Evening star. [volume], May 12, 1932, EXTRA, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
gpJrSfflcV. "washingfon, ”p?C. ™ M”"» A8»oci«ted Prw. TWO CENTS.
H I
BODY IS FOUND NEAR
NEW JERSEY HOME
OF FAMOUS AVIATOR
By thf Associated Press.
TRENTON. Mav 12.—Gov. A. Harry Moore late today said lie
had been informed by Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf of the State
police that the kidnaped Lindbergh baby was found dead near the
famous flyer’s estate at Hopewell, N. J.
Schwarzkopf informed the Governor that latter said that the
body was found by neighbors near the Lindbergh home.
Today’s developments answered a question that had puzzled
the Nation since Tuesday night. March 1—“Is the Lindbergh baby
alive or dead?’’
Gov. Moore said lie had no further details regarding the mat
ter.
Shortlv before the Governor's announcement was made Col.
Schwartzkopf had summoned all reporters to the Lindbergh home.
A formal announcement was to be made there.
A brisk wind whistled through the clear night outside the
Sourland Mountain estate of the famous flyer as Mrs. Lindbergh,
assisted bv Rettv Gow. the nursemaid, put her 20-month-old son
to bed at 7:30 o’clock.
Mrs. Lindbergh last saw the baby in his crib with Miss Gow
bending over him. I hen she went downstairs. Half an hour la'cr
the* nursemaid stopped on her way to the kitchen to sav the child
had gone to sleep.
At 10:30 Miss Gow ran into her mistress’ room and asked it
Col. Lindbergh had taken the baby. When the mother was un
able to answer, the nursemaid, followed by Mrs. Lindbergh, ran
down to ask the father himself.
After a brief search of the estate, Col. Lindbergh called police
—a call that set into motion the greatest manhunt the Nation
had ever witnessed, a hunt that was followed closely for weeks
by kings and presidents, and millions of citizens around the world.
The day-to-day “diary" of developments in the Lindbergh
baby kidnaping case is a melodramatic “true detective" story re
plete with a riot of fluctuating and conflicting emotions, keyed to
high points of the unfolding drama.
It is a story of initial anguish, of hope, of false leads, of double
crossing. of despair, of renewed hope and of prayer.
The developing steps in the mystery that shocked the world,
as reported by the Associated Tress, follow:
Discovery of the Kidnaping.
March 1—At 10 pm. nurse Betty j
Gow discovettr Charles Augustus Lind
bergh, jr„ missing from his crib in the
second-floor nursery of the Lindbergh
home at Hopewell, N. J. A three-sec- ;
tion ladder lies outside. A warped
wooden shutter to a window of the
baby’s room was unlocked and the baby
had been carried away through the
window, police said. Dirt tracks were j
found on the windowsill and on the
floor. A small box lay beneath the
window. Footprints appeared in the
ground outside.
March 2—Sympathy and interest of
the Nation mobilize widespread search.
Mrs. Lindbergh discloses baby had a
cold and makes public diet which had
been fed him, with plea to kidnapers to
follow it. A friend of Col. and Mrs.
Charles A. Lindbergh tells reporters
ransom note was found pinned to win
dowsill. Generally reported to demand
(50.000 for baby's return. Parents
ready to pay demanded ransom. Flood
of crank letters, tips and theories be
gins.
Hundreds Are Questioned.
March 3—Gov. A. Harry Moore of
New Jersey announces no negotiations
opened with kidnapers and no progress ;
made in solving case. Hundreds of per
sons, including servants, taken to im
provised police station within Lindbergh
estate. All are released. Lindberghs
authorize radio appeal for son's relum.
March 4—Col. Lindbergh and his
wife sign dramatic statement offering
to treat directly and confidentially with
abductors. Henry Johnson, sailor friend
of Miss Gow. detained by poire in
West Hartford, Conn., wno announce
milk bottle found in his car and a
letter and card addressed to Lind
berghs discovered in the Hartford mails
almost simultaneously.
