Evening Star Newspaper, March 28, 1927, Page 1

| vair, with e 35 degrees tonigl w I"rh slowly rising temperature. mperature—t | pm. yesterday; I today. Full report ®Closing N.Y. Stocks and Bonds, Page ATHER st temperature about Pureau Foree ') ht. Tomorrow fair {ighest, 47, at owest, 37, at 6 t on page 6. 2:156 am. @b WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ¢ Foening Star. 80281, iomie No. Entered as second class matter Washington, D C WASHINGTON, D.: 'Cy MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1927-THIRTY-FOUR PAGES. * service. Saturday’s Cireul Sunday’s The only evening ' in Washington wi!: the | Associated Press news Circulation, lation, 102 " TWO CENTS. ' AMERICANS ESCAPE MOBS N YANGTZE VALLEY: SHANGHAI TENSION RELAXES Refugees Continue to Pour Into Port City in Increasing Numbers as Anti-Foreign Sentiment Spreads. L il. S. CITIZENS WARNED TO GATHER AT AMOY * Washington - Officials Relieved by Latest Dispatches From Admiral Williams—Chang Says Bolshe- ‘vists Are Stirring Southern Chi- = nese to More Excesses. By the Associated Press. SHANGHALI, March 28—Scores of foreigners, Americans predominat- ing, continued to flock into ‘the in- ternational settlegnent of Shanghai today, fleeing from the storm of | anti-foreign agitation sweeping the ‘Yang'zc Valley. They came from the larger ports on the banks of the great river and irom places inland, where, since the Nationalist victories of last week, the situation had become increasingly menacing. In some instances the . refugees barely escaped the fury of mobs, bent upon destroying all for- eigners because of Cantonese reports that 200,000 Chinese were killed wheir American and British warships jrushed to China at once to reinforce American to Head Propaganda Work For Nationalists By the Associated Prees LONDON, March 28.—The Shang- hai correspondent of the Daily Ex- press says that Willlam Prohme, head of the Nationalist press bu- reau at Hankow and described as an American Communist, was ex- pected to arrive in Shanghai today to take charge of the Nationalist propaganda there. The correspondent adds that the American forces in Shanghai are equipping some of their lines of machine gun posts with tear gas projectors, MARINES ORDERED TO CHINA MASSING INEAST AND WEST First Quantico Detachment Due to Entrain for San Diego Tomorrow. To the roll of drums along both the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards, call ing into existence the historic old 6th Regiment, United States Marines were moving today towards Philadelphia and San Diego for service in China. Detachments in full fighting trim, gathering from widely scattered posts, will constitute a second expeditionary force’ of 1,560 men. They will be the 1,500 Marines already concentrated in Shanghal under command of Brig. Gen. Smedley D. Butler, of early “Boxer” fame. By tomorrow morning it was ex- pected the first detachments, consti- tuting a battery of field artillery and six observation planes, will entrain direct from Quantico for San Diego. Unless orders are changed in the opened fire at Nanking Thursday. At Nanking six Japanese are the only foreigners known to be remain- y ing ashore. The only Americans and Britishers remaining in that district are a few officials aboard warships. Steamers Bring in 71. Six Americans at Chinkiang have not embarked. They are staying within 200 yards of the United States destroyer Paul Jones. Two small lumber steamers brought 71 Americans from Nanking to Shang- hai today. Many of them were suffer- ing from ptomaine poisoning contract- ed aboard the destroyer Noa. Eleven meanwhile, the main Quantico force of 55 officers and 426 enlisted men, augmented by 80 enlisted men and 3 officers from Washington, will entrain early Wednesday for Philadelphia to join the main strength of the 6th Reg- iment bound for San Diego., Due to Embark Sunday. The Transport Henderson, which carried a part of the famous 5th Regi- ment to France in 1917, is steaming under full speed to San. Dicgo, where the Chinese expeditionary forees are ‘scheduled to embark for the zone of MACHINE GUN KILLS 2IN DETROIT “WAR” One Probably Fatally Wound- ed—Shooters Shielded by Steel Door. By the Associated Pres DETROIT, Marcl 28.—The first machine gun fire in the history of Detroit's gang war killed two men and probably fatally wounded an other as they walked down a corridor of an apartment building early today. The machine gun ‘was entrenched behind a steel fire door. The slain men are. believed by police to be George Cohen and Joseph Bloom, ad- dresses unknown. fighting next Sunday. ’l'hl:'fl small detachments arrived most _serious cases were sent :: ‘:‘.holplul.