Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 1

U.S. Weather Report Snow Saturday and Sunday) little change in temperature (Complete report on Pagt 5) JBTROPOLITAN LIBRA INAL EDITION 5 19 OFTROiT -On Guard for Over a Ccntury- Saturday, March 15, 1941. No. 315 110th Vear 2UPU Cents Had a Grudge Gas Co. Faces Nazis Loose Furious Attacks Bri tain over Sections 6 Cinderella Story Comes True x' HankAwaiting Boards Ruling on Deferment flat Feet Only One of Ailments Cited on Draft Form Slugger Will Receive $50,000 for Season With the announcement Friday that Hank Greenberg had been recommended for deferment from elective service because he has flat feet came tne disclosure that his Detroit draft board refuse the recommendation of the Morula physician he still has two Jnore reasons for escaping the Board officials said that a special meeting would be held to classify Greenberg as soon as the report arrived from Florida.

Hammering Henry had listed three reasons for deferment In his draft questionnaire: iHe has flat feet iHe has a chronic backache. jHe has Infected wisdom teeth. Those, coupled with the fact that he is the most valuable player on the Detroit Tigers, constituted the reasons for his opinion that he should be a 1-Ber instead of 1-Aer. But without reference to aching back or teeth, it seemed evident Friday that Hank would do his hammering at Briggs Stadium this season instead of on the hard highways in the uniform of Uncle Sam. It also was revealed that Green-berg's appearance in a baseball uniform instead of khaki will net him $50,000 for the year's efforts.

That is. provided Detroit Draft Board 23 follows the recommendation of Dr. Grover C. Freeman, who examined Greenberg for the estimable Mr. Whiskers.

The draft board here said that It hadn't heard officially of Dr. Freeman's ruling that Hank's feet were built like rockers and not up to Army requirements nor that the Florida examiner was on his way to Detroit to back up his findings. Ben O. Shepherd, board chairman, said that he saw no reason why the doctor should come here. Wide Free i'rc8 Ptuito his occupation as janitor in the current City Directory.

The ceremony that made Nellie Newland Nellie Newberry possessor of one of the city's proudest names took place in the Grosse Pointe Memorial Church at 8 o'clock, the Rev. Frank Fitt officiating. There was no fuss or any of the trappings of the usual society marriage and the arrangements suited this modern Cinderella to a T. For Nellie is a miss with a will her own, and a true American girl's lack of awe for the social position of her new parents-in-law. In fact, so little does she care for the glitter and the standing that are hers for the taking that it was she who insisted that their new home be far from the fashionable Pointe.

When the junior Phelps New-. Turn to Page 3, Column 3 I i.A i MR. AND MRS. PHELPS NEWBERRY, LEAVING CHURCH They'll live In an upper income Stenographer Is Bride of Phelps Newberry, Jr. FDJL to Speak on Aid Tonight Talk to Be Carried to Foes of the Axis Bf the Auoelated Frew WASHINGTON, March 14 President Roosevelt decided today to make a major radio address tomorrow night in an apparent move to cement public support for the $7,000,000,000 Lease-Lend program and to help steel the British and other foes of the Axis against anything Hitler may launch in the way of a spring blitzkrieg.

He made the surprise announcement that the thirty-minute address, dealing with defense and aid to nations battling aggressors, would be given at the annual dinner tendered him by the White House Correspondents Association. For 20 years, speeches have been tabu at these dinners, but Mr. Roosevelt asked newsmen's permission to make one on this occasion, and it was readily granted. Will Be Carried Abroad The speech, to begin at 9:30 p. m.

(Detroit time), will go out over the major broadcasting companies, and will be transmitted abroad in at least six Seated around the dinner tables with Mr. Roosevelt will be a large number of notables, including Wendell L. Willkie, Lord Halifax, the British ambassador; Secretary of State Cordell Hull, other Cabinet members, members of Congress and prominent newspaper men. As Yugoslavia strove to escape complete Axis domination and Turkey maintained a waiting policy, President Roosevelt held out a tacit promise of American help under the Lease-Lend Act today to any wavering nations that decide to resist aggression. Doesn't Specify Nations In emphasizing that aid could be extended to countries other than Great Britain, Greece and China, the President did not specify any by name, but his comment was in response to press conference questions on the possibility of help for Turkey and Yugoslavia, Using only an alphabetical description for countries which he called Mr.

