davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
FUND DIVERSION
 MAY BE ILLEGAL
Proposal to Use Bond Funds Comes Up Mon=
 day Night

The proposal by the board of finance that the city borrow up to $200,000 from two uneXpended bond funds may be ruled out on the grounds of illegality, it was said to- day as members of the board of aldermen were notified of a special meeting Monday night to take &C., tion on the plan. The aldermen have been called into session by Mayor Frank Hayes at the request of the finance board, which voted for the extraordinary action this week. The aldermen will be asked to instruct Corporation Counsel Charles S. O'Connor to draw up a bill, authorizing the loan, to be sub mitted to the General Assembly at Hartford.
 Argument over the question of le- gality arises from the contention that approval of holders of city bonds must first be secured before money from bond funds can be used for other purposes. It is held that bond holders can prevent money from bond issues from being used for any purpose other than that specified on the bonds.
 The finance board would take the money from the Baldwin street bridge bond fund, amounting to about $97, ,000 from the street and general improvement bond fund amounting to about $450,000. The money would be used to carry the welfare department through the year, and is needed because of heavy demands on the department from the city's needy
 It is known that Commissioner John H. Goss of the finance board feels that the procedure is illega. and believes that holders of Bald win street or improvement bonds could successfully sue the city if tht money realized from the bond sale. should be used for other purposes
 The question may come up before the aldermen at their meeting Mon day night.
 Speed is necessary if the loan fl to be approved by the legislature since the biennial session at Hart ford ends three weeks from Wed nesday.
 The $200,0OO loan would be pais back into the bond funds with pro- ceeds from a special tax to be levied next year.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
COMPILATION OF
 TRIAL FIGURES
50 Witnesses Called in 2l Weeks; $S5,OOO Spent to
 Date; .69 Sessions Held

Fifty-nine witnesses, 21 weeks time, and an expenditure of $85, ,000 to date is a computation of statis- tics of the Waterbury conspiracy trial which will enter its 22nd week of duration on Tuesday of next week.
 The weeks witnesses will un- doubtedly include Miss Elsie Eman- uelson of Deep River, Controller Sherwood L. Rowland, and possibly Warren M. Brown, the states acc countant and connecting" witness
 In the 2l weeks of trial. eight of which were required to impanel the ten men and four women comprising the jury and alternateS, the state is believed to have called the large ma jority of its proposed witnesses.
 The 23 men on trial will appar- ently have no opportunity to call defense witnesses until well after Decoration Day, due to the eXpecta- tion that Brown will be on the stand about a month.
 Since the trial opened November 29, total of 69 sessions have been conducted, with 46 featured by the presentation of testimony. Twelve days of delay have been caused by the illness of three defendants anc one defense attorney.
 About a dozen more witnesses art expected to be called by the statt before defense witnesses will be call. ed to testify.
 Since Tuesday. January 3l, wher the first witness was called, the fol. lowing have appeared as states wit (fsnnfinuad nn pape ol
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
BINCO GETS 0. K.
 BUT IS MODIFIED

Hartford, Conn.,. May 6-(UP)- The playing of bingo for merchan- disc prizes in Connecticut was ap- proved today by the legislative judi ciary committee.
 The bill provided for local op- ton. It set up a scale of permit fees for various types of games.
 Fiv per cent of the citizens of a community must favo rthe playing of bingo before the governing body of the town, such as board of se- lectmen or common council, can act. The governing group must approve the playing beforet he chief of police can issue license, according to the bill.
 Prizes for any bingo session were limited to $250 in value. and must not be in cash. Permit fees would revert to the towns.
 Law violators would lose their permits for a year.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06

ultimate protection of the many air. craft, munitions, firearms and pre- cision tool manufacturing plants within the state.
 The governor, as commander ot the states National Guard forces, said he had sent a letter to Adjutant General William F. Ladd ordering 325 commissioned officers in the states National Guard to undergo a complete physical examination be- tween now and June 3.
 Surgeon General In Charge
 The governors general order said Surgeon General Colonel Charles Comfort, Jr., of the 18th Medical Regiment, would supervise the ex- aminations.
 Three special medical examining boards will be set up at Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport, it was announced.
 Connecticut's National Guard troops are included in the 43rd di- vision, which has units throughout New England and New York. Major General Morris B. Payne. New Lon- don, commands the division.
 It was presumed the physical ex- animation order would extend to other divisional units soon.
 Not Alarmist
 T am no alarmist," the governor said. T hope there will be no war in Europe and if there is, I am one of those who sincerely hope that America will not be drawn into it.
 But, if war comes. /. we have our regular army and our National Guard as our first line of defense against such an eventuality.
 And, if war comes, it must be recognized that Connecticut is the armory of the nation. There is not an airplane built in the United States today that does not have one or (C.ontinred on Page 2)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06

