Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              MOTOR BANDITS AND HOLD-UP MEN CA UGHT HERE AND CONFESS
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THE FAMILY PAPER WITH ALL THE NEWS
I   WORTH WHILE PRINTING
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SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
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LEASED WIRE TELEGRAPH REPORT TO 3 A. M. SUNDAY
THE WEATHER
Washington, Jan. 13.—Eaatem T*.: Increasing cloudiness and warmer, with enow changing into rain Sunday aXtor¬ noon or night; Monday fair.
FORTY PAGES
Entered  at  Wilkos-llarrc,   Pa., as   Second   Class   Mail   Matter
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, JANUARY 14,1923
Tho   Only   Sunday   Newspaper Covering  the  Wyoming  VaJfey
PRICE EIGHT CENTS
DEATH THREAT LAUNCHED IN LOCAL DRUG RAID; FOUR ARE KILLED WHEN PLEASURE PLANE DROPS
or
HORROR IN FALL; TO SEA
Millionaire, Two Sons Anti Nurse Are Drowned In Wreck Of Airplane
FIVE ARE RESCUED
Craft Making Journey To Havana Gets Out Of Con¬ trol Near Coast
CREW HELPLESS
Ke\ West, Fla., Jan. 13.—Four per- Bons'were drowned and flve were re.scued today, when the seaplane Columbus was forced by »^neine trouble; to descend in a rough se:i, _0 miles olT Havana.
The dead; ^, „   ,
K. F. Atkins, Jr., New ^ork, wealthy susar merchant.     ^ _,,    .^
K. K. Atkins. HI, and David At¬ kins, <:hildren.
.Mi.ss ('.race McDonald, governess.
The  re.scued:
Mrs. K. F. Atkins, Jr.
Otto Abrahams. New York finan¬ cier.
W. K. Miller, pilot.
Hiirold Thompson,* mechanician.
Mi.ss Julia Havcrty. a nurse.
The story of this prim tragedy of the sea, was brousht here tonight when tlie ferry boat Henry M. Flag¬ ler, whicli picked up the survivors, docked.
.Mrs. Atkins »a.» taken to a hospi¬ tal t'iie appeared to havo lost her memory from the shock of witnessing the  death  of  her  husband  and chll-
Pilot Miller In a 8ta*ement <Je- .scribol how his tnsine began missing, forcing a descent into the shark-ln- fe.sled  waters.
Waves buffeted tho seaplane, crush¬ ing in the cabin in which the children were asleep.
The others clung to the wreckage.
•Mkins fought to enter the crumpled comp.u-tnKnt an.l rescue his sons, being h< Id back Ijy Miller, who knew such an attempt meant certain death.
Then another wave capsirjcd the derelict jilane. Atkins and Miss Mc- DonaUi were swept away and per¬ ished. J.   ¦%,
Miller and Thompson helped Mrs. Atkins and Miss Haverty cling to the wreckage unlil a life boat from the Flagler came up.  - ..,»,.».
Tho Columbus w.as operated by the Aero Marine Company, and made regular trips between Key West and Havana.
Signs, of Trouble
"The first indication of trouble came when we were about three quarters of a mile away from the Flagler," Miller said. "We had been going along all right when 1 noticed that   the   engine   was   beginning   to
miss.
"1 tried for several minutes to ad¬ just the ciigino bo as to keep it from missing flro but, in spito of every¬ thing I tried, it kept on failing. I cut down the speed of tlie plane and decided to land and adjust the trouble.
"1 had been making 65 miles an hour and cut it down to 45.
"I put the machine Into a glide and attempted a landing. I brought it down all right, but we struck the top of a high wave and bounded back into the air.
"A high   sea   was   running   and made the "landing vory difficult.
'•1 soared around a few times and •e^in attempted to land.
"This time 1 landed in the trough of a I'i^ wave which crushed the cen¬ ter passenger compartment ot the ship.
Death of Children
"Both of the children were In this compartment asleep. The wave must have killed them in.stantly. v.a they made no sound .after the cabin caved in.
"Mrs. Atkins opened the cockpit and was the tlrst to come out. 1 crawled over from my seat to where she was clingin.i; to the wreck and helped Miss Haverty und Miss McDonald out of the pit. Atkins bad crawled out of his seat and was wild to dive into the center compartment and .save his children. I held him Ixack though, as It would have meant death to do so.
