Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 45, Number 35, Decatur, Adams County, 11 February 1947 — Page 1

fojXLV. No. 35

RITISH FUEL CRISIS IS MORE SERIOUS

■ Gas Ban, ■E. Resumes J ■rk Tomorrow |0 Percent Os Gas Service Restored ■Wednesday Morning <>f workers at th.- De -1 neral Electric plant was | today. E. W Lankenau. manager announ I. after 'A, in Indiana Public Service announced a resumption js-t.-.-nl natural gas service, Wednesday morning, tankenau Mated that all . - building 2. except the assemblers. should report at tn Wednesday. ■■tatter will report at noon to- ■- * Tl| l'"X*’’ 1 - including those «■(- rotor department, are to for the second shift at 3 .30 Wednesday afternoon ;i ||&*bt and inspect!>n department in Imth building 1 and Io report for their regular shift. Mr tankenau said. (Hsing departments will report fjSi ■ ' o'clock Wednesday shift: line flange, automatic mashaft grinding, tool room. n.HK e and punch press deEmployes in the d. paitments are also asked for work on the 3-30 k shift Wednesday after ||S*i Lankenau stated that other would be called by their tive foremen as quickly as I: could lie resumed in departments i.turn of workers begins a layoff since last Thursday that day local NIPSf'o informed the General that all gas service would off immediately, following percent cut ordered Wedbes afternoon. workers did not return ;«h<-n benches on the second Thursday and had been idle ■fre that time A skeleton crew a few foremen, guards. and maintenance men luen working days during liecatur Casting company’ anot h local indust i y using gas in production, but lay there were not necessary. sail, because only a few Bn were affected. Only a por ■'i of the company production M|uires the use of natural gas. ■was explained Gas Crisis Easts ’ By United Press ■ndiana s 25,Oft® weather-idled started back to Hoosier Blustrial plants today as a gas eased as the temperature |MTh<- mercury climbed up near Mr freezing point yesterday for Mr first time in four days, and Mr wheels of industry started Mlhng again. Temporary orders the use of gas by Indus .Mt so that an adequate supply be available for space heat Mr during the zero weather were or modified by many 18-' 1 least one-third, and possibly Mor*, of the workers laid off dur |M( 'he crisis were instructed to to their machines this fMnnnni; Barring another severe wave industrial production ■»* expe< e<i to return to norma! a few days. ■ Temperatures last night were ■ 10 2" degrees above the zero sub-zero marks recorded lasi -nd when the chilly blasts Mun the northwest were at their in Indiana S • Mierceton Resident ■ s Killed By Train ■ Wama w. Ind. Feb 11 - (VP)— mneral arrangements were made T*’ 5 ' for Ell>erl Gregory. 35 PierM 1 0" faulty injured yesterday K," >n hi * ‘• r drove into a west special Pennsylvania railpassenger train at a crowing »rwrka« vu seattarad for SM M 'b« «v W erw found II hto-k>

