davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-07-01
.FbI Seeks Clue
To Staying Of
Pentagon Clerk
Gambling Angle
Checked in Killing
OF District Resident

FBI and other Federal police
groped today for a solution to
the Staying of a Pentagon mail
clerk whose body was found yes
terday jammed into the trunk Of
his expensive automobile.
Not overlooked in the investi-
CATION were reports that John S.
Johnson, 33, colored, of 1919
Shepherd street NV, might have
dabbled in horses and numbers.
His body was removed from
the Pentagon's north parking lot
yesterday afternoon and taken to
the District Morgue for an au-
topsy.
Hole Found in Head.
In the back of his head was a
large. jagged hole. such as a
heavy weapon might have in
f1icted. Coroner A. Magruder
Macdonald was to determine the
cause of death this afternoon.
Mr.. Johnson, who had an ex-
cellent personnel record and q
good reputation in his neighbor-
hood. had been missing since
last Thursday, when he failed
to return home from work.
His movements were traced to
the home of a friend, Leroy
Mason, at Chapel Oaks, Nd.
where Mr.. johnson went Thurs
day afternoon. He left there
saying he was going to the home
of another friend, Joseph Rustin,
1704 Kenilworth avenue NE.
Asked today whether he had
Evening star., 1953-07-01
Transfer Of Noyes
And Bryan Schools
To Affect 1000
By jones 6. Deone

Nearly 1000 children will move
to new schools next fall with the
transfer of Noyes and Bryan
Elementary Schools to Negroes.
Fifteen different buildings be-
sides Noyes and Bryan will
be involved in the shuffling, off,
cials disclosed today.
The transfers were voted by
the Board of Education yester-
day. The board split on both
transfers but went along with
the recommendation Of school
officials after nearly two hours
Of argument.
Another transfer proposal
affecting the white Raymond
Schools due to come up at
board meeting today. School
Supt. Hobart M. Corning is ex-
pected to recommend against it.
He has opposed it once before.
Two new board members
Rowland F. Kinks and DIR. Mar
garet Butcher-take office today,
replacing Albert E. Steinem aid
Mrs. Velma G. Williams. Elec-
ton of officers also is schedu'ed.
Reelection of President C. Mel
vim Sharpe is considered likely.
A new vice president will be
chosen to succeed Mr.. Steinem.
POstpOnement Fails.
NoyeS School is at Tenth and
Franklin streets NE. Bryan is
on Independence avenue near
Fourteenth street Sc.
The decision on the Noyes shift
was close. The vote was 4 to 8,
with Walter N. Tobriner, West
A. Hamilton, Mrs. Williams and
Wesley S. Williams for and Mrs.
Frank S. Phillips. Miss Mary H.
Parker and Robert r. Faulkner
against. Mr.. Steinem was alb
sent and Mr.. Sharpe votes only
in ties.
Mrs. Phillips. supported by
Miss Parker, unsuccessfully
argued to have the decision put
off a week.
On Bryan, the vote was 5 to 2,
with Mrs. Phillips and Mr..
Faulkner as the dissenters. Mr..
Faulkner accused Supt. Corning
of reversing earlier stands and
of giving the board too little time
to consider the matter.
Piecemeal Action Opposed.
Mrs. Phillips said she felt the
board was causing population
shifts and she expressed concern
about diSplacing white children.
She said the board should look
into transfers on broader basis
instead of piecemeal. /
Col. Hamilton, however, ac-
cused Mrs. Phillips of "stalling
for time"
The extensive pupil shuf1ing
connected with the transfers in
wolves more colored children than
white. For the colored, the
transfers will relieve crowding in
a number of buildings. White
children will be leaving half |
empty buildings to move into va
can't space available elsewhere.
Evening star., 1953-07-01
BealI 10 Push Bill
For Auto Financial
Responsibility Here
By Don S. Worren

