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BRUNSWICK Has the lowest death rate of any city its size in the United States ....... VOLUME XXII. (NO. 232. DR P. H. COMAS PLACED ON TRIAL UNDER CHARGE OF FRAUDULENT INSOLVENCY BAXLEY BANK (After Hearing Evidence of Sev¬ eral Witnesses State Rests Case, Which Will Be Resumed At 9:30 O’clock This Morn¬ ing. When Judge P. W. Meldrim recess¬ ed the superior court at 6:00 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Solicitor-protein Mark Wilcox announced that the State had closed in the case of Dr. P. H, Comas, of Baxley, charged with fraudulent insolvency of the Baxley Banking Company, which institution closed its doors on May 26th, 1922. ■the case was brought to Glynn county on a change of venue. The defense introduced several character witnesses who declared that they had known Dr. Comas for many i years and that his reputation was good. The court then announced that a recess would be taken until 9:110 o’clock Wednesday morning, allow¬ five ing J#i"e ju'. rs to go to their respec homes, with the injunction that they were not to discuss the case nor allow anyone to discuss it with them. When the court convened yesterday at noon the selection of a jury was taken up, several panels being called before twelve men were selected. The jurors c7M.Vcddicord7w. chosen were J. S. Owens^H.' M. Symons, T. verstein, T. K. Mroczkowski, E. L. ! Motts, K. E. Ammons, W. A. Whittle, Jr., R. J. Odum and A. M. Drury. Solicitor General Wilcox outlined Che State’s case to the jury, pointing the counts in the indictment that been returned by an Appling anty grand jury against the defen- ! ant. Judge Ed Graham followed the solicitor, summing up what the do fense would attempt to prove—that there was no fraudulent insolvency on the part of the defendant. Tlje case then went to trial on its evils, fL.'igj*. ‘Meldrim ruling that 'V counsel would have to confine them¬ selves strictly to the rules governing the interrogation of witnesses. The court did not mince words in calling counsel to account for the violation of the injunction laid down. And they adhered strictly to tho court’s ruling. Several times the court parlied, good naturedly, with the, attorneys, evok¬ ing' many audible smiles on the part or counsel and spectators. The first witness introduced by the State was Thomas Arnason, special auditor for the state banking depart¬ ment. Mr. Arnason stated that he went to Baxley at the'instance of the superintendent of banks and on ar¬ rival there he conferred with Dr. Comas and J. G. Harmon, officers of the bank, which institution were clos¬ ed. The keys were delivered to him by Dr. Comas. The witness then went into a lengthy statement, showing the amount of liabilities and assets of the defunct bank, as he found them. it was customary to call a meeting of the board of director of a bank in this condition, stated the witness, but in this instance it had not been done. He found, stated Mr. Arnason, the total amount of assets to aggregate $267,398, while the liabilities totalled $329,050.14, the liabilities not including the Book capital Missing stpek. Cash The witness stated that when he en¬ tered into an investigation of the bank’s affairs, he found the cash book missing. When this was made known to Dr. Comas, president,, and J. G. Harmon, vice-president and cashier, they expressed surprise and made ev¬ ery effort, as far as he could ascer¬ tain, to locate it. It was never found. At this juncture the court stated that it was immaterial as to the cash book, if the items on it had been trans¬ ferred to the ledger, or any' other book. That the items were account¬ ed for, The Baxley bank was closed the first time on February 8th, 1921, and re-opened on July 1st, 1921. The witness stated that the deficit of the bank was attributable to the shrink¬ age in values of its collateral, con¬ sisting principally of farm lands. Counsel for the defense brought out ' with some emphasis that Dr. Comas » «j,«d never borrowed a dollar from the bank, that his name was not attach¬ ed to any paper found among the bank’s assets. The witness stated that he hail never heard any direct charges brought against the defen¬ dant by the directors. Mr. Arnason stated that there were many bank failure during that year—1921. He further stated, in reply to a question by Judge Graham, that there was no record of Dr. Comas ever having been paid any salary as president of the 'bank. When the bank failed there was $95 in cash found in the institution. It had $83,000 worth of land as collater¬ al, however. There were no fraudu (Contmued en page 8.) THE BRUNSWICK NEWS THE NEWS IS A MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ALLEGED RUM RUNNER HAS BIG SUM MISSING WHEN BODY IS FOUND (By Associated Press.) New York, May 29.