davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-12-10
Five Accused Policemen Face
Call in AcuIotti Case Monday

| The trial Of Atillio Acalotti on
charges he tried to intin1idate a
Government witness while she
was telling authorities that he
was professional gambler is to
be continued Monday.
The witnesses under summons
by the defense are five police Of
fcers. named by the prosecution S
ace informer, Miss Bernice Frank
lin, 35. who has testified she lived
with Acalotti for many months.
| The officers mentioned by Miss
Franklin, an attractive divorce
and the mother of six children,
were accused by her as having ac-
cepted hush money from Acalotti.
Acalotti, who is AZ, and runs a
newsstand near Thomas Circle.
| is being tried in District Court
on charges that he threatened
Miss Franklin during two tele-
phone conversations while she
was giving her version Of his &C
tivities to the Washington Post,
the District Attorneys Office and
the grand jury.
Witness Recalled.
Judge Alexander Holtzof late
Yesterday permitted the prosecu-
ton to reopen its case and recall
to the stand Miss Nola Andrews,
waitress. who lives in the 1900
block of Twelfth street NV.
This was done over the objec-
ton of Defense Counsel Charles E
Ford, who represented Miss An
drews in an effort to stop the
Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
phone Co. from disconnecting her
service.
Miss Andrews was recalled to
testify that she had not been al
lowed to make a full answer to
questions submitted to her while
she was on the stand Thursday
afternoon.
At that time, she was stopped
by the court when she appeared
to be volunteering information
not in response to direct questions
Miss Andrews, who admitted un-
der cross-examination later that
she had been convicted in Virginia
and North Carolina for bootleg
ging, told the jury she had in
formed Mr.. Ford that threats had
been made over her telephone at
the time she retained him to rep
resent her against the telephone
company.
Tell of Hearing Threats.
Miss Andrews and her room
mate, Miss Ruth Ensor, previously
had testified Acalottt was in theil
apartment on the night Of March
4 when they heard him threaten
to bash" in the face of woman
he addressed as Bernice. They
also testified that, when they took
him to task for such language, he
| informed them he was going tc
get "the boys" together and ar
range a way to dispose of Miss
Franklin.
Mr.. Ford then introduced a
| statement sworn to in his office
by Miss Andrews in which she de-
MED that any threatening conver-
sation between Acalotti and Miss
Franklin had occurred over heI
telephone. This statement was
submitted to Judge Holtzoff, and
he ruled against Miss Andrews or
Evening star., 1949-12-10
Barron Given Relief
By Theater Chain 10
Push Sesqui Work

Loew's, Inc, has sent an official
here to relieve Carter T. Barron,
the theater chains Eastern Divi-
sion manager, of part of his reg
ular duties so he can give more
time to his work as executive vice
chairman of the National Capitals
Sesquicentennial celebration.
Mr.. Barron, now taking it easy
for the most part at home, is ex-
pected to leave Washington
shortly before Christmas for a
rest in the warm sunshine of the
South on the Far East. He is
expected to return to his duties
between January Is and February
/. He has been suffering from a
pain in his left shoulder but is
now under the care of Wishing
ton physician and is receiving
treatment.
To help Mr.. Barron at LoeW's,
his company has brought in a
former associate, Orville w.
Crouch. who is now assistant
division manager.
In Key West With Flu.
Mr.. Barron was in Key West,
Fla, over the last week end. but he
returned to Washington Sunday
night. He took with him a print
of the movie, battle-ground" de-
picting the Battle of the Bulge,
so that the President and his
family and the White House staff
could see the film. Mr.. Truman,
who is chairman OF the Sesquicen-
tennial Commission. missed the
preview of the picture in Wash
ington, Loew's officials here said.
Mr.. Barron aided materially in
getting from Congress the $3,000,-
900 appropriation that started the
Sesquicentennial activities. He ap-
peared at numerous hearings on
behalf of the Freedom Fair,
planned as a feature of the cele-
bration.
Associates pointed out he has
been carrying heavy work load
for a long time.
On Inaugural Committee.
He served as chairman of the
Parade and Special Events Com
mittee of the Inaugural Com
mittee. He, also took a heading
part in plans for the Inaugural
Ball and Gala Concert. His regu-
lar duties as Eastern Division
manager involves supervision of
II theaters in seven cities. These
include Harrisburg and Reading,
Pa, Wilmington. DEL. Baltimore,
Richmond and Norfolk. That
meant he was travelling a good
deal of the time-a task Mr..
Crouch will now assume.
Mr.. Barron is also a member Of
the executive committee of the
Board of Trade and a member of
the board of governors Of the
Variety Club. a theatrical group.
He is also Washington studio rep
resentative of Metro -Goldwyn-
Mayer Pictures and will continue
in that capacity. He also will be
directly responsible for the thea
tiers.
Mr.. Barron, a Georgia Tech
graduate and former football star,
has been in Washington since 1881.
Evening star., 1949-12-10
Man Is Slain,
Wife Shot in
Gard Game Row
Suspect, q, Is Held
In Murder; Womon's
Condition Critical

