Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 42, Number 55, 16 January 1917 — Page 1

RICHMOND

."-js.n -v. SINGLE COPY. 2 CENTS VOL. XLII..NO. 55RICHMOND, IND., TUESDAY EVENING, JAN 16, 19 17. lol jh

GROVER CASTNER ENDS LIFE AFTER FAILURE TO MURDER WEALTHY MOTHER-IN-LAW

CAMBKFDGE CITY.; Ind.. Jan. 16 Falling In an attempt to murder his mother-in-law, Mrs. Emma Mason, one of the wealthiest and most prominent women of tnis place, Orover Castner, 27 years old, killed himself by firing a bullet tnto his brain. The tragedy occurred late yesterday afternoon. Castner, who had been dissipating heavily for some tlm, left his wife and three children a few weeks ago and went to Middletown, O. He returned here Sunday and demanded of his wife that she ' sire htm some money, a demand she refused after hub had remonstrated : with him because, of his hard drinking and his attentions to other women. Refuses His Admission. ' Yesterday afternoon Castner returned to his home but. Mrs. Castner refused to admit him. After bolting the doors and locking the windows she telephoned to her mother, Mrs. Mason, to come to her assistance. When Castner was told by his wife that she intended to call for her mother he threatened to eboot her if she came. He also threatened to kill his wife and children if be waB not permitted to enter the house. Shortly after her daughter had telephoned to ber Mrs. Mason arrived in a taxicab driven by Frank Isenour. Castner at once opened fire on the taxi, two bullets lodging in the body or the car and a third passing through a leg of Ieenour's trousers but not Injuring him. Castner then placed the muzzle of the revolver against his temple and pulled the trigger. His death, was Instantaneous. Mrs. Mason Was also prostrated from fright but was hot injured. Fortune is Squandered. Castner was intoxicated at the time he attempted to murder Mrs. Mason. He came to Cambridge City six years LIGHT PLANT HEAD DEMAND FOR DEPRECIATION FUND V? ;.'.- : . With Superintendent Kleinkriecht of the Municipal Electric plant completes the plant's report for 1916 it will show that it enjoyed .the. most profitable year, of its history. The exact earnings of the, plant last year have not been determined. Figures already compiled, 'however,' Indicate that operating expenses 'only amounted to forty per cent of the plant's revenue. Kleinknecbt said today that he was prepared again to request the board of public .works to authorize the establishment of a depreciation fund. For the past, three years Kleiuknecht. In compiling the annual reports of the plant, has made a depreciation charge of three per cent, of the physical valuation of the property for the purpose accurately of determining what the legitimate earnings of the plant were, but, as a matter of fact, no depreciation fund has ever been created because the board has never decided what a proper depreciation charge would be. Kleinknecht said the failure of the board members lo create a depreciation fund is a violation of an order of the Indiana Public Utilities commission. POSTPONE HEARING OF METER APPEAL INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 16. The case before thhe Indiana ; public service commission concerning a controversy at Richmond between the company supplying the water there and the city over the meter system and schedule of rates was continued until Feb. 1 today after a short hearing.- Representatives of both sides said they thought there was a chance of the city and company agreeing on a satisfactory schedule of rates and adjustment of the differences by that time, which could be submitted to the Bervlce commission then. If no agreement is reached the hearing w ill be resumed It was said. WILLIAMS AT CAPITAL INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 16. CO. Williams at 1:40 o'clock said he has not made up his mind as yet concerning the deputyship in office of superintendent of public instruction. Mr. Williams is here today on conference with the state superintendent.

MAKES

WOMAN CLERK WHO TOLD OF "LEAK" DISAPPEARS ACCORDING TO INTIMATIONS

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16. The House rules committee today was still delving for definite proof of the trail of official secrets relating to President Wilson's recent peace note. Working through a tangled mase of hjHuraaj evidence given by Thomas W. t '

ago with a Pennsylvania railroad construction crew and a short time later married Miss Dorothy Mason. Castner for a time was employed as a stationary engineer. He finally began to dissipate and succeeded In squandering about S1SJD00 his wife bad inherited from her i father, the late Henry Mason, who Was a wealthy Jackson township fanner. Some time ago Cast

ner became, a bartender in a local lid ucvauiQ a vai tcnuci iu a iuvi saloon. Mts. Mason states that she had given her son-in-law about $7,000 during the past five years, most of which he squandered on drink and fa6t livinc.' Castner's home is ' somewhere in Pennsylvania. As soon as his family is located the body will be sent to them.

