davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14
SIGHTLESS MAN GRANTED
MERCY BY BLIND JUSTICE

Beneath the likeness of the blind
goddess of justice in federal court
today, stood another who could not
see, pleading for her protection
against alleged persecution by po-
lice,
Charged with liquor violations,
Elmer Gentry, blind farmer living
near Muncie, waived trial by Jury
and acted as his own attorney to
win freedom from Judge Robert G.
Baltzell.
Gentry was dismissed by George
r. Jeffrey, United States attorney,
after the judge condemned police
tactics that led to Gentrys arrest
last summer.
Herschel Rhodes, who said he was
a special policeman working out of
the Delaware county prosecutors
Office last summer, related that he
bought a gallon of alcohol from
Gentry June 6, and returned at
night and purchased pint of
whisky.
LaCer, Muncle ponce cOnIlScaIed
240 gallons Of sugar alcohol on
Gentry's farm, and he served sixty
days for the violation.
Still later they found l19 gallons
of alcohol there, and he appealed his
conviction and 500 fine to Delaware
circuit court, from which it was
brought to federal court.
Gentry cross-eXamined Rhodes.
When you CAME back that night,
didn't you have women and liquor
in your carr"
Rhodes admitted that.
And going back to town, didn't
you turn your car over?" Gentry
asked the witness.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14
KY SAYS IRWIN COBB, AND IT'S A DERBY-NoT A DARBYv

Granny, if could do that, I'd
have to have a larynx Of spun sill
yer and the tongue of an anointed
angel. But if you can imagine
track that's like a bracelet of
molten gold encircling a green's
ward that's like a patch Of emer-
aid velvet-all the pretty girls in
the state turning the grand stand
into a brocaded terrace of beauty
and color such as the hanging
gardens of Babylon never equaled
all the assembled sportsmen Of
the nation going crazy at once in
the paddock-the entire colored
population Of Louisville and en-
virons with one voice begging
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14

BY NORMAN E. ISAACS
CURE, I'm fatalist," says Joe
- Russo. I'm a confirmed one.
I'm not superstitlous and five and
thirteen are all the same to me-"
Russo, an enJrant in the 500
mile Indianapolis Speedway race
May 30, amazed railbirds and
racing men at the Speedway
Wednesday by calmly blindfolding
himself and dropping a hood over
his llead-and then circling the
giant Speedway oval at speed Of
Seventy-five miles an hour.
There's no trick to it" says Joe.
Gust sense and feel. In other
words, just perfectly developed
equilibrium"
Up came Steve flanagan,
Speedway publicity director, and
Pathe sound movie truck. Leon
Duray, holder of the indianapolis
track record, Strolled up to help.
Leon deity tied a black pad
over RuSso's eyes and then knot
ted white cloth blindfold over
that. Over those went the black
hooded mask.
Il I'M" said Leon, I'm sure glad
~ I didn't get this get-up on
when I broke the track records"
How fast was that?" asked
Joe.
"Oh, pretty nearly 125 miles an
hour" answered Leon. We'll, I'll
be seeing you-maybe."
well, that's not bad" said
Steve to the camera men.
Not bad? Where do you get
that stuff. We're good!" ballowed
DuraX as the masked Russo
moved down the track, the motor
of his trim race car roaring.
Back in the pits once more,
Russo leaned up against his car.
II
I've been transforming around
a the country for twelve years,
he says. Il used to run a flying
circus and I suppose I learned
part of that equilibrium when I
was wing walking.
Eyes, I've been in air crashes.
Three of 'em, in fact. I never was
hurt very badly, but I have been
hurt in auto smackups.
1.-TWO years ago they left me in
Atlanta, Ga, to die. I was racing
on a mile track and was running
second. We only had about one
more lap to go when the left rear
wheel of my car came off as the
hub cap split. The tire stood still
momentariIy and then hurtled
down the track and crashed into
me, crushing my back.
Say, I've still the tire marks
on my back"
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14
BROOKS WILL
FRAUD CHARGE
IS BOLSTERED
Evidence Is introduced by
Authority on Disputed
Documents.
S250,000 is AT STAKE
1880 Request List Written
on Two TypeWriterS,
Professor TeStifieS.

