davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
CHRISTMAS PAROLES TO q
Governor Allen Adds More Names to
List of Released Prisoners.

Total Christmas paroles today
reached a grand total of twenty-one,
when Governor Allen supplemented
his former list with two additional
names. Fifteen days leave was grant
ed Roy Startzman of dickinson coun-
ty and George A Post or Mcpherson
county
Post is serving a twenty-five year
sentence for second degree murder
He has been in prison since June,
1915. and viii be released on his own
recognizance to visit relatives in
Hutch. .nson-
StartZman is serving a sentence OF
one to five years for chicken stealing
in Enterprise. Failure or Startzman's
project has kept him in prison since
last April. He VII spend Christmas
with his wife and children in his home
town.
Paroles granted lace Thursday in
cluded: Harold Marvin Sumner
county. second degree burglary; Bert
Blunt, Meade county, second degree
burglary: Robarta Lara. Mcpherson
county. burglary and larceny; Eligo
Cambria. Hamilton county, second de-
gree burglary; Juan Lopez. Saline
county. second degree murder; Fran
cisco Fernandez. Wyandotte county.
second degree murder; Maggie Bell,
Sedgwick county. second degree bur
glary. and Ben WalSow. Sedgwick
county. grand larceny.
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
SKAGGS TO KNOW FATE SOON
Case of Bonner Springs Barber to
Jury Before Night.

Kansas City. kan. Dec. 22.-Taking
OF evidence in the srial of Harry
SkagCs. Bonner Springs barber.
charged with the murder of Leon
Harrington, ended shortly before noon
today
Judge w. II. McCam.sn announced
each side would have two hours to
cirque the evidence.
Skaggs. on the stand again today.
testified he arose between and s
o'c,ock the morning of November s.
the day the charred body of Harring-
ton was found. He said he went To
his barber shop about . O'Clock, the
usual time OF opening.
George w. Kuhn of KinEsvile Mo.
then took the stand. He testified he
was shaved by SkagS- about $50
O'Clock on the morning of Novem-
her S.
''Skaggs was extremely nervous
Kuhn said. He cut my face while
he was shaving me. his hands trem-
bIed.-'
SkagGs is alleged 20 nave slain Har-
rington over the love of SIrS. Alfredo
Shubert Mattinsly, a bonner Springs
nurse.
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
SANTA FE SLIGHTLY DELAYED
Trains Leaving Dearborn Sheds as Tn
der Ordinary Conditions.

Santa Fe trains leaving Chicago
suffered little delay or account of the
burning of the Dearborn street sta
ton A train due out of the station at
6 O'Clock, at the height of the fire.
was delayed fifty-three minutes 9th
ers were sent out while the fire was
raging within thirty minutes of their
scheduled time.
The train sheds at the station were
intact, it was stated at the passenger
department office in Topeka this
morning. and trains are leaving the
sheds as under ordinary conditions.
partment here that aIf stocks of tick
cts in the station were destroyed, and
duplicate stocks have Already been
dispatched to Chicago from Topeka.
BY 1920 O'Clock Thursday night
trains were leaving the train sheds
adjoining the smouldering ruins, on
time
Roy Payne. head of the Yellow Cab
company of Topeka. <as in Chicag
during the time of the burning of the
Dearborn street station He strong y
praised the organization which was
brought about by the Yellow Cab
company of Chicago, the Parmalee
Transfer company ana the Santa Fe
passenger department.
''W. j. Black. general passenger
charge of the situation, and before the
fire departments apparatus had left
the scene the Santa F-e had guides
posted to take passengers to their
trains, which were made up in the
yards. and the Parmalee people and
the Yellow Cabs were running as usu-
al" Payne said
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
INDIAN REPORT is DOUBTED
Finding of Bodies of Aviators Not
Officially Confirmed.

