Evening Star Newspaper, April 5, 1926, Page 1

Mostly cloudy obably light ir und colder loudin lowest, 34, at Full report on Page 9. | lowed 1 | | | WEATHER S. Weather Bureau Forecast.) and slightly colder; n tonight; tomorrow Highest, 62, at noon toda: a.m. today. by increasing Closing N. Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page 22 9. 24, Soromed Entered as second class matter Washington, D, C. CHAPMAN DENIED COMMUTATION BY PARDONS BOARD Personal Appeal in Vain as Last Chance to Escape Noose Tonight Fails, RETAINS HIS FORTITUDE AT THE FINAL HEARING Determined Effort Against Con- demned Man Charged by His Counsel. sociated Press. 'HERSFTELD, Conn.. April § Chapi must hang Che Board of Pa s this unanimously rejected his for commutntion of sen fo imprisonment. u. fighting back the n effort to save his Ifie, told to the board this after- ission of Gov. Trumbull, at as called upon, the man He stood erect did not move an inch. He looked overnor. His voice at first > did not waiver, nor did he gn of mental worry. He 3 had not expected to say hing, and had not prepared any- 2. But he had heard some state. S by Mr. Alcorn which he thought uid not be overlooked. tie said: “Mr. Alcorn said I did not stest my innocence. I don't believe ; protest which would he loud enough to be heard. “I feel that I must say s don't know anything about the 1 aspects of the case, but can and ¢ upon the ‘human appeal' of the case. I thought I would go over ase since my arrest at Munice, apman spoke for 32 minutes and board adjourned. In his closing words, Chapman satd: “I think all I want to say is simply that 1 am asking for justice.” He was immediately removed from the room and returned to his cell. Gets Right to Plead. Chapman, making his last desperate stand to save his life, was given the zht to make a plea in his own behalt by Gov. John H. Trumbuil. State’s Attorney Hugh M. Alcorn objected, saying he thought the de- tense should close the case. Gov. Trumbull granted Chapman permission to talk and asked what procedure would be used. Frederick Groehl, attchney for Chap- an, called attention to the fact that he was asking clemency for his client. Ile wanted his client to plead for him- self, Groeh! said. “'He is going to be hanged tonight— tomorrow morning. He must tell his story.” Chapman made no motion at this reference to hanging. xXpresses Amazement. Alcorn said that he did not see Chapman could expect clemency the board. “I am utterly amazed t with a year to collect these affi- davits, with the unexpended million dollars stolen from the United States Is—I am utterly amazed that he has only elght witnesses, with want ds almost broadcast for witnesses. Mr. € 10 be “deceived by passion and preju- fee.” Mr. Alcorn had then followed ith an outline of the case against apman. The condemned man began \riting notes. Said Mr. A verdict Alcorn Mr, how s sorn: “Do you think the 1 the case could be changed the face of this evidence?” “The saddest thing in this whole case is the death of Ben Hance of Ind. T shook hands with nee the day he left after testifying inst Chapman,” he said 1 get me, Mr. Alcorn, quoted him as sayi “Oh, no, they won't, Ben,” he replied b ves, they will. You don't know Denies Arguments’ Legal ‘If the State can hold this prisone hose fault is it?” Groehl asked. 1y mot Chapman certainly ot mine, but the warden's. It is not legal or proper argument to say vou'd better hang this man so t you will be safe.’" Groeht also said that Ben Hance, al- to ve been slain by Dutch \nderson, was not a material witness. is tr he said, “that the dying said ‘Anderson got me.' It is as true” asserted Groehl, “as ment that ‘Shean got me.’ that Shean fired some of the referred to affidavits of 1 O'Leary and his companion itain to prove Chapman man with Shean at Pleads for 10 Days. . Gfoehl pleaded for time. > ‘me 10 days. If T had a week, ntlemen, T think I could have wi here to testify to f.’\t'ls that change the whole thing.’ Ninety-nine per cent of the people Hartford believe in the innocence fendant,” he said. “My heart T have lived with it a year. I know every aspect of Pointing to papers on the desk fore him, be said, as if speaking to in affidavits. Tell me Tell me who lies, t let me be responsible. I have ught two witnesses from New and T hope that this board will them.” Groehl said he received an af- from a woman whom he brought with him from New York. T1e referred to her affidavit as “vital, $mportant and not considered by Judge Jennings.” Charges Plot to Speed Death. ‘Some one wishes to speed the day of execution on the claim that the citi- onnecticut will be unsafe if Clhapman is at large,” Groehl said. “That seems to he the pressing argu- utmo