davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
BACKENSTO DEATH
HELD ACCIDENT
Body of Retired War Department
Statistician Found in East
ern Branch.

A verdict of accidental death was re-
turned by a coroner's jury in the Dis
trict Morgue today in connection with
the drowning in the Eastern Branch of
the Potomac River Of Kinzer Backensto.
73 years old, retired War Department
accountant and statistician, whose body
was discovered floating at the foot of
Fifteenth street southeast late yeSter-
day.
DR.. j. Ramsay hewitt. District
coroner. declared his examination of
the body last night revealed no EVIL
dences Of foul play.
Backensto's body was identified by
Edward j. Ryan. his brother-in-law,
with whom he lived at the Fifteenth
street address. Ryan said the Statis-
tician, who came here from San Fran
cisco in 1917 retired from the War De-
partment shortly after the death of
his wife last year. He said that
BackenSto had seemed to be in good
spirits prior to his disappearance.
The body was discovered by Frank
F. Thomas of 1901 Juniper street, who
notified the harbor precinct.
Ryan Is the only relative Of the dead
man living in Washington. He is sur
vived by two brothers, and other rela-
tives, all Of whom reside in Western
States. He was native Of Colorado.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
.CITYS DAILY WATER
USE BELOW LAST YEAR
Maximum Daily Pumpage So Far
100000 Gallons Short
of 1905 High.

During the recent long spell of hot
weather water consumption in the Dis
trict has been fairly high, although not
nearly as high as last Summer, when
the District was in the grip of the
drought, according to j. E. Curtis,
sIInerintendent of the Districts flltra-
tion plant, which supplies filtered water
to the District.
THE maximum daily pumpage of Ill
tered water so far this year Is still
4 (l(IO 900 gallons short Of the maximum
during 1880. Last Tuesday the Ultra
tion plant sent 106,000,000 gallons Of
water. On an August day in 1890
ii0. 600 900 gallons were sent, although
that day the town actually used 49,
0O(). 600 gallons, the balance coming
from storage reservoirs which had previ-
oilsly been pumped full.
THE average pumpage recently has
been about $4,000, 900 gallons per day.
The water Is of much better quality
when it reaches the filtration plant
than last year. owing to the larger vol
,IYne of water in the river. The river
stages have been consistently higher
ali this Summer than last, MIR. Curtis
said, When there IS much water, the
percentage of Impurities, which must
be removed at the filtration plant,
tends to decline.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
Dismissed InfOr1ner
Hiccoughs 10 Days
After Going to Jail
Man Sentenced on Check
Charge Still Is Suffer
ing at Callinger.

Leslie Franklin Pitcher, 80 years old,
dismissed police informer, recently
sentenced to 100 days in jail on bad
check charges, has been hiccoughtng
for 16 days, physicians at Ganingher
Hospital announced today.
Doctors declared they have exhausted
every known effort of relief for Pitcher.
He is unable to sleep and has eaten
very little.
Pitcher told DR.. E. A. Bocock, super
intendent Of the hospital, that he has
had many other spells Of hiccoughing
in the past. One Of these spells lasted
30 days, he said. He cannot suggest
any means Of relief, stating that 'it
was just case of patience"
The former informer for the police
vice squad declared that he had had at
least nine operations since he was IL
years old.
About a month ago Pitcher was
dropped from the list of police in
formers by Inspector Thaddeus A. Bean,
head of the vice squad. His dismissal
grew out of alleged discrepancies in his
testimony during liquor trial in Police
Court.
Several days later he was arrested by
Detective Sergt. Clarence Talley on
charges Of passing several worthless
checks They were for small amounts.
Two days after his arrival at the
District jail he began hiccoughing. He
was removed to Gallinger Hospital.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
NAVY EXTENDS KHAKI

Deciding that three changes of uni
form daily was too much to expect of
any one, Secretary Of the Navy Adams
today issued an order permitting naval
aviation officers to wear khaki both on
and OF duty.
Under the old regulation the officers
were required to wear white or blue on
the street and khaki on duty.
Those who lived in the city, therefore,
wore white to the flying field, and then
changed to khaki. If they came home
to lunch they were obliged to rechange
to white and again don khaki upon re-
turning. In the evening, when leaving
the field for the day, they again had to
wear white.
The blue uniform is for street dress
IN cool weather.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
Suspected Officers Under
Bond Pending Grand Jury
Investigation.
ACCUSED OF ACCEPTING
MONEY FOR PROTECTION
patrolman Fisher to Face Trial
Board-Will Not Be
Prosecuted in Court.

