• *
WEATHER. "" '
Pair and not so warm tonight; tomor- f \g ■ * A “G Only evening paper
row, fair; gAitie west winds. Tempera- g B^my% in Washington with the
tures today—Highest, 8S, at 2 p.m.; fl I • ► ■ B I A0[,A/.!n)«J8 tj xt
lowest, 73, at 5 30 a m A fl fl B B^ Associated Press News
Fun report on page A-7. j ■ fl W , and Wirephoto Services.
Closing N.Y. Markets—Sales—Page 18 V-✓ * S*TS5R£'8 133,568 148,352
■ ■■■■-■■ ■■ ■ ■■■ ■■■■ -- ■ ■ ■ ■■■ ■ ■ 11 — ---■■■ ■ .i ■ . — .— ■ - (Some returns not yet received.*
85th YEAR. No. 34,003. gra.7 affiSS.TS_WASHINGTON, D. C„ MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1937-THIBTY-SIX PAGES. *** -*> .. Tw0 CEXXS.
VAST LABOR CROWD
CONTROLS LANSING
IN UNION ‘HOLIDAY’
Auto Plants Shut as Throng
Protests Arrest of
Pickets.
AUDIENCES HARANGUED
FROM CAPITOL STEPS
Striking Employes Direct Traffic.
Liquor Taverns Closed, Banks
Refuse to Cash Checks.
Br ihe Associated Press.
LANSING. Mich., June 7.—A crowd
of several thousand persons took con
trol of downtown Lansing today upon
t.he calling of a "general labor holi
day” protesting the artest of eight
pickets of the United Automobile
Workers of America.
Lester Washburn, president of the
U. A. W. A. local here, announced a
few hours before the demonstration
started that an agreement had been
reached for release of the pickets,
Jailed following labor trouble at the
Capitol City Wrecking Co.
Washburn, talking through a loud
speaker system set up in front of the
State capitol building, told the crowd
that negotiations toward ..nal settle
ment of the wrecking company strike
would be undertaken at once.
Await Eights' Release.
The workers remained in the busi
ness district and on the capitol lawn
to await the actual release of the
prisoners, held in the basement of
the City-County Building.
Union men directed traffic on
main street intersections as the mill
ing crowd demonstrated in the
shadow of the capitol and paraded
through the City-County Building.
All automotive plants in the city
were closed as workers left their jobs
to join the sympathy strike.
Washburn called the strike and told
the crowd to "hold your lines.”
"We can stay here a month if
necessary,” Washburn shouted.
Washburn previously had indicated
that the demonstration would last
only one day.
Murphy on Way.
The widespread walkout occurred
as Gov. Frank Murphy, mediator of
several prolonged automobile strikes
in Michigan, was en route to the city
from Detroit.
The pickets—six men and two
wv>men—were arrested in surprise
raids early in the morning on war
rants charging them with molesting
and disturbing laborers wrho wanted
to enter the wrecking company, where
a strike has been in progress several
Weeks.
Washburn, whose wife was among
♦ hose arrested, charged that they were
not on the picket lines when the war
rants were served, but were "dragged
from their beds in the middle of the
night."
He addressed the crowd after Mayor
Max Templeton urged him to make
aure there would be no violence.
CHILD LABOR PLAW
CHANGE APPROVED
Vandenberg's Amendment Is Sanc
tioned by Senate Sub
committee.
By the Associated Press.
A Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
approved today the proposed Vanden
berg constitutional amendment to pro
hibit child labor.
The amendment, offered by Senator
Vandenberg, Republican, of Michigan
to meet major objections raised against
the child labor amendment now be
fore the States, would permit Congress
to limit, or prohibit, employment of
persons under 16. The pending amend
ment. would cover children up to 18.
Vandenberg also eliminated from the
wording of his proposal the word "reg
ulate,” which critics of the pending
amendment contended would permit
the Federal Government to regiment
all children under 18.
During the day the Senate Interstate
Commerce Committee approved the
Wheeler-Johnson ‘composite” child
labor bill. The measures would pro
hibit movement of child labor goods in
Interstate commerce and also would
prohibit shipment of child labor goods
Into a State in violation of its laws.
Child labor under the Wheeler
Johnson proposal would be defined
as work of children under 16 and in
»ome occupations 18 years.
