davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-08-23
Unrecognized Shrine
In Ireland Draws
Vast Pi|grimages
Vision Of Virgin on
Church Gubie Is
Being Investigated
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.
Star STAFF CorraSnondent


DUBLIN (by MaiD 1T was just
go years ago this month that Mary
Bierne and Mary Mclaughlin of the
village of Knock in County Mayo,
while passing the parish church at
8 in the evening-still broad day
light in this part of Ireland-wit-
messed a strange spectacle.
They beheld the figure of the Vir-
gin Mary, appearing in an inde-
scribable light on the church gable
Frightened, the two girls ran to the
house Of neighbor, 75-year old
Bridget French, who came to her
doorway and saw the same vision
as did also 15-year-old Patrick Hill
who happened to be passing at the
time. The villagers of Knock, who
were experiencing tragic failure of
the potato crop, had implicit faith
that the witnesses were telling the
truth.
Mary Bierne stuck to the story in
its minutest detail until she died at
Knock three years ago at the ripe
old age of 86, when the movement
which was setting up new Lourdes
in these haunted West Irish hills
through which flows swiftly the
trout-filled Moy was we'll under way
and hundreds of Americans were
visiting the little church each sum-
mer.
Goal of Vast Pilgrimage.
Still unrecognized officially, the
little country church has become the
goal of vast pilgrimages from all over
the British Isles each August 81, the
anniversary of the vision. 1t is a
place of reputed miracles and now
is under rigid investigation by a
committee of Irish physicians, clergy
and laymen, which has been func-
tioning for the past three years.
Ecclesiastical authorities still hesi-
tate to give the spot unqualified
recognition, although they claim
that the most sincere efforts to de-
tect fraud have failed. Sixty years
ago the magic lantern" was just
coming into use and it was first
thought that somebody might have
projected pictures from nearby
roof upon the church gable which
could easily have deceived the i'm
pressionable girls and the old lady
The experiment was tried out in
Mary Bierne's presence before she
died and she declared emphatically
that the effect was far different.
The shrine has come into its in
ternational prominence only since
the trouble" in 1921, as local resi-
dents call the skirmishes between
the Irish Republican Army of
Michael Collins and the black and
tans There was a major scrap
nearby, when the church acquired
a reputation which transcribed
party and national lines, for rea-
sons not entirely clear.
Similar Manifestations.
If the vision OF the girls had stood
alone, say the ecclesiastical authori-
ties, it might reasonably be ex-
planned as the result of suggestion,
Evening star., 1939-08-23

but 1t was followed for months
afterward by similar manifestations.
Prodigious lights, flaming orbs and
stars of extraordinary brilliance
were seen about the spot of the
apparition on the feast of the
Epiphany, January 6, 1880. A little
more than a month later silvery
clouds appeared with red tongues
OF flame shooting down the skies
and standing upon one of these
clouds stood the figure of the Virgin.
This spectacle was repeated, accord
ing to the testimony of Knock resi-
dents. twice in the next six months.
Twelve days after the first appari-
ton the first reputed cure took
place. instantaneous recovery of a
person who had been hopelessly
deaf.
For years the cult of Knock re-
mained largely local to Western Ire
land, but slowly the reputation of
the little hill church has spread
over the world. The spontaneous
pllgrimages became so large that in
1880 the ecclesiastical authorities
took notice of them by naming the
present investigating commission.
Shared by All Creeds.
The conviction that there is some
thing miraculously holy in the at
mosphere of Knock is shared by
folks OF all creeds in this part of
Ireland. A former member of the
Irish Republican Army tells with
considerable relish of his own ex-
perience-he being an Ulster Pres
byterian born and bred. but who had
discarded any religious believe what
soever.
Before the "skirmish" of 1921 an
enthusiastic young curate had pre-
sented to each of the I. r. A. men
bottle of water blessed in the
Evening star., 1939-08-23

church. This fellow put 1t In his
pocket and thought no more about
it, having no faith in such things.
He was taken prisoner. His black
and-tan guard heard about the
bottle in his pocket. He begged
his prisoner to give it to him. He
had lost an eye with the British
forces in France. He expected, he
told the prisoner, that the water
would restore the eye, which he
would need to became member
of the Dublin police force after the
British had been run out of the
country-which he confidently ex-
pected would be soon.
1T won't do you any good, any
way" he told the prisoner apollo
getically, because we've got to shoot
you in the morning."
Il took great pleasure in giving 1t
Evening star., 1939-08-23

son, jr, 1125 Columbia road NV, a
graduate of Dunbar High School;
Thomas L. Martin, 4816 Forty-fifth
street NV. graduate of Woodrow
Wilson High School, and James B.
Harper, 1919 Thirty-seventh street
NV, a graduate Of Western High
School.
Evening star., 1939-08-23
Rensselaer, Accepts
Four District Youths

