davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-02-06

United states Attorneys Office
deal with criminal offenses
such as housebreaking. assault
or forgery.
Different Approaches
The report of an alleged Of
fense may come from either q
police officer or q private citi-
zen. In the case Of the police
man, the accused already may
have been arrested. The citi-
zen, on the other hand. often
wants to have somebody
locked up"
In these cases, particularly
when the other person Is alb
sent, the hearing may be post
poned until both parties are
present. A letter usually is sent
to the absent party requesting
him to attend.
The Assistant United States
Attorneys. most Of them young
men several years out Of law
school, in either case. decide
whether the matter should "go
upstairs" for trial or be thrown
out.
They can also decide whether
a charge should be reduced to
a less serious offense, possibly
in view Of an anticipated guilty
plea.
Judicial Approval Needed
The men at the complaint
counter may recommend is
suance Of an arrest or search
warrant. The actual warrants,
Evening star., 1961-02-06

over to Rees' counsel. He said
this would take about a half
hour.
In his opening statement last
week, Mr.. Evans described the
30-year-old Mr.. Moser as q
man who turned Rees in to the
FBI in hopes of collecting q
reward. Mr.. Moser. a former
University of Maryland student,
as was Rees, had described
Rees as his best friend.
On the stand today Mr.. Moset
said he had been convicted of
assault in 1854 in HyattSville.
where he says he and ReeS
grew up together.
Two Deaths Involved ;
Rees is on trial for his life
in the Staying of 29-year-old
Mrs. Mildred Jackson and her
daughter, Susan Anne, S. Also
slain were Mr.. Jackson, 20, an
Apple Grover CVa) truckdriver.
and another daughter, Janet,
18 months.
The bodies of the father and
Janet were found in the woods
near Fredericksburg, Va. on
March 4, 1859. Mr.. Jackson
died of a bullet wound and his
daughter apparently died Of
exposure.
The bodies of the mother and
Susan Anne were found II days
later in a shallow grave neal
Gambrills in Anne Arundel
County. i
Rees is being defended by Mr.
Evans and William J. O'Don1
nell. The prosecutors are As1
sistant United States Attorneys
H. Russell Smouse and Mr..
Cahill.
9th Witness
The first witness this morn
ing was the 9th to appear for
the Government thus far in the,
lengthy prosecution. He was
G. S. Cooper. a Virginia State
police investigator who identi-
fled the remains of some eye
glasses found at the scene near
Fredericksburg, Va, where the
body of Mr.. Jackson and Janet
were found. The Government
earlier had introduced in evi-
dence a pair of pistol grips
found at the scene which it is
expected to link with .38-
caliber pistol found in the home
of Rees' parents in the 5000
block of Madison street, Hyatts-
vile.
Evening star., 1961-02-06
BoI|istics Test May Tie
Suspect to Girls Killing

Two .38-caliber slugs and a
pistol were being examined by
FBI technicians today in an
effort to furnish final, definite
evidence linking the weekend
Staying of a young Kensington
Md woman and the ensuing
suicide of a man police called
the prime suspect.
One slug was fired at close
range into the head of Eleanor
A. Lawrence. 27, on Friday
Afternoon as she knelt to put
chains on her car tires in the
10000 block of Connecticut
avenue in Kensington.
The other bullet was fired
by Charles Irwin Curtis, 36,
when he took his own life Sat
urday night after police had
stopped his car on East-West
highway at Jones Bridge road.
Threats Cited
Montgomery County Detec-
tive Capt. Kenneth w. Watkins
said Curtis was a rejected
suitor, had threatened Miss
Lawrence several times, and
as recently as last Wednesday
had grabbed her by the neck
as though he was going to
choke her.
Curtis and Miss Lawrence
had been friends for five or
six years, and shared an in
terest in breeding and exhibit
ing bulldogs.
Recently, however, Curtis
had been annoying her, and
last Wednesday, at a kennel in
Colesville. Md, he grabbed her
by the throat, Capt. Watkins
said. Police were called but
Miss Lawrence declined to
swear out q warrant.
Trailed Car
Capt. Watkins said Curtis
was seen trailing Miss Law
renee in his car Friday after
noon as she drove from her
home at 4O12 Everett street to
q level spot on Connecticut
avenue where she planned to
put on the tire chains.
He then apparently drove up
and offered to help, Capt. Wat
kins said. Then, as she knelt
in the snow, Curtis pulled the
pistol from his pocket, and al
very close range, fired one shot
into her right temple, police
theorized.
A dime-sized powder burn
was found on her temple, in
dicating how close the gun was
to her head when fired, the
captain said.
Motorists who found the body
q few minutes later, slumpe6
near the car jack, thought she
had tainted while attaching the
Evening star., 1961-02-06
Nursing Home Called
Hozord by Engineer

