davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-03-17
DEFENSE RESTS
IN LIQUOR TRIAL
Shields Does Not Take Stand.
Johnson Charges He
Was Framed"

On advice of counsel Daniel j..
Shields Of Johnstown. Pa, did not
take the stand in his own defense in
the conspiracy case with Mai. James
F.. Johnson, former ATTORNEY in the
prohibition unit, which Ia on trial be.
fore Justice stafford and a jury in
Criminal Division .. The men are ac-
cused Of bribing employees Of the bu-
reau to furnish information for secur-
ing permits for breweries in Pennsyl-
vania in 1924.
Attorney James 8. Fla shy. Smith,
representing Maj. Johnson, rested his
case with the testimony of his client,
who claimed to have been framed"
by agents of the Government placing
$3.50 in his coat pocket while he was
reading newspaper in local hotel.
where the alleged trap was sprung.
The ton Of Maj. John
son by Assistant United States AttOr.
ney Fihelly ended with the admission
by Johnson that he had told the
agents he had been in possession of
the money for some time. He admit.
ted that statement to be A falsehOOd
and the prosecutor excused him from
the witness stand.
After a conference between Attor-
neys Percy Allen Rose OF Johnstown
and Michael NJ. Doyle Of Washington,
two lawyers formerly connected with
the prohibition unit were summoned
as witnesses for Shields. These wit
neeses, Harvey l.. Rabbit A nd John w.
Maher. told of the methods In vogue
in the Prohibition Bureau for securing
blank applica tions and obtaining as
sistance from clerks In filling them
out. Mr.. Maher said the blanks were
freely distributed on request"
Counsel then announced the defense
closed without calling Shields.
The afternoon session was devoted
to arguments of counsel and the ca Sc
will probably 60 to the jury tomorrow.
Maj Johnson declared yesterday
that Saul Grill. a prohibition agent,
paid $40 for quart Of whisky in an
effort to entrap the accused. johnson
said that Grill ca me to his apartment
and invited him and Mrs. Johnson TO
60 to dinner at a roadhouse in Wash
ington. Grill inquired II Johnson had
any liquor. and being answered In the
negative said he knew where he could
get 1t. A chauffeur was summoned by
Grill, who gave him 500 bill with
directions to buy two pints of whisky.
The liquor was secured and the
messenger was allowed to keep the
change as tip.
According to the witness, the
whisky was consumed at the din
ner In the roadhouse. Whisky was
also In evidence during confer
ence with Grill and other agents
in A New York hotel. Maj. Johnson
said. and flowed freely at dinner IL,
that city. where the bill amounted to
SIS or sac. In Philadelphia. Grill also
took the witness to dinner and fur.
nished high balls. the jury was told.
Evening star., 1926-03-17
CAMP.
: BUILDINGS FOUGHT
Grant Supports ZihIman
Against Potomac Park
Operations.

