davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
THIS JEAN VALJEAN
CAUGHT AS AUTO THIEF
Alleged Army Deserter Who
Made Marvellous Escape From
City Hall Cell Taken

A man arrested two weeks ago BY tho
police OF the Second and Christian strests
police station az an automobile thief proved
to be George Hafner. who several months
ago effected q remarkable escape from the
cell room In City Hall, where he was being
held as a deserter from the United States
army. His real identity was learned to-
day when he was brought before Masis-
trate Imber on the theft charge,
His feat in gaining freedom was re-
Earded AS nothing short Of marvellous by
City Hall officials. He made his escape az
dusk by climbing through 4 small window
overlooking tho courtyard, lowering himself
to q narrow ledge ten feet below. On this
ledge, where false step meant plunge
to tho stone walk below, he crswied to
another window, climbed into the corridor
and walked TO freedom.
For several weeks secret service men
and the Philadelphia police searched for
him. After remaining in hiding. the police
say, he Joined band Of automobile
thieves, and was arrested November 7 In
West Philadelphia garage with another
man. accused Of stealing an automobile
belonging to John n. Valentine, Of Bryn
Mawr, Although In the custody Of tho
police for two weeks he masqueradsd
inder the name of George Hess and
escaped Identification until today,
With his companion, Larry Benz. alias
George Paul, he was held in $500 ball for
court. 1t IL probable that he will be turned
over to the Federal authorities before his
case goes to court. '..
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
JURY SAYS SHEEHAN
MAY RETAIN HIS FEES
Decides That He Need Not Re.
fund 100000 to City
Treasury

Suit to compel Register Of Wills James
b. Sheehan TO pay into the city Treasury
100000 which he collected In fees was
in Common Pleas Court No. 4 before Judge
Audenried. The County Commissioners
were the plaintiffs. 1t is expected that
tho case will be appealed again to the
Supreme Court.
The controversy over the fees of this office
has been running for more than two wears
The fee system of the office was abolished
by an act of Assembly of July. 1913 The
action also raised the salary OF Registers
In counties OF 800. 900 population and up.
ward President Judge Audenried before
whom suit was first brought, declared this
act unconstitutional. being both special and
local legislation. The Judge said he ave
this opinion grudgingly and said that the
County Commissioners were III. proper
parties to file suit for recovery of tho com
missions
Alexander Simpson, Jr, counsel for the
commissioners argued to the jury that
Mr.. Sheehsn could not claim the act OF
1918 to be unconstitutional and at the
same time take the $1,000 salary Il pro.
vides. If the act was unconstitutional he
said, the defendant had 10 right to the in
crease in salary. although he might have o.
r.,
Sheehsn reminded him OF the boy in the
bakery shop who wanted both the penny
and the cake.
Mr.. simpson contcnded that the proofs
showed that the acceptance by Sheehan of
the Increased salary WAS also a willingness
10 take the provisions of the new law and
amounted to waiver of his right to the
fees under the old law, and barred him
from questioning the legality of the act
Of 1919.
on the other hand, Sheeiian mainta ined
that he only took the larger salary when
the agreement was made that he should put
the commissions aside. on deposit, but that
in the event of the act of 1913 being de-
clared unconstitutional, lie should not for
felt his rights TO refund the salary above
$4,000 per year and obtain the fees. The
status of this arrangement was left for the
jury to decide.
After a brief deliberation the jury an
neunced a verdict in favor Of the defendant,
upholding his position in the case.
In the event Of an appeal it Is believed
that the higher court will pass upon the
act Of 1918, which Judge hudenried ruled
was unconstitutional
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
COP DIGS IN YE SEWER
TO FIND PURSE OF YE LADYE FAIRE
Having Recovered Store Teeth of Citizen From Same
Receptacle Some Time Since, Shear Is Called Into
Service Again-Muddy Urchins His Aids

AS finder OF lost articles Anna Eva Fay
has nothing on Policeman Charlie Shear. a
reserve on traffic duty at Eleventh and
Chestnut streets. In fact. when It comes to
his peculiar speciality Of finding articles
lost In q sewer. Shoar Ia In q class all bs
himself and has Anna Eva and all the
other clairvoyants tied to a post.
Some time ago a citizen was so unfor-
tunste as to drop his false teeth into a
sewer. The exact manner in which this
feat was accomplished Is not recorded, but
shear was put on the Job Of finding the
artificial molars, and In due time, after
considerable probing and dredging. they
were returned TO their rightful owner in as
good condition as when he parted from
them, reasonable wear and tear excepted.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
NAVY MAN KILLS SELF
FALLS AT GIRLS FEET
Boatswain of Battleship Virginia
Seeks "Unexplored
Country"

