Indianapolis Times, Volume 42, Number 83, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 August 1930 — Page 1
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RUSH HOOVER PROGRAM FOR DROUGHT AID President Demands Speed 53 Governors Start Relief Drive. LESLIE PLAN FAVORED Indiana Governor Seeks to Give Work on State * Roads. tv Vnited Press WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.—A vast relief organization was in process of formation today to provide autumn and winter aid for nearly 270.000 drought-suffering farm families. Speed was the farewell note sounded by President Hoover to t departing Governors or representatives of twelve states who had worked out with him the details of a national relief program at a White House conference Thursday night. Each Governor who considers a aituation requiring emergency relief exists in his state, is to appoint a chairman of a state drought relief committee. Agreement Reached Then will follow organization of a committee composed of a bank. Red Cross representative, state agricultural official, railway representative and farmers. Several of the Governors continued discussions with Hoover. Arthur Hyde and other officials today regarding measures to carry out the relief program. Some Governors expressed disappointment. privately, that federal funds were not provided, which places responsibility largely upon the states. Governors Leslie of Indiana, Caulfield of Missouri and Cooper of Ohio conferred with Hyde and T. H. MacDonald. chief of the agriculture department’s bureau of public roads, about proposed road projects to relieve unemployment among farmers who lost their crops. Leslie's Suggestion Favored Leslie suggested that Indiana be permitted to borrow $1,000,000 from federal reserve banks at 3 per cent to be matched with a similar fund available from federal road-build-ing appropriations. Hyde said after the conference the department would go as far as the law permitted in assisting through allocation of road-build-ing funds. He said he thought Leslie’s program would be practicable and that work which would require labor of farmers, but would not require letting of contracts for bridge building and surfacing roads, could be carried out. ) Steady Rain Falls K'j United Press CHICAGO. Aug. 15.—Rain fell throughout the east and in scattered sections of. the west, midwest and south today, breaking into the last strongholds of the $750,000,000 drought of 1930. In most of the states east of Ohio, rain fell steadily, but lightly, throughout Thursday night and continued today. North central states, where the worst of the drought was broken several days ago, received no further relief. The west coast continued dry. Rocky mountain states, in most of which there has been no drought, had light rains. Scattered areas in the south were dampened.
24-HOUR SERVICE FOR FLAG ON STATEHOUSE Federal Code Authorizes Practice Scored by Veterans. World war veterans and other citizens who have been disturbed by the flag flying from the staff on the statehouse dome twentyfour hours today were told that Prank Caylor. statehouse superintendent. has the best authority for leaving the flag up all hours and In all weather. Caylor sent to Washington for the flag code, and learned that on all public buildings the flag should fly throughout the twenty-four hours. When tattered, it should be replaced. The statehouse flag will be replaced next week. Caylor said. Bootlegs to Support Family K v United Press MARTINSVILLE. Ind., Aug. 15 A still said to have been operated by Roy Davee. school teacher living near Martinsville, was confiscated by officers when Davee directed them to the point on a creek. Davee was released on SI,OOO bond. He said he had been driven to illicit liquor business because he could not get work to to support his wife and seven children. He taught school in Jackson township last year. Falls From Chair; Injured Miss Sylvia Summers. 31. of 604 Division street, fell from a chair today while picking grapes and suffered leg and back injuries. She was taken to city hospital. Held for Parole Violation - Edward Hawthorne. 57. was held bv police today on a charge of violattt* a parole from the state prison zX Michigan City. He will be returned to the institution Saturday. police said. !_-rr- Flag Stolon go Ttm s ELIZABETHTOWN. Ind. Aug 15. —An American flag twenty feet long was stolen from quarters of the
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The Indianapolis Times Mostly fair tonight, Saturday increasing cloudiness; not much change in temperature.
VOLUME 42—NUMBER 83
Smoke Dive Bv United Press KANSAS CITY. Aug. 15. Gail Brown, parachute Jumper. knew today what a smoked ham would feel like, if it could feel. Attempting to Jump from a balloon, his parachute ropes became entangled and he was forced to make a thirty-minute descent with smoke from the bag pouring over him constantly. His friends didn't recognize him after he landed.
