New Britain Herald Newspaper, February 15, 1928, Page 1

News of the World By Associated Press ESTABLISHED 1870 BIG NAVY PROGRAM| STRONGLY OPPOSED BEFORE COMMITTEE World Alliancs for Inernatiopal Priendship and Charch Peace Union Are Objectors . POLICY DESCRIBED BY WITNESS AS “MENACE” W. L Hull, Professor of lfls&‘l’y Swarthmore, Declares It Will “Tend to Militarise or Navalise Our Own People”—This is First | Objection Aired \ Before House | Naval Committee, ‘Washington, Feb. 15 (#—Opposi- tion to the administration's $74 000,000 warship construction pro- gram was voiced today before the house naval committee by a group of witnesses representing the world‘ alliance for international friendship | and church peace union. Heading the delegation, William I. | Hull, professor of history and inter- national relations at- Swarthmore college, declared that the program, proposing construction of 25 cruis- ers, five aircraft carriers, nine de- stroyer leaders, and 32 submarines, constituted as ‘‘extravagance” and a “menace.” First Before Commiittee Hull's appearance marked the | first time since the program was submitted by Becretary Wilbur that opposition to it has been vciced be- fore the committee. The program was -escribed by Hull as a menace “because it will tend to militarize or navalize our own people.” ‘The building program, which has heen endorsed by Secretary Wilbur a8 mon-competitive and designed only to meet American needs, Was declared by Hull to be competitive. “Whatever denlal may be made of its eompetitive character,” he con- tinued, “it is obviously in line with naval competition with Great Brit- #n and it is inevitably so regarded by the British people. If it is con- tinued, therefore, it must result as did the similar competition between Great Britain and Germany before the war, in the enormous increase of naval armament in both coun- tries and very probably in the fear, suspicion and hatred which resulted in the war. Oulls For Alliance “As in the old world, also, before the war it is all too probable that it will call for an alllance among the naval and military powers of the old world in response to our own naval menace. “If you gentlemen could only talk | with the American people outside of Washington, you too, would be amased and startled by the hatred for the English people which is al- ready flaring up under the stim- ulous of this proposition. Not only s it adding fuel to the old flames such as Mayor Thompson of Chi- eago has been stirring up, but it s | kindling fires of religious hatred as well. “As to the arguments need in (Continued on Page 3.) LINDBERGH SAYS WILL NOT GIVE UP FLYING Does Not Agree With| Views of Secretary of | War Davis St. Louls, Feb. 15 UP—Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh will continue his work of experimental flying, despite the hasards connected with ft. He said, however, that he had | no definite plans at ‘the present ex- | eept to try to rest in private life. | “There are so many things to be @one,” he said last night. | “Improvements in aviation are certain. They must come and they cannot be made unless experiments are made.” As Lindbergh was leaving the hangar yesterday following an exhi- bition flight before 60,000 school children along the river front, he was stopped by a reporter who asked him his opinion of Becretary of War Davis's proposal. “What is the proposal?” Lindbergh. *“He says he is going to ask you to stop stunt flying.” “Of course I can’t answer that off hnM and say what my course will " Lindbergh replied. “I don't DS ar T Hove bon doing as | hazardous flying in the sense that I have taken unnecessary risks. At the outset when new methods of transportation are coming into use there must be pioneers to show the way and some of them are killed. But the ones who do the pioneering are the lut ones to think of the hasards.” asked “Have you any particular flights he replied. “There are 80 many things to be done.” “But for the present there is no cause for worry,” he added with a smile. “From now on until further notice I am in retirement. I need a rest in private life and am going to try to get it.” The last of his public appearances Rere for a time was scheduled for today when a banquet was planned 12 his homer. + NTEN Connecticut State d\(. nfl‘-' Drops to Knees in Prayer When Court Gives Her 30 Days Portland, Me, Feb. 15 P)— Dropping to her knees in the Judge’s chambers of the munic!