davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-09-17
Murder Charge Reduced
Against Phone Repairman

A murder charge against Anson
Merrick Sloan, 80. telephone re-
pairman, living in the 400 block OF
Belford place. Hampshire Knobs
who has been held in connection
with the death OF his wife. was re-
|duced yesterday to manslaughter.
Sloan waived preliminary hearing
when, the case was called IN Hyatts-
vile Police Court and was released
in $500 bond, pending action Of
the Prince Georges County grand
jury. Previously he had been held
without bond.
Through an attorney, Sloan
pleaded not guilty to nanslaughter.
he was arrested after police said
his wife Florence, ~. was found
dead August Al in her bedroom. ap-
parentiy the yictim Of Z beating.
Evening star., 1948-09-17
Auction Set Nov. 9 for Tracl
Owned by Gas Company

A. public auction has been ordered
for the 6Ts -acre tract owned by the
Washington Gas Light Co. at Vir-
ginia avenue and Rock Creek park
way N. w.
Joseph P. Day, Inc, real estate
agent for the gas company. an
nounced today that the auction
would be held at pm. November 9
in the ballroom of the Mayfiower
Hotel.
The triangular-shaped piece of
property has been offered for sale
for several months at. $4,000, 900.
The auction win be conducted by
Adam A. Weschler e. Son, Wash
ington auctioneers.
Evening star., 1948-09-17
Higher Rent Agreed On
h 2oih St. Apartments

Rent Control Examiner william
r. Mansfield had under advisement
today a compromise proposal for a
51a per cent increase in rents on
l18 apartments at 2745 Twenty
ninth street NV.
A hearing yesterday on the own
er's request for IS per cent In
crease ended when landlord and
tenants informed Mr.. Mansfield
they had agreed on substitute 51a
per cent boost. The operator is
Brown Brothers Corp.
Present rents range from $3.50
monthly for q three-room unit to
Sis for an eight-room unit.
Evening star., 1948-09-17
Special Preregistrotion
Set Tomorrow at GNU

A special preregistration for all
George Washington University stu
dents will be held at the registrars
office, Building c; 2029 G street
NV, from 8 am. to pm. tomor-
row.
Officials said registration also will
be held for three days, beginning
September 20. Glasses will start
Monday, October 4.
New courses are being offered in
the departments of geography, his
tory, religion and speech and in the
Schol of Education, as well as the
Law School.
Evening star., 1948-09-17

Program at Boiling Air Force Base.
II am.-Welcome to open House"
11:15--BuN Bomb (JB-2) demon
stration. ....t
II 1:30-Remote control jeep demon
stration.
II noon-Arrival of two B-29's non-
stop from Germany. ~
1905 p.m.-Four-r ring model aircraft
flying circus.
12:40-Turbojet demonstration.
/ pm.-Arrival of Bikini drone and
mother Flying Fortress from
Florida.
1:05-Off1cial United States Air
Force band concert Zone hour.
1:10-Medium bomber demonstra-
ton. ....-
1:25-Newark IN. j. Civil Air Pa
troll drill with Air Force band.
1:40-Troop Carrier Command
glider landings with C-82 Packet
Flying Boxcar" towing.
2 p.m.-"Operation Splash" B-2s
drops rescue boat into Potomac
by parachute.
2:25-United States Navy official
band concert lone hour.
2:30-Fourth 2 Fighter Group jets in
comparative speed run with World
War II aircraft and mass forma-
ton flying by Fourth Fighter
Group.
2:50-Robot plane demonstration.
g pm-United States Air Reserve
aerial demonstration.
3:20-United States Air National
Guard air show.
(GGA) Ground Control Ap-
proach landing of drone plane
and mother bombers, with inter-
changeSof instrEictieI1s laroadcast
to crowd over public address sys-
torn
Evening star., 1948-09-17
Edward Mccormack,
House Civil Service
Committee Aide, Dies