March 5—Belief 20-month-old baby
will soon be returned announced by
Gov. Moore as consensus of conference
of Eastern law enforcement chiefs,
which included a representative of
President Hoover; Jersey State police
say Johnson not wanted in case, but
Hartford authorities take him secretly
to Newark for questioning.
March 6—Sunday passes apparently
without w'ord of kidnapers or baby, and
late at night Col. and Mrs. Lindbergh
announce publicly they have authorized
•Salvy” Spitale and Irving Bitz, New
York underworld characters, to nego
tiate for them with kidnapers. Churches
throughout nations prayed for baby's
recovery. Hopewell and vicinity visited
by driving rain and snow.
Two Notes Received.
March 7—Associated Press learned au
thoritatively that Lindberghs received
two notes from kidnapers cn Sunday.
Notes written in same handwTiting and
on same paper as original. Gov. Moore
announced willingness to withdraw
armed force from Lindbergh estate.
Number of State troopers reduced and
Go1. Moore assures kidnapers all mail
will be opened by Lindbergh family
end only those they wish police to have
given to authorities.
March 8—Police give note of en
couragement. "Progress" was being
made, they said, A close friend and
adviser of Col. Lindbergh leaves estate
hurriedly for unannounced destination.
Troopers take extraordinary precau
tions to prevent his being followed.
March 9—Gov. Moore expresses be
lief baby will be returned “alive and
safe." Col. H. Norman Schwarzkopf,
head of State police, says Mrs. Lind
bergh's health is such “we cannot in
terfere" in secret negotiations being
Pressed under direction of Col. Lind
ergh. Johnson continues to be de
tained at Newark.
March 10.—Rumors circulate that
baby found five miles from Hopewell,
but police at Lindbergh home deny.
Police say they know nothing of pos
sible connection with case of special
car on Broadway Limited from Chi
cago
March 10.—Johnson arrested on
charge of violating Immigration laws.
State police announce that if he were
freed of connection with kidnaping he
would be turned over to Federal au
thorities for deportation Kidnapers
reported to have increased ransom de
mand materially. “Scarface Al” Ca
pone offers to aid hunt for baby If re
leased from Jail In bail he agreed to
furnish himself. Ships arriving In Eu
rope searched.
*
March 11—Morris Rosner, mystery
figure" reputedly with underworld con
nections, as personal representative of
Col. Lindbergh, views possible kidnap
ing suspect in Tombs at New York.
Suspect taken secretly to Hopewell. Dis
closed that Mrs. Lindbergh was on
same floor as baby's nursery when kid
naping was discovered. Lindbergh was
on first floor and belief he might have
taken boy from crib delayed sounding
of alarm. State police discontinue j
"question and answer" method of In
forming reporters of progress of case |
Issue bulletins three times daily.
March 14—New Jersey State police
announce that new clue points to "sus
picious gang" from Denver.
March 15—Police seek foreign-born j
couple who worked for Franklin Park, j
N. J., woman who said she believed j
wood in kidnapers’ ladder and chisel
found on scene came from her home.!
William Gleason taken into custody on
strength of story told by Tombs pris- ]
oner of a “jail-born" plot for Lindbergh
kidnaping.
March 16—Franklin Park woman ac
cused police of failure to follow her
clue: says she was not shown ladder
or chisel; reveals that one of her serv
ants used family car night of kidnaping,
returning mud spattered, with speed- I
ometer registering 60-mile trip.
March 17—Conference of unusual se- j
crecy held at Lindbergh home. Bur- |
glary suspect in Pocatello, Idaho, con- |
fesses he drove kidnapers’ auto. Police j
doubt story.
March 18—Henry "Red" Johnson Is
taken to Lindbergh home to be inter- i
viewed by flyer.
Visit Without Significance.
March 19—Henry • Red” Johnson j
taken over Lindbergh grounds by police.
George Malden arrested at South Plain
field. N J., as a suspect, following an
other attempted kidnaping. Paul and
Kate Engstenberg. servants, who left
their place ot employment In Franklin
Park the day after the kidnaping, make
complete statements and are allowed to
return to work.