Roosevelt declared that any nations which are not now resisting aggression and which might decide to do so would come under the terms of the new legislation. The act itself authorized the President to help "any country" whose defense he Turn to Page 3, Column 4 Governor Seeks Medical Changes Frw Pkm Landnf limi LANSING, March 14 Two Administration-backed bills to synchronize Michigan's public-health agencies and pave the way for the removal by Gov. Van Wagoner of Dr. H. Allen Moyer, former Gov.

Dickinson's close friend, as State health commissioner, appeared in the Legislature Friday. Rep. Henry H. J. Graebner, Saginaw Republican and chairman of the Public Health Committee of the House, and Rep.

Clark J. Adams, Oakland Democrat, sponsored both measures. One calls for a State Council of Health of eight members with staggered terms to be named by the Governor with consent of the Senate, with authority to appoint and to remove for cause the health commissioner, whose service other wise would be continuous. The council would fix the commission' er's salary and institute long-term health policies, with due attention to research and prevention. The other bill calls for' country health councils to co-ordinate county health programs extending 1 into townships.

It would rtbt over lap the City Health Department in Detroit, although the optional possibility of a county-city health department la presented. 13 YEARS AFTER 1928 free Press i'liolo MISS JOAN BRZCHAKA Is facing charges Woman Shoots Priest in Study Was a Housekeeper for Predecessor The Rev. Francis D. Van Hout, assistant pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church, was shot in the left shoulder at 6:45 p. m.

Friday by a woman visitor in the study of his residence at 6430 Benson. Police said the woman was Joan Brzchaka, 44 years old, 'of 3584 Frederick, who served as house keeper in the parish home for 11 years. She left Nov. 28, 1935. Father Van Hout was assigned to the parish only two and one' half years ago, and was only slightly acquainted with the woman, police said.

Former Housekeeper Reasons for the shooting were obscure, but Detective Lieut. Leo Doyle, of the Homicide Squad, said he understood that Miss Brzchaka had been harboring a grudge be cause Father Van Hout's predecessor had once accused her of theft The wounded priest, who is 37 years old, was taken to fat. JO' seph's Mercy Hospital, where his condition was as not se rious although he was weak from loss of blood. Miss Brzchaka was taken to Police Headquarters, where she was questioned by de tectives and Assistant Prosecutor Richard Nahabcdian. Tells Her Reasons Nahabedian said that Miss Brzchaka told him she went to the parish house to ask Father Van Hout "why he was repeating those stories about me." The woman admitted, Nahabedl an said, that she drew a revolver from her purse and shot the priest.

The Kev. Henry syoen, pastor or the church, next door to the par ish home, said he saw the woman sitting in a waiting room outside the office when he entered tne house Friday evening but did not recognize her because she was wearing dark glasses. He said he went to his living quarters and soon after heard a commotion in the office and heard Julian Bassi mon, the janitor, and his wife Aleda, shouting for help. Father Syoen said he round Fa ther Van Hout struggling with the woman, and that the Bassimons disarmed her while he called po lice. Miss Brzchaka was booked for investigation of assault with in tent to kill.

Fourth Roosevelt Gets Commission Br the Amoctstrd Preti WASHINGTON, March 14 John Roosevelt, the President's youngest son, has been given a commission as ensign in the Navy's Supply Corps, the Navy disclosed today. The last of the President's four sons to be made an officer in one of the armed services, he will be ordered to active duty soon. Young Roosevelt was commissioned yesterday, officials said. He applied for a commission in the Reserve Corps about a year ago, they added. Officials said his first assignment probably would be to the Naval Finance and Supply School, at Philadelphia.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, the President's third son. received orders yesterday to duty aboard the destroyer Mayrant, effective April 3, as an ensign. He was commissioned more than two years ago. SOLD: DEATH VALLEY Fight Against Bill Penalties Lee Pledges Efforts to Get Discount for Prompt Payment 'Little Man' Is Victim of System, He Asserts BY LEO DONOVAN Free Prau Staff Writer A relentless fight against the Michigan Consolidated Gas policy of penalizing the ratepayer under the guise or allowing mm a discount" if he pays his Dili on time, was pledged Friday by James H.

