davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-06-30
h Short Story Complete on This Page

r
- AIRED he omit that last, crucial witness?
Virgins, the young DA., felt that
- he had assembled his mass of ClrCum-
stantial stuff with telling effect. Every cop on
the force knew they had nabbed the right
party The defendants guilt shrieked to
Heaven 1t might be possible to convict with
out
Virgins grew more uneasy as the moment
when he had planned to call his cherished
surprise witness approached. The mans ex-
traordinary story and method of Identified
ton could backtlre ludicrously. And this was
a headline case. Wigginss first.
The Jurors sat deep in their chairs, bored,
browsing Virgins appraised them darkly and
knew he would have to take the risk.
But he observed with satisfaction, little
later, that the manner in which he had elected
the fantastic testimony had brought the jury
forward, alert He was trembling little from
excitement as he turned his man over to the
lawyer for the defense
O. What is your name?
A. Peter Parmelino.
\ O. And you are totally blind?
A. Yes, sir. Ten years back now was get
ting better. when that firecracker
O. Never mind the "reminiscences, You have
positively identified man charged with muir
der in the first degree - YOU a blind man.
What do you do for a living?
A. L keep a newsstand - nearly twelve
years now - on the corner of Fourth and
Newton.
O. That S around the corner from the Trad
ers National Bank?
A. Yes. sir.
O. Can you see the banks entrance from
your stand?
A. No, sir. | couldn't see nothing already
told you was blind Scattered ner-
vous laughter in the courtroom
Q. But you told the police read
ing from transcript, "As soon as
this man drove away from the bank
recognized HIM" Right?
A. That's right.
.. You have a daughter?
A. Yes, sir.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-06-30

fourth or fifth person who laughed Do you
understand?
A. Yes, sir. I'll try.
The five, including the defendant, laughed
as Kaufman pointed to them. The witness,
after long pause, picked the bailiff as
Culley. There was whispering in the jury box
and a furry in the courtroom.
KAUFMAN: This is, you see, quite ridiculous.
The only positive and unqualified identified
ton of the defendant has been made by
blind man who admits bearing him grudge.
Gentlemen of the jury. won't waste your
valuable time any longer This is a simple
case of persecution by an old man who may be
well-meaning but who is certainly suffering
from decisions. The defense rests.
Peter Parmelino, the witness, shook his
head from side to side as policeman helped
him down from the stand; he began, using his
stick, to grope his way to his seat on the far
side of the prosecuting attorney. Virgins
groaned in disguised resignation.
Then he stiffened desperately - and shot
leg out in front of Peter Parmelno, who was
passing his chair. The blind man tripped,
made funny noise in his throat and clat-
tered to the floor. stick flying, in a belly
whopper
From the throat of Joe Culley there burst
one of the oldest noises imaginable: muf-
fled, paroxysmic, snorting giggle, rising to a
weird Crescendo of squealing mirth.
You see?" cried Peter, from the floor.
That's him! That's him! l told you Mr..
Virgins, told you -
The judge was pounding for order. Joe
Culley's temple veins grew blue with his
effort to shut of that laugh He shut it off
But it was too late
The End
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-06-30

lack of evidence. Judge Reynolds overruled
the motion Virgins took the witness.
Q. (by Wiggins) Now let's get at the bot
tom of this. Tell the jury, Pete, the circum
stances of the last time you heard Culley
laugh, the last time mean, before you heard
him laugh at the scene of the robbery.
A. Well, it was like this - About thirteen
years ago l was working in chemical plant
in New Jersey, when some acid splattered in
my eyes. They was getting better and had
this newsstand and could see little. Light
and dark. things like that -
KAUFMAN, interrupting: | object, your
honor The condition of this witnesses eye
sight ten years ago ISM relevant.
Judge Reynolds: He's come this far let him
go on. Objection overruled.
Kaufman: Exception.
The witness continued: Well. late one eve
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-06-30

