Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              A Paper For The Home
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
THE WEATHER
LEASED WIRE TELEGRAPH REPORT TO 3 A. M. SUNDAY
Eastern   Penn.sylvania:     Cloudy,
slightly  warmer  wllh  occasional
rain     Sunday;     Monday     rain,
colder at night.
FORTY-EIGHT PAGES     ^.Z'.^'^llJ:^'^^;
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1937
Entpfpfl   lit   WilkciBArro,   Pa., An   5tcrmKl   rimifi    Mnll    Mflit^r
PRICE TEN CENTS
PRESIDENT MET BY NEW ATTACK
ORDERS SPEEDUP IN COURT PLAN
POWERS CLEAR WAY FOR REBEL FRANCO TO WIN
Alexander Mever Is Held In Death Of Schoolgirl After Her Chum Escapes
Vet Carries Hat To Please King
London, Feb. 20. (UP) — Hubert Magnus-Jackson, a war veteran, was offered a job nt Buckingham Palace tonight be¬ cause of the "attractive manner" in which he carried King George VI's hat around at the British Industries   Fair.
Magnus-Jackson was selected from all the uniformed attend¬ ants at the fair to carry the monarch's hat during a royal tour  of  the  exhibits.
PRIEST AND LABOR
<?r
BODY FOUND IN WELL
Record Of Accused Reveals A Reformatory Sentence For    Earlier    Misdoings
HIDDEN BY POLICE
West Chester. Pa., Feb 20 (UP) - Fear of mob reprisal against Alexander Meyer, 20-year-old farm¬ er who entombed the battered body of Helen Moyer in an abandoned well, caused police lo remove him | from this aroused community to¬ night.
State Police moved to prevent possible mob action here and In CoatesviUe, near where the body was found, .md in the 16-year-old girl's home town  of Modena.
Resentment against the youth grew in the three communities when reports were circulated that he would be taken to Modena to face Absalom Moyer, father of the Coatcsvllle high school girl. j
It was believed Meyer may have j been  removed  to  the Slate  Police barracks in Reading, Pn.. nbout 35 miles  from  the  scene  of  the  dis¬ covery.
Mystery Is Solved
Cornog,  Pn.,  Feb.  20  (UP)—Thej body   of   Helen   Moyer.   16-year-old I Modena girl who had been missing for 9 dnys, was recovered  shortly j before 3 p. m. today from an aban- ^ doned well where police said Alex- , audfr    Meyer,    20,    told    them    it' would   be   found.   Chester   County Detective   Francis  Grubb   immedi¬ ately   signed   a   formal   charge   ef murder against Ihe youth, who is a    son    of    a    Philadelphia    coal broker.
Grubb said Meyer had confessed that hi:> grern f.irrn truck killed the girl as he drove along a road nenr Modena on Feb. 11. The body Iny beneath n pile of stones at the bottom of the .50-fool well. The stones hnd formed n lining for the well, but Meyer lold police that the day after throwing the body into the well, he returned and dynamited the lining loose in a further attempt to hide the crime. Body  IMutilated
Bruises covered the nude body. The left leg was missing ' low the knee, apparently from the force of the dynamite blast.
Police worked almost two hour,* removing the heap of stones from the bottom of the well before they reached the bdy. During that time. District Attorney Raymond Reid and Stnte Police held Meyer in Reid's West Chester office, at- fc       (Continued  on  Page  A-6)
Amendment To Constitution To Cut Employment Age Debated In New England
BAY STATE TO ACT
NEAR END OF CRISIS
Action By European Powers Assumes Early Victory By Forces Of The Rebels
BAR OUTSIDE HELP
Holy Week Plans Engaged By Pope
Vatican City, Feb. 20. (UP)— Pope Pius was determined to¬ night to make his flrst post- illness appearance during Holy Week by participating In cere¬ monies  at  Slsllne  Chapel.
The Pontiff held several con¬ ferences during the day and walked from the salon' of his apartment   to   the   loggia.
