davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-01-27
Flood Messages Broadcast
In Steady, Dramatic Stream,

Twenty-four hours a day, starkly
phrased messages of woe, despair,
need and warning are being broadcast
from bloodhound Louisville to ac-
quaint the beleaguered citizens of the
hapless city and the interested men
and women in the world outside of the
horrors brought by the unleashed
Ohio River.
High above the water in the Louis
vile streets radio officials gather about
the microphones and control instru-
ments of Station WHAS of the Co.
lumbia network, sending forth an
endless stream Of messages telephoned
from City Hall, picked up from short
wave or neighboring stations and hur-
ried into the Office by water-soaked
messengers. who paddle about the city
in boats to get their information.
To help the staff of wHAS, Station
WJSv today sent Earl Merryman, an
Evening star., 1937-01-27

engineer, and from New York City
went another engineer to take up the
burden in the control room.
WHAS has the only electric supply
in Louisville, and to conserve that
power the 50,000-watt station is trans
mitting on only $4,000 watts. A
battery of telephones in City Hall,
where Mayor Neville Miller has been
set up as practical dictator of Louis
vile, relays messages to WHAS.
Whenever the situation becomes
acute and the drama of the broad
cast messages heightens, other Column
bia network stations cut into WHAS
to give to the high-and-dry citizens of
the seaboard picture Of the Ohio
Valley. All night Monday WJSV sent
forth the messages from WHAS. For
a few hours it rebroadcast last night
and again this morning. Station WSM
at Nashville Is broadcasting the WHAS
messages "a hours . day.
Evening star., 1937-01-27
BUTLER TO FACE
NEW GEMS QUIZ
Bugher Property Returned
Here After Being Identified
by Owner in New York.

While the Bugher gems reposed in
a safe at police headquarters today,
detectives again questioned John Nor
cischeck, 49-year-old butler, charged
with stealing the collection from his
employer, Mrs. Henrietta Bugher, 1875
Massachusetts avenue.
Meanwhile. Inspector Bernard w.
Thompson, chief of detectives, ex-
pressed hope the Morcischeck case
could be presented to the District
grand jury some time this week.
The gems were returned to Wash
ington last night by Detective Lieut.
Clement P. Cox and Detective Sergts.
Joseph w. Shimon and Harry Brit
ton. after they had been identified
in New York by the owner.
Mrs. Bugher also came back here
with her son Frederick NJ. Bugher.
Clings to Original Story.
Despite repeated questioning, police
said, Morcischeck sticks to his original
story of sending only one package of
jewels worth 100000 to New York
WIlcIc ulNeSLlSdGOIS IuILlcu up dllOLIleI
lot valued at s50,000.
The smaller package was in poses
sion of Mrs. Agnes Olsen Johnson
middle-aged maid, who was freed in
New York yesterday by a grand jury
investigating the theft. The BugherS
were witnesses.
Employees in Greenwich.
The Associated Press said Mrs
johnson testified she met Morchis.
check when both were employed il
Greenwich, Conn. and after he camt
here in November, they occasionally
exchanged postcards. Five days age
she received a letter from the butler
saying he was sending a package he
wanted held for him. She complied
and it was found in her possession
unopened.
Mrs. johnson went before the granc
jury with huge stack of reference.
from former employers. After hearing
her story the jurors refused to indict
her for criminally receiving Stoler
goods as had been asked by Assist.
ant United States Attorney Harold
w. Hastings.
Evening star., 1937-01-27
ARMY AIR OFFICER
EXPIRES IN CHICAGO
Maj. Charles Douglas Was on Duty
as Instructor of National Guard
in Chester. Ill.

Maj. Charles Douglas, Army Air
Corps, on duty as National Guard
aviation instructor at Chester, Ill,
died Monday at Chicago. the War
Department has announced.
Born in Green Bay, Wis, February
II. 1898, Maj. Douglas enlisted In the
Army in March, 1915, and served in
the 21st Infantry and with the 18th
Aero Squadron to November, 1917. He
then transferred to the aviation Sec
ton, Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps
and was commissioned second lieu
tenant in the aviation section, Reserve,
and was on active duty in that capacity
through the closing months of the
war and until September, 1920.
He was appointed a second lieuten-
ant, Air Service, Regular Army. He was
q graduate Of the Air Service Com
munications School in 1922, the Air
Corps Advanced Flying School, spe-
cial observers course, 1928, and the
Air Corps Tactical School, 1885. He
was rated an airplane pilot and an
airplane observer.
Maj. Douglas is survived by his
widow, Mrs. Amalia M. Douglas, and
three children.
Evening star., 1937-01-27
BROWN TO RECEIVE
MEDAL TOMORROW
Commissioners Hazen and Sultan
to Attend Presentation by Cos.
mopolitan Club.

