Evening Star Newspaper, December 4, 1928, Page 2

L THE EVENING STAR. WASHINGTON, T. (‘..j TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1928 - HOOVER, GFF PERL, STUDIES AND RESTS Battleship Maryland Is Due to Arrive in Callao Early Tomorrow. By the Associated Press. U. S. S. MARYLAND, December 4.— The battleship Maryland was gliding gently over smooth waters off the coast | of Northern Peru today while Presi-| dent-elect Hoover rested and studied. | Three hundred yards to the starboard steameu the Almirante Grau, flagship of the Peruvian navy, which is escort- ing Mr. Hoover to Callao, Peru, where e will pay his second South American good-will visit tomorrow. With the meuntains of Peru dimly ance, Mr. Hoover be- 1 to study and analyze a great mass »f printed matter prepared for him by Ecuadorian officials. This data wa given to the President-elect when he visited Guayaquil and will be used by him to supplement impressions gained from conversations with visible in the di More Than “Ton of Gifts. While tht President-elect continued his st sttaches were sorting gifts with which the Ecuadorian government had honored Mr. Hoover and his wife. About 30 bales, boxes and packing tases were sent aboard the Maryland as well as numerous smaller packages. The gifts weighed in 2ll more than a ed a variety of works of of wood-carving and | some beautiful antique among which was a pearl the Peruvian flagship came she greeted Mr. Hoover with | in s escort r\!‘ honor was provided because a mission of United States naval officers is acting | at the request of the government of Peru as advisory directors of naval af- fairs. The Maryland did not return the salute, because the firing was con- sidered a personal tribute to Mr. Hoover. Mr. Hoover was informed today that & message of friendship and_weicome sent him by airplane from President Leguia of Peru was the first message to be so sent by any South American ex- ecutive to any President of the United States or any president-elect. Due at Callao Tomorrow. The Maryland is due at Callao at 9 am. tomorrow. Mr. Hoover will be greeted by the Peruvian foreign min- ister, representing President Leguia. After receiving the freedom of the city of Callao from the mayor, the Hoover party will motor 10 miles to Lima, the Peruvian capital. The Hoover party will greet members of the American colony at the United States embassy and then will go to the presidential palace to meet Senor Ieguia. There will be a luncheon at the American embassy for the Presi- dent of Peru and in the evening there will be a dinner for Mr. Hoover and his party at the palace. The dinner will be followed by a reception. and dance, after which the Hoover party will return to the Maryland and con- tinue the voyage southward. TOUR DELIGHTS PARTY. Hoover Tourists Regret That Speed Prevents Stay. BY WILL IRWIN. o en for The Star and the N rh American Newspaper Aliance. ABOARD U. S. S. MARYLAND, EN ROUTE TO PERU, December 4.—As re- gards sightseeing, President-elect Hoo- ver’s good-will visit makes a Cook's tour seem’ thorough and leisurely, but it was undertaken hlr a very serious urpose and not for pleasure. 5 During the too brief visits ashore, Mr. Hoover and his advisers seem to be utilizing every interval between formal functions in rounding out their knowl- edge of Central and South America. Party Approaches Lima. In Ecuador they did not, of course, gee quite all of the beautiful and an- cient capital, with its sixteenth century university and cathedral. Chimberazo is the tallest and most comely of the mountain peaks in this part of Scuth America. ‘We are now approaching Lima in | Peru, one of the most graceful cities in the world. It is doubtiul if many of us will even see the interior of the famous cathedral which holds Pizarro’s bones. ‘The unofficial members of the party found most satisfaction at first in the hope of compensating their families for their absence during the Christmas holidays by bringing home presents from South America, but their wives, children and sweethearts are doomed to disappointment. Not only is there 1o time for shopping ashore, but every- where when we land we find the towns have declared fiestas and closed the shops. The atmosphere aboard the Mary- land, however, is surcharged with pleas- urable, even boyish, excitement over the discovery of strange lands, new vistas end thoughts on new human values President Diagnoses Sailor’s Case. When Dr. Ayora, physician-President of Ecuador, visited the Maryland he went with Capt. Kimberly on a round of ship inspection. Members of the official party wondered why he took so long, as such inspections usually are brief and formal, The facts are these: When the cruiser Cleveland, which brought Her- bert Hoover and Dr. Ayora down the | estuary from Guayaquil, transferred her passengers