davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1946-11-03
| Purent-T eucher
Activities

The District of Columbia Congress
OF Parent Teacher Associations an
nounces series of 10 lectures and
discussions, conducted by Dean
James Harold Fox, School of Educa-
ton, George Washington University
on "The Local Parent-Teacher Asso-
ciation."
Lectures win be given at Gordon
Junior High School, Thirty fifth
and T streets NV, each Wednes-
day, 9:45 oN11:45 pm, starting No
vember 6. This is the study course
for PTA leaders similar to the ones
held at George Washington Uni
versity for the past few years. Due
to crowded conditions this year II
was necessary to secure room
elsewhere.
All local groups are urged to send
representatives. Fee will be IS pc,
person for 10 meetings; single ad-
missions, so cents. Special en-
phasis will be put on study grour
techniques and program planning
Certificates of attendance will be
issued by the university. For addi-
tional information call Mrs. Earl A
Dennis, Emerson 3587.
Events this week are:
Kramer Junior High--Association
Evening star., 1946-11-03
Hobby Led Mrs. Cheothom
To knowledge of Bridges
By Jessie Font Evons

Mrs. Bessie Staley Cheatham,
2101 New Hampshire avenue NV.
is affectionately known as "the
bridge lady" to many young peoples
groups. She has acquired this title
because of the interesting talks she
gives about the bridges she has seen
In many parts of the world.
Even since her childhood days near
Weldon, N. c.. where her father,
William Wesley Staley, was pres
ident of Elon College, her favorite
hobby has been to learn all she
could about different types of
bridges and to see them whenever
and wherever she could. The little
bridge across the stream at Weldon
is the first one she can remember.
During her travels In this coun-
try, Mexico, Canada and several
European countries, she has col
lected pictures Of historic bridges
and taken many camera shots OF
them of her own.
Conducts Research.
Mrs. Cheatham also has spent
long hours in research. She often
borrows pictures from the library
collection on bridges to supplement
her own when she is giving one OF
her informal lectures.
Bridge building is perhaps the
oldest branch of engineering" she
says. "As science. however, 1t
actually advanced little from the
DAYS of the Romans, who were the
first great bridge builders, until the
invention of the railroad made bet
ter bridges necessary.
"One of the oldest aqueduct
bridges in the United States is our
nearby Cabin John Bridge, con-
structed by Gen. Meigs in 1887, and
famous for its single arch OF Il
feet"
The Brooklyn Bridge marked the
beginning of an era of bridge build
ing which was the foreru,ner OF the
majestic Golden Gate Bridge, largest
suspension span in the world, and
one of the worlds most amazing
engineering achievements, Mrs.
Cheatham points out.
She calls attention to the fact
that the Gothic arch may be as ap-
propriately expressed In the steel
arches of bridges as it can be in
stone. In addition, she
believes unforgettable effects OF
magic will be produced through the
phosphorescent and fluorescent ra-
dance treatment. now being given
the new bridges being designed by
American bridge builders, especially
those on the West Coast.
Cites Similarity.
Interesting, too, she says, Is the
similarity between the Memorial
Evening star., 1946-11-03

Bridge across the Potomac and the
Tower of London Bridge. Both are
bascule types of bridges, which open
and close on the jackknife system.
The old nursery rhyme, London
Bridge is falling down" actually had
its basis in fact, according to Mrs
Cheatham. The early one actually
did keep falling down until the
present famous structure was so
strongly and scientifically devised as
to Withstand any strain.
Mrs. Cheatham Is proud OF her
Revolutionary ancestor. Abigail Su-
garre, of French Huguenot stock
Abigail is said to have been the first
woman to have crossed the Roanoke
River, her daring feat being achieved
by means of a hastily devised make
shift pontoon arrangement.
Mrs. Cheatham is a graduate OF
the University of North Carolina.
She is devoted to young people and
has many friends among them. She
has been a teacher of Sunday
school class at AL Souls Episcopal
Church for nearly 10 years. Her
pupils often add pictures Of bridges
and odd bits of information about
them to her already comprehensive
collection.
Evening star., 1946-11-03

