davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
TAX DEMURRERS
HEARD BY COURT
Arguments Completed, Judge
Delays Decision in Ar
Iington County.
By a star Correspondent Of The Star.

By staff Correspondent Of The Star.
ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT
HOUSE. Va. May 2.-Arguments on
demurrers to several of the many tax
suits that have been filed in the Circuit
Court here in the name Of the State
were heard yesterday by Judge Walter
T. Mccarthy, who took the matter
under advisement.
The suits, which are for the collec-
ton of delinquent real estate taxes,
were filed in the name of the State by
Commemorative Attorney William G.
Cloth and the demurrers entered by
Jesse. Phillips and Klinge on behalf
of a number of their clients.
Two years ago Cloth, acting under
instructions from the Board Of County
Supervisors, instituted approximately
400 suits for the collection of approx
imately 100000 in delinquent taxes and
former Judge Howard w. Smith held
them to be unconstitutional because
filed on behalf of the county. The new
constitution, he ruled, prevents special
privileges to counties in the matter Of
tax suits.
AS a result of this decision, the suits
were revamped to make the State
plaintiff and again filed, the demurrers
following. It Is claimed in the
demurrers that the efforts to collect
before the filing Of the suits were
insufficient.
A peculiar angle on the case is that
while the suits are brought In the name
OF the State, real estate assessments
are no longer made by the State, the
entire revenue from this source of taxa
ton going to the local jurisdictions.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
GRAND JURY SCORES
CLOSING OF BANKS
Louisville Disaster" Could Have
Been Prevented by Courage,
Says Report.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LOUISVILLE, KY, May 2.-Reitera =
ton Of the March grand jury's statement
that the National Bank OF Kentucky
and the Louisville Trust Co. we're solv-
ent when closed last November was
made in the report of the April grand
fury, filed in Jefferson Circuit Court
here today.
Today's report termed the closing OF
these banks and those Of approximately
score in and near Louisville 1.-The
greatest financial disaster that ever
visited Louisville" and added all this
could have been prevented had the
National Bank of Kentucky been kept
open.
The grand Jurors said they believed
James B. Brown, president. did every
thing In his power to prevent collapse
Of the bank which claimed total re-
sources of S54,00o,000." Brown, with
| Charles y. Jones. also an officer, has
been indicted In both State and Fed
eral Courts in connection with the
failures, and Brown has gone into per-
sonsl bankruptcy.
OF the banks directors who were
present at the meeting called to close
the bank, the report said II they mad
shown the courage to stand by him
| BROWN In his efforts to keep the bank
open, we believe this disaster might
have been prevented"
Criticism OF others was voiced by the
report. It expressed the opinion the
Federal Reserve Bank failed in Its
duty" and that It's management could
have aided the two banks. bridging
over what the report termed a ITEM
porary difficulty"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
IS BAFF[ED
IN WAR ON DIAMOND
Bennett, States Prosecutor,
Finds Self HANDICAPPED by
Lack of Witnesses.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ALBANY, N. Y, May 1.-THE young
est of New Yorks long line Of attorneys
general realizes, after q weeks. cam
paign, that Kidding the picturesque
Catskill Mountain region of gangster
activities may be an all-Summer job.
John j. Bennett, jr., in his early thir-
ties, urbane. calm voiced and persistent,
back in the capital after week at
Catskill, center of gang operations. has
found it difficult to expose the opera
tions Of the lanky Legs" Diamond ana
his mob"
Foresees Tough Job.
my observations during the week I
have been in Catskill convince me I
have a tough job" the attorney gen.
eral said.
Information already gathered from
the witnesses we have interviewed shows
that Jack Diamond and his gang have
done all their business with real flresse.
For this reason witnesses generally have
been reluctant so far to give any testi-
mony as to actual commission Of cr1mi-
nal acts by the Diamond gang"
Bennett learned that drivers OF
automobiles and trucks were stopped by
gangsters and warned they might meet
with some accident If they continued to
travel certain highways. 1t was diff
threatened with death or violence II he
failed to heed the warning.
For the past year or two the Cat
skill region has been reported as the
center of beer racketeerfng operations.
The locality is within easy motoring
distance of the New York market. while
the cities of the Hudson and Mohawk
River Valleys are also within easy
travelling range. Furthermore, the in
accessibility of the mountain by-paths
furnishes numerous hide-aways in case
Of pursuit.
while the Attorney General and his
investigators have heard reports that
some folk had given up money to
racketeers under threat, careful in
quiry developed that none of the al
legged victims would admit he had been
coerced. They had found instances,
Mr.. Bennett indicated, where individ-
uals had loaned money to persons sup
posedly associated with Diamond, but
borrowing is not an offense in the eyes
of the law any more than is a warn
ing that roads are dangerous.
Assigned by Roosevelt.
Mr.. Bennett is former State COM
mander of the American Legion. He is
from Brooklyn.
His assignment to put an end to
racketeering operations in the Cats
kill Mountain and Hudson Valley
regions came rather suddenly and fol-
lowed closely upon the complaint to
Greene County authorities By Grover
Parks, motor truck driver, that he had
been seized and tortured not far from
Diamonds home at AGRA by a gang of
men after he had refused to tell them
to whom his load of cider was con-
signed. When Diamond was shot and
critically wounded at the Aratoga Inn
at Cairo, under circumstances indi-
eating gang warfare reprisals, Gov.
Roosevelt ordered Bennett to supersede
the Greene County prosecutor.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
CONTRACTORS SEEK
WAGEL LAW CHANGE
Board Will Meet Here Friday
to Map Legislative Plans
for Association.