Chairman Beall of the Public
Safety Subcommittee of the
Senate District Committee
plans to push for early action
on a revised bill to give the Dis
trict a tougher automobile
financial responsibility law.
The subcommittee yesterday
reported the measure after in
dorsements were voiced by
spokesmen for automobile and
insurance groups, the District
Bar Association and the city
government. There was no op-
position.
Under present law a driver or
owner is not required to make
a showing of insurance or other
resources until after he has
failed to meet judgment grow
ing out of an accident case.
Under the proposed new law,
being pushed nationally as a
model code, the owner or driver
would have to show insurance,
or post cash bonds or the like
after being involved in any Sc
rious accident, without awaiting
court determination as to who
was the cause.
The purpose, proponents say,
is to drive the irresponsible
driver off the street, for if he
could not show financial respon-
sibility his permit could be sus-
pended or revoked.
Whether this type Of control
would tend to raise or lower
automobile insurance rates here,
according to one proponent.
would depend primarily on the
performance of drivers in Wash
ington.
The Beall subcommittee also
was told at a hearing late yes
terday that now only about 35
per cent of Washington car own
erS were covered by liability in
Surance. If the bill is enacted
this could be expected to go to
go or 95 per cent, if Washing
ton follows the experience In
other areas. witnesses said.
Evening star., 1953-07-01
Court Order Instructs
Commission 10 Zone
AUCampusfo for Sib|ey

Federal Judge Alexander
Holtzoff yesterday signed a for
NAL order instructing the District
Zoning Commission to rezone the
American University so that a
new Sibley Hospital can be con-
structed on the campus.
The judges formal order fol-
lowed his decision on Monday
that the Commission rezoning
of the campus from Residential
A to Residential A Restricted was
unconstitutional. The decision
said it constituted taking the
property of the university with
out due process of law.
Judge Holtzoff's decision came
after a three week trial in the
U. S. District Court for the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Still open is the question Of
whether the Zoning Commission
will appeal the case. The uni
versity and the hospital filed the
suit to upset the Zoning Com
mission after the rezoning had
prevented construction of the
hospital. This rezoning was taken
at the request of home-owners
from Spring Valley and Wesley
Heights who oppose having the
hospital in the area.
The Zoning Commission plans
to make a decision next week as
to whether it will appeal.
Evening star., 1953-07-01
By Fronk Sortwell, Jr.

In cool Prince William Forest
Park, far from Washington's hot,
grimy streets, 248 children are
having the time of their lives.
The youngsters are enjoying a
two-week vacation which they
couldn't have had without the
generosity of Star readers.
They are in Camps Goodwill
and Pleasant. A dizzying round
of swimming. handicrafts, nature
study, birthday parties, fishing,
fireworks and other activities
close to an 8 to 12-year-old' S
heart, occupies their days.
Last year the camps were good.
This year they're better.
Goodwill's swimming pool has
been improved at a cost of 81 ,250.
A new pump and chlorinator has
been installed. Sand now coats
the shores of the man-made
lakes in which the campers
swim.
Two kilns for ceramic work
have been donated. These allow
the campers to turn out profess
sional-style clay work. TIL e
counselors are using them to
make stylized insignia for the
various camp groups - which
glory in names like CopperheadS
and Leap Frogs.
New projects-such as oil
painting-and increased nature
study also have been added to
the camps activities.
Evening star., 1953-07-01
ID. c. Children Having Fun
I'm Cool Prince William CAMPS

But the basic goods Of the
camps remain the same: Fresh
air, sunshine, water, play and
good food.
Food is the keystone Of the
whole program. The campers eat
a fantastic amount of it. Some
times more than is good for
them.
At Camp Goodwill, where there
are 1913 campers, one meal can
do away with rs pounds of po-
tatoes, so pounds of hamburger,
or 80 pounds of tuna fish.
In the first days at camp,
many stomach aches pop up.
Kids who don't get enough to eat
at home gorge themselves on the
camp fare. After their stomachs
stretch a little, the tummy-aches
disappear.
Candy bars, ice cream and salt
tablets help keep the diet
rounded.
Medical care is good at the
camps. A registered nurse and
an aide are on duty at each one.
They cope with such natural
consequences of life in the open
as blisters. cut toes, poison ivy,
mosquito bites and Sunburn.
More serious troubles, like pink
eye. and toothache, are rushed
to Washington or nearby Guam
tico for treatment.
AS S. John Crawley, in charge
Of both camps, explains it, there
is an extra value added to this
thorough-going program.
Each campers file. forwarded
by the agency which recon-
mended his acceptance, assists
the counsellors in helping the
kids with things that are not
within the province of an or
binary camp. Things like per-
sonality development, overcom-
ing internal obstacles that a life
of not enough has created.
Evening star., 1953-07-01
Man Who Knows All About
D. c. Water Supply Retires
Edwin A. Schmitt
Helped Select Site
For National Airport