to the Maryland, she also sent abroad a first-class seaman ‘whose condition seemed to demand more ample accommodation than the Cleveland- affords. He had just been put to bed when the Ecuadoran Presi- dent entered the sick bay. Learning that the cgse was difficult of diagnosis, Dr. Ayora sat down beside the bed, made a manual examination, studied the chart and in consultation with Comdr. Lane, chief surgeon, pro- nounced the trouble intestinal ob- struction, (Copsright, in Al Countries by North i ewspaper Alliance.) the OLD SHIP CAP'YI;‘AINVA DIES. Champlain Mariner, 98 Years 0ld, Succumbs to Illness. ST. ALBANS, Vt., December 4 (4) Capt. Ell B. Rockwell, who bore h honors as the world’s oldest steamboat, captain as lightly as his 98 years, died Yyesterday at his home here after a brief dllness. As youth and man Rockwell been employed by the Champlain Trans- portation Co. since 1852, with the ex- ception of the years between 1878 and 1890, when he sailed a schooner for himse!f on Lake Champlain. He was on the bridge all of last season and had locked forward to rounding out his hundredth year still sailing Champlain’s inland sea. AMERICANS WELCOMED. Portes Gil Says Doors of Mexico Will Be “Wide Open.” MEXICO CITY, December 4 (A)— President Portes Gil has informed a group of Americans headed by Dr. A. D. Lioyd, a geologist of Fort Worth, Tex. that the doors of Mexico under his a ministration will be wide open to Ame; ican investment. He said that Mexico welcomed foreign capital when invested would give capitalists full guarantees, had | PONER COST SLASH N 158 INEATED Potomac Head Announces $625,069 Available for Reduction. President William F. Ham of the| Potomac Electric Power Co. held a con- | ference with the Public Utilities Com- mission today and announced that his company was ready to use $625,069.11 for _reduction on electrio bills during | 1929. This sum is his estimate of one-half of what the company will earn in 1928 in excess of 7' per cent on its valua- tion. According to the compromise agreement between the company and the commission in 1924, one-half of any such excess must be used to reduce electric bills while the other half goes | to the company. | The commission will hold a special meeting at 10 am. Thursday to de- cide whether to accept this figure as correct and also to set up a new rate to go into effect January 1. The new rates proposed by the com- pany were not announced. Employes of the commission have from time to time calculated that a $i00,000 reduc- | tion, if mainly applied to the primary domestic rate, would effect a reduction of 7 or 8 miils per kilowat hour. AR GRAND JURY PROBES AUTO SALE SYSTEM Some Cars Sold for $1, Philadelphia District Attorney Hears in Inquiry. By the Associated Press. PHILADELPHIA, December 4.—In- vestigation of an alleged system of profitcering by police officials and City Hall detectives in the auction sales of | unclaimed stolen automobiles today took the attention of District Attorney Monaghan in connection with the grand jury’s investigation of bootlegging and | police bribery. This phase of the inquiry was de-| veloped, the prosccutor said, as a part of the investigation of the financial status of certain police officials whose | bank accounts are regarded as out of | proportion to the salaries paid them by the city. After eight detectives had been ques- of selling unclaimed cars would be gone into at length. It was reported that the sales were so manipulated .that | police and their friends obtained fairly good cars at ridiculously low prices, some being sold for $1 and $2.50. Later the same cars were disposed of at | many times the auction price. RELEASED AS APPRAISER. | Savings Bank Official Unable to Serve on Public Commission. Robert S. Stunz, vice president of the Park Savings Bank, was relieved today by Justice Bailey on his own request n serving as a member of a com- mission chosen to appraise the two squares of ground being condemned for the Department of Agriculture lying between Thirteenth and Fourteenth, B and C streets southwest. The court appointed Avon M. Nevius, vice presi- dent of Riggs National Bank, to take the place of Mr. Stunz. The commis- sion also includes John P, Evans and George H. Beuchert. The commissioners will view the land Monday, December 10, at 1:30 pm., and will begin the hearing of evidence De- cember 17. The Government is repre- nt Attorneys General Henry H. Glassie and A. Leftwich Sinclair and by Assist- tioned Mr. Monaghan said the system | sented before the commission by Assist- | Husband and Auto Found by Woman At the Same Time Wife Exercises Tradition- al Prerogative and Fails to Prosecute Her Mate. Last Saturday Mrs. Louise Beuchert of the 5000 block of Illinois avenue re- ported to police that her car had been stolen. Her husband had disappeared the