Evening Star Newspaper, October 22, 1928, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Fair; warmer tonight; tomorrow in- creasing cloudiness, followed by showers. Temperatures—Highest, 65, at 3:30 p.m. yesterday: lowest, 47, at 6:30 a.m. to- The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press news service. day. Full report on page 9. Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 14 and 15 WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ¢ Foening Sfar. Sunday's Saturday’s Circulation, 104,328 Circulation, 112,333 No. 30,85'_~ post office, Wa Entered as second c ss matter shington, D. C. WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, OCTOBER )9 =2, 1928 —THIRT -EIGHT PAGES. # (#) Mehns Associated Press. TWO CENTS. * HOOVER FORESEES VIGTORY; WARNS Of .~ OVERCONFIDENGE Prophesies Party Will Win if Prospects Do Not Cause Let-down. 70,000 SEEK SEATS FOR SPEECH TONIGHT Spends Day in New York in Con- ference With Leaders Mapping Final Drive. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, October 22.—Hcrbert{a Hoover declared today that he had not | the slightest doubt of the outcome of | the November election if the Repub-| licans of the country would continue their efforts. “The only danger is that of over- confidence,” the Republican presiden- , tial candidate said at a conference with newspaper correspondents at his hotel. “This was the first public statement re- garding ‘the outcome of the election ‘which Hoover has made since the incep- tion of the campaign. Unity of Party Praised. “Never has there been a greater unity 3n the Republican party in a quarter of a century than at this moment,” the nominee said. “We have an able organ- ization and more zeal is being shown than ever before.” Mr. Hoover declined to discuss issues of the campaign, but in response to i questions he said prosperity was one of the larger issues. ‘The Republican standard-bearer said the probapilities were that on his West- ward trip and final drive he would speak in St. Louis. Mr. Hoover will leave ‘Washington on October 30 and will reach his home at Stanford University on November 5 to make a final appeal 1o the voters over the radio to keep the Republican party in control of the Fed- eral Government. Questioned as to whether he thought the people were “tired of hearing about oil,” Mr. Hoover said he would not dis- cuss that question. “You know, I'm going to make a| lne&ch here tonight,” he said with a! smile. Says Health Is Good. “How are you withstanding the rigors ©f the campaign?” was the next query. “T was never in better physical condi- ton in my life,” the nominee replied. “You look it,” one of the correspond- #nts said. Mr. Hoover met the newspaper men at the conclusion of a breakfasi -eenfer~ ence with party leaders in the coutse of which he received optimistic reports as to the outlook, not in the home State of his Democratic opponents, but plso in the Eastern sector®generally. During more then an hour with these leaders, the nominee went o\]l(er p]Nnns for speeding up cam work in New York State and New England. Among those with whom he conferred were Dr. Hubert Work, chairman of the Republican na committee; Churles D, Hilles, national committeeman for New York; H. Edmund Machold, New York State chairman; James R. Shef< field, former Ambassador to Mexico; William H. Hill, chairman of the inde- committee of New York; Senator George H. Moses of New Hampshire, chairman of the East- ern advisory committee, and Repre- tative John Q. Tilson, head of the tern speakers' bureau. After his talk- with the newspaper | eorrespondents, Hoover began receiving delegations of foreign-born voters to each of which he made a brief talk. Meets Relief Aides. * Greeting former assciates in the work of post-war relief in Europe, Hoover said he knew of no incident in American history which showed “the fine spirit | of our people more than the enormous | pport contributed in times of difficulty g aid not only friend but former foe.” “It is a pleasure to meet my old as- pociates in the great undertaking of 1920 for the relief we carried on among ¢ 10,000,000 children and 23 different na- | Bions in Europe,” the nominee said. “You here represent not only the American organizations which co- pperated in that effort, but you also fepresent the nations which were re- ipients of that relief. It was an under- Baking in a time of very great difficul- Hes. Our own country was in a state of financial panic. We were not free om the fevers of war and the multi- de of prejudices which ran through all pountries. Praises Spirit Shown. “I know of no incident in our history which shows the fine spirit of our people more than the enormous sup- port contributed in times of difficulty to id not only friend, but former foe. I know of no finer proof than the