Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1920 — STATE NEWS ITEMS [ARTICLE]

STATE NEWS ITEMS

The Doings of Hoosierdom Reported by Wire. FORMER POLICE HEAD JAILED Dr. Xene V. Smith, Former Commissioner of Muncie, Charged With Violation of the Volstead Prohibition Act. IndlanHitolla, Dec. B.—Dr. Xene T. Smith, former police commissioner of Muncie, was placed in the Marlon county jail on a charge of violating the Volstead act. Jie was arrested at Muncie by Frank S. Ream, United States deputy marshal. It is charged specifically that Smith had intoxicating liquor in his possession and offered It for sale. Guy B. Russell, a former employee of the Farmers’ National bunk of Trafalgar was arrested at Elwood by J. P, Gavin, United States deputy marshal, on a charge of embezzlement from a national bank. He was placed in the Marion county Jail pending a hearing before Charles W. Moores, United States commissioner. The charge against him specifies that lie embezzled $4.(KtO.OO in the period between SeptemIht 20, 1919. and -June 1, 1920. He entered on his duties as cashier of the bank June 1. 1919. Russell Is the second cashier of the Farmers' National bank to be arrested on the charge of embezzlement and making false entries.

Election Contests Being Heard. Jeffersonville, Dec. 3. —Counting of the ballots cast November 2 was begun in general election contest cases filed recently in the board of county commissioners' court. Marlon Bennett, Republican, is contesting the election of Samuel Lentz, Democrat, who defeated him by a plurality of 254 for county commissioner. Samuel Isler, Republican, is contesting the election of Ottls H. Fifer, who beat him for county treasurer by 24 votes. Oscar Johnson is contesting the election of James W. Fortune, Democrat, who defeated J. E. Taggart, Republican, for circuit judge by a plurality of 56. Taggart did not wish to contest the election of Fortune, and Johnson, a Republican, who formerly was sheriff of Clark county, filed the contest. The Lentz case was taken up first. The session was devoted to legal skirmishing, and a large number of specifications regularitles were stricken out by th> court. Legion to Aid Memorial Project. Indianapolis, Dec. 3.—Definite steps toward obtaining additional legislation for the state w:ar memorial were taken by the executive committee of the American Legion, department of Indiana, in session at the Chamber of Commerce, which L. R. Gignilliat, department commander; L. R. Newgent, adjutant, and Dr. T. Victor Keene, natiinal executive committeeman from Indiana, were appointed a committee to co-operate with the state war memorial commission with full power to act for the Indiana department of the Legion. It is understood that the Legion will co-operate in seeking either legislation to increase the present appropriations for a memorial or permitting Indianapolis and Marlon county to co-operate in the establishment of the memorial. Jury. Acquits Sabbath Violator. Princeton, Dec. 3. —A jury in the Circuit court here acquitted Ancil J. Cassidy, proprietor of two motion picture houses of a charge of breaking the Sabbath by operating a show on Sunday, October 31. The defense testified that the greater part of the proceeds was spent for a Thanksgiving dinner at the County Infirmary. Tn elaborating on this plea, W. S. Stilwell of Evansville, an attorney, read “Over the Hill to the Poor Mouse,” and asserted that the “sorriest” moment of his life was when lie, as prosecutor for Gibson county, once prosecuted a farmer for cutting ripe wheat on Sunday.

McClure Out for Speaker. Anderson, Dec. 3.—John F. McClure of Anderson, representative-elect from Madison county, will be a candidate for speaker of the house at the next session of Indiana’s general assembly. His candidacy will be presented formally at a nonpartisan meeting of his friends here. It is expected his campaign will be rapidly conducted throughout Indiana. $5,000 for City Fuel Fund. Fort Wayne, Dec. 3. —Members of the city council voted unanimously to appropriate $5,000 for an emergency fuel fund. The plan is for the city to buy coal and sell it to residents for cost to relieve a shortage from which the city has been suffering. Woman Hangs Herself. Warsaw, Dec. 3.—Mrs. Lydia Cripe, age forty-five, committed suicide at the home of Robert Chilcote at Milford, where she was employed as a housekeeper. Mr. Chilcote found the body suspended by a rope in the hall. She had been in ill health. ’ Hoosier Crowned Corn King. Chicago, RI., Dec. 3. —C. E. Troyer of Lafontaine, Ind., was crowned corn king of the United States at the International Hay and Grain Show here, winning the honor on ten ears of Johnson county White Dent com.