—Investigation the mysterious sinking of the lugger, John Dwight off Vine¬ Haven, Mass., with the loss of of several, revealed that James Graves, of Lynhurst, N. J,, one of the victims, had one hundred thou¬ dollars in his possession when the ship sunk, federal authorities said The money was missing when Crav¬ en’s mutilated body was washed on the beach. WILL NOT RESIGN FROM POST HE DECLARES GENERAL DENIES RUMOR THAT HE IS TO QUIT CABINET (By Associated Press.) Washington, May 29.iiAttornay H. M. Daugherty returning Washington after a period of rest 0hl °’ t0(lay attended the first . meeting in several weeks and reports which have been eir that .ip would soon resign. | Have heard nothing, know nothing j reports published 'in Ohio that I to resign.” Daugherty said, “T better and a m beter than since on activriy' ‘‘The frequency with which these that T am to resign spring up certain quarters 1s certainly a bit he said. President Harding is understood to discussed plans for his western with Daugherty last night and to¬ l The itinerary w a s virtually com¬ last week but announcement of I was withheld presumably because President Harding's desire to cover final plans with Daugherty, who j bis pre-convention manager in and who since then has been one his foremost advisors. THOUSAND PERSIANS i DIE RESULT OF ‘QUAKE j I LAdUNU ACT1WP POD run UBIIIK nuuiva , Allahabad, British India, May 29.— Advices to the newspaper Pioneer Teheran state that one thou¬ persons have been killed by an at Turbat-I-Haidari. The shocks covered a period of sev¬ eral hours. Turbat-I-Haidari is a small Persian j in Khorassan, a North Central ; which forms part of the j Iranian Desert plateau. The general elevation of the country is somewhat less than 2,000 feet'and it is cut up into many fertile valleys that alternate with barren sand The town is about 65 miles southwest of Meshed, the capital of Khorassan. KILLS PRIVATE AND INJURES TWO AT FORT BENNING MILITARY CAMP Fort Benning, May 29.—Albert Schneider, Company of H, Pensacola, 29th Infantry, Fla., private j was by lightning last night while on his bed in quarters. Two others were badly burned. (By Associated Press.) Indianapolis, May ex-service men and other veterans the World War will receive the port of the American Legion in sweeping program adopted at the cent meeting of the national tive committee of the veterans’ ganization held in Indianapolis. The Legion will conduct a paign to obtain changes in the Bill, which, according to a report mitted to the committee, provides lief for only 1,000 disabled men stead of caring for 15,000 veterans the Legion had expected. Defining the organization’s against intolerance and religious judice, the following resolution adopted: “The American Legion in executive session, wishes the of our beloved country to know she must consider as unfriendly nation any individual or group BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 1923. AXE MURDERS ' BAFFLE POLICE OF BIRMINGHAM Nineteenth Victim Found With Skull Crushed By Single Blow TWENTY=EIGHTH ATTACK IN CITY IN TWO YEARS Eighteen Persons Have Lost Lives And Seventeen Have Been Injured—Robbery Evi¬ dently Motive. Birmingham, ‘ Ala., May 29.— Charlie Graffeo became the thirty fifth victim of Birmingham’s mysteri lous “axe murderer,” when his body ivas found behind a counter in fiis store in an outlying residential sec¬ tion early tonight. The skull had been crushed by a single blow with an axe. Police records show that this was the 28th similar attack during the past two years in which 18 per¬ sons have lost their lives and 17 have been injured. From, the police investigation, the slaiyer of Graffeo had apparently en¬ tered the store with the pretense of buying oil. A bottle with a funnel in it stood on the oil tank and a nickel meant for payment of the oil, lay up¬ on tlie counter. The victim’s pockets and the cash register had apparently been rifled. Alleged perpetrators have been sent to jail in only three of the long list of cases. Police claim to have solved the other cases, declaring the wounded victims refused to prosecute 01 . co-operate in obtaining eonvic tions. Police declare they have divided the axe cases into two classifications. In the first instances grocerymen and cafe owners have been the vic¬ tims; in the other group the inter-, mingling of the races is said to have been involved. Theories regarding the crimes have covered a long range. While the at¬ in some cases have apparently had robbery as the motive,. jn some idea has been advanced that they were the result of quarrels between, negroes who had stolen property and men ‘ who were acting as fences in dis pos irif , of the proper t v . WOMAN WANTS REFUND ON 31=YEAR=0LD TICKET New Orleans, May 29.