Evening star. [volume], April 08, 1937, Image 1

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

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WEATHER. --
(U. 8 Wearier Bureau Forecast.)
Rain tonight and probably tomorrow TVio nnl„
morning; colder tomorrow, temperature . Only evening paper
tonight about 50 degrees; fresh winds, be- 111 Washington with the
coming northerly tomorrow. Temperatures xr
—Highest, 58, at 4 p.m. yesterday; lowest, Associated PreSS Ne\\S
45, at 3 a m. today. Full report page A-21. and WirephotO Services.
I
Closing New York Markets, Page 20
85th YEAR. No. 33,945. Sr&S«S»-S WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1937-FIFTY-FOUR . PAGES. **** <*>.. rr„„ TWO CENTS.
DRIVE TO BRING FORD
WORKERS INTO UNION
LAUNCHED BY U. A. W. A.
Lewis Answers
Declaration of
Magnate.
C. 1.0. HEAD’S
EDICT CHEERED
Manufacturer Says,
‘Will Never Recog
nize Any Union.’
BACKGROUND—
Desire of United Automobile
Workers of America, an affiliate of
John L. Leicis' Committee for In
dustrial Organization, to be the
sole bargaining representative for
workers has had automotive in
dustry in turmoil since last Fall.
Sit-down strikes in General Motors
and Chrysler plants are now under
negotiations for permanent peace.
Factories of Henry Ford have been
least affected, only one strike of
short duration being called at
Kansas City
Br the Associated Press.
DETROIT, April 8.—The United
Automobile Workers of America under
took today one of the most formid
able of its enterprises—the unioniza
tion of the 150.000 employes of the
vast Ford Motor Co.
John L. Lewis, head of the Com
mittee for Industrial Organization,
enunciated this objective last night
just after Henry Ford had proclaimed
that his industrial empire would
"never recognize” the U. A. W. A. or
any other union.
Lewis was a speaker at a mass
meeting of union members in the
State Fair Grounds Coliseum. The
huge throng, overflowing the building,
shouted its approval of the agree
ment between the U. A. W. A. and
the Chrysler Corp., ending a strike
in its eight Detroit plants.
Ford expressed his stand toward
Unions at Ways, Ga., in revealing
a “brief cessation of activities” in
his company’s factory at St. Louis.
A union leader at the plant said it
was due to “a misunderstanding.”
Advises Workers.
The independent motor manufac
turer—one of the Nation's three larg
est producers—advised workers re
cently “to stay out of labor unions” for
their own good. He always has been
a stanch advocate of the open shop j
In the motor car industry.
“Weil never recognize the United
Automobile Workers’ Union or any
other union,” Word emphasized in re
vealing the second “cessation” in one
of his plants within a week. The first
was a brief sit-down at Kansas City.
“I have no doubt that Mr. Ford will
do that as long as his employes permit
him to pull that policy and no other,”
asserted the bushy-haired Lewis. “I
have no doubt, however, that Mr. Ford
Will change his mind.”
Lewis mentioned the agreements be
tween the U. A. W. A. and General
Motors and the Chrysler Corps, and
said their respective heads, Alfred P.
Sloan, jr., and Walter P. Chrysler, each
“changed his mind.”
“You are the reason,” the labor
leader told the auto workers. “You
decided you weren't satisfied with con
ditions in your industry."
Must Recognize Union.
Two other speakers at the meeting
referred to Ford.
“I want to say in answer, that if
Ford wants to build automobiles, he’ll
recognize the U. A. W. A.," said
Richard T. Frankensteen, union or
ganizational director.
“The time is coming when every
automobile worker will be carrying a
U. A. W. A. membership card,” as
serted its international president,
Homer Martin. “And we imagine
that the most willing members will
be Ford workers.”
Lewis said that the "section of labor
under the C. I. O. banner” is “on the
march” and predicted that his organi
ration would exceed the membership
of the rival American Federation of
Labor within 60 days.
