Evening Star Newspaper, June 15, 1931, Page 17

TEN-CENT CAR FARE ATTACKED IN BRIEF OF UTILITIES BOARD Commission Asks Court of Appeals to Set Aside Lower Tribunal’s Ruling. FIGURES ON VALUATION . OF TRACKS QUESTIONED Counsel Declares Ban on Increase ‘Was Ignored in Granting Higher Rate. The Public Utilities Commission filed in the Court of Appeals today its brief in support of an appeal from the action of the District Supreme Court last Summer, raising carfare in Washington to 10 cents, after the commission had refused the request of the street car companies to raise the rates, | The brief, prepared by CorpvrlLion‘ Counsel William W. Bride, - Assistant Corporation Counsel William A. Roberts and People’s Counsel Richmond B.! XKeech, centered its attack on the fact the lower court entertained an appeal from an interlocutory order of the commission. Revaluation Urged. Slhce the order was not final, the brief contended, the court should have dismissed the appeal or remanded the proceedings to the commission, with in- structions to proceed to valye the car- riers. No final order, it said, could properly have been entered without a proper valuation of the properties of the carriers. No such valuation was before the commission, and a valuation proceeding was clearly in the commis- slon’s mind when it handed down its order, as it followed it up with an order directing a valuation on August 23, 1930, after the lower court had granted the companies’ petition. The brief also attacked the figures submitted by the companies and ac- cepted by the lower court as establish- | ing “minimum fair values” on many | grounds. The figures were arrived at.| by taking valuations 10 and 12 years old and enhancing them by net addi- tions to date. Values Questioned. The commission’s brief contended this is not legally permissible, and that the values so found include many items of ‘property since abandoned, some Maryland property, and that the fig- ures are wrongly calculated. Much track is Included at the cost of laying it ariginally by hand, whereas the re- production cost of the track is 15 per cent lower at present on account of the use of labor-saving mechanical devices. Depreciation has not been subtracted | from the reproduction cpst of efther carrier, and finally the carriers fol- lowed such widely divergent methods of accounting that it is impossible to reconcile them, the brief asserts. | | { The companies have until October 1| to file their briefs, and then the com- mission will be given an opportunity to file a reply before the case is argued orally. Meanwhile, the valuation case | is proceeding and the commissior? prob- ably will be ready to announce values for the two companies by the end of the year. AIR SERVICE TO SOUTH TO BE DOUBLED TODAY New Passenger Schedules Furnish Both”Morning and After- noon Planes Each Way. New air passenger schedules between i the Capital and Greensboro, N. C., over | the Eastern Air Transport airmail-pas- senger line will be inaugurated this afternoon. The new schedule will double the passenger service south of ‘Washington and will permit both morn- ing and afternoon travel in both di- rections. The first plane on the new run is to , reach Washington-Hoover Airport fronp | New York at 4:10 o'clock this after- | noon, taking off for Richmond at 4:20 pm. It will arrive at Richmond at 5:25 and at Greensboro at 7:05 pm. ‘This schedule will be followed daily. The first northbound plane on the new schedule is to come through. tomor- | Tow and thereafter will leave Greens- borg daily at 8 a.m., Richmond at 9:50 and Washington at 10:55. Direct con- nectlons will be made with the Colonial division of American Airways at Newark Alrport to provide uninterrupted sched- ules to Hartford, Conn., and Boston. ILLNESS OF TWO YEARS IS BLAMED FOR SUICIDE Charles A. Miller Found on Base- ment Floor of Home With Pistol by His Side. An illness, with which he had suffered for more than two years, led Charles A. Miller, 47 years old, of 330 Eighth street northeast, to end his life yesterday. He was found lying on the basement floor of his home with a .32-caliber au- tomatic pistol by his side. Miller was taken to Casualty