Four District youths have been ac-
cepted cy Rensselaer, Polytechnic In
stitute for entrance next month, 1t
was announced by Floyd Tiff, pub
licity director Of the institute.
They are David G. Grimes, 4411
@ street NV, a graduate of West
ern High School; Campbell c. john
Evening star., 1939-08-23

to him." says the former I. r. A.
man.
But did he get on the Dublin
force?"
Really, I've never had the heart
to investigate"
Evening star., 1939-08-23
CHANGEABLE EVENING
DRESS

Nub-knit short cardigan
white sweater shot with gilt
$5.95. Black rayon crepe
pleated skirt $12.95 takes to
top changes!
Evening star., 1939-08-07
Mai. Brown Backed Men
Before Probe Ended

Mai. Ernest w. Brown, superin-
tendent of police, expressed his
implicit confidence" in the men in
his department at meeting held
several days before the Federal Bu-
reau of Investigation announced
that its investigation of the de-
partment had yielded no evidence
OF wrongdoing, it was revealed today
In the Catholic Review.
In an account of the meeting-a
retreat at Manresa on the Severn
recently attended by number of
District officers-Maj Brown was
quoted as saying: Il want all you
men to know-yes, and want your
associates in the department to
know-that the men of the Metro
politan Police Department are loyal,
honest, efficient men. 1 have i'm
plicit confidence in your honesty and
loyalty"
The Rev. John P. Gallagher of
st. Aloysius' Church praised the
record of Maj. Browns men, stating
that he would match them with
oiiy Oody Al w ooliillSlOll. IL VIC al z
going to poke our noses into the
private affairs of men, for which
they have nothing to be ashamed,
then there is not a man in this
entire country who is safe from
misrepresentation, abuse and SLAM
der" Father Gallagher said.
Other speakers at the Catholic
assembly commended Maj. Brown,
who Is a Protestant.
Evening star., 1939-08-07
Bakery Wins Suit
In POISONING Case

Echoes of a food poisoning case
here two years ago were heard in
the Court of Appeals today when
the appellate branch threw out a
suit charging local bakery with
failing to live up to an implied
warrant that its food was wholesome
and fit for human consumption.
Such suit was filed by Bryant
+. Hanback, in behalf of his daugh-
ter, Greta Lou Hanback,, who al
legedly was made i'll by a chocolate
eclair purchased by her mother.
The proper remedy at law in such
q case, the Appellate Court pointed
out, is suit for damages on the
ground of negligence. A consumer
of food, other than a purchaser, it
was explained, cannot recover
against seller, on an implied war
ranty the food is wholesome. In
this case. it was said. the girl was
the "donee of purchaser"
Evening star., 1939-08-07
CantreI| Takes Oath
As Assistant Head
Of Schools
Will Have Charge Of
Vocational and Junior
High Institutions

Lawson j. Cantrell, principal of
the Paul Junior High School, today
was sworn into his new Office as as
sistant superintendent of schools in
charge of junior high schools and
vocational schools.
Mr.. Cantrell, who will assume his
new duties tomorrow, takes over the
post vacated by DR.. Chester w.
Holmes, who in turn becomes assist
ant superintendent in charge Of
senior high schools and the Teach
ers' College. DR.. Holmes succeeds
DR.. Thomas G.. Gosling, who re-
signed last month.
Mr.. Cantrell, who has served in
the District public school system for
16 years, is a graduate of both the
North Texas State Normal College
and George Washington University
He has also done post graduate work
in Columbia University
Coming to Washington in 1923
from Dallas. Tex. where he had been
teaching, Mr. Cantrell became a
teacher at the Hine Junior High
School and shortly afterWard was
transferred to the Macfarland Junior
High School. In the fall of 1927 he
was placed in charge of the organiza-
ton of the Brightwood Annex of the
Mcfarland School and remained
there as teacher in charge until 1880
when he was named principal of
Paul Junior High School.
DR.. Holmes is graduate of Har-
ward University and also has done
post graduate work at both Harvard
and George Washington Universities.
He came to Washington in 1923 as
principal of the Langley Junior High
School from Holyoke, Mass. where
he had been principal of the Morgan
Junior High School. DR.. Holmes was
principal of the Langley School from
1928 to 1885, when he was named
principal of the Anacostia Junior
Senior High School. He became as
sistant superintendent in charge of
junior high schools in 1886
Evening star., 1939-08-07
Girl Baby Faces
World Alone
With Dime

