Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 11 March 1941 — Page 1

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VOLUME 52—NUMBER 313

"TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1941

Entered

at Postoffice,. Indianapolis, Ind.

as Second-Class

Matter

PRICE THREE CENTS

After 17-Year Battle

Otto F. Schlensker

® » 8

” #

'Once-Prosperous Local Mon,

Now lll, Hopes to Join Wife

By NOBLE REED

A once prosperous Indianapolis businessman who went broke

several

years ago fcllowing a transaction with the State; and lost his health worrying ahout it, will be able to start life anew under a bill passed by

the Legislature. The measure, if it is signed by

the Governor, will appropriate $36,-

807. 50 to Oto. ‘F. .Schlensker, paying him back money the State has owed

=< MORE DIE IN

“LOCAL TRAFFIC

City-County Toll for Year Now 29, Double Same Period in 1940.

Two more Indianapolis persons were dead of traffic injuries today. The victims, both pedestrians, added to the mounting death toll which has brought. the 1941 citycounty figure to 29, almost double the 1940 toli. One of the pedestrians was struck by a car last night and died an hour later in the City Hospital. The other died today from injuries received March 17. They were: HENRY HARMENING, 70, liv-

ing in Prospect St., 1400 block. He was struck by an auto at State Ave. and Prospect St. WILLIAM PREVOTT, 173, of 2246 N. Capitol Ave. He walked into the path of a machine last Friday at 52d St. and College Ave.

Board and Chief to Meet

_ Meanwhile, the Safety Board, today was expected to discuss traffic safety with Police Chief Michael PF. Morrissey: At the same time, commendation and support of traffic safety recommendations presented last week to the -Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Traffic Safety was pledged by Par-ent-Teacher Association members attending a Safety and Parent Education Conference in the BannerWhitehill auditorium. Sixteen persons have been killed in city accidents this year. Of this number, 14 were pedestrians. (Continued on Page Six)

DISCUSS LEASE BILL

A discussion of the Lease-Lend Bill will feature a dinner meeting of Indiana University alumni at 6:15 o'clock tonight at the Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St. Speakers will include Col. George H. Healey of Indianapolis, and Prof. Insley Osborne, Wabash College secretary. Harry L. Gause, Indiana University Club of Indianapolis president, will preside.

TIMES FEATURES ON INSIDE PAGES

‘ The Times’ New Serial Story, “DOLLARS TO DOUGHNUTS,” Starts Today on Page 20

him for 17 years. “Now I can go to Califor pla and see my wife, who- is seriously iil with tuberculosis, and start life all aver again,” said Mr. Schlensker when he received word that the bill finally had passed after 17 vears of fighting through the courts and the Legislature. It all started back in 1924 when Mr. Schlensker’s auto and fruck parts business was doing a gross trade of about $100,000 a year.

Had State Contract

He had a contract with the State Highway Commission to buy truck parts from the Federal Government and sell them to the State on a fixed profit percentage basis. An investigation on the contract was started soon after fransactions ‘were under way and Mr. Schlensker agreed to give the State a check for $50,000 to guarantee his good faith in the transactions and to reimburse the State for any errors in prices that might occur. This is where the legal “joker” crept in, and kept Mr. Schlensker from getting his money hack despite a legal fight through to the Indiana Supreme Court.

Placed in Highway Fund

His $50,000 check was placed in the Highway Department fund instead of in escrow and red tape prevented officials from removing it. If it had been placed in escrow, the money would have been available, but the State Board of Accounts ruled that it could nbt be touched in the highway fund. The Supreme Court held that the money. represented a ‘‘gift” to the State and could not be paid back in its present status | without a special law. So the matter was brought before the 1939 Legislature which appointed a committee to investigate the whole thing. ; The Committee completed its in{Continued of on Page Six)

2034 USERS ADDED BY WATER COMPANY

Net Income in ’40 Rises to $707,013; Dividends Paid.

