Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 44, Number 176, Decatur, Adams County, 27 July 1946 — Page 1

XLIV. No. 176

DOST PRICES ON THOUSANDS OF ITEMS

tens Youth Wesses To lee Killings Lnts Os Youth K r Confessions ■Chicago Deaths L July 27—<UP>The of 17 year-old William K V( .fo convinced at la** ■thai their son had com- ■ brutal slaylnil*. but Kv--i to "atand by him." K bad refused to believe ■h>y heart! from hl* own Kv the son they thought of ■ active, normal boy. enK in hl* religion and mud- ■ reality had lieen leading Ks crime for year*. Kctl beyond belief, Mr am! ■lleorg'- lleirens listened K-«sly late yesterday a* Km recited in tietail how he K-.| ami killer! six-year-old Ke Heiman, knifed to death ■ Wave France* Brown and ■ Habited Mr*. Josephine la widow. K- thing* they knew he wan Kd to have admitted before. Key had not heard the adK, and had dung to the | 'hat somehow, It wan all lake. Krday. sitting with their Kt attorney* in the quiet of Knk county jail chapel, they ■ what they had hoped K hope would not be true. ■ world crumbled around I and they left the chapel Kd and nearly paralyzed. Kwarda. regaining their Kara at home, th* elder K told hi* wife: K'i itill our son, and well I by him .” K." the mother replied, ■we hope and pray that God Bake care of him.” Bile hia attorney* listened Bi', parent* sat a* If drugg Boung Helrens described in■ruble assault* and burglarIr Had commit ted, concluding By with the three killings. ithin the space of seven h*. times during the two-hour 11, tears welled from the of Margaret Heirens. the er. The father, unable to I. dabbed repeatedly at hi* with a handkerchief. Irens spoke freely, aimoat ed’.y, in the religion* atmostof the chapel, with Ita (round of the altar, the ataof the cross and a painting e last supper. At time*, the rr lobbed, but most of the only the youth's muffled broke the silence of the d. rasionally, as he poured out onfession, the youth grasped nother’s hand. r conference liegan only a ’bort hour* after Heirens orrn formally indicted In the »" and Drown murders. It k*en nrcdlcted that the conie would consider what part wy'a sanity would play in hearing, but it was indicated "cctaion on the matter had reached yesterday. Heirens. without any »• *°!d his mother and fathM the things the police were < soont him were true. ’old them how he entered north side home n«n. former OPA official. ' r from her bed, carried * ,r# ngled her and dis--1 , r *' ! ’he body. h ‘" eoor, ««- he re‘•"‘‘•’■’d a hotel mk. r ®»*- hut was surw Fences Brown, a forJhe shot and w . b *•** dying across a de?' Z described hi* first Jl «* sos last year. •Clive -u Bo "*> “ n t * Wow - “Mhing her the throat. *» »1 R * TURI hOO ~ “ * •-». z. - “ F.lr hrtly e ’"t w ’™” r today. *-2?. h ° W,r * "OrthM most c » R Vai tonight ** * ««• Bunday/

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Four-Months-Old Boy Is Auto Crash Victim Noblesville, Ind. July 27—(I'l’t Four-months-old Michael Cook was killed late yesterday when an automobile In which he was riding struck a Utility pole and a tree along a highway. The baby's mother, Mm. Imagene Cook. 23, and the driver, Miss Jeweldetie Scott. 22. Nd»bl«avllle. were injured - it Report Garsson Sold Influence To Contractors Check Sensational Reports Os 'Sale' To War Contractors Washington. July 27 —(I'Pl— The senate war investigating -ommlttee Is checking sensational reports that key figures in the Garsson munition* empire marketed their "Washington influence" to other war contractors. It wa < disclosed today Some of the principal figures who played leading roles in the fabulous Illinois syndicate assertcdly are linked to a highly profitable “brokerage business." whereby firm* outside the »n> plre were promised lucrative government contracts in exchange for fat fees In some instances, according to reports under committee scrutiny, contractors paid influence" fees — but never received any government contract*. Although no name* were disclosed, one reliable source said, "It Is as if some of the same cast of characters had moved from one stage to another." Meanwhile, chairman James M. Mead. D.. N. Y., told reporters th* committee consider* the main Garsson case "far from closed ' Sometime today, he said, the committee may unveil the list of individuals whose income tax returns It intends to scrutinise under special presidential authority. Mead indicated the list will include the name of Rep. Andrew J. May. D., Ky. named timing testimony as "guardian angel" of the Garsson combine which handled >78.000,000 worth of government war contracts. May’s physician gave the committee secret medical testimony yesterday that bis patient Is suffering from a 'heart condition" (Turn To Page S. Column 11 -0 —• Students Arriving For Auction School Semi-Annual Term Opens Here Monday Many students from a score of atates were arriving in Decatur today for the opening of the 52nd semi-annual session of the lleppert school of auctioneering, which will open at Belmont park Monday morning. Early application* on file at the Reppeit office, indicate that the clam might In* the largest In the history of the school, which was founded in January. 1921, by the late Fred lleppert, who attained national fame a* an auctioneer and instructor in the art of salwtmanrhip. While many of the atudenta have obtained rooms in local private homes, a number will have sleeping quarter* in the assembly room at the park and in the former Grand•duff building on South Second street. The same staff of ln<»t rut torn who formerly served with Col. lleppert in the conduct of the unique school, will lie here to Instruct the students. The three weeks' training Inclndtti Instruction in voice culture, personality develonemcnt. platform confidence and the art of salesmanrhip as practiced by the successful auctioneer Many of the graduate* of the Reppert school of auctioneering have become leaders In their field and are widely known In their respective areas and stair* ns the leading auctioneer*

