Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 97, Decatur, Adams County, 25 April 1955 — Page 1

Vol. LIU. No. 97.

COUNCILMANIC CANDIDATES &< ' li^K#l jMk ? ■ lir ~ U Lawrence Kohne William E. Noonan The two Decatur men pictured above are candidates in the Democratic primary election for councilman, third district. Both are well known in Decatur and both have made an active campaign for the post. The winner at the May 3 primary election will be the Democratic candidate for third district councilman in the November election. All Democratic voters of the city vote for each councilmanic candidate regardless of district

Business Hits Ail-Time High Report Shows March Index In Indiana Reaches New High, 161.2 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (INS) — The Indiana Business Review of Indiana University reported today that March business in the state reached a new record high index of 161.2. Advances made earlier by steel and automobiles were being partially matched by gains all along the line. The only weak spot was in the agricultural sector. In an accompanying article, - signed by Prof. John P. Lewis, of the School of business, it was predicted that United States economic activity will continue upward during the April-June quarter to an all-time high, but that expansion is not likely to continue through the last half of the year. Lewis said his prediction was based bn a possible sharp curtailment of new automobiles manufacturing and the effect of that on other business, a reduction in the number of new homes built under tighter mortgage market conditions, a tightening of monetary and credit policies by the Federal Reserve board, and a sharp break in the stock market. He pointed out, however, that in 1946, stock market prices fell off sharply without noticeable effect upon production and income. For March, the Business Review reported that steel production advanced, to very high levels, coal production showed considerable* strength, end the Increase in employment was pronounced, mostly in durable goods manufacturing industries. I March building cbhtracts exceeded those of a year ago by a substantial margin andr were slightly higher than in February. Farm prices continued to faP slightly, particularly those for cattle, hogs and soybeans. The winter wheat crop was injured badly by the late cold spell. However, prices for chickens rose nearly 4.5 cents per pound to the highest level in nearly two years. Egg prices also mounted and were slightly higher than the levels of a year ago. Essex Undergoes Surgery At Hospital Harry ‘Peck’ 'Essex, Adams county Republican chairman, underwent surgery this morning-at the Fort Wayne Parkview Memorial hospital. Essex, who is public relations representative for the Indiana toll road commission, was taken to Fort Wayne Saturday. A report on his condition was not available this morning. More Rain Forecast For Monday, Tuesday CHICAGO (INS)-*- showers will end over eastern Illinois and Wisconsin this morning, in most of Indiana this afternoon or evening -and over Michigan tonight It will be partly cloudy through out the Midwest Tuesday and there are likely to be some, showers in western Minnesota by late afternoon. Wisconsin, Michigan, northern Illinois and Indiana will be cooler tonight gut there will be little •» change elsewhere. Temperatures tonight in Hoosierland are expected to range from 40-50.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Nine Adams County Students In Finals* Compete At I. U. For State Honors Nine Adams county high, school students are among the 1037 Indiana high school students entered in the finals of the annual state high school contests at Indiana University Saturday, April 30. The participants are w’inners of the regional contests held throughout the state March 26. The competition will be in math. English, Latin and Spanish. In the math contest 560 students will compete in the finals, 219 in the Latin contest, 172 in the English contest and 86 in the Spanish contest. The finals will get underway at 9 a. m. Group luncheons will be held at noon, to be followed by programs for both teachers and contestants. Contestants and their teachers will gather in the .1. U. auditorium for a musical program at 3 p. m., following which winners will be announced and medals awarded. Adams county high school students entered in the state contest finals are: Alonmouth, Decatur — Lowell Beineke, geometry; Barbara Carr, English; David Beery, comprehensive mathematics. Adams Central, Monroe —Barbara Ann Fiechter, geometry; Winston Lister and Ruth Sipe, algebra. Berne — Sara Beer. English; loan Meyer and Alice Sprunger, algebra. Parrish Reelected Lions Comptroller French Lick Meet Attended By 1,400 'Ronald Parrish. Decatur, was reelected state comptroller of Indiana Lions clubs at the state convention held last week-end at French Lick. Parrish, manager of Bellmont Trucking £0.,» is a past president of Decatur Lions club and is just completing his first year as state comptroller. George Sockenrider. Auburn was elected governor of district 25-B of which Adams county clubs are members. Afore than 1,400 Indiana Lions and their wives attended the annual state meet. It was the largest state convention ever held by that organization. Those attending from Decatur Included: Decatur club president Frank Lybarger and Mrs. Lybarger; International counselor Roy Price and Mrs. Price and Mr. and Mrs. Parrish. Sheppard Case Is Back In Headlines CLEVELAND (INS) — California criminologist Dr. Paul Kirk, who made a study of evidence which convicted Dr. Sam Sheppard of his wife’s murder, arrives in Cleveland today to confer with de sense attorney William Corrigan. Kirk did not disclose whether he would testify at Dr. Sam’s new trial . hearing before Common Pleas Judge Edward Blythin on Wednesday, although he reportedly will be in Cleveland until Friday. Dr. Sheppard was convicted of second degree murder last Dec. 21, and has been in Cuyahoga county jail ever since, pending a court of appeals review scheduled for May 23. / .

