davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29
"Honest John" WorthingtOn
May Turn States Evidence.
Believes "Finance Wizard" Has
"DOubIe CrOssed'' Him.
HUNT U. S. FOR VICTIMS
Federal Agents Interview Men
Named on Lists.
Screen Stars Believed to Have
Been Duped Out of Cash.

A nationwide search was launched
here today for a score of millionaire
victims of the frenzied financial oper-
ations of Charles w. French and his
alleged $5O.OOO,OOO "swindle trusts
The finding of a new sucker" list, in
cluding the son of a former president,
led to the new angle of investigation.
Worthington May "SpIit."
A new "split" in the ranks of the
alleged master plotters" also featured
the ''swindling" probe today. Honest
John" Worthington, accused head of
mail robbery trust and associate
OF French, appealed to federal author
iues Tor permission to appear against
his former confederate.
Honest john" declared federal
agents, asked the government to let
him sit in at the trial of French.
This action was considered significant
by the government probers
Believes French Double Crossed"
Writing to Col. John V. Clinnin, as
sistant United States district attorney.
from woodstock Jail where he is a
prisoner, Worthington said: There
may possibly be information 1 may be
able to supply you with. I believe
that can be of great help to you"
Chnnin indicated Worthington appears
~ peleVe ne mas Deen double crossed
by French.
Movie Stars May Be victims.
The search for millionaire VIC
TINS, included the sending of tele-
grams to federal agents in Los An
geles, San Francisco, Portland, Santa
Barbara, and Hollywood. Agents in
these cities were asked to interview
men whose named appeared on the
sucker list. 1t was reported several
motion picture stars appeared on
the list.
New evidence showed that U. S.
Grant, son of President Grant, was
among the men approached in San
Francisco by French and his agents.
Federal agents said Grant had '1isten-
ed favorably'' to French's dream of a
world combine. The plan collapsed,
however, thru French's arrest here
dupont Denies He's Dupe.
Authorities in eastern cities, mean
while. were reported probing other
names on the list. Coleman Dupont,
| the powder king, was among those
named. He has denied having any
dealings with the band.
A special federal grand jury was to
be asked today TO probe the affairs of
French and his alleged "swindIe
trust" The request was to be made
of Federal Judge Kenesaw NJ. lands.
The grand jury probe was desired by
federal authorities in order to expe-
dite the investigation of countless fl
nancia1 operations of the trust scat
tered from Delaware to California.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29
STARTS new WAR
Hungarians Fire on Austrians
Occupying West Hungary.
Strip of Land Near Vienna Was
Awarded to Austria.

Vienna, (Via Berlin,) Aug. 29.-Two
members of the Austrian gendarmerie
were killed, including a colonel, and
several were wounded in another clash
between Austrian and Hungarian
troops in West Hungary today.
The Austrians were occupying Hun
garian territory that had been award
ed Austria under the Trianon treaty
when they were fired upon. es
The ceremony of the transfer of the
little strip of territory known as West
Hungary to Austria was to take place
today as provided for by the peace
treaty. It will be known hereafter as
Burgenland. 7--
After the transfer the governm ent
will ask the powers to permit a
plebiscite in order to enable the in
habitants of Burgenland to solve dis
puted territorial questions.
Burgenland has an area of about
1,700 square miles and population
of $4,000. It's transfer caused great
Indignation among the Hungar1ans,
altho the territory was an insignifi-
cant fraction of the vast Austro-Hun-
garian monarchy.
The territory is situated almost at
the gates of Vienna.
Bitter Fighting Now On.
London, Aug. 29.-Bitter fighting
has broken out between Hungarian
soldiers and Austrian gendarmes over
the town of Oedenberg, according to a
dispatch from Vienna today. Serious
losses have been sustained on both
sides. The Hungarians are led by
Ostenberg and Hejjas, both famous
war veterans.
The fighting began when the Aus
trian gendarmes started to occupy
Oedenberg which is a town much dis
puted between Austria and Hungary.
Veritable battles were raging at last
accounts at Agebdore and P:nkafeld.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29
FOR PEACE
State and Union Officers Try to
End West Virginia War.
Five Miners and One Woman
Are Reported Killed.