same day, but she apparently did not think that of sufficient importance to report. Asked by police if she would prose- cute whoever took the car, Mrs. Beu- chert replied that she would, and ac- cordingly a city-wide search was in- stituted. Yesterday afternoon Traffic Bureau Policeman H. B. Miller noticed the car at Seventeenth street and Pennsylvania avenue. Two men were riding in it and he took both to the first precinct. The driver turned out to be Carl Beuchert, husband of the owner, and he was required to give $200 bond be- fore being released. Having recovered both the car and her husband, Mrs. Beuchert today ex- ercised her traditional prerogative and changed her mind about prosecuting. KENILWORTH GROUP BACKS HAVENNER Citizens' Association Gives Presi- dent of Federation a Vote of Confidence. The Kenilworth Citizens’ Association last night gave Dr. George C. Haven- ner, president of the Federation of Citizens’ Associations, a vote of con- fidence. The resolution adopted ex- pressed entire confidence in Dr. Ha- venner’s sincerity and the wisdom of his assignments of members to com- mittees. This was the first reply to be made by any neighborhood association to the storm that broke at the federation's meeting last Saturday night over Dr. Havenner's failure to reappoint W. A. Roberts to the vice chairmanship of its public utllities committee. Another resolution adopted com- mended Capt. Willlam A. Stott, third precinct, for his reported action in “reading the riot act” to the members punishment to any of them found in gambling houses while off duty. The assoclation met in the Kenilworth School. John S. Driggers presided. BLACKMER EXTRADITION DENIED BY FRANCE False Declaration of Income Tax Is No Crime, Decision in U. 8. Case Explains. By the Associated Press. PARIS, December 4.—France today officially refused the request of the United States for extradition of H. M. Blackner, missing oll case witness. The extradition had been asked on the strength of an indictment returned in Denver, which accused Mr. Blackner of making false income tax returns. The court’s decision explains that the refusal of the request of the United States Government for extradition was based on the following reasons: That a false declaration of in- come tax is not a crime in F.ance but is an offense punishable by a fine. 2. That the Franco-American treaty covers only perjury in court. ‘That a false declaration being only a misdemeanor in France, is out- lawed by a three-ycar statute ot limi- tation, ‘The court’s decision is final and ‘will | be officially transmitted to the Ame: | can embassy througn the French min- istr_\; of foreign affairs within a day or_two. ant United States Attorney James J. for the property owners, indefinitely unless the the case on soms other charge, | an of his command and promising drastic Mr. Blackmer will remain in France United States in accordance with Mexican laws and' O'Leary. A number of lawyers appear j Government should decide to reopen James Collins, experimental pilot, dropped 6,000 feet in a parachute yes- terday when a wing came off his plane while he was making a full motor vertical dive. The photograph above was made from a Washington airport plane after naval officials at the Naval Air Station had blocked efforts to make the photograph on the ground. —Star Staff Photo. Below: View of the plane which | has been secretly under construction | for the past year. In the front cockpit |is Collins, —Wide World Photo. PLANE TOTAL LOSS, Full Motor Vertical Dive Will'Be Made. No formal investigation will be made by the Navy Department of the spec- tacular crash yesterday afternoon of experimental two-seater fighting plane after a wing had been carried away in a full-motor vertical dive. The operator, James Collins of Garden City, N. Y., Curtiss test pilot, who escaped by a parachute jump, had completely re- covered today from the shock of his experience, though he is unable to give any inkling as to what happened. The plane, first of its type, had not been formally accepted by the Navy. It was flown here Saturday from the Curtiss plant at Mineola, N. Y., by Col- lins and yesterday's flight was its first official test. Navy flying officers, however, today are examining the ‘shattered remnants of the plane in an effort to determine what caused the structural failure. This probably never will be known, how- ever, as was indicated after a prelim- inary examination, because of the com- plete demolishing of the plane. Another Plane to Be Substituted. Another plane of the same type will be produced as soon as possible at the Curtiss plant and sent here for tests, it was learned today. The plane was designed to be used as a Navy fighter and light bombing plane and was to have been used for the new type of diving bomb attacks recently developed by