Jefferson City Post-Tribune from Jefferson City, Missouri • Page 1

Jefferaon Full Leased Wire of the Associated Pres rttame Full Leased Wire of the United Press FINAL EDITION VOL. 67, NO. 269 JEFFERSON CITY, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1934 PRICE TWO CENTS FIIMICE REPORT OF COUNTY COURT THE Statement Indicates Many Provisions of Statute Are Ignored PUBLIC KEPT IN DARK BY COUNTY JUDGES Who Have Broken All Records For Holding Meetings at $5 Per Day FIND FARMER UNDER HIS OVERTURNED CAR COLUMBIA, April 12-'(AP)--Pinned beneath his overturned car, the body of Emmett Maxwell, 64, farmer, was found in a ditch two miles east of here ihis morning. Coroner E. G.

Davis said he had been dead since about nine o'clock last night. The body was discovered by Uex Gibbs, Maxwell's son-in-law, whom he was on his way to visit. After striking a bridge abutment the car apparently skidded into the ditch. Maxwell's back was DEHTHTOLLT03 I. BUST IT EXPECT The annual statement on finances and report on the manner in which the taxpayers' money is expended in Cole county was published today in abbreviated form by the county court.

The report does not meet the requirements of the recently enacted law which calls for a. comprehensive statement on county affairs. Judge George W. Schell, spokesman for the court on matters of finance, was the strongest advocate of disregarding the law at a meeting of county clerks and judges. The Cole county court sponsored a statewide agitation to secure the repeal of tfie law and failing in this succeeded in securing the tacit consent of clerks in the State Auditor's office to ignore many of the provisions of the law.

Glimpsed a Loophole Auditor's clerks, it was said, saw a loophole for the court in the fact that the law did not become effective until July and therefore did riot apply to the entire year. In this filmsy excuse the court apparently found justification for its course. Just why the Cole county court is to take the public wholly into its confidence in the matter of finances is not immediately appar- ent. The fact that the judges re- in session every week day T- of the year drawing $5 each per diem, is contained in the report but there is no accounting for what did with their time. The judges in excess of $1,500 each for-the year's work.

Judge Schell, the greatest economist of them all, drew slightly more than his colleagues. Judge Hogg drew $1,490.10 for judging and $45 for sitting as a member of the board of equalization. Judge Koecher pulled down School Nurses Announce That Already 1500 Are 6 Or 9 Pointers Merry Booster Party at Mo. Ptc. Plant Ended In Tragedy Last Night AT LEAST ONE MORE IS EXPECTED TO DIE Missouri Property Owners Get Belated Christmas Gift Measure Remitting Accumulated Tax Penalties For Delinquency Goes Into Etfect; Farmers of State Especially Benefited More Than 1500 Had Gathered for Dinner--To Be Probed THROUGH CITY ON MAY 4 Police Who Will Form Escort Recall What Happened To New Uniforms The six and nine pointers are to parade here May 4th, according to an announcement made today by Miss Hattie Joach and Miss Luella Olson, county and city school nurses.

Miss Joach announced that approximately 1500 children had qualified for the parade to date. "We expect at least 2500 to be in line when the parade starts," Miss Joach said. The importance of being a six or nine pointer frequently does not impress the children or the parents until a week or two before the parade. Then they begin a rush for the dentists and doctors offices to have corrections made so that they may qualify. While final arrangements for the parade have not been perfected the same rules as of last year be in force.

The same line of march will be followed. Police said the streets will be roped off. "Last year," Chief Brunei- recalled in announcing the arrangements for a police escort, "we wore our new uniforms for the first time just to add color to the parade. Do you remember what happened? Re- SEDALIA, April 12--(UP) -The death toll in an explosion of an improvised steam table over which a group of women were preparing a railroad celebration banquet mounted to three today. Mrs.

John T. Abney, the wife of a blacksmith, died in a hospital today from burns suffered when scalding water and steam showered her and more than a score of women church workers who were preparing the feast for the 30th anniversary of the Missouri Pacific railroad shops here. Mrs. J. R.