A man who identified himself
as q safety engineer said at the
public hearing today that he
had inspected the Mount Ver-
non Nursing Home in 1859 for
an insurance company and re-
ported that 1t was "a fire-trap."
John L. Havenner Of the En-
gineering and Marine Survey
Service. 4829 Barrymore drive,
Kerby Hills, Md. gave this sur
prise testimony as the District
Commissioners Citizens Advis-
ory Council launched an lnves-
tigation Of the fire which took
seven lives Wednesday.
Milton w. King. chairman OF
the Citizens Advisory Council,
asked Mr.. Havenner whether
any other insurance company
had written insurance for this
building.
Mr.. Havenner replied that
another company had done so,
but he did not specify what
type Of insurance had been OBJ
tanned.
Inspected Building
Mr.. Havenner said he made
the inspection Of the nursing
home at 1901 Calvert street
NV, for the Firemen's Insur-
ance Group, 2001 Wisconsin
avenue NV.
John Malley. an attorney
with the insurance groups New
York office. said he could not
provide information on Mr.
Havenner's report on the Mount
Vernon Nursing Home.
Normund Leas, operator OF
the Mount Vernon Nursing
Home. was not present at the
hearing and could not be
reached later for comment on
Mr.. Havenner's statement.
Mr.. Havenner said that he
had inspected the nursing home
for the Firemen's Fund Insur-
ance Group to determine II II
was eligible for liability and
workman's compensation insur-
ance.
Mr.. Havenner said as q result
Of his report on the building
the Firemen's Fund Insurance
Group had refused to write
liability and workman's COM
pensation insurance for the
nursing home.
In reply to a question from
Mr.. Havenner, Fire Marshal
R. c. O'Connor said the District
now has no regulations for
regular nursing homes restrict
ling the number of bed-ridden
people who may be housed on
upper floors.
Another witness at the hear
ling, Fire Chief Millard H. Sut-
ton, said 1t was his opinion that
"the people on the fourth floor
suffocated before firemen ar
rived.
I'VE did everything humanity
possible, but in close to 500
Evening star., 1961-02-06

chains. An autopsy disclosed
the wound later.
Capt. Watkins said gas sta
ton receipts showed that Cur
tbs drove to Frederick, Md, and
then into Pennsylvania after
the Staying. He was the object
Of q 13-State police lookout.
Spotted BY Police
For reasons unknown. he re-
turned, and was spotted by two
officers in their scout car about
tbs pm. Saturday as he drove
along Connecticut avenue just
north Of Jones Bridge road.
This was just a few miles from
the scene of the Staying.
The officers chased him and
finally pulled him over or
East-West highway. Then, as
one policeman approached the
car, Curtis pulled out the gun
and shot himself. He died about
80 minutes later at Suburban
Hospital.
Curtis, who lived at 1894
Mills avenue, Colesville, bought
the pistol and five bullets at q
Wheaton gun shop last Thurs
day, the captain said.
Curtis was a former town
marshal of Kensington, police
said. His only recent occupa-
ton was raising. showing and
selling bulldogs.
Funeral services for Miss
Lawrence, who was employed
as a clerk at the National Can
Ger Institute, were held today
at st. Johns Episcopal Church,
Wisconsin avenue and Bradley
lane, Chevy Chase. Md. She
will be buried Wednesday In
Fitchburg, Mass.
Evening star., 1961-02-06
WAREHOUSE ROOF COLLAPSES
UNDER SNOW LOAD IN FAIRFAX

