davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
FAILS
To MAKE CASE

Harry N. Douthitt. editor Of
an unofficial police magazine
who charged graft and corruption
against the Police Department at
the time of a recent beating he
received at the hands of an un-
known aSsailant, was unable to
back up his charges before the
Grand Jury, it developed today
when the jury made its final re-
port to Justice Peyton Gordon.
BIames Condition
Douthitt declared, the Grand
Jury said, that if he made state
ments reflecting on the Police De
partment they we're made while
he was in a disturbed physical
condition and that he had no
basis for making them. He
further said that he has nc
knowledge Of any graft in the
department.
The editor was assaulted in his
apartment several months ago
and suffered a conclusion of the
brain. When Assistant United
States Attorney William H. Collins
and police officials went to
interrogate him as to the identity
of his assailant, Douthitt said
it must have been a cop" who
slugged him because he knew too
much about the police depart
ment. Questioned further, he
said that a large "ice fund" was
maintained by law violators to
keep things cool'' in the depart
ment.
Contempt Dropped
He was Immediately ordered
before the Grand Jury, but
secretly departed for Philadelphia
and was cited for contempt Of
court. His physical condition
made it impossible for him to
comply with the Grand Jury
summons, it developed, and the
contempt rule was dismissed
when he returned last week and
went before the body.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
PRECINCT Plan
CROWDS JAIL

The new system Of inspection
districts in the police department
may mean a world of efficiency
for the personnel, but it played
havoc with prisoners who were
locked up over the weekend in
the old Eighth Precinct station.
The small cells that originally
were designed for two prisoners
housed from six to eight from
Saturday until this morning. Ere
uuent complaints were heard to-
day in Police Court from men
arrested on charges of ranging
from serious assaults down to
plain, ordinary drunkenness.
In all 1853 prisoners were ar
raigned in three branches. of the
Police Court this morning and
with the exception of the out
lying precincts, all objected to
the confined quarters in which
they were restricted.
Fortunately it was q light holi-
day as ordinarily Monday morn
ing finds nearly 200 prisoners in
the dock.
In the District of Columbia
branch of the Police Court, 100
prisoners were arraigned on
charges, the majority of which
were for intoxication; 80 in the
United States branch of the
court and 16 for more or less
serious traffic charges.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06

Washington Times news tippers
crashed the headlines last week
for the weekly prize awards.
For her alertness in reporting
the best story of the week, the
shooting of two young girls, sis
terS, by a 70-year-old married
man, one woman won the first
prize of 500.
Pitts Story Second
The unusual story of the de-
pertinent in Jail of G. Bryan Pitts,
former F. H. Smith Company Of
ficial, netted $40 to another wide
awake news Upper.
Information given The Times
of the suicide of Lieut.. Col.
Joachim Thode won an alert
woman the third prize Of IS.
An unidentified white man,
who snatched a purse containing
a valuable diamond ring and SIS
in cash belonging to Miss CalIie
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
COLLFFLOWER
ABANDONS
FIGHT
Firm in Test Case Orders Re-
turn to Long Weight; Judge
Mcmahon Decision Surprises

Washington coal merchants to-
day abandoned sale of the 1000
pound unit of coal and returned
to the 2,240-pound ton as a re.
suit of the decision handed down
Friday by Judge John P. Nc
Mahon in Police Court, upholding
the 2,240-pound ton prescribed in
the District weights and measures
law.
James E. ColIifIOwer, welI.knOwn
local coal merchant, who was
prosecuted in the Police Court
case, it is understood, has given
up all hope of carrying the case
to the District Court Of Appeals
and has ordered his office to drop
sale of the 2,OOO-pound unit.
Other merchants followed suit.
introduced Last April
The 2,0O0-pound unit was intro
duced in the Capital last April.
AASA NAAS%AANo C1A4AAOUA4NCu bLlCII 1ll-
tention of abandoning the sale
by the 2,240-pound ton and adopt
ing the unit because of the man
ner in which coal was shipped
from the mines.
George M. Roberts, Superin-
tendent Of weights and measures,
first opposed the unit sale of coal
and asked the District Commits.
Sioners to take action.
Decision a Surprise
When Corporation Counsel Will
liam w. Bride was asked for an
opinion, he informed the Com
miSSionerS of his belief that the
District had no case against the
merchants and the unit sale Of
coal was legal. The Commission
ers, nevertheless, ordered the test
case.
Assistant Corporation Counsel
William A. Roberts was assigned
to prosecute the test case. He
was successful in an uphill battle,
the result of which came as a
surprise not only to the mer-
chants but to Mr.. Roberts
SuperiorS.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
Our Mayor Asked
To Find Dead
Mans Kin

