Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 79, Decatur, Adams County, 4 April 1955 — Page 1

Vol. UH. No. 79.

LANDSLIDE DERAILS TRAIN ' ■ " ■ g ' • ■■ -■' K*-» - ; ' wSJT THE ENGINE and 10 cars of a crack Chicago bound New York Central railroad train were derailed by a freak landslide caused by the warm weather aboutlS miles south of Albany. N., Y. Some of the 184 persons aboard'the train file out of two of the cars (above), as only the engineer who was in the engine that was thrown in the Schodack Creak, some 50 feet away, is reported in serious condition.

39 Persons Die In Belgium In Theater Fire Flash Fire Kills 39 Children And Women Palm Sunday SCLESSIN, Belgium (INS) — Weeping relatives and friends were held back early today from viewing the horribly mutilated bodies of 39 women and children killed in a flash theater fire. Police and federal gendarms at Sclessin had to battle with a crowd of more than 1,500 persons to keep them from entering the school where the bodies lay. Officials said the bodies were mutilated by a panicked crowd and afire that turned a children's matinee at the little Rio theater into a flamiug “Hell.” ± \ „ At least 20 of the dead were young children. Borne were older, up to 13 years of age, and some . were elderly women. Identification of the bodies was reported virtually impossible. Police said they were depending on families to supply details of missing children. '.Z.„ Fifty other children were injured or treated for shock after the Palm Sunday disaster which started in the explosion of an oil stove on the stage. The flames Tlashed through the theater where children had gathered and drawn close to the screen, to see a rainy-day matinee of education films. About 200 persons, mostly children, dashed for the only exits free of flames. Children were crushed. Others fell to the floor and suffocated. Most of the dead ’ were piled in a heap near the main exit. By the time fire-fighting equipment arrived, it was too late. The Sclessin school house was turned Into a morgue, and parents. friends and relatives began to gather, searching for their missing children. Thirteen-year-old Jeanne Rombout, who finally died in the (Continued on Pace Five) Top Officials Are Purged By Chinese Reds Reds' Government Announces Purge Os Some Top Officials HONG KONIG (INS) —The Chinese Communist government announced a purge of some top of-i fipials today. Peiping radio «said that the party central committee unanimously condemned Kao Kang, former vice chairman of the Peoplfs Government and chief of the northeast .China administrative area>lt also called for his expulsionfrom "the party. The broadcast, monitored in Hong Kong, said the committee also balled for expulsion from the party of Jao Shu Shih, veteran Communist and political commissar for the east China military districtMao Tse-Tung, the No. 1 Communist and chairman of the peoples governing council, was present at today’s session of the committee. The broadcast said Kao Kang and Jao Shu Shih were accused of having been "allied in activities detrimentals to the party.”

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Orders Speed Limit On Winchester Road Order Is Issued By Commissioners A 40 mile per hour speed limit will be placed on the Winchester road (River road) effective immediately, according to a decision made by the county commissioners at their meeting this morning in the county court house. The road is being used extensivelyas a detour for If. S. highway 27. The action was prompted by complaints that many drivers are speeding on the road which is narrow. winding and hilly. The electric speed timer of the sheriffs department will be used frequently on the road to enforce the speed limit. *•— Another warning was issued also that the road is not to be used by heavy truck traffic. All of the bridges along the road have load limits which make heavy traffic dangerous. Commissioners will have flgns posted along the road reminding motorists of the speed limit. . ■ In other business this morning the commissioners allowed the county bills and accepted the county home report. According to the report, which was turned in by George Fosnaugh, superintendent, the total income for March was 31,062.64. Nine women and 19 men are residing at the home. The commissioners also made plans to attend a road school at Purdue university April 11 to 14. County road superintendent Frank Singleton will also attend. The school is under the direction of the civil engineering department and the adult education division and is intended to aid road and street men in carrying on their official duties more efficiently and economically. Mrs. George Bellis Is Taken By Death x Funeral Services To Be Wednesday Mrs. Alma Gilbert Beilis, 57, of Dixon. 0.. died at 1:50 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the Adams county memorial hospital, following a year’s illness. She was born in Adams county, near the Clark’s Chapel church, but had resided at Dixon most of her life. Mrs. Bellis was a member of the Dixon Methodist church. Surviving are her husband, George Bellis; two sons, Buddy Bellis of Convoy, 0., and Alvin Bellis of Monroeville route I; a daughter, Mrs. Lois Jean Fisher of Fort Wayne; nine grandchildren; two brothers, Clinton Hart of Decatur and James Hart of Centreville, Mich., and two sisters#. Mrs. Nora Hart of Fort Wayne and Mrs. . Irene Carrier, of Dixon. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Marquart funeral home in Monroeville. and at 2:30 p.m. at the Dixon Methodist church, the Rev. Frank Sanderson officiating. Burial will be ' In the IGOF cemetery at Monroeville. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 o’clock this evening. INDIANA WEATHER Increasing cloudiness tonight, becoming mostly cloudy Tuesday. Windy. Occasional brief showers or thunderstorms Tuesday and extreme west late tonight. Not much change In temperature. Low tonight 35-42 north, 40-48 south. High Tuesday 60-66 north, 66-72 south.

