Evening Star Newspaper, November 26, 1931, Page 17

Washington News he WITH S8UNDAY MORNING EDITION WASHINGTON, D. € CITIZENS ORDER PROBE OF REMOVAL OF OLD ELM TREES Head of Mid-City Group De- nounces Destruction on Capitol Hill. CHARGES STEAM TUNNEL EXCUSE INSUFFICIENT Plan to Prevent Future “Official Vandalism” to Be Sought by Committee. | Aroused by the destruction of half- eentury-old elms on East Capitol street, the Midcity Citizens' Association not | only has passed a resolution in pro- test, but has started its most influential | committee—the Executive Committee, | composed of officers of the association— to thoroughly investigate the mnttel‘l with a view to seeing if such destruc- tion can be prevented in the future. A. J. Driscoll, president of the asso- clation, today deplored the destruction the trees, especially at this time, Jjust before the Washington Bicenten- nial Celebration. “It is unfortunate that the beauty of Washington should be marred at this time, when, as someone has said, we are expecting a million or_two visitors. ‘The trees are one of Washington's greatest attractions and now this beau- tiful vista of fine old elms has been destroyed. ‘These trees should have been protected.” Sacrifice Held Unnecessary. Realizing that eventually East Capi- tol street may be widened under the lan suggested by the National Capital ;flrk and Planning Commission, and explained yesterday by David Lynn, architect of the Capitol, Mr. Driscoll the opinion that it would not have been necessary to sacrifice these trees at the present time. Many of the trees have been cut down, because they were considered by District au- thorities to be too dangerous to passers- . Their roots had been all cut off on one side during the digging of a new steam tunnel which is to be used to carry heat to the Library of Congress and the annex to the Library of Con- gress. The steam tunnel was dug through the sidewalk. This steam tunnel, Mr, Driscoll still thinks, could have been placed else- where—in the lawn of the Library of Congress, for instance—to save the old elm trees and the vista to the Capitol. “The statement made by the chief engineer of the Capitol power plant that to extend the pipes through the lawn of the Library of Congress would kill the grass,” said Mr. Driscoll, “is rather a peculiar one and cannot be accepted as a defense of those re- sponsible for the butchery of these splendid and attractive, as well as use- ful trees. “It seems but a sensible argument,” said Mr. Driscoll, “that the heating pipes could be properly covered to pre- vent the escape of heat, which would protect the grass, this simply in the interest of economy. If the pipes are 80 constructed that they will kill the grass, does it not follow that they will likewise kill the trees, thus completing the job of destruction already begun. Commerce Building Opening HE new $17,000,000 Commerce | Department Building, which,on | January 1, will house approxi- | mately 6,000 employes, was oc- time by Government clerks. Equipment for 15 clerks, who for several months have been assembling data for the President’s Conference on Home Building and Home Ownership, which meets here December 2. was| moved during the morning from the | old Commerce Building to the new | edifice. The first truckload of furni- cupled yesterday for the first| o FIRST CLERKS AND FURNITURE GO INTO OFFICE. —Star Staff Photo. ture, shown above, went into the build- ing today. Space adjoining the huge auditorium in the new building has been assigned the office force of the President's group. Two truckloads of furniture weye moved into the building, and by afternoon the staff was functioning normally in the new quarters. The auditorium, by arrangements with she building contractors, will be used for the first time when the Presi- dent’s Conference convenes here. The building proper will not be occupied officially until January 1 G QUK W1 SIVES FR¥§100 3 Tells Bandit Key Around Her | Neck Is in Possession of Absent Manager. Quick thinking on the part of a girl | employe saved between $1,000 and $1,- | 200 for Conger’s Laundry late yester- day when two bandits, one of them | armed with a revolver, held up the com- | “By our way of reasoning, there is 1o excuse to be offered that will justify the apparent indifference on the part of those responsible for the protection of our beautiful trees in this entire