Evening Star Newspaper, December 15, 1930, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Cloudy ard colder tonight and tomor- row, probably snow; lowest tonight aboui 18 degrees: Temperatures—Highest, 39, at 12:30 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 34, at 7:40 am. today. Full report on page 4. Closing N.Y. Markets, Pages13, 14 & 15 b ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION No. 31,639. post office, Entered as second class matter ‘Washington, 3 D. C ASHINGTON, D. Oy MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1930—FORTY-SIX ¢ Foening Star, “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. Saturday’s Circulation, 113,023 Sunday’s Circulation, 121,428 PAGES. ###% GOUP 70 ESTABLISH REPUBLIC IN' SPAIN QUICKLY PUT DOWN LEADERS IN FLIGHT Government Declares Situa- ¥on in Control After Army Stays Loyal—Franco Named as One of Leaders. REBELS TAKE AIRDROME; FEDERALS RECAPTURE IT Rebellion Fails After * Shower Circulars, Constitutional Government, Over Capital—San Sebastian Govern- ment Mouse Is Stormed. Aviators Proclaiming By the Associated Press. MADRID, December 15.—An- other revolutionary movement burst upon Spain today. But it was shortlived, the government asserted in a report declaring that the situation was under control, the rebellious elements had been dispersed and that the army everywhere had remained over- whelmingly loyal. The new revolt had its base at} a government airdrome mnear| Madrid from which rebel pilots flew over the capital proclaiming a2 republic in circulars showered upon the city. Loyal troops, the government announced, captured the airport and put the rebels to! flight. One of these, it was said, was Ramon Franco, the pic- turesque young aviator who be- came the idol of Spain through his exploits in the air. Martial Law Proclaimed. Martial law was declared throughout the kingdom but the government em- phatically denied reports that the rebel- lion had flared into labor riots in sev- eral citics. The most serious incident of this kind, it was reported, was at San Sebastian where civillan rioters Isj |SENSE OF PUBLIC General Relieved by BY REX COLLIER. Gen. Pershing has revealed in an in- terview the difficulties in writing a war story as comprehensive as that soon to be published under his name by the members of the North American Newspaper Alli- ance and by a few other selected newspapers. ‘The story will appear only in The Star in Washington and will start on Jan- uary 12. “Writing a book on the World War proved to be a big assignment,” general of the Armies seid, as he leaned back with the air of one re- Gen. Pershing tion of an arduous 2 ask. “At times I thought I would never be able to finish the job, and I doubt that I ever would have done so had it the | lieved at comple- | DUTY BACK OF PERSHING'S STORY ON WAR Completion of Tough Assignment—Appears in Star in Serial Form Starting January 12. not been for the importunities of my friends.” Gen. Pershing undoubtedly used the word “assignment” advisedly. This was an assignment not of his own choosing, but one having its origin in what he regarded as a sense of, public duty. There was an obligation that rested heavily upon him, he came to realize— | an obligation to tell the wxzole story | America's part in the Great War, and especially of the part played by the indomitable doughboy. Had Outline in Diary. “My friends impressed upon me that I had the full perspective of the war picture and that unless I transferrcd that picture into permanent form it might never take complete shape,” Gen. Pershing explained, “Fortunately, I had the skeleton of | the picture in my diary, which I had ikept religiously from the day I was or- | dered to France until lpng after my return. story while I was serving as chief of staff in 1924. The first draft was really nothing more than an outline. I worked on it intermittently from that forward, amd there were times when I (Continued on Page 2, Column YEGGMAN KILLED BY POLICE BULLET Comrade Dying FoIIowing‘ Gun Battle as Robbery Is Thwarted. One 69-year-old yeggman is dead and another gravely injured today after a spectacular battle with police, who sur- prised the pair attempting to break into the rear door of a grocery near Fourteenth and U streets last midnight. Both men hayve served numerous prison terms since 1920 following their arrest in various parts of Canada and the United States on charges ranging from vagrancy to safe-blowing. James Powers, 69 years old, was killed der the heart. His companion, Walter Moran, 59 years old, was shot down near the grocery door with a slug in his neck and another in his lungs. He is ?:tl!