davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08

erless to see the world as others
see it, powerless to measure him
self by the standards others use.
He was upset because he was
forbidden to wear his cowboy
boots to the trial. Day after day
he showed up with his flaming
red hair trickily groomed. At his
preliminary hearing he was more
interested in his tie than In the
charge against him.
In the courtroom, he vas un-
moved by the tears of the slain
boys father. His eyes followed the
faces of the jury with intriguing
curiosity as they looked at the
picture of the nude, mutilated
body of one of his victims. His
muscles frightened with anger
when his counsel sought to estab-
lish his mental incompetence.
He smiled occasionally when he
spoke to his mother.
He appeared always aware of
his own Importance in the court
room. After all Charles Stark
weather was what it was all about.
When I told him that the i'm
sanity plea was perhaps his only
and last dim chance, he replied:
Il would rather burn"
He resisted the determination
of his attorneys to use the insan-
ity plea to the last. His ego could
find nothing hard or cold or nerve
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08
BY GEORGE BEVERIDGE
Star stan Writer

There are times when Wash
ington'S efforts to clear slumS,
beautify the city and gear its
laundering public facilities to the
needs of a mushrooming metrop-
oils appear blocked by insur-
mountable hurdles. The problems
of financing. politics and planning
tend to become a hopeless tumble.
And the temptation is to despair
of any program big enough and
bold enough to straighten the
tumble out.
At times like these, Washington
could we'll look for encouragement
to the Paris of century ago, to
the decades between 1850 and
1870, which produced the most
Enthusiastically successful era Of city
planning and public works in mod
ern history.
During those brief 20 years
Paris literally was transformed
from a city of unbearable slums.
disease, congestion and filth. Those
two decades produced essentially
the city of light" of today-the
acres of parks and gardens; the
broad boulevards, with open vistas
terminating in monumental build
ings; the miles of attractive side
walks; the underground water and
sewer systems which still are mar
wells of ingenuity. This reformation
introduced new, higher goals to
city planning, and its impact ex-
lists in cities throughout the world
Including Washington.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08

the fiscal arrangements never were
easy. Time after time, Baron
Haussmann's projects were threat
ened by skepticism and fear.
Stun clearance was forced
largely by the routing Of new
boulevards through slum areas.
and clearance to make way for
the big new parks and public
buildings. Prof. Pinkney points
out, however, that the great fall
ure Of the program was that it
did not prevent the creation of
new slums in place of those it
wiped out. Many displaced SUM
jewellers, for instance, overcrowd-
ed other rundown areas IAN
other concern of today's redevel-
opers). And the stress Of build
ing regulations was entirely on
exterior building beauty and
esthetics. Builders could-and did
jam people inside.
The Giont Houssmonn
Napoleon's main concerns we're
his plans for the streets and parks
which opened up Paris. The sew
er and water projects, the author
concludes. were the personal tri-
umphs Of HausSmann. a jealous
giant who fought the conservative
Paris bankers at every turn and
won.
Ironically, the end of the 20
year period also ended the am
bilious careers Of both men. First,
Haussmann was forced out Of
Office, partly as a scapegoat Of
the anti-imperialists, and partly
because Of questionable credit
Vaccinations he invented TO A.
nance his projects. Soon after,
Louis Napoleon, his shaky empire
collapsed, was forced into exile.
Public clamor, however. forced
continuation Of the works pro-
gram. And subsequent years
proved the inherent value and
soundneSs Of the fantastic spend
ing splurge.
If there are lessons for Wasf1-
ington in the century-old Paris
experience, one is the necessity
of bold plans-far holder than
most Of those thus far produced.
And another is the necessity for
leadership strong and fearless
enough to carry them out.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08

tional subsidy. But the great bulk
was by long-term municipal loans,
which were redeemed by the re-
sale for profit of condemned land
and by increased tax revenues,
created largely by the improve
ments themselves. Private build
ing zoomed, and builders were
given subsidies in the form of
20-year property tax exemptions.
The idea of creating new tax
revenues through improvements
a prime aim Of modern redevelop-
ment, incidentally-paid of. But
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08

