Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 July 1939 — Page 1
The Indianapolis Times
VOLUME 51—-NUMBER 97 \
[Fireworks to Injure 87 if Last Year's Story Is Twice-Told
James Holliday . . .
30YS BURNED BY EXPLOSIVES
All Are nares About Hands; Ban Is Effective On Aug. 1.
LOCAL TEMPERATURES a Moss 09 20 a. ma... & Meio 72 11 a ma... a. m.... 6 12 (noon). a Mo. SO
81 83
Thousands of Indiana children, feeling as they do the day before school starts in the fall, today prepared to make tomorrow a “big enough” Fourth to last for some time. For tomorrow is the last Fourth of July when Indiana children will be permitted to explode firecrackers, skyrockets, torpedoes, and all the other “noises” that make July 4 a dangerous day for the youngsters. The first fireworks casualty occurred when 3-year-cld James Holli- | day, 848 W. New York St, picked a firecracker off the sidewalk at New York and Blake Sts, where it had been thrown from a passing car. It exploded in James’ hand, injuring him slightly. Two other boys were burned on the hands today by exploding firecrackers. They were Andrew Wilson, 11, of 336 Indiana Ave. and Jesse Smith, 10, of 1733 Alvord St. Both were treated at City Hospital.
Ban Effective Aug. 1
A new State law will go into effect Aug. 1, permitting only public fireworks demonstrations, and then
a holiday victim.
Meteor Acts Up, Shocks ~ West Coast
PORTLAND, Ore, July 3 (U. P).— Astronomers believed today that a meteor exploding as it streaked across the early morning sky caused the concussion felt by hundreds of residents in northern Oregon and southern Washington. So many persons were aroused by the loud rumble that police radio stations and newspapers were flooded with more anxious telephone callers than at any time since Orson Welles made his famous “Men From Mars” broadcast. Weather observers at the airport here said the shocks occurred . between 9:53 and 9:54 a. m. yesterday (Indianapolis Time).
M'CLELLAN RITES T0 BE WEDNESDAY
Ex-Pupils Mourn Nationally Known Science Teacher.
Funeral services for Miss Rousseau McClellan, for many years head of the Shortridge High School biology department and nationally known educator, will be at 4 p. m. Wednesday in the Flanner & Buchanan Mortuary. Burial will be in
only when licensea by the State Fire Marshal. The Weather Bureau said there would be thundershowers tonight or on the holiday. It will be warmer tonight. The mercury dipped to a low of 67 at 5 a. m. today and 63 at 5 a. m. yesterday. Under City ordinance, firecracker shooting may start at 4 a. m. tomorrow, and continue unabated until 11 p. m. Anyone caught disturbing neighborhood slumbers before 4 a. m, however, will be carted off to jail, Police Chief Morrissey warned. Police reported today that no arrests have been made, although there was plenty of evidence that some of the celebrants were jumping the gun yesterday. Public Offices Closed
Thousands of Indianapolis families planned outings for tomorrow, while many more continued those begun Sunday. Only skeleton staffs are to be left! to carry on downtown business. City, County, State and Federal offices will close for the holiday. Officers at Ft. Harrison announced that the usual 48-gun salute would be fired at noon, one shot in honor of each of the 48] states. Officers and their families! at the Fort will gather at the Offi-| (Continued on Page Two)
TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES
Crown Hill. The Rev. Ellis W. Hay, First Con(gregational Church pastor, will be in charge. Miss McClellan was 63 and died last night in Methodist Hospital after a long illness. Miss McClellan was affectionately regarded by her former students, a great many of whom have highly responsible positions in the field of science today. Gained Wide Recognition
She generally was credited by national leaders in nature study. with the development of the extensive biology courses now offered in Indianapolis high schools. For many years she was supervisor of nature study in the public schools here, a position no longer in existence. She was described by former students and fellow teachers alike as one of the most stimulating and discerning instructors. Her influence led directly, they said, to the distinguished attainments in adult life of many of her students. Many Students in Who's Who Many of her former students are listed in Who's Who, notable among them being Benjamin Wallace Douglass, Brown County writer and former state entomologist; Dr. Jacob Richard Schramm, University of Pennsylvania professor of botany; Dr. Hartley Bartlett, University of Michigan professor of botany; Dr. William Delbert Funkhouser, University of Kentucky professor of zoology, Dr. Harold Morrison, Department of Agriculture
esessee 10] Movies 12] 9! Mrs. Ferguson 10) 9 Obituaries 7| 14! Pegler .... 10} 13]PyIe «vvosvees 9 14 Questions «... 9! 10 Radio 11/ Mrs. Rcosevelt 10 Scherrer 10 Serial Story.. : Society 4 Sports ..
