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Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, January 01, 1940, Image 2

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Robert Fechner, 63,
Dies in Hospital
After Long Illness
President Pays Tribute
To Public Service of
C. C. C. Director
Robert Fechner, 63, director of ths
Civilian Conservation Corps sines
its inception in 1933, died yesterdaj
morning at Walter Reed Hospital.
Mr. Fechner had been receiving
treatment at the Army medical
center for more than a month. His
death was attributed to a complica
tion of heart and lung ailments.
President Roosevelt paid warn:
tribute yesterday to Mr. Fechner
under whose guidance more thar
$2,400,000,000 in Federal funds wers
used to rehabilitate nearly 2.400.00(
depression-idle youths working ir
the rebuilding of America's forest:
and parks.
In a personal letter of sympathy
to Mrs. Fechner, the President
wrote:
i nave neara wun aeep persona
sorrow of the blow which has beer
laid so heavily upon you in the
death of your devoted husband whc
was my faithful friend through
many years.
“Please accept an assurance ol
heartfelt sympathy in which Mrs
Roosevelt joins.
Loss to C. C. C. and Nation.
“As director of the Civilian Con
servation Corps, he brought to the
public service a great administrative
ability, vision and indefatigable in
dustry. His death is a loss to the
C. C C. and to the Nation.”
Similar expressions of sympathy
were being received today from ail
over the country.
James J. McEntee, assistant di
rector of the C. C. C., said, “The
Civilian Conservation Corps will
miss him as will the Federal Gov
ernment to whose service he brought
a courageous attitude and unselhsh
devotion.”
Funeral services are to be held
at the S. H. Hines funeral home
2901 Fourteenth street N.W., at 1
pm. tomorrow.
The Rev. Dr. Joseph R. Sizoo
pastor of the Collegiate Church ol
Bt. Nicholas, New York City, will con
duct the services. Dr. Sizoo, a per
sonal friend of Mr. Fechner, for
merly was pastor of the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Burial at Arlington.
Burial will be at Arlington Na
tional Cemetery at 2 p.m.
Mr. Fechner. labor leader who vvai
called into Government service by
President Rooosevelt, had been ir
ill health for more than a year.
Though not considered a New
Dealer, he wras active in a numbei
of the President's advisory groups anc
his death removes a man considered
one of the most capable administra
tors in the Government. The lack
of criticism of the C. C. C. in Con
gress was a tribute to his successful
handling of a task which at one
time was said to be of near impos
sible proportions. On several occa
sions when Mr. Fechner and othei
administration heads tried to cur
tail C. C. C. activities, Congress
flatly vetoed the move.
Native of Tennessee.
Since April, 1933, with Mr
Fechner as director, the C. C. C. an
nually has employed more than i
Quarter of a million young men anc
war veterans in camps throughoul
the country and its possessions or
conservation work.
Born March 22, 1876, in Chat
tanooga, Tenn., since early youth
he made his own way. taking jobs
here, in Mexico and Panama. He
worked In mines, in smelters, or
«.unce umai ijjiamauoiis; anu lor a
time on the Panama Canal under De
Lesseps when the French made an
unsuccessful attempt to cut the
Isthmus.
Until he was 15 years old he at
tended grammar school in Macon
and Griffin, Ga„ and then left to
sell notions, periodicals and candy
on trains. However, for a few
months he was able to attend the
Georgia Institute of Technology. A
year after leaving grammar school
he wrent in the Augusta shops ol
the old Georgia Railroad to become
an apprentice machinist.
After four years Mr. Fechnei
Joined the machinists’ union and
later was made secretary of his
local. During the next nine years
he worked as a "boomer machinist."
It was during this period that he
traveled extensively from job to job
both in this country and in Latin
America.
Life Imperiled in Storm.
While working on a port project
at Salinas Cruz. Mexico, Mr. Fech
ner had a dangerous experience. A
aevere tropical storm struck the port
and blew all the derricks and cranes
Into the ocean. Mr. Fechner and
the other workers were just able to
get clear of the falling equipment.
On one of his trips he traveled by
burro more than 700 miles through
the tropics from Tehuantapec, Mex
ico, Into Nicaragua. These wander
ings of his early days developed his
self-reliance and abilities which later
led to his rise in the labor world.