ARE RESPONSIBLE
Russia Penalizes Failure Of Government Defense To Halt Franco Advance
Nine Persons Receive Treat¬ ment For Various Injuries Throughout   The   Valley
Boston, Feb. 20 (UP)—A Catho¬ lic priest—spokesman for the Archbishop of Boston- and a State Labor leader, in radio addresses tonight, etlacked and defended the Child Labor Amendment, now be¬ fore the Massachusetts Legislature for ratification.
While condemning the practice of child Inbor, the Rev. Michael J. Ahern, S.J., who acted as spokes¬ man for William Cardinal O'Con¬ nell at a legislative hearing on the question earlier this week, said the amendment was too general in ita language.
"Under this amendment as it stands. Congress could regiment all children and youths under 18 years of age, as they have been regimented in some Communistic and Fascist countries," he said, "Indeed the laws of some of the countries under which this regi¬ mentation has been achieved read strangely like this proposed Child Labor Amendment."
Father Ahern defended the Card¬ inal's right to speak in opposition to ratification as part of his duty "to safeguard 150,000 Catholic chil¬ dren in the colleges, schools and other child-caring Institutions of the archdiocese from any menace to their sacred and essential In¬ heritance as Americans and as Catholics."
Secretary-Treasurer Robert J. Watt of the State Federation of Labor assailed the stand taken by Cardinal O'Connell.
"However Christian In origin and purpose this Amendment may be, I realize that a priest or a Cardinal has an individual liberty to line up with chlselers if he personally believes that It Is bad for children to be freed from exploitation. If a priest believes that the word 'labor' can be twisted to mean 'ed¬ ucation,' or that the guarantee of religious freedom already in the Constitution can somehow be oblit¬ erated by this Amendment, he en¬ joys the full constitutional liberty of erroneous personal opinion."
LEO   KELLAR
Leo Kellar of Light sireet, Shickshinny, will be buried this afternoon at 1 oclock from the home. Services will be conducted In the residence and Interment will be  in  Rosemont cemetery.
FIERCE BATTLE ON
POLICE ACTIVE
Handaye. Franco-Spanish Fron¬ tier, Sunday, Feb. 21. (UP) -Un¬ confirmed reports reaching the frontier today said Soviet Ru.ssia Is preparing to withdraw her support of the Spanish Loyalists because of their failure to stem General Francisco Franco's Fascist offensives.
Many Loyalist officials, it was said, feared that the rernoval of the Russian Ambassador to the Loyalist Government was a prelude to complete abandonment of the Soviet venture In Spain.
Loyalist authorities at Valencia said they were unable to explain the recall of Ambassador Macel Rosenberg, beyond Moscow's offi¬ cial version that he was being re¬ moved "for other work."
The frontier reporls said that Moscow expressed disappointment over the failure of Barcelona and Catalonia the Communist strong¬ holds of Spain—to send reinforce¬ ments to Malaga during the Rebel siege that resulted In the fall of the Important seaport.
Stockholm, Sweden, Feb. 20. (UP)—The Government was ex¬ pected to introduce a bill Monday banning volunteers to Spain. It was believed that Sweden will co¬ operate In the Internalional non¬ intervention committee's effort to outlaw aid to either side in the Spanish civil war.
MARRY WRONG GIRLS BUT WON'T EXCHANGE
\
¦hanghal, Feb. 20 (UP)—Two Chinese husbands decided tonight to keep the brides they married by mistake. Each had the other's "in¬ tended."
Tho mlxup occurred during a blizzard which struck while the brides were earoule to their wed¬ dings. The girls, riding In sedan chairs, stopped by chance at the snme teahouse for shelter.
When the young women resumed their journey, each entered the other's chair by mistake. Because Uiey    were    heavily    veiled,    the
cooltea carrying them did not de¬ tect the error.
The bridegrooms were similarly Ignorant of the mixup, because, the weddings having been arranged by the families involved neither had ever seen his fiancee before
The mistake was discovered when the husbands acted as hosts in their respective homes at wedding feasts for the brides' families.