Commissioners HaZen and Sultan
and other distinguished guests will
be present tomorrow when Police Chief
Ernest w. Brown receives the distin-
guished service medal for 1886 to be
awarded by the Cosmopolitan Club at
its meeting in the Carlton Hotel.
The presentation will be made by
DR.. ]. Rozier Biggs, chairman of the
Medal Committee. Police inspectors
and captains will be guests Of the
club at the presentation.
Maj. Brown will receive the medal
for outstanding, unSelflsh service to
the city" because of his work for the
Boys Club OF the Metropolitan Po-
lice Department. The medal is
awarded by the club each year for
distinguished civic service.
Evening star., 1937-01-27

sci, was 1894 to 344; Cusick beat Al
Philip Kane. 1868 to 1928; Gray defeated
c. Chester Caywood, 379 to 345; Laws
defeated F. Joseph Donohue, STA to
ISL.
There we're nine candidates for the
three places as director. and the votes
were: Morgan. $50: Beach, 80: Bogley.
245; Ringgold Hart, 234; Charles S.
Baker, 232; Jerome F. Barnard, PA;
Daniel w. O'Donoghue, jr., 206; Arthur
]. Fhelan, 1863, and Charles T. Clayton,
130.
The campaign was heated, but after
the results were announced, defeated
candidates for the major offices moved
that the vote for the winners be made
unanimous. and that was done.
In conciliatory vein, Quinn, aSsum-
ing Office, told the association that
anything that may have been said
or done against me in the heat OF the
campaign is forgotten" and offered his
apology for any actions by my sup
porters" antagonistic to his oppo-
nentS.
Pledges Work for Advancement.
Introducing those elected with him,
the new president pledged all to work
for the advancement of the associa-
ton.
The defeat Of the proposal to es-
tablish a small claims and concilia-
tion branch of Municipal Court came
after prolonged debate.
The idea was advanced by Judge
Nathan Cayton of Municipal Court.
who long has urged such a tribunal
as needed for handling those cases
involving less than $50 1t was in
dorsed by the Board Of Directors of the
association, and the adverse vote came
on a report explaining the plan and
outlining the rules under which such
a branch would function.
Seton Darr, chairman of the sub
committee which drafted the report,
led the fight for its adoption, declar-
ing it would be a reform in proce-
dure" and would re-eStablish the prin-
ciple of the poor mans court" which
was the idea behind the original
founding of Municipal Court. He was
supported by another member of the
subcommittee, Frank F. Nesbit, who
said the plan had been put in success
full operation elsewhere in the United
States. The third member of the
subcommittee was T. Gillespie Walsh.
A letter from Chief Judge George
C. Aukum, chief judge of the court
which itself would have the power
to set up the branch, tended to cast
doubt on the feasibility of the
proposal.
Limit Raised to $1,000.
Aukum pointed out that the court
had Jurisdiction in cases of 500 or
less when set up in 1909. and that
this later had been raised to $1,000.
Right now, he said, within this more
extensive area, litigants get the same
service for which proponents are
urging court with jurisdiction only
up to $50.
Leonard Ganse, leading the opposi-
ton, questioned the constitutionality
of changes in procedure which would
be entailed, and Leo MCGUIRE said
he did mot think the court here pro-
posed is a help to the poor man."
It was his idea that free counsel
would meet the needs.
On voice vote, the opposition ap-
peared in the majority, and when
count was demanded, supporters mus
tered only 40 votes for minority that
was so evident the opposition was
not polled.
The association also voted to vest
direction of its journal in nine-man
board to be named by the president.
One will be editor in chief.
Evening star., 1937-01-27
Wrong:Number Epidemic
Follo,us Telephone Shift

two figures on the branch now being
shifted over to four, adding to the
problem.
Henceforth the park police, permit
Office and other agencies that directly
serve Washington will be gotten
through the Interior Department ex-
change on new branch numbers. The
telephone operators have been kept
busy translating the old numbers into
the new figures.
While tentative plans have been
made for moving some Of the agen-
cies into the new building over the
coming week end, Clay j. Guthridge.
head Of the division of Government
space control, National Park Service,
is still conferring with interested Off
cials to secure a definite date, and
the trek may not begin until the
February 6 week end.
Evening star., 1937-01-27
SECOND INVESTIGATION
OF HARRIS CASE PUSHED
Cummings Says Agents Are Prob.
ing Conviction for Gangland
Staying.