A third major change in the Van
denberg amendment, designed to
eliminate fears that Congress would
be able to regulate labor by members
of farm families, would restrict the
Jurisdiction of the amendment to
persons employed “for hire.”
Vandenberg, in offering his amend
ment, said it would remove the major
objections raised against the pending
amendment and forecast that with
these changes the amendment would
be speedily ratified.
Instead of requiring ratification by
fitat* Legislatures, which, so far, have
failed to approve the pending amend
ment In sufficient number to make it
operative, Vandenberg’s amendment
would be submitted to constitutional
conventions In the various States.
DIES IN BUS CRASH
Truck I>river Thrown Into Burn
ing Wreckage.
ORION, Ala., June 7 </F).—One man
burned to death and at least eight
persons were hurt, some seriously, in
the collision of a passenger bus and a
truck on the crest of a hill near here
today.
The bus plowed into a roadside ditch
and burst Into flames, its gasoline tank
broken open by the impact. The truck
was demolished.
Maurice O. Parks, Greenville, Miss,
driver of the truck, was thrown into
«e flaming wreckage and burned fa
ny.
Jean Harlow Dies Suddenly
After a Relapse, Despite
Frantic Efforts to Save Her
JEAN HARLOW.
—A. P. Photo.
BULLETIN.
LOS ANGELES. June 7
(/P). — Jean Harlow, the
platinum blond film star
| actress, died at 11:37 a.m.
P. S. T. today at the Good
Samaritan Hospital.
I B> the Assorts led Press.
LOS ANGELES. June 7.—Dr. E. C.
Fishbaugh, attending screen actress
Jean Harlow, said today her condition
i* critical and that she is not expected
to live.
Miss Harlow was stricken last week
with influenza and a gall bladder in
fection. Two days ago her condition
was reported to have improved greatly
and she was expected to report back to
I her studio for work in about a week.
Today Dr. Fishbaugh ordered her
taken to Good Samaritan Hospital.
CHICAGO EVICTION -
Republic Due to Seek Court
Aid to Protect Anti
Strikers.
BACKGROUND—
Committer for Industrial Organi
zation's steel campaign began this
Spring after sensational gains in
automobile industry. United States
Steel made bargaining agreement
uith union and other firms follow
ed suit. Smaller independents re
fused to bargain and union began
calling strikes. One strike was
against Republic of Chicago. Re
public housed its workers in the
plants to continue operation. This
was called against a city ordinance
by Mayor Kelly of Chicago Satur
day and the firm was ordered to
evict the anti-strikers.
By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, June 7.—Striking steel
workers massed today for a brief dem
onstration at two Indiana Harbor,
Ind., plants while court fiction to fore
stall Mayor Edward J. Kelly's order to
evacuate 1,400 workers from Republic
Steel Corp.’s South Chicago mill ap
peared imminent.
The steel workers collected near
plants of the Inland Steel and Youngs
town Sheet <k Tube Cos. at Indiana
Harbor, but dispersed peacefully after
parading before police guarding mill
gates.
Jack Rusak. Indiana Harbor C. I. O.
organiser, who said 5,000 men parti
cipated in the demonstration, asked
for the concentration of strikers at a
meeting yesterday where he repeated
a charge that both Youngstown and
Inland were “fostering a company
union and recruiting men to return to
work."
Prank A. Lauerman, spokesman for
Republic, told reporters James L. Hy
land, eompay district manager, was
in conference with an unnamed group
to consider Mayor Kelly's order.
Under the Mayor's order, citing a
(See CHICAGO]-Page A^3J
Times Union Suspends.
NEW YORK, June 7 (-4*). — The
management, of the Brooklyn Times
Union today announced suspension of
publication of the 90-year-old news
paper.
Rebel Flyers’ Attack Marks
Resumption of Basque
Front Battles.
BACKGROUND—
In a campaign rivaled only by
attacks bn Madrid for ferocity, in
surgents have attempted for sev
eral weeks to capture strategic
Basque city of Bilbao.
Estimated 30,000 defenders have
declared they will hold out to the
death against attackers.
B? tbe Associated Press.
HENDAYE, Pranco-Spanish fron
tier, June 7 —A massed fleet of 63
insurgent war planes was reported to
day to have bombed the suburb of
Lezama, only 3 miles from beleaguered
Bilbao.