Books Broun Clapper Comics Crossword , Curious World Editorials .... Financial ....
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9/ 14 conver 4 wise 0,7
Forum ....... In Indpls. Jane Jordan . Johnson
biological service, and Dr. Harry Dietz, Columbus, O., widely known ‘entomologist and research scholar, During her illness many of her former students in all sections of the United States expressed deep (Continued on Page Two)
FILES $150,000 RADIO SUIT BOSTON, July 3 (U. P.).—Paul G. Waner, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder, filed suits totaling $150,000 today for alleged slander during a
10,State Deaths. 5iradio bypadcast last May 1.
FORECAST: Thundershowers tonight or tomorrow; somewhat warmer tonight.
MONDAY, JULY 8, 1939
By JOE COLLIER THIS is a twice told tale that shouldn't have had to be told the first time. It is a year old. It concerns hap-
penings that have mostly been forgotten.
been printed once. Yet it is news.
It already has
It is the story of the 87 Indianapolis men and women, boys and girls who last year were injured by fireworks. It is the story of the 314 Hoosiers who were injured last year as compared to 278 the year before. City Hospital last year kept a record of all injuries resulting from fireworks and how they were incurred. This was forwarded to the American Medical Association which in January compiled such records from all hospitals
in the nation by states.
This is what the A. M. A. found: Nearly three times as many persons lost the sight of both eyes in 1938 as in 1937 and there were more than twice as many amputations last year as the year before.
REPORT DANZIG ADDS 1000 TO POLICE FORCE
Britain Hammers Away Attempt to Block Nazi Expansion.
BY UNITED PRESS Great Britain hammered home to the world today the dangers of Europe's sorest spot—the Free City of Danzig—in an effort to block
Nazi expansion in eastern Europe. At the same time the Nazi Government of Danzig was reported in authoritative German sources to have called up 1000 youths for police services, The same source said that another group of 1000 youths probably would be called up soon for the same service, Soviet Russia, whose help Britain and France are seeking in extending the European security front, today was understood to have transmitted to England her reply to the latest proposal without completing a final agreement,
Jump on Nazis Sought
The reply was handed to Sir William Seeds, the British ambassador William Strang, special adviser from London, and Paul Emile Naggiar, the French Ambassador, during, a 90-minute conference at the Kremlin, Both Britain and France have, in effect, been attempting to get the jump on the Nazis’ reported plans to return Danzig in one way or another to the Reich before autumn. The result has been a flood of warnings against aggression and public demonstrations of military preparedness in London and Paris intended, without definitely saying so, to warn Germany that Naaisponsored violence in Danzig as a preclude to anschluss would almost certainly bring a general war.
Force Still Stressed
Prime Minister Chamberlain reported to King George the international situation, reviving interest in reports that he might soon include Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden—both publicly denounced hy Adolf Hitler—in the Cabinet. But political sources still wondered if Mr. Chamberlain would so openly challenge Herr Hitler at present. Asked in the House of Commons today whether Britain would fight to protect Danzig from forceful return to Germany, Mr. Chamberlain replied that the Foreign Secretary, (Continued on Page Two)
MNUTT REPORTS TO F. D. R. WEDNESDAY
Wife and Daughter to Remain in City.
Paul V. McNutt, High Commissioner to the Philippines, is to go to Washington Wednesday to report to President Roosevelt on conditions in the islands. His stay is to be indefinite, his secretary said. Mrs. McNutt and daughter,
Louise, are to remain at the Indianapolis Athletic Club while the former Governor is away. The McNutts spent .Sunday at Martinsville with his father and ohn Mr. and Mrs. John Meutt.
FOND DU LAC, Wis. July 3 (U. P.).—While you're cooling off with a dish of ice cream covered with your favorite sirup or fruit one of
these summer days, pause a moment to honor the memory of Edward C. Berner. Thirty-nine years ago on a hot summer day, a sweltering customer entered Mr. Berner's ice cream parlor and ordered a dish of ice cream. “And put some of that on it,” he added, pointing to a bottle of chocolate sirup in Mr. Berner’s hand. Mr. Berner protested. “You'll ruin the ice cream. That's the stuff I use for chocolate sodas.” But he added the sirup and the customer said it was good. Mr. Ber-
ner tried it, fous it tasty, i
Local ‘Woman, Two Men Die in 1» Wreck
Entered as Second-Class at Postoffice,
HE two main causes of death from fireworks are body burns suffered by little girls when the flimsy dresses catch fire on sparklers or firecrackers and the mutilations received by men and boys as the result of their experiments with home-made explosives. Last year three South Bend girls died in the manner first described, and five more throughout the nation. The stuffing of lead pipes with firecrackers and similar ven-
tures last year took the lives
of five boys and men.