Hampton, a fellow worker, was reported dying. Previously two other women, Miss Mary Kahrs and Mrs. A. G. Hausam had died.

Twenty-five other women were in hospitals. Property owners of Missouri today received a belated Christmas present in the form of a remission of accumulated tax penalties as provided for in a bill passed by the recent session of the Missouri legislature. Under the measure, which went into effect today, 90 days after the adjournment of the special legislature, delinquent taxes as far back as 1928 may be paid with only a 4 per cent penalty. Taxes which have become delinquent on real estate and personal property for these years are placed on a 1933 basis by the measure. Since the delinquent tax law provides for a penalty of one per cent a month, the present charge would be the amount of the tax plus a four per cent penalty for the years included in the new Personal SEEK Ml TEflCHER and real estate taxes became delinquent Dec.

31, 1933, the penalty on 1933 taxes being one per cent in January, two per cent in February, three per cent in March, and now 4 per cent. Beginning October 1, the accumulated penalty will be 10 per cent with a charge of 2 per cent going into effect for collection. Under Missouri statutes, the accumulated penalty for one year on delinquent taxes cannot exceed 10 per cent annually. Friends of Divorced Wife of C. H.

Williams Fear Girl Is Dead STRANGE NOTES TELL OF SERIOUS ILLNESS TEAM RUNS AWAY, CALL TRAFFIC COP Joe Berry's team ran away which is something quite unusual. They shied at the gyrations of a wind propelled paper at Chestnut nnd Miller streets and went re-ar- ing, snorting and galloping in the direction of Clark avenue. The run up the hill winded them and they were halted by Rllcy. The traffic cop was called to make a report. After all a wagon is a vehicle and when drawn by a team is traffic within the meaning of the police rules.

Penalties of 50 Per Cent. Under the delinquent tax law which is partially repealed by the new act, the accumulated penalty would now be 50 per cent of the amount of the tax for 1928, 40 per cent for 1029, 30 per cent for 1930, (Continued on Page 2) IN FHEBIL The injured: Mrs. Henry Shaffer, condition U. S. Agents Return Here; With Old Offender and His Partner critical; Miss Elsie Swan, Mrs.

Jessie Anderson, Mrs. Ben Russell, Mr. Fred Young, Mrs. Max Holland, Mrs. Hugh Collins, Mrs.

M. H. Rogers, Mrs. Ada Taylor, Mrs. E.

B. Helman, Mrs. H. H. Deal, Mrs.

P. D. Young, Mrs. J. Mosier, Mrs.

Earl Klein, Mrs. Harry Lambirth, Mrs. Ross Kindred, Mrs. Ralph Tunner, Mrs. Robert Warren, Mrs.

Gene Carry, Mrs. Lena Overmier, Mrs. J. G. Jolly, Mrs.

Lillie Brandt, Mrs. M. F. Wahrenbrock, and Mrs. Jim Greer.

Hear Dull Thud CLEKRHC SKIES I DUST But Mssouri May Suffer from Light Frosts Forecaster Says Mother Obtained Custody of Emily But Is Unable To Find Her TIKES DRftSTIC RULES TO ROOSEVELT NBA Head Meets His Chief As He Returns From Fishing Trip NARROW IN ESCAPE AUTO WRECK $1,475 for being constantly on the' member how it rained and the ex- job as a judge and another $45 for I equalizing while Judge Schell managed to draw $1,499 for economizing and $45 more for equalizing. What the judges spent for gasoline driving around in a county owned car inspecting roads and hidden some- of figures and bridges is perhaps in the maze warrant numbers. TM The present judges have the distinction of being the most persistent and consistent meeters in the history of the county. The minutes of the meeting do not always reveal just what the judges do with all the time the county pays for. Sometimes allowing one bill requires a full 'day with all three in attendance and the sheriff charging another S3 for Yessing them into session.