The Indianapolis Water Co. gained 2034 customers during 1940, its largest yearly increase since 1929, a report filed with the Public Service Commission showed today. The total number of customers is 81,112. The report showed increases in gross and net int¢ome, operating expenses and in gallonage pumped. Gross operating revenues for 1940 were $2,881,270, | the gross corporate income wads $1,277,313, and the net income, $707,013. The year, before, $2,602,028 was collected in gross operating rev-

4| enues, the gross corporate income

was $1,259,380, anid the net income was $649,173, Common stock dividends were $1.30 a share on the 500,000 shares of common stock. Quarterly dividends of $1.25 a share on the 10,549 shares of preferred were paid. The increase in operaiing expense was due largely to more taxes, the report said. ‘Taxes for 1940 were 43 8-10 per cent of the total operating expenses and ir 1939, they. were 42 7-10 per cent of the total.. Capital improvements cost $958,327. More than 13 miles of water mains were laid, bringing the total mileage to 705.

Sulpage Increased to 11,987,020,000 gall

199 NEW LAWS ARE PASSED BY 41 ASSEMBLY

67 Bills Still Stacked on Governor’s Desk; Session Ends at 3:10 A. M.

By EARL RICHERT With the 82d session of the Indiana Legislature ended and weary legislators on their way home, 67 Senate and House bills today were

stacked on the desk of Governor |’

Henry F. Schricker awaiting his signature. So far, 199 bills have

been passed and have become laws. Twenty-seven of them had been passed by the legislators in the closing hours of the session, four by the House and 23 by the Senate. During the 61-day session the House had passed 198 bills, nearly three times as many as the Senate, which passed 69. Of the Senate bills, two were concurrefit and one was a joint resolution. One did not require the Governor's signature.

Governor Signs 38

The Governor vetoed eight and let six others become law without his signature. He signed 38 and 16 still await his action. All but one of the vetoes were overridden. The House bills included three concurrent and four joint resolutions and one that did not require the Governor's signature. The Governor let three others become ‘law without his signature, signed 125 and vetoed 18. Fifty-one are now on his desk awaiting his action. At 3:10 a. m. today, after the Senate and House clocks had been turned back a couple of times and most of the legislators had long since departed, Senator William E. Jenner (R. Shoals) arose from his seat in the Senate Chamber. “Mr. President,” he said, “I move that we do now adjourn sine die.” . “I concur,” shouted Senator Roger Phillips (D. New Albany), minority leader. Lieut. Gov. Charles Dawson gave the gavel block one resounding whack, and thus ended the session. The House adjourned a few seconds before the Senate upon the motion of Rep. Frank T. Millis (R. Campbellsburg), floor leader.

Hoped to Quit at 10 P. M.

Legislative leaders had hoped fer adjournment by 10 p. m, but passage of several bills fairly late in the evening by the House made this impossible. The Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor must sign the enrolled bills that are to be sent to the ‘Governor while the houses are in session, so there could be no adjournment until after the bills had been enrolled. As the session was to end, under the Constitution, at 12 o'clock, the (Continued on Page Three)

BURGLARS TIE GUARD, TAKE SAFE AND $300

Use Truck to Haul Packing Firm Vault Away.

Two burglars today trussed up a night watchman and carted away a 400-pound safe containing more than $800 in cash from the Kuhner Packing Co. office, 621 W. Ray St., police reported. Edward Cox, 3546 W. 12th St., the night watchman, said the men surprised him in the rear of the adjoining office of the Hoosier Abbatoir Co., tied him up and took him inside while they ransacked the office. Then they entered the packing firm office and pushed him under a desk before trundling the safe out onto a truck, he said. Freeing himself, Mr. Cox called police. M. L. Warner, manager of the packing company office, said the safe contained between $800 and $1000 in currency. In a series of other night time robberies, police said bandits obtained several hundred dollars.

Liese Acquitted

FREED BY JURY IN 1935 DEATH

It's Time to Hunt for Job,’ Youth Comments as He Thanks Attorney.