Mr. Driscoll his “hearty ap- proval” of the recent Star editorial entitled “Official Vandalism,” concern- ing the destruction of the trees. As head of the Mid-City Citizens' Association, Mr. Driscoll has been an active worker in citizens’ affairs in this city, and has led previous fights to pro- tect the trees of the Capital. A move- ment which had been started to cut down all the old elm trees on New York svenue between Ninth and Thirteenth streets. was halted following vigorous st by Mr. Driscoll and his associa- on. They took their protest personally to the District Commissioners, and the elms on New York avenue still are standing. No Objection to Progress. ‘With at least three different govern- mental agencies in charge of the trees of the N.flh:ltifl Clpma N;l’. Driscoll suggested that some of co-opera- tion should be developed by which there could be more conservation of the tree life of Washington. The development of the city is naturally taking away some of its trees, which have to b2 sacrificed to progress, Mr. Driscoll sald, explaining that his association does not object to such real progress. “But where no real beneficial results can be obtained by the removal of trees,” he continued, “we are vigorously opposed to such removal.” “On Capitol Hill, in the case of the present destruction of elms,” said Mr. Driscoll, “it seems to me that a better plan would have been to save this fine old vista to the Capitol for many years until the newer trees could be grown farther back from the curb, to provide a2 new vista. Why destroy these fine trees, with a hundred years more life before the small and young trees for the new vista are even planted?” The Logan-Thomas Circle Citizens' Association also has formally protested against destruction of the elms on Cap- tol Hill. SERVICES TO BE HELD Rites to Take Place at Residence Tomorrow for Late Con- tractor. Funeral services for Melvin H Herriman, 68, Washington contractor, who died Monday at his home, 1201 Fern street, will be held at the resi- dence tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock. ‘Burfal will be in Rock Creek Cemetery. Death was due to a heart attack. St. Marys County, Md, had lived in ‘Washington 38 years. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Katle M. Herriman; two sons, Whitney H. Herriman of Washington and Lawton G. Herriman of Silver Spring, Md.; four brothers, Oscar of Silver Spring, Bert and Albert of Washington and Vivian H. Herriman of Chaptico, and four sisters, Miss Lucy Herriman, Mrs. Badie Penn and Mrs. Mary Brookbank of Chaptico and Mrs. Lilllan Bur- roughs of Washington. DINNER 1S POSTPONED 51 pany’s office at New York avenue and Twenty-third street. As a result, the Tobbers obtained only $50. C. H. Conger, jr., assistant manager, and two clerks, Miss Edna LaCorte, 21, and Miss Helen Standback, 22, were in the office when the bandits entered. Conger was talking on the telephone, while the young women were preparing to close the office for the day. Covered Trio With Gun. While one of the robbers covered | the three with a gun concealed be-| neath his coat, his companion vaulted the counter, knocked the phone from Conger’s hands and ordered him to lie on the floor. | After taking $50 from the cash| register, the bandit went to the safe, | the doors of which were open. The drawers were locked, however, and he demanded the keys. Miss LaCorte, who had the keys on a | string around her neck, folded her arms across them and assured the robber the manager had them. He was in the plant adjoining the office at the time. Asks Bandit Not to Shoot. Lying on the floor, Conger appealed | to the bandit with the gun not to| shoot his brother, J. P. Conger, mana- ger of the company, in the event he should return to the office from the | plant. which was found in the safe, the ban- dits fled. The one with the gun was described as being about 30 years old, 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing about 135 pounds. His companion was about 27 and was 6 feet tall and weighed about 160. Miss LaCorte lives at 930 Twenty- second street and Miss Standback in the 600 block of A street southeast. The Congers’ home is at 2718 Twenty-seventh street, Pittsylvania Farmer Dead. DANVILLE, Va., November 26 (Spe- cial).