Ford’s, industrial empire is world
wide. It extends to 28 foreign coun
tries as well as some 30 cities in the
United States, where it has approxi
mately 150,000 workers. More than
(See FORD, Page A-2.)
VIRGIN ISLES ROW
FLARES AT HEARING
Second Controversy in Less Than
Two Years Occurs as Cramer
< Is Discussed.
tty the Associated Press.
A second controversy in less than
two years over administration of the
Virgin Islands led to a stormy hear
ing today before the Senate Terri
tories Committee considering con
firmation of Gov. Lawrence W.
Cramer.
Former Federal Judge Albert C.
Levitt termed a “deliberate falsehood”
come of Cramer’s testimony at a pre
vious hearing on the nomination—
pending since early in the present
congressional session.
Asserting he "spoke for at least
19.000 of the 20,000 people of the
islands,” Levitt told the committee
that "if Cramer is returned it means
the end of law and order.”
Cramer reported he “doubted very
much” the support Levitt claimed.
President Roosevelt appointed
Cramer in July, 1935, in the midst of
a quarrel between Dr. Paul M. Pearson,
then Governor, and T. Webber Wilson,
Levitt’s predecessor on the Federal
bench.
A A
House Leaders “Sitting Down”
On Strike Issue, Says Rich
Pennsylvanian Shouts Charge Attitude
Began at Conference With
President Recently.
BACKGROUND—
After weeks of boiling beneath
surface, sit-down issue burst forth
last week in both House and Sen
ate with Rules Committee of
former approving resolution to
probe cause and conduct of such
strike technique and Senate being
forced to test of strength on anti
sit-doun amendment to Guffey bill.
In upper body solution was
found in substituting concurrent
resolution for amendment, action
being merely declaration of policy.
By its terms, as finally approved
yesterday, resolution strikes at cer
tain industrial practices as well as
those of labor.
Ej the Associated Press.
Representative Rich, Republican, of
Pennsylvania accused congressional
leaders today of "sitting down” on the
sit-down strike issue.
Rich shouted to the House that
President Roosevelt had invited
Speaker Bankhead. Vice President
Garner and the Democratic leaders
of the Senate and House to discuss
sit-downs on his return recently from
Warm Springs. Ga.
"Ever since.” he said, "they have
been sitting down.”
Pennsylvania farmers, who ejected
sit-down strikers yesterday from a
Her^iey Chococlate plant a* Hershey,
Pa., he said, are going to show the
Nation and Congress how to handle
such strikes.
He spoke in advance of House con
sideration of a resolution for an in
vestigation of sit-down strikes.
His face reddening, Representative
Rayburn, Democrat, of Texas, House
majority leader, jumped up to assert:
“As usual, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania is wrong. As usual, he
doesn't know his facts."
The President, he said, did not call
a conference to talk over the strike
situation with congressional leaders.
“No policy was talked about in the
meeting,” he said, “so far as the
Speaker and leaders were were con
cerned.”
Administration leaders predicted
the House would vote to investigate
the sit-down strikes instead of joining
the Senate immediately in condemn
ing them.
The investigation resolution was
planned for midaftemoon.
Rayburn said the Senate declaration
of policy, which included a denuncia
tion of company unions and industrial
espionage, probably would be side
tracked in the House Labor Committee
for the time being.
The Senate adopted it late yesterday,
75 to 3, after acrimonious debate.
Some House leaders were apathetic
(See SIT-DOWN, Page A-47)
Factory Is Guarded as Gov.
Earle Seeks Leaders
of Disorder.
Bs the Associated Press.
HERSHEY, Pa., April 8.—Nearly
2,000 employes of the Hershey Choco
late Corp. returned to work today in
the closely-guarded factory where a
crowd of farmers and "loyal” workers
yesterday drove out hundreds of sit
down strikers in a wild fight with
whips, clubs and bars of iron.
More than a score of deputy
sheriffs and members of the American
Legion paced back and forth in front
of the ivy-clad stone building.