Twenty - two - year old Richard Liese was free today after living in the shadow of the death of James Eli Hunt for six years. After 15 hours of deliberation, a Criminal Court Jury of seven men and five women at 9:18 a. m. today found him not guilty of the firstdegree murder of Mr. Hunt. After John Helmer, jury foreman, had announced the verdict, Judge Dewey E. Myers called the defendant, his attorney, Paul Rochford, and Deputy Prosecutors Erle Kightlinger and Cale Holder to the bench. “The jury has found you not guilty. of the charge of first degree murder,” the judge said, “and you are hereby discharged.” The gangling, red-haired youth turned to his attorney and said, “thanks.”

Employer Found Dead

James Eli Hunt, the decedent’s father, had been in court throughout the trial and heard the verdict. He said he Shad no malice against anyone.” George Liese, the defendant’s father, who 1s a veteran Indianapolis policeman, had been at the defendaht’s table during the trial, but was not in court to hear the verdict. He had been on duty and after hearing of tne verdict hurried to the courtroom. Young Liese’s only comment was that he “felt real good. Now it's time to look for a job.” The youth disappeared for six years after Mr. Hunt, his bread route employer, was found shot through the head at 7ist St. and Ditch Road on Jan. 15, 1935. The case went to the jury at 6:20 p. m, yesterday after closing arguments in. which the State urged conviction on the grounds of motive, his six-year flight, “strong” circumstantial evidence, and a (Continued on Page Six)

MERCURY TO DROP UNDER GRAY SKIES

LOCAL TEMPERATURES + a.m. ....33 11am .... 38 "8a. m. ..:. 33: 12 (noon) . 33 94. m. .... 32 lpm... 35 10a. m..... 32

Skies over Indianapolis will remain overcast with the forecast for partly cloudy to cloudy for today and tomorrow, according to the

Weather Bureau.. It also will get colder, the weather man said, with the temperature dropping to 25 tonight. A 25-mile-an-hour wind which whipped snow flurries along city ‘streets was to continue most of the day, J. H. Armington, Weather Fureau head, said. A 36-mile-an-hour wind was reported at the Municipal Airport, with a peak of 45

miles an hour.

NAZIS’ SPRING DRIVE NEARING BLITZ PATTERN

Step Up Air and Sea War; Thailand and Indo-China Sign Peace Terms.

By HARRISON SALISBURY United Press Staff Correspondent The Nazi spring offensive against the British Empire moved today with increased momentum toward blitzkrieg pace. In the air, at sea, and in the diplomatic sphere the tempo of the German campaign was rising. For the third night running the Nazi Luftwaffe smashed heavily at Britain after mere than two months during which only light, intermittent raids had been attempted. - At sea the British Admiralty reported shipping losses of - 148,000 tons in the week ended March 2 and said that Germany was now making a “supreme effort” to cut Britain’s sea routes. In the diplomatic sphere an. Axis gesture obviously timed to offset, if possible, the American lease-lend bill, was in the making with the scheduled departure of Japan's foreign Minister, Yosuke Matsuoka, tomorrow on ‘an almost unprecedented journey to Berlin, Rome and Moscow. The most immediately threatening German move was the sea campaign. Although the British Admiralty reported, that counter - measures against Nazi submarines and raiders are proving more and more successful, the tonnage loss of the week ended March 2 was at a rate which—if long continued—would be bound to hamper the British war effort materially. The pattern of Gérman air attack on Britain suggested that the Luftwaffe three days ago started its spring offensive. Each night since Saturday German planes have been over Britain in substantial numbers and have attacked with all the fury of last fall's raids.

