Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 128, Decatur, Adams County, 1 June 1954 — Page 1

Vol. Lil. No. 128.

Pay Tribute To Bennington Dead i ■k jfl ■& W 4 - I 211' 11 SMB H | HT jgfr } *M*\ am S X < Jft rW BURNT ANO INJURED crew member* of the 111-fated carrier U.S.S. Bennington register emotions of sorrow' and pain as they join in Memorial Day prayers held err the vessel's flight deck for the more than IMT sailors who died in last week's fiery tragedy. Here Byron Ferguson (left) weeps openly as Robert E. Berry of St. Joseph, Mo., clasps his hands In prayer. More than 3000 persons, among them relatives of the victims, attended the services. <

Beme Bank Is Robbed By Lone Man In Holdup Over $12,500 In Cash Is Obtained In Daring Holdup . Sheriff Robert Shraluka called this office at 1:15 o'clock this afternoon from the First Bank of Berne and reported that there was no tangible development in the hold-up investigation. : A group of state police officers including Truman Blerie, Dave hfilbourne, Jack Nye and Walter Schindler and five federal agents -were assisting Berne chief of police Karl Sprunger and Sheriff Shraluka in the probe. Several persons including witnesses to the Saturday holdup were being interviewed this afternoon. Several suspects have been questioned and cleared, it was learned today In the investigation of the lone bandit hold-up of the -First Berne which occurred about 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon. The bandit, at point of gun, escaped with 112,5.00 in cash after he had herded bank president Elmer Baumgartner and 10 employes into the basement and . ordered them 'to remain there for 20 minutes. State detective sergeant Truman Bierie, FBI officers, sheriff Robert Shraluka, deputy Merle Affblder and other state police are continuing the probe into one of the boldest hold-ups in the history Os Adams county. -t:’ The bandit entered the Berne bank shortly before 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon. Employes were busy completing the day’s work. Baumgartner was talking to a customer and the bandit asked to see him. The bank president told the bandit, who as a salesman that he was not interested, and the bandit said “Well, let's talk about something else. This is a hold-up.” The bandit then ordered employes to remain busy and Baum gartner assisted, at the point of a gun-, to fill the bandit's brief case with currency in denominations of from $5 to 1100. He said he did not want dollar bills or change. After the brief case was filled, the bandit ordered the employes into the basement. He told the group to wait 20 minutes before sounding an alarm. They carried out this order aird it gave the ban dit time to make a getaway. Before leaving the gunman took the front door key from the key ring of president Baumgartnef and on leaving he locked the door. He ’ walked leisurely to a parked auto- ‘ mobile and according to witnesses beaded east toward the Ohio line. Reports are being investigated that the bandit turned south on the Tile Mill road and also the possibility that he went into immediate hiding at a nearby farm home. A fairly good description was obtained from persons outside the bank and also from employes. The gunman is believed to be about 27 years of age; weight about 145 pounds; he wore a shirt and tie and also had on a trench coat. He was driving a late modelcar and It Is generally believed he was alone. Every possible clue is beirm sifted by the investigators, ft was learned-

