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WEATHER. (U. S. Weather Bureau Forecast ) Fair and somewhat colder, with low est temperature about 26 degrees to night: tomorrow fair and warmer. Temperatures—Highest, 48, at 1 p.m. yesterday, lowest. 33. at 9 a.m. today. Full report on Page 7. ClosingN.Y. Markets, Pages 7,8 and 9-B N' ‘JI OQJ Entered as eeeond class matter u. ox,post office, Washington, D. C. UNCLE OF BRADY HELD FOR INQUIRY IN PROBE OF BOMB THAT SLEW THREE Kinsman of Slain Woman’s Spouse Confined in Bla densburg Jail After Another Is Freed in Investigation. DOROTHY HALL THIRD FATALITY OF DISASTER State’s Attorney Refuses Name of Man Released After Questioning. Fear of Mob Violence Leads Authorities to Place Man in Cell Nearer Washington. Clarence Brady, elderly uncle by marriage of Mrs. Naomi Hall Brady, one of a family trio killed by explosion of a dynamite-loaded ‘‘Christmas present" at Seat Pleasant, Md., on New Year day, is lodged in the Bladensburg jail lor questioning in connection with the outrage. This announcement was made this afternoon by one of the of ficers investigating the crime. Maryland authorities earlier had admitted the arrest of two per sons, one of whom later was re leased, but refused to disclose the name of the prisoner or his place of confinement for fear of possi ble mob violence. Nc charges have been placed against Brady, officials said. He is merely be ing held “for investigation." Brady is reported to have b»en questioned after his arrest last night concerning re ports that a rejected suitor became en raged recently on elaming of the elope ment of Herman Brady, nephew of the prisoner, with 18-year-old Naomi Hall. One Man Released. Police officials at Marlboro said to day Brady’s home in Mitchellville, Md., former home of the Hall family, was searched last night by investigators. On being arrested Brady is said to have demanded the services of a lawyer. Identity of the man who was released from custody yesterday was withheld by the police. County authorities, aided by two de tective “aces" sent from Baltimore at' the suggestion of Gov. Ritchie and by Headquarters Detective John Fowler of the Capital homicide squad, were looking today for a suspected accom- Slice, as yet unidentified, believed to ave been the messenger engaged to deliver the camouflaged bomb to Mrs. Brady. The holiday-decorated "gift” package exploded in the lap of the young bride of a few weeks, dealing a horrible death to her and her baby brother and sister, Samuel, 19 months old, and Dorothy, 4 years old. Dorothy died early today at Sibley Hospital. Three other members I of the family were mutilated. Bits of Paper Found. With Brady behind the bars, in vestigators turned their attention this afternoon to the collection of evidence at the scene of the tragic blast. Wid ening the hole blown in the kitchen floor of the home of John Hall by the downward force of the dynamite, the officers recovered several pieces of paper believed to have been wrapped around the package, on one of which was found some hand writing. The writing is j thought to have been part of the ad dress on the box. The officers also found a quantity of nails, supposedly packed around the dynamite; a fragment of wood bearing the words " Stove & Manufactur ing C 0.,” possibly part of the box; some Christmas “stickers,” attached to torn bits of paper; wads of newspaper, prob ably used as packing, and some peculiar splotches of a dark substance which had been splattered about the wrecked room. The substance was scraped off and will be sent to Baltimore for analysis. The group of investigators completed their examination of the Hall premises shortly after 1 o’clock this afternoon and then went to Mitchellville to con duct a search at the Brady farm. A joint funeral for Mrs. Bradv and little Samuel was to be held this after noon from Mount Oak Methodist Church, in Mitchellville, Md., where the Hall family formerly resided. The baby Will be buried in the same grave with his elder sister in the presence of the bereaved father, John Hall, and the young husband of Naomi, Herman Brady. A few other close relatives and friends were expected. Parran was extremely reluctant to discuss the arrest of the suspects. He stressed they were held only for ques tioning and that it would be unfair to them to make known their names un less something should develop to war rant lodging of charges. The State's (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) "HARD” TRAFFIC POLICEMAN "CUSSES” JUDGE UNKNOWINGLY Officer Harangues Presiding Police