The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, August 14, 1934, Page 2

Writer Advances Hypothesis * * * * * * # ee 8 ee * * * # * e Asserts Councellor Is Alive By FULTON THATCHER GRANT CHAPTER SIXTEEN Part IT I dislike to close the Prince case, as far as this history is concerned, with- out some sort of a solution, but there is no solution. At least there is none known or even implied by the middle of June 1934, which is my latest in- formation. On the other hand I have just gotten news of a new trial which the police are following, and it would not be fair to drop the case without mentioning it. The first indication of this new trail came from Leon Daudet and that was some time ago. Nothing was done about it by the Surete, although the Action Francaise urged the investiga- tion every day until, I imagine, they grew weary of printing their remind- ers. You will recall Simonovitch, the false Russian engineer who, with his} new-made wife, travelled in the same train as Albert Prince. He had been closely questioned toward the first of March. Daudet, at that time, volun- teered the information that, instead | of being an engineer, Simonovitch was @ come-on man for the Frolics gam- bling establishment. He also pointed out that, although he had been living | for 20 years with the lady who was his companion on that train-ride, for} some reason or other he chose that; particular moment to marry her. Inj America one might think that it was about time the Russian made his mis- tress “an honest woman,” but in France they take quite a different at- titude toward such things, so the sud- den change of heart becomes interest- ing if not important. However, it was not until April 20 that any real suspicion attached itself | to Simonovitch, and then it was a clever newspaper reporter who brought it up, but the Surete still refused to get excited over the possibilities. Here is the theme. Pierre Apesteguy of Le Jour took} Daudet’s indication of Simonvitch seriously. He read in a Havas notice of the arrest at Metz of a man named Simian who, when examined, con- fessed to having been out of a job in Paris during the early part of Febru- sry. The man, it seems, had been taken to the Frolics by a Russian and introduced to an enormous, gorilla- like man who had a Russian accent and who was called the Major (le Commandant). This man talked with the newcomer and after about five) minutes said, with unconcealed dis- ust: : “Take him away. He's no good for the Dijon job,” and walked out. Reporter Checks Up Now Apesteguy, like a good city re- porter, knew his underworld and new, furthermore, that there really existed a notorious character of Rus- sian birth known as the Major. He also noticed that the vague descrip- tion of the Russian who brought Si- mian ;to the Frolics could be par- alleled with that of Simonovitch. Apesteguy vanished from view for a number of days. When he returned to duty he brought with him a story; with which he challenged the Surete | and the whole police organization of France. In the scurry for testimony just af- ter Prince's body had been found, the police had compiled a list of “‘mysteri- ous strangers” and equally “mysteri- ous automobiles” seen—or imagined— at the scene of the crime, in the neighborhood, in Dijon and even in Paris, None of these clues amounted to anything and were drop) one by one, after a cursory investigation had bumped its nose. One of the many was that of a Hotchkiss car seen at the Gare de Lyon at nine o'clock, the morning of February 20, three hours before Prince took the train, and seen to leave there a few minutes before the Dijon express pulled out. Apesteguy began with this car. He tossed out a page full of statements, claims and allegations and challenged the police to check up on them and prove him wrong. The Hotchkiss, he asserted, was not a Hotchkiss but a Packard, and a powerful one, fast enough to beat the train to Dijon. He revealed that the Major, that tough, brutal but mysteri- ous underworld character, was the owner of just such a Packard car. He revealed that the Major's real name is Abramovitch, that he had a crim- inal past, beginning, as far as France is concerned, with his arrival in Paris, that he was a fugitive from his native Caucasus region, and that he is, among other things, the paid gang- ster, bouncer and trouble-shooter for the Frolics. Abramovitch’s Rise Unexplained Abramovitch, said Apesteguy with a leer at the police, was in that Pack- ard car at the P. L. M. station from nine to noon on the fatal morning of Albert Prince’s departure for Dijon. He was alone. At twelve-five a sec- ond- man ran from inside the station and joined him. They whirled off together. This newcomer, asserted the re- porter, was waiting on the platform of the Dijon train. The engineer Simonovitch and wife were on that platform. As the train signalled its departure Simonovitch held out a white handkerchief at arm's length. Seeing that signal, the waiting man left the platform and joined Abramo- handkerchief sign from Simonovitch, was not this waiting | Is Thi erfect Crime?’ | Here ends, as far as I am concern- led, the story of the unsolved Prince |murder-mystery. To date there ts no solution. To date there have been no clues that can be called such. The only facts of which the investigators are sure is that the body was found |Strewn on the railroad tracks near | Dijon, that Prince went to Dijon on a |false excuse, and that he has disap- Peared. All the rest is hypothesis. Have we run into the perfect crime? Is there a maffia or other organi- zation so powerful that it consistently embroils the work of the police? Now, since Gaston Doumergue has taken over the reins of government, since the commission of 42 unim- peachable men has revealed the inef- ficiency, if not the dishonesty, of the Surete, there has been a change of order. Doumergue has abolished the | Surete Generale. He has created an- other similar force, now called the Surete Nationwide, hoping to 4nstill new life and vigor into the defaulting unit. All France is waiting to see what these new-blooded men will do. But France, thus far, has been dis- appointed. The commission, for instance, in- terrogated Counsellor Pressard, who was so much involved in the post- Ponements of Stavisky’s 1926 trial. Day by day, as they cross-examined him, his case became blacker. He appeared to be the only person on the horizon who had sufficient motive tive of self-protection. And yet, only a few weeks ago, these unimpeachable men, despite all the evidence they seemed to pile up against the juror, suddenly voted to absolve him of all blame. It seems incomprehensible. It is incomprehensible to the French pub- lic. The “little people” want that murderer caught. They want every- body who, purposely or through negli- gence, aided Stavisky and his opera- tions punished and made an example of. Beware, Gaston Doumergue. There is still dynamite in the Stavis- ky-Prince business, For over @ month no effort was made to locate the murderer of Albert Prince. Newspapers screamed at the department of justice, as newspapers will. “Papa” Cheron, Justice Minister, said nothing and continued to look like Canta Claus while his new police force was being formed. On June 1 the news was released that the sleuths were again on the trail—this time without Inspector Bony, self-appoint- ed Sherlock Holmes. He lost his job. Like a continuous movie thriller, the “little people” are waiting for the next episode. That cell is waiting in the Sante. Monsieur de Paris is oil- ing his guillotine. That man has got to be found. I might almost say that some man has got to be found, ar- rested, tried, condemned and behead- ed. That will seal the Stavisky case. The public wants blood. That same French public has not forgotten the Place de Greve where the best pub- lic spectacle was to see—free of charge—a man drawn in two direc: tions at once by Percheron horses, quartered and broken on the wheel. The scaffolding on the Boulevard | Arago is less pretentious. The “little! people” of today are less blood-thirs- ty. But they want that man cauglit. Writer Advances His Hypothesis Tam going to close this history with | an hypothesis for the new Surete Na- tionale to follow—in case they want it. As a newspaper man who was Present in Paris through most of the} Stavisky-Prince affair, I feel entitl- ed to an opinion. And this, really, is less than an opinion. Call it a hunch. At least nobody yet has ever thought of it this way, Here it is: At the beginning of Chapter Thir- teen of this story I emphasized that the only identification of the body found strewn along the tracks at the Combe-Aux-Fees, was the recognition of the fragments of the back of his head by one of the counsellor’s friends, Now I claim. and I hold that any American police detective will agree with me, that is no identification. Secondly, they found no bullet- hole, no trace of knife wounds, and no conclusive signs of foul play. Thirdly, nobody has yet explained away the fake phone call, the fact that Mme. Charles Prince was not ill, the fact that Prince himself mis- quoted Dr. Ehringer’s name, calling. him Hallinger, although he knew him well, and especially the telegram Prince sent home to his wife saying that he was going to a clinic. There Was no clinic, no such doctor, no sick woman. What is my hypothesis? That Albert Prince is not dead! Insurance companies all over the world will testify that substitutions of bodies have been made before, and that frequently. Suppose Prince himself were involved in the Stavisky scandals. Have we not had, already, three suicides and several attempted ones by persons involved? And who will deny that it is better to appear dead, to lead a new life under an- other name, breaking all connections, than to blow your brains out? Mind you, I do not claim this is the case. I claim that this hypothe- sis was never considered, and that it is the business of the police to con- sider all h; esis, In fact, it could have happened that way. So watch the newspapers. CONTINUE from page one Government to Help North Dakota Herds (Copyright McClure Newspaper ayn- |°° dicate) examinations. from |the state has been has been cows. No second or other mortgage is taken on the cattle, but the mort- gage holder must sign an agreement not to disturb the cattle before Jan- vary 1, 1936. This is done so that the government will not through the winter cattle which may subsequently be attached and the use of them denied the farmer. FERA Is Last Resource If the farmer is not eligible to a production credit loan and hasn't got enough cattle