Evening Star Newspaper, December 3, 1929, Page 17

Washington News EXPERTS DISAGREE AS 0 CAUSE OF MTRORY DISASTER Testimony of 2 Is Countered by 3 Others Regarding Water-Tank Theory. JURY SEEKS TO PLACE ANY POSSIBLE BLAME Plumbing Inspector Advances' Theory Blast Was Caused by Carbonic Acid Bottles. With two experts for the District tes- | titying that the hot-water storage-tank | in the McCrory Five and Ten Cent The Foening Star | | Store could not possibly have exploded, { and one for the District and two for | the Government countering with testi- | mony to the effect tbat hardly any-} thing else but the stofgge tank could | have exploded, the coroner’s inquest | into the disaster adjourned at 1 o'clock | today until 10 am. tomorrow. i The disaster, which claimed the lives | of six persons and resulted in in- juries to a score more, occurred No- vember 21 in a vault under the side- walk in front of the McCrory store on Seventh street. The purpose of the | coroner’s inquest is to determine and fix any possible criminal responsibility. Three District employes and two em- ployes of the Federal Government gave | testimony this morning which appeared {rreconcilable. Blames Carbonic Acid. A. R. McGonegal, District plumbing inspector, testified that he made an in- vestigation at the scene of the accident, as the result of which he came to the conclusion that the hot-water storage tank could not have been the cause of the explosion. He expressed the belief | that the accident bursting of a bottle of carbonic acid stored near the fur- nage reacted on the storage tank in such a manner that the bottom of the tank was forced loose. Steam then generated in the top of the tank, he said, and lifted the cylinder into the air, where it struck a steel beam | with considerable force. Mr. McGone- gal pointed out that there were at least four avenues through which excess steam would have escaped before ac- cumulating sufficient force to burst the storage tank. His assistant, Samuel Tap, adhered to the theory that the rupture of the bottom of the hot-water storage tank was caused by some preliminary ex- plosion. James Paxton, manager of the Mc- Crory store, testified that the bottles of carbon acid stored in the vault be- longed to another concern, which had & concession in his store. Believes Boiler Burst. When Price M. Greenlaw, District boiler inspector, took the stand he said = that in his opinion the water in the hot-water storage tank was heated enough to cause the bottom of the tank o blow out because of expansion of the water alone. After this occurred, he said, the superheated water turned into steam, pouring more than 17,000 cubic feet of live steam Into & space hm enough to accommodate safely but 3. cubic feet. This was the force that ripped off the roof of the vault, he said, and there was no preliminary explo- sion. Nolan D. Mitchell of the Bureau of Standards agreed with Mr. Greenlaw that there was no preliminary explosion. He said the tank gave way in the rim of welding connecting the bottom plate to the tank, He indicated he thought the welding job was not & proper one. Mr. Mitchell scouted the idea that| one of the bottles of carbonic acid blew up first, setting off the tank explosion. C. W. Owen of the Bureau of Mines also was unable to discover any evi-| dence of a preliminary explusion. “After examining the scene of the! disaster,” McGonegal said at the out- | set of his testimony. “I was unable to see how there could have been sufficient excess pressure in the tank to cause it | to burst. Hot water had been used con- | tinuously for store purposes up to the time of the explosion that day, and, therefore, there could hardly have been any steam pressure in the boiler in ex- | cess of the water pressure from the city main. Blames Carbon Acid. “My opinion is that the bursting of & bottle of carbon acid, used for soda fountain purposes, caused a preliminary explosion. The force of this explosion produced a concussion on the sides of the hot-water storage tank which bulged inward against the water it contained,” “The water, being virtually in- compressible, had to find some exit. The bottom of the tank being the weakest point, gave way,” he said, “allowing the water to escape “As the water ran out of