Evening Star Newspaper, May 22, 1931, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Showers tonight, probably ending to- morrow morning | Boon: not Tem) fair res—] yesterdey; lowes! at 4 am. today. Full report on page Closing N.Y. Markets, much 'chlnge in temperatu -Highest, 73, at 4:30 tomorrow a. m. Pages13,14& 15 b ¢ Fhening : ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION Wit The Star’s carrier every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are printed. “From Press to Home hin the Hour” system covers Yesterday’s Circulation, 117,536 No. 31,797. vost office, Entered as second class matte Washington, C T C: WASHINGTON, D. (., FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1931 —FIFTY-TWO PAGES. s#»» FARRELL ATTACKS STEEL HEADS FOR REDUCING WAGES Standard Companies Are Not Maintaining Pay Scales, He Says. SCHWAB DECLARES SALARIES STABLE Leaders Agree That Industry Is Going Through a Period of Difficulty. | i By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, May --James A. Far- rell, president of the United States Steel Corporation, faced fellow execuiives of the steel industry today and charged | that “the big standard companies” are not maintaining wage scales. “I think,” he said, “it's a pretty chezp sort of business.” Mr. Farrell's indictment of the com- panies was made at a general mectng of the American Iron & Steel Institute. “You say wage: have been stabilized i in the steel industry,” Mr. Farrell be- | gan. “They have not. We are living in ¥ a fool's paradise. Honcycombing and pinching of all sorts of things have gone on. The so-called big standard companies, the compan’es in the head- lines, are not maintaning the standard of wages. It's a shame that when some of the large companies are trying to maintain wages others are cutting them even when they are affording only 4 three-day-a-week employment. “Pretty Cheap,” He Says. “I am not going to give the names of | all the companies represented in this | room ' that have cut wages, because I| don't want to embarrass you, but I think it's & pre'ty cheap sort of busi- | ness.’ r. Parrell's remarks were in marked eq:A‘mn to those of Charles M. Schwab, chairman of the Bethelehem Steel Cor- poration and president of the institute, who presided, and who said, “We have had a stabilized wage rate since 1923. He expressed the opinion that the period of liquidation is “about over.” In a nor- | tons, e rat naif of 1931 | , and for irst m rate is approximately 30,000,000 lm_}_xt.‘e comment of Mr. Schwab upon the remarks of Mr. Farrell was: } “I really discover no difference be- tween my views and Mr. Farrell's, and | I heartily indorse all he said.” - Low Price Both Mr. Schwab and . Farrell discussed the unfavorable price level prevailing in the industry. Mr. Parrel sald most steel companies would not earn their preferred dividends if the present situation continued. “We are wasting millions of tons of raw material and getting no return,” he asserted. He _thought the industry should “take the risk of closing down” rather than continue to waste materials. “We are no longer selling steel, but} are accepting the prices the consumers are willing to pay,” he said. “We have to set up resistance against this move on the part of the buyer to ruin our business. You can't blame this price! cutting on the salesmen. It is the big chiefs in the organization who are doing the cutting. You have to blame the ‘comrades’ and they are sitting here in the front rcw. It s not honest for us| 1o sell our steel below cost and knock | something from our dividend and re-, duce wages. Leaders Blamed. “T don’t see any hope of better prices| until the presidents of the companies n the present diabolical situation. Taking into account cur capacity; (67,000,000 tons) we ought to be thriv- ing on 50 per cent operation. I think we are not doing a Job and unless | we do a better job something is going to_happen.” Mr: Farrell referred to discussions on | the “interference of the tariff walls | and addec that “the stones for thlll ] have not even been quarried “l ‘The average duty on iron and steel | would not pay the freight on steel from | New York to Lancaster.” Upturn Predicted. Eugene G. Grace, president of Beth- Jehem, said his company was operating at 43 per cent cf capacity. “There has been no pick up in busi- ness,” he asserted. “New business com- | ing in is not quite supporting current rate of operstions \ | Prosperity Note— Sales of Christmas Toys Rise Sharply By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, May 22.