Abilene Reporter-News from Abilene, Texas • 1

in THE ABILENE MORNING REPORTER-NEWS 1. Price 5 Cents ABILENE, TEXAS, SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 6, -FORTY-TWO PAGES. NUMBER 135 FIVE ARE FOUND GUILTY OF PEONAGE 88 28 Bribery Scandal Hearing Is Completed At Austin ACCUSED DENY TAKING MONEY TO PUSH BILL Name Of Dan Moody Enters Hearing Testimony; Body To Go Into Session Monday. By The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 5.

The house committee of nine, investigating bribery charges against F. A. Dale and H. H. Moore, representatives in the 40th legislature, late today completed its hearing after Speaker R.

L. Bobbitt and Brig. Gen. Jacob F. Wolters of the Texas National Guard had testified and the name of Gov.

Dan Moody had been brought into the case. To Start Session The committee announced that it will go into executive session Monday morning over a transcript of testimony for guidance in recommendations to be made subsequently to the house. Both Dale and Moore flatly denied on the stand today charges of Willie Chamberlin, Houston, legislative lobbyist of the Texas Optometry association, that they had accepted $1,000 to engineer By Universal Service AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. is a disgraceful situation," Governor Dan Moody said today in discussing the legislative graft investigation. anything like that is going on i the parties ought to be in the penitentiary instead of the legislature." Speaker Bobbitt said: "Some cheap skate polltician might say I had tried to frame him, but I considered the welfare of the state and decided that any decent citizen must see the matter to the end and punish those who are guilty." the adverse house committee report on Moore's bill to tax stationary as well as itinerant optometrists $50 annually.

'The representatives, under 000 bond each, from justice court were arrested. bY, state rangers Wednesday few minutes after the alleged transaction, of which rangers were forewarned. House Speaker R. L. Bobbitt of Laredo, called to the stand late, today by Assistant Attorney General D.

A. Simmons, related that Chamberlain's story of Dale's purported offer to "fix things" for $1,000 worried him so that he tookthe matter to Gov. Dan Moody, (See ACCUSED, Page 10) New Robbery Law Asked By Shirley By The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. kind of robbery threats of bodily injury are where, regardless. of the use of firearms, will be punishable by death, if a house bill by Rep.

Shirley pending in the legislature is enacted. Death penalty may be assessed now in cases involving uses of firearms. Rep. Shirley also is author of a bill to prohibit injunctions that would prevent estranged parents from seeing their children or child involved in the estrangement. The Mill would hold the author of such responsible for mental junctions Sujured thus caused.

Three Killed In Church Gas Explosion At Toledo By Universal Service. TOLEDO, Ohio, Feb. exkilled three persons and plosion wrecked the $250,000 First Congregational church here today. The dead are Clyde Wilt and his Witeam Kate, the caretakers and Mrs. Mary Fitzgerald, assistant caretaker.

explosion, caused by ignited is believed to have been the gas, work of a firebug. Chicago Police Halt Car When Young Girl By Universal Service. CHICAGO, Feb. A girl screaming in an automobile today as it sped through Chicago streets drew a detective squad after the car. Police found a pretty girl, who gave her name as Jean Lafontaine, 19, an artist, moaning and crying hysterically, with three young men whom she charged with having attacked her Notorious Gang Members 'Guilty' Carl Shelton Earl R.

Shelton Bernard Shelton The three brothers, members of the notorious Illinois Shelton gang were sentenced to 25 years each in the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, Saturday, following their conviction by a jury of robbing the mails of $15,000 at Collinsville. They held their own in a bitter gang war that cost many lives in Williamson county but now they must leave their rivals in possession of the field. CONVICTED OF MAIL ROBBERY Rival Gang Leader Was Chief Witness For State By The Associated Press. QUINCY, Feb. -Twentyfive years each in the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth, must be spent by Carl, Earl and Shelton, Williamson county gangsters found guilty yesterday of robbing the mails of $15,000 at Collinsville a year ago.

The Shelton's were sentenced today by Judge Louis Fitzhenry, after he denied a motion for a new trial. The prison sentence for each of the brothers was provided by the federal jury yesterday found them guilty of robbery, alleged by government testimony to have been committed in an effort to obtain funds for the illicit liquor traffic at the bottom of the gang warfore. the Charles chief witness Birger, for rival the leader, state. was The defense claimed the mail robbery was "framed" against the brothers to get them out of the way. Counsel for the defendants filed motion a new trial on grounds for of error a hearing today on motion was granted by' Judge Louis Fitzhenry, The jury deliberated for hours to decide that the Sheltons slugged a fedeal messenger in Collinsville, a little over two years ago and drove off with a mail pouch containing $15,009.

