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MCHS
THIS WEEK IN INDIANAPOLIS
1925
news stories & adverts from one hundred years ago
Compiled by Steve Barnett
Ads & Illustrations clipped by Carl Bates
Forty Dry Raids Made Here
From The Indianapolis Times , Tuesday, December 29 1925: “Indiana must be dried up” was the ultimatum and for the first time federal prohibition agents concentrated on Indianapolis today. The biggest liquor raid in the city’s history saw federal officers, deputy sheriffs, and police bust into poolrooms, soft drink parlors, dry beer saloons, drug stores, rooming houses, and private homes with warrants for the arrest of sixty-five persons. Prisoners were taken to the county
Dec 29, 2025
Christmas Seal Sale Rapid Here
From The Indianapolis Star , Tuesday, December 22, 1925: Sales of Christmas Seals, those little holiday emblems of better health, have exceeded previous years according to the Marion County Tuberculosis Association. While thousands of citizens are sending in their checks to the Christmas Seal headquarters for their annual sticker supply, sales in downtown booths and branch post offices are surpassing prior totals. For the first time the post adjutant at Ft. Benjamin Harris
Dec 22, 2025
Stephenson Loses in Three Motions
From The Indianapolis News , Saturday, December 12, 1925: D. C. Stephenson, former Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon now serving a life sentence in Indiana State Prison for the murder of Madge Oberholtzer, appeared in circuit court at Noblesville today where his attorneys filed motions asking his conviction of second degree murder be vacated and a new trial be granted. After hearing defense arguments from attorney Floyd Christian, Special Judge Will Sparks overruled the motions as
Dec 12, 2025


City Overrun with 'Sheiks', Remy Told
From The Indianapolis Times , Wednesday, December 9, 1925: Answering assertations made by six women that young men – “shieks” – in autos and on downtown corners are annoying women and girls and nothing is being done, Prosecutor William Remy said politics in the police department is responsible for “sheiking” because Indianapolis police are told whom to arrest and not to arrest. Police officials responded, saying women mostly are to blame for the boldness of the “shieks” bec
Dec 8, 2025
Court Makes Homes Safer from Search
From The Indianapolis Times , Tuesday, December 1, 1925: Marion County Criminal Court Judge James A. Collins ruled today that search warrants must be issued only on facts. In his ruling, Judge Collins said an officer, in order to obtain a search warrant, must not merely state that the law is being violated, but must provide facts to the court from which the judge issuing the warrant may determine the existence of probable cause. The opinion was given quashing an affidavit
Dec 1, 2025


Five Ideal Opening Day Crowds Exceeded Expectations
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, November 23, 1925: Yesterday, a crowd of 15,000 descended upon Williams Creek Estates, a Washington Bank & Trust Co development, to see the five Indianapolis News ideal homes. Interested visitors from throughout Indiana and neighboring states swarmed across the grounds and through the homes open for inspection. The “homes of the future” constructed over the last several weeks by Ralph S. Brydon Co, are houses of Spanish, Italian, America
Nov 23, 2025
Stephenson Guilty, Aids Free
From The Indianapolis Star , Sunday, November 15, 1925: Late yesterday afternoon after deliberating five hours and 35 minutes a Hamilton County Circuit Court jury found former Indiana Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon D. C. Stephenson guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Madge Oberholtzer. A handful of spectators, including Madge Oberholtzer’s only brother Marshall Oberholtzer, were in the courtroom during the reading of the verdict; Stephenson, pale but smiling, listened
Nov 15, 2025
Klan Scores Heavily in Political Passing
From The Indianapolis Times , Monday, November 9, 1925: Mayor-Elect John Duvall has named the first eighteen members of his administration, and the Ku Klux Klan has scored heavily in the appointments. The Klan organization maintained a Duvall campaign headquarters in the City Trust Building and there has been considerable speculation in political circles as to whether the Klan or the Republican Party would receive the greater recognition when appointments were made. Among
Nov 9, 2025
G.O.P. Backs Klan School Board Slate
From The Indianapolis Times , Monday, November 2, 1925: At a meeting of United Protestant Clubs of Indianapolis at Cadle Tabernacle Saturday night, presided by George Elliott, exalted cyclops of Marion County Klan No. 3, John Duvall, Republican mayoral candidate, and several Republican council candidates urged support of the Ku Klux Klan United Protestant school board ticket which includes Charles Kern, Lillian Sedwick, Theodore Vonnegut, Fred Kepner, and Lewis Whiteman. Th
Nov 1, 2025


Mrs. Oberholtzer Weeps on Stand
From The Indianapolis Times , Thursday, October 29, 1925: After thirteen days of jury selection, opening testimony began this morning in the trial of D C. Stephenson and his two co-defendants who are charged with the murder of Madge Oberholtzer. The first witness to take the stand was Mrs. George Oberholtzer, dressed in deep mourning, her voice breaking with sobs and at times unable to speak because of her grief, told of the last time she saw her daughter – how Madge left h
Oct 28, 2025
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