Evidence seeking to show the will
Of Bartholomew D. Brooks is a
fraud, was introduced in probate
court today by one Of the nation S
leading experts on legal documents
who appeared as witness for two
Indianapolis charity organizations
seeking 100000 from the Brooks es-
tate.
Jay F. Wood, Northwestern uni
versity professor and authority on
disputed documents, testified this
morning that 1880 will, signed
shortly before Brooks death, June
l, 1880, was drawn fraudulently.
Charity organizations, the In
dianapolis Home Tor Aged Women
and the Indianapolis chapter, Amer
lean Red Cross, are seeking to set
aside the 1880 will in favor Of an
other, signed by Brookns June %,
1920, which left the charity groups
100000 from the estate valued at
approximately $250,000.
Written at Different Times
Attorneys for the plaintiffs in
troduced as evidence in the case to-
day photostatic copies of wills, six
teen times their original size.
Wood testified the 1880 will was
written on two typewriters at diff
ferent times, while the defense con-
tends only one was used.
BY use of chemicals, Wood stated
he could prove that the will was
written at two different times.
Woods testimony is expected to
be the charity groups ace. His
authority on documents was re-
quested in the trial of Loeb and
Leopold, kidnap slayers few years
ago.
100 Witnesses to Testify
More than hundred witnesses
are to testify in the trial, it is said.
An attempt also is being made by
the plaintiffs to prove that Brooks
was of unsound mind when he
signed the 1880 will, leaving prac-
tically all the estate to a former
employe, Robert A. Hackney, $3.50
North Capitol avenue.
Several cousins and a half sis
ter, who received requests in both
wills, are siding with the charity
groups in the attempt to defeat the
1890 will.
Two former probate judges, Frank
Ross and Mahlon E. Bash, are pit
ted against each other in the jury
trial, which is expected to last two
more weeks in probate court.
Judge Smiley N. Chambers is
hearing the case.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14
Detailed Account Leading to
braves Girls Death Is
Given Jury.
By United Press

~ UHifcd Press
VALPARAISO. Ind, May IA
Continuing its detailed account of
events following the gin party death
OF Arlene braves, 18, in Gary last
autumn, the state planned. today to
summon expert medical witnesses to
substantiate charges that the girl
died from attacks by Virgil Kirk
land, 20.
DR.. James c. Burcham. Gary
coroner'S physician who conducted
the autopsy upon Miss Braves body
and announced that she died of "the
shock of repeated attacks and two
hemorrhages," was called to repeat
the testimony given at a previous
trial which resulted in life sem
tence for Kirkland.
Wednesday, prosecutors began the
parade of witnesses whose testimony
they hoped would convince the jury
that the smartly dressed former high
school athlete was guilty.
Two Gary policemen, George Regal
and Edwin Minner, who had not
testified at the first trial, said they
heard kirkland confess, after his
arrest, to attacking Miss braves at
the home of David Thompson,
where the party was held, and again
in an automobile.
Three, or four other new witnesses
will be summoned by the state, &C
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14
HIGHWAY CHIEFS RENEW
SECRET LAKE MEETINGS

The "Murden Cottage" at Lake
Manitou is open for another season
of closed sessions of the Indiana
highway commission, it became
known today as the veil of secrecy
was lifted from the locale of COM
missions mysterious meeting of
Wednesday.
we were out inspecting roads
and making plans and held an exc
cutive meeting of the commission
at the Murden cottage" divulged
Director John j. Brown today. mo
action was taken of public interest"
Department heads, left behind in
highway Offices Wednesday, and
processing not to know where the
commission was meeting, were I'M
der injunction to make that reply
to newspaper men, it was learned.
A report similar to that made by
Brown today was made when the
commission met secretly at the cot
tage of Commissioner Jess Murden
at Lake Manitou last spring.
A senate investigation disclosed
that the meeting was of great public
interest in that highway funds were
switched around so that the state
failed to collect thousands of dol
lars in federal aid. The money
piled up at Washington while
drought stricken farmers and unem-
ployed of the state were crying for
relief through jobs.
Complete secrecy surrounded the
Wednesday meeting Brown and
every department head was gone
and employees left in charge denied
knowing where they went.
Brown, today defended this con-
duct of public affairs.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14

Grantland Rice first interviewed
Cobb on the general subject of
horse racing, and promptly was
taken to task for referring to
the Kentucky event as darby"
What business has a country
boy from Tennessee got calling
the Derby a darby? inquired
Cobb. You might possibly get
away with that darby stuff if
you had spats and monocle and
an oxford accent and set of
those large, limpid British ade-
noids such as only true Britons
have. But you-wlly, you are as
southern as chicken gravy on a
presiding eld&s vest"
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14
Wins Decision!
Fighter Hahn Tells Judge
Alleged Booze Just
Cough Syrup
Id AZ HAHN. %. ex-prize fight-