Q. She's seventeen years old and her name
is Christina. Is that correct?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. She had been keeping company with the
defendant. Joe Culley, and you disapproved?
A. Not exactly keeping company. This guy
hung around the stand and my Christina 1t
was good place to case the bank from
Q. Wait minute Your observations and
opinions are of no interest, except, perhaps,
to the attorney for the prosecution. You hate
Joe Culley, don't you?
A. Yes. sir. hate his CUTS. Laughter)
O. And you'd do anything anything, to
keep this boy from marrying your daughter?
A. No, sir. Wasn't no danger of him marry
ing her, and wouldn't lie on nobody in a
business like this. But | know he's the one.
AIM no doubt about it.
o. But you had a grudge against him?
A. Yes sir, did.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-06-30


laugh You associated it with this man. didn't
you?
A. Absolutely
Q. How many times did you encounter him
in the three weeks before the robbery?
A. Three, four times, maybe. He just hung
around the stand when my daughter was work.
ing for me. He left when come always.
Q. You didn't hear him laugh?
A. Yes, did, once.
Q. Didn't you place the laugh, then?
A. Not quite. come up to my stand and
he was gassin' with Christina and laughing,
but not loud quiet like. An old drunk had
been tryin' to climb the Eel" stairs and could
mt make it, my daughter said 1t was then l
told Christina l didn't like that guy. didn't
want him hangin' around
Q. How did you positively identify the
laugh during the robbery?
A. Well, there was the shots, see? 1t was
the Fourth of July and it might have been
flrecrackers that was what thought. But |
knew it was just about the time when the
Traders National got the money after the
sixth race at Pembroke Park Track Even
holidays, like the Fourth, | knew the bank
opened up long enough to get that dough from
the armored car men. Then heard the shots
and that laugh - and it all come back. Soon
as | heard them shots, you know, like fire
crackers, and then that laugh, knew Joe
Culley was up by the bank.
Q. You know what he was laughing at -
this man in the act of committing a robbery:
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13

10 be extremely busy IN the eastern
Caribbean. Air reinforcements were
arriving IN Puerto Rico. Dispatches
from san Juan said so But why?
No explanation. Warships also
were sighted from the Puerto Rice
coast. steamlng out INTO the At
Iantic What was their mission?
The navy department wouldn't tell.
Our entire neutrality patrol feet
put to sea from Key West Whittier
1t was bound was another mystery.
Washington correspondents ac-
cordlngly did some guessing.
They surmlsed that we might be
getting ready to occupy Martl-
nique. Guadalupe and French
Guiana should the Vichy govern
ment show signs of surrenderins
them to Germany Or, they
thought. maybe we were preparing
10 take possession of the West
Indian island bases we recently ac-
CURED from Britain Or. again.
they weighed the possibility that
the navy folk had received word OF
more sea ralding in southern wa
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
SAVING LIVES

Thousands OF persons, particular.
ly mothers and their newborn ba-
bies. may be saved in future years
by using a vitamin liquid which
looks like cod liver oil.
II is yitamin X. one OF the newest
OF the vitamin family, originally
found In putrid fish and alfalfa
meal but now made alphabetically,
which stimulates CLOTHING of the
blood.
Protracted bleeding during and
following an operation or during
Childbirth is due In large part 10 a
lack Of prothrombin-the substance
in the blood watch causes it to clot.
Protarombin deficiency is said TO
be due TO a lack Of vitamin X and
bile salts which fail TO combine
properly to manufacture this i'm.
portant blood factor. 1t seems now
we'll established that deficiency OF
vitamin X results in prothrombin
deficiency and when this deficiency
is Of sufficient degree a failure OF
the CLOTHING must ensue.
Administration OF vitamin X
promises 10 be just as routine a
method Of life-saying as the admin
istration OF calcium TO build a Daby's
bones and teeth
Another medical discovery IS that
smoking may cause many cases Of
breaking out" on the skin, accord.
ing to Dr. +. + Barksdale OF Dan.
vile, Va He says It is the result
of breathing in tobacco smoke
which contains tiny amounts OF
arsenic, one Of the deadliest OF pol.
sons. which is used routinely 10
spray tobacco and other plants 70
kill insects.
The arsenic in Itself is not harm.
fu because IL Is present in such
small amounts. and would not show
up as factor in causing skin out.
breaks. he declares. However, when
Il is burned along with tobacco some
persons prove allergic TO It.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
REPAIRING MUSCLES

A new operation in which muscles
made useless by infantile paralysis
are repaired BY splicing them with
strips Of tendon is described by DR..
Herbert f. Hips. He and associates
at Tire Crippled Children's Hospital
in Marlin. Tex, have used the meth.
cd in treating muscles parslyzed
because Of diseased tissue within
their structure
By either cutting out the diseased
tissue or splicing the muscles by
weaving through them strips Of
tendon taken from their bulky sec.
tons, Or. Hips states, he has been
successful in six OF ~ cases.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
Pure Guessing