Quarter- Inch Freak Hail Storm Received At Alpine ALPIN, Texas, Feb. freak hailstorm hit Alpin this afternoon during which hail and rain rained thick and fast over half of the town while the sun shown brightly. Not a drop of rain or hail fell in portions of the town. The hail was a quarter inch thick over a stretch of several miles. DEATH TOLL ILLINOIS GANG FIGHT MOUNTS Body Of Highway Policeman Found; Wife Still Missing After Extensive Search.

By The Associated Press Du DUQUOIN, Feb. -The body of Lorry L. Price, 47, state highway patrolman, abducted with his wife on the night of January 17, from his home at Marion, was found today in a field two miles south of Dubois, on the Marion-St. Louis road. He had been shot times in various parts of the body and marks about his mouth indicated he had been gagged.

Authorities said there was no doubt Price had been brutally murdered. No trace of the wife was found, although a search of the neighborhood was immediately begun for her body. Price was the last man known to have left "Shady. Rest," the fortified road house of Charlie Birger, gang leader, on the night of January 8, before the place was dynamited and fired, and four persons in it killed. The theory of Williamson county officers is that he and his wife were kidnaped by members of the rival Shelton gang and slain because he "knew too much." Farmer Finds Body Joe E.

Waldman, a farmer, found the body when walking through a field on his farm. It lay in a clump of high weeds about 75 feet from the highway. He telephoned Sheriff Petri at Nashville, 20 miles away, and Petri and several deputies went to the scene. Price was a close friend of Birger and a frequent visitor at "Shady Rest." The raid on Birger's road house was charged by Williamson county authorities to the Shelton gang, who were said to have the hope of killing Art Newman, one of Birger's lieutenants and a principal government witness in the Collinsville mail robbery case in which the three Shelton brothers were convicted Friday at Quincy. Newman, it developed, had left the roadhouse the afternoon before the raid.

Shelton Denies It Price told friends that on the Friday after the raid Carl Shelton had crowded his car to the side of the road in Williamson county and had stopped to talk to him. Price had described the conversation as "friendly" but refused to go into details. Shelton denied this on the stand in the Quincy trial. BRECKENRIDGE MAN DIES OF INJURIES BRECKENRIDGE, Texas, Feb. R.

Stanford, 61, of this city, who was injured in an automobile accident near Rising Star Thursday died here Friday morning. Burial will be made at Anson. Stanford was on his way to Brownwood when the car in which he and four others were riding, overturned on a curve when a rear wheel gave way, according to reports here. He is survived by his wife and five children. Miss Olive Ann Stanford, a daughter, suffered several fractures of ribs in the accident.

Another Legal Blow Is Aimed In Chaplin Case By Universal Service LOS ANGELES, Feb. blow aimed at the receivership of Charlie Chaplin's estate was struck here today by attorneys on behalf of Al Reeves, the comedian's business manager and one of the score of defendants in Mrs. Lita Grey Chaplin's 42-page divorce complaint. Reeves filed notice of a motion to vacate the superior receivers, court and order appointing hearing on the action will be held Feb. 10.

FOUR ARE DROWNED By The Associated Press CHESTER, Feb. persons were ere drowned tonight when their closed motor car skidded across the docks here and plunged into the Delaware river. Two men and two women were in the narty. it wag believed. Their bodies have not been recovered.

RECLUSE IS BURNED By Universal Service OAKLAND, Feb. by police to have been smoking a cigaret in bed, Mrs. Theresa Currie, 65, was burned to death early today, when bed clothes caught fire. Mrs. Currie lived alone in the house, DRY LAW PLEA MADE IN TALK BY EXECUTIVE Declares Each State Should Have Right In Wet Settlement By The Associated Press.

NEW YORK, N. Feb. plea bition for settlement of the prohi- "the question by a return to traditional American doctrine of local self government and state determination," was voiced here tonihgtb Gyov hp night by Goevrnor Albert Ritchie, (Democrat) of Maryland. Governor Ritchie offered his plan at the annual banquet of the estate board of New York In a speech characterized by a denunciation of what he termed the tendency to make law "a system of social control, a. scheme to regulate personal conduct and practice." Advocates of this new era "are intolerant of the orderly processes of others," government the and governor of the charged.

opinion He added that if they cannot get what they want from the states "they would take all power away from the states and give it to the federal government." He termed the new trend "a spirit of excessive federalism" and expressed the belief that it is "fast destroying the American system of sovereign states united in a sovereign nation." In support of this contention the governor pointed to efforts to pass a federal child labor law and establish a federal department of education, two subjects which he declared belong fundamentally to the states. Believe in Rights "I believe in the right of each state to setle in its own way question which intimately concern Its people, its peace, its order, Its morals and its customs," said the governor. Prohibition is such a question and there is grave danger in ignoring the fact that "the urban element is against Volsteadism," he added. "Why intensify the conflict between the rural and the urban?" the governor asked. "The South and West are rich in achievement and richer still in promise.

