Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 72, Decatur, Adams County, 26 March 1955 — Page 1

Vol. LIII. No. 72.

1,600-YEAR-OLD BIBLE IN LIBRARY OF CONGRESS — fe| WL I '~'W L i ' \nr * aw* i ’ 1 ’ < .1.9 p*!- *<y ( '>“ ONE OF CHRISTENDOM’S most priceless documents, the oldest known New Testament, the Codex is held at the National Savings and Trust company in Washington by its owner, Norman Yonan Looking on are Dr. William B. Adams (left), president of the Aramaic Bible foundation, and Bruce Baird foundation treasurer. The Bible was insured for $1,500,000 for a one and one-half hour journey from the bank vault to the Library of Congress. The Bible is believed to be more than 1,600 years old. It contains 227 leaves of vellum. Aramaic was the language spoken by Jesus.

Red Attack On Matsu Foreseen In Mid-April Pentagon Experts - Indicate Attack Likely Next Month WASHINGTON (INS) — Pentagon military experts indicated today that Communist China may attack the offshore Matsu islands sometime after mid-April. An intelligence report from the Far East, now being distributed among government officials for Study, was said to mention April 15 as the earliest date for a Red 'assault. A Taipeh dispatch quoted Chinese Nationalist military sources as saying Red China is likely to strike within four to six weeks. And radio Peiping announced Friday that six more divisions of Chinese Communist troops will be pulled out of North Korea during March and April. The first withdrawals were disclosed by Peiping late-last year. At the United Nations, diplomats speculated the Communists might time their move against Matsu to use it as a propaganda weapon in the Afro-Asian Conference meeting at Bandung, Indonesia, starting April 18. It was pointed out that the Vietminh Communists made their overwhelming onslaught against the French fortress of Dienbienphu when the Geneva conference had Just begun. The Nationalist prediction was based on information that the Red Chinese have been reinforcing the 200,000 - man garrison that now mans China's northern Fukien coast from Yahpu to Changio opposite the Matsus. The Pentagon's reappraisal of the Far Eastern situation is e\ pected to be an important subject on the agenda when President Eisenhower confers with congressional leaders next week. Defense department officials said, however, there still has been no definite decision on the vital question of whether U. S. forces will help the Chinese Nationalists defend the Matsus. Defense secretary Charles E. ! -Wilson explained recently that the U. S. will decide when the Matsus are attacked whether this constitutes a threat to Formosa and the Pescadores. The U. S. is committed to defend these islands. However, Pentagon experts said all U. S. planning now is based on the assumption that the oftenheralded effort to •'liberate" the Matsus Will come, probably in May and possibly They said that an assauV on Quemoy island, about 200 miles south of the Matsus. probably could not be organized in less than three months. Red strategy, they added, ap(uoMUn»« on Pare Six) INDIANA WEATHER Cloudy with enow flurries and continued cold and windy tonight. Heavy amounts of snow squalls near Lake Michigan. Sunday cloudy with snow flurries in the north and partly cloudy in the south. Continued cold. Low tonight 10-11 In the north and 15-20 in the south.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Snow Turns Roads Into Death Traps Report Seven Killed On Indiana Highways INDIANAPOLIS (INS) —The sudden snowstorm that interrupted spring in Indiana also turned the state’s highways into frozen death traps. Four traffic accidents which claimed seven lives were reported Friday night. Mrs.. Helen Knight Saylor, 61, of Huntington, and four-month-old Kathy, Lynn Herrick, of Detroit, were killed in a two-car collision caused by a snowstorm on Ind. 87 two miles south of Elwood. Another infant, 22-month-old Kathy Hossler, of Claypool, was killed when a car driven by her mother plunged over an embankment off Ind. 13, four miles south of Pierceton. Gordon Pilcher. 24, of Cleve- , land,, €h L was .killed when a car driven by his mother, Mrs. Jean Pilcher. 57, also of Cleveland, skidded on ice-covered U. S. 6 and spun into the path of a gasoline tank truck five miles northeast of Syracuse. Ind. Three soldier buddies were killed on ice-covered U. S. 30 in a similar accident as they rode home for furlough. Killed in the accident were Donald S. Richhart.* 18, of Fort Wayne; Clayton B. Lenz, 25, of Milwaukee, and Kenneth E. Garry, 21, also of Milwaukee. They were riding in a convertible which skidded into the path of a truck. The snow which was blamed as a major contributing factor in each accident began falling late Friday afternoon. Drifts three (Continued on Page Six) Mrs. Virgil Doyle Dies Last Evening Former Local Lady Is Taken By Death Mrs. Vera Alene Doyle, 44, wife of Virgil Doyle, former resident of Decatur, died at 7:10 o’clock Friday evening at the Blackford county hospital in Hartford City. She had been in failing health for five years. The family lived In Decatur for 10 years while her husband was manager of the Morris (now Murphy). store. She was born in Hartford City March 10. 1911, a daughter of Russell and Louva Clark, and was married to Virgil Doyle Oct. 27. 1935. They have been residing with Mrs. Doyle’s parents in Hartford City. Mrs. Doyle was a member of the First Methodist church in Decatur. Surviving are her husband; her parents, and one daughter, Nancy Jane, a freshmen in the Hartford City high school. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p. m. Tuesday at the First Christian church in Hartford City, the Rev. Samuel Emerick of Bluffton, former pastor of the First Methodist church in this city, officiating, assisted by the Rev. C. H. Hanson. Burial will be in the Elizabethtown cemetery, southwest of Hartford City. The body was removed to the Kepijnger funeral home in Hartford City, where friends may call after 2 p. m. Sunday.