—J. H. Lanier, well kno Pittsyl- FINAL VISITATION MADE BY MASONS Grand Master C. Fred Cook Calls on Harmony and Harding Lodges. ‘The final grand visitation of the series of 1831 to the constituent lodges of the Masonic jurisdiction of the Dis- | ¢h, trict of Columbia occurred last evening with an official call, by the grandmaster of Masons, C. Fred Cook, accompanied by officers of the Crand ILnodge, to Harmony Lodge, No. 17, Louis H. Hamm, master, meeting in Masonic Temple, Thirteenth street and New York avenue. The event proved to be one out of the ordinary, as is always the case with Harmony Lodge, which has attained a reputation for “doing the unusual.’ Lodge room No. 1, the most spacious in the temple, was crowded to capacity when the Grand Lodge officers entered. The chamber had been transformed into a bower of floral beauty. An orchestra played as the visitors were received. Following the usual reports and the transaction of other Masonic business, Senjor Warden Carl H. Claudy, on be- half of the lodge, presented to the grand master a miniature trowel of solid gold, suitably engraved. Then followed a program of special entertainment fea- tures, including sclections by a quartet and the George Washington University Glee Club, contributions by Miss Claire Sessford and Miss Erma Bell, an exhi- bition of his powers by Mamron, the “mystic,” violin solos by Meyer Gold- man and a contribution by Charles Ed- wards, humorist. The final visitation was then formally ended. Preceding the visit to Harmony Lodge, the Grand Lodge officers made @ call on Warren G. Harding Lodge, No. 39, of which Edward T. Chappell 18 master. The annual communication of the Grand Lodge is scheduled for Wed- |nesday evening, December 16, and the Pocketing the $50 and an old pistol final communication of the year, when the annual election of officers will be in order, for Monday evening, Decem- ber 28. IMOVIES WILL PICTURE LIFE IN FRANCE TODAY New motion pictures and color photo- graphs designed to give the many-sided and colorful aspects in the life of France of today will be shown before the Na- tional Geographic Society tomorrow eve- ning at the Washington Auditorium. Burton Holmes will address the society vania County farmer, who dropped dead in a local tobacco warehouse on Tuesday, will be buried today, the serv- ices to be hneld at the home, He was preparing to leave for his home after selling his tobacco when he was stricken with an attack of acute indigestion and died in a short time. He is survived his widow and several children. members and interpret the plctures. | The pictorfal tour of France will lie | along tree-lined highways, through | battlefield areas, quaint ages and | will ascend to the Alpine reglons of | France. Fashionable Biarritz and Deau- ville, 2lso castle-crowned Carcassonne | and the gay-costumed Breton towns will 'bz depicted. RESCUED FROM Unobserved by . While they frantically’ waved a dis- tress signal at a craft which passed by their sinking cabin cruiser without see- ing them, Louis H. Mann, Washington attorney, and Capt. James Dugan of Salem, Mass, inadvertently attracted the attention of the Maryland State Flfl'ul boat Folly in Chesapeake Bay ate yesterday afternoon, and brought her out to the rescue. As Mann and Dugan mournfully watched the blind boat disappear off the horizon and returned to their struggles to keep the Sea Wolf efloat by bailing her out, two members of the been postponed indefi- oter ol ‘PNl Ha regular hotel, however, at 8 crew of the Folly sighted the boat's white signal just as the patrol craft was about to put in for the night at Galesville, Md. ‘The Folly, commanded by Capt. E. N. Dixon, headed seaward again and covered the two miles between shore and the Sea Wolf in tizie to save the ;\T’I:ORNEY AND COMPA NION SINKING CRUISER Maryland Patrol, About to Put In for Night, Sees Signal Mr. Herriman, a native of Chaptico, ' Another Craft. men and tow the cruiser ashore before she settled. Menn and Dugan, skipper of the boat, left here Monday afternoon en Toute to Keyport, N. J., where the craft was to be repainted. At about 3:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon the ship sprung a’leak, the motor stopped and the lights fafled. The two men aboard grabbed a large sheet and waved it, hoping to attract the attention of boat visible about a mile away. While one signalled the other bailed. —The boat evidently could not keep afloat, and when they saw the nearest potential rescuer steam away the men virtually lost