A tiny 2-week-old colored girl
faced the world alone today, with
10 cents, white cotton dress and
dingy pink blanket.
The infant was abandoned on the
front porch of a house at 1923 Sec
ond street NE. and was discovered
by lamar Gilbert, who lives there.
It was wearing the cotton dress
and was wrapped in the blanket.
Pinned in the folds of the blanket
was the 10-cent piece. Police were
searching for a colored girl, who
appeared to be paralyzed in one side,
seen in the neighborhood last night.
The infant was taken to Galliner
Hospital.
Evening star., 1939-08-07
WheatIey Confers
With Police on Course
Of Drive on GAMBLING
Next Step in Prince
Georges Compoien
Hinges on Talks Today

The next step in the campaign to
rid Prince Georges County, Md, of
gambling was to hinge on dis
cussion today between States At
torney H. Winship Wheatley, jr.,
and the county police detail whose
four-day harassing campaign caused
at least temporary suspension of
business at Jimmys place, gambling
house on Bladensburg road.
Mr.. Wheatley, who returned today
from a weekend trip, said he would
have to confer with Sergt. Elon
Turner, Corpl. John F. Dent and
Policeman Charles w. Thomson be-
fore making any statement concern
ing future activities in his drive.
Asked about the closing the gam
bling place, Mr. Wheatley said he
had no information about it except
newspaper accounts.
With its business falling off during
the past week because of the nota-
ton by police of license numbers of
customers. the establishment closed
its doors Saturday.
Speculation on duration of the
shutdown occupied the conversation
of many county residents today. 1t
was recalled that the place has
stopped operations before under
pressure, but always opened again.
This time, however, the States
attorney has indicated that he will
do everything possible to make the
closing permanent. The drive
against the Bladensburg road estab-
lishment is only the first step in the
drive. to clean up crime conditions
in Prince Georges, Mr.. Wheatley
emphasized earlier in the campaign.
Evening star., 1939-08-07
King Seeks
Sensible D. {.
Reorganization
Commissioners to
Confer With Him
Tomorrow on Plan

Chairman King of the Senate
District Committee today postponed
until II a m. tomorrow a conference
he had scheduled with the Commits
sioners as prelude to the drafting
of new plan for reorganization of
the municipal government.
Meantime, however, he plans to
go to the District Building to dis
cuss various proposals for revamp-
ing the municipal setup with Maj.
Daniel j. Donovan, auditor and
budget officer.
Senator King said he had no def
mite plan in mind at this time but
hoped to develop something salts
factory and sensible that will make
for efficiency and economy in the
municipal service"
II would like to work out a plan
that will give the Nations Capital
a government that will have the dig
nifty and prestige it deserves" he
declared.
Senator King, it is known, does
not approve of some of the major
features of the reorganization plan
embodied in bill sponsored by Rep
resentative Kennedy, Democrat, of
Maryland. Although providing for
retention of the commission form
OF government, the Kennedy meas
ure would create a new position of
city administrator. Under this pro-
posed setup the Commissioners
would serve as governing body and
the city administrator would become
the chief executive officer.
Senator King has indicated in the
past he believed the commission
form of government should be con-
tinued, but that the Commissioners
should be given increased powers.
The Kennedy reorganization plan.
which resulted from comprehen-
slve study made of the municipal
government by the Chicago firm of
Griffenhagen & Associates, has been
buried in the House District Com
mittee until the next session OF
Congress.
Evening star., 1939-08-07