In the end. the families coun¬ seled acceptance of the situation because the couples occupied Iden¬ tical social and financial position!!. The husbands philosophically agreed.
Madrid, Feb. 20 (UP)—Loyalist artillery tonight poured tons of shells on the village of Ccrro Rojo In the Jarama sector, where In¬ surgent General Francisco Franco's General Staff was reported to be conferring on plans for a new as¬ sault on Madrid.
When Government spies reported the conferende of the Rebel chief¬ tains the Loyalists guns laid down an hour-long bombardment, raz¬ ing a score of buildings.
The Insurgents retaliuled wllh an attack on the Government's lines around Peraleas del Rio on the Manzanares river, slightly northward and closer to the cap¬ ital.
There was hand-to-hand fighting through the streets of La Maranosa on the south Madrid front where Loyalist militiamen broke through heavlly-barrlcnded positions, seized part of the town and drove the Rebels toward Clempo Zuelos. The Madrid defenders battled their way Into La Maranosa, 15 miles from the Capital, against heavy fire of Rebel artillery encircling the town to proiect a new chemical gas fac¬ tory erected a few weeks ago by General  Franco.
The Loyalist advance along the Aranjuez highway turned the tide of a continuous, 24-hour barrage from  Rebel  artillery.
War's Worht BatUo
Both sides poured reinforcements Into the Jarama sector tonight to carry on what has become the big¬ gest battle of the civil war—pre¬ cipitated when General Franco threw his full strength against the Loyalist lines In a supreme effort to Isolate the Capital and starve it Into submission.
The iQost bitter fighting was in
the   shell-battered   Morata   sector,
between the Jarama river and the
Valencia highway where thousands
(Continued on Page A-2)
Nine persons were Injured in accidents here yesterday, accord¬ ing to hospital records complied last night. Two of the most seri- i ously hurl, both out-of-town resi¬ dents, were Injured In automobile mishaps on the Bear Creek boule¬ vard. State Highway Patrol an¬ nounced a number of arrests for reckless driving as il continued the crusade to reduce the num¬ ber  of  motor  accidents.
Robert Robinson, 22, of 6504 Grays avenue. West Philadelphia, was taken to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital last night at 11:30 oclock as a result of an automobile acci¬ dent on the Bear Creek boulevard. His car collided with another machine on a curve, it was re¬ ported to the Highway Patrol, Robinson suffered a deep lacera¬ tion   of   the   scalp,
Sadie Schaffer, 30, of 104 Grove sireet, Brooklyn, N. Y,, received cuts of the face and bruises yes¬ terday afternoon when an auto¬ mobile skidded off the Bear Creek boulevard. Other passengers in the machine were said to have escaped unhurt. MLss Schaffer was taken to Wilkes-Barre General hospital.
Edna Stewart, 30, of 50 Divisldn street, Kingston, went to General hospital during the afternoon to have a needle removed from her left thumb. The piece of steel en¬ tered her hand while she was at work as a seamstress on a WPA sewing project.
Sedan, Truck Collide
In a collision between a sedan and a truck at Mountain Top, two men were injured yesterday after¬ noon. Stephen Dudock of 863 Shannon street, Wilkes - Barre Township, driver of the sedan, was bruised about the body. His ma¬ chine collided with a truck of the Whiteman Ice Cream Company of Hazleton at the intersection of the White Haven and Mountain Top roads. The truck driver was taken to a physician's office for treat¬ ment.
Joseph Renaldi, 172 Panama street, Pittston, Is held by Ashley police for reckless driving as a result of a triple collision in thnt borough at 7 oclock last night. A motor vehicle operated by him damaged cars owned by Thomas Hexlop, R. D. 1. Wilkes-Barre, and Peler Alanski, South Main street, Ashley. His car also was damaged considerably. The cars owned by Hexton and Alanski were parked on Main street when the accident occurred.
