Record-Journal from Meriden, Connecticut • 1

MERIDEN RECORD Rain Today Colder Tonight Tuesday Cloudy And Colder Complete Report Oe Pit Two SEVENTY-EIGHTH YEAR-NO 38 MERIDEN CONNECTICUT MONDAY MORNING FEBRUARY 14 1938 THREE CENTS Since i860 A Builder For Meriden and Vicinity Record Phone 760 Colonial Demands By Hitler Likely To Be Successful 29 Persons Believed Drowned As Australian Ferry Capsizes Five Known Dead And 24 Unaccounted For American Sailors Rescue Scores Of 150 Passengers US Urged To Call World Conference To End Arms Race Move To increase Emergency Relief Fund Developing 250000000 Requested By FDR Not Enough Some Insist CONGRESSMEN BEGIN SURVEYS OF NEEDS Defense Plans Similar To Wright Case Lot Angeles Mu Convicted Of Manslaughter In Double Killing CLAIMED HIS MIND STOPPED FUNCTIONING More Meriden Witnesses To Testify When Trial Resumes Tomorrow Firemens Hard Work Goes Unappreciated Snow Hill Md Feb 1J-(AP) volunteer firemen climbed manfully trying to rescue a oat stranded in top branches of a tree Finally the oat's owner appeared do you want done with him" asked Fire Chief Howard Collins him" the owner replied "I have another Just like him" The firemen didn't but stopped climbing heeled spilling people into the water" An officer of the cruiser leaped overboard and swam to the sinking boat Hs broke a cabin window and rescued a woman caught within Other Americans praised for their heroism Included A Waters seaman first class Lieutenant George Huff and Seaman Tus-cln Briley Boats Lowered The Louisville anchored immediately and lowered every boat to assist other harbor craft in picking up victims Some of the crew leaped Into the water to support the victims until boats could reach them Sixty-fivs of those picked up were taken to hospitals and ths others were treated by ambulance crews The Louisville then continued on toward Melbourne the next stop on her visit to Australia's sesqui-centenlal celebration Negotiations With Britain Near Completion DEAL HINGES ON AUSTRIA Schuschnigg Talk With Nazi Chief Explained Berlin Feb Return of war-lost colonies may be Reichs-fuehrer Adolf big surprise for the German people when he speaks to the nation at the Reichstag session Feb 20 Reports circulating in diplomatic quarters are that negotiations are afoot between Germany and Great Britain involving an important colonial concession for Germany but requiring first the fulfillment of certain conditions One of these conditions was described as a definite clarification of Germany's relations with Austria removing once and for all the fear of sudden aggression in that sector Surprise Parley Explained Assurance given by Hitler himself to Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg of Austria would be a vital element of such a clarification and that was why it was necessary for the two to meet yesterday In the surprise conference at Berchtesgaden Bavarian mountain retreat Premier Benito Mussolini of Italy whose chances of reaching a satisfactory agreement with Great Britain have seemed brighter recently was said to have urged Schuschnigg to accept Hitler's invitation From the Italian point of view nothing could be better than a settlement by which Hitler would get colonies Mussolini BriUsh recognition for his conquest of Ethiopia and Austria definitely would cease to be apple of discord Further indications that Hitler and Mussolini were working together in an effort to reach a lasting solution of the Austrian question was seen in the emphasis with which it was stated II Duce was being kept informed on all developments arising from the Berchtesgaden talks It was reported In Vienna that Foreign Minister Joachim Von Rib-bentrop had gone directly from Berchtesgaden to Rome but this was denied in official quarters While Nasi sources described the Berchtesgaden talks as neutral observers were cautious about predicting the ultimate outcome Nazis however were confident Hitler would have something important and positive to report when he speaks from the Reichstag rostrum next Sunday This was indicated in instructions issued to party leaders and workers They were ordered to eee that radio amplification facilities were (Continued on Ninth Pag) Roosevelt Tosses Political Posies At Favored Few Love-Me-Love My-Senator Campaign Under Way At White House By PAUL MALLON (World copyright 1938 by King Features Syndicate Inc Ail rights reserved Reproduction in full or in pa-rt strictly prohibited) Washington Feb 13 Political bouquets tossed by Mr Roosevelt to Senators Barkley Duffy Pepper and Thomas (Okla) have started a Valentine panic in Congress While these few posies have been flung more or less openly Mr has accentuated his love-me-love-my-senator campaign by privately slipping personal orders on the White House florist to several others Word has come down from on