Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 16, Decatur, Adams County, 20 January 1954 — Page 1

Vol. Lil. No. 16.

Home Owners In Protest On Plant Damage Property. Owners Protest On Damage From Diesel Plant A serious problem, involving more than $10(r,000 worth of residential property oii Seventh, Dierkes, Dayton and Walnut streets in the north part of Decatur near the new building' housing the diesel electric plant, was formally brought to the attention of the city council and Mayor John Doan at the regular meeting of the council Tuesday night. A group of more than 16 property owners entered their protest to alleged damage being done to their homes by vibration from the exhaust of the new plant or some other cause. Spokesmen for the group stated that walls and ceilings of some of the nearby homes were cracked; doors were Jarred loose; television aerials were damaged and there was a constant vibration in their homes when the huge engine was in operation. The property owners were solemn in their report and the entire tone of the meeting was serious. No formal action was taken by the council. Mayor Doan said: "We’re going to do everything we can, as fast as we can." He said that the city administration was cognizant of the seriousness of the situation as were the LimaHamilton people who are installing the new plant. The mayor and members of the council invited the property owners to visit the new plant Thursday afternoon when a fuel teat run will be made for several hours. Engineers for Lima-Hamilton and also for the city will be on hand and they, with members of.the council, will visit the hotties and the plant and make a “complete damage." Lester Pettibone, electric plant superintendent, said that he believed most of the vibration was from an air born cause and that the foundation was sufficiently sound not to cause any of the trouble. He told of several tests with the machinery proper and' stated that there was no vibration from the engine. “What are the people of this areh going to do”? , "Who is going to pay for the damage already done?” "Will the city buy our homes?” These were some of the many questions which so far are unanswered. Several of the residents of the area told of recent experiences of efforts to sell their homes. It was reported in some instances thaj real estate dealers even refused to list their homes. The council expressed much interest and sympathy, 'but agreed that they were not “yet in a position to make any definite statements pertaining to the matter.” All councilmen expressed a willingness to be present next Thursday afternoon during the test runs. One other important question which so far is unanswered was: ■‘Will the city aeeept the plant in its present condition.” The mayor eaid that the city would accept the new plant “only when every agreement in the specifications was met,” but that “he did not know just how much protection against complete elimination of vibration was contained in the specifications.” The location of the new plant at the corner of Seventh and Dayton streets is entirely within the zon ing ordinance. The area is industrial and all building specifications and requirements were adhered to. The interested parties will meet informally Thursday afternoon at the power plant and in several of the nearby homes and an effort will continue to eliminate the causes of the damage. Some of those who spoke In behalf of the residents of the area included: D. C. Amsbaugh. Don Miller. Alva Buffenbarger and Dowell Singer. Others in the group also made statements concerning their personal danSages. -----

INDIANA WEATHER ' Much colder tonight with •now flurriee northwest and rain changing to snow southeast, mixed occasionally with freezing rain or sleet. Thursday snow, sleet and freezing rain south -and central and snow north. Colder Thursday. Low tonight 18-25 northwest, 25-32 southeast. High Thursday 25-32. --

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Kidnap Plot Foiled r ■ Ihfe■B- ~ 1 w ; BL. ’ ■ rate ■Ki / i ft- IWfWIk • z TsE Wk. j| M W--.-. - ■■-I HAROLD JACKSON, 57, (right) and Joseph Lear. 43. kidnapers of prominent San Francisco real estate man Leonard Moskovitz, 36', in police headquarters after tracing a ransom phone call led to their capture and freeing of their victim. Jackson, once operator of a substantial water-front private patrol agency, and Lear, an ex-seaman of Sacramento, demanded a half-million dollrs ransom on threats of mutilation and death.

