Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 47, Number 294, Decatur, Adams County, 15 December 1949 — Page 1

XLVU No. 294.

ONDON PAPER SAYS BRITAIN HAS A-BOMB

Be Persons ■Missing La Blast 1 Least 16 Dead, ft Are Injured In Kjt Plant Blast .JK -/V. !■», I’s-c. 15—(UP)— -un: I- <-alled on SB" -an >' ll " ,,ri ’ for '*“■ - men still missing W (l ;, -ion 'h- «*»« * ( ’° whiHi killed “• •*“ aKl injured 150 more pf-wii *•><> had worked the night under the K .ear. blight*. called off ■ .f •!• wreckage today 'hat nobody was Mill HHL>* '>”• ~f r " b,,l ‘' UH ' h '" called all Ila |Kt./ men to the grim scent. ; h* '•earch for bodies men 5,111 nil ’”‘ inK a,,t ‘ r K t •'! ho-pitals and homes : .1 ■•i.nson. Tom Parker Ra r , ' r j*,-. family at first had be was among the volunA fourth employe gKrt tnifimt. Victor Hilden. ■Bmil at home uninjured tor bodies centered |K~ : r.< of the basement, from 't> ex?lo<ion mushroomed K owterday Sioux City flro |Vfur.M B Kuhl said It was |Kc..j definitely that the §■>,- auo'l by escaping nat |Hp. Hu' he -aid no one knew leak occurred. K- ban Conely called an meeting of city and |B Jfl.ial- his morning for a i. t the disaster and gKr !<• find Its definite cause " wtimated the damage to fTim.iino and 11.mw,IB’*: cmnpany officials were lazing the building Insist the total great |Bt "Welsh '“day began visitfamilies of the dead to their need for financial >0 aid them in claiming basement, where the blast H *Btly occurred. one group of were tunneling along formerly w *'* “ corridor ■M to burrow through to a through the debtn by crew working from out ■to Hilding U." lowa national guard* a- sentries around the building ai led as stretch drove heavy vehicles v<»- masks and blank ,M supposed to be paythe plant s 7““ employes Burials eaid some of the pay were missing They fmd some way to make payments to workers by bodies had been found today but officials said t know until nightfall »ny more victims were of the injured became ‘during the night and doctors ■ were in critical condition were ordered to looters from stealing tons B®' poultry, canned meat ■J iTsra Ta Pane Ms» ■ Court Docket Next Monday B"' Xf'** F Parrish of Adams today notified all at- °* Adams county that he ■ ike docket nest Monday B?* *’ * “ clock. At that time will be set for hearings ■*" "*‘«l The docket is <crt> « p *ch term of court ■* * schedule of trials and be set down. from out of the county B*“> be notified in cases in ■ J/** ar * '“tereeted. so that B/** cal *“dar can be made ka,e b ** n tn,d * ,n ■ court records during ■J* W»r than in any corresBX ,1W * tn ,Mt *® y ’*“ r ’ to • ‘heck made recent Ba I*** 1 B ’t®ra*ya have In K? J#4 «* Parrish that they wh *" ‘he docket I ,a,F ' warmer west BZL Friday w* -»-|d 1/WR»ITV '*••• •fw W• rm' K rT It to Id tverth. ■ ® W*th. High Friday

