Evening Star Newspaper, April 17, 1930, Page 1

| WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Buresu Porecast.) Rain this afterncon and tonight; to- rising Late N. Y. Markets, Pages 13, 14 & 15 he Zb ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION b, 31397 - corr ome wa Entered as second el s shington, matter . WASHINGTON, b C, THURSDAY, SMITH CO. BOOKS CHARGED 10 PITIS AND THREE OTHERS New Indictment Returned by Grand Jury Claims Con- spiracy to Cover Up Alleged Embezzlement. 95 INSTANCES ARE CITED IN TODAY’S TRUE BILL Former Chairman of Board Placed " Under Arrest as He Arrives in Court to Post Bond in Previous Action—Must Appear April 28 in Contempt Hearing. Another indictment charging G. Bryan Pitts, former chairman of the board of directors, and three other officials of the F. H. Smith Co. with embezzlement of the company's funds and with con- spiring to conceal books and rec- ords of the concern in an effort to cover up the alleged acts of | embezzlement was returned by the District grand jury today just as Pitts appeared at court to post bond on an embezzlement indict- ment returned last week. Others named in the indictment were Samuel J. Henry, C. Elbert Anadale and John H. Edwards, jr., all of whom were also indicted after the December grand jury had made an investigation of the Smith company's activities. The indictment returned today charges the defendants with 95 in- stances of embezzlement and with con- spiring to destroy books and records to cover up embezziement, misuse and misapplication of a total of $5,000,000 of the company’s funds. Pitts Placed Under Arrest. As Pitts walked into the District Su- | preme Court with his attorneys this | morning he was placed under arrest | by Deputy Marshal John J. Clarkson on a bench warrant issued yesterday by Justice William Hitz. ‘The warrant commands Pitts to ap- pear in court April 28 and show cause why he should not. be adjudged in criminal contempt of ‘court for failing to obey a subpoena to appear December 11 before Fred J. Eden, referee in bank- ruptcy, as a witness in the Boyle-Rob- ertson Co. bankruptcy case. Pitts arranged a $5,000 bond for hir appear- ance April 18. He also posted a $5,000 bond on to- day's indictment. The other defend- ants are expected to arrange bond later. Pitts was not arraigned today on the indictment returned last week charging him with embezzling more than $1- 000,000 of the company's funds. His attorneys; Wilton J. Lambert, Rudolph Yeatman and George Horning, had filed leas in abatement, attacking the legal- ity of the present grand jury on 11 grounds, and Pitts was permitted to re- new his bond of $100,000, posted several days ago in Florida, pending a decision on the pleas. As Clarkson informed Pitts he had a warrant for his arrest, the latter smiled and said, “Well, Mr. Clarkson, it's getting so I see you every time I come to Washington.'" Pitts turned to Frank G. Raichle, his New York at- torney, and asked him what the bench warrant was for, explaining that he was involved in so many legal proceed- ings that he didn't “know one from an- other.” Charges of Indictment. | After outlining activities of the Smith | company with regard to its business | relations with other concerns, and the | relation of the four defendants named to the Smith company, the indictment charges: “The defendants, witlr intent to de- fraud and injure the Smith company and other concerns and persons with which it had dealings, did in 95 cases | f, knowingly and wrongfully convert to their own use and thereby embezzle a | (Continued on Page 2, Column 3. | PO ANOTHER GANGSTER KILLED IN CHICAGO| Joe Blew, 50, Shot With Machine | Gun From Passing Speeding Auto. By the Associated Press CHICAGO., April 17—After weeks of comparative quiet, another gang mur- der has been accomplished in Chicago, | in the accepted gang manner—speed- ing motor car, machine guns and all. The victim was Joe Blew, 50 years old, identified as a gangster, mail rob- ber and safe blower. However, a wom- an who said she was his wife insisted his name was Joe Cameron and that he was a salesman who had come here recently from 'Tennessee. The Blew identification was made by the police fingerprint experts. Blew, driving a small sedan, was chased several blocks by five men in a much larger car who poured ma- chine gun bullets into Blew's body and then sped away. The murder was com- mitted on Blye