Tucson, Ariz., Dec. 22.-With ru-
mors a to the finding of an airplare
and the charred bodies of either Coz.
Francis c. Marshall or Lieut.. G. l..
Weber, missing army aviators.
doubted by both army officers and by
the local man who first received the
information from an Indian. absolute
confirmation or denial of the report
awaited return to Fort Huachuca,
near Douglas, of airplaneS dispatched
yesterday to check III, on the reports.
r. r. Stewart, an employe of a To-
cal battery service station, said that
John Blame, an Indian friend, told
him last Tuesday of hearing two other
Indians had found the plane on the
PapagO Indian reservation last week
but had not told white men for fear
of getting into trouble. Stewart said
he sent the Indian back to Indian
Oasis, seventy-fiVe miles west of Tue
son, to seek further information, with
instructions to return here if he
learned anything. The Indian had
not yet returned.
Stewart explained that he had kept
the matter quiet until yesterday so
that he might collect the reward OF
500 offered for the rinding of the
missing aviators. Yesterday. he said.
he told friend "in Confidence" but
the friend tod others and the story
soon became generally known.
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
WOULD JAIL EN-
Chicago Judges Seek Way to
Stop Traffic Violations.
Windy City Speeders, Kill an
Average of Two a Day.

Chicago. Dec. ga law to permit
the jailing of speeders, a card index
ing and finger printing of all reckless
drivers. and the curbing of police and
fixing" of violations were three plans
proposed today by Chief Justice Olsen
and Judge Asa G. Adams, of the
speeders' court to stop an average of
two deaths day in Chicago by auto
mobiles.
Drastic action is necessary the
judges said, asserting more than $30.-
900 was collected in fines for violations
of motor laws last month. this being
more than twice the average per
month.
Four to six per cent of drivers ap-
pearing in court this week were
charged with reckless driving while
drinking. it was said
According to coroner's records. there
have been 736 deaths so far this year
In 1891 the number was 664. During
the last nine years. 5, S27 persons were
killed in automobile accidents
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
EX-SERVICE men NEED AID
Topekans Urged to Help Thirty-Five
Children of World War Vets.

There are children of eX-service
men in Topeka, men who were dis
abled in their country's service during
the Christmas spirit of Topekans for
their Christmas dinner, If that dinner
consists of anything more than the
bare necessities of life.
I'VE know that the families of
which we already have track, who
won't have ony Christmas, include
thirty-five children. and We are find
ing more of them every day." Ed
HAnlon, chairman of the committee
of the Disabled American Veterans of
the World War, which is collecting
food and dainties for these families,
said today.
These men, most of them, get some
compensation from the government,
but their compensation and the money
they are able to earn, is not enough to
give them more than what they act
ually have to have to exist
Already there have been delivered
to Paul Parish. commander of the To :
peka post of the D. A. V. w. w, a
quantity of food-meat, canned fruit.
fresh fruit, and the like. But there is
need of more. From the funds of the
post, chickens and other dainties are
to be purchased, and the w. r. c..
and Auxiliary of the American Legion
post are donating to the food supply
Saturday is the last day for the re-
ceipt of the food-candy, fruit, nuts.
and the like-for distribution among
the families of the veterans. The
baskets will be distributed by the
members of the post. on Sunday.
Contributions to the supply should
be left with Paul Parrish, the COM
at the Boone Book shop, $50
Kansas avenue.
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
No Official Request to Z. S. for
Debt Commission.
Proposal, However, Has Been
Received in Washington.
AMERICA WOULD FIX BASIS
All Discussion Outside Formal
Diplomatic Channels.
London Sees TeutOnic Motive
and Is Showing Caution.
tBy the Associated Pressl

Berlin, Dec. 22.-It was officially
denied here today that Chancellor
Cuno or any other government official
had suggested the appointment of an
American commission to investigate
Germany's economic condition.
Washington, Dec. 22.-The question
of America extending aid toward the
solution of the economic troubles of
Europe has been brought sharply to
the front with the emerging of a plan
under which an American commission
determine what Germany should pay
the allies in reparations.
Still Wait on France.
The proposal so far has been dis
cussed outside the formal channels of
diplomacy but an understanding in
authoritative circles has been devel-
the United States. Great Britain and
Germany are willing to assent to the
creation of such a commission Pre-
mier Poincare of France now has the
plan before him and is ordered to
make a decision when he has con-
cIuded a series of conferences with in
dustrial leaders of France and of Ger
many.
Officials of the Washington govern
ment have limited at such but have re-
fused to discuss the plan for an Ameri-
can commission. Secretary Hughes,
last night, however, issued a brief
statement which avoided any mention
of details and said that the govern
ment" had presented mo proposal on
the subject. The secretary's state
ment recalled an assertion several days
ago by a White House spokesman who,
in discussing the American attitude
toward Europe, said it would not be
proper to display on the stage all that
was taking place behind the scenes.
British Arc Suspicious.
london Dec 22-Consid era BILE ca11-
ton. amounting sometimes to frank
-skepticism is manifested by this
mornings newspapers in their discus
sion of the proposal of an American
commission to visit Germany. Some of
the papers bring forward semi official
denfals that Great Britain has re-
ceived, much less accepted the pro-
posal and warn against putting faith
in these American canards-" In
quarters where it is admitted as pro-
bable that Germany initiated such a
proposal the idea is received with a
strong suspicion of Teutonic motive.
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
OLD DEPOT BURNS
Dearborn Street Station in Chi
cago in SmOuIdering Ruins.
Was Landmark of City-YaIued
at 100000.

