davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
SWEOE SPY CAUGHT
WITH ENGINE PLANS
IN COAT LINING

Washington, December 22.-How a
Swedish subject sought to carry to
Germany the plans of American aero
plane engines by conceallng them In
the nntug OF his coat is one of the tea~
lures of sensational evidence which
customs Officers at New York have
been gathering to show the existence
OF a secret system OF spy communica-
ton between this country and Ger
many.
Byron Newton. collector of the port
of New York. In Washington today
told how the Swede was caught. Just
efore a certain Scandinavian steamer
was about to leave her pier In the
North river. IL forid-faced individual
apparently well under the influence Of
liquor, lurche1 through the crowd at
the sangpiank and tried TO board the
vessel purscr AIDES, regarding him
as harmless. waved him aside and the
ship pulled out. secret customs agents
on board. however, were more watch
fui. The vessel had not swung into
rntdstream before they located the
Sw EIDE, now perfectly sober In appear
Rnce, in enc of the saloons AS he
failed to give satisfactory answers 10
their questions and as his voice was
gutteral they searched him.
Sewed In the lining OF his coat they
came upon many blueprints OF aero
plane engines, with notes ana othSF
data bearing on their construction
and capacity The man was taken from
the ship. Mr.. Newton said. and informed
at Ellis Island. while government
agents hurried with the plans to the
aeroplane factory from which they
had been taken, X was found that
the Swede had been employed there
but the plans he had so carefully stolen
were those OF type of aeroplane en-
CINE previously abandoned as obsolete
The matter Is still under investigation
Existence of the organized system
| of secret communication was discov-
cred by the customs OFFICERS shortly
! after the trading with the enemy act
was put into operation several weeks
ago.
4, The fact that Swedish and Dutch
i citizens were found to be involved IN
the trasfic as we'll as certain Amerl
cans revived memories OF the first Lux
burg disclosures that involved tn,
Swedish minister at Buenos Aires and
| the Swedish foreign office at Stock
holm an Intermediates through which
| the German minister TO Argentina
carried on his remarkable "spuriot
/ versenkt" conversations with Berlins
| Oficiais were careful 70 explain I,
night. however. that there was moth
tng I'm tho recent disclosures at New
CONTINUED on Page Nina.s
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
SCORES
FRESH GAINS

London. Dec. 22~--Italy's troops on
the Northern front have again scored
a signal SUCCESS. The home war Of
fee reported today the recapturs ny
them of further ground in the sector
OF Monte Asolene. the important
height that fell TO the Teutons last
Tuesday.
The Austro- German forces iumedi-
aieIy organized a counter thrust but
1. was crushed In the Italian harrage.
The Isatins are enormously cheered
by their recent successes and are hold
ing the invaders at bay everywhere,
Official news from Berlin and Wen
ma admitted indirectly that The Ten-
tons are once more on the defensive
The Monte Asolene sector is vital be-
cause this and other heights nearby
dominate the valley leading into thu
Venetian plains.
Snow continues TO fail and rs grad
tally developing into the drifts upon
which the rtaiians pin strong hopes
for the eventual suspension OF the
whole Teuton campaign until spring.
German gums displayed lively ac-
tivity all along the French front from
Ver dun TO St Quentin during the last
twenty four hours but there was no
infantry fighting of consequence,
Paris reports. The French carried
out a successful raid In the Cham
payne. On the Angio-German front
there were only raids attempted by
the Germans and frustrated by tho
Rritish- according TO the war oflcA
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
LAFAYETTE ACES
FLY For AMERICA
Twenty -Four of Worlds Greatest
3Sssaifs-s 4sccclve G9narnision On (
Recommendation OF 1rersfing.

Washington, Dec. 2.-Twenty-four
OF the greatest av!ators in the world
were added to the United States army
today Commissions were issued for
that number Of Americans In the
Lafayette escadrilIe. Most of them.
flying for France. airea dy have at
tained ace distin ction- That 10 they
have downed fifteen or more German
opponents General Pershng made
the recommendation as follows.
To the majors--Willism Thai, John
r. HHner and Victor r. Lufbery.
CAPITA ins--Ehsrles J. Biddle. Phelps
Collins Kenneth +. Lattauer. walter
Lowell. David Nick Paterson. Robert
Sou rtan. Robert l. Rockwell and
Kenneth Mari.
First lieutenants-Paui r. Baer,
willis p. Haviland. Charles NJ Jones',
Granville A Pollock. Leland L.
Rounds. Joseph c, Stepiin. George E.
Turnrre. Jr. Frank w. Wells. Charles
Fl wilcox. Charles G, Johnson.
Charles II Donal. Jr., and Henry S.
Jones.
Dudley l. HiN is commissioned
ca plain for service as instructor,
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
EMERGENCY FLEET
CORPORATION WORKING
ON 1883 VESSELS
DOrnlaa Cocktails Dispute Did Not
Delay Nork-~Seuate Committee
Takes Up Time of Officials
Who Have Hands Full
of Business,

