davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1927-03-05
CITY HEADS TOPUSH
DISTRICT INQUIRY
Will Study Governmental'Mas
chinery Independent of Glib
son Investigation.

Continuance OF the life ofsthe Gibs
son subcommittee for the teummef
with authority for members, Of that
committee to sit at hearings invests.
eating angles OF the government OF
the District. will In no way hinder or
delay the board survey planned by
the Commissioners into all depart
ments OF the local government for the
purpose of bringing local govern
mental machinery to the top-notch Of
smooth-running efficiency.
This was made clear at the District
Building today. One Of the highs local
officials stated that while, at tho re-
quest of members of the Gibsoni sub
committee. independent action by the
Commissioners into the signal trafic
light muddle may be held up for sew
eral days yet. the Commissioners next
week Will probably launch their gen.
eral investigation into the District
governments administrative methods.
The principal aim will be toward
undermining and improving local gov
ernmental departments. If scandals or
irregularities be encountered during
the quest for efficiency these will not
be dfsregarded but acted uponkprompt-
ly. Primarily. however. theySwill not
be the goals of the survey.
Equipment Is Checked.
AS far as the signal light Lcheck-
up by the Bureau of Efficiency "a con-
cerned. IL was learned today that in
vestigators had made physical
check-up Of every item of atertal
and equipment entering into the.auto-
matte traffic regulation system here
and were now assembling thef data
md information obtained from their
notes to compare the items found
al o., m&~
lights and the orders for equipment.
Probing into these contracts and
orders by the Gibson subcommittee
has already resulted in the suspen-
sion of Col. !. G.. Moller from the
post of traffic engineer. for irregulari-
ties in dealing with the specifsca tons,
contracts and certificates of receipt OF
goods under the contracts.
Independent Offices.
District officials already have de-
veloped in a general way what they
desire in the way of assistance from
the Bureau of Efficiency in surveying
she local government. Although there
are 50 subordinate but independent
offices under the three Commissioners,
detailed investigation into which
would be a tremendous task. there are
procedures common to all these offices
the threads OF which are intertwlned
in the fabric of governmental admins
tration here.
At the hurried board meeting of
the Commissioners yesterday no ofi-
cial action was taken looking 10 for
NAL invitation To the Bureau of
Efficiency to take up the survey
work. but it was predicted that at
the next board meeting of the Com
missioners some actionl would De
taken along this line.
Evening star., 1927-03-05
EMILY EDINGTON DIES.

Miss Emily Harper Ellington. SO
years old, direct descendant of Ben
jamin Harrison, signer of the Declar-
alton Of independence. died at her
home, 211 A street northeast, Tuesa
day.
Miss Ellington was the daughter
Of the late DIR. Edmund Gordon
Ellington, a native of Prince George
County, Va. and was related to many
Of the old families of the Old
Dominion. She had resided In this
city about Is years.
Funeral services We're conducted
in Zurhorst's undertaking parlors
yesterday afternoon. Rev. William
n. Pettus, rector of ST. Mark (
Episcopal Church, officiated. The
body was taken to Pittsburgh for
tnterment.
Evening star., 1927-03-05
MRS. EDITH JOHNSON,
CHURCH SINGER, DIES
Became Worse on Learning Mother
Had Expired-Funeral to
Be Monday.