with States Attorney Hugh M. AL corn said, upon receipt of notif1ca- tion of the appointment that he was uncertain as to his plans.
 "Well have to cross that bridge when we come to it." he said, when asked if he would remain at work on the conspiracy trial following July 1.
 T am sorry to lose him." said Alcorn, but I am glad he is nov ing to more responsible position" :" Hickey's present job pays $6.000 a year, whilet he state police com- missionership pay 5000. Forty seven years of age, Hickey will be eligible for a state pension at the end of eight years. The appoint ment is for term of four years.
 Experiences in investigation by Hickey have included work on the famous Gerald Chapman murder case and the Connecticut angles of the Lindbergh Kidnapping. Hickey is a republican and ran unsuccessfufiy for Hartford county sheriff in 1884 when Alcorn ran for governor.
 He has worked with the Pinker- ton Detective Agency, the U. S Justice Department, and the Naval Intelligence.
 He was born in Hartford and was graduated from St. Joseph's school He became a letter carrier at the age of q. Since 1922 he has been county detective. His career as policeman also includes service on the state police force.
 Since February {. 1888. Hickey has been actively engaged in the in- vestigations which led to the triai of 2S men on charges of conspiracy to defraud the City of Waterbury.
 His investigations, during hts lengthy police career, have taken him to all states of the union. and to many foreign countries
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
Smashing Climax To Trial Week furnished By C. O. P. Chairman
BR|oTT|TO BE CITY SHERIFF
Will Replace NardOna Soon; Latter 10 GO on
 Police Force

City Sheriff Angelo Nardona, who is expected to resign in the near future after being assigned to spe- cial duty as a policeman. will be re- placed by Deputy County Sheriff Clayton (ClemD Briotti, the Demo- crat learned today from reliable sources.
 Briotti, who was appointed to his present post at the courthouse sev- eral years ago by High Sheriff J Edward Slavin, has strong backing among Italian American Democrats Appointment within the near fu- ture would make him the leading candidate for nomination for city sheriff on the Democratic ticket in the city election this fall.
 Sheriff Nardona was appointed a supernumerary policeman severa, months ago, at the request of May or Frank Hayes. The mayor tolo the board of police commissioners that he wished the sheriff to have police powers since he was to heac a squad of policemen assigned te work with the tax attorney and tax collector in a campaign for the col lection of back taxes
 It is understood now that Sheriff Nardona will be assigned to sp cia duty as supernumerary, then ap. pointed a regular patrolman after he has been in the supernumerary ranks the requisite year, or that h' may be immediately made an of ficer of the police department.
 In either case, Sheriff Nardon; will resign his present position witt MT. Briotti to be named by tn mayor as his successor. Sherif Nardona won election by only a vot or two in the last city election. H had been appointed by the mayo and nominated for the shrievalt. only over strong. opposition iron Italian Democrats. It is said tha MT. Briotti is a more popular choice
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
FORMER OLYMPIC
 ATHLETE DROWNED

Boston, May 6-(UP)-A medical'- examiner today attributed to drawn- ing the death of Leonard F. OBrieri, 35-year- Boston broker and for- mer Olympic athlete, but added that he was continuing his investigation of the case.
 O,Brien's body was found gfioating in a Charles river lagoon in the Back Bay last night after he had been missing since March 30.
 A bachelor, O'Brien had homes both in the Back Bay and at North Adams. In 1924 he graduated from Williams College at Williamstown, were his brother William now is postmaster.
 O'Brien was a member of the D. S. Field Hockgey team in the 1882 Olympics and was playing manager in 1886.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
56 BLDG PERMITS
 ISSUED IN APRIL
Work Valued at $74,7OO; Over March Figures;
 Late Spring flinders