"Just as we had secured good grips • on the luggage a big wave came along and turned the plane over. Mr. .At¬ kins and Miss McDonald were swept Into the seas, which were running high. We could see them carried away, but it would have been sure death to rescue them.
Thompson and 1 held onto the wreckage with one hand while we helped the other two women to keep their grips.
"The waves were running high and wo hung on tightly hoping that the Flagler saw us fall.
"We had been there several min¬ utes when a lifeboat from the Flagler came to our rescue. Captain John Albury himself headed the res¬ cue party.
StiTTlvors Rescued
"Several      unsuccessful       attempts
were made to transfer us to the life
boat,  due to the   heavy   seas.    Mrs.
U  Atkins was the flnst one to be taken
^    from the wreck.    Thon followed Miss
Haverty and Jlr. Abrahams.
"We were then  rowed back to the Flagler and brought here." ^Contin""'' on. ya^^ x. aatinJ p»i>ti—->
Child Is Killed While Coaslinff
.Maigartt Judge, Br^veii yeais i.kt, daugliler uf .Mr. and Mis. Bart Judse of 171^) Adams avenue, Scranton, was instantly killed ye.s¬ terday afternoon while coasting. Her sled <r.isli('d into the inotur truck of C. .1. Shall of Moscow ul the corner of Delaware street and Jefferson avenue. I'earl Drack, six years oUi, who was riding on the Judge child's sled, was si-r- iously hurt. Sli.ill Wixtt placed in a police cell without iiall to await a hearing today. I'.art Juilfrc, father of th(! victim, is ;i promi¬ nent Imslne.s.s man of .Smmton anil is v.ell known in this cilv.
France Appears In More Len¬ ient Mood And Promises Cash For Coal
CUNO WINS REICHSTAG
French outpo.sts in the Ruhr looked eastward tonight as the government in Paris contemplated an advance deeper into Germany. The next town scheduled to be occupied is Ilechum where Hugo Stinnes, Germany's in¬ dustrial kaiser, has his huge plants. Meanwhile, in Berlin, the Reichstag voted confidence in the policy of Chancellor Cuno after he made a speech warning that Franco was treading .a path which mipht lend to another European rontlagnttion. The reparations commi:sion, meeting in Paris, a.grced to defer until January 31 Germany's ne.xt payment of TiOO,- 000,000 gold mark.s, so as to give limo for I'remier to secure assent of Italy and Belgium to his plan for a con¬ ditional German moratorium. The Femch coal commission, mcetin.g Ger¬ man Industrial leaders at Essen, agreed to pay cash in ailvance for co.al mined in the Ruhr under French occupation. This was neeessaiy so the 'Jermans could pay the miners and keep the mines working.
Must Pay For Coal
Essen, Jan. 13.^Germ:iny today made France promise lo pay cash for all coal mined in the Ruhr valley. With French sentries pacing up and down outside and with the invaders' machine guns dominating everywhere, a little group of German barons and representatives of the French coal commission met to reach an agree¬ ment under which the mines would be worked.
There was a he.'itM session, during which the Frencli threatened to ar¬ rest tho Germans for ordering coal proiiuction to cease. Confiscation of the mines was also threatened. Frits Thyssen. .speaking for ten oper.itors, including Krupp von IJolilin and Hugo Stinnes, mildly replied that the acfion was governed by tho German coal law.
"We wouldn't want to appear in a bad light, to seem traitors," he said. "We regard this as a political action."
He su.irgested that the French study the German ' coal l-.uv. The mines could be kopt runnin.g, he said, only if the French agreed to pay cash in ad¬ vance for the coal.
M. Costc. president of the French commission, replied for his colleag^ue.s, that they would pay. but that the mines mtist resume operations at once and, that fuel deliveries must begin Monday. Furthermore, he stipulated, production must be speeded to make up tonnage undelivered the past few days.
The Germans emerged from the ses¬ sion well pleased with its results, but the French said they had made no concessions and that they merely wanted to preevnt tho minos being closed down. The whole plan must be ratified by the German coal commis¬ sioner and the Paris government Un¬ der it the French will pay enough to take care of the mine payroll of 750,- 000.000 marks a day.
E.s.sen has settled down under the French military routine. There is even a disposition on the part of the people to fraternize with the invaders.
