davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1934-12-18
MISS RUTH HILL
NEAR
HIGH j. 8. POST

Army shake-ups ordered by the
War Department today brought
speculation as to the appointment
of Maj. Gen. George S. Simonds
to succeed Gen. Douglas MacAr-
thur as Army Chief of Staff.
General SimondS, a close friend
of President Roosevelt, now in
command of the Army War Col
lege, was assigned as deputy chief
of staff, placing him one step
away from General MacArthur's
post who, it was understood, will
be retired as soon as the War De-
partment's legislative program has
been presented to Congress.
Maj. Gen. Hugh A. Drum, pres
ent deputy chief, was ordered to
command the Hawaiian Depart
ment, removing him from the
spotlight as General MacArthur's
successor. A number of other
reassignments eliminated other
ranking officers from the pic
ture. as possible appointees to
the chief of staff post.
Included in the transfers are
Maj. Gen. Paul B. Malone, COM
mander of the Third Corps area.
Baltimore, to the Ninth Corps
area at the Presidio of San Fran
cisco.
The Washington times., 1934-12-18
Bell Case Is Scheduled
TOGO to Jury Soon

outlined the testimony of Miss
Ruth Hill and Mrs. Viola Jones
Mrs. Bells two nurses. He said;
''It was these two Stalwart
women who saved Mrs. Bells
life as her husband tried time
after time to kill her.
"The duty of the common
wealth's attorney is to see JUS
tice done. If Bell were inno-
cent would be glad to see him
acquitted.
"But he is guilty, and should
pay the penalty.
NEVER DENIED
"There is no question about
his guilt. For months, he at
tempted to administer these
deadly drugs, in an effort to
kill his wife. This was a hor-
rible situation having this poi
sOner at work in the family
home.
"The defense has made no
effort to deny that Mr.. Bell
gave these pOisons to his wife.
They have merely maintained
that he is of unSOund mind.
"But 1 say that his mind is
sound, that he knew the diff
ference between right and wrong.
81 ask to you send this guilty
man to the State prison where
he belongs"
AS Mr.. Bryan launched his at
tack, Deacon Bell listened nerv
ously. He was paler than usual
Mr.. Bryan made much of the
fact that Deacon Bell announced
he would never allow an autopsy
to be performed on member OF
his family"
This, Mr.. Bryan charged, was
an effort to prevent the poison
from being detected.
Deacon Bell, "betrayed his
Mr.. Bryan asserted
There were tears in the eyes OF
the church leader as the prosecu
tor said:
what I decry is his using the
church as a cloak to hide behind
in his nefariOus schemes. Such
villainy as his must not be
blamed on the church which he
betrayed"
CONFESSED, HE SAYS
It was Deacon Bells affair with
a Richmond woman which was be
hind this murder attempt, thu
prosecutor asserted, Mr.. Bryar
said.
"The letter from Mrs. McMu]
lin, found in Bells coat pocket
along with a package of deadl,
poison, is the key to the whole sit
uation."
Deacon Bells statement TO Mrs
Jones, "You have sent me to tn
electric chair" constituted a con
fession, Mr.. Bryan said.
He confessed a second time t,
Miss Hill, saying IT am guilty
guilty as can be-" the fiery youn,
prosecutor thundered as Deacon
Bell sat with bowed head.
The Washington times., 1934-12-18
Norris in Favor
OF Seating Holt

Rush D. Holt, elected Senator
from West Virginia at %, today
had the moral support of Senator
Norris CR) of Nebraska, in the
event a fight is made against
seating him because he lacked
the constitutional age of 80. He
said:
81 hope nobody makes any
objection to him. I think it
would be a serious mistake to
make that technical objection
and would hurt any party. If
the objection is made, 1 think
it is good and would have to
be sustained"
The Washington times., 1934-12-18
TakOna F'iremen
To Meet Thursday

Presentation of a slate of candi'
dates will feature meeting OF
the Takoma Park Volunteer Fire
Department, in the Fire Depart
ment building, Thursday evening"
The nominating committee is COIN
posed of Chester C. Waters, Henry
E. Mearschalk, Walter c. Schel!er,
Louis C. Vogt and E. w. Schmidt
Herman C. Heffner, president
of the department, said today ne
probably will appoint a committee
at Thursdays meeting to study
the advisability of reducing the
membership fee of the depart
ment in an effort to increase the
membership.
The Washington times., 1934-12-18
Million Dollars;
Money Talks
For Congress
BY KARL M. KAHN