—Santa Claus’ pack may be heavier next Christmas. It's a long time off, but F. D. Dodge, secretary of the National Toy Manufacturers’ Association said today he had bad news for gloomy economists. £ales for next Christmas, he said, had taken “a remarkable upward trend.” And the toys are going to be better than ever. HGHER RATE NV CREATES OPTIVIH Eastern Reads’ Committee to Flan Averting Reduc- ing Wages. NEW YORK, May 22 (#).—Consider- able optimism was expressed in railwaw and banking circles today 8ver the pros pects of the program launched by East- ern railway executives yesterday for a revision of freight rates. ‘The committee appointed to work { upon the plan was expected to meet for organization some time next week, pos- sibly Tuesday, but in the meantime it is understood that individual members of the committee are working upon vari- ous aspects of the problem. ‘The Eastern Railways Presidents’ Conference is officially proceeding in a cautious manner. The secretary said he was unauthorized to give out any in- formation whatever about the prospec- tive meeting of the committee. He was not even permitted to make any official j announcement of the electicn of the committee yesterday. Seek Rate Restoration. ‘The rallway presidents seck to “re- store” frcight rates to a level which will give them about $400,000,000 in additional annual gross revenue, to pro- "tect their credit standing. Little likelihood is seen in banking | circles for an increase before the mid- | year revision of the lists of bonds avail- | able for savings bank investments in| New York State. and bankers expect { more issues will be disqualified because | of dwindling revenues. 4 COMMISSION NOT ADVISED. Rate Increases May Be Filed Before Consolidation Agreement. By the Associated Press. Despite the decision of Eastern rzil- roads to seck modification of the In- terstate Commerce Commission's con- solidation plan and the more recent proposals of nearly all carriers to ask rate réadjustments, the commission has received no f6rmal notification of either projeet. Precident Hoover announced in De- cember that negotlations undertaken at his suggestion had brought agreement between the four major Eestern roads, 11 { exclusive of New Eng'and, to submit re- vised plans to the commission which would facilitate consolidations. It was said today, however, no indication had been given as to when this plan woild be presented or whether the carricrs had been able to work out the minor details, which were incomplete at the time of the White House announce- ment. Revenue Increase Sought. In the meantime, the carriers have announced a determination to ask rate | adjustments to produce $400,000,000 more annual revenue. While these are projects not in direct competition with busses, pipe lines and waterways, ad- justments downward are planned in Sonp instances to meet this competi- tion. Belief is now current at the com- mission that the rate increases, involv- ing long, intensive studies, will be filed prior to the ‘consolidation agreement. Opposition in the Senate to the pro- posed increased rates already has de- veloped. on ground they would be unjustified at this time. On the other hand, Labor, cfficial publication of or- ganized railway workers, has taken the position the greater revenue accruing would speed business recovery. As a quasi-judicial body which will be called upon t» pass upon the rates, the commission has refused to comment upon them. However, Commisisoner Eastman gave a possible indication of his views in a rec:nt address. The commisisoner said “the prior question which the railroad manag ments must consider. before such a pro- posal is mada to us is whether it is wi 'and would r-sult in actual gain, at a time when all industries are suffering and when no othr is contemplating, o far es I sm aware, an increass in prices.” He adced that he did not intend to imply at this time he considered the Tom M. Girdler, president of Repub- | lie Steel Corporaticn, expected an up- . turn in the Autumn and said it was merely a question of whether the rise would come soon or in two or three month. L. E. Block, chairman of Inlind Steel, anticipated increased business later in 1931. Mr, Schwab said: “I ‘am unable to predict that any rticular circumstance going t E:m; about the return to good business; in fact, I believe that specific causes ore offen overemphasized. After a | period of undue deflation we are ready for normal business again, and that re- turn is manifested in a number of ways, tome of which catch tention and come to be considered the major cause. “Possibly air electrification, possibly some unfore- seen industry will be the thing to proposal unwise. FATHER SLAYS CHILDREN Wife Near Death From Attack by Mate, Who Attempted Suicide. DRACUT, Mass., May 22 (). —Leroy B. Skillings, police said, beat his two children to deAth with a hammer early today and injured his wife so