Evening star. [volume], February 19, 1936, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
WEATHER. ^
(V. B. Weather Bureau Forecas t The OIlly evening PEPer
Fair, continued cold tonight, minimum ■ _, f.
temperature about 9 degrees; tomorrow -ASFington With the
fair, slowly rising temperature; gentle to Associated PreSS NeWS
moderate west winds. Temperatures— j ci •
Highest, 26, at 1 p.m. yesterday; lowest, ana WirephOtO berVlCeS.
10, at 3 a.m. today. Full report, page A-3.
Closing New York Markets, Page 16 . _Circulation Over 140,000
No. 33,531. poM^offlce*"wauhina*”^"" WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1936—THIRTY-SIX PAGES. **** wo Means Asaociated Pres*. TWO CENTS.
►
•!»! „ . II. A_ I • A
rmmps,nuwt;ver,oay5uym
Battleship Request Will
Be Given President.
ACTS AFTER DIRECT
PLEA BY AMBASSADOR
Davit Learns of Action After Re
jecting Proposal—Britain Held
Backing TJ. S. Stand.
BACKGROUND—
Five-power naval conference at
London was headed for trouble be
fore convening last December, when
Japan made it clear that her de
mands for maximum parity must
be met. Unanimous refusal by
Britain, United States, France and
, Italy resulted in Japanese with
drawal.
Impasse then threatyied on Brit
ish proposal that Gtfmany be al
lowed participation in agreement,
but certainty of French objection
resulted in passing over question.
Next issue was French proposal
for limitation of battleships to 27.
500 tons. United States and
Britain, covering wider naval
reaches, favor bigger ships of great
er cruising radius.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
In response to a direct request from
the French Ambassador that the
United States consent to a reduction
In the size of battleships the State De
partment has informed Ambassador
' Andre de Loboulaye that this Govern
ment has no desire to transfer the
naval conversations from London to
Washington.
Undersecretary Phillips who gave
this reply yesterday, added that the re
quest of the French government would
/ be submitted to President Roosevelt.
The action of the French Govern
ment caused a certain amount of sur
prise In official quarters since the
American delegation in London has
full powers from the President to deal
with all matters pertaining to naval
reduction.
Ambassador Norman H. Davis and
Admiral William Standley explained to
the French delegates in London that
the 35,000-ton battleship is not a
whim of the American Navy but an
absolute necessity due to the fact that
the United States has no adequate
naval bases outside its territorial
* waters.
The policy of having large battle
ahips, the French delegates were told,
is a national policy of this country.
Nevertheless, the French Govern
ment decided to make an eleventh
hour attempt through its Ambassa
dor at Washington to induce Presi
dent Roosevelt to change this policy
and accept a smaller-type battleship.
Arrnnnhc nf thp 'Prpnrh annpal to
Washington were contained in Associ
ated Press dispatches, which said the
approach to the state Department was
being made through the French Em
* bassy in Washington over the heads
of Davis, leader of the United States
delegation to the present international
Naval Conference, and of Admiral
Standley.
See Hull or Roosevelt.
An authoritative source said Ambas
„ sador de Laboulaye, the Associated
Press reported, had been instructed to
talk to Secretary Hull and, if neces
sary. President Roosevelt himself in a
final French appeal for smaller bat
tleships.
In conference circles it was stated
that the French Ambassador to Wash
ington might also broach the French
thesis for an interdependence in the
limitation of all categories of arma
ments, thus raising the subject of land
and air disarmament which has not
been touched upon by the delegates
to the naval conference.
It was understood, the Associ
ated Press said, that Davis first
learned of the asserted French action
from private sources, after which both
the French and British delegations
tSee NAVAL, Page A-5.)
ROOSEVELT INVITES
BANKHEAD FOR TALK
Prepares for Session With Treas
ury Officials on Tax Bill to
Finance Farm Flan.
By the Associated Press.
k President Roosevelt invited Repre
sentative Bankhead of Alabama, the
Democratic floor leader, to a luncheon
talk today before going into session
lth Treasury officials on the formula
tion of a tax bill to finance the new
farm program.