Frank    Libercoski,    38,    of    98
South    Columbia    avenue.    Miners
Mills, suffered severe lacerations of
the   left   hand   when   his   fingers
(Continued   on  Page  A-2)
4
tr^
IN
Forced Landing Ends In Parlor
Hempstead, N. Y., Feb. 20. (UP)—Pilot Arthur Vasold, 24, and Passenger David Sklar, 27, made a handsome forced land¬ ing in a biplane today-smack into the parlor of Elias Jack¬ son,
When the engine cut out, the plane skipped down along the ground, bounced off the kitchen wall and smashed Into the parlor, demolishing most of the house and one wing. Both men climbed  out  uninjured.
Trailed Into Pittston Area After Robbery Of Store In Lake Winola Section
GAS STATION DUPED
All Highways Are Searched By State Police Patrol For Stolen Black Sedan
STRIKE DEFIANCE STILL
T
2 OTHER CAR THEFTS
Luzerne County's latest bandit "mob," a fast-traveling quartet of gunmen held responsible for al¬ most a dozen widely separated "stickups" and burglaries during the past three weeks, continued their brazen defiance of police last nighl with al least two car thefts and  a store  holdup.
Early today State Police cruiser cars were scouring highways north and south of Pittston in an effort to apprehend the bandits who were last sighted near Dupont several hours after a holdup at Mill City, near Lake Winola,
The bandits' latest coup was staged shortly after 10:30 oclock last night when three of them entered the .>?tore of Frank Dickin¬ son at Mill Cily. Dickinson and a group of patrons were herded Into the rear of the store at gun-point while the till was looted of an undetermined amount of cash. Use Stolen Car
The getaway car used In this holdup was stolen yesterday at Easton, first appeared on the Sulli¬ van Trail above Coxton where the bandits speeded away after load¬ ing up with gas and was lasl sight¬ ed about one oclock this morning near Dupont, headed  for Pitlston.
This machine, a black sedan, bearing license tags 4,')33-Z, rolled into Driesbaugh's gasoline station on the Sullivan Trail above Cox¬ ton at 8:45 oclock last night.
The driver, one of four occupants, ordered the attendant to fill the lank with gas. After 12 gallons had been pumped in and the at¬ tendant went to receive payment, he was pushed to one side and the car roared away to tho north. Trace Other Thefts
A half hour later an automobile owned by Herbert Walker of 58 Watchung avenue. Chatham, N. J., was stolen from Philadelphia ave¬ nue, Tunkhannock, and for a short lime police believed the bandits had changed automobiles. This car, however, was recovered Intact a short time later on Harrison street, Tunkhanonck.
Early today, with the bandits still al large, police were enter¬ taining the theory that they may have stolen a coach owned by Ralph Klein of 21 Stanley street, city, at Pittston,
The time of the Mill City holdup and the hour that Klein's car was reported stolen Indicated that this car theft had no connection with the holdup, although police thought that the fourth member of the gang, who was not present al the holdup scene, may have picked up Klein's car with the intentioii of joining his accomplices.
Sheriff Out Of Commission But Workers He Gassed Keep Sit-Down Strategy
MEDIATORS BUSY
Springfield. Ill, Feb. 20 (UP)— Gov. Henry Horner announced to¬ night that President Robert J. Altchison of the Fansteel Metal¬ lurgical Corporation has rejected his invitation to meet here with representatives of sit-down strikers in the company's Waukegan plant.
Horner said that Martin P. Dur¬ kin, Director of the State Depart¬ ment of Labor, had carried the in¬ vitation to the strikers who have occupied two Fansteel buildings since Wednesday, and they ac¬ cepted. He cancelled the scheduled conference, however, because of Allchison's rejection,
Altchison replied in a sharp telegram that he wished to "cor¬ rect promptly certain misstate¬ ments attributed to me."
He said the company stood ready at any lime to meet a committee composed of strikers, but refused to deal with "outside professional agitators."
Altchison asserted that "the question confronting you, as Gov¬ ernor," was "whether duly consti¬ tuted authority can and will en¬ force the law." He reiterated that the Lake County Sheriff has said he cannot evict the strikers under court order without National Guard aid.
