Evening Star Newspaper, December 20, 1929, Page 2

P m—— e HIGH DEATH LIST IS CAUSED BY COLD Twoscore Reported, With One in Louisiana—Snow Falls in South. (Continued From First Page.) tion and chained the forward march of | Christmas trade. Even more snow mov- ed into the Middle West today, but nothing to compare with the midweek storm which the Chicag> Weather Bu- reau alluded to as “almost one in a Iifetime.” A complete list of deaths for which ! the storm, snow, cold and ice were to blame was not possible, with many sec- tions cut off from the world by drifts in highways and broken telephone and telegraph wires, but nearly two score had been reported, more than half of them in the Chicago metropolitan area. | Shifting Winds Lift Fog, Shifting winds lifted the fog which had cost a heavy price in New York Harbor, ‘Shipping had been almost at a standstil, and one vessel lay at the bottom of the harbor in 60 feet of water. ‘The money loss attributed to the fog | reached into the millions. | The passenger ship Tourist was grip- ped in the Lake Erie ice, with her pas- sengers safe ashore. 'This was the only | lake shipping reported in trouble, the Goodrich steamer Alabama having | docked safely at Grand Haven, Mich., ! after being missing several hours in rolling Lake Michigan. So far South did the cold extend that one death from exposure was reported in Louisiana, a State to which snow and killing cold are infrequent visitors. The storm, sweeping East, did heaviest damage in New England, snow, rain and sleet playing havoc with communication. Contrasting with the 18 below zero at ‘Willieston, N. Dak., last night was the plus 74 at Miami, which was only 4 de- grees warmer than Los Angeles. Senator Is Marooned. After being marooned at the farm home of Willlam Kent, near Valparaiso, Ind.. with 39 other persons for about 20 hours, United States Senator Thomas Connally of Texas yesterday set out on foot for Whecler, Ind., west of here, in search of food. He had appealed to the office of Gov. Leslie for assistance. Their automobiles snowbound, the 40 persons spent the night at Kent's home, but there was insufficient food to supply all of them. Highway workers today were mnosing their snow plows into eight-foot drifts i eflorts to release the stranded machines and tourists. The snowfall in Chicago was 143 inches up to last midnight and that lacked only one-tenth of an inch of equaling the all-time record. ‘There was much suffering. much in- eonvenience and heavy loss there blam- able on the blizzard. There was a brighter side, too, for the snow gave work to thousands of men who had faced the Christmas season with empty | pockets. By dint of working yesterday and last night the City of Chicago has made its main thoroughfares passable to motor and street car traffic, but there | remained side streets in which automo- biles were stalled in six-foot snowbanks. Intercity bus service remained almost stationary. School was imposible yes- terday in Chicago, but was reopened today. Thousands Put to Work. Chicago paid $60,000 to get its Loop area comparatively clear of snow. ‘Thousands who sought relief from the cold at pelice stations were given shovels :}:fl a cml’:l earn rl'.:‘:lll:‘;)lllrx. Tl:e ity Tepol cases at- tributable: to“the cold. Poliee squad cars were ordered left in garages because of the traffic hazards and the squads were sent on foot throughout the city. Mail service was suffering throughout the snowed-in territory, with trains run- ning far behind schedules. ‘Though the thermometer slid almost to mero over the greater part of the Southwest this morning, the cold wave which swept down -from the North ‘Tuesday on the wings of a blizzard ap- peared broken today. Telephone! and telegraph wires were down a few localities in Southwest- ern Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, but little other damage from the snow- laden gale of Tuesday and Wednesday was reportéd. Big Damage in New England. ‘While communication systems were slowly being re-established in New York State, New England today continued in an icy grip that already has cost hun- dreds of thousands of dollars’ damage. Large sections of New England were without light or communication as poles and wires gave beneath the weight of ice from a 24-hour rain and sleet storm. Automobile accidents ‘were numerous; railroads in some cases operated hours behind schedules; many schools and industrial plants were forced to shut down and orchards sui- fered heavy damage. The weather had its freak side, with lightning and thundershowers at ! Oneonta, N. Y.; Westfleld, Mass,, and Keene, N. H. In New England New Hampshire and Maine suffered the heaviest damage. Shifting winds came today to lift & eostly fog blockade from New York Harbor after a four-day siege, during Which one liner was sunk and shipping was brought to a standstill. ‘Travel by water or air was virtually suspended in the vicinity of the city esterday. Not a ship entered or left he harbor before nightfall and not a ingle airplane took off or landed at any of the airports. Temperatures Drop in South. Temperatures hit the toboggan in Dixle again today, sliding downward in face of & cold snap that sprinkled snow over the western half of the Soutn and brought bitter winds to the entire area. Only one death was reported. An unidentified Mexican died of exposure near Shreveport, La. Numerous trafhe mishaps occurred on streets made slip- pery by snow in Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Northern Mississippl, and even as far south as New Orleans in Louisiana, In both New Orleans and Atlanta, where snow is arity, the flakes meh- ed as rapidly as they fell y States along the Atlantic seaboard and Florida escaped the severe cold. At midnight temperatures ranging from 11 to 20 degrees were experienced. It was 18 degrees at Birmingham ana at Chattanooga, 11 at Nashville ‘and 17 at Little Rock. It was in the low 20s in Georgia. After causing extensive damage to communication systems and orcharas in Western Ontario, the most severe sleet storm in years was moving into the eastern part of the province today. Only main highways in Western On- tario were passable; street car service continued disrupted and communica- tion lines were Dbeing restored but 1l THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, . O CHANCE SAYS SHELBY TOLD of the McPherson apartment, as Allen had said he had done; whereas Chance and another member of the grand jury made a personal test and satlsfied them- selves that Allen could have seen a man climbing out of the