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Intensify Hunt For Missing Girl Scout Woodsmen Join In Washington Search Ostrander Junction, Wash., Dec. 15. —(UP)— Fifty trailwise woodsmen set out today to try to follow a new set of footprints believed to have been made by 15yearold Ruth Aberle, a girl scout who was lost in the woods last Sunday. A trained German Shepherd dog also was set on the prints and Cowlitz county sheriff Hud Reynolds said the dog" took an interest” in them after being given a scent sample. A twist of white yarn found within a mile of the footprints spurred the searchers. The girl s father. William Aberle, said It "looked like the material In one of Ruth's sweaters. Ted Burger. Seattle owner of the dog, said he was "almost certain the dog is on the right trail now ‘ It headed east, just opposite from the direction where most of the 500 to 6'*' men have search* ed in the area eight miles northeast of here. Reynolds said about 200 other men would remain in the woods today while the 50 woodsmen from the Ixmgvlew Kelso area of Washington fan out along the trail shown by the footprints. Meanwhile, an army helicopter joined the search. The girl has been lost since she became separated from nine other schoolmates while on a hunt for Christmas trees Some of the searchers have been in the woods almost continuously since the pretty brunet Girl Scout disappeared. Reynolds said some men were showing signs of extreme fatigue and were complaiulng of foot soreness. Pair Indicted For Fort Wayne Murder Fort Wayne, Ind.. Dec. 15. (UP)— Floyd Butcher. 37. and Mrs. Mary Frances Partridge. 48. today were under indictment for the murder of Dewey Partridge, the woman's 51 year-old former husband. Partridge, a farmer, was killed last Saturday night after he. his divorced wife and Butcher left a tavern and began arguing. Butcher and the woman were indicted for second degree murder late yesterday by an Allen county grand Jury Crown Point Fire Loss Is SIOO,OOO Crown Point. Ind. Dec. 15. — (UP)- Fire which threatened last night to destroy an entire business block still smouldered today. The blaze started in the heating plant of the two-story Boston de partment store -nd destroyed the buildings interior The flames damaged an adjoining commercial Irank and drugstore Total damage was estimated at HOW Amos Byrd Fatally Burned Near Tocsin Funeral Services Friday Afternoon Funeral services for Amos Byrd. <! of near Tocsin, who died Tuesday morning In a Bluffton hospital from burn, suffered when a heat Ing stove esploded and a barn on the Byrd farm, will be held Friday afternoon at 2 “clock at the Tocsin Kvangelical I nited of Te church, will offictat. aid[ burial will be in the Elm <’.rove cemetery at Bluffton Byrd, who had resided In Well, county for .hoot 35 years, had gone into the barn and either attempted to light the stove or move itAfter the eaplosion. Byrd ran burning clothing h.-pi«.i He and . brother. Hany tile mill in Son7J the year. B«rviviM «• brother are the wife. Maude, ana a graadchUd.

Coal Dealers In New Appeal To President Ask Intervention In Coal Dispute By President Truman Chicago, Dec. 15—(UP) — The American retail coal association has mrfde a new appeal to President Truman to intervene in the soft coal dispute After an emergency session here, the association's executive committee dispatched a telegram to Mr. Truman declaring that a "critical" fuel shortage has arisen from the three-day work week since the 53-day miners walkout. "We believe that you have a clear duty and obligation to intervene and secure full-scale coal production." the message said. The association asked the President to grant J. Atlee Schafer, president of the group, a personal interview “so that our position and that of the consuming public can be made fully clear to you." “We are convinced.” the telegram said, “that even full coal pro duction for the balance of the winter months could well fail short of meeting minimum requirements, but it is a certainty that three-day production cannot meet our needs and those of the small householders dependent upon us. B E. Eurbeim. secretary of the association, said the retailers are "not crying wolf in this situation." He said retail stockpiles are "al ready non-existent.” Operators Meet Pittsburgh. Dec. 15.—(UP)— Major northern and western soft coal operators met here today to take stock of their current contract dispute with John L. Lewis. There were reports that the clos ed-door strategy session was called for the purpose of reaffirming their determined resistance to the mine union leader's contract demands. Other sources said the producers would confine their activities to an exchange of Information among negotiating committee members from different sections of the coun try. The negotiators for the operators have not met as a body for some time. George H. Love, president of the Pittsburgh Consolidation Coal Co., and chief spokesman and negotiator for the northern and western operators, cut short a southern vacation to attend the parley. Lewis has signed new contracts with Independent bituminous operators representing about 11,000.m>o tons of the Industry s 000,000,(Turn To I’nge Eluhll Holiday Vacation Set For Schools Vacation For City And Rural Schools Holiday vacation dates for the Decatur Catholic and public schools and for all county schools were announced today by officials of the different schools Sr M. Agnes, principal of the Decatur Catholic school, announced that students will lie excused at noon Thursday. Itocember 2-’. and will return the morning of January 4. Officials of the Decatur high school state that the public schools will be dismissed Friday noon. December 23. and the students will return to * hool the morning of January 3Hansel Foley, county superintendent of schools, stated that the county K-hool students will be dismissed Friday evening before Christmas, and return January 3 Germany Partner In Marshall Plan Bonn. Germany. Dec. IS. — <®Pl —West Germany took long stride on the road back today when the infant republican became a fuH partner In the Marshall plan and won closer diplomatic links with II countries. Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and U 8. high commissioner John J-1 McCloy. in a brief ceremony at me Bonn chancellory, signed an agree ment authoriting West Germany to act on ton own behalf in the frame work of the economic cooperation

