davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-21
SHAR0N,PA., IS HIT
BY $1,0OO,0OO FIRE
Protected Home Circle Tenn.
pie and Other Buildings
DESTROYED.


SHARON. Pa, April 21-A $1,000
600 fire wiped out Sharon's main
shopping section early today and de-
stroyed the Protected Home Circle
Temple, one Of the country's oldest
fraterral insurance organizations.
Fire Chief Roy Hall. who estimated
damage at about a million, announced
the blaze under control shortly before
dawn. He said the origin was unde-
termined.
Showers Of sparks borne on a high
west wind spread the flames from the
Home Circle Temple to two adjacent
structures. and for a time threatened
to start new fires far away in the
residential sections.
Valued at $3.50, zoo.
The flames were first noticed about
] am. on the top floor of the four
story brick P. H. C. Building S. H.
Hadley, president of the organization,
said there had been a special initia-
ton there last night, but every one
had gone home before midnight.
The 35-year- old P. H. C. structure
was valued at s65o00o alone Hadley
said many valuable records are ire
placeable.
Fireman Fruit Sankey was the only
person reported hurt, while IA fire
companies fought to halt the spread
of the fire. He received a broken
arm and other injuries in fall from
a roof.
Other Buildings Destroyed.
Besides the P. H. c. Temple. the fire
destroyed the adjacent Smith Build
ing and Cohen Brothers Building, all
of the structures housing exclusive
mems and women'S clothing shops on
their ground floors.
Thirty guests in the Standard Hotel
were ordered out, but the flames did
not reach it. Firemen also managed
to save the valuable Mcdowell Bank
Building.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-21

ternately gazing at the witness and
burying his face in his hands.
So large was the crowd which gath
cred for the trial that only a small
part OF II could be admitted TO the
court room. The rest stood IT. line in
the court house corridor throughout
the morning
Miss OBannon was the principal
witness both yesterday and this morn
ing. Yesterday she told of the ride
from Mrs. Woods mothers home in
Culpeper to Washington. She said
Reaguer had promised to take her and
Mrs. Wood home, but refused to let
Mrs. Wood go near Fairfax Station.
Va. where she lived with her husband.
and threatened to kill them both If
they attempted to escape.
Called to Reaguer's Room.
What did you do after you got to
your ninth-f1oor hotel rooms in
Washington" Assistant United States
Attorney Cecil r. Hef1in asked Miss
O'Bannon when she returned to the
WlGllCSS SIdIlu lUQdy.
Mr.. Reaguer ordered some ice
water and told us to come into his
room for a glass OF it" the witness
said beginning her narrative of the
events Immediately preceding the
tragedy
Il told Willie to come on with me
into our room, that l was tired and
fAl 70 49,
said she couldn't 90 out OF his room,
and when she tried to leave he in
sisted that she stay and talk with
him awhile. Then Willie Mae said
she wanted to take shower and
asked me to stay in the room while
she was doing it. Mr. Reaguer first
went into the bath room to see If
there was any way she could get out,
and when he returned to the room
where we were he told us that the
only way she could escape would be
by jumping out the window.
Willie Mae went into the bath
room and I started to write to Mar
garet miss Margaret Fletcher, a sis
ter of Mrs. Wood He said he would
rather I wouldn't write from the
hotel. as we weren't supposed to be
there and crumpled up the letter.
Wanted to Talk to Girl.
'Mr. Reaguer asked if we were try
ing to get away from him and also
asked me not to let Willie Mae double
cross him. He told me to go to the
other room and let him talk to Willie
Mae.
When Willie Mae came out after
her shower, she wanted to 60 with me,
but Mr.. Reaguer said he wanted to
talk to her little while, so she said
all right and told me to 60 on. Be-
fore that, he had asked me to go
out and get him some more whisky,
but I refused, saying it was too late
and, besides. I was under age.
LAS I was leaving, Mr.. Reaguer
said he knew we we're trying to get
away from him and if tried to 60 for
help or telephone anybody he would
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-21
OFFICER, SUSPECT
SHOT IN GUN FIGHT
Alleged Bank Robber and
Companion Taken in
Missouri Raid.

