Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 2, Number 26, DeMotte, Jasper County, 19 January 1933 — Seen and Heard In Indiana [ARTICLE]

Seen and Heard In Indiana

Paul V. McNutt, Bloomington, Democrat and until recently dean of the law school of Indiana university took the oath as the thirty-third governor of Indiana. Speaking from a specially built platform at the west entrance to the capitol, the new governor asked patriotic support of the government in peace as it was in war times. “These are the immediate tasks,” he said: “To provide food, clothing and shelter for the destitute, the aged and the infirm; to lower the cost of government and simplify its operations; to reduce and redistribute the burden of taxes; to maintain an adequate system of public education; to promote the efficient administration of justice; to strengthen necessary social agencies, to remove special privilege from the seats of power; to offer every assistance in restoring economic equilibrium, and to regain confidence in ourselves and in our institutions.” A touch of the military was added to the proceedings by the presence of uniformed trumpeteers from the OneHundred Thirty-Ninth field artillery, Indiana National Guard, who began and ended the ceremonies by playing flourishes on their bugles. Fluttering in the chill January wind that blew down from leaden skies were American Legion flags and colors, symbolic of the posts McNutt had held in that organization from post commander at Bloomington, through the state commandership to the national commandership. A bright bit of color came from the All-State Legion band attired in Kelly green uniforms, and the black and white uniformed Legion drum corps from Clinton. The Legion band, headed by Carl Preble, Vincennes, played on the stand while the crowd assembled. After the first trumpet flourish, Meredith Nicholson, Indianapolis author and essayist, as chairman of the inaugural committee, introduced R. Earl Peters, Democratic state chairman, as master of ceremonies. The invocation was pronounced by the Rev. Henry McLean, pastor of Governor McNutt’s church at Bloomington, the Methodist Episcopal church. Thieves looted the post office at Westport of more than $350 in cash and stamps. Wallace O. Everson, age fifty-two, treasurer of Montgomery county, died at Culver Union hospital in Crawfordsville of pneumonia. Freeman Baldwin, Fortville, after having been held in Hancock County jail for a week while efforts were made to find his first wife, who disappeared from their home in March, was released. William E. J. Kolb, former city clerk of Hammond and widely known politician, was found dead in his automobile in a garage near his home. Andrew Hoffman, coroner, said death was due to heart disease. Harvey O. Richards, age ninetythree, prominent Union township farmer, hanged himself. His body was found by his wife in a barn at his home near Markle. Despondency over illness is blamed. Tobacco sales were resumed on the loose leaf market in Madison in the three remaining warehouses following destruction by fire of the big Jones house and annex and adjoining property with an estimated loss of $100,000. The Indiana grand lodge of Masons was in charge of laying the corner stone of Hagerstown’s new post office building. Charles W. Jewett, former mayor of Indianapolis, made the address, Charles F. Porter is postmaster. The building will cost $80,000. Robert L. Newkirk, age thirty, secretary of the Farmers Trust company, of Rushville, was held to face charges of embezzlement and grand larceny of $7,599.25 in money from the vault of his company. C. E. Compton, sheriff, said a confession was obtained. Fire which started in the Goodman department store in Crawfordsville destroyed a quarter of a block of business property at Main and Green streets with loss estimated at more than $500,000. The fire was the most destructive ever occurring there. It was brought under control after three hours’ fighting in which Crawfordsville firemen were aided by companies from Indianapolis, Lafayette and Danville, Ill. As the new Democratic state administration took office, a legal question arose as to the control of the state board of tax commissioners for the next ten months. Shortly before surrendering his office. Gov. Harry G. Leslie announced appointment of his secretary, Gaylord S. Morton, Ft. Wayne, as a Republican member of the state tax board to succeed John J. Brown, Rockport, who died. Action of the retiring governor was taken over the protest of Pleas E. Greenlee, secretary to Paul V. McNutt, new governor. Pleading guilty to entering the apartment of City Attorney Neville V. Williams in Michigan City October 10, and taking silverware, jewelry and clothing valued at $900, William G. Gilmore and Hayes Fischel, both of Toledo, Ohio, each were sentenced to serve from three to ten years in the state prison. Andrew M. Danover, age ninetyfour, Civil war veteran, died at his home in Brownstown. Mr. Danover was believed to be the oldest man in Jackson county. He served with Company H, sixty-sixth regiment of the Indiana volunteers.