Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 52, Number 303, Decatur, Adams County, 27 December 1954 — Page 1

Vol. LH. No. 303.

Christmas Tragedy V <"W J JT* v AMA- ' -wr»rV '‘l "I" 1 *"’*■ **" * ‘ . 1 JM <. ’ a ,-i f r 4JL I*. ■ WFf > . ■ :._ Firemen are shown searching the wreckage of a British airliner that carried 28 of the 36 aboard to their death on Christmas morning at Prestwick airport, Scotland. Four Americans were aboard the New York bound plane. 7 of the 8 survivors were crew members who were in the forward part of the plane which part was thrown clear of the explosion. ,

Mendes-France Pleads Pact Ratification \ Premier Makes New Plea For Assembly To Okay Rearming PARIS (INS) —Premier Pierre Mendes-France made another plea to the French national assembly tonight to ratify the Paris agreements to rearm West Germany. Tlje assembly will decide the fate of the Mendes-France government and the western defense alliance when it gives the premier its answer in the next few hours. Mendes-France told the assembly the aim of the Paris accords "is to confirm the Atlantic alliance. Consolidate our security and prepare the Europe of tomorrow.” The premier told the deputies they still had time to approve these things, in addition to the •'consolidation of peace,” despite their adverse vote on German rearmament fast Friday. He said the first vote tonight in the series of confidence’ questions he has posed for the depu-

ties will make it known whether German rearmament is doomed or has been revived. The vote deals with a treaty article on the admission of West Germany to the North Atlentic treaty organization. The premier made a week-end deal which encouraged hopes that the assembly will approve West German rearmament after last Friday’s adverse '2BO-to-259 vote. Some Paris political circles also predicted ratification of the agreements when the steering committee of the Republican Independent party issued a communique asking — its members not to prevent ratification. The group includes former premiers Paul Reynaud and Antoine Pinay. Since last Friday, when the assembly tentatively rejected arms for West Germany. Mendes-France has been busy laying the groundwork for the series of confidence votes he faces this week. He has staked the life of-his six-months-old government on winning approval of the Paris accords. The reported political deal made by the premier during the weekend concerns the key Popular Republican (MRP) party. Under the terms of the agreement. it was said, a large number of Popular Republicans, including former foreign minister Robert Schuman, will vote for ratification while others will abstain. , In return, reliable sources claimed, Schuman will be offered the post of foreign minister if the Paris agreements ate "“ratified, thus giving... Uw. anti-Mendes-deal” government. France MRP a voice in the "new The premier. has-acted as his ,own foreign minister up to--this fee? Mendes-France also is understood to be hoping for support, or at least abstention. by 26 Radical Socialists, 25 Popular Republicans and 21 Socialists who voted against the West German rearmament clause last Friday. Five questions of confidence will be Involved In. today’s voting, but they probably will be compressed into two rounds of voting.. The first ballot will include the question of West Germany’s entry info the~~North Atlentlc treaty organization:, the second ballot will concern the government’s demand for immediate Implementation of the accords If they are ratified. ■< If Mendes-France wins these tests, he then will call for a vote (Otmtlouea on rags Five)

/• ■ . . -- . .rtwSC. ' DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT \ ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Gov. Craig Backs Toll Road Program Governor Announces Vigorous Program INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — Members of the 1955 general assembly today pondered Over a vigorous legislative program announced Sunday night by Governor George N. Craig. The governor reiterated his statement that he would veto any bill increasing the state gasoline tax and reaffirmed the administration’s toll road expansion program. He proposed a four-point plan: “1. The construction, already underway, of an east-west toll road across northern Indiana which lines the Ohio turnpike with Chicago and provides a vital link in the through-expressway system from Chicago to New York. “2. The construction of a giant "Port of Indiana" on the shore of Lake Michigan; the competionl of which woud coincide with the opening of the St, Lawrence Seaway. The port of Indiana would be only a few miles from the eastwest toll road, so that goods unloaded at the docks can be speedily routed east and west. "3. The construction, now proposed, of a north-south toll road

