davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-01-15
.Catoe Electrocuted
For AssauIt-Murder
Of D. {. Woman
Mrs. Abromowitz's Slayer
Dies in Electric Chair
At District Jail
By ALFRED TOOMBS.

Jarvis Catoe, 38, colored, who
confessed to the murder of
EIGHT or maybe ten" women,
died at 1913 am. today in the
electric chair at District Jail.
He was sentenced to death for the
assaultmurder of Mrs Rose Abram-
owitz in her apartment at 1901 Six
Catoe walked to the execution
chamber singing hymn in low
tone. He sat Imply in the chair
and guards strapped him in. At 10 :08
am. the current was turned on.
Two minutes later the current was
turned off and Coroner A. Magruder
Macdonald put his stethoscope to
the prisoners chest.
At 1913 am. DR.. Macdonald and
DR.. Martin L. Cannon, jail physi-
clan, pronounced him dead.
Last Hours Were Calm.
The calm of his last hours was in
contrast to Catoes erratic behavior
since his arrest in August, 1941.
Earlier this month Catoe had
climbed to a pipe IS feet above the
floor of the dining room in the Jail
and refused for three hours to come
down.
The execution closed a sensa-
tional career of murder. Police prob
ably never learned the full extent
of Catoe's criminal activities, but
in one confession he said six mur-
ders, eight criminal attacks and two
attempted attacks.
Besides numbering Mrs. Abramo-
witz, Catoe assaulted and killed
two other women before he was ar
rested. One was Jessie Elizabeth
Strieff, young Government clerk,
whose body was found in a garage
at the rear of TIT @ street NV.
The other was Evelyn D. Anderson,
waitress, who was murdered in
New York City. 1t was this crime
which led to Catoe's arrest.
Received Six Stays.
Catoe had six stays of execution
during the months since he was
convicted of the Abramowitz mur-
der. Psychiatrists reported he was
sane and the District Court of APP
peals upheld his conviction.
Yesterday Catoe's two brothers,
John and James Catoe, called at the
Jail to say good-by to him. Supt.
E. A. Green said Catoe spent a
peaceful night. He was awake at
about $50 m. and ordered a spe-
cial breakfast. He had tomato juice,
scrambled eggs, steak, fried potatoes,
toast, milk and coffee, which he ate
with relish.
About 7 am. the Rev. James L.
Pinn, colored, pastor of the Good
will Baptist Church, came to Ca
toes cell. Mr.. Pinn had been his
spiritual adviser during the months
Continued on Page A-20, Column u
Evening star., 1943-01-15
Pail, Bucket, Wushtub
Stock Frozen at Factory
3y the Associated Pres

BY the Associated Press
The War Production Board today
froze manufacturers inventories of
pals, buckets and wash tubs, and
made no provision for the release
OF these articles for civilian con-
sumption.
AS a result, these articles will not
be available to the general public
when dealers stocks are exhausted.
The order permitted continued sale
and supply to Government war
agencies and essential industries.
Evening star., 1943-01-15
House Cafes Bar Bureuucruts
After Protests on Invasion

AS the result of protests from
many members of Congress the
House restaurant and cafeteria
henceforth will be closed to officials
and employees of Government
agencies, it was announced today.
The House eating places will be
open only to members of Congress.
their secretaries, Capitol employees
and members of the Capitol press
galleries.
Signs serving notice of the new
restrictions are being prepared, and
guards will be stationed at the doors
to see that only regular Capitol
workers are admitted.
The ban came after many Con-
gress members complained of hav-
ing to stand in line with guests from
their districts, while employees of the
War Production Board, Once of
Price Administration, Social Secur-
ity Board and other Government
agencies, which are several blocks
away from the Capitol and have
cafeterias Of their own. occupied
places at the tables.
Evening star., 1943-01-15
Lorient Sub Base
Heavily Attacked
By British Planes
Bombs Add to Havoc
OF Previous Raid
By Americans
BY the Associated Press.

| BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, Jan. 15.-The Air
Ministry announced today that
the submarine base of Lorient,
on the Atlantic coast of France,
was heavily attacked last night
by aircraft of the Raj Bomber
Command, two of which failed to
return.
Explosives loosed by the raiders
added to the havoc wrought by
American heavy bombers in day
light December 80 on the port
works and U-boat pens of Lorient,
which lies about 100 miles south of
Brest. Three bombers were lost
in that attack.
With population of about So
900, Lorient was the site of a
French naval arsenal, building
yards and machinery plants before
it was taken over by the Germans
in May, 1910.
The Raj operation last night
marked its fourth successive night
raid of the week Others were
directed against the industrial Ruhr
valley of Germany.
This was the 58th Allied raid on
Lorient and was considered evi-
dence of a renewed determination
to wipe out Hitler's priced U-boat
base.
The Air Ministry commented that
''the great effort involved in keep
ing up the quick turnaround Of
large numbers of U-boats means
that practically the whole of its
Uorients) activities in one way or
another is devoted to the submarine
campaign"
1t was said that concrete protected
pens at point near Lorient shelter
20 U-boats. At Lorient itself there
are drydocks, stores of weapons, fuel
and machinery, barracks for U-boat
crews, railway yards, power stations
and many other installations.
More than one Canadian bomber
squadron took part in last nights
attack.
Lorient has been the target for
three daylight precision bombing
attacks by the United States Air
Force in Britain.
-Four German raiders bombed and
machinegunned an English south
coast town in an afternoon attack
which caused considerable damage.
Evening star., 1943-01-15

The situation came to a head this
week when a WPB official entered
8 special alcove which for years has
been reserved strictly for men,
bers of Congress. He vigorously pro-
tested when refused service, but
was forced to leave without lunch.
Another reason for the new re-
strictions is shortage of walters
Some walters, it was said, have
threatened to quit because of added
work and resentment against de-
mands of the invading" bureau
Gratis.
David Lynn, architect of the Capt.
tol, pointed out in revealing the ban
that cafeterias in buildings occupied
by most of the Government agencies
are restricted to persons with passes
to the particular buildings.
Mr.. Lynn said that while food
costs have risen 81 per cent during
the last year, prices in the House
restaurant have remained suhstan-
TALLY the same, attracting the bu-
reaucrats. The congressional eating
places, he added, also furnish free
rolls and butter.
Evening star., 1943-01-15
Hoover Calls on Public
To Support Salvation Army
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Jan. 15.-Salvation
Army canteens in this war as in the
last are those nearest the front line
and that organiza tons moral sup
port is welcomed by every branch of
our armies says former President
Herbert Hoover
THE Salvation Army truly ex-
presses its faith in works." Mr.
Hoover said at a meeting yesterday
in urging public support of the Sal
vation Army. 1T is one of our
greatest organizations of social sery-
ice and in a thousand fields. 1t has
developed in its more than 60 years
iE the United States to an essential
part of the machinery of our whole
social structure. 1t has an almost
limitless range of social work in the
48 States"
In the postwar period, with prob
lens of rehabilitation of men, "it
will be the Salvation Army which
seeks out the desolate, the discour-
aged, the frustrated, and puts them
again upon the path of ife," Mr..
Hoover predicted.
Evening star., 1943-01-15
Man Charged With Illegal
Holding Of Gas Coupons

Raymond Cornelius Abbott, 26
colored, 1902 Fifteenth street NV
was arraigned before Judge Almond
w. Scott in Municipal Court today
on charges of illegal possession of
IS gas-rationing coupon books and
eight loose S units.
Judge Scott postponed the case
until tomorrow and set bond at
$1,000.
Officer William j. Webb said Alb
bott was carrying several of the
books when he was arrested. The
other units were found in his home
The coupon books included IL A
books. two B books, one c book and
one E book.
Evening star., 1943-01-15
George, Doughton Warn
taxpayers 10 File Returns

Tax reurns on 1912 income must
be filed by March Is and at least
the first quarter payment must be
made, Chairman George of the Sem
ate Finance Committee and Chair
man Doughton of the House Ways
and Means Committee reminded
taxpayers today.
The joint announcement was
made, they explained, because their
committees had been advised of
widespread reports that a change
will be made in the tax laws making
unnecessary the filing of returns by
March Is.
The chairmen emphasized that
persons filing early returns will be
in no danger of being penalized, as
whatever decisions that may be
made as to future tax legislation
the taxpayers obligation to file his
return and pay his 1912 tax will not
be affected"
Evening star., 1943-01-15