Hos- pital, but was pronounced dead upon arrival by Dr. Willlam E. Bowman, a & physician. A certificate of sui- cide was issued by Coroner J. Ramsay . Lula Miller, his mother, tol he had been suffering ‘L\lhd 5: Bects cespancens Tor sund ose lent for s - of the ailment. o o ! cat A { needing such treatment and its use will “Breathing Machine” Here . GALLINGER GETS ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATORY DEVICE, RESPIRATOR, the last word in left to righ A. B. Cuulter, in Glaser and Dr. Spencer Meade o The breather was delivered to- Gal- linger Hospital for use in’ cases where life in endangered through imability | to breathe normally. The most advanced scientific device for producing prolonged artificial respiration, the machine will be made available to any one in Washington not be confined solely to Gallinger pa- tlents. It was demonstrated at the hos- pital yesterday under the direction of Maj. Herbert Bocock, superintendent of the municipal instituticn. The respirator became famous almost overnight last Winter for saving the life of Miss Prances McGaan, Chicago nurse, whose respiratory muscles failed to function after an attack cf infantile paralysis. Breathing Forced. A coffin-like steel box, the respiratcr consists of an air-tight chamber which incloses all of the patient’s body ex- cept the head, which protrudes through | a soft rubber collar. Within the chamber at regular inter- vals suction is produced by an electri- cally driven pump. This exposes the chest and diaphragm alternately to a reduced air pressure which causes in- shown here being demonstrated at Gallinger Hospital. machine is W. C. Eicke, of the property office of the hospital. Standing, scientific apparatus for life-saving, is ‘The man in the charge of medicine; Nurse Eleanore I. ! the hospital staff. —Star Staff Phcto. halation and to normal pressure which causes the breath to be exhaled. More simply, it is the difference be- tween reduced pressure inside.the steel chamber and the atmospheric pressure to which the patient’s mouth and nose are open that causes inhalation. The return to atmospheric pressure inside the box causes the chest to recoil auto- mucmy, forcing the patient to ex- e. Operaged Six Months. In one case alone, the machine is sald to have been in continuous opera- tion for more than six months. Gauges on the outside of the apparatus record the temperature inside and the depth cf a patient’s breathing. The machine was invented by Philip Drinker of the Harvard School of Pub- lic Health, as a result of & research he conducted at the request of the Liabil- ity Insurance Fund of the Consolidated Gas Co., New York. It is manufac- tured by Warren E. Collins, Inc, Bos- ton, Mass. Besides paralysis cases. the breather has been used successfully in cases of gas poisoning, acute alcoholism, near drownings and afflictions that cut short the breath. SUCDE 1 SEN N WOMANS DEATH Envelope Bearing Police- | man’s Name Found Among Effects in Hotel. A coroner’s jury will be sworn in to- day in the case of Mrs. Mildred Hall, also known as Miss Mildred Namey, | who died yesterday after swallowing e number of sleep:producing tablets in | HUNDREDS O INFLAGDAYRITES Senator Davis Speaks at Sylvan Theater, Services Held at Capitol. ‘Washington Jast night paid its annual Flag day tribute, hundreds joining in services at the Sylvan Theater, at thé foot of the Washington Monument. Senator James J. Davis of Pennsyl- what police described as a second ef- | fort to end her life. ! An autopsy was performed last night | after the woman's death at George Veashingtor ‘University .Hospital. The eontents of the stomach were turned | over to a chemist for analysis. | The woman, about 40 years old, was | taken to the institution Saturday morn- ing, after she had been found in a coma in her room at the Ambassador Hotel. Frustrated by Friends. Police, who said they were not ‘ap- prised of the seriousness of the woman's condition until after midnight Saturday, said that in a, previous attempt to kill herself by slashing her wrists, she was frustrated by friends. Although the woman was registered at the hotel as Mrs. Hall, letters and post cards found in