Evening Star Newspaper, December 26, 1936, Page 12

A—12 s» QUSTS YULE SPIRIT AFTER MERRY DAY Gifts Valued in Millions Ex- changed—Employment Gain Aids Charity. TRAFFIC DEATH TOLL ADDS TRAGIC NOTE More Motorists Killed in U. S. Than Soldiers Slain in Battle- Torn Madrid A great turkey “hangover” replaced the Yuletide spirit today as the Capi- tal and the rest of the Nation re- euperated from one of the merriest and mildest Christmas days in history. Here and elsewhere millions of dol- fars worth of gifts were exchanged in quantities which merchandising or- ganizations reported to be & near rec- ord. Charity groups, which found their task of collecting funds easier than in many years, gave food and good cheer to thousands, but their burden was lightened by the increase in employ-. ment. ‘There was a tragic side to the day, however, with at least 265 persons mmeeting sudden death in holiday acci- dents, mainly caused by automobile erashes. The death toll in the United States ‘Wwas far worse than in embattled Ma- drid, where airplane bombs and artil- lery shells, smashing into the Spanish capital, killed only five. In Bethlehem, British troops on gar- rison duty to prevent rioting in the Holy Land sang Christmas carols in the streets. Pope Pius, having broadcast a Christmas eve plea for peace to the ‘whole world, grew steadily weaker in the Vatican, 16 Guests at White House. President Roosevelt had 16 mem- ‘bers of his family in the White House, but Mrs. Roosevelt was in Boston with their son, Franklin, jr., who is recovering from a sinus operation and & streptococcus infection. The presi- dential mansion was deluged with thousands of gifts from citiafns. “Sistie” and “Buzzie” Dall and Sara Roosevelt—vowed they were not too tired to stay up for that culmination of the merriment. 4 But the three smaller ones—Ruth Chandler, Kate and Elliott Roosevelt, Jr.—already had been put to bed, sur- Tounded by new toys. Attend Church. the family to the Church of the Cov- enant for interdenominational services in the morning. With him were his 82-year-old mother, Mrs. Sara Delano Roosevelt; his sister-in-law, Mrs. J. R. Roosevelt; his sons, James and Elliott, and their ‘wives; his youngest son, John, limp- ing from a twisted knee, and the three | eldest grandchildren. { Ruth Chandler Roosevelt, Elliott's 3%;-year-old daughter, wasn't quite the picture of formality that the Dall children set for their younger cousin. Attired in a fur-trimmed, dusty pink coat and cap, she skipped gayly along the sidewalk, smiling at every one. After luncheon came the family tree, with presents for the grown-ups. ‘The children, however, helped their grandfather unwrap the piles of gifts sent to him from all parts of the country. Then he looked over some of the thousands of greeting cards which had been accumulating all week. ‘The President telephoned Franklin, §r., to extend his and the family’s greetings. Anna Roosevelt Boettiger, the President’s only daughter, also was absent. She and her husband recently moved to Seattle. Traffic Load Heavy. Generally sunny weather through- out the country, except for rain in a few sections, was largely responsible for the great number of motor accident fatalities. Cars were out in numbers spproximating Summer travel. All other means of transportation ‘were crowded, the airlines, particularly, doing & c¢apacity business. One group of travelers achieved two Christmases. The eastbound Philip- pine Clipper of Pan-American Airways crossed the international date line be- tween Midway and Wake Islands, car- THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1936. . TURKEY HANGOVR TEN GOOFY STORIES THAT DIDN'T SHAKE WORLD{APITAL TRANSIT Woody Hockaday of Wichita, Kans., brought a new tech- nique to the peace movement. shouted, as he showered dignitaries with white feathers. Woody is shown before Maryland American Legionnaires at Baltimore. Albert W. Wickey, retired St. Louis erpressman, who had spent his life dispatching things to places he never saw, got a vicarious kick when friends sent his hat around the world. MATTHEWS CASE | PARLEY IS SLATED Officials of Two States to Decide Which Will Try Prisoners First. BY ROBERT A. ERWIN, Staft Correspondent of The Star. ROCKVILLE, Md., December 26— A conference with West Virginia au- thorities in Charleston next week will determine which State—West Virgima or Maryland—will proceed against Lawrence R. Gingell, 20, former golf caddie, and War Joseph Kirby, 21, who are implicated in murders in both States. This announcement was made to- day by State’s Attorney James H. Pugh of Montgomery County. Gingell is in the county jail here, charged with the murder of Elwood Matthews, 68, wealthy Montgomery County farmer, on the night of Nov- ember 21 on a lonely road near Four Corners. Kirby at Charleston. Kirby, recently wounded in s gun battle with West Virginia police is held at Charleston.