Island avenue, not far from Maxwell street. Police said Blew had been a factor in the city’s underworld for a quarter ot a century. They sald he was the man who furnished the saws and the automobile used in the 1918 escape from the county jail of Frank McErlane, held as a safe blower, and Earl Dear and Lloyd Bopp. The latter two were aiting execution for murder. Blew recently was released from the Pederal penitentiary at Atlanta where he was serving a sentence for com- licity in a Cincinnati, Ohio, mail rob- ry in 1924. Police believed that since his release he has been engaged in the liquor racket ir Chicago. At the present time two West Side gangs are understood tc be in dispute over “priv- 150 Adult Pupils Bring Homespuns For White House Garments Made in North Carolina Night School and Books to Be Presented. By the Associated Press. Enough homespun for two new suits for President Hoover and for two new dresses for Mrs. Hoover was brought to Washington by the 150 adult night school pupils who have just arrived from North Carolina. They arranged to present the two Easter outfits to the first couple of the land today. The cloth was woven and dyed in Buncombe County, where most of the puplls, who are between 30 and 60 years of age, reside. The President’s new suits are of brown and blue. Mrs. (Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) GANGS OF CHICAGO REPORTED MERGED Secret Pact Declared Signed Between Capone and Moran Racketeer Factions. By the Assoclated Press, CHICAGO, April 17—A union of Chicago's warring gangs under the single leadership of Al (Scarface) Ca- pone was understood today to have been effected. The amalgamation of the Capone and George (Bugs) Moran factions, hereto- fore at odds with each other over liquor, gambling and vice traffic, has for its reported purposes: (1) The ending of gang gunnery, which has been responsible for hundreds of deaths in Chicago during recent years; and, (2) The co-ordinating of all major gang enterprises for purposes of in- creased power and profits. Pact Sceretly Signed. ‘The peace agreement was reported by the Herald and Examiner as having been secretly signed following confer- ences at Capone headquarters at Twen- ty-second street and Michigan avenue. Last night the agreement, binding members of several warring groups into one large gang, was celebrated at nu- merous places where the more prom- inent gang members congregate. Herald and Examiner said these parties were attended by lesser lights of both the Capone and Moran gangs, with Ca- pone men in the majority. The Moran celebration of the ratification is planned for a later date. Although the amalgamation brings under one leadership the most impor- tant gang men of Chicago, it is not en- tirely representative. Neither William (Klondike) O'Donnel nor Ralph Shel- don, each mentioned frequently in West Side gang aflairs, is included in the gang union. The theory of Capone and Moran men, however, was reported as being that the new organization, be- cause of its greater ywer, would be able to crush out any lesser group that might arise to challenge it. City Divided in Past. Under the old scheme of things, as police often have outlined, the city has been divided by the gangs for the gam- bling, liquor and vice “privil .” “The Loop, for example, is generally under- stood to be under the control of the Ca- pone gang so far as liquor and gambling are concerned. Loop speakeasies are compelled to buy “Capone beer” and whisky, or, if they insist upon getting their supplies elsewhere, they must pay a certain percentage to the Capone group anyway. The same condition ap- plies on the South Side, while on the North Side the “privilege” is held by the Moran men. ‘The peace agreement provides that all income from gambling, liquor distribu- tion and vice resorts must be paid into a common pool. Out of this pool will be paid the profits as well as whatever protection funds are needed. It was understood also that arrange- ments were being made to revamp the protection system to avoid its being scattered indiscriminately among many persons. The plan calls for payment only to certain selected individuals with power great enough to handle smaller Ty, “All for Al Al for AlL” The Herald and Examiner said that at the several celebrations held last for Al and Al for AlL" Among Moran men reported as having sat at the council table yesterday with Capone leaders were Jack Zuta, “busi- ness agent” for Moran, and Joe Alello, long a foe of Capone gangsters. TRAPS BOOTLEGGERS Head of Lijuor Squad Hires Hall for Wedding. as Lure. LOS ANGELES, April 17 (#).