davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-12-22
Mon, 86, Dies in Fire
In Anne Arundel
BY the Asseeiatsd Press

ORCHARD BEACH, Md, Dec
22.-Peter Kominski. Sc. burned
to death yesterday when fire
swept through the bedroom OF
his small house in this upper
Anne Arundel County commu-
nifty.
A neighbor first saw the flames
and ran to the fire station fo1
help. Mr.. Kominski's body was
found between his bed and the
doorway.
Evening star., 1953-12-22
Burglars Prey on Moose

BRUNSWICK, Md. DEC. %
(P.-Safe burglars got more
than $4,000 from a safe at the
Moose Lodge here Sunday, police
said. On Friday, $1,000 was
taken from a Moose Lodge safe
at Frederick.
Evening star., 1953-12-22

The Hecht CO., Sirth Floor Washington:
Third Floor, SlUer Spring. Fourth Floor, PARKingt6
Evening star., 1953-12-22
MOTOR LICENSE BY WESTINGHOUSE

This orioinol. different, Animated Electric
Clock is timely set-up! Everybody wants it
gay eye-cotcher, full Of motion :. q
cheerful little chef who makes pleasant
color spot in any kitchen. His eyes move
back and forth. in perfect rhythm. And,
for tmekeeper he's TOPS! in fIesh-tone
red and oleomlne white. IL" high. s" wide,
3" deep.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08

COLORED-wEST OF 14th ST, near
u. Brick house Of 8 rooms, bath,
$4,000; 81 900 cash. NIGHT or sun
day call Mr. Hufd. EN-, 1852.
LOUIS p. SHOEMAKER. 1919 K
st. NV, MA. S-1166.
COLORED-OPEN / 10 s
1920 7th st. Lovely Colonial brick,
modern throughout; 6 large rooms,
tnclosed po[ches. full bsmt. tout::
garage; real value ct Sl5,950, with
reasonable cash. win arrange trade.
JAS. z. HORN. 10. 9-7S64.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08
BIO THE SUNDAY STAR
HOUSES SALE-N.W. tcont.D

Washington, D C.
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 8, 1868
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08
CoLoRED-VACANT
CHURCH-SCHOOL
-A a rN-~ YHOTYF
HOUSES FOR sALE--N.E.

ICH E1E1VI1 11OOOE
Large brick bldg. excellent location.
oil h.-wh. Bargain price and terms.
DI. 7-S724. MR.. MAY. HE. 4-6627.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08
ROIIINGWOOD

CHEVY CHASE (MD.l AREA
Rambler OF stone and brick, built
in l949. and in excellent condition.
Has hall, large combination living
and-oining room with picture win
dow. Kitchen with breakfast nook.
utility room. Storage attic. Built-in
garage. Stone terrace.
w. G.. & A. N. MILLER
Development Company. Realtors
1850 Mass. Ave. NV. EN- 2-4464
Evening star., 1953-11-22

at the Baltimore city morgue,
and the death certificate listed
the wound as the cause of death.
Again Capt. Felber stressed
his belief that Mr.. Selph was
shot in the car, stating once
more that even a bullet wound
in the head would not bleed
freely unless the bullet passed
through the head.
A police roundup of known
hoodlums began. They were
questioned, and then released.
District and Anne Arundel
County police. after the body
was removed. carefully dug up
and sifted the earth for two
feet beneath where the body had
lain. They scrutinized a 25-
acre area. trying to find Mr..
Selph's wallet and the money
bag in which he had carried the
firms cash.
Nothing further was found.
The following day, there was
another area to canvas door-to-
door-that around the spot
where the body was found.
A farmer who lives about
mile from the scene put forth a
promising clue. At about the
time Mr.. Selph had disappeared,
the farmer recalled, he helped
push a late-model Packard
which had stalled on the lonely
| logging road off Route 214.
| Police quickly found the
couple who had been in the
automobile and learned after
questioning that they were lovers
who had sought a secluded spot
to park.
False Clues.
Two other false clues turned
up quickly A money bag was
found on a lawn in Baltimore
and another was found near an
Anne Arundel County element
airy school. Neither was of the
type which Mr.. Selph had car
ried.
Right now we're retracing
our steps," Capt. Felber said.
We're going over all the ter
ritory we covered the first time.
Evening star., 1953-11-22