Fifty-six permits, for construction work valued at $74,700, were issued at the office of Building Inspector Patrick J. Carlin, the monthly re- port of the office showed today. The permits were equally divided, 28 for residences and 28 for nonresident tial buildings.
 The $74,700 total for last month compares with work valued at $50,- 900 during the month of March, marking a substantial increase. It is far less, however, than the total of SPOT, TOO reached in April of 1888. The total for April of last year, though, was swelled greatly by one factory addition permit for work valued at $95,600.
 Weather Unfavorable
 Inspector Carlin believes that last months permits would have been considerably greater in number and in value but for the unreasonable weather which prevailed. Warmer weather, he says, should bring de- cided increase during the month of May.
 Of last months 28 residential permits, there were Il for construc- ton of new one-family dwellings, valued in all at $44,000. Two per- mits to make over one-family homes into two-family homes were issued, with the work estimated at $3,000. The remaining IS permits were for additions and alterations, the total value of the work being down at $6,350. Thus the total value of resi- dential permits was $53.350 during April.
 NOn- Residential
 Non-residential permits were for work listed at 21,350. These in- cluded four garages; $2,550; gaso- line station, $2,500: and additions and alterations to stores, $16,300.
 In addition, during April, there were 12 permits issued to demolish buildings in the city.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
MRS. E. B. STOECKEL
 DIES AT NORFOLK

Norfolk, Conn.,, May 6-(UP)- Mrs. Ellen B. Stoeckel, 88. widely known philanthropist and sponsor of the Norfolk Music Festival which annually attracts the greatest sym phony orchestras, died late last night fter a long illness.
 Mrs. Stoeckel extended her bene- factions to all sections of the state She leaves no near relatives. For rner State Motor Vehicles Commis- sioner Robbins B. Stoeckel is a brother-in-law.
 1, The Stoeckel estate ln this towrl is recognized as one of the finest in the state.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
Purdie Linked to Alleged Plan 10 Get Dope on
 COP Politics
"BLACKMAH" CLAIMS
 PROSECUTOR ALC0RN
UpsOn Identifies Purdie as Conway Not Preiu-
 diced Against Leary

Republican Town Commit tee Chairman J. Warren Up- son dealt a smashing climax to the 21st week of the Wa terbury conspiracy trial yes terday afternoon with testi- mony involving Detective John G. Purdie of New York in an alleged plan to obtain information against Republi- can politicians. The infor- nation, according to Special Prosecutor Hugh M. Alcorn was to have been used ito black mail the silence of Upson and other possible witnesses in the Waterbury conspiracy trial.
 The special states attorney claim ed, in the absence of the jury that the state intended to connect for mer Controller Daniel J. Leary, Mar tin J. Dunn, Carl D. Olsen and Pur- die in that phase of the alleged con- spiracy.
 Warned By Leary
 Upson testified that he was waril- ed by Leary, in the basement of the Waterbury Trust company building, that if any attack were made on his administration of the controllers office, he would counter by releasing literature which would be harmful to Upson and other Re- publican leaders.
 The information, based on II volumes of records of meetings f Republican strategy meetings, would be published in the Waterbury Dem- ocrat by arrangement of Leary, Up- son testified he was told.
 Leary carried three of the volumes with him when he talked to Upsc1, the witness said, and read excerpts from them to him. His suggestion, according to Upson, was that if TO attack were made on him, based on missing records from the controllers office, there would be no publication of his information.
 Gave His Refusal UpSOn SalQ tIlaI d1VcI COiilSiihS with William J. Pape, publisher of the Republican American, he in formed Leary of his refusal to ac- cept the proposal.
 Judge Ernest Inglis admitted tes- timony yesterday which bore plain inferences that Purdie was alleged- ly the person who planted dicto- graphs in the fireplace of MT. Pape. The witness said that the excerpts read from the volumes by Leary were references to conferences be- tween himself, Lawrence L. Lewis, MT. Pape and Nathaniel R. Bron- son.
 With a dramatic flourish, Upson stepped from the witness stand to (C0r,tinued oa, Page 2)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
POPE WORKS FOR PEACE OF WORLD
Seeking to Settle Nazi= Polish Differences; Papal
 NunciO Visits Hitler
BY STEWART BROWN Limited Press Staff Correspondent

