Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 272, Decatur, Adams County, 18 November 1954 — Page 1

Vol. Lil. No. 272.

Richard E. Clark Pleads Guilty

—X Levels New McCarthy Charge II..; sEry*' 'M ■**>7Vgr m. UL 'J 'M I L ■ SENATOR Wallace F. Bennett (R), Utah, answers questions of a reporter (right) in Washington about the new charge h® will file against Senator McCarty, citing the Wisconsin Republican s attack on the special committee which recommended that he be censured by the Senate. Four Confess To Series Os Area Crimes <

BULLETIN ■*, Four more Lima, O„ men were arrested today in Lima and charged with a series of safe robberies in Indiana and Ohio. Two of the meh, William Simpson, 18, and Eugene Stratton, 21, are allegedly guilty of the breakin at Macklin’s garage Nov. 2. — ■-•A oar, stolen from Macklin’s at that time was found today in Kenton,. O. The four rtow held in Lima have, not admitted any Indiana breakiifiT other than the Macklin theft. Sheriff Robert Shratuka said that he would go to Lima in the next several days to question the men on unsolved burglaries in this cbunty. Investigation leading from the ■ Pleasant Mills high school breakin has cleared up 10 school burglaries in Adams. AJlen and Wells counties this year, it was learned Wednesday evening. Investigating officers of both Indiana and Ohio have uncovered information that about 18 to 20 men of Lima. 0.. and vicinity, working in three or four gangs, have been operating for about a year and a I half. Another 23 unsolved safe Tob- ■ beries. most of them schools, were - cleared up in Ohio aa tbe result of the same investigation. Further investigation will probably clear up many more breakins which have puzzled authorities for more than a year. It is estimated that the total loot of these robberies was close to $65,000. The Indiana breakins already cleared include robberies of Berne, Adams Central. Monmouth and twice at Pleasant Mills high school In Adams.county: Jefferson Center, Woodburn, Harlan and Monroeville schools in Allen county, and Bluffton high school in Wells county. Three of the four Lima men now being held in the Adams county jail are allegedly involved in all of them and indications are that more may be involved before the investigation is complete. Sheriff Robert Shrnluka said that there are still about 18 more breakins in this county which are unsolved. He hopes that these will I soon be cleared as a result of the i latest findings. ~ J I A call to Lima revealed that I Lima and Allen county, . Ohio, authorities have taken over the investigation but as late as this morning no arrests had been made. Most of the work of continuing the investigation will probably be done in Ohio. The first break in the investigation came when Richard Judy. 26; Thomas Kelley. 19, and Richard Lytle. 27. were arersted while attempting to escape after breaking into Pleasant Milla high school Nov. 7. A day later Cecil Eugene Perrine was arrested in Lima and ~Twas brought back to Adams county to face chargee. All four men have been arraigned in Adams circuit court but have not yet entered a plea. They, however, have signed statements ad(Continued on Page Kight)

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

■ . Noted Coroner And Lawyer In Clash In Court Sheppard Attorney In Argument With Dr. Samuel Gerber CLEVELAND (UNS) — The coroner in charge of the investigation of the bludgeon murder of pregnant Marilyn Sheppard said today he checked the possibility that her husband. Dr. Sam, might have been sterile. Dr. Samuel R. Gerber denied, however, that he had said that the pregnancy of the Sunday school teacher was the cause of the brutal 35-blow July 4th murder. for which the osteopath is now on trial. ■ The noted coroner engaged in furious arguments with the chief defense counsel. William Corrigan, a long-time courtroom foe. ~ He also told the jury of seven men and five women he delved into the birth of the Sheppard's first child. Chip, seven. Corrigan insisted on calling the murder victim's unborn son a baby." hut each time the coroner corrected his description and ret ferred to it as "fetus." On previous days, Corrigan has tried to get other witnesses to stale that Dr. Gerber accused Dr. Sam of the murder because his 31-year-old wife was pregnantThe witness and the lawyer engaged in repeated hassles despite Dr. Gerber's written note to himself which read: "Do not allow yourself to be irritated by defense attorneys." The pair went at it long and loud over the works of criminologists. how' blood can be detected and what to call the fetus in a pregnant woman. (Coatlnue* Ob rage 81k) Decatur Firemen Stage Porchlight Campaign Monday Decatur firemen will stage a "porchlight" campaign in thia city Monday evening to aid the annual drive for funds to aid in tbe fight against crippling muscular dystrophy. The drive will be conducted by off-duty firemen and some members of the firemen's ladles auxiliary, and will be started at 6 p,m. Monday. Citizens desiring to make contributions to this nationwide campaign are asked to turn on their porch lights prior to 6 o’clock, and the firemen will stop at the homes.. Last year, the campaign was staged here by the city mail carriers. Research grants" were made in January of this year totalling $1,000,000 by the Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America, Inc.

