Evening Star Newspaper, December 5, 1935, Page 1

Generally fair, lowest temperal about 30 degrees tonight; tomorrow fair and slightly colder; fresh westerly winds. ‘Temperatures—Highest, 39, at noon to- day; lowest, 23, at 1 a.m. today. Full report on page A-11. Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 17, 18, 19 No. 33,455. post_off Entered as second class matter ‘Washington, D. C. he Foening Star : WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1935—FIFTY-EIGHT PAGES. *x¥ BRITAIN WARNS JAPAN, ASKS PEACE OF ITALY; ULTIMATUM GIVEN DUCE < Tokio Préstige in Peril, Says Hoare. TWO WARSHIPS | LEAVE BASE Nation Ready to| ‘Apply Oil Ban, Commons Told. By the Associated Press. LONDON, December 5.—A British | warning to Japan against aggression | in China and an overture to Italy to | end aggression in Ethiopia were ex- | tended today by Sir Samuel Hoare, | forelgn secretary, as two of the| empire's warships were withdrawn from the Mediterranean. Sir Samuel said the situation in | North China might be harmful to Japan's prestige among other coun- tries unless she quickly clarified her attitude. “I can only regard it as unfortu- nate,” he told the House of Commons, “that events should have taken place which, whatever the actual truth of | the matter may be, lend color to the belief that Japanese influence is ex- erted to shape Chinese internal po- litical developments and administrative arrangements. “Anything which tends to create this belief can only do harm to the prestige of Japan and hamper develop- ment, which we all desire, of the friendliest mutual relations between Japan and her neighbors and friends.” | . Pleads for Italian Amity. Concerning the British relationship to Italy at this moment, he pleaded: “Can we not lay aside suspicions and concentrate in the immediate future upon finding a basis for settlement, making it possible for the world to return to normal life?” He delivered a pronouncement of the British stand for oil sanctions against Italy, however, when he told the House of Commons, “We are pre- pared to play our part.” The foreign secretary’s pronounce- ment was made shortly after it was learned at the Admiralty that the battle cruisers Hood and Renown have left Gibraltar for msneuvers in the Atlantic. The foreign secretary told the Com- mons Great Britain as well as the League of Nations had already agreed to the ail embargo in principle. “The question still to be decided,” he said, “Is whether the action of non- member states would render ineffective the action of member states. | “Further light was recently thrown | on this important question with the result that it is now possible for the | committee of 18 to have a further | meeting for the purpose of discussing the actual application and form of | the pressure that has already been ac- | cepted in principle.” The great increase in oil exports to Italy did not come from companies in which Great Britain is interesied, | the foreign secretary said, denying British companies are exploiting the | situation, 0il Shipments Decline. Oil shipments to Italy by the An- | glo-Iranian Oil Co. had in fact fallen during the first 11 months of this | year from the shipments for the cor- | responding period of 1934, he said. The sharpest reduction was made during the period from August to | October. “It may be we are engaged on a. hopeless task,” Sir Samuel continued. | “It may be it is impossible to reconcile | the divergent aims of the League of | Nations, Italy and Ethiopia. It may be the atmosphere is so heated it Is impossible for the voice of reason to prevail. “None the less the French and we intend not only to go on trying, but to ! redouble our efforts during the short | period of time still open before the Geneva meeting. “The world urgently needs peace. We and the French, acting on behalf of the League and in the spirit of the League, are determined to inake an- other great effort for peace. * * * Appeals for Peace. “I appeal once again to Signor Mus- solini and his fellow countrymen to dismiss entirely from their minds the suspicion that we have sinister mo- tives behind our support of the League. We have none. Let them dismiss from their minds the suspicion that we wish to humiliate Italy. We wish to see Italy strong and honored in the world. “Let them dismiss from their minds the suspicion that we wish to drive 2 wedge between Italy and France. We wish to see Italy and France the firmest friends and we are glad we were able to help in