davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
BABY is SUFFOCATED
ROLLING FROM CRIB
Boy, s Months Old, Is Found Dead
by Mother-Funeral Set for
Monday at Home.

An 8-month-old boy suffocated yes
terday after rolling from his crib and
wedging himself between the crib and
q wall at his home.
The child, Beverly Albert Allen, son
Of MT. and Mrs. Clifford r. Allen, 440-A
Warner street, was found dead by his
mother, who returned to the bed room
after a short absence. He had been
placed in the crib asleep q short time
before and his mother had gone out
Of the room for q few moments to
do some sweeping.
On seeing the child had rolled from
his crib when she returned, MRS. Allen
hurried over to pick him up to find that
he was dead. Members Of the Fire
Rescue Squad and physicians were
called.
A certificate Of accidental death was
issued by Coroner J. Ramsay hewitt
Funeral services will be held at 1890
Monday morning at the home. Burial
will be In Prospect Hill Cemetery.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01

CIENTIFIC crime detection meth
ods have gained q definite foot
hold in the washington Police
~ Department.
Lieut.. John H. Fowler has been
given general supervision of the depart
ment's new scientific laboratory, located
on the second floor Of the Police Ad-
ministration Building. Although on a
one-man basis at present, the unit will
be gradually expanded until its stan
includes experts on firearms, bullets,
typewriters, cloth. ink, handwriting,
shoeprints and collateral subjects.
A Health Department chemist already
has been made available for Police
Department work; He probably Will be
transferred to Lieut.. Fowler's bureau
sooner or later.
One Of the purposes Of o recent visit
to st. Louis and Detroit made by In
spector william 8. Shelby, administra-
tive aide Of the police chief, was to
study the facilities Of the police Scien-
tific laboratories This information will
be used in drafting plans for the new
police headquarters here, expected TO
be ready for occupancy in July, 1894.
Outstanding in the new equipment
Of the science laboratory Is q COMPARE
son microscope for use in bullet and
handwriting Identification work. The
apparatus was approved by Dr. Wilmer
Souder, noted ballistics expert Of the
Bureau of Standards. It Incorporates
several vital Improvements over similar
instruments Of an earlier make recon-
mended by DIR. Souder.
Lieut.. Fowler explained the first step
in the manufacture Of pistols and rifles
Is to bore q hole through q cylindrical
iron bar and to ream 1t smooth, after
which certain spiral grooves or rifles, u
Of uniform width, depth and space are
cut into the inner surface Of the bar
rel, in order that o bullet fired through
it may receive the necessary spin
These grooves vary in different makes
Of firearms. Thus, in some makes five
grooves are used while others have six
The grooves are cut with what Is
known as a rife cutter, a sharp-edged
tool with fine sawlike teeth, visible only
with the aid Of q microscope. In cut
ting out the hard steel of the barrel
these teeth make minute scratches on
the inner surface. Even more import
ant, rifle cutter is to some extent
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
CHANGES ARE MADE
AT GEORGETOWN u.
Father John S. 0'ConOr Will
Succeed Father Sohon at
Observatory Here.

Outstanding among changes in the
Georgetown University staff announced
yesterday was the appointment of
Father John S. O'Conor, S. j., as di-
rector Of the Seismological Observatory,
succeeding Father Frederick j. Sohon.
In announcing the various faculty
shifts, Very Rev. Edward c. Phillips.
S. j., provincial Of the Maryland-New
York province of the Jesuit Society,
revealed Father O'Conor recently COM
pleted special studies in Seismology at
st. Louis University.
Father John j. Mclaughlin, S. j.,
was named as project of studies in the
college and regent of the graduate
school. He also will lecture on canon
law in the Law School. He recently re-
turned from Rome, where he received
the degree Of doctor OF canon law at
the Gregorian University. Rev. Francis
E Lucey was chosen as regent Of the
Law School.
Two Come From Woodstock.
Two faculty members were brought
to Georgetown from Woodstock Col
lege, Father Francis J. Burke. s. j., to
lecture in philosophy and Father Timo-
thy j. Dineen, S. j., to be assistant pre-
feet of discipline.
Father Charles J. Foley, S. J., for
merly of Canisius College, Buffalo, will
lecture on philosophy in the pre-law
course.
Rev. Ferdinand Schoberg, S. j., for
merly of Baltimore, once missionary
in the Philippine Islands, was selected
to succeed Rev. Gerald Treacy, s. j.,
as assistant director of the House Of
Retreats on Manresa -on-the- Severn.
The latter will become procurator and
chaplain Of the hospital in the Jesuit
College at Philadelphia.
Completing years of work at oxford
University, P. j. MCGOWAN, winner OF
the Gainsford prize for Greek prose,
was made Greek instructor at George
town.
Other Transfers Made.
Rev. J. ]. Murphy, S. j.. and Rev.
Thomas B. Chetwood, S. j., both OF
georgetown, were transferred to
CaniSius College as professors OF phil
osophy. Thomas T. Coolahan and G.
P. MCGOWAN were sent to woodstock
to complete their theological studies.
Among changes at Georgetown Pre-
paratory School, Rev. George E. Kelly,
S. j., was transferred to Fordham Uni
versity as father minister. New in
structors included Rev. E. B. Berry, s.
j.; Rev. j. T.. Mulligan, s. j., and s.
j. Meaney.
Rev. Philip Clarke, S. j., was chosen
as project CT studies at Gonzaga High
School He has been studying theology
in Europe. He will succeed Rev. Joseph
A. Canning, S. j., sent to the Novitiate
at WernerSville as father minister.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
by THOMAS r. HENRY.

