Ligonier Banner., Volume 68, Number 23, Ligonier, Noble County, 5 July 1934 — Page 1

THE HOME PAPER

$1.50 PER YEAR

HELEASE - TRUCK DRIVER AFTERGRASH

ROY STUTZMAN 25 OF NEAR LIGONIER, DIES FROM HIS INJURIES.

Clyde McGinnis Released on $5OO Bonds After Investigation 2 of Aeccident. o

Roy Stutzman, 25, who resides about 4% miles southwest of Ligonier died in the Wolf Lake hospital Saturday of injuries he received Friday afternoon on Road No. 6, when the wagon on which he was riding was struck by a truck drive by Clyde McGinnis, 36, of Omaha, Neb. The accident occurred Friday afternoon when McGinnis, driving a 12-ton Mack ' truck west, plowed into the rear of Stutzman's empty hayrack. When arrested by State Patrolman Calvin Amsler, of Goshen, McGinnis declared that as his truck approached Stutzman’s ‘wagon a hee flew into the cab of the truck through an open wind-shield and struck him between the eyes, causing him to lose contrgl of the truck, ; MeGinnis was headed for Omaha, where he was to deliver a large soda grinding machine which he was hauiing for a Pennsylvania firm. Stutzman was driving to his home located about a mile from the scene of the accident. , The truck crashed squarely into the rear of the hay-rack completely demolishing the wagon and badly damaging the front of the truck. Stutzmaen was thrown underneath the ‘Wwreckage.of the wagon. Both of tis legs were crushed below the knees and he suffered- greatly from shock. : . QOne of the horses hitched to the hay rack was killed instantly in the crash. MsQGinnis and his driving partner who was asleep in the cab of the truck escaped without injury in spite of the fact that a waterjug hanging on the rear of the wagon , crashed through the truck windshield. “The Stutzman family are of Mennonite faith and the funeral services wewre held at Nappanee Tuesday afternoon and burial was made there. “*The Stutzman family - moved . from Nappanee to the farm where they de-. gided several years ago. e . The surviving relatives include the w‘-idoWH a small child,. mother, six ‘prothers and three sisters. - McGinnis was arrested and taken to the Elkhart county jail at Goshen where a bond was given for $5OO for his release. He continued on to his home in- Omaha and will latter return herg. -

Death of W. A. Sisterhen : William A. (better known as W. A.) Sisterhen died at the family home Friday noon at the age of 78 years after a prolonged illness of pneumonia. Mr. Sisterhen was one of the oldest residents of the city and for over forty years was employed by .the Sheets & Wertheimer Seed Firm, after that business dissolved partnership he was employed by the late Jacob Sheets in the store where he made many friends in this city and surroundig community. i : . He was a member of the Masonic lodge and was a public spirited eitigen in the early days of this city. Surviving include the Widow and one daughter Mrs. Olive Syphers of near this city. , » i The funeral was held tn‘\o\m_t%z late _home Sunday afternoon with Rev. C. ‘C. Wischmeier -of the Methodist church officiating. The pallbearers were W. H. Bender, Walter Robinson, W. 8. Milner, Wallace Bobeck, Bernard Baughman and Leland Thompson. Burial was made in Oak Park cemetery, - . Louis Kerr had charge of the funeral. : ; ; ;

: Junior Officers The Junior Girls of the W. R. C. elected the following officers recently. President S. V. President—Mary Jane Couts J. V. President—Marguerité SacKett. Cajptain of Colors-—Ethel May Couts , Secretary—Kathryn Patton Treasurer—iLillibel Wheeler = lfhaplaiu—-Mm-y Buman Pianist—June Billman News Reporter— Janis Dewey Color Bearer No. I—Helen Sister“hen. : e Color Bearer No. 2—Eleanot Sister . ' «Color Bearer No. 3—FEllen Hendrick,‘o‘ % : ] «Color Bearer No. 4—Barbara Lee Steller. e Large Crowds at Waco. A large crowd was at the Waco ‘Dance Pavilion Tuesday evening and ‘another on Wednesday. The Waco is ‘ow management. They have now estobiiod S 0 dormie nigpe: aach ~week on Mondy and Thursday nights when the charge is 25 cents =~

THE LIGONIER BANNER

ANXILIARY MEETING.

