Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 46, Number 12, Decatur, Adams County, 15 January 1948 — Page 1

Vol. XLVI. No. 12.

FRANK LINIGER KILLED IN AUTO CRASH

Krug Cails For 15 Percent Cui sin Use Os Fuel — Interior Secretary Urges Reduction In Critical Shortages '■ Washington, Jan. 15.—(UP)— of interior J. A. Krug * today called for a 15 percent reduction in use of gasoline, fuel oil a and natural gas in an effort to relieve the "critical petroleum supply situation.” The appeal was directed to all „ consumers’. Krug urged that no more equipment be installed anywhere for burning oil, gas or “bottled” gas. He also: " 1. Urged that temperatures of homes, office buildings, stores, p apartments, hotels and factories ‘ be kept at 68 degrees or less during waking hours and at 60' degrees or below at all other times. ™ 2. Asked that drivers reduce gasoline consumption by reducing speed, distance and organizing car pools. ■ 3. Urged that weather strip- — ping and insulation be installed wherever possible and that householders resort to such measures as wasting no hot water and keeping shades down and blinds closed wherever outside light is not needed. Krug’s appeal was coupled with a grim prediction by Max Ball, director of the department’s oil and gas division, that the petroleum shortage will last two more years; that there will be spot gasoline shortages for the next two summers; and that it will be four or five years before there is an “abundant” supply of petroleum in this country. Ball also said there is “grave apprehension” whether there will be enough gasoline for harvesting crops next year. As for fuel oil. he said, “next winter will be nearly as bad as this and the winter after that not much better.” Krug’s appeal was read by Ball at a meeting of 150 officials from 32 states, including 26 emergency fuel oil coordinators. Krug called the meeting to discuss ways of reducing petroleum consumption. “Unless oil and gas are conserved in every possible way,” Krug said, “this winter may see homes unheated and industrial plants shut down for lack of fuel oil or gas. “The shortage may be felt next summer and can result in a sharp curtailment in farm production because of the shortage of gasoline needed to operate farm machinery.” s Krug also announced he has called the national petroleum council to meet Jan. 22 to formulate a voluntary program “to assure equitable distribution of the available supply of petroleum and to intensify the conservation campaign now being carried on by the petroleum industry.” Krug said the present oil shortage is “world wide” and “may last two or three years.” Krug said fuel oil is scarce in many localities east of the Rockies. Natural gas will be short during cold spells in the middle west and Appalachian area for lack of pipeline capacity. He said the gasoline supply is now “barely equal to demand in some parts of the country and may not equal demand next summer.” He said the mountain states and « the west coast are in a “somewhat Lh more fortunate situation” than the U rest of the country, but that local jj scarcities -may develop in the JN northwest and even in California. Q 0 'Work Train Kills Miner At Linton | Linton, Ind., Jan. 15 —(UP) — * A work train killed James M. Dent nis, 76, Linton, yesterday at the Friar Tuck mine of the Sherwood Templeton Coal Co. near here. . , ■ o WEATHER Snow flurries and turning much colder with strong shifting winds tonight. Heavy snow near Lake Michigan. Friday mostly cloudy and much colder with snow flurries northIsl east and extreme north por-

