Evening Star Newspaper, December 16, 1934, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8 Weather Bureau Forecast. Cloudy and warmer today; tomorrow fair, colder; fresh southwest winds. peratures—Highest, 45 at 3 p.m. day; lowest, 28 at 7 a.m, yeste! Full report on page A-4. UP) Means Associated Press. No. 1,552—No. 33,101 TAX ON PAY ROLLS APPROVED FOR JOB INSURANCE FUNDS Advisory Council in Favor Also of Optional Age Pension Plans. FEDERAL GRANTS ASKED TO BUILD UP FINANCES Concessions to States Backing Programs Included in Ten- tative Set-Up. By the Associated Press. An unemployment insurance system resting upon contributions by em- ployers through a pay-roll tax and three optional old-age pension plans, two of which would carry a Federal subsidy, were approved yesterday by President Roosevelt’s Economic Se- curity Advisory Council. (Note: An article by G. Gould Lincoln, discussing sentiment at the Capitol in favor of old-age pension legislation, appears on page 2.) Persons thoroughly familiar with the work of the council, but who de- clined to be quoted, said the unem- ployment insurance proposals to be recommended to the Cabinet Commit- tee included: The employer to bear the full ex- pense of the plan. The collection of a 3 per cent pay- Toll tax. Exercise by the Federal Govern- ment of a strong control over the form of State insurance plans by the payment of grants from this tax to those States whose insurance plans came up to Federal specifications. Outline of Pensions Plans. ‘These persons said the old-age pen- slon program approved called for three optional plans, any or all of which might be employed. They out- lined them as: A compulsory plan under which the States would pass a law compelling employers and employes to contribute to an old-age pension fund. A contributory plan by which both employer and employe would pay into & general old-age fund. A voluntary plan under which the employe would pay & specified amount each month for regular in- surance that would care for his old age. A Federal subsidy wouid help to bolster the funds built up under the contributory and compulsory plans. In addition, the advisory council :;’:gud recommendations dealing It did not vote on proposals for health insurance. Would Continue Welfare Aid. ‘With regard to child welfare, those familiar with the course of the council's work said that it proposed & continuance of Federal child work appropriations and aid for mothers. Under the unemployment insurance plan outlined by these persons, the recommendations would follow ciosely | the lines of the Wagner-Lewis bill of last year, except for the different manner in dealing with the tax col- lected on pay rolls. The Wagner-Lewis bill proposed a pay roll tax, collected by the Federal Government. It would have been re- funded to those concerns which con- tributed to State unemployment in- | surance funds. As outlined, the would have the tax collected by the Federal Government and direct grants would be made from it to those States which enacted unemployment insur- ance laws conforming to standards laid down by the Federal Govern- ment. Government Control Sought. The theory was advanced that the grants would not only encourage the States to enact unemployment insur- ance laws, but would give the Federal Government a stronger control over the form of insurance laws enacted. ‘The plan to have the employer con- tribute the full amount of unemnloy- ment insurance has been favoreu _oth by William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, and by Secretary Perkins. The agreement was advanced that since the workers made up about 75 per cent of the consuming public, if they contributed directly to unemploy- ment insurance they would have to bear a double share of the burden. This was based on the contention that the employers would pass the cost of the insurance along to the con- sumer in the form of increased prices. ol Files Bankruptcy Schedule. CHICAGO, December 15 (#).—List- ing liabilities of $1,352,342 as against assets of $1,454,322, Edward A. Dato, erstwhile millionaire and former as- sociate of the late Edith Rockefeller McCormick in real estate enterprises, today filed schedules in bankruptcy in the United States District Court. ) new proposal | Tem- yester- Entered as second classd matter post offict C. 17 Drowning Sailors Choked Sea ‘Washington, D. By the Associated Press. Terse wireless messages crackling in from mid-Atlantic yesterday told of a foundering ship, a capsizing lifeboat, and the dying gasps of 17 men. Stark realism was added to earlier advices of how the British freighter Usworth was battered so helplessly by a howling Winter gale that she had to be abandoned, and of how two rescue vessels, tossed by mountainous seas, were able to save only 11 of her 26 _men. ‘Two members of a lifeboat crew put out by the Belgian liner Jean Jadot, died in the attempt, and their names were added to the 15 from the Us- worth. “It is a terrible tragedy,” concluded