davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1951-11-21

Inspector Oscar j. Letterman, 60,
an assistant superintendent and
night supervisor, has been in the
Police Department for 80 years.
Born in st. James, Mo-, he served
IL years in the Regular Army.
Inspector Letterman spent a year,
in 1919. on the Kansas City (Mo0
police force, then he returned to the
Army.
Following his Army service, he
came to. the Metropolitan Police De-
partment on June 6, 1921, and was
assigned to No. Precinct. Then for
year he was with the White House
Police. He returned to the Metro
politan force as sergeant at No.
Precinct, where he was in charge OF
the vice detail for more than two
years during the 20s He built a
racket-smashing reputation at this
time while heading a special gam
bling squad. In 1929 he was ap-
pointed a lieutenant and went to
No. 6 Precinct, where he served as
night inspector, although his rank
was lieutenant.
Inspector Letterman was captain
of No. 4 Precinct for six years, of No.
II Precinct for one year, and of No. 3
for like period. In l945 he was
named an inspector and directed to
organize the headquarters vice squad,
a new unit to combat gambling and
prostitution. In 1947. through his
own request. he left this job and was
put in charge of the First District.
In 1947 he became assistant super
intendent in charge of the uniformed
force.
Inspector Letterman often has
been commended in connection with
vice and robbery cases.
He and his wife. Georgia, live at
2030 F street NV. Their son John
is an attorney.
Evening star., 1951-11-21

A Hyattsville soldier who mar
ried Korean girl last Valentine S
Day is bringing his bride home
for a visit with the family.
And the news of his impending
arrival proved so exciting for Mrs.
w. r. Lowe, sr., that she could
hardly talk about her son.
THAT makes it the best Thanks
giving I could have" Mrs. Lowe
said today.
Sergt. William r. Lowe, jr.,
boarded a plane today in Tokyo
with 10 other soldiers and their
excited Asiatic war brides. The
plane is expected to reach San
Francisco tomorrow afternoon.
Sergt. loves bride is named
You-Ja but his mother said he
calls her Nina Lee. The mother
said she is looking forward as
much to seeing the daughter-in-
law as having her son at home.
Sergt. Lowe received two Bronze
Evening star., 1951-11-21

Inspector John E. Fondahl, who is
So, now is on leave from the Police
Department as director of District
civil defense, a job he took over
officially last May %. He had been
acting director from September. 1850.
He has served as soldier, sailor
and Marine during both world wars.
In the last war. he was lieutenant
colonel with the Fourth Marine Di-
vision and now holds that rank in
the reserve.
He was appointed to the force in
November, 1928, and assigned as pa
trolman at No. Precinct. In June,
1925, he was tried for neglect of duty
and fined $40. In September. 1925,
he was found not guilty of charges
of wilfully maltreating and using un-
necessary violence toward a prisoner.
His assignments have included
work in No. and No. Precincts
and the Traffic Division. He was a
motorcycle man, injured several
times. and at one time was a station
clerk. He also has seen duty as
horse officer. In July, 1880, he was
promoted to a motorcycle sergeant;
in October, 1885, to acting lieutenant
at No. /, and a month later, made
permanent lieutenant.
He was given military leave in
September. 1914, and returned to
police service in June, 1916, when he
was made acting lieutenant at head
quarters. He was appointed a cap
tain in February. 1947, and assigned
as night supervisor. Shortly after
ward he attended the FBI National
Academy and was president of his
class. Upon completion of the course,
he took command of No. II Pre-
cinct. Inspector Fondahl has several
concentrations.
He became an inspector when he
was named to the civil defense Job.
Evening star., 1951-11-21
D. {. 10 Seek Law 10 Ease GaInqer Doctor LICENSING

The Commissioners yesterday
turned down a suggestion that
first and second year resident
physicians at Gallinger Hospital
be called interns so that they
would not have to be licensed in
the District.
They voted, instead, to ask
Corporation Counsel Vernon E.
West to draft legislation that
would permit the residents to
function without licenses.
Commissioner F. Joseph Dono-
hue said living conditions at Gal
|linger have been reported as be-
ling bad. This factor and the re-
|quirement that residents be Ii
|censed are deterrents to Gal
linger's obtaining the physicians,
lhe said.
Evening star., 1951-11-21