hope. Howard Haftge and John Grinder of the Folly crew happened to scan_the horizon s their ship turned into har- bor and saw the signal. Mann lives 4 Ballston, V. WOMEN PERRIITTED BOND IN PROBE OF TEA HOUSE SLAYING THURSDAY, ening Staf NOVEMBER 26, 1931. Thanksgiving Cheer Dispensed to Needy “BASKET DAY” SCENE AT CENTRAL UNION MISSION. | Five Refuse to Break Silence as Officers Seek Trail of White-Slavers. FINGERPRINTS STUDIED ON ABANDONED AUTO Witnesses of Fatal Hold-up Shoot- ing at Bladensburg Afraid to Talk, Officers Discover. Convinced after two days' grilling that they will be unable to obtain any information of importance from the| five women arrested after the (a(,al‘ shooting in the Old Colonial House, at Bladensburg, early Monday, | Baltimore detectives handling the case | announced today they would release| the prisoners under bond as State wit- nesses. Meanwhile a vigorous crusade against white slavers in Maryland by the De- partment cf Justice was reported in progress as a result of the case,| although no official comment couid be | obtained. Lieut. Cornelius F. Roche and Wil- liam C. Feehley, the Baltimore de- tectives assigned to the case, planned to spend tcday checking on Baltimore angles of the case, but will return to Prince Georges County tomorrow to go over the scene of the crime for pcs- sible additional clews. Abandoned Auto Examined. One of the features to be studied today is the abandoned, apparently bullet-ridden automobile found cn the Laurel-Bowle road yesterday. Although the owner of the car, a Baltimore man, sald he left it on the road when it became disabled Saturday, the de- tectives expressed the belief the car had scme connection with the case. Fingerprints on the car will be checked The women in the Hyattsville Jail are apparently afraid to talk, detectives said, and may have been threatened with death if they disclose any facts concerning the management and op- eration of the tea house. The five—Dorothy Jordan, Jean Gor- don, Mae Dix, Mary Wilson and Helen Conley, all of Baltimore—will be re- leased if they can post $1,500 bond each. Raymond Sisler and Arthur Crocket of Washington were released under $250 bond as witnesses last night Two other men, Sam Kushner and George Osborne, also will be Teleased if they can post bond, police said. Man Gives Information. Although they were unable to get the women to talk, one of the men wit- nesses showed a marked willingness to assist the detectives, it was learned. He even drew diagrams to show how the patrons of the establishment were lined up against the kitchen wall by the five bandits who proceeded to rob em. While the officers say they have failed to have any one identified as firing a single shot, they have been told that John Bartlett, one of the men injured, remarked, “They're puiiing me on the spot, let's get them,” auring the hold- up This strengthened the police theory that the bandits’ fire was provoked and probably returned by persons in the house. Grove Amick of Winchester, Va., was killed and six other persons injured in the exchange of shots. Five of the in- Jjured still are in Casualty Hospital. Burned Lighting Stove. Burns which may prove fatal were suffered today by Mary Donahue, col- ored, 41, as she attempted to light a stove in the kitchen of her home, at 1210 Third street southwest. She was treated at Casualty Hospital for burns about the face and body. Marriage Licenses. Charles Peake, 51, and Elizabeth E. Wolf- man, 37; Rev. Solomon H. Mq etz Christine V. 5 her. . 23, and Eva A. Buck, 25; v. J. H. McBroom. Kermit R. Avlor, 23, and Florence V. Hen- shaw, 19, both of Madison, Va.; Rev. Allap payie B 30, and Philips, 25 avid Burgess 30, and Marie Philips, 25; R hirlscan r Kraft> 22, and ori ristian F. Kraft. 22, and Mary F. Druery. 52 bothof’ Baltimore; Rev. Kenneth B. arson. George 8. Somerville. 22, and Marolise E. Kine. 18; Rev. William A. Murphy Joseph Hall“39. and Beulah M. Green, 25; V. Walter A English. 202 ik, and Susan_Jones, Wilmer B, Heckrotte, 35, and Kathjden T. Gereghty. 23, both of Baitimore; Rev. Jaseoh ne . Edward A Farrah, Atlantic Cit Sadie Tenenbaum. Philadelphia; omas H. Henderson, 28 Baton Rous La, and Doris Scallorn, ‘28, Port Arthur, Tex.: Rev. Thomas 8. Davis. wis G. Carter. 26, and Bessie D. Bowles, 25_both of Richmond; Rev. John C. Bafl. Donald L. Grazler. 