Reject Special Session For Legislature Craig's Proposals To Build New Office Building Rebuffed INDIANAPOLIS UP — Gova and hold a special legislative session this year Were lost causes today. Indiana’s legislators refused to approve them at an informal conference Tuesday, and it appeared Craig himself may have ehanged his sentiments at the showdown. Lt. Gov. Harold W. Handley said he will recommend the office building question, which lawmakers have batted around since 1947. be given priority early in the regular 1956 general assembly. ■ Only one of 120 senators and representatives who attended the conference publicly advocated a special session on Craig’s terms. The governor wanted it brief and_ limited—a day or two session to appropriate 15 million dollars for the structure. Several Republican lawmakers complained they did not have enough specific details to approve a new building at this time. Democrats said other issues—like unemployment and overcrowded schools —constituted more pressing matters which a special session should consider. Injection of other issues might prolong a special session for 40 days. Craig did not want that. It was significant, some observers believed, that Craig’s “righthand man' in the house, speaker James Allen iR-Salwrt, made the motion to postpone the office building question “until further, information is obtained.” : “1 don’t believe we're ready to take the problean up, Allen said. “I dont feel qualified . . . ’ The legislative advisory commission. which invited all lawmakers to its meeting, then adopted Allen’s motion by, voice vote. The lone public advocate of a special session as proposed by Craig was Rep. Philip Willkie RRushvilie. He said the 150 legislators "can’t decide this thing.” “Why not have a special session, appropriate the money, appoint a commission and let them ger the job done?” he asked. There was a flurry of expressions after Gary architect Raymond Kastendieok explained pre linilnary plans for the office building. .Lawmakers complained details were lacking on actual cost, site and possibilities .for expansion. . Sen. Charles Kellum R-Moores-ville said it would be like signing a ‘blank check.” Sen. Richard Ellis. R-Kokomo questioned the office building commission's authority. Budget director Donald Clark said the commission needs money before it can eelect a sit#—and must select a site before it can ask for competition on plans by —— Tant To Pace Elckt.

Four Electric Line Agreements Adopted Council Approves “ Four Agreements Four rural electric line agreements between new country subscribers and the city of Decatur were approved by the city council In regular meeting Tuesday night at the city hail. Clerk-treasurer H. Vernon Aurand read each contract and approvals were unanimous. Included are: . ■ Sr.; Union township, Lawrence Stetler; Union township, Lawrence iL. Williamson; St. Mary’s township, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Butler. In each instance the- contract calls for the purchaser to pay line installation costs. The annual report of the clerktreasurer also was read and on councilmanic vote was made a matter *of record. The semi-annual report of Dr. R. tE. Allison, city milk inspector, listing the vendors of grade A milk in Decatur, was read and approved. A letter of city attorney Robert Anderson to Yost Construction Co., concerning litigation over damage to water lines in the alley between Fifth and Seventh Streets was made a matter of record. Previously the insurance company offered to pay only two-thirds of the cost of repairing the damage. Attorney Anderson, however, reported verbally to the council that the insurance concern’s representative had contacted him just before the meeting and had told him a check for the total damage, 1176.71, was in the mail. An enabling ordinance validating a contract between the board of works and the Schwartz Ford Co. for the purchase of a Ford automobile for the police department, total cost of 11,590.30, was approved by suspension of rules. A second ordinance, including | regular firemen and policemen in the workmen’s compensation eetup, also was approved.' Two years ago when pensions were set up for the policemen and firemen, the statute removed them from the compensation protection. The statute was changed at the las legislature to include policemen and firemen in the regular compensation insurance policies in fourth and fifth class cities. This was done it was stated because it i was estimated that the pension (Contlaued on Page Two) ■s®' ■X., ci j— —~.... \-« ■■ ,■ — Jamboree Pictures Shown Lions Club Motion pictures of Decatur Boy Scouts at the annual Boy Scout , jamboree held last summer at Santa Ana, Cal. were shown at the , regular Tuesday night meeting of Decatur Lions club held at the , K, of P, Home. : Steve Everhart, who accompanied the local boys on the trip also gave a talk to the service club , concerning the activities of the , local boys. Glen Ellis was pro- , gram chairman. ‘ « Pictures Interesting points between here i and the west coast "where the lo- : cal boys vioßed during their trip to the jamboree. 1

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, January 20,1954.

