Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 September 1939 — Page 2

PREFERS TRIAL TO YEAR'S WAIT

Stephenson Asks Hearing Now Despite Chances for Prison Parole.

Times Special - NOBLESVILLE, Ind; Sept. 28.—A -new trail for murder before a jury is preferable to waiting a year for possible parole, D. C. Stephenson, former Ku-Klux Klan grand dragon, said today in a statement issued at the Hamilton County Jail.

Stephenson, serving a life sentence foe the death of Madge Oberholtzer, State House stenographer, was brought here from the Indiana State Prison this week for a new trial hearing in Circuit Court Wednesday. After a lengthy ¢onference with his as Stephenson issued a plea for a fifair and impartial trial before a jury of my peers, a fair and complete hearing.”

Confident of Success

“I am seeking this form of relief because of faith in the rectitude of my cause and because I believe in id) ultimate triumph of justice,” he sai - “I am still conscious of the conditions which prevailed during my trial and also which prevail to some extent now, but I am still willing to go before a jury despite the fact that I might be released from prison 12 months from now on parole.” The former grand dragon declined to indicate what type of evidence he would present atthe hearing on his petition for| a writ of error, explaining that it would be better to reveal that to the jury.

Denies Planning “War”

He denied that at any time, even while leading the Hoosier Klan, he intended to “wage any war” against the Catholic church, the colored race or any other religious or social group. He said he never was a candidate for public office and that he was a member of the Klan for only 11 months. Enlarging’ on his claim that he was prevented from testifying in his own defense during his original trial, he charged that a Klan offi-|; cial told him if he testified “they would blow my head off.” He said other threats were made on his attorneys and that he was forced to choose between dying at the “hands of an assassin” or being convicted of a crime he had not committed. Stephenson’s present campaign to obtain freedom, his seventh since he was convicted of slaying Miss Oberholtzer in |1925, started in March when E. E. Cloe of Noblesville, chief counsel, filed a writ of error before Judge Cassius M. Gentry here.

Charges Unfair Conditions

The writ alleged that Stephenson was afraid to testify in his own defense and that | the original trial was not conducted under fair conditions. Stephenson conferred with Cloe and Alban M. Smith of La Porte, another attorney, yesterday. After the conference and befere Stephenson was interviewed the attorneys expressed confidence that the former political leader would he freed. “It is the purpose of this peti~ tioner and his counsel to strip the hearing of all political implications,” their statement said. “Proceeding on this basis we are confident that we shall be able to prove Stephenson was convicted because of unusual conditions surrounding the trial which defeated the orderly! process of justice.”

FARMER WOUNDED IN NEIGHBOR'S FIELD

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind, Sept. 28 (U. P.)i—Sheriff Merle Remley ‘today investigated the shooting of Harold H. Ford, 49-year-old farmer,

in the cornfield of Wheat Bratton, his neighbor. Sheriff Remley said Mr. Bratton told him he had set up a watch after corn had been stolen from his fields for several nights. He said a man entered the field and ‘that after six ‘warning shots in the air he fired one shot directly at the intruder. Mr. Remley said he found Ford at his home with a bullet wound through the body.

—Times Photo. Workmen have erected scaffolds around one of the two steeples of St. John’s Catholic "Church, 100 block S. Capitol Ave. and are removing the slate roofing. Both steeples will be recovered with copper roofing.

TRAINING URGED FOR PRISONERS

ate Welfare Reports Need Of Aiding Convicts in Michigan City.

Dne of every 10 prisoners at the ichigan City State Prison and ite Farm is illiterate and there need for vocational and character ining, the State Welfare Department reported today. program under way is designed to |correct this situation according to Donald T. Griffin, writing in the magazine, Public Welfare in Indiana. Inmates are being taught brick-

laying, auto riechanics, dairy work, poultry raising and cannery work because “most of the men are handicapped in earning their live ing by the fact that they have’ no special skills.” More library books have: been secured and the habit of reading has increased Mr. Griffin reports.

ball and boxing to horseshoe pitching. - Inmates publish the magazine, Hill Top-ic, twice a month at the State Farm and the magazine, Bourne, is published each month at State Prison. Projects at the Woman's Prison include a housekeeping class, current events discussion group and a mothers’ club: which studies health and hygiene, child care, budgeting and food preparation.