10 pm. Tuesday; teachers will be
available for discussion of school
problems at 7:20 pm. Kaper Klub
dance, Friday night; chairman, Mrs.
Mabel Lloyd. Eye examinations Of
pupils begin Thursday by Health
Committee, led by Mrs. Addison
DuvaI.
John Eaton - Luncheon, noon,
Tuesday. Parents bring box lunch
for pupils.
Neutrality-suspicious. of building and
tea in home economics room, We'd
nesday, 2 pm.
Randle Highlands Executive
Council, 1:30 pm. Tuesday.
Woodridge-Executive Board, 10
am, Thursday. n
Langdon-Open house, Thursday
afternoon. Parents may visit rooms
at pm. Talk by science teacher
following business meeting at 2 pm.
Refreshments.
Evening star., 1946-11-03

Events this week are:
Kramer Junior High--Association
Evening star., 1946-11-03
Two-Day Retreat Set
For Catholic Students
In All Public Schools

A two-day spiritual retreat will
be held for Catholic students attend
ing District public schools beginning
1880 am. Wednesday, the Rev. Jo-
seph e. Gedra, diocesan director OF
the Confraternity OF Christian Doc
trine for the Washington area, an
nounced yesterday. The retreat
will be held at various churches in
the Washington area.
Father Gedra stated the retreat is
required by the law OF the Roman
Catholic Church and said the Most
Rev. Michael j. Curley. Archbishop
of Baltimore and Washington, asked
that all Catholic pupils attending
local public schools make the OBJ
servance.
District school regulations recog-
nize the Observance Of church holy
days by communicates" as valid
excuse from classes provided students
present absence forms signed by
their parents or guardians. The
forms may be obtained from parish
priests.
Students of the following schools
will 60 to the church designated:
Central, Powell and Burdick at
Sacred Heart Church; Anacostia
and Kramer at st. Francis Xavier;
Coolidge and Paul at Nativity
Church; Eastern and Eliot at Holy
Comforter Church; Western and
Gordon at Holy Trinity Church;
Mckinley. Langley and Bell voca-
tional at st. Martins Church: Hine
and Chamberlain at st. Peters
Church: Wilson and Deal at st.
AIMS Church.
Francis at Epiphany Church: Nc
Farland and Roosevelt at st. Ga
briels Church; Armstrong, Dunbar,
Terrell and Blake Washington at
Holy Redeemer Church; Browne,
Phelps, Thomas and Merritt at In
carnation Church; Cardoza, Shaw,
Garnet-Patterson and Banneker at
st. Augustine's Church: Randall at
st. Vincent de Paul; Stuart at ST.
Aloysius Church: Taft at Franciscan
Monastery, and Jefferson at st.
Dominic's Church.
Students attending Montgomery
and Prince Georges Counties schools
will go to the following churches:
Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Bethesda
Chevy Chase Junior College, Leland
Junior High School and Kensington
Junior High School at Our Lady of
Lourdes Church; Montgomery Blair,
Montgomery Hills and Takoma Park
Junior High School at st. Michael's
Church; Hyattsville, Bladensburg
and Greenbelt High Schools at st.
Jerome's Church and Mount Rainier
High School at st. James Church.
Evening star., 1946-11-03
Swarthmore Alumni Head
To Address District Group

Carl Dellmuth. alumni director OF
Swarthmore College, will address
District alumni at 8 pm. tomorrow
at the Sidwell Friends School, 1901
Wisconsin avenue NV. The rally
will open a local drive for funds as
part of the schools national cam
paign for $4,000, 900. The local drive
will be sponsored by an 18-man
committee, headed by Howard c.
Westwood. Co-chairman will be
Elizabeth Thomson and William
Blum. ir.
Evening star., 1946-11-03
Dutch Student to Speak
On Holland at YMCA

