davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
ARMY GRID DEAL
IS DENIED

WEST POINT, N. Y, Feb. 4
N.SO.-Complete denial that
Army authorities had attempted
to interest a prominent member
of the Marquette football team to
enter West Point was received
here today by Major P. B. Flem-
ing, graduate manager of ath-
letics at the United States Mill
tary Academy from C. M. Jen-
nings, athletic director at Mar
quette University, Milwaukee, and
Frank j. Murray, head football
coach.
Major Fleming stated that
cordial relations between the
Military Academy and Marquette
had existed for number of years
and that, when the charges first
appeared in the newspapers, he
was certain that some miSunder-
standing had occurred.
Major Fleping stated that he
had receivedAuthority from Coach
Murray to make a complete and
positive denial of the statement.
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
BUTLER HIDES,
FOUND WITH
ATTORNEY
Marine General Traced to
Metropolitan Club; Confers
on Plans for Trial Defense

Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler came
to Washington today, but shrouded
all his movements in deepest
secrecy.
Ensconced in the Metropolitan
Club, the intrepid Marine officer
conferred with his counsel, Major
Henry Leonard, for several hours
today, planning his defense in the
court-martial which he faces be-
cause of his alleged slanderouS re-
marks about Premier Mussolini.
Secretary of the Navy Adams
entered the club shortly before l
o'clock, and, it is understood,
talked with General Butler in
formally.
Avoids Reporters
General Butler was finally To-
Gated after he had led an army
of newspaper men and photog-
raphers on a wild goose chase"
throughout the morning. He left
his headquarters at Quantico at
an early hour, but left no trail
behind him.
Under a strict injunction Of
secrecy, apparently given him by
Major Leonard, the Marine Off.
Ger used all of his characteristic
military strategy in dodging all
the lines which newspaper men
had laid in order to follow his
movements. He was successful
in laying a "Smoke screen" about
himself until a telephone call to
the Metropolitan Club, coupled
with the naivete of a clerk en-
ployed there finally broke the
shroud of secrecy in which the
Marine had enveloped himself.
Leaves His prison.
General Buffers coming here
marked his first appearance
without the confines of Quantico
since he was ordered under arrest
to await a court martiaTs pleas
ure nearly G week ago. Leonard
plans to get the background"
of the story Butler told at Phila-
Continued on Page 2, Col. y
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
SUITS DEMAND
RHEEN CUSTER

Two petitions by note holders
of the defunct investment bank
ing firm of Swartzell, Rheem
& HenSey were filed in District
Supreme Court today, asking for
the removal of Luther A. SWartzeu
and Edmund D. Rheem as trustees
of properties secured by the notes.
Mary Stuart HarveSty, of the
Argonne Apartments; F. Louise
Scirmer, 1434 Harvard st. N. w,
and Elizabeth stuart Moore,
Northumberland Apartments, are
plaintiffs in the two actions and
say they own notes signed by
David L. Stern. 1412 I st. N. W.,
and James H. Adams, 1851 Euclid
st. N. W., secured by certain
properties. Adams and Stern are
also named defendants.
Unfit, They Claim
The petitions refer to premises
1457 Park Rd. N. w. and 1920 Six
teenth St. N. w., and allege that
the present trustees are unfit per
sons and that best interests Of
the note-holderS will be assured by
their removal.
They charge that the defend
ants, Swartzell and Rheem, have
released deeds of trust secured by
the notes without paying them
the amounts due them.
Attorneys J. S. EaSby-Smith and
Francis w. Hill, jr., filed the petit
tionS.
Later in the day Ayoob M.
(continusd on Page 2, Col. 81
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
Alexandria C.. of C..
Aide on Trade Tour

ALEXANDRIA, Va, Feb. 4.
Dan S. Hollenga, business man
ager of the Chamber of Com
merce, left this morning for New
York, Philadelphia, and Balti
more on tour to stimulate local
industry.
The Blue Ridge Shirt Company
announced recently that unless a
market can be secured for its
product. it will be forced to shut
down.
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
Jury Is DeadIOcked
In ErtOrtiOn Charge

BOSTON, Feb. 4 GNS).-The
Garrett case jury reported to
Judge Patrick M. Keating in
Superior Court today that it had
been unable to reach a verdict.
The jury has been weighing the
evidence for 1872 hours to decide
whether Oliver B. Garrett, former
police liquor raider; his wife and
Miss Lillian V. Hatch we're guilty
or innocent of an alleged con.
spiracy to extort money from
John F. Sullivan, former pro-
prietor of the old Ritz Hotel.
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
Los Angeles Visited
Bu HeaUv RdinStOrnl