Nominating Committee Reports on + Officers for 1984-35—Distriet Meeting Next Wednesday, Sixteen members of the American Legion Auxiliary enjoyed a picnic at the Ruple cottage at Lake Wawasee Monday evening followed by a business session. The nominating commit tee on the 1934-35 officers reported the following nominafions: President—Mildred Vance. S First Vice President—Mrs. Fern Blake. - - : Second Vive President—Mrs. Ethel Robinson and Mrs, Wave Baughman. fi:::etary—mrs. Clara :Couts and Mrs. Helen Hillegas. Treasurer—Misg Heleu Larsofin and Mrs. Hazel Blue. Chaplain—Mrs. Cecil Leaders and Mrs. Jane Green.

Historian—Mrs. Edna Spurgeon and Mrs. Zona Banta, : ’ Sergeant-at-Arms—Mrs. Bernit Ruple and Mrs. Lillian Hayden. The election of officers will be held the first meeting in Xugust “which is Monday, August 6th.

- Mrs Willis Leming has been appoint ed chairman of the committee to organize a Junior Auxiliary. : The next District convention will be held at Shriner lake Wednesday, July 11th with Fort Wayne unit No. 47 as hostess. Sach person going is asked to take a dish’of food and table service. Those desiring more information on transportation.call Mrs. Bernard Baughman, Delegates-to the meetigg are Mrs. Baughmany Mrs. Willis Leming; alternates are Mrs. Fredonx%a Barnhart and ' Thella Shisler. i §

After extending Mrs. Ruple a vote of thanks. for her hospitality the meeting adjourned.

“The Thin Man.” It you enjoy sitting on the edge of your chairs, and if you enjoy beinz left completely in the dark while trying to solve a most baffling mystery, don’t fail to see “The Thin Man” which opens Sunday at the Crystal theatre.

Alexander Woolleott declared “The Thin Man” to be the hest detective story ever written by an American author, and Sinclair Lewis described it as the most breathless of all of Dashiell Hammett’s stories.. This reviewer agrees with both these learned literary mmen. S

“The Thin Man” is the story of Wick Charles, an ex-detective who is” Sherlock “Holmes, S. S. Van Dine’ and all other crack detectives rolled into one. ; It tells of three murders which involved Charles against his ~will, with the unusual Wpynant family. His method of solving the crimes provides one of the most exciting aund unusual climaxes of all detective pictures.. : William Powell plays Nick Charies, and surpasses all his earlier detective roles in the role. Myrna Loy appears as his happy-go-lucky wife, Nora and Maureen O’Sullivan carries off honors with her successful handling of the part of Dorothy Wynant. D 20 e b M

M#¥riage Licenses The following marriage permits were issued recently by county clerk Harold V. Curtis. . L.eo Frederick Meyer, farmer of Avilla and Geraldine BEthel Helmer factory worker of Avilla, June 26th. Kenneth Dilts, farmer of Fi:iey 0., and Mabel Ann Bowers, telephone operator of Finley 0., June 25th. ‘ } John -L. McNames attorney of Go-%she-n and Lenora Kunkalman stenpgrapher. of Ligonier June 23rd. Charles Mitchel, gas maKer of Auburn Junction and Ruth Madeline Sabasky of Altona June 22nd. Norma M. Suydon maintenance man of Toledo, 0., and Clara Mary Bruggeman of Toledo, June 21st. . Howard Ernest Hessinger chauffer, of Detroit and Alvina Elleanor Panoff of Detroit June 19th.

KeasSey Funeral.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the Brown funeral home for William Edward Keasey, 58 years old, merchant policeman, who was shot by, Virgil Hoffman early Friday morning. Rev. G. H. Bacheler, pastor of the Presbyterian church ofiiciated. - Surviving relatives are the widow Sadie Keasey and 4 sister Mrs. Hazel Hardesty of Fort Wayne. Burial was made in Oak Park cemetery. Paul bearers were: Willis Oyler, Ford Nighsonger, Willard Slabaugh, Homer Hite, Frank Vance and Frank Vondersmith. i

Boy Missing.

