davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1938-08-16
HINES JURY BOX.
HOLDS FATE of
DEWEY HIMSELF
Conviction Would Be
Hard Tammany Blow
By EDWIN c. HILL


With the blue ribbon jury to try
James j. Hines almost in sight,
two outstanding facts appear on
the face of the most sensational
criminal trial New York has seen
since Governor Whitman sent Po-
lice Lieut.. Charles Becker to the
electric chair.
With the complete jury, Jimmy
Hines trial is more than half over.
You could say it was nine tenthS
over and not walk very wide of
the truth.
The reason is that Prosecutor
Dewey'S case against Hines is so
damaging that Hines must start
In with a friend or two in the jury
box to have any luck at all.
IT'S ALL UP TO JURY
The attitude of the jury as it
prepares to listen to Mr.. DeWey'S
opening statement of the peoples
case, and sets itself to hear the
evidence, is all important.
If Dewey has assembled a con-
victing jury-one that is convinced
from the start of Jimmy Hines
guilt, the case is just about over
right now.
If Lloyd P. Stryker, Hines chief
counsellor, can make friend or
two in that jury box, and, most
importantly, can convince even
one man that you can't take the
word of a criminal against an
American citizen, why then Hines
will get off.
QUESTION OF VERACITY
The second most important fact
which appears plainly as the jury
prepares to consider the evidence
Is that the very heart and center
Of the defense is a savage attack
on the character and credibility of
the prosecutors main witnesses
against Hines.
Time and time. again the very
able Mr.. Stryker has hammered
home his point that no man of
common sense and sound judg-
ment can afford to take the word
Of a criminal against man of anyl
standing in the community.
That summarizes the funda-
mentals of the Hines case as the
battle is Joined and the guns are
about to shoot. And believe me,
there will be plenty of shooting
before this ruckus is over.
VENOM IN THE AIR
Up until this afternoon good
nature and suavity and pleasant
language have marked the eX-
changes between the opposing
counsels. The brilliant Dewey and
the forceful Stryker have bowed
to each other, smiled at each
other and complimented each
other as gentlemen will do who
have a profound respect for each
other. Up until this afternoon
the gloves were on.
Now they're off and the brass
knuckles are plainly shown g.
There will be hitting in the
clinches and rabbit punches and
socks in the solar plexus. With
the dirt about to come out, a
spirit of venomosity is as palpable
in this courtroom as the heat is
out of doors in Foley Square.
TAMMANY THE STAKE
There is bitter antagonism here
and scarlet hate. There is under
lying hostility one seldom per-
ceives even in desperately waged
criminal cases. And the reason is
that not only the liberty and
honor of the Hon. James j. Hines,
leader of the Eleventh assembly
district and executive committee
member of Tammany Hall, IS at
stake, but the fate of Tammany
Hall itself is at stake.
The Washington times., 1938-08-16

instances where taleSmen admitted
they had formed an opinion, Judge
Pecora took a hand and asked
whether it would require evidence
to eradicate such opinion.
To Call so Witnesses
The outstanding points Of the
Hines case, as it went into its
second day, are that Hines will be
tried alone, with Martin Vein
traub'S trial to follow Subse-
quently, if at all; that the strategy
of both prosecution and defense
was revealed in the first days long
and wearisome quiZzing Of tales
men; that Hines ascribeS the case
against him to political persecu-
ton which he is confident of de-
feating: that Prosecutor Dewey is
equally confident Of arriving at a
conviction through the testimony
of informers bulwarked by con-
vincing circumstantial evidence:
that Dewey will call at least so
witnesses including Negro policy
bankers, policy controllers, policy
runners and policy players.
The quizzing Of the talesmen by
the brilliant young N OSecutor
seemed to suggest that he inteNuS
to search every legitimate source
of Hines income in recent years
the various sources Of his re
putedly considerable income. And
when those sources are obtained.
and the amounts accredited to
each, he then expects to find GER
tain sums of money unaccounted
for in a legitimate way.
Then, utilizing the testimony Of
The Washington times., 1938-08-16
'Red-He0ded Problem 90.
Dewey In Dilemma;
Hope Dare Is Cause!
Prosecutor HeSitateS to Call Girl
AS Racket Witness
By DOROTHY KILGALLEN

NEW YORK, Aug 16 (INS) )-Hope Dare-the "red-headed
woman of Jimmy Hines case-became Deweys demma today
the youthful lined up his evidence the
The Washington times., 1938-08-16
Youth Found Hanged