Chicago, Dec. %. - Smouldering
ruins today marked the site of the
Dearborn street railroad station, a
landmark since 1884, and once called
the finest railroad station-in the world.
1t was destroyed by fire yesterday
afternoon. The fire is believed to have
started in offices on the third floor.
Officials who investigated the blaze
were said not to put much faith in
reports that it was of incendiary ori-
gin.
May Remodel Ruins.
H. G.. Hetzler president of the Chi
cago and Western Indiana, last night
intimated the old structure would be
re-modeled, if possible, at cost of
$20G,000.
| The building was valued at $780,
600 but would cost more than 1 million
dollars to replace.
Hundreds of passengers, and two
hundred men and women clerks, fled
to safety.
Rescue Tons of Mail.
Postal clerks with motor trucks
rescued $50 tons of holiday mail and
railroad employees saved all passenger
cars in the train sheds. The Los
Angeles Limited of the Santa Fe and
the Dixie Flyer, crack Chica go-Jack-
sonville train of the Chicago & Eastern
Illinois, We're being made up in the
sheds when the fire broke out. They
were dispatched from the yards while
firemen were still Vainly trying to cope
with the blaze.
The station was owned by the Chi
cago & Western Indiana railroad, and
was used by trains of that line, and the
Santa Fe, Monon, Erie, Chesapeake &
Ohio, Chicago & Eastern Illinois,
wabash and Canadian Grand Trunk.
Flames Move Swiftly.
As the swirling columns Of fire
wrapped around the tall clock tower
nearly $50 feet above the street, hun
dreds of pigeons deserted their nest
ing places and took to the air. So
intense was the heat that the entire
tower seemingly burst into flames
simultaneously, and almost in matter
of seconds the flagpole surmounting
it burned thru at the base and crashed
down thru the roof of the train shed,
where postal clerks still were removing
the piled up mail trucks to safety.
Plans have been considered for sew
eral years for tearing down the build
ing and either erecting a new one on
its site or moving the terminals to
other stations.
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
MAYOR CAN'T EXCLUDE FILMS
Corwfnc Has No Power to Prevent
Showing OF ArbuckIe Pictures.

Legally, Mayor Herbert J. Coruiue
has no bower to exclude Roscoe Ar
buckle pictures from Topeka unless
they are indecent or immoral. and gen
orally speaking Arbuckle pictures OF
the past have been considered ex-
ceptionally clean, according to local
theater men. They were considered
exceptionally good pictures for young
folks to see. and many persons thought
they were good for children to see be-
cause of their humorous nature.
The city ordinance states that the
mayor can exclude such pictures from
theaters in the city as are immoral
or indecent. If the iStures have been
passed by the Kansas board of review
all the mayor can do after that is rec
ommend to the board that they be
not shown in Topeka.
Il understand that / cannot do any
thing legally Mayor Corwiue said
today, but 1 believe local theaters
should go slow in showing the Ar
buckle pictures in Topeka. not because
of Arbuckle himself nor because Of
the pictures, but on account Of the
publicity that has been given Arbuckie
in his recent moral debauch."
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
Agricultural Conditions in Kan
sas Show Improvement.
MohIer Places 1922 Crop VaIua-
atiOns at $357,256,774.
SIX MILLION ABOVE YEAR AGO
Valuation of Livestock Products
Shows a Big Decrease.
Prices of Grain Higher Than in
1921, Report Shows.