© He has implicated Gingell, himseif and William B. Reed, | 25, the latter still at large, in the murders of Matthews and of W. Earle Doliman, 34, salesman and former West Virginia athlete. Dollman was killed and his automobile set afire, with his body in it, near Sutton, W. Va., on November 26. rying the crew and passengers back from Christmas day to Christmas eve, and 5o into Christmas again. England rejoiced over the birth of a Christmas baby—a princess—to the Duke and Duchess of Kent. She be- comes sixth in the line of succession to the throne. King George and the royal family ettended church at Sandingham. His abdicant brother, the Duke of Windsor, also attended church—in Vienna. Acting as lay reader, he read the story of the Nativity from the Scriptures. 1 Man Has Difficulty Getting Gift Lefton Top of His Chimney Makes ‘Deal’ With Son of | Neighbor Who Helped Deliver Present. 87 » 8ta Correspondent ot The Star. ALEXANDRIA, Va., December 26.— Gilbert E. Stringer of Belle Haven ex- pects to make the chimney of his home larger to avold a recurrence of what happened yesterday. He was wakened by neighbors to learn that Santa Claus had left a pres- ent tied to the top of his chimney, having apparently been unable to get down the stack. ‘The tallest ladder in the neighbor- hood was brought out, but Stringer fafled by several feet of being able to reach the gift. Having learned that Robert Kellog, 14, a neighbor’s son, had aided Santa in the unusual delivery of the gift, he “made a deal” with the youth to re- trieve the package—a Colonial lamp. Stringer, a sales representative of the Hydraulic Press Brick Co. in ‘Washington, was away from home Christmas eve night, or he would have opened the front door for Santa Claua. Gingell’s confession in the Matthews case was announced by Pugh Thurs- | day. “I expect to go to West Virginia next | week and consult with the district at- | torney and police,” Pugh said today. | “I can see the problem in- | volyed. We will hold tight to Gingell | until I go there to confer. We would | not proceed just against Gingell here, | or just against Gingell and Reed it i the latter is taken in this jurisdiction. | Matter of Agreement. “The matter, I feel sure, can be worked out satisfactorily,” Pugh said. “We will go into each other’s case. If the Dollman case were tried first, in West Virginia, it would not mean we had a weak case here, or vice versa. It 15 purely a matter of agreement. “We are not going to fSght among ourselves, but will sit down and talk the question over and see who will proceed first. In case of one conviction carrying the extreme penalty there will be no reason to prqpeed in the other case.” Pugh said “we may have to go to the help” in determining the question. Four Corners. Gingell was arrested in Washington last week. Pugh’s statement today followed an- Police Supt. P. D. Singleton that his State will resist any attempt to extra~ dite Kirby to Maryland. SRR Merry While It Lasted. YONKERS, N. ¥. (#)—It was & Merry Christmas for 14 of William P. Carter’s friends—while it lasted, police said. attorney general of West Virginia for | A Nation-wide search is in progress | for Reed. He has been reported seen | recently around his father’s hoine near | With full military honors. nouncement from Charleston by State | | { | | Yonkefs officers found 14 radios i missing when they investigated a store | robbery. Cartar, 27, was arrested, and detec- tives set about recovering the radios IM charged Carter had distributed as Yultide gifts. o “Feathers, not bullets,” he When Dr. Franz Sarga eloped with Magda Marko in Budrlrzrat. some folks said he married her for money. In- sulted, Dr. Sarga scheduled nine saber duels, fought three, :i“r;oled one opponent with a ol. STONE COMPANY DAMAGED BY FIRE $8,000 Blaze at Bladens- burg Destroys Valuable Papers in Office. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. BLADENSBURG, Md, December 26.