NEW YORK, Aug. 16 G.N.S0.
A 21-year-old youth, who registered
as Kermit Hurst, of Miami, Fla,
was found hanging today in his
room at the Sloane House. The
body was suspended from a
steam pipe.
The Washington times., 1938-08-16
DEWEY RELUCTANT

Dewey is reluctant to bring
Hope forward for these reasons:
/. He is wary of the effect on
the conservative jurors If it were
revealed in full detail how he al
lowed Davis, under criminal in
dictm e n t, the unprecedented
privilege of visiting his sweet
heart at her apartment, un-
guarded. while he was supposed
to be jailed in the Tombs under
$4,000 bail.
2. Dewey feels Hope served
her purpose when she persuaded
Davis to "squeal."
8. Her presence might weaken
the effect OF Davis testimony if
she revealed her anxiety to
testify in the disbarred lawyers
behalf.
However, if Dewey does not
call Hope, the defense, led by
Lloyd Paul Stryker, is certain to
make much OF her failure to
appear.
So does Dewey's dilemma. If
he calls the silken witness, he puts
himself on a tactical spot"
If he doesn't call her the de.
fense will raise such a hue and cry
as to make the main question in
the case not lis Hines innocent or
guilty" but:
Where was Hope Dare?"
The Washington times., 1938-08-16
z IN KIDNAPPING
JAILED, | SHOT
CONTINUED from Page u

CONTINUED from rage II
Grand Rapids, Mimi, hospital.
No comment was made on his con-
dition. Couch was lodged in the
Grand Rapids jail.
Robert Hendon, chief Of the
G-men in this district, said the
pair confessed several other crimes,
including a running gun battle
with Texas officers between Dallas
and Fort Worth several weeks ago.
The men were trapped on the
farm of Charley Rotts. father-in-
law Of Meredith, by the Govern
ment agents and a squad Of police
under Glen Miller, police chief Of
Big Fork, MINI.
Hendon declared that Couch
surrendered Immediately, but
Meredith offered resistance and
was shot down.
Meredith is separated from his
wife, and Hendon said Rotts ap-
parently had nothing to do with
the Gross kidnapping or the other
crimes.
Meredith is a parolee from the
Missouri State penitentiary, &C.
cording to Hendon. Couch was
released from the same institution
last June 8.
HELD So HOURS
Miss Gross and Fahey were kid
naped while sitting in their parked
car outside Of st. Louis and were
driven about for SO hours, finally
being left bound and gagged in
a corn field near here.
Their automobile was recovered
by the officers in the capture Of
Meredith and Couch.
Miss Gross and Fahey drove to
Chicago last night with the for
mer's brother. Today they started
back for st. Paul with Omen to
view the prisoners.
Inasmuch as they drove their
prisoners across State lires, Mere
dith and Couch may be prose
cuted under the Lindbergh act,
which carries the death penalty.
The Washington times., 1938-08-16
Hines Prosecutor
Must Back Up
Testimony

NNOuCAnUeu 1FOm rage
New York Athletic Club? Did
they know the defendant, any Of
the lawyers or any of the persons
Dewey yesterday said would figure
in the case?
Stryker, chief defense counsel,
was interested mainly in learning
if there were any reason why they
could not give this man" (placing
a hand affectionately upon Hines)
a fair and square trial"
Dewey and Stryker claShed
when the young district attorney
said to a talesman:
"The charge is conspiring to
operate lotteries every day of
the YEAR
The Washington times., 1938-08-16
STATEMENT CHALLENGED
Stryker interrupted:

Stryker interrupted:
THE charge is drawing and
conspiring to operate a lottery
on IL specific counts, not every
day of the year."
Judge Pecora made no ruling
and Dewey suddenly asked:
do any of you have any feel
ings about public officials who
protected Dutch Schultz (Slain
gang leader) in 1882 and after
wards, which might influence
you?"
None had.
A smile on his face, Dewey re
marked at one point:
I've been a prosecutor for
seven years and I may have
stepped on someone's toes. I
hope you won't hold that against
me-"
ANOTHER PROSECUTOR
IF I told you was prosecut.
ing here years before Mr.. Dewey
came to New York, would you
hold that against me?"
Apparently none would hole
this against either Dewey Oh
Stryker.
The taleSmen also made plain
they would not be swayed by what
Stryker described as detective at
mosphere," such as he indicated
was created when Dewey yesterday
read a list Of underworld aliases
nor by Hines connections with
Tammany.
Judge Takes HGnd
The Washington times., 1938-08-16


