The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, March 16, 1931, Page 1

oS: ‘vl “North. Dakota’s Oldest Newspaper ESTABLISHED 1878 THE BISMARCK TRIBUNE BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA, MONDAY, MARCH 16, 1981 The Weather ionday night and Tuesday. oa idea sates tn eamnparwtins PRICE FIVE CENTS Veto Axe Kills Three Measures $25,000 Extorted from Wahpeton Banker 23-YEAR-OLD MAN PACES KIDNAPING, EXTORTION COUNTS Warrant Charges Gordon Bjorn- son With Mulcting Large Sum From 0. A. Leach BEGIN SEARCH FOR ACCUSED Event of Last May 29 Was Bared When Records of Bank Were Examined Wahpeton, N. D., March 16.—(7)— The sudden affluence of a 23-year- old youth spurred police in their search Monday for Gordon Bjornson, sought on a warrant charging kid- naping and extortion of $25,000 from ©. A. Leach, Wahpeton, banker. teehee claim the man sjngle- handed extorted $25,000 from O. A. Leach, president of the Citizens Na- tional bank, Wahpeton, last May 21 after threatening the life of Mrs. Leach. Discovery of the payment is said to have ben. Sar in an merge fied the bank's following Sense May 29 wien bandits obtained 700. Detectives began an investigation and for the last 10 mionths have sought the alleged extortionist. A week ago a chunk of coal was tossed through a bathroom window at the Leach home. Tied to it was a note, printed in a large hand, and unsigned, which read: Threatened with Death “Stop investigation if you value $25,000 or the lives of you and your wife. Go ahead or call off at once.” On the evening of May 20, 1930, Mr. and Mrs. Leach had just put their automobile in their garage when @ masked: man, armed with a gun, ordered them back into the car. The gunman then entered the ma- rane and ordered a eee to drive the. outskirts of the city... When, they stopped: there, the man de- mandd that Mr. Leach pay him $45,000, detectives were told, or Mrs. Leach would be held captive. The banker, saying he feared cap- tivity would be fatal to Mrs. Leach, who had been ill, offered $25,000. The kidnaper acquiesced and was reported to have said: “We've been following you. If you don't pay, we are going to take your wife captive.” The next day Leach drove to Min- neapolis end obtained $25,000 in $20 bills. Following instructions of the assailant, Leach on the night of May 21 drove toward Fargo. Meeting a (Continued on page seven) PIONEER MENOKEN WOMAN SUCCUMBS Mrs. William McCormick, 72, Had Been Resident of Bur- leigh 51 Years Mrs. William McCormick, 72, a res- ident of Bureligh county since 1880, died at her farm north of Menoken umonia, was the cause of death. Born in Boston, Mass., as Mrs. McCormick moved to Wing, Minn, with her parents when seven. She spent her childhood in that city and received her early education there. Four years after her mar- riage in 1876 at Sauk Center, wisn. she moved with her husband to the farm north of Menoken where she had lived continuously until the time of her death. Her husband, William McCormick, died in 1914. Mrs, McCormick leaves 10 children, 14 grandchildren, three brothers and two sisters. The children, all of whom live in Burleigh county, are William K. Mc- Cormick and Anna McCormick Fal- coner, Bismarck; James E., John, Joseph P., Charles F., Daniel P., Paul | 0 FM Evelyn, and Mary ‘McCormick Brooks, Menoken. Her sisters are Mrs, Theresa Grimes, Little Fails, Minn., and Mrs. Elizabeth ¥E. Heath, Minneapolis; her brothers are James Johnston, Orville, Wash.; John H. Johnston, Hillyard, Wash.; and Ambrose Johnston, White Bear Lake, Minn. Funeral services wili be conducted at 10 a, m. Tuesday from St. Mary's church, Bismarck, Rev. Father John Slag, officiat: Be Si fal will te made in St. Mary's po here. Study Telegram in ‘John Sm Smith’ Probe Denison, Towa, , March 16.—(®)}—AU-| in thorities Monday continued to trace the activities of John Smith, Perry Insectitude manufacturer, prior to his disappearance in an effort to solve’ the identity of a corpse Smith. am, presumabl ‘at by sh m presumably sent Goo he day before on a tele- Governor Julius Meier, of Oregon above, is one of the prominent pro- gressives invited to ‘Senator Norris’ bi-partisan political conference in Washington to consider a program for the next Congress. CHAPLAIN ASSAILED FOLLOWING RIOT IN PRISON AT JOLIET Warden Declares Rev. George Whitmeyer Carried Letters Between Prisoners Joliet, Il., March 16.