inspector ROBERT 5. Bryant. who
is 40. is an assistant superintendent
who now is acting chief of police.
He holds 81 commentators, some of
them for breaking narcotics cases.
He was born in Bluffton, Ga. and
came to the District in 1920 He
served four years in the Army dur
ing two enliStmentS. Part of this
service was in the Attending Sur
geons' Office in the Munitions Build
ing. He was honorably discharged
in 1924, and entered the Metropolitan
Police Department in July of that
year, being assigned to the old No. /
precinct. He was at No. four years.
His next service was in No. 2
Precinct. At that time he and Pvt.
Van Hughes had the Pierce street
beat, then considered one of the most
dangerous in the city.
Inspector Bryant then became q
precinct detective at No. 2, starting
81 years of detective work. He soon
became detective sergeant at head
quarters, then was with the General
Assignment and Jewelry Squads.
Eight years with the narcotics detail
followed, and then he organized the
Sex Squad. Inspector Bryant be-
came a lieutenant. soon was ap-
pointed assistant chief Of detectives.
and on April l, 1948, became chief Of
detectives. He was named assistant
superintendent, in uniform, in Sep
tember, 1850. and was transferred to
administrative work.
His concentrations include praise
for his work on the Lansburgh mur-
der case and for solving the Staying
of Gordon C. Brown. Inspector Bry-
ant and his wife. Mary, have son,
Robert S., jr., 10, second-year pre-
medical student at George Washing
ton University.
Evening star., 1951-11-21

Inspector Robert v. Murray, IS,
assistant superintendent and chief of
detectives, has 141 concentrations
for his work in solving some of the
city's biggest murders, robberies and
other crimes.
He has risen steadily during his 81
years Of service. which began on
September 3, 1880, when he was ap-
pointed a foot patrolman in No. 10
Precinct. This was followed by two
years service in radio car. He
first was assigned to plainclotheS
from 1884 to 1886, when he was pro-
NOTED to precinct detective. He was
made a uniformed sergeant two years
later and assigned to No. 6 Precinct.
Additional service was with the
Detective Bureau Homicide Squad,
and he was made lieutenant in 1945
and named chief of the Robbery
Squad. His promotion to assistant
chief of detectives was in April, 1949.
He was made captain three months
later and remained as assistant chief
of detectives. He became assistant
superintendent and chief of detec-
tives on September !, 1850, having
been made inspector shortly before.
Inspector Murray received the
Gold Medal for Valor for capturing
three bandits in liquor store hold
up. Many Of his concentrations are
from grand juries, the United States
Attorneys Office, members of Con-
gress, the Commissioners and police
executives for his work in such cases
as the Dorothy Berrum rape murder.
the Nancy Boyer murder. the Cath
crime Reardon Staying. the murder
of John H. Knight, grocery clerk, and
the solving of the Pimple-Face Gang
robberies.
A native of Havre de Grace, Md,
he and his wife. Lillian. have q
daughter. ROSe-Marie. II.
Evening star., 1951-11-21
Andrews Base Fire Destroys
Major Part of Food Warehouse
Loss Believed High
As Flames Sweep
Bio CommissuY

A Board of Inquiry today was
investigating a wind-sWept fire,
which last night destroyed a large
portion of a big commissary ware
house at Andrews Air Force Base,
Md. No one was reported hurt.
No estimate of the DANCE can
be given until a detailed inventory
has been made, officials said, but
it was described as considerable.
Sweeps Through Building.
The blaze apparently started
about 6 pm, from unknown
causes. 1t centered in an air space
between the roof and ceiling and
veered to one end. This made it
hard for f1remen to fight. It swept
through the building to destroy al
most three-quarters of it.
The fire evidently started in the
center of the building, which was
252 feet long, so feet wide and
IS feet high. It housed the COM
missary sales store, which was
fashioned Ike a supermarket, and
also the stores of food for the base
dining halls, in quantities suffi-
cient to cover a two-month pc
riod.
Meat, Foodstuffs Saved.
i officials said about 100 airmen
operating in relays. removed the
equivalent of five truckloads OF
meat, other foodstuffs, cigarettes
and furniture. Additional quanti-
ties of meat for the base had been
stored elsewhere. Most of the tur-
keys for tomorrow's Thanksgiving
Day dinner for the airmen had
been delivered to base dining halls
long before the fire started, SO
the holiday feast will proceed as
scheduled.
Most of the damage was in the
sales store area, and was caused
by smoke and water as well as
fire.
1t took about so firemen from
the base an hour and half to
bring the blaze under full control
Evening star., 1951-11-21
Bus Driver Robbed
Of $13 by Two Men

