Evening Star Newspaper, April 21, 1930, Page 2

STIMSONTELLSA.P. ABOUT NAVAL A Statesman Describes Agree- ment as Long Step For- ward for World. (Continued From First Page.) this year and who were nominated for ! re-election are: W. H. Cowles, Spokane Spokesman-Review; Frand P. McClen- nan, Topeka State Journal; E. Lansing | Ray, St. Louis Globe Democrat; Robert | R. McCormick, Chicago Tribune, and Frederick I Thompson, Mobile Register. | The five additional candidates were: | C. C. Hamlin, Colorado Springs Tele- graph: Walter M. Harrison, Oklahoma i City Times; George B. Longan, Kansas City Star; John L. Stewart, Washing- ton (Pa. Observer, and E. G. Leip-| heimer, Butte (Mont.) Standard. Mr.' Leipheimer withdrew. i Text of Stimson Speech. The text of Secretary Stimson's ad- dress_follow | Mr. Noyes and gentlemen of the As- sociated Press: | When I had the pleasure of meeting the directors of the Associated Press last January at the dinner given by Mr. Ochs I warned you that the London Conference would be a prosaic per- formance. I prophesied that what it | lacked in_drama it would make up in length. I think you will agree with! me that my prophecy has been fulfilled. Yet because it involved tedious and necessarily private negotiation it would be a great error to jump to the | conclusion that it does ot contain dramatic promise for the future. As a matter of fact, the past 14 weeks have given me more confidence in my be- lief that the peaceful methods of diplomacy eventually can take the place of war_than anything I have witnessed since the last war drew to & close. This confidence is based on the fact that limitation of arms gives us an affirma- tive plan for promoting good relations. Merely negative opposition to war is not sufficient. Progress in_civilization comes only from the affirmative culti- vation of habits of good will. Cites Kellogg Pact. Nearly two years ago the nations of the world met together at Paris and signed a document, containing a good resolution of epoch-making importance. That was the so-called Kellogg-Briand pact, in which the nations renounced war as an instrument of national policy and agreed in future to solve their contro- versies only by pacific means. That in- strument proposed a new era. It lald down a new international policy and it had behind it a general and over- whelming popular support. But such a proposal cannot be made and then left alone to hatch. New eras do not come out of old conditions merely by a new edict or a good resolution. In order to reach a condition when no nation will resort to war as an instrument of na- tional policy thete must be established a larger measure of confidence than now exists in the ability of the different nations of the world-to maintain their pacific intentions under all the tempta- tions and circumstances which are sure to confront them. History shows us only too clearly what will happen if we leave the old conditions unchanged. Affirma- tive constructive steps must be taken to carry out our good resolution and to begin the evolution in mutual confidence and good will, upon which the success of our resolution depends. Otherwise the faflure of our good resolutions may roduce a condition worse than if they ad never been made, Praises Hoover's Vision. Last Spring President Hoover wisely decided that one of the most important of such constructive steps was a move toward naval limitation. He realized that if the nations mean the Kellogg pact literally they must not allow conditions to arise that will jeopardize their promise. ‘The first method to that end is an agreement on limitation of armaments. That is a clear and positive test of a national in- tention to maintain pacific_relations under all circumstances. Such an agreement by its very nature precludes the idea of war as an instrument of national policy. For no nation is likely to agree that its neighbors shall have & navy large enough for such a purpose. One of the surest tests, therefore, of the effectiveness of the Kellogg-Briand pact is the progress which is being made in the limitation of armament. Limitation of armament is a ba- rometer or gauge of the development of confidence between nations which will enable them to deal with each other wholly upon an amicable basis. It is for this reason that my experience in the Naval Conference has given me so much encouragement. This encourage- ment is not based solely on an appraisal of just how much has been accom- plished in the particular treaty which affords that the process of limitation can be carried further in the future, Two Problems at Parley. ‘The work of the London Conference has really comprised two quite separate