davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1931-12-23
RIVER IS DRAGGED
AFTER VETERAN'S s
CLOTHES ARE
Man Cited for Bravery Dur
ing War Was Freed From
Jail Saturday.
POLICEMEN DISCOVER
COAT LAYING ON SHORE
Former Sergeant Had Been Ar
rested on Charge of Cutting
Wife's Arm.

Harbor precinct police today were
dragging the Georgetown Channel for
the body of Chester Smith, a sergeant in
the American Army during the World
War, who is believed to have been
drowned
A coat and hat, identified as Smiths,
were found on the shore of the channel
near the District end of Key Bridge this
morning by Sergt. Coleman Brown and
Policemen c. E. Adams and r. c. Ault,
all Of the harbor precinct
The coat contained pocketbook and
a number of papers bearing Smiths s
name. These included three citations
for bravery during the war.
Left Jail Saturday.
After a fruitless search of the chan
mel the officers went to a house in
the 300 block of Moore avenue. Claren-
don, the address given on some of the
papers. There they learned that
Smiths latest address was IL South
Spruce street, Clarendon.
At that address the policemen were
told Smith, who is about 40 was re-
leased from Jail Saturday, after serv-
ing snort sentence Tor SlaShlng his
Wlfe'S arm with a knife.
The owner of the house told the of
flcers Mrs. Smith was at work She
said Smith was gaSSed during the war
and had since been subject to nervous
spells. She added he was given the Jail
sentence December l in default of a
fine of Sl650.
Poems Found in Pockets.
Mrs. Smith, the policemen were told
last heard from her husband last night
when he telephoned her In addition to
the purse and the citations. Smiths
pockets also contained several poems.
supposedly written by himself
One of the citations. dated August
2. 1918. said Smith "fearlessly exposed
himself to an intense enemy lombard
ment while executing barrage fire" at
scissors. France. Another dated De-
cember l3, 1918. was for bravery in
action near Chehery. France. and the
third. dated August Is. 1919. at File
vile, France, for notable courage and
heroiSm"
After visiting the Clarendon home
the policemen resumed dragging the
channel
Smith. according to the papers found
on his person, served in Battery F, 9th
Field Artillery.
Evening star., 1931-12-23
STAR TO AID MARKET DEALERS
INDISTRIBUTING FOOD TO POOR
Merchants, Guided by Demands of Cash
Customers, Fill Baskets With Meals
That Stick to Ribs

charity baskets, already being as
sembled In The market Office.
This charity, the first bf the new
complete enrolment Of l25 members,
is in charge of F. w Loetsch. presi-
dent; c. Cassard Schroth, treasurer,
and Fairfax Oyster vice president.
The baskets are being filled by two
willing volunteers, S. r. Mullin, super
intendent of the market, and w. H.
Souder, auditor
Best Quality Used.
The market men hope, Mr.. Loetsch
said. to give the poor families the sort
OF food which will be nouriShlng and
which will provide as many old
fashioned, square meals as possible for
hungry men, women and children.
The provisions will be of the very
best quality, with each basket contain
ing or pound smoked shoulder.
pounds of potatoes, 5 pounds of
-four, 3 pounds of apples, pounds of
sugar. pound Of rice, pound of navy
beans, u pound of butter. half dozen
oranges, l pound of lard, l pound of
coffee and big head of cabbage
That" said Mr.. Loetsch. ought to
keep them for while We are not
going in for perishable. fancy pro-
visions-I guess the boys who have
sold the poor as we'll as the rich all
these years know too well what a
hungry man wants to send him fancy
groceries when he needs plain food"
Evening star., 1931-12-23