Mrs. Edith Yoder Johnson, 4s years
old formerly a well known church
soloist and concert singer In this city,
died in her home. "a Third street
northeast. Thursday, only a. few hours
after funeral services for her mother,
Mrs. Emma l.. Yoder, who died Mon.
day.
Mrs. Johnson. who was gravely ILL.,,
became worse Monday, when she
learned of the death Of her mother.
Efforts to keep the news from her were
unsuccessful, for the two women were
i'll in adjoining rooms.
Possessing both a contralto and
soprano voice. Mrs. Johnson sang
equally we'll in each and was well
known for several years as soloist
in St. Margaret's Episcopal Church.
She was the daughter of the late Maj.
Charles T. Yoder, Civil War veteran
and for many years an attorney in
the General Land once. She was mar
ried to s. r. Johnson. an attorney In
the General Land Office, who died
In 1907.
Mrs. Johnson is survived by two
sons, Ira and Elmer Johnson, both of
this city.
Funeral services will be conducted
at the residence Monday afternoon
at o'clock. Rev. Andrew r. Bird
will officiate. Interment will be in
Rock Creek Cemetery.
Mrs. Yoder was buried in Arlington
Cemetery Thursday.
Evening star., 1927-03-05
5()OREPORTED DEAD
IN AFRICAN STORM
Madagascar Town Damage
Put at $4,O ,O00, ,OOO-Ships
Lost, London Hears.

BY the Associated Press.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March
5.-A terrific cyclone which struck the
east coast of Madagascar Island
Thursday is reported to have taken
500 lives, say private wireless mes
sages received here today by way of
Mauritius The town of Tamatave Is
described as devastated.
Madagascar Island, in the Indian
Ocean, off the east coast of Africa. is
French colony. The island Is esti-
mated to contain 100000 square miles.
The Malayan element predominates
among the inhabitants. who number
more than 3,4O0,000. There are about
1000 Europeans on the island.
Tamatave, on the east coast. Is the
most important seaport, and was for
some time the capital. The latest cen
sus. in 1923, gave 1t population of
1920.
Antananarivo. city in the center
of the island, has population of
68 500.
Damage was placed at $4.000,000
and ships were reported lost. accord
ing to London dispatches.
Evening star., 1927-03-05
u. S. CONSULAR AGENT
BEATEN IN NICARAGUA
W. H. Desavigny, at Matagalpa,
Assailed by Two Unidenti-
fled Men.

W. H. Desavigny, American consul
lar agent at Matagalpa, Nicaragua.
was beaten up and left unconscious by
two unidentified assailants one night
recently, according to an official report
received by the State Department
from Minister Eberhardt at Managua.
The two men. according to the re-
port, followed Desavigny as he re-
turned from a club at l am. and at
tackled him as he entered his house.
The assailants used only their fists.
The consular agent was found uncon-
scious three hours later and is suffer
ing from iDternal injuries the extent
of which have not been determined.
Desavigny Is a native of Quebec and
Is 81 year old. He was naturaized In
Minnesota. in 1892. He has held the
post at Matagalpa since 1905.
The Nicaraguan government. the re.
port said, has promised to spare no
effort toward the apprehension and
punishment of the assailants.
Evening star., 1927-03-05
Ex-vlRGINIA STUDENT
INDICTED IN SLAYlNG
Tennessee Man Asserts Innocence
in Death of Young Woman Found
Shot in Her Home.
BY the Associated Press.

COLUMBIA. Tenn. March s.
Charged with the Staying OF his sweet
heart. who was married to another
man and who was killed by the re-
voiver of a third suitor. Liliard
Foutch. jr.. former University Of Eir-
ginia student, today maintained hts
innocence in connection with the
death of Mrs. Mildred Marr Ruff.
Mrs. Ruff was found with a bullet
wound through her head on the night
of June 20. 1926. A moment before
she had been seated beside Foutch on
the front porch of her home. In her
hand was a pistol, later identified as
belonging to another young man with
whom she had gone automobile riding
a few days before.
Foutch was arrested on a murder
charge. He told police that he had
known Mrs. Ruff and loved her since
childhood days as Mildred Marr. the
adopted daughter Of a prominent real
tor. He was engaged to her at the
time of her death. Lilliard told county
officials later. and only learned OF her
secret marriage when Paul Run or
Quitman. Miss, attended her funeral.
They had been married. Run said.
while the girl was attending school In
Foutch could give no reason why
the girl had shot herself. Yesterday
an indictment was returned against
Foutch by a grand jury. No date has
been set for his trial.
Evening star., 1927-03-05
ESCAPES ASSA!LANT.