facts, passton prejudice.” Alecrn then said: “If Gerald Chap min I8 not hanged the State of Con- it has committed a crime inst every one that has been anged.” He said if the board granted Chap- mian clemency it would put them in the position of overruling President [Coolidze and the United States Su- reme Court __He pointed out that on Chapman’s « e 4, Column 6.) these ho is wrong here fidavit 1 untinued on | mething. | oehl had asked the board not | | be followed ¢h WASHINGTON, D. C, FIRST LADY MINGLES IN THRONG AT WHITE HOUSE EGG-ROLLING lCuddles Little Red-Head and Runs Gamut of Many. Attentions, While President Looks on outh Portico. From Washington’s annual egg-rolling, condoned by the'Government and con President and Mrs. Coolidze, place today without casualtles, bar- ring the damage done to the eggs themselves and a queer feeling that threatened to come over the partici- pants later this evening or tomorrow. An ideal Easter Monday sun joined with the grown-ups of the city in miling upon the younger population as they light-heartedly slaughtered | thousands of brightly colored eggs on | the sward back of the White House, |at the Zoo and in divers parks and other places. Mrs. Coolidge proved herself to be as Interested and exuberant over the exciting festivitles as the youngsters | themselves were, actively joining in the fun by taking a long unannounced stroll completely around the White | House ground through a { humanity | stroll. The First happy mass of can be called taking a ady appeared shortly | after 10 o'clock. accompanied only b | & secret service man and the tv { White House collies, Rob Roy a | Prudence Prim. Holding the dogs | under strong restraint at the end of | long leashes, she struck out smilingly {ducted before the approving eyes of | it pushing her way | young | across the grounds, with few at first aware of her presence. She had not progressed more than took | few hundred feet, however, when | it seemed that everybody in the grounds spled her at once. Young and | {old, alike, surrounded her, to the con [cern of the secret service man and uniformed police, who came running when they found out what was hap- rening. |" Mrs. Coolidge. however, let it he {known that she enjoved the sftuation | hugely. When one ardent White House | policeman accidentally humped agains the White House mistress in his stren | uous efforts to clear a_way through the crowd for her, she laughingly ac- {cepted his apology and gav cidentall wasn't at bout her. Then, to make this | stooped down and put her arm z all Lothered by the jam | one red-headed, freckle-faced admirer | boasting to all of 4 or & years, sald, with a chuckle: “You know, I like them red-headed and freckled.” A few moments later, as she slow Iy made her way in a wide circle | back to the White ¥ e, she joked (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) BYRD EXPEDITION -~ WILL SAIL TODAY |Scientists and Friends, Guests at Luncheon, to Ac- company Ship Out to Sea. | By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, April Arctic expedition, which seeks new {of the Polar regions. leaves for Nor- way by steamship this afternoon on the first lap of its journey. It is the second to start of half a dozen Arctic expeditions planned for this Summer. Capt. George H. Wilkins, {leader of another party, is now at | Point Barrow, Alaska, having com- {pleted a 500-mile flight from ¥ | banks last Wednesday. | Two planes, which Lieut. Comdr. | Richard E. Byrd will use on his ex- | ploration remained this morning tc be packed aboard the steamer Chantier at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Heavy wind prevented their belng stowed away yesterday. The planes will be packed in the hold to guard agafnst damage from heavy seas, such as in- | jured the planes carried by the Mec- Millan expedition last year, of which, Byrd was a member. He was then in the Navy, but resigned to make the present trip. Terrier Given Berth. O the hundreds of last-minute ap- | licants for permission to make the trip. only one was successful. He was Dynamite, a fox terrier sent to Comdr. Byrd by friends in Washington. He will be a mascot. The Chantier’s destination is King's Bay, Spitzbergen. Sclentists and friends, guests of the commander at luncheon, arranged to accompany the Chantler several miles out to sea on the Nourmahal; Vin- cent Astor's yacht. The guests, who are chief backers of the expedition, {include John D. Rockefeller, jr., Vin- cent Astor, Edsel Ford and the ex- plorer’s brother, Gov. Harry Flood Byrd of Virginia. Comdr. Byrd and the 45 members | of the expedition are confident of success. The triple object of the ex- pedition is charfing new lands, fur- thering