-_The Omaha Morning Dee
VOL. 52 NO. 164. SST g TTSST £"S ^_OMAHA, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1922. * gjJT £ ff* Jft,'■&rU,,Jra«.« TWO CENTS
Cut in State
Expenses
Proposed
Biennial Budget, Heady for
Governor, Shows Request
of $16,235,564 From
General Funds.
Roads May Raise Total;
Secretary Philip K. Gross of lhe
finance department has the biennial
budget ready for Governor McKelvie
^to pare down as he sees fit. The
governor will complete his rccom
mendatlons within a few days. After
that the budget will be ready to sub
mit to tlie Incoming legislature. Its
voluminous and intricate figures
promise to give the finance commit
tees of the two houses something to
ponder over for the entire legislative
session.
Special funds arc reduced to one,
the capitol fund, derived by taxation.
Possibility $3,000 000 for road funds
to meet, federal funds may be raised
by special method, such as from a
gasoline tax as suggested by Secretary
George K. Johnson of the department
of public works. Then comes cash
and federal funds and third, specific
appropriations from the general fund,
raised mostly by taxation, but partly
by cash and fees.
A big shoot of paper containing 12
columns of figures hus been prepared
by Secretary Gross shownlg the
funds derived '-om these sources the
last two years and the requests made
by expending agencies for the coming
two years, beginning July 1. 1923,
which is the end of the new fiscal
year established by the last legisla
ture.
$17,! 14,809 Sought.
A summary of the tabulation shows
that the legislature of 1921 appro
priated from the general or tax funds
$17,214,809.9#. Requests from expend
ing ageneiea on. file for the coming
two years from the general or tax
funds total $16,235,564.62. That is not
all the tale. The department of pub
lic works recommends the raising
of *3,000.000 for road work to meet
federal aid hy means other than taxa
tion. If the legislature dftes jnol fol
low this reemnmendutton, the $3,000,
000 must 1>« added to the property tag,
malting the total llO.OOO.OOtMnetead of
$16,000,000.
Taking Into consideration expendi
tures from all funds, the tabulation
shows tutal appropriations two years |
ago to have been $23,939,519.27. com- j
pared with requested appropriations
of $27,939,826.94 for the romlng two,
years, or an increase of $4,000,000.
It is said Governor MoKelvte is
certain to cut many requests for ap
propriations. The Incoming governor.
Charles W. Bryan, also will have at!
opportunity to altar or make new
recommendations to the legislature.
In regard to the expenditures of j
state departments nn<T“ institutions, ^
none has created a deficiency. 9 here i
are six months yet of the biennium
and it is lielleved no deficiencies will
(Turn t" rase Two. Column Five.)
24 Families Homeless
by Christmas Blaze j
Stockton. Cal.. Deo. 25 -lnstead of
awakening to the cheer of giftladen
Christmas trees, 24 families in nn
apartment, house here were stirred
from sleep at 3 30 this morning by a
fire that forced them to flee for their
lives in their nightclothes.
Tire department reports Indicated
that all wero saved without Injury.
Many persons on upper floors were
rescued by ladders. A short time af
ter the fire started in the basement
fcfrom an undetermined cause the hap- ,
families were huddled in the,
?<reet their Christinas presents lost^
along with all their other household
possessions.
The apartment house was destroyed
with an estimated loss of $100,000.
Chicago Man Walks Into
River in Fog; Drowned
Chicago. Dee. 25.—Unable to see
his path ahead of him because of a
dense fog. Andrew Hazzard early to
day walked off the hank into the
Calumet river and drowned while on
his way to work. Another workman,
hearing his cries, rushed to his aid.
but could ftwl nothing but a floating
dinner pall. Police later recovered
the body.
New Zealand Town Shaken
by Severe Earth Tremors
Wellington, N. 7... Deo. 25.—A se- |
vere earthquake shock was felt here ;
at 3 this afternoon- It is feared that
considerable damage has been done
in the country districts. Great fis
sures opened at the beach at Wai
ltuku, while at some places the build
ings swayed in alarming fashion.
Judge Richard Kimball Dead
Waco. Tex.. Dec. 25.—Judge Rich
ard Kimhali, 77. is dead at his borne
here. His father. Richard B. Klm
l>all, was one of the organizers of the
Galveston, Houston A Henderson
abroad. Judge Kimball was a
wealthy farmer.