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

St Mary's Church Dedicated Monday Catholic Church Is Formally Dedicated “Your church would i make a worthy cathedral for any Bishop in the world,” said Jhe Most Rev. .Archbishop Joint F .Noll, bishop of Fort Wayne, at the dedication of the new SL Mary’s Catholic church Monday. The dedicatory program which included the blessing of the church by Bishop Noll was shortened since heavy rain prevented the outside portion of the ceremonies. A large crowd of parishioners, visitors and clergy attended, however, in spite of the inclement weather. Fourth degree members of the Knights of Columbus in colorful formal attire served as the honor guard for the procession. Maas Officers The Rev. Vincent (Shinger of Chicap® was celebrant for the solemn high mass which followed the blessing of the church. Other officers of the mass were the Rev. Thomas Durkin of Fort Wayne, deacon; the Rev. Ambrose Heimann of Carthegena, O„ sub-dea-con; the Rev. Robert Hoevel of Pierceton, master of ceremonies; the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Charles Feltes of Fort Wayne, assistant to the archbishop, and the Very Rev. Megr. J. J. Seimetz, pastor, archpriest. Fathers Ehinger, Durkin and Heimann are natives of Decatur and Father Hoevel was formerly assistant pastor here. Among the visiting clergy were the Rev. Alvin Jasinski, a former assistant pastor, and several other priests who are products of St. <Mary’s parish. ■Music for the dedication ceremony was presented by the men's choir under the direction of the Rev. Lawrence Heimann of Rensselaer, a former Decatur man. Sister IM. Paul, C.S.A., Is accompanist and I>awrencc Pursley is regular director. Finest In State In his sermon Bishop Noll offered his congratulations to the pastor and members of St. Mary's parish fori their church which he called ' the finest in the state." He said that he had not expected anything halj. so beautiful. The Bishop centered his sermon on the purpose of the church, briefly explaining the mass, the altar and the decor. He also touched upon devotion to Mary to whom the Decatur church is dedicated. His Excellency pointed out that no day is more fitting for dedication of a Catholic church than Memorial Day since the rites and symbols of the church serve as constant memorials to the death of Christ, Following the dedication ceremony, which lasted from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a dinner was served to visiting clergy in the dining room of the Catholic school building. The,meal was prepared and served hy members of the Rosary society of the parish. A dinner was also served at the K. of G home for the fourth degree knights who participated. _ , Eight Monsignori Here Monsignori who attended the dedication were, the Rt. Rev. Charles Feltes, chancellor of the Fort Wayne diocese; the Rt. Rev. John A, Dapp, pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception; (Turn To Page Eight)

Ike Requests Big Increase For Military Asks Congress To Vote Additional Fund To Military WASHINGTON (IN’S — President Eisenhower Increased his military budget for fiscal 1955 by one billion. 100 million dollars today, al- . most one billion of it for the air force. ■ • The President's request to congress for supplemental appropriataions brings to approximately 31 billion dollars the amount of money he wants to run the nation’s forces in the fiscal year beginning July 1. The house has approved 28 billion. 700 million dollars so far. For the air force, Mr. Eisenhower originally asked 11 billion 200 million dollars, of which the house has approved 10 billion, 819 millions. Today, he requested a little less than 94G million dollars in addition. The White House would only gay that the supplemental appropriations are needed for the construction of "military public works and family housing.” The request did contain a little more than one-half million dollars for army work on the Alaskan communications systeni, including Nike gbtded missile installations and troop housing. ~ Another 13 and one-half millions is to be used for building access roads, 175 million for family housing and 140 million for Navy public works. Power Service To Monroe Disrupted The severe electrical storm at 10 a. m. Monday cut power service to Monroe for about two hours when lightning struck electric cutouts on the Decatur power line which feeds I *,that of Monroe. A spokesman for the Monroe two board expressed appreciation to linemen of the Decatur light department for their immediate work in cutting the loss of service to a minimum. Memorial Service Held Here Sunday Vet Organizations Conduct Services ' Perfect ’May webther greeted veterans and paraders in the Memorial Day service held Sunday, afternoon in this city. The graves of war dead were visited in ths Decatur and Catholic cemeteries, prior to the memorial service conducted in front of the Peace monument on court house square. The memorial- rites were cosponsored by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Spanish-American * war veterans and their respective auxiliaries. The Rev. L. T. Norris of Union Chapel Evangelical United Brethren church, delivered the memorial address. ■Music was furnished by the Decatur high school band.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, June 1, 1954.