the entente that brought Italy and France together at the beginning of this year.” The Hood and Renown left Gi- braltar today. They will call at Madeira, in the Portugese Islands, 500 miles southwest of Portugal, and Tangier, Northwest Africa, returning within 10 days. Others will go when the first group returns, in movements described officially as the “normal course of fleet exercises.” Political circles speculated as to whether the move was a friendly gesture to Italy, which recently re- called one of four troop divisions from its North African possession of Libya to aid Italo-Ethiopian peace negotia- tions. Informed sources said there was no political significance. The scene of the fleet exercises will be within easy reach of Gibraltar. I1 Duce Speech on Air. ROME, December 5 (#)—Premier Mussolini’s speech at the opening of the Chamber of Deputies Saturday will be relayed to the Italian public over & nation-wide radio hook-up. Mystery Trip OIL MAN QUITS FRANCE ON WAY TO ETHIOPIA. FRANCIS M. RICKETT. By the Associated Press. MARSEILLE, December 5.—Francis M. Rickett, British promoter who ne- gotiated the Ethiopian concession from which United States interests later withdrew, took off here today for Rome and Athens, en route to Ethiopia. “Important business calls me the other side of Athens,” was his only comment. NANKING CONTROL INNORTH WEAKENS Japanese Army Activity Is Renewed—Gen. Ho Told to Leave Territory. BACKGROUND— Avid for conquest, Japanese war lords November 18 pushed their cramped island empire’s sphere of influence almost to the walls of ancient Peiping, with declaration of “independence” of five provinces south of Manchukuo, “freed” in 1932. While Tokio mikitarists, na- tion’s leaders for four years, plan jurther ezpansion, Chinese govern- ment, from Nanking headquarters, makes ineffectual protest to fore- stall the five-province automomy move. By th> Associated Press. PEIPING, December 5.—Revival of | agitation for North China autonomy and sudden renewal of Japanese Army activity in this area threatened to- night to block Nanking's eleventh-| hour efforts to retain its hold on| North China by a broad program of reforms. The Japanese Army, it was learned in authoritative circles, warned Gen. Ho Ying-ching, war minister of the central government, to leave North China immediately. Gen. Ho was told, it was reliably stated, that his continued presence in the north would complicate the situation. He had come north to su- pervise the installation of the new Nanking-approved administration ma- | chinery. | The Japanese military’s views were understood to have been conveyed in | separate calls by the Japanese mili- tary attache at Peiping, Col. Tan | Takahashi, and an emissary from Maj. Gen. Hayao Tada, commander of the Japanese forces in North China. Crowd Demands Autonomy. Several hundred persons demon- strated before Gen. Ho's headquarters |and presented petitions demanding autonomy for North China. The sudden departure from Peiping of Gen. Sung Cheh-yuan, overlord of Hopeh and Chahar Provinces, was viewed in some quarters as tanta- mount to resignation from his govern- ment posts. Before leaving he issued a state- meat virtually washing his hands of the negotiations and which indicated L LastPlanGiven Before Ban Is Applied. ROME OFFERED BARREN LANDS British Win Paris Agreement to Terms. BACKGROUND— A vast expanse of barren land, mostly desert, would fall to Italy in Southern Ethiopia if Mussolini Gecepted land-exchange peace pro- posal of France and England. Ethiopia’s corridor in the morth, about €0 miles long, would run to the seaport of Assab, or perhaps Ebb or Meter or Barasol. Assab is but few miles north of Straits of Bab El Mandeb, joining Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and sep- arating Africa from Arabia, where Italy hopes to establish major na- val base in harbor ceded last Janu=- ary by France from her Somali- land colony. By the Associated Press. Great Britain and France have given Italy a “set of suggestions” for ending the Italo-Ethiopjan War in ment which said in effect, “Take it or leave it.” Diplomatic sources said today it rep- resented the last word of London and Paris before an oil embargo is applied against the government of Premier Benito Mussolini. In the face of assurances by Fascist sources that such an embargo would mean “fight,” Premier Laval of France was reported authoritatively to have given the “suggestions” to Italian terday. Italy Still Unyielding. ‘The