Benjamin Howard, residing near Clunette, north of Warsaw, has appealed to the Warsaw police to assisthim i locating his son Beeman Woward, 15, who disappeared Saturday evening. When last seen the youngster was enroute to Leesburg. He was attorned in light trousers and 2 dark coat. He weighs about 138, is dark complexion and has brown hair

Miss. Alice Vallance with Mr. and Mrs, Arthur Dillon, Judson and Barbara Dillon Mr. and Mrs. Henry Zechiel of Culver spent last Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Cooper. Barbara remained for an extended vigit with her grand parents. :

LIGONIER. NOBLE COUNTY, INDIANA. THURSDAY.JULY 5, 1934

THREE MILLION TREES SUPPLIED

800,000 Trees Taken From Strip Mining Areids; 870,000 on State . Properties.

Almost three and a half million trees for planting were supplied by the state nurseries during the past of the department of conservation The number was almost equally diyided between hardwood and conferous trees. i

Of the total of 3,450,000 trees supplied by the state nurseries over a third or 1,764,740 went to farmers for the planting of windbreaks and wood lots. Over 800,000 trees have been taken by strip mining areas and 879,000 trees were used in plantings on the various state properties. These totals do not include the millions of trees raised in nurseries established by the Civilian Conservation Corps and used in erosion control plantings in this and other states. Hapdwoods grown in the strate nurseries include black locust, black walnut, tulip poplar, white and red oak, osage orange, chinese elm hickory, sugar maple and cottonwood cuttings. The coniferous varities include Norway and white Jpruce,‘ ten varieties of pine larch and hemlock.

Fortunate indeed were those friends of Leon Wertheimer who were invited to their home Monday evehing to be guests at the presentatin by Miss Martha Hutchison of their daughter, Miss Leanore, in an artist piano recital. Miss Wertheimer has studied with Miss Hutchison quite a number of years and this event was the culmination of this period of faithful and serious work. She opened the prgram with the “Moonlight Sonata’”, from Bethovan, playing it ‘in its entirity. A suite of solo numbers including the “Shadow Dance”, by McDowell, “Romance”, by Sibelius, “Polichinelle”, by Rachmaninoff, was played by Miss Wertheimer with great beauty and skill. A Debussey number, “Clair de Lune”, was expecially well received by Miss Wertheimer’s select and appreciative audience. Three very delightful numbers for two pianos were played by Miss Wertheimer and Miss Hutchison: “The Witches Dance, by McDowell, a Grieg “Concerto” and for the closing number the “Romance” and “Valse” from a suite by Arensky. Miss Wertheimer was assisted by Mr. John Whittington, of Elkhart a young violinist. He gave a lovely rendition of “Meditation” from Thais, “The Spring Song”, by Mendlessohn, and “Souvenir”, by Drdla, all favorites with music lovers. Those who were fortuate enough to hear these two ambitious young artists were impressed by their delightful interpretation. of the classic scores which they played. Both give promise of greater things to come. :

The following received sugar Tues day night were 25 pound sack Frank Sprague. 10 pound saeks to Mrs. Frank McGuinn, Rose Borger, Wm Roe R, V. Weaver, Mrs. Kermit Simmons, Cecil Phares, Jim Stump, Fred Tschabold, Mrs. Hascall Crothers, Willard Wolf, Mrs. Fritz Von Blon. Mrs. Emma Homan, Mary Francisco, Mrs. George McDaniel, Clair Gage, Mrs. Arthur: Shannon, Perry Reed, Jesse Biddle Bill McGuinn, Rill Tully, Perry Clawson, L. Ostrander, Ella Scanlan. The next one will be at Willseys at 8:30 o’clock at this time there will be 290 pounds of sugar.

Youth Drowned in Bixler Lake. " R. G. Wilsen 22 of Fortwville, Ind., was drowned in Bixler lake in the east part of Kendallville about 7 o’clock Monday night while he was swimming with a group of men employed on a surveying job on state road 3 near there. : It is believed that he suffered either a cramp or a heart attack while in deep water. i o Several of his companions managed to recover his lbody less than 15 minuies after he sank and a physician was summoned to give aid. Efforts to revive the young man were futile. Wilson was unmarried.

The Chamber of Commerce met in regular session Friday at Hotel Ligonier with President Levine presiding. Rev. Charles F'. Baillee pastor of the Pirst Pregbyterian church of South Bend deliver an interesting address on the subject of “Let Us Loaf” Revs. C. C. Wischmeier, Bacheler and Martin and Father McDermitt of this city were guests.

