The Omaha Daily Bee
VOL. 61 NO. 141.
Iilmt ! Mmtf.CtM tutlw Haa
I Mi.
It iST.
OMAHA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1921.
Mall (I ,url. Oalli , It. ltla IM 41k awttl HW
N.M; M el aw telati W Wall UU, Caaata MMl.t, 174.
THREE CENTS
Oium 0. DIM Att M
Whittlesey,
Way Hero,
Is Missing
Commander of Famous 'Lost
Battalion Disappears From
Ship on Which He
Sailed Saturday. ,
Friends Are Mystified
New York. Nov. 28,-Licut. Co).
Charles W. Whittlesey, hero of the
famous "Lost Battalion," has disap
peared from the steamship Toloa, on
which he sailed Saturday from Hav
ana, according to a wireless today.
News of the famous soldier's dis
appearance came in the following
message received from the captain
of the ship:
Report Is Confirmed.
"Passenger named C. W. Whittle
sey disappeared. ' Left several let
ters." - 1
Officials of the United Fruit line,
operators of the ship, confirmed the
fact that the passenger was Lieuten
ant Colonel Whittlesey through his
relatives. , .
Can't Bxp:am Trip.
Members of Mr. Whittlesey's law
firm here were at a loss to account
for his visit to Cuba. When he left
the offices of the firm Friday he an
nounced his intention, they said, of
attending the Army-Navy game Sat
urday. His business assistants declared
his mind was clear and that he ap
parently was in good health other
wise when last seen. He seemed
cheerful, they added, and declared
they were unable to explain his
seemingly strange action in going
away without notifying them of his
plans.
Hero Was Unmarried.
C. W. Whittlesey, the soldier's
uncle, declared tonight Colonel Whit
tlesey attended the services for the
unknown dead at Washington on
Armistice day and had since ap
peared depressed.
- Colcrfhel Whittlesey, who was 36
dud unmarried, lived in a bachelor
spartment here. When he appeared
at breakfast Saturday he brought a
suitcase from his room. He did not
sav where he was "going.
The crisp, (laconic reply: "You go
to hell, hurled into the teeth of a
German officer who. called on him
and his men to surrender, was the
rhetorical battlefield classic which
brought Colonel Whittlesey 'into
fame. . - .
Battalion Lost Four Days.
Surrounded in thei Argonne with
his command, the. first battalion of
the Thirtieth infantry, 77th division,
he had been cut oft tor four .days
without food or freslr" water. All
but 87 men had been killed or
wounded. At dusk October 7, 1918,
a blindfolded German bearing a
white flag crossed the lines. He bore
a message asking the Americans to
surrender, "in the name of hu
manity." . .
A few hours after the messenger
was sent back with Whittlesey's
reply, an American advance took
place and all were rescued.
His exploit was rewarded by
President Wilson with the congres
sional medal of honor. After the
armistice the German officer who de
manded Whittlesey's surrender
added to his laurels by publishing a
statement extolling the American's
courage.
Territorial Rights
In China Are Defined
Washington, Nov. 28. (By The
Associated Press.) The draft of a
resolution on extra territorial rights
in China was completed late today by
a subcommittee headed by Senator
Lodge, for submission to the far east
ern committee tomorrow.
It provides for an international
commission of jurists to visit China
and report on the administration of
justice. This commission shall be
appointed, one from each of the nine
powers, within three months after
the adjournment of the conference
and shall report within one year. An
other provision would give nations.
'VI iJivit.lili.u, lilt (iglll LI
with tne oonterence powers within
three months after filing of the com
mission s report.
Minnesota -Merchants Tate
Corn on Farmers' Accounts
Madelia, Minn., Nov. 2S. The
''Madelia plan" of the local merchants
of accepting corn, delivered between
November 26 and December 13 at 10
cents above the market price, has
been declared a success.
The decision to accept corn on ac
count and in exchange for goods was
adopted last week by the merchants.
The merchants fixed a minimum of
40 cents for shelled and 35 cents for
car corn, and agreed to accept as
high as 100 bushels from each farmer.
Final Decision on Naval
Issue Possible This Week
Washington, D. C, Nov. 28. (By
The Associated Press.) The Amei
; ican delegation held a long confer
ence yesterday which was devoted, it
was understood, to a discussion of
the matters now before the confer
ence. The .impression within the
delegation was that the question of
the naval armaments was rapidly
coming to a head, with a final de
cision possible this week.