Last Prisoner Released.
Paris. Dec. 25.—France has released
the last German war prisoner. They
were undergoing punishment for of
fenses against the common law com
mitted during their detention as war
prisoners.
First Superintendent
of Gty Hall Dies
John Matliieson. . !
I
John Mathiesen.
Oldest Clerk in
Omaha, Is Dead
| Employe at City Hall Ever
Since Structure Built
Expires on Christ
mas Morn.
John Mathlesen. believed to have
been the oldest clerk In Omaha and
employe at the city hall ever since
that structure has been built, died
Christmas morning at 1 :43.
Death followed a two weeks’ illness
and was caused by infirmities due
to old age. Mr. Mathlesen was 87
last July.
He was the first superintendent at
the city hall. At the time of his
death he was employed In the license
inspector's office, having worked for
the city 30 years.
Mr. Mathlesen was an expert pen
man, it being said that ilia handwrit
ing might well serve as a model for
many persons 50 years his junior.
He was horn in Denmark anti had
lived ih Omaha 5t years. The resi
dence is at 2208 South. Tenth street.
His wife and two daughters sur
vive.
Livestock Firms
Hard Hit bv Fire
J
Forty Offices Destroyed When
Blaze Damages Chicago
Exchange.
Chicago, Dec. 23.—Offices of 40 live
stock commission firms were reduced
to ruins and one fireman was serious
ly injured today when fire destroyed
the roof and third story of the Kx
change building, in the heart of the
Union stockyards. The fire furnished
Chicago with what has come to be
known ns 4he city's annual holiday
fire in packing town. The damage
was estimated at $75,000.
Starting from crossed electric wires
or a clgaret butt, the fire nte Its way
from the center of the main building
to the western and southern walls of
the building in which 155 commission
firms have their offices. Called from
their homes when the first alarm was
sounded, commission men rushed to
the yards In the hope of saving their
books and records.
As most of the actual business of
the firms is transacted In the yards
themselves, the fire will cause no In
terruption in business.
Practice of Banks
Criticised by Meyer
Washington, Dec. 25.—The practice !
of some banks In advertising that !
they are neither members of the fed- i
eral reserve system nor do they use ;
its rediscounting facilities, is eriti
cised ns injurious to the public in j
terests by Eugene Meyer, managing 1
director of the war finance corpora !
tion, in a letter to J. H. Pullcher.
president of the American Hankers'
association. Mr. Meyer urged that
the bankers' association take prompt
steps with a view to stopping the
! practice.
---
\ Of
I Course,
' You Are
Content
ed, but—
it would add quite a lot
to your resources if you • *
could rent that idle room
of yours.
Have you advertised it in
the “Rooms for Rent"
column of The Omaha
Bee? IJ not, now is the
„ time. < >
Telephone AT lantic 1000
NOW and ifcake a “bee
line” for better results at
lesser cost.
McCormick
Sees Crash
in Europe
Predicts Financial Collapse of
France and Italy Coming
. Unless Allies Adopt
Sound Program.
‘‘Europe Must Save Self”
Washington, Deo. 23.—possibility
of "gravest events before the end of
the winter" in continental Europe
unless the allied governments "act
with an economic wisdom, prudence
and^foresight hitherto foreign to their
l»olicy," is seen by Senator McCor
mick of Illinois, who has Just re
turned from a trip through Europe.
Senator McCormick, in u statement
issued tonight, indicated that his sur
vey of the European situation had
convinced him that the nations of
l Europe must solve their own prob
lems.
Must Agree.
"if tiie governments cannot agree
upon a sound and reliable program
for the definite and final settlement
of the total sum of reparations of
which Germany shall pay ami can
pay," he said, “if they cannot agree
among themselves and with bankers
and investors upon a plan which will
stab.lize German currency, we may
expect tiie franc and lira to start
down the declevity in pursuit of the
mark at the crown and the ruble.”
Any general propositions which
ougiht to lie included in a new repara
tions settlement were outlined by
the senator us:
Suggests Moratorium.
Extension of a moratorium to Ger
many .for several years, conditional
upon an adequately secured bankers'
loan to stabilize the mark to balance
tho -current German budget and to
contribute to French reconstruction
this year.