ID AY HAHN, 20, expire fight
IN er. known as "the butcher
boy" had been taking strong
cherry cough syrup and aspirin"
May 3 when he crashed head-on
with another automobile at Thir-
ty-third street and Capitol ave-
nue., he told Municipal Judge
William H. Sheaffer today.
He was charged with drunken
ness, operating a vehicle while
drunk and reckless driving, but
Judgment was withheld by
Sheaffer after he decided to give
Hahn benefit of the doubt"
In the collision Hahn struck an
auto driven by Isidore Sector.
4O4 East TWenty-fourth street.
damaging the auto to the extent
OF S452 and injuring Mrs. Sector.
Hahn said that in addition to
the syrup and aspirin he had been
suffering from an eye infection
that made bad my judge of dis
lance He also stated that when
the accident occurred he was
lowering the window for his dog
so the dog could put his head
out the way he likes to do
Sector said he had, stopped his
car when he saw Hahns auto
coming toward him, but this failed
to avert the collision.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14

some entry to come on and win
and just yonder in the yellow dust
the gallant kings and noble
queens Of the equine kingdom, the
princesses royal and the heirs ap-
parent fighting it out-each a
symphony of satin coat and slim
legs and painting nostrils-each a
vision of courage and heart and
speed-each topped as though
with some bobby gay blossom by a
silken-clad May-time jockey-but
what's the useo
Until you go to Kentucky and
with your own eyes behold the
Derby you amt never been no.
where and you amt never seen
nothing"
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14
TWO EVADE PRISON IN
DRUNK DRIVING TRIALS

Two persons, charged with oper-
ating motor vehicles while drunk,
escaped Jail sentences today in mu-
nicipal court and were given the
opportunity to pay fines on the in
stallment plan while on probation.
His third appearance in city courts
in the last few weeks brought fines
of $40 on drunkenness and 500 on
operating an auto while drunk to
Charles Chg Shiner) Middaugh, 51S
Parker avenue, professional bonds
man.
Middaugh denied he was drunk
the night of May when he is al
legged to have chased persons from
his house and driven his car while
police searched for him.
Thirty day sentence was suspend
ed. Ralph Span, special Judge,
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14

XXTHAT do you think Of the
w Whitneys and other north
erners coming to Kentucky with
so many derby winners?o Cobb
was asked.
Pardon me-these foreigners
never come to Kentucky with
derby winners, he replied. They
come to Kentucky to get the stork
to win the derbies with. And re-
member this-when these wor-
shipful giants Of the turf. such as
Man-o'-War and Norwich, quit
running races, do they settle
down on Park avenue for the
winter or spend their summers at
Newport q
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14

placed Middaugh on probation for
six months, and said he will not be
able to obtain drivers license for
year.
Mrs. Thelma Dilcon, %, of 3434
North keystone avenue, swooned
when Judge William H. Sheaffer
said she was sentenced thirty days
in jail and fined SO each on charges
of drunkenness and operating an
automobile while drunk.
However, when she was revived,
she learned Sheaffer had added
suspended" to the Jail sentence
and then placed her on probation
for sixty days.
officers testified they found Mrs.
Dilcon in her automobile that had
crashed in ditch May 1 on Key
stone avenue at Twenty-ninth
street.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14
WAGE CUTTING TO FORCE
LABOR TO OPEN Up LID ON
STRIKES, FEDERATION SAYS
Demands Drastic Action at Once to Halt Pay
Slicing; Walkouts Already Have
Started Over Country
No Slash in Scale, Contractors Agree; Tied
Up Since May |; Employers Letter
Puts Responsibility on Craftsmen.