With the name of third policeman
drawn into the case, two fourth pre-
cinct patrolmen today were ordered
held for action of a grand jury by
Judge Robert E. Mattingly, Of Police
Court, on extortion charges resulting
from alleged efforts to collect graft
from bootlegger.
The defendants, Frank j. Hospidor
and Edward w. Gore, were permitted
to remain at liberty under bond OF
$500 each on the recommendation OF
Michael F. Keogh, assistant United
States attorney In charge OF the pros
ecution.
Police officials indicated Oscar L.
Fisher, another fourth precinct police
man, would be taken before the trial
board in connection with the case but
would not be criminally prosecuted. His
name figured in Cores hearing today
before Judge Mattingly. Hospidor was
in the background as he waived pre-
liminary hearing. Both HoSpidor and
Gore entered pleas of not guilty.
Tells Of Payments.
Frank Adams, colored, of the 700
block of First street southwest, testified
he paid Gore and Hospidor $40 Tues.
day night in exchange for promises that
they would not interfere with his liquor
business. He said the arrests Of the
two policemen followed.
The witness added he previously had
similar transactions with Gore before
he met Hospidor. He said Gore was
accompanied by Fisher on one occasion,
when he paid over $40. That time, the
witness testified, Gore handed him his
nightstick, he wrapped the money
around the handle and then passed the
weapon back to the officer in broad
daylight.
Lieut.. o. ]. Letterman, a night in
spector, told of standing nearby when
Hospidor and Gore drove up in front
of Adams home Tuesday night, attired
in uniform, and supposed to be on foot
patrol duty. The night inspector said
he saw Adams drop something in
Cores hat. He declared he then ran
from his hiding place in an areaway
with Sergts. E. w. Reed and r. C.
Speith. Letterman said Speith jumped
on the running board Of the car in
which the policemen were riding and
ordered them to halt, finally drawing
his revolver and forcing them to stop
after they had originally refused. Mean
while, Letterman said, he noticed Gore
toss something from the automobile.
Gore Doesn't Testify.
The witness said after the car was
stopped he returned to the vicinity of
Adams home and found two SIS bills in
the gutter. He testified the numbers on
the currency correspondent with the
numbers on bills he had given Adams
for use in the case.
James A. O'Shea, representing Gore,
failed in an effort to draw from Let
terman confirmation of his contention
that Adams might have thrown the
money on the ground himself instead
of placing it in the policeman's hat.
The defense attorney brought out that
Adams had police record.
Gore failed to take the witness stand
An unusually large crowd attended
the hearing, every seat and all standing
room in the court room being taken.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
USE OF SCHOOLS
SOUGHT FOR TEST
Civil Service Commission
Needs Room to Examine
File Clerk Applicants.

Fixing Angus. 19 as the date fer ex-
aiming 34.206 applicants for the file
clerk examination, the Civil Service
Commission is negotiating with school
authorities for the loan of one or two
high schools in which to examine the
thousands of local applicants.
The number of applicants fer file
clerk vacancies IS an all-time record.
The total was swelled by the large
number Of temporary Census clerks
soon to be released. Last year, when
the examination was opened to women
only, 2,2l0 applied and in 1929. when
men only were examined, 1887 filed ap-
plcationS.
Interest in the examination has been
so widespread that the commission was
forced to assign clerk to the sole duty
of answering inquiries as to the date.
In announcing the date today the COM
mission requested that applicants re-
frain from making further inquiries by
telephone or letter, as this practice has
greatly retarded work of the commits
sion.
Because Of the large number of ap-
plicants not all can be examined in one
day, the commission stated. The ex-
aminations will begin August 10 and
eligible applicants will be notified in
d1vidually when to report.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
CAB FIRM PARTNER
SUES FOR $4,000
Melvin Soper Claims DAM
ages for Alleged Conspiracy
to Take His Business.