But It was all pure guesswork.
AS the situation develops there
probably will have 10 be more and
more of it.
The least sensational guess Is
that we simply are about TO take
over the bases the British are leas-
ing to US. for John Bull won't OBJ
lect TO that. quite the contrary.
The Germans and the Vichy outfit
emphaucally will object. though. II
we assume charge of Martinique.
Guadalupe and French Guiana.
They won't be able 10 do anything
about II. except howl diplomatical-
~. but II will be quite an Incl
dent. nevertheless.
II. however. the navy's informed
of an AXIS raider at large IN our
Pan-Amencan oceanic neutrality
zone there's liable to be some
shooting
Supposing such a raiders pres
ence. It isn't likely TO give up with
out a fight. The pocketship Won
Spec didn't. not so very long ago.
First It fought and then scuttled
itself rather tnan sul.~
And that some other Axis ship,
or even more than one. isn't loose
in the south Atlantic IS no GER
tainty The Won Spec succeeded In
snooping out from Germany de-
spite the British blockade. It's no
safe bet that a few more didn't
manage to do so also.
Perhaps 1t would seem that. II
any did, we should have heard OF
their depredations before now.
Yet. during the last war a Ger
man raider called the Moewe oper-
ated for a pretty long time off the
South American east coast without
being so much as suspected
This crafts system was to catch
an Allied merchantmen. take Its
crew and passengers. If any, on
board. and then sink the captured
vessel II ran up a score exceed
ing 20 ships They were reported
missing. Of course, but nobody
knew what had become Of them.
Finally though. the Moewe be.
came so cluttered with prisoners
as to have scarcely standing room
on board Therefore the next time
II overhauled an English ship, 1t
didn't sink the latter. but loaded
all its captives onto the captured
vessel telling them to beat IL into
the nearest port II was a tactical
error The prisoners made Pernam-
buco Thence the news was dissent
mated Immediately the British
sent men-o'-war to look for the
Moewe found II and sent II to the
bottom
l remember the affair perfectly.
for | got the finest scoop out Of 1t
In my newspaper career
Censors Hurt Others
I was Buenos Aires correspond
ent al the time for North Amer
ican news association Upon the
Moewe prisoners landing at Per-
nambuco their story promptly was
telegraphed down the coast to
q There got H. and naturally
wired il at once 10 my New York
headquarters II went by the Cen
trail and South American Tele-
graph company-across TO Valpa-
ra'so thence up the South Ameri-
can vest coast to Panama: thence
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13

The next Congress may be asked
TO consider a constitutional amend
ment for abolishing the electoral
college system and establishing
direct popular elections OF pres1'
dents.
Such a change became the sub
ject OF serious discussion after
Tuesdays election which again
raised the possibility Of candidate
receiving the largest popular vote
and being defeated in the electoral
college.
In two previous elections. 1876
and 1855, the candidate receiving
the greatest number Of popular
votes failed to get the necessary
electoral votes. Samuel Tilden was
defeated by Rutherford B. Hayes in
1876 by one electoral vote, although
he received nearly 10000 more
popular votes. Grover B. Cleveland
received about 100000 more popular
votes than Benjamin Harrison in
1883 but was defeated 233 TO l6S
in the electoral college.
The proposal for direct election Of
q president has no congressional
sponsor, but Sen. Henry Ca5ot
Lodge, R., Mass, and Rep. Melvin
J. Mas, R., MINI, Goth have urged
such action. An Administration
spokesman says President Roosevelt
will support such plan.
Sen. William H. King. D., Utah,
who was defeated in last summer
primary, was opposed to abolishing
the electoral college because il
would be a move in the direction of
"nationalism."
A shift OF 100000 votes properly
distributed in our recent election
would have swung the presidency to
Wendell L. Willkie, despite Mr..
Rooss ~elts popular majority of
over 10000 votes. Ohio. New
York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Hi.
nois, Wisconsin and several other
states would have gone to the Re-
publicans had only 10000 voters
cast their ballot for Willkie. On the
other hand a change OF only $4,000
votes would have made the Presi-
dents reelection unanimous in the
electoral college
II we are to defend the policy OF
states rights, the electoral college
will be sustained. II we prefer the
policy OF popular majority rule, the
college plan will be abandoned
There are good many arguments
on both sides, but the casual opin-
ion would seem to be that Democra-
cy means rule by the majority OF
the people, rather than by majority
Of the states. From that viewpoint
the electoral college would be dis
continued
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13

to Galveston: thence TO New York
overland From there II was broad
cast everywhere In the United
States
II was a news beat. ] couldn't
understand 1t. for the yarn was
available to anyone in Buenos
Aires Years later learned how II
happened We weren't in the war
then Consequently my dispatch.
wired all the. way across neutral
soil and through neutral waters.
got through My opposition fled
with the Western Telegraph COM
pany which was by way Of Lon
don There the British censor
threw the opposition's account into
the waste basket
This Just goes to show what a
censorship does to news services
was GLAD Of Il In that instance.
but don't like the principle.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
TO EXPLAIN ERRORS

