Evening Star Newspaper, June 18, 1935, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Cloudy, probably showers tonight and tomorrow; slightly cooler; gentle variable Temperatures — Highest, 93, at The only evening l11:m,;uat' in Washington with the Associated Press News and Wirephoto Services. Yesterday’s Circulation, 126,521 Some, Returns Not Yet Received. TWO CENTS. SENATOR GEORGE DOUBTS VALIDITY OF SECURITY BILL WASHINGTON, D. C, Closing N.Y.Markets, Pages 13,14 & 15 No. 33,285. ET TS (P) Means Associated Press. Entered as second class matter post office, Washington, D. C. Marine Subsidy Waste Charged, “Report Urges U..S. Oundrthi FIGHT BREAKS OUT TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1935—THIRTY-FOUR PAGES. MITCHELL CHARGE ORDERED PROBED BY SENATE GROUP THAT SORT OF THING MIGHT BE POPULAR NEXT YEAR-- BUT 70 YEARS AGO IT WASN'T SO HOT!. AS CONVICTS SEIZE MINE IN' MUTINY Profits and Salaries Limits Proposed. Officials Accused of Betraying Trust. Only Two in Accord on Findings. ) ROOSEVELT Ousted Commerce Official to Be Put on Stand Under Oath. INVESTIGATION SLATED TO START TOMORROW Committee Reports Favorably Carolinian’s Nomination as Successor. By the Associated Press. A Senate investigation of charges by Ewing Y. Mitchell, Assistant Sec- retary of Commerce, against his supe- rior, Secretary Roper, was ordered today by the Commerce Committee to kegin tomorrow morning. Announcing the committee action, Chairman Copeland declared Mitchell would be put on the stand “under cath” for questioning about his charges that Roper had signed a con- tract permitting the United States | Lines Co. to retire the Leviathan from | service without paying the Govern- ment the penalties due for not keep- ing the big ship in service as a part of the subsidized merchant marine. Ousted on Refusal to Quit. | Mitchell was ousted by President | Roosevelt as Assistant Secretary of | Commerce after he refused to resign. | He made public yesterday charges of improper favoritism and graft in | the Commerce Department. | At ancther press conference today Mitchell made public a letter to Presi- dent Roosevelt renewing his conten- tion there had been “scandalous dis- regard of the public interests” and “racketeering practices” in the Com- merce Department. ““The charges are serious,” Copeland said. He insisted, however, he did not place much credence in them. The committee voted 13 to 5 to report favorably the nomination of John Monroe Johnson of South Caro- lina as Mitchell's successor. “I want it understood,” Copeland sald in announcing the vote, “that every member of the committee said he had nothing against Johnson, but questioned the policy of confirming him in advance of an investigation | of the Mitchell charges. “Everybody is satisfled Johnson is ‘Vandenberg Backs Delay. As he left Senator Vandenberg, Re- publican, of Michigan, declared he would oppose confirmation until the Mitchell investigation. Those voting to withhold imme- diate approval were all Republicans— McNary of Oregon, Johnson of Cali- fornia, White of Maine, Nye of North Dakota and Vandenberg. In his letter to President Rooseveit, dated June 15, Mitchell said: “The trouble was that my ‘aititude’ led me to look into the merits and the lawfulness of the multitude of business transactions that came to me for approval, and when I found that | ships costing millions of dollars and in perfect condition were being de- | livered for scrapping on an illegal contract, that millions of dollars in mail pay were being squandered with- out any regard for past due obliga- tions of the contractor to the Gov- | ernment and other Treasury plunder- | ing transactions were going on with- | out check or hindrance, I refused to | approve such racketeering practices. | “Naturally, all of the racketeers who | had placed their henchmen in official key positions were resentful and found no difficulty in persuading Secretary | Roper that my ‘attitudes’ were un- suited to the position I occupied.” Machine Opposiiion Cited. He added that “nearly all of the worthwhile appointments you have | made in Missouri have gone to the notorious Pendergast-Reed machine, whose vigorous opposition to your nomination before the Chicago con- vention end whose brutal tactics during the convention were carried to such extremes that the women among the Roosevelt delegates often were in tears.” Mitchell long has been identifled with the anti-Pendergast faction in Missouri politics. Senator Truman, Democrat, of Mis- souri, declared he was certain there was no “deal” between the Democratic Pendergast organization in Missouri and the national administration for the removal of Mitchell. ‘The committee vote for the Mitchell investigation was unanimous, Cope- land said, and wes reached with little discussion of his charges. Vandenberg moved that an inves- tigation be made at once and that Mitchell be “summoned” and Roper be “invited.” Machine Pressure Charged. Mitchell said at his press confer- ence that pressuie