high through first second and third parties that president is for (this or that) senator and wants him to know One such billet was delivered through the wife of a senator last week The idea is the president will come out for these additional favorites eventually by (A) sending his secretary to a testimonial dinner for the senator as in the Barkley case (B) sending a "Dear letter to a friend of a senator staging a testimonial dinner as in the Duffy case (C) permitting son James to express approval of a senatorial candidate as in the Pepper case or (D) getting an opponent out of a favored senator's way as in the Thomas case As 31 Democratic senators are up for re-election this year the (Continued on Fourteenth Page) Sydney Australia Fab 13 (AP) Five persons were drowned today and 24 were unaccounted for after acoree of passengers rushing eagerly to the rail to witness the departure of the United States cruiser Louisville capsized the ferryboat Rodney in Sydney harbor Heroic Rescue Police credited the heroism of members of the crew with averting a greater disaster for the 150 ferryboat passengers The Rodney heeled over and sank in 72 feet of water pitching scores of men women and children into the water and trapping others inside the cabins Captain Mathewson of the Louisville saw the dangerous list and ordered the Louisville to slow down so its wash would not add to the danger she rounded our stern" Mathewson related "passengers rushed to the side of the boat It Four In State Die Violently Over Week-End Three Kitted Automobile Mishaps Danbury Youth Drowned (By The Associated Free) Four violent death were reported in Connecticut over the weekend three auto fatalities and a drowning The victims: Traffic John Epps 44 of Watqrford was killed Saturday when his automobile struck a highway fence on the Post road in East Lyme Thomas Tedford 70 of Manchester died in the Manchester hocpital last night of injuries he received Saturday when he was hit by a car backing out of a gasoline station Frank Shea 31 of West Hartford was killed In East Hartford when his auto left the highway just north of Glastonbury struck two fence posts and after con-11 suing for some distance turned over Drowning Edward Taylor Jr 19 of Danbury drowned Saturday afternoon when lee gave way while he was skating on Brickyard pond Critically Injured Cromwell Conn Feb (AP) -Forest Perham 14 son of Mr and Mrs Harold Perham of Cromwell was injured critically tonight when a bicycle he was riding was hit by an automobile operated by Christie Nelson 32 of New Britain Young Perham was taken to the Middletown hospital where attaches said he was hurt seriously National Toll (By The Associated Press) Automobile accidents on the nation's streets and highways took (Continued on Second Page) Steals Merchandise To Pay For Schooling Bloomington Ind Feb (AP) Howard state policeman said today Charles Templin 18 of Richmond freshman at Indiana university had confessed he stole nearly $1000 worth of merchandise from the university book store here to get money to pay for his second schooling He was held on a second degree burglary charge Howard said Templin told of breaking into the store early last Sunday filling a burlap sack with pens pencils pipe tobacco cig-arets cameras and jewelry and carrying the loot to his room near the campus Templin drew suspicion when he sold six fountain pens to other students Two Fires Here Cause Negligible Damage Two fires were extinguished Saturday by firemen at the Pratt street headquarters The utility truck responded to a still alarm at 2:05 o'clock in the afternoon for a brush fire on property owned by Burnt 963 North Colony street Engine company No 2 went to 764 East Main street owned by the Middletown Savings bank 7:14 o'clock in the evening for a cellar fire which was extinguished after causing a small amount of damage Ionian Pawns To Buy Can Oklahoma City Feb Buck Herring 34 died here today of gunshot wounds Detective Lieutenant John Van Elm said were inflicted Friday night by Mr Opal Herring the victim's 29-year-old wife who pawned her wedding ring to buy the gun The wife who once served a term in the Colorado state prison fo: automobile theft remained In the city jail tonight Von Elm eaid Congress Plainly Worried Over War Threats EARLY ACTION IS INDICATED Policy In China Is Denounced Washington February 13 (AP) Increasing congressional concern tWer world armament resulted in two proposals today that the United States sponsor a conference on limiting navies Rep Maverick (D-Tex) and Senator King (D-Utah) said they would introduce legislation tomorrow calling upon this country to take the lead in arranging such a conference Others in congress have advanced similar proposals informally among them Rep Fish (RNY) ranking minority member of th house foreign affairs committee