The roof 75-by-l foot section of Government
leased building collapsed under the weight of and
ice late Saturday causing estimated $l50000 damage
H. A. Abersfeller regional director Of the Federal
Supply Service said the roof section landed stacks Of
Government Printing Office material stored in the
house near Springfield, Va
The fire alarm system set off when the sprinkler
system severed the roof fell night watchman had
been in the minutes before Mr. Abersfeller said.
The entire miion-square- building closed
today Mr. Abersfeler said. to determine whether the
remainder Of the building is safe.
Evening star., 1961-02-06

degree temperature we couldn't
get near that fourth floor
The chief said the building was
equipped with an inter-alarm
system that did not summon
the fire department.
Alarm Delayed
ut looked like a delayed
alarm to me-" the chief said
He added that the owner has
said that he attempted to fight
the fire himself before calling
the fire department.
Fire Marshal O'Connor told
the council that a Health De-
partment dietician told police
she left the building at 1:25
pm. and noticed no fire OF
smoke at that time.
The fire marshal said the
first alarm was sounded at
l:42 pm. and firemen who ar
rived on the scene within two
minutes found the entire top
floor "engulfed in flame and
smoke"
The fire marshal said that
a defective burner in the nurS-
ing home furnace had allowed
carbon to form. He added in
veStigators had found three
shovelfuls Of SCOT and this ma
terial had ignited and started
the fire.
j. j. Ilgenfritz. director OF
the District Department OF
Licenses and Inspections. said
his department will give top
inspection priority" to the
city's 10 nursing homes.
He said that seven or eight
homes have operated during
the past year without q license
The Mount Vernon Nursing
Home. however, was licensed
The Citizens Advisory Coun-
Gil will resume hearing testi-
mony from other witnesses at
$3.50 am. tomorrow.
Evening star., 1961-02-06

SeVenLn Gay OF sReeS trial.
He said he and Rees were
living in a beach house at
Ocean View near Norfolk on
January II, 1859 - the day
Carroll v. Jackson, his wife
and two small daughters were
kidnapped.
2 Women Identified
Living in the cottage also,
Mr.. Moser testified, were two
women he identified as Pat
Weidenhaus and Mary Scar.
borough. Pat Weidenhaus, S
red-haired Washington night.
club dancer, is also known as
Pat Routt and has told re-
porters she was Rees' wife.
Mr.. Moser testified Rees
was alone when he left in his
blue 1854 Ford sedan at sun
down on January II to play a
musical engagement at Harri-
gan's Restaurant. 729 Ninth
street S.W., in Washington.
1T was Just getting dark, "
Mr.. Moser testified. Il told him
he'd never make it unless he
hurried"
Mr.. Moser said he and Pat
Weidenhaus remained at the
beach house after Rees left
and that Mary Scarborough
was at work.
Rees sat impassive at the
defense table in the semi
darkness Of the courtroom as
his friend related these events.
A power failure had blacked
out the courthouse.
Saw Him Week Later
The next time he saw Rees
was about a week or a week
and a half later, Mr.. Moser
testified in response to a ques-
ton from Prosecutor Robert E.
Cahill.
Mr.. Cahill asked what Rees
had had to say about his trip.
At first, the witness smiled
self consciously and said he
couldn't exactly remember, but
in a moment he replied:
Il think he said he missed
it."
This was an apparent refer
ence to ReeS' engagement TO
play at Harrigan's on the night
of the abductions.
William ]. Evans, defense at
torney, then rose and asked the
prosecution for any statements
or letters written by Mr.. Moser.
Federal Judge Roszel C. Thom-
sen ruled that he would have
to read the documents before
deciding whether to turn them
Evening star., 1961-02-06

