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ft _———e r ~~ ele ee =e a - mar A 'Runtors ‘Kill ‘Many P Prominet. U.S. Figures NEW YORK, April 13 (N. Y. News! —The death of Franklin D, Roosevelt, which most New York- vward af mouth, une ‘ers learned by word of mout! leashed a file: odd of rumors today at. other leading figures of the political and entertainment worlds also had died. Swilchboards of New York news- paper offices were swamped with calls from persons seeking confir- mation of reports that President Truman and Mrs. ,. Roosevelt, among many others, were dead. Dempscy Sign Confuses The rumors began lasi night, a few hours altgr the President sue- cumbed. Van*Johnson, the Holly- wood star, was tho {iret reported | dead. From then on, the list grew. : And when JacksDempsey's restau- ranl in Times Square pul a sien in its window today announcing tis closing out of respect for the de- ceased Chief Execulive—a sign that confused ws readers—the re- | ports spread wildly. The placard read: “Closed on account of the death of our bde- ” Pisa tatal loved’ President.” and was signed “Jack Dempsey Restaurant Cor- poration.” Bul, while the an. _ mouncement and Dempsry’s name were in biock type, the words “Restaurant Corp.’ were in ex- tremely small Ictters. A feW min- ules after the sign was displayed, the rumor that Dempsey was déad spread throughout the city ther persons whom the rumérs kiltcd today were: Any or all pf four Roosevelt sons; arly Heapkins, Gone Tunney. Al olson, Teoorrt Tayior : Franchoi. one and comedians Olsen and Johnson. E. A. Tarn Clegs Cofley Glavi f- Ladd’? Nichols Rosen Tracy Carson __ began ‘Hendon Penniogton Quinn Tami Noase Miss Gandy en “Did Joan Shoat Chaplin?” But it remained for the mgch- sPullicized Joan Rarry and Charlie C ACWaplin to furnish the mos\{ ex eds travaganl report. of all, Huon of|breathicss citizens called New York newspaper shops and asked: “Is it true that Joan Barry shot Charslie Chaplin, and killed him?" No, it wasn't, replied the weary operators, All fold, until 6 p.m, the New York News received 4,689 such cells. Of thal number, only $17 were seeking details of Roosevelt's death and funeral plans. The other 3.772 were Tumor calis. At one point in mid-afternoon, News operators were so tied up that, under orders, they immediately disconnected as soon aS the caller asked “is it trur..... For nearly half an hour last evening. in the hour fr om the first radio flash on F.D-R.'s demise, New York Times switchboard op- erators erected all incoming calis with “yes, it's true" before tne calicr could state his case end: then Closed the key. The Times- Herald yesterday re- ttived ak atly 100 cata regarding the neous rumor of the deaths of Jack mpacy, Vin Jqhnson and FrankySinatra. ‘The tifec major radio nétwork outldts here also reported their lines wére bigy with querles from sports and mévie fans, None of the stations. however, broadcast denials of the Tumors. ‘st |/00- 62 tT RECORDS +) ¢ Pog 1895 ° -A I