In 1905 he went to Savannah, Ga.(
to work for the Central of Georgia
Railroad and began his rise in union
affairs. In 1914 he was elected a
member of the General Executive
Board of the International, Associa
tion of Machinists, which he later
represented throughout the United
States and Canada. As early as 1901
he was active in the nine-hour
movement and again in 1915 worked
lor the eight-hour day.
After joining the union board he
made his home in Boston, where
ROBERT FECHNER.
he was active in civic affairs. He
was a member of the Civic League
of Massachusetts, Foreign Policy As
sociation, Eagles, Elks, Knights of
Pythias and the Freemasons. Dur
ing the Spanish-American War he
served in the Army and was a mem
ber of the Spanish War Veterans.
Helped Settle Strike.
As a member of the union board
and later as a vice president, he rep
resented labor in many arbitrations
and was known as a fair union man.
During the World War he continued
his arbitration work and in 1917 was
instrumental in settling the Boston
& Maine Railroad strike, getting an
agreement that was satisfactory to
labor and management.
Recognized as an authority on la
bor and industrial management, as
early as 1921 he was called in by
a number of schools to give lecture
courses. These included Harvard
universny, uartmoutn uonege,
Brown University, Simmons College
and Northeastern University.
On March 22, 1933, when Presi
dent Roosevelt was just beginning
the New Deal administration, Mr.
Fechner was telephoned from the
White House to come to Washington.
However, his duties in Plainfield, N.
J., prevented this, so arrangements
were made for him to board a train
in New Jersey and ride with Louis
M. Howe, a presidential secretary
and adviser, to New York. The re
sult of the train conversation was
that Mr. Fechner was asked to di
rect the new youth rehabilitation
resource conservation organization.
When the President signed the
bill authorizing the emergency con
servation work, Mr. Fechner early
in April, 1933, was given the tre
mendous task of mobilizing an or
ganization of army proportions,
feeding and housing the unemployed
youths and providing them with
work in the country's forests and
fields.
Kept Early Hours.
Designated as the Civilian Con
servation Corps, the organization
was headed by an advisory council
based on the co-operation of the
Agriculture, War, Interior and La
bor Departments. It remained an
independent co-operative agency
under Mr. Fechner until the recent
reorganization of the executive
branch of the Government. Though
still practically independent, it is
under the Federal Security Agency.
Until the time of his recent ill
ness Mr Fprhnpr iisnallv urallrpri
from his apartment in the Burling
ton Hotel to his office In the new
Post Office Building. Because of
his early rising habit he usually was
in his office by 7 am. Because
visitors before 8 am. must sign the
register, the guard's book at the
entrance has the name of Robert
Fechner listed on nearly every
working day since the C. C. C. head
quarters was moved into the Fed
I eral Triangle from the old wooden
World War building at Nineteenth
and C streets N.W.
Though he listed his hobbies as
human relations in industry, eco
nomics and problems of industrial
management. Mr. Fechner during
the last six years made his life his
hobby, and his only interest the
welfare of the hundreds of thou
sands of young men who are faced
with the problem of employment
which he went through a half cen
tury ago. With the practical
realization of modern youth prob
lems he constantly fought to give
youth a helping hand and a guid
ance toward a better economic life.
He was the son of Charles and
Virginia Roberts Fechner. He was
married October 25, 1902, to Clare
Dickey. Besides his wife he leaves
a sister, Mrs. Walter E. Coney of
Atlanta, Ga. His wife and sister
were with him at the time of his
death.
Brewster to Seek
Nomination for Senate
DEXTER, Me., Jan. 1 (/P).—Rep
resentative Ralph O. Brewster last
night announced his candidacy for
the Republican Senate nomination
in the June primaries.
Mr. Brewster, a former Maine
Governor now in his third term in
the House, will be opposed by Gov.
Lewis O. Barrows in his quest for
the Senate seat of Frederick Hale,
Republican, retiring in 1941.
52 Pricp Appointees
Await Confirmation
By Assembly
Three From Nearby
Virginia Included
In List of Names
By the Auoclated Press.
RICHMOND, Jan. 1.—Three de
partment heads will be among 52
appointees of Gov. Price whose
names will go to the General Assem
bly for confirmation at the session
opening next week.