Gov. Earle ordered an investigation
of the disorders.
No Intention of Quitting.
In Harrisburg, Miles Sweeney, or
ganizer for the Committee for In
dustrial Organization, said today:
“We have no intention of quitting
at Hershey.”
The strike was called by the United
Chocolate Workers, affiliate of the
committee.
Sweeney said a meeting of strikers
and their allies would be held at 2
p.m. tomorrow in Palmyra, just east
of Hershey. Committee leaders said
the union would chart its course at
that time.
The union organizer claimed only
"about ! 50” of the crowd which drove
the sit-downers out yesterday were
Hershey employes. He added that
the union “may bring action” against
leaders of the crowd.
Sweeney was in the factory at the
time of the disturbance yesterday.
Last night the factory in which
the fight occurred was cleaned up.
William F. R. Murrie. president of
the corporation, said today weapons
of all sorts were found strewn over
the floor, but that little damage was
done to the equipment, around which
wildly screaming men and women bat
tled for almost half an hour yester
day.
Murrie estimated that about 1,800
workers returned to their jobs. He
said others would come back tomor
row. The plant normally employs
nearly 3,000.
Promises No Discrimination.
Murrie said in a statement that
“every one will be treated exactly
alike and there will be no discrimi
nation against any one.
"The farmers will be given full
market for their milk tomorrow,” he
explained. It was loss of this mar
ket that angered the farmers and
prompted them to join non-striking
<~See HERSHEY, Page A-2J
Cruisers Damaged in Collision.
KURE, Japan* April 8 (^P).—Two
10,000-ton Japanese cruisers, the
Nachi and the Haguro, were damaged
slightly, it was learned today, when
they collided off the southeastern
coast of Kyushu during night maneu
vers. There were no casualties.
Green to Call
Chiefs to Study
Lewis’ Expulsion
Special Meeting of
Council to Be
Called Soon.
By the Associated Press.
William Green, president of the
American Federation of Labor, said
today he would call a special meet
ing of the federation’s executive
council soon to consider expulsion of
John L. Lewis' unions.
Green’s announcement followed the
receipt by John P. Frey, president of
the A. F. of L. Metal Trades Depart
ment, of a letter threatening Frey’s
life if he did not keep out of the
Texas oil fields unionization drive.
The federation and Lewis’ Oil Field,
Gas and Refinery Workers have
started rival organizations campaigns
in Texas.
Frey said he would leave Mondav
for Houston to take charge of the
campaign, despite the threat.
The federation’s Tampa, Fla., con
vention last Fall confirmed the sus
(See GREEN, Page A-2.)
-•
STRIKE CLOSES G.M.
CANADIAN PLANT
3,700 Workers Answer Call
of U. A. W. in Fight
for Recognition.
OSHAWA, Ontario, April 8 (Cana
dian Press).—Employes of General
Motors of Canada, Ltd., went out on
general strike today in answer to a
call issued by the International Union,
United Automobile Workers of Amer
ica, an affiliate of the John L. Lewis
Committee for Industrial Organisa
tion.
The walkout was ordered after a
sudden breakdown in negotiations be
tween the local union and General
Motors officials. Union leaders said
3,700 workers were out. These in
cluded between 300 and 400 non-union
members in various departments.
Shortly after the strike call took
effect, at 7:01 a.m. E. S. T., picket
lines were established about the plant.
Police said picketing was orderly
and reported all "peaceful and
quiet.”
"General Motors will not build an
other «ar in Canada until they sign
an agreement with the union,” de
clared Hugh Thompson, organizer
from Detroit for the C. I. O., which
General Motors of Canada refuses to
recognize.
C. H. Millard, chairman of a shop
committee which negotiated with
(See STRIKES, Page A-27)
Farmer Ends Sit-Down Strike
By Turning Bull Loose in Barn
By the Associated Press.