An unidentified man embraced her
and followed her to her home at 21O9
Eighteenth street last night about $50
o'clock, Miss Edith Newton reported
10 uolice. She managed to break
awav from the man. she said, and ran
To her home. Her assailant followed.
but did not attempt to enter her apart
ment. she said
She was unable to say whether the
man was white or cClored.
Police are of the opinion that her
assailant Is the same man VINO At.
tackled Miss Nellie Cumberland, 4013
Marlboro place, yesterday morning.
Irene Dean, colored, 2S years Old,
1915 Ninth street. reported to police
that she was seized hy a colored man
near Twelfth and w streets yesterday,
but succeeded in frightening him
aWaX
Evening star., 1927-03-05
TEACHERS TO WARN
STUDENTS Of GUNS.
Wi|lett Suicide Brings State
ment From Kramer Favor
ing Stricter Law.

Warning 10 students in the public
schools of Washington against carry
Ing firear rms will be given as result
of the suicide yesterday of Herbert
Willett, 16.year-old Central High
School student. who fired bullet into
his brain in a corridor of the school.
Coroner hewitt last night rendered
a verdict Of suicide. although the boys
parents. Mr.. and Mrs. Allan II. VIII
lett of 29l0 Brandywine street. Chevy
Chase, the latter a teacher in the
school. were emphatic in their belief
that the shooting was an accident.
stephen f. kramer, assistant superin-
tendent of schools. also is convinced
that Willett did not intend TO kill him.
self. he said today, following a careful
investigation.
Will Warn Students.
Mr. Kramer said that principals of
all the schools will be asked TO warn
students against the danger of carry
ing weapons. They will be asked to
emphasize both the fact that 1t is
against the law and the peril TO lives
that accompanies the habit. Parents
also will be asked to guard against
the use of firearms by their children.
and TO see that they do not bring
them TO school.
These warnings will not be issued
however. Mr.. Kramer
said. He pointed out that school au
thorities want the excitement of yes
terday's tragedy to die down before
further Is said about 1t.
Classes Will be held at Central Mon
day as usual. All students were dis
missed yesterday after the incident.
Need Stricter Laws.
Mr.. Kramer emphasized the need
Of stricter laws against the purchase
Of firearms. While explaining that
he believed Willett's death was the
result of an ill-timed gesture Of
bravado, rather than Of deliberate in
tention to Kill himself. he expressed
the opinion that the ease with which
firearms can be obtained is a big
factor in the wave Of student suicides
the country. When the
means Of self-destruction are at hand.
he said, boy may kill himself In a
moment of desperation. while IL he
had trouble in getting a gun. he
would probably realize the folly Of his
act before he had carried 1t out.
Willetts body was taken from the
morgue to Gawier's chapel yesterday
afternoon. where 1t will remain until
the funeral tomorrow. Services, which
will be private, will be conducted by
Rev. Ulysses G. B. Pierce Of AllSouls'
Unitarian Church. The time and place
of the services are being kept secret
Besides his parents, young Willett
leaves a brother, Hurd Willett. a stu
dent at George Washington Univer-
sity.
Evening star., 1927-03-05
Minister Is Hunted
After Auto Upsets
With Load of Rum
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
KLAMATH FALLS. Greg,
March 5.--Fleeing after his auto
mobile, containing so gallons of
moonshine liquor, had overturned
in a ditch. Rev. M. l.. Petelle,
former pastor of the First Christian
Church of klamath Falls, was be-
ing sought today In the heavily
timbered slopes of the Siskiyou
Mountains. Is miles south of Ash
land. With Rev. Mr.. Petelle was
an unidentified man. A warrant
for the minister's arrest has been
issued at Medford.
l.. o. Shirley. Federal prohibi-
ton officer, who, with Louis Muel-
Ter, deputy sheriff of klamath
Falls. discovered the liquor-laden
car. declared he recognized Petelle
as he fled.
Petelle resigned as pastor Of his
church last month after he had
held that position for q period of
nine months.
Evening star., 1927-03-05
PRESIDENT WALKS
MILE TO HIS WORK
Held Up by Traffic Policeman
and Dodges Jam
of Autos.