—Work- ing incognito, Capt. James Benton, head of the sheriff's liquor detail, last night hired a hall at El Monte, and an- nounced that a weding was going to take place therein. Then he spread the word that he | would appreciate any one knowing any bootleggers sending them around. Seven men, classed by deputies as liquor s‘ellfls. were arrested as they sauntered nside. Take-Off, Faces ® By the Associated Press. SACRAMENTO, Calif, April 17.—A big bombing plane is scheduled to leave Mather Field here tonight and, with- out tne guidance of human hands, fly to San Francisco, circle the city and return, as an experiment to determine the value of automatic pilots under conditinos simulating warfare. The experiment was designed as one of the phases of the annual maneuvers ileges” of beer distribution, and it was thought Blew may have been slain in this connection. A gallon jug believed to hcve contained wine was found in his automobile. of the Army Air Corps here. Army fiyers will be at the controls when the ship leaves the ground, but once in the air the l!.ooo-po*nd craft [y night, the toast often heard was: “All HOOVER WANTS SEA AGREEMENT AGTION IN PRESENT SESSION May Wait to Get Delegates’ Opinion Before Deter- mining Course. BORAH AT WHITE HOUSE; HIS SUPPORT EXPECTED Praising Evident Omission of Po- litical Conditions, He Favors Early Consideration. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. President Hoover would like to send the new London naval limitations treaty to the Senate and have it disposed of at the present session. However, be- fore determining his course he may walt until he has an opportunity to talk with the members of the Amer- ican delegation after their return to this country. Senator Borah of Idaho, chairman of the Senate foreign relations com- mittee, which will handle the treaty, was called to the White House today to discuss the naval treaty with the President. After Senator Borah had re- turned to the Capitol he authorized the following statement: “I am entirely sympathetic to a treaty which is free from any political opposition and this has a tendency, whether greater or smaller, to adopt the cause of disarmament. Sees No Political Conditions. “From what I have been told of this treaty there are no political conditions in it, and I think it does help the cause of disarmament. But I cannot pass finally on a treaty till T see it.” The statement made by Senator Borah is believed to indicate clearly that he will support the treaty, al- though he reserved the right to deter- mine his course after he has actually seen the treaty himself. The support of Senator Borah, chair- man of the foreign relations committee, if it is given in the treaty fight, will be a substantial advantage to the ad- vocates of the treaty. It is true that Senator Borah is disappointed that provision has not been made for a greater reduction in naval armaments at the London Conference. However he is greatly pleased because all poli- tical commitments have been omitted from the treaty. He believes, too, that the treaty, fixing a limitation on size of the navy of the three bt naval powers, is a distinct advantage the cause of disarmament. v Favors Early Action, Senator Borah said: “If the naval treaty is sent to the Senate and to the committee on foreign relations I am in favor of disposing of it at the present session.” Senator Borah did not indi- cate that he had advised the President when he should send the treaty to the Senate. He merely takes the position that if the treaty is sent to the Senate it should be considered promptly and not left hanging in the air until next November or December. Senator Watson, the Republican lead- er, was at the White House for break- fast this morning with the it, and it is understood that the treaty (Continued on Page 3, Column 6.) POLICE PAY INCREASE BILL AGAIN DELAYED Action Postponed by Senate After Considering Measure Sev- eral Times. ‘The Senate again this afternoon post- | poned action on the salary increase bill for police and firemen. This measure | has been before the Senate several | times in recent weeks, but has not | been finally approved. On one of these | occasions it was passed for a few moments and then reconsidered at the requests of Senators who desired to prepare some amendments. ‘The bill to curtail the power of the | District Supreme Court in reviewing the decisions of the Public Utilities Com- mission was taken from the Senate calendar and referred back to the Sen- ate District committee on motion of Chairman Capper. The bill is being referred back to the committee for further discussion of amendments. GRIFFS IDLE TODAY Game in Boston Called Off Because of Cold Weather. Special Dispatch to The Star. BOSTON, April 17.