Candidates For Clerk Judges Hogg and Koecher are candidates for reelection while Judge Schell wants to be county clerk. While he resides in St. Thomas he is in court every day and ') probably feels he might as well be clerk at a slightly higher stipend. Judge Schell is having difficulty in reconciling his economy slogan with his daily sessions. Attention is constantly called to the fact that the predecessors of the present court required no more than ten days a month to attend to all the county's business.

This em- barasses the judges, too. One of the features of the statement which the new law probably sought to correct was the listing of salaries and fees. The name of the recipient and the number of the warrant and the total are reported but the purpose for which it was issued is not given. The same is true of the supplies for paupers. The county spent $4,732.85 for that purpose but there are no details.

The public must guess. Groping In the Dark A total of $3,555.62 went to the pression on the faces of the cops as they visioned the new uniforms going to the cleaners and pressers after only thirty minutes? Well the uniforms are no longer new but we hope, just the same, that Old Sol will smile down on the kiddies." Schools from all sections of the county are to be represented in the parade. Miss Joach yesterday received word from one school which will have 100 per cent representation in the parade. There will be others before the date of the parade rolls around. FI OF MM county farm but aside from warrant numbers and totals the public is in the dark.

The county spent $6,242.45 for books, stationery and office supplies and again the curious taxpayer labyrinth of warrant numbers, totals and nothing else. Building repairs and fuel provides warrants for a long list of people. Again the taxpayers must guess how his money was spent. Then comes the staggering sum of ST. PAUL, April 12--Authorities prosecuting the hunt for John Dillinger, who allegedly fled from an apartment here March 31, have uncovered operations of a criminal gang which has taken five lives and loot of half a million dollars, it was learned today.

Nine major participants have been connected with the gang. They are: Harry Campbell, Alvin Karpis, Fred Barker, and "Doc" Barker, brother of Fred, all of Tulsa; Tommy Carroll, John Dillinger, John Hamilton, Homer Van Meter, Alias Wayne and George (Baby Face) Nelson, of Chicago. The information was given Federal officers by persons caught in a roundup following Dillinger's escape. Eugene Green, who fled with the Indiana fugitive and was shot and fatally wounded three days later by Federal operatives, contributed some of it. He died yesterday.

Beth Green, a woman captured with him and now held on a Federal charge of harboring a fugitive, was said to have given additional information. Sedalia citizens sitting expectantly at long taWejs 'in the; new Missouri Pacific Railroad shops, waiting for their dinner and preparing to listen to a program of speeches, when the dull thud of an explosion sounded from the improvised kitchen where about 30 women were ready to serve the meal. Then came the hissing roar of escaping steam. Within a moment, the kitchen was turned into a bedlam. The screams of burned women sounded above the spraying water.

The exploded pipe broke down a kitchen wall and it collapsed on the hapless victims. Tables were overturned. Kitchen utensils were thrown to the floor by the force of the blast. Miss Mary Kahrs, 60. was knocked down.

Scalding walpr eushed over her body. A huge earthei: crock fell from her and broke both her legs. She died within an hour. Mrs. A.

G. Hausam died early today in the hospital from severe burns. Three other women were in a critical condition, treated by emergency to-wn and railroad nurses who worked in relays throughout the night. About a score suffered less serious burns. "It is a tragedy that is almost un- believeable," said Mayor Wilmer Steeples this morning.

"The railroad, I understand, is intending to make an investigation." To Probe Blast The banquet was to have climaxed a day of celebration for the Missouri William. Craviness, 56, old-time prohibition law violator, was caught in the net of the Federal government again yesterday at his home near Camdenton, and brought here on charges of violating the internal revenue act. Craviness, with a companion, Henry Offutt, 69, were arraigned before U. S. Commissioner Edna Morris this morning charged with possession of an unlicensed still, 150 gallons of mash, 13-8 gallons of whisky and other distilling apparatus.