The prompt withdrawal of “the bar
barous or semi-barbarous Mohammed
troops" from the Rhine and the pro
gressive withdrawal of other troops
as the terms of the morntoriutn and
reparations agreement are fulfilled by
Germany.
“More important to the rehabilita
tion of Europe than any conference,
than any agreement between slates- ]
men and financiers can be,” he added,
"is the exorcism of the spirit of hate
which animates governments and
peoples. I'nless the peoples are
moved by a, Christian will to pence
and by ChNstian comity there can
be no real peace in Europe."
Four Men Are Killed
During Celebrations
I i
Unlontown. Pa.. Dec. 25.—Four men
■ were killed during Christmas celebra
tions in the Fayette county coal field
Sunday night and today. One of the
dead is Frank Hall, formerly of Kan
sas City, Mo., hut at the tiriie of his
death a member of the H. C. Frick
Coke company's police force.
Hall was shot to death when he at
tempted to arrest “Pomp’’ Allen, who
had engaged in an argument with a
number of companions. Allen fired
one shot and Hall, although fatally
wounded, pulled, his revolver and kill
j ed his assailant. The shooting occur
i red at Gates, a mining camp neur
here. *
1-ld Lindsay was killed in a revolver
duel at Footdale. A third mart was
killed in a pitched battle at Buffing
ton.
Greeters to Gather
Here December 27
Hampton. Ia.. Dec. 25—Charles A.
Ryan of Hampton, secretary of the
Nebraska-towa Greeters, announced
that the annual meeting of the or
ganization will be held In Omaha De
cemlier 27. J. F. Egan of Omaha is
president.
Woman’s Club Wins
War on Punch Boards
Scottsblnff. Neli., Dec. 25.—(Special.)
—The civics department of the
Woman's club of this city, which has
been conducting a two months' cam
paign that has resulted in the. re
moval by police of slot machines and
punch boards from pool halls and
cigar stores, has secured the convic
tion of one poll ball proprietor on the
charge of admitting minors.
This department also has announced
the opening of three skating rinks for
children from 9 to 13 under super
vision of club women and with the
help of city authorities.
Washington Floods Recede.
Seattle, Wash., Dec. 25.—Flood
waters of western Washington rivers
swelled yesterday by heavy rains and
melting snows were receding today
under the influence of a drop in tem
perature. Rains had ceased in the
Cascade mountains and the weather
was colder.
Thousands of dollars' damage was
caused by a high \#iiul yesterday,
which swept the Ruget sound coun
try, tearing dow’n telephone poles,
smashing plate glass windows and
tearing loose log rafts. The wind
had subsided today.
Organist Dies Suddenly.
St. Rouis. Dec. 23.—A. H. Rhode.
41, music Instructor and organist at
St. Anthony Catholic church, died
suddenly while preparing to ring the
church bells today.
i
New Orle*-•
“ret” **•' w
Ket^»*V0'. ut in Jail
New Orleans, Hoc. 25.—With the
parish jail holding more than 100
persons arrested on charges of
liquor law violation and hundreds
1 of others sent to their homes by the
IMilice. the holiday was otherwise
passing quietly with all business
suspended.
That a “wet" Christmas prevails
. here was admitted by Rev. A. H.
| Zeimer of the Anti-Saloon league,
1 who said:
“I believe liquor can be purchased
in almost all restaurants in New
Orleans. We have had excellent
work from the federul officers, but
i these are so few in number they
• cannot hope to rope with the situ
ation."
'"Divine Sarah”
Passes Crisis as
if by a Miracle
Madame Bernhardt Said to Be
Out of Danger—Messages of
Sympathy Pour in From
All Over the World.
Paris, pee. 25.—By A. P.—Pro
nounced improvement was noted to
day in the condition of Surah Bern
hardt. While not attempting to min
imize tfie seriousness of her case, the
attending physicians this ufternoon
expressed the belief that she was out
I of danger for the present, at least.
It seemed almost as though that
miracle which the medical men said
was necessary to save the life of the
"Divine Sarah" had happened. Mau
: rice Bernhardt, her son, said tonight
that the improvement was so marked
that the doctors had permitted sev
eral intimate friends to visit the pa
tient.
