Evening Star Newspaper, December 26, 1926, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. S. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Rain or snow this morning followed by partly cloudy and col morrow cloudy. ¢ Temperature—Highest, noon; lowest, 37, at 10 p. Full report on page 4. No. 1,136— Ns. 30,189. der today; to- 47, m. at 12 Entered as second class matter post office, Washington, D. C. he AMERICAN MARINES BRITAIN ASKS WORLD TO HELP DISARMING SACAS NEARAEUA REBELS Action Fcllows Order to Lay| Down Weapons or Leave Puerto Cabezas. NEUTRA[ZONE SET UP BY ADMIRAL LATIMER U. S. Forces Landed at Liberal Capital Without Incident, State Department Says. By the Associated Press. MANAGUA, Nicaragua, December 25.—Rear Admiral Latimer, in com- mand of the American special squad- ron, has ruled that Dr. Juan Bautista Sacasa, the members of his Liberal cabinet and all his troops must disarm or leave Puerto Cabezas which has been declared a neutral zone. The American bluejackets are re- lieving ‘all the Liberal forces in the zone of their arms. On account of the American ad- miral’s declaration, the Liberal g ernment, which was set up at Pus Cabezas in opposition to the Diaz Con- servative government, finds its tem- porary capital gone, and the Liberal foreign minister has entered an ear- nest protest, on the ground that it will hav® a very unfavorable effect on the new Liberal government. Admiral Latimer has instructed the mahogany companies to pay taxes only to the Conservative gov- ernment, which has been recognized by the United States. Although it had been stated that President Diaz escaped injury when two men armed with machetes at- tacked the presidential carriage Thursday night, the President on his return home found that the heel of his shoe had been cut and torn, and on further investigation discovered a flesh wound. Due to excitement at the time of the attack the President had failed to notice his injury.’ Today he ap- peared entirely unconcerned over the attempted assassination. LANDING IS CONFIRMED. American Marines and Sailors Con- trol Neutral Zone. By the Associated Press. The State Department announced By the Associated Press. LONDON, December 25.—The for- eign office today made public among other documents embodying the-new British policy of conciliation toward China the note of December 18 which the British charge d'affaires at Peking communicated to the representatives of the Washington treaty powers. This memorandum, bearing on the relations between Ching and the pow- ers, is notable for its frank recognition of changed conditions in China, seen in the rise of a strong nationalist movement. The note emphasized the importance of the powers meeting this movement. The main proposals of the note are: “No forelgn control on an unwilling country; readiness to negotiate revi- sion of the treaties; immediate levy of the Washington surtaxes for the benefit of China, and amendment of the extraterritorial system. Alluding to the growth of the nationalist movement, seeking an equal place for China among the nations, the British note affirms that “any failure to meet this movement with sympathy and understanding would not respond to the real inten- tions of the powers toward China.” The British government proposes that the powers declare their readi- ness to negotiate on treaty revision and all other outstanding questions as soon as the Chinese have constituted CHINA TO NATIONAL EQUALITY Note to Powers Opposes Foreign Control on “Unwilling Country "—Negotiation on Treaty Revisions Is Propdsed. a government with powers to nego- tiate, The note urges that the powers should declare their readiness to ac- knowledge China’s right to tariff au- tonomy as soon as she herself has promulgated a new national tariff, and ‘‘should expressly disclaim any intention of forcing foreign control upon an unwilling China."” It declares further that the pow- ers “should modify their traditional attitude of rigid insistence on the strict letter of treaty rights and should agree to immediate and un- conditional grant of the Washington surtaxes.” His majesty’'s government, the note continues, holds that ‘“for the pow- ers to unite in an attempt to impose control ufon an unwilling China would “be entirely opposed to the spirit of the Washington treaties.” Regarding the Cantonese levy of additional taxes, the note states that the British government has ‘“‘with much reluctance joined in the pro- tests,against new taxes for the sake of maintaining solidarity with the powers, but is not satisfied that it is the right policy for the. present situation.” In an appended memorandum, dated May 28, the British govern- ment urges upon the American Gov- ernment that if any reasonably sat- isfactory assurances are given by the Chinese government as to the uses it proposes to make of the new rev- enues, no control or guaranties should be exacted, and the surtaxes should forthwith be authorized. FURTHER MELLETT INDICTMENTS DUE Alleged Vice Leaders Face Charges—Rudner to Be Tried Next. By the Associated Press. CANTON, ,Ohio, December 25.