Evening Star Newspaper, June 16, 1931, Page 17

LETTER INTRODUCED AS EVIDENCE AT TRIAL_OF SHAPIR Witness Says Defendant Sought Signature on Prom- | ise of Price Reduction. ~ The Unguided Car Runs Wild OVERTURES PRECEDED GRAND JURY INQUIRY Former Sales Manager and{ Clerk Testify to Large-Scale Opera- tion of Company. Evidence tending to show that Jacob B. Shapiro attempted to induce a home purchaser not to testify before a grand Jury investigating his alleged fraudulent Teal estate transactions was introduced today in the District Supreme Court trial of Shapiro, charged with using the mails to defraud. An unsigned letter, tagged exhibit 2 in the testimony of Howard M. Carter, who said he bought a home at 420 Marietta place from Shapiro, was placed in the records. Carter testified Shapiro attempted to persuade him and Mrs. Carter to sign the letter on the promise that he would obtairf a substantial price reduction on the house he had pur- chased. Turned Letter Over to Rover. The witness said he earried the let- ter to an attorney, and upon the lat- ter's advice he turned it over to United - States Attorney Leo A. Rover. He as- merted that the overture was made to him shortly before the grand jury start- ed its investigation last year in con- mection with the alleged scheme of Shapiro to induce purchasers of real estate to buy property encumbered by “hidden trusts.” ‘The contents of the letter, as read to the jury by Assistant United States Attorney John W. Fihelly, is as follows: “Mr. Jacob B. Shapiro and “Shapiro Construction Co., Inc., 1416 I street, Washington, D. C. “Dear Sir and Gentlemen: “We wish to advise you that we are satisfied that you did not,'in any way, intend to defraud us in the sale of the premises 420 Marietta place > us, and we further wish to say that ‘we have not been damaged in any way nor have we sustained any loss in the purchase of this property from you. “The foreclosure by B. F. Saul Co. on the property has really been bene- ficial to us, for we have repurchased it from them at a lower price than I had agreed to pay you for it. “With best wishes, we are, very u-ulyl yours.” Breaks Monotony of Figures. The injection of the letter broke a motonous spell of evidence dealing with | drab figures, contracts, deeds, trusts, foreclosures and other real estate trans- actions which the jwry of eight men aad four swomen have been listening to | for one week. ‘The prosecution also introduced another letter received by Carter through the mails from the defendant, which tended to show his property was encumbered by only two trusis. The witness said although he paid for a certificate of title at the time the house transaction was closed he never re- ceived it from the Shapiro Co., but had been assured by letters and deeds sent through the mails that his property was only encumbered by these two | trusts. ~However, months after he occupied the house he was notified by the Saul company that it held a trust for $1,271.99 on his property, the pay- ments on which were overdue. This alleged hidden trust became the second trust and the original second trust be- came the third. Unable to make pay- ment. he said his property was fore- closed. Sales Manager Testifies. How the Shapiro Co. ‘operated on a big scale here for several years was testified to by Col. J. T. Schaeffer, for- mmer sales manager, and Edwin Shelton, Yormer settlement clerk of the company. "The Government called Col. Schaeffer as a witness to ascertain whether or mot home purchasers were aware that the so-called hidden trusts existed at the time the transactions were closed. He testified that in his opinion they. knew nothing about the trusts. Shelton’s testimony was similar to| the former sales manager's. However, he testified that when he heard street reports of the alleged hidden trusts he called on the title company with' which his company did business and he said officials of this company confirmed the reports. He sald he asked Shapiro about this and that the defendant stated: “I am making arrangements to pay the whole thing off. I don’t want money that I am not entitled to, but I do want money I have earned.” The defense admitted a ground trust of $100,000 on the properties sold, but that the defendant in obtaining this Joan secured a provision that he could release the title on any one of the 24 homes involved in this case whenever he saw fit. WASHINGTONIANS ASKED- TO DISPLAY FLAGS JULY 4 Proclamation Issued by City .Heads Requests Decoration of Homes and Business Houses. The District Commissioners issued a proclamation today calling upon Wash- ington residents w display the Stars and Stripes at their homes July 4, the 155th anniversary of the signing of the [ Losing control of her electric auto- mobile when knocked unconscious in a | collision at Sixte:nth street and Spring place, yesterday afternoon, Miss Emma Bowen, 54 years old, 1329 Ingraham i street, was the victim of a wild ride in the uncontrolled vehicle, which took down a mail box, two lines of fence, a | trez box and then stalled on a steep terrace. She was taken to Garfield Hos- pital after first aid treatment at the | scene. She will recover unless internal | injuries develop, it was said today. | Miss Bowen was driving her electric down Sixteenth street, when she collided with a car driven by Miss Clara L. Dovey, 68 years old, 3423, Holmzad place. The long steering handle of the electric struck Miss Bowen in the abdomen and she slumped in her seat, unconscious. ‘The machine, out<of control, jumped the curb, knocked over the mail X | and crossed the sidewalk. It struck | wire fence around the Pershing | | Apartment lawn, tearing up three iron |into the MRS. EMMA BOWEN UNCONSCIOUS IN SEAT. posts and carrying along a long piece of the fence. Curving across the lawn, it struck the fence along the other side, taking down another long length. Then it crossed the sidewalk and the street once more, climbed the curb on the far side and knocked down a treebox and small tree. Crossing the side- walk, it climbed halfway up a terrace where the rear wheels began to dig ground. A youth, whose |identity was not learned hy the police, reached into the machine and shut off the current. Miss Bowen was taken to the office of Dr. Simon R. Karpeles, 3549 Six- teenth street, given first aid treatment and sent, in a semi-conscious condition, to Garfield Hospital, where her condi- tion was reported as “critical She sustained mulitiple lacerations about the back of the head, but it is believed sh escaped concussion of the brain. Miss Dovey was not injured, though her car was badly damaged. 1S, ACTS TOCLEAR NEW POSTAL SITE Police and Fire Equipment in‘ Precinct 1 Shifted to Make Way. Shift of No. 1 police precinct to No. 6 and transfer of No. 16 Engine Company of the Pire Department to No. 3 Truck will take place as soon as| the Federal Government moves to tear | down old buildings on the site of the | new Post Office Department, between Twelfth and Thirteenth, C street and | Pennsylvania avenue. Bids were sched- uled to be opened by the Treasury De- partment for the wrecking today. Meantime, the vexing question of what is to be done about the tracks, of the Mount Vernon, Alexandria & Washington _ Railway, which loop | ‘Brough the big Federal Building Tri- angle in a figure 8, was still hanging fire. Compensation Asked. i Controller General Carl has before | him the question as to whether the | Treasury has funds available to pay the railway for its tracks in the public streets. The railway has filed suit for an injunction to prevent the Govern- ment from disturbing’ the tracks with- out compensation. A decision on the street rallway is | expected daily now from Controller General McCarl. Terminal to Remain. ‘The terminal of the railway company, it was learned today, will not be torn down for the time being unless agree- BAKER IS AWAITING LONG PRISON TERM Convicted Wife Slayer Fac- ing 20 Years to Life in Penitentiary. Convicted late yesterday of second degree murder in the slaying of his wife last April, Albert C. Baker soon will be sentenced to from 20 years to iife imprisonment by Justice ‘Peyton Gordon of District Supreme Court. The jury returned its verdict after deliberating four hours. Additional in- structions on manslaughter were re- quested shortly before the agreement was announced. Trial Was Short. Baker was given the speediest murder ;rial in the modern history of District sourts. Only two hours and a hall were required for selection of the jury, the hearing of all testimony for both the prosecution and defense and final arguments by John J. Sirica, an assist- ant United States attorney, and Robert 1. Miller, chief of defense counsel. ‘Taking the stand as the only defense witness, Baker broke down and wept when first asked to tell why he fired on his wife in their basement apart- ment at 807 O street. He later regained his composure and sald he remembered little of what happened immediately before the shooting because he was so excited. Bought Gun for Defense. ment can be reached shortly with the owners. | Present plans call for wrecking of all | the Post Office site, with the exceptions | of the terminal at the corner of Twelfth | and Pennsylvania avenue, and another | roperty known as the Carry property | at Twelfth and D streets, opposite the | terminal. | SUBMARINE “LUNG” HEROES REWARDED Two Members of Naval Reserves Decorated for Testing Res- cue