McPherson window Chance stated that both Inspector Shelby and Lieut. Kelly told the grand jury that they did not .know whether an ‘inspection ‘of the McPherson apart- ment had been made for fingerprints or to ascertain whether the windows were up or down or whether the light was turned on in the bedroom. Details “Unnecessary.” ‘The witness declared Lieut. Kelly tes- tified to the jury that he had not thought it necessary to make a detailed examination of the room, because the coroner had said the case was a suicide. Both Inspector Shelby and Lieut. Kelly, Chance said, told the jurors that they thought Mrs. McPherson had com- mitted suicide. Dr. Edward A. Gorman, first physi- cian to view the body, was summoned as a witness before the grand jury upon the initiative solely of Foreman Chance, the trial board was advised. Chance said Dr, Gorman's name at no lime was mentioned by either Shelby or Kelly, Lieut. Kelly, according to the witness. told tue grand jury he had not exam ined the twin beds in the McPherson apartment. The jurors decided them- selves to go and make an examination of the bedroom, Chance said, and they found that one of the beds was “mussed up” and there was a little blood on one of the pillows. “Did Inspector Shelby make any ad- mission to you as to the way the case had been conducted by the police?"” Chance was asked by Prosecutor Lynch. “Inspector Shelby, told the grand jury on two different occasions that he thought the police had bungled the case,” Chance replied. European Methods Differ. Pressed for further details as to what Shelby had sald, the witness con- tinued: “He said that in European countries the police did things differently than detectives on this side of the water— that great care was taken to take pho- tographs, get fingerprints and study other phases. “He sald the McPherson case would be a lesson to him and that he would profit by it in the future by going into cases more thoroughly.” Chance identified a photograph of Mrs. McPherson’s body, showing a black dress on the bed. The prosecution fail- ed in an effort fo obtain an expression of opinion from Chance as to whether the dress in the photograph was the one produced before the grand jury by Lieut. Kelly. After much legal bicker- ing, Chance was permitted to testify that two black dresses were submitted to the grand jury, one by Lieut. Kelly and the other by Assistant District Attorney Collins, and that the latter dress was actually the one which had been draped over the form of Mrs. McPherson. The second dress was ob- tained from the undertaker, the board was told. Chance said, in response to questions, that the homicide chief did not produce any letters or papers found in the Mc- Pherson apartment. Asked 1f he knew why stenographic notes were being taken in the grand jury room, Shelby was quoted by | Chance as stating that the notes were to be used in connection with perjury charges against “a certain person.” Quinn Causes Stir. It was at this point that Attorney Quinn caused consternation in the room and then brought the perjury issue out when he declared during cross-examina- tion of Chance that the grand jury had charged in its report that Shelby had committed perjury, and demanded of the former jury foreman why the in- spector had not been indicted. Vigorous objection was made by the prosecution to all questions in this connection s improper, but the trial board overruled. Chance then finally declared that if the grand jury had not expired the day it made its report and had_ continued for another month, it would have indicted not only Shelby but Kelly also on perjury charges, session recessed for luncheon before his reasons were made clear. Chance replied to questioning that he was not suggesting indicting Shelby at the time, but that he had frankly told one of the men on the grand jury that if they had another month to go he would have been in favor of indict- ing both Shelby and Kelly. *You never appeared before any other board to make those charges, did you?” Quinn demanded. “No,” Chance replied. The defense brought out also that the grand jury foreman had not ap- peared before the special board to make perjury charges, “You refuse to sign charges against these men?” the defense attorney de- " Chance replied. Wrangles Are Freqwent. Counsel wrangled frequently over the method of questioning, and just before recess was taken Mr. Quinn in dis- cussing who had control of the grand Jury declared excitedly: “The District attorney did not run this grand jury, they rap him, they ran him out of the room, and when the report was made, charges were filed against the Dis- trict attorney just like they were against the Police Department.” ‘The controversy over Shelby arose during the cross-examination, when ref- erence was made to the stenographer ordered out of the grand jury room and Shelby's own declaration that Mrs. Heavrin and Allen ought to be indicted for_perjury. Chance said that the inspector had told him & man could not be seen at the window of the McPherson apart- ment from the point Allen had stood, and that he himself had gone to the apartment and made & test, which veri- fled Allen’s statement, He was asked why he had not made a specific charge against Shelby in the report and replied that “there were lots of things we did not_charge in it.” Under persistent questioning Chance insisted that Shelby also had told him the stenographer was in the room for use in any possible perjury charges before a police trial board. He insisted that the grand jury had taken the mat- ter up with Collins and that the assist- snt, district attorney had said the same thing. The grand jury foreman sald the jury had expired the day its report was made and for that reason no action was taken on Shelby's suggestion with reference either to Mrs. Heavrin or Allen, ‘The defense counsel, however, insisted an indictment could have been drawn up in 10 minutes if there was any | evidence of perjury, and that Shelby had made the siatement two days previously. Government counsel objected to Chance being asked if the jury would have acted on any evidence of but when overruled the former forem: replied: “If it had continued & month longer a lot of things would have hap- pened.” Allen on Stand. Allen took the stand as the first witness this morning after he had com- municated with Chairman Atkins last night and told him he “meant no offense” by his belligerent conduct be- fcre the board yesterday afternoon. The former policeman was led as a wit- ness by Chairman Atkins after counsel for both sides