What they have learned about the
appetite of the buying public is going
to be used by the merchants of New
to the needs Of 100 families who can
not qualify as cash customers.
The merchants, who know how to
feed the hungry as we'll as humor the
faSt,dious, are filling 100 market
baskets with "stick-to-t -theribs,' Al
provisions, and merrily ringing up the
mosaic" sign while they do it.
Half Of these baskets, tagged with
Christmas Greetings from the New
Center Market Dealers Association.
Fifth, K and L Streets" will be de-
livered to impoverished families on
Christmas eve by The Stars circula-
ton trucks. The others will be dis
tributed, rs each, by two other daily
newspapers.
Agencies Supply Lists.
Names of the recipients of the SO
baskets to be delivered by The Star
already have been supplied by the
Council of Social Agencies, which has
checked its records to avoid duplicated
effort and to see that each basket will
arrive where it is most urgently
needed.
Meanwhile the members of the as
Sociation are serving holiday buying
throngs with something more than
their usual joviality Scarcely a booth
or a stand in the big. teeming market
but has contributed its quota to the
Evening star., 1931-12-23
DISTRICT BOY SCOUTS
ADD so UNITS IN 1881
81 Troops. Three Sea Groups and
Ten Cub Packs Formed
During Year.

Fifty new units have been organized
by the District of Columbia Courcil
OF the Boy Scouts of America during
1881. it was announced at Scout Head
quarters here yesterday.
This nun!2c.' includes three groups
of Sea Scouts. 10 groups of Cubs and
81 Boy Scout troops.
The Cub Packs are made up of boys
between the ages of 9 to II years and
their program consists OF preparatory
work Tor scouting. The Sea Scout
program is available to groups of Scouts
Is years old or over.
The largest growth in new Scout
groups came during the first six months
of 1881 Walter MacPcell, cducatiora
director of the District of Columbia
Council, predicted growth on similar
scale during the coming year when the
22nd anniversary of the founding of
the Boy Scouts in America will be cele-
brated
Evening star., 1931-12-23
u. S. AUDITOR EXPIRES
AFTER LONG ILLNESS
Melvin Alzona Wertz Dies of
Heart Disease at Age of
81 Years.

Melvin Alzona Wertz ST, auditor in
the General Accounting Office. died
yesterday of heart disease at his home.
1880 Eleventh street. He had been i'll
for more than year
Funeral services will be held in
Wright's funeral parlors tomorrow aft
ernoon at o'clock. Burial will be in
GlenWood Cemetery.
Mr.. WertZ was a native of Dalton
Ohio, and had been resident of this
city for 40 years. He had worked in
the State Department and elsewhere in
the Government.
Prominent in the Masonic fraternity,
Mr. Wertz was past master of Albert
Pike Lodge, F. A A. M: past patron
of Esther Chapter. o. E. S.; life
member of Almas Temple of the Mystic
Shrine; member of Columbia Com
mandry, Knights Templar, and mem
Der of the Scottish Rite. He was also
member of the Royal Arcanum and
OF Hamline Methodist Episcopal Church,
belonging to the latter for 40 years.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs.
Elsie M. WertZ two sons, Melvin Moore
Wertz and Hugh Slater Wertz a
brother, Robert c. Wertz. and sister,
Miss Minnie D. Wertz both of Dalton,
Ohio.
Evening star., 1931-12-23
FISCAL RELATIONS
WILL Be DISCUSSED
Citizens Joint Committee
Will Meet in Board of
Trade Today.

The Citizens Joint Committee on
Fiscal Relations between the United
States and the District of Columbia
will meet in the Offices of the Wash
ington Board of Trade, in The Star
Building, at AIS o'clock this afternoon.
Theodore w Noyes, chairman of the
Executive Committee of the group. has
announced.
The Citizens Joint Committee on
Fiscal Relations is made up of leaders
in civic and trade circles as well as
independent individuals interested in
the welfare of the city. Edward F. Col
laday is vice chairman of the Execu-
tive Committee.
Other members of the group in
clude George w. Offutt, president of
the Washington Board of Trade;
Joshua Evans. jr., chairman of the
Board of Trade; Robert j. Cottrell
executive secretary of the Board of
Trade; Harry King. president of the
Washington Chamber of Commerce;
Thomas P Littlepage, vice president
and Dorsey W. Hyde. jr.. secretary of
the chamber; Mark Lansburgh, presi-
dent. and Edward D. Shaw secretary
OF the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association; Dr. George c. Havenner.
president and G. E. Sullivan. vice
president of the Federation of Citizens
Associations; j. F. M. Bowie, president
of the Washington Real Estate Board;
c. H. Pope. acting president of the
District of Columbia Bankers Associa-
ticn; Robert " Fleming, chairman of
the Finance Committee of the Bank
ers Association; George P. Hoover,
president of the Bar Association of the
IA &,,;- - 49,,
president of the Northeast Citizens
Association; c. Percy Thompson, presi-
dent of the Rotary Club, and Merritt
o. Chance, president of the Kiwanis
Club.
Independent members of the COM
mittee include E. c. Brandenburg, D.
j Callahan. Alonzo Tweedale, William
L. Beale. Corcoran Thorn and Jesse
c. Suter
Evening star., 1931-12-23
PENS SUICIDE NOTE