A man was shot to death and
his wife was wounded early today
when a three-handed card game
blew up into a row when the third
player lost dollar. wanted tc
quit and got slapped.
Police said the dead man was
Melvin Morrow. %, colored. OF
1915 U street NV. The wounded
woman was identified as Morrow's s
wife, Mrs. Catherine Morrow. "a
Freedmens Hospital listed her
condition as critical, with bullet
wounds In the abdomen.
Held on a murder charge is a
man named Hazel Cunningham
rs, colored, of the 1000 block OF
New Jersey avenue NV.
Cunningham was arraigned be-
fore United States Commissioner
Cyril S. Lawrence on the murder
charge. He was held without bail
and the case was continued to De-
cember 81.
Loser at "Pitty Pat"
Police said heswas the loser at
"pitty-pat," a flve-card game
somewhat like poker. He went
home and got his 12-shot pistol,
police said, returned to the U
street address and shot his card
playing companions and then
went home to bed.
Police arrested him after check
ing names in the black address
book found in the Morrows' room.
He was the fourth person checked
as they ran down the list of
names.
The shooting occurred shortly
before l am, but the shots were
not heard despite the fact a res
taurant on the ground floor of the
U street rooming house was
crowded. A waitress from across
the street seeking lodging for the
night in the rooming house found
Morrow's body on the second
floor stair landing.
Woman Found Wounded.
When police arrived they heard
a moaning sound and found Mrs.
Morrow in the Morrows' third
floor room.
Detective Sergts. Arthur H.
Molle and Nunzio Bonaccorsy, of
the Robbery Squad. were dis
patched to the rooming house
from the pool room at 913 Ninth
street NV, where they were
among rhe numerous police called
in the Staying of Joseph H. Chg
Joe) Scheve.
They said Cunningham told
them he wanted to quit after los
ing a dollar, and one of his COM
panions slapped him. He got a
cab and went home, got his pistol
and went back, and when the
argument was resumed he opened
fire, police said he told them. The
officers said they found Cunning
hams 12-shot German pistol in
his room and it still contained
five cartridges.
Evening star., 1949-12-10
''100Con1niftee'
Memorial
On Nevius Tract
Gen. Grant Coils for
Monument to Nations
Basic Principles

Use Of the Nevius tract in Ar
lington as terraced national
memorial was urged yesterday by
the Committee of 100 on the Fed
eral City.
The group. which met in the
offices of the American Planning
and Civic Association in the
Union Trust Building, asked that
the site, once selected as the loca-
ton for new veterans hospital.
be kept in public ownership"
and be developed as monument
to "the principles on which our
country was founded"
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III, for
mer chairman Of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission and now head of the plan
ming and civic group, offered the
two-part resolution. pointing out
that the National Capital has
many monuments to individual
men but none to the Nations
basic principles.
Fine View of City.
Gen. Grant explained that the
tract offers a fine" view of the
city, and it was not his intent to
erect a large building on it. He
suggested a terrace development,
with "inconspicuous monumental
treatment.
C. Melvin Sharpe. committee
chairman, said it was the UNDER
standing of his group that what
ever. portions of the tract not used
in the monument should be made
available for expansion of Arling-
ton National Cemetery.
Thursdays planning commission
action on the Soldiers Home,
which generally called for pre-
serving the greater portion Of the
470-acre reservation as open
space" also was Endorsed by the
committee. on motion of Harry S.
Wender. chairman of the District
Recreation Board.
Favors Recreation Space.
Mr.. Wender said he was par
ticularly interested in the portion
of the commissions suggestion
that recreation space be per-
mitted near the residential area
for personnel, in the event a vet
erans' hospital is erected on the
site.
With regard to a bill intro
duced in Congress by Representa-
tive Sasscer, Democrat, of Mary
land, which would provide for
establishment of a commission to
study the need for co-ordinated
regional planning in the Metro
politan Area, Mr., Sharpe ap-
pointed three-man committee to
meet with Mr.. SasScer to iron out
differences.
This followed an assertion by
Blair Lee, III, chairman of the
Marylan Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission. that the need
for a co-ordinated agency is self
evident, and lone more planning
commission in this area would be
chaotic" Named to the commit
tee, besides Mr.. Lee, were J. Bond
Smith. member of the Maryland
Capital Commission, and Frede-
rick Tuemmler, planning director
for Prince Georges County.
Evening star., 1949-12-10
Parole Suit Filed to Compel
Prisoners Return to District

