davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New Britain herald., 1927-02-11
INA7TEN7I0N CAUSES
 MOST MOTOR CRASHES
Responsible for GAO Dur ing Year-393 Blamed
 on Drunkenness

Hartford Feb. II P-The great est cause of motor vehicle accidents in 1926 was inattention of operators, figures compiled by the motor vehicle department indicate. Of the 17,275 accidents for which operators were blamed. G,240 were listed as due to this cause.
 Failure of operators to grant right of way to other drivers in accord ance with the laws resulted in 3,G44 accidents, the compilation indicates. Of the accidents blamed upon oper- ators, 393 were laid to intoxcation, 745 to speeding. 126 to cutting in, 40 to passing standing trolleys, IS to passing on curves. 19 passing on hills, 3S passing on the wrong side of vehicles, SS cutting corners. IS passing at intersections, 52 improper parking, 20 cranking cars in gear, 105 failing to set brakes. e becom- ing confused.
 While two accidents resulted from attempts to beat trains, twice that number came from driving too slow ly for conditions Skidding was responsible for 2,S39 accidents. care less backing for BOG, inexperience for 429 and operating on the wrong side of the road for ,009. Follow ing vehicles too closely was respon- sible for 520 and failure to signal for 4J2,
New Britain herald., 1927-02-11
Rescinds Stay Until May, Which He Granted Yesterday Says They Sought to Influence Him Through Friend.
Eker Case Becomes More Sensational as Jurist Predicts Appeal Will Be Made to President Coo lidge.
INSISTS HE WILL
 OPPOSE ALL PLEAS

New York, Feb. Il Rl-Judge Meekins, who presided at the Eker rum trial which resulted in the sen- tence to Atlanta penitentiary of the mayor and chief of police of Edge water. N. J., today rescinded his ac- ton of yesterday in staying until May 10 the sentences of De Witt Turner and Clifford and Cecil Kinder.
 Turner and the Flinders, Chica- goans and owners of the rum run ner Eker, who pleaded guilty and turned government witnesses, were ordered immediately committed to the Tombs. Cecil Kinder and Turner are under sentences of IS months to Atlanta and Clifford Kinder to six months in the county jail.
 Calls For Marshal.
 Judge Meekins reduced the sen- tence of Turner to year and day in Atlanta, but did not change the others.
 Where Is the marshall" he in- ouired, looking about him.
 A deputy marshal stepped for- ward.
 "The bail of these men is ended and they are turned ever to your custody" said Judge Meekins, ad- dressing the deputy. They are to be taken to the Tombs. there to be con- fined until they can with convenient speed be removed to the places or Imprisonment designated"
 But your honor" protested As sistant United States Attorney Stichman, your honor granted q stay of sentence yesterday until May 10."
 Tried to Use Friend.
 That is revoked" responded Judge Meekins.
 Judge Meekins said that represen- tatives of the informers had gone to Washington and tried to retain one of his best friends, for a fee, 10 in terccde for them.
 "I don't know how they knew that this gentleman was my friend,' he said, Tt all shows how far the ram ifications of this ring go. Why a high official came to me yesterday and pleaded for them, talked to me personally in their behalf, and l have since learned that at the tune he had a fee from them in hls pocket
 Opposes Clemency.
 "Your purpose is to appeal to the president" Judge Meekins continued. "rhese men should be serving thelr sentences while the appeals are be- ing made and they will be unless they die naturally or are murdered before they get to prison. l shall strongly represent to the president that in my opinion no clemency should be extended. Now MT. Stich- man, I don't want to hear another word about this case from anyDody at any time. My mind is made up and my conscience is clear. IT you want to talk about the matter any more 20 before another judge. These men are going to jail unless the marshal refuses to do his duty, and If he does I'll find way to stir him up."
New Britain herald., 1927-02-11
NEWS DISPATCHES FROM MARITIME COUNTRIES INDICATE PRESIDENTS
 SUGGESTIONS ARE WELL RECEIVED
Edison Tries to Explain News
 onhe Human Souls Immortality
Mayor May Halt Work
 Being Done by Official
 In His Own Department

Members of city commissions who do business with the de- partments over which they are in charge. may have this source of revenue cut off, a statement by Mayor Weld today indicated.
 It has been brought to the attention of the mayor that re- pair work is In progress In city hall in the office of one Of the boards, the work being done by a member of the same commis- sion. Mayor Weld remarked that the charter and ordinances do not seem to specifically cover this practice, but he does not regard it as ethical for commis- sioners to do business directly with their departments except ing In case of competitive bids. a practice approved by the charter.
New Britain herald., 1927-02-11
Believes in a Supreme h. telligence" and Thinks When Man Dies Billions
 of Organized Entities
 Desert Body, Go Into Space and Are Immortal.

