The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 19

THE WEATHER IN THREE PARTS 34 PACES FORECAST FOR 10S ANGELES AND SOUTHERN CALifOR.NIA: Generally tmi today and tomorrow with morning log. Xattlc change in. temperature. Maximum and minimum temperatures lor Teiterdar: 13-M. Complete weather report on Paje 15, Part Part LOCAL NEWS 16 Pages I' TIMES OFFICE 202 West First Street I.

Ili.e..r llll11t! VOL. LVlII SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 29, 1939. CITY NEWS EDITORIAL SOCIETY Urn 0 C'K1 r- Ill' i Death Calls Clinton Accused as Protector of Vice Chief Moves 93 Officers Detective Lieutenants Go to Central Offices; Night Post Abolished jr iiiii.MyM.1 by McCaleb at Kendall's Bribery Tria i Threats Told by Ex-Officer Victim of Police Purge Names Asserted Pay-off Syndicate Charges that he believes Clifford E. Clinton, reform crusader and principal political backer of Mayor Bowron, headed a "vice protection program" and pay-off syndicate in Los Angeles were hurled by S. J.

McCaleb, purged former DeDutv Chief of Police. yesterday in Superior Court. McCaleb's accusations came as he testified for Ben Ezra Kendall in the latter's trial on SIDE WITH E. V. DURLING 1 Beauty remains, but.

we are transitory. Ten thousand years from now will fall the dew, And high in heaven still hang that arch of blue; The rose will still repeat its perfect story, v. CHARLES HANSON TOWNE. (And maybe 10,000 years from now there will be no newspaper headlines screaming, "Troops Mass on All Frontiers." E.V.D.) COMO (Italy.) From Pliny the, Elder on, all experts have stated Bellagio is the most beautiful place on Lake Como. That makes it the most beautiful place in Italy.

This is the spot to spend your second honey- fmoon. It is almost as beautiful as the place where we spent our first honeymoon, which was at Grand View on the Hudson River, New York. Still my idea of the world's most beautiful spot. Of course, you could spend your first honeymoon at Bellagio but then you might worry about having to reach for a gas mask. On a first honeymoon the happy pair want to devote all their time reaching for one another.

HONEYMOON HOTEL At Bellagio the popular honeymoon hotel is the Villa Serbelloni. This villa, too, was previously occupied by persons of, various degrees of nobility. It isn't that these villas were occupied by the nobility that makes them good hotels except for the fact vthat the nobles usually picked out the most beautiful spots on the lake. Then these nobles usually left behind a lot of antique furniture which seems" an irresistible attraction to everybody's wife. Nobility also liked plenty of room to sleep in.

Average bedroom of these Lake Como villas is large enough to hold a six-day bicycle race in. Another thing that- makes Bel-, lagio dear to the heart of the feminine contingent is that it has quite a shopping center. Silk is what you are supposed A- 1 ..1.1 1 I. ON THE xm i -e mm i t. k- i i I Jl charges of bribery.

ACCUSES CRUSADER S. J. McCaleb, right, purged police officer, shown with Attorney William B. Beirne yesterday at 8en Ezra Kendall bribery trial, where McCaleb said he believes Clifford E. Clinton, vice crusader, headed "vice protection program." rimes photo Taking his second major step in eliminating brevet ranks In the Police Department in con formity with a general reorgani zation plan, Chief of Police Ar thur C.

Hohman yesterday: 1. Transferred 46 detective lieutenants from outside detec tive bureaus to central detective offices 2. Moved to outside bureaus 41 patrolmen and six sergeants who had been holding acting 'de tective lieutenant posts in cen tral division. 3. Abolished the office of night Chief of Police.

BOARD'S ORDERS Chief Hohmann explained the new move is the result of orders to him from the Police Commis sion. He also announced at a spe cial meeting of police captains in command of patrol divisions throughout the city that an or der would be issued today or Monday placing responsibility for vice enforcement squarely upon individual divisions. Central "vice- squad, which formerly operated at large, will henceforth be concerned with vice conditions only within Cen tral Division area, Chief Hoh mann said, adding that there is a growing need for more stringent vice enforcement in the city. KEEP PLAIX CLOTHES None of the plains-clothes men affected by the transfer will goi into uniform. Chief Hohmann told the division commanders.

