Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 44, Number 5, Decatur, Adams County, 7 January 1946 — Page 1

..VOL XLIV. No 5

CHICAGO GIRL IS KIDNAPED FOR RANSOM

Labor Party Formation Is Latest Threat General Electric Strike Date Set For January 15 By United !• . Formation of a labor party was tuggeited today ax current labor E dispute* Indicated that more than •tu>O,(WK» worker* may join 374,000 ■ady Mie ÜBie- 1 -' Re-ttle-mcnts reached within a week to 10 The warning of formation of a labor party tame aw three big CIO unlona aontlnuod their driven for wage inc rennet. John Green, Camden. N. J., president of th<- International i nion of Marine and Shipbuilding Worker* of Ameri- i told 1.105 Meh-gate* to the CIO union's 11th convention at Atlan'lc City that there should be more instead of lean political action by unlona in their fight to maintain and extend gains in behalf of labor. Green said that If lalair could not remove congressional leaders who fail to keep their promises of full employment and fair employment practices within the framework of ewfatln* parties that "we will create our own party —a labor party/’ In disputes of nationwide scope: 1. Seven hunlted thousand members of the- I'nited Steel Workers, second biggest CIO union. were scheduled to walk off their jobs Jan. 14. 2. Officers of the I'nited Electrical Worker next in CIO strength, set a Jan. 15 strike date for «A).000 members employed by General Electric. Westinghouse and General Mold- • 3. AFL officials authorized 135.000 meat workers to join 200,000 CIO packinghouse workers in a work stoppage slated for Jan. Iff. In all three cases, the unions were We"-- tioosts approximating 20 percent to compensate tor fncreaiicd Uvlng coats. MeanwUj*. the threat of a nationwide telephone tleup became more serious as striking Western Electric employe* pressed for an immediate apupa'hy walkout by approximately 250,000 telephone operators and ffwtallatlon workers. A strike W was in progress among members of the National rederaiioH of Telephone Workers, and American Communications ant equipment Workers, employed in telephone installation, were sehMMßKte*e 'heir jobs Tuesday or Wednesday. In Washington, top administration leaders eyed the troubled industrial picture with growing con»«ra. Capita hill (tevetepments pointed to aa Berease tn steel and meat prices to avert paralyzing shutdowns affecting every American. Leading representatives of l>oth industries pNteatcd inability to ißcreaae- wages without a corresiKfudtas pries boost. *. faet-ftadtoK board for the steel iudustry await i-.i an answer from the 1!..H. Hteei Corp, and the I'nit Wfcw T./pa*.- 7. Column «> Commissioners Meet In Monthly Session Ths regular meeting of the county * w ‘ , d mototßf M W courthouse. Bills were allowed and other routine business CMdpcted. Fraak Kiteton. superintendent of the county ItKmary. win met with the board, lamed an expression of j appreciation to the churches and lodges of the community which contributed to the New Year's day celebration tor the Inmates of the Institution. Commissioners Ell Dubach and John Chrlstener were present at the meeting with county auditor Thurman I. Drew. Dale Mosee, other mein tier of the board, hi vacstlotting in the south with Mrs. Mutes •— o DEMOCRAT THERMOMETER TEMPERATURE READINGS «:0C a. m. ■Bp**** ■ ..,•<••»••• -*»»•••»•**••••« 40 10:00 a. m.F*. - 42 Noon , 42 EiOOjMn.gL- 40 WEATHER Meutly cloudy tonight and Tuea day, Drttar tonight.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

