Evening Star Newspaper, March 28, 1930, Page 5

SUBUR - DEATH OF 4 GIRLS BY GAS ACCIDENT Young Sisters Die in Fred- erick, Where Mother Seeks Refuge. Special Dispatch to The Star. ! FREDERICK, Md., March 28.— Rest- ing in one casket and to occupy one gEere, four children of Mr. and Mra r Shields, Boyds, Montgomery County, Mary Lucille, 8; Estelle, 5; Elsic Yvonne, 3. and Mammie Helen, 16 months, who were asphyxiated by gas fumes at the home of their aunt, Mrs. | Joseph H. Bussard, this city, yesterday | afternoon, while their mother visited a neighbor, will be buried tomorrow morn- | ing at Mount Olive Cemetery Chapel, | this city. | Justice Sherman P. Bowers, acting coroner, deemed an investigation un necessary and gave a verdict of acci- dental death, due to suffocation by gas Attending Religious Convention. Mrs. Shields, came to the home ot her sister yesterday morning following a dispute with her husband. Mrs. Bus- sard was attending a religious conven- | tion but came home at noon and dis- | cussed the domestic troubles of the Shields. Mrs. Bussard returned to the convention in _the afternoon, leaving her sister and the children at her home. About 2 o'clock Mrs. Shields went to the home of a neighbor locking the children in the kitchen. She was absent about 20 minutes. When she returned she found the kitchen filled with gas fumes and the children lying about the gas stove, all jets of which were mmed" on Dragging the limp bodies to the| porch and fresh air, the frantic mother screamed for aid. The Frederick fire company and four physicians responded to the alarm, but inhalators, which were used for several hours, failed to resusci- tate them. Although the children were Ppronounced dead on the arrival of phy- sicians, some hope was held for the oldest girl and nurses and doctors from Frederick City Hospital aided in the sttempt to revive her. Oxygen was rushed from Hagerstown. Declared Struck by Husband. Mrs. Shields advised the coroner her husband struck her with sticks and stones during their quarrel. The coroner, after conferring with Sheriff Willlam C. Roderick, declared | that he did not link the husband with the tragedy, but wished to question him regarding the wife's statement. Shields heard of the tragedy from residents of Boyds, who had read of it in newspapers. He came to this city shortly before last midnight. Sheriff W. O. Roderick had been unable to reach him during the evening. CABARET MAN FREED IN DETROIT DISASTER Jury Finds Martin Cohn Not Guilty of Manslaughter for Fire Costing 22 Lives. By the Associated Press. DETROIT, March 28.—Martin Cohn was acquitted yesterday of a man- slaughter charge in connection with the deaths of 22 men and women in & fire and panic at the Study Club, & cabaret of which he was proprietor, last September. A recorder’s court jury returned the verdict after more than 12 hours’ de- liberation. The State based its charge against the cabaret owner on the claim | that he was criminally negligent in failing to provide adequate safety fa- cilities at the club. VACANT HOUSE BURNS Fire in Dwelling Near Berwyn Threatens Adjacent Homes. By a Staft Correspondent of The S BRANCHVILLE, Md., M wind, a fire of un- Fanned by a high determined origin Wednesday night swept the upper floors of an unoccupled house near Berwyn Catholic Church and for a time seriously endangered several mnearby residences. Volunteer firemen from Branchville, Berwyn Heights and Riverdale suc- ceeded in saving the lower floors of the dwelling, which was formerly occupied by Dr. DeVoe Meade of the University of Maryland. MRS. A. A. VAUGHAN DEAD Prominent Arlington County leli-‘l dent Passes at Lyon Village. Special Dispatch to The St LYON VILLAGE, March 28—Mrs. Arthur A. Vaughan, 63 years of age and prominent in club circles of the eounty, died suddenly yesterday after- noon at her home, 134 Oak street, this place. She had been ill but a few days. ‘The body will be taken to Orange, Mass., at 8 o'clock tonight for burial, funeral services to be conducted there Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the undertaking parlors of J. F. Higgins by Rev. A. A. Blair of the Congregational Church. This afternoon between 4 and @ o'clock the body may be viewed by friends at the undertaking establish- ment of C. J. Ives, Wilson boulevard and Spruce street. had been a resident of h 28.