from the Pender- gast machine in Missouri “undoubted- ly” had played a part in his removal. “Secretary Roper,” he added, “had been wanting to get rid of me for a good while. and when you add to that opposition the two Missouri Senators and the Pendergast boss you have got & real objection.” “During the presidential campaign,” he said, “Farley kept phoning me that By the Associated Press. Charging that ship subsidy policies led to & “saturnalia” by men bent on “robbing the taxpayer,” the Senate Ocean Mail Committee * today de- nounced past operation of merchant marine subsidies and demanded drastic terms for any future Govern- ment aid. It also charged that some public officials “flagrantly betrayed their trust” and said “Government officials made a farce” of the competitive bid- ding provision of the Jones-White merchant marine act of 1928. It said “the standards for computing com- pensation” under this act are “un- workable and predictive of fraud.” Frankly advocating Government ownership and operation of merchant marine, the committee nevertheless conceded that bitter opposition would prevent this and so it recommended an alternative plan cf “Government ownership and privaie operation, the operation to be subsidized where this is proved necessary.” The committee consists of five ‘members, of whom only two signed the report without reservation. They were Senators Black, Democrat of Alabama, chairman, and McCarran, Democrat of Nevada. Senator King, Democrat of Utah, sigred it with the reservation that he disagreed with any form of subsidy. He proposed tariff adjustments and other legisla- tion to build up & merchant marine. Senator White, Republican, of Maine, whtse ship subsidy measure was attacked in ihe report, and Senator Austin, Republican of Ver- mont, not only declined to sign, but indicated they would submit a minor- ity statement. After declaring subsidy had been “piled on subsidy” in grants of “mail pay” and construction work in the past 10 years, the committee, which (Continued on Page 4, Column 1.) D.C. TOASK 62,000 ADDITIONAL FUNDS 10 GUARD HEALTH Social Security Bill May Provide $50,000 More for Program. The District Commissioners this afternoon voted to seek a $65,000 sup- plemental appropriation from Con- gress to meet the needs of the Health Department. Congress slashed $93,- 000 from the department’s budget in the current appropriation act. Decision to ask for the additional funds was arrived at after representa- tives of the city’s health and civic organizations had called on the Com- missioners and urged them to act im- mediately. Necessity for the supplemental ap- propriation has been widely attested throughout all strata of the city’s life. Dr. George C. Ruhland, health officer, led the fight, contending the services his department can render under the reduced appropriation would be curtailed to a degree dan- gerous to the health of the District. He said it might be necessary to give payless furloughs to regular Health Department empioyes in order to meet the reduced budget. $50,000 More Possible. Meanwhile a possipility developed that the District might obtain $50,- 000 for general health work here from the $8,000,000 health allotment carried in the social security bill. Health officers were meeting today at the Public Health Service to hear rec- ommendations for the allotment, which will be available as soon as the bill passes, It was said at the meeting that the District allotment depended on the willingness of Congress to match at least part of the $50,000 in District funds. There is a possibility also of $10,000 for child welfare which will not have to be matched and $20,000 for maternity and infant weifare to be matched. A sum for crippled chil- dren also probably would be avail- able. If this program goes ihrough it would provide about $100,000. In arriving at the $65,000 supple- mental figure the Commissioners ac- cepted the intermediate estimate sub- mitted to them by Dr. Ruhland, who had prepared figures showing what could be done with the full $93,000 appropriation, with $65,000 and with a still smaller sum. If Congress sees fit to grant the (See HEALTH, Page 3. NATS-BROWNS IDLE Contest in St. Louis Postponed Due to Wet Grounds. ST. LOUIS, June 18 (#).—The final contest between the Nationals and the St. Louis Browns was postponed this afternoon due to wet grounds. It was the second time in as y days that the teams were unablé to play, yesterday’s contest having been postponed for the same reason. DERN HURT IN FALL Secretary Dern was slightly injured this morning when he stumbled while getting out of his automobile at the War Department. Some witnesses said the Cabinet offi- cer fell and hit his head. However, his office said he was not badly hurt and he remained at his desk during the day. ROOSEVELT TELLS N.R A TOKEEPEYE ON AL INDUSTRY Proposes Special Committee to Watch for Changes in Standards. The new N. R. A. was directed to- day by President Roosevelt to exam- ine closely any changes