May Postpone Senate Debate On McCarthy McCarthy Suffers Elbow Injury, May Seek Postponement WASHINGTON (INS) — Senate GOP leader William F. Knowland said today he will have "some consultations" and know this afternoon whether the senate will postpone debate on censure of hospitalized Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy. The California Republican told reporters that if McCarthy were to ask for a delay it "would be difficult” for the senate to refuse. McCarthy was admitted to the Bethesda naval hospital Wednesday because of an injured right elbow. A hospital spokesman said this morning that the Wisconsin Republican “had a quiet night and is resting comfortably” but that his elbow is still swollen and painful. He added that X-rays showed that there is no fracture. Meanwhile, Sen. Everett M. Dirksen (R-Ill.) plans to offer a compromise proposal today which he hopes will bring, the acrimonious - debate-to an end. He would - not discuss details In advance. Spokesmen for McCarthy said he Injured his right elbow in Milwaukee Saturday night when he accidentally struck it on the sharp edge of a glass table while greeting admirers. “ Several senators voiced the opinion that the -censure debate should be suspended until the principal ID the stormy controversy can return to the floor Republican - leader William F. Knowland. Calif., however, said he does not believe that McCarthy’s Injury would mean a delay in senate voting on amendments to the censure resolution. But Sen. Styles Bridges (R-N. H.) argued that there should at least be no voting on the resolution itself while McCarthy is in the hospital. Sen. Francis Case (R-S. D.) declared McCarthy's absence "raises a serious question both of courtesy and attitude toward a fellow senator." Sens. William E. Jenner (RInd.) and Herman Welker (RIdaho) both strong McCarthy sup(Continued Page Six) | - ’ French Premier In —— — i Talks At Washington Report Eisenhower To Ask For Funds WASHINGTON INS) — Author- I itative sources said today that President Eisenhower will ask congress for funds to help maintain French troops in Indo-China as a bulwark against further Red aggression in southeast Asia. The President is expected to as- " -sure French Premier Pierre Men- * des - France that the admiuistra- 1 tion will go at least this far to 1 allay fears the Communists will * capture the rest of Indo-China and 1 move On to other Asiatic nations These fears will be the main " topic at discussions beginning to- J day between the French premier ‘ — who also holds the portfolio of 1 foreign minister — the President and secretary of state John Foster Dulles. The whirlwind two-day discus- 1 sions will get underway at a noon meeting with Mr. Eisenhower at ( the White House. Afterward, the T trio will have lunch with other top , U. 8. officials and congressional ( leaders. In mid-afternoon Mendes-France will begin formal discussions on t specific problems with Dulles and t his advisors. , The jaunty Frenchman arrived « in Washington aboard an air t force plane at dusk Wednesday. After greeting Dulles and vice president Richard M. Nixon, he < expressed •"optimism” over the t outcome of his talks with U. 8. officials. < He told the delegation that "the < whole free world is making steady progress on the roud to peace," i and added: t "I am confident that in concert j with your .great country and other t allies we can assure the safety f and development of our common I civilization. i f

. ■ - - JKHg ■ • ■ ■ [■* • I • . 1 ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, November 18, 1954.

