Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 47, Number 51, Decatur, Adams County, 2 March 1949 — Page 1

Vol. XLVII. No. 51.

FIRST NON-STOP WORLD FLIGHT COMPLETED

Senate Passes Soldier Bonus

State Senate Votes Bonus For Soldiers Bill Destined For Joint Conference On Finance Plans Indianapolis, Mar. 2 — (UP) •— The Indiana senate today passed unanimously a soldier bonus bill an d paved the way for a conference committee of senators and representatives to iron out the controversial method of financing It. The vote was 46 to 0. As passed, the bill called for a five-year financing program with money from the state geneial fund and a general tobacco tax. This was the latest Republican solution for the problem of where to get some $105,000,000 the bonus h estimated to cost. But the bill, originally house bill 25 with the Democratic financing method of a one-fourth of one percent gross income surtax, was destined for a conference committee. Democrats who joined the GOP senate majority to pass the bill without a dissenting vote explained they looked on the GOP financing plan with disfavor. They voted for the bill, they said, because it was the fastest way to get action .on what has been considered the major issue before the 86th general assembly. Senate rules were suspended to pass the bill. Otherwise, it would not have come out for final action until Friday, the second from last legislative day of the 61-day session. Democrats joined Republicans after senate minority leader Walter Vermillion urged them to "pass the danged thing and let the conference committee settle it.” The action boosted considerably the chances of enactment of a bonus law this session. Meanwhile, Democrats started to push a bill through the legislature that would set up a substitute for the compulsory arbitration law. A house bill which would per mit banks to be open only five days a week failed to receive a constitutional majority.in the senate. The vote was 23 to 20 In favor of the bill, but 26 votes were needed for it to pass. Sen. Greyble L. McFarland. Jr.. 0. Indianapolis, tried to pry out of the senate finance committee house bill 485 — the Democratic ‘privilege" tax bill. Rut he failed ’n his first attempt because the committee chairman was not in Ute senate at the time. While the bonus bill seemed headed for early conference comnittee consideration, a minor controversy arose over the makeup °f the committee. Legislative ru’es call for a 4B’mher committee of two repre’enta'lves and two .senators. But bouse majority leader Walter Behling introduced a resolution rolling for a "special" conference remittee twice as big. The resection was adopted by the home * M sent to the senate over Re<Tan To Pose Two) former Resident Dies In Sturgis 0 «- (Dick) Ritter. 63. former rf »ident of Adams county, died Tuesday at his home in Sturgis. Jffrh. after a long Illness. He was uOni in Mercer county, 0.. but spent nw ’t of his younger life in this city. Surviving are his wife, the forClara Deys; two daughters "*r*- Carol Carpenter of Howe and Betty Vanpelt of Sturgis: *** wns, Kenneth of Petoskev. rjich . Thurman of Sturgis and "’yd of Traverse City. Mich , and grandchildren. WEATHER F,lr tonight and Thursday. Kot much change In temoera’•'S- Low tonight 18-26. High Friday 45-50 west and «M 5 *•« pertion.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Hoover Commission Urges VA Changes Put Life Insurance Business In Order Washington, Mar. 2 — (UP) — The Hoover commission urged today that the veterans administration put its huge $40,000,000,000 life insurance business in order by setting it up as a separate government corporation. It recommended also that the veterans’ housing loan program be divorced from VA and set up a? a unit of the federal housing and home finance agency. And in line with earlier good housekeeping suggestions, the commission, headed by former president Herbert Hoover, said that the veterans' administrator should have greater authority and his subordinates less. In the ninth of 15 reports it is making to congress on making the executive branch more compact and efficient, the 12 man group found numerous defects in VA's operating and administrative structure. It also charged deficiencies in the VA programs for insurance, compensation and pensions, and vocational rehabilitation and education. “In pointing out the defects of the veterans administra’ion," the report said, "we wi-h to emphasize that this commission is cognizant of the tremendous and sudden burden thrown upon the organization by the last world war. The report said employes in the VA life insurance division number .15,432. This means an average work load of 450 policies per employe. But in a comparable private insurance company, the report added, the average work load is 1,762 policies. It found these deficiencies In VA's insurance operations; inadequate supervision of operators, very slow service in set Hement of death claims and issuance of converted policies, and tardiness in calculation of insurance dividends. The commission therefore rec ommended “that all functions re(Tiirn To Pose Five) Final Assessment On Sewer Approved Other Matters Are Studied By Council The final assessment roll on the Hilyard sewer improvement was approved Tuesday night by the city council on the recommendation ot city engineer Ralph E- R°°PAfter hearing a vehement objec tion to the project at its last meet ing February 15. the council had referred the assessment rols back to Mr. Roop for further pmsidera tion. The remonstrator was Russe Intel, who contended that t|je sew er was actually a detriment to him because of what he called an un Vair assessment and duplication ct facilities. An agreement between the city and William L Frisinger for rural line extension was approved by the council. The council authorized Mr. Root to querv various firms about the cost of equipment for the construe •ion of a water processing plant for three wells on the east bank of the St. Mary's river. He told the council Decaturs future water supply would come from the east bank sources and pointed out the numerous com, plaints being received about rust in city water. He suggested the Sssibilityof establishing. pl.« large enough to accommodate a £ pair plant in addition to the filtra tion facilities. The council’s ordinance, cont mfttee took under further cons.de ration a proposed law to protect S public and local photographers from fly bvnight photographers. R W Pruden. executive secretary cf the Chamber of told the council he strongly thb ordinance should be ordlBMM T'l - C e, a $lO annual fee against