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4 QN.SD
One of the worst storms in recent
years was pounding San Pedro
and Los Angeles today.
Rainfall which reached cloud
burst proportions marooned sew
eral families within their homes,
flooded residential and business
areas and caused a score of rail
way waShouts. In 80 minutes 1.22
inches of rain fell at Venice and
Santa Monica.
The squall conditions created
high tides and stormy seas.
The Washington times., 1931-02-03

CHICAGO, Feb. QN.S0.-
George Wittbrod, "a, cripple.
was alive today after being buried
and "crucified" in st. Nicholas
Cemetery and Geven young hood,
lums were in custody charged
with perpetrating the ghastly
"joke."
Wittbrod related his narrowing
experience to the police after be-
ing rescued early today by a
traveller, who found him impris-
oned In a coffin rough box in a
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
RAZED TOWN
|SDOONED
TOBLACK
DISEASE
Napier Epidemic Is Feared;
Thousands Are Injured and
Most of Natives Homeless

WELLINGTON, Feb. 4 G.N.S).
Fearing an outbreak of epidemic,
authorities at Napier today or
dered complete evacuation of that
earthquake-stricken city within
two days, messages received here
stated.
Scarcity of water and disruption
of sanitary services counseled that
precautionary step, advices said.
Based on reliable reports re-
ceived here this morning, it is
estimated the earthquake took a
toll of at least 600 lives.
Police in Napier, which is a
veritable shambleS of dead and
dying, estimate 500 are dead
there.
Hastings, 20 miles southwest Of
Napier, will probably have q
death roll of 100.
Fifty thousand persons are
homeless.
While fires are still raging in
Hastings and Napier, and rescuers
are attempting to reach buried
victims, further earth tremor
was experienced last night. The
shocks have been so persistent
that neither the rescuerS nor deS-
titute townsmen paid any heed.
Towns Being Evacuated
Ragged, bleeding and weeping
refugees, still unable to grasp the
magnitude of the disaster, are
being evacuated from Napier and
Hastings to nearby towns which
we're not affected. Hundreds OF
injured have been sent by sea to
Auckland. Hundreds of others
are en- route to wellington.
Blue jackets from the New
Zealand cruisers Dlomede and
Dunedin were landed at Napier
tonight to aid in bringing order
out of chaos.
Four cabinet ministers now in
Hastings, 20 miles from Napier.
(Continued on Page 2, Col. ~
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
Final Rites for Kin
Of Hollywood Star

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 G.N.S)
Funeral services will be held here
tomorrow for Mrs. Lucy Knox
grandmother of Anita Stewart
screen star. She died yesterday
at the age of SO.
Mrs. Knox revealed in 1925 in
an interview that she had hidden
Boss Tweed in her home while
authorities frantically searched
for him, and that he had sailed
in his yacht to Cuba from her
private dock.
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
Gang fCrucifies' Cripple;
He Is Freed From Coffin

roadside ditch where his tormen-
tors had left him.
Before being nailed inside the
box. Wittbrod said, he was tied
tt a cross in the cemetery and
whipped. AfterWard, the hoodlumS
threw him into a grave and set
fire to straw they piled over him.
One of the men, brought to
the police station, laughed at see
ing Wittbrod aShen-faced and
trembling, and said:
cav, it was all in fun. Just a
little joke we played on George"
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
WaLkOut in Havana
Hats Newspapers

HAVANA, Feb. 4 Q.N.SO.-Sev-
eral thousand stevedores, linotype
operators, metallurgical workers,
carpenters and maritime workers
were on strike today, protesting
in general against the Machado
regime and in particular against
the suspension of constitutional
guarantees by the Cuban legisla-
ture.
AS a result of the strike none
of the Spanish language news
papers in Havana appeared this
morning.
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
Raids VIII Continue
On Alien SUSPECTS

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 Q.N.SO-
Federal agents and police today
were prepared to continue raids
on aliens, which already have
sent 1O2 suspects to Ellis Island
to await deportation proceedings.
More than 5000 men were ques-
toned by the agents yesterday,
after Seamen's homes and wharf
resorts were invaded.
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
BISHOP LOSES
MOVE TOEND
HEARING
Churchmen Reject Application
to Quash Complaint; Doctors
Find Him Physically Fit