“ Another steamer 1:.- yesterday in Philadelphla. They were ~eome i’ with Teweigners from Chin- N. Y.; New London, e : ’ i fuil m’wmm"'t " Wear: returned m-‘;.wurotmmm !%'orln o(acu;o ports along the Y “River, , they carried 54-pound packs, ‘where it ‘up 15 men, 14 women | steel helmets and trench tools and 18 chiidren, all Americans. Mis- | in addition to pistol and rifie. Other sionaries report that all Americans . have been evacuated from Wusih and There was no mistaking the of the refugees as they came wfi‘l‘: the confines of the international set-| tlement, for they were confident that the large combined army of foreign defense forces would serve to prevent eny organized attempt at attack. Ready for Anything. Those entrusted with the protec- tion of the international settlement are preparing for all eventualities, as strong feeling against foreigners is evident everywhere in the native city. Anti-foreign posters and fiery speeches by students keep the Chinese in such a frame of mind that anything is Hikely to happen. " ‘The barriers of the international wettietent are being strengthened and the various generals are arranging for closer co-operation in the event of untoward incidents. Smedley D. Butiér, commanding the American es, inspected the defenses yes- terday in company with the British commander, Maj. Gen. Duncan. That the Cantonese attack at Nan- king, which diew the fire of the war- ships, was premeditated and was led by persons familiar with the foreign interests in the city, is the belief of Americans, most of them missionarfes, A _statement drafted by authorized representatives of these Americans says the attack was obviously under official control and directed agajnst all foreigners, irrespective of nation- ality.” Among thosc brought here were Miss Anna E. Moffet of Fort Sheridan, 11, who Was shot by the Cantonese soldiers, and E. T. Hobart, manager of the Standard Ofl branch at Nan- king, who broke one ankle as the party beleaguered at Socony Hill was making its way to safety under the cover of the warships’ bombardment. Tell Terrible Stories. Refugees arriving on the William B. Preston had stories to tell of thelr experiences no less terrible than those of earlier arrivals. They related how the soldiers forced their way into houses with fixed bayonets, engaged 1 orgy of looting, burned build- ings and kept foreigners in a state of terror. The missionaries, many of have labored in China for , could mot_ conceal their disap- © happenings. ergency quarters in the interna- tional settlement of Shanghai were crowded today. Beds were set up in churches, schools and ‘the Navy Young Men's Christian Association to detachments are expected to arrive during the day. Another detachment of 700 men and officers from Parris Island, S. C., were awaiting orders momentarily today to entrain dis for Ban Diego, where they will join the Philadelphia forces. Fighting equipment of the 6th Regi- ment, now. being organized, will in- clude 16 machine guns, light firing and heavy Browning guns, trench mortars, 4 37-millimeter guns and 4 75-millimeter guns. Of the 12 planes making up the alr squadron, six of the observation type will go from Quantico. The other three combat planes will be obtained from San 3 \ * - Col. Snyder in Command. The new 6th Regiment is under the command of Col. Harold C. Snyder, formerly of Washington and a vet- eran of many campaigns. Col. Snyder is a native Virginian and has seen service in the Marine Corps for 27 years. He gerved in Mexico, the Phil- ippines, Haiti, San Domingo and in France during the World-War. He has been in command of the Marine Bar- racks at Philadelphia since last June. Col. Snyder said he was “tickled to death” with the order to go to China. “When 1 heard that my old com mander, Brig. Gen. Butler, was going over, I wanted to be with him,” Col. Snyder said. The officers who will mak= up the air squadron of the Marine regiment were announced at Marine Corps avia- tion headquarters as follows: From Quantico—Capt. J. F. Moriar- ity, Capt. J. T. Moore, Second Lieut. Wilson B, Trundle, Lieut. William G. Manly, Lieut. Henry Carr and nine enlisted men. | From the flying station at San Diego, Calif.