Spread Through City.
Deports that Madame Bernhardt
I was dying spread throughout the city
yesterday following her relapse in the
early morning hours, when she suf
fered a fainting spell similar to that
with which she wus first stricken last
Sunday during the final rehearsal of
the new Guitry play in which she
was to have appeared the following
evening.
These* repoils caused her home to
lie besieged all day today by promi
nent social, political and theatrical
personages, all eager to know of her
condition.
What she now needs is complete
rest for many weeks, her doctors say,
but to the energetic star the idea, of .
inactivity is most repulsive.
“Dost? I can't rest*—if 1 did Z
would dir,” she Is reported to have
told her advisers.
Cable messages and telegrams have
been received from many countries,
including the United States, express
ing sympathy and hope for recovery.
Believed Out of Danger.
I Discussing his mother's condition,
I Maurice Bernhardt told the Assoclat
I ed Press: *
"We believe she is out of danger,
I although at her uge it is unsafe to
! make predictions until she has com
1 pletely recovered. She is still very
I weak and needs a long rest. All her
theatrical plans necessarily are out of I
the question for a long time.”
Madame Bernhardt’s physicians
said tonight that they would issue no
communique, in view of the change
lor the better. One hopeful sign,
they added, was that their patient was
again taking interest in food.
For the members of her household
one of the biggest problems is to keep
Madame Bernhardt’s mind off the the
ater. She had said repeatedly that if
she could not act any more she would
surely die. •
Britain, U. S., Japan'
May Enter Navy Pact
Tokio, Dec. 25.—(By A. P.)—If
France and Italy fall to ratify the
Washington naval treaty, an agree
ment for carrying it out might be ar
ranged among England, America and
Japan, the peers were told today by
Admiral Ide, speaking in place of Pre
mier Kato, who Is indisposed.
The Last Ship Through
King Boreas has dosed the looks at Sault Ste. Marie, Midi., with Ids blockade of Invincible armor plate Ice.
The last ship through fought a heroic battle against the sheathing ice that massed about the hull and rigging.
Photo allows the Sinaola, laden with grain for Buffalo, and coated with Ice waiting for tugs to break a channel
througli St. Mary river.
Ex-Soldier Slain
Returning From
Christmas Dance
Girl Companion Believed Fa
tally Wounded by Bullets
Fired From Ambush at
Deer Trail, Colo.
Deer Trail, Colo., Dec. 25.—Howard
Hamilton, 24, is dead and Pearl
Coeur, 18, believed to lie dying as the
result of shots suid to have been fired
front ambush us they were leaving a
Christmas dance here early Sunday
morning. Hamilton Is an ex-Hervlce
man, employed as a technician in the
X-ray department of the United States
veterans’ bureau in Denver. Miss
Coeur is the daughter of a rancher
living near here.
Police took Into custody for ques
tioning Oeorgo Griffith, a guest at the
Coeur home, and also Jake Leel, a
Mexican laborer. Authorities were
told that Ueel created a scene at the
dance by walking to the center of the
'public hall in which It was held and
announcing that he would shoot up
the place unless the girls present con
sented to dance with him. He soon
left the hall when requested by the '
management.
Miss Coeur went to the dance with
her purents and Griffith, hut as he
did not dance, she spent most of the
evening in company of Hamilton, and
with him left the hall. As they were
leaving, shots rang out from behind
an automobile and the two victims
fell, Hamilton being dead when
friends got to him. Miss Coeur was
wounded In the back, the bullet punc
turing a lung.
Woman K^eps Xmas Eve
Vigil Over Man She Slew
Louisville, Ky., Dee. 25.—Mrs. O.
L. Jones. 32, shot and killed her
friend, O. L. Black, 44, sales manager
for a Louisville automobile concern,
in her apartment here early last
night and kept u Christmas eve vigil
over his body, she told the police,
until she could summon enough cour
nge to surrender. She declared she
shot Black because ho threatened
her. She walked into police head
quarters after daylight, told of the
tragedy and was placed in jail
charged with murder.
Business Section of
Seliginan (Mo.) Burned
Seligman, Mo., Dec. 25.—Virtually
the entire business section of Selig
man Is in ruins today as a result of
a tire early yesterday. Thirteen
buildings were destroyed with an es
timated loss of $50,000.