March 20—Police declare Johnson s
visit to Lindbergh estate without sig
nificance and denv Malden had any
part in Lindbergh kidnaping.
Mcrch 21—Message found on carrier
pigeon, forced down by storm in Con
necticut. stating baby is sofe, but held
on ship outside United States jurisdic
tion. Leads Investigated at Hopewell
prove false.
March 22—Police raid Bronx apart
ment in search for Harry Fleischer,
member of "Purple Gang" of Detroit.
Fleischer not fund, but Walter Cohn
and two women questioned without re
sult. New clue to identification of kid
n'p ladder found.
March 23—Fleischer still sought by
the New York police. H. Wallace Cald
well, former president of Board of Edu
cation in Chicago, calls at Lindbergh
home. Police say his information is of
no value.
March 24—Norfolk. Va., newspapers
report babv on yacht In Chesapeake
Bay. Police continue search for
Fleischer and Able Wagner, "known
kidnapers." New Jersey State police
reported without funds as result of
heavy expenditures In search.
March 25—Dean Dobson-Peacock.
Rear Admiral Guy H. Burrage and John
Hughes Curtis, Norfolk Intermediaries,
say negotiations under way indicate re
turn of baby in a few days. Hopewell
police say the Norfolk clue Is "of no
special significance.”
March 26—Norfolk intermediaries
hopeful of immediate return of child
Harry Fleischer sought in Washington
Two Chesapeake Bay boats searched at
Baltimore.
Photos Identified.
March 27—Rum runner at Hopewell
Identifies photos of Fleischer and Wag
ner as two men he saw on a boat with
baby on March 2. New Jersey officers
search Eastern Shore of Maryland and
stop boats in Chesapeake Bay.
March 28—Dean Dohson-Peaeoek
leaves Norfolk for Hopewell, N J Col
Lindbergh expresses only mild Interest
in Norfolk developments Search for
Fleischer and Wagner continues.
March 29—Dean Peacock returns to
Norfolk Intermediarlea there still op
timistic, predicting baby's return in 48
lours.
March 30—Norfolk men see results
BABY LINDBERGH.
I
In 24 hours. Hopewell police continue
to label their Informstioo M of “no
special significance.”
March 31—Norfolk group maintains
silence Clues investigated by New Jer
sey police prove empty.
April 1—Admiral Burrage at Norfolk
claims new development In case, but
refuses to amplify statement. New Jer
sey State police admit Maj. Charles H.
SchoefTel sailed for Europe a week ago,
but decline to name boat or destina
tion. Philadelphia police set watch on
house. Baby thought found in Pots
dam. Germany.
April 2—Norfo'k trio continues to
await developments. Kansas City po
lice search for Martin Depew, wanted
in another kidnaping, as Lindbergh
suspect. Hopewell police report “usual
number of elimination" of clues.
April 3—Yacht held in readiness for ,
Norfolk intermediaries. Col. Norman
Schwarzkopf of New Jersey State police
denies knowledge of move Tents of Sal
vatore Epita'e and Irving Bltz, under
world go-betweens.
April 4—Two Cuttyhunk. Mass., fish
ermen report seeing Col. Lindbergh and
three other men in search of yacht
Sallie. The quartet flew an amphibian
plane and refused to make known their
identity. Maj. SchoefTel arrives in
London.
April 5—Air of optimism marked at
Lindbergh home on Sotmland Mountain
as Lindbergh admits having made two
mysterious flights In three days,
April 6—John H. Curtis announces at
Norfolk that he has contacted, kid
napers. and that Lindbergh baby is
well. Col. Schwarzkopf denies repeated
rumors that baby has been returned.
April 7—Lindbergh asks Norfolk trio
to continue search. New Jersey State
police abandon hope that Henry "Red"
Johnson csn aid them, and .announce
he will be turned over to immigration
authorities.
April 8—Norfolk intermediaries await
new summons to parley. Johnson
turned over to immigration authorities
on charge of Illegal entry Into United
States. Classified advertisement in New
York paper, signed "Jafsie,” asking
"better directions” and "Have you
crossed me?” believed to have connec
tion with kidnaping.