The question Of starting perma nent
construction work at the tourist
camp in Fast Potomac Park was dis
cussed pro and con today before the
House committee on public buildings
and grounds. Maj. u. s. Grant. Sd,
engineer officer in charge of public
buildings and public parks, spoke In
support of the joint resolution intro.
duced by Chairman Zihlman of the
House District committee, which was
before the committee for considers
The history Of the $50. 900 appru-
priatiOn now available "fOr contin-
uing construction Of the tourist camp
on it's present site" was given by
both Maj. Grant and Representative
CramtOn, Republican. Of Michigan, on
whose motion the $50, 900 was put into
the appropriation bin last year.
Mai Grant told the committee to.
day that It was understood in the
hearings before the appropriations
committee that the greater part of
this money would be expended for
perma nent building having rest
DOM and sitting room and general
community, facilities for the autono-
bile tourists.
There are good reasons now for
not having East Potomac Park per
ma nently large automobile tourist
camp. he said because such a camp
Ia necessarily unsightiN. and. lying as
II does on the main railroad entrance
to the city from the South, it must
make disagreeable impression on
many visitors TO the Capital. as well
a. threatening the plans to make East
Potomac Park q great public play
ground for the citizens Of the District.
He also explained the plans in con
temptation for providing tourist
camps on all the main arteries OF
approach to the National Capital. If
the proposed perma nent building Tor
the tourist camp is erected IT would
have to receive considerable alteration
for use az a field house for sports when
the tourist camp eventually moved
away from this loca ton. He estimated
that the present camp would he
moved In Ave tn ten years.
Mai. Grant advised the committee
that IL the money Is put into perma.
nent structure IL would later he used
as an argument against moving the
tourist lamp. when il would he claimed
that such a large investment should
not he aba ndoned. He told the com
mittee that the informal pla nninc
committee, which is cooperating with
the National Capital Park Commission.
made up Of Representatives from
various executive offices Of the Dis.
trict. concurs in and indorses his
recommends tions in support Of the
Zihlman resolution to prevent perma-
nent construction work at the tourist
camp.
Mr.. Cramton urged the committee
not TO take affirmative action that
would prevent providing proper ac-
commodations for the hundreds of
tourists visiting Washington during
the next 10 years. He pointed out
that the appropriations committee last
wears favored putting $40, 900 az more
into such a clubhouse as the tourists
need.
Evening star., 1926-03-17
SENATORS TO HEAR
D. c. ISSUES TODAY
14th Street Extension and
Sale of Firearms Among
Pending Questions.

A number Of local citizens are ex-
pected to attend a meeting of the Sen.
ate District committee this afternoon
to protest against the plan Of giving
officials Of Walter Reed Hospital the
right TO prescribe the conditions under
which Fourteenth street may he used
when it Is extended through the hos
pital reservation.
Legislation for the extension OF this
thorOushfar has been pending for
several years. hut few weeks ago It
was cha need to provide that no street
cars or motor husses would he allowed
to operate over that portion Of the
street within the hospital bounda ries.
The revised plan also would give Wal.
ter Reed control over traffic regula.
tions.
The committee also will take up this
afternoon the long pe ndins question Of
restricting the sale and possession OF
dangerous weapons in the District,
recommended by the Commissioners.
Police officials for wears have been call
ing attention to the need for more
stringent legislation on this subject
as a crime preventive measure.
Another bill scheduled for considera-
ton would permit the National Press
Building being erected at Fourteenth
and F streets to extend above the pres
ent height limit.
Evening star., 1926-03-17
Restoration of Status of Welch,
Ex-Service Man, Asked by Gordon

protection of the United States in
the litigation. which is scheduled for
trial late in March. that an order be
pa ssed restoring Welch to his legal
status and taking his affairs ont of
the ha nds of his committee.
Mrs. Welch has been an almost
daily visitor to the court and has
twice been taken into custody and de-
tanned for observation Of her own
mental condition at Gallinger Hos
pital. On two occasions she was
brought before lunacy jury. which
disa greed at one time and found in
her favor, declaring her sane on the
other occasion. Mrs. Welch has dis
agreed with her lawyers and yester.
day asked Justice HitZ to discharge
her present counsel from further serv.
ice In the case. intimating that she
would try the case herself.
Justice Siddons issued a rmle on
Mrs. Welch to show cause tomorrow
why the legal status of her husband
should not be restored and why She
should not be removed as his com
mittee.
Evening star., 1926-03-17
COUNSEL DEFENDS
LETTER TRUSTEES
Charges Made by Sister OF
One viii Be Disproved,
PIatt Declares. =.