a message from the Jean Jadot, de- scribing how the victims choked in the heavy fuel oi that had been hz By Oil Poured on Raging Rescue Ship-Radios Details of Usworth Tragedy—11 Saved After Terrific Battle With Mountainous Waves. WITH DAILY EVENING EDITION Sy Stae WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 16, 1934—126 PAGES. »s pumped into the water in an effort to save them. The Jean Jadot, bearing two sur- vivors, and tre Cunard-White Star liner, with nine, were steaming on their respective ways, having left the lifeless Usworth to be driven bottom- ward. Risking disaster, the Jean Jadot had maneuverec its pitehing bow within ‘a few feet of the Usworth's stern, while the Ascania stood by and pumped tons of oil onto the troubled waters, The Jean Jedot, more difficult to handle now lLecause her cargo had shifted, put out a lifeboat. The boil- ing sea picke1 it up and hurled it against the Usworth’s side, but the 10-man crew managed to keep it in position long enough for some of the (Continued on Page 2, Column 4.) TAX EVASION RING MAY BE REVEALED Evidence of Alleged Plot Is Believed Seen in Louisi- ana Probe. BY REX COLLIER. Evidence ,of an alleged conspiracy by a ring of Louisiana politicians to defraud the Federal Government of hundreds of thousands of dollars in income taxes is said to have been in- dicated in connection with recent in- individual charges. Indictment Friday on income tax evasion charges of Seymour Weiss, identified in a Senate hearing as treas- urer of Senator Huey Long’s political group, is reported to have made prob- able further grand jury action in January of sensational nature. While officials here are maintain- ing complete silence with respect to the rapidly accumulating indictments in New Orleans, it is known that a corps of about 20 agents of the In- ternal Revenue Bureau is pressing forward in an inquiry which officials expect to result in at least two more major indictments. Hundreds Questioned. Starting quietly about two years ago, special agents of the intelligence unit of the bureau, under Elmer L. Irey, chief of the unit, have been examining bank records, business books and political ledgers and have been ques- tioning hundreds of citizens. ‘The investigation has broadened as new fields of inquiry were opened until it now takes precedence over all oth- ers conducted by the Government in its drive on income tax evaders, both from the standpoint of number of in- | vestigators on duty and prominence of suspects involved. ‘Within the past few weeks the in- | quiry is said to have reached a point | where it no longer is a disjointed as- sault on individual violators but a co- | ordinator investigation of what ap- | pears to probers to have been a de- | liberate conspiracy by certain Louisi- anans to “defeat and evade payment of income tax.” | Millions Already Involved. | Millions of dollars in concealed in- | comes are understood to be indicated in evidence collected by the investi- gators. More than a million is in- volved in indictments already re- turned. Those now under indictment, with amounts of income and tax cited for each, are: Alleged hidden income | Seymour Weiss, $176,972.00 State Senator Jules Pisher. 326,703.32 tate "Repre- sentative Joe Tax evaded. $26,389.00 42,528.48 ,727.80 5. n 53.019.34 Harry. John and Wiliis Nelson, trading as Mississippi Valley Co Totals ... In addition, the grand jury has in- dicted Courtney A. Kenney, a pro- fessional gambler, for concealing $89,- 859.88 and evading payment of a tax amounting to $8,076.84. During the hearings by the Senate Committee on the Overton election, Weiss refused to answer questions put to him by committee counsel and was threatened with contempt proceedings in the Senate, but he escaped prosecu- tion for his defiance. Adviser of Kingfish. He is the closest friend and adviser of Senator Long and is manager of the Roosevelt Hotel, in New Orleans. in which Long has an apartment. Long appointed Weiss head of the New Orleans Port Commission. State Senator Fisher and his "(Continued on Page 2, Column 2.) Seri Tribe Living With Dogs, Same as in Sixteenth Century By the Associated Press. LOS ANGELES, December 15— Dogs still share equal rights with the remnants of the impoverished Seri tribe, which has changed least of all North American Indians since the coming of the white man. Richard 8. Croker, marine biologist of the California Fish and Game Com- mission, who has just returned from & survey of the Gulf of California, found a small group of the Seris at Kino Bay, Sonora, Mexico, 700 miles south of Los Angeles. Their hovels, built by digging a hole in the sand and making a covering of brush, he said, are the same as de- scribed by Cortez in the sixteenth century. Tales have been told that these Indians were cannibals. No actusl records have been found, say Mexican authorities, to substantiate this. Their reputation has been evil, and from time to time the Mexican gov- ernment has prohibited them