Clifford j Root. a boatswain attached &c
the United States battleship Virginia. COM
mittcd suicide today by shooting himself ir
the head with his navy revolver at the nome
OF Miss Dorothy May webster, 33l New
Mirket street.
A letter addressed to his father, the Rev
A. X. Root, a Civil War veteran, of 25l
Peach street. Erie. Pa. hints that love
arair might have been the cause,
According to the police. Root had been
10 his home in Erie and stopped to see Miss
webster OF his return He had been en-
gagged to her at one time. she told the po'
lice, and II was the first time she had seen
him In about two years. After writing the
letter to his parents. he stepped In front
OF looking glass, pointed the pistol AT ms
head and pulled the trigger
Miss Webster. who was in the room AZ
the time ran screaming to the street ami
attracted the attention of Mounted Traffic
Policeman Shields. The body was taken to
the inorguc.
The letter addressed to tn dead mans
father was as follows:
Dear Folks--I have done my little bit
for my country. at least ! think have.
have seen most eyeryth.ns a man can see
and therefore nothing Is new to me any
more. OF course, IL things had turned out
az ! wanted | would be more than con-
tented to stick around for a while. So am
sending myself away with smile to look
for new adventures In a now and, to me,
uneNplored territory.
Give my love to Bessie and tell her !
was absolutely in earnest when told her
what did yesterday. That s the only
thing ] ask OF the hereafter Love to all
Deputy Coroner Ward will try to locate
tho mans parents. Root has two brothers
In tho service
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
DRAFT BOARDS OBJECT
TO RULING ON ALIENS
Placing Them in Fifth Class
Causing Trouble in Some
Districts
WANT DEFINITION OF WORD
Declare Trouble Will Follow Conscript-
ing of Americans, Leaving
Others at Home

Local draft boards are very deeply
| agitated and inclined TO disregard tne
ruling Of the provost marshal general III
| the recent "Qdestipnnaire." placing ahehs
| in the fifth or Jast class to be drawn for
military service, and In one instance GEN
eral Crowder has been requested 10 IN
terpret just what is meant by the word
"alien."
Some of the draft districts In this city
are fully 80 per cent alien population. ana
serious troiblc is predicted When tne
Americans discover that the aliens are
being reserved to the last, whils they are
being drawn out of their turn to take the
places Of hundreds vino arc hiding be-
hind tecknicality."
In the opinion of some OF the local draft
officials the question Of the aliens status
In the draft Is the most vital and serious
one at this time to the draft boards all over
the country. No definite definition has been
issued by the Government TO guide them
and they are largely using their own dis-
crction with the result that most positive
proofs from the foreign consuls, suhSan-
tiated by unquestionablc passports, are the
only affidavts accepted AS grounds for cN-
cuse from service, except in cases OF de-
pendency
There is going to be trouble in tho
United Statcs,' said Edward f. Swift,
chairman of the Eighth Draft District
Board. today. 'if our American boys are
Stit u lHe ITbnt "Illic tUc dlltHS III tiiio
country. who are single and saving money,
are held in reserve. I denoince 1t right
now and this board WIN not tolerate it.
zone member has already resigned and I
received the resignation of another this
morning by mail. There is general dis
satisfaction among all of the boards: they
mostly business men and giving up
much of their 'ime, but yet they are not
paid. and they are not helped. We sent II
request two weeks ago to Harrisburg. to
the Adjutant General. through our Govern
ment attorney william Connor, seeking
light on the alien question, and we haven't
heard from it yet
"Our population is OF such floating
nature. hero today and there tomorrow, that
It is an uncertain quantity to draw from in
making up the quota for tho new National
Army. The foreigners are doing everything
they possibly can to get cat of the draft
J.. X. Buck chairman of the Fortieth
District Draft Board with headquarters at
Fourth Sreet and Snyder avenue, said to-
day that he had written to Provost Mar
shal General Crowder for aG explanation
Of the term 'aiien." His own opinion in
cluded as aliens only those who held honor.
able passports and not those who came to
this country as practical desertcrs from
their native land to escape conditions there
There wosildn't be any army" he said
'if we set apart AS aliens all those of for
eign birth who had not yet taken out natur-
alization papers. Fully 30 per cent of this
district are foreign-born Russian Jews"
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
HAS NO FEAR OF PLOTS
AT FRANKFORT ARSENAL
Secretary Of War Baker Undis-
turbed by Presence of Ger
man Workmen There

