davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1938-12-16
ACCOUNT CHECKED

In their investigation, the
proberS are scrutinizing a large
brokerage account carried under
the name Mrs. Carol E. Coster."
Police records on "Vernard'
show that he was arrested in 1888
on a charge of felonious assault,
but the case was dismissed. Vern-
ard was fingerprinted at the time,
but following his release, de-
manded-and received-the copy
of his fingerprints.
A reporter who went today to
the address which Venard gave in
1888 noted an automobile, laden
with baggage, in front of the door
The registration was that issued
to Vernard and when the informa-
ton was passed along to Assist
ant U. S. Attorney Lester c.
DUNCAN, he ordered Omen" to
the address.
Meanwhile, Vernard had been
positively identified as Arthur Mu-
sica by his secretary, Eleanor
Lochner, who told Assistant Attor-
ney General Mccall that she first
learned that Vernard was Musica
when she found statement in the
private papers of w. w. Smith
and Company, a McKesson agency.
WIFE'S STATEMENT
The statement apparently was
from his wife" she said, and in it
he said his real name was Arthur
Musica."
Testimony also piled up that
the Musica family had used other
names.
Henry Unterweiser, an investi-
gator for the States Attorney
General for % years, testified that
Philip Musica, now known as F.
Donald Coster, was once known
as William Johnson" and under
The Washington times., 1938-12-16

tonishing developments, inveStiga-
tors were probing possible con-
tact between Philip Musica and
the late Dutch" Schultz.
The gangster was known to
have attempted to muscle his way
into the business affairs of Bridge
port about the time MuSica was
dominating the McKeSson firm,
with offices in that city.
POSSIBLE CONNECTION
Today the United States Attor-
ney's office was working on in
formation of possible connection.
The wholesale human hair bust
ness which the Musica family con-
Quoted was revealed as more of a
wholesale Swindle with fake orders
and fake figures switched back
and forth to mulct banks and bust"
ness houses.
The business had climbed into
the 100000 class when an in
vestigation was begun and the
Musicas fled. Detectives found
them in New Orleans preparing to
leave the country.
Philip cxonerated the rest of
the family and took the blame.
Disappearance of the family dated
from that time and Philip, after a
gap of several years, turned up as
F., Donald CoSter, in Mount
The Washington times., 1938-12-16

Vernon.
Another sensational angle under
investigation today was the posi-
bility that the Musicas had at
tempted to make contacts with
congressman and State legislators
for purposes of paving the way for
shipment of contraband war ma
terials to a foreign country-pre-
Sumably, Spain.
an AMAZING STORY
From one Federal agency came
the admission that such a connec-
ton may" have existed and the
information that this angle was
being given full attention.
The amazing story has developed
from what first appeared to be a
straight financial Scandal-the dis
appearance of $4,000, 900 in assets
in the crude department of Nc
Kesson & Robbins.
Coster had been unmasked
through fingerprints as Musica,
q 0WAAOAC1 VI D. Aud1 GCE CcACI4 y
ago, who persuaded President
Taft to grant him a pardon while
he was behind penitentiary bars.
Nothing in New York's criminal
history compares with this start
ling Transformation of a man who
came to the United States as an
Italian immigrant. An amazing
phase of his story, that rivals fic-
The Washington times., 1938-12-16

ton, is that Coster. known as
Musica until 1920, lived both ex'
istences in New York and its en-.
virons.
His financial wizardry won the
respect of Wall Street, wealth and
a place in society. But the bank.
ruptcy proceedings instituted by
McKesson & Robbins disclosed
that $18,000,000 in listed assets
were missing. This prompted
Investigations which revealed the
drug firm had nonresident ware.
houses in Canada. wednesday,
Coster and his brothers were ar
rested and yesterday they were
indicted.
The Washington times., 1938-12-16

