New Britain Herald Newspaper, December 8, 1917, Page 1

HERALD BEST OF ALL LOCAL NEWSPAPERS ‘l NEW BRITAIN HERALD PRICE THREE CLNTS. NEW BRITAIN CONNECTICUT, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1917. —TEN PAGES. HERALD “ADS” ME BETTER BUSINESH ESTABLISHED 1876 * DIVANZO’S UNCLE ARRESTED IN SIMONELLI MURDER CASE ? § K] g i 5 /% homicide, based on statements made W was locked up. . station ¢ that nothing was known in regard % to the arrest, and that it was not 4 ald also interviewed Assistant State's Vincenzo Ruocco Taken Into Custody by New York Police of Homicide. on Charge IMPLICATED BY MAN HANGED ON NOV. 16 Yocal Authorities Profess to Know Nothing Concerning Arrest and As- sistant State's Attorney Also Claims to Be in Dark—Executed Man In- sisted He Had Been Hired to Kill. A sequel to the murder of Raffaele Simonelli in this city September 25, for which John Di Vanzo and Steve Dugone paid the death penalty at the end of the hangman’s noose in state prison, Wethersfleld, November 16, took place last evening, when the New York police took into custody Vincenzo Ruocco, an uncle of Di Van- | %o, reputed to be one of the wealthiest Italians residing in the Bronx. The charge preferred against Ruocco is by Di Vanzo after his arrest in this city, that his uncle was instrumental in the aiding and rabetting in the crime. Detectives Fiaschetti and Repetti of the New York department called at the home of the accused, 701 East| 180th street, and placed him under arrest. He made no statement and At the local police this afternoon it was stated based on any complaint of the local muthorities. A reporter for the Her- Y. W. C. A CAMPAIGN | Fund Goes “Over the Top” to $14,075.15 in Four Days. “Over the top” is what the Y. W. C. A. campaigners have done in their four days’ drive for a fund of $12,000 for war work. At the close of the campaign las! evening the total re- ceipts amounted to $14,075.15. Credit for this remarkable showing beiongs no more to the energetic and t«ithful workers than it does to the public whose co-operation has made this, as well as other similar campaigns, a success. Of the several teams which huave been at work collecting funis, ihai captained by Miss Katherine Wilbor secured the largest amount of money. Miss Wilbor and her co-workers col- lected a grand total of $2,104.20. The winning team among the business gifts coliected $355. of Miss Alce Fitzgerald of the New Britain Machine Co. Following are the team reports for vesterday: \ Subs. Amount Team 1— Mrs. P. B. Stanley... 18 § Team 2— Miss F. Humphrey. Team 3— Mrs. Kenneth Sloper. Team 4— Mrs. H. Team 5— Mrs. W. F. Brooks... Team 6— .100 P, Carter...:. " NETS LARGE AMOUNT MYSTERIOUS FIRE IN Bl WAREHOUSE Used by Government for the | Medical Division of Army BELIEVED T0 BE INCENDIARY Chemicals Stored in Buildings Causé | Explosions and Only the Five Walls of the Building Arc Standing When Firemen Arrive. Chicago, Dec. 8.—A warehouse re- cently leased by the government for the medical division of the army was destroyed by fire of mysterious origin today. Cliemicals among the stores caused a number of small explosions, The flames burned so fiercely that only the walls of the five story struc- ture were standing when firemen ar- rived. The building stood at Dearborn street and West 40t Major W. S. Shields and ployes fled from the flames. Major Shields said he had no comment to make on suspicions of firemen that incendiaries started the firc. Two men acting suspiciously near South treet. em- 5 under the direction | the ruin were arrested by federal op- erative: $200,000. PORTUGALS CAPITAL HAS REVOLUTION Demonstrations Hostile to the Government Because The loss was estimated at Miss K., Wiibor Team Miss E. R. Andrews Attorney Newell Jennings, and he also disclaimed knowledge of the arrest. It is reported, that the New York po- lice have been in touch with Chief ® Rawlings in regard to the disposition of their prisoner. DI Vanzo, throughout the days of his incarceration, steadfastly main- tained that his uncle had induced him to slay ‘Simonelli in revenge for the murder of his uncle which oc- ™ curred in Italy 20 years ago. Di Vanzo ] also claimed that Ruocco had promised him protection from the courts in the event of his carrying out the crime. That the youth who went to his death weeping and y Ing, had been led to firmly believe that he was immume from punish- ment, by the fact that he took the entire_burden of the crime, trying to shield Dugome. Had not the local police been ‘successful in finding Dugone’s gun his price in the atro- cious murder would probably have been left unpaid. 