—Request for a refund on an unused half fare ticket issued thirty-one years ago for passage between East View and Big Clifty, Ky., on the Newport News and Mississippi Valley Railroad, was re¬ ceived here today at the office of W. H. Brill, general passenger agent of the Illinois Central Railroad. The value of the ticket at the time it was issued was approximately 10 cents. The claim came from Mrs. Nellie Terry Rogers of Henderson, Ky., to whom the ticket was issued. It was dated May 31, 1892. While the claim- was filed in regu¬ lar form it was taken at the general passenger agent’s office as a joke and as a means of transmitting the ticket to the archives of the company. YOUNG MAN KILLED IN ACWORTH MILL Acworth. Ga., May 29.—Ralph Fow¬ ler, aged 25, and half owner of the Acworth Building Supply Company and Box Factor}, was killed here early today while feeding a rip saw in the factory. A plank caught in some manner as it went into the saw and was hurled back striking Fowler on the forehead. organization which eomdemns a Com rade because of creed or belief.” That all instruction in public schools shall be given in the English language, except the actual study of foreign tongues, was the sentiment of the meeting, which voted to ask Congress to enact legislation provid¬ ing federal control over the education systems in the states to that end. Other legislative measures which the Legion’s governing body author ized the organization to support are: Adjusted compensation for all vet ; erans, ,declared to be certain of adop tion by a safe margin in the next Con gress. Creation of a standing committee in the House of Representatives to take care only of veteran legislation. Retirement privileges for disabled emergency army officers. Enactment of a universal draft law by which the President, 1 in the event of war, would be empowered to draft r........... % SHORTAGE OF FOOD ♦ CAUSES KILLING ♦ EIGHTY CHINESE •f - + (By Associated Press.) -f Shanghai, May 29.—Shortage ♦ of food in the bandit stronghold ♦ at Paotzuku before the kidnap- ♦ ing of a number of foreigners ♦ from the Shanghai-Peking ex- ♦ press on May 6 is the cause for ♦ the brigands to throw eighty ♦ Chinese prisoners to their deaths ♦ ♦ ffom the mountain cliffs, accord- ♦ ing to information received from ♦ Father William Lenfers, German ♦ priest who made several trips to ♦ the outl- w headquarters.; ♦ Tho information from Father ♦ Laniers. came in a letter from ♦ the prelate at Lincheng and de- ♦ dared the prisoners’ feet were ♦ ♦ bound and each labelled with ♦ name and identification before ♦ hulled to their death, ♦ ♦ One of the prisoners was a ♦ woman and was thrown over the ♦ high cliff with a child in her ♦ -f arms. Later the bandits notified ♦ ♦ the families of the massacred ♦ ♦ captives of their deaths and per- ♦ ■f mitted removal of the bodies. ♦ ♦ ♦ •J* -F. L ■f L -f -f ♦ > ♦ -f "f ♦: SHIPPING BOARD CONSIDERS OFFER FOR SALE FLEET WILL INVESTIGATE AN OFFER MADE OF MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS (By Associated Press.) Washington, May 29.—The Shipping Board will investigate thoroughly the offer of more than one billion dollars received yesterdap for the entire gov¬ ernment merchant fleet. Chairman Lasker said today, and if the bidders back up their proposals “there can be no doubt that the board will make the award to them.” The offer was presented by John Slack, president lot the Columbia Postal Supply Com¬ pany, of Silver Creek, New York. It is proposed to pay one billion, fifty-one million dollars “for all ships, active, inactive and all other property of the Shipping Board, real, personal and mixed.” The initial payment of fifty-one mil¬ lion dollars would be made October 1st, this year, and fifty million yearly until the entire sum is paid. PENNSYLVANIA MAN MAY BE PRESIDENT OF KIWANIS CLUBS (By Associated'Press.) Atlanta, May 29.