the tank, a gort of vacuum developed at the top. When the hot water in the tank reached what is known as the ‘flash | point’ it changed to vapor and this had | a tendency to drive the tank upward. ‘The tank apparently was driven upward against a steel beam supporting the sidewalk.” McGonegal said that in his search for evidence of a preliminary explosion he learned that a carbonator and at least one bottle of carbon acid were stored in the furnace room near the heating unit. He said that according to his information there is often a pres- sure of approximately 2.000 pounds in these bottles. Most of them. he said, bear red tags with the notice that they are to be stored in a cool place. Parts of Bottles Missing. MecGonegal said he found three pieces of the carbonator, but could not locate the other parts of the machine. Hy said he could not find any parjs of carbon acid bottles, but, that these bottles prob- ably would have been shattered into fragments if subjeced to an explosion. He also pointed out the possibility that an explosion or breaking of the carbonating machine or a carbon acid bottle might have broken a gas main running through the vault. explained, would have permitted gas to form in the room, which would have exploded on coming into contact with the fire in the furnace. In answer to a question from an at forney representing the McCrory inter- ests, McGonegal said he believed he ‘would have pronounced the hot water tank in satisfactory condition if he had examined it 10 minutes before the ex- plosion occurred. “Testimony raising doubt as to | Pleasant. Hill. 513 Ninth street south- ‘This, he { with coal at the intersection of Connect shows wrecked cab of the car. | injured. THO INURED i GAR HTS TRUCK Motorman Sustains Cuts and Driver’s Assistant Burned in Collision. One man was seriously burned and another lacerated by flying glass this | morning when a southbound street car, ' loaded with passengers, during the rush | hour and a 5-ton truck of coal collided | head-on at Connecticut avenue and Co- lumbia road. Flames broke out in the driver's com- partment of the damaged truck, but n{el:d extinguished before firemen ar- rived. William Parker, colored, 27, of 1066 | Thirtieuh street, was burned about the legs. arnis ap ° face before he could ex- tricate himself from his seat beside the truck driver. The motorman of the car, Richard Rayhorn, 23, of 123 Eleventh street southeast, was cut when the impact caved in the glass-inclosed front of his car. Wreck Ties Up Traffic. Traffic on the busy Connecticut ave- nue line was delayed while wreckers cleared the right-of-way. The collision swung the truck broadside and halted the street ‘car, which remained on the tracks. None of the passengers was believed injured. The fire was thought to have origl- nated in a broken exhaust pipe on the truck. It was quickly extinguished by rs-by, who smothered the flames with coal dust. The truck, driven by west, was owned by the P. T. McDer- mott Co., Inc., haulers. .« ‘The street car, operated by the Wash- ington Railway & Electric Co., had just swung into Connecticut avenue from Columibia road, while the truck had at- tempted to continue north out Con- necticut avenue. The motorman said a street car passing his car in the op- posite direction on a parallel track must have obscured the view of the truck driver, ‘The driver said he stopped to let the northbound street car by, and did not see the other surface car as he ad- vanced across the tracks. Both injured men were taken to Emergency Hospital by a passing mo- torist, where Parker was admitted for treatment and Rayhorn discharged after first aid. Hill escaped uninjured. Engine company, No. 21, responded to the alarm. POLICE PROBERS T0 WRITE REPORT| The board of inquiry seeking the spe- cific reason for July grand jury’s condemnation of Inspector William 'S. Shelby and Lieut. Edward J. Kelly is about ready to write its report to the | District Commissioners. Decision of the Commissioners on the demands of the deposed detective chiefs that they be brought to trial on the accusations hinges on findings of the special board, composed of Maj. D. A. Davison, Assistant Engineer Commissioner, and W. W. Bride cor- poration counsel. The board met today for more than