Lee, assistant corporation counsel. "Even if the City's determined efforts to achieve municipal ownership of the gas company fails," Lee said, "we will continue to tight for a discount instead of a penalty on the gas user." To Confer with Calvert He said that he would confer Saturday with Rep. Frank J. Cal vert, of Highland Park, chairman of the State legislative committee appointed to Investigate gas rates, on plans to force the Michigan Public Service Commission to elim inate the penalty charge for tardy customers and to reward prompt payment of bills by allowing a discount, "Since the commission's order restoring the old rates for house heating," he said, "we have even had complaints from gas customers that their discounts had been reduced, when, as a matter of fact, the commission's order and the gas company's almost secret action resulted in a reduction in the penalty from 27 per cent of the bill to 10 per cent. Little Man Still Pays "The small consumer, the man who uses gas only for cooking and hot water heating, however, continues to pay usurious penalties for failure to pay his bill on time.

Besides all this, the gas company has the powerful weapon of shut ting off the gas if the bill isn't paid on time. "When Mr. Montgomery (Henry A. Montgomery, attorney for the gas company) said at a recent town-hall meeting that the com pany had volunteered to reduce that penalty to 10 per cent and had obtained the Michigan Public Serv ice Commission consent, he said that the policy was just a hold over from old days. The gas company has been Inflicting such penalties for 40 years.

Few Are Affected "It Is true that the commission's order cut the penalty from 27 per cent to 10 per cent on house-heating customers, but these customers number only 40,000, whereas the 484,000 customers using gas for hot water and cooking still pay a penalty of 10 cents a Detroit gas unit, or as much as 17 per cent for being a day or two late in pay ing their bills. "The Michigan Bell Telephone Co. gets its money in the till before the service is rendered and therefore imposes no penalty nor allows no discount, and the Detroit Edison Co. grants a bona fide 10 per cent discount on bills as a reward for prompt payment "When Mr. Montgomery said the reduction of the penalty cost the gas, company only $20,000, he didn't tell the complete story.

We have figures to show that the gas company's revenue from penalties on tardy bill payers approximates $400,000. We didn't have time to enter these figures because of rebuttal of other testimony, but we will enter them." QUERIES AND ANSWEB3 Included among questions presented by both sides of the controversy over whether the City should acquire the gas company by condemnation proceedings upon which the voters will vote at the Turn to Page 5, Column 6 Japan Ready to Try a One-Party Regime TOKIO, March 15 (Saturday) (U. The new single political party, which Premier Prince Fumi-maro Konoye envisaged last year when he dissolved the old political organizations represented in Parliament, will be launched early next month, reliable informants said today. The party will go far, the informants said, toward putting Japan on a totalitarian basis and will help put into effect Prince Konoye's program for Asiatic unity. property of any value.

Scotty admitted yesterday that he never owned any gold mines, as reputed. "If I had it in my power," the Judge said, "I would rule to reimburse Gerard, but I can't make such a Judgment on this evidence. If Mr. Gerard has any additional evidence, he may bring it into court while the case ia under advisement. "When a man from the desert goes to the city, they sell him the Woolworth Building.

In this case, the man from the desert sold the citv man Death Valley itself." Scotty testified today that years I ago he had buned J100.O0O in certificates representing gambling winnings multiplied by mining speculations in a mountain canyon. to have a cloudburst out the car.yon. Later, be said, another cloudburst washed away a fortune ia gold ore, London Pelted by Fire Bombs Raid Toll in Hamburg and Glasgow Great 1y III Auoclatet Pm LONDON, March 15 German bombers, continuing their attempt to paralyze Britain before American aid becomes more effective, roared through the moon lit skies Friday night and early today to strike heavily wth fire and demolition bombs at wide spread areas in England and Scot land. A northeastern British city had its first heavy air attack of the war Friday. A newspaper officei was among buildings in the center of the city struck by fire bombs.

(The unidentified town could have been Edinburgh or New castle.) Fire Bombs Fall in London Clusters of fire bombs also wera dropped in London during the night, and raids or varying tensity were reported from al northeast coastal town, the West Midlands, Southwest Scotland and England and the Channel coast, The attack was said to have grown worse on the southwest town as the moon rose. (A United Press dispatch front Plymouth said that England's Southwest coastal area was at- tacked heavily with high ex plosives Friday night over wide urban and rural regions. Many workers' homes were destroyed. Antiaircraft guns on ships joined the land guns' barrage, keeping the attackers at a great height) By midnight, two German raid ers had been reported shot down in the various raids. The Britsh claimed for Thursday night's defense a record score of 13 Nazi raiders including one destroyed by an unexplained method of defense.