Bishop James Cannon, jr lost
every point he raised at the
opening sessions of his hearing
yesterday. it was learned today,
as sessions continued before a
body of II brother clergymen at
Mount Vernon Place Methodist
Episcopal Church, South.
DR.. C. j. Harrell; of Richmond,
assumed the role of prosecutor
at the session today. AS he left
the Hamilton Hotel he carried
two brief bags filled with docu-
ments to be presented at the
hearing attacking the actions OF
Bishop Cannon in recent years.
Prosecution Nears End
DR.. Harrell will spend most
of the two sessions today in pre-
senting his charges, and it is
expected that the prosecution, "
the four elders who preferred
the charges against the bishop,
will finish their case tomorrow
morning. .
Four witnesses we're summoned
before the board Of inquiry to-
day. While strict secrecy was
thrown about their identity it
was learned that one was George
P. Adams, secretary of the Black
stone Female Institute of Black
stone, Va, an organization OF
which Bishop Cannon was presl-
dent for many years.
Another was said to be Ode
tective Morgan" of Richmond,
and a third, R. Adam, a Rich
mond attorney.
These witnesses we're called, it
is believed, by the four clergy
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
MGrOn Goes on Stand
And Denies Murder

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 QNSD.
James M. Maxon, jr., 21-year-old
former journalism student, of
Chattanooga, Tenn, today took
the witness stand to deny vehem-
emily that he had killed 73-year.
old David Paynter, fellow boarder,
last April 18.
Maxon was Immediately
dressed in a black suit.
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
Dogs UntGgged; Hard
Times Are Pleaded

ALEXANDRIA, Va, Feb. 4.
Eleven owners of unlicensed dogs,
all of whom pleaded hard times,
due to the depression, were fined
SIS and costs and the sentences
suspended in Police Court this
morning. owners of two of the
dogs asked that their dogs be
killed because they had no money
for licenses.
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
Big Birds on Small
Hats to Be Rage
This Season

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 G.N.S).
The bird on Nelly's hat is COM
ing back.
At least decorations and
"fawncy" trimmings are to be-
deck women's hats this spring
and summer.
New styles were revealed here
last night at the annual spring
show of the Retail Millinery
Association of America. Rib
bons, flowers and plllnes will
return to favor. the experts
said. Small headgear will con-
tinue the mode.
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
War in Beer Racket
Blamed for KiLLing

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 G.N.S.l. i.
warfare in the beer racket"
was given by police today as the
cause of the murder of Joseph
Catania. He was shot down in
the street from a second-story
window.
Two witnesses were held in
$4,000 bail for questioning.
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
France GiUen Isle
Off Mexican Coast

PARIS, Feb. 4 GNSD Fol
lowing a dispute between France
and Mexico as to ownership of
Clipperton Island, off the Coast
of Mexico in the Pacific Ocean,
the island has been awarded to
France. The King of Italy acted
as arbitrator of the dispute and
his decision was announced to
the foreign office by the Italian
ambassador to France.
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
Fl Jailed When y. S.
Raids LiQUOr Ring

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 G.N.SD .
Nineteen men and two women
were held here today as members
of an alcohol ring which diverted
100000 gallons of industrial
alcohol for liquor purposes.
The gang, agents claimed,
operated through five wholesale
concerts with Chicago, st. Paul,
st. Louis and Cleveland as the
chief distributing points.
The Washington times., 1931-02-03
SnOlUShOe Racer
Dies From Strain

MONTREAL, Quebec, Feb. 4
q.N.SD -. P. Chouinard, COM
petitor in the Quebec to Mon
treal snowShoe race, collapsed
and died after completing seven
miles of the fourth lap between
Three Rivers and louisville,
Quebec, today. ,..J~~.A
Imperial Valley press., 1931-03-16
Mans Death Is
Puzzle To Police

LOS ANGELES, March 16. up
Deputy sheriffs were uncertain to-
day whether Edward K. Walker, Los
Angeles salesman, whose body was
found in a car left in an abandoned
garage at San Clemente late Sat
urday was a victim of suicide or
murder.
The mans body was found by
Roy LIE Strang. 1t was in de-
composed state, death having oc-
CURED II or IA days ago.
Walker was last seen on March 8
when he drove his wife, Mrs. Flor
ence Walker, to work and then
started out on a business trip in his
automobile.
An autopsy revealed that Walker
died of carbon monoxide fumes
County chemists, however, are still
examining the body to ascertain If
Walker was first strangled into un-
consciousness ano then left to in
hale the deadly fumes. Marks
about his body would indicate he
had been struck with a blunt in
Strument.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-03-16
Pantages Ready
TO Deny Guilt