Jubilant Anti-Red War Prisoners Turned Over To Allied Commanders

Indochina Is Reunited, Reds Out Os Thakhek Vital Port Seized j By French, Reunite t Divided Indochina HANOI, Indochina UP—French commandos seized the vital port of Thakhek from the Communists today, reuniting divided Indochina and reopening the Mekong River to traffic. > The commandos swarmed into the almost deserted crossroads town on the Thailand frontier and were joined shortly afterward by an armored column moving north from Seno Airbase. An .estimated five to eight Red battalions moved out of central Laos as a result of the successful attack on Thakhek, which the Communists captured in last December’s drive. French forces reported only “light contact” with Red rear guard guerrillas and said they inflicted “some losses.” jy ' The French column struck north from Seno Airbase Saturday, and in four days covered 42 of the 48 miJ&L separating the two pointy. The Communists offered bn< The Reds took Thakhek the day after Christmas, climaxing their drive across the 130-mile “waist” of Indochina to the Thai border? They probed south toward Seno, where they were badly cut up by French defenders. “The phase of destruction before Seno is finished.” Brig. Gen. Andre Franchi, French commander in central Indochina, said today. “The Viet Minh Communists have lost almost 2,000 men. I have now begun the phase of reconquest.’’ Franchi said that his men have been ordered to advance cautiously despite the virtual absence of Red resistance so far. “I am taking nothing for granted,” the general said. “The Viet Minh may turn on us like a wounded boar.” The recapture of Thakhek would drive the Communists back from the Thai border and reopen the Mekong to traffic. Observers here believed the surviving Reds would split up iilto’limiin bands which vould be difficult to kill or capture. Meanwhile, two minor clashes with the Communists in various parts of Indochina were reported today—in the north, where eight Reds were reported slain in a skirmish near Banban, and In the south, where Communist saboteurs derailed a train near Saigon. No ■asiialties were reported in the train wreck.

Council Approves New Subdivision Kirsch Division Is Okayed By Council Eight lots on the south side of Nuttman avenue, west of Thirteenth street known as the Herald Kirsch second BRbdivision, are now a part of the city of Decatur. The revised plat, including the sight lots facing Nuttman avenue, was approved. M. t-M city plan commission and last night was accepted by the council as part of the city. Four of the eight lots already have been , sold, Kirsch said, and the other four are in the hands of Robert Heller,' realtor. Easements for utilities and-provisions for alleys were ..included in the revised plat. John DeVoss, of • DeVoss, SJißith and Mqcklin. represented Kirsch in the proceedings. The .plan commission also recommended a change in the zoning ordinance to forbid the issuance of ■ a building permit of any type for construction on unplatted land. The council authorized the city attorney to draw up such anamendment and present it to the council at the next regular meeting. ' -

Reuther Witness Repudiates Story ~ - Ritchie Repudiates Earlier Statement WINDSOR, Ont. UP — Donald Ritchie, key witness and co-de-fendant in the 1948 attempted assassination of CIO- President Walter Reuther, today repudiated a statement in which he implicated four persons in the crime. Ritchie said in a statement released through his attorney that he had “no knowledge or information as to who were the person or persons involved.” “I desire to make it clear I was not present at nor 'did' I actively engage or participate in the Walter Reuther shooting.”, the statement said. “‘Further I not a paj-ty to a conspiracy to commit such a crime, nor do I have knowledge or information as to the persons who so conspired.” L_ ', Ritchie, prompted by a $5,000 reward from Reuther’s union, the United Auto Workers, told the’ story to Detroit police earlier this month. On the strength of his information they arrested three men, Including Ritchie’s uncle, Clarence Jacobs of Tecumseh- Qot-, whom he named as the “triggerman” in the attempted murder. A fourth suspect js still being sought. On the day Ritchie’s cochmon' 'W' •■4M''reward;. • which was being held W escrow here, Ritchie escaped from his guards in a Detroit hotel and vanished across the border. He was arrested in Preston, Ont., a week ago, drunk on whiskey he bought with the reward money. Ritchie agreed then to be extradieted to the United States, but when he returned to Windsor he changed his mind and refused to waive extradition.- Me *was being held here pending a hearing before county Judge Albert Gordon Thursday. Jacobs, also held for extradition, was to come up for a hearing Friday. ’ * Ritchie’s attorney Bernard Cohn, said his previous statement, now repudiated, was issued fqr a “definite reason, which will be clarified at the proper time.”

Mrs. W. E. Smith Is Taken By Death Widow Os Decatur Physician Is Dead Funeral' ■services will be/Lheld Friday tor Mrs. Martha D. Smith, 83, widow of Dr. W. E. Smith, who died Tuesday afternoon at the Adame county memorial hospital, where she had been a patient for three and one-half weeks. She was born in Union towmrtiip Oct. 13, 1871, a daughter of George B. and Lavinia Luckey-Cline, one of the county's pioneer families. Her birthplace, three and one-half miles of Decatur, was part of the old Luckey homestead. She was graduated from Ohio Northern University of Columbus, 0., and was married to Dr. W. E. Smith Dec. 25, 1893. Her husband, a prominent Decatur physician, died April 9 of last year. Mrs. Smith was a member of the First Presbyterian church, the Woman's CiUbU'Garden club, Historical club and the Adams county medical auxiliary. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Lucile Eicher of Rocky River, Q„ and Mrs. Genevieve Santini of Tenafly. N. J.; one eon, Dr. Lowell C. Smith of Lafayette; six grandchildren and 12 great-grand-children. One brother preceded, her in death, and a grandson, Waldo Edison Eicher, was Joined' during World War IL Services will be conducted at 1:30 p. m. Friday as the Zwick funeral home, the Rev. Ray J. Walther officiating. Entombment will be in .the mausoleum at the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 o’clock this evening until time of the services. ■