The attack was the northern de
velopment of a general resumption of
activity on the Basque front which
was watched by Archduke Otto of
Hapsburg, claimant of the non-ex
istent Austrian throne.
The 34-year-old Otto stood on a
(See SPAiSrPage A-3.)
--•-.
CHICAGO AREA RAKED
BY 40-MILE GALE
Br th* Associated Press.
CHICAGO, June 7.—A 40-mile-an
hour gale that overturned small boats
on Lake Michigan and inland lakes,
ripped up trees and damaged homes
left two persons dead today and many
Injured.
Matthew Jacek, 20. and Henry Ged
rimas, 21, both of Chicago, were
drowned in Long Lake near the village
of Fox Lake yesterday when the wind
upset their rowboat. A third youth,
: Walter Sarna, 23. was rescued,
j Coast Guards reported at least sev
en other rescues when light crafts
| overturned.
August Stems, 45, suffered a frac
tured skull and his son Peter, 4, was
bruised when a tree limb, torn loose
by the wind, struck them as they were
seated on a picnic bench.
Two automobiles were crushed by
falling trees. The fire department
received more than 40 calls to remove
wreckage from streets.
Movie “Annie Oakleys” Figure
In Traffic Ticket-Fixing Case
ine gnost of Annie Oakley stalked
the boards at the fourth precinct to
day as the Police Trial Board re
sumed hearing of charges of ‘’ticket
fixing” against Policeman Welford
Winfield, formerly attached to the
Traffic Bureau.
Harry E. Lohmeyer, District man
ager for Warner Bros.’ theaters and
formerly manager of the Earle The
ater, said he had turned over traffic
violation tickets to Winfield along
with theater passes, but he empha
sized that it was not a quid pro quo
transaction.
Lohmeyer explained that about 200
passes were distributed weekly to po
lice officers as a matter of courtesy
and that this practice antedated
connection with the Earle.
He also said under questioning
Charles E. Ford, counsel for the ac
cused policemen, that season passes
are sent to MaJ. Ernest W. Brown,
superintendent of police, and other
high-ranking officials.
Assistant Corporation Counsel E. M.
Welliver, the prosecutor, blocked a
question by Ford designed to show
whether Commissioner Melvin C.
Hasen, who is in charge of the Police
Department, received like courtesy.
Inspector Edward J. Kelly, presiding
at the board, upheld Welliver’s con
tention that this was not pertinent.
Incidentally, Kelly interrupted the
questioning of the witness to say that
he also has received a season pass
from Warner Bros, this year.
“I want to make a stater)^nt for
(fee Tionmb Pa* A*J.)
Labor Leader Advocates 40
Cents an Hour, 35
Hour Week.
GOVERNMENT FIXING
OF FIGURES HELD PERIL
Bill Called Only One Item in
Much Larger Program De
veloping in U. S.
BACKGROUND—
New Deal administration sought
to eliminate sweatshop wages and
hours from industry by N. R. A.
regulation, but was checked by
Supreme Court.
As latter indicated new liberalism
in more recent decisions, second
effort to improve standards of in
dustry was submitted i« form of
Black-Connery bill.
Included is prohibition against
child labor; an objective also being
sought through constitutional
amendment.
BY JOHN C. HENRY.
John L. Lewis, chairman of the
Committee for Industrial Organiza
tion, today indorsed the minimum
wage and maximum hour provisions of
the Black-Connery bill as a modest
beginning of genuine planning towards
a better economic order.”
Appearing before a Joint session of
the Senate and House Labor Commit
tees, he opposed, however, what he
called "wage fixing” contrary to
American precedents and practices.”
Specifically, the leader of American
labor's moat militant faction, recom
mended the setting of a 40 cents-per
hour wage and a five-day, 35-hour
week. Discretion should be vested, he
said, to vary the work week from 30
j to 40 hours.
| In general, Lewis declared, such
legislation would increase mass pur
chasing power and bring re-employ
. ment.
Oppoaes Section 5.
Fighting shy of the danger of Gov
ernment wage-fixing and of conflict
with the labor relations act, Lewis
emphatically recommended elimina
tion of Section 5 of the act, which
he said might eventually open the
way to “a Federal judge ordering
men to remain at work" under a wage
that had been found to be a "fair
minimum.”
