The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • 1

f1 S1EMBER OF Audit Bureau of Circulations and Th Associated Press -'J THR WEATHKB I if Part ly Umdy today Hon- A (1nj fnlr moderate tem- 35th Year. Vol. No. 94 DillT nWS, 1ST. 1890 KOBimra uaobii, bst.

ioe STAUNTON, SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 19, 1924 KIKMB AfjaociATao run PRICE CENTS; wm DENBY TAKES HUNDREDS OF MOTORISTS BLOCKADED HOUSE VOTES MORE MONEY FOR WATCHERS ALL BLAME IN AMAZING STORY OF ALLEGED PEONAGE AND CRUELTY ON AN AUGUSTA FARM IS UNCOVERED W. VA. TOWN IS SWEPTBY FIRE; $600,000 LOSS Franklin, County Heat of Pcndlc ton County, Ioses Four Block of Business Section; Fire Started from Explosion of Engine In Xew-Kpopor Plant. DAUGHTERS PAY HOMAGE AT MTVVERNON Pilgrimage Made to Tomb of Washington Where He anil His Wife Are Iuly Honored; French, and British Ambassadors Attend; Pan. American Program.

Five years of alleged peonage, unbelievable cruelty and sordid beastliness perpetrated upon a mother and child in the heart of Augusta county came to light yesterday after investigation by Mrs. 0. W. Robertson, county probation officer, of a story communicated to a county officer by a man said to be very prominent in New Hope. Lila Ryder, the mother- 25 years old, and her baby, Robert, five years of age, who has never spoken and has forgotten how to laugh as he did when first taken to New Hope, and who now looks like one of the worst specimens photographed by the Near East Relief n5fAmenianstamng-refugeesr-weref or- the-first-time since arriving at the farm of John A.

Sandrjdge and his wife at ease in a warm, room before a comforting fire in the county welfare home under the care of Mrs. For the first time last night the baby knew what a real bed was, for in the past it had lain entirely naked on old rags in the landing of an old outhouse on the farm. It was in this condition, said Mrs. Robertson, she discovered the child. Constantly Beaten The woman, according to her own story, and the story told by a man from New Hope; and the information gathered since yesterday morning, was less than a beast on the farm.

She declared she was mercilessly beaten with the fists of Mr. Sand-ridge, with sticks, and other articles, and kept in terror of Mrs. Robertson who was held up as a sort of ogre to her lest she attempt, to leave the farm. The child, she said, often went all day without eating, while she had to slave at work. A man from New Hope told a story of having met her one morning at daybreak as she was leaving the outhouse, and seeing her all bloody and disheveled, asked her what had happened, and that she shied away from him.

The woman corroborated this story last night, saying that she had just been beaten up mercilessly by Mr. Sandridge and was afraid to tell this man at the time. When Mrs. Robertson heard the story, and also Judge Wm. A.

Pratt, of the juvenile and domestic relations court, the judge authorized Mrs. Robertson to go forthwith to the farm and investigate. Hurrying to the place, she came upon the child in the house, or wash-house, -lying on an old overcoat, terribly emaciated with fearful undernourishment and neglect. It could not speak. The county probation officer found the mother, Lila Ryder, heard her story, and returned with the mother and child to Staunton.

Warrants Issued FOOD BROUGHT IX AFTER STORES ARE DESTROYED Railroad Connections Is Cut Off from Outside World When Telephonic and TelcgmplUc Service Is Rendered Useless; Xo of Life Reported. (By Tho Associated Iivkn.) ion of a gasoline engine in the office of he Pendleton Times caused a fire county, W. Va.j west of here, last night and entailed property loss estimated at $600,000, according to reports received here today. The flames spread with great rapidity while volunteer firemen battled under handicap of low water pressure. Raging for 6 hours, the fire was not brought fully under control until an early hour this morning after dynamiting had been employed to check its advance.