—Reports of stand¬ ing committees featured the general session this afternoon of the Kiwanis Club's International now holding seventh annual convention here. With Denver virtually decided upon for the next convention, interest turned to contest for 1925 convention city and Seattle Seattle and and Portland Portland in the northwest were joined by St. Paul, Minn., in making bids tor the meet¬ ing. Candidates for next International president also were discussed with the name of Elwood Turner, of Ches¬ ter, Pa., prominently mentioned. TENNESSEE WILL HONOR ANDREW JACKSON TODAY (By Associated Press.) Greenviile, Tenn., May 29.—States¬ men, congressmen and many others prominent in the life of Tennessee and the nation will mingle with thou¬ sands of lesser rank in paying tribute in this city tomorrow to the memory of Andrew Johnson at a dedicatory service of the handsome memorial building erected for him by the state of Tennessee. capital, labor, industry and transpor tation, as well as man power. Authorization of an archives build¬ ing in which to preserve records of the war. Investigation of the disposition of funds approximating $9,000,000, re¬ maining in the treasuries of various war relief organizations with a view of obtaining unexpended funds or an association of administering agen cies with the Legion in order that j the money can be used for relief work j among ex-service men. j Congressional and state surveys of j federal and state prisons to ascertain prison ! conditions among ex-service I ers found mentally abnormal as a re j suit of war service, Preparation of a history textbook, ! designed to remove all possibilities of propaganda and prejudice effecting school children, was delegated to the Legion’s national Americanism com¬ mission. One volume, written by a LEVADAS CASE IS SET FOR HEARING MONDAY MORNING i BOTH STATE AND DEFENSE AN¬ j 1 NOUNCE READY WHEN 1 CASE SOUNDED i __ Judge P. W. Meldirim made the ! an nouncement from the bench yesterday ; that the case of the State vs. S. D. Levadas would be tried next Monday ' morning, June 4th, following an¬ nouncements by the State and the de¬ fense that they were ready to go to trial. The case against the Greek, who is ; charged with the killing of Mike Cou velas, prominent Greek merchant, was sounded in the superior court yesterday prior to the calling of the case against Dr. P. H. Comas, of Bax¬ ley, who is being tried on an indict—j ment charging the wrecking of the Baxley Banking Company. The court i announced that the Levadas case j would be the first taken up Monday morning. Attorney Frank M. Scar lett, representing Levadas, announced ready when the case was called yes-, j terday. James T. Colson, represent-j ing the prosecution, after a a confer ence with Solicitor Genera] Alvin Sellers, announced that the State was jready ranrlv fn to nYopparl proceed. / ! Judge Meldrim stated that the case would be assigned for next Monday \ and instructed counsel to have all wit ! nesses present at that time. The | C^Jlas case was then sounded and both sides announced ready. The Levadas case will be one I the most sensational tried in the lo cal court in years. It will be recalled that he shot and killed Mike Couve las, one of the most prominent mem¬ bers of the local Greek colony, on Friday night April 13th, at the cor j ner of Gloucester and Wolf streets, ; near the back gate of the home of | Peter Devaris. It is alleged that the slaying of Couvelas was the result of j his attentions to the sister of the de I fendant, who, it is unuderstood, will ! plead the “unwritten law” in his de ! fense. Levadas claims that he warn¬ ed Couvelas to desist in his atten¬ tions to his sister and when he per¬ sisted in entering her home, the shoot¬ ing followed. Levadas surrendered to an officer following the tragedy and has been confined in the county j: :l since. He waived preliminary trial and was in¬ dicted by the, grand jury. It is said that the testimony will disclose some sensational features, as a score of witnesses have been summoned by both the State and the defense. GOVERNMENT PLANNING COMPLETE INVESTIGATION (By Associated Press.) Benton Harbor, Mich., May 29.