Radford Asks Senate Pass Seaway Bill Chairman Os Joint Chiefs Os Staff In P(ea To Stiftators By UNITED PRESS ’ Adm. Arthur W. Radford asked the senate today to pass the St. Lawrence seaway bill. Endorsement of the measure by the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff was made public as senate debate on the controversial measure dragged into the sixth day. Radford said in a letter to Sen. Homer Ferguson, R-Mich., that the seaway is “necessary in the interests of national security.” Senate Republican leader William F. Knowland. Calif., threatened overtime sessions unless an agreement is reached soon on a voting time. He said he may call the senate into session tonight. Knowland and other leaders hope for a vote by next week. Other congressional developments: Academy: The house took up a bill to’let the air force set up its Own hcad-emy. No site tor the probut several congressmen have plugged for locations in or near their home districts. Loan: Members of the house un-American activities committee disclosed that Louis J. Russell was tired as chief committee investigator because he borrowed S3OO from a former witness — screen actor Edward G. Robinson. Members did not criticize Robinson, but one of them, Rep. Kit Clardy R-Mich., said RusseU used bad judgment. Wheat: The senate agriculture committee recommended that the justice department investigate “possible criminal conspiracy” in connection with importation last year of Canadian wheat unfit for human use. The committee suggested investigation of grain firms in Minneapolis, New Orleans, and Texas. Labor: The house government operations committee voted to make a nationwide investigation of what it called racketeering and other "unfair and Improper labor practices." The first inquiry will be into reports of a juke box racket in Cleveland. DAV: Vivian D. Corbly, national adjutant of the Disabled American <Tan Tw-Pwwr- Rttrht) -

Elks To Hold Cancer Party February 6 Fourth Annual Elks Project Announced The fourth annual Elks cancer fund party will be held Saturday evening, Feb. 6, at the Decatur Elks home, it was announced today by George~F. Laurent, general chairman for the charitable event. . Net proceeds from the party, which last year attracted 500 persons to the Elks home, are donated to the Indiana Elks cancer fund. Gathered from Elks lodges iq. the state, the combined fund is turned over to Indiana and Purdue universities for cancer research. Last year the Decatur Elks contributed $768 to the cancer fund representing proceeds from the 1953 party. George Bair, exalted ruler of the local lodge, stated that Walter Gilliom would serve as co-chair-man for the annual charitable event. A feature of the evening will be the attractive smorgaeboard dinner that will be served by women members of the Emblem club from « to 8 p.m. 'CoMnittee members arranging for this department 1 * are Eeo Ehinger and George Alton. They (Tara T« Pace Eight)

Ministers To Head Red Cross Campaign County Ministers To Conduct Drive Minister members of the Adams county ministerial association will i enroll under the banner of the Red (Cross and lead the annual drive for funds in March, Mr». Joseph €>elberg, .-executive secretary of the Red Cross, announced today. The Rev. (Lawrence Norris, pastor of Union Chapel Evangelical United Brethren church, northeast of Decatur, has invited 49 ministers in the county to a luncheon meeting Monday noon at the Rice hotel to form the Red Cross organization. . Speakers at the meeting will be Wilbur Petrie, oil and gas distributor of this city, who acted as county chairman in 1966, and Leo Kirsch. Decatur postmaster, who was city chairman. Preliminary arrangements for the meeting and minister participation in the drive were complet-, ed by R. E. Glehdening, chapter president. Rev. Norris and Res Cross directors. The quota for the drive has not yet been announced. National Red Cross has notified the local chapter that the county’s share of the 86-million dollar budget (WWW W tels « added W county chapter's budget, including the appropriation to carry on the blood program during 1954.. , , (Membership in the Adams county ministerial association includes ministers of Protestant churches throughout the county. Rev. Norris stated tha the purpose of Monday’s meeting was to organize for the drive and name chairmen in the various cities and towns in the County. Last year $9,573.27 was contributed to the Red Cross drive, a little less than the assigned quota to the county.