an hour in the office of the corporation counsel, but refused afterward to dis- close the nature of the discussion. A policy of strict secrecy is being fol- lowed. Maj. Davison would say only that the board soon will undertake the task of putting its findings and recommenda- tions in writing. The two-man board will meet again at the earliest oppor- tunity, he added Maj. Davison must divide his attention between the Shelby- Kelly matter and the inquest of the McCrory explosion. The McCrory hear- ing took most of his time today. The Assistant Engineer Commissioner stated there is a decision on “one point” still to be made before the actual for- mulation of a report is begun, but he declined to throw further light on the point of indecision. | | | ! i FIRE ROUTS 'FEflAhTS. Blaze Is Started When Mattre: Accidentally Ignited. Fire, which was confined to_the { fourth-floor apartment of Mrs, Flora Holden at 1465 Columbia road, routed occupants of other apartments on the | floor early today and caused consider- able damage from smoke and water. Police said the blaze started when willlam Copenhaver, 20-year-old_drug clerk at Whalen's Drug “Store, Eight- eenth street and Columbia road, and a Is whether the hot-water tank itself ex- ploded was introduced at the inquest yesterday afternoon, WRECKED STREET A street car was the loser in a head- WASHINGTON, D. C, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1929. |to be opened this week by officials of BIDS 70 BE OPENED | ONNEW HANGAR AT AIRPORT THIS WEEK Structure Will Be First Unit| in Program of Permanent Development. EXPECTED TO BE READY | FOR OCCUPANCY MARCH 1| New Administration Building and | Passenger Station Will Be Erected Later. Bids for construction of the first unit in a program of permanent develop- ment of Washington Airport, at the South End of Highway Bridge, betwee:n the Alexandria and Military roads, are the Washington Alr Terminals Corpo- ration, it was announced today by Al- bert G. Ober, jr., vice president. | The initial unit is to be a structural on collision with a five-ton truck loaded icut avenue and Celumbia road. Photo | The motorman and a helper on the truck were -—Star Stafl Photo. THREE BURGLARIES | NET $100 IN L0OT Tailor Shop and Stores En-| tered Last Night, Proprie- tors Tel! Police. Three burglaries were reported here | over the night, the loot totalling more | than $100. Arthur R. Bradley, proprietor of a| tailor shop at 1401 Seventh street, re- ported his tafloring establishment was entered and robbed of wearing apparel valued at $81. Entrance was gained by cutting a glass panel from the front joor. William Kennon, 2119 Eleventh street, reported that his place of business was | entered by breaking a glass panel from | a rear door and a small quantity of | canned goods stolen. Louis Mandis, 1906 seventh street, said his place was robbed of smoking materials*valued at $35. Entrance was gained by breaking a rear door. Mrs. Lillie M. O'Doneghue of 1127 | Fourth street northeast, yesterday ask- | ed police to look for a tall, gray-haired man, who represented himself to her as a prospective roomer, she said, and then persuaded her to' cash a check for $15 before leaving with both money and check. Mrs. O'Doneghue said he | drove off in a new automobile. A young white man was being sought by police today on complaint of Mrs. Mabel Tippett of 815 Ingram street, who said he snatched her pocketboo containing $5.75 while she was walking on East_Capitol street. Miss Florence Mortimer, principal of Wheatley School, Montello avenue and Morse street northeast, told police in- truders were in the school over the | week end. Entrance was gained by | using a duplicate key, police were in- formed, and an automobile clock and | & watch stolen. ‘Theft of & wedding ring valued at $25 was reported by Mrs, Lottie Mellus, 235 Eighth street northeast. Jesse W. Meyer, 2101 New Hampshire avenue, asked ‘police to make an effort, to re- cover his gray plaid overcoat, valued at $35, which was stolen at the Interior Department yesterday, and loss of a lady's wrist watch valued at $55 was reported by Charlotte A. Murphy, 133 E street. MISS M’LAUGHLIN NOW 6,400 VOTES IN LEAD Pension Commissioner’s Secretary Ahead in Race for Title of “Miss Federal