Yiviani Engages Passage.
Washington. Nov. 28. (By The
Associated Press.) Rene Viviani of
the French delegation, has engaged
passage to return home on the French
line steamer Paris, sailing for France,
December 14, provided the work of
'f:e conference has been concluded by
'hat time,
"Lost Battalion" Chief
Disappears From Ship
tf TTT
"- v. .
II II MM
1 . fj
a
Major Whittlesey.
Vatican and Japan
May Establish
Relationship
Apostolic Delegate to ToJuo
Instructed o Congratulate
Prince Hirohito on Eleva
tion to Regency.
By The Aorited Prwa.
Washington, Nov. 28. rope Bene
dict, according to information re
ceived here, has instructed the apos
tolic delegate who is going to Tokio
to congratulate Prince Hirohito on
his elevation to the regency and to
thank him for the visit he made to
the Holy See. It is expected these
intercourses will lead to the estab
lishment of diplomatic relations.
The apostolic delegate, who will
leave Rome soon for Tokio, has been
appointed to the place held for four
years by Monsignor Fumasoni, first
apostolic delegate to be stationed in
Tokio. It is believed a papal nuncio
will then be appointed as the diplo
matic representative of the Vatican in
Tokio, while a Japanese ambassador
or minister will be sent to the Vati
can.
Many of the preliminaries to the
probable establishment of diplomatic
relations, it is understood, have been
conducted through Commander
Yamamota, an ardent Catholic.
It has long been the desire of the
leaders of Roman Catholic Japanese
to have closer relations established
between Japan and the Vatican. .
Almost all the Catholic churches
in Japan are under the direction of ;
the- priests of-the French mission, " j
Man Confesses Murder
Of Idaho Falls Grocer
Idaho Falls, Nov. 28.-Ed Nelson,
arrested at 11 Sunday morning at
the home ot his brother, Uuy, is
said to have confessed to the murder
and attempted robbery last night,
of Stephen A. Browning, merchant,
at his grocery store. . Guy Nelson
was also arrested although his
brother maintains he vaas alone in the
crime. Browning fought a ' pistol
duel with the bandits before he him
self fell fatally wounded. ,
Nelson telephoned to his mother
to come and dress wounds in his
left arm and thigh and she notified
a doctor who in turn informed the
sheriff. Both young men bore good
reputations. The alleged murderer
claims his failure to obtain work and
money prompted his action.
Woman's Arrest Reveals Plot
To Beat Auto Insurance Firms
New York, Nov. 28. Alleged nation-wide
activities of an organiza
tion to defraud insurance companies,
particularly those writing automobile
risks, is behind the arrest Saturday
at Philadelphia of Miss Hazel Whit
aker, according to officials of the
automobile underwriters detective
bureau.
The case was put into the hands of
the federal Department of Justice, of
ficials said today, because of its scope.
It has been under investigation for
more than one year. Previous ar
rests were made in Los Angeles,
Washington and Baltimore.
$1,000,000 Block of Victory
4 3-4s Disposed of at Par
New York, Nov. 28. One block
of$l,000.000 of victory 4 3-4s sold
at par, their previous high record of
the year, on the stock exchange to
day and this was accompan'ed by
other dealings in "the ' same issue,
making $1,500,000 in the final hour.
Purchases of liberty bonds and vic
tory notes during the day were
roughly estimated at more than half
of the entire trading, which totaled
about $23,000,000 par value.
Would an Offer
of
$100,000
Reward
Interest You?
Watch for
Announcement in
Next Sunday's Bee
Farm Aid
Loan Firm
Is Planned
Nebraska Bankers and Busi
ness Men Will Meet Here
Wednesday to Organize
Company.
More Funds Availabl
A conference of bankers and
prominent business men of Nebras
ka has been called to ' be held in
Omaha Wednesday to form an ag
riculture and live stock loan con
pany to obtain Nebraska's full allot
ment of finances from the war
finance cornoration.
A telegram received yesterday by
F. H. Davis, president of the Oma
ha Bankers' Clearing House associa
tion, from Eugene Meyer, jr., man
acinar director of the war finance
committee in Washington, stated
that "Nebraska has not been re
ceiving as much financial aid as it
might from the war finance cor
poration.
