davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
Start With z on StsH

The first entire staff OF the
A. p. consisted of DR.. Alexander
Jones and one assistant. The first
major assignment that they gave
themselves was the Wing ma
tional convention at Philadel-
phia, where Gen. Zachary Taylor,
Henry Clay, General Winfield
Scott and Judge Mclean were
battling for the nomination.
Let Mr.. Granting pick up this
first A. p. story from here:
1.-THE New York terminus Of
the telegraph line still WI In
Jersey City--the problem OF
bridging wide rivers baffled the
wire companies - and General
Agent Jones intended 10 get tho
convention news across the Hud-
son as fast as possible. Flag sig
mails. he decided, would do IL. He
went to Jersey City himself to
make sure there would be no slip
up. At pier near the Cortland
Street Ferry on the New York
side, he stationed n boy from
the Courier and Enquirer. The
youngster had careful instruc-
lions. A white flag said Taylor:
a red, Clay. Two white flags on
the same star meant Scott, and
two reds, Mclean.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
They Deny Going
Near South Gate

Shortly after, Robert Barnett
stood stiffly at attention while
he denied ever being near the
Stephens home. lie admitted,
as the records showed. that he
was on shore leave on the after
noon of the crime:
81 was ashore with william
Hoax, seaman, sir, but we never
left Pedro, so we couldn't have
been near South Gate"
William Hoax, in turn, took
a rigid position before the ships
commander. His head remained
immovable while his eyes swung
from his shipmate to the detec-
tives and finally rested on his
questioner.
I'VE never left Pedro, sir.
Just hung around until time
was up and we came aboard"
"Wlll you detain these two
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
Decide to Tackle
OkLdhOn,a's CreU

For that reason Bright strained
through the magnifying glass to
read the ships name on the
hat band of the sixth print. 1t
was impossible. He could make
out that there were eight con-
secutive letters, the fifth of
which appeared to be an II"
The homicide chief rose to the
occasion. From an atlas he
listed the 48 states of the Union,
after which the major ships Of
the navy are named. From this
list he counted 10 states that
contained eight letters: of these
but two contained the letter
"H"-those were Michigan and
Oklahoma. But, in Michigan the
letter appeared fourth from the
left; while in Oklahoma it APP
peared fifth.
A half hour later Chief Will
liam ]. Bright and Lieut.. William
Brett stepped from tender TO
gangway. from gangway onto
the shining deck of the U. s. S.
Oklahoma.
Commander II. B MeCleary.
smartly uniformed. greeted his
unusual visitors cordially in his
cabin. Bright plunged swiftly
into the business that brought
the man hunters on board bat
tleship. He placed the two
snapshots on the commanders
desk, briefly detailing their sig
nificance.
A few minutes later Lieut..
r. III. Linsley stood at attention
before his captain. He was or
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
TRUE |D1IssFIIV STORY

blurred. poorly focused impress
sions.
The fifth section Of negative.
dripping and curved. was held
against the red light by the
photographer. The homicide men
and camera expert peered
eagerly-they saw the image of
a man. hatless. indistinct. but
definitely wearing a navy uni
form. The sixth section was the
clearest, by far, of the lot. 1t
pictured the same individual
wearing his fiat. circular, sailor
hat.
A few minutes later. with two
wet prints sandwiched between
blotters, Bright, followed by his
assistant, returned triumphantly
TO his office. There the two
studied the snapshots carefully
with the aid of a magnifying
glass.
: IT was obvious TO both Officers
that by these likenesSes ii would
be possible to identify the man:
but 1t would take time, and
during that time valuable evil
dence might be destroyed.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
20Ist Locker Gives
First Clue in Hunt

Locker after locker, until 200
were searched as the afternoon
wore on and the huge Oklahoma
swung slowly to the ebbing tide.
The two hundred and first
Kenneth Covington" was STEM
ciled on the duffle bag-yielded
a cigar lighter which was
shaped like a lamp post. u
Almost at the same moment a
petty officer dragged a pea
jacket from the top of a locker
not 10 feet away. The jacket
had been wadded between the
locker top and the underside OF
the deck above.
AS the sailor dragged the gar
ment out, a heavy rubber sap
fell with resounding thud TO
the steel deck. On the name of
the jacket the letters II. p"
had been linked. A nearby locker
bore the name of Harry Peter
son.
Covington and Peterson were
Immediately questioned concern
ing their whereabouts at the
time of the crime, and gave re-
sponses identical with the other
pair:
I'VE never left Pedro. We
didn't 60 near Los Angeles"
TOO perfect" was the prompt
opinion of the detectives voiced
to Commander McCleary. Each
pair says the same thing. 1t Is
obviously q framed abb.
would like to take these men
Into the custody of Los Angeles
County. I am positive these are
the four men who are RESPONSE
HE for the murder Of Marjorie
Barn.
The ships commander as
sented and the suspects were
taken ashore and lodged In the
civilian Jail where for four days
they stuck to their alibi.
On the fifth day. 1t was the
tall, angular Peterson who
talked at last
81 hit her. I hit her with the
sap. She came Mt me with q
knife, she kept on yelling so I
chased her and Slapped her again
Z. :"
He paused IN his cold-blooded
recital to emit a long. drawn
sigh that seemed to bring relief
to his twisted soul. now that he
had purged himself Of the hor-
rible truth,
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29