—Maj. F. T. Evams, who will command the air squadron, and First Lieus. W. J. Wallace, First Lieut. Clayton . Jerome, Second !Lieut. Thomas White, Second Lieut. {Pearson E. Conrad and 39 enlisted men. From the Island of Guam—Capt. . E. McCaughtry, Capt. Arthur H. Page, First Lieut. W, O. Brice, Ma- rine Gunner Harold Ogden and 98 en- [ listed men. ! None of the officers in the air squadron is from Washington, but two -of them are from adjoining i States. Lieut. Trundle is a native of The third man, taken to a hospital wounded nearly a dozen times, is Frank Wright, allas Burke, 23, of Chicago: “He has been living &t a downtown hotel for several weeks. In his room were found Chicago newspaper ~accounts of beer and gambling feuds in which machine guns have figured. Acquaintance Kidnaped. Wright told Philip A. Neudeck, as- sistant prosecuting attorney, he and his companions, Bloom and Cohen, were summoned to the apartment in Alexandrine avenue to release ‘‘Fish,” an acquaintance who had been kid- n ed. “As we were walking down the cor- ridor a steel fire door swung open and three men began shooting at us,” said ‘Wright. “The man with the machine gun was in the middle and, on each side of him was a man firing away with a pistol.” » . Police _believe the shooting is an outbreak of a war between rival gam- bling house proprietors of Detroitand that gunmen from New York and Chi- cago have been brought here to carry on the feud. The sawed-off shotgun heretofore has been the favorite weapon of gang shootings in Detroit. ., Guns Are Found. In the apartment where the three were sald by Wright to have been summoned police found three sawed- off shotguns, a rifie and several cartridges. According to the building superin- tendent, the apartment had been rent. ed several months ago by four men, Abe and Simon Axler, brothers; Sam Miller and John Tolzdorf. Police are attempting to connect Miller with the killing of a patrolman at Kent, Ohio, March 23, 1925. Wright told the asistant prosecutor that during his stay in Detroit he has been in partnership with a woman named Mollle Day in the operation of a blindpig establishment. Miss Day called to see Wright at the hospital and was detained for questioning. Eddie Fletcher, saild to be a boxes of Trenton, N. J., also an occupant of the apartment, 15 being sought. FIVE PLANES DESTROYED. Hangar at Hadley Field Burns, Due to Explosion. NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J,, March 28 (P).—Five airplanes, two of them used in the Boston-New York air malil service, were destroyed when fire today burned a hangar at Hadley Field, near here. A boller explosion caused the fire. There was nobody in the building | “{Continued on Page 4, Column 5. - |at the time. Two trucks also were destroyed. By the Associated Press. LONDON, March 28.—Tribute to care tor refugees, 500 of whom, for ahe mo.a part ‘missionaries, had ar- rived in tne last 48 hours, The nex: few s probably will sce (ll greater influx, as many vies, who at first had refused their stations, now are mak- dy to come to Shanghal. ve E. Gauss, the United States sul gener quested the State ment at Washington to advise n boards to call some of the © congestion: Conyoys for Refugee Ships. se of the danger vessels are con- of travel on ngtze, naval refugee ships. While on the way to Shanghai, the Stewart, the Prebie and Wilkam B. Preston were fired on. United States destroyers are tak up stations at Amoy, Swatow and Foochow, is feared that trouble may develop at these places as a conscquence of the Nanking affair. A virtual state of war exists be. tween the Nationalist soldiers and foreign vessels traversing the Yangtze R Nearly every ship is fired on, ~(Continued on Page 4, Column 2.) it as the Amerfan bluejackets who sig- I naled the American and British war- ships to start firing on the Cantonese | at Nanking, thus saving the forelgn | refugees on Socony Hill, was paid by | the British forelgn secretary, Sir Chamberlain, today in the | House of Commons. | (The men were Henry O. Warren, { quartermaster third class, of Olin, ! N. €, and Dennie D. Taylor of Lin- | coln,. Calif., both attached to the de- | stroyer William B. Preston.) Addressing a hushed House, the for- eign secretary said: “I have not the least doubt that this timely communi- cation with the warships and their |ume|y action alone saved the lives of the British and Americans, who took |refu¢ze on the hill.” The Government benches insistently queried Sir Austen as regards the safeguarding of British interests in China and as to whether negotiations wih the Cantonese wvfe proceeding. Tribute to Americans