The section under dispute would
empower the Labor Standards Board
to establish a "minimum fair wage”
up to $1,200 per year, where collec
tive bargaining was found to be in
adequate and ineffective.
"Frankly, I would not want this
bill to empower a board to investigate
the contracts entered into by the
United Mine Workers. I see confu
sion there and a drift toward fixa
tion of wages by a Government board,”
Lewis said.
Such a procedure, he pointed out,
tends to establish a double wage stand
ard. the first being the "minimum
wage” of 40 cents per hour, which
would amount to $800 yearly on a 40
hour-week basis, and the second be
ing the "minimum fair wage” ap
proaching $1,200 per year.
By section 5, the latter figure
would be determined through investi
gation of cost of living, value of
(See WAGES, Page A-5.)
----•-—
Ship Fire Toll Grow$.
MANILA, June 7 UP).—The death
toll of a fire aboard the German
freighter Oliva increased to two when
Hans Risslander, member of the crew,
died today.
He was one of six men burned and
gassed.
The fire started in the hold when
the ship was 120 miles southwest of
I Manila Thursday.
I
Summary of Today’s Star
Page
Amusements B-l*
Comics ..B-14-15
Editorials — A-I*
Financial __ A-17
Lost A Found A-I
Obituary ...A-12
Page
Radio _B-ll
Short Story ..B-7
Society __B-S
Sports_A-13
Woman's Pg. B-l*
FOREIGN.
Bilbao suburb reported bombed by in
surgent planes. Page A-l
Nazi religious war grows as riots flare
in Munich. Page A-2
NATIONAL.
Crowd of union members takes con
trol of Lansing. Page A-l
Lewis indorses wage-holir bill, but hits
“wage fixing." Page A-l
Roosevelt refers steel union peace plea
to aides. Page A-3
Adverse report on court bill virtually
completed. Page A-3
Guards encircle wreckage of plane in
Utah's hills. Page A-4
House considers proposal to extend .
P. W. A two years. Page A-5
WASHINGTON AND NEARBY.
I Ghost of Annie Oakely bobs up before
Police Trial Board. Page A-l
Appeals Court terms cab situation
“growing menace.” Page A-l
Keene mystery complicated by auto
angle. Page A-l
Matron leaps to death from steamer
in Potomac. Page A-l
Star fund for K street pool reaches
$122. Page A-2
Animals tamed by “psychic sur
gery." Page A-2
Confederate groups hold memorial
services. Page A-2
417 receive degrees at l$8th George
town commencement. Page A-8
Independence urged for U. S. regula
. tory agencies. Page B-l
R. C. Gszley to head new air com
merce division. Page B-l
Seven suspended A. P. G. K. lodges de
mand open hearing. Page B-l
Mrs. Boole heads W. C. tAj for third
time. ‘•S Pi* *-l
Jordon’s fate to be decided this
week. Page B-l
Beach-bound excursionists marooned
on steamer Potomac. Page B-l
Dunbarton College graduation exer
cises held. Page B-4
EDITORIAL AND COMMENT.
Editorials. Page A-l#
This and That. Page A-l#
Washington Observations. Page A-l#
Answers to Questions. Page A-l#
David Lawrence. Page A-ll
H. R. Baukhage. Page A-ll
Dorothy Thompson. Page A-ll
Constantine Brown. Page A-ll
Headline Polk. Page A-ll
SPORTS.
Simmons proving prize slugger of Na
tionals. PageA-13
Running world focuses on Star mara
thon Saturday. PageA-13
Giants gain league lead at expense
of Pirates. PageA-13
Long lay-off is due for injured War
Admiral. PageA-13
District team winner of North-South
skeet title. PageA-13
Mitchell. Howard upset Latona, Welsh
in net play. Page A-15
Washington-Lee High School climbs
in sports world. , Page A-15
Louis' light regard for Braddock may
prove costly. Page A-l#
FINANCIAL.
Bonds narrow (table). Page A-17
Oil production held excessive.
Page A-17
Stocks hesitant (table). Page A-l!
London gold peg fixed. Page A-l#
Chain store sales rise. Page A-l#
Curb list eases (table). Page A-19
MISCELLANY.
Shipping News. Page A->
City News In Brief. Page A-S
Dorothy Dix. Page B-l#
Betsy Caswell. Page B-l#
Young Washington. Page B-l 1
Cross-word Pusele. Pag# B-14
Nature's Children. . Page B-14
Bedtime Story. * Page B-l 5
Letter-Out. ’ Page B-ll
*
_SQUASH CENTER COMMENTS ON COURT PACKING.
