davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1928-12-23
Owner of Laurel Moving Pic
ture House Lauded for
Directing Rescue.
FIREMEN HANDICAPPED
BY ANCIENT EQUIPMENT
Loss Estimated at $4,000 as
Flames Spread to Other
Buildings.

Two hundred children made their
way to safety last night from a fire
which destroyed a motion picture the
ater at Laurel, Md. To Philip Merrill,
owner and operator of the theater, par
ents of the boys and girls give credit
for the cool-headedneSs which resulted
in the escape of. the entire juvenile au-
dience which had crowded into the
building for Wild West program.
When flames were discovered shoot
ing out through the roof near the CHM
ney, witnesses said Merrill walked
calmly down among the boys and girls,
told them there was fire and not to
get excited, but to Zine out of here"
The children followed his instructions
implicitly. A line formed before the
front door, another to the side.
Neighboring Firemen Aid.
Older boys picked up their younger
brothers and sisters and carried them
out. BY the time the one piece of an
tiquated fire apparatus had arrived all
had escaped to safety, and an inspec-
ton by Fire Chief Timanus assured the
anxious throng of mothers and fathers
who. attracted by the flames, had
rushed to the theater, that no one was
left within.
Fire apparatus summoned from Fort
leonard Wood. Hyattsville and
Bladensburg made speedy runs.
The fire broke out about z o'clock,
lust after the first show started. AT
tracted by wild West thriller, the
children had thronged the theater.. A
short comedy was being shown wnen
Wilbur Kaiser, who leases the Murray
Garage next door to the theater, dis
covered the flames. The big f1re
whistle of Laurel summoned her volun-
teer fire department to the scene.
The single piece of fire apparatus,
CONTINUED on Page 4, Column A.
Evening star., 1928-12-23
MUSSOLlNI CLOSES
ITALIAN SENATE
Extols Gigantic Steps" Taken Un-
der Fascism as Legislative
Group Ends Work.
Ry the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ROME, December 22.-Premier Mus
solini wound up the last session OF the
Italian Senate tonight with a speech
voicing the utmost faith in Italys
destiny.
After paying tribute to the memory
of the late Marshal Cadorna and COM
plimenting the Senators on the patriot
ism which they had shown, he extolled
the gigantic steps" taken in the six
years of fascism.
1t was the last time that the Senate
will meet as at present constituted. The
names of 35 news Senators probably
will be published tomorrow.
After Tomaso Tittoni, retiring presi-
dent of the Senate, had made his last
address, Premier Mussolini thanked the
Senate for its work. He praised PreSi-
dent Tittoni, saying that the latter had
conducted the Senate's discussions with
much tact and patriotism.
1t Is believed that Tittoni may be-
come president of the new italian
academy.
Evening star., 1928-12-23
TODAY'S STAR
PART ONE-24 PAGES.