The tax conferees include Secretary
> Morgenthau, Assistant Secretary
Wayne C. Taylor of the Treasury, Her
man Ollphant, Treasury counsel, and
Daniel W. Bell, acting director of the
budget.
Pending the talk. Mr. Roosevelt
withheld any indication of plans for
financing the half-blllion-dollar soil
conservation subsidy farm plan.
Readers’ Guide
Pages.
Amusements_B-18
Comics_ B-13
Editorial . A-8
Finance _A-15
Lost and Found-A-9
Radio ---B-14
Serial Story-A-10
Short Story. A-7
Society - B-2
Sports_-A-13-14
Washintgon Wayside.A-8
Women’s Features-B-12
BULLETIN
By a vote of 240 to 4, the House
today adopted a resolution providing
for an investigation of “old-age
pension rackets" as proposed In a
resolution by Representative Bell,
Democrat, of Missouri, directed
especially at the Townsend plan.
Five speakers protested the in
vestigation should not be allowed
to divert the House from the
growing sentiment for an adequate
old-age pension system. Those
speaking were Representative Smith,
Democrat, of Washington; Main,
Republican,of Michigan; Monaghan,
Democrat, of Montana; Celler,
Democrat, of New York, and Mc
Groarty, Democrat, of California,
who is sponsoring the resolution for
the Townsend plan.
-•———
TRIPLE ENTENTE
Italy, Germany, Austria Dis
cuss Three-Point
Agreement.
(Copyright. lD.'ifi. by Assoelsted Press.)
FLORENCE. Italy. February 19.—A
high authority disclosed tonight that
a three-point agreement among Italy,
i Germany and Austria is in process of
| formulation.
The proposed agreement obliquely
includes Hungary.
(This disclosure indicates a new;
agreement exactly similar in territory |
embrace to the old triple entente
which, before the World War. allied
Germany. Italy and the Austro-Hun- j
I garian Empire.)
i The three noints of agreement were :
j outlined as follows:
1. Germany and Austria will lower j
j their tariffs considerably in reference 1
j to each other.
2. Germany will guarantee Austria's
independence.
3 Italy will, permit the free devel- j
opment of pan-Germanism in Austria
as long as the movement does not
| destroy Austria’s independence.
This new development was revealed ;
shortly after Fulvio Suvich, Italian
undersecretary of foreign affairs, and
Egon Bergerwaldenegg. foreign minis
ter of Austria, had concluded a con
j ference here.
An official communique, issued fol
j lowing their conversations, said the
two statesmen had agreed “to con- I
i elude developing their policies in the 1
spirit and for the ends of the Italo- i
Austrian-Hungarian accords of March
17, 1934."
The accords referred to were in
tended to bring the three countries
j concerned closer together commer
i iallv and politically and to assure Aus
| trim's economic independence.
Oil Sanctions Arain.
By the Associated Press.
GENEVA. February 19 —An author
itative source stated today that the
British government is urging that the
League of Nations consider the im
position of oil sanctions against Italy
at the earliest possible date.
This source said that Great Britain
advocates that the League Committee
of 18. charged with the problem of
sanctions, meet March 2 rather than
on the originally suggested date of
March 9.
The League’s committee of oil ex
perts has prepared a report on the
probable effectiveness of an oil em
bargo against Italy and this report
will be taken up by the Committee of
18, of which Dr. Augusto Vasconcellos
of Portugal is the chairman.
THREE D. C. BOYS BOUND
FOR FLORIDA ARE HELD
Fairfax Policeman Picked Up
Trio, Claimed to Be Truants
From School, on Road.
By a Staff Correspondent of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., February 19.— |
Three Washington boys who set out
for Florida, were being held in police
headquarters here today for Wash
ui^wu auuiuiiucc.
The trio was picked up on the
Richmond Highway south of Alexan
dria by Capt. Haywood Durrer of th»
Fairfax police. Investigation showed
they played truant from a Washing
ton schctpl and headed South, it was
said.