Maverick took the view that Japan's refusal to divulge it intentions with respect to the size of future warships did not necessarily preclude a naval agreement among the world powers The United States has designs ready for building super-dreadnaughts if the future brings no change in Japan's attitude May Save War Hays Maverick Commenting on the Japanese offer to abolish Maverick inquired: then wants them? England? have a naval conference however irritated nations may be It may save a war" The Foreign Policy association a private research organization published a study of the international situation which said calling a peace conference was one of three courses of foreign policy open to the United States Varlan Fry author of the study said the others were joint action with other powers to stop Japan's invasion of China and Invocation of the neutrality act and complete withdrawal from the Far East The first of these two latter courses mtght mean war Fry said and the second an united drive" by Italy Germany and Japan in South America The author added major problems of a world peace conference would be to find ways to lower or abolish trade barriers and to stabilize currencies See 8 Clove To War Rep Tinkham (R-Mass) said in a statement that every day was bringing the United States closer to war with Japan "a planned by Great Britain to further British interests" He asserted that the door" policy In China enunciated by Secretary of State John Hay in 1899 was dictated by Great Britain and that present threat of war (Continued on Ninth Page) Singapore Base Of British Fleet To Be Dedicated Three American Warships To Be Only Foreign Today Singapore Feb 13 AP) With American officers as observers Great Britain will Inaugurate the most powerful naval base in the world Monday strengthening her naval strategy in Hie wartom Orient Three American warships th cruisers Trenton Memphis and Milwaukee under the command of Rear-Admiral Julius Townsend will be the only "foreign guests" a fact authoritative circle considered significant Guests Hand-Picked Intense precautions have been taken to prevent espionage at th inaugural ceremony for the $150-000000 of the East" which took 15 years to build Handpicked guests will be under the watchful eyes of special police the entire time and will be allowed to enter only restricted areas The United States cruisers arrived today from Australis where they had attended the sesquicentenary celebration After formal gun salutes from British warehips Admiral Townsend exchanged official calls with British Vice-Admiral Sir (Continued on Ninth Page) Lost and Found LOST Pass Book No 8685 Appi-cation has been made for a new Book City Saving Bank Mart-den Conn Mitten sod rain heeds i car Girl Regains Voice After Three Years Pittsburgh Feb 13 (AP) Nine-year-old Kitty Skoka who for nearly three years could speak only in whispers can talk normally and even sin In 1934 Kitty swallowed a inckstone injuring her throat so badly that physicians gave her only a slim chance of ever using her voice again A metal tafer inserted in her throat still remains but Kitty speaks distinctly and as loud as normal child Nazi Bund Rally In Buffalo Ends In Free-For-All American Legion Members Battle With Bond Sympathizers Buffak) Feb IS A series of fist fights broke up a meeting being addressed here tonight by German-Amertcan Bund Leader Wilhelm Kunze A general riot call was sent out by police as American Legion members making up nearly half th audience of 700 began battling with Bund members and sympathizers The flareup cam after Kunse had been interrupted in the course of hi address by former Assembly-man Frederick Hammer of Buffalo who ascended the rostrum and began delivering a speech of his own When Hammer asserted his forebears had left Germany because they not like the military aggression" of the nation a voice in th hall shouted: "Com outside with me and settle that right Hammer shouted Half Doaea Fight In a moment a half dosen separate fights flared up throughout the hall and women spectxtors fled screaming to the doors The 15 policemen on duty st the hail went into action separating the scrappers and dragging them out of the hall No arrests were made immediately Lieut Alfred Gardner said Gardner said he escorted Kunze off the platform a the fighting started although the Bund leader objected to leaving the hall Kunze came to Buffalo tonight after two other upstate New York meetings of the Bund had become the object of close scrutiny by American Legion members last week He engaged In a verbal battle with Legionnaires at Syracuse Thursday night where the war veterans bombarded him with questions during the meeting A hotel in Rochester on Friday night cancelled a reservation for a Bund meeting and Kunze contented himself with addressing a small gathering