davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27

capitalists, once they got their
hands on ohe dough"
You heard what the Red done
here last week? He wants to make
big stink about the grub here.
So what does he do? He takes
some poison, then eats meal
here, an o. course he loses it and
has to go to the hospital. So he
gets in the papers sayin' the grub
amt fit to cat. There's a Red for
you"
Yeah. What I say is, give this
fella chance"-with a gesture in
the direction of the White House
IAN he'll fix things. He's dom
his best, ant hep"
1T is not their political beliefs
= but their increasing numbers
which worry FERA officials. For
despite two years of the New Deal,
despite definite pickup in pros
perity, the line of men in the
bread-line continues. They are
not derelicts. They are not un-
employable. And yet this Christ
mas the line was longer than last.
There are two definite reasons
for this:
Boys who have served their year
in CCC camps are being sent
home. If conditions at home are
not improved they prefer to stay
away. The life of a transient,
moving from one city to another,
offers the lure of variety and the
chance of finding job.
Also, the standards of care in
transient bureaus are attractively
high.
Sure, they treat you right, here.
Give you sheets on the bed-two
sheets, three meals a day, and
classes in Spanish, if you like that
sort of thing. An the beds amt
lousy either"
1t is not an unconditional hand
out, however. Unless a man can
get on the sick list, he must do
four hours a day in the wood
yard. Still, it is a better life than
he would have at home.
Louisiana is popular with tram
sients, Florida is unpopular. De-
Serters from Florida relief camps
claim they are put in a chain
gang. There are few or no Jews
among tranSients. Southern Rail-
way bulls" have reputation for
relentless efficiency. Pennsylvania
Railroad and B. and o. bulls" are
more lenient
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27

hates black cats and the tales of
superstitions that abound in his
native South Carolina hills are
fresh in his memory.
A man of Silence-when he talks
it's in mellow, Southern drawl-
Purvis Cringes from publicity.
ITO be in the limelight ruins
people" he told group of news
paper men seeking an interview
recently.
GONE of his reticence probably
~ can be attributed to the
stringent code of silence of the
Department of Justice.
The quiet manner in which he
operates was exemplified when, on
Dec. 4, it was revealed that the
widow of Baby Face Nelson had
been his captive since Thanks
giving Day, for SIX days.
Recently the maker of a ma
tionally advertised nerve sedative
offered him large sum for tes-
timonial. He tore up the letter
and tossed it into the waste
basket.
Persons who have heard of Pur-
Wis exploits are surprised when
they walk into his office in
Loop" Office building. He's not
brawny; he doesn't have hands
like hams and he doesn't scowl.
Melvin Horace Purvis is slim
youth of 81 who weighs 127 pounds
and looks distinctly pale. His
hands might be called delicate.
He represents to the highest de-
cree the new type of detective
which the Federal Government has
found so effective since it went
into the crime chasing business in
g big way-a college trained man,
grounded in law and one who de-
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27
Midas Takes a 50 WhirI

T VERIFYING was in a spirit of good fun and
II merriment Even the jockeys were moved by the
mood of the day and tried to give away to each
other. I am who has always believed gambling,
effort to take something away from another person
without making any proper return Gambling sears
the soul and weakens the fiber of conscience and
character.
Of course one horse can run faster than another,
but what of it? The hours which men spend in por
ing ever past performances and cope sheets and the
suggestions of tipsters could be employed protably
in the learning of some useful trade profession.
The luckieSt gambler N all truth is the one who
loseS.-Frequent may in the course OF time
effect cure The constant loser can to point
where it is no longer possible with him to practice
his vice since he is bereft of money But something
of character or independence may still remain with
in his purse.
Mr. Brisbane and I discussed these points at
great length during luncheon until it became time
for me to go to the track. 1 went without great
trepioation for I am of the lucky fellows in the
best or BrisbaniSh sense. practically never win
even though I frequently wager on six or seven
seeing my colors come down in front And so
looked at the program careessy and consulted none
of the expert advisers.
1T isn't whether you win lose" I have fire.
uuently said but how you play the game" 1 was
consoled with the thought that part of my loSings
would go to the state in order to the burden of
Florida tax payers.
Quite at random picked horse to carry my
Yuletide 81 and then turned away quite dsinter
ested in the result. wanted to be able to say when
I got back to New York that had made one bet in
Florida simply to be in accord with the local Gus
toms. To my intense surprise I was informed
liable authority that my horse had won quite easily
Such contingency was entirely unexpected and filled
me with remOTSe.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27

