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16 PAGES int.. ixxvn. pnTpij', ±(\ <"il.r ll\j r f |Q by carrier NUMBER 133. JT Itl^ill . t\J V>ll<l> A O I>F.R MONTH SWOPE'S DEATH DUE TO POISON GIVEN BY HYDE Coroner's Jury Accuses Relative of Administer ing Fatal Drug EXPECT A SENSATION Another Inquest Likely to Be Held on Body of Second Victim [Associated Press] KANSAS CITY, Feb. 9.—C01. Thos. H. Swope cams to his death by reason of strychnine adminis tered In a capsule by Dr. B. C. Hyde, husband of the millionaire's niece, ac cording to a verdict of the coroner's jury in Independence today. Whether the drug was administered with felonious Intent the jury said in Its verdict it was unable to determine. The Jury was out little more than an hour. The greater part of this time was devoted to discussing the case. Only one ballot was necessary. Although there were numerous and hurried consultations between attor neys for the state and Dr. Hyde and his legal advisers, and although ru mors regarding the probable prosecu tion were plentiful tonight, the case stands Just as It did when the coro ner's Jury rendered its verdict. Prosecutor Virgil Conkilng refused to discuss his plans. He said positively, however, that he would confer with liis associates in the prosecutor's office before he took any action. He and Henry L. Jost, first assistant circuit attorney, who has done the major por tion of the investigating for the state In the Swope mystery, will confer to morrow. Inquest Planned It is said tonight that Coroner Zwart will begin an inquest over Chrlsman Swnpe's body as soon as the official report of the physicians who nre ex amining the stomach and liver Is re ceived. J. E. Trogden, coroner's attorney, would not commit himself on this ru in or. Dr. Hyde and his attorneys, John M. Cleary and Frank P. Walsh, spent the evening together at the physician's home. They made no statement. Mr?. Hyde is seriously ill and the physi cian, is devoting all his spare time to her. The suit that Dr. Hyde has pending against Attorney John G. Paxtnn, Dr. Frank Hall and Dr. Edward T. Stew art for damages, for JfiOO.ooo for al leged libel, will be dismissed if Dr. Hyde is pressed for depositions in the case now, It is reported tonight. It is expected the deposition con test, which wafed so fiercely last week, will begin anew, now that the inquest Is over. If Dr. Hyde is ruffled by the verdict he is concealing his feelings. When It Mas returned ho asked his attorney, John M. Cleary: "What does it mean?" Sir. Cleary explained the verdict. "I see," he simply said. Then he asked his attorney to go to lunch with him. A moment later they left the building. Scene at Inquest Tho morning barely had started when Dr. Zwart looked at a piece of paper upon which ho carried the list of witnesses. His lips were just be ginning to frame the name of Dr. Hyde when Attorney Walsh arose and bent over the table. The courtroom became suddenly quiet. "Walsh began slowly: « "The attorneys for Dr. Hyde have ndvised him not to testify," he said. "We don't care for him to testify, and therefore, with our suggestion, he must decline to be sworn." Another man was standing close by, and in .his hand there was a copy of a newspaper, the pages of which were being rapidly turned to a certain place. The man was Virgil Conkling, prosecuting attorney. He, too, spoke his words slowly, with precision and almost coldly. "I have here a copy of a newspaper of February 1," he began. "It con tains a signed statement by Dr. B. C. Hyde, and in the light of his refusal to testify I desire to " There was an interruption from Mr. Walsh, and this time the slowness of the speech of the attorney was gone. "If this is done for the purpose of publication," he almost shouted, "I——" Dr. Zwart was on his feet and be tween the two men, and for a few mo ments he and Mr. Conkling conversed in a whisper. "I must insist on it," Dr. Zwart paid to Mr. Conkling, and Just what the conversation was about the audioncj did not know. Soon there came the explanation. Go Out Together "Certainly T'll see you privately, Mr. Conkllng," and together thoy left tho room. When the coroner and the prosecut ing attorney returned Dr. Zwart said: "I still hold that the coroner has the right to examine witnesses and that Dr. Hyile was subpoenaed in the wrong way. and is therefore entitled to testify." "I stated before that Dr. Hyde re fuses to be sworn to testify," promptly replied Attorney Walsh, "and since that " There had eomo another interruption by Prosecuting Attorney Conkling. "The prosecutor asks that the same rule apply as with all witnesses," he said vehemently. "We refuse to allow the witness to ■testify," Insisted Walsh. "The coroner insists," Dr. Zwart an swered hastily. "Counsel refuses to allow the wit ness to