A letter from Tampa, Fla, to
the Hon. Mayor" of Washing
ton, asking the assistance Of
newspapers in finding relatives
of Douglass l.. Mcbride, who
died last Wednesday at the
Tampa Hospital. was received
today by Daniel E. Garges, sec.
retary to the Board of District
Commissioners.
The letter said Mr.. Mcbride
was the son of James D. and
Alice Mcbride, formerly of this
city, and had living in this city
a sister who, before her mar
riage, was Miss Margaret NC
Bride.
The letter also said Mr.. Nc.
Bride formerly lived in Louis
vile, KY. The letter came from
Mrs. I. Hayes, Of 311 Cedar
Ave-, Tampa. The body is be-
ing held there pending word
from relatives.
President Hoover jeStingly re.
ferred to himself recently as the
mayor" Of Was 1ington.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
Tip on Shooting of Sisters
JUDGED Best of Week

Philback, unwittingly made 1t
possible for another woman to
win the fourth prize Of So.
81 Prizes
The first of the six 81 prizes
went to a Quantico (VaO man
for story of six Marines injured
in an automobile accident near
the Presidents camp at Rapidan:
The other prizes were awarded
for the stories of the flier who
landed on the hangar: the mar
riage of Roscoe Pound, dean Of
the Harvard Law School, to Mrs.
Lucy Miller; the injury of man
when a tree struck him at Thirty
first and , P Streets Northwest,
during an electrical storm; the
striking Of an elevator shaft at
2101 Connecticut Ave. N. w.,
during the same storm, and the
death of Christopher Sandmeyer
by lightning.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
TALK|ES TESTED
FOR SCHOOLS
B
ROSEMARY

With children from all parts Of
the country participating, an ex'
pertinent in visual education will
be made today which may
change the character Of the en-
tire system of elementary educa-
tion.
One girl and one boy from the
District and from almost every
State are in Washington today
for four-day visit during which
they will be subjected to a series
of experiments in talking pic
lures to test the value of that
means of education.
Should the experiment prove
successful, it is understood that
educators will undertake to bring
all branches of elementary studies
to children via the talking film.
Dean William c. Reudiger, OF
George Washington University, is
chairman of tie committee. The
tests will take place at the g
Street university, where films
made by the Fox Film Corpora
ton and designed by prominent
educators will be shown.
Monroe B. Brandenburg, OF
1017 Sixteenth st. N. w., and
Barbara w. Fenton, of 1415 West
Virginia Ave. N. E., are the Dis
trict children who will partici,
pate in the demonstration. Mrs
Lillian C. Parham, of the John
Eaton School, will represent the
District school faculty.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
DRAPERY HOUSE
PROVIDES BULK
Of LOOT
Bars of Rear Windows Sawed
Through; Robberies Are All
In Northwestern Section

In series of burglaries staged
last night in the northwest sec
ton Of the city by a band Of
crooks made away with goods
valued at more than $2,700, po-
lice learned today in their
checkup.
In each instance entrance was
gained by saving through bars
In the rear windows of four diff
eerent establishments. For this
reason police are inclined to sus-
pect the jobs we're all pulled by
the same gang.
Got Away With $4,000
Fred Clark, of 141S Decatur
81. N. w., told officers draperies
and upholstery valued at $4,000
had been taken from his eStab-
lishment at 1912 Eighteenth St.
n. w.
A large quantity of cigarets
and a slot machine were stolen
from the store Of Frank Brown
ing, at 1245 Twenty-fourth st.
N. w.
Although the Piggy Wiggly
store at 1921 K st. N. w., was
broken open and the place ran
sacked, nothing of value is miss
ing, according to Roy Rouder, of
2017 Third st. N. E., manager.
Goods valuel at slightly more
than 50 were taken from the At
lantic and Pacific Tea Company
store at 4938 Wisconsin Ave. N.
W., which was also visited by
robbers.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
FIREMAN DIES,
5 AIDES HURT
IN FALL
Anacostia Church Burns;
Roof CoIIapses, Trapping
Six in Pit of Building