her room were ad- dressed to Miss Namey. A rumor that a note addressed to a policeman also was found in the room was denied by Sergt Larry O'Dea of the homicide squad and Detective James Mostyn, first precinct, who are investigating the case. The detectives said, however, that an envelope bearing the name of an officer attached to the second precinct was among the woman’s effects. Accused Policeman. According to Inspector Albert J. Headley, the policeman involved ar- rested the woman on a disorderly con- duct charge about two months ago. She was released on collateral for arraign- ment in Police Court, but failed to ap- pear, the inspector said. ‘The woman, according to Inspector Headley, accused the officer of making improper advances to her. She al wrote several letters to the policeman’s wife, making similar charges, but was unable to produce witnesses to- substan- ::‘zled her statements, the inspector ed. Some of the papers found in the woman's room indicated she had a sis- ter, Mrs, James Bowery, living in Peters- burg. Va. When physicians decided to resort to a blood transfusion in an at- tempt to save the woman's life a tele- gram was dispatched to her sister, ask- ing her to approve the operation. About two hours after the woman died, police said, a telegraphic reply, signed by Mrs. Bowery, was received. The - message, according to police, said it was “impossible to render aid in such a case Dr. Maurice Portas of the hospital CHANGE IN OIL FREIGHT | RATES IS AuTHORIZED| GOAT CART AND SCOOTER BRING. FAMILY FROM NORTH CAROLINA @ By fhe Associated Press. e Interstate Commerce Commission y authorized railroads operating the midcontinent oil fields to basic rates on fefined petroleum ucts. commission also authorized the to vary from uniformity require- ts of the Interstate Commerce act t competition: of motor trucks ines carrying re: . petro= | .Ji%d commission in the past that ‘were beginning to carry [uog‘!g: um products, lnud, were likely {mllmu. LB g to- her. vania, the speaker at ceremonies ar- ranged by Washington Lodge of Elks, condemned those who slander national heroes. At the east steps of the CIDI'»OL‘ where the occasion was celebrated by the Women's Relief Corps, G. A. R., for- mer Gov. David W. Davis of Idaho and John H. Byers, former member of the Illinois Legislature, bespoke devotion to the flag and the things for which it stands. Three Groups Parade. ‘The Elks' observance was launched by parades of three groups of participants, the Vetearns of Foreign Wars and Cos- tello and Victory Posts, American Legion. +A massed band of more than 300 pleces, under leadership of Capt. Taylor Branson of the Marine Band, and the Boys’ Band of the Elks took part. The Chevy Chase Chanters sang, and there was a tableau of colors. Invocation was pronounced by Rev. Prancis J. Hurney and the benediction by Rev. George Fiske Dudléy. 1:?31' aenihnm Bbe%hatri‘ led in the pl e , and there was a massing of colors, in which the evolu- tion of thé American flag was depicted. An unusual touch was injected into this feature by the presentation of the Stars and Bars of the Confederacy, which was brought in by Gen. W. L. Wilkin- son, commander, United Confederate Veterans, who was-accompanied by a color guard. Maj. C. Eugene Edwards was chairman for the ceremony. Hits “Scandalmongers.” Hitting at “scandalmongers” who be- smirch historical figures, Senator Davis declared “the sun of truth soon bakes this mud of slander.and it crumbles into oblivion, leaving the memory and the monuments of our notables un- tarnished; in fact, more luminous after ::ch slanderous blast delivered against em.” Both Senator Davis and Mr. Byers at the Capitol exercises emphasized that there is no place in country for those who do not like its Government or_institutions. Mr. Byers also called attention to the Washington Bicentennial next year and the fact that special flag exer- cises would mark the WOl e i A detail of soldiers, sallors and ma- rines presented the colors as a finale this celebration.- ‘The Marine . Rev. John C. Palmer gave the invocation and benediction. ‘Women's Scouts, 4 vwolned with u-‘:‘ Mlm in arranging this ‘program. 