commercial aviation and gath- ering meteorological data. Incidental {ly, an attempt will be made to fi; to the North Pole. Confidence Is Needed. “Commercial aviation needs bit more confidence,” says “The time hus come for us to go | forward in that direction and Amer- ica should lead the way. I consider | this one of the most important ob- s of the expedition. “We are going to the worst regions of the world and are pinning our faith on planes. In this way I hope to demonstrate the practicability of the heavier-than-air ship. 1f the planes can conquer the Arctic they can conquer the less rigorous reglons of the world.” The first flight of the expedition will be toward Peary Land, 400 miles northwest of Spitzbergen, about May 15. If a successful landing is made there an advance base will be estab- lished and another flight made to Spitzbergen for extra food and fuel. To Seek New Lands. A second flight to Peary Land will an 850-mile flight to the pole and back to the Peary Land base. Then the expedition will fly 800 miies to the Northwest over un- explored areas in search of new lands. In case of a forced landing from planes, kites will be flown with aerials attached in order to establish communication with the rest of the world. Byrd’s home is in Chevy Chase, Md. Mrs. Byrd was here today to bid him’ good luck. He is 35 years old. A -— Two Hurt as Toy Bailoons Blaze. SAN ANTONIO, Tex., April 5 (P).— Two children were slightly burned and thousands of others were im- perilled here vesterday when several hundred toy balloons filled with hy drogen gas and which the San A tonio_Lions Club was distributing as an Easter treat, were ignited. Po- licemen and firemen prevented a stampede. Jjust a Byrd. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, April -Fourteen women playing poker were held up and robbed by three gunmen in a Bronx apartment early this morning. The robbers vanished in an automo- bile with more than $1,000 in cash ana our children were asleep in a adjoining that in which two games were in progress. The robbers gained entr apartment of Mrs. Inu O ) nee to the by pre 5—The Byrd | |1and tn the great unexplored portion | EXGOV. DAVIS SUES FOR $5,000,000LIBEL Charges Kansas City Pub- lisher and Others - With Malicious Prosecution. | By the Assoctated Press. TOPEKA, Kans., April 5.—Suits asking $3,000,000 damages were filed in Shawnee County District Court to day by counsel for former Gov. Jona- than M. Davis, alleging criminal libe! ind maliclous prosecution. The de- fendants are Walter 8. Dickey, pub- lisher of the Kansas City Journal-Post, and a number of individuals. The suits are an outgrowth of the pardons which followed the publica- ton of a copyrighted article in the Kansas City Journal, January 10, 1925, purporting to exposé dorruption of the pardon pawer by Gov. Davis, Many Named in Suit. i8 petition was filed with the clerk of the District Court, by Randal Har- ey, & memier of. Me, in"the trial a which was “acquitted: Skturday., night. " It named-as prinelpal defendant Glenn A. Davis, ex-convict, whose sentence in the State penitentiary was commuted by Gov. Davis, and who testified last week that he acted as “go-between” in the alleged deal for the sale of a pardon by the governor to ¥red W. Pollman, convicted forger. Other defendants are Fred W. Poll- man, Eugene N. “Dick’ Smith, manag- Ben Johnson, former penitentiary guard, who listened over a telephonic device to the conversation when Rus- sell Davis, son of the governor, de- livered the pardon to Pollman; Wal- ter G. Heren and W. G. Clugston, Kansas City Journal-Post reporters, the Kansas City Journal-Post, the }F:'anaus City Journal, the Kansas City ost. May Run Again. Cleared of all charges of attempt- ing to sell pardons and paroles while he was governor, Davis today re- fused to say definitely whether he would seek that office again in further vindication of his name. He indicated previously, however, that he would be a ‘canditate for 'governor in the Fall election unless some ‘“‘suitable’ Dermocrat got fto the race. The former governor, who was supported ‘by the Kansas_delegation ta the fameus Democratic national canvention in New York in 1924 as their “dirt farmer” candidate for President, seemed more interested in getting back to his Bourbon County farm than in any political asplrations he might have. He planned to drive home as soon as the condition of the roads permitted. Declines to Talk. “The pigs and chickens are doing well,” he sald, “but will do better if I am there to help attend them. “I really cannot say a thing about my political plans for the future.” A District Court jury late Saturday night acquitted the former governor and his son, Russell, of a charge