‘eved dying at Freedmen's Hospital ay. Moran insists he knows Powers only as “Harris,” although a comparison of thumbprints and photographs of the | pair, made by the Identification Bureau of the Department of Justice, revealed | they had similar careers of crime and | invaded the governor’s offices ang beat some of the guards. % to have fled by air to ths frontier. Meanwhile, civil froops and police were guarding out of the country to pre- escape by those routcs. the rebels proclaimed President of “the repub- .” In the afternoon there was mar- tial law throughout the kingdom and King Alfonso appcared once more to have saved his crown. ‘The movement broke out similarly in Bilbao, where circulars were distributed throughout the city. All business and industries were closed and the workmen went on to the streets to stage demon- strations for the projected new govern- ment. Civil guards fired into one group | of Republican sympathizers, killing one person and wounding another. ‘The movement follows a revolt of the military garrison at Jaca, in the Pyrenees, Friday, which was put down Saturday at dawn with a battle at Ayerbe Pass, near Huesca. Two ring- | Ilcaders of the movement were executed by a firing squad Sunday afternoon. Text of Manifesto. ‘The manifesto from the air read: “Last night the republican movement | began throughout Spain. The people 2nd the army have brought it aocut. News has been received from the prov- inces confirming success of the move- ment as expected. ““To forestall the danger of passions being unloosed. to protect the innocent, and to show the whole world that the Spanish people know how to rule their own destinies in accordance with mod- ern ideas, it is necessary for you to join the movement and thus prevent suf- fering. “If from weakness or lack of civic consciousness you oppose this move 'i (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) GIRL SHOOTS SELF IN ROCKVILLE HOME Miss Louise Sullivan Reported in Critical Condition From Shotgun Wounds. guar vent. Special Dispatch to The Star ROCKVILLE, Md., December 15— Miss Louise Sullivan, 21 years old, who lives on West Montgomery avenue is in a critical condition at the Mont- gomery County General Hospital suf- fering from a self-inflicted shotgun wound in her abdomen. Dr. J. W. Bird of the hospital staff performed an operation soon after her arrival, shortly before noop, but held out little hope for her recovery. Authorities were told that the young a housekeeper at the home of Mr. Mrs. Thomjps H. Young, had prop- ped a shotgun against the wall in the kitchen. She pressed the muzzle against her groin and in some way pulled the ‘girl was found by neighbors who girl, end probably knew each other well. Prison on a safe blowing ehrfi, lice records show. He also had gon_ rested Omal Nebr.; Vaficouver, in ha, Cttl;:llil. and A'.ll{nlcl City.kozl charges of ng a vagrant, pickpocket and bad check artist. 1In 1925, Powers was sentenced to four years in the Federal Penlgm.hry at Atlanta for stealing Governmient prop- erty. Under various aliases, he did time in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and West Virginia State prisons on charges of robbery, grand and petty larceny— about 13 years in all. Yeggmen Open Fire. A colored man, who explained he had done both professional an amateur sleuthing—Timothy McDonald—saw the | two slip into a dark alley behind a| chain grocery at 1935-1937 Fourteenth | street. When they began to pry at the | rear door of the grocery, McDonald notified No. 8 precinct. While Pvts. 1. L. Murphy and 8. F. Malone were speeding to the scene in a police roadster, McDonald saw Pvt. T. C. Lewis alight from a street car on 21; way to No. 8 precinct to report for | uty. McDonald told Lewis of the burglary attempt and Lewis hurried into the | alley. He pushed open a gate in a| fence about 10 yards behind the rear door of the grocery and saw two men at | work there, one holding a flashlight while the other pried at the door with a pick. _Lewis got out his gun and, still hold- | (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) HOLDS 3 DE | ETROITERS FOR JURY TAMPERING. Prosecutor Orders Arrest of Menf During Investigation of Jerry Buckley Murder. By the Associated Press DETROIT, December 15.