ment, lacking IN adequate
telegraph service OF Its own,
commandeered the facilities Of
the Associated Press to handle
military communications. This
imposed . heavy handicap on the
association. Henceforth military
messages took precedence, and
the flow of news WAS increas-
ingIy restricted as the volume Of
these messages grew. boss Craig
saw one advantage 20 be
gained. His agents would be
brought Into close daily contact
with tho army, and since many
Of them were telegraphers they
frequently would be privy TO the
contents Of the messages they
handled. Craig felt confident
that In this way his men In tho
vefious cities would be able to
keep well informed OF facts
throughout the war which al
ready was spawning endless
rumors and alarms.
"But the campaigns were not
fought In the cities, and Craig
methodicaIly set out TO organ
lac his corps OF war correspond
ents TO accompany the Union
armies into the field. He began
recruiting new men and dis
patching them TO the ili-defined
fronts which were slowly taking
shape---to Missouri, 20 Ken
lucky. 90 the strategic points
along the Ohio, 60 West Vir-
ginia. where the cocky star Of
Mcclellan had started Its rise.
and into Virginia, where the
Bonnie Blue Flag whipped de-
family over the Confederate out
posts. His preparations went
ahead independent Of the pro
tentious Individual efforts Of the
New York publishers."
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
Last Hope Gone
for BIudgeOned Girl

The doctors departure from
the room brought realization to
the chief deputy that the last
shred of hope for the unfortu-
nate. bludgeoned girl was gone.
So he joined Lieut.. William ID.
Bretz who was examining an
obvious trail OF crimson from the
living room. where the body lay,
along a narrow hall toward the
rear which ended at a closed
door.
With a handkerchief between
his hand and metal knob, the
chief tried the door but found 1t
locked. In the half light of the
corridor Brett examined the
woodwork by the light of an
electric torch:
"she evidently stood there and
pounded the door with her
fists"
His superior stood closer and
examined the panels infinitely;
finally he nodded:
"She was pummelllng and
probably begging 20 get in be-
cause she saw her friend run In
here. But why didn't her COM
panlOn open up and let her In ."
because her companion real
iIed her own danger; she I'M
doubtedly locked the door and
climbed out the bathroom win
dow TO get help" reasoned
BretZ.
Then they backtracked down
the hall. The evidence was plain
on a flowery blue carpet in the
entrance hall that she had been
attacked here first. Evidently
she fled back 10 the entrance
hall and sought 10 escape
through the living room where
the attacker finally caught up
with her /. And there she was
found by conner.
A room by room inspection
began. In the kitchen the off
GERS found four empty beer
bottles in the sink. evidence Of a
cold-blooded assurance. On a
white enameled table stood
three empty, foam-fringed
glasses end one full, the beer
already flat.
Next. in the living room. on
the middle cushion Of an over
stuffed lounge. Bright found a
three-inch penlSnife. II was
plain. bonehandled. with two
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29

nerved crew was leisurely about
to rob the house when they wero
interrupted by the girls. And
they didn't hesitate TO kill;
which means 10 mo they are
amateurs. Professionals would
never touch that bcerj they
work too fast"
At that moment Doctor Miz-
ner spoke from the doorway.
I've administered sedative.
The girl has7quieted a bit. She
can talk if you promise you
won't stay more than three
minutes"
In eager assent the two Off
GERS ogged the physicians
steps into a bedroom. A shapely
brunei lay upon the counter
pane, pale with terror.
''Whose home Is this 2" began
the chief deputy quietly.
Her voice was a heavy,
throated whisper when she an
Swered:
"Laurs that 10 Mrs.
stephens. Mrs. Stephens and
her husband. We boarded with
them. Marjorie and l.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29