Charleston, West Va, Aug. 90
State authorities early today anxiously
awaited -advices from the eastern part
of Logan county. Somewhere in that
district Adjutant General John II.
Charnock, together with A. c. Porter
a. member of the West Virginia United
Mine Workers executive board and
personal representative of c. F. Kee-
ney, president of the District II, were
doing missionary work following yes
terday's report to Governor Morgan
that state police and deputy sheriffs
on one side and unidentified armed
men on the other had fought an en-
gagement in Beach Creek, near the
Logan-Boon county line.
All telephone lines into Ethel,
Sharples and Blair, mining communi-
ties in the eastern part of Logan
county were reported out Of order all
of this morning. Neither was it pos
sible to reach Logan Reports cir
culated over the state today that the
miners WHO set out from Marmet to
march to Mingo were again assembling
at Marmet, were discredited by state
authorities.
A report. thus far unconfirmed, says
that a woman was shot this morning
near Ethel in a new outbreak there.
Five Miners Reported Killed.
Logan, West Va, Aug. 29.-Logan
countys battle front was quiet this
morning following flareup of fighting
at Beach Creek, near Camp Four,
early Sunday morning, in which five
miners are reported to have been
killed in a clash with state police head
quarters at Ethel, five miles from
here.
State police took the view that the
Sunday fighting was purely local in
character and that it had nothing to
do with the march of 5000 strikers
from Marmet toward Mingo county.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29
Former q. S. Chief Test Pilot
Criticises ZR-2 Tests.
Declares Safety Appliances
Used Were Condemned by q. S.
MAIN ORDERS KNOWN WEAK
British Expert Killed in Wreck
Knew Ships Weakness.
Uneven Pull by UnsynchrOnized
Engines Was Cause.

London. Aug. 2s.-New light was
shed upon the zR-2 disaster today
when it was revealed that the two
main girders had been damaged in a
trial flight before the fatal voyage.
The Daily Express today printed an
interview given out by Air Marshal
Maitland. of the Royal Flying corps.
August 13, which had never been pub
lished. Air Marshal Maitland (who
lost his life on the ZR-2), admitted
that troubles had occurred during ten
minute speed trials, adding:
The cause was an uneven pull upon
the ship by the central motors. The
engines did not synchronize."
Determined To Get Bodies.
Hull, England, Aug. 29.-The body
of Air Commodore E. NJ. Maitland of
the British flying force, who lost his
life in the disaster to the ZR-2 last
week. has been found in the wreck of
the dirigible late this afternoon.
Mine sweepers probably will be en-
ployed in an effort to recover the
bodies of the thirty-six missing Brit
ish and American air sailors who lost
their lives in the ZR-2 disaster, it was
stated this afternoon.
I'VE must get those poor fellows
bodies, despite quicksands, tires and
everything else" declared Sir Freder-
ick Young, who is in charge of the
salvage work. Sir Frederick con-
Quoted the salvage operations in Zee
brugge harbor, Belgium, where several
British ships were sunk during the
war to block the~port-
Safety Appliances Poor.
Chicago, Aug. 2s.-The giant diri-
gible ZR-2, wrecked in England with q
loss of firty-six lives, was equipped
with safety appliances which had been
condemned by the United States army
air service, according to Jaj. R. wv
Schroeder, former chief test pilot OF
the service and holder of the worlds
altitude record.
Major Schroeder declared the type
of parachute with which the ZR-2 was
equipped had been condemned by this
government after a British officer
using one had been killed in a demon
stration at Dayton, Ohio.
Air men thru the country, accord
ing to Major Schroeder, are wondering
why the United States men aboard the
ZR-2 were not equipped with the, free
type parachute, better known as tht
life pack, which has been adopted BY
the army and air mail services
Schroeder believes most of the mer
would have been saved had they worn
this safety appliance.
Schroeder also declared it "surpris-
ing" that the weak parts of the ZR-Z
were not developed by tests on the
ground before the ship was permitted
to fly.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29