A Justice Department agent and an
alleged bank robber were wounded in
a pistol battle after an early-morning
raid today on a tourist camp near
Hickman Mills. Mo.
The raid, conducted by Is Federal
agents and Missouri highway police
men. resulted in the arrest Of Clarence
Sparger, who was shot three times
and Martin John Langdon, alleged
automobile thief and would-be bank
bandit.
Name of Agent Withheld.
The name of the Federal agent. who
was shot in the leg, was not disclosed.
j. Edgar Hoover. director of the
Federal Division OF Investigation, said
Sparger was wanted in connection
with the robbery of the First National
Bank of Neosho, No, on March 2,
1885, by the Walter Irish OMalley
gang. The eight members of the gang
escaped with about $4,000. Six have
been captured, one is dead, and the
other is still hunted.
Langdon. according to Hoover. has
been charged with the interstate
transportation of a stolen automobile.
He also is alleged to have been in
volved with Sparger and two other
men in the attempted robbery of a
bank at Blythedale. Mo, on September
3, 1895.
Agents Wait Five Hours.
Machine guns shattered the quiet
of the tourist cabin after a five-hour
wait by Federal men and highway
patrolmen.
AT 5 am. an officer called Come
out; the place is surrounded"
Sparger clad in underwear, ap-
peared at the door. Without a word
he opened fire with pistol. The Off
GERS riddled the cabin. Then Sparger
crawled from the door. He had been
shot in the back, shoulder and leg.
officers brought him to hospital here.
Huddled in a corner of the cabin
was a woman who said she was Lillian
Juanita Sparger, % Sparger's wife.
She made no resistance.
Langdon Found in Road House.
While guns blazed at the cabin a
detachment of officers entered a near
by road house In the attic they found
Langdon. Oficers said he was lying
on the floor and had been drinking
Langdon and the Sparger woman
were taken to the Bureau of Investi-
CATION Offices here Langdon also was
wanted, officers said. in connection
with the shooting of a deputy sheriff
of Wyandotte County, Kans., last Sep
TENDER.
The two men are being held at
Kansas City, Mo, for prosecution.
OMalley, one Of the members OF
the gang participating in the Neosho
robbery. pleaded guilty to the kid
mapping of August Luer at Alton, Ill,
and is serving a life sentence.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-21

But this time they believe their long
fight for the prevailing wage scale
will bring sympathetic cooperation
from Mr.. Hopkins for several reasons.
Campaign Harmony Needed.
The New Dealers are sensitive OF
their personal relations with labor
leaders as the campaign approaches.
The Executive Council of the A. F. Of
L. is meeting soon and must be ap-
peaSed. Then, too, there is pos
sibility of congressional fight against
security wages on the relief appropria-
ton bill now pending.
Nevertheless, skeptical students Of
the art of politics will prefer to wait
until prevailing wages are ordered,
before believing that they are coming.
From now until election, every one
would be wise to believe only what is
signed, sealed and delivered.
Note-Because Of labor protests,
W. P. A. has been paying prevailing
wage rates in New York and a few
other places, but maintaining the
security wage as rule,
Whose c. c. c. Victory?
Even 225 members of Congress can
be fooled these days. That number
bludgeoned President Roosevelt into
keeping c. c. C. camps limited to
$4,000 boys, instead of 100000 as he
had planned. You may recall how
the papers we're full of their big
victory over the President few weeks
back Since then they have had two
shocks.
First, they found out that the
President had pirate under
standing with Chairman Buchanan
OF the House Appropriations Com
mittee to get rid OF so camps. Merit,
they learned that a couple OF jobs
are being abolished in each of some
1000 camps. That means 1000
jobs, Uery good patronage jobs, are
being lost to them
Not only that, but the 1000 C. C. C.
camp authorities who will lose their
posts will blame the congressman for
not protecting them. The grocery
store keepers in those so localities
from which camps are being removed
will be up in arms.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-21

kill Willie Mae before help could get
there"
Miss O'Bannon said she arranged
with her cousin to knock five times
on the door of the bed room they
were to have shared to indicate who
it was who wanted admittance.
Awakened by Screams.
Then l told Willie Mae good by
and left" she said in a trembling
voice.
She was awakened shortly after
am by screams so loud, she said,
that she couldn't tell from what
direction they we're coming. She said
there were seven or eight screams.
Il got up and, in minute or two.
heard the elevator, and mar
knocked on the door down the hall"
she related.
He said, Open the door, and a
voice inside replied, Just a minute
THE man knocked louder and
said, open this door or I'll bang
it in Then heard him say, What's
going on in there?' and mans
voice replied. I can't stop this woman
from screaming 1t didn't sound like
Mr.. Reaguer's voice.
u stuck my head out and asked
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-21
IL DUCE Halls VICTORY.
Appears in High Spirits at ROme's
Founding Celebration.