TWO COUUCILMEM PLEDGE BOTH SIDES VOTE If RIVERDALE SALOON REMOVAL MOVEMENT

The movement which aims to close the two Riverdale saloons by having council declare the north half of the third ward a residential district is about as popular with several councilmen as the proverbial bull in a china shop, so when the report was circulated just before council convened, last night, that the question was to come

BOWMAN FAVORS MEASURE TO ALLOW CITIES TO ADOPT BUSINESS FORM OF GOVERNMENT

; Prcttat I . S. Bowman. ;of tba Richmond Commercial Club said today .that be was much interested In the bill which is to be introduced In the .legislature -making-' it - optional with1 Indiana cities to adopt the city manager or commission form of government. He stated that he Intended to suggest to the club's legislative committee that it direct its attention to this measure and declared that he would advocate the club's indorsement of the bill. It was also learned today that the bill which authorizes cities to modernize their form of government has greatly interested several of the active members of the South Side Improvement association and that the bill will be discussed at the association meeting this evening. R. G. Leeds has been invited to attend the meeting and address the members on the modern systems of municipal government. There is a general sentiment in favor of the adoption of the city form SOAP RECEIVES MEDAL NEW YORK. Jan. 16 The Pekin Melal, established by the Society of Chemical Industry, has been awarded this year to Dr. Ernst Twitchell in recognition of bis process in the manufacture of soap. 52 YEARS SERVICE REWARDED AS 6. PENSION TO Service which lasted 52 years, for one company and its successor has been rewarded by the G. R. and I. railroad company, which has granted a pension to Frank F. Perry, 400 North Fifteenth street. Perry has been an engineer for more than 40 years. The pension was partially a surprise to Perry- He has been too til to work PNEUMONIA CAUSES 500 DEATHS DURING WEEK IN NEW YORK NEW YORK, Jan. 16. Pneumonia caused more than 500 deaths and influenza took a toll of sixty in this city last week. Lawson in yesterday's ' bewildering hearing, the committee sought some man among the dozen Or more mentioned by Lawson who had firsthand information. The investigators were after substantiation either of Lawson's charge that It was Chairman Henry of the

FIRST WORD FROM SISTER IN TWO YEARS TELLS OF SAD PLIGHT OF ARMENIANS; OHANIAN BELIEVES FAMILY SCATTERED

Things are in their last stage." The foregoing is the brief message received recently by A. k. Obanian, an Armenian employed at the Starr Piano company, from a sister in Constantinople, Turkey. Ohanian has two .sisters, a mother and a brother in Turkey. The short message from the sister is the first he had received for two years. He does not know how many of his relatives have been killed since he left Turkey eight years ago. Time and again he has made efforts to get his i v (declined because most of her children mother to come to America out she staved in Turkey Believes Family Scattered. - Ohanian said today that he has every reason to believe that his family has been separated by the Turks and that various members have been placed at towns some distance apart.. This is one of the methods used by the up during the session there were certain councilmen who were very uneasy. The report proved to be a canard, however, and there were audible sighs of relief when adjournment was taken. Councilmen Fear for Jobs. The movement which aims to make all that section of the city north of the ' Pennsylvania railroad a dry dis of government for , Richmond, the same system which has proved so successful in Dayton and Springfield, Ohio, as indicated by statements made to The Palladium by.a.number.of-citi-. tens, men in every walk of life, indorsing the article appearing in a re