which occur in labor standards or fair trade prac- tices following abolition of codes. In a letter to James L. O'Neill, the rew administrator, the President stated: “It is of primary importance that this work should be done very care- fully and under the supervision of an impartial committee.” He proposed a committee include an impartial chairman, a represent- ative of management and a represent- ative of labor and members designated by the Commerce and Labor ments, Bt Text of Letter. ‘The President’s letter follows: “In line with our recent discussion, I am requesting you to set up in the Division of Business Co-operation a section devoted to accumulating, checking and reporting accurate in- formation concerning the extent to which changes occur in the main- tenance of labor standards or fair practice provisions of codes of fair competition, following the abolition of such codes. “It is of primary importance that this work should be dome very care- fully and under the supervision of an impartial committee, which might be constituted as follows: An impartial chairman, a representative of man- agement and a represetnative of labor and a member designated by the De- partment of Commerce and another by the Department of Labor. “Through such a committee this work may be co-ordinated with the informational services of the Depart- ments of Commerce and Labor and with similar services maintained by organizations of employers or em- ployes. Publication of Data Proposed. “Information should be coliected through fleld offices and other avail- able sources under such supervision that reports sent to Washington can be checked, compiled and put in form for appropriate publication with as- surance that they are accurate and as comprehensive as possible. “It should be emphasized that the purpose of this work is the gathering and publication of reliable informa- tion and to counteract any propa- ganda from private sources which may (See N. R. A, Page 6.) RAIN, COOLER WEATHER FORECAST HERE TONIGHT 10-Degree Drop in Temperature Expected to Follow Showers Late in Day. Cooler weather is in sight tonight for a sun-baked Washington, which yesterday went through its hottest day of the year, with a maximum of 93 degrees at 2:30 pm. It continued to swelter this morning as the tempera- ture neared the 90-degree mark. A drop of 10 degrees or more was anticipated tonight, following possible showers. Tomorrow was expected to \ continue cooler, with possible showers during the day and perhaps a thun- dershower late in the day. Today was to be a trifie cooler than yesterday. The temperature was up to within 87 degrees at 10:30 a.m. Fence Seals “City of Death,” Where 26,000 Died in Quake By the Associated Press. Attack of Strikers on Gun Cage Repelled by Offi- cers’ Gas Guns. SUPERINTENDENT HAS TALK WITH MEN.IN PIT Elevent Kansas Prison Mine Offi- cials Are Held—Ammunition Rushed to Scene. By the Associated Press. LANSING, Kans., June 18.—Fight- ing broke out in the Kansas Peni- tentiary coal mine today, when a group of striking convict miners at- tempted to capture the gun cage manned by five prison officials on the 730-foot level. The convicts, part of 380 miners who mutinied early today and since have held the mine, were repulsed by gas guns. The five men in the cage reported by telephone to the surface that they could hold their position indefinitely. ‘The gun cage was manned by Guard O. A. Johnson, John Christian, Fred Murray, John Stewart and Mine Supt. Robert Murray. Supt. Murray had returned to the gun cage after a four-hour parley with the mutineers. He had just re- ported that all was well when the miners dashed out of a tunnel and made for the cage. The gas-masked officers laid down a heavy gas bar- rage and the choking mutineers re- treated. Gun Cage Communication. ‘The gun cage, guarding the air shaft and telephone, is the only com- munication between the mine and the surface. It was saved earlier today by Johnson, who routed five convicts as they sought to jam the air shaft elevator cage with empty mine cars. Despite the “work as usual” order of Assistant Deputy Warden A. J. Graham, the prison yard began to take on an air of unrest as more ammunition and gas began to ar- rive and heavily armed guards ap- peared on the walls in ever-increas- ing numbers. A few minutes before the attack on the gun cage gas ‘{'had beer lowered ta the quintet. Murray went unarmed into the mine to meet with the mutineers at 7:30 am. today. He Graham from the 730-foot level gun cage at 11:30, the deputy warden said. “No one has been hurt” Graham said Murray told him. “I'll have all their demands for you in a few min- utes. Every think is O. K.” Murray’s telephone message was the first word from the sullen convicts since they went down into the coal mine shortly after 6:10 a.m. today. Volunteered as Negotiator. Personally Lked by the men, Mur- ray volunteered to go down and talk to them after it became apparent a mutiny was in progress. The 380 convicts who