ITHACA, N. Y*„ April 8.—A Tomp
kins County farmer told, on condition
his name would not be disclosed, this
story of how he broke up a sit-down
strike of his farm hands by turning a
bull loose in the dairy barn:
“The boys (the two hired hands on
his small farm) have been reading so
much about these sit-down strikes,
they kinda thought they’d put one
over on me the other night,
“We'd brought in the cows and had
them in their stalls, ready for the
milking, when the boys just planked
themselves down on their stools and
declared a sit-down strike for a raise
in pay.
“The good Lord knows you can’t
squeeze blood from a stone, but words
wouldn’t move ’em.
“Then I happened to think of Neb,
loafing in his box stall. That bull
is so mean we don't take him out
without clamping a lead pole in his
nose ring.
"I just opened the stall door and
turned him loose.
“There was nothing to it; before you
could say Jack Robinson there wasn’t
a sit-down striker within 100 yards
of the dairy bam.”
A
VAST MIDAMERICA
STOCK DONATED BY
BALL TOJHARITY
Foundation Incorporated on
March 22 Beneficiary of
Indiana Millionaire.
VAN SWERINGEN SUIT
ON OPTION THREATENED
Corporation in Which Stocks Are
Held Top Holding Company
of Rail Empire.
By the Associated Press.
MUNCIE, Ind., April 8.—George A.
Ball, millionaire Muncie manufac
turer, Is donating to the George and
Frances Ball Foundation his entire
common stock holdings in Midamerica
Corp., an announcement issued at his
office today said.
The foundation was incorporated
March 22 with the secretary of state
at Indianapolis.
Incorporators were Mr. Ball, his wife,
Frances Ball, and their daughter,
Elisabeth W. Ball; Leland Rex Robin
son of Bronxville, N. Y., and Dr.
Lemuel A. Pittenger, president of Ball
State Teachers’ College, a, State nor
mal school here. All the incorporators
were members of the first board.
Mr. Ball, his wife and daughter were
designated as life members of the
foundation. Robinson was named for
a two-year term on the board and Dr.
Pittenger for three years. The an
nouncement, Issued by Mr. Ball’s sec
retary, Miss Gertrude Barrett, gave no
indication as to what will be done with
the funds of the foundation.
The purposes of the foundation given
in the incorporation were “religious,
educational and charitable.”
Van Sweringen Interests.
Midamerica Corp. is the top holding
company of the Van Sweringen rail
empire.
Mr. Ball owns a 90 per cent inter
est in Midamerica.
Mr. Ball's common-stock holdings
in Midamerica are reported to include
14,050 shares of the 15.000 shares out
standing.
Members of the Ball family have
been public benefactors for years.
A private school on the outskirts of
Muncie was purchased by the family.
Approximately $1,000,000 was spent
for new biuldings, and the school was
turned over to the State as a teach
ers’ college.
An expensive new building was !
erected recently to house the Prank !
C. Ball art collection, which Includes \
a glass mosaic of the Last Supper, j
purchased in Italy on one of Frank
Ball’s numerous trips abroad. Fjrank
C. Ball is a brother of George A
Ball.
Indiana University at Bloomington
has received approximately $1,000,000
from the Ball family.
Several hospitals. Hillsdale (Mich.)
College and the Y. M. C. A. and
Y. W. C. A. also have been recipients
of the Ball family benefactions. Riley
(See BALL, Page A-4.)
17 ESCAPE FLORIDA JAIL
Five Killers Among Prisoners
Sawing Bars to Liberty.
JACKSONVILLE. Fla., April 8 UP).
—Chief Deputy Sheriff R. L. Bohon
reported 17 colored persons, including
the two confessed slayers of Mr. and
Mrs. John L. Surrency, escaped from
the county jail early today by sawing
the bars of a window.
The two who admitted staging the
fatal attempted hold-up of the Sur
rencys were Alvin Baker and James
Tyler. Their testimony that Clyde
Hysler plotted the Thanksgiving day
crime caused the white youth to be
convicted Monday of first-degree mur
der.