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

BULLETIN Chicago, Jan. 15 —(UP)— An explosion ripped apart a four-story furniture warehouse just north of the Chicago loop today, and firemen said they ~ believed three persons were trapped beneath tons of debris and shattered furniture. 0 Key Countries Need Help To Avert Revolt State Department Predicts Trouble If Plan Rejected Washington, Jan. 15 — (UP) — The state department laid before congress and the world today an unprecedented appraisal of the internal political situation of 17 western European countries and warned that some key countries face revolutions unless they get substantial U. S. economic aid. The political analysis in effect predicted a raah of little and big “Greeces” all over ‘Europe if the Marshall plan is not approved. This was contained in 17 volumes of background material on each of the 16 western European countries involved in the Marshall plan and western Germany. Each volume contained a section on “political aspects.” Never 'before has the state department made public so candid an analysis of the internal political situation in other countries. It usually has refrained from even the most guarded comments on such issues. The political comments on some countries are routine, general statements. On Portugal, for example, the report does not mention that the present regime is generally recognized as a dictatorship which has maintained itself in power since 1926. But the analysis on France was most comprehensive and even included statements of what “many Frenchmen” or ‘most Frenchmen” believe. The state department’s reports predicted dire results if the Marshall plan failed. In France — Failure to attain economic stability probably would lead to Communist revolution and imposition of a Communist dictatorship, but probably only after a civil war between right and left. In Italy — The continued existence of the present anti-Com-munist center government depends upon success in arresting inflation and in maintaining production that promises better living conditions. In western Germany — ‘Unless his crowded and industrially rich and is enabled to recover some of ts former economic vitality, moderate and democratic forces anxious o cooperate with the rest of Eur>pe cannot hope to consolidate .heir position — the trade unions Ire the only internal protection a;ainst efforts of totalitarian forces as the right or left to exploit the conomic distress as a means of (Turn To Page 3. Column 6) O Plan Commission To Meet Tuesday Night Commission Plans For First Meeting The Decatur planning commission will hold its first meeting Tuesday night following the Council meeting at the city hall. The meeting was called by Mayor John Doan, ex-officio member of the board, who will act as temporary chairman. ’ The first order of business, under the 1947 law which created the planning commission, will be to organize by electing a chairman, vice-chairman and secretary. Members of the local commission are Mayor Doan, Ralph Roop, city engineer, Al Beavers, representing the city council, Charles Kent, Kenneth Hirschy, Harold Mumma and Dick Heller. Mayor Doan and Mr. are members of the commission by virtue of their offices, councilman Beavers was elected to serve by other members of the city council, and the other four members represent the people by virtue of appointment by the Mayor*

Forrestal In Testimony For Marshall Plan Says Rejection Os Plan To Be Costly For United States Washington, Jan. 15 — (UP) — Defense rc-retary James Forrestal told congress today that if this country rejects the Marshall plan it may have to spend $17,000,000,000 a year for arms. And army secretary Kenneth C. Royall said one alternative to ap-8 proval of the four-year European recovery program might be another peacetime draft of young men into the armed forces. The administration wants $6,800,000,000 to operate the Marshall plan for the first 15 months of its projected four-year existence. The four-year cost has been estimated at around $17,000,000,000. which is what Forrestal said national defense may cost every year without the Marshall plan. Forrestal and Royall both testified before the senate foreign relations and the house foreign affairs committees. Both described the Marshall plan as a peace program. . Forrestal, usually softspoken, said loudly that, the recovery project is aimed at preventing war, and not at restraining or dominating any nation or group of nations. The senate was in recess until tomorrow while the house considered legislation to give enlisted men a better break in court martial trials. Other congressional developments: Ginsberg & McCarthy— Chairman Joseph R. McCarthy, R.. Wis., of the house-senate housing committee called Isadore Ginsberg of Jackson Heights. N. Y.. the “most vicious of the gray marketeers” dealing in housing materials. Ginsberg, who insists he is a legitimate business man, was offended. Said he: “I want to say. sir. that Ginsberg is as (Turn To Pasr« 3. Column (D —: 0 Name Thurman Drew Cancer Drive Head County Chairman Os Financial Campaign Thurman Drew, Adams county auditor, has been named county -hairman of the annual financial ampaign of the Adams county -lancer society, it was announced ‘oday. The appointment was made by Roy Kalver, president of the society. No effort will be made to raise ’unds in Decatur, since the cancer society receives the Decatur share ’rom the annual community fund. Mr. Drew will organize the rest of he county for the drive. Schools, churches and towns in he county will be contacted In the ■nnual fund drive and cannisters will be placed again this year in stores in the' various towns, it was mnounced. The money received from the mnual campaign is used by the vdams county society to buy equipnent for those suffering with the lisease and also to circulate the atest information concerning conrol and early diagnosis of the ailnent. Mr. Drew stated that he would lame co-chairmen in the various .ownships soon and that the drive would get underway in all parts jf the county immediately. 0 .• Leadership School Will Meet Tonight The second session of the leadership training school, sponsored by the Decatur ministerial association, will be held at 7:30 o’clock this evening at the Bethany Evangelical United Brethren church. The program for the chapel service opening the meeting will be a number of slide pictures on “Changing the primary room.” This service will be of particular interest to teachers of children, but the public is invited to attend.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, January 15, 1948