- pal court today, before a group of social workers and court at- taches, Mrs. Belle Strout offered up a prayer, while the astonished group gazed at her. 8he had been sentenced to thirty days in the house of cor: rection, after heing arrested on a charge of having abandoned her nine year old daughter in Gray. 8he remained on her knees for about two minutes, then calmly left the chambers with an officer. As the woman started to pray, she exclaimed: “I don’t ecare whether laugh at me or not.” CONMITTEE FAVORS BITUMINOUS PROBE yorable Report on Senator Johnson's Resolution OTHER INQUIRIES ORDERED Operations of Asked by Senatc—Investigation of Sttuation Urged you Cotton Exchanges Unemployment Too, ‘Washington, Feb. 15.—M—The senate interstate commerce commit- Senator Johnson, republican, Cali- fornia, for an - investigation of the bituminous coal situation in Penn- sylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. Full Commiittee Probe The resolution would call for an inquiry by the full committee but it was amended to permit a gub-com- mittee to carry on the study in the event it becomes necessary for hearings in the coal fields. tives of the mine unions have urged that the committece make a first hand study in the flelds. The resolution also would call for an investigation of charges that the Pennsylvania, . Baltimore and Ohio and New York Central railroads have conspired bringing about a suspension of oper- ations in the fields. Reed's Is Side Tracked A proposal by Scnator Reed, re- publican, of Pennsylvania, that the committeo also investigate the ‘was side-tracked on the ground that The resolution now goes to the senate for action. During the hear- Ings by the committee, charges of brutality by coal and mine police of ennsylvania figures prominently in he testimony of witnesses. In rejecting the Reed amendment the committee recommended that it be embodied in a eeparate resolu- tion. The committee was unanimous in (Continued on Page ' Page Eight) BANK PRESIDENT AND HARTFORD GIRL MARRY Miss Florence Savitt Surprise Friends Joseph M. Chernoft, president of the Fidelity Industrial bank ot this city, and Miss Florence B. Savit of Hartford were married late yester- | building in New York city, accord- ing to word recelved here today. Mr. Chernoff is in New York city at- tending a banker’s convention. The marriage was a surprise to relatives and associates of both parties. Mr. Chernoff lives at 87 Columbia street, but he gave & New York ad- dress, 72 Avenue A, when he applied for a marriage license in that city yesterday. He is the son of Menas and Sophie Wintz Chernoff and is a native of Russia. He is prominent in the financial life of New Britain. Tr> former Miss Savitt is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Sa itt of 17 Westbourne Parkway, Hart- ford. High school, Hartford, and for the past few years has been doing secre- Max Bavitt of Hartford. Another brother, William M. Savitt, is at the head of Savitt, Inc., Hartford jewel- ers. It is probable that the couple will reside in this city on their return, although no definite information could be secured. KEARNEY IS SILENT Dismissed Superintendent of Streets Declines 10 Comment om Statement by Chairmaa Towers. Thomas F. Kearney, the dis- missed street superintendent who tions ‘of Chairman R. J. Towers of the board of public works and ask- ed for a hearing, had nothing to say foday in refutation of Towers' ex- planation that Kearney lost his po- sition because of his lack of sobriety. Kearney indicated he would do nothing te challenge the statement of Chairman Towers, and will not call on his former chief for proof to support the charge. tee today approved the resolution. of | Benator Johnson and représenta- | with operators in | freight rate structure on coal hauls | it would require too much time fn | { connection with the other inquiry. Joseph M. Chernoff and| day at the chape! of the municipal | 8he ia & graduate of Weaver | tarial work for her brother, Attorney | last week meverely criticized the ac- | 4V BRITAIN HERALD NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1928.