St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 1

a TODAYS FI AL Complete Closing Stock Sales Table Part III. Page. 12C. 13C NEWS TODAY The Only Evening Newspaper, in St. Louis With the Associated Press News service NO.

102. ST. LOUIS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1)31. 36 PAGES. PRICE 2 CENTS SPAT LONDON PM GRAVELY ILL SftYS KtlUH DEMOCRATS WEIGH $150,000,000 CUT IN PAYROLL OF U.S.

If Plan Is Adopted Leaders Think Congress Should Start With Itself. WEALTHY WOMAN KIDNAPED A KANSAS CITY; RANSOM OF $75,000 GUARANTEED BOTH SIDES REST, JOHNSON ROBBERY TRIALNEARS END Felix F. McDonald, Identified as Kidnaper, Takes Stand in Own Defense Offers Alibi. ANOTHER GIRL ADMITS SHARING IN HOLDUP LOOT Mrs. Sylvia Webster, 20-Year-OId Wife of Con-vict, Says She Sat in Auto During Robbery.

GERMANY CAN PAY HELD BY KIDNAPERS JAMES A. REED SAYS MONEY WILL BE PAID TO FREE 43 A HID RESERVES TO PROMOTE MORATORIUM McFacWen Returns to Attack on Hoover War Debt Holicay by Pointing to Basel Report on Reich's Ability to Pay. ml SO CANCELLATION OR ANY REDUCTION Amendment on Policy of Congress Banker Testifies There Were No Foreign Deposits to Meet Dec. 15 Payments. rHl.V.i'iVX, Dec.

-IT. The Germany concealed of her reserve to n.or&'.orSam arose today of the I "resident's war as the the pian was MoFadden of the Republican who V. -t Presi- nr. the morator- tbruvU a rt solution i 'Mi to determine the to iucU the Federal or i's might into the negotiations. Ynn-mlnK'iit Adopted.

yjj aui'Miaus Committee an to the uin-iii ur rtducion of foreign U' the po-ioy of The ii It, i ro-' fat-y Ragon, -u; read: 'ft is deHared To he of Congress that tn.j. hted of fore-iga 10 ill'1 Uriled States any mamr canceled i acl robbing in this for ratification of moratorium shall be a contrary or uti to give i ensi rat ion at any time the policy hereby Wor resrvaiion came room hefore l.rr. taken on the plan. It was other respects vhe rally introduced unt tanged. Measure.

I called espe-'i iy of the activities i rve with banks and foreign their open market 'i acceptance business. with the Amer-''--i il." Foreig-n oftrrEticiiS the system investigated. Civ.iKif the resolution, t.iyjr. Germany had correct amount of ''ki t-ftrve to promote aded: 'o all attention to the Young- plan commit--nt Busie, Switzerland. capacity to pay, i to the effect all the annui- YoyiiS plan.

i'tcii is of the great-: as supporting v' iri-ide as regards the 1 rt: iii-American and k'ariks and bankers i tilling about the ''v I rent because of r-j ct Germany's capac-" there was a delib-T to conceal the correct reerve and short- debts. u- fact that the first underestimates al-. the acceptance owed. of Germany's capac-' v.as just disclosed c': the reason why rcoceeJ under the A this machinery ate) under the law -uoratorium. 'iial Itankers.

wt-ru afraid vi have now 's-js committee oper-' loang law. f'-ir to presume that international bank- Mr. Wisrg-ia of the and Mr. F. he International n5; owned and con- Warburg-, were only in the nego-f'rt'Hent German 'hs bankers and relative to secur-' "ry lor private debts but were also assistance of oa l'a-e 2, column 7.

Post-Dispatch Bureau. 201-2U. KeIloir WASHINGTON, Dec. 17. Serious thought is being given by the Democratic Joint Policy 1 Committee, composed of 10 leaders from the Senate and 10 from the House, to a proposal to cut $150,000,000 from the Federal payroll.

Some of the foremost men in the party are for it The plan is still in a highly tentative stage. It involves, first of all. a cut in the present $10,000 salaries of Senators and Representatives. Only a year or so ago there was a strong movement among Congressmen to increase their own salaries. Proponents of a general slashing recognize that Congress cannot move with good grace in thjs direction without itself taking a cut.