elsewhere in that city In the course of hi talk tonight Kunze outlined the objective of his organization was "to fight subversive Influences In the United States" He said the Bund sought to "make sure that no small racial minority gained control of the United States government" and said It was "against I and ail other private unions and (Continued on Ninth Page) Heir To Textile Family Killed In Plane Crash Aiken Feb 13 (AP)-J Cannon 3rd co-owner of an Orlando (Fla) airport and scion of the North Carolina textile family died In a hospital here tonight from injuries he suffered in plane crash 24 hours earlier open cockpit monoplane was forced down sbout six miles from Barnwell late yesterday He taxied the plane to a public road and attempted an ascent Swerving to miss a tree directly ahead he lost control of the plane and it nose-dived 100 feet to the ground Cannon suffered a brain concussion a broken leg and severe fractures bruises and cuts Kills Wife With As Children Look On West Palm Beach Fla Feb 13 (AP)-Police Chief Mil-bum said Frank Sortin 51 World war veteran killed his 31-year-old wife Calasta with an axe today as fheiri five children looked on In horror Chief Milburn quoted the children as saying their parents had been separated about six months Sot-tin living in a small shed in the rear of their home The husband was quoted a saying he and his wife began quarreling over uncleanliness of the house CHERRY TREES BLOOM Rockport Ind Feb Cherry trees in Dalton Hayden's yard here apparently thought spring was her and bloomed today as the temperature hit 70 Pussy willows forsytbia and )-mine also ware In bloom Torrential Rain Gales And Snow Hit West Coast Flood Hazards Intensified As Storm Continues Through 18th Day San Francisco Feb IS A new disturbance from the Pacific brought gales torrential rain and snow to the Pacific coast intensifying flood hazards in northern California and carrying the record-breaking storm through its eighteenth consecutive day A downpour registering 1 1-2 to 4 inches in 24 hours along the upper Sacramento river Increased apprehension in the Cousa-Sacra-mento area where the stream had been overflowing for days and levees were weakened by saturation 25000 Acres Under Water The overflow already had inundated about 26000 acres of valuable farming land east and south of Colusa and was slowly backing up because the by-pass in that area was filled to capacity Engineers working with WPA CCC and volunteer crews to keep the levees intact reported Meteorologist Fletcher at Sacramento advised them the situation had become the most serious since the storm began Fletcher predicted a rise in the upper portion of the river The weather forecast said there would be more rain tonight and tomorrow all along the coast and heavy snows from the California Sierra to the plateau region of Idaho Nevada and Utah Flood waters receded along the Pajaro river in the Pajaro valley permitting a gradual return of about 1000 persons to homes from which they had been driven in Watsonville and the nearby town of Pajaro Red Cross workers appealed for dry bedding for refugees and health authorities advised the boiling of all drinking water The Red Cross sought housing facilities for about 1000 migratory workers who lost their cabin and camp homes near Madera 150 miles south of here in high water Gales lashed the coastal area from Cape Flattery Wash to San Francisco The schooner Florence Olsen reported she lost part of her deck load of lumber In heavy weather off Eureka Calif but would be able to reach Sin Francisco without assistance Southern Pacific trains between here and Portland were halted by (Continued on Ninth Page) Dr Pennington To Study In Boston Dr Freeman Pennington plans to be at the Boston Lying-In hospital from April 1 to November 15 for further study and training in Dr Pennington the abnormalities complications and surgical aspects of obstetrics There are about 3000 babies born annually at this hospital so that there is a wealth of material for observation and study During Dr Pennington's absence from Meriden his practice win be cared for by Dr A who will move his office to 455 Ilroad street with Dr Pennington tomorrow Dr will work with Dr Pennington for month before the departure for Boston CLO Spokesman Declares $600000000 Grant Is Imperative Washington Feb (AP) A movement to increase the $250000-000 emergency relief appropriation requested by President Roosevelt appeared to be developing today among some senators from plains states and the Far West Taking their cue from testimony of Aubrey Williams acting WPA administrator that serious relief situations were not confined to industrial centers many of the westerners have been making quick surveys of needs in their states Senator Bone (D-Wash) observed today that relief demands in his state