Secretary OF War Baker appears not to
entertain any apprehension for the safety
OF the Frsnkford Arsenal from incendiar-
ism, or 10 fear mischief in the output
OF the plant on account OF the presence
there OF n large number Of employees Of
German birth who have become American
citizens,
so far as I know there are none but
American citizens employed In the Frank-
ford Arsenal" said Secretary Baker to-
day. when his attention was called 10 re-
ports that the Government was puzzled In
regard 10 what to do with the $500 cm-
ployes Of the Frankford Arsenal who are
OF German birth. and many of whom, il
Is alleged, are pro-German In their SYM
pathies.
There may be workmen OF German ex-
traction In the Frankford Arsenal" he con-
unued' but they are American citizens and
a. are eh;i,lea 20 a presumption OF loyalty
This was all that Secretary Baker would
say IN regard TO the reports, lie would not
indicate how far the department. had pro.
cseded In an investigation Of the loyalty Of
the men OF German birth In tho rrankford
plant. but from his manner II would appea
that any reports made to the War Depart.
ment regarding the loyalty Of the Frank.
able.
General Crosier. chief Of the ordnance
aavision. declined to discuss the matter at
MI today. but Indicated that possibly he
might say something about Il after a con.
ference with the secretary OF War this
evening,
An investigation Of every alien employed
AZ the Philadelphia Navy Yard completed
men of foreign birth have taken out their
citisenship papers. This WAS announced by
Captain Won Boskirk, OF the intelligence
bureau, at the Navy Yard
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
SEEK DECK OFFICERS
AND SEA ENGINEERS
Shipping Board Recruiting Serv-
ice Desires Licensed Officials
for Transport Duties

John Frederick Lewis. admiralty lawyer,
president of the Academy Of the Fine Arts
and solicitor for the Philadelphia Bourse.
formally acknowledged his appointment to-
day as chief Of Section No. Of the recruit
ing service of the United states Shipping
Board with special charge OF the schools
OF navigation and marine engineering With
the acceptance Of his appointment from hi
rector Henry Howard. of Boston, head OF
the recruiting service of the Shipping Board
for the whole country, he took over a big
job
Mr. Lewis succeeds Prof. G. c Thomas.
OF Baltimore, who has been appointed to
take up important work in the Emergency
Fleet Corporation. and the Office and office
force which previously worked under Pro-
fnssor Thomas viii move to this city The
office of the recruiting service will open
in the near future in Rooms 627-29 Bourse
Building for the enrolment of men to
operate the hundreds OF ships under con-
struction or to be- built by the United States
Government.
TT will be my duty as chief OF Section
No. to supply deck officers and marine
engineers so that ships carrying men and
supplies TO France may be manned by
American licensed officers" said Mr.. Lew is
this morning upon his return from Balt-
mere and Washington, where arrangements
for the transfer of the recruiting office TO
this city were made with Government of
frials.
The service will he attractive to Young
men, Mr.. Lewis pointed out, because all
instruction will be furnished free and the
men will equip themselves for good posi-
tions in the mercantile marine, During the
last spring and summer Mr.. Lewis was an
instructor In the Government navigation
school in this city and INSTRUCTED students
in steering and sailing rules. regulating
navigation at sea and in inand waters
With his appointment as chief Of section
No. :, Mr.. Lewis viii have charge Of the
work along tho Atlantic coast from the
Connecticut River to cape Charles, in this
district there are nagiv ition schools at iIo-
boken, y. j.; Atlantic city, n, j.: Balt-
more, Md, and this city. other schools
for the training men viii be opened in New
port News and Norfolk on December and
10 respectively Other schools will bs
started in other sections when there is a
largo enrolment.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
PRESIDENT PUTS DRASTIC BAN
ON ALIENS IN UNITED STATES
Continued from Psse One


No
be Of
An alien
All
Of
such rules
ne
au-
no,y Sr acts done by them the execution Of this rsGuiaon when seins
General sor such
shall
he Attorney General
ne
10 In
ito
n suchr reguiato
Ihs proclamation and the
o staas +"
=; :: :: sT:s i''7s; ''l'1 = Z =
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
CALLS SUFFRAGE VITAL
IN WAR FOR DEMOCRACY
Mrs. Weed, Daughter Of the Late
Representative Hill, Makes
Ringing Plea