Charging a conspiracy to deprive him
Of his interest in the ProteX-U-Cab
Co., for which be had refused an offer
of $4,000. Melvin Soper. 651 G street
southeast, today filed suit in the Dis
trict Supreme Court to recover $751;
Woodward. Stanley A. James, all of 805
Fifth street, and James w. Wheat, 1895
Pennsylvania avenue southeast. Soper
wants $4,000 compensatory damages
and $4,000 punitive damages.
Through Attorneys Vernon B. Lowrey
and Frank j. Kelly, the plaintiff says
that March / last he and Wheat en-
tered into a partnership to operate
taxicabs and to be known as the Pro-
tex-U-Cab Co., of which he became
general manager and devoted his en-
tire time to the business. Profits were
to be divided equally, Soper declares.
About June /, the plaintiff says, Wheat
introduced Gould and suggested that it
might be advantageous to bring others
into the partnership.
Soper declares he talked with Gould,
but reached the decision that he did
not want him in the business. Gould
then offered him $4,000 for his in
terest, he states, which he refused.
Following the rejection of the offer Of
purchase, Soper says, the four defend
ants entered into a conspiracy to get
possession of his interest in the cab
business. In furtherance of the al
legged conspiracy, he AYERS, the de-
PENDANTS in his absence took possession
of his office, desk and papers used in
the business and notified persons deal
ing with the company that he was to
be no longer regarded as its manager
and that he had no correction with
the business.
He charges that all his efforts IN
building up the business has been set
at naugf1t by the defendants and his
position and authority usurped, preju-
diced and destroyed together with his
nrospect of profit from the business.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
BANDITS FLEE STORE
AT CRY FOR HELP
Gun Fired by South Capitol Street
Intruder Skaters Plate in
Woman's Hand.

Things happened quickly when three
colored men entered the store OF Isa-
dore Koblem, 1856 South Capitol street,
last night, and attempted to hold him
up at the point Of pistol.
Hands upI" commanded one OF the
men, drawing pistol.
'Help!" called Koblen, his hands re-
manning at his side.
Two of the bandits turned and fed.
The third one fired a shot at the cell
ing. The bullet richoceted. shattered a
pendant light globe and broke china
plate held in the hands of Mrs. Koblem,
coming down the steps at the time.
Meanwhile, the third bandit joined the
other two in hasty retreat.
Mr.. Koblem six years ago was shot
in the chest when held up by lone
colored bandit, who was captured and
sentenced
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
SHOWERS PROMISE
RELIEF FROM HEAT
20 Deaths Laid to Weather
in Many StateS-Four Die
in Mexican Desert.

With local thundershowers in pros
pect this afternoon or carly tonight,
Washington seems assured of at least a
measure of relief from the heat. which
caused one prostration today and two
yesterday.
Employees of the District Building
were dismissed from work at l o'clock
this afternoon on account of the heat.
Federal employees had received no
word early this afternoon as to whether
they would be allowed to leave their
Offices.
The Weather Bureau predicts partly
cloudy and not quite such warm weather
tonight and Friday, preceded by local
thundershowers this AFTERNOON or to-
night" Noon today found the temper
allure in the low 90s, about where 1t
stood at the same hour yesterday.
The heat yesterday afternoon caused
the dismissal of Census Bureau en-
ployes at 2:30 o'clock. two hours before
the closing hour. Attendants at the
emergency room had brisk work treat
ing employees affected by the heat in the
temporary buildings Only one stretch
er case was reported, however.
Mrs. Bernice Arnold, %, 1925 Four
tenth street, was overcome by the heat
today while walking in the 700 block
Emergency Hospital for treatment. Her
condition is not serious.
Two Men Overcome.
The two persons overcome yesterday
were Bernard Middleton, 70, of 500 Del
aware avenue southwest, and Frank
jackson, %, Of 100 Sixth street, both
colored.
Middleton tainted while working for
the Trees and Parking Commission in
the 1000 block of Eighteenth street. He
was taken to Freedman's Hospital, where
his condition was improved today.
Jackson was overcome while at work
en- Indiana avenue.
Light southwest winds are expected
to abate the heat somewhat today.
The entire country. save for two swell
tering sections, enjoyed at least tempo
rary relief from soaring temperatures
today, according to Associated Press dis
patches.
One of those areas, composed Of In
diana, Western Ohio and North Ken
lucky, continued to swelter under the
intense heat. The other, a larger one,
was made up Of Nebraska, Kansas, Mis-
souri,, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas.
In these sections corn crops were firing
and danger of drought was reported
Deaths attributable to the heat in
Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Maryland,
New York and surrounding States were
set at 20.
Four Die in Desert.
Thirst and a scorching sun were
credited with the deaths Of four persons
Saturday, after a breakdown of a
Nogales- Mexicali automobile stage in
Sonora Desert. The stage driver is
being held pending investigation of as
sertions that the stage was unfit for
use and that too little water was car
ried.
The Southwestern district suffered
the most severely. Temperatures in
Kansas City were 101, Stockton, Kans.,
107; Emporia, Kans., 1903; Lincoln,
Nebr., 103; Omaha, 100; st. Louis, SO.
While the Southern States continued
to have seasonable weather the Rocky
Mountain region had cooler tempera-
lures, as did the Pacific Coast
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
FUNERAL OF BLOCKSOM
TO BE AT ARLINGTON
Retired Major General, Who Died
in Florida at 76, to Be Buried
Tomorrow.