Vatican City, May 6 - (U.P) -- A semi official Vatican source said today that Pope Plus was actively working for a peaceful settlement of Pohsh- German differences and that it. was believed he would offer his good offices if he thought they would be welcomed by both parties.
 The same source said a visit which Monsignor Cesare Orsenigo, Papal Nuncio to Germany, paid to Adolf Hitler yesterday was due to the dangerous European situation.
 However, the informant was un- able to say whether Monsignor Or senigo took a definite proposal to Hitler or merely appealed for mod eration.
 According to one report here, Monsignor Orsenigo asked Hitler if he would welcome a Vatican effort to reconcile Polish German differ- ences.
 So much importance was attached to Monsignor Orsenigo's conference with Adolf Hitler that it was under stood he might make a special visit here to report to the Pope.
 Semi-official sources said that in recent days the Pope, one of the most skilled diplomatists in the world, had been unusually active, sounding out diplomats accredited to the Holy See regarding the possibility of settlement of the Danzig prob lem.
 It was generally believed that the Pope in radio speech tomorrow on the occasion of an Algerian National Eucharistic Conference would con- tain an appeal for world peace.
 Reports were that he also was preparing an encyclical outlining d program for his reign, including di- rect references to European politics
 At the same time newspapers re- ports in London asserted that the Archbishop of Canterbury, head oi the Church of England, had made a personal approach" to the Pope il, the interest of peace after the arch bishops own appeal of March 20, ir which he urged that all Christen- dom be called together under the Pope's leadership for peace.
 The Vatican informant expressed doubt that the Pope, in his speech tomorrow, would appeal to the heads of all states, as reported in another London quarter.
 But the informant forecast that the Pope would make a strong ap. peal to the people of the world
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
Alleged Atrocities Flashed Before Readers; Sensa-
 tiOnalism Seen Before
POLISH, NAZI PLANS
 ENTIRELY DEADLOCKED
Beck Reply Not Regarded as Answer to Hitler's
 April 28 Speech
BY JOSEPH w. GREGG, JR. United Press Staff Correspondent

BY JOSEPH w. GREGG, JR. United Press Staff Correspondent)
 Berlin, May 6. - (UP) = Screaming headlines in the closely controlled German Press complained of Polish atrocities" against Germans today. Nazis had started by bitterly attacking Poland, asserting that Colonel Josef Beck, Polish foreign minister, had flouted 'magnanimous' German offers, and implying that Poland must accept responsibility for any developments.
 This was followed up this after noon by sensational newspaper com- plaints = similar to those which have marked the deterioration of relations between Germany and Aus tria and Czechoslovakia.
 Increasing terrorism against Germans in Poland: First refugees already arrived in Reich territory, ' proclaimed a headline across the first page of the Zwoelf Uhr Blatt
 Atrocities" Alleged
 Most of this papers first page was given over to reports about "atroci- ties" which, it was alleged, Poles had committed against Germanys in var ious villages in the Pomorze. area the so-called corridor.
 It was alleged that armed Poles maltreated Germans in the Pomorzt District of GraudenZ, smashing win dows and furniture in their houses and that as the result "the majority of the inhabitants fled.
 There were reports also of tht destruction of a Germany bookshor in upper Silesia.
 GA United Press Warsaw dispatch said that Polish newspapers reported that students at Posen broke win dow of a German book shop)
 It was complained that Poles hao held anti-German meetings at Poz- nan and other towns.
 Hitler Not to Move
 It was indicated that Adolf Hit Ter would make no move pending the conference between Joachim von Ribbentrop and Count Galeazzo
 (COntinued on Page 2)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
KING, QUEEN SAIL
 FOR N. AMERICA
Epochal Trip Begins; Huge Preparations to Guard | Royal Pair