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, December 15, 1949

Wins $50,000 As Baking Champ

fWWWMW*"*’ ~ - IWWIi!. WL''MMBWMB f r 9 r f '" Yn g fjp g ? k f * -MB z ■ ■ i 1 ■B' XL r ■ 'V Ci Bk* * ’w '

WINNER OF |5“,00<) as nation’s top lmk<-r in Pillsbury contest in New York. Mrs. Ralph E. Hmafield (middle), Detroit, smiles happily with secotidp lace (110,000) winner Mrs. Mura Rott (left), Nrpervilie. 111., and third place (84.000) winner Mrs. It W Sprague. San Marino, (’al. Mrs. Smafield. 32. has cooked six years

Junior Town Meet Is Held Wednesday Decatur And Ossian Students In Debate A debate on the question "Is there too much emphasis on sports in our schools’" was the feature of Jhe town meeting program held Wednesday in the Decatur high schqol auditorium. Members of the speech and English classes of the Ossian and Decatur high schools spoke on the topic, each school supplying an affirmative and negative reply. Opal Reed, of Ossian, and Phyllis Kohler, of Decatur, took the affirmative side, and Bessie Hoover. Ossian, and John Doan, Decatur, the negative. The argument was the same as that given recently before a meeting of the Lions club, but. as Deane Dorwin. speech instructor in the high school, says, "there were a few refinements." He explained that the Lions club debate was a "dress rehearsal" for today's program, which will be broadcast Monday at 8 p.m. over Fort Wayne station WOWO. Dorwin said that the station made a recording of Wednesday's speeches and they will be played for the future broadcast. Bert Hodge, principal, and Miss Ruby Glass, English Instructor, accompanied the Ossian students. Following the town meeting, the Decatur high school speech class entertained their Ossian guests at a luncheon served at the school. Capehart-Jacobs Debates Continue Develop Side Issue Over Housing Loans Valparaiso. Ind., Dec 15 —(I P) —The Capehart • Jacobs debate series moved to East Chicago to day for its fourth episode after prefabricated housing came up as a side issue on whether the newdeal party was leading America to British-type socialism Sen Homer E Capehart. R. Ind. said last night in the third debate of the seven scheduled, that a senate committee of which he was a member approved a f37.0W». 000 loan to the Lustron Corp. Columbus. O. after the president Insisted "the loan be made" by the Reconstruction Finance Corp. Capehart was answering a charge by Rep Andrew Jacobs. D.. Ind . that the big loan to Lustron was approved by the senate at a time when the Republicans bad a majority Capehart contrasted the big h»an Io Lustron, maker of prefabricated steel houses, with the record of National Homes Corp. Lafayette. Ind. but Jacobs said National Homes also received an RFC loan of more than |s.o<M>.ooo The debates, which started at Indianapolis Monday, will continue until next Monday night at Evansville.

Girl Scout Caroling Changed To Dec. 23 The date us ths Girl Scouts Christmas caroling program has been changed from next Wednesday to Friday afternoon, December 23. The girls, under the supervision of Miss Georgia Foughty. will go to the Adams county home and the Adams county memorial hospital to sing carols for the shut-ins. They are asked to meet at the com--1 munity Christmas tree in front of the court house, from which point transportation will be furnished. Hint Solution Near In Waitress' Death Several Involved In Woman's Death Franklin. Tenn. Dec. 15—(UP) —State police said today they are "pretty dose to a solution" in the throat-cutting murder of a young Indianapolis waitress here. They indicated that more than one peri son was involved. They held for further questioning Hhernian Burge, 37 year-old slaugh ‘ ter house worker under whose fin i gernails they found human blood and shreds of human flesh And they awaited the results of state biologists' tests to determine whether bloodstains on the overalls found in the room of Lewis Smith. 43-yearold carpenter, were human blood Smith was released on his own recognizance, but sheriff Ewine Frasier said he wasn't worried about "Smith’s going anywhere" Smith and Burge were among 10 boarding house residents arrested for questioning in the slaying of pretty Mrs. Rosa Mary Kopinsky Dean, whose body was found In the yard of Franklin high school early Monday, the throat cut several times from ear to ear The body was identified by the Isaac Beatty family of nearby Portland. Tenn They said they lived formerly in Indianapolis. Ind where they knew Mrs. Dean as a i waitress Smith was the first man to be arrested Officers said he tried hi throw away a razor blade when thev took him He wore a blood stained hat, and a pair of bloodstained overalls were found in his room at the boarding house, less than 35“ yards from the schoolyard where the woman's body was discovered Smith told police he was "very drunk" on Sunday night, the night of Mrs. Dean's death Investigation of the boarding house, said to have a bad reputa tlon." led to the arrest of nine other residents, among th«jjn Burge All were released after questioning, but Burge was rearrested yesterday . Investigators found dried human blood and bits of human flesh under Burge s nails and asked him to explain His only answer was “I don't know anything about if He admitted earlier that he owned the bloodstained overalls found ! In Smith’s room and said the spots ! were hoeblood from his work at «Tara Te Pn»e Sts)

