Evening Star Newspaper, December 20, 1935, Page 1

WEATHER. (U. 8. Weather Bureau Forecast.) Falr tonight and tomorrow; colder to- night, with lowest vemperature about 22 degrees; fresh to strong northwest winds. ‘Temperatures—Highest, 42, at 2:45 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 28, at Full report on page A- Closing N. Y. Markets, Pages 21, 22&23 No. 33,470. 0 a.m. today. 13. Entered as second ciass matte; post office, Wasnington, D. C T WASHINGTON, BRITISH SEEK TO ENLIST OTHERPOWERSTORESIST SUDDENATTACKBY ITALY < Parleys Begin With Nations Nearby. OIL EMBARGO SEEN TABLED Danger in Failure of Peace Plan Is Recognized. BACKGROUND— Life of far-flung British Empire depends upon military and naval supremacy at certain key spots of globe. Gibraltar and Suez are two of these as Britain’s commerce moves between England, Egypt, India. Ostensibly seeking to avoid necessity of fighting for these in- terests, British government spon- sored jointly with France proposals for peace megotiations in Italian- Ethiopian controversy. Involving cession of lands to Italy, sugges- tion brought wave of criticism from every quarter. Finally brought resignation of Sir Samuel Hoare, British foreign secretary; apology of Prime Minister Baldwin. League, meanwhile, applies economic pres- sure against Italy, withholds more drastic action. BULLETIN. GENEVA, December 20 ().— The suggestion was advanced in international circles today, follow- ing the lead of Prime Minister Baldwin of Great Britain, that the League of Nations' Council should consider asking League members to contribute fighting units to a League military force. Copyright., 1935, by the Associated Press LONDON, December 20.—A high British source disclosed today that the British government, recognizing the | imminent danger of war following the failure of the Franco-British peace plan, has launched a bold drive to mobilize other members of the League of Nations to meet a possible Italian attack. It was stated that talks were al- ready under way with a number of the principal powers in an attempt to gain iroaclad assurances that these nations were ready to bear their part of the burden in case of a sudden and ‘unexpected attack. Yesterday's session of the House of Commons showed that the government was gravely concerned with its status of being the only League state which has taken preparedness steps in the Mediterranean. Informed sources refused to disclose how long the new conversations have been in progress or with whom they were going on, but in responsible cir- cles it was assumed that the na- tions involved were all Mediterranean powers. The nations mentioned specifically as probably involved in the talks are Spain, Greece, Turkey, France and Yugoslavia. Oil Ban Delayed. Government sources have made it clear that the idea of a League em- bargo against oil shipments to Italy is definitely “tabled” until the present uncertainties have been cleared up. Neville Chamberlain chancellor of the Exchequer, emphasized this in the House of Commons last night at the same time that he stated his belief that the ultimate and effective sanc- tion behind the League must be force and that the members must prepare to equip themselves for that if they want successful sanctions. Austen Chamberlain, former for- eign secretary, also emphasized the government's viewpoint that League ‘members must be prepared not only for collective judgment but for the col- lective execution of it. The BPBritish government was re- garded as greatly impressed with France's position of unreadiness to render quick aid in case of attack. It is known that Sir Samuel Hoare, the resigned foreign secretary, was gravely concerned in Paris two weeks 8go with Premier Lavals report that the Prench were not mobilized for quick action and that such mobiliza- tion might take two weeks or more. Baldwin Sees King. King George personally discussed the situation today with Prime Min- ister Baldwin, following the latter's absolute victory in the House of Com- mons. Later the King held a council attended by former Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, Sir Maurice Hankey, secretary to the committee on imperial defense; Sir Lancelot Sander- son, member of the Judicial Commit- tee of the Privy Council, and other national figures. An aftermath to yesterday's foreign policy debate on_the _discredited (See WAR, Page 4.) e PROF. HUDSON NAMED Judgeship Nominated for in World Court of Justice. GENEVA, December 20 (#).