1f Roucco has been arrested at the instigation of State’s Attorney Al- corn, the outcome of the case will be carefully watched. The most im- portant witnesses in the case have gone to their graves, and as dead men tell no tales, the proving of a case against the New York prisoner will prove interesting. TURN DOWN WAR BUREAU. City Hall Commission Turns Deaf Ear to Appeal for Partition. The City hall commission, at a meeting yesterday afternoon, turned a deaf ear to a request of the War Bureau to have the room on the second floor of City hall, now used as an office, partitioned off. This room has been the hearing Toom of the board of public works and the com- mission hae declined to have it par- ., titioned off. The commission will, however, permit the War Bureau to have office space on the fourth floor if it is desired. Bills were approved and other routine business transacted. Among the bills was an unusually large item of interest, bringing the total monthly expenditures up to $4,300. NOVELTY HERE. Principal of High School and Minister Leave Meriden. Meriden, Dec. 8.—The novelty about the departure of fifty-one selec- tive draft men for Camp Devens to- . day was that Francis L, Bacon, prin- cipal of the high school, was in charge of them, assisted by Philip Jones, assistant pastor of the First Congregational church. Both wmen had been drawn and neither claimed exemption from military service. Ivan G. Smith, assistant principal, takes charge of the high school and the parish gives Jones a leave of absen-e. Meriden has only six men ‘to send to camp to fill its quota of 262. FOR 'SOLDIERS’ TOBACCO. Acknowledgment is made by the Herald of the receipt of $256 from the Traut & Iine club for the tobacce fund for soldiers. The check for the e amount was received today from Fred McDonough, secretary of o reeent soeial neld by the Traut ne club Was one of the big suc- of the season and the contri- n tu the tabaceo fund was a per- atage of the receibts. The check will be forwarded te the War Bureau. Trumbull Electric Co. Corporations . New Britain Machine. P. & F Corbin Office North & Judd.. Parker Shirt Co, ... Stanley "Rule and Level. Corbin Screw .. Russell & Erwin Traut & Hine Stanley Works .09 | .25 § .09 .73 41.75 $4.989.9¢ Day’s total INSANE WOMAN FORMER NUN. Strange Patient at Hospital Is Re- moved to Middlctown Retreat—— Came From New Jersey. The strange woman who has been at the New Britain General hospital for the past few days, and who has refused to divulge her identity, was removed yesterday afternoon to the Retreat for Insane in Middletown. Through some papers found in her effects, it was learned that the woman was formerly a nun in a convent in New Jersey. GOING TO AYER, Governor Holcomb and Visit Soldiers. Hartford, Dec. 8.—Governor Hol- comb will be accompanied by mem- bers of his staff when he goes to Camp Devens next Thursday to pre- sent a stand of colors to the 304th U. S. Infantry. The party will leave Hartford ‘the previous afternoon and will proceed to Worcester, where they will etay for the night. The next day the trip to Ayer will be made. Major Buckley, the governor’'s secretary, thinks he will be unable to accom- pany the party as his work in preparation of the drafts which start December 15, will require his attend- ance in the executive department, Staff .to RICHARD PORTER. Hampton Resident Dics at New Brit- ain General Hospital. Richard Porter of Hampton, for many years a resident of this city, died this afternoon at the New Britain Gen- eral hospital after an illness of about' five weeks. He is survived by his wife and a son, Fred W. Porter, the well known broker. Arrangements for the funcral are incomplete. FURLOUGH WEDDING TRIP A marriage license was granted today to Private Williard Mark Crandall, attached to the medical corps at Camp Devens, and Miss Sarah Alice Tallersalo, daughter of J. H. Tallersalo of 12 Cherry street. Private Crandall, whose home is at 350 Park street, is spending a short furlough here, which he intends to make into a wedding trip. of High Prices. Madrid, Dec. 8.