China Peace Group In First Session Progress Reported By Gen. Marshall Chungking. Jan. 7 (UP)—Gen. George C. Marshall, U. S. special envoy, announced today that "good progress had been made" at the first formal meeting of his threeman peace committee to study a formula for ending China's civil war The committee met for three hours at .Marshall's residence. Marshall said another meeting would be iheld tomorrow. The two committee members. Gen. Chou En-Lai representing the Communists, and Gen. ChangChun. government representative, commented that ''things are going very well." The committee meeting was attended also by Dr. Hsu Mo, Chinese ambassador to Turkey. Prior to the meeting Marshall ■had held preliminary talks separately with the two opposition leader*. Authoritative source* said the main topic at the committee meeting was on a cease-fire agreement and the related subjects of restoring communication*, lifting blockades and sending neutral investigators. No definite decision* were reached, however, it was said Marshall was reported to have expressed pleasure at being able to participate in the talks to help work out a settlement in accordance with President Truman's announced polic y toward China. He was reported gratified hy prompt responses from hath Chang and Chou Several Interpreter*, including ambassador Hsu, attended the two Chinese leaders. Observers believed broad outline* for procedure had been *llOlllO4 and that the cease-fire order iniMtt be issued befewe convening of the political consultative council this Thursday. Generalissimo Chiang, who will act as chairman of the consultative council, issued formal Invitation* Sunday to the 37 delegates who will participate. The delegate* were scheduled to meet informally at a tea today to discuss agenda and decide on a system of voting at tihe first session. o —— Noted Screen Comic Dies Saturday Night Mguanu Beach, Calif, Jan 7— (l'P> -dangling Slim Summerville, who spent 35 years in motion pictures, will Im- hurled tomorrow In Inglewood cemetery after simple funeral services at Laguana Beach. Summerville. 54-year-old comedian, died Saturday nigh* at hl* l»each home of a cerebral hemorrhage. He had suffered two strokis recently. —— o Action Delayed In Circuit Court Case Cross-Complaint Is Filed In Case Here Filing of an answer and crosscomplaint in the complaint on contract, brought by George Myer* against Henry C. and Mildred Swygart, delayed action which was to have been conducted in Adama circuit court before special judge W. H. Eichhorn this morning. The cross-complaint In the action Involving the alleged purchaae of real eatate. located east of the city, averred that the defendants had been relieved of obligation to sell the real estate because of certain actions allegedly attributed to the plaintiff. It «u averred among other things that the plaintiff refused to accept the title and deed unless the contract price waa reduced 1254, because of an error in the title about 100 years ago. The defendants claim In the croascomplalnt that the value <4 the property has been enhanced 12.000 by improvements which they have made meanwhile, placing It between 15.000 and 14.000. Change of Judge In the divorce action of Sarah against Russell A. Intel. a change of venue from special Judge Henry B. Heller has been asked and OTurn To Psgo 1. Column I)

Gl's Protest Being Held In Philippines Homesick Soldiers Protesting Delays In Demobilization Manila, Jan. 7 — (UP) —Lieut. Gen. W. D. Stycr told angry G.l.s marching In protest through the Manila streets today that the U.S. army will keep a post war garrison of 375.00<t in the Pacific to protect American interests. A giant rally of 20.000 soldiers was staged at the city hall in early evening to protest slow demobilization. They carried placards saying "Lincoln freed the slaves, who will save us?" and "Are we Patterson's playthings?" Their band played "Show me the way Io go home." A statement issued by Styer said the Pacific force” would include 200.000 lii Japan and Korea, and 175,000 In the mid-Paciflc and western Pacific zones. Os these, less than 70.000 will lie in his command based in the Philippines. The overall figure Includes airforce personnel. (In Tokyo, secretary of war Robert Patterson said a minimum figure of 790,000 soldiers for overseas duty will be set for July 1. On Nov. 1, 1940, the total American army strength was 513.000.) Angered because they are kept In the Philippines for what they think needles* duties, soldiers of Htyer's command staged a serie*, of protest demonstrations and sent a demand to President Truman to get them home. More than 2,500 men marched four abreast to Styer’r, headquarters in the morning and sent a five-man delegation to say they wanted to go home, and quickly. Laie in the afternoon, hundreds of soldier* swarmed to the city hall for another protest session. They arrived by the scores In army truck*. The soldiers were angry at statement* by Patterson and high army officers that their return home would he delayed because it had been decided not to make further drastic cuts in the necessary discharge point score. They deniaigiled to *ce Patterson* but Styer told them he was not going to visit the Philippines on his world tour. Styer tried to Ca’ffi the restless (Turn To Page 1. Column 4» Week Os Prayer Is Opened Last Night ’Nightly Services Held In Churches Observance of the universal week of prayer which started Sunday will continue all week in Decatur, whit servlet-* being held each night at 7:30 o'clock in one of the Decatur Protestant churrihes. A different local pastor will preside each night and there also will be a different speaker at each service. Sunday night the Rev, F. H Willard presided at the First Baptist church and nhe Rev. William C. Feller was the speaker. Tonight's services will he hald at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed church with the Rev. Glen Marshall presiding. The Rev. Carey R. Maser will be the speaker. The Rev. Lyle Steiner will preside at Tuesday’s service* at the First Presbyterian church and the Rev. Glen Marshall will be the speaker On Wednesday night the services will be Iheld at the First Methodist church, with the Rev. Feller presiding and the Rev. Willard as the speaker. Service* will be held Thursday night at the Missionary church whh Dr. M. O. Lester presiding and the Rev. John W. McPbeeterx, Jr. as the speaker. Rev McPhee ter* will preside at the Friday night service* at rhe First Evangelical church and Dr. Leater will be the speaker. There will be no services Saturday n'ght and the week will be closed Sunday night at the Church of God. the Rev. Moaer presiding and the Rev. Steiner speaking. Services each night will start at 7:20 o'clock, and the public is invited to attend all of the service*.