r which would run diagonally across 1 the state from Chicago, swinging 9 around Indianapolis and ending at 9 the Ohio River. This road would 9 provide a link between the St, Lawrence Seaway and the nearest major waterway — the Ohio River — 1 that leads to the Mississippi River, : and then to the Gulf of Mexico. 1 ’Me The proposed construction [ of an east-west toll road across southern Indiana which would link ‘ St. Louis and Cincinnati, and pro- ‘ vide a key transportation artery " between the dynamic southwest ■ and midwest's industrial and agri- ■ cultural heartland." The governor claimed that the southern toll road would help alleviate the economic crisis arising in southern Indiana because of the slump in the coaL industry, the ' shrinkage in top soil and" the un(Continueo on Page Five) James S. Kiracofe * Dies This Morning Funeral Services To Be Wednesday James Stewart Kiracofe, 81-year old retired farmer, died at 5:30 O’clock this morning at his home in Wren, O. He had been seriously ill six months with complications. He was born near Elida, O„ Nov. 23, 1873. a son of Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Kiracofe, and had lived in or near Wren practically his entire life. His wife, Mary Emma, died In June of this year. Mr. Kiracofe was a member -of the Wren E. U. U. church and the Maccabee lodge. sfeytVing are three sons, Thomas and Dellas Kiracofe. both of Wren, and Harland Kiracofe of near Convoy, O.i one daughter. Miss Esty Kiracofe of Wren; 10 grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. One son, four brothers and three sisters are deceased. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Wren E. U. B. church, the Rev? Donald Martin officiating. Burial will be in? Woodlawn cemetery at Ohio City, O. Friends may"' call at the Cowan ft Son funeral'home in Van Wert, O„ after 3 p.m. Tuesday until noon Wednesday, and after 1 P.m. Wecffiesday at the church until time of the services.

Chou Warns Os Confession By 11 U. S. Fliers r ■ 4 ■ . . U. N. Secretary Is > Warned Os Probable *> , Red China Demands UNITED NATIONS, N.Y., (INS) 1 —Dag Hammarskjold Rioted today Red China Premier Chou En-lai’s warning that he would be met in Peiping with the “confessions” of 11 U. S', fliers jailed as spies. The forewarning of things the UN secretary general might expect on his "mission to Peiping” was contained in a statement made by Chou and broadcast over the weekend by radio Peiping. U. N. diplomatic experts, studying the broadcast which charged the U. S. had raised the issue of the airmen.Ju Ahe H?N to "smokescreen” its "aggression" against Red China, concluded the price demanded for their release would include: 1. UTT disavowal of the u. S, policy of protecting Nationalist Formosa against invasion from the Chinese mainland in conjunction with UN condemnation of the U.S. seventh- fleet’s Formosa Straits patrol. 2. Condemnation of American support of raids against Red China's shipping and mainland bases by Nationalist aircraft and naval vessels. 3. Cancelation by the UN of the existing embargo on shipment of strategic goods to Communist China. Hammarskjold, who Is scheduled to leave on his 12.000-mile trip to Peiping on Wednesday or Thursday, saw no reason to alter his position by anything which occurred over the weekend. He has assumed from the start that Chou would seize on his presence in Peiping to raise every possible political issue in voicing Red China's grievances against the 'free world. Hammarskjold is completely confident he can impress on Chou the fact that on his "mission to Peiping" he is armed with the most powerful “moral" authority ever bestowed on any traveling head of state. Hammarskjold believes neither Chou nor any other key leader can ignore the overriding importance of this moral authority, or the fact (Continued on rage Five) Local Man's Brother , Dies In Tampa, Fla. Rollie Mott, 58, former superintendent of the light and waterworks plant at Paulding, 0., died Sunday at a hospital tn Tampa, Fla. Surviving are his widow, ’Donna; a son, Glenn of baulding; two stepsons, Rolland Brown of Jackson Mich., and Bernard Brown oi Paulding; four brothers. Including Vessie Mott of Decatur and three sisters. • The body’ will be returned to the Crowell funeral home at Paulding. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. ... Good Fellows Fund Previously reported ---,..1875.14 Mr. A Mrs. Gary Schultz.. 2.00 Ben Trout .. 5.00 A Friend -7--....... 10.00 A Friend n 5.00 A FriendI’’ 1 ’’ 5,00 Change in Boxes .......... 7.55 Mrs. Alexander B. Lincoln *5.00 Mr. & Mrs. Leo W. Kirsch. 10.00 Mr. & Mrs. Lee Bell 6.00 Mr. & Mrs. R. A. Stuckey.. 5.00 1934.69

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, December 27, 1954. — —■■■ .Aw i .... —■»

