Evening star. [volume], December 12, 1930, Page PAGE B-1, Image 17

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Washington News
NEWLY DISCOVERED
WRITING MAY SHED
EIGHT OjEAMERICAS
Dr. Clark of Yale Finds Manu
scripts, Lost 300 Years,
in Vatican Library.
. PRIEST’S DESCRIPTION
OF NEW WORLD SCENES
Key to Mayan Language Expected I
to Be Obtained for Smith
sonian.
BY THOMAS B. HENRY.
Lo6t to the world for more than 300
years, a 300,000-word manuscript con
taining an encyclopedic description of
the New World shortly after its first set- \
tlement has been rediscovered for the j
Smithsonian Institution in the Vatican
library.
This Spanish manuscript is described
by Mathew W. Stirling, chief of the
Bureau of American Ethnology, as ap
parently one .of the most significant
contributions ever made to the early
history of the Americas. It was written
by a priest-traveler who associated both
with the natives and with the Spanish
adventurers from Mexico to Chile, and
who then came home to write the book
about the strange things he had seen
which he expected would make his name
Immortal.
Slowly and painfully Father Vasques
de Espinosa transcribed his voluminous
notes, told all his friends of the great
book he was writing, and saw the proof
sheets of the first few chapters come
from the printer. Then he appears to
have died suddenly, his manuscript
passed into the hands of the local
bishop, and eventually the yellowing
sheets found their way with a mass of
other uncatalcgued material into the
Vatican library. As a final ironic touch
they did not even bear Espinosa s name.
Lost Language Objective.
The manuscript was rediscovered by
Dr. Charles Upson Clark of Yale Uni
versity, who is searching the libraries of
Spain and Italy for the Smithsonian
under a special grant from former Vice
President Charles G. Dawes. The ob
ject of the search is some clue in the
journals or letters of priests or soldiers
which will give some insight into the
Maya hieroglyphics, which now consti
tute a lost language. Mr. Dawes is es
pecially Interested in any evid?nce of a
possible connection between these high
ly civilized people of Central America
and the populace of the fabled "lost At
lantis.” which some believe may have
been a stepping stone between ancient
Europe and the New World.
Dr. Clark's discovery consisted of 80
printed pages and 500 sheets of manu
script in a fine hand. The only clue
to the author was his reference to a
published religious book by himself. “A
Light and Guide to Heaven.” Follow
ing this clue, the investigator came
upon the forgotten Andalusian Carmel
ite friar Espinosa, who has been In
the Americas "converting the Indians.”
The priest visited and lived among
many tribes and was evidently a friend
ly man who gained the confidence of
the Indians. He was the first to de
scribe the ruins of the Maya cities in
Central America, which he believed to
be the work of some lost tribe of white
men. He pictures the ancient city
“with Its proud buildings of time, im
memorial, the memory of which has
been lost for ages. Among the ruins is
a beautful room In which is a very
large table. w*l%worked. of stonelike ala
baster. and about it seated many ef
figies with good faces and long beards,
armed with their breast plates and
espaliers and morions and with their
■words in their belts.
Another Figure With Them.
"And with them is another figure
clothed in a pontifical, with a miter on
his head, of work and dress extraordi
nary and altogether different from that
' of these realms. And connected with
this room there are corridors very well
worked of stone, with very large pillars
all of one piece, and for over four or
six leagues around this proud edifice
there is a great amount of worked
stone. These ruins Indicate that there
were in these parts people of great in
telligence, independence and courage
and great cities which the long ages
have swallowed up.”
This, says Mr. Stirling, is evidently
a semi-mystical description of the ruins
of Copan, in the Guatemalan Jungle,
which in recent years have attracted
great interest among archeologists.
The friar had a taste for the horrible.
He described with considerable gusto
the fate of an Indian woman who fell
Into a pool of crocodiles and was quick
ly devoured. But she was one of his
converts, so he directed the Indians
to catch and kill all the reptiles at once
and secure from them the swallowed
portions. Then, he says, "I said mass
for her.”
Twenty-four Hours' Torture.
He describes the initiation of a Carlb
warrior who was forced to lie in a
hammock for months with no nourish
ment but “manioc water.” Then the
weakened man was subjected to ”24
hours' torture with biting and stinging
ants as big as wasps. If he survived he !
became a warrior ” He gives first
hand accounts of the Indian wars of
Peru, Chile and Argentina and detailed
descriptions of the tribes and geography
Os the Orinoco region.