His apartment is cluttered with
books, mostly biographies, and
you won't find a single volume on
crirninology among the let.
Purvis received his law degree
from South Carolina U. in 1925
and hung up his law shingle at
Florence, S. C. But the weary
and meager existence of a young
barrister palled on him and in
1928 he went to Washington.
j. Edgar Hoover, the chief of
the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
ton, gave him a job. He sized
up the young Southerner and
made his decision during the first
interview.
Because the new recruit was a
Southerner he was assigned to
the Texas territory His work
was drab in comparison to the
assignments that were to come his
way a few years later, but he
delivered the goods" promptly
Most of the time he was chasing
automobile thieves.
In 1881 he became head of the
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27

ponds upon brains more than
Drawn.
DUT if the occasion demands
II these new era" detectives can
shoot straight and hard. They've
shown that, with resultant
shortening Of the Public Enemy
list tackled to the wall in every
police station across the nation.
Purvis himself is an expert
marksman. He used to shoot
squirrels as lad around his
home in Timmonsville, S. c. Now
he collects firearms as a hobby,
his prize being an old-time
Texas ranger revolver. He didn't
keep Dillinger's gun. or Pretty
Boy Floyd's. The Department of
Justice has them in Washington.
He was born in Timmonsville
Oct. "a. 1908, and was debater
and football player in high school.
But he dropped both activities
when he entered the University
of South Carolina Law School in
1920 and earned his way working
as a claim adjuSter.
His father owned a tobacco and
cotton plantation and young Mel
win used togo off on long horse
back rides, usually with book in
the saddle bag. He had a strong
affection for horses and dogs and
today, in his small bachelor
apartment on the North Side, is
Traveller" a f1dgety cocker spaniel.
XXTHEN he came north he
w brought two Negroes with
him. One serves as his chauffeur,
the other as his cook and house
keeper.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27
BY EVERETT HOLES
r1r;..s pcs. star corr.snondent

CHICAGO 27-Every time the 22d day of the month
~ chief
here wonders what's going happen.
ominous for this
outlaws the Dger
Charles pretty Floyd George CBaby Nelson
ambushed Diinger
their killing Federal w.
July Diinger
Side
He led of his men into Ohio Oct % when rain of
bullets ended the
% he received his
hdeout Nelson
little machine fight Darlington Ill
killed. but before they fatally
Purvs with of embarrassment admits supersiou
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27

prohibition. Under Purvis we're
about 80 agents. Today he has
nearly so highly trained men.
AS though Purvis' appointment
had been a signal, kidnapers
seized John (Jake the Barber)
Factor and held him for $4,000
ransom.
Purvis staged an almost COM
plete roundup of the Roger Touhy
gang, sending them to prison for
terms ranging from Is to SO years
for the kidnapping of Factor, who
himself was fighting eXtTadition
to England on embezzlement
charges.
He captured Verne Sankey,
Western bad man, in a barber
shop. Sankey later committed
suicide in a South Dakota jail.
He sent several women to jail
for harboring Harvey Bailey and
George machine Gum Kelly in
Chicago.
1t was men like this young
Southerner who led Kellys red
headed wife. Katherine, to make
her now-historic remark:
Cut out the beefing, George.
Nobody gets a break from the
feds nowadays"
THE work of Purvis and the
L men under his command
hasn't been without criticism.
His men have been accused of
refusing to work with the police
and the Government has been
charged with putting guns in the
hands of kids" Some of the
young Federal agents have been
referred to as ribbon clerks"
Purvis, 1t appears, has had a
full share Of tough luck
Three of his ace officers we're
killed by Baby Face Nelson before
the outlaws reign Of terror was
ended.
Three times Dillinger slipped
GIlIOuSu Ills 4lIlS6IS, leaving De-
hind only some sullen gun "molls"
who could, or would, provide little
information of real value.
Whatever Purvis' attitude to-
ward these complaints may be
they haven't been heard. Even
his letters to his father in Tim
monsville never mentioned Dill
linger.
I'VE wouldn't have known Dill
linger was dead if we had to de-
pend on him to find out" the
elder Purvis said.
He never says anything about
his work. except to tell us that he
likes it fine"
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27

