davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Part Of Missing Mail
Recovered by Hoffman
BY the Associoted Press

Representative Hoffman. Re-
publican, of Michigan. has re-
covered part of the contents of
mail sack intended for him
which disappeared earlier this
month.
Mr.. Hoffman said the missing
mail sack contained documents
dealing with a labor rackets in
quiry conducted by the House
Labor Committee in Detroit
early this month.
The Michigan Congressman
protested the apparent rif1ing of
the mail sack in a letter to the
Post Office Department Decem-
ber Is.
Mr.. Hoffman said he has re-
ceived a letter from the postal
inspection division saying the
sack was inadvertently" opened
at the Detroit post Office and its
contents removed.
He said "about one-third" OF
the missing items have been re-
turned to him and that postal
inspectors are attempting to To-
cate the rest.
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Big Aid Fund Boost
Seen Needed inKorea
By the Associated Press

C. Tyler Wood, American re-
construction director in South
Korea, said yesterday a sub.
stantial amount" of additional
aid money would be needed to
speed Korea's industrial and
agricultural comeback in 1854.
Mr.. Wood, who has co-ordin-
ated American relief activities
for the past four months, made
the comment as he returned here
for consultations. He was met
at the airport by Foreign Opera
tions Administrator Stassen and
Raymond Meyer, Far East aid
director.
Mr.. Wood said initial funds
were being concentrated on re-
building Korea's wrecked
transportation and power system.
THE needs of Korea are ter
rifle because of the war devasta-
ton" he said. "It's difficult to
pick out one project which should
have priority over another"
Mr.. Wood said some $45 mil
lion of a 5000 million fund Con-
gress appropriated for Korean
aid already has been allocated.
The pace of such projects will
pick up now that initial planning
has been completed, he said,
adding:
while I can't speak for the
administration, I would guess
that a substantial amount Of
money would be needed from this
/ coming session of Congress-"
Evening star., 1953-12-25
7O,OOOm Mental Hospitals
Also Share in Christmas Cheer

School at Owings Mills, recorded
carols are heard from loud
speaker.
Children Present Pageant.
Children of the school are pro-
ducing their annual pageant,
with scenery from the manual
training shops and costumes
from the domestic science classes.
Total cost of the show is 81 cents
the shops couldn't make tinsel.
Spring Grove Hospital at Ca
louisville held an open house yes
terday.
Mrs. Isabel Schuman, volun-
teer co-ordinator. said gifts such
as sweaters, socks, nightgowns
and bed jackets were provided
for all patients, and such items
as large coffee makers. electric
irons, radios and a television set
were presented to the wards.
Christmas Play Given.
Springfield Hospital at Sykes
vile was reported aglow with
Christmas trees. All comers are
invited to a performance of a
Christmas play produced by the
staff. Student nurses, organized
into an a capella choir, tour the
wards singing carols.
Turkey and trimmings are the
order of the day at all the hos
pitals.
Mental Hygiene Commissioner
Clifton T. Perkins declared the
patients have received the most
precious gift of all-the feelins
tnat some one cares.
Evening star., 1953-12-25
40 10 Enter Society
Al u. Of MARYLAND