particular attention to reports
of injured men who showed up
at hospitals.
Police ScOur Area.
Or Sunday, two days after the
disappearance, scores of police
men from the District and Prince
Georges County combed 20
square miles around Barnard
Hill Park, looking for possible
clues The search was fruitless.
It also was on Sunday, how
lever, that valuable clue turned
up. Robert r. Jones, a National
Capital Parks employe, told po-
lice he had seen Mr.. Selphs car
between 12:45 pm. and l pm.
on the day he disappeared. The
car at that time was parked
where the two precinct police
men found it. and there was no
body near it, Mr.. Jones reported.
This indicated to police that
the holdup, if there had been
one, was, a swift, professional
/ job-or one done by someone
Mr.. Selph knew.
On Monday, Capt. Felber ex-
panded his circularization to in
clude the entire country. He
asked that Mr.. Selph's picture
be displayed on television news
| programs, where possible. The
circulars were posted in bus
depots and trucking terminals,
on the possibility that a driver
may have seen Mr.. Selph, or
stopped to give a wounded man
aid.
There was more intensive
questioning of friends and re-
latives. Detectives visited his
home again at 209 Atlantic street
S. E.
Reports began coming in that
Mr.. Selph had been seen in Rich
mond, in Baltimore. in Philadel-
phia. All of the reports were
groundless, but all of them had
to be checked.
Detectives questioned officials
of other loan companies in the
area. They compiled lists of
former employees, and concen-
trated on any employees who may
have been fired for dishonesty.
Capt. Felber pointed out that a
former employe would be famil-
lar with loan company routine.
The investigation settled down
into dogged footwork, with De-
tectives Rudbeck and Mode de-
voting most of their time to try
ing to break the mystery.
Body Found in Woods.
Then, at 1915 pm. last Tues
day, exactly 40 days to the hour
after Mr.. Selph's disappearance.
a Washington taxicab driver
walked into a lonely wooded area
off Route 214 in Anne Arundel
County and found a body.
There was a bullet in the
brain. There was no wallet, no
papers, and no money.
When Mr.. Selph disappeared,
Evening star., 1953-11-22

You never know when some one
will remember something he for
got before"
This includes questioning again
the more than 800 persons de-
tectives talked to while investi-
eating the disappearance-with
particular concentration on for
mer loan company employees.
Other police are poring over
records of past loan company
robberies and thefts. hoping to
find a spark of similarity in the
events surrounding the Selph
murder.
"We need the answers to lot
of questions" Capt. Felber said.
WAS this done by someone
who knew Mr.. Selph, and thus
killed him to silence him?
WAS it the work of profess
Sional bandits? Banks put out a
lot of payroll money on Fridays.
Was this the work of someone
who was watching the bank, lay
ing in wait for a victim?
"Or was it someone familiar
with loan company routine, par
ticularly the routine of the
American Finance Co.?
why did they carry the body
so far from the spot where he
was killed? There are other
secluded woods which are nearer.
where are the keys to Mr..
Selph's car. And his wallet?
And the money bag?"
To help find some of the an
swers, Capt. Felber last night ap-
| pealed to the public for aid.
ANY bit of information, no
matter how insignificant it may
seem. may be the link we need
to tie the rest of the puzzle to-
gether," he said.
Evening star., 1953-11-22
U. 5. Besef by Fear
And Unnatural Hate,
Mrs. Roosevelt Says

Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt last
night asserted that "the hatred
we have for the Soviet Union has
now almost changed into hatred
of Americans by Americans.
In an address at the 10th an
niversary meeting of the Anti
Defamation League, at the May
flower Hotel. she declared that
the merican people are
frightened and she warned that
people who are afraid are never
free"
This Nation has forgotten that
the only way to fight an idea is
with a better idea, she said, and
she questioned whether I'VE
understand what communism is"
and know "why we don't like it"
Mrs. Roosevelt urged that we
cherish a dream for land so
good that Soviet ideas will never
take hold.
It is up to us to prove we have
something better and that it can
serve the needs of humanity" :"
she said.
Finds Prejudice Everywhere.
Speaking without notes on
"The international Impact of
Prejudice" Mrs. Roosevelt said
she has found prejudice every
wherein Japan, India, Europe
and South Africa-and that pow
erty and misery prompts it.
She said that America tries to
eliminate prejudice. But I am
not sure we try hard enough or
move fast enough" she added, as
serting that the impact of
prejudice here has the greatest
international repercussions."
MacLeish Sounds Warning.
Archibald MacLeish, former
Librarian of Congress and one
time Assistant Secretary of
State, warned that in this "un-
worthy moment" of Our history
suspicion is taking the place of
determination, and a great part
of the purpose and will of the
people is being diverted into the
most degraded and degrading of
public manhunts and spiritual
lynchings."
Mr.. MacLeish, who is now
teaching at Harvard University
said that I'VE still live by what
we hate rather than by what we
love-"
He cautioned that if hatred of
Russia replaced love of America
as motivation in our lives, I'VE
will have accorded communism
the greatest triumph to which
any dogma can aspire-the
power to dictate the thinking
even of its enemies"
Benjamin R. Epstein, national
director of the A. D. L. presided
at the forum on freedom. Henry
E. Schultz, league chairman, de-
livered the anniversary address.
Evening star., 1953-11-22