They were booked as Clyde Smith
son, 12, of the 1200 block of G street
southeast; William Fry, 12, of 117 M
street southeast, and Earl Lesterman,
15, of 708 i street southeast.
$33,056 in Gems Stolen.
MIAMI BEACH, Fla., February 19
<■**>•—Police today hunted a sneak
thief who dared their anti-crime drive
and stole jewels valued at $33,056
from guests' handbags at a fashion
able dinner party here last night. The
robbery, one of the largest in recent
years, occurred at the Winter home
of Mrs. B. A. Howe of Greenwich,
Conn.
1W DEAL MAKES
BEST OF SMITH AS
PARLEY DELEGATE
Roosevelt Forces Fairly
Content With Tammany
Reassurance.
G. 0. P. IN NEW YORK
PICKS REPRESENTATIVES
Fur Flies, However, With Asser
tion by Fish Only Old Guard
Has Been Recognized.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
The selection of • Alfred E. Smith,
who has threatened to "take a walk"
if President Roosevelt is renominated
on a New Deal platform, to head the
list of Tamfnany delegates to the
Democratic National Convention is
not exactly down the Roosevelt alley.
Nevertheless, Roosevelt high command
today was preparing to make the best
of the matter and was reasonably con
tent with statements that Tammany's
delegation would stand by Roosevelt
and vote for his renomination, with
the exception of Smith and possibly
a few others.
The presence of Smith as a delegate
not only breaks into Roosevelt and
New Deal harmony but presents a
rallying post for any other delegates
who may be hostile. Chairman James
A. Farley of the Democratic National
Committee is out to bring about the
election of only Simon-pure Roosevelt
Democrats to the national convention.
There is always the chance, however,
that a disgruntled delegate may be
found here and there. The chairman
oi me uemocrauc nnuonai oummiuec
will see to it, wherever it is possible,
that the State delegations be "in
structed'’ for Roosevelt and voted un
der the unit rule.
There were reports that the admin
istration had requested James J. Doo
ling. Tammany leader, to keep Smith
off the delegate list, and even that ne
had been summoned to Washington
They were denied. Representatives ol
Chairman Farley, who is also chairman
of the Democratic State Committee ol
New York, were said to have urged th«
selection of former Mayor James J
Walker of New York as a district dele
gate, but to have been turned down by
Tammany. This. too. was stoutly de
nied. Walker was not named on the
delegate list, at any rate.
G. O. P. Picks Delegates.
While Tammany was making up Its
delegate list for the Democratic Na
tional Convention the Republican State
Committee, under the leadership ol
Chairman Melvin C. Eaton, chose a
slate of eight delegates nt large to at
tend the Republican National Conven
tion and eight alternates.
The fur flew in the committee meet
ing. however, with charges that only
Old Guard delegates had been nicked,
Representative Hamilton Fish, sup
porter of Senator Borah of Idaho foi
the presidential nomination, made
that assertion. There was wrath, too
because Wallter J. Mahoney of Buf
falo. president of the Association ol
New York State Young Republican
Clubs, had been omitted.
Notwithstanding the protests of Mr
Fish and of supporters of W. Kings
land Macy, former State chairman,
the Eaton list o' delegates at large was
voted up. It is headed by the veteran
Republican national committeeman
Charles D. Hilles. The other members
of the delegation at large wail be Mrs
Ruth Baker Pratt, New York: Repre
sentative Betrand H. Snell, Potsdam;
Edward H. Butler, Buffalo; Mrs. Vir
ginia M. Bacon. Westbury, Long
Island; Representatives James w
Wadsworth, Genesee; John R. Crews
Republican leadei. Kings County, and
Charles H. Griffiths, Republican leadei
of Westchester.
Small Comfort for Borah.
It does not look as if Senator Bora!
would get any comfort out of the lisl
of delegates at large. However, the
fight tor the election of Borah districi
delegates in the Empire State at the
coming primaries is likely to be in
tensified.
Fish complained bitterly because
there were no young Republicans and
no liberals on tne list. inis slate,
he said, "does not represent 50 per cent
of our party. Why is our party at suet
a low ebb? It is because we have fol
lowed Just this sort of leadership ol
rule or ruin.”