The Executive Board OF the Associ-
ated General Contractors of America
will formulate "a national legislative
program, to be aggressively supported
by organized general contractors" when
the organization holds its Spring meet
ing here Friday and Saturday. the
managing director. Edward J. Harding.
announced yesterday.
Failure Of the lawmakers. notably
in the case of the Davis Bacon pre-
vailing wage act, to frame legislation
directly affecting the general contrac-
tor in such form that its purpose might
be accomplished without hardships and
uncertainties" Harding declared, mas
convinced the association 1t must take
constructive hand IN framing all
such legislation in the future"
Seek Workable Wage Law.
The organizations program, he con-
tinued, probably will include a con-
structive amendment to make the wage
law workable and equitable. and, at
the same time. assure living wage to
construction labor"
Bills for recodification Of Govern
ment contract statutes and for author
ization Of a permanent national con-
struction census also will be supported
by the association. Harding said add
ing: THE board undoubtedly will give
favorable consideration to plans for
pushing legislation in the States for
long-term advance planning of coz
struction and for disqualification"
GreensfeIder TO Preside.
The organizations program will be
presented to the board by Col. Ge1rce
B. Walbridge of Detroit. Among the
Is general contractors who are mem
bers of the association are State Sena-
tor M. A. Conner of Hartford, Conn,
and State Senator Eric Ryberg of Salt
Lake City. Utah.
More than 200 general contractors
are expected to attend the two-day ses-
sion, over which President A. P. Green's
fielder will preside. Mr.. Greensfelder
will also preside at the first meeting OF
President Hoover's White House confer
ence on home building and home own
ership. to be held May at the Depart
ment of Commerce.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
BANK PROBE HITS
STATE INSPECTORS
North Carolina Board Pictured as
Lax in Regulation of Bank
Affairs.
By the Associated Press.


ASHEVILLE, N. c., May 2.-The
North Carolina Corporation Commits
sion, which until recently had super
vision Of State banks, came under fire
today in the trial Of three former Of
flcials of the Sefunct Central Bank g.
Trust Co., charged with making false
reports Of the banks condition.
Attorneys for the defendants, WAL
lace B Davis, who was president; DR..
j. A. Sinclair and c. N. Brown. direc-
tors, brought out In the cross-examina-
ton of State witnesses that some Of the
collateral held by the bank, and classed
as doubtful by bank examiners had
been carried for a number Of years,
during which the Corporation Commits
sion had made periodic inspections.
Judge M. c. Bsrnhill said he was in
clined to dismiss the false report
charged against Davis, Sinclair and
Brown, but deferred his decision until
Monday. The three are under tndict-
rnent on other charges Of violating
State banking laws. Twenty-four other
men also are under Indictment.
Solicitor Zeb v. Nettles announced in
omen court that he would prefer charges
against the Corporation Commission II
IL was developed by evidence during the
Buncombe County bank trials that there
was suficient ground.
The commission was divested OF Its
control Of banks by the present session
Of the Legislature.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03