the lure of drugs was growing tC
strong for him to fight alone, he
said.
Judge Keech praised Deaton
He said he thought his position
was admirable" and assured him
the court wanted to help him
But he warned Deaton that the
court would lose jurisdiction over
him so days after he started serv-
ing his sentence.
Relied on Public Law.
Deaton placed his reliance on
Public Law 1913. which Congress
enacted to meet just such cases
as his by enabling the Parole
Board to return prisoners to the
jurisdiction of the court when they
have been rehabilitated. He was
sent to the Public Health Service
Hospital for drug addicts at Lex
ington. KY, as Federal prisoner.
Last July the hospital informed
Mr.. Deaton's attorney he had been
cured and was ready to be released.
Mr.. Webster asked that the man
be sent to the District Jail.
+ On October 10 Deaton was re-
turned to Washington. Pending
before the Parole Board was a
formal request for invocation of
Public Law 1873.
No court has ordered Deaton
jailed as punishment, the board
was reminded. The prisoner,
seeking his own rehabilitation,
had voluntarily asked for COM
mitment to the Federal hospital.
The hospital had reported him
cured.
Board Denies Request.
Last month Mr.. Webster received
a letter from Parole Executive
Hugh F. Rivers.
II regret to advise you." the
letter said, that, after careful
consideration of all the facts, the
board denies the request"
Informally he was told, Mr.:
Webster said, that "after all'
Deaton would be eligible to ask for
parole on January 81 and his
case would be considered again at
that time.
Mr.. Webster says the Parole
Board is taking upon itself the
inf1iction of punishment that a
District Court judge said Deaton
did not deserve when he was con-
victed originally.
The time between now and
January 27 may pass swiftly for
the busy Parole Board members,
Mr.. Webster said, but Deaton has
been counting the hours and days
since July.
And Deaton has a wife and
family. He wants to be home with
them for Christmas.
Evening star., 1949-12-10
Grass PLANTING
| By Highway Unit
Yields Turnips
By the Assoeioted Press

LEXINGTON, Va. Dec. TO-
The highway department got more
than it bargained for when II
thought it. was planting grass seed
along Route II south of here.
Turnips are growing on the
banks of the road. c. H. Moore,
highway department foreman
said he had one weighing 6
pounds. Lacey Cummings, service
station operator, said he found a
turnip weighing s pounds and II
ounces.
Evening star., 1949-12-10
Record Number Exhaustine
JobIess Benefits Here

More District unemployed will
have exhausted their jobless bene-
fit rights this year than in any
previous year, c. A. Wharton. d.
rector of the District Unemploy-
ment Compensation Board, said
yesterday.
Mr.. Wharton attributed this to
cutting down of wartime staf1s
In both Government and business
He said that businessmen are re-
tanning higher skilled employees
and letting out less productive
ones. The board pays benefits
ranging from Sc to $40 a week for
| maximum period of 20 weeks.
Evening star., 1949-12-10

May IL, with the result Llldt ileI
telephone service was disconnec-
ted.
Assistant United States Attor-
ney William Hitz requested per-
mission late yesterday to reopen
the Government case. The court
ruled, after a bench conference,
that this permission would be
granted.
Miss Andrews was recalled to
the stand. She said that, on her
first visit to Mr.. Ford's Office. she
went at the insistence of Acalotti
and with him.
Quizzed on Conversation.
"Was there conversation about
certain telephone call at that
time?" Mr.. Hitz asked. The reply
was, "yes."
What was said and vino said
it?" was the next question.
Miss Andrews replied they were
talking to Mr.. Ford about the case.
She said she informed Mr.. Ford
and the others present that
threats had been made over her
telephone. She added that Acalot-
ii had nothing to say at that time.
Judge Moltzoff asked. Did you
say anything to enybody?"
"Yes," was the answer.
did you say who made the
threats?" The answer was, mo. u
The witness said she understood
from the general conversation
that Acalotti admitted threats had
been made and that Mr.. Ford
asked, What threats?"
Miss Andrews then added that
Mr.. Ford was informed by Acalotti
that he had threatened Bernice
Franklin over the telephone.
Cross-Examination.
In cross-examination, Mr.. Ford
asked the witness when she re-
allied there was a direct con-
f1ict between her sworn state
ment to the telephone company
and her testimony ON the stand.
She replied this only occurred to
her while Mr.. Ford was cross
examining her Thursday.
The first defense witness was
Attorney Harry c. Adler, an as
sociate of Mr.. Ford. MIR. Adler
testified that, about last April 1,
Miss Andrews. Miss Ensor and
Acalotti called at the office he
shares with Mr.. Ford and pre-
sented a letter from the telephone
company to the effect that Miss
Andrews telephone service was In
jeopardy.
Mr.. Adler said he took notes
from the two women and made
that the basis Of an affidavit he
was to file in District Court to
enforce continuance OF Miss An
drews' telephone service.
Later, he said, affidavits were
filed by Miss Franklin. He added
| that he had received and read at
least three of them before talk
ing to Miss Andrews to prepare
Ian answer in the telephone suit.
The attorney said he asked
Miss Andrews If she had any
reply to charges as stated in af-
fidavits from Miss Franklin. Her
answer, he said. was that Miss
Franklin has been bothering me
so much am going to have my
telephone number changed"
Evening star., 1949-12-10
Final Arguments SET
Monday in Robertson
Trial for Staying