Both entered pleas of not guilty, and were committed -to jail upon their failure to furnish bond. Bond for Craviness was set at $2,500 and for Offutt at $1,000. Craviness was at the time free on probation from a previous conviction. He had been given a two- yerfc- sentence in October, 1932, for violation of the national prohibition laws and released on probation. A veritable army of agents were on the expedition, which took the two men into custody.

Federal investigators Craig, Shoemaker, and McCrab were accompanied by Sheriff Allen and Deputy Sheriff Barclay of Laclede county, and Sheriff Eidson of Camden county. The group of officers found a concealed still on the Craviness farm, and upon searching located several barrels of mash buried under the ground and seleverly camouflaged with dirt and brush piles. A path from the still led to Craviness house, where he and Offutt were arrested by the agents. Under clearing skies Missouri today shook itself out of yesterday's severe dust storm and was confronted in many quarters with a forecast for cooler weather and light frost. At St.

Joseph the dust storm abated last night, and the low temperature early today was 37 degrees. The forecast was for continued fair and colder weather. St. Louis reported fair weather today with a low reading of 34 degrees and a light frost was predicted for tonight. Columbia saw the mercury skid to 36 last night and a general light frost was forecast for tonight.

Clear weather visited Sedalia today as the community "cleaned house" after yesterday's dust storm. Moberly also had a Beading of clear and cool with no prospects for a frost tonight. Springfield had a reading of 67 degrees yesterday and at 8 a. m. lo- day the thermometer registered a low of 39 degrees.

The air had cleared of dust about midnight, and frost considered unlikely tonight. At Poplar Bluff no damage to the fruit in that area was reported. Yesterday's northwest wind and a driv- in grain sent the temperature downward from a high point of 78 to 38. In Kansas City the forecast was for fair weather with gradually rising temperatures until night when it was predicted the drop would extend to the lower 30s producing frost in low places. The forecast for tomorrow is for fair weather, slightly warmer.

COLUMBIA, April 12--(UP) --Search for Prof. Charles H. Williams, former University of Missouri extension director, and his daughter, Emily, 12, centered in St. Louis today as fear was felt the child may be dead. Williams has been sought since last October, when his wife, Helen, former Columbia high school teacher, obtained a divorce.

Mrs. Williams a few days ago was grunted custody of the child and mony, in a. hearing before special Circuit Judge North Todcl Gentry. Child Was III Boyle G. Clark, attorney for Mrs.

Williams, based his fear for the child's life on messages from Williams to Mrs. Williams that Emily was "getting worse" and that she was "very sick with pneumonia and complications of sinus infection." The messages were sent with an anonymous letter from a third person to Mrs. Charles Wright, St. Louis, a sister of Mrs. Williams.

Williams also has a brother in St. Louis, G. W. Williams, and another SUITS IN CIRCUIT COURT With Final Filing Date Near Lawyers Are Bringing Petitions The General's Car Near a Truck Crash--President Had Great Time A DIVORCE IS GRANTED Judge Sevier Disposes of Toppel Case--Mrs. Carter Sues brother, Homer Mnrble Hill.

Williams, of Pacific Railroad and Sedalia. New shops, constructed at a cost of more than $1,500,000, had been open to inspection of the public throughout the day. More than 5,000 persons had passed through the new building. At night, 1,500 railroad men and townspeople gathered in the huge structure to end the celebration with a banquet. The Sedalia church had banded together to prepare the huge meal.

They were working in the improvised kitchen all day. They had FLED CHEYENNE CHEYENNE, April 12-(AP)--James Murphy, 25, and Joe McBride, 24, who evaded arrest by Cheyenne officers and escaped their bullets Tuesday night were held in the Laramie County jail here today. Brought back from Gering, the two admitted they had run away from Cheyenne officers who sought to stop them but denied they had tried to pass counterfeit money in Ault, Tuesday afternoon. Sheriff George J. Carroll said, their fingerprints would be checked.