—In- dictment of additional persons in connection with the shooting last July of Don R. Mellett, Canton pub- last night that American Marines and sailors had been landed “without in- cident” Thursday at.Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, to protéct Ameérican and foreign lives and property. A neutral zone, “comprising ‘the territory lying within rifie range of. the American and foreign properties,” has been established. -The landing was made, the an- nouncement said, in answer to appeals for protection received £rbm American citizens with interests in the Puerto Cabezas area. _ . No details, of 'the landing operation, which was composed of forces from the cruisers Denver and Cleveland, ‘werp- contained in the naval radio message received yesterday from Rear Admiral Jullan Latimer, com- manding the special service squadron and in personal command of the sit- uation in Nicaraguan waters. “Ultimatum” Not Mentioned. The State Department announce- mouncement made no reference to the report made public here,by Dr. T. S. Vaca, represenm:‘?or the Sacasa Liberals, that Sa ard his “cabinet” had been ordepéd by Ad- miral Latimer to evacwate Puerto Cabezas by 4 p.m. yesterday. Vaca issued a statement yesterday charging that the landing at Puerto Cabezas, which has been headquarters on the East Coast of the Sacasa fac- tion, amounted to armed intervention by the United States in the internal affairs of Nicardgua. He added that the steps had been taken during the boliday’s recess of the American Con- gress because. the Washington admin- istration desired ‘to avoid congres- sional intervention of its activities in Nicaragua. State Department officials would make no comment on Vaca's charges. They called attention, how=ver, to the departmental announcement, which said that the landing had been made in response to specific requests from American citizens for profection. It is understood that such requests have been received from virtually all American interests in the Puerto Ca- bezas district. The State Department announ ment, {ssued last night, follows: “A_telegram has been received via the Navy from Admiral Latimer on the Rochester stating that at noon on the 23d a force of sailors and Marines from the Denver and Cleveland landed | at Puerto Cabezas and established a neutral zone there for the purpose of protecting American and foreign lives | and property. Landing Follows Appeals. “The landing was without incident. The neutral zone comprises the terri- tory lying within rifle range of Amer- ican and foreign properties. “‘Appeals for protection have been received from American citizens hav- | ing interests in that district and Ad- miral Latimer has been instructed to | afford such protection as the occasion | might demand.” So far as could be ascertained last night the Washington Government has no official information as to the imminence of a conflict between the groups of the two Nicaraguan political factions which caused Admiral Lat- imer to land a guard at Rio Grande Bar, south of Puerto Cabezas, and later to land a larger force and estab- lish a neutral zone at the liberal stronghold itself It is assumed in official circles that the headquarters of the Sacasa fac- tion at Puerto Cabezas must have been either on American-owned property or within rifle range of American or for- eign-owned holdings. Probably, it was said, the charge that Admiral Latimer had ordered Sacasa and his adherents to evacuate the town arose out of the establishment of the neutral zone. There appeared to be little doubt that the admiral would have ordered any armed group he found within the lisher, was viewed as a possibility today. Conviction vesterday of Patrick E. McDermott on a chargé of first-de- gree murder wds régarded as having increased the possibility of the: in- volvement of others in the crime. Indictments against Ben Rudner of Massillon and Louis Mazer of Can- ton, alleged co-conspirators in Mel- lett's murder, will stand following the conviction. One of the two, probably Rudner, will be tried early in February. The prosecution has charged from _the first that a number of leaders of an alleged