naval problems—the problem of the re- lations between the navies of the United States, Great Britain and Japan on the one hand, and the problem of the re- lations between the navies of Great Britain, France and Italy on the other. These are quite distinct problems. The first of these has been solved. This is a great achievement in itself and fruitful of great benefit to the general conditions of the world for the future. But it 15 a far simpler problem than the other because the naval relations of three countries, separated by such great oceans and wide distances as separate Great Britain, the United States and Japan, necessarily are less complex than the naval relations of the great powers of Europe. The latter are complicated by many conditions from which the former entirely free. Furthermore, America’s isolated and advantageous position and the national | security which this position affords im- poses upon us the duty to lead in the limftation of armaments and to refrain from criticizing others less fortunately placed, In the second of these problems—the problem of the relations of the navies of Great Britain, France and Italy valuable discussion has been had, and the underlying questions on which & final solution must rest have been ex- plored and clarified. In much of dis- cussion, members of the American delegation have been privileged to it as friendly observers, watching the development and clarification of these underlying questions. The dis- cussion has not merely involved a nego- tiation about the size of navies or the types of ships. It has been a study and debate concerning the political ques- tions which govern the relations of these three nations of Europe to each other. u. ot Entering Questions. Into these political questions it has not been America’s business to enter. Bu’ sitting on the side lines it has been quite evident that the result of the con- ference has been to_clarify issues and make their solution in the future more possible. In this way a long step for- ward has been made toward ultimate limitation by those nations which have ot yet agreed on a complete limitation of their navies. This came not only by clarifying the results of their discussion, but by the patience and good temper in which those discussions were carried on. This has *.a a good augury fol prospects of their final succes are separating now full of determina tion to grapple wfih these problems as Jhey now stand revealed and to finally solve them. In summary, the message which I should like to make clear to you all to- day is that the success of the London naval conference necessarily is related to the success of the Kellogg pact. The Rejected by Committee JUDGE JOHN —ASS0C1; J. PARKER. ated Press Photo. good resolutions of that pact cannot stand alone. They must be followed by national effort, prompt, constant, un- remitting effort to make them good and | no line of effort offers a better earnest of its success than the line of naval disarmazegt. In selecting that line President Hoover laid his finger upon the best method of insuring that our solemn promise of two years ago should be fulfilled. Only Two Courses Open. There are but two possible roads to travel. One is the road of competitive armament and this, whether accom- panied or unaccompanied by good inten- tions, will lead to war. The other is the way of limitation with its constant effort to forestall war by creating such confidence and friendliness between na- tions as will prevent the seeds of war from growing. We have now before us not only a definite objective, but a con- crete method of going at it. There is something to work on, to get our teeth into. The hard work and constant vigi- lance which will translate good inten- tions in practical realities can be ac- complished and are being accomplished by naval limitation. This, to me, is the significance and encouragement of the conference we have just been through. The following greeting from Presi- dent Hoover was read at the luncheon by Mr. Noyes “Frank B. Noyes, “President, Associated Press: “I would appreciate it greatly if you would extend my greetings to the an- nual mecting of the Associated Press. It is a great institution which daily renders intellectual service to the Amer- ican people with that fine impartiality and reliability that have given it high distinction. “It s & marvelous advancement of science that enables you to listen to an address from London by Secretary Stimson. The work of Secretary Stim- son and his colleagues at the conference has been carefully and fully transmitted over the wires of the Associated Press day by day for the past four months and thereby the American