—TWENTY PAGES Gypsy Girl Casts Hypnotic Spell Over Lilac Street Man, Gets $538; Creates Image in Glass of Water STEPHENSON TELLS OF ALLEGED PLOT T0 TAKE HIS LIFE Former Klansman Says Attempt to Morder Him Has Boen Made in Indiana Prison — TESTIFYING IN TRIAL OF GOYERNOR JACKSON Going into Details of McCray-dack- son Bribery Case, Former Grand Pragon Says Latter Had “Sob- Fest” When Former Governor Declined to Accept $10,000 Bribe —To Appoint One of “Gang.” Indianapolis, Feb. 15 UP—Testi- |tying as a state witness in the |trial of Gov. Ed Jackson today, D |C. stephenson, former grand dragon ot the Ku Klux Klan, charged that lan effort had been made to kill him isince he was sent to the state| {prison on a murder charge in No- vember, 1925. Stephenson also declared he was prevented from testifying in his own defense at his murder trial, because he had been threatened by Hiram W. Evans, imperial wizard of the |Ku Klux Klan. They said he would | be killed as he sat in the witness | | chair, The witness denied he had given | !a paroled convict $1.500 1o employ |a Chicago gunman to kill Gov. Ed | | Jackson. | ! With defense objections eliminat- | ed by instruction of the defengant, | Stephenson, told of an alleged con- | +spiracy to buy the Marion county prosceutorship at the trial of Gover- | nor Ed Jackson. | Stephenson, who now i a life | prisoner at Michigan City, told of | | taking $10,000 from a strong box to | give Governor Warren T. McCray in 11923 it McCray would name James | E. McDonald to the vacated office. fovernor Jackson, George C. Cof- | in, Marion county republican chair- | man, and Robert T. Marsh, formerly | an attorney for the Ku Klux Klan, were in conference frequently rela- | tive to getting *“one of our group” in ‘ Ithe office, Stephenson declared, Jackson Talks Hurriedly ‘ Governor Jackson, watching the | witness intently, leaned forward and talked hurriedly with his attorneys as they persisted In objecting to Stephenson's testimony. | Clyde . Jones, of defense counscl, | then sald: | “The governor has asked me to | withdraw all objections and let the | witness tell his story.” Stephenson qualified as a witness by assertions that he had been @ | close personal and political friend of | Governor Jackson from 1922 until [1924. He aid he had done every- | thing in his power to bring ahout | Jackson's elcction in 1924, Had Sob Fest | { When the alleged bribe was re- | jected by Gov. Warren T. McCray, Stephen said, Jackson, Coffin and he had *“a sob fest.” | Breaking a silence of more than | 24 hours, Stephenson told of having been acquainted politically and so- clally with Governor Jackson from 1922 until 1924, He said the governor was a frequent visitor at his Irving- |ton home, an Indianapolis suburb, | | | | ( Continued on Page 8.) CAPTURE TWO YOUTHS AFTER FIGHT IN OHID |Believe They May Be Slayers of Indiana Sheriffs | | { | Manuel Gomez Tells Police He Remained in Trance Savings Were Stolen While for About 24 Hours— Bank Officials Confirm Withdrawal of Funds —Hunt for Fortune Teller. Wafted into a hypnotic trance by a woman described as a ‘“dark Spanish” gypsy, Manuel Gomes, aged 36, of 33 Lilac street, woke this morning, almost 24 hours after he had concentrated on a glass of water in which he sald the head and shoulders of a beautiful wo- man were formed, and found his entire fortune consisting of $538.25 gone, according to his report to Captain George J. Kelly at police headquarters today. An immediate investigation was ordered but Detective Sergeant George C. Ellinger was unable to obtain the slightest clue even after a thorough search of districts of the city in which fortune tellers and fakirs might congregate. He was ac- companied by Gomes, who be- moaned the loss of his money but insisted that his story was true and complete. A suit of clothes, several shirts and scarfs are also missing, Gomes said, and he belleves thc‘ woman took them at the saume time she stole the money. Tells of Being Hj ized “Two of these women, one white and one dark Spanish came yester- day about 10 o'clock when I was alone in the house,” Gomes related to Captain Kelly. “The white one and the dark one told me she would read my palm for a half a dollar, 80 I let her do it. Then she told me to look into a glass -of water and I did and I saw a woman's head and shoulders in there and that's all T remember until I woke up just a lit- tle while ago. I drew all my money ocut of the bank yesterday morning and intended to go away. While Y was asleep she must have taken the key to my trunk out of my pocket.” Questioned by Captain Kelly, Gomes, who Is Portuguese, sald the fortune teller knew he had drawn (Continued on Page Eight) PLUNKETT RETIRES; ARGENTINE LEADER SERVED 48 YEARS Admiral Relinquishes Command of Third Naval District FIRE THIRTEEN GUN SALUTE' Career During Late Years Has Been Tempestuous Due to His Constant Advocacy of Preparedness—To En- ter Private Business, New York, Feb. 15 P—Rear Ad- | miral Charles P. Plunkett, whose humrmu pleas for preparedness and a larger navy recently caused a stir in official Washington and European capitals, on his 64th birthday anni- versary today retired after 48 yi service in the navy, While the flag