London Newspaper Says Britain Has Developed Bomb, To Be Tested Soon

Coldest Weather Os Season Here Today Decatur experienced the coldest temperature of the season this morning. Street thermometers registered from !« to 11 above eaiiy this morning. The forecast is f.»r continued cold today but slightly warmer Friday. New York Preparing For Bafhless Friday No Bathing, Shaving On Waterless Friday Sew York. Dec 15.—(UP)— Sew Yorkers getting in trim for I "shaveless-bathless Friday" received an encouraging pat on the back today for advance c<s>peration in fighting the water shortage City officials said "public co | operation" was in part responsible for a slight gain in reservoir levels. Hut with reserves still down to i .34 5 percent of reservoir capacity, the dramatic demonstration of having the B.mm.ooti population go without bathing and shaving tomorrow still was on New Yorkers, used to using about 75 gallons of water a day, were told that they could get along on tight gallons and stay healthy An association of car laundries staged a brief rebellion against I the ban on their operations, eharg- , lug other industries still were al--1 lowed to use water They announced they would stay open three days I a week, but commissioner Stephen I J Carney promptly advised them the city would cut off their supply if they carried out their plans. The association decided to comply with Carney s order and announced they would stick to wiping and polishing. J ~ - - To Examine Diary Os Alleged Killer Seek Evidence Os Planned Slaying lowa City, la . Dec 15. — (UP) — Investigators examined Robert E. j Hednasek's diary for evidence ’hat he planned the strangulation slavi ing of his coed sweetheart. Marsarlot Anne (Gee Gee) Jackson, 20. County attorney Jack C. White revealed that authorities were centering their inquiry on the diary, but refused to discuss the contents. ( The 21 year-old senior psycho! i.rgy student at the University of lowa faces murder charges in the death of Miss Jackson, who w»« found <lead Sunday in a room a' the "Empty Arms,” Hednasek s rooming house. Hednasek pleaded innocent at ‘os arraignment earlier this week llfaces a preliminary hearing Dec 21 The youth said he was showing Miss Jackson "how to choke a per son" when she slumped to the floor of the room where they were drinking and dancing after a . ampus par ty. He told authorities that they ri>r> r« MMM* Three Minor Calls Answered By Firemen Firemen were called twice Wednesday to extinguish minor fires, both calls coming within a few minutes of each other, and neither causing any damage Firemen were i ,lso called this morning to entina'tish a car blaze, which turned i out t j he a smoldering emergency brake. rjre trucks went first to put out a grass fire on Mercer avenue at about 2 15 pm. about 20 mln utes later they were called to the home of Don Beery. 510 Grant street, where an oil heater had caught fire Firemen today rushed to the corner of Eleventh and Madison in answer to a call and discovered that the emergency brake on the Ed Bauer car had been left on while driving, causing much smoke. 1 but minor damage.