Copyright 1886 by the Associated PressD
ROME, April 2l.-Premier Musso-
lini proclaimed today to thousands of
cheering Romans. celebrating the
2.689th anniversary of the founding
of Rome. Our ship has arrived in
port with all sails spread"
II Duce spoke rom the balcony of
his offices in the Piazza Venezia.
where a great throng gathered to
observe the holiday. corresponding to
Americas Labor day, while other
crowds celebrated the occasion
throughout the kingdom
To-day in the city of Rome We
celebrate the double festival of labor
and victory" II Duce declared. After
difficult navigation our ship has ar
rived in port with all sails spread. as
it always will. to carry there the pow
er. justice and civilization of Rome"
MuSsolini appeared in higher spirits
than he had for many weeks. He
seemed stern as he came to his Office
balcony. but the cheers of the crowd
brought a broad smile to his face.
Conditions oil Peace.
Informed Fascist sources said while
II Duce was raising his cry of victory
that Italy was willing to listen to a
supreme appeal" from the League OF
Nations for peace. but only on the
preliminary conditions already pre-
sented.
Those conditions. submitted at Ge-
neva yesterday by Baron Pompeo
Aloisi, were occupation of Adds Ababa
and other principal Ethiopian centers
and Italian control over mobilization
points and frontier posts through
which supplies might reach Ethiopia.
Italy's official reaction to the Geneva
appeal. issued by the League Council
last night as it adjourned, was not dis
closed. but Fascist sources said mill
tary action must continue until there
is no more possibility of an Ethiopian
counter attack or of a revival of En-
peror Halle SelaSSie's forces.
Fascist sources regarded the League
Council resolution as significant in
asmuch as 1t did not mention sanctions
After his original speech to the
crowd. Premier Mussoiini climbed a
rooftop poised dangerously at the
edge and welded a pick to start
demolition of an old building.
This was the first work in clearing
away unsighly structures in the his
toric district near the Roman Senate
one OF the many public works projects
being inaugurated on this anniversary
of the founding of Rome,
The holiday war communique from
Marshal Pietro Badoglio. commander
in chief of the Fascist forces in East
Africa. reported that the southern
army was advancing anew after a VIC
tory over Ethiopian troops last week
and that the northern headquarters
were transferred to Dessye, once head
quarters of Emperor Halle Selassie.
LEAGUE DROPS CAMPAIGN.
by the Associated Press.
GENEVA, April 21-The League of
Nations dropped its active campaign
for East African Cancellation today
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-21

Skeptics. however will wait to
count each of those so camps as they
are abolished and each of those 1000
jobs as they are lost The totals may
turn out to be very much smaller by
the time the congressman get through
with the fuss they are now starting to
raise.
After all Father Coughlin has said
against holding companies, interlock-
ing directories and the practices of
big business in draining one corpo-
ration to support another, you will
find these facts interesting:
His first campaign expense state
rlent, filed in the House, shoUs
that, from January 1 to February
%. he received s101 ,060 in the
name OF the National Union for
Social Justice.
Apparently that is his top holding
company because the itemized list of
the receipts indicated that $76,69217
OF the amount came from his Radio
League of the Little Flower, which
might be called his operating COM
pany. Only $2l,443 was actually COL
lected by the top holding company,
in amounts of less than 500.
His expense sheet showed expendi-
lures of $96,388, so apparently he
tapped the treasury of the Radio
League because he had difficulty in
raising funds.
Furthermore, his report disclosed
payments of $2,925 and $4,000 on
loans. respectively. to the Radio
League and to st. Therese parish, in
dicating that he has followed another
big business practice of borrowing from
one company to another.
tCopyrieht. 1850
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-21
wendell K|DNAP
EVIDENCE OFFERED
Prosecutor Before Grand
Jury Seeking Indictment
of Four.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BROOKLYN, N. Y, April 2l.-Dis-
trict Attorney William F. X. Geoghan
went before a special Kings County
grand jury today seeking at least four
indictments for kidnapping in the case
of Paul H. Wendell, disbarred Trenton
attorney.
Martin Schlossman, 30-year- old
laundryman, already was charged in
an affidavit with a role in the deten-
ton of Wendell for the purpose Of
having him sign confession that he
kidnapped the Lindbergh baby"
Search for three other men was
under way in Detroit and Cleveland
Geoghan declined t. say who would
be named in the indictments. He in
dicated that the real purpose in seek
ing them was to be prepared for ex
tradition measures.
Probe 10 Continue.
The investigation Geoghan is con-
Quoting will continue, he said, whether
the indictments are handed down or
not.
ITO meet technical legal phases
extradition being a probability-we
must have indictments" Geoghan said.
Geoghan reiterated that at the pres
ent time he would not say whether
any New Jersey official was implicated
in the Wendell case.
Geoghan refused TO affirm or deny
hot hod nFarad 70 trIr
States evidence, but" said Geoghan,
lit is a possibility"
Ellis Parker, the New Jersey de-
tective, who at one point in the Wendell
affair declared the since-repudiated
confession" by the former lawyer
was the solution of the Lindbergh
kidnapping, had been close adviser
of Gov. Hoffman in the investiga-
ton that caused him temporarily to
stay the execution of Bruno Richard
Hauptmann as the kidnap-killer.
Refuses to Discuss Parker.
During one phase of Wendels de-
tention Parker had questioned him.
Geoghan was asked if Parker was
involved
Il refuse to discuss anything in re-
gard to Mr. Parker" he replied.
The district attorneys declaration
regarding Gov. Hoffman was in reply
to question about reports that
Schlossman had quoted an accom-
plice as saying I'VE got to do this
for Hoffman"
Geoghan dispatched a detective
last night to Cleveland to hunt an
unidentified suspect in the case while
detectives sought brother-in-law of
Schlossman, Murray Bleefeld, and an
associate, Harry Weiss, in Detroit.
Wendell has identified the latter two
from photographs as members of the
group that kidnapped him.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-21
ASSAULT SUSPECT, II,
FACES HEARING FRIDAY
By Stan Correspondent OF The Star.