370 Traffic Deaths In Nation Worst Record - ’ For Christmas Holiday

$2.5 Million ’ * Fire Raging In California Warehouse District On Fullerton Is Swept By Flames * < FULLERTON, Calif. (INS) —A' $2,500,000 fire, whipped by high winds, swept through the orangejuice warehouse distMct of Fullerton today, and destroyed at least three huge storage plants and a half dozen homes in the area. Only a block away from the searing blaze was the main shopping district of Fullerton and firpfighters feared that the damage would run higher before the flames were brought under control. The fire started in the pre-dawn hours in abandoned offices of the JCadington Fruit Packing Co. It leaped across the Santa Fe Railroad tracks and roared through warehouses of the American Fruit Co., and Anaheim Cold Storage Co.—a two block area. Fire companies from four nearby communities joined in fighting the blaze. ’Torn Henry, president of the Anaheim Cold Storage ~Co„ said the loss was “conservatively” (Continueu on **a*e Five) ; , Funeral Held Today For Minnie K. Cline Local Man's Sister Is Taken By Death Funeral services were held at Fort Wayne this afternoon for Mrs. Minnie Klepper Cline, 76. prominent Fort Wayne lady, who died Friday afternoon in St. Joseph’s hospital, w-here she had been a patient 10 days. A native of Germany, she came to Fort Wayne when a small child. Her husband, Hallie L. Cline, prominent Fort Wayne grocer, died in March, 1943. ' Mrs. Cline was active in organizations of the First Presbyterian church and its women’s federation, and was a member of the Fort Wayne Woman’s club. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Jack R. Frank of Fort Wayne and Mrs. E. E. Scudder of Tulsa, Okla.; two sisters, Mrs. O. W. Scheumann of Fort ’ Wayne and Mrs James Dorsey of Los Angeles Calif.; two brothers, William A. Klepper of Decatur and Ernest Klepper of Fort Wayne, and three grandchildren. f • » a

Electric Power Is Off Short Time In City Early Sunday A series of mishaps caused the City power to be off Sunday morning for a short time, but it was more than an hour before all circuits were back in order, L. C. • Pettibone, superintendent of the light nad power plant, said today. A tube leaking in the big boiler at the old steam plant caused the engineer to turn on the full power at the diesel plant. However, a fuse wai out on the controls to the generator field, and all the air pressure needed to 1 start the engine was lost before It was real-: ized what had happened. Actually the current was off only a total yf nine minutes, but some of the lines were off longer than others. There are two engines, both a motor and a gasoline engine, for bbiiding up the 400 pounds pressure needed to start the generator. a INDIANA WEATHER qioudy, rain and occasional . showers aouth tonight and Tueaday.^/Colder • northwest and extreme north. Low tonight from 32-38 extreme north to 44-48 extreme south. ' High Tuesday from 3»-35 extreme north to mid 60s extreme south.

' Nine Persons Die On State Highways Indiana Toll Lower Than Previous Year INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — Reports of Christmas holiday fatalities continued to roll in today boosting Indiana's toll toward the , top 10 nationally. The toll neared the 11 who were killed during the 1953 Yuletide but ' continued well below the 22 figure set in 1952. Among the latest to be reported weVe Lynn Fisher, 19. of Fort Wayne killed in a two-car collision at a Fort Wayne intersection, and Frank McCarthy, 70, of Danville, 111., killed in a car-train east of Danville. Raymond F. Deen, 28, of Hammond met death when his automobile. skidded on wet Road 56 one mile west of Petersburg and collided with another ear, driven by Dallas P. Collins, of near Hazelton, who was Injured seriously. In another skid accident. Mrs. Carol Poole, 24, of Chicago met death, on Road 20 east of Michigan City. She was a passenger in a car driven by Willard Gunther, 29, of Chicago, which crashed into an automobile driven by Bernard

E. Johnson, 49, also of Chicago. Mrs. Poole's 20-month-old daughter, Linda, was injured critically and Johnson was hurt lerlously. Gunther suffered slight injuries. Mrs. Frankie Barr, 74. of Crown Point, was killed on a hill on Road 8 near Crown Point when a car in which she was riding was struck in the rear by a truck driven by Afdell Kiefer, 33, of Crown Point. A skid on icy Road 35 two miles south of Royal Center cost the life of Mrs. Ellen C. Wilson, 48, of Logansport. She and her husband, Haymond C. Wilson, 50, the driver, were driving to Gary to spend Christmas with relatives. . . William Zimmerman, 75, Os Griffith, was killed when ah automobile struck him as he stepped from his own car in front of his son’s home in Highland, Lake county.. Peggy Jean Pemberton, 2. of Mitchell, died when she fell from a car driven. by her father, Fred Pemberton, on Road '37 four miles south 'of Bedford. The child opened the left rear door of the sedan and dropped to the pavement. When a car skidded into a South Shore train in South Bend. Donald Swartz, 48,-of South Bend, was Injured fatally and two companions, Thomas Haugel, 18, and Raymond Hays, 19, also of South Bend, were hurt seriously. The youths were driving to midnight mass at Holy Cross Catholic church. Also, Mrs. VTdan H. Wheeler. 42. of Indianapolis? was killed in a two-Car crash in Illinois.

