davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-04

IN" Lewis samples lie , Whispered ed painfully
W. TO a neighbor he waited for
hastily summoned ambulance, If can't talk
when reach the hospital, tell the authorities
l was poisoned
His words proved prophetic ones for a few
hours later the wealthy. 69-year-old real
estate owner was dead and the police Of Mem
phis, Tennessee we're faced with bizarre
and battling a mystery that historic old
city has ever known
Mr.. Samples probably hadn't the slightest
inkng OF the fate that awaited him as early
one morning last February he stepped out
to the front porch of the modest bungalow
on Driver street where he lived to all ap-
pearances at least. a quiet sober, almost
hermt-like existence.
Looking down, he noticed a bottle of milk
on the step
Mildly surprised for he had ordered none
Mr.. Samples picked up the bottle and walked
across the lawn to inquire Of the people next
door if their milk had been left him by mis-
take. Informed it did not belong 10 them he
returned. a trifle puzzled. and placed the bot
tie in his refrigerator.
Some time later the elderly man drank
glass Of the milk and the following morning
had more with his cereal. In an hour or so
he was seized with spasmodic pains in his
stomach which became so intense he sum
moned the neighbor to whom he voiced his
ominous prediction.
An ambulance rushed him to Veterans
Hospital but 1t was too late. Mr. Samples
died apparently without revealing any further
clue.
An autopsy was ordered and the bottle
still with some milk remaining turned over
TO the city chemist for analysis while detcc-
tves under Chief Inspector NJ a Kinds and
Lieut. Wilbur Miller Of the Homicide Bureau
began painstaking investigation.
Inquiry brought to light the fact that
Walter Samples something Of a mystery
To his neighbors he was always pleasant
and courteous enough, but he kept his affairs
to himself. They saw nm COME and go.
exchanged the time of day with him and
brief comments on the state Of the weather
They knew he Was a Spanish-American War
veteran who drew pension from the Veterans
Administration retirement pay from 10 years
employment with the United States Engineers
and received an income from the rental of
residential property he owned They had also
heard he kept large sums Of money about
the house
But when it came right down to it they
knew practically nothing about any Of the
intimate details of his private life
After careful check of the bungalow.
Daniel r Samples who had hurried to Mem
phis from his home in Nowata. Oklahoma,
upon word Of his brothers death. revealed
that no cache of money could be found Nor
was there any trace of a will. Furthermore.
Walter Lewis Samples bank account showed
balance of only approximately $500 Singu-
larry this was in the name Of Walter l..
Samples, Trustee" although search of court
records failed to indicate that he had ever
been named trustee" for anybody.
None or TINS WIS considered particularly
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-04

be the most unlikely person to get part Of
his estate. But we have searched every place
for will and for cash and securities, without
success"
In addition to the $500 bank account Mr.
Samples estate, according to the latest re-
ports, consisted of his modest residence on
Driver Street two duplex houses. some farm
land and 81, 600 in insurance. The estate was
admitted to probate shortly after his death
and his brother was named administrator
The value was given as less than 10000"
Mrs. House was an agent for a washing
machine when she first met Mr.. Samples away
back in 1925. and he then purchased a ma
chine from her
Commissioner Boyle said that detectives
working on the financial records of the House
business affairs are trying to determine
whether certain sum of $500 could have
been paid Mr. Samples by Mrs House without
her husband knowing it. Mrs. House kept the
books for the family's affairs and has been
quoted as saying she used some of the money
to give to the poison victim.
Mr.. House, according to the investigating
officers, told them that he had not known Of
these transactions.
This latter statement did not seem particu-
larly pertinent, especially when Mr. Samples,
washing machine meeting. said he believed
his brother had assisted Mrs House finan-
cially although denying their relationship was
anything but business one as far as he knew
After his grilling by the police which. &C
cording to them. resulted in important revela-
lions which they brought before the Grand
Jury. House led into the corridor and
came face to face with his wife Dragging
the officer to whom he was handcuffed he
rushed 10 her, and there seemed to be no
enmity between them as she flung her arms
about his neck
Nor does the opinion of many of the neigh
bors seem to justify the idea that Samples was
Lothario. The women especially discounted
police statements of many feminine visitors
to Samples home. They dismissed this angle
with their conviction that if the bachelor had
been a Don Juan, someone in the neighbor-
hood would certainly have had some sort Of
intimation or knowledge Of it.
Said one of them:
Il was with the police when they inspected
Mr.. Samples personal belongings | saw the
pictures they found which were described as
being photos of beautiful women They were
nothing but pictures taken many years ago
and one of the policeman remarked. Gosh
these are old-timers, aren't they
NO. l don't know whose pictures they
were, whether they were of relatives Of Mr.
Samples or not. But they certainly weren't
pictures of beautiful women"
I'VE can see into his house mighty easily
from our yard said another. If women had
been hanging around the Samples home some
of us would have seen them l never saw any
nor heard any Of my neighbors say they did.
Nevertheless. somebody poisoned that
milk and Mr.. Sample drank II and died And
that is murder"
Mr.. and Mrs. House are facing trial. and
1t will be up to the jury of twelve good men
and true to decide whether they were really
the ones who placed that bottle on Wal
ter Samples doorstep and if they did
then why.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-04