The American Federation of
Labor today started a definite move
against reduction OF wages, threat
ening strikes if reductions are not
abandoned. Meanwhile, several COM
panies announced cuts we're neces-
sary.
The Goodrich Tire and Rubber
Company has effected a 10 per cent
wage reduction in the past two
months and the Goodyear Rubber
Company has had reductions over
a similar period ranging from 5 to
10 per cent. These companies were
pointed to by the A. F. of l.. which
argued that reduced wages only
would curtail buying power and de-
lay prosperity.
Strikes Are Started
At Mansfield, O.. 1,6C0 employees
of the Empire Steel Corporation
are on strike after a per cent
wage reduction. The company oper-
ates on open shop" and the work
ers are now demanding a unionized
plant and asking affiliation with the
Analgamated Association of Iron,
Sheet and Tin Workers OF America.
They refused to accept a suspen-
sion Of the per cent reduction.
Street railway employees in ST.
Louis have voted to strike Tuesday
If the company maintaine its policy
of a 10 per cent wage reduction. The
company proposed to pay the en-
ployes 80 per cent of their salary
and add the 10 per cent later, if
profits warrant.
Demand Drastic Action
Meanwhile, the Montreal Can
ada Star, in front page editorial
today, announced it would dismiss
no employe without cause and
added one employee would be added
to each department. The newspaper
suggested other prosperous business
concerns adopt a like policy to fos-
ter greater buying power.
A demand for drastic considera-
ton and drastic action to halt the
wage-cutting policy urged by GER
tain banking interests and certain
employers" was made Wednesday
night by the executive council of
the American Federation of Labor.
1t intimated that unless such ac-
ton is taken, labor will not feel
bound to use its influence further
against strikes.
Violating Agreement
This appeal, with pointed advice
to workers to resist to the fullest
extent any and all attempts to re-
duce wages and lower American liv-
ing standards" was inspired by re-
ported announcement of "substan-
tial reductions in wages" by the
Goodyear and Goodrich automobile
tire companies.
Such reductions, the council
charged, are in direct violation of
the explicit pledge made following
the market crash by industrialists
to President Herbert Hoover.
At that time, representatives of
the employer class promised not to
cut wage scales during the depres-
sion.
Since then there have been nu-
merous reductions, particularly in
recent months.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14

BIZ United Press
NEW, YORK, May 1.-THE
IN glories of the Kentucky
Derby. one of Americas great
traditions, will be sung in thou
sands of words the next three
days-but for sheer prose poetry
irwin S. Cobb has set the pace
with a single paragraph.
The famous humorist and story
teller Of Paducah, born and
raised in the blue grass country,
stepped TO the microphone We'd
nesday night and, in some $50
words, produced a description of
the Churchill Downs classic thar
is likely to survive for many derb-
les tr CONS.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14
States CARE
FOR JUVENILE
CASES FLAYED
Indiana Methods Are Low
Compared With Others,
Charges Experts.
'PITIFUL,' HE ASSERTS
Great Criticism Hurled at
Facilities of Dependent
Children Here.

Charges that facilities and
methods for handling juvenile court
cases IN Indiana are the lowest of
any OF the states were made today
by G. G. Carstens Of New York, ex-
ecutiye director of the National
Child Welfare League at conclu-
sion Of visit in the Marion county
court.
The 'pitiful" way in which cases
are tried in juvenile courts was
described by Kartsen to Judge John
F. Geckler, Of the Marion juvenile
court and court employees at closed
meeting Wednesday afternoon.
Greatest criticism was directed at
the method of caring for dependent
children in the state and especially
IN Marion county.
Far Under Other States
In commenting upon the charges
today, Judge Geckler admitted that
as far as offering aid for mothers
with dependent children is con-
cerned, Indiana is far below other
states"
Geckler stated that need for a
new detention home to house
properly delinquent and dependent
children while awaiting disposal by
the court, is the most serious prob
lem in Marion county.
Report from the state board of
charities today revealed that group
has refused to license the Marion
county home since 1929 because of
its unsatisfactory condition.
GeckIer Defends Work
Charge that Indiana is not plac-
ing enough distinction between
neglected and delinquent children
in it's courts was made by Karsten.
Geckler defended the way juvenile
cases are handled, after Kartsen
flayed the method as executed in
this county.
Homes should be found for de-
pendent children instead Of bringing
them into court" Kartsen stated.
we are handling juvenile cases
as we'll here as any place and are
trying to keep broken families to-
gether" Geckler said in defending
his court,
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14

They do not. They come back
home to the blue grass, to the
folks who really love them and
appreciate 'em, and we make holy
strines of their stables while they
live and pious pilgrimages to their
graves after they're dead. Why,
we've got more tombstones erected
to horsemen than we have to
statesmen. But then, Henry Clays
have been running very few these
last few years?"
r.
FINALLY Rice asked his subject
Il for a word-picture of the
Kentucky Derby. and Cobb re-
plisd'
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14
BANKS FAILURE
HITS TAXPAYERS
Meyer kiSer Checks Held
by Treasurer in MIDDLE.