U.S. Target Os Criticism At Asian Parley Likely Main Target Os Criticism At Indonesia Parley UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (INS) —The U. S. reportedly will be the main target of criticism at the Afro-Asian Conference in Indonesia next month. That Is the judgment of UN diplomats from western nations, who probably base their view on Inside information from their governments. ; ' These diplomats are anticipating a drive, headed by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Red China’s Premier Chou (EnLaL for the adoption of two basic resolutions. They are: 1. An appeal (tantamount to a demand) that the United States abandon the explosion and testing of hydrogen weapons as basically dangerous to civilization. ’2. A demand that for the sake of peace the Nationalists withdraw from the offshore islands of China and that the United States publicly disavow further armed support of Chiang Kai-Shek in that territorial area of China. Forecast sat UN are that the conference a Bandung, Indonesia, will adopt such resolutions, with the probable dissent of some countries such as Japan and the Philippines. Neither the United States or Britain have been asked to send observers. The Bandung resolutions would be used immediately by Nehru and Chou to put the United States under tremendous pressure and strain relations with, her allies. The diplomats believe that India will raise the hydrogen bomb resolution at the June anniversary session of the UN assembly in San Francisco. India already has paved the way for a' renewed drive against U.S. hydrogen bomb explosions by demanding a meeting of the Disarmament Commission. In making this demand at the UN last Thursday, India indicated that it anticipated such a meeting only after Bandung conference. A the same time, there was the general assumption at the UN that Red China will beat the propaganda drums and heighten tension in the Formosa strait coincidentally with the April 18 meeting of the A fro-Asian nations. It was recalled that the Chinese-aided Vietminh Communists staged their final successful onslaught against the French fortress of Dienbienphu in Indo-China at the moment the Geneva conference got underway. ' Eisenhowers Visit Gettysburg Home WASHINGTON INS) — Presb dent and Mrs. Eisenhower slipped away from the White House today for a brief visit to Gettysburg, Pa., where they have a farm home. There was no advance notice of the trip to Gettysburg. Newsmen first were told that the President and first lady had merely gone for a drive, but later the White House admitted they went to the Pennsylvania farm. ' NOON EDITION

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Satur day, March 26, 1955.