Chairman Farley said today that L
Dooling, the Tammany leader, hac
been to Washlntgon, he had not seer
him. He said he had heard it re
ported that Dooling did come here
The Tammany leader, it was inslstec
in other quarters, had neither seer
Mr. Farley nor President Roosevelt
He did see and talk with Senatoi
Copeland, who has not always seer
eye to eye with the Roosevelt admin
istration. The Senator, however, it
of the opinion that the Tammanj
delegation, with the exception of A1
Smith, will support the renomlnatlor
of Roosevelt.
Arm Amputation by Flashlight
In Zero Weather Frees Craneman
By the Associated Press.
LOWELL, Mass., February 19.—A
surgeon operating 50 feet above the
ground In zero weather amputated the
arm of a man jammed between the
control cab of a traveling crane and
a steel girder today.
Dr. N. Gillmor Long cut off the
arm of John McCoy, Lowell Gas and
Light Co. employe, at the shoulder
after McCoy had hung suspended by
his arm for 2 hours.
Cramped quarters of the cab served
for an emergency operating room.
Flashlights, held by firemen straddling
girders, provided illumination for the
surgeon.
One fireman, standing on the tip
ot a swaying extension ladder, handed
Dr. Long his surgical instruments.
McCoy, after his 2Vi-hour ordeal,
was reported at St. Joseph’s Hospital
in "serious,”- but not critical condi
tion.”
Just before Dr. Long arrived Rev
Edwin F. Casey administered the Iasi
rites of the Catholic Church.
Firemen quoted McCoy as saying
‘Take it off, get me out of here,” wher
Dr. Long told him he must lose hit
arm.
McCoy, Dr. Long added, was con
scious throughout the operation, al
though he had administered opiates.
McCoy’s plight was discovered bj
fellow workmen soon after midnight
when his screams attracted them. Tin
traveling crane, they said, Jumped its
track and fell 20 feet to the girden
supporting the tracks.
McCoy, thrown partly clear of thi
cab, was caught, head down, by hii
arm.
Firemen were unable to remove him
They had to use acetylene torches t<
cut through the tangled steel cab m
that the doctor could reach McCoy, .
*
, ♦
HOUSE
I) I^Ut£5
I Committee
I L- ■^■aag.j
/Oack is this
/ A PRIVATE AFFAIR
ORGAN ANYBODY
\GETIN0R»t?
Mishap at Well Site May Bar j
i Water Supply at Glenn Dale
District May Be Forced to Lay Main
From Clieverly to Tuberculosis Center
Due to Drilling Troubles.
The District may have to resort to
the laying of a water main connection
from the District Tuberculosis Center
at Glenn Dale, Md., to Cheverly, Md.,
and abandon wells as a water supply,
because of physical difficulties encoun
tered In well digging. Engineer Com
missioner Dan I Sultan revealed today.
Early last December the contractor
reported the drill bit had broken loose
from its moorings and dropped to the
bottom of a well then more than 700
feet deep. Since then the contractor
j has been frantically "fishing” for the
■ bit. The digging of the well, engi
neers said, could not possibly be re
sumed until the metal equipment was
"rescued.”
The alternatives were to order the
starting of a new well or to order lay
ing of the water main connection to
the nearest supply point; Cheverly.
The latter, it is estimated, would cost
the District approximately S110.000
for the construction work, plus an an
nual cost for a water supply furnished
by the Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission.
Col. Sultan today had not made up
his mind what he should do. He still
Insisted that the Glenn Dale area had
an ample supply of potential well
water to service the tuberculosis cen
ter and argued that was the most
economical procedure.
If. however, the contractor found
himself unable to complete digging
of the well. Col. Sultan indicated he
would be forced to adopt some other
expedient. The District already has
made tentative arrangements with the
Suburban Sanitary Commission for a
Set WELLS! Page 5.)
MULLEN FAVOR
I
Silverman’s Aides Declare
Only Usual Business
Courtesies Shown.
BY REX COLLIER.
