Harrisburg Telegraph from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania • Page 1

a a a a a a a of a a a a FAIR HOME WEATHER HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH FINAL Founded 1831 VOL. CIX No. 194 22 PAGES Daily, Matter Except Sunday. Entered as Second Class at the Post Office at Harrisburg HARRISBURG, MURPHY ADDRESSED ED BUND IN '36-KUHN Primps For Slaying Quiz Miss Margaret L. Cowan, 77, retired nurse, tucks in her gray hair en route to the district attorney's office at Allentown for questioning about the "mercy slaying" of her sister, Mrs.

Louella Saeger, 67. The sister, an invalid, was shot in a hospital where she was admitted two years ago for a mental condition, an official said. Kirk Denies Any in Bond Sales Insurance Man Says He Asked Van Dyke's Aid as Friend Only DEFENDS PROCEDURE James P. Kirk took the witness stand in the second campaign charges trial today to deny that there had ever been any "pressure or intimidation" in connection with solicitation of highway bond business for his insurance agency. Pittsburgh city treasurer and Allegheny county Democratic chairman, Kirk was the last of three defendants to testify.

Kirk, Victor Skok, a business associate, and H. H. Temple, former chief of highways engineer, are charged with conspiring to create a monopoly on the road bonds. Kirk was called as Skok left the stand after prolonged cross-examination. Attorneys said there was a "good chance" the case may go to the jury by the end of the week.

The Allegheny county Democratic leader said that he first mentioned the subject of highway bonds to the late Warren Van Dyke when he delivered Van Dyke's (Please Turn to Page 4, Col. 1) Mathews to Replace WPA Layoffs Quickly Governor James said "it won't be long before relief today, load will be going the other way" if WPA jobs are kept filled to quota strength. After a conference with Howard L. Russell, Secretary of Public Assistance, James said much depended on whether the work projects administration made immediate replacements from the relief rolls when it makes its 30-day rotation lay-offs. "It's a case of holding the line," he said.

Russell said he had been assured by Mathew, State WPA Administrator there would be no delay in replacing the layoffs. First Concrete Poured on "Dream" Highway The first concrete was poured today on the all-weather highway by Walker Brothers, contractors for surfacing 10.28 miles in Hopewell, Upper Mifflin and Upper Frankford Townships, Cumberland county. Woman's Body Found in Trunk at Rail Depot in the South Partly-Clad Victim Wearing Only Brassiere and Bloomers WILL TRACE TICKET No Determination Made Whether Violence Had Been Used By Associated Press Atlanta, Aug. 17. The body of a woman, only partly clad.

was found today in a trunk at the Terminal Railway Station. She was a mulatto. Frank Donaldson, terminal employe, said an odor attracted attention to the trunk, which arrived yesterday on a baggage check, with no identification of the shipper or an addressee, from Washington. The body was clad only in brassiere and bloomers. Railroad authorities said, they would try to trace the identity of the shipper by determining the number of the railroad tickets against which the baggage was issued.

Coroner Paul Donehoo went to the terminal to start an investigation. It had not been determined whether there were signs of violence. Dective D. L. Taylor, however, expressed belief she had been killed.

He reported the victim was dark, with curly hair and apparently from 30 to 35 years old. Railway men said the trunk was shipped from Washington on a Seaboard train August 15 and arrived here at 3:55 p. yesterday. Office in City Closed by PWA Economy Move Possibility of Dismissal Looms for 165 Employes in Harrisburg ORDERED BY CARMODY The Public Works Administration offices here are slated to be closed, as part of a nation-wide PWA economy move, with the 165 employes possibly being dismissed. The dismissals are scheduled to start September 1 and continue perhaps to around the first of the new year, it was stated.

Throughout the nation, PWA plans to cut its administrative staff by 50 per resulting in the loss of 5200 jobs. The order was issued by Federal Works Administrator John M. Carmody. Major G. Douglas Andrews, Associate Regional Director here, conferred with Carmody yesterday at Washington, but at the conclusion of their meeting, Major drews saiu he had nothing definite to announce.

The Harrisburg offices are expected to be merged with the New York Regional Office. The order came as the result of Congress' refusal to pass President Roosecelt's spending-lending bill, which carried a $350.000,000 appropriation for PWA, Carmody said. Flossie's in Dog House, -She Just Can't Write It's All a Tangle Over a $2000 Trust Fund Left For Her Care By Assoc ated Press Baltimore, Aug. are dog days in Maryland legal circles -the law says a little lapdog named Flossie must get a registered letter and sign for it, but doesn't say how. John H.