—The third and final game of the series scheduled here today between the Red Sox and Wash- ington was called off because of cold weather After winning the opening contest of the season in Washington the Red Sox entertained the Griffmen here and dropped two games by scores of 6 to 1 and 5 to 4. The Yankees come here tomorrow, while the Nationals move on to Phila- delphia. PLANE, GUIDED AUTOMATICALLY, GETS LONG-RANGE TEST TONIGHT Huge Bomber, Unguided by Human Hands Except at ‘War-Time” Trial. will be turned over to an odd-looking machine which will serve as the pilot. Maj. Hugh Knerr and a co-pilot will observe the working of the automatic instrument. Two gyroscopes canstitute nhe t;:rlnclpll features of the automatic pilot. ‘When the plane arrives over San Prancisco, Maj. Knerr is to touch a button marked “L,” and the automatic pilot will turn the plane left to retrace its course. Another button marked “R" turns the ship right—all without a human pilot once touching the “etick” or rudders. Progress of the flight will be de- scribed by radio from the bomber to wireless stations at Crissy Field, Presidio of San Franciace and to Mather Field. DONOVAN DECLARES 3,000,000 FROM U, S INADEQUATE SUM Senate Hearings on D. C. Bill Show Auditor Warns Against Increasing Expenses. WANTS LOAN FOR CENTER, BUT WITHOUT INTEREST Official Tells Subcommittee Share of Government Out of Propor- tion in $42,000,000. A nine-million-dollar lump sum is not an equitable contribution by the Federal Government toward a District appropriation bill as large as the one now pending in Congress, District Auditor Daniel J. Donovan told the Senate subcommittee considering the bill, it was revealed today when Chair- man Bingham meade public the hearings that have been in progress during recent weeks, The hearings also show that the plan embodied in Senator Capper's bill to have the Federal Government loan the District $15,000,000 for development of the municipal center project, to be repaid $1,000,000 a year with 3!3 per cent interest, originated during the con- sideration of the appropriation bill and was fully discussed there. It was while discussing the advisabil- ity of making such a loan in order to ease the burden of meeting this large development out of current revenues during the next few years that Maj. Donovan called attention to the in- adequacy of the $9,000,000 as Uncle Sam’s contribution toward an appro- priation bill totaling $42,000,000, ex- clusive of trusts and special funds. Favors Lean to District. The auditor was favorably disposed toward the idea of obtaining a loan for the municipal center, but did not be- lieve that the District should be re- quired to pay interest on this advance, while no interest is to be required on similar loans for park extension under the Cramton bill, nor under the loan for establishing an airport. During the hearings Senator Bing- ham expressed the belief that there is a difference between the building of a municipal center and the park and air- port developments. He pointed out to- day that the park extension and the alrport will be adjuncts of the city as a National Capital, while the municipal center will be entirely for local munici- ] purposes. P ith the hearings completed, the Dis- trict subcommittee of the Senate appro- priations group is in executive session today, considering what changes are to be made in_the text of the bill as it the House. The subcommittee as given no intimation of its decision on any proposed amendments and lts bill is reported. Facing Tax Increase. Pointing out that the pending bill for the police and fire salary increase bill, will use up the last of the city's surplus and predicting that the annual budget will grow, Maj. Donovan said that in 1932 the Commissioners will face the necessity of raising the tax rate to $1.90 or more if the Federal contributions re- main