President Coolidge suceumbed to
the lure of the warm bright sunshine
this morning and walked mile from
his new home ON Dupont Circle to the
White House, hut before he was safely
at his desk he had discovered that the
life OF Washington pedestr rian Is
not always serene.
Accompa MED by his usual escort of
secret service men. the President saun-
tered to the White House at $40
o'clock. Traffic was beginning to
reach its peak. Everything went
smoothly. however. until the busy In.
tersection at Jackson place and II
street was reached.
Wait for Autos to Pass.
There Policeman Haywood G.. John
SON of the third precinct was regu-
lating the traffic. When four quietly
dressed men stopped at the northeast
curb he gave them no more thought
than he would have accorded any 9th
ar pedestrians and waved automobiles
across their path.
II Policeman Johnson noticed that
one Of them was the President Of the
United States he gave no outward In.
dicatior of II for several minutes
while his arm directed afiic east and
west. Finally. holding up forbid
ding palm against the onrushing mo>
torists, he beckoned the four pedes-
trians on their way.
To his surprise however. the pedes.
trians stopped In the middle of Fl
street, while one of them quietly in
formed the officer that It was Presi-
dent Coolidge who had been forced
TO walt an exceptionally long time at
the intersection.
Car Makes Him Move.
At that minute another jam Of au-
tomobiles bore down directly toward
the President as he waited and forced
him to step briskly to the opposite
sidewalk. where he was Joined once
more by the secret service men to
continue the walk to the White House.
The President was vtsibly disturbed
by the incident.
Despite this delay. President Cool.
idge completed the walk, which is a
fraction short of a mile, in II min
utes. This is fairly good time when
traffic conditions are taken into con-
sideration.
The streets were filled with Govern
ment workers hurrying to their Of
fees, but few of the morning throng
seemed to notice that the latest one to
join their ranks was the President of
the United States.
Evening star., 1927-03-05
MRS. CHARLOTTE COSBY,
ADMIRAL'S WIDOW, DIES
Mother of Col. Spencer Cosby Was
SO Years Old-Two Other
Sons Survive.

Mrs. Charlotte NJ. Cosby. Sc years
old, widow of Rear Admiral Frank
Carvill Cosby. II. S. ~, and mother
of Col. Spencer Cosby, U. s. A..
former District Engineer Commits
sioner and superintendent of public
buildings during the Taft admins
tration. died at her home In Stone
leigh Court this morning.
Mrs. Cosby was born at Chester
town, Md. March 10. 1891. She was
a daughter of the late Samuel Wright
Spencer. banker and Maryland State
Senator She had lived in Washing.
ton most of her life. She was a mem
Der of st. Johns Episcopal Church.
She Ia survived by two other sons,
Frank G. Cosby. Boston, and Lieut..
Col. Arthur r. Cosby of the general
staff, u. S. A., and four grand
children.
Funeral services will he held at the
late residence In Stoneleigh Court.
No time has been appointed. Rev.
Roland Cotton Smith. her former
pastor, will off1ciate. Interment will
be in Arlington National Cemetery.
Evening star., 1927-03-05
CHICAGO AUTO FIRM
Is WRECKED BY BOMB
$35, 900 Damage Caused at Home
Of Station WEDC-Attack Is
Second on Owner.