FLIERS REACH 603 HOURS IN RECORD TRY Jackson, o’Brine Only Five Days Short of Month in Clouds. BY PAUL H. KING United Preu Staff Correspondent LAMBERT FIELD. ST. LOUIS, Aug. 15.—Five days short of a month in the air, the endurance monoplane "The Greater St. Louis,” continued circling over Lambert-St. Louis field today. As hour after hour was added to the refueling endurance record of Dale Jackson and Forrest O’Brine, the fliers’ casual prediction that they would remain aloft 1,000 hours, became for them a sincere belief rather than a wild hope. At 1:11 p. m. the orange and yellow monoplane had been in continuous flight 606 hours (twentyfive days). The fliers, once faced by a shortage of funds that threatened to halt, the flight, today saw their efforts turning into money. Four advertising contracts totaling SI,BOO were closed by W. H. Pickens, their manager, and money was rolling in at the rate of $1.66 a minute for each hour up to seventy after surpassing the Hunter brothers’ mark of nearly 554 hours. Messages from the endurance plane continued to indicate the motor was functioning well, although consuming more gas and oil than earlier in the flight. All vaudeville and movie contract offers have been ignored, their managers said. After the fliers land, they will make a barnstorming tour, it was understood, with a series of refueling test flights of twelve to fourteen hours at state fairs throughout the country. FAKE MONEYJN CITY Counterfeit $lO Bills Being Circulated, Officers Say. Secret service agents today were warning Indianapolis business firms of a flood of counterfeit $lO bills circulated in and around Indianapolis. Fifteen of the bogus bills have been turned in, it was said ORR DEFENDS SELF Denies Consenting to Gary Accounts Violation. Returning to the statehouse today from a prolonged inspection tour of Lake county officialdom, Lawrence F. Orr. chief examiner of the state board of accounts, denied he had consented to allow the Gary city treasurer to use Barrett law books contrary to those required by board of accounts rules. Among those requesting Orr to make this concession was Elza O. Rogers. Republican state chairman, and State Senator C. Oliver Holmes (Rep.. Gary). WANTS MURDER PISTOL Killer Wife to SeU It and Buy Grave Marker for Mate. Bv United Press KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 15. Rebe Hightower asked police today to return to her the pistol with which she killed her husband, so she could sell it and use the money toward buying a tombstone. Hightower was slain in a quarrel. A grand jury failed to indict the wife, although she admitted the killing. STRIKE AFTER PAY CUT Part of Working Force Walks Out at Evansville. By Timet Special EVANSVILLE. Ind.. Aug. 15. More than 200 employes of about 2.000 comprising the force of Servel, Inc., refrigerator manufacturers, walked out when their demand for higher wages was refused. Pay was cut several weeks ago. The strikers declare the walkout is the first in the company's history,
51 Compete Tonight in Toy Golf Play
Plftv-one men and women will compete tonight at two courses to name eight more players in the championship flights of The Times city-wide toy golf tournament. Pour men and four women won their way into the finals Thursday night and an equal number will be chosen tonight, two low men and two low women at each course, over a thirty-six-hole round. Second place ties are to be played off. The eight players winning tonight and the eight successful in Thursday night's elimination round will be paired for match play next week to decide the city champion. Theodore
GANG SECRETS ARE BARED BY BANKRECORDS Police Seize Safety Deposit Boxes of Jack Zuta, Slain Racketeer. SECRECY IS MAINTAINED ‘Many Persons’ Are Linked to Beer Baron, Says State’s Attorney. Bv United Press CHICAGO, Aug. 15.—Two safety deposit boxes where Jack Zuta, assassinated Chicago gangster, kept his private records, have been found and opened by investigators and connect “many persons” with his northside gang, John A. Swanson, state's attorney, said today. Swanson declined to amplify his statement, saying that "this information will be checked, any publicity now would hinder the investigation.” “A novel result in gangland murders,” Swanson said, “had been accomplished by the office of Patrick Roche, chief investigator, and Charles F. Rathburn, special assistant state’s attorney. “Due to the leading parts in gangland affairs assigned to the late Zuta by the press, it may be of interest that we are in possession of contents of two safety deposit boxes of Zuta in Chicago which he held under an assumed name. Must Check Information “Much of interest pertaining to the connection of Zuta with many persons was found. This information must be checked. Publicity now would hinder the investigation.” Zuta, slain in a spectacular raid at a Delafield (Wis.) roadhouse by a band of machine gunners, was business manager of the Moran-Aiello-Zuta northside gang of beer runners and gambling racketeers. Only a short time before he was killed, he dodged death in brilliantly lighted State street after being questioned in the murder of Alfred J. Lingle, Chicago Tribune reporter. Under Police Protection He was singled out by gunmen while riding under protection of a police lieutenant, but escaped as the lieutenant shot it out with the gangsters. Swanson's bare statement gave rise to much speculation as to whom the “many persons” connected with Zuta might be and what connections would be revealed if and when the evidence is made public. The state’s attorney, however, in keeping with his stand to hold as much evidence as possible in the Lingle murder under cover, made it plain no word of the contents of the boxes would be given out until all possible clews were run down.