Device. Two members of the 1st Battalion, United States Naval Reserves of the District—former members of the regu- lar service who participated in the de- velopment of the “lung,” & submarine escape device—stood before the entire battalion at a general muster in their armory at the Navy Yard last night and received heroes' awards from the Presi- dent of the United States. The men were Raymond Charles Wil- son, chief torpedo man, who received a gold star in lieu of a third Navy cross, Declaration of Independence. ‘The proclamation reads: “In gratitude to our forefathers who by their signal act bequeathed to us a sovereign nation in which we may en- joy the blessings of life's liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and as a tribute to the hosts who have scrved this Na- tion in the intervening years, the people of Washington are asked to display the flag of the United States of America at their homes and at their houses of busi- ness on the Fourth of July. metal staffs, authorized by the police regulations, may be placed. in position on the afternoon of Friday, July 3, and Femain until noon of Monday, Juiy 6. “Thus through these days the resi dents of the National Capital .]]:fihneelnthefll‘m to the re- public for which it stands, and the glory of our flag will complete the duty of our-city.” NEW DEAN NAMED URBANA, Il June 16 (#).—Fred H. TTurner, assistant dean of men at the University of Illineis since 1923, was mads acting dean by the board of trus- tees . to succeed Dean Thomas Arkle Clark, who is retiring. Dean Clark, the first dean.of men in the United States, has been con- aected with the upiversity for 40 years. will renew and Perry Jackson Hoy, also & chief torpedo man, who received a Navy cross, ‘The awards and citations were for serv- ices beyond the ordinary call to duty by volunteering to be lowered to great depths in water to test the value of the new device in.providing means of escape for crews imprisoned in submerged dis- abled submarines. ‘The awards were pinned on the men and the citations read by Rear Admiral H. X. B)::.ler, comm-nd.ui:;’ ohl tll:eu m yard, who was accompanied by £ Lieut. Comdr. Calhoun. It was the first official visit of the to the battalion since he as- inspected uum P tion m:d t’h‘: o tation ceremonies, He found in during the World War. Lieut. Samuel W. Stinemetz is com- mander of the Reserve e 3 carried mh?e details of the cere- is du:'to arrive at the Washington Navy Yard Thursday. Members of the 3d Fleet Division and a division from the Baltimore battalion of Reserves The defendant explained his wife left him several weeks before the fatal argument. He said he had been carii.g for their three children in the mean- while. Baker testified he went home late one afternoon and found his wife there. He asked her, he related, to cook dinner for his three children. He said she refused, referring to their chil- dren as “brats” and telling him he was insane. The shooting followed. Baker testified he bought the death weapon after he was told his wife had been seen frequently with a taxicab driver. He added he had intended to use the gun in defending himself should he find his wife in company with the man, . PLEA TO FORECLOSE MAYFLOWER HEARD Arguments for Receivership of ‘Washington Hotel Given Court. Arguments in support of a petition for receivership and foreclosure of the Mayflower Hotel were made before Jus- tice Oscar R. Luhring, in District Su- preme Court today, by Attorney Fred Horowitz of Los Angeles, Calif. Horowitz told the court that holders of $2,400,000 in second trust notes on the property yere in danger of losing oted | oV in fraud.” He contended that Charles C. Moore, an official of the American Bond & m'e Co., and trustee under the wer trust agreement, was not a person to represent the bond Counsel for the other side argued yes- terday that Moore should have brought memhnm!mcmre,-%flmulc Unlon Jacks hoisted over Gen. Gor- will be taken aboard Saturday, inaug: urating the annual crul the organization. The vi a voyage to Bermuda Islan in two weeks. J DISHISSAL OF AL HELDNECESSITY BY SECRETARYS ADE Lamont’s Assistant Says Controversy “Straw That Broke Camel’s Back.” INSOLENCE IS BLAMED FOR EXPERT’S DISCHARGE Removed Official, However, Charges Interference by Untrained Men. ' ‘The controversy over a Department of Commerce survey known as “Balance of International Payments,” which re- sulted in the discharge of Dr. Ray Ovid Hall of the Finance Division, was de- scribed today by Malcolm Kerlin, ad- ministrative assistant to Secretary La- Dr. Hall claimed he was dismissed by the chief of the division, Dr. Grosvenor Jones, because he refused to suppress certain data in connection with