seen 1t before she replied with
assurance.
The full import Of her state
ment was not long in striking
home in the officers mind. The
fingerprint experts who were busy
about the place were told to ex-
ercise special care in treating the
camera. Bright noted the mineral
showing through a little red circle
at the back, indicating that six
pictures had been taken.
On the way back to his Office
the chief outlined to BretZ the
preliminary steps TO be taken in
the manhunt.
"This knife" exhibiting the
knife between thumb and fore
finger, sis unmistatable EVIL
dence. 1t IL called a Barlow and
Is regulation equipment for every
sailor I'm the United States navy.
No one but a sailor carries one
of these. 1 am satisfied that ut
least one Of the four men we
want is a sailor; and II is moro
than likely they all are"
"1f they are sailors" COM
mented Brett, "we've got n job
on our hands, because the whole
Pacific fleet il In San Diego
harbOr, with a personnel Of
about $4,000 men. Soon as get
my men started on the search
I'll be at your office"
In two hours. reports began
TO come In to the sheriffs Of
flee. The house on San Gabriel
street yielded fingerprints by
the hundreds-but not one Of
sufficient distinctness to be
worth reproducing. The finger
print report on the camera also
proved to be negative.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29

men In the brig for tho time
beingf" asked the detective.
"We're willing co cooperate, !"
the commander nodded. "Have
you any suggestions ?"
"Yes. Search their lockers
Chief Bright answered without
hesitation. IL mean search the
locker of every man on the ship"
amended the detective. There
were four men In on this
cowardly crime"
The commander agreed and
straightaway detailed four petty
officers TO assist in the search.
Among the possessions OF Bar
nett and Hoax. whose lockers
were investigated first, were
found such trinkets as sailors
collect and seem to love-
souvenirs from shops along the
shore. lively photographs and
letters.
But nothing remotely connect
ing them with 10500 San Gabriel
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
Camera Reveals Clue
That Traps Girl's killers
Coast Detectives Trace Two Print.
to Battleship in Which Bunks
Belle Stories of Quartet

IKE reclining Venus she lay Venus exercising the in
~ aienabe feminine loneliness
afternoon Her attitude with the
Spring to refute the unwelcome presence Death
local physician. DIR. Mark Miner. of South Gate In Los
Angeles Ca knet beside the girl Against her breast he held
sehoscope-sening in vain for the rhythmic dmbeat Of life
Then reluctantly his still bordering the sweet
face he slowly TO his feet.
Chief Criminal Deputy William Bright heard him mutter
hopeey; Dead about 10 minutes Skull fractured behind
the right ear"
AS the physician turned to the officer to elaborate
WIDE fear-fled hurried
He Roy Conner door neghbo who
s for the Of the police the neat frame bungalow
Gabriel Previously, Bright
had related screaming girl
her girl friend murdered in the
door phoned the police dashed followed
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
Peterson Reveals
Details of Crime

"We looked under dOOrmats
until we found q key, and then
we walked in. We just wanted
10 rob the place and were hav-
ing q good time doing it when
the girls walked In and spoiled
our Job.
THAT got me mad because we
wanted 10 peddle our loot. I
didn't miss my camera TIL I got
back to the ship, and then IL was
too late 10 do anything about
IL II IL wasn't for that
camera you would never have
got us!'
A declaration I'm which the
homicide chief concurred but did
not feel it polite to voice. When
the other three heard that Peter
son had talked. they fell over
each other to be first TO spew
their stories.
One month later, standing
sullen and silent. the quartet
heard Peterson sentenced to life
imprisonment for the murder Of
Marjorie Barr-pretty Marjorie
who had left the sanctity of her
home in Longview. Wash, to
seek fame and fortune in fabu-
lous Hollywood and instead
found the oblivion of an early
grave.
Covington, Barnett and Hoax
drew 10-year sentences from the
same jury for robbery in the
Stephens home.
And so, four sailors are home
from the sea-from the fresh,
TO breath the flat, foul air of an
singing winds Of the rolling deep
overcrowded prison.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
Other Girl Tells
Story to Police

'MarJorie Barr and I board
here. My name is Rose Ham,
mOnd. We came from work
early this afternoon and en-
tered the house without suspect
ing anything out Of the ordinary.
when we got into the en-
trance hall, we were Mortified
to see four men staring at us
from the living room. 1 cant
tell you what they looked like
because was panic-stricken.
II guess my senses returned
first. 1 realized we never would
have time to escape through the
front door, so, yelling to Mar
jOrio TO follow, headed down
the hall for the bathroom. But
when I got there she wasn't be-
hind me. I thought maybe she
managed to get out the front
door.
"Then I heard her scream!
knew I must get help somehow!
In some way I got through the
window and I ran and ran"
The girls voice lifted into a
creScendo, and here the physician
interrupted the recital TO usher
the officers politely, but firmly
out Of the room.
Next. the body Of the murdered
girl was removed to the city
morgue for further examination
The officers had hardly resumed
their investigation of the premises
before Mr.. and Mrs. Stephens re-
turned home through the gather
ing dusk.
The housewives glance around
the living room OF the home was
one Of incredulity.
my portable radio r. gone,
MY electric clock, too! And
had q cigar lighter, shaped like
a lamp post, standing on that
end table whose camera Is
that" she queried, pointing to
a brown leathered folding CAM
era resting on the mantel.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
Get 2 Pictures
of Same Sailor