Who Directed * Firing Paid in British Commons He replied: “No negotiations are pro- gregsing at present, nor is it possible to negotlate fruitfully in the present anarchical conditions.” Loud cheers greeted his assertion that “the Chinese authorities must preserve order where their authority exists before there is any further sur- render of British rights.” Pressed for a declaration of British policy as regards the future of Shang- hai, for which members of the House insisted the whole foreign community of Shanghai was waiting, Sir Austen pointed out that the British inferests were centered in the international set- tlement. A policy could be determified upon only in consultation with the other powers interested, and it was impos- sible to negotiate in the present cha- otic situation. The international set- tlement, he said, had an area of 5,684 acres, a total population of 832,831 and an assessed land value of 42, 196,562, BT R Radio Programs—Page 23. Marinés Fired on In Nicaragua But Drive Natives Off By the Associated Pr Two menbers of Marine patrol assigned to the Leon an American district in Nicaragua were fired upon yesterday by four natives while making a survey of that city’s outskirts, Admiral Latimer reported to the Navy Department vesterday. The Marines returned the fire and the natives dropped their arms and ammunition and took to their heels. Admiral Latimer also advised the Department that on Saturday last a Marine Corps airplane was fired on and struck while patrolling be- tween Darfo and Matagalpa. VACAKGY LG " WATS N DAVES Had Given Secretary Power to Act in Reed Committee Case Before Leaving. By the Associated Press. Vice President Dawes decided be- fore departing for Panama to fill any vacaney that might occur in the Sen- ate campaign funds committee during the recess of Congres: The Vice President's decision was disclosed today by his secretary, E. Ross Bartley, who was empowered to name a successor to Senator Goff in the absence of Mr. Dawes, but after conferences with Republican leaders as to whom they’ desired named, he has decided to hold the matter in abeyance until Gen. Dawes returns next month. Situation Held Changed. The leaders said the situation had changed materially since the Vice President left Washington, because Chairman Keyes of the Senate audit committee had declined to approve ex- penditures of the Reed committee and by the court action in Pennsylvania involving the ballots in four counties which that committee has sought in the Vare-Wilson senatorial contest. Another consideration in the de cision for delay, it was explained, is that a majority of the committee now is at the call of the chairman, Senator Reed, Democrat, Missourl. Holds Committee Lives. Senator Shortridge, Republican, Calif., who will become chairman of the elections committee at the next session, has been most prominently mentioned as Senator Goff's successor. In tendering his resignation, the West Virginian, presented a copy of a lengthy legal opinion, which he had prepared, holding that despite the fail- ure of the continuing resolution, the committee had full authority to pro- ceed with the Pennsylvania election contest during the recess. o MILLIONAIRE ON TRIAL ACCUSED OF BRIBERY Daniel J. Shields of Johnstown, Pa., Is Charged With Giving Money in Dry Case. Daniel J. Shields, millionaire hotel owner d politician of Johnstown, Pa., was placed on trial today before Justice Hoehling in Criminal Division 1 on a charge of bribery. Shields is alleged to have paid $2,100 to Miss Della M. Hayes, a stenographer in the Prohibition Unit, between April 23, 1923, and April 22, 1924, for fur- nishing confidential information of the Government in reference to per- mits to manufacture cereal beverages. He was tried on a charge of con- spiracy lest year in the local ¢ourts and acquitted March 18, 1926. Assistant U. S. Attorneys Fihelly and Collins are conducting the prose- cution, while the defendant is repre- sented by Attorneys James S. Easby- Smith and Michael M. Doyle. VESUVIUS ACTIVE AGAIN. NAPLES, Italy, March 28 (= Mount Vesuvius has resumed activity after a lull of a few days. The eruption, while spectacular, doey not threaten to become dai 33 cording to the observatory. ;wl are permitting tourlsts the crater, ASKS REFERENDU ON ARLINGTON CITY Ball Introduces Bill for In- corporation of County as Municipality. BY REX COLLIER, Staff Correspondent of The Star. RICHMOND, Va., March 28°—A referendum bill for the incorporation of