Take Up ‘Case Against Petrillo’ i jy 'nW • Jf w- "a. — WW' CHAIRMAN FRED HARTLEY (left). (R). N. J., of the House labor committee chats with Justin Miller, president of the National Association of Broadcasters, who, as first of several witnesses to tell the industry side of “the case against Petrillo,” called the music czar an “economic, pirate” who has become “the American public’s symbol for bad union leadership."

Abductor Os Local Resident Is Sought Russell Owens Is Fort Wayne Victim Fort Wayne police late today were still searching for a gunman who abducted Russell Owens, local General Electric executive, and stole s3l from him. They were also looking for the local man’s auto. The bandit, brandishing a gun. crawled, into Owens' auto as he was parked in front of the Fort Wayne public library, and ordered him to drive to the west edge of the, city. After assuring Owens that his car would be found parked near the library, the bandit left the local man out on U. S. 24 and headed back towards the heart of the city. The Decatur man went to Fort Wayne early last night with his wife. Vera, a son David. 14, and a niece, Mary Owens, 14. Mrs. Owens, a teacher at Monmouth, was left out at the Indiana University extension center and the young people were delivered by Owens to the Fort Wayne College of Music. He then proceeded to the library. Webster and Wayne streets, and parked in front of 913 Webster street. Owens said he remained in the library until about 7:50 p. m. and then went out to the car. In about three minutes, Owens said, the front door of the machine was opened sudden'y. He looked up. expecting to see his son and niece. Instead, a man wearing a dark hat, pulled well down, crowded him under the wheel. ‘Let's Get Going’ “This is a stickup." he declared, pointing a blue-steel automatic pistol, “let’s get going.” At. the direction of ‘be bandit f-rijfw To pn o-p q Cnl’jrr-n O Escape Injury As Train Hits Auto Three Are Unhurt Early This Morning Three persons escaped serious injuries at 1:50 o’clock this morning when their auto was struck by a freight train at the Grant street crossing of the Nickel Plate railroad. Lee D. Zachary, 38, Bloomingdale, driver of the car. suffered a wrist laceration. His companions, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Bickford, ■both of lowa, escaped uninjured. Zachery told police that his car was traveling east on Grant street when he approached the crossing and that his windshield was frosty, impating his vision. He said that he did not see the train in time to avoid being struck. The train was traveling southeast. The engineer identified himself to police as a Mr. Weihart. The auto, owned -by® Kraft Foods company, was damaged to an estimated extent of SSOO.

Mother And Three Children Killed Fergus Falls, Minn., Jan. 15 — (UP) — A mother and three of her children burned to death today when fire destroyed their farm home near here, and the father saved two other children by throwing them from an upper window into a snow bank. Dead were Mrs. Lucille Brekke, 30, Richard, 3, Alan, 2, and Mabeth, 7 months. 0 Cold Wave Spreads To Tip Os Florida Most Severe Cold Wave Os Winter By United Press A fresh cold wave whipped by high 'winds howled across the northern plains today while most of the nation still shivered in icy weather extending all the way to the southern tip of Florida. The new frigid blast, following a day after the first, will send temperatures to the lowest point this winter, U. S. weather forecasters said. Yesterday's cold wave caught thousands of families with insufficient fuel for heating their homes, threatened Florida’s $100,000,000 citrus fruit crop and caused a train wreck in Canada that killed nine persons. The new cold wave, borne on winds of 40 to 50 miles per hour, swept across the Red River valley of eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota. It was headed southeastward toward Chicago and the rest of the Great Lakes. The weather bureau at Chicago forecast temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees 'below zero tomorrow night. Forecasters said the mass of cold air would push southeastward to the Atlantic coast during the weekend, but that it probably would moderate by that time. Cold wave warnings were issued for tonight in lowa and Nebraska, and for tomorrow In Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. Meanwhile, cold weather had spread all the way from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic seaboard and from northern New England to Florida. - Kane, Pa., known as “Pennsylvania’s icebox,” recorded 16 below early today. It was one below in Cleveland, 0., last night, and six below at Fort Wayne, Ind. Binghamton, N. Y„ reported nine degrees below and at New York City the mercury stood at 8 9 degrees above. Mayor Don Hodgon of International Falls, Minn., reported that ■fuel oil tanks in the city were empty and that 880 families lacked sufficient fuel to heat their homes for the next two weeks. He said 204 families would be out of fuel today and another 257 by Saturday. Several other midwestern cities reported similar situations. Oil was needed badly also by the Florida fruit growers who said they did not have enough to fuel (Turn To Page 8, Column S)