Council Trims Appropriation Request $4,945 ■ Second Deputy Is Eliminated From Sheriff Request A total of $33,699.49 in emergency appropriations was approved by the Adams county council at a meeting Friday and Saturday. Only $4,945.00 was cut from the requested $38,644.49 emergency funds. The major cut was the $2,655 requested by Sheriff Merle Affolder for a second deputy. This amount included the base salary, salary per diem and mileage per diem which would make it possible to add another deputy to the sheriff's department. Another large cut was the refusal of $1,500 needed for the purchase of a photostat machine for the recorder’s office. Money for this machine was appropriated at the regular council meeting last fall -but ttye S6OO approved then was not sufficient. Other cuts included S3OO of the S6OO requested by the county assessor for a deputy; .$175 for operating expenses of the agricultural agent; SIOO of the S2OO requested by the Washington township assessor for improvements, and $215 of the $715 requested for civil defense. Amounts approved were county clerk, first deputy, $450; second deputy, $450, and salary per diem, $684; auditor, first deputy, $450; second deputy, $450, and salary per diem, $677. Treasurer, first deputy, $450; salary per diem, $678. six percent on delinquents, SI,OOO, and $75, operating; recorder, first deputy, $450, and salary per diem, $678. Sheriff, salary per diem, $540: mileage per diem, $896; first deputy, $450, salary per diem, $540 and mileage per diem, $540; surveyor, first deputy. S3OO, and salary per diem, $678; assessor. Salary per diem. $678 and salary for deputy, $300; agricnltural agent, first assistant, $225, and second assistant, $225. * ’Coroner salary, $100; health nurse, property, $110; Jail, salary of matron, S9OO, and operating, sl,355; Washington township assessor, new improvements, SIOO, county commissioners, salary, $3,149.47; 4-H club association, $5,739 transfer from recreation fund; inmates of T. B. hospital, $7,000; licenses for horse drawn vehicles, $1.63, and civil defense, SSOO. County hospital fund, plant operation, $825; readings and analysis. $2,000, and power lawn mower, $125. These amounts which were approved by the councilmen must now be* approved by the state board of tax commissioners before they can be appropriated. The exact date of the meeting of the board here has not yet been determined but it will probably be within the next 15 days. Daisy Ohler Dies At Local Hospital Reported 111 Only Five Hours Daisy M. Ohler, 62, Decatur, route three, widow of the late William Ohler, died at Adams county memorial hospital Saturday night at 9:50 o'clock following a five hour illness. Mrs. Ohler’was born in Adams county July 19, 1892, daughter of Henry and Nancy Diehl Lee. She was married September 24, 1910 to William Ohler, who died several years ago. She was a member of Trinity Evangelical United Brethren Church of this city. Surviving are a daughter, -Mrs. Marsha Smith, Decatur; a brother, Will Lee, Fort Wayne, and a sister, Mrs. Flossie Dierkes. Decatur. Three grandchildren and two great gran(}chib dren also survive. Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Black funeral home and at 2:30 o’clock at Trinity church. Rev. John Chambers of Trinity church and Rev. Lawrence Norris of Union Chapel Evangelical United Brethren church will officiate. Burial will be in Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home until time of the funeral Tuesday. —6 INDIANA WEATHER Gradually clearing tonight, somewhat cooler north portion. Tuesday mostly fair and somewhat warmer. Low tonight 40-45 north, 43-48 south. High Tuesday 60-65 north, 65-70 south.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

• Decatur, Indiana, Monday, April 25, 1955.

