davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-05-18
Ghunu Aide
Is Held Up

The Second Secretary Of the
Ghana Embassy told police he
was robbed last night by three
men who lured him into an
apartment on the pretext OF
continuing an interesting dis
cussion on African affairs.
Mark B. Aaku, SO, Of 1853
Harvard street NV, said he
had decided to take a stroll in
the vicinity Of Fourteenth street
and Florida avenue NV.
Walking in the 1900 block of
Girard street, Mr.. Aaku said,
he encountered three men who
struck up a friendly converse
ton. One of the men said he
had been in South Africa, and
talk turned to African politics
and problems.
Before long, Mr.. Aaku said,
he was invited into a home in
the block with the suggestion
they continue their talk.
Inside, he said, one Of the
strangers showed a knife
against him and forced him to
go to a basement. There the
three men took his coat, wrist
watch, tie clip, 81. seven Fl
Ghana notes and three FL Brit
ish notes, Mr.. Aaku reported.
Evening star., 1961-05-18

SPOTSYLVANIA, Va, May
18 (AP).-Melvin Davis Rees,
jr., will be brought to Virginia
next week for preliminary legal
steps that will ultimately lead
to his being tried for the mur-
der of the Jackson family.
The HyattSville CMd0 dance
band musician already is under
a Federal life sentence for the
kidnap-slaying of two other
members of the family.
A writ of habeas corpus, di-
recting the Federal Govern
ment to produce Rees in Vir-
ginia for legal proceedings, was
filed today in Spotsylvania
County Circuit Court.
The Governments compliance
with the petition and the sup
porting order by Circuit Court
Judge John D. Butzner, jr., is
assured. The United States
Attorney Generals office and
Evening star., 1961-05-18
BY PHIL THOMAS
Star staff Writer

A 26-year-old Washington
man was given a chance today
to determine whether or not a
complaining witness in a house
breaking case confused him
with his identical twin.
The United States Court of
Appeals gave this opportunity
to Walter E. DeBinder over the
protest of Chief Judge WILDER
K. Miller, who charged that
causing confusion by the in
PRODUCTION of identical twins
is a comic device" dating back
to the Roman writer Platus.
Convicted in 1859
DeBinder was convicted in
December, 1859, of breaking
into a basement apartment in
the 400 block of D street Sc.
and stealing a watch and $50
in cash. The complaining wit
ness, Mrs. Josephine A. Van
Pelt, testified at his trial that
he was the man who had
broken in.
However, a defense witness
testified that Mrs. VanPelt be-
fore the trial had made a posi-
tive Identification of Walters
twin, Carl E. DeBinder, as the
intruder.
The defense attorney then
asked the trial judge to let him
see the grand jury minutes in
an effort to find out if there
Evening star., 1961-05-18

had been any inconsistency in
Mrs. VanPelt'S identification.
Request Refused
The trial judge refused this
request, but Appellate Court
Judges Henry w. Edgerton and
George T. Washington decided
that the request should have
been granted. Therefore they
ordered that the case should be
sent back to District Court to
permit the defense attorney to
examine Mrs. VanPelt's grand
jury testimony.
Judge Miller in his dissent
recalled that Platus had written
a play on the twin-brother-
confusion theme and that
Shakespeare based his The
Comedy of Errors" on this
earlier play 1900 years later.
Judge Miller caustically
noted that the introduction of
identical twins is still effective
"in the serious business of a
criminal appeal"
Evening star., 1961-05-18
SchwengeI Introduces
New Bill on Home Rule

development Land Agency, Ar
mory Board, Zoning Commits
sion, Public Utilities Commits
sion and National Capital Hous-
ing Authority,
s. A quadruple veto provi-
sion by the governor, the Presi-
dent. Congress and, ultimately,
by referendum of 10 per cent
of the voters.
The Federal interest would
be protected by the governor,
secretary and upper house. Mr..
Schwengel said. Congress re-
sponsibility would be guarded
by the right of congressional
committee chairmen to appoint
members of the upper house,
of Congress to veto and of the
Senate to confirm presidential
appointments.
Repre- sentative Schwengel,
searching for a reasonable
home rule approach, adapted
many provisions Of a draft pre-
pared last year by District Re-
publican State Com mi e e
Chairman Carl L. Shipley.
Evening star., 1961-05-18
Rees to Be transferred
To Virginia for Trial