Murphy, but late today he an
nounced an autopsy would be per-
formed to make certain of the cause
Of death.
Friends said the boy, a senior at
Wilson High School, was q me-
chanical genius, and had been de-
spondent. They said he had studied
late last night and worked on some
instruments he had invented. A
work bench, with radio equipment
and tools, was set up in his room.
Police said they were informed the
youth had been anxious to get into
the Army and had said he wanted
to get into an airplane."
He was born in Goldsboro, N. C..
and was an only son.
His father Is assistant chief Of thu
RFC Examining Division.
Evening star., 1943-01-15
Executive Missing in Flight
From D. T.. 10 Charleston
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, Jan. 15.-
j. B. Pierce, jr., So, Kanawha VAL
ley chemical industry pioneer, was
the object of searches in two widely
separated areas today after his plane
was reported missing in a flight
from Washington to Charleston.
Mr.. Pierce, president of the
Barium Reduction Corp, was last
heard from trying to contact the
Huntington Airport by radio at 7:07
o'clock last night.
Reports from near Redwood
placed the plane in that section at
about 7::30 pm. and State Trooper
S. S. Fleck said he had begun a
search.
Meanwhile, at Cincinnati the Civil
Air Authority believed Mr.. Pierce
was forced down somewhere be-
tween Huntington and the Ohio
City. Ohio police joined in search
In that area.
Mr.. Pierce was believed to have
carried at least a four-hour gaso-
line supply for the two-hour trip
from Washington to Charleston.
Evening star., 1943-01-15
Young and Kelly Back
Police Pay Bill, Say
More Men Are Needed
But Commissioner
Would Limit SoIury
Roise to Six Months
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.

Although the new District
budget calls for 100 additional
policemen, Commissioner Young
and Police Supt. Kelly told the
Senate District Committee today
even 200 more would be "only a
drop in the bucket" toward
meeting the need in wartime
Washington.
They were testifying on the Nc
Carran bills to grant pay increases
to policemen, firemen and school
teachers, who were not covered by
the general Federal overtime pay
law of last month.
Commissioner Young praised the
work being done by the uniformed
forces under the crowded conditions
prevailing in the city and said they
deserved an increase. He said, how
ever, that he reluctantly felt it
necessary to urge that the pay in
crease be limited to six months, to
enable officials to observe the trend
Of the city's financial condition.
S1,280,00O Annual Cost.
1--WE have to look at the picture
of municipal expenses as whole
and cut our cloth accordingly the
Commissioner said.
William Wilding Of the District
budget Office estimated the new
police and fire bill would cost ST.
100000 a year. 1t grants officers
and top rank privates a $48O in
crease.
The old bill vetoed by President
Roosevelt last month carried a $500
raise. George Richardson, secre-
tary of the International Associa-
ton of Fire Fighters, said the bill
was vetoed on three grounds: That
it was permanent, retroactive to
last February and discriminatory.
Supporters of the new bill said the
$3.50 figure was substituted to cor
respond to the approximate increase
OF 20 per cent other Government
Evening star., 1943-01-15
Boy, 18, RFC Officials Son,
Dies of Poison at Home

Murray Stroud, 10, son of Will
liam E. Stroud, Reconstruction
Finance Corp. official, was found
dead in bed by his father this
morning, at his home, 3101 Thir-
ty-fourth street NV. An empty
bottle, which police said had
contained cleaning fluid, was
found by his side.
Described by friends as a bril-
liant student, young Stroud was said
to have suffered from thyroid and
heart trouble. He was pronounced
dead by a private physician at 8
O'Clock, after his father discovered
him when he went in his room to
awaken him.
A certificate OF suicide was issued
by Deputy Coroner Christopher j
Evening star., 1943-01-15
| II Duce's Arches
|FdH in Desert 4
To Raj Bombers
~ the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CAIRO, Jan. 15-Airmen operat-
ing over the Libyan desert report
that Mussolini Is suffering from
fallen arches"
There are many functions along
the roads which spread like spokes
from Tripoli, and at these points
II Duce in happier days had tri-
umphal arches constructed. These
functions now are convenient targets
for Raj bombings Of road trafic
and the arches are said to have
suffered.
Many other arches along the road
from the Egyptian border to the
present front southeast Of Tripon
also are in bad shape because Of the
! war,
Evening star., 1943-01-15
Judge Marvin Jones
Becomes Byrnes' Aide

Judge Marvin Jones of the
Court OF Claims today joined the
staff OF James F. Byrnes, director
OF economic stabiization, on a
temporary basis.
Mr.. Byrnes announced that he
was borrowing the services" of
Judge Jones. former Representative
from Texas and chairman of the
House Agriculture Committee, ito
secure the benefit of his counsel
particularly in the consideration of
policies affecting agriculture"
Evening star., 1943-01-15
U. S. Agencies Are Urged
To Curb Civilian TroveI
BY the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
Joseph B Eastman, defense trans
portation director, appealed today
to all Government agencies to CO.
operate in curtailing unnecessary
civilian travel.
Mr.. Eastman suggested the sched-
uling of annual leaves of Govern
ment employees so as to begin and
end in the middle of the week and
avoid holiday periods; reduction of
Government business travel to a
minimum; and the sending of Gov
eminent representatives to conven-
tions, trade shows, tao, only when
these gatherings are most essential.
Evening star., 1943-01-15
Raj Strafes Akyab Area
In Night and Day Raids
Nv the Associated Press.