A-Bomb Experts Wait To Board Submarine -r--j| , u Ji- • r-inm —.; e jL , r i flFl- * ? Sr Rl —>■ • *•- WAITING TO BE BOARDED for in*p«-<tion after safe interval, the submarine Pan-he rfdes at anchor in Bikini after surviving atomic blast. Fate of four of her sister ship* anchored on bottom during test I* *tlll unknown. Joint Army-Navy Task Force radiophoto

Four Vacancies On Republican Ticket I Central Committee Meets Monday Night Four vacancies for major county offices exist on the Republican county th ket and an attempt will l-o made- to nominate candidates for the place* at the meeting of county central committee Monday evening at tin- auto license bureau. Harry "Peck" Essex, Re publican chairman, stated today. Vacancies to Im- filled are those for sheriff, assessor, surveyor and clerk In the Muy primary, candi-

dates for county commissioner' from ths- first and third districts were nominated on the ballot. The Republican* also named Norval Fuhrman as their candidate for county treasurer and Jim- Morri*., candidate for coroner, their name*; appearing on the ballot. They did not have opposition. Roy Poorman and John ('. Peter* are party candidates for the county commissioner jmmoThe Republican also named io candidate* for township trustee*. | but have vacancies in French and Washington township*, which they hope to fill Monday evening. Mr Essex, who called the special convention, will preside a* chairman of the meeting. I'nder the law. nomination* for place* on the party tickets must he made prior to August 1. o Former Resident Os Monroeville Is Dead Gottfried Wagner, former Monroeville resident, died of heart | disease Friday in Pascagoula, Mi**./ where he had resided for the past, 2n yea hi. Surviving are a daughter and sewn staters, Including Mr*. Emma Butler of Decatur. Services will Im- held in Pascagoula.

Byrnes Leaves For Paris Peace Parley 21 -Nation Conclave To Meet In Paris Washington, July 27. I I'Pl— Secretary of state Jamea F. Byrnes, accompanied by top I'. 8. dif.lomafic officiate, leave,i by plane at noon today to attend Hie 21-nation Paris peace conference. Elaborate ceremdnie* signifying the Importance of Byrnes' mission are scheduled priar to hl* takeoff. President Truman, chief justice Fred M. VltMon. cabinet members and congressmen will accompany Byrnes to the airport where the secretary will make a brief address. Those assigned to go to Parte to aid Byrnes during the conference Include a-isistant secretary of state William f’layton and hi* deputy Willard L. Thorp< ; assistant secretary of state James C. Dunn: Edwin W. Pauley, the president"* personal reparation,* representative, and Benjamin V. Cohen, state department counsellor. They will be joined In Parte hy ambassador to London W. Averell Harriman, ambassador to Moscow Bedell Smith, and ambassador to (Turn Tu Pag* 1, Column 7>

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, July 27, 1946

School Band Members To Meet Sunday Noon Mi** Marelyn Sihttitz. bund directrism, requests all members of the high school band to meet at the Decatur junior-senior school at 12 o'clock Sunday to he assigned transportation to the M owe Picnic. Everyone is urged to be prompt. o Eighl More Homes On Master Drive Building Activity Continues In City