One of them said today that if the Congressional decrease could be put through and he believed that it could there would be no difficulty itl getting the reduction extended to other branches of the Government. Under the plan which is being talked about, the reduction would be for one year and it would not touch salaries under $1800. Presumably it would be on a graduated scale, with the highest percentages of reduction in the upper salary brackets. i Under the Constitution, the salaries of the President and of Federal Judges are exempt from the proposed slash. SMOKE PALL OVER CITY SECOND CONSECUTIVE DAY Street Lamps Kept Lltrhted; Fog and of Wind Aggravate Conditions.

A heavy pall of smoke and fog hung over the greater part of St. Louis and East St. Louis today, the second consecutive day on which that condition has prevailed and the third of the season. The air was cleared early yesterday afternoon by breezes. The mixture caused darkness from Union boulevard on the west to Thirteenth street in East St.

Louis on the east, and from Natural Bridge avenue and National City, 111., on the north, to Wyoming street and Monsanto, 111., on the south. Automobiles threaded their way through traffic with headlights gleaming and street lights and store windows were lighted. The smoke from burning soft coal bore a high content of sulphuric acid fumes, irritating to the nose and throat. It lifted slightly about noon. Weather Forecaster Nunn said the condition was caused by lack of wind currents and a slight fog w-hich held the smoke close to the ground.

There was no interference with scheduled airplane operation. At Lambert-St. Louis Field the sun was shining, and visibility was reported as excellent. NO PAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS FOR PHILADELPHIA EMPLOYES City Expects to Cash Warrants On New Year's Day by Bond Purchase Plan. By the Associated Frees.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 17. Municipal employes abandoned hope today of receiving their mid-month salary checks in time tor Christmas shopping and looked forward to New Year's day. On that date the city expects to cash the warrants which it intends to issue in lieu of cash. On the first of the year the city will pay obligations due bondholders, including the sinking fund, which will receive approximately $2,000,000.

With these funds the sinking fund commission plans to purchase long-term bonds which the city now is selling "over the counter. The treasury thus will be able to cash the pay warrants. The city had asked the banks to purchase now the bonds which the sinking fund will be able to take after the year-end so that with the proceeds the 26,000 employes could be paid. The bankers so far have declined to purchase the bonds. In a letter to the Council they said that the purchase should not be made, as it does not meet the "real and broader problems facing the city." The letter said the bankers "are, however, willing to co-operate with the city in an endeavor to formulate a program to deal comprehensively with the financial problems facing the city." U.

S. SUBMARINES COLLIDE UNDER GULF OF PANAMA Two Crash When Submerged; Moth Are Damaged, but No One Is Injured. By the Asoeiatl Press. WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.

A coU lision between two United States submarine In the Gulf of Panama was reported today to the Navy partment- The department was Informed there were no injuries to personnel. The two vessels are proceeding to Balboa, 30 'miles away, under their own power. Both will require drydockin. CLAIM OF FRANCE. EXPERTSASSERT Young Plan Sub-Committee Finds Interest Bill Less Than Berlin Alleges.

CUTS DOWN FIGURES ON SHORTTERM LOANS Fixing of Date of International Session Delayed Action on Moratorium by U. S. Congress Bj the Associated Press. BASEL, Dec. 17.

The statisticians' subcommittee of the Young Plan Advisory Commission reported today, it is understood, that the Reich's foreign trade balance should be more than sufficient to pay the $150,000,000 unconditional annuities held essential by France. The subcommittee's report was not made public but it was turned in to the main body and will be included in the final findings of the investigators. The reference to the foreign trade balance is understood to have been included in the report at the request of the French delegates. The subcommittee also declared it is learned, that Germany's total annual interest bill is $112,500,000 less than the amount submitted to the commission last week by Dr. Carl Melchior, German member of the Young Plan commission.

The subcommittee, composed of statisticians and headed by Maurice Frere of Belgium. reported the proper interest total to be while" Dr. Melchior gave it as $450,000,000. The subcommittee also is understood to have concluded that Germany's short-term indebtedness was nearer the $1,850,000,000 set forth in the report of the committee headed by Albert H. Wiggin than the $3,000,000,000 asserted by Germany before the Young plan experts last week.