had indicated they did | not desire voluntarily to recall him. Allen walked slowly to the witness chair and sat down. Addressing the witness, the chairman resd from a newspaper article quoting Allen as hav- ing declared yesterday that he would not testify because the whole proceed- ings were going to be “a whitewash.” Asked if he were quoted correctly in | JURY HE BUNGLED DEATH PROBE :he article, Allen replied in the affirma- ive. “What caused you to make that state- ment?” asked Atkins. “1 did not refer to members of this board,” Allen said. “I had reference to others.” “Did you feel that this board was unable to conduct an impartial trial of this case?” “No,” Allen answered with emphasis. “Did you feel the members of the board already had their minds made up in this case?” Allen said he did not think that. “I desire to retract the published statement in so far as it applies to the three members of the trial board,” Allen said. & “Have you any information in con- nection with the McPherson case bear- ing on the charges against Inspector Shelby and Licut. Kelly?" Atkins asked the witness. Before Allen could reply Attorney O'Shea jumped up and argued that Allen be ‘confined to a yes or no answer and that he be prevenied from making “a speech.” Promises to Give Evidence. “Yes,” the witness said, “I think I have some information.” Then, turning to O'Shea, he added, “and I will abide by the rules of evidence and the objec- tions of counsel.” snapped. Proceeding to the case the chairman asked Allen if he had received a letter from the prosecution inquiring as to in- formiation he might be able to give in the event he were called as a witness for the prosecution. Allen said he had received such a letter and had replied to it. He was interrupted as he began to explain what was in his reply, and the letter itself 'was offered in evidence by Prosccutor Fowler and read by the chairman. In it Allen said that he would disclose all the information he had on the subject in & speech at the Washington Auditorium, and that the prosecutor could judge from the speech whether Allen had testimony of value. ©O'Shea broke in at this point to ask if Allen would not be forced by the board to apologize for his “contempt- uous” actions yesterday. Atkins ex- plained that he cons.dered Allen had done so when he retracted the published statement as it affected the trial board. “I only retracted as much of it as con- cerned the three members of this trial board,” Allen emphasized. “I don't re- tract it as far as other people are con- cerned.” Prosecutor Fowler agreed to take up the questioning of the witness, Insists He Saw Man. questions Allen detailed his story of having been with Policeman Botts across from the Park Lane apartments about 2:15 o'clock on the night that Virginia McPherson met her death and of hav- ing seen & man climb out of the window of the McPherson apartment. Despite Botts' sworn denial yesterday, Allen in- sisted that he told Botts to watch at the front of the apartment house while he (Allen) ran to the rear to cut oOff the man’s escape. He said he failed to find the man and the incident passed off at that time without any report being made to the precinct. Allen ad- mitted he had told no one “except Botts” of the occurrence until after the coroner’s inquest. “I told Inspector Shelby about the man on the roof on the Monday follow- | ing the inquest. I wouldn't have told | Shelby then if I could have helped it,” Allen testified. O'Shea immediately objected to_this statement and with the consent of the | prosecution it was stricken from the record. Allen said he visited the McPherson apartment four times before the cor- oner’s inquest and he told in gruesome details of the conditions he found in the apartment. He said he happened to be eating lunch at_the Park Lane on the afternoon that Mrs. McPherson’s body was found, and that he went to the apartment and looked in the door, but did not stay when he saw Capt. Stott and a number of other persons con- ducting an investigation. Articles Are Described. Allen described numerous articles he saw in thce apartment and told of the bloodstains in the bathroom. He related a later wisit to the apartment in com- pany with representatives of The Star, and a subsequent visit on the same aft- ernoon in company with Assistant Dis- trict Attorney Willlam H. Collins. After these visits Allen sald he went to the precinet station house, and when Stott asked him where he had been he told him he had been to the Park Lane with the assistant district attorney and had “discovered lots of evidence in opposi- tion to the verdict of the coroner’s jury.” He sald . he refused to tell his captain the nature of the evidence or the names of witnesses, and pleaded with Stott not to tell Inspector Shelby or Lieut. Kelly about his, investigation. Allen said that on the following day he learned from Manager Ruff of the Park Lane that a police guard stationed there by District Attorney Collins had been removed by order of Lieut. Kelly. He sald the apartment had been cleaned up by “the McPhersons.” Allen gave a graphic account of his interview with Inspector Shelby at the latter’s office on the Monday following the inquest. He sald when Shelby ask- ed him if he had discovered any evi- dence in the McPherson case he replied he had, but declined to divulge it. Shelby asked him if published reports quoting him as saying he had witnesses who saw & man escape over a roof at the Park Lane were correct, and he told Shelby the article quoted him cor- rectly. Refusing to give the names of these witnesses when Shelby first re- quested them, Allen declared the latter threatened him with arrest and there- upon he told the inspector that the \Bvit‘f:osses were himsell and Policeman Tells of Visit to Office. Much of the conversation during that visit to Shelby’s office, Allen sald, was difficult to remember, but he said one thing stood out in his mind. “Shelby said if you produce evidence that will convince the grand jury that Mrs, McPherson was murdered, you are the kind of a man I want around here and I'll make you a detective sergeant,” Allen told the board. “If you don't produce that evidence your . goose is cooked.” Clashes Are Frequent. Allen spent a lively half hour under cross-examination, frequently inter- rupted with personal clashes with coun- sel and bandinage. Attorney Quinn, who is defending Inspector Shelby, did most of the questioning. Allen sald that Lieut. Kelly had left out a number of facts, including the pool of blood in the bathroom, in his testimony