ONLY DAILY, NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, January 7, 1946.

THIS DREAM’S ON UNCLE SAM |W fl —* —I ll—"■n- — ■ 1 ■ ' ™ T .. - "7 BREAKFAST IN BED with clean white sheets I* what Edward Schenk, Alton, 111., dreamed of when lie wa* a prisoner of war ami It come* true here in a Milwaukee. Wi*., hotel. Helping thing* along an- bu« boy Owen Rehard and Maitre de Hotel lludy Heidinger. Schenk i* one of the flrest ex prisoner* of war to be given 14 day vacation* at government expense in cities throughout Hie nation.

Rural Schools May Conduct Book Sale Township Trustees / In Meet Saturday A possibility tehat the rural schools of Adam* county might conduct the sale of textbook* within their respective institutions was seen today, following the regular meeting of the township trustees, held Saturday In the offices of county school superintendent Lymc.n L. Hann. The trustees, after discussing the matter dining the Saturday session, decided to vote on the issue at the next meeting in February. They pointed out that tor a number of years shortage of school books In the rural schools has been a serious problem. De-pite tilie fact that a number of stores In the county handle the textbooks, purchase* made by out of the county residents yearly create an acute shortage, they pointed out. Some sort of rental system was also discussed but definite decisions were postponed until the Feb(Turn Tn Pas* Z. Column 7) O Japs' Prison Head Sentenced To Death To Hang For Killing American Prisoners Yokohama. Jan. 7--(l'Pt Lt. Kc| Yuri, former Japanese prison comtnandant. was sentenced today to death by hanging after a U. 8 military commission convicted him of rewpon*lbliity for the death* of two American prisoners of war. Yuri admitted ordering the execution of U. S army Pvt, Noah Heard of Salina*. Cal. He also was convicted of starving to death Pfc. Goorge Pavloko* of Chicago. He testified Saturday that he ordered Heard bayoneted to death but said he closed hi* eye* during the execution ‘'because I had never seen anything like that before." Tol. Oliver’E. Trechter. Cincinnati. 0.. president of the commission. said Yuri had been cleared of charges of negligence In duty, permitting iinsanlta>y conditions at the camp, falling to provide adequate heat and wittthoMlng Red Cross supplies. He also w-vs found innocent of charge* that he was responsible for beating and torrtiring certain other prlsonom. Yuri -ehowed no emotion as the re-dk-t was announced. He was handcuffed and fed Lorn the courtroom. Refore he can be executed, the (Turn To Pap* 3, Column 7)

Ask Merchants Save Clothes For Veterans Washington. Jan. 7—(l'Pl The government aeked men's clothing store* to put "for i"teran* only" sign* on most if not ill their stock* of hard-to-get apparel. The Civilian Production Administration, which issued the request, eta Id It was thinking of such garmen’s a* stilts, overcoat*, shirts and heavy underwear. Heart Attack Fatal To Frank McConnell Retired Merchant Dies Here Sunday Frank McConnell. 96. well known retired business man of Decatur, died suddenly of a -heart attack at 9 o'clock Bunday morning at hl* home, 229 Madison street, lie had not been ill and hl* death wa* onexpected. He was born In Decatur January I. 1959. the son of John anti Lucinda McDermott-McConne'l. The faintly moved to Root township and Mr. Mcf'emnell moved hack to Decatur In 1907 He founded the F McConnell A Rott Wholesale Tobacco Co. in IfwWi and was active in ti’i«- husine** until hl* retirement in 1932. Mr. McConnell was a member of the First Methodist church and the Loyal Order of Mortse. He was married to Ftoretice A Ixn-d February 25. 1999. and his wife dieel May 18. 1906 On February 29. 1939, he- was married to Mr*. Mildred Haugk, who survives. Also surviving are one daughter. Mrs. Shetnan Kunkel of Monmouth; three eons. Joseph L. Fred D and Richa-d K. McConnell, all of lu> catur: 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren Three brothers ami two sjster* preceded him in death Funeral sorviee* will he held at 1:30 p. m. Tuesday at the Fre»d McConnell home. 221 North Third street, and at 2 o’clock at the First Methodist church, with Dr M O. I-ewter officiating. Burial will be- in the Decatur cemetery. The body will be removed from the Zwick funeral home to tthe son's residence this evening and may be viewed after 7 p. m. Fisher Rites Held Sunday Afternoon Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock for Mrs. Effie Fisher. 6n. of Willshire. (>.. who died Friday r ight at Adams county memorial hospital. Burial wao made In the Willshire cemetery. Rev G W Beck, pastor of the Willshire .M.-ibodi*t church officiated. Mr*. Fisher wa« a sister of the late Mr*. Cora Millikan ot Decatur.