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Husband Is Held In Mutilation Murder Ex-Marine Is Held As Murder Suspect • Los Angeles. Feb. IL—(UP)—I An ex-marine who was considering self-imposed confinement in a psy-cho-neurotic ward was held on suspicion of murder today after admitting he quarreled with his estranged wife just a few hours !before her horribly mutilated and I crushed body was found trampled into the weeds of a vacant lot. Frank E Frenc h. 17. a veteran of two wars. swo:e “before me and my God" that he was not responsible for the death of hie dark-hair-ed. attractive wife. 15-year-old Jeanne T. French, a colorful "flying nurse" who once traveled as a part of the “International Set" In Pails, London and New York. Police said that French's account of his activities between midnight Sunday and the discovery of the body Monday morning showed “major discrepancies” "We believe- we have the right man." officers said. Mnt. French, a former movie actress and one-time companion to the I New York socialite and oil heirv-s Millicent Rogers, was the victim of the city's second mutilation slaying in less than a month. Her nude lacdy, beaten and sexually mutilated, wue discovered by a bulldozer operator en route to a housing project. Scrawled in lipstick across her abdomen was an obscene taunt and the letters "li. D" Police thought they stood for "Black Dahlia.” the name applied to lieautlful Elizabeth Short, who was savagely murdered Jan. 15 but doubted there was any connection between the two cases “The murderer apparently got his Ideas from the Black Dahlia murder." homicide Capt. Jack Donahoe suid in explaining the letters and inultllation. "He may have been trying to throw us off the track ” The murder cancelled Mrs. French's appointment with her husband a t the city attorney s office to dienes wife-beating charges on which she had him unrated only nine days ago. and their discussion ol a divorce, and his application for admission to a veterans hospital psycho-neurotic ward He was excused from woik to keep the appointment at noon but. according to the city attorney's office, did not appear. French denied at first that he had seen his wife Sunday night, police said, then admitted they had been "drinking atound in various bars” until 11:15 P.M Then she started a quarrel, he said, hit him with her purse and left “Jiefore me and my God I did not harm my wife." he said "I didn't lay a hand on her." — -o Post Office Clerk Slightly Improved The condition of Clarence Smith local post office clerk, was reported a.* slightly improved although still serious today. He was returned to the Adams county memorial hospital for a bowel obstruction operation only a few days after undergoing an appendectomy. o Decatur To Observe Lincoln's Birthday Courthouse Offices And Bank To Close Lincoln's birthday will be marked In Decatur Wednesday as in many other cities of the nation. The day has been declared a legal holiday in 51 states of the union and four possessions Here, the offices in the court house and the First State Bank will be closed all day in observance of the er»at The seml-offkla! observance will be hold at the Knights of Pythtas home Wednesday night la the ga i nual Uncoin Day dinner Walter Holmke. Fort Wayne

Says President Likely To Veto Rent Increase r Sen. Taylor States Presidential Veto Hinted By Truman Washington. Feb. 11. —(UP)— Congress got word today that President Truman might veto any bill calling for a general rent Increase. Sen. Glen H. Taylor. D., Ida , passed ths word around after visiting the president. He said Mr. Truman is "definitely opposed" to any across-the-board rent hike. Taylor said he "gained the impression that Mr. Truman probably might veto" any bill authorizing one. If so. the president and senate Republicans are headed for a clash A OOP-ruled senate banking subcommittee is getting ready to recommend just such a rent increase. according to chairman C. Douglas Buck. R . Del. The rent issue moved to the fore again amid these other congressional developments: Atomic the senate atomic energy committee heard a new burst of pros and cons in increasingly hot fight over the nomination of David E. Lilienthal to be head of the federal atomic energy commission. Secretary of war Robert P. Patterson staunchly defended Lilienthal: Dr. Arthur E. Morgan, former head of TVA. strongly opposed him. The Lilienthal fight threatened a major split In the senate Republican leadership. Sen. Robert A. Taft of Ohio privately expressed criticism of Lilienthal and may vote against him. Foreign policy the senate foreign relations committee called secretary of state George C. Marshall to a secret hearing Friday. He probably will be asked for an account of U. S. foreign Rolicy. It will be Marshall’s first appearance before congress in his new role tabor—Sen. Wayne L. Morse. R . Ore., said he disliked the closed shop, but questioned the constitutionality of legislation to outlaw it. Almon E. Roth, president of the National Federation of American Shipping. Inc., said the maritime industry was plagued (Turn T<> Page 3. Column 3) *O Three Are Fined In City Court Monday ——- . Two Youths Fined tn Traffic Drive Three men were fined hy Mayor John B. Stulls in city court late Monday—two of whom were arrested in the campaign against traffic violator* started recently by city police under the direc Hon of the mayor Charles Mowery. 20. of this city, was fine! 51 and costs, totalling 511. for allegedly failing to stop at a stop sign. The charge was substituted for one of rackless driving, originally scheduled to be placed against him. He pleaded guilty to the count. Lewis Teeple. another local yonth. was fined 55 and costa, totalling 515. when he pleaded guilty to a charge of speeding Prosecutor Myles F. Parrish represented the state at the arraign ments. Before passing sentence Mayor Stalls reminded the youths of his recent assertion that charges will be filed against all violators Although a definite check was not made with all officer* today It is known that at least one or two more "red" tickets were Issued by police for parking violattona since the first five ware given over the weekend. •Fred Engie, who pleaded gwllty to a charge of disorderly conduct daring the court session Monday afternoon, was fined |* and costa.

OKLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY,

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, February 11, 1947

Britain In Dark In Fuel Crisis

I Ki A M~ M . / r/ rr ''■ L \ ' I ■-2 . I * fr" / • / I? // -u1 Jr.

COAL CARS, rushing to London on first priority during recent pats lyzing blizzard and sub-zero temperatures, point up Great Britain’s greatest crisis since the hlltz. To conserve almost vanished fuel supplies, the government has ordered a complete shutdown of elec--1 trlcity for five hours a day. Britons comply amid verbal attacks alined at the government and at Fuel Minister Emanuel Shinwell tinsel t. who inspired phrase, “shiver with Shinwell.”

I Intense Cold Wave l Is Slowly Receding Part Os Florida's Fruit Is Destroyed By I'nlted Press i Old man winter, who destroyed some of Florida's crops and put , an estimated 216.000 perxonx out of work thia week by <auxing an Industrial fuel famine, began lon Inis his grip today The intense sold which cloned factories from Milwaukee, Wit., to Birmingham. Ala . wax slowly dixappearing, except in Maine and Florida and several other southeastern states. Florida, after another night of 1 suh-freexing temperatures, began j totaling up crop damage Tern i peratures during the night droppI ed to 26 at Jacksonville. Effective |at midnight tonight, the state cit-| rux cominiaxion banned ail ship- ! ments of fresh fruit -from the state. The commission wants to prevent damaged fruit from get- \ ting to northern markets and injuring Florida's reputation for "good, edible, high quality fruit." a spokesman said. Temperatures were swinging back to normal In the midwest*—, ' for the first time this month, raising hopes of immediate re- i opening of factories shutdown by curtailed gas supplies. Forecasters, at the Chicago i | weather bureau xaW the weather 11 picture generally was "good ex-!| cept from Nashville Tenn, south- , 1 eastward to Florida's eastern coast, where it remains chilly." The west enjoyed mild temper- ( ; atures with the exception of the | northern border of Minnesota and ‘ , North Dakota. where clearing ( skies dropped the mercury to 16 below at Bemidji. Minn, and 15 lielow at Intel uational Falla. Minn ( Warning Issued Here Against Solicitors Chamber of Commerce officials i i again issued warning today to I house w I rat and merchants again < unapproved sllk-ltors who havebean i teported active in Decatur. Preset eace of several aoMcliors ha* been i reported ia Use city In the iaet few I day* 1 are advised to make I mPehMps *• j t

812 Bills Submitted * To State Legislature Indianapolis. Feb. II — tl’Pt — A near-record total of *l2 bills were in the Indiana general assembly hopper Imlay The combined total of bills in both houses exceeds every year except ihtl. but 352 measures in the senate set a new all-time mark. In the house there Were t«0 bills. The deadline for Introduction of bills arrived yesterday From now on. only a small handful of hills will be accepted — those which the Republican majority believes vitally necessary Io the welfare of the state. A two-thirds approval vote is required before any hill now may bo Introduced o— Shanghai In Grips Os Financial Panic Prices, Currency At Runaway Levels Shanghai. Feb 11 -<UP»- A financial panic gripped Shanghai today with the price of commodl ties and foreign currency rising t<>' unprecedented levels, and Gen erallsslmo Chiang Kai-Shek and Premier T V. Soong reportedly called government leaders together in Nanking to discuss the situation The Generalissimo and Soong were said to lie seeking w»ye to curb an inflationary runaway market In which the price of gold shot up to 520.000 Chinese dollars an ounce (ft percent higher over yesterday's quotation The U. S dollar rose to 17.500 Chinese dollars, up 3.000 dollars from yesterday's high The official rate is 3.350 to 11 A Shanghai evening post survey showed that commodities have risen 60 percent in price in the last two days. Some showed a gain of as much as 200 percent Im , ported goods, oa which the gov-j eraaHl has slappud • percent | ad < stores surcharge. showed the fastest rise but domestic foodstuffs, ** r# no ’ ,ar j