Dy tne AsSOclAted Rress.
CHICAGO, March 5.--A dozen ex.
pensive motor cars were demolished
and damage Of 5000 was caused
early today by a bomb explosion in a
West Side motor salesroom. which is
the home Of radio station wEDC.
The explosion was the second within
few weeks on property of Emil Dene
mark, owner of the salesroom, whose
suburban home in Oak Park recently
was bombed. Denemark, who was alb.
sent at the time, attributed the at
tack to political enmity
Station WEDC escaped harm in the
explosion, which wrecked the front
part Of the building. The only casual
ty was janitor. who suffered a broken
ankle and bruises when he was tossed
more than so feet
The bombing was the second Of the
night, a previous detonation having
wrecked the Office OF lumber com
pany located just outside the loop dis
trict.
Evening star., 1927-03-05

Continued from First Pagel
the man entered the Ridgeway home
with the conviction he would find
money. Boersig, who has a wife and
three children. has been out of work
for several weeks and his family are
I'm a destitute condition. relying upon
the Salvation Army and other char
liable organiza tions.
Mr.. Ridgeway, however, said today
that while he used to work with
Roersig at the Fruit Growers Ex-
change yards. that he had not had
any dealings with him for two years.
Boersig was arrested after Mrs.
Ridgeway repeated his name while
she was being administered first aid
at the hospital.
Sister Feared Dying.
DR.. NJ. D. Delaney and DR.. o. A.
Ryder both marveled that the 6year-
old girl. who died at 6:55 o'clock this
morning, had lived as long as she did
The other young girl, suffering from
a crushed skull, has little more than
a fighting chance to recover. The
mother, however, is thought certain
to recover.
Hysterical, Mrs. Louis Boersig. sur
rounded by three sobbing children. to-
day voiced confidence that her hus-
band is innocent.
While Mrs. Boersig admitted that
her husband drank heavily and in
these moods mistreated both herself
and the children. she said she forgave
him all and would stand by him.
MY man could not have done it,"
she shrieked as neighbors endeavored
to pacify her.
Tells of Strange Actions.
Mrs. Boersig admitted, however.
that her husband has been acting
strangely recently and that she had
thought seriously of having him ex-
amined by a lunacy board. She said
that he had been distracted because
he was out of work and had hung
around the house yesterday until after
the mail came in the hope of hearing
word about position.
Mrs. Boersig and her family were
transferred to relatives across the
street today, while police searched the
Boersig home for evidence. 1t Is said
they found nothing worthwhile.
A baby in the crib OF the Ridgeway
home was unharmed and has been
turned over to relatives pending the
recovery of the mother.
Robbery Held Motive.
Police said they were convinced to-
day that Boersig was familiar with
the fact That Ridgeway had recently
been paid and was in hopes he would
be able to get some Of the money
which he evidently believed was hid
in the home.
Sheriff H. NJ. Cross of Fairfax
County was In charge of the transfer
of Boersig from that county and he
has taken elaborate precautions to
keep his whereabouts secret.
The police secured the Ridgeway
home today in search of any weapon
which the attacker might have used In
his attacks. They are convinced he
did not use his fists alone on account
of the ugly gashes on the bodies of
the mother and her two daughters.
While they believe either the shovel
or chair. or both. was employed, they
also found stout club which had
been snapped off clean. They are
holding this as additional evidence
Loretta died as result of a series
OF blows on her skull. Her sister,
Catherine. also was struck on the
head and Is suffering from a com
pound fracture of the skull. The
mother was beaten about the neck,
shoulders ana body.
Evening star., 1927-03-05
NEW HOSPITAL PLANNED
ON SITE OF CASUALTY
Campaign Headquarters to Be
Kept Open Another Week,
Workers Hear.

A new hospital will be built on the
site of theh present Casualty Hos
pital. it was definitely announced at
a meeting of the campaign workers
at the Mayfiower last night.
Roy L. Neuhauser, general chair
man of the campaign, announced that
the total Of cash. pledges and agree.
ments to furnish material, labor and
equipment Is $135 ,423.75.
Headquarters for the campaign at
604 Fourteenth street will be kept
open for another week for additional
pledges. There was dancing by Miss
Virginia Macomb and Miss Helen
Dulin. and singing by the star radio
twins.
Luncheon was served to 200 workers
and guests.
Evening star., 1927-03-05
APPROVES SHIP LOAN.
Signs Bill for Fund of
$125, 900, 900 for Construction.