The traffic death of 8-year- -old
George Tarrant was accidental. g
coroner's jury decided today after
hearing the driver of the car which
struck the boy last Thursday tes-
tify that he applied hand and foot
brakes and sWerved his car trying
to avoid the accident
The youngster died at Sibley
Hospital few hours after the acci-
dent, which occurred when he ran
between two parked cars in front of
his home at 2917 Twelfth street NE.
A number of neighbors testified
at the inquest that the child was
running across the street when the
truck, driven by Mike Leon, As, of
102 Ridge road Sc, struck him. The
verdict today exonerated Mr.. Leon.
Three pedestrians and a bicycle
rider were among those injured in
weekend automobile accidents in
the District.
Two men were hurt when hit as
they stepped from behind parked
cars, according to police reports.
They were Charles Clinton West, 64,
of 725 F street NV, struck in the
100 block of K street NV. and treat
ed at Sibley Hospital for fractured
right leg and possible internal in
Jurles, and George Torossian, SO, of
2l6 c street NV, struck in the 400
block of F street NV, who was
treated at Casualty Hospital for head
and leg injuries.
Another pedestrian, Andrew J..
Adams, colored, So, of Laurel, Md,
received treatment at Freedman's
Hospital for a sprained shoulder
suffered when he was hit by car
at Seventh and K streets NV.
The bicycle rider, Richard Thomas,
II, colored, 1920 Kirby street NV,
was knocked down by a car at First
and I streets NV. and received
minor cuts for which he was treated
at Sibley Hospital.
Elmer Haslet, 3O-year-old milk
truck driver of Arlington, Va, in
jured when a crate fell on the &C
celerator of his truck, causing him
to lose control and running the
machine through barricade at the
end of Audubon Terrace NV, was
treated for leg decorations and abra-
sions at Emergency Hospital.
Two Washingtonians, injured in
an automobile crash near Mount
Harmony, Md, late Saturday night,
were in Prince Frederick Hospital
today. They are Harold Johnson,
80, of 807 B street Sc, suffering
from back injuries, and Charles
Vermillion, %, of 329 Rhode Island
avenue NE, who was cut and
bruised.
Walter Frazier, II, of Georgetown,
driver of an automobile from which
Raymond Walters of Cabin John,
Md, was thrown when a door
flew open on turn at the
Burning Tree Golf Club yes
terday, was being held by
Montgomery County authorities to-
day on charges of operating an au-
tomobile without permit. Walters,
owner of the car, was treated at
Georgetown Hospital for cuts and
brush burns.
Evening star., 1939-08-07
Hatch Act Rule
May Ban Voting
In Party-Par|ey
Murphy Due to Give
Formal Decision on
Young Democrats

In an informal opinion, the JUS
tice Department ruled today that
Federal jobholders could attend the
convention of the National Young
Democratic Clubs in Pittsburgh pro-
vided they did not act as dele
gates"
The decision referred to provisions
of the Hatch law curtailing the po-
litical activities of Federal employees.
1t was interpreted as meaning the
Government workers could not vote
on convention business.
Justice officials advised Pitt Ma
ner, president of the Young Demo-
Gratis, of the opinion, which was
Issued by the civil liberties division.
Attorney General Murphy was ex-
pected to announce during the aft
ernoon formal decision regarding
the convention, which opened today.
The informal opinion was based
In part upon civil service regulations
which officials said permitted Fed
eral jobholders to attend political
conventions, but not as delegates.
Pending the prospective statement
Of the Attorney General, it could not
be said definitely at the department
that the prescription against par
ticipation in the Pittsburgh conven-
ton would be invoked, but indica-
tions pointed strongly in that di-
rection.
In this connection it was recalled
here this morning that when huge
demonstration was held at Griffith
Stadium in 1886 as a part of the
Roosevelt campaign, the Civil Serv-
ice Commission ruled that Govern
ment employees might march in the
parade to the stadium but could not
carry banners.
The view that Government work.
ers could take part in the convention
was based, it was explained, on the
belief that the Hatch law was in
tended to apply to campaigns for
Office. A delegate to the Young
Democrats meeting does not neces-
sarily seek election and no Office is
involved. the unnamed justice said.
Pitt Maner of Montgomery, Ala,
national president of the Young
Democrats, said he would make a
statement today in Pittsburgh on
the participation of Federal workers.
Evening star., 1939-08-07
Confidential Records
Reported Missing
From Lorton Files
Prisoners Handle Dotu
For Parole Board,
Study Reveals