— Rumors that the federal government plans to investigate the House of David colony here is given partial substantiation by the presence In this city of several operatives of the department of justice. These agents are examining the colonies mail, ob lining names of possible witnesses and seeking information about cult marriage and divorces. One of the matters under investi¬ gation it is reported is the fact that on several occasions Benjamin Pur¬ nell, the missing cult leader, is alleg¬ ed to have been accompanied to Chi¬ cago by gorls of the colony. EXPLOSION AT PLANT HERCULES POWDER CO' AT FAYVILLE KILLS FIVE (By Associated Press.) Fayville, 111., May 29.—Five men were killed and three injured in an explosion at the Hercules Powder Company here today. The explosion was in a gelatin packing plant, in which the five were killed were working. The cause of the blast has not been determined. number of historians of national prominence, is ready for consideration by a Legion committee which will be appointed by Commander Alvin Ows¬ ley. The National Civil Service Reform League was scored by committee members for its opposition to the in terests of ex-service men. It was stated that out of 63,000 appoint ments in government work, only 18, 000 were veterans. A special com mittee will investigate the. situation and will file protests to th’e govern ment. Desecration of the remains of Pri vate George Dilbov, awarded the posthumous Congressional Medal of Honor, by Turks in their advance on Smyrna was the subject of a resolu¬ tion which asked the United States lo demand that the Turkish govern¬ ment pay proper respect to the last resting place of the American soldier, Congress was asked by the commit- BRUNSWICK IIN.QViriC Has a landlocked harbor, the best on the South Atlantic Coast....... CLARA PHILLIPS, MURDERESS, NOW IN NEW ORLEANS Reached Crescent City From Honduras In Custody Of Officers WILL LEAVE THERE TODAY FOR PACIFIC COAST In Cood Spirits And Says She Returned Voluntarily to Prove To World Her innocence— Killed Mrs Meadows. (By Associated Press.) New Orleans, May 29.—Clara Phil¬ lips. who escaped from the Los Ange¬ les jail last December after her con¬ viction for the murder of Mrs. Alber¬ ta Meadows, returned to the country today from Honduras in the custody of California officers and was tonight resting in the New Orleans parish house of detention preparatory to stalling tomorrow on the long jour¬ ney to the Pacific coast. Mrs. Phillips arrived in buoyant spirits and lost little time in telling the newspapermen she returned home voluntarily to establish her inno¬ cence. Mrs. Phillips just before her de¬ parture from Puerto Cortez stated in a message to the correspondent of the Associated Press at Tegucigalpa that she was innocent of the crime of which she was convicted and that the “opportunity will soon come for me to prove it.” She said she would give out a statement on her arrival here. Mrs. Phillips came to New Orleans during the Mardi Gras season last February from Mexico, in company with a man known as Jesse Carson. Without arousing suspicion as to her identity, she remained here for sev¬ eral days in a fashionable uptown home, awaiting the sailing of the vessel which took her and Carson to Honduras. FATHER AND SON AFFECT RECONCILIATION WITH MRS. PEGGY LANIER (Atlanta, a., May 29.—Fatherly blessings were bestowed upon Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Lanier, of Macon bv Dr. J. D. Lanier, former Macon dentist, who now has an office in Atlanta, just before the .young couple Aft for Macon this afternoon. Mrs. Lanier, formerly Miss Peggy Lewis of Atlanta, had sued Dr. Lanier for alienating the affections of Sid ney and also had sued Sidney for ali¬ mony, alleging desertion. “Since my son has ratified the mar¬ riage and is perfectly happy. I’m. go¬ ing to stand by them.” Dr. Lanier said. ‘‘The entire matter could have been settled earlier if there had not been too much lawyer in the case.” SPECIAL COURT TOTRYSHRINERS MISDEMEANORS THOSE M HO BUN AFOUL OF THE LAW IN WASHINGTON WILL BE TRIED Washington, May 29.—Shriners who run afoul of the iaw in Washing¬ ton during Shrine week will have the option,of trial before a special “court” of Masons, charges provided involving they^are only arrest¬ misde¬ ed on meanors. -l Nineteen “justice’s” will compose the “court,” with I. R. Hitt, former United States commissioner for the District of Columbia, “as chief jus¬ tice.” • :‘ There will be fifty “judge advo¬ cates” or special prosecutors, and the clerical force will number twenty three, under William S. Adkins, clerk of the criminal division of the District of Columbia _supreme court. “The court” is organized with the approval of the governing authorities of the District of Columbia and the police in making arrests of Shriners on misdemeanor charges will turn their prisoners over to this ‘‘court,” which will sit in the National Guam Armory. ■ 1 At the district. attorney’s office, it was stated today, however, that where serious cases of disorder oc¬ curred those accused of participation would be brought to trial in the regu¬ lar courts. 