people have gained an appreciation of the problems which the conference has undertaken to solve and the difficulties they have met and the success that has resulted. “Their achievement marks another greal step in the maintenance of peace. Only the utmost courage and tenacity of the eminent men comprising all the delegations at London could have brought to so difficult a problem a solu- 1 fruitful of so many blessings. “The Assoclated Press and other press representatives have contributed ma- iy, for such negotiation in these s 15 not alone the work of the dele- gation, it must be responsive to national instinct and national aspiration. “Peace fundamentally is a state of mind and a-resolve of will of the whole people, Therefore the fidelity of the press Tepresentatives in reporting the course of the conference has played a large part in its success by giving all of our’ people an instant and comprehen- sive knowledge of the facts, and thus enabling the Nation itself to share in these negotiations. wish to compliment the Associated Press on the service it has rendered. HERBERT HOOVER.” Cooper Describes Work. Kent Cooper, general manager of the Associated Press, after outlining many of the complexities of the work of the Associated Press, said: Then, and not the easiest of all, is the relationship to the public. You'all know that many readers of your news- papers are convinced that they could edit your newspapers better than you. Well, all of this class in every com- munity combined feel individually and collectively that they could manage the Associated Press better than 1 can. Some do not hesitate to write me about it. Others write letters to the news- papers. Some say it In the magazines, The only comfort I can find is that each has a selfish complex. In reality, what they want is to have the Associ- ated Press exclude everything except that which is compatible with their own mental composure or which fur- thers their own selfish interes “Men consumed with the passion of partisanship can never believe that an institution which deals so intimately with human conflicts can remain free from international bias. That's why the Associated Press is alternately, and with equal force, charged by partisans with being liberal, conservative, wet, dry, Catholic, Protestant, Republican, Democratic, pro-labor, capitalistic, etc. 1t Is None of Those Things.” “As a matter of fact, it is none of those things. Nor has it the slightest concern as respects any of them except that it seeks the news of each of them. lere may be members of the board of directors who, as publishers, have lean- ings toward some one of these causes. Intrusted fully with the management of the news report, as I am, it never occmred to me to make note of their partisan interests. I do know they would not try to impose the; tisan views upon my, adminis the news report. Nor have they, nor could they. “Moreover, as intimate as T am with the staff of the Associated Press, no member of that staff has ever, by word of any partisan view of my own—if I have any.” ROUND-WORLD FEAT WINS PRAISE FOR A. P. By the Associated Press. PARIS, April 21.—The message dis- patched around the world by the As- sociated Press in two hours and five minutes on March 31 has_created ‘ex- traordinary interest in France and yesterday evening brought an expression of congratulation from Andre Mallarme, min'ster of posts and teleg M. larme, in ssage to the members of the Associated Press on the eve of their annual meeting, said: I greatly admire what you have done. You have succeeded in achieving with telegraphs and cables nearly as rapid communication as with a telephone. “I congratulate you upon your ef- forts and upon their result. I am very happy that French telegraph lines colinborated in this work of interna- tional union among the peoples.” All the leading Prench newspapers and the English-language newspapers published in Paris recorded the details of the feat. The Petit Parisien calls it “a master stroke” and Le Matin, Le Journel and other metropolitan dailies refer to it as “a happy idea of the Associated Press. or action, had from me an indication ! THE EVE\’NG STAR, WASHINGTON, WATCH CLUE BEST INBAKER MYSTERY Alibis Offered by Sisson and Gallagher Still Being Checked. ___(Continued From First Page.) & writ of habeas corpus. Gloth pointed out that a murder case is exempt from a habeas corpus proceeding. The lawyer also issued a statement which declared that Mrs. Sisson deplored the unfavora- ble newspaper publicity in connection with the arrest of her husband. Notoriety Is Deplored. plores what she considers unfavorable newspaper notoriety in connection with the charge