Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 53, Number 246, Decatur, Adams County, 19 October 1955 — Page 1

Vol. LIII. No. 246

NURSE TAKES IKE FOR Rlt)E I . ; ■ . ... - A . • A LONG-RANGE CAMERA picks out President Eisenhower on his first wheel-chair ride onto the sun deck at Fitzsimons Army Hospital, as he waved to those below. His nurse, Lt. Knox, pushes the President's chair on his first trip to the sun deck out of bed.

Ike, Dulles Confer Over U.S. Strategy Confer At Denver Hospital On Plans For Geneva Jarley DENVER (INS) —President Eisenhower, "in a good mood" after an excellent night, was to confer with the secretary of state John Foster Dulles today on U. S. strategy for the forthcoming Big Four foreign ministers meeting. Secretary Dulles flew to Denver Tuesday night for his second meeting on foreign policy in nine days with Mr. Eisenhower. The early-morning bulletin on the President's condition reported that he awoke refreshed and in a good mood after ‘‘an excellent night.” Dulles was to see the President this morning at Fitzsimons army hospital and then fly back to Washington on Mr. Eisenhower’s per sonal plane, the Columbine 111. Dulles said on landing in Denver Tuesday night that he had no special problems to take up with the President, but just wanted to "get ready for Geneva." He told a news conference earlier in the day in Washington he expects substantial progress on the problem of German reunification at the Big Four meeting, which opens Oct. 27. He also said he (Shares the view of Vice President Richard M. Nixon that the Geneva conference offers more chance for practical steps to ease East-West tensions than any other such meeting in the last ten years. President Eisenhower Tuesday proclaimed Oct. 26, the day before the foreign ministers begin their fateful discusions, as a national day of prayer. He Said in his proclamation: that day wherever he may- be-at church, home, -factory, or officeto pray pa.fJlcularly for (God's blessing upon the councils of those who labor for increased international understanding, and upon the efforts of all men who strive foi a just and lasting peace.” Mr. Eisenhower went for a wheelchair ride around the sundeck outside his room Tuesday, waving over the rail to other patients along the route. It was the first time he had been permitted in a wheelchair, and he was described by White House new secretary James C. Hagerty as “quite happy about it.” Today or Thursday, the President is expected to begin working with his oil paints on small canvasses, either in bed or in an easy chair. Within three or four days he should be taking his first steps. He got a report Tuesday on how things are going at his Gettysburg farm, where he plans to spend his convalescence after leaving the hospital. The President was brought up to date on such matters as how his small herd of black angus cattle were getting along. The First LlNy passed along the InfortnatlOn following a telephone call to the farm. He also kept in close touch with the flood situation in Northeast states. His August disaster declaration for flood-stricken parts of (Continued on Pnae Three) Associated Churches Meet Thursday Night Members or~The Associated Churches of Decatur will meet Thursday at 7:45 p. m. at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed church.

