davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-09-18
Phoebus Again Given
Chance 10 Explain
Building Reports
Star Staff Photo.

The Commissioners have decided
to give William M. Phoebus, a Dis
trict building inspector, another
chance to explain accusations that
he submitted false reports on in
spections he never made.
Brig. Gen. Gordon r. Young
Engineer Commissioner, said he
would confer with Mr.. Phoebus and
his attorney, John B. Diamond III
at 10 am. Wednesday.
1t has been speculated at the Dis
trict Building that the Commits
sioners are reluctant to discharge
Mr.. Phoebus because of his long
service in the Building Inspector
Office and because he is veteran
of World War I. Mr.. Phoebus, who
lives in Gaithersburg, Md, has beer
on annual leave since he was ac-
cused early last month.
One District official said the Com
missioners are not required to dis
charge the employe. even If he il
deemed guilty of the offense. Or
August 13, the Commissioners gave
Mr.. Phoebus 10 days to file writer
reply to the accusations. The letter
to the employe told him he woulc
be discharged, "if the Commissioner:
so decided" in the event the charge:
were not answered.
On September l, the city heads
granted Mr.. Phoebus, an oral hear.
ing, after he had filed the writer
answer to the charges on August 20
Evening star., 1948-09-18
Minister Struck in Eye
By Youth Is Improved

The Rev. James Land Ellis, SIS, OF
PAT Delaware avenue S.W, who lost
the sight of his right eye after being
struck last Thursday by youth he
had befriended. was reported to be
greatly improved" today at Episco-
pal Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital.
George Junior Holt, 81, who was
placed in custody of Mr.. Ellis three
years ago by juvenile authorities. is
being held in Jail. Judge Aubrey B.
Fennell set bail at $1,000 and con-
tinued the case to October 5.
Police said Holt hit Mr.. Ellis in
the face with a 22-caliber rife dur
ing a tussle. Mr.. Ellis, they said,
was trying to dissuade the youth
from taking the rifle to the street.
Hospital officials reported that Mr.
Ellis right eye had to be removed
as a result of the blow but that he
suffered no other injury.
Evening star., 1948-09-18
70 Pickets Resume
March at Playground

About 20 followers of Henry Wal
lace turned up to picket Rosedale
Playground again this morning in
protest against the Districts play
ground segregation policy.
A number of police were on hand,
but there was no disturbance as
about 40 spectators stood quietly
across the street from the play
ground, at Seventeenth and Gales
street NE, watching the pickets.
They carried signs similar to those
used IN previous demonstrations a.
the playground.
The group was led by Miss Nonny
Lautman, 1886 Colorado avenue
NV, District chairman Of the Anti
Discrimination Committee OF the
Young Progressives of America. She
said the group will attempt during
the next two weeks to get special
hearing before the District Recrea-
ton Board.
| Two women and their small chill
dren refused to enter the playground
when police turned away two colorec
children who were accompanying
the white women and their children
Evening star., 1948-09-18

Judge Ellen K. Raedy yesterday
gave suspended sentences to six OF
the IL prisoners who were trapped in
a police patrol wagon, which crashed
with another car Wednesday, kill
ing one police attendant and injur-
ing another.
The six defendants, facing minor
charges, were called in group be-
fore the judge, who asked each in
turn whether he needed medical
care. Since none reported he was
seriously hurt, Judge Raedy pro-
ceeded with sentencing, but an
nounced she would suspend each
term and take the defendants per-
sonal bond not to repeat the Of
fense. The men were:
Albert Brown, 30, colored, Of the
1900 block of Six and One-hal1
street NV, drunk and disorderly
conduct, and John Bradley, So, OF
the 400 block of H street NV; Will
liam r. Shoemaker. 46, of the SOC
Evening star., 1948-09-18
West Virginia Police
Push Thorough Probe
|0fC. B. Porter Death