—A revolution has broken out in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, according to a despatch re- ceived here by way of Oporto. Out- breaks are said to have occurred at Oporto, also. An Oporto despatch, forwarded here from the frontier says the dem- ontration at Lisbon was hostile to the government while at Oporto the froubles were provoked by the high cost of nece . bakeries and other shops bein “a In Oporto T arre: 60 persons were treated in hospitals. One woman and a man were killed. The governor ordered the closing of all public places and issued a decree clearing the streets at 9 p. m. The town is now said to be quiet. DIES ON EVE OF s were made and SON’S VISIT HOME | John W. Hickey Expires After Ex- pressing Pleasurc at Prospect of Sceing Boy. Saying “Well the boy will be home tomorrow and it will seem good to see him,” John W. Hickey of 451 West Main street prepared to go to bed last night about 10:45 o'clock. A few minutes later his wife heard gasping and around found her husband dead, stretched across the bed. Doctors who were called said death was due to apoplexy Mr. Hickey, a noise upon who was 55 years old was apparcntiy in good health. He had been assistant foreman of the linemen of the Connecticut company for several years and only yesterday was appointed foreman. His son, William, who is an inspec- tor of the power lines, was joking him about his new position only a short time before his death. Mr. Hickey received word last week from his son, Edward, an oiler on the battleship Maine that he had been transferred to the City Park Barracks, New York city, and that he would be home to visit him over the week-end. Following the death of his father, William sent word to his brother in the navy, who has not been home since August telling him of his father's death. Today he received a telegram saying that Edward had Iofl the barracks. He is either on 11oard a ship sailing for France or on his way home. It is not known whether he succeeded in obtaining a | furlough. Mr. Hickey was a well known New Britainite and was a trustee in the Order of Owls, a lecturer in Court Prosperity, F. of A., and a member of the Trolley Men's union. The funeral will probably be held | Monday from St. Mary's church at 10 o’clock. Friends are requested to omit flowers. M. J. Perry of New York city was about 8:45 2 building {badly hurt this mornin I\ clock when he feli from fi{EAKS BACK IN FORTY_FOOT FALL OFF STANLEY WORKS BUILDING Works. He frell 40 feet, 1 ing his back and arms and was rushed | to the New Britain hospital. His con- [ | d@ition was said to be serious this after. | ley ou which he was working at {he Sian- | noon. looking | break- | [GERMAN OFFICIALS REJECT PROPOSAL Will Not Hold Next Conierence At Pskoll As Russians Suggested WILL REPUDIATE LOANS Guards Surrounding Former Czar Nicholas Disarmed As Bolsheviki Soldiers Fearing He May be Lynched —Refuses to Relcase Tchitcher. Petrograd, Dec. 6.—The terms of the temporary armistice agreed upon between the Germans and Russians as received here by telegram from M. Karkahan, a member of the Russian delegation who remains in Brest Lit- ovsk, agrees generally with previous official statements. The telegram adds, however, that the Germans will make only such transfers of troops as were ordered before Dec. 5. The suggestion of the Russian delegation that the next conference meet at Psk- | off was rejected by the Germans. Repudiate Loans. London, Dec. 8.—The Bolsheviki government, according to a Reuter de- spatch from Petrograd is preparing a decree repudiating all Russian for- eign loans and loans concluded by land banks and railways on govern- | ment gusrantees. Shares of internal loans held abroad also will be repu- diated. Held Up a Week. London, Dec. 8.—A Russian gov- ernment despatched, dated Thursday and received here by wireless an- nounces that Leon Trotzky, the Bolsh- eviki foreign minister, has sent to all the Allied embassies and legations in Petrograd a note intimating :that the armistice negotiations with the Central powers have been suspended for a week at the initiative of the Russian delegation for the purpose of providing opportunity of informing the peoples and governments of the Allied countries the existence of such negotiations and their tendency. The note adds that the armistice will be signed only on condition that troops will not be transferred from one front to another and that Ger- man troops are cleared from the islands '‘around Moon Sound. It gen- erally indicates the points of the ne- gotiations in accordance with the wireless statement received from Pe- trograd Thursday and concludes “The period of thus ziven, even in the existin urhed condi- tion of international communications. oly sufficient to afford the Allied goverments opportunity to define their ( attitude toward the peace mnegotia- | tions, that is, their willingness or re- | fusal to participate in negotiations for an armistice and peace. “In case of refusal they must de- clare clearly and definitely before all mankind the aims for which the peo- ples of Europe may be called to shed their blood during the fourth yvear of the war.” First Acrial Battle. Geneva, Switzerland, Dec. 7.