Duray Smashes Track Record and Wins Pole Position by Showing 113 Miles an Hour

From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, May 27, 1925:  All historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway records were shattered yesterday during qualifications for Saturday’s 500-mile gasoline derby.  Leon Duray aboard his Miller Special won the pole with an average four lap speed of 113.196 miles an hour besting Tommy Milton’s 1923 record of 108.17 miles an hour.  Records fell so fast that spectators got dizzy listening to the speed announcements and watching the cars whiz by as five other drivers also bettered the former track qualifying record, gaining berths in rows one and two.  Pete DePaolo, piloting his Duesenberg Special, won the second spot on the front row, qualifying at 113.083 miles an hour.  With eighteen cars in the field, the speedway still holds some thrills for spectators as Ralph DePalma, his teammate L. L. Corum, and others are expected to qualify today.

“Duray Smashes Track Record and Wins Pole Position by Showing 113 Miles an Hour,” The Indianapolis Star, 27 May 1925, p. 1:6

Streets Gay for Motor Bus Parade

From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, May 19, 1925:  A parade, carnival features, and speeches marked today’s opening of the Red Ball Bus Terminal, the world’s largest bus terminal, at the southeast corner of Senate Av and Maryland St.  Hundreds of visitors and Indianapolis residents crowded downtown streets to watch a two-mile procession of motor buses, representing carriages of vintage design to the most luxurious and latest design, wind its way along gayly decorated thoroughfares renamed for the occasion – the “Avenue of Wonders (Washington St), “Indianapolis Industrial Lane” (Senate Av), and “Bus Promenade” (Maryland St).  Ward Hiner, Bus Terminal Co president whose vision brought about this terminal building, presented Mayor Lew Shank with a large key which he used to open the gilded entrance gates, throwing the terminal building open to public inspection while musicians and performers entertained throughout the area.

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“Streets Gay for Motor Bus Parade,” The Indianapolis News, 19 May 1925, p. 1:3

Stephenson Trial Set June 2

From The Indianapolis Times, Friday, May 15, 1925:  D. C. Stephenson, Earl Gentry, and Earl Klinck will go on trial in Marion County criminal court, Tuesday, June 2, for the murder of Madge Oberholtzer (a change of venue to Hamilton County Circuit Court delayed the trial).  Before a crowded courtroom this afternoon, Judge James Collins overruled a motion by defense attorney Eph Inman to quash the indictment.  Stephenson who once declared, “My word is law in Indiana,” and the other defendants then stood before Judge Collins to hear the reading of the charges after which the judge asked, “Now how does each defendant plead?”  “Not guilty,” Stephenson said in a clear, loud voice; his co-defendants repeated the same.  Judge Collins set the date for the trial and Stephenson, Gentry, and Klinck were returned in handcuffs to the Marion County jail.  

“Stephenson Trial Set June 2,” The Indianapolis Times, 15 May 1925, p. 1:7