the Navy. Collins fold Lieut. Comdr. DeWitt C. Watson, commandant of the naval alr station, Anacostia, that he has no recollection of just what happened after he put the plane in the dive 6,000 feet above the north end of Bolling Field. “There was some sort of flutter just after I got into the full dive,” he said. “I attempted to pull out of the dive when the wing carried away. Every- thing happened so rapidly that I couldn't even tell which wing had gone.” Swift Spin Indicated. The plane evidently went into a tre- mendously fast spin, Navy officers say, and Collins experienced the greatest difficulty climbing out.of his seat, the centrifugal force of the spin holding him in the cockpit with an iron hand. He fell nearly 3.000 feet before he was able to clear himself of the plane. He was falling so fast that when the parachute opened the fall was chacked so sharply he was nearly stunned. In a power dive, it is explained, the nose of the airplane is pointed vertical- ly toward the ground and the motor turned on full. The plane dives with a speed which would make the proverbial plummet seem like a snail. It is esti- mated that Collins was traveling at a spead of nearly 400 miles an hour when the wing gave way. AUTOMOBILE THIEVES TAKE SURGEON’S KIT Morphine and Instruments Valued at $200 Reported Stolen From Dr. Belt. Theft from his automobile of a bag containing surgical instruments and morphine, totaling $200 in value, was reported to police last night by Dr. Norvell Belt, 1907 G street. The ma- chine was parked in front of the Ciifton Terrace Apartments at the time of the theft, he said. Col. Charles A. McKenna, 1653 Penn- sylvania avenue, reported the theft of an English overcoat valued at $75. A pair of pigskin gloves were in the pocket. Forcing a rear door, thieves yesterday entered the home of John Raspberry, 919 G street southwest, and stole cloth- ing worth $40. len from Mrs. George Kelly and $7 in cash from Miss Dorothy Colliflower, both of apartment 408, 329 Rhode Is- land avenue. CRASH IS YSTERY No Formal Navy Probe of A pocketbook containing $18 was sto- By the Associated Press. LORETO, Lower California, Decem- ber 4.—Observations made here and at other points along the west as well as the east coast of Lower California show that the peninsula is widening, and point to the possibility of eventual dis- appearance of the Guif of Californja. ‘The Jesuit priests who colonized this were the first to observe the phenom- enon. The records of their observations were handed down through the ages, and in recent years new observations have confirmed their findings. Juan Bareno, a descendant of the Spanish colonizers, decided about 30 part of the peninsula 230 years ago PRESCOTT OPPOSES CIVC INAUGURAL | Favors Awaiting Hoover’s Wishes—Declines to Serve on Committee. Samuel J. Prescott, chairman of the Republican State commitfee for the District of Columbia, and who is known to be under serious consideration for appointment as chairman of the in- augural committee, is opposed to plans for a civic inaugural celebration until at least President-elect Hoover has in- dicated definitely his wishes. | “I disapprove of the activities on the part of these organizations and individ- | uals,” Mr. Prescott said today. “It is | my cpinion that that matter should be | left entirely in the hands of President- clect Hoover to decide, and when he does make a decision it then remains for the persons officially designated for | that purpose to carry out his views.” Chairman Prescott said today that | he did not attend the meeting at_the Mayflower Hotel yesterday when plans for a civic celebration were discussed | and that he did not authorize his name | being used in connection with the ap- pointment of a committee to wait upon | Dr. Hubert Work, chairman of the Re- publican national committee. He added | that he would not serve on the com- | mittee, ! G. 0. P. Leaders Oppose Plan. Other Republican leaders in the Dis- triet, including Edward F. Colladay, Re- publican national committeeman from the District, are known to oppose this movement on the part of citizens for a civic celebration until Mr. Hoover has | expressed himself definitely. Chairman Work when asked for an opinion today regarding this local ac- tivity said that he had very strong opinions in the matter, but would re- frain from making them public until he had listened to the committee ap- pointed at yesterday's meeting. . The step toward formulation of the inaugural program in which visitors to Washington and local citizens might Jjoin was decided upon yesterday after- noon by representatives of six trade and civic organizations called together by the Washington Chamber of Com- merce. During a two-hour debate of the pro- posed civic celebration delegates de- clared that Washington should “sell Hoover” on