Penning his wife note telling of an
intention to end his life Harry Ferro,
25. late yesterday afternoon entered the
kitchen Of his home. at 629 c street
southwect, and opened the jets of the
gas range.
When Mrs. Bessie Ferro, his wife. ar
riTed home she found him unco1ccic,,s
anG summoned the fire rescue squad,
He was admitted to Emergency Hos
pitaA
Evening star., 1931-12-23
MICHIGAN TO OBSERVE
ADMITTANCE TO UNION
95th Anniversary of Becoming
State to Be Mark ed by
BANQUET.

The ninety-fifth anniversary of Michi-
gans admittance to the Union will be
oommemorated at the annual banquet
of the Michigan State Association, to be
held January 26.
Arrangements were discussed yeSter-
day at meeting Of the executive board,
h"adcd by Representative Robert H.
Clancy of Detroit, PRECEDENT. Represent
ativc Clancy expressed his appreciation
for his election as pre3idcnt. and prom
iscd to make the coming years activities
success.
He named the following committees:
Speakers, Charles F. Consaul of Medina
and Donald L. LuXford of Manistee: Ar
rangements B. B. Brookway of Howell,
chairman; DR. Mark F. Finley of Ypsi-
lanti, Clergue c. Schilling of Sault Ste.
Marie, Mrs. Edgar B. Merritt of Ionia.
Mr. Consaul and Ralph Teunis of Grand
Rapids; Publicity. Alvin r. Meissner of
Detroit, chairman; Mr.. Schilling and
Mr. Luxford; Finance. Joseph A. Fenton
of Kalamazoo, chairman: G. Roscoe
Swift of Adrian. Mr. Minnie E. Keyes
Of Oliyet and Mrs. Jessie J. Ohlend of
Detroit.
C,cncy appointed Norman Damon OF
Ann Arbor as member Of the Execu-
tive Committee.
Evening star., 1931-12-23
MRS. ELLEN S. MUSSEY
FILES $4,000 SUIT
Injuries in Automobile Accident Is
Blamed on Truck of At
lantic Refining Co.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

ROCKVILLE, Md. December %
Damages of $4,000 for personal in
juries are claimed in suit, filed in the
Circuit Court here yesterday afternoon,
by Mrs Ellen Spencer Mussey of Wash
ington, against the Atlantic Refining
Co, of Washington Grove. this county
The plaintiff is represented by Attorney
Stedman Prescott of Rockville
1t is charged in the declaration that
on September 3. 1881. on the Rockville
Gaithersburg pike, truck belonging to
the defendant company suddenly turned
to the left side of the road, causing an
automobile in which Mrs. Mussey was
riding to swerve to the right and strike
a culvert to avoid a collision. 1t is rep
resented that the plaintiff was injured
about the face. head, body. arms and
legs and that the accident resulted in
serious and permanent injuries and
mental shock, and that she has since,
by reason thereof, been unable to fol-
low her usual occupation.
1t is contended that the person oper-
ating the truck was negligent in not
giving a signal that the truck was about
to turn.
Evening star., 1931-12-23
POST OF LEGION MAKES
MAI. A. C. WELLS HEAD
Lieut.. Col. F. S. Key-Smith Elect
ed Vice Commander of Group
at Annual Meeting.