In an area of four blocks only the brick jail house remained standing. Destruction of the tieeiphone and telegraph facilities at Franklin cut the little town off from communication with the rest of. the world and delayed receipts here of reports of the conflagration. Food was carried from neighboring towns to the hungry Franklin inhabitants today, destruction of local stores having eliminated the customary source of supply: The newspaper office, where the fire originated, the courthouse, tw hotels and the new and old buildings of the Farmers' bank were included inthe flames'- toll-A far as known here no oni was injured. county seat of Pendleton county, W.

was all but eliminated from the map' by a fire late Thursday night and early today which, according to advices from Monterey, destroyed the courthouse andail, wo banksr two garages, nineteen awenmgs, i ai- law office, Fleming's restau rant, the office of the Pendleton Times, four stores, and a moving picture theatre. it is understood tne lire started ih'the office of the Times late Thursi day evening, and spread rapidly through the busines section of the town. Inadequate water suppjy nrbtectlon made the town easy nrpy Franklin is 24 miles north ot It lies in the center jpf Pendleton county, surrounded by territory which is used principally or agricnlturaVpursuits and stock raising. It has no- railroad service, the nearest station being at Petersburg, W. which is on the 'Balr ti'niore and Ohio road.

The population of Franklin is about 40ft, and a wagon factor, two tanneries, and flour mill are its principal in-. i Has Relatives There Mrs. Claude F. Harper of West Frederick street, is naturally intensely interested in the hews coming from Franklin, where she had as by at Judge Pratt, upon hearing Mrs. Robertson story, issued warrants against the New Hope farmer and his wife, Mr.

and Mrs. John A. Sandridge. Deputy Sheriff Earl Taylor went out to the farm and found Mr. Sandridge and arranged for him to come into Staunton today to put 4 Mrs.

Sandridge was reported to be in CharlottesyiUe. Thft -warrants charge the farmer arid his wife with contributing to the delinquency of Lila Ryder. Met In Hospital The story Lila Ryder told yesterday begins with the University hospital in Charlottesville where she met Mrs. Sandridge, she said, who was also a patient. Mrs.

Sandridge offered the young mother a "home" for her and her child. She returned with Mrs. Sandridge to New Hope and ever since then has worked there from before daylight to after sundown chopping wood- grubbing new ground, shoveling snow, lifting things, and; every kind of common hard farm work. Her hard life Is depicted Ari her. solidity of person and her beatings still GIL LEASES Former Secretary of the; Navy I Address Dei-lares that He and He Alone Is Responsible for Action Acted to Protect Xavy Interests.

(B.v The Assorted Press) Adrian. April 18 Pull responsibility for the initiation or the policy, which resulted lnthe leasing of the naval oil reserves was assuml ed here tonight by Edwin. Denby, around whom raged-a storm of rnnbr-seHatO mfnt last as tecretary of the navy. "Had I not takn the action 1 did to 'protect the int rests of the navy; in these reserves tim trem- ehdoua lose of dr.rinege" he declared in aii address would havq bernF false to my i a mid culpably n'gli i gent in th performance of mt dn-S I Replying to what he said had bcu an of collision Ouj part ia amnion wit't Mr. Dnbv said he Ki'i nevei been talkel to i.t the nav;) pet rc-leum reseive befj" 'uifrea ine ny tne pr-'stoent-j or bv an.

rf is cabinet or oth4 i.dvisers. 'Yy ap? "tnieiit was so uewhaii i.r.ojpeeted Mid "and was not! sn.nunced un il il-ont Fic 25. rrefore tiitr. -v. no col usion act to hv me a M.

ugh -rininlion has is made. SLortK nfr la- ing affw, it nut me at driinf tne reserve was proceeding rapidly and offset wells were necessary. Believing that the department of inter- ior was best, qualitied to handle for' the navy its enormously valuable re-f serves 1 turned to the interior ae-; 'partment tor advice on the 1 tnen asked the hecretary of the terior if ht could not take over the; administrative control of the naval -p en reserves; eeretnryFalt- did not ask me. 1 asked hini. To- gether then the secretary of the interior and I presented the matter to' the president of the States imri after he hart ivon r.

VMIVIU1 srttdy he di-cided to issue ari execu-' tive "A lease was prepared with my full knowledge and 1n frequent constitution with me." Report of Morgan Men's Killing- Now Declared Baseless 1 (By The AsNoclsitert Press) j. Washington, 18. Reports from. Athens that two members of crew of J. P.

Morgan's yacht. Corsair, had been murdered in Albania, jvere declared to bf "without any foundation" in a message received from-the-Albanian government today by Professor L'hekrezi. Albanian Commissioner to the United States. A. M.