Two former members of the Demo
cratic National Committee and a for
mer national commander of the Amer
ican Legion today told a general
court-martial at Walter Reed Hospital
that their one-time client, Joseph Sil
verman, jr„ received no improper fa
vors from Col. Joseph I. McMullen, on
■ trial for official “breach of honor."
Robert H. Jackson, former secretary
of the Democratic National Commit
tee, and Ralph T. O'Neil, former Le
gion head, said they conferred with
McMullen at his office and at his home
concerning Silverman’s contracts, but
were accorded only "usual’’ business
courtesies.
Arthur Mullen, former national com
_11.1_ •« _ _■ _ i nr; _
um.i«viuau< oatu lit iuiu w». »» •••••*»*
Hayward of New York had represented
Silverman before the War Depart
ment, but had never consulted Col.
■ McMullen.
Tells of "Cocktail Party.”
Jackson told of a "cocktail party”
he attended at McMullen’s Battery
Park home. He said others at this
"purely social” affair Included Gen.
Douglas MacArthur, then chief of
staff, and his aide, Jefferson Davis.
He said McMullen had invited him
to the party. Silverman matters were
! not discussed, he explained.
The former secretary of the com
mittee told the court he was intro
duced to Silverman by the late Sen
ator Long of Louisiana, who told him
Silverman was "getting a raw deal
from the War Department.”
Silverman had complained, it was
i brought out, that Q. M. Gen. John L.
Dewitt had assumed an antagonistic
attitude toward him. McMullen said
he and Hayward went to Secretary of
War Dem and Assistant Secretary
Wood ring about these complaints.
O’Neil, Ion* a close friend of Wood
rin* described numerous conferences
he held at the War Department with
wood ring, wcu. —
others, in behalf of Silverman’s efforts
to purchase surplus Army supplies.
Attitude Termed Indifferent,
He conferred at times with Mc
Mullen he said, but on all occasions
the officer displayed “an indifferent
friendly attitude” toward Silverman—
“just as any one would who was
working on the contract.”
After a series of conferences on one
nroposed contract for saddles and
-(See MCMULLEN, Page 3.)
deposits show gain
$24,847,733,000 in National
Banks at Close of 1935.
National bank deposits of $24,$47,
, 733,000 at the end of 1935 were report
ed today by the controller of the cur
rency to be 3.0$ per cent higher than
the previous top in 192$.
, officials attributed the upturn,
i gbown in the reports of 5,392 active
l^wfca. to heavy Government spending.
BANK STOCK LOSS
ALLOWED! TAX
Revenue Bureau Permits ’33
Deduction for 3 D. C.
Institutions.
BT HAROLD B. ROGERS.
Stockholders In the closed Commer
cial National Bank, District National
Bank and Park Savings Bank will be
allowed to deduct as bad debts on
their 1933 income tax returns for loss
of their stock in these institutions, ac
cording to decision by the Bureau of
Internal Revenue, disclosed today.
A dispute still is pending in the
United States Board of Tax Appeals
over the question as to whether stock
holders of the closed Federal-Amer
ican National Bank li Trust Co. may
take their stock losses as deductions
in 1933 or 1934 income tax returns.
Ruling in Adams’ Case.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue
first hafi rulAri that tha PoHm-a l _
American stock could be deducted as
a loss only in 1934. The ruling came
to dispute in the case of Byron S.
Adams of this city, who has con
tested the ruling in the Board of
Tax Appeals. Adams had listed as a
"bad debt” in his 1933 tax return a
total of $23,300 representing a loss
claimed on "alleged worthless stock
of the Federal-American National
Bank Sc Trust Co. stock.” The bu
reau disallowed his claim because “the
deduction of the cost of this stock is
allowable only In the year 1934.”
In appealing to the Board of Tax
Appeals Adams claimed that the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
made an error in treating the cost of
common capital stock in the Federal
American as a deductible loss In i934,
instead of a loss in 1933, because, ne
pointed out, the Treasury Department
refused to allow the bank to open
after the bank holiday early in 1933.
Adams' case has been docketed at
the Board of Tax Appeals, but has
(See TAX, Page_A-3.)