The statisticians found. it was said, many debts which they were unwilling to recognize as "short-term." The subcommittee refused to set a figure on German investments abroad, but declared them to be much greater than the set forth in the Wiggin report. This total was estimated July 31. Members of the Young Flap committee are holding up their recommendations concerning the time and pjace for an international conference on reparations until the American Congress has acted on the Hoover moratorium. The interested Powers, it was said, are unwilling to make any definite plans in this respect until the outcome in Washington is known.

It is expected that the conference, which will approve oi reject the Young Plan committee report, 'will be held in the middle of January, probably at Geneva or Brussels. JUDGE MULLOY WRITES LILL ABOUT GAMBLING IN COUNTY Sends Copies of lietter to Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney. Circuit Judge Jerry Mulloy of Clayton gave to the press today copies of a letter whic hhe had sent to Sheriff Lill. asserting it is "a current rumor," that gambling on a major basis Is taking place in St. Louis County.

The Judge's letter, which also was sent to Prosecuting Attorney Castlen. states that Judge Mulloy plans to discuss with other members of the St. Louis County Circuit Bench, the advisibility of calling a special grand jury to Investigate the situation of which Judge Mulloy says he has received reports. The letter informs Lill that mention fthe situation is to be made to the Prosecuting Attorney and the Circuit Court en banc so that the Sheriff will be furnished with "ail available facility to deal effectively with the situation." Sheriff Lill asserted he knew of no widespread gambling in the county. Shortly after his appointment to office in the fall of 1927 Judge Mulloy received wide-spread comment for a campaign which he conducted against gamblers.

A number of indictments were voted by the special grand jury which he summoned, but few convictions EIGHT WITNESSES ATTEST CHARACTER At Conclusion of Testimony, Judge Mulloy Retires to Prepare Instructions for Jury. Felix F. McDonald of Overland, taking the stand at Clayton today in his trial on a charge of robbery with a deadly weapon, testified he was more than five miles from the scene of the assault and robbery of Oscar Johnson, on Melrose road, near the western boundary of St. Louis County, at 12:30 p. m.

on last Aug. 3. The defense rested shortly after noon, and the jury retired while Judge Mulloy prepared his Instructions. After arguments the case will go to the jury. Johnson, who resides at 3 8 Portland place and is the wealthy sou of one of the founders of the International was an interested listener to the defendant's alibi defense.

McDonald and his companion, Bart Davit, were arrested on Melrose road more than an hour after the holdup, and McDonald explained their presence in the vicinity as follows: "We drove to "Wellston that morning from my home at 3526 Dix avenue, Overland, to get my watch fixed. The crystal was broken, and the watch needed cleaning. My nephew, Francis McDonald, was with us, and we were riding in Bart Davit's truck. Davit and I were in the hauling business, hauling sugar mostly, and we were searching for a still we had heard t-bout thinking we could get a job. Visit to Farm House.

"We drove out Manchester road to a point about five miles west of Pond, St. Louis County. (This is about a mile and a half west of Melrose road.) Davit and I got out of the truck and my nephew drove it away. He was going to a farm near Washington, Mo. I judge that the time was between 12:15 and 12:30 p.

m. We walked north a house, where there was a boy with an injured foot sitting on the porch. We got a drink of water and a match and tadked to the boy and a woman and a young girl, who was cleaning her teeth as we came up. "1 judge we reached that house about 1:30 and we chatted for about 20 minutes, then walked on through a woods. We were searching for a.

still that we heard was located near a large creek. "We did not find the still, and eat on a log for a while, smoking cigarettes. Then we went on to a road, I did not know the name of it then, and were walking along when two men came up in a machine. They pointed revolvers at us and searched us and asked a lot of questions. They did not tell us who they were at first, just said a fellow had been beaten up.

They turned us over to some other men later and we were taken to jail." McDonald testified that, in response to the questions of the officers, he had replied that he and Davit were searching for a lost bird dog. "I didn't know I had to tell them what we were doing," he explained. Taken to Johnson's Room. The defendant then related how- he was taken to Barnes Hospital to the room of an injured man (Johnson), whom he said he had never seen before. The man looked at him, and said, K.