Department of Justice Bureau at
Birmingham, Ala, after holding
posts at Cincinnati and Oklahoma
City.
Two years later the Govern
ment began it's investigation of
the debris that once had been
Samuel Insults two-billion dol
lar utility empire. Crack federal
men were concentrated in Chi
cago from all parts of the coun-
try, among them Melvin Puryis.
He worked in the background on
the involved matter at hand.
His big chance came on Nov.
%, 1933-another ominous OPP
when his immediate superior
William A. McSwain, resigned to
enter the private law practice.
Hoover promptly elevated Purvis
to the job.
1t was a hot spot" for a young
man of 30.
Uncle Sam had declared a "war
to the finish" on gangsters, par
ticularly those who had turned to
kidnapping after the demise of
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27

another name many seasons before. And so would
like to describe quite briefly the first day in Florida
of Haywood Midas Broun who already has been
nieknamed Lucky Broun" by the inhabitants OF
Miami.
Many forces seemed to cooperate to make the
New Workers. arrival seem suspicious. Up rose the
sun and so did Arthur Brisbane. Mr.. Brisbane
headed a small committee of prominent townsmen
to greet the columnist at the station and to con-
duct him to a comfortable hotel. To me it was
strange sort of Christmas for I hung my stocking
not up any mantle but just under the 50 cashier
window in the mutuel of the Tropical Park
race cnllrSe
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27


This might have been any line
of men waiting for a holiday din
ner at any city's transient bureau,
except for one thing. Behind the
man, brilliantly lighted by search
lights, doomed the dome of the
Capitol of the United States.
Almost in its shadow an odd as
sortment of men filed by-some
well-dressed enough to take holi-
day dinner in Washingtons best
hotels, some unshaven and dirty.
But the typical unkempt, shuffling
bum-he of the artists magazine
cover-was not there. Relief has
eliminated him.
"All right, buddy, watch your
step now"
They shove their new comrade
past the inspector. The, rest is
easy. First, a hand extended with
four slices of bread. Then plate
and a cup, then a succession of
three singers" who dexterously
deposit upon his plate holiday
dinner.
Daily the load" at the Wash
ington transient bureau is increas-
ing. Each day during the last
week, nearly two hundred men
have signed in. The bureau faces
the possibility of an acute over
population.
The movement into Washington
is not simply seasonal south
erly migration. Many come from
Florida, the Carolinas, Virginia.
Phil and Archie settle them
selves at table with their new
friend.
Thanks for gettin' me in" he
says.
Don't mention it. Gee-when
did you wash last?"
Me? Two days ago. I just
come in from Florida on a reefie."
The ice Compartment of "re-
frigerator" car has housed this
man for two days and a night.
Avoiding the bean cars, he picked
an orange car, knowing it would
not be iced.
NTASHINGTON has drawn
w him, as it has drawn many
others, because it is the seat of
benefactions, the soutce of
largess. Unconsciously all men
who are outside looking in" look
upon the capital as the Mecca of
the supreme hand-out.
One reason for the recent in
fiux of migrants is that Congress
is about to convene. Word has
been passed around that bonus
march, set for Jan. 10, will bring
not only the bonus for veterans,
but also social insurance legisla-
ton.
Transient bureau and FERA
authorities ascribe the organiza-
ton of this march to Communists.
They are frankly worried about it,
are taking steps to head it off.
Veterans are being shipped out
of town by the trainload to camps
in Florida and New Mexico. Nom
veteran transients are being urged
to go to FERA camps, such as FIT.
Eustis in Virginia. Keep Warm
With Uncle Sam" is a slogan.
They are offered food, shelter, vo-
cational training, and a cash al
lowance of from 81 to So weekly.
Communist feeling among the
men, however, is isolated and
sporadic. Two men who have fin
ished their dinner, yield their
places to others, and join a group
at the stove near the door. The
talk is of Communism.
Don't believe it, buddy. The
Reds would sell out just like the
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27
DuqOut Thinking Is Bad