bootlegging and vice ring had direct knowledge of a plot against Mellett.. Evidence against at least one, and possibly two,. qther persons already bhas been laid before the grand jury and additional indictments may be returned. McDermott escaped the death pen- alty through the recommendaton for mercy made by the jury in finding him guilty. His attorneys, claiming that he had been proved guilty of neither conspiracy nor murder, plan to appeal the case on error. Henry W. Harter, McClintock's as- sistant throughout the trial and pros- ecutor-elect, will have charge of the prosecution of the other indicted men. He plans to seek further con- victions in the case beginning, Feb- ruary 7, when it is expected that Rudner will be brought into court. MARSHALL MEMOIRS CREATE BIG REVENVE Vice President's Widow Requests That $5,000 Annuity Bill Be Withdrawn in Congress. By the Associated Press. Mrs. Thomas R. Marshall does not want the $5,000 annual pension which _ | Congress has been asked to grant the widow of the former Vice President. She has written Representative Aldrich, Republican, Rhode Island, requesting him to withdraw his bill which seeks to give hér the annuity. Informing Chalrman Knutson of the House pensions committee of Mrs. Marshall's wishes, Aldrich said the gale of the late Vice President's I memoirs had exceeded all expecta- tions and that the revenue derived therefrom was so substantial that she does not feel justified in accepting a pension. It has been customary to grent pensions to widows of former Presi- dents. Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt re- ceives annually $5000. President Cleveland's widow also was that amount. A blll to grant Mrs. Woodrow Wil- son $5,000 a year has been introduced, but no action has been taken. given By the Associated Press. Nature unbridled this year the most destructive forces it has turned loose upon this continent in the history of the American Red Cross. This is the opinion of officials of that organiza- tion, who say that fires, winds and floods have concentrated their fury in a way that has set a new record. Approximately 700 persons have been killed in the United States and hundreds injured, it was announced. “Two months, September and Octo- ber, witnessed an unq’rlllehd out- Zone he deemed necessary to protect non-eombatant foreign lives and for- it — e 2 burst of nature’s w Red Cross statement yesterd . "During this period occurred the Florida hurri- - TUNNEY RESELED AFTERFALL NLAKE Champion Saved by Human Chain—*Closest | Ever Had,” He Declares. By the Associated Press. ROCKFORD, Me., December 25.— Plunging into Moosehead Lake, where the water is at least 100 feet deep, when he lost his footing in an at- tempt to leap a treacherous ice wrin-, kle this morning, ' Gene T(nney, world's heavyweight boxing cham- pion, was rescued by a humah ¢ consisting of three companions acs companying him 6n a hike to ‘this village to attend mass. Rushing to the spot wheré Tunney went in, one of the trio seized him as he was struggling in the water, then others joined and they soon had the champion back on the fce. “That -was the closest call 1 ever had,” said Tunney after he reached the village, his teeth chattering fram the cold. “I'll never forget this Christmas.” He was so thoroughly chilled that he went at once to thé Rockwood Hotel, and there lay in bed a good drying. When he returned to Kings Camp, Tom Hegan Point, where he is spend- ing the Christmas holidays, the con- querer of Dempsey did not try the ice route again, but traveled by auto- niobile ‘overland for'a distance of 10 miles and then walked the remaining 4 miles. Tunney, his host, Pert Fowler, and two other men at the camp left for Rockwood a short time after break- fast on their tramp across the lake. They had covered about half ‘he dis- tance when they ran into a number of ice wrinkles nearly opposite Moose River. ‘While none of the party mentioned the width of the ice wrinkle over which Tunney attempted to hurdle, those on the lake this Winter range from 2 feet wide to 10 or 15 feet. Spying one in front of him which he thought he could jump easily, the champion lost his footing and went down with a crash, and before any of the others could reach his side he had gone through and was threshing about in the water. His companions formed their chain and dragged him back to safety. e, BOY ACCUSED OF MURDER AT A CHRISTMAS PARTY 15-Year-Old Youth Kills Brother- in-Law, Who Almost Bit His Cousin’s Finger Off. By the Associated Press. BELLEVILLE, N. J., December 25.