from coming to the mainland from Tiburon Island. Now the bar is lifted, and each Winter they are permitted to & make their camp across the channel. Their food is mostly and the eggs of sea fowl. Usually they eat their food raw. In the Winter, they sometimes scoop out a little hole in the sand, put in a few twigs, and warm the head of a Cabrillo fish or a whole mullet. Then dogs, children, women and men grab for it, said Croker, and the first come are first served. They have no utensils other than clay jugs. Mexican observers they have no marriage, but simply mate. Their customs with the dead originally was to place them in a mesquite bush to dry, but now the in and paint their faces black. ‘There is no housekeeping, they have no gardens, no greens or fruits. They use no tools, they have nothing to care for. Fish are easily caught in the gulf all year around. Croker said that there were about | cottage in which Albert H. Fish says dictment of seven political figures on | MYSTERY COTTAGE YIELDS 30 BONES Budd Case Prisoner Ques- tioned on Other Girl _Disappearances. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, December 15—The| discovery of 30 bones, buried tn the basement of the Westchester County | he killed 10-year-old Grace Budd, was announced tonight by investigators. Medical Examiner Amos O. Squire, supervising the search of the aban- doned death house, said the bones would be analyzed to determine whether they were those of human or animal. “All I can say is that they are sim- ilar to human bones,” he said. “Of course, it is possible that the people | who lived in this house may have| buried their dogs under the basement | floor. But I would be better satisfied | with that theory if we could find a few dog skulls.” Fail to Fit Skeleton. None of the bones, which varied from about one to eight inches in length, fitted in with the skeleton of spot to which Fish led authorities. Pish, 65-year-old painter, has steadfastly denled knowledge of any of the other children who have dis- appeared in this area during the last few years. Coincident with the discovery of the bones, Dr. Squire announced re- ceipt of a report from Dr, Gilbert Daldorf, a pathologist, saying the stains on a butcher's cleaver found at the house were made by human blood. Fish has told authorities he dis- | membered the body of the Budd girl with a knife, a cleaver and a saw, after luring her to the cottage six years ago. Another Mystery Unsolved. In an effort to solve the mystery of the finding of a child’s body near Darien, Conn., last July, two officers from that community came to New York today and questioned Fish for half an hour in the Tombs. ‘When they left they made no com- ment, The bones unearthed at the cottage ‘were sent to Columbia University lab- oratories for microscopic scrutiny by anatomy experts. ‘The house having been thoroughly ransacked, Dr. Squire declared the search would be continued tomorrow by pumping dry two wells on the property. Explaining the renewed search of the cottage, Dr. Amos O. Squire, county medical examiner, remarked that the slayer of the Budd girl “would be apt to commit other similar crimes.” Although stolidy anxious to clear up all angles in the Budd case, the wizened little prisoner disclaimed knowledge of any other children who have vanished from their homes. Wryly he told police they “might as well accuse me of all” of the unsolved cases, saying “you can't do me any more damage.” Prosecutors encountered their first knct in the rapidly unwinding skein of evidence when a dentist who had treated Grace Budd before she disap- peared six years ago failed to make a positive identification of a skull un- earthed near the death cottage. The dentist, Dr. H. L. Bielefeld, said he had made two extractions, but had not filled any of the girl's teeth. An effort was underway to find the dentist who put in three fillings. Positive Evidence Sought. His identification of the fillings, coupled with Dr. Bielefeld’s recollec- tion of the extractions, would give prosecutors, they said, a positive enough identification to establish that Grace Budd was dead, a step neces- sary to prove she had been murdered. District Attorney Frank H. Coyne of Westchester, asserting he would seek the death penalty, said he would ask the grand jury to return a first degree murder ifflictment next week. Whether Fish would be transferred immediately to that county for trial remained in doubt, as Assistant Dis- trict Attorney P. Francis Marro of New York said he was not through investi- gating the abduction possibilities. Fish was arrested Thursday by Detective Willlam F. King, who said today that a Summer course in psychology had helped him break the case after a long search. Guide for Readers I General News. .Part One Editorial .. .Part Two Society .... .Part Three Amusements Part Four Finance .... Part Five Lost and Found. ...Page A-11 Radio .... Page 6, Part 4 Sports ....Pages B-11 to B-15 A’ e NEUTRAL RIGHTS VOIDANGE STUDIED