A curiosity secured by Dr. Clark is a
manuscript of a Spanish priest who had
received 50,000 ducats in the division i
pf spoils after the loot of Peru by
Plzzaro. But the priest knew the
cruelty and ruthlessness used in obtain
ing the money and his conscience was
troubled. So he argued it out on paper,
, y setting down six reasons for and against
keeping the money. What conclusion
be reached is not known. This manu
script is not only a valuable psy
chological documen but contains much
detailed description of the West Indies
In the days of the Spanish settlements, j
ARMY GIVES SUPPLIES
TO RELIEVE JOBLESS
\ Bedding Sent to Welfare Agencies
at Direction of Secretary of
k\ i War Hurley.
11-
Seeking to relieve the unemployment
Situation, the War Department has is
sued large quantities of bed supplies
to local welfare organizations, officials
disclosed today. The work has been
done at the special direction of Secre
tary of War Hurley.
Included were 3,650 bed sacks. 450
blankets, 400 sheets, 150 cots and 200
• mattresses. They were distributed
through the Salvation Army, the Cen
tral Union Mission, the Volunteers of
America and similar organizations.
The same policy has been carrted
i out throughout the country by the
r Amy.
PROHIBITION LEADERS' MEET
mJK'* / m
iT
-
Dr. Clarence True Wilson, expounder of the dry cause, called on Col. Amos
W. W. -Woodcock, prohibition enforcement director, today for the first time and
learned that their fathers were pastor and lay member of a church at SaHsbury,
Md., years ago. —Star Staff Photo.
|DRY HEADS RECALL
OLD ACQUAINTANCE
* •
Dr. Wilson Surprised to Find
.Col. Woodcock Maryland
Neighbor.
“ •
All the rough edges of a surprising
acquaintanceship were rubbed smooth
at a meeting in Prohibition Director
Woodcock's spacious office this morning
while mutual friends who shared the
secret remarked on how strange is the
“destiny which shapes our ends.”
Dr. Clarence True Wilson, Methodist
minister, idealist, expounder of the tem
perance cause, traveled to prohibition
headquarters to pay what he thought
Avas’his first call on Col. Woodcock, sol
dier, lawyer and administrator.
For nearly an hour the two men,
whose ccmmon goal is the stamping out
of liquor but whose attitudes of mind
are strikingly dissimilar, sat together as
travelers along memory’s highway to
days when Dr. Wilson's father was pre
siding elder of the Salisbury. Md., dis
trict and Woodcock’s father was a
lay member of his church board.
Acquaintances Recalled.
When he opened the door of Wood
cock’s office, the first person Dr. Wilson
greeted was Mrs. Thomas E. Martin
dale of Salisbury. The Methodist
leader said he did not know she was
acquainted with the prohibition direc
tor. “He is our brother,” said Mrs.
Martindale, smiling. She and Miss
Elizabeth Woodcock were paying their
first visit to their brother's office.
"Well, I will declare,” was Dr. Wil
son’s response. “It proves that we go
through life dreaming and wake up to
find our friends have connections we
do not realize as.we go along.”
Mrs. Martindale. whose late husband
was one of the most prominent Meth
odist ministers in Maryland, has enter
tained Dr. Wilson in her home at
Salisbury many times. She told him, in
the few moments while he awaited Col.
Woodcock’s pleasure, that the men had
met in her home and Just did not recall
their meeting.
Col. Woodcock beckoned then, and
after hand shaking all round the dry
leader and prohibition administrator'
retired to Woodcock's office for a chat
that touched on books and men and
playtimes under Maryland trees when
both were young.
In the several months since Wood
cock's appointment, an appointment
that came when Dr. Wilson was in the
West neither had had occasion to' think
of their mutual associations.
First Official Meeting.
They met today for the first time
since Col. Woodcock came from Balti
more to direct the Governments en
forcement activity.
A remark Dr. Wilson made several
weeks ago led indirectly to their confer
ence. Commenting on conditions in
an interview, the Methodist leader said
he regretted that the new prohibition
director didn’t want to see “profes
sional reformers.’’ Dr. Wilson was con
vinced this morning that he had been
misinformed, because when he called
Woodcock's offices looked like the meet
ing place of the organized temperance
movement. Dry leaders who have been
holding conferences here called in a
body to pay their respects.
“I don’t understand why I didn't
learn sooner all I know about this now,”
said Dr. Wilson as he emerged from
the office. Within the two men posed
for photographs. Col. Woodcock’s mili
tary training asserted itself. “You as
the elder should stand on the right, Dr.
Wilson,” he prompted, and the dry
leader willingly acquiesced. They talked
about a new history of their beloved
Eastern Maryland country while the
photographer fussed with his gadgets.
“Good luck to you, Dr. Wilson, and
come to see me again,” said Col. Wood
cock with a broad smile. Dr. Wilson
slightly the taller, bowed. “It will be
a pleasure. Col. Woodcock.” he said.