@ The aging Ro-
meo's trail is said
to have led them
t h rou < h convixial
gatherings where he
dropped his custom
airy cloak Of aIster-
ity and became the
veritable life Of the
part Y. t hrou 9 h
scenes Of hilarity at
s u b b an dance
halls and roadside
inns. \ sparkling
G. o vers ationalist
away from his home
territory he never
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-04

The financial affairs Of the couple are fig
uring in the Investigation Last October Mr.
House purchased a local show place the 1900
acre Green Pastures Plantation near Column
bus Mississippi II was az first reported that
this had been bought for S45 COO In cash but
now the police say that a comparatively small
down payment was made and that House is
not as wealthy as he had been supposed TO
be. that. indeed, there are difficulties about
the nstallments due on Green Pastures
few days after the arrest another curl
Gus twist was given the already much tangled
case when States Attorney William Gerber
announced that Mrs. Bertha Hamilton House
was named sole beneficiary in a viii left by
Samples and found in her possession.
our investigation discloses" Mr. Gerber
said, that w. L. Samples some time before his
death, executed a will under which he be-
queathed all his real and personal property to
Mrs House. The viii was found in her possess
sion several days after she was arrested"
Commenting upon this Daniel Samples,
appointed administrator of his brothers estate
by court order. remarked.
There was no evidence in my brothers pa
pers that Mrs. House would be named sole
heIr IN TACT, ms papers Indicated She would
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-04

police, Mr.. House had been
jealous of Mr. Samples atten-
tons to his wife.
walter Samples was a lamb
by day and a wolf by night"
Inspector Kinds commented.
Whatever was the motive be-
hind the murder. the county
Grand Jury upon the evidence
presented TO them by the police
and the States Attorney in
dicted both Mr. and Mrs. House
on the charge Of first degree
murder They We're ordered to
be held without bond
Despite the policies published
allegation that a statement had
been made by the husband,
Mrs House declared. after
learning of the Indictment:
Were both innocent"
And. asked if he was sur
prised to learn that his wife
had also been indicted as a
principal after having first been
arrested as a material witness
only. House replied:
I'm not ready to commit my
self on that
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-04

ton by the Shelby County Grand Jury.
At the same time, Mrs. House was bound
over as a material witness.
The cases most ironic factor came to
light when Daniel Samples revealed that his
brother would probably have been alive to-
day if ne had not had a cold the morning he
stepped out on his front porch and found the
deadly milk bottle on his doorstep
Walter vas always very fussy about his
food Daniel said But he had a cold that
day and had dosed himself with quinine He
complained ne couldn't taste a thing. Had he
been Well I'm sure he would have smelled
the poison in that milk and would never in
The world have touched it,"
According to published reports from the
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-04

l9n. BY American wceky Rlghs
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-04

Mrs. Bertha Hamilton House
Who. the Police say, sold the
Romantic Bachelor "A Washing
Machine. Was Indicted by the
Grand Jury on a Murder Charge.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-04

The Memphis Police
Had Almost Given Up
Trying to Solve the
Mystery Of Who Poi
soned The Romantic
Bachelors Breakfast
Bottle Of Milk When
All Of q Sudden II
S G e m e d TO Solve
Itself
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26
New Navy Order
For Bay City