PART ONE-24 PAGES.
General News-Local, National and
Foreign.
Schools and Colleges-Page 18.
Radio NewS-Pages 81, % and 23.
PART TWO-12 PAGES.
Editorial Section-Editorials and Edi-
torial Features.
Notes of Art and Artists-Page 4.
Review of Winter BookS-Page 4.
Army and Navy News-Page 5.
Organized Reserves-Page S.
Fraternal News-Pages and z.
Clubwomen of the Nation-Page 7.
D. A. r. Activities-Page z.
Spanish War Veterans-Page z.
Financial News-Pages 8, 8 and 10.
Serial Story, "One Mans Wife"-Page
Crossword Puzzle-Page 10.
Veterans of Great War-Page IL.
PART THREE-l6 PAGES.
Society and Classified Advertising.
W. c. T. U. Activities-Page z.
News of the Clubs-Pages 8 and 8.
Around the City-Page 8.
Parent Teacher Activities-Page Is.
At Community Centers-Page 16.
Y. W. G. A. Activities-Page 16.
PART FOUR-1O PAGES.
Amusement Section-Theater, Screen
and Music.
News of the Motor world-Pages 6
and Z.
Aviation Activities-Pages 8 and 9.
Col Lindbergh's Story-Page 8.
District of Columbia Naval Reserve
Page TO-
District National Guard-Page 10.
Marine Corps Notes-Page 10.
PART FIVE PAGES.
Pink Sports Section.
PART SEVEN-8 PAGES.
Magazine Section-Fiction and Humor
GRAPHIC SECTIONS PAGES.
World Events in Pictures.
COLOR SECTION-4 PAGES.
Mutt and JEFF; Reg'lar Fellers; Mr.. and
Msan F1'ah Lights In History.
Evening star., 1928-12-23
Muscle Shoals Bill Status Undecided
As "Pocket" Veto Significance Is Argued
Nv the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The question whether the President
killed the Muscle Shoals bill or allowed
it to become law by failing to sign it at
the fag end of the last session of Con-
gress still was undecided yesterday after
Department of Justice memorandum
on pocket vetoes was transmitted to
Congress.
The statement, dated October 10. was
forwarded to the House with a brief let
ter of transmittal by the President, con-
tanned no conclusions and merely went
into the history of bills sent to the
President within less than 10 days of
adjournment of Congress and remaining
unsigned. Instances were cited as far
back as 1915 where such measures were
not allowed to become law, but the only
reference to Muscle Shoals was the fact
that the measure still was ut the Waite
Evening star., 1928-12-23
CAPITAL BEGINS
3DAY HOLIDAY
President to Light National
Christmas Tree Tomorrow.
Poor Are Remembered.

Washington's three-day Christmas
festivities are under way.
This morning dawns that mystical
season when the aura of the Nativity
prevades the city.
The hectic time of shopping, gift
wrapping and card-sending, with its
expense and irritations, ended when the
department stores closed last night.
The church bells this morning are
sounding their message to Christen-
dom in the midst of its yearly baptism
of idealism and unworldliness, when
men and women are born again in the
spirit of the preacher of Galilee.
Calendar Aids Holidays.
The calendar itself this year entered
into the spirit of Christmas-practically
assuring to the majority of Washing
tonians three holidays in succession.
Tomorrow is free for last-minute gift
purchasers, for the trimming of pines,
furs and Spruces in homes and churches,
and for reflection on the spirit of the
season.
The ideal Christmas blanket of snow
over the hills and forests Is lacking
this year, but the succession of frosty
nights, with their glittering starlight
and pallid moonlight, promises to con-
tinue through the three days. Homes
are in Yuletide attire with red-rlbboneo
holly wreaths in the windows mistle-
toe Sprigs hung over doorways, ShadoWy
candlelight in the rooms, and llluml-
mated evergreens in front yards.
Washington's Christmas celebration
takes on something of national as
pect through the cooperation of Presi-
dent and Mr.. Coolidge in ceremonies
which seem to have become firmly
fixed with the passing years.
The national Christmas tree In
Sherman Square, in front Of the
Treasury will be lighted by President
Coolidge at sos o'clock tomorrow eve
ming. The bursting of the tree into
light will be announced to the entire
city and surrounding countryside by
an aerial bomb, while simultaneously
bugle calls will be sounded in different
sections and community Christmas
trees will be lighted.
Nation to Follow Practice.
This practice will obtain not only
in Washington but throughout the
Nation, with hundreds of trees springing
Continued on Page 2, Column %
Evening star., 1928-12-23