testify." Tlr. Zwart sat down. Then Virgil Conkling, still with the newspaper copy of Dr. Hyde's state ment In his hand, the statement In which Pr. Hyde said he was ready and willing to testify at any Inquiry that he was eager for an Investigation and anxious that the mystery of Col. Swope's death bo cleared up, looked at Dr. Hyde, at the attorneys and the . (irs. His voice became hard. ■Then," he said, "that Is sufficient for the purpose! of the prosecutor." This ended the Incident and Dr W. V. Ciayle. a Kansaß City physician, ■uas railed to give expert testimony on the effect of strj'chnine upon the hu- Culitluuuii ou I'ajo Xwu I LOS ANGELES HERALD INDEX OF HERALD'S NEWS TODAY FORECAST For Los Angeles and vicinity: Fair Thursday; moderate north wind. Maxi mum temperature yesterday 65 de grees, minimum 46 degrees. LOS ANGELES California division Daughters of Revo tion denes northern division; will hold stato conference. PAGE 16 Man of 90 neld up. beaten and robfced of $1?o; second highwayman job dis covered mhortly 'afterward. PAGE 1 Engineer James Bchuyler lauds work being done on the Panama canal. PAGE 5 "Hurry Up Harry" Brown, 300 per cent broker, whose methods were exposed ny The Herald, Is found guilty. PAGB 1 Joint council committee to consider pro pospd reduction of salaries. PAGE 6 Wife accuses W. H. Hay, real estate dealer, of cruelty. Too much champHgn* and temper blamed. PAGK 5 Aviation meet ecexutlve committee decides to rotund to all subscribers full amount paid. PAGE 9 East Hollywood will favor adoption by vote of 10 to 1. PAGB 9 Boy sleuth causes raid on alleged gambling resort. PAGE 9 Attempt la made to fix telephone rates. Conference between companies and utili ties commission Is begun. PAGE 9 Lottery joint raided by police. Chinese proprietor and five others arrested. PAGE 1 Tots cry with Joy as mother steps from prison coll. PAGE 8 Pire traps sleeping Mexicans In bunk house. PAGB 8 Score injured, five seriously, when Long* Beach car crashes Into rear of Catalina train at Florence avenue. PAGE 1 Ash Wednesday, opening of Lenten season, observed by services In Los Angeles churches. PAGE 1C Chinatown busy celebrating advent of the new year which Is number 2361. PAGE 8 Claim he tried to burn up victim—Police say prisoner robbed sleeping man and eet fire to bed. FADE 16 J. Hartman Is fleeced out of $30 by a brand new bunco game. PAGE 16 Editorial, Letter Box and Hasltln'B let ter. PAGE 4 Marriage licenses, births and deaths. PAGE 14 Society, clubs end murlo. PAGE 7 Municipal affair*. PAGE 5 News of tha courts, PAGE 5 Mines and oil fields. PAGB 13 Markets and financial. PAOFI 13 Building oermlts. PAGE 14 Citrus fruit report. PAGE 13 Shipping. PAGE 13 Sports. PAGE 10 Automobile*. PAGE 11 City brevities. PAGE! 5 Classified advertising. PAGE 15 Thsatcrg «nd dramatic orlttcl«m. PAGE 7 SOUTH CALIFORNIA Administration building of University of Kedlands Is dedicated. PAGE » Chauffeur nearly killed and big motor car wrecked as result of Joy ride to Venice. PAGE 6 March 6 Is fixed as date for bond election for Polytechnlo high school at Long Reach. PAGE 14 Smuggler of shell fish escapes rrorn officer after being arrested. PAGB 14 Miss Vera Schaupp. runaway daughter, writes to mother at Pasadena. PAGE) 14 Pick and Shovel olub of Ocean Park to havo charge of school ground plow ing. I'AGB 7 Hair five gtvfs Long Beach man a halo of brilliant red. PAGE 14 COAST Prominent chemist dies at Berkeley—Prof. \v. I!. lilslng of University of California passes away at his home. PAGE 3 Reception plans for welcome of former President Roosevelt made known to Taft. who hopes to attend demonstration. FAGEJ 2 Sees deadly enemy in Halley's comet; Berkeley professor says tall carries poi sonous gas. PAGE 8 Hermann called an "oily politician" by Prosecutor Heney In address to jury. PAGE 0 EASTERN Inquiry by stock exchange Into Columbus and Hocking pool ends In whitewash. PAGE « Reorganization of navy, aa proposed by aecretary of navy. Indorsed by house committee. PAGE 2 Swopo's death declared by coroner's jury to have been due to poison ad ministered by Dr. Hyde. PAGE 1 Missouri senator blamea tariff for the present high prices of food products. PAQB 2 Taft approves Plnchot'a plan and as result 40,000,000 acres of government land is to be opened for homestead. PAGE 2 Battle waged by stockholders on telephone trust established by Plerpont Morgan. PAGE 2 McLachlon bill providing for government ownfd steamships on Paclno will be discussed soon. t PAE S rinchot urges schooling for forestry work, and scores successor for abolition of collegiate training. PAGE 1 Commissioner Smith puts forth sugges tions for federal control of Important Industries. PAGE 2 FOREIGN "No compromise" with lords or Liberals, Is cry of Kier-Hardle, English labor leader. PAGE 3 Korean resident