Both men refused to say why they were so anxious to avoid arrest here but declared they had no previous criminal records. The young men had no counterfeit money in their possession, Sheriff Caroll said. They said they The messages from Williams were made public today for the first time. "Tell her that if Emily fails to get she needn't expect ever to hear from me again," said one. oC them.

"I'm sorry to tell you that Emily is getting worse," said another message. "Her chest and bronchial tubes are now affected. She is terribly hoarse and coughs constantly. I'll let you hear from me again as soon as I think she is safe." Expect To Find Him "The enclosed partial letter is received," said the anonymous communication. "As Mr.

C. H. Williams has asked me to give no information as to his whereabouts, and as he was either nervous or worried, throughout the 1-page letter he mentioned several times matters that would reveal his location, I can only send the short statements at the close." The anonymous letter had a return address on the envelope of S. P. Dalton.

attorney, St. Louis. The only attorney by that name, however, is the Cape Girardeau county prosecuting attorney, and it was established that the handwriting in the letter not his. Williams' brothers had acted as The funeral of Dr. W.

A. Clark I intermediaries in the professor's at- will take place at 3 o'clock tomorrow I tempts to settle alimony and custody of the child out of court. They said Williams was running short of With the final filing date for the May term of the Circuit Court only 10 clnys off suits in Circuit Clerk Guy M. Sone's office are beginning to pile up. Mrs.

Josephine Carter filed suit for divorce against Raymond Cartel alleging that he has become cool and indifferent toward her and that his actions constitute mental cruelty. They were married May 3, 1924, and have two children. The petition recites that property arrangements have been agreed to by contract and that she has no objection to the husband visiting the children at stated times. Charles A. and Lucy M.

Jenkins filed s'ujb against the Hartford nsifiWtSo Company lor $760. The petition recites that they took a policy with defendant company October, 1933, insuring a barn on their farm near Eugene. Several months later the barn burned to the ground and they have been unable to collect on the poUcy. While new suits were being filed Judge Sevier disposed of several cases, among them a divorce case Mrs. Mathilda Tappel was divorced from George Tappel.

They had been married 14 years and according to her testimony he was addicted to alcoholic liquors, that he rrmainet out all hours of the night and apparently no longer loved her. FUNERAL OF DR. CLARK TOMORROW afternoon from the family home on Adams Street. Rev. Birkhead will conduct the services there and Rev.

Arthur Mather of St. Louis will have the services at the grave in Riverview which will be under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge. HRE HOSTILE funds. cooked the meat and the vegetables came Takemah Nebr and and were ready to start serving when the explosion rippsd open the (Continued on Page 2) Fair With Frost Tonight, CLUBS HT MOBERLY MOBERLY, April 12--'AP)-The Missouri Federation of Music Clubs in meet here was to be addressed today by Dr. Patrick Ward Gainer, nation ally known authority on folk lore.

He was to discuss folk songs and their history. Womens' choral clubs were to Friday Be Warmer Missouri and Illinois: frost tonight. Friday fair River States Fair with light and slightly Keokuk 4.8 rise .7 Kansas City 7.1 fall .2 Wavcrly 7.3 fall .4 Boonvllle 7.1 lall Hermann 6.2 rise 3 Union 3.7 fall (x Indicates lor yesterday.) compete in a contest in the after-' Hospital, noon, and winners were to be a pipe. The banquet was called off by Guy T. Callendar.

shop superintendent, as hundreds of men fought their way to the kitchen to render aid. Some men knew their wives were in the kitchen, that perhaps they had been scalded by the water or struck by fragments of the crumbled wall. Only one physician, Dr. Cord Bohling, was on the scene. He took charge, sending out an emergency! call for nurses, doctors and ambulances.

For more than an hour, the doctors worked in the kitchen. The women were given hasty first aid, then rushed by ambulances and private automobiles to the Bothwell souri, near Springfield. GENEVA, April 12--(AP)--The belief that 'Peru and Colombia were preparing for war was stated to a League of Nations committee by Dr. Francisco Castillo Najera, Mexican ambassador to France. The two countries dispute the sovereignty of a strip of jungle borderland.

