Newspaper Page Text
~ - THE BRUNSWICK NEWS; -
VOLUME xxx“. NO. 66.
m-
LIBBY HOLMAN REYNOLDS IS
Indictments Accusing Her of
Murder in Connection With
Death of Her Husband are Nol
Prossed
BRINGS ABRUPT HNI)
TO SENSATIONAL CASE
Ab Walker Also Given Freedom
When State’s Attorney De=
dares Evidence Insufficient to
Convict.
Winston-Salem, N. C., Nov. 15. </P)
—Libby Holman Reynolds, former
Broadway star, was freed today of
charges of murdering Smith Rey¬
nolds, her millionaire husband, shot
to death at his home here last July.
Solicitor Carlisle Higgins announc¬
ed in Forsyth county court that the
state of North Carolina would nol
pros the charges against the former
torch singer and also the indictments
against Ab Walker, of Winston-Sa¬
lem, close friend of the dead Rey¬
nolds, jointly indicted with Libby.
Libby was not in court when Hig¬
gins made his statement. She was
represented by counsel. Benet Poli
koff, one of her attorneys, said the
nol pi-os was “satisfactory to the de¬
fense.”
Higgins statement follows:
“After a careful investigation in
this case in which the defendants arc*
under indictment for murder, I am
thoroughly satisfied that we have
not sufficient evidence to justify the
case in going to trial. I am author¬
ized to say that Sheriff Transou Scott
and Assistant Solicitor Erie McMich
ael, both of whom have made careful
investigations, concur in this opin¬
ion. ,
1
“It, therefore, becomes my duty to
determine what course the state shall
pursue and likewise any other ques¬
tion of human judgment. There might
be an error of judgment. If I pro¬
ceed to trial without sufficient testi¬
mony any discoveries of additional
evidence hereafter would be of no
avail.
“If I pursue the course I have de¬
cided in this case, if there should he
additional evidence hereafter the
state could proceed to trial. In de¬
termining the course that I should
pursue I have decided that if I make
a mistake it will be the one that
leaves a way open for its correction
hereafter.”
“If the defendants are not guilty,
the least the state can do now is to
stop the prosecution. If they are
guilty, then the door should not be
closed to a prosecution should suffi¬
cient evidence to justify it be avail¬
able at any time hereafter.
It will be recalled that practically
all of the evidence which is now avail¬
able and so far as I know, all of the
witnesses who attended the party.
Likewise the evidence of all persons
who were in the house at the time of
killing as well as the evidence of the
physicians who made the post-morten
examination and found the evidence
insufficient to justify a charge
against any person and while, the
grand jury who preferred such a
charge, and while I have no criticism
to make of their action, for I know
that it was honest and sincere, yet the
grand jury did not have the benefit of
the evidence of any witnesses who
was present at the party or who was
in the house at the time of the shoot¬
ing. For these reasons, I request
that a nol pros be entered in this
case.”
By taking a non-suit, Higgins can
at any time move to bring Mrs. Rey¬
nolds and Walker to trial merely by
appearing before a judge and moving
that the case bg reopened on the
grounds of newly discovered evidence.
Formal entering of the nol pros
was delayed momentarily while court
attaches w*ent in search of Sheriff
Transau Scott who was not in the
courtroom when Higgins made his
statement.
Walker also was absent.
W. N. Reynolds, uncle of the dead
youth, who requested that the charges
be dropped, was present, accompanied
by his attorney. Reynolds satisfactory. said the
solicitor’s course was
Charges of “willful and premedi
) tated” murder were preferred against
the 20-year-old widow and her co-de¬
fendant in an indictment voted Au¬
gust 4 by* the Forsyth county grand
jury. j
T oung Walker was arrested at!
once, but the whereabouts of Mrs.
Reynolds were unknown to officials.
Sheriff Transou Scott, who worked
up the case, directed a widespread
search, In several states seeking her
arrest.