Thirty-one undergraduate stu
dents, three graduate students
and six faculty members at the
University of Maryland will be
Initiated into Phi Kappa Phi,
scholastic honorary society, on
January IL.
The undergraduate students,
all seniors, include Simon Atlas,
9-G Parkway road, Greenbelt;
John w. Biggs, Jessup, Md; Jane
P. Cahill. It'll Massachusetts, av-
enue NV; Willard S. Cahill,
3410 Cheverly avenue, Cheverly;
Neri A. Clark. lin Laurel Hill
road, Greenbelt; Edgar A. Day;
Marguerite Gettier, Hunting
town, Md; Jennifer Hauk, 64O5
Fulton street, Chevy Chase, and
Robert j. Henault, ~42-C Cres-
cent road, Greenbelt.
Also. George E. Henkel, Col
lege Park; Jean H. Hudson. Tus-
carora. Md; Elizabeth Hough-
ton, 4519 Yuma street NV; Ar
thur c. Johnston, Baltimore;
Mary A. Kifer, TABS Baltimore
avenue, Takoma Park: Algi-
nantes Kuprenas, 1914 N street
NV; Cora Lurie. New York;
Eugene G. Michel, 1902 Fifty
eighth avenue, Hillside, Md;
Robert H. Moore, 1920 Harvard
road. College Park; Mary Mar
garet Mueller. 1922 Rittenhouse
street NV. and Eda S. Offutt.
1929 Tulane drive, West Hyatts-
vile.
Also, Alice M. Phillips, Ait
Woodberry street, Hyattsville:
Danold c. Piper, 1908 Longfel-
low street. Hyattsville; Virginia
Reeves. 1549 North Seventeenth
street. Arlington, Va; Robert
Stephens, 1915 Iris street NV;
Peggy j. Topping, 5602 Hamilton
Manor drive, Hyattsville; Mary
II. IA AACIs fGOC 01lCl 1udl SLICGL,
Hyattsville; Charles Wagner,
Baltimore: Richard w. Waters,
II Belmont court. Silver Spring;
j. w. Way, 2058 Thirty-fourth
street Sc; Frances A. White,
4405 Beachwood road, Hyatts-
vile. and Walter Zaharevitz.
The graduate students are
John M. Burnside. Richard W.
Calish and Mary c. Dunlap. Fac
ulty members are DR.. Wilbert j.
Huff. chemical engineering; DIR.
Morley A. JUL. poultry; Prof.
Thyra F. Mitchell. textiles and
clothing; DR.. Henry r. Reed,
electrical engineering: Associate
Professor A. Wiley Sherwood,
aeronautical engineering, and
Charles Shreeve.
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Judgment Of Pilot
Blamed in Crash
BY the Associoted Press

An Air Force investigating
board reported yesterday that
the pilot of B-36 which crashed
against mountain in Texas on
December IL insisted on at
tempting a visual landing rather
than follow instructions from a
ground control approach crew.
It said that incorrect ap-
proach and poor judgment by
the pilot" was the primary cause
of the crash which killed nine
men.
The accident occurred when
the huge bomber flew into the
side OF peak after two attempts
to land at Biggs Air Force Base,
Tex. during cloudy weather. The
B-36 was on a flight from Cars
well Air Force Base, near Fort
Worth. to Biggs when it hit a
peak of the Franklin Mountains
west of the airf1eld.
The Air Force announcement
said:
THE Biggs ground control
approach crew gave instructions
to the pilot which would have
placed the aircraft in the proper
position for a landing on the
north-south runway at Biggs.
However, the pilot elected to
make a visual approach in land
ing and so advised the GCA
crew. They advised the aircraft
commander of proper emergency
instructions and continued to
monitor the aircraft during two
attempted approaches to the
field. These emergency instruc-
tions were given to and acknowl-
edged by the pilot in adequate
time to avoid collision with any
known hazards in the area"
Evening star., 1953-12-25
D. c. Policemen
Ordered to Use
Regulation Holster

Shooting from the hip will be
impossible for District police
men under a new order issued
yesterday.
Deputy Chief Howard V. Covell
told policemen to refrain hence
forth from using swivel-type hol-
sters or shoulder holsters. and to
stick with the type prescribed in
the police manual.
Chief Covell said the regula-
tion type holster was adopted
because it was the safest kind.
He cited the case of policeman
who accidentally shot himself
when his pistol-carried in a
swivel holSter-discharged as he
waSAgetting into a car.
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Retired Restaurateur
Dies Of Gunshot Wound

