davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16
IIDCO' MISSING,
 BOATS IN SEARCH

New London. Conn, Dec. Is -(U. P)-Five coast guard patrol boats searched Long Island Sound today between Greenport, L. I. and Nam aroneck N. Y., for the tug "Lidco" which has been unreported since Sunday. Advices received at the base here said there were three persons aboard
 The vessel, owned by Josephine F.. Hellenger, Lindhurst, L. l., left Greenport with raft in tow.
 Wednesday. the submarine All reported the raft adrift off this har- Dor and a menace to navigation.
 Two patrol boats sent to take It out of the shipping lanes were un- able to find it and returned to the base.
 Search for the tug and raft be- gan at dawn today when it became known the towing vessel was miss lng. s
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16

Involvement of the Musica family, abruptly returned to life after more than two decades of obscurity, ap- parently did not end with Philip, Arthur and George.
 Arthur Musica, alias Vernard, ad- mitted after his re-arrest here that Robert Dietrich, who posed as the brother of the assistant treasurer and was . McKesson & Robbins production manager, also was in reality a Musica.
 Fourth Brother Authorities had not known of tho existence of a fourth brother but Vernard, asked if Robert Dietrich was indeed his brother, replied:
 Why should I try to kid you?"
 Federal authorities said also they were Investigating the possibility that Mrs. Coster, involved in the in quiry when a $100,000 balance in her brokerage account was tied up by court order, might actually be one of the Musica sisters, Louise or Grace.
 The Musicas, children of Italian immigrants who came here from Naples in 1883, began their amazing career before 1910 when, under Philips leadership, they built up a tidy little cheese-smuggling business.
 They advanced to bigger game in 1912 when, with Philip still showing the way, they borrowed $1 ,OOO, 900 from score of banks on a worthless shipment of hair and tried to ice the country.
 Their Acts DwindIe
 But the achievements of the Musi- cas before they discarded the name by creating new identities through forged birth certificates and sought to bury their past in 1920, were small compared to the charges m prepara-
 (Continued on Page 4l
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16
WAGNER LABOR ACT
 AMENDMENT ASKED

Chicago, Dec. 16 (UP) = George A. Davis, president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Uni- ted States, and William Green, pres ident of the American Federation of Labor, joined last night in asking amendment of the Wagner Labor Act as a common point in programs which each suggested for the bene- lit of business and labor alike.
 Green stressed that the AFL's Ob- jections to the act concerned not its fundamental purpose of guarantee ing collective bargaining, but the "usurpation of power" of the Ma tional Labor Relations Board in administering 1t. Davis said most business men recognize the sound ness of collective bargaining but asked amendments to make the act fair to employers as well as em- ployes.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16
DUAL LIVES OF
 COSTER, MUSICA
Amazing Record Came From His Dual Self or
 By Official Records

New York, Dec. 16-CUP)-The dual Hives" of Philip Musica ano Frank Donald Coster," read like g real detective thriller. They are ob- tained from Coster, alias Musics himself, or from official records They read as follows:
 FRANK DONALD COSTER
 Authority: Who's Who biography written by Frank Donald Coster)
 1884: (May 12) born Washington D. c. Parents Frank Donald and Marie Gerard Coster
 1909: Graduated from University of Heidelberg with degree of doctor of philosophy.
 1911: Received degree of doctor of medicine from Heidelberg; mar ried Carol Jenkins Schiefflin.
 1912: Began practicing medicine in New York city.
 1913: Practicing medicine in New York city.
 1914: Became president of Girard and company. drug firm. (Here ends the early career of Frank Donald Coster to which the only witness is Frank Donald Coster).
 (FRANK DONALD COSTER)
 Authority: Newspaper files, busi- ness associates, the official" biogra- phy).
 1922: Established self as manu- facturer of hair tonic. a business per- mitting large withdrawals of al- cohol. (Prohibition was then the law).
 1925: Borrowed money to expand his hair tonic business.
 1926: Borrowed $1,000,000 and bought McKesson and Robbins Mfg Co.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16
RULING ON JEWS NOT TO BE GIVEN