Spotsylvania agreed last month
on transferring Rees here.
He is expected to be brought
here next Friday.
Rees, 80, is presently under
Federal custody in Baltimore
City Jail. He was sentenced to
life Imprisonment by Federal
District Judge Roszel C. Thom-
sen in March for the kidnap-
Staying of two members of the
family from Louisa County, Va.
He faces trial here on first
degree murder charges in the
death of Carroll V. Jackson,
jr., 20, and his infant daughter,
Janet. 18 months, whose bodies
were found at an abandoned
Spotsylvania sawmill site. The
May 26 session was set to fix
the steps under which prosecu-
ton will proceed. Afterwards
the case is expected to go to
a grand jury for indictment
before a trial date is set.
Evening star., 1961-05-18

A Republican Congressman
today introduced a fresh Dis
trict home rule bill which he
said would satisfy both Federal
and local interests in the Ma
tion's Capital.
The bills sponsor, Repre-
sentative SchwengeL Republi-
can of Iowa. helped spearhead
the bipartisan coalition that
almost won a House floor vote
on an Eisenhower self-govern-
ment bill last year.
His new move gives the
House an alternative to a home
rule bill repeatedly being drafted
at the White House as the Ken
nedy prescription for voteless
ills of Washingtonians.
The Sch vengel bill provides
for:
l. A governor and secretary.
appointed by the President for
four years.
2. A legislative assembly Of
two houses. The upper "coun-
Gil" would be composed of II
members appointed for four
years, five each by the chair
men of House and Senate Dis
trict Committees, and seven by
the President. not more than
a majority from the same polit-
ical party.
The lower "house of dele
gates" would have "a members
elected by District residents for
two-year terms.
3. A board of public works
consisting of the governor as
chairman, an Army engineer Of
ficer designated by the Presi-
dent and the architect of the
Capitol, all to serve four years,
They would handle present re-
sponsibilities of the District En-
gineer Commissioner.
4. The budget to be processed
through the Federal Bureau of
the Budget. Congress would
provide funds necessary to run
the city above revenue from
taxes comparable to Maryland
and Virginia.
S. Maintenance Of the status
Of the Board Of Education, Re-
Evening star., 1961-05-18
Fund Action
May Speed
Area Roads

A speedup in the District
highway program, and possibly
those of Virginia and Mary
land, was indicated today after
President Kennedy announced
the immediate release of $818
million in Federal funds.
In an effort to step up road
construction, the President
made available funds originally
earmarked for July /. He took
similar action last February in
releasing $718 million intended
for release April /.
For the District, the move
means $7.6 million will be
available to advance work on
the superstructure Of the Theo-
dore Roosevelt Bridge or the
South Capitol street and
Southwest freeway interchange.
Highway Director Harold L.
Aitken indicated contracts will
be advertised on at least one
of these projects within two
weeks, instead of in July as
planned.
For Virginia, $28.6 million
will be available, and for Mary
land, $15.5 million is being al
lotted.
The use to which the funds
will be put in these States is
uncertain. In Virginia the pro-
gram is influenced by the
amount of State matching
funds currently available. High
way officials said only about
81 million of the grant could
be used Immediately. Mary
land officials are meeting next
week to outline plans.
The funds may be used for
interstate, primary. secondary
or urban highway systems. The
Federal Government pays 90
per cent on the interstate sys-
tenn and so per cent on other
roads.
Evening star., 1961-05-18
Hacker Loses $40
To Armed Passenger

Lester M. Pryor. A, of 1929
Neal street NE, a cab driver,
was robbed of $40 by a passen-
ger in the 1900 block of Sum-
nit place NV. last night, po-
lice reported.
Police said the passenger. de-
scribed as a white man carry
ing a coat over his arm, took
the money at pistol point.
Evening star., 1961-05-18
RIA TO SEEK
ARCHITECTS AID

The Redevelopment Land
Agency is going to ask the
advice of architects in connec-
ton with selling and leasing
some of the last remaining par
cells of Southwest Washington
urban renewal land.
The agency soon will set up a
sort of architectural advisory
board to pass on the designs
submitted by prospective private
redevelopers.
Under a new program RIA
has developed to counter crit
icism against its longtime prac-
tice of choosing a redeveloper
and then privately "negotiat-
ing" a land price with him,
competition for sites will be
based. in some cases, on design
proposals.
The price will be fixed in
advance on a square-foot basis.
RLA's new approach comes
at a time when the agency's
land-disposition policies are an
issue deeply involved in a pend
ing proposal to abolish the
agency and transfer it's activity
directly to the District Com
miSSioners.
Hearings before the House
District Committee will be held
next week on a bill to accom-
pliSh this change. The bills
provisions are in line with
recommendations made by the
Federal City Council in a recent
study of RLA'S urban renewal
operations.
Four tracts south of M street,
between Delaware avenue and
Sixth street SW., largely rep
resent the residential land re-
which may be disposed
of with the advice of the pro-
posed architectural board.
Evening star., 1961-05-18
D. c. Aide to Speak