—The | first aerial battle between Allied and German alirmen over Swiss territor occurred around Basle today. Tt ap-| pears the Germans, hard pressed by their opponents, entered Switzeriand on purpose. The fight took place at a great height and the number of alr- planes is not known. The encounter lasted twenty minutes. Seven bom#s | were dropped on Swiss territorv but only material damage resulted. Eventually the airmen sped toward Alsace, still fighting, while Swixs sol- diers bombarded both parties witn rells from antiair craft gu esidents of Basle and the n ing territory are indignant over the violation of Switzerland’s neuirality. To Lynch Nick? London, Dec. 8.—The guard sur- rounding Nicholas Romanoff, the for- mer Russian emperor, near Tobols: Siberia, have been disarmed by Lol- sheviki soldiers and sailors, accord- ing to advices received in Petrograd | and forwarded by Exchange Tele- graph company. The Bolsheviki | leaders intend to remove Nicholas to | some other place, fearing he might be lynched. Tchitcherin Held. London, Dec. 8.—A note from the ! British zovernment refusing to re- lease Tchitcherin and Petroff, Rus- sian citizens under arrest in England, the Petrograd correspondent of the | Times says he understands, was de- | ! livered at the Smolyni Institute, the | Rolsheviki headquarters, on Thurs- | day. The correspondent adds that the uneasiness of British citizens in Russia is increasing daily and that the consulate in Petrograd is crowded | with persons asking protection and | advice. Official protection, however, he says, counts for nothing as an at- for Now Britain and vicinity: ow and warmer tonight. sunday clearing and colder. ¢ tals, e e AMERICAN DESTROYER GOES DOWN WITH PART OF CREW. EX-CZAR NlCHOl:AS ESCAPES Washington, Dec. 8.—The American consul at Tiflis today reported a rumor that the former czar of Russia has escaped. The message contained no de- tails and made it clear there was no confirmation of the rumor. ORDER FOR 4,000 COFFINS TO BURY HALIFAX VICTIMS ; - | Blinding Snowstorm Adds Fresh Terrors to City Stricken With Explosion, Fires and Devastation. BOTH RICH AND POOR CARING FOR INJURED There Arve 20,000 Destitute People in the City and Trains Bringing Reliet for the Sufferers caunse of Snow and Wind Storm. Amherst, N. Dec. 8.—An esti- mate of 4,000 persons dead in the Halifax disaster is continued in a pri- vate tclegram received from the stricken city by an undertaking firm here. The m age asks that 4,000 coffing be sent forward to Halifax at once. Dec. 8.—A blinding snow- accompanying a gale that ttained a velocity of more than miles an hour, has held this ¥ of desolation in its grasp for the past twenty-four hours, adding terrors to the awe of Thursday’s disaster and greatly im- peding the prosress of hurry hew from the United S and don cities with their urgent- necded suppLics The M which was due was stalled in eat snow drifts newr Amherst late st night and while snow plows were pressed into service to clear the tracks, the progress w so slow that the time of the train' arrival here is problematical. Other rescue trains also arc reported snow- bound. ion Iy achuselts r arvive lief early train 0 today, Fear Baby Deaths, With every Dartmouth the explosion and fire, men, women and children huddled together as best they could and passed a night of suffering. The chilling wind whistled through smashed windows scarcely blankeis enough wounded bodies and many were un- able to obtain food. Fires were al- most out of the question and the only lights obtainable were from oil lamps or candles. Out of the chaotic conditions, rich and poor have already gladly gathered for the caring of the injured and homeless and accounting for the dead. The Citizens' Finance committee es- timates there arc 20,000 destitute people in the devastated area, the ma- jority of them from the poorer classes Nearly 4,000 dwellings were destroyed, the committee declares, and the ac- tual losses and the estimated cost of temporary maintenance will approxi- mate $30,000,000. Perhaps the most serious of the many problems to be met is the food situation. There is enough food in the city for immediate needs but un- less communication is opened soon, the city faces the possibility of fa- mine. The energies of local relief committees have been centered on the conservation of food and merchants have surrendered all their available supplies