Attorney General Cummings said
today special agents for the Federal
Bureau of Investigation are continu-
ing their second investigation Of the
conviction of Charles Harris for the
gangland Staying of Milton w. (Milsie)
Henry several years ago.
Cummings ordered the case reopened
recently at the request of Neil Burkin-
shaw, attorney for Harris, after dis
covery in a conf1scated car of the
shotgun used in the murder. Burkin-
shaw claimed a careful inquiry would
show that Harris did not use this gun.
Harris originally was sentenced to
be electrocuted, but President Roose-
velt commuted his sentence to life i'm
prisonment.
Evening star., 1937-01-27
ATTORNEY|SFOUND
GUILTY OF FORGERY.
James J. LaughIin, Convicted
by Jury, Faces Fine and
Imprisonment.

Convicted last night by a District
Court jury of forgery, uttering and
larceny after trust, James j. Laughlin.
an attorney, faces maximum sentences
totaling 80 years imprisonment and
$1,000 fines. The jury deliberated
about seven hours before announcing
its verdict to Justice Peyton Gordon.
Laughlin's lawyer, George Horning,
asked that he be released on bond,
pending sentence, which probably will
be imposed next week Justice Cor
don granted the request, allowing the
$4,000 bail on which Laughlin already
was at liberty to stand.
Assistant United States Attorney
John w. FINELY, who had prose-
cuted the case through eight trial
days, which covered the course OF
more than two weeks, moved to i'm
pound the record of the proceedings,
looking toward the possibility Of an
appeal.
After a hasty conference at the
bench Justice Gordon granted this un-
usual request.
Laughlin, who is married and has
five children, had been charged with
forgery and uttering in one indict-
ment and larceny after trust. en-
bezzlement and larceny in the other.
He was acquitted on the latter two
counts.
All the charges arose out OF q
transaction in which he allegedly was
employed by three clients in the Dis
trict Jail to obtain their freedom on
bail. They said they gave him sl,50o
The Government claimed he appro-
priated part of the money to his own
use and forged receipt. which he
showed to members Of the District at
torney's staff to explain the transac-
ton. His clients were Walter c. john
son. Edward r. Dietrich and Erma
Miller. all charged with obtaining
money under false pretenses.
Evening star., 1937-01-27
Policeman Spouts
Flames Testifying
At Larceny Trial

Sparks, flames and even smoke re-
suited when Ninth Precinct Policeman
w. G. Fawcett took the witness stand
to testify in a larceny case today in
Police Court.
It was not because Fawcett made
such a fiery grafton, but simply be-
cause he was so intent on the matter
at hand.
Leaning toward Judge Isaac r. Hit
so none Of his words would escape the
magistrates ears, Fawcett rubbed
against the railing Of the witness box.
A handful of Kitchen matches, !"
which the officer carried in his coat
pocket, cracked, caught fire and
burned the cloth.
Fawcett calmly beat out the fire
with his hand and extracted the
charred matches one by one without
stopping his testimony.
Evening star., 1937-01-27

Hearing on a petition to remove
8-month- old Franklin Moore, jr., from
the custody of his parents. who left
him locked in an automobile while
they attended a moving picture show
was continued for three months in
Juvenile Court today to permit the
mother to receive clinical guidance in
the care of her baby.
Judge Fay Bentley made this de-
cision in agreement with Defense At
torney Earl Davis and Edward M. Wei
liver, assistant corporation counsel
following q two-hour hearing on 9
petition to have the baby committed
to the care Of the Board of Public
Welfare.
When the testimony Of dozen wit
nesses was concluded, Judge Bentley
said:
obviously the father has done all
a man could do to provide his son
with adequate care. I don't think this
was a case of willful negligence. 1t
seems to me the parents were merely
thoughtless. think the mother needs
instruction"
The 28-year-old mother, almost
speechless with fright and bewilder-
ment, took the stand as the last
witness.
She testified she left the show to
feed the baby only Is or 20 minutes
before a citizen noticed the child
locked in the car and summoned po-
lice. This was corroberated by L. G..
Ellis. doorman, who explained that
he gave Mrs. Moore pass so that she
could return to join her husband in
the theater.
Moore, a w. P. A. worker, employed
for S73 a month in a clerical capacity
Evening star., 1937-01-27
R. H. SMITH, 49, DIES
OF HEART ATTACK
Native of City Was One Of Its
First Certified Public
Accountants