the idea of a more elabo- rate inaugural program than the un- ostentatious one he has indicated he desires, but warnings were sounded, however, that Washington should not go contrary to the wishes of the President- :lech:mllmd stage a program distasteful 0 Named on Committee. ‘The joint committee named to lay the matter before Dr. Work, who, if prece- dent is followed, will name the inaugu- ral committee chairman, is composed of Ivan C. Weld, chamber president; W. W. Everett, president of the Board of Trade; Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan, presi- | dent of the Merchants and Manufactur- ers’ Association; Rudolph Jose, president of the City Club; Mrs. M. O. Chance of the Women’s City Club: Dr. George C. Havenner, head of the Federation of Citizens’ Assoclations; Mr. Colladay and Mrs. Virginia Speel, local representatives on the Republican national committee, Mr. Prescott, and W. T. Galliher and Robert N. Harper, who have served on former inaugural committees. During consideration of the question at the Mayflower Hotel, widely divergent views were expressed concerning for- mulation of plans at this time, al- though most delegates bespoke a civic celebration. It developed that among the most ardent proponents of an “old-time’ ’in- augural were members of the Démo- cratic party, while among those urg- ing that nothing be done, at least pending approval by Mr. Hoover, were Republicans. This called forth a re- mark from Edward S. Brashears, of the City Club about the apparent “Jeffer- sonfan simplicity of the Republicans and the plans for pageantry of the Democrats.” Cautioning against hasty formulation of plans which Mr. Hoover or his rep- resentatives might discard, Mr. Gal- liher, stanch Republican, declared em- phatically that “we ought to do noth- ing until the President-elect has indi- cated his wishes more in detail—about the inaugural, Refer to Mr. Hoover. “We all are cognizant,” he continued, “of the fact that Mr. Hoover has stated he desires as simple and unpretentious an inauguration as any held heretofore. I feel it would be trespassing on the rights and dignity of the President- elect if we formulated plans for a cele- bration that did not have his consent. And I think it would not comport with the dignity and standing of our organ- izations for us to say to Mr. Hoover: ‘This is what we want.’” Mr. Harper, Democrat, countered with the suggestion that Washington should have a part in the inauguration, “to show the President the respect the citizens of Washington hold for this high office” and to stage a celebration for the entertainment of visitors ex- pected here for the event. Mr. Harper added that if Mr. Hoov- er decides finally against an “old-time” inaugural, the citizens of Washington should organize plans for an evening celebration of their own. He declared such a program would cost no one any- thing except those who can afford and are willing to pay for it. Charles W. Darr, head of the local “Al Smith for President in 1932” or- ganization, and first vice president of the chamber, declared Washington should not wait until Mr. Hoover's re- turn here, but should take steps to “sell” him on the idea of a more elab- orate inaugural. Associations to Aid. Mr. Everett expressed the hope that no action be taken until official inau- gural plans have been formulated and indicated that Mr. Hoover's wishes should be followed. He reported that the directors of his organization urged postponement pending definite word from Mr. Hoover. Gen. Stephan said his association had not acted on the matter, but voiced a personal opinion that the official plans be announced before a local program is considered. He warned against “com- mercializing” the proposed civic cele- bration. If a citizens’ celebration is decided upon, however, he said, he felt sure his association would co-operate. Dr. Havenner said the citizens’ fed- eration would heartily co-operate in staging a celebration and sald some program should be arranged for the entertainment of the great throng of expected visitors. Mr. Weld, who presided, said there was no intention on the part of his or- ganization to do anything displeasing Gulf of California Will Disappear Eventually, Peninsula Reports Reveal years ago to check up on the Jesuits’ figures. He planted a number of palm trees on the shore of Loreto Bay, with- in 10 feet of the sea. These trees now are 100 yards inland. It is believed that within a few cen- turies the east coast will be united with many of the small islands that dot the gulf ‘a short distance off the peninsula. Twenty years ago navigation between the isiands and the peninsula was ac- complished with safety, but wil receding of the sea the channel between the islands and the peninsula mainland has become so shallow in some places that navigation by large boats