Stassen Battle Over Probe 11 Near Showdown Stassen Meets With Senate Committee Chairman On Probe BULLETIN WASHINGTON (INS) — Foreign aid chief Harold E. Stassen and Sen. John L. McClellan (O-Ark.) who clashed last week over a senate probe of Stassen’s agency, reported today they have made “progress toward more harmonious relations.” Both told newsmen after a 90-minute “peace pow-woy/’ that they were nearing a general understanding in the dispute over the senator's Insistence on Information regarding the contraet. ■ — WASHINGTON (INS) — Harold E. Stassen's long-standing battle with the senate investigations subcommittee moved toward a showdown today. The foreign operations administration director was scheduled to meet with subcommittee chairman John L. McClellan (D-Ark.) for a peace pow-pow. Among issues to be settled were: 1. Stassen 'a refusal Friday to accept a subcommittee subpoena for him to produce FOA records on a Pakistan grain storage contract which is under investigation. 2. His attitude with respect to this inquiry, including an order—from which he later backed down —which would have barred FOA employes from talking to subcommittee investigators unless accompanied by him or one of his agency’s lawyers. 3. Reported difficulties the subcommittee's staff has encountered in obtaining FOA data on allied shipping to Red China and other Iron Curtain countries. The latter investigation was begun by the subcommittee in 1953 when Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy (R-Wis.) was chairman. It was then that Stassen and McCarthy same to swords’ points. Subcommittee chief counsel Robert F. Kennedy at that time was, an assistant counsel helping investigate the East-West trade, and in that respect was involved in the arguments. The Stassen-McCarthy tiff arose when the Senator said he had secured from Greek ship owners a pledge to keep their craft out of Red Chinese waters. Stassen charged McCarthy with usurping executive department authority. The feud lay dormant until last Thursday, when three FOA employes said they had orders to refuse to talk to Kennedy about the Pakistan contract, unless an FOA attorney was with them. Former Decatur Man Dies From Beating IFrMnds here learned of the death this morning of Paul Phillips, 50, Fort Wayne, formerly of Decatur, as the result of a beating with an ax last Saturday. Phillips was . allegedly fatally injured by Jack Spain, 78, over an argument concerning the JPhillips property in Fort Wayne. He operated a milk route in Decatur in the middle 1930's with his father, E. C. Phillips. The milk route was known as Decatur Sanitary Milk Co. Phillips moved to Fort Wayne several years ago.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, A|>ril 4, 1955.

