Evening Star Newspaper, August 21, 1936, Page 19

Wash FIRE FORGE ASKS $1,143.760 BOOST IN'35 ESTIMATES 46 Pct. Rise Is Held Needed for 44-Hour Week, 26- Day Leave. TOTAL OF $3,639,980 IS SOUGHT BY SCHROM Police Request $4,112,835, Com- pared With $3,690,580—131 Larger Personnel Desired. BY DON S. WARR! Costs of the District Fire Depart- ment will have to be increased by $1,143,760, or 46 per cent, if firemen are to be given the suggested 44-hour standard work week and the annual 26-day leave, it was revealed today when the Commissioners released the | 1938 estimates of the Fire and Police Departments. Altogether, the requests of Fire Chief Charles E. Schrom for the next fiscal year amount to $3,639.980, which would be a boost of 46 per cent over the current year's appropriation of $2,474,120. In addition to 561 extra men and officers needed for the shorter work week and the annual leave, the de- partment seeks an funds of only $88200, or some 3.5 per cent. For the Police Department, pro- vision of 131 additional officers and men, to strengthen the force gener- ally; the re-opening of the old second precinct station and the purchase of police cars and motorcycles costing $36,450, are sought in the estimates submitted by Maj. Ernest W. Brown, superintendent of police. Police Estimates $4,112,835. The police ®stimates total $4,112,- 835, as against $3,690,580 for this year, an increase of about 11 per cent. Policemen now work in three shifts a day, whereas firemen are on a two- shift basis, so that a large additional number of policemen for the 44-hour week and annual leave was not neces- sary. The extra men sought are asked for better police protection. Fire Chief Schrom seeks $2,294,000 for salaries for the Fire Department, an increase of $79,000. This would permit the appointment of 33 privates needed to carry out the 26-day annual leave. To effect the 44-hour standard work week, however, Chief Schrom told the Commissioners 528 additional men would be needed, at 8 salary cost of $1,038,060. With the additton of sums for uniforms for the two groups, the total increase for extra men would be $1,143,760. Of the 528 men needed for the shorter week 23 would be offi- cers. There are now 888 men in the department. The total proposed in- crease in force would amount to 63 per cent. Chief Schrom asks the appropria- tion of $88,100 for additional fire- fighting apparatus, as against $92,000 provided for this year. He asks the purchase of one hook-and-ladder truck, as against three for which sums were provided for this year; five hose wagons, as against four to be bought this year; and three pumping engines, as against two provided in the 1937 budget. He also asks three chiefs’ automobiles to replace cars now more than 12 years old. In support of his requests for new fire-fighting apparatus, Chief Schrom shows that in 1938 there still will be | 15 pieces of equipment which will be 15 years old, or older. Six of these are pumpers and eight of them hose ‘wagons. The Fire Department also asks $32,000, in increase of $14,000, for the purchase of fire hose, which Chief Schrom states is needed to maintain the standard requirement of 186,500 feet of hose for a city of this size. $3,622,120 for Police Salaries. For police salaries, Chief Brown asks $3,622,120, an increase of $282,- 170 over this year, so as to provide 125 additional privates and six officers, for the proposed reopening of the old second precinct. The increase also would provide for assignment of 25 edditional men to motorcycle duty, who are paid $120 additional each per year. It also would permit the re- institution of horse mounted service, for traffic duty. Maj. Brown proposes to place six men on such assignments. ‘The old second precinct station now is used as a house of detention, the headquarters of the Woman’s Bureau. While not stated in the estimates, Maj. Brown is considering placing the bureau in a building adjoining police headquarters, on Indiana avenue. Urging the need of reopening the old precinct, which was combined with No. 8 several years ago, Maj. Brown said the combined precinct is too large. Work Increases 300 Per Cent. The Police Department ask pro- vision of 33 additional civilian em- ployes at a cost of $45,840. The argument is presented that the volume of work of the department’s chief elerk has increased some 300 per cent in recent years, whereas the staff of the clerk has been reduced. Maj. Brown reports the towing service in connection with the im- pounding of automobiles, which are dangerously parked, hes been placed on a 24-hour basis. He asked the employment of four civilian drivers which, he said, can be employed at much less cost than that of a police- men, now forced into the service. §Maj. Brown requested $81,800 for e purchase of firearms and