Three other killers were amor^
those who escaped, Bohon said.
/ l WISH THOSE BEAUTIFUL!
BLOSSOMS COULD LAST AS I
LONG AS THE COURT pack-/
V IMG HEARINGS* /
'.N_L
Spanish Insurgents Battle
to Within 18 Miles
of Bilbao.
BACKGROUND—
Spanish civil uar marked by
frequent attacks by insurgent
planes and war vessels upon ships
of neutral nations, bringing warn
ings from Great Britain that her
ships of commerce and war in the
region of Spain must not be inter
fered with.
New occurrence yesterday with
bombing, without damage, of the
British destroyer Gallant off the
Balearic Islands, held by a rebel
force and used as a base for air
operations.
BT the Associated Press.
Fighting behind a wall of fire. Span
ish insurgent troops pressed their at
tack to within 18 miles of the Basque
capital of Bilbao in Northern Spain
today.
Far to the south, on the Cordoba
front, government militia men ham
mered at insurgent entrenchments in
Villaharta. trying to “bottle up" 15.000
troops of Gen. Francisco Franco.
International tension over repeated
attacks by insurgent ships on British
war and merchant vessels apparently
eased somewhat as insurgent authori
ties admitted they probably had made
an “unfortunate mistake."
Quick Explanation Demanded.
The admission came from insurgent
officials at the Balearic Island of Mal
lorca. The British destroyer Garland
and the cruiser Shropshire backed up
Britain’s demand there for a quick
and satisfactory explanation of two
aerial attacks Tuesday on the de
stroyer Gallant.
Accusations by the controlled Ital
ian press of violation of the non
intervention agreement by France and
Soviet Russia by dispatch of arms and
men to Spain excited little interest in
Paris.
French officials termed a charge
thaf French Army officers were help
ing to train Spanish government
troops as a “counter-maneuver to off
set the presence of Italians in Spain.”
Insurgent troops opened the way
to Bilbao by driving the last govern
ment defenders from Barazar Pass
near Durango. They forced Basque
(See_SPAIN, Page A-14.)
Summary of Today’s Star
Page.
Amusements C-2
Comics _C-7
Editorials . A-10
Financial __A-19
Lost & Found A-3
Obituary_A-12
Page.
Radio _C-8
Society_B-3
Short Story . C-3
Sports _D-l-4
Woman’s Pg._ C-4
STRIKE SITUATION.
U. A. W. to organize Ford workers;
G. M. C. plant closed. Page A-l
Member accuses House of “sitting
down” on strike issue. Page A-l
SUPREME COUURT ISSUEV
End of court hearings next week
predicted. Page A-l
FOREIGN.
Insurgents admit error in bombing
British warship. Page A-l
NATIONAL.
Four known dead, many hurt in
Alabama Tornado. Page A-l
Bodies of 8 airplane victims removed
from wreckage. Page A-5
Court may uphold Alabama unemploy
ment Insurance act. PageA-16
Canada accepts U. S. proposal on trans
Atlantic air service. Page D-5
WASHINGTON AND VICINITT.
Dr. Miller given 16 years in prison
for girl’s death. Page A-l
Peery gratified as "sit-downers” leave
rayon plant. Page A-3
Jesse Duke’s appeal in jury-influencing
case opens in Richmond. Page A-4
Mrs. Joe Cronin recovering after twins
are born dead. Page A-7
Maryland W. P. A. administrator
launches new projects. Page A-7
Roanoke college head sees America
following Europe. Page A-9
Certification of jobless "employables”
to be speeded. Page A-17
Senate passes D. C. Federal-aid high
way bill. Page B-l
“Crusade for health” drive here plan
ned at luncheon. Page B-l
Lack of quorum delays study of D. C.
tax bills. Page B-l
Maryland bookie ban here pushed in
House. Page B-l
Hitt calls for briefs in argument
over jury trial. Page B-l
Former D. C. attorney killed in New
York. Page B-l
EDITORIAL AND COMMENT.