had increased due to the migration of former residents to the Northwest He said he thought an increase in the amount of the emergency appropriation might be necessary Senator Schwellenbach (D-Waah) said he was making a study of conditions but was not yet prepared to gay whether he would support an increase Situation Termed Critical Drought in the great plains states has made the relief situation there critical declared Senator Norris (Ind-Neb) "The condition of many farmers is especially he said "because they had any crops in five Norris said he would support a larger appropriation if it were demonstrated to him that such action would be necessary keep people from Senator Burke (D-Neb) said he believed J250000000 would be sufficient to meet needs although he pointed out that drought distress was acute in Nebraska Some of the farmers in the "Dust Bowl" section of western Kansu have exhausted all of their resources and their need is great said Senator Capper (R-Kan) He added he was inclined nevertheless Jo accept the estimate prepared by the WPA being sufficient to meet demands "If that doesn't prove to be enough we can appropriate more later" he observed Senator Hatch (D-NM) said he had been Informed that relief needs (Continued on Ninth Page) Roosevelt Staging Sit-Down Strike Rep Lemke Claims Union Party Presidential Candidate Blames FDR For Recession Hartford Feb Blame for the continuance of the current business recession was laid squarely at the feet of President Roosevelt and "his brainless by Congressman William Lemke of North Dakota Union party candidate for president in the 1936 election in an address at Foot Guard armory this afternoon before a cheering foot-stamping audience of nearly 1000 persons for the most part members of Father National Union for Social Justice Standing beside a large framed photograph of Father Coughlin Congressman Lemke called for establishment of a bank of the United States to be by the "If the Union party platform had been carried out in 1933 he declared sane man or any sincere man could have put the country on an even keel in three months" Charges Sit-Down By FDR a sit-down strike at the other end of Pennsylvania avenue" he chaarged all the while the president has at his fingertips the power to end this recession" Miles Hayea eastern regional (Continued on Second Page) Two Killed Pair Of Crossing Crashes Pleasant Hill Mo Feb 13 (AP) Two persons were killed here today in a pair of grade crossing crashes approximately three-quarters of a mile apart Involving the same train Herbert Rosanbalm 25 was killed when a Missouri Pacific train struck his machine at the outskirts of the town Still dragging the wreckage of car the train struck the second machine driven by Marion McCrary 18 near the station and killed Miss Ida Clawson 81 McCrary was seriously hurt William Martin the engineer said he knew nothing of the first crash until he left his eab to help the victims of the second IMsser UAV Auxiliary total Taatle (Special to The Record) New Haven Feb The twelve Jurors holding the fate of Duncan Ladd 37-year-old Wallingford fireman are spending the weekend in their respective homes pledged on their honor not to engage in conversation concerning the case or to read newspaper accounts of th trial Upon recess adjournment Friday at noon Judge John Rufus Booth instructed the Jury upon their duties admonishing its members to be very observent of the rules he imposed anyone approaches you in an attempt to sway your opinion" Judge Booth said is your duty to immediately report it to the court" Put On Their Honor Customarily jurors are herded into a hotel take their meals together are allowed no newspapers giving detailed reports of the trial and are not permitted to converse with anyone on any topic outside of co-members of the Jury Judge Booth however has placed the Jurymen on their honor duty bound to speak of the case to no one excepting members of the present jury hearing the testimony in the Ladd trial Samuel Hoyt attorney is expected to finish his esse In a day or two depending largely on the time taken by Samuel Lei-bowitz chief defense counsel in cross-examinations More Meriden Wttnesaes Witnesses from Meriden to heard include Captain Walter Kurcon Patrolman Joseph Becker Sergeant Thomas Tighe and Patrolman Franklin I Hendrickson Others may include Mrs Mary Mercaldi DiLeo widow of the slain Michael A DiLeo Anthony Mercaldi her father and Patsy Mercaldi her brother Hoyt has not announced the number of witnesses he will call or the type of testimony they may offer Mrs DiLeo if she takes the stand is expected to reveal an untold story that may establish a motive for the killing other than that claimed by the defense IjmM's Defense defense that he was bereft (Continued on Ninth Page) Favorable Trade Balance By Seen Imperative