300-Mile Journey a Happy Lark for Father and Trio, All Taking in Capital and Ball Game. The Goldsboro, N. C. Liles have arrived to see the sights—four of them , and Gladys, 1 E:E;'r’ip\?huwwm.o.c. ‘The fourth member, Roy, 14, covered the 300 mfles on a scooter. It took them 10 days, but they made 30 miles a day on schedule and arrived with enthusi- Mon t. Lincoln pmgnnlln or two, added. s have complained to|anyhow. The youngest, Charles, 8| 1, came in &a|to f | President - | we Band_ furnished the | J. IBUYERS IDENTIFY | LETTERS INTRIAL OF JAGOB SHAPIRO| isrepresentations in Sale “of Real Estate Claimed by Witnesses. HIDDEN TRUSTS SHOWN LATER, OWNERS DECLARE Assuring Papers and Deeds Fol- lowed by Notice of Another Mortgage, Court Hears. The Government today dug deeper into the alleged “hidden trust” scheme of the J. B. Shapiro Co., realty and building operators, by introducing a mass of letters into evidence at the District Supreme Court trial of Jacob Shapiro, president of the former con- cern, charged with using the mails to defraud. Witnesses, all purchasers of homes from the Shapiro company, identified the letters as having been received through the mails by them and testi- fled that many of the missives assured the purchasers that their properties were only incumbered by first and sec- ond trusts, as stated in the deeds also sent to them through the mails, On direct examipation, conducted by Assistant District Attorney John W. Fihelly, the witnesses testified that from three months to two years after their first transactions with the Shapiro Co. and after they received the assuring letters through the malils they were notified by mortgage houses of the existence of an alleged hidden trust. ‘This trust became the second trust and the original second mortgage became the third. lien. Describe Threats They testified the mortgagee in each! instance notified them that payments on this trust were overdue and that un- less prompt action was taken fore- closure proceedings would result. In denying this trust was hidden, Al- vin W. Newmyer, chief of defense coun- sel, in ‘his outline to the jury of eight men and four women last Wednesaay, said it was merely a ground trust of $100,000 on 24 pieces of property. The defendant, he said, had ol a po- sition in this transaction with the mort- gagee which permitted him to release the title on any one of these homes when he saw fit. The first witness today was Walter S. Brisbee, purchaser of a home at| 1718 Irving street from the Shapiro Co. Mr. Prisbee was a wilness ore the Senate District subcommittee which last year conducted an investi gation into the ovperations of th Shapiro Co. and he also testified before a grand jury. Frisbee said he was not“;led bz“l;e'l Ct.hvzeedon S:‘, :fill; ers in m es, that paym trust, which the witness classified as a hidden trust, of $4,000 was due. Tells of Visit to Firm. He said he called on the Shapiro com- pany and was assurred by its officers that everything was all right and the matter would be promptly straightened {out. He was called before the Senate subcommittee and the grand jury, and the day before the grand jury was ex- i pected to take up the Shapiro case, he said, he received a telephone call from the hapiro company. informing him ‘everything had been taken care jof.” One month later, he said, he re-| ceived the certificate of title to his property. bo ‘Twelve exhibits, nine of which 'Mr.! Prisbee said he received through the| mails, were introduced into evidence, as were letters received by Mrs. Daisy B. Kelley, who testified she purchased a home from the defendant at 1708 Hobart street, and Willlam J. Haste, another home purchaser, at 3615 Eighteenth street northeast. Mrs, Minnie W. Reed, purchaser of a home at 1734 Irving street, partially identified the defendant, Shapiro, as the man who informed her “not to worry,” after she had cafled at his office upon receiving word from the al- leged hidden trust mortgages that pay- ments were overdue. The Government is expected to close | its case late today. CAPITAL WELCOMES - HOME CIRCLE ORDER About 800 Members Expected to Arrive Before Opening of 18th Biennial Meeting Tonight. | | About. 