on the receiving | ship Seattle was lowered and a 13 gun salute was fired the veteran officer quit command of the third naval district and the navy yard at Brooklyn to enter private business. Champions Preparedness In the recent years of a distin- | }L\ulhtd career Admiral Plunkett has been among the champions of naval | causes, frequently calling for great- er naval protection for United States |and a merchant marine second to| none in the world. “If I read history correctly, and what we are doing today,” Admiral Plunkett told the National Repub- lican club here last month, nearer war today than we have ever been in our history because we are too efficient.” ‘While President Coolidge later saw no reason for newspapers of this or any other country to take serious- ly statements by American naval of- ficers predicting war botween the (Continued on Page 11.) “we are | QUITS COMMITTEE Rumored in Havana That He Has Reslgned HEETING IN CONFUSION i,\‘mdpprnram'e of South American Ambassador to the United States | | Disconcerts His Fellow Delegates on Union Committee, i Havana, Feb. 15 (#—The Pan- American Union committee adjourn- ed today until nine o’clock tomorrow morning after voting unanimous i reorganizing the Pan-American ed and her committee vote was not recorded. Dr. Honorio Pueyrredon, head of {the Argentine delegation, failed to appear when the committee met this morning, and there was much agita- ‘llon when it was reported that he had resigned from the delegation, | with the possibility of his resigna- |tion also from the ambassadorship at Washington. Even the Argentine delegates were unable to locate their {ed by the Associated Press corre- spondent by telephone, and he re- {fused to deny or confirm the reports of his resignation. He asserted, | nowever, that he had not taken part {in the scesion of the Pan-American union committee this morning be- cause he probably would have been |obliged to vote on the convention as it 18 now worded, and while deter- mined not to vote in its favor, he still did not desire to vote against it, out of regard for certain schools of thought In Argentina, which want- | ed him to vote in its favor. (Continuad on Page 17.) 8t. Clairsville, O., Feb. 15 (P — | Two youths, captured after an ex- | | change of shots in woods near here, were held today by authorities who | believed they might be John Burns |and Samuel Baxter, who disappearcd | While being taken to the Pendleton, Ind., reformatory. They said they were Albert Jen- nings and Frank Fornes, both 17. They bear close resemblance to the , | escaped prisoners, Sheriff Hardesty said. They were arrested by Deputy Sheriffs Louis S8haw and Wayne Street, who chased them from g | filling station into a wooded area, where the youths abandoned their automobile. A shot missed the offi- cers, but Street returned the fire and | wounded Jennings in the leg. The pair then surrendered. i A checkup revealed the youths car had been taken from a street in | Columbus and another left in its place. The abandoned machine had shotgun shells in the rear and the | steering wheel was covered with blood. Sherifft Hardesty sald both boys had cut wrists, which he belleved the result of breaking from hand- cuffs. They also had road maps, which the sherMI said indicated by | tracings that the youths had travel- cd a wide territory. Burns and Baxter escaped from Deputy Sheriffs John P. Grove and Wallace McClude, February 7, and neither of the officers has been seen | since. It is thought the two aged ,deputies, who were taking the boys | from Lafayette, Ind., to the refor- matory to serve sentences from § to | 25 years for robbery, may have been " slain. New York, Feb. 15 (UP)—New York subway riders, ordinarily are the most docile creatures imagin- able. They pay their nickels at the turnstiles, get caught doors, submit to having their corns mashed by their milling fellows and allow platform guards to push them around like so many cattle, But for two cents the 8,000,000 a day—aee car card ads for verifi- cation of the figure—would become ! a rowdy and menacing mob. In fact for exactly two cents on several oc- | casions recently they have become Just that. The two cents suspected of bring- ing about the reversal represents the | amount of a threatened increase in fare. Unless the straphangers win their fight there is danger of the fare going to 7 cents. Battle Cry Sounded. The battle cry was sounded last | month when several hundred Brook- lynites commandeered a train that had its destination signs wrong. and tried to make it go where they wanted. It took police