general. Viscount Sone, will not resign, say Japanose newspapers. PAGE 3 Spain Insists on concordat revision—even protest of Vatican may prove unavailing. PAGB 3 Mexico averts railway strike which threat ened to tie up nation's roatla; tinal agree ment signed. ' PAGE 6 MINING AND OIL Low grade gold ore deposit Is discovered In Pinal county, Ariz. PAGE 13 Strong Gas pressure occurs in second deep well of Palmer company at Santa Maria. PA<JE 13 San Diego gem mine yields rare stones. PAGB 13 Producers' Transportation company dis places Associated Pipe lino. PAGE 13 Nevada oil field attracts attention of lo cators and Investors. PAGE 13 Craudall well in Midway produces thirty gravity oil: PAGE 13 Cleveland Oil company brings In No. 8 well In Kern river field. PAGE 13 SPORTING Flynn-Langford fight Is the great theme with the fans and tho general verdict Is that Fireman won. PAGE 10 Football coaches will attempt to prove that game la quite harmless. PAGE 10 Sevenful maintains consistent record at Juarez meet. PAGE 10 Jack Johnson at law again, tills time over a bulldo*. PAGE 10, THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 10, 1010. PINCHOT FLAYS SUCCESSOR FOR CONTRARY WORK Collegiate Training Es sential for Foresters, Is Statement DEFENDS HIS POLICY Deposed Chief, Loyal to Nation's Interest, Ex poses Abuses [Associated Press] ■VT EW YORK, Feb. 9. — Gifford \ Pinchot, deposed chief forester of -^ the United States, but still loyal to his policies as president of the na tional conservation commission, de fended the forest service In a speech before the National Arts olub in Now York tonight. Mr. Pinchot bitterly assailed the action of George P. McCabe, solicitor of the department, who, as temporary chief of the forestry bureau after Pinchot's dismissal, took action to abolish the collegiate training of for esters at government expense. This action Mr. Pinchot described as "a secret attack on the service, pros tituting the law, a method so effective ly used by special Interests against the people, and a cruel and needless loss." He said In part: "I am as proud of the forest service and its men as I ever was, and I ven ture to think that it has proved the value of Its ideal by its achievements and the enemies it has made. "Now let me give you the best illus trations I have seen in recent years of how a public officer, under pretext of obedience to the law, may traffic with It and abuse it to the public injury. Scores McCabe "Upon my dismissal, the solicitor of the department of agriculture (George P, McCabe), pending 1 the arrival of an other officer from the Held, was acting forester for three or four days. It ap pears that he learned then of the ranger schools at the four state uni versities and sent telegrams to the dis bursing officers in the held to pay no expense connected with them. These telegrams were kept secret from every member of the service in Washington except the stenographer who wrote them. "With equal concealment from all the men In the forest service, a letter was prepared and sent to the comp troller asking for a speedy advance de cision as to the legality of the ranger schools. This letter was clearly in tended and was so framed as to secure a decision against the schools, and it was successful in doing so. "This letter Is a misrepresentation because it omits to state tho central, essential and incontrovertible facts: "First, that the forest service must have trained raneers. ."Second, that it can get them only by training them after they enter the service. "It follows that the training of tho rangers by the service is necessarily, clearly and undeniably for the admin istration, protection and improvement of the natural forests. Being necessary for that purpose, it falls well within tho terms of the agricultural bill, and Is therefore lawful. How Obtained "Consider, now, the situation under which this decision of the comptroller was obtained. The solicitor of the de partment of agriculture is the officer charged with promoting the welfare of the department and all its bureaus on the lesral side. "Both solicitor and acting forester, he was in honor bound to forward the work of the forest service by every lawful means at his command. By his official position he was Its counsel and advocate. Yet he made no attempt to assist the service In this matter. "On tha contrary, ho led the secret attack on it and used anxious and suc cessful care that no attempt to defend its course should be made by any other man. The men of the forest service were first informed that the legality of their work was in question only after adverse judgment had been rendered without giving them any hearing what ever. "I am not concerned with the motive behind this indefensible sacrifice of tho public welfare. It Is a typical illus tration of