They will be assigned to detective bureaus in the, stations to which they were transferred. Yesterday's transfers followed less than two weeks an earlier order moving all detective cap-l tains from command of outlying! detective bureaus to command1 of special details within central detective headquarters. FEW IN DETAILS The transfer to outlying bu- reaus of the 41 patrolmen and six sergeants who had been holding active detective lieutenant posts was viewed by some sources as leaving two of the department's main details homi cide and robbery staff ed with an insufficient number of trained men. There remain only four expe rienced officers, in each of the two details, it was disclosed by the transfer lists. WILL MOVE OTHERS ants in the department.

In addition to the 46 shifted yesterday to Central Division the remainder will be moved in within the next 30 days, according to the Chief. The Central Detective Bureau eventually will be staffed entirely with detective lieutenants holding civil service appointments for that. rank. Abolition of the post of night chief of police resulted in the transfer of Police Lieutenant Hermann F. Luedtke, who had held the position, to 77th Street Division.

ACT AS XIGHT CHIEF Under the new program the commander of the Central Division Detective Bureau on the night watch will nominally act as night chief. Among other moves yesterday, Chief Hohmann transferred Margaret R. Connor, who holds. the Turn to Page 3, Column 3 at DOWNTOWN HOTEL MENACED AS FIRE; SWEEPS STOREROOM The firemen were commanded by Acting Assistant Chief Henry R. Boone.

Benjamin Shere, manager of the two-story loan office, declared it is impossible to estimate dam- Vio ue auie to uuy uieap acre. My hopes raised when I saw Beryl Mercer Character Actress of Stage and Films Dies After Lingering Illness Hollywood lost one of its out standing character actresses yesterday with the death of Beryl Mercer at Santa Mcnica Hospi tal following a lingering illness. Ill health had forced Miss Mercer, who was 57, to give up her successful career on the screen some months ago. Then on July 4, last, critically ill, she was ta ken to the hospital. A major op eration was advised and for a time she rallied but her condition soon took a turn for the worse.

PRIVATE SERVICES Her body was removed to the Todd Leslie Mortuary Santa Monica, where private funeral services will be conducted on Monday by Rev. John Gabriel- son, former pastor of the Pacific Palisades Community Church. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Miss Mercer, whose offstage name was Beryl Mercer Her bert, leaves a daughter, Mrs. Joan Bitting, who lives in Pacific Palisades.

Miss Mercer maintained a home for eight years at 631 Via de la Paz, Pa- cine Palisades. In accordance with the wish es of her daughter, the services will be private in the presence of a few close friends of the family, BORX IX SPAIN Miss Mercer was born in Se ville, Spain, in 1882. She turned her attention to the stage as a child, playing roles in London's Drury Lane. From there she went to New York's Broadway, enjoying many good parts in plays. Miss Mercer made her debut on the screen in 1929 in a picture called "Three Live Ghosts." From that time on she became one of "Hollywood's own," play ing many important character-iaations.

While active in New York she was in the casts of a number of Theater Guild presentations, out standing of these being "Outward Bound" in which she played in the movie version in 1931. HER FILM ROLES Among some of the pictures in winch she took part were "Mother's Boy," "Little Prin cess," "Gay Madrid," "Seven Days Leave," "Common Clay, "All Quiet on the Western Front," "The Matrimonial Bed." "Midnight Morals," "Sky Spider," "cavalcade, "Jane Eyre," "Mag nificent Obsession," "Berkeley Square," "The Little Minister," "Night Must Fall," and "Call It a Day." Hunting Mishap Kills 10-Year-Old Boy Dies From Wounds in Shotgun Blast Shot in the breast Thursday night when a shotgun in the hands of a companion exploded accidentally, according to deputy sheriffs, Leslie Barnett, 10, of Wilsona Route, died yesterday in Lancaster. C. S. Williamson, also a resident of Wilsona Route, reported the shooting and said Leslie had been hunting jackrabbits with Robert Darling, 11, of 2112 istn bt, banta Monica, and Ernest Lee Barnett, Leslie's 12-year-old brother.