West Orange, N. J., Feb. Il Rl- A small percentage of all the facts known about nature favors im- morality. Thomas A. Edison, the wizard of Menlo Park, said today on his eightieth birthday, in reply to questions on whether he had changed his views regarding immor- tality.
 ''The word God has no meaning to me-" he said, but I believe there is a supreme intelligence pervading the universe, and at times I believe that when a man dies, the swarms of billions of highly organized en- titles which live in the cells. desert the body go out into space and keep on and enter another and last cycle and are immortal"
 T have not changed my views on immortality. he added.
 Wearing a freshly-cleaned blue worsted suit, with a red rose on his coat, the wizard accompanied by his old friend Henry Ford. who worked for him in East Orange years ago, drove up to the Edison plant and laboratory, shortly before 10 a. m., in one of MT. Ford's low priced cars made in 1922.
 Last summer MT. Edison named this car "Gustave Adolphus" in honor of the Swedish crown prince. When Mr. Ford arrived in Wsst Orange last night he was conveyed to the Edison home in Llewellyn Park in one of the high priced auto mobiles made by his company. MT Ford wore a natty dark suit and 8 purple and pink tie.
 They need manager, they all want to do different things" shouted Ford to the wizard, when photo graphers scrambled here and there attempting to pose the celebrities in a dozen different positions.
 Submits to Questions
 Then the party with newspaper and magazine writers entered the la boratory building for the question ing to which MT. Edison had an- nounced he would submit. MT. Edi- son took off his old black overcoat, glanced for q moment at his new dark brown shoes and began writing answers with an old lead pencil, Tn the firm hand, characteristic of many telegraph operators. MT. Edison said there were many men on the horizon capable of solv- ing problems as great as those which he had met and that he thought man would go through this industrial civilization to higher one the age of art.
 Fine arts, painting and music, are very important to mankind" he said. "The human soul is the same as intelligence.
 Man Not the Unit Man is not the unit of life. have stated that many times, but no one understands. Man Is as dead as granite. The unit of life con- (Continued on Page Nine.)
New Britain herald., 1927-02-11
SUGGEST DISMISSAL
 OF TWO EXAMINERS
Probers Favor Elimination of Contractors From
 Committee

The Investigating committee ap- pointed to probe the giving and marking of electrical examinations will recommend to the common council that two Of the three ex- aminers be displaced, and that prac- tical as well as theoretical tests be given hereafter and that experience in the trade be considered in giving credits.
 The report, made public today for the first time, calls attention to the fact that three licenses were given without examination. It is claimed the questions were not properly put and that the markings were careless as indicated by the fact that many ensures show changed opinions as to the amount of credit that should be allowed.
 The report follows:
 "Tne special committee appointed to investigate the giving and mark ing of examinations for licenses in the electrical trade begs leave to re- port that the subject was thoroughly probed, with the result that the fol- lowing findings were made:
 1.-The questions in the examina- tions were not expressed with suffi- cient clarity and were found to be capable of being answered correctly in more than one way
 "2-The examining committee in quired the names of the applicants instead of using system of num- bers on the papers, (this latter method being employed subsequent ly).
 "3-Markings of the papers in the first examination were not made with care, as fully 90 per cent of the papers show erasures and changes in the credits given.
 "4-Licensose were given in three instances without examinations.
 "5-Fifteen per cent of the ques- tions in the examinations are not answered specifically in the nation al electricians code.
 "Thc committee makes the follow ing recommendation relative to fu- ture examinations for electricians  licenses.
 "1-That the examining commit tee consist of the electrical inspec- tor and two others Yersed in the electrical trade but not engaged in contracting
 "2-That examinations for licenses consist of written questions the answers to which are contained in the National Electrical code; practi- cal tests to show the knowledge of the applicants as regards the IL. of tools and equipment; and that credit be given for the past experi- o7ce of the applicants in the trade.
 The committee further recom- mends that this report be adopted. and that the city clerk be and here by is instructed to forward copy of same to the building commission. !"
New Britain herald., 1927-02-11
England and Japan Re-
 ported as Agreeable to Discussion of Naval Arms Limitation But Uncertain as to Extent
France and Italy Withhold Decision But Are Not Expected to Refuse to Farley Should Other Na- tions Agree.