In Indianapolis there were no deaths and no tetanus
cases.
But persons were hurt in the following diverse
ways, and note that some were nonparticipants:
A 10-year-old girl, when her;
a firecracker was thrown at
a 13-year-old boy, when a torpedo exploded in his
hand; a 6-year-old boy when a rocket that was exploded across the street struck him; a 9-year-old boy, when he picked up a cracker he thought was dead; an 11-year-old girl when a skyrocket, intended to be held backfired in her
hand.
Three Indianapolis persons died in this wrecked auto on Road 29.
CIVIL LIBERTIES ISSUEIS R IS RAISED
Bradshaw Caunthes Inquiry After Releasing Woman On $200 Bail.
An investigation into reports that a woman prisoner was held incommunicado at City Jail for 24 hours was started by Juvenile Court Judge Wilfred Bradshaw today. He began his inquiry after the Arst affidavit against the woman, who was arrested Saturday night, was filed in his court this morning. Chief Morrissey denied reports that she was not given ample opportunity to call friends to post the $1000 bond necessary to effect her release. Another investigation of charges by prisoners that they were denied civil liberties by being limited to one telephone call in efforts to obtain their release on bond was
started recently by Municipal Court Judge John L. McNelis.
Chief Gives Statement
The woman allegedly held incommunicado in City Jail for 24 hours was Mrs. Helen Losh, widow of a motorcycle patroiman. She was arraigned before Judge Bradshaw on a charge of child neglect. He continued the case and reduced her bond from $1000 to $200. She furnished that bond. The report that Mrs. Losh was denied civil liberties came after she is reported to have given another prisoner at the jail a note to take to her attorney. Her attorney, Paul Rochford, said he was notified of her imprisonment at 11:45 o'clock last night. Chief Morrissey said she had been arrested at 7:40 o'clock Saturday night,
“Bad Practice” Says Judge
Chief Morrissey s iadthat while no affidavit had been filed against her, she was charged on the police blotter with child neglect. “Police have the right to hold anyone 24 hours without an affidavit pending an investigation,” he said. e contended that listing the charge
on the arrest blotter is sufficient to detain anyone.
recom- 'Sunday.’ »
The affidavit filed against Mrs. (Continued on Page Two)
Birth of Sundae Recalled By Death of Its Inventor
mended it to friends. The new concoction swept the town. Other confectioners balked at adding chocolate sirup to a 5-cent dish of ice cream, but were forced by public demand to add the dish to their menus. “And that was the birth of the ice cream sundae,” Mr. Berner used to tell friends. He died Saturday, at the age of 76, still proud that he had added a dish to the national menu. “Funny how it got its name,” he would muse. “A friend of mine, with an eye on profits, served the combination only on Sunday. One day a little girl asked for the new dish and was told it was sold only on Sunday. ‘Then it must be a Sunday,’ she said. ‘I want an re cream
Youth Parley Splits Over Communism
NEW YORK, July 3 (U. P)). —The American Youth Congress in a controversial ses= sion refused today to adopt a resolution condemning communism by name whereupon a sizable minority group of conservative delegates bolted the session protest. A chorus of “no” votes killed the measure which had become a chief center of argument and which had threatened to disrupt the Congress. Communists delegates denounced the so-called rightwing groups as “Coughlinites” and “anti-Semites.” When defeat of the resolution was announced William Ball of Cleveland, president of the Young American= ist League, rose and shouted: “I call upon all patriots in the audience to follow me out of the room.”
19 GUT OFF STATE'S AUTO LIGENSE STAFF
Dismissals Result of Slash In Department Budget.
Nineteen employees of the State Motor Vehicle License Bureau were dismissed today by Frank Finney, bureau administrator. Mr. Finney said the dismissals were made necessary by the reduction of $21,000 annually in the department’s personnel budget. “The dismissals will seriously cripple the department’s operation and we hope it will be possible to refill some of the jobs later,” he said. The reductions were made in personnel budgets of several State government divisions by the 1939 Legislature. The State Highway Department personnel has been reduced py more than 300 in the last three months as a result of budget reductions voted by the Legislature.