Midget Grins Bv Times Special BECK’S GROVE, Ind., Aug. 15.—Clyde Hendershot, driving an automobile, was stopped by a state police officer. “Children are not permitted to operate automobiles,” the officer stated, whereupon Hendershot informed the officer that he was everything but t childin fact, is 28 years old. The officer apologized. Hendershot is 4 feet 4 inches tall and weighs but sixty-two pounds.
MAKES PLAYLOT PLEA Delegation Seeks Change in City’s Plans. Plea for additional city playgrounds next year was made by a delegation headed by Adolph Fritz, state federation of labor secretary, that called on Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan today. Fritz said he had been informed the city budget called for fewer playgrounds in 1931. WAR VETERAN LOSES i Disabled Newcastle Man Gets Refund of Only a Fifth of Taxes. Bv Times Sveriat NEWCASTLE. Ind.. Aug. 15. Ruling on a case here, the state tax board holds that taxes wrongfully paid can not be refunded beyond the current year. The cf.se, involving $505.87, was brought by Frank Chamness, guardian of Nurr Neighbors, a disabled World war veteran. After paying taxes over a period of five years on compensation received by his soldier ward, the guardian learned such money was exempt and asked a refund. - - '*
Siener with 87, seven strokes under par. led the field at the Plaza course Thursdf* - . and Miss Jeanne Schlosser with an 89, one over par. was low at the Amos and AnCy course. Complete scores of Thursday night’s eUndjsation rounds may be found on Tonight’s rounds will start at 7. All contestants are urged to be prompt as pairings will be made as they arrive. Contestants and courses to which they are assigned: Roof Garden, Test Building Miss Mary Jane Meyers. Mrs. Flora Kinder, Mrs. Ralph Brady,
INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1930
Don't Worry Bv United Press PASADENA, Cal., Aug. 15. —Any one can live to be 100 if he just doesn’t worry, Galusha M. Cole said today as he celebrated his 104th birthday. “Eat what you want, do what you want and sing a song occasionally,” Is Cole’s prescription for longevity.