badly that it was feared she would die. Skill- ings later severed an artery in his twrist. He is expected to live. In what | was described #s a dying statement. Mrs Skillings implicated her husband and sald Le had been jealous of her. | squadrons. expected to include mostly increases on | 11 ARMY PLANES REFUEL AT BOLLING - ONNEW YORK HOP Fly Here From Dayton With- | out Mishap and Continue Trip to Maneuvers. ' THREE MINOR ACCIDENTS MONG OTHER GROUPS A Ships Nos: Over at Rochester and New York—Overheated Motor Crounds Cadet at Erie, Pa. Flocking into Bolling Field like doves into a pea ficld, 71 observation planes | todey landed at the Army Air Station A short while later they were fa the alr again on their way to New York, theoretically speaking, to attack the enemy in the greatest aviation mancu- time. The planes came here from Dayton, Ohio, hopping off there this morning along with approximately 601 other Army craft. The entire air wrmada stretched over' an approximately 390- mile front. All are expected at ccn- centration points in the New York area late today. The first t> arrive here was an Observation Squadron composing the 104th Group, commanded by Maj. L. H. Brereton, commandant of the post neld, Fort Sill, Okla. Planes Refuel at Field. It was shortly after 9:30 am. when the st uetachment of the lud group io0.ged into sight. ‘this nurabe ¢d i2 panes. Tn: second and Uk group v.as over *tae air station a 1c { inuces later. In ali, 37 p.anes were down and 1 position wituia G mun- utzs, and Ma). Erereton reported all acccunted for and that the Lip across one of the worst stretcnes of IHy.ng country was mace wiinout inc.dent. Seven gasoline trucks were oa hand and reiuzLng was underway beicre tne last plane’s whee.s t-uched the fieid. Approximatzly 100 gallons of lue. was pumped into each piane. | for the next lap of tae uight. Fie minutes later Maj. Bereton's plane was in the sir, followed by The distinguished war flyer led the 12th Observaion Squadron, Fort Sam Houston; 88th Cbs.rvation Squadion, Fort 8ill, Okla., ¢nd the 22d Cbserva- | tion Squadron, Maxwell Field, Ala., all noted war outfits. His squadron com- manders are Licut. Joseph Hicks, Capt. | Donald P. Muse and Capt. Lawrence P. Hickey, the latter a veteran of the ex- pedition hcaded into Mexico by Gen. John J. Pershing. These famous squad- rons cairied the insignias of their or- | ganizations on their planes. That of the 12th bore an eagle carrying an ar- tillery siell, denoting the micsion of the | squadron in spotting artillery; the 88th |is the famous Bucking Broncho squad- ron, and the 22d has a shosting star as its mark. “VWoman” Passenger Along. The only “woman” passenger was | “Mariha Louise Ringiail,” the daughter of “Mr. and Mrs. William White Ring- tail” of Central America. “Miss Ring- | tail” has more flying hours than any other monkey in capivity She is the property of Lieut. Albert W. Shepherd of the 22d Squadron and has been fiyirg fcr one of her eight years. Hardly had Lieut. Shepherd cut off h's motor before Martha Loulse was out of the cockpit and onto the right wing of the big plane. She adjusted her heimet, straightened her neckerchief and bruched off her flying suit before ver ever staged by any naticn in peace- | | Al 11:30 o'clock tne gioup was ready the thu:eK JURY WILL PROBE POLICE HEACKING Capt. Kelly to Present Facts Gathered in Cunningham Slaying Quiz. Oratory Judge i | { | Pclice moved today to lay before the | grand jury evidence of hi-jacking un- | covcred during their search for clues in the assassination of Jack Cunning- ! ham, veteran informer for the depar ment. Capt. Edward J. Kelly sald he would jturn over to the district attorney's office inform:tion charging that the | slain infcrmer was assisted in robbing {an I street speak-asy by Patrolman | Wallace J. Middleton of No. 12 pre- j cinct, who was implicated in the killing DR. LUCIUS C. CLARK, by Cunninghem's dying statement. | Chancellor of Am‘er‘l'cnn University. who | | will serve as a judge of the National Has Alr-Tight Alibi. | Oratcrical Contsst finals tomorrow Middleton, who was suspended fol- night in place of Senator James lowing his srrest, has advanced what COUns of Michigan who was forced appears o be an eir-tight alibi, but [0 WIHCraw from the board through | filness. still is being held In the investigation.