VET the Babe not only prefers but insists upon a
"A further career in the major leagues and bv
ms demeanor in the present controversy threatens
to become wronged hero or great American old
glove Realizing that. active campaigner he
is now one with Jack Dempsey and the Rev William
A Sunday he would turn to executive duties relieved
on Sundays and other gala business occasions, by a
trip to bat as pinch-htter, amid cheers
However, the baseball stockholders realize from
past experience that the cerebraton of an executive
IN the dugout, or even in the coaching box is not
successful spectacle. The mere sight of any man.
including even the Babe, bordering whether to leave
pitcher IN or take him out is not the stuff that
oVatlons and receipts are made Of
And the pinch-hitter, of course is no more infal-
hole than the baby who can tell the company what
the doggie says but not always be relied on
There are crises when inspiration fails the baby
and the company goes home convinced that the
child is as dumb as his parents. There are other
crises when the pnch-hitter stands up there and
takes three without lifting his bat off his shoulder
The patrons hardly can be expected to turn out in
payloads, reckoned Babe Ruths notion of a
living wage, to watch pinch-hitter take three with
MS stick on his shoulder. His hitting average and
mis- home-run production have fallen off sharply so
he will be taking his three more and more often
and, anyway. as a pinch-hitter he would not even
get up there and take them more than two or
three times a week.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27
EIEnouNh
BY
.ESIBRO0k PEGLER

ME desire to preserve Babe Ruth as a sort of
Il national treasure, comparable to George Wash
lngton's false teeth which kept under glass at
Mount Vernon, is assuming the proportions of a
movement. Great is the embarrassment of the
baseball industry this account because the base
ball business is no better off, by and large, than
many other ailing lines of commerce.
Yet the Save-Babe-Ruth campaign insists that
he be preserved in the opulent style to which he
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27

call for an outlay of from $4,000
to $4,000 a year at a time of his
life when he is no longer able to
produce home runs and, thus, GUS
toners and revenue on the scale
which formerly justified the pay
which accustomed him to that opu-
lence which is bespoken for his
future.
At the present writing, after a
career full of honors, earnings and
experience, Mr.. Ruth is touring the
Orient in stylish fashion, knocking
baSeballs into the foliage bordering
tropic ball yards and acting hurt
about it all His fees for this service
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27

on paper.
Life is a copy cat and on num-
erous occasions has followed the tips
and hints of gifted authors, painters
and sculptors. Whether nature pays
the same close attention to mere
columnists is dubious, but what's the
harm in trying?
Shakespeare wrote of Hamlet and
in later centuries Hamlets popped
up everywhere. Dickens peopled the
world with characters who stepped
directly from the pages of his novels.
Not many months ago I advanced
the theory that there might never
have been a Dizzy Dean if Ring
T,ardner had not invented him under
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27

A world upturn is clearly ind
the task.
Stupendous issues are in the
balance, returning prosperity or
want, peace or war, new balances
of power or perilous upSets, the
fate of republics and monarchies,
the future of economic and politi-
cal systems, trade revival or
chronic stagnation.
Here are some of the problems
and possibilities of 1885:
In Europe, the nations are try
ing to work out a new peace for
mula, based on a series of non
aggression pacts. If they succeed,
peace will seem assured, perhaps
for a decade. If not, it will be
too bad.
In Asia, 800000,000 yellow and
brown men are at a cross roads;
1885 may tell which way they
will go.
On Jan. 10 comes the Saar pie
biscite. The peace of Europe de-
p6IQS upon us outcome.
Much good or much i'll depends
upon whether 1885 brings the
world a new arms limitation
agreement, on land, sea and in
the air.
Japans withdrawal from the
League of Nations becomes eff
fective in 1885. So does Ger
many's. Japan's mandate over
Germany's former Pacific islands
may then bring a crisis, as Japan
intends to hold on to them.
4
4 REORGANIZATION of Ameri-
IA can foreign policy will take
shape in 1885. A new doctrine of
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27

VIII amoUnU 70 something quite appreciabe. He drew
an astonishing volume Of business in Japan and in
such professional forays, he usually receives a piece
OF every cash customer. The tour suggests that he
might do very we'll as independent relic in further
Journeys about this and other countries where his
lame has ventured on before and thus relieve the
organized baseball business of burden which it is
loath to assume yet hesitsnt to refuse in so many
words.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27
ORCHARD SCHOOL HEAD
TELLS OF BOYS TRIP
Ninth Annual Prairie Trek Is De-
scribed in Book.