Detroit, Nov. 13-INS-Members
OF about 200 OF Wayne County's
l,215 election boards will be sum
moned before the county board II
canvsssers shortly 10 explain en-
rors in tabulating last Tuesdays
record-breaking election. it was an-
nounced here. II was the election
machinery rather than the indi-
vidual inspectors which caused the
multiplicity OF errors, most of
which were failures TO file tally and
return books, 1t was said.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
TO ASK INVESTIGATION

Grand Rapids, Mich. Nov. 10
AP-William J. Delaney. chairman
OF the Kent County Democratic
Committee. indicated Monday night
that an investigation would be ask
ed OF what he termed irregularities
in voting machine operation in
Grand Rapids in the Nov. 5 cleo
ton. Delaney charged that some
voters were unable to vote a
straight Democratic ticket ne
cause OF mechanical difficulties in
voting machine operation.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
Pick OF. the Air Today

1O:30-New series. Doctors at
Work.
MBS-7:3 30 Lone Ranger;
9:30-Guy Dombardo orchestra;
ffsf5-AdTeHtHfes la -Rhythp.--
: Thursday
The War-NBC s a. m, 1:45 D.
m; CHS s, 9 a. m, 6 as p. m: MBS
10. 1l:15, ll:i5 a. m, l:15. 2. $3.50
p. m.
NBC-1:15-Tony Wons Scrap
book:
Hymns OF All Churches;
615-Reyeries.
CBS-9:15 a. m. (West 2:30 D.
M School OF the Air;
3:45-Adventures in Science;
5:30-Pop Concert.
NBC--12:30-Farm and Home
Hour:
Margaret Banning comment;
2.30 Marine Band
MBS- 2:30-Kentucky School Of
the Air.
5-Old Fashioned Girl
Short waves HAT4 Budapest
1880 Music and News.
JZK Tokyo. S:3O-Latest Topics:
Csc esd GSL London-i0 30
Radio Newsreel; TGWA Guatemala
IL Marimba Ensemble.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
TodaY's Horoscope

Prepare for an active year
ahead. II your birthday is today.
You will experience some sudden
and unexpected loss or annoyance.
You should particularly avoid
nervous overstrain. An easy-go,
ing, good-natured personality VIII
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
Paint Creek
EVANGELlSTlC MEETINGS
GIVEN BY STUDENTS EN-

Paint Creek, Mich. Nov. 1S-The
Evangelistic meetings given by stu
dents of the Cleveland Bible Col
lege closed Sunday evening. Harold
Wins was the speaker, and d
trio OF girls, Evangelistic Miss
Naomia Marshell, Lavetta Saral
and Willetta Santee, sang. The
meetings began Wednesday.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
Fifty Years Ago

their daughter, Mrs. Clement Huns,
to spend the winter.
Miss Mildred VANITY. 'Ypsllanti,
spent the week end with her par
ents. Mr.. and Mis-. hoDert VANITY,
and Saturday they were dinner
guests OF Mrs. Wanty's parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Swicks, MI
Ian.
Miss Jean Campbell, East Ian
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13

up any news
they can print
it. They can't
dig much OF II
up. how e v e r.
When they ask
gu G S tons OFF,
cialdom W on I
answer. So all
the scribes can
do Is to specu-
late.
For instance,
a few days age
word was re-
ceived that our
" ar s hips anc
nIonns seemed
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
Hints on Etiquette

II you must use a pocket hand
kerchief at the dining table. be
sure to use 1t as unobstrusively
as possible.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13

sing. spent the week end with her
parents. Mr. and Mrs. Jennings
Campbell.
Misses Ethel and jeanette Ham
mond, Detroit, spent the week end
and Armistice Day with their par
ents. Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Ham
mond.
Mrs. Frank Parnar and little son
spent Saturday with her parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Martin Hearl
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
Words OF Wisdom

There is a strength Of quiet
endurance as significant Of cour-
age as the most daring feats Of
proves. -Tuckerman.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13