part OF his description was
that he wore a maroon jacket.
a green dress skirt, and dark
trousers. The body found in
the woods was similarly clad. 1t
also bore two rings-a plain
white wedding band and a gold
signet ring set with black onyx
bearing gold letter "S". Rel
atives said these belonged to Mr..
Selph.
The body had been there 8
month or more. It was in an
advanced state of decomposition.
But the left hand, doubled un-
der the body, was well enough
preserved for Washington police
to identify positively the finger
prints as those of Mr.. Selph.
Capt. Felber and Anne Arun-
del County Police Capt. Wilbur
C. Wade agreed to conduct a
Joint investigation of the vicious
killing. so described by Capt.
Felber.
The Washington homicide
squad officer now advanced the
theory that Mr.. Selph had been
shot in his car, and the body
carted to the woods in another
car and dumped, the killer or
killers hoping to escape detec-
tion for a long time because the
spot was SO isolated.
Suspects Professional Gang.
Capt. Felber also theorized
that it may have been the work
of professional holdup gang
Supporting that theory were
these clues:
/. The swift manner in which
the crime was committed.
2. The apparent familiarity
with loan company routine.
3. Police belief that more than
one person was involved.
1T hardly seems like the work
of one man." Capt. Felber said
last night. ''It would have been
too difficult for one man to move
the body that quickly"
Mr.. Selph was 6 feet 2 inches
tall and weighed 1877 pounds.
The bullet was removed from
the brain during an autopsy
Evening star., 1953-11-22

Air Station at Pensacola, Fla.
His military record was good.
While he was at Pensacola, the
romance which led to his marri-
age developed. Mrs. Selph was a
civilian employe at the Air base.
They were wed Is months ago.
Mr.. Selph was native of
Washington, a graduate Of Ana
costa High School and had at
tended Wilson Teachers College.
Detectives checking all possibili-
ties were unable to find any rec
ord of brushes with the law.
Facts Learned by Police.
Missing Car Found.
At LAS am. Saturday. the day
after his disappearance, two
District police officers, carrying
a Prince Georges police descrip-
ton of the missing car. spotted
it parked in Barnard Hill Park,
near Eastern avenue and Shep-
pard street NE. This is four
blocks from the loan company
Office.
Capt. Richard j. Felber, chief
of the Districts homecide squad,
and police technicians examined
the auto at the scene, and then
a police crane toWed it to the
headquarters garage for a more
thorough examination.
On the center of the front
seat was folded newspaper and
a brown paper bag containing
two sandwiches. Mr.. Selph nor
mally took sandwiches to work,
then bought coffee and dessert
at a restaurant for his lunch.
On the floor in the back were
several items, all of which police
later learned belonged to MFR.
Selph. There was an empty milk
bottle, a pair of canvas work
gloves, brush and a sheet with
a small piece torn from the
corner for use as a wiping rag.
There was a small bloodstain
on the carpeting and another on
one of the work gloves. AS the
auto was towed away, Capt. Eel
ber noticed a sponge lying two
feet from the rear door, on the
ground outside the car. 1t also
bore small bloodstain.
Chemists who checked the
stains with Mr.. Selph's Navy
records reported they were of the
same blood grouping.
1t was at this point that Capt
Felber developed his theory that
Mr.. Selph had been knocked un-
conscious by a blow on the head
The small amount of blood-a
head wound normally does not
bleed freely-supported the
theory.
Prince Georges County police
withdrew the larcency after trust
warrant.
Capt. Felber sent out a de-
scription of Mr.. Selph to police
in 13 States, asking them to pay
Evening star., 1953-11-22
Bridge Where ; Died
Gets Safety Device
BY the Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va, Nov. 21.-A
mechanical safety device went in
operation Friday on the Barrets
ferry bridge where three men
drowned last week when their
car plunged into the Chicka-
hominy River.
The State Highway Depart
ment devised and put in place
on the drawbridge a device
which locks the span in place so
that it cannot open until the
barriers drop into place across
the highway on either side of the
bridge.
Evening star., 1953-11-22
Man Held in Staying
OF His Deaf-Mute Sister
BY the Assoeieted Press