at the inquest. His recollec- tion on this point, however, was re- freshed from the stenographic notes taken during the inquest. The former policeman vague in many of his answers, his recollection evidently hav- ing gone amiss about scenes in the dtath chamber and events in which he participated, and he was pressed closely by defense attorneys throughout the cross-examination. He couldn't even recollect whetger he had heard Assist- ant District Attorney Walter Shea or counsel for Mrs. McPherson’s parents taking part in the coroner’s inquest. After the inquest, Allen sald he went to The Star to tell Rex Collier and John Snure, reporters, that he had some “surprises” witnesses to prove it was a murder case. He said he told no one about seeing & man climb from a window of the Park Lane. Allen couldn't remember the names of all his surprise witnesses, but identi- fied them as Mrs. Roy Heavrin, a resi- dent of the Park Lane; the janitor of the Lombardy and his wife, Manager Ruff of the Park Lane and the night telephone operator at the Lombardy, a colored man, who he thought was named Leonard Scott. . Mrs, Heavria told him on the night “You will obey the board,” O'Shea | In response to a rapid succession ofl of the “murder,” as Allen always re- ferred to the McPherson case, that she was awakened by a woman's scream: “For God's sake, have mercy,” and sounds of choking. She told Lieut. Kelly about it and he replied to her: “Oh, forget it,” Allen sald Mrs. Heavrin had told him. Attorney Quinn had to refresh Allen’s memory about finding the pajama trou- i sers on the McPherson bed and a hand- | kerchief as well as other minor detalls. | Allen caused considerable surprise when he declared he understood the cord found around Mrs. McPherson's neck was the cord of the pajama jacket and not of the trousers. He said he had that impression at one time and under repeated questioning said emphatically: “I now have the conviction that it was the cord from the jacket.” He couldn't tell how long he has been under that impression, whether it was before the second grand jury in- vestigation or not. Attorney Quinn expressed surprise that a man of Allen’s experience could | not retain a more definite impression. Allen disclaimed being a “trained ob- server,” and said he had had very little experience before the McPherson case. “When you went up against Kelly you knew that you were up against a very experienced man?” Quinn asked. “Yes,” Allen replied. | ‘The defense attorney insisted that Al- len must have taken unusual precau- tions to fix everything in his own mind in bucking the Police Department. “The exact truth of the matter is I never thought there was very much to that cord busines Allen later de- clared. He said his recollection about that and other minor details was too hazy for him to speak with certainty. “I? 'you ask me about something impor tant I can tell you accurately,” he in- sisted. Question of Sincerety. | ‘The former policeman was asked if he was speaking his honest opinion when he made his first address at the Washington Auditorium on December 1. He replied that he “assumed so.” Reading extracts from Allen’s address on this occasion, in which he told how a man had gotten off a street car and walked to the Park Lane Apartment, {Quinn_ continued . the reading—"and | quarreled with his wife as he had fre- | quently done.” by I say that?” Allen asked in ap- parent surprise. “Do-you want to apologize for that now?” Quinn fired at him. Allen mut- tered something under his breath. “You don’'t want to do McPherson an injustice, do you?” Quinn asked. “I could not,” Allen replied. According to Allen's speech that night, he sald Mrs. McPherson was strangled with a cord taken from the pajama trousers. Allen insisted, however, upon further questioning that it was his conviction it was the jatket cord and added that he was not prepared to state when he learned that. ‘When Quinn made some reference to Allen’s method of answering questions the former policeman explained: “Up to the time I was discharged from the police force I was a conscientious public servant. After my discharge my at- titude has changed,” he said. “Oh, you departed from your former attitude?” Quinn asked. “Indeed I have” Allen replied. “I have very little conscience now in deal- ing with people. I'm looking out for Robert J. Allen.” Allen said he found it convenient sometimes to forget things when it serves his purpose. “Do you mean you would perjure yourself?"” asked Quinn. “Oh, no,” Allen replied. “Then you just have a very con- venient :nemory,” the defense attorney remarked. Protects “Pet Theorles.” Allen went on to explain that he | wanted to protect his “pet theories” when necessary, and also his own n- terests if he ever wanted to seek em- | ployment. He indicated that his attitude was| very much like the defense attor:ey's. Quinn replied’ rather emphatically that he was there “in the Interests of | justice and to get a fair hearing” for Shelby and Kelly. “Well,” Allen replied resignedly, “I'm departed from being a good safe public servant, to become the same kind of man as my good former associates Shelby and Kelly.” ‘The witness was asked if he had ever told the police officials about the man ! he is alleged to have seen climbing from the window of the Park Lane. Allen said he did not tell them or anybody else about it at the time except Police- man Botts, his partner. “Did you not trust Shelby and Kelly?” Quinn de- anded. “I should say not,” Allen replied quickly. “Nor did you trust Capt. Stott?” “I should say not,” he replied. Allen said he had imparted the in- formation to The Evening Star and certain others because he respected their confidence. He reiterated that his reason for not telling the two police officials was because “He had not con- fidence in them.” During one of his exchanges with | Attorney Quinn, Allen remarked, “If T had you with me before the second grand jury investigation I would have gotten another verdict in my favor.” *The witness denied an interview obtained by Ralph Palmer in the News in which Allen was quoted as saying he was a “great admirer of both Shelby and Kelly,” and also with having sald “I wish I had gone to them with my | murder evidence instead of making a grandstand play.” “I did not say that, and you know I did not,” he replied vigorously after having given several evasive answers previously. Allen ‘was excused at this point. Te Be Recalled. He was served with notice that his presence on the witness stand would be necessary later in the day. Explaining that he had