Spring Blizzard Hits Indiana; All Highways Reported As Dangerous

Gen. Gruenther Is Called By Senate Group To Brtef Foreign Policy Leaders On European Defenses WASHINGTON (INS)—Gen. Alfred M. Gruenther, NATO commander in Europe, was called today to brief senate foreign policy leaders on European defenses — an important item in any future Big Four conference. Senate foreign relations chairman Walter F. George (D-Ga.) said Gruenther’s up-to-date information should provide good “background” for next week’s bipartisan foreign policy discussions at the White House. At the same time, a high administration source reported that Eisenhower had no “surprise” projects to spring on the congressional leaders next week, but desired among other things to clarify their thinking on steps toward any Big Four meeting. George, who urged last Sunday that a Big Four conference lie called, said in an interview that he believed that subject "probably will come up" when Mr. Eisenhower confers with house and senate leaders next week. But he added ,he believed the President’s principal reason for arranging the tw’o luncheons — Wednesday for the house, Thursday for the senate —was to “cultivate’ friendly* relations, so well know what is up from day to day." The Democratic leader agreed: “I don’t think it Involves anything in the nature of a. crisis. Otherwise he would have called us together on an hour’s notice." Gruenther’s appearance at today’s closed-door session of the foreign relations committee coincided with expected French ratification of the London - Paris agreements on rearming West Germany. The NATO chief told the armed services committee earlier this week the accords would get French approval by today. To Observe Founders* Day Monday Night The, Knights of Pythias of Kekionga lodge will join with the Eureka Temple of Pythian Sisters of Decatur in a celebration of founders day, Monday evening at 6:15 o’clock with a potluck supper. Knights of Pythias and their families and Pythian Sisters and their families are invited. The celebration will be in honor of the birthday of the founder of Pythlanism, Joseph Addison Hill. A program will be provided.

Lenten Meditation (By Rev. Edgar P. Schmidt. Zion Lutheran Church) TEMPLES OF GOD JI Corinthians 6. 19-20. "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you. which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify Gcd in your body and in your mind, which are God’s.” , A few simple words record the creation of man: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: and man became a living soul," (Gen. 2. 7) —but what a marvel of divine power and wisdom! No laboratory sees such wonders as are performed in the human body: the chemical process that builds and rebuilds, the engineering of bone structure, the insulation aghlnst bacterial infection, z -i Our amazement grows as we think of the human mind, the dynamic library in which may be stored many of the facts and thoughts of the ages. Wonder givles way to reverence in the presence of an immortal soul, once created in the image of God, worth more than the whole material universe. Sin blighted all this. It made of this organism an instrument of destruction and death. But Jesus Christ, God's Son, redeemed man with His own holy precious blood and His innocent suffering and death. The Holy Spirit through faith makes the body a temple in which He would dwell. In view of this, the inspired Apostle pleads, “Glorify God with your body and mind." Use them for the higher purposes for which God, the Owner, has entrusted them to. you as stewards. He wants your redeemed lives as fellow laborers in building His Kingdom and serving the many other needs of the human family.

Driving Conditions Are Hazardous Here No Serious Traffic Accidents Reported Another burst of winter weather has brought on one of the worst snows of the year. Bad roads have contributed to a rash of accidents including several fatale, all over the state. Thus far Adams county has escaped serious accidents but extreme caution on the part of motorists will be necessary to prevent any in the next day or so. One minor accident occurred at about 8:30 p. m. just north of Berne Friday on U. S. highway 27. The accident was investigated by state police and details were not available at 11 a. m. today. Patricia Omler, 19, of Jackson street, lost control of her car at 8:45 p. m. Friday three miles east of Decatur on U. S. highway 224. The vehicle skidded on the icy road, turned on its side and slid into a fence on the Bill Dixort property. Neither Miss Omlor nor her passenger, Ann Keller of Decatur, were injured in the accident which caused $250 damages to the car and S2O to the fence. Sheriff Merle Affiolder investigated the accident. Several other cars skidded off the road during last night’s blinding snow and were marooned in ditches. Most of them, however, suffered little or no damage. Sheriff AfTolder warned county residents today that because the wind and snow are continuing, the north-south roads are beginning to drift badly and may soon become impassible. He joined with the state police in warning persons to stay off the highways, if at all possible. Roads in this county as well as all over the state are becoming extremely hazardous from ice and snow. According to Sherman Kunkel, official weather observer, there have been several inches of snow since last night. About a half inch of rain and snow yesterday started the precipitation but much of this thawed before the heavy snow began. Kunkel stated that early this morning there was at least two inches on the ground and the continuing snow has probably added (Continued on t*age Six) Ohio Man Is Killed In Accident Friday BRYAN, O. (INS) —Henry SickInger, 50, of West Unity, died today of head injuries suffered Friday night when his car sideswiped a truck on U. S. 127 in Pulaski. Police said Sickinger’s car apparently skidded on the slick pavement and hit the rear corner of the truck trailer, spinning the car around. His death is the ninth traffic fatality in Williams county this year.