1 • HALF MILLION DOLLAR FIRE AT BALTIMORE SAW MILL (By Associated Press.) Baltimore, May 29.—Fire at the mill of the LaFayette Lumber com pany caused a loss estimated at a half million dollars. OF PURCHASE SILVER FOR TIME BEING (By Associated Press.) Washington, May 29.—Announce¬ ment was made by the treasury de partment tonight of suspension of the silver purchase under the Pittman act until it can be determined defi nitely whether estimates of offers al- j ready accepted will exceed a hundred million ounces which the law author ized the government to buy. ______ CONFERENCE OF NATIONS URGED BY COPELAND NEW YORK SENATOR ADVAN¬ CES METHOD OF SOLUTION WORLD S TANGLE (By Associated Press.) Raleigh, N. C., May 29.—An im¬ mediate business and economic con¬ ference to include all nations and from which would be barred all po¬ litical differences and intrigue, was advanced as the one possible solution of tangled world affairs by United States Senator Royal S. Copeland, of New Y ork, in an address at the an nual u commencement exercises • at North Carolina State College. Par¬ ticular stress was laid on world con¬ ditions as they effect the American farmer. ‘‘We are living in a fool’s paradise,” Senator Copeland declared. “In cer ttrin lines in America we have pros perity, but the idleness of the rest of the world should warn us that our prosperity is likely to be transient.” The trouble of the world is not war nor the fear of war, the speaker de¬ clared, but is discontent born of idle¬ ness. “What the world needs is work,” he said. “It needs to be busy to restore peace, to obliterate scars of the great war, to wipe out hatred, to calm fears and agitation of the world’s mind there must be found a way to' put the world back to work.” Turning to the world court as pro¬ posed by President Harding, Senator Copeland said, “I feel that the Pres¬ ident has missed an opportunity to give the world a whole loaf instead of a crust. To say nothing about the rest of humanity, our own country be satisfied with this single suggestion.” EVIDENCE IN CONNECTION WITH VETERANS BUREAU INVESTIGATION COMPLETE (By Associated Press.) Washington, May 29.—Some of tho evidence gathered in the senate com¬ mittee investigation of the Veterans’ Bureau has been turned over to the Department of Justice for possible criminal action against individuals in¬ volved. Charges so far laid before the at¬ torney general relate to alleged frauds in connection with dental work at veterans’ hospitals, but it was in¬ dicated that the Department of Jus¬ tice might be asked within a few days to take action also against certain persons connected with the purchase of hospital sites and other property for the Bureau. PROPOSED ROUTE OF DIXIE HIGHWAY MEETS APPROVAL Atlanta, May 29.—A petition from number of Georgia cities between Ga„ and Jacksonville, Fla., that the route of the proposed Highway from Greenville, S. C. Jacksonville be officially adopted by the Dixie Highway asociation has referred to the executive com¬ for inspection and report. The was presented at the meeting the board of directors of the or¬ during the Chattanooga tee to make appropriation for the care of stranded and needy veterans in foreign lands, which now taxes the resources of Legion posts in many parts of the world. It was also de¬ cided to proceed with the study of the Asiatic question by authorizing con j tinuance of the orientals from committee Wash on plea of committeemen i ington, Oregon and California. When members of the committee [ asserted that the present allowance | of $100 for the burial of poverty j stricken veterans is inade<jiiate, it I was voted to ask the government to ; increase the sum to $250. Provisions will be made by the Le- j fgion to care for orphans of World War veterans, according to action j I taken by the committee, following a I report that within five years the num j her of these dependents will be so 1 great that the work of caring ig ipr j them will compare with that flj^e 'habilitating \eterans PRICE FIVE CENTS Ij