DECATUR D DEMOCRAT

Slight Decline In Farm Prices Seen Outlook Meeting Is Held Tuesday Night Dr. Robert Suter, Purdue University agricultural economist, told 85 farmers Tuesday night at the annual Adams county economic outlook meeting that Indiana farm prices are expected to decline a little further in the year ahead. "But the decline in farm prices will be cushioned by strong consumer demand and the government support program,” Suter declared. He said farmers who improve their efficiency of operations can at least partly offset the price declines. "In the decade ahead the farm situation likely will continue to cause some farmers with inadequate resources to leave the farm and find employment in industry where their opportunities are better. "However, it appears that farmers who have operations big enoughjo use up-to-date machinery and production practices, keep abreast of new technologies, and plan wisely can look forward with reasonable optimism,” the Purdua economist said. Discussing the overall economic situation, Suter predicted that economic conditions in most sectors of the economy will be favorable during the coming year with a possible weakening toward the end of the year. Any business decline which o-curs in 1956 is not likely to be st vere. ’’ash receipts from U.S. farm products are expected to be about 3 p iroent less than in 1955, with cash income of U.S. farmers five to seven percent less. Net income of Indiana farmers will be down more thin for U.S. farmers in general because of lower hog prices, the economist observed. A slight downward trend in Indiana farm prices is expected to continue during the next year or two. Prices of machinery and steel building materials., are..expected to be higher than average 1955 prices. Total farm production costs will be about the same next year as in 1955. Feed and grain prices will be somewhat lower while fertilizer prices should remain about the same. Suter forecasts a drop of $2 to $3 per hundred weight in hog prices from the $17.75 average Indianapolis price for the past year. Prospeots indicate a local corn-hog ratio somewhat below the longtime average—l 3.6 to 1. Price of corn in Indiana during the year ahead should average between $1.15 and $1.25 per bushel. An abundance of oats, barley and grain sorghums coupled with the probable release of CCC out-of-con-dition corn, will prevent a major rise in corn prices. — The soybean -crop was shortened by August and September drouth conditions, causing harvest-time prices to rise to the $2.15 to $2.25 level. Although the size of the crop is not yet known,, further increases are in prospect but only about enough to cover storage and handling costs. Wheat Is not expected to reach the loan level of $2.08 a bushel. — No significant changes in price levels for beef cattle are seen for the coming year. Profit margins for the cattle feeder will again be narrow despite lower feed costs. For local dairymen, Suter said prices should remain near support levels in the year ahead. Good news was forecast for poultrymen. Winter and spring egg production should net higher returns than the previous year. Turkey returns should also be more favorable. No “let-up” is expected in most (Continued on Page Eight)

UN To Resume Vole Today On Council Seal Assembly Convenes This Afternoon To Vote Over Deadlock UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (INS) —The UN assembly was to attempt today to break the deadlock between the Philippines and Yugoslavia over a security council seat for 1956-57. The U. S. at the same time is slated to lay ney proposals before the political committee in a move to secure unanimous agreement on approval of the draft statute for the International Atomic Agency for global nuclear advancement. The assembly was to convene at 3 p.m. (EDT) to resume voting in the hotly contested council race which ended in a stalemate last Friday after six rounds of secret balloting. The U. S.-backed Philippines fell one vote short of victory before* Russia suddenly switched support from Its defeated candidate, Poland, to Communist Yugoslavia. The Manila delegation got 29 votes on the final ballot and the Yugoslavs got 28. There were reports that if the deadlock should continue past the scheduled election, Greece might emerge as a compromise choice between the Philippines and Yugoslavia. Greece, a staunch ally of NATO in eastern Europe held in 1951-53 the council seat claimed by Communist Czechoslovakia. The Russians declared last week they would recognize Greece as representative of eastern Europe. Some delegations indicated they gladly would support Greece, should the Philippines fail to make the grade in the election. Choice of Greece for the council post, it was said, would restore Greek faith in the UN, dampened recently by the assembly’s refusal to discuss Greek demands for selfdetermination for Cyprus. The race between the Philippines and Yugoslavia continued unabated in UN corridors and lounges, with leaders of the two contestants seeking to line up votes for the two-thirds majority needed for election.

Reward Is Posted For Missing Boy Discount Link To Chicago Murders CRANE, Ind. (INS) — Officials in the Crane, Ind., area today discounted theories that missing Ronnie Weitkamp might have been a fourth victim of the butcher who killed three Chicago youngsters. They pointed, out that Ronnie is only three years old while the Chicago victims were all in or approaching their teens. They also said they have combed the area so thoroughly that evidence of violence certainly should have been turned up by now. A SI,OOO reward was posted as the search for the Crane child entered its second week today. Posting the reward were the Crane depot fish and conservation club and the naval ammunition depot welfare and recreation board. Hundreds of searchers have gone over the area in the past week but have failed to turn up a clew in a widespread hunt of thearea around Crane. Tips also have failed to produce information as to the tow-headed boy's whereabouts. Traffic Death Toll Above 1954 Figures INDIANAPOLIS (INS)—State police announced today that traffic accidents had claimed 875 lives up :o midnight Sunday, as compared to only 816 during the same period last year. Os the 6412 victims in rural regions, 548 were fatally Injured in state and federal highway crashes, and 144 in county road accidents. Incorporated communities reported 183 traffic deaths. BULLETIN HOLLYWOOD (IN8) —Film and stage star John Hodlak died of a heart attack at his Hollywood home today. The crag-jawed star had appeared in such films as “Conquest of Cochise," “Mission over Korea," "Ambush at Tomahawk Gap," “Battle Ground," "Command Decision,” “Across the Wide Missouri” and triany others.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAME COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, October 19, 1955