Court Justice for! Violation on Avenue. Imagine the embarrassment of a “hard” traffic policeman, who after •'cussing out” a motorist in the ac customed style of such officers, later discovers that the man he harangued was the presiding Judge of the Police Court. Such was the case yesterday when • burly policeman stopped Judge Gus A. Schuldt s car at Eighth street and Pennsylvania avenue. David F. Wil liams, a court bailiff, was chauffering, the magistrate and some out-of-town friends on a sight-seeing trip about the * city. Williams halted behind a street car which was taking on passengers and started forward again when the 1 trolley steps had been drawn up, al though the car was not in motion. A „ *‘Whca,” came a voice from the cen- I : Mr. and Mrs. Hoover Send Alaskan Seal Skins to Princess President and Mrs. Hoover have sent 10 Alaskan sealskins as a | wedding gift to Princess Marie Jose of Belgium, who is to marry Crown Prince Humbert of Italy. In selecting these skins as a wedding gift, the President and Mrs. Hoover desired to make a gift of something that would be typical of an American product. They were brown in color, but not made up into any garment, the idea of the President and | Mrs. Hoover being that the Prin cess should make this decision herself. The President and Mrs. Hoover knew the young princess very well, having come in contact with her during Mr. Hoover's Belgian relief work, which necessitated his being frequently at the Royal Palace in Brussels. VARE REITERATES INTENTION TO RUN IN G.O. P. PRIMARY Philadelphia Leader Says Name Will Be on Ballots in May Election. By the Associated Press. PHILADELPHIA, January 4.—Wil liam S. Vare announced today that he was still a candidate for the United States Senate and that his name wouM appear on the Republican primary bal lot In May. Going to Florida. Mr. Vare, who was refused a seat in the Senate last month on the ground that his primary expenses in the sena torial campaign of 1926 were excessive, made the statement as he was waiting here for a train for Florida. The announcement was prompted by widely published reports that he might not be a candidate for re-election be cause of his health. After his rejection by the Senate Mr. Vare issued a statement that he was in the fight for a seat in the Senate “to the finish.” When Gov. Fisher appointed Joseph R. Grundy to the vacant seat. Mr. Vare announced that the gubernatorial action did not change his plans. “There is nothing I can add,” Mr. Vare said today, "to the statement I made on the train returning from Washington and the statement I made when Mr. Grundy was appointed Sena tor, except this; That the first day for getting nomination petitions signed is Wednesday. February 19. and the last day for mailing them Is March 31. Insist! on State Sight. “As I leave today I am giving my friends throughout Pennsylvania, at their request and due to numerous letters and telegrams I have received, full authority to circulate and have my petition signed throughout the several counties. “I feel that the right of the great State of Pennsylvania to select Iks own Senator must be upheld. The placing of my name on the primary ballot will give the people of Pennsylvania an opportunity to uphold the Constitution and the rights of the sovereign State of Pennsylvania.” NORMAL RUNS NEAR ON CHINESE RAILS Through Service Linking Asia and i Europe Expected Within Few Days. | By the Associated Press. TOKIO, January 4.—Restoration within a few days of normal through service on the Chinese Eastern Railway, important link In the- overland system connecting Europe and Asia, was prom ised today in belated consular and press dispatches reaching here from Harbin. The reports told of establishment of the new Sino-Russian railway regime at Harbin January 1, marking an end to the unsettled state of the railway during the six months of controversy between Russia and China over its control and operation. Julius Rudy was installed as manager and M. Denissov as assistant manager. All Russian department heads who were dismissed when the Chinese government seized the railway last July were reinstated. The new president of the railway is Mo Teh-Hui. who once was a close lieutenant of the late Chang Tso-Lin, Manchurian war lord. Kuo Chung-Hsl, is the new Chinese assistant manager The five Chinese and five Russians composing the new directorate held their first meeting shortly after Inaugu ration of the new management. The dispatches said the outwardly friendly aspect of the launching of the new regime was heightened by the release