Bert Van Reenen, Dutch student
of American constitutional law. will
address the YMCA Mems Club at
6:15 pm. tomorrow in the Central
Branch, 1886 G street NV.
Mr.. Van Reenen, law graduate
from the University of Leiden, will
speak on Holland Today"
Air transport services are to be
developed in West Africa.
Evening star., 1946-11-03
Auxiliary to Sponsor Donce

The Washington Junior Auxiliary
of the Jewish Consumptive Relief
Society will hold an Armistice dance
at 8 pm. Saturday in the Roger
Smith Hotel. Proceeds will benefit
the society's nonsectarian hospital
in Denver.
Evening star., 1946-01-08
Man Arrested in St. Louis
After Demands 10 Deqnan
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. s.-Gerald B.
Norris, agent in charge of the Fed
eral Bureau of Investigation office
here, said man arrested in the
Union Station here early today had
demanded $500 in three telephone
calls to James Degnan, father of
slain Suzanne Degnan in Chicago.
so far" Mr.. Norris said, ''it looks
like nothing more than an attempt
to chisel in on the folks up there,
but We are investigating every pos
sible angle"
The youth, booked as Grover
Casey, %. of Troy, Ala, was arrested
lat the Western Union Office at the
station when he called for the
money.
He told authorities he had been
in st. Louis only few days.
Mr.. Norris said Casey told of read
ing about the kidnapping and decid-
ing "thiS Is an easy way to pick up
some money" On the third cali,
at 12:47 am. today, Mr. Norris re-
lated, the youth told the Degnan
family "the kid is all right" and was
told at that time that the money
was on the Way.
Evening star., 1946-01-08
DemobiIizotion Job Defended
By Truman as Just and Efficient
President Makes
No Reference to
Troop Demonstrations

President Truman today de-
clared that the Army and Navy
are carrying out rehabilitation
with "commendable efficiency
and with justice to all con-
cerned."
In statement which he said was
issued because of many appeals" to
the White House for the release of
various groups from the services, the
President declared "the armed forces
have been reduced as fast as pos
sible. For many reasons 1t is i'm
possible for every member of the
armed forces to be discharged
properly
He conceded that "the critical
need for troops overseas has begun
to slow down the Army's rate of de-
mobilization but he said that the
"inescapable need OF the Nation in
carrying out its obligation IN this
dincuit postwar period" Is respon-
sible
Summing up. the President said
the Army has released more than
half of the 8 300, 900 men and women
who were in service when the Euro
pean fighting ended and the Navy
has returned to civilian life nearly
Evening star., 1946-01-08
Andrews Field Chief
Tells Moss MEETING
Release Is Indefinite

More than 1000 protesting
soldiers and WACs stationed at
nearby Andrews Field shouted
questions today as their base
commander told them he didn't
know when they could get out of
the Army.
A half-hour mass meeting in one
of the hangers was called by Col
Curtis D. Sluman. base commander,
following a demonstration yesterday
when a large group protested that
men sent to the field from other
Air Forces installation were getting
out ahead of the fields own per-
Sonnel.
A chorus of groans echoed through
the hangar as Col Sluman said: "I
know you are intcrcsteu IN when
you're going to get out, and that's
one question I can't -aaswer.n
The meeting became slightly dis
orderly when the men shouted they
were being held in the service to
maintain planes for 10y riding" and
pheasant hunting" Col. Sluman
had been trying to explain that
planes had to be serviced so that
Evening star., 1946-01-08
PaIais Royal Store
Reportedly Sold 10
Woodward & Lothrop
February ! Is Given
As Transfer Date;
OfficiuIs Here Silent