April 9—Mai. Schoeffel leave# Lon
don for undisclosed destination on Con
tinent Police scout suggestion that
brush fire on Lindbergh property has
any connection with ki.cnaping. Nor
folk negotiators mark time.
April 10—Col. Lindbergh .'Authorises
statement by poUce that he paid $53,000
ransom April 2, but that baby has not
been returned. Banks notified to be on
lookout for series numbers on $5, $10
and $20 bills, constituting ransom pay
ment.
April 11—Lindbergh discloses that
ransom note had been left In room at
time of baby's kidnaping, and that he
is convinced ransom money was paid
to right parties. Author of the "Jafsie"
ads identified as Dr. John F. Condon,
educator and welfare worker. John H
Curtis again leaves Norfolk for Hope
well.
April 12—Hunterdon County grand
Jury opens probe of kidnaping. New
Jersey police seek woman in green au
tomobile after a $20 bill, identified as
part of ransom money, is passed in a
Greenwich, Conn., bakery. Lindbergh
falls to establish contact with kidnap
ers.
April 13—Another $20 bill passed In
New York Police in Stockholm, Swe
den, asked to search for baby. Dr
Condon reports renewed contact with
kidnapers. D. D. Dickerson, New York,
arrested in St. Thomas, Ontario, as
suspect. Search for Fleischer still on.
April 14—Secret Service men fail to
trace $20 bill passed in New York. Maj.
Schoeffel arrives In Vienna. D. D.
Dickerson cleared of connection with
case.
April 15—Norfolk men Indicate they
have fresh information. Negotiators
at Hopewell devising swindleproof
scheme to regain baby. Lindbergh
pleads for secrecy in dealings with kid
napers .
April 16—Burrage and Curtis return
to Norfolk alter fresh contact with
kidnapers. Search for Fletcher turns
to Glasgow, Scotland.
April 17—Rigid alienee maintained
by -Norfolk Intermediaries. Lindbergh
maintains contact with "jafsie.”
AMERICAN GIRL GOLFERS
PRACTICE FOR TOURNEY
Glenna Collett Vare and Helen
Hicks Draw Big Galleries in
Round on British Course.
By (he Associated Press.
LONDON, May 12.—The American
girl golfert, here to play Joyce Wethsr
ed's English team, practiced today over
the Sandy Lodge course.
Mrs. Olenna Collett Vare and Helen
Hicks, former and present American
champions, Carried the biggest galleries
on their practice rounds. Some of the
American women used the bigger Amer
ican ball effectively in the stiff wind,
impressing the onlookers.
The other members of the American
team were Virginia Van Wie, Maureen
Orcutt, Mrs. Opal S. Hill, Mrs. Leona
Cheney, Mrs! Harley Higble and Marion
Hollins, captain.
• - ■ —: • ■ ■ " - — *
PRESIDENT SHAPES
IDLE RELIEF PLAN
Hoover and Robinson Agree
Balancing Budget Must Be
Part of Program.
By the Associated Press,
A compromise Federal relief
program took shape today at
conferences revolving about the
White House anu the Reconstruc
tion Finance Corporation and par
ticipated in by Republican and
Democratic leaders.
As the discussions concluded,
President Hoover in a statement
revealed the aim as being to com
bine, simplify and “put into con
crete form’’ various relief pro
posals. First of all, however, is
placed a balancing of the budget
Senators Watson and Robinson,
Republican and Democratic lead
ers, respectively, were visitors at
the White House. Others there
during the morning were Presi
dent Dawes of the Reconstruction
Corporation, Eugene Meyer, gov
ernor of the Federal Reserve
Board, and Secretary of the Treas
ury Mills.
The President went over the situation
separately with Watson at breakfast
and later with Robinson.
Declining to discuss details, Watson
stated later a "tentative agreement"
was in prospect.
-»-- —
CALLED TO WASHINGTON
i . *
By the Associated Press.
PRAGUE. Czechoslovakia. May 12 —
Abraham C. Batchesky, American Min
ister to Czechoslovakia, was sumironed
to Washington today on an official
mission.