unchanged. He said a tax rate of $1.90 would be needed for the com- ing year if it were not for the remain- ing surplus. Discussing the outlook for the next few years, Auditor Donovan testified as follows: “With the enactment of this 1931 bill into law, al lthe surplus revenues of the District of Columbia which have been accumulating for several years past will be entirely exhausted. Begin- ning with the fiscal year 1932, the District will be wholly dependent on current revenues in preparing the an- nual budget. At the beginning of the fiscal year 1929 the District had surplus revenues of about $6,000,000 over and above the $3,000,000 cash fund required to be maintained for operating capital. At the beginning of the current fiscal |year, 1930, the surplus revenues | amounted to about $5,000,000. All the surplus revenues will be wiped out with | the enactment of the 1931 appropria- tion bill _of legisla- COURT REFUSES TO STOP PRIMARY Alabama Supreme Body Affirms Decision Which Bars Hoover Supporters. By the Associated Press MONTGOMERY, Ala., April 17.—The Alabama Supreme Court, in a decision today, refused to stop the Democratic primary of August 12 from which the State committee had excluded as can- didates Senator J. Thomas Heflin and others who failed to support the Demo- cratic national ticket in 1928. The court afirmed the decision of the Jefferson County Circuit Court denying a writ of mandamus to stop the primary, as asked by Horace C. Wilkinson, Birmingham attorney, who was a leader of the anti-Smith forces in the 1928 election. The State Democratic executive com- mittee, in session here December 16, 1929, voted, 27 to 21, to exclude from the primaries as candidates all who failed to support the ticket in 1928, either by voting another ticket or fail- ing to vote, but did not restrict them from participating in the coming pri- maries as voters. ‘The court’s decision was on the ap- peal of Wilkinson, from a decision of a Jefferson Circuit Court dismissing his petition for an injunction to prevent the treasurer of Jefferson County from ux(n%epublic funds in connection with the mocratic primary in August. Wilkinson contended that the election would be illegal because of the State Democratic executive committee's ac- tion in fixing diffierent qualifications for voters and candidates in the August primary. Senator Heflin has announced that he will run in the general election despite the ruling of the State committee. In addition to Heflin, Hugh A. Locke of Birmingham, gubernatorial candidate, who also supported Hoover, was af- fected by the ision. Radio Pro(mn; *l Page C-14 v action will not be made known until the | the coming 12 months, together with | ening Star. APRIL 17, 1930 —SIXTY PAGES. *#** The ¢ every cit (#) Means Associated Star’s carrier block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Yesterday’s Circulation, 118,466 “From Press to Home Within the Hour” system covers Pre TWO .CENTS. .. . r ( "% = News Note: Twelve persons adrift in boat nine days were rescued by a Cuban gunboat. STAR LAUNCHES FUND DRIVE FOR RELIEF OF YORK FAMILY Starts With Donation of $150 for Young Widow and Three Children. Series of Misfortunes Reach- ed Climax in Murder of Dry Agent. A fund for the relief of the almost penniless family of Lamar Watson York, slain Federal prohibition agent, was| launched today by The Star with a con- tribution of $150. York was shot down early Saturday by rum-runners in an alley near First and P streets after refusing a bribe of $100 to release a liquor-laden auto- mobile. Three colored men have been arrested and held for the action of a ARPORT NEASURE PASSED BY SENATE Unanimous Consent, Follow-' ing Brief Debate, Sends Bill to House. ‘The Senate this afternoon passed the bill to establish a municipal airport for the District of Columbia near the south end of Highway Bridge and | sent the measure to the House for| action. The bill came up on the call of the calendar and went through by unani- mous consent following a brief debate, in which questions asked by several Senators were answered by Senators Bingham, Republican, of Connecticut, and Vandenberg, Republican, of Michigan. The proposed airport would be es- tablished by taking over the two pri- vate flying fields—Hoover Field and Washington Airport—and combining them with adjacent lands already owned by the Federal Government. The project would be financed by a