Dewey will not call the slim,
exotic showgirl to the witness
stand unleSS an unforeseen de-
fenSe move forces him to put her
on. it was learned.
Although Hope has aided the
State in the lottery investigation,
even to the extent of persuading
her sweetheart, j. Richard Dixie"
Davis, to plead guilty and turn
States evidence in the case, the
District Attorney is determined
not to use her testimony If he can
avoid it.
NAME OMITTED
Hines defense is anxious to get
the kid mouthpiece'S" sweetheart
on the stand by any sort of man.
euver, knowing we'll that the
Broadway beauty'S testimony
might prove embarrassing to the
prosecution, particularly If she is
aSked-aS she most certainly
would be on croSS-examination-
to give the details of her lovers
meetings" with Dixie while he was
still a prisoner in the Tombs.
The States intention to avoid
bringing Hope into the trial spot
light was first indicated when
Dewey significantly omitted her
name from the list Of possible wit
neSses which he read, and fire.
quently repeated, to all prospec-
tive jurors.
His intention was further shown
when, although he asked all the
talesmen If they we're acquainted
with Hopes sweetheart, Davis, he
did not once ask venireman:
do you know Hope Dare?"
Briefly, the situation is this:
Hines side, which cannot afford
to summon Hope for the defense,
would like to see her in the witness
box for the State. Dewey's side,
which can call her, does not want
to-.
The Washington times., 1938-08-16
ANOTHER PROSECUTOR
Judge Takes H0nd

Questioning proceeded and the
noon hour passed without any
more talesmen being accepted. In
The Washington times., 1938-08-16

Here's brand new fall number. Neatly
tailored in cotton friezette. Can be had
in 5 different cOlOrS-green, rust, blue,
brown and burgundy. This price for
our August sale only! Regular $500
value. Buy now on Nachman's Easy
Credit Terms! Open all day Saturdays.
The Washington times., 1938-08-16

AT7, WAn gUB9CRnLIoNB PAYABD
m AUVA&oD
Evening star., 1938-10-16
Death Warramt Is Signed for the Cys Venerable Morgue

name Of that victim is not available
now, as no adequate record system
existed at that time Although the
office of coroner of the District of
Columbia was created by the District
Legislature in 1871, the oldest record
book goes back only to 1894, and the
information 1t contains is very meager.
A card index file extends back to 1910,
but there are thousands of unified
cards in dusty bundles carrying the
card record back many years.
The Morgue was two years old when
its first catastrophe case taxed its
capacity beyond the limit. That was
in December, 1906, when the great
Baltimore g. Ohio Railroad wreck oc-
Cured at Terra Gotta, D. c. More
than 40 persons were killed and many
injured. Twenty-Five years later, al
most to the month, it recorded its
second and greatest disaster, the
Knockerbocker Theater collapse Only
few Of the 81 victims in this tragedy
went to the Morgue, however.
The Morgue was born in horse and
buggy days and the old building is
redolent with memories of that era.
The stable in which the Morgue
wagons horse was kept is still there
with it's zinc trough converted into
a sink for washing mops and its
boards Scared by stamping hoofs
and cribbing teeth. In it are stored
now not only the rough pine boxes
in which unidentified bodies are car
ried to potters field at Blue Plains,
but spare wooden slabs on which
corpses are placed in the refrigerator.
The adjacent feed and harness room
Evening star., 1938-10-16

aid said, that about one out of every
three persons who die becomes a.
case for the coroner. For example,
last year we handled 2,677 cases out
of a total death toll for Washington
of 1854. Not all Of the coroner's cases
were handled in the Morgue, how
ever"
Virtually every case of violent death
brings a body to the Morgue. where
autopsies can be performed and in
quests held. A persons who drops
dead on the street from natural causes
goes to the Morgue, but If the end
comes at home, in the absence Of a
physician, certificate may be issued
by the coroner's office without the for
mality Of removing the body to the
Evening star., 1938-10-16