Mai. A. Coulter Wells was elected
Commander of the Augustus P. Gardner
Post, No 18, American Legion, at its
recent annual meeting in the University
Club. other officers elected were:
Lieut.. Col. Francis S. Key-Smlth, wee
commander; Rev. DR.. George W. AtKln-
son, jr., chaplain, and Lieut.. FRANK "A.
Dawson, adjutant and hnance omcer.
An ExecIltive Committee elected is
comnosod of the following:
Iieut Col, j. Miller Kenyon. Maj.
lanes A Purcell, Maj. Charles H. Will
~o1 Mai CHARLES P. Hill and Maj. Rich
ara n wilmer. Maj. Theodore Cogswell
was elected post representative to the
Department Executive COMMITTEES.
Evening star., 1931-12-23
WAR HERO'S SISTER ASKS
TO ADMINISTER ESTATE
Alice Costello Cites Recent Death
of Mother in Petition to D. C.
Supreme Court.

Alice Costello a sister of Vincent B.
Costello, first soldier from the District
killed in action during the World War
today asked that she be appointed ad-
ministratriX of his estate.
In a petition filed in District Su-
preme Court through Attorney William
A. Gallagher, Miss Costello cited the
recent death of the soldiers mother
Mrs. Mary C. Costello, and reported a
balance of S4.2O8 remained under Cos
tello's war risk insurance and had re-
verted to his estate since the death of
Mrs. Costello.
Miss Costello said other survivors OF
the soldier included Miss Mary c. Co.'S
tello. Miss Annie T. Costello and Mrs
Marv E. Wall, sisters. and James F.,
John P. Thomas A. and Bernard Co.'S
tello, brothers.
A local post of the American Legion
was named for Vincent B. Costello.
Evening star., 1931-12-23
FAITHS GROUP TO MEET

A special meeting will be held under
the auspices of the Fellowship of Faiths
at Mount Pleasant Congregational
Church next Wednesday night at 8:15
Kedar Nath Das Gupta, general
executive of the Threefold Movement
will tell of recent conversations With
Mahatma Ghandi in London end
Charles Frederick Weller. another gem
cral executive will speak on the pro-
posed World Fellowship of Faiths.
scheduled in Chicago in 1893.
Rabbi Abram Simon is chairman of
Washington's Threefold Movement, and
is expected to preside.
Evening star., 1931-12-23
LEGIONNAIRES TO DANCE

A New Year party and dance will be
held by the District of Columbia De-
partment, American Legion, and Amer
ican Legion Auxiliary in the Marine
Band Auditorium next Tuesday evening
at $50 o'clock.
More than 500 Legionnaires and
auxiliary members are expected to at
tend. Their 1882 membership cards will
admit tfSm.
The arrangements are under the
supervision of Porter L. Bush. senior
vice commander of Lincoln Post. No
II, and Mrs. Joseph H. Minis. depart
ment president of the Legion Auxiliary.
Evening star., 1931-12-23
CHRISTMAS EVE MASS
WILL BE BROADCAST
Services at Immaculate Conception
Church to Be Held at
11.3O PM.

A Christmas eve midnight mass will
be hold at the Church of the Immacu-
late Conception, Eighth and N streets,
tomorrow night at ll:30 o'clock, it was
announced today. Father Francis j.
Hurney will preside at the ceremony,
which will be broadcast through Sta
tion VOL
The program will include numbers by
the Boys Sanctuary Choir and the
regular church singers, accompanied by
string orchestra. Soloists with the
Immaculate Conception Choir are Miss
Florence Yocum. Miss Kathryn Bowers
and Frederick Nolan. The church will
be open at HIS pm.
There will be Christmas noon mass
at the same church at 1915 pm. Fri
daY
Evening star., 1931-12-23
WOMAN MYSTER|OUSLY
HURT FOUND STUNNED
Hospital Officials Say Nature of
Injuries Indicates She Was
Hit by Auto.

Mrs Karo Bohmanson. 64. of 32O7
Thirty eighth street, was found uncon-
scious on T. between Nineteenth and
Twentieth streets, early last night by
William E. Duckett of rs o street
northeast, who took her to Emergency
Hospital
Surgeons found her suffering from a
broken arm and cuts and bruises. her
appearance suggesting she probably had
been injured by an automobile When
Mrs. Bohmanson regained conscious
ness she said she was unable to recall
how she was hurt.
1t,was said at the hospital today that
Mrs. Bohmansons condition was slightly
improved
Evening star., 1931-12-23
Runaway Dogs Hurt Woman.