The engineer who is said to
know more about Washington's
water supply system, bridges
and waterfront Improvements
than any other living man re-
tired yesterday at the age of 70.
He is Edwin A. Schmitt, head
engineer in charge of the Water
Supply Division, District Office
of the Army Corps of Engineers,
and a veteran of 43 years service
in the Office.
Mr.. Schmitt was one of the
leading planners of the $40 mil
lion program to expand the Vi e
ter system Of the metropolitan
area to take care of World War
II and postwar growth of the
population.
Work on the filter plant ex-
tensions, sedimentation basins,
two major pumping stations.
transmission lines. a dam and
tunnel is now actively under
way.
Plans Some Sleeping.
Mr.. Schmitt said yesterday
that for several weeks after his
retirement he is going to "catch
up on Sleep" After that he will
complete several jobs for the
American Water Works Associa-
ton, of which he is an officer.
With these tasks behind him,
Mr.. Schmitt said. he may put
a long-range plan into effect, and
set up his own Office here as a
conSultant on municipal water
supply problems.
Mr.. Schmitt, who was born in
Washington, graduated from the
first class of Mckinley High
School. He served on engineering
jobs with a railroad before TAX
ing a position with the Corps of
in 1910. Meanwhile,
he was studying at George Wash
ington University, from which
he received an engineering de-
gree.
His first work with the Engi-
neers was on the old fortifica-
tions of Fort Washington, Md,
and Fort Hunt, Va. in 1910.
Thereafter he helped engineer
many projects on the Potomac,
Chesapeake Bay. and the Kappa
hammock and York Rivers.
Developed AnacOstia Park.
One of his pet projects for
many years was the development
Of Anacostia Park. and the rec
lamation Of the river flats for
what is now the Anacostia Naval
Air Station.
He helped plan repairs and
the eventual removal of the old
Evening star., 1953-07-01
Reorganization Year
Ends With } Major
Decisions Pendinu
By John w. Stepo

A year Of reorganization has
come and gone and the District
Commissioners are still trying to
make up their minds on three
major departments.
The city heads had to get the
fundamental job done by last
midnight. And they did, but in
this hedging fashion:
l. Public Welfare Department
'-Refrained from abolishing the
Welfare Board and setting up a
single-administrator system, as
recommended by the reorganiz-
ing staff.
2. Public Health Department
Took the reorganizers' advice by
refraining from establishing a
policy-making board similar to
that now governing the welfare
department. But only on a ten
tative basis.
Future Hearings Set.
3. Professional and occupa-
tional boardS-Allowed the status
quo to remain for the time be-
ing, despite recommendations
from the management Office to
centralize administration of the
19 scattered and independent
agencies involved. This, too, is
only a tentative arrangement.
since:
4. Full-blown public hearings
were decided on, August 81 for
the professional occupational
boards, and July % for the We'll
fare and Health Departments, so
the Commissioners will get still
more public reaction on the
issues.
With scarcely any hesitancy
at all, on the other hand, the
city fathers yesterday moved
right in and reorganized the city
dog pound. They took away it's
former independence and placed
it under Metropolitan police
Jurisdiction.
Further Authority.
The deadline the Commits
S10nerS had to beat last night
was actually only a technicality.
They either had to get the frame
work Of the 81 former agencies
realigned or to reconstitute the
old SetupS until such time as
they choose to reorganize further
under authority Of Reorganiza-
ton Plan No. S, approved by
Congress last year.
That is why the Commissioners
took advantage Of leeway to let
the controversial departments
stay as they are for the time
being.
Speaking of the decision, or
lack Of decision, on the profess
sional-occupational boards, Com
missioner Samuel Spencer at
tributed the deferral of final &C
ton to the fact that a number of
the boards had informed him
that they hadn't sufficient time
to study the reorganization pro-
poSals.
Reason for the delay in de-
cisive action in the Health and
Welfare Board controversy ac-
cording to Mr.. Spencer. Is the
fact that such basic issues" are
involved.
Evening star., 1953-07-01
'$1,S46,OOO Low Bid
Accepted for D. {.
Trash Incinerator