Entitled to It If they rant prohibition they are entitled to have it, but why submerge the infinity of problems that confront them in a futile struggle to enforce prohibition in states which do not want it "It is for principles I plead, for policies, for fundamentals, and a return to local self government will, more than any other one thing, tend to put an end to sectional controversies, group interests and class conflicts." VICTIM OF BORGER SHOOTING IS HELD By The Associated Press BORGER, Texas, Feb. Unable to locate relatives of the dead man, the body of Steve Stevens, alias Fred or Harry Valentine, who was killed in a dance hall shooting here Tuesday night, is still being held by local undertakers. Stevens was killed when Fred Davis, held without bond to await the grand jury, walked into the dance hall and fired into the crowd, killing Stevens and wounding his, (Davis') 16-year-old wife. Borger Boy Buried Alive When Gravel Falls In Pit By The Associated Press BORGER, Texas, Feb. 5.

Buried alive under four feet of gravel, Bunno Autry, 15, w8a smoothered to death ner here today when a gravel pit caved in suddenly. The boy's father, who was shoveling gravel alongside him, was buried in the gravel nearly to his arms. His shouts attracted workmen who dug him from the gravel and then began to search for the boy. The lad was dead when his body was dug from the pit. U.

S. Share In German Debt Payments Will Be Changed By Universal Service. WASHINGTON, Feb. The share of the United States in Germ a reparations payments, amounting to 2 1-2 per cent. will be transferred to this country under a new arrangement affected between the two governments, the state department announced today.

The new plan is designed to insure this country payment in ulf and to help guard the German mark against possible fluctuations. The Weather WEST TEXAS: Sunday and Monday generally fair, mild temperaIture. AGED PARENTS TAKE STAND IN RAMSEY CASE Mother Of Leahy Claims Tragedy Has Broken Her Health; Cattleman Testifies. By The Associated Press GEORGETOWN, Texas, Feb. 5.

-The aged parents of Harry J. Leahy, charged with the murder of Dr. J. A. Ramsey of Mathis, took the witness wad here today in their son's trial.

Leahy also was on the stand to deny that he had killed the Mathis doctor and then hid his body in the hills of Live Oak county as the state charges. The defense rested late in the, afternoon, and the state completed its rebuttal in short order. The testimony was closed before 6 p. m. and the jury was locked up for the week end.

The charge will be read Monday and arguments will follow. The more than 100 witnesses departed for their homes. Mrs. Leahy, infirm and stooped, said that before the tragedy she had been well and strong, but that the charges against her son had crushed her. She testified her son Harry remained about the house until eight or nine o'clock of the night Dr.

Ramsey disappeared, and he then left, that she heard him return and saw him in bed about 11 or 12:30 o'clock the same night. The defendant's father, H. J. Leahy, said he had lived in the region of Mathis for 76 years. He could give little light on the 1 tragedy.

He said he did not see his son that night. On the question of whether Manuella Garza, Mexican servant, had washed any (See AGED PARENT, Page 10) Witchcraft Case In Juarez Loses EL PASO, Texas, Feb. Mrs. Benigna Rojasm, aged Mexican woman, was found not guilty in Juarez court today on a charge witchcraft police, preferred against her by Teodoro Alvarado. The woman was arrested after she had sprinkled a great quantity of salt about Alvarado's abode, thereby casting a spell on the occupants.

After a warning to be less liberal with her salt in the future she was freed. Warm Rain Here Is Beneficial To Grain And Grass Small grain and pasture conditions benefitted greatly by a slow that fell here almost all were, day Saturday and continued into the early hours of Sunday. More than three-fourths of an inch had been registered. The temperature was moderate, a little too warm for overcoats, and the rainfall was slow. The official U.

S. weather forecast for today is partly cloudy with little change in temperature. SAN ANGELO, Texas, Feb. Hard, places scattered by hail, rains, fell accompanied Saturday afternoon over this part of West Texas. Rain continued here early tonight, when more than an inch had fallen.