James M. Buffin. Sc, a retired
restaurant owner, died in Subur-
ban Hospital last night after he
was found at his home shot
through the head
Mr.. Buffin was found sprawled
in the hallway of his house ct
1918 Connecticut avenue. Chevy
Chase. Md. shortly after he had
returned home from a shopping
trip. A 80 automatic lay near.
His wife Mary was upstairs
at the time and ran down when
she heard the shot. She told re-
porters her husband had been in
i'll health. A maid was in the
kitchen at the time of the shoot
ing.
Mr.. Buffin formerly owned the
Wheaton Inn, now MAYORS Res
taurant, in Wheaton, Md.
DR.. Frank j. Broschart, Mont
gomery County coroner, issued q
certificate of suicide.
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Fall on Basement Steps
Fatal 10 District Man

A 51-year-old man who fell
down a fight of steps at his
home and apparently did not
realize he was seriously hurt died
at District General Hospital
shortly after he was admitted
today.
The victim of the fall was
Daniel Curtin, 81. of the 5000
block of Eleventh street NE.
The Homicide Squad described
the death as accidental. Detec-
tives said Mr.. Curtin fell down
the basement steps, returned to
the living room and spent the
night on a couch there.
He started bleeding this morn
ing and was taken by a nephew
to Sibley Hospital. from which
he was transferred to District
Central.
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Fire Calls OFF Holiday
For Deputy Chief Here

There was no holiday today
for Deputy Fire Chief Fred j.
Literal.
Although of for Christmas,
Chief Literal was put to work
when his next door neighbor's s
house at 3712 Massachusetts, ave-
nue. NV. caught fire just before
dawn.
When he heard the sirens and
bells he turned to give his men
a hand. Damage to the home
of j. H. Fraser was estimated
at $1,000. A faulty fireplace was
blamed.
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Youth, II, Held
AS Dare Killer
'0fHis Brother
Victim Held Gun
Against Body in
Nerve Shooting

A 17-year-old boy was held by
police today, charged with shoot
ing his brother to death with a
12-gauge shotgun on a dare.
The victim, killed instantly as
he held the muzzle against his
own body and challenged the
courage of his brother, was
Charles w. Lowe, 81, of 1905
Clifton street NV. a sheet
metal worker.
The brother, Gilbert Lowe of
the Clifton street address, was
picked up by police after the car
he had driven away from the
scene figured in a minor acci-
dent at New Hampshire and
Georgia avenues NV. Wit
nesses said he told them he was
going for help.
fAAtCA 41UAAu0y 0Atys
Inspector jeremiah Flaherty
said the Lowe brothers, with
Donald R. Hill. 20, of 1907 Cliff
ton street NV, and Paul Lowell,
II, of 80 Longfellow street NV,
had attended Christmas eve
party at the Day Brothers con-
tracing firm, GALS Blair road
NV. where the Loves were en-
ployed.
An argument developed, police
said, when the younger Lowe
wanted to go to Gaithersburg Ito
see some girls" Inspector Flah-
erty said the two others in the
car told him that Charles Lowe
stopped the car in the 200 block
of Oglethorpe street NV, got
out, reached under the back seat
and pulled out the shotgun. He
loaded it, they said, placed the
muzzle against his body and
dared Gilbert to pull the trig-
ger don't THINK you nave
the nerve"
Didn't Know Of Loading.
Gilbert was quoted as saying
he pulled the trigger, unaware
the gun had been loaded.
Capt. John Ryan received a
waiver from Municipal Court
Judge Mary Catherine Barlow
permitting him to place Lowe
In the District Jail. He will be
housed away from adult prisA
onerS.
A waiver permitting transfer
of the case from juvenile court
is expected Monday.
Evening star., 1953-12-25
SD. {. Storekeepers
Held Up for $500
On Christmas Eve