—A 15-year-old boy, Louis Sarno, today was in custody charged with the murder of his brother-inlaw at a family’ Christmas party late last night. The brotherinlaw, Samuel Pen- entti, aged 41, appeared shortly before midnight at the home of Benjamin Penenttl, a cousin, and at- tempted to force his way in. He almost bit off one of Benjamin's fingers when the latter tried to eject him, and then turned -on the boy. Sarno drew a revolver and .sent a bulfet into his heart. Relatives told police the man beat his wife and three children and al- ways made himself troublesome, The boy admitted killing him. Disasters Set New Record in Last Year, Officials of American Red Cross Hold cane, the worst disaster in the annals of the Red Cross disaster relief since the San Francisco earthquake and wo fires in Alaska, which destroyed whole in Sandusky, Ohio; the Cuban hurri- cane, as destructive as the Florida storm; a flood in Mexico, and hurri- canes in the West Indies. “During October, Red Cross relief workers were caring for disaster vic- tims in eight different . communities and more than 24,000 homeless f: {lles were under the care of the Na. tlon's official relief agency." part of the day while his clothing was | P 2| than the Fess-Tincher bill of a year villages; floods in Oklahoma, a tornado | CONGRESS IS CLEAR T0 FINISH ON TIME IF PAGE IS KEPT UP But Any One of Several Is- sues-May Jam Legislation, Requiring Extra Session. NAVY INCREASE BATTLE DUE RIGHT AFTER RECESS Farm Relief Factions Also Lining Up—Seating of Frank L. Smith Is Explosive Question. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. Traveling at high speed, Congress in two weeks' time has rolled up an impressive record of legislation. If it can maintain the same speed dur- ing the two months which will re- main of the present session after the Christmas holidays there seems little doubt it can conclude its work and avold a special session of the next Congress in the Spring and Summer. The House has passed three of the annual supply bills for the Govern- ment, the Treasury and Post Office bill, the Interior bill and the Agricul- ture bill. . The Senate has put through the first two bills and is keeping close on the heels of the House in the work of providing the necessary funds for the conduct of the Government dur- ing the fiscal year 1928. The House has passed two legis- lative measures of major importance, the alien property bill and the bill increasing the salaries of the Federal judiciary. The latter had passed the Senate in the last session. . Rivers Bill Through Senate. In the Senate the rivers and har- bors bill has been passed finally, de- spite its many controversial pro- visions, and if the House accepts the Senate amendments it will not .go to conference. The Senate has shelved for the time being at least the poison gas treaty, opposed by the American Legion. It was recommitted and may not be brought forth again at the present session. The Senate put through in quick time the Smoot bill for the further development of the National Capital— the Pennsylvania avenue-Mall triangle bill. This measure is now under con- sideration by the House public build- ings' and grounds_committee, and its prompt repert and passage by the House is predicted. So much for the aceomplishments of ‘the two houses. A number of mat- ters dre préssing for considération which are ltkely to produce stormy segsions. Among them are the naval appropriation bill, Muscle Shoals, farm relief, prohibition enforcement legislation, coal legislation and, in the Senate, the nomination of Cyrus E. Woods of Pennsylvania, former Amer- fcan Ambassador to Japan. Tax Issue Now Dormant. Tax-reduction legislation appears for the present to have entered a state of innocuous desuetude. The House ways and means committee, by a strict party vote, has tabled all pro- sals to reduce taxes at this time, including the plan of President Cool- idge for a remission of part of the taxes due in March and June of the coming year and the Democratic pro- posal for an immediate reduction of the tax rates. Democratic leaders continue to declaim in favor of tax reduction without delay, pointing to the expected surplus at the end of the present fiscal ‘year, which may reach $400,000,000 or more. It appears, how- ever, that the President’s alternative plan—the use of this surplus to re- duce’ the' public debt, will be carried out. The administration insists it would be unwise to change the tax rates until the 1926 tax law has had a more complete tryout, notwithstand- ing the surplus now accruing. The naval appropriation bill is to be reported to the House as soon as that body reassembles after the holidays. The failure