— Flames of unknown origin swept through the office of the McLeod & Romborg Stone Co., her last night as volunteer firemen from three com- panies battled the blaze for s half- hour before they could control it. Company executives estimated the damage at more than $8,000, of which $5,000 was covered by insurance. No injuries were reported. The fire, completely demolishing the wooden structure, a built-on ad- dition to the steel storage building, kept firemen at the scene from 10:30 pm. until after midnight. Heavy Christmas holiday trafic on the ‘Washington-Baltimore boulevard and the Defense highway was blocked by crowds attracted to the scene. Special police details were called to keep the stream of automobiles moving. According to D. Hazen McLeod of Edmonston, one of the owners, val- uable records were stored in a safe lo- cated in the office. Whether the heat injured the contents of the safe, which held no money, had not been determined today. Other owners of the company, & plant for fabricating cutstone, are George McLeod of 537 Randolph street, Washington; Reese McLeod of Lanham, and Carl Romborg of 2701 8 street, Washington. —————— CONGER FUNERAL RITES WILL BE HELD MONDAY Full Military Honors to Be Ac- corded Retired Officer Who Died Monday. Funeral services for Lieut. Comdr. Pranklin B. Conger, jr., U. 8. N, retired, who died Wednesday in the Naval Hospital at Brooklyn, N. Y., will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Arling- ton National Cemetery. Lieut. Comdr. J. H. Brooks, Chaplains Corps, will officiate and burial will follow Comdr. Conger, who was 47, was retired in 1934 and since had made his home in Bethesda, Md. His serv- fce had included duty here at the Navy Department. He was a grand- son of Omar D. Conger, who served as Senator and Representative from Michigan. Surviving him are his widow, Katherine Stuart Conger, who was with him at Brooklyn; a son, Frank- lIin B. Conger, 3rd, who has been staying at Roswell, N. Mex., with Comdr. Conger's sister, Mrs. Donald Hamilton; two other ! sisters, Mrs. Aubrey Wray Pitch, wife of Capt. Pitch, U. 8, N,, stationed at San Diego, Calif, and Mme. Guido Costarelli di Young America in 1936 demonstrated its foresight by or- ganizing a Veterans’ of Future Wars (with an auziliary for girls) to demand bonuses in advance for fighting in the next war. Here college students at Springfleld, Mo., pose for the cause with a cabbage for a grenade, a paper banner and wooden rifle. The contest for $500,000 left by Charles Millar to the To- ronto woman having the most babies in 10 years went to court. This shrouded fig- ure at the hearing was a stork derby father. GRAYSON NAMES INAUGURAL AIDES Committee Sends First of the Invitations to Governors. Appointment of members of the Parade Committee for the inaugu- ration of President Roosevelt January 20 was announced today by Rear Ad- miral Cary T. Grayson, general chair- man of the Inaugural Committee. Brig. Gen. C. D. Roberts, chairman of the Parade Committee, will have as his assistants Lieut. Col. D. 8. ‘Wilson, U. 8. A.; Capt. Randall Jacobs, U. 8. N.; Lieut. Col. W. G. Hawthorne, U. 8. M. C.; Lieut. Comdr. Merlin O'Neill, Coast Guard; Dr. George C. Havenner, Washington civic leader, and Maj. Horace B. Smith, U. S. A. ‘The Inaugural Committee has sent out the first of a large number of in- vitations to special guests, these going to the Governors of the States. Four years ago 27 of the Governors attend- ed in person and 10 others had spe- cial representatives. The committee hopes that on January 20 all of the ‘Governors will be present in person. Because the Inaugural Committee plans call for a purely military parade, of limited extent, the chief executives of the States are being advised that each one will be provided three cars, having a combined capacity of no more than 17 persons, and that their aides and escorts will have to be limited to that number. Aides to the Governors will be drawn from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and an effort will be made to obtain officers in each instance from the State the Governor repre- sents. James A. Farley, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has been asked to act again as marshal of the Governors® section of the parade. 