A battalion chief was killed
and five other firemen were in
jured by a fire which destroyed
an abandoned church at 1850
Nichols Ave. S. E., formerly the
Campbell A. M. E. Church, yester-
day.
The dead man is Battalion
Chief John H. Virnstein who,
with several members of his COM
mand, was trapped in the church
by the collapse of the roof and
chimney.
Heroic work of other firemen
extricated the entrapped men.
Virnstein died at Casualty Hos
pitaI a short time after he had
been admitted. He lived at $500
New Hampshire Ave. N. w.
The Injured
The injured are Private Will
liam Manual, 923 Fourteenth st.
N. E., attached to No. engine,
sprained back and neck; Private
w. H. Boswell, 4I4 Seward Square
S. E., also Of No. 8 engine; Pri-
vate R. o. Russell. 735 Alabama
Ave. S. E.. No. 25 engine; Private
C w. Ridley, 327 East Capitol
ST., No. IS engine, ana Private
John Albers. 217 Seventeenth st
N. E., No. IS engine.
Manual and Boswell are in
Casualty Hospital, the others are
being treated at their homes.
The origin Of the fire is believed
to have been Of incendiary nature,
1t was said today by Deputy Fire
Chief Charles E. SchrOm.
The flames started in the belfry
and quickly spread to the roof.
Chimney, Roof Collapse
Firemen were carrying hose
line through the building when
the collapsing chimney brought
the roof down on their heads.
Quick work of acting Sergeant
X. S. CussIer of No. 8 engine in
holding up a large beam so the
firemen could escape saved their
lives. Two other firemen wriggled
under the debris and dragged
Chief VirnStein'S body out.
DR.. John Ellsworth Virnstein,
the chiefs only son, was called
from the baseball game at Grit
fifth Stadium. The fireman's wife,
who was at Southern Maryland
resort, was also notified and ar
rived a short time after MS death.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
COAL MERCHANTS RETURN TO SALE OF 2,240-P0UND TON
Crooks Break Into -Four Stores Get Away With $ 700
Radio Foes Call IL
WaSteful Use of
Waste Basket

The new headquarters of po-
lice inspection district No. 3,
opened July /, had a nice cab
met radio-but no aerial. What
to do?
Policeman E. T. Hinsley came
in. An aerial was no problem
to him. He picked up a wire
waste basket, set it on top of a
locker and attached the radio
wires.
Now at the Third district
headquarters the old order of
things is reyerSed-jokes come
from the waste basket instead
Of going into it. And a good
time is heard by all.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
InglOriOus Parade
Of Fourth's Glory
Passes Judges

Finis to many a Glorious
Fourth celebration was written
in Police Court today.
When the big parade had
been concluded, a check dis
closed 257 prisoners had OBJ
tanned their release through
the posting of collateral and
1853 had been locked in jail.
OF the total, so were charged
with traffic violations, 184 were
slated for the District branch
of the court for minor offenses
and % for the U. S. branch for
more serious infractions, in
cluding assaults.
The basis of l12 charges was
too free imbibing of liquors.
Most defenses we're: 1T must
have been the heat" as they
had had ."just one drirk."
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
Plane Line Breaks
:. Record Over Fourth

Two passenger carrying and
mileage records were broken by
planes of the Ludington Hourly
Air Line over the weekend with
q total distance of $4,000 miles,
carrying LOO passengers on 157
trips between Washington, New
York and Atlantic City.
A record number of passengers,
T25, flew in and out of the city
and the remainder made the trip
between Philadelphia and At
iantic City.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
Store Robbed of $40
By Bandit in Taxi

A colored hold-up man riding
an a taxicab last night held up
Oscar Teehan in his delicatessen
store at 1904 Seventh st. N, w.,
and escaped with $40.
The bandit ordered the pro
prietor and several customers
into the rear of the store, threat
ening them with a eating, and
took the money from the cash
register. He then walked calmly
to his cab and was driven away.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
Police Foil Break
At BL1deHlSbUrg Jail

An attempted break from the
Bladensburg (Md) jail was
foiled by Prince Georges county
police last night. Two bars were
filed on the inside and two were
sawed on the outside. Eight men
were in the lookup.
Outside confederateS had been
working on the attempted break,
police said. Suspicious Of police
were aroused when they found
! the Jail unlighted.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
BOY INTRUDER
ARRESTED