—Three men were arrested early today on orders of Harry 8. Toy, prosecuting attorney, and held for investigation -in connection with alleged “tampering” with witnesses | before the 22-man Wayne County grand | jury. | One of those held is Richard Hy- land, 30, who operates a parking lot across the street from a side entrance of the Hotel Detroiter, formerly the La Salle Hotel, in the lobby of which Jerry | Buckley, radio political commentator, was killed July 23. It developed with the arrests that the | “mystery witness” who last Friday gave the jury wtat was described as new and outright, a bullet through his chest un- | ge, FOUR LIVES LOST INBOAT EXPLOSION 130 of 135 Persons Aboard Excursion Craft Saved After Fire. By the Associated Press. MIAMI BEACH, Fla., December 15.— Four persons lost their lives in the explosion and fire aboard the glass- bottom excursion boat. Eyreka II yes- terday, an unofficial check disclosed today. One other person was unac- counted for and 130 of the 135 pas- sengers on the boat had been brought safely to_shore. Three bodies were brought here and another was reported aboard a disabled flshlnhl‘ craft somewhere south of Miami acl were H. C. Grimm, passenger; Clarence Vine, 30, Haverhill, Mass., a deck hand, and Mrs. Mamie Sawyer, 45, Miami, whose identity was not established until today. Only Small Wreckage Found. Skippers of rescue boats which re- turned here shortly before noon after an all-night search reported finding only small bits of wreckage floating on the water in the vicinity of the disaster. hAfl:ex‘z’: olhv;lt!d confusion, attended Yy ou women and el g children - by survivors of jammed the e capacity crowd two decks of the 105-foot boat. Smoke from the engine room, on the craft's return trip here, they said, first gavi notice of the mishap and was followed by three explosions. Four of the survivors, including Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Chapman, Akron, Ohio, were treated for exposure at hospitals. Heroic Rescue Stories Numerous. Heroic stories of the rapid rescue Jperations were numerous, Sighting the fire through binoculars, P, W. Miller, retired grocery executive of Cincinnati, abandoned a pleasure trip and brought 83 of the survivors ashore on his yacht, the Lois Ann. Some estimated that 20 to 25 children were passengers on the Eureka II. The crew of the yacht Dorothea, which picked up 30 persons, took a baby from the arms of a father who said “save my baby” when he learned the Dorothea could not care for additional survivors. A child was tossed to the deck of a fishing tug and brought here and re- united with its parents, rescued by an- other craft. First Mate Al Styles, brot of Capt. Clarence Styles of the Eurekd II,-said all passengers had ample time to don life preservers after the first explosion occurred and that there were many more preservers than there were pas- sengers. shoal” water, which accounts for the small loss of life,” he said. The boat was valued at $75,000. Fred G. Norman, New York City po- lice sergeant, was a survivor with his wife and their 13-year-old son. scribing the catastrophe, he said: “Panic reigned. No one gave or tried to organize the situation.’ “Two men started pulling down life preservers and distributing them,” Nor- man continued. “They were in the racks between decks. There were no lifeboats orders | that I saw. Orchestra Played Like Heroes, “A three-piece orchestra kept playing like heroes. They were a piano player, a saxophone player and a drummer, and they tried valiantly to save the situation. “The orchestra was among the last to leave the boat,” Norman asserted. “I ‘was among the last of them, t0o.” Among the survivors were Wayne R. Coe and Charles H. Coe of Washington. BONUS HELD STIMULANT ROCHESTER, N. Y., December 15 (#). FOUR NEW POWER GROUP APPOINTEES GET SENATORS'C.K. Action on McNinch Delayed to Allow Latest Member of Upper House to Arrive, MORRISON’S ATTITUDE of MAY CHANGE STATUS Successor to Overman Supported Bailey, Who Opposes Nominee, but Bar Backs Latter. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. ‘The nomination of four of President I wrote the first draft of my | Hoover's appointees to the new Federal Power Commission were ordered favor- ably reported to the Senate today by Those known to have lost their lives | Smith Democratic organization in North 60, McCook, Nebr., a | Carolina in 1928. “My brother headed the boat into |defective. —To qualify for Christmas cash bonus salesmen of the Todd Protectograph Co. must agree to spend it in their respec- important information about the Buck- ley case is Jack Latour, night atfend- ant at the parking lot. tive communities. ‘The announcement has been mailed to all the firm’s branch offices. SOUGHT SO THEY heard the shot. Miss Sullivan was alone in the house when she fired the 8| Mr. and Mrs. Young are during the day. She had been with them for some time and her parents are said to live fiear Orange, Va, A note was found jh her possessions that her be notified. Friends are unable to ascertain any motive for the young woman to suicide. She was in cheerful . Three Earthquakes. Felt h;!l!key. MAY GET REWARD Latham Foundation, Through Evening Star, Seeks to Give Gold Medals to Beasts Which Risked Lives for Cause. Does the District of Columbia boast an animal hero? . One fit to worry a bone, say, with the California sheep dog called Laddie which scorched his toes and his chopsfrom geting themselves griicd emselves che?g:m mv!