William l.. Trest, 20, a Capital
Transit Co. bus driver, was robbed
Iof $13 on his bus at Keniiworth
and Eastern avenues NE. early
today.
Mr.. Trest told police his bus
was parked at the end Of the line
when two colored men boarded
it. One held his hand in his
pocket as though grasping a CUR
and demanded that he hand over
his money. When Mr.. Trest sur.
rendered his change carrier, both
linen jumped of the bus and fled
Evening star., 1951-11-21
George {. MeGhee
May Be Given Post
As Envoy 10 Turkey

Acting Secretary Of State Webb
said today that George c. Nc
Ghee. Assistant Secretary of State
for Near East, South Asian and
African affairs, is being con-
sidered for appointment as Am
bassador to Turkey.
Mr.. Webb told a news confer
ence that both President Truman
and Secretary of State Acheson
believe that Mr.. McGhee would
make an outstanding ambassador
but would sincerely regret to see
him leave Washington.
He said no decision has been
made yet. A number of persons
are being considered to succeed
Mr.. McGhee here, Mr.. Webb said.
But he added that that bridge
would not be crossed until a de-
cision is reached on whether Mr..
McGhee can be released from his
present job.
Middle East Involved.
One OF the factors bearing on
the matter. Mr.. Webb explained.
is the current effort to form a
Middle East command for Joint
defense of that area which would
lnaugurate a new period in rela-
tlons with Turkey and other Mid
die Eastern countries.
Another factor. he added, is the
departments general policy of not
leaving an ambassador in one post
over a long period of time. He
pointed out that George Wads-
worth has been Ambassador to
Turkey for more than three years
and is due for a change. Mr.,
Wadsworth, veteran career dip
lomat, may be shifted to a
European capital.
Mr.. Webb denied a report that
Alan G. Kirk, now Ambassador to
Russia, is being considered as the
flrst postwar Ambassador to Ger
many. Mr.. Kirk is expected to
retire from the Moscow post next
spring and be succeeded by George
kennan, veteran career diplomat
and expert on Russian affairs.
Many Difficulties Ahead.
In regard to the Middle East
command project, Mr.. Webb ad-
mitted that there are many diff
culties in getting it started. Egypt
has turned down an invitation
from the United States, Britain,
France and Turkey to become a
founder member of the alliance
and opposition to the project has
developed in other Arab countries.
But the United States has real
hope OF making rapid progress
toward formation of the command,
Mr.. Webb said. He added that
certainly this Government will
make an intensive effort. Pre-
sumably Mr.. McGhee would play
big part in this effort if he is
made Ambassador to Turkey-as
he has been doing as assistant
secretary in general of affairs in
the whole area.
Evening star., 1951-11-21
|McNoyr to Participate
In Municipal Session

Montgomery County Manager
Irving G. McNayr will participate
in the National Municipal Leagues
three-day Conference on Govern
|ment beginning Monday in Cincin-
natl, Ohio.
He will serve as a member OF
the city managers clinic on urgent
problems during Mondays session
and will speak on Financing
Suburban Services" In a panel
discussion during the final day
of the conference.
Evening star., 1951-11-21
Women Wins First $40
As Perfect Pedestrian

Mrs. Harry w. Boteler of 3014
r street NV. has been awarded
the first $40 gift certificate by
the Commissioners Traffic Ad-
visory Board for obeying pedes-
trian traffic regulations. it was
announced today.
Mrs. Boteler was awarded the
prize, plus a bouquet from Art
Lamb of television station WTTG
after she was selected as Mon.
days mystery" pedestrian Of the
day in contest sponsored by the
Commissioners traffic group. The
awards are being made this week
to persons seen obeying pedestrian
regulations at downtown inter.
sections.
Evening star., 1951-11-21
Two Boys Are Killed
while Playing With
Guns in D. T.. Area
Two young boys were dead today