Edward j. Mccormack, chief OF
studies and investigation for the
House Post once and Civil Service
Committee; died Of a heart attack
today at his. home, 2545 ,Waterside
drive, n. .W.sHe was 81 yestsSdAy.
One Of Mr.. McCormack's three
sons, Malcolm Mccormack. said his
father apparently had been in good
health and had not complained oi
illness. He said his father died be-
fore the family, physician, pr. John
Minor, could reach the house. An
ambulance with a police escort was
called but Mr.. Mccormack was dead
before 1t arrived.
Mr.. Mccormack had been at his
office yesterday, members of the
staff said.
Named to Committee in 43.
Before he joined the Civil Service
Committee, Mr.. Mccormack had
worked for the Social Security
Board, the Railroad Retirement
Board, the once of Price Admins
tration and the Smaller War Plants
Corp. He was named to head the
committees investigation staff in
1943.
In 1945, Mr.. Mccormack wrote
controversial report demanding
congressional investigation of what
he called the lost battalion" OF
Government employees who never
had received job advancements.
He was relieved of his duties with
the committee after he made public
a letter he sent to the then chair
man, Representative Ramspeck
charging that the report was being
deliberately withheld from the House
because it might interfere with Fed.
eral pay raise legislation then be-
ing considered.
But Representative Rees. the
Kansas Republican who now heads
the committee, said the dismissal
was unwarranted and congratulated
Mr.. Mccormack as IAN able and
conscientious employe" who had
shown the courage to resist all
efforts to whitewash investigations.
Comes Back to Old Post.
Later the committee named a
subcommittee to investigate the
Mccormack charges.
About a year and half ago
after Mr.. Rees became committee
chairman, Mr.. Mccormack came
back to his old post.
In 1945 Mr.. and Mrs. Mccormack
who survives him, had something
of a double celebration when one
son, Malcolm, was awarded a saber
for leadership as cadet colonel at
Western High School, and another,
Miles C. Mccormack. then a second
lieutenant In the Air Forces. arrived
home from Germany. He had been
two years after his Bit
was damaged and he was forced
down in enemy territory.
Miles and a third son, John Me-
Cormack. wartime oficer In italy,
now live in Memphis. Tenn Mall
colin lives at the family home here.
In World War I Mr.. Mccormack
was a colonel in the 28th Field Ar
tillery. He will be buried in Arling-
ton Cemetery. The time Of services
has not yet been arranged.
Evening star., 1948-09-17
Gushing Comp. No. 30,
Will Meet Tonioht

Gushing Camp, No 80, Sons OF
Union Veterans of the Civil War
and its Ladies Auxiliary will meet
at 8 O'Clock tonight in the home OF
Jesse Langley. past commander, at
1892 Illinois avenue NV.
Ludwig E. Mandy. department
commander of the Maryland Sons
of Union Veterans, will be a guest.
Evening star., 1948-09-17
Card Purty Tomorrow

The first of the monthly card
parties sponsored by the Ladies
Guild of st. Barnabas Episcopal
Church will be held at $50 pm.
tomorrow in the parish hall at Oxon
Hill. Nd.
Evening star., 1948-09-17
oES Group to Hold Banquet

| The Past Patrons and Past
Matrons Of the 1874 Association, Or
der Of the Eastern Star. will hold
their annual banquet at $50 pm.
tomorrow at the Dodge Hotel, 20 e
street NV.
Evening star., 1948-09-17

sCombined with Powell Junior HID
School, which mas an enrolment of 5o9
Junior high students ~,
Elementary schools using L. rooms with
81 elementary pupils. ..-
Moved in 26S veterans at Veterans
High School.
$40 pupils from Veterans High School
additional
Evening star., 1948-09-17
Air Force Day Calendar

Following the schedule of events for the Air Force Day
Boiling Air and Andrews
Admission will be free at both places and free
parking space will be available.
Evening star., 1948-03-12
Finals Slated Tonight
2PIay Competitions

Finals in two District Recreation
Department one-act play competi-
tions will be held tonight in the
junior divisions Of the contests for
children IL to 18.
Three acting casts will compete at
8 O'Clock in Coolidge High School.
Trophies will be awarded to the
best acting team and to the best
individual player.
Two colored groups will compete
at 7 o'clock in Banneker Junior
High School,, and medals will he
given for best individual and group
performance.
Subjunior division finals for col
ored children under IL were held in
Bannecker last night. Awards will
be announced there this evening.
The subjunior division finals in
Coolidge High School will be at 2::30
pm. tomorrow. In addition to tro-
phies for group and individual
acting, the best boy player will re-
ceive scholarship to the Childrens'
Studios of Speech and Drama. The
award will be made by Mrs. Rose
Robson Cowen, head of the studies.
approximately 400 white and 100
colored children have participated in
the contest preliminaries. The COM
petitions are sponsored by the
Recreation Departments Childrens'
Theater of Washington and District
of Columbia Childrens' Theater.
Evening star., 1948-03-12
Education Is Discussed
By Hospital Directors