Home: Fairfield, Conn. Of
flee: McKeSsOn & Robbins,
Bridgeport, Conn.
That is the way "WhO'S Who
in America" describes Frank
Donald COSter," president of
the McKessOn & Robbins
Corp, who has been indicted
in connection with an $4,000
900 shortage.
But fingerprint records Of
police show the dapper bust
nessman and yachtsman is
none other than Philip Mus
lea ex-cOnvict and SWindleF,
who dropped from sight in
1920 while under indictment
in connection with a New York
racket murder.
1t was only about two years
after Musica disappeared that
"COster" appeared in the lime
light Of the world of finance,
and pyramided the drug con-
Germ into an $S0,00O,0OO
corporation. j
The Washington times., 1938-12-16

that name served as a spy inves-
tigator in the Attorney Generals
office until shortly after the arm
iStice.
johnson was discharged from
the Attorney Generals office when
records which he had presented in
connection with American-German
relations proved to be false, it was
said.
But 1t was that period of serv-
ice to the Attorney General
which proved his undoing, it ap-
peared, for it was Unterweiser who
suggested that F. Donald Coster
looked and acted suspiciouSly like
William johnson"
IDENTITY REVEALED
In attempting to identify Cos
ter as johnson, the Attorney Gen.
erals office stumbled over the
fact that he was neither CoSter
nor johnson, but Philip Musica.
Another development of the day
was the discovery that all three
brothers have been in the Manhat-
tan area for almost 20 years. While
Philip was running his tonic and
perfume company in Mt. Vernon
under his new name of Coster,
Arthur and George we're working
as motion picture operators for
theaters in New York and Brook
Ign.
Just when Arthur and George
transferred their talents to the
drug business has not come out,
but presumably it followed Philips
rise to the head of McKesson &
Robbins.
AS a sidelight to the other as
The Washington times., 1938-12-16
M'KESSONS OUT
OF DRUG FIRM,
BROTHERS SAY
Company Divided in
1925, Is Statement

NEW YORK. Dec. I6 UN.SJ.
Irving and Donald McKesson,
chemical manufacturers, today
issued q formal statement declar-
ing that the McKesson family has
had no interest in McKesson q
Robbins, Inc, since 1925, and that
no member of the family is In
volved in any way in the drug
firms present difficulties.
Their statement follows:
''MeSsrs. Irving and Donald
McKesson wish to state that,
so far as they know, no member
of the McKeSson family is in
any way connected with McKeS-
son & Robbins. Inc, the COM
pany whose affairs are now
being investigated by various au-
thorities.
FORMED IN 1888
1.-THE original firm of McKeS-
son & Robbins was formed in
1888 by John McKesson and
Daniel C. Robbins. John Nc
KesSon was the grandfather OF
Messrs. Irving and Donald Nc
Kesson. The partnership bust
ness was incorporated in New
York in 1915.
After the death of the father
of MeSsrs. Irving and Donald
McKesson, in 1924, the board Of
directors was divided as to the
future policies for the business
and, as a deadlock existed, it
was decided to divide the busi-
ness between the McKesSon FAM
ily group and those opposed to
them, all of which was done, IN
1925.
THE McKesson family group
took the chemical manufactur-
ing business and its allied lines,
and the opposing group took
the wholesale drug business with
the pharmaceutical and special
medicinal lines, including the
corporate name.
The Washington times., 1938-12-16
'COSTER' CRIME
CAREER SEEN
AS INCREDIBLE.
Was Pardoned Once by
President Taft
BY GEORGE CARROLL

