Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              CITY POLICE END 2-MONTH SEARCH FOR SLASHER
1
A Paper For The Home
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
Weather
Sunday:  Warm, rain. Monday: Warm, rain.
FORTY-EIGHT PAGES
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 1938
PRICE TEN CENTS
WARSAW TURNS WRATH ON JEWS AS LITHUANIAN DANGER PASSES
'LITTLE JOE'r"^'^'* ^*^"^^ ^"^ ^^^^^
....^^¦¦nA.i    Move Opens in Hanover
GRABBEDON STREETHERE
Many C'harfres Prepared at Meetinjr at Which Near- Riot Occurs as 40 New Members, Thought Friends of Attacked Officials, Are Not Allowed to Vote
Wife of Victim Recognizes
Him   in   Store;   Caught
Quickly by Detectives
NEVER LEFT TOWN
I
Tells Police He Has Been
Working on Local Flood
Control   Project
After searching; for over two months, Wilkei-Barre Detectives apprehended "L-ittle Joe" Barona, 7S East Northampton street, want¬ ed for severely slashing two local men. The arrest waa made after quick action by Detectlvai Wil¬ liams and Koval at 8:10 laat evt- nlnit.
Though polic* hava been con- ftantly on the lookout for him. Barona told them he had been in Wilkes-Barre all the time and em¬ ployed on th* flood control pro- ,  Ject
On the way back to the station he feigned the usual ignorance of why an arre.'t had been made. Then he changed.
"What the hell." he said. "It was Just a little fight among friends. Anyway. I was drunk."
Mrs. Ray McCall. wife of one of the victim.s, spotted the fugitive in Kresge's Store shortly befor* five oclock yesterday evening. She promptly notified Traffic Officer John McGceevey, who searched the premises but discovered that Barona had again  e.icaped.
Qulokly Caught City detectives took up the trail and. learning that he headed to- wnrd.n Northampton street. He was followed and soon lodged in a cell after first heing relieved of a pocket knife.
"Little Joe" used a razor to hack Ray McCall. M, ot Lincoln street, and John Rollo, 46, of 27 i*high street, on the nighl of January IS, The incident took place at the corner of Lincoln and Northamp¬ ton .litreets at 4 oclock In the morn¬ ing, when the two men attempted to stop a fight between Joe Tontio and Barona which had started in the business place owned by Sam Murneo.
McCall nnd Rollo left the scene of the trouhle before otficers ar- ""tived hut were picked up and taken to Homeopathic Hospital later. McCall was found to be bleeding hadly from slashes to the head snd neck. It required six stitches to close the head wound and his neck   took   12   more.
I/Fft  His  Hat  Behind
Rollo, also hieeding from lacera¬ tions to the head, requiied six •titches to close his wound.   Both
len   were   later  released.
Barona fled after the crime but his hat and other clues to identify him. Although police knew him only as "Little Joe," they had » good description and easily Iden¬ tified him  lasl  night,
McCall and Rollo will be sum- Wooed to appear against him in police   court   this   morning   at   9:30
Affairs In Hanover township were in turmoil last night as prop¬ erty owners. In a surprise move, circulated petitions for ouster of all members of the board of commis¬ sioners. According to officers of Hanover Township Properly Own¬ ers League, more than 60 "very grave" charges are to be made against the officials.
Petitions, which were signed by 140 property owners up unlil late last night, will be presented lo the Luzerne county court th* middle of this week, it was reported. Township officials are Stanley Pomicter. Joseph Pallis. Thomas Hohan, William Yates, John Davi¬ son, John Bislin and John Torma. The latter, a county deputy sheriff, is  mmority member of th*  board.
Rather secretive moves were made In the township during the past   two  days.   Township   records
were scanned on Friday by Altor- news William Brobst and Frank Slattery, representing Askam Prop¬ erly Owners Association. Their visit and probe of affairs cau.sed considerable surprise at the town- .«hip office, situated  in Lee Park.
It is charged by the Properly Owners League that municipal offi¬ cials tried to quash intended pro¬ ceedings b.v securing approximately 40 "new members" for the league on Friday. A large group of lown¬ ship officials attended the meet¬ ing. Initiation fees were collected from the new enrollees, bul the league contends that this money was allegedly paid by "an inter¬ ested official who wanted control- Ing vote al the session."