of the appropriations com- mittee to include in the bill an item for beginning the construction of three light cruisers hitherto authorized by Congress and upon which construction must begin by July 1, 1927, will arouse those members who belleve in going ahead now with the construction of cruisers. The Butler bill calling for the authorization of 10 new light cruisers. has not appeased them. They want cruisers in the water and not on paper, they say. An amendment probably ‘will be offered from the floor of the House appropria- ting a small sum to begin work on the three cruisers already -authorized. Certainly, the fight for the construc- tion of these cruisers will be made in the Senate, where Chairman Hale of the naval affairs committee and other Senaters are intent upon build- ing :‘r the cruiser strength of the United States with as little delay as possible. The United States is far be- hind Great Britain and Japan in mod- ern cruisers. Farm Relief Battle Soon. The battle over farm reliet legisla- tion has scarcely begun. Senator McNary of Oregon, chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture, has opened the ball with the introduction of a revised blll, embodying the equal- jzation fee principle. Chairman Haugen, after some deliberation, has offered a similar bill in the - House, and it appears that the old MeNary- Haugen combination for farm relief legislation is to continue. For g time it looked as though this combihation might go on the rocks because Mr. Haugen did not think the new Mc- Nary bill went far enough. Report has it that opponents of the equalization fee principle in the Sen- ate and House, including Senator Fess of Ohio and Representative Fort of New Jersey, are working on a substi- tute measure. They have consulted with Secretary Jardine of the Depart- ment of Agriculture. While the meas- ure which they will produce is not to embody the equalization fee, it is understood it will go much farther ago. So far there has been no in- formation to indicate that the new bill is to be considered an administra- tion measure. The President in his annual message to Congress left the door open for Congress itself to frame farm relief legislation, provided only t should be sound, and not -put the Government into the business of buy- 1 and selling or producin; §!E McNary-Haugen (Continued on 3, Column 7.) und WITH DAILY EVENING EDITION A { Officers of . CONPANYTOD TOACEPTOILLAW Penn-Mex Concern Ordered to Agree to Mexico’s Restrictions. By the Associated Press. MEXICO CITY, December 25.— The Tampico officers of the Penn- Mex Oil Co., one of the large foreign oil companies operating in Mexico, the newspapers say, have received instructions from Pittsburgh head- quarters to accept the new petroleum and land law unconditionally and apply for concessions confirming the company’s Mexican -holdings acquired before 1917. The department of industry und commerce announces that the Mar- land Oil interests have accepted the new regulations. At thé same time the Richmond Petroléum Co., a sub- sidiary of the Standard Ofl Co. of California, which the Department of Commerce announced had applied for ratification of its holdings, de- clared that its applications relate only to hrldlnga acquired since 1917. Various' companies are applying to the Mexican government for con- firmatory concessions of certain prop: erties, but theré is a difference of opinion as to whether such apvlica- tions constitute complete acceptance of the new law which will go inte effect January 1. WILL SEEK CONCESSIONS. Company Order It to Accord to Law. PITTSBURGH, December 25 (A.P) —Officers of the Penn-Mex Fuel Co., local corporation, with _extensive property in the state of Vera Cruz, Mexico, said today they had instruct- ed Tamplco representatives to apply for concessions confirming the Mexi- can holdings acquired by the com- pany since 1917, in accordance with the new petroleum and land law. This action, according to L. W. Young, director and former presi- dent, does not imply unqualified ap- proval of the concession act, but merely -an attempt to comply with the law by filing of an application to determine the nature of the conces. sion. The Mexican government, Young said, so far had not madeany definite effort to the various foreign companies, adding it was unclear to the foreign oil interests whether the government intends to grant the |land to its present holder or to de- prive them of it. The Penn-Mex Fuel Co. owns be- tween 50,000 and 100,000 acres, all in the state of Vera Cruz. . TEXAS BUFFALO STEAKS MAKE HOLIDAY FEASTS Goodnight Ranch Ships as Delica- cles