The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, January 3, 1935, Page 1

THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE “ALL THE NEWS ALL THE TIME” VOL. XLV., NO. 6848. JUNEAU ALASKA TI-lJRSDAY JANUARY 3 1935 DEMOCRATIC CO STEAMER CUT lLindber:;_;h Murder Suspect in Limelight After Life as Obscure Alien Carpenter IN TWO, GOES DOWN QUICKLY Disaster Occurs in New York Harbor During Darkness of Night ONLY FOUR OF 182 ABOARD ARE MISSING| Tugs Race to Scene to Make Rescues—Sinks in Ten Minutes NEW YORK, Jan. 3.—The sun-| f dered hull of the steamer Lexing- ton is at the bottom of East River, victim of a collision in which four | members of the crew are missing. The Lexington was bound for' Providence with 130 passengers, aboard and also 52 crew members. | The Lexington was ripped in two . § when the tramp freighter Jane Christenson, Pacific Coast ship, rammed her amidships in the dark- | ness last night. Tugs Race to Scene | Tug raced to the Lexington's side | and took off the passengers and crew. It was a nip and tuck rescue before the ship went down, ten minutes after being hit. | It is believed a misunderstand: ing of signals resulted in the crash. ! More than a score Of injured;| & none serious, including eleven wom- en, were taken to the hospitals, Orchestra Plays ! Knee deep in water in the main lounge, the ship's orchestra blared “Somebody Stole My Gal’ while nine negro stewards remained on board the vessel and helped the last passengers aboard tugs. | No belongings of the passengers were saved. The Lexington’s superstructure and after portion sheared away and was carried nearly one mile upstream. The hull and forward | section went down at the foot of Market Street TREASURER T0 HOLD OFFIGE UNTIL APRIL 1 Decision Reached Regard- ing Legal Term of Of- ficial by Board Although Oscar G. Olson, newly elected Territorial Treasurer yes- terday noon took the oath of office, which was duly filed in the Gov- | ‘ernor’s office, Walstein G. Smith, who has held the position of Ter- ritorial Treasurer since its crea- tion 21 years ago, will remain as Treasurer until April 1, when the term for which he was elected in 1930 expires. The above decision was reached at an amicable meeting of the Ter- ritorial Administrative Board yes- terday afternoon to which the question was referred after Mr. Smith informed Mr. Olson that he was still Territorial Treasurer and would be until the expiration of his regular term of office on April 1. Mr. Olson and Mr. Smith had a friendly discussion over the le- gality of the law passed by the last Territorial Legislature providing that elective oficials of ‘the Terri- tory of Alaska take office on Jan- uary 2, immediately following their election rather than on April 1, as had previously been the law. Referred To Board It was decided to refer the ques- tion to the Territorial Administra- tive Board, which is made up of Gov. John W. Troy, Auditor Frank A. Boyle, Attorney General James 8. Truitt, Commissioner of Educa- tion A. E. Karnes, Highway Com- missioner William A. Hesse and the Territorial Treasurer. At the meet- ing it was decided that since there was considerablé question . as to who was legally Territorial Treas- urer, Mr. Smith was entitled to re- main in office until the expiration Southern Democrats Take Over Orgamzatwn of Congress; Put In Slate Agamst Northerners FORMER HEAD OF SOUTHERN PACIFIC DIES William Sproule, Who Had Quick Advancement, | Passes Away | SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, Jan. 3.— William Sproule, former Presldent\ of the Southern Pacific campnny is dead at his home here as the| result of a sudden attack of the| heart. "Much of the Southern Pacific’s. stirring history was written in the 43 year pericd in which William Sproule climbed from freight clerk | to chief executive of a consider- able portion of the great trans- continental rail system and steam- ship ‘company. Sproule became President of the Southern Pacific in 1911 but it was mot until the retirement in June, 1925 of J. Kruttschnitt as Chair- man of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors, that he assumed active administration of the operation and all affairs of the company outside of the New York organization and the Louisiana and Texas lines. While retiring anc reserved as an individual and one who was wont to shun personal publicity, Sproule nevertheless was a firm believer in the efficacy of “constructive pub- licity” for his company as a means of maintaining cordial rehuom e WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.