davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1931-02-11
MONEY WIZARD
IS BANKRUPT

BELVIDERE, ILL.,, Feb. II GIN.
s. Albert w. Benham, the anna
teur financier who was hailed as
an investment wizard by the en-
tire countryside until last night,
announced himself as a bank
rupt today.
Benham, who paid his clients
one and all from 10 to so per cent
interest on money entrusted to
him to invest, sent a 600-word
statement to a Rockford news
paper announcing the demise Of
the Benham financial bubble last
night.
His creditors in Belvidere alone
number 800, and his liabilities
we're estimated at 100000 by
States Attorney Alexander Strom.
A mass-meeting of creditors was
called for today when announce
ment was i1-ade of the investors
bankruptcy.
Benhs m said he fears for his
life, and has employed body
guards of late to safeguard him
Complete mystery still cloaks
the method Benham employed in
his investment business. Investi-
cation failed to disclose the de-
tails of the scheme which launch
ed this section of the State into
fancied affluence for more than
q year.
The Washington times., 1931-02-11
POPE ALL READY.
FOR AIR DEBUT
Photos by International
PAIL. KELLY

NEW YORK, Feb. II GNSO.
Plans we're completed today by
the National Broadcasting Com.
pany and the Columbia Broad
casting system for the interra-
tional radio program tomorrow
morning during which Pope Plus
will address a worldwide audi.
ence.
The broadcast is scheduled to
start at 1890 Eastern standard
time, when a fanfare of trumpets
will announce the POpe's arrival
at the new station in Vatican
City. The Pope will speak in
Latin in his first address and
later in Italian. Music will form
a part of the broadcast.
Stage All Set
The schedule for the historic
program originating in the Holy
See, and formally inaugurating
the new Papal station, HJV, has
been outlined by Senator
Guglielmo Marconi's staff, and
only magnetic disturbances in
ocean areas can interfere with the
carefully laid plans, engineers de-
clared. Z
The program, including two
speeches by His Holiness, remarks
by Senator Marconi, and transla-
tions of the dedicatory address, is
expected to last approximately an
hour.
Program in Detail
A time table of the broadcast:
1O:3O-Pope Plus XI will ar.
rive at New Vatican City sta
ton.
1O:32-His Holiness will switch
on generators in power room.
1O:35-His Holiness will but
ton switching power into trans
mission circuit.
1O:43-SenatOr Marc0rj VIII
introduce His Holmes.
1O:45-Pope Plus ad0re5s
10:5O-Translators s1l slE ian.
guages will interpret Papa mes,
sage.
11:OO-Address a. Father
Gianfranceschi, presi nt Of the :
Papal Academy.
11:15-Address OF Sena tor
Marconi.
11:2O-POpe Plus second ID.
dress.
The Washington times., 1931-02-11

Edison, on Birthday Finds
Business rise" Begun

his silver gray hair and scribbled
the following answer:
"This question is several
sizes too large for me-"
In reply to a question, Mr..
Edison said his health is pretty
good" According to his close
friends he has not been feeling
any too we'll of late. For the
last six years he has been living
exclusively on a diet of milk. He
has abstained from solid food of
any kind.
Mr.. Edison walked slowly
across the grounds of his beauti-
full, palm-shaded estate, accom-
panied by Harvey S. Firestone,
tire manufacturer. For the first
time in the last four years, Henry
Ford, the manufacturer, another
"crony" was not with him. Ford
has been detained in Detroit by
business.
The Washington times., 1931-02-11
N.Y.POLICE SEEK
RICH WIDOW
KELLY IN JAIL

NEW YORK, Feb. II G.N.S).
A wealthy and attractive 36-year-
old widow who was reported
missing from her home here for
more than a week today was the
subject of a search by city police,
who feared she may have been
kidnapped.
Mrs. Myrtle Stella, widow of a
real estate operator who left her
an estate valued at from $1,000
900 to $5,000,0O0, is the missing
woman. When she was last seen
she was wearing a $4,000 fur coat
and was thought to have had a
large amount of cash in her
handbag.
The wealthy woman's disap-
pearance was reported to police
last night by Patrolman George
Wandling, known as the "Adonis
of the police department" "
Wandling said he was a close
friend of Mrs. Stella's and re-
vealed that he had been made
heir to her fortune.
Wandling said he met Mrs.
Stella during the course of his
police duties. In visits to her
apartment, he said, he met a
young woman living with the
widow and man known as
Sammy" both of whom were
frequent visitors at the apart
ment.
The Washington times., 1931-02-11
Chicago Eagerly Watches
Wild Political Circus