| BRITISH AMATEUR east of an old Army revolver which ! was submitted for ballistic examination | when it wes found to be of the same | caliber of the fatal slug removed from | | Cunningham’s body. | | _Police last night arrested Vernon V. Hawks, 28 years old, of New York ave- nue near Ninth street, on the possi- bility that Cunningham’s death may be linked with what was described as the | accidental shooting of Burt L. Smith | !in a speak-easy several days ago. Visited Police. | Only a few minutes before he was waylaid early Tuesday, Cunningham | had visited No. 1 precinct to turn over to police the gun with which, the in- iformer raid, Smith had been shot. Little .Known Cambridge U. Golfer Defeats John De Forest, 1 Up. By the Associated Prees. WESTWARD HO, DEVON, England, | finals, was announcsd by Mr. Leigh. | his notifice’ion cf his inability to par- | | ticipate, Senator Couzens expressed his she would pose f raphers. She | Smith, only slightly wounded, declared declined hx;\ormtg}gufiu?vie]ued_s ® | he accidentally fired the shot himself. g Cunningham's wife, Mrs. Helen Cun- The next ob-ervation group of 34 | planes came into sight at 11:45 o'clock, | Ringham, was questioned at length at May 22.—Eric Smith, little known goli- er from Cambridge University, tocay| won the Britith amateur golf cham- | in the National Capital to three. exactly on scnedule | manned by embryo Army pilots, cadets in training at Kelly Field, S8an An- | tonio, Tex_ Their planes of the type | used in training at their home station, while the veteran squadrons are equip- ped with two-seaters powered With (Continved on Page 2, Column 7.) 'BUSINESS LOSS TOLD IN SHEPPARD SUICIDE Widow of Philadelphia Manufac- turer Declares Falling Reve- nues Caused Worry. By the Assoclated Press PHILADELPHIA, May 22 —Edgar M. Sheppard, 49, socially of one of the oldest linen and dry gocds concerns In the United States, shot and killed himself last night at his home in ' Chestnut Hill. He was sols V) of J. B. Sheppard & Sons 7 ‘e INERE His body, with a bullet in the temple. was found on the flcor of the workehop on the third floor of the mansion where he had spent many hours 2t his hobby of constructing smzll model boats. He leaves a widow and a 10-year-old scn. The widow said Sheppard had been worried by falling off in business. transportation. pernaps LOS ANGELES MAYOR AND WIFE These planes are | promin-nt head | headquarters today by Capt. Kelly and | p'onship, defeating John D: Forest in other investigators. She was released | tha final 76-hole match, 1 up. yesterday after being held for investiga- |~ Starting the afternoon round 2 down, tion several days at the House of De-| Do Forest ttill was off his game, losing i tention. | th> twentieth and twenty-second holes | Mrs. Cunningham today gave police to go 4 down He got all but one of | | & signed statement in which she re-|them back, however, taking advantage | lated how she overheard her husband | of Smith's Punkered drive at the twenty- | conversing with a man whom he ad- | fifth, holing a 5-yarder at the twenty- | dressed as “Middy” while they were |seventh and doing th twenty-ninth in a | bringing whisky into the Cunningham | birdie 3. apartment one night during March. | His golf was not good enough to over- The liquor, alleged to have been stolen | come the margin h» had tossed away to ‘from an I street speakeasy, was| Smith, largely on his own loose play, but | brought in after Mrs. Cunningham had | he carried the fight to the last hole for | retired, she told police | ascision. | Middleton also was brought to head-| Smith, 22 years old, the scn of a | quarters for questioning, particularly London banker, had never played in a | with regard to Mrs. Cunningham’s national championship before, his play | statement. He said he had heretofore having been restricted to ‘to say.” college and club affairs. s e Forest was bunkered at the Revelver Clue Studied. thirdeth and could get only a half, but ‘The Army revolver apparently had he won the thirty-first when Smith been tossed from a passing automobile.| missed a chip shot to even the match The identification numbers had been| Smith went 1 up again at the thirty- | filed off and police assumed the weapon @econd, when De Forest missed an 8- was thrown away by a person who footer. The next hole was halved, but | wished to avoid being incriminated by De Fores: agaln squared the match on its_possession. the thirty-fourth with a par 3. At the The revolver, of .45 caliber and bear- | long thirty-fiftth De Forest got into ing evidence of recent use, was found | trouble, and Smith won the hole to be- | yesterday afternoon near Trinity Col-| come dormie 1, and the match, when | lege by Edward Grant, colored, em- the last one was halved. | ployed by the District Highway De- 5 g INDEPENDENTS PLAN “nothing | partment.” Grant gave the weapon to his | Georgetown University, and Dr. Cloyd superfor on the road job, Theodore Richatd Rham, who turned it over to Sergt. Earl Burdine of the Montgomery | County police. RACE. FOR SPEAKERSHIP (#) Means Associated Press. TWO CENTS NN | | | \ | HOOVER RECEIVES ORATORY