The case of Clarence w. Robert
son, IS, former Washington Gas
Light Co. employe. accused Of
second-degree murder in the
fatal shooting of his wife. Mrs.
Lizzie Lucille Robertson. "a, last
March, is scheduled to go to a
District Court jury on Monday.
Judge James r. Kirkland, who
is presiding at the trial, yesterday
recessed the trial until then after
the defense had rested. Final
arguments are scheduled to be
made by opposing counsel Mon
day morning.
Meanwhile, the defense's case
was bolstered late yesterday
through the testimony of Dr..
Amino Perretti. senior psychiatrist
at Gallinger Hospital. who had
examined Robertson at request of
the prosecution, but who was
called as witness by Defense At
torney James j. Laughlin.
Irresistible Impulse"
DR.. Perretti supported the de-
fense contention that Robertson
acted on irresistible impulse"
when he shot and fatally wounded
Mrs. Robertson in her apartment
at 1925 Eleventh street NV. on
March 20 and also shot and
wounded Marine Pvt. Everett l..
Flagg, %.
II believe that for a brief time
this young man was Of unsound
mind. He had this impulse which
he could not control" DR.. Per-
retti testified. He added that he
believes Robertson is of sound
mind now, but still suffering from
depression"
DR.. Perretti, under cross-exam-
ination by Assistant United States
Attorney Grace B. Stiles, who is
prosecuting Robertson. told of the
defendants domestic difficulties.
"He gradually got to point
where he could not control him
SELF" added DR.. Perretti. Il
thought this young man was COM
pletely deranged when he. killed
his wife-so deranged that he
could not differentiate between
right and wrong"
Appeared Very Frank
Dr.. Perretti testified that, when
he examined Robertson last
Thursday, the defendant kept
telling him how he loved Mrs.
Robertson.
He appeared very frank, "Dr.
Perretti added, and expressed the
view Robertson was mot trying
to make up anything
DR.. Perretti's testimony was in
conflict with testimony given
earlier by DR.. Joseph l.. Gilbert,
chief psychiatrist at Gallinger
Hospital, who testified Robertson
never had been of unsound
mind" ~.
Two other psychiatrists had tes-
titled Robertson was of "unsound
mind" and suffered from emo
tional disturbances.
Robertson also being tried on
charge of assault with a danger
Gus weapon in the shooting and
Wounding of Pvt. Flagg.
Evening star., 1949-12-10
Vote Here Could Cure
Many Segregation Ills,
Civic Federation Told