and loud speakers broadcast the
campaign speeches.
Calls Lyle Reformer
Mayor Thompson said in a
speech today:
"This liIy-livered refOrmer
(meaning Lyle has attacked
my integrity. That's too much.
I'll knock him down, jump on
his face, and kick hell out Of
him. I'll put him in the peni-
tentiary. You watch Bill
Thompson"
This is the way in which Lyle
refers to the mayor:
Thompson Termed "JumbO"
Jumbo calls me a refOrmer
because I'm not a crook. The
big dirty slob is SO lacking in
intelligence that he thinks
every man who is not a crook
is per Sc a reformer. Don't you
worry about the blue laws if
I'm elected. I'm not going to
enforce them. That's not my
business. It's the business of
the Federal Government which
imposed them on yOu."
The Washington times., 1931-02-11

FORT MYERS, Fla, Feb. IL
GN.SD.-Thomas A. Edison de-
clared, in an interview today, on
the occasion of his eighty-fourth
birthday, that "the rise" in bust
ness has now started and that, in
three years, the United States will
gradually return to the level of
prosperity it enjoyed prior to the
setting in of the economic de-
preston.
Mr.. Edison pronounced the
Hoover Administration a success.
He asserted that prohibition is
succeeding"
He expressed himself as op-
posed to the establishment of
dole system in this country.
Asked how the unemployment
problem could be solved, he shook
The Washington times., 1931-02-11
PARTY F|GHT 7.
LOOMS At
PARLEY
Meeting Here March 5 Will
Be Devoted to Leadership,
Debt, Campaign Problems
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES

BY GEORGE r. HOLMES
The national Democratic rally
the first since the memorable
campaign Of 1928-has been called
to meet in washington or March
B. the day after Congress ad-
journs. to consider party prob
lens and lay plans for 1882.
The call for the meeting, which
Is to include members of the ma
tioral committee and the party
leaders in and out of Corgress,
was issued by Chairman John j.
Raskob. for whom the rabld
Southern drys have been cunning
for long time. He has de-
cided to give his critics chance
to shoot at him in the open.
Purposes Outlined
The purposes of the March
meeting were outlined by Chair
man Raskob as follows:
'The meeting is to receive re
ports of the splendid accom-
plishments secured during the
past 18 months by the fine Or
ganiZatiOn in Washington built
up under the able direction and
leadership of JOuett ShOuSe,
chairman of our executive COM
mittee, and to discuss plans and
policies to govern our activities
during the next Is months"
There will be, in addition, Chair
man Raskob said, a review OF the
financial situation of the party,
which, from almost any stand
point, isn't so good. The party is
approximately $630,000 in the
"red." It owes Chairman Raskob
personally some $225,000 and the
County Trust Company, of New
York, some 100000 more on notes
which Chairman Raskob and his
friends indorsed.
Expect RaSkOb Showdown
The formal language of the call,
however, does not tell the whole
story of the purposes of the meet
ing. Of course, plans and finances
are going to be discussed at
length, but one of the prime
underlying purposes of having the
leaders meet at this time is to
have a showdown on the sniping
that has been quite general in
Chairman RaSkob's direction ever
since the defeat two years ago.
While this shooting has been
persistent and much publicized, it
has been confined to compare
lively small group of Southern
prohibitionists, to whom the ma
tional chairman's wetness is
anathema, and to another COM
paratively small group who resent
the fact that the party is so
deeply indebted to him financially.
The first group has charged
that Chairman Raskob and his
friends, among whom they num-
ber Alfred E. Smith, are "trying
to sell the party soul to the vets"
in 1882. The second charges that
it is "unwise and indecent" for
the party to be so beholden to
any individual, as it is to the ma
tional chairman because of his
loans to it.
A substantial majority of the
party committeeman are believed
behind Chairman RaSkob.
The Washington times., 1931-02-11

CHICAGO, Feb. 11-With big
Bill Thompson and John H.
Lyle fighting a pitched battle for
the Republican mayorality nomi-
nation, and hurting "ferocious
epithets and insults" at one an
other, Chicago approaches the
zenith of the widest primary
campaign it has ever witnessed.
Mayor Thompson is fighting
desperately for his political life.
His opponent, who started out to
conduct a "gentlemanly cam
paign," became enraged by the
mayors sarcastic attacks and is
now showing a mastery of pic
turesque oratory which matches
that of big Bill"
Libel Suits Abound
Libel suits galore are N the
air-the mayor filed one yester
day asking 100000 damages
from Lyle, who asserted Big
Bill" converted to his own use
100000 collected by the Thomp-
son Mississippi flood relief fund.
which he said had been gathered
in pennies, nickels and dimes
from school children and poor
people"
The mayor is giving many side
shows, including parades of ele-
plants, ponies and calnels IN the
streets. The city regards it all
as big vaudeville show and
takes it in that spirit. Radios
The Washington times., 1931-02-11
Film Actor LGngdOn
Held in Theft Case