ton of the wreckage Of humans
and hearts through the abuse OF
alcohol Is for psychologist to de-
termine.
Whatever may be the lure, 1t Is
suficient that Washington audi
ences are receiving entertainment
from the production, which. IN varl-
Gus forms, burlesqued and other
wise, has preached its lesson OF tenn
perance fer years past the counting.
Tears are shed and sniff1es may be
heard throughout the audience, but
"Ten Nights in a Bar Room" while
dramatic, fails, through a happy
ending. to be tragic. Although one
descends to the depths with poor
ICE Morgan civilian Farnum,
weak, liquor loving father OF dear
little daughter. one also enjoys the
thrill of his subsequent redemption,
when, grief-stricken through the
near death of his child, he comes
to his senses"
Co-starring with Mr. Farnum is
THOMAS Santschi the double
crossing saloon keeper and the
cause of ice Morgan's troubles.
patty Lou Lind, pretty and blonde,
is excellent as Joe Morgan's daugh-
ter.
In a series of African travel pic
lures. is also shown this week, as
we'll as "Sky High" a short Vita
phone feature of dubious merit.
c., S, s.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
Y. NJ. c. A. Drama Group
Presents THE Ghost Bird"

A MURDERER stalked through
"A darkened rooms of the Central
Y M. c. A. Friday night. but he
failed to elude the strong arm OF the
law, and his capture was effected
tn the satisfaction of an apprecla-
tive audience assembled In the audi
forum as guests of the Triangle
PLAYERS Of the Y. M. G. A.
The nefarious doings were I'M
folded in four acts by members Of a
cast which presented the mystery
NAV. 1.-THE Ghost Bird" under direc-
of Hall Hopper. The Ghost Bird"
alias the "Vulture," was a mystic
rious criminal who was a gentleman
by day and Enthusiastically costumed
ghost at night. A dozen members OF
the cast we're under suspicion until
the identity Of the ghost was estab-
lished with dramatic effect IN the
final scene.
The ghost" turned out to be King
Prender. and his victim" the chief
of detectives. was Mason Hardy:
other members Of the cast included
lillian B. Krause. Albert H. Muehl-
haus. Vernon Smith, Marguerite
Bone, Jean Bone, Ray Kurtz, Faith
Howell. Mabel Planalp, Jane Harri-
son and Charles A. Bell.
Sam Eggert was stage manager
and Evelyn Thomas assistant stage
manager. The lighting and other
scenic effects we're In the charge of
a technical staff composed Of Francis
Kingman, Charles Prince, Albert
DiRosa, Fern Campbell, Albert Jonas,
Helen Carpenter, w. A. Davis, Robert
Ennis and Evelyn Smalling.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
INDUSTRIAL SHOW
TO AID CHILDREN
HyattsvilIe Exhibit Proceeds
Will Be Used by Club to
Buy Milk.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
EVANSVILLE, Md, May 2-That
undernourished children will benefit in
directly by the Industrial Show, to be
staged by the Exchange Club of Prince
Georges County, June 4, 5 and 6, in the
armory here, was brought out at the
committee meeting of the club held
yesterday evening. at the Office of the
chairman, o. B. zantzinger, jr. After
expenses are deducted the entire cur
plus will be turned over to the We'll
fare Committee of the club, headed by
Rev. Clyde Brown, to be used in con-
tinuation of the present milk supply
to the various sections Of the county
with the cooperation of the Harvey
Dairy, Inc.
To Be Annual Show.
Much enthusiasm is being shown In
arrangements for the show, which will
be an annual affair devoted to activi-
ties of the county. Local business men
are lending active support and Henry
Hiser has been named chairman Of
space reservations.
Other additions to this committee are
r. S. Cara, F. Smith and S. H. Har-
ney.
Many Of the % booths have already
been reserved for local business men
Contract for decoration of the booths
has been let. Space reservations are
being made at IS per cent cash and the
balance payable before the show.
Program Is Prepared.
The program. which is being prepared
by B. L. Anspon and Leo Dunn, lists
unusual talent and a number of sur
prises are in store for those who will
attend. A number of prizes will also
be announced later.
The Reception Committee has also
been enlarged, Frank Smith, w. D.
Porter. D. c. Fahey, jr.: Ray S. Cara
and DR.. Ray A. Vawter.
The semi-annual monthly luncheon
and business meeting of the club will
be held Wednesday at noon, at the
Maryland Inn, College Park.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
MICHAEL PAST CRISIS,
SHOWING SLIGHT GAIN