The department heads, subject to
confirmation by both houses, are
Dr. William H. Stauffer of Henrico,
commissioner of public welfare for
the term beginning June 1,1938, and
coincident with that of the Gov
ernor; L. M. Walker, jr., of King
George, commissioner of agriculture
for the une*pired term ending June
20. 1942, of the late George W.
Koiner, and H. Clarence Smith of
Bluefield, chairman of the Conserva
tion Commission, for a four-year
term ending December 31, 1942.
Names of 16 others will go before
both houses for confirmation ahd 33
before the Senate. In addition, 16
judges, including 7 appointed by the
Governor, will be subject to election
at this session.
The appointees subject to con
firmation by both houses in addi
tion to the three department heads,
include:
Frank L. Ball of Arlington, State
Board of Public Welfare, unexpired
term of five years ending June 30,
1049
Those subject to confirmation by
the Senate include:
Harry Flood Byrd of Winchester,
Board of Visitors of V. P. I„ term
of four years ending June 30, 1942.
William S. Snow of Alexandria.
Commission of Game and Inland
Fisheries, term of four years ending
June 30. 1943.
Mrs. Florence Jodzies of Fairfax,
Board of Visitors. School for the
Deaf and Blind, for term of four
years ending June 30, 1942.
Actress Tries to End Life
As Parents Did in Vienna
By the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES. Jan. 1.—A dark
haired Viennese actress, near death,
physicians said, from an overdose
of sedative, told in two notes a story
of tragedy linked with Europe's up
heaval.
In one, addressed to police, Renate
Roeder, 19, wrote:
“I commit suicide because I lost
my parents the same way in Vienna
and I cannot live without them * * *
I want all of my clothes, furs and
jewelry to be sold and the money
given to German refugees and
orphans.”
In another, addressed to Harry
Rosenssock, New York, an uncle,
she declared:
“I am sorry that I had to do this,
out I loved my parents so much • * *
I hope that you will understand and
forgive * * *”
Red Acmy Staff Chief
Gets Highest Decoration
By tjie associated Press.
MOSCOW, Jan. 1.—The Supreme
Soviet today conferred the Order of
Lenin, Russia's highest decoration,
on Gen. B. M. ShaposhnikofT. chief
of the army general staff, “for suc
cessful guidance of the operations
of the Red Army."
The announcement of the award,
issued by Tass, the official news
agency, did not mention the Finnish
campaign or say specifically what
operations were meant.
Of the Finnish campaign (in which
the Finns reported a Russian divi
sion “cut up and for the most part
destroyed”) the Moscow communique
early today said merely:
“Nothing of importance took place
at the front. Soviet aviation success
fully bombed a number of places.”
Rival Coaches Cautious,
But Do They Mean It?
By the Associated Press.
PASADENA. Calif., Jan. 1.—
Here's what Coaches Robert R.
Neyland of Tennessee and Howard
Jones of Southern California say in
statements prior to the Rose Bowl
game:
Coach Neyland—I hope we will
be able to make a good showing
against Southern California's pow
erful team. Tennessee is prepared
to play its best game and I only
wish I knew that would be good
enough.
Coach Jones—We are going out
to play the best game we know how.
Any team with an untarnished rec
ord has me scared and all I can say
is we’ll be glad if we win by one
point. Tennesse has one of the
greatest teams ever to come out of
the South.
12 Are Questioned
In Waitress' Killing
In Philadelphia
Nude Body of Girl, 23,
Is Found in Bed
By Roommate
Bjr the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 1.—Police
hoped today to find from the men
in the life of Mary Vila a clue to the
murderer who brutally beat and
smothered the 23-year-old Argen
tine beauty and left her nude,
mutilated body in her bed.
Twelve persons, including two men
known to have been friendly with
the girl, were questioned concerning
the slaying, discovered by her room
mate early yesterday None of those
questioned was formally arraigned.
The roommate, 25-year-old Anna
Oscilowski. made the discovery as
she crept into the bed they shared.
"There is little doubt,” said Capt.
James Kelly of the homicide squad,
"that Miss Vila was killed by some
one who knew her well. The killer
apparently had entree to her room;
in fact, may have been waiting for
hpr ”
From reports of the coroner's
physician, police theorized that the
murderer knocked the pretty, un
employed waitress unconscious with
blows to the head, smothered her
with a pillow and then choked her.