Two young boys were dead today
as a result OF playing with guns
that weren't loaded"
The victims were Kenneth
Eugene Johnson. IL. of 2345|
Thirty fourth street Sc. shot I'M
the head with a .22-caliber pistol,
and Lawrence Alvin Elswick, 10,
who was on a Thanksgiving visit
in Takoma Park, Md. He was hit
in the stomach by charge from
a 12-gauge shotgun. Both acci-
dents happened early last night.
Police said Kenneth johnson
was hit in the right temple by aI
bullet accidentally fired from the
90 target pistol as he and al
friend. John Price johnson, Is,
played in the latter's home at 2497
Alabama avenue Sc. The boys
are not related.
Take Gun OF Shelf.
Kenneth, son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Clyde P. johnson. was a school,
mate Of John johnson at theI
Kramer Junior High School, ac-
cording to police. Kenneth'sl
father is an employe of the Amer
lean Automobile Association.
Described as close friends, the
left Kenneth's home,
police said. and went to Johns
apartment, one Of six In two
story brick building.
They were alone because Johns
father was at work as a pharma-
cist in the 2400 block Of Wisconsin,
avenue NV, and his mother and
sister Sharon, 5. were visiting inl
Lynchburg, Va.
The boys took the nine-shot re-
volver from shelf, according toI
Capt. jeremiah H. Flaherty, chief
of the homicide squad. and the
pistol went off in Johns hands,
killing Kenneth. John ran forl
help, but it was too late. police
said.
The body was taken to the Dis
trict morgue, where an inquest
was scheduled for 1880 pm. to-
day.
Playing "Cops- Robbers"
A short time earlier the Elswick
youngster. visiting in Takoma
Park from Harmon. Va. was &C
cidentally shot while playing
"cops and robbers" with his
nephew. Harold Rager, IL, at
6S01 Belford drive, Takoma Park.
Prince Georges County police
said Lawrence Elswick and his
older brother were here to spend
the Thanksgiving holidays with
their sister, Mrs. Joseph F. Nc
Gowan, at the Belford drive ad-
dress. Mrs. MCGOWAN is the
mother of Harold Rager.
Evening star., 1951-11-21
|CiviIian Trial Board
|Sifts Charge Against
Police PVT. Swank

An all-civilian trial board today
had under advisement charges ol
disobedience to orders and insub.
ordination. brought against sus.
pended police Pvt. Ray r. Swanh
of the ninth precinct.
Pvt. Swank. who won promi.
nence several weeks ago when HI
took a newspaper reporter on g
tour Of what he described a!
gambling joints. admitted to the
trial board that he had refused
an assignment at the precinct
but said he had been i'll, member.
of his family were i'll and the
combination of circumstances
caused him "to blow my top
The tour was conducted after
the suspension.
Defense Attorney James j
Laughlin read to the board
a letter he said he had written te
Emmitt Warning. big-shot Wash.
ington gambler, reminding the
latter that his testimony woulo
be desired. Warning had beer
subpoenaed but it was announced
by Albert E. Steinem, board chair
man. that he had been Informed
the gambler was out of the city
until November % or "a.
Refused Assignment.
Corpl. John w. Trotter of the
ninth precinct testified that or
September 20, Pvt. Swank, who
was beat patrolman, refused an
order to take over the patrol
signal communications system
at the precinct.
He testified that Pvt. Swank
his face flushed and his breath
carrying IAN odor of alcohol, y
told him he was tired of being
kicked around" and declared he
would take sick leave rather than
handle the assignment.
Corpl. Trotter's story, in the
main, but without the liquor
angle. was confirmed by 1t
Charles H. Warder, Capt. Will
liam H. Murphy. precinct COM
mander who suspended the officer
and by Pvt. Swank himself.
Under questioning by Mr.. Laugh
lin, Pvt. Swank said that last win
ter, while on sick leave, he had
gone to the fights following a
suggestion by his doctor that he
should "get out and move around
more"
Says Captain "Blew Top"
He said he ran into Capt. Muir
ply at the event and that the
latter "blew his top" and de-
manded to know when Pvt.
Swank was returning to duty.
"He Capt. Murphy held II
against me from that day on" Pvt
Swank testified.
! The board hearing the charges
was composed Of three members
of the District Bar Association:
Mr.. Steinem. Wilbert Mc1nerney
land William J. Rowan. Assistant
Corporation Counsel John Ernest
handled the prosecution.
Evening star., 1951-11-21

Inspector Charles J. A. Sullivan, 48,
a veteran of Army, Navy and Coast
Guard service, joined the Police De-
partment on January 13, 1881. the
day after he left the Navy.
A native of South Boston. Mass,
and OF Irish ancestry. he came to
Washington in 1919 and entered the
Army Medical Corps as private. He
switched to the Navy in 1922 and,
during his nine years of service, was
for four years on submarine tenders
as yeoman 1lc.
AS a police private. he served a
short time at No. and No. II Pre-
cincts and then became clerk OF the
former Special Investigations Squad
at headquarters, which at the time
handled liquor and vice cases. In
1882 he was clerk in the Crime Pre-
vention Bureau, now known as the
Special Investigations Squad, which
has nothing to do with the former
unit. In 1885 and 1886 he was pawn
inspector. in 1887 went to No. Pre-
cinct as acting sergeant, and after
ySoA ac eAoo4SAACO w lSO j. 11lcll, Ill
1910, as a permanent sergeant. he
was assigned to the Capitol.
He was in the Coast Guard start
ing August. 1912, saw service at Pearl
Harbor and here. and reached the
rank Of lieutenant commander be-
fore returning to the Police Depart
ment in June, 1946. He became a
full inspector in April Of this year
in that same assignment, and in
July. 1851 a District inspector.
In addition to four epmmendations
for courtesy, he has been commended
for his work during the visit of the
King and Queen of England and on
the Capital Transit Co. strike.
Inspector Sullivan is married. He
and his wife. Rose. have four chill
dren.
Evening star., 1951-11-21
Foundation Stone Luid