TELEPHONE FIRM FILES
FOR ALEXANDRIA CUT
By a Staff Correspondent of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA. Va„ February 19.—
H. O’Bannon Cooper, chairman of a
City Council Telephone Rates Com
mittee, announced this afternoon that
buu wuwajivi'w uvvuiMv
Co. has filed with the Federal Com
munications Commission for a reduc
tion in the toll charge between Alex
andria and Washington from 10 to 5
cents.
The announcement followed circu
lation of a petition here in which sub
scribers agreed to discontinue tele
phone service until the charge was
reduced.
Cooper said the company’s applica
tion for the 5-cent reduction in the
toll rate is expected to come before
the Federal Commission soon. He
said no opposition Is expected.
The councilman said officials of the
telephone company here agreed to re
lease today the announcement of their
application following a conference last
night. Company officials could not be
reached to confirm the announcement.
*
CLAIMS SCARLETT
FORCED MARRIAGE
Bride Testifies He Threat- ;
ened Life and Tells of
Flight South.
(Picture on Page A-3.)
Her stormy elopement and honey
moon with the family chauffeur was
described in District Supreme Court
today by Mrs. Jane De Walden Cooke
Scarlett in her suit for annulment
against George Stanton Scarlett.
The comely 21-year-old brunette
told Chief Justice Alfred A. Wheat!
that she consented to marry Scarlett
because he threatened her life and
that it was fear of these threats which
impelled her to go to the license clerk,
sign a license application, telephone
for an engagement with a minister
and finally marry young Scarlett on
January 25. 1935.
Mrs. Scarlett, a former pupil at
National Cathedral School for Girls,
who also attended a school in Southern
France and a convent in Maine, told
| the court her family chauffeur was
1 the first young man with whom she
evet associated without a chaperon.
Three Occupied One Room.
The young woman, speaking in a
crowded court room, related how she
and Scarlett packed their belongings
in a sedan which belonged to the
bride and left, accompanied by Mrs.
Scarlett's sister, the former Anne
Cooke, and two dogs.
The three young people put up at
a hotel in Petersburg. Va., and all oc
cupied one room. Mrs. Scarlett said.
Mrs. Scarlett said they first visited
young Scarlett's family in North Caro
lina and then went on to Georgia,
where their automobile was demol-;
ished in a collision with a locomotive.
The two dogs fled after the crash
and were never recovered. mis.
Scarlett said her husband tried to
lorce her forge her sister's name on
a check and insisted that she draw
funds from her personal bank ac
; count. She also testified her young
1 husband threatened her life when she
intimated she would like to return,
to Washington.
The former Anne Cooke, now the
wife of Capt. Thomas Nixon, U. S. A.,
returned by train from Georgia to
learn how things stood at home with
regard to the elopers.
In Savannah, however, the bride
groom was arrested on a warrant
sworn out by his mother-ln-iaw, who
charged he had made off with jewelry
valued at $5,000. The bride testified
she also was arrested and spent one
night In jail after first going to a
hospital to have four stitches taken
in her head to close a scalp wound
received In the automobile crash.
Separated After Hearing.
Attorneys for Mrs. Scarlett are seek
ing annulment on the ground of
threats, coercion, duress "and on the
ground that Scarlett exaggerated his
financial and social standing to a girl
who knew nothing of the ways of the
world."
The couple separated after a Rock
ville court dismissed the theft charges
against Scarlett. Mrs. Scarlett told
the judge today how she slipped away
after the Rockville hearing and re
mained in hiding with friends in Vir
crinia Qh* cant honlr Cfiorlpft.'fi WPfiflinc
ring. •
Mrs. Scarlett denied she visited the
chauffeur's room in the basement ol |
the Cooke home on several occasions
prior to the elopement.
Seven Pullman Cars Derailed.
WOOSTER. Ohio, February 19 OP).—
Seven Pullman cars of west-bound
Pennsylvania passenger train No. 59
Jumped the trace at Weiiersvuie. six
mUes east of here, early today, but
remained upright. None of the 50
passengers was injured.