his preparation of the survey. But the dis- missal was on the grounds of “in- solence” and “insubordination,” accord- ing to O. P. Hopkins, first assistant di- rector of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, being a necessary administrative matter. In the ordinary routine, the dismis- sal of the financial expert will be brought to the attention of Secretary Lamont. It was indicated todaygthat his discharge would be approved. Culmination of Disagreements. Both Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Kerlin sald today that the trouble was the culmina- tion of a series of disagreements be- tween Dr. Hall and his immediate su- perfor and other cfficials, extending over a long period. Dr. Hall was given an cpportunity several weeks ago to seek other employment outside the Depart- ment of Commerce, it was said, because his “temperament” made it impcssible for him to get along well with others. Mr. Hopkins admitted that publica- tion of the survey has been delayed for nearly a month on actount of thess disagreements, but is now bejng and will be issued shertly. ere was any ‘juggling’ of statis- dispute,” the assistant direetof 'l who was trying juggling exd Dr. Jowuss who prevented it. We have a great deal of respect for Dr. Jones' judgment and when it became a question between the two, we dismissed Dr. Hall. That is the end of it so. far as this bureau is con- cerned.” tics i Principal Dispute. ‘The principal dispute, it seems, arose over a discrepancy of $270,000,000 in the international balance of payments, which Mr. Hopkins said was not un- usual in view of the fact that a balance is based on estimates and involves $17,- Dr. Jones wished, to omit an item of $175,000,000 which he said impugned | the veracity of figures issued: by the Customs Bureau. Dr. Hall contended that the Customs Bureau had over- valued 1930 imporis by that amount because it falled to allow for declines in | partment has no machinery for follow- ing up the sales of goods after they had | been appraised by customs officials, Dr. | Hall's contention was held to be mere Rguesswork. It was suggested to Dr. Hall that he follow the course taken by Great Britain in putting the discrepancy figures in an “unexplained” column, but this he re- fused to do. Since the department's survey is based on export and import data, supposed to be unaccompanied by opinions “and comments, the ensuing arguments resulted in its publication being delayed. In Service 10 Years, Dr. Hall also had contended that the depsrtment had sought to suppress cer- tain data on imports in order to favor the Smoot-Hawley tariff act by fits figures, mentioning, it was explained, rubber, coffee and copper. “He didn't remember at the #ime he made this charge that these three products are on the ‘free list’ Mr. Hopkins declared. “Later, when he recalled that fact, Dr. Hall withdrew the charge.” Dr. Hall has been employed in the finance division of the Bureau of For- eign and Domestic Commerce for 10 vears. Before then he had served in the foreign service of the bureau. He re- sides at 2025 O street. Dr. Hall explained today that he does not intend to seek reinstatement. “There would be no use in an appeal to Secre- tary Lamont,” he-added. “The ‘vote’ for my dismissal was unanimous.” He said, however, that he had been dealing with “principles” whereas his superiors been dealing with ‘“per- sonalities.” (;ITF:M'PO}G lmmfli came out of offi- ¢ rference with a trained expert by thu;;‘l,w D:" untrained in DROWNED MAN’S BODY " IS RECOVERED BY TWO Chester Partello Died Saturday ‘When Boat Capsized—Com- panions Saved. ‘The body of Chester Partello, 1626 G street southeast, who was drowned Saturday near the powder plant. at Indian Head, Md., when a sea sled in which he and several companions were riding capsized, was found by two men this morning, near the spot where he had drowned. The men finding the body were D. E. Mason and D n. 4| dismay on were by’ Lieut E. Senn of the naval muni- tions factory at Indian Head, and by H. T. Ward. Partello had sunk under the water before the rescuers arrived. DRUG STORE ROBBED “Hatless Trio” Believed Responsi- ble for $25 Hold-up. , 3936 'm\nejr'h:r:p’:}nuw:u-'mm 'curk.'in"uu back of the store point of a pistol. were said to be accompanied third member of the trio, who outside in a car, in which scene of the at the - and F!s - g. .;i§§§-§ mE drinks wing the gun g 4 values during shipments. Since the de- | UESDAY, JUNE 16, 1931 WASHINGTON, D. C, * Remodeled Aircraft Museum Opens HISTORY OF AVIATION 18 TRACED BY NEW AND OLD EXHIBITS. T Hobbs. good-will flight by the Army. He is pointing out an interesting bit of wing construction to Miss Moreland and Miss Hobbs. Twelve