Nine Persons Dead As Mexican Train Jumps Tracks; Train Loaded

Congress Will Recess Today To April 13 Legislators Hope Recess Will Ease Policy Conflicts WASHINGTON (INS) — Legislators anxious to preserve bipartisan cooperation hoped today that the 10-day congressional Easter recess will put a damper on conflicting statements over Far Eastern policy. Both houses of congress recess today and will return April 13. During this period, neither the house nor senate chamber will be available as a forum for the explosive type of debate such as that which broke out on the senate floor last week. However, some of those active in the debate will be speaking outside the halls of congress. Senate GOP leader William F. Knowland addresses the Dutch Treat club in New York Tuesday noon. He is expected to. spea out strongly again on the Far Eastern situation. Vice president Richard M. Nixon declared Sunday night in Cleveland that politicians are feeding the "Communist propaganda mill’’ when they claim there is a “war party" in the U S. Nixon said the administration cannot avoid war by announcing that it will allow* the Chinese offshore islands to fall to Red aggressors. He said: "The least chance for war and the best chance for peace will be created through following a policy of strength and firmness, with the door always open to negotiation but never to appeasement.” J Democratic leaders, who have stressed their role as the "party of responsibility,” made it emphatically clear that they consider any decision on the defense of the Nationalist Chinese islands of Quemoy and Matsu entirely up to President Eisenhower. They insisted they do not intend to pressure him for an announcement on what he would do in case the islands are attacked by the Chinese Reds. This viewpoint was expressed by senate * foreign relations committee chairman Walter F. George (D-Ga.) in wake of a series of bitter speeches by other Democrats who challenged the President's authority to provide U. S. forces for defense of the offshore islands. ——— ”7 ’ Sen. Wayne Morse (D-Ore.) introduced a resolution to curb the chief executive's power to defend Quemoy and Matsu. George, along with Knowiand, forecast that the Morse proposal would die in committee. Another senator, George Smathers (D-Fla.) called for “calm, reasoned, restrained statements” on 1 the Formosa situation because the nation is teetering "on the brink of war.” Smathers declared: “As has been said many times, in this present emergency situation off the China coast, where we teeter on the brink of war, we need calm, reasoned, restrained statements and careful and prayerful explora(Contlnued on Page Five)

Lenten Meditation (By Rev. Traverse Chandler, First Christian Church) THE SYMBOL Galatians 6:14 The cross is a symbol of the divinity of Jesus Christ. A famous person once said, “Socrates died like a philosopher but Jesus Christ died like a God." The influences that have issued from the cross grow larger as the ages come and go, and they make this statement all the more impressive. As we watch the cross, the Master nailed to it, the panorama bursts upon us. We see Jesus moving from infinite compassion through “the dark night of the soul," in physical agony, making the royal gift of Paradise and the beautiful provision of a home for his mother, till he passes into the mystery and wonder of the spiritual by the sublime act of yielding up his soul to God. Never man lived like this man, never man spoke like this man, never man died like this man. Truly he was die Son of God.- — -

Japan Government Faces Major Crisis Early Meeting Is Rejected By Dulles TOKYO (INS) — The stunned Japanese government today faced a major crisis and a damaging loss of face caused by U. S. secretary of state Dulles' rejection of an early meeting with foreign minister Mamoru Shigemitsu. Government and political leaders huddled in emergency sessions to discuss what loomed as a serious threat to U.S.-Japan relations and newspapers pointed out that the rejection was a blow to Japanese national pride. There were predictions by high-ly-placed political sources that the crisis might upset Hatoyama's newly - formed Democratic party cabinet, or at least touch off a non-confidence motion against Shigemitsu. American officials took a less serious view, although regarding the incident as “embarrassing.” Dulles turned, down Shigemitsu’s suggestion for a meeting this month by saying his schedule “does not permit adequate time fully to prepare for. the discussion” asked by the Japanese foreign minister. The secretary of state suggested that Sh igemttsu might visit the United States at a later date. Japanese newspapers* bannered the story, and some openly predicted the action might topple the Hatoyama government now facing its greatest test of strength in the budget debate in the diet (parliament) . The urgency and lack of advance nolce in the request for a meeting was prompted largely by a desire to gain swift U.S. approv, al of cuts in Japan's share of joint defense costs befiore the budget goes to the diet floor for debate. American approval is needed before defense costs can be reduced along lines proposed by the right-of-center Democrats. Dulles’ reported willingness to' meet with a Japanese representative at a later date —probably in June—failed to ease the loss of face suffered by Shigemitsu and considered all-important in the Orient. There was criticism that Shigemitsu had committeed a serious (Continued on Pare Five) Chicago's City Election Tuesday CHICAGO (INS) — Youthful Robert E. Merriam and political veteran Richard J. Daley drove into the stretch today of their race for mayor of Chicago. Both made telecasts declaring their stands and appealed to Chicagoans to vote in the election Tuesday. Heavy Smoke Damage Is Caused By Fire Considerable smoke damage was caused this morning at the home of David Baker at 317 South Third street when fire broke out in the basement at about 9:30 a. m. The fire started in the electrical wiring system- Damage from fire and water was confined to the basement of the home, which is owned by Mrs. Kenneth Butler.