Hubert B. Pair, chief of the
Appellate Division of the
Corporation Counsel's Office,
will speak at the annual awards
banquet of the Capital View
Civic Association at 8 pm.
Saturday at the Church of the
Atonement, Fifty-second and
East Capitol streets.
Evening star., 1961-05-18

feet long and has a nose
only a mother blimp could
love. 1t wended its way over
from Baltimore yesterday
and a ride was preferred.
Running through fields at
the Washington Virginia
Airport at BaileyS Cross
roads, thoughts of the Hind
enburg danced with the wav-
ing buttercups.
Some men were holding
the Mayflower down with
long ropes and some others
helped you into the 22-foot
gondola cabin and soon
everyone was waving, gaily
waving.
Up over Arlington Gene
terry, over the Pentagon
which SprawlS just as awk-
wardly from the air, over
budding Georgetown houses,
the Capitol, the Monument
and the highways at a legal
40 miles per hour.
Evening star., 1961-05-18


River Basin in this town on
the South Branch of the Po-
tomac River. Col. Allen said
the study was made by the
United States Public Health
Service.
The report shows, he said,
that in order to meet water
quality standards set by the
Interstate Commission of the
Potomac River Basin the
storage requirement would be
roughly twice that previously
expected" so years from now.
The colonel added, 1T now
appears that storage require
ments in the watershed must
be increased largely for the
purpose of meeting needs of the
Washington Metropolitan
Area.
This could mean an increase
in the capacities of all basic
reservoirs and the probable in
crease in number of reservoirs
required as alternative arrange
mentS."
Cost Would Go Up
While Col. Allen made no
mention of the cost of dam
construction, the study indi-
Gates the Washington area S
share of the cost will be boosted
substantially. The areas share
of the bill for dams under con-
sideration previously had been
estimated at more than 500
million.
While the Federal Govern
ment pays that portion of dam
construction costs needed for
flood control and recreation,
Evening star., 1961-05-18

CAPT. SMITH has been
riding around in blimpS for
80 years and has logged more
than $1,000 hours as a civil
ian and Navy lighter than
air (LTA) pilot, which comes
to about three years of his
total 62.
All winter he's been in
Miami taking people for
blimp pleasure cruises.
Washington and Baltimore
were two of IS stops the
blimp makes on a six months
tour. Private, but no public
rides we're offered.
The strange sensation of
floating in air-unlike any
other ride in the world, un-
less it's the ferris wheel
when they strand you at the
top and the seat rocks in
the breeZe-almoSt lulled
you into a false sense of
security. Then the descent
began.
We cruised lower, lower,
over a green mattress Of
trees.
"Oh, we're in for a little
trouble" said Capt. Smith.
May be a little rough" He
compared a rough blimp
landing to an ocean liner
docking in rocky waters. Saw
a few leaves float by. That
means the currents are
changing. We were getting
close to the ground. The
ground crew looked at us.
They all sat down on the
grass.
"They don't want us to
land just now. Guess the next
passengers aren't ready yet" 3"
said the captain, who likes to
unload and reload in one
swoop of the ground. "Guess
we'll go watch the track
meet"
Up we went, circled a
track field and saw a fellow
broad Jump into sand, some
others stretching on the
grass.
The next time we came in,
we made a one wheel land
ing. There was no trouble,
the guide ropes were held and
the little steps put down and
you unsteadily rambled away.
You still had your air legs.
Evening star., 1961-05-18
Donovan Hits
Fairfax Plan
ForCityS Status
Senator Denounces
1t as UnworkubIe,
Sees Legal Trouble
BY JOHN LAWSON
Star Staff Writer