there is msidered dangerous. R E ————— | | He is being cared for by Mrs. Viola B. posed for his photograph this morning. ABANDONED BABE 10 BE GIVEN HOME in Hands of County Char- ity Commissioners. The fate of the 4-month-old baby boy, | abandoned Saturday by a young wom- an, thought to be his mother, in the street car station at Beltsville, Md., rests in the hands of the county char- ity commissioners, who are meeting this afternoon to determine what is to be done. At present he is being cared for by Mrs. Viola B. Anderson, of 107 Hurley street, Colmar Manor, Md. The golden-haired, blue-eyed baby was found by Mrs. Roy Stowner of Beltsville, who entered the station to wait for a car. Constable Claude Reese was summoned and he in turn called Miss Agnes Duvall, welfare officer for the county, who took charge. The child, which was well dressed, was | brought to Washington and examined by physicians at the Children's Hospi- tal, who found it to be in good health. Miss Duvall and the commissioners will confer in Hyattsville and unless some one offers to adopt the child, it is thought he will be sent to the or- phanage in Baltimore. Mrs. Anderson has four children, but expressed her willingness to provide a home for the waif until its mother is found or other disposition is made. Constable Reese investigated the case and learned that the alleged mother boarded the car in Washington and rode to Branchville, Md., where she transferred to the line to Beltsville. Several persons saw her get off the car there with a bundle in her arms. A few minutes later, minus the bun- dle, she appeared in front of the sta- tion and inquired as to the schedule of the next bus to Washington. She was told that it had just passed, but that the street car soon would return to the city. She is said to have replied that she did not wish to ride on the street car. She then walked down the road, hailed a motorist and drove away, witnesses say. She is described as about 18 years old, pale, and wearing a brown coat and blue hat. Meanwhile the baby appears to be perfectly happy in his new home, takes his bottle regularly and hasn't cried yet. WORKMAN i$ KILLED "IN RESCUE EFFORT Two Die When Wall of Walter Reed Excavation Caves In on Them. ‘Two colored workmen were killed yes- : terday when trapped in a cave-in at the excavation for the new nurses’ home at Walter Reed Hospital. The body of one of the men has been only partly identified today and lies un- claimed in the morgue. The only name by which he was known to his em- ployer was T. Sutton. His address is unknown and there have been no in- quiries for him at the morgue. The other man was Willlam A. Foreman, 36 years old, of Clarksburg, Md. Sutton was working in the excavation at Fourteenth street and Maine drive. Several witnesses said the dirt began to cave in and Foreman leaped into th(‘l pit in an attempt to rescuc Sutton. Be- fore they could move both were buried under tons of earth. | They were dug out by fellow work- | men and rushed to the hospital, where | they were pronounced dead by Dr.| James Gallagher, Murch Bros. Con- | struction Co. of St. Louis are the con- tractors. | to Mr. Hoover, and urged full and frank i discussion. Mr. Brashears said the proposed plans should be carefully considered and sug- gested a message be sent to the Presi- | dent-elect offering co-operation of | Washington in_the program. Judge Mary O'Toole, of the Women's City Club, spoke in favor of an elabo- rate inaugurad program, as did Mrs. J. Garfleld Riley, of the same organiza- tion. M. A. Leese, past president of the chamber, urging a big inaugural, said Washington should seek to convince Mr. Hoover that the Nation wants such a program and suggested a committee lfz:; n:med to wait on the incoming Pres- ent. John H. Hanna, of the Merchants’ Assoclation, sald an elaborate inaugu- ral, or one moderately so, was to be de- sired, but that it would be a mistake to form plans until Mr. Hoover had voiced his wishes finally, Washington should not stage a celebration for a man it is | honoring and who might not join in it, | he concluded. Others who spoke were Edward D. Shaw of the merchants’ group; Robert | J. Cottrell of the Board of Trade: Mrs. Edna J. Sheehy, Miss Marie K. Saund- This little boy was left in the street car station at Beltsville, Md., Saturday. | Golden-Haired Boy’s Future, | Rainier, Md., filling station for the use | | need any help at all. Anderson, at Colmar Manor, where he 3 —Star_Staff_Photo. FIVE OUTHSHEL INBITNER' DEATH 'One of Suspects Declares He Killed Garage Man Accidentally. Five young colored men were held for the grand jury this afternoon at an inquest into the death of Philbert H. Bitner, 29 years old, of 817 Sheridan | street, who was shot down Thanksgiv- ing night, shortly before midnight, at the Lord Baltimore gasoline filling sta- tion, at Sixth street and Rhode Island avenue, of which he was the manager. Those_held by a coroner’s jury were James Elmer Crawford, 17 years old, 932 Florida avenue, who confessed in a written statement read at the inquest to have fired the fatal shot; Carl Terry, 22 years old, and Milton Edward Terry. 