Bouse, register of wills in Baltimore City, sees his duty but doesn't know how do it and he prepared today to toss the Flossie cause celebre into the lap of State's Attorney William C. Walsh for an official decision. Flossie was the devoted companion of Mrs. Mary R. Herman, who died and in her will set upi THURSDAY EVENING, 15 Democratic Senators Hit 3rd Term-Van Nuys By Associated Press Washington, Aug.

prediction that at least fifteen Democratic senators would refuse to support President Roosevelt if he were nominated for a third term was made today by Senator Van Nuys (D-Ind). Van Nuys told reporters: "It unlikely that the President may cudgel another I nomination from the Democratic convention, but if he does I do not believe he will be re-elected." Van Nuys did not name other Democratic senators whom he predicted would refuse to support Roosevelt. Mayor Hayes of Waterbury Facing Prison in City Frauds He and 19 Others Convicted of Mulcting Town of Million BRANDED "CORRUPT" By Associated Press Waterbury, Aug. jury's verdict placed in jeopardy today the liberty of Mayor Frank Hayes and other members of what a grand jury called a "ruthless and corrupt band" responsible for looting the treasury of this manufacturing city through a conspiracy tched nearly a decade ago. The verdict, returned by nine men and three women, convicted the 56-year-old bachelor mayor and eighteen others of conspiring and defraud the city of overhear million dollars through fraudulent payments to city officials, once powerful politicians, lawyers, accountants and contractors.

No comment was forthcoming from any of the defense lawyers alte the verdict, but special prosecutor Hugh M. Alcorn gave newspapermen this one-sentence "In my opi.io! no Connecticut jury ever rendered a greater public service." Judge Ernest A. Inglis, who presided for nearly nine months over Connecticut's longest criminal trial, returned a like verdict in the case of a twentieth defendant who had elected to place his fate in the hands of the court. The twenty convicted men, togoner with two who pleaded guilty when the trial began November 29 and another who threw hanself on the mercy of the court with a nolo contendere plea, were ordered to appear before the judge tomorrow when, he indicated, they ht hear their sentences. Whether sentences would be pronounced then depended on the time required to argue motions to set aside the verdicts.

French Planes 'Raid' Centers in England Bv Associated Press Paris, Aug. than 200 French bombers and fast sky fighters "raided" population centers of England last night in reciprocal British-French warplane tests and returned to their bases today reporting all objectives had been reached. The communique emphasized that the -the first made by the French following up British flights over France in July in co-operation with British air force which tested out its defenses against the invaders. Thieves Steal Tire on Hummelstown Car Thieves jacked up the parked car of Earl R. Hartman, North Hanover, tire street, and wheel Hummelstown, valued at to $14, city police reported today.

The auto was parked at Tenth and Mulberry streets. Police announced they are also investigating an attempted burglary home of Mary Elizabeth Howe, 1158 Mulberry street. A man, detectives reported, attempted to force a front window but was frightened away. STARLINGS WIN BOUT City Fire Chief Bows in Defeat IRE CHIEF EARL W. SWARTZ knows when he's licked--and that goes for his department, too.

Residents in the Third and Maclay streets area have been annoyed for months by hundreds of starlings. They appealed to Swartz for help. He sent firemen to turn high-pressure streams into the trees. The starlings left--for another tree, and another, and another as the firemen continued the attack. "Too much for us" said Swartz in disgust today.

"I'll take fire fighting instead." Six years ago the State drove flocks of starlings from the Capitol, police firing at the birds to frighten them. They did not return. AUGUST 17, 1939 BULLETIN $20,000 Seized in Bank Holdup at Philadelphia Five Men Escape Into Crowded Streets Before Alarm Sounds CUSTOMERS SUBDUED By Associated Press Philadelphia, Aug. 17. Five men held up employes and customers of the Wyoming Bank and Trust Company in the Olney business section of North Philadelphia today and escaped with between $15,000 and $20,000.

The men worked so swiftly that they had fled from the bank before an alarm could be sounded. They mingled with passersby outside who had no intimation of the robbery. Two were in the bank shortly after noon when a pre-arranged signal for the robbers apparently was given. They slipped handkerchiefs over their faces and drew pistols, guarding a teller and Miss Mary Bunn, 28, telephone switchboard operator. State Without Power to Close Oil Field Governor James expressed the opinion today that he lacked authority to shut off oil production in Pennsylvania as a priceraising plan, adopted by governors of six western states.