A great many "of the Ills re-
sulting from discrimination anc
segregation would be cured. il
District residents had the right tt
vote and could hold their elected
officials responsible for the ad
ministration of community affairs
|C. Girard Davidson. assistant
Secretary Of the Interior, said las
night at the annual dinner of tht
Federation of Civic Associations.
He was principal speaker at tn.
function. which especially honoree
George E. C. Hayes, attorney ane
former member of the Board O.
Education. The dinner was hele
in the Washington Vocationa
School, 81 o street NV.
I'm recent years. we have made
our minorities of every descrip'
ton painfully conscious of theil
minority status" Mr.. Davidson
declared, commenting that thi
would indicate that we are doubt.
full of the stability of democrac.
itself"
He warned that artificial bar.
riers of prejudice or fear" mus
be removed because they preven
people from doing productiv,
work. from pulling their full
weight in the drive to make thi
a better world"
Mr.. Davidson paid particula
tribute to Mr.. Hayes for his eff
forts in greatly strengthenin,
our American faith" in accord
ance with the bill of rights. MI
Davidson also lauded the Fedora
ton for it's fight in trying to guar
antee first class citizenship" TO
all District residents.
Additional tribute to Mr.. Haye
also came from the representa-
tives of organizations in which
he has served. These included tn,
National Association for the Ad
vancement of Colored People, AL
pha Kappa Psi Fraternity. tn,
YMCA. the Northwest Settlemen
House. the Board of Education
the District courts, the Washing
ton Bar Association, Howars
University and several clubs.
Plaque Presented.
Mr.. Hayes received a plaque
presented by John B. Duncan
second vice-president of the Fed.
Grafton.
The Evening Star award wa!
presented to the Erie Civic AS
sociation for being the group tina
made the greatest civic achieve.
ment during the past year. Th'
award was presented by DR.
Emerson Williams, chairman o.
the Civic Awards Committee o.
the Federation.
Miss Julia Davis was chairman
Of the arrangements committee
Opening remarks were by Ernes
F. Harper. past president of tht
Federation. Woolsey w. Hall, pres
ident of the group introduced the
presidents of the various associa'
ton member organizations.
Evening star., 1949-12-10
In an unprecedented legal move

In an unprecedented legal move
suit for a mandatory injunction
to compel the District Parole
Board to return a prisoner to the
jurisdiction of the District Court
in order that he might ask for
his freedom was filed in court to-
day.
The suit filed by Attorney John
Webster on behalf Of William r.
Deaton, As, accused the Parole
Board of 'capricious and arbitrary
abuse of discretion" in refusing to
use authority granted to it by the
8Oth Congress.
A story of an injured mans
determined and successful fight
to conquer the drug habit, only
to run afoul of red tape, was
related in the suit.
Prescription to Ease Pain.
Deaton, a baker, collapsed in
pain while carrying a heavy con-
tainer of dough on July /, 1916.
Physicians said X-rays disclosed
a malignant tumor of the spine.
He began getting prescriptions to
ease his continuing pain.
Nine months later Deaton
learned he did not have cancer.
His pain came from a fracture of
the sixth dorsal vertebra, suffered
when he lifted the heavy contain
er of dough. He applied for Work.
mems Compensation.
But the pain continued. and the
times between drug prescriptions
grew shorter.
Deaton's funds grew low. No
longer could he earn $40 week as
baker. Only at intervals could
he do light work. Financial wor-
ries combined with the gnawing
pain in his back.
On April 8, 1948. he committed
his first crime. He doubled the
quantity of pain relief pills he was
entitled to receive under his doc
tors prescription.
First Crime In June '48.
That was the story Judge Rich
mond B. Keech heard when Dea-
ton pleaded guilty to his first
crime on June 6. 1948.
The judge told Deaton he had
no intention of sending him to
jail. But. in view of the guilty
plea, he was compelled to place
him on probation. He warned him
of the dangers of the drug habit.
Deaton came back before Judge
Keech on January q. The Pro-
baton Office had no complaint
against his record. He appeared
voluntarily to ask that he be
committed, to a Federal Hospital
for help in whipping the drug
habit.
The contest between pain and
Evening star., 1949-12-10

'Dr. Franklin P. Moore" to bad
checks, was arrested Tuesday
when he sought to buy clothing
with a S10Q check at Franklin &
Simon Co., 1850 Connecticut ave-
nue. NV. Mrs. Marie Seymour, a
clerk, remembered warning
against a bad check artist who
posed as a doctor. She called po-
lice, and Corbitt was arrested
outside the store.
Evening star., 1949-12-10
More Oranges in Crop,
Grapefruit Supply OFF
By fhe As,oeioted Press

Supplies of citrus fruit this sea.
son will be Virtually the same as
last season, the Agriculture De-
partment said yesterday in it's first
full report on. the crop prospects.
The makeup of the supply will
|be different. however. with more
oranges and fewer grapefruit this
season.
Evening star., 1949-12-10

Adams Corbitt,
49, of Loui ! S.
vile, was held
under 81 90 0
b o n d on a
charge of false
pre- t e n S e S by
Judge Almond
w. Scott.
Corbitt, who
police sa | d
S G n e d such
names as "Dr.
Roy c. Adams" +"
'Dr. ia m e S
Evening star., 1949-12-10
Fake Doctor Held Here
On Bad-Check Charqe

A fake doctor accused by police
of passing several bad checks
here was held for grand jury &C
tion in Municipal Court yesterday
C1if n r n