of all Russian prisoners. Conforming to the Khabarovsk proto col settling the railway dispute the Chinese disbanded all White Russian military units and deported 14 of their leaders. ter of the intersection, "where in the h— do you think you are going? Can’t you see that big car back there?” said the "bluccoat,” coming up on the run. "But, officer, I was under the im pression that it was all right to pass a car after the steps have fold'd,” said the judge. "No. no, you’re wrong. Youse guys must be a bunch of hicks, ain’t you? I s'pose you’d better come around to the station house,” said the dutiful one. "But, officer, I hav? never been in any trouble in may life,” begged Williams. "You’re just lucky, then. You don’t know how to drive. None of you know nothing about rules. I recken I’ll let you go this time. Who’s the old bird, your daddy?” asked the petulant police man, indicating the Judge, who was seat d in the front seat with the driver. The bailiff shook his head and drove off. "Didn’t know him,” said the judge to one of his guests. 4 %\\t JEttenina JMctf. WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1930-TWENTY-EIGHT PAGES. ** SHELBY ASSAILS ALLEN’S ACTION IN M’PHERSON CASE Inspector Tells Trial Board of Efforts to Get Data From Policeman. VICTIM’S HUSBAND QUESTIONED AT HOME Parents Present During Quizzing, but Warned Not to Interfere, He Says. A bitter attack was made on former Policeman Robert J. Allen today by Inspector William S. Shelby when he took the witness stand in his own de fense before the extraordinary police trial board which Is sifting the charges that he and Lieut. Edward J. Kelly bungled the police investigation of the death of Mrs. Virginia McPherson. The attack cams while Shelby was relating the details of his check-up on Allen s claim that he had seen a man escape from the rear of the Park Lane Apartment prior to the finding there of ths garroted body of Mrs. McPher son. Shelby said when he was first In formed of Allen's statement that he had a witness who had seen a man on the roof ot the Park Lane res taurant he was “shocked and amazed to learn that the Police Department had on its rolls a man so base and so low as to retain, locked in his heart, information which, If true, was vital to the public justice.” “Considering its source,” the police official added. “I did not give any credence to the state ment.” Shelby occupied the witness stand throughout the entire morning session of the trial board and gave a complete and chronological account of the part he played In the investigation of the McPherson case. Outlines Long Career. Shelby began his testimony by giving an outline of his long career on the police force back to 1902, recounting, step by step, the various promotions which carried him from a private to his present rank of assistant superin tendent. He then turned to a detailed review of the part he played in the now famous McPherson case, Shelby started with his first inter view with Lieut. Kelly relative to his preliminary Investigation of Mrs. Mc- Pherson’s death when the deposed head of the homicide squad of the Detective Bureau reported to him that it was “a bad-looking case, but had the ele ments of suicide ” Net Present at Autopsy. Shelby said he was not present when the autopsy was performed on the bodv of Mrs. McPherson, but while at the District morgue he heard Dr. Joseph D. Rogers, deputy coroner, telephone to the third precinct and direct release of Robert A. McPherson, who was being held there for Investigation, and ordered that he and his father. Robert A. Me- Pherson, sr., be summoned to attend the inquest at the morgue. Returning to headquarters, Shelby said he was advised of a long distance telephone call from A. A. Hurley, father of Mrs. McPherson, who lives in Ches ter, S. C., reporting that he had letters from his daughter Indicating domestic I difficulties. On the basis of this in formation he declared he issued an order for a thorough investigation of this angle of the case. Call Six Weeks Before. On returning to police headquarters, Inspector Shelby said, Sergt. Guy Em brey told him of a telephone call h* had received about six weeks before from Mrs. McPherson’s father, who complained that his daughter was being mistreated by McPhersen and requested the police to look into the matter. An Investigation was made, the witness said, but no condition was found at that time to justify police interference. Shelby said that he and Kelly then began a detailed discussion of the case Kelly Informed him he had received In formation that a girl named