Young Darling was carrying the gun and it accidentally discharged, the shot striking Leslie, according to deputies. The body was taken to the Mumaw Funeral Home in Lancaster. Zoo Lion Walks and Joins Mate Rufus, the lion-hearted lion at Griffith Park zoo, yesterday "walked the' plank." As a result he was back with his mate', Tiltle, in their brand-new rock grotto home so thought-fully provided by the W.P.A. after having spent almost 48 hours in the 18-foot pit in front of the grotto. Rufus, weighing 625 pounds, landed with a terrific thud at the bottom of the pit last Wednesday, when he miscalculated his jumping ability during an attempt to escape.

The fall jarred the wind out of him. He was badly shaken, but not seriously hurt. Notified of Rufus' predicament, Byron C. Gibson, zoo sup in to 3 w' -1 Ik IN CHARACTER Beryl Mercer, who died yesterday, as she appeared in film role, Alfred Wilcox, Realty Man, Dies Long Illness Fatal to Pioneer Developer of Southern California Alfred Henry Wilcox, 6G, pioneer realty developer of Los Angeles and president of the Wilcox Realty died at his home last night after, an illness of several months. A native of San Diego, where he was born Oct.

13, 1872, Wilcox was the son of Capt. Alfred Henry Wilcox, who came to California in 1849. His mother was of the early Arguello family and was a granddaughter of the last Spanish Governor of California. Wilcox came to Los Angeles about four decades ago and had since been prominently identi fied with the civic life of the com' munity. He held memberships in the California and Los Angeles Country clubs here and in the Pacific Union, University and Bohemian clubs in San Fran cisco.

He was a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre and a member of the Society of California Pio neers. Wilcox leaves his widow, Katherine S. Wilcox of 1100 W. Adams two sisters, Mrs. M.

W. Longstreet and Mrs. R. H. Miner, and a niece, Mrs.

Sayre Macneil all of Los Angeles. Services are being arranged by Cunningham O'Connor. Veterans Depart for Bay City Session State Commander Harold B. Lull of the Veterans of Foreign Wars last night headed a delegation of 30 officers of the organization to leave for San Francisco to attend a one-day session tomorrow of the group's administrative council. McCaleb also named James ut- ley, campaign lieutenant for Clin ton during the city recall election last fall and now on trial on extortion and bribe solicita tion charges; Police Captain E.

E. Haek, commander of the Holly wood Division, and Detective Lieutenant Wilbur R. Morgan, leader of the vice squad, as members of the pro tection group. INVESTIGATION' BEGUX Under questioning by Defense Attorney William B. Beirne, McCaleb related how he and Kendall, following the purge of 23 high police officials on larch 3, had decided to make a secret investigation of the vice and payoff racket in Los Angeles.

"I was certain, as was Kendall, that the purge of officers had been engineered by the gambling interests because of the law-enforcement drive that we were making," McCaleb testified. Kt CLINTON' PROTESTS "When I transferred Capt. Haek from the Hollywood Division to the Valley Division in January because of complaints from citizens about vice conditions in Hollywood Utley threat ened me and Clinton protested about it "From all I could learn and when Kendall told me that Lieut. Morgan had been to see him to keep Haek in Hollywood I came to the conclusion and I told Kendall that I was sure there was a program being formed in Los Angeles by Clinton, Utley, Haek and Morgan, and that the Hollywood and Wilshire divisions were already working." McCaleb stated that Clinton had previously attempted to 'influence" him because Utley had threatened to embarrass him (Clinton.) UTLEY CALLS UP Utley telephoned me several times and told me that if I didn't ease up I wouldn't be working on the Police Department long," McCaleb also testified. McCaleb also told how he had agreed with Kendall to pay half of the expenses for a downtown office which Kendall rented.