-enu walls of lm'm Or fit to share a salmon, say, with the Oregon alley cat which clawed his way ohto the front pages when he de- fended his pal, a toddling 2-year-old the attacks of a big dog’ Just how they pinned the medal on Tony, the alley cat, the writer of the burning question failed to mention. It was mentioned, however, that if the District ¢? Columbia can bring forth an anima --any animal that runs, hops, swims o just sits in a cage—worthy of a seat with the vallant, that animal, too, may receive a gold The Latham Foundation is the award for public ml‘tbn of the sort of courage that in dumb and The Evening Star will transmit vo it “nominations” for hero awards, Have you any suggestions? If so, write to the “Animal Award Editor” of The Star, L the Committee on Interstate Com- merce. The nominations were those of Dr. George Otis Smith of Maine, for many years a director of the United States Geological Survey, to be chairman of the commission; Ralph B. Willlamson of Oregon, Marcel Garsaud of Louisiana and Claude L. Draper of Wyoming. Action on the nomination of the fifth member of the commission appointed by Mr. Hoover, Frank R. McNinch of North Carolina, was postponed until 2:30 p.m. tomorrow. , New Senator May Appear. This postponement was made in or- der to give an opportunity to the new- 1y appointed Senator from North Caro- lina, former Gov. Cameron Morrison, to appear before the Senate commirtee if he desires and make a statement about the McNinch nomination. Mr. Morrison is expected to come to Washington elther late today or to- morrow to take the oath of office His appointment to fill the vacancy in the Senate caused by the death of Senator Overman was announced Saturday by Gov. Gardner of North Carclina. Had McNinch’s nomination been voted on today it would have been favorably reported, in all probability. Led Anti-Smith Forces. McNinch was the leader of the anti- His appointment to the Federal Power Commission has been strongly opposed by Democrats who remained loyal to the Democratic ticket headed by Alfred E. Smith in 1 s still_wondering to- " (Continued on Page 2, Column 8.) —_— SHAPIRO ACQUITTED OF FRAUD CHARGE Claim That Indictment Was Defective. Granting a defense motion for a di- rected verdict of acquittal in District Supreme Court today, Assoclate Justice Peyton Gordon abruptly terminated the trial of Jacob Shapiro, local real estate dealer, charged with accepting money under false pretenses. Some 10 other indictments of a sim- ilar nature, brought against Shapiro as & result of a senatorial investiga- tion of his alleged sale of property, burdened with “hidden trusts” remain outstanding. The defendant was placed on trial for tHe first time several days ago. Justice Gordon ruled the indictment on which Shapiro was being tried was He sald the transaction made the basis of the case had been improperly set forth in the “induce- ment” of the indictment. He decided it failed to show that the alleged mis- representations were intended to mis- lead the purchasers. Defective Indictment Claimed. ‘The indictment was built around the alleged sale by Shapiro to Mr. and Mrs. ‘W. Calhoun Furr of a house which bore a secret trust of $2,500. “The statement of facts,” Gordon de- clared, “fails to show that the repre- sentation was in any respect calculated "~ (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) WORKERS PRESENT RELIEF PROGRAM Delegation Headed by Thomas, Prominent Socialist, Calls on Congress Leaders. By the Assoclated Press. A delegation of workers’ representa- tives, Socialists and industrial reform- ers appeared before congressional lead- ers today to demand immediate relief HEROIC FEATS OF CAPITAL ANIMALS | tssisiation. Headed by Norman Thomas, promi- nent Socialist, they asked appropriation of $500,000,000 to match relief funds provided by localities, of $100,000,000 for State-aid unemployment relief and the speeding of public works construction to the limit. ‘The first visit was to Chairman Jones of the Senate Appropriations