Dorothy Ringer had been to the McPherson apartment on Thursday night. He said that he and Kelly went to this girl’s apartment In Trinity Towers, but that she was not at home. He then told <Continued on Page 3. Column ~3.) Motive Power Advertising is the motive power to push your business to the front. Local merchants with an eye to business used The Star again yesterday to the greatest extent to reach practically everybody in Washington with announce ments about their merchan dise. Circulation j Yesterday’s Circulation, 111,696 i Year Ago 106,928 Increase 4,768 Advertising Lines. STAR 43,570 2d Newspaper 25,080 3d Newspaper 6,157 4th Newspaper 4,833 sth Newspaper 2,745 38,815 STAR’S Excess... 4,755 SENATOR SMOOT SURMISES. BELGIAN PRINCESS ON SECRET ROUTE TO WEDDING IN ROME Special Tr ain Closely Guarded After Departure From Brussels Amid Cheers. By the Associated Press. BRUSSELS, January 4.—Speeding over a secret route to avoid enemies of her betrothed, Princess Marie Jose today was on her way to Rome to be come the bride of Prince Humbert, heir to the Italian throne. Her spe cial train should reach Rome Monday. The wedding is set for Wednesday. The Belgian royal party, in three special trains, left here at 9:40 p.m. last night. An hour later it entered Prance at Jeumont-Aulnoye and pro ceeded toward Basle, Switzerland, by way of Charleville, Longuyon and Nancy. A shorter and more difficult route was abandoned because of the danger of antl-Pascist activities. Extraordinary police precautions marked Mark’s departure. Police cleared the railway station and sur rounding streets before the royal party, consisting of King Albert, Queen Eliza beth, Princess Marie Jose, the Crown Prince and Princess and Prince Charles, arrived. Cheered by Crowds. Crowds outside the banned section cheered as the pretty 23-year-old princess was borne 10 the train which was to take her from her homeland. Queen Elizabeth also was cheered. It was her first public appearance in six weeks. She appeared pale, but waved a cheerful farewell to the crowds. Princess Marie Jose walked with her father at the head of the procession from automobiles through the deco rated station to the waiting trains. Once aboard the train her eyes obvious- j ly were misty as she leaned from a I POLICE ARREST 32 IN DEMONSTRATION Group Parades in Front of Mexican Embassy, Criti cizing Officials. Thirty-two persons, including a sprin kling of schoolgirls in their early teens and schoolboys, were placed under technical arrest shortly after noon to day while staging a demonstration in front of the Mexican embassy at Six teenth street and Columbia road. The men and women were bearing large placards which contained inscrip tions criticizing the Mexican govern ment officials for alleged unjust and cruel treatment of Communists in that j country. Some disorder resulted when the police reserves were loading the J defendants into the patrol wagon. Police Use Force. Several of the men resisted and were forcibly thrust into the wagon. At No. 10 precinct police say several ot those under arrest made an attempt to escape and had to be overpowered. The officers at No. 10 precinct tele phoned Maj. Pratt, superintendent of police, for advice as to what charges should be placed against them. It was indicated, however, that at least five or six would be booked on disorderly conduct counts. The so-called Communists collected on the sidewalk in front of the em bassy about noon and exhibited a score of large white placards bearing criti cism of the Mexican government. Members of the party, including both colored and white, said they were from Baltimore and Washington. The demonstration consisted princi pally of short cheers and songs de- J msndlng the release of the Communist I prisoners and condemning President elect Ortiz Rubio, President Hoover and the present government in Mexico. Ban ners carried by the group bore Itnes saying “Hoover and Rubio, both enemies of the w'orker.” Others said “Down with American imperialism in Mexico.” .1*) Release for Group. Amba:»ador Tellez of Mexico asked that the demonstrators be released, the request being made through the State Department. Tellez explained his ac tion by saying that inasmuch as Mexico's government w r as based upon the ideals of freedom of opinion he saw no reason why any undue significance should be placed on the demonstration by the so-called young Communists. Embassy officials seemed inclined to regard the whole matter as a piece of unlooked-for amusement. ▲ window to wave her own farewell to friends and country