INALSTS Seven Regional ContestantsJ Prepare as Competition ‘ Climax Nears. President Hoover foday received the seven ycung orators who tomorrow right | in Constitution Hall will compete in| the E'ghth National Oratorical Contest | | finals for the spegch-making cham- | | plonship of the United States. | The lone girl and six boys, including Jimmy Mcore, the Western High School lad, who is representing Washington and ne‘ghboring countles of Maryland | and Virginia, met in the executive| offices of the White House. At the| appointed time, a few minutes after | 12:30 o'clock this afterncon, they were escorted with Randolph Lelgh, director | gereral of the contest, to the lawn south cf the White Hoj After a few min- utes the President walked out to greet| them. The boys stood their stiffest and | | the girl smi'ed her sweetest. H | After the brief greeting the President | | stood with the young speech-makers to | face with them the battery of news- paper cameramen and newsreel photog- raphers. This ceremony concluded, the President took leave of the youths and thev left the White Huse for Western High School. where they were enter- tained at luncheon. Senator Couzens Withdraws. Concurrent with the arrival of the |last cf the visiting orators today. the | withdrawal_because of illness of Sena- tor James Couzens of Michigan from the board of judges of tomorrow night's n keen regret. He had accepted the in-| vitation to be a judge some tim= ago. Dr. Lucius Charles Clark, chancellor of American University, will take the | Senator’s place on the board of judges. Dr. Clark's appointment brings the total | number of naticnally known educators | heading nstitutions of higher learning t of ; | W. Coleman Nevils, S. J., presiden Heck Marvin, president of George Wash- ington University. are the other two. A native of Towa, Dr. Clark took the bachelor of arts degree from Cornell College, Towa; bachelor of sacred sciences from 'Boston University and doctor of divinity from the Upper Towa University. He also did graduate work at Glasgow, Scotland. He is a member cof Phi Beta Kappa. The visit to the White House consti- | tuted the first official assembly of the girl and seven boys who are in Wash- ington to compete to represent the United States in the international con- | test here next Fall. Jack Emmett, stu- dent of the Stuyiesant High School in New York City and spokesman for the New York Times, reached Washington (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) | | PONTIAC BANK ROBBED | Two Escape With $12,000 After Holding Up Six Tellers. PONTIAC, Mich., May 22 (#)—Two | men entered the Pontiac Commercial & | Savings Bank before opening time tn-i day, held up six tellers, took $12,000 in | cash and escaped in an automobile. | The robbers entered the bank by the | employes’ They took the | money from a conveyance used to carry | entrance. OTHERS FACE TRIAL Justice Adkins Orders Ac- quittal in Calhoun Black- mail Case. ILLNESS OF DEFENDANT CAUSES ADJOURNMENT Plea of Noble, Mrs. Hillenbrand, J. E. Bird and S. A, Arm- strong, Jr., Denied. Directing the acquittal of Mrs. W. Clark Noble, Justice Jess> C. Adkins to- day reduced to four the number of de- fendants in the conspiracy case resulting from alleged attempts to extort black- mail from Capt. and Mrs. Clarence C Calhoun. Justic: Adkins overruled d:fense mo- | ticns for the exoneration of the other defendants, W. Clark Noble, Mrs. Anna Hillenbrand, James F. Bird and Stephen A. Armstrong, jr. The judge announced i thought Mrs. Noble should be found not guilty because the Government had introduced no evidence linking her with the plot. Adjourned Until Monday. The case then was adjourned until Monday because of the fliness of Arm- strong. His attorney, reported he was confined to bed with bronchit's. Defense motions for a misirial will be | denied Monday, Justice Adkins revealed. They had sought to have th: case thrown out on the grounds that Irvin Goldstein, an assis‘ant United States had intimidated Mrs. Emma 8 a Government witness. ‘Today's brief session also was marked by the withdrawal from the case of Paul | Sedgewick and Lou Arnold of ccunsel for Mrs. Hillenbrand. Mrs. Neble Near Collapse. L. Robinson Maddux remained as Mrs. Hillenbrand's only attorney. The retirement of S:dgewick and Arnold was reporied to have resulted from a dis- agreement between ccunsel over whethor Mrs. Hillenbrand should insist on a mis- trial. Sed{ewick originally Jjoined in the mistrial motion on behalf of Mrs. Hillenbrand, but Maddux later informed the court his client would not approve a wisirial. Mrs. Noble almest collapsed when she was acquitted. She cried in distress over the failure of Justice Adkins to order exoneration of her husband. Mrs. Hillenbrand displayed no signs of emo- tion. Noble end Bird likewise accepted the judge’s ruling without visible display of their feelings. Richard L. Merrick, attorney for the Nobles, announced all the defendants would be placed on the witness stand. He said the defense would produce a surprise witness, who he predicted would figure prominently in th> case. ENGINEER IS KILLED, IN PENNSY WRECK Locomotive of Pittsburgh-Buffalo Train Leaves Rails Near Former City. By the Assoclated Press. PITTSBURGH, May 22.