Protent  Nearly  a  Riot
A    near    riot    broke    oul    when
LEVINE BOY IS REPORTED TO BE DEAD
Stanley  Jasosky  Arrested;
Admits   Plot   to   'Chisel'
$30,000 Ransom Money
KNOWS KIDNAPPERS
Police Riot Squads Kept Busy in Nazified Vienna
-]
Newark  Youth   Insists  He
Took No Part in New
Rochelle Abduction
(Continued on Page A-10)
HENRY M. GRAHAM ILONG BATTLE OVER
J
OF AID IN eOUNTYilL REACH COURT
Chosen by Board of Public'Deadlock on  Appointments
Assistance from Eligibles Certified in Harrisburg
CONTROVERSY ENDED
to   Registration   Board Comes up on Monday
EXPECT EARLY DECISION
^titc ^ left
Oclock.
Henry Martin Graham was named to the permanent post of executive director of Department of Public Assistance In Luzerne county yesterday afternoon at a meeting of the Luzerne County Board in the DPA building, West Northampton  street.
Mr. Graham, who has held the provisional post of executive direc¬ tor since October, 1937, was named from a list of three eligibles certi¬ fied in Harrisburg. The olher two the appointments were Norma J. Kroll of Nanticoke and Winona Thompson, city.
William J. Dougherty, native of this city and now with Bituminous Coal Committee, wa» named to succeed Graham as executive direc¬ tor in the latter part of F"ebruary. His appointment was later re¬ scinded after formal protests had heen lodged and Graham resiored to his former post. When Dough¬ erty was named director Graham was made county supervisor, a job which he still retains togeiher with his new post.
The protests came from the board of examiners headed by At¬ torney Gilbert S. McClintock, ex¬ amination  administrator.
In a statement following his ap¬ pointment. Mr. Graham, a resident
Newark, N. J., March 19, (UPi- Slanley   Thomas   Jasosky  was  re- league^  officials   exp^lained^   to^ the | ported today lo have confessed that
he tried to "chisel" $30,000 ransom out of the father of Peter Levine, 12, who disappeared Feb, 24, pre¬ sumably the victim of kidnapers.
Held in $25,000 bail on charges of extortion, Jasosky also was re¬ ported to have told authorities lhat he knew who committed the crime and that the Levine child was dead. He denied being involved In lhe ac¬ tual kidnapping and, according to police, established an alibi by con¬ fessing that he was attempting to commit a hold-up here at the time Peter disappeared in New Rochelle, N. Y.
Kidnapping Not Solved Federal Bureau of Investigation agents declined to comment on those reports, but the Department of Justice in Washington said Jasosky's arrest "in no wise" solved the kidnapping.
Murray Levine, Peter's father, apparently believed Jasosky knew liltie about his son's disappearance. He made another appeal to the kidnappers from his New Rochelle home tonight, announcing he still was ready, to pay the $30,000 ran¬ som,
"There have been hundreds of letters from chisellers," he said, "bul I wili know the right letter by the insignia. His (the kidnapper's) letter will be kept secret—kept in¬ violate and I can be reached through my home or through my ofllce."
"Are you  still ready to pay the ransom?" he was asked. "Absolutely."
Levine said he had not talked with FBI agents today. When in¬ formed that Jasosky was reported to have told FBI agents that he knew the Identity of the kidnap¬ ers. Levine said: "I only hope to God   It's   true."
The     specific     charge     against
I Jasosky,  a  thin,   nervous  youth  of
19,   was   that   he   wrote   six   letters
to   Murray   Levine,   Peter's   father,
demanding   $30,000   and   specifying
a  place  where  the  ransom  should
be  paid.   He  had  no lawyer when
he was arraigned in  federal court
and. unable to raise bail, was taken
to  Newark  jail.
Police    said    the    ransom    notes
(Continued on Page A-10)
Above is a scene on one of Vienna's main streeta as police motor patrols rushed to break  up
cla.she-s - first between Nazis and Fatherland Front men and then as   the   attacks   on   Jews   became
more serious. This picture wn.s telephoned to Berlin and then radioed to New York.
MANY ARE INJURED IN OUTBREAK
Surging  Crowd  Is  Shifted
From War Demands to
Attack and Pillage
LEADERS SOOTHING
FOREIGNERS REFUSE FRONT LINE ATTACK
The political controversy between the county commissioners and County Controller Robert Bierly over the twenty-seven «ppoinl- ments made by the regis'.ration board will be brought to the atten¬ tion of the court tomorrow morn¬ ing at ten oclock.
Attorney Gordon Mason, repre¬ senting the board of county com¬ missioners in the absence of County Solicitor Robert Coughlin. admitted last night that the court will be asked   to  decide  the  dispute  over
Long In Controversy
The appointments under the reg¬ istration board have been the source of much controversy since the first of the year. The Demo¬ crats and the Republicans have equal representation on the board which fixes the salaries of those employed in the county commis¬ sioners' office or by the couniy controller.