Reports that the Palais Royal
Department Store had been
purchased by Woodward g. Lo-
throp Department Store and
will be taken over by the new
owners February Preached The
Star today from several sources.
While officials of both stores de-
clined comment, a spokesman for
Kresge Department Stores, Inc, of
Newark, N. j., owners Of Palais
Royal, told The Star that negotia-
tions "are under way now for sale"
to woodward & Lothrop.
The spokesman denied, however,
that an actual sale had been made.
Department Heads Informed.
However, it was understood that
department heads of Palais Royal
were informed of the impending
change in ownership at a meeting
yesterday.
Palais Royal, founded by the late
Abram Lisner. occupies the HOO
block of G street NV. just across
from Woodward g. Lothrop.
The corporation has been expand
ing in recent years and now has
branch stores in the Pentagon Build
ing and in Bethesda, Md. Plans were
announced last summer for con-
struction of another branch in Sill
yer Spring, Md.
Opened Store in 1877.
Mr.. Lisner, well-known philan-
thropist here who died in March,
1888, established the first store at
Twelfth street and Pennsylvania
avenue, where the Raleigh Hotel
now is located, in 1877. The store
was moved to its present site in 1893
and was renamed the Greater Palais
Royal.
He sold the store to the Kresge
interests in 1924.
The store built 250-car parking
garage in the TOO block of Tenth
street NV. In 1910.
Evening star., 1946-01-08

tanned all-night headquarters at the
Degnan home, departing early to-
day but leaving detail on guard.
The investigators listed these i'm
portant clues in the killing which
followed the kidnapping and the leav-
ing of a $4,000 ransom note:
Fingerprints on the window sill OF
Suzanne's room, a burlap bag in
which the child's torso was found.
a paper shopping bag with red
crayon markings found with the
right leg, the ransom note, a Worn
gray-green fedora hat found near
one sewer. two shoe-size footprints
in the earth near the Degnan back
porch, the ladder used by the kid
naper to enter the girls room, .
white muslin laundry bag with in
itials ~. S." found in nearby
basement and two black hairs found
on the chest of the torso.
Police also found refuse cart.
stained apparently with blood. IN
the basement of a building at $3.50
Kenmore avenue, a few feet from
where Suzanne's head was dis
covered.
Capt. Goldberg said the cart was
sent to the police crime detection
Laboratory to determine whether the
stains were human blood.
The child's head, chopped crudely
from her body, and dismembered
1See KIDNAPING. Page A-5.)
Evening star., 1946-01-08
China S Truce Group
Accord
On Cease Fire Order
Most Problems Settled,
Communique After
3-Hour Session Says
sy the Associated Press.

CHUNGKING, Jan. 8.-China S
Truce Committee approached
final agreement for cessation of
hostilities at a lengthy discus
sion this afternoon.
Government and Communist rep
resentatives issued a communique
stating "the major portion of the
problems have been settled and cer-
tain details remain to be discussed
and disposed Of"
The communique was issued after
Ia three-hour and 40-minute meeting
with Gen. Marshall, President Tru-
mans special envoy to China, who
presided. The third meeting of the
committee followed three-hour
morning session
The agreement would include
plans for restoration of communica-
tions, particularly in North China.
A few hours earlier, the Chinese
press predicted that orders to cease
firing would be issued by both the
government and Communists to-
morrow. The committee will meet
again late tomorrow.
The conferees declined to give de-
tails, but they seemed optimistic
that final settlement would be
reached tomorrow before the open
ling Thursday of the Political
Consultation Conference -interparty
and nonpartisan parleys which will
try to settle outstanding differences
between the government and the
Communists.
This new name for the conference,
formerly called the Political Con-
sultative Council, was decided on by
delegates at an unofficial prepara-
tory meeting yesterday.
A spokesman for the Democratic
League said he had been advised by
Communist sources that the cease
firing order would not include Man
churia, where government troops
now are moving In by land and air.
He reported the Communists agreed
to this proposal.
Meanwhile, the government an
nounced settlement of q revolt in
Sinkiang, the northwestern province
bordering on Russia, where a group
of dissidents had been clamoring for
autonomy.
Gen. Chang Chi-chung. special
government envoy, said on his re-
turn to Chungking q formal agree
ment was signed January 2 at Tihwa,
Sinkiang. Delegates from lining in
the northwest part of the province,
where the revolt broke last Noyem-
ber Z, signed for the dissidents.
Evening star., 1946-01-08
|WeIIes' Son Married
To British Divorce
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON. JAN g. Benjamin
Welles, %, son of former Under
secretary of State Sumner Welles.
and Mrs. Cynthia Aitken were mar
ried today in the Westminster reg
istry Office.
The bride is daughter Of Col.
and Mrs. H. G.. Monteith, and for
perly was married to Max Aitken,
member of Parliament and son Of
Lord Beaverbrook, the newspaper
publisher. Her previous marriage
ended in divorce in 1943.
Mr.. Welles, formerly a. major in
the United States Army. will be
associated with the London bureau
OF the New York Upes.
Evening star., 1946-01-08
BY GARNETT d. HORNER.