Arlington County as the “City of Arlington” was introduced in the Senate here today by State Senator Frank L. Ball of that county. It was referred to the committee on private and local legislation. A bitter fight on the measure at once loomed with announcement by Charles T. Jesse, Arlington County’s representative in the House of Dele- gates, that he will vigorously oppose the bill when it reaches the House. Those in touch with legislative mat- ters here foresaw in Delegate Jesse's obstacle to its passage at the special session of the General Assembly now sitting. It was pointed out that there can be but slight chance of a local bill passing the House over the ob- Jection of the delegate from the par- ticular community affected. Supported by Civic Groups. The bill has the support of Arling- ton County civic interests, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Arlington County Civic Federation. It was drawn up over the week end by Senator Ball in conference with members of the Better Local Govern- ment Commission of that county, which has recommended the incorpor- ation of the county as a ‘“city of the first clas: 2 Briefly, the measure authorizes « general or special election in Arling- torh County, upon petition of 250 quali- fied voters, for the purpose of ‘“‘taking fthe sense of the qualified voters of the county on the question of whether sald county shall be -incorporated.” Arrangements for. the poll are to be made, by the Circuit Court. Special exceptions are made in the Potomac and East Falls Church and provision is made that these munici- palities, or such part of them as fall within the limits of Arlington County, may become part of the city of Ar. lington upon application of a majority of the voters at a special election. City Manager Proposed. A city council of seven members, a city manager and other municipai officers are authorized in the bill. The city would assume all the obligations, duties, liabilities, rights, powers and privileges of the present county. he city council thus created would be. composed of two regularly eleoted councilmen from each of the existing magisterial districts of Arlington, Washington and Jefferson, and of & councilman-at-large, who would serve |as mayor. “The districts each would be divided into two wards, each to he represented on the council. If the town of Potomac should vote to join the city, it would automatically be. (‘i;:?.:(; e of the wards of Jefferson A sectlon creates the offi commonwealth’s attorney, (']Bl"kcg: ll’?g court, city sergeant, city tréasurer and commissioner of revenue, to be filled, respectively, by persons holding the offices of commonwealth's attor- ney, county clerk, county sheriff, county treasurey and commissioner of revenue at the time of incorporation of the county, all to hold office until thelr successors are duly elected. Provides for New Court. The present Circuit Court ¢f Arling- ton County would become the Circuit Court of the City of Arlington, and a new court, to be known as the Cor- poration Court, would be established as a Court of Record, with jurisdiction to_appoint electoral boards and en- force police regulations. The first judge of the Corporation Court would be appointed by Gov. Byrd and he would hold office until his successor is elected. His ralary would be $3,600 per annum. In addition there would be created a Civil and Police Justice Court, with a judge properly elected and receiving a salary fixed by the city council. It is provided that the mayor of the City of Arlington must be an actual resident of the city while in office, The city manager form of government is specified. Would Keep Present Laws. “Immediately upon the incorpora- tion of sald county as the City of Arlington,” the bill states, “the ordi- nances of said former county shall remain in full force and effect in so far as their provisions as ordinances of a city are not in conflict with the con- stitution and laws of this State, and statement an almost insurmountable | cases of the incorporated towns of | i | 1 MEXICO MYSTERY 10 BE CLEARED UP, KELLOGG INDICATES Statement on Alleged Forged Notes That Threatened Break Expected. SECRETARY SILENT ON PAPER'S CHARGE Article Says Mischief Makers “Planted” Documents in Hands of Calles. By the Associated Press Recurring and varied stories of the contents of the “mystery notes” re- cently exchanged between the Ameri- can and Mexican governments, have led the State Department to inti- mate that a formal statement on the situation