Evening Star Newspaper, March 29, 1937, Page 17

Washi ington News @b WASHINGTON, ¢ Foeni iny Stap Wlfll SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D. C, MONDAY, MARCH 29, LANGDON, FORMER D. C. OFFICER, HELD INNEWHAVEN CASE Arrested for “Idleness” After Stopping Train to Prevent Wreck. WAS DISMISSED HERE AFTER LIMERICK PROBE Ex-Policeman Not Held in Rail Wrecking Plot, Authorities in Connecticut Say. Robert Langdon, 44, former District policeman, whose dismissal from the force in 1931 followed his arrest in connection th the unsolved murder of 19-year-old Beulah Limerick, was taken into custodv in New Haven, Conn., today following discov of a plot to wreck a crack New York, New Haven & Hartford passenger train Langdon, who flagaed the train to a stop on the outskirts of East Haven Sunday night after discovering a thick | steel chain tied around the rail. was arraigned before Judge Edward L. Reyno]ds in New Haven on a charge | “idleness.” His case was continued | unm next week and he was ordered | held in $15,000 bond Railroad Police Chief George Cro\t-‘ ley, who took Langdon from his home to police headquarters, said the former ‘Washington officer is not being held in connection with the attempt to de- rail the train. State Policeman William placed the “idleness” charge against Langdon, explaining he has had the former policeman under surveilance for seyeral da past in Washington Not Wanted Here. Inspector Bernard W. Thompson, chief of detectives here, after learning of Langdon's arrest, searched police files and said the ex-officer is not wanted here on any charge Langdon, a poultry dealer Haven, told police he \KA< along the New k, Hartford tracks Sunday nl"hl \\hen about three-quarters of a mile from | town, he saw a man who had been bending over the rails flee in East w Blkmg At the spot where the man had been ‘ stooping, Langdon said, he found four strands of chain, three-quarters of an | inch thick, the rail. Realizing that the “Merchants Lim- fted,” fast fiyer between Boston and New York, was due soon, Langdon said, he ran up the tracks and flagged the train when it came into view Engineer J. Williams applied the brakes when he saw Langdon and stopped the train after the locomotive passed slowly over the chain. Had the train been going at its normal speed of about 65 miles an hour, it ‘would have been derailed by the chain, Crowley said Went Home After Event. After the train departed Langdon went to his home, wRere he was awak- ened later in the night by Chief Crow- ley and four railroad detectives. Langdon was “the policeman on the beat” when Beulah Limerick, comely | brunette secretary of the Sky High | ‘Whoopee Club, was killed with a .22- securely fashioned around caliber bullet through her head in her | home, at 18 Nineteenth street north- east, on December 31, 1930. The wound was plugged with hair and when an ambulance surgeon was summoned to the house he pronounced her dead from “natural causes.” The fact that she had been murdered was not discovered until several hours later, when her body was sent to an un- dertaking parlor. Detectives beeame suspicious when | Langdon, who had been assigned to | guard the girl's house the following night, discovered ‘new which had not been uncovered in an earlier search. With three other sus- pects, including a brother of the slain girl, Langdon was held for a coroner’s jury, which returned a ver- | dict of “deaths at the hands of person or persons unknown.” While Langdon was being held in eonnection with the slaying, detectives searched his home, in the 1200 block of Oates street northeast, and found two stills in basement. This discovery led to his dismissal from the force. WILSON T. KENNER DIES ATRESIDENCE | Retired Chief Engineer at War Department Filtration Plant Was 66. Wilson T. Kenner, 66, retired chief engineer of the War Department's filtration plant, died Saturday at his | home, 446 Park road, after a short ill- ness. Mr. Kenner became connected with the Navy Yard in 1906 and was trans- ferred later to the War Department, ‘Where he served until his retirement | in 1932. His health began failing sev- eral months ago, but his illness did not become acute until about two weeks He had two sons, both lieutenant | commanders in the Navy—William W. Kenner, stationed at Seattle, and Prank T. Kenner, stationed at Hono- lulu. Also sumiving are his widow, Mrs. Bertha M. Kenner; a sister, Mrs. Elisabeth Shotts, and a brother, Samuel F. Kenner, both of Front Royal, Va. Puneral services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow from the 8. H. Hines Oo. funeral home, 2801 Fourteenth street. Burial in Arlington National Cemetery will follow. — CONCERT PLANNED Bpecial Dispatch to The Star. FALLS CHURCH, Va., March 29.