Preserve At Chicago Combed For Clues To Wanton Triple Slaying

Peace Looming In Labor Strife At New Castle Reuther Pledges No Violence; Charges Craig Double-Cross INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — Peace loomed in the bloody Perfect Circle Corporation strike today. Governor George N. Craig received a letter pledging no future violence from CIO President Walter P. Reuther in connection with the company's strike-bound plants at New Castle, Richmond and Hagerstown. Eight persons were shot during a riot at the company’s New Castle foundry on Oct. 5. After receipt of the letter. Governor Craig reduced the force of national guardsmen in the strike zone from 600 to 300. Only 24 hours before the governor had slashed the force from 1,000 to 600. Reuther’s letter said: "In order that there be no misunderstanding on your part or on the part of the general public, I wish to inform you that I thoroughly and completely indorse the instructions and directions of Mr. Raymond Berndt (CIO-UAW region three boartk member) to UAWCIO members to refrain from any kind of violent action, regardless of any provocation by the company, and that I am issuing the same instructions to the officers and members of UAW-CIO Local 370 over my name.” However, Reuther’s letter charged the governor with "doublecrossing” the union by failing to lift martial law by 10 o’clock Tuesday morning. The only guard organizations remaining in the strike zone today were from Attica and Frankfort. Governor Craig said: “I am very much pleased that Mr. Reuther has acceded to our request and ordered no more violence on the part of UAW-CIO members. “The remainder of Mr. Reuther’s letter, because of its falsity will not be dignified either by comment or answer.” Joint Meeting For Rotarians, Lions The Decatur Rotary and Lions clubs will hold a joint dinner meeting at 6:30 p. m. Thursday at the 1 Youth and Community Center. Dr. Wayne F. fleisert, head of the economic and social science department of Manchester College, will be the guest speaker. All members of the city’s two service clubs are urged to attend the meeting. Three Sisters Burn To Death In Home Three Little Girls Flash Fire Victims SOUTH BEND, Ind. (INS) —A sorrowing family today planned funeral services for three young sisters who were burned tb death in their frame home two miles west of South Bend Tuesday. They were Tannie Mae Smith, three; Banice Smith, two, and Ruth Mae Smith, three months, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith. The 21-year-old mother said they died in the flash fire while she went to the home of a neighbor to return a washboard. The house was destroyed before firemen arrived. They found the bodies of the two older children on a couch in the living room and the baby’s body on a large bed in an adjoining room. An oil apace heater may have ignited some clothing, starting the blaze, according to fire chief Richard Duck.