Il **

RAYMOND MARTINEZ FERNANDEZ, 34. (left), and Mrs. Martha Beck, 29, (right), are held in Grand Rapids, Mich., confessed slayers of Mrs. Delphine Downing, a young widow, and her 3-year-old daughter, Ainelle. Bodies of the victims were found bur'ed in fresh concrete in the basement of their home in Byron Center. Fernandez shows off his wig (left), purchase of which aroused Mrs. Downing’s suspicions that he was a fortune hunter. At the right a po ice official confronts Mrs. Beck with the murder weapon. Fernandez, in New A’ork, became acquainted with Mrs. Downing through a "lonely hears” advertisement in a magazine, and Mrs. Beck, posing as his sister, accompanied him to Grand Rapids.

Celina Lad Found Drowned In Lake Steven Sealscott Is Found Drowned Tragedy struck the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Sealscott of Celina. Ohio, yesterday afternoon when their three-year-old son, Steven Jon Sealscott, was found drowned near tbeshore of Grand Lake. With his brother Thomas, 5, the lad presumably had gone to neigh bors to play. Thomas returned home and his mother inquired about Steven Jon. Thomas said they had been at the lake. Hastily the mother ran to the lake and there found her son. face down ward in about two feet of water. The child was taken to the Celina hospital, where resuscitation es forts of firemen failed. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock iEST), at St. John's Lutheran Church at Celina. Burial will be In the church cemetery at Celina. Besides the parents and one brother, the child is survived by a brother David, 9: his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Otte Bleeke of Union township, and grandfather Sealscott. The mother before her marriage was Miss Vera Bleeke, of Union township, and was employed at the General Elec trie plant in this city. The body was moved today to the Sealscott home, 201 E. Anthony Avenue, Celina, where friends may call. Says United Slates Should Defend Japan MacArthur Discusses Jap Strategy Place By G. WARD PRICE (Copyright by United Press in North and South America and Asia) Tokyo. Mar. 2 - (UPI — Gen Douglas MacArthur told me yes terday that if Russia attacks Japan "we should certainly defend her." But he added that he did not be ieve Russia would attack Japan In a long interview at his headquarters. the supreme Allied com mander in the Far East discussed candidly Japan s place in Anglfr American strategy in the Pacific In case of another war "we do not want Japan to fight." he said ■ Japan's role is to be the Switzerland of the Pacific." MacArthur explained. “But suppose she were attacked?" I asked. “In that case we should certainly defend ber” MacArthur said “But I do not believe Russia wi 1 attack Japan. •Even if th* Soviet government had aggressive intentions toward Jaoan Russia would be incapable of carrying them out unlwi the could secure mastery of the air and either had a Far Eastern fleet 0 » {j e r own nr nos eased the means of neutralizing any action |Tiri Ta I'sas Sts)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, March 2, 1949