loan of $2,500,000 from the Federal Treasury to be repaid by the District taxpayers (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) SENATOR TO DISCUSS FEDERAL PATRONAGE Brookhart Addresses Listeners Over Nation in Radio Forum Tonight. Senator Smith W. Brookhart of Iowa, chairman of the Senate committee which has had under investigation for more than a year charges of “sales” of post office appointments in some of the Southern States, will be the speaker tonight in the National Radio Forum, arranged by The Star and broadcast over a Nation-wide network of the Co- lumbia Broadcasting System, sponsor of the Forum. Senator Brookhart will speak on “Federal Patronage” and will be on the air from 10:30 to 11 o'clock. The Iowa Senator, who has proposed a bill to safeguard the Government from irregularities in Federal patron- age, is well qualified to speak on this mbj&ct. having delved deeply into the matter. Accused Slayer Free on Bond. SEBRING, Fla, April 17 (#).—Wil- liam R. Carver, former Philadelphia real estate operator and accused slayer of his wife, his small son and a Negro servant, was released from the county jail here today on $15,000 bond. He left immediately for the home of his father, Samuel Carver, at Miami. Soap Firm Director Dies. CHICAGO, A 17 (/P).—News of the death near le City, Fla., Tuesday of Dr. James M. Kirk, a director of the James S. Kirk & Co., soap manufac- turers, been received by friends here. ' He was instantly killed in an automobile accident. Dr. Kirk, the son of the founder of the soap company, was 63 years old. Donations to York Fund May Be Mailed To Cashier of Star Contributions to The Star fund for the relief of the fam- ily of Lamar Watson York, slain Federal prohibition agent, may be mailed to the cashier of The Star. Checks, money orderd or cash in any amount will be welcomed. A list of the donations will be published as they are received. D.A.R.ISINFAVOR OF ADEQUATE NAVY {World Court and London Conference Not Specifi- cally Mentioned. | Following the indorsement of a Navy | commensurate with adequate national | defense, the Daughters of the American | Revolution today expressed opposition LETTERS SEARCHED AGAIN BY POLICE IN HOPE TO FIND CLUE 10 BAKER MURDER Secret Conference” Held as Investigation Comes to Standstill—Lead Outside District Still Followed. INSPECTOR IS SILENT ON SUCCESS OF HUNT, Young Woman’s Papers and Photo- graphs Have Furnished Only In- formation So Far to Aid Probers in Tracking Down Slayer Government Clerk. Indications that the investiga« tion of the brutal murder of Mary Baker had come to a standstill, at least for the present, were manifest today as Inspector Wile liam 8. Shelby, chief of detectives, and members of the homicide squad gathered behind closed doors in the office of Superinten= dent of Police Pratt and again went over the collection of cor- respondence and personal belong= ings of the slain woman in an effort to uncover some clue they may have overlooked in the first examination. Inspector Shelby also announced that there had been no new de- velopments in the case, and inti= mated that, unless the lead which carried the investigators outside | the District yesterday proved of grand jury on charges of murder. They | 15 any govermental policy, which would | value, the solution of the crime are John Borum, John Logen and Mil-| commit the United States to “entan- | would be difficult. These investi- ton Guy. Police believe Borum was the “trigger man.” Mrs. Helen York, the prohibition agent's widow, was almost overcome with emotion when told of The Star fund today. “I.have so many debts I don’t know what I'm going to do,” Mrs. York de- clared. The young mother of three (Continued on Page 3, Column 4.) MILLION REQUIRED BY CURRAN GROUP Head of Association Against Prohibition Tells Lobby Probers of Need. Continuing his assault against the dry laws, Henry H. Curran, president of the Association Against the Pro- hibition Amendment, testified before the Senate lobby committee today that his organization would require more than $1,000,000 to conduct its activities this year. In a letter last January to Percy S. Straus of New York, which was read before the committee, Curran said the chief plan in impressing upon Congress that the country was “mostly wet” would consist of holding State-wide referenda similar to those conducted last year in Wisconsin and previously in Montana, Nevada