Flyers Sail NEW YORK, April 12--(AP)--A group of fifty American aviators-pilots and mechanics--sailed for Colombia today to enter the Colombian air service. CAMPAIGN QUOTA REACHED $2,785 Jefferson City's quota of the campaign fund for the stale bond issue reached $2,785 this afternoon. Secretary Hanes said he expected the total of $3,000 to be raised not later than tomorrow and asked that ail the workers turn in their cards as soon as possible. COMMITTEE APPROVES PAY TO DEPOSITORS WASHINGTON, April 12--(AP)-The House Banking Committee today approved legislation to pay off depositors in closed National banks, but limited the amount which may be paid in full to $2,500. Brisk Business in the Automobile Department During First 2 Months ITALIAN MAY HAVE ALTITUDE RECORD ROME, April Donati, Italian air ace, reached an altitude of 14,433 meters (47,352.219.39 feet) yesterday, it was officially announced today when the barograph was unsealed.

The existing recognized record is 44,814.418 feet, set last year by the French Jlier, G. Lemoine. nounced tonight. Singers from Christian and Stephens Colleges, Columbia, and the Western Dental College, Kansas City, were to entertain delegates at tonight's meeting. Oliver Sovereign, Joplin, will direct a massed choral concert.

Miss Nina Pee, also of Joplin, is one of the soloists. MISSOURI DAILIES TO MEET SATURDAY A session of the Missouri Associated Dailies is scheduled for the Missouri Hotel here Saturday. Forty members of the organization and their advertising managers are expected to attend. The automobile registration department did a brisk business during the first two months of this year. Receipts for this period showing an increase of $869,031 over the corresponding period ol last year.

V. H. Steward, motor vehicle license commissioner, today announced that receipts for January and February of this year, totaled $0,469.921. During these U'o months of last year, the licensing division collected $4,600,889 The total collections for 1933 were $9,753,000. The collections for the first two months of thi- year represents an of 150,000 tags compared 10 last In addition to a' graduated of reduced charges for automobile ists this year are having to purchase their tags for only II months of 1934.

Under the license reduction measure, the 1935 license year will begin January 1, instead of February 1, as under the present motor vehicle law. While no reduction was made in the license rates for trucks, the average reduction for this type of vehicle was 8 per cent under the 11-month license year. The average reduction for passenger automobile, including the cut in rates provided under the bill passed by the legislature and the 11-month rate, is 27 per cent, Steward said. "The reduction in rates under the measure passed by the legislature and the general uptrend ol business conditions is Missouri is responsible for the increased receipts," Secretary of State Dwight H. Brown said.

SHANGHAI, April 12--(UP)-Frank Hawks, famous American speed flier, joined in the extensive search today for the China Aviation Corporation amphibian plane missing since it left here three days ago with four occupants, three of them Americans. Hawks brought his giant Condor plane, which he had been demonstrating, to the search in which five other planes also participated. It was feared that the amphibian had fallen into the sea during a storm. The missing plane carried Robert Gast, Louisville, pilot; James Finck, Miami, navigator; Ivan Carlson, Donna, radio superintendent for the operating air line, and Ube Mura, Japanese who chartered the craft 3 PERSONS DIE OF FUMES IN OEM! JOT! FIRE ST. LOUIS, April 12--(AP)-Smoke fumes from burning celluloid caused the death of three em- ployes last night following a fire in the Brown Shoe Company building, City Hospitals physicians said today.

The dead are Fred Pointer, 37, Albert P. Dcitsch, 55, and Miss Minnie Schtiltz, 42. Two other men employes suffered burns, a woman sprained her ankle as she jumped from a fire escape to the sidewalk and about 300 em- ployes were endangered by the fire, but left the building safely. The three died in the City Hospital several hours after the fire. According to physicians there, burning celluloid generates a highly poisonous gas which partially destroys iung tissues and paralyzes nerves.

