Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 44, Number 165, Decatur, Adams County, 15 July 1946 — Page 1

VOL XIIV. No. 165

Report Heirens Seeks ‘Deal’ In Degnan Slaying

• United Press Soys Youthful Student Willing To Confess For Life Sentence Vlopyright, 1948, by United Press i Chicago July IF—(UP) — Wil ■am Heirens, 17-yearohi student, 5s tryirf io make a deal with the Atate to confess to the Hutanne -e iegnan kidn«j>-®nrd>i and two ,ther murders In exchange for a Ife eentenee instead of the elecrte chair, the United Press earned today from absolutely re ■•U labia sources. Reliable sources pointed out feat nearly a generation ago. the ate Clarence Darrow obtained ife sentences for Richard !*»••!> md Nathan Leopold by pleading hem guilty to the mutilation aurder of young Bobby Frank*. They notated out that trials of Heirens for the three slayings md for the numerous burglaries nd robberies charged against ilm would be long and expensive. Also Involved tn any possible reposition o' penalties for his crimes la hie youth He Is 17. It a conceivable, and probable, that psychiatrists could offer doubts is to the yiuth's sanity, although loctora who have examined biin o date declare he Is sane The admissions have been nisde orally, it was learned These sources Mid they have not —ret been put Into writing ** Heirens, It was learned, has >ecome dismayed at the amount it evidence piling up against him I’ n the Degnan killing and in the ‘lipstick murder" of ex Wave fn Francos Brown, knifed and shot n Dee. 10. 1941, and In the slay \ ng of Mrs. Josephine Ross, 43, ‘ attractive brunette killed June 5. IMC The sullen. Hack-haired youth . I willing to offer full confessions n the throe slayings ami in the multiple bWfflaric- charged igainst him in an effort to get and cheat the electric chair ~~ Details of the admissions are —mid to be harrowing. The Degnan child was kidnap--1 rd. garroted, and her body beleaded, dismembered, and hidden J’n sewers near her home at 5943 Kenmore Avenue. I-- The youth. a University of Chi •ago student, first was connected w«th the Degnan killing through ils fingerprints found on the ranil tom note, a printed. Irregular piece of paper left In the bedroom \hrom which fluxanne was taken ast Jan. t. jj Then fingerprints were dlscov d >red linking him with the Brown allllnf. When he was confronted with -he latter evidence reliable sour- . *ea said, he muttered - “That's mine- And the Ross one la, too.’* gome progress toward the exChange of a eofefesisoti and a plea Ipt guilty to the slayings and the burglaries was understood roll- , ably to have been made In con- * ferences yesterday between state's and defense attorneys. ki the conferences were State’s altorney William J Tuofey; bls asetotam Wilbert T Crowley; and Heirens attorneys John P. Cogfelan and his brother Malachy Coghlan Asked ifter the conference what progress had been made, the principals replied "no comChief of detectives Walter Bto»ms said be had absolutely no M any admissions and i could neither affirm or deny the report. Mai Coghlan. one of Heirens' attorneys, said that ’’l'll merely stand pat on my patent ‘no comment.' I’ll neither add to nor de tract from your story, and I'll give you no 'needle 'cad* for the moment." The United Press, however, considered its sources to be unImpeachable The three tßllngs-with which Heirens has not as yet been formally cbarggt—were among the bmoat vicious In Chicago police annals. Miao Brown, who had been honorably dlsohargeil from the ( | """fTuro Ta «■ c ”' llrntl • > DEMOCRAT THERMOMETER ’ TEMPERATURE READINGS 5 8100 a-m, .. 5,.,.. > 10:00 km. 66 Noon 72 1;W p.m, 79 r« WEATHER Fair and cooler tonight, Tuesi day generally fair and warmer.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

