Daily News from New York, New York • 53

BROOKLYN SECTION SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1934 2B Vandals Beat Wreckers To Removal of Buildings MUSPRATT TRAGEDY SPURS AUTHORITIES TO CANVASS GASES BROOKLYN police, alarmed at the possibility of further crimes of violence upon recluses of hom several dozens are known in the borough have prepared a delicate round-up of such persons to protect them. League Maps Fight Against Divorce Law By MICHAEL O'BRIEN. Sweeping changes in the Ne York State alimony and divorce laws, including provision for di y-l- SJtzl 111 4- ir j- Investigation of the death of 71- inn; si 1 i year-old Victoria Muspratt, which closed the- career of one of Brooklyn's most colorful characters, has convinced the authorities that she might have been slain because her habits were similar to those of the late Louisa Herle of 292 12th St South Brooklyn. Miss, Herle, who left an estate of at least $1,500,000, was found dead in her squalid basement living quarters. Thousands of dollars were found hidden beneath lino- solution of marriages in which couples have not lived together for five years, are to be asked at the 1935 session of the Legislature by National Divorce Reform League, 215 Montague Brooklyn.

The 1 is la-t i program Police Play Santa to Forgotten Kids Officers of the Brooklyn Crime Prevention Bureau, in Brooklyn Police Headquarters, last week gave an after-Christmas party for 400 children who had missed out on earlier celebrations in that section. Inspector Louis Costuma, head of the bureau, and Lieut. James Cone played Santa Claus for the kids, who had not been invited to any public party, and distributed toys, food, candy and clothing contributed by merchants in the vicinity of Police Headquarters. li.Vs photo) Work of vandals in search of fire wood! Buildings are on 114th SL, near koosevelt Astoria, Queens. Attorney Apstein was disclosed yesterday by th Houses on Parkway Partly Stripped.

Although no demolition contracts have been awarded for removal of buildings In the path of Grand I league's attorney, Theodore Jft i fwf Li' of the Finance Department has been notified of the action. The group of buildings includes several houses, one at the edge of the detour established in connection with the Roosevelt Ave. bridge over the extension. At these houses porch supports have been removed, leaving porches suspended in air. Vandals also have removed various fixtures, window- frames and other loose articles and Keller said the unsafe orders were issued to prevent injury to persons should further removal of building material render the structures likely to collapse.

Police also have been warned to halt activities of the vandals, believed to be youthful residents of the community. Central Parkway extension in Queens, vandals have started unofficial ac-tivities on a number of the structures to be removed. This was indicated yesterday at the office of Commissioner Frank C. Kel-ler, of the Queens Build Boy ,14, Stabbed As Drunk Runs At Noisy Group Enraged by the noise made by boys playing in the street at Atlantic and Hopkinson Brooklyn, last week, a supposedly intoxicated man charged the group of boys, stabbing one and scratching several others with the blade. Anthony Marotta, 14, of 231 Hopkinson Brooklyn, suffered a stab wound in his back.

He was attended by an ambulance surgeon from Trinity Hospital and sent home. Immediately after attacking the boys the inebriate fled and made good his escape. Police are seeking him. (Picture on Page 1) Commissioner Keller who said that Apstem as he told of "benefits' obtained through the 1933 and 1934 campaign of league members, Apstein said there had been 75 per cent, decrease in 1934 ii( the number. of inmates of King County Jail imprisoned for non payment of alimony.

Proposed Law Changes. Proposed divorce measures to advocated by the league at th coming Albany session will pro vide: 1 Marriage may be dissolved after it is shown that a couple hav not lived together lor five years, 2 Divorce may be obtained on proof of (a) desertion for five years (b) abandonment and failure to provide for three years (c) intolerable cruelty. These grounds would be added to the present sole New York State ground for divorce, proof of adultery. Would Ease Alimony. Apstein said that the alimony laws should be eased further.

He counted as a forward step the provision of the last Legislature that a man might not be impris oned for non-payment of alimony, without a hearing before a Su preme Court Justice. However, he held that this was only a single step in the direction of satisfactory ing Department, much evidence of vandalism bad been discovered, and halted at on 114th seven buildings CAR HITS PILLAR, DRIVER INJURED Andrew Weiss, 27, of 7 McDougal Brooklyn, was treated at Trinity Hospital for severe head injuries suffered wten his auto hit an elevated pillar at Alabama Ave. and Fulton, Brooklyn. The machine rebounded and became wedged beneath the stairs leading to the T. station above the intersection.

Corona. Keller said that unsafe orders have been filed against the structures, located between Roosevelt Ave. and the Long Island Railroad, and that the Real Estate Bureau Manhattan Bridge 25 Years Old ass iv Inspector Bracken leum, valuable mortgages were discovered tucked behind books and wall paper and valuables were everywhere amidst the accumulated tilth of years. Killer Caught the Idea. Deputy Chief Inspector John J.