of accepting $1,250 from Fred W. Poll- man, a convicted forger, for a par- don. Last Fall Davis was freed of a charge of conspiring with Carl Peterson, former State bank commis- sioner, to solicit a bribe from Walter Grundy, a defaulting banker. Peter- (N:]':‘ also was acquitted at a later rial. —— 10,000 GALLONS SEIZED. Woman Says Wine at 10 Cents a \ Glass Did Not Pay, Anyway. CHICAGO, April 5 (®). competition ruining the bootleg- ging business in her neighhorhood, Mrs. Rose Kromar sighed as Federal Too much is agents removed 10,000 gallons of wine | from her basement. “Ten cents a glass and cheap at that,” she said. “The bootlegging business is no place for a lady to make money.” She enumerated 17 places in the neighborhood where wine was selling at less than 10 cents a glass. Bandits Rob 14 Woman Poker Players Without Waking Children in Next Room tending to be secking one of the play- ers. The women, true to the taditions of “poker faces,” made no outcry and gave up their money and jewelry quietly. When the robbers discovered the sleeping children they issued their or- ders in whispers to avold awakening them. A fourth robher remained outside at | the wheel of an automobile while threc others held up the women. a look that told him she | and | trials of the ex-governor on charges | of accepting bribes for paroles and | i) copmsel, fiex- vernor ing editor of the Kansas City Post;| WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION HOUSE COMMITTEE | HEATEDLY DEBATES PROBE OF FENNING |Blanton Declares He Wil | | | | { | | | Reveal New Facts in Speech Thursday. SAYS COMMISSIONER’S | *FEES TOTAL $109,000 | Claims He Has Statement From D. C. Supreme Court Auditor. ‘} Traffic Issue Raised. | The proposed investigation of {the administration of Commissione: | Prederick A. Fenning and his con !duct as guardian for more than 100 !mentally unsound patients in St Elizabeth's Hospltal, was heatedly discussed at a special .meeting of the | House District committee today. { ‘The subject was brought up | Representative Reid, Republican, « | Ulinois. Repres ative Blanton Democrat, of Texas, emphatically {stated: “It is my firm belief that the | Republican steering committee of the | House will, within o week, vote out a | resolution authorizing this investig | tion by & proper committee. If this | committee (the House District com {mittee) has the power to force { recalcitrant_witnesses, I would be in {favor of this committee making the | investigation,” i Mr. Blanton then explained that he | has been granted 30 minutes in the | House on Thursday to discuss the | Fenning case. i “When I get through speaking on Thursday,” he said, “In placing some facts before the House, I have no jdoubt in the world but that the House {is going to act. Declares $800,000 Turned Over. Mr. Blanton explained to the Dis- | trict committee that he has testi- | mony from the Veterans’ Bureau that {it has turned over to Mr. Fenning,| jas guardian, $800,000 worth of prop- | erty belonging to insane wards of | | Mr. Fenning, of which he gets 10 per | {cent and 10 per cent more of the an- | nual income. | Mr. Blanton said also that he has| |a sworn statement from the auditor | jof the District Supreme Court that !'he has paid to Commissioner Fen- ning $109,000 of his wards’ money | for, fees. Representative Hammer, | | Democrat, of North Carolina, inter- rupted to say that Mr. Blanton could | ‘180" Show that Mr, Fenning refused | the commissionerghip. if he was not dallowed - to continYe Wis Business as' uardian, because ‘it was.worth $20, 00 & year dncome u’?&\. s Mr.'Blanton then told, the District | committee that it chairman, Mr Zihlman;, had =a Conference with Lincoln Townsend, representing the Republican organization in the Dis- trict of Columbia, at which Chai man Zihlman had told Mr. send that Commissioner must himself ask for an tion, and following which Commi | sioner Fenning on the next day i{made such an announcement. ! “That's how this chairman { get action when he wants to,” Mr. Blanton. Attacks G. 0. P. Organization. Representative Houston, Republican, | of Delaware asked, “How does the Republican organization get interested in this matter?” = Mr. Blanton replied, | “Something like the Republican or | | ganization in Texas—they get some of the spoils.” Representative Gibson | of Vermont had intended to introduce | & resolution for District committee action today covering the proposed | Fenning investigation, with a wider scope to investigate other alleged ir | regularities that might be complained | lof in the District government. He | cited the question of issuance of drivers’ perm! claiming that the | District Commissioners and the traf- fic director, with