a certain way to obey the law. Of course, It is not obedience to the law at all, but the prostitution of the law. The Old Method "It is the method so effectively used by the special interests against the peo ple, and there Is nothing to be said in its favor. "The whole proceeding is not seen in its true light until we realizo its ef fect on nearly 200 of the best young men in the forest service, who were officially ordered to those schola for instruction. "These rangers are poor men, work ing for from $900 to $1300 a year, and they need their pay. Yet they will lose not only their pay for the time they attended these schools, but the money already advaneod out of their own pockets for traveling and other expenses. "At best it would bo nearly as far reaching as it is needless, and that is saying a great deal. But the fine loy alty of those rangers to their work is shown by the fact that about half of them have stayed on at the ranger schools at their own expense, the bet ter to learn their upblie duties. "Their devotion in doing ho is worthy of all praise, but I do not believe the people of the United States can afford to let that devotion stand unpaid by anything less than the promotion tho men have earned by the quality of their work. "It would be bad enough if this gra tuitous check to the improvement of the public service were nothing more than a rebuke to the higher officers of the service who were responsible for the ranger schools. "They were doing their duty as they saw it. But when the weight of it falls, as it does, upon the men who can least afford to carry it, who sim ply obeyed orders, its ruthless disre gard of ordinary humanity becomes its most striking characteristic. "It would bo hard to find a better or a more bitter illustration of the use of the law as a cover for not doing what a public officer has a ri«lit Id do, Mini what the public interest demands that he shall do. I submit the two points of view to your Judgment and abide by your deci»on." THE POST CARDS OF A TOURIST—No.2 „ TZ^tSs>^ \ fa^,',- W^fyw^ %? vchuY*tz& ■'.j^ f- - v^t*^ I'^1'^ The Herald's Tourist-Artist is impressed by the habit of Los Angeles citizens of frequently step ping on the scales. He opines, however, that when weighed in the balance they are not found wanting 'HURRY UP HARRY' BROWN CONVICTED 300 PER CENT BROKER IS FOUND GUILTY Corpulent Stock Dealer, Whose Meth. ods Were Exposed by The Herald, Will Be Sen. tenced "Hurry Up" Harry Brown, the cor pulent broker whose methods were ex posed by The Herald last March, was found guilty in Judge Davis' court yes terday of embezzling $800 from Nettie D. Hammond in January, 1909. He will be sentenced Monday. The case was given to the jury at 7 o'clock in the evening and the verdict was returned at 8:45. Trial of another case, set for yesterday In Judge Willis' court, was continued until March 14. In this case Brown is charged with passing a fictitious check for $1500, the complaining witness again being Dr. Hammond, to whom the alleged bad paper was given in March, last year. Only two witnesses were called by Attorney A. A. Sturges to testify in Brown's defense yesterday forenoon. The first of these was Dr. Clifford A. Smiley, who said Brown had purchased Missouri Pacific stock on margins for him In January. 1909. "Did you get all your money from Brown?" asked Deputy District Attor new Blair. "I did not," and the manner in which the reply was given caused a laugh among the spectators, many of whom, it was said, had lost money in their transactions with the accused man. A. R. Stratton waa Brown's second witness. He was manager of the bucket shop at Slauson Junction at the time, of Brown's arrest, and stated in response to questions the only records kept of business transacted in the place was a pocket memorandum book and a number of sheets showing in lead pen cil writing the supposed purchases and sales of stocks. Stratton was not permitted to testify to anything shown on these sheets. At torney Appel, associated with Mr. Blair in the prosecution, declaring that a de fense of embezzlement in a legitimate transaction could not be made by bringing in evidence of illegitimate ik';i linga. Judge Davis, however, permitted Stratton to say purchases of Missouri stock were made on margins in Jan uary, last year, and In his argument later in the day Attorney Sturges con tended the stocK order by Dr. Ham mond was included in these transac tions. Attorney Helm, nlso associated in the prosecution, made the opening ar gument to the Jury, and was followed by Attorney Stur«te», the closing :id dresa being made by Attorney Aonel. BEQUEATHED A MILLION AFTER YEARS OF LABOR FORTLAJrn. Ore., Feb. 9.