Many Are Injured
AS Browning Plays
Santa for 10000
Crowd Blocking Broad
way for 100000 in
Gifts Crashes Window.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, N. Y, December o.
Assisted by $50 policemen, 2 ambulances,
25 unemployed men from the city'S well
fare organizations, 25 red suits, 25 sets
of white chin whiskerS and Edward w
Browning, Santa Clause came to New
York today with bag that carried the
spirit of Christmas to the fartheSt and
frowziest pockets of the city.
For eight and half hours, starting
at 9 O'Clock in the morning, the kindly
saint held court beneath the 23-carat
gold ceiling of Mr.. Browning's real
estate Offices at 1860 Broadway, at the
corner of Sixty-first street.
Girls Leave Photos.
When his ornate and, by that time,
rather untidy temporary headquarters
were closed for the day at $50 pm,
some 10000 children were richer by
the measure of an armful of paper and
gilt trinkets, and many of them-these
all girls-by the knowledge they had
left behind for Mr. Browning's consider
alton, either on their own initiative or
through their attendant mothers and
fathers, their photographs, their pro-
posals of marriage or their pleas for
adoption.
For most of the happy children and
their eager guardians the gayety ended
when Santa closed Mr.. Browning S
offices but it was hours later before the
last of the disappointed thousands still
in line outside could be induced to go
home empty-handed, before the last of
the most seriously injured of the dozen
who were hurt in the benevolent crush
had been released from the hospital, be-
fore the last of so lost children had
been restored to their parents, and be-
fore the last of the police reserves
called to subdue the riot into which the
Jolly development had been relieved
from duty.
From Mr. Brownings point OF view
and he said the bills amounted to
something more than 100000, the al
fair was a great success.
well, well. WE'LL" he exclaimed
(Continued on Page 2, Column ID
Evening star., 1928-12-23
$4,000 FINES ARE PAID
IN CHICAGO PRIMARY CASE
Trial of Alleged Terrorism in April
Primary Ends-Defendants
Abandon New Trial Pleas.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, December 22.-The elec-
ton conspiracy case against is hench-
men of Morris Eller, twentieth ward
Republican committeeman and party
leader, today ended when counsel for
the convicted conspirators paid out
more than $4,000 in fines.
This action, growing out of the al
legged terrorism on primary day last
April, was taken by the defendants.
who decided to abandon plans to seek
new trials.
The defendants were convicted of
kidnapings, assaults and election frauds.
Eller and his son. Judge Emanuel Eller.
were indicted with their henchmen but
obtained separate trials.
Evening star., 1928-12-23

House with a penciled memorandum,
''pocketed." attached.
Lewis Deschler. House parliamenta-
rian, expressed the opinion, however,
that the weight of the cases and prece-
dents cites tend to bear out the con-
clusion that bill not signed within the
To-day limitation as prescribed by the
Federal Constitution does not become
law, irrespective of whether the To-day
limitation is at the final adjournment
OF Congress or between sessions Of Con-
gress."
The Muscle Shoals bill was received
at the White House three days before
Congress adjourned. Senator Norris.
Republican of Nebraska, has contended
that Congress was merely in recess after
May 20 and until the second session Of
the Seventieth Congress began, and that
failure OF the President to sign the bill
automatically placed 1t on the statute
books. A case involving this point rs
pending In the Supreme Ceurt.
Evening star., 1928-12-23
Japan Ready to Replace Cherry Trees
Killed Along Hains Point by Rains

by the Office of Public Buildings and
Public Parks.
Experts of the Department of Agri-
culture have stated that the ground
where the trees were killed is unfit for
cherry trees. Lieut.. Col. u. S. Grant,
Sd, director of Public Buildings and Pub
lie Parks, last Summer stated that steps
already were being taken to raise the
level of the tree roots from three to
five feet, to bring the trees in the low
sections of the point up to the level OF
those at the end of the point. These
latter were not injured by the water.
The trees about the Tidal Basin were
not injured and it is to this section
that the park officials are looking for
the principal Springtime display for
the next two or three years.
Evening star., 1928-12-23

While no official notice has been given
the Government yet, it was learned last
night that the Japanese government
stands ready to supply Japanese cherry
trees to replace the 500 or more along
Hams Point which were killed by the
excessive rains last Summer. At the
japanese embassy it was stated that the
Japanese government will offer enough
trees to the American Government to
replace those lost last Summer.
Just what will be done with regard
to the lines of cherry trees on both the
Washington and Georgetown channel
sides of the point, at the low ground
where water stood for weeks last Sum-
mer and killed of the Towering trees
by the hnpdgedA has not been decided
Evening star., 1928-12-23
FEAR GROWS FOR COUPLE
AS CANYON HUNT FAILS
Searchers Report No Trace of
Footprints About Rim
of Great Gorge.