The oil fields in Reagan and Upton counties were soaked. Top and sub-surface moisture will meet and much benefit to range and winter grain will accrue. The weather is spring-like. BRONTE, Texas, Feb. grain and livestock will be greatly benefitted by a gentle rain that here today.

PLANE CHASH FATAL By The Associated Press BIRMINGHAM, Feb. C. Turner, 43, of Lewisburg, was killed and Vivian Jones, former army a aviator, was severely injured when the airplane piloted by Jones crashed from an altitude of 1,500 feet here late today. PRIEST ARRESTED By Universal Service. LAREDO, Texas, Feb.

for slaying mass in a private home and taken under guard to Mexico City where he was ordered expelled from the republic, Rev. Francis Zambrano arrived here today to await instructions from the I Vatican. Abilene Mayor Is Not In Race CHARLES E. COOMBES Declaring that the people have right to know whether he will offer for a third term as mayor of the city, Charles E. Coombes, last night issued a formal statement declaring that under no circumstances would he accept the office again if it were tendered to him.

Story below. COOMBES WILL NOT ASK THIRD TERM HE SAYS Appreciation Is Expressed 1-Statement From Executive Mayor Charles E. Coombes will not be a candidate for re-election. In a statement issued yesterday he declared emphatically that he would not seek the office for the third term. "My second term as mayor will soon expire," his statement read.

"I have rendered four years of service. I have discharged the duties of office faithfully, impartially and to the best of my ability. This has been done at a great personal sacrifice. The compensation has been the honor of twice being elected to this important office and the satisfaction which I have felt at accomplishing something for the growth of the city and the prosperity of the people. "I deeply appreciate every assistance and encouragement I have received and am thankful for every word soken or, written.

The friends who have stood by me shall never be forgotten. I am grateful beyond bounds for the loyalty and support of the city emloyees. "For many weeks my friends have known that I would not be a candidate to succeed myself. From several quarters pressure has been brought to upon me to accept the office again. Candiare announcing for city offices and the people generally have a right to know what are my intentions.

To forever set the question at rest, I state that I am not 3. candidate for mayor, and under no circumstances would I accept the office if it were tendered me again." TWO MEN SLAIN BY POLICE IN BATTLE By The Associated Press. NORFOLK, Feb. -Two men, believed to be L. J.

Bonney of Virginia. Beach, and Lee Waterfield of Princess Anne, who were alleged to have been hunting ducks at night in violation of the law, were killed in a gun fight last night in the Back Bay section of Princess Anne county in which another of their party and three game warden escaped unharmed. The officers said they came on the three men as they were placing duck in an automobile near a marsh: Called to halt, the men were said to have opened fire on the officers, who returned the fire, killing two. The third fled into the brush. San Antonio Dry Officers Make Record liquor Haul SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb.

Seizing a carload of cabbage billed for Fort Worth, mounted customs inspectors in Laredo Saturday found 1,000 gallons of grain alcohol and twenty eight cases of whiskey concealed beneath the vegei tables, according to telegraphic vices reaching Collector of Customs Ed Cotulla of San Antonio. One man was arrested when he secured the bill of lading for the car. I SENTENCES ARE DEFERRED UNTIL INVESTIGATION INTO RECORDS OF MEN IS MADE Willacy County Sheriff, Three Farmers and Justice of the Peace Are Found Guilty By Jury of Violating Federal Peonage Laws By The Associated Press CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, Feb. 5. -Five guilty here of having violated the peonage statutes by a jury tonight at 7:30 o'clock.

The Raymond Teller of Willacy county; Frank and farmer; Justice of the Peace Dodd, Carl and L. K. Stockwell, farmer. Judge J. C.

nounced that sentence would be deferred until University Co-ed Turns Burglar To Pay Tuition Debt Night Watchman Halts Efforts of Would-be By The Associated Press. VERMILLION, S. Feb. 5. -Need of $24 to pay her tuition for the second semester at the University of South Dakota prompted a 19-year-old co-ed to turn burglar early today but her adventure terminated in arrest.

Equipped with the paraphernalia of the craft, Miss Marion Meyers, a freshman, essayed the role of bank robber, forced entry the First National bank here, but was interrupted before she could attack the vault with an electric drill. Approach of a night watchman sent her scampering away just as she prepared to use the drill, and in her flight she left a hat bearing her name. U.S. MARINES IN NICARAGUA ARE ASSAILED American Armed Forces Are "Commiting Sacasa Says By Universal Service WASHINGTON, Fb. for reparations for alleged "outrages" committed by American marines in Nicaragua will be lodged with the state department by the liberal or rebel faction of Dr.