The hardest wood yet found in the
world has Just been identified &t the
National Museum.
It is 80 hard that it Is almost impos-
sible to cut, IL wears away the cutting
edge Of q tool so quickly. Efforts to
make o cross section with q circular
saw had to be abandoned, because after
the saw had cut through about an inch
the teeth became so dull that 1t was
necessary to refile them to continue the
Job.
The wood was brought back to Wash
ington by Lieut.. Henry G. KenerS, medi-
cal oficer Of the last Naval Observatory
eclipse expedition to the lonely island OF
Niuafou ia the Pacific, 500 miles south
west of Samoa. It Is from o species OF
tree-the Polynesian ironwood-which ID
quite common through the Pacific IS
lands and Australasia. 1t has been do
-mesttcated In Florida.
Normally the Polynesian 1ronwood-
which Is sometimes known Is the Aus
tralian pine because 1t looks like pine
tree. although it sheds its leaves and
there Is no relation between the two
tree families-is one Of the hardest and
heaviest Of all known woods. But there
are others harder and heavier, such o.
the lignum vitae, from which bowling
balls are maze. Iu1S Specimen OUto1ucu
by Lieut.. KellerS Is different, far harder
than any ironwood has any business
to be.
The reason that ironwood ordinarily
is 30 hard and so destructive Of cutting
tools, it was explained at the National
Museum, Is that crystals Of calcium OK
alate form in the sap veins. It Is as
though the wood was permeated with
the tiniest sort Of pebbles. This phe-
nomenon Is fairly common In nature
The same thing Is partially responsible
for the hardness Of the common black
walnut.
National Museum experts are puz-
xled Is to whether the trees on Niuafou
have something more than calcium OK.
alate or merely an excess amount Of
crystals Of this substance. Ordinarily
the ironwood tree grows from so to sc
feet high on good soil. Kellers found
his specimens more or less dwarfed and
growing on fairly recent lava beds from
the volcano which forms the center Of
Niuafou. They constitute the only
vegetation on this lava. The wood ex.
perts suggest that the exceptional
hardness IS due in some way TO the In
hospitable soil. Something which ordi.
narily would 60 into size u converted
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
HARDEST WOOD YET FOUND
BROUGHT FROM SOUTH SEAS
Circular Saw Cuts Only One Inch and
Needs Resharpening; Niuafou Expedi-
ton Makes Interesting Collection