— < 8She is survived by her husband and one sister, Mrs. William E. Towne of St. Petersburg, Fla. LORD BALFOUR HONORED Palestine Tree Planting Promised by Grateful Jewish Bodies. NEW YORK, March 28 (#).— The Zionist organization, in co-operation with the Jewish national fund, has de- cided to plant 5.000 trees in Palestine in memory of the late Lord Balfour.| Rabbi Stephen S. Wise made the an- | nouncement last night at a memorial service for the British peer who pledged | his countrv's ald in the establishment of the Jewish National Home in Pales- tine. JAPAN HIT BY QUAKES Repeated Shocks in Yokohama Area Regarded Ominous. TOKIO, March 28 (#).—Continuously repeated earthquakes have rocked the Tzu Peninsula, particularly Ito, 40 miles southwest of Yokohama, the past fort- night. Inhabitants have become panic stricken. Although the disturbances at present are local, their persistency is regarded #s ominous, since they are near the epicenter of the 1923 earthquake. —_— SUIT ASKS $1,500,000 ELPHIA, March 28 ©Oharles B. Gray, a mechanical snd inventor, of Millbourne, | benefit of the improved roads during | next July. BAN NEWS. I GEN. GREELY, | | THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 1930. 86, HONORED Maj. Gen. A. W. Greely, retired (left), the veteran Arctic explorer, was 86 years old yesterday. Me posed for The Brainard, the only other survivor,of the regions in 1882. Star photographer with Gen. David L. e Greely expedition to the North Polar —Star Stafl Photo. COUNTY ENJOINED | ON PRIVATE WORK Fairfax Suit Would Prevent! Use of Public Force on Citizens’ Property. Special Dispatch to The Star. FAIRFAX, Va, March 28—Harry Shockey, attorney, of Great Falls, yes- terday filed with the clerk of the Fair- fax County Circuit Court a suit brought by Thomas P. Johnson of Merrifield “and other taxpayers similarly situ- ated” seeking to enjoin and restrain “the board of supervisors of Fairfax County and F. N. Larkin, county en- gineer, from unlawfully using the county tools, machinery, equipment and employes on privately owned enter- prises and privately owned roads, and particularly to enjoin and restrain them from using this equipment on the subdivision of Greenway Downs, near Falls Church, and the roads owned by G. E. Aiken.” Supporting Petition. A supporting petition, signed by be- tween 20 and 25 taxpayers of the! county, resident in or near Falls| Church, Vienna, Merrifield, or vicinity, | was filed with the suit. | Commonwealth’s Atiorney Wilson M. Fart, who will represent the supervisors and the county engineer, stated last night tht he did not see how & hearing could be held on this suit before the May term of court, as several cases| have already been set for hearing each | day of the present term. The suit is understood to be the out- growth of resentment felt by some of the men who do hauling and road work | on contract who feel that the county is | entering into unjust competition with private labor. F. N. Larkin, county engineer, stated yesterday that his office did no_com- petitive bidding. He stated that before the supervisors auhorized him to do work for incorporated towns, subdivi- sions or private enterprises, they had secured through the commonwealth’s attorney an opinfon from the attorney general that such procedure was leg: Mr. Larkin further stated that no pri- vate work was done by his forces when funts were available for them to work on county or district roads. He point- ed out that the favorable conditions for road construction which existed last Fall and during the early Winter enabled his men to complete practical- ly all of the construction work for which funds were allocated by the su- pervisors in last year's budget. This meant that the citizens have had the the bad weather of the late Winter. There remains now on id in the county road accounts, he stated, only the minimum amcunt necessary to con- duct the routine maintenance work un- til new county funds become available Must Reduce Foree. He has curtailed the number of employes and unless private work or subdivision or corporation work is taken on, he stated that it will be nec- essary still further ta reduce his force, all of whom are