By Stan Correspondent OF The Star
ROCKVILLE. Md, April 2l.-Mal-
colin Turner. 81, of the 100 block
Riggs street. Washington. D. c., will
be arraigned in County Police Court
on Friday morning for a preliminary
hearing of a criminal assault charge
brought against him by 20-year-old
Capital girl
Turner. collector for a clothing firm,
waived extradition during a removal
hearing held before Judge Robert E.
Mattingly in District of Columbia
Police Court yesterday. He was
brought to Rockville and lodged in
the Jail.
The alleged attack occurred on Fri
day afternoon near -Four Corners, Md.
Turner was taken into custody In
Washington early Saturday by De-
tective SergtS. Joseph Shimon and
Guy Rome and Corpl. Oscar Gather,
the latter q Montgomery County
officer.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-21

a man standing in the hall where
the screaming came from, and he
said it was from way down the hall,
and told me to go to bed. asked
him to please tell me If it was from
the room next to me. and he again
told me to go to bed. I went back
and dressed because I felt that if
something hadn't happened. I ought
to get out of there before something
did happen"
Partly Under Liquor Influence.
On cross-eXamination, Defense At
torney James A. OShea attempted
to establish his contention that
Reaguer was very drunk, but Miss
O'Bannon steadfastly answered that
he was partially under the influence
of liquor, but was not thoroughly in
toxicated Under O'Shea's question
ing, she said that Reaguer and Mrs.
Wood were alone in a bed room at
the home of Mrs. Woods mother, Mrs.
Dolores Fletcher, for more than an
hour before they left for Washington.
An effort was made by O'Shea to get
Miss O'Bannon to admit that Reaguer
gave Mrs Wood $50 as down payment
on an automobile, but she denied it.
Frequent clashes between O'Shea and
Assistant United States Attorney Irwin
Goldstein. who Is associated with Hef-
lin. marked the morning session Other
defense counsel are Burnette Miller
Of Culpeper and Alfred Goldstein.
Ready in the witness room to follow
Miss O'Bannon to the stand were Mrs.
Woods sister. MisS Margaret Fletcher:
her husband and her mother, who
was heavily yelled and dressed in deep
mourning.
A dramatic incident occurred as the
first day Of the trial ended yesterday.
Mrs. Catherine Perrow of Culpeper,
daughter Of Reaguer, rushed to the
accused man and embraced him, ig-
noring the crowd Of spectators.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-21