A. CADETS HERK Cadets of the Augusta Military academy had Good Friday aa holiday and quite a number of them en-Jo ved the leave ofabsence in Staua-fon. They had to be In barracks by 11 o'clock last night. VIVK KILLED AND SCORKM ARK BURIED Chicogo, April JMiremen-are known- 18. Five -to have- been killed and scores of oth- er nrempn and spectators were buried beneath the fall ing walls of a burning four-story box factory on the West Side tonight.

Many of those buried in the debris are believed to have perished. NOTICE Having qualified as Execut or of the Estate of the late J. H. WORTHINGTON, all parties holding claims against or knowing themselves to be indebted to said Estate, will please come forward promptly for settlement. Trust Department National Vallev i Rank i Step Is Effort to Check Illegal Entry of Alicng into United States; In-rreftsed Money In to Pay Itimiljfra-t jnn Inspectoi-s and i Itrenk l'p Smuggling on Borders.

SMUGGLING PLOT .5. SeatUe Luther P. Weedln, United States Immigration commis announced today that a plot to smuggle Japanese into this country had been unearthed nnd.that 18 Japanese Had been atfrest- ed in the last four days in western Washington and. Ari- zona. Washington, April 18.

The house took steps today to check illegal entry of aliens 'into the United States by voting to increase by Jl.00,000 the amount available for pay of immigration inspectors during the coming fiscal year. Ily a vote of 72 to 58, the increase was written into the bill carrying funds for the labor department. Adoption of the proposal was urged as a means of breaking up smuggling! of aliens across the two borders. Several members pointed out that by taking, steps, to, restrict the illegal entry of alien house would act in keeping with the policy embodied in the Johnson immigration bill. Chairman, Madden of the appropriation committee, opposed the measure though he said he favored the principles it set forth.

i DEATH OF V. L. LARUE Floyd LaRue of Warm Springs. died there yesterday (morning. The funeral and will be held at Warm Springs today at 3 p.

His present pastor, the Rev. 07 Mc-Cutchan, will cqnduct the service, assisted by the RevWmC. White of Churchville, his former pastor, i La Rue was about 3 years of age. For about 40 years he was connected with the clerk's office in Bath county, first as assistant to his father-in-law, the late A. Given Clerk, and after a few years succeeding him in office.

He was a Presbyterian church member for even a longer period and for years was a deacon and later a ruling elder in tho Warm Sprfngs church. He was deeply ihterested in the work of the church and -will be greatly missed in church circles a well as in the community'at large. He was a Mason of prominence, also. 'Mi LaRue leaves', his! wife, foufr sonic Clyde JL LaRue of Co virl gton Harry u. LaRue of Washington and Floyd and Ralph LaRue at home; three1 daughters, Madie, now married and riving i in Ky Mrs.

Walter Ricks, or Charlottesville; 'Mrs. rV. Ji Jarrett of one Miss Mary lLaRue of the Mc-dung1 community; two brothers, K. 3kl. nd W.

S. LaRue. 'Several brothers and 'sistersf are dead. 0 SUIT CASE' DEVISED A BABY'S TRAVELING CRIB (By The Associated Press.) ijtfew. April l.A-l)r.J and 'Mrs.

Charles H. iliawifl, of Lah arrived from 1- VUnnn n.A 'i fn ha Ai 1 '1 a witlj their 4-months-old son Charles in a suitcase crilj dev.isod by the doctor, who explained became weary leaping from tr.aln to train in Europe' wlfh ap armful of 'baby. Kiiicnse. twelve bv thir- ty-six inches, is well ventllat-! ed, and contains all the, com- forts of an Dr. Iewls said if.

was the best pon'-V slble perambulator for travel- era and that his son, who was jborn in thrived in Vlt' i MAIL US YOUR DEPOSITS When it is inconvenient for you to come in person, mail us your deposits. It is not wise to hold checks given you, for loss is frequently sustained on account of the funds having been withdrawn while checks drawn against an account are still outstanding. We promptly acknowledge all deposites received by mail. Farmers Merchants Quarantine Authorities in Arizona Place Guards Blockading Road at Bridge and Refusing Culifornlnns Permission to Cross State; Governor Sends Troopers. (By The Associated Press), Phoenix.