TAXES NOT MORAL
Levies Are Purely . Legal
Question, Returning Finan
cier Asserts.
B> tlie Associated Press.
NEW YORK. June 7 —J. P Morgan,
recovered from an illness that kept 1
him from the coronation of King
George VI, returned from England
today with the comment that ''tax
ing is a legal question, pure and slm
i pie, and not a moral one.”
The financier referred to President
Roosevelt's drive against what the
Chief Executive called tax evaders
| who, among other things. incorifOrated
j their yachts as one method of escap
i ing taxes.
I "I have never incorporated my
yacht because I did not think it worth
whil{,” Morgan said. “If the Gov
ernment objects to tax evasion it
should change the laws. You only do
what you are compelled to do by law,
I for it is never any pleasure for any
one to pay taxes.
“Congress should know how to levy
taxes and if stupid mistakes are made
it is up to Congress to rectify them
and not for us taxpayers to do so.
“You do what you are compelled to
do by law. It is no pleasure to pay
taxes. You don’t do any more than
you have to. It's just as bad to pay
too much as too little.”
Told that President Roosevelt said
that there was a shortage of $400,000.
000 in income tax revenues, Morgan
said:
“If so, that’s the fault of Congress, j
It is up to Congress to make the laws
and if there are loopholes in them it is
not the taxpayer's fault.”
Morgan said he had recovered suf
ficiently to "walk down the gang
plank." but added his physicians had 1
forbidden him to walk up or down
stairs. He was carried aboard the
Queen Mary at Southampton.
Morgan said he listened to the coro- ■
nation by radio. The financier said he
would not go to business for the re
mainder of the Summer and would re
turn to Scotland in July for his annual
vacation theie.
Woman Leaps Off Steamer
To Death as Friends Watch
Northland Searches Potomac Near
Smith Point, but Fails to
Recover Body,
Crying ‘'Here's where I stage an
act.” Mrs. Harriet Iarkin Scott, at
tractive 26-year-o)d Portsmouth, Va„ I
matron, leaped from the steamer
Northland shortly before midnight last 1
night as her mother and a party of
friends watched.
Although the steamer put about al
most immediately and delayed for an
hour while searchlights played on the
water, the body was not recovered.
The woman leaped overboard as the j
boat passed Smith Point, near the
spot where the body of Charles F.
Keene. Washington real estate man.
was found last week.
Witnesses said Mrs. Scott had been
sitting back in a deck chair with
friends just before she got up and
walked to the guard rail.
Without warning, she clitfibed the
rail, threw her purse into the air
and shouted: ‘Here’s where I stage
an act.”
Although there were a number of
men on the deck. Mrs. Scott acted so
quickly none could stop her. Nor- I
folk & Washington Steamboat Co. !
officials were Informed she had given
no indication of her intention prior
to the act.
Her mother. Mrs J. W Larkin, and
sister, L. A. Broughton. Were almost
prostrated and had to be given med
ical attention.
Mrs. Scott's 8-year-old son, Allen,
also was in the party, but he is not
believed to have witnessed the plunge.
It was said at Portsmouth, where
Mrs. Scott was well known socially,
that she had appeared in good health
and spirit* before she left there yes
terday afternoon.
Accompanied by her mother, sister
and son, she went to Norfolk with si*
other members of a Portsmouth sew
ing club to catch the Northland. The
party was coming to Washington on
a sightseeing trip. It was to have
returned next Saturday.
Because of the tragedy, the other
members of the party left for home by
bus soon after the boat docked here
this morning.
Smith Point is about 80 miles out
of Norfolk, not far from the mouth of
the Potomac.
D. C. BILL ACTION
EXPECTED TODAY
Senate Appropriations Unit
Meets—Measure’s Total
May Top $46,000,000.
BY J. A. O'LEARY.
The Senate Appropriations Commit
tee convened this afternoon to act on
the 1938 District supply bill, which Is
believed to call for more than *46,
000,000, as revised by the District
Subcommittee Saturday. As passed by
the House two months ago, the bill
carried a figure of (45,200,000.