Britain Waits For Churchill Announcement Expect Resignation Os Prime Minister Churchill Tuesday LONDON (INS) — All Britain waited tensely today for a final major act in the great Churchill political drama — his expected resignation Tuesday. The 80-year-old prime minister who loves his Friday to Monday weekend in the country, changed his plans Sunday night, returning from his Chartwell estate to London for a quiet dinner. With typical Churchillian mischievousness, he let it be known that heir apparent Sir Anthony Eden now foreign secretary, and Lady Eden will attend Churchill’s dinner for Queen Elizabeth at 10 Downing St. tonight. The dinner will be purely social — although most observers consider it Sir Winston’s farewell dinner to the sovereign family he has served so well. Churchill is expected to stick to rigid protocol by requesting an audience with the Queen at Buckingham Palace. And his usual Tuesday audience in all probability will serve well to give him a convenient opportunity to hand in his official resignation. Eden’s weekend activities also gave added evidence to the now almost undoubted report Churchill will resign this week. He spent the weekend dealing with papers in London. And junior ministers in the Eden clique were suddenly attacked by shyness, and pleaded that they could not circulate among their friends or acquaintances until after Easter. — At his audience with the Queen, the cigar-famous statesman who led England through her “darkest hour" probably will suggest the Queen call on foreign secretary Anthony Eden, to replace him and take steps for a new general election. Eden is a mere 67 compared to the prime minister’s 80. (Continued on Page Six) Bernard Lengerich Dies Early Sunday Funeral Services Tuesday Morning Bernard T. Lengerich, 48, of Decatur route 4, and veteran employe of the General Electric plant in this city, died unexpectedly at 1:45 o’clock Sunday morning at the Adams county memorial hospital. He was removed to the hospital Saturday afternoon following a heart attack. He was born in Adams county Sept. 30, 1906, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lengerich, and was a lifelong resident of the county. He was married to Miss Helen Faurote, June 6, 1939. Mr. Lengerich was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic church, the Holy Name society, Knights of Columbus and the Moose lodge, and had been employed at the General Electric plant for 28 years. Surviving are his wife;, four children, Jane, Joan, Paul and Donald, all at home; four brothers, Elmo. Wilbur, Walter and Thomas Lengerich, all of near Decatur, and three sisters, Mrs. Herbert LaFontaine of Monroe, Mrs. Louis Staub and Mrs. Louis Wolpert of Decatur. One daughter is deceased. Funeral services will be conducted at 9 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic church, the Very Rev. Msgr. J. J. Seimetz officiating. Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery. The body was removed to the Giilig & Doan funeral home, where- friends may call until time of the services. The Moose lodge will hold memorial services at 8 o’clock tonight at the funeral home.