local men. Mr. Larkin stated that it is his custom in figuring costs to charge rental for the use of county machinery and equipment, with actual cost of materials furnished. Although this is the first time that suit has been filed in the effort to stop such work, the practice was questioned by several citizens last ye at the public hearing on the budget. The county engineer last year rebuilt the | streets in the town of Vienna, in ac- cordance with a town bond issue, the transaction resulting in a profit to the county on the use of equipment and a saving to the town. He also did work | for several of the road boards in the | town of Falls Chu and for various subdivisions and private individuals, in- cluding the Greenway Downs subdi- vision particularly mentioned in the present suit. UNION AGENT DENIES KU KLUX KLAN ISSUE Organizer at Danville Says lhe Was Not Ordered to Va- cate Hall. Spectal Dispatch to The Star. DANVILLE, Va., March 28.—The Ku | Klux Klan issue entered the local tex- tile unfon situation here today when Miss Matilda Lindsey, one of the or- ganizers of the Textile Workers of America, denied that she had been ap- proached and asked to vacate the Dan- sylvania Hall on the score of her faith. She denled also that this was true of Francis J. Gorman, vice president of the organization, who is in New York just now. e vinton 18 occupying the hall said to be used by the locan Klansmen, and the story was current here last n:ght that the flery cross had been burne and the union officials asked to termi nate their lease. Miss Lindscy said, ‘1 can say that the report is absolutely unfounded, for our relationship with the ownership of the hall has been very cordial.” e SAVE SUFFERER AT SEA STEAMSHIP WASHINGTON, March 28 (#).—The skill of three American physicians in performing an appendi- citis operation on the high seas yes yesterday filed suit in Federal Court seeking $1.500,000 damages from the Eastman Ko;ill C&.,tfor alleged in- fringement of a patent. Gray eonwn:a the fil:::"t::n company on E s ‘“power . . mec - relative to itears L terday saved the life of Andre Guinier of Paris, who is making his first trip to America. Guinier was operated on while the TAX CUT FORESEEN INPRINCE GEORGES Annual Levy Expected to Be Fixed at $1.35 When Signed Today. BY GEORGE PORTER, Staft Correspondent of The Star. UPPER MARLBORO, Md., March 28.—Prince Georges County taxpayers | will receive the benefit of a 1-cent re- duction in the tax rate this year, it was indicated this morning when the county commissioners met shortly be- fore noon to sign the annual levy. Unless unforéseen developments arise, the rate will be reduced from $1.36 per $100 to $1.35. Budget schedules have been prepared to this effect, but county officials have been reluctant to an- nounce the glad news for fear the “small but welcome” reduction might be eliminated by some last-minute cal- culation. It appeared certain today, however, that the $1.35 rate would stand. Total of Levy Greater. ‘The reduction is expected in spite of tle fact that the levy this year is some $60.000 greater than last. The total is well over the $800,000 mark, as against $787,000 for 1929. This would indicate need for an increase rather than a de- crease in the tax rate, but it is ex- plained that surplus funds slightly in excess of the levy increase have been accumulating during the year. Among the items which make the to- tal required more than last year are ap- roximately $23,000 for interest on the lateral road bond issue and the school budget, which is about $13,000 greater than in 1929. There was also an in, crease in nearly all the various accounts which make up the levy. ‘The school budget, aiways the largest item in the levy, was given particularly careful study by the commissioners, and two items, submitted by the County Board of Education, in what the com- missioners term & supplementary esti- mate, were eliminated. One of these was the much-mooted high school bus lines for four routes to the Beltsville school. The school a¢ dition, estimated to cost $8,000, may re- ceive attention later, it was said, if and the other was a proposed addition | MONTGOMERY FUND INQUIRY REGESSED Probers Adjourn Hearing to April 7 Without Intimation as to Findings. By & Staff Correspondent of The Star. | ROCKVILLE, Md.,, March 28.