50 NEEDY CHILDREN GET CHRISTMAS DINNER Officers and Men at Navy Yard Receiving Station Are Hosts at Party. Fifty poor children of Southeast ‘Washington were given a Christmas party yesterday by the officers and men of the Navy Yard Recelving Sta- tion. Pirst there was an elaborate dinner of turkey, ham, mince pie and all the “trimmings.” Then the children were taken into the assembly hall, where a Santa Claus presided beside a Mrs. | brightly decorated Christmas tree. Each child was presented with & pair of shoes, a sweater, a pair of stockings and a toy. Representatives of the Salvation Army had selected the children, so that the sailors were able to have the presents labeled with the name of each recipient. After the distribution of gifts mo- tion pictures were shown. Lieut. Comdr. J. R. Sullivan, com- manding officer of the Recelving Sta~ -was-in- charge-of the party. By the Associated Press . Peature Service. Historians, impressed with the passing twelve month’'s world- shaking events, may record 1936 as a grave and solemn period, but it deserves credit for dishing up more than its share of laughs. Just to make the record com- plete, the Associated Press nomi- nates its own “10 best stories” that made swell reading for goofiness. For persons ill at ease in public because they don’t know what to do with their hands, 1936 ‘provided a rem- edy. It was called “handies.” Guess what this one is? BY the Asfociated Press. In preparation for the opening of Congress, the two delicately colored Senate snuff boxes came in for re- filling today. “Most people think,” said Leslie L. Biffie, who as secretary to the majority supervises the same supply, “that this is just a hollow ceremony. Well, it isn't.” A hang-over from early legislative days, the tiny lacquered containers stand unobtrusively beside the swing- ing doors to the Senate chamber. “Youwd be surprised,” said Biffle, how many Senators dip into them, especially on rainy days.” He guessed there were “four or five” regular cus- tomers. ‘The belief developed generations Among gold-spangled dignitaries marching in King George V’s funeral white duck trousers. gn’oceaalon news pictures showed one little fellow in He was reported to be a masseur who some way had got mized up in the procession and just kept marchin, because he saw no graceful way to duck out. Py & Walter Johnson, old-time pitcher, tested the plausibility of the legend that George Washington threw a silver dollar across the Rappahan- nock River. On his third try Johnson equaled Washington. When Louis E. Crawford came River, La., his wife showed him a This was denied. There was quite a stir in OFFERS TRACKBED 10 WIDEN HIGHWAY Announcement Gives Strong Impetus to Old George- town Road Campaign. FIRM’S OFFICIAL AWARE OF CONSTANT DANGER Civic Steering Committee Will Seek Other Rights of Way Needed to End Hazards. The campaign to secure rights of way to permit widening of Old George= town Road received strong impetus today with the announcement that Capital Transit Co. officials would co- operate by making available their old street car right of way which paraliels the road part of its length. W. B. Bennett, assistant to the president, announced that the titles involved in the company's right of way for the street car tracks aban- doned a year and a half ago, are be- ing investigated and that the company will do everything possible to aid in the widening campaign. He said: “The Old Georgetown road is a con= stant danger because of its narrowness and the curves, and an inconvenience as long as there is not room for the busses replacing the street cars to pull off to the side to load and unload passengers. Firm Will Do Utmost. “The Capital Transit Co. will do its utmost to correct the condition and will be glad to work with the citizens of the section to speed up traffic and eliminate the hazards of the road.” ‘The long campaign to widen and repair the road, which gained impetus after the death of two motorists De- cember 6 in a collision with a bus, Racine, Wis.,, when people saw in the phone book the name Bowman, Oofty Goofty. Mr. Bowman told reporters that really was his name. to his cabin at Pearl old boy. A big black dog had trotted out of the brush carrying the baby in its mouth, she said, and dropped him at her fe Later she admitted the baby was her own, born outdoors and hidden two days in the woodshed. They called him Moses. 5 Senate Snuff Bgxes Refilled Ready for Rainy Days’ Rush g0 that snuff helps ward off Senator- ial colds and clears the head for de- bate. A certain clique has followed the custom ever since. Inspection shows that match boxes lie near each snuff depository. It may be a coincidence, but from the galleries it'’s & sharp eye that can tell which the Senator is reaching for— snuff or matches. Historians have it that the matches were introduced as spectator’ decoys after a pre-Civil War Western Demo- crat had a newsman expelled for writing a detailed account of his snuff dipping. Now attendants watch over them like hawks. The snuff consumption is about four ounces every two weeks— except in the rainy season. CIVIL SERVICE SETS EXAMINATION DATES Large Group Is Scheduled, With Applications to Close on January 14. Another large group