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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1954-06-03, Page 3WAS "a P TER THE PAINTER" REALLY JOE STALIN? Who as the man whose name figured on Official records as Peter PiatkOv? Wtts he acciden- tally killed by an accomplice On the winter's night when three police officers were mown down by anarchist bullets? Did he per- ish in the fantastic Battle of Sidney Street; or escape to be- come known to the world as— Joseph Stalin? SO many legends have sprung up around the man who signed the name "Peter" On a little oil painting that it is difficult to separate fact from fiction after forty-three years. But one thing I can tell you'—Peter, known es A"The Painter," escaped to get away with murder. ' The word "anarchist". means little to the present generation, yet in the period 1880-1910 it had a grave significance for the Special Branch of Scotland Yard. London, so Often the asy- lum of foreign fugitives of viol- ent political creeds, had more than its fair shard of anarchists during those years. Russians and Italians for the most part, they congregated in the Clerkenweli and Hounds - ditch areas and sought to under- line their demands for universal brotherhood with bombs, When six of them were charged in 1892 with being in unlawful posses- sion of explosives, they pleaded that the bombs were intended for export to Russia for use against the then Tsar! "Peter the Painter" first came before the public in December, 1910, writes Richard Harrison in "Tit -Bits." The woman who rented the house in Cutler Street, Hounds - ditch, next door to Harris's, the gold- and silversmiths, was much troubled by her new lod- gers. They entertained friends at all hours Of the night, and in addition they kept up a mys- terious hammering. On the night of December 16th the hammering could be heard Plainly , from the street. A pas- serby informed the nearest pol- lee officer. He raised the alarm end the goldsmith's premises c--¢ were soon surrounded. The detective -sergeant in charge sent a constable round ElifiROC Lifesaver — Ten -year-old Darlene Roaten clutches the pieceof cork ' which kept her afloat in the Mis- sissippi River for some three hours, after she was hurled overboard in a boat collision. She floated downstream for 10 miles before a towboat rescued her. Cork was piece of old life preserver. to the back door. It was open, with a man standing in the doorway. This man ignored the constable's challenge and dis- appeared inside. The constable reported back, and three more men were sent round to effect an arrest. • Before any Of them could en- ter a group of men—reporta vary from three to twelve — burst out into the street, They were carrying automatics, and they fired as they ran—fired to kill Sergeants Tucker and Bentley were mortally wound- ed: and P.C, Choate died later in hospital Sergeant Bryant and P.C. Weedhams were seriously wounded. Keeping in a compact mass and carrying one of their com- rades with them, the gunmen shot their way out of Cutler St. They reached Commercial Rd. and disappeared into the night, but not before two women had joined them. Evidently they then dispersed to various hideouts, and despite en all-night hunt by the police not one of them dould be trac- ed. All might have escapee, from the country --all but one—had not a telephone call been re- ceived the next morning at Lem- on Street Police Station. "I'm a doctor," whispered a voice. "I daren't give you my name. I was called to a house at 59 Greve Street, I found a man dying of a bullet wound." The caller rang off. Detective -Sergeant Leeson and Detective -Constable (afterwards Chief Constable) Wensley , col- lected yyhat men they could and hurried round to Grove Street. Leeson carried a revolver. They found two women burning pap- ers in a grate and, in another room, a dead man, He had been shot through the back. Near the dead man were paints, brushes, a palette and a little painting signed "Peter." All they could learn from the women was that the dead man had been accidentally shot by One Of his companions—presum- ably during the running fight in Cutler Street. But this was not "Peter the Painter"; the man was soon id- entified as Gardstein—known to have been an anarchist. More important, it was known that two of his closest associates were Fritz Svaars and Peter Piatkow, the artist who signed the pic- ture. Certainly there had been an attempted burglary in Cutler Street, but the police were sat. isfied that the motive had not been personal gain; the gunmen had been seeking funds to fur- ther their cause. At least two of the men were concerned in the shooting were now known. The search for them continued and on January 2nd, 1911, word came in that the men had been traced to No. 100 Sid- ney Street. Quietly and quickly the street was surrounded. Pol- ice went into the house which was occupied by several famil- ies. The wanted men, they learnt, were asleep on the sec- ond eaand floor and at once all re- sidents below that floor were evacuated. Just as day was breaking De- tective -Sergeant Leeson crossed the road to enter cle house. The gas in the hall was dying down and he intended to put money in the gas meter in order that anyone