reserves to rescue that train. In the Times Square station at six o'clock, last night the mob got out of all bounds. That heart and center of congestion was gorged at last. Platforms were jammed, the over- flow began extending to the street, and trains were unable to move be- cause passengers couldn’t debark in- to the impenetrable mass on the platform and no one could get on. ‘The turnatiles and change booths were closed and extra guards began shoving back the erowds that kept pouring in from the street. It was raining hard and the usual crowds were augmented by thousands who in sltding | With Cry of “7 Cent Fare” Mob Vaults Turnstiles as 10,000 Mill About in Times Square Subway 12 YEAR OLD LADNOW Police Reserves From Two Stations are Called Out w THE [AR[ "F flxmflfl Master Crowd so Great that Passengers Could Not Get off Trains—Mass of Humanity Overflows Into Rain-Swept Broadway. otherwise would walk. Nearly 10,000 people were barred outside the sta- | side. Vault Stiles. Someone raised the cry, “Seven cent fare” and the mob took it up. A hundred or 8o pushed the guards and began vaulting the turnstil { Then police reserves from two sta- | tions were called and after half an | hour, traffic was resumed by re- | routing of trains and other expe- dients, o, {1s pugnacious. He will argue with | the butcher, the grocer, a cop or even tell his boss where to head in. But in.the maas he is tame, He han to be. Visitors from less congested re- | £lons where courtesy is practiced in ‘~tr(~0( cars, are astounded at scenes in the subway rush hours. A scrappy Mttle 100-pound steno- grapher will hurl her inconsiderabls bulk into a group of 50 trying to pack into a car vestibule with room for only 20, and make it. The fe- male in many instances is more deadly than the male. She can af- ford to knock a man out of the way, | but at least 50 per cent of the men trampling down women, are handicapped. and they THE WEATHER New Britain and vicinity: Mostly fair and slightly cold- er tomight and Thursday. | | 1 | * went into a house across the street | adoption of the projected convention | Union, Argentine was not represent- | chairman, but finally he was reach- | tion while another 10,000 were in- | The New Yorker as an individual | still retain quaint old notions about | | | | | LORD ASQUITH HICKMAN GRINS AS NEW TRIAL BEGINS Wilby Huot, His Alleged Ac- complice, Appears Downcast \DEFENSE PLEAS OYERRULED | Defense Lawyer's Plea that He Has Not Had Time to Prepare Case Futile—Selection of Jury Starts ! | at Once, ! Court Room, Los Angeles, Feb. 15 (UP)—William Edward Hickman and his former pal, Welby Hunt, went to trial here today for the | murder of C. Ivy Toms, Rose Hill | | druggist. Court Judge Elliott Craig after Su perior Court Judge Carlos 8. Hardy had overruled a motion for a con- tinuance made by attorneys for Hickman. " A second motion similar to the one made before Judge Hardy for {continuance was denied by trial immediately. Defense Attorney Jerome Walsh | filed an affidavit, sigmed by Hick- man, in which the attorney said he | couid not handle the case properly | because of the short time he had to prepare for it. as Judge Hardy read the affidavit and denied the motion. Hunt stood with downcast eyes but the convicted slayer of Marion | | Parker smiled and appeared to be in | excellent spirits. Selection of a jury was scheduled to start at once. Hickmen is Proud Hickman continues to grin about | his sentence to death, proud that he Ihad “taken it like 2 man,” as attor- | neys pushed plans for an appeal. i Hickman joked with his guards, | pointed out that Judge J. J. Trabuc- {co had sounded “nice” in declaring \the death sentence, and did not seem worrfed that he was to die April 27—unless appeal attempts are | successtul—tor the murder of Mar- {ion Parker. Hickman stood before the bench, slightly pale, but ‘emotionless as | ,Jml:e Trabuceo pronounced sen- |tence yesterday. “For the crime of murder you [lhn“ suffer the penalty of deulh on |Friday, the 27th day of April, 192 in the manner provided by the Iav\F of the state of California, and may |God have mercy on your soul.” (Continued on Pn‘e 17 lFormer Viscount Asquith ( Is the Thirtieth Eng- [ lish Boy Peer London, Feb. 15 (UP)—Twelve. | vear old Viscount Asquith who today ' | became second Earl of Oxford and Asquith upon the death of the great liberal statesman, is the thirteenth hoy peer of Great Britain. Viscount Asquith was Lord Ox- ford's grandson—the son of Ray- | mond Asquith, killed in action in 1916, only three months hefore Lord Oxford ceased to be prime