famous planes are on view in the remodeled building and the work cf moving in smaller exhibits has in the ‘Smithsonian, begun. These exhibits include 70 propcllers, many from fa mous pl in the world; a number of power plants, representing the development of airpiane engines frcm the beginning: airplane models, aviation equipment of various kinds and a large collect.on of photographs. HUSBAND CHARGES IN"SUIT PARENTS OF WIFE HOLD HER W. H. Dean Says, in Petition, They Took Bride “Forcibly and Against Will.” JUDGE BAILEY ISSUES HABEAS CORPUS WRIT Youth Says Defendants, in Inter- view, Refused to Reyeal Girl's Whereabouts. William Harper Dean, jr.” 21, son of a prominent official of the U. S. Cham- ber of Commerce, today filed habeas corpus proceedings in District Supreme Court, charging that his wife is being illegally detained by her parents. The wife, a bride of six months, is Elizabeth Love Dean, 19, granddaughter of William D. Love, of the Board of Tax Appeals. “Took Her Forcibly.” ‘The husband’s petition alleges that the bride's parents Mr. and Mrs. James Burnett, of the Chastleton Hotel, with force and against the will of the bride carried her away from her hus- band last May 29, and have confined and detained her from returning to her husband and home.” He says that he was able to interview his parents-in-law on June 13, and they refused to tell him where they had taken his wife, but stated they had put her away, and when she asked where her husband was they told her he had been put in a sintarium. Married Last December. Dean said he married the young ;;_mzm at ville, Md., last Decem- 4. Justice Jennings Bailey issued a rule, reti le tomorrow, directing Mr. and Mrs. Burnett to produce the young bride in court and show cause why she should not be given over to her husband. ITREASURY ASKS BIDS HE Aircraft Muceum of the Smithsonian Institution has been reopened after several months spent in remodeling the old sheet-iron shed occupled by the collection in back of the Smithscnian Building. Paul Edward Garber, curator in charge of the aeronautical collection, is shown pointing out some of the historic plant In the upper picture he is pcinting out German bullet holes, marked by black crosses, in a Spad which was flown by three American aces in France, % Miss Margaret Moreland, left, and Miss Elizabeth In the lower picture, Garber is in the pilot's cock pit of one of the big amphibians uied in the pan-American es to co-workers nes, forming the finest aircraft propeller collection —Star Staff Photos. Member of Troup Misses 12- Foot Tank, Breaking His Back. | Director Says Fatigue From Erecting Tower Caused Him to Miscalculate. Frank Calreg liftle suspected he was making his own death trap when he ed against time for three days to| get a 90-foot diving tower in readiness for last night's opening cf the Central | Labor Union fair on the Camp Meigs | grounds. | The 25-year-old stunt diver had just completed an engagement in Balti: more. There was scant time to pre- pare for the Washington opening. He took off his ccat and fell to with the other workmen, raising and securing the ladder, placing and filling the tank at its base. Calreg climbed trees on either side of an adjoining street to string a hose from a corner fire plug to the tank. He mounted the ladder many times to see that the guy wires were properly rigged. He supervised the whole opera- tion. As a consequence, everything was in order when the fair opened at 7:30 o'clock last night. One of the principal attractions was the diving feature. “Got to Give Public Run.” ‘While the other members of his troupe —five girls and another man—went through their routine, Calreg sat in the mfiu tent with his head in his Alfred L. Stern, lecal showman and him if he on. the Jan electric lights which he wired to the ladder. The spectators below saw a look of Calrog’s face when he began Some whim his leap. of fatigue, MARYLAND PARK HIGH ALUMNI HAS ELECTION 1llen Gr;:vry Named President at Annual Banquet and Dance of Seniors. Special Dispatch to The Star. MARYLAND PARK, Md., June 16.