conference at which the pro- sumably to discuss French desires ward peace before the December 12 League of Nations meeting to consider oil sanctions. No change in the attitude of the Italian government was apparent. Only cold silence has greeted Premier Laval's efforts to have Rome indicate on what basis it would negotiate—or Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia already has been reported as having applied to a high authority of the Coptic Christian Church to intefvene with Italy in behalf of peace. At Rome, meanwhile, the Fascist regime sought by reduction of its asoline consumption and by develop- ment of substitutes and new sources for ofl to forestall any motor fuel shortage arising from further League sanctions. United States Watched. The Italians were watching the United States closely for further indi- cations of the attitude here. This country has been furnishing about 6 per cent of Italy’s oil imports, but could, if it desired, meet all Italy’s emergency requirements. Italy has been importing 2,300,000 tons of petroleum products a year, and pro- duces itself only about 30,000 tons. Italy has spent large sums develop- ing Albanian oil deposits, and the premier has arranged for a sudden big increase in Italian production of alcohol, which is being used with gasoline on a 50-50 basis in some motor fuels sold widely in the country. Gasoline is selling at $1.08 a gallon, with the imposition of new taxes. A ‘royal decree imposed official (See WAR, Page 4.) New Zealand Names Cabinet. WELLINGTON, New Zealand, De- cember 5 (P).—New Zealand's first Labor government named Michael J. Savage prime minister, minister for external affairs and minister for na- (See CHINA, Page 4.) the cabinet list. To Instruct ¢ Children, He Santa Claus called in his stenog- rapher. “Take & letter,” he said. “To whom?” she asked. “To the boys and girls of Wash- ington,” the old gentleman instracted, leaned back in his chair and began to dictate: “My dear young friends— “I am so glad you liked me on the radio last night. It was good ] “Wwith lots of love, “Your friend. “SANTA CLA ‘The stenographer folded her book, and put her pencil away, “Do you - Santa on Radio Again Tonight ‘Little Helpers” Expects Best Christmas of All for Needy Tells Young Friends in Letter. want these letters mailed to all the children?” she asked Santa Claus. ‘The old man chuckled: “That would be too much of a job,” he said. “Just ask my good friends on The Evening Star in Washington to publish the letter, so all the children san see it— tomorrow. That is all.” So The Star today publishes the letter from Santa Claus to the little boys and girls of Washington. They are banding together, caliing them- selves “Santa Claus’ Helpers.” ' Santa Claus’ Helpers are out to get toys—and lots of toys—for little boys and girls who have no other way to get toys. Clothes, too. With the cold blasts of yesterday, the cold wind biting and snipping ears, the little children who have nice, warm homes began to feel right sorry for those who have no warm shelter. So they went to work with added ambition. John J. Payette, zone manager for East Africa with an appended com- | Ambassador Vittorio Cerruti late yes- | posals were advanced was called pre- | that Mussolini make some move to- | even whether it would negotiate at all. | Space Shortage May Force \.‘." /75,””/// DR 7 & BY G. ADAM! ‘With more than 50,000 pledges sig: | than at this time last year. aid and is appreciated. turns the drive over to the police : and courts where it properly belongs. The Star feels that it has done its bit in an educational way. Now the | matter rests with those in charge of | enforcement of law and the courts for just punishments. Pledges Given Traffic Director. The Star will continue to lend its columns to stories in the interest | %&‘ — More Than 50,000 Sign Pledge As Star Safety Campaign Ends Drive Turned Over to Police and Courts. ' 10 Points Repeated as Medium of Aiding Conditions Here. | | Traffic Deaths to December 5—106; Same Period, 1934—119 | | Director Star Safety Council. | representing 333 organizations, The Evening Star concludes its safe-driving campaign, which has been carried on three months to date. | The Star hopes its campaign has accomplished something definite in making the streets of the National Capital more safe. It ix hoped that most of the driving public of the city has become “safety conscious” and will remain so. given The Star by the radio companles and the theaters proved