R-100 SIGHTED 700 MILES ODT FROM IRELAND More Than Half Way Over on Flight to England From Canada. Bv United Press LONDON, Aug. 15—The air ministry today said the steamship Cameronian reported the dirigible R-100 almost 700 miles southwest of Erris Head, Ireland, more than half way across the Atlantic from North America. > Drifting Through Rain Bv United Press ABOARD THE DIRIGIBLE R-100, Aug. 15.—The dirigible R-100, encountering less favorable weather conditions than on the early stages of the return flight to England, made steady progress today over the rain-spattered Atlantic. Holding steadily to its course along the fifty-third parallel, the trans-Atlantic ship was handicapped by clouds and rain in its effort to set anew speed mark across the ocean, and was forced to cut its fast pace to about fifty miles an hour. Any tension that might have existed on board the ship was broken by newspaper men who were anxious to show the crews that they had found their “air legs.” They volunteered to pump petrol and were hard at work when an angry officer appeared and demanded to know why they were pumping the precious fuel into the Atlantic ocean. Fortunately only a few gallons of the petrol were lost before the mistake was discovered. PAYS LIFE IN NOOSE Youth Executed for Murder of Taxi Driver. Bv United Press SAN QUENTIN PRISON, Cal., Aug. 15.—John Gomez, 22, was hanged today for the murder last May of George (Dad) Hones, Livermore taxi driver. President Writes to Boy Bv Times Special CONNERSVILLE Ind., Aug. 15. Eugene Koch, who was 12 years old the day Herbert Hoover was 58, has received a letter from the President expressing appreciation of a birthday greeting card sent by the boy, who is a son of Mr. and Mrs. George Koch.
U. S. EXPORTS DROP July Foreign Trade Lowest in Five Years. Bv United Press | WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.—United States foreign trade dropped in July to the lowest figure in five years, with exports totaling $269,000,000 and imports aggregating $219,000,000, the commerce department announced today. This compares with exports last July of $402,861,000, a decrease of $133,861,000, and imports of $352,980000 a drop of $133,980,000. PINCHING BUG REVENGE Michigan City Boy Uses Insect Against Another in Quarrel. Bv United Press MICHIGAN CITY. Ind : , Aug. 15. —Champions sprang to the rescue of Donald De Vaux, 4, and Bobby Smith, 9. when they got into a quarrel. Bobby put a pinching bug down the neck of Donald, it is said, whereupon Harry Stempinski, 26, knocked Bobby down.' City Judge Robert E. Glascott decided that those on both sides needed advice more than anything else, and he gave it to them. “Don’t meddle in the affairs of your neighbor’s children. Case dismissed.” he said. DRY RAID NETS 26 More Than Fifty Federal Agents Make Arrests at Terre Haute. Bv Times Soecial TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Aug. 15. Twenty-six persons are under arrest here as a result of a raid Thursday by more than fifty federal dry agents led by some of the principal officials of the middle west prohibition enforcement'group.
G. Abbott. R. J. Diggle, Sherman G. Marriott, Mr. and Mi s. M. K. Goode, Faye Killila, John C. Berlier, Lewis Blacklidge. Bill Watkins, Helen Hussey, Frances Heckman, Robert Yount, Morris Mclntyre, Darwin Deer. Mildred Wontnet. Lois Willsey, Mary Tobin, Frank White. Max Defino and Mrs. L. C. Strong. Tenth and Emerson Ralph Brady, Mrs. Myrtle Banta, Miss Crystal Frank. Burke Whittaker, Tom Gockel Jr., Larry Moore, Rosalind B. Pugh. Betty Kragier. Fred Shaw, Carl Jacobson, Harold Shibley, John Yager, Jimmy
LESLIE WOULD HIKE‘JACK POT’ FOR HIGHWAYS Seeks to Increase Roads Funds With Additional Million Dollars. TOTAL ALREADY IS HIGH Money Would Be Spent to Hire Farmers Burned Out by Drought. Governor Harry G. Leslie would raise the state highway department’s “jack pot” $1,000,000 for the maintenance department in addition to the $3,200,000 already borrowed or asked for construction work, according to Washington dispatches today. The Governor is attending the Hoover drought conference in Washington. Director John J. Brown of the state highway department, said today that he was not familiar with the new plan advanced by Leslie. It was reported as a move for the state to borrow $1,000,000 for the highway maintenance department, to be matched by $1,000,000 from the unclaimed balance of $2,098,000 federal aid funds. Employ Ruined Farmers The total would be spent by the maintenance department to employ burned out farmers in southern Indiana in preparing state highways for future paving projects. This, it was said, would aid the drought sufferers .by giving them employment. Commissioner Jess Murden (Rep., Peru) is in Washington with Leslie, and an effort will be made to get the federal aid funds which have been withheld because Indiana’s highway department failed to fulfill all rules governing contracts, Brown explained. Reason for this was the rushing of the program to follow President Hoover’s advice to advance as rapidly as possible all public building programs, he declared. Far Over All Departments The highway construction program has advanced so rapidly that $2,000,000 from next year’s budget has been transferred to this fiscal year, and $1,600,000 borrowed from the cities, counties and towns fund of the gasoline taxes. This wiped out the state’s only capital reserve, which must be replaced and paid out to the local governmental units in March next year. Now Brown is seeking another $1,600,000 loan from the state finance board. Should this be granted, the highway commission budget this year would amount to $26,000,000, which is a greater expenditure than that of sill other state departments and institutions combined.