When Brett returned, Bright
informed him Of the discourage
ing reports. adding, however:
But the film might yield
something. 10 Is being developed
now; we might go down to the
basement and see how it's COM
ing along"
They went into the dark
room and watched while one
after another of the crude ex-
poSures was treated TO reveal
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29

gamely by his distracted visitor,
to find the house deserted except
for the dying girl on the living
room floor.
1.-THE other girl has collapsed"
conner cried, jerking his head
toward a bedroom door. "She's
hystericaI In there, shouting
about four men and calling for
her girl friend"
Take me 60 her." Doctor
Miner ordered gently, stepping
to the side of the distraught
man. He spoke with professional
assurance. "We'l take care Of
her.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29

and six others of lesser caliber.
That meeting was called by
David Hale of the Journal Of
Commerce to stop the COMPETE
ton in news-gathering which
was mangling budgets. The out
come of that meeting was the
Associated Press-and Hale was
its founder.
The year 1913 was a newsy
one. The great gold rush TO
California had begun and there
was presidential campaign
canning on
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29

crumbles under the chock of German
bomb. the most thrilling word In any
language Is NEWS.
NEWS is history. NEWS is adven-
ture. NEWS is change. NEWS Is yester-
day. today and tomorrow.
The news-gatherers are today. as never
before. built along heroic lines. They are
the soldiers of the word. They are the
lightning like conductors Of thought, for
they have to think. in some instances, a
hundred times faster than their pens. type
writers or voices can pace it,
And here is a book of their exploits. q
book that gives the history for 81 years
of one of the greatest news-gathering as
sociations in the world-the Associated
Press-"A. p: THE STORY OF THE
NEWS" by Oliver Granting (Farrar &
Rinehartl.
1t is book of mighty events and hair
breadth adventures, begun in 1846.
In that year two men. representing the
six most important New York newspapers.
sat around table in the office of the Sun.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29

dered to examine the photo
graphs.
Barnett, seaman, second d.
vision, sir" he reported.
"Have him brought here, lieu
tenant"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
Use Special Care
Treating Camera

Doesn't that camera belong
TO you?" asked Bright quickly.
mo. And n II belonged 20
Marjorie or Ross I would have
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
Part Of Army Service
HARD Of MARiN67l E1
vsH TNle Easy .NSGAf
SIMPLE HOME MGTHopH ENA

N you rfT from hardness Of hsarfns ~ he'd
noises caused h. eatarrh of the head, you viii
he slad 20 know hov We bsve improved the hear
ina NJ many suffering from this condl,ioa with
orr simple home treatment. Nothing IN wear
no one need know. send today for proof ana
80 day trial orfr. No obiisstioni N
THE ELMO coSPAsY. p.pt. zzy. ps~sp.rt. is~s
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
Flag Tips Runner

"Torty minutes after Jones
crossed the river the boy saw a
white flag being waved vigor-
ously from the New Jersey side.
He raced off TO notify the New
York papers that General Tay-
Tor had been nominated. Tho
news fed North along the tele-
graph TO New England, arouslng
great excitement, and I'm Port
land n salute Of 100 guns was
fired.
meanwhile, Jones was wait
Ing patiently In Jersey City.
The signal the boy had seen was
the white flag OF o brokers' rep
resentative I'm New Jersey wig
wagging the latest Philadelphia
stock quotations to q lookout on
the Merchants Exchange Build
ing In New York. Fortunately,
General Taylor was nominated
the next day.
"COverage Of the election was
an epochal thing. It cost more
than S1,OO0--an aweso m Q
amount for 184B--tO report Gen.
eral Taylor's defeat and the re-
election Of James X. Polk. For
the first time telegraph offices
remained open all night. Doctor
Jones went 72 hours without
sleep before the story was
cleaned up"
The next major event in the
life of the Associated Press was,
of course, the Civil War. 1t was
now that the A. p became part
Of the army service.
Part Of Army Service
Here is a glimpse of the news
association during those mo-
mentous days:
"Tbe war was on In grim ear
nest and the federal govern
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
BOOKS OF
0'v1 He WEEK
Story of A. P. Traces
Development of History
AS Told in Newspapers
BY BENJAMIN DeCAssEREs