Democratic members are Robert Bierly, couniy controller, and John Riley, minority county commis¬ sioner. The Republicans have the two majority commissioners, John A. MacGuffie and J. R. Davis, as members.
The Democrats contend, by reason of their equal representation on the .¦ialary board, thai they should have
Demand Spanish Troops Be
Sent   Against   Franco;
Deserting Barcelona
HALF MILLION FLEES
Hendaye, Franco-Spanish Fron¬ tier, March 19, (UP)—Nationalist reports from the Aragon front to¬ night said the Loyalist interna¬ tional brigades, including units from the United States, Canada and France, refused to act aa shock troops in the front lines because of recent heavy losses.
Driven back by Generalissimo Francisco Franco's powerful drive to the Mediterranean, the Loyalist "volunteers" were reported to have demanded that Spanish troops be sent into the front lines in the lower Aragon sector.
There wer* unconfirmed reports that a group within the cabinet favored ending the civil war at "almost any price" while another group was said to be determined to carry It on "to the bitter end."
F1p«lng From  Barcelona
Barcelona, March 19. (UP) — Thousands of civilians streamed out of Barcelon.i tonight while the N.Ttionalists shifted their bombing raids to the Tarragona, 80 miles down the coaat.
The war ministry announced ofllclally that in twn raids on Tarragona at leist 18 persons were (Continued  on  Page  A-10)
of Wyoming, said, "I shall attempt j'      /    ^ ^j^j^i^^ ^f appointments
to give an honest and efl[icient pub¬ lic   assistance   administration," Ends Controverny The    official    appointment,    an¬ nounced   by  Attorney  Abram  Sals¬ burg,   chairman   of   the   county board, set at rest much controversy which   had   arisen   during  the   lasl two   weeks.    The   state    had   an¬ nounced  the   list  of  three  eligibles early  in   March  and  Tuesday  was (Continued  on   Page  A-10)
\
Schuler May Not Report on Monday At WPA Office to Spurn Dismissal
Republicans contend that the ap¬ pointments are made by the county registration board and they have sole right to make the selections.
During the absence of (^ounty Commissioner Davis, several weeks ago. the salary board adopted a resolution that the appointments be shared alike between the two major parlies.
Expert Speedy Dooinion
A speedy decision from the court is expected on the disputed points because of the approaching May primaries. John Brace, chief clerk under the rcgistrfltion hoard, in a statement released on Friday, said (Continued  on  Page  A-10)
CITY BANDITS CAUGHT WHILE STILL AT WORK
Manual Labor
Forced on Jews
Vienna, March 19. (UP) —Nazi Storm Troopers today conscript¬ ed hundreds of Jews and forced them to work in "cleaning brigades." The Nazis told them it would do them no harm "to learn what real manual labor means."
Each person conscripted for enforced labor wns given a cer- tiflicate designating the amouni of time he had worked. The cleaners included a few women, although 90 per cent were men at the place where the United Press  made  a  check.
A supervisor explained:
"Only Jews less than 415 years old arc held for such work. A certain amount of cleaning must be done. We are too busy to do it ourselves. Therefore, we pick up Jews at random in the street because it will do the Jews no harm to learn whal real  manual  labor  means."
Jewish sources reported that Deslder Friedman, temporary leader of Vienna Jewry in thu capacity of president of the "Jewish Community," and his two vice presidents had been arrested. Police refused to con¬ firm or deny the report.
AS
Need   Rigid   Police   Rules as Aroused People De¬ mand Ancient Capital
STOP LIQUOR SALES
F
Declaring "You must tak* the "liter at well ns the swecl when « political scrap is on," Joseph G. Sehuler, former WPA director of 'be count.v, last night slated that "• is undecided whether he will report  at  the   oflfice   lomorrow.
He was asked to resign last Wednesday, but refused. Schuler ¦¦fporled al his oflfice Friday. WPA does  nol  operate  Saturday.
Not First  Experience
"This i« not the first time for ™« to be in a political mixup," Wid the Trucksville resident who was succeeded hy Harrv J. Wi)- "•tns, Hanover township school "'¦••etor, in the WPA post. "Stale Administrator J. Ranks Hudson "lows, a, well a.s I do, thai mv •wmissal is entirely due to politics." '
Mr. Schuler said that he will have a detailed statement on the em¬ broglio early this week. It was charged by Hudson that the resig¬ nation was asked becaus* Schuler "did not reduce the non-relief quota of WPA supervisors." Claims  EfTlclency
"The non-relief quota was five per cent unlil recently," said Schuler lasl night. "We were busy at work reducing it to three per cent when the letttr from the slate administrator was  received."