British Loan Bill Is Passed By House Largest Peacetime Credit Ever Voted I BULLETIN Washington, July IS— (UP) —President Truman today signed the 13,750,000,000 Brit Ish loan bill and predicted It would go far toward removing the danger of “rival and antagonistic'* economic blocs in the world. > Washington. July 16 - (UP) — ’ President Truman with a ceremonial flourish today signs legislation i granting a U. 8. loan of 13.750.i 000,(Mm to Great Britain. The house completed congressional action on the loan Saturday with a 219-10-156 vote of ap ( proval. It came after loan sup i porters had beaten down all attempts to modify the agreement which already had been passed i by the senate. The loan — the largest peacetime credit ever granted to any nation - was planned last year by 1 U. S. and British economic exporta. The British parliment already has approved the agreement under which Britain promises to: 1. Abolish her sterling area dollar pool within one year after the effective date of the loan. This would free nations In the 1 sterling bloc-Brit ish dominions. Egypt. India and Argentine to use their American dollar credits for U. 8. purchases. 2. Abolish all discriminatory control against U. S. imi>orts Into i the United Kingdom. 1 3. Release to other commonwealth nations part of the $14,000,000,000 In blocked sterling which Britain owes them. 4. Support U. S. proposals for an international charter on world trade and employment. In return for these trade con cessions, Britain receives the S 3, 750,000.000 credit on which she may draw until 1961. Repayment of the loan—plus two per cent In-terest-would begin Dec. 31. 1951. a> an annual payment of $31,823,000 for every billion dollars Bril ain used. The payments would be com pleted in 50 years. Britain may waive payment of Interest in any year in which her grade and for eign exchange outlook la favorable, provided the International monetary fund certifies that her export Income for the preceding five years was lower than her average Imports for 1936-1938. 0 Schumm Funeral On Tuesday Afternoon < Chicago Resident Dies At Hospital Funeral services will he held Tuesday afternoon for Mrs. Amal'a Rchutntn. 65. of Chicago, who died Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Adams county memorial hospital in this city. The services will be held at 2 p. m. Tueday at the home of a sister, Mrs. Amos Schumm. three miles west of Rockford. 0., and at 2:30 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran church In Schumm. O. Burial will be In the church cemetery. The deceased had been vi.dltng at the sister’s home when she suffered a first stroke three weeks ago. She had arrived for the first a week earlier. She was removed to the local hospital, where death resulted from a cerebral hemorrhage. Born in Schumm. 0., on October 6. 1880. the daughter of Henry and Anne Roehm-Schumm, she was married September 17. 1906 to Hugo H. Schumm. who survives. Surviving also are one son, Theodore of Oak latwn, III.; the sister. Mrs. Amos Schumm; a brother. Walter Schumm, of Schumm. ().; and two grandchildren. She was a member of the Ebenraer Lutheran church, In Chicago, where she had resided the past 41 years. The body was taken from the Zwlck funeral home here to the residence of the sister on federal road 33, west of Rockford.

Declares May Interceded On War Contracts Says Congressman Aided On Several Occasions In War Washington, July 15—(UP) — The senate war Investigating committee was told today that Rep. Andrew J. May, D., Ky., interceded at least six or eight times in behalf of a "paper empire” munitions firm accused of war profiteering. Joseph F. Freeman, Washing ton representative of the Erie Basin Metal Products, lnc„ testified that he had asked May to do some trouble-shooting for hltn "probably six or eight times — maybe more" "Whenever we reached a point where we were having difficulty." hr said. "I would call and ask him could I see him.*’ Previous witnesses have test)Led that May subjected the war department to "pressure” to get things done for Erie Basin and other firms In the 111-company “paper empire” now being investigated. Freeman took the stand after the committee announced that It was seeking to determine the "legal process” by which May could be required to testify at a public session on his dealings with the combine. The committee has turned down May's request to testify conditionally. Freedman testified that he personally "had nothing to do" with obtaining war contracts. E-a wards or advance payments from the company. Chairman James M Mead. D., N. Y., then asked Freeman to name any high military officers that he contacted in .'(presenting the combine. "I had no dealings with what you call the high officials." Freeman replied. **l was the fellow down below ... I was to make sure that all facilities were obtained ami to solve materials and manpower problems.” Freeman said he earned from (25.000 to 870.000 a year during the war as Washington representative of two of the companies in the midwest munitions combine. Chairman James M. Mead, D., (Turn Tn Page 2. Column 5)