—(#)—Warden Henry C. Hill asserted Monday the Rev. George Whitmeyer, state peni- entiary chaplain, had been asked to tresign three weeks ago after the dis- covery of evidence that he had been fomenting disaffection and carrying letters to and from prisoners. Investigators for the “secret six” crime-fighting committee of the Chi- Cagd “Association of Commerce de- manded of the prison administration that Chaplain Whitmeyer be removed, His resignation was received Feb. 25, three days after the fatal ambush of three escaping prisoners whose death he called “murder” at the hands of prison guards. - Warden Hill made his statement to newspapermen at the old penitentiary shortly after he had announced the death of a second convict from wounds inflicted by guards during Saturday’s riot of 1,100 rebellious pri- soners. Four convicts were shot, two, fatally, and a captain of guards:suf- fered a broken arm in the uprising. “Rev. Whitmeyer was caught car- rying letters to and from prisoners,” said the warden. “I have these let- ters. “A convict brought to my office by Deputy Warden Erickson said Chap- lain Whitmeyer was telling the pri- soners ‘what this place needs is a !damn good riot.’ This testimony was given me about January 29. Prison rules require any information gained from convicts be backed up by other evidence, and concrete evidence has been sought.” Warden Hill was taken ill _mean- while and while he was in a Chicago j hospital the “secret six” asked that Chaplain Whitmeyer be dismissed and at the order of the warden, Col. Frank ;D Whipp, state superintendent of pri- sons, asked his. resignation. ‘ADMITS’ HE KNOWS, BISMARCK ROBBERS George Keith, Held at Minot, Qu ned About Capital City Bank Robbery Minot, N. D., March 16.—(#)—An admission that he particpated in the theft of an automobile here has been obtained from George Keith, arrested in Minot Jast Monday night slong with four youths, in connection with @ series of holdups and burglaries in Ward and McLean counties, Sheriff R. W. Kennard announced Monday. According to Kennard, Keith also admitted knowledge of the identity of the bandits who staged a daring daylight holdup of a Bismarck bank last summer. Kennard said Keith named the alleged bandits, whose names are being withheld by author- ities pending further investigation of Keith's story, After prolonged questioning by Sheriff Kennard and his deputies, Keith was reported by have confessed taking part in the theft of an automobile here Feb. 22. His alleged companions. already have pleaded guilty to a charge of larceny connection witithis theft and now te awaiting sentence. Keith continues to deny that he had any connection with. holdups and burglaries in the two counties. The lother four men, in their confessions, |implicated Keith as an accomplice. IN WATER 72 HOURS we swimmer, has stayed in the water nearly 72 hours and swum about 225 miles, He was on the way to Buenos Aires, 300 miles away, via the Parana river but the cold water defeated him. | He clalms record. DRAWINGS MADE BY GOV. GRO. F. SHAFER Bismarck to Meet Re Region H Representative if It Defeats Mandan Saturday TOURNEY TO OPEN MARCH 27 Nichols and Wyttenbach, Vet- eran Officials, to Have Charge of Contests ‘If Bismarck defeats Mandan to enter the state tournament opening here March 27, it will play the win- ner of the Powers Lake-Crosby game, to be held this week to determine the state contest entry from Region H. This was determinéd by drawings for the tournament, made Monday morning by Governor George F. Sha- fer at his office. Because the teams which will enter the tournament have not been determined, no regional games having been held, the drawing was by the letters designating the va- vious regions under the state ‘high school league rules. The drawings follow: - Opening Round Region A vs. Region B. Region D vs: Region F. Region E vs. Region G. Region C vs. Region H. In the semi-final round, the win- ners of the two games in the upper bracket and the winners in the first two games in the lower bracket will participate to determine the contest- ants for the state championship. 17 Teams Remain Only 17 teams remained in the run- ning for the state title as the draw-. ings were made, one district title re- maining to be decided in addition to the regional titles. This list will be boiled down to 16 when Elgin meets Bowman at Mott Monday night to determine the winner in district seven. So many teams are entered in the contests in this area that sub- district tournaments were held, Elgin winning at Mott and Bowman at Het- tinger. Fargo and Wahpeton will contest for the right to represent Region A while Valley City and Jamestown will meet to determine the Region B title. Other regional games, all of which will be played this week, are: Region C—Bismarck vs. Mandan at the state training school gymnasium, Mandan; Region D—Halliday vs. the -winner of the Elgin-Bowman game; Region E— (Continued on page seven) PUSH ANDERSON FOR MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR Former North Dakota State Official Is Nominated by Farmer-Labor Party Minneapolis, March 16.—(?)