Sheriff." Several days later, McDonald related, he and Davit and Deputy Sheriff Harry Xewbold were in the "shadow box" at the Sheriff's office while some one, whom they could not see, viewed them. He quoted Newbold as remarking, "It Is a wonder that fellow wouldn't make up his mind who Is who." McDonald, who is 28 years old, presented a well-groomed appearance on the witness stand. He wore a neatly pressed suit of dark gray material, and his hair had been recently cut and was slicked back. Davit, presenting an equally smart appearance despite the fact that he has been a prisoner in the county jail since the day of the robbery, preceded McDonald on the witness stand. His testimony was in substance the same as that given by McDonald.

Davit, who obtained a separate trial, denied that either he or McDonald dropped any currency by the side of the road when they were arrested. He told of the visit to the jewelry store, and of the subsequent drive out St. Charles Rock road, to Lindbergh boulevard, then west on Manchester Continued on Page 2, Column 2. ASSERTS COMPANIONS CALLED HER YELLOW Louise Showalter, 1C or 17, Now Has Confessed Numerous Burglaries and 7 Holdups in Month. Mrs.

Sylvia Webster, 20 years old and red-haired, held today at Police Headquarters, has admitted that she rode along with Ixmisej Showalter, 16 or 17, and James Choate, 23, when the pair went out the night of Dec. 2 to commit a holdup. She said she sat in Choate's automobile, a half-block from the filling station at 343 South Vande-venter avenue, while Choate and Louise, as they have admitted, robbed the station attendant. Another young man was with her, she said, and while they took no part in the robbery, they accepted $5 each when Choate divided the proceeds, about $2 5, in his room. Mrs.

Webster is the wife of Raymond Webster, who is serving a term of 10 to 21 years in the penitentiary at Lansing, for robbery. Since her husband's arrest, which came shortly after their elopement and marriage at Mexico, a year ago, the young woman has lived at the home of her father and stepmother, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur L. Barnes, 5223 Maple avenue.

Case of Had Companions. "She has had a good home and everything that she wanted," the father said to reporters today. "She was working temporarily in a store. I tried to keep her from marrying Webster, whom she had known in another city where the attended high school, and more recently 1 tried to keep her from going out with Choate and other young men of his kind. It is just a case of weak will and bad companions." Mrs.

Webster was arrested yesterday afternoon in a downtown store, where she was working on the extra holidays sales force. The arrest was the result of full statements from Choate, Louise Showalter and Benjamin Farrar. 26, who have been under arrest since Sunday. Choate was the last of the trio to admit his part in the series of robberies. Mrs.

Webster said she met Choate several weeks ago, and that on the evening of Dec. 2, Choate and Louise Showalter appeared in an ice cream parlor on Union boulevard, where she was sitting. Showing a newspaper, one of them remarked, "Well, we're in the headlines now." Mrs. Webster continued: "I read a story in the paper about a girl bandit, and I said to Louise. "That description fits and Choate said they were the ones, and told me I ought to go along with them, that I would get a swell kick out of it.

Thy told how the men acted whom they hai held up the night before, and laugTied as they imitated the men. I said at first, 'Nothing but they said I was yellow If I didn't go, and I went along, and the other man got in with us. "We weren't close enough to see the robbery at the filling station, and I can't say that I got any kick out of it. They came running back and jumped into the car, and we went to Choate's room, at 750 Hamilton avenue, where he split up the money." Mrs. Webster is tall, and at Headquarters was wearing a dark print dress, tan coat with black fur collar, and green wool beret.

She asked for a newspaper, and instead of reading the account of her arrest, turned at once to a fiction serial. Burglaries by First Girl. Louise Showalter now says she and Choate committed several burglaries before starting out on their round of holdups. They entered several bungalows near Lincoln Beach, on the Meramec River, and took radio sets and beer. They took 18 suits of clothes from a cleaning shop in Richmond Heights and sold them for $1S.