BY U. 5. FOR PEACE State Department Will Lay Plans for Legislation Before Roosevelt. COMMERCE PROTECTION WOULD BE WITHDRAWN Removal of Frictions Growing Out of Neutrality in Major War Aim of Proposal. BY THEODORE C. WALLEN. The State Department has virtually completed a study of means to keep the United States out of wars between other nations. It is to be laid before President Reosevelt with recommenda- tions for legislation in the Congress to convene next month. Under way since last -Spring, the official study is aimed to give the United States, in peace-time legisla- tion and planning, the benefit of its experience in the last war. The central thought is to eliminate as many as possible of the many irrita- tions and frictions which involved the United States between belligerents in the World War long before it actually joined the allied cause. There is very little support in the administration for continued insist- ence on the “neutral rights” which involved the United States in that conflict. It is contended that neutrality has no place in the scheme of the 60-0dd League of Nations states | which are pledged to unite against an aggressor state. Neutrality May Cause Friction, ‘The comprehensive plan of the State Department has been developed on the theory that the very condition of neutrality is capable of engendering frictions which nowadays might im- plicate a powerful neutral in any war in which the great powers might engage. It is understood that the plan con- templates the present enactment of well-considered statutes which could be called into operation by presidential proclamation, or otherwise, in the event of a war. These would be di- rected to the maintenance of Ameri- ca’s future neutrality and also to the avoidance of the frictions otherwise | certain to grow out of the neutrality and possibility to make the United | States un unwilling combatant. The discussions have centered around a plan to invest the President with broad discretionary powers to be exer- cised toward preserving American neutrality when other great powers, especially naval powers, go to war. Would Withdraw Protection. It has been suggested, in the State Department discussions, at least, that the President, in the event of war between others, might be authorized, among other things, to serve notice that American shipping would go into danger zones at its own peril. It would be tantamount to withdrawing the protection of the United States Navy for American shipping at such times. This, in turn, would modify the theory that the United States Navy should protect American commerce every- where. It would be left to the President’s discretion whether to take such a course. Administration officials, in their study of the problem, have recognized that not a single neutral right asserted by the United States has been recog- nized officially by Great Britain, France, Italy or Germany, to any greater extent than it was between Au- gust, 1914, and April, 1917, It is felt that there is not much point in talking about “neutral rights™” which no other nation concedes. The argument prevails in administration circles that in any future war between the great powers each belligerent will deal with neutral trade in whatever manner may seem necessary to achieve victory. Warren’s View Considered. ‘The whole subject is recognized as one of the most delicate and important in American foreign policy. Since it is being approached in the light of the country’s experiences in the last war, much thought has been given to the (Continued on Page 3, Column 1.) MRS. VANDERBILT LOSES CUSTODY PLEA Surrogate Rules Supreme Court Disposed of Fight for Gloria. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, December 15.—Mrs. Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt lost on another front today in the fight for custody of her heiress-daughter, little Gloria Vanderbilt. Surrogate James A. Foley denied her petition for appointment as a personal guardian of Gloria, ruling the question had been adequately covered in the decision of Supreme Court Justice John F. Carew, who made the girl a ward of his court and granted principal custody to Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney, a paternal aunt. The surrogate court proceeding, instituted last June, was a forerunner to the sensational trial in Supreme Court. Mr8, Vanderbilt sought cus- tody both over Gloria and her $3,800,000 fortune. When she failec to obtain a settlement satisfactory to herself, she started the habeas corpus action. “Had this settlement been con- cluded,” Surrogate Foley asserted, “unwholesome and salacious notoriety, with its inevitable injury to the child, would have been averted,” referring to evidence attacking Mrs. Vander- bilt's character and fitness as & mother in the Supreme Court hearing. Surrogate Foley, in fixing January 3, 1935, for hearing of Mrs. Vander- OTWER BODVES ~ AMERICIN FLOTRET, Q% \ ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOSTON TEA PARTY. IF THE Women PuT ON WAR PAINT DISTRICT REPRESENTATION WILL COME WITH Within ‘The Star is delivered ev Sunday FIVE CENTS IN WASHINGTON AND SUBURBS Record Gift Matinee Crowds Insure D. C. Yule Happiness 35,000 to 40,000 New Presents Gathered by Star-Warner Bros.’ Programs. Distribution ENEROUS Washingtonians, in response to The Star-Warner Bros.’ Christmas appeal on behalf of the needy children of the city, brought between 35,000 and 40,000 néw toys, new gifts and new articles of clothing to the 11 theaters where the Christmas toy | mas Planning Committee of the Coun- | fallacious statement” the remarks of matinees drew record crowds yester- cil of Social Agencies readily agreed William McK. Clayton, head of the day. This is a large increase over the contributions brought to the perform- ances last year, and marks the fourth annual Star-Warner Bros.’ matinees as the greatest success of all. Poor children in Washington who would otherwise have been neglected and left miserable and forlorn can now g2 to sieep on Christmas eve and awake to find that Santa Claus has visited them after all. And destitute parents who have been distracted over their inability to provide Christmas happiness for their unfortunate little ROOSEVELT STAND ONNAVY ATTACKED |Nye Also Scores Tactics in Move to “Take Profit Out of War.” By the Associated Press. BALTIMORE, December 15.—Sena- tor Gerald P. Nye, Republican, of North Dakota, today asserted Presi- dent Roosevelt favored a bigger Navy, and added he believed the President knew “least” of any one where a naval building race with Japan would lead. Addressing the Maryland branch of the League of Nations Association, Senator Nye, chairman of the special Senate committee investigating the munitions industry, criticized the President’s tactics in his efforts to “take the profit out of war.” “Backing Bigger Navy.” “There isn't a nation on earth” the Senator said, “that is spending more money than we are for war. In- stead of taking the lead to end the Navy-building race with Japan, the President seems to be backing a bigger and bigger Navy. “No one knows where this race will lead us, and the man who I be- lieve knows least about it is Franklin D. Roosevelt. Using an article he wrote as the basis for this assertion, he believes that this talk of a war with Japan is just, and, I quote, ‘an apprehensive habit of the mind.’ “But the race with Japan is on and it will produce no good to any but the munitions makers.” Nye criticized the method of ap- proach being followed by the Presi- dent in his move to “take the profit out of war.” He said that one of the principal things that should be done was “the taking of profit out of the preparation for war.” Red Tape Not Necessary. ‘The North Dakota Senator, re- ferring to the special committee, said: “Now you just watch Barney Baruch and Gen. Johnson (members of the President’s committee to recommend legislation to curb profits from war) devising ways and means that won't take the profit out of war. Legisla- tion to take the profit out of war should be written by disinterested per- sons. “To take the profit out of war is easy. You can do it without any red tape and without any heavy legisla- tion. One act will suffice. “Just provide that in the event of war the tax on incomes up to $10,000 or, say, $15,000, will be doubled and incomes in excess of these amounts will be taxed 98 or 99 per cent.” Fails at Plane Record. OAKLAND, Calif., December 15 (7). —Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith,. Aus- tralian fiyer, failed today in an effort to set a speed record between Los Angeles and Oakland. The pilot's time was 1 hour and 58 minutes. The record for single-motored types of commercial plane such as Kings- ford-Smith flew, is 1 hour and 28 minutes. i | | Plans Begin. | ones, can breathe sighs of relief in the knowledge that a kind-hearted Wash- | | ington has come to their aid. ’ | There is every reason to be opti- | | mistic in the hope that there will be | no forgotten child in Washington this | | Christmas, as members of the Christ- | | when the thousands of packages were | hauled to their toy shop at 1107 Penn- | sylvania avenue, next to The Star| 1 Building, yesterday afternoon. They formed a pile mountain high. and while it will take many hours and | much hard work to count and classify | them for later distribution to the poor, | | clear estimates indicate that the num- | ber is by many thousands the biggest | | ever contributed. The pile contained toys and gifts of every manner and description. It was also noted that a larger number (Continued on Page 2, Column 3.) NUMBERS RACKET AID UNDERWORLD Dr. Hayden Johnson Believes It Should Be Suppressed as a “Vicious Institution.” Dr. Hayden Johnson, president of the Board of Education and chancel- lor of the National University, believes the numbers game fosters growth of an undesirable underworld element and that drastic steps may be neces- sary to curb the activities of