25 Feb 1938
Page 1
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Newspaper
Athens Messenger
Location
Athens, Ohio, United States of America
Date
Feb 25, 1938
Page
1
The 54 year battle to halt a raging underground coal fire in Southern Ohio nears success as more than 300 WPA workers build barriers that enclose the blaze within 36 square miles. The effort aims to smother the fire and prevent spread to other fields, despite past attempts that diverted a creek and caused bankruptcies among coal companies.
In Toronto four mothers are confirmed to share the $500000 Baby Derby prize for bearing the most children in ten years. The six finalists claim nine children each within Oct 31 1926 to Oct 31 1936. Two challengers, Mrs Kenney and Mrs Clarke, contest the awards, with legal questions over stillborn counts and post registration. Justice Middleton upheld legitimacy rules and stillborn exclusions. In Columbus a Senate Graft Committee probes a $0.82 liquor trucking savings claim and seeks to void the contract. Robert Shaw testified that Shaw Transport held a state service contract at 17 cents per case and its sublet to US Trucking Lines was 11.5 cents.
The Ohio Committee for Industrial Organization plans its first state convention in Columbus. Delegates will draft a state CIO constitution and platform addressing political and labor issues, including a proposed Little Wagner Act and anti injunction measures, with John Owens likely to be elected state president.
Delaware Ohio Wesleyan University plans to delay naming a new president to replace Edmund D. Soper for more than two months, officials indicated.
Edgar Wright age 55 Meigs County relief director since December died today from a heart attack after long illness. He was a longtime Republican leader in Meigs County, never married, and is survived by brother Elva of Syracuse sister Mildred of Minersville home and a brother in Pennsylvania. Wright was a Meigs County native named relief director to succeed George Beards, who later became sheriff, and he served on the county board of elections.
Washington reports the Bureau of Air Commerce announced an almost complete victory against radio static. The new apparatus operates on 125,000,000 cycles, vastly higher than the 278,000 cycles used, and was tested at Indianapolis under W. E. Jackson to reduce atmospheric disturbances, especially in bad weather.
Ohio tax receipts in Columbus declined from 693 326 dollars for the week ending February 13, 1937, to 556 517 dollars for the week ending February 12, 1938, reflecting a fall in sales tax collections.
Washington D C Interior Secretary Harold L Ickes told Congress that the Interior Department urgently needs a $50 000 a year publicity bureau in the 1939 appropriation He said he could manage with less but more funds would help clear up public misapprehension during hearings Rep Rich questioned why the government is taxing funds to reclaim land while retiring farm land in good areas Ickes compared the project to building roads or telegraphs for the future Rich argued tax dollars should not bankrupt existing businesses
A circuit court in Chicago upheld a will leaving a $30,000 estate to a dog named Pet Eskimo Spitz. The estate, from Margaret McDermott who died in June 1935, was contested by cousins Martin Clark and Mary Pendergast who claimed she was incompetent. Judge Joseph Burke ruled for the will after hearing only the attorney's testimony.
Celina reports the discovery of a man and woman Indian skeletons unearthed by Martin Newland in a sand pile near Fort Recovery. The grave contained beads, and Fort Recovery served as a Wayne era defense post in Ohio in the late 1700s.
Washington report says Paul V. McNutt opened talks with a joint preparatory committee on Philippine affairs to decide if he should extend his term as high commissioner or resign to pursue the 1940 Democratic presidential nomination. The panel will shape a long range program for the islands and assess impact on his duties.
Mrs. Barbara Davis aged 45 was found lying on the Steubenville highway after a hit and run. She died today. authorities investigation ongoing at Martins Ferry.
Vienna reports that Austrian non-Nazis hailed Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg as a national hero for his defiant speech to the federal diet. Nazis, restrained yet restive, were expected to protest in defiance of a ban as authorities prepared for weekend demonstrations. The chancellor vowed to defend Austria’s independence with a stern, historic address.
London reports angry Labor Party chiefs planned a Commons debate if Prime Minister Chamberlain chose a House of Lords member for foreign secretary after Eden’s resignation. They urged a sitting MP to face questioning, signaling a bitter fight over constitutional issues amid Italy and Germany talks.
General John J. Pershing, veteran WWI commander, stirred from a coma in Tucson after a stimulant. He greeted longtime aide Sergeant C. C. Schaeffer, recalling him as "Sergeant Schaeffer." Doctors say heart damage from strenuous later years slowed his recovery. family, including Francis Warren Pershing, watched in the desert cottage.
