National Affairs: John Umbles

Brave John Umbles, Negro, one-time personal orderly to General John Joseph Pershing, helped save five people from drowning last summer. Later mean Mr. Umbles murdered his wife and his sister-in-law. Should Mr. Umbles be hanged by the neck? "Yes," said the Alabama jury which convicted him of his second murder. "No," said the Alabama Board of Pardons, which last week recommended that his death sentence be changed to life imprisonment.

Arthur Brisbane, potent Hearstling, philosophized: "Fortunate is he who dies at the right time. Had Umbles lost his life saving the five, he would be enrolled among heroes. Instead, he will be listed among murderers. . . ."