Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1920 — STATE NEWS ITEMS [ARTICLE]

STATE NEWS ITEMS

The Doings of Hoosierdom Reported by Wire. SEES RESTRAINT OF TRADE Jesse E. Eschbach, Chairman of Food and Coal Commission, Says Body Has Evidence of Combination In Coal Industry. Indianapolis, Oct. I.—Evidence that there are combinations in restraint of trade in the coal industry in Indiana has been obtained by the special food and coal commission, according to a statement made by Jesse E. Eschbach, chairman of the commission, at a hearing of coal wholesalers. Representatives of Indiana jobbers at she hearing urged the commission to permit jobbers to charge as their commission 10 per cent of the price they pay for coal at the mouth of the mine. “This commission has evidence,” said Mr. Eschbach, to show that retailers in some Indiana communities have such a close organization with Indiana operators that no customer in certain territories can buy a pound of coal direct from mines or collieries, unless the coal goes through the hands of a retailer who collects his regular profit. “That is the very situation that led the state to invoke its police powers in this trade,” said James W. Noel, counsel for the commission. The statement of M*. Eschbach followed a statement by James Bingham, representing the Linton Colliers company, wholesalers, in which he insisted that “retailers’ territory” should be protected,* and other classes of the coal trade should not step into their territory. C. A. Royse of Terre Haute, who represented 23 wholesalers, said that there are classes of consumers who require wholesalers and other classes who require the retail trade. Dog Leads Mother to Body of Son. Indianapolis, Oct. I.—A faithful, old watchdog on the farm of Mrs. Mary Haeberle. who lives about a half mile south of the city limits, between Meridian street and the Bluff road, led members of the family to a cornfield, a short distance from the house, where they found the body of Mrs. Haeberle’s son, Christian Haeberle’s, age twenty-six, who had committed suicide hy shooting himself in the head with a shotgun. Mrs. Haeberle and ethers at the place noticed the dog acting strangely and trying to attract their attention, and finally followed It through the barn lot and thence into the cornfield. Dr. Paul F. Robinson, coroner, who investigated, and members of the family said the young man suffered an attack of influenza last winter and had never fully recovered.

Finds Body of Missing Hero. Lafayette, Oct. I.—After two years of persistent search of world war battlefields and cemeteries in France, the body of Sergt. William Cottingham, age seventeen, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Cottingham of this city, has been found in the American cemetery at Romaigne by Mrs. J. F. Wright of New York. The grave is one of 25,000 at Romaigne. Sergeant Cottingham was reported missing in action at Attlgny October 15, 1918, to which place he had been sent with Company F, Second United States engineers, to construct bridges over the Aisne river and the Ardennes canal. Sergeant Cottingham was a student in high school when he enlisted for service here in 1917. He was sent overseas the same year.

Protest Rate Increase. New Albany, Oct. I.—City officials and civic organizations of New Albany are making a protest against an increase from 7 to 10 cents in the suburban rates between this city and Louisville over the Kentucky and Indiana bridge. The Louisville & Northern Railway and Lighting company has posted bulletins that the new rate will be in effect after October 31. Robert W. Morris, mayor, sent a telegram to the interstate commerce commission at Washington, Dcr C.. protesting against' the increase of fare and asking that it be suspended until a hearing is held by the commission.

Convicts Tell of Band Raid Plans. Valparaiso, Oct. 1. —Damnum Vierlich and Lee W. Spiels, serving life sentences for connection with the murder of Herman Uecker, cashier of the First State bank at Tolleston, who was killed during a raid on the bank in June, 1919, were among the principal witnesses for the state in the trial of Thomas Batchelor,' being tried for murder in connection with the crime. The men told of plans for the raid On the bank and of the shooting of Uecker. The state rested its case after Vierllch and Spiers had been examined. .

Dies Trying to Save Auto. Valparaiso, Oct. I.—Jacob Bankert, who was severely injured when he struck by a Grand Trunk train west of the city, died in the hospital here. The engine of Bankert’s automobile stalled on the railroad and he attempted to push the machine from the track before the train came.

Speeder Strikes Truck; Six Hurt. Hartford City, Oct. 1. —Six men were injured when a Lake Jjlrle railroad speeder and a truck belonging to .the Cem. bakery of city, weN in collision here.