Adams County Youth Hurt Christmas Eve Wm. Ostermeyer Is Hurt Friday Night William F. Ostermeyer, 20, of route two spent Christmas day in the Adams county memorial hospital as the result of a Christmas Eve accident. Ostermeyer’s car swerved out of control at 6:30 p.m. Friday on the Ossian road a fourth of a mile east of the Herman Hfttntjp residence. The car probably hit a soft spot on the berm to cause the loss of control. The vehicle was thrown across a ditch into a tree, causing about 11,500 damage to the car. Ostermeyer was taken to the hospital suffering with cuts on his face and hand, bruises on his chikt, a broken left leg and ishock. His condition was reported satisfactory today. *" • Deputy sheriff Merle Affolder trooper Gene Rash investigated the accident which was the only one in the county outside of Decatur during the holiday, weekend.

Eisenhower Is Keeping Close Watch On Vote Ready To Fly Back To Washington If French Reject Plan ! AUGUSTA, Ga.. (INS) — President Eisenhower kept his personal 1 plane In readiness at the Augusta airport today, prepared to fly back to Washington if the French national assembly votes final rejection of German rearmament. The chief executive conferred by telephone again this morning with secretary of state John Foster Dulles, who was keeping a close watch from Washington on today’s crucial voting In Paris. Mr. Eisenhower may cut short his Georgia holiday and fly back to the capital,for emergency conferences with his cabinet if the French fail to reverse their tentative rejection of plans to bring German troops into the European defense alliance. There is also a possibility that

Mr. Eisenhower might aeek a meeting with British prime minister Sir Winston Churchill if the French do not approve rearmament for West. Germany. The White Hous* announced, meanwhile, that Mr. Eisenhower will send bls budget message to congress Jan. 17 and his economic message Jan. 20. He will deliver his third major message to the lawmakers, his stat* of the union address, in person Jan. 6. Two Babies Born On Christmas Day Two Christmas babies, both girls, were born at the Adams county memorial hospital on Christmas day, hospital attaches reported today. The first one, weighing seven pounds, five ounces, was born at 6:45 a. m. to Mr,.~and Mrs. Roger Klenker of Monroeville. The second girl -was born at 2:56 p. m. Saturday to Mr. and Mrs. James E. Myers of Decatur, and weighed eight pounds, 10 ounces. Charles E. Dunifon Dies Early Sunday Funeral Services > Tuesday Afternoon

Charles E. Dunifon, 62, of 321 Stratton Place, died at 3:15 o’clock Sunday morning at the Adams county memorial hospital follow ing an ilhiess of three months. He was a resident of New Haven “Until three years ago. when the family moved to Decatur. Born Nov. 8, 1892, in Van Wert county, 0., he was a son of Mason , E. and Anne Rauch-Dunifon, and was married to Laura M. Grubb June 8, 1912. He was an employe of the Broadway plant of the Gen--1 eral Electric Co. for 26 years until he became 111. Mr. Dunifon was a member of the Church of God. Surviving are his wife; his mother, who resides in Van Wert; one daughter, Mrs. Velma Adams of ■ Lansing, Mich.; one son, William C. Dunifon of Fort Wayne! two grandchildren; two brothers. Samuel L. Dunifon of Fort Wayne and Thomas Dunifon of Hillsdale, Mich., and t*o sisters, Mrs. Mabel Strickler of Decatur and Mrs. Ethel Wallace of Bryan, O. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p. m. Tuesday at the Zwick funeral home, the Rev. W. H. KirkpatncK and the Rev. Dwight McCurdy officiating. Burial will be In Woodlawn cemetery at Ohio City, O. Friends may call at the funeral home nntll time of 1 the services.

Sen, Duff Predicts Eisenhower To Rim Pennsylvania Solon Says Ute Will Win WASHINGTON (INS) — Sen. James H. Duff (R Pa.), predicted today President Eisenhower will run for reelection in 1956, sweep to victory and put Pennsylvania back in the Republican column. Duff was one of the first Republicans to urge the nomination and election of Mr. Eisenhower in 1951 when the general was serving in Europe as NATO commander. Duff declined to discuss any moves being made to push the President's renomination but said: ”1 think he, is going to run and will win.” The senator added: “I feel the President's personal inclination will be not to fun, but conditions being what they are and with his extraordinary experience as a military man and as president, he’s the best mart fbf the Job. “He’s the one Republican who* trill be pretty sure of continuing the Republican party in power. Despite our terrible defeat, he could carry Pennsylvania in a national election." Duff's statement reflected growing conviction among GOP lead: era, including many who earlier felt otherwise, that the President will be available in 1966 for another term. ; , > The President is now a part-time Pennsylvanian himself, as the owner of a newly-remodeled farm home near Gettysburg. Friends said he has evidenced personal interest in the state’s political outlook since the Democrats won control of Its government in last month's elections. (Continued on Page Five) France May Be Cut Out From Alliance Appears Certain If Accord Is Rejected WASHINGTON (INS) —A decision to cut France out of the Western European alliance, at ,least temporarily, appeared certain today If the French national assembly rejects the West German rearmament nlfl n _____ " — (President Eisenhower stood by in Augusta, ,Ga„ ready to fly back to Washington to carry out the decision if the French parliamentary body refuses to join the U. S. and Britain in the western defense (plan agreed on in Paris two months ago. The U. S. was brought face to face with the main elements of (its “agonizing reappraisal” last ’