Enters Guilty Plea To Robbery Os First Bank Os Berne Last May 29

House Group Uncertain On Calling Hiss Velde Committee Cites Three For Congress Contempt •. WASHINGTON (INS) — The house un-American activities committee today cited three witnesses for contempt of congress, but postponed its decision on whether to call Alger Hiss for questioning upon his release from prison. Committee Chairman Harold H. Velde (R 111.), said he does not expect Hiss to be called unless it is learned that the former state department official "is willing tfe give information." Velde said the committee will give further study to the whole matter. He added, however, that “it certainly appears he isn't willing to give us any information.” Tbb chairman said this conclusion watt based on hearsay” • Velde aiso reported that the committee is "exploring" the possibility of testing the new immunity law. which allows witnesses to testify before congressional hearings without fear of prosecution. Rep. Kit Clardy (R Mich ), who presided at committee hearings Wednesday, ordered that the law be tested on James A. Coleman, 30, of Flint, Mich., who invoked the fifth amendment on all questions asked by the probers. The three former witnesses cited for contempt by the committee are: Dr. Robert Metcalf, of Antioch university. Yellow Springs, Ohio; Norton Anthony Russell, chief engineer of the Vernay laboratories, Yellow Springs, and Pro-.. (Continued on Page Eight) Revise Resolution On Atom Peace Plan 7 Western Powers Amend Resolution UNITED NATIONS, N. Y. (INS) —-The seven western powers placed before the UN today an amended resolution designed to draw unanimous approval - Including Russia’s • for the U. S. atoms-for-peace plan. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., predicted the political committee would vote 60 to 0 Wednesday in favor of President Eisenhower's proposal. Western sources emphasized that in any case there is tacit agreement to push to a vote in the committee Friday with or without Russian support. U. S. sources indicated that the compromise and revision of the resolution clearly ruled out any veto power in the Security Council over operations of the Eisenhower project. The final draft, however, couples the proposed International Agency for Exchange of Atomic Materials somewhat closer to'the UN Assembly and Security council in that its activities are to be reported back periodically. The revised resolution bars Red China from any participation in the project. The revised resolution bars Red China from any participation in the project. •tAixJrei Vislilnsky is expected, reluctantly and with no alternative, to commit the Soviet to full participation In the proposed international "clearing house" agency for tbe trading of nuclear materials and in the projected 1955 conference of ajtomic scientists.

| Legislators Study State Departments Pre-Legislative Conferences Held BLOOMINGTON, Ind.. (INS) — The work of nine more state governmental departments was outlined to members of the Indiana general assembly today in the sec- * ond of a series of pre-legislative ' conferences at Indiana University. > To be explained by department . heads today were the functions ( and problems of the department of . conservation, employment secur- > ity division, division of labor, in- . dustrlal board, alcoholic beverage Commission, department of financial institutions, insurance depart- . ment, stream pollution control , board, and flood control and water * resources commission. ( Attending the opening session Wednesday were a total of 39 of I the 149 members of the 1955 general assembly. Included were 26 representatives and 13 senators. Only three of the 39 were Demo- * -crats. ' - ... ....... Aides of Gov. George N. Craig, j (who initiated the pre-legislative " Series, explained tha| a 1 varying dumber of legislators are expected ’ at any one series, since they will ’ !>e more interested in one area Os ' state government than another. 1 Highway safety .was a major 1 topic at the Wednesday confer- ■ ence. The legislators heard proposals 1 that the motor vehicles bureau 1 be placed on a bipartisan merit system, and that restrictions for obtaining a drivers’ license be made more stringent; that traffic safety be made an important unit in the state highway department, and that 200 troopers be added and six more state police subdistrict posts constructed Morris -J. Carter, commissioner of the motor vehicles bureau, suggested that the driver’s license fee be increased 75 cents to a flat $2 to help pay for additional state police costs. He also proposed eliminating the front license plate on vehicles. The three Democrats who at(Continued on Page Six) City Police Start Show Ticket Sales To Present Picture Here December 13 Decatur city police started the sale of tickets this week for the two-hour technicolor movie of the Oberammergau passion play to be presented in the Decatur high school December 13. Money raised by the sale of tickets, first fund-raising drive ever undertaken by the Decatur police, will be used for the general police fund and for local charities. Decatur merchants are also buying tickets for children to be distributed by the merchant himself. Children’s tickets are 60 cents each, while adults will he charged sl.lO. Children’s tickets will be bn sale to merchants until December 4. The non-sectarlan movie of the life of Jesus will be shown twice, once at 4 p m. and again at 8 p.m. The city police and merchants hope to make it possible for all the Decatur children to see the movie. A recent showing of the movie in TPkhart brought out more than 1,000 for the evening showing, according to reports received here. All ministers,,in the city are being contacted by the city police so that everyone Interested In such a movie will know about it. The movie Is not shown in regular commercial theaters, but la now on tour across the United States, sponsored by sendee clubs, churches, police and firemen’s associations.