Prints of the fingers were still on
the throat when detectives arrived.
There were mutilations on other
parts of the body, some made with
a sharp instrument.
From Miss Oscilowski police
learned she and Miss Vila had been
together Saturday night, but had
parted in a taproom shortly after
midnight. Capt. Kelly said she told
them the girl had at least two men
friends, one of whom was planning
to marry her.
Members of her family said the
girl came to this country 19 years
ago after her father, a cigarmaker
in Buenos Aires, died.
Admiral Leahy to Confer
On Puerto Rican Relief
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. Jan. 1— Admiral
William Leahy, U. S. N., retired,
who was appointed last spring to
succeed Blanton W. Winship as
Governor of Puerto Rico, returned
today on the Puerto Rico liner
Borinquen to report to President
Roosevelt. Admiral Leahy, ac
companied by his wife, left for
Washington.
While in Washington, Admiral
Leahy was expected to confer with
; Interior Department and Work
Projects Administration officials or
Puerto Rican relief policy.
; Mechanical Ax Invented
A mechanical ax which cuts blocks
of wood for gas generator auto
i mobiles, trucks and tractors at high
speed has been invented in Russia
Kacing Results
Tropical Park
FIRST RACE—Purse. $700; claiming!
for 4-year-olds and up; A furlongs
Buddie Treacy (Ryam 13.80 A 40 4 80
SDlttenimage (Rosenl 6.40 4 SO
Miss Hildur (Harrell) 8.0C
Time. 1:144*. _ ,
Also ran—Fly Me. Town League. Depth
Bomb. Calling Parity. White Topper,
Stavka. R Plnchot and Nevfcr Cease.

SECOND RACE—Purse $700; claiming;
for 4-year-olds end up: A furlongs.
Morning Mail (Anderson) 7.70 3.70 2.00
My First (Wholevi ft PO 3.Pi
Sun Kincsen (Watson) 3.5C
Time. 1 13**
Also rail—Decroath. Toby Tyler, Glisten
Boston Fair. Git.tar, Loloma. Brierton ant
Burning Billows.
(Daily double naid $54 40.)
THIRD RACE—Purse. «700 claiming;
for 3-year-o!ds: A furlong* (chute).
Sure Cure (Wells) p 30 4 40 3 2f
Arch Hero (Flinchum) 4.20 3 10
Curltaueue (Anderson) 3 7(
Time. 1:14**.
Also ran—Bay James. Nutty. Totache
Fairy Imp, Edwardian. Tugood and Ranet
Boss.
FOURTH RACE—Purse. $700: claiming
for 3-year-olds: 6 furlongs (chute).
Cantata (Young) 5 80 4 10 3.30
Spirited (Na*h> 11 60 7.50
Stand Alone (Haas) 4.PC
Time. 1:14»*.
Also ran—Corsica. Witch Ball. Prout
Lass. Valdtna Lass. My Mommy ant
Miss B. B
FIFTH RACE—Purse. $2,000: Orangt
Bowl Handicap: for 4-year-olds and up;
1 miles.
Dolly Val (Bodiou) 16.00 P 40 5.2(1
Bobs Boys (Arcaro) 6.80 4 0<l
Cardinalis (Wilson) 3.10
Time. 1:45**.
Also ran—Counter Poise. aMemory Book,
Our Ketcham, Marie. Wise Barrister and
High Fidelity
a P. L. Kelley entry.
SIXTH RACE—Purse. $700: claiming:
for 3-year-olds: 6 furlongs; (chute).
Deep Summer (Packer) 15.20 H.4(i 4 80
Anti Air (Johnston) 7.00 4.7(1
Bmiltn Jack (Berger) 6.50
Time, 1:16.
Also ran—Court O Mint. Mint Dodge.
Settler, steep. King Neptune, Arched and
Bell Helen.
SEVENTH RACE—Purse. $800; claim
ing; for 4-year-olds and up; 1 T« miles.
Reminiscent (Arcaro) 6.00 3.00 3.00
Mordccai (Robertson) 3.10 3.20
Combahee (Alleater) 7.50
Time, 1:464*.
Also ran—AutograDh. Doubler, Caml
sado and Old Maid.
