Evening Star Newspaper, July 30, 1935, Page 17

Washington News MRS. SMITH FACES TRIAL IN'SLAYING: FIGHTS FOR BOND Coroner’s Jury Urges Sec- ond-Degree Murder Charge for Widow. COURT ROOM PACKED AS HEARING IS HELD Wife of Former Maryland Trooper Tells of Quarrel Which Led to Shooting. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. LAUREL, Md., July 30.—Charged with second degree murder in connec- tion with the shooting of her hus- band, Mrs. Dorothy Dodd Smith, 24, today planned a legal battle for free- dom under bond. The charge was placed against her last night on recommendation of & coroner’s jury which heard her tell in detail how she shot her husband, ‘Wade Le Roy Smith, 26, former Mary- 1and State policeman, after a domestic squabble in their home on Fourth street here, early Sunday morning. Her attorney, J. Wilson Ryon, an- nounced he would file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in Circuit Court at Upper Marlboro today in the hope of having Mrs. Smith released on bond. Hearing Today. Judge Joseph C. Mattingly is ex- pected to conduct a hearing on the petition this afternoon, about the time funeral services are being held for Smith, in the home o his mother, Mrs. Minnie Smith at Cumberland. Should the judge deny bond in the case, Mrs. Smith probably will have to remain in jail until the next regu- lar grand jury session in October. Bond frequently is allowed in sec- ond degree murder cases, which carry a maximum sentence of 18 years in Maryland, Ryon said. Both Ryon and State’s Attorney Alan Bowie said it was unusual for a coroner’s jury to recommend second-degree murder, and Ryon questioned their right to do so. The customary procedure is for a jury to recommend manslaughter or mur- der without specifying the degree. Because a magistrate cannot grant bond in murder cases, it is necessary to institute habeas corpus proceedings in grder to bring the case before the | Circuit Court. Neatly attired in a black and white outfit, Mrs. Smith appeared the coolest pergon in the one-room court house as &he-told-her story-{o- the* jury while a perspiring crowd that packed the structure and jammed the windows and doors listened. Her version of the shooting, built around the theme of self defense, was essentially the same she had given police when she surrendered at the Laurel. substation shortly after the tragedy. She said her husband, enraged be- cause she had shown a tin-type photo- graph taken at the Jessups Fire De- partment carnival Saturday night to an Italian who worked for the father of her first husband, roused her ire by referring to Italians as “Wops.” Was “Heartbroken.” The comely blond, who was taught the beauty parlor business by her first husband, Nuncy Greco, a local barber, said she reminded Smith her son, Vincent Greco, 4, was half Italian. “After we had quarreled awhile ‘Wade wanted to make up. But I was heartbroken and just couldn’t,” she said. Maintaining her poise as she reached the climax of the story, Mrs. Smuth said her husband took a revolver, threatened to shoot her, changed his mind, placed the gun in her hand and then rushed at her. With a wave of the hand, she said the gun went off and Smith fell. The wife told in full how she felt Smith’s pulse to make sure he was dead, tried to take her own life but could not make the gun work, and finally drove to the home of her sister and brother- in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Carrol Harrison. That couple, together with police officers who questioned Mrs. Smith, were the only other witnesses at the inquest. All said she told them the same story. When Mrs, Harrison showed signs of swooning, Justice of the Peace James L. Vawter ordered those unable to obtain seats out of the court room, which had become overheated from the crowd. Only when the jury returned its wverdict, after nearly two hours’ de- liberation, did Mrs. Smith show emo- tion. She dropped her head in her hands for several minutes. Her father, A. 8. Dodd, whe sat with her through- out the inquest also appeared moved, but composed himself quickly. The verdict said Mrs. Smith “did voluntarily shoot and kill her hus- band” and reccmmended “second de- gree murder.” A warrant containing that charge | ‘was immediately issued by the magis- trate, and Mrs. Smith was remanded to jail. W. J. LAMBERT’S WILL GIVES WIDOW $589,276 Document of Attorney Lists $126,004 in Real and $463,- 272 in Personal Property. Wilton J. Lambert, prominent at- torney, who died July 21, left an es- tate valued at $589,276, it was dis- closed today in District Supreme Court. Mr. Lambert’s estate, according to a petition for probate of his will, con- sisted of $126,004 in real property and $463,272 in personal property. The will, filed by his son, Arthur G. Lambert, left the entire estate to his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Gorman Lam- bert. S SRS EER b Ex-Fireman Buys Farm. COMUS, Md., July 30 (Special).