In recommending about (1,000.000
more, the Senate Subcommittee, head
ed by Chairman Thomas of Oklahoma,
is understood to have restored many,
but not all, of the reductions the
House made in budget estimates. It is
likely the Senate bill also will contain
reductions in some House Items and
possibly a few new items not consid
ered in the House.
If the full committee, which is to
meet at 2:30 p.m., reports the ^ill
this afternoon, Senator Thomas prob
ably will call it up on the floor of the
Senate tomorrow or Wednesday.
Amount tor nener.
Unless there should be a last
minute change in the full committee,
indications are the unemployment re
lief fund will not go above the budget
figure of $1,464,000, which would mean
rejection of requests made during the
hearings by some civic and welfare
organizations for another million.
This increase was opposed, however,
by the Board of Trade and spokesmen
for the Federation of Citizens’ Asso
ciations and Washington Taxpayers'
Association.
Although the Senate Subcommittee
is reported to have retained the lump
sum Federal payment at the House
figure of $5,000,000—the same as for
the current year—it is believed to have
recommended to the full committee a
more equitable basis for meeting the
operating costs of the higher courts
of the District in view of the large
amount of purely national litigation
they handle.
Expenses ef Court.
The subcommittee is proposing that
the expenses of these courts be ap
portioned between the Federal and
District governments, in accordance
with the percentage ratio of Federal
and local litigation handled in the
course of a year.
The action of the Senate group on
the various legislative riders and pro
visos in the House bill is being awaited
with Interest by local civic groups.
These provisions seek to transfer func
tions from one department to another.
One limits assignment of school teach
ers to clerical work and another would
deprive per dien#}mployes of annual
leave. C*
TAXI PERIL HELD
GROWINGBY COURT
Maze of Companies Balks
Recovery by Victim, Jus
tice Asserts.
BACKGROUND—
Proposal for compulsory liability
insurance for Washington taxicabs
has been urged by Public Utilities
Commission and other district
agencies. Legislation making taxi
drivers responsible for injuries to
passengers was introduced in House
by Representative Nichols, but btll
has not yet been taken up by
District Committee.
Failure of Congress to pass legis
lation requiring financial responsibilitj
of taxicab companies has resulted ir
“a growing public menace," the Unitec
States Court of Appeals declared to
day in an opinion by Associate Justic*
D. Lawrence Groner.
The court's dicta were delivered ir
a case involving two suits by Rosa L
Page, who was struck at Hillyer place
and Twentieth street in May, 1933, bj
a Blue Light cab.
She subsequently obtained judge
ment against the Blue Light Cat
Corp., which, the court said, “is noth
ing and has nothing." She failed ir
an effort to show a substantial identitj
of Blue Light with the D. M. D. Tax
Corp. and the Washington Cab Sales
Corp., w'hich she attempted to shoa
avoided liability through the screer
of Blue Light.
Some Evidence, but No Proof.
*'The facts proved may, and we are
disposed to think do, tend to show
some general identity of Interest, and
there are not lacking some indications
of a purpose on the part of the other
defendants to use the name Blue
Light as a trade name or to use Blue
(Bee TAXIOABST Page A-3.)
c. i. oTplansdrive
IN CIVIL SERVICE
Announcement to Be Hade as Soon
as “Policy” Is Determined,
Officials Say.
B? the Assoc Is ted Press.
John L. Lewis’ Committee for In
dustrial Organization disclosed tod as
an intention to organize Government
civil service employes.
Officials declined to say when 01
where the campaign would start. Thej
explained it has been under consider,
ation for some time, and that an an
nouncement would be made as soor
as the C. I. O. "policy” was determined
Lewis declined to comment.
One plan considered would oper
membership in the C. I. O. to all
Government workers except those ii
military and a^zU-milttary establish
ments.
KEENE ROPE FOUND
AT CRISFIELD STIRS
MARYLAND POEICE
Strand of Marlin Is Recov
ered by Fishermen on
Smith Island.
“SENSATIONAL CLUE”
IN DISTRICT FAILS
Suicide Theories Shaken by Dis
covery Weights on Body Were
Not From Victim's Car.
BACKGROUND—
Charles F. Keene, sr., capital
real estate man, disappeared from
Washington-Norfolk boat on night,
of May 13. Last Monday, weighted
body of Keen was found near
Smith Island, and hastily rum
mo ted coroners fury declared he
was murder victim.