Two Youths Are Held For Attempted Theft Both Are Reported As Under Probation Two young men. hoth under probation because ot previous otreuses, are being held under arrest here as result of an alleged auto theft alMiut 1:45 a in. Sunday, police chief Ed Milh-r reported today. The youth are Floyd Lehman. 22. of South Bend and Tom Anderson. 19. of Decatur. Police charge that they took an auto, owned by Stanley Callow and parked in front ot his home on West Monroe street, early Sunday morning and drove it a short distance before the engine stopped. Police said Lehman became frightened when he saw residents of the community on the porches of their homes mid attempted to flee with Anderson. Officers Roy Chllcote and Robert Hili were summoned and after a short hunt found the pair. Anderson, they said was hiding In some bushes near the scene. Miss Mary Allee Beineke, who resides in that vicinity identified the pair as the men she saw driving the car away from the scene of the theft. Chief Miller said both men would likely placed In the custody of Leo Ehlnger. local parole officer. Lehman, he said is under oarole for an otiense in South Bend, while Anderson is still under probation after serving a sentence for his part In several breaking last year in and near Decatur. o Legion Delegates To Meet Tonight All delegates and alternate delegatee from Adams Post 43. American legion, to the state convention. are requested to meet at the Legion home at 8 o'clock thia evening. Commander Floyd Hunter, In announcing the meeting, stressed the Importance of all attending tonight

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, July 15, 1946

Picket Landlord In Rent Raise IN IL % 11du 0 MR MB a*" - ! VmritM • I c> ' / H Lhhkl r ! W 1 i IN PROTEST OVER THE ACTION of a Philadelphia landlord who raise! rents more than 50 percent, these tenants and members of CIO unions picket his offices, lie owns 1600 apartment units.

Byrnes Reports On Big Four Conclave . I Reports To Nation On Radio Tonight Washington. July 15.—(UP! Secretary of State Janie* F. Byrnes, back frtttn hi* third attempt to : write peace treat lea tor Italy and Germany's satellites, will report partial »ucce** to Preaident Triti man and the nation today after nearly a year of Ida four bickering. Byrne* calix it "«<>mt- progress" on the difficult road to peace a {contrast to the total failure and 'stalemate of the previous two at temp'* i<y the Ida four foreign min later* to draft peace treaties. The other two meeting* ended in acrimonious accusations. Mr. Truman ha* reserved as much time as Byrne* wants for a conference at the White House I today. Since the Preaidont has kept in touch with developments {in Pari* by telephone, the two men ’ presumably will begin making plaits for the 21-natlon peace conference on July 2*. They must agree ' quickly on delegates to represent the I'nited Staten. Byrnes will deliver his report to the nation in a radio addros* tonight at y pm. EST. over the mutual and American networks. In it he will explain agreement* reached in Puri* through* compromise, and call upon the American people to support them when he returns to the peace conference. He probably will concede that he (Turn To Page 4. Column 7) Detailed Report Os Red Cross Services Secretary Details Services For Year A detailed report of Red Cross service* for the year ending July 1 was announced today by Mrs. Ruth Hollingsworth, executive i secretary of the Adams county l chapter. The case load for the year totalled 779, broken down as follows: army, 413; navy. 96; exI servicemen, 231 and civilians. 49. The report shows 115 persons were given financial assistance, totalling 31,917.21 Other items of interest include: seven notices of war bride arrivals, nine baby layettes given. 80 furlough verifications. assistance with claims for death pensions. 19; assistance with claim*, for disability pensions. 27; hospital and domiciliary care. four. The balance of the report with the various services and the number in each case: Telegrams 397; information. 453; social histories. 21; reports on health of serviceman's family. 18; reports required by field directors. 108; assistance with government benefits, 25; consultations and guidance, 19; referred to other agencies, eight; copies of telegrams given. 10; change of status, nine: vocational rehabilitation, 11; reports for veterans (Turn To Page 2, Column 7)