No details were given here and there
was no indication what the purpose of
hie visit was.
He will sail tomorrow on the Mner
Bremen from Bremerhaven.
a.
BANKER 1$ BEATEN
Bandits Escape With $1,500
After Tying Up Cashier in
East Falls Church.
■
Armed bandits this afternoon robbed
the E?St Falls Church Branch of the
Falls Church Bank of $1,5 0 after
■ slugging and binding A. H. Barbor,
cashier of the branch. Following the
hold-up, the three bandits escaped In
a new sedan bearing unidentified deal
ers’ license plates.
According to the Arlington County
police, Barbor's life was saved when
the automatic pistol in the hands of
one of the robbers failed to discharge.
The two bandits then struck Barbor
over the head with their guns and ran
to their waiting car wrhich was manned
by a third.
Party Is Released.
Shortly after the hold-up, police fol
lowed a sedan on the Lee Highway to
ward Palls Church. Its occupants, in
cluding two young men, who bore a
slight resemblance to the bandit, and
an elderly couple were brought tack to
the branch bank. When Mr. Barbor
looked at the two younger men, he
said:
•'They're the guys.”
Coming outside the cashier’s cage,
however, for a closer scrutiny of the
suspects' faces, Mr. Barbor said the
youths "aren’t quite as rough-looking
around the face as the hold-up men
were.”
They were detained for a short while
and then released.
Gives Description of One.
The only definite description which
Mr. Barbor was able to give was of
one of his two assailants. This man
was described as being 5 feet 8 or •
inches tall, extremely rough faced, with
a small black moustache.
According to police, after Barbor had
been struck down he lay unconscious
for a short time. Coming to, he strug
gled to a telephone. Into which he mut
tered "police." The operator sum
moned A. W. McPherson, proprietor of
a filling station, who is a special of
ficer.
McPherson ran to the bank. He
said a rope or heavy twine dangled
from Barbor’s wrists, and Barbor was
dazed.
Saw Men Enter Bank.
H. H. Anderson, real estate man with
offices adjoining the bank, told police
he saw the bandits as they entered the
bank.
“They walked right across my front
porch," Andersen declared, "and I said
to myself, ‘There go two tough-looking
customers. I didn't see them any more
though, and I didn’t hear anything in
the bank. I didn’t see a car. and, for
all I know, they could have just walked
down the street toward the boulevard.”
EXCHANGE HEAD PRAISED
NEW YORK. May 12 MP}.—Richard
Whitney, president of the New York
Stock Exchange, received praise for hi*
1 activities in behalf of the exchange
during the “unprecedented economic
catastrophe" in a resolution adopted by
the exchange's Governing Committee.
Mr. Whitney recently was re-elected for
a third term.
Radio Programs on Page C-2
I
SEEN IN GAS ROW;
j
Effort to Remove Chief De
nied by Out-of-Town
Stock Interests.
SESSION* .CALLED OFF
ON COMMISSION ORDER
Rumors of Rift Follow Conference
on Control Issue—$110,000
Offer to Quit Reported.
Reports that out-of-town interests
controlling the Washington Gas Light
Co. are planning to oust George A. G.
Wood as president, circulated in public
utility Circles today as the board of
directors called off a special meeting
at the direction of the Public Utilities
Commission.
The meeting was scheduled to have
taken place at 12 o’clock noon, but be
fore that 'time the commission com
municated with Wilton J. Lambert,
general counsel for the company, end
notified him ef an order previously
issued by the commission forbidding a
session of the directors. Lambert assured
the commission the session would not
be held. '
5110,000 Offer Denied
j. me purpose 01 tne meeting was
veiled in secrecy, but an official of the
company indicated several hours before
it was called off that an important an
nouncement might be forthcoming.
One of the reports was to the effect
that Wood had been offered $110,000
by the out-of-towm interests to cancel
hts contract and resign. Wood could
not be reached for a statement. How
ever, Lambert denied emphatically
.hat there is any basis for the rumors.