— Oscar Leaman, retired member of the District of Columbia Fire Departnent, has purchased from the heirs of John C. Hildebrand & farm of 35 acres near here, where he and his family are now. living. < Mrs. Dorothy Dodd Smith being last night by her father, A. S. Dodd. PARALYSIS GAINS; PARENTS WARNED |Children Should Be Kept , From Crowds as Precaution. ’ ‘ A statement of caution to Washing- ton parents has been issued by the | Health Department following thei death in Children’s Hospital yesterday of Sonia Maria Reynante, 2 months old, from what was tentatively de- | scribed as infantile paralysis. | If it is decided definitely that death | was due to infantile paralysis, it will | be the fourth such fatality in three weeks, equaling the total normally | reached in a year. | The other victims were Dorothy Melvin, 4, who died July 9; Miss Evie Eddy, a telephone operator, and Wil- liam H. Gormley, an employe of the Internal Revenue Bureau, both of whom died Thursday. | While the recent jump of infantile | paralysis cases in the District is prob- | ably an accident and there'is no cause | for alarm, Di. James G. Cumming, chief of the Bureau of Preventable | Diseases, District Health Department, | sald parents should take precautions with their children. 5 Should Avoid Crowds. “Infantile paralysis is transmitted through nasal and mouth excretions| of the infected person,” Dr. Cumming said, “to the nose or mouth of others. There are 10 healthy carriers to every one who is susceptible to the disease. They are the usual transmitters of | infantile paralysis because they show | no symptoms of their infection and walk around among other people. “It is important that all children be kept from having as many con- tacts with other persons as possible. This reduces their chances of infec- tion. In other words, it is inadvisable for them to go more cften than neces- sary to places where large numbers congregate. “Symptoms of the disease are a headache, a slightly stiff neck, a little diarrhea, a lack of appetite and a slight fever. Disease Strikes Swiftly. “As soon as a child develops any of these symptoms, he should be rushed immediately to bed and given complete quiet and relaxation, and be put under the care of a competent physician. This is the most important point I have to make, for infantile paralysis strikes quickly and paralysis is likely to set in within 24 hours un- less this procedure is adopted.” reported in Virginia yesterday brought that State’s total since May 1 to 264. There have been several deaths in the State. A majority of the Virginia cases are south of Richmond. One case each has been reported in Arlington, Fair- fax and Prince William Counties. China to Issue Stamps. China will issue postage stamps commemorating its new life move- ment. The Foening Star WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1935. Principal at Laurel Inquest | I.AWYERS m TAI.K escorted into the Laurel Court House ~—Star Staff Photo. SENATE PASSES RAIL BRIDGES BILL Measure to Open Up Traffie Arteries Goes to House €onference. ‘The bill to require the steam rafl- roads to build two bridges for the purpose of opening up two new traf- fic arteries across the Northeast sec- tion of the city passed the Senate yesterday afternoon along with sev- eral other District' measures. The bridge bill previously had gone through the House, but it must go back to that body today or tomorrow for action of several minor Senate amendments. ‘The Senate also passed, with amend- ments, House bills allowing District firemen to live across the District line in adjacent States, and author~ izing public order arrangements for the forthcoming colored Elks con- vention. Both measures go back to the House for action on Senate amendments. One other measure, authorizing the Pennsylvania Railroad to bulld a bridge across New York avenue, near West Virginia avenue northeast, to carry & siding into a commerciaily zened area, also passed the Senate. No changes were made in the House text, s0 this bill is ready to go.to:the ‘White House. Police Bill Passed. Today the Senate passed a bill al- lowing members of the police force to live in nearby counties of Maryland and Virginia, similar to the bill passed for firemen yesterday. The two new traffic bridges in the northeast, to be built at the expense of the railroads, will be located as follows: One overpass, starting at Brent- wood road and T street northeast and extending across the railroad yards to & point beyond New York avenue. One underpass at Eighteenth street northeast, to open up a highway run- ning diagonally from Fourteenth street and Rhode Isiand avenue to the junction of New York and West Virginia avenues. Four Spans in Original Law. The law of 1908 authorizing the building of Union Station required the Fourteen cases of infantile paralysis | ington §E8 BEIfEE Search of Records Restores Wedding Ring Lost 6 Years Her gold wedding ring was back on the finger of Mrs. Nellie M. Stewart today, six years after she lost it on Connecticut avenue. lived nearby and put away in a trunk and forgotten. A few days ago the woman’s daugh- ter, Eleanor, just married came across the ring. Inside it was inscribed: “N. M. T.-M. J. S, May 16, 1927.” Gardiner thumbed marriage .Leasure said. ABOUT NEW DEAL IN WARM SESSION “Fireworks” Anticipated at League Meeting Tonight on Resolutions. EXPERIMENTALISM HIT BY CHAMBER SPEAKER “Radical” Legislation “in Guise of Emergency” Assailed by Chester Leasure. More than 400 commercial lawyers and collection agency men, assembled at the Wardman Park Hotel for the 41st annual convention of the Com- mercial Law League of America, debated committee resolutions today, with “fireworks” predicted for tonight when the convention considers a set of resolutions attacking the New Deal. A suggestion of the expected con- vention criticism of some phases of the Roosevelt administration was given last night when Chester Leasure, manager of the resolutions and ref- erenda department of the United States Chamber of Commerce, told the delegates “radical experimental- ism” in Government was breaking constitutional safeguards. “Two_years ago, the people of the United States put aside their personal ideas of government and consented to certain radical experimentalism,” “The people were told this experimentalism was necessary to overcome a ‘temporary’ financial crisis. Well, those two years have passed, but the radical experimental- ism hasn’t. Instead of being a tem- porary fixture of Government—con- sented by trusting people—it has be- come the Government itself.” Emergency “Guise” Hit. Leasure said that ‘“under the guise of emergency,” prominent social re- form measures, “which violate con- stitutional rights and which to be- come law of the land should be sub- mitted to the people in the form of constituional amendments, have béen and are being attempted through legislation. “The real question now is whether we are willing 0 surrender our con- stitutional safeguards for the sake of experiment or whether we will insist on the orderly gnd legal process for determining fundamental changes in our Government as outfined in the Counstitution.” night when the convention considers 8 set of resolutions submitted by a spe- cial Committee on Commerce. The resolutions demsnd that the admin- currency, discontinue all competition with private industry and call another international monetary conference to “decrease economic nationalism and trade warfare.” “The entire new economic system which the Government is endeavoring to establish has upset the normal pro- duction and distribution of commodi- ties,” the committee report said. Bankruptcy Revision Asked. ‘The reports and resolutions taken up at this morning’s sessions were largely of a technical nature. The conven- national ferred until tonight a report proposing increases in uniform collection fees. Approval was expected, Nominations of officers for the next year will be made at tonight’s meet- ing, and voting will take place to- morrow. G. Dexter Blount, president of the Denver Bar Association, is the leading presidential candidate, and his unanimous election was predicted. Frank M. Ely, present league presi- dent, reported yesterday on his stew- ardship during the past year and urged continued economy in league opera- tions. The convention