Commit- tee. He expected “sympathy” with Meanwhile, the White House police force was augmented because of word that a demonstration would be staged. ‘The delegation was expected to reach the White House later. Included on its list were Speaker orth; Senator Robinson and Representative Garner the Democratic floor leaders. The delegation included: Charles W. Ervin, New York City, Amalgamated oit of Mayor. Murphys Rebef Com yor Murphy's ‘om- 3 Gelman, Baltimore, Maryland Socialist ¥y, and John W. Edelman, Philadelphia, representing Roslery workers. - 2 ! effect in suburban Montgomery County, MR. MICAWBER F THAT SOMETHING IS ABOUT “TO TURN UP”| WIDER BILLBOARD CURB IS EXPECTED i Montgomery Delegation Be- | hind Extension to All Parts of County. Regulation of billboards, already in probably will be extended throughout the entire county at the 1931 session of the Maryland General Assembly, State Senator-elect Robert G. Hilton declared today. Such a movement would be entirely in accord and support of the tivic cam- paign now being waged to bring about the regulation and eventual removal of most of the organized billboards and “illegal” signs that dot the roadsides leading into the National Capital. With FPederal authorities doing everything possible to put the Capital in readiness Assem+ bly would have a significant bearing on these efforts. Mr. Hilton was outspoken in favor of the movement to extend regulation of billboards to all parts of Montgomery County, which -provides many of the main arteries of travel into the National Capital. At the same time, he reviewed what Montgomery County officials al- ready have done to prevent the spread of roadside signs, without which steps conditions in suburban Maryland would be a great deal worse than they now are. Delegation Backs Move. “I certainly will be in favor of legis- | lation, that will stand the test of the | courts, looking toward curtailment of all | outdoor advertising, as it disfigures the | scenic beauty of the county,” Mr. Hilton declared. The entire legislative delegation, as | well as the Montgomery County com- | missioners, is solidly behind the move- ment to banish billboards, Mr. Hilton said, but the difficulty lies in formulat- ing }aglshflnn which the courts will uphol “It s likely that a regulatory bill will be introduced in the Legislature when we go to Annapolis in January,” the Senator asserted. “I do not know whether it will be possible to enact a law banning signboards entirely, but some legislation looking to their regu iation, at least, probably will be passed. Under the legislative practice in Mary- land the unified advocacy of any meas- ure by a county delegation is almost tantamount to the passage of the meas- ure, provided it affects only the district desiring it. At present no regulations regarding billboards outside of the Maryland- Morning Shopping Is the Best The local stores report a larger number of sales and a greater amount of mer- chandise being sold this Christmas season than last. It is expected that the in- crease in sales over a year ago will be sufficiently large to result in increase in busi- ness in dollars and cents. Shopping is unusually ac- tive and people are urged to do their shopping in the morning as far as possible for their own comfort and convenience. There are only eight more shopping days until Christ- mas. Plan your shopping for tomorrow from - the advertising of attractive things in today’s Star. Yesterday’s Advertising (Local Display) ‘Agate Lines The Sunday Star. . .122,519 2d Newspaper..... 58,973 3d Newspaper.... . 54,143 . 113,116 WATSON DEFENDS PRESIDENT ON DROUGHT-RELIEF PROGRAM Denies Co-Operation Has Broken Down. Democrats Oppose Tentative Agreement and Demand Hoover Restriction. By the Associated Press. Senator Watson, the Republican leader, today defended President Hoover's drought relief program in the Senate. ‘The Indianan, who has differed with the President on some matters of late, denied the program of co-operation promised by leaders of both parties on emergency relief had broken down. ‘Taking the floor soon after the $116,- 000,000 public works bill had been sent to conference and just before consid- eration of the Treasury appropriation bill was begun, the majority chieftain sald the President was “amply justified” in his recommendations. Meanwhile the administration’s $30,- 000,000 drought relief program was laid fore the House by Chairman Haugen of the Agriculture Committee with the request that it be considered under sus- pension of the rules. Watson specified that he recognized mended by the President, if it saw fit, However, he said the Preside based his recommendation on state- ments made to him by the American Red Cross to the effect that that organ- (Continued on Page 2, Column 17.) §800,000 FIRE RAGES IN-MOVIE. COLONY Nineteen Fashionable Homes Burned—Occupants Flee in Nightclothes. By the Assoclated Press. LOS ANGELES, December 15.