Washington, Feb. Il LP - Presi. dent Coolidge's proposal for further limitation of naval armament ap- pears to have found the maritime powers in a receptive mood
 First impressions as reflected in news dispatches from abroad indi- cate that the presidents plan to dis cuss the question next month at Geneva probably will be accepted, but that specific methods of limita- ton will have to be left for deter- imitation by the conference itself.
 England and Japan
 Responsible officials of both tho British and Japanese governments are quoted as agreeable to a discus- sion of the subject broached by the president. but not certain that his suggestion for extension of the 5-5-3 ratio to all classes of warcraft can be accepted in advance
 France and Italy
 France and Italy, the other two nations to whom the proposal was addressed. are reserving decision, but they are not expected here to refuse to discuss limitations should the other powers agree to such a discuss sion. The immediately favorable re. action in London and Tokyo appar- ently did not surprise officials here, although they still professed to be without advices. It is the usual thing to send out informal diplomatic feelers whenever a government con- templates such a step as that an- nounced yesterday by MT. Coolidge. and to be more or less certain how the ground lies before there is any formal negotiation. Whether this was done in the present case the state department will not say.
 Diplomats Knew Plan
 There seems no doubt. however, that the project was undertaken with the full cognizance of the ranking American diplomats abroad. In addition to Hugh S. Gibson, who heads the American delegation to Geneva, Ambassador Haughton re- gently has been in this country on leave from his post in London. and conferred frequently with Washing ton officials
 As more definite indication of foreign opinion is awaited, the sit- uation in Washington remains quiescent. Most of the leaders in congress approve the presidents proposal, although their discussions are colored by some expressions of doubt whether anything tangible will come out of the negotiations at Geneva.
 (Continued on Page BOY
New Britain herald., 1927-02-11
Youth Out of Hospital,
 Rice Hearing Tomorrow

Louis Domijan. 17year-old Grove street youth who was shot by Nll- liam J. Rice, armorer at the state armory on Arch street, few weeks ago. was discharged from New Brit ain General hospital today. Rlce' who was arrested after the shooting on the charge of assault with dan gerous weapon, will be tried in po- lice court tomorrow morning. He will be represented by Attorney Harry NJ. Ginsburg.
 Prosecuting Attorney J. G. Woods said this afternoon that the charge has not been changed as yet, al- though he is giving consideration to substituting plain assault for the more serious charge.
New Britain herald., 1927-02-11
GOVT, FAILS TO LINK
 KING IN CONSPIRACY
Judge in Daugherty Case Limits Questions of
 Prosecutor

Federal Court, New York, Feb. II LP-The government met with fall- ure today in the Daugherty- Miller case when It tried to introduce eVl- dence to show that John T. King, one-time republican national com mitteeman from Connecticut, de- stroyed records that might have linked him in an alleged conspiracy.
 United States Attorney Buckner called John Durlin Kings private secretary for six years, and sought tc bring out through him testimony adduced at the first trial which showed that book containing papers relating to the transfer of s7.000,000 of assets of the American Metal Company disappeared from Kings home in Bridgeport after congressional investigation of the transfer had been started.
 Repeated objections from defense counsel halted this trend of testi mony when they were sustained by Judge Knox.
 Through Durkin, the government, got into the record exhibits to which defense offered vigorous ob- iections.
 A Waldorf Astoria register sheet showing Jess w. Smith, Daugherty's handy man, was registered at that hotel August 1. 1921, was admitted. Then the government got admitted q cancelled check drawn by King on the Chase National bank for s25,o0o. The check was made out to leash" and the money was drawn by King himself.
 By his, Buckner explained, the government hoped the jury would infer that the s25,0o0 was given to Smith as his share of 8 $50, OrG Ire taincr" Richard Merton, German metal magnate, had given King. Durkin also gave testimony about the deposit of $195,oo0 of the lib- erty bonds Merton gave King, but this was covered hy an attorneys stipulation. and the governments attempt to show that it was not in cluded in Kings income tax return, although King considered it q leg itimate payment. was obstructed by defense objections sustained by Judge Knox. The court ruled that Durllin had not learned of this mat ter until a date subsequent to the time of the alleged conspiracy.
New Britain herald., 1927-02-11
HINT AT SCANDAL IN BUILDING BOARD Electricians Complain Against
 Commissioner to Warner WELD AWAITING REPORT
Councilman Decides to Take Report Directly to Mayor and Chairman Leavitt Because of Nature Of Tes- timony Given Him.

Information claimed to be of a sensational nature involving mem- Der of the building commission in alleged improper practices in coh- rection with the electrical eXamina- tions given Wednesday night will be placed in the hands of Chairman A. P. Leavitt of the board. and May CT Weld, probably today.
 Councilman w. Spaulding Warner of the third ward, who instituted an investigation into the practices of the examining committee and un- covered some interesting informa- tion in the past month, was sought out by several electricians yesterday and the reports were laid before him. He was requested to present these new facts in, conjunction with the report of his investigation com mittee. Because of the nature of the testimony brought before him. he has decided to submit it directly to Leavitt and Weld, for such action as those officials can consider meet and proper.
 Councilman Warner declined to- day to divulge the nature of the re- port. Other than to say it involves a member of the building commis- sion and the electrical examining committee he would furnish no in formation.
 During his office hours today, Mayor Weld had received no inti- nation of a report of alleged un- proper practice on the part of any of his appointees.
 His mail today brought him letter from J. B. Alice, suggesting that changes be made in the per sonnel of the building commission. He did not suggest who should be dropped. Alice is the man who at tended Monday nights meeting of the board and, after the resignation of Electrical Inspector C. J. Curtin had been accepted rose and said: City Hall has the best shows in town"
New Britain herald., 1927-02-11
MEAN SEES CORNER
 IN FOOD OF NATION
Connecticut Senator At taci1s Farm Relief
 Bill Today
BY GEORGE B. MANNING