U. S. Supreme Court Hearing Arguments Hearing Appeals Os UE Officials WASHINGTON (INS)—The supreme court Is slated to hear arguments today on whether the first amendment to the constitution can be invoked by a congressional witness as a freedom-of-silence protection. The first amendment guarantees freedom of speech while the more frequently invoked fifth protects a witness from testifying against himself. The court is hearing appeals of United Electrical Workers union officials Julius Emspak and Thomas Quinn from convictions for refusing to answer questions before the house un-American activities committee. Arguments were delayed until the court had a full nine-man bench—with the addition of re-cently-confirmed Justice John Marshall Harlan. Lawyers said the desire for a full bench to hear the cases was apparently prompted by the fact that the first amendment is involved to a more significant degree than in previous appeals. The application of the first amendment to such a case has never been passed on by the supreme court, lawyers said. Also due for argument this week Ik the appeal of Philip Bart, Communist Daily Worker executive who, too, was convicted of contempt of the hous'e committee. Bart Is relying principally, however. on a contention that the committee failed to order him specifically to answer questions. The two officials of the independent UEW invoked “the first amendment, supplemented by the fifth.” Lower courts sustained prosecution contentions that nei(Contlnuao on r-age Five) Juries Drawn For April Court Term New Court Term To . Open Next Monday Grand and petit juries for the April term of the Adams circuit court were drawn today in the office of the county clerk. The April term begins a week from today. . , y_'_ T; The grand jury includes Paul Butcher, Jefferson; Paul N. Garner, Union; Francis Gri mm , Washington; Henry Ehrsam, Monroe: Alpha Barkley, St. Mary's; Lloyd Bowman, Decatur-Washing-ton; Louis M. Mattax, MonroeWashington; Paul M. Bahner, Washington; Arthur V. Fox, Monroe; Alphia Bertsch, Berne; William Liby, Hartford, and Orley B. Walters, Decatur-Root. On the petit jury are Henry I. Rumple. Jefferson: Orville Ringger. French; Daisy E. Kauffman, Hartford; Bertha Stauffer, French: Lillian Inch, Berne; William A. Miller, Washington; Ralph M, Miller. Hartford; Vernon Feller, Monroe; Robert W. Miller, Root: Francis Luginbill, Jefferson, and Jacob L- Inniger, Berne. Other petit jurors are John F. Mayer. Decatur-Root; Louis Reinking Jr., Preble; Carl W. Mentor, Preble; Roy L. Price, Washington; Daniel C. Lantz, Kirkland; Kenneth Ohler. Root; Floyd Krick, Kirkland; Fred Weidler, French; Elmer C. Beer, Monroe: Harold Rich, Monroe; Robert J. Gage. Decatur-Root; Harold F. Mclntosh. Monroe, and Howard Lehman, Berne. BULLETIN UNITED NATIONS, N. Y. (INS) — Soviet UN delegate A. A. Sobolev notified the Japanese UN observer by telephone today that the Russian reply to Japan’s request for peace treaty talks has been handed to Tokyo. Japan’s observer, Renzo Sawada, said he was not told the content of the Russian note.

Resort - Bound s Mexican Train Jumps Tracks At Least 9 Dead, 70 Known Injured In Sunday's Crash GUADALAJARA, Mexico (INS) A resort - bound Mexican train jumped the tracks and plunged two passenger cars to destruction - killing at least nine persons—near Guadalajara Sunday night. Eight of 70 known injured persons were reported in serious condition. The train’s locomotive and three freight ears also derailed near the town of Colima. Officials said the toll of injured was incomplete. The fast express was packed with Holy Week holidayers en route from Gifadalajara to the coast resort town of Maza--nilto. A special assistance train sped from Colima with Red Cross and other medical personnel. Federal troops also were on their way with medical equipment. Officials gave no cause for derailment. The first medical groups to reach the" scene were unable to remove all the injured from the crumpled wreckage. - •••■ Trains running; from Guadalajara to the coast beaches havo been packed with vacationers leaving for the Holy Week. Passengers have been standing tn vestibules and in the aisles. Threat Os Violence Closes Exchanges Phone Exchanges In Tennessee Closed MARYVILLE, Tenn. (INS) — The small Tennessee communities of Maryville and Alcova were without telephone service today as a result of threatened violence bystriking CIO Communications. Workers. The Southern Bell Telephone Co. ordered its exchange closed at the request of Maryville Mayor Lea iCallaway, who said he fetared bloodshed might result if |he exchange continued operating?' Thomas W r . Stokes, district manager tor the telephone company, said pickets threatened to “come in and get you” if the building was not evacuated. The (action virtually isolated Blount county’s 25,000 residents from telephone communication. Nine emergency lines to nearby Knoxville, plugged in by officitls before leaving the building, were the only outside links. 7 More than 100 pickets massed?., outside of the building in defiance of a circuit court injunction limiting the union to three pickets. The injunction was issued after police broke up two earlier skirmishes on the picket lines. It was the first exchange to be closed in the three-week strike by the communications workers in nine southern states- The walkout had been marked by many -acts of violence and vandalism. Trapped On Trestle, Muncie Boy Killed MUNCIE. Ind. (INS) — Funeral services were arranged today for Robert Casterlow, 12, of Muncie, who was killed by A New York Central passenger train when trapped on a 100 - yard - long trestle near Muncie while fishing. The train’s locomotive tossed the body of the victim 140 feet. He was a nephew of John Casterlow, star center on the Muncie Central high school basketball team. Robert Madison, 12, also of Mun,cie. a fishing companion, jumped to a concrete abutment from the trestle and escaped.

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