into hardness. The natives, Lieut.. Kel-
lers, reported, use this wood for spear
handles, cutting, shaping and polishing
1t with considerable delicacy. How they
do 1t the National Museum experts can't
understand, especially since their tools
are crude. Ordinarily 1ronwood i used
for fuel and for shingles. It should be
practically impossible to cut shingles
| from this wood.
It would be valuable, it was pointed
out, for any purpose for which prac-
tically indestructible wood was needed,
but 1t Is so heavy that the cost Of
| transporting it would be prohibitive.
Since its hardness evidently depends on
the lava on which it grows 1t would be
useless to transplant It. The wood was
turned over to the National Museum
when Naval Observatory workmen found
they couldn't cut it without running their
tools.
A small piece thrown in water sinks
like q rock. It required the strength Of
three husky men to carry upstairs q
piece about feet long and from to Q
inches In diameter.
Kellers brought q rich collection to
the National Museum, including more
than 1000 biological specimens pre-
served in alcohol, numerous rock SAM
piles and bottles Of water from the cu-
rtouS sulphur lakes on Niuafou. This
far-o6 corner Of the world, about rs
miles IN area, Is the last independent
kingdom In the South Seas ruled by q
queen and parliament. Its foreign
affairs, however, are administered by
New Zealand. Since It is almost i'm
possible to land on the islands the ma
| tives have been little affected by the
ways Of the outside world and the fauna
and fora have been little studied BY
scientists. The islanders, who work the
tremendously hard ironwood so success
fully, are almost pure Polynesians. They
are expert basket weavers and very
skillful In making fire by the primitive
method Of rubbing two sticks together.
Further study Of the Kellers collec-
ton, National Museum experts believe
will reveal many specimens hitherto UNI
known to science. One Of the most re-
markable discoveries which have turned
up in the collection thus far, according
to Austin II. Clark, curator Of echino-
derms, Is q remarkable new genera Of
sea urchins--a curiously generalized
form from which three wholly dissimi-
lar types may have radiated. It has
been named Zenocentrutus para0oxus
It Is one Of the most important discov-
cries In this fieid in the past hundred
years, DR.. Clark says.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
SON OF DETECTIVE
ENDS LIFE AFTER
SPLIT WITH WIFE
19-Year-0Id William Wright,
Unemployed 6 Months,
Shoots Self in Head.
z WEEKS OLD BABY
MENTIONED IN NOTE
Effort to Provide and Offer of
Peace in Missive Found Be-
fore Tragedy.
Apparently respondent because his

Apparently respondent because his
wife left him, taking their 2-week-old
daughter. william Edward Wright, 10,
son Of Detective william Wright Of the
eleventh precinct, ended his life by mr.
ing . .32-caliber bullet into his head
early today. 49,.
He was found unconscious on q bed
in his apartment at 724 Fifth street
northeast by Vincent Barber Of the
same address, who ran to the bed room
after hearing the shot. Barber and
three other youths-Anthony A. Chris
tian 224 G street northeast; Angelo
Rockelli, TIT Third street northeast,
and Edward F. Deenehan, 303 H street
northeast-were making coffee In the
basement OF the Fifth street house
when the shot was fired.
Dies ut Hospital.
Wright was taken to Casualty Hos
pital. where he died withuot re9aining
consciousness Hts 19-year-olo wife
Gertrude was at his bedside few min
utes before his death.
According to Policeman William Mel
vim of the ninth precinct. who lnVesti-
gated the case, the gun was beside
Wright when Barber found him lying
On the bed.
The Wrights were married about 10
months ago, after romance OF q
month, when they met at dance al
Marshall Hall.
Wright had been unemployed the
last six months, according to his wife
who said she left him Thursday, fol-
lowing a quarrel. Since then, she and
her baby. Lillian Gertrude, have been
staying at the home Of sister at Ills
Lincoln road northeast.
wife Finds Note.
When Mrs. Wright went to her nus
bands apartment to get her clothing
Yesterday, she said, she found the 1ol'
lowing note:
"If you want to come back, you are
welcome. But, on the other hand, u
YOU choose to leave me for good, VIII
see that you get some money for your
self and the child as soon as can gel
it for you. That Is, providing DOM
hear of you trying to make any trouble
for me. will not be back this evening
until 4:30 or S, or maybe later. sc
kindly leave some kind of an answer
It was signed Bill"
In addition to his father, Wright !:
survived by his mother, MRS. Sadie
Wright; two brothers, John and Robert
and two sisters, Sarah and Marie.
Funeral arrangements have not beer
completed, but it Is expected Wright
will be buried Monday.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
Keech Told of Action and
Check-Up Is to Decide
if Pact Is Kept.
RELUCTANT SPIRIT
AMONG INDEPENDENTS
Uneasiness Caused by Announce
ment Of Utilities Hearing
Plan.