of examina- tions has been scheduled by the Civil Service Commission, for which appli~ cations will be received until January 11 and 14, the latter date applying to those coming from the Pacific North- west, The list includes four in the Bu- reau of Animal Industry: Animal hus- bandman sheep and goat breeding, $3,800 anually ;assistant, $3,200; as- sociate, swine breeding, $3,200, and associate, animal nutrition, $3,200. In the Commodity Exchange Ad- ministration, Department of Agri- culture, there will be several classes, with pay ranges from $2,600 to $5,600. ‘There also will be a test for scien- tific aid, milling and baking tech- nology, at $1,800, in the Bureau of Plant Industry, and in the Forest Service for engineer-pilot, at $3,800. Details are available at the Com- mission, Seventh and F streets. TAX COLLECTIONS UP Northumberland Revenue Since 1930. HEATHSVILLE, Va., December 26 (Special) —Carroll J. Rowe, North- umberland County treasurer, has an- nounced that $690.88 more in Stale taxes and $2,914.48 more in county taxes have been paid to the county treasurer this year than last and that the 1936 tax collections prior to De- cember 2, when the penalty goes into effect, have been better than any year since 1930. This year, to December 5, the State taxes to county treasurer amounted to $7,320.65 and the county taxes to $29,824.07. Best Buying Highpowered Cars. Because of its many new nighways high- MRS. JENNIE B. GRIGSBY, KIN OF COL. BALL, DIES Funeral Rites for Direct Descend- ant of Washington’s Grand- father Held Today. Mrs. Jennle B. Grigsby, 80, direct descendant of Col. Joseph Ball, grand- father of George Washington, died Thursday at her home, 5201 Colorado avenue. She had been ill about a month. Mrs. Grigsby, widow of Jesse J. Grigsby, was a ploneer school teacher at Wray, Colo, She came to this city about two and a half years ago from Pueblo, Colo. Mrs. Grigsby was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Rebekah Lodge of Odd Fellows and the Pres- byterian Church. She is survived by two sons, Joseph D. Grigsby, this city, and Jesse W. Grigsby of Benkelman, Nebr.; a sis- ter, Mrs. Emeline Peck, Pueblo, Colo., and two grandchildren. . Funeral services are being held to- day at Hines funeral home, 2901 Fourteenth street. Burial will be in Oedar Hill Cemetery. WOMAN BADLY BEATEN IN ATTEMPTED HOLD-UP i Proprietor of Grocery May Have 8kull Fracture—Struck with Blunt Weapon. Mrs. Anna Parsons, who operates a grocery at 801 O street, was severely beaten today by a colored man, who struck her with a blunt instrument during an attempted hold-up. At Emergency Hospital, where she was taken by her son, Norman Par- sons, 1t was said she is suffering from scalp lacerations and possibly a skull fracture. Mrs. Parsons told police the col- | ored man came in and ordered a bot- tle of soda. As she turned, to get it HADASSAH GROUP WILL HEAR WISE Visit to White House Also to Be Feature of Con- vention Today. A visit to the White House was to be one of the highlights today of the thirteenth annual convention of Junior Hadassah, the Young Women'’s Zionist Organization of America, which opened a four-day session at the Mayflower Hotel yesterday. Another feature of the second day’s sessions will be an address by Rabbi Stephen Wise of New York at a mass meeting tonight at 8 o'clock in the main ball room of the hotel. Mrs. Edward Jacobs, president of the Senior Hadassah, also will speak on the program with Rabbi Wise, who i3 president of the Zionist Organization of America. More than 1,000 delegates and guests from 40 States were greeted at the opening meeting yesterday by Miss Mildred F. Murnick, president of Junior Hadassah. Greetings also were extended by Mrs. Ralph Turover, for the Washington Senior Hadassah; Miss Sophie Baynard, for Washington Junior Hadassah, by a representative of the Council of Jewish Juniors and by Mrs. Jacobs, senior president. Several round-table discussions also marked the opening day's sessions. Rabbi Isadore Breslau, president of the District of Columbia Zionist Dis- trict, spoke at a dinner in the evening on the responsibility of every genera- tion toward inherited ideals. He declared every generation “must battle for its own promised land and win the victory anew.” This afternoon at 2 o'clock the delegates were to celebrate the thirty- fifth anniversary of the Jewish Na- tional Fund at a gathering at the Jewish Community Center, with Miss | Bessie Geffen presiding. WOMAN, SHOT, IN CRASH ON WAY TO HOSPITAL By the Associated Press. RICHMOND, December 26.