THEY STARTED icing cars
shortly after and when Po-
tomac Yards was opened
around 1912 they built an ar
tificial ice plant along the
tracks. This was a rather
fortunate move. AS everyone
knows something went wrong
with the retail ice business.
Mico stopped making home
deliveries in Alexandria 10
years ago.
I'm not going out with
you," said Mr.. Reardon. This
is too much for me. My son
Ashby, jr,, will show you
around. You won't want to
stay on that platform long"
Ashby, jr., a tall, dark An
napolis graduate who gave
up a career as a naval officer
to help run the family ice
business, produced a pair Of
boots for the guest. Just then
the first train came in.
Mico is the only big icing
station between here and
New York and is the only one
in the East that can serve
the three big citrus carriers,
The Southern, the Atlantic
Coast Line and the Seaboard,
all Of which come into Alex
andria on the tracks Of the
Richmond, Fredericksburg &
Potomac.
The icing Is a very simple
operation, and I can under
stand their surprise at my
interest. I had thought that
shaved ice was blown into
the cars as they do with re-
frigerator trucks.
Evening star., 1961-02-06
The
Rambler
Visits
An lcehouse
By GEORGE KENNEDY


At the height Of Fridays
blizzard the Rambler was on
a platform at car-top level in
Potomac Yards in Alexan-
dria watching men ice re-
frigerator cars.
1t all came about through
his acquaintance with oliver
Ashby Reardon, head of Mico
Co., the firm that operates
the icing station. Mr.. Rear
don's hobby is old steamboats,
the fast-disappearing ex-
curSion boats are his spe-
cialty-and that brought us
together some years ago.
Recently I asked him If I
could watch the operation.
He seemed to be a little sur
prised that anyone should be
that interested, but said:
Most Of the work is at
night but at the end of the
week we are likely to have
trains coming in during, the
day. I'll call you Friday.
He called Friday at 10
am. just as the snow was be-
ginning to blow real hard.
This is an ideal day for
It," he said laughing. 1--WE
have two trains coming in.
Better get over here"
Mr.. Reardon is a big hearty
white-haired man with a
deep Virginia accent. His IA
ther and a man named Ham
mond combined their ice
businesses in the COS. At that
time the ice came from
Maine ponds out of the Ken
nebec River in schooners
which unloaded at their dock
at the foot Of Cameron
street.
Evening star., 1961-02-06
PRE-TR SCREENING
Justice Is Their Goal

however. have to be approved
by a Judge.
William w. Greenhalgh, dep
uty Chief Of the United States
Attorneys Office at Municipal
Court. terms the office-and
the complaint center-a CON
troll center" for criminal prose-
cutions.
He said about $4,000 COM
plants are brought to the office
annually. OF these, some type
Of action is taken in about
half Of the cases. An estimated
$500 cases go to court.
Edmond T. DAILY, chief assist
ant United States Attorney at
Municipal Court. said hearings
by judges on matters now dis
posed Of at the complaint
counter would clutter" up the
court and swamp the judges,
At present the Municipal Court
docket Is current.
Complaints may be thrown
out, Mr.. DAILY said. for such
things as . wife's unwillingness
to testify against her husband,
legal defects In evidence or q
desire to give q first offender q
break" in an appropriate case.
Mercy l. Observed
I'VE think substantial JUS
tice is done by disposing of
matters In this way" Mr.. DAILY
said. IAN Of the cases that
should not 60 to trial are
screened out. Sometimes. we
can temper justice with Q
little mercy, too"
Across the hall at Municipal
Court is the complaint coun-
ter run by the Corporation
Counsel. 1t operates similar to
the one in the United States
Attorneys Office.
Assistant Corporation Coun-
sci Clark F. King, who has
headed the office at Municipal
Court for more than is years,
said about SO. 900 matters come
before his staff each year.
Something is done in almost
every case. he said.
These cases include alleged
violations Of traffic laws as
well as alleged infractionS of
licensing and inspection codes.
Mr.. King said persons who
come to the counter often are
surprised to find they can tell
a lawyer informally what hap
pened without a lot Of the
(court) stuff you see on tele-
VISION"
Justice Tempered
In appropriate cases. the
Assistant Corporation Coun-
sells. many Of whom come to
the office fresh from Law
school, may decide against
prosecution.
For example, Mr.. King said
1t would be foolish" to prose
cute a young husband for q
minor parking violation that
happened while he was rush.
ing his pregnant wife to the
hospital.
A curious fact is that while
screening Of complaints goes
forward full throttle in both
offices at Municipal Court
there is no statutory authority
for the activity.
The practice, officials said
simply developed over the years
ITO meet an increasing need to
keep from wasting judges time
on matters that could be
handled out Of court.
Evening star., 1961-02-06

