davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1931-05-20
BLACKMAIL ATTEMPT
BY YOUTH FAILURE
Wallace Biggs, Culpeper, Va, Ar
rested as Author of Letters
to Two Bankers.
srecial pispatc tch to The star.


CULPEPER, Va. May 20.-Arrested
when he approached John S. Covington.
president of the Culpeper National
Bank. for money in blackmail at
tempt. Wallace A. Biggs OF Culpeper is
in Jail here awaiting hearing Saturday.
A week ago Mr.. Covington and E. o.
Willis, president of the Second Ma
tional Bank of Culpeper, received
anonymous letters demanding $4,000
from each of them, on threat Of death
If it was refused. The letters were
duplicates of each other, both having
been printed with pen and ink-red
ink-and both having been mailed In
Fredericksburg.
Tuesday afternoon Biggs. who for
merly lived in Fredericksburg, entered
the Culpeper National Bank with let
ter which he said he had received tell
ing him to call at the bank and re-
ceive a package. This letter was COM
pared with the letter which had been
received by Mr.. Covington and found
to be written by the same hand On
questioning Biggs confessed that he had
written all three letters.
His case came up for hearing In the
Mayors Court Tuesday, but on plea
of Counsel Charles M. Waite, a con-
tinuance was granted until Saturday.
Evening star., 1931-05-20
RUSSIANS OPPOSE
i. S. WHEAT PLANS
Soviet, at London ParIey,
Backs Australian Idea for
World Grain Cartel.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON. May 20.-Soviet Russia s
delegation to the World Wheat Con-
ference today declared itself whole
heartedly in favor of the Polish and
Australian plans for world wheat car
tel but opposed to restriction of world
wheat acreage as proposed by Samuel
r. McKelvie, head OF the United States
contingent.
Immediately after the Russian an
nouncement Mr.. McKelvie told the con-
ference he stood firmly against enter
ing any international pool.
The conference was facing Its first
major difference.
II the Russians had been willing to
enter an international pact of restric-
ton. an agreement would not be i'm
possible, but 1t would leave the United
States in O doubtful position, inasmucl1
as the American delegation is not EN-
powered to do more than advise the
conference as to what has been done
in the United States.
II Russia had insisted on the right to
seek markets for her wheat wherever
she can find them, most of the expert
observers believe the delegates could
begin packing their bags.
win Not Join Pool.
Committees met in closed session to-
day seeking to reconcile the relief pro-
poSals submitted by Mr.. McKelve
vie, head Of the American delegation,
and by the Australian contingent which
would establish an export control
agency.
Observers saw little hope OF agree
ment between these two schools OF
thought
Then there is the Hungarian proposal
which advocates diversion of wheat into
new and broader channels of consump-
ton, at the same time suggesting credit
arrangements which would enable
wheat farmers to diversity their crop.
Evening star., 1931-05-20
DAYS WILL START WORLD
PLANE FLIGHT NEXT WEEK
New Jersey Couple Explain Pro-
jected Tour Grew Out of Casual
Dinner Conversation.
Ry the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
LONDON, May 20.-Mr. and Mrs.
Charles H. Day Of Ridgewood. N. j., an
nounced today they would start their
projected world flight from Heston next
week. Their voyage, they explained to-
day, grew out OF casual dinner con-
versation.
AT dinner one day my wife said,
We've nobody dependent on us, why
don't we do something?' l suggested
flying around the United States" Day
said, but my wife replied, Why not
around the world?' to which I said o.
k The next day 1 started designing
our plane
The Days crossed the Atlantic by
steamer, as they will the Pacific, but
they plan to fly the rest of the way and
reach New York in about four months.
Day said the plane was fool proof" and
that the flight was proposed as a
demonstration of safe and sane flying.
Evening star., 1931-05-20
Special Dispatch to The star.