Power Blackout May Be Extended Over Entire Nation In Three Days

Convoy Woman Tells Os Kidnap-Attack Jury Selected For Alleged Kidnapers Fort Wayne. Ind. Feb. 11 <l'P» A “O-ycar-old grandmother* testified today how Kite watt raped and her huttliaiid. S 3, wa* lieaten on a lonely I'nlted States highway. a* the government's first witness in the kidnap trial of Henry Black. Jr. 17. and Albert Webeater. 11 Mrs. Alfred M. Sherrick. Convoy. ().. housewife, led the parade of some 2<t wittieaseH with which the government hopes to secure a guilt verdict against the two young Nsshville. Tenn. negroes Mrs Sherrick, tastefully dress ••I in black, fold Hie court In a sometimes faltering voice how their car was sideswiped on a rainy nigh' on I'. S. highway 3<t To questions from I’. S attorney Alex Campbell she testified that site was pushed from the driver's seat while one of the juveniles drove off Hie main road into a field Both of them attacked her. she said before tin- car was brought back to Hie main highway between Van Wert. It. and Fort Wayne Mrs Sherrick said Itoth “he and her husband were injured ami remained in the hospital three days after they were attacked She said her assailants had run off when site called for help in a setvlce station despite threat* that she would be killed Black and Webesler face a maximum penalty of death on the kidnaping charge if a jury of four housewives and eight men finds them guilty and is instructed to recommend punishment. - - - «• —• Eugene Heimann Is Slightly Improved The condition of Eugene I lei mann. 17. son of Mi and Mrs. Henry lleitirunn and I student a' Decatur Catholic high school was repotted to lie a little improved today. The lad regains consciousnews for short intervals now. menr bers of the family state.l. and was abb- to take liquid nourtstmeat this morning The lad was knocked umons ciotls in a fall :it echool several weeks ago and it Is considered possible that he may have suffered ~ brain injury at th-- time. Hie family stated Tite nalute of Ine illness has not Iteeti definitely determined. they said - ————o- ————— Youth Is Arrested Here This Morning Caught Attempting To Enter Apartment Richard Winans. 21. of near Pleasant Mills, was being held on an open charge here today by city |M>lice. following his arrest about 1 o'clock this morning Winans allegedly entered the apartment of Mrs. Justine Geimer I in the G Remy Bierly residen<-e on Third street and fled when Mrs. Geimer screamed for help. | after being awakened by the in- | t ruder Police said that he is alleged I to have lieen upstairs in the Rice . hotel during the night, attempt : Ing to enter one or more rooms, twd that he admitted attempting to enter three or four other homes. He was arrested when hr return rd to the Geimer apartment Os (Uar* Ro> ChUcote and Robert Hill apprehended the youth and; lodged him la J*U. ►ndlag the 81-' iH* at