Dressed Beeves Formerly Lacking Popularity. By the Associated Press. GOODNIGHT, Tex., December 25. —A Christmas ge“s:cy. Whl‘lc“ ll:e forefathers consider too cheap to be desired, went forth from Goodnight this week to grace many American tables. Twelve buffalo beeves were dressed at the famous Goodnight ranch for holiday markets. Every pound left Goodnight in answer to previous orders. These steaks, selling in most places at $1 a steak, came from the buffalo herd on the ranch. They were put on full feed 90 days before the market- ing season. All animals dressed for Christmas markets were 4 years old and up. The average buffalo dresses 600 to 900 pounds net. The largest ever ssed dre: at the Good;lolgh! ranch weighed 2,200 on_the h and 1,160 dressed. , an animal will bring from $600 to. $900. . After cutting out the Christmas beeves there were still 200 buffaloes in the herd. BEAT FRENCH SOLDIERS. MAYENCE, Germany, December 25 (#).—Two French soldlers were chapel this morning, after attending a midnight mass, the French mili- uthorities reported today. e authorities stated that the Ger- mans were intoxicated and the French soldiers without tion, Slightly injuring both of them. Star WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 26, 1926.—EIGHTY-EIGHT PAGES. TODAY’S STAR PART ONE—36 PAGES. General News—Local, Natlonal and Foreign. Schools and Colleges—Page 20. Maryland and Virginia News—Pages 5, 21 and 22. Spanish War Veterans—Page 27. Civillan Army News—Page 27, Radio News and Programs—Page 28. Financial News—Pages 30 and 31. Classified Advertising—Pages 32, 33 and 34. Serial, “The Girl Cabin"—Page. 35. D. A. R. Activities—Page 3% PART TWO0—20 PAGES. Editorials and Editorial Features. Washington and Other Society. Notes of Art and Artists—Page 4. Reviews of Winter Books—Page 4. Tales of Well Known Folk—Page 10. Around the City—Page 12. Army and Navy News—Page 12. Clubwomen of the Nation—Page 13. Parent-Teacher Activities—Page 14. Boy Scout News—Page 14. The Starry Skies in January—Page 15 W. C. T.'U. News—Page 15. Y. W. C. A. News—] 16. News of the Clubs—Page 18. At the Community Centers—Page 18. PART THREE—$ PAGES. Amusenients—Theaters and the Photo- in the Second play. Music—Page 5. Motors and Motoring—Page 6. Fraterndl News—Page 7. District National Guard—Page 7. Veterans of the Great War—Page 7. PART FOUR— PAGES. Pink Sports Section. PART FIVE—8 PAGES. Magazine Section—Fiction and Fea- tures. The Rambler—Page 3. 3 GRAPHIC SECTION—8 PAGES. World Events in Pictures. COLOR SECTION—4 PAGES. Mutt and Jeff; Reg'lar Fellers; Mr. and Mrs.; High Lights of History. WIRE SAVES AUTO IN CRASH ON BRIDGE Machine Struck by Car and Thrown to Edge, Where ; New Cable Holds. Mrs. Matson was driving west on the bridge ' about 11 o'clock. Street car 616 of the Capital Traction Co. ‘was proceeding east across the bridge. In the driving rain the -automobile skidded, swung its rear end toward the rear end of.the passing street car and was hit just as the car was clear- ing the automobile, which sent the automobile at a right angle straight toward the railing. The left front wheel of the machine jumped the high curbing and skidded along. The mesh and cable gave, but held, and the car came to a stop. Mrs, Matson was taken to her home in a taxicab, where Lieut. Grove and Policeman Brown of the fourteenti® precinct learned she was suffering from cuts and bruises, but was not in a serious condition. The front end of her automobile was badly damaged, but the rear end of the street car es- caped serious injury. Burned Lighting Firecracker. CHARLOTTE, N. C., Decemher 25 (#).—Roebrt White, 6-vear-old son of Mr. and Mrs. L. N. White of Char- lotte, was seriously burned here to- night when his clothes ignited from a candle he was using to light a fire- cracker. He is expected to recover. 60 cents (#) Means Associated Press. “From Press to Home Within thé Hour” The Star is delivered every evening and Sunday morning to Washington homes at per month. Telephone Main 5000 and service will start immediately. FIVE CENTS. RECORDS SHASHED N HOLIAY TRADE 127 UTLOOK 0D Peak of Buying Came Mon- day, Showing Public Heeded Shop-Early Advice. FEMININE SILKS GAIN IN POPULARITY AS GIFTS Post Office Increases Here Lead Na- tion From Preliminary Re- ports to Capital. Business in Washington this Christ- mas smashed all known records, and the Nation's capital is enjoying the holidays in the knowledge that it is sharing substantially the nation-wide prosperity. Heads of the largest department stores of the city, long considered as good barometers of the shopping pulse of the Capital, were unanimous