1 Friday when the French assembly k rejected the Paris pact to rearm s West Germany... Jhe vote forced ’• the U. S. and Great Britain to make a choice between European union without France or no Euroe pean union at all. It appeared certain that the U. S. and Great Britain already have decided that if the French fail to J reverse themselves in the showdown vote today, West European defense plans will be made on a B new: bagist that will eliminate France, at least temporarily, as ‘ an ally. ' It was known that secretary of f state John Foster Dulles felt strongly that no more time could . be wasted in starting West Ger- , man rearmament. The secretary f also was knowp to feel that the ( western powers no longer could , afford to let themselves be im- . mobilized by French indecision. I' ■ - Indiana Professor Lectures In Ceylon BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (INS) — Indiana University economics pro--1 fessor, Henry M. Oliver. Jr., will lecture on economic theory next school year at the University of Ceylon. On leave of absence from fU, Oliver will go to Ceylon next June to remain for 10 months under a Fulbright award announced today by the U. 8. state department 1 <

Five Cents

Two-Day Toll Is Highest In U. S. History Two-Day Christmas Holiday Death Toll Worst In History By International News Service At least 3.70 persons died in traffic accidents across the nation during the two-day Christmas weekend, the worst toll ever recorded for a similar holiday period. Late reports of mishaps on highways and streets, involving motorists and pedestrians, increased the fatality list today to the preChristmas forecast of the national safety council. The Christmas weekend count began at 6 p. m., Christmas Eve and ended at midnight Sunday. The former record for a two-day Christmas weekend was set in ' 1948 when 277 persons lost their lives. On a state-by-state basis, Texas led the country with 31 fatalities. Other big tolls included Ohio and Illinois, 20 each; Michigan 19; New York and Pennsylvania, is each. The nation’s violent death toll, including traffic mishaps, fire tragedies and miscellaneous accii dents, also set a new record for a two-day Christinas holiday. The 1954 figure wae 484. Fires claimed 57 lives and 56 other persons perished in miscellaneous accidents. The previous record of 298 was set in the 1948 Christmas weekend. National safety council president Ned H. Dearborn said: "The council got a Christmas present it did not want when the nation's drivers and pedestrians proved the council’s pre-hoHday estimate of 370 traffic deaths so tragically accurate. This is a bloody way indeed to celebrate a holiday dedicated to *peace on earth, good will toward men.’ "We can only hope tliat the shock of tijis toll will result in greater care, courtesy and common sense in traffic over the New Year’s The unseasonably mild weather was a contributing cause in some deaths. In Chicago, the warm weather apparently overheated furnaces, of two apartment buildings, causing the deaths of two men in fires. <A tragic fire in a home near parkin, Ark., took 11 lives. The (blase, wfhich occurred when a Kerosene stove flared up, killed 10 children and the mother of five. Heavy traffic was lured onto the nation's highways by clear skies and mild breezes, especially durring the early pajrt of the two-day

holiday. But many motorists, returning home from weekend trips, were beset by treacherous roads. (Continued on Pave Five) Box Os Narcotics Stolen At Hospital Box Stolen From Capital Hospital INDIANAPOLIS (INS) —Rogues gallery photographs were checked today in an effort to Identify the man seen stealing the Indianapolis Methodist hospital’s narcotic* box. Authorities investigating the theft of the box, which was bolted down in a second-floor medicine cabinet, described the theft as a major haul." Inspectors said the theft had ripped out two screws holding the box in the cabinet and escaped with the foot-cubed box. They said it contained about six grains of mor- ■’ phine, 16 grains of codeine, co-deine-morphine tablets, pantopan, demerol L ;and six grains of codeine _ mixture/ Student nurse Sue Ann Perkins said she saw a young man near the cabinet shortly before th* theft was discovered. The Ig-year-old girl* said she thought the man Fas a porter.