London, May 6.-(UP). The King and Queen rode in state from Buckingham palace to the Waterloo station today and boarded a special train for Portsmouth where they sail at p. m. (10 a. m. EDTo for North America.
 Royal life guards marched beside the open carriage in which their majesties, accompanied by the Prin- cesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose, rode from the palace. AS they pass ed Admiralty arch, flags were raised in salute from buildings on Trafal- gar square. At the railway station peers and diplomats waited to bid farewell or to board the train and ride as far as Portsmouth.
 Cheering crowds lined the route and television broadcasts were made from in front of the palace and the station.
 It was an suspicious beginning of voyage that for lavishness and historical significance had had no counterpart since Cleopatra's jour- ney up the Nile.
 Ambassador Joseph Kennedy was on their train to see them off.
 Especially chartered for the royal party of g persons was the 2O,833- ton Empress of Australia, once the German liner Tirpitz. There were no other passengers. In its stores were 33 cases of champagne, 90 kinds of cheese, strawberries so fine they cost $4.86 a box. Packed into two cabins was 50 tons of royal luggage includ- ing 40 trunks of the Queens dresses. In the salon was specially-selected orchestra of il pieces. There were different movies for each day of the trip, including Jesse James, Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo and two old Marx Brothers pictures.
 Stationed along the harbor of Portsmouth for the King to review as he sailed, were 17 warships of the home fleet led by the battleship Nelson. Scores of airplanes were overhead. Waiting to escort the Em- press of Australia were the cruisers Southampton and Glasgow, which will convoy their majesties all the way to Quebec. where they land May IS. and the battle cruiser Repulse' which will go part of the way.
 Portsmouth swarnied with plain clothes policemen, alert for any (continued on Page T "
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
GIRL DIES AFTER
 PLAYING BASEBALL

Bingham, Mass, May 6--(UP)-- Catherine Breen, 13, came home from school yesterday. pointed to a lump on her forehead, and laugh ingly explained to her mother that she had been hit by a bat during e girls softball game.
 A little later she suddenly became delirious.
 God wants me. I'm ready to go to him." she said.
 Early last night she died co . hospital. Doctors said her skull had been fractured. School officials de- cided 1t was ar accident and said no one would bo prosecuted.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
Federal Government In= creases Effort to End
 Civil War in Industry
MAYOR LAGUARDIA IN
 ONE FURTHER APPEAL
U. s. Steel Consolidation Service Head Forcing
 NegOtiatOrs to Continue
BY JOSEPH l.. MYLER United Press Staff, Correspondel

tUn1ted Press Staff COrreSpOndent)
 New York, May 6. - (UP) The mining of soft coal, vital to industry, transporta- tion and the essential services of municipalities, ceased throughout the United States today while the Federal Gov ernment increased its pres sure on mine operators and miners to end their "civil war;.
 John R. Steelman, head of the U. s. Cancellation service, goaded contract negotiations for the Appala- chian bituminous industry into fur ther discussions after they had twice confessed inability to agree.
 Asserting that he represented "the public" which the negotiations un- deystood to mean President Roose- welt, Steelman told representatives of management and labor that "the American people will not stand for a state of insurrection."
 La Guardia Asks Settlement
 Mayor F. H. La Guardia, speaking as the five-weeks Appalachian mine shutdown extended to all coal fields making 320,00O miners idle, added his voice to the official insistence upon a settlement.
 Asserting that the coal situation was serious, very serious" La Guar dia for the fourth time since the eastern shutdown started on April asked the President to take per- sonal action.
 With two of the city's three sub- way systems operating at only 75 per cent of capacity because of an impending fuel shortage, La Guardia
 (Continued on Page 9
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
CONCESSIONS MADE

Hartford, Conn, May 6.-tUP)- The legislative judiciary committee today moved to pacify opposition to the court reform bills scheduled for action in the senate Tuesday hy voting to permit superior court ses- sions at Meriden. and naturaliza- ton sessions of the court at New Britain and Merlden.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
HICKEY. TO HEAD STATE POLICE
Appointment Is Announced
 Last Night-Term to Begin July 1
Special to The DemOcrat)

Hartford, May 6.-County Detec- tive Edward J. Hickey, nationally renowned criminal investigator, will become state police commissioner July 1, succeeding Col. Anthony J. Sunderland, on appointment of Gov- ernor Raymond F. Baldwin.
 Currently engaged in the investi- gations accompanying the Water bury conspiracy trial, which is ex- pected to endure beyond July l., Hickey, seventeen years associated
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-06
Connecticut To Be Put On "Alert Basis 7
Gov Baldwin Seeks War SeCretary's Permission for Full Battalion of Anti=Aircraft Guns-Regards
 State as ArmOry of Nation

Hartford Conn.,, May - (UP) -G Governor Raymond E. Baldwin announced tonight he placing Connect cuts National Guard on an "aler basis" and asking Secretary of War for permission to increase the states military strength by full battalion of anti-arcraft guns made by the executive it assumed the military expan sion was proposed a precautionary for the