Unless Wood accepts the reported
, offer and cancels his contract, it was
said be cannot be legally removed. In
view of the recent order of the com
mission forbidding voting of the ma
jority stock. This order affects 109.176
■ of the 130,000 shares of stock outstand
l ing, which is controlled by out-of-town
j interests. The order was designed to
; wrest control of the company from the
[ out-of-town interests.
Wood is reported to be the highest
! paid public utility executive in the Dis
trict. His salary is $30,000 a year.
Stormy Session Bared.
Rumors of a rift in the relations be
tween Wood and some of the owners
grew out of a brief but stormy session
of the stockholders Monday, which was
adjourned because of the lack of a
puorum.
GET GOLDEN EAGLETS
_
i
Girl Scouts to Be Honored at Court
Next Saturday.
Eight %girls will be awarded golden
! t rgifts at the annual court of awards
; r»l the District Girl Scouts, at 10 a.m.,
; Saturday, in the Central High School
Auditorium. The golden eaglet is the
l highest honor the Girl Scouts of Amer
! ica can confer on a member.
The girls to whom the eaglets will
; be presented are Virginia Dyer, Mary
; Mann Kirk. Prances Thompson. Alice
! Crawford. Betty Jeffers, Dorothy Law,
, Mary Louise Miller and Ruth Magnus
! son. Mme. Mav. wife of the Belgian
j Ambassador, will present the awards.
Thirty-three first-class badges and
' five gold stripes, the latter for 10 years'
; service, also will be awarded.
! --.
Wall Street Trading
at a Glance
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. May 12.—The stock
' market turned emphatically reactionary
today, particularly in the rails, but
steadied somewhat during the late
afternoon trading. Union Pacific, after
dropping 4'2 points, recovered 1 and
fractional recoveries from the lowest
were numerous. But the late tone was
heavy. The turnover was under a mil
lion shares. Issues off a point or two
Included United States Steel. American
Telephone, American Can, Sears, Na
tional Biscuit, Standard of New Jersey
and others.
Bonds.
The bond market followed an irreg
ularly lower trend, although some high
, grade issues generally displayed resist
ance to liquidating flurries. Corporate
loans were unsettled by heaviness of
the rails, a number of the most specula
tive mortgages losing from 1 to around
5 points. New York Central 5s of 2013
were down 5 V* points while Northern
Pacific 4s. Southern Pacific 4'2s,
Southern 4s. Missouri Pacific 5s and
5 V^s, Union Pacific 4s, Erie 5s, Great
Northern 4'is. Frisco 4'is and Nickel
Plate 4'is and 6s were under pressure.
Curb.
The Curb Market was heavy at the
close, having drifted lower throughout
' most of a dull session. Utilities and
I industrials returned general losses, sl
l though in few instances did declines
amount to a point. Most of the oil
leaders were about steady especially
Standard of Indiana which resisted
pressure.
A break in wheat. In sympathy with
foreign markets and reflecting bearish
Canadian crop news, was a dishearten
ing influence. Prices were 1 >/2 to 15*
cents lower at the close. Corn lost a4
to 1 ceat. Cotton was barely steady,
closing 40 to 30 cents a bale lower.
TODAY’S HOME RUNS
American League.
McManus. Boston, fourth inning.
National League,
Hasgrave, Boston, eighth. < :.
J. Moore. Chicago, ninth.
*
I ---
Bleacher Prices
Cut in Half by
Association Clubs
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, May 12.—American
Association club owners voted to
, sell bleacher seats at 25 cent*, in
I an effort to stimulate attendance,
at a special meeting today. The
former price was 50 cents.
It also was decided to admit
ladies for 25 cents every day ex
cept Sundays and holidays.
The 25-cent bleacher seats will
be restricted to a number decided
upon by each club. Boys under
12 years also will be admitted for
25 cents each day except Sundays
and holidays. The revisions will
be effective June 1.
The question of reducing player
salaries was discussed, but no ac
tion was taken.
AKRON CREW CU1
AF1EREOSSOFGAS
24 Men Go Ahead by Plane
When Big Ship Starts
Last Leg of Trip.