Agriculture in Kansas is coming
back-but it has a long road to travel
in reaching the war time valuation
standards
In his annual summary of crop and
livestock results, u. c. Mohler, secre-
tary of the state board of agriculture,
today placed 1922 crop valuations six
million dollars above those OF a year
ago. The total valuation of all field
crops is given at 1857, ,256-774. That
figure, however, is $222,OOO,OOO below
the five-year crop valuation average
when Kansas hit top records in gross
production was well as reaching peak
prices.
While the grain growers made
gain in value of their farm returns.
they produced fewer bushels than in
year and the earnings of the farmers
were greater.
slump in Livestock.
Against the gain in value of farm
crops, tho. is Z record showing a
slump in value of livestock products
of fifteen million dollars. The grain
situation is entirely reversed in the
case of livestock products. Instead of
a decline in gross production, there
was an increase. Instead of a gain in
values. there was a stump
Livestock values are given this year
at $173, 3,S96.471. Added to the 1857. "A
256,774 value placec on grain and
livestock products, the aggregate val
ue this year passes the half billion
dollar mark with a grand total OF
531.153.245.
The 116.S64.sSS bushel wreat crop
took top place in valuation; The
1922 crop was worth $105,4S9, ,1O3.
The MohIer report.
Following is the Mohler report in
detail:
Production and Values.
The gross value of this years farm
production in Kansas, exclusive of
livestock on the farms, amounts to
S357,256,774, as against 1851, 1,121,242
in 1921. or an increase of slightly
more than s6,O00.O 900, but is under the
five-year average by S222, 100000.
Both in the aggregate and acre yields,
crop productions averaged less than
last year, altho the acreage in crops
was increased. and the gain in total
values this year is due to better prices
received for all farm crops with the
important exceptions of wheat and
potatoes. Corn has been selling at a
price this fall averaging 54 cents a
bushel, while a year ago it was %
cents. Oats brought / cents more a
bushel than in 1921, barley II cents
more, Kafir 35 cents more, alfalfa
S1.6O more a ton, and prairie hay
$1.00 more. Wheat, however, which
is the states principal crop in respect
to acreage, has averaged cents less
per bushel, and potatoes 80 cents less.
This years wheat yield of 116,744,-
459 bushels is the states fifth largest
crop, and. ranks seventh in value. The
corn yield of 95,311,5 bushels was
slightly under last years, but is $780,
600 bushels more than the annual
average production for the five years,
1917-1921. Oats is the smallest crop
since 1916. Alfalfa shows another
decrease in acreage, and for the first
time in a decade has fallen below
million acres. the total now being 910,-
6S1 acres. A large acre-yield. how
ever, held up production to 2,313.023
CONTINUED on Page Six.)
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
STICK TO AN ALIBI DEFENSE
Attorney Says He VIII Show Herrin
Accused Had No Part in Killings
(Hv the Azaocfated Press
GBy the Associated

Marion, Dec. Witnesses from 4
list of several hundred were in court
today prepared to testify in defense Of
the five men on trial. for murder.
The state rested its case yesterday J
afternoon and adjournment was taken
until today to allow the defense to
gather its witnesses. a ". Kerr,
counsel for defense. in a statement
after the state rested its case. said he
would seek TO Prove that the accused
men could have had no part IN the
killings.
He also assorted that the defcnse
would seek TO impeach Testimonies
given by several states wftpesses that
they had seen the defendants with
guns the day of the rioting or had seen
them shooting at some of the victims.
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
CATHOLICS TO FIGHT FILMS
Director OF Bureau Condemns Hays
- for ArbuckIc Action.

Washington, Dec. 22.-The National
Catholic Welfare council. acting on the
decision of its motion picture bureau,
will call upon its affiliated organiza-
tions of Catholic men and women Ito
prevent the showing of ArbuckIe
films Charles A Mcmahon, director
of the bureau, said in a statement to-
day.
Mr.. Mcmahon. who is also MEM
Der of the executive committee on pub
lie relations, organized by VIII H.
Hays, Is president of the National As
sociation of Motion Picture Producers
and Distributors. said the bureau con
demns' Mr.. Hays reinstatement of
oRscoe Arbuckle as a screen star,
adding:
II feel that Mr. Hays has TnisjEdged
the temper of the American people If
he thinks they viii agree with his ac-
ton in the Arbuckle case
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
NICE WEATHER FOR SANTA
Moderate Temperatures May Hold
Over Until After Christmas.