Ryan, in command of Brooklyn detectives, indicated last week he was convinced the thief who killed Mrs. Muspratt was inspired by the Herle fortune. The body of Miss Muspratt, a cripple who could not walk without her single crutch, was found in the rambling old home at 7,025 Shore Road Brooklyn. Her skull had been fractured in several places. Despite her distinguished ancestry she was the granddaughter of a Lord Mayor of Liverpool Miss Muspratt lived in hardly better state than did Miss Herle.

She was alone in the big hoifse. When real estate brokers offered her $200,000 for the property before the depression, she refused. Liked The Harbor View. 'I like the view across the Narrows," she replied. Kyan believes the murderer thought Miss Muspratt had money stored away in just such fashion as had Miss Herle.

The murder of the aged recluse showed police in what danger persons of that tyne live. To protect them, and only to protect them, Ryan took steps tovard safety. The first step was to request Deputy Chief Inspector Edward A. Bracken to direct the uniformed jiolice to investigate the condition of every recluse in Brooklyn. To Test Safety Precautions.

The patrolmen will ascertain whether the recluse lives in a house which complies to health, sanitation and fire regulations. The mental condition of the recluse will also be ascertained by common sense rules. The questions of safety and protection will also be gone into. If the home of the recluse complies with health and fire regulations and his mental state is good, police will merely protect him so far as they are able. Bracken made it clear that his campaign was purely for kindly and considerate protection f- those who Jived alone.

Railroad yard off Seventh Brooklyn (left), which will be spanned with traffic bridge if borough officials plans are approved. Picture at right shows Wallabout Creek Bridge which will be replaced also, if city finance program is authorized. Ceremony Will Celebrate reiorm. lie noids that risk collusion and perjury also should be reduced by law changes. The 1935 alimony law changes sought, Apstein said, would 1 Where temporary alimony, is awarded, the suit (for divorce or separation) must be brought to trial within six months or alimony ceases.

2 No -award or alimony shal be made to a wife under 35 who has no children, unles she is physic ally unfit to support herself. 3 No alimony payments required from a man in civil prisoq for non-payment of alimony. Might Remarry at Once. Apstein also stated that the league would seek a law providing that either party in a divorce may, marry again immediately after a New York divorce has been granted. The present law, he said, provides that the defendant in a successful (for the plaintiff) divorce action cannot marry again until three years after divorce, and then only with permission of a Supreme Court Justice.

The league also asks that the law require appearance of a defendant or a representative in court in a divorce suit. This requirement, he said, would reduce the possibility of perjury and collusion. The league, Apstein asserted, has found that some "witnesses, knowing that there is going to be no cross-examination or opposition to their testimony, feel free to perjure themselves in such actions. Passage of this provision will do? more to eliminate perjury and collusion than anything submitted in the past." Apstein said the league also, would ask the Legislature to recognize divorces obtained in any! State. upper east roadways Is figured at expansion joint stringers under part of the rail tracks flooring and paving on west roadway locks at the center of the main span $8,000.

Kracke also asked $2,400,000 for a new bridge at Meeker over Newtown Creek, to connect with Laurel Hill Boulevard, and a new span over the Wallabout at Washington Brooklyn, to cost $468,000. Another Item in the program is the span over the right of way of the New York Rapid Transit cut at Seventh between 37th and 89th Sts Brooklyn. This span, engineers reported, will relieve traffic congestion in that section of Brooklyn considerably and has been one of the improvements for which. Borough President Raymond V. Ingersoll has fought since he came into office.

Anniversary Tomorrow. Mayor LaGuardia, department heads and Brooklyn leaders-will celebrate a quarter century of service of the Manhattan Bridge at noon tomorrow with ceremonies at both ends of the span, which opened at noon Dec. 31, 1909. Accompanied by Frederick J. H.

Kracke, Commissioner of Plant and Structures, LaGuardia will unfurl flags first at the Manhattan end, then in Brooklyn, where he will be met by representatives from Borough President Raymond V. In-gersoll's office and of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. Million for Queensboro. Kracke yesterday waited developments on his application for $7,700,000 for comprehensive modernization of East River and Brooklyn traffic spans. Of the total asked, $2,000,000, he suggested, could be applied for as a PWA loan.

Queensboro Bridge, scene of scores of accidents and called the worst traffic hazard on the East River, will require $1,263,000 for thorough repairs, Kracke advised LaGuardia. New pavement on the lower roadway will cost $993,000 and upper lanes $210,000, Kracke estimates, with $60,000 more to complete "attics" on four piers for protection against weather. Suspenders Cost $68,850. Williamsburg Bridge, be advised, needs $859,720 for paving an additional motor road on former trolley lanes, bracing columns, a $392,000 pavement on the present road, and installation of rocker arms to replace roller nests in which the main cables ride at the top of each tower. Manhattan Bridge requires extensive minor repairs costing from cables to a $68,850 set of suspenders.

New floor and pavement on the.