Editorials Page A-ip
This and That Page A-10
Answers to Questions Page A-10
Stars, Men and Atoms Page A-10
David Lawrence Page A-ll
Paul Mallon Page A-ll
Mark Sullivan Page A-ll
Jay Franklin. Page A-ll
Delia Pynchon Page A-ll
FINANCIAL.
U. S. bonds ease (table). Page A-19
General Motors sales soar. Page A-19
D. C. deposits at new peak. Page A-20
Stocks sag after rally (table).
Page A-20
Curb list higher (table). PageA-81
Clearings advance. Page A-21
SPORTS.
Salveson is sent to Chattanooga as
Phebus is recalled Page D-l
Six progeny of former winners are in
Kentucky Derby Page D-l
Cunningham uses neck muscles as aid
to his foot racing Page D-2
Some of D. C. college gridders having
battle with books Page D-4
MISCELLANY.
Washington Wayside Page A-2
After Dark Page B-12
Nature’s Children Page C-3
Dorothy Dix Page C-4
Betsy Caswell Page C-4
Bedtime Story Page C-5
City News in Brief Page C-6
Vital Statistics Page C-6
Service Orders Page C-6
Traffic Convictions Page C-6
Crossword Puzzle Page C-7
Young Washington Page D-5
Letter Out Page D-7
A
-j
Thousands Arrive to Witness |
Cherry Blossom Fete Tonight
Queen Sakiko to Tour Tidal Basin in j
Floiver-Bedecked Sivan Boat—1,000
at Sunrise Service.
With thousands of visitors already 1
here and hundreds more pouring into
the city by rail, air and trailer, a
spirited National Capital eagerly
awaited the climaxing ceremonies of
the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival
tonight, anticipating this to be the
most successful of the blossom pag- ;
eants.
Predicted showers were in no way )
expected to hamper the coronation
ceremonies of Queen Sakiko Saito
10-year-old daughter of the Japanese
Ambassador, who will tour the Tidal
Basin in her specially constructed,
flower-bedecked swan boat.
More than 1.000 men. women and
children braved the chilly morning air
at 6 o'clock this morning to witness 1
the sunrise service, official festival
opening.
The interpretive dances of Miss
Evelyn Davis and her dance group. !
who also will entertain this evening. I
and the musical selections of the
Marine Band, under leadership of
Capt. Taylor Branson, comprised the
initial program.
Meantime. National Capital Parks
officials announced recent warm weath
er had brought out approximately 50
per cent of the cherry blossoms, and
Tidal Basin walks today were full of
early morning nature lovers inspect
ing the display.
The influx of visitors was by no
means expected to end after today.
(See BLOSSOMS."Page A-3.)
HI FARM
House Committee to Ap
prove Administration
5-Year Plan.
By the Associated Press.
The House Agriculture Committee
agreed today on a five-year $695,000,
000 program to help low income farm
classes.
Chairman Jones said the committee
would approve the plan formally this
afternoon and dispatch it to the
House.
The program followed general rec
ommendations of President Roosevelt,
Secretary Wallace and a special presi
dential committee on farm tenancy.
Loans for Purchasers.
Features of the measure: The Sec
retary of Agriculture would be au
thorized to lend $50,000,000 a year
for five years to tenants for purchase
of farms. Purchasers would be al
lowed up to 30 years to pay loans,
which would bear interest not to ex
ceed 3 per cent.
The Secretary woulcL4>e authorized
to lend $75,000,000 a year for five
years to low-income farmers for pur
chases of live stock, machinery, equip
ment, supplies, family subsistence and
for refinancing debts. These loans
would be payable in five years and
would bear interest not in excess of 3
per cent.
Land Conservation.
The Secretary also would be au
thorized to inaugurate a land con
servation and land utilization pro
gram for which he would have $70,
000,000 for the next four years. This
program would provide retirement of
land unsuited for cultivation.