But the accused widow evaded de¬
ohna tection, and slipped into North Car- - - - i
to surrender only after all ar-!
rangemente had been made to insti- j
(Continued -- Page I
on 3.)
Freed By Court
Libby Holman Reynolds, former
Broadway blues singer, who today
was cleared of charges against her
in connection with the alleged slaying
of her millionaire husband. Smith
Reynolds, of Winston-Salem. . Charges
of murder against her were dismissed
at the request of the state’s attorney.
Dyson Is Freed
In Slaying Case
By Mobile Jury
Mobile, Ala., Nov. 15. (TP)—‘Ray¬
mond Dyson, 27-year-old Fairhopg
contractor accused of murder in the
“honor slaying” of Henry M. Butler,
Jr., Mobile social leader, has been
freed.
A. verdict of acquittal was return¬
ed yesterday afternoon 28 minutes
after the jury began deliberation. Dy
son and his wife, 'clasped in one an¬
other’s arms, were both crying as the
clerk read the finding. ,
Dyson, during the trial, testified
his wife’s confession of intimacies
with Butler led him to lure him to a
hotel here on a pretext of business
for questioning because the contrac¬
tor was “uncertain of the paternity
of my son.”
A surly answer from Butler, the
contractor, led to a fight in which
Butley was knocked down. Dyson
gagged him and tied his hands to
keep him quiet until a physician could
be summoned to attend his injuries,
to he death. sald^ Butler was found strangled
Dyson’s brother, Sam Dyson, also
was indicted in the slaying and is
still to be tried.
STARTS IIS PROBE
INVESTIGATION INTO THEFTS
OF DYNAMITE AND BLAST¬
ING OF LINES OPENED
Atlanta, Nov. 15. (fP)—The Fulton
county grand jury today began an in¬
vestigation of the dynamiting of pow¬
er transmission line towers of the
Georgia Power Company and alleged
thefts of the explosive from govern¬
ment storehouses.
The investigating body questioned
a number of witnesses presented by
Solicitor General John R. Boykin.
Chief Sturdivant of the Atlanta po¬
lice and George Mathieson, head of
the county police, were also in con¬
ference with the grand jury.
The office of Sheriff Jamps I. Low r
ery said deputies are working in an
effort to obtain information concern¬
ing the dynamiting and alleged
thefts.
Chief A. W. Lilley, of the DeKalb
county police, one of those to appear
before the grand jury identified a
quantity of dynamite as being part
of 600 sticks stolen in DeKalb county
three weeks ago.
The explosives, recently discovered
in various parts of Atlanta, which
Lilley identified, were taken the of¬
ficer said, from the county magazine
two miles from Decatur. He said a
heavy lock on the magazine was
smashed and a heavy chain across the
door broken to gain entrance.
Lilley said six cases, each contain¬
ing 100 sticks of the explosive, were
stolen from the magazine. He said
the dynamite was of a destinctive
type and not used ^ in other north
Georgia counties.
STATE IS “SANTA CLAUS”
Sacramenton, Calif., Nov. 15. (TPj—
An indefinite number of violators of
California’s prohibition enforcement
act, confined in prisons and jails, are
expected to be out of their cells by
Christmas through executive pardon.
California voted last week to repeal
act.
mm
BRUNSWICK, GA.. TUESDAY. NOV. 15. 1932.
Appears in Federal Court and
Relates Futile Steps He
to Prevent Failure of lltili
ties
SAYS HE CONFERRED
WITH MANY
Hearing Was Held to
Whether There Were Possible
Hidden Assets of Two Com**
panies.
Chicago, Nov. 15. (/R)—Samuel In¬
stil], Jr., told in federal court today
of the futile stops he took a year ago
to persuade New York and Chicago
banks to “go along” with Insull Utili¬
ty Investments, Inc., and Corporation
Securities Company to tide them over
until loans could he paid and receiver¬
ship avoided.
The younger Insull told of confer¬
ences with officials of hanks that had
loaned millions of dollars to the
firms, now bankrupt. The hearing
sought to determine whether there
were possible hidden assets.