Christmas eve bandits struck
five times here last night, taking
a total of about $500 from five
storekeepers. police were told.
A large man who said "I don't
want to be sent back to the
asylum" took $100 from the
Chaconas Liquor Store, 3067 M
street NV, according to police.
Peter and Paul Chaconas.
brothers who operate the store,
reported the bandit entered
about $50 pm. with a pistol in
his hand, forced them to empty
the cash registers into a paper
bag and then herded them into
the rear of the store.
He told them to lie down and
not to get up for five minutes
because he was going to stand
across the street and shoot them
if they gave the alarm. They
followed his instructions, police
were told.
Leaves Automatic Behind.
A 73-year-old porter jumped
holdup man trying to rob the
Lewis Liquor Store. 1918 Fourth
street NV. about $3.50 pm,
knocking the Army .45-caliber
automatic from his hand, police
learned.
Wiley Walker. colored, 1925
Fourth street NV, jumped the
bandit after Harry Lewis, SIS,
the proprietor, started to give
the man, who was colored, the
money. The bandit snatched
up SIS or $40 as he fed, leaving
his gun on the floor.
Mrs. Rose Newfield, AZ, told
police she was waiting on two
customers in her husbands
Newfield Market, 243 K street
NE, when three colored men
entered about 7 pm.
Girl Watches Holdup.
They waited until the GUS
toners had left, then held her
up at the point of a small. dull
looking gun" They escaped,
she said, with about $3.50.
Mrs. Harry A. Cohen, wife of
the proprietor of Holmead Deli
catessen. 2499 Holmead place
NV, told police three colored
men, of different description
from the trio that robbed Mrs.
Newf1eld. took $140 at gun-point
about sos p.m.. while an IL
year-old girl from the neighbor-
hood looked on.
About $50 was taken from the
CoStos DelicateSsen, 1921 Penn
sylvania avenue NV. Proprietor
John Costos reported, by a col
ored man who held his hand in
his pocket as if armed with a
pistol.
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Virginia Counties See
Merit in Proposed
New Taxing Powers
By the Assoeioted Press

RICHMOND, Dec. 25.-Spokes-
men for both the League of Vir-
ginia Municipalities and the
League of Virginia Counties
say they like a legislative COM
mission proposal that the States
counties be granted broad new
taxing powers to help meet
rising costs of local government.
Some legislators predicted that
the taxing powers for the coun-
ties, largely shunted aside by
other sessions of the Legislature,
will have a fair chance to
emerge as general laws in the
forthcoming General Assembly.
Some of the larger counties
already have many such powers
under specific legislation at the
last session. Others are hopeful
that recent court decisions on
their taxing powers will give
them authority to make such
levieS.
County Tax Rights.
The Virginia Advisory Legis-
lative Council. in a 22-page re-
port, yesterday proposed that
legislation be passed to allow
counties to collect license and
capitation taxes.
w. Stirling King, president of
the League of Virginia Munich
palities, said he felt the VALC
report was very sensible. very
intelligent"
He said he was impressed by
the view expressed in the re-
port that counties and cities
should share their tax pro-
ceeds in some equitable way so
they can, as he said, "co-oper-
ate with each other, rather than
compete"
Expects No Abuses.
William B. Speck of Char
lottesville, secretary of the
League of Virginia Counties,
said that if the plan were put
into effect, I'm certain that
the counties won't go whole-hog
on this thing"
Delegate Charles N. Loving
OF Hot Springs, chairman. of
the House Committee on Coun-
ties, Cities and Towns, said he
felt it was "only fair to give
the counties the same oppor-
tunities and privileges that most
of the cities and towns now
have"
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Determined Police
Chase Speeder 10
Quantico RoadbIock

Two determined Arlington po-
licemen today chased a fast
travelling Marine all the way to
Quantico, Va, where the Speeder
finally was stopped by a road
block.
Pvts. James Connors and
Frank Brodkorb had less than
an hour left to work when they
spotted a siwtf-traveling black
sedan headed south on Shirley
highway at 1880 am.
They said they clocked the car
at 95 miles an hour and couldn't
overtake it. They radioed to
Pvt. James Mangan, the dis
patcher:
Were behind a fast one. We
can't catch him. We're ap
preaching Lincolnia. Can Fair
fax County give us any help?"
No Fairfax Cruisers.
Pvt. Mangan queried Fairfax
Not a cruiser was available.
ASK State if they can help us
We're going past Springfield
now" flashed back the pursuing
policemen.
But State didn't have any
thing either-except one cruiser
near Fredericksburg.
Pvts. Connors and Brodkorh
were just as anxious as any one
else to get off on time and &c
home for Christmas, but they
saw their duty:
We're going through Wood
bridge now. Maybe you better
get that Fredericksburg cruiser
to head north"
Arranged ROadblOck.
Pvt. Mangin meanwhile talked
with armed services police anc
arranged for a roadblock at
Quantico. BY this time the two
Arlington policemen were getting
out of Arlington radio range:
you're on your own now
boys. Go to it," said Pvt. Man
gan.
When next heard from-via
telephone-Pvts. ConnorS anC
Brodkorb were at Quantico. The
Speeder, a Marine, had been
stopped at a roadblock. The
policemen said they paced the
fleeing car between 95 and 10(
miles per hour throughout the
30-mile chase.
Evening star., 1953-12-25