was expected to ap- prove tonight a resolution reiterating its desire for “continued peaceful re- lationship” between the United States and Canada “in these days of war talk and preparation.” * A bus trip to Annapolis, where they will visit the United States Naval Academy and the Governor’s mansion, was scheduled for the delegates this afternoon. They will dance at the Wardman Park after tonight’s busi- ness session. Tomorrow, the collec- tion men and their wives, together numbering about 530, will engage in a program of golf, tennis, base ball, swimming horseshoe pitching contests. The convention ends Thurs- day, but most of its business will be concluded tomorrow. JOHN BOHAN, 66, DIES Former Contractor to Be Buried in Stratford, Ontario. John Bohan, 66, of 1023 Otis street northessf, died today at his home SCHLOSS GIVEN TRIP Glen Echo Employes Present Air T % Tugwell Division in Bath Room Office The Rural Resettlement Admin- istration, paying $1 per square foot for space in the Evalyn Walsh Mc- Lean mansion, wants to make sure it is getting every foot it pays for. Above: The secretary to Col. Joseph P. Pratty, resettlement en- gineer, finds it necessary to make an office of the McLean bath room. Below: Col. Pratt in his office, at one time Mrs. McLean's dressing room. The painting in the back- ground is one of the few remain- ing in the house. —A. P. Photos. PEDESTRIAN HURT N MOTIR CRSH Man Walks Into Taxicab. Is Fourth Seriously In- jured Since Drive. The fourth serious injury since the traffic safety campaign was launched here 10 days ago occurred last night when a pedestrian walked into the slde of a taxicab in the 400 block of New York avenue. Today, in his tenth special order since the campaign began, Police Supt. Ernest W Brown instrueted his command to see that bicycle riders ob- serve traffic regulations. James McArthur, 43, of 1319 F street suffered a possible skull frac- ture when he walked into the side of the taxi. His condition, however, was reported improved in Emergency Hos- pital. The taxi was being driven by Charles L. McAlevy, 23, of 532 Twen- ty-third street A total of 11 others were injured in accidents since 8 a.m. yesterday. Mrs. Jennie R. Cusick. 84, of 708 F street northeast suffered bruises and possibly s hip fracture shortly before noon today when struck by an auto- mobile backing from a parking place at Eighth and H streets northeast. She was taken to Casualty Hospital, where X-rays were to be taken to de- termine the extent of her injuries. Her condition, however, was not be- lieved to be serious. Thé automobile was being driven by Lawrenc~ V. Boston, 33, of 1114 Eighth street northeast, police said. He was not held. Woman Is Arrested. Lillian Webb, 19, colored, 1000 block of First street southeast, was arrested early today on charges of reckless driving and operating an automobile without a permit after the car she was driving crashed into a tree in the 900 block of South Capitol street. She was treated at Providence Hos- & Mrs. Charles H. Gage, 50, of 421 Sixth street was severely bruised last night when struck by an automobile shortly after stepping from a street car loading platform at North Capitol street and Massachusetts avenue. She was given first aid at Sibley Hospital. The automobile which struck her was driven by Joseph H. Bateman, 25, of 2124 Pirst street, police said. Others treated at hospitals included Mary Meyers, 17, of 411 Minnesota avenue southeast, who suffered a col- larbone fracture, cuts and bruises when an automobile in which she was & passenger collided with another ma- chine at Minnesota avenue and Ben- ning road northeast, and two 10-year- old boys who received minor injuries. The boys are Raymond Desantis of 27 L street northeast, hit by an automo- bile near his home, and Billy Scrivner. 