nine months’ know edge of what Congress. intended the traffic act, had not done thing to carry out that prov the law and had absolutel their will against the Congres: United States. Mr. Gibson pointed out that the original provision was for a license fee of §2, with §1 a year for annual re-| newal, and that the amendments to the traffic act now pending before the Senate after having passed the House, provide for reissuance at a $1 a year for three years. Says Fenning Opposed. Mr. Gibson charged that in this way District officials had deliberately cut off already $100,000 from the Dis- | trict revenues and are now trying to | cut off another $100,000. He argued that there should be an annual fee lof $2 for drivers' permits, but said | !that the traffic director, formally an A. A. A. officer, advised him that the A A. A. would complain against this. Because there was not time at the meeting of the committee today, Mr. Gibson deferred offering his resolu- tion of investigation but said that he intends to present it to the commit- tee at the meeting next Wednesday. His resolution is as follows: “Resolved, That the chalrman of the District of Columbia committee of the House appoint a_subcommittee consisting of five members with au- G ‘ontinued on Page 2, Column 6 MORMON CONDEMNS TEAS President of Church Tells Annual Conference Orthodoxy Endangered. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April 5 (®).—A warning against the tendency of modern Mormons to stray from the path of orthodoxy was sounded by Heber J. Grant, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day ints, in opening the ninety-sixth annual conference of the denomina- tion here yesterday. President Grant condemned short skirts as “immodest,” and admon- ished all Mormons not to give aftel noon teas. The rules of the church ?(napprovc the drinking of coffee and ea. “I have been very much grieved, when walking along the streets, to note the immodest dress that the women folk wear,” said President Grant. “Our daughters, our moth ers, and even our grandmother: have adopted costumes which do not hold in consideration the sacredness Pof the huwan body. F in can | na(d‘ Republican, set up of the | | | | contest | before a vote 1= reached. | circles T MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1926—THIRTY-SIX PAGES.- EASTER ¢ Foening Star. * EGG PICKING AT THE € service. Sunday’s P) Means Associated APITOL | CUMMING EXCUSED IN CONTEST VOTE Will Not Take Part in Steck- Brookhart Seat Fight Starting Today. The Senate this afternoon began consideration of the contest between Senator Brookhart of Towa and Daniel F. Steck, his Democratic opponent, 0 is contesting Senator Brookhart's right to a seat. At the outset of the proceedings, enator Cummins, also of Iowa, made request that wunder the circum- tances he be excused from voting on any question during the determina- tion of the contest over his colleague’s seat. Senator Walsh, Democrat, of Mon-| tana, fnquired why Senator Cummins | felt disqualified to sit as a judge in | the case. Senator Cummins said he | hesitated to go inmto that question, but could do so if Senator Walsh insisted. Senator Robinson of Arkansas, mi nority leader, pointed out that mem- bers of the Senate are frequently ex cused from voting on particular sues, and ndded that under the cir- cumstances the request of Senator Cummins should be granted. The Sen ate then by unanimous consent grant- ed the request of Senator Cummins. May Run Against Cummins. The outlgok today was that the will remain before the Sen- ate until near the end of the week It has been | expected for some time in political that if Senator Brookhart is unseatad he will enter the race in lowa this year against Senator Cum- mins. who is up for re-election The majority of the committee stated in their report that in deciding to whom the disputed ballots should go they followed in each case the rule of the intent of the voter. The majority members set forth that they did not examine or consider totals until every ballot had been disposed of under the rules adopted. Says Rules Were Inconsistent. 1t was pointed out by the majority in conclusion that there was no sug- gestion of any Issue to be determined the committee other than the question of which contestant received a plurality of the votes cast in No- vember, 1924, Other issues later sug- ested, the majority contended, came after the results had been ascertained. In his minority report Senator Stephens of Mississippi argued that the majority’s rule of following the intent of the voter on each disputed ballot should be viewed in the light of the lowa State law Informing the voter how to mark his ballot. The minority report also laid stress upon a contention that the majority fol- lowed one rule with respect to the disputed votes of one county and a different rule in passing on the dis- puted ballots of several other counties. L POSSE HUNTS “PEG LEG” AFTER DARING ESCAPE Cripple Beats and Robs Guard and Scales Walls of New Jersey Prison, Fleeing in Auto. By the Assoclated Press. TRENTON, N. J., April 5.