CRIME SOLUTIONS FIND TWO YOUTHS IN HOLD-UP RAIDS
Kingston Police End Mystery That Hung Over Series Of Robberies In Valley
STOLEN AUTO USED
Two you'lifiil bandits wt-re arifstt'd last niglil at the point of revolvers by Kingston police, who early today an¬ nounced a confession secured from one of the prisoners clearing up a number of holj-ups and other crimes com¬ mitted rocontly in Wyoming Valley. The prisoners are Theodore Durland. 18 yoars old, of this city, and Chester Do<"lil. 20 years old. of Harvey's Lake. Two other youths who joined in a short but inton.'^ive compaign of law- les.sncss aro boing sought by Kingston authorities, Wilkes-Barre police and Stato troopers.
After hours of questioning by Dr. C Murray Turpin, Burge.ss of Kingston, Durland finally made a complete con¬ fe.ssion in which he admitted being prose It at a recent hold-up in the store of Jo.scph Metcalf at Hunlock's Creek, whero a shot was fired at the proprietor.
The confession al.so clears up a sim¬ ilar hold-up and shooting in a hotel at Buttonwood, beside the tlioft of li¬ cence tags from .automobiles owned by Assistant District Attorney Edmund E. Jones of Sullivan street and Charles Rosenthal of Charles street, in addition to tho larceny of a tire from a machine on Soutl. Franklin street. The machine used by them was stolen from the Jordan Service Station on Sturdevant stroot.
The arrest of Durland and Dodd was made by Police OtTicors Avery, Hoi¬ comb and Kelly last night at 7:30 o'clock at the corner of Market and Pa.ge streets. It ended a chase lasting two weeks, i'l which police of all towns in Northeastern Pennsylvania were on the looK-out for youthful bandits traveling in a Jordan car. Heavily Armed
Attention was drawn to their cnr hy the ab.sence of headlights. One of the police officers stepped into the street and commanded the driver to stop. As the car came to a halt the offi¬ cer recognized one of the license numbers. Doild at the same time at¬ tempted to step from the car.
The officer pulled his revolver and pressed it again.st Dodd's stomach with the command to get back in the car. The other two officers clo.sed in and the prisoners were ordered to drive to the borou.gh building. One hundred loaded cartridges were found in the machine.
When placed in separate cells, Dur¬ land and Dodd maintained absolute silence. However, a ruse by Burgess Turpin, Chief Reose and Officer Jones was responsible for the pri.soners falling into a trap which later led to the confession. After failing to get a statement from either man, the bur¬ gess and the chief withdrew. They turned out tho lights but Officer Jones remained in the cell room. In a fow moments Officer Jopes heard Dodd warn Durland again.st talking.
Durland was immediately taken to the burgess' office whore after some hours of grilling he made the follow¬ ing confe.-.siffn covering the Hunlock's Creek robijery and some of their other activities.
Confession Is Made
"On the morning of Janti'ary 4, 19-:;. Chester Dodd. myself and the man whom Dodd called 'Duke' or 'Duck.' said man not known to me, met on the Square, Wilkes-Barre. about 11 o'clock. I wns shooting pool in the Colombo and they sat on the
Daring Arrest Made at Point Of Revolver And Burgess Turpin Wins Confession
CLEVER RUSE USED
bench. Dodd spoke tip aud .sai.l: '1-ot's go." We all left and iMKiidcd a I..arksville car and got olt at Wool- worth's .store, Edwardsville.
"We then went to some alley where they were keeping a Jordan maroon car which Dodd and myself and Theodore Ridswick stole about a month ago from a garage on Stur¬ devant street, 'Wilkes-Barre. We got in the car and I believed we were going to Harvey's Lake but Dodd drove beyond Harvey's Lake and at last we reached Hunlock's Creek.
"Dodd stopped in front of a store and said to me: 'Come on in until I buy a cigar.' We both went in; and he bought a cigar for himself and we both camo out. Wc got back in the car and he asked me to drive. The two other men, 'Duke' and Ridswick, were in the back seat.
Hold-up In Store
"I heard Dodd .say: 'There's a place with a lot of jack in.' He told mo to turn around, meaning the car. We drove back past the place and they a.sked me to stop. Both got out and told me to drive down to the store as they were going to stick the guy up. They invited me to go along and I refused.
"They told me to koop the engine running and Dodd fixed the gas. They went into the store, both wilh loaded revolvers in their overcoat pockets. I heard a shot and 'Duke' came running out first and I ran the car in front of the store. Then 'Duke' ran back in again and then both came out.