then he and Kenneth went to
the area of the reservoir, behind
the George Washington Masonic
Memorial Building.
The boys played with sling
shot, the police said. They found
two trees which they uprooted
for Christmas decorations. At
about this point the Hooe boy
found hole in the reservoirs
board fence and climbed through
it. He was trying to walk around
the brick wall which slopes
toward the water, Kenneth said,
when his feet slipped on the
brick, which was covered with
wet moss. -
After Billy fell into the water,
police said, Kenneth called to
him, then ran home to tell his
father, E. G.. Hart, who called
police. Mrs. Hart, meanwhile,
called the Fire Department.
Efforts Fail.
The boys body was found
within a few minutes by the fire.
men. They applied artificial res
piration unsuccessfully, and
Billy was pronounced dead on the
scene by DR.. Alfred Abraham
son, the medical examiner.
Meanwhile, the boys grand
mother was taken to her home
after watching the rescue work
His brother. Jimmy, IL, quietly
sat on sofa near the brightly
lit Christmas tree. The father is
dead.
The boys mother, Mrs. Kath-
crime Coburn didn't know of the
death until later. She was out
Christmas shopping, to augment
the boys Christmas presents OF
games and clothing.
Billy was born in Alexandra
and had lived there all his life
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Santa Finds District
Tough Shedding; No
Real Snow Since IS

Washington hasn't had a
genuine white Christmas
since 1885, the Weather Blu
reau reminisced today. In
that year. snow began falling
on December % and Sifted
down intermittently for five
days.
Since then there has been
only a trace of snow for
Christmas Day in 1945 and
1850. Sled-wise, 1947 was the
best. Three inches of snow
fell on the 26th of December
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Man Caught in Office
Of Photo Service

Henry T. johnson, colored,
20, of 733 Third street NE. was
charged with houSebreaking
early today after police officers
caught him ransacking the Of
flee of the Fleet Photo Service
at 1882 Fourteenth street NV.
Pvts. j. D. Leacock and P. j.
Farrell of the second precinct
made the arrest.
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Alexandra boy
browns inF Fall
Into Reservoir
Billy Hooe, Is, Slips
From Wall Into
10 Feet of Water

A young Alexandria Schoolboy
drowned yesterday in Alexandria
Reservoir after falling into its
deep waters.
The victim was William E.
Billy Hooe, 13, who was in the
eighth grade at Jefferson School.
He lived at % Sunset drive, in
Alexandria.
Police said he and a playmate,
Kenneth Hart, IL, of No. 81 West
Rosemont avenue. were at the
reservoir when William fell into
the water, which is about 10 feet
deep.
Had Wrapped Presents.
Police reported that Billy ear
lier had been wrapping Christ
mas presents for his grand
mother, Mrs. Ada ToombS, and
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Fireman Killed
In Collapse Of
Tall Chimney
3 Other EIlicott City
Volunteers Injured
Critically in Accident