CHICAGO, Nov. 81. - Albert
Grebas was charged with Staying
his deaf-mute sister today after
they had drunk beer in tavern.
The slashed and stabbed body
of the victim, Mrs. Marcella
Conopeotis. 33, mother of two
children, was found in the yard
of her South Side home early
today,
Grebas. 18, was arrested later
in Rockford, III. Rockford police
said the youth signed state
ment saying he stabbed and
raped his sister.
Two Chicago detectives, carry
ing warrant charging Grebas
with murder. went to Rockford
to pick up the prisoner and re-
turn him to Chicago.
Evening star., 1953-11-22
BY Jock Jonas

At 1915 pm. on the afternoon
of Friday, October 8, a young
messenger left the American
Finance Co. Office at Mt. Rainier,
Md, with $4,000 in cash. checks
and money orders to bank for
the company.
Late the same afternoon,
Prince Georges County police
got call from Owen t. Cooney,
manager of the finance company
at 1908 Rhode Island avenue.
His messenger had disappeared.
County police Immediately
swore out a warrant charging
Thomas N. Selph, jr., %, with
larceny after trust.
The hunt was on.
District and county police be-
gan checking Mr.. Selph's pro-
gress and searching for the auto
mobile. They learned these
things:
The messenger left the finance
company Offices at 1915 pm.
and went Immediately to a
Branch Post Office four blocks
away at 3709 Rhode Island ave-
nue.. There he cashed several
money orders and received in re-
turn a check for $10.981.55.
He went from the Post Office
into the District to the Hamilton
NationaN Bank branch at 2027
Rhode Island avenue NE. There
he deposited the $10,981 .55
check, cashed other checks and
changed a $100 bill and a $50
bill into smaller bills.
He left the bank carrying
SO, 169. .29 belonging to the finance
company. There, the trail dis
appeared.
Detectives Carl A. Rudbeck
and Albert F. Mode began the
grueling task of ringing door
bells all along the 17-block route
from the bank, past the loan
company offices, to the post
Office.
Detectives began questioning
friends, relatives and social and
business acquaintance. All came
up with these terms in describ-
ing Mr.. Selph-responSible. ma
ture, happy. well-adjusted.
For one thing, Mr.. Selph was
not in debt. His salary was
comparatively good. He had a
little money in the bank. And,
although he did not need tlnan-
cial aid, his father, Thomas
Selph, ST.. was generous.
Just as the young father was
important to his family. his fam
lily was important to him. He en-
joyed going home at night to be
with his 20-year-old wife, Wanda.
and their only child. Sherrie
Marie.
New Daughter.
Sherrie Marie was born just
10 days before her father dis
appeared. Mrs Selph and her
daughter had come home from
Sibley Hospital five days before
the tragedy.
the disappearance.
an ardent churchgoer. he was a
member of Grace Baptist Church.
AS far as detectives could learn,
he did not drink.
Mr.. Selph had been working
only three months at the Ameri-
can Finance Co., 1903 Rhode Is
land avenue. Under the usual
business practice, employees with
only three months behind them
still are in the middle of a pro-
bationary period. But Mr.. Selph
already had been accepted as a
valuable and trusted employe,
and his employer saw a bright
future for him.
His responsibility as a citizen
also emerged during the prelim-
mary investigation. At II, he
had joined the Naval Air Reserve.
Two years ago. he went on active
duty and was sent to the Naval
Evening star., 1953-11-22

second vice president. George
w. Spangler, third vice presi-
dent; Charlotte w. Hansberger,
secretary; Charles L. BarthoIo-
NEW, treasurer, and Walter H.
Gannaway, assistant treasurer.
Members of the Board Of Di-
rectors elected to a three-year
term are Frank j. Halliday,
George A. McCauley, j. Preston
Swecker and j. Benjamin VIII
liams.
Evening star., 1953-11-22

A gric u lture
Departments
foreign agri-
cultural serv-
ice, is a men,
ber Of the Sill
yer Sprin g
Garden Club
and a prize
winning rose
gardener.
Other Off
GERS are Free
man A. Weiss
firs t vice
president; Oh
iVer E. Sweet
Evening star., 1953-11-22

last Tuesday in a wooded section
of Anne Arundel County. Md. A
messenger for a finance COM
pany, he was known to have
been carrying more than $4,000
in company funds when he dis
appeared October 8.
Evening star., 1953-11-22
SeIph Funeral Rites
To BeiHeId Tomorrow

Funeral services for Thomas
N. Selph, jr., will be held at 10
am. tomorrow at the Hunte-
mann funeral home, 5732 Geor-
gia avenue NV. Burial will be
in Arlington Cemetery.
Mr.. Selph'S body was found
Evening star., 1953-11-22
Minor Named President
Of Potomac Rose Society