placed against her husband, Meryin Sisson,” the lawyer said, “Mrs. Sisson is & person of culture and high standing in her community, as is her husband. She does not deny that her husband knew Miss Baker, but she is ready, able and willing to pro- | duce witnesses in large numvers that | will corroborate the iact that Si wn" was in his home continuously trom | Thursday until Saturday during the week of the crime. “Mrs. Sisson feels that any Investiga- tion at all would have conclusively con- viuced the authorities of her husband's innocence., Mrs. Sisson, like every other decent citizen, abhors the arto- cious murder of Miss Baker and is anx- jous that justice be done, but not at the expense of an innocent party. Architect Again Quizzed. ‘While the Arlington County authori- ties were completine their check on the | alibis of Sisson and Gallagher, the Washington 1nvestigators again ques- tioned Fred Wilson, the Government architect who lives in Takoma Park. He was closeted with detectives at headquarters for moke than an hour { yesterday. Wilson, according to the police, fur- nished but little additional . informa- | tion to help them in their investiga- | tion, although he did mention the name, it was said, of a naval officer. The police, however, are satisfied ne | had no_connection whatever with the | case. Miss Baker, it was explained, at one time worked in an office with the officer, but his relations with her were strictly of a business nature, ‘The Navy Department today denied reports that an inquiry had been ordered into this angle. After requestioning Wilson he was taken to Seventeenth and B streets and put into an automobile in the position three witnesses said they saw a man struggling at that point with Miss Baker a few hours before she is believed to have been murdered. One of these witnesses, Hugh R. Wood, a Govern- ment clerk, who accompanied the police to Seventeenth and B streets, looked closely at Wilson and said he was posi- tive he was not the man who was in the car. Wood also went to the Arlington County Jail, but could not identify either Sisson or Gallagher as the man in Miss Baker's car. W. H. Davies, a bus driver, who picked up & man near the spot where the girl's body was found, also viewed the two prisoners, but declared that neither was his pas- senger, Picked Among Four. Quertermous, who identified Sisson as the man from whom he had pur- chased an overcoat and watch on the night of the murder, picked out the Warsaw salesman from a line-up of four men in the Arlington County Jail. A second man in the line-up was Gal- |lagher. The other two were & news- paper reporter and Wood. Quertermous walked slowly In front of the four men, turned unhesitatingly to and tapped Sisson on the shoulder. “This is the man,” he said. Later the dredge foreman related that about 9:15 o'clock on.the night of April 11—the night Miss Baker was killed—a man approached himy walking from the direction where the woman's body was found. The man requested him, he said, to buy an overcoat and watch on the plea that he had been driving from Florida and had run out of gasoline and had no funds. - Quertermous said he had no money, but went to his home in Alexandria and returned with $15, which he gave the man for the coat and watch. These articles were turned over to the police last weck after the dredge foreman had read in the newspapers of the murder case and thought that the man who sold them might have had some con- nection with the crime, Conflict in Reports. A story was circulated that Querter- mous later had sold the watch to a man who could not be located. Detec- tives, however, insist they recovered the watch, although Inspector Shelby de- clared he had not “seen it.” In view of the failure of Lloyd, one of the laborers on the dredge with Quertermous, to support the foreman’s identification of Sisson, the Arlinglon County sauthorities are plannin: to bring other men from the dredge to the juil to look at the prisoners. Querter- mous insisted that about a dozen of the dredge crew witnessed the trans- action. Lloyd, however, stood and talk- ed with the man for sometime while he “Mrs. Sisson most emphatically de-| waited for the foreman to go to Alex- andria and return with the money. ‘The fact that Lloyd, who talked with the man, said Sissons positively was not the one who sold Quertermous the coat and watch made the identifica- | tion unsatisfactory to the Arlington County authorities. At the same time the bus driver who failed to identify | Sisson as his passenger revealed that he had picked up the man between 9:04 and 9:08 o'clock, whereas the fore- man placed the time of the transaction at 9:15 