people. Several times she buried her face in a corsage of lilies of the valley which she wore to hide her emotion. Necessity for guarding ths station at her de parture and the necessary elaborate precautions against mishap en route were known to have saddened her. As the trains started cheers and shouts of "Long live the princess,” "Long live Prince Humbert" and "Long live the King" could be heard. And as the train disappeared in the night the princess could be seen still waving her gloved hand. Officials Arrive Early. Officials and other dignitaries arrived at the railway station half an hour be fore the princess and the remainder of the royal family. Princess Marie Jose upon hrr arrival was presented a bouquet of orange blossoms by Baroness Lemonnler. Both she and her mother wore fur coats, while her father and two brothers were in full dress uniform. Thirty young girls, pupils qf the Brus sels School of Music, chanted a song as the party entered the station. The Journey to Basle, across the shortest edge of Northeastern France, was arranged so that progress through French territory would be made in the dead of night. The route enabled the trains to evade the French Riviera, where many enemies of the Fascist re gime and the House of Savoy live in exile. The exact routing was not made public. Several plots against the lives of the royal party recently have been uncov ered. A few weeks ago an attempt was : made against the life of Prince Hum bert during his visit to Brussels to an- I nounce his betrothal. His assailant was , i an Italian expatriate living in France. - ( BUSINESS GAINS CHEER PRESIDENTI , i I ( Hoover Sees Encouraging Re- 1 suits of Drive to Stabilize i Nation's Industries. | \ i By the Associated Press. ( President Hoover contemplated today < —and found encouraging—the results j of his drive to boost construction and J improvement work in an effort to ab- t sorb unemployment. Three major lines of American busi- J ness endeavors submitted a budget of ] $4,700,000,000 for 1830. This, with many items still to bs added, gave [ ] premise that the total to be expended j t j during the year would be larger than j i that for 1929. > . The largest amount was that of public j | utilities and telephone companies, but i | the total of public works continued to j < grow with 19 States untouched in the j survey and 13 others only partially cov- j, ered. Sixteen States were complete. 1 The public utility and telephone 1 groups fixed their estimate at $2,100,- ! 000,000; public works. Including those ! of the Federal Government, reached $1,550,000,000 and railroads set a total , of $1,050,000,000. Surveys for the States move toward , the White House daily, and the Presi- 1 dent said he expected they would be 1 completed by the middle of this month, i In addition to these, Mr. Hoover pointed out that this total did not ln (Continued on Pag- 2, Column 8.) 1 LAYS BLAST TO MATCH. • i OKLAHOMA CITY, January 4 {IP).— \ After an extensive investigation Miller,. D. Hay. chief State mine inspector, has \ decided the explosion of gas in the Old , Town Coal Mine of North McAlester, 1 which on December 17 killed 61 miners, , was caused by lighting of a match smuggled Into the mine In defiance of , a Stale law. \ Hay said his conclusion was reached , by a process of elimination, there ap- , parently being no other possible cause for the blast. He said the law per mitted mine owners to search employes for matches. No search was made the morning of the disaster, but Hay said , that was not material, as it would be ’ easy for employes to smuggle matches ! into the shaft. j * Radio Programs on Page B-I6 { SEVEN DIE. 8 HURT IN BUS-TRAIN CRASH High School Pupils Victims of Wreck During Blinding Sleet Storm. By the Associated Press. WOOSTER, Ohio, January 4.—Help less victims of a speeding train which cut through the night and a blinding sleet storm to crush their bus while they laughed and talked of their basket ball games, seven youths were dead and eight other high school boys and girls were in hospitals today. The dead boys, all of them between 14 and 18 years of age, were members of the high school basket ball team of Burbank, near here. They were on their way home, happy over defeating their old rivals at Big Prairie, another nearby village, when a Pennsylvania Railroad flyer shuck their bus at a crossing near Shreve, 10 miles south of here, last night. The dead are: Wilbur and Forest Grubb, brothers. Claude Repp. Wayne Lehman. Emil Timic. Eugene Talley. Willard Baker. Moat Seriously Hurt. The most seriously injured