James, in what he termed "an -hand opinion," said that oil production in those, and a few other states, was fixed by a state commission, and could be regulated. Pennsylvania has no control of oil companies, he said, except in corporate organization. He added he had "no requests" for a stoppage. Steel Company Says Its Suit Protects Men Bethlehem Wants Workers "Free" to Choose Bargaining Agent FIGHTS LABOR BOARD President E. G.

Grace today said the Bethlehem Steel Company is fighting a Labor Board decision in order to protect its employes from being forced to accept a collective bargaining organization they do not want. The National Labor Relations Board has ordered the company to disestablish the employe representation plan in effect for 20 years at ten plants, including Steelton. The corporation has appealed to the courts. "We have no alternative except to do our utmost to protect our employes in the right guaranteed to them by the National Labor Relations Act to freedom in self-organization and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own Grace said. "Our company policy is simply stated.

The wishes of our em(Please Turn to Page 4, Col. 8) State Car and Truck Collide in Hill Street A State owned automobile and a truck of the Central News Agency collided today at Seventeenth and Berryhill streets. City Patrolman Charles T. Rodemaker and Anderson M. Brown said the auto driven by Joseph J.

Wade, 29, Philadelphia, was traveling east in Berryhill street. The truck operated by George Newcomer, 28, 2238 Atlas street, south on Seventeenth, was forced into a parked auto owned by C. G. Shelly, 226 Peffer street. "Keen Field" Proposed For Hill High Ground John E.

Peters, president, Allison Hill Civic Association, said today he asked School Board, in a letter, to name the John Harris School Athletic Field "Keen Field" in honor of the late Dr. C. E. L. Keen.

physician and one-time president of the board. School officials said that work on the field will be finished before Labor Only Evening Associated Press Newspaper Harrisburg. News Around the Clock FOR REDUCING -TRY A SPIN! Press MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. YOU girls are worried about your weight, Florence Boswell, of Cleveland, has a sure-fire reducing method, she says. Mrs.

Boswell, a flyer and officer in the 99 Club of Women Aviators, claims she can take off seven pounds a week by spinning her airplane. "It's the centrifugal force that does it," she says. "The extra pounds are just thrown away." Navy Prepares to Tow Squalus For Five Miles Under Water Craft Then Will Brought to Surface and Taken to Drydock HEAVY SEA ABATES By Associated Press Portsmouth, N. Aug. 17.

-After hours of uncertainty caused by changeable weather and the necessity of repairing salvage equipment following last night's storm, the United States Navy began today another effort to lift the sunken submarine Squalus and tow her toward the sheltering Isles of Shoals. An hour and a half after air pumps were started, air bubbles showed on the surface, indicating at least one the pontoons was full of air and spilling over. As the order to blow was given, near perfect weather prevailed. Only the slightest ground swell ruffled an otherwise flat sea and a threatening cloud bank on the southerly horizon dissipated by a light breeze and a bright sun. Using nine pontoons, one less than the number called into play last Saturday when the $4,000,000 craft was tugged from its muddy bed 240 feet below the surface, the salvagers hoped to hoist the Squalus, tomb of 26 men, about 60 or 80 feet more and tow her four or five miles further.

The first successful lift ended unexpectedly Saturday when the Squalus grounded easily on a previously uncharted mud pinnacle 160 feet below the surface. After completion of the lift and tow, the Navy hoped to surface the Squalus in one morelift and then tow her to a Portsmouth Navy Yard drydock, where the dead would be removed and where experts would examine her to determine what caused her plunge May 23. Flight to Mars Pilot to Pay For Airplane By Associated Press Camden, N. Aug. postponed indefinitely today for Cheston Eshlman, 22-yearold Carlisle, student pilot charged with larceny of an airplane in which he attempted an unsuccessful "flight to Mars" June 8.

Eshlman's flight ended in the Atlantic ocean 500 miles off the New England coast. A fishing trawler rescued him 13 hours after he took off in the plane he had rented for a half hour. The plane sank. Eshlman's attorney, William C. Gotshalk, Carlisle, told Judge Clifford A.