Confess Lonely Hearts Killings

Hoosier Traffic Is 13.3 Percent Higher Indianapolis, Mar. 2 — (UP) — The Indiana state highway commission reported today that Hoosier traffic is 13.3 percent heavier than a year ago. Chairman Samuel C. Hadden said traf.lc count figures not only showed a big gain in January over the same month in 1948 but also a 33.3 percent Increase over the count for January, 1941. Continuing Cabinet Changes Predicted Forrestal, Royall Expected To Leave Washington, March 2—(UP)— Continuing cabinet changes during the next few months were foreseen here tdday with special emphasis on the department of national defense. Defense secretary James Forrestal and army secretary Kenneth C. Royall were among those about whose tenure there was specula tion. Some of Forrestal’s close as sociates have said he expected tc remain through this session of con gress or until action was completed on legislation to improve the na tional defense set-up. The unifi cation plan now in effect is not working as smoothly as had been expected. At a national press club luncheon recently Forrestal said: “I plan to retire when I feel I can be of no more use in this pro cess (unification of the armed services).” The congressional program now is halted in the senate by filibuster This program has. been lagging so badly in both houses the past two months as to make a long summer session almost inevitable. Under those circumstances Forrestal might not wait for further action on national defense, the United Press was told. May 1 was suggest ed as a possible retirement date. No one is being abruptly shunted out of the cabinet. Mr. Truman had some changes in mind when he was returned to office as President in his own right. His intention was <Tnra T» Paar Tfcrrei

(Rev. John E. Chamber*, Trinity Evangelical United Brethren) “SINS OF THE SPIRIT” “And the publican, landing afar off. would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon hi s breast saying. God be merciful to me a sinner."—Luke 18:13. Jesus told the parable of the Pharisee and the publican in •uch a vivid manner that today we can visualize them praying in the temp'e. The characteristics of the Pharisee* are portrayed in his prayer: “God. I thank thee that I am not as other men are. extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fart twice in the week. I give tithea of ail that I posse's." His righteousness was fastins. tithing, saying prayrs, giving alms, and keeping a Sabbath. It was all relative to law. The publican realized that r'ghteouaneas went beyond keeping a legal code. He realized that rlghteouaneas wu an attitude of heart and spirit. It was meekness, mercy, and purity of heart He realised that there are sins of the spirit. Thns he prayed from the depth' of hi* heart and soul. "Goi be merciful to me a staler." In the light of the teaching ot this parable, may this Lenten season challenge ns to rid onr lives of these sins which are of the spirit.

(MB wF® ■ i < W-• iH bshbi r

Lists Os Missing Women Are Checked Seek Other Victims Lonely Heart Killers Grand Rapids, Mich., (March 2 — (UP) — Lists of missing women in a dozen states were checked today to learn if the "lonely heart killers" had slain more than three victims. A list of 17 lonely heart correspondents in 12 states, including the name of one woman they already had killed, was found.in the possession of the kill-for-cash couple. Raymond Fernandez, 34, a toupeed, Spanish casanova and his fat paramour, Mrs. Martha Beck. 30. Fernamiez. wno> nas married several ipnely widows during four years as a love swindlt r. and his 200-pound mistress admitted staling Mrs. Deliphene Downing, 28. and her three-year-old daughter Rainelle, in nearby Byron Center. .Mich., and Mrs. Jantt Fay, 50, in Valley Stream. N. Y. They swore they were the only victims. But doubtful police began checking all lists of missing women and reopened Investigations into the mysterious deaths of two other women the swarthy, gold-toothed Fernandez had swindled. These were: (Mrs. Jane Wilson Thompson. 50 of New York, who accompanied him to Cadiz Spain, in 1947 and died in an European "train wrack." Mrs. Myrtle Young. 40, who died In Forrest, Ark., last Aug. 25. a few days after accompanying Fer nandez to Chicago. She was swindl ?d out of several thousand dollars Fernandez and Mrs. Beck, whe met by mail two years ago in one of the correspondence clubs through which they sought their victims were held for trial on first degret murder changes, although Michigai law does not provide capital punish nient. New York authorities, who hop ed to extradite the pair for the slaving of Mrs. Fay so they could bi given a death sentence, must wait at least 10 years to prosecute them That length of a life term must N served under Michigan law before <Tnra To P«a» Two)