gas equipment and other munitions and apparatus. For this year he was pro- vided $68,375. Seeking $2,000 for tear gas and equipment, he says: “Gas is effective in“handling mobs, crazy people, riots, etc. It is felt ‘the department should have an adequate supply on hand at all times.” Schoolgirl Joins Bandit. A 14-year-old schoolgirl, who dis- 3 from her home in Franken- stein, Silesia, was found disguised as & young man aiding a notorious ban- dit. Her clothes were returned by mail to her pareats after her disap- pearance, and they believed she had b murdered. Later the police ar- ted an armed bandit in a forest and 8irl was with him, increase in its | ington News Who’s Who famous bear bread. BY W. H. SHIPPEN, Jr. HIS hungry Himalayan bear and a slightly dyspectic mil- lionaire eat the same brand of Zoo bread. Perhaps the millionaire envied the | bear’s appetite or he may have caught |a tempting whiff of fresh-baked, | brown loaves from the Zoo's ovens. At any rate, he asked if he might | sample the bear bread. Zoo officials | gave him a slice and he liked it so | well he demanded and received the | recipe. | The visitor, a Detroit manufacturer, | now serves bear bread at his country {and town places or aboard his yacht. The bread is made of bran and | other ingredients planned by Head- @he Zoening S WASHINGTON, D. C, at the Zoo Millionaire Eats Same Bread That This: Himalayan Bear Gobbles Up. This Himalayan bear is disposing of a thick slice of the Zoo’s keeper William H. Blackburne. Zoos all over the world have written for the recipe. This bruin is demonstrat- ing how much the animals appreciate good cooking. The Zoo's only Himalayan bear was presented by Roy Chapman Andrews, the distinguished naturalist and ex- plorer, upon his return from an expedition to remote sections of Asia in the Fall of 1917. The bear's family inhabits Eastern Iran, parts of Afghanistan and Northern India, Burma and Southern China. He lives mostly in forests and is somewhat smaller and of a lighter color than other Old World bears. Tomorrow: The iguana from the Galapagos Islands. Gorgas’ Granddaughter | Rushed Into Consulate After Taking Pictures. Minus most of her baggage, which is somewhere in Spain, her camera | |and films of the Spanish civil war, | which were stolen, and letters given | her for families of Americans in Spain, which were confiscated, Miss | Priscilla ‘Wrightson, 19-year-old | daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William D. ‘Wrightson, 15 Hesketh street, Chevy Chase, Md., returned home yesterday afternoon. Miss Wrightson was in Barcelona | visiting her cousin, Lynn W. Frank- | lin, United States consul there, and | Mrs. Franklin, when the fighting be- gan there early Sunday morning, July | 19. She remained in Barcelona until | | the following Friday, when she was, | taken aboard a British ship for shel- | ter. While she was there two of the | native employes at the consulate were | killed and the city was subjected to| looting by armed government party | members. Her activities with the camera, which later was stolen from her, al- | most brought her afoul of the gov- | ernment forces and she was hustled | into the American consulate to avert | | trouble. So she took more pictures | {rom the window of the consulate. Miss Wrightson, a granddaughter of the late Maj. Gen. William Crawford | Gorgas, chief sanitary officer of the | Panama Canal and syrgeon general | during the World War, has been away | from home five months, most of the time with the Franklins in Barcelona. Outbreak Sudden. “The fighting began with cannon, | machine gun and rifle fire, which con- tinued through most of Sunday,” she said. “Sunday morning Mr. Franklin decided that he had better go down to the consulste; that there might be Americans seeking refuge. He was accompanied by another American, who refused to see him go into the danger zone alone. They put white handkerchiefs on their hats and walked downtown.” Burn Religious Shrines. Government patrols, of armed civ- ilans, went through the city from house to house searching for arms and burning religious shrines, Miss Wrightsbn said. Some of the patrol members were mere children and many were wholly unfamiliar with the rifles they carried. The United States flag was flown from the Franklin home and they were not molested, she said, but the house next door was entered and searched by an armed patrol. ‘The firing having subsided by Tues- day morning, she asked Lo be taken to the consulate. On the way down she said, those in the car were kept busy replying scrupulously to the Com- munist salute to ward off a possible attack by one of the excited Loyalists. There was much looting and crowds were running around looking for excitement. All stores were closed except some of those dealing in food stuffs