The Governor was reported authoritatively to be considering a trip to Waukegan to attempt to end the strike before there is a recurrence of violence such aa Fri¬ day's two-hour battle between Sheriffs men and sil-downers.
Shcrlll  Gassed  Out
Waukegan, 111., Feb. 20. (UP) — Sheriff L. A. Doollttle, who tried to oust alt-downers from the Fan¬ steel Metallurgical Corporation planl yesterday, was a lle-downer today. 111 from tear gas and un¬ able fully to use either his voice or eyes, he was home in bed while negotiators sought a peaceful set¬ tlement, his office reported.
WPA CHIEF GUILTY OF FAKING CHECKS
Washington, Feb. 20. (UP)— Charles B. Eliot, District of Co¬ lumbia WPA Finance Chief, plead¬ ed guilty today before U. S. Com¬ missioner Turnage to charges of falsifying Government checks and defrauding the Government,
He told Secret Service Chief Frank Wilson that beginning  last
September he listed the name of "Alex DuBols," a non-existent em¬ ployee, on WPA payrolls at $3,600 annually. He signed the name of DuBois to the checks and then counter-endrosed them himself, he said. At the same time he was drawing his own checks at the rate  of $4,800 annually.
Waukegan, III, Feb. 20. (UP)- Efforts to achieve a peaceful set¬ tlement of the sit-down strike in Fansteel Metallurgical plant reach¬ ed a deadlock tonight as the 100 strikers, who defeated an attempt by 140 officers to oust them with tear gas yesterday, prepared to spend their fourth night in the factory.
Sheriff L. A. Dooliltle, who di¬ rected yesterday's battle against the strikers, was ill at his home from effects of the gas. His men made no further effort lo dislodge the strikers; and Gov. Henry Horner in Springfield gave no indi¬ cation that he was disposed to call out the National Guard.
Afler Slate Labor Commissioner Martin P. Durkin had confessed failure to bring the rivals together, both sides Issued clarifying state¬ ments emphasizing the lack of pro¬ gress toward a peaceful settlement.
The statements. In brief: Rival Statements
The Fansteel Corporation -the company is willin,? to meet with any of its employes but will not deal with "outside professional agi¬ tators." The "only issue raised since the sit-down" Is that steel (Continued  on  Page  A-6)
NO ALTERNATIVE SA YS ROOSEVELT TO^NATE AIDES
LIBERTYTSTAKEksSUFONBILL
BACKED BY TALKS BETWEENLEADERS
BY EX-PRESIDENT
Hoover Believes Democrats Will Leave Party Lines To Save Supreme Court
PRAISES BOLTERS
Chicago, Feb. 20, (UP)—"Hands off the Supreme Court" must bo the nation's watchword, former President Herbert Hoover declared tonight, asserting that the Inde¬ pendence of the court "is the last safeguard of free men,"
Mr. Hoover, making his first formal attack on President Roose¬ velt's plan for appointing up to six new Justices, spoke before 1,000 members of Union League Club of Chicago, The occasion was the club's commemoration of the birth of George Washington.
"If historic liberalism cannot be maintained under the present pro¬ visions of the Constitution, I shall be the first to support the Presi¬ dent in amendment of it," Mr, Hoover said,
"But there are certain things thai must not change. These things are the fundamental safeguards of human rights. We have already gone far on the road of personal government. The American people must halt when It Is proposed to lay hands on the independence of the Supreme Court. That is the ultimate security of every collage. It is the last safeguard of free men.
"Ladles and gentlemen, I offer you a watchword—hands off the Supreme Court,"
Fears  Subjection
To tamper with the court, he said, would be to imperil the liberty of the nation, and perhaps to set it upon "the suicide road" taken in recent years by a dozen nations in Nyhich courts have been "made subjective to political power."
"With this subjection, the people's securities in those countries have gone out the window," Hoover added. "And, mark you this—in every instance the persuaders have professed lo be acting for the people and in the name of prog¬ ress."