Excavation* and basement* for ei |'ii more modern houses on Master Drive in the north part of the city arc under construction. Harry A Maddox, local manager of th- McMillen Home Building Corp stated today. The eight houses will Increase to DI the number of new homes being built on Master drive. The first unit of eight was started a few month* ago. The house* are under roof and will Im- ready for occupancy a* quickly a* material* for their completion can be obtained and Installed. Mr Maddox stated that there was sufficient space for Hi more houses along the drive, and It I* possible, depending entirely on obtaining materials. Io construct at l< ast eight more house* this year. The houses are built under an Hll priority which provides that the house* shall first be offered to ex-Mervicemen. Mr. Maddox stated that a number of nonservicemen employed at the McMillen industries, also were applicants for new houses. Lumber for ’the new house* is being cut on the site, with L. E. "Red" Cluse, in charge a* superUntendent of lonstniction. Theshortage of material lias curtailed full operation* at the building site. Mr Maddox explained. Bttllding activities In Stratton Place, .east of the city, on the (Turn To Ps«» Column

Decatur’s Fire Fighting Equipment In Bad Shape

"If you hear tin- fire whistle, get going. You won't want to mine the • ,ihow.” - Although a* this Is written no ■ alarm ha* lu-eti sounded aince the ’ above 'Tip" was given, it did ex- ' plain In no small way why a few extra gray hairs have been popping ’ up on the head of fire ihief Harry 1 Ftultd und other city officials in Decatur. ' I'nlftM the picture change* be--1 fore the next alarm is turned in. ’ it will be "a show" when a pair of ' odd looking vehicle* leave the en- ■ glue house on South Seventh street. 1 Ono will be a 1919 American LaFrance fire truck wit.i the name i “City of Portland” on It and the other will be Decatur's own American LaFrance—but it will In- pulling a two-wheeled trailer. And the situation now Is nothing to worry chief Stulln the way it did earlier. For a shirt time, while 'chief Stults and other officialmade a frantic a'tempi to remedy the situation. Decalur wi t without a fire truck. Here's the way it all happened Both of Decatur'* fire trucks are]

Markle Man Elected Firemen President Annual Convention Continues At Berne A parade and several contests this afternoon will climax the list convention of the Indiana industr ial and volunteer fireman's association. now head-d by H. IL Yoos of Markle, following a business session in the Berne auditorium Friday night. Mr Yoos was named president of the organization during the election, with scores of delegates ftom various cities in Northestern Indiana in attendance. Other officer* named last night tire Harold Qua< kebtish. vice president; W. Henry ColHsson. Winona Lake, secretary treasurer: Earl E. Eakright, Butler: L. A Wilcox, Pierceton; Paul Penrod. Montpelier: Paul Felber. Decatur, and Albert Clauser, Berne, director*. No definite selection of a she for the 1917 convention was made last night although Bremen was among the mon- prominent choice* of the convention delegate-.. Joe Kortenber of the regular force. Ed Hurst and Russel! Baum garter of the volunteer force head ed th- Decatur group in attendance as official delegate*. Members of the city and Central Soya forces made up th- balance of the local delegation. E J Schug. Berne, a-ted a* toastmaster during the banquit and the addres- of welcome was delivered l»y Clarence Spninger president of the Berne twon board Bowser Speaks Carter Bowser, state fire marshal. headed a list of prominent speaker at the banquet Joe Lump, chief of the fire protection forceof the Gary steel mill*, was also a speaker. Music during the banquet was furnished by the Winner Brand quartet and other musical group from Berne, A water ball contest was to (Turn To Plan Column 1>

about a quarter of a century old. First the old Stutz "gave out." It was magneto trouble. Firemen were able to gel It fixed for while, but sometime ago It quit f>r g'M>d. Chief Stults appealed Io the city council. utreMlng the dire nee.l of a new truck, and the council authorized the purcha-e of t new one—i for slightly less than Ill.O'to. But I under terms of the contract I’ would not be delivered tor about 150 "working days" at five day* per week. And this brought delivery date some time in December. Al! thia didn't result in rwtfui sleep fir chief Stulls and his cohorts down at the engine house but their trouble* had just la-gun The pumper on the LaFrance went haywire. This left the city wit fire protection at practically nil. Fort Wayne didn't have a truck in reserve that they could let Decatur tee. They couldn't fix Decatur's truck*. They didn’t have part* for the almost obsolete Stutz, but they thought maylm Chicago might. Chicago didn't but "there wa* s’mc place In Minnesota or Wisconsin." (Turn To Pag* 1, Column 7)