—Prof. Manley O. Hudson of the Harvard University Law School, was nomi- nated today by the American nomi- pating group for a judgeship in the World Court of Justice to succeed Frank B. Kellogg, resigned. The election will be held during the mext League of Nations Assembly. No other nominations were received from the nominating groups of other The : American judges of the Hague Court € Arbitration. ’ Laval Refuses to Resign Post, Despite Weakening of Position Announces He Will ferring With Le Brun—France Pic: y tured as Last to Oppose W ar Peril. (Copyright, 1035, by the Associated Press.) PARIS, December 20.—Premier Laval decided today he would not re- sign. It was officially announced that he had reached this decision after con- ferences with President Lebrun and Rightist members of his cabinet. Laval and the President taiked to- gether half an hour. Laval was quoted as having said: “There may be an epidemic of resignations, but I do not feel affected by the con- tagion.” ‘The French press pictured France as the last big power of the Leacu~ of Nations to hold out against the peril of a general European war., Friends of Edouard Herriot, influ- ential minister of state, who resigned | as president of the dominant Radical- Socialist party because of criticism against Laval, said he likewise was remaining with the cabinet to the last. French scurces said the epeech of defense to the House of Commons yesterday by Sir Samuel Hoare co- author of the discredited peace plan, who resigned as British foreign sec- retary, made Laval even more vulner- able 1o renewed Leftist attacks. These sources accepted Hoare's ad- Remain After Con- dress as an indication the proposals, denounced as suggesting too great concessions to Italy, adjudged ag- gressor in the Ethiopian conflict, rep- resented the “minimum” that Laval was willing to discuss. Barring unforeseen developments, | Informed sources expected Laval to leave his future as premier, and that of his government, up to the Cham- ber of Deputies, where foreign policy debate has been set for December 27. Government supporters insisted the failure of the Franco-British peace plan was no fault of Laval's, and urged that France's domestic political situation be undisturbed by attempts | to settle the Italo-Ethiopian conflict. | France had only the role of con- | ciliator to play in the international | situation, Laval's supporters insisted. | Laval and Hoare were described in | French press dispatches from Geneva | as victims of “duplicity” by Italy’s! | Premier Mussolinl. Instead of the acceptance in prin- ciple of the settlement proposals which Il Duce had given them rea- | son to expect, the noted commentator | Pertinax said, Laval and Hoare learned a motorized troop division embarked December 10 for Benghazi, in Italy’s North African possession of Libya, bordering on Egypt. OBSERVERS FEAR WAR NEXT YEAR [Small Nations Pledge Aid to Britain if Il Duce Fights. BY CONSTANTINE BROWN. Another European war early next year, unless Mussolini is cowed, was considered today a possibility in usual- | ly well informed quarters in Wash- ington. The representatives of the smaller nations in London, especially those of ‘Yugoslavia, Greece and Turkey, are re- ported to have given the British gov- ernment formal assurances that should France refuse to participate in the chastising of Italy, the military and air force of these countries would stand by Great Britain. These formal assurances have en- | couraged Premier Baldwin and have made easy his task of throwing over- board the Laval-Hoare peace proposals. In several instances, only the strong stand of Great Britain and France prevented Yugoslavia from attacking Italy. Army Poised to Strike, The Yugoslav Army has been on a war footing on the Italian border for over 18 months. In the event of hos- tilities breaking out between Italy and Great Britain in the Mediterranean, the Yugoslav Army and air force could swoop down on Italy in less than 24 hours, All preparations are being made at the present moment for such a move. | ‘Troops are being massed within easy | reach of the Italian border and a gen- eral mobilization order would be re- ceived with enthusiasm by the Yugo- slav people. Turkey, worried about the growing power of Mussolini, also has given assurances that it would stand by Great Britain in the event of a conflict. From its bases in Asia Minor it could attack with its air force the im- portant Italian air bases at Rhodes and Leros in the Dodecanese Archi- pelago. Recently Fortified. ‘These two islands, which have been formidably fortified by the Italians in the last few months, are a thorn in the sides of the British because it is from there that Mussolini would send his airplanes to attack the British (See BROWN, Page 4.) ALASKA “FORT” FINISHED CORDOVA, Alaska, December 20 (®).