I -
BRUNO REVEALS
KIDNAP METHOD
HE WOULD USE
Witness at Leibowitz Interview
Reports Hauptmann Admitted
“My Story Sounds Weak.”
SAYS HE WOULDN’T HAVE USED
LADDER TO ABDUCT BABY
» ft m /">• TVTT -
believes "l^euing sweet on woman to
Gain Entrance to Household
Provided Better Method.
3; th. Associated Press.
TRENTON, N. J„ February 19.—A source who heard the death house
interview Sunday between Bruno Richard Hauptmann and Attorney Samuel
Leibowitz quoted Hauptmann today as having said at that time: “I guess my
story sounds pretty weak.”
The source said he heard the entire four-hour discussion.
“Leibowitz asked Hauptmann to reconstruct the entire crime according
to his own version of what had happened,” he said.
“He also asked the prisoner leading questions relating to the kidnap
ladder, the ransom money, Isidor Fisch (Hauptmann's one-time business
jartner, who the prisoner claims left the ransom bills in his home), the
•ansom notes and the disposition of the Lindbergh baby's body.”
The lawyer also asked Hauptmann how he would have committed th*
:rime. the source said.
“I would not have used a ladder,” he quoted Hauptmann, “and I would
lave taken the baby out the front door. I would not have been alone.”
Still quoting Hauptmann, he continued:
“I would have had a gang. There was women in the house. I would
lave gotten sweet with one of the women, then I would know what to do,
ind I would not have had to use the ladder.”
_ TU« that nn flirfha*
Flood Prevented
As Cold Puts End
to Potomac Thaw
Knitting the ice-locked Potomac
lighter, the Capital's latest cold wave
cept the temperature well below the
freezing point today to forestall any
threatened flood here.
Scheduled to continue cold and
tlear this afternoon and tonight, the
impending danger of an overflow in
the river when the ice breaks now
teems set back indefinitely, according
o the Weather Bureau.
The mercury probably will drop to
} tonight, the forecaster said To
morrow is expected to be fair and
slightly warmer.
The rest of the country fared little
better than Washington although
slowly rising temperatures were pre
dicted for some sections:
The warmer weather was reported
in the Northern Rocky Mountain
States, the Central Plains area. Min
nesota. Missouri and Arkansas, but the
fAeaoart Msw ITntrlanH Q nrt mrvct nf
the Middle Atlantic States was “con
tinued cold” or “colder” today.
River Reported Receding.
Observers in the upper basin of the
Potomac said the river was receding
this morning, the falling mercury
having stopped the thaw of snow and
strengthened the softened Ice.
Ten degrees was the low marie here
this morning, the temperature vary
ing only two points between midnight
and 8 a.m.
Dropping steadily from yesterday’s
high of 28. reached early in the after
noon. the mercury fell to 12 at mid
night. It held this mark at 1 o'clock
and from then on stayed at 11. except
for a short interval between 3 and 4
o'clock, when the minimum of 10 was
registered.
The forecaster said there was little
chance of the temperature going above
the freezing point today.
24 Maryland Deaths.
The weather death toll in Maryland
reached 24 yesterday, when an un
identified colored man. suffering from
exposure, was found in a cellar In
Baltimore. He died a short time
later. Physicians said he was frozen
to death.
The sudden drop In temperature
halted thawing and again tied up
Chesapeake Bay shipping. Traffic has
been moving slowly, if at all, lor the
last month or more on the bay.
Much ice was banked around the
Downing Bridge, over the Rappahan
nock River, according to Associated
Press dispatch from Tappahannock,
Va., but little danger was foreseen as
a result of a general breaking up of
the ice. Traffic passed over the span
without Interruption.
Storm warnings were displayed be
tween Boston and Cape Hatter as.
Central New York State was
blockaded by storms with trains ma
rooned in weather 3 to 10 degrees
(See WEATHER, Page 5.)
MORAL: USE*FLASHLIGHT
Motorist Hurt When Match Sets
Off Alcohol in Radiator.