Atom Controlled Ship To Be Constructed By U. S. For Tour Os World

Crime Showing High Increase Hoover States All Time High Is Reported In Last Few Years WASHINGTON (INS) —FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover reported today that crime continued its ajarming rise for the seventh straight year in 1954 — inecreasing four times as fast as the nation's population. The FBI chief said the estimated 2,167,250 major crimes committed in the U. S. added a grim new alltime high to the record books. The criminal activities registered a five per cent rise above the previous record, set in 1953, chiefly because of more robberies, burglaries and larcenies. The statistics on the FBl’s crime thermometer were submitted by 5,787 cooperating law enforcement agencies. Hoover described the figures as “conservative," because many important offenses are excluded. The only bright spot on the generally black record was the decrease in criminal homicides and auto thefts and the comparatively minor rise in rapes, shootings and cuttings and other aggravated assaults. 'Most alarming to law enforcement officials was the fact that the nation's population has increased by only seven per cent since 1950, while the number of major crimes has increased by 26.7 per cent.

Six Auto Mishaps Are Reported Here Slick Pavements Given As Cause The week-epd rains must have dampened some brakes as well as everything else in the city as a rash of auto accidents sprang up. Six minor wrecks were reported. Two of the accidents were rearend collisions as slick pavements made driving hazardous. Both, mishaps occurred Sunday at the Second and Monroe street intersection. A car driven by Kenneth W. Nash of Master Drive was hit by Kenneth" Kiser's auto. Damages were estimated at SSO to Nash and SIOO to Kiser. A car driven by Arthur Schamerloh, west Monroe street, was struck by a vehicle driven by Howard F. Martin of rout* one, Monroeville. The Martin auto suffered damage's amounting to $25 and the Sehanrerloh damages were $lO. The auto of William F. Shoaf, rural route one, was struck in the rear left fender by a car driven by Donald Dale of Decatur as Dale swerved to miss a parked car. The aceident occurred on Second street near Five Points. Damage to the Shoaf car was $75. Damage of $125 was inflicted on the car of Joseph L. Amstutz, Geneva. when he turned off Second street into an alley and struck a car driven by Fred R. Smith, South Third street, Sunday evening. Damages to the Smith car were estimated at SSO. A city light post came out second best Sunday morning when Jesse Niblick drove too close to the curb at Second and Monroe. The Niblick car was undamaged, but the light post suffered a $5 jolt. Ronald August, twelve-year-old son of Robert August of 727 North Second street suffered a cut over his left eye when his bicycle j’an Into the Parked car of Carl Braun. The boy was - taken to Adams county memorial hospital for treatment. The accident occurred Sunday evening on Second street, across fromlhe Elks home.

Officers Are Named By Lutheran League William Selking , Is New President William Selking ot Preble,,, was elected president of the Decatur Zone of the Lutheran Laymen’s League at its spring rally held Sunday night at Zion Lutheran church at Friedheim. Arnold Schueler. of Ossian, was named vice-president. Elbert Fuhrman, of Friedheim, is the new secretary and Clarence Oetting, ot Bingen will slerve as treasurer. Edwin 'Reinking, of Preble, and Alfred Buuck. of Friedheim, were elected to the Athletic Committee and the Rev. Henry Abram of Flat Rock, will serve as pastoral advisor. Marvin Schroeder, zone membership secretary, reported that the group had again exceeded all previous membership records with 1.033 enrolled to date, with several of the congregations still incomplete. All membership secretaries were urged to report complete totals as soon as possible to insure district voting strength at the national convention to be held In Seattle beginning June 26. * Harold Thieme, chairman of the zone athletic committee, reported a highly successful basketball season and announced that the baseball season, using Little League rales, will begin May 1. Herman Krueckeberg invited early registration for the district LLL retreat to he held at Camp Lutherhaven June 10 to 12. William Gernand was added to the seminar committee and November 13 has been tentatively set for the fall seminar. The Northern Indiana District convention is to be held in New Haven on Sept. 18. A Memorial Resolution for the late Rev. Schwelm was passed and is to be sent to his family. The group met with the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League for a joint prgrain. The Rev. Rolland Bentrup. of Mendora, Ind., described his missionary work in the hill country of Jackson county, in Southern Indiana. He showed colored slides of the various parishes he serves in that area. Mrs. Bentrup later addressed the ladies group separately. Edgar Krueckeberg, retiring president, conducted the LLL meeting. The Rev. A. A. Fenner. (XAon.thi.ued on Pag* Six) D.C.H.S. Seniors To Present Class Play Kay Borman To Have Lead Role The Senior class of Decatur Catholic high school, under the direction of Sr. M. Agnes. Therese. C.S.A.. will present a three act comedy, "Our Miss Brooks,” Friday at 7:45 p.m. in the school\anditorium. Lead roles in the play include Miss Brooks, the high school English teacher played by Kay Bormann; Hugo Longacre, the athletic coach, played by Charles Voglewede; Jane, a student, played by Joanne Braun; Ted. a student, played by Walt Mowery, and Rhonda, a student, played by Joan Laurent. Also in the cast of characters are Leola Ford aS the librarian. Miss Finch; Tom Titus as the school principal. Mrs. Wadsworth, and Alice Gage as the music teacher, Miss Audubon.. ■ In the roles of other students in the play will be Anna M. Lengerich, Ann Durkin, Marcella Gillig, Rosemary Case. Delores Braun. Nita Osterman. Tim Murtaugh. Ed Drum, Hazel Roberts, Rita Heiman. Rheta Ulman and Anita Mendez. Kathleen Pursley will take the part of Mrs. Allen, school board president and Rhonda’s mother. The basketball player will be portrayed by Bob Miller. This play wTll be the first to be presented by a D.C.H.S., senior class in several years. From 1949 to last summer the school auditorium was used as the church for the St. Mary’s Catholic parish