HOLLYWOOD, Calf, Feb. II
G.N.SD.-Harry Langdon, film
comedian, and his wife, Mrs.
Helen Walton Langdon, were ar
rested yesterday on a complaint
charging them with petty theft,
as they we're moving from their
Beverly Hills home, over which
the Langdons have been engaged
in court proceedings.
Both Langdons were released
on their own recognizance i'm
after arrest.
The Washington times., 1931-02-11
". Y. American Finds
Levine in Montreal

NEW YORK, Feb. 11.-Sought
since January 6 by police, Charles
A. Levine, first transatlantic air
passenger, was located last night
by the New York American at the
Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Montreal.
He is wanted here for question
ing about his possession of about
$4,000 in securities which disap-
peared mysteriously in December,
1929,
The Washington times., 1931-02-11
Official
Wounded in Wanna

VIENNA, Feb. II GN.SO.
Counselor Jaroslav Zajcaek, Of
the Czechoslovakian legation was
seriously wounded today when
Borislav Zetka, his 68-year-old
countryman, fired three shots at
him.
Zetka was placed under arrest.
Legation officers believe the shoot
ing to be an act of revenge,
while police are of the opinion
that it is the outgrowth Of an
espionage affair.
The Washington times., 1931-02-11
Bliss Pension Bill
Received bY House

The House received from the
Senate today a bill giving Mrs.
Eleanore E. Bliss, widow of Gen.
Tasker H. Bliss, a pension of
Sc 900 a year, and action will be
sought on it, before March 4. Mrs.
Bliss is 78.
General Bliss, who died here
recently, was member Of the
American Peace delegation at
Paris in 1919,
The Washington times., 1931-02-11
P, T, A. TO MEET

TAKOMA PARK, Md, Feb. IL.
Mayor Ben S. Davis will be the
principal speaker at meeting of
the Takoma-Silver Spring High
School Parent-Teacher Associa-
ton at 8 o'clock tonight at the
school.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22
BlendedColmy Of the Sunset andE7euMgStary.
IN Incident of the Trip From Gibraltar TO
MaLn-A First Vie70 Of the Sphinx at
NigM-FamouS Rains SiIhonetted
Aguinst the Full Moor.

to present considerable ex- ansc CO water FIR
a refac.i ing basin east of the pyramids ana
there paused briefly to catch the eerie eff
feet of the three dim shapes doubled in sky
and water.
Up We spun past Mena House, through the
deep cutting to the crest of the hill upon
which stands CheopS. Suddenly he burst upon
us, the giant triangle of his northern face
fcreShortened as our cars reached his base.
The moon gave him gray aspect, the rough
ness of his surface softened. We were for the
moment the only persons present. Then out
came a solitary figure from a little house to
the east of the pyramids, a policeman who
gave us greetings. We paused awhile at the
northeast corner to try to vision the climb.
whit takes place at that point, and concluded
that even If guides had been present to help
US there would be no ascent by foot
Around to Khephren. the second pyramid"
we drove, to note it's small remaining triangle
of marble paving at the summit dimly OBJ
scrvabte in the half light Then TO the south
went cur eyes, to span the desert. so close at
hand with a dim patch of darkness in the
n ar distance, a rocky hill at the foot of which
an Arab cemetery is to be noted in daylight
In the translucence Of the moonlight oar eyes
seemed to carry far, far to the south, to SAX
kara with its step pyramids and its other
treasures on and on up the Nile, TO Tke5es and
its myriad of tcmbS.
Silence, utter and infinite! We halted for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22