—After hearing witnesses for four days, the | Montgomery County grand jury asked for a recess until April 7 last night | without announcing any conclusions it may have reached as a result of its investigation of the political fight now |on in the county. The jury remained in its room from 2 until 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon | without calling any witnesses. Then, | at the latter hour, a stenographer was | sent for. A statement was dictated and | read a few minutes later in_the court- | room by Foreman George C. Fry. ! Recess Requested. | “We request that we be allowed to recess until Monday, April 7,” the state- | ment read. “We have not completed our deliberations and we feel we need | the assistance of the State’s attorney and we realize there are persons in jail who are entitled to a speedy trial, and therefore ask permission to recess until the above date so that the cases on the criminal docket may be tried.” The request was granted by Judge Robert . Peter, State’s Attorney Robert B. Peter, jr., had been in constant attendance on the Jury until yesterday, when the opening of the regular term of court necessi- tated his being present in the court room. Although it was known the grand jury was reluctant to proceed without the assistance of the State's attorney, their decision to recess was, neverthe- less, a distinct surprise to persons who have followed the case closely. The principal function of the State's attorney when appearing before the grand jury is to guestion_witnesses called fore that body. E. Brooke Lee, county Democratic leader, com- pleted his testimony before the jury {unrdly morning, and it was not be- leved any more witnesses would be called. Therefore, it was pointed out by per- sons familiar with grand jury proce- dure in the county, there was reason to believe the inquisitorial body might proceed on its own initiative. So gen- eral was this bellef that when, after the jury had conferred behind closed doors for three hours, & rumor was started to the effect that indictments were being prepared, it was generally accepted as true. May Call More Witnesses. When the grand jury reconvenes April 7, it may decide to call additional witnesses. The fact of the postpone- ment lends credence to the belief, in the eyes of many observers, that some last-minute development in the jury room caused a majority of the jurors to feel that further testimony was necessary before (he' could arrive at a decision. Mr. Peter will be free of his court duties when the jury meets again. The grand jury began its investiga- tion at the request of the Board of County Commissioners and Mr. Lee. They appeared in the jury room last Wednesday to demand a thorough in- vestigation of charges published in the Montgomery Independent, mouthpiece of the political group known as the antis, to the effect that certain county officials had handled funds improperly and that favoritism had been shown in the matters of property assessments and road building. If these charges are true, the jury was told, the responsible county offi- clals should be held for trial. If, how: ever, it was contended, they cannot be substantiated, the persons responsible for their publication should be indicted for criminal libel. Lodge to Have Card Party. HYATTSVILLE, Md., March 28 (Spe- clal).—Under direction of a committee, of which A. Eugene Burgess is chair- man, a card party will be held this evening in Odd Fellows’ Hall here by Oriole Lodge, No. 47, Odd Fellows. found to be absolutely necessary, Bus Lines Rejected. ‘The proposed bus lines, which the board of education favored but the commissioners refused to authorize, were: Mitchellville to Marlboro, Accokeek to Oxon Hill, Youngs Store to Marlboro Colored High School and Fort Foote to Oxon Hill. It was estimated they would require an appropriation of approxi- mately $3,500. ‘The commissioners have striven all year to keep expenditures down, hoping to be able to maintain the present tax rate, and are pleased at the prospect of & reduction, if only a small one. YOUNG FOLKS’ RALLY STORY TO BE SPREAD Event in Falls Church Edifice to Be Distributed Throughout County, Special Dispatch to The Star. OAKTON, Va, March 28 — publicity subcommittee of lhe’ gen’e‘l?: committee in charge of the inter- denominational young people’s rally, which will be held in Columbia Blp“fl!