Washington U P committees of industrialists labor leaders and sociologists studied a report by John D Biggers unemployment census director showing more than 25 percent of the jobless are over 45. The conclusions, based on census returns from 1 300 546 unemployed in 16 states, were reported to President Roosevelt as Perkins advisory committee on unemployment among persons over 45 completed two days of sessions and appointed sub committees to draft a program for a March 11 meeting.
Six United States bombing planes, returning from a Buenos Aires visit, departed Lima today en route to Panama.
In Miami Florida a Seminole patriarch was allowed liberty pending an inquest as tribal law steps in after he killed John Billy a 30 year old brave accused of beating two women including the chief's pregnant daughter The tribe approved the execution as a punishment for a bad Indian while white law holds for now.
San Luis Obispo Cal Two titled English guests Baron Terence Conyngham Plunket and Lady Dorothea Mabel Plunket died when Hearst airplane crashed in fog near San Simeon. Pilot P J Phillips also died. A third guest, James Lawrence, suffered serious burns and a broken ankle. The crash occurred as the plane missed the private airport on Hearst's ranch four miles from the hilltop mansion.
Senate leaders forecast approval of a 1.4 billion dollar independent offices appropriation bill after funding 2.7 million to start a new Tennessee Valley Authority dam. Senators Vandenberg and Miller pressed dam spending, while Miller promoted a plan to build 79 flood control reservoirs in multiple river valleys. The vote came after a committee amendment cutting 385,000 from the National Labor Relations Board.
Anna Marie Hahn, convicted Cincinnati poison slayer, could win a stay of execution as her lawyers plan to appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court on Monday. Her march 10 electric chair death at Ohio Penitentiary would be halted if the appeal grants a stay.
Funeral services will be held here Saturday for Mrs. Philip H. Sheridan, age 88, widow of Civil War cavalry General George Crook Sheridan. She died Thursday at her Massachusetts Avenue home near Sheridan Square and the equestrian statue of her husband.
A private cabin plane crashed during takeoff from Reno Airport, killing 52 year old Robert Hancock of San Francisco and injuring four others, one seriously. The craft went into a side slip from about 100 feet. Hancock was among the oldest private pilots still in active service.
Allen Whitney sues his film star daughter Eleanore Whitney in Los Angeles claiming he is broke and unemployed and cannot afford relief. He seeks $25 a week from Miss Whitney who earns about $500 weekly and lives with and supports her divorced mother and sister.
The House Labor Committee meets today to vote on a new labor measure after its wage and hour bill was rejected last December. The American Federation of Labor proposes an inflexible 40 cent minimum wage and 40 hour week enforced by the Justice Department, a plan lawmakers call unconstitutional and too drastic for a start. The House also rejected a similar federation bill.
Japanese air men retaliating for the Formosa raid renewed attacks on South China airdromes. Twenty planes raided Namyang north of Canton, shot down eight of 12 Chinese defending aircraft. Four or five Chinese bombers on the ground were destroyed and hangars set afire, the naval spokesman said.
A heated exchange erupted during an Ohio Senate Graft Investigating Committee hearing as Sen J Ralph Leidner clashed with Columbus attorney War wick Roland. The altercation left Leidner glasses knocked off, witnesses separating them. The committee revealed John F Nolan holds a third of Shaw Transport stock and discussed a trucking contract to Shaw Transport with Attorney General Duffy asked to act within 30 days. Shaw claimed a 17 cent per case rate for hauling while U S Trucking Lines received 5.5? cents. officials planned to question the Liquor Department about the award. The $82,500 figure arose from a 1 500 000 case estimate for 1938. Metcalf promised action or a personal suit if explanations were not provided. Shaw Transport began 1937 01 15 and sublet the contract to U S Trucking Lines. A dividend of about $70,000 is expected to Shaw, Nolan, and Bert Kemmerling. Total potential liability for the three stockholders is about $3,033.
Washington reports a Senate House Naval Affairs Committee hearing opens over battleships versus bombing planes as national defense. Rear Admiral Arthur B. Cook, chief of aeronautics, testifies amid a tug of war over a confidential War Department report alleging ships are vulnerable to air attack. Rep Maury Maverick accuses withholding key findings to favor the navy.
The League of Ohio Sportsmen closes its annual two day convention in Columbus with elections of officers and action on committee reports and resolutions.
Gaylor Forsyth a 30 year old farm worker in Fonda Iowa admitted to federal agents that he mailed a $1000 extortion note to Clark Gable in mock spite aimed at a young widow Mrs Alice Schnetter. Forsyth said he fell in love but was ignored by her and her father blocked him. He was arrested by FBI agents and jailed in Pocahontas after handwriting was traced. Mrs Schnetter claimed she knew nothing of the letter.
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