April 18 State guardsmen have been ordered to Yuma to stop the advance or motorists coming1 from California iu -violatlon-of (tift-stateem))argo, it was announced at the governor's office tonight. Yuma. Arizona, April 18 Between 700 and 800 automobile travelers eastbound, half of them hungry and without food and many of them eick, are banked against the west end of the Yuma bridge clamoring for permission to cross Arizona. Yuma authorities declared that Imperial county, California, authorities today cut the chain penning these people back of the. Indian reservation in California and permitted them to crowd towards the bridge.

quarantine commission guards and local guards, holding the Yuma-Arizona side of the toridg" with a chain in front of them, have been disarmed to prevent bloodshed but the Arizona authorities declare they are determined to hold the blockade another 24 hours. Governor Hunt has telegraphed the local authorities that a company of infantry is on the way to aid in maintaining the quarantine. Yuma authorities already have sent half a dozen of the sick travelers to the Yuma county hospital. Lee Inquiry Is Ended Abruptly (ByTheAssoclatcd JPressL Richmond, April 18-Amid stormy scene and sensational charges during which 'Lindsay Gordon, counsel for the prosecution withdrew from the, case the legislative investigation of the Virginia lea me and inland fisheries department lale todn came to a close. The special committee will convene again May 16 to arrive at a verdict on the charges that Commissioner McDonald Lee of the department has been extravagant in the expenditure -of-tatefundsandthat state boats have been used for "illegal and invmoral purposes." Withdrawal of Mr.

Gordon from the case came after both side had rested. The attorney first asked for one hour and a half tomorrow to argue! the case but the'eommittee voted 4 to 3 to limit the argument to 50 minutes to a side to begin immediately. Mr. Gordon nicked up his hut and papers-andwalkeMromt he-crowded chamber. Silence prevailed and all eves were fixed on Senator Stubbs of Middlesex, prosecuting member of the committee.

He startr ed from the- and then turned. 1 "I wish to say" lie said, his voice trembling with emotion, "that as the one wbo made these I think ftio i-nmmittee lias treated my coun- I sel very unfairly and not only, has I mv prtnnil unfairly but the Qtatn nf Vireinia unfairly. I'll retire and let the eommittee decide." AstdrnwoLapplausejn OLclieers swept over the chamber. Then there ii-oru a few moments of silence. The1 chairman told thfl crowd he would clear the chamber furtner demonstrations occurred i VnTor TF StuBbsTetnTnedrand- made another plea that his counsel had been treated unfairly and that the action of the committee had been unreasonable.

A vote to reconsider wasost. In each the vote was 3: to arid Chairman Willie broke the tie. The day's hearing had been marked by frequent clashes between Chairman Willie and Mr. Gordon. The attorney yesterday had charged the chairman wlfh having -virtually supplied the case of counsel for Commissioner Lee and that almost every decision had.

been in favor of the defense. These charges came after the chairman had criticised Mr. Gordon's method of procedure and had accused him of having attempted to destroy the reputations of Commis sioner Lee, the women involved -In the case and Theo Barrow, Norfolk hotel man involved in the testimony. DONT LET YOUR TURKEYS AND CHICKENS DIE. Hogshead's Poultry Health Will Save 'Em.

A Safe and Reliable Remedy for Roup, Black Head, Cholera, Chicken Vox, Limber Xeck, Japes. Diarrhoea, etc. Thos. Hogshead (By The Associated Prcs) April 18. Accompanied by -representatives of America's revolutionary war, ally an'd enr emy, Daughters of the American Revolution journeyed to MtVarnon day and paid homage to George Washington and his wife with eulogies and by laying wreaths on the sarcophagus at the tomb.

A steady downpour of rain failed to prevent any of the Daughters from participating in the annual pilgrim- age in which France's ambassador, Jules J. Jusserand, and Britain's ambassador Sir Esme Howard join- A memorlal constituted morning session of the fiftn day trie continental congress, when tributes were paid to departed leaders of the society. The services were interrupted briefly for Chairman Johnson of the house immigration committee, to discuss the immigration bill. There was much applause when Representative Johnson described the bill as America's second declaration of independence. The society stated by the president-general always has stood for restrictive immigration.

Some action on resolutions endorsing the i immigration bill, with Japanese exclusion Js expected by the society tomorrow. A Pan-American evening concluded today's program with Dr. F. Rowe, director general of the Pan-American union as presiding officer. Tributes to the society were paid the Ambassador of Argentina, Honorio Tueyrredon, Minister of Panama, Ricardo J.