Jet Bomber In ’ i’*’ •• > \ Crash, Three Crewmen Die Falls In Residence Area In El Paso; Four Houses Fired EL PASO, Tex. (INS)—A B-47 jet bomber crashed In flames Friday night in a residential area in El Paso, killing the three crew members and setting fire to four houses. No civilians were killed as the 200-ton medium bomber miraculously crashed into a 300-foot vacant lot surrounded by homes. The only reported injury was Mrs. Helen Ledgerwood, who suffered burns on her feet when her home was set afire. The dead airmen were identified as Maj. I. M. Fantell, Capt. J. R. Kingston and Ist Lt. J. R. Wilson. All were stationed with the 90th strategic reconnaisance wing, Forbes air force base, Topeka, Kas. The B-47 was on a routine flight from Lake Charles, La., to Forbes and was coming in for a landing at El Paso’s' international airport. Eye witnesses said an explosion followed the crash and mushrooming flames lit the sky. All available fire apparatus and ambulances were rushed to the j A public information officer from Biggs air force base at El Paso said quick action by the fire department averted a widespread blaze. Four homes were partially burned. The officer said it was "luck or skillful maneuvering” that brought the huge craft down into the vacant lot. He added if it were a coincidence, it was "re(Continued on Page Six) Hugo Franz Dies Os Heart Attack Today Funeral Services Tuesday Afternoon Hugo Franz, 71, retired carpenter, died suddenly of a heart attack at 8 o’clock this morning at his home, 733 North Third street. He had not been ill and his death was unexpected. He was born in Madison township, Allen county. Feb. 1, 1885, a son of Christian'and Mary BucherFranz, and was married to Lisetta Kukelhan Sept. 16, 1920. They have resided in Decatur for the past 32 years. Mr. Franz was a member of the Zion. Lutheran church. Surviving in addition to his wife are three sons, Raymond Franz, of Fort Wayne, and Christian and Arthur Franz, both of Decatur; three grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Emma Bohnke of Root township. Two brothers and one sister are deceased. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Zwfck funeral home and at 2 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran churoh, the Rev. Edgar P. Schmidt offlc- . iating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Sunday. The casket will not be opened at the church. Big Nuclear Blast Scheduled Sunday LAS VEGAS, Nev. (INS) — Atomic scientists and meteorologists take a close look at the weather today to determine whether the much postponed “granddaddy” atomic shot of the 1955 test series can be fired Sunday. If today’s weather briefing at the atomic energy commission’s firing range 70 miles north of Las Vegas indicates jthat weather conditions will be favorable, the big nuclear blast probably will be scheduled for before dawn Sunday.