Deaths -were unexpected, preliminary examinations at the hospita' indicating the injured were not in serious condition. Fire apparently originated in department making box toes for shoes. Police quoted employes as saying celluloid rolls used in the department ignited and the flames spread rapidly. Fumes spread throughout the entire six story building. ROOSEVELT EN ROUTE WITH PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT TO WASHINGTON.

April 12 --(AP) -General Hugh S. Johnson, industrial administrator, said today after conference with President Roosevelt that he was not sure but what recommendation might be made for extension of the drastic licensing" provision of the national recovery act as a weapon of strict enforcement of the codes. Johnson said "I think we have tcctli enough without it but there be other reasons for continuation of the licensing power." The geenral nlso disclosed that the president was in accordance with his general support of the Wagner bill establishing by law quasi supreme court of industrial relations. "I think," he said, "Th" president Is in general agreeme'jB with the views I expressed this on the Wagner bill." Johnson gave an optimistic report on the general business situation the chief executive. Had Great Time.

President Roosevelt told newspapermen aboard his special train he had a "perfectly marvelous Lime just around," on hfc; weeks vacation cruise which snded this morning He showed no particular concern over the congressional situation, and declined comment on pending legislation. Mr. "'FoosevctK -was kidding mood, joshing the-newspapermen. "I had a perfectly marvelous time," he said. "I got a real rest.

The first two days I spent fishing 1 Then I picked up a little cold in. the nose and spent the next couplo of days sleeping. Then I did some more fishing and a lot of just good old around." General Hugh S. Johnson, industrial administrator, and Richberg, general counsel of the H. R.

A. rode northward with the president. Johnson and Richberg said they had several things to take up with the chief executive but the latter showed no concern over the recovery program. As for extension of the licensing power of the national recovery act hither unused he said he would reserve comment on that until he has with General Johnson. The iatter has announced he is willing permit this drastic club of enforcement to lapse upon the expiration of its life next June.

Narrow Escape. MIAMI, April -Gen. Hugh S. Johnson, National Recovery Administrator, had a close escape from possible injury today when a large combination automobile-trailer barely missed being truck by a train while he was en- route to meet President Roosevelt, who arrived here from a fishing trip. Besides Genera! Johnson, those in the automobile and trailer included Donald Richberg, general counsel for the NRA; Marvin H.

Mclntyre, White House secretary, and about 20 White House correspondents and their wives. Preceded by a. motorcycle escort, the automobile approached the grade crossing just ahead of the train. The military escort darted across the tracks and the car followed. The rear end of the trailer in which General Johnson, Mclntyre and Richberg were seated, barely cleared the tracks as the train roared by.

Later General Johnson humorously remarked that if anyone on the trailer had been wearing an overcoat he would have been hit. The trailer proceeded immediately to the docks where the party alighted and walked to a steamship dock, where the yacht "Nourmahal" which had brought President Roosevelt here early today was docketed. BRANDED AS WIFE KILLER BY JURY, GIVEN LIFE EL RENO, April 12--(AP) --Branded by a jury as the slayer of his secret bride, Virgil Brown, Shawnee World War veteran, today faced life imprisonment. The jury returned its verdict last night after a little more than two hours deliberation. The broken body of his wife, Mrs.

Marie Elmsley Brown, was found in a roadside ditch near here last October 17. Brown was convicted on circumstantial evidence despite his attempts to prove an alibi. BECKER TD ST.JOSEPH, ML CLEANUP IT CITY State Liquor Commissioner Edwin J. Becker said today he would visit St. Joseph tomorrow with the avowed intention of "cleaning up that wet city." Becker, in company with his secretary, Wallace Bowers, left here by automobile this morning.

He planned to stay in Kansas City tonight, visiting St. Joseph tomorrow and Saturday. "I visited St. Joseph some time ago and ordered a general cleanup of saloons and other places selling liquor in violation of the state law," Becker said. "Now.

I'm going back to see what progres has been made. "It is my Intention to clean up that wet city and enforce strict obedience to the state's liquor control law.".