Conference Results.
Mr. Davis immediately called a
meeting of the directors of the
dparincr house association and the
calling of a conference next Wed
nesday resulted.
The telegram from Mr. Meyer
read: '. , ,
"This is an opportune time for the
banking business interests of your
state to organize an agricultural and
live stock loan company to make
loans to farmers and live stock men
in Nebraska and thus make available
under the War Finance corporation
the amount of money they wish to
borrow. Nebraska has not been re
ceiving as much financial aid from
the war finance committee as other
states on account of the lack of co
operation of loan companies."
Farmers Complaint.
Lack of financial aid from the
federal reserve board and. the War
Finance corporation has 'been the
plaint of Nebraska farmers and bank
ers during the present' business de
pression.
Immediately following the meet
ing of the clearing house directors
yesterday, telegrams were -sent to all
Nebraska bankers and prominent
business men to come to Omaha
Wednesday to form a loan company
to endorse loans from the War
Finance corporation to farmers.' ,
It was stated at the recent con
ference in Omaha of the federal re
serve board directors of this .district
with Nebraska ' bankers that this
state had received not more, than
$2,000,000 in loans from the War
Finance' corporation.- .
State Need $10,000,000.
"Nebraska needs at least $10,000,-
000 to tide the agriculture interests
over this depression, said i. ti:
Davis yesterday.
ToseDh Millard, chairman of the
board of directors of the Omaha
National bank, stated last Friday
that Nebraska could use "between
$15,000,000 and $20,000,000 at this
time. , '
Mr. Davis said that the Nebraska
farmer could obtain financial aid
from the war finance committee with
the help of responsible endorsers.
The proposed agricultural and live
stock loan company will act as en
dorser for the country I banker and
farmer, Mr. Davis said.
Updike in Conference
With Director My
Washington, Nov. 28. (Special
Telegram.) Nelson B. Updike, pub
lisher of The Bee, accompanied by
Joy M. Hackler of Omaha, spent the
day in Washington, leaving for In
dianapolis in the later afternoon in
company with Eugene Myer, jr.,
managing director of the, war
finance corporation.
Mr. Updike, who has just been
appointed a member of the corn
belt advisory committee, which' has
its first meeting at Indianapolis to
morrow, came in for a conference
with Mr. Myer, but learning that the
head of the War Finance corpora
tion planned to attend the meeting
at Indianapolis made his plans ac
cordingly and they held their con
ference en route.
During the few hours Mr. Updike
was in the national capital he paid
his respects to Postmaster General
Hays, Indian Commissioner Burke
and officials of the shipping board
and called at the offices of Senators
Norris of Nebraska and Norbeck of
South Dakota.
Ohio University Students '
Win Stock-Judging Contests
Chicago, Nov. 28. Students from
Ohio State university won first place
in the collegiate live stock judging
contest held at the Interna
tional Live Stock exposition, it was
announced last night. The Ohio
team scored 4,178 points out of a
possible 5,000, winning first honors
in the placing of sheep and horses.
Ontario college was second. Other
schools finished in this order:
' Oklahoma, Purdue, Kansas, Ne
braska. Pennsylvania State. Missouri.
ilowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota. Ken
tucky, Texas, Colorado. ,
Italian Police Disperse
Anti-French Gatherings
Rome, Nov. 27. Several demon
strations against the French embas
sy, were attempted today as an af
termath of the excitement caused by
the publication of Washington dis
patches alleging use of harsh words
by Premier Briatid of France against
Senator Schanzer at the Washing
ton conference. The police dispersed
the demonstrators.
There wre, further anti-French
demonstrations Saturday night in
Genoa and Naples,
Bodies of Racer
And Team of Dogs
t Found Under Ice
The Pas, Man., Noy.,r
ing parties, who hv ''.o'f ,v
Moose Lake.S,vl-V
earch
uring y of
nrro
niber 15.
Thro( .V ,rent ice, the
body cV ern in eight feet of
water i upright on the (led,
partly covered by an eiderdown robe.
Stretched out in front were the nine
racing dogs.