trying to leave would • be silhouetted against the light, 'He never react -e, the door. As he crossed, somebody threw np a handful of gravel against Room For The Spirit — An Island of quiet in the sea of New York's hustle -bustle is this "Meditation Chapel," recently completed in the Hotel New Yorker. Designed to make available to the traveler a quiet spot for a few moments of prayer or meditation, It Is non.' denominational in character. Only religious symbols in the room are the Star of David and the Christian Cross, which hang be- tween the illuminated stained-glass windows. Royal Family Returns To England - Queen Elizabeth, Princess Anne, Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh wave to the crowds below from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, The Queen and Duke returned from a six-month tour of farflung British possessions, the second floor window. The response was instantaneous, a a murderous fire from two Mausers swept the street. Lee- son fell with a bullet through the lungs. With great courage two Of his calleagues dragged him to safety. He recovered, but so severe was his wound that he was invalided from the Force, For two hours the police ex- changed shots with the gunmen, At ten -thirty a detachment of the Scots Guards arrived from the Tower and took up position, pouring round after round into the building. Just after mid-day Winston Churchill, then Home Secretary, arrived to direct the "battle." Top -hatted, he stood with his hands in his pockets watching the fight from the gate- way of a brewery opposite, Shortly after one o'clock smoke and flames started to is- sue from windows on two floors of the beseiged house. Probably the men inside had deliberately set fire to it, hoping to escape under cover of smoke. The ap- pearance of a man, apparently wounded, in the doorway seems to confirm this. He was greeted with bullets and disappeared in- to the smoke in the hall. Drders were giventhat the building was to burn, and that the fire brigade was to concen- trate On saving adjoining pro- perties, By two o'clock the house was enveloped in a sheet of .flame. There was a hill in the shooting; then came the last two shots of the battle, It is likely that the two men inside had shot themselves. When at last it was possible to enter the shell of No, 100, two charred bodies were found. One was recognizable as that of Fritz Svaars, the other was be- lieved to be "Peter the Paint- er," but was later identified as that of Joseph, Fritz's brother. Rumour says the Painter was also in the house but managed to escape. Certainly he was the ringleader, and certainly he was never found. Probably he had been in the gang that attempted to break through the wall of the goldsmith's in Cutler Street, It is known he had given in- structions to"shoot to kill," Was he Joseph Stalin? To lend colour to this story, which has support from some students of crime, is the fact that Stalin is believed to have visited Lon- don secretly about this time. If Stalin was one of that desperate gang, with what mixed feelings must he have greeted Churchill, at Yalta; Ft / fs L 0*I,Il eJarvt Arldvews LE Those little things they call "chocolate chips" seem to be getting more and more papular, and it is amazing just how many ways they can be used. Here follow a few of thein: o ,* COOKIES 1 cup sifted flour Si teaspoon soda 34 teaspoon salt 3/ to 3d2 cup butter or other shortening 3/ cup granulated sugar 3/ cup brown sugar, firmly packed 1 egg, well beaten 1 package semi -sweet choco- late chips Y2 cup chopped nut meats 1 teaspoon vanilla Sift flour once, measure, add soda and the salt, and sift again. Cream shortening, add sugar gradually, and cream together until light and fluffy. Add egg and mix thoroughly. Add flour in two parts and mix well. Add chocolate chips, nuts, and van- illa and mix thoroughly. Drop from teaspoon on =greased baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bage in moderate oven (375°F.) 10 to 12 minutes. Makes about 50 cookies. Variations: If desired, 3/2 cup raisins, chopped dates, or plain or toasted coconut may be sub- stituted for the nut meats in the above recipe. BREAD PUDDING 2 tbisps. butter or margarine 3s cup firmly packed brown sugar 2 cups hot milk 2 eggs, slightly beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla - 34s teaspoon salt 2 caps cubed bread 3/2 package semi -sweet cheep - late. Hear butter and sugar in skil- let over low heat until sugar is melted, stirring constantly. Add milk gradually; stir to blend, Cool. Add eggs, vanilla, and salt. Arrange alternate layers of bread cubes and chocolate chips in greased 1 -quart baking dish, Pour milk mixture over top, Place in pan of hot water and bake in moderate oven (350°F.) 40 minutes, or until knife insert- ed comes out clean. Serve warm with cream, Makes 6 servings, p e a MOCHA BUTTER CREAM FILLING 1 package semi -sweet choco- late chips 34 clip butter 3/s cup sifted icing sugar 2 egg yolks 3 tblsps. heavy cream 2 tbisps. strong coffee l\'Ielt semi - sweet chocolate chips over hot water. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Cream butter and add melted chocolate; then add sugar grad- ually, blending well. Add egg yolks, cream, and coffee. Beat until smooth and blended. Chill until of right consistency to spread. Spread between layers of sponge or other cake. Makes 2 cups filling. * * a FUbGE SAUCE AND FROSTING 1 package semi -sweet choco- late chips 3ry cup butter 2 cups sifted icing sugar 134 cups evaporated milk 1 teaspoon vanilla Melt chocolate and butter in saucepan. Remove from heat. Add sugar, alternately with hulk, blending well after each addi- tion. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring con- stantly. Then cook and stir 8 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla; blend well. Serve waren as a sauce. Makes 23/4 cups sauce. * * w To make Chocolate Chip Frosting, Cool 2 cups of the sauce to room temperature. Then adcl an additional 13/4 cups sifted icing sugar, blending well. makes generous 2 cups frosting, or enough to cover top and sides of two 8 -inch layers, if desired, store the remain- ing els cups sauce in refriger- ator until ready to use. Then warm over hot water. To make lililk Chocolate Sauce, Add % cup evaporated milk to % cup sauce, Serve waren. CHEWY CHOCOLATE. KISSES 1 package semi -sweet choco- late chips 2 egg whites 3/s teaspoon sail 3'2 cup sugar 34 teaspoon vinegar 342 teaspoon vanilla 3/ cup coconut, cut 14 cup chopped walnuts Melt semi - sweet chocolate chips over hot water. Beat egg whites and salt until foamy throughout. Add sugar, 2 table- spoons at a time, beating after each addition until sugar is blended. Then continue beating until mixture will stand in stiff peaks, Add vinegar and vanilla and beat well. (Entire beating process takes about 10 minutes.) Fold in coconut, nuts, and melted chocolate. Drop from teaspoon o n t 0 greased baking sheet, Bake in moderate oven (350°F.) 10 min- utes, Makes 2% to 3 dozen cook- ies, * ° * CHOCOLATE MOUSSE 1 package semi -sweet chow. late chips 3/ cup Light or heavy cream Dash of salt 1 teaspoon vanilla 4 egg yolks, slightly beaten 4 egg whites ' 2 tablespoons sugar Heat semi - sweet chocolate chips over hot water until partly melted. Then remove from hot water and stir rapidly until en- tirely melted. Add cream and blend. Add salt and vanilla. Add chocolate mixture to slightly beaten egg yolks and continue beating until mixture is thick and creamy (about 2 or 3 minutes.) Beat egg whites until foamy throughout. Add sugar gradu- ally, beating until mixture will stand in stiff peaks. Fold choco- late mixture into egg whites only until blended. Pour into demi- tasse cups or small custard cups, Chill 3 or 4 hours or overnight. Makes 8 to 10 servings. * * * FUDGE CAKE 3 squares unsweetened choco- late Water ^` 23/2 cups sifted flour 134 teaspoons soda. 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup shortening 1% cups sugar 3 eggs, unbeaten 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 package semi -sweet choco- late chips * With vegetable shortening, use 13/2 cups water. With butter, or margarine, use 13/4 cups water. Combine unsweetened choco- late and water and cook over mediern heat until vh000late lr melted. Cool to room tarpera- ture. Measuresifted flour, add sods and salt, and sift together three times. Cream shortening, add sugar gradually, and cream t0- gother until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating thor- oughly after each. Add cooled chocolate mixture and vanilla; blend well. Stir in flour mix- ture. Pour batter into 13x9x2-inch pan which has been greased on the bottom. Sprinkle chocolate chips over the batter. Bake in moderate oven (375°F,) 35 to 40 minutes, or until done, COOL and serve from pan, Sets Type With Beam Of Light An electronic machine which sets type automatically with a beam of light was demonstrated in New York April 17. The light beam sets a type char- acter on photographic film, It then sets another alongside the first, then another, and another. It is cabable of setting type at a speed at least four times greater than the fastest mechanical type- setter now in use. The machine is one of the two units of the "Linofilm" of the Mergenthaler Linotype Company. A "preproduction" model was dem6nstrated. It will not b4 ready for marketing until 1955. One unit prepares the tape which operates the other, the au- tomatic unit. Any girl skilled at typewriting can operate it. In- deed, the principal operating part is a standard typewriter key- board. There is a small auxiliary key- board. By punching these keys the operator specifies the type face and the type size, specifies spacing between letters (in units of a 12th of an em) and between lines of letters, cancels out faul- ty lines, and makes each line come out even according to the desired length of line which is set on a gauge. One or the Other—Patient-- "Listen, doctor, I want this pre- scription to put me in fighting trim," Doctor—"Well, if the prescrip. tion doesn't, my bill will." MERRY MENAGERIE "Junior, for the last time, hoe You aren't old enough to smoker" 5 Damp Fine Rain -- It was almost a new experience for seven- year-old Daryl Richardson, of Lawrence, Kan., to don his father's boots and splash through king-sized puddles the other day, Heavy rains brought 2,28 inches to Lawrence, along with the first- standing water seen in the area in many drought -dry months,