ALL FAITHS OF ONE FAITH—Gathered on Capitol Hill as the new year approaches^ these peo
ple heard clergymen representing all faiths pledge anew their belief and hope that religion would
1 cure a sick world. (Story on Page B-l.j —Star Staff Photo.
Oldest Inhabitants
Admit Two New
Members
Capt. R. H. Mansfield
And Joseph Kaufman
Are Elected
The Society of Oldest Inhabit
ants at its annual New Year Day
meeting elected two new members
to its ranks.
The new members are Capt
Richard H. Mansfield of the 0th
precinct and Joseph D. Kaufman.
Although the original purpose oi
the meetings was to gather the
members of the organization to
gether before going to the White
House New Year Day receptions, the
association has continued to hold the
1 first meeting of each year on Janu
ary 1, although the receptions have
been discontinued.
The association passed a resolu
tion to send its president, Theodor*
W. Noyes, who was unable to at
tend. a telegram wishing him e
happy New Year. A similar mes
sage was ordered sent to J. Elio!
Wright, secretary-treasurer of the
association.
After hearing minutes of the Iasi
meeting in 1939 and reports of com
mittees, the association passed s
resolution opposing a bill in Con
gress, sponsored by Representative
Jennings Randolph of West Vir
ginia, which proposes an additional
1 cent per gallon gasoline tax which
may be diverted for other pur
poses.
No action was taken on a resolu
non, indorsement oi wnicn was
sought by the Firemen’s Association
of the District, opposing any re
duction in the present personnel
of the District Fire Department as
proposed in current District re
organization plans.
After business matters had been
taken care of. John Ciagett Proctor,
first vice president of the organi
zation, who presided, read the
chronicles for the year 1939.
Committee chairmen for 1940, as
approved by Mr. Noyes, are as fol
lows: L. A. Carruthers, finance;
Jesse C- Suter, membership; Dr.
Hugh M. Smith, entertainment;
John B. Dickman, sick; James F.
Duhamel, buildings, hall and
archives; Charles A. Langley, spe
cial building, and Mr. Suter, reno
vation.
Toomey New Chairman
Of Ring Rules Body
By the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 1.—Appoint
ment of I. F. “Crip” Toomey, direc
tor of athletics at California Agri
cultural College at Davis, as chair
man of the National Collegiate As
sociation’s Boxing Rules Committee
was announced today.
Toomey succeeds W. H. Cowell,
athletics director at the University
of New Hampshire and secretary
treasurer of the American Football
Coaches’ Association. Cowell with
drew because of ill health.
Chihuahua City Is Dry
As Bartenders Strike
By the Associated Press.
CHIHUAHUA CITY, Jan. 1.—It
was a dry, decorous New Year Day
in Chihuahua City.
All bartenders and other employes
of drinking establishments struck at
midnight, protesting a new State law
against sale of hard liquors.
Wine and beer are permitted
under the law, also effective'at mid
night, but the strike enforced an
early "blackout" of public celebra
tions.
The Sudan is trying to stop the
shipment of agricultural products
to other ooun tries.
a
Jennings to Take Seat
In Congress Wednesday
By the Associated Press.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 1.—
Victorious by more than 5.000 ma
jority. John Jennings, jr., of Knox
ville, 59-year-old attorney, prepared
today to leave for Washington to
fill the vacancy in Congress created
by the death of Representative J.
Will Taylor.
Mr. Jennings, a Republican, will
take the oath of office Wednesday as
Representative from Tennessee's
2d congressional district.
Unofficial returns from virtually
i the entire 11-county district showed
(Mr. Jennings defeated his demo
j cratlc opponent, Hammond Fowler
of Rockwood, 16.670 to 10,978 in the
special election Saturday.
11 Dead and 12 Injured
In Illinois Train Wreck
By the Associated Press.
ARCOLA, 111., Jan. 1—One man
was killed and 12 were injured in a
rear-end collision between two Illi
nois Central passenger trains here
early today.
Authorities said the dead man
was tentatively identified as W. T.
Tallmadge, widely known Chicago
architect.
The accident occurred about 6
am., when the No. 4 passenger from
New Orleans, running about one
hour late, was pulling out of the
Areola Station. It was rammed in
the rear by No. 6, the road's Panama
Limited, also out of New Orleans.