BAY CITY, March 26.-Con-
tracts for eight new sub-chasers
today raised to Is the number of
naval vessels the Defoe Boat and
Motor Works here will build for
the expanding two-ocean navy.
The eight new vessels, costing
81, CSC. 900, are in addition to l3
sub-chasers. four mine sweepers
and three tugs already under con-
struction.
The navy department, in an
nouncing the latest Defoe con-
tracts. revealed that they are part
of a program calling for the con-
struction of an additional SO SUBJ
eflasers and 18 minesweepers in
Great Lakes shipyards. Other
awards are expected to be an
nounced as fast as the navy uti-
Lies inland lake yards for small
vessel construction.
The Importance of Great Lakes
shipbuilding facIfITTeS 1T the f17f-
tional defense program is illus
trated by new Interpretation
lifting the restrictions of a 124-
year-old treaty between the United
States and Canada against the
construction of warships in Great
Lakes waters. The agreement will
permit both countries to install
armament on vessels plying inland
waters for the first time since 1877.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26
Food Blockade
Ends as Men
Join AFL

The truck blockade of the De-
troit Produce Terminal, 1901 West
Fort street. which threatened to
prevent the delivery of fresh fruits
and vegetables TO retail stores,
ended today when the terminal
dock employees. by vote OF % TO
n, voted to affiliate with the ALL
Transfers Union.
A few minutes after the vote
was announced, James Hoffa. busl-
ness agent of the Transfers I'm
ion. ordered the terminal driveway
cleared, ending the 4S-hour tieup.
Representatives of the jobbers
Immediately declared they would
elease the dock employees from a
losed shop contract signed only
few days ago and enter into a
new agreement with the teamsters.
The blockade caused little dam
age TO the huge supply of perish
able foods, spokesman for the job
-bers said. They pointed out the
ffftiits and vegetables were stored
in refrigerated ears.
Today's vote among the 123 en-
ployes of the terminals 30 job
bers was the result of a five-hour
conference between AFL represen-
tatives, iobbers and officials of the
employees Independent union.
The meeting was arranged by
Frank n. Isbey, president of the
Detroit Fruit Auction Company,
and was attended by Federal La
Dor Conciliator Lucien Rye
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26
Old Newsboys Buy
Shoes for Next YuIe

The Old NewSboys are doing
their 1871 Christmas shopping
early. Members of the purchasing
committee met in the Ernst Kern
Company conference room TO
make arrangements for the pur-
chase of thousands of pairs of
shoes for distribution at Christ
mas BY buying now. a consider
able saving will be effected and
the money saved will be used to
buy sweaters for the under
privileged children on the Old
Newsboys visiting list.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26
u. 5. Aide Here
Links Highway
To Defense 2

The proposed construction OF
the McGraw-Harper limited access
highway was studied by the fed.
eral government long before De.
troit became interested in it. and
it is one of the most important
roads in the United States.
Thomas II. Macdonald. United
States commissioner of public
roads. said today.
Macdonald is in the city on
day-long tour of inspection OF
highways in the Detroit area, with
particular attention being paid to
defense highways. Later today he
will fly to Selfridge Field and then
to Fort Custer.
THREE TYPES HIGHWAYS
There are three types of
highways" Macdonald said.
Access 81 highways leading to
main roads, production, or roads
leading to and from factories,
and military roads. 1t Is just as
important, miiitarily speaking,
to be able 10 move produce aad
civilians as Ii In to move armed
forces. You have got to be able
TO move people back of the lines
before you can do anything for
the lines themselves.
ave were interested In the
McGraw Harper highway be-
cause IL will be, when completed,
one of the first moderniZed lin
tied access highways into the
heart of a big city. It viii be
one of the country'S most Inn
portant roads,"
SOURCE OF FUNDS
Macdonald said the highway
would be built out of curren.
funds available each year to the
federal highway administration,
and an attempt will be made to
obtain additional funds from the
emergency national defense fund.
The commissioner said that he
is only hitting the hot spots" Of
defense on his present tour. He
will visit San Diego, Norfolk and
the vicinity of Baltimore. where
much of the nations airplane pro-
duction is centered.
He was escorted on his tour by
State Highway Commissioner G..
Donald Kennedy and will be ten
dered a luncheon by the city in
the Hotel Statler at which Mayor
EdwardJ j. Jeffries Jr. will preside.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26
RoYaI Ark Celebration