—Wil- liam A. Anderson, chairman of the Farmer-Labor state central commit- tee in 1926 and 1930, was endorsed as organized labor’s candidate for mayor of Minneapolis Sunday at a caucus sponsored by the Hennepin county Farmer-Labor central com- mittee. This is the first time that labor has selected and backed its own can- | tor; didate since it supported Thomas Van Lear, Socialist mayor from 1916 to 1918, Whether or not Mr. Anderson would ,, the race was doubtful Sunday night. He said he wanted to consider the proposal for two or three days and confer with labor leaders before making a formal announce- ment. He was elected to the lis board of park commissioners in 1916 and served | until 1919 when he re- signed to go to North Dakota to be- come secretary of the industrial com- mission there. He also was attorney for the Bank of North Dakota and in 1921 was that state's assistant attor- ney general. Crisis of Epidemic In Alaska Is Past Point Barrow, Alaska, March 16.— (#—Dr. Henry Griest and his small staff who have been working day and night fightitz a diphtheria epidemic unity of A week-end investigation into every igloo in this vicinity resulted jn the discovery of two new cases, making a total of 27 which were serious. |native population of 300 was affect- ea or less. With, 60 natives im- had been DEATH ENDS STRANGE DIET Hastings, Minn. March 16.—(7)— Austin Knapp, 97, Civil war veteran, who attributed his long life to the fact that he had taken a spoonful of sand and a sip of kerosene daily, died at his home here, Sh ‘TWO LIKENESSES OF MRS. FRED G. NIXON-NIRDLINGER LEO BROTHERS ON TRIAL FOR MORDER OF ALFRED LINGL Killing of Chicago Reporter) June 19 Caused Wide- spread Investigation Criminal Court, Chicago, Ill., March |for the Alfred Lingle murder Monday | amid excitement such as the new criminal court building had never seen before. Although no evidence is expected for at least a week, a large crowd| jammed the corridors leading to Judge | Joseph Sabbath’s courtroom long be- fore the scheduled opening. Extra/ bailiffs were needed to keep order. Newspapermen and veniremen cnter- ed through a side door. There was little room for the curious but the overflow kept doggedly at the doors.| Chicago. Not only was the assassina- reporter, one of the most spectacular of gang killings, but it also was the first big gang hooting actually to re- sult in a murder trial. Added to this was the fact the Lingle slaying, last dune 9, reguited in the greatest drive against crime in recent Chicago his- y. The following has happened since Alfred (Jake) Lingle was assassinated June 19, 1930, in a Michigan boulevard subway: Total of $55,000 rewards posted by Chicago newspapers for information leading to a solution. Police Commissioner William F. Russell, resigned, Deputy Commis- sioner John Stege and others demoted under fire. Investigation turned over to special body under direction of Pat Roche, enlet of state's attorney's investiga- ors. Establishment that Lingle was ma- jor factor in gangland, with income exceeding $60,000 yearly. , Lid clamped on Chicago in exten- sive campaign against hoodlums, lracketeers and “public enemies.” Theories that Jack Zuta, Moran (Continted cn page seven) Washington, March 16—(P)— government watchfully awaits. Four million citizens had until midnight Monday night to file income tax returns for last year with internal. revenue ‘bureaus, 000 would flow into the treasury with the returns, which must’ be ac- | companied by at least one-fourth \ The trial held unusual interest for | tion of Alfred Lingle, Tribune crime} Doubts Magistrate Will Release Woman on Bail Mrs. Nixon-Nirdlinger at Disad-| of Witnesses i te vantage Through Lack Nice, France, March 16.—(?)— | Doubt that Mrs. Charlotte Nash | Nixon-Nirdlinger, American beauty |held for the fatal shooting of her | husband six days ago, would be re- Jeased on bail until her case was fi- | nally disposed of was expressed Mon- |day by her counsel after a confer- ence in her cell. No charges have been brought , against the former St. Louis girl who 16.—(#)/—Leo Brothers went on trial) contends she fired in self-defense | last Tuesday night when she slew the | Philadelphia theatre owner. Her counsel, Louis Gassin, said | witnesses were necessary to prove self-defense and that in this case there were none, since the 26-year- | old wife and the husband were alone | in their bedroom. | Magistrate Vachier postponed until Tuesday @ conference with defense | counsel at which a date is to be fixed | for the magistrate’s first interrogation of the wife. It was reported by Riviera friends of Mrs. Nixon-Nirdlinger that her | husband had settled a considerable | sum of money on her at the time of their divorce several years ago, which | was followed later by their remar- riage, but that the money had been sent to her mother in America for safeguarding. The American consulate has been flooded since the shooting with cable- grams from many cities in the United | States, more than half a dozen of them from lawyers volnnteering to defend the wife without charge. Australian Family Of Six Is Wiped Out Sydney, N. 8. W., March 16.