I *
Car Laden With Presents
! Hurtles Bank; Driver Dead:
Body of Her Dead Son Only Present for Mother Who
Awaited His Coming; Auto
Hits Tree.
I
Dennis McLaughlin, 39, a fanner
from West Point. Neb., was on his
■>ay home, his machine laden with
Christmas presents, at 9 Sunday
morning, when the car suddenly left
the road at Ninetieth and Pacific
streets and crashed down a 20-foot em
bankment.
McLaughlin's injuries proved fatal.
The automobile struck a huge tree
and machinery, bolts and other parts
of the automobile, intermingled witii
smashed and torn holly-decorated
boxes, were thrown many feet.
Dies in Hospital.
McLaughlin was taken to St. Jo
seph hospital. Six hours later he
died.
Meanwhile at their home in West
Point his mother. Mrs. Mary T. Mc
Laughlin, was putting the finishing
touches to the Christmas prepara
| lions. Her sun was going to spend
Christmas day with her and she was
very happy.
A big Christmas dinner and many !
other festivities had lieen arranged. 1
It was to he a great day for her and
him.
Tn Send Body Home.
But, instead, yesterday the Healey &
Heafe.v undertaking establishment \
sent the body of the young farmer to |
West Point. Instead of a merry !
Christmas crowd of friends and rel- j
atives to greet him, there will lie j
mourners.
Plans for a joyful Christmas were
turned by the tragedy into plans for J
a funeral. .
Kuneial services will be h"■Id i
\\ edncoday.
He ic survive*' by his mother, live
brothers and an aunt, Mrs. .jchli
Craven, 3530 Patrick avenue of this
city. I
V
Airmen to Search
I for Lake Erie Tug
i °
—
| \ essel and Crew of Eight Miss
ing Four Days—Be
lieved Lost.
!
I Cleveland, Dec. 26.—The mystery
I surrounding the disappearance of the
| tug Cornell, missing for four days,
| remained unsolved tonight, and for
the first time it was conceded that
th« tug, with it§ crew eight prob
ably hail gone down. Four tugs which
spent Christmas cruising Lake Erie
reported they failed to find any trace
of the missing vessel. That the Cor
nell, thoroughly dried out by more
than a season of Inactivity, had taken
fire and that the crew had sacrificed
its chances of escape by remaining too
long to fight the flames, was the ex
planation most commonly suggested by
Cleveland vessel men tonight.
H. It. Shaver, superintendent of
| the government air field he?e, rc
| celved orders from the postmaster
! general to enlist all air mall machines
in the search for the Cornell. The
orders were in response to an anpeal
of H. E. Gilpin, president of the
Great Lakes Towing company, which
firm recently sold the vessel to a
Syracuse company for use In Erie
canal traffic.
The Cornell's disappearance paral
lels that of the Tere Marquette and
Itesscmer car ferry No. 2 between
Conneaut, ()., and the Canadian side
In December. 1909. No trace of the
ferry or Its crew' of 30 men were
found.
—
Annapolis
to Offer Annual Prizes
i _
Washington, Dec. 25.—In the hope
of stimulating development among
the midshipmen at Annapolis of qual
ities of leadership! members of the
’97 class at the academy have con
tributed a trust fund from which an
annual prize is to be given to that
midshipman deemed by the superln
tendent of the academy to have “con
tributed the most by his officer-like
qualities and positive character to the
development of military spirit and
loyalty,” in the naval school.
The purpose of the class to make
this memorial was stated in a letter
from J. W. Powell, class president, to
Rear Admiral Wilson at Annapolis.
Mr. Powell said it was the unanimous
desire of the class members to com
memorate its recent 26th anniversary
“in a way that would Indicate the
deep sense of gratitude itB members
feel toward their alma mater and also'
the keen interest that '97 takes in the
wellbeing of the United States naval
academy."
Two Children Suffocated
in Christinas Day Blaze
Battle Creek, Mich., Dec. 25.—Two
[ children, Willison, 10, and Barbara,
ft, suffocated in their home early to
day, shortly after the parents, Way
nard Watts and Mrs. Watts, had fin
ished decorating the Christinas tree.