United States Airforce B-50 Bomber Makes First Around-The-World Flight

Senators Take lime Out From Filibuster Fight Montana Senator In Plea For Missouri Valley Authority Washington, March 2.—(UP)— Southern Democrats got a' brief rest today in their efforts to talk a proposed senate gag rule to death. The senate took time out from discussion of filibusters and whether and how to curb them to listen to a speech on another subject. Sen. James E. Murray. D„ Mont., got the floor to plead for creation of a Missouri valley authority, modeled after TVA, which would harness “the greatest river basin in the United States" for power, flood control, and irrigation. Freshman Sen. Russell B. Long. D„ La., was all set to talk in defense of filibusters. But he did not object to Murray's speech, inasmuch as anything that consumes time helps the southerners delay action on the proposed gag. Other congressional developments: Pensions —Rep. John E. Rankin. D„ Miss., conceded today that his old age pensions for veterans plan would cost $109,000,000,000 in all. He previously had challenged as "flagrant mis-statements” comparable estimates by others. Flood covrtolnß Flood control —Sen. Dennis Chavez. D„ N. M„ said President Truman has approved a request for $25,000,000 to fight floods. Netherlands — Rep. Jacob K. Javits, R„ N. Y„ proposed that this country cut off aid to any country which does not obey United Nations decisions. His proposal was aimed at the Netherlands. DP’s —Members of a house sub committee got into an argument over whether this country should take in 400,000 displaced persons (Turn To Pa«V Two) To Determine Site For 4-H Club Show * Meet Friday Night To Name Location August Selkins. chairman of the I Adams county extension commit tee. has called a meeting of the committee at 7:30 pm. Friday at the Monroe high school. Purpose of the meeting is to de termine tire location of the 194 f ■lub show. Three sites which have been offered and are under consid .-ration are: 1 — Shroyer lake; 2 — Decatur Minual street -fair; 3—Monroe high school and vicinity. Members of this policy makin body are: Mrs. E. W. Busehe, Mrs Albert Beineke. Mrs. Carl Frey Mrs. Noel Hemphill. Mrs. Herb Ban ling. Mrs. Ted Fenstermaker, Char les Backhaus. Orval Alt, Stanley Arnold, Mrs. Hildred Armstrong Mary Ann 'iiiwel. Don Raudenbush. Victor Stuckey. John Blakey, Hen ry Dehner. L. L. Hann. E. W. Bus Jie. Roy Price. Ned Schuck, Dick Pruden. Decatur Chamber of Com i merce secretary, the Berne Cham ber of Commerce secretary. Geneva Boosters club secretary Holman Egly. Elmer Baumgart ner. Theo. Graliker. W. L Gertie Lester Sipe. Ralph 8. Myers. Town ship representatives — Mr. ent Mrs. Herman Bleeke. Mr. and Mrs Edwin Reifsteck. Mr. and Mrs Stanley Arnold. Carl Frey. Mrs Darrel Clouse. Delmore Wechter. Mrs. Wtn. Neadsline. Mr. and Mrs C. W. R. Schwartz. Virgil Kelly. Mrs. Hildred Armstrong. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rumple. Mr. and M’s. Leonard Wagley. Mr. and Mrs. M»n no Augsburger. Mrs. Wilson Beltz. August Selling. John Klntt, Mrs Russel Mitchell.