mutinied, made hostages of 11 guards, and de- fiantly held out against prison au- thorities who sought to end the strike. ‘The mutineers cut off virtually all communication with the surface. Warden Lacey Simpson said he doubfed that the convicts had fire- arms or other weapons than clubs, rocks and possibly a few knives. The fate of the unarmed guards was unknown but prison officials ex- pressed belief they would not be seriously harmed. Deputy Warden Graham, veteran of several prison breaks here, said he was not sure what the men were strik- ing for but declared the prison was in a better position than ever before to cope with the situation. “Work as usual” was the order on the surface as Graham, aided only by his regular guard shift, remained at the air shaft and sought to learn from Johnson, on the 730-foot level, what the convicts were doing. Johnson, armed guard who had pre- ceded the day shift of miners inio (See MUTINY, Page 3.) ITALIAN CIVILIANS QUITTING COLONIES Families in Somaliland and Eri- trea Leave to Make Way for Troops. By the Associated Press. ROME, June 18.—The voluntary evacuation of the families of officers and civil administrators in Eritrea passengers, most of them the members of families of government function- aries. No evacuation order has is- sued, but the families were informed informally that the space they occu- SHADE DEMOCRAT IN 1936 13 STILL IN THE AIR OF HORACE GREELY SPEAKS! U. S. TAKES HAND IN OMAHA STRIKE Mediator W. M. White Seeks to Settle Street Car Dispute. By the Associated Press. OMAHA, Nebr., June 18—William M. White, commissioner of concilia- tion of the Department of Labor, ar- rived ay from Washington to lend a hand in attempts to settle the tur- bulent street car srike if Gov. R. L. Cochran decides the conciliator can be of help. Meanwhile, the Governor threw his 1,800 Nationzl Guardsmen into a siege against the Omaha & Council Bluffs ;u the third full day under martial w. Cochran demanded full arbitration. Labor accepted early yesterday. After an ignored deadline brought Cochran’s order to run the trams off the streets, the company submitted a substitute proposal substantially the same as it presented when the strike began last April 20. “This is no answer to my request,” the Governor bluntly told company directors. “For the present the street cars stay in the barn.” ‘The Governor, however, avoided de- fining the proposal as “defiance” to his peace program. Silent on Next Step. He declined to comment on the next step if the company refuses to modify its program. Sunday night, however, he sald if either party declined his terms it would be “responsible to the military authorities.” The company balked at even dis- cussing a closed shop, re-employment of 68 of its 268 striking employes, or rescinding of new seniority rules. It charged the 68 men with complicity in the violence, and claimed it owed a duty to protect loyal employes in seniority privileges. Arbitration of wage scales, the com- pany said, would be accepted, but only as to use of income above operating expenses and taxes. It has claimed & deficit for several years. Sam W. Reynolds of Omaha, a can- didate for national commander of the American Legion last year, was pominated by the company as its ar- biter, but Cochran did not accept the appointment. Effigy of Police Chief Burned. An effigy of Police Commissioner Prank Myers was burned on the South | Side where two men were killed and 150 injured in three days of rioting iast week. Brickbats flew at a tram employe’s house. Troops cruising in heavy trucks and armed with fixed bayonets found hoodlums melting away in their paths. Appearance of police squads in the trouble zone last week apparently only inflamed the mobs. Summary justice, dealt by a mili- tary court, faced violators. Six men guilty of selling beer after hours fixed by the military authorities were made “examples,” with jail sentences rang- ing from 5 to 15 days, fines of $100 each, and the padlocking of their tav- erns. No riots have occurred since martial law began. Mayor Roy N. Towl today ordered police not to molest “jitney busses.” Diplomatic Shake-up Looms. ROME, June 18 (#).—A diplomatic shake-up, involvings a number of changes among Italy's foreign repre- sentatives, it was learned today, will be made within a few weeks. Readers’ Guide STRATO HOP DELAYED Weather Holds Geographic-Army Balloon on Ground. RAPID CITY, 8. Dak, June 18 (@) —Weather conditions for the start of the National Geographic' Socety- Army Air Corps stratosphere flight from the Black Hills Bowl remained unfavorable today. - Members of the strato expedition held a “ground flight” yesterday, re- hearsing the proceedings plarthed for the start. Instruments were operated for an hour and the tests pronounced successful. GERMANY'S NAVAL DENANDS GRANTED Reich to Maintain Fleet at 35 Per Cent of Great Britain’s Strength. By the Associated Press. LONDON, June 18.