The former Wilkes-Barre coun¬ cilman plans to contact Washing¬ ton officials in the matter. Protest will be made, since he believes that efficient management has produced notable achievement in the local office since he attained th* execu- j tiv* post.
LaGuardia 0. K's Nazi Propaganda
New York, March 19. (UP) - Kmployees dashed into Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia's offlce to¬ day to report that Nazi propa¬ ganda was being disseminated in City Hall.
The propaganda, they said, was subtly inscribed on the bottom of six cuspidors deliver¬ ed today and placed convenient¬ ly about the building. The cus¬ pidor bottoms bore Ihc legend, "Made in Germany."
"Well." the Mayor said. "1 cant think nf anything better to do with a Nazi product than to spll  In  It."
Within three minutes after they began a holdup al 56 South Stale street, city, this morning at 1:15 oclock, Mike Wa.^losky, 23, of 321 North River street, and Harlan Reichel, -4, of 97 Darling street, both of Wilkes-Barre, were arrest¬ ed and locked up by city police. Then the place they tried to rob was   raided.
Both heavily loaded with rev- volvers and a blackjack, the ban¬ dits entered the establishment, flourished their guns and took $33, A girl, however, seeing the gun display, slipped oul the rear door, ran lo Hotel Terminal and sum¬ moned  police.
Captain Harkins dispatched two cruiser cars to the scene. Sergeant Shoemaker and Officers Stanley Fedorzyk, John Anstett, Carl Sprow, John Rigoni, John Gaynor and Michael Kmetz rushed to the address and mel the men, slill with guns in their hands, as Ihey were coming   out   the   front  door.      One
a crippled arm. One gun used was a .38 calibre special, while the other was a German automatic. The blackjack was constructed of heavy spring wire.
This morning's arrest is believed to have been the quickest ever made after a slickup.
"Are you guys mind-readers?" asked one of the bandits as police led him to headquarters.
CZECHS STRENGTHEN GOVERNMENT POSITION
Prague, March 19 (UPi The Czechoslovakian government was strengthened today by the Inclu¬ sion of Franz Jezek, a representa¬ tive of the conservative "National League," as minister without port¬ folio in the cabinet,
Jezek's inclusion augments the government's majority in the cham- 172   to
T GRAB OF MEXICO RIGHTS
Refusal    of    Tankers    to
Handle it Will Paralyze
Nation's Efforts
ENGLISH ALSO ACT
ber   of   deputies   from tried lo hide his gun behind a door, i deputies  out  of  ,100.
Officers later returned to the j The government's move followed establishment and took inmates of | last night's announcement that the establishment into custody, j Czechoslovakia's 3,231,688 Germans They were taken to headquarters! would he given a proportionate for que.-ii inning. i share   in   local   and   national   ad-
Reichel, according to polie*, haa 1 ministrations.
New York, March 19. (UP)-Four American oil companies tonight prepared to "fight" to hold a $200,- 000,000 stake in the Mexican nil in¬ dustry, threatened with extinction by a decree of the Mexican govern¬ ment confiscating foreign owned oil properties.
The four companies are Standard Oil of New Jersey. Standard Oil of California, SincLiir Oil Company and  Consolidated  Oil  Company.
It was believed the American companies, having exhausted legal means in Mcxiian courts, would band together to impose a "quar- 185 anline" of Mexican oil, refusing to handle 11 in foreign tankers.
This would tend to paralyze  the
Kaunas, Lithuania, March 19 (UP)—Lithuania capitulated today lo the terms of a Polish ultimatum as Polish troops massed near ils borders and Polish warships cruised near its Baltic ports. It thus avoided invasion and a war that might have touched off the whole European tinder box. but it did so at the price of possibl* in¬ ternal  dissension.
Despite the mounting anger of the populace, the cabinet and par¬ liament agreed to the demand that Lithuania restore normal diplo¬ matic relations with Poland, which have lapsed for nearl.v 20 years because Lithuania refused to rec¬ ognize the seizure o{ Vilna from her.
Forced to Yield
Lithuania yielded hours before the deadline set by Poland. Its leaders explained that the only al¬ ternative would have been to at¬ tempt to resist Invasion by the far stronger Polish military machine. It could not count now on foreign help,
"In view of the International sit¬ uatinn, the Lithuanian government felt compelled lo accept the Polish propos.il," Vice-Premier Jakobas Stanischaukis told parliament, which then adopted a resolution confirming  the  action.