An attorney for Countess Felicia
Gizycka expressed satisfaction to-
day that the West Virginia State
police have opened thorough in
vestigation" into the death of
Charles B. Porter, former treasurer
of the Washington Times Herald.
Harold A. Kertz of the firm of
Roberts &, McInnis. one of the two
firms representing the Countess in
her effort to break the will of her
| late mother, Mrs. Eleanor Patterson
publisher of the Times Herald, said
he considered the move quite sat
isfactory'
The investigation was ordered at
Charleston. w. Va. by State Police
Supt. w. E. Burchett last night be-
cause of the wide publicity given
Mr.. Porter's death. officially called
suicide He said the investigation
was ordered for that reason only
and not because of any new an
giles"
Mr.. Porter was killed Tuesday
when he fell from the sixth floor of
Clarksburg hotel.
The attorneys for Countess
Gizycka had wired Gov Meadows
of West Virginia, asking a full and
complete investigation" of Mr.. Por-
ter's death Supt. Burchett then
ordered what he termed thorough
investigation"
Meanwhile, further developments
were expected next week in the
countess request to District Court
to name collector for Mr.. Porter's
estate because of possible bearing
his papers may have on the Patter-
son will case.
Mr. Porter was at one time finan-
cial adviser to Mrs. Patterson, and
the court petition filed Thursday
said it was believed the papers in
his possession at the time of his
death contained highly important
evidence" regarding Mrs. Patter-
. sons will.
| The papers Mr.. Porter had with
him in Charleston were collected by
Times Herald employe and turned
over to Mr.. Porter's executrix, Mrs.
Sibille Campbell, former house
keeper for Mrs. Patterson. Mrs.
Campbell had given the employe a
statement asking the West Virginia
police to permit him to return the
papers and other possessions to her
lin Washington.
Evening star., 1948-09-18
Potomac School Plans
To Move 10 Virginia

Plans to move the Potomac School
44-year- old private elementary schoo
here. to 54-acre tract on the
Chain Bridge Mclean (Va.o road
have been revealed by Mrs. Waldron
Faulkner, chairman of the school
board of trustees.
Mrs. Faulkner said a campaign
to raise funds for building Will
be started in October. She esti-
mated the total cost OF the new
school to be between s335 900 and
s35O,O00, including the land and a
one-story brick building
The school, which has 200 stu
dents, now is located at 2144 Cali
fornia street NV The directors
have long felt the institution
facilities to be inadequate.
Mrs. Faulkner said the board hao
hoped to find a suitable new site
within the District but was unSuc-
cessful. She said the move to the
country will not affect the present
character of the school. Transpor.
tation will be handled by addi-
tional bus service and car pools
she said
When the new school is com.
pleted, the property on California
street will be sold Mrs. Faulkner
said.
Evening star., 1948-09-18
State Department Man. Hur|
As Falling Coal Rips Car

A State Department employe was
in hospital in Berwick, Pa, today
as a result of a freak accident ir
which falling coal ripped the tor
from his convertible sedan
He is Forrest F. McCluney. 80
of 1922 H street NV. executive
assistant in the Department. re-
search and intelligence division. His
condition was described as good and
doctors said his injuries were not
serious, the Associated Press re-
ported.
Mr.. McCluney was driving along
a highway near Berwick last night
when a truck operated by Frank
Amel, jr., 20. of Wilkes Barre, Pa.
suddenly went out of control.
State Highway Patrolman Andrew
Rabel told the Associated Press the
brakes on Mr.. Amel's truck failed
and tine truck swerved windy across
the highway, throwing part of its
load of coal onto Mr.. McCluney's S
ear The coal crashed through the
cars windshield and ripped off the
convertible top. Temporarily blinded
by the flying coal, Mr.. McCluney's s
car crashed into a guide post.
Evening star., 1948-09-18
Driver Of Truck
Killed, 9 Hurt in
PrinceGeorges
Vehicle Turns Over,
PIows Into Field
North of Marlboro

