August 15, 1947
Los Angeles
He told the pretty young widow he was getting a divorce, that he was studying architecture and ship building at USC and that he would buy her a yacht that they could pilot on a love-trip once they were wed. So Mrs. Frances Wells O'Donnell, mother of a 4-year-old boy, who lost her second lieutenant Marine husband in the invasion of Peleliu in '44, put $46,000 into a joint account. And Richard Barth, 30, took that "joint" business seriously--he picked up a 52-foot sea-going number called The Otter, and spent another $13,000 on a honeymoon cottage in Woodland Hills.
But when Frances wasn't looking, Richard sold that pad they were to share, remarried his wife, and purchased a home for the two of them at 906 S. Stanley Ave. Frances cried foul when she finally checked the bank book and found $47.50 remaining.
The accused louse surrendered in court today accompanied by his attorney, Sid Kaufman. Bond was set at $3000. Also set into motion was a civil suit on the same matter, originally filed two months ago. Barth denied the charges and insisted his honor would be proven at trial.
Suggested reading: Con Man : A Master Swindler’s Own Story
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India Formally
Partitioned
Into Two Nations
NEW DELHI, Aug. 15 (Friday) (U.P.)—The proud British Empire of India died last night as the clocks struck midnight.
Two independent nations were born at the moment of its death—the dominions of Hindustan and Pakistan.
Adm. Viscount Mountbatten, great-grandson of Queen Victoria in whose name India was made an empire 70 years ago, ceased to be viceroy and became governor general of Hindustan.
Mohammed Ali Jinnah became governor general of Pakistan.
The new nations are to retain the status of British dominions until June. Meantime, they are to decide whether to remain in the British Commonwealth or go their own way.
Mobs Burn and Loot
As the new nations were born, hate-maddened mobs of Hindus, Sikhs and Moslems in the Punjab were killing, burning and looting.
But in great cities, in towns and villages all over this teeming subcontinent, joyous millions were flying the new flags of Hindustan and Pakistan. Bells were ringing. Great crowds of men, women and children were surging through such cities as Calcutta and Bombay, cheering in the wildest celebrations in contemporary history.
The celebrations started yesterday, worked toward their climax during the evening hours and promised to continue untiring far into today.
Mountbatten turned over power to Pakistan at Karachi, its capital, this morning.
Returning to New Delhi by plane, he at once promulgated a formal Indian independence proclamation, under which the Dominion of India, or Hindustan, took over all international agreements which had been held in the name of united India. Membership in all international organizations, like the United Nations, went to Hindustan by agreement; Pakistan will now seek membership for itself.
Assembly Holds Meeting
The old New Delhi Constituent Assembly, at its last meeting yesterday, unanimously elected Hindu Leader Jawaharlal Nehru leader of the Congress party and the new Constituent Assembly. At midnight he became automatically the first premier over a free Cabinet.
Nehru submitted his Cabinet to Mountbatten as the new governor general.
The Dominion Constituent Assembly met at 11 p.m. yesterday. Rajendra Prasad, president of the Assembly, made the opening address and there were two minutes of silence in memory of men who had died for independence.
Nehru moved a resolution embodying the oath of allegiance dedicating India to world peace and the welfare of all mankind.
At the stroke of midnight Assembly members took the oath of allegiance and Hindustan was a dominion.
Tomorrow the new government will be installed with Mountbatten as governor general. The new leaders take the oath of office at Government House at 8:30 a.m.
At 10 a.m. Mountbatten will drive to the Constitution Hall in a state coach with eight white horses, to hand over power in the name of the King-Emperor in a speech from the throne.
Prasad will reply and the national flag will be unfurled over the white dome. A 31-gun salute will hail the new dominion.
The United States, French, Netherlands, and Chinese ambassadors will be given special seats for the ceremony, with diplomatic envoys of other countries.
Loudspeakers have been installed so the tens of thousands around the building may hear the speeches.
In a special independence day order, the government will decree an amnesty for prisoners.
www.lmharnisch.com
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