Baldwin that the young flyer would plead innocent to the larceny charge he added that arrangements had been completed to repay owners of the plane. Eshlman is at liberty under $500 bail. in SINGLE COPIES THREE CENTS Berlin Hints New Demands For Showdown With Warsaw Seeks Direct Negotiations Over Danzig and the Corridor WEISNER RELEASED Co-Leader of German Minority Had Been Held Temporarily Berlin, Aug. 17. Guarded hints were thrown out today that Germany has left the door open to Poland for direct negotiations over Danzig, but that a bigger issue than mere unconditional return of the Free City to Germany is at stake.

Informed Germans said, however, no signs, were discernible today that Italian warnings to Poland to negotiate with Germany had been heeded. The situation remained "unchanged," it was said. The press indicated Germany would prefer direct dealings with Poland, and denied reports that another "Munich" settlement, involving other powers, was in prospect. Circles close to the government said they considered the time ripe for the settlement of issues involving the fate of more than 1,000,000 Nationals living in the Polish regions bordering on Germany. Still Want More These well informed sources said the viewpoint is rapidly gaining ground that Danzig is not enough and that Germany should increase its demands.

Danzig was described as no bargaining point at all. Semi-official and controlled press comment was to the effect that it was nobody's business but Germany's and Poland's to solve the problem of Danzig and orze -the strip of land known as the Polish corridor which separates German East Prussia from Germany proper. A conference with anyone over (Please Turn to Page 4, Col. 2) Throngs Find Many Bargains in City Stores Old-Fashioned Sale Continues Here Tomorrow and Saturday CARDS AID SHOPPERS Old Fashioned Bargain Days brought extraordinary crowds of shoppers into Harrisburg today, the opening day of this three-day sales event. Attracted by the real old fashioned bargain prices on thousands 01 items of merchandise, shoppers literally poured into the stores to take advantage of the savings offered by the co-operating merchants.

On every hand shoppers no trouble in identifying stores that had. were sellin, at old fashioned bargain prices, all the co-operating stores being marked by pictures of the Town Crier on window cards and streamers. Prices that were surprising to even the most avid bargain seeker were found on many items in stores participating in the unusual event, the first day of which (Please Turn to Page 4, Col. 8) Dr. A.

'C. Buckley Dies; Friends Hospital Head Bv Associated Press Philadelphia, Aug. Albert Coulson Buckley, 65, neurologist and superintendent of Friends Hospital, died today. He was associate professor of psychiatry of the graduate school of medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Nazi Reveals Official's Talk Before Unit in Detroit Leader Says Attorney General Addressed Group in 1936 IS REFUSED LAWYER Threatens to Walk Out on Hearing Before Committee Mercy Slayer Is Accused as Murderer Allentown Prosecutor to Request Sanity Test After Tuesday Hearing FEELS LIFE WORK DONE By Associated Press Allentown, Aug.

Miss Margaret L. Cowan, grayhaired 77-year-old spinster, was charged with murder today in the "mercy slaying" of her sister in a hospital room. Alderman Joseph Slough fixed Tuesday for a hearing. At the same time, District Attorney John L. Cutshall announced he would request a sanity examination for Miss Cowan, who told police she killed her sister "to put her out of her misery." "My work on earth is she said yesterday.

"If they electrocute me tomorrow, that will be all right." Detective James L. Christine said Miss Cowan, a retired nurse, walked into the Allentown State Mental Hospital Tuesday, took a small pistol from her handbag and fired two fatal bullets into the chest of her sister, Mrs. Louella Saeger, 67. Then she told him, he added: "I feel happier now than I have all my life. I have put my sister out of her misery." Mrs.

Saeger had been a mental patient nearly two years. After interviewing Miss Cowan, District Attorney John L. Cutshali advised her to "think it over" before making any formal statement. He said she apparently was a strong believer in killings. Police said the tall, bespectacled former nurse brought to her sister's hospital room a huckleberry pie, apples and cookies "loaded" with a pain-killing substance.

While the district attorney considered bringing a murder charge against Miss Cowan, the state entered the investigation because the shooting took place in a public institution. Secretary of Welfare E. Arthur Sweeny sent two agents here from Harrisburg with orders for "a complete report." Golfer Killed by Storm Bolt Temperature to Pass 90- Mark Here For Twelfth Day This Month NO RELIEF IN SIGHT The city sweltered again today under the prolonged oppressive heat wave that has seen temperatures above normal every day, with one exception, since July 24. The exception was August 5, a normal day. The mercury here and elsewhere in the State was predicted to swing higher than yesterday, when Jack Mullaney, 32, jobless salesman, was injured fatally when struck by lightning while looking for a golf ball on a Philadelphia course.