By the Associated Pres*.
j GAMP KEARNEY, Calif., May 12.
| —The dirigible Akron, with a re
; duced supply of precious helium gas.
resumed Its Interrupted journey at 11:40
j a m. (P. S. T.) today from Lakehurst.
j N. J., to Sunnyvale, Calif., after 24
i members of the crew of 80 had left the
, giant airship to make it more buoyant.
It was reported to have only 67 per
! cent of the helium gas with which it
left the East Coast early last Sunday.
This was revealed to be the reason
| why part of the crew was ordered from
| the ship this morning to continue their
j journey to Sunnyvale by naval trans
port planes.
It also was one of the reasons for the
; delay In the departure set for 10 a.m.
i Quite a bit of the gas was valved out
yesterday in making the mooring here
which resulted in the killing of two
of the ground crew and carrying of a
third for two hours dangling at the end
of a 306-foot trail rope.
The loss of helium also * explained
why the great sky liner will not under
take to cross the mountains in South
ern California and fly up the valley.
The northern route will be along the
! coastline, close enough, if visibility per
! mits. for people of the coastal towns to
i see the ship.
I Commenting upon the death of two
l bluejackets yesterday and the thrilling
two-hour ride on a rope through the
air by a third, when the Akron dragged
from its landing mast, naval officers
said the £an Diego ground crew was
inexperienced In handling such a big
ship.
-.
H. S. NEW INVOLVED
IN POSTAL INQUIRY
Fenner Head of Department Said
to Have Sought Withdrawal
of Bid Protest.
By the Associated Press.
Correspondence purporting to reveal
that former Postmaster General Harry
E. New sought to straighten out the
finances of a disappointed postal bidder
to get him to withdraw a protest that
the award was illegal, was offered to
day to a Senate committee.
The correspondence from the files of
P. W. Chapman & Co. of Chicago rep
resented that Chester Hanson, unsuc
cessful bidder for the Back Bay postal
station, in Boston, had threatened to
demand a congressional investigation
of the award, but withdrew It when
New promised to negotiate to release
i him from an embarrassing financial
j position.
] Chairman Blaine placed the corre
spondence before the Special Commit
tee investigating postal leases.
Raymond D Brown of Indianapolis,
successful bidder for the contract, was
on the witness stand and denied any
knowledge of the arrangement. The
lease calls for an annual rental of $66 -
000 for 10 years.
_
DEGREE FOR FIRST LADY j
Mrs. Hoover will leave Washington!
j tomorrow night for Wooster, Ohio,
, where Saturday she will receive an
honorary degree at Wooster College.
This will make Mrs. Hoover's seventh
degree, the others having been con
ferred by Swathmore, Elmira, Goucher,
Radcliffe. Whittier and Mills Colleges.
She will receive ‘ literarum humani
orum doctor.” This degree is being
j given in recognition of Mrs Hoover's
work in social service, and it will be
conferred upon her incident to the
celebration at Wooster College of the i
125th anniversary of the founding of
that institution.
Mrs. Hoover is expected to return to
Washington Sunday morning.
HELD IN KIDNAP THREATS
Extortion Attempt Suspect Placed I
Under $20,000 Bonds.
I NEWTON, Mass.. May 12 MP).—Ettore
! Pellegrini, 42. charged with attempted
extortion as a result of letters sent to
! two Newton residents threatening them
and their families with kidnaping and
torture, was held in $20,000 bonds to
day for a hearing May 26. He pleaded
not guilty.
Letters were received yesterday by
Leslie D. Hawkridge, 41. and Frederick
C. Kennard. 68. demanding $4,000 and
$5,000, respectively, "by order of Mr.
Capone and company,’' with the threat
that if they failed to follow instructions
Vwe will do as they did to Lindberghs'
son.”
MEANS ARRESTED
AND FACES CHARGE
OF DRUNKENNESS
I
Newspaperman Says He Was
Attacked In Fourteenth
Street Drug Store.
SUBMITS TO INTERVIEW
IN PRECINCT CELL BLOCK
Detective Asserts He Mistook Lee
Somers for Former Under
cover Man.