LEONARDTOWN, Nd, May 2O.-A
problem in practical chemistry baffied
both faculty and students OF the Great
Mills High School yesterday and last
night. and even the Leonardtown Fire
Department assigned by telephone ad-
vice from Washington and Baltimore,
was unable to solve it completely.
The problem started about o'clock
yesterday afternoon when some pow
dered phosphorus stored in a closet
of the school chemical laboratory ig-
nited. Boys from the school beat out
the flames. or so they thought, and
everybody went home.
About Q pm, however, the blaze
burst forth anew and this time the
Fire Department from Leonardtown, Is
miles distant was called.
Water failed TO quell the blaze and
the use of chemicals met with little
success. Chief Henry Van De Vanter
Of Lconsrdtown called the Baltimore
Evening star., 1931-05-20
FLAMES FOOL
FIREFIGHTERS AND FACULTY
Confagration Started by Contact of Powdered Chemical
With Air Proves Problem.

and Washington Fire Departments for
advice and was told, he said, 10 let
the blaze burn itself out.
AS the phosphorus ate into the wood,
the firemen finally decided to cut holes
In the floor OF the closet and wash
1T down as best they could with FIRE
extinguishers. letting the phosphorus
fall onto the cement floor of the base
ment. There 1t continued to smolder
and Albert Lee Jones. PRINCIPAL of the
high school. stood guard ali night to
prevent further damage.
According to Chief Van Devanter. the
chemistry teacher said he did not
know the phosphorus was stored in a
container in the closet. The origin
OF the fire was not determined bv the
chief. He said the phosphorus NAV
have eaten It's way through the con-
tatner and ignited when IL came in
contact with the air.
Great Mills is the largest school IN
St. Marys CountA.
Evening star., 1931-05-20
VAPOR-LOCK SLEUTH PATROLS
GAS STATIONS TO TRACE CAUSE
Follows Fuels From Refinery to Distribution Point and
Into Automobile in Interest of Science.

guards more effective the scientific de-
tective is following these fuels, one at
a time, from refinery to station after
station and into the automobile. The
work is done by George r. Hodgson of
Methods for measuring vapor pres
sures Of gasoline apd for the detarmina-
ton of the limiting practical vapor
pressure for motor fuels have been
worked out. The most promising is
known as the Reid method for q con-
troll to guard against vapor-lock. He
determines how the pressares at the gas
stations deviate from those at the re-
finery and how the CHARACTERISTICS OF
gasoline change as 1t is confined IN the
cars fuel tank and in the vacuum tank
b-fore ent.ring the carburctor.
Evening star., 1931-05-20
BY the Associated Press.

TROY, N. Y, May 2o.-A scientific
vapor-lock detective is patrolling the
the gas stations of this region for
Rensselaer, Polytechnic Institute.
Vapor-lock is a trouble which stalls
automobile engines. 1t is the formation
of bubbles OF vapor in the gasoline feed
lines and in the line leading to the car
buretor. The vapor does not now and
1t chokes on the supply OF liquid saso-
line.
The trouble Is due TO the presence In
gasoline of improper proportions of the
volatile stuff which makes starting
easy, usually called the high test
characteristics. Warm weather aGgra-
Yates vapor-lock. Manufacturers bleAd
their motor fuels to minimize this risk.
To And how to make these safe
Evening star., 1931-05-20
Navy Orders Lookout
For Torpedo Missed
From u. S. Warship
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press,
SAN FRANCISCO, May 20
Mariners today were asked by the
Navy photographic ONCE to be on
the lookout for torpedo dropped
in the Santa Barbara channel
by the U. S. s. Wasmuth.
The commanding officer of the
Wasmuth yesterday offered a re-
ward OF $40 for return Of the
torpedo No details were given
as to how it got lost.
Evening star., 1931-05-20
HOOVER DAM COMPLETION
SET 1855 DAYS HENCE
Six Companies Must Pay Govern
ment $4,000 for Each Day Work
Runs over That Time.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Today in case Six Companies, Inc
had failed to notice 1t. Is the day on
which they must begin work on
Hoover Dam. Furthermore, 1888 days
from today the job must be finished.
The first fact matters little, as the
contractors had been at work on
Hoover Dam something like a month
before the $40 900 900 contract was
signed by Secretary Wilbur.
The second may be more important
for on the 2,636th day. unless the job
is complete, Six Companies will have
to shell out just exactly $4,000 a day
TO the Government until they dc
wind up.
Barring unforeseen circumstances
this Is not likely to happen and neither
the contractors nor Interior Depart
nnent ofiicialS are the least bit worried
about completion OF the dam.
Excluding from consideration such
a small matter as a leap year or So
the 1885 days remaining figure out at
7 years and 80 days.
Evening star., 1931-05-20
MOORE AND BAIRD LEAD
NEW JERSEY TICKETS
BY the Associated Press