—Holiday mishaps piled up on Dora Studrfin yes- terday. The 25-year-old Winterpock, Va., colored woman was accidentally shot in the leg at her home when a pistol held by her husband went off. The wound was slight, but Clarence Craw- ley, & neighbor, bundled her into his car and set out for a Richmond hos- pital. En route his machine collided with another and overturned. At the hos- pital, where she was taken in another resulted in an offer by Nathan L. Smith, chief engineer of the Maryland Roads Commission, to widen the road by adding a 10-foot shoulder and a drainage ditch to each side of the 20~ foot thoroughfare if the necessary rights of way could be obtained. Securing of the right of way formerly used by the street cars would be a big step, as it would provide space on one side for widening for approxi= mately one-third of the distance, Width Sufficient. ‘The cars ran on the present road- bed from the Bank of Bethesda to a point about 400 feet south of Roosevelt street. There it began to branch off to the east side of the road. The right of way begins there and extends north on the east side to the present bus stop at Alta Vista, where it reaches its maximum width, about 27 feet. The cars continued on from Alta Vista, but ran on a private right of way. The width of the old car track right of way would be sufficient to widen the road on that side, as 10 feet would be needed for the shoulder and another 10 feet for grading the ditch, Smith estimated. Right of way must be secured from property owners on the east side of the road from Alta Vista to the Rock- ville pike and the entire distance on the west side of the road. Admits Danger, Smith, who made a trip here from Baltimore to inspect the road at the invitation of the Advisory Board of the American Automobile Association, admitted the road is dangerous, but said most of the hazards can be eliminated by widening, to provide a longer range of visibility, and adding shoulders and ditches, which will permit busses to pull off the side to take on and discharge passengers and leave room for parking without cone gesting traffic. ‘The meeting of a Steering Come mittee, called by William Buckley, chairman of a special Roads Com- mittee of the Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, for early next month, is expected to take up immediately the question of securing the needed rights of way to take advantage of the State Roads Commission’s offer. On the committee will be five mem- bers of the Bethesda Chamber, and representatives of the Bethesda Fire Board, the Old Georgetown Road Citizens’ Assoclation, the Bethesda Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association and the A. A. A. and Keystone Motor Club, whica has taken an active interest in the widening problem. Marylanders Bill For Autos E xceed_s Half of Food Costs In Some Counties They Spend More in Garages Than for Groceries. By the Associated Press. BALTIMORE, December 26.—If the citizens in at least a dozen Maryland counties found themselves gofag hungry in 1935—they might haye * looked in their garages and found one of the reasons. Last year, Marylanders spent—for automobiles, trucks, gas, oil and auto- motive accessories—more than half as much as they spent in food stores. Retall sales figures compiled by the Bureau of Census indicated today that a total of $126,075,000 was spent in food stores within the State, as com- pared with $82,946,000 expended in automotive stores and filling stations. The tabulations show the buying public in 12 of the 23 counties speént more on their automobiles than they did in food stores—excluding the amounts spent in general stores in which food is handled. Eleven counties and Baltimore City swung the pendulum toward their stomachs, the balance of money spent running in favor of food storess— sometimes, however, by Narrow mare gins. 3 Baltimore City’s statistics were the deciding factor. Baltimoreans, the 1935 figures indicated, dug into their pocketbooks deeply and spent $78,« 735,000 in food stores. On automobiles and equipment, their year's expenses totaled $42,273,000. car, physicians said her condition was serious. the bandit forced her to her knees, she said, and when informed she had only a little change he struck her 'with -the weapon. To Quit Austria. Austrian motion picture producers plan to move their studios to countries In certain of the counties, however, the margin was definitely in favor of automobiles. Wicomico County showed expenditures totaling $1,465,000 in food stores, as compared with $1,877,000 ex= pended on automobiles, trucks, gas, ol and acceasoriss. F ¥