probation. His story, in substance,
is this:
Thursday, April 9, the day pre-
ceding the crime, he called at the Tit
terton home and secured a love seat
to be repaired by his employees, the
Kreuger Upholstering Co., 463 Third
avenue The following morning, be-.
fore reporting to work, he visited the
Ttterton home on Beekman place.
Tied Hands With Irvine.
Gaining entrance, he Immediately
set upon Mrs. Titterton, placing a gag
around her mouth and tying her
hands with Irvine. After attacking
her, he carried her to the bathtub
and placed her therein. He cut away
and put into his pocket the Irvine
that bound her hands and then left
the apartment, eventually reporting
for work, where he repaired the Tit
terton love seat.
Later on in the afternoon, with his
employer, Theodore Kreuger, he re-
turned to the apartment with the re-
paired love seat. During this visit
Mrs. Titterton's body was discovered
by Fiorenza's employer, and he, Flo
renza, went to the phone and called
the police.
With the discovery of the crime,
special attention was given to the
strand of Irvine found under Mrs. Tit
tertons body in the bathtub. This, as
it later developed. had been dropped
unnoticed by Fiorenza when he cut
loose the bonds on the woman's hands
and thought he had carried away all
the Irvine.
Detectives Traced Irvine.
Detectives Shields and Quinn OF
the Manhattan homicide squad were
directed TO devote their entire atten-
ton to the Irvine. They traced it
through various manufacturers in
Kentucky, Pennsylvania and New Jer-
sey. while the Police Department SCI
entific laboratory endeavored further
to identify it, Eventually the Irvine
was identified as that used by uphol-
sterers, and further investigation re-
vealed it was one of kind used in
Tie 1IllTQ dNclluc upilOEoIcLcL SAlOp
With this much of lead, Capt.
William Reynolds, in charge Of the
fourth detective district. with Acting
Capt. Edward Mullins of the homicide
squad, Lieut.. Martin Owens Of the
seventeenth squad, Lieut.. Thomas
Kennedy of the homicide squad. De-
tectives James Hayden. George Swan
der of the homicide squad and Detec-
tives Bernard Devsney and James
Brady of the seventeenth squad, de
vised plans whereby Forenza was kept
under constant surveillance. He was
questioned at various places and vari-
Gus times by various members OF this
detective group.
Each day reports Of these various
detectives were studied al conferences
attended by Assistant Chief Inspector
/ Lyons, Acting Deputy Chief Inspector
Kear and Assistant District Attorney
William O'Rourke, and this morning
it was decided to take Fiorenza into
custody. Questioned. he confessed and
| detailed the crime"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-21

with its position admittedly imperiled
by failure and with Ethiopia protest.
ing against the lack of action by the
Council.
After adopting a resolution shortly
before midnight regretting the collapse
of Cancellation, continuing the impo-
sition of sanctions and addressing a
supreme appeal to Italy for peace, the
council adjourned until its next reg
ular session. set for May II.
A revival of the peace efforts was
scheduled, thus, to be undertaken after
the French parliamentary elections of
April 26 and May 8, but League sources
said even that was uncertain.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-21
R. 0. BEENE, 81,
|. OF G.P.0., |SDEAD
Was Account Superintend.
ent-FuneraI Will Be
Held Tomorrow.

Russell Owen Beene, 81, superi1-
tendent Of accounts at the Govern.
ment Printing once, died yesterday
at his home. 1915 Calvert street, after
a two-week illness. I
He had been in poor health for
three years, but had declined 10 takel
time off from his work.
A native of Tennessee, Mr.. Beene
was associated with the Ochs BROTH
ers during their ownership of the Chat
tanooga Times. This friendship con-
tinued after the New York Times
came under their management, and
during the Spanish American War,
Mr.. Beene was sent by them as a
special correspondent to Cuba. He
was granted special leave from the
printing office for this service.
MIR. Beene was a member OF the
Press Club here, and numbered
among his friends many persons in
the newspaper profession.
Born in South Pittsburgh, Tenn,
Mr.. Beene was a descendant of Will
liam Bean (the name was later
changed), who accompanied Daniel
Boone into Tennessee and founded the
first white settlement there. Bean
Station.
Mr.. Beene had been with the G. p.
o. As years at the time of his death.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Alice
Chewing Beene; one son, Robert Of
Pulaski, Va; three sisters, Miss Ida
Lee Beene, St Marys, Ohio; Mrs Avis
Olmstead. Cincinnati, and Mrs. F. H.
Berndt. Seattle, and three brothers.
Joseph c. Beene and C. T. Beene. both
of Nashville, and j. c. Beene of Chat
tanooga.
Funeral services will be held at Hy-
songs funeral parlors tomorrow at I
pm. The body will be cremated.