Rocap Speaker At Jubilee Os Decatur Lodge Warns Against Godlessness In United States A reminder of the part which the Knights of Columbus must play in the fight against paganism and Godlessness was made by Supreme Director John T. Rocap at the jubilee banquet of the Knights of Columbus in the auditorium of Decatur Catholic high school last night. Rocap. an Indianapolis attorney, has been an active member of the K. of C. for many years. He has held every office in his own council in Indianapolis, has served as district and state deputy and has been a supreme officer of the K. ot C. since 1950. He is a graduate of Notre Dame university and Indiana university law school. Rocap. whose talk was the main address of the evening, traced the history and accomplishments of the K. of C. since it was established 73 years ago in New Haven, Conn. He pointed out that the organization now has spread throughout 48 states. Canada. Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Phillippines. The organization now boasts close to a million members in about 35,000 councils. •Among some of tne accomplishments he cited were the support of a project to spread the social philosophy ot the Hoiy Father, the fight against factions who tried to outlaw parochial schools, the support of the crusade against Communism, the establishment of the Fourth Degree to help preserve patriotism in America and the national advertising campaign to in(Continued on Page Two) Mrs. Letta Peters Dies This Morning Funeral Will Be Held Wednesday Mrs. Letta Cloud Peters, 78, well known Decatur woman, died this morning at 4:30 o’clock at the home of her daughter. Mrs. Karl Krudop, Fort Wayne. Mrs. Peters had been in failing health for several years. Letta Cloud Peters was born in Adams county August 26, 1876. daughter of Clinton C. Cloud and E. Jane Steele Cloud. Her husband. Rev. W. Riley Peters died in June, 1908. Mrs. Peters was a former deputy Adams county recorder and sue also was employed at the First State Bank for several years. She served as secretary of the Adams county chapter of 'Red Cross during World War I. Surviving in addition to the daughter, Mrs. Krudop are a brother, Frank Cloud, Hot Springs, Ark., and a sister Mrs, H. O. Swoveland, Monroe, route. Four brothers and a sister preceded her in death. Mrs. Peters was a member of the Methodist church. During the last 14 years she has spent most of her time with her daughter in Fort Wayne. The body was brought to the Zwick Funeral home in Decatur, •where friends may call after 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock and burial will be in Decatur cemetery. Rev. Cletus HirUchy, pastor of Grace Methodist church, Fort W’ayne will officiate. w . — Ttn—-.-w-ra Woman Hitch Hiker Gets Into Trouble SOUTH BEND, Ind. (INS) — Mrs. Mildred Falls, 35, of South Bend, had a bad idea. She tried to hitch a ride homo in a police car, and it cost her sl4 in city court on her guilty plea to a public intoxication charge.