fact that all races when on American soil become American in their attitude toward the rest of the world, whether that attitude be in great charity or in international relations. “Your coming here revives fine mem- eries to all of us. I appreciate this tribute from you, and I doubly appre- ciate the fact that a friendship estab- lished s0 many years ago in a common fi:use should continue unabated to this y.” Edgar Ricard, vice chairman of the Eurcpean relief council under Hoover, was spokesman for the delegation. He said that for the first time Hoover had before him all his field captains in relief work and “the representatives of the tens of millions of people you baved from starvation in the postwar period of distress.” “The composition of this group as- sembled before you could not more clearly demonstrate,” Ricard said, “the governing principle of all your relief cperations—that the distribution should pe extended without prejudice as to yace or creed.” Strategy Is Mapped Out. Mr. Hoover arrived here last night Arom Washington so that he might give a full day to conferences with party Jeaders and aid them in mapping out ithe strategy for the closing days of the Sight for the 45 electoral votes of New York State. After spending the entire day at his otel, the nominee is to go to Madison iSquare Garden shortly before 8 pm., to deliver the last set speech he will make amntil he starts to his California home to vote early next week. Elihu Root, Secretary of State in the # sdministration of President Taft, will side, and will first present Vice Pres- Note—This is the first of a series of articles _on _the ~polifical "situation in neardy Maryland and Virginia. BY DONALD A. CRAIG. Staft Correspondent of The Star. LEONARDTOWN, Md., October 22.— In the three lower counties of southern Maryland, comprising the oldest portion of the State, the political situation this year is more complicated than it has been at any time within the recollection of present-day residents. A survey just completed by The Star, in which Dem- ocratic and Republican leaders and members of the rank and file of both major parties were interviewed, indi- cates that St. Marys County will give Smith a majority of 300 or more; that Charles County is close, but may give a like majority for Hoover, and that Calvert County is surely Republican and will probably give Hoover a majority bove 500. ‘These southern Marylnd counties are near Washington and many Washing- tonians love the section. Hundreds of persons who live in the National Capi- tal during the Winter months maintain Summer homes in this part of the State and vote here. Roughly triangular in_ form, lying south of Washington and bounded by the lower reaches of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, with the Patuxent River intersecting it in a northerly and ELECTION OUTCOME DOUBTFUL IN THREE MARYLAND COUNTIES Lower Tier Politics Confused by Religious, | Prohibition and Racial Issues Influencing Voters. southerly direction, this peninsula is a favorite place of recreation for city dwellers, Its innumerable bays and creeks, fresh and salt, abound in fish, oysters and crabs and its farms in ample products, much of which goes to_the Washington markets. It is a favorite region for Washington gunners who are fortunate enough to obtain permission to shoot here in the hunting season, for its fields and streams teem with wild game. Good roads invite travel by land and beau- tiful, deep, natural waterways are the paradise of motor and sail boat devotees. Maryland Religious Haven. For these reasons the people of Wash- ington usually take a special interest in the affairs of southern Maryland. Lhat is more than ever true during this unusual political campaign. Lord Baltimore was a Catholic and a majority of the first colonists he sent to Maryland were Catholics from England. But he gave specific instructions that religious tolerance should be one of the corner stones of the colony, and the first settlers in his domain carried out | his wishes faithfully in this respect. Maryland became a haven for oppressed Christians of all sects. G ‘This spirit still prevails, especially in St. Marys County, oldest and most oyerwhelmingly Catholic county of the (Continued on Page 4, Column 2.) CAR FARE DECISION MAY COME TODAY Refusal of Increase Made Possible by New Plan Qut- lined by Bride. Determined to reach a decision on the application of the Capital Traction Co. for a 10-cent fare today, if possible, the Public Utilities, Commission called a halt on the gas valuation hearing at 1 o'clock and after a brief luncheon recess convened in executive session to consider the car fare case. Originally, the commission planned to continue with the gas valuation hearing until 3 o'clock and renew the discussion on the long pending higher