Six-Year-Old Girl Taken From Bedroom, Held For Payment Os $20,000

Sam Stahl Injured When Hit By Auto Traffic Accidents Reported By Police Sam Stahl. 99. of South Second street. I* confined in the Adams county memorial hospital after being struck by an auto while crtiKHing .Madison street, just east of the Thirl street Intersection. Saturday about 5:45 p. m The car watj driven by Perry la-v Getx, 50, of near Hoagland. Mr. Stahl, who suffered a head injury. I* not believed seriously hurt but was taken to the hospital to avoid complication* that might arise from hl* advanced age, according to authorities. Police Chief Ed Miller reported that the pedestrian was struck a* he stepped from the Hide of a parked car on the south side of Madison street and started diagonally across. The driver of the auto said that he had stopped for the stop Hlgn and then proceeded east on Madison at a rate of altout io miles per hour. He said that he did not see the pedestrian until It was too late to avoid striking him. Car Hits Lamp Post Chief Miller reported today that a car. owned by Albert Davison, route six. Decatur, which struck a lamp post at the Five Point* intersection Saturday about 7:2ft p. m., was reported stolen. The stolen report came about two hour* after the crash. When police official* arrived at the M-ene the driver of the Vehicle was not in the vicinity, The car. enroute south on Second *l/eet. hit the post in front of the g-r---vice station at the southern approach to the intersection and bowled a part of the ornamental Structure some 50 feet away. Chief Mllh-r stated. A fourth car. turning north onto U. S. 27 off Elm street Saturday about 1 lo p m. was blamed for a three car crash Involving car* driven hy Margaret Eiling. Deca tur; Dan Speicher, 34, Herne ami a parked car owned by Dorothy Devore, also of Decatur. The Speicher <ar was enroute south anil the Ettlng vehicle north. The driver of the other vehicle did not stop. The moving vehicle*, after a nearly headon crash, plunged into the parked <ar, when they were (! urn To Page 3. Cotoffin «>

Resume Building Os Central Soya Silos Work On Last Unit To Begin Feb. 1 Construction of the third battery of Ift sllo« at the Central Soya company was resumed this morn ning. Virgil Steers, superintendent of construction for the MacDonald Engineering company of Chicago, contractors on the job. stated Cold weather caused curtailment of the work just before Christmas. The silos were up about 18 feet when the below zero temperature arrived and work was stopped. Mr. Steers estimated that the unit, which, when completed will have a storage capacity for SOO.ftftft bushels of soybeans, will be completed In t>hre<- and one-half days. Once- workmen start pouring concrete. the process continues 24 hours a day. through what Is known as slipform methcal of con st ruction Work on the fottrth.’or last unit of Ift silos, will begin about February 1. Mr. Steers state-d. He said that another cold wave was pre die ted around January 17 and that work would not begin until more moderate weather arrived. The large battery of 42 silos rb* Ing lift feet above the ground, and west of the huge structure* where nearly three million bushels sre stored, will have additional storage for two mlllittn bushels of soybeans.

Tornadic Winds Bring Toll Os Deaths To 37 Scattered Regions Os Mississippi And Arkansas Hit Sunday By I’nited Press Tornadic winds, slashing haphazardly at aparsely fiopiilated section* of Mi*«i«sippi and Arkan*a», today brought the toll of week end storm cMtialtfe* lo at least 37 person* killed and 2fto injured. Town* hit in the two state* Included Coila. Holly Ridge, Indianola. Sunflower. Rolling Fork. Heathman, and Iceland. Ml**, and latke Village. Ark Colla. a village of 105 person*, was demolished Two per-ons were kill***! there, three at latke Village, two near Sunflower and one m-ar Indianola The tonadoe* *tru< k last night. Communication line*, crippled for hours, were restored to service today. The serie* of sfmm* was Iwtrri of a collision of a warm air ma«e moving northward and a cold front advancing eastward twros* the Mississippi river valley Texas counted 29 dead from If* Friday night tornadoeThe Texas storm* left 725 home less, ho-'iiitallzeif pat and caused S2.itoojM>o damage. The unseasonable "heat wave” pushing up from the -outh sent Nt w York city thermometer* to •'•2 yesterday, a Jan S record Hospitals In the .Missiiffiippi-Ar-kansas area were -till eceiving injured, many of them not expected to live Hurtling out of what the weather bureau termed a very Inrhuli-nt tTHrrt Page t*„|uinn it o Dr. Repperl Plans New Office Building Physician Planning One Story Structure Weather permitting, ground will he broken later this week, preliminary to the const ruction of a building <»n South Second street to house the offices of Roland I, Reppert. M D The building, a oltestory fireproof structure, will be built in the vacant lot Immediately north ot the otth-es of Dr F L. Grand staff now (Ha uph-d by Dr Reppe t Yost Construction company, under the supervision of Cal Yost, head of the firm, will erect the btiil'ling using steel, concrete and brick It will occupy a space 22 feet by sft feet and I* to include a Imsement Mr Vosf said that bi* company had on hand nearly all material* needed and tha: he anticipated no trouble hi seeming the balance, despite present short ages and priorities. The building will Include in ndditiotigto his offit-e space, treatment and consultation rooms for Dr Reppeyt. Dr. Reppert ha* be.-n practicing here for the past three years after graduation from I U. *<-hoo| of medicine and discharge from naval service. He ha* been occupying the office* of Dr. Grand staff w(iile the latter has been hi service. o Local Lady's Mother Dies Saturday Night Mr*. Emil Graefe, 95. of Chicago. mother of Mr*. G. D Mac Lean of this city, died Saturday night at a Chicago hospital of complication* resulting from a broken hip suffered tn a fall three week* ago. Funeral service* and burial will be held la Chicago Wednesday.