ounIsse Is hecessur! 10 niahe me war to'
nn Iii, -, sI''snstu,, s' pectareo . MIs; heI
eha nm Weed uaushter OF the late Repre-
sehlatyc t' :, ii!lL @, washington, III
s"s auuresH az 'ne ''.r" uhnta' 'onNeh
ION OF we ienhSE'Nah'a nranch OF tn'
Naoohat woman party AT tue itotel Wal
'on ms at'ernoon'
nu'rsse a'ohe Sas, pu, inc stamp OF SIN
cerity ON our PROFESSIONS as democratic
nation she asserted eNoking storm o.
spp'auss. ihe r'sht OF people 10 assem-
n'e peaeeLiilS Tor redress or grievances /;
'an inVioisble right of the Constitution
There can he- no war for democracy unles,
you prove democracy. lf Russia sees ouI
citizens 'crucined at homr she can only
laugh at our democracy y continued per.
secution OF our pickets means 20 prolons
the war our American men will not per,
NIT the outrages nov being perpetrated or
American womanhood''
The Federal suffrage amendment will b,
passed at the. next session Of Congress was
the confident prediction OF Mrs Weed Nho
used lantern slides in her address 10 over
come the "insurmoun,able prejudice" which
she declared was curren, in stories cf
picketing at the capital
Cheers were aroused by the appearance
from the Occoquan. Va, worlhouse Tbs
workers--Miss I.ayipis Dock. Miss usr,,
Ivinson and Mrs. Chish ~
their prison garb. ,.--
Confidence that picketins has n,,o.s -
that the suffrage amendment vii, M lee W.. :
expressed on every bano, p"'' was
A mass-rleetinr nj the Re,.v,o-c,-..
Dudley Field Malone, former c,o,,.o,oH V,
Dudley Field Malone former coiisc,o ~ ~
the Port OF New York Mrs EIorsnc. "
Ard Hill.s' Of Wiimlng,on and Ms Th nss
Hepbnrn,, of Connecttcut '"'''"s
The following oficers were .,.c,.s.
Chairmau. Miss MARY n Irrh.r, p,u.
delphla frst vice chairman M,ss W.. nnS q
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
SCHOOL CHILDREN RRITS|
GIFTS FOR SOLDIER Row V
paekage,Laden 'a,a e., :, Youngsters y,,,,
West Philadelphia Invsas IRON n,s
Hall-Many Forwsrds.s. wy

thirteen package-laden youn,.,. -,
the Dunlap Public School at FIf,m IN
Race streets today visited ci,v y'lrt u NJ
ing gifts for soldier boys In cs A ~
cantonments. Miss Margaret Noh,I N~ ~
cipii Of the school, was in ch,r. 49, p'ip.
children. OF u
The boxes and packages wers ,
to Mrs, M. l.. Woodruff. direc,or -. ovf
sonal service bureau of the H. se w
Committee, who will send then, .e''nN
truck for Camp Meade tomorrow ,ro 49, w
a special express car of gifts -,
Hancock will be sent out wedne,a.s s'
II the number Of gifts warrant ny
car viii he sent South d few dsv, ~. "ne
Mayor Smiths reception room in cn-,
resembles an express Office s,,r,N asA
Christmas holidays. It Is n,l.a Nv w
boxes and packages filled with IN. nv sa
good things to eat In explaininv a. ,s -
trip TO camp, Mrs. woodruff sa,d -.
many transfers of men necess,,,,' 'i ~s
delivery of Thanksgiving boxes /, ~. wv"
to reach tho soldiers to whom, az W
directed. wy ~
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
CARCITY OF COAL
DISTRESSES POOR
Special Inquiry Discloses
Small Buyers Suffering
in South Philadelphia
CAR CONDITIONS STUDIED