26, and Catherine G. Elnwachter, 24, "both” of Baltimore; .Rev. rack. Fiss. 44, and Helen Spencer, . “Wenchel, . 26, and Idell Johnson, 32; rrizon. €5, 25, and Irene Sutton, 24; "'21""4nd Alma Pruntey, 21 .3l ntey, 2L Rand Melvin L. Ford, 23, and Marcia G. Daneher. 19; both of Baltimore: Rev. L. I. McDougle ake=. 25. Ballston, Va. and Nelite his city; Rev. M. P. Germa ayne, 26, and Johauna C. Kel ev. George B. Harrinston. Otto C. Mattat. 22 and Mary C. Gleason, 18; Rev. H. M. Hennig. Paul Cook. 32. and Margaret M. Wass. 21, both of Meriden, Conn.: Rev. A N. De Mully Roseilar Alien, 23; his city. and Helen m Pierpoint k. '29. Fort Myer, Va. and . “this city; Rev. Alvin L. George Nelms. 28, Hampton, Va. and Nellle 8. Rowe, 24, Newport News; Rev. Earle Wilgey. Va. and v. ., 28, 21; s ey Herbert B. Sipe, Bridgewater, Grace V. Orndorfl, 37, Winchester, Va.; Re J. J. Rives 5. Terrell R. Lacy, 24. and Afele Harvey, both of Richmond: Kev, Allan . Boore, -+ James H. Dawson, 27, Alexandria, and Anpette M. Cooper, 21, this city; Rev.' b. 1. McDougle. Ligyd N, Cooper, 25, and Erma E. Rowley, 24; Rev. . W. Mclntyre. Moe Zager, 30, Atlantic City, and Edna Myers. 24, Steelmanville, N. J.; Rey. Esme A. H. Baker, M. Myers. Willlam Pierpoint 0 H. Blum, 26, and 25."both of New York City; Judge Robert K. Mattingly. Deaths Reported. Laura M. Gelwick, 8. the Argvle Ats. o K 9ouncah 1dge el A John H. r. 70, Casualty Hospital. 1618 7th st. e er. 162, 1615 °G st Carrie Bailey, 56, Georgetown University HOSRA Knott, 56. 1341 Randoloh st a F. Knott, 56. oloh st. niet O Chariton, 81 Wi 8 3 user. 48, 939 5th st n. Potomac River 7. Children’s ‘Hos- 77, 1208 Linden st. . 72,2130 ‘13th st. 5 140 P t, Wych, ‘56, 41 E st. Nettie ‘arris," 45" 34 Patterson st ne Ware,' 47. Georgetown University ' . 41, Garfleld Hospital n‘ol?:r'fi:tm il 7R roue Santinger Bolomon. 1. Gallinger Hospital. tal, Smith. ne. Rebecea Smith, Tea HANKSGIVING day means busy times at the Central Union Mission, where members of the Women'’s Guild dis- tributed 350 baskets heavily laden with food to needy families. five. Each basket contained dinner for a family of ; Today about 500 homeless men will eat a real Thanksgiving dinner at the mission. H. G. Waterholter, Miss Ruth Branson, Mrs. John S. Bennett and Mrs. Mary E. Ealley. Left to right: Mrs. —Siar Staff Photo. 'ELKS’ OFFICIAL GIVES TOAST TO ABSENT BROTHERS AND DIES Daniel R. Nihion Collapses During Cercmony at Ball. Throng of 2,000 Kept in Ignorance of Fatal Heart Attack. With sclemn ceremony which stilled the merriment at the Elks’ charity ball last night, Daniel R. Nihion, grand tiler, gave the traditional toast, “To our absent brothers.” A minute later he joined them in death. As the clock struck 11 o'clock, the lights were dimmed, Nihion mounted the platform in the Willard ball room and the crowd bowed in reverent silence. The toast was given and the dead eulogized. As he concluded, the speaker collapsed and was carried from the stage. Died of Heart Attack. He was taken to a room in the hotel and pronounced dead by physicians summoned from the ball room. An at- tempt was made to keep knowledge that Nihion had died from the 2,000 or more guests and the festivities continued un- interrupted. Three physicians examined the body and said death was due to a heart at- tack. They were Dr. J. Ward Mankin, Dr. W. Morris Woolridge and Dr. W. R. Haynes. Unknown to the crowd, the body was removed to the L. M. Gawler undertaking estsblishment. Friends of Mr. Nihion said he ap- peared to have been in excellent health DANIEL R. NIHION. | and spirits & few minutes before his | death. Two Sisters Survive. ‘The Fire Department rescue squad | was summoned, but Mr. Nihion was dead when it arrived. Coroner Joseph | D. Rogers issued a certificate of death from natural causes. | Mr. Nihion lived at 457 Massachu- | setts avenue. He was a native of Cum- | berland, Md., but had been a resident |of Washington for many years. For |some time he had been a bailiff in the District Supreme Court. Last July at | the Elks' annual convention in Seattle, Wash., he was named grand tiler. Sur- viving him are two sisters, one in Belair, Ohio, and the other in Cum: berland. No arrangements for the fu- neral have been made. PLUNGE IS FATAL T0ADOLPH NEUBECK Head of Painting Firm Breaks Neck in Fall Down Stairs at Home. Adolph Neubeck, 56, of 4333 Kansas avenue was fatally injured yesterday when he fell down a flight of stairs in his home, breaking his neck. Mr. Neubeck, who ‘was head of Neu- beck & Co. painters, is thought to have slipped as he neared the top of the stairs and fallen backward. His head struck the floor at the bottom. His daughter Gfirtmde. 