30 Dec 1929
Page 1
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Newspaper
Indiana Evening Gazette
Location
Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Date
Dec 30, 1929
Page
1
A four inch Gagepane shell, once thought inert, detonated when a priming pin was forced back by a shell fragment crashing into a Mt Gretna house. George Beatty and his family escaped serious harm as residual TNT components had been removed but the blasting cap remained live.
Capital observers report Senator Borah’s sudden revolt against Hoover’s enforcement policy, calling prohibition a national scandal and saloons widespread. The veteran agitator targets district attorneys, signals a possible presidential bid in 1932, and widens the rift between Borah and the White House amid a turbulent enforcement era.
Washington dispatch reports the prohibition issue hot again in Congress with Senator Elmer Thomas blaming lax enforcement on Contreas and distilleries opened for medical liquor. Federal agents push a stronger bootleg crackdown as hearings loom and the Weaver Commission moves toward finalizing its enforcement report amid calls for quick action on a joint Congressional resolution.
Lost set of keys reported missing in Saday morning between Savings and Trust Whiiding. Reward offered for return to Gaerga J. Feit at 195 South Sixth Street. Contact for return with identification.
Senator Thomas criticizes Borah and Sheppard proposals to punish liquor buyers and expand enforcement. He argues the Volstead Act spurred government liquor production and graft, warns of distillery abuses under permits, and calls for broader enforcement and new prohibition commissioners to handle minor cases while federal courts focus on major violators. The piece notes plans to study reorganization and potential greased appropriations for enforcement.
Police probe links December 7 dinner at Four Spotlights to a robbery and an alleged Chicago gang murder contract aimed at Yale and Marlow. Detective Arthur C. Johnson faces duty charges as details emerge of a plan to pay $20,000 to the gunman, with Terranova and Vitale figures denying the plot amid political fallout and no arrest yet for Terranova.
A patrol boat pursued a speed boat in a ram smuggling incident as the craft ignored warnings and continued fleeing, prompting continued chase and warning signals.
In a fog bound chase the Black Duck and crew are shot at by rival smugglers. Three dead on board, one survivor Charles Travers says they fired on us first and we had no chance. Travers, under guard in Newport Hospital, identifies crew mates Jake Weisman Dudley Brandt and Join Goulhart. Coast guard officials pursue details as legal action and political appeals unfold.
New York stocks opened the week with a firmer tone as investors absorbed tax selling for 1929 and bought selectively. Major issues showed gains in early trading, rails and motors were dull, and a general sense of underlying strength persisted despite a volatile prior period.
The fourth national convention of the International Labor Defense opens in Pittsburgh with planned discussions and elections. An impromptu meeting occurred after a hotel refused rooms to negro delegates, as Fred Beal and Ela Reeve Bloor urged equal rights amid police presence.
The Coast Guard's No. 220 opened fire on the Black Duck during fog, killing three men aboard the rum runner. Travers, wounded, claimed the crew would be buried. coastguard officers defended their action, saying the vessel twice sped away and posed a lethal threat. Investigations by federal and state officials began as victims’ families claimed remains.
A speaker denounces a faction calling the Plack Duck members brothers while condemning fanatical violence and hypocritical motives. He asserts the group faced a fatal attack and defends aims against intimidation. Local observers call for unity and accountability in the wake of the incident.
A note from Vandergrift reports the death of Mrs. Coleman widow of Verle Coleman and mother of an infant, with services at Flint PresbyterianChurch led by Rev W Clyda Barnes. Burial followed at Spring Church cemetery near Apollo. Also included is obituary of Elmer Walker aged 16 from Portage. he died after a stroke and leaves four children Cecil Raymond and Hazel Walker and two sons in Honolulu and Johnstown. Burial at Prospect cemetery after 2:30 service at Christian and Missionary Alliance church.
New York report on Dr Nicholas Murray Butler president of Columbia University. He attacks nationwide law enforcement and defends moral law, arguing enforcement of all laws would paralyze social order. He says lawlessness is selective and urges ongoing public controversy to reshape concepts of law and lawlessness.
Six Canadian fliers warmed by a 50 below zero degree wind prepared three cabin planes for an early Nome search for Carl Ben Nielsen the polar pilot and Earl Borland the mechanic missing since November 9. Under Pilot Pat Reid the rescue planes tested their cabins after hurried assembly in Seattle and plan to take off tomorrow or Wednesday for the Bering Strait.
In Pittsburgh on December 30 a three alarm blaze caused $200,000 damage to Stamwix Shops and adjacent stores. Firefighters Victor Modjeski and Francis McGrath were injured and treated in hospital. The fire started in the basement and spread through the elevator shaft to all three floors, prompting evacuation and response from city crews.
The Holmes Safety Chapter No. 165 met in Barr Hall with President Frew presiding. Minutes approved, mine accident losses totaling 35 days discussed, speeches on citizenship given, and gifts and musical selections featured. Christmas exercises followed at Barr Community Hall with student recitations, dialogues, songs, and numerous children’s performances. Barr Welfare Association distributed 250 candy and orange packages after the program.
A column records numerous short visits and movements of people connected to Indiana and nearby towns. Names include Russel Ward Union City Bernadine Plotzer Edward Miller Homer City Gladys Beatty Robert Shenck Ben Pallock J. Clair Irwin H. E. Spicher and others as they visited friends, returned home for New Year, or traveled to or from Indiana and Pittsburgh areas.
The vast sign on Broadway at Fifty second Street sits atop the Hollywood Theatre. Seven stories tall and a block long it claims to be the world’s largest electric sign with twenty thousand lamps and eighteen tons of steel. The lettering spans five lines eight feet high and can display four announcements every half minute. It takes sixteen hours to swap all lettering.
The second victim in the Christmas Day fire died at West Penn Hospital. Earlier, Martin Mabezik, a boarder, perished the night of the blaze and Frank Polski Jr. was presumed dead after his father set gasoline on the stove fire. Police say the cause began with the boy pouring gasoline on the stove.
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