Ligonier city council met in regular session ‘Thursday night with Mayor Smith presiding. Little business came before the meeting. John E. Kenny was elected to fill the unexpired term of John Steller and Chas. Nelson was elected a member of the school board to succeed himself. el

Mrs. David Dunlap suffered painful brulses Monday evening when she fell from a scaffold which broke while she was assisting her husband ‘with some work on the porch. While the bruises are very painful they are not regarded as serious. ,

Give Recital.

A ‘Guest

Received Sugar

Chamber of Commerce

Council Meets

Injured in Fall

NET SPREAD FOR JOHN DILLINGER

MEMBERS OF GANG SLUG DOCTOR ‘AT NORTH WEBSTER AFTER HE DRESSES WOUNDS.

Matt Leach Does Not Believe the Notorious Outlaw Figured in South " Bend Bank Robbery.

A small town physician who was slugged in return for a deed of mercy sought vengency today in a search for John Dilliner and a gang of ruthless killers. - Nursing a head wound from a crashing gun butt, Dr. Leslie Laird of North Webster, gave information to police and federal agents which spread over Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. T

The officers flung a gigantic net of men over highways in the theory that two mea who ‘compelled Dr. Laird to tréat a gunshot wound and then cold bloodedly beat him into unconsciousness were members of a gang which robbed the Merchants National bank Saturday of $29,890. : Patrolman Harry Wagner was killed by machine gun fire, a bystander critically wounded slightly when the bandits opened a sweeping fire on police and passing pedistrians. Capt. Matt Leach of the Indiana state police said he did not believe the desperadoes were ~Dillinger’s gang, but could not disregard positive identification of a policeman and the wounded bank officer of one of the men as Dillinger himself. . Dr. Laird was routed out of bed early Sunday morning by a man who asked him to go to his nearby office in North Webster to treat a companjon injured in an automobile accident

At his office he found a young man with a bullet wound in his arm. Under the threatening ordersi of the man who had called him he administered an anti-tetanus serum- and dressed the wound. ~ : £ “Give me some cocaine,” ofdered the older man when the dressing was completed. ass\ “Phere’'s none in this office,”” Dr. Laird said, . ‘ ‘ Splinters of light crashed before his eyes, followed 30 minutes later by slow returning consciousness. ; Officers believe it probably that the men were members of the gang of bank robbers who separated ‘from four .companions soon after leaving South Bend. It was also probable they said, that others of the gang remained out of sight in a car nearby. Dr. Laird was unable to identify photographs of Dillinger or others of his known gang. Searth of = densely wooded lake country around Worth Webster, which is about 50 miles southeast of South Bend revealed no trace of the gang, and the search was later concentrated south of Chicago and along the Indiana and Ohio boundary.

Not Dillinger Gang.

~ Bandits who robbed the Merchants National Bank at South Bend Saturday, killing a policeman and wounding three other persons, probably were Italian gangsters out of Detroit Mich., and northwestern Ohio, Capt. Matt Leach of the state police said. Leach scoffed at the idea that John Dillinger elusive Indiana outlaw, headed the bandit gang.

‘A policeman and two victims of the holdup positively identified the Hoosier hoodlum as the man who first entered the bank. - A Leach said that the Ohio license plates on one of the two carg used in the robbery were the same as those on a car used in holding up the National Bank at Fostoria, Ohig, -two }nonths ago. : Cites Three Reasons.

He cited three reasons for his belieg that Dillinger did not participate in the South Bend robbery. They follow: ; . ;

1. Dillinger always executes his holdups quietly, in contrast to the way the bandits shot into the ceiling as they entered the South Bend instituaion.

2. Dillinger always has been careful of civilians. In the®South Bend holdup two were shot without provocation. - : 3. None of Dillinger’s known hidesuts: is in the vicinity of Goodland, where one of the cars used in the hold@p was found abandoned. The abandoned automobile, bullet riddled and blood stained, was taken to South Bend by department of justice agents. It will be examined for finger prints. and other clues. A Lafayette fingerprint expert attempted to obtain prints from the car at Goodland but it had been touche@ by soo many curious spectators that his efforts were unavailing. iin contract to Leach’s belief was the testimony of Harry Henderson, South Bend policeman, and C. W. ;COen, vice-president of the bank and P. @. Stahly, a directon of the bank. Henderson fired at the fleeing bandit car and said he wounded the driver whom -he identified as Dillinger. The wounded man was- pulled aside

CHANGES ARE URGED.