One coach in the middle of No. 4
was telescoped and the tender on
No. 6 was jammed into the baggage
car.
Both trains were filled with holi
day travelers.
A. F. L. Official Suffers
Stroke on New York Visit
John Coefleld, 70-year-old labor
leader, remained in serious condi
tion today in Doctors Hospital in
New York, where he suffered a
stroke Saturday while attending a
labor meeting. His wife flew from
Washington yesterday to be at his
bedside.
Fourth vice president of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor and in
ternational president of the Brother
hood of Plumbers and Steamfitters,
Mr. Coefleld was in New York to
attend a testimonial dinner for
George Meaney, A. F. L. secretary
treasurer and retiring State presi
dent.
He collapsed on the street from a
heart attack after the banquet. Mr.
and Mrs. Coefleld live at 4701 Con
necticut avenue N.W.
Beech Aircraft Head
Cheered by Outlook
Special Dispatch to Tha Star.
WICHITA, Kans., Jan. 1.—The
outlook for the aircraft industry in
1940 is more promising than it has
been since the beginning of the in
dustry, according to Walter H. Beech,
president of Beech Aircraft Corp.
“The war in Europe has created
a tremendous demand for aircraft
of all types," he said.
“The private owner and corporate
owner markets for individually
owned airplanes for pleasure or
business purposes also may be ex
pected to expand in 1940, providing
that business conditions are favor
ably affected by the war.
“There is a good, possibility of
repeat orders for Amy and Navy
equipment now being manufactured
for the United States Government.”
Orioles Wallop Gulls
BALTIMORE, Jan. 1 (Special).—
The Baltimore Orioles registered a
5-1 victory over the Atlantic City
Sea Gulls here last night, as the
teams Inaugurated Boardwalk Cup
series play in the Eastern Amateur
Hockegr League.
k
Ex-Gov. Ely Rejects
Al Smith Suggestion
To Run for President
Man Who Took a Walk'
With New Yorker Likes
Hull and Farley
By tbe Associated Press.
WESTFIELD. Mass., Jan. 1.—A
former Massachusetts Democrats
Governor, who joined Al Smith wher
he “took a walk” during the las'
presidential election, showed littk
interest today in a suggestion tha
he would make a good 1940 presr
dential candidate.
“I am not a candidate for anj
political office,” declared forme:
Gov. Joseph B. Ely, named by Mr
Smith, in a birthday interview, a
among Democrats available for thi
presidential nomination. Mr. Ei;
nominated the former New Yorl
Governor for the presidency in 1932
Asserting that he did not believi
President Roosevelt would breal
tradition and run for a third term
Mr. Ely said, in an interview, tha
“with dictatorships abroad causini
the trouble they are. it would seen
strange if this country should taki
the first step toward that sort o
thing.”
He named Secretary of State Hul
and Postmaster General Farley a
leading Democratic personalities
describing the former as a “man o
strong and sincere conviction” am
the Postmaster General as one whos
“word is good” and who is a “splen
did organizer.”
Discussing Republicans, the for
mer Massachusetts chief executiV'
said former President Hoover wa
“the most capable man in the party,
and that District Attorney Thoma
E. Dewey was “ambitious." but lack
ing in actual governmental expert
ence.
Shell Oil Official Dies
CARACAS, Venezuela, Jan. 1 (ZP
—William Tecumseh Shermai
Doyle, general manager of Roya
Dutch Shell oil properties in Vene
zuela for 20 years, died today.
Boy Tells Horror fate
Of Seeing Parents
Slain, Home Fired
Farm Couple, One Child
Found in Ruins; Second
Flees With Baby
Ey the Associated Press.
FORT TOWSON, Okla.. Jan. 1.—
A frightened, drowsy little boy’s story
that two strangers shot his father
and mother then burned the house
down on them and his small brother
prompted an intensive investigation
today.
Excited and shocked. 8-year-old
James Glenn Rogers stuck to his
tale of terror. He was questioned
by officials studying the deaths last
night of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Rogers
and their 4-year-old son Dean.
County Attorney Norman Horton
said "the physical facts point to
violence of some kind.”
Guided by flashlights and the
flickering rays of a big wood fire,
coroner’s Jurors scratched about the
ruins of the three-room farmhouse
until after midnight.