— Allen Gregory was elected president of the Alumni Association of the Mary- land Park High School at the first an- m] had | the show would go on DIVER PLUNGES 60 FEET TO DEATH AS CARNIVAL PATRONS WATCH FRANK CALREG. Stern said, had caused him to mis- calculate. Calrog missed the water in the shal- low tank and hit the steel side of it. ‘The impact broke his back and he died before an ambulance could get him to Casualty Hospital. Girl Divers Saw Plunge. The five girl members of the troupe were standing on a platform just be- low Calrog when he jumped. At his cue they raised their , as they been trained, but not move n they heard his cry of dismay and saw him fall. Three minutes later the act was completed by Leo Davis with a 90- | o, foot dive from the topmost rung of the ladder. . Ramsay Nevitt said today oner undecided as yet whether an would be necessary. Ci 3 who was rooming at 629 Florida avenue northwest, gave his home as & West Fifty-seventh.street, New York y. His ‘body will be removed to his native city of Pittsburgh for burial. ‘Other members e troupe said tonight as usual, and for the duration of two-week b -ddedn‘:gt'.he performer was r formy already en route to replace Calreg. FOUR ARE INJURED IN THREE MISHAPS Only One Badly Hurt in Series of Traffic Accidents Here. One man was seriously injured and another slightly hurt when an automo- bile in which they were riding crashed into a tree on Vermont avenue near Logan circle early last night. The machine was wrecked. ‘The driver, Robert B. Duncan, col- ored, 52, of 1030 Kenyon street, escaped with minor scalp lacerations, but a companion, Archie Freeman, colored. | 48, of 1610 Thirteenth street, suffered | cuts of the head and right eve, a_dis- located left shoulder and shock. Both were treated at Freedmen's Hospital. Duncan told police of the second pre- the car, while proceeding north on Ver- mont avenue and the auto crashed into a ‘before he could bring it to a halt. He was not held. Harry A. Barnard of 3721 Reservoir road, received a fractured rib and col- lar bone yesterday afternoon when struck by the rear end of a street car a making a turn where Fifteenth street converges with New York and Penn- sylvania avenues. Barnard was taken to Emergency Hospital for treatment and later sent home. Motorman Wilson W. Miller was operating the street car, police re- ported. Three-year-old Rhoda Levin, 2331 avenue, was treated at ospital for slight cuts and Pl d BIDS FOR FIRE ENGINE AT RIVERDALE REJECTED Mayor Admonishes Department for Attempts to Force Its Choice of Truck. cinct station that he lost control of | bu ON 1932 FETE COIN Leading Sculptors Are Required to Submit Designs for New Quarters. Leading sculptors have been invited by the Treasury Department to submit designs for the new quarter dollar to be issued next year in commemoration of the Washington Bicentennial Letters have been sent to prominent sculptors by Robert J. Grant, director of the Mint, asking for submission of models for both sides of the new coin. These models will be received at the office of the director of the Mint in the Treasury, up t> and inciuding October 15. Distribution of the coin will start February 22, 1932. It is expected that the selecticn of the design for the new quarter will be rfade from the mod:ls submitted, but the Treasury reserves the right to reject all models. The Secretary of the Treasury will se- lect the design. Before the final decision is reached he will invite the Commis- sion of Fine Arts and the United States George Washington Bicentennial Com- mission to pass on the merits of the designs. teen hundred dollars will be paid to the artist wnose design is chosen. Nothing will be paid for re- Jected models. {5-YEAR PLAN URGED FOR WELFARE CHEST Co-operation of All Agencies and Civic Leaders Is Sug- gested. Drafting of a five-year program by the Washington Community Chest has been taken under consideration as & result of suggestions advanced at a re- cent meeting of the New York School of Social Work, attended by Elwood Street, Chest director. Mr. Street announced today that such a plan might include’ joint participative planning and leadership by representa- tives of all community agencies and by leaders in community thought; care- ful financial and service accounting, measuring and evaluating. ‘The ector said such a program probably would involve development of self-support, including the making of adequate charges to those able to pay, economy of administration, study and installation of effective methods, development of 1 11 endowments, rom development of public welfare activities inch old-age pensions and unem- ployment insurance, combination of cies whenever possible, elimination of agencies no longer necessary, social study of each community need, exten- sion and improvement of agencies wherever such studies show the neces- sity, case work methods on admissions to ali agencies, thorough-going public education as to community problems and work of member organizations, . | thoroughly competent and efficient cam- of public ip planning. , partnershi and private social work in all app! which community needs are met in somewhat the same way as public health tuted ployment problem. FINAL PAYMENT IS MADE ON OXON HILL FIRE TRUCK Officers of Company Will Be Elect- ed in July—$135 in Donations Are Reported.