Execute Nine Poles For Keilce Pogrom , Warsaw. July 15, (VP) -Viktor Gross, government spokesman, today announced that nine ponton* convicted of participation in the Kieico pogrom were executed by a firing «quad yesterday within the wall* of the Kielco prison in- ' stead of at a public ceremony as had been planned. There was no immediate explanation as to why the public execution was not carried out. U. S. Officer, Wife Held As ’Hostages’ Explain Detention Os Two Americans Berlin. July 15 (VPt The V. S. army announced today that the Russians were bolding Warrant officer Samuel L. Harrison and Illa wife as "hostages" for two ,ed army officers alleged by the I Soviets to be held in prison by the American*. Maj. sh-n. Frank A K.-ating. f. S. military governor in Berlin disclosed f r the first time the explanation given by the Russians the detention of Harrison and his Wife, Mellen. of Harrah. Okla . and San Antonio. Tex. She came here it* a dependent. Keating said V. S. authorities had denied persistently the Russian charge that two Soviet officers were held by the Americans The Soviet military governor, Maj. Gen. Itratvin, said in a letter to I'. S. authorities dated July II that Harris m and hi* wife would be released today. Keating predicted "sensational developments,” the nature of which he declined to specify, when the missing Americans return. He said the RuMians had not officially acknowledged that they were holding two other American officers. They were ('apt. Harold t'obin of Newark. N. J., and Lt. George Wyatt of Oklah >ma city They boarded a train for nearby Oranienburg July 1 and disappeared. The Harrisons have been miss mg since July I. They left in a jeep for a spot in North Berlin to see about the purchase of a dog They were assumed to have wan-1 dereti accidentally across Hu- line into the forbidden Soviet zone. Keating would not divulge details which led Soviet official* to charge that Russian prisoner* were being held by the American*. He said merely that the Soviets claimed two of their officers were prisoner*. The report gave the first explanation of why the Russians were holding the Harrison* The statu* of the other officers wa« not made ■dear immediately. Oranienburg is in the Russian occupation gone, and after they disappeared they were assumed to lie detained by the Russians. Army official* here had discussed their case on the assumption that they were in Russian bands, ami appeared to have presented that conclusion t> the Soviets in negotiatiotu for the re-1 lease of the Americans.

Reports House To Make Change In OPA Measure Conference Likely On Riddled Measure Passed By Senate Washington. July 15.—(UP) — Congressional leaders told President Truman today the house would defeat a move to send the senate'll OPA revival bill to the While House In Its present form Mr. Truman was told the house [ would approve a resolctlon to send the controversial measure to a senate house ommlttee for compromises on some provisions approved by the senate. Senate maj illy leader Albeit W. Barkley, D, Ky. said after the president's usual Monday morning conference with the "big four" democratic legislative leaders that house speaker Sam Rayburn had predicted house passage of the: resolution. Barkley said he expected con-! gress to adjourn between July 21* and July 27. This would give the senate and house two weeks at best to resolve differences over the extension of OPA and give President Truman a law which he considers acceptable. A republican led bloc was prepared to buck the conference reso-| lutlon when the house takes upi the OPA measure tomorrow. Barkley also raised a question! I almut Mr. Truman's informal re- ’ marks yesterday In which the President was quoted that the OPA I I legislation was "in terrible shape." Barkley expressed belief that re 1 porters did not hear all of Mr Truman's remarks about OPA : when they overhead his informal conversation at National Airport i yesterday with Sens. Tom Con nally. D, Tex., and Arthur Vani denberg. It . Mich. Despite talk of another veto, the boiwe antl-OPA bl •<■ promised to fight the resolution to send the bill to conference. The group included such influen tial house republican!) as Rep. ■ Charles Halleck. Ind., and Rep ; Clarence J, Brown. O. They served notice they would oppose adminis- . (ration attempt* to send the meae ■ i ure to a senate-house conference I ' j The current measure would exempt , from pi ice control many more I commodities than the bill vetoed 1 I by the President. Chairman Brent Hpence, I), Ky.. of the house banking committee i charged that OPA opponents were i attempting to ' railroad" the bill , i through the house without giving the administration an attempt to i modify the measure in the conferi (Turn To Page 2. Column 3) o Cost Os Living On Increase In Cily Prices Vary Widely In Different Stores Tiie cost of living in Decatur I continued to mount today, as etorles of price rises came In from j all sid<«'. Chief factor noteworthy of in I terest eeemed to be the lack of | standardization of prices, as hat i I been noted from the day OPA | , price ceilings were lifted. One market proprietor declared that he was "holding prices down a* much a* poswible" but that repeated advances In prices to him forced him to raise hU retail lists. For instance, he declared in describing the advance In meat price*, eight hogs coet him $375.56 at .Saturday's market prlc-*. Corroliorating the report of a i lack of uniformity In prices among retailers, was a report today that while some places were selling butter for as low ao 89 cents per pound, in one section of the city a retailer was charging 94 cents. “I don’t see how he can get it," one of the merchants selling at the lower price declared. "1 can't even sell mine at 80.” One merchant was reported to lie selling hamburger at 90 cent* per pound Others, it was reported, were getting anywhere from 37 to 47 cents. One eating establishment upi>ed its prices on some meat sandwiches to 25 cents each. Sotn< stores selling ice cream were reported to Im- , looking for smaller “dipping" equip- < meat, in order to eliminate the tiec- • saity of boosting prices on ice cream cones, sundaes, sodaes, etc.. after ice cream prices to them I were advanced. I