The Potomac Rose Society has
elected William A. Minor as
president.
Mr.. Minor, assistant admin
strator for management of the
The frontiersman., 1953-02-19
FLOOR SHOW TO B! FEATURE OF
 ST. PATRlCK'S DANCE

Rae Bailey of the Colombany School of Dancing of Anchorage will present several exhibition numbers during a St. Patrick s Day dance to be sponsored Sat urday, March IA by members of the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church.
 The semi-formal dance will be held in the school auditorium with dancing from g pm. to mid night. Tickets are now on sale and may be purchased from church members or at the door.
 Miss Bailey and members of her school will present a selection of dances chosen from the Tango, Samba, Rumba, Viennese Waltz and a comedy skit. This is the same group who were so success fully received during the Anch- orage March of Dimes dances when they presnted a like pro- gram.
The frontiersman., 1953-02-19
Garden Shorl- Course Planned by U of A

The University of Alaska will conuuct gardening short-course during three evening sessions on February 24, March 3 and 10 in the Anchorage High School Un- der the auspices of the Extension Service, problems of soils, fertil- izers, vegetable varieties and. seed sources, insect and weed control; lawns and landscaping will be dis cusSed by technicians of the AL aska Experiment Station who are now serving as extension special istS.
 The short course is designed to bring gardeners up-to-date on re- search findings in Alaska and to provide the latest information concerning seedbed preparation and other management practices suited to suburban gardening in this area. No fees are required for attendance at this short course Everyone is welcome. All interest ed gardeners are urged to attend all three sessions which are, ex- pected to start promptly at 7:30 in the evening and end by 800 or 9:15.
 The first session on February "A will be conducted by Dr. By ron Babb, horticulturist at the Alaska Experiment Station in Palmer. Dr Babb will speak on adapted vegetable varieties for Alaska's gardens. Dr. Curtis Dear born will tell how to prepare seedbeds and how to control weeds, stressing useful weed control chemicals and their use.
The frontiersman., 1953-02-19
NEW ARR CLAIM AGENT FREIGHT AGENT NAMED

An Alaska Railroad man with nearly 20 years experience has been named to the railroads new ly created post of assistant claim agent, it was revealed this week. His is William R. Price, formerly the assistant freight agent at An -chorage.
 Railroad officials said the posi- ton was established to "better serve railbelt shippers" and would make available man to contact them directly on freight claim problems. "The move is also de- signed to expedite payment of claims" according to Ebert J. Kunz, railroad traffic manager.
 One of Prices assignments is to explore the causes resulting in claims on the railroad and to put into action claim prevention program. Claims cost the railroad thousands of dollars each year and are an inconvenience to shippers in the territory.
 Price is well known along the railbelt area having toured it fre- quently as a freight inspector for several years. In 1949 he was named assistant freight agent at Anchorage and this month was
The frontiersman., 1953-02-19
CONSERVATION
 NOTES

I had a most interesting conver- Sation with MT. Robinson of the Bureau of Land Management a few days ago. His department is doing considerable work in pro- noting better utilization of our native birch timber resources. He assured me that within the next few days complete facilities for the processing of our birch tim Der will be in operation in the local area. He believes that birch saw log prices will be two or three times that of present log prices for spruce.
 Good hardwood saw timber such as birch is getting scarce in the States. There is no reason why we can't supply large amount of finished or semifinished birch products to the States in time to come. A good stand of mature birch will cut more than fifteen thousand board feet per acre. If we can realize seventy-five or eighty dollars per thousand board feet for delivered logs, that would be a pretty good income from otherwise waste land.
 All it takes to assure a future income from that part of your farm that is not cropland is a little management. It doesn't cost you much either, in money or labor. Farm woodlot management is simple. The first thing is to keep stock and fire out, then over the years as you need firewood, poles, etc, cut out the poor or overcrowded trees. Just use your head as you thin out the poor stuff. Give the healthy trees a chance to grow. As good market develops, start harvesting the big trees. Then as the smaller trees get to be big trees-cut them too. Cut them as fast as you grow them and you're in business for ever. Simple, huh!
The frontiersman., 1953-02-19

promoted to assistant claim agent.
 MT. Price is thoroughly acqua- inted with freight procedure and helped set up the handling of claims in the Anchorage freight house." the railroad reports.
 Prior to signing on with The AL aska Railroad on May 21, 1943, Price worked for nine years with the Santa F'e on it's Arizona divi- sion. He spent a number of years at Barstow on the Mojave desert and was a freight house foreman.