A 15-year old colored boy was
arrested in an apartment house at
1701 L st. N. E., today when he
entered the apartment of Mrs.
Anna Graves. Mrs. Graves who is
on her vacation was resting in
her bed. She looked up and saw
the boy standing in the room.
Mrs. Graves asked the boy what
he wanted and he said he wanted
change for a dollar bill. She
gave an alarm and the boy was
grabbed by the janitor and
turned over to Ninth precinct
police.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
Car Hurls Pedestrian
Into Barb-Wire Fence

Thrown into a barbed wire
fence when he was struck by an
automobile while walking along
the jefferson Boulevard, near
Bull Run Greek, Va, yesterday
afternoon Edmund Smithwicke,
colored, IS, of the 300 block o
st. N. W., was painfully injured.
william Walker, 500 block
Fulton st. N. W., driver Of the
car, picked up Smithwicke and
brought him to F'reedman's Hos
pital where he was treated for
cuts and bruises.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
Col. Peak Will Talk
At CiUitGn Luncheon

Col. William L. Peak, super
intendent of the District Jail,
will speak at the Civitan lunch
con to be held tomorrow at 1890
.. m. The club also is plan
ming a meeting of its board Of
directors at 4901 Sixteenth st.
N. w. at 8 p. m. tomorrow.
The Civitan golf outing and
dinner at the Manor Club will
be held next Tuesday,
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
Taxi Man Held Up
Bu Pair of Bandits

A pair of colored bandits are
sought today in connection with
the hold-up and robbery of zephi'
niah N. Hayes, taxicab driver,
last night in the 100 block
Montello Ave. N. E. The man
gave $24.
Hayes said the men, after hold
ing him up, ran across vacant
lot and made their escape. He
says he can identify them.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
COURT HEARS ga

Sixty-four cases were tried in
the Alexandria police court by
Judge William S. Snow today.
The arrests having been made
since Friday night. There were
IL prohibition cases. Is drunkS.
and 20 disorderly conduct. The
remainder consisted of traffic
violations.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
COL. PEAK TO SPEAK

Col. w. L. Peak, superintendent
of the District Jail, will address
the Washington Civitan Club to-
morrow noon. The board Of dl-
rectors of the organization will
meet tomorrow at 8 p. m. at 1901
Sixteenth st. N. w.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
WOMAN CUT in CRASH

Mrs. william Marbury, of Nc
Lean, Va, received cuts on her
face and legs yesterday when the
car which she was driving col
lided with an automobile operated
by L. M. Bartlett, of 1923 Gera-
mum st. N. W.. at the intersec-
tion of the EaSt-West Highway at
Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase,
Nd.
The Washington times., 1931-07-06
INDICTED FOR MURDER

Lorenzo Ferguson, colored, was
indicted today for first degree
murder. He is said to have hit
Frank Startling, also colored, with
a brick on June 13 in a fight at
Ninth and o Streets Northwest.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-10-14
The Akron Takes the Air.
(New York Herald Tribune.)


 Yesterday afternoon the greatest airship in the world weighed off from her dock at Akron, her moorngs slipped and she rose easily and gracefully into her element. few moments later her commander rang her engines ahead; the crowd saw the propeers begin to turn and the U. s. s. Akron, carrying 113 persons between crew and pas sengers was for the first time fairly under way. The afternoon broke through a cloud to light up her enormous hull, and the vast silver-gray bubble-a triumph of size strength and lightness- set her first course the crowds cheered her again and again.
 It may well have been historic moment. Her immediate progentor, the Crap Zeppelin, is at the moment in Brazil her second round-trp com mercial voyage within a few weeks The Graf Zeppelin has already demonstrated the great possi- bilities in the modern rigid; in the Akron have for the first time structure of the size and power necessary to turn these possibilities into practical exploitation. The Akrons sister ship is to be laid down as soon as the big hangar is free, and when she is completed it is hoped that the company can Ig go ahead with commercial vessels based on the experience with the two naval airships It is by no means impossible that within comparatively
 few the arrivals and departures of great ocean air lners-riding out from Europe on the north east trades and back on the westerlies, like the ships of the Elizabethan navigators-wil be as commonplace the comings and goings of Allan tic steamships.
 From both the technical and the economic view points the rigid dirgibe is unsuited to land routes and does not there threaten the airplane For water routes requiring relatively short hops, like those through the West Indies, the DOx type of craft will probably hold the field; but for the long ocean voyages the drgibe is as yet about the only practicable carrier in sigh. The cheers and horn tootings of the Akron crowd doubtless drifted up- ward to the in her cabins and gangways who have staked their hopes and regulations her success Now the test of service has came, may she justify their faith and skill
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-10-14
Hats Off to the Legion!
(New York Herald Tribune0