to go out into Virginia on | a case, Allen said he would make every possible effort to reappear this after- noon. A recess was taken then and when the trial board resumed, Prosecutor Fowler called for Mr. and Mrs. Heavrin, Mrs. Heavrin appeared before the board accompanied by Counsel T. Morris Wampler. Wampler explained that “witnesses would refuse to testify, first on the ground that they had not been properly served with subpeonas and secondly the trial board had no authority under law to_compel them to testify.” Mr, Fowler sald the prosecution had no desire to compel Mrs. Heavrin, who was the first witness called, but as she was there she could testify or not as she wished. Maj. Atkins started to give the oath to Mrs. Heavrin, but she interrupted in the middle: “I refuse to take an oath and I refuse to testify,” she. said. “And I object to her being sworn in,” Wampler interjected. Their attorney then asked the board it Mr. Heavrin, “who is now under ar- rest and confined downstairs,” could be_excused. ‘The husband then appeared in the irial room. Maj. Atkins said he had not put Heavrin under custody and had no authority to release him. Capt. Stott explained that Judge Schuldt of Police Court had instructed him to produce the Heavrins before the trial board, and said that Judge Schuldt had no further use for him after his appearance. Both Mr. and Mrs. Heavrin left the room together with their attorney. ‘Then Chance was called Lo testify. NEW ZEALANDER IN MOTH LEAVES FOR AUSTRALIA By the Astociated Press. LONDON, December 20.—F. O, Chi- chester, a wealthy New Zealander, climbed into the cockpit of a tiny moth aeroplane at Croydon today and fold his friends: heerio, I'm off to Australia.” He got his plane into the air and took the direction of the continent. Officials bellvvded rhgfihfiped ‘l;lbm. Bert Hinkler's record o lays between Engand s Australia, established in February, 1928. ‘Dead in California = MRS. MILES POINDEXTER. MRS. POINDEXTER DIES IN CALIFORNIA Wife of Former Ambassador and Senator Succumbs After Delicate Operation. Bs the Assoclated Pre ORANGE, Calif., December = 20— Mrs Miles Poindexter, wife of the former United States Senator from Washington and ex-Ambassador to Peru, died unexpectedly here today after a delicate surgical operation. She was 63 years old. At Mrs. Poindexter’s bedside was her son, Lieut. Comdr., Gale Poindexter, U. 8. N., Coronado, Calif.; her husband, who was summoned yesterday when it became apparent that she was sinking, is en rqute here from Washington, D. C. Mrs. Poindexter, who created much comment several years ago in literary circles with her revalations, A Senator’s Wife,” came to California two weeks ago_to visit her two,sisters, Mrs. May Jorgensen and Mrs. Charles Morton, who live at Santa Ana, near here. She had planned to return to her home in Washington next week. Several days ago she was stricken with an abdominal disorder. The ill- ness rapidly became critical and an operation was decided upon yesterday. She failed to rally and lapsed into un- consciousness early today, dying a short time later. DEATH CASTS GLOOM HERE. Mrs. Poindexter Was Great Favorite in Capital, ‘The news of Mrs. Poindexter's un- expected death will cast a gloomi on Washington soclety, for no woman in official life here ever left a more vivid trail behind her or was more of a favorite than she. Keenly alert to all public topics, po- litical and otherwise, she expressed herself frankly and in picturesque man- ner, and in writing a series of news- paper articles for Western papers on social life in Washington candidly lift- ed the vell relative to the lax attention paid to the Volstead act, even in the highest of official circles. As a writer she might have won great distinction along other than sensational social lines, for she was well qualified in ed- ucation and by natural gift to do so. ‘While former Senator Poindexter was Ambassador to Peru she was always on most intimate terms with the President of that cougtry and his executive family and was a leader in diplomatic circles. She observed the Volstead act when- ever entertaining on American ground, or in the United States emlnssy in Lima, She was a member of the Con- gressional Club in Washington, and previous to Senator Poindexter's de- parture for Peru in 1923 her dinner parties were the most brilliant from a conversational standpoint ever given in official circles. Caused Diplomat’s Resignation. ‘The former Senator and Mrs. Poin- dexter own a home on N street and it was to that residence that they re- turned after his term as Ambassador to_Peru. Mrs. Poindexter's name was brought into prominence this past Summer when ‘a letter written by her to the President of Peru, protesting against the manner in which one of her Peruvian servants had been taken from her household by Alfredo G. Prada, at- tache at the Peruvian embassy here in ‘Washington, resulted in the resignation of the diplomat in preference to re- turning the disputed servant and mak- ing due apologies. POPE ENDS NEARLY 60 YEARS OF VOLUNTARY EXILE AT DAWN TODAY (Continued From First Page.) the palace, or church, where last Febru- |ary 1 the treaties were signed solving the so-called Roman question. He celebrated mass at St. John's, commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination as a priest. So un- assuming was the departure and so unforeseen that the public was unaware that history had been made until is- suance of a bulletin announcing the event by the Stefani News Agency at 9:55 am. St. John Lateran is the “mother church of christendom,” and is con- sidered the Cathedral of Rome. It was, therefore, natural that the Pope, who is Bishop of Rome, should go there. He was the first Pope to celebrate mass at St. John Lateran since Pius IX. e Pontiff left the Vatican at 6 am, accompanied by Mgr. Caccla Dominione, chamberlain of his house- hold, and’ a few other attendants, Meanwhile he had had the director of the Lombard Seminary notified, since he wished to be assisted at mass by the students of the school. The Lombard Seminarians served young Don Achille Ratti on December 21, 1879, when the Pope said his first mass at San Carlo al Cerso, and he wished their successors to be with him for the fiftieth anniversary of his priest- hood. The altar at which the Pope officiated was the very one befcre which he was ordained 50 years ago. Self-Exile Began in 1870. voluntary self-exile of the Popes m’l?t‘i‘llllcnn lz- an in 1870, when the troops of the first Victor Emmanuel took Rome in the name of the kingdom of united