He seemed a little hurt as he left. “I
; was reared in Princess Anne, near Salis
bury, and our lives have touched many
times in the past,” Dr. Wilson said,
shaking his head. “And to think that I
didn’t write a letter congratulating one
of our Eastern Maryland boys on his
appointment.”
—
; Recommend Australian Wool Tax.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand C ‘Pi-
New Zealand wool-growing interests to
day recommended a wool tax for estab
lishment of a central fund for research
and publicity in overseas markets.
BEGGAR WITH POCKETS BULGING
CHANGES BILL FOR HOUSEWIFE
I
Expects to Start Rooming House on Proceeds of Appeals,
Which Total $13.50 in One Day.
The half-blind beggar ringing door
bells in the 1000 block of Montana
avenue yesterday was going to retire
aoon, he said. '
Not that he was at first disposed to
mention such a rosy prospect, hugging
bis hat with a maimed forearm before
the door of the corner house.
The Information slipped from him, i
however, when professionalism gave way
to a human desire to boast a bit.
"Lady,’’ he began, addressing a house
wife, who asked that her name be with
held, "could you give me 50 cents?.”
The man’s eyes were half-blind, the
wind sifted through his overcoat and
he fthuffied unhappily in broken shoes.
y "Walt until I find n# purse.” The
—~ • '
t She Wtomim Sto
BANDIT USES TAXI
TO FLEE WITH LOOT
•
Compels Driver to Take Him
to District Line—Other
•Hold-ups Reported.
Forcing a taxicab driver to drive him
to the District line, a bandit fled into
Maryland early today after holding up
Melvin Christina, colored, manager of
a gasoline filling station, robbing him
of $22.
The hacker, John Belk of 1127
Fourth street, told police he was hailed
at Eighteenth street and Florida avenue
and instructed by his fare to drive to
the gas station.
The man pushed a pistol into Belk’s
side as the cab came to a halt in the
driveway and commanded the taxi
driver to precede him into the office,
where he stepped back and covered
both Christina and Belk with his gun,
ordering the former* to open the cash
register. *
Gives $22 to Bandit.
Christina surrendered his night's re
ceipts, about $22, and Belk said he wds
made to drive to the District line on
Wisconsin avenue, where a touring car
was awaiting the robber.
Two other hold-ups were staged in
the District last night. Two boys walked
into the store of Mrs. Minnie Jablow,
931 Potomac avenue, and rifled the cash
register. They threatened Mrs. Jablow
with a pistol, she told police.
Fred Adams of 301 N street southwest,
a driver for tke Black & White Taxicab
Co., had only an empty billfold and a
bank book to offer when two men pulled
a gun on him in the 2100 if
Eighth street and searched his cldthlng.
The men answer the description of the
colored bandits who have held up and
robbed several cab drivers here during
the past two weeks.
Others Are Robbed.
Other robberies were reported by
Anita Lemon, Hayes .Burnett and Ar-.
thur Thotpas, 926 S Street; Frank B.
Tipton, 1324 Farragut street; Charles L.
Bartlett, Apartment 34, 304 F street;
Weimer Cooksey, 2301 Third street
northeast; Harry O. White, 616 Twelfth
■street ;*Henry A. Renze, Apartment 302,
1101 Euclid street; Miss Anne Goldman,
4015 Fourteenth street; Ritchie Park,
6326 Sixteenth street; Helen F. Chamb
lln, Northbrook Courts; Henry Mat
thews, 1735 First street; Emafiuel Le
vine, 1039 Seventh street; Hobart M.
Tucker, 2114 Fourteenth street; Ray
mond Goodwin, 812 Twelfth street, and
Helen Peddlnghouse, 1705 East Capitol
street.
CHRISWaS SEAL
SALES TOTAL $23,000
I
Half of Goal Set by Tuberculosis
Association Now Ob
tained.
The sale of Christmas seals for the
local Tuberculosis Association, with the
receipts of cash totaling $23,000, re
ported at the association’s headquar
ters last night, has
H passed the half
way mark toward j
the season's goal
of $45,000.
The money thus
far raised has come
through the sale
of 2,300.000 seals.
Good progress was
reported yesterday
in the sale of seals
at the women s
booths located In
the shopping dls
. trict.
The seals are being sold through the
mail and at a number of banks, de
partment stores and schoolr which the
Tuberculosis Association lists and warns
that “any attempts to capitalize the
sale of Christmas seals for individual
gain should be promptly reported to
the seal sale headquarters of the as
sociation at 1022 Eleventh street.”