The danger of allowing prisoners
to handle confidential records of
other prisoners at Lorton Reforma-
tory, as brought out in the recent
report of the Parole Board, has be-
come the focal point of a study by
the Criminal Justice Association, DR..
James A. Nolan, director of the asso-
citation, revealed today.
DR.. Nolan said he had found that
records of prisoners, including those
compiled by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and sent to the re-
formatory, have been "mislaid or
stolen so that when men came up
before the Parole Board they had
a clean slate"
He reported that his preliminary
investigation has brought out that
the Parole Board, which includes
Frank R. Jellef, chairman; DR.. Will
bur LaRoe, jr., and DR.. Emmett
Scott, has been doing an excellent
job against adverse conditions.
The principal handicap cited by
DR.. Nolan and the Parole Board is
an inadequate staff, both for cleri-
cal work and supervision of PAROLES
The board, in its report to the
Commissioners, warned that because
of its inadequate staff, due to lack
OF funds, even the confidential rec
ords of prisoners and their families
were largely prepared by prisoners
with the result that such informa-
tlon becomes common knowledge
among all the inmates.
Our repeated pleas for more help
have to a considerable extent been
disregarded," the board concluded.
The objective for which the board
has been working for years is an
appropriation independent of the
District penal institution budget
under which funds for the Parole
Board now come. The board is seek
ing an appropriation of $22,50O for
a more adequate staff, both for keep
ing information confidential and for
supervision of PAROLES.
Under the last appropriation
funds have been provided for paid
stenographer at the Parole Board
Office at Lorton and for another field
parole officer. The appointments
have not yet been made.
A the Parole Board office it was
stated that DR.. Nolan had not yet
informed the board of the results
of his study and that it was not
familiar with cases where records
had been removed by prisoners. 1t
was understood that his study had
not yet been completed.
Evening star., 1939-08-07
Birth Of Flag Rehearsa|s
Scheduled Today

First general rehearsals for the
Birth of the Flag spectacle in
Arlington, Va, are scheduled today
as the contest to select the queen
of the flag" to reign over the pageant
enters the semi finals. The popu-
larity race to determine the queen"
her escort of II and the 48 who will
comprise the court of States" ends
tomorrow night at 6 pm.
The queens contest tightened con-
siderably with the tabulation of week
end balloting and the outcome will
not be known until the race ends
Tuesday. Mildred Bolen held slim
5000 vote lead over Virginia Smarr
today.
A 4O0-foot stage will be completed
today at Arlington Youth Center,
where the pageant will be presented
August 1920, it was announced by
Mr.. Ames, chairman of stage and
grounds. Rehearsals today will be
held at the center.
Miss Helen ODay, the Washing
ton girl selected to be Miss Co.
lumbia," the queen of the Nation"
for the celebration, will arrive today
from New York.
Evening star., 1939-08-07
Bowie Stable Is Burned
In Mysterious Fire

A large wooden stable at the
Bowie race track in Prince Georges
County burned to the ground yes
terday afternoon in fire of mys-
terious origin. Damage was esti-
mated at $4,000 to $4,000.
Only six horses are stabbed at the
track now, all in a barn some dis
tance from the destroyed building
and they were in no danger.
However, volunteer firemen were
forced to drench several adjoining
structures, including a two-story
frame residence, with water to pre-
vent flying embers from igniting
them.
Fire officials were told the blaze
started in the center of the stable.
1t burned so quickly the structure
virtually was razed before fire COM
panies arrived.
Black smoke rolling upward from
the building could be seen at An
napolis and Seat Pleasant, both
about Is miles from Bowie, and at
tracted hundreds of spectators.
Evening star., 1939-08-07
Boy Accused Of Breaking
Into II Houses in 7 DAYS

An 18-year- -old youth was ordered
held for grand jury action under
IS 900 bond today after testimony IN
Police Court that he committed IL
housebreakings in the first seven
days he was IN the city.
Harry H. Belford, whom Police
man G. w. Cook said came here
from Nowlans Point, N. j., on July
Is, was held on the specific charge
of breaking into the house of Miss
Mabel Duebay, 1928 Gallatin street
NV, and stealing $50 worth of Sill
yer and a radio. Belford pleaded
guilty.
The officer told Judge Hobart
Newman that the defendant broke
into nine houses in the District and
two In Maryland between the day
of his arrival and August /. Mr..
Cook said other cases will be pre-
sented to the grand jury.