The measure eliminated an admin
istration proposal that the secretary
be permitted to purchase farms fcr
resale to tenants on terms allowing
them 45 years to pay.
The committee divided sharply on
this plan, finally rejecting it after a
majority argued it would put the
Government in the land-buying and
farming business.
Insurance Sale Restricted
COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 8 </P) —
Among bills passed by the Ohio Senate,
in session today, was one prohibiting
criminals and societies for the appre
hension of horse thieves from selling
insurance.
■I HEARINGS
SEENNEAR END
President’s Bill Expected to
Be Reported to Senate
Next Week.
BACKGROUND—
Sixty-two days have passed since
President Roosevelt sent his his
toric judiciary message to Con- !
gress. Twenty-nine days ago the
Senate Judiciary Committee opened
hearings on the proposal, which
has inspired a long list of sup
porters and opponents to speak
their pieces. While the committee \
listened. Senators have expressed
their views on the proposal in the
Senate chamber and over the
radio. The concentration of at
tention on this matter has slowed
to a walk congressional action on
other pending matters. For the
sake of speed. Senator Hughes two
days ago urged an end to the hear
ings.
Senator Robinson and other ad
ministration leaders forecast today
that hearings on the Roosevelt court
bill would be concluded next week
and that the measure would be re
ported to the Senate soon thereafter.
Senator Pittman, Democrat, of Ne
vada Joined in the forecast of the end !
of the hearing before the Judiciary
Committee. He predicted also that
constitutional ‘'amendments” would
be reported by the committee about
the same time as the President's bill.
Pittman would not disclose “what
amendments’' he had in mind. He
himself is supporting one, however, to
limit the size of the court to 15 mem
bers.
"I wouldn't be surprised,’’ Pittman
said, "if at substantially the same
time the committee reports out
amendments to the Constitution and
the President's bill.”
Report Soon Ready.
Robinson, in foreseeing a close of
the hearings by the end of next week,
suggested that it would take the com
mittee only a few days in executive
session tc reach a conclusion and re
port to the Senate.
Pittman, however, said the time :
might be longer. He indicated that j
two weeks would be a good guess.
Earlier today, the committee post
poned until next week a decision on
when to conclude the hearings on a
ruling by Chairman Ashurst.
This ruling was made' while J. S.
Manning, Raleigh. N. C., lawyer, sat
(See JUDICIARY, Page A-2.)
Amateur Fire-Walkers Singe
Feet as Indian Is Unscathed
85 the Associated Press.
LONDON. April 8.—Five amateur
fire walkers singed their feet in the
interests of science today, while an
Indian “professional” came through
the burning ordeal unscathed.
Ahmed Hussain, 23-year-old Mos
lem, whose father and grandfather
were fire walkers before him, suc
ceeded where the amateurs failed in
an experiment conducted by the Uni
versity of London Council of Psychical
Investigation. He walked in a pit 12
feet long, glowing with embers heated
at 932 degrees Fahrenheit .without a
trace of a burn on his bare feet.
Nurses washed Hussain’s feet be
fore each test, and Dr. C. A. Pannett
pronounced them "quite normal.”
Hussain prayed before each of his
trips, which lasted one and one-half
seconds. After the experiment Dr.
Pannett reported Hussain’s feet
showed no trace of burns.
The council plans further experi
ments before drawing any conclusion.
A
CHLOROFORM CASE
ENDS WITH 16-YEAR
TERM EOR MILLER
Wife and Daughter Cling
to Dentist as Sentence
Is Meted Out.
ENTERED GUILTY PLEA
IN DEATH OF GIRL, 18
Virginia Judge Scores Crime of
Illegal Operation as “Hor
rible Offense.”
BV WILLIAM H. SHIPPEV, JR.,
Stall Correspondent or The Star
CHARLOTTESVILLE. Va , April 8.
—With his wife and 18-year-old
daughter clinging to his hands. Dr.