Berlin, Dec. 16 = (UP) = For eign observers expressed doubt to- day that the United States would succeed, despite a sharp note sent to Foreign Minister Joachim Won Ribbentrop yesterday, in getting a clear cut statement that American Jews would not be subjected to dis crimination in the Nad anti-Jewish drive.
 The United States note was re- garded here as an effort to get a final ruling on American Jews, after the failure of previous representa- tions to. elicit satisfactory reply.
 Nevertheless in diplomatic quar- ters there was litle belief that the note would be accorded . direct answer. The present exchange be- tween the United States and Ger many is based on the American German treaty of friendship of 1926.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16
Ten Men, Three Women Questioned Panel
 Due This Afternoon ILLNESS PREVENTED
 ONE MAN FROM JURY Very Little Interest in Questioning of Prospects
 at Morning Session
BY JOSEPH P. ,DONAHUE Democrat Staff Writer)

Thirteen prospects were examined without avail to- day in the final session of the third week of the search for jurors to hear the evil dence in the Waterbury conspiracy case. Court ad- journed at l o'clock after ten men and three women had been questioned and diSqual- flied. Judge Ernest A. Inglis will S4servise the selection of a new panel of 100 veniremen this after noon at o'clock, to augment the 19 members which remain ot the second venire.
 Illn disqualified George e. Wahl of Wailingford from service on the jury this morning, after he mad been announced as acceptable to she defense. Special Prosecutor Alcorn indicated that he might have &C., cepted the man, but the risks of a mistrial due to an ill juror were too great.
 How They Lost Out
 Of the 13 disqualified this morn ing, four were by the court; three by ahe defense and six by the state. Since the trial started, the court has excused 54. the defense 66 and the state 67. Polling of the jury will be continued Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, in spite of an effort by coun- sel of the defense to resume Mon- day morning.
 The thirteen who were disquali- fled today included: Jared Linsly of North Branford, by state: Thomas Loyal of Southbury by the defense; Walter Noble of Naugatuck by the state; Levi s. Doolittle of North Haven by the court: George Burton Of Haniden by the state; George c. Wahl of Wallingford by the court:
 Albert R. Fenn of North Branford by the court; w. M. Dorking of New Haven by the defense; Mrs. Rose Champagne of Mer- iden by the defense; Clara A. Clancey of New Haven by the state; Ellsworth Hall of Wallingford by he court and Mrs. Mary E. Purcell of Wallingford bS the state
 Aside from the near acceptance of one man the morning passed almost without incident.
 (Continued on Page A
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16
Jurors Accepted
 Up To Present

I. Frank M. Brown, 70, Mill ford carpenter.
 ?. Floyd GriSwold. 46, North BranfOrd, carpenter. 3. Merton F. Wright, 70, North 3ranford seIeetman and farmer.
 4 Clarence F. Roberts, 43, OxfOEds ssleetman and farmer.
 5. Milton Darlington, 59, Beacon Falls farmer. 6. Edward F. Rowland, Ox- ford farmer.
 2. Hiram D. w. Darlington, Bethany Dairy farmer.
 s. Mrs. Edith P. Maynard, GuilfOrd, former Waterbury school teacher.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16

OI UIl6 man WHO became president of the mammoth McKeSson and Robbins drug firm, an $87, ,O00 900 corporation with branches in more than 70 cities in this country, ware houses, actual and fictitious, in other countries.
 Mir. Phillips expressed the gen. eral conviction of numberous bank CTS, lawyers, accountants and the associates of the man about whom startling revelations of dishonesty are being upturned hourly which was, in a general sense, fnystifica- tion how CoSter, or Musica, could have fooled so many associates. MT. Phillips, with Horace Merwin and Clinton Barnum Seeley, of Bridge port, are the Connecticut directors on the board of the McKesson & Robbins company.
 Much Excitement
 While accountants, the states of Connecticut, New York, the gov ernment and other agencies are probing the affairs of Coster, his relatives who appeared as officers of the company under other names, officers of the company in this state are in a state of amaZement over the apparent swindling of the com pany's assets to the tune of an es- timated IS million dollars.
 Many of the officers and direc- tors are heavy stockholders, MT Phillips admitting today that he held about $250,O0ON worth of the common stock of the company at 1929 prices, an approximate $54 per share. At present, the stock has been taken from the stock exchange, when it was listed at around $7 share. Many in Waterbury bought bought it at prices ranging from $38 to $52.
 But MT. Phillips said that he had not bought or sold the stock since 1930, that he would not make trans actions in the stock of company of which he was a director.
 The dealings of the R. F. Griggs company which CoSter started 13 years ago when Coster. as head of the Girard company of Bridgeport, had dealings with Bridgeport bank CTS. It was through these bankers that the Waterbury concern be- came interested in the merging of the Girard company with the Mo- Kesson company of Connecticut. At that time the earnings of the Girard company were excellent" MT. Phillips related. '"The merger of the company with the McKesson & Rob- bins company of Connecticut, repre- scented million dollar transaction. But the Griggs company and the Bridgeport City Trust company were minor members of syndicate led by Goldman, Sachs Company and Bond, Goodwin Company, in the merger which saw the consolidation"
 He said that the Griggs company was not in the syndicate which ar ranged the great 1880 merger of the McKesSon & Robbins company of Connecticut with the New York.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16
UNIONS PROTEST
 STATE WPA LAYOFFS