State Solons Promise Help For Teachers 1 Joint Committee From Legislature To Unify Measures Indianapolis. Feb. II fl'l’i A joint committee from Hie In li ana house* and senate announced today that It was getting ready to do something alcoiit the major issue of raising teachers' salaries Tiie house* and senate education committees met jointly and a spokesman said .llley wanted to “get something done" aluiut the teacher pay bills pending in the 15th general assembly "Many of our school tMchera feel nothing is being done about this Issue." said Sen A W Mitch ell. It . tal’orte "We want to remedy this and get something done " Mitchell sail the committees de < ided to unify the existing bills and |iush action on proposed in creases In the minimum scale of teacher pay as soon as possible The committees will try to push all the bills touching on teacher salaries out of committee and herd them into one group for study. Committee memtiers said Hie, were "actin? In response to an apparent suggestion in the gover nor’s mesaage relating to the fin anclng of teacher salaries" Meanwhile, the senate passed a Idll eliminating the central v >t<counting system used by seven Hoosier counties to tabulate the results of primary elections The Idll which originated in the senate, now goes to the house* The senate vote* was 13 <• In ad diHon to eliminating the central counting law. the Idll repeals th*wartime soldier vote machinery, exten ts tin- time for voting by al* sent voter ballot, and allows political parties 30 days more time to fill vacancies on tickets Central counting was autlioriz ed by a 1!*13 ac t for Marion. Van derburgh. Vigo. Allen. St Joseph take and Madison counties Passage* of tile senate Idll open ed a heavy calendar in Imth houses ns the Hath general a«sc-ni Idy knu< kled down to the Imai m*ss of processing the hulk of *l2 Bills intnaliK ed before yesterday's deadline Home 23 bills were scheduled for thirl and final trend ing today As the legislature started on i the second half of its M-day se* • ■ sion, the number of committee | | meetings and public hearings on 1 CT'irn Tn Psge 3. fnlionn *) o CAA Says Airport Needed In Decatur Liniger Airport Awaits Approval The city of Itecatur is one of •J In Indiana where the civil aeronautics administration has announ< ed class I airports should >e* Imllt or improved The CAA said they should lie undertaken on a priority basis, as congress appropriates special fund, matched by money from local st*unsora At present the city has ons alr-i port -the Liniger airport, owned and operated by Vann Uniger. > wetd of Decatur. awaJUag final *!> |

Price Four Cents

Government States Britain Is Barely Holding Her Own In Serious Crisis tandon, Feb. II (IP I The government announced today that Britain was barely holding her own in a fuel crisis which had idled some .*>.000.000 workers, and warned Hint the industrial power blackout might spread throughout the country within three davs. The fuel ministry reported that the first day * shutoff of power to nil but es-entlal industries saved 22.500 tons of coal, or aliouf one-third of the usual daily consumption. The ministry said, however, that with freezing weather and snow still blocking Hie normal coal channels, the stocks for power stations In the restricted areas were little improved. If any "In the absence of any firm pro«pei t of better deliveries and of sufficiently reduced consumption, warnings were issued to all public supply undertakings in the areas at present not affected by the cut that restrictions may have to be extended to th** whole country except for the north of Scotland ” the ministry reported Tin* fuel shortage confronted Hie labor government with a political crisis of growing magnitude. Conservative party members under Hie leadership of Winston Churchill, angrily leaped to attack the government for meptitude. Inefficiency and lack of farsighted planning No end was In sight to the crippling power restrictions which already have* dosed down about one-third of British industry and left homes with only reetrleted heating and light With severe cold and snow perslating many quartern l***llev»**l that the power black-out would have to b<- extended to the entire I'nlA-d Kingdom to build up a. back log of < oal supplies While the government had hoped that the worst of the crisis might la* over within a week it was growing apparent that sharp xmtrol of the u><* of coal laitli by industry and the public will continue long after the snow Inirn current crisis lias eased. Th** government today was considering the possibility of enlisting the alii of the armed forces to try and laioat coal production. British coal miners heretofore have resolutely resisted any plan to send soldiers into the pits Whether their attitude might change in view of Hie crippling shortage and the continued slump ■ in the size of the labor for* e avail- | able to the coal Industry wa. not i certain Freezing, snowy weather cov- ; ered tiie country, anl additional ( coal-saving restrtetions were Im- , pose.l There was no indication i when the emergency, described by ' Prime Minister (Tetneut Attlee ■« 1 one of "utmost gravity." would end. Railway passenger service Into London was retimed Some trolley bus and streetcar lines reduced | ru«h hour service by 1® percent The four great national railroads reported coal st*H-k. suffi* lent for from two and a half to seven days. Winston Chur* hill as opposition lender still threatened a vote of ■ ensure against the government in the house of commons. In an oratorical Hurry last night he blamed the crisis on mismanagement by "halt baked socialisnT* (Turn To Pago 1 Coloma T) Firemen Called To Ahr's Market Fira