of great | In ending the campaign The Starg D HENRY, WE CAN EaSWLY GET UP SOMETHING MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN I g ] =) S HOWARD, ned in the interests of careful driving, Fatalities are lower | Co-operation of safety and in this way hopes to | perpetuate the true meaning of its| drive. Safety pledges now on hand | have been turned over to the director ! f traffic as an honer Toll of the| citizens of Washington who have given their time and effort in the | interests of safety. Additional pledge 2 e (See SAFETY, Page 7.) CROWDED OFFICES MAY QUIT CAPITAL Moves to Nearby Cities, JERSEY GOVERNOR THAT! BABY IS DECLARED ANNA WARE'S SON Special Commissioner Urges Court to Rule Out Mrs. Muench Plea. 1 By the Associated Press. ST. LOUIS, December 5—Rush H. Limbaugh, special commissioner, who heard evidence in the “Gift of God” baby case, declared today the infant Nellie Tipton Muench, former St. Louis society matron. peals, recommending the child be re- turned to Miss Ware. The court will make its decision later. Miss Ware, 19, sought through habeas corpus action to recover a baby sne alleged was born to her in testified, was being Muench and her husband, Dr. Ludwig ©O. Muench, who sought to “palm it off” as their own. Mrs. Muench, 44, announcing the | birth of a son August 18, termed it “a gift from God in my time of distress.” She then faced kidnap conspiracy charges of which she sub- sequently was acquitted. Sees No Reasonable Doubt. “That the child, now in custody |of the court and taken from the home of Respondents Muench * * *¢ The only eveningl aper in Washington witfi the Associated Press News and Wirephoto Services. St. Louis, August 19, and which, she | held by Mrs. | |ing tomorrow by warning against any | |is a child of the petititioner (Anna VISITS HAUPTMANN | Hoffman Admission of Trip tive affairs today as it made public | Ickes Says. By the Associated Press. A possibility that continued expan- sion of New Deal agencies may force transfer of some offices to nearby cities was suggested today by Secre- tary Jckes. He said that in addition to 12,- 000,000 square feet of space in Gov- ernment-owned buildings, the admin- istration is renting another 2,500,000 square feet, adding: “The shortage of space * * * is becoming more acute as the execu- tive branch of the government under- takes tasks laid out for it by Con- gress.” As an example, he mentioned the Social Security Board, whose skele- ton organization now is housed in the Labor Department Building, but which soon will require 75,000 to 100,000 more square feet. Ickes is in charge of assigning space to the agencies. He said one of the “worst examples” of the situa- tion was his own department, now spread over 14 different buildings. Others cited: . War Department, 16; Resettlement Administration, 15; Gen- eral Accounting Office, 10; Works Progress Administration, 10. Among buildings rented are three| town houses, two apartments, and an abandoned theater. Ickes suggested Baltimore as one of the nearby cities to which some agencies might be transferred. BLIZZARD IN NEW YORK ALBANY, N. Y., December 5 (#).— A “sncwstorm of blizzard proportions™ was reported raging near the Ca dian border today as milder tempera- tures displaced a bitter cold wave in New York State. Temperatures rose in the State capital after yesterday's cold snap. With the mercury only a few degrees above zero yesterday, a traffic police- man'’s whistle froze. Readers’ Guide Pages. After Dark ... -----B-13 Sociely ol o Sports _ ‘Washington ys] Women's Features...C-3, C-6 [ ] to Cell Follows Report of New Evidence. BACKGROUND— Bruno Hauptmann may know by December 23 how soon he must walk the last mile jor the Lind- bergh kidnaping. That day the Supreme Court will decide whether to review his trial. 1If review is denied, he must die in chair early in 1936, unless the New Jersey Court of Pardons commutes his sentence to life imprisonment. Hauptmann was convicted Febru- ary 13. New Jersey Court of Er- rors and Appeals upheld verdict October 9. Petition for review was presented Supreme Court Novem- ber 12. 1f petition is granted, rul- ing will be forthcoming probably in March. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, December 5.