NEW YORK. Dec. Is GN.SD.
Americas No. l DR.. Jekyll and Mr..
Hyde for the year 1873" is-without
. contest-Philip M. Musica.
The man is incredible. His story
Is more incredible still.
His heels and his fingers tripped
him. 1t was his penihant for wear
ing high-heeled shoes that
brought about his arrest quarter
century ago when he and his fam
fly were fleeing to South America
after an alleged $4,000, 900 swindle.
FINGERPRINT CLUE
Now, it's his fingerprints that
unmask him, rs years later. in an
other jam where, as F. Donald
Coster, president of the great drug
house of McKesson and Robbins,
he Is enme he'd in criminal
charges.
He started out with a prison
sentence in 1909. But-not the
least of the incidents in his story
his sentence was committed a
few months later by President Will
liam Howard Taft.
The day Taft signed that docu- |
ment, April II. 1910. he unwit-
tingly was sending forth a cunning
fox to prey on American finance.
With a presidential commute
ton in his pocket, Musica-
Fleeced banks and business
houses with company that dealt
in human hair. and did it on such
q scale that II sets of lawyers
fought over whatever assets he
left.
Spent nearly three years In the
Tombs. where he played stool
pigeon in TIE murder of Barnet
Baff, Washington Market poultry
king. in 1914.
This is the man who dropped
his past. got himself into Who's
Who with a new name and fic-
titiou; new profeSsion-doctor OF
medic;ne-and became ruler of
McKeSson & Robbins. a respect
table $86,000,000 corpo ration
which has been a leader in the
nations drug field for los years.
F. Donald CoSter! A great,
dominant figure in the nations
business. A man who floated
tremendous bond issues.
But F. Donald Coster never eX-
listed. There was no such man.
He just wasn't there.
It was Philip M. Musica, former
convict, sWindler and stool |
pigeon all the time.
According to frayed newspaper
clippings, official records and the
recollections of men and women
who had contact with him, Philip
M. Musica is So and was born IN
Naples.
He was the eldest son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Antonio Musica. The other
two boys were George and Arthur
and there were two girls, Grace
and Louise. |
The Washington times., 1938-12-16

Born: Washington, d. c.,
May IL, 1884, son of Frank
Donald and Marie (Girare)
COster; Phi. D., University of
Heidelberg, 1909; M. D., 1911.
Married Carol Jenkins Schief-
film, of Jamaica, L. l., May
l, 1921.
Practicing physician, New
York city, 1912-1914; presi-
dent of Girard & Co., Inc,
1914-1926; president of Nc
KessOn G. Robbins, drug man.
ufacturers, since 1926; direc-
tor of Bridgeport City Trust
Co. and Fairfield Trust Co.
Methodist.
Clubs: New York Yacht,
Bankers, LOtOs, Advertising
New York;, University,
Black Rock Yacht bridge
port, Brooklawn Country. o..
The Washington times., 1938-12-16
M'KESSON HEAD
KILLS HIMSELF.
Continued from Page II

lNOHLlHucu lEUH age ~
Brooklyn. N. Y, home of Arthur
and when they we're refused ad-
mission, threatened to shoot the
lock off the door.
"Vernard's" car, loaded with lug
gage, stood at the curb.
With one sensational develop
ment coming after another. the
amazed Investigators next turned
to search for Louise and Grace
Musica, sisters of Philip. Arthur
and George-who, like the male
members of the family, disap-
peared in 1918 after Philip had
taken the rap" for a family
swindle operated under the guise
of a company dealing in the whole
sale merchandising of human
hair,
The Washington times., 1938-12-16
M&M1AzS7e
@EINIES

Published Daily at 1917 II St.. N. W.
with Sunday Issue as The Washington
Herald Times
Editorial and Business Phones
Republic 1884
Entered at the Post Otfice, Washington
D. c., as secOnd-cldss mail matter
Eleanor Patterson Editor and Publisher
A, G. Newmyer, Associate Publisher
.I..I-t and General Manager
NJ W. Flynn Managing Editor
RATES BY CARRIER IN WASHING
TON, D. c., AND SUBURBS
Daily Sunday sunday
One year. $500 $3.50 1000
Six monthsi..... s S.ssSS 33,sS s ssS
One month";. AS As 80
RATES BY MAIL FOR VIRGINIA.
MARYLAND. WEST VIRGINIA
AND NORTH CAROLINA
Daily Sunday Sunday
One vear........ $500 $500 N2.o0
Six months ..... $50 $50 zoo
Three months. $50 $50 $50
One month. 80. so SO 1.2O
OTHER STATES, CANADA AND
MEXICO
One year. ...... $3.50 1920 $500
Six months. $50 $50 $50
Three months. 1875 $50 3.76
ALL MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS PAYABLE
IN ADVANCE
The Washington times., 1938-12-16
IMPORTING FIRM