"Dodd was without his hat. one glove and his gun. Then we raced back to Wilkes-Barre. Dodd took the driver's wheel because I did not drive fast enough and in making the cor¬ ner we ran into a wagon and a fence and pole. At Plymoth we ran into a Ford. Then we put the car back in the garage. This was about 8:30 p. 8:30 p. m.
"I was with Dodd and Reiswick one night that they stole two tags for the car, one on Charles street and one on Sullivan .street. Reiswick furnished a 1922 licen.se for the stolen car from his father's car, and when 1923 ar¬ rived he was afraid to apply for new ones, so they thought it would be bet¬ ter to steal them."
Was Out of Work
Durland in making his confession explained that his own home in Wilkes-Barre was broken up by the illness of his father. His parent was injured some time ago and never re¬ covered. Recenll.v the youth went to Dodd's ho;ne at Harvey's Lake a.s a roomer. Durland's manne^ throughout the recital impressed the authorities to such an extent that clemency may be sought for him. He explained that he has boen seeking work, but was unable to flnd a job. He said he did not drink, chow, smoke, or dance. Throu.ghout his confession he re¬ frained Irom slang or profanity, Bur¬ gess Turpin declared.
Dodd is .said to have a police rec¬ ord. He was in trouble on several provious occasions <'ind was sentenced. He was released on parole and has two years of an unexpired sentence ahead of him. Early today the police announced that Dodd had al.so made a statement corroborating the confes¬ sion of Durland. (Continued on 1st Page. 3rd Section)
CASE OF OSTERLING
STARTS DUSTY PROBE
Dangerous Move
Beriin. Jan. 13.—France is kindling a flro which will threaten to consume all Europe. President Loebe of the Reichstag warned today ,u a meeting of that bod.v. which voted conttdcnco in Chancellor Cuno's government, af¬ ter debating the occupation of the Ruhr valley.
The same historic chamber, which rang wilh applause during the war, when German victories over •'''ranee were announced, today hcird govern¬ ment leaders appealing to their people to be brave under French "oppi-es- sion."
After the debate there was an Im¬ pressive testimonial of faiui in the existing ministry. .Ml delegates, with the exception of the communist-s, vot¬ ed confidence In the government.
At the opening session Loebe, In a speech, asked the French people to avert the "catastrophic" consequences of Mr. Poincare's policy.
Cuno, following Loelx», declared that, if efforts to reach a concrete economic understanding continue unavailing, the flre France is kindling in the Ruhr valley will threaten to sweep Europe.
"I ask the world," he said dramatic¬ ally, "has ever a people fulfilled its promises to a greater extent than the German  people,   weakened  by  liungor
/tf;W»*ii&MA42   A«. .Pool*   1_  a^bir«2   fi^^ti^afcX..
.Mlornoys roiirosenting Fred J. Os¬ terling, I'itt.sburgh architect, and the Luzerno county commi.ssioners, dug through several thicknesses of dust yesterday in a vault at the local court house to secure some of the original plans ;md specifications for the erec¬ tion of the county building. The plans must be presented in court at Scran¬ toa tomorrow ns part of the evidence in tho Osterling suit against the county.
In m.aking the search for fhe pa¬ pers, .\ltornev James Stack. Attorney John H. Dando and Bruce Malkema.s, representing the local commissioners, and Attorney Thomas Duffy repre¬ senting Osterling, dl.scovered that only a few of the plans were drawn by Os¬ terling and that of these none con¬ tained tho court's approval.
The county will call seven witne.sscs from I'ittsburgh during the coming v.ook. Thoy will testify us to tho plaintiffs connection with the Colum¬ bia Stone Company. Another defense witness will be Air. • Abbott of the Philadelphia flrm of Saxe & Abbott. Hc is expected to testify that some ot tho fireprooflng furnished by Oster¬ ling was condemned after being speci¬ fied by the architect.
WINS HIS FREEDOM
BY ACCEPTING WORK
FOUR ARE INJURED
IN SLED ACCIDENTS
Falling from her sled as she was co.i.sliug on Kidder street. East End, atout 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Mildred Gabel. aged 11. of 321 Kidder street, was rendered uncon.scious when her head struck the curb with-con¬ siderable force. The injured child was picked up and rushed to the of¬ fice of Dr. J. 1'. Gilligan nearly, where she roccivcd medical attention and was laler taken to Mercy Hospital from which institution it is reported that she may be suffering from a fi-acture of the skull. An X-ray pic¬ ture will be neces.sary to determine the extent of her injuries.