Tulsa, Okla, Aug 29.-The mon
ster "fire-spitting deverish' which
was reported to have been running
wild in the vicinity of Slick. the lat
est oil boom town in the state, is still
wild, but no longer terrorizes-
Citizens who returned recently from
Slick claim to have solved the mys-
terry of the mysterious monster which
was said to have killed dozens OF
horses, cattle and dogs and evaded ev-
cry attempt at capture.
These folks say the animal Is Wild
cat-stili.
Moonshiners. they claim. alarmed
by the increase in population in the
wilder regions. have circulated hair
raising tales designed 10 frighten peo-
pie out of the country and make IL
more safe for corn whisky. The hoax
worked to good advantage until Off
GERS became suspicious and hooted at
the tales of the monsters prowess.
Then two of the officers received
threatening letters signed-"K. K
K. Kl"
Superior Judge ]. Drumright also
received warming His letter advised
him to make the 'chock' and whisky
fines" lighter. His note was also
signed *. K K. K"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29
Murder of Erzberger Signal for
German Political Revolt.
Three Men Killed in Red-MOn-
archist Clash.
MILITARISTS DEFY GOVERNMEN
POtsdam BristIes With Uni
formed sold Regime" Officers.
Phone Voice Only Clue to SIay-
ing of Former Premier.

Berlin, Aug. 29.-The flames of po-
liticaI strife unIoosed by the murder
of DR.. Matthias Erzberger, leaped
high today when the full news of yes
terdaY's demonstrations here and in
other towns was told and when Chan
celIor Wirth summoned his. cabinet to
an extraordinary session to discuss the
internal situation.
A funeral ceremony for the dead
politician yesterday was addressed by
ex-Chancellor Ferhenbach and Min
lister of Posts Giesbert
Two working men were killed and a
third was mortally wounded in a clash
between reds" and monarchtsts yes
terday afternoon at Potsdam.
Government Is Defied.
Potsdam bristled with uniforms of
men and officers of the old army, in
Guiding some famous generals, who
mad defied the governments order for
bidding demonstration in celebra-
ton of the anniversary of the battle
of Tannenburg. At the same time the
city swarmed with radicals who had
needed the summons of the Rote
Fahne, to make a counter demonstra-
ton.
Police fired into a throng of work
ing men when the latter resisted an
attempt to throw their red flags into
tic canal.
The interparty strife and bitterness
continues to grow hourly in intensity
and the menace of a cabinet crisis
still doomed large today. Moderate
elements of all parties were bending
their energies to prevent it realizing
that nothing could be more disastrous
to Germany at this moment, when the
war crippled industries are just be-
ginning to regain their bearing and
when the League of Nations council
is about to make a final decision of
Upper Silesia.
Meanwhile, the investigation into
ErZberger's assassination continues
The coroner's jury rendered a verdict
of political murder" It was found at
the inquest that the shots that killed
the Centrist leader were fired from
two different revolvers.
Phone Clue Only One.
The latest clue which the police
were investigating today was that an
unknown voice telephoned to the
newspaper, Badische Presse, at noon
on the day of the murder-iast Friday,
asking if there was any information
about Erzberger, whose assassination
had not yet been discovered at that
time.
Erzberger's 'home town." Biber-
bach, having offered to erect a monu-
ment and donate a grave of honor"
to its most famed son. the funeral ar
rangements were changed by the
widow today. The burial will be held
in Biberbach on Wednesday instead
of Berlin.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29
Public Schools VIII Begin
Week Earlier Than Usual.
Teachers VIII Meet for Confer
ence on Monday, Sept. 5.
WILL Be TEN MONTHS TERM
Total of 294 Teachers Will Be
Used This Year.
Enrolment Expected To Be
Much Larger Than Last Year.