Chicago, Dec. 22.-Moderate tenn
peratures at least until Sunday and
probably for Christmas day, are prom
ised by the local weather bureau in
predictions issued to-day for the cen
tral area Slight precipitations OF
either rain or snow are likely for the
great lakes and northern Rocky noun
tain regions before the end OF the
week. the forecast announced. but
these are expected to clear before
Sunday.
The low temp eraturea recently have
beeu followed almost in every case bY
Tl-r1e rlc5 crate weather. the bureau
ann cEucs-d. the only storm area now
being off the middle Atlantic coast.
where gales are reported from Hat
teras and rains general along the sea-
board.
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22

Baton Rouge, Dec. 22.-Governor
Parker is nAreceipt of a message from
Mer Rouge stating two bodies believed
to be those of Daniels and Richardson
have been found.
Shreveport, La. Dee 22.-rhe
bodies of two men in high state OF
decomposition. believed TO be Daniels
and Richardson. missing victims of the
Morehouse mob of last August. were
found this morning near the Eastland
ferry on Lake La Fourche. which sep
arates Morehouse and Richland Par
ishes. according to the special corre-
spondent of the Shreveport Journal
The limbs of the dead men were tied
with wire. They came TO the surface
as the result of a big charge of dyna-
mite. exploded last night by unidenfi-
fled persons.
Bodies Nearly Nude.
The bodies were nude except for
belts and a portion of the trousers.
one mans hand was gone. 1t is
thought that those who used the eX-
plosive left without knowing the bodies
had come to the surface.
Owing to the condition of the
bodies. it is believed it will be difficult
TO remove them, also that Identified
tion will be difficult unless there are
marks on the belts.
The Journals correspondent ar
route on a trip across the lake. The
ferry boat had broken from its moor
ings and drifted a considerable dis
tance down stream. The bank near
where the boat was accustomed 10
landing was badly torn up. Many
dead fish were on the surface of the
water.
The nearest point where soldiers
were reported stationed is said to be
several miles from the place of the
dynamitfng.
Guard To Be Reinforced.
Monroe La. Dec. 22.-Lieut. Louis
sage from Capt. w. w. Cooper, At
Mer Rouge to mobilize a detachment
of forty men and rush them to More
house parish to reinforce the members
of Company G., Louisiana National
Guard, now on duty there.
The detachment will probably leave
at noon today on motor trucks.
Mer Rouge. Dec. 22.-The national
guard company, rushed to Cooper lake
about O'Clock this lmorning to in
vesttgate the reports of the presence
of men wading in the water that was
being explored for the bodies of two
missing men believed to have been the
victims of hooded men. returned here
shortly after O'Clock this morning.
Captain w. w. Cooper announced
that the men fired on by the guards
after daylight failed to throw further
light on the purpose of their visit to
the body of water
The theory was advanced that the
men were attempting to remove the
bodies of Watt Daniels and Thomas
Richards, and that particular part OF
the lake will be given especial atten-
ton by the explorers today.
Drag Another Lake.
Officers announced tnat dragging
of Cooper lake will be completed this
morning and that work OF dragging
La Fourche lake, near by, win begin
Immediately.
1t was reported here this morning
that the bodies of two missing men
believed to have been victims or
hooded men last August, had been
brought to the surface by fishermen
in La Fourche lake. twelve miles from
here. military detachment in auto
mobiles was Immediately dispatched
to the place.
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
THREE KILLED BY A TRAIN
School Children Struck When Trapped
Between Crossing Gates.

Ada, o., Dec 22.-Trapped between
two railroad crossing gates. three chill
dren were killed when the buggy in
which they were riding was struck and
demolished by a westbound Pennsyl-
vania passenger train here late yester-
day.
The dead are: Catherine, II. and
Emerson, I 6. children of L. T. Hull. a
farmer; and Irma Hedrick, l 4, daugh-
ter of Henry Hedrick, a neighbor of
the Hulls.
The girls were returning home in
the country from the high school here.
Emerson Hull, who was employed in
his fathers saw mill, brought the girls
to school each morning and drove
them home in the evening
The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-22
NOTRE DAME CHURCH BURNS
Fire at Quebec Believed to Have
Bccn of Incendiary Orisin.

Quebec. Dec 22.-The fire. which
destroyed the historic $1,000 600 Notre
Dame church. early today. is believed
TO have been caused by an incendiary,
according to Daniel Loraiu. chief of
the provincial police. who said. he had
received a letter informing him that
the edifice would be burned on De-
cember IS.
First report said it was believed the
blaze was caused by a short circuit in
the electrical wiring.
Notre Dame is the ninth edifice in
Canada to be visited by a serious fire
this year. and the second in this sec
ton