Throe local young men, William Phillips, of 268 Parri.sh street; Ralnh Nagle of Holland street, and Earl Smith of 38 Brown street were pain¬ fully injured in a similar accident on Friday nighl when a l)ob .sled on W'hich they were riding cra.shed into a stalled auto truck on Blackman street.
ERVIN WARDM.\N DEAD
New York, Jan. 13.—Er%in Ward- man, vice president of the Sun Print¬ ing and Publishing Association—The Sun-Herald Corporation—died at his home here today. Wardman was born in Salt Lake City in 1865. He leaves a widow and a son.
Robert H. Jordan's plea that a job with the Lehigh Valley Railroad awaited him in this city won freedom for him yesterdav when given a hear¬ ing before Judge George W. Maxey in Scranton. He was accused of stealing a suit of clothes, a diamond pin and $3 in cash from Fred Herman of Car- t)ondale. Jordan, who described him¬ self a.s a new employee of the Dela¬ ware & Hudson Riilroad. said that he had been intoxicated. He -said he in¬ tended to enter the Lehigh Valley's employ here at once if discharged. Hc
DISABLED VETERANS'
IMPORTANT MEETING
Wyoming Valley Chapter 9 of the Disabled .\merican Veterans of the W'orld War will hold a regular meet- nig at American Legion Hall on Tues¬ day evening at 8 o'clock sharp. It is requested that all members of this organization be present at this meet¬ ing as busine.ss of great importance is to be transacted, .\fter the meet¬ ing there will be given a very flne orosram.
Forty Families Warned To Move From Cave Disiriel Of West Side
Fully faiiiilies i-e.-^iding on Buniey sh'eet, Larksville, previously notiried to leave their homes at once because of mine cave danger, received additional waniinjr yesterday through the appearance of a big cave on State street. .A. section of the street dropped into No. 4 undergi'ound work¬ ings of Hudson Coal Company. The State street cave oc¬ curred in the Poke Hollow section of Larksville. Several residents witnessed the subsidence. A portion of the street surface twenty-five foet long and e.xtending the en¬ tire width of the thoroughfiU'e, dropped ten feet. The cave did not damage any of the dwellings on the street. Police roped off the damaged area. Several days ago oliicials of the Hudson Coal Company ,served notices on Barney street residents that their homes are un,safe. The company's operations have extended close to the surface, making travel on Barney street and continued residence there dangerous ^natters. The cave yesterday on the near¬ by thoroughfare led several families to begin packing their belongings for a hurried departure. They had previously ignored the company's warning. Officials of Larksville de¬ clared that the company has become owner of at least a majority of the Barney street properties in anticipation of the expected caves.
End Comes Suddenly This Morning From An Attack Of Heart Trouble
A BUSINESS LEADER
Ralph B. Vaughn. 64 years old, prominent West Side resident tmd an official of the Vulcan Iron Works, died suddenly early today at his» home, 215 Butler street. Kingston. He retired at midnight in apparently good health. A few minutes later his wife heard him moan and when she investigated his death had already oc¬ curred. A physician declared heart trouble was the cause of death.
Mr. Vaughn was one of Kingston's leading citizens. For nearly twelve years he was a member of the bor¬ ough council. During the major por¬ tion of that periofl he served as president of the official body. He re¬ tired from public life eight years ago through pressure of personal affairs, but tliree years ago was named presi¬ dent of the Community Welfare As¬ sociation of the West Side towns.
Born on a farm near Wyaluslng. Mr. Vaughn lived as a youth on Vaughn's Hill, a village named after his ancestors. He first engaged as ,a railroad telegrapher and was appoint¬ ed station agent for the Delaware, Lackawanna & We.stern Company. Leaving the railroad he became asso¬ ciated with tho Scranton Steam Pump Company. Some years later he be¬ cime president of the American Car & Foundry Company. Ten years ago he entered the service of the Vulcan Iron Works and at the time of his death was superintendent of the com¬ pany's new steel mill in Hanover Township.