The public schools of Topeka will
open Tuesday. September 6, at 8
O'Clock for a ten months school term.
The school year opens one week earlier
earlier and will close one week later
than in previous years. with the ex-
ception of last year. when the ten
months system was inaugurated.
1.-The ten months school term
proved satisfactory to the board of
education last year" Supt A J. Stout
said today. Many of the pupils and
parents objected, but it is thought best
to go on with the system. The ten
months term includes forty weeks of
school work and twelve weeks of vaca-
ton. The nine months term was ex-
elusive of vacations"
At 10 o'clock Monday morning, Sep
tember 5, principals of the various
grade school buildings will meet at
the high school. All other teachers
will meet at o'clock, Monday after
noon.
Forty-Two New Teachers.
There will be forty-two new teach
ers on the Topeka teaching force next
week. Superintendent Stout said, with
several more teaching positions to be
filled soon. The total number of
teachers engaged for the term is 294
The entire teaching force of the com
mercial department Of the high school
is new.
Enrolment is expected to be larger,
as the city census figures are now
larger than at this time last year
All pupils who wish to have a large
amount of manual training and voca-
tional work should apply for admis-
sion to the Garfield pre-vocational
school for pupils in the sixth, seventh
and eighth grades. The school was
newly established last year and proved
highly successful.
New Course Added This Year.
One new department of work in the
grade schools is a course in speech i'm
provement. One teacher has been en-
ployed to help children who stammer
or have other speech impediments.
Children have been cured of speech
difficulties by the Introduction of the
speech Improvement course in other
cities Stout said. such special work
has been developed to a great extent
in New York and Boston, -.e ---r--.s
In order to avoid the last minute
rush for school books. the board Of
education is endeavoring to place the
lists of necessary books in the hands
of book dealers. and in that way pu-
pills may purchase their books before
the opening of school.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29
Get HALF MILLION
Daring Bank Bandits Loot
Chicago Trust Co. Vaults.
DepositOrs Storm Concern,
Anxious Over Their Savings.

Chicago, Aug. 29.-Several hundred
depositors stormed the Security Trust
company today where four armed ban
dts staged a sensational holdup last
night, escaping with loot estimated at
from $224,OO0 to 100000. Five men,
including two night watchmen, are
under arrest.
The robbery. one of the boldest in
Chicago's crime history, was staged
with elaborate detail. The banditE
gagged and bound two watchmen aft
er getting admission to the banks
vaults thru a subterfuge- They then
broke open nineteen safety deposit
boxes, taking only cash and jewe1ry.
Officials declare the quartet had
thrown aside more than 100000 in
easily negotiable bonds, securities and
unset diamonds. Bank officials today
were checking up the losses.
The "holdup" was re-enacted by de-
tectiveS this morning and resulted in
the finding of discrepancies in the
stories told by the night watchmen.
Later, Chief of Detectives Hughes de-
clared the robbery to be an Inside
job"
Most of the looted safety deposit
boxes were held by members of Chi
cago's sporting fraternity. A promi-
nent gambler was said to have depos-
tied $125,000 in cash in his box late
yesterday and this is believed to have
prompted the robbery. One of the
heavy losers was Morris Lipschultz, a
cripple news vender, who lost his life
time savings of $11,300.
The loot, according to w. P. Dickin-
son, vice president of the bank, totaIed
$224,000, but Chief Hughes declared
the amount would reach half a mil
lion dollars
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29
SIGN PACT WITH HUNGARY
All State of War To Be Ended by the
United States Today.

Budapest, Aug 29-The treaty of
peace between Hungary and the
United States will be signed here this
afternoon at o'clock by Foreign
Minister Banffy for Hungary and by
Grant Smith. United States commits
sioner for America
The ceremony will take place at the
residence of Mr.. Smith who is resid-
ing at the home. of Countess Laszio
Szechenyi who was formerly Miss
Gladys K Vanderbilt, youngest daugh-
ter of Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt of
New York.
Washington, Aug. 29.-Signature of
Hungarian treaty brings to an end
peace negotiations entered into by the
United States under President Hard
ing with the central powers against
whom the United States declared war
in 1917. The treaty with Austria was
signed last Wednesday at Vienna and
that with Germany the following day
at Berlin. Officials here had not been
apprised of the expected signing of
the Hungarian treatry today
Neither the text of the Austrian
treaty nor details as to the Hungarian
convention have been given out.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29
BRITISH IN KICK
Senate Tariff MOuIderS to Hear
English Business Men.
Erection of Trade Barrier Be-
comes International Question.