Employe.” With but four days remaining before the close of the race, Miss Mary E. Mc- Laughlin, secretary to the commissioner of pensions, is leading her nearest com- petitor for’ the title of “Miss Federal Employe” by a margin of 6,400 votes. Miss McLaughlin, who lives at 2148 O street, has received a total of 224,500 votes. Miss Bess Miller of 3701 Massa- chusetts avenue of the loans and cur- rency division of the Treasury Depart- ment has added 26,000 votes sinee the last count and has advanced from third to second place in the standing with 218100 votes. Miss Ruby Martin of street, secretary to the chief of personnel, Veterans' Bureau, s in third place with 217,400 votes. ‘The winner of the contest will be an- nounced Saturday night at the conclu- sion of the three-day circus which the District Federation of Federal Employes' Unions will stage in the Masonic Audi- torium, ~ beginning Thursday night, Senator Arthur Capper, chairman of the Senate District committee, will offi- clally open the circus, TRAFFIC PROBLEMS UP BEFORE CITIZENS' BODY Dupont Circle Association Has In- formal Discussion of Conditions in the District. 5 in the District were sed yesterday after- noon by.members of the Dupont Circle Citizens' Atsociation, meeting n the Mayflower Hotel. Due to the inelement weather,-the meeting failed to reach a quorum. Rear Admiral Joseph Strauss, retired, who has prepared a report on traffic conditions which will by presented to the next meeting, led the discussion of | conditions here. " He pointed out that the parking problem is growing as acute ward of Mrs. Holden's, accidentally set firte to the mattress of his bed with a lighted cigarette, 4 in residentlal as in commercial dis- tricts and suggested an expansion of garage facilitles as a remedy, { airplanes of average size. i 8n unobstructed approach to the North steel and concrete hangar 133 feet by | 100 feet, which will accommodate 20 There will be | constructed, as a unit with the hangar, | a fully equipped aviation machine shop | aud service station. The entire struc- | ture will have 14,000 square feet of floor | space. To Be Complete March 1. The new hangar, which is to be com- pleted by March 1, is to be erected at the southeast corner of the field near the Alexandria road and the electric rallroad which skirts the field. The present hangar, in the northeast corner of the property, is to be razed as soon as the new structure is ready for occu- pancy. As soon as the contract is awarded for the new hangar, bids will be asked for construction of 'a new administra- tion building and passenger station. to be erected just in back of the present hangar near the intersection of Alex- andria and Military roads. Structures Being Razed. Tearing down of the amusement structures on the Arlington Beach tract, acquired last Summer by the Washing- ton Air Terminals Corporation, is near- ing completion and further filling and grading of the fleld is in progress. Ar- rangements have been made with the | telephone and power companies, Mr. Ober said, to bury in conduits the wires along Military road between the airport and the beach property. This will give an. South runway and will make avail- able six runways, ranging in length from 1,800 to 2,400 feet. ‘The terminals corporation is headed by Howard Sutherland, former alien property custodian and Senator from West Virginia. Members of the board of directors are C. Bascom Slemp, for- mer secretary to the President and Rep- resentative from Virginia; David K. E. Bruce, James O. Watson of Hambleton | & Co.; M. C. Cooper of the Federal Aviation Corporation; Mr. Ober, Robert E. Funkhouser and C. H. Duckett. WILL ADVERTISE TAX DELINQUENTS Collector to Insert Names Property Data Tomorrow. and | The names of those persons delin- quent in their real estate tax payments for 1929 will be advertised in a local newspaper tomorrow and again Decem- ber 11. The advertisements carry the name of the property owner and the description of “the property om which the tax is delinquent. ‘Those who paid up to and including November 30 should not be in the lists, but since a large number mailed checks on November 30 there are some who will find their names advertised in the paper tomorrow. Tax Collector Towers explained that there is not time to take out the type representing the adver- tisements of those who pay at the last minute. Those names, however, will be deleted from the second advertise- ment. . 