Four Of the large taxicab companies
which engaged in the recent rate war
kept their agreement today and re-
turned to ascent zone rate, accord
ing 10 information furnished Richmond
B. Keech, peoples counsel, before the
Public Utilities Commission. A check
up is now being made to ascertain
whether all taxi operators who entered
into the agreement are adhering to 1t
Keech pointed out that unless all of
the parties to the agreement keep it.
he would not expect those who in good
faith and in q spirit Of cooperation
adopted either the 25-cent minimum
or 35-cent maximum rate to operate Oh
these tariffs while others continued on
the price-cutting rates. Aside from the
unfairness of such tactics, Keech de-
Clared the operators who adhered to
the agreement would stand to suffer 6
financial loss.
Independents Reluctant.
Since the agreement was entered into
Tuesday there has been spirit Of re-
luctance on the part Of some OF the in
dependent drivers charging q Is and 20
cent zone rate to advance the tariffs to
either IS or IS cents pending the action
of the Diamond Cab Co., which will
charge 20 cents until its Board Of d.
rectors meets Monday night to deter
mine whether to continue the price-cut-
ting war or join with the companies
that agreed on a uniform rate. These
independents feared a drop in business
II they charged rs cents while the Dia-
mond company. which controls 750
cabs, operates on a 20-cent rate.
Despite the decision Of large group
of the taxi operators to abandon the
rate war, q spirit Of uneasiness exists
among those engaged in the taxi bust
ness, due to the announcement Of the
Public Utilities Commission that it will
meet Tuesday to take steps to call a
general taxicab rate hearing. Condi-
tions will not become stabilized, 1t was
said, unless 1t Is definitely known what
the commission proposes to do to regu-
late taxi operations and rates.
Action May Be Deferred.
There is a probability that the COM
mission will defer action in the taxi
situation II the Diamond Co. decides to
fall in line with the companies which
agreed to abandon the price cutting
war. But with this company holding
out, 1t was explained, the rate wal
might be renewed at any time, and the
commission is determined to prevent
this II possible by fixing q schedule Of
minimum and maximum tariffs.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
VETERAN IS RETIRED
MRS. Jessie Porter Wood, "a Years
! in Service, to Devote Time
Z to Genealogy.

Mrs Jessie Porter Wood, 2013 Klingle
road, retired yesterday from the Fed
eraI service after "a years in the
Library of Congress 10 devote her en-
tire time to important work in gene
Alogy and heraldic painting, in which
line she Is nationally known as an
authority.
Her fellow employees presented her
with q large silver fruit bowl, many
individual gifts and flowers upon the
termination Of her long service in the
Library of Congress. She Is one of the
old regime in the library, having en-
tered employment there September Is,
1897, about the time the library was
being moved from the Capitol Build
ing There gre only two men now in
service who outrank her in length Of
6ervice-John Morrison, who Is retir-
tng next month, and william p. Moore.
Mrs. Woods first assignment was in
the department Of prints, where she
has left monument to her seven years
of service in the selection and mount
ing Of 1900 pictures representing the
history Of engraving. For the past 81
years she has been an assistant In the
reading room.
She is a native Of Syracuse, N. Y,
Is q member Of the Huguenot Society,
the Founders and Patriots Society, the
Daughters of the American Revolt
Hion and the National Genealogical
Society,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
JUDGE AND CRONIN TO BE
CHURCH CARNIVAL GUESTS
Base Ball Players to Be Feted To.
night at Closing Program at
18th and East Capitol.

" Joe Judge and Joe Cronin, first base
man and shortstop Of the Washington
base ball team, viii be guests of honor
tonight at the Holy Comforter Church
carnivals closing program at Fifteenth
and East Capitol streets.
All former parishioners have been in
Tited to return for the closing festivities.
It also will be open to members Of
the knights Of Columbus, Catholic
Daughters of America, the Curley Club
of Washington, the Sodality Union and
members of the Lincoln Park Citizens
Association and the Southeast Business
Mems Association.
Rev. Edward j. A. Nestor, assistant
pastor Of the church, IS general chair
man and treasurer Of the Carnival
Committee. Those who will assist him
On the final program are Lieut.. Col.
william Z. Peak, Cornelius j. Ford,
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph l.. Campbell,
Albert v. Pohl, Raymond Dillon, Mrs.
Richard A. Murphy, Mrs. Peter p.
burke, Mrs. Anna G. Donnelly, Miss
Nellie Mccormick, Eugene Rossi, Mr..
and Mrs. william A. Carlin, John M.
Crown, T. J. Collins, Mrs. William L.
Peak, Mrs. Mary J. Reynolds, John
Leonard Donnelly and Mrs. o. e.
Overend.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
WOMAN CUTS SELF
IN SUICIDE TRY
SlaShes Wrists and Throat With
Razor in Quarrel With
Husband.