in saying that their business both from FARMER I SLAIN AND HOME BURNED Robbery Theory Advanced in Death of Maryland Man on Christmas Eve. Daniel Kuhne, 51-yearold Prince Georges County farmer, was murdered and his house burned by his slayers in an effort to destroy evidence of their crime, it was found by a cor- oner’s jury yesterday afternoon, fol- lowing the discovery of the farmer's charred body in the ruins of his home near Duley Station, 17 miles from ‘Washington on the Robert Crain Highway early yesterday morning. The crime was committed between 8 o'clock Friday night.and early yester- day morning, when Kuhne's house was found in flames. Neighbors who arrived to extinguish thé fire believed the farmer to be safely out of his home, and it was not until the blaz- ing walls collapsed that his body, ter- ribly burned, was found. A blood-stained crowbar, an upset lantern, a cap and a broken cane were found near the entrarice to the burn- ing dwelling and these supplied part of the evidence upon which the cor- oner’s jury based its findings. Bloodstains Are Found. A careful investigation of the scene after daylight disclosed bloodstains on the turf near the door, and Blake E. Duley, foreman of the coroner’s jury and an old friend of Mr. Kuhné, de- clared that in his opinion and in the opinion of others who examined the evidence, the farmer was struck down with the crowbar as he was about to enter his home. A fractured skull bore out this belief when an examina- tion of the body was made. The first examination of the body also disclosed evidence that it had been saturated with oil and a further search of the ruins revealed a Kkero- sene can. The crowbar found out- side, however, was the first clew to any violence. Mr. Kuhne, who has for many years sold produce on the “country line” at the Center Market, was last séen shortly after 8 o'clock Friday night, when he stopped at the bungalow of Leo Newman, his coloréd neighbor, to set his watch, declaring at that time his intention of spending Christ- mas day with his cousin, Mrs. John Jimyer, 8 Fair Oaks avenue, Balti- more. He had expressed joy in his an- ticipation of the visit, Newman told the jury, and had said he would take (Continued on Page 4, Column 3.) THREE TRAINMEN KILLED. Engine Plunges Through Washed- Out Trestle in Mississippi. HATTIESBURG, Miss., December 25 (#).—Van Martin, engineer; Lane Langford, brakeman, and Ernest Scott, fireman, were killed when the engine of a Gulf and Ship -Island Rail- road train on the Columbia branch plunged through a washed-oup trestle south of Silver Creek, Miss., early to- day. The engineer and brakeman lived in Hattiesburg and Scott’s home was in Mendenhall. Heavy rains yesterday and today had turned the stream into a raging torrent and the three men were trapped in the cab when the loco- motive dropped into its swirling flood waters. The bodies were re- covered by a wrecking crew. Rich Indians Mark Christmas With Old Tribal Danccs.'But U. S. Bars Firewater By the Associated Press. PAWHUSKA, Okla., December 25.— Elephantine stockings were required today to hold the Christmas presents exchanged among the Osage Indians, wealthiest race per capita on earth. Each Indian on the tribal rolls was allowed. $2,300 with which to do his or her Yuletide shopping. A Observance of the holiday among the Osages is as diversified as that of their white brothers. The only difterence is in the ftude. Re- A great feast was in progress to- day in the Indian village on the out- It was followed into any of tbu‘n entree ‘the white man’s restaurants or gilded ballrooms, prefer their feasts of beef and buffalo meat, barbecued over smoky camp fires, or ‘“jerked” and allowed to dry in the sun. Likewise, they cling to their weird tribal dances, accompanied by tom toms and the monotonous chanting of their patri- archs. Civilized dress, with leather shoes, is discarded in favor of gay blankets and moccasins. One element, ‘irewater,” was con: spicuously absent from their celebra- tions today. Enforcement officers of the Osage agency not only have dam- med as far as possible the flow of liquor into the reservation, but are using strong persuasion to restrain the younger men from going outside in search of refreshments. To the children of the Osages Santa Claus is a very real person and brings them wonderful gifts and they await his coming just eagerly as their little white cousins. . . - .. - the point of money value and in num- ber of sales had exceeded any Christ- mas of the past. Bank clearings indi- cate larger totals than last year. Predictions as to the future here, while not