fare petition at that hour. The eleventh-hour change in plans, it is believed, portends definite action this atternoon. It is repo: that two | of the members of the commission al- | ready have made up their minds as how to vote, but that the third has not yet been able to reach a conclusion. Possible Course Outlindly > Indications are that the commission will first take up the case of the Wash- 015 ot ‘hsk Tor & nigher fare, b nof a T was made a part; wmpruoemfimths interest of .yunmn-m rate of , and gfeuu to ‘Then -appeared that the commission had ex- hausted all other legal means of deny- ing a higher fare on the ground that the public utilities act guarantees a public utility corporation a fair return on its valuation. Present Earning Power. The Capital Traction Co. is now earning 3.8 per cent on its court valua- tion of $26,000,000 and insists that a 7 per cent return is a fair rate. The commission gave serious thought to Bride's suggestion over the week end, and if he gives the commission as- surance this afternoon that his plan will not be overthrown in the courts, it is reported that the commission may follow it. . JAWORSKI GIVEN DEATH. Bandit, Sentenced for Killing Pay Roll Guard, Is Composed. PITTSBURGH, October 22 (P).— Paul Jaworski, slayer and notorious bandit, who was at large for more than a year after his escape from the Alle- gheny County Jail here, today was sen- tenced to die for killing a pay roll guard. Suffering ffom a_ bullet wound he received in a battle with Cleveland police, who captured him several weeks ago, Jaworski was carried into court. He seemed unpreturbed except for his slightly flushed face. His only words were “I have nothing to say,” spoken in answer to visiting Judge J. Frank Graf’s question. A heavy guard was stationed in the courtroom and corridors to prevent any attempt to free the slayer. REVIEW PLEA DENIED. Daniel J. Shields of Johnstown, Pa., convicted in the District of Columbia | courts of bribing an employe of the Prohibition Bureau to furnish him copies of certain papers on file in that office, was today refused a review by | the Supreme Court. | “He claimed that he had been con- i victed by papers illegally seized, without | a proper search warrant, and that the whole proceeding was one of entrap- NEGLECTBLAVED INELEVATOR DEAT Inquest Into Blackburn Ester- line’s Fall Reveals Absence of Safety Devices. Carelessness on the part of “some arty or parties unknown to the jury,” was held by a coroner’s jury today to have been responsible for the death yes- terday in the Department of Justice Building, at Vermont avenue and K street, of Blackburn ‘Esterline, 51 years old, an assistant to the Solicitor General. Esterline’s head was crushed by a descending elevator, operated by Wil- liam Maher, a watchman, when the former went to the building to catch up on some work. Maher testified that he did not see Esterline until after he had been struck by the elevator. Safety Devices Lacking. lowing the wa s, testimony, joseph M. Brown, chief elevator in- spector for the District, took the stand and produced records to show that neither the owners nor the occupants of the building had complied with the! law passed on July 1, 1925, requiring that all elevators in the District be squzjd with safety devices that auto- matically stop the elevator from run- nlg%;:vehen a door was open. records show that the builfling is owned by the Wardman Construction Co. and has been leased for a number | of years to the Government. The first communication regarding the elevator was mailed to Col. U. S. Grant, 3d, director of public buildings and oguhlic parks, on March 19, 1926, in which his attention was called to the equipment of the elevators. A copy of the answer from Col. Grant showed that he had communicated with the ‘Wardman Construction Co., whose legal staff had ruled that the lessee and not the owner was responsible for the change in equipment. Second Notice Given. On July 13 of this year Capt. F. W. Hoover, an assistant to Col. Grant, was again notified that the elevators were still running without the required safety devices. Although they do not have the au- thority to force the Federal Govern- ment to abide by the regulations, members of the elevator inspector's office of the District had been requested from year to year by the Office of Pub- lic Buildings and Public Parks to make these inspections and report any vari- ations from the strict wording of the regulations. The question which now remains to be solved is the same one with which Col. Grant’s office. and officials of the Wardman Construction Co. are already at odds—that is, as to whether the owner or lessee is re- quired to stand the expense of the change and shoulder responsibility for the lack of it. Emmett E. Mayhall, 1700 block Kil- bourne_street, was in the basement when Esterline fell. He and Maher summoned police and the Emergency Hospital ambulance. Esterline, a bachelor, had been in the (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) TIDE TURNS, .RASKOB SAYS Chairman to Give Hour's Talk on Prosperity Thursday. NEW YORK, October 22 (#).