—(?)— Police Monday discovered an entire family of six/wiped out at the lonely homestead of Denman, 90 miles from Newcastle. John T. Marriott, the homestead owner, was found dead on’ his door- step with a wound in his Mead. In- side the house was the charred bod- ies of Marriott’s wife and four young children. Police believe that he shot his fam- ily, fired the homestead, and then killed himself. Government Watchfully Awaits Filing . Of Income Tax Returns on Final Day payment of the total due. be about $100,000,000 less because of the depression. JAMES B, ASWELL, CONGRESSMAN FOR 16 YEARS, IS DEAD Heart Disease Is Fatal to Lou- isiana Representative in Washington HAD BEEN IN GOOD HEALTH Southern Veteran Had Figured Prominently in Farm Re- lief Legislation Washington, March 16.—()—James Benjamin Aswell, Natchitoches, La., representative from the eighth dis- trict for more than 16 years, died at, his residence here early Monday of heart disease. Dr. Aswell’s death was sudden, coming at 2:15 a. m., a few hours be- fore he planned to leave for his home in Louisiana for the summer. As ranking minority member on the house agriculture committee, he took an active part in the formula- tion of the legislation that created the farm board and last fall he was the leader in the fight against the ad- ministration to increase the drought loan fund to $45,000,000. Entered Congress In 1913 Dr. Aswell had served continuously ‘since he entered congress in 1913. He was elected to the 72 congress yet to be organized. Before entering poli- tics, he was one of the outstanding educators of his state. He was presi- dent of the Louisiana Polytechnic In- stitute for four years, and served successively as Louisiana superin- tendent of education, Chancellor of Mississippi university, and president of Louisiana state normal college. He played a large part in the reorganiza- tion of the Louisiana public school system. Born in Rackson Parish, La., in 1869, he was educated at George Pea- body college of teachers at Nashville, Tenn., and held degrees from, the universities of Nashville and Arkan- sas, besides having done graduate work from the University of Chicago. Worked For Farm Relief Aswell figured prominently in the work that led to enactment of the farm relief legislation which created jthe farm board. He sponsored much tural extension service and experi- ment stations. At the drought conference called ‘by President Hoover last fall, he ad- j vanced a plan to loan $60,000,000 to the drought stricken farmers and when the administration, through Secretary Hyde sponsored a $25,000,- 000 loan, he bitterly assailed Hoover and Hyde. Ultimately the loan ag- gregated $65,000,000. Aswell was in good health until his death. He spent Sunday in pre- paring for his departure from home. Besides Mrs. Aswell, he leaves his son, James B. Aswell Jr., a New York writer, and a Sousa} Mrs. Edward Cantril, Georgetown, Hy. . TWO KILLED IN AUTO ACCIDENT NEAR YORK Cecil Fiet, Rugby, and Jacob Zimmerman, Minot, Die Early Sunday Minot, N. D., March 16.—(?)—Cecil Fiet, Rugby, and Jacob Zimmerman, Minot, brothers-in-law, were killed early Sunday when their automobile went into a ditch and struck a tele- phone or light pole between York and Pleasant Lake in Benson county. The bodies were taken to Rugby. Both men are believed to have been instantly killed. The bodies were partially frozen when discovered about 9 a. m. Sunday, six hours after the accident is thought to have oc- curred. Benson county authorities decided that the deaths were accidental and the bodies were surrendered to rela- tives to be removed to Rugby where funeral services will be held either Tuesday of Wednesday. Texas to Investigate Dallas, Texas, Dallas county grand jury Monday awaited the appearanec of Charles J. Coder and Lewis Hurst, one organizers who charged they were kidnaped at the city jail here March 5 and flogged into unconsciousness. Promises of official Ldagag 4 were legislation dealing with the agricul-{ os | Crowned as Queen ALICE MAE ALBRECHT Alice Mae Albrecht, Cathay. was crowned Wells county Alfalfa Queen at a ceremony today at Fessenden. The event was a part of the annual Alfalfa Day program there. ALPALRA FETE AT FESSENDEN DRAWS LARGE ATTENDANCE Approximately 3,000 on Hand to See Queen Crowned and Enjoy Entertainment Fessenden, N. D., March 16.