REDS FIGHT FOR VOTES Complete Party Tickets to Be Put in Field in Four States. Bv United Press CHARLOTTE, N. C„ Aug. 15. Complete Communist party tickets will be in the field in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia in the November election, it was announced today at party headquarters. A convention will be held Sunday to name candidates for South Carolina and Virginia. FAVOR CZAR’S DAUGHTER Duchess to Be Permitted to Remain in U. S. Without Visa. Bv United Press WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.—Anastasia Tchaikovsky, who claims to be Duchess Anastasia, only surviving daughter cf the murdered czar of Russia, will be permitted to remain in the United States, even though she fails to apply for an extension of her visitor’s visa, Assistant Secretary of Labor Husband said today. He denied published reports she would be deported. Dog Fight Lures Pugnacious Lad Bv United Press , _ LONDON, Aug. 15—Master David Lloyd George, a grandson of the famous statesman, who seems to have inherited some of his grandfather's pugnacity, told his mother that he felt sad after seeing two dogs fighting in the street,” because I have not had a figh* at school for a week.’ In the Air Weather conditions at 9 a. m.: Northwest wind, two miles an hour; temperature, 77; barometric pressure, 29.96 at sea level; ceiling, unlimited; visibility, five miles; field, good. Hourly Temperatures 6a. m 65 10 a- m 80 7a. m 68 11 a. m..... 82 Ba. m 72 12 (noon)’.. 83 9 a. m 77 1 p. m 85
Light, Leland Rawlings. Earl Huber, Sumner Wiltse, C. R. Newkirk, George Ferguson, John Quinn, Frank Lutz, Mrs. Maude Keough, Mrs. Frances Oakley, Mrs. Hazel Pierson, Mrs. Louise Young, Harry S. Campbell and Riley Brown. $105,111 PERMIT TOTAL Building Projects Petitioned in Week Compiled by Realty Board. Building permits totaling $5105,111 were issued in Indianapolis last week, according to the Indianapolis Real Estate Board.
Entered as Seeond-Clasa Matter at Postoffice. Indianapolis. Ind.
'IT’S WE—GANGSTER'
Movie Star, Wealthy Bride Here
tL JF - ipr v .o’• fifty sillr jto l ' - :
Mr. and Mrs. Don Terry
“T WAS ’Me-Gangster’—now it’s JL ‘We-Gangster.’ ” Thus Don Terry, star of Charles Francis Coe’s popular story, as it appeared on the movie screen, introduced himself and his millionaire bride at the Lincoln today. Terry eloped with Miss Gertrude Mathes of St. Louis, two weeks ago. ‘We got it from her and now we’re on . . . well, maybe’ you’d call it a honeymoon,” Terry suggested. ’We met one and one-half years
AGED KILLER DIEJJNGHAIR Murderer of Three, 63, Is Executed. Bv United Press LITTLE ROCK. Ark., Aug. 15. William H. Howell, 63, died in the electric chair at the state penitentiary today, the first white man the state had put to death in six years. Howell killed Cliff Deffenbaugh, superintendent of the Crawford county poor farm; Mrs. Deffenbaugh, and Jeff Nicholson, inmate of the farm, in 1927, when he became enraged because of his dismissal from the farm where he also was an inmate. “I forgive everybody,” the aged man said as he walked to the chair. Probe Seer’s $1 Replies Bv United Press WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.—An investigation into the activities of Gayle Norman, “psychologist and mentalist,” has been begun by police here. Professor Norman is said to have been giving “psychological ansv '-s,” at $1 apiece, to all sorts of q .. stions propounded in letters from members of his radio audience.