Maj. Gen. Augustus P. Blocksom.
U. S. A., retired, who died at Miami.
Fla, last Sunday in his seventy-sixth
year, VII be buried in the Arlington
National Cemetery tomorrow afternoon
at 2 O'Clock with full military honors.
Chaplain Ralph C. Deibert, at Fort
Myer, will conduct the religious services,
His nearest relatives, a nephew, Hewitt
B. Carney, and niece, Miss Mary B.
Carney, both of Yonkers, N. Y, will
attend the services.
A native of GAINESVILLE, Ohio. Gen.
Blocksom was graduated from the
Military Academy in June, 1877. Assign
ed to the Cavalry, he saw service in
Indian campaigns In Arizona in 1890
and was breveted for gallantry in ac-
ton. During the Spanish War he was
wounded at the battle of San Juan Hin,
but recovered in time to take part in
the Chinese Relief Expedition in 1900
Later he commanded the 34th Division
in New Mexico, went to France on a
special mission in 1918 and then COM
manded the Hawaiian department until
his retirement for age In November of
that year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
NAVY PLANS TO ASK BIDS
FOR CALIFORNIA HANGAR
Huge Equipment for Dirigible Base
to Second Largest of Kind
in America.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Preliminary notice has been given
prospective bidders that the Navy will
receive estimates for the construction
Of a huge dirigible hangar at Sunny
vale, Calf.
Specifications will be completed by
the Bureau of YARDS and Docks by
about August / and until that time the
closing date for receiving bids will not
be set.
The hangar will be the first and
largest unit of the $4,000, 900 Naval Air
ship Base at Sunnyvale.
Bids will be asked on two different
jobs-erection Of the hangar itself and
grading and laying foundations.
Notice was issued in advance Of COM
pletion of detailed specifications to give
firms interested time in which to pre-
pare to bid.
The notice calls for q hangar zap
proximately 1888 feet long, $40 feet
wide and 1913 feet high" making it
second in size only to that of the
Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation at
Akron, Ohio. The two contracts are
expected to total from $l,5o0.000 to
$l,7SOOO0,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
Girls Food Poison Mystery,

DR.. A. S. M. Macgregor, medical
officer OF health for Glasgow, Scotland.
has reported that he has been unable
to solve the mystery surrounding the
sudden poisoning Of SO pupils Of the
Notre Dame High School for Girls.
The girls were taken Ill just before the
beginning of the Summer vacation. and
all have recovered sufficiently to 90
home. DR.. Macgregor declares that It
was a food poisoning, but beyond that
he Is at sea
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
ANACOSTIA PARK LAND
PURCHASE is APPROVED
"a, 1880 Paid for So Acres, In.
GLIDING Part of Lily Ponds
Near Kenilworth.

Assistant Secretary Payne Of the War
Department today approved the pur-
chase of So acres of land within
Anacostia Park in the District from
Charles M. Shaw and Mrs. L. Helen
Fowler for the sum Of $4,120.50. The
land in question includes part Of the
well known lily ponds on the east side
Of the river near Kenilworth.
Col. Payne said, "This land is to be
used for park purposes, and its purchase
is in accordance with the District Of
Columbia appropriation act Of March
3. 1917, which authorized the Secretary
Of War, in connection with the reclama-
ton and development of the Anacostia
River and flats, to acquire for highway
and park purposes the fee simple and
absolute title to all lands required for
said purposes within the limits specified
In the act"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30