nizing it as place of the dead It's
church-like steeple and stained-glass
windows lend it sanctimonious air
that bellies its grisly reputation.
Erected in 1904 at the behest of for
mer Coroner j. Ramsay hewitt. the
building was placed on the water front
actually over the water-because
most of the unnatural deaths of those
days were drownings.
Before that the bodies of persons
who met violent or unusual deaths
were picked up by police patrol wagons
and literally carted to the stable be-
hind the nearest police station, there
to await Identification and burial.
There were no facilities for keeping
a corpse more than day or so. Pub
lie Indignation over this neglect of the
unfortunate dead led to establishment
OF a central repository first at the old
sixth precinct police station, on New
Jersey avenue, and then at the Morgue
itself
The Morgue fas scarcely a wear old
before it received its first victim Of
an automobile accident-in 1905. The
Evening star., 1938-10-16

to the morgue master, who proceeded
to search the mans clothing for some
means Of identification. The search
was interrupted by a groan, the NOV
ing of a hand and finally by the COM
plete resurrection" from the slab of
the corpse" Mr.. Schoneberger ran
into the police station for aid, but
when he returned with several dis
believing officers, nary a sign of the
dead man" was found. Nor ever
found, so 'tis declared down at the
Morgue.
While this story undoubtedly has
been amplified by frequent retelling,
DR.. Macdonald vouches for a similar
case that became Of record about five
years ago. An official at Union Station
telephoned that woman had died in
Pullman car from an overdose of
a sleeping powder. The Morgue was
advised that the woman had been
pronounced dead. The body was taken
to the Morgue and the morgue master
prepared to place it in refrigeration
compartment. Failing to observe
usual signs of death, always looked for,
he noticed Pickering of the womans
eyelids He felt her pulse and detected
signs Of life. The coroner was called
at once and artificial respiration was
resorted to in the death room. She
responded slightly, and blood trans
furions were administered-still at
the Morgue. The woman revived
sufficiently to permit removal to GAL
linger Hospital, where she lived for
% hours.
DR.. Macdonald said there is no dan
ger of live person being placed in the
refrigerating compartments at the
Morgue, as every precaution is taken
to confirm beyond all possible doubt
that the person is dead.
Evening star., 1938-10-16

juries that caused death. but its use
was not necessary to secure a convic-
ton The moulage material for this
mold was prepared in an ordinary
kitchen stewpan.
The tragic dramas in the small hear
ing room, with its rickety folding
chairs, inadequate bench" narrow
jury box, egg-shaped stove and stuffed
eagle presiding over all, often play to
standing room only crowds. Those
who cannot get into the court" must
stand in the musty hall outside, which
is furnished with coal stove and
half dozen chairs.
No Respector of Persons.
The Morgue is no respector of per-
sons, or, to put it more accurately, it
respects all persons. Into the stuffy
anteroom have come high dignitaries
of public and private life in Wash
ington, to mingle with the lowest strata,
and in the refrigerated compartments
at. the rear have lain their loved ones
of equally varying estate.
Pew persons realize" DR.. MacDon-
Evening star., 1938-10-16

matched those of blue flannel bath
robe on the slain woman. Norman
Robinson, janitor, was held on this
evidence. Eventually he pleaded guilty
to the crime.
Set Up Laboratory.
After consultation with DR.. MacDon-
aid, DR.. Rosenberg cleaned out the
storeroom, painted it with his own
hands and installed a microscope,
beakers, test tubes, bunsen burner and
a supply of chemical reagents-all out
of his own pocket. In this little room
he and Dr. Murphy spend many hours
studying blood-stained clothing wea-
pons or other evidence in homicide
cases. It is the crudest sort Of GRIM
inological clinic, but in it quite fire.
quently are found important clues, like
that OF the blue fibers on the ja1itor's
furnace shaker.
Because of the importance of this
comparatively new phase Of the cor
oner's work. DR.. Macdonald has made
provision In the new Morgue for we'll
equipped science laboratory in which
Evening star., 1938-10-16

to pursue these clue hunts as an aid to
the police and to justice. Although he
will be limited in the funds he can
expend for equipping the new Morgue,
he hopes way will be found to obtain
these essentials.
Moulage. or the art Of molding death
masks and other contours in wax or
plaster. will be emphasized in the new
laboratory. This work has suffered
badly at the present quarters for lack
Of room and materials. Despite these
handicaps, the staff has turned out
highly creditabTe moulage casts. One
of the more recent products is wax
mold of the ugly wounds in the head OF
a woman slain by her husband. The
cast was made with view to exhibit
ing to jury the nature of the in
Evening star., 1938-10-16

been able to get through the years.
Those instruments, such as they are,
wer, donated to the Morgue. We
were glad to get them, because we
have had no funds with which to
purchase proper tools or other equip
ment. We hope to be able to throw
away all these instruments and buy a
modern outfit when we get in our
new building"
The stone-topped autopsy table and
the Uncovered one also are scheduled
for the scrap heap, according to Dr.
c. j. Murphy. first deputy coroner
Constant scrubbing in an effort to
keep the stone slab sanitary has worn
the stone down. Lard cans and buck
Evening star., 1938-10-16