Washington. Dec 22--The inquiry
OF the senate shiphuilding investiga-
tors led back to the Denma n C oethals
regime today.
Under the lead OF the Chairman
Senator Fletcher. OF Florida. the COM
merce committee undertook TO ascer-
tain reasons for the delays that have
ham pered the shipbuilding TO date.
Chairman Hurley. General Manager
Charles A. Piez, OF the Emergency
Fleet corporations: Admiral Samuel
Bowles who has charge Of construc-
ton work, and John A. Donald direc-
tor OF operation for the shipping
board. were questioned on the delaya
The answers OF each referred the
committee back 70 the days when
General 0oethals and MIR. Denman
had charge of the shipbuilding pro-
gram
Delays because OF labor troubles
were not attributed TO the first regime
but over contracts, troubles In spect-
fications. mtxups In materials "A nd
other sources or difficulty were traced
back TO the days before MIR. Hurlsys
Continued on Second Paxsl
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
INVENTOR Of LEWIS
GUN SHARPLY RAPS
GENERAL CROKER
Says Ordnance Bureau Chief
Responsible for Obsolete
Equipment
TONNES WANT I4IMIS
GUNS WITH WORN BARRELS

Washington. Dec. 22.-Brttish
Tomnlies plead for well worm bar"
rt,ls In their Lewis machine gum,
When The gun was newly inVcnbei
1t shot too straight. One Gay
dead German WAS picked up with
eighteen of thc bullets through hi
body.
They want tho guns with the
rffilng worn away now" said Colo
mel Lewis today. They want 10
kill eighteen men each with one
bullet IA her than one man with
eighteen bullets. They say the
worn riding makes it scatter bet
ter"
Colonel Lewis also described his
gun. with evident pride, as 9TH
beet killing proposition in the mar
ktsf today"
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
DR.. L. ]. JOHNSON IS
HELD FOR MURDER
ATLANTA DEVIL
HANGS Ol ROPES
Biuy Sundays Crusade Against Sin
VIII Come TO whiriwtnd Finish To-
day--wa@hinEton Next
Revival station.

Atlanta, Ca, December 2e.-With
whirlwind finish of three sermons to-
morrow. Billy Sunday. the great
evangelist, will leave the devil hang
ing groggily over the ropes In Atlanta
and prepare for a trip to Jellico, Tenn
the home OF Homer RodeheaveT. sun
days chorus leader.
sunday viii preach Monday at Jel-
iico and Monday night leave for
Winona Lake, Ind. TO spend the holt
days at his home and rest up before
beginning hts great elght-w eeks' drive
against sin IN washington. y. c,
early IN January.
The free-wil offerings tomorrow
which constitute the evangeltsts per-
sonaI compensation. are expected to
compare favorably with the offerings
Of other cities. Many checks and cash
having already been received for that
fund Though figures on trail hltters
are yet incomplete, they will make
remarkable showing when compared
with Sundays campaigns in much
larger cities.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
RED CROSS AOOS
5000 MEMBERS
Richmond Campaign Continues One
More Day. Though Nearly All
Booths Are C1osed---Chrtst-
mas Cards Tomorrow.