—The engi- neer of a Pittsburgh-Buffalo passenger train of the Pennsylvania Railroad was | killed today when the locomotive loft | the track near Edgecliff, 25 miles north of here. First reports of the accident sald L. H. Hillgrove of Pittsburgh, the engineer, was killed when the locomotive toppled from the rails after striking a rock. Calls for ambulances were sent to nearby towns and wrecking crews were sent from here. ‘Two tracks were blocked. The train, No. 903, left here at 9:30 a.m., Eastern standard time. L. H. Hillgrove of Pittsburgh, the engineer, was pinned under his locomo- tive, and was dead when fcund. The fireman, L. A. Knarr of Oil City, leaped when the engine toppled over, and was not hurt. The front trucks of the bag- gage car were derailed. THREE DIE IN WRECK Lives Lost When Train Strikes Auto at London, Ohio. * LONDON, Ohio, May 22 (#).—Three persons were dead and an 11-month- old baby was in sericus condition in a Columbus hospital today as a result of an automobile-train collision -here last night. The dead were: Mrs. Ralph Bennett, 7. Denver, Colo.; Veverly Bennett, 3- | year-old daughter of Mrs. Bennett; Miss | Mary Kelley, 38, Memphis, nurse. Tenm, a Guggenheim Flying to Cuba. MIAMI, Fla., May 22 (#).—Harry erican Ambassador to Guggenheim, Cuba left here today aboard a Pan K. K. Spriggs, ' money from the vault to the tellers’| American Airways plane for Havana. ys Meeting in Late Summer Will Name Candidate and Map Program. Burdine notified headquarters here and a member of the homicide squad Schneider Sa was assigned to trace the ownership through a secret number on one of the | working parts overlooked by the person | who filed off the outer numbers. | Police said today they ate satisfled| p, ., z,e0ciated Press. - cages. The six tellers “were forced to lie on the floor during the hold-up. He arrived in Miami earlier in the day by train from Washington. 'SOL JOEL, BRITISH SLUM BOY, DIRECTED VERDICTUNION OFFIGIALS CLEARSMRS. NOBLE: PROBING §172,00 FUND WHEN SHOT Two of Three Attacked bv Gunman Investigating Al- leged Irregularities. THREE UNDER ARREST IN LANGDON WOUNDING 72-Year-01d Editor, Still in Criti- cal Condition, Unable to Aid Inquiry. Two of the three officials of the In- ternational Union of Operating Engi- neers who were attacked by a gunman Wednesday afternoon were investigating alleged irregularities by a former union official involving approximately $172,000 of the union’s funds, The Star learned today. Meanwhile police have taken into cus- tody three men, said to be former mem- bers of the union, for questioning in connection with the shooting of Frank Langdon, 72-year-old labor editor, who was hit by bullets intended, it is be- i lieved, for Arthur M. Huddell, presi- | dent, and John Possehl, general secre- tary, of the union. Two Reported Away. | Two of the men are said to have {left Washington hurriedly Wednesday. While none of those arrested is ac- cused of being the gunman, police said I they thought the trio might have some information on the case. No charges have been placed against the men, who are being held at No. 2 precinct. Thoy were questioned there today bv Headquarters Detectives Barrett, Wi'son #nd Stepp and Capt. O. T. Davis and Precinct Detective Bryant of No. 2 precinct. The former official, whose financial affeirs were under inquiry by Huddell and Possehl, was in another city at the time of the assault on the labor jofficers in a lunch room across from | unfon headquarters at Tenth and K streets, police have established. Langdon, in a critical condition from a bullet wound in the eye, is unable t assist in the investigation, but Huddell and Possehl did not recognize their assaflant and they believe he was hired | to “put them on the spot.” Huddell Escaped Death. Huddell escaped death in the fusillade | fired frcm two guns held by the denim- | clad stranger. one bullet flattening itself { on a leather-bound notebook in a pocket directly over his heart. ossehl, exhibit- ing great presence of mind and courage, used the lunch table as a shield and : pinned the gunm2n to the wall, divert- ing his aim temporarily. Powder marks on Possehl's face gave evidence of his narrow escape from two bullets fired