Opposing Forces
Try to Influence
Hardin on Tariff
Extreme Protectionists Urge
Speeding Up of Bill, While
Liberal Element in
Favor of Delay. ,
Washington, Nov. 28. Opposing
forces are at work in an effort to
influence President Harding's posi
tion on .the tariff as it will be out
lined to congress in his message at
the opening of the new session next
month. t
The extreme protectionists desire
President Harding to urge the speea
ine uo of the long-delayed tariff leg
islation and its enactment into law
at the earliest possible moment. Fur
thermore, thev are eager that the
president shall strongly support the
American valuation plan as incor
porated in the tariff bill passed by
the house and now before the sen
ate finance committee.
The opposing group, made up of
rnore liberal protectionists within the
republican ranks, are endeavoring to
convince the president that no harm
would be done by a longer delay,
in view of chaotic conditions
throughout the world and the dif
ficulty of framing a satisfactory tar
iff measure, borne ot this group
would be glad if the whole tariff
question could be put over until after
the congressional elections in 1922.
Some of them are opposed to the
American valuation plan and would
like President Harding to abandon
his support of it.
Events of the past month have
served to emphasize the uncertain
ties surrounding the tariff situation
While the leaders in congress have
not admitted any change in their
plans to press the tariff legislation
as expeditiously as possible and to
adhere to the American valuation
clan, there are increasing evidences
that many;months will elapse before
the measure is enacted into a law
and there is a strong possibility of
the rejection ot the American val
uation plan through a combination
of the democrats and a minority of
the republicans on the floor of the
senate.
With' the tariff situation present
ing so many disturbing features, the
republican leaders frankly admit that
the political, possibilities are of sen
ous ; moment to them. The leaders
regret greatly that the tariff could
not ; have been disposed of in the
special session of congress, in ae
cordance with the original plan. Such
action, they believe, would have
made it possible to demonstrate the
good ' features of the measure m
advance : of - the congressional elec
tions of next vear.
Passage of the bill some time next
spring or early summer, they fear,
will not give suthcient time to prove
that the criticisms emanating not
only from the democrats but from
many in the republican party, are
unwarranted. They admit that the
campaign against the American va!
uation plan, participated in not only
by the importers but .by the leading
wholesalers and retailers throughout
the country and by the American
.farm .Bureau tederation ana wom
en's organizations, will be hard to
combat until the plan has been in
actual operation for a year or more.
Police Still Baffled
By Murder Mystery
Gallup, N. M., Nov. 28. Mystery
continues to surround the slaying of
J.. W. Blackwell, jr., and his wife on
the front porch of their home last
Friday night. Their bodies were
discovered Saturday morning. Each
had been shot through the breast.
Blackwell was a nephew of the
founder of the Bull Durham Tobac
co company. Blackwell s father,
who lives here, and the latter'
brother also founded the town of
Durham, N. C, to which place the
bodies of J. W. Blackwell, jr., and
his wife will be sent for burial.
Former Army Lieutenant
Fatally Injured in Crash
Los Angeles, Nov. 28. Emery
sogers, iormer lieutenant in inei
aviation corps and an instructor atlniy-une ingageu in iass
various eastern flying fields, was in-
jured tatally late yesterday in a
crash at a field near 1 here main
tained by a commercial flying club.
Spectators said his monoplane was
about 40 feet up and traveling rapid
ly when Rogers attempted a turn,
The plane crashed sideways.
Passengers Mistaken
For Detectives by
Robber Arrest Him
Detroit, Nov. 28. Mistaking for
detectives two fellow travelers on a
Michigan Central train arriving here
today, John Petkewicz, 17, confessed
to them that he had participated in
the $28,000 payroll holdup outside
the A. G. Walton & Co. shoe
factory at Chelsea, Mass., last Sat
urday. He turned over -to the two
citizens $5,000 in cash which he said
was his share of the loot.
I know you are detectives." he
told M. J. McDonough of Detroit,
and M. M. Coney of Chicago. They
questioned him at length and the lat
ter beginning to suspect they were
not officers demanded the return of
the money. They turned him over
to the police.
"My Word
Reavis Denies .
Might Practice
Law in Omaha
Congressmen, Reported to Be
Ready to Resign, Has
Had Ambition to Go :
, To New York.
Reports "that Congressman C. F.
Reavis of the First Nebraska district
may resign, in order to practice law
in Omaha, led Mr. Reavis to make
a statement yesterday in which he
declared any report of his resigna
tion was unauthorized and denied
specifically that he contemplates
practicing law in Omaha.