AS a result OF the Christmas mem
bership campaign, which began last
Monday morning and which ends
Christmas Eve. 5000 new members
had Joined tho Richmond chapter of
the American Red Cross up to last
night
Cam paign Director Boykin, in max
ing an announcement to this effect.
stated that before Christmas Eve he
expected that at least 1000 additional
new names would have been reported
making 10000 In all This would give
the chapter q total enrolment OF 49,
oeo. AT all of the membership booths
business was brisk yesterday, five ex-
ira booths being opened to care FOR
the expected Saturday rush. All or
the booths, with the exception OF one,
closed last night and will not reopen
The remaining booth Is in charge OF
Miss Selma Sonnepberg and Will De
open today at the 7. NJ. II. A.
Reports were being checked up last
night by Director Boykin for the pur-
pose OF ascertaining which business
fconcerns and Institutions wefs enfikise+
to a place on the Red Cross hopor
roll, also known as the "One hundred
Per Cent Club" This is the r"ster
OF all places WI tNCES oNNg P"'~ 70 -
to the Ped Cross II will be several
DAYS before a complete list has been
compiled. but the following were an
nounced as full-fedged members:
Miller e. Rhoades. the Cohen conn
pany the News Leader, Richmond
Structural Steel & Iron company. fire
engine company No. 6, Duplex I'm
veIope company, the Collegiate school
the Kaufman company. Methodist
iorphanage Through the Kindness OF
DR.. ]. Il. Wood and other patriotic
citizensl. Davenport and company
Richmond Trust and Savings COM
nanv the KresKe 25-cent store. Nolde
Brothers
1 MANY belated memberships Will be
received tomorrow at Red Cross head
quarters, Fourth and Grace streets
II Is expected. Although no booths
will be open, everyone possessing a
heart and a dollar" will be met with
smile at headquarters. Every doi-
lar will @help TO swell Richmond
showing In the Red Cross nation-wid
campaign. and / hope eieventh-houf
Christmas shoppers will not forget us
Monday" said Director Boykin.
Enthusiasm was expressed by the
director over the support which col
ored people have given the brief cam
psIgn. Several hundred additional
members have been obtained as re-
suit OF their efforts. Tonight. AZ the
First Baptist church, colored, there
will be a Red Cross rally under tins
auspices OF the colored branch. Cole
man workman. Henry Cabei, j. i
Hewin. W. A. Jordan and others vii
make talks.
A pretty Red Cross song service viii
bring the campaign to close tomor-
! row night Groups OF carol singers
will go about the city between 7:St
and 2 o'clock. stopping In front Of
homes where a Red Cross service fiaa
is displayed, to sing Christmas carol
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
STRUCK BY AUTOMOBILE
MISS MARY SITTEROIhG
DIES IN FEW MINUTES
Well Known Citizen of Richrnond,
Victim of Accident.
STREET LIGHT AT
CORNER NOT RUR%INO
), vi. Landers, Driver of For-Hirc Car,
says He Did Not See Miss Sitter
ding's Party Until Innnesftteiy On
Theua

Miss Mary sitterding. daughter OF
Fritz Sitterding. one of the most prom
inent citizens OF the city. was struck
by an automobile and almost instantly
killed at 10 40 o'clock last night at the
corner of Madison and Grace streets.
Miss SitterdinK was in the act OF cross
ing the street In company with her
brother. william SItterding. and his
wife, when an automobile coming west
driven by j. Nj. LanderT. OF 2I6 East
Marshall street. knocked her down
one wheel of ths vehicle passed over
her head. Crushing the skull. She was
carried at once TO Grace hospital, but
death had ensued before she could be
gotten there.
Landers was driving a for hire car
and had ave passen gers. The city light
IT the corner of Madison ana Grace
streets was out and the view was
some what ohstructed by trees, accord
Ing to Landers. II WAS said that he
was not arriving at more than twelve
miles an hour. He did not see the
party as they started across the street
ia front of his machine and was so
close on them that he could not stop
when he discovered them
I.anderz was arrested and taken 20
Second police station last night and al
"A late hour he said thst he had ar
ranged fer bail lie Is teenty-three
years al age. has been driving an au-
tonohile several years, and has lived
In tho city all his life
Miss Sltterding. the victim Of the un-
fortunate accident. was a very popular
and antablr young woman. whose
death will be sincerely mourned by q
large circle Of friends. She was the
eldest daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs, Fr!tz
Sittecdinz One OF her brothers, Fritz
S[tter6{pR Jr recently enlisted a a
woman In the navy, No arrangements
for the funeral had been completed
last night
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
HUNT GUSTS CAMPBELL
AS ARIZONA GOVERNOR

Phoenix. Ariz., Dec. 22.--Ending a
hitter political fight for more than a
wear. the supreme court of Arizona
today handed down decision holding
George w p, Hunt is legally governor
of Arizona
The decision displaces Thomas e.
Campbell, who has been acting gov
ernor since January %, 1917. Camp
bell. Republican, claimed election a
year ago. Hunt. Democratic fncum-
bent, contested. The lower court gave
ats Verdict to Campbell and Hunt APP
nealed.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
RICHMOND CONDUCTOR
KILLED IN WRECK

Especial to The Richmond virginian)
Charlottesville, Va. December 22.--
While engaged in shifting cars at
Strathmore last night n G e r
Charles Johnson. of g. local freight on
The James river division OF the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railway, ran into an
open switch and coilided with por-
tion of his own train. Conductor
Henry Johnson. OF Richmond. was
caught In his cahoose and instantly
killed, and Brakeman Pugh. who was
on the engine tender. had his right
hand severed at the wrist The con
ductor's body was SO badly mangled
that bystanders just did have time to
rescus 1t from the wreckage, which
caught IRE.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23