might be made soon. Unusual secrecy has surrounded the exchange and no authoritative expla- nations has ever been made. In inti- mating that a statement might be | issued, Secretary Kellogg declined to day to comment “for the present” on a story in the New York Times, which said that the American note was sent for the purpose of satisfying Presi- dent Calles that communications pur- porting to come from the American Government were forgeries put into his hands by some agency desiring to bring about a break between the United States and Mexico. * Sinister mischief makers, not hesi- tating to forge the name of the Sec- retary of State to misleading docu- ments ‘“planted” so that they would fall into the hands of the Mexican government, nearly caused a serious | crisis between the United States and Mexico, the - New York Times says today in a special dispatch from ‘Washington. “Explanation” Advanced. The Times article undertakes to explaip the much-discussed “mystery note” “dispatched to Mexico, concern- ing which the State Department con- sistently has refused to comment. De- tails of how the forgeries were man- ipulated and how .they fell into the hands of Calles agents still are ob- scure, The various forgeries, it is believed, were made to appear as official com- munications from Washington to American agents in Mexico and were designed to give the impression that the United States Government was conspiring to stir up a revolution against President Calles of Mexico, | with the idea of having him succeeded by & chief executive who would act as a tool for the United States. These forgeries naturally created a great deal of resentment when they came into the hands of President Calles, who had every reason to con- sider them official. The Times gives credit for uncovering the plot- to George Barr Baker, a former news- paper man, who was in Mexico on private business In January and Feb- ruary. Baker, the article says, called on Calles and found the Mexican Presi- dent very bitter against Americans and convinced that he was being treated with the utmost injustice. In support of his attitude, he showed Baker copies of the fofged communi- cations. Some of these, it is said, were in the form of telegrams. Others, it is intimated, were bona fide offi- clal communications, presumably ad- dressed to Ambassador Sheffield, to which damning phrases had been added somewhere in transit. Another “Mystery Note.” Mr. Baker was astounded when shown this evidence of so unfriendly 1 feeling toward Mexico and found t difficult to belleve that any such com- muncatons actually had come from the American State Department. The ‘‘mystery note,” which has been the object of much speculation, fol- lowed, and was succeeded by another “mystery note” from Mexico to the United States. The situation now has been cleared upy it is believed, so that Mexican officials are convinced that the com- munications were forgeries cleverly manipulated by persons interested in bringing about a serious crisis. After the Baker interview, it is believed, President Calles was prevail- ed upon to place the matter directly before President Coolidge, which re- sulted in the whole sinister plot being revealed. Extreme secrecy has been observed. Not only has Secretary Kel- logg refused to comment, but there is reason to believe, the Times says, that high officials of the State Department have been kept in the dark as to what actually was going on. The perpetrators of the plot have not been detected, the Times bélieves. The correspondent understands that the investigation still is in progress. Mr. Baker’s chance visit to Calles, the articles points out, may have been the lucky chance that prevented a very grave international break. Mr. Raker himself has refused to com- ment. Foot Ball Player Shoots Self. PERPIGNAN, France, March 28 (®).—Disheartened because his team lost a rugby foot ball game despite his own brilliant playing, J. Wisser returned to the dressing room and shot himself in the head. He will live. War Secretary on Way to Panama. PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, March 28 (#).