18 years old, brothers, both of 635 T street: Benjamin A. Branson, 26 years old, 209 Florida avenue, and Fletcher McKinley of 1618 Ninth street, who was taken into custody by police last night. Written statements by Milton and Carl Terry were also read to the jury. Milton Terry denied being at the gaso- line station when the shooting occurred, and the testimony of the others cor- roborated him in this. Caught in Repair Shop. ‘McKinley was said by police to have been given the gun that fired the shot killing Bitner. He was arrested last night at an automoblie repair shop in | Georgetown by Policeman J. E. Burke of the seventh precinct. Branson was unable to be present. Sunday night he is said to have at- tempted suicide in his cell at the tenth precinct station house by diving from his cot to the cement floor. He is now in Gallinger Hospital recovering from a spraimed neck vertebra. The story of what occurred as related by Crawford and Carl Terry follows: Crawford, the two Terrys and Bran- son took an automobile belonging to Wesley Johnson of 911 Ninth street northeast, from Thirteenth and U streets, where it was parked, and went riding. They had been drinking and Milton Terry became sick. He was taken home and left there. Claims Accident. Near the filling station their gasoline supply was found to be low. Branson gave Crawford a five-dollar bill as they drove into the station and told him to get some gasoline. Crawford and a companion got out of the car. Craw- ford says the man with him became unruly and he pulled out a gun to frighten him. He says the gun acci- dentally went off, one of the bullets striking Bitner in the back and passing through his body. : The other bullet was later found by police lodged in the wall of the filling station office. The bullet which struck Bitner was discovered lying on the floor. William I. Street, an accountant liv- ing at the Embassy apartment, who was passing at_the time, told of seeing the shooting. He said he saw the two shots fired and then two men run out of the office and jump on the running board of the car. He also declared that the engine of the car was running while the two men were in the office. Particular stress was laid upon this last bit of testimony by Assistant United States Atu)mey' Neil Burkinshaw, who apparently in- tended to attempt to show that a rob- bery had been planned and the car made ready for a quick getaway. Three Others Still Held. ‘Three other men arrested by the homicide squad under Lieut. Edward J. Kelly because of their actions in refus- ing to pay the manager of a Mount of a jack, are still being held, but no effort was made to connect them with the shooting. Detective Sergt. John Flaherty told the jury that the two Terrys and Craw- ford have been positively identified by Julius Goode, a tailor at 251 Florida ave- nue, and his assistant, Walter Fields, as | three of the men who held up the tailor shop Wednesday night and got away | with $300. They have not yet confronted Bran- son, but as soon as his condition per- mits he will be brought before them in an effort to prove that he also was one of the bandits. 12 SEAMEN SAVED ON SINKING VESSEL French Steamer Seneff Reports Herself in No Immediate Danger. By the Assoclated Press. ST. PIERRE, Miquelon, December 4. —Twelve members of the crew of the French steamer Seneff, which reported last night that she was sinking 90 miles | south of here, were taken from the ship | by the steamer Watuka today. advices received here indicated that the ship was in no immediate danger and that four members of the crew, includ- ers, Grover W. Ayres, Joseph A. Bur- kart and Edwin S. Hege. The latter said “This is Hoover's party, and we should keép in step with him.” ing the captain, would remain on board awaiting the arrival fo a tug from St. Plerre. The Watuka advised that sho was proceeding to Sydney, Nova Scotia. BYRD TRIMS SHIP - T0 BATTLE GALES Wind Freshens as Polar Craft Drive Into Storm Area of Antarctic. BY RUSSELL OWEN. Wireless to the "'El York Times and The ar. ON BOARD THE BARK CITY OF NEW YORK AT SEA, December 4.