Hills l.. HOWE, principal of the
Orchard School, today issued a
booklet report of the ninth annual
Prairie Trek Expedition for Boys,
of which he is director.
The trek was made last summer
to Cottonwood Gulch, Thoreau, N.
M, and the report consists of re-
ports to an Indianapolis newspaper
from members OF the party, edited
by Mr.. HOWE.
The report was made to the
Board of Trustees of the Children's
Museum of Indianapolis and in
cluded the fact that SO boys had
made the trip,
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27
DAILY WASHINGTON
MERRY
BIZ Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen

XXTASHNGTON, Dec. 2"Dont you have ticket buddyp
w They'll prob1y chuck of here There's
the line gotta show him ticket
Stick wit Phil, when
like thisan rustic
sontta have holiday dinnern
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27
HGsms @M
by
Haywood BROUN

CORAL GABLES, Fla, Dec. 27.-This particular
~ date line put in just for the sake of local color
I am in Coral Gables, but wrote the column in
New York City before left town. 1t was more con-
venient and it gave me an opportunity to try my
hand at prophecy. And prophecy isn't quite the
word want either. I am referring rather to the
fact that certain writer's have been able to make
things come to pass simply by setting them down
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27
WORK DIRECTOR NAMED

City Man Appointed to State Post
in Allen County.
Raymond A. Ballweg, Indian
apolis, was appointed Allen County
work director sof the Governors
Commission on Unemployment Re-
lief, Director Wayne Coy announced
today. The appointment will be
effective Jan. l. He succeeds Joseph
Perrine.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27

neutrality, freedom of the seas
and closer cooperation with the
league will be weighed. Also a
new move to enter the World
Court.
Congress will be asked to con-
slider the digging of a Nicaraguan
canal.
A new European war debts pro-
posal is under study.
Settlement of Soviet Russia's
debt to the United States is likely,
and a trade agreement whereby a
hundred million dollars worth of
American goods or more may be
sold to that country.
The European gold bloc" may
be forced off gold, as the
economic position of France, Bel
GUM, Italy and others becomes
worse.
On the other hand if this can
be avoided, and commodity prices
take a favorable turn, world cur
rency sterilization is a possibility.
Relations between France and
Germany and France and Italy
are in the balance; 1885 should
settle which way the balance will
turn. Here, again, as in the Saar,
the peace of the world is involved.
The fate of Austria hangs in a
thread. Germany still seeks union.
France, italy and others oppose.
Another Fascist coup at Vienna
threatens to bring on new crisis.
Hungary and YugoSlavia may
further add to poor old Europe's
filters, and Belgrade and Rome
continue to glare menacingly at
each other as Paris backs Bel
grade and Rome backs Budapest.
If France and italy can strike
a bargain, 1885 should see the
fulfilment of murdered Barthou's
dream of new European peace
built around an eastern Locarno,
the present Locarno pacts of 1925
and a new understanding on the
Danube.
IF Germany will enter this peace
l. scheme, so much the better. If
she refuses, she will be surround
ed by nations that will. But the
Franco-Ttalian accord must first
come off.
Austria, or Austria and Hun
gary, may gain a Hapsburg king.
Spain may turn Fascist or be-
come a monarchy again.
Cuba, lettering on the brink of
another revolution, may come out
of her slump if she can stave off
the revolt. Otherwise her situa-
ton will be grave.
Mexico may have trouble as a
result of the clash between church
and state.
The war in the Chaco will likely
end. In the five years since it
began most of the available man
power of both Bolivia and Para
quay has been used up.
Nationalist China and Chinese
Communists are at grips. Japan
is watching. She may take
hand. She may move south of
the Great Wall during 1885, pre-
cipitating another crisis.
Soviet-Japanese relations con-
tinue strained.
Britain faces trouble in more
than-ever seething India.
Great Britain may have another
Labor government in 1885. If not,
British Tories, now in power, may
work toward an understanding
with Nippon, open or secret, to
head off growing menaces, both
economic and political, in the far
East.
The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-27
COVER THE WORLD
By William Philip Simms

WASHINGTON Dec 27-Seldom year dawned
w world with promise than that
which
world upturn clearly indicated diplomacy equal