OPA To Order Increases For Other Items; Rents Pegged At June 30 Level

Continue Probe 01 Lynching In Georgia Federal And State Officers In Probe Monroe, Ga. July 27 ti'l’i Federal and state officers remained tight-lipped today a* they attempted to piece together evid ence disclosing the identity of lynch-slayer* of four Georgia negroes. Neither the FBI. ordered into action by I'. S attorney general Tom Clark, nor Georgia bureau of Investigation spokesmen, would comment on the progress of the Investigation Maj W. F„ Spence, of the GBI. reiterated that no effort would be spared in getting to the bottom of the "worst thing that ever happened to Georgia." They sought some 20 unmasked white men who Thursday took four negroes from the automobile of J. Loy Harrison. Oconee county farmer, and riddled their bodies to ribbons with shotgun, rifle and pistol fire. Harrison obtained the freedom of one of the Negroes. >(Wm bond here Malcolm woe Boger Malcolm, by a posting a charged with stabbing a former I employer. Barney Hester. 22. Malcolm, his wife, and another 'nuclei couple, army veteran George Itorey and hi* wife, wengoing with Harrison to work on hia farm. Harrison said as hi* car appproac hed a wooden bridge which spans the Appalachee river between Walton and Oconee counties, he found it blocked by another machine. "I thought it must be federal men," Harrison declared Then several other cars, loaded with armed men, drew up behind. "We want these negroes," a tali, sun tanned man wearing a brown suit and black, wide(Turn To Page 5. Column 1)

Gain More Details On Gephart Death Former Local Man Hotel Fire Victim A few more details concerning the death of Ernest Gephart. 25. (x-Decatur soldier, nt Auburn. Calif., on July 17. have been received tiy his widow, the former Virginia Springer of Line street. i» was disclosed here today. Ilsa letter received from the ,-oroner of the California county in which the Decatur man died, Mrs. Gephart learned that her husband was one of five persons burned to death in a hotel fire The letter said little more than the fact that the structure was a two-story building and that the fire w-ts believed to have been of incendiary origin. The body of the Decatur man was burned beyond recognition, the letter said, and burial was made immediately because of this fact. The coroner’s letter stated that Mr. Gephart. employed re cently as a traveling salesman, had been transferred to Auburn. Calif., ony three weeks prior to his death. Red Cross authorities here are attempting to secure st!!! more details, Gephart. discharged from army service last Novem her, is survived by the widow and two young children here, tn addition to the parents at Lido. Calif. Receives Word Os Death Os Father Mt*. D. H. Kingsley, of this city, will leave thte afternoon for Denver. Colo., after receiving word of the death he father in that city.

U. S. Charges Russia Causes Hungary Chaos Indicts Rossia For Stripping Hungary Os Food, Equipment Washington. July 27 — il'l’t Russia today stood indicted by Hie I'nitel States for stripping large quantities of food and industrial equipment from Hungary and of being largely respontilde for the present economic chaos In the Balkan nation In a bristling. 1,500 word note made- public last night, the state department accused Russia of refusing to cooperate with British and American representatives on Hungarian matterThe- Soviet* also were charged with sacking most of Hungary's foodstuffs for the Red army, and of removing 1121.20ff.000 worth of Hungarian industrial equipment. The note was handed on Tuesday to Russian foreign minister V M Molotov by V. S. aml>a-»a dor to Moscow Waiter Bedell Smith. It was the second American note on the Hungarian situation. the first having been delivered on March 2. The March note asked for immediate Russian cooperation with the British and American representatives In Budapest, and the new note made the same request. Tin- I' S. note said ’hat Russia was guilty of "gross exaggeration” In Its claim that American failure to return Hungarian assets in the American xone* of Germany and Austria had retarded Hungary's recovery. Russia ha* accused the I nitc-l States of holding asset* worth almut I-!, onn.ooo.nqn In reply, the note pointed out that the total Hungarian national vc-alth was only In 1913. and thdt all removals plus war damages, according to the Unitarian government.. total only >L250.000.0im. In releasing the note, the stale department remarked that since liec-ember. 1915. it had taken the initiative in trying to get threepower assistance- for Hungary Tile proposal* were rejected ley the Soviet, the department said, in spite of the Yalta declaration which required that Russia. Great Britain and the I’. 8. assist Axis satellites in solving their ' presFnirn T,I Paa* s. Column •)