BY the Associated Press.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz., December
22.-Fear that the treacherous rapids
of the Colorado River had claimed the
lives of Glenn Hyde of Hansen, Idaho
and his bride, grew today as searchers
continued hunt for the pair who set
out two months ago in an attempt to
navigate the Grand Canyon in home
made ScoW. ~
A searching party sent word here that
no trace of foot prints had been found
about the rim of the great gorge.
If the couple escaped death in the
swirling waters it is thought they may
have been able to climb to the rim OF
the canyon and set out through the
almost uninhabited desert for aid. The
other hope is that they may be found
stranded and alive somewhere in the
depths of the canyon.
The HydeS were last seen at Bright
Angel Trail November 10,
Evening star., 1928-12-23
Bandits Shoot Teller.

SHREVEPORT, La. December %
LP).-Three men attempting to rob 8
branch of the City Savings Bank &
Trust Co. here today shot William r
Purnell, 81, teller, and then fed with
out further attempts to rob the bank
Purnell's jawbone was broken, but he
is said to have chance for recovery
A $1,000 reward was offered for the
capture of the men and an airplane was
used In scouting for them.
Evening star., 1928-12-23
STEAMER RAMS Dixie
TO MISS SUBMARINE
More Than 100 Passengers Are
Shaken Up in Accident During
Binding Fog.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
VALLEJO, Calf, December a.
Running in a binding fog in San Pablo
Bay today the steamer Calistoga, owned
by the Monticello Steamship Co.,
sighted the submarine S-29 close to
her bow, and in order to avoid striking
the undersea craft, rammed a Govern
ment dixie off the Mare Island Navy
Yard. ripping away 200 feet of the dixie
and doing damage estimated at $4,000.
The Calistoga, bay steamer. plying
between San Francisco and Vallejo, was
able to proceed under her own power
to Vallejo, where an examination re-
vealed little damage.
More than 100 passengers were
shaken up, but we're uninjured
Officers of the submarine, which was
en- route from San Diego, Calf. to the
Mare Island Navy Yard. watched the
Calistoga swerve from her course to
avoid collision and praised the sea-
manship of Capt. Henry Potvin, COM
mander of the steamer.
Evening star., 1928-12-23
G. F. Peabody in Hospital.

BALTIMORE, Md. December % (Fl.
George Foster Peabody, New York
philanthropist and retired banker, has
been a patient at Johns Hopkins Hos
pital for the last 10 days. but was not
dangerously i'll, hospital officials said
today. No information was given as TO
the nature of his illness. He entered
the hospital December II.
Evening star., 1928-12-23
Girl Carrying Yule Tree browns

DANVILLE, Hl, December % (P,.-
Helping her five little brothers bring
home a small evergreen tree from a
nearby woods to brighten destitute
home, Jessie Irene Mullins, aged Z, fell
through the ice on lake near here
late today and was drowned.
Evening star., 1928-12-23
WARE HAS NO COMMENT.
Senator elect Explains He Has Not Re-
ceiyed Reeds Letter.