1801 Wyoming avenue, struck by a taxicab on Twenty-first street near R No inquest date had been set today in the death of Miss Virginia Don- nelly, 16, of 1855 Wyoming avenue, the single fatality since the traffic campaign got under way. The date will be postponed until James Parker, 18, of No. 18 Seventh street northeast, driver of the motor cycle on which she was riding early Sunday, has re- covered sufficiently in Casualty Hos- pital to testify. ing at 8 a.m. today numbered 363, or 33 léss than the number arrested Mon- day a week ago. Of the arrests yes- queries sent by the club to all its mem- bers 91.8 per cent favor the inspec- it 1s announced, v JOHN J0Y EDSON WILL IS PROBATED Daughter and Grandchildren Beneficiaries—Associated Charities Remembered. Naming his daughter, Mrs. Eliza- beth Edson, as principal beneficiary, the will of the late John Joy Edson, prominent Washington banker and civic leader, who died recently at 89, was filed today in District Supreme Court. The will did not disclose the extent of the estate. It bequeathed his residence at 1324 Sixteenth street to his daughter and directed the payment of $10,000 to each of the three children of his de- ceased son, John Joy Edson, 3d, when they reach the age of 25. The Asso- ciated Charities, in which Mr. Edson 'was actively interested, was given $10,- 000 for use in payment for permanent quarters for the organization. The residue of the estate was left in trust to the Washington Loan & Trust Co. for the benefit of his daugh- ter during her lifetime, after which additional bequests are made to the children of the deceased son, with the remainder going equally to the three children of his daughter. Mr. Edson incorporated in his will provisions intended to secure the in- come to his children and grandchil- dren “so that they may never be in danger of losing their income either by investment or by reason of any enterprise into which they may enter.” The Washington Loan & Trust Co. is named sole executor and trustee. Mr. Edson wac one of the original directors of the company, its presi- dent from 1894 to 1917 and chairman of its board of directors until his death. D. C. TAXPAYERS FACING PENALTIES Richards Warns Returns Should Be Filed by To- morrow Midnight. District taxpayers have only today and tomorrow in which to file per- sonal tax returns and escape a 20 | per cent penalty, Assessor William P. Richards warned today in preparing to handle a belated rush of business at the District Building. Only about 21,000 returns have been filed to date, he pointed out, indicat- ing there still are about 24,000 returns outstanding. No Extensions. “No extension of time for filing of returns can be given under the law,” Richards said, “but those who are unable to file a complete return should consult with the assessor's office, so arrangements can be made for a non-complete return to be amended at & later date.” Returns placed in the mail before midnight bearing the mailing stamp of July 31 will be accepted without pen- alty. Those who do not file their returns before midnight tomorrow, in person or by mail, will hold them- selves subject, he said, to all the pen- alties provided by law. Penalties Enumerated. ‘The penalties include & 20 per cent additional valuation of property, a mandamus cost of $11 and a 1 per cent penalty provided for non-pay- ment of tax at the proper time. said it was the intention of the assessor’s office to use the $11 mandamus to its fullest extent and require returns in all cases, as no tentative assessments based on guess- work will be made. ‘The assessor’s office is open to re- ceive personal tax returns from 8:30 am. to 5 pm. Health Conditions Improved By Reopening Y. W. C. A. Pool Improvement of child health condi- tions in Central Washington was shown today to have resulted from re- of the Y. W. C. A. pool at 61¢ E street. The pool was made available to neighborhood youngsters last week with money raised by popu- lar subscription. Several cases of illness, infection and malnutrition which otherwise might not have been disclosed in time for proper treatment have been re- vealed at the free medical examina- tions provided by the Children’s Clinic as part of pool use regulations, ac- cording to the pool’s sponsors. The sufferers were barred from the pool and given treatment. The Star’s swimming pool fund today stood at $1,000.23, many unew contributions having been received over the week end. Mrs. Charles Goldsmith, Westchester, Apartments, $10; Sol Goldstein, $10; Martin Wax- man, $5; Samuel Melnicov, $5; Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Schwartz, $5; Hy- man Goldman, $5, and Mrs. Laura Heidingsfeld, $2. Employes in the Washington Navy Yard's mine laboratory gave $6.75 on Saturday, the Alpha Theta Chi So- rority, $2, and Mrs. F. B. Hyland, § Rhode Island avenue, $2. The fund is $250.23 over its original goal and assures & swimming season of four months or more The money received Mrs. Goldsmith, pool spon- sors sald, will take care of several expenses not