Eerie Court Convened.
They examined the charred
corpses laid out a few feet from
where Ur.cle Joe White, 70-year-old
Justice of the peace, convened his
eerie court, shadowed by heavy tim
uer anu a maun. aay m jjcucu aiiiig
cold:
It was about bedtime, James told
Mr. Horton, that two men he hadn't
seen before knocked at the house.
“Right away they came in and
shot daddy with a big gun,” the boy
said.
"Mother ran to the yard for help.
She got to the back porch and they
shot her too.”
Her body was found near a door
way. The father and child were in
the ruins of two beds.
James said the men began striking
matches and putting coal oil about
the place.
Carried Baby to Safety.
He was in the “front room.” He
snatched up his one-year-old
brother. Billie Don, and ran for
help. The baby in his arms, he
brought first news of the tragedy
to Fort Towson, a mile from his
home.
Neighbors and friends were at a
complete loss for any motive for
foul play. “They didn’t have an
enemy in the world,” one said.
One neighbor recalled that two
strange men had slept Saturday
night in a bam a quarter of a mile
from the Rogers home.
Roy Deering, who lives within
"calling distance” of the Rogers
home, said he heard no shots. He
looked out about 8 o'clock and saw
no light but 15 minutes later his hoy
called to him that the Rogers house
was ablaze.
Mr. Rogers was described by
friends as despondent. He had been
unable to find steady employment.
; Reds Attack Hoover
For Assisting Finns
By tbe Associated Press.
MOSCOW, Jan. 1.—The newspaper
Trud, organ of Soviet industry, vig
orously attacked ex-President Her
| bert Hoover yesterday for his Fin
; | nish relief work.
It said he was aiding the “White
; Finnish government” and recounted
i in bitter terms the bonus march in
11 1932, when he was in the White
' i House.
Four New Names
; Suggested for
Roosevelt Forest
“ By the Associated Press.
STRATFORD. Conn.. Jan. l.—A
; special committee of this old Re
‘ publican town has recommended
■ four names for the rechristening of
, a public park now known as Roose
| velt Forest.
, A bitter political battle followed
■ recent action of the Council in
appointing the committee to change
[ the name of the park—partly de
s veloped with P. W. A. funds—to one
, “more suitable for a Republican
; town. ”
I The names recommended were
• Samuel Johnson Park, after a local
■ signer of the Constitution; Paugusset
Park, after an old Indian trail;
■ Putney Park, for the section in
> wrhich it is located, and Castle Rock
> Park.
’ Democrats termed the move a
; “slap in the face for the President”
• and Republicans replied that “if the
• Democrats could change the name
of Hoover Dam to Boulder Dam • • •
then there is no reason why we
should not be able to change the
name of our park to something
. more in keeping with the town.”
II It has been established, however,
1: that the forest was named after the
■ | Republican Theodore Roosevelt and
not Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Weather Report
(Furnished by the United States Weather Bureau.)
District of Columbia—Fair and continued cold tonight and tomorrow;
lowest temperature tonight about 14 degrees; moderate northwest winds.
Maryland—Generally fair and continued cold tonight and tomorrow,
except snow flurries in west portion tonight.
Virginia—Light snow on the coast this afternoon; generally fair and
colder, except snow flurries in extreme northwest portion tonight;
tomorrow fair and continued cold.
West Virginia—Generally fair tonight and tomorrow, except snow
flurries in east portion tonight; slightly colder in south portion tonight;
continued cold tomorrow.
wvvtmtwvr vvoHiiioni mii noun.
Pressure remains low over the Easterr
States and the North Pacific States and 1
is relatively low over the southern plateai
region Greenville. Me. 966.3 millibar;
(29.42 inches): Tatoosh Island. Wash.
1.0114.7 millibars <29.67 inches): Green
ville. 6. C., 1,007 1 millibars (29.74
inches), and Flagstaff. Ariz . 1,012 2 milli
bars (29.89 inches). Pressure is high ant
rising over the Plains States and the Mis
souri and Upper Mississippi Valleys, Willis
ton. N. Dak.. 1.031.8 millibars <30.41
inches), and relatively high pressure pre
vails over Cuba and Southern Florida
Miami. Fla.. 1.016.6 millibars (30.01
inches) There have been rather genera
rains over middle and northern section:
west of the Rocky Mountains, and ilgh
snow has fallen in the Northern Rock:
Mountain region, and the Northern Plain:
States and at most stations from the Mis
souri and middle Mississippi Valleys east
ward to the Atlantic Coast. The weathei
has become colder over middle and north
ern sections east of the Rocky Mountain:
and the temperature is now much beloe
normal over thie entire area. The lowes
reported this morning was minus 18 de
grees at WlUiston. N. Dak.