for the common need. Milk is almost unobtainable and fears are expressed for the lives of babies in 'ms unless an adequate supply is sured from outside sources. building in Halifax and Searching ror Bodies. In the sreater task of caring for the living. no concerted effort is being made at present ta compile a list of the dead, but hundreds of soldiers, sailors, American Jackies and volun- | teers are groping under the mass of wreckage searching for bodies. The morgues are choked with,.mangled bodies, many of whom probably never will be identified. Police officfals still| estimate the dead at more than 2,000 and the injured at 3,000 and.mare. All hospitals, regular and impro- vised; every available spot is occupied by the wounded. In addition to the Nova Scotia General and Camp Hill hospitals and the infirmary, the Y. M. C. A., Knights of Columbus building, St. Paul's hall and public places have been converted into temporary hospi- Doctors and nurses have worked unceasingly since the first hours of the explosion with little or no sleep. The Academy of Music, the thea- ters and halls of fraternal organiza- tions have been threwn open to care for the homeless. Private citizens’ Are Halted Be- at new | -stricken survivors relief trains tes a more or less damaged by ' ECUADOR BREAK WITH GERMANY i 2 i Guayaquila, Ecuador, Dec. 8 —Ecuador has severed diplo- matic relations with Germany according to an offiaial com- munication by the government today. | have opened their homes and given their extra clothing to the unfortu- nates. The ne spaper offices are the clear- ©ing houses for information and they | ‘e been besieged all during the| storm by throngs of persons anxious for news of relatives, The city clerk’s office is the official headquarters for the lists of the dead and missing. | The spontaneous action of the . United States in offering aid has ‘:n\:\k(‘n(‘d 2 new bond of sympathy hetween the twa peoples. Relief also has heen promised from every town in Nova Scotia and from all parts of Canada Sir lobert Borden, the prime minister, arrived here yesterday and has piaced all the resources of the Dominion government the dis- posal of the city. | R i Not Enough Doctors. Trure, N. Dec. &—Additional outside relief for the suffering thou- ,ands in Halifax was dependent today upon the weather. The great ; storm dominated the situation. Almost every hour brought word of refief train lled by the huge drifts wihich h. heen piled up by the rale the railroad lines between Moncton, ¢ Brunswick and Halifax. Word ne from Halitax early to- day that the condition of the many injured residents was very serious and that there were not enough doctors in the city to give them the needed treat- ment. The most imperative need, fact, was said to be more phys= Some three hundred person: j ing from all kinds of injuries arc ing carcd for in improvised hospitals lin Truro, Windsor, the only other | large town within easy railroad com- munication with Halifax is caring for i three hundred more. So far as is known here, nonc have been sent to | [ uny other place. If the trains were | able to get through, it was expected two hundred more injured persons would be sent here today s “now < Dazicls Acts. Washington, Dec. §—Secretary Dan- iels today offered the Red Cross a quantity of supplies at Portsmouth for relief at Halifax. Two ships un- der the direction of the navy already are at Halifax doing what they can to relieve the situation and another has been sent from Provincetown, Mass., with a hospital unit to co-operate with the relief corps. The supplies it Portsmouth includes 25,000 blankets {and 600 stoves. No further reports of conditions at Halifax had been re- | ceived today by the navy department. Is Isolated. St. John, N. B., Dec. 8.—Halifax is olated in her desolation Stormbound the city has been cut off from virtually all communication with the outside. Intermittent communication by tel- | egraph uncertain in the early hours of the day, was followed by complete suspension so far as could be learned here. The fate of the ‘'sufferers from the explosion of Thursday is cousing the greatest concern as temporary quarters for the homeless are Nhmited and supplies of window glass and roofing paper that might make dam- aged buildings again habitable are still lacking in sufficlent quantity to meet the need. Reports from Truro say the whole section is storm swept and'the fury of the blizzard is hardly less cruel than the destroying flames that preceded it. The relief trains that raced with the storm in the Rkope of getting their supplies