DIXIE CLIPPER FLIES WEST OVER ATLANTIC
PORT WASHINGTON, N. Y, July 3 (U. P.).—The Dixie Clipper, 41-ton Pan American Airways flying boat, was homeward bound today on the return trip of the first regularly scheduled airplane passenger flight to Europe and back. The four-engine craft, which left here last Wednesday for Marseilles, France, with 22 passengers, reached Horta, Azores, on the return flight at 10:23 a. m. (Indianapolis Time). Its skipper expected to complete the 2397-mile jump from Horta to PortWashington by 6 a. m. tomorrow.
HURT IN 18-FOOT FALL Mrs. Marie Wolff, 34, mother of two children, was in “fair” condition at City Hospital today following an 18-foot fall from a secondstory window at her home, 1022 N. Sterling Ave,
WATER GO. DATA STUDIED BY CITY
Committee to Confer This Week With Representative
Of Geist Estate.
City officials today began a careful study of Judson C. Dickerman’s report on the Indianapolis Water Co. value, preparatory to beginning negotiations for acquiring the company at a “fair” price. A meeting of the committee of officials with C. W. McNear, represe.tative of the C. H. Geist estate, probably will be held Thursday or Friday, it was indicated. The Geist estate, in its proposal to sell the company to the City, asked $5,000,000 for its common stock, which would bring the total cost of the company, including bonds, preferred stock and call premium, to $22,773,000.
Other Factors Involved In his report, Mr. Dickerman estimated the “present fair value of the properties and assets” of the company, including $1,500,000 of surplus assets which the City would take over, as only $20,325,000. Deducting the $18,434,400 outstanding in bonds and preferred stock held by other investors, he contends, justities the payment of only $1,887,000 for the common stock. However, he concludes that in view of the profits to be earned by the City from the utility, the favorable bond market and the possibility of a decline in the dollar value, the City would be “well justifled in offering $3,500,000 for the common stock.” This figure, which, he held, approximates the competitive market value of the stock, would bring the cost of acquiring the company to $21,261,000, including the $823,000 call premium. Cites Annual Benefits
Mr. Dickerman, who was borrowed from the Federal Trade Commission to make the survey of the property for the City, informed the City officials that it might be found advisable to pay considerably more than the “fair value” in order to acquire the company. Even if it were necessary to pay (Continued on Page Two)
Indianapolis,
FINAL HOME
Matter
PRICE THREE CENTS
Ind.
LL told, seven persons were burned by firecrackers thrown at them. Forty more were injured when they held lighted crackers and bombs too long, and one man got
second-degree burns when a lighting ignited several more The A. M. A. conclusion
spark from a rocket he was he held in his hand. was that New Jersey, which
has a state law banning fireworks similar to that which
will be in force next year in
Indiana, had a low accident
rate. Only 81 persons in that state were reported injured
last year.
Michigan, Kentucky and Wisconsin also seemed to have reasonably effective legislation, with 93, 11 and 110
injuries, respectively.
1
As for Indiana, the A. M. A. Journal had this to say: “Other states with notoriously bad records were Ine
diana, New York, California, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri
ACCIDEN
LISTS 279 DEAD
Automobhilé Crashes, Guns, Fire and Drownings Figure in Casualties.
By United Press The toll of violent death in the nation's celebration of Independence Day reached nearly half th anticipated total today at the threequarter mark of the four-day weeknd. Almost 600 persons died violently in last year’s July Fourth week-end. Drownings, traffic and miscellaneous accidents had claimed 279 lives in the 48 states and the District of Columbia by noon today. With fair weather nearly countrywide, death on the highways accounted for 133 of the total. Drownings took 70 lives. Fires, shootings, suicides and other violence added another 76.
Report Fireworks Injuries
No deaths were reported from fire= works, which were - responsible for 25 fatalities in 1938, but several injuries were reported. Safety authorities warned that even yet there may be a fireworks toll despite growing legislative regulations. California led all states in deaths with 38, of which 18 were in traffic accidents, three drownings and 17 attributed to miscellaneous causes. Pennsylvania reported 26 deaths, Ohio 22, and Indiana 12. No deaths were reported in 12 states—Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia. A country grocer near Albert Lea, Minn. was aroused last night by a plane crash near his store. He found two youths dying in the wreckage—one of them his son.
Boy Kills Mother
At Waterloo, Ia., a 5-year-old boy picked up a .22 caliber rifle his father had been inspecting and accidentally shot and killed his
mother. They had been preparing to go on a picnic. At Perth Amboy, N. J, a 19-year-old girl was shot and killed in a candy store while discussing ways to celebrate the Fourth. Police said her escort had gone behind the counter, picked up a gun and shot her accidentally.