By the Associated Press.
BUCHAREST, Rumania, May a.
Crown Prince Michael showed i'm
provement today from the attack of
diphtheria which struck him suddenly
earlier in the week, but the steady
vigil OF his mother, Princess Helen,
continued unrelaxed.
Physicians said tonight that the O.
year -old prince had continued to main
tain the slight improvement in his
that he was thought now to be out of
danger. King Carol left on a tour of
the provinces this morning.
Scoring the advice of physicians
and warnings about the infectious
nature of the disease, former Queen
Helen has refused to leave the sick
room. Michael has a temperature of
104 degrees.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
CHURCH H0NORS WOMAN
six to Attend Methodist Confer
ence for First Time.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, May Pl.-For
the first time In history. women WIZ
represent the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, at an ecumenical con-
ference of world Methodism when the
approaching conference meets at At
larta, October 1928.
The College of Bishops today made
public a list of delegates, including a
number of women. Yesterday the coll
lege decided 10 Of the churchs 81 dele
gates would be the 10 bishops eldest
IN point Of service.
As a rule, single women live longer
than single men,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
1.-THE Secret Six"
And Al Show at Palace.

xne cOCEcU cA ~
And Al Show at Palace.
UTHE SECRET SIX" will IN
l. variably be compared to The
R,o House" Frances Marion wrote
A. wallace Berry Is in it, and what
nrobablv the latter did for prison
folk the former Is meant to DO Ior
We Chicago banditry.
This plorification of the bootleg
ger and the rough and rugged rack
Steer is becoming something to think
about Although these gentlemen OF
the "rod" end up full OF lead and no
honor they, are yet portrayed by
Such sterling actors and such pleas
inc personalities that the average
theatereoer must be delighted by
them. With the possible result tnat
this form of indoor and outocor
snort may soon do away with
Mother Goose rhymes, and pitcn
hahes out of their cradles into the
seething atmosphere OF Daooy as
tiller's back parlor, instead OF allow
ing them to romp discreetly az
Mothers knee. ..--..
secret Sex" will, however, not al1r
the fact that 1t is an unusually en-
crossing film. Plenty OF acton, oc-
casional bursts of amusing Beery
dialogue. and splendid performances
hv come of the cast-most notably
Clarke Gable-make 1t dStlnctly
worth seeing. The rise and fan OF
Mr.. Beery as "Slaughternouse
scorpio-from q meat packer to the
King of the underworld, presumably
in Chicago-and his final exterml-
nation by a cagy group called Inc
secret Sex" Is the ultimate theme.
Beside it run thematic tributaries
such as the continued thirst tor
news of the newspaper men, the poor
little girl who loves pauper, ano
lives herself on 100000 year. ana
the usual assortments OF speakeaslee,
dance halls, secret passage ana an
automobile accident that tear al
least one lining out Of ones stom-
ach.
Recommended in this Is an entire
" dialogueless passage, in wnlcn
John Mack Brown, as the cub re-
porter, Is being searched for In
Beery's palace-like apartment
which gives certain feeling OF the
"creeps," scarcely. II ever, duph-
Gated by the talkies before. Recon-
mended also Is the short scene IN
which Beery is shaved, bathed ana
manicured while he dictates a letter.
Most everything, In fact. Is good
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
Weather Hats U. S. Flyers.

SAN JUAN. Porto Rico. May 2 R.-
The American flyers, Clyde Pangborn
and Hugh Hsrndon, tr., were reported
70 be spending tonight ,,I IN SsnIo ni D
= decision was made, 1t was said.
M " received q radio report pre-
I'll 1s?ttled weather and rain over
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
George Arliss In Comedy
And Stage Features at Earle.

n n ORE action than is usually
M associated with the name OF
N George ArliSs is required OF
i this artist in comedy,
1.-THE Millionaire" which
opened yesterday at the Earle
Theater. A leader in drama. whose
name is customarily synonymous
with sympathetic shrewdness, mixes
a new element with his perfection
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
S17,75O JEWELS TAKEN
Apartment Bandits at Kansas Cit!
Rob New York Woman.

KANSAS CITY. May 2 (P).-Mrs
Anna Blink, New York, reported to DO
lice that two well-dressed bandits
robbed her late today Of S17,750 IN
Jewels at the apartment of her sister,
Mrs Charles L. Lewis.
Mrs. Lewis answered the doorbeN and
was confronted by the men who held
revolvers.
Mrs. Blink told police she was ordered
to hand over your jewelry" when she
entered the front room, and took 1t
from a handbag on the table.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03