Fairfax County'S plan to
merge with the small town of
Clifton to become a city was
attacked last night as "unwork-
able and illegal" by State Sem
ator John A. K. Donovan of
FairfaX-Falls Church.
He characterized the move as
"the most extraordinary in the
history of the universe" and
would produce endless litiga-
ton"
Meanwhile, the county'sI
budget office predicted today
that citizens Of the town of
Fairfax will face a realty tax
rise of from 81 to $1.40 if the
town also tries to become a city.
Taxes, according to the report, |
would go from the present COM
bined county and town rate of
$4.20 to $5.2l if the town be-
comes a Second-claSS city. First
class city status would add 40
cents to that, the study said.
Many Obstacles Seen
Senator Donovan, speaking
before the newly organized
Vienna Chamber of Commerce,
said that he opposed the
county'S plan to merge with
Clifton because it has too
many legal obstacles"
The towns of Vienna, Fair
fax and Herndon would re-
main as towns and, in effect,
constitute what is left of the
county, he said.
Under a draft charter in
corporated as part of the agree
ment signed last week between
Fairfax County and Clifton, the
charters of all towns in the
county would be revoked if the
LIlSI BG1 SOCo GIlI IOuSLl.
However, Senator Donovan
said, There is no provision in
the code for canceling out the
charters of towns" Town char
ters are revoked only when one
Jurisdiction merges with a city,
he said.
He said he believed the citi-
zens of Fairfax County should |
have an opportunity to vote |
on the proposal in the referen-
dunn which the county super
visors have asked be set for
July IL. But, they ought to
know what it's all about" he
said.
If the merger is determined .
TO be legal and is approved in
the referendum. he said. then .
I believe the General Assembly .
should be asked to provide the
necessary legislation.
But I am going to vote !
against it." he said, "and I'll |
probably work against it,"
Senator Donovan said he
was going to offer as an al
tentative a borough form of
government in which each of
the county's towns would have
borough councils whose presi-
dent would sit on an inter-
borough council.
Division Into Districts
The remainder of the county, |
he said, would be divided into
districts, each having about |
10000 people with a repre-
sentative on the inter-borough |
council.
Last night representatives of
Fairfax County civic groups
told the board of supervisors
they would spread information
about the county's proposal to
become a city but would not
commit themselves to support
ing it without more facts.
About so spokesmen for a |
score of county citizen and
professional organizations met
with the supervisors and Clifton
the two jurisdictions.
They agreed to serve on a
committee the supervisors |
would set up to disseminate in
formation about the proposal
prior to a referendum sought |
for July II.
But they made it clear they
did not want to take a stand
on the move until they could
take information about 1t back
to their memberships.
Evening star., 1961-05-18
Need for Area Dams
Now Seen Doubled
District Engineer Says Report Shows
Demand Is Twice Thut First Figured
BY CHARLES ID. PIERCE
Star Staff Writer

MOOREFIEID, W. Va, May ia new report has shown
that twice much should be stored behind for the
benefit of the Washington had been previously
estimated.
This disclosed here today by Col. u Allen,
District engineer meeting sponsored by the Interstate
Evening star., 1961-05-18

the State and local govern
mentS are required to pay the
part earmarked for water sup
ply and pollution control.
Speaking of dam possibilities
on the south branch of the Po-
tomac where Moorefield is To-
Gated, Col. Allen said building
of a reservoir at an area known
as Royal Glen, about Is miles
west of here, probably will be
considered for early construc-
ton"
140 Miles From ID. c.
The engineers have estimated
that a dam at Royal Glen could
release enough water to in
crease the Potomac Rivers
flow at Washington by 200 or
300 million gallons a day dur
ing a drought. Royal Glen is so
miles south of Cumberland,
Md, and about l40 miles from
Washington.
The dam at Royal Glen and
the one proposed for the north
branch of the Potomac west of
Cumberland together could in
crease the Potomac Rivers flow
at Washington by as much as
400 million gallons a day.
This would nearly double the
record-low river volume at
Washington of 500 million gal
Ions a day, recorded in 1880.
However, the engineers say
the North Branch and South
Branch dams still would not
provide nearly enough water to
insure the Washington area an
adequate amount of water dur
ing a time of drought.
Evening star., 1961-05-18

THEN THE NOSE of the
blimp went down, went up,
went down like a lazy, don't
give-a-darn whale rolling on
the waves.
Extremely rough thermo
currents" said Capt. Werner
L. Smith, working the wheel
chair-like wheel attached to
his seat. eve were going up
at a rate of 1900 feet a min
ute, then down. You wouldn't
be able to ride in a small air
plane it'd throw you off
your seat without a belt.
You'd go up to the roof. But
notice; we don't have any
seat BELTS"
You we're wondering about
that little oversight, you
murmured but Capt. Smith
aSSured you don't need
them, we Just dip up and
down with the currents.
This is the roughest pitch
you'd ever get in a blimp."
You look over the side of
the cabin-gondola and see
the shadow of the. blimp
below, darkening three large
houses. The shadow looks
like a giant fish plowing
through water.
ITS like a ship in water
but instead we're bouyed up
by air." said the captain.
What happens if you cut the
engine? Well see." 81
He cut the engine, the
nose went up, then down
"see, like a ship riding the
waves of currents"
Evening star., 1961-05-18
.Anacostia> Boiling
Renewal Hits Snaq
Legal Snare
Delays Action
By Planners
By ROBERT J. LEWIS
Star staff Writer