President Truman said today
that he believed Secretary of
State Byrnes' explanation of
how American interests in
volved in atomic bomb secrets
are fully protected" under
plans for a United Nations Com
mission to formulate atomic
energy controls should satisfy
any one with doubts on this
score
Mr.. Truman also told news con-
ference that this Government has
no reason to believe that Russia has
developed super atomic bomb, as
was reported by British scientist
last night.
Secretary Byrnes arrived in Lon
don today to promote prompt action
by the United Nations General As
sembly, opening its first meeting
Thursday, on the Big Three-spon-
sored proposal for setting up UNO
commission to study international
control OF atomic energy and other
mass destruction weapons.
Can't Force Disclosure.
Before leaving Washington late
yesterday, Mr.. Byrnes made public
a statement explaining that the pro-
posed commission could not force
involuntary disclosure by the United
States of any of its secrets about
how to make the atomic bomb.
Mr.. Truman said he thought Mr..
Byrnes' statement covered the SUBJ
ject and should take care of any
doubts about adequate safeguards
for American interests.
He said he hoped that the
UNO Commission would arrive al
conclusions regarding international
control of atomic energy which
would satisfy everybody, and pointed
out that its recommendations woulc
have to be approved by Congress tt
be effective so far as the United
States is concerned.
Won't Bar Senate Action.
The work of the UNO commission
will not foreclose any action which
the Senate atomic energy commits
sion, primarily concerned with rec
ommending legislation for domestic
control of atomic energy, may want
to take, he added.
The President had no comment
q
States stop manufacturing atomic
bombs pending development of in
ternational controls.
Mr.. Byrnes' statement was de-
signed to quiet fears expressed by
some members of the American
delegation to the UNO meeting that
the work of the proposed UNO COM
mission might force premature dis
closure of atomic bomb production
secrets.
Sent to Delegates.
1t was telegraped to London fol-
information Of the delegates ahead
of Mr.. Byrnes, and he said he
Iplanned to call a meeting on his
arrival there to present his views
more fully.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican
of Michigan, a member of the dele
CATION already in London, has dis.
closed that he believes more specific
safeguards of the secret of how to
produce the atomic bomb should be
written into the resolution for crea-
(See BYRNES, Page A-4.)
Evening star., 1946-01-08
House-to-House
Search hIsBegun
For rGirI'skiIIer
Suzanne Deenon, 6,
Probably Attacked,
Coroner Declares