Copyright. 1884, by International News
Service)
One of the first things Mem
ber of Congress learns is to think
and talk in terms of millions and
billions of dollars-of the tax
payers money, of course.
The House Military Affairs
Committee was considering sites
for a District of Columbia airport.
The committee listened to an
offer by a man who had a suitable
site on which he quoted a price
of $1,5O0,000. Another would-be
seller had an adjoining site, just
as desirable and larger than the
first mans property, for which he
wanted only $5OO,O0O.
The $1,OOO,OOO difference in
prices caused the Scotch blood Of
South Cardinals Representative
John j. McSWain, chairman Of
the committee, to boil. He de-
manded of the first man:
GLOW is it that you want
$1,5OO,OOO for your land, and
this other piece, just as good
but larger than yours, can be
bought for S5OO,OOO?"
The reply was:
"WelI, I've learned that you
folks here won't pay any at
tention to a proposition unless
it amounts to more than
$1,OOO,OOO."
The Washington times., 1934-12-18
CONTINUED from Page ~

Continued from Page ~
criminal attempt to kill her in
a horrible manner.
eve can sympathize with the
person who kills in the heat of
passion, perhaps mOmentarily
deranged, but we cannot SYM
pathize with this cold, clammy,
calculated attempt to perpe-
trate this hideOuS crime"
Dramatic Finish
Mr.. Butzner pictures Deacon
Bell as a man who until three
years ago was a leader in all
things good, a man who held the
affection of the entire community.
Then, he said, came a mental
break down, leaving the church
man, today, a man with reason
dethroned," a piteous shell Of the
former man.
The defense attorney battered
away at the only weak spot it was
able to find in the States pre-
ponderance of evidence, the fact
that Deacon Bell did not purchase
a bottle of the deadly hemlock
until several weeks after it was
found in Mrs. Bells food.
He intimated that the poison
might have been planted" by
some other person as it was in the
office of the State chemist for
analysis.
The actions of the churchman
in purchasing poisons here in his
own community were given by
the defense counsel as evidence
of insanity. Closing in dramatic
manner, he said:
From the cross, the Master
said, Father, forgive them, they
know not what they do. I say
to you that Eddie Bell knew
not what he did. Shall you
send such man to the peni-
tentiary?"
The Defense Resumes
A short recess was called when
he finished, and then w. Mar
shall King resumed the argu-
ment for the defense, saying:
"If you send this diseased
man to the penitentiary you
will do a vain and futile thing.
He has but a few years to live
at best"
When the morning session
opened, Judge Coleman, read ic.
structionS to the jury.
For the State, he pointed out
that Deacon Bell may be found
guilty of actually administering
the poisons, or merely attempt
ing to do so. The dates are i'm
material, he said.
The judge also pointed out that
under the law it is presumed a
man intends to do what he does
and if the jury believes Deacon
Bell administered the poisons II
is presumed he intended to injure
or kill her.
The defense instructions pointed
out that indictment is no proof OF
guilt, but that the burden of proof
rests on the State. If there is q
reasonable doubt" the defendant
must be found not guilty.
Conviction Counts
If the jury finds Deacon Bell
guilty as charged, but his mental
condition was such that he did not
understand the nature of his
crime, then he must be found not
guilty by reason of insanity, the
judge instructed.
Conviction on each count car.
ries a prison sentence of not less
than three nor more than 1S
years.
Judge Coleman allowed Mr..
Bryan two hours to argue his
case and the defense 21a hours.
This will place the case in the
hands of the jury about 4:3O this
afternoon.
Opening his final argument
after Judge Coleman had read his
instructions to the jury, Mr.. Bryan
The Washington times., 1934-12-18
RESERVE
UNSHAKEN
CONTINUED from Page ~