to justify an emer- gency loan, he can apply to the FERA ond feed relief will be granted. He can work this out on relief projects. Before the FERA will come to the rescue, however, the farmer must first exhaust his own resources. The aim is to help them pull through, not to pull through easily. Feed relief will be granted by the issuance of orders on local feed mer- chants who will handle this business in the normal way, the government itself having gone out of the feed businesss with the distribution of its surplus stocks, now being sold to farmers and dealers at the current market prices. Retailers will be required to sell their stocks on a “reasonable basis” though no schdule of maximum prof- ity has been worked out. The indi- cations are, however, that the gov- ernment, since it is helping the feed dealers to acquire supplies, will take a hand in any situation where profit- centage of cattle condemned and the amount of meat which has been ob. tained from some apparently emaciat- ed animals. It has been necessary to kill and bury less than 10 per cent of carry|the animals offered for sale, the re- mainder being capable of withstand. ing shipment. In some cases parts of the meat are “slippery,” that is s0 lacking in firmness that it cannot be cut properly. These parts are, course, unfit for food and are carded. » of dis. Meanwhile, checks to pay for gov- ernment-purchased cattle are begin- ning to come in for distribution by the county agents. Sometimes. they are made out to two or more per- sons, usually the owner and his cred- itors, and must be endorsed by all of them Joiatly before the money is ob- tainable. This is done to protect both the government and the parties in. volved in the transaction. ‘What the total will be is not known, but it will run into the millions, since more than $2,000,000 already has been received. Returns will be nothing lke the farmers of this state had hoped to get, but they will be far greater than would have been the case had the cattle been thrown on the open mark. et—and it was either sell them or see them die of starvation and thirst. In some sections wells are being drilled by the FERA to provide water for both humans and livestock, and dams constructed by the FERA and eering develops. Clyde Barks, in charge of the FERA feed section, believes feed dealers will be able to acquire their own stocks of grain but foresees a need for government help in obtain- ing forage. Some hay was contzacted for in Minnesota and some in Montana, but purchases in the latter state have been halted after protests by the Montana relief administrator. It will to desire Prince's removal—the mo-|be necessary to go far afield for hay cattle should be higher in future than and many small dealers may be un- ble to do so. In this case the gov- ernment may arrange tu serve as an agent in getting the hay into the state. One of the current worries of the feed division pertains to freight rates. For the last year special considera- tion has been granted by the railroads : their part in the drouth-relief ef- fort These rates have been extended from month to month but an effort now is being made to obtain an ex- tension until next June, at which time, if rains come, they will be un- necessary. With some hay coming nearly 2,000 miles, freight rates are going to be sn important factor in the cost of keeping cattle alive. Purchases Have Been Slowed Meanwhile, the cattle-purchasing section of the FERA has slowed up its activities, much against its will. It is now on @ quota ot 24,000 cattle a week, after having reached a peak of 77,301 cattle shipped out of the ate during the week ending July 28. The record of this enterprise, as revealed by the FERA office here, is am amazing one. The program was started in early June but did not really get going until the week end- ing June 23, when 25,538 cattle were shipped. In successive weeks the totals mounted as follows: June 30, 36977; July 7, 49,066; July 14, 63,000; July 21, 72,409; July 28, 77,391; Aug, The sharp slump between the last week of July and the first week of August was due to government orders which were issued following protests by the processors and federal men seeking out pastures for cattle in the south and east, It should be understood that only \about half of the cattle bought have |the central and jgone directly to the packers. The remainder have been sent to parts pasturage, to be held there until they can be processed. North Dakota has established a better record than any other state Because this was one of the hardest- hit states, the system was establish- ed here early and was immediately thrown into high gear. North Da. kota cattle were among the first to move to market and, since few were coming from other states, it was pos- sible to take care of them. As Montana, Wyoming, South Da- kota and other states got their move- ments under way, however, it became impossible to care for the hundreds of thousands of head flooding into the concentration centers and the quota system was adopted. Meat Will Aid Needy Government men take pride in say- with private packers. It is being turned over to the Federal Surplus Relief corporation and stored in ware- houses from which it will be distribut- ed to the needy. Thus the tremend. ous cattle movement has not apprec- iably