Edward Roney, 21, of 1209 Thirtiett
street, looked into the radiator of hit
car last night. All was black, so he
lit a match to see better.
The alcohol exploded and burned
him about the eye. He was treated at
Georgetown University Hospital, where
his condition was described as not
serious.
|lc Blue Streak lc
U Noon Edition
The NOON EDITION of The Star will continue to
be sold by newsboys and newstands througnout the
city at ONE CENT pet copy until further notice.
Just Think of It!
t i
i interrogation. Hauptmann admitted,
however, that it would have been diffi
cult to "reach” the women in the
house, that he could not have taken
the baby out the front door and that
the ladder would have been "a good
bet.”
"Leibowitz called attention," the
source said, “to the fact that Haupt
mann s life was not worth a dime
had he been discovered in the house.
“Hauptmann then admitted he
could not have gone out the front door
and consequently the ladder would
have been the best method.
“ ‘What would you have done in
case of an accident to the baby?’
Leibowitz asked.
“ I wouid have dropped the baby
and run like hell in my automobile,
Hauptmann replied.
! " 'But there could have been no
accident u you went, out me xront
door?’ asked Leibowitz.
| “ I guess that’s right,’ Hauptmann
, acknowledged.
“ What would you have done had
you got the baby away?’ the lawyer
asked.
“ ’I would have taken him to a
nearby farmhouse,' Hauptmann said.”
The source said the lawyer then
questioned him regarding the ran
som, and the conversation was as
I follows:
"How would you have collected the
ransom, had you left the dead baby
| behind you?” Leibowitz inquired.
I "Would you have taken the sleeping
suit to prove you were the kidnaper
so that you could collect the ransom?”
Leibowitz Probes Alibi.
“I don’t know,” Hauptmann replied.
"I guess that’s what the kidnaper
would have done.”
Leibowitz then went into Haupt
: mann's alibi, including the story of
' his having received $13,000 of the ran
some money from Fisch.
"If you were Fisch. what would you
have done with the ransom money.”
the source quoted Leibowitz. "What
would you do if you knew that the
police all over the world were looking
for this money and that if you were
: caught in this city or on the high
seas or in Germany you would have
been brought back and held for the
Lindbergh murder?”
"I guess I would leave it in a safety
deposit box.” Hauptmann was quoted.
“You know. Fisch had one.”
"You would not leave the money
with a casual friend? Not even if you
felt you might die in Germany?"
"I guess I wouldn't do that. People
who are sick like Fisch are never very
sure that they are going to die.”
Leibowitz spent about an hour dis
cussing the spelling in the ransom
notes, the source said.
Didn’t Discoss Handwriting.
He did not, however, touch all of the
handwriting and he made no specific
request for Hauptmann to change any
part of his original story.
’’He did, however, deal at length
i with the spelling ‘lihght.’ and before
I he finished Hauptmann was very con*
fused and stammering," the source
continued.
Hauptmann did not tell the lawyer
that he was changing any part of his
story, and when Lebowitz left the
prisoner begged him to come back.
The electrocution of Hauptmann
was fixed today for the week of March
30, with a second reprieve from Gov.
Harold Hoffman as virtually his only
hope for further delay It was the
third time an execution date has been
set.
Justice Thomas W. Trenchard, 111
at his home, signed the third death
sentence shortly after informed
sources reported Gov. Hoffman had
uciu ca ti^awu uuuiii§uv vuuivi biivc
with Defense Counsel C. Lloyd Fisher
and Leibowitz.
Leibowitz denied the meeting, but
from other persons came word that
the noted criminal lawyer and Hoff
man had disagreed over the manner
in which further questioning of the
convicted Lindbergh baby slayer
should proceed.
SWANSON IS BETTER
Continued improvement in the con
dition of Secretary Swanson was reg
istered today at Naval Hospital.
Capt. George C. Thomas, Navy
Medical Corps, who commands the
hospital, issued this bulletin:
"The Secretary had a good night.
He seems to be much improved.'
Swanson is suffering from pleurisy,
a complication resulting from a broke#
rib received in a fall in the bathroom
of bis home.
* x