tia and was insane at the time he
Is alleged to have put the poison
in his wife's food.
The hypothetical question went
into Bells lifelong ailments with
great thoroughness. Even bring
ing in an attack of measles, years
ago. Might not this attack OF
measures have been contributory
to those vagarieS and unbelievable
later impulses which eliminated
in the manipulation of Mrs. Bells
medicine bottles?
Daughter Arrives
With perfect gravity the point
was argued. Mr.. Bell, who has
been called an amateur Casanova,
might have found measles a
quaint background from which to
evolve a great lover" One who
could mingle potions with the skill
of an alchemist of the middle
ages. His hand stole across his
face-What it concealed no one
can say.
Solid citizens who had been
pondering the possible effect OF
measles, after the black eye given
it by the medical fraternity
seemed relieved when Common
wealth Attorney Albert v. Bryan
restored the infant ailment to its
former standing, by putting the
question to DR.. Tucker:
Haven't many people had
measles without going inSane?"
DR.. Tucker admitted many had
had measles without these bale
full effects.
Irma Bell arrived in town to
day. She is with her mother in
the comfortable family home on
Prince Edward Street. The house
is typical of the South-painted
white with columned portico. II
is the last place one would select
as the scene of an American
tragedy. And yet within a few
short weeks the family life OF
the Bells has stopped.
Girl Opposes Him
Whatever fate may have in
store for the deacon, the doors
of that comfortable home will
never open for him. His son and
daughter are said to be divided
in their allegiance to their father
The boy hopes for the best fol
the man whose name he bears
The girl is said to have taken a
less kindly attitude.
Fredericksburg, which still
clings to the Washington tradi
ton and has reminders of the
first President at every turn, de
voutly hopes the Bell trial viii
be over and done within a brie1
time. And there is a reason
The shops are stocked with the
most tempting holiday wares
Not since the grand crash of 1925
has there been such intriguing
merchandise-and not a customer
in sight!
Everyone is at the courthouse
listening to the lawyers wranglt
over the question-has Fredericks
burg a Borgia who could give
pointers to Lucrezia, and Caesar
and Alexander himself, or has it
as a citizen, just a poor Senil'
old man who did these dreadful
things because his brain wa
Softening?
The Washington times., 1934-12-18

Whenever you want to know the
correct time of day or night tele-
phone District 1000, the office of
THE WASHINGTON TIMES.
The Washington times., 1934-12-18

For the correct time telephone
the office of THE WASHINGTON
TIMES, District 1000, at any
hour of the "a.
The Washington times., 1934-12-18
Ex-GOv. Harding
OF Iowa, Is Dead

DES MONIES, Iowa, Dec. 18
G.N.SO. - Former ernor
William L. Harding, Iowa's chief
executive during the World War,
died at his home yesterday fol
lowing a two months illness.
The Washington times., 1934-12-18

If you wish to know the correct
time of day or night telephone
THE WASHINGTON TINES,
District 1000.
The Washington times., 1934-12-18
NAVAL PARLEY
NEAR CLOSE

LONDON, Dec. 18 G.N.S0.
The communique that will at
tempt to close the fruitless Lon
don naval conversations tomorrow
was sent to washington and
Toxic today for final approval.
The official swan song, it was
learned authoritatively, will con-
tain the following points:
1.-The discussions are ad-
journed with no date set for
their resumption.
2.-The powers will be pre-.
pared to recommence the con-
verSationS should occasion arise:
meanwhile, they will keep in
touch through ordinary diplo.
matte channels.
3.-While the London talks
resulted in no agreement, they
were helpful in enabling each
power to see the viewpoint Of
the other.
PARIS, Dec. 18 G.N.SO Even
though she declined to join Japan
in denouncing the Washington
naval treaty, France is anxious to
obtain a new pact to replace 1t,
Navy Minister Francois Pietri
told the Senate today.
Smyrna times., 1934-01-31
SUDDEN DEATH
AT TOWNSEND
Drexel Hill Man on Way To
Hobbs, Md, to See His
Sister, Dies Suddenly
DUE AT ANNIVERSARY

A sudden death took place at
Townsend Sunday afternoon when
the joy of birthday party was
cut short by the unexpected death
of James Russell, aged as, who
suffered an heart attack in an
automobile in front of the office of
DR.. j. D. Niles. Mr.. Russell was
being driven to Hobbs, Md, to at
tend the birthday anniversary
party of his sister. He was ac-
companied by his son and his
daughter, Mrs Charles Wilson, of
Drexel Hill. While passing through
Odessa, the party stopped to have
a fiat tire fixed. Soon after thew
continued on their way. When ap-
preaching Townsend, Mr.. Russell
became i'll. He was taken to the
office of DR.. Niles, who examined
him in the automobile and admin
medicines, but before the
medicine could take effect. DR..
Niles said, the man died. The body
was sent Monday morning to
Drexel Hill for burial.
Smyrna times., 1934-01-31
FIRE DAMAGES
DENTON PLANT
Big Printing Plant of George
III. Rue Printing Company
Suffers $4,000 Loss
OTHER PLACES ON FIRE