Indo-China Signs Peace

Portsmouth was the chief target of the German air force last night. It is a big British naval base and ship-repair base. There was no.indication how much damage was inflicted upon naval facilities but the civilian population and homes and businesses suffered severely. One encouraging factor was a report by the Air Ministry that at least four German planes were brought down during the night and two more damaged. The Matsuoka trip to confer with his Axis colleagues was being built up by the propagandists of Berlin and Rome as a major event. Matsuoka was freed of immediate problems at home py the signature (Continued on Page Six)

CITY MAN INJURED IN AIRLINER CRASH

4 Others Hurt When Ship Pancakes in Ohio.

Times Special CINCINNATI, March 11.—Federal and American Airlines officials opened an investigation today into the crash last night of a

+ Washington-bound flagship in which

five of the 11 occupants, including one from Indianapolis, were injured when the ship pancaked on Lunken Airport here. The Indjanapolis occupant was Wasley McCleaster, 48, of 5766 Broadway, a candy -salesman, en route {rom Toledo to a candy jobbers’ meeting at Cincinnati. It was his first airplane trip. (Mr. McCleaster talked to his daughter, Miss Dorothy McCleaster, at Indianapolis, by phone last night and said he would be in the Cincinnati hospital for about a week. He said he suffered cuts .on the wrist and head.) The pilot, stewardess and two other passengers were injured when the flagship “Johnson City” rammed a dike at the airport.

KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 11 (U. P..—Thanks gentlemen, the 2600 of you who offered to marry Vera Hrub a, , blond Czechoslovakian figure skater, to save Rer from deportation, but she must decline, She may attain citizenship without matrimony. ‘Six weeks ago, she had the alternative of marrying an. American or be- . Miss Hruba ing deported. Her visitor’s permit had almost expired. Neither prospect pleased her. She certainly didn't want to go home, and being a “romantic, homeloving girl,” did not relish a mar-

riage of convenience,

Her story was printed in newspapers over the nation. Next day, she got two marriage proposals. The following day, she received 100, and she has averaged 300 a day since. “Writers, doctors, singers, publishers—everybody, they want to marry me,” said Miss Hruba, an attractive girl with a pronounced accent. “I got a letter from a convict in Texas who said he .had 14 more days to serve on a 10-year sentence for killing somebody, and that he'd be glad to marry me. Another one said that he was 32, good-natured and handsome, but that he thought it was only fair to tell me he was drunk all the time. I laugh.” An official of the Immigration Department told her many of her countrymen, who held numbers under the immigration quota sys-

item, were- unable to get to. the

Marriage Proposals Cut No Ice Now That Czech Skating Star Has Chance Under Quota

United States, and probably she could get one of the numbers. * -In Chicago last week, she passed a pre-examination, and the U. 8S. Naturalization Bureau issued her a card, permitting her to leave the country and return under the quota. The next step will come in Vancouver, B. C., where the show plays next week. If the consul there is able to get her a quota number, she can return to the U. 8. and get her first citizenship papers. “I he isn’t,” she said, I'm in a heck of a fix.” ' uf she an’t become a citizen that way, she may reconsider the proposal of a §7-year-old New Orleans man, who told ‘her he was blind but would leave her a $2,000,000 estate if ‘she would care for him in ‘his remaining years. “I read that letter three times,” she said. “It was the nicest one I

9%; CE0H tin UII polui-of View,

“I guess].

U.S. PLANES To FLY T0 BRITA

FDR TO ASK 7 BILLIONS;

AIR AID WILL ARRIVE IN TIME, COMMONS IS TOL

R. A. F. Now Greater Than Luftwaffe,

Sinclair Says.

LONDON, March 11 (U. P.).—Air Minister Sir Archibald Sinclair told Commons today that “formidable” American aircraft reinforcements will arrive in time for the great battle of Britain and said that Royal Air Force is now greater “absolutely and relatively” to German Luftwaffe strength than when the great air battles began last summer. Sinclair, introducing 1941 estimates for Britain's air force, asserted that the R. A. F. has destroyed 4250 German and 1100 Italian planes in 10 months with a loss of less than 1800 British aircraft. He was confident that American

‘air ‘aid—which he characterized as

already great—would flow to. Britain in quantities that would make itself felt in the-great battles about to begin.