— Rehearsals by the newly-organized Northern Virginia Choral Society for a concert in June will begin at the Robert E. Lee School on Lee High- way at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. It is expected that an orchestra will be organized at the same meet- ing. The concert will be under the direction of Dr. Thomas P. Martin. Early registration has been urged by Dr. Martin, ) Murphy | after learning of his evidence” | rart of the v nq toward the Monument. Society and General 1937. PAGE B—1 Rollers Pack White House Grounds for Annual Frolic st crowd at the White House today for the annual cyg-rolling festival. WILLARD MANAGER FRIEND ABSOLVED DUE 10 TESTIFY | Labor Board Inquiry Into Discharge of Waitress ‘ Nears End. | Harry P. Somerville, manager the Willard Hotel, was scheduled to appear this afternoon before Trial Examiner Edwin S. Smith, member of the National Labor Relations Board, to present final testimony in hearings on the board’s complaint that Mrs. | Mabel Norman, waitress at the Willard Coffee Shop, was discharged because of testimony in a previous case before | | the board. | Mrs. Norman, who served as shop steward for the coffee shop unit of | the Hotel and Restaurant Workers' | | Alliance, was dismissed from the hotel | February 28. On January 23 she had | testified against the management in | connection with the discharge of a union waiter. Subsequently, testimony has shown, the management asked the union to transfer Mrs. Norman to another hotel because she was a “trouble- maker” in the Willard post. After making an investigation of the charge the union refused the transfer and the management of the hotel then dismissed the woman. Although Mrs. Norman was told by Miss Evelyn Miller, shop manager, that she was being discharged for “incompetence,” Miss Miller and all witnesses for both the board and the hotel have testified she was one of the best waitresses in the shop. Witnesses, for the hotel, however, testified at considerable length that she had disrupted service by splitting | the waitresses into cliques. | Box Company Head Dies. of | | thém to release Louis A. Dent BRADENTON, Fla., March 29 (#).— Merton C. Hillyer, 50, of Sheboygan, | Wis., where he was president of the | Guardian Box Co., dned yes(erday. I OF SHOOTING PART Jerry C. Lanahan, Fighting for Life, Declares He Wounded Self. Absolving his life-long friend of any blame for the bullet wound above his heart, which he told police he in- flicted himself, Jerry C. Lanahan, 21 of Oxon Hill, Md, was fighting for his life in Emergency Hospital today. Lanahan summoned detectives to his bedside Sunday night and urged ., civil engineer, of 3300 Sixteenth street, whom he had accuged Saturday of shooting him in an apartment at 1701 Park road. In the presence of a nurse, Lana- han dictated the following statement to police at the hospital: “Of my own volition, I desire to | put in writing to police officers that | T attempted to take my own life with my own gun and my friend, Louis A Dent, jr., had nothing tc do with it.’ Dent was immediately released from the tenth precinct. He hastened to Lanahan’s bedside. “Jerry told me he was sorry,” Dent said. “He had been drinking a little and was delirious from pain and didn't know what he was saying, he told me.” Detectives Walter Beck of head- quarters and John Cayton, tenth pre- cinct, earlier had found two notes | which Lanahan admitted writing, they said. One of these was addressed to Lanahan’s wife, Margaret, mother of his two-week-old baby. to police, the note said: “Margaret—Goodby and take care of the baby because I love her and you, too.” Emergency Hospital physicians .st that, while Lanahan’s condition is critical, he has a ‘“good” chance of surviving. A .22-caliber bullet Is lodged in his chest just above the heart. Ickes’ Suite in New Building Blue-coated stalwarts are stationed | these days at the entrance to Secretary | Ickes' suite of executive chambers in the new Interior Department Building | | —which is still unoccupied—and zeal- | ously guard its secrets from the eyes of the curious. Since news leaked out about Ickes’ private kitchen and dining hall, stricter vigilance has been maintained until now the entire building is under close guard. No one may enter except | on an official pass good for one trip only and, as experience showed, the official authority doesn’t carry much weight. Newsmen armed with properly made out passes were promptly halted by a brass-buttoned Horatius who guarded the portal that leads into the executive wing on the sixth floor. “Thus far | shalt thou go but no farther,” he paraphrased in polite but firm com- mand. The newsmen were instructed to go downstairs to see the captain of the guard. That official looked carefully at the passes, pocketed them and