at close range. While probing the alleged diversion of funds of the International Union, Huddell and Possehl themselves became {involved in litigation arising from | charges by suspcnded members that tho | officers had misused their authority and had conspired to m'sappropriate funds. Several suits in this connection have been dismissed in the District Suprems Court, but another is pending in the Court of Appeals. Col. James Easby-Smith, attcrney for the union, yesterday charged that th district attorney’s refusal to prosecute a woman who horsewhipped a un'on of - ficial last April, paved ths way for the gun attack. Beginning of Inquiry. Efforts of Huddell and Possehl to “straighten out” alloged financial diffi- culties in which the union found itself sore time ago, began after their arrival here two years ago to establish national headquarters of the unicn in this city. The offices formerly were in Chicago. It is said the international officers had_discovered numcrous irregularities in the union’s accounts and were mak- ing efforts to insurs the union against possible loss when the shocting occurred. i These efforts are being continued, in | conjunction with bonding conczrns and banks, it is understood. ‘The inquiry was launched after an affiliate union in another city had com- plained it had not been credited with a payment made by check some months previously. This led to an investiga- tion cf all ascets of the organization, including a fund of $136,000 set usidc‘ for investment in authorized securi- ties. It is sald the inquiry disclosed that “unauthorized” securities had been NEW MOVIE THEATER MAY BE BUILT HERE Thirteenth and Pennsylvania Ave- nue Rumored as Site ¢” Warner Project. Construction of a large new motion picture theater building in the down- town section of Washington is “con- templated” by Warner Bros., owners of a chain of theaters throughout the country, according to a statement today by an official of the concern from New York. A report current here that Warner Bros. planned to erect the proposed theater at “Thirteenth street and Penn- sylvania avenue,” a section about which there have been many rumors of new developments during the past year, brought the statement frcm the New | i | SHUN FRENCH CHAMPAGNE TOAST | WHO GAINED MILLIONS, DIES which people will point as the cause of better times. It is not especially im- | portant’ what will be the specific symp- | oms of the renewed h:altty condition.” | Stock market securities, in Mr. | with Middleton’s alibl. Several dis- interested persons have corroborated | his statement that he was in a lunch- room on Fourteenth street just around the corner from the shooting when York office of the movie house concern. In response to & long-distance tele- phone query by & representative of The Star today, Samuel Morris of the execu~ tive staff of Warner Bros. said a new The prediction that independents in | | the next House will put forward a | candidate for the speakership was made But Mayor Metcalfe of Omaha Sips Drink at Reception | [todey by Representailve Schneider of Financier of Diamond Industry Owned 1921 Derby Schwab's cpinion, have “by and large” been “much over-liquidated.” “I am aware that statements of this sort are often greeted the following day %fll movement in the downward direc- . The activities of professional traders cannot be predicted from day to day as many "’"E},‘ in the United States now realize, but economic law ~{(Continued on Page 2, Column 5.) Pt YOUNG ROBBER SHOT PHILADELPHIA, May 22 (®).—A youth who shot it out with a police sergeant after he had robbed a United Cigar Stores clerk, was seriously wound- ed today by the liceman, who cor- nered him in a building. In the pocket of the robber was found an automobile driver's license in the name of James W, Callahan of Wilmington, Del. t, Timothy McCarthy, was n’ was The ; By the Associated Press. HAVRE, Fsance, May 22—Twenty one American mayors, in PFrance for the colonial exposition, were received today at the city hall under the first warm sun they had seen since they safled from New York. ful,” Mayor George Baker of Portland, Oreg., told Mayor Leon Meyer of Havre as spokesman for the delegation. “We're proud of our city hall back home,” d Mayor John Porter of Los | Angeles, “but we'll have to admit that | yours is pretty hand:ome, t0o0.” A champagne toast was given, but Mayor Porter and Mrs. Porter did not participate, explaining that they obeyed the Constitution of the United States even when away from home. Mayor Metcalfe of Omaha, Neb,, drank the toast, then turned to news- | ‘Paper men. for 21 City Heads. “We are impressed, happy and grate- | “I'd like to make a statement about this incident,” he said, “I detest cham- pagne