WAGE LOSING FIGHT TO SAVE 47 BURIED IN MINE
Bu United Press PRINCETON, B. C., Aug. 15. Crews of exhausted miners still are fightmg after-damp and hacking away at tons of debris in the wrecked Coalmont mine today in an apparently hopeless effort to rescue their forty-seven fellowworkmen who were entombed by an explosion Wednesday night. “I have tried to organize the rescue men into shifts,” George MurARMED FORCESIuLE Martial Law Proclaimed in District of India. Bu United Pres* SIMLA, India, Aug. 15.—The viceroy, Lord Irwin, proclaimed martial law tonight in the Peshawar district. BRIDGE PARTS MISSING Report of Appraiser Shows Remains of Michigan City Span Worthless. Bu United Press MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., Aug. 15. —Appraisers sent to estimate the value of the old Franklin street bridge, reported someone had removed everything of value. The bridge was to have been sold. Anew structure has taken its place. Shotgun Causes Wound Bu United Press LOGANSPORT, Ind., Aug. 15. Accidental discharge of a shotgun which Joe Beck, 43, set down while he closed a gate inflicted serious injuries when a charge struck him in the side of the face, destroying the left eye. Hurt as Car Overturns Mrs. Emma T. Foreman, 4132 Carrollton avenue, was recovering today from injuries received Thursday when the car she was driving skidded and overturned near Bloomington. She suffered cuts and bnuseu. 4
ago in Hollywood. Her father is president of the General Metals Corporation of St. Louis. We grew to love each ohter,” Terry said. “No, it wasn’t at first sight,” interrupted Mrs. Terry. “We were married by a criminal court judge in St. Louis,” said Terry. “And now he’s going to play in ‘The Barbarian,’ and he’s not a bit like that. Why, he’s gentle,” interrupted Mrs. Terry.
BLOW UP HOME OF BOOZE KING ‘Marked’Gangster Chief Escapes Death. Bv United Press CLEVELAND, Aug. 15.—The $15,000 home of Raymond Porello was blown up today in what police believe is the latest development in a cold-blooded underworld campaign of extermination. Porello secretly had moved his family several days ago. He is one of the seven Porello brothers, who, for years, have controlled the bootleg sugar alcohol racket In Cleveland. A month or so ago, anew force in gangland circles informed the seven Porellos they were marked for death. Joe, eldest of the seven, and his body guard, Sam Tillicco, were ambushed and slain in an Italian case on July 5. Three weeks later a second brother, James, was killed in a grocery store. Only one of the five remaining brothers has a chance, police said. He is in Ohio penitentiary.
ray, managre of the mine, said. “But they won’t hear of it. They work eighteen hours, take a couple of hours’ sleep and insist on going back. Murray, himself, had not slept for thirty-six hours. Murray and John C. Biggs, mine inspector, both were “knocked out” twice by the affects of the after damp, and many of the men had gone “out,” more than several times. “The rescue workers fell like flies,” Murray said. “Three, at one time, dropped on their faces across the tracks in the tunnel. Others became delirious; some lost control of their legs and reeled from one side of the tunnel to the other.” AUTOS DAMAGE HOMES Two Bloomington Houses Suffer from Drtvcrless Cars. Bv United Press BLOOMINGTON. Ind., Aug. 15. Russel Hancock laid plans to make his home safe against autos. He returned" home to find a large car had run driverless across the yard of a neighbors home, crashed through the garage at his home, overturned a cistern pump, knocked loose part of a chimney and came to rest with a front wheel imbedded in the weatherboarding of the kitchen. Later a coupe started rolling from its parking place and headed for the house. It started across the front yard, but swerved before reaching the house and crashed into the home of Theodore Gerber, a neighbor.
$25 Slap Bv United Press • BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Aug. 15.—1 t cost Blanche Walker, 21, a $25 fine and a sixty-day sentence to the women’s prison, when she slapped Agnes Foster because she thought the latter was "getting smart ” The sentence was suspended with the understanding that Miss Walker is to break no more laws.