MCCALL. Idaho, December % tPl.-
Frightened horses and recklessly driven
awav dog team in the list Of Mccall
traffic hazards Hitched to a sled, the
animals bowled Mrs. C. S. Jones over as
shc vas crossing q strect aad SLED
runner struck her head. She is recov-
ering.
Evening star., 1931-12-23
MASS AT WALTER REED
Christmas Carols to Be Sung To-
morrow Night.

Solemn high mass will be celebrated
at the new Memorial Chapel of Walter
Reed Hospital on Christmas Eve at
l1:3O o'clock. The services will begin
with Christmas carols.
The Catholic Chapel Choir will sing
"Silent Night" as a professional and
"AdeSte FideleS' at the close of the
services.
The mass will be sung by choir of
mixed voices. Chaplain j. r. Koch.
U. S. A. will be ths celebrant and will
he assisted by two priests from the
Dominican House of StudiaS.
IN the choir will b. Edna Hillyard.
Minnie Volkman, Eliza beth Kerr, Roy
den DIXON and Joseph OLone. Mrs.
Albert Gerer will be organist
Evening star., 1931-12-23

further authorizations to spend more
next wear. I recommend to the Presi-
dent that we send no new authorize
tions to Congress. If we should send
one, or two or three. that would open
the door to a whole flood of new prof.
ects, and I don't know how we could
finance it.
president Hoover has asked for
1920 900 900 more taxes in the fiscal
wear 1888. At a time when we are
calling on tie tc..::-c5-c-.-"; 20 rus uD t.,ao
much additional money, I cannct see
any justification for increasing the
burden beyond that point"
Evening star., 1931-12-23
FARMERS PAY BACK U. S.
Settlements on Crop Loans Total
S11.934.253 After Harvests.

The Governments farmer borrowers
have returned S11934,253 to the Treas
ury tills from funds advanced last
Spring to plant new crops after the
1880 drought.
More is coming in daily as the farm
ers sell Fall harvests on which the
Government took lien. In many
cases, where settlement now would
work a hardship, time extensions are
being made
The Agriculture Department loaned
approximately $48G00,0O0 from the
s67, 100000 appropriated by the last
Congress for relief purposes.
Evening star., 1931-12-23
LIBRARIES TO CLOSE
Doors Will Be Shut From Tomor-
row Night to Monday.

The central building and major
branches of the Public Library will be
closed from, o'clock tomorrow evening
until Monday The branches at Chevy
Chase, Tenley, Woodbridge, Conduit
Road and Eastern High School will be
open from to 6 o'clock tomorrow.
The same closing hour will be OBJ
served on New Year eve. The central
however. will be open from 2
to pm. on New Year day and the
same hours on the following Sunday
All agencies will be open from am
to l pm, January 2.
Evening star., 1931-12-23
SHRINERS TO AID POOR
Christmas Baskets Will Be Dis
tributed Tomorrow.

Baskets Of Christmas cheer in the
form of good things to eat will be dis
tributed tomorrow among the Capitals
needy families by the Almas Temple
Shriners. The baskets. each weighing
about so pounds, will contain all the
essentials for a real Christmas dinner
Under the leadership of Ray Florence.
lodge members have been busy at the
temple, 1915 K street, for the past 10
days preparing for their annual Yule-
tide pilgrimage. The distribution of
baskets will begin at o'clock tomorrow
afternoon
Evening star., 1931-12-23
PLAN NAVY PROMOTIONS

Be Selected by Board.
About go lieutenant commanders are
to be selected for promotion to the grade
OF commander by a selection board or
dered convened on February l at the
Navy Department.
Secretary Adams today appointed the
board, with Rear Admiral Charles r
McVay, jr., as president. The other
members will be Rear Admirals Lucius
A. Bostwick Frank H. Clark, Edward
H. Campbell, Walter S Crosley. Frank
H. Brumby James j. Raby, Thomas #
Craven and Orin G. Murfin, Judge ad-
vocate general of the Navy. The re-
corder for the board will be Comdr
o. M. Read
Evening star., 1931-12-23
CAROLS ARE PLANNED