Would Take Ballot BoXes to a Central Point and Count the Votes Day After Eleetion, -

Radical revision of Indiana’s election laws was recommended in a Marion county grand jury report submitted to Judge Frank P. Baker in criminal court. . : : : . Declaring that present methods of counting ballots are ;condu'cti've to rerors, the jury recommended that ballot boxes be taken to a central point’ immediately after polls close on election day. . Counting of ballote would begin the following morning with membérs of the canvassing board working in eight-hour shifts. The changes were recommended by Clenn B. Ralston, Marion county clerk in his testimony before the grand jury in its investigation of alleged frauds in the primary electinn May Bth. No indictments were returned. The investigation was ordered after a recount of ballots cast in the repubiica nrace for the county clerk nomination revealed figures on official tally sheets had been changed. * The altered figures gave the nom!-. nation to Edgar Hart. Coriection of the errors resulted in the nomination of George 0. Hutsell.

RURAL HEADS ARE NAMED

Members of Noble Coutny Rehabilitation Committees Are Ane nounced

'~ Members of the township committees who will serve on the advisory board of the rural rehabilitation program in Noble county have been named by the program committee composed of Carlos C. Palmer president of the Noble county Farm Bureau; M. A. W™ye county agricultural agent; Miss Dorothy <Canary county case work supervisor and Walter E. Wehmeyer, Noble county chairman of the Governor’s Ccmmission on Unemployment Relief. . : ppte The list of towship committees is as follows:. : : Albion township—Roy K. Riddle M. A. Spangler, Mrs. E. L. Adair. Elkhart—T. J. Mawhorter, Jesse LeCount, Mrs. Lena Couts. Green—l. - Diffendarfer, - William Kesing, Mrs. ‘Hazel Lint. Jefferson—Roy Rice, Charles Weimer, Mrs. Lloyd Becker. Noble—Clarence Mawhorter, Marshall W. Young, Mrs. Hazel Graves. Orange—Mrs. Willis Bidlack, Mrs. Lulu Cobbs, H. A, Tipton. ' ‘ ' |Sparta—Harvey.Hull, Milton Swagger, Mrs. Bsta Harper. Swan—Bert Rowe, N. Moudy, Miss Laura Mallon. - Washington—Oscar Correll, Frank Wade, Mrs. Mabel Juday. = - ‘Wayne—Mrs. Lida Remer, Mrs. Pearl Bodenhafer, Harold Kline. York—Lafe Crothers, R, H. Buckles Mrs. C. C.- Palmer.

Grange Meeting.

The Greencastle grangz will meet at their hall in Kimmell Friday evening July 6. The lecture hour program will be an antique exhibit, Song—old Oaken Bucket e History Talks of Noble County by Members. : Solo—Claude Swartz [Reading—Golda Weade Pantomine e Duet—Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Roscoe.

Return Home,

Lyman Menzie, missing for several months from his home six miles northeast of Warsaw, has returned. Arriving there he called his home by telephone and informed the members of his family of his presence. Menzie advanced no reasons for his disappearance. : i

Increase Loan.

Mayor W. C. Auman ' of- Kendallville received the official papers from the federal PWA department, indicating that the loan to be made ‘that city is $26,500 instead of $lB,OOO to belp consiruch a sewage disposal plant.

Conservation Club.

The Ligonier Conservation Club will hold their regular monthly meeting at the city hall Friday evening at 7:30 o'clock. Anyone interested in joining this organization please be present. ; -

Lions Club.

The Ligonier Lions club will hold their family 'party and installation of officers Friday night at the South Shore Inn. There will be dinner, dancing and bridge. .

Fractures Arm,

Lester “Speedy” ‘Hayden, chauffeur for the A. B. Mier family suffered a fractured arm July 4th while engaged in a friendly scuffle at ths 'Blazed Tiail garage. :

and a companion teok the wheel, Henderson said. " Coen and Stahly both said they had a good look at the badit leader and tht he resembled Dillinger’s pictures in every respect. ' ' Stahly was wounded by a bullet.

SOCIAL EYENTS

ttems Gathered by Bauner Reporters oi Special lnterest for its : Many Reéaders ;

Spurgeon Funeral.