o'clock. The authorities are | certain, therefore, that the same man could not have been Involved in both incidents. Prints to Be Checked. While the Arlington County officials were preparing to bring more witnesses either to contirm or deny the identifica- tion of Sisson, members of the homi- cide squad of the Detective Bureau were in conference with Inspector Shelby discussing their course of action, In- spector Shelby revealed that the finger- prints of Sisson and Gallagher would be checked with those found on articles belonging to the slain woman, The Arlington County officials are still trying to determine how Miss Baker’s coat, hat and other personal effects got into the sewer manhole in the grounds of the Department of Agri- culture farm in view of statements of various investigators that they had looked into this place last Tuesday and found it to_be empty. Gloth, together with the Washington detectives, in- spected the sewer yesterday and said afterward they were certain the articles had not been there Tuesday. Gloth, however, said he doubted the articles were placed in the sewer by the man who murdered Miss Baker, ~Opening of the Circuit Cowrt in Ar- lington County today interfered serious- | ly with the activities of Gloth in con- tinuing his investigation of the case. Gloth said he would make an effort to be relieved from the trial of cases at this term of the court so he could give his_entire time to the solution of the crime, . Highway Congress Opens. MEXICO CITY, April 21 (#).—Presi- dent Ortiz Rublo, former President Portes Gil and high government officials | today attended the opening of the Third National Highway Congress. A number of American highway engineers, road builders and manufacturing representa- tives were preseat. MONDAY, APRIL 21 THRONGS MAKE MERRY WITH EASTER EGGS ON WHITE HOUSE LAWN Top: General view of the grounds at the rear of the White House, which were opened today for the customary egg rolling festivities on Easter Monday. Lower who b ght his bunny. Lower ht: Little Miss Shirley S lattery at the first aid station. —Star Staff Photos. lett: Robert Ritchi THOUSANDS THRONG WHITE HOUSE LAWN TO ROLL EASTER EGGS ___(Continued From First Page.) forced mother or daddy to the sloping ground, where they mixed the yellow of egg yolks with the green of the grass in & way no artist could have improved And bere, on the knoll nearest the eastern fence of the grounds, occurred one of the first accidents of the day. A little chap—four old, he was —liked his eggs fast and he liked 'em furious. He fielded bounding eggs as well as any American league veteran. Then & particularly purple egg, the kin that scems to_ glow, plowed across the turf, and the little fellow stretched out his hands to catch it. Just as the egg neared the youngster, it struck a bit of high turf and bounded into the air, but still it held its course. Everything would have been all right, except this was one egg on which Mr. Bunny Rabbit must have fallen down. There was a peculiarly familiar “fresh” sort of cracking. The little boy stared. The egg was stuck fast to his thumb and his thumb was inside! And that’s not all, for the inside of the egg which the thumb so thoroughly ejected, was plattered all over one of the prettiest new playsuits seen on the White House lot. ‘There was a yowl of a broken heart and a mother was comforting her “Randolph, Junior” with admonitions to be “brave, before the President sees ou.” YAt that particular moment, Mr. Hoo- ver was at his desk in the executlve affices, but he came out later and waved at the children from the White House portico. Mrs, Hoover, who greet her little Visitors, was not expected on the portico. She has been suffering from a strained back and has been confined to her room. The last word from her was that she would Le out to see the children if she possibly could. Mrs. James J. Davis, wife of the Sec- retary of Labor, and her four little girls, Jane, Jean, Joan and Jewel, all in schoolgirl dark blue tams, dark blue jackets and dark blue pleated skirts, were on hand. They could not resist the circle games led by the Girl Scouts and went down into them, It was 11 o'clock when the formal program began. The Girl Reserves of the Young Women's Christian Asso- clation presented a group of costumed dances and as they frolicked in the wind little children watched shiveringly from their lofty perches on parcntal shoulders while others stood hoveringly in the front line with their Eastor basket clutched tightly and untouched. ‘The Girl Reserves ended their number with the winding of the tallest of the three Maypoles on the grounds. Half an hour later the Friendship House program was staged in the form of & dancing story. It was the tale of a little boy who doubted that fairies really existed, and who belleved only when he saw flowers, really fairies, of course— lift sad heads and dance away. Then even later—at 2 o'clock—a group of young dancers from Neighborhood House disported in the dances of na- tions. “Two Maypoles, each crowned with big bunnies, were wound in their gay colors by these dancers. Girl Scouts, who throughout the morning had performed tasks of kind. had hoped to I;ALA_NCING EGG BOOMS BUSINESS UNTIL POLICE INTERRUPTS GAME Judge Dismisses Case, However, After Arresting Officer Suspects Gambling. By the Associated Press. EVANSTON, Ill, April 21.