“In December of 1 iK’,1,” said young
Insull, who received $70,000 a year as
president of both companies, “we de¬
cided the point was being reached,
where, because of declining market
values, tin* company could not con¬
tinue to post collateral for the bank
loans.” *
Instill said other officials of the fi¬
nancing companies, including bis fath
er. Samuel Insull, Sr., now facing ex¬
tradition from Greece on charges of
embezzlement and larceny in connec¬
tion with tin; collapse of his $2,000,
000,000 utilities companies, delegated
him to confer with the banks.
He was instructed, Insull said, to
obtain agreement of the banks not to
sell collateral held as security for
loans. The collateral consisted of
stock in underlying utility operating
companies of the two financing corn
panics. Dumping of the stock held by
Hie banks would have had a serious
effect on the market, he said.
Insull, Jr., said he visited live Chi
banks on December 15, and ofii
cials of each indicated they would ad
here to a “stand-still” agreement if
the New York banks holding loans
would do likewise.
Officers of the National City Bank
and ol tin* Guaranty Trust Company
hi New York, he said, reached no de
vision.
At. one point, lie said, officials of
father Guaranty Trust asked if he and his
would endorse the loans.
all “T believe,” young Insull said, “that
my property except a little real
estate was tied up in the companies
and that therefore my endorsement
would be of little value.”
TWELVE THOUSAND
TO GUARD PRINCE
Belfast, Northern Ireland, Nov. 15.
—More than 12,000 men will guard
the Prince of Wales when he arrives
here tomorrow to dedicate the new
buildings at Stormont.
Four thousands of them will be
armed, and all ol them are a part of
elaborate precautions ot be taken
f °l' the safety of the heir to the British
throne during his three-day stay in
the capital.
Only a few weeks ago Belfast was
the scene of violent street rioting, and
although this rioting was not connect
?d with the prince’s visit, some groups
in \ U northern mnd ho\*t\ Ireland I n.lo Oil have l \ o f' I, announced I,
their hostility to his presence.
So complete have been the precau¬
tionary steps that the whereabouts of
the heir to the throne at any given
moment while in Belfast will he offi¬
cial secrets. The time of his arrival
may not be announced more than a
few hours in advance.
FOX HUNTERS OPEN
SEASON IN STATE
Monticello, Ga., Nov. 15. (TP)—
Hounds by the scores yipped and
yowled over the hills of Jasper coun¬
ty today in a test of breeds as Geor¬
gia Fox hunters.opened their annual
chase.
Packs of walkers were pitted
against packs of julys and owners
argued over the outcome as seven
mounted judges followed the dogs.
Some 200 hunters were assembled for
the chase , today , and , all ,, hounds , were
ruled eligible for the initial cast,
,
It was a big day for Monticello and ;
means a big week for the hunts will
last through Friday. - A bench show.
a barbecue' and fox hunter’s ball also
are ori the program.
The hounds were quartered last
night in the basement of a big brick
building and identifying numbers
painted “oniicu on mu their tnMir hides njii'-a in ui preparation prenaraiiuii
for the- sun-up general cast this ruom-
Plan Presented to World Con
ference Receives Considerable
Good Will But Given Little
Hope
AMERICAN GROUP IS
REPORTED FAVORABLE
Italians Have Informally Ex*
pressed Degree of Skepticism
Over Feasibility of Some of
Features.
Geneva, Switzerland, Nov. 15. (TP)—
French proposals for achieving disar¬
mament and security, presented yes¬
terday to the world disarmament con¬
ference bureau have been, generally
received with a great deal of good
will but the comment is widely heard
that the plan is tremendously com¬
plex.
The American delegation here ap¬
peal's well disposed toward the
French system, especially because the
Americans believe it affords a basis
for meeting Germany’s arms equality
demand and getting Germany back
into the disarmament conference.