New Haven, Conn, Dec. 16.- (UP).-A statewide conference of public officials. trade union heads, unemployed and others was sum- moned today for next Wednesday to protest against lay-offs of WPA em- ployes throughout the state.
 The conference was called by la bor's non-p partisan league of Con- necticut and the workers alliance.
 A statement said Gov. Wilbur l.. Cross. the entire Connecticut con- gresSional delegation, State WPA Administrator Vincent Sullivan end others have been invited to attend.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16
SALARY WRANGLES
 BREAK FOR PUPILS

Rever1, Mass, Dec. 16.-(UP).-A wrangle over teachers salaries will give Revere school pupils an extra weeks vacation.
 With school funds exhausted be- cause of restoration of a 10 per cent salary reduction despite the city's refusal to appropriate more money, the school committee voted to suspend sessions today until Jan to avoid a possible @1,000 fine under the municipal finance act. Tn past years the schools have closed Dec. B for the Christmas New Years vacation.
 The municipal finance act pro- hibits opening of schools after funds have been exhausted, accord ing to the committee. ~
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16

OOSLer, DEdulS OI \ dMuy
 Exposure of Coster as the elder brother and "brains" of the family which perperated a $1,000,000 "hu- man hair" swindle in 1912, was made last night, and today the state att torney generals office announced that witnesses had identified George Vernard, Canadian manager of the firm, and George Dietrich, assistant treasurer, as Arthur and George Musica. All three are under fed eral indictment charging violation of the securities act of 1884. Mrs. CoSter May Be Sister
 Authorities also. it was learned were Investigating the possibility that Mrs. Coster might actually be one of the Musica sisters, Louise or Grace. Mrs. Coster's $100,000 bal ance in her brokerage account re- gently was tied up by court order on the grounds that the money represented sums fraudulently ob- &ained by her husband.
 After Nearly Two Weeks
 Arthur Musica came back to life after nearly two decades of obscurity when Eleanor Lockne, a secretary in McKesson & Robbins, Inc, identi- fled Vernard as the neXt-to- oldest of the five children born to Antonio and Asunta MuS:ca, Neapolitan immigrants who came to this coun- try in 1883. Associates of the exec utives in Bridgeport, Conn.,, where the drug company's main offices are situated, identified Dietrich as the third son, George.
 While the revelations were being made. federal authorities received a report that an automobile in front of Vernard'S Brooklyn home was be- ing loaded with baggage. Assistant U. s. Attorney Lester c. Dunigan sent department of justice agents to the house.
 Miss Lockne in identifying Yer nard said she had seen letter from his wife which said he was go- ing under false name.
 In the letter, Miss Lockne said, Mrs. Vernard referred to her hus- band as Arthur Musica."
 Coster, Dietrich Free
 Coster and Dietrich, meanwhile, were free under 5000 bail each at Fairfield, Conn.,, where the former was reported ill in his palatial Spanish mansion. No tele- phone calls were being received at the house and the drug company head was maintaining the silence with which he has met all disclos- ures since the firms condition was brought to light Dec. 5.
 The U. S. post office was the fifth agency to enter the investiga- ton. It started an inquiry to de- ter1mine whether the mail fraud statutes had been violated in con- nection with the false records of the company's nonresident crude drug department. The other in- veStigating agencies were the state attorney generals office, District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey, the se- curitieS and exchange commission
 (NoV,tiYa,,al O,, pono Al
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16
FARR FAvoRITE

New York, December 16. - OP) -- Tommy F'arr, 7-5 betting favor- ite, scaled 2OS pounds today as he weighed in for his 15-round fight with Lou Nova of California in Madison Square Garden tonight.
 Nova, who hopes to earn crack at the heavyweight crown held by Joe Louis, weighed l99.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16
13 Veniremen Examined Before Court Adjourned At 1 O'Clock Until Tuesday
Rowley w. Phillips Is Shocked About Coster
Local Banker Had Known the Man-Beeved Him Very Brilliant t-Knew of Stock in Company
 Some Years Ago