—Augustus ‘Thompson, & reasonably big butter and egg man, had a hunch he could sell more eggs. He had a snappy idea, to wit: In walks a customer. Customer sees big basket of eggs, remarks that they look nice. Thompson propositions him, say- ing: “Eggs, yes, sir. What this coun- try needs at this time of year is eggs. Bigger and better eggs. What is Easter without eggs? Practically nothing. I'll tell you what I'll do. Take one of these delicious, fresh-laid eggs. If you can make it stand on its nose on the counter I will give you a half dozen free. If you cannot, then you buy half a dozen ‘There is nothing that will bestir a customer’s sporting blood like attempt- ing to stand an egg on its nose. Strong men have been known to break down and cry all over the place after hours of fruitless endeavor, but they always are ready to try again. Business became brisk. The Thomp- son cash register began playing sweet music. A police officer entered. He saw cus- tomers frenziedly trying to make the ovals balance. To his legal mind it looked like something was rotten in Denmark, or in Evanston, so he ar- rested Thompson for selling eggs under false pretenses or running a gambling game. Judge Russ dismissed the charge. “I take it.” said the officer to the judge, “that you feel the selling system was warranted by the eggsigencies of the situation." ‘hat's it,” said the court, “eggs- actly. Defendant eggscused.” st” children, present- ed a series of bright Spring dances. Each number on the program was marked by shifting throngs who swept from egg-rolling on grassy knolls to the roped arenas. Music for the fes- tivitles was arranged by the United States Marine Band, under the direc- tion of Capt. Taylor Branson. Last year, they said there were 47, 000 visitors to the White House grounds for the egg-rolling festival and today from the time the gates were opened at 10 o'clock, a continuous stream of little boys and little girls, and big boys and big girls. and mothers and fathers were pouring into the grounds. CENSUS MEN'GATHERING DATA ON UNEMPLOYMENT Secretary Lamont Has Special Bu- reau to Classify Figures as Early as Possible By the Assoclated Press. Unemployment figures gathered in the census now under way are ex- pected by Secretary Lamont to be ready within a few months after com- pletion of the count. He sald today that while complete classification of the unemployed in the country probably would take nearly a year, & special bureau had been set up in the department to classify at the earliest possible time those who are actually out of work and are look- ing for jobs. British Boat Beached in China. SHANGHALI, April 21 (#)—The British river gunboat Peterel struck a rock and has been beached in the Yangtze Kiang near Chang-Show while en route from Ichang to Chungking. MISS ELDRIDGE DIES; DISTRICT TEACHER Prepared Wilson Normal Schooll Students for Class Work. Miss Harriet Dayton Eldridge, normal | practice teacher of the Wilson Normal | School and a teacher in the local pub- lic school system for the past 22 years, died at the home of her mother, Mrs. Emma H. Eldridge, 2017 Park road, early today after a long fliness. Miss Eldridge prepared the pupils of the Wilson Normal School for class teaching in the first grade at the Henry D. Cooke School. Prior to teaching the normal school pupils she taught at the Cooke School and the Wheatley School. She was a graduate of Columbia Uni- versity and George Washington Univer- sity, and was a member of the Women's University Club and the College Wom- en’s Club. She also belonged to the Foundry M. E. Church. Miss Eldridge was formerly president of the Swartzell Methodist Home for Children until relinquishing her duties because of failing health. She is survived by her mother, two sisters, Miss Pearle Eldridge and Miss Beryl Eldridge of this city, and three brothers, Albert D. and Irving Eldridge. both of this city, and Chauncey T. Eld- ridge of Miami, Fla. Puneral services will be conducted