‘ Church at Falls Church on Palm Sun- day, is arranging to have the story of this rally explained in every Protestant church in the county Sunday morning. Miss Thelma Speer of Oakton, chair- man of the publicity committee, has appointed a group of leaders in the differsnt districts, who are to be re- sponsible for securing a speaker for every church or Sunday school on March 30. This corps of leaders in- cludes: Miss Catherine Detwiler, Glenn Myers and Mrs. J. E. Harrison in Centerville district; Misses Edith Me- Guire and Sara Day in Dranesville dis- trict; Roger Copeland, Miss Ellen Fen- | wick, Miss Marie Creel, Miss Maxine Harlowe, Miss Florence Mae Carter, Miss Mary E. Garrison, Miss Ann Kraemer and Pettus Carter in Falls | Church district, and Miss Katie Pettit, James Wycoff and E. C. Riggles in Lee district. ~ Providence district leaders’ committee includes Mack Wiley, Hubert Hailman, F. S. McCandlish, Talbert Walker, Charles Magarity, John Rust Busick, Miss Frances Hileman, Fred Loenthal, Miss Thelma Speer, Ira Mil- ler, Deming Shear, Paul Herrell and Henry Beall. {GETS $10,000,000 CREDITS BUCHAREST, Rumania, March 28 (#),—Credits amounting to 2,000,000,000 lei (about $10,000,000) for agricultural purposes were granted yesterday to the Rumanian government by a syndi- cate headed by the Banque de Paris et Des Pays-Bas and including English and Dutch financial interests. The credits will be used to farmers. The syndicate under- takes to dispose of agricultural banki h n bonds for Rum! boopfige QuRrisHar CHEVROLET ship was 750 miles distant from New Yugl. ‘The engin long fle{h“ woukipf SALE Plucking Fauna In State Law Code Brings Impasse Special Dispatch to The Star. CHARLESTON, W. Va, March ““Flor: is all right, but you can’t pick a “fauna,” in the opinion of Delegate F. M. Peters, who to- day upset the calm of the joint com- mittee of the special State Legisla- ture called to consider the new State code, As I understand it,” he said, a fauna is an animal, and how can you pluck a ground squirrel or the like? That fauna oughtn't to be in the law.” He referred to the old rhododen- dron law, placed unchanged into the code, which prohibits *‘the pluck- ing of flora and fauna from along the highways of the State.” Senator H. P. Henshaw ended the impasse by getting passed his mo- tion decreeing that the code com- mittee “shall consider as its last act” the na reference, “what- ever that may be.” BETS 5 YEAR TERM ON MURDER COUNT Herndon Resident Appeals From Second-Degree Ver- dict in Fairfax Court. Special Dispatch to The Star. FAIRFAX, Va, March 28.—Boston Williams of Herndon yesterday was convicted of second-degree murder by & jury in the Fairfax County Circuit Court and sentenced to serve five years in the State Penitentiary. Williams, who was charged with shooting Howard Simms of Herndon March 1, pleaded that he had fired in self-defense. He was represented by Attorney Walter Tansill Oliver, the commonwealth's case being in the hands of Wilson M. Farr and Hugh Marsh. A 60-day stay of execution was granted by Judge Smith to allow Williams to appeal from the court’s decision. Gardner Arnold, pleading guilty to possession of a still, was fined $5 and MOTORIST SHOT BY HITCH-HIKER DIES Identifies 21-Year-0ld Youth as Assailant on Virginia Road. By the Associated Press. CHRISTIANSBURG, Va., March 28.— | Charles Latham of New York, shot | nere Wednesday evening by a hitch- hiker whom he had given a ride from Knoxville, Tenn., died this morning in a hospital here. Latham lived about | 12 hours beyond the time when he had | scious, to identify positively the 21-year- old wanderer who is charged with mortally wounding him, James Evans is the name given by the man who authorities say confessed that he shot Latham in an attempt at robbery. He claims that he did not intend to shoot and that the pistol was fired accidentally. Evans' address is steadfastly withheld by authorities to | whom he talked. | Early today no arrangements for re- | nounced. but it was said it would be |taken to New York for funeral and burial. County officers said there was noth- |ing to add to details