Private schools which are now sell
ing the seals are as follows: Sid well's
Friends''School, Miss Madeira’s School,
Mount Vernon Seminary, National
Cathedral School for Girls, St. Alban’s
School for Boys. The patients of the
Tuberculosis Hospital are also au
thorized to sell the seals.
beggar waited. "Ob," said the house
wife, ’T’ve only a $5 bill.”
“I can change it, lady.”
"You can change it? {n that case I
can spare you only 10 cents. Perhaps
you make more at begging than my
husband does at his job?”
Th» beggar hesitated. “Yes, lady,"
hb said, a note of pride in his voice. "I
took in *13.50 yesterday.” Then he
l produced from his pockets a S2O bill, a
$lO bill and four $1 bills. The other
hand brought lip a quantity of silver.
"Yes, lady, I can change your bill all
right.” And he gave the housewife
•4.90 in exchange for her $5 note.
"You ser.” he said, shuffling off,
"I'm going !o start a rooming house
when I take in enough—l don’t like to
be***
WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1930. «**
190 DRY CASES CUT
OFF DOCKET IN THIS
AREA IN NOVEMBER
Current Charges Handled Be
-1 sides —Total Now Pend
ing Is 2,454.
JAIL SENTENCES REACH
2,094 YEARS FOR NATION
Three Seizure! Reported in Vicin
ity of Leonardtown, Md., in
Dense Woods.
Court machinery handling Federal
prohibition cases in the administrative
district ''which Includes the District of
Columbia reduced the number of crim
inal cases on docket by 190 during No
vember, it was shown today in Prohi
bition Director Woodcock's monthly
summary of enforcement activity.
The 640 cases placed on docket dur
ing the month were disposed of, to
gether with 190 cases pending from
earlier months. The total number of
cases pending in administrative dis
trict was reduced from 2,644 to 2,454.
This performance was not reported
for the country as a whole, although
the cases disposed of during November
almost balanced the number brought
into court by agents, 5,255 cases being
docketed and 5,242 terminated. The
total number of unfinished cases on
docket, 23,217. was 13 greater than the
number unfinished on October 31.
Total Jail Sentences.
Jail sentences totaling 2,094 years
were imposed throughout the country
in the month, together with fines of
nearly $477,000. The total of fines since
July was placed at approximately sl,-
85g,000. The second prohibition dis
trict, which ,lncludes New York, showed
by far the heaviest activity. In it were
reported 1,441 arrests, 7 convictions by
jury trials, 934 pleas of guilty, 149 ac
quittals and 7,467 cases remaining on
docket on December 1.
In the fourth prohibition district, In
cluding Washington and the District of
Columbia, there were 487 arrests, 100
convictions by Jury trials, 624 pleas of
guilty, 106 acquittals, and 2,454 cases
remaining on docket.
The local district led all others, how
ever, in the number of stills and dis
tilleries seized, with 492, and the num
ber of beer fermenters seized, with 1,444.
The report included returns from the
November activity of agents concen
trated in Southern Maryland.
Three Seizure* Reported.
Three seizures in the vicinity of
Leonardtown, Md., were reported today
to swell the totals for December. Op
erating in dense woods south of Leon
ardtown, agents confiscated a 500-gallon
still at Dameron, a 300-gallon still near
St. Jeromes Neck, and a 750-gallon still
within a mile. Boxes containing a total
of 3,350 gallons of mash were destroyed,
along with paraphernalia.
The agents reported that rye meal
was being used in the manufacture. A
truck and several 150-pound bags of
sugar were among the equipment con
fiscated. A fourth still, of 350-gallon
capacity, was confiscated yesterday at
Hollywood Shore, Md., with 10,000 gal
lons of mash.
w Al i£ ou ? cln ? m °nthly summary,
8 Mr J£?2 daock 861(3 he would like to take
rohlbition enforcement "entirely off
le front pages of newspapers.”
No Spectacular Drive*.
There is not to be any concentration
tor spectacular drives during
the Christmas season or at ana time,
he said, adding that his policy ft ft> con
duct a steady day-to-day pressure
against commercial violators
Towalse the standards of the enforce
ment unit, he will soon inaugurate an
efficiency rating system comparable to
that used for Aamy officers. A uniform
promotion regulation is being drafted
which will enable the director to make
promotions based on performance of
agents, their record in the training
schools for agents now being conducted
and longevity.
, oodcock “ tli nated that 925 of the
1.400 agents In the service now receive
the minimum salary of $2,300. The
information about the personnel is far
from being complete, he said.
Commendation for two Oklahoma
agents who made a difficult arrest with
out bloodshed was announced by Wood
cock yesterday, and placed in the
agents' service record. Such informa
tion will enable the director in future
to form an opinion as to the qualifica
tions of all the agents.