Chamber President Urges Foreign Market Be Increased New York Feb 13-(AP)-Two trade experts gxve an affirmative answer to the question "is international trade a path to prosperity" in a nationwide broadcast tonight Harper Sibley former president of the United States chamber of commerce said this country gained a favorable balance of $262000000 in foreign trade last year Leland Anderson cotton exporter of Houston Tex advocated additional reciprocal trade treaties as a means of lowering trade barriers and increasing the world consumption of United States cotton and other products Sibley said American machine methods of agriculture and manufacturing were in the majority of cases cheaper than foreign manpower production and that consequently "cheap human inefficient hand labor need not always be feared by American efficiency" He said he hoped for an "economic advance among foreign peoples" to increase the foreign market for American goods Lost Cotton Market In 1930 Anderson said the United States (Continued on Ninth Page) Experts At 0 For Income Tax Returns Charles McCarthy and Thomas Rodden deputy Internal revenue collectors will be at the post office beginning today for two weeks to help local men and women fill out their income tax returns The deputy collectors will be at the office from 9 to 5 every day until February 26 Persons requiring aid after that date will have to apply at the Hartford office Returns must be made by March 15 Two collectors visited the New Departure and International Silver company plants here last week snd helped employes make out their returns Persons visiting th post office are asked to bring along all the necessary figure concerning income and exemption to facilitate the efficiency of the office Mg tola! aifht( Biha Adv Former Local Man Due To Leave For Africa Wednesday Mr And MriStanley Kirsch Will Locate Johannesburg A former Meriden man and his wife will set sail from New York city Wednesday for Johannesburg Africa where they expect to make their home during the next two yeare Mr and Mre Stanley Kirsch of New York city will leave for Africa aboard the "Hansa" where Mr Kirsch will act as the Pratt A Whitney Aircraft corporation of Hartford service representative and will also serve in a technical advisory capacity to the South Africa Airways To Stop In London Mr Kirsch has been connected with the Hartford firm in a similar capacity for the past ten years having travelled from coast to coast in the Interest of the company He was formerly connected In the building business in this city and for a number of years worked as a mechanic for the Meriden Auto station His wife is the former Florence Lewis daughter of Mr and Mrs Albert Lewis of 186 Broad street this city The couple expect to stop in London England for about ten days while en route to their destination Interesting Experience As a service representative for the Hartford aircraft company Mr Kirsch has had numbered among his personal acquaintances many of the world's leading figures in aviation These include the former Wiley Post with whom he had close contact Roscoe Turner who (Continued on Second Pag) Public Hearing Called On Uptown Store Permit A public hearing upon the application requesting permission to erect a commercial building on the southwest corner of East Main and High Streets has been filed with Paul Westermeyer chairman of the zoning board of appeals A hearing on the application presented by William Wear owner of th property involved will be held In the city court room next Monday evening at 5 o'clock It was learned yesterday that Mr Weir intends to dismantle the old homestead that has occupied that corner for many years if the permit is granted In its place a modern one-story building will be erected which will serve as a store Mr Wear occupies the house at present and has owned the property for about twelve years The property has a frontage of about 65 feet on East Main street and adjoins the Parker company property in the rear East Main St Fence Crashed By Automobile Police yesterday were attempting to locate a driver of an autor mobile which had torn down about 25 feet of the state highway fence near the Ice skating rtnk on East Main street Teletype messages were sent to neighboring police departments to be on the look out for a car bearing tell tale marks of having been in an accident The incident occurred at 12:30 yesterday mornt-ig police believe Wedding Ring To Kill Husband she would be turned over to the county attorney's office tomorrow Von Elm said in her written statement of the shooting Mrs Herring related that she shot her husband after a series of quarrels in one of which he had challenged her to get a gun She disclosed Von Elm said she had purchased the revolver with $350 she obtained on her gold wedding ring Die Soria! Tmlfht Elks Adr.