The warrant under which Detso~
tive John F. Wiley acted last night Ia
Wilson, n. G, IVES sworn out early
In the night here by Detective Cor
don smith. at the earnest behest OF
Wiley. who communicated with ths
Richmond police authorities by Iona
distance telephone.
Immediately that the warrant was
sworn out, charging murder. a mas
sage was sent the chief OF police OF
Wilson.
In response 10 question ovsr the
long distance telephone the Wilson
official said that he thought thai
Johnson had made some kind OF
confession but he did not know what
1t was" He told The Virgtnian that
Johnson was pretending to be very
Ill.
When DIR. johnson came here few
days ago to attend the funeral OF his
wife he declared that he had recently
parcFla ssd "a homo IN MiddIesex, ~.
G., where he planned to take this wife
Christmas. His bride, who was but
nineteen years OF age, was Miss Alice
knight. the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
George f. Knight, OF 1919 North
Twenty-second street. She was work
ing as a stenographer at the Medical
College OF Virginia when she met the
young dental student whom she after
ward married.
The marriage was promptly reported
to the college authorities, but was KEPT
secret from the groom's friends and
relatives at home.
The last time the doctor saw his
bride alive was two weeks ago toda y
when he visited her here On Satur~
day night last shs died suddenly after
I taking a capsule containing sup
posedly harmless medicine but whica.
it transpired. contained cyanide OF po-
tassium.
On his way home from the funeral
/ of his wife DIR. Johnson attempted sui
! eide, or ia alleged to have made such
/ an attempt in "a hotel at Wilson. II
! fs said that letter wac found In john
sons room addressed TO physician In
which II Is said that ne declared that
! he had ruined his own life In an at"
! tempt to protect the name OF another.
| The fact that his wife was In good
spirits ard health convinced the Rich
| mond authorities that the young
woman had not committed suicide. Her
death occurred In ATTY minutes after
/ taking the capsule and she never re-
! covered consciousness after taking the
I fatal dose sufficiently to make state
rnent The accused is twenty-thres
years OF aga
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
Losses Few and Profits Salts
factory. Reflected in Liberal
Dividend Checks
LARGE SUMS TO Re.
DIoBURSED JANUARY |
In Addition to Paying Good
Profits to Shareholders Prac-
tically Every Bank Has Sub
stantially increased Surplus

This has been one OF the best years
In the history OF Richmond banking
and with the larger number Of the
banking and trust companies It has
been the banner year of their careers
Losses have been small and profits
satisfactory Hardly without exception
the stockholders will receive hand
some dividend checks on January /,
although the fact that the boards OF
directors of some of the large dtvt-
dend- paying institutions win not meet
until tomorrow and at least one not
until Thursday makes It impossible TO
publish this morning a complete list
Of the dividends declared.
Richmond ss indeed fortunate Ia It's
enterprising and conservatively man
aged financial institutions and has
been spared the losses and iuconve-
nlence cf anything In the nature OF a
bank failure since the Common
wealth bank went into liquidation
some years ago. Practically every in
stitut!on, In addition to its diVidenda
payment, has added substantial
amount TO surplus this year.
The following is resume OF the
b&nking diyidend situation as reported
Yesterday by the several institutions
Resume of Dividend Payments.
The American National bank direc-
tors win meet Thursday. when at
least the usual dividend win be de-
clarad.
The Bank Of Commerce and Trusts
has declared its regular semi-annua
dividend OF three and one-haH pei
cent and nm additional dividend oil
one-half OF ons per cent. making
total disbursement payable January
Of $4,000 on its capital OF s25o.0oo.
The Broad Street bank ends III
semi annual dividend period on Feb
ruary /, hence it is not represented
lAp tho New Years day disbursements
The Broadway National bank ha'
declared a semi-annual dividend o
Continued on Ninth Page)
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
s. 4. |. TRAIN KILLS
TWO AT MILFORD
Grade Crossing Claims More Victims
CorcBer's Inquest VIII eB Held
Tnis Morning.