A fire broke out in the basement
and spread rapidly through the first
1 floor rooms. Watts dashed through
1 smoke and flame to the children's
bedroom, but. failing to find them
i there, ran from the house, lielievlng
1 the Ultle ones already dead.
When the flames were checked
firemen found the bodies of the chil
dren In the bathroom, where they
had gone to escape the smoke.
American Forces on Rhine
Play Santa to 900 Children
Coblenz. Dec. 25.—(By A. P>—Nln*
hundred children were the guests of
Iho American forces at a huge Christ
mas tree celebration. The tree was
erected In‘the Clemens district and i
was beautifully decorated. The chtl-!
dren, led by school teachers, were '
presented with packages containing
warm clothing and toys. A military
band furnished music.
Khlncland post Xo. 7 baud, and Vet- j
era ns of Foreign Wars, fed 500 orp- |
hans at one of the biggest restaurants ■
In Coblenz and tho American Legion '
was host to 300 j
■
r
Two Injured,
One Fatally, as
Autos Collide
Aped Fairbury (Neb.) Man Is
in a Lincoln Hospital
With Fractured
Skull.
Uncoln, Dec. 25.—(Special.)—D. H.
Moredick of Fairbury and Arthur
Goff, a farmer residing near Fair
bury, were seriously Injured at noon
Monday when their automobile col
lided at Fourteenth and D streets.
Physicians claim that Mr. Moredick,
who Is 88, cannot live because of In
ternal injuries and a fracture of the
skull.
Mr. Goff suffers from a deep gash
in his cheek. Mr. Moredlek's son.
Arthur, was taking hla father out for
a ride and was driving east on the
highway, and. Goff, who was alone In
his car. was driving north on D street,
and a house obstructed the view of
both drivers. Mr. Goff is blind in one
eye and did not see the approaching
car.
Mr. Moredick is an old settler and a
veteran of the civil war. His wife died
last week.
First Swiss Envoy
to 1 States Dies
Berne, Switzerland, lJec. 26.—(By
A. P.)—Emil Frey, former president
of the Swiss confederation and first
Swiss ambassador to the United
States, died todny at his birthplace,
Arlesheim, near Basle, In his 86th
year.
M. Frey ropresentH Switzerland in
Washington from 1882 to 1888 and
was elected president of Switzerland
in 1892.
His mission to Washington, how
ever, was not his first visit to the
United States, as he took an active
part in the civil wnr. serving as a
volunteer in the 24th Illinois Infantry.
His record in this wnr was one of
his proudest memories. Captured by
the confederates, he was held as a
hostage until President Lincoln con
sented to' the exchange of a Capt.
Gordon, who had previously been
sentenced to death. Upon his de
parture from the United States, M.
Frey was breveted as a major for
bravery by President Johnson. He
served for 24 years as director of the
International Cable Telegraph union
and was one of the technical experts
attached to the Swiss delegation at
the Genoa conference.
Paris Gay on Christmas.
Paris, Dec. 25.—Christinas eve fes
tivities in Paris were carried out with
prewar zest, .despite the prevailing
high prices. Even folks in moderate
circumstances disdained the tradi
tional blood pudding for more aristo
cratic menus. The prices in restau
rants were slightly lower than last
year, with the result that the cafes
drew capacity crowds, the revelers
dining, dancing and singing until
morning. Large congregations at
tended midnight mass at the churches,
where brilliant niusical programs
were cdhducted.
Ex-Preeident of Panama Dead
Panama, Dec. 25.—(By A. P.)_Er
nesto Tisdel Lefevre, former president
of Panama, died today following an
operation. In addition to the presi
dency he had occupied other Impor
tant governmental posts, being at
various times secretary for foreign
relations.'minister of foreign affairs
and minister of posts and tele
graphs.
The Weather
Forecast.
Tuesday probably fair and colder.
Hourly Temperatures.
.«J» * P- I".M
1 *• . 40 3 p. vn..55
* »• »».35 t p. m.54
n o. m.42 5 p. ..53
10 «• n».45 Op.m. .50
’18111 40
. 45
Christmas
Day Ends
in Tragedy
Whisky-Crazed Man Appears
Suddenly in Family Group
at Seattle and Starts
Shooting.