a staggering rs billion francs
about "A times the total Paris
budget in 1851. An equivalent out
lay in Washington today-44 times
the city budget-would amount to
about $8.8 billion. BY contrast,
the Six-year public works program
recently approved by Congress for
the District is $112 million.
The most amazing part of this
huge expenditure is that it was
made without increasing local tax
rates.
Some Of it was borne by ma
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08
TWO CITIES SEEK BEAUTY

but by the national government.
1t contained a million people
about the population of the Dis
trict today. 1t was to double its
size in the next 20 years-just
the prospect of metro Washington
in the next two decades. It's great
physical problems were essentially
those of metro Washington
slums, traffic congestion, over
crowded new development, water
supply and sewage disposal. Like
Washington, it had developed no
overall plan to attack these
problems.
There were sharp differences, of
course. While Louis Napoleon
was elected President of the
fledgling French Republic, he
quickly seized power and installed
himself as Emperor. AS such, he
was able to order many of the
Paris Improvements simply by
edict.
The main difference, however,
was that Paris problems were of
such magnitude as to put those
of Washington to shame.
JurisdictionoI Troubles
Washington, for example, has
political and fiscal machinery
with which to clear SlumS. and
to build the. backbone of the fu-
ture highway system it needs. Its
main concern with water is not
supply. but protection against
pollution.
Paris in 1850, however, had no
water source except the polluted
Seine, which also served as the
city sewer. Its streets we're wind
ing and narrow. with virtually
no croSs-town arteries. And its
population was doubling within
the city limits third of a mill
lion people were damned into tiny
apartments in one small Right
Bank district which had a popu-
lation density greater than that
of New York's lower East Side
during the 1930s.
Yet by 1870. Paris had:
o Ninety miles Of new streets,
many crossing the city and most
between IS and 100 feet wide.
. About 4,500 acres of public
parks (ss against A acres in
1880, including small parks in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08

every neighborhood and huge
natural park areas on each side
of the city. There was an acre
of parkland for each 800 city
residents-a standard which stacks
up we'll against any existing today.
. Two huge aqueductS which
brought Paris adequate supplies
of spring water from mountain
sources more than 100 miles away.
. A complex system of under
ground collector storm sewers
which left the Seine free of
pollution.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08
Why Did An Artistic Youth Of 70 Go On
A Killing Rampage That Took II Lives?

no scope. Egoistic and biologic
satisfactions, that was about all.
A girl to use, a gun to shoot, and
power that could be tasted.
Whatever the provocative in
cidents that set Charles Stark
weather off on the killing ram
page, the inhibited, remorseless.
power-hungry ego was already
there.
It had been nursed in a multi
tude of grotesque and cruel
fantasies. 1t was unfolded in his
language and manner in the inter-
view.
When asked him for an ex-
PLANTATION of his killings, he could
say only: 1.-THE old man came at
me / had to kill him j.. the
old lady was coming at me with
a knife she wanted to break
up me and Carl :. the little girl
was crying :"
Killing not only served his i'm
mediate ends, it symbolized the
destruction of opposing forces.
Behind his hunger for the feel
of power was a covering sense of
failure. The gun could do things
in a hurry.
He had thrilled to its perform
ances on the television screen. He
had watched himself handle it
in the mirror.
AS far back as Charles could
remember he wanted to be i'm
portant.
He had acquired numerous per-
sonal oddities and mannerisms to
shield his sense of inadequacy: a
withdrawn look, tricks for MAIN
tanning social distance-like re-
fusing to answer, appearing not to
hear, keeping silent.
Talk gets you nowhere" he
said.
Realistic Day Dreams
Beneath these exterior safety
devices we're fantasy scenes Of
cruelty and personal mastery.
These images had become more
impelling and complex with time.
They seemed so wildly realistic at
times that he came up with a
start, reaching for his gun.
He did not always know wheth-
er he was asleep or awake.
For years it did not occur to
him that one day he would break
over these fantasies to become a
real murderer. Even after the first
murder which he admittedly COM
mitted for money 80 that he and
CARL could run away" he con-
fessed return to the murderous
images.
Except for the murder of the
filling station attendant for
money, the killings we're painless.
His victims simply got in the
way"
He told me he could never
stop pulling the trigger" until the
last cartridge was spent. 1t was
humiliating to miss the head"
The boy Robert Jensen, for
whose murder Charles was con-
victed, was shot six times in and
around the right ear.
The gun was a poor defeated
ego's short road to power.
Power over others: that is what
he wanted. This was the ego's an
swer to real or imaginary wrongs.
A former schoolmate had felt
sorry for him at school, "he
seemed so lonely" She invited him
to her house, introduced him to
her parents, tried to help him
with his math. Within the week,
Charles was saying she was my
girl" and the other boys ''had bet
ter stay away from her." The girl
had to drop him cold.
AS we talked at the prison,
Charles said he loved CARL and
had to hold on to her at all costs.
Carl and I got along fine to-
gether she does everything
that / want" he said.
CARL Ann Fugate, IA, accom-
panied Starkweather on his kill
ing rampage. She also has been
charged with murder and awaits
trial.
Charles Starkweather was pow
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08