—Oscar Ohman, veteran of 56 years in Alaska, announced today his “completion of Fort Ohman makes Cordova virtually impregnable in event of war.” His fortifications consist of 20 “can- non” bristling from battlements he built about his cliff-top cabin, over- looking Cordova Bay. The “guns” are 30-gallon empty tanks, disguised by aluminum paint. . “Life at my age isn't worth getting serious about,” he explained with a Man Says Wife MYSTERY OF 00D {Woman Says She Saw Ac- tress Phoning Hours ' After Death Time. By the Associated Press. LOS ANGELES, December 20.— Kidnap threats and a new report that Thelma Todd was seen alive after the time an autopsy indicated she had died complicated the grand jury’s in- | vestigation of the death of the | glamorous screen actress today. | A woman, who identified herself only as “Mrs. Kane” telephoned police | headquarters she saw Miss Todd tele- | phoning Sunday afternoon, nearly 12 hours after the time autopsy surgeons | at first believed the actress died. She placed the time at 4 o'clock, the moment at which Mrs. Martha | Ford, intimate friend of Miss Todd, | said the actress was telephoning her. | “Mrs. Kane” said the comedienne | was phoning from a drugstore at Sun- | set Boulevard and Laurel Canyon | road. DEATH DEEPENED, Alex Hounie, head-waiter at a Holly- wood club where Miss Todd suddenly dropped from gayety and left a party {to go to her death, told police two men shouted kidnap threats at him after crowding his automobile to a curb last night. | Earlier in the day, he said, he re- | ceived a post card bearing the words | clipped from a newspaper: | “Withhold testimony or kidnap | trip.” The card was immediately ordered examined for fingerprints. “Hounie worked at the Trocadero Saturday night when Miss Todd was there,” said Police Capt. Blaine Steed, “but he knows mothing about the case, and has nothing to conceal.” The head waiter took personal charge of Stanley Lupino’s party at the night club, at which the actress ‘was the honored guest. Hounije's home was placed under armed guard. Evidence of Slaying. His report of the kidnap threat came as the grand jury investigation turned to a theory the blond comedi- enne may have been a victim of “mur- der by monoxide.” Foreman George W. Rochester an- nounced he had gathered evidence which strongly indicated Miss Todd was slain. . Her body, slumped behind the steer- ing wheel of her big phaeton in a seaside garage, was discovered last’| Monday morning. An inquest verdict called her death from carbon mon- oxide “probably accidental,” but rec- ommended further investigation. Rochester also announced he had issued a subpoena for Miss Todd’s ex- husband, Pasquale Di Cicco, artist’s agent, “to earn whether tnere was anything in Miss Todd's life that might tead him to believe she was murdered.” Di Cicco left here for New York Tuesday, the day after the actress’ body was found, saying he was going East to spend the holidays with rela- tives. The wealthy sportsman was di- (See TODD, Page 5.) Posed as Sister While He Courted Spouse No. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, December 20.—A strange story of how Norbert U. Kolb’s first wife allegedly posed as his sister while he courted a new prospective bride for himself and shopped around for a new husband for Mrs. Kolb today presented Circuit Judge Harry M. Fisher with a tangled marital problem. Kolb, & 42-year-old contractor of- fered the story as his defense in a sister “because I didn’t want Gertrude to know I was married.” “May our love never die,” he testi- WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D.C, 1DONT THINK (LL MAIL My LETTER! SCHALL, HITBY CAR, STILLUNCONSCIOUS Six Doctors Fight to Save| Life After Accident at Cottage City. BACKGROUND— In 1908 a young Minneapolis lawyer walked into a store in Fargo, N. Dak. Purchasing a cigar, he leaned towara an electric lighter, pressed’ it and recoiled sharply as blinding flash swept his face. Carelessly connected to street lighting system rather than low- voltage battery, that lighter brought complete blindness to Thomas D. Schall. Recovering from shock, Schall, aided by wife, returned to law practice; few years later came to