Resumption of that conference
with all powers represented is consid¬
ered an essentially preliminary to
the success of the disarmament un¬
dertaking. When Baron von Neu
rath, the German foreign minister,
conics here for the League of Nations
council meeting on Monday of next
week strenuous efforts will be made
by representatives of the other pow¬
ers to reach some agreement on the
issue of German equality.
The Italians have informally ex¬
pressed a degree of skepticism over
the feasibility of some of the French
proposals, notably that for the crea¬
tion of an international army under
the control of the league, and that
for the maintenance of war malei
ials stacks under league control. j
Among the Germans, and in other
emphasize quarters also, the there formidable is a tendency nature of to ]
I
several questions raised by the
French plan, for example, be the proced-1
ure which would necessary
concluding the proposed continental i
security pacts, the difficulties of re-j
organizing national armies as pro- i
posed by France, and the questions in-'
volved in special supervision international and inspectionj
the troops
anc j their equipment. been British j
There ," has no com- i
m( n p
Christmas Club
Members to Get
Many Millions
New York, Nov. 15. (TP)—A total
of $441,000,000 will be distributed
within the next two weeks to 10,500,
000 members of .Christmas clubs by
7,000 banking and other organizations,
it was announced today. '
Herbert T. Rawl, president av-1 of
Christmas Club, Inc., said that the
erage distribution against $47 would depositor be $42 last per j j
person per
year. But this year’s $42, he pointed:
out, will purchase more goods than'
last year’s larger average
Due to the improvement in the last
fall of the nation’t banking situation,
he predicted that greater impetus
would be given to the Christmas club
movement • in 1933. « . i
Of the total distribution, it was
estimated that $167,500,000 would be
used to purchase Christmas presents;
$128,500,000 for permanent investment
or savihg; $48,500,000 to take care of
year-end hills and other commitments;
$44,000,000 for taxes; $26,500,000 for
mortgage interest and similar charges;
$22,000,000 for insurance premiums
and the balance of $0,000,000 for edu¬
cation, charity, travel and similar pur¬
poses.
COLDER WEATHER
FOR WEDNESDAY
New Orleans, Nov*. 15. (/P )—His
rigid march halted for two days by
southern winds, Winter was expected
to blow another cold wave into the
south tomorrow and Thursday, spread
ing chill and freezing temperatures
from Virginia to Texas, and sparing
only Florida.
The weather bureau predicted the
cold wave, accompanied by rain, would!
tonight spread freezing winds over!
Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas and j
creep into the northern portions of
Louisiana and Mississippi and the i
western part of Tennessee. j
•ii Georgia, ? V the Carolinas ,..... and Virginia • j |
wul not reel , the , , blast until tomorrow
night.
j
j
John 1). Rockefeller, 3rd, grandson of the founder of mu* of the world’s
largest fortunes, and his bride, the former Blanchette Ferry Hooker, of
Greenwich, Conn, are shown after their wedding in Riverside Church, New
York,
LOSERS AI CAPITOL
GROANS AND MOANS FROM DE¬
FEATED AND CHUCKLES
FROM VICTORS ARE HEARD
By CECIL B. DICKSON
Associated Press Stall' Writer
Washington, Nov. io. \A i Noises
classified as groans and moans and
others rated as chortles and chuckles
are reverberating up and down the
corridors of the house office building
these days.
Last Tuesday’s election is the
cause of it all.
Secretaries of nearly 100 defeated
Republican bouse members are mak¬
ing the mournful sounds. The glee¬
ful notes come from secretaries of
victorious Democrats.
Frcqucnt consolation parties arc
being held in various offices by
dejeetod Republican contingent..
pat.hy is exchanged and plans for the
unknown future beginning March 1
are discussed.
Jubilation is expressed by t he Don.
erratic lass,-,; and they can hardly rc
strain themsfelvcK from inunnK Uu*
Republican mourners.
As one secretary to a delealed lie
puhhcan .? Prominence said:
Was it a shock? Ill say ,t was.
And my boss who has never been
wrong ....... before, ..... told me everything ........ ............ was
all right. 1 wouldn’t mind it. so much
if those smirking little Democratic
stenographers wouldn’t rub it in.”