and medicines and all transpor- tation facilities had stopped running. Escapes Excited Crowd. Arriving at the consulate, Miss Wrightson began taking pictures of the battle scarred square, in which were a number of dead mules and some victims of the fighting. A URHOLSTERY ON AUTO CUT IN 40 PLACES Owner Suspects Boys Who Of- fered to Watch Car Near Stadium. William Hornisher, 650 street, an employe of the General Bak- ing Co., reported to police today that the upholstery of his automobile was slashed In 40 places last night after he parked on Trumbull street near Sixth street. ‘Wrestling matches were in progress at nearby Griffith Stadium, and some boys offered to watch his car, Horn- isher said. He suspects the boys of damaging the upholstery because he Pfused to engage them. ‘Back From Spain, Girl Reveals Escape From Armed Fighters PRISCILLA WRIGHTSON, Wearing a Spanish costume. threatening crowd gathered and she hastily hid the camera behind her and started to close the car window. To avold trouble, she was hurried into the consulate, carrying the offending camera. The building was guarded by two uniformed Spanish policemen, she said. The British cruiser, H. M. S. London, arrived off Barcelona Friday morning, July 24 and offered to take off Amer- icans in the danger area as well as British nationals. Miss Wrightson said she arrived at the consulate Fri- day morning at 7 o'clock to awaib transportation to the cruiser, with all of her belongings packed in five suit cases. She waited until 11:30 before any sort of vehicle was available and was notified she could take only one suit case. The others, she hopes, will be forwarded to her sometime. She spent a day and a half on the London in Barcelona harbor and then was transferred to the British destroyer H. M. 8. Gallant, with other refugees, and taken to Marseilles. She was warm in her praise of the courtesy of British officers and sailors. FEDERATION ASKS UTILITIES HEARING ON CARS BE VOIDED Absence of Two of Commis- sioners Is Basis for Re- newed Appeal. PETITION IS FILED BY W. McK. CLAYTON Investor Group Presents Pleas Against One-Man Opera- tion Here. Protest that the hearing held by the Public Utilities Commission on the petition of the Capital Transit Co. to place 40 additional one-man cars to service was illegal, on the ground tes- timony was heard by only one of the three utility commissioners, was re- newed today by the Federation of Citizens’ Associations. In a brief filed with the commis- sion by William McK. Clayton, vet- eran chairman of the Utilities Com- mittee of the federation, the body de- manded that the proceedings be va- cated. At the hearings Clayton also demanded rejection of the company’s petition, on other grounds. With bitter eloquence, Clayton said if the law is construed to allow one commissioner to hold hearings, “then Congress should Hitlerize the act and provide for but one commissioner and not for & Public Utilities Commission of three.” The hearing was conducted by Vice Chairman Richmond B. Keech. Chair- man Riley E. Elgen was seriously ill and Engineer Commissioner Dan I. Sultan on vacation. A motion to dis- miss was made by Clayton at conclu- sion of the hearings, but it was over- ruled. Devoting his entire brief to this point, Clayton quoted the utilities act to show that “a majority of the Com- missioners shall constitute a quorum to do business.” that “any investigation, hearing” may be held by any Commis- sioner, whose orders. when approved by the commission, shall be deemed to be the order of the commission.” Clayton argued it could never have been the intent of Congress to include formal public hearings, “freighted with Ppossibilities,” under this reference, par- ticularly when there was no emergency as to time. He protested that the other two Commissioners now must pass on a “soulless, deaf and dumb transcript of 1,000 pages,” and that this act “in chambers not open to the public” would “offend against the integrity and probity of the act.” In another brief filed with the com- | mission Charles Seldon and Robert B. | Bennett, attorneys for “certain in- | vestors” in bonds of the old Capital Traction Co., protested against the “uninterested absentee ownership” of the merged company. Objecting to the proposal of the company to place additional cars in one-man operation, the attorneys said: “Opposition to this type of service by the public is due principally to | prejudice based upon experience with inadequate and antiquated one-man car equipment. The Transit Co. has expended $5,000,000. Of this evpendi- ture only an approximate amount of $363,000 was spent for 20 new up-to- date, modern street cars. The rest of the rolling stock consists of street cars principally fit for the museum, and of certain used cars recently purchased | which are