Friend of Mr. Reavis have known
for some time that he might not be
ayerse to leaving congress, but they
have understood that his ambition
was to become an attorney in New
York City, emulating his friend,
William Hayward, formerly of Ne
braska City and now United States
district attorney m'New York.
Mr. Reavis is now at his home ;n
Falls City, having come from Wash
ington Sunday for a brief visit dur
ing the congressional recess. His
statement to The Bee was conclusive
as to the rumor that he might locate
in Omaha.
"No one has beenuthonzed to
sav that I may resign from con
gress, he said, furthermore, mere
is no truth whatsoever in the re
port that I may practice law in
Omaha."
Mr. Reavis recoru in. congress
since 1917 has won him much com
aciidation and he was touted several
months ago as a likely candidate for
the republican nomination for United
States senator. Recently, :t has been
understood that he would not seek
this nomination.
Historic Old Locust
Trees Ravaged by Wind
Defiance. Nov. 28. The last of
five red locust trees on the grounds
around the local public library, said
to have grown within the walls of
Gen. Mad Anthony Waynes fort,
was partly blown down Dy wind.
Attorney E. H. Sutphen asked per
mission to make an effort to save a
branch, still standing, at his own
expense. Jt the ettort tans tne tree
will be distributed as fuel among
needy families by the Defiance Wel
fare league.
f,... -r, i . pi
Industry Held by Grand Jury
New York, Nov. 28. The federal
grand jury late today returned ay in
dictment charging 51 individuals and
S3 corporations in the window glass
industry with violation of the Sher
man anti-trust law. J. M. Neenan,
president of the National Glass Work
ers' union, was indicted on similar
charges.
Obregon Invited to
Meet Foch in Texas
San Antonio, Tex., Nov. 28.
President Obregon of Mexico has
been invited by the American Le
gion of Texas, to meet Marsha!
Ferdinand Foch when the allied
leader visits San Antonio, Decem
ber 7. Wayne Davis, state com
mander, wired the invitation to Mex
ico City last night
Rain Scares "Women Traffic
Cops in New York From Duty
New York, Nov. 28. Hundreds of
New York's 2.500 women reserve
traffic cops, called for duty for the
first time, took one look out into the
cold, dismal rain today and decided
this was no time for christening their j
Munmng new uniforms,
! Is It Hari-Kari for Me?"
Astronomer Discovers
New Planet Near Mars
Buenos Aires, Nov. 28. (By The
Associated " Press.) The discovery
of a new planet in the group of as
teroids, which revolve between the
orbits of Jupiter and Mars, is an
nounced by Dr. Hartmann. director
of the observatory of the University
of La Plata.
The planet is of the 14th magni
tude and is seen at present from this
latitude in the constellation Cetus,
which lies south of the "great
square" of Pegasus, now visible in
the evening sky. '
Europe Slighted at Arms
Meet, Says Stinnes Paper
Berlin, Nov. 28. (By The Asso
ciated Press.) Europe is being
treated as a negligible quantity at the
Washington conference, in the opin
ion of the Deutch Algemeine Zei
tung, the. organ of Hugh Stinnes,
leading German financier. It sees
evidence in the circumstances that
curtailing of naval, armaments has
been given primary consideration
and that the issue of land armaments
is not causing the conference appre
hension. This attitude, says the
newspaper, "giyes France an indefi
nite franchise to continue her dev
astation on the European mainland."
The speech of Premier Briatid out
lining to the conference France's
need for a large army is character-:
ized as "purely speculation in -American
sentimentality and credulity."
Two-Day Storm Buries
New England With Snow
Boston, Mass., Nov. 28. New
England was glazed over or melting
out today and its transportation and
wire service were interrupted after a
two-day storm of sleet, snow and
rain. -There was a snowfall of 15
inches at Portsmouth, N. H. .
Convict Who Played Violin
For Goverjior to Be Pardoned
Austin, Tex., Nov. 28. Enriquo
Razo, the young Chilean convict who
played on his violin before Governor
Neff and his party while they were
inspecting the prison last week will
receive his pardon in time to be at
home in El Paso on Christmas, Gov
ernor Neff announced today.
Porto Ricans Arrive to
Ask Removal of Governor
New York, Nov. 28. A. R. Bar-.
celo, president of the Porto Rican
senate, with three other delegates of
the unionist or independence party, ar
rived today, on their way to Wash
ington to ask the removal of Gov
ernor E. Mont Reily.