Ry the Associated Press.
NEW DELHI, Jan. 15.-RAF
bombers attacked four Japanese
occupied villages in the Akyab area
of Western Burma yesterday and
followed up these raids with a night
assault on Akyab Island, British
communique announced today.
Direct hits were scored on the
targets in both the day and night
forays. from which all the British
planes returned, the announcement
said.
The daylight raiders were accom-
panied by fighters, which strafed
enemy installations without encoun-
tering any aerial opposition, the
bulletin added.
Evening star., 1943-01-15
Swift Advance From
Caucasus Brings
Supply Problem
BY HENRY C. CASSIDY,

NhSSoSaneSo 1900 w al SollcSpOuQcHL.
MOSCOW, Jan. 15.-The rapid
pace Of Russian vanguards in the
drive northwestward from the
mid-Caucasus brought up the
problem Of reinforcement and
supply today, but dispatches said
the winter offensive continued
to make progress on both the
Caucasus and the Don fronts.
Red Army forces occupied several
more strong points in the Caucasus
and in the Lower Don region, ovel-
riding strong German resistance,
field observers reported.
Having blanketed in three davs a
vast triangle which the Germans
took three months to conquer-the
area between Mozdok, Nalchik and
Mineralnye Vody-the Red Army
now has the job of moving up It's
main forces to support the men con-
solidating newly won positions for
further thrusts toward Rostov.
Germans Seen Confused.
Red Star said the breaking of the
German lines on three main fronts,
the Caucasus, the Don and the CEN
trail region, had spread confusion
and uncertainty in the ranks of the
invaders and urged the Red Army
to press its advantage.
Red Army foot troops are hiking
oc YY1lIrh v,,ilac Io;1
up with the tanks, cavalry and
motorized infantry which has led
the advances, the military news
paper said.
German counterattacks appeared
strongest on the central front
southwest of Velikie Luki and along
the Lower Don. where they are
using tanks literally to back up
infantrymen.
Red Star said the invaders
launched several counterattacks in
recaptured districts west and north
west of Mineralnye Vody, on the
Rostov-Baku rail line, but Soviet
troops repulsed them with the aid
of mobile field guns and drove the
survivors across the Kuma River
which flows eastward to the Caspian
Sea.
The Caucasus army has put 125
miles behind it to push through
Sotnikovskoye, within As miles of
the Kalmyck steppes, in the new
gains announced in that region
1t was fighting through heavy, wet
SHOWS that begged the roads but
it was advancing at a clip that
promised to weld the South Russian
front into unit. Tank units and
Cossack cavalrymen. jubilant over
re-entering their homeland, led the
drive
The recapture of Sotnikovskoye
marked 26-mile push from the
Zuhravskoye region in days fight
ing. Farther south, nearer the Min
eralnye Vody-Rostov Railway, other
columns recaptured the town and
railway station of Suvorocskaya and
the village of Grazhdansky- -Pervy,
20 miles west of Mineralnye Vody,
the Russians announced.
Six More Towns Claimed.
On the lower Don front, where
the Red Army vanguard last was
reported within so miles of Rostov.
almost at the edge Of the marshes
and sWamps that fill the river basin,
the Russians announced they had
taken six more populated places in
bitter engagements.
They said about 1000 of the
enemy were killed and % tanks put
out of commission in the battles in
one sector and that ceaseless coun-
terattacks were beaten off in an
other. Nine German planes were
burned in a battle near a town,
the regular early communique re-
ported.
The midday Russian communiuue
said that German counterattacks
Evening star., 1943-01-15

(See AFRICA, Page A-6D
Evening star., 1943-01-15

(See RUSSIA, Page A-4.)
Evening star., 1943-01-15

(See PAY RAISES, Page A-4.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-06
Chile Silent on Reports
Break With Axis Is Near