•> _ Prominent Adams County Man Killed, Wife And Daughter Are Injured

World War I Navy Head Dies At Home Today Josephus Daniels Dies In Home In Raleigh, N. C. Raleigh. N. C., Jan. 15—(UP) — Josephus Daniels, editor of the Raleigh News and Observer, World War I secretary of the navy and later “good neighbor” ambassador to Mexico, died at his home today. He was 85. Death came to the young-heart-ed fighter after a severe winter cold turned to bronchitis, then pneumonia. He had been i’.l more than a week. His four sons and his doctor gave up hope for his recovery days ago, but the fighting heart which took him through a long, battling career refused to give up. He was placed under an oxygen tent last week and had been comatose for days. During the weekend he sank into a deep coma and Dr. Hubert Haywood said only an “amazing vitality” kept him alive. “It’s just a question of how long his heart holds out.” the doctor said, “but it’s a very strong heart.” Daniels, who was active in Woodrow Wilson's first presidential campaign, trained and enlarged the fleet during Wilson's first term before America's entry into World War I. Daniels had done his daily stint or Friday. Jan. 2. at his office, with the door open as usual so hat anyone might walk in. He attended Methodist services the following Sunday, but soon afterward went to bed with a cold. He was secretary of the navy during the period of “watchful waiting" and the shelling of Vera Cruz, Mex. Death came at 1:20 p. m. President Truman telephoned to inquire about Daniels’ condition Sunday. Other messages came from Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, the Mexican foreign office and’from hundreds of friends throughout the nation. Daniels was secretary of the /Turn Tn Paer* 1 R. Column 6) Decatur Man's Trial Is On At Fort Wayne Robert High Stands Trial For Robbery The trial of Robert C. High. 27, Decatur, and three Fort Wayne persons charged with robbery f oday entered its third day in the Mien circuit court at Fort Wayne. High, along with Clara Collins 23, George Taylor, 27, and his wife, Phyllis Taylor. 23. are charged with robbing and beating Fred M. Walker, 35, Coesse contractor near Waynedale on December 1. Walker, on the stand yesterday, 'harged that the five were on a “drinking spree,” visiting five Fort Wayne taverns throughout the aflernoon and night of the robbery, and that they were on their way to a Waynedale bootlegger when the robbery occurred. He claimed that the men beat him, kicked him in the stomach and took S9OO from him. Hie clothing, introduced as evidence in the trial, was badly torn. Walked, who testified that he was an excarnival prize fighter, claimed that the men knocked him down before he had a chance to fight. The case is being tried before a jury. High has been in jail unable to furnish bond since his arlest shortly after the alleged offense occured.