dis- appeared. After a restiess and sus- picious wait the newsmen finally gave it up as a hopeless job. But at least one heretofore unpub- lished fact was revealed in a prowl about the less guarded basement. Next to the huge cafeteria there will be a spacious gymnasium where desk- wearjed officials and employes too, perhaps, may seek healthful relaxation in hand ball or indoor tennis. Interior officials are careful to call it an “activities” room, but the work- men scorn that designation and say it is a gymnasium. The dome lights are wired for protection, so perhaps the workmen are right. There are locker rooms and showers in the rear. The gymnasium is about the only room in the building with wooden flooring suitable fof dancing. Inquiries as to whether there would be special “ladies’ days” or what kind of gymnasium equipment would be installed brought no information. ¢ W Is Guarded From Prying Eyes| A gray-tiled tunnel connects the basement of the old building with the main floor of the new one. This also is strictly guarded. The tunnel passes under Rawlins Square, from which the office of National Capital Parks has removed all the fine old trees and substituted rows of tall sap- lings no thicker than a man’s thumb. in time, however, the redesigned park will be one of the most attractive in the West End. Ramps lead into the interior courts of the new building and thence into the basement garage space, which will accommodate 500 cars. Employes were enthusiastic over reported plans for the garage, but now that it is com- plete, the problem of moving the cars in and out is one that only the more dexterous drivers can solve. Vents have been installed in the floor to carry away the exhaust fumes. These are about 4 inches high and regularly placed. Cars either will have to straddle the vents or park in between them. That would not be so difficult, except for rows of huge foun- dation columns which interfere with the maneuvering. Original plans for the new building called for an underground garage to accommodate 2,000 cars. This was ruled out because of exorbitant cost, due to subterranean water encountered in the area. So additional space was provided for a garage in the base- ment. 3 Only Secretary Ickes, it was said, knows when the personnel can start moving into the $13,000,000 building. The cafeteria kitchen has been stocked with canned goods for days in anticipation of moving day. The only occupants now are the telephone exchange force. Elect Vestrymen Tonight. MOUNT RAINIER, Md., March 29 (Special). —The annual congregational meeting of St. John’s Episcopal Church will be held in the parish hall here at 8 e'clock tonight, According Jim and Jane Pierce, children of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Pierce, all set for the fun. (Story on Page A-1.) Picture made from the White House i | e Mrs. Roosevelt joins BOYLAN ANSWERS CRITICS OF PLAN FOR MEMORIAL Commission Chairman Is- sues Lengthy Statement De- fending Site and Design. MANY EXPRESSIONS HELD “ILL-INFORMED” Points Out Proposed Location Is ‘“on a Major Axis” With Monument Center. Critics of the proposed location the happy throng EDUCATORS OPEN PEAGE SESSIONS Catholics Are Urged to Op- pose War on Moral Ground Na ion-wide opposition to war by | | Catholics on moral grounds was urged today at the opening of the eleventh annual conference of the Catholic Association for International Peace at the Mayflower Hotel. attended by Catholic educators from all parts of the country. The conference is dedicated to the proposition that peace should oe sought because of its essential good- ness, not because war brings death | and death is cruel or for any other | materialistic reason. | Foundation of a World Societ; | Providence, R. I.. College, said in ex- | grounds. —Star Staff Photos. ‘Roosevelts Lead Bravmg Weather for Easter | \Warm Wraps Hlde Much of the Capital's Spring finery | still was ‘“‘unchristened” today after an Easter Sunday that saw only & hardy group, headed by President and Mrs. Roosevelt, brave high winds and low temperatures to promenade and ‘worship. Every one, including the Weather Bureau, agreed it was one of the bleakest Easters in years—a clear, cold day during which the mercury hung | in the low 40s. | Those who did venture out for the | traditional parade were obliged to hide their new outfits under warm wraps and keep protective hands on hats and bonnets. Park officials also were harassed by the inclemency, being forced to con- tinue their smudge fires around the Tidal Basin in an effort to save the bud-laden Japanese cherry trees, so far undamaged. Thousands at Arlington. Despite the cold, however, thousands arose early to attend the annual Knights Templar sunrise services at the amphitheater in Arlington Na- tional