Merwin j. Van Sickle, 10, of
S605 South Twenty-fifth street,
Arlington, was killed early today
when a panel truck he was driv-
ing overturned five miles north
of Marlboro.
Prince Georges County police said
Mr.. Van Sickle apparently was
thrown through the top of the We
hicle after it veered from the high
way, Route 30l. 1t plowed up an
embankment and then lunged into a
field a distance of 40 feet.
The young man was a clerk at an
Arlington grocery and lived with his
brother, Willard Van Sickle. He
formerly attended Washington and
Lee High School, Arlington, having
moved to Virginia from Trego, Wis.
Car Turns Over Five Times.
In another area accident last
night, David Jackson, 10, of 1928
Forty-second place, Hyattsvile, was
critically injured when an automo-
bile he was driving overturned five
times, near Laurel.
He was admitted to Leland Me-
mortal Hospital, Riverdale, suffering
severe cuts, a conclusion and other
undetermined injuries.
Maryland State police at Waterloo
said Mr. Jackson pulled to the side
of the road as another car ap-
preached and slipped off onto a
shoulder. The automobile then
turned over, they reported.
Three companions were injured
slightly They were identified as
Boris Eaturo, 20, of 1912 Oglethorpe
street, Hyattsville, who received cuts
on the right arm and back: George
Vance. %, of 4505 Bachman street,
Hyattsville, who was cut on both
arms and one leg. and Allen Frost,
23 of 5703 Serial street, Berwyn,
Md, who suffered hip bruises.
James Miller, 10, of 200 c street
NE, suffered fracture of the spine
and was admitted to Leland Me-
mortal Hospital in an accident re-
ported to have occurred on Riggs
road, Hyattsville. The hospital said
four other young people in the car
were injured slightly but were not
admitted for treatment.
Prince Georges County police at
Hyattsville said they had no record
of the accident.
Evening star., 1948-09-18
-Four in Auto Killed
Near Front Royal

FRONT ROYAL. Va, Sept. Is (41
-Four persons were fatally injured
yesterday when their automobile
struck the concrete guard wall of
a culvert on Route $40 near here.
" State police identified the vic
tins as the Rev. William Grimsley
Gearing, 78, of Huntly, Va, and
Catherine Spain, IL; Clifton Spain
7, and Wayne Gochenour, 2, all of
Flint Hill, Fauquier County, Va.
Mr.. Gearing. Catherine and Cliff
ton Spain died at the scene OF the
crash. The Gochenour child died
five hours later in Front Royal
hospital.
Mrs. Lawrence Gochenour, mother
of the dead children, and Lewis
Spain, 9, are being treated for severe
injuries in Front Royal. Another
child. Virginia Bells Gocnenottr, was
treated for minor injuries and re-
leased.
All of the victims we're in the
same car.
The police said that Mr.. Grimsley
was driving when the car went out
of control as it descended a noun
tain grade.
Evening star., 1948-09-18
Gaming Probers Hear
z Hours Of Testimony
.By Puddinhead Jones

The special grand jury investigat-
ing gambling in the District yester-
day heard nearly two hours of testi-
mony by man who has at least
one gambling conviction on his
record.
The witness was Alfred T. "Pud-
dinhead" Jones, At, colored, of the
HOO block of S street. His only
comment to reporters, when he
emerged from the jury room, was to
say that maybe" he would return
next week for further testimony.
The only other witness believed to
have testified yesterday was Pvt
Frank N. Manthos, assigned to in
active duty with No. police pre-
cinct. He was closeted only brieny
with the jurors.
Police reported Jones record shows
he was sentenced to from SIX
months to a year in 1886 on a
charge of setting up gaming table
here. They said he was arrested in
1910 on charges of operating lot
The special grand jury has been
inquiring into organized bet-taking
here since it was impaneled MAY
m. The investigation has produced
no indictments to date, but United
States Attorney George Morris Fay
continues to indicate that he ex-
nects some results by fall.
The proceedings are required by
law to be conducted behind closed
doors and Mr.. Fay will not talk
about them. The pury has been
meeting infrequently during recent
weeks.
The regular District grand jury
continues to hear evidence on cur
rent gambling raids and arrests by
police.
Evening star., 1948-09-18