Price Four Cenhj

Distraught Father, OPA District Man, Broadcasts Appeal For Girl's Return Chicago, Jan 7 (TP) Six-year* old Kuxanne Degnan was kidnaped for |2ft <Hio ransom today and her clistraught father broadcast an aje peal for the kidnaper t>» return the child "If you haw any svrnpat'-y or understanding In your l.«-art you will return the child t > the family." the girl's fathc'C. lainia Degnan. *ai<l in a statement recorded for broadcast every hour over a radio network "Please let me know what I can do. how I can contact you. I'll xlvo you the money. I'll do anything to get my child back. If you harm her G d will re-pay you. Please, please do not harm her.’’ Suzanne, wearing only u pair of flimsy blue pajamas, was i.ltdurted from her bedrcactn by a kidnaper who left a greasy, pencil-printed note demanding |3ft.ft"o In *5 bill*. The note lay only a few feet from the bedroom window through which the child apparently was taken away The kidnaper promised in hl* note to "get in touch with you later." Degtuin c|> tiled reports that ho had receive.! a telephone cull front the kidnaper alacut |u a.in . two and a half hours after he found the- chlhl was gone. He said the phone rang Ift a m. and a male vol -e a-ked ' Is Susanne there-?" T ten the coiinec . tion was broken Degnan said he thought the call might have- la-e-ti from Faunae’* school or from one of her playmate* Degnan told the- I'nited Pre** that he had carried out the- kid-nape-r's instructions and had hunt* <-d the ransom note-. "All I want Is Suzann'- back,’’ he said "I assure- the- kidnaper | will de* nothing to harm him if he will re. tn: n the girl "I will do whatever they want. There will tie no consequencea. "I hive- carried out the- instructiots- I have burned the note." Degnan is district price- Iweard e-xe-ttilve for the office- of Price* Adininlstra'i nt. Although hr live* in a large first fhatr apaitment lu a fanliionaitle neighborhood, he said he was not wealthy and could not tinde-istand why the kidnaper took hi* little girl Degnan wlsei make-* 47.5**0 att» nually as his Ol’A salary, said the* kidnap note wa- printeel on a piece* of wrapping paper. The note said get s?it.oOO rea* *T * ! ! * 1,1 4) Eliza Funk Riles Tuesday Afternoon Eliza Funk Dies Saturday Evening Mr*. Eliza Funk. 94 widow of the late Uharlss Funk, died at 5:50 o'clock Saturday evening at the- home of a son. Luther Funk, near Willshire. O She had hem in falling health for several years and oritical for the post seven weeks. She wn-c born In Virginia July i. 19«il. the daughter of Isaac and Rebecca Ratliff Her husband died 19 years ago. She was a member of tihe Union Chapel church Surviving are two son*. Luther, with whom she made her home, and Clark Funk, of Monroe: 20 grandchildren. 29 great-grandefiil* dren and one great-great grandchild. Five daughters, one- «on, three brothers and three- sisters preceded her in death. Funeral services will he held at 2:30 p. m. Tuesday at the Black funeral home, witch the Rev. U A. .Middaugh officiating Grave«lde service* will be held at the N’c-Wi Holland. ().. cemetery Wednesday afternoon Friend* may call at the Black funeral home after 4 o'clock this afternoon.