were Edith Repp, who suffered fractures of both legs and may die, and Lola Talley, sister of the dead boy, who received a broken leg. i The others injured, most of whom sufTered nothing more serious than cuts and bruises, are Charles Packard, Don ald Lehman, Alice West, Ellen Cowhick, Grace Plory, Maurice Lenz, coach of the Burbank team, and Joseph Baker, 50. driver of the bus. The crumpled bus was carried down the track 100 feet, and bodies were strewn four times that distance as the banter and gayety, of the youngsters was changed to shrieks and the smash ing of steel and splintering of wood. Ambulances were called from Wooster, and raced perilously over the ice-cov ered highway to take the injured to Wooster’s two hospitals. Bus Driver Overcome. Baker, the bus driver, was overcome and unable to give any coherent ex planation of what happened. He could not remember whether he stopped be fore climbing the incline to the cross ging. The crossing at the hour of the accident—after 10 o’clock—is protected only by a bell and flash signal. Coach Lenz and those of the injured who were able to talk likewise did not know what occurred before the rushing train was upon them. Pennsylvania Railroad of ficials at Shere said apparently Baker had not seen the train coming through the storm and started across directly in front of it. The tragedy hit hard at Burbank, a town of only 500 people. Every one knew the boys and girls on the basket bal teams and many had journeyed to root for them at Big Prairie. The rooters started home ahead of the players, who had to have time to change clothese, eager to tell how the boys team had defeated their old enemies, although the girls lost. Word of the accident traveled rapidly, however, and soon the hospitals and undertaking establishments here were filled with the better part of Burbank’s residents, mothers and fathers rushing anxiously from place to place to find their sons and daughters. The rooters, who had turned back, were joined by many others who hastily started for Wooster when, Instead of accounts of the games, they received the messages of death. WALES FACING SEA GALE. Vessel Bearing Him to South Af rica Hit by Storm. 8. S. KENILWORTH CASTLE. Janu ary 4 (A*). —After ploughing down the English Channel In the teeth of a fierce westerly gale throughout the night the steamer Kenilworth Castle, bearing the Prince of Wales to South Africa, passed Ushant this morning and met the full force of the gale as it swept across the Bay of Biscay. The ship plunged and tossed violently on the great swells of the bay, whose turmoil was lightened by brilliant sun shine. The prince kept to his cabin and rested. Japan to Withold Action. TOKIO, January 4 (,/P). —The Japa nese government is taking no official notice of China’s proclamation abolish ing extraterritoriality, it is understood that Tokio’s policy is to withhold action until incidents arise contravening the extraterritoriality right* which Japan insist* remain valid. p.er-SA .. . The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press news service. Yesterday’s Circulation, 111,696 m Means Associated Press. LONGWORTH BELIEVES BLAZE AT CAPITOL WAS WHOLLY ACCIDENTAL Loss From Fire in Old Library Space Is Estimated at Less Than $3,000. ARCHITECT EXPECTED TO MAKE WRITTEN REPORT TO OFFICIALS No Structural Injury Results From Flames and Duplicates Exist for Destroyed Documents. Expressing belief that the Capitol fire last night was an accident after receiving an informal report today from David Lynn, architect of the Capitol, Speaker Longworth said this afternoon that he sees no reason for any special investigation. Mr. Lynn told him that there is considerable inflammable material in the loft of the Capitol where the fire was, and the Speaker declared himself to be satisfied that the fire was caused probably by spon taneous combustion or possibly by some one smoking. He declared that it was fortunate that prompt work by the Washington Fire De partment had been able to hold the fire to the one small room in the attic near the dome, with a loss of $3,000. The fire centering in the attic of the old library space attracted Nation-wide attention, following within two weeks the Christmas eve fire in the attic of the White House. There was no serious structural damage, the charred boards and other wood carried out this morning in cleaning up the debris was from tables and shelving. The most serious damage was through the breaking of the skylight over the artist’s studio, or model room, at the base of the dome. The investigation which