The Royal Ark Association.
composed of owners Of class C
liquor license will celebrate, its
fftieth anniversary at its club
rooms. Is West Congress street
tomorrow. There will be music,
a floor show and refreshments.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26
Ford Plan Barred
For Fastest
Air Motor

Barring unforeseen difficulties
the Ford Motor Company VIII soor
be building huge quantities of the
lightest, most powerful and fastest
airplane motor in the history oi
aviation. according TO c. w. Var
Ranst, chief aircraft engineer oil
the Ford Motor Company.
Speaking before members of the
American Society of Tool Engt-
neers last night at the Machine
and Tool Progress Exhibition al
Convention Hall. Van Ranst barred
the technical problems encountered
and the progress made in develop
ing the motor.
COMPARES MOTORS
"The famous Liberty airplane
motor" Van Ranst said. had a
displacement of 1850 cubic
inches, turned up $50 horse
power and made $50 revolutions
per minute. The best motors
made today of the same dis
placement size develop f,66e
horsepower with n maximum
revolutions per minute of $500.
Our goal Is a similar sized, IL
cylinder motor. which will de-
velop from 1900 10 1000 horse
power with speed of $500
revolutions per minute.
weight Is the most important
consideration In airplane motors.
LIghtest motor made today Is the
Pratt e. Whitney which weighs
IL pounds per horsepower. Other
motors range from there TO 2
pounds per horsepower. Our goal
il under a pound, probably %
pound per horsepower"
Van Ranst further explained the
proposed Ford motor would be q
type with a turbine
from the exhaust. Air
plane superchargers are now useo
almost strictly TO maintain altitude
where atmosphere motors will not
function in the rarified atmo'
sphere.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26
Kennedy Accused
Road Commissioners Political Machine Costs MioI
Year, Says BroUn; Countercharges Fly

statement was political hokum.'
He declared:
Employees of the department
who are doing campaign work
are all on leaves of absence or
are on their vacations. The men
who went to Camp Beauregard
were on earned vacations and
did not go in a state car. Any
printed matter, political in ma
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26
ture, Is being paid for by tn
Democratic Party"
GOVERNOR FUMES

Told of Browns charges, Gov.
ernor Van Wagner became angry
I'm getting pretty mad about
all this" he said.
eff Brown wants to be fair
about stuff of this kind, he
should also tell about the time
Secretary of State Harry F.
Kelly smashed up state car
around Gaylord. l know he did.
because there was a request for
a new one.
HE should also tell about the
state car that was smashed in
the Upper Peninsula. Leroy G.
Smith, Leslie B. Butler tchair-
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26
international Ssws ssr,iss cable

ROME. March pa govern
ment decree today prohibited
further sale of clothing contain
ing more than 20 per cent cotton
or wool. Present stocks OF greater
content must be reported to
authorities who viii decide their
disposition.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26
/. A. CAPIZZI
Time. stan Correspondent

LANSING, March 26.-Political
ACTIVITIES of the state highway de-
partment under Democratic Com
missioner G. Donald Kennedy cost
the state S1.0o0o00 annually,
Auditor General Vernon J. Brown
(R), charged today in campaign
blast against Kennedy, a candidate
/ for election.
1.-The Kennedy machine Is the
most menacing In the history of
Michigan" said Brown. II am
going TO turn over the results of
my investigation into the depart
ment to the attorney general and
ask him TO make a complete
check"
Brown said evidence in the case
would also be presented to Rep.
A 2. Decker of Deckerviffic,- CHAIR
man of the roads committee of the
House of Representatives, who has
promised 10 call for a state probe
CITES TASK OF 80
Brown said 10 employees of the
department. drawing from S125 10
5000 a month. were engaged in
purely political work for the COM
missioner. Likewise 13 other men
on the state pay roll are devoting
all their time at the Kennedy
h e a d O lar terS in Lansing, he
charged.
Within the last few days. Brown
said. three highway employees in
a state owned acr were sent to
Camp Beauregard. La, to dis
tribute absentee ballots to Mich
igan soldiers on active army duty.
Thousands Of campaign posters.
handbills. sketches of Kennedy's
career and other political docu-
ments, Brown said. have been
printed on state paper, on state
owned machines by state employees.
SAYS COSTS RISE
The average administrative cost
of building highways in Michigan.
Brown said, have risen from 7.3
per cent under the last Republic
can administration TO 1888 per
cent under Kennedy.
Ronald E. Seeley, campaign
manager for Kennedy, denied
Browns charges and said the
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26
CHOCOLATE RATIoNS