An independent investigation of Q
small taxicab company. reported to be
operating on two different rates which
change with the weather. was started
today by the Public Utilities Commits
sion as plans went forward for a gen.
eral taxicab rate hearing.
The company under investigation Ii
said to be operating in fair weather on
nat rate zone basis Of 25-50-75 cents.
but in Indictment weather. when business
is brisk. raises the rates to 35-60-85
cents. What action the commission
proposes to take, If any. If the reports
are found to be true. was not made
known.
Notice Expected Monday.
The commissions notice of a formal
hearing on taxicab rates Is expected to
be issued Monday. BY that time it
probably will have legal opinion from
Corporation Counsel William w. Bride
as to its authority to regulate taxicabs
and fix rates.
In the. meantime. the companies
which agreed Tuesday to end the rate
war and return to a uniform fate rate
Saturday reiterated their promise to
do so, irrespective of the decision of the
Diamond Cab Co., which failed to en-
ter into the agreement. United, these
companies claim they can force the
Diamond company, despite its numerical
strength of $50 cabs, to. join them on
a fiat rate ascent zone basis. The
Diamond cabs are now operating on .
20-cent basis.
Fear had been expressed at the Dis
trict Building that the failure of the
Diamond Co. to enter into the agree
ment might bring renewal Of the rate
war. But in view of the pledge of the
other companies operating together.
more than 1000 cabs. to stick to their
agreement, public utility officials feel
confident the Diamond Co. eventually
will be forced into line.
New Fleet RumOred.
Reports were current in taxicab
circles of the advent within the next
week Of new fiat rate company, which
ultimately plans to put 400 cabs into
service. The Utilities Commission had
no knowledge Of such a venture and
neither did Richmond B. Keech, peo-
pies counsel, who was instrumental in
bringing the warning taxi companies
into a peace conference.
The rumorS, according to attaches
Of the District hack inspectors Office,
probably are the outgTowth of the
recent action OF one new hat-rate con-
Germ which entered the field about two
weeks ago in putting about 20 addi-
tional cabs into service. The cabs of
this company are operating on a 20
cent zone rate.
In accordance with the agreement
made by the taxi operators to file with
the commission before Saturday a
schedule Of the tariffs adopted, several
independents filed the rates this morn
ing, all of then1 announcing a ascent
zone rate. None of the larger COM
panies, however, has yet filed the
schedules.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
D. C. SUPREME COURT
ON ONE-IUDGE REGIME
Justice Cox to Handle All Branches
Until August 16, Let's, Wheat
and Adkins Following.

The District Supreme Court goes on
q one-judge regime tomorrow and CON-
tinues under that arrangement until
6. Throughout July there have been
two justices presiding. but beginning
tomorrow Justice Joseph w. Cox will
take over all branches of the court u1-
til August 16.
Justice F. Dickinson Let's will follow
Justice Cox August IT and will preside
until September 2. Chief Justice AL
fred A. Wheat will return from his
vacation September and will preside
until September 10, wAen he will be re-
lieved by Justice jesse G. Adkins, who
will serve until the opening of the Fall
term.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
Company Accused of Charg-
Ing Higher Fare When
Rain Aids Business.
INDEPENDENTS PLAN
TO FORCE DIAMONDS
Companies Agreeing to New Gen.
eral Basis Hope to Bring
Big Fleet Into Line.
Capital Has Taxi
Per l47 Persons.
Licenses Reveal

Approximately $500 taxicabs
and other public vehicles have
been licensed to operate in the
District, according to figures given
out today by Wade H. Coombs,
superintendent Of licenses.
On the basis Of population,
this Is a cab for every lat per-
sons. This is said to be the
largest per capita taxi accommo-
dations of any city in the United
States.
Despite the great number of
cabs, the drivers claimed they
made money until the recent rate
war outbreak. And even on cut
rates some of the drivers insisted
their earnings were higher than
before the rate war.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
CHILD USED AS SHIELD
BY WOMAN BEING BEATEN
11-YearOld and Adult Sent to Hospital Police Seek
Man Who Welded Pitcher.

up the sleeping child and held her be-
tween herself and her aSsailant, who
escaped before the officers arrived.
The child and the Mills woman were
treated at Freedmen's Hospital, the lat
ter for q slight cut on the hand. The
child was reported only slightly In
jured.
Meanwhile, police bebn q search for
Edward Howard of the 600 block of v
street, said to have made the attack.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
New Market Covers 90 Acres.

Osaka, Japan, Is preparing to open
the new Osaka Central wholesale
Market, which Is believed to be the
largest in the world. It covers 20 acres
and cost $8,900,0O0. The buildings, Of
reinforced concrete, cover IL acres and
comprise wholesale stalls, cold storage
warehouses, fruit ripening plants, re-
ceiving and shipping sheds and i've
story administration building. The
market will have railway and water
transportation facilities In the grounds