—Fash- ionable Malibu Beach, colony of film stars and wealthy business and profes- slonal folk, was shaken by a mysterious blast and ravaged by fire today. Nineteen residences, as well as many expensive automobiles, were destroyed, with a loss estimated by officials at more than $800,000. Only eight of the homes were occupied. ‘The homes of many leading film stars and other Hollywood celebrities were burned. Among those who suffered losses were Louise Fazenda, Marie Pre- vost, Allen Dwan, George de Sylva, James Malcolm Taylor and Oliver C. Marsh. Fashionable Residences Destroyed. Other homes destroyed included those of Frank Fay, Broadway comedian; A. L. Rockett, film producer; Leo McCarey, former boxing promoter and now a film director, and Ben Hendricks, jr., actor. The stars themselves, with a long list of week end guests, were driven into the biting morning cold. Shortly after 2:30 am. a terrific ex- plosion awakened the sleeping residents along the beach. The blast occurred near the home of De Sylva, noted song writer. The home of De Sylva became a mass of flames almost immediately, and in a few minutes an adjoining resi- dence roared as a brisk north wind fanned the flames. Residents Shiver in Cold. From - house to house the flames spread, and out of the dwellings ran panic-stricken occupants, to shivering in scanty night clothing as the cold north wind sought them out. Braving the cold and danger, the beach residents joined the firefighters from three nearby county stations, Later the Santa Monica Fire Depart- ment apparatus fought the blaze. After almost three hours of futile effort the wind shifted, affording the weary fighters an opportunity to halt the fire. Los Angeles County officials stated that the great headway made by the blaze was due to firefighters being compelled to draw water by suction’ from the ocean and inlets, clogging hose with sand. WOOD T0 CONTINUE - FIGHT ON RAISES Says He Will Try to Put Pay Increase Prohibition in Agriculture Bill. The fight in the House over increases the administration’s three-year program for bringing the various grades of salaries up to an average is not yet over as far as Chairman Wood of the House Appropriations Committee is con- cerned. The House Appropriations Committee meets in executive session tomorrow morning to report out the agricultural appropriation bill. Although the so-called Wood amend- ment, which would prohibit the pay- ment of any increases in salary within grades, was decisively defeated in the House last Friday on the Interior De- partment appropriation bill, Chairman Wood will endeavor to have a similar probibition written into the agricul- tural appropriation bill, on the ground that in one bill, the Treasury-Post Office bill, the House by a decisive vote declared in favor of prohibiting salary increases, and in another bill, the Interior Department appropritaion bill, voted against this prohibition. The Senate is to vote this week on the Wood amendment in the Treasury-Post Office bill, the Senate Committee having al- rl‘t?dy recommended against this propo- sition. Will Continue Efforts. Chairman Wood of the House Com- mittee insists that until the matter has been settled in a conference between representatives of the Senate and House on the Treasury-Post Office appropria- tion bill, he will continue his effort to have the prohibition included in each of the big su) cg:y bills as it comes out of his col e. He says, however, that when once this question has been decided in conference between the House and Senate, if the decision is against his amendment, then he will cease trying to have it included in the various appropriation bills. He ad- mits frankly that the prohibition should not apply to any one department or esmhmgmenc of the Government if it does not apply to all such units of the Federal service. ‘The chances are that this decision (Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) FEDERAL EMPLOYES TO BE GIVEN DAY HOLIDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS Hoover States Precedent Not Set by Action—Extra New Year Half Holiday Not Intended. President Hoover will again play Santa Claus to the thousands of men and women in the Federal empioy in this city to the extent of giving them a full day’s holiday on the day before Christmas. The President today issued an execu- tive order which will give the employes two days off in a row, including Christ- mas day. The President’s granting of this holi- day is primarily for the purpcse of af- fording the Government workers more time to do their shopping and aitend to other matters incident to Christmas. 