INE hsbUCIbItU FTfNs,
NEWARK, N. j.. May 20.-A. Harry
Moore, Democrat, of Jersey City, and
David Baird, Republican, of Camden,
stood today as the gubernatorial candi-
dates Of their respective parties as the
result Of primaries featured principally
by the hghtneSs of the vote.
Neltner candidate was opposed
Baird, former United States Sena-
ator by appointment, Is a wealthy bust
ness man and is influential in the
southern part of the State.
Moore, former Governor, has long
been a prominent figure in New Jersey
politics. He is a LAWYER
Evening star., 1931-05-20
SnOwden Returns to Cabinet.

LONDON, May 20 UP).-Philip Snow.
den. chancellor of the exchequer who
has been seriously Ill, joined today's
cabinet meeting and told his colleagues
he was getting along nicely"
Evening star., 1931-05-20
Soviet Non-Recognition Approved

NEW YORK, May 20 CP).-The Ma
policy Of non-recognition of Soviet
Russia and will send copies of its
resolution to President Hoover. Secre-
tary of State Stimson and to the For
eign Relations Committee Of the
Senate.
Evening star., 1931-05-20
JOBLESS TO GARDEN
Unemployed Club Takes Precaution
Against Another Depression Winter

LINCOLN, Nebr., May 20 (F).-Lin-
eratiyely this Summer to provide food
for next Winter. should the depression
continue.
They have organized q civic club
and propose to 60 into gardening on q
large scale Men and women who have
a few days each week when they are
not working, will care for the gardens
and as pay next Winter will receive
food and other supplies
Evening star., 1931-05-20
WEATHER.

20. 9. weather Bureau Forecast.)
Showers tonight, probably clearing to-
morrow morning; cooler tonight and to-
morrow. Temperatures-High a. at
Ais pm. yesterday; lowest, 81, ct $50
Am today.
Full report on page 4.
Evening star., 1931-05-20

The Stars carrier system covers
every city block and tho regular cdi-
ton is delivered to Washington homes
as last as the papers are printed.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-08-22
FIRST RUN
FEATURE AT OHIO

Paramount has gone to the his
TORY BOOKS again for a story of the
glamorous west of an earlier day
and the result, as in "The Santa
Fe Trail" "The Conquering Hero"
ana others, is colorful western
drama, this time entitled Caught"
Caught" is having premiere Indi-
annapolis showing at regular family
prices currently at the Ohio theater.
The story centers around the ad-
ventures of Calamity Jane-the
tough and terrible virago who was
more to be feared than the rowdv
rustlers with whom she rode the
range.
Richard Arlen is starred in the
production. He is seen as Lieut..
Cotton, head of the local detach-
ment Of United States cavalry. who
is sent to CalamityS gambling and
dancing house to clean up the nest
Of cattle rustlers who are known
to have their headquarters there.
Louise Dresser, whose most re-
cent talkie achievement was as
VIII Rogers long suffering wife in
'Lightnin," plays the robustious
part of Calamity. She not only runs
the notorious gambling dive, but
she is also the leader of the rustling
outlaws who prey upon the fat
herds of the local ranchmen.
Into this scene comes Frances
Dee, who carries the feminine end
Of the romantic thread through the
picture.
The film was written by Agnes
Brand Leahy and Keene Thomp-
son, veteran movie scenarists. Ed
ward Sloman, director of ArIen's
last picture, Gun Smoke" direct
ed Caught"
Battling Silver Kings" Pathe
sport reel; The Stone Age" car
toon; With Pleasure" a vitaphone
act, and a news reel complete the
Ohios bill
The Indianapolis times., 1931-08-22
APOLLO TO
CONTINUE PICTURE