at the residence of her mother, on Park road, tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock. SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE’S VOTE | __ (Continued From First Page.) request from Judge Parker they did not think it necessary to call him. Furthermore, it was pointed out, if Judge Parker were given a hearing, some of his opponents probably would demand a further hearing. Members | of the committee said they desired to 'act on the nomination without further delay. Labor Renews Attack. Organized labor renewed its attack upon the nominee through spokesmen last night. Statements were issued by William Green, president of the Ameri- can Federation of Labor, and by John L. Lewis, international president of the United Mine Workers. In his statement Mr. Green said: “The evidence is conclusive that Judge Parker believes in the ‘vellow dog contract’ and because he believes in the ‘vellow dog contracts’ it is reasonable fo conclude that he would sustain it and approve it if he became a member of the Supreme Court of the United States and if the issue were presented to him. This, in a large measure, is the basis of labor, objection to Judge Parker, “The ‘yellow dog contract’ which Judge Parker approved and sustained in the Red Jacket Consolidated Coal & Coke Co. case has enslaved thousands of distressed workers in the coal mines of Southern West Virginia. More than 300 coal corporations joined in the request for the injunction which was granted by Judge McClintic and which was sustained, on an appeal, by Judge Parker.” Mr. Lewis asked “why lay another lash across the tortured shoulders of the struggling mine workers oy plac- ing in a position of vastly increased power a man who regards them as in- dustrial bondmen?" TORONTO WARNS LIQUOR EXPORTERS ON BORDER Warehouse Stocks Ordered Cleared as Inspectors Find Huge Stocks Awaiting Shipment. By the Associated Press. TORONTO, April 21.—Provincial po- lice and the attorney general's depart- ment have issued a warning to liquor exporters along the Windsor border to empty and _discontinue using liquor storage warehouses. At the border warehouses inspectors found huge stocks of liquors awaiting shipment across the St. Clair River. ‘This is in contravention of the liquor control board’s warning that shipments of liquors should be made direct from the railway box cars or trucks to the holds of the boats. Otherwise the de- partment takes the attitude that the liquor is being held for some illegal pur- pose. ‘Three thousand agents of the Co-op- Interment will be at Charlotte, N. C., Wednesday. erative Insurance Society of England rm’uy went on strike. REJECTS PARKER! EDITORS ATTACK LIBEL INDICTMENTS Casey Files Plea in Abate- ment in Montgomery County Action. By a Staft Correspondent. ROCKVILLE, Md., April 21.—Attacks { on three of the nine indictments re- cently returned by the Montgomery County grand jury, charging the present and three former editors of the Mont- gomery Independent with criminal libel, were filed in the Montgomery County Criminal Court here today. Two of the three indictments against Walter S. Casey, the present managing editor of the Independent, were made the basis of pleas in abatement, and the joint indictment of Harris B. French and Walter W. Liggett, former editors of the paper, was attacked on behalf of Prench. The other former editors, ' Morris Bealle and Walter W. Liggett, who also were indicted, have not yct been taken into custody and no action has been taken by their counsel as to the cases pending against them. Proceedings Are Questioned. The pleas, generally, attack the legality of the proceedings in the grand jury room at the time when certain county officials appeared before the inquisitorial body to demand the investigation which resulted in the return of the indict- ments. The indictments are attacked on 12 counts. Counsel for Casey said today he had elected to go to trial on the indictment which alleges that he published a libel against the county commissioners and E. Brooke Lee on March 14. The in- dictment takes as a basis for the alleged libel the publication of pictures purport- ing to show unimproved roads on Main street, in Spring Lake Park, a subdivision near Halpine. Judge Robert Peter, sitting in the Montgomery Criminal Court, said he would not set the pleas down for argu- ment until he had conferred with his associates on the bench, Chief Judge Hammond Urner and Jehn S. Newman, both of Frederick. In the event the | court rules against the defendants on {their motion filed today, Judge Peter said the trial also would depend on when the other justices could come to Rockville to participate #h the