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TM innocent; BILLINGS’ PLEA TO HIGH COURT Favorable Appearance Created in Hearing at Folsom. DENIES MOONEY GUILT ‘l’d Put Democrats Into Office,’ Star Witness Tells Jurists. BY MAX STERN Times Staff Correspondent FOLSOM PRISON, Cal.. Aug. 15. —Warren K. Billings, who has spent one-third of his short life inside high stone walls on the testimony of perjurers, came forth Thursday night from his cell and “told everything” to the jury of superior court judges, who are holding a “retrial” on his pardon plea. Speaking crisply and without hesitation, Billings bared his whole life. A tramp, vagabond, labor spy, a saboteur, ex-convict, he admitted himself to have been. A mass murderer he denied he ever was or could have been. No amount of questioning by Justice Preston, ex-prosecutor, could shake him from the assertion that he had nothing to do with the Preparedness day bombing explosion of fourteen years ago, for which he is serving life. Background Is Typical Billings admitted painting autos with varnish remover on the day of the parade at and proved thereby his long-awaited alibi. He denied acquaintance with Emma Goldman and successfully combated Justice Preston’s efforts to “put a red shirt on him.” He made one of the best witnesses yet heard in the rehearing. Billings, No. 10,699, fourteen years ago was the young and aggressive laborite, apeared a bit dazed as he stepped into the presence of the justices, a score of observers, attorneys and newspaper men and women. Clean shaven, pale and spruce in his prison clothes, with white shirt, he looked as dapper as it was possible for a two-time loser to look. Admits Painting Cars The strangest “trial” in California’s history, was set with a typical California background. The warden’s office, the “courtroom,” was high enough to permit view of a broad sweep of the Sierra foothills, the western sun setting over the hot, brown hills and shedding its rays through digger pines and oaks. The sleepy old town of Folsom, once a miners’ camp in the days of the forty-niners, was clearly visible as the winding American river below the scene of the prison yard, where Billings had toiled as gardener, shoemaker and common workman. Creates Favorable Appearance Billings’ appearance before the judges created a remarkably favorable appearance. He spoke quickly and with clarity of memory. Telling of his early life he said he was 17 before he had ever “had trouble.” Justice Preston tried in vain to drag from Bilings some admission of radical tendencies. “Do you want to get out?” Preston asked him. “I certainly do,” he replied. “Then why didn’t you apply for a parole?” “I feel that paroles are for those who were guilty, but repentant,” Billings answered, “I am absolutely innocent and therefore feel I should have a full pardon.” Expressing confidence that “Torn Mooney is innocent, too,” Billings told the court that Martin Swanson, the Pacific Gas and Electric detective, had offered him $5,000 to aid in framing Mooney on a dynamiting charge prior to the Preparedness bombing and that he refused to have anything to •do with it. Would Elect Democrats Bilings denied being connected* either with Socialistic or Communistic organizations and declared he had no desire to overthrow the government by armed force. Preston hammered away on this point for several minutes, finally asking: “If your vote could change the government what would you do?” “Elect a Democratic President, Governor and congress,’ said Billings to the four Democratic and three Republican justices. “I had no reason to kill any one on Preparedness day,” Billings said, “I agreed with President Wilson that the United States should be neutral, but I didn’t feel strongly about it.” "President Wilson changed his mind,” Preston said. “Yes, but by that time I was in jail,” Billings retorted. SHAKEUP IS EXPECTED Health Board Personnel Changes Due at Session Today. Shake up in the city health board personnel is expected at a special board meeting this afternoon. Board officials termed the action as “minor,’ after a conference today with Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan, and would not state who might be discharged. SEND BISHOP TO PRISON Church Head, Convicted of Bootlegging, Gets Year and Day. Bv United Press NEW YORK, . Aug. 15 — Bishop Charles Mrzena of the Czechoslovakian church was sentenced today th a year and a day in Atlanta penitentiary following his conviction of charges of diverting sacramental wine to bootleg channel* W %