Mr. Lynn conducted last night and this morning shows that Charles Moberly, the artist regularly employed r in retouching decorative work in the Capitol for nearly 40 years and who helped to decorate the Library of Congress Building, after work ing all day yesterday in his studio, had sent out for something to eat and was resting in his studio. A friend, Sam Hall, who has at various times, been employed in the Capitol and House Office Build ing, was visiting with Mr. Moberly. Mr. Hall testified that while he was reading a paper he smelled smoke and saw it coming from under a fence which separates the large storage room for old documents which adjoins the artist's studio. This is really not a part of the old library space formerly occupied by the Library of Congress, but was finished in 1902, when the old [ library space was reconstructed. i Tries to Put Out Fire. Mr. Hall said that Mr. Moberly had , fallen asleep and that as soon as he himself saw the smoke he ran for the 1 fire extinguisher and tried to put out the fire. When he found that he could not put it out he called to the operator . of a small elevator that runs from a side corridor between Statuary Hall and the rotunda and told him to turn I in a fire alarm. Mr. Hall, with the assistance of sev ! eral employes who hurried in, aroused Mr. Moberly and took him down two flights to the office of Minority Leader Garner, where, after resting and being attended by the naval physician to the House, Mr. Moberly was taken to his home. He was not seriously in jured by inhaling smoke and was at the Capitol before 8:30 o’clock this morning in conference with Mr. Lynn. After a conference with Capt. Gnash of the Capitol police force Mr. Lynn said that "all of the information that has come to me after talking with all parties involved has not convinced me as to the origin of last night’s fire. It may have been caused either by spontaneous combustion or by some body smoking. No reports have con vinced me that it was caused by smoking.” Mr. Lynn said that he had talked, with Mr. Moberly and that Mr. Moberly said he had not been smoking. He said also that Mr. Hall said that neither he flor Mr. Moberly had been smoking. Unable to Fix Cause. Asked directly as to who he believed had started the fire, Mr. Lynn replied: "That we have not been able to deter mine. Possibly it was through spon taneous combustion.” He explained, when questioned re garding oily rags used by the painter, that a tub was kept in the room into which the rags were thrown and that they were supposed to be wet at the end of each day. Whether this was done or not last night, Mr. Lynn said, he did not know. » In answer to questions, he said that Mr. Moberly told him he had fallen asleep in the room and when he was awakened the flames burst in through the door. Mr. Lynn said that the house physi cian, Dr. Carver, had taken charge of Mr. Moberly, who was in an extremely nervous condition, and said that Mr. Mobeley had been overcome by smoke. Mr. Moberly has been working on the retouching of wall decorations in the Senate corridor. This scaffolding was taken down today. Mr. Lynn ex plained that this was done because thej work was nearly finished and he de- j sired to remove the obstruction from the corridors, as Congress is about to I resume w'ork. While Mr. Lynn has not yet reported | to the Speaker and the Vice President, who. by act of Congress, are in charge j of the Capitol Building, and whose ; agent is in charge of the building, j he will probably appear soon before the j House committee on appropriations to , make a statement regarding the amount < of money necessary to make repairs j resulting from the fire, and that funds | for this purpose will be carried in the i deficiency appropriation bill. Had Not Been Smoking. “I had not been smoking at any time j during the day of the fire,” said Mr. : Moberly today when questioned as to whether the fire might have started in that way. He stated that no other person was in the studio after 4 o’clock as far as he knows and that he had fallen asleep there. “I went to the studio between 2 and 3 o’clock in the afternoon after doing some work in the Senate wing of the Capitol.” said Mr. Moberly. "I worked for a while on some drawings and put ting away material and straightening up around the studio. About 4 o’clock I fell asleep with my head on my arm on the desk where I had been sketching. “I was awakened by a noise which sounded like something trying to break in. I rushed to the inner doqr leading to the model room and opened it. The flames of the fire