U. S. Minister Confers With Field And Wife ;. Meets Couple Freed By Communists, No Light On Mystery L VIENNA (INS) —U. S. minis- ’ ter Christian Ravndal today met ’ Noel and Herta Field, the Ameri- ‘ cans just released from a Hungarian prison in a five-year-old ’ mystery, but did not shed any new light on the mystery. ’ He met the couple this morning 1 at a secret residence in Budapest and said that neither Field, onetime U. S. state department emJ ploye, nor his wife were prepared ■ to discuss the spy charges on ’ which the Communists threw them ’ into prison. Ravndal told reporters that the Fields will enter a Hungarian hospital, but that he was unable to ■ disclose the location of the hos- ’ pltal. j Despite the fact- they will enter ! a hospital the minister said both r were "in good shape." On informed source claimed It r may be a long time before Noel Field and his wife leave the Iron Curtain land for the West. , The Hungarians announced late ( Tuesday night that Noel and Her- . ta Field were being released be- ; cause the charges against .them , could not lie justified since their , seizure in 1949. Hermann Field, brother of Noel who also vanished in Warsaw while seeking clues to the w-here- . abouts of Noel, was released last month by the Polish government. Bogan Child Dies Today At Chicago Funeral Services Saturday Morning Patrick J. Bogan, 4. of Chicago, died at 11 o'clock this morning at the Billings hospital, Chicago, following an Illness of nine months of complications. The boy was born in Rensselaer Sept. Id, 1950. a son of James and Eileen Hess-Bogan, formerly residents of Decatur. The child was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic church here. 'Surviving in addition to the parents are two brothers, Kevin J. and Timothy J. Bogan, both at home; the paternal grandmother, Mrs. Margaret Bogan of Portsmouth, 0., and the maternal grandfather, Peter Hess of Decatur.Funeral sendees will be conducted Saturday morning at St. Mary's Catholic church, the'Very Rev. Megr. J. J. Seimetz offlcatlng. Burial will be In the Catholic cemetery. The body will be brought to the Gillig and Doan funeral home there friends may call after 7 o’clock Friday evening. 1—1..—.1,— Mrs. Mqe M. Ladd Is Taken By Death Mrs, Mae Muter Berne, died Tuesday night at the Adams county memorial hospital following a long illness. Surviving are her husband. Fred; a foster daughter, Mrs. John Zizelman of near Monroeville; a brother, Clay Shaner of Celina. O.; oue grandchild and one great grandchild. Funeral services will be held at 2 p. tn. Friday at the Beaver Chapel, west of Celina, with burial in Swamp College cemetery. Friends may call at the Pulskamp funeral home in Celina.