Freight Train Wreck East Os Huntington Forced To Re-Route Erie Rail Traffic Re-routing of through passenger and freight train* on the Erie railroad through Decatur was necessary late last night and early today because of a train wreck east of Huntington. W M Bumgerdner. local station agent of the Erie road, said this morning that he had received little details of the crash, other than the fact that 2a freight cars reportedly were involved The wreck made routing of Erie trains from Huntington to Fort Wayne on the Wabash rail road necessary and these trains were switched at Fort Wayne to the G. R. * I division of the Pennsylvania to Decatur, where they were again placed oil the Erie lines. At an early hour today three trains had hcen rerouted. Mr. Bumgerdner stated, and three more were expected to be within a short time. He had been Informed unofficially that 21 hours would be needed lo clear the wreckage, he said.

Price Four Centj

One Os First Orders Will Boost Prices On Coffee; Hike On New Autos Expected Washington, July 27 'IP)— The OPA worked overt line icalay cirafting a flurry of new price increases to cover I offee. aillomohle, t- xile- and x< c»n-s other consumer item*. Although OPA officials admitted they ctuldnt keep up with the pave they set yerterdav when 113 price orders were ir»ued, they pro-ini-ed that many other price action* would In- forthcoming within , fh<- next I't day* One of the first ord' r* expected to hr- issued will rend letail coffeeprices up 6 to 7 cent* a pound to replace subsidy payments that expired June 30. in addition. OPA spokesmen said that price increase* so n will Im announced on new automobiles, farm machinery, home appliances, textile*, cotton and woolen clothing. and grain products such M cereal, flour and corn >yrup Prices on thousand- of iv-ma were b lotted or removed during jestc-rd iy s seven hour flood of orders issued by OPA. Although the new lorinula* ultimately will cost consumers an estimated billion dollar- or more, only three will hit buyer.* - pocketbook* immediately They arc- an s percent im tea* • n higher cost rliocv-. « 6 to X-centsa lon boost oil coal and a 5 percent inc rease on rubber heels sold by cobblers. Other price inc cases authorized covered work glove*, automobile! seat cover*, d mi- »tic oil burner*, and lumber. Controls were scrapped on a variety of it-ins. including several typ-* of dock*, awning*. low bac k'-d c hair*, household television receiving set*, -'ang lawnmowe: and rubb< ” mats. rtesplle promised ho sts on new caw. OPA n tore i June- 30 c eiling • , . <■. || ci- o’ al' '’. pc-. Rent* also w-:<- pegged at former levels. In a statement i-wurd last night, price chief Paul Porter poiim-d out that only I" percent of food itenie. remain under control Ho said ih.ct business would have* to operate under the old price cellIng* until ol'A figure* out new price* <>n hundreds manufactured prcMlucte Under the new law, price ceiling*, hav.- be.-n scrapped on meat, dairy products, cottonseed, soybean*, poult: i. eggs, petroleum and tobacco They will remain free of control* until Aug. 20, at which time a special three.nan control board will decide whether priced have gone out of houndThen- wa* no indication a* t» whom the President will appoint tn serve on the control lioatd. MrTruman ha* said that meinbew will be appointed who will make Impartial price decisions. u Local Lady's Mother Is Taker? By Death Mrs. Delilah Ann Thompson. 81. former resident of Convoy. <). died Friday at the home of a son. Harley Thompson, in Paulding county, <). Surviving are two sons, three daughters, including Mrs. Noel Back of this city, and two brothers. Funeral services will Im- held at. 2 pm. Sunday at Fairview I nited Brethren church in Paulding county. with burial in the Convoy ItJOF cemetery, 0 Capehart Asks Public To Back OPA Measure Indianapolis. July 27 -tl’Pi— Sen Homer K. Capehart. IL, Ind., today admitted that bnckers of OPA had virtually lost their battle to keep price control* In effect. "The majority decided that they wanted the kind of bill we have," he said. "*o now everylMxiy . . . ought to put their shoulders to the wheel and try to make the measure work." Capehart said he believed the new OPA legislation would benefit the farmer, producers and induatry-