Walkouts, Buyer ! Strikes Planned As Price Protest

Gen. Mikhailovilch Sentenced To Death Yugoslav General, 10 Others Guilty Belgrade. July 15— (UP) —A military court today held Gen. ■ Draja Mikhailovilch guilty of treason and war crimes and sentenced him and !•) other defendants to death before firing squads —a sentence which was exi>ected to be carried out within 48 hours. The bearded Mikhailovilch and, his companions had (he right to appeal (heir conviction to the I presidium of the national assembly but It was expected that the ' appeal would be rejected. The appeal to the presidium must take the form of a request for a pardon. The execution of the convicted men will be con lucted in private in the military prison where they ere held. The remainder of the 24 de- , fendants at the trial were also ' convicted and were given long I prison sentences. Among those i | condemned to death were two members of former Yugoslav governments and the former prefect of Belgrade. The formal counts on which Mikhallovitch was convicted were high treason, collaboration with > die Germans and Italians and war i rlmes. The verdict condemning Mik 1 hailovitch was handed down exactly five weeks after his trial opened In the auditorium of a . i military academy on the out- .' skirts of Belgrade II Mikhailovilch and 23 joint defendants were tried before a military court composed of three

(Turn To Pag*- 5. Column ’) —o—- — Condition Reported Improved Although the (ondltion of Dale : Brandt. 29. injured Friday when his truck was hit by a train, wan 1 reported as improved today, it is , -till believed serious. The attend Ing physician said Saturday that his condition had Improved suf flcietitly to enable surgeons to set I fractures of both ankh* H<- is -uffriing from a st-ver<» skull fun ture Brandt was riding alom in his milk truck, when it wit- -truck by a fast westbound Erie train at the Piqua er eslng. He was hurled 150 feet from the poiti‘ of Impact. it To Slash National Debt On August 1 Washington. July 15, tUP) Tim treasury will slash the national debt by 1L250.000.000 <B) Aug. I with a cash retirement of ► holt term obligation*, t Was learn ell today. o