Confident of Defense

“Herr (Paul Joseph) Goebbels tells his German dupes that American help for Britain will arrive too late,” Sinclair said. “But I tell the House that these formidable aircraft, the choicest fruits of American design and craftsmanship, will get here in time.” Sinclair was confident of Britain's ability to defend the British Isles by air and carry the war back to the enemy. “Not without careful thought and study,” he said, “I can gjve the House the assurance that unless Hitler has up his sleeve a more effective secret weapon than he has yet managéd to produce.our technical suporiority with moral superiority will certainly be maintained throughout 1941.” He said that Britain has been able to build its air force faster since the outbreak of mass air war last summer than Germany has. He declined to give any estimate of present British air strength or the present rate of British production and American supplies,

Praises American Planes

* “I will only say,” he said, “that the strength of the R.. A. F. in spite of the tremendous battles and continuous offensive, is very much greater now than when the battle for Britain began last‘ August— greater in numbers of aircraft and pilots for the front line, greater in number of aircraft in reserve and pilots under training—greater both absolutely and relatively to the air strength of* Germany.” Sinclair had unstinting praise for the U. S. nlanes which are now in use on all British air fronts. He paid tribute to the American Eagle Squadron of the R. A. F. and said “There’s another squadron of which I prophesy that the House will hear more before long—that is the Eagle Squadron mounted on Hurricanes and manned by American pilots.” “The R. A. F.,” he said, “welcomes these brave men in. its ranks.” His remarks brought lusty cheers.

DEFENSE HOUSING PROJECT SEEN HERE

City May Be Site If Congress Passes Proposed Bill.

Times Special’ WASHINGTON, Marcn 11.—Indianapolis may be the site of a multi-million-dollar defense housing project if the proposed $300,000,000 defense housing appropriation bill is passed, it was learned today. The measure has been approved by the House Rules Committee. It was inaugurated at $150,000,000 and then was doubled. It is expected to be brought to the House. Floor for action shortly. Charles F. Palmer, co-ordinator of defense housing, explained that the money will be used to build houses for defense workers where a definite need is demonstrated and only the Government can meet the emergency. The Indiana list of possible locations, based on booming defense industries, would include Indianapolis, South Bend, Ft. Wayne, Anderson and possibly other sites, it was predicted. : Construction would be by private contractors under the direction of Administrator John M. Carmody of the Federal Works Agency.

SUSPECT NEAR ARREST

. WASHINGTON, March 11 (U. P.).—Chief of Detectives Bernard W. Thompson said today he expected a “break” within 24 hours in the murder of Mrs. Rose Simons Abramowitz, 29, who was attacked and strangled in her honeymoon apartment on Saturday. He said that “we have a very good lead” and expect to arrest a suspect

Wiiege atty is nm. .

Archibald . . . British Air Minister.

NAZIS DEAL RUIN T0 PORTSMOUTH

Many Casualties: Feared as “6-Hour Raid Wrecks Homes and Shops.

By EDWARD DIDYMUS United Press Staff Correspondent

PORTSMOUTH, England, March 11.—German plahes flying in steady stream through a blasting anti-air-craft barrage bombed the Portsmouth area for six hours during the night and left homes and shops in ruins and the transportation system temporarily crippled. It was feared that casualties were heavy. It was the longest and most savage raid to which the much-bombed Portsmouth area had been subjected. (Berlin said that its planes caused numerous fires.) Thousands of incendiary and explosive bombs were dropped over a wide area. The planes swept low despite the anti-aircraft gun fire which was one of the heaviest on record. The raid started in bright moonlight but by midnight the red glow of many fires blotted out the moon and the stars. By dawn nearly all the fires had been put out. How many townspeople were killed or wounded was not known. It was believed that a large underground shelter had been wrecked. Three of the German raiders were reported shot down. I saw one blown to pieces in the sky. There

Sir

was a blinding flash and a terrible explosion. The plane dissolved. Its remains were scattered for miles (Continued on Page Three)

KILLED BY FALLING TREE

GREENCASTLE, Ind, March 11 (U. P.).—George Appleby, 85 was killed instantly today when he was trapped under a falling tree at his home southeast of here while helping to cut poles. He was a retired farmer and former feed-store oper-

BULLETIN

WASHINGTON, March 11 (U,, P.).—The House completed Cone gressional action on the Lends, Lease Bill today and President’ Roosevelt prepared to ask for $7,«" 000,000,000 to carry out its pros; visions