At another store in Richmond Heights they were driven away by a man vith a shotgun who appeared at an upper window. They twice entered an A. P. grocery at Union boulevard and Vernon avenue, prying a rear window open, and taking 40 cartons of cigarettes the first time and about the same quantity of cigarettes later. The holdups admitted by Louise Showalter, committed with Choate or Farrar.

are: Dec. 1, hamburger stands at Vandeventer avenu and Kingshlghway. $12 taken; 1015 Continued on Page Column 1. NELLYDONNELLY Threat to Blind Garment Manufacturer and Kill Chauffeur if Cash Is Not Produced Without Police Being Told. DEMAND MADE IN THREE NOTES Former Senator, Her Attorney, Warns That if She Is Injured Culprits Will Be Run Down and Punished.

By the Associated KANSAS CITY, Dec. 17. A. guarantee that 7 5,000 ransom would be paid for the safe return of Mrs. Nelly Quinlan Donnelly, wealthy Kansas City garment manufacturer, who is in the, hands of kidnapers who have threatened to blind her, was made this afternoon by former Senator James A.

Reed of Missouri, her lawyer. Reed hurried here from Jefferson City where he was appearing-in a case in court. His sudden departure caused news of the kidnaping to become known when th Donnelly family was trying to kee the fact from the police while arranging for the release of Mrs. Donnelly and her Negro chauffeur. The kidnapers had threatened to blind her and kill the chauffeur unless the $75,000 was paid without interference by police.

"These people undoubtedly have Mrs. Donnelly in their power," said the former Senator. "If they will deliver Mrs. Donnelly safely," said Reed, "they can iiave the $75,000 and take my word for it that Mr. Donnelly will see to it that it is paid.

Warning if fehe is Harmed. "I will say further if there is a single hair of her head harmed, I will, and Mr. Donnelly will, apend the rest of our lives running down the culprits and securing for them the extreme penalty of the law, which in Missouri is hangng." In the notes received Mrs. Donnelly reported she was abducted wtih her Negro chauffeur, George Blair, at 6 p. m.

yesterday. She said that if payment of the $75,000 demanded refused, she would be blinded and the Negro would be killed. The notes approximately as written by Mm Donnelly mild: "Dear Paul: These men kidnaped me at 6 o'clock last night with the chauffeur. They want $75,000 In $20 bills, $25,000 ten and $2 5,000 in fifties. "The car is behind the Plaza Theater.

Its number 291,035. "Drive In front of the Mercer uotel at 10 clock and Rtand around 15 minutes. Stand up in the car. Then go home and wait for instructions. If you do not come you will never see me again.

if you do not go at 10 o'clock, go Friday morning at 9:15 and stay 15 minutes. "If you refuse to pay I will blinded and the Negro killed. You will be told where to take the money. They want money and you might as well giv it to them. "NELLY DONNELLY." Secwnd Note Iievlved.

Underneath had been written "do not have the money marked In any way." It had been erased but waa plainly decipherable through th erasures. The second note: "James E. Taylor: "I hereby give you the power to draw the money required against my "husband's account to the amount of $75.00, I sign my nam In full. "NKLLY DONNELLY." She disappeared after aha left her garment factory last night at 6 o'clock. She had conferred half an hour earlier with her attorney.

Mrs. Donnelly has had a spectacular rise from an obscure dres designer one of the leading man. ufacturera of women's irarm-nta in the country. She now is secretary- Contained on Page 2, Column 1 A IOLA NEGRI. POLA NEGRI SERIOUSLY ILL AFTER OPERATION Movie Actress Shows -Slight Improvement; Another Blood Transfusion Likely.

By the Associated Press. SAXTA MONICA. Cah, Dec. 17. Fola Xegrri, Polish film aetreis, who underwent an abdominal operation, showed a slight improvement today, although her physician, Dr.

Leo J. Madsen, iid the crisis would be reached in three or tour days. The actress spent a fairly com fortable night after sedatives been administered. Dr. Madsen said a second blood transfusion i probably would be g-iven.

Mi.s Negri's temperature was 99.6 today and her pulse llu. "Sh is resting fairly comfortably, her condition is as well as can be expected and l-i still critical," said a. statement by the physicians. Miss Negri's temperature had been slightly in excess of 100 degrees, but following the operation it fell to 53.6 degrees. Physicians said her reaction to the operation was good.