He said Kendall was going to do Turn to Page 3, Column 1 TODAY'S FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS BV DURWAUD HOWES SATURDAY, JULY 29 WILLIAM BEEBE, 1877. Famed naturalist who writes of his stud-ies and his discoveries in a journalistic style; as much at home under water as above it DON' MARQUIS, 1878-1937. Humorous columnist, poet and playwright best known for his account of the adventures of "Archie and Mehitabel," the saga of a cat and a cockroach. BENITO MUSSOLINI, 1883. Italy's II Duce; so superstitious that he will not sleep where moonlight can shine 'on him.

Frequently decides questions of state by consulting the cards. WILLIAM POWELL, 1892. Suave, polished and sophisticated screen comedian; went straight from dramatic school to the legitimate stage and thence to the movies where he has been a popular figure since 1921. SIGMUXD ROMBERG, 1887. Versa-tile musician who.

besides being one of the outstanding contemporary composers, plays the organ, piano, violin, cello and. trumpet; he began his career as a civil engineer. BOOTH TARKIN'CTOX, 18C9. Ifoos-ier author, playwright and humorist who has twice won the Pulitzer Prize for literature: among his many well-known works arc "Pernod and Sam," "Seventeen," "Gentle Julia" and "Alice Adams." Copyright. 3 jage to the partially insured prenv ises and stock of miscellaneous items stored as security for loans.

LOAX ARTICLES "No telling what is up there," he said. "We loan on everything." Owners of the loan shop are L. B. and S. B.

Cohn. Jack Alport, owner of the cafe, also said he cannot estimate the amount of damages, caused in part by smoke and water. A liquor store between the two establishments apparently suffered no damage. Victims Ask Nervous Bandit to Calm Down So nervous his victims asked him to "calm down," a youthful bandit last night escaped from a market at 7323 S. Main St.

with $225 in cash and $180 in checks after holding up E. A. Johnston and E. Booher, store managers. "Don't get scared, buddy," Johnston finally pleaded, as he bent over to open the safe and found the bandit nervously fingering the trigger of his gun.

Johnston finally got the safe open and he and Booher were relieved when the bandit fled in a cream-colored coupe. -v A limit-height hotel in downtown Los Angeles was menaced llre last and Main St traffic was blocked for nearly an -hour as firemen snuffed out flames in a storeroom above the International Loan Office at G30 S. Main The fire apparently was caused by a cigarette tossed from the adjacent Hotel Cecil. caused passers-by. to turn in an alarm which brought four engine companies, two trucks and a salvage company.

RESCUE SQUAD OUT A rescue squad also answered the alarm, but no injuries were plaster at 634 S. Main, situated beneath the storage room. Wedding Nears for Sigrid Giirie Dr. Laurence Christian Span-gard, future husband of Brook lyn-born Sigrid Gurie, Norwe gian film actress, picked up the necessary marriage license yes terday in. Pasadena.

He was not accompanied by the actress who on her application lists her true name as Sigrid Guri Haukelid, 28, of 8439 Sunset Blvd. Dr. Spangard stated on his application that he is 42. They will be married Aug. 6 Dr.

Spangard's home, 13664 Sunset Blvd. x7 40 I Traffic Takes Lives of Three Hit-Run Driver Kills Teacher on Street; Police Take Suspect YESTERDAY'S TOLL DEAD Richard Garbey, 23, of 938'4 N. Hudson Ave. Rene P. LaFevere, 45, of 1086 Garfield Road, Santa Barbara.

Samuel C. Slaughter, 77, Sawtelle. INJURED Miss Eileen Stanley, 27, 621 Santa Barbara Ave. W. W.

Scott, of 3834 Ingra-ham St. Fred Plock, of 1S33 W. Fifth St. After Rene P. LaFevere, 45, of 1086 Garfield Road, Santa Barbara, a teacher at the Mc-Kinley School in Santa Barbara, was dragged 50 feet and fatally injured by the car of 'a hit-run driver last night, police arrested Melvin V.