not modern as established by the Herschfeld Research and which purchase represents a policy of feed- ing in used equipment.” The attorneys stated that if the commission fails to take proper action on the company’s petition, they will reserve the right “to avail themselves of such further remedies” as they deem proper, indicating they might apply to the courts to prevent the acquisi- tion of additional second-hand cars. CANOE TOLL CURE URGED Life Preserver Requirement and Instruction Proposed. Carelessness and ignorance of the proper method of handling a canoe are responsible for most of the acci- dents occurring on the Potomac be- tween Key and Chain Bridges, said J. W. Burch, editor of the Potomac Boat Club publication, which has un- jertaken a campaign to educate canoe- Ists. Burch suggested that rental canoes might be required to carry a life pre- server for each passenger, and that boat club members should be in- structed in the proper method -of handling canoes and river craft. Young Washington Swimming is one of the features at the Happy grmmd. Here is Betty Baker, chool, learning a new stroke. She is et ot lioh!:dm‘t‘h d.;eg)tiur Browsman, 'l%. ai rs. Ari Brg fad fi"‘ D““”afi hier of rowsman, daughter o Happy Hollow Playgrou Jow Play- the John Qui Adams ughter of Mr. and the da: E Tomorrow.” lat the Shoto. 12, of tar Si Another section says | inquiry or| FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1936. Lot st i Wi mmmw Py ook Sy we ke oad ey I S0 Upger: Senator Reynolds of North Carolina tries out a de- vice to test the ability of prospective motorists, while Thomas P. Henry, president of the American Automobile As- sociation (left),and Thomas H. MacDonald, chief of the Bu- reau of Public Roads, look on. Lower: How the “drivom zte;” looks from the “driver’s” seat. SCIENTIFI; TESTS T0 BOOST SHFETY A. A. A. Exhibits Dozen De- vices to Determine Quali- fications of Drivers. A new attack on the safety prob- lem—by means of scientific tests for automobile drivers—was inaugurated last night by the American Automo- bile Association at a dinner in the ‘Willard Hotel. ‘The organization put on public view for the first time more than a dozen instruments especially designed to de- termine whether a prospective driver is qualified to handle a motor vehicle. Thomas H. MacDonald, chief of the Bureau of Public Roads, in commend- ing the association’s move, admitted the testing devices might not be able | to sift out all unsafe drivers, but de- clared it was & “step in the right direction.” The apparatus affords an oppor- tunity for motor vehicle authorities to weigh the capacity of a prospective driver to react to various situations under conditions approximating those he would find on the highway. Applicant’s Reaction Time. One test, for example, gives an ac- curate graph of the applicant’s re- action time. Seated before three keys and a dial which records seconds, the applicant is told to press down one key when a red light flashes, a sec- ond key when a green light flashes and the third key when a buzzer sounds. As soon as the key is pressed the red or green light flashes off or the buzzer is silenced. In that man- ner it is possible to measure accu- rately the number of seconds required for the applicant to react to the vari- ous signals, which follow each other in a prearranged cycle. In another test the prospective driver is seated in a model driver's seat, equipped with steering wheel, clutch and brake pedals. On a minia- ture stage setting in front of him the applicant controls by means of the steering wheel a miniature car while a painted roadway on an endless belt unrolls before him. As the motorist takes the wheel and “drives” the miniature car instructions flash on a panel before him and a tiny traffic light flashes signals which must be observed throughout the test. A rec- ord can thus be made of how well and quickly the motorist observes the rules of the road. Other apparatus designed to test the motorist’s fleld of vision, hearing and blood pressure is included in the exhibit, which will be sent on a tour of the 48 States through the co-opera- tion of affiliated clubs. A device to test an applicant’s excitability is another of the pieces of apparatus on exhibit. A measure is made of the prospective motorist’s reactions to the sudden sounding of a raucous automobile horn, a clanging bell and other noise devices, in order to see how steady the nerves of the driver would be under emergency conditions. Tests Not Extensive. Officials of the A. A. A. admit the devices have not been given extensive tests, but believe some relation can be found between the results of the tests and the traffic accident records. ‘Thomas P. Henry, Detroit, president of the A. A. A, said: “It is not enough to legislate, regu- late and enforce laws. We have come to recognize that no program is adequate which does not include continuing education for the driver and for pedestrian—for young and old alike. This apparatus was de- veloped to get information in regard to drivers’ capabilities, personal fac- tors which may well account for our record of safety and our record of accidents.” Senator Reynolds of North Caro- lins, & State director of the A. A. A, an appropriation by Con- gress for promoting safety education. ARMY POLOISTS GAIN CLEVELAND, August 21 (#).