The tWo-story frame building,
housing the Rue Printing Com
pany, and all it's contents were de
stroyed Monday night by fire of an
undetermined origin, which threat
ened the entire downtown section
for awhile. Irving Bloom, a fire
man, was overcome by smoke and
had to be revived by DIR. E. Paul
Knox. The loss was placed at be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 by G.
H. Rue, the owner, who could not
say what his plans for the future
might be. He was badly cut on
the arm in breaking window to
get two cash books from his desk.
All the loss, he said, was covered
by insurance. Included in the loss
were two cylinder presses, an
automatic cylinder press, two limo
type machines and other job print
ing equipment The Ridgely and
Greensboro fire companies were
summoned to aid the local firemen,
but the latter outfit returned, as
there had been six alarms in
Greensboro within a few hours of
the local fire Two chimney fires
were extinguished by fremen in
other parts Of the town, while
most Of the Denton department
was fighting the publishing com
pany blaze A dwelling and the
Carter building, housing a bank, a
chain grocery, dry goods store,
Photographic studio and several
Offices, which were across an alley
from the burning building, were
threatened, but iremen prevented
the blaze from spreading.
Smyrna times., 1934-01-31
FUNERAL w. o. HoFFECKER
Largely Attended Friday After
noon at His Late Residence

The funeral of Walter o. Hof-
recker whose death took place
from apoplexy Tuesday, January
23rd, an account of which appear
er in our last weeks issue, was
held Friday afternoon from his
late residence on Commerce Street
and was one of the largest attend
ed funerals held in Smyrna in
years. The Fruit Growers Nation
al Bank and Trust Company and
the Smyrna Special District
Schools, in each institution of
which the late Mr.. Hoffecker had
been president as well as director,
closed all afternoon as a mark of
respect. Besides the family, prom
inent citizens in all parts of the
State motored here to pay their
last tribute. Governor Buck was
here and was an honorary pail
bearer, serving with the officials
and Board of Directors of both the
bank and schools of which the de-
ceased was long connected. Prom
inent Methodists, ministers and lay
delegates came to Smyrna from all
parts of the State for Mr.. Hof-
fecker had spent an active life in
the church, not only here in Smyr-
ma, but at annual State and Ma
tional Conferences. Long before
the funeral people in all walks of
life, who knew Mr.. Hoffecker, filed
in to view for the last time one
who had served them in one way
or another and was their friend. |
Floral tributes literally banked
the casket and the whole end of
the room. The services at the res
idence took place at two o'clock and
were in charge of Rev. DR.. John L.
Johnson, pastor of Asbury Meth
odist Episcopal Church of which
Mr.. Hoffecker had been lifelong
member. DR.. Johnson was assist
ed by prominent clerk and laymen
Continued on Page Four)
Smyrna times., 1934-01-31
FREIGHT RATE
COAL REDUCED
Interstate Commerce Com
mission, Washington, An
nOunced Schedule for State
EFFECTIVE ON MAY BIRD

Of interest to coal dealers in
Delaware as well as to consumers
generally is the announcement
that the Interstate Commerce
Commission at Washington has
ordered a reduction in anthracite
coal rates in carload lots from
mines in Pennsylvania to Whining
ton, Elsmere, Kamensi, Greenville,
Marshallton, Newport, Concord,
Holly Oak, Silverside, Hockessin
and New Castle, Delaware, were
ordered reduced in an Interstate
Commerce Commission report
made public today. Coal dealers
in northern Delaware had com
planned the rates from the Wyom-
ing, Lehi2h and SchuylkiIl regions
in Pennsylvania were unreasonable
and unfair to the towns and cities
in the area. The commission di-
rected the railroads on or before
May 3, 1884, to fix a rate Of ST.
a ton on prepared sizes of coal and
$2.42 on pea and smaller sizes
from the Schuylkill TO New Castle
and rates of $3.50 on prepared
sizes and 1924 on pea and smaller
sizes to the other points. From the
and Lehigh regions rates
to New Castle were fixed at $3.50
for prepared sizes and $2.55 on
PEG and smaller sizes and to the
other points, S2.72 on prepared
sizes and S2.74 on PEG and smaller
sizes. To Wilmington the commits
sion ordered a rate of S214 on
Ouckwheat No. 4 from the Schuyl-
kill region and 1927 from the wy
oming and Lehigh Regions.
Smyrna times., 1934-01-31
MORE LIGHT ON
ASSAULT CASE
Man Who Attacked Mrs. JOS
eph Murray at MiddletOwn,
Believed Maryland Outlaw
A CLOSE WEB