Prayer Speaker , Dr. John G. Benson, of Indianapolis, will be guest speaker at World Day of Prayer service at the First Presbyterian church here Friday evening at 7:30 o'clock. The service is sponsored by the Decatur council of church women. World Day 01 Prayer Here Friday Night Union Services At First Presbyterian World Day of Prayer will he observed in Decatur Friday, with a union service at the First Presbyterian church at 7:30 p.m. The service Is sponsored by the Decatur council of church women. Mrs. Dwight R. McCurdy, president, with the 12 Protestant churches of the city taking part. Dr. John G. Benson, prominent minister and lecturer, will be the guest speaker. Dr. Benson, former superintendent of the Methodist hospital in Indianapolis, is now the approved Christian inlssioner ot the. Methodist church. He was the minister for the "spiritual emphasis" week in Decatur two years ago and made a fine impression on all who heard him. The World Day of Prayer, ob-j served annually on the first Friday in Lent, is marked in 69 coun | tries throughout the world This' special day has been observed in| the United States since 1887, origi | nating as a day of player for missions. The public is invited to attend this union service Friday evening Soviet Mission In Berlin Blockaded American Military Police Set Blockade Frankfurt. March 2 — (UP) - American military police today sei ip a water-tight blockade around he house occupied by eight Russian members of a Soviet repatriation commission who said they •oil I<ln t leave the American zone as ordered until they had heard from Moscow. The Russians apparently settler down for a long siege in the luxur lous red sandstone mansion that has served as their reside and of flee. Strains of accctfdian music were heard floating frrmi the block cded house. German workmen shut off all wat er. gas. electricity and telephone ser -ice to the house by disconnecting wires and digging up mains. Eight American military police, each arm .•d with a .45 caliber automatic pis tol and a police club, patrolled the house under orders to let no one in or out. The siege sealed the eight Rus sians in the luxurious red sand stone mansion used as a residenceoffice even more effectively than the western powers have been seal ed In Berlin, for the Russians have no airlift. The Russians, ftur en'lsted men and four officers, are members of an eight-man Soviet repatriation tTara Ta I'age Threat

Price Four Cents

Flight Estimated At 23,452 Miles; Average Speed Os 249.39 Miles An Hour Fort Worth. Tex., March 2 — (UP)— "Lucky I-ady II," a United States airforce B-50 bomber, today completed the first non-stop aroundthe- world flight in history. Ninety-four hours and one minute after she took off from Carswell air force base here last Saturday, the great four-engined bomber came home again out of a haze hanging in the west. It was estimated that she had flown 23,152 miles, almost the distance of the earth's circumference at the equator, without any major difficulty aloft and with the benefit of four refuelings in flight. Her 14 crewmen scrambled out, proclaiming their willingness to do it all over again after a little rest, and received a royal welcome from top air force officers and air secretary W. Stuart Symington. Capt. James Gallagher of Melrose. Minn., the smiling crew commander, said “we were on instruments only four hours: the weather was excellent." The last leg — the homeward dash from Hawaii, where LOcky Lady II took on fuel .from a B-29 tanker last night - "seemed the longest." Gallagher said. "1 don’t think any of us is real tired, and I wouldn't mind doing it again — after a little rest,” he said. Lucky Lady II took off from Carswell at 11:21 am. (’ST, last Saturday, Feb. 26. She flashed past the Carswell tower, at the end of her epochal flight, at 9:22 a.m. (CQ) today, made two great circles about the field at altitude of 3,000 feet and then came down, over Laki Worth at the west end of the runway. for a perfect landing. Some 400 to 500 persons, most of them air force personnel, were on the ramp to wave their greetings to the crew, which had their ta.es .pushed against the windows. Two B-36 tanker planes were with Lucky Lady II as she broke through the haze. They bad "picked her” jup and flown escort on the ruu in from Tucson, Ariz., this morning. | Symington and the top military men — Gen. Hoyt A’andenberg, air I chief of staff; Gen. Curtis E. Le- | may, strategic air commander, and Maj. Gen. Roger A. Ramey. Sth air force commander — pushed ''orward and encircled the crew as they climbed down. The air force billed this as a "training mission." but its obvious pride in the flight was ri fleeted hy the presence of all the “top brass.” Air force B-29 tankers went up over the Azores. Dhahran in Saudi Arabia, the Phillippines and Hawaii to deliver fuel to the glory-Jtound bomlter, which circled the globe at an average speed figured unofficially at 249.39 miles per hour. Vandenberg said the flight was additional evidence that "we have an intercontinental air force." It was a demonstration to the world that no enemy objective is outside the range of United States Iwmbers. It was. said the air force, "part of a continuing program of in(Turn Io !’■«» Three! Lions Entertain Ladies Last Night The origin and observance of the Lenten season was discussed Tueslay evening by the Rev. Edgar P. Schmidt, pastor of the Zion Lutheran church, as the feature port'oq of the Lions club ladies' night program. Rev. Schmidt traced the development of the customs observed by various religious groups during this season and the meaning of each special day. He amphasized that the period is one of self-examination and re-consecration for all Christians. The well received program was opened and closed with vocal selections by the Sentimental Fwr. a popular quartet from Fort Wayne. Thurman Schi.ferstein. local auctioneer. had charge of the proceedings.