—The Army team from Fort Myer, Va., to- day bad gained the semi-final round of:t.muonu 12-goal polo tourna= men! € Lieut. George Grunert, playing No. 4, led the officers to a 9-to-5 gallop yesterday over Valentine Farms of Cleveland. He scored five goals to lead his four to the i- Dog Sounds Alarm of Dump Fire Near Naval Magazine Mascot’s Barks Prompt Sailors to Call Fire- men to Blaze. Kit, the female mongrel mascot at the Navy Magazine, Bellevue, was get- ting a bath late yesterday in front of the communications building on the reservation. While a sailor turned the water ou her, Kit turned around, looked north- ward and barked loudly. About a hundred yards away was the maga- zine's trash pile. Flames were shooting up here and there, while the debris sputtered Some of it was waste material from | the manufacture of munitions. Sailors summoned the Anacostia Fire Co. Firemen brought the blaze under control within 30 minutes. There was no property damage. The dump is about two city blocks from the main magazine building. Kit is the mascot of sailors and marines attached to the reservatior, and can do tricks. She took her part in the event very complacently but was nervous at first when she became the center of attraction. RELIEF CASES DROP T0 4,547 IN D. C. 688 Employables Cut From Rolls, According to Report of Welfare Director. Dropping of 688 employable persons from the District relief rolls last month reduced the number of cases receiving aid to 4,547, according to & report filed with the Board of Public Welfare by Miss Alice Hill, director of public assistance. The number on the rolls in June was 5,235, In July, 1935, the number was 16,704. Because of the reduction of the appropriation for relief for the new fiscal year, the board found in June it would be necessary to drop even the “border-line” cases of persons who were “employable” but who were classed as temporarily incapacitated or who were unable to find work which they could perform. The Welfare Board has requested $2,300,000 for relief during the 1938 fiscal year, as against $1,600,000 grant- ed for direct relief this year. If this sum is approved, Welfare Director Elwood Street hopes to be able to place- some of the employables back on the rolls. REPORT ON GUN CACHE DUE IN MURDER CASE Expert's Findings Confirm View Weapon Was Used to Slay “Milsie” Henry. RETIREMENT LEVY INCREASE SOUGKT A. F. G. E. Session to Hear Plan to Make 30-Year Proposal Feasible In a new move for optional retire- | ment after 30 years’ service, which long has been sought by Federal workers, the American Federation of Government Employes Convention in Detroit next month will be asked to support a proposal for larger monthly contributions to the retirement fund by the workers themselves, to make the innovation possible. The idea is advanced by Detroit Lodge 176, which is one of a number urging the federation to reiterate its stand in favor of earlier retirement. At present the contribution amounts to 3!; per cent of the individual em- ploye’s wage. The resolution was one of a number going before the convention which ' was made public by federation head- quarters last night. Others cell for joint and survivor- ship annuities, automatic promotions and extension of classification to the field—principles to which the federa- tion already is committed. * The Civil Service Commission Lodge | is recommending a series of resolu- tions on personnel policies, including one to put all postmasters under civil service, and another to extend the merit system to emergency agencies which are to become permanent. . Knox May Be Speaker. BALTIMORE, August 21 () —Wil- liam P. Lawson, chairman of the Re- publican State Central Committee, said today it was “likely” that Col. Frank Knox would speak in Baitimore on either October 8 or 9. Lost and Found VISITING YOUNGSTER WANDERS SIX HOURS. Pa., lad, was_still tired today, t glad to be back with his ther. The boy fell asleep from exhaustion at the Re- ceiving Home, where he was taken last night after he be- came lost on leaving the Lochraven Hotel to go to the store for some candy. He wandered six hours in his bare feet before Maz Gold- stein, a grocer, learned of his plight and tried to fi out where he was staying. Rus- sell’s father finally found