-
The family had a general i'm
porting firm, bringing in such
products at Italian cheese, olive
oil, dried mushrooms.
In October, 1909, the father and
Philip were brought to trial in U.
S. Court on charge of defraud-
ing the customs through short
weighing of their imports.
Three Government weigherS
whom they allegedly bribed were
tried with them. One Weigher
confessed he had taken a $500
bride.
Young Philip was sentenced to
one year and fine of $4,000. The
next April, President Taft set him
free with a communication.
Inside of three years, he was up
to his ears in worse mess, the
human hair fraud"
A. Musica & Sons had switched
from importing cheese and olive
oil to the Importation of human
hair to be used in wigs. They
blossomed out into the United
States Hair Company. and enlisted
capital until the outfit entered the
100000 class. Philip was presi-
dent.
100000 THEFTS
But the banks from which the
Musicas borrowed eventually
smelled a rat. Books of the United
States Hair ompany were
bounced upon and shortly Philip
Musica began confesSing to theftS
of more than 100000.
Then the MuSiCas lit out, all
but their mother.
The Burns Detective Agency
got on the trail.
The chase ended in New Or
leans aboard the steamer Here
dia, just about to cast off for
Honduras, where extradition laws
had no big teeth.
Old Antonio tried to shoot him
self with a pistol Philip carried
but the Burns men overpoWerec
and handcuffed him.
Then the captiveS' pockets anc
baggage was searched. The eyes
of the Burns men popped. Here's
what they found!
In cash. $4,000, Of which PhiliT
was toting 100000 in big bills
Grace had $4,000 hidden in hel
corset.
Two insurance policies totalint
$4,000
A promissory note for $4,000
Jewelry valued at $4,000.
In the Tombs, where his "a
year-old father began to breal
physically, Philip, too. broke ant
took full blame. At the trial, h
turned States evidence and eX
onerated the others.
And then Philip got off with
suspended sentence.
The Washington times., 1938-12-16

Precious prayer book Of a lightly
from the breviary Of "Philip the
Good" powerful Duke Of Burgundy,
who lived In the Fifteenth century,
Reproduced in full color in The Amer.
lean Weekly, with Sundays Washing"
tom Harald- Times.
The Washington times., 1938-12-16
Incredible T0ngle

Meanwhile, the criminal division
of the Justice Department pursued
numerous leads in the career Of
Coster and probed deeper into the
circumstances leading to the Nc
Kesson and Robbins bankruptcy.
After revealing. that Coster is
being investigated for possible
munitions smuggling, Assistant At
torney General Brien Mcmahon,
head of the criminal division, OBJ
served many items" in connection
with the bankruptcy appear to be
incredible.
Mcmahon reported Coster may
have shipped articles of war to
"belligerent countries" concealed
in cases labelled milk Of mag
neSia,"
The Washington times., 1938-12-16
Send to Spain

While Mcmahon refused to dis
close to what country the contra
band shipments were made, he OBJ
served violations Of the neutrality
act were involved.
This indicates the munitions
were sent to Spain since an arms
embargo under the act has only
been invoked for the Spanish war.
A ban on ornaments shipments
was in effect during the Gran
Chaco conflict between Paraguay
and Bolivia, but this prohibition
did not come under the neutrality
act.
The Washington times., 1938-12-16
COSTER LINKED
TO POLITICIANS

Continued from Page ~
these political representatives
has not been established by the
investigators"
Evening star., 1938-04-15