Gaston B. Means was back in jail this
afternoon—this time on charges of
drunkenness and disoderly crnduct.
Released on *50.000 bond only 34
hours ago, after his indictment on
charges of embezzling *104.000 in an
alleged Lindbergh ransom fraud, the
adventurous detective got into a fight
in a downtown store this afternoon and
was taken to the first precinct station.
There he was also charged with assault
ing Lee Somers, a reporter fer the
Washington Times.
Somers told police Means assau’ted
him in Schulte's drug store, in the
National Press Building, after he had
mistaken him .for a Department of
Justice agent.
Demanded Credentials.
Somers told other newspaper men he
had an appointment to meet Means in
the Willard Hotel, but when the former
Justice Department agent failed to ap
pear he left the hotel and walked
across Fourteenth street.
Then,” Somers continued, “I saw
Means near the National Press Build
ing. He invited ms inside the drug
store to have a drink. When we got
inside, he demanded to see my creden
i tials Then He said I was a Justice
Department man. He struck me in
the chest during the argument.”
| Means was with his wife at the time
I he met Somers. She left him, however,
when police took him to the first pre
cinct.
M. G. Johnson, the manager of the
store, called a policeman from the cor
ner when the argument grew heated,
and the arrest followed.
Means was ordered held until he
“could sober up," and Capt. W. E.
Holmes said he would have to post
$65 collateral for his release, $50 on the
assault charge, $10 on the drunkenness
charge, and $5 on the disorderly charge.
Allowed to talk to newspapermen, the
heavy-set Means was brought out of
the cell block Into the entrance hall,
where he was interviewed. Minus tie
and belt, which had been taken from
him when he was placed in the cell,
he stood in front of the cell block door
and denied he had struck Somers.
MASONIC ORDER
DEDICATES TEMPLE
Rain Prevents Attendance of
Thousands at Alexandria
Ceremonies.
Freemasonary, in the presence of
President Hoover and high officials of
the Government, solemnly dedicated to
Masonry, virtue, universal benevolence
and the memory of its greatest son the
imposing $5,000,000 George Washington
Memorial Temple at Shooter's Hill,
Alexandria, today,
Undaunted by a steady downpour,
Alexandria bravely conquered its bitter
disappointment as scores of delayed
special trains failed to reach the city
in time for the colorful p.rade of mili
tary and Mas'nic forces which preceded
the formal dedication ccremcnies.
Weather conditions which upset pre
vious estimates of a 75.000 attendance
necessitated the holding of ritual cere
monies within the auditorium, where
President and Mrs. Hoover, members
of the cabinet, the H:use and Senate
and other high dignitaries assembled
at 1 o'clock.
The President witnessed the major
portion of the dedicatory ceremony but
left a few minutes after 2 o'clock,
shortly before the dedicatory address
was delivered.
Roaring salutes from 21 guns of the
16th Field Artillery stationed back of
the memorial signified the President's
arrival. Answering salutes from 21
guns on the historic U. S. S. Constitu
tion and from five Coast Guard vessels
echoed from the Potomac.
Lieut. Gov. Price of Virginia, in the
forced absence of Gov. Pollard, was in
the reviewing stand with members of
the George Washington Masonic Me
morial Association and other high dig
nitaries of the order as the five di
vislons of the parade, dwindled to some
(Continued on Page 3, Column!.)
U. S. ENVOY TO PRAGUE
WOMAN EXPERT HELD
Check Charge Against Miss Faber,
Financial Economist.
NEW YORK, May 12 OP).—Miss
Louise Faber, a financial economist,
»ho„ police said was a graduate of a
university in Miami and had taken, a
course at Cambridge University Eng
land. was held In $1,000 bail today for
passing a worthies* check drawn en a
Dayton. Ohio, bank and for obtaining
merchandise at a store under false pre
tenses.
Miss Faber, the daughter of Charles
W. Faber Dayton, gave a check for
$110 she was leaving court after ar
ranging an acjjdumirtnt on the false
pretense charge,when arrested on the
check charge. ,
• I