—Secretary of War Dwight F. Davis sailed last night for Panama. Upper—M. 0. Eldridge, director of | traffic, who will either resign or ac-| linate position. er—Col. 1. C. Moller, assistant | director of traffic, whose resignation was accepted today. i MOLLER RESIENS; ELDRIDGE IS GIVEN CHOICE OF QUITTING OR BEING DEMOTED Commissioners Quickly Act After Acceptance of Report on Inquiry Into Traffic Signal Irregularities. DIRECTOI;IS DECLARED RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL Bureau of Efficiency Findings, Ap- proved by District Heads; Say No Evidence Was Found, How- ever, of Any Personal Profit to Officials in Contracts. The District Commissioners today closed the sensational traffic light scandal by accepting the resignation of C_'ol. L. C. Moller, suspended trafiic engineer, and giving Traffic Director :\I, O. Eldridge the option of resign- ing or being demoted to assistant !i"affic director on April 1. Mr. Eldridge has not decided what he will do. The action of the Commissioners came swiftly, following thé receipt lof a preliminary report from the Bu{czu of Efficiency on the result of its investigation into the irregu- larities in the Traffic Department in connection with the purchase of trai- OROWNING VERDCT AT HOUK WOUEST Causes of Woman Being in Water Unknown, Coroner’s Jury Decides. Mrs. Gladys W. Houck, whose body was recovered from the river near the Eleventh Street Bridge last Wed- nesday and who had been missing since the middle of last December, | met death by drowning, but the causes of her being in the water were un- known to a coroner’s jury, which re- ported its verdict this afternoon, a few minutes after an inquest of more than two hours had been conducted | at the District Morgue. Assistant United States Attorney Russell Kelly, who examined several witnesses at the inquest on matters concerning Dr. Knutt H. Houck, for- | mer St. Elizabeth's Hospital physi- cian, husband of the dead woman, and who himself disappeared shortly after Mrs. Houck could not be located, said he would report the verdict to United States District Attorney Peyton Gor- don and indicated he would recom- | mend the case be given to the grand jury. He emphasized, however, that it will be entirely up to Gordon to determine whether Dr. Houck should bany, Oreg., where he has been de- inquest. The matter now lies with| Gordon as to whether the case will be dropped or further efforts to con. ct Dr. Houck with his wife's disap- | nce will be made. Hint of Si Nearly 20 were sum- moned and questioned by Coroner J.| Ramsey Nevitt and Kelly. Testi- mony was given by several that Mrs. Houck appeared to be unhappy at! times, and had even intimated,| vaguely, that she would take her own life. One of Mrs. Houck’s closest| friends here, Dr. Marjory Stewart of | Gallinger Municipal ~ Hospital, de- | clared Mrs. Houck told her on one| occasion: ‘“Married life is hell, and any woman who had any sense would not get married, and no ma woman would ever get mari again.’ Dr. Stewart said on the surface the | life of Dr. and Mrs. Houck appeared | all right, but added, 4T knew they had trouble.” Dr. Stewdrt said she saw Mrs. Houck for the last time about six_weeks before she disappeared. Dr. Houck, who was returned to | Washington from northern New York in a mentally deranged condition and who was confined to Gallinger Hos- pital, was not a normal man in the opinion of Dr. Grover C. Kirk, physi- cian in charge of the psychiatric ward at the hospital, who testified. Dr. Kirk, who now is at Mount Alto Hos- pital, said he had some suspicions about the patient on the second or | third day after his admission to the | Institution and knew it would be easy | for a man versed in psychiatry to pre- | tend insanity. Succeeding i tions, however, convinced that “he didn't appear to be a normal man.” Dr. Herbert T. Martyn, deputy coro- ner, who performed an autopsy (Continued on Page 4, Column 6.) President to Be on V. Indications Show; Place Undecided President Coolidge is understood to be planning to leave Washington for been: his custom, although he has not yet decided where he will establish the Summer White House. Tt was iearned from an authorita- tive source today that the President is anxious to start just as soon as ible. He_is understood to have dicated :m’: e w his Summer vacation earlier than has |. acation by June 15, | the middle of June instead of e 25, the date formerly set. rd has since set June 11. He" Chinese situation, it is pointed out, may have a considerable bearing upon the time of the President’s de-| parture; also that it may influence the President to select a vacation spot not | too far distant from Washington. | Col. E. W. Starling, assistant chief of the White House secret service, ‘who selected White Pine Camp in the Adirondak Mountains for the Presi- dent it Summer, left Washington Saturday. giving the