—With the Republican presidential candidate here to deliver a campaign address in his Democratic opponent’s home State, Democratic National Chairman John J. Raskeb told newspaper men to- day that he believed the political tide was swinging toward Gov. Smith all over the country. Chairman Raskob said that Thursday night he will make the longest speech he has ever delivered. He will talk on prosperity from 8 o'clock until 9 over Radio Station WJZ and a Na- tion-wide hook-up of the National ment. Broadeasting Co. . | _'This city is to be well represented on | the passenger list of the Graf Zeppelin | for its Midwestern flight, which now is scheduled to begin Thursday. Dr. Hugo Eckener, builder and com- | mander of the big German dirigible, has invited the State, War, Navy, Commerce and Post Office Departments to send | three representatives each to be passen- | gers on the ship on its two-day Ameri- can tour. These departments are all connected directly or indirectly with the development of aviation and were’ designated by Dr. Eckener for this | reason, | The War Department announced to- Yiont Dawes, who will make his first Zpecch of the campaign. Hoover will |siart speaking about 8:30 o'clock and “Roontinucd on Page 3, Column 2 day that it will be respresented by | three officers of the lighter-than-air division of the Army Air Corps, They re Lieut, Col. John A, Paw:’, com- | \Dr. Eckener Invites 15 Officials Here vOn Zeppelin Trip Through Middle West mandant of the dirigible and balloon service at Scott Field, Illinois; Maj. Bush B. Lincoln of the general staff, who is a dirigible pilot, and Lieut. Frank M. McKee, Norton Field, Colum- bus, Ohio. These three officers have been ordered to report at the Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, N. J., where the Graf Zeppelin now is undergoing re- pairs to her damaged port stabilizing fin. The Navy Department today an- nounced that it will be represented by Assistant Secretary Edward P. Warner and Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, head of the Bureau of Aeronautics. A third representative will be appointed. b.0.P. INCHICAGO IS CERTAIN PARTY WILL SWEEP WEST Headquarters Prophesies Vic- tory in Area From Allegha- nies to Pacific Coast. TEXAS TO FALL IN LINE, GOOD NOW DECLARES Democratic Offices in St. Louis Call Republican Claims Prepos- terous—Cite 12 States. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN, Staff Correspondent of The Star. CHICAGO, October 22.—Absolute confidence radiates from the Western Republican headquarters here. This confidence extends not only to the ability of Herbert Hoover to carry near- ly all of the States in the so-called Western division, but also to carry the country. 'This Western division, in the Repub- lican campaign organization, covers 28 States. It is headed by former Repre- sentative James W. Good of Iowa. And from Mr. Good on down the line. the Republican campaign leaders at head- quarters say they see signs of a big Hoover sweep in all this Western ter- ritory. Perched high in one of Chicago’s newest skyscrapers on Michigan boule- vard, Mr. Good and his assistants are in constant touch with leaders and the situations in all of the States. The headquarters is run like a big industrial plant and occupies three floors or more of ‘the building. It is a great dis- tributing center of campaign literature, speakers, buttons, posters, etc. Constant check is kept on all the States in the “division.” It is a hive of political in- dustry, West Is Vital to Cause, ‘The West is of tremendous importance to the Hoover cause this year. It is in this great area, extending from the Alleghanies to the Pacific Coast, that Republicans expect to roll up the elec- toral votes which will insure the vic- tory of the Republican presidential candidate. They must have, too, the great State of Pennsylvania, with its 38 electoral votes, and some of the New England States, plus New Jersey and a border State here and there. But, in the main, the Hoover drive must succeed in the West. Notwithstanding the absolute confi- dence of those in Republican headquar- ters, there are still “soft spots,” States in which “the~finalvesult &5 ‘between Smith and Hoover is in doubt. These doubtful States, and Mr. Good does not admit they are doubtful aid he may be groved right if the Hoover sweep is as e sees it, include Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and Wisconsin. _Added to these are Oklahoma and Kentucky, which while leaning to Hoover will bear watching on filecgondd;y. r. Good has also in his 28 Stats three States of the “Solid South.’ They are Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. The Western chairman con- cedes Louisiana and Arkansas to the Democrats, and he formerly conceded Texas, but today has changed his mind, he says. Now Expects Victory. “Five weeks ago,” says Mr. Good, “I did not expect that Texas would go for Hoover, but I would not have been axrg;!sred 1{{ it did. )an I expect Texas or Hoover and I woul 13 priTsehtL if it did not.” e sounds like unadulterated optim- ism. But Mr. Good is quite slncepre in the expression of his views. While the Republicans will roll up a big vote in Texas, and according to Democrats who have been there recently, Dallas and Houston and several other cities, are likely to go Republican, it does " not appear likely that the Lone Star State will desert Democracy. Nevertheless, a firong band | of old Democratic Faders a th;-r%‘ pig out to beat Smith if e other 13 States in this Western ;flvislcn may well be set down as safe or Hoover. They are California, Idaho, Ilinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michi- ‘z;n, Ohlo, Oregon, Utah, Washington, yoming and Colorado. They have & total of 148 electoral votes. The 12 States in which Smith seems. still to have a chance, including Okla- homa and Kentucky, have a total of 2;: electoral votes, “Smith chances in i is dozen States appear to be brighter in Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada and Ari- zona than in the other five, If Mr. Good should prove right in his prog- nostications and the Republicans of the Western division should deliver all their States except Arkansas and Louisana, they would roll up a total of 265 elec- jgglo x:’:t::t fosl;‘ Mrt. Hoover. That is S € shy of the number neces- sary to elect a President. Hawes Is Confident. The Democratic regional headquar- ters for the Middlewest are located in St. Louis, under direction of Senator Harry Hawes of Missouri. Senator Hawes says that the Republican claims are utterly preposterous. He insists the Democrats will carry Missouri, Nebras- ka, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Oklaho- ma in his territory, and that they have more of a chance in Illinois, than they are given credit for. Senator Hawes is keeping close tabs on the States for which he is responsible, too. Further- more, he has adopted a plan which was used by him when he was in the Army during the World War for working out trends for or against the United States and the Allied forces. By means of this plan, which takes into consideration all kinds of elements, information and views from every source, it was possible to predict al- most to the day the time hostilities would cease, considerably before the world had any idea of the end. The same plan, he says, gives him assurance that Missouri will go Democratic, and that there is a very good chance of De- ocratic victory " in other Midwest tates. Thomas F. Donovan, Democratic na- tional committeeman and Democratic State chairman for Illinois, 1s in charge of the Democratic headquarters here, with many assistants under him. Mr. Donovan insists that there is a swing to Smith in Illinois. He looks for a big vote among the downstate farmers for Smith, or rather against Hoover, he says. Among the run of oliticlans and people _who are direct.r affected by The State, Commerce and Post Office Department representatives will be ap- | pointed today oF 10 the office holders in Chicago there is more interest today in the campaign 8, ~(Continued on Py T' Column 3), & WASTING YOUR AMMUNITioN THME”%E, OL DEAR! GIRL, 9, SAVES LIFE OF AUNT WHEN SHE GIVES FIRE ALARM| Five Flee as Flames Damage Home of Headquarters Detective. Woman Believed Fatally Burned in Another Conflagration. Nine-year-old Olive Varney saved the life of her aunt, Miss Mary Varney of Boston, early this morning when she smielled smoke and gave the alarm in a fire which caused $2,000 damage at the home of her father, Headquarters De- tective Frank A. Varney, 3017 Channing street northeast. Olive was awak.ned at 3 o'clock by the smoke. She called her mother, who was asleep on the first floor, and they discovered the smoke coming from Miss Varney's-room -on -the -second floor. Forcing her way into the room, Mrs. Varney awakened her sister-in-law and then led her two younger children, Jacqueline, 7, and “Buddy,” 5, to safety. In a second early morning fire, at 205 Eighth street northeast, Mrs. Lila Smith, 48 years old, was rescued by two fire lieutenants who groped their way down a burning staircase, but she is so badly burned that physicians at fi::ullty Hospital do not expect her to Husband Is Detained. Sidney Smith, her husband, is being detained at the ninth precinct because police were not satisfied with his ac- count of the fire. Miss Varney came here several days to visit her brother. She had a fire last night in the fireplace of a secondy floor bedroom. K ‘When the fire was discovered, a call to police neadquarters brought Varney and an engine company, members of which turned in a regular alarm upon their arrival. The fire had started from defective (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) MISSING WITNESS DELAYS CHICAGO POLITICAL PROBE Primary Day Polls Watcher Dis- appears in Midst of Criminal Investigation. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, October 22.—The unex- plained disappearance of a State wit- ness confronted directors of Chicago’s politico-criminal investigation today. George Reind, a primary day polls watcher, was missing, it was announced by David Stansbury, a special assistant attorney general. Stansbury is charge of the prosecution of 16 adies of Morris Eller, twentieth ward Republican leader. Reind, employed during the April primaries by Attorney General Carl- strom, had volunteered to testify re- garding election frauds, Stansbury said. Mrs. Reind, who claimed her husband was out of town on business, was sum- moned before the special grand jury t oday. Reind was kidnaped at the polls on primary day. The reputed henchmen of the Eller faction are on trial, charged with complicity in primary day terror- ism and vote frauds. SIX ADMIT VOTE FRAUD GUILT AS TRIAL OPENS Flint, Mich., Court Defers Sentence Pending Outcome of Mayor’s Case on Same Charge. By the Assoclated, Press. FLINT, Mich, October 22.—Six men arrested 1A a grand jury investigation into the September 4 primary in Flint, in which Mayor Willlam H. McKeighan also was indicted, pleaded guilty in Cir- cuit Court today to conspiracy charges. Judge Fred W. Brennan deferred passing sentences, awaiting the out- come of the trial of McKeighan, prob- ably next month. The six who pleaded guilty are Rollin S. Pringle, Lawrence Hicks, A. E. Nettleton, Clarence E. Carlson, Walter Bair and Willard Vro- man. They were accused of ballot box stuffing. Panama Takes Up Anti-War Pact. The State Department was advised today in a telegram from President S. H. Arosemena of Panama that the mul- tilateral treaty for the renunciation of war was submitted today to the Panamanian Congress with strong recommendations for its ratification. — Radio Programs—Page 34 OLIVE VARNEY. —s tar Staff Photo. DRUGGIST CHARGES HOLD-UP ATTEMPT Says Customer Made Motion as if to Draw Gun, but Re- fused to Take Cash. A customer who refused to take the proffered contents of the cash register at Dr. Irving Sirota’s pharmacy at Third and G streets today, after he had made a motion as though to draw a gun, has provided the police with something to puzzle over. A policeman, on whose automobile Heman George Chapin, 28, 5409 Twen- ty-ninth street, jumped, arrested and booked him for “investigation” after Dr. Sirota had pointed him out a sus- pected “hold-up man.” Asks for Cigarettes. Dr. Sirota was busying himself about his store about 9:30 o’clock today when the man entered. Chapin ordered a package of cigarettes of Dr. Sirota and a soft drink of Frank Bruno, 17-year- old fountain assistant, who lives at 1211 Girard street. ‘The drink was placed on the coun- ter, and, according to Dr. Sirota, his “customer” mumbled something about not wanting it. According to the pharmacist, Chapin thrust one hand in his pocket and poked it in the general direction of the proprietor. Now it happens that Dr. Sirola was a member of the World War’s famous “Lost Battalion,” and guns aren't par- ticularly new things to him. After be- ing assured that he knew what the gesture meant, Dr. Sirota invited Chapin to “help himself,” but some- how the latter was reticent. Where- upon the druggist opened his cash drawer, scooped up about $15, and placed it on the counter with a generous wave of his hand. Chapin regarded the pile dublously. Calls for Police. “Aw, put it back,” Sirota quotes Chapin as saying just before a colored woman entered the store. Chapin nodded toward the woman with an in- dication she was to be served, and, tak- ing her order, the druggist retired to his prescription department in the rear of the store and then upstairs, where he telephoned police. When he returned to the store, Chapin had gone outside where he was halling motorists for a lift. Sirota fol lowed him and as the fellow accosted man riding alone, Sirota called out: “Don't pick him up! He just tried to hold me % “Yeah?” returned the motorist as he stopped his machine and got out. This “motorist” happened to be M. I. Bridges, a policeman attached to the seventh precinct, at the moment “off duty,” and he arrested Chapin and took | typewri! him to the sixth precinct. At the latter station, Chapin was lotked up in & cell, with “held for in- vestigation” written beside his name on the desk t's book, ROBERTSON GOES ONTRIAL FOR LIFE Bethesda Contractor Charged With Killing Edward L. Mills Near Rockville. By a Staft Corresponient of The Star. FREDERICK, Md., October 22.