Cemetery, where tribute was paid the soldier dead following the ceremonies. Mrs. Roosevelt was one of the first arrivals at Arlington, reaching the amphitheater shortly before 7:30 am. and sitting through the rites after the knights and the Marine Band marched to the scene in their colorful Wniforms. Rev.. James Shera Montgomery, chaplain of the House of Representa- tives, delivered the invocation and Theodore C. Lewis led the throng in Easter hymns. Rev. John C. Palmer, grand chaplain of the District Grand Lodge, F. A. A. M, recited the New Testament Scripture, which relates the story of the first resurrection morning. Visitors Are Greeted. Past Grand Comdr. Eugene E. Thompson of the, District Com- mandery, in chnrge‘of the program, greeted the visitors,. who. included a large number of knights and . their friends from all sections of Virginia. The sermon was preached by Rev. G. Ellis Willlams, superintendent of the Episcopal Methodist cnurnumuu Clings to Low 403—9mudgee Still Protect Cherry Buds. | in cutaway coat, striped trousers and Hardy Throng Fmery as Mercury | District. Maj. Alfred C. Oliver, ir., | U. S. A, chaplain of Walter Reed Hos- pital, gave the closing prayer and the benediction. Several hours later the President, top hat, and Mrs. Roosevelt, who for- sook “something new” for a fur wrap, attended the services at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church with two of their grandchildren and Mrs. James Roose- velt, wife of the President’s eldest son. There they heard Rev. Howard S. Wilkinson preach on “Risen With Christ.” After the service com- munion was administered to the Presi- dent and then to the 1,000 others in the congregation. Other Services Held. Other thousands attended early and midday services in various churches throughout the city and flocked to the Sylvan Theater, in the Monument Grounds, where the Schola Cantorum of the National Capital Parks sung hymns under the leadership of Maestro Arturo Papalardo. At the park services, held at 7 am.,, Rev. Dr. Anson Phelps Stokes, canon of Washington Cathedral, led the as- semblage in prayer after greetings had been voiced by C. Marshall Fin- nan, superintendent of National Capi- tal Parks. Just back from a trip to California, Right Rev. James E. Freeman, Bishop of Washington, preached at the late afternoon service in' Washintgon Ca- thedral. The earlier festival sermon was delivered by Right Rev. Charles Fiske, former bishop of Central New York. “The Crucifixion,” popular cantata by Sir John Stainer, was presented in nearly a score of churches, while “A Legend of the Grael,” a miracle play by Douglas Horton, was portrayed at the First Congregational Church. Special masses were held in the morning in all Catholic churches, where the programs were climaxed later with solemn high mass. Many of the out-of-town visitors, who came by all forms of transporta- tion but not in record-breaking num- bers, were still in the city today. ) | principles of the | also active co-operation with organiza- | tions of general members when there ' “Impressions of an Afternoon,” “We have an obligation of pro- claiming that a world society 1s a reasonable and natural outgrowth of the concept of the brotherhood cf man,” Rev. William J. Lunney of Villa- nova (Pa) College. said during a round table discussion of the *“Moral pre- sided over by Rev. Charles C. Miltner | of Notre Dame University. “Man’s insufficiency is recorded in his sociability™ Rev. Philip Reilly of pleining the search for peace on moral “He seeks society in the family, the tribe and the state. The | natural end of the state is to work for | the good of its people and the first good is peace.” Statement Defining Principles. A statement defining the anti-war organization de- clared: “The association would have Catho- lics in the United States do more than | their numerical part to prevent an- | other world war. More than our | patriotic principles are here involved. | Or rather, our citizenship influenced by our moral obligation to justice and charity calls on us to act. “It urges Catholics to place their | trust in God, to pray earnestly that the world does not lead itself again into the moral and physical gamble of | war and to study diligently and work faithfuily for the peace of the world. “The association urges Catholics to | extend Catholic action and the knowl- | edge of Catholic principles in order to \ banish enmity, to create a true love of peace and a willingness to peace | throughout the United States. It urges is clearly no danger of any misunder- standing of the principles of the Catholic faith.” 