Puerto Rico was discovered by
Columbus on his second voyage to
the new world. and its first COVER
nor was that seeker after the foun-
tain OF youth. Juan Ponce de
Leon.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
BODY RECOVERED

Detroit, Nov i3-INS-Police to-
day recovered the body Of an uni
Identified man from the Detroit
River The body had been in the
water for about year, police said.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
National eroadeast company-

National Broadesstina Company
WWJ. 800; WXYZ, l240;- WLW.
700. WSPD, 1870; WTAM. 1870;
WGN. 100. WMAQ. $40; Wis. SO.
Columbia 6rosdeasting System
WJR. $50; WOWO. 1l60. WBBM,
no.
Mutual Brosdeastlng System
CKLW, 1870. WLW. 700, and WGN,
720.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13

be given the child born on this
date. He or she will be much in
clined 10 the pleasures Of life.
Success is indicated. especially in
the latter part Of life.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13

Mrs. Harlow Laing and Mrs.
Turnbull attended a luncheon IA
Ypsilanti Monday at the home OF
Mrs. Leland Jacobs, Grant St., hon
oring Mrs. H. Tape. Mr.. and Mrs.
Tape are leaving the Lincoln
School for a position at Marquette.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
Tonlaht

Tonight
The war-NBC 1915; MBS $50,
10. 1920. II. 1890: CHS $3.50,
1915, NBC $3.50; NBC u.
NBC-7:30-Cayalcade OF Amer
lea;
S-Hollywood Playhouse;
eddie Cantor show;
District Attorney;
10-Kay Kyser College.
CBS-7:30-Mee Mr. Meek;
s-Big Town drama;
S.50-Dr. Christian:
9-Fred Allen hour;
Solicitor General Francis
Biddle on American Unity"
NBC-S-Quiz Kids.
3 Roy Shield Revue. a
"9u-' wclieana.
10:l5-Preyiew OF America s
Town Meeting,
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13

DR.. Clendening will answer
questions of general interest
only, and then only through
his column.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
The Career Woman

One thing is certain that dur
ing this age a woman will be in
more need of medical advice than
during any other in her lifetime.
IN fact, she Is SO surrounded with
it she starts to do a good bit OF
doctoring herself. And |, for one,
don't blame her. After fifteen or
twenty years Of motherhood she
should know as much about the
practical things of medicine as
most interns and, indeed, as many
experienced practitioners. So far
as the common ordinary things,
such as recognizing a case OF
measles. | would trust her any
time. And by the time she has
passed her twentieth year she
should have list Of remedies that
can't be beat
One Of the faults Of modern life
is that there are not enough gen.
eral practitioners to care for fami-
lies at this time of life of which
am speaking. Every young doctor
nowadays wants to be specialist,
and everybody wants to have
specialist. So a family in the
great reproductive period is par
celled out between an obstetrician,
a pediatrician, a rhinologist, a
radiologist and a gynaecologist. 1t
takes nine tailors to make a man,
and it takes nine specialists TO
cure a little family nowadays.
When as a matter Of fact, good
general practitioner can efficient
~ take care Of ninety-fve per cent
of all the illnesses such q family
has.
The worst feature Of modern
medical organization is that the
average family doesn't know
where to get hold Of such a man.
and is afraid of the fees Of the spe-
cialists. l saw a movie the other
night which depicted a young dis
tracted husband who wanted to
get a good obstetrician for his
wife and was repulsed in the OBJ
stetrician's Office and told the fee
would be two thousand dollars.
hope that is an exaggerated pic
ture. When the medical profess
sion loses the confidence Of the
young family man in modest fnan-
cial circumstances, it has indeed
sold its birthright.
Tomorrow-The Fourth or Fifth
Decade.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
One. Minute Test

!. Where is there a monument
20 the apple?
2. What is call money?
3. What. nationality was Victor
Herbert?
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13
One-NIinute Test Answers

l. Al 0OINthaf CNOi bio'
2. Money loaned on condition
that the loan be repaid at any
time the person making 1t calls
for his money.
2, Irish.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-11-13

Mrs. Grace Freeman had as din
ner guests Sunday after church.
Rev. and Mrs. Charles ]. Carey
and daughter, Edna Marie Also
guests were the Cleveland Bible
College group who have been stay.
ing with Mrs, Freeman during the
Revival meetings at the Friends
Church.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Post. Prescott
Ariz., were entertaine- at the
home OF Mr.. and Mrs. Jennings
Campbell. Friday and Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Harris, Ad-
rian. have come to the home of