—s—■ - .. .., ■ .... ■ Belgian Catholics Protest School Cut - Battle Police In Center Os Brussels BRUSSELS (INS) — Roman Catholics protesting a cut in government subsidies to parochial schools fought mounted Belgian police in the center of Brusels today and dozens were injured Mfore the Catholics called off the demonstration. Mounted gendarmes swinging flat - sided sabers charged one crowd of 20,00i0 yelling, stqnethrowing Belgian Catholics in the first major violence in days of incidents. Hundreds were arrested by police and troops with fixed bayonets. Catholic party leader Theo Lefevrd after the brief fighting told a crowd in the main square that the demonstration officially was over. He termed it a "complete sue cess” although the Catholics had threatened to have 300,000 demonstrators in a protest march despite official bansCrowds cheered Lefevre and then began dispersing. They hurled some firecrackers at police in a parting gesture. ■ Police hurried the dispersal by using smoke bombs. The Catholics sang Flemish hymns, taunted the mounted police,, , .then ped before davasy charges. The crowd blocked streets by lying down in Brussels and demon-, strated also in other cities where’ same tore up paving blocks to try to erect barricades against police. One report said the demonstrators shouted "death to Collard.” Leo Collard is the Socialist minister of education. HU name is on the draft bill that would cut the current 364 million subsidies to parochial schools down to about |54 million. The bill also would restrict the opening of other such church schools. Franz Van Cauwelaert, former Catholic president of the lower house, was in the vanguard of the group of 20,000 charged by gendarmes. It was not determined it he was injured. Clanging ambulances pushed through crowded boulevards in Brussels to remove the injured. Catholic organizers claimed “a sweeping success” in their protest demonstrations in various parts of the city despite the offical ban. Police used fire hoses on the crowdInteresting Eggs Are Added To Tree Tree Is Featured • At Public Library Mis Bertha Heller, librarian, an- . nouiMd today that she has added several new interesting eggs to the tree which is now being featured at the Decatur public library. One of the new ones is Trim Sigrid Sittig representing her book, ‘'Remember My Love.” This author is a sister of Lillian Budd, who also sent two eggs to Miss Heller. An autographed copy of "Remember My Love” was also sent. Among the new eggs is also one by Mrs. Herbert Storck of Fort Wayne, who has visited the local library with her collection of dolls depicting early American characters. Her egg shows a picture of a Navajo Indian on one side and a California mission on the other. Other new eggs are the Three Bears from Mrs. Veronica Linn, a * Cinderella series from MrsLois Black, an owl from Mrs. Elizabeth (Peterson and ‘‘flower baskets" from children at Adams Central school. Mies Heller also announced that she has now secured the federal and state permit to possess eggs of migratory birds so she will now , attempt to build a collection of natural eggs. Her collection already includes the eggs of a chuckor, wild goose, tame goose, the turkey, the ostrich, and others. She hopes to add to it (Continued on Page Blx)

Slate Police Warn Against Road Travel Drifting Snow Adds To Hazards As State Enveloped By Storm INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — A second spring blizzard sent thermometers to record lows today in Indiana and changed highways into death traps that have claimed at least seven lives. The U. S. weather bureau reported that an eight above thermometer reading this morning in Indianapolis was a new low for March 26, replacing a record 12 set in 1894. The weatherman warned that _ temperatures still were falling this morning and even lower readings may result. Oddly enough, Indianapolis was the coldest place in the state, this morning, with northern Indiana having higher temperatures than the southern portion. Weathermen said all of Indiana north of Lafayette was temporarily enjoying the tempering effect of Lake Michigan. ; Water temperatures at the time the storm struck were around 30 degrees and the warming effect resulted in temperature readings such as 21 at South Bend, and 18 at Goshen. Lafayette had an 11. and Fort Wayne, 13 while Terre Haute reported 9, and Evansville 11 —■ _______ These may not be the lows for the day at these points, however, since temperatures were still dropping at the time they were recorded. The turn-up toward highs of 20-30 today is expected to be followed by a dip back to 10-15 tonight in northern Indiana anA 1520 in the south. ’ Indiana state police warned that Hoosier highways “are sheets of ice from one end of the state to the other." Troopers urged that no one drive unless the trip were absolutely necessary, and the highway toll extracted overnight was frightening proof of their warning. Winds, which climbed to gusts of 37 miles an hour, and drifting' snow added to the hazards at icecoated road surfaces. ' The snowfall mounted to four Inches at Goshen, and three inches at South Bend, Lafayette, and Indianapolis, with an inch at Evansville. But the wind buffeted this into drifts that were much higher in spots. No highways were closed this morning but the danger signs were being wagged by safety officials from one end of the state to the other. House Expected To Reject Senate Hike 10 Percent Boost To Postal Workers WASHINGTON (INS) — Chairman Tom Murray of the house post office and civil service committee predicted today the house will reject the senate’s 10 percent pay boost for federal employes. The Tennessee Democrat added, however, that it was apparent the house will vote a pay raise above the 7.6 percent which administration officials have indicated President Eisenhower would accept. House action is possible next week. Anything above 7.6 percent, congress has been warned, will result in a presidential veto and Murray said the house would probably sustain Mr. Eisenhower. The senate Friday, voted 72 to ,21 for an overall Iff percent boost for 500,060 postal employes which would cost 220 million dollars annually, and a similar raise for one million civil serftce workers costing 550 million dollars. The senate rejected 52 to 41 an /(Oontiauea on Page Six)

Five Cents