ATLANTIC CITY, N j., December
% (P.-Senator-e William S. Ware
of Pennsylvania had no comment to-
night when informed that the Senate
campaign funds committee would not
postpone his appearance before the COM
mittee after January 4.
II have not received Senator Reeds
letter." Mr. Ware said, land will make
no comment at this time"
Mr.. Ware is at his Summer home re-
covering from an illness of several
months.
Evening star., 1928-12-23
FIRE LAID TO METEOR
COSTS LIVES OF TWO
Woman and 1-Year-Old Nephew
Die and Six Others Sustain
Burns in Blaze.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CATSKILL, N. Y, December ga
meteor is blamed for starting the fire
in farmhouse at Greendale, across
the Hudson River from Catskill. last
night, in which Mrs. william Peator
and her year-old nephew lost their
lives and six others were painfully
burned. The three-story frame Struc-
ture was destroyed.
]. r. Hicks, storekeeper, said he
was standing in front of his establish
ment when he saw ball of fire come
from the sky and land on the roof.
According to Arthur Roy, chief as
tronomer at Dudley Observatory in
Albany, it is possible for q meteor to
start such Afe!
Evening star., 1928-12-23
CURTIS FOREGOES REST.

Vice President-Elect May Give De-
cision on Senator's Seat.
BY the Associated Press.
Senator Curtis of Kansas, the Vice
President-elect, announced yesterday he
would be unable to return home for the
holidays as he had planned.
He is expected to announce before the
first of the year whether he will con-
tinue his senatorship until March 4.
Evening star., 1928-12-23
From Press to Home
Within the Hour"

The Star is delivered every evening and
Sunday morning to Washington homes by
The Stars exclusive carrier service Phone
Main 5000 to start immediate delivery.
Evening star., 1928-12-23
WEATHER.

WEATHER.
20. s. Weather Bureau Forecast1
Partly cloudy today; tomorrow fair
and somewhat warmer: moderate vari-
able winds.
Temperatures: Highest, 81, at pm.
yesterday; lowest, 20, at am. yester-
day. Full report on page 9.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-02-04

"faked" in the Jail at Pendleton, Ore,
after his capture there, his flight
! from justice, his confession that he
kidnapped and killed Marian Parker
and dismembered her body to get
$500 from her father all could be
( explained the witness maintained, by
insane delusions.
After the cross examination came
| the reading into the records of a
lengthy hypothetical question which
! the defense put to the alienists, sum-
marizing the recent highlights of the
prisoners life and asking, if under
such circumstances, a man could be
considered insane.
Both Dr. Shelton and DR.. Skoog, to
whom the long question was put
simultaneously, declared it their be-
lief that, assuming the circumstances
set up, the subject was insane at the
time of the commission of the crime.
At this point Keyes introduced in
evidence a photostatic copy of let
ter written by Hickman to a fellow
prisoner in the county jail after the
sanity trial was well under way. 1t
was given to DR.. Skoog, who asked If
it shed any light on the mind of the
medical scientist as to whether the
defendant was sane or insane. The
physician replied that it did not.
The. letter was addressed to dale
Budlong," and voiced Hickman'S fear
that the dispositions to be submitted
as the bulwark of his defense would
prove inadequate 81 intend to throw
a fit in court" he wrote, and added
that he would take a "crack" at
Keyes. The nissive closed with a
request that the recipient tear it up.
The note was signed William E.
Hickman, alias the fox"
Below the signature was penned
4Ha! Ha! Ha!'
In postscript Hickman added: ''You
know and I know I'm not insane,
however"
It was here that Walsh arose to
announce that the defense in the
great legal battle to save the youth
from the gallows rested. A few NOM
ents later, Keyes, taking the. initiative,
began the states drive to break down
the insanity contentious.
Clark Sellers, expert in handwriting,
answered the Prosecutors first call
for witness. When he had taken
his place on the stand the ransom
letters written Marian Parker's father
were introduced in evidence followed
Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-02-04