A low bid of $1.846,000 was
entered yesterday to build the
Districts third public trash in
cinerator.
The figure was offered by the
j. D. Hedin Construction Co., a
local concern that only recently
was awarded a $672 900 contract
to build a traffic interchange at
Benning road and Kenilworth
avenue NE.
In a complemental contract
bid the Harnischfeger Corp. of
1929 Vermont avenue NV. en-
tered a low figure of $4,000 to
provide and install two indoor
travelling cranes. These will
channel trash from the incin-
orator dumping platform into
hoppers which will feed the fur
naceS.
Archie G. Hutson, District di-
rector of construction, estimated
that work will begin on the new
plant in about 30 days. The job
will be completed in from IS to
18 months, Mr.. Hutson said.
The new plant, with its four
furnaces, will handle about 500
tons of trash daily. The practi-
cal effect of its service, especially
to residents of Northeast Wash
ington on the far side of the
Anacostia River, will be 40 per
cent less smoke. and particles
emanating from the open-air
trash dump near Kenilworth
road and Benning road.
The new incinerator will be
built near the intersection of
Mount Olivet road and West
Virginia avenue NE.
Evening star., 1953-07-01

seen Mr.. johnson. Mr.. Rustin
said he couldn't talk"
I'm on my way to the FBI
right now" he said.
No Official Gambling Link.
No official records were dis
closed to link Mr.. johnson with
gambling. But police reports
quoted Curtis johnson, $50
Rhode Island avenue NV,
brother Of the slain man, that
John was involved in the num-
berS game some time ago. Cur
tbs johnson denied to reporters
that his brother had ever made
a book.
Among angles investigators
had to solve was when and
where Mr.. johnson met his
death. One Pentagon police
man said Mr.. Johnson's black
1851 Chrysler sedan was not on
the parking lot Sunday, but was
seen there Monday night.
The car. parked where thou
sands OF persons pass every day,
was not in Mr.. Johnson's GUS
tomary parking lane, No. So, but
was found in lane 81.
This led to the assumption
that the killer knew generally
where Mr.. johnson kept his car.
but did not know the exact spot.
Upholstery Stain Analysed.
A red spot found in the front
seat of the car was being tested
to determine if it was blood.
Mr.. Johnson had worked as an
Army mail clerk since 1912, ex-
cept for 212 years when he filed
the same capacity as a staff
sergeant in the Army. His
Pentagon job was grade 3, pay
ing from $2,950 to $3,430 a year.
According to his personnel
record. he was reliable and eff
cient. His wife, Sylvia, said he
was good husband and father.
He lived with her and their two
young children in the neat, two
story row house he had pur-
chased.
Although the Federal Govern
ment has full jurisdiction in the
Casa fact established while
Mr.. Johnson's body remained in
the trunk for five hours-Dr.
Macdonald agreed to perform
the autopsy at the District
Morgue.
Arlington County police with.
drew from the case after it was
established through land records
that the parking lot is Federal
What to do with the
body still perplexed authorities
until DR.. Macdonald agreed to
perform the autopsy, although
the District is not involved.
Evening star., 1953-07-01
Body Of Man Recovered
Off Maine Ave. Wharves

The body of a middle-aged
man was found floating in the
Potomac River off Maine avenue
near Twelfth street S.W., early
today. harbor police reported.
Police said the body was that
of colored man between 40 and
As years old and was fully
dressed. No marks of violence
were found. Ten dollars in bills
and change was found in pockets
of the clothing.
The body was found by Claude
Ham who was aboard the yacht
Susie II about 1880 am. Police
described the victim as dark
skinned, about S feet 7 inches
tall and about 140 pounds in
weight.
Evening star., 1953-07-01
Sentenced to Electric Chair

LOGAN. w. Va, July 1 (P.-
Melvin Loveless, 32-year-old
Charleston Negro hotel owner
convicted of plotting a burglary
that resulted in the Staying of
a woman housekeeper, was SEN
fenced yesterday to death in
the electric chair. Circuit
Judge c. c. Chambers fixed Sep
tember 4 as the date for execu-
ton.
Evening star., 1953-07-01
S4,414 Tax Claim Settled
For $3.50 in Cafe Case

The Internal Revenue Bureau
today compromised a 1948 in
come tax claim Of $4,414 against
William Warner. former District
restaurant operator, for $3.50.
The compromise agreement
made public by Internal Reve-
nue. said Mr.. Warner went into
bankruptcy as half owner of the
Little Restaurant at 141l H
street NV.
THE sum offered appears to
be equal to the amount collectible
in any manner" the Internal
Revenue Bureau said in a sum-
mary of the case.
Mr.. Warner has been living at
the Cairo Hotel.
Evening star., 1953-07-01