A lieutenant of the Ellicott
City CMd.) Volunteer Fire De-
partment was killed and three
other firemen were injured crit
ically when the tall brick CHM
ney of a burned house collapsed
on them early today.
The house had burned and the
flremen were preparing to leave
when the three-story chimney
tumbled without warning. bury
ing them beneath a pile of brick
and cement.
1t. Joseph Stigler. 40, died in
st. Agnes Hospital at Baltimore
a short time after the accident
at $50 am.
Father of Two Daughters.
Admitted to the hospital in
critical condition were Charles
Ditch, 40, driver of the fire
truck; Charles Ash, 35. another
lieutenant. and Albert Massey,
81, a member of the fire COM
pany. All live in Ellicott City.
1t. Stigler was the father Of
two daughters. aged and 8. His
wife is expecting their third child
soon. 1t. Stigler drove tractor
trucks between Baltimore and
| Washington.
1t. Ash has two small chill
dren. and Mr.. Ditch has teen
age daughter.
Occupants Rescued.
The burned house was a mile
outside of Ellicott City. Two
Ellicott City policemen discov-
cred the blaze about $50 pm.
and carried out the elderly oc-
cupants, Mr.. and Mrs. William
Jacobs.
Chief B. H. Shipley of the Ell
licott City Volunteer Fire De-
partment said the 25-room old
frame house was ablaze when
they arrived, and there was no
available water supply. About
all firemen could do was make
feeble attempt to control the
flames with the water from their
truck.
Whsn the fire finally burned
itself out, three tall chimneys
were left standing.
Another five minutes and we
would have gone" said Chief
Shipley.
Men Didn't Have Chance.
He said the four victims were
standing near the fire truck, pre-
pairing to leave. They were about
Is feet from the chimney.
Suddenly, it crashed down,
said Chief Shipley. They didn't
have a chance. They were COM
pletely buried"
Two other firemen standing
nearby narrowly escaped.
I'VE all pitched in-digging
through the bricks with our bare
hands. 1t took about Is minutes
to get them all out, but they all
were still breathing when we got
to them," said the chief.
Ambulances and rescue equip
ment from Laurel and Cations
vile were called to help.
Its the first time I've lost
a man in my 30 years with the
department, said the chief.
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Nebraska Farmers
Are Moving to Town
By the Associated Press

LINCOLN, Nebr.-Gov. Robert
Crosby of Nebraska got a COM
plant from city workers in vari-
Gus parts of the State that small
farmers were moving into town
and taking jobs of normal city
workers.
Mostly the drought was
blamed. Gov. Crosby explained
he couldn't do anything about it.
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Church Charter Found

The original constitution of
the Church of the Province OF
New Zealand has been found in
the archives of a Wellington
bank, its hiding place" for 100
10 ears.
Evening star., 1953-12-25
Britoin Using More Sugar

Britain is obtaining more and
more raw sugar from the British
West Indies.
Evening star., 1953-12-07
Two Painters Killed
In 5-Story Fall When
Wind Buffets ScaffoId
Men Hurled Through
Guard Rail, Working
At Westchester

Two painters fell five stories
to their deaths outside the
Westchester Apartments today
when a gust of wind slammed
their scaffold against a wall and
forced them through the back
rail.
Instantly killed were Raymond
Ralston, 48, and Clinton Collins,
So, both of AIS Fifteenth street
NE, two of a dozen men who
had been painting window
frames the last two months at
the fashionable apartment at
1000 Cathedral avenue NV.
The accident was witnessed
by another painter, David j
Barker, 80. of 631 I street S.W.
who had just walked from the
"B" building almost under the
victims. TheS bodies fell to a
blacktop driveway.
ACd4O d OIldp anu looked
up." he said. 1T was already
too late. Both men were on
their way down. 1 ran to them
and could see that Ralston was
dead. I went to Collins and
asked him something, but he
never answered"
The scaffold, on the west side
of the building near the front.
apparently was whipped away
from the wall by gust from
the mems left, then slammed
back with such force that they
were toppled against the pro-
tective back rail. The snap Mr..
Barker heard was the rail
breaking as the painters fell
through it.
The scaffold was suspended
by ropes on each side. Mr..
Barker said it was not equipped
with a center lifeline usually
rigged for the workmen to hold
to. The guard rail was snapped
near the center.
The painters were employed
by George K. Talley, contractor.