Alfaro and Minister of Guatemala Francisco San-clicz Latour. Dr. Tueyrredon declared the society eminently noble and worth while teaching as it does to actualize to revive and keep alive in- the-rujnds of present and coming generations the traditions of the glorious deeds and by their example illumine the way of the country's future. 41 News Leaders For Busy Readers Amazing story of alleged peonage and great cruelty on an Augusta county farm is brought to light when officers rescue mother and babe nfter five years punishment and near-starvation. Hundreds of moitorists blockaded California-Arizonii.

line' by. quar-a in ea or i esr Franklin, W. loses its business section. by fire, Senate passes immigration bill. Lee; investigation jends after prosecuting counsel withdraws un fa i trea tment by com mittee.

Experts See Clear Sailing Ahead Now 1 i (By the. Associated Press. Paris, April 1 A feeling of great, satisfaction was voiced today by American members of the' committee -of experts, which recently reported on the financial and economic situation in Germany, over tne tact derided to nroceert with the work preliminary to making effective the the conclusions of the experts. They predicted that there now is clear sailing ahead. i SENATE TAKES UP SOLDIER BOATS BILL WWashington.

April 18. The soldier bonus bill was taken under consideration by the senate tonight with the prediction by JSenatorCur-tis. Republican, Kansas, its sponsor, that only a few days would be necessary for; its passage. NEW THEATRE The Fast Express' with William Duncan and Edith Johnson "Flying Finance" Mermaid Comedy Special "He loops To Leather Pusher with Aeroplane Trimmings relatives; William up bond for appearance in court. never having a bed tu all the 'five lie chlldwas never iakenm' of doors in all.

that period. All this the mother staled last night, and the appemrance of the child seenled to bear but her Mothers "Clothes'' When Mrs. Robertson saw Lila RydeV for the first time yesterday morning, she was attired In a little old blue, skirt with1 a fertilizer, sack about iher middle and had oh an ancient sjyeater; also her feet were a pair of old shoes of Mr. Sandridge's. Beyond that, she was bare, without or under clothes: The cruelest part of the, story has to the treatment 6r' rather neglect of the child.

The mother was kept so busy that it could give no attention to Baby Robert. Even one of the ifarmer's children was afraid to talce anything to eat to'the child. When found it was 'positively numb, according to Mrs. Itobertson. When the mother was asked by the reporter h'ow she got the scratches and marks on her face, she (Continued on page Three.) You Sell Yourself Every Day to Someone And whether you gain or lose by the transaction-depends upon the impression you create.

fcrood clothes are an investment in good appearance they pay big dividends and build for the future. It Pays to Dress Well Every Minute Every Day ATLANTIC WOOLEN CO. COR. MAIX AN'D EW STS. show her face Asked by the newspaper reporter why she had not left the place, she suiu inai sne nun ikku iiiciuk uiiaiu of Mrs.

Robertson. She was told that the county probation officer would "get" her and do terrible things to hejvani so she drudged on jts a beast of burden witbt-eridless bloody beatings. Never In Sunlight Baby Robert is Ave years old, has the' appearance in size of an infant scarcely a year old. with limbs deformed by incredible undernourishment, so thin its age it cannot, walli or even attempt to, and has a ilarg head for the; worn-out body, this being about the Only thing about "the child to' indicate age. The child, said the m'other, was never in the aiuillght, never backed in the mildest glow of its rays, and Was practically always naked, and kept on the midway of the stairs landing on rags.

It slept all last winter on an old coat and was covered with Whatever rags the young hiother'could collect for, it. Never did it sleep in a bed, for, alUiough there was a bed In the outhouse, it lacked everything that goes into the' making up of a bed except some old wooden slats. The mother slept beside the child. Typewriters ROYAL STANDARD The best on the market. If are in need of a machine let us demonstrate the ROYAL.

If your old machine is not giveing good service trade it in on a ROYAL. Come to see us for your typewriter needs. Beverly Book Co. Books Stationary Engraving. of the Pendleton Times, and his wife, a cousin of Mrs.

Harper, have been living upstairs over the newspaper plant during the constrution of their new home. An aunt, Mr.4. Hedrick. ilived the newspaper plant and it is considered likely' that her home is among the, nineteen destroyed. The AUGUSTA NATIONAL BANK is especially interested in anything which affects the prosperity of the Farmer BEVERLY BOOK CO.

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