BUT NO. The workers fill
the compartments with solid
ice. Three hundred-pound
blocks of ice move slowly
along the 1,400- foot platform
on an endless chain. The la
borers, with icepicks on long
poles, chop each into three
pieces, then push them along
a light rack Of hardwood
stats onto the roof of the car
and down the hatch It's as
simple as that.
They can ice a 100-car
train in a little more than an
hour.
The wind was bowling. the
snow was blowing in binding
volume. My ears were freez-
ing. There was too much re-
frigeration on that platform.
I came down.
Back in the warmth OF the
office Mr.. Reardon, ST., told
about the business. Most Of
the refrigerator cars are
owned by the Fruit Growers
Express, which is owned in
turn by the railroads. Before
the refrigerator car, meat
animals were slaughtered
locally. The refrigerator car,
which was invented shortly
after the Civil War made
Chicago the "hog butcher to
the world"
Today citrus fruits call for
more cars than meat. About
10 years ago the orange went
ahead of the apple as Amer
ica's favorite fruit.
Mico's peak day is usually
in January. The Florida
packing plants close down
Christmas week. When they
resume shipping, there is a
big rush. April and May are
the peak months when the
tender vegetables begin NOV
ing along with the last of the
citrus crop.
All the cars that came In
Friday went on the hold
track in Potomac Yards. They
will be sold on auction today
The cars will still be in Po.
tomac Yards but the auction
is in Jersey City.
Evening star., 1961-02-06
Rees Jurors Hear
Norfolk Musician
Tells of Suspects Actions on Day
Jackson Family Disappeared
BY JERRY OLEARY, JR.
Star Staff Writer

BALTIMORE Feb. 6.-Glenn L. Moser the Norfolk (Va0
musician who led the FBI Melvin Davis Rees r in
Jackson family Sayings told Federal jury today Of
Rees movements on the day of the kidnapping
The socky wavyhaired witness past 32year-
old defendant without glance he took the stand th0
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-07
Julius Richards,
Retired Salesman

Julius Richards, 70, a lifelong
resident of the District, died
yesterday at Doctors Hospital
after a short illness.
Mr.. Richards, who retired
about 10 years ago, had been
manager Of a mems clothing
store and later worked as a Jew
elry salesman.
A veteran of World War I, he
was a member of the American
Legion and a life member OF
Lafayette Lodge of the Masons.
Besides his wife, Hazel, of the
home address, 1913 Veazey
street NV, he leaves a broth
er, Samuel, of 1921 Thirty-sev-
enth street NV, and a sister,
Mrs. Pauline Finkel of 1921 JUL
lard drive, Bethesda.
Services will be at II am.
Thursday at the Fort Myer
Chapel. with burial in Airing
ton Cemetery.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-07
H. M. james, 81,
State Educator

ELL1CoTT CITY, Md, Nov
7 (AP).-Herschell M. James
director Of vocational education
in the State Department OF
Education. died of a heart at
tack at his home here Sunday.
He was 81.
Born in Clinton. Ind, Mr..
James received a BIS. from In
diana State Teachers College
at Terre Haute. He did grad
uate work at Pennsylvania
State University and the Uni
versity of Maryland. S
He came to Maryland in 1891
and served for nine years with
the Allegany County school
system. In 1941 he became ad-
ministrator Of the war produc-
ton training program in Mary
land. From 1916 to 1858, he
was supervisor of trade and
industrial education in the
State Department of Education
Mr.. James became Director
OF Vocational Education in
1858.
He leaves his wife and a
daughter, Patricia.
Funeral services will be held
tomorrow.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-07
Mrs. Roy Kahn,
Widow of JeWeIer