Moose Governor Lloyd Roth. Poe, will be installed Tuesday night as governor. Decatur lodge Loyal Order of Moose, number 1311. Roth was named to the highest local post at the annual election several weeks ago. r Leo Workinger, past governor, and his staff will have charge of installation ceremonies, to which all members are invited. Other new officers include: Junior governor. Harold Kirschner:prelate. Orval Fulton; treasurer, Leroy Hoagland; trustees. Frank Ross and Frank Hpbble. The state regional director, will attend the installation and refreshments will be served following the business meeting. The local lodge now boasts a membership of 850. Center Dedication Plans Are Started Committee Heads Will Be Named Glenn Hill, chairman of the dedication week ceremonies to be held here June 19 to 25 for Decatur’s new Youth and Community center and C. I. Finlayson, acting chairman of tlje Decatur Memorial Foundation today started the task of selecting committee chairmen and members for the big week. Hill said that so far response from all people of the community was encouraging and he said that everyone he had contacted to take part in the planning of the week of events had accepted the task. O. M. McGeath, director of the center, is presently planning summer programs for both young people and adults and will have a complete community program ready to start immediately following formal dedication of the building. Yost Construction Co., general contractors for the structure and all sub-contractors have stated they will be through with their work early in June and this completion date will give the committees arranging the dedication about two weeks to move equipment and furnishings into the center. ----- -- - ------—, ■ In the meantime numerous contributions have been received by Theodore Graliker, treasurer of the Foundation, in amounts from $5.00 to SIOO and this fund will be used to furnish the various rooms and purchase equipment to make the building the most modern one in Indiana. Chairman Hill said that he would announce all chairmen of committees for dedication week in a few days and then would call a meeting to complete assignments and start actual work on the program. McGeath To Speak At Tuesday Lions Meet O. M. McGeath, director of Decatur’s ’new Youth and Community center will be the guest speaker at Decatur Lions club regular meeting Tuesday night at. the K. of P. home at 6:15 o’clock. President Frank Lybarger has asked that all members attend to hear an explanation of the program which will be started at the center early this summer.

Five Cents %

Ship To Show What Atom Can Do For Peace President Asks Congress Aid To Allocate Funds f NEW YORK (INS) — President Eisenhower announced today that the United States will build an atomic powered merchant ’’ship to eruise the world as a dramatic 11l l lustration of what the atom can do for mankind when turned to peaceful uses. The nuclear-propelled craft, Mr. Eisenhower said, will have as its mission helping to “bring to all men the truth of our assertion that we seek only a just and lasting peace," He said he will shortly send congress a request for funds to build the history-making vessel which, like the navy’s atomic submarine, Nautilus, will be able to travel "scores of thousands of miles’’—more than around the world—without refuelling. Mr. Eisenhower gave no estimate ot how much the ship will cost or when actual construction would begin, though he indicated it would be soon. He'disclosed plans for the ship in an address before the annual Associated Press luncheon meeting in New York calling for approval of the administration's tariff program as a vital part of guarding the free world economy against Communism. He warned that failure to enact the program providing for gradual reduction of tariffs over a threeyear period would be a "serious setback to our hopes for global peace.” Mr. Eisenhower said the atomic energy commission and the maritime administration are now developing specifications for the atomic ship and that he will provide a description of it for congress when he submits his budget request. The Nautilus is the only atomic ship now in operation, though the navy has plans to build three more submarines of the same general type. The navy also expects to build nuclear-driven surface craft, but these plans still are in the drawing-board stage. The President declared the atomic merchant ship, as is true of his atoms-for-peace plan and the recent offer to share information on Salk polio vaccine with other peoples, demonstrates that this Country will not be bound by any "slavish adherence to precedent” in its search for peace. He made no direct mention of the Formosa situation in his prepared text, but spoke with calm confidence of the ability of the United States to deal successfully with all such cold war crisis. The danger, he warned, lies in being “stampeded into a headlong panic” and resorting to armed force which could blast our hopes for enduring peace. Sounding a forceful plea for tho tariff program, which faces a series of senate tests this week, ho warned thqt crippling the administration bill with amendments would strike a “severe blow” at the efforts of the three nations to build up their economic and military defenses. The President declared: “The issue is clean-cut. Either we foster flourishing trade between the free nations or wa weaken the free world and our own economy. "Unless trade links them together, our foreign policy will bo encased in a sterile vacuum, our domestic economy will shrink within its continental fences." He said peoples throughout the world nourish a common hope for peace, and quoted the Golden Rulo — “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them." When all men -sharepthe same universal ideals. th« President asked: "Why then should wg per(Continued ov Page Five) ■ I- >