—Twenty- five deputies from State prison here, aided by police of Camden and Phila- delphit, today were searching for “Peg Leg” Jack Gordon, hold-up man, whose missing limb_did not prevent his escape from the New Jersey peni- tentiary. Gordon, a trusty, vesterday slugged a guard with a blackjack and robbed him of a riot gun, revolver, his money and part of his clothes, lowered him- self from a 22-foot wall, scaled another 18-foot barrier and made off in a waiting automobile. The guard was not seriously injured. Gordon and his wife Helen, who is still in the prison, were serving 12 to 18 year sentences for hold-up com- mitted flve years ago. Recently Gor. don was made a trusty and because of his excellent record and his in- firmity no prisoner was looked upon with less suspicion. Gordon lost his Jeg while serving with the famous Canadlan “Princess Pat Regiment” at Ypres. . BEEEE ngoner on Rocks. HALIFAX, N. S, April 5 (®.—The Boston schooner Josephine De Costi has gone on the rocks near Shelburne, N. . and s asking assistance. Radio Programs—Page 15 Red Grange’s Movie Company Goes Into Hands of Receivers By the Assoclated Press. NEW YORK, April 5.—The Arrow Pictures Corporation, the company | which signed Red Grange to appear in motion pictures after his sensa tional debut last year in professional foot ball, was placed in the hands of equity receivers today® on petition of | Motion Plctures Today, Inc. | bublication. The receivership was consented to by the defendant corporation. The petition sets forth the fact that the company is a Virginta corporation with a capital of $5650,000, that it is at present unable to meet its obliga tions, but that it has assets exceeding $800,000 and has upon the market film productions from which a profit ay be expected. The corporation s organized in September, 1924, The order appointing receivers directs them to continue the business for the benefit of creditor: i RETIREMENT BILL REPORTED IN HOUSE Provides $1,200 Maximum Annuity and 4 Per Cent Contributions. | | The long-awaited liberalized civil service retirement bill was favorably veported to the House today by Rep- resentative Lehlbach, Republican New Jersey, chairman of the House commiittee on the civil service. This bill provides for a maximum annuity of $1,200. It provides for using the figure 40 as a divisor in computing the annuity based on average salary for the last 10 years multiplied by the number of vears of service. It provides for a contribution of 4 per cent of their salary by Govern- ment employes instead of 21 per cent as at present or 313 per cent as pro. vided for in other bills urged by the joint committee on civil service re- tirement leglslation. It provides for optional retirement at the ages of 60, 62 and 65 years for various classes of employes, and com- pulsory retirement at 62, 65 and 70 years for the same classes of employes. Civil Service Change. The change to a 4 per cent contribu- tion by employes was the latest alter- ation in the bill by the civil service committee and was designed to level out the contribution made by the em. ployes as against that made by the Federal Government so as to bring the cost of liberalized retirement sys tem within figures that would not be antagonistic to the fiscal policy of the administration, The Senate subcommittee, headed by Senator Stanfield of Oregon, may complete the final draft of a liberal- ized retirement law for Government employes at a meeting this afternoon, the chairman stated today. The measure will have to be passed on by the full civil service committee be- fore it is reported to the Senate. Although the subcommittee has not reached final conclusions, the expec- tation is that the bill to be recom- mended will be very close in its terms to the measure passed by the Senate last year, increasing the maximum annuity from $720 to $1,200 for those who retire after 30 years of service. The important question to be set- tled by the subcommittee before it makes its report is the range of age limits that should he recommended for the various classes of employes, such as general clerk, railway mail clerk and mechanics. I By the Assoclated Press. "ALBANY, Ga.,, April 5.