Shocked by the revelations which concerned the man for whom he had had high regard lone of the most brilliant minds with which have had contact" Rowley W. Phillips chairman of the board of the R. F. GriggS Company heard this afternoon how "F Donald Coster, alias Philip Musica exconvict shot and killed himself at today. Absolutely shocking MT. Philips remarked At that time he had learned the death
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16
Three Executives Had Been Fully Identified
President Coster Was Philip Musica of Notorious Swinding Family-Fiis Two Brothers Were
 Other Officers in Drug Concern
BY EARL B. STEELE United Press Staff COrrespondent)

New York; December 16 = (UP) - Three executives blamed for the $18000O00 McKesson and Robbins drug scandal identified today brothers members of the swndling Musica family which fourished the first two decades of the century and heard of until
 ngerprnts revealed F. Donald Coster president of the 1O5-year-old drug company Philip Musica.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16
TREASURY BALANCE

Washington, Dec. 16-(UP1-Gov- ernment expenses and receipts for the current fiscal year through Dec. 14, compared with a year ago: This Year Expenses Lanf Rear $4,024,662,3SS.90 $3,336, ,034, ,497.0z $2,44S, 90,6O3.26 $2.671.7OO. .0zS.41
 Gross Deficit
 $1,576,271,7S5.64 $664.331,44o.ee $1,559,7SS,1S5.64 $627, ,9e4.6o
 Cash Balance
 $2,357, ,SSS,3 $2,65s,556. .0s6.1o
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16
The Weather

Mostly Cloudy, Warmer Tonight, Saturday
 Full weather Report Page 1s
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16

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The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-16

(Continued on Page A
Evening star., 1938-10-27
Cardinal Guest
At White House
On Way to Rome

President Roosevelt virtually turned
over his whole day today to the enter
tainment of his old friend. George
Cardinal Mundelein Of Chicago, who
stopped of in Washington on his way
to visit Rome. Italy.
The President personally received the
cardinal upon his arrival at the White
House and then took him to the oval
room study on the second floor, where
they chatted for nearly an hour before
the President entered upon some busi-
ness engagements.
The President arranged to entertain
the distinguished Catholic prelate by
having him accompany him to the
Washington Navy Yard for participa-
ton in the Navy Day observance and
then to show him the places of interest
along the Potomac River during 4
cruise aboard the Presidential yacht
Potomac. The White House announced
that the President will have the car
dinal back in Warrington in time to
catch the S O'Clock train for New York.
The cardinal will sail from New York
Saturday for Rome.
Besides Cardinal Mundelein, the
President will have with him on his
Navy Day visit to the Navy Yard and
the cruise this afternoon Can't. Daniel
J. Callaghan and Col Edwin NJ. Wat
son. chief Warrington naval and miu-
taS5 a16es roapecttv Il.
Evening star., 1938-10-27
SAYS FEDERAL PROGRAM
AIDED COTTON FARMERS
Director of A. A. A. Division Ayers
Substitute Plans Would
Distress Growers.
By the Associated Press


ATHENS. Ga. Oct 27.-Ivy w. Dug
gan. director Of the Agricultural Ad-
Justment Administrations Southern
division. said in a speech prepared for
delivery here today that cotton farmers
who co-operated in the 1888 Federal
farm program made more money than
those who did not.
Addressing a group of farmers, he
asserted the farm program has not yet
had fair trial, and declared proposals
for substitute programs could only re-
suit in cheaper cotton and more dis
tress for growers.
Citing need for systematic soil con-
servation in the Southeast, Duggan
said he was not attempting to tell cot
ton producers they were well of, but
am trying to tell you that you are
better on with the program than with
out one"
Mr.. Duggan blamed some of the
farmers troubles on q 1886 decision of
the United States Supreme Court
which invalidated the production Com
troll provisions OF the Agricultural Ad-
justment Act.
Frankly" he said, much of the
present difficulty traces back to the
lack OF an effective control program
last year when we produced nearly 49,
00O, 900 bales of cotton"
Mr.. Duggan urged cotton growers to
study the facts of the cotton situa-
ton and Judge the present program
and proposed substitutes in the light
Of these facts"
He Is scheduled to give three other
addresses in Georgia in connection with
the farm program and its effect on
cotton, tobacco and peanut production.
Evening star., 1938-10-27
BURKITT PLANS TALK
DESPITE ORDER OF BAN
Declares Hague Is Afraid Of Him
and Calls Jersey City Action
Un-American.
By the Associated Press.