CHICAGO. March IL Joseph
Letter and William j. War;. con-
tested trustees Of the vast estate Of
Levi Y. Letter, pioneer merchant
prince Of Chicago. were pictured to-
day at Superior Court hearing as
careful and diligent conservators.
The Countess OF Suffolk sister Of
Joseph Letter. seeks to have her
brother ousted from trusteeship be
cause of gross mismanagement and
derelietion of duty" while the at
torney for three of her neices. in
cluding Lady Cynthia MOsley. a re-
cent visitor here. coupled Wars
name. terming him a tool of Letter.
Henry Russell Platt, counsel for
Letter. took up item by item, the
charges In the long double arraisn-
ment made In opening statements by
the plaintiffs counsel yesterday, and
stated evidence would he adduced to
turn each issue In favor of Letter and
War;
Estate Is Large.
War; was appointed as a working
trustee to do the dray horse work"
in connection with administration Of
the estate whose present value has
been estimated at from $50, 900 900 to
500. .000. 900, said Platt.
After the death of Seymour Morris,
one OF the Ave original trustees under
the Levi Letter will of 1904, there
arose a pressing need for some one In
intimate contact with the property
and able TO devote much Of his time
to IT.
Lady Suffolk submitted the names
of four bank presidents. all busy men.
who could not act in the necessary
capacity.
War; was termed an able. honest
man whose integrity and devotion to
duty never had been questioned
previously.
The complaint against Letter men.
toned sales OF stock TO obtain money
to further his Wyoming ranch in.
terests, and Platt told Judge Denis
r. sullivan that the stock holdings
were sold because they had de.
precisted to an extent equal to the
income for that particular year from
wyoming interests. Sales of the de.
pressed stock prevented the estate
paving high income tax that wear,
the loss Of II ofsetting the wyoming
Ia nd sale income
He admitted that the issues of stock
sold were valued at much higher
prices today.
Ignore Each Other.
Lady SUFFOLK again sat across the
room from her brother. Mrs. Colin
Campbell. her sister who supports
Joseph Letter. and Mrs. Letter. No
greeting was exchanged Mrs. Camp.
bell and Mrs. Letter again industri.
,usly piled needles and thread 10 pieces
or tapestry they started working upon
yesterday.
The courtroom. seating about 100
persons. again was stormed. Todav's
visitors included some from Chica 60 =
blue nook. three Of whom accompa MED
the Letters.
Evening star., 1926-03-17

United States Attorney Gordon to-
day took steps to end the litiga tion
which Mrs. Magdalene Welch has
waeed for more than four years
against the United States Veterans
Bureau to recover. compensa ton for
her husband, Jack Floyd Welch. a
former service man who was adtudged
insane by jury in the District Su.
preme Court February Is. 1921. Maj
Gordon fled an applica ton asking the
court to declare Welch restored to his
former legal status and to discharge
his committee.
Through Assistant United States
Attorney Rover, Mai. Gordon points
out that DR.. A. r. Noyes, then acting
superintendent at st. Elizabeths, re.
ported September II, 1924. that Welch
had recovered and been discharged
from the hospital. The prosecutor
calls attention to the suit by the COM
mittee against the United States to
recover $3.392.50 as due under an in
surance policy to her husband and
declared that It Is necessary for the
Evening star., 1926-03-17
Today in Congress


Agriculture committee held an
other hearing tota" on the Hau-
gen cooperative marketing hill.
The judiciary committee held
hearings on pending nominations
for Office in Ala aska.
Foreign relations committee held
an executive session.
PRIVILEGES and elections commit
tee is in session to consider
the . Bursum Bratton senatorial
contest. Senator Bratton succeed.
ed Senator Bursum from New
Mexico.
Several bills. including the ex-
tension Of Fourteenth street
through walter Reed Hospital
grounds. are being heard by the
senate District committee this
afternoon.
Senator Wheeler Of Montana
addressed the Senate on the long.
and .short.haul bill. after which
the Interior Department appro.
priation bill may he taken up.
HOuse.
House expects to complete con.
sheraton Of $33. 700. .O00 District ap.
propria ton bill today.
The last of the big Government
sunply bills was reported to the
House TODAY, when the appropria-
tions committee recommended *l6.-
406 .727 for the legislative establish.
nent which includes the Capitol
and the Library Of Congress-.
House District committee favor
ohlv reports three bills. and fixes
time for vote on the Underhill
and Fitzgerald workmen's compen-
sation bills one week from To-Day
at 30 am.
Public buildings and GROUNDS con-
ducts hearing on measure lntro.
duced by Chairman Zihiman OF
House District committee to pre-
vent perma nent construction work
at the tourist camp.
Naval affairs committee holds
hearing on repair Of naval vessels.
Interstate Commerce committee
continues hearing 'on railroads.
Foreign affairs committee In ex-
ecutive session conducts hearing In
Fish resolution for erection Of
monument in France.
Ranking and currency committee
holds hearing On Baltimore bank
bill.
Military affairs committee holds
regular meeting, in executive ses-
sion.
Committee on agriculture con.
ttnues hearing on agricultural re-
lief measures.
Mercha mt marine committee holds
hearing on Bacon bin to amend the
shipping act.
Committee on mines and mining
continues hearing on mine rescue
work.
Committee on irrigation and rec
lamation considers several meas
.ires In executive session.
Evening star., 1926-03-17
BELL. ANSWERS CRITIC.
Denies Heads on Arlington County
Water. Differ With Chief.