The three surviving spectators of
the worlds first airplane fights, for
mer Coast Guardsmen on duty at
Kitty Hawk, N. c., marveling at the
progress of aviation in the 35 inter-
venlng years. flew through Washing
ton yesterday evening on the Wav
to national celebration arranged
by Henry Ford and his son. Edsel
Ford. Saturday at Greenfield Village,
Mich. in honor Of the first pilot,
Orville Wright
Never dreamed 35 years ago when
the Wright boys made that first flight
that we'd live to see anything like
this" muttered Capt. w. ]. Tate Of
Coinjock, N. c., senior member of
the trio. as they climbed from a
high-speed airliner of Pennsylvania
Central Airlines to stretch their legs
for a few minutes at WASHINGTON
Airport before taking of for Detroit.
Another OF the trio, =. T. Daniels.
made the only photograph of the
first flight. Now one of the most
famous historical photographs in the
world, his snapshot shows Orville
Wright lying on the lower wing of
the biplane just as it rose from the
ground, with Wilbur running along
steadying the right wing-tip
The third member of the party is
A. D. Etheridge, who, like Daniels,
now lives in retirement at Manteo,
N, c.. not far from the scene of the
first flight.
1t was Capt Tate, then lighthouse
keeper at Kitty Hawk, who first in
vlted the Wright brothers t1 the
North Carolina beach for their series
of box kite and glider experiments
which finally resulted in the first
arplane flight. on December II,
1908.
The Wrights had been looking
around for a quiet, secluded spot for
their tests, where there were hills
and steady winds" Capt. Tate rem
lnisced as he paced around the big,
sleek alrliner. his uniform cap showed
back on his snow-white hair and his
gnarled. salt-tanned hands behind
his back
They heard that Kitty Hawk was
such place and wrote to me to in
quire about it. 1 wrote back and told
them to come along: it was Just
the place they were looking for. That
was in 1900
Well, month or two later. they
showed up, much pleased with the
Evening star., 1938-04-15
DIR. F. J. COTTON DIES
OF HEART ATTACK
Deceased Formerly Directed Bone
and Joint Surgery at Walter
Reed Hospital.

DR.. Frederic ]. Cotton. 81, who di-
rected bone and joint surgery at Wal
ter Reed Hospital Immediately follow
ing the World War, In which he was
a major in the Medical Corps died
yesterday Of a heart attack in his ONCE
in Boston. it was learned through the
Associated Press
A noted authority on bone and Joint
surgery. DR.. Cotton previously had
taught at Harvard and Tufts Medical
Schools. He was founder and men,
ber Of the Board Of Governors of the
American College Of Surgeons, a fel-
low OF the American Surgical Asso-
citation. a member of the Boston Sur
gical Society and other scientific
groups. In 1919 he was a consultant
in surgery for the United States Public
Health Service.
Among survivors are his widow and
q daughter.
Evening star., 1938-04-15

place and stayed in my house during
their first night at Kitty Hawk. They
borrowed my wife's sewing machine
to sew up the cover for their first
Kite and later to stitch up fabric for
their glider and airplane wings"
Capt. Tate. acting as spokesman
for his silent. bronzed companions.
who occasionally nodded their agree
ment with his remarks, said they
were looking forward to "pleasur-
able, educational trip" to Michigan
as the guests of the Fords.
The Wright brothers home and the
shop in which they built their first
sirplane, at Dayton, Ohio. have been
moved by the Fords to Greenfield VII.
lage and will be dedicated Saturday,
The program will open with a meet
ing of old-time pilots and a recep-
ton for Orville Wright and will close
with a dinner in the Dearborn Inn,
at which the speakers will be Col
Frank Lahm, Army Air Corps. cne
Of the Army's pioneer aviators: Wal
ter Brookins. early Wright pilot; DR..
George w. Lewis, research director
OF the National Advisory Committee
for Aeronautics, and Grifith Brewer,
British aviation pioneer. The cele-
bratlon also will commemorate the
list anniversary OF the birth Of the
late Wilbur Wright.
Evening star., 1938-04-15