—Gov. Harold G. Hoffman of New Jersey today disclosed that he had visited Bruno Richard Hauptmann in his| death cell at Trenton, N. J. ‘This = disclosure followed reports published in the New York Evening Journal that the Governor had ob- tained new information which might save the convicted slayer of the Lind- bergh baby from the electric chair, or “at least delay his execution in- definitely.” Gov. Hoffman said his visit tc Hauptmann occurred about a month AgO. “Just a casual visit,” the Governor said, adding: “Some people have been working in the matter, but I am not at liberty to discuss it.” Talked With Parker, Earlier the Governor, in a state- ment issued through the Trenton, N. d., office of Ellis Parker, Burlington County chief of detectives, said: “When I went into office the first thing Mr. Parker did was to come in and talk over the matter with me. I am interested in it, naturally, because I am a member of the Court of Pardons, which is a court of merey.” ‘The New Jersey Court of Pardons is the final tribunal to which Haupt- mann may bring his case should he fail in his fight before the United States Supreme Court. ‘The Governor said that while he did not direct Parker to investigate the Lindbergh kidnaping case, “all along, since I have been in office, he (Parker) has discussed the matter whenever there were any new de- velopments.” Later, William S. Conklin, the Gov- ernor’s press aide, revealed the Gover- nor also had urged all other members of the Court of Pardons to visit Hauptmann “and learn his side of the case first-hand.” Ware) there can be no reasonable | doubt,” said Limbaugh in his report | “The order and judgment of the | court should therefore be that the child be delivered into the custody of petitioner as prayed in her petmon‘ and the special commissioner so recommends.” Since the infant, now more than three months old, was brought into court last October by judicial order, it | has been a ward of the court. It will continue to be until the conclusion of all legal matters pertaining to the case. The child is at Children’s Hospital. Miss Ware identified it in court as her child. The court today granted Mr. and Mrs. Muench, Mrs. Helen Berroyer and Wilfred Jones, friends of the (See BABY, Page 5.) M’CONIHE IS BOOMED AS D. C. POSTMASTER Request for Indorsement of Realty Man Here Is Made to Chairman Norton. The name of Malcolm S. McConihe was projected into the contest for ap- pointment as postmaster of Washing- ton when it became known today that a request for his indorsement had been made to Chairman Norton of the House District Committee. McConihe has long been a resident of the District. He has been prominent in Democratic affairs here and has served as a District delegate to Demo- cratic national conventions. After President Roosevelt entered the White House he was a candidate for appoint- ment as District Commissioner and had. strong indorsements. He is eu- gaged in the real estate business. indorse for the postmaster appoint- ment here Allen Rowe of Columbus, Ohio. Rowe is a constituent of Rep- resentative Lamneck of Ohio, who is strongly urging his appointment. By the Associated Press. ELKTON, Md, December 5—For assaulting Persia’s Minister to the United States—arresting and hand- cuffing him—two Elkton policemen today had paid fines of $25 and costs each. And, it appeared, the end was not yet. Reports gained credence that Town Officer Jacob Biddle and Con- stable Clayton Ellison, the officers in- volved, soon would be dismissed. When Ghaffar Khan Djalal, the envoy from Iran (Persia), was charged with speeding by Biddle here last week, and Constable Ellison clap- ped on the handcuffs at the climax of the argument, the State of Mary- land became involved in an “exceed- “The Governor says he visited Hauptmann one night early in Octo- (See HA! R 4) , ingly delicate and serious situation,” said Gov. Harry W. Nice. Mrs. Norlon also has been asked to | Yesterday’s Some Retu: UP) Means Associated Father Is “Shot” At Trial to Show Pistol Harmless Grandson of “T. R.” and Classmate Held on Assault Charge. By the Associated Press. CAMBRIDGE, Mass., December 5.