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WILL ADD 173 MEN

The Indianapolis units of the National Guard in Indiana will be increased by 173 men under the U. S. War Department's quota specifications, Adj. Gen. Elmer F. Straub said today. The War Department -authorization provided for an increase of 859 men in Indiana, bringing the state's guard strength to an all-time high

‘|of 5828 men. Ca

The Indiana unit receiving the largest quota of increase is the 38th Division Signal Company which- will get 46 additional men for a total of 129. The average increase of other Indiana companies: will be 22 men

each. : Adj. Gen, Straub said applications for enlistment can be made at the Armory offices in the various districts over the state. Those in Indianapolis are at 711 N. Pennsylvania St. and at 2000 Madison Ave.

Briton Urges | Variable Dawn

By Science Service LONDON, Sept. 28.—With apshorter days and English city life ending at dusk because of the war-time blackout, a daylight saving plan under which 9 o'clock in the morning would coincide throughout the year approximately with dawn has been submitted by a Cardif engineer to the Home

tary. > Clocks would be advanced 50 minutes on Jan. 1; 25 minutes more on Feb. 1; 50 minutes, March 1; 50 minutes, April 1, 60 minutes, May 1. No would be made in June

On Aug. 1 clocks would be turned

back 20 minutes; on Sept. 1, 40 minutes; Oct. 1, 50 minutes; Nov. 1, 50 minutes, and Dec. 1, 25 minutes. The scheme, its backers insist, would save fuel as well as provide more daylight leisure hours.

Mrs.-Jennie MeNutt, Mrs. Margaret Perry

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Norman Wilson will review the church’ oo record of the . past 10 years. Rev: W. C. Ball The Inglewood Glee Club of the Inglewodd Christian Church will sing with Mrs. Thelma Morris as soprano soloist. Earl Gordon, church organist, also will take part in the musical

program.

Library Aids i in Rescue

“

"Indianapolis public school teachers are depending upon the Public Library for answers to questions and problems presented to them by pupils. The Teachers’ Branch a the Indianapolis Public Library at Meridian and Ohio Sts. attracts teachers immediately after schools close each day, according to library officials, "The teachers consult material

an effort to find needed Last week one teacher of commercial subjects wanted a textbook that taught a one-hand system of typing. One of her pupils who had only one arm wanted to learn to textbook, b Hs am fra a u a series of articles in ly lpoated 3 So magazine that gave the teacher the information needed Another teacher ‘wanted a home economics course for ‘boys who wanted to learn to cook. Another

was faced with the problem of finding pirate music, while another needed information on the education and training of janitors. A high school teacher wanted to know who was the first king of Nor-

y sachess another aid to the library compiles a list of the latest

SNITES DOCTOR DIES

CHICAGO, Sept. 28 (U. P.).—Dr. Leroy A. Luce, 59, Boston nerve specialist who came here recently to treat Frederick B. Snite Jr. infantile paralysis victim who has spent three years in an. iron lung, died yesterday in a suburban hospital from a heart ailment.

BADLY HURT WHEN CAR HITS TREE -

Thomas W. Alexander, 22, Arlington, Ind., was in a serious condition today in City Hospital with injuries received when his car struck a tree on Road 52 last night. Deputy sheriffs and State Police, who investigated, said Mr. Alexander apparently went to sleep at the wheel. Physicians said he may have a skull fracture. William Miller, 48, Calhoun, Ky., was struck by a car in the 5900 block W. Washington St. and is in City Hospital with severe cuts on the head. The car was driven by Russell Schakel, Bridgeport. Edward Guerra, 14, of 136 W. 19th ‘Ist. walked into the side of a caz near his home yesterday and ree ceived a sprained ankle.

et —————— * INJURED IN FALL Mrs. Augusta Kipp, 42 of 616 W. 41st St., was treated at/ City Hospital yesterday for a cut on her forehead received when she slipped and fell in the kitchen of her home.

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