hearing. The defendants have indicated that they wanted & full bench at the hearing of the arguments on their pleas. Claims Right Was Prejudiced. The first point of attack by the de- fendant is that the county commis- sioners were in the grand jury room while it was examining in the matter of the presentment of an indictment against him. These officials, the plea alleges, were allowed to hear, see and ascertain the proceedings of the grand jury, contrary to the laws of Mary- land, and they allege that these acts prejudiced the right of the defendant, Casey. The plea sets out a long state- ment of the county commissioners and alleges that its reading to the grand Jury by Joseph C. Cissel was contrary to the practice of the court and Mary- land laws. Two other pleas allege that certain of the commissioners were al- lowed in the grand jury room at the time that Benjamin C. Perry, presi- dent, and Lacy Shaw, vice president of the board, were sworn and testified. ‘The alleged act of Capt. Cissel, who is counsel for the board of commis- sioners, in instructing the grand jury as to matters upon which the indictment | was returned, was attacked in another plea. It alleges that Capt. Cissel is not a judge i nthe Circuit Court for | Montgomery, not the State's attorney for Montgomery County nor his deputy, not attorney general of Maryland nor his deputy, and was not authorized by the Criminal Court or entitled by law to advise the grand jury as to the law. Another part of the statement of Capt. Cissel is made the basis of another plea. Says Jury Was “Inflamed.” ‘That part of the statement of Capt. Cissel in which he is alleged to have called to the attention of the grand jury that the commissioners were pre- senting a file of the Independent and informing them that the board was | without means of protection against { criminally libelous attacks against their characters, it is alleged, “tended to in- flame and did inflame the minds of the grand Jury against your defendant.” The plca also attacks the alleged act of Capt. Cissel in marking with a red pencil certain articles in the Independ- ent for the purpose of advising the grand jury that they were libelous. The plea also sets out the statement alleged to have been presented in the grand jury room by Lee, and charges that this was prejudicial to the rights of the defendant. It attacks also the presentation by Lee of a 50-page brief purporting to set out the law governing the matters upon which the indicg- ments were returned, as laid down by the Maryland Court of Appeals and other State courts. This act, it is 4 charged, is contrary to the Maryland law and to the practice of the court. It also is charged that in one part of his statement Lee instructed the grand jury as to its duty, explaining the matters upon which the indictment was returned. Another part of Lee's statement is attacked on -the ground that it inflamed the minds of the grand jurymen. Pleas Are Identical. The pleas in abatement, filed in the three cases today, were identical. The plea filed in behalf of French was for the indictment which charges him with a criminal libel in conenction with the alleged publication of an article, last February, attacking the tax rate. One of the Casey in- dictments attacked today was the re- sult of an alleged article published on February 14, charging that it libeled the county commissioners in connec- [ tion with a statement of diserimina- tions in tax assessments. The other indictment attacked on behalf of Casey is alleged to have libeled the commis- sioners in a story on the Leeland street connection to the new East-West High- way in the Bethesda district. ‘The pleas were filed on behalf of the defendant by Attorneys F. Barnard Welsh, Edward Peter, Miss Vivian Simpson and John E. Oxley WAVE CAUSES DAMAGE No Loss of Life Is Reported by. Huge Roller MEXICO CITY, April 21 (#).—Holy week excursionists returning _from Acapulco, Pacific seaport, reported that a gigantic wave swept the beach there last Friday causing much damage but no_loss of life. The wave swept over hundreds of automobiles parked on the beach, drenching many tourists who had camped along the seashore. Many large fish were left stranded when the water receded. Women Better Enumerators, NEW YORK, April 21 (#).—In_the wilds of Greater New York women have proved to be better census enumerators than men. A supervisor in the Borough of Queens has found that women per- severed where men failed on the islets in Jamaica Bay and in swampy areas. House Passes Anthem Bill. By the Associated Press. o The Linthicum bill to designate “The stnt; Spangled Bnaner” ubm:h:lgom anthem was passed today by louse ’ ’