WASHINGTON, March 1 (U. P.).—Usually well-ine formed quarters reported toe day that a number of U. 8, Army and Navy bombers are being prepared for flights to Britain as a token of Amer» ica’s’ determination to speed assistance to the democracies under the terms of the ime,

pending lend-lease bill. >

The report that the planes probe ably would be flown soon to Britain by British and Canadian pilots came as the House prepared to coms plete Congressional action on the legislation, which President Roose= velt may sign tonight or tomorrow The number of planes involved was not disclosed, but was said by

ering the number available.

Ships May Figure in Aid . There weére continued indications that some ships also will figure in the immediate aid to Britain, along with machine guns and some tanks, It was understood that the 1 bombers slated for transfer from existing U. S. defense stocks were the famous “Flying Fortresses,” long range planes capahle of from three to four tons of each. The naval planes were said to be patrol bombers, also long-ra craft that would be useful in voy work especially. Informed officials said that sone American civilian pilots, who have been engaged. in ferrying planes to Britain, also may help fly the bomb ers to their new bases. While plans for immediate ald were being pressed forward, Mr, Roosevelt, in a conference with Congressional fiscal experts, decided to ask $7,000,000,000 in cash appro= priations for the aid to dem : The Congressional leaders, who conferred with Mr. Roosevelt Tor an hour and 20 minutes, said that the $7,000,000,000 figure would cover also the $1,300,000,000 in ia Army and Navy material which the | bill authorizes the President to turn over to Great Britain and other anti-Axis nations.

Prepares Estimates

a special message to Congress sete ting forth his general objectives in administering and carrying out the bill's provisions. The President also met in a sepae rate conference with ranking Army and Navy chiefs, presumably to go over the final details of the immee diate aid program. Informed officials said that the transfer of tanks to Britain probe ably would involve a number of light tanks which could be useful,’ for instance, in Greece, where highe ways are narrow and rough. The number of machine guns which probably will be transferred soon was not disclosed. “It may be true that the Army does not have an overabundance of some of the supplies which the Brite ish will get, but the Administration attitude is that they would serve a more useful purpose in the dee fense of this country in the hands of the British now,” one official said. In the case of the “flying forte resses” it was pointed out that the

ator at Cloverdale.

(Continued on Page Six)

out. : At the same Mr. Mason

For the week ended last Oct. 21,

159,288 tons went down, followed by 72,337 tons the next week, which dropped to 31 094 tons the week after. The fluctuations in the weekly sinkings are so. extreme that it is necessary to await subsequent results. before trying to judge the effectiveness of Hitler's new Atlantic offensive. Tonnage losses alone can cause an exaggerated impression of German successes. The returns for the week of March 2 show that 29 ships were sunk. But to keep Great Britain supplied weekly with the materials she needs approximately 1000

merchant ships are on the high

seas, Thus, the Nazis. sent. to the

gre being worked

time, there is no immediate reason A 1 to acknowledge that the new German toll repre. 5 Ny sents more than a lucky week's sinkings. ~

2 the Germans sank 198,030 tons,-

heaviest of the war, but the next week the total dropped to 72,595 oy The second heaviest sinkings were for the week ended 'Sept. 22, when oo

bottom less than 3 per cent of the shipping potentially open to a in the week under review. That percentage of losses, ever, cannot continue inde without producing a compli situation. Nevertheless, there is rei son to believe that new means | counter-action are being evel apart from the obvious ones of ter convoy protection and in speed in building new ships. : The problem of getting more w ages per month out of ships service is the most imporant of new methods for meeting the {Continue 0 on Page Sn :

one official to be “sizable,” conside :

}

The President is preparing to send up his estimates tomorrow or Thurge day, and may accompany them with

‘War Moves Today

By J. W. T. MASON United Press War Expert

Announcement today by the British Adm that 148,038 tons of mercantile shipping were su by enemy action during the week ended March’ 3 emphasizes the need for improved defense measures by Great Britain, which already