Randall F. McComb Is Taken By Death Infant Dies Sunday, Funeral On Tuesday Funeral servlet* will be h.-ld Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the D. (> McComb * Sons funeral home In Fort Wayne for Randall Farley McComb, 13 months old son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. McComb. of Decatur, who died Sun day at 8:40 a.tn. at th** Lutheran hospital In Fort Wayne. The child was bora In Fort Wayne, the son of Robert P. and Beatrice K (Tibi* Mi t’oinh, and camo here with his patents shortly after birth, when his father established the local McComb airport. Surviving, besides the parents, are a brother, Paul Douglas Me Comb; the maternal grandmother. Mrs. Ruth Cribbs, of this city, and the paternal grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. Hubert JJ. McComb, of Fort Wayne. The Rer. Homer A’py will officiate at the services and burial will be in the Greenlawn Memorial cemetery at Fort Wayne. The lad's father Is one of the best known civilian pilots in this vicinity and has managed airports In several cities throughout the nation. F

Price Four Cent*

800,000 Members Os UAW Planning , Walkout Tuesday To Protest Rise By United Press laibor union planned walkout* and buyers' strikes today to protest the steady ri-e of prices. A survey of principal cltlev across th<- nation showed that |«r|ees for basic foods and other commodities were continuing to mount. At Chicago. Walter P. Reuther, president of the powerful CIO i United Automobile Workers announced that th<« union's soo.ooo members would quit work tomorrow for one or two hours to protest rising prices. If pi Ice controls are not reinstated. Reuther predicted, ther< would be a buyers' strike "sue II as this country has never known.'* ID- warned that If prices are not. (urlied the UAW would "begin a fight on the wage front.” At Minneapolis. 10,000 AFL truckdrivers and 5.000 affiliated union workers planned a m.i a “work holiday" protest demonstc.i* tion for July 31 Union leaders said only emergency deliveries would be made by union drive -. At Springfield. 111. president ! John B. Marchiando of the hidependent Progressive Mine Worker, i <>f America, representing about 30,000 coal miners, urged all lais, I unions to join in demands fo* ; "suitable pri< <• cont nd " At Hartford. Conn . president of i mo cio union planned to meet ii,- • morrow to discuss plans for a stat •• | wide buyers’ strike. CIO unions at Philadelphia plan--1 tied a mass demonstiation at the City Hall and edntinued picketing stores allegedly engaging ill price gouging Cuttie price* again set an alllime high at Chicago. One load of

choice 1.200 pound steers sold at. 125 per hundredweight 8175 cents above the previous high paid last w»-ek The hulk of good ami thole* steers sold at from 823 to 821, i compared with 822.50 last week. At 12 principal livestock mari kets. cattle receipt* had dropped i to 52 I'm from 77.3 M a week ago. ■ hogs numbered its 6mt today, compared with |u3,6n3 la-t Monday. Many retc.il butt hers al Cleveland hail abandoned the practice of placing prhe markets on meat, t cuts They wore telling the pri<>» only to those interested in buyi ing. Milk tomorrow will go up two rents to is cents per quart. At Philadelphia, meat generally was up 25 percent above ttl’A tellings Retailer- reported some consumer resistant e to paying 9 • cents per pound for butter At Columbus (>. the retail grocers' association reported scattered consumer resentment at butter prices averaging 90 cent- per pound ami -aid that sales Were "deflnlti • ly etanled There was, however, m> organized buyers' strike. At Portland. Ore. slack .-onsutnet demand brought butter tlown to 62 tents a pound In -ottm

store* The wholesale price was 72 t<> 73 cents lletailers mild they were takinc a l'>-< to bring eftstome* into the store*. Butter previously had reached price* ot <m cents to $1 per pound. Me mwhiie, the Bureau of l«ll>or statistic disclosed that prices ot 2* basic commodities had risen 22.7 percent since the lifting of price control, and President Truman (Turn i|u Page a, Column 7) o — Rationing Os Sugar Likely To Continue — World Sugar Supply Running Far Short Washington. July 15 —(t’Pt—- ' Top OPA official* are convinced | that sugar rationing should con* j tinuc until the spring of H4K regardless of whether there is price < ontrol. Deputy administrator Geoffrey Baker and George A. Dice, director of sugar rationing, told repc rters today that more people want more angat now than at any time during the war. Industrial users, they said, seemed "almost frantic to get all the sugar they can find." Sugar rationing la authorized by tli» second war powers act, which (Turn To Page 3, Column 7)