18, heard the crash and found her father apparently lifeless. She summoned Dr. Alfred C. Norcross, 819 Taylor street, who pro- nounced him dead. ~Coroner Rodgers issued a certificate of accidental death. Mr, Neubeck is survived by his widow, Mrs, Ella G. Neubeck; three daughters, Gertrude, Mary and Ella Neubeck, and a son, Francis Neubeck, all of Washing- mr}‘\mzral services will be held at the residence Saturday morning at 9:30 o'clock; followed by requiem mass At St. Gabriel's Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Boyds Resident Knocked Uncon- scious in Auto Accident. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. HALPINE, Md.,, November 26.—Mrs. Clara Yongerman of Boyds, Md. was knocked unconscious last night when the auto she was driving on the Rock- ville pike here was in collision with a car driven by Donelson C. Glassie of 117 Bradley lane, Bethesda, according to_police. Mrs. Yongerman was about to turn from the pike to Lenowitz’ store at Halpine when the accident occurred, according to Officer Windsor Poole, who investigated it. Both cars were badly damaged. Mrs. Yongerman was treat- ed by Dr. Hawks of Rockville and later returned to her home. bt WHEAT IS BURNED Spark From Threshing Machine Sets Stack on Fire. Special Dispatch to The Star. PURCELLVILLE, November 26. —Fire caused by a spark from a threshing machine destroyed a stack and a half of wheat containing about 300 bushels of wheat and a straw rick yesterday on the farm of Edgar Crim, near Wheatland. The farm is tenant- ed by John Orrison, The machine was in operation on the farm at the time of the fire. A bucke! brigade saved nearby structures. GENTRAL FOOT BALL Gibbins, Injured in Victory Over Washington-Lee, Only Daze'd. Henry Gibbins, jr., 17, versatile star of the Central High School foot ball team, was recovering at Walter Reed Hospital today from head injuries re- celved shortly after he scored the touchdown that defeated Washington- Lee High School, 6-0, in the annual “C” Club game yesterday in Central Sta- dium. X-ray photos showed the youth was not suffering from a fracture or con- cussion, as was at first feared, but merely dazed from the impact of a tackle he had made in the game. He remained at the hospital today for further observation. Young Gibbins was taken from the game when his teammates noticed he appeared groggy after a tackle. Play- ing quarterback, he repeated the same signal on several plays they said. His father, Col. Henry Gibbins of the quar- termaster general's office at the War Department, who was a spectator at ame, took him to the hospital. Gibbins, playing his first year on the team, was named all-high tackle last week, but has played in the backfield in several other games this year. is also a shotputter on the tr: team and an officer in the high school stue ent council. He lives at 2801 Thirty- eighth street. HERD RECOVERING RHEEM TESTIFIES ON FIRM'S FAILURE Tells Story of Investment House. Crash in Personal Bankruptcy Trial. ‘The story of the failure of Swartzell, Rheem & Hensey Co., which resulted in the loss of several million dollars to Washington investors, was told yester- day by Edmund D. Rheem, former ex- ecutive head of the “one man” mort- gage-banking house. Testifying in personal bankruptcy proceedings against him in District Su- preme Court, Rheem described how his firm, loaded with millions of dollars in frozen assets, cracked when a local bank demanded payment of notes aggregat- ing $300,000, and finally went under despite strenuous last-minute efforts by to raise cash to tide it over. Seek Personal Funds. Rheem was brought to the court house from Lorton, where he is serving | & seven-year sentence on a charge | growing out of the failure of his firm. | Investors who lost money when the firm | went under are seeking to have him thrown into bankruptcy so his personal | assets may be made available in pay- ment of their claims. “I was taken sick in the middle of last January,” Rheem said, “and had to stay home. One morning, while I was con- fined to my bed, J. Newton Brewer, an assistant, came to me and said the Washington Loan & Trust Co. had dis- covered the