KING OF SPAIN MAY IN ACT PROMINENT ROLE IN PEACE AGITATION IN NEAR FDTORE

MADRID, (via Paris), Jan. 16. An intimation that the king of Spain may play a prominent part in coming peace negotiations was given in a speech by Eduardo Dato, former premier, at a banquet given in his honor by tho Moderate section of the conservatives. The former premier said : "On a day more or less distant and praise God that day may be near the great prestige gained by our FOR ROAD R. & I. GIVES ENGINEER PERRY for some time but he expected to return to his engine when he recovered. Continued On Page Two. SERVE BOX SOCIAL An old-fashioned box social will be given this evening in the Vaughan hall by the Knights and Ladies of Security. Members and friends are invited. LEAVE FOR HONEYMOON John Banmbauer and Miss Pearl Hartle were married this morning in this city and left at noon for Chicago where they will pend their honeymoon. Mr. Baumbauer is a clerk of the Pennsylvania railroad. rules committee who told him Secretary. McAdoo, H. Pliny Fisk; New York bsnker, and a "Senator O." were reported to have operated a stock gambling pool or of Henry's categorical denial that he had mentioned those or Continued On Page Eight . :

Turks to exterminate the Armenian race, he says. - The son who migrated to this country has made every possible effort to get money back to his relatives. He recently applied for help from government officials for guarantee of safe delivery of money to his relatives. The government replied that the money could only be sent at Ohanian's risk. The Turks often seize the incoming mails, of the Armenians and appropriate the money to their own use, it is said. Eight years ago, Ohanian learned that he was going to be forced to join the Turkish army. He immediately fled and made good his escape into France. There he followed his trade as diamond polisher for two years and then came to America. He worked as a diamond polisher in New York city a short time and then came to Richmond to take up piano making. Two weeks ago he was naturalized.

trict is loaded with high explosives as it involves the temperance question. Consequently several of the councilmen regard with dismay the prospect ol having this question unloaded upon them. Whichever way they vote they fear will cost them their councilmanic jobs and they do not have to be reContinued on Page flwf) cent issue of The Palladium urging that a movement be at once organized in Richmond in support of the bill pending in the legislature which, must be enacted Into a law-vbefbre 4his city can discard its antiquated and ineffective system of government. king may, for the greater good of humanity, make of him a messenger of peace. STRAYER AND HAAS WELCOME PAINTERS TO STATE SESSION The eighth annual convention of the Indiana Association of Master House Painters and Decorators was welcomed to Richmond today, at its opening session in the Commercial club rooms, by Prosecuting Attorney Strayer and Secretary E. H. Haas. The attendance is expected to reach 200 tonight, 90 of whom will be official delegates. Headquarters are at the Westcott hotel. Little but routine convention formalities was accomplished in today's sessions. Tomorrow will be one of the most interesting days, when a demonstration of the manufacture and practical uses of dry colors will be given on miniature machines by A. W. Clark and J. B. Campbell of the Heath & Milligan company of Chicago. They will show the adoption of analines made in America and their superiority in some cases to the European product. President Gottlieb Haller of Fort Wayne, Secretary-Treasurer, E. W. McNeal of Indianapolis, and two vicepresidents, Hallie Geyer of Lafayette, and J. H. Ballman of Indianapolis, made reports today showing that the membership and finances of the or ganization have been the best in the pase year. A reception has been arranged for the visiting ladles for tonight, auto ride .Wednesday and vaudeville Friday afternoon. The delegates will attend the polo game tomorrow night and will have a banquet at the Westcott hotel Thursday night. ,- JOBBERS HOLD DINNER " TO LAUNCH CAMPAIGN A dinner on Feb. 2 for all jobbers of Richmond will signal the opening of the campaign of the Jobbers Section of the Commercial club, - Arrangements were placed Id the hands of Secretary Haas today by the trustees, who held a noon meeting at the Y. M. C. A: ';-r; j....; - .;:,v'' ' J The (dinner probably wlwll be culminated with the address of John N. Boob, president of the Jobbers and Manufacturers section of: the Columbus, O., Chamber of Commerce.