—A final agree- ment between Germany and Great Britain on all important points of a treaty to maintain the German Navy at 35 per cent of the British strength was announced officially today. It was stated officially that the principle of the 100-to-35 ratio “should in general apply to each cate- gory.” It was understood that this means Germany will be allowed some lati- tude in building submarines because of the French and Italian undersea n;’m which are larger than the Brit- ish. It was stated that Germany would be allowed to make a limited transfer of 35 per cent of her tonnage from one category to another, but that the ratio would be strictly maintained in regard to the entire under-age “ef- fective” fleets of the two nations. Other Meetings Planned. ‘The announcement followed the first full meeting of the delegations in several days. It was attended by Sir Samuel Hoare, foreign secretary, and Sir Bolton Eyres-Monsell, first lord of the admiralty. It was stated that “further meet- ings on technical questions will be held during the next few days. An Italian note which was received was described as “short and non- committal” and similar to those re- ceived from the United States and Japan, who raised no objections to the treaty. It was stated that “constant con- sultation has been carried on with the French government which is contin- uing” and that the French govern- ment “has neither approved nor re- jected” the agreement. Britain to Set Tonnage. It was said that this provision would hold between these two countries re- gardless of what other powers do. The British view is that the release of Ger- many from the Versailles treaty naval limitations is a purely academic ques- tion which must inevitably be ap- proved. Reports in naval circleg, that Great Britain would lay down five new bat- tleships, 22 cruisers and a large num- ber of destroyers in the next five years indicated that Germany would get a navy of nearly 400,000 tons—almost as large as France’s. Great Britain’s total tonnage now is 1,158,659. Onme of her 15 battleships, 18 of her 51 cruisers, 111 of her 161 flotilla leaders and destroyers, 1 of her 8 aircraft carriers and 22 of her 51 submarines are over age. New Deal Considers Dropping 18 Subsistence Homesteads By the Associated Press. The Government is thinking of abandoning 18 subsistence homestead projects inherited by the Resettlement Administration at the death of the Homestead Corp. June 18. CONRATOR 10 ORK AT Hold Per Capita Figure| Too Low for “Useful Projects.” By the Associated Press. Protetsts against limiting expendi- tures in the administration’s work-re- lief drive to $1,100 or $1,200 per work- | er were made today by contractors and road builders. One spokesman said “useful and permanent” projects would be outlawed by such a restriction. The objections were raised as State Works Progress Administrators met in regional conferences to frame plans embracing small, inexpensive projects asked by President Roosevelt yester- day in a talk in which he said “pol- itics, so far as we are concerned, is out.” Mr. Roosevelt told the State direc- tors at the White House they should make every effort to place the unem- ployed in private industry even if proj- ects started through the $4,000,000,000 work-relief fund had to be stopped. The President was optimistic on recovery prospects. Afier emphasizing that the great bulk of projecis se- lected must, witn some exceptions, be | small and inexpensive to provide for the employment of 3,500,000, he said: “Of course, we always will bave a certain number of unemployed with as, but nothing like the present scale, we hope. And ihis year, I believe, is going to be the beginning of the picking up of the greater part of this unemployment slack from which we have been suffering.” Urges Useful Projects. Aside from emphasizing that the $4,000,000,000 had to be divided into employment for 3.500,000 persons, the President urged the State directors %0 make the projects “as useful” as possible. He reierred to the civil works program as “made work, in- vented work” and added: “We have all that experience be- Constitutionality Questioned as Final Vote Draws Near. CLARK AMENDMENT GAINING STRENGTH Would Permit Industries to Keep Own Pension Plans—Long's Rider Shouted Down. BY J. A. O'LEARY. As the administration’s social se- curity bill approached a final vote in the Senate this afiernoon, its consti- tutionality was questicned by Senator George, Democrat, of Georgia. Supporting an amencment by Sena- tor Clark, Democrat, of Missouri, to allow companies to retain private re- tirement systems that are at least equal to the Government plans, George inquired: “Why strike down private pension plans in industry in passing a bill which may not pass the muster of the courts?” George referred particularly to those sections which use the taxing power to bring about cstablishment of old- age annuity and unemploymert in- surance. Clark Amendment Redrafted. “I know the courts will go a long way in upholding legislation of this kind, and I think they should” George continued, “but