Mr. Vau.chn was a member of the Kingston Presbyterian Church. He was also a Kiwaniaii and ,a member of the Franklin Club. Besides his wife he is survived by one son. R. 15. Vaughn, Jr., superintendent of the Westfiold Sand Company at West- field, Pa.; by two daughters. Mrs. Fisher Well.^, Jr.. of Wyalusing and Mrs. Helen Pettebone; also by a brother, Joseph, residing near Ber¬ wick, and by two sisters. Lillitin Vaughn of Wyalusing and Mrs. Saf¬ ford of Scranton.
MRS. WILLIAM ROBERTSON
Mrs. William Robertson, one of In- kerman's best known residents, died yesterd.-iy morning at the fainily home cn Main street, that town. ~ She was a member of tho First Presbyterian Chwrch of Inkerman. The following childron survive; William Robertson, of Plaijis; John Robertson, of \'ir- ginia; Mrs. Albert Reed, of this city; Mrs. Johnathon I'arker. Mrs. Bert Bartlett. Mrs. P. Snyder, of Inker- man; Mrs. William Borer, of West Pittston, ,and Mrs. William Brown, of Tunkhannock.
TWO BIS ACCIDENTS
Two busses of the Division street line, operated by Frank Martz of Ply¬ mouth, figured in slight accidents yes¬ terday. No one was injured. The flrst accident occurred on Carey ave¬ nue near Simp.son street A street car of the Wilkes-Barre Railway Companv struck the rear end of a bus whr'n the latter machine stopped. Both vehicles were slightly damaged. Tne second accident took place at 2:45 o'clock at the corner of Carey avenue and Walnut street. A bus th.at had slopped to permit a passenger to aligh was rammed by a Ford sedan.
MRS. FRED JACOBS. JR.
Word was received in this city late last night of the doath of Mrs. Fred Jacobs. Jr.. at Alameda, California. Mrs. Jacobs was formerly Marie Hel¬ frich of this city, where she was bom and resided until a few years ago. No particulars were received. She Is survived by her husband, who is a son of Fred Jacobs of Hazle .street, formerly  a   resident  of  this city;   by
Men At Ashley Declare Their Loyalty To The Committee Acting As Spokesmen
RAILROAD REBUKED
The special meeting of Ashley shop¬ men held last evening in the 'I'own Hall brought out the largest crowd of strikers that hiis attended a meeting In the past few months. After the purpose of the meeting had been ex¬ plained to the mon by Chairman Richaid J. Healey tho reports from other points on tiie road were made to tho strikers.
The chairman then Introduced Vice President Dave Williams of the Inter¬ national Association of Machinists. Williams told tho men that they had Mr. Stein's ultimatum in the newspa- pei-s of yesterday and it was the in¬ tention of the Federated committee to allow the strikers to decide if the Fed¬ erated committee should withdraw and a new committee be selected.
It was also pointed out to the men that in the letter to Mr. Hayden Wil¬ liams of the Wilkes-Barrc Chamber of Commerce recently, the local strike committeo had specified three differ¬ ent plans under which the strike might be settled. None of t,iese has been accepted by the company.
The Federated committee was will¬ ing to allow the Ashley Businessmen's committeo. Federal Mediator Thomas Davis, Gre.ater Wilkes-Barre Chaml)er of Commerce, or any reputable media¬ tor, bring the company's offer in writ- in.g to the strikers or if the company wants a detailed offer of the men in writing, this is agreeable to the strik¬ ers. .AU tho.so propositions were ana¬ lyzed by Williams and he convinced tho great crowd present that it is not necessary for the Federated committee to be repudiated if the company wants to .settle the strike.
After the finish of Williams' ad¬ dress the chairman placed the matter in the hands of the strikers, insisting that .any one having any opinion to express do so before a vote was taken. Some of the men discussed the propo¬ sition.
A motion was then made "that the men stand by their original demands and le.'ive the matter of .settlement to the judgment of the Federated com¬ mittee.' This motion was tulopted un¬ animously and thon the strikers broke loose into roars of applause and cheers.
From the sentiment expressed at tho meeting last evenin.g the state¬ ments of Mr. Stein have increa.sed the feeling of the strikers against a set¬ tlement that does not include all points on the railroad. Another meet- in;^ was announced for next Thursday evening, when the men will be ad- dre.ss'.'d by international representa¬ tives.
TAKEN ILL ON CAR
DEATH SOON FOLLOWS
Becoming ill on board a Ijaurel 'ine car while intending to visit her son at Plain.s. Mrs. John Tt^lford, of 137 Hollister street, Scranton, died within a short time last niglit at the Scranton State Hospital. Heart trouble was the cause.