stand, was more or less legal routine.
He placed on the stand Clark Sellers
hand writing expert and adduced teS-
timony from him to show that ram
som letters written Perry M Parker
demanding $1,500 for the return of his
12-year- -old daughter were penned by
Hickman Sellers testimony was to
the effect that the handwriting in the
ransom letters was the same as that
in the confessions written by the de-
fendant.
Walsh had already called witnesses
whose testimony spread over the court
records all the details of the crime and
the state began what promised to be
a long -drawn-out effort to break
down the expert medical testimony of
defense alienists, two of whom de-
clared it their belief that Hickman
was insane.
A swirl of medical terms eddied
about the court throughout the day
as one alienist followed another to
the witness box, told why he thought
,FIickman sane or insane and departed.
DR.. r. O. Shelton, of Los Angeles,
one of the defense medical experts,
who took the stand late yesterday,
continued today as the target for a
stiff cross-fire from the prosecution.
His "dementia praecoxS' theory came
in for a heavy battering from Dis
,trict Attorney Keyes.
fs'Divine guidance" in crime, as claim
ed by the prisoner, was the text
of much of DR.. Shelton's testimony,
indicating to the medical man abnor-
mality amounting to insanity.
He was followed by DR.: A. L. Skoog,
of Kansas City, who said that he had
examined Hickman six times between
January IS and February l and be-
lieved him to be insane.
The state turned a. searching cross
examination on Dr. SkOog, who was
regarded as the chief defense alienist,
but the Kansas City expert stood firm
in his expressed belief that the pros
oner had an unbalanced mind.
, To Keyes the witness listed what he
considered the outstanding character
istics of the confessed killers mental
condition, delusions of grandeur, as
sertion of divine guidance, and ideas
of superiority
DR.. Skoog cited the facts of the
killing and dissecting of Marian Par
ker's body as most likely the result of
an abnormal mind"
The fit which officers said Hickman.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-02-04

by the note the schoolgirl herself
penned to her parent, while prisoner
in the apartment house where later
she died.
Then Keyes called for DR.. Cecil
Reynolds, Los Angeles brain surgeon,
and mental disease expert. Taking
the stand, the physician said he had
examined Hickman four times since
his return from Oregon where he was
captured gk8
Without a moments hesitation the
witness replied. sane" when the CHIEF
prosecutor asked him for his opinion
in the case Of Hickman. Extremely
found many diseased brains among
persons he had examined, but not SO
in tn cease of Hickman. Extremely
tough was his description OF the
mental structure of the defendant.
A decided sense of hunor, DR.. Rey-
nolds said, and the absence of any
trace of delusions proved to him that
Hickman was mentally normal. Then
followed another tale of the crime
given the medical man in answer to
questions put to Hickman in his cell.
The killer thought he felt sorry
while he was strangling the little
girl he told the alienist.
Walsh's vigorous cross examination
begun as the hour approached
o'clock, was interrupted by adjourn
ment. Judge Trabucco ordered court
re-assembled tomorrow morning at y
a. M, for a three hour Saturday
session,
Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-02-04
PRETTY WIDOW
FRENCH
KILLED HIMSELF

SANTA FlE, N. M, Feb. 3 (H0-Ex-
pressing doubt that w. Barton French
committed suicide as found by a cor
oner's jury, a young and attractive
woman today told authorities she was
married to the scion of the wealthy
and socially prominent New York fam
lily on January 4, 1928, and made claim
for his body. French was known to
have been married and divorced twice
but the claim today was a surprise to
all his friends.
Mrs. French related she met French
in Asheville. N. c., and that they were
married in Albuquerque on January 4
by a Rev. Father Good, Catholic
priest. In claiming his body she de-
clared it should be buried ION the
ranch he loved where he seemed SO
happy" Catholic officials could not
recall q Father Good being in New
Mexico for the past few years.
In attacking the coroner's jury YER
dict of suicide the woman said: "He
was not a drug addict. He did not
drink much. He was too jolly, too
happy to have shot himself"
Police Chief Oliver Holmes has
promised an investigation following
conference with the district attorneys S
office. Meanwhile the body is held
waiting reply from messages sent
French's guardian, G. j. Slocum, OF
Beacon, N. Y, prior to the appear
ance of the third Mrs. French.