Constance Bennett, who has been
appearing at the Apollo in Warner
Brothers latest release. Bought, "
will be continued for the second
week, starting today
Miss Bennett has the role of
Stephany Dale, brought up in pow
erty and compelled to bear the
sings and arrows of gossips who
twit her about her doubtful birth.
Stephany determines early to get
into high society, for money and
position, so she believes, safely
guard their possessors from unhap-
piness.
Upon the death of her mother
she gets a position as mannequin,
through the kindness of Meyer, an
aged buyer. This gives her a chance
to wear fine clothes in the presence
of fine company. She has fallen
in love with Nicky, a struggling
young writer. but does not return
his love for fear of his standing in
the way of her goal. She later
gets a position as social secretary
to a prominent physician and meets
a rather unstable member of the
fast set.
Stephany lies about her family
to hold her new acquaintance, but
The Indianapolis times., 1931-08-22
Sale
Again Has
Funny. Role
Cast as Old Soldier in The
Star Witness at
the Lyric.
"THE STAR WITNESS" Warner

"THE STAR WITNESS" Warner
Il Brothers latest special produc-
ton which opens at the Lyric today
for a weeks run. is said to be
unique in being both melodrama
and heart-warming human comedy.
It's theme-the danger which We
all incur of innocently failing prey
to the evil characters who lurk in
every city, large or small, is said to
be made realistically entertaining
by the characters who portray the
featured roles.
The action begins when Gran'pa
Summerill, the man who knew Lin
coin. played by the inimitable
vaudeville character comedian, Chic
Sale, gets a y-eight-hour leave
from the Soldiers home, to visit
his married daughter and her fam
lily in town.
The family, including Pa and Ma
Leeds, the pert young daughter, the
grown son, the two small boys and
Gran'pa are at supper when they
are called to the window by shots,
just in time to see a man shoot an
other. The thugs rush through the
Leeds home, followed by the police
and escape.
This puts the family in the posi-
ton of being the only ones who
saw the shooting. The gangsters
beat up Pa Leeds and intimidate,
the rest of the family to prevent
their testifying before the district
attorney.
Finally one of the little boys is
kidnapped
1t is Gran'pa Summerill, in his
Grand Army blue, with his shrill
fife in action, who wanders about
the haunts of the gang-frees the
kid, foils the thugs, gives some tips
to the cops and finally becomes the"
star witness in the trial against the
gangsters.
Walter Huston portrays the dis
trict attorney; Chic Sale is Gran'pa
Summerill, Frances Starr is the
mother of the family who are put
on the spot by the gang. Others
in the cast include Sally Blame.
Grant Mitchell, Edward j. Nugent.
Dickey Moore, Bobby Ernst, Ralph
Ince and Robert Elliott.
The supplementary program sur
rounding the feature includes a two
reel comedy, travel film, movie
vod-vil speciality and the Fox Mo-
Vietone News Reel.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-08-22
SILENCE" OPENS
TODAY AT CIRCLE