Italy. Pope Pius IX, his tempo- ral power ended, withdrew to the Vatl~ can, never thereafter to leave it. His successors emulated his example, the relations with the house of Suvoy continuing strained until recently, when the present Pontiff, Plus XI, and the Itallan premier, Benito Mussolini, sought a solution. "This solution was reached with sign- ing in the Lateran Palace February 11 of the so-called Lateran treatles, estab- lishing the Vatican and certain sur- rounding territory as the Vatican State, or Vatican City, in which the Pope would have practically all the privileges and soverelgnty of the usual temporal ruler. On December 5 the Pope received the King and Queen of Italy at the Vati- can, the first of the house of Savoy to set foot therein, and the next day re- celved the pri . and princesses of the blood, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, FIVE DIE IN CRASH | 1929. i AT BOLLING FIELD Representative Kaynor and Captain Dinger Are Among Victims. (Continued From First Page.) | | | and then suddenly saw it nose into the | ground and crumple to pieces. | An emergency ground crew rushed to the scene and extricated the bodies | , and took them to the military clinic on ! the post. They were pronounced dead there. |, The big plane, a Wasp-motored ship | of great power, had been warmed up i and apparently was running perfectly | when Capt. Dinger and his party got aboard. Immediately after the accident the War Department was notified and As- sistant Secretary Davison and. several other\m:h Army officials were en the scene'and viewed the wreckage. Statement Is Issued. | This statement was issued on behalf | of the War Department by Mr. Davison: “Lieut. L. M. Merrick, operator’s officer- at Bolling Pleld, saw w 1t that the | passengers were properly seated. He personally secured the safety belts and saw to it that parachutes were worn. “He also went toward the pilot's compartment and asked Capt. Dinger if the three motors were functioning well, to which Capt. Dinger replied: ‘Everything is fne’ Lieul. Mérrick | further stated that he listened to the motors as they were being warmed up and that they seemed to run smoothly. “From the evidence at hand, Capt. Dinger, who had more experience in piloting tri-motored transports than any other pllot in the Army Air Corps, took off in a southernly direction into a 25-mile an hour wind, climbed to what seemed to be 300 feet, turned northward when, according to eye wit- nesses, the plane began to fall. The acci- dent occurred so quickly at such a low altitude that no one had a chance to jump,” ¥ Investigation Board Named. A special board of investigation was appointed- shortly before noon to in- vestigate the crash. The board is com- posed of Maj. Robert Hale, Bolling Field flight surgeon; Capt. Ernest C. Clark and Lieut. R. A. Hicks. Lieut. Leland S. Stranathan, assistant operations officer at Bolling Field, who witnessed the take-off and crash, said that he could not determine what caused the accident. “The plane was climbing out of the field anf apparently had leveled off at about 400 feet,” Lieut. Stranathan said. “Capt. Dinger started a turn and the plane apparently slipped and dropped into the fleld on the right wing and nose. It obviously was not a normal turn, though I do not know just what Capt. Dinger was attempting to do. 1 am certain that he was not attempting to turn back into the field because of motor trouble, as an inex- perienced pilot might have done. Capt. Dinger has had approximately 600 hours of flying time in tri-motored planes and has come through all types of motor failures, including the failure of all three motors. “The plane was not fully loaded and undoubtedly could have continued on iwo motors. I do not know whether any of the motors failed, but this may be determined by investigation. I do not believe that even had all the motors ould have turned | quit Capt. Dinger | back into the field.” Resided at Racquet Club. Mr. Kaynor and Mr. Lowe lived at the Racquet Club here, and Mr. Lowe, the father of three young children, the youngest of whom was born last Summer, planned to bring his family to Washington after the holidays. Mr. Kaynor intended to com- mute between Springfleld and Washing- ton, his children being in school there. It was said at the Capitol that Mr. Kaynor was one of the few ‘“new Rep- resentatives” to be appointed to a major committee in his first term, and that his great pride in membership on the House military affairs committee caused him to arrange the flight through the War Department. Arthur C. McGill, the third membér of the party, who also was killed, was understood to have been invited by Mr. Kaynor to join them. An atmosphere of sadness pervaded the corridors in the House Office Build- ing in which Mr. Kaynor had his office. Both he and Mr. Lowe were at their office all day yesterday, but did not go today because of their plans for the early take-off. Mr. Lowe was secretary Representative Henry W. Bowles, whom Mr. Kaynor succeeded, and had a wide circle of friends at the Capitol. Lowe's wife came here over last week end and helped him select a home in Chevy Chase, which he rented with the expectation of bringing his family here after Christmas. Flyer Familiar With Plane. Capt. Dinger was commissioned a first lieutenant in the aviation section of the Signal Corps in 1917, served un- til 1920, and then became a first lieu- tenant in the Army Air Corps. He was commissioned a captain October 27, 1928, and for about a year had been stationed at Bolling Field. He frequently flew the great tri- motor ship, and his familiarity with it caused him to be designated to take Mr. Kaynor's party to Springfield. The plane had been flown several thousand miles in transport and recently had been flown to Cuba by another pilot. Capt. Dinger had the plane in the air yesterday. It was frequently seen over ‘Washington. ‘The flip of & coin just a few months ago saved the life of Capt. Dinger. Dinger, Lieut. Henry R. Angel and six other members of the air force were at Middletown, Pa. preparing to re- turn to Washington, Seven men were to make the trip in & bomber, and Dinger and Angel matched to see who would pilot the craft, Angel won, and Dinger flew back alone. Angel and his companions plunged to their death as they were making their way back. Adjournment of the House out of | respect for Representative Kaynor was decided upon by Representative Tilson of Connecticut, the Republican leader. ‘The resolution was presented by Rep- resentative Treadway, dean- of the Massachusetts