him, with the aid of Goldstein and police. Staff Photo, PAGE B—1 WOMANIS SLASHED BY YOUNG BANDIT HIDING IN KITCHEN Restaurant Manager Badli Beaten as She Opens Place for Day. COLORED MAN SEIZES $13 IN PURSE AND FLEES Police Hunt Former Employe After Fourteenth Street Place Is Robbed Second Time. Attacked with a butcher knife and a length of pipe, Miss Ward Suddert, white-haired manager of the Cavalier Hotel Restaurant, 3500 Fourteenth street, was beaten and cut by a young colored bandit early today. Apparently gaining entrance to the restaurant through a window, the bandit, who until a few days ago was employed there as a pot-washer, ac- cording to Miss Suddert, was' hiding in the kitchen when she opened for business. Springing from the doorway the man struck at Miss Suddert’s head with the pipe, but she dodged and the blow landed between her shoulders. The -bandit ran back into® the kitchen and returned with a 12-inch knife. As she attempted to defend herself Miss Suddert was slashed on the hand. The bandit grabbed her purse, containing about $13, and fled. Miss Suddert called police, and then had a hotel physician dress the cuts, It was the second time in three days that the same man has robbed the restaurant, police were told. They be- gan a search for Green Washing« ton, 22. Employed there little more than a week, the colored man disappeared Tuesday after a cash box containing $18 was missed. Police had been look= ing for him in connection with this theft, Miss Suddert, who lives at 3505 Fourteenth street, formerly managed . the Little Park Road Dining Room | and before that the Kenesaw Cafe. Her little terrier, Potty, which she took with her to the restaurant this morning, snapped at the bandit’s heels, but was unable to do any damage. Three other women were among last night's robbery victims, one's loss bee ing a huge sousaphone. Sousaphone Disappears. Helena Blue, performer in a down= town theater stage show, reported to police she and her $500 sousaphone | rode from Union Station to the Hous- | ton Hotel in a taxicab. At the hotel Miss Blue asked the driver to wait a minute. When she returned, driver, cab and sousaphone were gone. Sousa- phones, incidentally, are the biggest of wind instruments, Ruby Crough, 1622 P street, was robbed of $16, she said. when an unseen assailant struck her on the | head while she was walking in the 1400 block of N street. | Two colored boys snatched a purse | containing $30 from the front seat of | the automobile of Catherine Curtin, 1010 F street northeast, while it was haited at a traffic light at Fifth and K streets. 'FIDELITY TRUSTEES NOT TO SEE LOFTUS Shareholders' Representative Told Reorganization Plan Is Pending. Don A. Loftus, elected representa- tive of one-third of the shareholders of the closed Fidelity Building and Loan Association, was balked today in his desire to confer with the trus- tees of the institution. Marcus A. Borchardt, secretary of | the trustees, declined Loftus' invi- tation in a letter which pointed out that a reorganization plan already had been submitted to the controller of the currency, and that nothing could be done until examination of the firm's books is completed. Loftus announced he would ask an appointment with Gibbs Lyon, deputy controller of the currency in charge of the conduct of Fidelity’s affairs since his chief, J. F. T. O'Connor, ordered it closed July 18. Tidal Basin Swim In His Underwear Lands Manin Jai. Carl Pelton, 37, caught swimming in his underwear in the Tidal Basi: late yesterday was to be taken ints Police Court today on the charge h struck an officer after he led a polic boat a merry chase around the Po- tomac Park inlet. Pelton, a Mountain Home, Tenn., war veteran, spent the -night at the fourth precinct station after he ex- plained his swim, which attracted 500 onlookers, with the statement: “I just wanted to cool off.” Dusty from his freight-train ric- to the Capital, Pelton slipped off h coat and trousers by the John Pau Jones Memorial, plunged into th- basin, and while treading water. | harangued an interested crowd with a discussion of the state of the Na- tion, the 5-cent cigar and his unsuc- cessful attempt to visit the White House. Park police came and opened a chase in their slow patrol boat, the Patsy, which Pelton easily avoided. Finally, after breast-stroking his way under the Fourteenth Street Bridge, he climbed on the seawall into the arms of the officers. ‘Taken to the precinct station, after a brief struggle, Pelton listened pa<« tiently for some time to a discussion as to whether enough evidence was at hand to book him for assault on an officer, in addition to being drunk and swimming in forbidden waters. To settle the argument, police said, he swung at one of his captors. He was then booked on the assault charge. ]