fnS.neer Commissioner J. Frank
I'M Rell today answered the criticism
Of Asa r. Phillips. consulting engineer,
Tor his attitude on the bill providing
For the extension Of the District $
water supply into the sanitary dis
rict of Arlington County. Va.
writing to Maj. Cen. Harry Taylor.
chief o' engineers OF the ..S. Army,
commissioner Rell. said:
There was an article in Ia st night =
star in which a correspondent from
Clarendon. Va. stated that my atti-
tnde on the hill TO supply Arlington
County with water was critical of the
Secretary of War.
rms Is the matter on which
consulted YOU. and we agreed that
the iili IL supply Arlington County
with water should he amended so that
the arrangements would be made BY
the commissioners of the District OF
Columbia with the approval of the
Secretary of War. In recognition Of
the fact that the Commissioners have
charge of and are responsible for
the water revenues and that the Sec
retary of War should have the right
10 decide what engineering arran nge
mentS should he made or to deny
he application should national
emergency or the state of the water
supply make such action advisa hle.
Instead of being at variance. /
believe that our views are in com.
plete accord.
Il would appreciate 1t II YOU would
call this to the attention OF the
Secretary, II you deem II desira BILE to
40 So
Col. Bell tnclosed statement In
his letter showing the estima ed ex-
penditures of the water supply and
distribution systems to June 30, 1927.
when the new aqueduct system should
he complete.
The engineer Commissioner has for
some time insisted that II would he
in the interest of good administra-
tion for the District to Ak the water
rates for the Arlington County con
Sumerc.
Evening star., 1926-03-17
RITES FOR GEN. SANGER.

Funeral services for Maj Gen.
Joseph Prentice Sanger. l.. s. A.. re-
tired, who died at Walter Reed Hos
pital Monday. We're conducted at St.
Johns Episcopal Church today at II
o'clock. Rev. Robert Johnston, rector
officiated. Interment. with full mill.
tarv honors. was in Arlington Gene
terry.
Honorary pallbearers were Mai.
Gems. G.. s. Humphreys. James, Allen,
Andre Brewster. Willard Holbrook
and Andrew Hero: Rear Admiral r.
G. Davenport, Brig. Gen. Charles Nc
Cawley, Col. Alexander Rogers. J. G.
r. Peabody, Edward McCauley, Ar
chibald Hopkins. Woodbury. Blair.
Reginald Huidekoper and Walter
Bruce Howe.
Gen. Sanger. who. was in his eighty
sixth year. was a veteran Of the Civil
War. the Spa nish. American War and
numerous military expeditions. He
was twice brevetted for merit orious
service
Evening star., 1926-03-17
CITIZENS COUNCIL WILL TACKLE
PROPOSED WATER RATE INCREASE
Suter Fails in Effort Have Issue Discussed Last
Night-Special Session Summoned for To.
night-Other Bills O. KID.