delegation. It provides for an official delegation of 18 repre- senting the House to attend the funeral. ‘Those named by the Speaker include all of the 15 members of the Massachu- setts delegation, with Representative Gibson of Vermont, Korell of Oregon, ) who was & warm personal friend of Mr. Kaynor, and Representative Campbell of Iowa, in whose district Mr. Kaynor's mother resides. Senator Gillett, who represented for 32 years In the House the same district | which Mr. Kaynor was represcnting, paid high tribute to him. On Mr. McGill's clothing was found & card ordering that a Mrs, Burgess of | Scarsdale, N, Y., be notified in case of accident or injury. ‘The mechanic, Kuzma, was 20 years old. He enlisted in 1927. His home address was 44 Perry Hill, Shelton, Conn, BYRD GIVEN HONOR. Senate Approves His Promotion to Rank of Rear Admiral. A bill advancing Comdr. Richard E. Byrd to the rank of rear admiril on the retired list of the Navy for his South Pole_explot . Wi today by e’ Senate hnd Sont o the House. Deputy ' Marshal Gives Prisoners Christmas Treat “Gus” _Ceremile, the genial deputy United States marshal, ! | who is in charge of the daily transfer of prisoners from the jall to the District Supreme Court, today played Santa Claus to the prisoners waiting in the cell rooms to receive sentences. He had rigged up and lighted a small tree in one of the cell rooms and strung across the room the legend, “Merry Christ- mas.” As each prisoner filed into the barred room “Gus” handed two cigars to the males and a box of candy to the women. To each he wished the compliments of the season in an effort to im- prove the drab condition of the unfortunates. TRAGEDY CAUSES PALL AT CAPITOL Kaynor’s Popularity Attested by Appointment on Im- portant Committee. The tragic death of Representative William K. Kaynor and his secretary, Stanley Lowe, east a pall over the Cap- itol today. As a new member Mr. Kay- nor had won the affection of his asso- ciates. The high esteem in which he was held was testified in his appoint- ment to the important military affairs committee, His Secretary, Stanley Lowe, was a former newspaperman and had been secretary to former Repre- sentative Henry Bowles of Springfield and was one of the most highly es- teemed and popular employes about the capitol. The accident was the topic of con- versation and every one had a friendly word to say about both Representative Kaynor and Mr. Lowe. Speaker Longworth said: “It is a great shock to the entire membership of Congress. While Mr. Kaynor was & new member, he had immediately gained the respect and liking »f his colleagues. It was a most unfortunate accident.” Colleagues Pay Tribute. Members of the Massachusetts delega- tion, after a conference today, expressed their sentiment, which was voiced by Representative Robert Luce: “He had, to a very unusual degree, although a new member, won the respect of his colleagues on the delegation and throughout Congress.” Representative Stobbs of Worcester, Mass., dined with Representative Kay- nor and Mr. Lowe at the Racquet Club last night. They sald their only object in making the trip by airplane was to | get home a day sooner to their families. Mr. Kaynor had six children. Mr. Lowe's wife visited him here several | days ago, and at that time approved a ! new home which he was leasing here. Mr. Kaynor had made reservations to go home on the “Senator” train at noon today and had arranged with Representative Charles L. Gifford and his secretary to play bridge on the train. It was not until last night that Mr. Kaynor decided to go by airplane. He felt that he was somewhat under a promise to accompany Mr. Lowe on the flight, and under obligations to Assist- ant Secretary Davison, in charge of of the Army plane. Urged to Join Party. had been urged to join the party. Mr. McGill had intended to go home i yesterday on the train with Repre- sentatives Martin and Foss, but changed his plans to accept an invitation to accompany Mr. Kaynor by airplane. When Senator George H. Moses! chairman ef the Republican senatorial | campaign committee, was informed of the death of Mr. McGill, he expressed deep sorrow, as he and Mr. McGill had been close friends and co-workers in recent Republican campaigns. Senator Moses said: “Mr. McGill was a fine type of man and very higl in the Republican national committee, with which he had been associated for a number of years. I deeply regret his tragic death. He was a man of high character and great usefulness to the | Republican party. His death is a great loss, for in it the country loses a splen- did citizen and many of us lose ‘warm personal friend. o RAIL UNIFICATION PROPOSAL OF I. C. C. CALLS FOR 19 SYSTEMS (Continued From First Page.) would each get an interest in the To- ledo and Irontown, recently acquired by the Pennroad Corporation, an affili- ate of the Pennsylvania Raflroad. The Chesapeake & Ohio, in addition to the Erie, Pere Marquette, and Hock- ing Valley, already controlled by the Van Sweringens, would be augmented by the addition of the Delaware, Lack- awanna and Western, and the Besse- mer and Lake Erfe. The New York Central would receive the Virginian and the Rutland Rail- way. 3 In New England, the New Haven and the Boston & Maine would be con- sidered as two. separate units. The Boston & Maine would receive the Dela- ware & Hudson, while the important New England bridge lines around the metropolitan area of New York—the Lehigh & New England and the Lehigh & Hudson River—would go to the New Haven. The Boston & Albany would re- main a part of the New York Central system. The three main systems in the South would be the Southern, the Atlantic Coast Line and the Illinois Central. The Wabash system would be brought into the area through acquisition of the Seaboard Air Line a the Norfolk & Western, and the Chicago and North- western through consolidation with the Mobile & Ohio and the Chicago & East- ern Illinois. Florida East Coast would go to the Southern, the Gulf Mobile & Northern, Louisville & Nashville, Nash- ville, Chattanooga & St. Louis and the Clinfield to the Atlantic Coast Line. In the West the outstanding provi- sion is the exclusion of the Burlington from the Northern group and its use as the basis of a separate system. The various systems would be based on the Burlington, the St. Paul, the Atchison, the Rock Island, the Southern Pacific, | the Missouri Pacific, the Union Pacific, | the Chicago & Northwestern and the | Great Northern and Northern Pacific| taken as one. The Frisco would go to | the Rock Island, while