A Correction
W. E. Perry, 1705 Ontario street,
arrested Saturday evening in con
nection with an automobile crash at
Twentieth and Leavenworth streets,
was not charged with drunkenness,
as erroneously reported by The Bee,
nor did he procure his release in po
lice court by pleading that his baby
had become entangled in the steer
ing wheel
The car driven by Perry collided
with another while both were travel
ing at a slow rate of speed. Perry
was booked by police on a charge ot
reckless driving but the arresting of
ficer told Judge Wappich that the
accident was unavoidable and that
Perry was not to blame. Ferry's
wife and child were in the rear seat
and were not responsible for the acci-
ceni in any way
Revenge May
Have Prompted
Hatchet Murder
Police ' Investigate Two
, Theories in Slaying of
Petrusa Hidden Money,
. Jewelry Found.
Either robbery or revenge may
have been the motive of twe men
who hacked Charles Petrusa with a
hatchet on his room on the second
floor of 1517 Cuming street, Sunday
night. He died yesterday in a hos
pital. Detectives found rings, pins;
watches and other jewelry and $90
under the mattress. They also
found postal money order receipts
for more than 25,000 Italian lire, sent
by Petrusa to Italy. The lire has
been worth from 4 to 7 cents in the
last year, so that the 25,000 lire rep
resented from $1,000 to $1,700.
A hatchet stained with blood and
hair, and a hammer were brought
to the station by the detectives.
Fingerprints on the handles are be
ing preserved as evidence.
A large sum of money which Pe
trusa usually carried on his person
was missing. Two loaded revolvers
and a loaded shotgun in ' his room
indicated that he had been threat
c-ned and feared an assault. .
A man giving the name Robert
Rule, 308 North Tenth street, was
arrested by Policeman Heisler in the
alley back of the house and is held
for investigation. Another man
' who was with him escaped. A load
ed revolver was in Rule's pocket.
James Hawkins and William Hi
ley, roomers at the Cuming street
house, heard two men go up to the
victim's room, but paid no attention
to them. A little later they heaid
Petrusa's groans and found him ly
ing on the floor of the rogm in a
pool of blood.
Scottsbluff Girl Killed
When Wall of Cave Gives Way
Scottsbluff, Neb., Nov. 28. Ruth
Tompkins, 5, was crushed to death
when the walls of a cave, which had
been dug by herself and playmates,
caved , in. She was buried under
about two tons of dirt. '
Children Burned to Death
Montreal, Que., . Nov. 28. Two
children were burned to death and
their mother and grandfather seri
seriously injured yesterday when fire
destroyed nine tenements in Rose-
mont, in suburb in northeast section
of the city.
The Weather
Forecast.
Nebraska Partly cloudy Tuesday
and 'Wednesday; somewhat cooler
Tuesday.
Iowa Partly cloudy Tuesday and
Wednesday; not much change in
temperature.
Hourly Temperatures.
5 . m. ........SO 1 p. pn.
a. m 30 t p. m. ..
7 m. m. ........SI p. m. ..
a . bi 4 p. m. ..
t b. in. ........St p. m. ..
10 m. ........ lit p. m. ..
11 B. St 7 p. p. ..
It boob U S p. n. ..
" Highest Monday.
Cheyenn ...SS'Pueblo ....
Davrnport ...... .40 Rapid City
Denver Salt Lake
T Mnnm .....4, Santa Fr ...
Dodge CUr ...... Sloui City .
Lander ...54 Valentin ..
S4
'.1...4U
...SI
...4
...iJr-
...(4
...(
.Nortn natto
Hhlnprra' BalMla.
Protect ehlpmcn'a during th next t4
tA 34 bourn from temperature a follows:
North. 3 ilerieea; wet, 24 drar . ship-
J menta east and aoutn cao wade
afelr
Defense In
Arbuckle
Case Rests
Cane Near End as Film
Comedian, on Stand, Issues
Sweeping Denial to
AH Charges. ,
Court Room Crowded
Mr Til .taaorlatetl Frraa.
San Francisco, Nov. 28. Roscoc '
Arbuckle, motion picture comedian,
spoke his first lines today in a tragic
drama of which he has been the cen
tral figure since its inception .