Jones, 35, 3973 S. La-Salle on suspicion of negligent homicide. A report of a license number and asserted evidence on Jones' automobile led to his arrest at his home. LaFevere was struck in the 600 block of West Santa Bar bara Ave. as he crossed the street with a companion, Miss Eileen Stanley, 27, of 621 Santa Baroara Ave.

She is in Georgia Street Receiving Hos pital in a serious condition with a skull fracture and broken legs received in the same traffic mishap. Crushed between the automo bile in which he was a passen ger and a truck, after a colli sion at 11th and San Pedro Sts. early yesterday, Richard Garbey, Turn to Page 3, 4 Actress Asks Cut in Levy on Home Hearing of the application of Marlon Davies, motion-picture actress, for a reduction in the amount of the assessed valuation of her beach home as fixed for 1939-40 by the County Assessor's office, was set for 11 a.m. Monday before the Board of Supervisors, sitting as a county board of equalization. The home is at 415 Palisades Beach Road, Santa Monica.

The Assessor has set a valuation of $220,000 on the house and $90,000 on the land. There is no protest to the land value, but-Miss Davies asks that the one on the home be reduced to $50,000, my girl mena nngenng a necR-tie. I thought that at last I was going to have something bought for me in Europe. However, nothing happened; she passed on to the next counter and bought a couple of handkerchief cases which she described as "perfectly darling." maybe she will buy me a watch at Geneva. SILK Silk industry is the big thing around here.

They raise the silk in the vicinity. Silk is of good quality but the local manufacture is inexpert. There are two things the local girls long for, a package of American cigarettes and a pair of American silk stockings. It's tough to work in a silk factory, as most of the women do here, and no ue auie gvi, a guuu pan of silk stockings. These cost the equivalent of here and usually start to run in three days.

They have the 40-hour week in the silk factories here. Employees earn the equivalent of from $3 to $6 a week. There is no unemployment in the Lake Como district You have to pay toll to ride on the high-speed motor road from here to Milan. Prices range from 50 cents to $3.75 according to size of car. You can go 90 miles an hour all the way on this road You can rent a rowboat, a yacht, a motorboat or a hydroplane here.

"How much to rent a hydroplane?" I asked the man at the dock. "Fifty dollars an hour," he said. "Give me that small rowboat over there," said I Como has been a sum- mer resort since 176 B.C. It is claimed by some natives that Cleopatra once won a bathing beauty contest here Rode up the lake to the Villa Carlotta, which is one of the innumerable local places where history was made at night. Garden of the Villa Carlotta has trees and plants from every section of the world, including a number of redwood trees from Califor- nia.

Also some cactus. I felt like making some gesture of, affection toward these, but embracing a redwood tree or. shaking hands with a cactus plant is unfortunately not practical Only thing I don't like around this hotel is you cannot, light your own cigar. I like to light my own cigar. But as soon as you remove a cheroot from your pocket here from 5 to 15 servitors advance with matches to light it for you.

I walked out on the pier especially to light my cigar but just I was about to strike a match a servitor came from nowhere and beat me to it. Even service tan be overdone. i Plank Out of Pit New Grotto vi L- xk IS1 I erintendent, ordered a eleated plank constructed. This he had lowered into the pit at ah angle. The idea was that Rufus should regain his new home by walking -up the plank.

But Rufus didn't get the idea for many hours, despite the efforts of zoo attendants and a crowd of zoo visitors. Finally he was left alone to figure out the purpose of the plank by himself. Apparently that was what Rufus wanted, for yesterday, while he thought no one was watching, he abandoned his kingly dignity and walked shakily up the plank the grotto. Zoo attendants, who had been pecking, then withdrew the plank so he could not walk back down. NO ONE HURT Fred Plock of 1833 W.

Fifth driver W. Scott of 3834 Ingraham yesterday were unhurt in of overturned auto, and W. collision on W. Adams Blvd. Timet phot.