Pleads Guilty . . b ... i w < J • ■* j w V A < ' -n •' •<■ “k ■ii '-l * ■ h k ’• j i ■■ |||| - 1 i■ -• ililiiL ■ > ■ 1 \Mlehard t. Clark * ———— t 1 County Lions Clubs ’ To Sponsor Banquet J Clubs Will Honor 4-H Junior Leaders i r The five Adams county Lions . clubs announced today that they . will sponsor the annual achievement banquet of the 4-H junior leaders organization, zone president Joe Brewster, of Berne, said I today. The five clubs include those of Decatur, Monroe, Berne, Geneva, and Pleasant Mills, representing more than 180 businessmen. There are 123 junior leaders, boys and girls, in the 29 4-H clubs representing all 12 townships of Adams county. Formerly the junior leaders, of high school age, paid $1.25 to attend their own banquet. This year’s banquet, in honor of those who completed their junior leader projects and helped with their local clubs, will be held Monday, December -13. The time and place will be announced later. Plans for the banquet will be completed by the junior leader banquet committee, in cooperation with Miss Gloria Koeneman, county 4-H leader. The purpose of the junior leader program is to train strong leaders for agricultural communities. An Integral part of the 4-H program, it is supported by tije agricultural extension service and the Farm Bureau. The board of directors of the Decatur Lions club agreed to the sponsoring of ' the achievement banquet if the other county clubs were also interested at their regular meeting a week ago. At that time Ray Heller, chairman of the agriculture committee, presented the plan. Approval to the plan was given last night by the representatives of thedUve clubs at the tone meeting of Lions International in Geneva The idea was sponsored by the Decatur club, and Dick Heller, Jr., of the Lions agricultural committee. presented the Idea to the representatives. About ten years ago the Decatur Lions club bad sponsored one banquet, held during World War 11. but. this is the first time that several clubs have joined together on a county basis for a-project. This year’s meeting will be held in Decatur, with the Decatur club acting as host In future years, the banquet will be held In other com(Contlnusd on Ps<« Eight)

Surprise Plea i Made Today By 'Richard Clark Celina Man Pleads Guilty To Robbery Os Bank At Berne BULLETIN Richard E. Clark, 26, Celina, O-, who robbed the First Bank of Berne last May 29, was sent* „ enced to 10 years at the state reformatory at Pendleton by Judge Myles F. Parrish in Adams circuit court at 3:10 o’clock this afternoon. Richard Ellis Clark, 26. Celina, O„ who was to be tried for bank robbery Dec. 7 In Adams circuit court, changed his plea to guilty this afternoon in a surprise move by the defendant, represented by I D. Burdette Custer. The plea of guilty to the Mar 29 robbery of the First Bank of Berne came five months after Clark's first arraignment in which he entered a plea of not guilty. Because of his attorney’s motion to secure medical examination, it was speculated that he might . change hia plea to not guilty because of insanity. In his statement concerning the change of plea, Custer pointed out that result of psychiatric examlnas tions showed that Clark was psyf chopathic but not insane in th* - legal definition of the word. r He called Clark "a brilliant and - fine young man who loves his fam--1 ily” and added that Clark was anxious to pay his debt to society so j that he could return to them. Custer pleaded for Hie minimum '■ sentence, saying that incarceration i was necessary for rehabilitation i purposes only. He pointed out that . recent sentences on similar offenses in federal court were for only three or five years. The minimum , sentence in Indiana for armed bank robbery is 10 years and maximum la life imprisonment Prosecuting attorney Lewis Luta Smith also gave a brief statement saying that the sentencing of the man was up to the court. Clark and bls pretty young wife, Marjorie. In addition to several other persons, were in the courtroom. - Clark baa been held in the Adams county JaH since June 16. the day after his arrest in Celina at Mereman Brothers Corp., where he worked. Statements by several witnesses Who reported seeing a maroon colored model car wfth an Ohio license number including the letter ’X’. led to Clark’s arrest. Clark sighed statements admitting that he was the "leisurely bandit,” so named because of his hour-long stay in the bank. A search of Clark's home uncovered $9,929 of the $12,600 stolen from the bank while employes were held at gun point. The first affidavit was fUed against Clark June 15 In Adams circuit court and the Celina man. who is married and the father of three children, waived extradition. In hU statements to police Clark said that he needed money for family bills. He also expressed regret for the robbery. (Continued on Page 81 x) INDIANA WEATHER Mostly cloudy tonight and Friday with occasional showers tonight and ovor most of state Friday. Cooler over most of state Friday and extreme northwest tonight Low tonight mid 40s extreme northwest to mid 60s southeast. High Friday In the 60s.

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