Mrs. Ray Levi Kahn, a native
of the District, died October 90
in Miami Beach, Fla, where she
had been living for about four
years.
Mrs. Kahn was the widow of
Adolph Kahn, a Washington
jeweler, who died four years ago.
She leaves three daughters,
Mrs. Morris Littman of Ruther-
fordton, N. c.; Miss Ruth Levi
and Mrs. Beatrice Gum, both
of Miami Beach; a brother,
Marcus Burnstine of Columbus,
Ohio, and three sisters, Mrs.
Lille Minister of 1921 Davenport
NV, Mrs. Sarah Marrow of
1850 Connecticut avenue NV.
and Mrs. Hannah SchuSter of
Jersey City, N. J.
She also leaves a grandchild
and two REORGANIZATION
Funeral services and buruial
were last Thursday in Sumter,
S. c. sd
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-07
Violet Greener,
Hollywood Seer
For 36 Years

HOLLYWOOD, Nov. Z (AP) a..
The Rev. Violet Greener, 70,
known as the Ghost of Holly
wood" for her mystical predic-
tons, was buried yesterday.
Her death Friday of a heart
attack became known yester-
day.
Miss Greener was reputed to
have helped British millionaire
Harry T. Clifton recover $780,
900 he lost in a 1887 Long
Beach poker game. He gave her
a $4,000 jeweled gardenia
wrought in diamonds.
During World War II, she
predicted Hitler's suicide, the
fall and liberation of the Phil
ippines and Germany's COL
lapse.
In 1887, she founded the
Agabeg Temple in Hollywood.
The temple was torn down in
1914 for a housing develop
ment.
Violet-haired, green lidded
Miss Greener moved here in
1885. She was married twice
but never discussed her hus-
bands. She leaves a son, Ken
meth Nelson; a daughter, Mrs.
Bonnlyn LIE Roi, and three
grandchildren.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-07

Democratic Committee from
1916 to 1850.
He was one of the founders
and a charter member Of the
Fifth District Volunteer Fire
Department and also belonged
to the Newburg Lions Club.
He leaves his wife, Janet, of
Rock Point; a son, Eugene K,
jr., of Baltimore, and a daugh-
ter, Mrs. Cecilia L. Miller, GAIL
Warren street, Silver Spring.
Also surviving are two sis
tiers, Mrs. Arthur r. Middleton,
of WaySide, Nd, and Mrs.
Julian DeCourt of Baltimore,
and a brother, Clarence Lloyd
of Wayside.
Requiem mass will be Of
fered at 10 am. Thursday in
st. Francis DeSales Catholic
Church in Rock Point, with
burial in Holy Ghost Cemetery
in Issue, Md.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-07
Eugene K. Lloyd Dies;
Ex-PoIiticoI Leader

Eugene K. Lloyd, n, a Rock
Point Md businessman and
former member Of the Charles
County State Democratic Gen.
trial Committee, died yesterday
of heart disease at Physicians
Memorial Hospital in La Plata,
Md.
Mr.. Lloyd was a director of
the Waldorf Md Bank. He
operated a general mercantile
store in Rock Point for 81
years and headed a local sea-
food packaging plant before
his retirement five years ago.
Mr.. Lloyd was a native and
lifelong resident of Rock Point.
He was Rock Points first
postmaster. appointed in 1915
during the Woodrow Wilson
administration. He served %
years.
Mr.. Lloyd served on the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-07
Harry T. Willis Rites
Set for Tomorrow

Funeral services for Harry
T. Willis, brother of Mrs. r. M.
Kaufman of Washington,
will be at IL am. tomorrow in
Champaign, III.
Mr.. Willis, former owner and
president of G. c. Willis g. Co.,
Champaign (IllO drygoodS
firm, died Sunday in Chicago
after a brief illness. He was
active in Champaign Urbana
civic and business circles and
made frequent visits to the
Washington area.