By a vote of almost 2 to against the demand for the immediate cash payment of bonus certifi- cates, the annual convention of the American Le- zion has reaffrmed the essential patriotism of the organization has treasured the country with respect to its loyalty to the high aims of national service embodied in it's constitution. Under the pressure of powerful temptation it has vndicated it's right to the respect and admiration of the American people Hats off to the Legion!
 But not to those politicians in and out of Congress who thought they chance to curry favor with the Legion membership by initiating the bonus proposal The rebuke they have received at Detroit should only add to the contempt that is their popular due. Theirs the real insult to our ex-service men, in their assumption that citi- zens who had enlisted in their country's service in a war crisis would deliberately hamstrng it in a financial crisis They bet on greed against patriot ism, judging others by themselves, and they have lost and bad cess to them! The Legion should follow up its repudiation of these marpots by drum ming them out of public life.
 But if the Legion deserves the thanks of the country, does President Hoover for his personal lappearance before its delegates and his eloquent presentation of the issue. If coup de grace was needed for the insidous attempt to commit the Treasury to impossible drain he gave it in a speech that will remain memorable for its temper and simplicity He can put down to his personal credit at least part of the gratifying result of the vote.
 Only less to be applauded is the Legions exuber- ant insisence that Congress submit the question of the repeal modification of Prohibition to the States with the request that they refer the issue to their voters The majority in favor of this resolu
 tion the first of its kind to reach the floor of a national convention in the thirteen years of the Legon's history, approximately to l. It leaves no room for doubt that the personnel of the Legion overwhelmingly supports the movement for Pro- hibition reform and with an enthusiasm which brushes aside all disinclination to involve the ganization in political controversy. We cannot help feeling that in this action too the Legion has displayed the sturdy patriotism anmating it's cohorts.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-10-14
WIND DESTROYS. HERRING PLANT;. ROOF IN W ATER'
Captain of Pacific Reports Demolition of Building
 at Washington Bay

Strong winds early this week at Wa hington Bay demolished the building that was used by the Ma rine Packing Reduction Company for it's operations year or two ago and that had been leased to it by the Pacific American Fisheries. No person was injured.
 The building, used for the mak- ing of herring meal and oil, was an old structure. It was not operat- ed during the past season. De- struction is virtually complete, the roof having been carried almost bodily into the bay.
 News of the incident was brought to Juneau today by Capt. Paul Kegel, master of the motorship Pacific, which returned this morn ing from her regular voyage to Tebenkoff and way ports.
 The Pacific, which left Juneau last Saturday, reported an unusual ly stormy trip.
 Incoming passenger on the mo- torship were Mrs. E. w. Paine from Rake, Mrs. H. Lutro from Pybus Bay and Mrs. Otto Wilde from En- trance Island.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-10-14
PLAYERS POOL IS REDUCED.

The 1881 World Series player pool, derived from a major portion of the gate receipts of the first four games amounted to S320,303 46. This is said to have been the smallest netted by the pool in nine years and almost $l00000 less than the record pool of $4l9,736.60 split by the New York Yankees, Cardinals and other first division clubs in 1928 There two main reasons for this
 first the combined capacity of the Yankee Stadium and Sportsmans Park is much greater than that of Shibe Park and the St. Louis stadium; second the Cardinals had the baseball crown from tn. Yankees two years earlier and this fact added interest to the series.
 The with which the great Philadelphia club won the American League pennant this year, coupled with its four to two victory over the Cardinals in the 1930 series, led majority of fans to the conclusion that it's margin this year would not be less than last, and consequently the attendance hurt This ana the other factors already men, tioned brought tlie player pool down to under normal However, the total gate receipts for the seven games were in of sl 100000, which is fairly satisfactory proof that depresc:on nas not seriously affected the national pastme
 Of the player pool the two clubs divided s224,- 21242, of which the Cardinals received 60 per cent and the Athletics 40 The former club split SEA- 52745 into 30 full shares foI s44a424 per share If the Athletics divided on the same basis, each share for the losers worth S298949.
 The second, third and fourth place clubs in each league split aggregate of S96,09l.03 It was apporoned fo''oWs T. each of the second place outfits, the New York Giants and New York Yankees, s24O22 75; t. each third place club. the Chicago Cubs and Washington Senators, s16,01517; to each fourth place team, Brooklyn Robins and Cleveland Indians, $800758