—Ap- proximately 3,000 persons were here from Wells and surrounding counties ees annual Alfalfa day celebra- The feature of the program was the coronation of Alice May Albrecht, Cathay, as Alfalfa Queen and the presentation of a watch to the queen by-d. W. Thornton, president of the Fessenden Lions club. Miss Louise Broschat, also of Cathay, 1930 queen, made the coronation address and pre- sented -her crown to Miss Albrecht. Miss Dorothy Darkenwald, teacher in the #essenden schools, directed the coronation ceremony. C. F. Monroe, extension director for the state agricultural college at Fargo, was the principal speaker of the day. He discussed the need for a@ reduction in wheat acreage and more feed crops. Dr. E. G. Booth of the agricultural college and 8. J. Saunders, agricultural agent for the Soo Line railroad, judged the entries in the alfalfa hay, corn and grain show. Entertainment features included selections by the Fessenden band, songs by the Fessenden quartet; per- formances by a troupe of clowns throughout the day and a community dance tonight. The grand march for the old-time dance will be held at the city audi- torilum at 9 p.m. At the same time, @ modern dance will be held in the school gymnasium. A number of farm children took part in the ceremony marking the coronation of the alfalfa queen. Those serving as attendants and warriors were Elia Leitner, Elda Pross, Mar- garet Neuenschwander, Ida Nelson, Frances Hoornaert Evelyn Dietz, Marion Weihemuller, Lucille Liebig and Irene Holland. Dellora Schwartz and Marion Ge- selle were flower girls; Clare Neuen- (Continued on page seven) WRITER IS CHOSEN HOOVER SECRETARY Theodore Joslin, Newspaper Correspondent, Will Suc- ceed George Akerson Washington, March 16.—(#)—Theo- dore Joslin, Washington correspond- ent of the Boston ‘Transcript, been selected by President Hoover to be his secretary succeeding George Akerson who resigned. Joslin 1» a veteran Washington cor- Communist Kidnaping te tas|Care of the Car IRE OF GOVERNOR DRAWN BY BILL 70 CUT MILEAGE FEES Proposal to Budget State Hali Department Also Incurs Dis- Approval of Executive RAPS TAX COLLECTION PLAN Holds Enactment to Change System of Getting Personal Property Levies ‘Unwise’ Veto of three bills enacted by the 1931 legislature was announced Mon- day by Governor George F. Shafer. The measure to fall beneath the executive axe were those placing the state hail insurance department on a budget; reducing fees permitted sheriffs for mileage, and authorizing boards of county commissioners to contract with sheriffs to collect de- linquent personal property taxes on @ percentage basis in lieu of, or in sddition to, the compensation now Provided by law, The actions Monday marked the first time the governor has exercised the veto power on bills passed at the recent session. In each instance the governor sent the bills to the secretary of state with a letter setting forth his reasons for disapproving them. Text of Hail Bill Veto ‘The full texts of the veto messages follow: Hail insurance budget bill—“I here- with file house bill No. 307 without my approval. “The purpose of this measure is the Placing of the hail insurance depart- ment under the provisions of the state budget law and requiring the legislature to make biennial appro- Priations for the operating expenses of that department. The state hail insurance law now authorizes the ex- Penditure of not to exceed $176,000 annually, payable from hail insur- ance funds only, for operating ex- | penses of the department. “Under the budget law, each de- partment, board and institution of the state, supported in whole or in past by appropriations from the state treasury (section 710A3, supplement to the compiled lows of North Dakota, 1913) is required to submit to the state budget board, not later than August 1 of the year preceding a leg- islative session, a request containing an itemized statement of the esti- (Continued on page seven) 20 ARE KILLED IN SHIP'S EXPLOSION Survivors of Crew Drift Sea- ward on Ice Floes Off Coast of Newfoundland New York, March 16.—()—Bowring Brothers, Ltd., owners of the sealer Viking, received word Monday the ship exploded off Horse island, White bay, N, F., killing 20 persons. St. Johns, N. F., March 16—(%)— Marooned on a loose ice pack in the north Atlantic, surviving members of the crew of an unidentified vessel, be- lieved to be the sealing ship Viking, were drifting seaward with the floes off White bay, messages reaching the government from that point, said Monday. The vessel had burned to the water's edge, the message said. The message said: “Message from Horse island, White bay, reports explosion on steamer. Viking only steamer in vicinity. Will advise particulars when available.” Bowring company officials said the eeporoae would be in the thick of the “The crew could easily escape on the ice if anything happened,” they said. “In addition the whole sealing fleet is within hailing distance and could quickly render aid. There is @ hospital at Glencoe, St. Anthony's, across the bay, which could be reach- ed over the ice.” Offering Book On Nothing responds more promptly