Woman Is Killed When Two Autos Collide At Intersection Os Roads ', r e _ •

Sen. McCarthy Defies Orders By Eisenhower Declares He Will Not Be Bound By Secrecy Orders WASHINGTON (INS)-Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy declared today, he will pot be bound by any secrecy directive issued by President, Eisenhower and asserted that congress should Ignore such executive orders. ■'We’ll see presidents come and go." he said. McCarthy's statements came amid angry debate at the senate inquiry Into the Wisconsin legislator's dispute with the army. The wrangle kept the investigators in session 30 minutes beyond the norf mal luncheon recess time ana brought violent language from the participants. The secrecy issue arose when McCarthy refused to allow introduction of his committee files relating to Pvt. G-. David Schlne until he had had time to screen them to make certain they would reveal no names of “informants’ Sens. John L. McdeHan. (D---A’k.) and Stuart Symington* 1 (DMoj. accused McCarthy of ‘‘blackout" tactics, and charged that in coaxing tipsters to violate presidential directives and give him secret information he was challenging Mr. Eisenhower's authority. • • McCarthy retorted: “I am not setting myself above any law . . . but I just will not abide by any secrecy directive.” He added that in his ban on delivery of secret information to members of congress, the President was guilty of a “grievous error.” McClellan, referring to McCarthy's previous assertion that he would not respect any “secret" Classification stamped on a document hy “some little bureaucrat.” sardonically inquired whether the Wisconsin senator meant that FBI (Turn To Page Six) Local Lady's Mother Found Dead Monday Mrs. Hazel Sealscott Dies At Van Wert Mrs. Hazel Sealscott, 55, mother of Mrs. William C. Merriman of Decatur, was found dead at 9:40 o'clock Monday morning in the garage at her home in Van Wert, O Dr. W. C. Trapp, Van Wert county coroner, has Indicated a verdict of suicide. Her lifeless body was found by her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and iMrs. Merriman, when they arrived at her home for a Memorial Day visit. Death was caused by hanging. It was believed she had been dead about 12 hours. Surviving jin addition to the daughter in this city are another daughter, Mrs. Richard Dunlap of near Van Wert; a son. Lester Sealscott, Jr., of near Van Wert; seven grandchildren; four brothers, Charles Rogers of Convoy, O„. F. P. Rogers of Haviland, 0., B. F. Rogers of Van Wert county, and three sisters, Mrs. Elmer Berlincourt and (Mrs. C. H. .Matthews of Lima, 0.. and Mrs, Amanda Harvey of Saskatchewan, Canada. Her husband, Leater, preceded her in death. Funeral services will be conducted at ‘2 p.m. Wednesday in the Grand Victory church in Hoaglin township. Van Wert county, with burial in Woodland cemetery in Van Wert. The body was removed to the Alspach funeral home in Van Wert, where friend* may call. INDIANA WEATHER a' Clearing and cooler tonight. - Partly cloudy Wednesday. Somewhat cooler southeast half. Low tonight 50-55 north, 55-60 south. High Wednesday 68-75 north, 75-80 south.-

Ideal Dairy Bar Is Robbed Last Night More Than $650 In ' Cash Is Obtained Burglars visited the Ideal Dairy ( >Bar on South Second street be- * tween midnight Monday night and 4:30 o’clock this morning and got cash estimated at more than 4650. The safe was forced open: all the money was also taken from the , cash- register and a cigarette machine in the retail part of the estab- , lishment. Entrance was gained, according to police reports, by prying open a north window. Doyle Rich, proprietor of the Dairy bar, said that he closed the place of business at midnight and Leslie .Hunter reported at 4:30 o'clock this morning to start packing orders for ice cream in the wholesale department. Apparently the burglary took place some time between midnight and 4 o’clock this morning. Mrs. Russell Hoffman, who is employed in the dairy bar, reported at 6:20 o'clock this morning and discovered the thefts. She immediately notified police. Money totalling about $25. taken from the cigarette machine is the property of F. McConnell and Sons, wholesale tobacco distributors. The cash register is used by the retail •ffart of the dairy bar and the money in the safe belonged to the ABC bus line and dairy bar. That money totalled $627.77. Police were working today on the break-in, but chief of police i James Borders said he had no statement to make at this time. Heavy Rainfall Is Reported In City More than two and one-half inches of rain fell in Decatur from about 10 o’clock Monday morning until 8 a.in. today, Herman "Hi” Meyer, local weather observer, reported. Precipitation was measured at 2.55 inches, Meyer reported. One of the heaviest downpours was about 10:30 Monday morning, which caused cancellation of the formal parade from the Catholic school to the new St. Mary’s church for the dedication ceremonies. • The St. Mary’s river was rising today and at 8 a m. stood at 2.05 feet. Electric Service Disrupted By Storm Lightning, Wind Damage Power Lines Lightning and wind did sufficient damage to Decatur’s light and power lines Monday morning and night to cause city employes tc work almost, all night, but almbst all service was restored by It o’clock this morning. Lester Pettibone, light and power superinten dent, reported today. Several transformers were burned out, starting with the storm Monday morning about 10 o'clock. Power was off for several hours in parts of the city. Wind did the most severe damage east of Decatur, where several poles were blown down. Service on some lines east of Decatur was last to be restored. Decatur lines in the northwest and west parts of the city were out several hours during the night and early this morning. Transformer!! and fuses were knocked out by the lightning, but most severe damage was done by the wind. Employes were called off their day's vacation early Monday morning and several of them continued to work through the night and this morning. Lightning struck a walnut tree -in the yard of Mr. and Mrs. Dan H. Tyndall Monday morning. It is bethe same severe jolt of lightnlnguid the first damage to transformers. i No estimate of loss was given by i superintendent Pettibone. I