'Secret Weapon Hinted A hint that Britain has developed a "secret weapon" to discouraga night bombings was seen in an Air Ministry communique which said "no less than 11 of the enemy fell to our fighters, one was shot down by antiaircraft fire, and one was destroyed by other means." Official quarters were silent about the significance of the words "other means." However, there have been recent references in Parliament to bar rage balloons which fly higher and carry "lethal" cables, ana me British Press Association pub lished what it called an Italian report of a "new English weapon" projectile containing steel wires which unwound In the air to make, with other like projec CANADIANS ON MOVE LA LINEA, Spain, March li (A. Various officers attached to the Canadian General staff arrived at Gibraltar today, according to reports reaching this adjacent city. The same sources said that a contingent of Canadian troops was expected shortly, en route probably to Libya. tiles, a "spider's web" to snare attacking planes. (The British themselves had re ported experiments with such a device.) The Government admitted that Glasgow suffered a "heavy and prolonged" raid Thursday night.

Industrial buildings were damaged, many fires broke out and the number of casualties was "serious." Tenement Destroyed Only a crater marked the site of one tenement, several families were dug out from under another three-story apartment that col lapsed, and there were other vie tims when a row of houses was demolished. The RAFs powerfully stepped up bombing offensive spread a far pattern of violence in Germany and Holland Thursday night, and Britain disclosed that invasion troops of its own are being equipped against the day when the Empire may challenge the Nazis on the European continent. The hardiest and ablest soldiers of the British and Allied armies are being assembled and especially trained for armored barges, each fitted out to carry 50 fighting men and protected by a shield of steel slitted with 18 portholes for guns, an observer said. The Air Ministry reported that some of the most important points in the Nazi war machine Hamburg, the greatest German port; the shipbuilding center of Bremen, the German naval base at Emden were hit in overnight attacks, along with vital objectives in the occupied Netherlands. The assault on Hamburg was described officially as the heaviest in all the long series delivered on that major city.

Bomb explosions and great fires were de clared to have left the shipbuild ing yards, the docks and ware houses in a red chaos; to have adcied rubble to that left in 8k similar raid the night before. In the Thursday right raids, which extended over many hours, the l's of six Ent.sh planes was acknowlfdzed. The Admiralty announced the appointment of Admiral Sir Terry i as ccrr.n-.ur.i. el I lorn to rage okana 5 Harmon Takes $15,000 Movie Job tlw Aim? lat4 Pre NEW YORK, March 14 Tom Harmon, All-America halfback from the University of Michigan, signed a $15,000 contract tonight to star in a single picture for Columbia Pictures "Harmon of Michigan." Jack Cohn, Columbia vice president, said the picture, featuring football, would be built around the general activities of the star himself. Harmon said he still was looking forward to a radio sports broadcasting career and would not play professional football.

Green Favors Mediation Idea Murray Still Opposes Cooling-Off Period BY RADFORD E. MOBLEY Free Prei Wftdlilncton RnrrAO. liil Mttturml i'cmt Bulltlluf WASHINGTON, March 14 Despite the opposition of the CIO, the President ia expected to establish an eleven-man super-mediation board for defense-labor stoppages before he leaves within a few days for his spring fishing trip. The Chief Executive gained today the stanch backing of William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, for the proposed board. But Philip Mur ray, CIO president, Issued a statement again recommending his industry-council plan and declaring that the Imposition of "cooling off" restraints would be a negation of collective bargain ing.

The President was pledged Green'a support in a conference, and sources close to Sidney Hill-man, co-director of defense pro duction and former CIO executive, hoped that Murray would soften his attitude after he had talked at the White House. Both to Be Represented Mr. Roosevelt la expected to ask the leaders of both major labor organizations to advise with him In selecting the personnel or me eleven-man board. Four members will be chosen from management, four from labor organizations (two AFL and two CIO) and three members will represent the general public. Informed sources said It was certain that Dean Lloyd Garrison, of the University of Wisconsin Law School, would be one of the three members for the public.