Ey the Associated Press.>
CHICAGO, Jan. S.-One hun
dred picked policemen began a
house : to house, store-to-stors
search today for the maniac
kidnap-killer of Suzanne Deg
nan, 6, whose dismembered body
was found in sewer catchbasins
near her North Side home last
night.
Coroner A. L. Brodie said the child
probably was criminally attacked
and was strangled to death and her
body dismembered in a manner in
dicating the fiend had a butchers
skill.
The infurlated police set about to
interview every one living in the
neighborhood, every janitor and
storekeeper, under direction of SUI
pervising Capt. Joseph Goldberg.
who told them:
Men. the police force is on trial;
nothing must be left undone to solve
this case"
Any one who called at the county
morgue asking to see the childs
body was subject to immediate po-
lice interrogation.
A half dozen men, mostly janitorS
in the neighborhood, were taken into
custody, for questioning, although
Capt. Walter Storms, chief of detec-
tives. said all six had reasonable
alibis as to their whereabouts at the
time of the crime.
Work of Expert Carver.
DR.. Brodie said examination O:
the parts of the child's body
all except the arms have been found
indicated the maniac used an in
strument like a hunting knife and
hacked the body into pieces at the
joints, without damaging the bones.
1t evidently was the ghoulish work
of an expert carver, he said.
Il think it was an on-the-spos
QlSIueinDerIHelt, CdIIicu Out Oh l4|
spur of the moment, rather than
a premeditated plan,' DR.. Brodis
added.
DR.. Brodie, reporting to Capt
Goldberg, said a coroner's physician
DR.. Thomas Carter. in his exanilna-
tion found fngerprints on the fnroat
that indicated the girl had oeen
.strangled to death.
The curorrer ALSO said pr. Carter
decided the dismemberment occur
red after death.
Degnan Home Guarded.
Mayor Edward J. Kelly and all
the top-flight oficials of the police
department, coroner's Office. States
attorneys and sheriff's ONCE MAIN
Evening star., 1946-01-08
| Rewards Totoling
| $11, 900 Offered for
| Slayer of Child
BY the Associated Press.

~ LAG HSsttA1tCA L I
CHICAGO, Jan. 8.-Rewards
totaling $11,00 were offered to-
day for evidence resulting in
the arrest and conviction of the
kidnap-slayer of Suzanne
Degnan.
Mayor Edward j. Kelly
offered 5000 to any one sup
plying evidence leading to
arrest and conviction. The
Mayor said he would guarantee
payment personally, if neces-
Sary.
The Chicago Herald-American
announced a reward Of 5000
for exclusive information lead
ing to the arrest and conviction.
Two citizens offered rewards OF
$500.
The latter two, made to the
Chicago Tribune. were by
Charles j. Whalen, a building
manager and father of two
small children who attended
Sacred Heart Academy. where
Suzanne was a first-grade pupil,
and J. C. Deagan, a musical
instrument manufacturer.
Evening star., 1946-01-08
Nation Faces Threat of Tieup
OF Telephones in Few Days
New Western Electric Offer Rejected;
Union Presents Its Final Proposal

headed by Frank j. Fitzsimmons,
which seeks 80 per cent wage in
crease. The company has offered a
Is per cent boost.
The equipment workers union and
the NFTW are affiliated with each
other and with the WEEA.
Ernest Weaver. president of the
equipment union, said yesterday
that a strike which would mean
100 per cent breakdown of toll
telephone service" was scheduled
for tomorrow. He asserted that the
dial system through which most
local calls are made would break
down IN a week or 10 days"
Other telephone unions have said
they would not cross any picket
lines established by Mr.. Weaver's
union in its dispute with the West
ern Electric Co.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Weaver an
nounced the company made a new
proposal at a meeting last night
which was an Improvement" on
(See WESTERN EIECTRIC A-I0 !
Evening star., 1946-01-08
Fy the Associated Press.

tllC AooOCldIeQ FFeSS.
NEW YORK, Jan. "a two
day threat of a complete coast
forecast telephone system STOP
page within a few days hung
over the Nation today as the
strike of 1900 Western Electric
employees in New York and New
Jersey remained in it's sixth day.
The Nation wide tle.up could re-
suit from strike action against
Western Electric by the communica-
tions equipment workers, an inde-
pendent union claiming 5000 mem
bers, or the National Federation of
Telephone workers, another inde-
pendent labor organization, claim
ing 1000 telephone installation
workers in AZ States. The NFTW
action would be in sympathy with
the striking Western Electric en-
ployes.
The Western Electric walkout was
called by the Western Electric En-
ployeS Association, independent,