anticipated when the Society and General PAGE B—1 FEDERAL AGADEMY OF STAGE ART FOR CAPITAL PROPOSED gested for Structure Costing Millions. SPONSORS SEEKING ALLOTMENT BY P. W. A. Large Auditoriums Would Seat 10,000—Plans Include Nation- Wide Cultural Programs. Plans to erect a monumental Fed- eral Academy of Arts of the Stage on Columbia Island, designed to make Washington the cultural as well ac the political center of the country were revealed to the District Com- missioners today by the Sponsoring Committee. The committee was headed by Ed- win Fairfax Naulty, technical counse and secretary of the national group | representing the arts. He told the | Commissioners it was proposed to ob- | tain money from the Public Works | Administration to erect the huge | building. Although no definite sum was mentioned, the allotment plans shown forethe project probably would cost several million dollars. Naulty explained the group he rep- resented wanted nothing from the District as the theater project was | planned as national in scope, and, i approved by Secretary Ickes, woulc be built entirely with Federal funds | The bill, he said, would be introducec | in Congress, authorizing use of the site on Columbia Island, which face: the Virginia side of the Potomac luro& from the Arlington Memoria: | Bridge. | Capital Site Logical. | The choice of Washington as locz | tion of the proposed Federal acad- emy, the Commissioners were told | removes “provincial jealousies since ‘Lhe National Capital is the goal of | all classes of citizens.” ‘The plans, drawn by Harry Franci Cunningham, Washington architect | call for a building in the form of ar equal-armed Greek cross surmountec in the center by a huge gold dome It would provide four theaters or auditoriums, each with a seatine | capacity of 2,500. A Federal Academ; Library of the Stage is proposed a one of the features. 2 Miss Ethel Claire Randall of Wash- ington, who is in charge of the chil- dren’s theater, submitted plans to the Commissioners showing how the chil- dren’s theater idea would be incor- | porated in the project. Would Hire Best Artists. As the auditorium wouid seat 10,00( persons a day, revenues from the per- formances, Naulty said, would perm: the hiring of the best artistry to mak the Federal academy self-sustaining. Arrangements also would be made he said. to broadcast symphony or- chestra concerts and plays over Na- tion-wide hook-ups. Dramatic per- formances as well as operatic per- formances, ballets and dances, woul¢ | be presented during all-year season: of 52 weeks. Naulty said he planned to see Icke: probably this week to outline the project. Transportation companie: also are being approached with view: to running excursions to Washingtor if and when the Federal Governmen! elects to build the structure. MRS. FRANK FULLER | DIES AT HER HOME Fraternal Leader’s Funeral to Be Held Thursday Morning at 10 0'Clock. Mrs. Frank Fuller, 83, long active in fraternal and patriotic organiza- tions here, died last night at her resi- dence, 3622 Eleventh street. Mrs. Pul- ler’s husband died about 10 years ago A native of Little Valley, N. Y., Mrs Fuller came to Washington and be- by gan teaching ir the public school shortly after the Civil War, resign ing in 1881 upor her marriage. The coupl: lived in Wayne Nebr., followin; their marriag and until return- ing here in 1902 Mrs, Fuller § past president o oA Chapter “B” F Mrs. Frank Fuller. E. O, and pas chaplain of a D. A. R. chapter; Loy- alty Chapter, Order of the Easterz Star, and Spengler Unit, Americar Legion Auxiliary. Funeral services will be held & Hines' funeral parlors at 10 am Thursday. Burial will be in Glen- wood Cemetery. Mrs, Fuller is survived by two sons Ben Lee Fuller and Frank T. Fuller. MAN COLLAPSES IN TRAFFIC COUR1 Photographer Sent to Hospita! for Treatment After Falling in Crowd. Clarence J. Holt, a photographer collapsed in the crowded Governmen! witness room at Traffic Court toda) while waiting to be arraigned on s speeding charge. The Casualty Hospital ambulanc was summoned and on the advice o a physiclan Holt was removed to the hospital for treatment. Holt was standing in the door o the witness room when his attorney J. William Shea, was shoved agains him by an officer attempting to ge through the door. The witness room of Traffic Cour is crowded to capacity every momm: ing and witnesses are compelled & line up several deep out into the cor