4 Tax titles to the properties advertised will be sold at public auction in the District Building from January 7 to 14, | both inclusive. Property owners have | two years within which to redeem these | titles by paying the District their taxe: plus one per cent per month penalty After two years, the purchaser at the auction sale recelves a- certificate re- cording his tax deed, and this may be released only through private negotia- tion. Mr. Towers said that owing to the recent tightness of money, he expect- ed that many tax titles would be sold, nxlthough no figures are available at this time. POSTAL RECEIPTS GAINED LAST MONTH Increase Also Shown in First Three Days of Business in De- cember. Officlals at the Washington Post Office are Yl‘eplnd to handle a tre- mendous volume of Christmas mail this year in view of what they regard as very healthy business conditions re- flected in local postal receipts for No- vember and the first three days of the present month. Receipts for November showed an in- crease of 10.36 per cent over those of November, 1928, W. H. Haycock, assist- ant postmaster, announced today. They totaled $545,321.31, an increase of $51,218.07 over November a year ago. “A large part of this increase was made up by third-class advertising matter during the last part of Novem- ber, indicating that local merchants were preparing to get off on an earlier start than usual on their ‘Shop Early’ campaign,” said Mr. Haycock. ‘The first three days of December, he explained, already show an increase in the volume of business handled at the post office compared with daily Novem- ber recelpts. “postal receipts are usually accepted as a barometer of business conditions,” Mr. Haycock sald. “The increase of slightly more than 10 per cent over a year ago evidently indicates that busi- ness in Washington is sound and active. “The Washington Post Office is fully prepared to handle the rush of Christ- mas mail, but In order to make things easier for every one and to msure de- Jivery before Christmas, We cannot urge ly to mail early as | | the public tog strol *well as shop early. 3 The dam at Pierce Mill, in Rock Creek Park, after the night’s freeze following yesterday’s rain. Winter's touch about one of the scenic bridges in the park. —Star Staff Photos. COMMUNITY CHEST ELEGTS MEMBERS Seven New Organizations Chosen to Share in Charity Fund Next Year. Seven new organizations were for- mally voted into the Community Chest at a meeting yesterday of the board of trustees in the United States Cham- ber of Commerce. At the same time John Poole, president of the Federal- American National Bank, treasurer of the chest, announced that, on Decem- ber 1, 90 per cent of pledged subscrip- tions had been paid. The new member organizations are Garfield Hospital, the Hebrew Free Loan Soclety, the Holiday House, the National Capital Civic Fund, the Prisoners’ Aild Bureau, St. Anna's Home for Aged Colored Women and the Stoddard Baptist Home for -the Aged. Representatives of each of the new organizations were present to ex- plain the nature of the work done by their institutions. ‘The treasurer's report showed that $1,335656.44 had been paid, while $1,486,826.71 was pledged. Statements were mailed November 30 for the bal- ance due, which, it is anticipated, will be paid before the year is out. “Every penny which was subscribed vill be needed,” Mr. Poole declared. Needs of several of the member agencies have proved greater than had been anticipated because of conditions which developed during the year.” Organizations in the chest last year which yesterday were again voted to membership follow: American Legion, Associated Chari- ties Association for the Prevention of ‘Tuberculosis, Boy Scouts, Boys' Club, Catholic Charities, Children's Hospital, Child Welfare Society, Children’s Coun- try Home, Christ Child Society, Citizens' Rellef ety, Columbia Hospital, Co- lumbia Polytechnic Institute for the Blind, Council of Social Agencies, Dis- trict of Columbia Congress of Parents | o and Teachers, Disabled American Vet- erans of the World War, Emergency