Deep, elemental emotions under
lay the plot Of Silence" the new
Give Brcok-Peggy Shannon-NIar-
jorie Rambaau melodrama, which
opened yesterday for a weeks Show
ing at the Circle.
Silence" is the story of a mans
betrayal Of the woman he loves, and
his final awakening to a greater love
when his daughter is imperiled by
the misdeed of his own past.
Give Brook plays the leading role
IN this story which, as a stage play,
thrilled Broadway few seasons
ago. Brook is seen as the Ikable.
weak and handsome crook, whose
love brings heart-break to the Wom-
an who loves him. Twenty years
elapse between the early and final
action of the story.
Brooks meets his daughter, grown
to young Womanhood, engaged to be
married. Her fathers past threat
ems her happiness, and Brook
aWakes at last to his own worthless
ness, sacrifices himself to save her.
silence brings Peggy Shannon,
the flaming-haired beauty recently
seen in The Secret Call" in two
roles, that of the wife and daughter
of Brook. The two characters WHICH
she portrays never meet during the
action of the story, but the oppor-
tunity to play two contrasting roles
gives this young newcomer to screen
fame an extraordinary opportunity
Marjorie Rambeau, well-knoWn and
popular stage and screen actress,
has the other leading feminine role.
The moving picture brings one of
the most popular stage melodramas
to the screen. Silence" few
seasons ago was one of Broadways
hits. Paramount employed the
author, Max MARGIN, to prepare the
film scrip and to assist in the direc-
ton with Louis Cashier. MARGIN
has lately turned to picture, direc-
ing, and, with Cashier directed The
Lawyers Secret
Comedy short features and a news
reel close the Circles entertain
ment bill.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-08-22


That would keep English's closed ex-
cept for rentals and the musical Of
ferings of Mrs. Nancy Martens.
Not pretty prospect for winter,
but that may be the case. We have
done absolutely nothing to get sub
scribed audiences for the New York
Theatre Guild or the Drama League.
Cincinnati has two subscribed
audiences and the season will start
there in September. The only good
news of the day is that Arthur
Casey will remain four more weeks
at English's, closing his season on
Sept. 26.
Casey is bringing Guy Bates Post
to revive his greatest characterize
ton, THE Masquerader." Casey
has brought us this season Mrs.
Leslie Carter. George Gaul, Beverly
Bayne and other guest stars. Miss
Judith Lowry opens her guest star
The Indianapolis times., 1931-08-22
CHILD ACTORS
ON INDIANA SCREEN

-Four delightful child actors and a
distinguished cast of adults bring
entertainment to the Indiana the
ater where Paramount's "Huckle-
berry Finn" the second of the Mark
Twain classics to come to the screen,
is currently showing.
Young Jackie Coogan is again
cast in the role Of Tom Sawyer, in
which he made such a hit in the
moving picture Of that name. And
Junior Durkin continues his por-
trayal of Huck Finn. Mitzi Green
and Jackie Searl are just as en-
joyable in "Huckleberry Finn" as
they were in Tom Sawyer"
Fat and jolly Eugene Palette
heads the cast of adults. He por-
trays one of the pair of desperadoes
who lead Tom and Huck into mis-
chief. Oscar APPEL is the other
bad man. Clara Blandick is again
seen in the role of the worried Aunt
Polly, and Jane Darwell portrays
the role of Widow Douglas.
"Huckleberry Finn" carries on the
adventures of the real boys Mark
Twain wrote about in tom Saw
YER Huck runs away from home
to escape his father, and, in the.
search that follows, Tom Sawyer
finds him. Together, the boys plan
a runaway, fall In with two funny
rascals, rescue two innocent girls
from wicked designs of the bad men,
and win more honor and renown.
The direction of this picture is
credited to Norman Taurog who
made such a success of his first two
kid-featuring moving pictures.
"Skippy" and Forbidden Adven-
ture.' More than 200 youngsters
OF all ages add zest to the rollick-
ing romance. The juvenile cast of
"Huckleberry Finn" is larger even
than that of Tom Sawyer" or
"Skippy."
A variety program of selected
short features including a Vita
phone act, a cartoon. African Ad-
ventures series No. 10 and a news
reel complete the Indianas bill.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-08-22
Ina Claire Works f01. G0Idzgyn