Juan B. Sacasa. Dr. T. S.

Vaca. Sacasa's agent here tonight, said the demand has already been filed with the American consul at Bluefields and will be forwarded to the state department within the next few days, signed by Foreign Minister Espinosa. of the so-called "constituItional" government. Vaca has charged that marines, by. order of Admiral Latimer, seibed ammunition belonging to the liberals and disarmed the garrison of Wawa, outside of neutral territory.

He said: "In the face of a sworn affidavit establishing the outrages perpetrated by Admiral Latimer's forces and the official protest and demand for reparations by the constitutional government a mere denial by the head of departments in Washington is without value. "The landing of American forces at Rio Grande and Puerto Cabezas is an illegal act under the principles of international law, the justification of which has been attempted. on half a dozen ditgrounds, none of which has proved to be correct or even plausible." DAILY S. P. TRAIN TO VALLEY IS PROGRAM By The Associated Press HOUSTON, Feb.

5. Present plans of the general apssenger department of the Southern Pacific lines provides for the inauguration of the lower Rio Grande service Sunday with one train a day each way. Temporary stations have been established at McAllen and at EdInburg until permanent facilities can be provided. Through Pullman service will be inaugurated at the same time passenger service 15 begun. RUNNERS REPULSED By Universal Service.

EL. PASO, Texas, Feb. snipers on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande laid down a berrage of rifle fire to cover the advance of a band of smugglers, a detachment of the American border patrol today fatally wounded Francisco Loya, 22. in repulsing the whiskey runners. Liquor valned at about $1,000 was confiscated.

ther investigate ords. He said termine more the motives of ily in the whether $2 they charged, or trying to help men were found and conspiracy men are Sheriff Brandt, deputy Brandt, farmer Hutcheson he could furthe men's reche wished to deaccurately what the official famcounty were were "selling apiece," whether as was, they were the farmers out. Jury Is Praised "I have never seen a more discriminating verdict since I have been on the bench," was the comment of the court. "Whether those who were convicted should have been acquitted or whether those who were acquitted should have been convicted, I shall not attempt to pass upon," said Judge Hutcherson, "If they had been students of penology they could not have made the discrimination more intelligent." The jury recommended leniency for Justice of the Peace Dodd and Carl Brandt. "The jury got the ones," he said, "who should have been gotten, in my opinion." Judge Hutcherson went on to explain that he made it a practice not to comment on verdicts but "the discriminating way in which you have rendered this decision caused me to break a precedent." "Having made that speech," he said, "I wish to apologize and almost wish it withdrawn.

I don't like a talking, wordy judge. He went on to say that the jury's action in acquitting County Attorney Robinson had "lifted a great load from my shoulders," because he did not believe that Robinson was guilty, but he did think, he said, that the case was to go to the jury for its decision. The Jury, he added, shows that it has not assumed a slipshod, manner in disposing of the case but that the jurors had tried to figure out just where the peonage was going on. The sentencing of the men was "deferred and suspended." he said, for thirty days in order to give the department of justice an opportunity to make an investigation. EXPECTANT MOTHER DIES FROM FLAMES By The Associated Press.

FREDERICK, Feb. Mrs. Roy Gee today gave her life in a vain attempt to rescue from the flames the small garments she had patiently stitched in preparation for the child she wag pecting. Her death occurred in the Frederick hospital shortly before 5 o'clock this morning as the results of inhaling flames. Fire broke out in the home Mr.

and Mrs. Gee and their three year old daughter escaped in safety. Then the expectant mother remembered the baby clothing in a trunk and rushed back through the flames. She was overcome with smoke and inhaled the fire with fatal effect. NEW YORK TABLOID SUIT IS POSTPONED By Universal Service NEW YORK.

Feb. 5. The hearing of charges against the Evening Graphic, a newspaper here, accused of publishing in decent material, concerning the recent Peaches Browning tion suit, was postponed today. Counsel for the newspaper informed Magistrate Corrigan that the result of his decision was important to his newspaper and he wished more time to prepare. The matter was adjourned to Feb.

24. Moody Grants First Act Of Clemency For Burial By The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. Dan Moody Saturday granted his first act of clemency when he granted J. L. House, sentenced to 10 years for forgery, a two day.

furlough at attend the funeral of his uncle, William House, at Houston. furlough was granted on condition that House bear the expenses of the prison guard who I companied him..