disturbed the normal markets., A curious fact is that very Mttle of this meat has been canned at the large packing centers, such as Chi- cago and South St. Paul. Instead it has gone to a multiplicity of smaller the country, the largest among them in this area being at Albert Lea, Minn., and St. Joseph, Mo. In view of the difficulty encounter- ed in some cases, the cattle buying sections regards its record with pride. When rains came in June there was @ tendency to withdraw applications to sell, but as the drouth again set in this attitude changed swiftly. Now Te-appraisals are being made in many counties to care for new offers to sell. One handicap to rapid movement in counties. Thus the western favored because hardest hif with regard to the cattle movement. |{™ ing that not a pound of this emer-|C gency meat has gone into competition Devils packing plants distributed throughout Wi the CCC are expected to aid in caring for the water situation in the event of further drouths. The Cloud’s Silver Lining The result is to put a silver lining in the clour which drouth has cast over the state, despite the loss of Practically half the cattle population. The animals which remain are the best of the herds. They will go into the spring in fairly good condition. Only the best bulls have been saved. The average quality of North Dakota ever before. The reduction in numbers should stimulate interest in the business of Preparing cattle for market. In the past much of the livestock in this area has gone to eastern feedlots. If feed is abundant in the years to come, as it will be if we get rain, animals going from this district will be fatten- ed for immediate slaughter, with con- sequently greater returns to the pro- ducer. In the old days, three-year-old steers were regarded as prime for market. Under modern practices the animal marketed at one year and weighing 600 to 1,000 pounds brings top prices. North Dakota is literally being forced into trying this system. The result, in the long run, may be a boon. ——__________- | Weather Report | en ———. For Bismarck and vicinity: Partly cloudy tonight and Wedn« H P af lay 6 ally cele extreme et = Por: For Montana: veers fair sere and Sate B change mperature. For Minnesota: — Mos! cloudy, wers in east portion Tuesday night; Wednesday probably fair, cool- er in southwest portion. GENERAL CONDITIONS A low pressure area is centered over southern Rocky Moun- tain age (Lander, Winnemucca, 29.84) while high of the country where there still is|e the, to sea level, 29.87. ‘Missouri river stage at,7/a. m. -1.1 ft. 24 hour change, -0.4 ft. PRECIPITATION ia ismarck station: Normal, this month to Total, January ist to date Normal, January Ist to date Accumulated deficiency to date NORTH DAKOTA ‘reemuld est est Pet, ‘ 58 6 5.85. 1197 6.12 Qeesrsesaeesersresety E BBSPeeseckhessssessk SSSSSSRISSSSASSSS SOUTH DAKOTA POINTS High- WEATHER IN OTHER STATES High- Low- est est Pct. 8: “ SS8asastsgceessetegesssssasseseusseess| aBontakSerssneasarerasacseesesssssessy in |iey, supporting West, shbpepbbeeherseeBeskeeeeEheessesRsesees THE BISMARCK TRIBUNE, ‘TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1934 PALMER TELLS OF CRIMINAL CAREER Desperado, With Only 30 Days to Live, Recounts Slaying in Texas Paducah, Ky., Aug. 14—(#)—Texas officers were expected Tuesday take charge of Joe Palmer, south- western desperado captured here Sat- urday, and return him to the Hunts- ville prison. He ‘ s related in detail the Eastham state Hamilton. The slaying of a that escape, ! aided by Clyde Barrow, “the best friend I ever had,” led later to Palm- er’s death sentence. After the Eastham escape, was recaptured at St. Joseph, Mo. He would not discuss the details of his escape from the Huntsville death house other than to indicate that he and Hamilton bought their way freedom with $500. FOUR STATES HOLD PRIMARIES TUESDAY Sharp Contests in Ohio, Ne- braska; Fights Less Bitter in Idaho, Arkansas (By the Associated Press) FERA in conservati stacking ind balling straw and. similar feeds Was suggested tions, would be ‘and county set ups, with county com- mittees passing on for feed. Under the the county committees would give consideration to have culled their BP. stalwart, opposed by four candi- Gates. For governor the Republicans seven candidates in the ring and Democratic, four. In Nebraska, a fight between Gov- ernor Charles W. tian, for control of the Democratic arty was the high spot. Bryan, seek. ig opposed by Rep. E, R. Burke, support. ed by Mullen, the senatorial nomination, was|kota were heard. tle Nine candidates sought the Demo-|date. A. J. Dexter, cratic guberrfatorial nomination while it the Republican gubernatorial’ nomination. The state also had con- contests. In Arkansas Gov. J. Marion Futrell sought renomination against former; state controller Howard A. Reed. The CONTINUE D Faster Shipping of. ‘Drouth Stock Asked /nave a i Creation of a national to Prochase, handle and distribute feed in the severe drouth areas was rec- ommended. ‘The feed, socording to recommenda: handled through state Plan suggested, farmers who Primary elections were held in four|herds of high quality. states Tuesday, ending campaigns marked with bitter words and the| for threat of senatorial investigations. The sharpest contests lay in Ohio and Nebraska, with less spectacular Primaries in Idaho and Arkansas, The Ohio primary had a three-corn- ered scrap for the Democratic sena- torial nomination as its focal point. Gov. George White, former Gov. Vic Donahey and Rep. Charles West all sought the nomination in a fight em.. bracing all United States Senator Robert J. Bulk- Stress was also placed on necessity Providing an adequate supply of feed for the farm herds early in the |aeason, so that the owners would be assurred of continuous supply (throughout the feeding period. The |method of advancing feed for 30-day Tequirements was characterized as being impratical. It was also suggest- ed that feed credits instead of actual cash be issued. Other is Were drawn factions of the ate: [ne cenigned to call attention to the ne for saving all straw and rough- charged Gov.jages and protecting these feeds bj pe ing up and saving the straw after the use of combines was declared an The Republican senatorial race found Senator Simeon D. Fess, G. O. A prob! Bureau of Research and that low commodities fair! has made great the prices of agric urgent practice. Plantihg of fall rye for early spring Pasture was recommended, and a re. prices increase C FEREFEVER Bie i oO ali 5 s 4 z ul herds or who have| red, spells prosperity. & ‘MAKING MONEY MOVE Prepared by the Education, Advertising Federation of America VERY old economic theory says that commodity prices tend to be high or low, according to whether the quantity of money in circula- tion is large or small. It is also observed that rising prices seem to be characteristic of improving business conditions and economic revival. That is why many people believe that we can make prices go up by forcing more — into circulation and thus create better business and restore pros! Unfortunately, it is not quite so simple as that, We cannot handle money, prices, and trade like the lifeless ingredients of a chemical mix- ture, for they are vital components of a living economic organism. .. Merely changing the quantity of money cannot influence prices so long as it remains idle. A small amount of swiftly circulating money can do the same work as a large amount of sluggish money and can exert just as much influence on prices. Money is that it is in motion and the only thing that and selling which constitutes trade. The quantity of money will tak of itself, for when expanding trade requires ly drawn into circula' stagnant. Prices usually go up when people start bi in heavier volume. This does not mean that high prices oie Lome good me | perity. On the contrary, there still a a ips daal Ks truth in reg e consumption of goods. So we should not worry too much about the- general level being low. It will go up soon enough when the money available for circulation really begins to circulate. It is important, however, to have prices of the different classes of in line with one another. The most pressing problem about money is to make it work, to make it move faster. a a anh fh ent te ve » whic! luences th chase of goods and ‘services. Because it helps to the volume of business, ad: is important infl ' t to stimulate the flow of purchasing power into the channels of vertising is the quickest-acting tal cat effective stimulant business, and we now have need for its most intensive application. | The nation’s money is suffering from lethargy. We do not need more of it; we need to put the existing supply to work. ” | Advertising makes . Itis to vp rho money move, helping to speed the return of Copyright, 1934, Advertising Federation of America NTINUE from page one’ Six Cases Found Here; Warning Is_ | Issued to. People inamsesabt only to the extent it move is the buying it, more money is automatical- ition from the huge reserves which otherwise remain increase uence for a’ healthy rate Radio Exams Will Be Held in City Friday 8t. Paul, ‘Aug. 14—(P)—North Da- kota’s semi-annual examinations for Commercial and Class A amateur D must obtain forms from the St. Paul office, to be filled out and notorised, before they are eligible to participate overlin the examinations at the U. 8. Pos- tal Office and Courthouse building Bismarck. Cass A amateur examinations will be continued Saturday while the commerce tests will be concluded bythe same day, Sherman asserted. No examinations for Class B and C will be condu~ted inasmuch as they can be taken by mail, the radio announced. Class A applications must hold a B or C license before becoming eligible for the Class A quis. Bismarck is the only examination point in North Dakota and examina- tions are held only twice a year, ac- cording to Sherman. Road to Capitol Is Nearing Completion Constructed by federal and state au. tely a mile of F Hh 4 3 proach is expected to be completed late this month. Sidewalks, curb and gutters, and paving, together with preparation of road beds, have made the project a $53,000 program. Much of the approach system has been constructed as @ farm.to-market highway, with federal funds. It has been constructed iki oo as a highway department pro: Landscaping is expected to start soon on the grounds approaching the state capitol. Guayule is a substitute for rubber typhoid and other| obtained from a plant found native in have dried up and/ Mexico and southwestern Texas. e care of flow. One of structure, avalible to j