Q Fewer slums and blighted
neighborhoods.
. More than 700 miles of broad
sidewalks. and about $4,000 new
street lights.
0 Numerous public buildings, in
GLIDING the complete Louvre. the
vast glass-topped Central Markets,
the Opera House, and new hos
pitfalls.
What 1t Cost
The 20-year cost of all this was
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08
A Normal Childhood
By DIR. J. NJ. REINHARpT

His earlier years were not
markedly different on the sur
face from that of thousands of
young people who have grown
into respectable adulthood. He
shared the companionship of the
family dog, often went hunting
with his older brothers and his
father, spent week ends with Au-
gust Meyer of Bennett, a family
friend whom he later murdered.
For number of years he at
tended church and Sunday school
regularly, but lost interest before
he finished the eighth grade. He
said II just got tired of it,"
Charles Starkweather's school
intelligence rating was dull
normal. Both the psychologists
for the defense and the prosecu-
ton put his intelligence in the
normal range. -
The hideous eruption did not
break suddenly out OF a tranquil
past. The provoking incidents
came quickly. but the destructive
forces were already there, waiting.
They had been quietly building
up for years. Charles himself was
not aware of what was really
going on inside of him.
The exterior bristled and with
drew. Nobody gave vt a thought.
All the time the inside of him
was watching fences go up that
he couldn't cross, gates closed that
he couldn't open.
In his job at a printing plant,
he said. people were looking down
on me-"
I said, "Why didn't you stay
with your brother? He has made
a living and stayed out of
trouble"
He said: you think wanted to
be garbage hauler . who gives
a damn for a garbage hauler?"
For Charles, life's purposes had
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08
PoroIIel to Washington

The story of Paris TRANSITIONAL
ton and the two men who brought
it about-Emperor Louis Napoleon
and his Project of the Seine.
Baron Georges HauSsmann-iS
told in a fascinating new book,
Napoleon III and the Rebuilding
of Paris" by David H. Pinkney,
professor of history at the Uni
verSity of Missouri princeton
University Press.
Prof. Pinkney pictures Paris
Of 1850 which had startling par
allels to Washington. 1858.
Like Washington. it was a cap
ital governed. not by its residents,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08
His Mothers Character

Charles Starkweather's mother
is pretty. She is small. Her face
looks tired and sad but no older
than her years.
One neighbor said, "She works
all the time. When not working
away from home, she is ironing.
sewing, washing or something"
From teacher: THE parents
have always co-operated with the
school. They almost never miss
a school function or a parent
teacher meeting"
Another teacher: "They are
poor, and don't have as good
clothes as some children, but they
are always clean"
None of the teachers thought
that Charles brothers or his sis
ter had been a disciplinary prob
lem in school. One said: "They
are better than the average"
A neighbor told me that the
Starkweather children ARE very
nice and considerable. They never
run through my house and never
come in without being invited even
If the door is open"
Charles two older brothers are
respectable, self supporting law
abiding citizens. The Starkweather
house is small and old and run
down, out of place in the center
Of an attractive middle class neigh
borhood where it sits.
Such is the family and the home
of Charles Starkweather.
Charles Starkweather had some
laudable interests. Under the sus-
tanned stimulus of appropriate
social rewards, these might have
been turned to constructive ends.
But he turned to guns.
His only plant after the SEN
tence was that his attorneys had
tried me for all those murders
instead of the one I was charged
with"
He said that he thought he
should have a new trial, but II
would be glad to go to the chair
tomorrow if I could have CARL on
my lap"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08