security for some $200,000 of our notes held by them in their trust department had been released. He told me the bank insisted on having a check for the full amount or substitute notes by the following morning. “I sent Brewer back to the office with instructions to remove from the vaults first mortgage notes on the Shoreham | Hotel in that amount and turn them over to the bank. These notes belonged to customers of the firm, who had left them with us for safekeeping. In my opinion this was legitimate, as the com- pany repurchased the notes from the holders. By that I mean a credit for the face value of the securities was given each holder on our books, and we intended to give them other notes in the same amount. The bankruptcy in- 7 tervened before this could be done. Payment Demanded. “I returned to the office on the Thursday prior to January 25, 1931, the date of the bankruptcy. That day two boys from the Washington Loan and Trust Co. came to my office. Each had a suit case filled with notes. The bank wanted all of these notes paid at once, although some of them were not yet due. They aggregated in value several hundred thousand dollars; I don't re- melallwr the exact amount. “Of course, I went right down to the bank to talk the matter over. The officials there were polite but firm; they wanted payment at once. firm didn’t have the money available and couldn’t pay. The bank then advised me they were writing a letter to each holder, setting forth the facts. They very considerately gave me an opportu- nity to write a letter, offering to re- place the notes with others which had not been released, which would reach the note owners at the same time. ‘This was done. “Finally, however, the situation nar- rowed down to this: Our assets were frozen, our creditors were demanding payment and we didn't have the money to pay them. Bankruptcy was the only recourse.” Twenty-four Lours before the time of filing, I sat down with my at- torney, Leon Tobriner, and we drafted the petition. He said that up to the latter part of 1930 he considered himself worth “in the neighborhood of $2,000,000.” Justice F. D. Letts announced he would hear final arguments in the case Tuesday at 2 o'clock. Man Also Makes Speech in Just what James P. Colbert, 50, did yesterday in his pre-Thanksgiving cele- bration 1s not known, but it is a matter of public record that he made a speech in front of the Fox Theater and tried to break into the jail last night. Colbert made quite a powerful plea to Judge Ralph Given in Police Court yesterday to gain his freedom so he could spend a “quiet Thanksgiving.” “Nevertheless,” sighed the judge after Colbert had ceased talking, “I expect to see you again tomorrow.” Sure enough Colbert was back in court again, the only difference being that two charges of Intoxication were placed him. One officer said he found perched on @ box in TRIES TO BREAK INTO D. C. JAIL, SO JUDGE GIVES HIM 60 DAYS Spending “Quiet” Thanksgiving. Front of Fox Theater While front of the Fox Theater in midafter- neon, telling a large assemblage about respective prowess of Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney. He posted $10 with the first precinct police. Then Police- l'l'::;ldB. M. Strong took the witness stand. “We received a hurry call to come to the jail last night,”" he said, “that somebody was trying to break in. When |I got there I found this man ringing the door bell and beating on the door.” “What,” began Judge Given, “were you doing at the jail at that hour?” “Col. Peake is a good friend of mine, judge,” replied Colbert. “I wanted to see mmu on Thanksgiving.” “Well, suppose you spend Christmas with him, too. Sixty days." PAGE B—1 RILEYS FLEE HOME, CHARGE INTRUDERS THREATENED THEM Men Arrested in Residence After They Are Said to Have Forced Entrance. WIFE IDENTIFIES ONE AS AN UNCLE OF EDITH Police Assert Suspects Admit Plan to Beat Up Parents of “Closet Prisoner.” Their lives, allegedly threatened by two men who broke into their home, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Newman Riley, father and stepmother of Edith Riley, 12-year-old “closet prisoner,” fled to & neighbor’s house last night for safety. The men appeared at the Riley home, 1110 Rhode Island avenue, about 7 o'clock and shouted to Mrs. Riley, in an upstairs room, that “we're going to beat you up.” When they kicked in a large plate glass in the front door the