LOS ANGELES, March l6. G.p)
Plans for the defense of Alexan-
der Pantages, millionaire Snowman,
accused in connection with offenses
against minor girls, have been
completed, his attorneys announced
today.
When Pantages appears in court
in San Diego April l3, represented
by Jerry Geisler, w. I. Gilbert and
Earle NJ Daniels, he will be pre-
pared to show his innocence, Gels
Ter said
Pantages, with Jesse Shreve aici
John p. Mills, his former business
associates in San Diego real
estate venture, was accused of con-
spiracy to violate the juvenile cou.t
laws as result Of stories told by
Lydia Nitto, alias Alice Blake, ~,
and Helen Livingston. II.
The girls asSertedly were hired
from Olive Day and William job
elmann to attend the San Diego
party in which PantageS, Shreve
and Mills were said 70 have partici-
pated Mrs. Day and Jobelmann
also are accused in the complaint.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-03-16
Hoover Names
New Secretary

WASHINGTON, March 16 (U.P)
Theodore Joslin, Washington cor
respondent of the Boston Trans
cript, will be appointed secretary
to President Hoover, it was an
nounced at the White House today.
Joslin replaces former Secretary
George Akerson, who resigned six
weeks ago to take an executive
post with a motion picture COR
poration.
Joslin has been a Washington
correspondent of the Transcript
for number of years.
JoSlin probably will take over his
new office soon after the President
returns from his Today trip to Porto
Rico and the Virgin Islands. An
nouncement of the selection was
made by Walter Newton, political
secretary to the President. The ap-
pointment will complete Mr.. Hoov-
er's corps of secretaries, the third
being Lawrence Hickey.
The Boston newspaperman is ii
years old He was born in Leo
minister, Mass. His newspaper ca
reer includes service with the Asso-
ciated Press from 1908 to 1918, and
in Boston for the Transcript from
1918 to 1925. Since 1925 he has beer
political correspondent in Washing
ton.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-03-16
ELIMINATION OF
GRADE CROSSINGS
MOVING SLOWLY

LOS ANGELES. March 16 UP)-
1t will take 500 years to eliminate
all existing grade crossings in CAL
ifornia at the rate they are being
abolished now, it was revealed i'll
a report made public today by the
state railroad commission.
According to the report 81 000,0 900
is being spent annually for the
separation of grade crossings. APP
proximately $500,000,000 would be
required to remove 5000 additional
main line crossings, which now eX-
ist in the state. The average cost
of separating each crossing is
$4,000, the report revealed.
A total of 204 persons met death
and 877 were injured at railway
crossings last year, the commission
pointed out in urging the speeding
up of the program of crossing sep
aration. Total number of accidents
amounted to 2755.
Considerable progress was being
made in the elimination of grade
crossings on state highways where
gasoline tax money is available but
in the cities the work has been
retarded due to the difficulty of
raising money for these safety pror
jects.
An average of "a new crossings
are constructed annually, the re-
port stated.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-03-16
BELIEVE SEARCH
FOR TALLMAN IS
NEARING CLIMAX

LOS ANGELES, March l6 U.P) -
Another search for William Lorer
Tallman, hunted for two years az
the slayer of Mrs. Virginia Patty
wealthy young society woman, near
ed a climax today.
District Attorney Buron Fits an
nounced today that he expects to
hear from Chief Deputy District At
torney Stewart and Detective Lieu
tenant Starritt about the middle OF
this week. Stewart and Starritt are
believed enroute to Juneau, Alaska
to identify and possibly arrest a
man thought to be Tallman, the ra-
dio operator who disappeared from
a Ship while enroute from San Pc
dro to San Francisco, following dis
covery of Mrs. Patty's body hung
from a hook in the cupboard OF an
apartment rented by Tallman under
an assumed name.
An admission that there was
something afoot in connection with
Tallman was made by Fits when
he said: "There is nothing new at
this end of the investigation. l ex-
pect a report from Stewart by the
middle of the week.
That Stewart is enroute to Juneau
was more or less substantiated by
the fact that two weeks ago he made
inquiries in Seattle with regard to
transportation to Juneau.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-03-16
School Students
Killed In Crash