Mrs Mary Herring, ~ years old, was
improving at Gallinger Hospital this
morning, following her third attempt
TO kill herself with q razor blade yes
terday.
Stiil dased from the poison which she
had taken three days previously, she
cut her wrists and, throat early yeSter-
day. She was taken to Gallinger from
Casualty. The slaslaes were not deep.
Relatives said she had Eeen degpond-
ent over q quarrel with her husband,
Norwood Herring.
Mrs. Herring, who lives ct 1914 Co
liinbia road, was at the home Of her
sister, Mrs. Albert Talbert, 1145 Twenty
second street, ct the time Of her two
last suicide attempts.
MARY became respondent three days
ago after O quarrel with her husband, :
Mrs. Talbert said yesterday, "and drank
poison. Yesterday we brought her here
80 we could watch her"
Mrs. Talbert said she was In the
kitchen when her sister cut her throat.
Mrs. Herring has been married about
two years.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
FALLING BEAM CAUSES
FALSE COLLAPSE ALARM
Rescue Squad Ambulances and
Police Speed to Scene but
Only Wrecker Hurt.

with the shrill notes Of wide-open
sirens splitting the air, downtown traf-
&c virtually came to standstill today
rs the fire rescue squad, ambulances
and police reserve wagons careened
around corners, their tires screeching.
Pedestrians Scurried to the sidewalks
and workers in ONCE buildings craned
their necks to get better view Of the
firemen and daShing young tnternes IS
they sped on their way.
tion by the PROPULSION Of telephone in
quiries, the deafening din and clatter,
communicated with police headquar-
ters and learned . building collapse had
been reported on D street between
Twelfth and Thirteenth.
A beam had fallen on the foot Of
George Daney, colored member of, q
wrecking crew salvaging q D street
building to make way for the Govern
ment expansion program.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
RECEIVERS RESIGN
PROTECTIVE GROUP
Peyser and Tumulty Quit
Wardman B0ndhoIderS'
Organization.

Pointing out that conflicting plans
have been advanced for recognizing
nine Wardmen-built properties here,
Maj. Julius I. Peyser and Joseph p.
Tunlulty yesterday resigned from the
Wardman Bondholders' Protective Com
mittee SO they might continue as re-
ceivers for the properties.
The conflicting plans Of reorganiza-
ton have been embodied in petitions
for appointments Of receivers filed here.
In q letter to Leonard L. Stanley,
chairman of the committee, Maj. Peyser
set forth his reasons for resigning rs
follows:
ST herewith resign as q member OF
the Bondholders' Protective Committee
for f1rst and refunding mortgage gold
bonds Of Wardman Real Estate Proper
ties, Inc, effective forthwith. Because
Of the fact that have been appointed
one of the receivers for the Wardman
Real Estate Properties, Inc, and since
my appointment certain proceedings
have been taken in the Supreme Cour:
of the District Of Columbia which in
dictate or foreshadow possible conflict
ing plans Of reorganization, and IS In.
dicated by the decisions Of the Federal
courts, It Is appropriate that should
now resign from membership on the
committee"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01

There's sorrow ct Fire Engine House
No. for PVT. Al Smith," bulldog
mascot of the company, today failed
to answer an alarm for the first time
In eight years.
The firemen suspect the worst-that
al has been stolen-but appealed to all
their friends Of the press to aid IN
the search. No. 8 is on North Carolina
avenue southeast.
"Going out without .A' sitting on
the seat" sadly said one Of the boys,
was like trying to eat with your front
teeth out.
"He used to wander Oh sometimes and
get lost when he was stranger here,
but Ar knew the ropes down this
way, and anyway If he did stray on
some one would bring him back. They
all know AL"
cal" resides In the fire house ut
all times unless one Of the boys" takes
him to his house, gives him Q big feed
and allows him to spend the night.
When ION duty" he was familiar sight
to residents Of Southeast Washington,
standing on the large front bumper Of
one of the engines.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
BURGLAR GETS $50

A burglar In the home Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Walter M. Spillman, 734 Quebec
place, last night stole $50.
Mr.. and Mrs Spillman were awaken
ed by the intruder and called police,
but the burglar escaped before of1cers
arrived.
Mr.. and Mrs. Spillman were unable
to catch q glimpse Of the burglar, who
made hasty retreat, dropping a watch
on the stairway. Duplicate keys were
believed used to gain an entry.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-01
PITCHER ENTERS 18TH
DAY OF HICCOUGHING

Leslie Pitcher, former police informer,
today entered upon his eighteenth day
Of hiccoughing at Gallinger Hospital:
Pitcher has hiccoughed continuously,
with the exception Of brief interval
Of 20 minutes two nights ago, since
the spell began. Physicians at the hos
pital believed his spell was over when
he quit for the 20 minutes, but he
started In again as vigorously as ever.
Hospital authorities stated today,
however, that Pitcher Is maintaining
his strength well and taking liquid
nourishment. Pitcher Is under q Jail
sentence Of 40 days on o charge Of
passing worthless checks.