Rileys escaped through the back yard to a drug store and called police. Charged With Threats. Arrested before they had an oppor- tunity to leave the Riley house, the two men were charged with making threats, destroying private property and being drunk and disorderly. They gave their names as Arthur Larrimore Dixon, 47, Mount Rainier, Md., identi- fled by Mrs. Riley as Arthur Williams, an uncle of Edith, and Aloysius R. Murphy, 40, who said he lived at 2140 Twenty-second street, an address not listed in the city directory. Mrs. Riley said today she intended prosecuting the two “to the limit of the law.” She added she had received several letters threatening her with death. | Tells of Men's Visit. “I saw the men coming across the street,” she said, “and pretty soon heard them beating on the front door. I was upstairs in the front room and asked them through a window what they wanted. * ‘We're reporters,’ one of them said, ‘and we've come to get you'—and they let out a stream of proianity. I told them to go on about their business, but they shouted they were coming in, and they kicked in the front door. My husband and I and a girl who was with us_left through the back door and I mfled police. Then I went to a friend's Readily Admit Purpose. Police said Murphy afd Dixon, or ‘Williams, readily admitted their purpése was to “beat up” the Rileys. “I have a kid of my own about Edith Riley's age and nobody’s going to mis- treat a kid like that and get away with it, if I can help it,” Murphy is quoted as having told Policeman 1. R. Murphy during the ride in a patrol wagon. Mrs. Riley later went to the second precinct police station and preferred charges of destroying property and making threats. She accused the men of having written the threatening letters ;‘l;d told police they had tiareatened her fe. KRUCKMAN INSISTS HE WILL NOT RESIGN- Commission Officials Promise Defi- nite Announcement on Di- rector’s Status. ‘While Arnold Kruckman, director of the District of Columbia Bicentennial Commission, insisted today he had no intention of resigning his post and had not been approached on the subject, higher officials of the commission prom- ised a definite announcement on the matter by noon tomorrow. In the meantime, Dr. Cléyd Heck Marvin, chairman.of the commission, and Dr. George C. Havenner, executive vice chairman, who recently took over the burden of Kruckman’s former duties, would make no comment concerning Kruckman'’s leaving the commission. It was said definitely, however, that Kruckman is to resign from the com- mission, but the date has yet to be an- nounced. Dr. Marvin said a conference had been held in the commission head- quarters yesterday which he, Dr. Haven- ner and Kruckman attended, and that the whole matter was gone over. OFFICERS ARE ELECTED BY ARLINGTON KIWANIANS Amos C. Crounse Again Heads Or- ganization—Only One Change Is Made. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. ARLINGTON, Va., November 26— By a unanimous vote, all of the offi- cers of the Arlington County Kiwanis Club, with the exception of one, were re-elected at yesterday's meeting of the club. The one exception was the election of John F. Webster as vics president to succeed Dr. J. H. Walton Webster took Dr. Walton's place at the request of the latter, who declared that he did not have time to properly ad- minister the office. Those re-elected were: Amos C. Crounse, president; -W. Thomas French, secretary-treasurer; Macon Ware, district trustee; S. E. Childs, sergeant-at-arms, and Samuel G. Green, Frank L. Woolfolk, Allan B. Prosise, Henry J. Klinge, John H. Pirie and John Smithdeal, directors. MAN JAILED FOR ALLEGED THREAT TO KILL SISTER Chillum Woman Is Locked in Room - While Friends Rush to Pro- cure Warrant. By & Staff Correspondent of The Star. HYATTSVILLE, Md., November 26 —Fearing her brother would kill her {riends of Mrs. Molly Bauby of Chillurr yesterday locked her in a room whil they came here to procure a warram for the man’s arrest. Walter J. Grandman, who obtainec the warrant, told police Mrs, Baub; was an_invalld and her brother Charles Rose, who had been for several days. threatened to kill her. Constable Howard Slater, who served the warrant, reported finding a revolver in the brotaer’s pocket. Rose was jailed here on charges of assault with intent to kill his H.;tfl', carrying a con- o weapon and being drunk and disorderly. N