800 members of the Protected Home Circle were expected to arrive here today to attend the national fra- ternal insurance society's eighteenth biennial convention, opening tonight at the Willard Hotel. A n aj ately 400 men and t noc“ \pproximately with the Capital before 8 p.m., first event on the three-day gram, & reception to supreme officers, is sched- uled to begin. ‘The openlnf business session of the secret order will begin at 10 o'clock with Supreme President S. H, Hadley of Sha- ron, Pa., g. itiation of about 250 juniors will feature tomorrow’s T Disappointment was expressed by Hadley this when ‘was received that Senator James 3 vis of Pennsylvania, prominent member of the Protected 5 would ot be able to attend today. Davis, ‘who was to have spoken today, is taking the dedication tomorrow of & memorial at Marion, Ohio, to mp'whm': Warren G. Harding. He said he try to be here for the banquet Wednes- day night. B A YR CAPITAL ADVERTISING. MEN AT. CONVENTION Four Attending New York Federa- tion Convention for Two Days. - Geography Play at West School Ycung students of the fifth grade of the West Sc portraying the roles they played in a geography drama of their own composition. Mrs. K. A. rected. PUPILS DRAMATIZE THEIR STUDIES, hool, Fourteenth and Farragut streets, photographe: De Shazo, d in costumes , teacher, di- Left to right, back row: John Chapman, Alvin Hanlein, Betty Hall, Margaret McIntyre, Robert Clark, Nellie | Neal Cranford, Lilllan Kellinger, Norman Freudberg, Ruth O'Shaughnessy, Esther Norton, Evelyn Torillo, Thelma O'Brien, Margaret Cockrell and Belle Rifkind. Center row: Harris Sachs, Louise Sherzer, Clarence Adams, Eu Luckett, Rita Olive, Vera Cranford, Neal Purvis, Milton Klein and Marguerite Connolly. Front row: Jenniewee BJ\:‘: gallo, Nathaniel Smith and Phyllis Lee. ~—Star Staff Photo. HUNDREDS INSPECT SILVER STAR HOME: First of This Year’s Model Structures Is Located in Chevy Chase Forest Area. Hundreds of persons interested in modern home development yesterday visited the Silver Star, Home, the first of the exhibition houses sponsored this year by The Star, at 6309 Oakridge avenue, in the forest section of Chevy Chase, Md. Opening of the house yesterday in- | ugurated the new Silver Star Homu‘\ program, under which houses meeting | definite requirements of merit in plan- | ning, design, construction and treat- ment are eligible for selection by the committee of experts, in charge of the program. The program is in the nature of a better homes contest in that the best available houses in a price class are | to be selected for exhibition under | auspices cf The Star. The Oakridge avenue house, built byl Shannon & Luchs, Inc., from plans by | Arthur B. Heaton, will be open dally | from 9 am. to 9 pm. throughout th: | ensuing month. ‘This house is a six-roomhouse of co- lonial architectual lines, having two baths, insulated attic, full-size base- ment, and a two-car built-in garage. ‘The exterior is a combination of brick and wide clapboard. Simplicity and restraint mark the treatment of the house, both on the interior and exterior. | f g w18 TAXI DRIVER'S BODY SOUGHT IN POTOMAC Stephen Kendrick Drowns Despite | Efforts of Woman to Save Him. Rivermen searched today for the of . Stephen Kendrick, _taxicab driver, of the 600 block of I street, drowned yesterday in the Potomac near Colonial Beach. Kendrick had gone far out into the river with several women and children in a rowboat. He -dropped out of the boat to determine the depth of the water as his companions wished to go in swimmihg. later and shouted for help. One of his companions, Mrs. John Gothner of Racine, Wis, an expert swimmer, went to his aid. Kendrick, however, made & desperate grab at her and when she broke away he sank be- low the surface. 4 _ Kendrick was a week end guest of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Cruit at Cobb| Island. LEGAL TAPE PREVENTS - ARREST IN COLLISION |f: Representatives of Three Police De- partments at Scene on Mili- tary Road. Representatives of three police de. by ‘yesterday, power- car on Military road.’ ts of both ma- en up, and one of made.” evertheless, they disclaimed au- _such an arrest, as did -|D: C. THOMPSON DIES AFTER FALL DOWN STEPS '"| Father of Policeman Fatally Hurt ‘When Head Hits Radiator at Foot of Stairs. s 1 1 d?y' as 8 of Health Leader ARRIVES TO TAKE CHARGE OF CHILDREN'S CAMP. MERCHANTS END SUCCESSFUL TRIP D. C. Booster Party Has Big Day at Annapolis, Some Touring Academy. ‘The §. 