UIlc 1 3 IL q
Electric g. Power Co. employees is
Walter G.. Furland, 81, of Route 2,
Fairfax, who received deep burns
about the head, shoulder and back.
Also seriously burned was Clifton
c. Smith, %, of 1923 South Eight
eenth street, Arlington. Mr.. Smith S
injuries were on shoulder and a
leg. He became entangled in the
live wires and was hurt after he
helped lower Mr.. Furland from the
top of power line pole.
James Milton Chase, 18, son OF
Mrs. Rosabelle Chase. 13l Clnquapln
Village. Alexandria, was credited
both with sharing in Mr.. Furland
rescue and with lowering the in
jured Mr.. Smith to the ground
When he climbed down the pole, Mr.
Chase collapsed but was soon re-
vived and did not require hospital
treatment.
Company officials said a line crew
was installing a circuit distributor
when the accident occurred. The
lob was IN connection with an IN
crease in power from 1900 to 4,OOO
volts.
Mr.. Chase said that Mr.. Furland
who is approximately 6 feet b inches
tall, apparently touched wire with
an unprotected portion of his body
when he swung out" from the pole
tn descend He said Mr.. Furiand S
height and long arms caused nlm TO
swing" through a large arc.
Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Chase went
up the pole to lower their injured
co-Worker and had just done so
when Mr.. Smith touched the wire
Mr.. Chase recounted. Then, alone,
Mr.. Chase managed to lower the
second victim. using rope and
hooks.
Evening star., 1948-09-18

Washington after extensive service
elsewhere
Miss Gabower has masters de-
gree in social service administration
from the University of Chicago,
and began here career in a private
childrens agency in Chicago. From
1896 to 1912, she was director of
social work at the Juvenile Court
here. Later she served as consultant
in problems of juvenile delinquency
with the Childre's Bureau.
During the war she Joined the
UNRRA as child welfare consul
tant to the Italian Mission, with
headquarters in Rome. Following
the close of UNRRA she returned
to Italy for the United Nations as
welfare advisory to the Italian gov
ernment.
Evening star., 1948-09-18

i'll September 8, complaining of nau-
sea and aches in her neck and back,
her parents said.
DR.. Robert E. Maher said he saw
T the girl the following day. On FIJI
day, September 10, she became
worse, AND was sent to GallingeF
and placed Immediately in res
pirator, he said.
Operation Performed.
When breathing became more diff
ficult. even in the respirator. staff
doctors Tuesday performed trache-
otomy, DR.. Alvin r. Sweeney, Gal
linger superintendent, said. The
operation consists of cutting into
the wind pipe below the vocal cords
and inserting a breathing tube,
Thereafter, Barbara seemed to
improve, DR.. Sweeney said. But
doctors noticed irregularities in her
heart beat Yesterday shortly before
death, indicating that nerves con-
trolling the heart had become in
volved
A native of Westerly, R. l., Barbara
came to Washington as child. She
graduated from high school August
20, after attending summer school,
the father said. Mr.. Scruggs is
assistant to the vice president OF
Eastern Air Lines.
Funeral Tomorrow.
Besides her parents, Barbara Is
survived by 6-year-old sister,
Karen, and two grandmothers, Mrs.
w. P. Scruggs of Orlando, Fla, and
Mrs. Nell Jackley of Washington.
Funeral services will be held at 2
pm. tomorrow at the Reuben
Pumphrey funeral home, 1857 Wis
consin avenue, Bethesda. Burial
will be in Rock Creek Cemetery.
The total number of polio victims
treated so far this year in Wash
ington hospitals stands at 153, of
which "a have been District resi-
dents. Only nine District cases were
reported at this time last year
The total still is far under the
1876 District victims listed for the
WEEh 10 AL 10fT,
Health Department officials said.
DR.. Carl c. Dauer of the infectious
diseases bureau said past expert
ence indicates the number of new
cases should decline during re-
naming months of the year.
Three New Virginia Cases.
Three new cases brought the Vir-
ginia total to 358 today. In Balti-
more, the Maryland Chapter of the
National Foundation for Infantile
Paralysis announced it is sending
two iron lungs to Columbus, Ohio, to
cope with an outbreak of 100 cases
there within the last three days.
/ Southern CALIFORNIA; polio epi-
demic continued unabated, with "a
more victims reported in a 24-hour
( period, health authorities said. The
new cases brought the years total
in Los Angeles County to 1852.
At the same time, an insurance
agency announced for the first time
a polio protection policy, according
to the Associated Press. 1t would
pay up to $1,000, with 3-year pro-
lection starting at $3.50.
Evening star., 1948-09-18
|Cubbie Thworts
Woman PIunninq
Leap OFF Bridge