Robert Hamilton Smith, 40, celti-
fed public accountant, died last night
of heart attack at his home, 1901
Connecticut avenue
A native of Washington, Mr.. Smith
was educated in the public schools,
George Washington University and
the Pace Institute of Accountancy.
He became one of the first certified
public accountants in the District and
represented large financial institu-
tions and clubs here. He maintained
offices in the Woodward Building.
Mr.. Smith was member of the
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, the
Washington Board Of Trade, the Ma
tional Press Club and the American
Association of Certified Public Ac-
countantS.
He Is survived by his widow, Mrs.
Mae Clarke Smith; a daughter, Miss
Mary Louise Smith, and sister, ldrs.
E. Blackman, all Of this city.
Funeral arrangements were to be
announced later.
Evening star., 1937-01-27

Confusion exists at the Interior De-
partment over the telephone system,
where the dial system has been in
stalled and branch numbers have been
switched around.
The National Capital Parks Office
and other Washington agencies have
been transferred from the War-Navy
telephone exchange, where they have
been for years, to the Interior De-
partment exchange.
Although the Government workers
have not yet moved into the new
building at Eighteenth and e streets.
they already have been given the
branch telephone numbers they will
have In the new structure. This has
caused no end of confusion where
branch numbers officials have had for
years have been altered, some with
Evening star., 1937-01-27
Hearing on Petition to Take
Baby From Parents Continued
Judge Fay Bentley Rules Mother of
Child Locked in Car Should Haze
Benefit of Clinical Guidance.

at the Smithsonian Institution, testi-
fed that he and his wife had done all
possible under their circumstances to
give the child a good home and proper
care.
Mrs. Caroline w. Alexander of the
Women's Bureau told Judge Bentley
the child's feet and hands were "pur-
pie with cold" when she saw the in
FAINT. She took Franklin. jr.. to the
hospital and the parents were arrested
when they came to police to inquire
about their baby.
Mr.. and Mrs Moore were held for
the grand jury in Police Court on
charges of cruelty to their baby, a
charge nolle pressed few days later
by United States Attorney Leslie
@. Garnett. who ordered the baby
restored to the parents.
A few hours after this charge was
dropped a petition alleging the child
was destitute of a suitable home"
was sworn to by Miss F. M. C. Bird,
a policewoman. Miss Bird told the
Judge she visited the home only once,
some time after she swore to the Pc
tition, but that she had known Mrs.
Moore before.
1t was brought out that Moore had
been married twice before and once
had served time in Michigan on a
charge of child desertion.
Character witnesses for Moore, how
ever. testified he had worked regu-
larly since his employment here last
Summer and was a sober and indus
trious man, obviously trying to make
the best of his circumstances.
Evening star., 1937-01-27
PAY BILL TO GET
EARLY HEARINGS
RamspeCk Makes Promise
as Salary Increase Meas
ure Is introduced.

Early hearings on the McCarran-
Connery Government pay increase bill
were promised today by Chairman
Ramspeck of the House Civil Service
Committee.
The bill was referred to Ramspeck's
committee soon after it was introduced
In the House yesterday by Represen-
tative Connery, Democrat, of MaSSa-
chusetts. His measure is companion
to the one introduced in the Senate
by Senator McCarran. Democrat, of
Nevada.
Both measures would fix minimum
pay of $500 a year for Government
employees and raise salaries all along
the line up to $4,000.
Merit Plan Has Preference.
Ramspeck has not fixed a definite
date for starting hearings on the bill.
He plans to have his committee first
dispose of bill to extend the merit
system throughout the Federal serv-
ice before taking up the pay-increase
measure
WHICH tIlS HEARINGS SIdIt, fIdulSpSCh
indicated he would call on the Civil
Service Commission to furnish data
comparing Government salaries with
those paid in private industry for
similar work.
Study to Disclose Deserving.
when the study is completed" he
said, I'VE can tell just which classes
of Government employees deserve wage
increases, and we can rearrange the
entire Government pay schedule ac-
cordingly. feel that is the only fair
way to approach the subject"
Personally, Ramspeck believes many
Government employees should be given
salary increases, but at the same time
he feels there are others whose pay
Is comparative with employees in pri-
vate industry doing similar work.
Evening star., 1937-01-27
OFFICERS PLAN DANCE