Reoponed investigation, how
ever, has resulted in no substan
tial progress in solving mystery.
BV JAMES J. CULLINANE.
Discovery of the missing strand of
marlin rope which had been tied
around the waist of Charles F Keene,
sr.. sent Maryland State investigators
hurrying back to Crisfield, Md„ this
afternoon.
Capt. William McK. Johnson and
Detective Serge Marlin Brubaker left
State police headquarters with all the
| evidence in the case and a report
which they hoped would wind up their
investigation after they presented it to
State s Attorney F. Kirke Maddrix of
Somerset County.
The long strand of marlin, which is
believed to have snapped under the
strain of holding a heavy weight to
Keene's body, was recovered by fisher
men on Smith Island, w'ho threw' it
away on the beach last week.
The type of knot tied in the marlin,
which is obtainable only at a ship
| chandler's, will be Important in de
termining whether Keene was mur
dered or killed himself in a cunningly
j planned suicide. It has been con
tended that, the knot in the cotton
rope which held a weighted brief case
around Keene's neck could have been
tied only by a seaman or an expert
rigger.
New Clue Fails.
A “sensational" new clue in the
; fantastic case collapsed todav after
i Homicide Detectives Jeremiah Flaher
ty and William OBrver interviewed a
woman who said she heard a woman
J screaming aboard the District of Co
' lumbia on the night Keene vanished
from his cabin The detectives dis
j covered that the woman boarded the
. steamer on the trip which left Wash
ington May 15. Keene vanished on
! the trip which left. May 13.
The woman had told a friend of tha
police force of hearing the screams,
but said she had kept quiet because
she did not want to become involved
in the case. Realizing the importance
of the clue, the policeman immediately
oommunicated with Inspector B. W.
Thompson.
Other “Clue" Telephoned.
Another woman who telephoned
police that she had information which
may be of value in the case will be
interviewed by the detectives this aft
ernoon, potice said.
Theories of suicide in the baffling
mystery were dealt a hard blow to
day when it was revealed that Keene's
automobile which he sold last Feb
ruary to Edward R. Sweet, real estate
broker with offices in the Bond Bu
reau, has its tools intact.
Sweet said he knows that the jack
and other tools were in the car when
he bought it. They were under the
front seat when he checked up on
them yesterday, Sweet said.
Broker Sold Car.
After selling his car to sweet. Keene
j told his family it had been wrecked
and abandoned in a garage in South
ern Maryland. Sweet said that at
the time he purchased the car—a 1932
Nash—for $100 and assumed unpaid
! notes totaling $92, it was in perfect
1 running condition and obviously had
never been in a wreck.
As late as last Saturday, Charles T.
\ Keene, jr., said he was positive hi*
: father had never sold his machine and
i that it w'ould be found in a Prince
! Georges County garage.
Part of 1935 Car Tool Kit.
j The jack, police have established,
j was issued as part of the standard
tool kit of all 1935 Studebakers. Keene
i had never owned such a car.
The strange story fabricated by
Keene after he sold his automobile
j prompted investigators to delve more
: deeply into the life of the real estate
broker, who dealt in works of art and
precious gems as well as real estate.
Is it possible that Keene,, unknown
to his family, came into contact with
persons who killed him through fear
he might reveal their secrets? investi
gators are asking.
Keene told his family and friends
he was going to Norfolk to sell water
front property between Virginia Beach
and Ocean View for a client. He
said he had an appointment with
a prospective purchaser in Norfolk
and \hat prospects of closing the deal
were bright.
Thus far, detectives say. they have
been unable to find any one in Nor
folk with whom Keene had business
dealings, although they have made
diligent search in real estate circles
• See KEENE, Page AyC) ”
| -.
EXPLOSION HURTS TWO
IN U. S. OFFICIAL’S CAR
BJ the Associated Press.
PLENTYWOOD. Mont.. June 7 —
Samuel Sprague. Sheridan County
resettlement administrator, escaped an
apparent attempt upon his life when
he lent his car to Robert Lorenz, a
friend, authorities said today.
Sheriff’s officers said Lorenz suf
fered a broken leg and numerous cut*
last night when a bomb exploded a*
Lorenz started the automobile.
A companion, Miss Fern Jensen, It,
; was injured slightly.
8prague WiJ^pfflcer* he had recently
l received threatening letter*.