William Davis, former chairman of the New York State Mediation Board; Bernard Baruch and WendeU Willkie, 1940 Republican presidential candidate, also were mentioned prominently. Willkie's friends said he probably would not accept if asked, although they admitted- that he could be drafted. Nominees Suggested Ceorge Meany, AFL secretary-treasurer, may represent his organization, while CIO sources mentioned Sherman Dalrymple, of the United Rubber Workers, as a possible member. The proposed agency would act on defense strikes and strike threats only after preliminary work had been done by the Labor Department's conciliation service under John R. Steelman.

Hillman lieutenants "guessed" that the situation in the Ford planU was fur enough advanced through Steelman's efforts to be taken Turn to Page 2, Column 7 F.D.R'8 Fishing Date Is Believed Thursday MIAMI, March 14 (A.P.) The News said today that President Roosevelt would arrive at Port Everglades next Thursday to embark on a fishing cruise. The President said In Washington he probably would take a Southern vacation soon, but did not reveal the details. have been surveying the seven story, steel-and-brick magnificence at Park and Montcalm, unused for eight years, happy to discover that the pigeons didn get in." In a few weeks, the boilermak ers, teamsters, chauffeurs, stable men and helpers all the other AFL union will start rattling around in the rooms which bore the names of many of their employers' wives. An historian of the times probably could base quite a piece about the changing order on the boom ghost that was the Colony Club. Ground was broken for the $600,000 structure in 13JS.

Re-1 member With a ballroom where 500 of the elite could swish arou.n with i crystal chandeuers and Keppel-i white, Shriton and iHmcan jPtyfe arprasied at I Jura to Page 5, Column BY TJIELMA COBB Fre Prou Soclclf Editor The old, familiar pattern of the Cinderella story was repeated Friday evening when Phelps Newberry, who certainly has a princely rating if Detroit has such a thing as social kings and queens, took as his bride Nellie Margaret Ncwland, who has earned her living as a stenographer ever since she got out of Southeastern High School and is proud of it. Phelps' grandfather is the Hon. Truman Handy Newberry, of Dry Brook, Grosse Polnte Farms, onetime Secretary of the Navy. His occupation is listed simply as president of the Newberry Estate, which is enough, the Newberry holdings being what they are. Nellie or Nicky as she is known is the daughter of Bert A.

New-land, of 705 Dickerson, who lists Not Dogs of War Dr. Freeman ruled that because Greenberg has second-degree flat feet, the pedal extremities were Implements of peace and not dogs of war. With the ruling came the recommendation that Hank be put in the deferred Class 1-B, "available for limited military service." When the question arose as to how Greenberg could have feet so flat as to render him unfit for Army service, it was explained there was a difference between What the fans think of Hank end the draft See Sports Pages. playing two hours of baseball In 518 kaocaroo leather shoes and hiking 20 miles in Army brogans with a forty-pound pack on your back. Those who have tried to lug such a pack were inclined to string along with the doctor's findings The whole flat-foot business is interesting.

Physicians say that it is possible for a man to have even second-degree flat feet or uiKucnu pes planus, to use tne four-dollar expression, and still he under no handicap. The only way me tmynician can leu wnetner me dogs are barking is to ask the owner of same. It's Taken for Granted If he says thev are. then it is taken for granted. It has to be, unitss the doc wants to call the owner of the drooping dogs a malingerer or, as the Army has it, a gold bricker.

In that case the doctor can toss him, bilateral pes planus and all, into Class 1-A. Greenberg, still giving reporters the run-around H.nnit hi fntHH arches, remained exclusive Friday cr me report, that he had signed for a vear. The rennrt rmrl Jumped from $40,000 to $50,000 wn, got out that Charley Gen-finger hart siirnoH 1nr tAt Knn Gdiringer brushed off the report ie comment, "Weir I have seniority riehts lion that there didn't seem to be salaries under $30,000 this 'ffir in the American Iacrnd a'so pointed out in Detroit -v urecnDergs case could be referred to th ward, which has an appeal status. A member nf Orpnnhnm'. UorH said he felt sure that as a matter i ruuune the case would go there.

wd Hospital is the Advisory i'fard for Greenherp-' in.oi hnarH "in. a case which has received muert attention as Hank's," the official said. "I don'r think the "pinion of one doctor should be FOR FLOPS TF.RRE HATTTP TnH T. I I A. rennrt rarH hparinfr 14 one (for or two "'-erred grades will be good for admittance to a Flunkers' dance at Indiana State i(acners College tomorrow night.