Tide Tables.
(Furnished by United States Coast an<
Geodetio Survey.)
Today. Tomorrow
High -12:14 a.m. 1:14 a.m
Low _ 7:07 a.m. 8:05 a.m
High _12:50 p.m. 1:53 p.m
Low - 7:36 p.m. 8:40 p.m
Elver Report.
Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers deal
at Harpers Ferry: Potomac clear at Greai
Falls today.
The Sap pad Moon.
Rises. Bate.
Sun, today_ 7:27 4:56
Sun, tomorrow_ 7:27 4:56
Moon, today- 11:25 a.m.
Automobile llghte must be turned on one
half hour after eunset.
Jb
Precipitation.
Monthly precipitation in inch** to the
Capita] (current month to date):
Month. 1940. Average. Record.
January - ... 3.56 7.83 '37
February- 3.27 §.84 '84
- — 3.75 8.84 'PI
April - ... 3.27 5.13 -89
May - ___ 3.70 10.69 '89
June - 4.13 10.94 ’00
iul» .- — 4.71 10.63 '86
August - ___ 4.01 14.41 ’28
September - ... 3.24 17.46 '34
October - ... 2.84 8.81 ’37
November - ... 2.37 8.89 '89
December 3.32 7.58 '01
Report for Last 48 Bonn.
. . . Temperature. Barometer.
Saturday— Degree*. Inches.
4 p.m- 37 29.80
8 p.m.- 31 29.78
Midnight - 28 29.72
Sunday—
4 a.m- 25 29.84
fcooV"-:::::-::::: It S:ft
2 p.m- 32 29.84
tp.m- 31 29.67
P m. _ 28 29.76
12 midnight_ 23 29.78
Today—
4 a.m- 20 29 80
8 a.m. - 18 29.81
Noon . , _ 24 29.74
Record for Last 24 Hoars.
(From noon yesterday to noon today.)
Highest. 33. 11:15 a.m. yesterday. Tear
ago. 56.
Lowest. 17, 7:15 a.m. today. Tear
ago, 35.
Hamidity for Last 94 Hears.
(From noon yesterday to noon today.)
Highest, 39 per cent, at 9 a.m. today.
Lowest. 28 per cent, at 4:15 pjn. yes*
terday.
Foreign Stations.
(Noon. Oreenwlch time, today.)
_ _ Temperature. Weather.
Horta (Fayal). Axores_62 Cloudy
(Current observation!.)
Ban Juan. Puerto Rico. 78 Cloudy
Havana. Cuba _ 68 Qouay
Colon. Canal Zone_ 75 Cloudy
A A
WAR MAP
SUPPLEMENT
4s Printed in Monday's Star,
\ I Oct. 30th
mnsmA Reprint of this section***
on heavy smooth-finish
Paper, NOW ON SALE at
The Star Business Office,
11 th and Pennsylvania
Avenue N.W.
10c per copy, by Mail 15c
• "What's happening In Eu
rope"—the changes in name_
end area of territory, fortifica-'
tions, naval bases, cities, bor
ders, boundaries, etc.—graph
ically told in a complete eight
page section. Invaluable for
reference os you seek intelli
gently to follow the course and
significance of future war de
velopments.
CHRONICLES OF 1939—John Clagett Proctor, vice president and acting president or the Associa
tion of the Oldest Inhabitants, is shown today reading the chronicles of 193f at the traditional
New Year meeting. Shown (left to right) are Harry A. Burr, marshal; Dr. Hugh F. Smith, vice
president; Christian Heurich, vice president; Mr. Proctor, John B. Dickman, secretary-treasurer
and vice president; Jesse C. Suter, vice president, and John R. Mahoney, financial secretary and
vice president, _ ^ —Star Staff Photo,
a 'V L

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