Proposed designation of $40
acres of Boiling Air Force Base
and Anacostia Naval Air Sta
ton as an urban renewal area
has struck a legal snag.
District Corporation Counsel
Chester H. Gray has ruled that
the District Redevelopment Act
will not permit designation of
the land for urban renewal.
This was disclosed today at
a meeting of the National
Capital Planning Commission,
which adopted a resolution in
dorsing the principle of urban
renewal for the area.
The Redevelopment Land
Agency, NCPC staff members
reported, takes the view that
the Anacostia- Boiling area
would qualify under the law
as an urban renewal area.
Action Deferred
In view of the corporation
counsel's opinion. the planning
agency deferred action to ap-
prove boundaries for the project
until the legal question is re-
solved.
District Engineer Commits,
sioner Frederick J. Clarks, an
NCPC member, said he consid-
cred that an amendment of the
District Redevelopment Act
would be required before fur.
ther action could be taken.
The military instaIlat ions
now contain a total of 900
acres, of which $50 would be re-
served for military Use and the
remainder declared surplus
property.
The Budget Bureau is back
ing the urban renewal plan.
Limited to Slum Areas
In his opinion, Mr.. Gray
said the Governments power
to acquire real property is con-
fined to "slum or blighted
areas and that military in
Stallations such as the Ana
costa Boiling bases would not
qualify.
He added that in case large
areas of Government land are
turned over to the private
market in the future, extension
of urban renewal controls over
such land might be desirable.
But, he emphasized, this would
be for Congress to determine.
An alternative to the urban
renewal procedure would be for
the General Services Admin
istration to put the land on the
market and dispose of it to the
highest bidder
Strip Park Favored
Both NCPC and National
Capital Parks are agreed that
a strip park along the areas
Potomac and AnacoStia River
frontageS would be desirable.
But an effort today by T. Suit
ton Jett, NCP superintendent,
to have this specified was un-
successful.
William E. Finley, planning
commission executive director,
said mo one is against a park"
but that no purpose would be
served by specifying any par
ticular use at this stage.
At the meetings. opening,
Mrs. James H. Rowe, jr., was
sworn in as the first woman
member of the planning COM
mission. She replaced Claude
w. Owen, the outgoing vice
chairman.
In another action, the plan
ming agency recommended that
three blocks adjacent to the
Health, Education and Welfare
Building be marked by RIA as
sites for parking garages, which
could have other possible first
floor commercial uses.
Evening star., 1961-05-18

DIR. Linwood L. Rayford, jr., 35, admitting Of
recommended for the post of Deputy District
Coroner by Coroner A. Magruder MacDOn-
aid. DR.. RayfOrd, slated to succeed DIR. Rich
ard Rosenberg, who retired last week, would
be the first Negro named to the post. A grad
uate of Howard University Medical School,
DIR. Rayford lives at 81 Gallatin street NV.
Star Staff Photo.
Evening star., 1961-05-18

Dunbar High Schools 1st Cadet Battalion
yesterday won the annual battalion drill
competition of the Washington High School
Cadet Corps. Cadet Maj. Sidney Anderson
QefD receives the first-place medal from Maj.
Ernest J. st. Jacques. Second place was won
by Dunbar's I'd Battalion; third by the I'd
Battalion of RoOsevelt.-Star Staff Photo.
Evening star., 1961-05-18

George Kennedy is i'll. He will re-
sumo writing The RombIer when
he returns.
Evening star., 1961-05-18
The
Rambler
Rides
A Cos Bag
By MYRA MACPHERSON

A blimp'S eye view of
Washington is gorgeous. The
only trouble is you have to
get inside the blimp to see it.
And then you have to get
off the ground and go up
a thousand feet and come
back down again.
The Goodyear blimp May
flower II is a bullying $50
Evening star., 1961-05-18
Identical Twin Issue
Draws Judges Protest

had been any inconsistency in
Mrs. VanPelt'S Identification.