Start the Day Right with the Free Press Page 14 Amusements Around the Town 13 Easiness and Industry 15-16 Church News 4 flapper, Raymond 6 O.s.-w -rd ruzzle 11 I-'P; mann, Walter 7 I'ay 9 Prr.crrr.s 36 v- Report 5 Check These Exclusive Features For Sunday Reading IN THE EDITORIAL MAGAZINE WHAT IS THE DETROIT CITIZENS LEAGUE William J. Coughlin tells the Inside story of this organization which wields potent political power at each election. WHAT'S HAPPENED TO FRANCE'S GOLD? Before the war, France was one of the world's richest holders of gold. Today, this metal is missing! Where is it? WHY IS MATSUOKA GOING TO EUROPE? To swing a new treaty with Germany? No! The inside story is told Sunday. BRITISH STOPPED IN EAST AFRICA? The first correspondent to reach the East African front tells in vivid words the story of an Italian success.

WHAT ARE VITAMINS? A story and chart give you the complete story of one of the greatest of modern miracles of medicine. CAN YOU RECOGNIZE AMERICA'S NEW PLANES? A series of sketches of these new warcraft will be found in the Editorial Magazine. IN ADDITION The Editorial Magazine brings you stories and dispatches by Clifford A. Prevost, Hub M. George, Cal Tinney, John S.

Knight, Royce Howes, Oswald Garrison Villard, Malcolm W. Blngay, Drew Pearson, Robert S. Allen there's Detroit's finest book and art page a full page of the week's news the Town Crier Behind the Front Page a photo trip to Wayne, another interesting Michigan town. HIGH SPOTS IN THE SUNDAY GRAPHIC A DETROITER GOES SOUTH TO SEE THE CIRCUS A Bob Towers behind-the-scenes picture-story of the circus at its winter quarters at Sarasota, Florida. AN EASTER WARDROBE FOR J200 with a nickel left over! Katharine Aldridge, Hollywood actress, shows you what Bhe purchased and tells why.

BACKSTAGE AT THE CASS Amazing candid' camera pictures of life backstage at a music-and-girl show, "Du Barry Was a Lady." NATIONAL ART GALLERY OPENS A preview of its treasures and its building. ON THE WOMEN'S PAGES "SLIM DOWN FOR SPRING CLOTHES" That's this week's advice from Grace Barbor, Free Press Beauty Editor, who tells how. Jean Pearson describes some of the new capes. Isabella Taves writes of new fashion openings in New York. MUSIC PAGE J.

D. Callaghan writes of the help offered by the radio in the study of languages. COMPLETE BOOK-OF-THE-WEEK "THE GOLDEN OCTOPUS An exciting South Seas story of love, mystery and danger, by James Francis Dwyer. TOMORROW'S SUNDAY FREE PRESS Colony Club Bought by AFL to Be Swankiest Labor Temple U. S.

Judge Denounces Scotty for Desert-Slicking City Sucker BY JAMES S. POOLER Pre PreM SUf WrUw Society's ghost put on overalls Friday. i Rounding out. In a highly significant social sense, a story of the booming '20s, the folding '30s and the reviving '40s, the swank Col-jony Club, once the ideal in a gorgeous downtown club for soci-! ety women, pr.ssed Friday Into possession of the American federation of Labor. 'This building will become the finest Labor Temple in America." President Frank X.

Mfcrtel, of the AFL aptly put it. "We consider ourselves very fortunate in being able to acquire it." The spacious ballroom, the ornate rooms, and the paneled library once vaunted for its restful r.ert re-j ccr.d.Uor.ed at oti. jr use cf the labor urucr.s. Workmen alrcaiy LOS ANGELES, March 14 United States Judge Benjamin Harrison branded Death Valley Scotty "a confessed cheat" today and abruptly took under advisement a grubstake suit brought by Julian Gerard, New York financier, demanding an accounting of wealth from a purported secret gold mine. The Judge castigated Scotty, whose real name is Walter Scott, for "defrauding" Julian Gerard, New York financier, with a series of what he termed "come-on" letters in which he painted word pictures of the wealth he was about to discover in Death Valley.

Jyiipe Harrison denounced the weather-beaten Westerner fT taking money "under fal.e preterms' from Gerard when he never had any interest ia rr.uixg.