The Polish actress was taken to a hospital here Tuesday after she collapsed at a. motion picture studio where she was witnessing the preview of the first talking picture she has made which, incidentally, is her first picture in four years. Miss Negri came to America first in 1921 after starring in the German production of "I'assiOi." During her residence here until 1327 her name was linked with those of Charles Chaplin, the late Rudolph Valentino, Rod Ta Rocque and Prince George Mdivani, whom she took as her second husband. iSer first husband was CoL Dombski, a Polish Count. In 19 27 Miss Negri left Hollywood, later obtaining a divorce from her second husband.

She returned here last June to resume her career in pictures. FAIR TONIGHT AND TOMORROW, LITTLE TEMPERATURE CHANGE TIIJC TEMP tili AT LUES. 1 a. 40 2 a. 3 9 3 a.

.33 4 a. 40 5 a. ni. ti7 a. ax 7 a.

in KS 8 a. in Yetprday's high 50 35 t2 a. Si a. m. i li a.in 11 a.

3 2 noon 1 p. 2 p. 3 p. 4 p. p.

4,1 4.t 44 40 51 Vf low Official forecast for St. Ixniis and vicinity: Fair, but with some cloudiness tonight Tomorrow fair; not much change in temierature; lowest tonight about 38., Outlook for Saturday, mostly fair, with mild temperature. Missouri: Partly cloudy tonight a. tomorrow, probably some rain in extreme south portion; not much change in temperature, Illinois: Partly Must tc 5CWE, CLTXCTORS Congress. POST-CIFATCM WEATHERBIRO cloudy, probably rain in extreme south portion tonight and tomorrow; not much change in temperature.

Heat AVave In Argentina. By thf" Aswx-iateti Prf. BUENOS AIRES. Dec. 17- Argentina is experiencing a heat wave, which reached its peak yesterday at Bahia Blanca.

where the temperature was 107 degrees fahr-enheit. Two persons suffered from sunstroke in Buenos Aires, where it was 95 degrees. ft NELLY DONNELLY. THREE MEN KILLED IN CRASH OF TWO ARMY AIRPLANES Engaged Group in Mimic Wr.rfare Over New Baltimore, Mich. When Accident Occurs.

By the Associated Presn NEW BALTIMORE, Dec. 17. Three Self ridge Field flyers, two of them officers were killed at 2 p. m. today when two airplanes crashed in midair over New Baltimore while flying in formation.

The dead: Second Lieutenant Lawrence V. Koons, 23' years old, Bloomington, III. Second Lieutenant Charles W. Wilson, 22, Air Corps Reserve, Ann Arbor, Mich. Sergeant Walter Lauver, 26, Big Cove, Pa.

The accident occurred when 10 planes were flying in formation. The two wrecked planes crashed in a field a mile and a half from New Baltimore. They did not take fire. One of the planes was a single seater. The other carried two men.

Sergt. Lauver's body was found 200 yards from one of the wrecked planes. The planes fell about 300 yards apart. Several persons were injured immediately after the accident when two automobiles passing along a nearby road collided. The drivers of the cars were watching the planes at the time.

Sergeant Lauver and one of the officers were flying in a two-seater plane while all the others were piloting single-seater pursuit ships. The planes were engaged in mimic warfare at a height of 20 feet and two of the ships were engaging in attack maneuvers on the others. Lieut. Koons was flying directly beneath the formation and suddenly nosed his ship upward, striking Lieut. Wilson's ship.

Lauver leaped from his ship at a height of 50 feet but his parachute failed to open in time to break his fall. FOUND GUILTY OF CRUELTY TO GIRL SHUT IN CLOSET Father ami Stepmother of Edith Kiley, 12, at Washingtoii, to lie Sentenced Later. B.T the AfreneiawU I'r-ns. WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry N. Riley were found guilty today in District of Columbia Supreme Court of cruelty to Riley's 12-year-old daughter. Edith.

They, were pronounced guilty by Justice D. Ltts after both prosecution and defense had completed their testimony. Sentence will be imposed later. The maximum penalty possible is two years. Riley denied that he had ever been cruel to Ec.Hh or that ehe had ever been treated cruelly by the stepmother in his presence.

Prosecution witnesses testified that the Riley kept the child in a dark closet for three or four years and that he was beaten and received Inadequate nourishment..