The Citizens Advisory Council will
hold a special meeting tonight, at
which the proposed - per cent in
crease in water rates In the District
will he discussed
An effort was made by Jesse G. Suter
chairman. To have the council consider
the raise. which the District appropri
alton bill as reported to the House
directs the commissioners to nut into
effect July !. at it's regular weekly
meeting last night. but a lengthy dis.
russ'"n on the hill abolishing the fee
system In the offices of the Recorder of
Deeds and the Register of Wills neces.
STATED delay. Mr. Suter said the
proposed boost In water rates was
matter of utmost Importance and
should take precedence" over other
matters pending before the council.
Mr.. Suter read memora ndum to
the council explaining that the pro-
Niso Tor higher water rates had heen
inserted IN the appropriation hill 10
meet an expected deficit in tha water
revenues for the next fiscal year. due
Z" the fact that the Federal Govern
ment is not paying for the water It
consumes. 1t is estimated that the
United States uses ~ per cent Of the
total amount of water consumed in
The memora ndum also pointed ont
the the Federal Government. which
has capital investment IN the
Districts water supply system. has
not contributed to its maintenance
since 1917. and that the upkeep has
heen borne entirely by the water
consumers lf the Federal Govern.
ment paid for the water IL consumes,
the memorandum added. 1t would not
he necessary To raise the water rates.
In considering the water situation
The council. At the suggestion of
Daniel !. Donovan. District auditor,
will study the testimony of Engineer
Commissioner J. Franklin Bell and
other officials at the hearings on the
appropriation hill before the House
subcommittee. 1t was at these
hearings that Commissioner Bell
urged that the maintenance OF the
water supply system he provided for
out of the general revenues of the
District instead Of out of the water
revenues OF the District. He sug
eested an increase in rates as an
alternative to this plan.
The hill designed to put the offices
Of the Recorder Of Deeds and the
Register of Wills on an Appropriation
basis by abolishing the present fee
system was approved by the council
after two-a nd-one-h half hour discus
sion of a report submitted by DR..
George G. Havenner. Theodore Cogs-
well. deputy recorder Of deeds. and
District Auditor Donovan appea red
before the council in connection with
the discussion.
With several qualifications. the
council also approved a favorable re
Evening star., 1926-03-17
COOLIDGE CONFERS
WITH U. S. ENJOYS
ON ISSUES ABROAD

Continued from First PageD
gested that II the preliminary arms
conference were called now. and
should fail 10 come to any satisfac-
tory agreement. then the league would
suffer still further in it's prestige
The preponderan of belief in off
cial circles however was that the
league would 60 ahead with the plans
for the arms conference. 1t was
pointed out that this is the third time
that the league has advanced the idea
of an arms conference. that il IL al.
lowed the conference to so ny the
board this time the league would lose
the sympathy Of great many people
here and abroad who are heartily In
favor OF limitation of arn,a n,ents
The council of the league may sci
the date for the preliminary confer
ence early In May. as has heen rla n
ned. On the other hand. ii was re-
called today that the date Of the con
ference had been post poned once be-
fore on the plea that Germany should
drst he admitted to the lea que before
the conference was held. Germa ny
has not become member Of the
league. and there Is no chance for her
becoming 80 until next September or
the date of the conference again for
the rea ascn of Germa ny's non-memher.
ship in the league.
Work Of First Conference.
The preliminary arms conference
II was pointed out today. has only to
decide upon the program. TO sift out
those questions which the various M
tione believe may be attacked with
some success At the conference proper
which could not he held probably
until the latter part Of 1927. The in.
terest taken in II abroad was de-
scribed al less than that in this coun.
try. Nevertheless, there is consid.
erable sentiment in the European
nations for A limitation OF arma ments
and hope that something may he
done.
No effort is made here to minimize
the seriouspess-from the point OF
view Of the leaeue-of the situation
which has arisen out Of the contro-
versiee at Geneva over the admission
Of Germany to the league and the
proposals Of various nations to en-
large the council by giving per.
rnanent seat to Brazil, Poland or one
of the other ns tions not now possess-
ing euch a seat. The hone In ex-
pressed. however. that the row may
be largely on the surface and that
the postponement of action now has
been taken with a full understand
ing that the present difficulties not
only may. but can. he iroped out
successfully prior TO September.
Brazils attitude. declining TO yield
on her request for a permanent seat
IN the league council is variously in
terpreted here. One view taken lie