In a detailed account of enforcement
in the local district, the bureau re
marked Mi the capture of a 2,500-gallon
still near the Baltimore city limits on
November 28. A "wholesale round-up”
of alleged whisky handlers in Guilford
and Rocklnghtm Counties, N. C., where
approximately 50 arrests were made, Is
cited.
Will of Student
Asks That Body Be
Used for Science
Marlin C. Burghard, Who
Took Own Life, Also
Provides for Book Sale.
Leaving his life Insurance policies to
his mother, Martin Calhoun Burghard, a
30-year-old writer who committed sui
cide December 8, requested that his
body be used for scientific purposes in
his will filed for probate today in Dis
trict Supreme Court by Policeman Gil
bert J. Penturff.
Burghard's body was found in a gas
filled attic room in the 1400 block of
Massachusetts avenue.
His will indicates he had an engage
ment with a young woman on the night
of his death, which she failed to keep.
He previously had written into the docu
ment that she receive the first S3OO
from the sale of his book of poems,
w hich he .directed to be bound with his
own skin and this provision was strick
en out after she failed to keep the tryst.
A notation in handwriting on the
typewritten will read, "Excision of
paragraphs 5 and 6 due to failure of
young lady to meet me. Am greatly
disappointed.”
The will, signed by Burghard and
witnessed by two persons, closes with
"on this Bth day of December in the
year of our Lord (or somebody else’s
Lord), 1930.”
Burghard provides further that Oscar
R. Btrackbein be given all his books
and directed to sell, if possible, his body
or, failing to <V> so, to turn it over to
medical students. Btrackbein also is to
have all the proceeds from the sale of
the book, if any.
' Burghard explained that "I am not
so credulous as to believe this a will.
It Is, however, ,what I would have
wished had I eompliad with legalities.”
I* -- - "" " _ *
FELINE ARISTOCRACY AT CAT SHOW
r 11 111 —■■ i. I.
~
i *
[ Wa j R^ Pper 81uded ,Uver P* l- * l * o kittens owned and shown by Mrs. R, M.
' C 1 ThC " Uver Übby Muthacho Grande, owned and shown by Mrs.
! Susanne Martin with a group of red tabbies owned by Mrs
r W ' AtUm *~ —Star Staff Photos!
JOBLESS AND NOT OARING TO DIE,
! NEEDY MOTHER ASKS JURY LISTING
K . 9 T"
. Rooming House Income Insufficient for Expenses, Asks
to Be Considered as Possible Juryman.
; » * ——
“ . . . But the system says 45
years or over is barred from earning
r a living and one dare not die.’*
/ Dare not die; she couldn’t dare—not
- with three children. An 8-year-old
• eon, two young daughters, were her
i excuses, the widow wrote, for applying
r for Jury duty.
1 Her letter was one of several slm
-1 ilar pleas received yesterday by Edgar
, C. Snyder, United States marshal, who
has proposed to have the Jury Com
-1 mission call for duty as many as po*-
l Bible of Washington’s unemployed from
r a list compiled by the Chamber of
• Commerce.
i Some applicants have their names on
t the list, others sought to be enrolled
. there. As for the widow, this was
how she stated her case:
, , "Please my same to the list of
! MAN IS ARRESTED
I AS HIT-RUN DRIVER
t— ■
| Capture Follows Sleuthing
After Death of Victim,
Mrs. Julia Dunlop.
Through a tedious process of eliml
’ nation, with only two numbers of a
license plat* to guide him, Patrolman
. Earl P. Hartman today arrested the
• auto driver who, he believed, ran down
! and fatally injured Mrs. Julia Dunlop,
! 55 years old, of 1901 K street, at Fif
teenth and L streets on Wednesday and
then fled.
The motorist, Willie Barnes, colored,
l 31 years old, of 1815 Ninth street, is
i said to have confessed that he was the
| operator and was held for grand Jury
, action by a coroner’s Jury,
i Joe Lee Barlow, colored, 29 years old,
of 1416 Sixth street, whom testimony
disclosed was an occupant of the car
at the time of the accident, was also
held for the gTand Jury and confined
to the Jail. Barnes is charged with
manslaughter at No. 3 precinct, while
Barlow is held as an accessory to the
crime for failing to report the accident
to police.
Had Only Meager Description.
Patrolman Hartman was assigned to
make an investigation of the case by
Capt. J. F. Beckett of No. 3 station a
short time after the mishap. Hartman
was given only two tag numbers and
a general description of the car to as
sist him in his probe.