JURORS MAKE WHICH WiLL KNOWN

The grand jury will be adjourned Thursday night until Feb. 1. This was announced by Prosecutor Strayer today. The recess will give the sheriff time to make arrests on indictments returned and will give the prosecutor and his deputy, Walter Lewis, time to bring back work and try persons under indictment. Prosecutor Strayer announced today that in case he considers be will be

CLAYTON B. HUNT IS STRICKEN WITH PARALYSIS AFTER SERVICE

Clayton B. Hunt, retired, 46 Sooth Ninth street, was stricken with paralysis last night and after having been unconscious for 12 hours today, "WATCH US GROW" Population Jan. 1 27,450 Population yesterday 27,454 Gain today 6 Lots today 7 Present population 27453 FORMER STUDENTS TO HONOR HELMAN AT PUBLIC SERVICE The public schools of the city and the general public will pay . tribute to the late Prof. E. R. Helman, bead of; the Commercial department of the high school, at public memorial services to be held in the high-school auditorium, Thursday, afternoon at -2:45 o'clock. Any citizen who desires to attend is invited, especially former pupils of Prof. Helman.' Prof. Helman died suddenly a few days ago. At the service addresses will be made by a member of the commercial department faculty, by a member of the general high school faculty, by one one of the commercial department students, by a former student and by Lee B. Nusbaum, who will represent the business men of the city. The religious services will be conducted by the Rev. J. J. Rea. The musical program includes a number by the faculty quartette and a solo by one of the students, Paul Steen. LAYS. REVIVAL PLAN To complete plans for the simultaneous revival, the evangelistic committee of the Richmond Federation cf Churches will hold a special meeting in the Y. M. C. A. at 3:30 o'clock Friday afternoon. BALL PLAYERS

FROM LABOR FEDERATION

NEW YORK, Jan. 16. The application of the Bareball Players Fraternity for a charter from the Federation of Labor is the chief topic of interest in baseball circles here today. Leaders of the big leagues who are at tending a meeting of the schedule committee asserted that they were not disturbed by threats of a players strike but were cautious about discussing the labor union phase of the situation. JANITORS ORDERED TO PUT OUT FIRES CHICAGO, Jan. 16. Janitors of 1,100 apartment buildings are under orders today to put out the fires in their furnaces tonight unless their employers meet demands for an increase in wages', on a graded scale, approximating fifteen per cent. MUNSEY TO START BANK NEW YORK, Jan. 16. Application on behalf of Frank A. - Munsey has been filed with the controller of the currency for a charter for a bank in this city to be known as the Knickerbocker. National Bank. The capital of the bank is to be $500,000, and it is said it will be opened about May 1 WOMEN HEAR LINDLEY Professor Harlow Lindley, of Earlham College will speak this evening on "The Need of a New Constitution," In the Commercial club rooms under the auspices of the Richmond Franchise League ' '

EFFORT TO GET EVIDENCE WARRANT ARREST OF WOMEN TO VISIT SALOONS FREQUENTLY

able to return any Indictments against local men connected with monopolies which are responsible for the high prices of food and fuel, he will ask the jury to make investigations, Feb. 1Found Action Impossible. He will look into the proposition thoroughly, however, before he takes up the probe of the much mooted high cost of living problem. During the last term of court the grand jury invest!fears were expressed that he might not be able to recover. He Is 71 years old. Mr. Hunt attended church last night and returned to his home with Mrs. Hunt, in a small electric It is believed the stroke began when the machine was entering the garage. Mr. Hunt got out and fell to the floor. His wife called neighbors who took him to the house. For years Mr. Hunt has been known as a civic and religious worker. He ceased to be identified with civic uplift movements at the time of his retirement from the grocery business about three years ago. He had occupied a leading position in the foremost ranks of business men and was one of the old Main street merchants. He entered the grocery business when Elwood Morris, George Knollenberg, George Mashmeyer, deceased, and others were young in business. INTENSIFIES SOUND MADE BY FEATHER BERKELEY. Cal., Jan. 16. Tb faintest sound becomes so pronounced by the aid of an improvement on the sound amplifier perfected by R B. Abbott, instructor of physics at the University of California, that the fall of a feather makes a noise like a -wrestler striking the mat.