8. Southland, bearing more than 160 members and guests of the Merchants” and Manufacturers’ Asso- ciation, returned to Washington today from the annual three-day “booster trip” of the organization down the ‘Potomac to the Virginia Capes. The entire cruise was made on sched- ule, with carefully arranged plans car- ried out without a hitch. Revelry al the vessel was marred by a slight wharf in Annapolls, when the steamer, cruise up the Patapsco River, crashed MISS ROSE FLYNN, Registered nurse, of New York City, | who arrived in Washington today 10| assume her duties as superiniendent of the children’s health camp, at Four- teenth and Upshur streets, conducted by the Associaticn for the Prevention of Tuberculosis. The camp is to open Thursday. —-Star Staff Phota PASSERBY AMONG A HURT BY CRASH Parked- Car Rammed Upon “Sidewalk, Sending Victims to Hospital—Driver Held.. Four persons were injured slightly yesterday when sn automobile driven by Kenneth N. Alvey, 37 years old, of 24 Bryant street northeast, crashed into a parked car in the 700 block, Barry place, and knocked it onto the sidewalk, where it struck a pedestrian. Alvey was arrested for reckless driving. ‘Three occupants of Alvey’s machine, including the driver, a brother, James ‘W. Alvey, 24, also of the ant street address, and James F. Mitchell, 23, 3500 Fourteenth street, Freedmen's Hospital and aid for minor cuts and bruises. Samuel Clemmons, Rachel Hefren and Eighteenth Hefren, 918 3 taken to Hospital and treated for bruises. The automobile was driven by Charles A. Sampsell, an employe at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, ac- cording to police. E Miss street, were her stern against the dock, {down a section of the landing. No damage was done to the ship, however, | and the voyage continued without delay. | _The party divided into groups at urch services while others |toured the academy campus and viewed the training ships. Last night a movie program was presented for | entertainment of the party, followed by singing, with the horeham Hotel Orchestra furnishing accompaniment. The itinerary included stops at Old Point Comfort, Norfolk, Newport News and Annapolis. | PHONE CO. TO ISSUE $7,000,000 IN STOCK |Purpose Is to Pay Off Demand Notes as in"Case of $2,000,000 +Issue Overruled. The Chesapeake & Potomac Tele- phone Co. today flled an application with the Public Utilities Commissicn for authority to issue. $7,000,000 worth of common stock. The company has outstanding "now $13,000,000 worth of |stock and its authorized capitalization |is $25,000,000. The company is incor- g::luted under the laws of New York The company previously had issued $2,000,000 in stock without seeking per- mission of the commission, but when the latter ruled the action was illegal the company withdrew the stock. ‘The issue for which permission was sought today will be used for the same purpose as that for which the original issue was intended, paying off demand notes owned by the American Tele- phone & Telegraph Co. of which the local concern is a subsidiary. The ap- .plication states that such notes now in the hands of the parent concern amount to $7,345,000. HONDURAN REBELS ACTIVE Maneuvers Reported by Legation in Mountain Areas. 300 poorly armed rebels were the mountains of the two 500 federal troops were . .No action was reported. GRANT SEEKS NEW PARKING SPACE BIDS TO END AUTO FEE TANGLE Operator of Old Tra& Commission'’ Site to Quit July 1, _Charging Boycott by Federal Workers. Grant, 3rd, director Vkfl.lnuhlndlnwvutm W] burned last . for_sutomobile Ty g e y o iha semtay. of 1613, N ‘be" avy Building, | mishap at the Naval Academy|Da PAGE B—1 MAYFLOWER ASKS DISMISSAL OF BILL FOR FORECLOSURE Counsel Tells Justice Luhring Fraud Charges Are Not Supported by Facts. COURT OF APPEALS ACTION HELD PROPER “Complaint Not Properly Drawn and Plaintiffs Have No Right in