OF SuaVlCy, anu
there is an I'M
precedented Ar
liss. It is in the
nature Of the
play that has
been chosen for
him that, though
he appears as a
millionaire, he
must be, for a
portion of the
time, the pro-
moter of a new
~ acquired ga
rage business,
facing COMPETE
+ion and that
means an alert
person. Mr.. Ar
iiss. according to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03
Metropolitan

metropolitan
"Ten Nights In a Bar Room"
THAT men and women enjoy the
= sensation of having heart
strings pulled and emotions stirred
Is evidenced from the throngs which
continue to flock to the Metropcli-
tan, where the revised, melodra-
matte classic Of a past generation,
Ten Nights In a Bar Room" has
been held over fer a second week.
Whether II is love of the NOR
bid or a genuine appreciation Of
excellent acting that continues to
attract people to the cinema depic-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-03

observation, always gives reality 70
his role, so he achieves the almost
irnpoSsible-a combination OF ILe
everyday fighting man ana Inc
master Of finance. =,
Another difference to be noted Is
that while in other productions ne
has had occasion to employ strategy
An the ordinary relations OF lie, the
Mot of THE Millionaire" Is such
that he is obliged to hide his identity
with the constant peril of being dis
covered. as his friends and relatives
drive about the region served by MS
garage. The result is the satisfac-
fion given to an appreciative puollc
Of ohServing an ArlisS creation winch
has all the old finesSe with new
type of reactions. The quality, OF
the plot is due to the fact that 1t
is based on the story Idle HANDS,
by Earl Derr Biggers, and that the
dialogue Is from the pen OF Booth
The story unfolded is Of the man
who by energy has built motor car
manufacturing plant and has de-
veloped o prosperous business. ms
physician advises him to spend SIX
months in the West IN search OF
health, and reluctantly. he takes thus
advice. IdleneSs and medlclne ian
to produce results, and an insurance
agent advises him to buy snaH
business in which he may exercise
his active mind. The result OF me
experiment Is q great improvement
in condition, with an incidental
romance involving his daughter ana
his young partner. Gradual reVeIa-
tions as TO his identity are accom-
panied by all the proper elements Oh
comedy. IL 1o,Id
Manners as the prospective huSoano
of the girl, and Evalyn Knapp prov1oe
the chief interest, while Moan 6eeIy
as a dishonest garage owner ana
T,liv Marshall as a tricky lawyer
have roles which require distinctive
not,n1 7 FARRELL Macdonald and
sam Hardy are the typical factory
leaders. james Cagpey Is a breezy
insurance agent, Ivan Simpson plays
the conventional doctor, and Bran
veil FLETCHER Is we'll cast as the
wealthy rival for the hand OF the
Young woman. 49,
THE Earle stage show Is OF the
us,Ial high quality. In aooltlon 70
several standard attractions, there Is
2 visit from q former master OF cere-
monies. Charles Nelson, who has a
real novelty In what he calls a
"screen test" involving his CONVERSE
tion with his own representation on
the screen. with hts partner, Miss
Ormanette, he also gives clever
Mutation of an automobile ride.
The De Marcos, with double piano
accompaniment, ot1er the latest
dance steps; and there are Beenee
and Bubyatte In Hail the Romans,
an exercise Of skill; and Lionel
"Mil<g' Ames in feminine. mper-
sonations. The usual regular lea.
lures. including Ripley's Believe IL
or Not" complete the bill.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-21
ENCLOSED PORCHES
RESTRICTED HERE
Building Code Requires Ma
sorry in Certain Sections,
Says District Inspector.

Amendments to the District Building
Code, recently ordered by the District
Commissioners, which restrict the build
ing of framed inclosed porches in dis
tricts where the coming laws specifically
require walls OF masonry construction,
were being enforced by the office of the
District Building Inspector this week.
PorcheS having a so per cent glass
area, with walls Of frame, covered with
a plasterboard material, had been per-
mitted previous to the issuance of the
new order.
The amendments, as announced by
the Commissioners, follow:
In 3, G and D area districts, two
story open rear porches built of wood
shall be permitted on dwellings having
masonry walls, provided they do not ex-
tend closer than 8 inches to the party
line nor project into the rear yard more
than feet. Such porches shall be
supported on metal or substantial wood
posts at least 6X6 inches in size resting
on masonry or concrete footing, and
with all hand and foot rail connections
securely anchored by suitable iron
clamps or cleats fastened to prevent any
outward thrust.
In B, c and D area districts no frame
addition or Enclosures shall be allowed
on buildings in which masonry walls are
required, nor shall existing frame
porches be inclosed. Permits shall not
be issued to repair any such addition or
Enclosure that has been damaged by fire
or has otherwise deprecated more than
one-half of it's present reproduction
value. as determined by the inspector of
buildings.
All porches shall be subject to the
provision OF the coming regulations re-
lating to lot occupancy and side and
rear yard requirements. Such porches
shall not be inclosed.