After nearly two days of constant
1 study of the District Automobile License
■ Directory, Hartman compiled a list of
machines on whose tags the two num
-1 bers appeared, and which likely would
travel over the route followed by the
hit-and-run car in escaping after the
accident.
Auto Loaned to Car Washer.
In his quest, Hartman came upon the
name of Charles Lindsey, a salesman
for the Warfield Motor Co., at 1130
Connecticut avenue, and an examina
tion of Lindsey's machine revealed that
a headlight had recently been repaired.
The owner of the car expressed sur
prise at the discovery and told Hart
i man that his machine had been bor
rowed on Wednesday by Barnes, a car
washer at Warfield’s, and that the col
ored man had driven to his home for
: *n automobile key and returned the car.
Ninth December Traffic Death.
Hartman placed Barnes under arrest
1 when he appeared for work this mom
: ing, and said he obtained a confession
i from his prisoner a short time after
i ward.
v Barnes told Lindsey and Hartman
when questioned that he drove to the
i garage of Hill & Tibbitts, at Four
teenth street and Ohio aveifue, afte*
i the accident and had repairs made to
i the headlight, which was damaged
: when he struck the woman.
Mrs. Dunlop’s death yesterday at
; Emergency Hospital from injuries suf*
. sered in the accident was the ninth to
• ooeur here as the result of traffic mis
’ haps since December 1.
- _
the unemployed, who will be summoned
for jury duty. Mine will not be on the
C. of C. list. I am a widowed mother
of a family and have not held a Jqb be
cause 111 health kept me at home. I
keep roomers to help keep a home, but
expenses are way ahead of income and
I cannot seemfo find any Job.
“I feel that a woman, poor and gray
and 45 ought to pass out and take small
children with her. I have not that
courage and the kids suffer. The three
dependents are a girl 13, a boy 8 and a
girl 10. They eat. go to school and
back home and not even an occasional
movie. Horn# Is up for sale for taxes. I
cannot seem to borrow that much.
Vlease .list me, I doubt ever being
called then. I put applications In every
where, btit the system says 45 years or
over Is barred from earning a living
and one dare not die.”
POLICE ARE FOILED
BY SMOKE SCREENS
%
Two Cars Participate in Elud
ing of Officers for Fifth
Time in Month.
An alleged whisky-running automo
bile, equipped with a smoke screen, es
caped from thirteenth precinct police
for the fifth time in less than a month
early today following a chase of more
than six miles through the Northwest
section of the city.
It appeared for a time "that the ma
chine would be overtaken by the pur
suing officers when Its smoke screen in
gredients were exhausted, but a road
ster dropped in behind the sedan-mod
eled rum car and released a cloud of
smoke through which the sedan made
its getaway.
The second car was trailed to New
York avenue and Eleventh street, where
the police gave up the chase.
Sergt. Raymond B. Carroll and Pvt.
H. K. Martin were on the lookout for
the sedan near the District line about
4:30 o'clock this morning, when the car
raced down Georgia avenue.
Two men were riding on the front
seat of the car, which bore Maryland
tags. The chase continued at a pace
of 65 to 70 miles an hour to New Hamp
shire avenue, where Pvt. F. E. Kenney
joined In the pursuit.
SCHOOL PLANS APPROVED
Anthony J. Bowen Institution Ad
dition to Cost 9130,000.
The District Commissioners today ap
proved plans drawn by Municipal Archi
tect Albert L. Harris for a 12-room ad
dition to the Anthony J. Bowen School,
Second and M streets southwest, esti
mated to cost $130,000.
The Engineer Department’s chief
clerk was Instructed to advertise for
bids.
MAN OVERCOME BY MONOXIDE GAS
FROM TRUCK IS KILLED BY TRAILER
Employe of Washington Cathedral Dies Instantly When
Struck by Fourteen-Ton Vehicle.
By a Staff Correspondent of the Star.
ARLINGTON, Va., December 12.
Thought to have been overcome by
carbon monoxide gas from a slowly
moving truck that he was walking be
hind, Morns J. Ferrell, colored, an
employe of the Washington Cathedral,
fell beneath a heavy trailer on Oakcrest
Hill early this morning and was in
stantly killed. The trailer and load
weighed approximately 14 tons.
Ferrell, along with several other
colored mer, had accompanied Charles
H. Merryman, superintendent of grounds
for the cathedral, to Prince George
County, Va.. to transport a large box
wood bush to Washington. They started
back on weeday, the trailer on which
Lf . ..;»€}
v •
General 'News |
if
«|n "»• rv
m
POWER TO REDUCE
PUPILS’FARE URGED
Senate Committee Hears Car
Officials on Utilities Body
Question.