House of Representatives to serve FRIDAY, DECEMBER five terms from tenth district, Minnesota. In 1924 he was elected United States Senator, held seat in 1930. For nearly five years prior to April, 1933, his walking eyes were those of German shepherd dog, Luz, who died that Spring while master was attending funeral of late Senator Walsh, Montana. Since advent of New Deal, Senator Schall has been most outspoken critic, brought down wrath of Democratic Senate leaders. Senator Thomss David- Schall re- mained unconscious at Casualty Hos- pital today as six physicians fought to save the life of the blind Minne- sotan after he was run down by an automobile last night while being led across the Washington-Baltimore Boulevard in nearby Cottage City, Md. Following a consultation shortly be- fore noon today, Dr. George W. Cal- ver, physician of the Capitol, an- nounced examinations had disclosed | Senator Schall suffered a skull frac- ture and fractures of both bones of the left leg below the knee. His con- dition was regarded as critical and he had not regained consciousness some 16 hours after the accident. The Senator, who is 58 years old, also suffered internal injuries to the stomach which are believed not seri- ous. Doctors thought they could save the Senator's leg, although the bones were crushed. Hit by Hyattsville Sedan. The accident occurred shortly after dark, at 6:50 p.m., while the boulevard was full of traffic. The sedan that hit the Senator was operated by Lester G. Humphries of 937 Arundel avenue, Hyattsville, Md. ‘The Senator’s companion, Orel L. Leen, 39, of 922 Hamilton street, an employe in his office, also was bowled over by the automobile. Leen re- mained at Casualty Hospital today, under treatment for scalp cuts, pos- sibly concussion of the brain and minor bruises about the legs and body. The Senator’s wife and son, Rich- ard, a senior at Georgetown Univer- sity, hastened to the hospital and re- mained there while doctors worked through the night over the injured man. Physicians summoned into consulta- tion included Dr. Calver and Dr. John Allan Talbot, a bone specialist. They were assisted by four other doctors. At the Senator’s office today it was (See SCHALL, Page 2.) Lo KERMIT ROOSEVELT INJURED IN CRASH Grandson of Late President and Classmate at Harvard in Boston Hospital. By the Associated Press. BOSTON, December 20.—Kermit Roosevelt, jr., 20, of Oyster Bay, Long Island, a grandson of the late President “Theodore Roosevelt, was injured today as his automobile skidded from the Arborway in the Jamaica Plain dis- trict, into a tree. He was taken to Forest Hills Hospital. With him was Willlam Burnham, 20, f Brookline, a classmate at Harvard, who also was taken to the nospital. Both were held for treatment. Their Nine-Inch Snow Falls in Maryland;| One Dead in State W ashington Gets Flurry. Minimum of 22 Fore- cast Locally. By the Associated Press. Responsible for the death of one, snow fell heavily in mountainous Western Maryland today and left other sections of the State spotted with white. On the Eastern Shore, near Easton, | where there were brief flurries early today Luther Towers, 55, of Trappe, | was run down and killed by an auto- | mobile driven by a youth who could | not see because of the snow. With nine inches already covering the ground, snow continued to fall at the rate of half an inch an hour | at Oakland, in Garrett County. An | unidentified man who drove his car| into a snowplow was injured slightly. The fall on the Shore did not last (See SNOW, Page 2.) N.R.A. FUNCTIONS 10 BE SCATTERED President Studies Plan to Split Administration Be- tween Departments. BACKGROUND— Major weapon of New Deal at- tack upon business depression was national industrial recovery act. Signed by President on June 16, 1933, law was placed under admin- istration of Gen. Hugh S. Johnson, hard-boiled Cavalry offtcer, author and business man. On July 9 cot- ton tertile industry was placed un- der code of fair competition, model jor hundreds of such agreements to jollow. Political and business opposition arose within short L headed for climaz in Spring of year. With act due to expire on June 16, 1935, President Roosevelt last Spring asked two-year exten- sion. Before action could be taken Supreme Court received “sick chicken case” of Schechter broth- ers, New York wholesalers. On May 27 court invalidated act. Subse- quent calls for voluntary codes and various surveys have brought few results, latest efforts being Decem- ber Industrial