exurberant, were neverthe- less hopeful and optimistic for a con- tinuance of business along a steady level for at least the first six months of the year. New Post Office Records. Post office records of past years ‘went by the board in sensational man- ner. Christmas parcel post, the con- veyor of thousands of Christmas pack- ages, in¢reased here by per cent over last year, accordi to Super- intendent of Mails C. E. Schooley. Total Christmas mail was 16.7 per cent higher than the same time last year in the Washington Post Office, but due to the combination of the good results of the shop early, mail early campaign and the increased force at the Post Office, all mail in the office was sent out by the single delivery at 7 o'clock yesterday morn- ing, leaving the floors and boxek clear. The Washington f{icrease in mail figures was far larger than the aver- age for ‘the Nation, as, according to First - Assistant ‘Postmagster General Bartlett, the total increase for the country was from § to .12 per cent over last year, while the parcel post increased from 6 to 7 per cent. ‘Washington bank clearings for December year, up to the close of afternoon, totaled red to $123,- 724,889° gm r, 1925, ton ring Hmr;ummwn. these figures indicate that Deéecember this year, without a Houbt, will exceed De- cember of a'year ago in its total bank clearings. Every month of this year, according to Mr. Bright, with the sin- gle exception -of July, has shown a total of canceled checks in Washing- ton in excess of similar months for the prior year. 2 Price Levels Lower. The fact that the total value of Christmas sales in the leading depart. ment stores of Washington, without a single exception, showed a gain over last year' is doubly significant, when there is taken into consideération low- er prices prevalling in substantially all of the generally accepted lines of Christmas goods, As prices were gen- erally lower, it was necéssary for the stores to turn over a larger number of pleces in order to keep their sales level up to the same as last year. But so large was the increase in the num- ber of individual sales that not onl: was the total value reached, but ex- ceeded. Prices in some lines, according to heads of the stores, are due for a still further decline in-the next six ‘months, especially in cotton goods, which, it was explained, -have not yet felt the full effect of the drop in the price of raw cotton. Silks are among those items which, it seems agreed, may take a small tumble in price shortly after Christmas. Rumors drifting into Washington that 1927 may not measure up to the business levels of 1926, partly on ac- count of depression in the prices of raw cotton and corn, do not find a sympathetic reflection among Wash: ington business leaders, who said they looked forward to and were planning confidently for a good year in 1927, than expected, gest year we ever had"—such were the typical expressions from heads of the department stores dealing in Christmas gifts for the entire family. Contrary to former popular concep- tion, it was explained by more than one, the biggest shopping day was not the last day before Christmas, nor the next to the last day before Christmas. This year, it was not even in the last part of the week. It was Monday. This was accounted for in several ways by various store officials. The growing popularity of the ‘“early” campaigns for shopping, buying, mail- ing, etc., is believed generally to have had a big effect on the time of pur- chase. In the old days, it was ex- plained, the big days were the last two before Christmas, but this has not been so within the past several years. This time the big shopping day was moved back to Monday, the first of the week, in which Christmas came on Saturday. ‘The family conference and Sunday’s opportunity to make up Christmas shopping lists were referred to by some as the reasons for making Mon- day the biggest buying day in Wash- ington for Christmas this year. 8ilk Gifts Show Gain. ‘While the range of Christmas gift purchases ran the whole gamut of pos- sibility, and extended = beyond the reach of the department store, into standard gifts of all kinds, among the most interesting trends noted was that toward silk for the ladies. - One of the largest stores reported that the most remarkable increase in any one part of their varied offerings was in the silk underwear department. Another showed. that silk stockings showed a remarkable gain. These two trends are in line with several recent national surveys in which investiga- tors. rxfl.fl they had come to the conclusion that this was not only an age of femininity, buf