were so intense that I was overcome and do not remember anything until I came to on a couch in Representative Garner's office.” Lonesome at Home. Mr. Moberly explained that the rea son he stayed in the studio after his day’s work was done was because he lives in Mount Ida, Va.. alone and "it is lonesome there.” He said he preferred to remain in his studio and do some sketch work to pass the time away. Mr. Moberly agrees with the opinion expressed by Architect Lynn that the TWO CENTS. fire was probably due to spontaneous combustion. He described a tub of rags near a wooden table in the model room. "These rags are waste and are soaked with oil,” Mr. Moberly explained. “Fresh rags were thrown in this tub in the afternoon. I do not remember definitely when the tub was emptied. It is customary to pour water on the rags in this tub to prevent fire, but I do not recall that water was put on them yesterday.” Mr. Moberly said that he himself did not place the rags in the tub, but that the other Capitol artist had been restoring some paintings, using a spe cial preparation composed of inflam mable materials that morning. With the recent fire in the Executive office at the west wing of the White House still fresh in his mind. Presi dent Hoover took a very keen Interest in the fire at the Capitol. As soon as the Executive was inform** ed of the outbreak he gave order* to furnish him with every detail and to keep him advised. The President talk ed with a number of Senators and Rep resentatives over the telephone. A num ber of the latter not being able to get sufficient information elsewhere called the White House. One of the few automobiles allowed within the fire lines was a White House car which brought George Akerson, one of the President’s secretaries, to the scene. He rode around the building watching the firemen fight the fire and getting information about the extent of the damage to take back to the President. Time of Origin Obscure. Just when the fire started is unccr i tain, but it is believed that it had been burning for about an hour before it wa» discovered. When Sydney W. Mitchell, superintendent of the House folding room, left the building, about 6:15 p.m., he thought he smelled smoke, but he supposed th? odor came from an open fire in one of the nearby congressional offices. John J. Heimburger of the Capitol police force was one of the first to see the flames shooting from the roof. He saw them while he was patrolling the grounds outside the big building. He hurried inside and called John L. Bass, who was patrolling the rotunda floor. They then notified the night electrician. Several of the Capitol attaches rushed toward the fire alarm box in the House wing and this morning there was some doubt as to just who "pulled” the first box that notified the fire department that the Capitol was on fire. At head quarters it was said that the first alarm came from box 563, in the Capitol. House side, at 6:57 p.m. The second alarm came in at 7:03 p.m. and the next three alarms came together at 7:14 p.m., bringing out 27 fire companies. John Boyd, 933 Grant place, and Marshall Hickey, 406 Seventh street southwest, claim to have been among the first to see the flames. They said they were riding east on Pennsylvania avenue in a taxicab, when Boyd saw flames shoot ing from the Capitol roof. At first they j (Continued on Page 3, Column 1.) BOMBING OF CAR LAID TO DRIVER OF JITNEY Arrest Follows Testimony of Two Claiming to Have Seen Package Placed on Rails. By the Associated Frets. NEW ORLEANS, January 4.—Vincent Vineza, 23-year-old driver of a “jitney,” was under arrest here today, charged with violating a Federal injunction pro tecting the property of the street car operators. Sixty-four trolleys have been dynamited since the beginning of a carmen's strike last Summer. Police said two persons, whose names were not disclosed, had reported seeing Vineza place a package on car tracks a few minutes before a trolley was bombed two months ago. Despite a recent announcement of Supt. of Police Theodore Ray that sus pects would be arrested under an old State bombing law providing the death penalty, such charges had not been placed against Vineza today. Ray has expressed the opinion that “jitney” operators have been “directly or indirectly responsible for the bomb ings.” Police said Vineza told them he had not dynamited a trolley, but merely had placed torpedoes on the tracks. He is the second suspect to be ar rested since the bombings began. One person was taken into custody several month* ago, but subsequently wa* re leased.