and New York. This year’s campaign, the letter added, would be begun in Massachusetts and continued in other States “as fast as we can reach them.” ye;l'he association spent $427,213 last s Questioned about the amount, the witness said it was needed to maintain the organization. Previously he had said that three out of every four persons in the United States were wet, and that five States— New York, Maryland, Wisconsin, Mon- tana and Nevada—were in ‘“revoli” against the prohibition law. Curran also charged that some of the prohibition officers did not report all the facts concerning persons killed in enforcement of the liquor iaws, and said that Seymour Lowman, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in Chaige of Prohibition, accepted the reports. Senator Walsh Present. Senator Walsh, Democrat, Montana, a dry, who is running for re-election, was present when Curran enumerated the list of States as in revolt. Chairman Caraway asked Curran if ws assoclation would work against “I think that is our business,” Cur- ran retorted. Pressed by Caraway to answer the question, Curran said he did not know (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) | gling alliances, which could operate to | 1tmit our full liberty or decision in in- | ternational affairs.” This is the first official stand taken by the Thirty-ninth Continental Con- gress bearing on the foreign policy of | the Government as enunciated by Presi- deng Hoover in his address before the society, Monday night. It was significant that the resolution, while adher to the established policy of the D. A. R, European alliances, avoided any specific menti of the World Court or London Naval Conference, stressed by individual dele- gates in reports yesterday. For this reason the resolution adopt- ed today was not regarded as a direct thrust at the President’s advocacy of | fullest American co-operation in in- ternational peace. In his reference to the World Court, Mr. Hoover empha- | sized that no entanglement or limita~ | tion of the independence of the United States 1s involved in membership in the tribunal. Reaffirms Stand. Today's action of the Congress re- cent Woman's Patriotic Conference, in which the D. A. R. participated with tions. | It was the only important resolution presented to the congress. With the candidacy of Mrs. "heodore Jesse Hoover, sister-in-law of President | Hoover, overshadowing everything in today’s election of eight vice presidents general and two honorary vice presi- dents general, 2,060 voting delegates were flocking to the polls. As the vot- ing continued, with more than two- thirds of the ballots already cast, Mrs. president general from California was reported gaining increasing strength. Her chief danger lies in the candi- dacy of Mrs. Lyman E. Stookey, also of California. for the national office ot reporter general to the Smithsonian In- (Continued on Page 4, Column 1.) i MRS. HOOVER’S CONDITION IS REPORTED IMPROVED Unable to Leave Room After In- juring Back in Fall at ‘White House. By the Associated Press. The condition of Mrs. Herbert Hoo- ver, who is suffering from a wrenched back and a cold, was reported at the ‘White House today to be improved. Capt. Joel T. Boone, White House physician, was with Mrs. Hoover for a short time this morning, after which it was announced that she could not leave her room. The injury to her back was sustained Sunday, when she fell to the floor in her room. Lord and Lady Eustace Percy were dinner guests at the White House last evening. After the dinner with President Hoo- ver, Lady Percy visited Mrs. Hoover in her room. Lord Percy was formerly attached to the British embassy in Washing- ton, although the acquaintance of the two families dates to the time Presi- dent Hoover served on the supreme economic council shortly after the armistice. MAN QUITS HOME, QUITS ON RUN, WHEN WIFE NO. 2 MEETS WIFE NO. 1 Husband Leaves With Speed of Rabbit When Spouses Probe His Overtime Habit. By the Associated Press CHICAGO, April 17.