The two-day National Conference
OF Hospital Administrators, which
began yesterday at Freedmens Hos
pital, was to continue today with
panel discussions on medical educa-
tion for doctors and cooperative
efforts for better nursing service.
DR.. Joseph L. johnson, dean Of
the School Of Medicine at Howard
University, was to lead the discus
sion on medical education. Other
speakers were DR.. E. S. Grannum,
administrator of Whitaker Memo
rial Hospital, Newport News, Va; DIR.
Nathaniel o. Galloway of Chicago,
DR.. Charles r. Drew, chief of the
surgery department at Freedmens,
and DR.. Robin C. Buerki, dean Of
the Graduate School Of Medicine,
University of Pennsylvania.
Scheduled to lead the discussion
on nursing service was Mrs. Eliza
beth Ann Edwards, executive secre-
tary of Alpha Kappa Alpha, ma
tiOnal health Droject
Evening star., 1948-03-12
Navy Stream|ines System
Of Rating Enlisted Men
BY the Associated Press

The Navy has streamlined its sys-
tenn OF rating enlisted men-even
the 111-year-old title of ships cook
was tossed overheard.
The general overhaul of the sys-
tenn will merge 1913 present ratings
into II general service rates under
IL general categories.
Under the new system announced
yesterday, the ships cook becomes a
commissaryman.
The carpenters mate and painter
are now damage controlmen. Buglers
will be seamen, signalmen will be
quartermasters and watertenders
will become boilermen.
The rating of coxswain, first used
in 1877, will be permanently replaced
by the rating of boatswains mate,
third class.
The order, effective April 2, also
standardizes rate abbreviations
which used to range from BMCBB/2
(boatswain's mate, construction bat
talon, boatswain second class to
SO (seaman, second class.
In the future all rate abbrevia-
tions will be composed of only two
initials, with the suffix &C" for q
chief petty officer, or numerals des-
ignating other grades Of petty
officers.
Evening star., 1948-03-12
Eisenhower Leading Straw Poll
At Theuter Here; Truman Next

Voteless washington residents
are favoring a candidate who isn't
running in a straw poll on the
Presidential race, begun yesterday
at the Trans-Lux Theater by the
city's young Republicans and Dem
ocrats.
Gen. Eisenhower, with 127 votes,
Is one notch ahead of President
Truman, who received 126 of the 781
votes cast yesterday. Mr.. Truman
so far leads Gov. Dewey by 10
votes, Senator Vandenberg by Al
and others by from 66 to 125 ballots.
Henry A. Wallace, whose candi-
dacy in the straw poll has been be-
set by repeated thefts of the sign
bearing his name from the "ther-
mometers" registering the votes,
threatened to take the lead but
dropped to the 67-vote mark.
Every time I turned my back"
said Vincent Iorio, manager of the
theater, "the sign disappeared. To-
day I have a half dozen extras in
reserve"
Gen. Macarthur, who has Just
announced his willingness to re-
Evening star., 1948-03-12
2 Policemen of the Month Get
Medals for Rescue of Woman

Police Pvts. Lenard G.. Kragh
and Thomas B. Basnight, who are
sharing honors in the first Police
man of the Month" awards, re-
ceived their medals today from Com
missioner John Russell Young.
The policemen, partners in Scout
Car 81, from the Third Precinct,
did the best police job during jan
uary in the judgment of the COM
mittee of newspapermen who Sc
lected them for the awards.
One night last month while cruis-
ing, they caught the odor of burn
ing rags In the 1700 block of P street
NV, traced 1t to a two-story
frame house, and carried an aged
colored woman to safety through
dense smoke.
The new system Of recognizing
good police work was installed
recently by supt. Of Police Robert
Evening star., 1948-03-12