A proposal to give the Public Utili
ties Commission power to give school
. children a reduced rate of car fare, the
amount of the reduction to be worked
• out by the commission, was advanced
at the public hearing held by the Sen
ate District Committee yesterday after
’ noon.
The pending bill, which has passed
the House, fixes a rate of 2 cents for
school children. Officials of both street
' railway companies told the Senate Com
i mittee they are opposed to Congress
fixing any definite rate, but would be
willing to see the necessary authority
vested, in the commission to determine
I the rate after hearings and Investiga
tion.
After more than an hour of discus
sion, Senator Copeland, Democrat, of
New York, advanced a suggestion that
I Congress give the commission the
\ power and authority to decide the mat
; ter, provided the rate for school chll
‘ dren shall not exceed half the regular
. rate. No formal committee action was
, taken, but Senator Copeland suggested
. that the various interested groups con
fer and try to agree on a revised bIU.
j Hearing* to Be Printed.
* Chairman Capper said he would have
* the record of yesterday's hearing printed
and give absent committee members an
J opportunity to study the testimony.
? after which the question will be taken
‘ up again.
1 William P. Ham, president of the
Washington Railway St Electric Co., and
1 John H. Hanna, head of the Capital
; Traction, said the pending bill, fixing a
1 2-cent school rate, would put a financial
• strain on the companies. In substance,
the position of the companies was that
rates should be fixed by the commission
after considering all the factors In
volved, and changed from time to time
as conditions change.
Commenting on the new proposal ad
vanced by Senator,Copeland, Mr. Ham
said he did not think It should con
tain the limitation of not to exceed half
fare.
William McK. Clayton of the Federa
tion of Citizens’ Associations told the
committee the proposed substitute would
not mean a thing to the citizens unless
it contains the limitation originally sug
gested by Senator Copeland.
Uncertainty of Effect.
After the companies had - presented
estimates of how their revenues would
be cut into by the pending 2-cent bill
members of the committee asked Chair
man Patrick of the Utilities Commis
sion if he had considered this In recom
mending the bill.
The chairman replied that no one
can predict whether it will bring about
a reduction or an increase In revenues.
He suggested that some children may
ride who do not ride now. It might re
sult in overcrowding some of the line,
necessitating added service, he said, in
which case the question could be
brought before the commission for ac
tion.
John Noonan, who has taken an ac
tive part in sponsoring the reduced fare
for school children, made another ap
peal for the pending bill. A request
that the age limit be raised at least to
18 years, to take in all high school pu
pils, was presented by John P. Smith
and Mrs. Frost Mills of the Business
High School Parent-Teacher Associa
tion and by H. Lee Smith of the McKin
ley High School Parent-Teacher Asso
ciation.
E. D. Merrill told what the effect of
the bill would be on the Washington
Rapid Transit (Jo. if a transfer arrange
ment Is Included.
The committee did not have time to
take up Senator Capper's resolution
proposing an Investigation of food prices
in Washington, The question went
over until the next meeting.
PEDESTRIAN INJURED
———_ ,
Mrs. Josephine Gaffney, 41 years old,
of 1424 Massachusetts avenue was In
jured seriously last night when struck
down in the 1100 block of Fourteenth
street by an automobile said to have
been operated by Roy S. Coffman of
619 New Jersey avenue. Mrs. Gaffney
ta In Emergency Hospital.
the boxwood vu loaded being drawn
by two trucks.
As they were pulling up the long
grade on Oakcrest Hill shortly before
5 o’clock this morning Ferrell got off
the truck on which he was riding and
was walking between the truck and
trailer when he was seen by other work
men to slump to the road, calling for
help as he did so.
Policemen Hugh Jones, John R. Burke
and Jack Conway, of the Arlington
County fcpce, went to the acene and
notified Coroner B. H. sw%» who
Issued a certificate of accidental death.
So thick was the fog at the point
where the accident occurred that the
police remained until daylight to dfeect
traffic around the trucks and traUsL
PAGE B-1
ZOO ANIMALS ADD
NEW PROBLEM TO
DISTRICT TRAFFIC
Autos Using Highway Con
nection Through Park Get
on Their IJerves.
NIGHT DRIVING WORKS
WITH SLUMBER
Diversion of Cars Necessitated to
Eighteenth Street by Closing
of Oates.
Lions, tigers, bears and other wild
animals are now complicating Wash
ington’s traffic problem.
Despite the completion today of the
new ford through Rock Creek Just north
of the Calvert Street Bridge In the
National Zoological Park, motor traffic
I still may not flow through the Rock
Creek and Potomac Parkway from the
vlctoity of Silver Spring, Md., because
In deference to the temperamental
nerves of many animals. Zoo officials
decUned to open the gates at the
, park boundaries.