— Louis De Florez, New York engineer, exposed himself in court today to shots from an air pistol to demon- strate that his son, Petro, 20, and Cornelius Van Shaack Roosevelt were innocent of discharging danger- ous weapons. Roosevelt, 21, grandson of former President Theodore Roosevelt, and De Floréz were on trial charged with assault with a dangerous weapon on two policemen and a newspaper man after allegedly shooting at passersby. The two were held for the grand (See “SHOT,” Page 3.) FUTURE OF LAVAL CABINET IN DOUBT Deputies Shout Insults in Bitter Fight Over “Po- litical Troops.” | BACKGROUND— Leading Fascist organization in republican France is the Croiz de Feu, originally a World War vet- erans’ group. To gain Leftist sup- port, Laval threatened dissolution of the group when he became pre- mier at head of coalition govern- ment. Croir contended similar dis- solution of radical Red Shirts would shave to follow. Vote in Deputies tomorrow on the ques- tion may overthrow Laval gov- ernment. By the Associated Press. PARIS, December 5—The heated debate over France's “political troops"” | was renewed in the strongly guarded | Chamber of Deputies today., with the | was the child of Anna Ware, unwed 'future of Premier Laval's cabinet in | servant girl, and ot the son of Mrs. doubt. | Amid a tumult of shouted insults | and banging desk tops, Moderate | Limbaugh’s assertion was made in a | Deputies accused Socialists and Com- | | report to the St. Louis Court of Ap- | munists of violence, anc demanded disbandment of the Left Wing Red | Shirts if the Rightist Nationalistic Blue Shirts were to be bisbanded. | A spectator shouted “liar” at one | Deputy who attacked the Leftists, and | was promptly ejected from the gallery. Allies of Premier Laval sought to avert his overthrow in the decisive vot- weakening of his prestige in the midst of the “serious situaiion” over the | Italio-Ethiopian conflict. Socialists Hesitant. The dominant Radical Socialists, | cabinet in their hands, appeared hesi- tant to assume responsibility for an overthrow of the government as the | Chamber resumed its debate. | The Radical Socialist party decided to determine its position, either for | or against the government, only after considering Laval's answers to its demands for action against such Rightist, nationalistic leagues as the | war veterans’ organization, Croix de ‘eu. Seek Shift in Recruiting. The Leftists asked their leader, | Former Premier Edouard Herriot, to | obtain Laval's promise to take recruit- ing of France's mobile guard out of the jurisdiction of Rightist Minister of War Col. Jean Fabry and place it under Josef Paganon, Radical Socialist minister of the interior. They also sought discussion of two | reports on semi-military leagues in Parliament before Christmas and asked prosecution of newspapers | which, they said, were publishing ar- ticles inciting to “revolt and murder.” | Many informed sources believed Premier Laval would make the strongest promises possible to main- tain the support of a majority of the Radical Socialists. 'BANDIT IS SLAIN IN OHIO HOLD-UP Woman Motorist Kidnaped in Escape of Two Others. Sheriff Wounded. By the Associated Press. FRANKLIN, Ohio, December 5.— One of three robbers who held up the killed by Marshal B. B. Graham, who The two other robbers escaped after kidnaping a woman motorist. chine of a passing woman motorist | after they found the ignition key of their own machine, which they had left standing in front of the bank dur- ing the hold-up, missing. It developed that a passer-by, sens- ing & hold-up was in progress, shut off the motor removing the ignition key. The passerby also notified Marshal Graham, who exchanged shots witnh the robbers. Elkton Policemen Fined $25 For Assaulting Persian Envoy tered a complaint with the State De- partment, demanding punishment for the officers, the case rushed to a cli- mex. A series of executive sessions followed, involving the Governor, the town officials and Cecil County au- thorities. The secret meetings were capped here last night when Magistrate Wal- ter Miller unexpectedly haled Biddle and Ellison before him on charges of assaulting Djalal. State's Attorney Edward D. F. Rollins prosecuted and the fines were imposed. Biddle and Ellison bave contended Djalal resisted arrest and attacked them. Informed the fines had been im- posed Gov. Nice said: “I'll probably have to write a letter of apology. But when I do I'll do it as quletly as possible. This is a difi- cult sifustion.” 