Court.” A demand for dismissal of a bill of ‘com] t appointment of re- ceivers and forclosure for the May- flower Hotel property was made uj Justice Oscar R. Luhring ipon in District Supreme Court today. Court of Appeals recently re- moved receivers appointed temporarily Conpiatar was i Toongh Atiorney comp! was ey Mabel Walker Willebrandt. The demand for dismissal of the bill was made by William E. Lehy of coun- el for the hotel company, at & hearing to give the defendants opportunity to show cause why the requests in the bill should hot be granted. Leahy's principal contention was that the allegations of fraud in the bill were mere conclusions, unsupported by any averments of fact which would enable e court to determine whether a fraud had been perpetrated by the defendants. Right to Proceedings. The trust indenture, he pointed out, specifically ,lve minority bondholders the right to initiate foreclosure proceed- ings if it could be shown terests of C. C. had, after notice, been derelict duty to protect the bondholders. “If such adversity had been shown, or if facts supporting the allegation of dereliction of duty had been averred,” he said, “the Court of Appeals could not have dismissed the temporary re- celvers appointed by this court. That they were dismissed indicates the bill is mot properly drawn in this respect l‘;ld flrltlt the plaintiffs have no right court.” Leahy brought out that there is a first trust of $7,500,000 and a second trust of $2,400,000 on the property. Harm in Froeclosure Seen. “The plaintiffs,” he said, “representing only $10,000 of the second trust notes, allege in their own bill that if the prop- erty was foreclosed at this time there would not be sufficient money realized to pay off their holdings.” Attorney Edward F. Colladay, at the outset of the hearing, attempted to in- tervene in the plaintiffs’ petition on be- hfllfl:{ holders of about $189,000 of the nds. Justice Luhring, however, sald his be antagonis tudy authorities on the question of to intervene. ~ T TAXI DRIVER’S STORY OF HOLD-UP IS CHECKED Took His Money and Cab on Highway Near Cheverly. Prince Georges - County authorities, aided by Washington police, today are investigating a taxicab driver’s story of having been held up and robed Satur- day night by two bandits, whom he sub- sequerttly disarmed and fired upon, on the Defense Highway, near Cheverly. The victim of the alleged hold-up, Roger E. Blaine of Riverdale, the robbers entered his eab at 1- vania avenue and Tenth street and asked to be driven to Cheverly. The taxi was about a mile from the Maryland town, Blaine related, when one of the men produced a revolver and ordered him to stop. After taking his money, the driver said, the men commanded him to get out of the cab. Blaine grappled with the man hold- ing the pistol, he continued, and wrest- ed the weapon from him. During the tussle, however, the chauffeur said, he was struck over the head. As he fell to the ground, he added, the bandits drove away in his taxi. Regaining his feet a moment later, Blaine went on, he fired at the cab until it disappeared around a curve. Hewalked several miles to a telephone, he said, and notifi=d police. The cab, with three bullet holes in the windshield and two in the body, was found yesterday about 2 miles from the scene of the alleged robbery. PLAY GROUND DIRECTOR TAKES OATH OF OFFICE Miss Sybil Baker Succeeds Mrs. Susie Rhodes in Post. Miss Sybil Baker, former, director of e Community Center Department of the public schools system, was sworn Declares Two Bandits ! thy nt| in- today as director of playgrounds, taking the place of Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes, who retired June 1. The oath of office was administered by Daniel E. Garges, secretary of the Board ‘of Commissioners. Richard 8. Tennyson, who has been acting direc- tor since Mrs. Rhodes' retirement, ‘snd E. C. Graham, cbairman of the Te- ation Committee recently appointed by thg Commissioners, were present. J. H. FANT AND SISTER DIE IN BALTIMORE HOMES Mrs. Frances Kénny Expires Few Hours After Brother’s Death. Both Known Here. . Two members of & Baltimore family, both well known in Washington, died