Hospital and Central Dispensary, Epis- copal Home for Children, Episcopal Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, Florence Crittendon Home, Friendship House, Georgetown University Hospital, George ‘Washington University Hospital, Girl Scouts, Hebrew Home for the Aged, Holy Family Day Nursery, Instructive Visiting Nurse Society, Jewish Foster Home, Jewish Community Center, Jew- ish Welfare Federation, Juanita K. Nye Council House, Juvenile Protective As- sociation, National Homeopathic Hos- pital, Neighborhood House, Noel Com- munity House, Phyllis Wheatley Y. W. C. A., Providence Hospital outpatient and soclal service departments, St. Ann's Infant Asylum, St. Joseph's Home and School, St. Rose’s Technical School, St. Vincent's Home and School, Salva- tion Army, Social Hyglene Society, So- clal Service Exchange, Southern Rellef Soclety, Summer outings committee of the Associated Charities, Travelers’ Aid Soclety, Twelfth Street Y. M. C. A, United Hebrew Relief Society, Wash- ington Animal Rescue League, Wash- ington Co-operative Society, \Washing- ton Home for Foundlings, Young Men's Christlan Association and Young Wom- en’s Christian Association, Several other organizations are still being considered for membership, Cor- coran Thom, chairman of the budget committee, announced. The committee will take up their cases as fast as hear- ings can be arranged. 90 to Eat in Boiler, YORK, December 3 (#).—A dedicatory Juncheon is 0 be attended by 90 persons inside one of the three huge boilers_recently installed in the East River Statlon of the New york Fdison Co. AS soon as lunch is over the botler will be fired. Hoover Purchases First Seals Sold In Christmas Drive ‘The sale of Christmas seals in the interest of the crusade against tuberculosis was formally opened in the District of Colum- bia today when President Hoover purchased the first stamps to be placed on sale, The sheets of stamps purchased by the President were handed to him by 10-year-old Jacquelin Krah, who was selected as a little health crusader by the Washing- ton Tuberculosis Association. Ac- companying the little crusader to the White House were Dr. George M. Kober, president of the Wash- ington Tuberculosis Association, and Mrs. Ernest Grant, chairman of the Tubercular Children's Sanitorium committee. CITIZENS TO WEIGH MANY PROBLEMS Car Fare, Armory and Smoke Nuisance Among Topics Before Three Bodies. Street car fares, improved street car service, the need of an armory for the District National Guard, the smoke nulsance and the market question are among the many subjects to be dis- cussed tonight by three citizens’ asso- clations meeting at 8 o'clock in differ- ent parts of the city. Harleigh H. Hartman, member of the Public Utilities Commission, will be a guest of the Columbia Heights Citizens’ Association at its regular monthly meet- ing tonight at the Columbia Heights Christian Church, 1435 Park road. imissioner Hartman is expected to address the meeting briefly, explaining the working of the Public Utilities Comission and the street car question in general. The Columbia Heights Association also will receive reports from its com- mittees on a proposed “blue sky” law for the District, a smoke law, a new- downtown market to take the place of the Center Market, free text books for high schools, increased pay for_ police- men and firemen, use of the Pension Building for an armory, reduction of the rate for electric current and the use of the surplus in the Treasury for needed construction in ‘the District. Lewis D. Peppler, leader of the mem- bership drive, will also submit a report. One of the newest organizations in the city. the Columbia Park Citizens’ Association, will hold its regular month- ly meeting tonight in the George Trues- dell School, Ninth and Ingraham streets. E. F. Neagle, the president, will an- nounce the appointment of standing committees for the ensuing year and the remainder of the evening will be devoted to an entertainment drawing for a turkey. By J assoclation expects to get down to the real business of civic betterment. Lieut. Col. Frederic H. Smith, U, 8, A., adjutant general of the District Na- tional Guard, will address the Devon- shire Downs Citizens' Association to- night at its regular