of Evans’ capture |and disclosures. He was captured by | Radford officers within 12 miles of the scene of the shooting after he had aroused suspicions of residents of that city in his quest for food. He offered no resistance, but at first denied he was the man wanted. Painter W. Green, arrested at Lex- ington vesterday as a suspect, faced Lacham in the hosp.tal here about the time Evans was arrested. The wounded man said, however, he was not the one sought. SRENERRIERE Bounties Fall After April 1. FAIRFAX, Va., March 28 (Special). —Deputy Clerk E. R. Holbrook asks that all citizens of Fairfax County who have scalps of predatory hawks, owls or weasels, on which they expect to claim bounties, send them in to him for redemption before April 1. After that date no further bounties will be paid, in accordance with the law en- acted at the last State Legislature. | opportunity, before becoming uncon- | moval of Latham’s body had been an-] | costs and six months in jail. Thomas | Lester, pleading guilty to a violation of | the prohibition law, was fined $50 and | costs and given a 30-day suspended jail senten Annis Woodlawn, found guilty of a violation of prohibition law, wa: fined $50 and costs, but in view of the fact that she is the mother of seven small children her jail sentence was suspended on receipt of $500 bond that she would not break the prohibition law for 12 months. Seth Williams of Mer- rifield went surety on her bond. The trial of her husband will be held next ‘Thursaay. In the last three years Australia has exported $48,000,000 worth of gold. Ground area required, including price. ANYWHERE IN THE CITY PROP A Large Washington Retail Store is in need of WAREHOUSE FACILITIES Will consider the purchase of either a modern ware- house building or ground for erection of building. about 150 by 250 ft. Must be in second commercial zone and within 2 miles of center of main business section. State full particulars Address Box 433-E, Star Office YOU LIKE GOOD CLOTHES 22° A rock-bottom price for truly fine clothing. 916 F St. —and so do the fying for years. thousands of customers Bell has been satis- Despite our years in business you'd think we had just opened if you came in and saw the hundreds of new and nothing but new styles and shades we are Just slip on one showing. of the Spring Suits or Topcoats we’ve got in stock---one look and you're sold! iquire persuasion real merchandise in the mirror You don’t re- when you see and real style. $22 S0 For any Suit or Topcoat in the store Topcoats in Tan, Brown, etc., showing the new Covert Cloth, and Camel Hair. Suits in all the new shades In basket weaves, tweeds, herringbone, everythingl LCLOTHES 715 14th St. 941 Pa. Ave. SUBURBAN NEWS. SPECIAL caMiRa for CHERRY BLOSSOM PHOTOS 3 Rolls Films FREE Made by Eastman 45¢c Down 50c a Week ESTERDAY’S memories become life-lasting realities if you will but use one of these Fastman Cameras— marked very special at $6.95. Surely you will want to keep a picture of Washington’s “Cherry Blossom” time. Special While They Last We Only Have 200 NOW RETIEMBER—these folding cameras, as shown above, take pic- tures 214x474 inches and we are including THREE rolls of films FREE with every camera. The supply is limited, so come early. Terms, 45c down and 50c week. NONE SOLD FOR CASH CHAS SCHWARTZ & SON Perfect Diamonds g 708 7th Street N.W. 709 14th Street N.W. 1005 Pa. 1744 Pa. S.E. Cor. and Eye Ave. Ave. 14th Sts. Well, Folks :— A few days ago I talked to you about our new store, soon to be opened at 14th & Eye Streets. Well, it looks like we'll have-all those carpenters and plasterers out of there r;gllt soon now. Place is shaping up and it's going to be a “dandy” store. You'll Lke it I know. It's goin’ to be another one of those homelike D. J. Kaufman stores—in fact “‘Uncle Dave” (“or D. ].”) and myself expect to be around there quite a bit, seein’ old friends and making new ones. Brother LeRoy King is going to “run the outht.” We'll all be look- ing for you, sure! I'll let you know when we're ready to “ofen.” B Cordially yours, s""S P.S.—WE ARE NOT leaving either of our present locations (1005 Pa. Ave. or 1744 Pa. Ave.), but are adding a third location to meet the con- venience and demands of a fast- growing patronage of real men.