 iWashinston Bureau of the E. B. HeralD
 Washington, b C., Feb. 1l-At- tacking the McNary- -Haugen farm relief bill as a proposal to legalize a monopoly of foodstuffs. Senator George P. Mclean of Connecticut today urged it's rejection in speech before the United States senate.
 The senator characterized the bill as a proposal which flies in the face of every sound economic prin- ciple and every other principle that has brought us thus far on the road to plenty"
 The McNary- -Haugen bill, which seeks to protect the farmers against financial loss by establishing board to organize the producers of basic commodities into cooperative associ- ations for marketing and establish ing an equalization fund to take care of crop surpluses was up for final consideration in the senate to- day, a rule having been adopted to bring 1t to a vote.
 Senator Mclean declared that if the bill became a law, it would raise the prices of foodstuffs at once, and that such a surplus would result as to be taken care of only by the low cost producer cutting his acreage, or the high cost producer going out of business.
 This bill is a price raising bill,' Senator Mclean said. If it were not nobody would want it. The man. ager of the bill tells us that all he wants and all the bill proposes is to change a buyers market to sell CTS market. He tells us that the supply of wheat today exceeds the demand. He simply wants to change this condition into one in which the demand for wheat will exceed the supply.
 He tells us that all this bill does is to remove the surplus. Having done that, outside economic pres sure, the national law of supply and demand, will raise the price of wheat, leaving his bill blameless in the premises. By that same logic a man could drown his mother-in- law, if he felt so inclined, without legal or moral responsibility. He would hold the dear womans head under water for a couple of min utes and the outside economic pressure, composed of a shortage of oxygen on the one hand an an excess of hydrogen on the other. would alone be responsible for the lady's removal. The claim that this is not price raising bill is absurd. It is in fact its only purpose.
 "We are now told that congress, having killed the farmer with kindness at the behest of his po- litical advisers, must now resusci- tate him with funds from the pub lie purse. The farmer must have a profitable market and this market must be bought and paid for with loans from the federal treasury. The farmers don't want any more loans in small amounts at 6 per cent. They want to take 25o mill lions of dollars out of the federal
 |"
New Britain herald., 1927-02-11
CAREER OF FORGERY
 IS BROUGHT TO END
Prisoner Caught Here Admits Issuing Many
 Bad Checks

Check forgeries involving several hundred dollars at least. over a per iod of about three years. were ad- mitted by Robert Leslie Donahue, aged 26, of State street, Waterbury. following his arrest about 6 o'clock last evening by Officer Thomas J. Feeney, and in police court this morning he pleaded guilty to one count of forgery. Assistant Prose- cutting Attorney W. M. Greenstein requested continuance until to- morrow morning to allow time for further investigation, and Judge Hungerford granted it, fixing bonds at $500 on MT. Greenstein's recom- mendation. Donahue was not repre- sented by counsel, and Mir. Green stein ordered the plea changed to one of not guilty.
 The arrest came about through the alertness of Louis Moss of 52 Monroe street. manager of the Ask in Clothing Co.,, 325 Main street. to whom Donahue rendered check for S6S in payment for a $40 suit. Be- ing a stranger, Donahue showed MT. Moss letter purporting to bear the signature of L. J. Drager, district sales manager of the Syracuse Wash ing Machine Co.,, in which MT. Dra- ger thanked him for settling a claim against him growing out of an auto- mobile accident in which Donahue was injured. The tone of the letter Donahues claim in installments, but after Donahue left the store, MT Moss, being suspicious, had his book. keeper telephone to MT. Drager and word came back directly not to honor the checks and not to believe the letter. as they were forged MT Drager said Donahue Is wanted in several places for working the forged check game.
 MT. Moss hastened out of his store and went up and down Main street searching for Donahue and when he sighted him near the railroad cross ing he called Officer Feeney and told him the situation. Officer Feeney ran after Donahue and arrested him. Although taken by surprise, Dona- hue submitted to arrest and at po- lice headquarters he admitted that he left Waterbury a few days ago when he learned the authorities were seeking him for s5 forgery. He registered at a local hotel and the next day cashed a worthless check for S5 at the New Britain Trust Co. this check being drawn on the City Bank and Trust Co.,, of Hartford payable to Donahue and bearing the forged signature of MT. Drager, by whom Donahue was formerly em. ployed.
 Going further into the matter
 Continued on Page Nine)