Mrs. Telford left her home in Scranton at 6 o'clock, apparently in good health. She told «ther members of the family that she would visit at the home of her .son, Ernest Telford, residing at 152 East Carey street. Plains.
A few minutes after she had taken a seat in a Laurel Line car at the Scranton station, she became ill. Her condition attracted the attention of other passengers who called a physi¬ cian. He ordered her immediate re¬ moval to the hospital. She had heea in the institution only a short time when her death was announced?
Mrs. Telford was a resident of Scranton for many years where she was active   in  church    work.   Beside
NARCOTIC AGENT WARNED TO STOP VALLEY CLEAN-UP
Special Delivery Letter Is Received By Joseph Meier Holding Up Mysterious Death Of Danny Seaman As An Example Of The Fate Awaiting Him
CRUSADE WILL GO ON
.K death threat containing a sinister reference to the sudden end of a no¬ torious drug addict waS sent to Joseph C. Meier of 99 River street. Forty Fort, State narcotic agent, yesterday for his part in breaking up a trafflc in drugs throughout Luzeme and Lackawanna counties.
Drug addicts and men who profited by the illegal sale of morphine, heroin and cocaine have demanded revenge upon Meier because of the arrest of Reeso Williams, a miner residing at !)00 North Main street, Duryea. al¬ leged leader of the ring, whoso busi¬ ne.ss in dope is reported to have aver¬ aged between $5,000 and $10,000 a month..
The threat again-st Meier was con¬ tained in a special delivery letter re¬ ceived at his home yesterday after¬ noon at B o'clock. It was mailed iit Fittston several hours earlier. It read as follows: ''Joseph Meier:
"Don't be a fool. Remember, you have a wife and children and that our revenge is swift and sure. You know what ,happened to Danny Seaman. Vour work ruins our lives, so we won't hesitate to ruin yours,
"M.  H.  C."
"P. S.—We have you marked, so lay off."
Meier, who is an agent of the State Bureau of Drug Control at Harris¬ burg, immediately notifled the State police. They attempted to trace the letter to its source, but no clues were found.
The writer used paper of good qual¬ ity and wrote the message In a good hand, although di.sguised. All the words were neatly traced and the spelling of each was correct, instead of being crudely fashioned as li^ most threatening letters seat through the mails.
Particular significance was attached by the authorities to the reference as to "what happened to Danny Sea¬ man." It was the flrst time any men¬ tion of the Seaman mystery had been brought directly to the authorities, al¬
though they had made an exhausttf* investigation.
Witness Found Dead
Seaman was a police character la Scranton who was the United States' only witness against Charles Pandol- phi. a Scranton resident, charged with being the leader of a dope ring in Lackawanna County. Pandolphi left during the last week for Atlanta Fed¬ eral prison, to which he was sen¬ tenced.
Several months ago, following Pan- dolphi's arre; t in Scranton. police ad¬ mitted that Seaman, who was a drug addict and with no permanent address, was their only witness. A short time later Seaman was found dead beneath a bridge in Scranton. Detectives sus¬ pected foul play, but they wxre un¬ able to make any arrest.s. They be¬ lieved that Seaman had been given poison in somo mysterious form. No marks of violence were found on his body. Despite the death of the wit¬ ness, Pandolphi was tried and sen¬ tenced.
Another part of tho letter received by Meier which atti-acted attention was the signature, "M. H. C." Thesa initials represent the words "mor¬ phine, heroin and cocaine," accordinc to Meier.
The drug trafflc was given a staj- gering blow during tho past week, when Meier arrested Reese Williama at Duryea, Evidence dug up by Meier in recent months, together with con¬ fessions secured from six men and women who admitted being drug ad¬ dicts, pointed to Williams as the man who was dispensing large quantities of drugs through an organized mes¬ senger force throughout Northea.stem Nennsylvania. Williams worked in the mines during the day as a means of shielding his chief and more lucrativ* occupation, the authorities assert.
Williams is at present being con¬ fined in the Luzerne County prison because of his inability to secure ball. His case will come up during: the March term of United States Court ' Scranton.
KR TELLS K.0FC.1IIIBEIIS
IT
T
WITH BETTER GUNS FOR LOCAL POLICE
Hungry Sufferers Have Been Weapons To Be Worn In Plain
Known To Devour Grease From Motor Cars
ASSISTANCE SOUGHT
one  son,   Fred.    Jr.;     two    brothers.! her hu.sband she is survived by sev-
Frank and Conrad, and three sisters, Al of Wilkea-Barre.
eral sons and <!aushters and one sis¬ ter.
Deplorable conditions in the Near East where thous;xnds of persons are starving, and the duty of all civilized countries to contribute money iind means to save this section of Chris¬ tianity, were vividly related hist night by Rev. Wan-en P. Coon, a Metho<liKt minister of Jersey City, at the lunch¬ eon and entertainment held by mem¬ bers of Council No. 302, Knights of Columbus, in their h.all on North Main street. The luncheon .and entertain¬ ment was the second of a series to be conducted during the winter months.
Rev. Dr. Coon, who Is a representa¬ tive of the Near East Relief, substi¬ tuted .at the meeting for Rev. Father Edward A. Duffy, chaplain of I,eagtie Island Navy Yar^l at Philadelphia, who was unable to come to 'his city on account of sicknes.s. He is a world war veteran, having served r.s chap¬ lain with the rank of captain in the 113th Infantry, 2yih Division of the .Vmerican Expeditionary Forces, and represents his home section in the New Jersey State Legislature.
Rev. Dr. Coon said tl^t tonditons are such in Armenia and other coun¬ tries of the Near East that persons have been knownVto follow the auto¬ mobile of a Near East relief Worker and when it :-;topped to run their fingers through the grease coming out of the differentials and eat it like they would the frosting from a cake. He told of witnessing the mas-sacres of the Christian peoples and the great work of the Near I5ast relief in taking c-are of 115,000 oiijhans in Constanti¬ nople and adjoining territory in Euro¬ pean Turkey. Thrace. Anato!i.a. Ar¬ menia, Cilcia, Kurdistan, Syria, Pales¬ tine. Mesopotamia. Persia and Tnins- caucasia, including Russian Armenia and Georgia.
Attomey Edward F. McGovem. worthy lecturer of Council No. 302. presided. Songs were given by Mar¬ tin Bednarick. Frank Walsh. Thomas Collins, Patrick J. Dougherty and Ed¬ ward Boland; step dancing by Mrs. John Jennings and Patrick McGowan and William B. Boyle, and .selections by the Emmett Quartette, comp>osed of Michael Boyle, Patrick McCarthy, James Evers and John McGroarty. .\ttomey M. F. McDonald gave a short talk and the boys' orchestra of St. Ma.rv's Hiarh School furnished muiia
View   For   The Moral Effect
General
CHIEF'S SUGGESTIONS
Y
A complete change in the stylo of uniform to be worn by local police¬ men features tho recommendations of Chief of Police Michael Brown, In his annual report to Mayor Hart and the City Council. The chief suggests that Council authorize the purcha.se of dark gray whipcord uniforms to re¬ place the old fashioned blue uniform still used by local policemen. The hejid of the police department points out that such a change would add to the appearance of the local officers and also would permit the p.atrolmen to carry their revolvers in sight. This, he says, would have a decided moral effect upon would-be criminals.
The standardizing of all revolvers !¦ included in another recommendation made by the Chief. At present the pa¬ trolmen have different types of gUM and are required to purchase them out"^ of their earnings. The Chief suggests that the city purchase the gun.s, Colt .S8 police special.s, the same to remain the property of the city. .He also asks that the city detectives' be sup¬ plied with fla-shlights ar#d that they bs given mileage for the extensive trav¬ eling they are required to do about the city in the performance of their duties.
The report shows the past year to have been the best, from a financiai standpoint, in the history of the city. The total of fines and costs for the y(>ar was $13,196.83, by far the great¬ est amount ever collected in the city. Lost and stolen property amounted to $76,689.40 while a total of $52,229.23 of this amount was recovered.
The report is concluded with ths Chiefs thanks to the Mayor, to the differont members of council and to the rank and file of the department for the hearty cooperation they havs given him during the past year.
GIRL DIES OF BURNS
Bums received two days ago caused the death of Stella Zuncalsky, 11 years old, of 804 Clearview street, Scranton, last night in the West Scranton Hofjpital. While a.ssisting in housework her clothing was ignited bjr a kitchen range. Before her mother could extinguish the flames she luul been fataUv hiirned.