into * Halifax before their I paths were blocked by the fast folling snow failed and today the relief par- ties were themselves in need of zuc- cor. Trains from Halifax and other points east were reported as hours behind and there were no promises made re- garding them. These trains are load- ed with injured persons and deaths upon them are altogether probabie as scarcely a trainload of injured has ar- rived heretofore without bringing the bodies of some who died after the journey to the hospitals at Truto was begun. today. Torpedo from Subma:| rine Sends Fighting Vessel to Botton of the Sea. THIRTY-SEVEN SAVED ON THE LIFE RAFTS| Commander of Vesscl Was Brother-in law of Secretary of the Navy Dan- icls, and Brother of Ensign Wort Bagley, First Amcrican Killed the Spanish War. Washington, Dec. 8.—The Amerit destroyer Jacob Jones was torpedoe and sunk in the war zone on Thursd; with the loss of a large part of crew. Thirty-seven survivors were ‘taken] off on life rafts. The names of the| survivors have been received here. ; ‘The names of the survivors reporte are: Lieutenant John XK. Richards, Bn sign Nelson N. Gates, Assistant Surd geon L. L. Adamkiwicz, Fireman Charles E. Pierce, Seaman Timothy Edward Twomey, Seaman John O Johnson, Chief Machinists Mate He: A. Stutzke, Fireman Edward I\ Grady Seaman John J. Mulvaney, Seam; Myron Flood. e The sinking occurred Dec, 6§ @f p. m. while the ship was on pats duty. She was accompanied by, Liel Commander David Worth Bagl brother of Mrs. Josephus Daniels, wifél of the secretary of the navy. 4 Inasmuch as Admiral Sims mens number of officers among the and did not Bagley, fedrs are that he went down with his shi] The large loss of life would indicate that the torpedo, with its dend} charge of high explosive, made a faln hit plumb on the destroyer's thin hull and the submatine hunter probavly was blown fairly in two. That Kha { went down quickly is evidenced b the fact that nothing is said of sur vivors getting ofi in life boats. Thosy saved got off cn rafts which probabiy floated off beside the sinking ship & she plunged down in the icy darknesi) Brother Killed in '98. Bagley’s brother, En sign Worth Bagley, was the firsg American officer killed ' in tHd h-American war. 3 Jacob Jones was the ship ! which saved 305 persons from th Orama, a . and O. liner, converted into an auxilia cruiser, on Octobe 19. The Arama had been torpedoed by a submarine while she was acti F part of a convoy of merchy vescels under escort of American stroyers, The Jacob Jones and anef other destroyer were detailed to re: main by the Orama after the subs marine had been attacked and put out of action. When the Orama began settle it had grown dark and hes crew abandoned her. The Jacoh Jones picked up in the darkness 30; of the 478 persons on board. The other vesser standing b rescued the remainder. The Jacoh Jones' peace time com- plement was five officers, five petty! officers and 87 men. She was one of the newest and largest of Ameri- can destroyers with a displacement of} 1,150 tons and a length of 310 feel over all. She was completed in 1916 at the plant of the New York Ship- building company, Camden, N. J. She burned oil, was driven by turbine engines and had a' speed of 29.57 knots an hour. Commander PURCHASE NEW APPARATUS. Commissioners Expect to Have New) Engine Here by March. A The board of fire commissioners day closed a contract with Maxim Motor Co. for the purchase a new biece of fire apparatus, Maxim pumping engine. is ‘9. combination pump and chemjj engine and has a capacity of gallons and can pump a stream i water with 120 pounds pressure.’' & new feature of this contract is that. the commissioners have the right to. cancel the contract in case the ap- paratus does not conform with the tests prescribed by the New England Insurance Exchange. The price of this piece of apparatus is $6,700 and it is to. be delivered in 100 working days so that it will afe rive here in March, it is expected, DR. MELVIN DIES, Washington, Dec. 8.—Dr. A. D. Me| vin, chlef of the Bureau of Animat Industry, and well known as the gav= ernment’s foremost figure in combat+ ting foot and mouth discases and oth- er diseases of cattle, died at his homa here last night of pulmonary hemorr- hage. He was vears cld. = CRIMINALLY LIABLE, $ DBridgeport, Dec. 8.—Coroner Phe- lan today found David Layton crim-. inally responsible for the death of Hazel Waterman, who was Kkillell 1a | an automoblle crash at Westport on Dec. 3. Layton is now in jail on a | sentence for taking the automobile without permission of the owner.