September , 5, last. Arbuckle told '
from the witness stand fcis own
story of the happenings at a party
in his room at the Hotel St. Francw
here which preceded by a few days the
death of Virginia Rappc, one of those
who attended. It wasat this party
that the girl received injuries which
caused her death, the prosecution
contends and it is that allegiation
that forms the basis of Arbuckle's
trial, now drawing to a close on the
charge of manslaughter.
The defense closed its case ft
5:25 after a vain attempt to obta'i
admission into the record of a stavv
mcnt by George Glennon, house 6c
tectivc at the Hotel St. Frantis,
which it was contended, would ex
onerate Arbuckle of any responsi.
bility for Miss Rappe's injury.
Every one concerned regarded to
day's developments as the principle.
scene of the drama. The expectation
that Arbuckle would testify drew a
large crowd for the morning session
and word that he already was on
the stand drew one of about '.he
same size for the , afternoon sin'ng
of court.
Large Crowd at Trial.
Due to the failure of the dcf:ise
to qualify a witness it had summoned
as an expert, Arbuckle took the
stand before the time set for him to
do so. His direct examination was
completed in 10 minutes, his attor
neys leading him over the ground to
be covered in such a short time tiiat
it surprised many in the courtroom.
In a clear, loud voice, Arbuckle de
nied that he inflicted the injuries cr.
Miss Rappe that have been charged
against him.
"When I went into my room (Jib
ing the party to dress for an engage
ment I had with a friend, Mrs. May
Taube, I found Miss Rappe on the
bathroom floor writhing and moan
ing," he said. "When. I opened the
door of the bathroom it struck against '
her..
"I assisted her in the, bathroom, all
I could. Then I placed her on the.
bed in my room and continued t as
sist her. She ' was moaning and
writhing and nothing she said could
be understood by me."
Tells About Mrs. Delmont. ,
"Where was -Mrs. Delmont?" lie -was
asked by his chief counsel.
Mrs. Bambina Maud Delmon', a
guest at the party, brought the or
iginal charge of murder against Ar
buckle, which later was reduced in
a police court hearing to the man
slaughter charge on trial.
"Mrs. Delmont appeared while we
were trying to assist Miss Rappe. She
told me to get away from Miss
(Turn to rajo Two, Column Six.)
Omahslns in Theater
Blast at New Haven
A number of Omaha students at
Yale were in the Rialto theater, New
Haven, Conn., Sunday night when
an explosion started a fire which
wrecked the building, killing at least
three and injuring 79.
Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Norton, Colo
nial apartments, received the follow
ing telegram from their son, Rug'-,
yard, a Yale student:
"Theater burned. Was in it. All
Omaha fellows safe. Rudyard."
Among the other Omaha youths
at Yale university are Robert Mil
lard, Dick Stewart, son of Dick
Stewart, 2d; Jasper Hall, son of Mrs.
Richard Hall: Denmau Kountze. son
of Mr. and Mrs. C. JT. .Kountze:
Chick Neville, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Elmer Neville, and Walter Preston.
lames Connell, also a student
there, is home at present for the
wedding of his sister, Regina.
Dry Agents Are Not Liable
If They RaidWrong House
Washington. Nov! 28. Prohibition
agents who raid the wrong house af
ter exercising the usual care cannot
be held to blame, Prohibition Com
missioner Haynes in effect held to
day in exonerating E. B. Henson, a
special agent, from charges pre-
ferred by Mayor Stewart of Savan-"'
nah, Ga.
Government Not to Oppose
$50,000,000 Argentine Loan
Washington, Nov. 28. The State
department has been apprised of steps
which have been taken in connection
with the proposed loan of $50,000,
000 by a group of bankers to Argent
tina. The loan will not be opposed
by the government, it was said to
day. -
Police Battle Friends of
Water Front Strikers
New Orleans, Nov. 28. Two hun
dred and fifty policemen battled for
an hour today with union sympa
thizers of striking river front work
crs. The battle extended over a
space of five blocks. Numerous ar
rests were made and a number of in
jurel were sent to hospitals.
Densest Fog of 20 Years
Holds London in Its Grin
London, Nov. 28. London was
groping today in what is said to b
the densest fog in 20 years. Tele
phone systems have been disorgan
ized for four days, during which
time the vaporous folds have, spread "
over a wide provincial area,