rack- eteers. A lawyer, naturally he would have recourse to the law: “My friend, United States Attorney Garnett,” he said, “has requested the newspapers to suppress certain num- bers from the race tracks, informa- tion needed only by the numbers gam- blers. With fine civic spirit, The Star, Post, Herald, Times and radio com- panies have responded to the request. “From what I read in The Star, I think the numbers game is a vicious institution, since it tends to build up and nurture through ample capital a numerous and undesirable underworld class in Washington. It should be suppressed for this very reason. “I have followed The Star’s cam- paign. It makes interesting reading. “As president of the Board of Edu- cation, I am concerned directly with the welfare of the thousands of Wash- ington school children. They are af- fected by anything which has a ten- dency to increase lawlessness in the community. “NUMBERS” DRIVE PUSHED. One Arrested by Vice Squad on Gaming Charge. Continuing its drive on numbers game operators, Lieut. George Little's vice squad late yesterday raided an establishment in the 600 block of Sixth street and arrested Dexter Downey, 44, on a charge of permitting gaming. He was released on $500 bond for appearance tomorrow morns ing in the Police Court. An alleged numbers book was seized in the raid, members of the vice squad declared. “Scores of these so-called “little fellows” will be arrested before we call a halt on the numbers game drive,” Lieut. Little said. He pointed out that a number of “Pennsylvania avenue panhandlers” have been arrested in the drive on the numbers racket in the District. All of them are believed to have been | highest court. CLAYTON CHARGE AROUSES ROBERTS Lie Is Passed in Heated Tiff on Taxi Issue at Fed- eration Session. People’s Counsel William A. Roberts startled the Federation of Citizens' | Associations at its meeting last night | by characterizing as a “lying and federation’s Public Utilities Commit- | tee, to the effect that Roberts is spon- | soring a return of meter cabs in the | District. | The fireworks came over & resolu- | tion offered by Clayton reaffirming | the federation's stand in favor of zone cabs. “We resent and protest” the resolu- tion concluded, “all efforts of the people’s counsel to force the metered system of taxi operation upon us at Agrees to Amendment. At the request of Harry N. Stull, Mr. Clayton agreed to an amendment of his resolution to leave out the reference to the people’'s counsel and substitute “any one.” Clayton, how- ever, explained why he had referred specifically to the people’s counsel in his resolution. “It was at the instance of the people’s counsel, then legal adviser | to the commission,” he said, “that the commission put in its meter order in | the first place. Mr. Roberts argued the | sase for the commission before our When he argued it | before the Supreme Court of the Dis- | trict, he acted in concert with the | lawyers of the traction interests.” As Clayton was speaking, Roberts, who is not a delegate to the federa- tion, walked into the room. Invited to reply, he advanced to the speaker's table, angrily tossed a rubber band upon it, and shouted: “I resent that lying and fallacious statement.” Sought to Stop Him. Several delegates sought to stop him, but he continued: I did not foster that order. I fol- lowed the instructions of the commis- sion. I resent the statement that I entered into a conspiracy with the representatives of the traction com- panies. Somebody is trying to draw a red herring across my trail. The , Column 2) _— STATES IN LABOR PACT BOSTON, December 15 (#).—A ten- tative agreement between six States for a maximum five-day, 40-hour week in industry, has been reached, it was anounced today by Senator Henry Parkman, jr., of Boston, gen- eral chairman of the Interstate Con- ference ‘on Labor Compacts. The States whose representatives signed are Massachusetts, New Hamp- shire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New “From Press to Home the Hour” ery evening and to city and suburban homes by The Star's exclusive carrier serv~ ice. Phone NAtional 5000 to start delivery. TEN CENTS ELSEWHERE ALIENIST T0 GIVE OPINION ON BELL'S SANITY TOMORROW 3,000-Word Hypothetical Question May Climax Defense Case. DR. TUCKER CLAIMS BRAIN IS SOFTENING Menta! Expert Lists Defendant's Ills—Sees Tendency Toward Infatuations. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. FREDERICKSBURG, Va, Decem- ber 15.