— Surrounded by his wife, his five small children and four attorneys, Samuel T. Robertson, Bethesda building contractor, went on trial for his life in Frederick County Cireuit Court here today. He is charged with first degree murder in the killing on July 7, 1927, of Edward L. Mills, Rockville dairy farmer, who was near Hunting Hill Moving with traditional speed, the court had completed impanelling of a jury by 12:30 o'clock, after 27 others had been rejected by the defense, prose- cution or court. Robertson was brought to Frederick been in jail since his nine months after the shooting. He was dressed in a light suit and wore a white collar and Wwhite tie. shot to death at daybreak on his farm | early this morning from Rockville, where | willing heflyhsdmm‘ mmefiso MONEY OWED U. 5. WILL NOT BE TOPIC OF DEBT PARLEY Poincare and Churchill Agree on Program of Repara- tions Discussions. NOT TO MENTION CAPITAL SUM IN GERMAN REVISION French Will Not Ask America to Reduce Obligation—Terms of Submission Chief Work. By the Associated Press. PARIS, October 22.—Premier Poincare and Winston Churchill, British chan- cellor of the exchequer, it was learned authoritatively today, have agreed that in the coming discussions of reparations that the question of French and other European debts owed to the United States shall not be discussed. They also are agreed that the best course in preparing for a revision of German reparations payments is to mention no capital sums nor terms of years within which the payments shall be made. Coincide on Views. In regard to sums and terms of years, Hermann Mueller and Gustav Strese- mann, respectively chancellor and for- eign minister of Germany, hold views identical to those of M. Poincare. They believe it is useless to talk about how much Germany can pay and when, thus confusing and embarrassing the special committee to which revision will be referred. The aliled governments concerned are themselves not quite sure as to what sums they can expect and the German government has not formulated any proposals. The only preoccupation of the governments at present is to form a committee to draw up general terms of reference. o Concerning debts, Premier Poincare is described as having said most positively that as far as the French government is concerned there is no intention of asking the United States to reduce the | debt by a sou. His position is that France has already acknowledged the debt, was paying installments on it under the Mellon-Berenger settlement and will not question the obligation. Several Arrangements Likely. In the background of plans for reparations’ revision is the probability that the German government’s sched- uled payments will carry with them the stipulation that Germany may discount the sums due many years hence by bonds or other arrangements. This same idea also embraces the of the United States and England to discount payments due 50 or years from now by taking in ment German bonds guarantee: France, Great Britain, Italy and Bel- gium as well as Germany. This would No Unusual Interest Shown. No unusual interest in the trial was manifested by the residents of Fred- erick. A few people were loitering in the corridors when court convened, but there were at least a score of vacant seats in the courtroom. Several mem- bers of the Mills family were seen in the courtyard before the trial started, but none entered the courtroom. ‘The interest of the spectators tem- porarily was diverted the case this morning when Robertson's two- year-old daughter, Onabel Fay, put oa her father's hat and toddled over in front of the jury box, where she stood for several minutes looking inquiringly at the men in whose hands ber fathers fate rests. Mrs. Robertson, when she saw the child, went after her and tried to take the hat away. The baby objected so strenuously that the mother took her out of the courtroom and left her in the yard with two older children. Three Jurors Excused. When nine jurors had been selected, the defense had exhausted 17 of the 20 peremptory challenges permitted, while the State had excused séven of its allotted 10, Three prospective ju- rors were exc by the court, two of them because wer2 opposed to capital punishment and the other be- cause he sald he had alreadv formed on opinion in the case. ‘The interest of the spectators was aroused when the first of the prospec- tive jurors, Frederick J. Brandenberg, was called. In response to questicns by Judge Hammond Urner, he said that he had “never come to any radical con- clusions in the case, and didn't re- member