A veteran secretary to a southern
Democratic member answered:
“Those smug Republicans. Humph,
I’m glad they got a licking. They
thought they couldn’t be beaten.
They lorded it over us for ten years
and used to brag that, the country
wouldn’t trust t,h<- Democrats because
they said we had an inferiority com¬
plex and didn’t know how to do the
job of running the government.
“They are singing a different tune
now.”
And so on, until night.
MILK STRIKE DISPELLED
Gincinnati, ()., Nov. 15. UP) The
threat of a milk “famine” temporar¬
ily dispelled, residents of the greater
Cincinnati area found the familiar
bottle hack on their doorstep when
they awoke today. A three-day
strike of union milk wagon drivers,
in which several of their substitutes
were beaten, wagons overturned, de
liveries suspended and police swamp
with ,. a |j.. f 0) . assistance, ended
last night, with dealers and drivers
agreeing to arbitrate a proposed 20
pcr ccnt waRC reduction.
TREASURY FIGURES
Washington, _____ Nov. 15. (TP)—Treasury
receipts for Nov. 12 were $4,737,-
278.29; expenditures, $10,019,635.03;
balance, $669,713,642.67. Customs du
ties for 12 days of November were
$10,966,063 .18
TWELVE HOUR TYPHOON SURG¬ j
ES LAND AN1) SEA AND j
TAKES HEAVY TOLL I
~ 77,,.
'“kyo, Nov ,, * ^ ! -Mote than .,
100 persons were reported dead ">'
missing today in the wake of a 12
hour typhoon that: scourged and and
tin! , .!li ruins h : , and l 0 1 k r\^ 100-mile St, ra t ^ gale, , 1 ton ’ f ' n "!
a
The fishing villages of Fuluisliima
prefecture reported 13 motorboats
with more than 100 fishermen aboard
as missing.
The freighter Cnkai Marti, earlier
reported in distress, went aground
on Osliima island at the mouth of
Tokyo hay. Fishermen rescued nine
members of the crew, hut the 22 rc
maining aboard were feared lost,
Tho home office early tonight an
nounccil total casualties ashore were
26 dead, 25 seriously injured and 26
missing. This did not include the
loss of life at sea.
The total number of houses de-1
strayed 'w'ud.ng those burned to- ,
talhnl and those seriously dam- \
aged 4.413, according to the home of-j
f Hje figures.
rho typhi.on ziuie included the pro
lectures of lokyo Chiba, kanagawa, I
Shizuoka and I* iikushima, t he ^‘'i* 'I
>*''»• ”»'»*'> (-he lwu«t Of the '
damage.
Kanagawa prefecture, 1 v’. 1
the cities of Yokohama and Yokosu¬ i
ka reported 15 of the deaths and in
Tokyo proper (here were three.
slides claimed most of tlx* victims. urns. 1
More than ,, 760 „„„ , houses were destroy
«*d and 2,0(10 badly damaged in Tokyo
prefecture, and in the capital itself
40,000 houses were partially and tem¬
porarily flooded.
The destroyer Ikazauc.hi was blown
ashore- but was refloated later with
only minor damage.
SET NEW RECORD
Los Angeles, Nov. 15. (TP)- -Now
the holder of three major air speed
records, Colonel Roscoe Turner says
he docs not expect, to trv
ecast -to-coast flight, unt il next spring.
Colonel Turner yesterday added a
new east-west, transcontinental
ord to his list when he flew from New
York to Burbank, a Los Angeles su¬
burb, in 12 hours and 38 minutes,
breaking Lieutenant Commander
Frank Hawks’ record by 2 hours, 17
minutes, fie averaged 208 miles an
hour over the 2,540 miles.