Conditions of appalling coal scarcity and
distress among the poor are revealed by a
special Investigation made by Francis A.
Lewis. city fuel administrator among the
nineteen chief coal dealers In the southern
section of the citys extending from Washing
fon avenue to the Delaware River Waiting
lines of from fiftyto $50 petitioners for coal
In small lots is reported wv several OF these
yards, with only q totiti supply of s5l tons.
As against $1,000 tons. the normal supply,
TO meet the demandS.of this section.
"It Is hut fair OF course to remember that
these dealers are putting out their coal as
fast as II IL coming in," Mr. Lewis COM
mented In giving out the figures received
from the dealers.
II. G. .Cleyenger. coal freight agent of the
pennsy kanh road. conferred with the fuel
board this afternoon to analyze ear con-
ditions. John Lloyd. president of tho Coal
Exchange attended the NEE ting, at which
the subject of shippire cHa' TO different
parts of the city was discussed.
The QUESTIONABLE sent out by Mr., Lewis
10 these hfpeteen dealers was as follows:
"How much coal have you on hand and
~ what rises?" ...
In the veplles. four showed no coal what
aoever;~ one five tons three, ten tons, and
the whels- nineteen d total OF only S5l tons.
''HeW ~tonE since any was received?
itkrSwhom have you contracts:
Who sell by bucket. and at what .pricesf
No you have much of this class Of busi-
ness?
"whst IL your normal Goa, supply for
this time OF yesr?'
The replies, ranging from $50 10 $500
tons. show total of 1880 tons for this
southern xection OF the city
"Have you many cssss Of suffering among
the poor for lack Of caaI?' ''
Replies to this ure Yes with one voice.
"About what length Of time doe. II take
to receive cars from the mines, and what
% you believe the cause ot delay"
Four firms register Il refusal 10 sell to
peddlers, while others state that owing
60 scarcity and suffering among our Gus.
toners We feel We are following the only
humane course In selling by the bucket"
1--WE charge only eight cents per bucket"
writes one dealer whereas the peddlers
are charging fourteen cents fc: tho same
size"
Periods of.from fifteen days TO six weeks
are quoted as those usual for obtaining
Goa. after placing orders al the mines, and
In most cases OPERATOR are blamed for fail.
ures in shipments.
Conditions very bad couldn't be
worse among the poor and sck.' read the
reports. "Mr - has been annoyed by
foreigners begging coal that he has kept
mis- office locked for the last week. as he
has been unable. to mret the dema nds,"
"Many cases Of sick babies
"All individual consumers who feel they
must have coal for urgent needs or sickness
are invited to bring their problems here in
person. MIR. Lewis would remind them, "as
Il is a physical impossibility TO handle such
complaints properly hy phone
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19

Consequently, when a beautiful young
lady today let her purse slip out Of her
hands at the corner Of Eleventh and Chest
nut streets and rolled into the sewer 1t
was only logical that shear should be de-
tailed TO recover II. Al noon u pile Of sewer
mud In tho street. entirely surrounded by
urchins who poked into II with their fingers
and with sticks. attested the thoroughnsss
with which the work was being done. A
couple of dimes and quarter had been re-
covered ut that time, but the purse itself,
containing a valuable diamond ring and a
number of bills. was yet to he found.
But Shear is on the job, and IL Is safe
to say that the beautiful young lady will
fare no worse than the gentleman with the
false teeth.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
Noythclifs Applauds
Wilson's "Bwgle Calt''
BY LORD NORTHCLIFFE

LONDON, Nov. 10.
VOUR wise Presidents bugle call
i TO the European Allies should put
them wise as to the insistent urgency
of getting together in a regular,
business-like conference.
The American mission here Is
doing fine work, and now that Presi..
dent Wilson has added his personal
punch and pep there will be no ex-
cuse for delays which have been pro-
ductive Of such disastrous results in
the last three and half years.
trust the Presidents action will
also have the effect of causing our
Prime Minister to rid his Cabinet of
some of the dead wood.
am exceedingly disappointed not
to be able to accept the high Cabinet
position which was offered me, but /
feel that l can do better work with
newspaper AK on the outside than
il were inside. where | would be
gagged,
expect to return to America i'm
mediately after the London and
Paris conferences.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
THREE JURORS DRAWN
IN DE SAULLES CASE
Completion of Panel for Murder
Trial Not Likely Before
Tuesday
MINEOLA. L. l. NJ

MINEOLA, l.. l., Nov. 10.
Only three men had qualified for jury
duty late this afternoon in the trial Of Mrs.
Blanca de Saulles. charged with the mur-
der of her husband. John L. de Saulies.
They we're:
J. c, Bucken. a bookkeeper In the en-
play OF J. p. Morgan & Co. Iie is sixty
one years old.
Philip X. Ohm, ffty-three years old, a re-
tired grocer of Bellmore. l.. I.
Edward ". Pietsch. nfty-eight years old,
an electrical engineer employed by Clsr-
ence n. Mackay.
Both the attorneys for the defense and
the prosecution said this afternoon thai Sc
lection Of jury may not be completed
until Tuesday night or Wednesday.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19


in
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
SUPERIOR COURT DECISIONS C

The Superior Court today handed dowr
4, opipions In the following cases:
Y ~ JUDGE poETER;
@N1Gs " Vest PhlA Title and Trust Co. (c
~ No Il FhM). Judgment reversed. : -.
0sngon u a VI laurel Hn Cemetery co
~ No .. lhilAl Dscree modified and al
: ~ JUDGE HENDERSON,
EarFigsns esssss.Esinsford appellant. COR
:::; ~ L:si:s Is"''':s ss::..:ss. ss'.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
BULLETINS



Is a consolidate
Dr. H.
a Of a
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19

is
Mrs
by upheld
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19


Ths is the esecion of Brazil
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19
DANNUNZIO MISSING AFTER FLIGHT OVER FOES


have failed flight
sin
G
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-19


10