Fire House Grounds at Berwyn
Heights to Be Music Scene.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
BERWYN HEIGHTS, Md, December
23.-Carol singers before Christmas
tree on the fire-house grounds will fea-
ture the Christmas celebration of the
Berwyn Heights Volunteer Fire Depart
ment and Ladies' Auxiliary tomorrow
night GtarSing ct 7:30.
Music will be furnished by the Prince
Georges Band. In the event of rain the
exercises viii be held In the fire house,
Evening star., 1931-12-23
WILLIAM D. BOLTON, So.
DIES SUDDENLY AT OLNEY
Well Known Resident of Laytons-
vile District to Be Buried Tomor-
row at Browningsville Cemetery.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

row at Browningsville Cemetery.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
OLNEY, Md, December %. Will
liam D. Bolton. So, retired. died sud-
denly at his home here yesterday after
noon. He was formerly a well known
resident of the Laytonsville district.
Funeral will be held at the resi-
dence of his brother T N Bolton.
here, tomorrow afternoon at 1890
o'clock with interment in the Brown
ingaville Cemetery The services will
be in charge Of Rev. John A. Grose Of
the Laytonsville Methodist Episcopal
Church.
Mr. Bolton never married. He is
survived by three sisters, Mrs. Downey
Williams of Damascus; Mrs. Vernon
Beall of Washington Grove and Mrs.
Edward HaWes of Olney, and three
brothers, Charles T, T. N. and Robert
H Bolton, all of Olney.
Evening star., 1931-12-23

THE Treasury" Col. Roop explained.
has speeded up the work as much as
they know how, for the relief of unem-
ployment, and they expect to spend
about 500, 1000, 900 in 1882. Without any
further authorizations, they anticipate
expenditures of about $l20 1000, 900 for
the next fiscal year ending June 80
1888, and we have asked for that $120.-
C0o,000 in the new budget now before
Congress. Another item for buildings
was submitted in the urgent deficiency
bill
But the Budget Bureau Is recon-
mendins with all the emphasis at its
command that there Is no need for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-10
MIDGET GOLF FIRM
/ FIGHTS BLUE LAWS
Appeal Is Taken to Supreme
! Court on Virginia Sunday
Closing Statute.
nv the Associated Press.

ny the Associated Press.
The Virginia Sunday closing law was
attacked as invalid in an appeal filed
in the Supreme Court today by the
Broad-Grace Arcade Corporation OF
Richmond, owners Of a miniature golf
course. The concern is attempting to
prevent the commissioner and director
of public safety and the police chief
from interfering with its business on
Sunday. oo
The Sunday law was codifed in 1880
and prohibits any person from laboring
on Sunday at any trade or employing
others to do so except in household
and other work Of necessity" or
charity. For each violation q me OF
SIS is imposed.
The controversy was precipitated in
a three-judge Federal Court, the corpo-
ration insisting that the prohibitlon
against work Of necessity" was TOO
vague and imposed standard Of moral
fitness or propriety, in violation Of the
due process clause of the fourteenth
amendment. The corporation insisted
also that it was denial of equal pro-
lection of the law asserting confec-
tionery establishments, swimming pools
and automobile service stations we're
permitted to operate on Sunday while
gasoline and newspapers were being
sold on that Gay without interference:
The Federal District Court pointed
out that the Virginia State Court had
recently on. three occasions, sustained
the law and had declared that the term
work of necessity" was a question for
the jury to decide. Under these cir
cun1stances it sustained the law and
refused to enjoin its enforcement. II
found that the corporation was not
victim of arbitrary or unfair dis
elimination.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-10
SORORITY WILL MEET

Mrs. Claude Watts Of the Haskin's
Information Bureau will address the
Washington Alumnae Association of
Kappa Kappa Gamma at its regular
monthly meeting tomorrow night in the
Y. w. G. A. Building at o'clock.
Installation of the following ofhcers
will take place at the meeting: Mrs.
Thomas Stokes, president; Mrs. Edward
Wallace, vice president; Miss Eva
Swift, recording secretary; Miss Ruth
Bennett, corresponding secretary: Miss
Dorothy Young, assistant secretary;
Miss Katherine Appleman, treasurer;
Miss Margaret Karr, assistant treasurer,
and Mrs. Julia Miller, social chairman.