—Sweep-| ing aside opposition, ihe South- | ern Democrats in a caucus late yesterday, routed the Northerners and captured complete organization control of the Seventy Fourth Con- gress which opened today. Representative Joseph W. Byrns of Tennessee, was nominated as | Speaker and Representative Wil-| !liam B. Bankhead, was nominated to be Floor Lead-| er. The House Democrats also voted in the secret caucus to increase |from 145 to 218 the number of signers to a petition to force a bl\l out of committee onto the floor. The Senate Democrats unani- | mously reelected Senator Joseph T. Robinson, of Arkansas, as Leader. Senator James Hamilton Lewis of Illinois, was reejected Whip, and |8enator Hugo Black, of ‘Alabama, was renamed to be Secretary. Sen- ator Key Pittman, of Nevada, was renominated President pro tem. The House Democratic majority |endorsed two of Byrns' pet ideas, One is to give the Democrats un- questioned control over committees by letting the Republicans have only one-fourth of the members on each committee, where formerly | the ratio was as high ad 3 to 2,! and the second was a change in the House fules designed to prevent passage of bills opposed by the Ad-, minjstration. Under the old rules 145 members could sign the peti- the contemplated change 218 will be necessary. R o e e Pete Noah, 23, of Hugo, Okla,' was relieved of brain pressure re- sulting from a head injury eidht years before, by an operation la st- | mg(onrmdou-hd!m of Alabama, | By JACK STINNETT (Associated Press Staff Writer) Since the day of his arrest, pub- lic pronouncements by Bruno Rich- | ard Hauptmann have been few. The man who was catapulted from the obscure life of an alien carpenter into front-page notoriety by the charge that he murdered the Lindbergh baby has for the | most part maintained a stolid si- lence. Yesterday he went on trial in Flemington, N. J, What follows |is a chronology of the case since his arrest: Sept. 20—Hauptmann arrested . . . In his pocket a $20 Lindbergh ransom note . .. In his garage $13,750 Lindbergh ransom money . . . Three days before, he had | said: “I have about a hundred . left,” as he passed to Walter l Lyle, Bronx filling station at- tendant, a $10 gold certificate from the ransom pack. . . John Perrone, taxi driver, says, “That’s the man,” who gave note for Dr. John F. (Jafsie) Condon. . . “Jafsie” declines to make posi- | tive identification . . . Haupt- mann denies all . .. says he got money from Isadore Fisch, part- ner in furs, dead since March. Sept. 21.—"The coolest customer I have ever seen,” says J. Edgar Hoover as Hauptmann continues deliberate, monosyllabic denials through hours of questioning . . . Kidnap' ladder lumber traced to yard where Hauptmann once worked .. . Hauptmann arraign- ed on affidavit charging extor- tion . Sept. 22.— ‘Nothing! Nothing! Noth- ing!” says Mrs. Hauptmann when asked what she knows of ransom money. Find Hauptmann left carperiier job in lumber- yard nine days after kidnaping . . . A. 8, Osborn, handwriting expert, says all ransom notes are written by Hauptmann . b A M. Pawcett becomes Hauptmann attorney. i tion to force a vote on a bill. Under Sept. 23.—Lindberghs start east from California. ! Sept. 24.—Bronx county grand | Jjury opens probe Haupt- 1 mann’s mother in Kamenz, Ger- many, overcome with grief 1Sch 25—Dr. Condon’s address, telephone number and numbers of two ransom bills are - serial :” (Contiried ‘o1, Page Seven) GRESS IS MEETING Double Role Is Seen for Col. Lindbergh, Hauptmann Trial SESSION OPENS QUIETLY TODAY \_ to New Deal Program —Message Friday WASHINGTON, Jan. 3. — Con- fronted by an array of grave Na- tional problems, the strongest Deniocratic Congress in history con- vened\quietly at noon today, still in the dark as to.what impends in the New 'Deal. Vice-President John Nance Gar- ner presided in the Senate. Representative Joseph W. Byrns, of Tennessee, was elected Speaker of the House, and presided at the short session Tomorrow the ' President pected to deliver his message, in person, at a joint session of the Senate and House. is ex- 20-POINT PROGRAM WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.