—Cleve Riley, negro farmer of Lee County, today was anxiously awaiting reports from Washington as to the value of three bars of supposed gold bullion which he uncovered while plowing last week. Fach of the bars was stamped $50,000 and dated 1784. Riley believes he found a $150,000 fortune, but sent the metal to Wash+ ington to have-it assayed. The story of how the negro found the gold Wwent unnoticed for three days, chlefly because the discovery took place April 1. However, Jim Varner, white contractor of Sasser, confirmed the story and the post:| 4 Negro Farmer Plows Up 3 Metal Bars Believed $150,000 in Gold Bullion FAVORS TEACH RETIREMENT BILL | upon on bis proposal for House District Committee Votes to Give Measure Indorsement. The Lill to liberalize retirement of | public school teachers in the District | of Columba, introduced by Chairman | Zihlman of the House District commit- | tee, today was favorably reported by the subcommittee on schools, of which Representative Reid, Republi Ilinois, is chairman, and ordered favorably reported to House by the full District committee. Mr. Reid explained the provisions | of the new biil as compared with the existing law and said that the District Commissioners, the school officiuls, the | Citizens' Advisory Council, the Bud- get Bureau, the Bureau of Efficlency and all authorities are heartily in sup- | port of the proposed legislation. The present law provides for deduc- | tions of from 4 per cent to 8 per cent from basic salaries up to $1,500. The new bill proposes deductions in accord- | ance with tables on salarles up to | £2,000. | The present law provides for annu ties at 1 per cent of the average basic | salary since appointment of those ap- | pointed since 1906 multiplied by the number of years of teaching, with a maximum average salary of $1,500 al- lowed for computation. The proposed | bill providse for 1 per cent of the aver- age real salary received during the 10 vears immediately preceding retire- | ment, multiplied by the number of | vears of teaching, with a maximum | average salary of $2,000 allowed for computation. The present law provides for $10 contributed by the Government, multi- plied by the number of vears of teach- ing. The proposed law provides for $20 contributed by the Government, multiplied by the number of years of teaching. not exceeding 30. The present law provides that mini- mum pensions for age shall be $480 and the minimum pension for dis- ability $420. The proposed bill pro. :él‘:}:! ndmll:mum pension for age of | ant e same minimu for disability. G b ST . WOMEN DISAPPEAR: TWO YOUTHS HELD. Asked Man How Much He Would Give. for Return of Wife, Police Say. By the Assoclated Press. | NEW YORK, April 5.—Mario Ad- inolfl, 18 years old, and Frank Guzzo, | 19, were arrested vesterday and held without bail in connection with the mysterious disappearance of two mar- ried women from their homes. Tuesday night Joseph Mauratore and Michael Castaile reported to police that their wives, 34 and 36, re. | spectively, had disappeared. They were last seen talking to two youths | on the street. This morning, accord- Ing to the story told detectives hy ‘astaile’s daughter Anna, 12, the two youths under arrest forced open the door of the Castalle apartment and demanded to know where her father | wa When told he was at work they displayed revolvers and sat down to | walt. Castaile said that when he re. turned home he was held up and that the youths asked how much he would give for the return of his wife. Anna slipped out of the apartment and sum- moned police. master at Bronwood vouched for the shipment of the metal to the Treas. ury at Washington. According to Riley's story, he was plowing peacefully -last Thursday when the plowshare struck a buried object. Expecting to find a root, he began digging and_brought forth a rusty metal pot. Further investiga- tion revealed three bars of gold. The date, 1784, and amount, $50,000, were clearly discernible. Officials of the Treasury today said that no package of gold had been received as yet from Georgia, where a n was renorted to have plowed it UL wa W fai, Saturday’s 11920 to 172,537 In 1926. rvent of these selzures, he said, were The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press news s Circulation, 98,931 Circulation, 108,419 TWO CENTS. BRUCE OPENS WAR ON DRY LAW WITH SCATHING ATTACK Declares Prohibition Cause of Intolerance and Bigotry in United States. Press. HAS FOSTERED TYRANNY AND DECEIT, HE ASSERTS Urges Giving Government Control. Andrews Says Conditions Are Better. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. opening guns in the verbal e over prohibition were fired to by the S at the Senate ring on the various bills to modif constitutional amendment Volstead act. the outset Bruce of The - of the hearing Sen Maryland delivered a arruignment of conditions s under the Volstead act. He ed the committee to re favorably on his resolution amend the Constitution so as to place the liquor traffc in the hands of the derzl Government, much as the government of Canada now handles the liquor c. Senator Edge of New Jersey urged the committee modification of the Volstead act so as to permit the manufacture and sale of beverages taining more than one-half of 1 per cent of alcohol, but which are not intoxicating in fact. He asked orable action be taken a referendum fonal ele eping all the peo; { of 1925 on the prohibition question Andrews Is Called. statements made | 's. Assistant Secry incoln C. Andrews harge of probibition enforcement was called to the stand by Julian Cod man of Hamilton, acting a< attorney for several anti-prohibitior organizations and the American Fed eration of Labor. Gen. Andrews was the first witness put on by the “wets. He testifled enforcement conditions are improving Before he began his testimon: ever, Senator Me f « committee holding the hearings, sa that he wished to say that Gen. / drews appeared at the request of the Senatg committee. “1 know he would wish me to say that he does not appear as an advo cate on either side, but merely to give information,” said Senator Means. Long before the hearing began the committee room, room 224, Senate Office Building, was besieged by many persons desiring to be present. The room was quickly filled to overflowing and the doors were finally shut many who were unable to mission Photographers Shooed Away. The first 20 minutes were given ove to a battalion of newspaper photog raphers, who made pictures of the con nittee, of leading wets and leading drys, and finally were shooed out of the room by Chairman Means, so that the hearing might begin. Senator Bruce in his statement to the committee declared that the pro- hibition law and constitutional amend ment were begotten by the misuse of the old saloon. were hastened by the economic conditions caused by the World War and by the use of money and political threats on the part of the Anti-Saloon League “For the more than six vears i the prohibition law went into effec Senator Bruce insisted, “it has never been practically in effect.” Man can not be made over, he said, by law and the human instinct of personal liberty is very strong. The viola- tion of the law, he said, is by no means limited to a single class, the smart soctal set, or to the American Federation of Labor. Thousands of the best citizens of the country. he said, have been brought into contact with the bootlegger and have no com punction whatever about violating the la ce n It has been a disastrous, tragic failure,” the Senator continued. re ferring to the efforts te enforce prohi bition, “aside from doing away with the old saloon, which would have gone anywi The Federal Govern ment is powerless to enforce a statute when there is no crime per | se. There is no true moral sanction back of it.” Senator Bruce gave figures show- ing the tremendous increase in fhe number of arrests for violation of the national prohibition law during the last five vears. He pointed out the number of such arrests by Federal prohibition agents from January to June 30, 1920, had been 10,548 and in 1925 the arrests were 62,747. The number of convictions in the Federal courts for vlolation of the prohibition law had increased from 4,315 in 1920 to 38,498 in 1925. Senator Bruce called attention to the fact that these figures had nothing to do with the ar- rests and convictions by State author ities. The number of liquor stills and fermenting implements seized. he wsaid, had increased from 14,337 in Seventy per made in the conventionally dry States Alabama, Arkansas, Florlda, Geor gia, Louisiana, Mississippl, .North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee. Texas and Virginia. Arrests on Increase. Arrests for drunkenness in a long list of cities were given by Senator Bruce, showing very large increases in the last five years. The number in Washington, he sald, in 1920 was 5,415 and in 1925 a total of 11,160: Boston, 21,800 i 1920, 37,944 in 1925 Philadelphia, 14,313 In 1920 and 58, 617 in 1925. Senator Bruce said that the “‘drys’ claimed that arrests for drunkennes figures were misleading. He denfed this was so and said that In Balti mere the instructions for arrest on account of drunkenness were prac tically the same as before prohibition. Senator Bruce told the committee that if Gen. Andrews was successful in his efforts to dry up the sources of liquor and the bootleggers were wiped out “it would simply stimulate to unprecedented degree home distil lation and wine making.” He safd thet home fermentation woull become (Cuantinuad v 1