Funeral services were held Salurday afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Spurgeon for Mrs. Jane Spurgeon formerly of this city who died in Elkhart. Among those attending were the follow:ng from out of town: oy ; - Mr. and Mrs. James Hosier Mr. and Mrs. Clay Toughman, -Mrs. Stanley Prosser of Gary, Mr, and Mrs. Owen Hosier Mrs. Wesley Hosier Mrs. William Thomas of Bangor Miek., Mr. and WMrs. Alfred Whittle Mrs. Charles Pease of Elkhart, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Mease and daughter Arthur and Katherine Himes of Goshen, Mrs. Ida Smith, Mrs. Naonu Jeffries and daughter Mr, and Mrs. Abe Smith Mrs. Peter Stickler of Caicago and Wimmon Smith of Souih Bend.

Moore-Callender

Miss Beatrice Callender daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Callender of Albion and Charles Moore son Of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Moore of this city surprised their many friends the girst of the week by announcing their marriage which took place May 19th 1934 at Angola. Many of their friends were under the impression last week that they were to be married last Saturday. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moore are well known here and in Albion, both are employed at the Garment Factory and at present the newlyweds are located in the Glaser cottage at Diamond lake.

Friday Bridge Club.

Mrs. S. J. Williams entertained the members of the Friday bridge club at a very delightful luncheon Friday. The talples and the homre was beautifully decorated with garden flowers. Mrs. Frank Bender of Coroa Calif, and Mrs. A. B. Weaver were club substitutes. A table of guests included Mrs. Gloria Walsh, Mrs. Nell Haller of Chicago, Miss Maxine Stickle of Corona, Calif. ,Mrs. Grahamr Lyon and Mrs. M. A. Kirkland. The club favors went to Mrs. J. W. Draper and Mrs. W. H. Bender. Mrs Bender was given a guest favor, ' %o & @

Club Meeting

The Nutfy Bunco Club met at the home of Dorothy Sisterhen on Monday of this-week. Those present were: David Mathew, Edward Lough, Le roy Baker, Barttlet Wischmeier; Alice Tyler, Ruth Seagly, LaVern Taylor and Dorothy Sisterhen. The first prize was won by Edward Lough, consolation prize was won by LaVern Taylor. After refreshments = were served they had a short contest. The prize was won by Ruth Seagly. s s .

Guests Fourth of July.

Mrs. Glade Rupert entertained at her cottage at Adams lake, over the Fourth Mr. and Mrs. Ray Loy, Mr. and Mrs. Frank MecDaniel, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur .Kelley, Mr. and Mrs. Leland Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Schutt, M and Mrs. R. D. Shobe, Mr. and Mrs. Leland Calbeck, Mr. and Mrs, Charles F. Green and Mr. and Mrs. O. R. Bangs. !

Hite-Switzer

Miss Oakey Switzer and Harold Hite were married Sunday at Merriam ,tollo'»wing the ceremony the couple left for Chicago where they are spend ing a®week. Both are well known here. Mr. j:lite is a mechanic at the Blaze Trail Garage and the bride is an employe at the Garment factory. They expect to reside on North Water street in this city. - ¢ ® ®

Miss Nadean Yoder celebrated her fifteenth birthday by entertaining fifteen girls at a party at her home on Friday evening. Games were played and prizes won by Katherine Vance, Roma Renner, Eloise Baker and Virginia Honert. Nadean received several pretty gifts. Miss Lillian Kollar of South Bend was an out of town guest. : »s% ® :

" Miss Leonore Wertheimer entertained at a very pretty one o'clock luncheon Saturday at Sargent’s hotel at Lake Wawasee. The bridge favors went to Miss Florence Oldfather and Miss Pat McDonald. . .®" e 5 <

~ Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Schutt, Mr. and Mrs. Frank McDaniel, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Shobe, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Kelley and Mr. and Mrs, C. ¥. Green spent Sunday with. Mr a.nd Mrs. Leland "l‘gmp&mn at_the lake. ; v %

Dinner-Bridge.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert D.. Shobe entertained five couples at a dinnerbridge Friday night< The bridge favors went to Mrs. Leland Calbeck and Leland Tompson, : -« us @ 2

Miss Helen Summers entertained ten members of the Study Club Monday night. The next meeting will be with Mrs. Leamon on Martin street Tuesday, August 7th. - . |:s s . Mr. apd Mrs. Bd Williams and son ‘Ross and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Cock= ley enjoved a picnic supper 8t the l.hm of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Robinson Wednesday evening. :

ALWAYS FIRST WITE THE NEWS

VOL. 68 NO. 23

TWO GET LIFE IN " LIGONIER MURDER

THIRD ‘IS GIVEN TWO TO FOURTEYEARS; ACTION TAKEN o 1" < SUDDENLY

Huffman and Two Pals Admit the Charges Made by Grany Jury ~ - ,3 —4’Betzney Waits.