myself, but both Mis. Metcalfe and I drank this toast because we felt it with all our hearts.” A luncheon at an ocean-fr was held, the first of a nne:na!f i;g;!j quets which probably will test the pow- ers of the most inveterate diners-out among the delegation. Tomorrow the Visitors were to begin a tour of Nor- mandy, just now fragrant with apple blossoms. Mayor Meyer, at the sy Mayor William 'F. Brmnmf':;uonr:ll‘l){ more, performed a mock wedding ;nl(h"lx1 ""l'luh! France” and “Uncle | Sam” in persons of Mayor B: and Mrs. Baker ’ g% “We were originally married at Med- ford, Oreg., in 1911,” said Mrs, Baker, . f ave it ratified in St | Wiscor:sin Cunningham was waylaid. Schneider, who bolted the Republi- Due Further Grilling. can caucus when the late Nicholas Investigators sald, however, that the | Longworth was reselected as a candi- | lunchroom was within 50 'yards of | date for Speaker, said the independents where Cunningham fell and expect to | would meet in the late Summer to question Middleton further today with | regard to his statement that he did not | lative program on which the candi- hear any of the five shots and there- | dacy would be based. He did not fore did not arrive on the scene in time | suggest who might be the candidate. to see the assassin’s automobile turn | Mljorfl% Leader Tilson and Chairman Srcen the alley. Snell of the House Rules Committee are Middleton said he first realized that | the present outstanding contenders for something was amiss when he saw|the Republican speakership candidacy. people running by outside the lunch- | Should the score of independents refuse room windows. When he got on the|to support either®the possibility that street, he said, there was no sign of | Representative Garner of Texas, the an automobile turning from the ailey.| Democratic leader, might be elected Middleton was not in uniform at the | would be increased. time. He explained that as socn as| he learned there had ben a shooting | he telephoned No. 1 precinct from a police box nearby. This was corrobo- | rated by officers on duty at the pre- Priest Sails for New York. TRIESTE, Italy, May 22 (#).—Mon- signor Celso Constantini, apostolic dele- gate to China, sailed for New York today to confer with the American Benedictines who operate the Catholic choose a candidate and map a legis- | By the Assoclated Press. NEW MARKET, England, May 22.— | Sol B. Joel, widely known financier and | race horse owner. died today. Sol Joel's Humorist won the Derby in 1921, but in the following year his Pon- doland did not place. He has owned many great horses, and {‘..1‘,,"""’" still include a dozen of the His principal business interests were in the diamond industry of South Africa. He was a member of the firm of Barnato Bros., director of De Beers’ Consolidated Mines, the Premier Dia- mond Mining Co., the Angola Diamond Mining Co. and connected with several | gold mining and public_utilities concerns | both in England and South Africa. From & boyhood in one of London’s poorest districts he climbed to a place University at' Peiping, among the world's richest men, building | Winner and Other Famous Racers. his fortune in the South African dia- mond flelds. His sensational success made him one of the most romantic figures in the history of British finance. His career on the turf was as spec- tacular as in business. Once he ventured into the field he spent thousands where others spent hundreds. His breeding stud at Maiden Erlegh is famous around the world. In London every one knew Lieut. Col. Solo- .,;M]l Barnato Joel simply as “Solly” joel. He dug deegoinm his pocket when- ever a race rse pleased his fancy, and some of those he bought turned out to_be wonderful bargains. Polymelus wi pcst lucrative of theater was contemplated, but that plans had not progressed to a point yet to warrant an anpouncement. He in- dicated an announcement wofild be re- leased later. He said he could not dis- cuss the site at this time. No official anrouncement has been made as to the identity of the owner of the western end of the block bounded by Pennsylvania avenue, E street and Thirteenth street purchased during the past year for a large cash consideration. Reports have been current here that an ‘effort was being made by some inter- ests for the assemblage of a building site on the northwest corner of Thir- teenth and E sticets, running from the corner to a point close to the property of the National Theater Building. Murder Trial Adjourned. “bougl @ for about took the Du pf York Cambridgeshire kes, winning aliin all something like Njf & (Contin on Page 2, Column NEW YORK, May 22 (#).—Trlal of Rudolph Duringer for the murder of Vlr'Alslfll1 2!_’nnnen' dg‘n”sd on , was adjourned today Monday,