JERSEY CITY, N. j.. Oct. ~
James r. Burkitt, who has said he will
devote the rest of his life battling
Mayor Frank Hague, today mapped
plans to make a street corner speech
here Saturday night in defiance Of .
ban by city o1ncials.
Burkitt said Public Safety Director
Daniel Casey in q letter last night
denied him permission to speak at .
street corner.
IT'S un-American," he said of the
denial. Believe it or not, 1t makes
me feel conceited. It Is proof that
Hague Is afraid of i certain carpet
bagger named Je1 Burkitt"
Mr.. Casey, he said, wrote that pro-
tests had been made against granting
. permit and after investigating found
that serious riots and disturbances
will result from the granting to you
of . permit to col1uuct an sopen-air
meeting in Jersey city"
Burkitt was released last week after
serving q six months sentence on
disorderly person charge on which he
was arrested following his attempt to
speak without permit In. Journal
sQuarA.
Evening star., 1938-10-27
WALNUT GROWERS
BACK WAGE LAW
California Association Pledges
Compliance, but Opposes
Concessions to Rivals.

The Wage and Hour Administration
today received 4 telegram from the
Walnut Growers Association of Cali
fornia. marketer of 80 per cent of
Americas walnuts, promising COM
pliance with the Fair Labor Standards
Act and conde mining the Texas pecan
shelters who closed their plants because
Of reported inability to meet the terms
of the law.
THE competitive situation between
pecans and walnuts is getting progress
sively more serious" the message
stated. Consequently. if any wage
or hour concession is given pecan
shelters, We must insist on the same
consideration. But we are opposed to
concessions for either industry.
"shelled pecans are strictly COMPETE
tive with shelled walnuts, and con-
tinuously up to a few years ago sold
in the open market at an average of Z
cents a pound above shelled walnuts;
but In recent years price-cutting, due
almost entirely to unreasonably low
sweat-shop labor costs. has enabled
pecan shelters to profitably and con-
tinuously quote prices 5 to Z cents be-
low that of shelled walnuts."
Evening star., 1938-10-27

that the resources Of the Chesapeake
Bay constitute a regional problem re-
quiring the cooperation Of Virginia
and the Federal Bureau Of Fisheries.
Il am Of course. aware that there
is no particular novelty in the sugges-
ton for interstate cooperation" the
attorney general continued Il do
not attempt to deprecate the efforts
made in the past by Gov Ritch.e and
Gov. Nice. But only state an obvious
fact when I say that these prior
efforts have failed"
He predicted his own efforts as
Governor could be more successful be-
cause the Democratic party in Mary
land, Virginia and at Washington is
pledged to and has demonstrated its
sincere interest in the seafood prob
lem.
Evening star., 1938-10-27
QUEEN ASSUMES
HALLOWEEN REIGN
Miss Nadine Petrey Crowned
in Brilliant Ceremony at
Coronation Banquet.

With majestic ceremony, Miss
Nadine Petrey was crowned Washing
tons Queen Halloween vi last night
at the coronation banquet in the
Washington Hotel.
After the queen, her ladies in wait
ing and members of her court had
filed into the banquet hall, Lawrence
Williams, vice president Of the WASH
ington Board of Trade and general
chairman of the Halloween Commit
tee, placed a brilliantly studded crown
on the head of Miss Petrey, referring
to her as the Capitals Queen Of
Youth and Beauty"
The queens coronation response
was: TO the best of my ability, l
will, invoke gayety. mirth and the spirit
Of good fellowship throughout my
reign to enhance the glory and honor
of the Nations Capital"
In charge of the ceremony was Miss
Ella Werner, chairman Of the Queens
Committee The first lady in waiting
Miss Audrey Porter. expressed to the
queen the allegiance Of her attendants
who were presented to the dinner
guests by Cousin Mary Mason of
the National Broadcasting Co.
The queens prince consort was Will
liam Milton, who escorted her to her
throne in the center of the main
banquet table. The heralds for the
ceremony were David Cole and Robert
Kingsbury.
Miss Werner presented for the en-
-tertainment of the queen, Erna En-
| brey, wen-known Washington sorS ano
soloist, and her accompanist, Jewell
Downs.
The queen and her attendants viii
! head the mammoth Halloween pa
rade Monday night and will be guests
of honor at the festival ball in the
Snoreham Hotel,