Pleading guilty to a charge of sec-ond-degree murder, Virgil Hoffman, 22, Fort Wayne youn slot machine hi-jacker who shot and killed Edward Keasey, 58, Ligonier merchant patrolman early Friday morning was sentenced to life in prison by Judge Rob R. McNagy of the Noble circuit court at Albion late onday afternoom. Young Hoffman, who admitted that he shot and killed the Ligonier patrciman as he was being placed under arrest, waived trial and entered his plea of guilty a few minutes after . the Noble county grand jury returned its indictment. At the game time Howard Canna field, 32 also of Fort Wayne alleged ring leader of the hi-jacking gang, pleaded guilty to indictments charging him with conspiragy to commit a_felony and being a habitual crimial and” he also was give a life sentence. Walter Klliott, 20,, Fort Waye, another meuyber of the gang, was the third member to waive trial and plead guilty. He was indicted on a charge of conspiracy to commit a felony and was given a sentence of 2 to 14 years at the Indiana state reformatory. - - _ , The fourth member of the gag, Waliter Val O’Betzey 26 Fort Wayne did not appear in court to face a charge of conspiracy to commit a felony.. He is being represented by Fay Leas of Fort Wayne. Neither= O’Betzney nor his counsel appeared in the courtroom and bond-was not set. 5 : :

The shooting occurred near the Ligonier city hall about 3:30 o'clock Friday morning. Keasey and Earl Knepp, night policeman at Ligonier, had appreheded the two men in an alley. They saw Cannfield come out of the alley o nCavin street and were suspicious of his actions. - Keasey apprehended Cannfield in the alley and took him out onto the street, turning him over to.Kpepp. When he returned to the alley to get the i~ cense number of the automobile, he found Hoffman, who gaid he would not desert his. pal. Knepp started ahead for the ecity jail - with Cannfield in custody and Keasey followed with Hoffman. Just as Knepp: placed Cannfield in a cell he heard two shots from a small calibre gun followed, by four shots from a heavier calibre gun. After,;locking the cell door he rushed into the alley and found Keasey Ilying on the ground. : The grand jury called into session from its recess immediately after the fatal shooting returned its indictdictments against the young men shortly before five o’clock Monday afternoon. : Immediately after the indictments were returned three of the four defendants said they would plead guilty to the indictments and they were taken before the court immediately. ‘Sentence was pronounced shortly before five o’clock. : Members of the grad jury wePe Jesse Boss, of Elkhart township, foreman; Homer Hite, of Ligonier; Fred Rauh, of Jefferson township; Robert S. ‘Brennan, of Kendallville; James Cramer of Swan township and Sidney Bush, of Allen township. Lieut. Ray Fisher of the Indiana state police was the chief witness against the four men and was in Albion: when the three men were sentenced. o e The guilty pleas came as a direet surprise to the state, for it was thought probable that young Hufiman would enter a plea of self-de-fense. He had insisted that he shot Keasey after the merchant policeman had shot him, e Cannfield was named as the ringleader of the gang immediately after the shooting. He has a long criminal récord. - - - Lo Keasey murpured that he had been shot and died a few minutes later. He fired four times at the fleeing young hi-jacker and killer who ran north through an alley. One bullet from Keasey’s gun inflicted a superficial scalp wound on Hoffman. ~ Hoffman then walked to the high"way“where. he hitched-hiked back to Fort Wayne, getting a ride og, a truck. ~ The three men were arrested at Fort Wayne by Detective Sergeants ‘Walter Bernhardt, Richard Barrett, ‘Harry Lininger and Myron Clements. Cannfield was held at Ligonier and later taken to Fort Wayne. He was brought to the Noble county jail with O’Betzney said he was o receive ggflfife‘tfi‘mm hi-jackers to dgouier, San AGIaMEN 46 O Fort Wayne National bank building, Where he. is employed.as o slewstor