Conference of Co- ordinator Berry, which big busi- ness groups declined to attend. By the Associated Press. The administration is working out plans for transferring the expiring ¥ R. A. organization to two or three established Government agencies, but details have not been finally deter- mined. President Roosevelt said at his reg- ular press conference that plans were being considered to transfer N. R. A. to various departments, dividing its functions among them. Program in Harmony. He explained the plan was only for the balance of N. R. A.'s life, or for the period from now until April. The Chief Executive indicated activities of George Berry, industrial co-ordinator, were in complete harmony with the program. Asked how Berry's organization “fitted in” with the plans he was working out for N. R. A, the President replied they fitted in perfectly. His discussion of the future of N. R. A. was inspired by a question as to whether the recovery organiza: tion would be transferred to the Com- merce Department. ‘The President replied he would have (See N. R. A, Page 6.) Readers’ Guide Serial Story ----cee------B-8 Short 8tory -----..----_B-10 Washington Wayside ‘Women's Features .q ¢ Foening Star 20, 1935—SIXTY-TWO PAGES. #%%* MILNE KIDNAPING NEARING SOLUTION Federal Agents Speed Inves- tigation of Abduction of Actor-Writer. BACKGROUND— Lured by phone call from “Dr. Green of Gracie Square,” Caledb Milne, 4th, left New York apart- ment last Saturday; yesterday morning he was found in roadside ditch near Doylestown, Pa. Semi- conscious, gagged, blindfolded and unkempt, he was unable to talk coherently until last night. During absence, brother Frederick re- ceived notice of kidnaping, de- mand for $25,000 ransom. New York police and Federal agents both working on case. Victim, former broker’s clerk turned actor- writer, is grandson of wealthy re- tired textile magnate of Philadel- phia. By the Assoclated Press. DOYLESTOWN, Pa., December 20. —Ace manhunters of the Department of Justice centered their search for the kidnapers of Caleb Milne the Fourth in the Philadelphia area today. While G-men all over the country have been asked to aid in the search, the detail specially picked by head- quarters in Washington was reported convinced the adbuctors are some- where in Eastern Pennsylvania and expect to close in on them shortly. A ramshackle farmhouse and an- nother property not far from Doyles- | town was the center of scrutiny as the result of a rambling, broken story of abduction and torture told the agents by the young actor-mystery writer in a hospital last night. Will Be Questioned Again. Investigators are to question him again today. With his physical condition improv- | ing and his mind clearing, they hoped he will be able to supply them with | new details of how he was lured from New York last Saturday and left trussed and dazed in a road Wednes- day night. Authorities in New York rejected | the idea that Milne was the victim of Alvin Karpis, “public enemy No. 1.” One official said: “Karpis must be pretty mad about being mentioned in this thing. He is a master craftsman. This was a bad job, probably the work of an amateur.” Another spokesman said authorities have “a pre‘ty good idea” as to the identity of the kidnapers. ‘The Department of Justice has an- nounced the kidnapers fled without (See MILNE, Page 4.) —_— SAN DIEGO SHAKEN Slight Quake Rattles Dishes, but No Damage Is Reported. SAN DIEGO, Calif., December 20 (#).—A slight earthquake rattled dishes in homes from Imperial Valley to San Diego last night, but reports today showed no property damage. Scientific instruments here reg- istered the shock as starting 11:45:30 p.m. and lasting 2 minutes 45 seconds. Residents felt the guake only for the first minute. At _El Centro in the Imperial Val- ley a few persons rushed into the streets from their homes, but brick chimneys withstood the jar. The only evening paper in Washington with the Associated Press News Some Retur BORAH ENLIVENS FIGHT BY SEEKING WISCONSIN'S VOTE May Be Presidential Move or Effort to Rule Convention. CANDIDACY CERTAIN IF SHOWING IS STRONG Senator Is Non-Committal on Whether He Will Enter Pri- maries of Other States. BACKGROUND— Born in Illinois, educated in Kansas, elected in Idaho, Senator Borah has been outstanding fig- ure in American politics for many years. Serving continuously since 1907, he is senior member of Sen- ate. Fiery orator, he has had shrewd appreciation of publicity, has gained much of it throughout world by strongly erpressed views on international aflairs. Labeled Republican, he frequently has tor- mented regular leaders of party, created for himself reputation for “liberalism.” Although frequently siding with New Deal, he has been subject of Democratic election plotting for many months. In own party he has been placed at oppo- site pole from Hoover, whom he de- clined to support in 1932. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. Announcement that Senator Wil- | iam E. Borah of Idaho will be en- tered in the Wisconsin presidential preferential primary next April, to- day set the political pot boiling in earnest. Various interpretations were made. One that the Idaho Senator had defi- nitely responded to the call of many of his friends to toss his hat in the ring for the presidency. Another that his real purpose is to obtam a large measure of control in the Republican National Convention next June, in | order to force the writing of a liberal : party platform and the nomination of | a- Progressive Republican to stand on | the platform. Mum on Other Primaries. The quest™n immediately arose as to what other primaries the Idaho Senator would enter. On this Sena- tor Borah had noshing for the present to say. With regard to his entry into the ‘Wisconsin primary, the Senator to- day issued the following statement: | “My primary objective is a conven- tion of liberal delegates which will | write a liberal platform and name a | liberal candidate. To that end I shall devote my efforts. If in any State or district, the liberal forces think that | it will help the liberal cause to pledge | delegates to me, I shall co-operate | fully with that plan. If, however, it is thought better to pledge the dele- | gates to some other liberal, I shall | co-operate just as fully. In other | words, inflexible as to the objective, | flexible as to the tactics. “As I see the political situation in | this country, a man would be seeking political immolation to take a nomi- nation upon any other than a liberal platform. So the first thing to do | is to get a convention committed to liberal principles. So far as my efforts count, I am not going to permit per- | sonal matters, either my own of those of others, to interfere with the main purpose.” This statement of Senator Borah | leaves him in a position either to go forward with his own candidacy or to | back some other liberal candidate if he sees fit, later on. List of Primaries. The list of presidential preferential primaries for 1936 is as follows: State. Date of Primary. New Hampshir 10 ‘Wisconsin - 1 New York (district delegates only) Democratic primaries only Alabama Florida - In other States the delegates are picked in party conventions, district and State. There is reason to believe, it was T (See BORAH, Page 5. Belgian Minister Dies. PARIS, December 20 (#).—Baron Emile Tibbaut, Belgian minister of state and vice president of the Bel- glan Chamber of Representatives, died at a hotel here last night during a visit to Paris. He was T4 . Greetings Sent . . Via Town By the Associated Press. LILYPONS, Md., December 20.— Christmas greetings, each bearing the postmark of the village named ‘honor, were mailed here this Miss Lily Pons, the petite opera Nearly 1,500 cards were sent coloratura soprano to with “Lilypons” and posted to friends throughout the United Sta Her card, beautiful but designed by Lilyv Pons Named for Her “The citizens are proud the town bears her name. We hope she can pay us a visit some day.” Miss Pons is making plans to come here next Spring after the close of .| the opera season. Then the water lilies, for which this section is noted, will be in bloom. Lilypons is a community of some 30 families a few miles south of Fred- %rick. Its principal industry is a fishery and nursery (three springs fisheries and aquatic gardens). Local mail once went through the nearby post office at Adamstown. The mail of the fishery and nursery be- came so heavy that a delegation of citizens waited on the Post Office De- partment some three years ago to establish an office here. The question of a name came up. Because of the fact that water lilies were grown here, it was suggested the village be named after Miss Pons. The singer, then having completed an en- gagement in Baltimore, gladly gave her permission. B () Means Associated Piess. and Wirephoto Services. Yesterday’s Circulation, 132,468 ns Not Yet Received TWO CENTS., WILLIAMS, RYAN AND SILVERMANS INDICTED IN PLOT Four Accused of Fraud Con- spiracy to