Removal OF the 15-ton marble
dish" atop the Dupont Circle statue
was to be todays feature attraction
for sidewalk superintendents, as
preliminary work on the underpass
job continued.
Meanwhile, Trafiic Director George
E. Keneipp made public plans to
close the circle area to through traf-
fic, possibly for as long as a year,
after the morning rush period
Monday, and the Capital Transit
Co. announced details of bus line
rerouting to be placed into effect
Monday.
The big topmost piece of the
statue was to be lifted off by a crane,
placed on the ground and then IN
another operation, moved to a stor-
age area near the edge of the circle
toward the southwest.
Pieces to Be Grated.
Thereafter, a 3-ton cap piece,
directly over the figures, will be re-
moved, followed by an 8-ton repre-
sentation of Sea, Stars and Wind
and the base. ALI pieces will be
Grated and placed in the storage
area until the underpass is finished,
at which time the statue will be re-
assembled at its present site.
The traffic restrictions, to become
operative at $50 am. Monday, will
bar all through vehicles but street.
cars and eastbound @ street traffic
from the area bounded by N, r,
and Twentieth streets.
Motorists and truckmen will be
permitted to enter this area to rNaci1
residences and places of husiAass
but. In most cases, will be required
to retrace their courses in leaving.
Traffic headed north and north
west win be detoured via Eighteenth
Evening star., 1948-03-12

ceive call" from the voters, ran
up 103 votes. Bernard Baruch was
one of several write-ins on the
printed ballots available in the
Trans-Lux lobby yesterday.
Poll watchers and tabulators are
members of the Districts Young
Democratic and Young Republican
Clubs. The poll will continue daily
through Wednesday in connection
with the showing of the March Of
Time movie, Presidential Year"
The Young Republican Club here,
in cooperation with the Republican
State Committee, has opened an alb
sentee voters information booth in
the lobby of the theater. Informa-
ton is available on State regula-
tions and methods of absentee reg
istration and voting.
Evening star., 1948-03-12
Smithsonian Exhibits Stone
Recording Morse Visit in1362

A historic stone relic regarded by
Smithsonian archeologists as "one
of the most significant historical
objects ever found in the New
World" is on public display in the
foyer of the National Museum.
It tells the story OF a party of
Vikings who in 1362-130 years be-
fore Columbus-came to America
and reached what is now Minnesota.
The stone, Weighing 200 pounds
and measuring 81 by 16 by 6 inches.
is known as the "Kensington
Stone" because it was found near
Kensington, Mimi, in 1898 by a
farmer. It is on loan to the
Smithsonian Institution from the
Alexandria Minn0 Chamber of
Commerce.
When first discovered, there were
many who doubted that it was au-
thentic but the Smithsonian de-
clared today "one bit of evidence
after another has come to light
indicating that the relic is genuine. 4"
On this assumption, the Smithson-
ian called it "one of the most sig
nificent" objects found in the New
World.
Inscription Tells Story.
The stones crude inscription
tells the story Of a camp beside a
lake where this message was left
for posterity. The Smithsonian
says that the men who made the
camp may have beeh a group of
Viking youths from what is now
Norway who are believed to have
come to this continent in search of
a lost, colony in Greenland.
Presumably, they came to Gen.
tral Minnesota by way of Hudsons
Bay and southwark by boat along
various streams Biologists believe
that the field in which the stone
Evening star., 1948-03-12
Girl Saved From Hanging
In Cops and Robbers Game

A 4-year-old girl almost died in
a "hangman's moose" yesterday aft
ernoon in the basement of 1874 D
street Sc, where game of cops
and robbers" was played too realis-
tically.
Mary Palmer, colored, of the D
street address, was told to stand on
a chair and put her head in a moose
hanging from an iron pipe, accord
ing to the police. A 4-year-old boy
kicked the chair from under her,
police were told.
The childs grandmother, Mrs.
Mary Jones, found her dangling
there a minute later when the chill
dren screamed. Mary was taken to
the Providence Hospital. Her con-
dition was not serious and she was
sent home.
Evening star., 1948-03-12
B'noi Birth Group Picks
Queen Esther Candidate

Miss Leda eWolman 10, of 856
Whittier place NV, will represent
the B'nai Birth Young Women of
Washington in the Queen Esther
contest to be held at the Purim
Ball at $3.50 pm. tomorrow In the
Jewish Community Center, Six
teenth and @ streets NV.
Miss Wolman, q sophomore at
Wilson Teachers College, is one of
the II contestants. Purtm lis a
Jewish holiday on March Is,
Evening star., 1948-03-12
SchweIIenbuch Informs
Trumun of GSI Situation