—- rIke Lashes Al Demagogues In Public Office Remarks Clearly Aimed At McCarthy In Speech Monday NEW YORK (INS) — President Eisenhower lashed out Monday night against “demagogues thirsty for personal power and public notice” and said no one should be permitted to inspire quarrels over Communism when all Americans would basically like to unite against it. V: He left it up to his audience to identify his target when he assailed "all those who seek to establish over us thought control — whether they be agents of a foreign state or demagogues thirsty for personal power and public notice.” •. But his remarks seemed to be ’clearly beamed at the “20 Years of Treason" speeches made by Sen. Joseph R. yViif.,) against the Democrats. Mr. Eisenhower declared in his soberly worded address at a Columbia university bicentennial dinner that there is no other purpose tn which Americans are so completely united As in their opposition to Communism, but asked: “Is there ay other subject that seems, at this moment, to be the ( cause of so much division among us as does the matter of defending our freedoms from Communist subversion T” Such a division, the President said, is just what the Communists want as they pursue their policy of “divide and conquer'” against the free world. 1 The President's theme Was a ; familiar one — that we must not destroy our basic freedoms while struggling against the' menace of Communist subversion — but his ; language was sterner than usual. He called for a "crusade of truth” to defeat the false propaganda of the Communists, and added: ‘Our dedication to truth and freedom, at home and abroad, does not require — and cannot tolerate —- fear, threat, hysteria and ftitimidatioh ...” Dan Gilmartin Dies At Home In Chicago Dan Gilmartin, husband of the former Mary Schults of Decatur, died suddenly of a heart attack early Monday morning at his home in Chicago. Surviving in addition to his wife are a-son, Thomas, and a daughter, Rosemarie. Funeral services will be held Thursday in Chicago. > Harry Miesse Dies Today At Capital Native Os Decatur Dies At Indianapolis INDIANAPOLIS (INS,) —Harry Miesse, veteran incorporator pf the Indiana Taxpayers association, died at St. -Vincent’s hospital at the age of 88 today. During many battles before officials, legislators and various board and commissions, Miesse is. credited with saving Hoosier taxpayers some S2OO million during the past quarter of a century. Miesse was born in Decatur and served as Adams county deputy treasurer. Then he became tax representative of a division of the Pennsylvania railroad and later performed similar work for the New York Central lines. In 1937, he resigned to become executive secretary of the Indiana Taxpayers association. Miesse was an authority on Du roc hogs, which he raised .on I bis farms in Hamilton and Cass I counties and his hobbyrwas tujips.