Woman Dies in Flames
A family house party ended tragically at Quincy, Mass., yesterday when a 50-year-old woman died in flames that destroyed her
nephew's home. A college student was burned to death in a fire that destroyed a two-story home near Grand Rapids, Mich. Paul Crawford, 34, automobile racing driver, was killed when his car crashed through a fence during a holiday race at Logansport,
Ind.
North Side Asks Drastic
‘Marathon
An ordinance calling for a $500 daily license fee for any contest the winning of which depends upon physical strength or endurance will be introduced to City Council tonight. The measure does not apply to wrestling, boxing, football, basketball, baseball and contests conducted for les sthan one week. It will be introduced by Harmon A. Campbell, Republican councilman, at the request of North Side residents. Although no contest is banned specifically in the measure as drafted by the residents, it was understood that it was aimed at discouraging the Rolleg Derbies and
similar events which for seve
Sports’ Law
eral weeks. Mr. Campbell said that several North Side property owners, particularly those in the Butler University district, had requested the ordinance, Mr. Campbell said that several had contacted him and asked him to sponsor the measure. The ordinance further states that the fee shall be payable each day to the City Controller after the contest has been approved by Chief Morrissey. Penalty for violation would be a fine of $5 to $100 and a maximum imprisonment of 30 days or both for conviction of each violation. City officials said the proposed measure was one of the “most strict” to be introduced in several
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Ohio.”
‘STATE PRE-4TH
TS KILL
2, HURT SCORED NATIONAL TOLL
Boy Is Crushed to Death, Brother Injured.
Indiana counted 12 violent deaths today as thousands of pre-Fourth of July celebrate ors took to the highways and crowded lake resorts. Eight persons, three of them from Indianapolis, were killed in traffic. Two drowned and two were killed by trains, A former Indianapolis wom an was killed in an auto crash near Hannibal, Mo., while en route here, Sixteen persons were injured in 30 week-end accidents here and scores were hurt in the State. Police here arrested 74 motorists for violations. Thirteen were fined a total of $32 in Municipal Court toe day, an average of $2.46 each. The dead in the state were:
MRS. AUDREY BURGE, 26, of 1441 Hiatt St.
HASKELL L. BRIDGEWATER, 40, of 915 Reisner St. RUSSELL DEAN ARTHUR, 36, of 1329 Shephard St.
MRS. VERNA WEST, Hopkinsville, Ky. PAUL CRAWFORD, Owensboro, Ky. GARY FARRIS, 63, of Huntington.
JAMES COX, 21, of Greenfield.
RAYMOND WHITE, 11, of Plymouth. DONALD ROBINSON, 20, of Chicago. ELMER C. TIELKER, 36, of Ft. Wayne, WALTER HORNOCKER, 23, of Indianapolis. JULIUS M’ELROY, 45, of Her= rin, Ill. Mrs. Burge, Mr. Arthur and Mr, Bridgewater were killed in a crash on Road 29, a mile south of Kirklin. Three others in the car were ine jured. They were Edward Burge, husband of the dead woman; Delmar Eubank, 29, of 2205 W. Morris St., and William Murphy, 24, of 857 Tremont Ave.
En Route to Lake
The party left Indianapolis early yesterday morning for Schaefer Lake on a fishing outing. The automobile crashed into the wing of a culvert while passing a bus and hurtled 200 feet into a cornfield. Bodies of the victims were strewn over the field. Mrs. Burge and Mr. Bridgewater were killed instantly. Mr, Arthur died in an ambulance en route to City Hospital here. The three injured were brought to the hospital here. Mr. Burge was reported in a critical condition with a possible brain concussion and face lacerations. Mr. Murphy, who suffered a broken arm and face lacerations, was reported in a serie ous condition. The condition of Mr, Eubank was reported fair. He has a possible concussion. Coroners of three counties were conducting investigations. The car left the road in Boone County and (Continued on Page Two)
FEW HIGH-PRICED STOCKS TAKE RISE
NEW YORK, July 3 (U. P.).—= A. T. & T. capital stock rose 2 points to feature a sluggish market today, A few other high-priced issues made wide gains, but the majority held in a narrow, fractional range.
One Edition
Following its custom, The Indianapolis Times will publish only one edition tomorrow in order to give its employees a half-holiday.
Want ads “for Wednesday's Times may be phoned between 7a. m. and 7p. m. RI-ley 5551.
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