Report Craig Asks Kyle Resign Post Newsmen Dodged By Chairman Os ABC INDIANAPOLIS (UP) — Chairman Joseph B. Kyle of the Indiana alcoholic beverage commission dodged newsmen today after receiving a secret letter delivered by a messenger from the governor's office. " j One source said the letter contained Gov. Craig's request for Kyle's resignation. The ABC chief from Garv could not be reached for comment through his staff, relatives or an unlisted telephone number. Fellow ABC commissioners said Kyle returned to his office Tuesday from Pennsylvania, where he attended the funeral of his broth-er-in-law. Commissioner Dan Cravens said a messenger from Craig's office delivered the letter, and Kyle left the office at noon. Craig has been in New Yotk and Washington tihs week. His executive secretary, Horace Coats, skid he "cannot confirm or deny” that Craig fired Kyle. Coats also said he could not confirm that a messenger from Craig's office delivered a message to Kyle. But he added that if one were delivered, “that might be it.” “The contents of the letter were never divulged to me,” Cravens said, “but It (Kyle’s dismissal) has been such a rumor for the last three or four months ...” ' Several months ago, the governor summoned Kyle to his office amid rumors Kyle would be fired. Craig said then he was dissatisfied with some workings of ABC and ordered a commission campaign to "divorce beer and politics.” The commia&ion has held a dozer. such hearings, aimed at preventing a beer wholesaler from monopolizing a brand in a specific territory. But In two decisions T - <Tua Ta Fms rtve)

Price Five Cents

Over 21,000 Men Released From Compound Joyous Anti-Reds Storting On Trek For New Homes PANMUNJOM, Korea. Thursday UP — The return of anti-Commu-nist war prisoners to the Allied Command was completed today as the last of more than 21,000 Chi* nese and North Koreans jubilantly ran down a dusty road to freedom. Precisely at 1:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m., CST Indian custodial guards turned the final prisoners over to the United Nations. It was the climax to months of wrangling over the disputed POWs and marked final triumph for the United Nations’ principle of noforced repatriation. as the rnst Chinese prisoner ran from the neutral sone to an Allied reteption center 1H miles to the south, POWs released earlier already were on their way to a new life in Formosa and South Korea. After the operation was completed the Indian command released its final official figures on ihp«PXisoncr return. wid a POWs, ■ including 14,327 Chinese and 7,582 North Koreans, were re» leased. Os these, 72 Chinese and 32 North Koreans asked for repatriation at the last minute and were given back to the Reds. By early morning. 12,013 Chinese had been placed aboard American ships at Inchon harbor and were ready to sail for Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek's island bastion. All of the North Koreans turned over to the Allies had been processed at the reception center and were on their way to South Korea. Before the operation was completed the Communists renewed their charges the liberation would wreck the Korean truce. “The American release plan is designed to break up the armistice,” North Korea’s Pyongyang Radio said in an early morning broadcast; But the U. N. command ignored the expected Communist protest as Allied troop trains rolled south carrying the freed North Koreans to resettlement centers in South Korea and a U. N. truck convoy took the last of the Chinese to Inchon. The long-awaited release was carried out without incident despite violent Communist objections that the prisoners were being “abducted.” Os tiie total 22,029 prisoners being freed only 54 Chinese and 32 North Koreans asked to be returned to communism or returned to a neutral nation. The first of the prisoners released after the operation began at 8 a.m. were quickly processed through U. N. reception camps south of the neutral zone and loaded into trucks and trains for distribution. About 10,000 Chinese were taken immediately to Inchon harbor where they were loaded aboard 10 American LSTs for the trip to Formosa. Navy officials said the last freed Chinese should be ready tb .sail from Inchon by 3 p.m. At Inchon, the red-hating Chinese played martial music <Jn drums and bugles fashioned from beer cans and prison camp scrap metal as they boarded the ships. "We've been behind the wire more than a thousand days,” one ihouted. “It's wonderful to be free.” The, POWs said they did not learn until Tuesday they were to be released. “We didn't sleep all night because we were afraid the Reds would attack us to take us back,” one said. "We were determined to die in the compound rather than go north." The Communist leaders did not intervene in the return despite an 11th hour protest to the Indian command that the release was a "violation of the amfetice agree--Tin »• Itaae F«ve»