men? In Washington they hitch
their horses to them"
Not so long ago a member
from one of our Middle West
States quoted Henry Clay's
statement: I'D rather be right
than President" as applying to
himself. A Democrat retorted:
THE gentleman need not worry.
He will never be either"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08

William Jennings Bryan, when
in the House. was called the
Boy Orator of the Platte, the
Platte being the name of a
river. Senator Foraker took care
to define the Platte as follows:
THE Plates inches deep
and 7 miles wide at the mouth"
Some years ago Representa-
tive Johnson of Indiana called
a fellow Representative from
Illinois a jackaSs. A point of
order was made Immediately
that the statement was unpar-
liamentary. johnson said he
retracted his statement, and
then added: while I withdraw
the unfortunate word, Mr..
Speaker, I still insist the gen.
tleman from Illinois is out Of
order" How am I out Of
order?" quickly demanded the
Illinois Congressman. To which
Representative Johnson replied:
Probably a veterinary surgeon
could tell you"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08

EDIIOh - MUTE - WHuI
drope conDicted killer Charles
Starkt0enther to one OF the
bloodiest fordvs In recent
criminal history? A Uidely
knopn author aud lecturer on
criminal behavior, DR.. James
Melvin Reinhqrdt, professor
OF crtminolo0y at the Uniuer-
stty OF Nebraska, sums up the
case after interviewing the
youth. his family, friends and
teachers. and after todtchtn0
him, In court.
BY DIR. J. M. REINHARDT
LINCOLN. Nebr., P-Charles
Starkweather, the l9-year-old
killer, has reached the end of
the line.
OF IL slayings he has admitted,
he was convicted Of one. But he
awaits with indifference the day
of his execution.
His cell will open to the elec-
trio chamber. 1t is well lighted
and ventilated. From a barred
window he can see an arch of sky
above the prison yard. He can
watch the sun go down, but he
cannot see it rise.
Charles Starkweather terrified
a city. He put a stop to laughter,
made people fearful to step out
of doors. He fixed his name in
criminal history.
What made him kill?
/ watched Starkweather during
his trial. I talked with family and
friends. l had a private, unmoni-
tored, three-hour conversation
with him in prison. Out of this,
some of his life's values became
evident, some conclusions could
be drawn.
The answer to why he killed
must be found inside Charles
Starkweather, in his way of look
ing at life, in the values he gave
it.
He is the third of seven chill
dren-six boys and girl. He
grew up in a law-abiding family,
knew good public schools and
libraries.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08
By EMANUEL CELLER

In my 35 years experience in
Congress, / have often found
that a sharp tongue was a
weapon Of offense. and that Bit
ing words frequently accompany
acid debate. Any member who
was quick at Displacement or
the quick retort seemed always
to amuse and win admiration.
Even SANDER. for which there is
immunity in Congress, never
lacks for circulation. There has
been much of vituperation and
repartee. Timing. however. is
always important. To me, how
ever, 1t has always seemed that
If the majority Of the House is
with you, that is the best kind
Of repartee. Sometimes 1t is well
to be silent. especially in the
face Of great provocation. Some
times to assume quiet dignity
causes all the verbal darts
hurled at you to be detected.
The situation is not diSsimilar
in general to the late lamented
Fred Allen, in his many verbal
combats with Jack Benny. Fred
Allen was rubbing Benny unmer-
cifully. Frankly, Benny was no
match for him. Jack Benny
moaned in a At of despair at
being unable to ad lib effective
retorts. Jack Benny said, IF
I had my gag writers here, you
wouldn't say that to me-"
Insults in Verse
Insults are often used as
weapon but insults are like bad
coins. We cannot help their
being offered to us but we need
not take them. Some insults
are witty and some are just
mean and ornery. Some insults
can be couched in excellent
poetry as when King Lear be-
rates some disgraced soldiers
and says:
Il hare seen better faces in my
time
Than stands on any shoulder
that see
Before me at this distance"
I, personally, have been the
subject of unintentional jolt.
remember at a dinner not SO
long ago. when a chairman
leaned over me while coffee was
being served, and said, Shall
we let them enjoy themselves
a little longer, Mr.. Celler, or had
we better have your speech
now?"
A Senator once said of a mem
Der of the opposite party, whom
he detested, that the particular
Senator. went into a room with
a skunk and the door was shut.
There was considerable scratch
ing on the door and the skunk
shot out of the door like blue
lightning.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08