—Mm. Mary Booth, 60 years of age, who has for years been struggling against bitter poverty and who has recently been ek ing out an MdrtMM as a teacher in a local Chinese mission, finds herself to day heiress to 51,000.000 willed by George D. Nelson of Springfield, Mass., who died a few days ago, leaving her this portion of his $0,000,000 estate. FORMER QUEEN "LIL" MAKES LAST APPEAL One-Time Ruler of Hawaii, Aged and Poor, Supported by Islanders, Weeps While at Chi. cago [Special to he Herald.] CHICAGO. Feb. 9.—Former Queeh Liliuokalani of Hawaii arrived in Chi cago today from Washington, where she made a lust and futile plea to have congress compensate her for the crown lands which were taken from her by the United States government at the time of the island revolution in 1893. Broken dowh in health, the former ruler three score and ten years old, is going back to the land of her former splendor, where the people still call her queen. Liliuokalani is now a poor woman. From the railway station she went to the hotel in an omnibus, with a crowd of immigrants who were being trans ferred to the Illinois Central station. The hotel was crowded, as were all other big hotels, and the former queen was forced to put up at a small south S'"l back to my people to snend my declining years," she said, after sh" reached the hotel, a3 the tears the Hawaiian people I can end my days without actual want." PONTIFF EXPLAINS ACT ROME, Feb. 9.-Pope Pius today per sonally considered the recent incident involving former Vice President Fair banks who was refused a private audi ence by the Vatican because he in sisted on keeping an earlier engage ment to-address the Methodist society here. His holiness said he regretted he had been unable to receive Mr. Fairbanks, but that he could not de part from the policy adopted, as to do so would appear to give recogni tion to the "disloyal Interference" by certain Protestant denominations. SINGLE COPIES:' S^Mik'Ti&WS MAN OF NINETY VICTIM OF THUGS NONOGENARIAN BEATEN AND ROBBED OF $125 Second Hold.Up Reported—Battered Victim Found, and Two Mexi cans Blamed for Both Crimes Frank Garr^tt, a retired merchant, 90 years old, was a victim last night of footpads, who succeeded in steal ing a wallet containing $125. Mr. Gar rett, who has been ill for several weeks, left his home, 1760 East First street, to take a walk and at the east end of the East First street bridge he was approached by two men whom he described as Mexicans. One of the men grabbed Garrett by the throat and held him while the other went through his pockets. De spite his age, Garrett fought desper ately, and not until he was choked into unconsciousness were the high- waymen able to obtain the money, which was in the inside vest pocket of Garrett. The holdup happened within half a block of Garrett's house. As soon as he was able he telephoned to police headquarters. Detectives were detailed on the case, but owing to the poor description and the fact that the rob bers had ample time to escape no ar rest was made. Shortly after the holdup of Garrett was reported a call for the police am bulance was received staing that a man in an unconscious condition was at the corner of Macy and Main streets. There a man giving the name «f B. J. Stone, a laborer, of 6320 Toledo street, Garvanza, was found with his head battered and a two-inch lacera tion of the upper lip. When he re gained his senses he stated that he ■was held up by two Mexicans and robbed of $15.40. Two boys csorroborated the story of Stone. They said that Stone had been drinking and was followed from a sa loon by two Mexicans, who held him up. When found every pocket In Stone's clothes was turned inside out. He was taken to the receiving hos pital. The police are of the opinion that Garrett and Stone were held up by the same persons. MORE TAX SUITS FILED WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.—Two more corporation tax cases were filed in the supreme court of the United States yesterday, making ten suits now before the court, involving; the question of the constitutionality of the corpora tion tax provision of the Payne tariff net. Seven of the corporation tax onses have been set for argument on March 14. CENTS J SCORE HURT IN CRASH OF CARS ON P.E. LINE Rear End Collision Im perils Lives of Passen gers from Beach TOURISTS INJURED Motorman Is Blinded By Headlight; Fails to See Warning Flagman FIVE persons were seriously injured, two others suffered severe bruises, and others were slightly hurt as the result of a rear-end collision near Florence station on the Long Beach, line of the Pacific Electric railroad at 6:25 o'clock last evening, when Long Beach car No. 350 crashed into the rear end of a four-car train bringing visitors to Catalina back to Los An geles. Seriously Injured H. A. Batie of Battineau, N. D., leg broken below knee and other injuries; taken to Crocker street hospital. Charles F. Drewry of Bowdle, S. P., left