PORTERVILLE, Cal, March l6
U.P)-TWo high school boys were
burned to death near here yester-
day afternoon when a borrowed
rlane stalled and crashed.
The dead: Charming Reeves. II,
son Of E. A. Reeves, Terra Bella;
Paul Belts, l6, son Of Mrs. Elsie
p Belts, Porterville.
Young Reeves, holder OF a private
pilots license, was at the controls
of a small monoplane borrowed
from Walter Johnson, Porterville
airport superintendent. when the
motor stalled while making a climb
ing turn at 400 to 500 feet alti-
tude.
The ship went into a spin at
once and crashed a quarter mile
west of the airport. The planes
gas tank exploded and the boys
were burned to death before help
could reach them.
Both youths were juniors in Por-
terville Union high school.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-03-16
TWO OFFICERS
DIE AS RESULT
OF ODD MISTAKE

WILMINGTON, N. c.. March
16. UP)-An inquiry was started to-
day into the killing of a United
States mail truck driver and a dep
uty sheriff in a gun battle III
which each mistook the identity OF
the other.
Leopold Roberts, the driver, had
started his regular trip Saturday
night to carry the mail from Colds
boro to Wilmington. He had COM
planned previously to postal auth
critics of attempts to hold up the
truck, and said he would defend the
mail at all costs.
Deputy Sheriff w Paul Starting,
meanwhile, had learned that there
would be an attempt to run a load
OF liquor into Wilmington In the
early morning hours OF Sunday.
and stationed himself with a posse
at Smith Greek bridge. one mile
north of wilmington.
As the mail truck approached, he
stepped out into the glare OF the
headlights. Roberts started shoot
ing. and Starting returned the fire.
The other deputies joined IN. kill
ing Roberts, but the drivers bullets
had already dropped Startling.
Three young Wilmington girls
were found to be in the truck, but
were uninJured
Imperial Valley press., 1931-03-16
Illness Fatal
To Congressman

WASHINGTON, March l6. W.P)-
Representative James Benjamin AS
well, Democrat, Louisiana, member
of the house agricultural committee
died at 2:15 a. m. today of heart
trouble at his apartment here.
Aswell had been a member of all
congresses since 1911. AS senior
Democrat on the agricultural COM
mittee, he led the fight in the house
for the inclusion of food loans III
the drought relief bill passed at the
last session.
Aswell represented the eighth dis
trict of Louisiana and lived at
Natchidoches. He was brought up
on a cotton plantation and worked
his way through school. He gradu-
ated from the George Peabody
Teachers College in 1891 and later
received the degree of bachelor and
master of arts from University OF
Nashville.
Before entering the political arena
he taught school. He was president
of the Louisiana Polytechnic Instl-
tute from 1900 to 1904 served two
terms as state superintendent of
public education, was chancellor OF
the University of Mississippi and
president of the Louisiana State
Normal college from 1908 to 1911.
Aswell was popular figure IN
congressional halls and much liked
by his colleagues.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-03-16
NEW INVENTION
PERFECTED TO
ASSIST BLIND

DALLAS, Tex, March 16. U.P)-
Forty physicians, newspapermen
and radio experts marveled today
at the first public demonstration
of a device for the recording of the
human voice on tiny wire.
The invention has been perfected
by DR.. Harold Warwick, Forth
Worth eye and ear specialist, after
l8 years of effort His demonstra-
ton was given a select audience
at the Dallas Little Theater.
With the invention, Warwick
hopes to make available at will for
the ears of the blind, books, plays,
courses of study and other written
works too long for reproduction by
ordinary phonograph records Any
number of wire" records can be
made at the same time, he says,
and a pound of the No. 30 special
steel wire can absorb and retain in
definitely a conversation lasting an
hour and quarter.
True Thompson and William
Shepard, Little Theater actors, re-
cited part of a play, into the mic
rophone at the demonstration. o.
iver Hinsdale. director, made a
speech. q girl sang and finally all
present gathered around the mi
crophone and two minutes later
heard their very remarks repro
duced by the Wire Later the wire
was reversed III the amplifying
apparatus and the crowd heard the
conversation produced backwards.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-03-16
Hungry Chinese
Attack Vessel

HONGKONG, March 16. U.P)-
Hungry fishermen and not pirates
were responsible for disturbance
aboard the stranded Norwegian
steamer Roseville in the Straits OF
Formosa, members of the crew said
on their arrival here today.
The crewmen said that after their
vessel stranded in a dense fog they
succeeded in throwing line ashore
which was made fast to some rocks
by fishermen. Some little trouble
occurred, they said, because the
fishermen wanted to help them
selves to the crews provisions, pos
sibly as a reward for their services
It was necessary to fire revolverS
into the air to frighten them away
Previously it was reported that
pirates attacked the Roseyille and
were repulsed by savage workers
after a sharp fight.