LOAN AUTHORIZED
Washington, Nov. 15. HP)—The in¬
terstate commerce commission today
authorized the Gainesville & North
• western Railroad Company, which is
in receivership, to borrow $22,000 from
the Reconstruction Corporation. The
money is to be used to pay various
i debts owned by the company and for
repairs to equipment and maintenance.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
Pending Meeting Between Pres*
ident Hoover and President*
Elect Roosevelt Officials Say
Nothing
BELGIUM TAKES PART
WITH GREAT BRITAIN
Conference Between Leaders is
Expected to Take Place Next
Week to Discuss International
Problem.
By The Associated Press
Official silence has settled in world
capitals pending the significant meet¬
ing soon to e<(m<* between President
Hoover and Pri‘sidont-Elect Roosevelt
on European |n*titions looking toward
prolongation off the moratorium and
war debt re visa on.
Belgium today pointed Great Britian
and France in communicating its views
to this country. The next was with¬
held temporarily at Washington- pos¬
sibly pending the arrival of the presi¬
dent from the; west tomorrow.
lie on the speeding train and Mr.
Roosevelt in Albany prepared for their
meeting, expected early next week.
Members of congress Imek at their
Washington desks continued private
dioussions of the situation, there being
no indications: of change from the at¬
titude of opinosition to revision that
was expressed by resolution last year.
Stale department officials kept their
views to themselves, the position be¬
ing that Mr. Hoover alone can state
Hu* administration position as of tho
present.
Washington, Nov. 15. (TP) — A debt
problem of world import, involving bil¬
lions of dollars owed this nation, to¬
day summoned to counsel two of its
chosen leaders, President Hoover and
President-Elect Roosevelt.
To the chief executive speeding east
ward to tin* White House, the next
president dispatched an acceptance of
Mr. Hoover’s invitation to confer, ex
tended after Great Britain and Franco
bad requestml a re-examination of
obligations aggregating over $8,000,
000 000
Their conference, at a date to be set,
w «s <nnsider,*d a vital step in plotting
this government’s future action in the
international financial controversy de¬
scended from the war and an import¬
ant. prelude to the final decision which
rests with congress.
Closely watching developments, leg¬
islators already were voicing different
views. But from them protruded the
possibility that congress may prefer
a default of any or all of the $123,000,
000 due from European nations De¬
cember 15, to a further moratorium
pending a debt settlement.
This would leave the obligations on
the hooks at their present figures as
was the apparent intention of congress
when, in approving the one-year mora¬
torium, u it voted V0WHI overwneimmgiy overwhelmingly
Jl( , nin . ;t further reduction or canoella
y ()n
h . lv( , p<W()ibmii( . s o( * a defau | t
been lost sight of bv the uriministra
whoMe leaders felt such an occur
vvmll( , ; ,ffect world economic
conditions adversely. But they came
Mi( . w alH0 „, at further aid for
our European debtors depended pri
marily on a self-help program for
settling '. f currency, armament, tariff
Ulf , 0 w rovorsies in a fashion,
s() iniljtHnt a to impress American
public thought.
A) LaUf . ann ,. ; in j u , Vi the debtor na
lions accepted a huge reduction in
German reoaration payments in a set¬
tlement. whose fulfillment depended
urion revision of debts owed the Unit¬
ed States. Since, the American peo¬
ple have elected a president whose
platform flatly opposed cancellation.
AGED LAWYER DIES
Gainesville, Ga., Nov. 15. iTP)—Col
Ferry, 81, lawyer, for¬
>»*>; legislator and state senator and
for many years in the civic af
tail's ol this city’ died at his home
last night after a long illness. Born
in Savannah, Ga., he attended Emory
College at Oxford, Ga., graduating
when 17. He later taught in the
North Georgia Agricultural College
and there married the daughter of
the president, Dr. J. H. Lewis.
WINS ORATORICAL CONTEST
Kansas City, Nov. 15. (TP)—William
Bagot Season, Jr., 16-year-old Meg*
getts, S. C., truck farmer, won first
prize in the national finals of the Fu¬
ture Farmers of America oratorical
contest last night. The prize waa
$400. The contest was held in con»
nection with the American royal liva*
stock and horse show. ^
___