Secretary of Labor Schwellenbach
today brought President Truman up
to date on the strike of Government
Services, Inc, cafeteria workers, he
told reporters after a cabinet meet
ing.
The Labor Secretary said he gave
the President report on the mat
ter which did not, however, embody
any conclusions. He said it was
largely what George E. Strong,
who made an unsuccessful attempt
to mediate the strike, had reported.
The three-month-old strike in
wolves some 40 cafeterias in Federal
buildings here.
Evening star., 1948-03-12
Bible READING
1oContinue in
D. {. Schools
Board of Educotion
Committee Reuffirms
Permissive Rule

AS far as the Board of Educa-
ton Is concerned, reading from
the Bible without note or COM
ment and the Lords Prayer" will
be continued in public schools
here.
Some doubt of the legality of the
practice was raised by the Supreme
Court decision early this week, max
ing any religious instruction in the
public schools unconstitutional.
School Supt. Hobart M. Corning,
in an off-hand opinion soon after
the opinion of the court was re-
leased, said 1t apparently did not
affect the District.
The School Boards Rules Com
mittee agreed with him yesterday
At a meeting, one of many they
have held in the course of revis-
ing the board rules, the group sud-
denly came upon the one which
allows schools here to hold opening
exercises, including "a reading from
the Bible without note or comment
and the Lords Prayer"
What shall We do about this
rule?" was the question asked.
The committee then decided.
without voice raised in protest,
that the rule will stand.
Other Policies Stand.
So, as far as the Rules Committee
is concerned, the Bible may be read
at school assemblies, the Lords
Prayer may be recited, pupils will
not be released" from school to
attend religious classes and no such
instruction will be held in the public
schools. This follows the practice
which has been in effect for a num-
ber of years.
DR.. Corning said later the re-
ligious classes in the Janney Ele-
mentary School will continue as far
as he was concerned. These classes,
sponsored by the PTA, are held be-
fore school hours in the school
building. They are held in series.
every three or four weeks, with each
denomination represented, and the
classes are voluntary. They were
started several years ago to prevent
Juvenile delinquency.
Evening star., 1948-03-12
Estates and DC. Seek
Custody Of Fierst in
Murder and HoIdups
BY the Assoeioied Press

BALTIMORE, Mar. 12.-Baltimore
police were undecided today who
will get custody of 37-year-old Mack
Wilson Fierst, against whom war
rants of murder and holdups in two
States and the District of Columbia
have been filed.
A murder warrant was issued YES
terday accusing Fierst of Staying
Hunter Charles Lewis, 47-year- old
convicted jewel robber. Lewis bull
let-riddled body was found Tuesday
in the woods along a lonely road
near Laurel. Fierst has been held
in Baltimore since his arrest here
Monday.
Partner Describes Killing.
Baltimore police said Lewis part
ner, Robert Melton, alias Browne
Matuzack, has signed a statement
describing the fatal shooting.
Police quoted Melton as saying
Lewis was shot January 18 in a car
in which four men were planning
to hold up the Rockaway Towers on
Washington boulevard.
According to Melton, Lewis was
killed by Fierst in a struggle in the
back of the automobile. The fourth
man in the car fled and still is miss
Ing, MeYtorf told police.
Washington detectives said Fierst
has been identified by victims as a
participant in the $500 holdups of
Darby Printing Co. messenger in
the Capital December 10. Melton
also is charged in this robbery.
The Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion in Richmond notified Baltimore
police that Fierst also is wanted
there on a charge of unlawful flight
to evade prosecution for armed
robbery.
Baltimore police said he has been
identified as one of three gunner
who committed a $4,000 robbery in
st. Marys County.
The murder warrant against Fierst
was issued by Magistrate T. Hunt
Mayfield of Ellicott City at the re-
quest of States Attorney Daniel NJ
Murray, jr., of Howard County.
Arresting detectives said Fierst had
bullet wounds on his face
and neck,
Evening star., 1948-03-12

j. Barrett. the cOmmCtee OF
newspapermen each month gets
recommendation for the awards
from the 18 commanding officers OF
bureaus and precincts as well as
from the public.
The citation accompanying the
medals stated that, in the opinion
of the committee, there was no
better police work than saving a
human life
After Commissioner Young had
congratulated the men, the medals,
were pinned on by 1t. Charles Van
Meter, acting captain OF the third
precinct.
Also present at the short cere-
mony, in the District building, were
Commissioners Guy Mason and
Gordon r. Young; Inspector Lloyd
Truscott, assistant superintendent
Of police. and members of the
Awards Committee.