Leaves Decatur Rev. Samuel Emerick Methodist Church Has New Minister Rev. Virgil Sexton Succeeds Emerick The First Methodist church of' tjecatur will have a change In ministers as the result of pastoral assignments announced Sunday afternoon at the conclusisur of the annual |orth Indiana ’Methodist conference, held at Kokomo. ; The Rey. Samuel Emerick, pastor of the Decatur church since November of 1950, was assigned to the Bluffton First church’ succeeding the Rev. E. E. Kaufman, who was appointed superintendent of the jtfuncie district. The Rev. Virgil Wesley Sexton, discharged only last week as a chaplain with the United States navy, will replace Rev. Emerick as pastor of the Decatur church. Rev. Sexton is a graduate of Asbury College at Wilmore, Ky.. and the Garrett Biblical 'lnstitute ut Chicago. He has served two tours of duty as a navy chaplain, first joining the service in 1945, and serving again from 1952 until last week, including some overseas service. The new Decatur minister held pastorates at Simpson church in Elkhart and at the First Methodist church in Goshen, where he was pastor when returning to the navy in 1952. Rev. and Mrs. Sexton have two daughters and one son. Rev. Sexton has been very active in youth work in the conference and formerly served as assistant dean at Epworth Forest. Rev. Emerick was pastor at Kendallville and Wabash before coming to Decatur. During his pastorate here, he served as president of the Decatur ministerial association and was chairmafi of the Spiritual Emphasis week ser vices in 1952 and 1954. He is dean of the Epworth Forest adult assembly. a member of the confer ence board of ministerial training and a trustee of the Warren me mortal home for the aged. The pastoral changes are to bt effective next Sunday, Only chahge in pastors in thf immediate area is the assignment of the Rev, O. P. Van Y. from thf Noblesville, circuit, to the Genevt circuit, succeeding the Rev. E Earl Hartman, who will attend school next year. Girl Has Narrow Escape Here Today Diana Hess, two-year-old daugh ter of Robert Hess of 621 Schir’ me yer street, nearly drowned this morning when she fell into, a deep puddle. The child was given artificial respiration and Decatur firemer, were (jailed to bring a resuscitator A physician administered a shot o’ penicillin and the girl was reported in good condition. NEW SERIAL STORY “Joan Foster, Bride” la the title of the new aerial story which will start in Wednesday’s Issue of the Daily Democrat. The story, written by Alice Ross Colver, deals wltn the problems of a young bride and tHe family of her husband.

Price Five Cents

Nellie Mumma Dies Instantly In Auto Crash Husband And Three Sons Injured In Crossing Accident Mrs. Nellie Mumma, aged about 40, Elnora, was killed almost instantly and her three sons, Joseph, 15, Lacey, 10 and Russel, 13 ai.d, her husband, George Mumma, were injured, probably not critically, at about 9 o’clock this morning at a county road intersection a mile hiorth of the Bleeke church la ’ Union township. The Mumma family had visited - over the week-end with Mutnma’s sister. Mrs. Dave Cook of northwest of Decatur. Mumma, also a brother of the late Roy Mumma of this city, is a Rymer Adams county resident. ® It is believed the Mummas this morning had visited other friends northeast of Decatur before start- . ' ing home to Elnora. Mumma was well acquainted hefe, and formerly farmed in Adams county and also was a well driller. He left here 20 ! years ago. _ ' The automobile, driven by George Mpmma amTone driven by Gustav Kriieckeberg, Decatur route four, * ’chflided at an unmarked cross road. ’ Both vehicles were completely de- ( inolished. f Krueckeberg was not seriously injured but suffered from shock. - Mrs. Mumma was dead on arrival i at the Adams county memorial ‘ hospital. She sustained a com- ’ pound skull fracture and internal injuries. r Joseph Mumma received a fractured collar bone and cuts and ’ bruises. Lacey Mumma suffered a , fractured left arm and bruises and Russell Mumma was being treated mostly for shock. The father, i George, also suffered considerably - from shock and minor cuts and . bruises. All four of the Mummas I are at the hospital. [ Deputy sheriff Merle Affolder said »at 1 o'clock this afternoon : that he had not learned all of the details but apparently the crash occurred In the center of the intersection. He did not know the destination of the Mummas. Mrs. Momma's body was removed to the Zwiek funeral home. Ar- , rangements have not been completed. Holiday Death Toll In Nation Over 500 Mark Second Highest In Nation's History For Memorial Day By International News Service The nation's holiday death toll rose to 512 today — the second highest in history for a Memorial day holiday. With reports almost complete, the latest count showed 352 Americans died in traffic accidents, 86 drowned and 74 others were killed in miscelaneous accidents such as fire and plane crashes. The number of highway fatalities exceeded the national safety council’s pre-holiday prediction by 12 deaths, and the combined total of tragic deaths was about 125 more than the toll for the twuday Memorial holiday last year. - However, it did not equal the all-time record of 571 deaths reported during the four-day holiday in 1950. California headed all other states in the grime matter of traffic deaths with 36. but the greatest concentration of highway mayhem was in the midwest, where llli(Turn To Page Fivoj