monthly meeting in the Home for the Incurables, Thirty- eighth and Upton streets. While dis- cussing the local militia generally, he will speak particularly of the need of an armory here. J. Waddy Tate, mayor of Dallas, fa- vors a calendar of 13 months “if all holidays would fall on Monday, church services were held once a month and ROBBERY IN STORE MYSTIFIES POLICE $14 Taken From Till—Safe Defies Thieves—Outside Locks Untouched. Police are trying to figure out how $14 was stolen from the cash register of Peoples Drug Store at Nineteenth street and Pennsylvania avenue some- time between last midnight and 8 o'clock this morning, the doors and win- dows to the place being found securely locked when the store was opened to- day. An attempt to rob the safe also had been made. The robbery was discovered shortly before 8 o'clock, when L. L. Burrows, assistant manager of the store, opened up for the day. He immediately noti- fied police. Headquarters helly, who investigated, said that he was told that when Burrows opened up the store he found the two locks on the outside doors securely fastened, and & thorough search failed to reveal how entrance could have been gained. Fihelly advanced the theory that someone cduld have been hidden in the store before it was closed last night but is admittedly baffled how they could have gotten out without breaking the locks on the door or smashing a window or even letting themselves out with a key if the locks were on the outside of the door. A small 3afe under a counter in the rear of the store had been tampered with, Fihelly said, and an attempt had been made to break off its hinges. ‘The combination dial had not been molested. T. A. McClintic of 213 Seventeenth street northeast, a driver for the W, A, milk in front of the store a few minutes before 3 o'clock this morning and no- ticed at that time the locks on the door had not been tampered with and every- thing seemed to be in order. TEACHERS’ SALARY DECISION APPEALED V. S. Supreme Court Will Be Asked to Review Judgment of District Tribunal. The United States Supreme Court will be asked to review the decision of the District Court of Appeals denying relief to 481 District school teachers who are asking increases totaling $300,000 in their pay under the longevity law. Paul E. Lesh, attorney for the teachers, today asked the Court of Ap- »eals to stay its mandate to afford him an opportunity for filing an application in the highest tribunal in the land. ‘The appellate court last February re- ‘versed a decision of the Municipal Court which had declared in favor of the teachers, but left what was regard- ed as a loophole for relief of teachers having outside experience. Attorney Lesh then asked for a rehearing of the former cases and with his application presented two other cases involving teachers having outside experience be- fore coming into the local schools. ‘The court, however, failed to find any facts in the new cases which would cause it to rescind its former ruling, so Detective Arthur Fi- | PAGE 17 ALDRIDGE HELD BY GRAND JURY IN OFFICER'S DEATH Colored Man Is Reindicted in Murder of H. J. Mac- Donald Last July. NEW ACTION"NECESSARY BY PLEA IN ABATEMENT Charge of Larceny After Trust Against Marie Wyona Stevens Is Ignored. Alfred Scott Aldridge, colored, was reindicted today by the grand jury for murder in the first degree in connec- tion with the death of Policeman Harry J. MacDonald July 6 last at Seven- teenth and Q streets. The officer had discovered Aldridge and his brother in an attempt to rob a nearby drug store and was taking the man to a call box when they opened fire on him. Mac- Donald killed the brother and Alfred was arrested. The new indictment was made neces- sary by the filling of a plea in abate- jment against a former indictment re- ported September 30 by a jury on which was sitting a woman pensioner of the United States. Driver of Car Exonerated. The grand jurors exonerated Charles Wright, white, who was driving an automobile September 29 last when he struck and killed Horace W. Bell, also white, at Eighth street and Penn- sylvania avenue southeast. The testi- mony disclosed that it was raining at the time of the accident and Bell stepped into the path of the machine. A charge of larceny after