The completion of the ford and the
reconstruction of its approaches marks
another link In the pretentious high
way development which ultimately will
connect Potomac Park with Rock
Creek Park and the territory north of
the District In Maryland. The wide *
paved road between the zoo gates at
■ u ®® uth and Massachusetts avenue
have been completed for some time but
“»lc thoroughfare has
! been little used.
Diversion of Traffic.
1 of the ford was to \
■ ortS. * k’S? 0 move &lon K Rock
' «EL k % ft* n€W road but the
gates at the aoo necessitate the dl
! SftUL"& “s
Tbp explanation for the closing of
■ ***? ** thft t traffic, diverted at
i Zo ° Park - would work
! hUrh'it *? th th l repose of many of the
r highly-strung beasts within the park
. dlsturtence would constitute real
■ J3SISSt e,pil “"“a «***
, T3r William Mann, Zoolbgical Park
director, also has said the opanlng of
6 g “ t f t ?. wou > d result in a heaVy traffic
! , th * ** rk when the auto
mobiles that could be accommodated
. ° n *be new and wide section of the road
older and much narrower
Jurisdiction Over Par*.
t The Smithsonian InsUtutlon, of which
, Adams Mill road.
Proponents of the Zoo gate opening
i contend there Is no apparent valid rea
son why the gates could not be opened
, at about 7 am. and closed at sundown
l a ? , are other gates In the park. Offl-
I clals who favor full use of the valley
'°' pa^fnd recreational purposes oon
™u,.that„openlng ot thes ® Zoo roads
would relieve traffic on Connecticut
and ., that f rom Mount Pleasant
by distributing it over Massachusetts
avenue. 115
In answer to the position of the Zoo
authorities, they say the roads In the
Zoo grounds would be relieved of much
cros *. trafflc wh ich would
take the main road alone Rock Cmtk
?hl h^* h « hey concede that on Sundays
the situation might be a bit congested
Much traffic on the open roads in the
52? W paaseß to the daytime along
side the pens of many of the animate
tL “ # SS£*® opening the road
pbap the Creek would not d*-
turb them unduly. m
New Road Needed.
Ultimately, a new road will have tn
be buLt through the Zoo, they believe,
a temporary arrangement to per
mlt the full use of that part of the
valley by motorists contend the
The Rock Creek and Potomac Park
way Commission, which constate of
Mellon, Secretar y Hurley and
Secretary Hyde. Is now completing the
between Massachusetts avenue
Q ?, treet Brld * e - Where con-
Tht, work 18 forward.
JFX*? “ *»
PEPCO STAND PUTS
OFF
Exercises Eight to Demand Ten
' Dty Notice From Utilities
Commission.
Th e Potomac Electric Power Co. to
day refused to waive the 10 days notice
on B JI, nt , e il t / on , to hold a Public i earing
on the 1931 electric rates for Wash
bjgton which is Its legal right. Since
deridirt IW,C Commission has
decidetl on, advice of counsel to hold
B H<; h 80 fPen hearing, this means that
cannot be had until De
°e®Jbei|3o, at the earliest.
h.i Jr*u°a kn °wn whether It will be
had at that date. After the company’s
h u ich expbes December 20,
there must be a further period of 10
ta he?d Ven publ,c beforethe hearing
.The commission today received a let-
J? Ir ‘' Tn Pr * slde nt William P. Ham of
the cor\'->ny notifying it of the com-
srld; 8 " *° lta AS “he
“Following the practice since the de
cree of December 31, 1924, In the ewe of .
t ?s® trl ® Power Co., representa
tive# of the company called upon you
toascertaln whetKr or not It wSiirfto
♦h?s! , A reto / ore to Rdv »nce the
°/ robedules providing
f« the reduction of rates to be charged
the public for electric service during
th e jw 1931 SC' that the reduced rates
might become effective the Ist of Jan?
U2IL-fc.» rlndln *^ 018 commission thus
agreeable, we have had several con
ferences with you and members of your
staff, and the people’s counsel, as to
the amount to be applied funder said de
cree in the reduction of rites for next
year,-and mi agreement was reached
whereby the sum of $830,000 would be
Jp the reduction of rates for
1931. Therdbfter. we discussed with
you the application of said amount to
the various schedules.
'As the commission has heretofore
ruled that no public hearing! were
necessary In making said rate reduc
tions, we are unable ’to see now the
necessity therefor. Under all the exist
ing circumstances, we regret that we
cannot see our way clear to waive the
10 days’ notice of Intention to hold such
hearing to which we are entitled under
the law." £
Lli «e ... ' .. . ’. uA