— ‘Under a sullen gray sky, with the winds freshening as it crawls around toward the southwest, the home of gales, Comdr. Byrd's ships are rolling their way southward toward the ice. The sting of it in the air today and streaRs of wind-whipped fog show that it is not far off. So far we have made excellent time. After the light wind of the first day, when the Eleanor Bolling did a good deal of work in towing, the wind hauled around to the north and blew hard for veral hours until the City of New York was making 9 knots and did not She made the Eleanor Bolling hustle to keep ahead of her as, under sail and steam both, she plowed through the heavy swells. But today the wind again back:d around to the south and the sails were taken in while the Eleanor Bolling again did the bulk of the work. Now it looks as though we were in for one | of those gales which blow overboard | everything that is not lashed and make the passage anything but pleasant. Prove Their Worth Aloft. The old City of New York is now swaving heavily, but is proving herself again an excellent sea boat and the men aboard her, most of them experi- enced sailors, have shown that they are ready to tackle anything that comes along. Yesterday Kennard F. Dubier, air- plane mechanic, went aloft to help set the sails, hanging on by his teeth and eyebrows, and Paul A. Siple, the Boy Scout, has proved himself a corking sailorman. If Siple’s fellow Boy Scouts could see him now, hanging over a yard by his middle, heels swinging in the air and clawing beneath him at a sail, they | might not envy his being chosen quite so much. He is dirty and unkempt, but he_smiles and works all the time. Young E. J. Demas, also an airplane | mechanic, has been aloft, but mostly the airplane men help in steering, where they outrage Capt. Melville's soul by calling “two right” and “three left,” instead of “port” and “starboard.” The view ahead is hidden from the helmsman by a pile amidship and the deckhouse. Dogs Ring Byrd's Cabin. Comdr. Byrd's quarters are surround« ed on three sides by howling dogs and some.are even on top. Igloo, the commander’s dog, for ithe first time in his life is content to stay inside the cabin and not try to run the ship. Too many and too big dogs are outside for Iggie, who is being discreet. All day long the men have been busy lashing the gear on deck, getting ready for the blow which is sure to come before the ice is reached. The weather so far has been unusually favorable, but the wind is beginning to pick up now and will probably blow harder. Comdr Byrd is anxious to reach the ice pack as soon as possible, because he expects it will take some time to get through and he wishes to take advantage of the first chance of its breaking up.” So far everything indicates that the ice has been heavy, but that it is still far to the south. This may mean that there will be less of it to go through, but at the best, the ice conditions are uncertain. As the wind freshens rapidly more men are swarming up to the main top- sail yard to furl the sail and secure it, because the wind is too much ahead for us to sail and keep our course. Even Willard Van Der Veer, the movieman, and Benny Roth, the Army mechanic, are climbing up to help. The foreyards are all cluttering with ama- teur sailors—Frank T. Davies, the phys cist, looking weird in glasses and oil- skins: the long-legged pilot, Dean “Babe” Smith, and Jacob Bursey, the seaman dog-driver. Comdr Byrd himself has gone up to lend a hand. They may not be the greatest sailors in the world, but they are strong on spirit, It looks as if we might be going to catch it a bit as the wind is beginning to whine and the ship labors more as the sea begins to break. It has come up inside half an hour, which shows how quickly storms begin to build up in this part of the world. Byrd Replies to Premier. Comdr. Byrd today replied to the message of farewell from Prime Minis- ter Coates of New Zealand, saying: “On behalf of the Byrd Antarctic expedition, I thank you for your kind telegram. “With sail set for the Antarctic, we are carrying along memories of a de- lightful visit to shores of your country and the hospitality of your people. “You have our deep and everlasting gratitude for your offer of further as- sistance should the occasion arise and for all the courtesies your government has extended.” (Capyright. 1928, bv the New York Time: Co. and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. All rights for publication reserved throughout the world.) PARENTS AI\ED TEACHERS WILL REWARD LIFE-SAVER Group Plans Fund for Purchase of Token to Be Presented Ray- mond Olive. In appreciation of the act of Raymond Olive, who rescued James Harrod, & pupil at Wormley School. from the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal November 19, the Wormley School Parent-Teacher Association at its regular meeting last night started a fund to provide Mr, Olive with a suitable token. Mr. Olive, an employe of the Wash- ington Gas Light Co.. is to receive a similar award from his fellow workers, it was said at the meeting, which went on record as commending his heroism. George A. Parker, president, was in charge of the meeting. TMAS | SEALS ¥ PRESENT WiTHOLT ‘::u':uv_ THEM IS JUST LIKE