•-— -
Kills Himself Afterward
—\—
Seattle, Wash., l>ec. 26.—Appearing
suddenly at the home of Mr. and Mr*.
1). C. Kngel, while the Engel family
was gathered around a Christmas
tree today, Emil Neurlter, a ferryboat
operator, shot and killed Anna, Han*
and Elly Kngel, und then committed
suicide.
A half-filled buttle of whisky was
found in Neuriter's pocket. He had
brought three pistols to the house
with him and two of his pockets were
tilled with cart.-l Iges
Two Ollier Children Escape.
Anna Engel was 17, Hans was 11
and Elly was 3 years old. Mr. and
Mrs. Engel and two other children
escaped from the house unhurt.
Eetters found in Neuriter's pocket
mentioned supposed troubles with
, Engel, but did not reveal specifically
; the cause of Neuriter’s enmity.
Neurlter was watting In a shed in
the rear of the house when Engel
stepped out of a hack door during
the Christmas festivities, Kngel told
Coroner W. H. C’Orson. Neurlter
pointed t /n pistols nt him, he said,
and ordered him hack Into the house,
locking the door after the two had
entered.
Starts Shooting.
According to Engel's statement,
Anna Kngel rushed Into the room
and jumped between the two and
Neurlter started shooting. Anna was
the first to faU. Then Neurlter ran
into the living room where 3-year-old
Eily was holding a doll she had taken
from the Christmas tree. He killed
the child with one shot and then en
tered an adjoining room and killed
Mans and lilmnelf.
Engel told Coroner Corson he wn.«
unable to determine the cause of
Neuriter’s enmity. Engel Is a wold
worker.
Lila Lee Dines
i 1,000 Outcasts
Movie Actress Instructs Father
iu Chicago Give Feast to
“Down-and-Outers.’*
Chicago, Dec. 26.—(By A. P.—Near
ly 1,000 "down and outers" turned
their faces to the west today and
thanked the diminutive movie actress,
Lila Lee, for her generosity In fur
nishing them a Christmas dinner, the
"best handout they had had in years,”
they declared.
Last week Miss Lee, who is in Los
Angeles, telegraphed . her father,
Charles Appal, to furnish a Christmas
dlrner “with all the trimmin’s” to
1,000 homeless men and send the bill
to her. That number was speedily
gathered together today at the Hobo
college, and a dinner of large propor
tions set before them.
Miss Mary McCormic. grand opera
star of the Chicago civic opera com
pany, helped make the dinner a sug*
cess by singing several Christmas
songs.
The advent of Christmas In Chica
go was greeted by the singing of car
ols in more than a dozen settlement
and pooi- sections of the cltjr, members
of the Chicago Civic Opera company
taking a leading part in this work.
Among the grand opera stars who
-ngaged in this work were Mary Mc
Cormic, Ina Bourskaya. Melvena Pass
more, Irene Pavoloska, Desire d«
Frere, Cesare Pormichi and others.
More than 100,000 destitute persons
were cared for by newspaper and
charity organizations of the city. Din
ners to families and toys and clothing
to children were distributed to a larg.
er extent through the poor sections
than ever before, it was estimated.
President and Wife Give
Gold Pieces at White House
Washington, Dec. 25.—Kvery em
ploye of the White House down to
the last messenger and kitchen maid
received today a $5 goldpiece with the
personal compliments of the pros!
dent and Mrs. Harding.
The remembrances were virtually
the only Christmas presents given to
individuals by the chief executive and
first lady of the land, and except for
the usual Christmas suspension of
executive business, distribution of the
gifCi was the only variation from the
everyday routine of the White
House. Because of the Illness of
Mrs. Harding, there were no house
guests and no Christmas party.
Mr. Harding took a complete holi
day, going golfing during the morning
and spending a good part of the
afternoon with Mrs. Harding in her
sickroom.
Warren A. Myers Dies.
Springfield, o„ Dec. 3#.—Warren
A. Myers. 37, prominent inanufactut^
er, hunker und former newspaper
publisher, died today of heart disease
after an Illness of two years. He was
secretary treasurer of the Robbins
& Myers company, manufacturers of
electrical equipment, and alwaya was
activo in civic movements. He was
publisher of the Springfield Sun for
a number of years.
*