VICHY. March 26.-iINSl-
Chocolate will soon be rationed in
unoeeHpied France and reserved
for children. the aged and war
prisoners. it was learned today.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26
TELLS OF OPERATION

"Our supercharger Will oper-
ate from take-off 10 landing"
he said.
Van Ranst refused TO estimate
the probable speed of a fighter
plane powered with the proposed
motor.
I'VE will give the airplane
manufacturers the lightest, fast
est motor they have yet had. II
viii then be up TO them to
harness the motor and adapt IL
10 their designs and needs"
The second speaker during the
technical session was Louis Behler
of Vultee Aircraft. Inc. who dis
cussed tooling problems in airplane
fuselage assembly. w alter F
Wagner. master mechanic of the
Lincoln Motor Company. was
chairman.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26

Miss Teate, of 1892 East
Jefferson avenue, told police
that Charles LaForest, one
of the two inseparabIe friends
who died mysteriously, was
upset when he learned she was
engaged to Bert Biggers, La
Forests pal in life and death.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26

man of the Republican state
central committee) and Tiger
Billy Rogell were In that car.
He should also tell why $751;
600 In funds collected for the
Willlxie campaign are being used
for Leroy G. Smiths campaign
against Kennedy"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26
ENGLISH CUT MEAT STINT

LONDON. March 26.-tINS) -
feat rations VIII be reduced in
Britain by one shilling weekly for
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-26
Rome War Economy
Ban Put on Clothes More Than 20 Pct Cotton o
Wool; Vichy Plans to Ration Chocolate

adults and SIX pence for children,
effective March 81. the govern
ment announced today.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-09
NoTIcE!

THE BUREAU or ASSESS MENT, of the City of Waterbury, in the matter of the assessment and determination of benefits and damages accruing to all parties in- terested by the establishment of s foot building lines on West Dover Street, from South Main Street to Benedict Street, both sides, back from and parallel to the street lines Of said street, as the same was accepted by the Board of Alder. men May Sth, 1s4l, and approved May 9th, to4l, made report to the Board of Aldermen setting forth that they caused reasonable notice to be given to all persons interested in the proposed public improvement, In all respects, pursuant to the provisions of the Charter of said City, to appear before them and be heard in reference thereto, and that they fully heard at the time and place specified in said notice, all persons who appeared before them.
 And thereupon, they did assess and determine that the benefits and damages are equal to all persons and corporations interested in the proposed public improvement.
 Report accepted, assessment ot benefits and damages confirmed and adopted by the Board of Alder men, September 2nd, lo4l, and ap- proved September 3rd, i94i.
 Attest:-
 JOSEPH M. SHEA, 9-6-3t City Clerk.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-09
Legal Notices
NOTICE!

THE BUREAU or ASSESS MENT, of the City of Waterbury, in the matter of the assessment ana determination of benefits and damages accrulng to all parties in- terested by the establishment of 20 foot building lines on East Noun tain Road, from Hamilton Avenue to Peach Orchard Road, both sides, back from and parallel to the street lines of said street, as the same was accepted by the Board of Aldermen June 10th, 1oA0, and approved June lith, le4O, made report to the Board of Aldermen setting forth that they caused reasonable notice to be given to all persons interested in the pro- posed public improvement, in all respects, pursuant to the provisions of the Charter of said City, to ap- pear before them and be heard in reference thereto, and that they fully heard at the time and place specified in said notice, all persons who appeared before them.
 And thereupon, they did assess and determine that the benetits ana damages are equal to all persons and corporations interested in the proposed public improvement.
 Report accepted, assessment oi benents and damages confirmed and adopted by the Board of Alder men, September End, 194l, and ap- proved September Srd, lS4l.
 JOSEPH M. SHEA, p-e.st City Clerk,