The Reserve officers Of the 306th
Cavalry will hold their annual dinner
dance at the Willard Hotel February
at 7:30 pm.
The annual memorial service COM
memorating the formation Of the reg
iment will be held at st. Johns
Church, Sixteenth and H streets, by
Regimental Chaplain Capt. Oliver ].
Hart at pm. the some day.
Evening star., 1937-01-27
JUVENILE COURT
BILL IS REPORTED
TO HOUSE BODY
Measure Before District
Committee Is Stripped of
Controversial Features.
CHAIRMAN NORTON
ABSENT WITH COLD
Chief Attention of Discussion Gen.
ters Around Proposal to Legal
ize Horse Racing.
Stripped of its major controversial

Stripped of its major controversial
features. the Norton bill to modernize
and humanize Juvenile Court proce-
dure, was reported to the House Dis
trict Committee today by Representa-
tive Nichols, Democrat, of Oklahoma.
In its modified form, the measure
is expected to be introduced in the
House within the next few days and
referred back to the District Commit
tee. BY special order of the committee,
its consideration will be the first order
OF business at the regular meeting next
Wednesday.
Nichols, who conducted public hear
ings on the original bill at the last
session of Congress, explained that in
revising it he had removed certain pro-
visions found to be Objectionable.
The primary purpose of the bill is
to change Juvenile Court procedure
from criminal to chancery system.
The two principal alterations in the
original measure will make private
hearings compulsory and provide that
all cases shall be heard without a
jury unless demanded by the parent
or guardian of child or by the court.
The original bill gave the court dis
cretionary power to hold private or
public hearings.
In the absence of Chairman Norton,
who is convalescing from a mild
attack of influenza, no action was
taken by the committee on any of
the II District bills introduced since
Congress convened. The committee,
however, held lengthy executive ses-
sion, at which some of these measures
we're discussed informally.
Attention was centered chiefly on a
bill to legalize horse racing in the
District under the pari-mutuel system.
Evening star., 1937-01-27
4SNOW REMOVAL"
PARKING TICKETS
DECISION TODAY
City Heads to Decide on
Whether to Continue
Tagging Cars.
HAZEN AND SEAL PLAN
TALK THIS AFTERNOON
Further Issuance Would Pile Up
Cases Pending Ruling
Upon Appeal.

District officials were to decide to-
day if police are to continue to ticket
cars parked on streets included in the
"snow removal parking restrictions
pending an appeal from the decision
of Police Judge Edward M. Curran that
the regulation was invalid.
Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen was
holding a final conference this after
noon with Corporation Counsel e.
wood H. Seal to decide a course of
action.
If they determine to cling to the
rule, pending action on an appeal from
the lower court decision, tickets would
be issued and warrants served. but the
corporation counsel would move to
continue cases indefinitely until the
merit Of the regulation was settled.
Asked what would happen If any
ticket recipients insisted on prompt
court action, Seal explained that I'VE
can always nolle PROSE- such cases"
Cases Would Pile Up.
One effect of such plan would be
to pile up cases on the Police Court
docket, since more than SO main traf-
flc arteries are included in the list of
streets on which parking of cars be-
tween 2 and 8 am. is forbidden.
Seal yesterday was inclined to favor
such a procedure. after hearing that
Judge Curran had quashed prosecu-
ton of T Edward O'Connell, an at
torney. who was charged with parking
a car on Sixteenth street in violation
Of the rule.
Commissioner Hazen went so far as
to say he couldn't see why the courts
should consider whether a parking
regulation was reasonable any more
than they should question the reason
ableness of an order condemning land
for street.
Permanent Regulation.
"This is a permanent regulation.
he told reporters. I'VE set no time
limit on its expiration. If We had, !
can see there might have been loop
hole and that the regulation might
have been construed as an emergency
measure. But there is no use Of our
trying to enforce the regulation if the
courts are not going to uphold U.s."
The fact the regulation does not
expire on given date was considered
by Judge Curran. The judge explained
the regulation could be In effect in
the Summer as well as in the Winter
IF there is anything in the regulation
that prohibited parking while snow
was on the ground, or while it was
showing, the regulation would be rea-
sonable," he said.
Last year similar order was thrown
out by the court, but in that case mo
parking" signs carried the word
emergency" and the rule was de-
clared invalid when Charles Ford, at
torney, claimed in one case there was
no emergency, because there was no
snow to be cleaned at the time.
Evening star., 1937-01-27
COLORED MEN HELD

Two colored men were charged with
operating a lottery yesterday when
arraigned before United States Com
missioner Needham G. Turnage after
police had arrested them in raid on
q cigar store in the 1700 block OF
Fourteenth street.
jeremiah Ross, SO, Of the 800 block
of First street, and Alvin Ryans, 81,
of the 1900 block Of Vernon street,
were released under $1,000 bond each,
pending hearing before the commits
sioner on February 5.