Payrolls were 20.9 per cent above May, 1938. payrolls but per cent less than April this year. Factory employment during the {period fell less than was expected, Mr. Haight reported, and nonmanufacturing employment increasea 2.4 per cent.

1ast

employment in Inless than expect-

1b to May 15, ac~

for last ap-

VETE RANS TO NAME HE ADS MICHIGAN CITY, June 3 (U. P.) —The annual state convention of the Disabled American Veterans conclude today officers and selection of |convention site

the

TEST YOUR Side Bluray Galbraith

KNOWLEDGE

1—In which State Valley?

2—Name the softest wood. 3—With what sport is the name Sam Snead associated? 4—-What is the correct pronunciation of the word homicide? 5—Can women vote in the United States at the age of 18? 6—Who was recently named as Ambassador to Spain by President Roosevelt?

T—Of which country the capital? = n

Answers 1—California. 2—Balsa. 3—Golf. 4—Hom'-i-side; not hom-i-side’. 5—The voting age for both males and females is 21 vears in all the states. 6—Alexander Wedell. T—Egypt.

is Death

is Cairo

”

2 » on

ASK THE TIMES

Inclose a 3-cent stamp for reply when addressing any question of fact or information to The Indianapolis Times Washington Service Bureau, 1013 13th St, N. W., Washington, D. C. Legal and medical advice cannot be given nor can

i, extended rescarch be under-

taken. -

FHA appli- |

act- |

$1.-] Peters |

bet-

3.9

will with the election of 1940

Times Photos. | You can walk a mile to see a sewer—if you care. Members of the City Works Board are shown (below) as they entered the Fall Creek opening of the new J8lh St. storm sewer which runs westward one mile underground. There is no report on the distance the Works Board traveled after reach~ ing the sewer bed. It was muddy in \ the e uncompleted seetions.

RULE ESTATES | MUST PAY TAX

Suhroms Court Reverses Madison Finding in Gross Income Case.

| | The Indiana Supreme Court today had ruled that gross income taxes must be collected on the proceeds [trom liquidation of an estate after the owner dies. The decision, written by Chief |Justice George L. Tremain, reversed the judgment of the Madison Couns ty Circuit Court which had ruled against the State in its attempt to collect income taxes from an estate, | The Gross Income Tax Division [sued the estate of Albert Dietzen, of | Anderson, to collect $699 income taxes on the sale of $68,277 stocks owned by the estate. The lower court upheld the claims of the administrator of the estate (that the income tax law did not in lclude agents of estates. The Supreme Court decision 'stated that there is “no legal reason to indicate that an administrator should not pay gross income taxes.” “The purpose of the law is to reach the income of all persons and the estates of deceased persons are |liable to the tax upon sales made by representatives.’ | The high court ordered the ade ministrator of the estate to pay the $699 tax with interest from the date it was due.

CITY T0 ACCEPT BIDS ON STREET PROJECTS

Board Rescinds Action on St. Clair St.

Torn Tells

Owner Auto | Is on Fire

A short circuit in the wiring of an automobile horn started a $1000 fire, but sounded the horn as an alarm to the owner. Gordon H. Derby Box 45-A, was by the horn blast shortly after midnight. He ran to the garage to find the automobile, a garden truck and a trailer in flames. After calling the Fire Department he aroused neighbors who with passing motorists helped him carry the furniture from his home. It was feared the flames might spread. The three vehicles were de- | stroyed and the interior of the garage was damaged.

BUTSCH MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL IS DENIED

of R. R.

15 awakened

{ The Works Board will receive [bids next week on three street and alley improvements which were con« firmed at public hearings yesterday, Bids will cover materials and management of labor and equip= ‘ment for improvement of curbs and sidewalks on both sides of Bosart |Ave., from 19th to 21st Sts.; perma« nent improvément of Webster Ave, and sidewalks on both sides of Web« ster Ave. from Lowell to Shelley Aves.. and sidewalks, both sides of [46th St. from Arsenal to Keystone | Aves. Property

Special Judge Omar O'Harrow today had overruled a new trial motion of William Ray Butsch, who was adjudged insane during his frial for the hammer-slaying of Mrs. Carrie Lelah Romig last winter. | Butsch's motion contended that he had been denied a jury trial and| that the court had erred in ordering a sanity hearing. Judge O'Harrow ruled that Butsch had been constitutionally declared insane Butsch is in the Michigan City !Colony for the Insane.

Everyday Movies—By Wortman

owners divided on the necessity of paving the first alley north of St. Clair St. beastween Leland Ave. and Hawthorne Lane, The Board, deciding a majority of |owners opposed the improvement, (rescinded action on it.

| “| don't like tishing either, but if

| hang around the house too much

my daughter-in-law keeps thinking up little jobs for me fo do.”

w [RAL

"| forget what'| read in the guide book. Am | supposed t@ |

tip. you?"