WOULD MAKE SECOND CHRISTMAS IN MIDSUMMER QF JULY FOURTH; WOULD ABOLISH FIRE CRACKERS

NEW YORK, Jan. 16. If the toymakers of the United States, who are in annual convention here, can put their plans into effect, the Fourth of July will be made a sort oi midsummer Christmas, with Uncle Sam the JXll VU1 I011U " vuvv patron saint, instead of Santa Claus. ASK CHARTER President Gompers of the American Federation of Labor said he bad no doubt that the fraternity would be admitted to membership.

G. 0. P. COMMITTEE ASKS EXPLANATION BY PERKINS

NEW YORK, Jan. 16. The members of the Republican National committee appointed "to consider the question of adopting plans of giving recognition to and promoting the co-operation of all elements opposed to the Democratic party" held their first meeting today as a special committee. Their task seemed considerably more difficult than when it was given to them yesterday at the meeting of the executive committee of the Republican national organization. . Before taking action the members of the special committee waited for a more complete explanation of the attitude of George W. Perkins and Everett TWO VESSELS WRECKED BY GERMAN WASP LONDON, Jan. 16 According to an unconfirmed report received by Lloyds the British steamship Brookwood, 3,093 tons, and the Norwegian steamer Tholma, 1,896 tons, have been iunk. The Norwegian steamer Graafjeld, formerly the Alfred Dumots, 729 tons, has been destroyed through striking a mine. Eight members of her crew lost their lives.

gated the high cost of living, particularly the boost in milk prices, but it was found impossible to return indictments. "It was found that the high coal prices were caused by jobbers and that local men had nothing to do with It," said the prosecutor. "Unless something extraordinary comes up between now and Thursday, wo will not touch the high cost of living problem on this trip." Attention of the prosecutor was called today to some saloons in which several women have been seen recently Makes Careful Observation. Strayer said that he had bad the saloons under careful observation for some time but that he has been unable to order any arrests because the women are over twenty-one years of age and a careful search of the Indiana laws and city ordinances has failed to reveal- anything . which prohibits women from entering saloons. A probe has failed to reveal any evidence which would Indicate that these saloon keepers or the women have violated any of the criminal codes. As the result of the investigation being made by the jury of resorts there has been an exodus from the city of several people supposed to be , connected with them, the prosecutor was informed today. It is reported that no one against whom indictments have been or will be returned has left. Cambridge City occupied most of tho Jury's time this morning. Twentyfive witnesses from the small town were waiting examination when the grand jury went into session at 9 o'clock. Boston Put Under X-ray. Boston will be "under fire" tomorrow, it was rumored. It was also reported that the Pennsylvania railroad has asked the jury to investigate the theft of some suit cases from the local station platform. Manzella Conway, principal witness in the Pennville case where J. Valentine Kaufman shot his wife and tbekilled himself, has been unable to appear before the jury. Unless- she is able to appear during the next two days, the case which has for its purpose the recovery of letters written by Kaufman before his death and which mvsteriously disappeared, will be carried over until the jury resumes its work, Feb. 1. No indictments will be returned until after Mrs. Conway has testified.

All agree that the fourth should continue as a festive occasion. The plan is to substitute for lire crackers and other explosives American-made toys with plenty of action and plenty i : of noise, but harmless. DR. ELWOOD COMING Rev. Arthur Elwood, pastor of the Board Walk church, Atlantic City, will address a mass meeting in the Y. M. C. A., the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 28. This meeting will be one of the series of monthly Sunday afternoon mass meetings and will be used as a stimulant to the simultaneous revival to be conducted by the Federation of Cburches and which starts on the same date. Colby, the leading Progressive members of the Republican national campaign committee, who last night declined to attend a dinner given to the members of the executive and campaign committees by National Chairman W. R. Wilcox. ASK RATE INCREASE CHARLESTON. W. Va., Jan. 16 The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad company has filed a petition with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia for permission to advance its intra-state passenger rates from two cents a mile as prescribed by the laws of West Virginia to at least 24 cents a mile. A bearing will be held on the petition, Feb. 27. Weather Forecast For Indiana Probably fair tonight and Wednesday. Continued cold. Temperature Today Noon 13 .13 5 Yesterday Maximum Minimum