A cab driver who became suspi-
cious when his passenger refused
change from her fare on arrival at
the Benning Bridge, saying she had
mo use for money" thwarted a pos
sible suicide attempt early today.
The driver, william j. Hill OF the
East Side Cab Co., told police col
ored woman, about 40, hailed his cab
at Forty-ninth street and Sheriff
road NE At the bridge she handed
bin a 81 bill, refused her change
and dismissed the cab, he said.
Mr.. Hill notified Detective Serst.
Paul Clarke and Precinct Detective
j. T. Bailey of the incident when
he encountered their cruiser. At
the bridge Sergt. Clarke grappled
with the woman and subdued her,
She was taken to No. 9 precinct and
later to Gallinger Hospital for men,
tai observation, police said
Evening star., 1948-09-18
Man Injured in Collapse
OF Wall Dies at HOSPITAL

Carl Conley, 40, colored, 1910 ver-
mont avenue NV. died at Freed
mems Hospital today of injuries re-
ceived Thursday in the collapse of a
wall at warehouse under construc-
ton near the Baltimore e. Ohio
Railroad tracks at Ninth and Frank
lin streets NV.
He said five other workmen were
injured. Clyde Cook, 10, colored.
1922 N street NV. is still in a seri-
Gus condition at Freedmen's Hos
pital with a skull fracture.
The men were hurt when a sec
ton of a wall collapsed while they
were setting forms for cement.
Evening star., 1948-09-18
Youths Yoke and Rob
Men in Niqht Attacks

One man was attacked and an
other was yoked and robbed of S12
within 10 minutes last night, pre-
sumably by the same group of
youths, who escaped, police reported
today.
Pat Malone, so, colored, l62 P
street NV, told police he was set
upon In the 1900 block of First street
NV. by four or five colored boys
who finally fled when he fought
them of.
| Ten minutes later, about 1876
o'clock, police were informed. a
group of teen-age colored boys yokec
and robbed Otis Booker, IS, colored
of 237 r street NV. at North Capi.
tol and Bates streets. The assal-
lants then ran south.
Evening star., 1948-09-18
Draft DeferI11ent
List Includes
'147 Ailments
| FIot Feet, Alcoholism
| Among Reasons in
Trumun Directive