suspension on March . for apparent
violation Of just and equitable prin-
ciples of trade"
He told how he had refused q last
minute request of Mr.. Whitney for =
delay in further auditing of his books
and added emphatically that 1t was
not until March /, 1898 that he
learned Mr. Whitney had kept $l75,-
00o Of bonds and 1921 900 OF cash for
nine months during 1887.
The bonds and cash belonged to the
stock exchange gratuity fund. which Is
designed to provide cash benefits to
families of deceased exchange mem
bers
Mr.. Gay also described a midnight
meeting on March 5, 1898, at the
Metropolitan Club. on upper Fifth ave-
nue.. The club was founded by the late
]. p. Morgan for his friends.
At the meeting. Mr.. Gay said, were
Francis Barlow. 4 partner in the bank
ing firm Of j. P. Morgan Il Co.; RAN
dolph Mason, Richard Whitneys at
torney, and Mr.. Gay himself.
Delay Request Refused.
Mr.. Barlow and Mr.. Mason asked a
few days delay in the determining
of Mr.. Whitney's solyency. The re-
quest was refused, Mr.. Gay added.
Neither Barlow nor Mason sug-
gested that the question OF whether
the Whitney firm was solvent might
or should have any bearing on the
charges the stock exchange had pre-
pared against Whitney" Mr. Gay said
Il tried to discover If Barlow or Ma
son knew the actual condition and
evidently they had no knowledge" Mr.
Gay added.
Evening star., 1938-04-15
whitney failure
RELATED T0S.E.C c.
Exchange President Tells
of Influence to Delay
Financial Ruin.
BY the Associated Press.

6y tRe hSBOCl&teO fIeSH.
Before tense audience. Charles
r. Gay. president of the New York
Stock Exchange. testified yesterday OF
the efforts Of New York's social and
banking arstocracy to delay the f1nan-
cial ruin of one of their own number
Mr.. Gay. who began his business
career as a $3-a-Week carrier Of dry
goods samples on the streets of New
York. was a witness at the Securities
Commissions examination into the
failure of the Arm of Richard Whitney.
Mr.. Whitney. five times president
Of the New York Stock Exchange, is
serving a term in Sing Sing Prison
for misappropriation Of customer S
securities.
Mr.. Gay. huge man in his early
sixties, moved solemnly to the witness
stand. In a quiet. respectful tone. he
asked 30-year-old Gerhard A. Gesell,
s. E. c. counsel, II he might refresh
his memory with the aid of notes. Mr.
Gesell consented.
Day-by-Day Description.
Mr.. Gay gave a day-by-d day descrip-
tion Of the events that led up to his
dramatic announcement from the floor
Of the exchange OF Mr.. Whitney's
Evening star., 1938-04-15
SUZANNE RAMEY DIES:
FORMERLY LIVED HERE

Suzanne Ramey. 14-year-old daugh-
ter of Mr.. and Mrs Paul G. Ramey,
formerly OF Washington, died Tues
day at their home in New York City.
Besides her parents. the child is
survived by a twin sister, Patricia,
and two other sisters, Barbara Lee
and Betty Jane All the children at
tended the Cooke School here until
the family moved to New York about
year ago. Mr. Ramey was engaged
in the real estate business here for
about 20 years.
Evening star., 1938-04-15
CAR LOADINGS DROP

The Association of American Rail-
roads reported today 52l,97s cars OF
revenue freight were loaded during
the week ending last Saturday.
This was a decrease of 1911 cars,
or 3 per cent, compared with the
preceding week: a decrease Of l89. .l0l
or 26.6 per cent, compared with a year
ago, and a decrease Of 1885, .48l, or 425
per cent, compared with 1880.
Evening star., 1938-04-15

Madrd's 300-acre Madrid Park has
its avenues named after South Amer
lean countries. reminiscent of Spain's
once great colonial empire there.
The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1938-05-28
YPSlANTI,
BY Mrs. Eugenla O'Bannon
CONDUCTS REVIVAL

The DIR. Irmah l.. Moore. of New
York City, gifted evangelist OF the
A. M. K. denomination. began a re-
vival meeting at Brown Chapel A.
M. e. Church. III Ypsilanti. Sunday.
May Is. The M IS will continue
through May 2 ais young woman
Is one OF the best-prepared In the
evangelist field.
Evangelist Moore Is product
OF Wilberforce University. and also
completed courses at Payne Theo-
logical Seminary and Union Theo-
logical Seminary. OF New York
City.
Services at Brown Chapel are
being held nightly and many are
being converted. Members and
friends OF this church are loud in
their praise OF the results thus far
obtained. and are anticipating still
greater blessings.
Evangelist Moore will deliver a
special sermon to women only"