The bill setting up a SIPS 900 900
7onstruction loan fund to be used by
She Shipping Board to aid private
shipbuilding was signed by the Presi-
dent just before Congress adjourned
yesterday.
The fund had been authorized pre-.
Tously, but because of inharmon;ous
operation of the law in conjunction
with Shipping Board practices, only
a small portion has been used The
money will accrue from sale Of ships
and any operating profits, and would
be used as loans to build, in American
yards, vessels to sail on lines consid-
cred necessary by the board.
Evening star., 1927-03-05
INJURED YOUTH MOVED.
Francis Wayland, Hurt at School
Fire, Able to Go Home.

Francis Wayland, 16-year-old son of
Mr.. and Mrs. wellmay wayiand. 127
Oak street. Lyon Village, who sus-
tanned a wrenched back and fracture
of the right leg while aiding in rescue
work during the fire which destroyed
the main building Of Randolph.Macon
Academy. Front Royal, Va. January
10. where he was student, was re-
moved to his home today from Sibley
Hospital.
Young Wayland was taken to Win
chester Memorial Hospital the morn
ing after the fire. but was transferred
the next day to Sibley. He will be un.
able to return to the school this ses-
sion. his father said. He Is a member
of Troop 100, Boy Scouts of America.
the 7. NJ. c. A. troop, and IL an EAGLE
Scout, the highest rank In scouting.
Evening star., 1927-03-05


items mentioned.
District of Columbia officials faced
similar problems several years ago,
when a previous deficiency bill failed
in which provision had been made for
increased salaries for policemen, fire.
men and school teachers. Prior to
that occa sion policemen and firemen
had been receiving the wartime
bonus, but it had been withdrawn in
anticipation of the passage of the de-
ticiency bill in the closing days of that
session. When that deficiency bill
failed the result was that the en-
ployes of those departments faced the
prospect of losing the bonus for sew
eral months without receiving the in
crease in basic pay which Congress
had expected to give them in lieu of
the bonus
Evening star., 1927-03-05
MRS. MCCULLOUGH BURIED
Rites Held for Widow of Wash
ington Pastor.

Funeral services for Mrs. Annie
Mccullough. 30 years old, widow of
Rev. G.. w. Mccullough, for more
than 90 years the pastor of thes Wis
consin Avenue Baptist Church, who
died Thursday at her residence, 1916
Prospect avenue. were held today In
the Fifth Baptist Church. Rev. John
r. Biggs, pastor, assisted by Rev.
o. B. Falls. pastor of the Wisconsin
Avenue Baptist Church. and Rev. DR..
II. w. Q. Millington, officiated. Inter.
nent was in Glenwood Cemetery.
Mrs. Mccullough was well known
in Georgetown, where she was engaged
in active work at the Gospel Mission.
Her husband died eight years ago.
She was "a native of Virginia, but has
lived In Washington more than 25
years. She died following a Today
fitness of pneumonia
Evening star., 1927-03-05
WILL SPEAK TWICE.

Rev. George Mecklenberg, extension
secretary of the Methodist Board Of
Temperance, Prohibition and Public
Morals. will address the Wesley
Methodist Episcopal Church tomorrow
at 11:nO am, and the Foundry
Methodist Episcopal Church tomor.
row evening at pm.
DR.. Mecklenberg has just returned
from an extended trip through Eu'
rope and the Near East. where he
made especial study of the social con
ditions.
DR.. Mecklenberg devoted careful at
tention to conditions in Italy under
the Fascist regime. His addresses will
be based upon his experiences and OBJ
seryatious abroad.