OUNCE Phedppide the Greek dropped Athens
after had
Marathon foreign correspondent in
London filing copy building him
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29
Radio Ren,OUed
From Table

Brett called the attention OF
his superior TO a gate-legged
tablet Some article has been
removed from here "a slight
film Of dust has been disturbed.
My guess is a small portable
radio, by the shape Of the marks
that remain"
1T IL what I suspected" was
Brights re1oinder. This brass
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29

blades; the detective regarded
II with special interest. lie
pocketed II.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-29

present (Senor Greeley Ray.
mond No bggies metropolitan press time
Evening star., 1940-10-08

H1LLWOOD MANOR, MD.
seT Lhs apfh rsst at blek mills psrp
1910 Hillwood dr.-Ony 4 left. Z sold
before completed. and Is rooms all
large. Oil h.-w. h., slate roof large lot
65xl00. Streets, water, sewer and gas
in and paid for. F. H. A. inspected and
approved. Seven more now under con-
struction. Stop here before you buy.
Terms. to suit.
WAPLE L. JAMES. INC.
Silver Spring Once,
Evening star., 1940-10-08

kit. bath: lge rms. end A.; newly reno
waited: gas heat: So 80 mo. STERLING &
FISHER. HO $3.50. 2113 14th ST. I. W.
Evening star., 1940-10-08

BOND APIS. 1870 NEW HAMPSHIRE
ave NV room, kitchen, dlnette, dress
ing room and bath, $3.50. Frigldaire and
Evening star., 1940-10-08
BETHESDA.

6-rm. brick home beautiful lot. on Elm
st p blk cast OF Wis: price only ss95p.
Act quickly.
MONTGOMERY realty CORP
Evening star., 1940-10-08

1850 NEWTON ST. NE-4 LARGE OUT
aide rooms. md floor. det. well-kept home;
mi; refined couple excel neiehbor-
Evening star., 1940-10-08
HOUSES FOR SALE.
S7,450. ?
DIRECT FROM OWNER.

Modern Colonial. rms. bath, 2 larEs
Screened porches: Bryant gas heat: built
in garage House newly decorated. Also
piped for 2 families One Of Washinstons
most convenient NV. locations. FOR IN
formation. call after q I'm. Georgla bOOs.
Evening star., 1940-10-08
OPPORTUNITY.
WESLEY HEIGHTS.

Just reduced in price. this unusual and
most attractive home is definitely bar
eain. We believe that any one who an.
preciates values in this community cannot
IAN 10 be impressed BY this offering. Sit.
Iated on beautiful corner lot surrounded
by expensive homes. it includes livins
room l4xo4. with cypress wood panellne
brizht dining roorl with heamed ceiling
breakfast alcove. modern kitchen. lovely
bedrooms, " baths. maids room and bath
new oil hea ting plant. garage. This home
mo- distinctive in everv resuect The
price is nov S14.25O For details call
Na1o vancev, Columbia O346.
FRANK S. PHILLIPS. DI. 1411.
Evening star., 1940-10-08
APARTMENTS WANTED.
$500 Fourteenth st. NV.
FRED X. FOSTER, Mgr

2 ROOMS. FURNISHED, WITH PRIVATE
bath; preferably within walking distance
OF Census but not necessary; rent must be
reasonable. Box 3S4T. Star. -
FURNISHED, BY OCTOBER 18th; BY
gentle couple: modern bcd-livlnE room,
kitchen. refg. and garage. plenty Of closet
space, heat and chw.: prefer pvt. home;
not over $40 Call MI 30l4 weekdays
between 4 and 6 pm. Sat. from TO
10 am.
SUB, , Rms. BATH. 1st FL. APT. OR
bung; furn-. $40. unfurn., $50: yard for
pets. Box 464-T, Star.
UNTIL DECEMBER l. FURNISHED. ONE
or two bedroom apartment, prefer upper
Connecticut; couple with 9year-old child
Call CO 5000, Apt, SIG %
YOUNG COUPLE WOULD LIKE . ROOMS
kitchen and bath. in ne. or nearby Nd
around $3.50. Warfeld n134.
LADY, TWO SONS, ELEVEN AND TFIIR-
teen. near schools. buses, not over Sf5.
Randolph 5@1". after g.
Evening star., 1940-10-08
CUSTOM-BUILT
1910 JACKSON ST,
SILVER SPRING. MD.

Nearly new bungalow 3 rooms and bath.
garage. fenced-in garden: $3.50: worth
much more: will accept small payment
o1o4. WnndleY 0432