—Charles Chelly’s pay check—Iike many other husbands’ pay checks—got him into a peck of trouble. Chelly, already married, conceived the idea last November of effecting another matrimonial union. So, the court was told yesterday, he married Mrs. Frieda Bonnert. He explained to his wife Anna that he would work overtime every other night in the wu{ and he told his second | Anna Chelly’s petition for divorce. wife the same thing. Thus he had a plausible excuse with each woman for being absent every other night. Mrs. Anna Chelly, as time went on, became curious as o the overtime her husband was presumably working. She thought it o\:glelt to show in his pay if,‘f,f“ ‘The other lady thought the same 8. Mrs. Chelly No. 2 investigated and met Mrs. Chelly the first. Chelly, when he saw the women meet, tore out a screen door and has not been seen since. ‘The court yesterday granted Mrs. e affirmed the stand taken by the re- | 39 other women's patriotic organiza- | Hoover's chance for election as vice| gators have not returned and Shelby declined to reveal whether they had located the suspect they Lleft to trail. The secret conference in Maj. Pratt's office was attended by two operatives of the Department of Justice, Lieut. Ed= ward J. Kelly, head of the e uad, and Headquarters Detectives rles Weber, Joseph Waldron, George Darnell, Clarence Talley and Thomas Sweent When the detectives Lieut. Kelly and the it Justice agents conferred h Dr. Wil- liam C. Fowler, District health officer, and J. B. Reed, District chemist. Shelby and Kelly carried into the conference a large manila envelope con- taining photographs and letters. The collection was gathered from Miss Baker's desk in the file room of the Bureau of Aeronautics of the Navy De- rtment and -gso at her home in Lyon rk, Va. TLUs far the names men- tioned in the correspondence and the photographs have furnished the only tangible leads upon which the investi- gators have had to work. Interview Girls Today. The investigators are hopeful of ob- taining some additional information | from Miss Olga Skinner and Miss Mil- dred Sperry, housemates of Miss Baker which will aid them. The two girls, it was definitely announced, would be ques- tioned again this afternoon upon their return from a suburb of Richmond, Va., where they have been since the funeral of their slain friend. Miss Skinner and Miss Sperry went to the Richmond suburb, it was said | at police headquarters, for the twofold purpose of recovering from the shock of the death of Miss Baker and also to avoid harrassment by newspaper re- porters. Inspector Shelby said he has known the whereabouts of the girls and had an arrangement for them to come back to Washington whenever they | were wanted for further questioning. By requestioning Miss Spe: and Miss Skinner, the investigators believe they may be able to obtain the names of all of the guests of the three girls at a housewarming at their Lyon Park home March 31, together with the cir- | cumstances of the event. Some of the persons who attended the affair al- ready have been interrogated, but were unable to throw any light on the crime. | There were others, however, whose’ names are yet unknown, and the in- vestigators believe there is a remote pos-* sibility that some of them may be able to furnish a new lead on which they , could work. | Look for Weapon. ‘The police were also definitely to de- termine through interrogation of Miss Sperry and Miss Skinner whether Miss Baker ever owned a pistol and whether she carried it in her machine. This information is wanted in view of & (Continued on Page 2, Column 7.) —_— —— GRAPE SHIPMENTS BRING U. S. ACTION California Firm Charged With Fal- sifying Reports and Weights to Obtain Transportation. By the Associated Press. FRESNO, Calif., April 17.—Deter- mined to halt the alleged “free” lhi'iptn[ of grapes into Eastern markets with re- sultant breaking down of prices and heavy losses to growers, the Federal Government today was preparing to prosecute the Valley Agricultural Co. and Leslie C. Unger, an employe, on & charge of violation of the interstate commerce laws. An indictment returned yesterday charges the shipping concern and its salesman with obtaining transportation of property in interstate commerce at, less than the regular rates by means qf false reports and weights. While the indictment is uased uj rovision of the interstate comms act designed to protect railroads from osses . through false information, Fed- ex;ll lut.hm;l‘l les said the actual purpose of prosecution was to protect growers from heavy losses sustained when “free shipment” grapes are dumped into the market at ruinous prices. It was sald that during the past ship- ping season rallroads suffe loss approximately $1,500,000, buf were damaged in an amount figure. at memfn- that