Flat feet, alcoholism and stut-
tering will keep men from being
drafted, a 31-page presidential di-
rective revealed as Selective Serv-
ice completed the registration today
of men 18 through 25 years old.
Men who were born in 1880 before
September 10 finished the signing
up process which was begun August
80 and Frank D. Norton, deputy
District draft director, issued call
to those who have not registered to
do so between s am. and 5 pm. to-
day at the registration centers.
After today registrants must sign up
at the Selective Service headquar-
tiers, Temporary Building No. 2,
1901 D street NV.
President Truman listed lat dis
eases or ailments that may dis
qualify a registrant for service"
Policy Change Recalled.
Flat feet kept men out of World
War I but did not keep their sons
from serving in World War II.
Alcoholism must be chronic ito
such a degree as to interfere with
following a useful vocation in life
to provide a deferment.
Other ailments or deformities
listed in the directive included:
Deformity of an eyelid, certain
warts on weight areas"
deep scars that show a tendency to
break, loss of a thumb, active peptic
ulcer if confirmed by X-ray or sur
gical examination, tumors, venereal
diseases, sexual perversion.
The directive called them "ob-
vious defects" which disqualify
man from service.
Checkup May Be Asked.
The reaction in some military
circles was that the new list, plus
the Presidents previous long list of
occupational deferments. would cut
very seriously into the pool of avail
able manpower for actual drafting
and some officials expressed the be-
lief that some of the regulations
might have to be tightened up later
to supply the flow of men needed
to build UP the Army.
The new directive ordered that
registrant could ask for local med
ical checkup if he thought he had
any of the deferring ailments.
Also the directive stated that
draft calls would be determined on
the basis of the actual number OF
regiStrants classified IA available
for military service) and lao
conscientious objectors available
for noncombatant service) who have
been found acceptable for service.
Postponements Possible.
Postponements of inductions up
to four months may be granted, the
order says, in the case of the death
of a member of the registrant's
family. his own illness or "other
extreme emergency beyond the reg
lstrant's control
Selective Service officials had no
idea how many men are now on its
books and said they would not know
until next week Earlier they had
estimated 100000 men would be
registered, but there were reports
from some States that registration
had been light. These reports
brought from Selective Service
warning that stiff penalties were
provided for failure to register.
In the District 1858 had been
signed up through yesterday. Off,
cials expected the total to run well
off $1,000.
Evening star., 1948-09-18
Court-MartiaI Set tuesday
In Fatal Shooting Of Recruit

An Army court-martial will be
convened Tuesday at Fort Myer to
hear charges against Pvt. Gerald
r. wilkins of Marshfield. Wis, IN
the fatal shooting at the post OF
Recruit Robert H. Smith, Jr., OF
jamestown. N. Y.
Headquarters of the Military Dis
trict of washington. in announcing
the proceedings today, said that
Pvt. wilkins would be charged with
homicide.
Recruit Smith was shot when he
allegedly attempted to escape from
Army control on the night of Sep
tember 8.
Evening star., 1948-09-18
St. Johns to Observe
Homecoming Sunday

Members of st. Johns Episcopal
Church, Wisconsin avenue and
Bradley lane, Chevy Chase, Md,
will observe tomorrow as Home
coming Sunday, the Rev. William F.
Creighton, rector, announced. Mr.
Creighton will speak at II am. on
The Life of the Parish"
Registration for the church school
will be held at $50 am. tomorrow
for children in the upper school and
at II am. for those in the nursery
ana kindergarten. Clarence w
Phillips is general superintendent
of the school.
Evening star., 1948-09-18

Washington hotels already are
heavily booked for Inauguration
week in January.
A survey today showed several
hotels are booked to capacity for
that period and reservations in
others are heavy, although the ques-
ton of who will be sworn in on
January 20 is still in doubt.
The Hotel Washington reported
it is sold out for the three days
of the Inauguration program, start
ing January 19. Reservations have
teen coming in, it was said, from
ali parts of the country for quite
time"
Evening star., 1948-09-18
Woman, 56, Found Hanged
In Attic Of ARLINGTON Home

The body of Mrs. Gladys Irene
Coakley, S. was found hanged last
night in the attic of her home. 130
South Highland street, Arlington
police reported.
The police quoted a son as saying
he found his mother hanged by a
sash cord tied to rafter, when he
returned home about $50 pm.
DR.. w. C. Welburn, Arlington
coroner, said he had not issued a
certificate in the death.