if the courts look through the mere form of the bill and consider the purposes, no lawyer will say its validity is not open to serious question.” Clark said his amendment has been redrafted so there is no way in which an employer would benefit by operat- ing a private plan in preference to entering the Government system, and that the only advantage that might result from allowing private plans would be to enable companies to pur- chase larger annuities for their work- ers if the general age of the employes made a favorable rate possible. Clark also pointed out that the bill exempts | Pederal employes from the proposed system, presumably because the Gov- ernment already has a retirement plan for its own employes. ‘The Clark amendment apparently has picked up support from Senator McNary, Republican leader, and the debate indicated many Democrats also were sympathetic to the proposal, Clark Points to Exemptions. Administration leaders sought to ward off the amendment with the argument it would endanger the bill's constitutionality, but Clark quickly challenged this by asserting there were similar exemptions already in it. His amendment would exempt from the proposed 6 per cent pay roll tax against employers and employes those companies which had private systems equal or better than the public plan and which were approved by the social security board to be created under the bill. The way was cleared for speedy ac- tion on the bill when the Senate late yesterday shouted down the plan of Senator Huey Long, Louisiana Demo- crat, who tried to make the security bill a vehicle for his share-the-wealth program by proposing a heavy capital levy tax tc raise enough revenue to finance the whole security program without State aid. A chorus of “noes” defeated Long's program without a roll call, after a short but spirited debate, in which Senator Millard E. Tydings, Maryland hind us. Of course, there will be a great many large projects, but we must keep to that mathematical fig- ure of 3!2 million people and $4,- 000,000,000. “In other words, outside of a hand- full of what might be called strictly Federal projects, such as the Bonne- ville and Fort Peck Dams; the deepen- ing of the Mississippi and the channel in the Upper Missouri, and a few others of that kind, which total only a very small portion of the $4,000,- 000,000, practically all the rest of the money must be spent, on the average, at the rate of somewhere between $1,100 and $1,200 per man, which must, of necessity, include everything. Private Industry First. “We want, in so far as possible, to have every relief administrator make every effort to get the unemployed into private industry, even if it means slowing down or stopping some of the jobs we have undertaken. ‘We should not hesitate for one single moment to stop a certain number of projects if people are taken back into private industry. * * * “Politics, so far as we are con- cerned, is out If anybody asks you to discriminaie because of politics, you can tell them that the President of the United States gave direct orders that there is not to be any such dis- crimination. “I hope you go to it, with your coats off and that the dirt will begin to fly very soon.” ‘Willard Crevalier, a member of the Advisory Councii Construction League, (See RELIEF, Page 6.) the Resettlement Administra- tion hit a faster pace. “We hope to be all set by July 15,” Democrat, subjected Long to a rapid- fire examination on the detailed workings of his tax plan. Bill To Go To Conference. As soon as the Senate passes the measure, it will go to conference with the House for final action on Senate amendments, the most important of which are: A new section authorizing Federal grants to States which pro- vide pensions for the blind and allow- ing States to adopt the separate com- pany reserve system of unemployment insurance, if they desire. As passed by the House the bill made no provision for the blind, and required States to adopt the State-wide pool system of handling unemployment insurance. Representing one of the most com« prehensive social securily programs ever undertaken by any country, the bill in its present form authorizes di- rect appropriations of $94,491,000 for Federal giants to the States for a variety of welfare purposes during the next fiscal year. In addition it sets (See SECURITY, Page 3.) RICHETTI GETS DEATH FOR MASS SLAYINGS Gangster Convicted in Kansas City Union Station Killings. By the Associated Press. KANSAS CITY, June 18.—Adam Richetti, sallow little gunman, con- templated death on the gallows today as State and Federal officials pre- pared to close the book of official vengeance for the mass slaying of five men at the Union Station here gangster, was convicted last night of murder by a Jackson County (Kansas City) jury that assessed the death With his conviction the law marked off the last of the three accused as the actual slayers of four officers § | and their prisoner, Frank Nash, slain in a desperate delivery attempt.