'Governor Lowdon Cformer Gov. Frank O. Lowdon of Illinois) re¬ cently emphasized that the farm¬ ers are less than 25 percent of the whole people of the United Slates and Labor is less than 25 percent and that the only protec¬ tion for the majority is the Su¬ preme Court."
Mr. Hoover was interrupted twice by applause.       _
Asserting   that   "we   are    faced with    the    greatest    constitutional question   in   these   70  years,"   the (Continued  on   Page  A-2)
Executive Is Still Insistent On Increase Of Judges To  Aid  Social  Progress
MEETS BITTER FOES
Waahington, Feb. 20. (UP)— Sunday radio speaehea on tho President's judiciary reform program will Include:
7-7:80 p. Ml. EST—.Sen. Bur¬ ton K. Wheeler, speaking from Kansas City (CBS), He re- pla«^ea Sen. Bennett Clark, who ia ill of influenza.
6-B:,H0 p. m. EST—Son. Gerald P. Nye, speaking from Waah¬ ington  (NBC Blue).
10:45-11 p. m. EST—.Sen. Thomas F. Green, apeaklng from Washington  (NBC Blue).
Washington, Feb. 20. (UP)—Tha Administration is ready to press forward almost Immediately in Its drive for congressional action oa the judicial reorganization pro¬ gram, it was reported tonight fol¬ lowing two Important conferences between President Roosevelt and Administration and Progressiva leaders In the Senate.
It was understood an effort will be made to obtain Senate Judiciary Committee consideration Monday of the President's bill providing for enlargement of the Supreme Court to as many as 15 members.
President Roosevelt was beheved to have considered strategy for ex¬ pediting his judiciary program In conferences with the two groups of senators.
After the first conference. Major¬ ity Leader Joaapta T. Robinson of the Senate said that the judicial reorganization program was "pro¬ gressing satisfactorily" but declin¬ ed lo reveal details of Administra¬ tion plans.
Leaders In Conference
To a 5 p. m. conference with tha President came Vice President John N. Garner and Sens. Joseph T. Robinson, D.. Ark., Pat Har¬ rison. D., Miss.: Henry F. Ashurst, D., Ariz.; Alben W. Barkley. D., Ky.; Hugo Black, D., Ala.; Jamea F. Byrnes, D., S. C, and Joseph Guffey, D., Pa.
An hour later, Mr. Roosevelt con¬ ferred with Sens. Lynn J, Frazier, R., N. D.; Robert M. LaFollette, P., Wis.; Gerald P. Nye, R., N. D., and Lewis B, Schwellenbach, D., Waah.
Mr, Roosevelt was understood to have Indicated to the conferees that he had no particular objection to proposals for Constitutional Amendments, as proposed by sev¬ eral Liberal leaders, but remained adamant in his refusal to accept any compromise in his plan (oV (Conlinued   on   Page   A-6)
COPPER PIT BLAST KILLS SIX MINERS
Spring Garden, Cal., Feb, 20. (UP)~Six men were killed and flve Injured today when two trains-- one carrying dynamite and the other ore- collided and exploded In the Walker copper mine near here.
Investigation was started tonight by Coroner John F. Moody, who went to the scene by riding the nine-mile-long aerial tram to the 700-foot level where the disaster occurred.
L. F. Bayer, mine superintendent, said It would be difficult lo deter¬ mine the actual cause of the acci¬ dent.
Such an accident could hav4 been caused by one of the train* getting out of control, or a swltt^ being thrown, it was said.
Two of the victims were suffo¬ cated by gas as they worked ilk a shaft above tho point of the ax- plosion. The other four were rid¬ ing  on   the  ore   train.
The dead: Lloyd Gilbert, Pat Burns, Herbe Blauel and W, Shaa- ker, riding on the train, and Louia Ghina and Carl Doming, working In  the  shaf;.
Because of tha hard rock natUN of the mine, the oxploaian no serious damaga,