impression that { of the Bureau of Efficiency, be returned to Washington from Al-fport added that Mr. Eldr.dgh fic signals from the Crouse-Hinds Co. of Syracuse, N. Y. C:mfer With Commissioners. Tl|_e report was given to the Com- missioners at a conference with the Bureau of Efficiency officials at the bureau this morning. The Commis- sioners returned to the District Building and convened immediately in a special session, to which they invited Mr. Eldridge and Col. Moller, A statement issued by the Commis- sioners following the meeting explain- ed their action as follows: “The Commissioners. with the aid have com., gation of the Trafic Bureau | preliminary report. of the Bureau ot Efficiency "has been recelved todlas, The findings of the Bureau of Effict. ency are concurred-in by the Commis. sloners. Col. I. C. Moller has this day submitted his resignation, which hes been accepted. and terminates his connection with the District govern. ment without reinstatemen®, following his suspension without pay. Mr Eldridge has been advised that he may, as of April 1, 1927, accept ap. pointment as assistant traffic director at a salary of $4,400 per annum, or that the ‘Commissioners upon that date will accept his resignation ns traffic director effectiv , ik e 30 days- there- Eldridge Signed Letter. The preliminary report Efficiency Bureau,.in \\'gich (h:‘(‘(::: missioners concurred, involved Direc- tor Eldridge in the irregularities by explaining that he signed a letter directing the substitution of certain materials and approved a voucher covering the substitutions., The re- is not qualified to be continued in his pres- tained pending the outcome of today's | ent position as administrative head of the department and that Col. should not be continued ln(?l:e hp(:lbm service. The bureau, however, declag- ed that it had found no evidence to show that either of these officials | were animated by di )y dishonest A [ or profited in any way feom the o or_prof from the ir- regularities or that the Government suffered any loss as 0 irregularities, s The report bore the signature of Herbert D. Brown, chi of l_g:l(‘ienc\a It (ullnevs'na:t she urasps “This bureau has practicall om- pleted its investigation of illfig::z irregularities in the operations of the office of the Director of Traffic, and Will furnish you a complete report in :‘I".x; hnsm‘ future. The conclusions eached are set forth here y information. e Irregularities Are Cited. _“The responsibilities of Mr. M. O Eldridge, Director of Traffic, and Col. Moller, his principal assistant, these irregularities have been ‘n to have been as follows: Col. Moller issued unauthoriged in- structions to the Crouse-Hinds Co. to substitute materials other than those called for under contract; certified to a_voucher covering receipt of mate- rials which he knew to be false, and abstracted from the office files official papers dealing with these transac- tions. __“Mr. Eldridge participated in the irregularities by signing a letter di- recting that substitutions be made and approving the voucher covering the substitutions. By these acts, he either participated knowingly or will- ingly in the irregularities or else showed a woeful lack of appreciation of the responsibilities of the head of a department to inform himself con- cerning matters pertaining to the ex- penditure of Government funds. “Both Mr. Eldridge and Col. Mol- ler gave to the Crouse Hinds Com- pany information not furnished to other prospective bidders for the traffic light contracts and did not show a proper interest and intent to secure s full and as complete com- petition as possible for these awards. Held Not Qualified for Post, “It is manifest that Col. I. C. Moller should ‘iot be continued in the Gov- ernmen® service, and that Mr. M. O. Eldridge is not qualified to be con tinued 'in his present position as ad- ministrative head of a department. “There is no evidence to show that either Col. Moller or Mr. Eldridge were animated by dishonest motives, profited in any way from these irregu- larities or that the Government suffer- ed any loss as a result of such irreg- ularities. Mr. Eldridge annhounced after the Commissioners had informed him of he will look over some of the places which have appealed to the President, to con from every angle of availability. | their action that he would take under advisement the question of resigning or accepting a post of %%z trafic (Continued on Page §, umn 1) pleted a careful anth thorough investi- ' ’