that has in all the range of my memory no
equal.
The sun had just set leaving a glow of gold
and and pale green and blue all
blended, with soft salmon tone reaching high
In that upper stretch of sky was the newest of
new moons the barest shred of a crescent Just
family discernible. Immediately below it. shin
ing with greater force than Luna herself was
a planet, the evening star" whose name my
non-astronomical mind could not supply. I
stood transixed with the spectacle and others
came, until the deck was grouped with the
passengers. all silent. while the waiting stewards
standing by their tables. in the dining ROOM
observing us there assembled, put their heads
through the portfolios to see what was delay
ing
THE glow of the west faded. the moons shred
- frightened and the star intensified until
they, too sank beneath the horizon and the
spectacle ended Never before had I seen lust
this combination of sunset and evening star, of
newest moon and the glow of vanished sum-
Perhaps only in the Mediterranean could the
atmosphere have yielded such display. It was
happy introduction to other pleasures soon to
> come at moontime. farther east.
The moon was approaching the full when,
little later. at Cairo proposal was made by
friends resident in that city that we make the
trip 10 Gizeh to see the pyramids after sun
set. We had arrived only the day before and
had not yet had the chance to get to Gizeh,
and the suggestion was eagerly accepted We
went out III two motor cars, driving leisurely
across the city, over one OF the magnificent
new bridges that span the Nile, then down to
the town of Gizeh, and beyond. A swift
. glimpse OF the tops of the great stone tombs
shining family in the distance greeted US Thus
we got the thrill" Of our first sight of these
monuments of the ancient Egypt. Then we
reached the Overflow" fortunately high enough
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22

upon us scornfully, upon us whose figures were
but tiny dark specks at the base of Cheops, the
greatest of them all.
HAD I been abe to schedule my Egyptian
trip precisely according to the dictates of
eventual experience could not have gained
mere satisfactory first view Of the Sphinx than
that which greeted me that night. To come
upon that long familiar figure for the first time
in the semi-tone of the moon is to enjoy vivid
emotion of realization The broken face Is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22

main to be declared" at the customs on re-
turn, perhaps veXaticus.y. But the Others the
memories CT visions of the elements, need no
formula of avowal on the frontiers to become
permanent property.
Several such scenes have thus passed the
scrutiny of the tax ELECTORS upon my arrival
In the homeland upon return from the
Mediterranean, unknown to those Sharp-eyed
and suspicious guardians of the Federal
finances without risk of exposure to reprisal
from the Treasury now I shall bring them
forth to view. to share them with others.
First of all is a recollection of early
evening in the Medi erranean. between Gibraltar
and Malta. The moon was due, and had
been watched for with interest by those who
date their reckonings from that advent. The
sea was pia id that the traditional mill
pond" smile opposite. The sky was per-
fectly clear fer Slight haze on the
western horizon. AS the gong rang for din
ner-which on the ship that carried us was at
a grotesquely early hour-and as responded
stepped out upon the deck on my way to the
dining room and there was met by a vision
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22

minutes without motion or sound, to listen to
this absolute peace. Then away eff, down In
the Arab village to the east dog bayed, its
voice evoking others. and for a little time the
chorus continued and then died and silence
came again. And meanwhile the moonlight
shone upon the massive mounds that man made
centuries ago, and they seemed TO look down
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22

LIVERY voyage into unfamiliar regions
yields some souvenirs of the intangi-
~ be charms of nature. SoarabS and
silks, carvings and gems, physical
pictures of treasures of art, all re-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
GERMAN BANKERS
SEE NEW DANGERS
Declare Leaders Have Been
RemiSS in Protecting Cur.
rency Values.
BY Cable to The Star.