NEW DELHI, India, Nov. 81 (H)
President Rajendra Prasad Of
India yesterday laid the founda-
tion stone of the Magadh Research
Institute at Nalanda in Bihar
state, 2,000-year-old education
center Of Buddhist philosophy and
Sanskrit literature.
Evening star., 1951-11-21

Residents do not want to spend
$50 for a license when they are
not going to practice here, he
pointed out.
But he said he feels that
rather than merely changing the
nomenclature. the situation should
be corrected by legislation.
Evening star., 1951-11-21
Annexation Plan Voted

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va, Nov. 21
|R.-The Town Council has ac-
cepted recommendations of an
Annexation Committee to try to
annex North Virginia Beach, Ma
Waller Park, North Linkhorn Park
and Bay Colony.
Evening star., 1951-11-21
Navy to Repair Stotion

Repairs costing $350,000 are
planned to the American naval
radio station In Londonderry,
Northern Ireland.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-03-09

IT WILL PAY YOU TO
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS
~ THE
coAsTLAND TIMES
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-03-09

life of their patients.
8. Refuse to admit charity pa
tients, except from those cities
counties which guarantee to make
up the difference in the cost less
the States present $1.00 day,
the Duke Endowment's $1.00 a. day
and any other available endow-
ment funds.
Solution
q Fortunately, the possibilities of
solving this problem are not re-
mote. Local governments indicate
an increasing awareness of the
problem and an increasing will
ingness to meet their responsible
ties. Continued increases in local
appropriations must be made in a
majority of counties. There is rea-
son to justify confidence that they
will do so if interest is sustained
and if State aid makes local eff
fort practical solution.
Nor does the public's general
state of economy-views, as reflect
ed in the North Carolina general
assembly, conflict with the State
paying its share for the care of
INDECENT hospital patients. The
question is not whether the peo-
pie should pay more money for
hospital care, but whether the
cost of INDECENT care should be
paid by the solvent sick or by all
the people.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-03-09
CRUCIFIXION LEGEND
BASED ON SEA DOLLAR
By AYCOCK BROWN

A sea shell that is common to
North Cardinals beaches will get
play in the story Mrs. ]. l. John
son of Bloomfield, California,
plans to write for the Easter edi-
ton of the Santa Rosa Press Dem
ocrat. The story will hinge around
a legend of the Crucifxion.
Mrs. Johnson wrote the Win
ston Salem Chamber of Commerce
recently asking for information a.
bout this legend which, as she put
it, was "picked up on the east
coast near" the tobacco city. The
organizations publicity director
was stumped. She sent the re-
quest to the State Advertising Bu-
reau in Raleigh, where it also
stumped Charlie Parker, Tom
Walker and others. Subsequently
the letter reached me.
1t was necessary for me to do
bit of research, and the best place
for shell research on Mays Head
is at the shop operated by Mr.. and
Mrs. jeff Newman. They are au-
thorities on shells, and in their
shop they have hundreds of differ
ent kinds, native and non-native
to the coastland.
Picking up a sand dollar, Mrs.
Newman said, "This must be the
shell that she wants to know a
bout. Actually it is not a shell but
the dried skeleton of sea ur-
| chin" Sand dollars are so called
because they are DISLIKE in shape
and very thin. Once on the beach
the urchin dies and the shell soon
bleaches to snowwhite, showing
frond-like images on the top. Be-
tween the five fronds engraven by
nature on the shell are keyhole-
like holes. 1t is not hard to mag
inc the image on the sand dollar
as being the head, arms and legs
of a person.
"And that is the legend" ex-
planned Mrs. Newman. "Those five
indentures in the shell represent
Christ, nailed to the Cross, and
those holes are the nail-holes in
the Cross"
The information was forwarded
to Mrs. johnson. And, if the Cal
ifornian's plans are carried out,
the Sand dollar legend of the Cru
cifixion will be published with a
North Carolina angle during Eas-
ter Season.