1 | holding the future of Premier Laval's | Franklin National Bank today was was wounded in an exchange of shots. | The men commandeered the ma- | Circulation, 131,230 rns Not Yet Received. TWO CENTS. AGE U. 5. WITNESS ACCUSES MELHILL INTAX PLOT TRIAL Consultant for McCarter Says Defendant Told of “Connections.” Pres: OBTAINED INFORMATION BY “WINING AND DINING” Conlin Describes Conversations Concerning Efforts to Settle Claim Via “Back Door.” BACKGROUND— Termed a “patriotic citizen” by Secretary Morgenthau for his ac- tion, Thomas McCarter a year ago told the Treasury Department that Taxr Expert MCcEIlhill offered to settlt a $149,000 income tar as- sessment against McCarter for $10,000 fee. MCcElhill, two former Internal Revenue Bureau em- ployes and Richard E. Callaghan, MCElhill's partner, whose indict- ment was nolle prossed, were taken into custody after internal revenue investigators listened in on trap conversation between McCarter and McElhill, “I see the boys in Washington, | take them to lunch or night clubs and discuss the cases then—rather | than on the merits.” Such was the method for settling |income tax cases allegedly cited by |Frank B. McElhill, New York tax consultant, according to testimony to- day at the tax conspiracy trial of McElhill and two former Internal Revenue employes by John A. Conlin, star witness for the Government, Before a crowded court room in Criminal Court, No. 2, of the Dis- trict Supreme Court, Conlin, & tax consultant for Thomas N. McCarter, Newark public utilities magnate, described to a jury highlights of con- versations he had with McElhill over ‘lhe latter’s alleged proposal to settle McCarter’s 1932 income tax liability for $10,000. On trial with McEIhill for conspir- acy to defraud the Government are John W. Hardgrove, former chief conferee of the Internal Revenue Bu- reau, and Henning R. Nelson, a fore mer auditor of the bureau. Conlin Tells of Meeting. Referring frequently to a diary, | Conlin told of meetings and telephone | conversations he had with McElbill about the middle of 1934, when Mc- | Elhill allegedly was trying to induce McCarter to employ him in a pending income tax controversy with the Treasury. McCarter was resisting, through Conlin, an additional assess- ment of $149,000 on the utility man’'s 1932 income. Conlin said that during his inter- view with McElhill he told the latter he was not convinced of McElhill's ability to be of aid to McCarter in the tax matter. “I asked MCEhill,” Conlin testified, | “4f I had overlooked any decisions or | rulings in connection with Mr. Mc- Carter's tax matter.” Explained Information Source. The witness then quoted McElhill as saying he would be “perfectly frank,” whereupon, Conlin asserted, McElhill told about seeing “the boys in Wash- ington” and entertaining them while cases were discussed, rather than con- sidering the cases on their merits. | Wren Conlin expressed curiosity over MCcElhill's knowledge regarding the $149,000 assessment against McCarter, McElhill, according to the witness, explained he got the infore mation from “some head in the bu- reau from whom the conferee or the auditor would take orders.” Under cross-examination Conlin | said he was not acquainted with Nel- son, but had known Hardgrove for several years and had always regarded him highly. Was “Suspicious” of McElhill. Conlin said he first reported his “suspicions” of McEIhill to Revenue Agent Miles at Newark on June 29, | 1934. From that time on, e said, all | his dealings with McELhill were done under direction of revenue agents. | The first meeting between McCarter | and McElhill, he said, took place at the former's office in Newark on July 11 of that year and was reported by dictaphone. A week later, Conlin said, he called on McElhill, at McCarter’s instruc- tions, “to see what he had to say.” Two days after this, the witness said, he talked with McElhill over the tele- phone and was surprised when McEl- hill told him that he (Conlin) had lost a certain case, not the McCarter case, at the Internal Revenue Bureau. Had Knowledge in Advance, The witness said McElhill evidenced knowledge of details of this other case. The next day the Internal Revenue (See TAX TRIAL, Page 3.) WEATHER OUTLOOK IS CLEAR AND COLD Near Freezing Tonight—Firemen Answering Call Embarrassed as Own Engine Blazes. Clear and fairly cold weather is the prediction for Washington today and tomorrow. The maximum this afternoon will be around 45 degrees, but tonight the temperature is expected to near the freezing mark. ‘The mercury did not drop to 16 this morning as predicted by the Weather Bureau, but it reached a new low for the season. The 23-degree recording at 1 am. was one degree below the previous low. Twenty-seven fires, traced directly or indirectly to the weather, were re- ported over night. Most were caused by overheated furnaces. The engine of No. 29 Company caught fire while firemen were ex- tinguishing a blazing automobile at Thirty-sixth and O streets. The fire was confined to the brake lining of the engine and did liftle damage, -