BY Cable to The Star.
BERLIN, Germany. october 3.-Pro-
tests among German bankers are be-
coming loud that the Reichsbank lead
ers again have been remiss in protect
ing German currency and thereby have
allowed the threat of a new currency
catastrophe to appear on the horizon.
According to yesterdays Reichsbank
report, the entire cover for German
currency now has reached the lowest
figure ever reached since the stabiliza-
ton, namely, about $343, 100000, or
about 81 per cent. This weeks loss in
cover amounted to $53,00o,o0o. At the
totally exhausted in seven weeks and
last July's terrible experience would be
renewed despite the creditors Self-con-
tSol agreement.
pO6rces 81 Loss Cited.
The chief sources Of loss. according
to an important banker, are az follows:
l. Withdrawal of IS per cent of icr-
eign bank balances from Germany, as
foreseen under the Basel agreement.
2. Abuse of supposed balances by dis
honest persons who have thus man
aged to secure foreign exchange for
themselves.
8. Sale of securities by Germans
through foreign go-betweens, who are
allowed to sell German securities and
export proceeds.
{. Repayment of British debts in de-
preciated pounds by the Germans.
S. Abuse of the system Of allowing
exchange for legitimate imports.
6. Failure Of exporters to bring back
proceeds of sales abroad.
Agree tn Selling Ran.
Yesterday German banks agreed
among themselves to accept no more
foreign selling orders, thus eliminating
leak 3.
The same bankers maintain that I'M
less the other leaks are speedily stop
ped catastrophe can hardly be pre-
vented, and they urge an immediate in
crease of the discount rate and renewed
severity on the part of the Reichsbank
authorities in diScounting bills.
Copyright, 1919
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
Males the Better
Bridge Players,
Experts Decree
Work Says Few Women
Rank With Real
''Topnotchers."
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, october 3.-Ths bridge
experts met in Chicago today to draft
a new official system of bidding, and
agreed on at least one thing-that men
are better players than women.
1T is the male sex that contributes
the champion material to the game"
said Milton C. Work, one Of the eX-
perts Women may become good play
ers, but few of them rank with the real
topnotchers."
F. D. Courtney, president Of the Ad-
visory Council, sponsoring the new
system, went so far as to say that
women lack the essential stick-to-it-
iveness and stamina to make crack
players"
Several Of the experts also said that
at isn't cricket" for men to play
partners in bridge with their wives, or
wives with their husbands. They
didn't want to say why, however.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
GIRL DIES, z MEN SHOT
IN ROAD HOUSE BATTLE
Pair Flee in Car Driven by Accom-
plice After Pistol Fight at
GAINESVILLE, Pa.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
TAMAQUA, Pa, October 3.-Kath-
crime Mates, 81, Of GAINESVILLE, was
fatally shot and two men were seriously
wounded early today in a pistol fight
in the Cornfield Inn, a road house at
GAINESVILLE. miles north OF here.
The wounded men are Frank Marc,
10, Carbonate, and Frank Valdala, %,
GAINESVILLE They were shot as they lay
in bed by two men who escaped in an
automobile driven by an accomplice.
State police said they had found sew
eral bullet holes in the walls of the inn,
indicating some one in the establish
ment had exchanged shots with the
slayers.
Three men and girl found In the
road house were arrested as material
witnesses. They said the girl was shot
when she attempted to block the gun
mems path as they rushed upstairs to
where Marc and Valdala were sleeping.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
PAIR SHOOT SELVES
RATHER THAN GIVE UP
Men Sought for Questioning-One
Dead, Other Not Expected
to Live.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ENID, Okla, October 3.-Two men
who fed from Enid after engaging
Deputy Sheriff Elmer Hutchinson in a
gun fight shot themselves rather than
surrender to q posse, which trapped
them 8 miles southeast Of here this
afternoon. One of the pair was killed
and the other was near death.
Hutchinson had attempted to stop
the men for questioning as they were
driving through the business district.
They opened fire and Hutchinson re-
turned it. The asSailantS fed and
miles out of town absSldoned their au-
tomobile, striking OUT on foot. Hutch
inson, who pursued, was not injured,
although the windshield of his car was
shattered by bullets.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04

Winter months are 'indoor'' months. LIZ
order SO that we will not only have comfort
about us, as well. The NATIONAL is ready
with which you can furnish your home and
the city. Come in tomorrow for best selection
Evening star., 1931-12-15
Grain Market

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO December 15.-Wheat
prices tended downward early today,
taking a cue to some extent from action
of the New York Stock Market Ad-
verse harvest weather in Argentina.
however. making it difficult to obtain
dry wheat fit to ship across the Euua-
tor, continued to operate as a check on
sellers.
Opening unchanged to q off, wheat
afterward sagged all around. Corn
subsequently reacted somewhat, but
then scored a general upturn.
Rallies from early downturns lifted
wheat at times to we'll above yester-
days finish. The rallies were Simul-
taneous with advices that export inter-
estS had been active buyers of futures
at Winnipeg There were also estimates
that the amount of wheat in the hands
of Canadian farmers amounted at pres
ent to only 25,842O00 bushels.
Giving aid to upturns in wheat values
were assertions that, although Balkan
countries have been exporting freely in
the first six months of the season, it
will not be possible to keep this up dur
ing the last half Of the season. A
factor cited in this connection was that
Rumania and CzechoSlovakia have
smaller crops. Continued absence of
rain in domestic Winter wheat terri
tory Southwest, together with persist
ent curtailment of domestic primary ar
rivals of wheat, served as a further
handicap on bears. Corn and oats were
strengthened by scantineSs of receipts,
Chicago corn arrivals today totaling but
SO cars.
Provisions held about steady, inAu-
enced by hog values.