having read anything about it in the newspapers.” Judge Urner questioned him for five minutes and attempted to secure a defi- nite statement from him as to whether he had llrudg formed an opinion and excused him when Brandenburg insisted that he didn’t know whether he had or not. Members of Jury. The following men have been selected as members of the jury: James H. Hildebrand, John S. Long, Charles D. Wood, Charles F. Rothenhoefer, Charles A. siffard, J. Calvin Fox, Harry C. Crum, Joseph A. Kauffman, Ellas E. Shipley, Murray O. Boone, Claude C. Lewis and J. William Gaver. Mills was shot by a man described as being dressed in dark clothing and wearing a black moustache, in plain view of Clarence Mtles, 19-year-old farm hand. Mills had just left his dairy and was walking in a pasture when the stranger stepped from a clump of bushes and approached him. Miles said he saw them exchange words, after which Mills' assailant drew a revolver from his pocket and fired five shots. After the victim had fallen, the stran- ger stooped over and pinned a crudely typewritten note on his clothing and then ran through the woods. So far as is known the State has only the evidence of two marked shells found beside the body and a type- writer taken from Robertson’s home after his arrest on which to base its case. Arrested After Fight. ay he went to police with a revolver which he said he had taken away from Trout. Examination of the weapon disclosed that it made the same firing marks as the one used in the killing of Mills. Trout told police that Robert- son owned the weapon himself, and the |, w latter was arrested. After his arrest a ter was found in his home which is said to be identical with the one used in typing the note which was found after the shooting. Robertson’s be similar to a debtor to whom money was owed passing oVer promissory notes with his own indorsement and thus increasing the guarantee by two signa- tures instead of one. French Action Held Essential, ‘The belief prevailed today that unless France should ratify the Mellon-Berlen- ger agreement on the French debt to the United States American aid would be refused in floating German bonds, which fould be necessary under the proposed commercialization of the Dawes plan. In circles close to the government it was thought that Premier Poincare would request Parliament to ratify the agreement made between the United State and France in 1926, which fixed the funded debt at $4,025,000,000. This policy was understood to have been agreed upon last week at conferences between Winston Churchill, British chancellor of the excheque: care and S. Parker Gilbert, | general for reparations. sumed that the ratification of the Cail- laux-Churchill agreement, covering the French debt of about $3,265,639,500 to Great Britain, would also be asked of Parliament. Regular With Payments. Since France is now meeting war debt payments to both America and Great Britain with perfect regularity it was pointed out in governmental and financial circles that ratification of the agreements was only a logical step. Government supporters also ad- vanced as an additional argument in favor of ratification of the Mellon- Berenger accord the fact that France must pay $400,000,000 next August for American Army stocks left after the World War. This debt now bears 5 per cent interest and if the agreement is ratified it will be consolidated in the general war debt and the interest rate reduced to 2 per cent. LIQUOR SUGAR COMBINE IS BLAMED FOR SLAYINC Baker Believed Killed After In curring Enmity of Rum Mandfacturers. By the Associated Press. KANSAS CITY, October 22.—FPolicc belleve a brown sugar combine here, which they say. seexs to furnish brown sugar exclusively to liquor manufac- tur'rs, was responsible for the murder of Joe Wilner, a baker, Saturday night. ‘Wilner was kilied when his motor car was riddled with bullets as he drove home. ‘The police say Wilner used three bakeries he owned as blinds for selling brown sugar in large quantities to il- licit liquor manufacturers, thus incur- ring the enmity of the combine. The sugar is used in some liquors to give them alcoholic content, in others for coloring. PR, FOUND SLAIN AT MINE. Man Believed Shot When He Tried to Xeep Miners From Work. SCRANTON, Pa., October 22 (#).— A man believed by police to be Steve Petchinski, 30, a mine union picket, was shot and kill»d today near the Dia~ mond mine of the Glen Alden Coal Co., est Scranton, where there has been a strike in progress for several days. Pollte: who v;e“r:md dispersing _strikers near the mijne fo the man on the ground with a bullet wundmom attorneys say he has a receipt to show " (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) his heart. They believe he was shot ;hzn zltim})ud to stop miners going bility Eod being.-