helping the teachers make flowers
and decorations.
His only sister LaVeta was is
when her brother set out with
his l4-year-old girl friend to
shoot his way to glory" LaVeta
has wistful eyes and a winsome
face.
LaVeta, he said, ''is my special
sister. ! wish I could have painted
her face just like it is"
1t was the only face that could
hold his attention long enough
to finish the picture, although
he did experiment with other
subjects = wood scenes and
animals.
His father reports: HE would
be sitting painting q picture as
II unconscious Of everything
around him, then suddenly he
would look up, flip his pencil at
somebody and walk out"
His father is a little taller.
little heavier and q little better
looking than the average middle
aged American male. He is a
carpenter by trade and has had
q vacillating work record for the
past IL years.
He has been visited recurringly
with a mild arthritic ailment
since 1916. His manner is un-
conventional, demonstrative and
sometimes shocking.
After his condemned son was
led from the courtroom for the
last time and while the mother
wept alone, he said: "I'd like to
go out and have a steak dinner. "
Yet in his case this is not the
mark of a man without feeling.
1t is an unerring sign that ten
sion has softened. He never ex-
hibited to me any evidence of
cold indifference.
In his own words: 81 have
spent sleepless nights wonder
ing wishing for an answer
thinking about the people
Charles has killed. :"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08
THE GENTLE ART
OF.THE INSULT

Representative celIer DemoeIot o.
New York. is veteron Of IS yeon
in the House. Ia these yeon he hos
INDUCED in his Foir shore Of remorks
Of oil kinds in q notobly tolky bust
ness. Recently he devoted brood
cost TO his New York constituents to
one voriety: The insult.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08
Good and Bod Trusts

A Republican Senator attack
ed our then President for MAX
ing a distinction between good
trusts and bad trusts. He was
asked to set forth the difference
between good trusts and bad
trusts. He said: Good trusts
contribute to the Republican
Party and bad trusts do not"
Former Gov. Alfred E. Smith
once said of an opponent: Il
know the color of his liver, and
it is whiter-if that could be-
than the driven snow"
Most Secretaries of the Treas
ury like to be compared in
greatness and goodness with the
first Secretary of the Treasury,
Alexander Hamilton. That COM
parison is frequently heard. Re-
Gently a Democratic member
said: Secretary of the Treasury
Anderson is the greatest Sec
rotary of the Treasury since
Secretary Humphrey"
A certain American politician
was asked if he expected to at
tend the funeral Of a rival whom
he cordially detested. He re-
piled: mo, but l thoroughly APP
prove of It."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08
Hod Artistic ToIent

A teacher who knew him well
said that he had an artistic turn
of mind and could have become
an artist if that interest could
have been cultivated He liked
to make things with his hands.
On Christmas and other special
occasions, he spent endless hours
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-08

testing about the cruelties Of an
insane man.
He had shot his way into the
annals of crime. For him this was
not something to be bartered
away for "the rest of my life in
a stinkin' asylum"
1t is difficult to find where So
ciety failed in this case.
His flaming red hair, arched
legs and short stature invited
nicknames like Bow Legs" Pint. !"
"Firefly," Archie" One student
said he looked like he was born
riding a barrel.
For a time in school he had
a lisp in his speech that APP
parently had an inhibiting effect
upon his behavior.
Many another boy has over
come far more serious handicaps.
Charles interest in school was
sporadic and unSustained. He
did well in some subjects, poorly
in others.