A seuthbound Seaooard Air Line
passenger train struck an automobile
at Milford. Caroline county. at 6:$s
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. killing the
two occupants OF the machine In
stantly The dead men were General
Gatewood. the son OF J. H. Gatew God.
who lives about two miles from MIL
ford, age twenty-one years. and col
ored man by the name of Bernard Ball.
The coroner's inquest will be held at
1910 o'clock this morning. 1t Is sup
posed that the men did not see the on
coming train until too late to get out
of It's way,
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
PICKETERS UNPOPULAR
ALONG FIFTH AVENUE

New York, December 22.--Christmas
shoppers in Fifth avenue between For-
Is slFIsi sax1> Thsrts ,S6urth streets this
afternoon did not take kindly to the
sidewalk parade of seven militant suf-
frage pickets, who with their banners
OF purple. white and yellow sought TO
create interest In a forthcoming meet"
ing OF the rnilitants here at which the
white House pickets would tell their
own story
THAT Is where you ought to be for
i,fe." and You are a disgrace to wo-
mankind" were some Of the comments
made by women on the avenue as the
paraders ated by with references to
the falling of the pickets In Washing
ton enblazoned on the banners.
AS for the men, those mortals
"grinned and didn't say nothing. al
nitted one parader.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
WAR NEWS IN a NUTSHELL,

The worlds greatest munitions
plant, that OF the Krupps ut Essen,
Germany, Is reported to have been
on fire twenty-four hours. Re-
ports reaching Holland stiil yague,
but indicate great disaster.
PetroRrad In throes of contfnu-
aus street battle. Boisheyiki strug-
gle desperately TO retain control.
TrIv1ky asserts Russia viii fight
against offensive German terms
1--WE didn't overthrow czarism TO
kneel before kaiser"
Italians regain further ground on
mountain front. Buli in the west.
German Socialist organ warns
catastrophe viii iose war for Ger
many unless Ia, 900 900 of the
masses" get more to cat
British auxiliary torpedoed; ioi
lives lost.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
PRESENTS AUDITOR
WITH vICTRoLA

A handsome victrola. with liberal
number of double-faced records was
Yesterday presented 10 state Audltor
G. Lee Moore by the clerks In MS OF
fice as a Christmas present
The announcement of Mrs Moore
by phone. that the gift had been re-
ceived came as an agreeapie sufpFlso
to the state auditor, and IN ms speectl
NJ acknowledgement expressed his high
anrreciation of the mcAve which
nromnted the bestowai of 1he gift as
much as the gift itself.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
BORDER PATROL
KILL GERMAN SPY

FL Psso. Tex, December 22.-Troop-
ers OF the Seventh cavalry patroiing
the border near Ysleta. east of Ell
Paso. tonight are reported to have
killed a man believed to be German
spy who was Attempting to cross the
Rio Grande into Mexico.
Maps and important documents were
found on the man. according TO reports
received here.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
Arrested Last Night at VIII
son. NJ and Wall Be
Brought Here Today
HE COMES WITHOUT
RtQUlSIT ON PAPERS
Warrant Sworn Out Here Las.
Night at Request OF Dctec-
tive Wiley--NlustAnswe For
His Brides Death

Special TO The Richmond Virginian
Wilson, n. C., Dec. 22.---Dr.
LemueI j. johnson, the young
dentist who took poison Thursday
night I'm this city after attending
the funeral OF his bride, Mrs.
Alice knight johnson, who died In
Richmond Saturday night as the
result of swallowing what she be-
licved was an ordinary medicinal
drug, was arrested here tonight on
the charge OF having murdered
his wife
The warrant WAS served by the
chief of police of Wilson on john
gon at the Wilson sanitariun.
where johnson has been a patient
since his supposed attempt at self
tste~t rtsr,tt ton
In response tn questions John
sons only response ts trouble,
trouble" johnson having said
that he would go to Richmond
without the formaiity OF rcquisi-
ton papers, Detective John Wiley.
OF Richmond, who came hero to
investigate the death OF Mira.
johnson. will leave tomorrow for
Richmond with his prisoner.
willy asked for the young dem
lists arrest after q visit to Mid
diesex where johnson IL said to
have been engaged to n young
woman
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
NEW YORK TO FACE
RATIFICATION EARLY

Albany. n Y. Dec. 22.--Ths fed
eral prohibition amendments will be
submitted TO the New York state
Legislature when 1t convenes January
q, according to an announcement
made today by William IL. Anderson.
superintendent of the Anti-Saloon
league.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23
Six Killed by Train

Baltimore, Md. Dec. 3a.--Six men
were killed tonight when fast train
crashed into a crowd OF workmen at
the Magnolia station. according to a
dispatch received here tonight. The
men were employed Mt the army Prov
ing ground at Aberdeen.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-23

Defense Council 10 Meet December -.
The stae council OF defense will
hold an important meeting here on
Friday, December e.