—What is expected to be the climax of the defense case in the poisoning trial of Edward C. Bell will be reached at 10 am. Monday, when counsel for the former Baptist deacon submit to their alienist a 3,000-word Rypothetical question, the gist of which is: Is the defendant insane? ‘The question first was propounded late today by the attorneys defending Bell against charges of having at- tempted to poison his invalid wife. Directed to Dr. Beverly Tucker, Rich- mond specialist on nervous diseases, its length caused Judge Frederick W. Coleman to abandon plans for a night session amd adjourn court until Monday. The question is based upon a sum- mary of all the evidence in the trial of the wealthy civic leader, and asks the defense alienist: “Assuming all this to be true, then would you or would you not believe the defendant crazy?” Dr. Tucker, noted throughout the East as a specialist of 29 years' ex- perience, was on the stand when the question was proposed. Judge Interrupts. “Just a minute, gentlemen,” Judge Coleman interposed. “I have seen these hypothetical questions before. They are complex and they consume time. Therefore, I declare this court adjourns until 10 o'clock Monday morning.” In his testimony, Dr. Tucker had declared “all Bell's reflexes are exag- gerated.” He testified he examined Bell at the Tucker Sanatorium in Richmond on October 22 and again a week later. “The first thing I did,” Dr. Tucker said, “was to obtain Bell's history and hospital record. Aside from this evi- dence, I learned his blood pressure was abnormally high, his tonsils infected and there was indication of a chronic kidney ailment. I found he suffered from hardening of the arteries and a thyroid infection. “Bell appeared to be a mental wan- derer who often had to be guided back to the subject. It was easy to upset his emotions.” Bell already had been publicly ac- cused at this time of six poison at- tempts upon the life of his wife. “Bell,” continued Dr. Tucker, “had no appreciation of his predicament. He was subject to memory lapses and often contradicted himself. Tests in- dicated the arteries of his brain were hardening.” Dr. Tucker said this indicated a general softening of the brain proper, one of the first symptoms of which is a change in personality. Other changes are those of conduct, habits and desire. ¢ “This may lead to infatuation and to injudicious selections for marriage,” the alienist continued. At this juncture, Acting Common- wealth's Attorney Albert V. Bryan permitted himself a cynical smile, which did not escape the attention of several members of the jury. Cites Theft Tendency. The expert testified that other symptoms of this brain deterioration were tendencies toward petulance, stealing and eventugl criminal acts. The witness said still other victims of this disorder tended to lose all emo- tions and were highly susceptible to suggestions. Corroborating the earlier testimony of Dr. Henry W. Decker, also of Rich- mond, Dr. Tucker blamed this condi- tion on a thyroid operation which Bell underwent in November, 1931. As Dr. Decker had said before him, the witness declared such an opera- tion might *“disjoint reason, insight and responsibility.” “Do you believe Bell’s condition can be traced to this thyroid operation?” Dr. Tucker was asked by defense counsel. “Yes,” the alienist replied. “In view of this, your honor,” said defense counsel, “we wish to submit a hypothetical question.” The testimony of Dr. Decker had covered a period of three years dur- York and New Jersey. Before the compact is finally effective, it must | be signed by the commissioners rep- | resenting these States, and then rati- | fied. | ing which he had Bell under observa- tion. He had seen Bell operated upon, confined to a Richmond hos- pital for six weeks and gradually go (Continued on Page 3, Column 6.) Ancient Moslem Manuscript Of “Psalms of By the Associated Press. PRINCETON, N. J., December 15.— Discovery of the “Noble Psalms of Da- vid,”- an ancient manuscript which varies from all other known Moslem versions, was announced today by Dr. Phillip K. Hitti, associate professor of Semitic literature at Princeton Uni- versity. Many rare finds are included in the list of discoveries of “unique works of either runners or operators of the numbers game on & small scale. MINERS GET BONUS South Dakota Concern Votes $50 to Workers at Christmas. major importance for historic, linguis- tic and scientific studies,” catalogued David” Located in 1105, composed a work on titles and surnames of Arab families, to Samar- quand in the east, where a set of as- tronomical tables were prepared for its Turkish Governor was Ulugh Bey at the renownde observatory which he erected in his capital about 1428. “The script varies from the Kufi-like Maghribi in Spain and Northwestern Africa, to the rounded Naskhi in Egypt and Syria and the elegant Farisi in Persia and adjacent lands. The au- thorship comprises Spanish Moslems, Berbers, Egyptians, Syrians, Arabians and others of Turkish and Persian ‘The oldest manuscript catalogued to date is a treatise on dialectics, copied by & scribe from Karman. It records the observations on logic of Al-Piruza- abadil of Shiraz. The date, t to the Christian year of 1092, is plainly marked in the text. Most recent of the items studied is a compendium of Moslem traditions written by Muham- mad Ibn-Abdullah, a descendant of the prophet Muhammad and Sultan of Morocco from 1757 to 1789. Pro- fessor Hitti believes that this manu-