leg broken below knee; taken to Crocker street hospital. Mrs. W. H. Doyle of Tellurido, Colo., back injured and perhaps ribs broken; taken to Crocker street hospital. S. T. Seamans, 812 Frisco street, suf fering from severe lacerations on legs; taken to Crocker street hospital. Elias A. Smith of Long- Beach, left kidney injured; taken to Crocker street hospital. Slightly Injured Mrs. P. Robertson of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, hip injured; went home to hotel on Hope street near Ninth street. E. Griewank, conductor of the Long Beach car, left knee bruised: taken to the Pacific Electric hospital and later taken to his home. The accident occurred only a few yards from the Florence avenue sta tion, and, according to an official of the Pacific Electric railroad, the only person who can possibly be blamed in any way for the accident is the motor man of the Long Beach car. A four-car train, consisting of cars 414, 336, 373 and 391, had met the boat from Catalina at San Pedro and was inbound to the city. The train was In charge of Motorman Elliott and Con ductor Smithcrman. Nearly all of tho passengers were tourist visitors to LO3 Angeles and had been passing a holi day season at the island resort. As the heavy train passed Nadeau station the motorman noticed that there was something wrong wi ' air connections, and stopped th> a few yards south of Florence stj to make an investigation. A■■• to statements made last night by Elliott and Smitherman, the tail on the Catalina train were b brightly, and as soon as a stOj made a flagman was sent out on th« run to flag any car that mig'it be hurrying in from the south or > ast. Either the flagman was tco lat«-, on account of the cars running on too short headway, or the headlight of a southbound car blinded the eyes of tfco motorman of the oncoming car. Crashes Into Train The crew of Long Beach car No. 330, inbound, in charge of Conductor E. Griewank and Motorman R. S. Rankin, failed to see the flagman's signal and the Long Beach car crashed into the rear of the Catalina train. Fortunately the open part of the rear car of tho Catalina train was in front and the open part of the Long Beach car was in the rear, otherwise there is little doubt that the cars would have tele scoped and there would have been a heavy death list. When the cars crashed together the roar platform of the Catalina rear car and the front platform of the Long Beach oar were smashed in, but tho heavy steel bumpers prevented the Long Beach car from plowing through, and over the'seats of the coach with, which it had collided. For a few moments all was confusion. Passengers were hurled from their seats, glass was shattered, and tho moans anil cries of those who had been seriously injured could be heard in the darkness. A hurry call was sent in for help, and as soon as the injured could be gathered up and made as comfort able as possible a clear right of way was given, and they were rushed to the Pacific Electric hospital in th« Huntington building, Sixth and Main streets, where first aid to the injured was given by Dr. H. G. Gates, the com pany physician. That many were slightly injured who did not demand surgical treatment and whose names were not given out by the company's claim agent or the com pany's surgeon was made evident from statements made by persons who wera in the wreck. The total number of In jured is estimated at twenty. All but one of the seriously injured were later taken to the Crocker street hospital, where at a late hour last night it was stated that none of tha injuries would prove fatal. Surgeon Noncommittal Dr. H. G. Gates, the Pacific Electrio surgeon, was non-committal as to tha number of injured last midnight. "It is reported that twenty-five or thirty persons were more or less In jured in the wreck. Is that true?" he was asked. "I didn't see them," was the reply. "But you were in the P. E. hospital when the injured were brought in. How many were attended to there?" was the next question. "I don't know—three, or four, or five —I don't know," was the reply. "Sure it wasn't twenty or twenty five?" "I didn't see as many as that," ami the surgeon hung up the receiver. One of the officials in the Pacifies Klectric claim agent's office had a theory as to the cause of the wreck last night after Interviewing the men in charge of the trains and some of tha passengers. He said.: "A flagman was sent out by the crew of the inbound Catalina train when tha train was stopped. But the headlights of the cars are very strong and the Long Beach car was running under short headway. I have no strong doubt that the headlight of a south bound car that happened to be passing on the main line just at that time blinded the motorman of the Long Beach cax and he failed to see tha Continued on ' Page Two,