Ina Claire's first picture for
Samuel Goldwyn will be an adapta-
tior of the current Zoe Atkins stage
success, 1.-The Greeks Had a Word
For It," which Sidney Howard is
now adapting. In planning this
United Artists Picture, Goldwyn has
not yet decided on the other two
blondes.
1.-THE Greeks Had a Word For It"
The Indianapolis times., 1931-08-22

don black-face in this sequence and
do a little entertaining on their
own. Hardy sings Lazy Moon"
and Laurel does a buck and wing"
dance. This little scene will come
- = decided surprise to Laurel and
Hardy fans, ror it is years since
either If the comedians has done
this kind of work.
The famous screen clowns get
into all kinds of complicated sit
uations in the plantation episode of
Pardon U.s. They are shown as
escaped prisoners who have COW
cred their hands and faces with
burnt cork in an effort to disguise
their real identities from the pur-
suing police.
When Hardy however, falls into
a pool water, all attempts at trans
forming himself into "darkie" are
exposed, for he comes out Of the
pool as white as the proverbial ghost.
much to the delight of the real col
ored cotton pickers.
For their initial adventure into
the feature-length field, Laurel and
Hardy assembled a wide variety Of
comic gags and hilarious situations.
Much Of the plot takes place within
the confines Of the prison to which
they are sent when they offer
policeman a sample Of their boot
leg product. Their idea OF how to
behave in the cells, the dining hall.
the prison school and other locales
OF a typical penitentiary are said to
make this film a laugh from start
to finish.
James Parrot directed the Hal
Roach production. Featured sup
porting roles are played by William
Lucas, Walter Long, June MarIowe
and James Finlayson.
William Tilden, the worlds fore
most champion of tennis. heads the
program of short film subjects in
picturization of the art of playing
tennis. Other film novelties in
clude an all-dog comedy. the latest
issue of the Hearst Metrotone News.
a James Fitzpatrick traveltalk and a
Flip the Frog cartoon
The Indianapolis times., 1931-08-22

The plays setting is a small
town nome in Idaho, and its COM
edy is derived from the tangle of
politics and marriage into which
the fairly prosperous western fam
lily becomes involved.
Judge Hardy. the head o1 the
household, is about to be defeated
for denomination as circuit judge
by a gang of politicians. His two
daughters leave their husband, and
his wife leaves him.
Then, another daughter comes
home from an eastern university
where she has been studying po-
litical science. When she takes the
stump in her fathers behalf, the
daughter almost loses the man she
wishes to marry, causing further
complications.
Judith Lowry will appear as
Judge Hardy's wife, one of those
priceless mates whose whole life is
bound up in that of her husband,
her children and her household
duties.
Jack Storey is to portray the part
of the judge. Frances Dale will inn
personate the daughter who re-
turns home from college, and Don
aid Woods is to be her Suitor who
follows her to Idaho.
Freddie Sherman and Dick Ell
lott will have two of the important
comedy roles in "Skidding," as the
son who is just outgrowing his boy
hood and as the querulous old
grandfather, respectively.
Yvonne Stebbins and Frances
Busby will enact the parts OF the
two married daughters who think
their lives have become ship
wrecked, one because of the SEEM
ing neglect by her husband and the
other because of overindulgence.
The cast will be rounded out by
Walter Davis as a politician and by
Mildred Hastings as darling old
spinster.
Dan WiIloughby Reed is re-
sponsible for the staging and
direction.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-08-22
Fox Signs Sally O,NeiI

Fox has signed Sally ONeil for
the title role in "The Brat" the
part created on the stage by Maude
Fulton, author of the play. j..
Farrell Macdonald and Albert
Gran have also been assigned i'm
portant roles. John Ford will direct.
The Indianapolis times., 1931-08-22
Busy Again

After a season of comparative
inactivity Schwab and Man.
del, to whom the theater is in
debted for a series of such mu-
sical hits as Good News"
THE Desert Song" Follow
Thru" and THE New Moon"
have taken off their coats,
rolled up their sleeves and are
making ready for a busy sum-
mer. They announce the early
production of an operetta COM
posed by Sigmund Romberg
and book by Oscar Hammer
stein and Frank Mandel. This
will be followed by a musical
comedy written by Oscar Ham
merstein and Laurence Schwab,
with a score by Richard Whit
ing.