minister. Other boy peers in their own right | | range from the four-year-old Earl of | Gainsborough to 2-year-old Baron | Pentland. The last boy before Asquith to in- ! herit a peerage, and with it a meat in the house of lords to be assumed { when he is grown, was the ten-year old son of Field Marshal Earl Haig, who died January 30. Both the premicr duke and the | | premier earl of England are minors. The 16th Duke of Norfolk, the | Premier Duke, comes of age May 0, 1929. His title dates from 148, ! But his patent of nobility dates from | 1139, when he was created Earl of | Arundel. Actually, the boy Duke ix | premier earl through this title; but as it is a secondary title, the 14- vear-old 21st Earl of Shrewsbury whose earldom dates from 1442 styles himeelf premier earl. The Earl of Shrewsbury has an | | American for a step-father—Rich- |ard E. Pennoyer, formerly of the | United States dipiomatic service. Another boy peer—Viscount Har- |court, now approaching his 20th | birthday, has American blood. His |cipal losses were to the William W. |satd. | maternal grandfather was the late ‘Walter H. Burns of New York. The case was assigned to Superlor | Judge | | Craig, forcing the defense to begin | Hunt and Hickman stood together ! T0 ILLNESS, MOURNS FOR FAVORABLE | REPI]RT FOR FARM RELIEF MEASURE ORDERED ' Rerisod McNary-Haugea Bill by, | i | | | i | Unanimous Yote Is Ont Be- Tore Senate Again 'STILL CARRIES WUCH DISCUSSED PEE PLAN Equaliza- ' tlon Fee Would be Levied Only in | s Measure Now Stands, the Event of Emcrgencies and| Could Be Made Apply 1o All Com- | Basic Ones| modities, Instead of | As In Original Measure, I Washington, Feb. 15 (®—The re- [vised McNary-Haugen farm relief | {bill was ordered favorably reported | by the senate agriculture committee | today after two hours' consideration. By its action, the committee pu(\ |the controversial farm problem | iagain before the senate by a unani- | mous vote of those members present. 1 Some, however, reserved the right to | oppose ihe bill on the floor and to| offcr amendments. | Equalization Fee The moditied bill still carries the cqualization fee which was so stren- {uously opposed by President Cool- (idge in vetoing the measure passed |last mession, but it is believed to {meet several objections then voiced |by the president. The fee now would be levied only in the event of emergencies and could be made to apply on all com- {modities, whereas only the basic | Vummo(ll!lnn were Included within | provisions of the vetoed measure, All Commodities | A revolving fund of $260,000,000 (would be created from which loans lat 4 per cent interest would be made | available for cooperative marketing asgociations, Chairman McNary, author of the |measure, gave no promise today of when he would get the bill up for consideration in the senate where he {is confident of passage again. “This modified measure meets al- ,most all of the principal objections | ! of President Coolidge to the old bill,” ‘he said. "It carries the terms of the administration's old proposal as put| forward by Secretary Jardine,” Chairman Haugen of the house | agricultural committee, which is con- sidering his companion measure 1o | McNary's, expressed gratification | over the senate committee action and |said he expected his committee to| |take similar action within a week. | | “There is no q¥estion in my mind, | ibut that the same bill, with its equalization fee, will also be accept- | |ed by the house committee,” he said 'TOBACCO MEN DISCUSS -~ “GIFT" TO SECRETARY Don’t Understnnd What Was Meant by Voting Him $7,500 Salary Hartford, Feb. 15 (P—What did | .19 of the 22 district directors of (hr\‘ | Connecticut Valley Tobacco Assocla- [tion mean, when they voted, unani- | mously on January 17 to give Secre- tary Treasurer Arthur E. Nelson §7,- 500 as & year's salary after “he has completed his duties in connection with the winding up of its (the as- sociation's) affairs?"’ This was the chief subject of dis- cussion at the meeting of the | cleventh district at Hazardville, Tuesday evening. | While the meeting was a regular monthly one the subject was dis- | cussed that the members might act | upon it before the monthly meeting of the association directors next | Tuesday. Chairman W. H. Gowdy, presided. | Representative Albert Newfield of { Hartford was present and spoke on the tobacco market and the crop of | 1927 The next meeting will be held { Marcn 13. | The matter of the gift of $7,600 | | to Mr. Nelson will be considered at |the mecting of the second district this evening at Odd Fellows hall, Glastonbury. \ Other meetings for the same pur- |pose will be first district, Thurs- day evening, at Community club, | South Glastonbury; seventh and | eighth districts, Thursday evening at | Town hall, South Windsor. The fourteenth . strict. Windsor, | will hold a meeting “is week. | The fourth districi will also hold | |a meeting. | ,$40,000 Hardware Fire In Newport, Rhode Island Newport, R. I, Feb. 15 (M—Flm early today caused $40,000 damage to the Covell bullding on Thames street, in the center of the business | ! district, and its occupants. The pr'n- Covell Hardware Company, A. C. Landers and Son. | 1916 ! mier, David Lloyd George. Average Daily Circulation For' Week Ending Feb, 11th . 14,968 PRICE THREE. CENTS EARL OF OXFORD SUCCUMBS ALL BRITAIN AR MINISTER Lonl Alqllltll Dies at Home on River Early Today- Had Been Unconscious With Pharyngitis All eek. Devoted Wife, Margot, Maintains Bedside Vigil Over Famous Husband Whose Political Career She Helped and Guided. Sutton Courtenay, England, Feb 15 (P—The Earl of Oxford and As- | quith, who as Herbert A. Asquith, prime minister, was an outstanding figure of the World War dicd her: at 6:50 this morning. Pulmonary complications brought | death to the 75 year old statesman at his country home, The Wharf, in this little old world village on the banks of the upper Thames, He had lived there since his re- tirement from public life, after his resignation from the leadership of | the liberal party in October, 1926. Unconscious Since Monday, Lord Oxford had heen unconscious since Monday afternoon and his phy- | sician said then that death was only a matter of how long hia enfeebled heart could hold out. A week ago the former premier was confined to his room with a severe cold, an acute attack of pharyngitis followed and bronchitis then set in. The earl died in a mullion win- dowed room overlooking his beloved Thames. At his bedside were the membera of his family, Lady Oxford (Margot Asquith), his two daugh- ters, Princess Bibesco and Lady Bonham-Carter, ard his son, An- thony Asquith. Await the Inevitable, ‘Through the night a few close friends and & number of villagers who knew Lord Oxford well, await- ed the end which physicians had said was inevitable because of his advanced age and weak heart. As the former premier fought his losing battle with death anoilLer | outstanding statesman of the war, the Earl of Balfour, was confined to his home near Brestonkirk, Scot- land, on the orders of his doctors. Earl Balfour, who is nearing his eightieth birthday, had an acute attack of laryngitis which left him !s0 weak that his physiclans pres- | cribed complete rest for many weeks There was deep mourning in this village of Sutton Courtenay by the country folk, not so much for the British statesman and famous figure in the World War as for the kindly white haired old man who until a few weeks ago took long daily strolls through the fields and lanes of Berkshire and along the banks of the Thames. Then an infection of his leg kept him from moving about much, Advancing age had made in- 'roads cn his once robust health and ' he became an invalid, but was still fresh and vigorous in mind and keenly interested in affairs. End of His Career. His political career ended in party dissension with the man who m had succeeded him as pre- For the last two vears of his premiership, Earl Oxford faced the (Continued on Page 13.) MANY TRIBUTES T0 ' DEPARTED STATESMAN All England Officialdom Moved by ex-Premier’s Passing London, Feh. 15 (® — The en- tire country since Monday, when the news of the critical condition of the late Earl of Oxford and As- quith was first announced, had been anxiously scanning the reports from his bedside at Sutton Courtenay. It soon became apparent, however, that there was small hope, if i {of the veteran statesman’s survival and word of his passing this morn- ing had been sorrowfully antici- pa:a« The earl’s death, nevertheless, avukfned & universal feeling of th« ! deepest regret coupled throughout Britain with a sense of national loss |at the exit of one who for years | had been such a notable figure in the political lite of the kingdom and empire. Tributes to the departed states- man’s memory began pouring in with the announcement of his death. Many of them were from | Briton's notable in publie life. Lioyd George, his liberal col- loazue for a long time, was deeply moved when informed Lord Oxford was dead. It was some time before he felt able to express himself. “For a great number of years [ merved with him in pelities” he “For eight years he was mr (Continuwed on Page Wight)