Steel Industry To Make Price Boosts To Announce Price Increase On Friday Pittsburgh. Dec. 15.—(UP) The nation’s basic industry, steel, was getting ready today to hike its i prices to make u|> at least part of the cost of the Jloisa month pensions granted the CIO united steel workers. The I'. S Steel Corp . said it would announce increases tomorrow Disclosure of U. S. Steel's plans by corporation president Henjamin F. Fairless in Chicago yesterday was followed by other major pr<e ducers* announcements that they too were drafting price boosts. The last major price increase in steel the nation's price index came two years ago after the industry signed a new labor agreement. That Increase jacked prices on other products automobiles, washing machines, refrigerators and other equipment made of steel Hig steel’s announcement brought an immediate blast from chairman Joseph C O'Mahoney of the joint congressional economic committee. He said there was no apparent justification for an Increase and he warned of possible | "inflationary effects " None of the firms indicated how much of an increase was in store, but most of the new scales were expected to parallel those of U. H. Steel Fairless told a press conference in Chicago that U. 8. Steel's price • revisions will reflect costs of the 1100-a-month pension program won by Philip Murray s steelworkers, a freight rate Increase and other, minor cost increases. The liability to U. 8. Steel as a result of the pensions. Fairless said, was "colossal." He was asked for more details on the increases, but he said "just let it go at that ' Fairless said there also would be price cuts on some items, and that tile scale revisions would be "a combination of changes in the base price of steel and extra charges on various specialty items" Other steel leaders confirmed that their price structures were un der study and that increases were "a certainty.” Injuries Fatal To South Bend Woman South Bend. Ind . Dec 15 tl'l’i — Mrs Stella Marchand. 24. So uh Bend, died law night of injuries r< ceived when the auto she was riding in skidded on Icy pavement and collided with a truck on I' S east of here two weeks ago Lighting Award To The Schafer Store Wins First Place In Lighting Contest The Schafer store today was awarded the $25 cash prize given by the retail division of the Char-1 her of Commerce for the l<est Christmas lighting and decoration display. The Why store was given second award of sls Third place went to Uhrlci Brothers with a »10 cash award at.d fourth place and »5 went to the E F. Gass store Honorable mention awards were given to the following Commercial print shop. Kiddie Shop. Laae'a shoe store. Stewart > *>akery. Wylie Furniture store, and Zlner s Home Appliance store Judges for the business district contest were Miss Kathryn Kau'fman. art Instructor in the Decatur public schords: Mrs Lloyd Cowens, president of the art department of the Woman's club, and l>wrence Anspaugh photographer A similar contest with identical prizes is also Iteinc conducted by the Chamber of Commerce for all Decatur residents The judging cf home decorations will be made be tween Christmas and New Years, it was announced Anyone can enter •his contest by calling the Chamiier of Commerce office.

Price Four Cents

Hints Britain Has Had Atomic Bomb For Two Years, To Make Secret Tests London, Dec. 15 (UP) —The Ixmdon Daily Mirror said today, in an imlirt-i t manner, that Britain has developed an atomic bomb which soon may be tested «>n the secret Australian rocket range. The Mirror, an independent but anti c onservative newspaper, hinted but did not say directly that Britain has had the boml> for two years. By agreement with the United States and Canada, the Mirror said. Britain will not test its bomb at the forthcoming Enlwdok tests to be conducted by the United States. "Apart from the American proving ground for atomic weapons, tlie only other likely pla<e where It could be tried lilt Is the secret Australian rocket range the Mirror said The Mirror gave no source for its statement that Britain has the liotnii but tiid quote a number of recent government announcements supporting the supposition that atomic development was well advanced in British laboratories “Britain's atomic weapon, which our scientists have Iteen developing more than two years, will not be tried out at the forthcoming test of American super-atom bombs," the Mirror dispatch said. "This decision was taken at the three-power ta'ks on atomic energy between Britain, the United States and Canada. The talks have just ended in Washington “The principal result of these discussions will be an increased interchange of information about atomic research and development. “As far back as May 12. 1948, defense minister (A. V I Alexander said all types of modern weapons, ‘including atomic weapons,’ w-re being deve'oped in Britain "And the ministry of supply, the government department responsible for all atomic development, announced nine months ago that plutonium, the super explosive used in the latest type of atom bombs, was being made at the Harwell research establishment. "No information is available in London about the likely date when this British-made atomic weapon will be test' d "Apart from the American proviT—m To »’■■» I labti Lafayette Youth Dies Os Injuries l.afavette. Ind De. 15 - <• I’) l-idlce today -aid Paul Tim Do t ahue IT. died In St Elizabeth s hospital yesterday of head injuries received in a traffic accident Monday. They said Donahue was arrested for an alleged auto theft and was moved to the hospital when he becam-* ill in jail Heller May Not Be Candidate In 1950 Indianapolis. Dec 15. <1 P) The speaker of the state house of representatives. Robert H Heller. D Decatur, told a luncheon meet mg of Dem»H*ratic legislators today he "probably will not" run for reelection next year. Heller, joint representative from Adams and Wells count tea. is serving hia fifth term He was minority floor leader in the 1943. 1943 and 1947 sessions

a jwrww saawnusSis