1t was made plain at the White House thztlt-hli‘ generotliy sh President will not be extended to.the day 1t asid db'y P!ube’?;:n{u' idge. y Was puf e by Coolidge. The holiday on the day before Christ- mas will no doubt be to the emplo) ‘The g::l when_the ident has decreed them for Federal employes. The President order includes not only t.hn"en;:l:y?n do: the ue-euuve de- partmen pendent establish P gse as_well of the Gov- and statior men er) v Radio Programs on ‘P, TWO CENTS. PITTS, ON STAND, DENIES % CHARGES OF EMBEZZLEMENT Testimony Also Absolves An- adale and Edwards of Any Guilt. EX-SMITH CO. OFFICIAL EXPLAINS ALL DEPOSITS Evidence Introduced to Show Sub- sidiary Authorization for Control of Funds. After a general denial of the Gov- ernment's charge that he had entered into a criminal conspiracy, G. Bryan Pitts, principal defendant in the F. H, Smith Co. conspiracy trial, this after< noon denied specifically the 95 accu- fiuom of embezzlement made against m. In the course of his testime he also absolved of guilt his two codaqnfend- ants, C. Elbert Anadale and John H. Edwards, jr. All three men were for- merly officers of the Smith company. Earlier in the day Pitts had em- phatically denied those counts in the indictment charging him and the others with a conspiracy to destroy and con- ceal records of the company. Control Acquisition Explained. In his testimony with regard to the alleged embezzlements, he deposits to his account totaling ap- proximately $400,000 over a period of two years, from early 1928 to 1930. He first explained to the jury how he had acquired virtually absolute control of the Beverly Building Corporation, & Pittsburgh concern, from Emory L. Coblentz of Frederick, Md. Pitts testified that this ra stane account, with the Smith Co. by which financed. tion Smith Co. it was As principal stockholder, he said, he was privileged to draw on the account with the Smith company for the bene- fit of the subsidiary. Taking up each item which the Gov- ernment jed was an embezzlement, Pitts introduced documentary evidence designed to prove that the money " Congress’ right to raise the sum receen- sul during the coming fiscal year under | Pl ‘Was in New York. “I deny it absolutely,” Pitts sald. “To the best of my recollection I was New York at the time of this mythical telephone conversation.” : “Was it any part of this man’s duty to listen in on telephoné calls?” Lam- bert asked. “I never knew it was the duty of any one to play the part of a snooper.” Pitts then launched into an explana- tion of the ices under which certain books were burned in the base- ment of the Smith company’s building on Fifteenth street in 1928. He ad: mitted that some records had burned on that occasion at his order. Says Vaults Were Cluttered. “For a long time prior to that inei~ dent,” he explained, ‘“our vault cus- had been complaining that the vaults were so cluttered up with old records and junk that there was no room for storing current material. I also had a considerable quantity of my personal belongings in the vault. In crder to clear up the situation, I told Anadale to pack the stuff in boxes and sent it up to my apartment in the Jef- ferson. I then went over the stuff care- fully, took out the articles that belonged to me, and ordered the rest to be burned. There was absolutely nothin; of value in it—nothing but a pile of worthless, useless records.” “Did you ever instruct any one to Eu!l checks from the files,” Lambert asked. “I did not.” “Did you evéer instruct any one to ge:flr'x‘%' Smith Co. checks made cut to “I did not.” Explains Deposits by Valet. Pitts then undertook an explanation of testimony previously given by his valet, Joseph Howard, readily admitting that the colored man had frequently cash deposits to his account fn the Southern Maryland Trust Co. He aldk that he was stockholder in this n) “There is no doubt, but that How- ard did often make cash deposits to my account in that bank,” he said, “al- though it was done under instructions (Continued on Page 2, Column 1.) COAL GAS KILLS WOMAN Mrs. Bobbett Haas, 81, Is Over- come During Night! Mrs. Bobbett Hass, 81 years old, 748 Shepherd street, was overcome by coal it. | gas fumes in the bedroom of her home last night, and died at Emergency