DIR. CHRIS J. MURPHY,
First deputy coroner, holding a
horse Se-shoeing tool and meat
sd1D, used in autopsies because
better instruments are not
available.
ifear the Eastern Branch-will rise
an up-to-date tWo-story fireproof
building equipped with latest type
electrical refrigeration, an autopsy
room walled with glazed tile, flooded
with sunlight and supplied with
porcelain operating tables and mod
ern instruments; fine laboratory for
scientific study of evidence in homi-
eide cases. a Photographic laboratory,
a court-like hearing room with ac-
commodations for $50 spectators and
other facilities BETTING large munlc-
.pality's citadel of the dead.
Work to Start January 1.
Plans for the new Morgue are near
Ing completion and actual construc-
ton is expected to start by January l,
with the aid of an allotment of be-
tween 100000 and $4,000 by the Pub
Tic Works Administration The site
is in the southwest corner of the Gal
linger reservation, or approximately
Nineteenth and E streets Sc, and ad-
Joining Congressional Cemetery.
The structure will be of brick,
trimmed with limestone, and Will be
flanked with concrete driveWays lead
ing to a large courtyard in which will
be three garages.
The first floor will contain recep-
tion hall and lobby with ample room
from a considerable number of wit
nesses, two Offices for the coroner and
his aides, a hearing room, 80 by At
feet, with comfortable jury box, cor
oner's bench, counsel and press tables
= and spectators section at rear; large
refrigeration room with compartments
for l8 bodies and room for 18 addi-
tional compartments if needed in the
future, and an elevator connecting
with the autopsy room above.
The new autopsy room will resemble
the operating room of modern clinic
A triple window and a huge skylight
will supply natural illumination and
batteries of indirect lamps will flood
the room with artificial light, when
needed. Special porcelain autopsy
tables will be provided and cabinet
will contain necessary surgical tools
and other requisites.
Laboratory on Second Floor.
~The second floor also will contain
at one end with locked evidence room
and at one side with museum of in
teresting medical specimens and other
EXHIBITS; a jury room with stairway
convenient to the hearing room and
Evening star., 1938-10-16

is filled with unclaimed clothing and
other possessions of the dead, clean
ing materials. old record books and
other miscellany.
Gruesome Reminder.
There is another gruesome reminder
OF the horse era on the instrument
shelves in the autopsy room above. It
is a blacksmiths "clinch cutter" a
steel, chisel-like tool formerly used
to cut through clinched nails on a
horses hoof. For more years than
any one at the Morgue can remember
it has been part of the equipment
used in performing autopsies.
That will convey an idea of the an
tiquity of the autopsy rooms equipage.
Alongside the 'clinch cutter" in the
instrument cabinet are an ordinary
butcher knife, commercial meat
saw and an array of battered surgical
tools discarded by local hospitals and
clinics.
why do we have such disgraceful
equipment" repeated Coroner A. Ma
gruder Macdonald in response to .
question. Because 1t is all We have
Evening star., 1938-10-16

cts will give way to proper drainage
facilities in the new building.
Egg Shape Coal Stove.
Missing from the new autopsy room
will be the egg-shaped coal stove with
its long, rusty smoke pipe elbowing its
way to the chimney; the platform
scales which graduated many years
ago from the business of weighing
sacks of oats to weighing human bo-
dies; the insanitary wooden boxes for
temporary storage of corpses and cloth
ing and the cardboard "panes" in the
broken window overlooking the river
That stove in the autopsy room, in
cidentally, is only an ornament on
windy days, according to Assistant
Morgue Master j. E. Small. The win
dows near the stove are about as i'm
pregnable to Potomac winds as flour
sieve. and when wintry gusts are
bowling out of the north, the stove
is so smoky as to be unserviceable.
This is the coolest room on earth on
a windy winter day." DR.. Murphy de-
clared, with a reminiscent shiver. "The