That George Thomas, 38-year-
old negro, wanted on the charge of
an attempted felonious assault up
on Mrs. Joseph Murray, near Mid
dletown, is believed to be actually
George Price, employed for some
time in the Millington and Sud-
lersville neighborhoods, is the
opinion of Maryland and Delaware
authorities, says a Centreville cor
respondent to the Journal-Every
Evening of Wilmington This week
both Sheriff j. Elmer Anthony and
Constable Louis B. Perkins were
of the opinion that the Middletown
crime had been committed by
Price, when they received a detail
ed description of him. Price last
year assaulted Constable Eddie
Squires, a Wilmington officer and
made his escape. Delaware author
tiles definitely established that
Thomas" was George Price, and
that he had worked in numerous
communities on the Eastern Shore,
changing his name wherever he
went On January 4, 1882, he was
committed to the Delaware work
house for a term of nine months
for assault and battery. Later he
went to Queen Anne's county and
for a time worked on several
farms in the Sudlersville neighbor-
hood. Following his assault upon
Constable Squires, Price made his
escape.
Smyrna times., 1934-01-31
SMYRNA HIGH
SCHOOL NEWS
Schools Pay Tribute To Mem
DRY of w. o. Hoffecker,
President of School Board
OTHER SCHOOL NOTES

Out of respect for Mr.. w. o.
Hoffecker, who was President of
the local Board of Education for a
number of years, Smyrna Public
Schools were closed at the time of
his funeral on Friday afternoon,
January 26. Appropriate resolu-
lions were adopted by the Board
of Education and the Faculty
Club. - The basketball game.
scheduled with Dover for Friday
night, was postponed and played
on Monday night. Since Dover did
not send a girls team, the Senior
Class team played a group of the
Varsity players, defeating them
with a score of 9-5. Smyrna boys
again played an excellent game.
defeating Dover Final ex-
aminations were administered to
those taking courses which were
completed at the end of the first
semester, which occurred on jan
uary "a. These subjects included
Solid Geometry, Domestic Science,
II and IL; General Science, 81
and 81; Industrial Arts, II and
~, and Social Science. Final ex-
aminations will be taken by all
students in June.-Miss Julia Grit
fifth has been away from her desk
for the past week on account of
the illness of her mother-For the
past several weeks the Seniors
have been considering and making
tentative plans for the rendition Of
their Senior Glass Play. Accord
ing to the present plans, the SEN
iors will be ready to present it
sometime in March.-O Saturday
night, February 8, there will be
basketball game in the local gym
nasium, between Smyrna boys and
the boys of Petersburg Logan Vo-
cational School, in Petersburg,
Pennsylvania Or. j. E. w. Wal
lin, Director of Special Education
and Mental Hygiene, has been
in conjunction with the
local authorities concerning pupils
in the elementary schools who are
retarded. A study will be made
Of these cases and if possible, a
special opportunity class will be
in order that these pu-
pills may have more individual in
according to their needs.
An interesting assembly pro-
gram was presented yesterday,
by the Commercial Club,
under the direction of Mr.. Wright.
Several short poems were read, a
sketch was also read
and a piano solo was rendered. In
addition, special feature, a crys-
tai gazer was present on the stage
and revealed some interesting
facts about various people The
banking results for Monday, Janu-
airy 90, were as follows: Number
Of people in attendance, 628; num-
Der of depositors, 80; amount de-
posted, S26.55; total amount de
posted to date this school year,
s555.4S.
Smyrna times., 1934-01-31
AUTO ACCIDENT
AT CHURCH HILL
John M. Leverage, Brother of
Mrs. Clarence Donovan, near
Clayton, Dies From Crash
WAS RETURNING HOME

John M. Leverage, son of Mr..
and Mrs. Nathaniel Leverage of
Church Hill, Md, who was instant
ly killed in an automobile accident,
was buried Tuesday of last week
at Church Hill. John Leverage
and two young men were return
ing home from Centreville, Md,
when the accident occurred. Young
Leverage was meeting a car which
blinded him, driving off the edge
of the road into a mud hole, the
car skidding and crashing into a
telephone pole, turning over sew
eral times. The two companions
escaped with only minor cuts and
bruises. The car was completely
demolished. Young Leverage was
good young man, kind and am
bilious, always willing to do
kind deed. He had a host of friends
in and about Church Hill and vi
cinity, and made friends with all
whom he came in contact. His
sudden death cast a gloom over
the Millington, Sudlersville, and
Church Hill and Centreville sec
ton. He will be missed. He was
in his oath year. Besides his par
ents he leaves two sisters, Mrs.
Clarence Donovan near Clayton
and Mrs. Kenneth Ross of BARCLAY
and two brothers, Nathaniel and
Ralph of Church Hill. Funeral
services were held from his par
ents' residence on Tuesday of last
week. The funeral was one of the
largest funerals that has been seen
for years. Rev. Charles w. Spry
Of Rock Hall, formerly of Clayton,
ofticiated, assisted by Rev. Ross Of
Church Hill, Many beautiful trib-
utes were paid.