Lithuania's answer was delivered to the Polish minister al Tallinn. Estonia, al 11 a. m. i,'^ a.m. E. S. T.) 10 hours before the ullimatum ex¬ pired. The note delivered by the Lithuanian envoy snid:
(iuarantees   Made
Attempting to Turn Martial
Spirit   for  Lithuania
Back to Friendship
(Ciopyrlght, 1938, by Unit««d Pr»»»)
Warsaw, March 19 (UPi—Polish mobs turned their wrath from Lithuania tonight to take reprisala against Jewish elements here aa the result of bank runs that devel¬ oped when It had been thought that Poland was about to maka war on Lithuania,
The crowds, which a few houri previously had been demanding in¬ vasion of Lithuania, attacked and pillaged Jewish owned shops. Police announced that 43 persona had been injured but denied rumor* that a number had been killed.
Open   Attack  at  Bank*
The throngs earlier attacked Jews who had beeft waiting for hours in long queues before tha banks, especially the postal sav¬ ings banks.
Periodic assaults continued throughout the day but tonight police said they had the situation in hand.
Many persnns were arrested after the anti-Jewish attacks. A major¬ ity were released after examination by th* police.
While crowds paraded through the streets of War.saw tonight shouting "Shake hands with Lith-, unnia," in contrast to their war¬ like behavior during the past 4« hours, the government held to • cautious  policy.
Polish troops which lined th* Lithuanian frontier are nol being hastily called back. Nor will tha hastily mobilized navy, ranging from modern cruisers to fishing boals, be dispersed until Poland sees that her neighbor carries out the policies she agreed to today regarding resumption of diplomatl* relations.
Diplomatic Somersaul*
An effort to turn a diplomatia somersault and convert popular feeling for war against Lithuania into a spirit of brotherly love wai evident, however.
Newspapers which had referred to the Polish demands as an 'ilti- malum suddenly softened ihelr wording and referred to them as "proposals."
Colonel Josef Beck. Polish for¬ eign minister, addressing news¬ paper men, declared "it was better to have a quarrel with Lithuania because a settlement resulted," and a foreign office spokesman said that "Poland's ultimatum haa proved a contribution to peace,"
Beck said that Poland recognize* the independence of Lithuania and intends no injustice to her people. All Poland desired, he said, waa to end an abnormal condition. Ho exprefised assurance that after th* ministers of both countries r«» sumed negotiations they wiH"s»ttl» many problems."
Pllsudskl's Name Day
This transition from the rattling of   sabres   against   Lithuania   Into
"The     Lithuanian     government ^ guarantees  on  its  part to  the  Pol-   a spirit of brotherly love was help- (Continued  on  Page  A-10) I 'Continued  on  Pag*  A-10)
Supreme Court Will Give Decision On Fug mann Retrial Plea Monday
state Supreme Court will meet in I    Conviction   in   the   county   court
Pitlsburgh tomorrow and a decision ' carried wilh it the penalty of death.
., , ,        . ¦  1    . X.- u    1  Fugmann  was  accused  of  maiUng
on the appeal for retrial of Michael ^j.»^^,j,^   i„   ^i^^^   boxes   in   tha
Fugmann. Hanover township miner,  g^ise  of  Easter  gifts.     He  main- convicted   of   murder   in   Luzerne  lained   his   innocence   during   th* couniy. will be handed down, it was i trial, but in October, 1936, guilt waa reliably   reported   last   night.     He ' determined   by   the   jury.    A   new was found guilty of the Good Fn-  trial   was   immediately   sought   by day   murder   of   Thomas   Maloney. '' counsel for the defendant. former president of United Anthra-       Attorneys   E.   F.   .McGovern   and cite   Miners   of   Pennsylvania,   now i Henry   Thalenfeld.    for    Fugmann, disbanded.     Maloney's" young   son.  cited   various   allegation   of   error. Mexican oil iiidu.«lry, since most of [ Thomas jr. and Mii hael Gallagher, i Opposing   the   request   for   a   new the    country's    oil    distribution    is I Hanover lown.«hip were also killed, j trial.  Attorney  Leon  Schwarti and handled  by  foreign  tankers,  oper-I    Judge George W. Maxey of Scran-! his   assistant.   Frank   P.   Slattery, ated by oil compsrues in the United   ton  is expecled to  hand down the ; represented   the   commonwealth  tX (Continued on Page A-10) decision of the Supreme Court.        j hearing* befor* th* Suprem* Courl