trust against Marie Wyona Stevens, who hired an automobile from the Glass- man rent-a-car concern, August 28 last, and drove it down into Tennessee where the car is said to have broken down was ignored. The young woman returned to Washington by rail and was arrested on her arrival. She was re- leased on bail and shortly afterward married Charles Bolton of New York. Other Cases Dropped. | Other cases dropped by the grand (Jury include: Bertha M. Davis, robbery; ‘Wlllllm Peterson and William W. Brown, carnal knowledge; Willlam | Green, Elsie Monroe, Edward V. Jones, | assault with a dangerous weapon; John i Dillon, impersonating an_officer , and | Jesse Stewart, housebreaking. 2 A total of 37 indictments were Te- ported to Justice Peyton Gordon. Those indicted and the charges against them include: Frank Tharrington, Charles Hurley and Harry E. McCabe, grand larcepy; Keith Watkins, Willlam C. Caldwell, Maurice G. Colquitt (two cases), Ray. mond Jackson and Robert Jones, rob. bery; Robert Jones assault with ddn- gerous weapon; Orion T. Whiting, re- ;l“:vlng stolen property; John R. Reid, m Wells and Theodore Beach, allas Theodore Brown; James H. Har- ley, Lawrence Mallott and Willlam Minor, joy-riding; Elsworth E. Brooks and Lillian Williams, alias Lillian John- son, assault with dangerous weapon; Robert S. Jones, assault with intent, to kill and assault with dangerous weapon; John W. Waugh and Val Johnson, assault with dangerous weapon; Joseph Wheel- er, housebreaking; Thomas E. Dwyer, ilbur Proctor, Ralph Henson, John Stewart, Robert J. Pauls (two cases), Raymond A. Saunders and Albert B, Sunday, Richard Dandolph Jones, alias | James Richard Williams, alias James Allen, housebreaking and larceny; John Hare, Thomas F. Carey, Harry Hurwitz, Frank Shore, J. Hall Semmes, Samuel J. Smith, Arthur Ferguson, Roland Davis and Roland Davis and Arthur Ferguson, violating national prohibi- tion act. 1 HOSPITAL PATIENTS PROMISED A TREAT ple to Stage Minstrel Show at Walter Reed. A dress rehearsal performance of the twelfth annual minstrel of the Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew As- sociation will be staged Thursday night at Waller Reed Hospital for the enter- tainment of the patients. The show, billed as the “New-Fangled Minstrel,” will be presented Sunday and Monday nights at the Jewish Community Cen- ter, Sixteenth and Q streets. It will be one of the most elaborate ever at- tempted by the Hebrew societies. Several more rehearsals will be held this week under the direction of Adlai Simpson Dairy Co., said he delivered | Mann, who is in charge of this year's produetion. Mr. Mann himself will play a leading part in the show. The in- terlocutor is Joseph Danzansky and the “ends” are Nathan Freehof, Eugene Kressin, Nathan “Frisco Reds” Cohen, Frances Plotnick and Cecilia Sachs. Manny King, Edith Lazeroff, Belle Gol- denberg, Burton Ostrow, Wilbert Yock- elson also have promineni roles. Jennie Aronstein is assisting Mr. Mann with the musical end of the show. The business committee includes David Wiener, Moses Offenberg, Paul Streett, Burnett Simon, Nathan Free- hof and Edward Rosenblum. The proceeds of the performances will be devoted to the educational program of the Hebrew associations and the Center. $16,500 FUND GRANTED FOR RADIO EDUCATION Carnegie, Penney and Payne Fouh- dations’ Contribution Expe- = dites School Probe. The Secretary of the Interior today announced thap the advisory committee on education by radio had received grants from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the J. C. Penney Founda- tlon and the Payne Fund, totaling $16,500 in cash, and the loan by the Payne fund of the services of an expert for ")‘{l".l’: weeks, With these resources, it is expected that the committee will continue to conduct extensive lnvutlfltm into the extent to which radio has been used in school work and by coll for broadcasting programs of an edu- cational nature. The committee intends in a per curlam opinion reversed the Municipal Court in the new cases and workers received an extra month's pay for that extga month.” | ) reafirmed the ruling in the former cases.- to make some recommendations for selentific research designed to ascere tain the effectiveness of radio as an ww--Ful teol: