Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

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JOBLESS WIDOW DESOLATES WEST SIDE HOME
A Paper For the Home
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
LEASED WIRE TELEGRAPH REPORT TO 3 A. M. SUNDAY
THE WEATHER
Knsfprn   IVnnRvhanin'    Vartly cloudy,
poMibly      snow      flnrrin      in      th*
mouniaing, SuiuUy ; Monday, rlmidy,
pOiRibly   unnw   In   »iou*h   portlrm;
not miii-h rhangp in tprnprratur*.
FORTY-EIGHT PAGES
The   Only   .Stinda.v    Newspaper (!overlnit   tho   Wjomlni?   Valley
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1936
EntcrotJ    at   Wilkes-Barre,    Pn, Aa   Seronil   Claaa   Mail   Matter
PRICE TEN CENTS
TRAGEDY HITS FRANKLIN STREET WHEN FROST CRACKS GAS MAIN
 /^
Fatherless West Side Group Cast Into Dire Straits With Mother's Rash Act
DRINKS LYE
Woman's Troubles Started With Death Of Husband In  Mine  Accident  Here
WORK SEARCH VAIN
Suicide yesterday ended the troubles of Mn. Anna Lugin, 38, of 1488 Murray atreet, Forty Fort, but only added to the future prob¬ lems of the five children she left behind. Her death occurred in General hoapital after »he had swallowed a lye compound used by other houaewives in cleaning their kitchen sinks. Last night the body waa taken home to the five boya and girla whose father waa killed in a mine accident six years ago.
Mrs. Lugin's death took place late yesterday afternoon after forty-eight houra of agony. On Tliursday she secured a can of "Drano," a solution prepared for use in clogged kitchen drains. She swallowed a quantity of it and a short time later was found writh¬ ing on the floor of the dining room. A stomach pump was used at Gen¬ eral hospital to prevent death, but the acid had already begun Its fatal effects.
Since her marriage almost twenty years ago, Mrs, Lugin had lived at various addresses on the Weat Side and a short time ago moved to the Murray atreet dwelling. Six yeara ago a major tragedy atruck the family when her husband lost his life at Dorrance mine of Lehigh Valley Coal Company.
From that time it had been a atruggle for the family. The eldest girl, about 18 yeara of age, man¬ aged to find part-time employment occasionally, but tbe others were forced to go without jobs. The widowed mother, likewise, had sought employment everywhere, but failed to get work. Her suicide was the result.
The surviving children are: Olga, George, Anna, Josephine and Joaeph. The family attends St. Mary's church in Swoyerville. The body waa taken by Undertaker Charlea Betz, Luzerne.
Al Smith Obtains Big Cut In Taxes
New York, Feb. 1. (UP)— The 102-story Empire State Building, tallest in the world. Is not aa auccessful a business venture as it waa a year ago, the Board of Taxes and Asiess- menta decided today. It lopped a half million dollars Irom tlie building's valuation and placed it  at $28,000,000.
The reduction was made on request of former Governor Al¬ fred E. Smith, manager of the building. It will mean a sav¬ ing  of $14,000  in  taxea.
Moat of the f]oora between the 40th and the 86th floors aevcr have been occupied. Smith told tax commlssionera. Con¬ struction work remains to be done on some of the floora, he said. Commisisoners agreed the building was in an unfortunate location.
The new RCA skyscraper in Radio City had Its valuation raised a half million dollars to $26,500,000.
40« SWINDLE
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E12
Intense Cold Holds Traffic I Down To Lowest Levels I    Oh Highways Of Valley
2 SLED ACCIDENTS
Coughs Up Bullet Fired 2 Years Agi
Matawan, N. J., Feb. 1. (UP) Patrolman John J. Flood waa shot In the nose by a masked bandit two years ago. Today he coughed up the bullet for which surgeons had feared to operate.
Flood has been 111 at his home aince the shooting. The bullet lay at the base of hia throat near the spinal column and physicians did not dare attempt its removal.
The family doctor said Flood probably will recover now.
TAX RISE
tr
BY CITY SLEUTHS
Search In Zero Weather Nets Nothing But Cold Feet For Majesty Of The Law
NO CRIME PROVED
Ice-Bound Ruts Are Causes Of Several Collisions But No One Badly Hurt
MINER KILLED
SE
E
U.S. GAINS
3,000 Communities Default On Bond IndeMedness In The Year Just Closed
OTHERS IN TROUBLE
Labor And Theater Man¬ agers Balk On Business Men's  Latest  Attack
SUPPRESSION OF JEWS FINDS NEW DEFENDER
Cleveland, Feb. 1. (UP)—Ger¬ many's action in suppressing Jews and political enemies was defend¬ ed today in a speech by Dr. F. H. Auhagen of Columbia University, who said the "enda justified the means" In solving a critical eco¬ nomic situation.
Dr. Auhagen said Jews were suppressed because they had se¬ cured a stronrhold In the legal and medical professions, thus closing the doors to thousands of Germans He declared Germany was better off for Hitler's policies and that wages are 83 percent of what they were in the 1928 boom and unem¬ ployment haa been reduced two- thirds.
There are high and low tides to law enforcement and police duty, as Detectives William Schwab and Thomas Nolan learned last night —but  all  too  uncomfortably.
They made a round-trip trek of about a dozen blocks last night in near zero weather at the behest of Joseph Maholchlck, 16, of "6 Ashley Road, Blackman's section of the city, who walked into police headquarters with a vivid tale of a   "forty-cent   swindle."
Maholchick told detectives that a patron in a South Main street drinking establishment had pur¬ chased some chance tickets from him for the 109th Field Artillery rodeo to be held thia month in Westmoor Armory. After the ticketa had been taken and stubs filled out, Maholchick .said, the purchaser refused to pny for them and "beat him up" when he threatened to call the police.
Inquiry at the drinking place brought the information that the man who purchased the tickets did not intend to cheat the youth out of his money but told him to return for it later. As the proprietor agreed to see that the chance money would be paid, the detec¬ tives trudged back to headquar¬ ters through the cold.
BRITISH BATTLK UNE
Haifa, Palestine, Feb. 1. (UP) — Five British cruisers, five destroy¬ ers and one aubmarine arrived to¬ day from the western Mediterra¬ nean.
STATE RIGHTS NO HELP FOR EMPTY STOMACHS
Waco, Tex., Feb. 1. (UP)- Fifteen hundred Texas "dirt-farm¬ ers" from 150 counties shouted their approval today of speakers criticising the Supreme Court de¬ cision   invalidating  the  AAA.
They adopted resolutions for the AAA and cheered the sharp query of H. G. ¦ Lucas of Brownwood, president of Texas Agricultural Association:
"What good are State rights go¬ ing to do you when you are starv¬ ing to death?"
WIFE TWICE DOOMED IS FREED BY JURORS
Quebec, Que,, Feb. 1. (UP)- Mra. Ludger Chapdelainc, £3, East Angus, Queb,, twice convicted and lentenced to death for murdering her husband, was acquitted by a jury tonight at her third trial on the same charge. The jury deliber¬ ated only 30 minutes,
Mra, Chapdelalne was arrested in 1W2   f^Vwiftg  tba   death   of  her
husband, who died, police said, from  arsenic  poison.
The defense claimed in the trial that closed today that autopsies showed no trace of arsenic in the body.
Mrs. Chapdelalne, who had spent three years In prison, sobbed hys¬ terically as the judymen filed into the room and fainted aa tho "not fiullt,y" verdict was announced.
A dozen persons, half the num¬ ber being children, required hos¬ pital treatment after accidents here yeaterday. Again the State High¬ way Patrol reported the major highways free of serious collisions as a continuation of the cold wave kept automobile traffic at a mini¬ mum. However, the same wintry conditions also contributed to the day's hospital list through a num¬ ber of coasting mishaps in which children were hurt. The only fatal accident of the day cost the life of a Nanticoke mine worker,
Thomas Price, 60, of Plymouth, was probably fatally injured by an automobile in Ohio yesterday, ac¬ cording to a United Press dispatch received by the Sunday Independ¬ ent. His skull was fractured and he received Internal injuries when struck by a machine driven by J. B. Leonhart of Roseville, Ohio. The accident occurred as Price was walking along a road near Marietta. Early today police of Plymouth were attempting to locate Price's relatives. The driver of the ma¬ chine was absolved of blame for the accident, the United Press re¬ ported.
Sled Accidents *
Raymond Labinski, 14, of 34 Vine street, city, received a frac¬ ture of his right wrist while coast¬ ing. He fell from a aled near his home. The injury was treated at Mercy hospital.
Nancy Brennan, six, 62 Holland street, received bruises and lacer¬ ations last night at 7 oclock when her sled collided with an automo¬ bile driven by Andrew Frischl of 441 New Market atreet. The acci¬ dent occurred at Brown and Hol¬ land streets. The child was taken to Homc'opathic hospital and later discharged.
Another girl treated at the same Institution was Bcartice Thomas, eight, of 96 Sheridan street. She was bitten on the leg by a dog. Also given attention at Homeo¬ pathic hospital was Jenkin Morgan, 57, of rear 102 Rees street. He fractured his right wrist In a fall on some ice.
Ruth Parsons, 11, of 186 Sixth street, Wyoming, cut her right arm severely when she fell while carry¬ ing a milk bottle, Tha wound was stitched at Pittston hospital, but the child was declared In only fair condition, due to loss of blood. An artery was cut. At tho time of the accident the youngster was visit¬ ing relatives at Port Griffith. Ice Causes Trouble Icy ruts on South Main street near Ross resulted in damage to two automobiles yesterday when a machine driven by David J. Joseph, 44, of Orchard street, Trucksville, swung oat of line and crashed into the car of Dr. J. F. Connole. Joaeph was driving south on South Main when hia car swung across into the phyaician'a parked car.
Clarence Slease of 305 South Main street had % narrow escape from Injury yeaterday afternoon when sections of iron pipe loaded on a truck driven by Thomas D. Miller of 62 Wayne street swung out and smashed windows of his automo¬ bile. Miller was driving a truck owned by Hudson Coal Company and was driving west on East North street near North Main when the accident occurred.
John Basar of 81 Hazle street, Ashley, reported to police yester¬ day that the driver of another ma¬ chine skidded Into hia car on Hazle street, causing slight dam¬ age. Basar said the other motor- (Contlnued on Page A-11)        '
INSULT CHARGED
Toledo, Feb. 1. (UP)—A bitter battle over a proposed boycott of the anti-New Deal cartoon movie, "The ."mateur Fire Brigade," was in prospect here tonight.
While a group of 75 Toledo busi¬ ness men planned a fund to bring the picture here, officials of or¬ ganized Labor met to consider the question.
Meanwhile, theater owmers were split on the proposed boycott. Some were in favor of the picture, while others. Including ownera of two chain theaters, declared they would not permit the film to be shown on their screens.
Among those opposed to the pic¬ ture was Martin G. Smith, presi¬ dent of Toledo Amusement Man¬ agers' Association. Smith, backing up Howard Felgley, manager of two theaters who turned down the picture, said:
"I think Mr. Felgley Is abso¬ lutely right. As long as Mr. Roose¬ velt is President, the theaters should do nothing to his disadvan- age. He is doing the best job he can,"
Otto M, Brach, secretary of Cen¬ tral Labor Union committee, indi¬ cated that organized Labor would also turn thumbs down on the film. He termed the picture an Insult to the President's office.
A pre-vicw shown the favoring group of business men portrayed President Roosevelt as a grinning boy in short pants and bare legs.
SMITH AND TALMADGE ARE CALLED TRAITORS
Cities And Small Towns Taking Too Fast A Pace With   Spending   Notions
ANALYSIS MADE
Anderson, N. C„ Feb. 1. (UP)— Gov. Eugene Talmadge of Georgia had a soft answer tonight for Gov. Olin D. Johnston of South Carolina, who branded him a traitor to the Democratic party.
"I hope Olin will see the light on this New Deal situation," Geor¬ gia's anti-New Deal Governor and Presidential aspirant said.
Talmadge was here to give a radio address. Earlier he had been best man at the wedding of his brother, Tom, to Miss Alexina Wil- kins at Asheville, N, C,
Gov. Johnston's tirade included Al Smith. Talmadge and Smith, he said, "are the two biggest traitors in the history of the Democratic party."
"Smith Is the worst of the two," Johnston said. "He's just nursing a grudge." He added that Tal- madge's "grass roots" Democratic convention at Macon. Wednesday, when the Georgia Governor was "endorsed" as a Presidential can¬ didate, "didn't amount to a thing,"
New York, Feb. 1. (UP)—Ap proximately 3,100 Communities in the United States were in default on their bonded and short term indebtedness in 1935, refiectihg • quadrupling of municipal debts since 1914*'in the face of an in¬ crease of only 30 percent in popu lation, the United Endowment Foundation   revealed  today.
Almost  10  percent  of these  de faults   occurred   during   the   year, 2,700    tax    districts    having    that status at the close of 1934.
The Foundation disclosed that most of these communities were of less than 5,000 population and that the defaulted debt represent ed not more than 5 percent of the total municipal debt of the nation "However," It warned, "the rise in the number of defaulting com¬ munities is particularly significant in indicating that stability in muni cipal flnance has not yet been reached."
The municipal debt structure. It pointed out, was created during the boom days when total national income rose to 80 billion dollars. With the decline of our national income to around 50 billion dollars, the cities found it difflcult to ad just themselves to the lessened ability of taxpayers to carry the tax  burden.
"State, municipal, county and other local debts had quadrupled since 1914, although the population has increased only 30 percent dur¬ ing that period. Thus, during the years of so-called prosperity, local communities were spending more than their Income and were pass¬ ing down their excess spending In the form of bonded Indebtedness.
"Debts of local government were 20 billion dollars in 1933, aa com¬ pared with less than 5 billion in 1914. Service on that debt amount¬ ed to 1,5 percent of the total na¬ tional income when It reached 80 billion dollars In 1929. But, In 1932, when the income dropped al¬ most in half, about 3,5 percent of the total national Income was re¬ quired for service of local debts," "Therefore," the Foundation sum- marized, "even with no additional taxes, the tax burden of municipal debts, because of their fixed na¬ ture, was more than doubled to the  taxpayer."
It warned that many larger com¬ munities were "skating along on pretty thin ice" and that 1936 would see an increase in defaults by large cities "unless great re¬ forms are brought about in muni¬ cipal   financing,"
KING   IN   SECLUSION
London, Feb, 1, (UP)—King Ed¬ ward VIII retired to his out-of- town residence. Fort Belvedere, to¬ day to pass the week-end in seclu¬ sion.
VICTIM OF HICCOUGHS GETS AID IN HOSPITAL
Wracked by hiccoughs for four days, Karolis Amsijus, 46, of 628 Stanton street, city, appealed for ralief yesterday to physicians at Wyoming Valley Homeopathic hos¬ pital. He was given treatment while doctors watched his response to remedies, and then sent home to report back today for further attention.
Amsijus began hiccoughing Wed¬ nesday during an attack of indi¬ gestion, bo told doctors. Since then
he had managed to get little sleep and was able to eat just aa little. At first he blamed the attack on a stomach ailment, but when the body-twitching spasms continued Into the fourth day, he decided to get expert attention.
At Homeopathic hospital he was given a mixture of various potions and at the end of an hour the hic¬ coughs came less frequently. He was instructed to continue the treatment at home and return for further inspection.
Hold Up 2 Girls For $1^00 Haul
Boston. Feb. 1. (UP)—Flvt bandits held up two girl em¬ ployes of Everett Fuel Com¬ pany In Dorchester late today and escaped with approximately $1,200. Three of the men enter¬ ed the office, while their con¬ federates remained outside as lookouts,
Sarah Tucker and Eathcr Sherer were ordered to hold up their handa by two of the bandita, armed with revolvers. The third went to the open safe, crammed the money into a bag, and the trio fled.
Mias Tucker said, "don't shoot,"
Ons of the bandits replied:
"Don't_ worr^ w», won't .Tuat keep quiet."
The bandits escaped in an automobile bearing atolen platea. |
TRAGEDY IN blaze' HAS PROBER HERE FACEDJBY_PUZZLE
Clothes Of Plains Resident Are Untouched By Flame But He Dies From Burns
ONE DEAD, 1 DYING IN FREAK MISHAP IN WATCH SHANTY
Gilbert Alexander And Companion' John Metzgar Oddly Trapped By Fumes In Narrow Confines Of Refuge For Guardian of Road And Laurel Line Rail Traffic
NEITHER AWARE OF DANGER
FIRE MARSHAL ACTS
How a man could be fatally burned, yet his clothes not be even scorched, was a problem last night for authorities investigating the death of Joseph "Butler" Patla, 38, of 97 William street. Plains. Patla died in General hospital some hours after neighbors had rescued him from his burning home where he lived alone. It was the second time in a year the man had been a victim of flre.
Deputy Flre Marshal John Broske admitted last night he has been Investigating the death to de¬ termine whether Patla had any visitors just before the flre was discovered early Thursday morn¬ ing. The first that neighbors knew of the blaze was when Patla broke a window to call for assistance. When firemen reached the place they found the interior in flames, a dog suffocated In one of the front rooms and Patla unconscious on the floor of another room. He died five hours later In the hos¬ pital.
At the time ha was carried to the street by rescuers, according to Marshal Broske, Patla was clothed In a shirt, trousers, socks and un¬ derwear. However, when he was treated at General hospital doctors were surprised to find that while the victim's back was badly burned from the neck to the waist, most of his clothing showed no trace of fire. The shirt and underwear had escaped the flames entirely, it was reported to the marshal. The only part of his clothes burned were the socks.
Marshal Broske recalled that a year ago Patla narrowly escaped death when fire broke out late at night. He had fallen asleep while smoking a cigarette. He was awakened to find his couch ablaze. At that time neighbors also went to his rescue.
CALLS UPON BANKERS TO HURRY RECOVERY
Schenectady, N, Y., Feb, 1. (UP) —State Comptroller Morris S, Trcmaine tonight called upon the bankers of the nation to lead the way to business recovery.
Tremainc, speaking before a New York Bankers Association group at a banquet here, asserted that "the abuse of credit caused the crash, and only the use of credit can re¬ store complete recovery,'
He asked bankers to "manufac¬ ture credit, make loans, and to be¬ ware of prophets,"
Concerning "prophets," Trcmaine cited a statement by U, S. Supreme Court Justice Charles Evans Hughes, In 1928, Hughes, then a private citizen, was quoted as hav¬ ing said: "If the election results in a Republican victory, business through the country will be heart¬ ened and stimulated,"
"Neither one party nor the other," Tremaine said, "can completely control events where the businesa of credit Is involved. We cannot blame the previous Administration for the crash of world credit any more than we can blame the preaent Administration for the alownearf of recoverjr."
The narrow confines of a Laurel Line crossing watchman's shanty on North Franklin street became a lethal death chamber for one man, and probably for another, yesterday afternoon.
Gilbert Alexander, 68, of 136 Gor¬ don avenue, Wllkcs-Barre, city street department employe, was asphyxiated by escaping gas fumes which filled the shanty—located on the crossing between Union and Jackson streets—as he warmed himself alongside an electric stove. He died as General hospital phy¬ sicians tried to restore heart ac¬ tion.
John Metzgar, 60, of 236 North Pennsylvania evenue, the crossing watchman, who collapsed from tho fumes while halting automo**Tc traffic to permit the passage of a Laurel Line car, only to again enter the shanty. Ignorant of the menace within, was in a serious condition last night at the hos¬ pital.
Lives of both men would have been taken by the fumes, except for the arrival at the shanty of Angelo Sando of 1020 John street, Scranton, relief watchman for the North Franklin street crossing. When Sando opened the shanty door, Metzgar tumbled out into the street, unconscious. Inside, Alexander lay sprawled on the floor in front of the small electric stove used to heat the interior.
Street department employes in charge of Foreman Robert Sooby, who with Alexander were engaged in shoveling snow Into a manhole on North Franklin street above Union, were hurriedly summoned and they carried both men into the antique shop conducted by Augusta Heyer Smith at 128 North Frank¬ lin street. First-aid resuscitation was attempted by the street work¬ ers until the arrival of the police patrol in which both victims were rushed to General hospital. Fumes From Gas Main
The tragedy occurred between 3 and 3:30 oclock yesterday after¬ noon. Members of the street de¬ partment crew were taking turns getting warm in the watchman's shanty as trucks made trips back and forth to central city for loads of ice cut from streets,
Alexander was not in the shanty much more than twenty minutes, according to residents of the vicin¬ ity ,and it was evident that neither he nor Metzgar was aware that gas fumes were escaping from a break in the main running be¬ neath the shanty.
Shortly before the arrival of Sando on an inbound Laurel Line car, Metzgar came out of the shanty to flag traffic until the car had passed over the crossing.
Persons in the antique shop told police that Metzgar fell down as the Laurel Line car went by, but got to his feet and re-entered the shanty. It waa believed at that time that he had sHpped on the icy street.
Nick-Of-Tiine Beacue
Sergeant Joaeph Murray received a call to send the patrol to the crossing and sent out a hurry alarm  over  Station   WQFM,    The
patrol waa returning from a trip to the Heights section and rushed immediately to the crossing, Polica- mcn on board included Officers Frank Sullivan, John Dunn, Mich¬ ael Reiser and John Leonard, They reported last night that consider- able delay was encountered when motorists failed to pull to one sida when they sirened for rlght-oN way,
Alexander and Metzgar wera placed in the patrol and rushed to General hospital where adrenalin injections were made in an effort to save them, Metzgar responded to the .emergency treatment but Alexander did not revive.
Employes of Pennsylvania Power & Light Company were assigned to locating the gas leak and were still working last night. The odor of gas was plainly noticeable in tha district and residents of the vicln« ity were instructed to leave their cellar windows" open during th« night.
A break in the gas main running; under the crossing shanty, caused by frost, is believed to have been responsible for the tragedy. Deputy Coroner J. Emmett Brislin and James Cummings, Laurel Line offU clal, made an Investigation fof their respective  agencies.
Alexander made his home with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Slavinski, the lat¬ ter a member of the city fire de¬ partment. He was a native of Pittston, but for the past 45 years had lived In Wilkes-Barre. Sur¬ vivors include Mrs. Slavinski and Mrs. Fred Parkin, another daugh¬ ter, and two sisters, Mrs. Earl Dlckerson of Wyoming and Mrs, Edward Walsh of Pittston.
MINES  ON  OVEE-'HME
Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 1 (UP)—With record-breaking weather harrassing the South, Alabama coal minera went on a aix-day week today to relieve a coal shortage said to bf developing In Alabama and Mia- slssippl.
TOM MOONEY, BILLINGS, GET   EXTENDED   LEAVE
San Francisco, Feb. 1 (UP)—Tom Mooney's "vacation" in the rela¬ tively friendly atmosphere of tba San Francisco county jail was #»• tended further today by postpone¬ ment to February 10 of his hear¬ ing on an application for a writ of habeas corpus.
Mooney and Warren K. Billing^ convicted with him in the Pra- paredness Day bombings of 1916, will remain In the county jail untjl hearings are completed.
In their new "home," the tw# famed prisoners have much mora freedom than they had at Saa Quentin, where Mooney waa kep^ and at Folsom, where Billings waa serving his life term. In the Stata prisons they had to work—Moonajl at potato peeling and Billings at clockmaking and  repairing.
In the county jail, in down-tow^ San Francisco, not far from Otf bombing scene, they have no a^ duties and are closer to their NkM fives and friends.
SLAYS HIS PARTNER THEN ENDS 0 WN LIFE
Chicago, Feb. 1. (UP)—Jacob H, Loevenhart. 67. president of the Traders Investment Company, to¬ day atrode into the office of H. Phillip Grossman, 50, the firm'a vice-president, ahot Grossman through the heart and then flred a bullet Into his o\4'n te;nple. Both were tiead when  police arrived.
The  men  were  believed  to h#ve had a business disagreement.  Loe-' venhart, who was president of the]
investment house, had not active in the firm for some Mn^ but since the firat of the year hf had been demanding the compaag«li financial report.
Today he called at Groasmurfa oflice and asked Louiae Browq, switchboard operator, for a t^mk of the report. She replied that n was not ready. Lkjevenhart walked into Grossman'! office and abet bloh
Lii.