Washington, Aug. 29.-The appear
ance of a deputation of English busi-
ness men before the senate finance
committee Wednesday to oppose some
of the steel schedules of the pending
bill, is expected by senator's today to
further emphasize the international
aspects of the proposed erection of a
merchant trade barrier.
Senators closely associated with
President Harding are of the opinion
that the tariff question is one that
may be moulded finally by the trend
of the approaching Washington con-
ference on disarmament and kindred
subjects, however unrelated the tariff
now may appear to be, the announced
purposes of the conference.
Must Await Big ParIey.
These senators have known for
some time that the administration in
tended that both the tariff bill and
the foreign debt funding bill should
not be enacted finally by congress un-
til the outcome of the Washington
conference could be determined.
The liquidation Of the $1,000, 0,00O,-
600 foreign Indebtedness to the
United States and construction of a
tariff wall against foreign products,
are moot questions which are likely
to be projected into the melting pot
OF international relations once the
conference gets under way, these SEN
ators believe.
Action Declared "Unofficial"
They are confident that congress
will not be called upon to act finally
upon either question until the result
of the gathering is foreseen.
The mission of an English
deputation to a hearing of the senate
finance committee on the tariff, is
described by the state department as
unofficial" and to have no connection
with the British government itself ex-
cept that the British ambassador, Sir
Auckland Geddes, personally ar
ranged II
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29
FEDERATION WILL WATCH.
No Immediate Action on Wage Cuts
ContempIated-Now

Atlantic City, Aug. 2s.-The execu-
tive council of the American fedora
ton of labor has decided to take no
action regarding railroad wage reduc-
tons. Members said today, however,
that the council stood ready to assem-
bic in special conference and give any
aid possible should it be requested to
do so.
The council, in accordance with the
instructions of the Denver convention.
IS working on a plan to bring about
the public ownership" and demo-
cratic control of the nations railroad
system. But nothing definite in this
regard can be expected for some
months, labor leaders say
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29
WILL NOT DISTURB RATES
Public Utilities Commission VIII Not
Alter Franchise Agreements.

The Kansas public utilities commits
sion will not seek to disturb rates fixed
in franchise agreements between cities
of the second and third class and pub
lie utilities prior to 1911, when the
public utilities act was pa ssed. That
was the decision today by Commis-
sioner H. A. Russell in a case from
Great Bend. The action affirms an
earlier opinion by Fred S. jackson, as
counsel for the commission.
According to announcement by the
commission today the decision affects
hundreds of public utility rates. Elec-
trio rates for about sixty north
trail Kansas towns served by tho United
Light & Power company are said to
be controlled by the order. Most of
the towns served by the United are
SECOND or third class cities. Commits
sioner Russell held that the commits
sion was without power to interfere
with rates established prior to 1911
and remaining under franchise con-
troll, even tho inability of the COM
mission worked a hardship on the util-
ity OF city.
The utilities commission today
granted railroad rates of one and
half fare for round trip from points in
Franklin county to ottawa during the
Franklin county fair. September So.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29
ASK FOR RECEIVERSHIP
Effort Made to Protect Assets of
Uncle Sam Oil Company


Uncle Sam Oil Company.
Receivership actions for the Uncle
Sam OIL company We're filed in the
United States district court in Topeka
today after having been previously
court in Guthrie. Okla. The petition
is declared to have been filed in an
effort to protect assets of the COM
pany and to weather present low
prices and financial depreSsiOns af-
fecting the oil industry.
The suit was brought on behalf of
w. c. Plumb. vice president Of the
company. II. II. Tucker is president
of the Uncle Sam Oil company. which
has its principal offices in Kansas &
City, Kan. 1t is asked that J.. c. c..
Morse of Hutchinson and w. P. Hack
ney of Winfield will be named as re-
ceivers
Three refineries are owned bv the
Uncle Sam interests. They are located
in Kansas City and Cherryvale. Kan
and Tulsa, Okla. The company has
Travelled many hard roads since its or
ganiZat on as one of the early indie
pendents in the Kansas and Okla
homa oil game The present action
is a voluntary suit by officers of the
corporation in an effort to protect its
assets. President Tucker asserts that
the company can meet its liabilities if
permitted to weather the present
storm under court protection. 1t was
necessary. it was declared, to seek
court relief in order to continue
operations. The three refineries
owned by the company have been
operating steadily. The COMPANY also
owns a number of large leases and
producing wells IN several oil counties.