Richard G. Miller slowly rose to his
feet this morning during a dramatic
hush in the packed Albermarle County
Court House and heard himself sen
tenced to 16 years in the penitentiary
lor the second-degree murder of Cleo
Sprouse, 18-year-old high school
junior and expectant mother.
The 53-year-old dentist seemed sud
denly to have aged as he got to his
feet and turned a blanched face on
Judge Lemuel Smith, who once had
been his Sunday school teacher. Dr.
Miller’s wife and daughter Lucy, a
co-ed at the University of Virginia,
held to his hands as he arose.
Judge Smith had just declared that
“abortion is a horrible crime. I can
never understand public apathy to
ward this offense. I recognize the
seriousness of this crime, however,
and will take it into account. "Dr
Miller stand up.
The judge than passed the sentence.
Kisses Wife and Daughter.
Before Dr. Miller was led from the
court room he shook hands with his
attorneys and kissed his sobbing wife
and daughter good-by. The two
women had remained close by his
side during the hearing, which opened
yesterday afternoon and was con
cluded at 11.30 o'clock this morning.
Cleo bprouse died from an overdose
of chloroform on the night of March
1. Dr. Miller claimed he administered
the chloroform in preparation for an
illegal operation on the girl, who
would have been a mother m about
five months.
In their closing arguments defense
attorneys pictured Dr. Miller as a
weak, but generous man, who had
"kindness rather than murder in his
heart for Cleo.” But the prosecution
painted him as a dangerous man who
should "be locked up for the re
mainder of his days.”
Advised to Make No Statement.
Attorney Edward V. Walker, chief
of defense counsel, announced he
had advised Dr. Miller not to make
a statement before the court. The
attorney explained Dr. Miller already
had made a statement and another
would merely serve the ends of pub
licity.
Walker said Dr. Miller is not a
normal man, in that his will is too
weak to control his mind and ac
tions.
He declared Dr. Miller is incapable
of resisting his generous impulses and
that he had kindness rather than
murder in his heart when he took
Cleo Sprouse on her last ride.
Commonwealth Attorney William
Fife in his closing argument declared
he has been unable to disprove any
part of Dr. Miller's confession and
defended the method of the hearing
he and defense attorneys had agreed
upon, insisting it was no "com
promise.”
> "There is no compromise with
crime,” Fife told the packed court
room.
Fife declared that Dr. Miller’s will
(See-CHLOROFORMTPage A-5.f~
ALABAMA TORNADO
KILLS ONE, HURTS 30
Storm Levels Houses in Lumber
Mill Village—Aid Is
Dispatched.
ay the Associated Press.
TROY. Ala., April 8.—A tornado
killed at least one person, injured
numerous others and leveled houses
in a lumber mill village at Brundidge,
Ala., today.
Highway Patrolman Will Tatum,
who sped to the storm scene, reported
four bodies had been found.
Chief Walter M. McAdory of the
Alabama Highway Patrol received the
report at Montgomery, Ala.
“Tatum told me they knew four were
dead.” McAdory said, “but didn't
know how many more. Telephone
lines are down to Brundidge and he
had to go to Banks to call me. I’ve
sent 20 patrolmen to Brundidge.”
Fred Crowley, 12, was known to be
dead.
With communication facilities crip
pled. the highway patrolman’s report
of four fatalities could not be re
checked.
Justice of the Peace L. R. Ray at
Troy said he was informed the storm
struck the mill village, half a mile
from Brundidge. first, leveled many
houses, then hit the edge of Brun
didge’s residential section.
D. C. Bank Deposits
Hit All-Time Peak
Of $341,222,841
Deposits in Washington's 22
banks totaled $341,222,841.56 on
March 31, 1937. a new all-time
peak for the Capital, it was
learned today after a bank con
dition call issued by the controller
of the currency.
The previous peak for deposits
in Washington was recorded De
cember 31, 1936, at the con
troller’s preceding call. Today’s
figures reveal an aggregate gain
of $7,180,714.16 in the first quar
ter of the present year.
(Details in Financial Section.)