0'Mahoney to Talk. Senator O'Mahoney, Democrat, of | ‘Wyoming, will talk on “The Economic | Basis of War and Peace” at tonight's international dinner, of which the chairman will be Michael Francis Doyle of Philadelphia, a delegate to the Buenos Aires peace conference of last December. The second speaker at the dinner is Charles G. Fenwick, a member of the faculty at Bryn Mawr (Pa.) Col- lege, whose topic is “Our Responsi- bility for World Peace.” Other discussions scheduled for to- | day include “Social Relations in a World Society” and “Nationalism in Relation to a World Society.” The two round-tables tomorrow will con- cern “Economic Relations in a World Society” and “Political Organization in a World Society.” The Student Peace Federation of the Catholic Association for International Peace will meet at the Mayflower Wednesday, the day after the close of the first conference. BAND CONCERT. By the United States Army Band at the Army Band Auditorfum at 6 pm. Capt. Thomas F. Darcy, con- ductor. Program. March, “Tribute to Sousa” Goldman Tone poem, “My Souvenirs,” Mainent “Gould Academy Dedication March Mainente | Mainente | Fox trot, “What Will I Tell My Heart?” ------- Lawrence | “The Little Shepherd" Waltz, “Vienna Beauties”. March, “The Spotlight”_ “The Star Spangled Banner.” [ | cella J. McGinn; | McGinn, NEEDOFRELIEFAID BY CHURCHES TOLD Mrmsterral Union Hears Street Ask Help in So- cial Work. Elwood Street, director of public welfare, whose request for a supple- mental relief appropriation of $830,000 was turned down by Assistant Budget Director John L. Keddy. told the Min- isterial Union of Washington today that “co-operation of the churches is essential to the proper development of public welfare service in the Dis- trict of Columbia.” Street addressed the union in the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, but made no mention of the budget official. whose recent edict that it is the duty of the churches to assume the burden of emergency re- lief has brought this problem squarely before the pastors of Washington. The immediate problem Keddy had reference to was the care of some 3,000 employable heads of families | denied either direct relief or W. P. A. Jobs. “Church work and social work must go hand in hand. and each must re- inforce the other,” Director Street told the union. “The problems of public welfare service are many. Churches can be of great help in meeting them.” Inadequate Facilities Cited. Among these problems he enumer- ated the lack of relief for employables and adequate relief for unemployable persons; inadequate facilities in many institutions, such as the penal institu- tions and the District Training School for the Feeble Minded; inadequate personnel in practically all institu- tions, including especially Gallinger Municipal Hospital, Children’s Tu- berculosis Sanatorium and the Recei ing Home for Children. Street reminded that the work car- ried on by public welfare agencies “originally was church work.” District’s public welfare agencies, he declared, will be glad to co-operate | with the churches, putting them in touch with needy families, prisoners and others whom the churches can assist, He pointed out a program of co- operation for the churches as follows: “Pastors can, through their own spoken word, interpret to their con- | gregations and to the community at large an understanding of these prob- lems and of ways in which they can be met. Speakers Can Be Invited. “The churches can invite sp2akers on public welfare service before their congregations and before various groups within the church organiza- tion. “The churches can send groups of their members, such as adult classes, to visit the public welfare institutions and learn of their ac- tivities. “The churches can supply volun- teers, properly trained for service in | these various institutions and agencies. “The pastors can co-operate in: plan- ning a constructive religious program for the inmates of these institutions.” JAMES W. M’GINN FUNERAL IS CONDUCTED Cabinet Finisher Was Old and Respected Employe at Senate Office Building. James W. McGinn, 88, for 22 years an expert cabinet finisher at the Sen- ate Office Building, died Saturday at Providence Hospital after an illness | of three weeks. Appointed in 1915 by former Sen- ator George Chamberlain of Oregon, Mr. McGinn was one of the oldest and most beloved of the Senate em- ployes, according to Chesley W. Jur- ney, sergeant at arms of the Senate. He lived at 109 Second street north- east. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mar- & daughter, Mrs. Alice E. Foot, and a son, Charles A. both of Portland, Oreg. Puneral services were held this morn- | ing at the Lee funeral home, Fourth | street and Massachusetts northeast, with mass at St. Joseph'’s Church, Second and C streets north- | east. The body was to be sent to | Portland for burial. n The | Bible | avenue | design of the Thomas Jefferson Me- morial were answered today by Repre- sentative Boylan, Democrat, of | York, chairman of the Jefferson | morial Commission, who issued lengthy statement in response “some expressions so ill-informed tt possibly a general statement of the governing considerations may be wel- comed.” | Representative Boylan said members of the commission were unanimous in | their opinion that Jefferson warrants a major memorial because he “stands with Washington and Lincoln as one of the towering figures of history.” The memorial site selected by the | commission “is on & major a % |lan’s statement said. “The Washin ton Monument occupies the center, Lincoln the western terminus, while Marshall and Grant have other posts along this line. Another great axis extends north and south through the White House with Jackson to the north in Lafayette ‘Square. To the south at a point corresponding the Lincoln Memorial on the west a vacant site which has long been recognized as the suitable one for an- other major memorial. completing in that area the great park commission plan of 1901.” Tells of Conferences. Emphasizing that the Jefferson com- | mission conferred constan last year with repres Fine Arts Commission and of the | tional Capital Park and Plannin | Commission, Boylan said his commis= sion selected the site on the south axis of the White House, fulfills governing princip Ney of Fine Aris at the first n the memorial commission. “It was the opinion of the commis- sion. as of many hly placed in Washington, that the designer should be chosen by direct selection, as in the case of the Lincoln Memorial and many Government buildings in Wash- ington. John Russell Pope, ar ect of the Scottish Rite Temple and the Archives Building. and designer of several distinguished memorials, was selected by the commisison and pre- pared many designs during a period of two years. The riemorial commission | gave due weight to suggestio the memorial be devoted to ut purposes which would have the choice of a different site. universal experience that in such me- morials the utilitarian side soon dom- inates the commemorative. even to the extent of completely effacing it. Jefferson himself approved the purely commemorative and monumental type. Cites Jefferson's Tastes. “For the architectural character of the memorial, Jeffer own view and tastes were also la: y determ! ing. One of the types h was adopted in the L and the other is now selected f Jefferson Memorial. Following Jef- ferson's own principals, the character is purely classical “The size of the memorial was fully considered in relation to all factors involved. First designed to be of | greater size, it was reduced after study | to the dimensions now proposed. It of substantially less width than the Lincoln Memorial, from which it is separated by a great distance, each being about half a mile from the ‘Washington Monument in different directions, “The Jefferson Memorial Commis- sion,” Boylan explained. “gave care- ful attention to costs and worked w most detailed estimates. The direct cost of the Lincoln Memorial. begun i in 1910, was approximately $3,000.000, estimated as equivalent to $5,200,000 today. Besides this, easily an equal sum was involved in developing the surroundings with park treatment, roads, water approach and so forth. The cost of the Jefferson memorial | proper, with its foundations, includ- ing the whole area of its terraces, is estimated at $3,000,000. These figures have been confirmed by borings, which now show bedrock at about 80 feet,” Boylan's statement said Boylan explained that the work of | filling, grading and relocating certain | roads, all of which has been planned for many years, should not be charged to the memorial, but will furnish work for unskilled labor. \ Concluding his said “Noble and simple in design, suit- able in character, appropriate in scale and reasonable in cost, this me- | morial to one of the greatest Ameri- cans will stand in the park he first proposed, on the banks of the Potomac, where he planted the Nation’s Capi- | tal, in sight of his native Virginia rhms z statement, Boylan MISS MYRTLE 0. INGE DIES AT SANITARIUM Former Resident of Petersburg, Va., Lived in Capital 25 Years. Miss Myrtle O. Inge, 63, of 522 Fif- | teenth street southeast, for 25 years & | Washington resident, died Saturday in ‘Wa.smngmn Sanitarium after a long | illness. | Miss Inge came to Washington from Petersburg, Va.. where she was born. | She is survived by a brother, Maj. Berkley Inge, U. 8. A, retired, 'and | sister, Mrs. Margaret Inge McReady, both of this city. She also leaves a niece and four nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow in the Lee funeral home, Fourth street and Massachu= setts avenue northeast. Burial will be lin Cedar Hill Cemetery. n