the two United | States steel roads, the Duluth & Iron Range and Duluth, Messabe & North- | ern, would go to the St. Paul. The Chicago Great Western wou'd get the Atchison and the Illinois Cen'ral would get the Minneapolis and St. Louls. The | Missouri Pacific would get the Western Pacific, Denver & Rio Grance, Denver & Salt Lake and Kansas City, Okla- homa & Gulf. | In the Southwest the expectations | are that the Illinois Central will get | the St. Louis Southwestern as well as | the Central of Georgia. The Missouri, Kansas, Texas s expected to go to the | Burlington system, while the Kansas City_Southern would be allocated to the ‘Union Pacific. The plan is also said to provide defi- nite treatment of terminal facilities providing for joint use where necessary. Egypt's building boom, which has been progressing for the last five years, is now declining and many new houses are unoccupled, 4 aviation, who had arranged for the use | Representative Glynn of Connecticut | hly esteemed | BRITAIN AWAITS OPENING OF PARLEY Gratified Because King Wil Officiate—Japanese Sail | Tonight. By the Assoclated Press. LONDON, December 20.-—Nation-wide approval was given today to the an- nouncement that King George person- ‘lally would open the Naval Reduction Conference convening here in January, It was felt no move could so much have stimulated public interest in the conference and have given it & more striking sendoff. It will be the first occasion of King George attending an international conference. Called “Astute Move.” ‘Whether the decision to open the naval talks was his own or that of some member of the government, it generally was considered a particularly astute move, stressing for the British people the deep consequence of the matters at issue. Incidentally, it was accepted as firm indication of his majesty’s recovery from the serious illness which beset him last Winter. ‘The Morning Telegraph, Conservative, today said: “It will appeal to the whole world that the Naval Conference, to which all eyes are turned, will be opened by the sailor King.” Entire World Rejoices. The Daily News, Liberal, thinks the action of his majesty will be hailed with pleasure, not only in Great Britain, but in the United States and the entire peace-loving world. “It will demonstrate his majesty's deep Interest in the work of the con- ference, which probably will be mo- mentous in relations of the states rep- resented and the high importance which *the occasion holds in the eyes of the British government.” The King and Queen tomorrow will travel to Sandringham, where they will be joined in a few days by the Prince of Wales and the remainder of the royal family for the traditional Christ- mas gathering. They will not return to }.cndon until the eve of the Naval Con- ference. JAPAN FAVORS “SHIP HOLIDAY.” But Delegation Leader Will Demand Adequate Undersea Defense. By the Assoclated Press. NEW YORK, December 20.—The Jap- anese delegates to the London naval conference were the guests of their countrymen here today before sailing for London tonight on the liner Olymplie. They were met by a group of Jap- anese officials and merchants headed by Consul General S. Sawada when they arrived in two spectal cars from ‘Washington yesterday. Former Premier Reljiro Wakatsuki, leader of the naval delegation, said his government would support a battleship building holiday until 1936. He said Japan would insist upon the 10—10—7 ratio in auxillary ships and the right to construct an adequate tonnage of sub- marines deemed necessary to defend the many islands of the country. He also disclosed that his government favors a program for closed limitation on the construction of airplane carriers. “If the phoposal for a complete capi- tal ship holida; ference.” he said, “the Japanese delega- tion will be prepared to consider a simi~ lar agreement on airplane .carriers, In | addition, the present limits on construc< tion of airplane carriers could well be | reduced to lower levels. y |, “While the Japanese government eon- siders the economic savings' attending such a proposal to be important, it must be borne in mind that the most vital ohe s he Simiting o The ‘categones ence e g of cal which are not now limited.” Arrangements for entertainment of the delegates today include a luncheon by Consul General Sawada, a dinner at the Nippon Club and a reception. by Mayor Walker at City Hall. GENTLE REBUKE FOR STIMSON. |Post ¥s “Sorry” to Have to Insist Adams Is Authority. By the Assoclated Press. . Replying to a statement yesterday by Secretary Stimson, th€& Washington Post said in an editorial today that it was “sorry if its high praise of Secre-~ tary Adams has caused acute pain and humiliation to the Secretary of State.” “Nevertheless,” it added, “it is quite impossible to withdraw the opinion ex- pressed in the offensive editorial, to the effect that Secretary Adams ‘iS pos- sessed of more knowledge regarding the Navy than any other delegate.’ So far as is known, none of the other dele- gates takes exception to this statement. “It is difficult to imagine that for- elgn governments would draw Inferences humiliating to the Government or the Secretary of State from the suggestion that the Secretary of the Navy knows more _about the Navy than the head of the State Department could be fll&l‘- posed to know. They give full credit to their own ministers of the navy for knowing something about naval affairs. All Appreciate Takarabe, “Admiral Takarabe, for example, is minister of the Japanese navy, but the Japanese minister of foreign affairs, Mr, Shidehara, has not betrayed any feeling of humiliation over the world-wide rec- ognition of Admiral Takarabe as & naval authority.” The editorial said that the Post was in favor of reduction of armaments, but would oppose any agreement that would endanger national defense or make the lmlted States Navy subordisate to any other. It asserted that the position of Rear Admiral Hilary P. Jones coincided with its own views and said that “if the Secretary of State will be guided by the advice of Secretary Adams and Admiral Jones he will not go wrong, whether ;hl!l London conference succeeds ails.” 5 FOX HUNTER KILLED. LONDON, December 20 (#).—Harold Lowther, 63, brother of Lord Ullswater and a kinsman of the Lonsdale family, was_thrown from his horse and killed while hunting today in Bicester. He served during the Matabele war in 1896 and was decorated. He was fond of sports and was hunting with the {;mo\m Bicester hounds when he was rown. Ch: sm’a.s n.;o__%?_g"‘r}im comes before the con- - '