—A 20- point ' program, openly critical of the Administration, has been ad- vanced by Republicans in Congress, to bring “speedy and permanent recovery.” The program has been drafted by Representative Bertrend H. Bnell and the House Republican Steering Committee. The program is in answer to charges the party nn constructive luzflawons, it 51§ SURPRISE" IS REPORTED TO ‘BE MADE PUBLIC Rumored P_;;iden! Has Something New on Un- employment Relief WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.—Be- fore the gavels cracked at noon today to signal the formal op- ening of the Seventy - fourth Congress, word spread from authoritative circles that the President is preparing a “sur- prise” on the paramount prob- lem of relief of unemployment, One source said it is learned the plan embraces something different from anything yet disclosed publicly. STOCK PRICES HOLD GROUND; GAINS NOTED NEW YORK, Jan. 3.— With- standing some nervousness coinci- dent with the opening of Congress, stocks more than held their ground today. Several issues scored substantial gains but many leaders however still clung to a narrow groove. Today's close was fairly firm. CLOSING PRICES TODAY NEW YORK, Jan. 3.— Closing quotation of Alaska Juneau mine stock today is 19%, American Can 116%, American Power and Light 3%, Anaconda 12, Armour N 6, Bethlehem Steel 32'2, Calumet and Hecla 3%, General Motors 34%, International Harvester 42%, Ken- IN'NAT. CAPITAL , Members S—l}fi_in Dark as MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS PRICE TEN CEI John Hughes Curtis, afterwards Col. Charles A. /Lindbergh, du'lm gbwu vmh his 'Ile, has play- ed an active part in helping track down clues to the kidnaper and murderer of his first born. He drove “Jafsie” rendezvous where $50,000 was handed cver to the alleged kidnaper. He made frequent trips to sea after hearing stories of a contact by to the cemetery convicted for cbstructing justice. And he made:a trip to the Bronx for a close look at Hauptmann. Now he is expected to play an important role at the trial of Hflmfinmn. E.M. GODDARD GIVEN TRIBUTE AT C. C. MEET Large Turnout Honors Vet- eran Game Commis- sion ' Executive ‘Honorifig B. M. Goddard, veteran | member of the Alaska Game Com- mission staff here who is leaving soon {0r ‘résidence in Ketchikan, one of the largest turnouts of! members attended the first 1935 meeting of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce in Bailey's Cafe this noon. The long and faithful service of Goddard to the city was extolled | by President R. E. Robertson be- fore a crowd which filled every available chair at the luncheon table. ecutive officer for the Commis- sion, leaves for Ketchikan with his family this month to take over the position of Superintendent of War- dens, a newly created Commission position. “We cannot weigh in money the value of service given to this com- munity by Mr. Goddard,” said Rob- ertson in introducing the guest. “For the last two summers, par- ticularly, he has been of the great- est aid in welcoming visitors and giving them a wonderful Iimpres- sion of Juneau. “Mr. Goddard, one of our former | necott 17%, United States Steel 38%, Pound $4.93. 48 States, NEW YORK, Jan. 3.—The President’s Chamber presidents, is a hard | (Connnued on Page Three) President’s Btrthda to Be Celebrated by B alls in All Also Territories National Headquarters of the Birthday Ball, to be held January 30, announces that 2,500 balls have been organized in the 48 States and Territories. The proceeds of the balls will be used to aid infantile par- alysis sufferers. It is estimated that the sum to be raised will exceed the one million dollars cbtained last year. | Goddard, formerly assistant ex-| By WILLIAM A. KINNEY FLEMINGTON, N. J, Jan. 3.— | The father of the murdered Lind- | bergh baby is expected to be New Jersey's “star witness” in the trial here of Bruno Richard Haupt- mann. It is no secret that the prosecu-~ tion expects the story to be told by the flying Colonel to carry tremien- dous weight with the jury that |holds Hauptmann's fate in its | hands. Col. Charles A. Lindbergh's role will be a double one. He will be the young father, tell- |ing the tragic story of the kidnap- | ing and death of his first born son, of the futile efforts to get the child back unharmed, of the final scene 1n a Trenton morgue when he | identified a tiny body as that of his child. He will also be, it is expected, an | accuser, identifying Hauptmann by his volce as the man who alleged- ly collected $50,000 ransom for the safe return of a child who was then lying dead in a lonely thicket 'a few miles from the Lindbergh estate near Hopewell. Tdentification by voice is a dif- ficult matter, state attorneys real- ize. But Lindbergh's is a trained ear, they contend, long attuned to the sound of delicate mechanisms, and the state may ask the jury to believe that the ears which listened intently to the smooth purr of an airplane motor on that history- | making transatlantic flight’ can be trusted to identify a voice heard one dark night near the Bronx | temetery, when, It is presumed, Lindbergh was just as alert and intent as he was on his hop to Pms, Only One Man Contacted Acceptance or refusal of that identification may prove to be de- cisive. Dr. John F. Condon, the ‘Jafsie” who negotiated the ran- som payment, says the man to whom he gave the $50,000 was the only one he contacted. It was that man who, when pressed by Con- don for evidance of good faith, sent Lindbergh’s intérmediary the sleep- ing suit the child wore the night it was stolen, and thereby linked himself directly with the kidnap- ing. Lindbergh says Hauptmann. The defense strategists may be that man is SLAIN BABY'S MOTHER T0 BE Will Tell of Incndents ons Night Little Son Was Kidnapped BETTY GOW, NURSE, WILL ALSO TESTI Second Da):—t;;— Trial Opens with Selection of Jur-' ors Completed BULLETIN, FLEMINGTON, N. J, Jah. 3.—With the com- pletion of the jury in the Hauptmann trial, Mrs. Charles A Lindbergh was placed on the stand to testify against the of her baby son. second day with only two remain- ing jurors to be selected. It is announced that Mrs. Charles A. Lindbergh is also scheduled to g0 on the witness stand and face the man accused of killing her child. Wheatley, widow of Col. Lind- death of a sister and who circled the world with her flying husband, how the baby was put to bed at - 7:30 o'clock in the evening and vanished at 10 o'clock. This will hfl her story. Prisoner in Conference led minutes after Court Judge Robbins mounted the bench. Hauptmann smiled briefly as he passed the de- fense table, and he bent over the Fisher for a long, earnest coulur- ence. The prisoner appeared mon and read a printed advertisement of sales psychology as questioning continued. Col. Charles A. Lindbergh fol= man Schwarzkopf, of the New Jer= sey State Police. GOES ON STAND FLEMINGTON, Jan. 3.— Mrs, Charles A. Lindbergh, placed sud- denly on the witness stand in the placed in an unusually delicate po- sition by the expgoted appearance _ (Coptinued on Page Seven) 30-HOUR WEEK PROPOSED FOR BIG INDUSTRIES Senator '—I;l:;k. Author, Says Business Needs More Buyers WASHINGTON, Jan. 3. — The drafting of a new 30-hour week bill, designed to apply to all work= ers in all big industries exceph agriculture, is announced here by Senator Hugo Black, of Alabama. = Senator Black issued the state= ment that the bill would “put mil- lions of men back to work.” He FLEMINGTON, N. J, Jan. 3— The Hauptmann trial began the | the appearance on the witness stand will be brief. She will tell chair of Defense Counsel C. Lioyd PUT ON STAND" suspected kidnaper and slayer Betty Gow, nurse, and Mrs. Ollie bergh's butler, will follow Mrs. For Mrs. Lindbergh, who with- stood the loss of her first baby, the | Bruno Richard Hauptmann was into the court room a few animated than on the opening day | lowed Hauptmann into the court | Toom accompanied by Col. H. Nor= contended that the bill would not hurt industry. “Business can that gives its purchasers more money,” he said. Explaining his theory, Senator Black said that the national wel= fare of the future of business itsel stand anything 1s dependent upon the increased purchasing power of the country. The proposer of the measure in- dicated that newspapers, which had been exempt under his previous bill, would be included in new that proposal. Senator Black tmm(m B 3 his bill has the support, of