There is no relief in sight, either from the heat and humidity, the weatherman said. If temperature goes above 90 today--a high of 92 is forecast -it be the twelfth August day with the mercury above that figure. The lowest maximum was 87 on August 4. The month has an accumulated excess of 86 degrees, while the year has been 543 degrees too hot. By Associated Press Washington, Aug.

17. Fritz Kuhn, leader of the German-American Bund, told the Dies Committee today Frank that MurAt- torney phy addressed a Bund meetin the German House in Detroit in 1936. Kuhn at one point during the morning questioning grabbed up his brief case as if to walk out on the hearing, after the committee refused to let him have a lawyer. "You sit right there," Chairman Dies, Democrat, Texas, ordered Kuhn, who had slid forward to the edge of the witness chair, protesting in his German accent what he called "unfair" questions. Dies apparently soothed him with an assertion that the committee wished to be fair and Representative Starnes, Democrat, Alabama, resumed the questioning.

Demands Lawyer Kuhn previously had demanded unsuccessfully that he be given a chance to obtain lawyer, after committee counsel had attempted to trace Federal relief into a $3000 fund Kuhn collected for winter relief in Germany in 1936. "So these unemployed members contributed money that the United States Government gave them for relief for you to take over and turn over to Mr. Hitler for winter relief?" Whitley demanded. "Yes," the witness replied and (Please Turn to Page 4, Col. 1.

5) WPA Shortage Prevents Start of Halifax Job Water Project Approved in March Delayed by Lack of Men MANY ON CITY WORK Halifax has an approved WPA project, but no available District WPA 9 WPA to offices do the reported job. the project was approved March 14, 1939, with $23,182 in Federal money granted. Smith said the borough posted $15,500 as its share. This situation arose principally because all available WPA workmen in the community and surrounding countryside employed on the Clarks Valley Harrisburg water supply dam project, A. M.

Smith, Halifax banker and merchant, said. There are unemployed men in the borough, Smith reported, but they are ineligible to work on the project--a six-inch water pipe from Matamoras to the up-county community's reservoir because they are ineligible for relief. He explained they have some money in bank, or own property, (Please Turn to Page 4, Col. 4) ging Minister Doom of Housebreaker Clergyman Defended Himself From Attack, Relative Reports to Police a $2000 trust fund to insure the care of her pet. But Maryland probate law specifies the register of wills must advise any legatee by registered mail of his legacy, and the legatee must sign for the letter.

Bouse can think of only two solutions: Maybe a guardian can be appointed with powers to sign for Flossie's mandatory mail, or Flossie's paw print on the receipt may be accepted for her Bouse won't make a move until he gets an official opinionmean- while. Flossie is staying with friends until her dog-biscuit funds come out of litigation. By Associated Press Cape May Court House, N. Aug. death of a housebreaker at the hands of a clergyman swinging a baseball has been described to Police by the clergyman's brother-in-law, also a clergyman.

The Rev. Dr. Samuel Steinmetz, rector of St. Michael's Episcopal Church of Trenton, came to the police to report on the death of Herman Woller, 47 year -old laborer who allegedly broke into Steinmetz's summer cottage at Cape May Point. State Trooper Harry Cox previously had said Woller, who died Tuesday at Atlantic Shores Hospital, was struck by Dr.

metz when he assaulted the rector after being ordered out of the cottage. "When I found Woller," Dr. Steinmetz said "I summoned my brother-in-law, Robert T. Martin, an ordained Presbyterian minister who is in charge of a Philadelphia rescue mission. "Woller came at him and he asked me for something with which to defend himself.

I handed him the baseball bat and he struck Woller." State Police said they would ask Rev. Martin to undergo the "technicalities of arrest on a manslaughter charge." THE WEATHER Harrisburg and vicinity, generally fair tonight and Friday, not much change in temperature; high today, 92; low, 70. Susquehanna river stage at Harrisburg tomorrow morning Pennsylvania, about 3.0 feet. cloudy in Eastern mostly southeast, generally fair in west and north portions tonight and Friday; not, quite warm in northeast portion toand in southeast portion Friday..