Traffic Victim *■ x r Frank Liniger Three Persons Die In Arkansas Wreck Passenger Train, Freight Collide Little Rock, Ark.. Jan. 15 — (UP) —A Rock Island Lines passenger train, the Californian, smashed head on into a freight train as it headed out of Little Rock early today, killing at least three persons and injuring five others. One of the dead and four of the injured were train crewmen. W. L. Martin. 60. of Little Rock, engineer of the passenger train, was scalded to death by escaping steam when the two locomotives crashed together rounding a 45-degree turn. The other two dead were a negro boy and a negro woman, both as yet unidentified, passengers in the first coach behind the baggage car of the Californian. The crash occurred at about 3 a. m. |EST) as the 7-car Califofnian left the Little Rock station headed for Los Angeles. The passenger (rain originated in Memphis, Tenn. The freight, also a Rock Island Lines train, was No. 994 east(Turn To Page 8, Column 5) Alleged Killer Says Confession 'Forced' Shelbyville, Ind., Jan. 15 —(UP) — The accused sex slayer of an ’ndianapolis woman testified at his nurder trial today that he signed v confession because police beat him. Robert Austin Watts, 25, a negro ■mploye of the city of Indianapolis, aid he admitted killing Mrs. Mary oie Burney, 39. last Nov. 11 because the Indiana state police ouldn’t let him eat or rest until he confessed. 0 Purchase Os City 3us Line Revealed Driver Purchases Decatur Bus Line Announcement was made today of the purchase of the Browning Bus Line here by John Reeves, for several years a driver for the company. Mr. Reeves stated that he will continue to operate the busses on the same schedule. He has purchased three used busses for operations until the 1948 models are delivered in 60 to 90 days. The new owner also stated that he planned to offer better servlca during peak hours by the addition of a third bus. The new bus line will operate under the name, Decatur City Bus Line. Mr. Reeves and his wife plan to move to this city from their present home in New Castle in the near future.

Price Four Cents

Ex-County Official Killed Instantly As Auto Strikes Truck Early Lest Evening Frank Liniger, 53, former Adams county commissioner and prominently known resident, was instantly killed la«st night; his wife, Mabel. ' 52, and daughter, Chloe. 23. critically hurt in an auto-truck colision one and one-half miles west of Decatur on U. S. 224. Mr. Liniger, driving the car enroute to his home, died instantly when the vehicle crashed into the rear of a slow moving semi-trailer truck, which had just pulled back onto the pavement. His chest was crushed and he mffered numerous cuts and bruises. Late today Mrs. Liniger was in a critical condition at the Adams county memorial hospital, suffering from fractures of both legs; a severe head laceration and numerous cuts and bruises. Their daughter. Chloe, was in a serious but less critical condition, suffering from a fractured left leg. a dislocated right hip and facial cuts. Driver Is Held Phillip Perry, 20, Rockhall, Md., driver of the truck, still being held in jail here late today pending further investigation into the ao cldent. f Sheriff Herman Bowman ,wa| called to the scene and arrived within a few minutes after the accident. State policeman Walter Schindler and prosecutor Myles F. Parrish were called later, and aid ed in the investigation. Sheriff Bowman said preliminary investigation disclosed that Perry, accompanied by Lewis Townsend, 24, of the same city, had pulled off the highway to look at a road map and had just driven back onto the road when the crash occurred. The Liniger auto hit the rear of the large semi trailer body and practically jammed its way under the heavier vehicle. Mr. Liniger’s lifeless body lay out of the open door on the driver's side, his head resting on the pavement, his feet caught in the foot pedals of the auto. His daughter, Chloe, in a semiconscious condition, was trapped in. he front seat on the right side, her head through the shattered windshield. Mrs. Liniger. unconscious, was ying in the back on the floor when authorities arrived. Zwick and Black ambulances were summoned o the scene and took the injured o the hospital. Details of the manner in which he accident occurred were still •teager today with the conditions >f both Mrtf. Liniger and her daugher too serious to permit questionng. The two men riding in the tracr cab of the truck were also untble to afford much information ince they saw nothing until after he crash. The front end of the Liniger uto was badly battered. The rear of the truck body was damaged some, but the chassis was badly ■prung, evidencing the force of the mpact. It was towed to the side <f the highway and left there, the Liniger auto being brought into i local garage. Perry was taken to the jail and his companion volunteered to accompany him. Victim Prominently Known Mr. Liniger was widely known : n the city and county. Active in Democratic political affairs for many years, he served two terms as Adams county commissioner, retiring from office in 1942. A charter member. Mr. Liniger was active in Adams post 43, American Legion, and one of the post leaders in its various programs. He served in World War I and was sent overseas with the U. S. army. He had been operating his own farm, west of the city, and also assisted in the operation of the Liniger Airport, located an his farm. Mr. Liniger was born in Adams county Dec. 13, 1894, the son of ('Turn To Page 5, Column 8)