Hide Lobby Witness. PROSECUTION IS FIRST TO STRENGTHEN PROBES Former Army Officer, Alleged Lobbyists and Former Member of Congress Are Named. ‘Two years of investigation of lobby- ing conditions at the War Department, conducted by two grand juries, & House committee and an Army court- martial, were climaxed today by in- dictment of a dismissec Army officer, a former member of Congress and two alleged “lobbyists” on charges of con- spiracy to defraud the Government. Those named were former Brig. Gen. Alexander E. Williams, one-time act- ing quartermaster general of the Army, who was convicted by a mili- tary court last Spring of accepting an improper loan and ordered dis= missed from the service; Thomas Jef« ferson Ryan, lawyer and former Rep- resentative from New York, and the well known Silverman brothers, Joseph, jr., and Nathan, surplus Army goods dealers. The four men were charged with conspiring to prevent the House Mili- | tary Affairs Committee from ques- tioning Frank E. Speicher, “mystery witness” of the long inquiry, by hiding |him out in New York City while “G-men” were hunting him through« out the Nation. The House committee wanted to interrogate Speicher about loans it had been informed he had made to Gen. Williams at a time that Speicher was seeking to sell leak-proof automo= ‘bfle tubes to the War Department. The court-marial found Williams guilty of accepting a $2,000 loan from the tube salesman. | Prosecution Sets Precedent. Assistant United States Attorney Irving Goldstein, who has been work- ing on the case for months, said the | indictment marks the first time crim- inal prosecution ever has been instie | tuted under the theory that it is an offense against the United States to interfere with testimony before a | House committee, Presentment of the indictment be- fore Justice Daniel W. O’Donoghue in District Supreme Court this morn- ing followed by less than 24 hours the voluntary appearance of Silvere man before the grand jury, and his boast that he was going “to quash once and for all” possibility of crim- | inal action against him arising from | his War Departmvent deals. Ryan | also testified before the grand jury yesterday. Both men waived ime | munity as witnesses. United States Attorney Leslie C. Garnett said he would give the four men indicted a day or two to sure | render themselves before asking for & bench warrant. | The indictment charged that the four “unlawfully, wilfully, feloniously | and corruptly” conspired together and }“thh divers others” to defraud the United States by “dishonest methods | and through a dishonest arrange- ment.” Speicher’s Identification. It was in two counts, which differed |only in that Speicher was described |in the first as a “necessary and im- portant witness,” and in the second merely as “a witness.” Goldstein ex- plained that a witness need not be important or necessary to render it a crime to hide him from a court of law, but that the additional descrip- (See SILVERMAN, Page 3.) e BUS-TRAIN CRASH IS FATAL TO TWO Three Other Students and Driver of School Vehicle Injured at Crossing. By the Associated Press. BAY SHORE. N. Y., December 20.— Two high school students were killed today in the nearby village of Hol- brook when a school bus was struck by the Long Island railroad’s “flyer” en route for New York. Three other students and the driver of the bus were seriously injured. The dead were Alice Bedell, 16, and Robert Secamp, 17. The injured were Edna Bedell, sister of Alice, Gus Ring, Elinor Nagle, all students, and the driver of the bus, August Belaski. The wrecked bus was thrown 200 feet, hurling school books, lunch pails and clothing along the right of way. Although the crossing is an unpro- tected one without signal bells, lights or gates, the track is a straightaway for more than a mile on either side. The bus had no occupants other than those killed or injured. It was on its regular morning run to the Sayville High School. EXPLOSION IN GENEVA Damage to Monument Near League Blamed to Anarchists. GENEVA, December 20 (#).—An ex= plosion near the League of Nations buildings early today tore a hole in & monument erected in honor of a Geneva soldier who died in the World ‘War, Police said they believed anarchists placed sticks of dynamite beside the monument, which was built two years ago. A hole was torn in the base of the structure, but the monument re- mained intact. A manifesto, found nearby, decried the recent sentencing of a Swiss charged with evading mili- tary duty.