Hundreds of persons who thought
they had paid their taxes are dis
covering that. they still owe them,
c. 0. Harris, deputy county treas
urer revealed today.
They are depositors in the Meyer
hlser bank, which was closed by or
der of directors Tuesday. Final check
up Wednesday night showed $48, 900
in checks on that bank had been
returned. Harris said.
Answering charges of many whose
checks were returned that the treas
urer's office was slow in putting
the checks through, Harris said
that with sixty thousand pieces of
mail in that office it was impos
sible to handle it swiftly.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14
HATE FOR JAZZ MUSIC
COSTS GAMBLER LIFE

Brooklyn Figure Slain; Alleged
Stabber Said to Have Confessed.
By United Press
BROOKLYN, N. Y, May IA
distaste for jazz music was believed
today to have cost Morris Monk
Reich, Brooklyn gambler. his life.
He walked into the Lorimer ath-
letic club in Brooklyn, and remon-
strated with Benjamin BrownStein,
80. an electrician, because jazz
strains were coming in over the
radio, and demanded that it be
turned Off.
When BrownStein refused, Reich
was said to have punched him in
the jaw.
Later, his body was found outside
the club with stab wounds in the
left side and back
BrownStein, arrested, admitted
stabbing Reich to death. police
said
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14

Two weeks interruption of con-
struction work on several million
dollars worth of building projects
in Marion county ended today
with the patching up of wage dis
agreements between employers and
craftsmen.
Finding the various building
crafts adamant in their refusal to
accept a 20 per cent wage cut, OF
submit the proposition to arbitra-
ton, the Associated Construction
Employers, through their secretary,
j. Emmett Hall, today officially
notified all the crafts that work
would be resumed at a wage scale
fixed by the unions.
This is assumed by the crafts to
mean the 1880 scale, it was indicated
by c. E. Hammond, president OF the
executive committee of the Marion
County Building Trades Counsel.
Construction work here became
tied up on May /, when the employ
ers' association issued a statement
that. effective that day, it would in
sist upon a 20 per cent reduction in
the wages of all construction crafts
men.
Unions Balk at Cut
Local unions of carpenters, paint
ers, plumbers, cement flnishers, and
allied crafts refused to accede to the
wage cut demand.
Last week the association pro-
posed that the controversy be sub
mitted to arbitration. The unions
again refused to participate.
They pointed out that in the past
all wage agreements were entered
into at conferences between the en-
ployers or master craftsmen and
the workers, and that the Associated
Construction Employers were usurp-
ing a power denied them.
Employers Stand Given
The employers position was re-
counted by Hall today in the follow
ing statement, addressed to Harry
B. Dynes, indianapolis representa-
tive of the United States depart
ment of labor;
81. That the wages should be re-
duced 20 per cent or more for rea-
sons previously stated.
q. That we will not agree to or
be parties to negotiations that must
result in a reduction of less than 20
per cent. We already have stated
our unwillingness to assume the re-
sponsibility for wages that are ex-
cessive.
20. That since the unions will not
reduce the wages and will not arbi-
trate, we prefer that the labor
unions fix their own scales of wages
and assume the full responsibility
for the same or get the full credit
of the wages if reduced.
Resume Work at Once
q. That because of the unem-
ployment situation existing and the
hardships being worked on so many
men not a party to this wage ques-
ton. we shall resume work at once.
1--WE believe that any negotiations
had with the unions would result in
no benefit, but only in further de-
lay.
I'VE recognize in you a repre-
sentative of the public, and we trust
that you will use your best judg-
ment and influence with the va
rious labor unions to induce them
to take a course that will benefit
the industry in which they are as
much interested as we, and to deal
fairly with the public, since the full
responsibility is theirs"
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14
yes" Rhodes said.

Yes, Rhodes said.
L am not going to sit here and
hear that kind Of evidence from a
police officer of that type" Judge
Baltzell broke in. You can't send
officers out with liquor in their cars,
drinking. That's no way to enforce
law"
jeffrey moved to dismiss the case
and was upheld.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-14
Traffic Rules

Summary of the new traffic
ordinance amendment which
will become effective Friday,
will be found on Page 4 of The
Times today. Strict enforce
ment of the ordinance prob
ably will be started June 1,
allowing two weeks for the
public to become familiar with
its provisions.