BY the Associated Press.
SANTIAGO, Chile, Jan. 6.-The
Chilean cabinet met with President
Juan Antonio Rios last night to dis
cuss the report of Interior Minister
Raul Morales on his visit to WASH
ington, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos
Aires, but official sources refused
comment on reports that Chile would
break relations with the Axis Friday.
"a high Foreign Office source in
Buenos Aires said the Argentine
government had been informed
that President Rios would ask the
Chilean Congress Friday for an i'm
mediate rupture of diplomatic
and commercial relations with
Germany. Italy and Japan)
Morales, who returned here yes
terday after month-long trip dur
ing which he conferred with Presi-
dent Roosevelt, Secretary of State
Hull and Presidents and Foreign
Ministers of both Argentina and
Brazil, announced that a statement
would be made today. A
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-06
Elmer Davis Takes Exception
To Admiral HoIsey's Optimism

that the German subs were taking
of Allied shipping was creating
heavy losses in ships and In the
cargoes that 60 with them. and
sometimes trained men on them"
However, Mr.. Davis said the
United Nations, particularly the
United States, are now building
ships faster than Axis submarines
were sinking them.
Mr.. Davis also reported that the
German, Italian and Japanese ra-
dios ARE still showing a great deal
of INDICATION about our White
Book the State Departments re-
cent publication of official docu-
ments showing how the United
States and the other United Nations
tried in the decade before Pearl
Harbor to prevent the war.
Mr.. Davis said the Axis radios
apparently find the document hard
to answer and therefore are telling
their people, for instance, that it Is
. series Of counterfeits.'
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-06
Cox Asks Congress to Halt
Bureaucracy by Fund Control
BY the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press
Representative Cox. Democrat, of
Georgia commended today that gov
eminent by bureaucrAts must be
broken and broken now" through
congressional control of the Federal
purse strings.
In an address prepared for de-
livery to the House after the cleo
ton of Speaker for the Seventy
eighth Congress. Mr. Cox said:
THE people expect the laws gov
erning them to be made by their
Congress, to be made by those they
choose to represent them and not
by people they have never seen,
whose policies they know nothing
about, whom they have elected to
no Office and with whom they are
unacquainted
Addressing himself directly to the
Speaker, Mr.. Cox sail:
II say to you, sir. that government
by bureaucrats must be broken and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-06
Conflicting Opinions
Voiced on Results
Of Afraid Drill
Excellent, Says Young;
Col. BoIIes Admits
Traffic Halted Slowly
picture on Page BID

The Capital and its environs
had a 16-minute AFRAID test
this mornlng-and there was a
difference of opinion as to the
general effectiveness of the drill.
Following tour of the downtown
districts while it was in progress,
Civilian Defense Co-Ordinator John
Russell Young said the results he
observed were excellent" and he
added he was voicing the opinion
also of Civilian Defense Director
James M. Lands, who accompanied
him on the trip which took in F, G,
Ninth and Fourteenth streets and
Pennsylvania avenue.
From other sections, however,
there were reports that traffic failed
to stop, and Col. Lemuel C. Bolles
civilian defense director for the
Metropolitan Area, agreed that traf-
fic was little slow" in hating, but
he said pedestrian cooperation was
good.
Observers around the Municipal
Center and in some of the outlying
districts said there virtually was
no adherence to regulations. Dis
trict Court was another spot where
there was little or no observance.
Red Signal at 1923.
1t was the first daylight test since
September /.
The red signal starting the test
flashed at 1928. and as the alarm
sounded, down town traffic halted
and pedestrians sprinted for shelter.
Within less than minute, the Or
dinarily busy intersection of Thir-
teenth and F streets NV. was de-
serted, except for wardens and po-
lice, who hurriedly took up their
stations. Motor vehicles pulled into
the curb. and trolleys halted above
both streets.
The test was approved by the
Commissioners this morning after
they had received clearance from
Brig. Gen. John T. Lewis, COM
handing general of the military
district of Washington
Commissioner Young said that an
Objectionable feature in connection
with the drill that still was in evil
dence today was the crowding of
windows by those desiring to watch
the proceedings in the streets. On
the whole, however, he added. the
population had conducted itself in
satisfactory manner. He was
specially gratifled, he added. at the
prompt turnout by wardens and
auxiliary police.
Measures at White House.
At the White House it was re-
ported that the customary measures
were taken promptly.
Only Is minutes elapsed between
the yellow alert. heralding the ap-
proach of the test, and the actual
start.
The yellow was flashed across the
afraid alarm system at 1910 am.
and was followed eight minutes later
by the blue, which indicated that
enemy planes were within 10 minutes
of the city. The red, accompanied
by sounding of sirens, was followed
by the all clear at 1914 am.
During the blackout, according to
police, one motorcycle officer, Pvt.
William D. Barnett of the traffic
division. received minor injuries
when his motorcycle collided with a
(See TEST, Page A-4D