Aqueduct Bridge above Key
Bridge, and worked on the con-
struction of Key Bridge. Other
projects were changes in the river
banks and Columbia Island for
erection of Arlington Memorial
Bridge, the completion of several
miles of hydraulic fill for Mt.
Vernon Memorial boulevard, and
the improvement of Washington
Channel on the water front.
Mr.. Schmitt was largely in
strumental in selecting the site
for National Airport.
Headed Water Supply.
In 1943. Mr.. Schmitt, in addi-
ton to other duties, was placed
in charge of the Washington
Aqueduct water supply system
which has supplied all potable
water to Washington and the
immediate area since 1853.
When World War II broke out,
Mr.. Schmitt had charge of all
engineering and construction
work of the engineer Office here.
The jobs included enlargement
of Boiling Air Force Base, con-
Structlon of Andrews Air Force
Base, construction of the emer-
gency bridges across the Poto-
mac, and construction at Camp
Ritchie, Md.
The vast growth of wartime
and postwar projects forced de-
centralization of the work, with
Mr.. Schmitt serving in a con-
sulting capacity as head engi-
neer and remaining in charge of
the Washington Aqueduct sys-
tenn.
Mr.. Schmitt's two sons both
served in World War II. His
youngest son, a lieutenant, has
been recalled to active duty in
the Naval Air Service, while his
older son, major in Marine avi-
alton. was lost over Guadalcanal
in 1943.
Mr.. and Mrs. Schmitt live at
6400 Ridgewood avenue, Chevy
Chase. Md.
Evening star., 1953-07-01
Bullock Raped
AS Prosecutor
Asks Dismissal
Summary Finishes
Trial Board Hearing
Decision Due Later

Inspector Albert I. Bullock was
denounced to a trial board today
as an insubordinate policeman
whose conduct was both unbe-
coming to an officer and preju-
dicial to the rest of the Metro
politan Police Department.
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Robert D. Wise demanded that
the inspector be dismissed dis
honorably from the police de-
partment.
Il urge you," the prosecutor
said to the board, "to take off
all his buttons and stripes and
dismiss him dishonorably and
ANONYMOUSLY"
Conduct Described.
The prosecutor told the three
member board that Inspector
Bullock wilfully failed to file
District income taxes in the
years 1946. 1947 and 1948. He
described this as conduct unbe-
coming an officer.
Mr.. Wise said Inspector Bull
locks conduct was prejudicial to
other members of the depart
ment when he was a witness be-
fore the Senate District Crime
subcommittee last year. At that
time, the policeman would not
account for approximately $15,-
900 of income received by him.
self and his wife, over and above
their salaries.
The prosecutor noted that the
large sums obtained by the Bull
locks was deposited in 10 differ
ent banks in the District, Mary
land and Virginia. He said it was
inconceiVable that a policeman
OF the rank and intelligence of
Inspector Bullock could have his
memory fail so fully on his f.
nancial situation.
The prosecutor also told the
board Inspector Bullock fatty re-
fused to comply with an order of
Police Chief Robert v. Murray
to explain his financial af1uence.
This, he said, was insubordina-
ton.
Mr.. Wise's summary of the
case against the policeman, look
ing to disciplinary action, wound
up the hearings before Robert
F.. Cogswell, Donald Clemmer
and 1t. Col. Harry F. Hansen,
who were appointed as a trial
board by the Commissioners.
The board will report later.
Drops Defense.
In the middle of the hearing,
Inspector Bullock's attorney,
Charles E. Ford suddenly
dropped an active defense. He
contended that statements made
by Chairman Cogswell and in
dorsed by the other members,
indicated to him that they had
prejudged the guilt of The of
ficer. This was denied emphat-
ically by the board.
Mr.. Ford limited he will take
the case to the courts if The
board convictS his client.
Arnold Bauman of New York,
former counsel to the Senate
Crime Committee, appeared to-
day as witness for the second
time. He had been subpoenaed
by Mr.. Ford but the defense
lawyer declined to question him
because of the decision to make
no active defense.
Mr.. Bauman's testimony today,
was re-affirmation of what he
had said earlier about the Bull
lock personnel file. This was
that the Senate probers found
no papers were in the file for a
period of about one year, begin
ming in February, 1947. There
are papers in the file for that
period at the present time, how
ever.