Councilmen Favor Sweeper Purchase Final Passage Os Ordinance Delayed Final passage of an ordinance for the purchase of a mechanical street sweeper for Decatur failed to go through at the city council meeting Tuesday night at city hall. Approved four to one on the first two readings, the ordinance did not. go into its third and final vote because of a “no” vote by councilman Adolph Kolter. An ordinance must be voted on three times before it is finally passed and these three votes can come in the same meeting only if the vot# is unanimous. Voting yes for the ordinance were councilmen Ed Bauer, Al Beavers, Donald Gage and Joseph Murphy. The ordinance provides for the lease-purchase of the “Gutter Snipe” sweeper • from Stockberger Machine Co. The contract terms include delivery within 10 days of final passage of the ordinance and payments to be made as follows: $3,000 in 1955, rental at $263.05 per month fbr 18 months payable semiannually and $1 at the end of this period at which payment the title to the machine will be turned over to the city. Payment of the machine is to come from the parking meter fund. It was learned after last night’s meeting that one of the councilmen checked with the state board of accounts to determine that such payment from the parking meter fund is legal. The third reading for final passage of the ordinance will be made at the next regular council meeting which will be Tuesday, Nov. 1. In other action Tuesday night the council accepted a petition signed by Mr.’ and Mrs. Russell Bowman for an electric pole light at the alley between 14th and 15th streets on Madison street. The petition was referred to the (Continued on Page Eight) Weapons Inspection Must Cover World Stassen Speaks To Southern Governors POINT CLEAR. Ala. (INS) — Harold E. Stassen said today that any system of weapons inspection and control must be extende'cTultimately to all “militarily significant nations.” President Eisenhower’s disarmament advisor, replying to a question about Communist China, emphasized that current negotiations with Russia over arms inspection, are only the beginning. Stassen remarked at the southern governors conference that the question of global nuclear weapons control would be the more difficult task. He said more and more nations are learning how to produce unclear materials and added: “If world-wide development of_atomic energy occurs before men in different nations have been able to set up a system to provide against use of nuclear weapons in great surprise littacks, then dangers of the thermo - nuclear hydrogen age may become intolerable." Stassen said the major technical problem of International control is that, “with the best detecting machine have today, our scientists have found no way to discern thp most powerful atomic bomb if they are shielded by lead covering.” Nonetheless, Stassen said, the response of the Russians to the U.S. reciprocal proposal for aerial inspection and exchange of military inspection is reason for "cautious, alert, measured optimism for listing peace.” The Russians are conferring this week, Stassen said, over the latest proposal by President Eisenhower. The President said he would accept the Soviet suggestions for ground observers at certain points if combined with his own proposal for aerial reconnaissance between the two nations.

Faure Emerges Triumphant In Assembly Vole French Parliament Votes Confidence In Faure Government PARIS (INS) — French Premier Edgar Faure emerged today from two weeks of national assembly debate with his government still in power and a chance to implement his North African policy. For a variety of reasons, most of which had nothing to do with approval of that policy, the assembly Tuesday night grudgingly voted confidence in the Faure government. , The specific issue was his program for short and long term reforms in Algeria aimed at linking the North African area closer to France, but not at integrating all spheres of Moslem Algeria with metropolitan France. The vote was a surprising 308 to 254, providing a margin of victory twice as high as any predicted before the voting got under way. A week ago last Sunday Faure won an even more lopsided victory in a test of his Moroccan program for instituting home rule in the protectorate. What prompted the deputies to vote as they did appeared to be many Issues, both international and domestic, other than the immediate North African situation. The deputies feared creating a political crisis which might bring about dissolution of the assembly and national elections. They feared paralyzing France at the Geneva Big Four conference. They feared the defeat In the Saar referendum Sunday of the French-backed plan to place that valuable borderland under the Western European Union. They also feared a new blood bath in Algeria and Morocco if France once again faltered. Only the Communists and Socialists were united firmly against the premier, with some 75 per cent of the Gaullists also voting no. The next major hurdle for the 21st postwar government will be the presentation of budgetary and financial figures including outlays for military operations in North Africa. The assembly gets them sometime- in late November. INDIANA WEATHER Mostly fair with scattered frost tonight, cooler east and central portions. Thursday mostly fair and warmer. Low tonight 30-3. High Thursday 64-68. Mrs. Mary E. Ensley Dies At Fori Wayne Native Os Decatur Is Taken By Death Mrs. Mary E. Ensley, 33, a native of Decatur, died Monday night at her home in Fort Wayne after an illness of two weeks. She had lived in that city for 31 years. Mrs. Ensley was a member of the Simpson Methodist church and its WSCS, the Women’s benefit association, the VFW auxiliary and the Gamma Nu sorority. Surviving are her husband, John W. Ensley; a son, James M. Ensley, at home; a daughter, Deborah Lynn Ensley, at home; her mother, Mrs. Georgia' Hakes of Fort Wayne, and a brother, Raymond R. Hakes, also of Fort Wayne. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p. m. Thursday at the D. O. MdComb & Sons funeral home, the Rev. Clarence C. Collins officiating. Burial will be in Covington memorial will be in CovingtonF.-brg lai gardens.

Seek Three Letters

From Interior Dept. House Committee To Demand Letters WASHINGTON (INS) — Democratic efforts to pinpoint administration policy on public power centered today around three letters written by the interior department. Chairman Earl Chudoff (D-Pa.) said his house government operation subcommittee will demand to see the communications addressed to attorney general Herbert Brownell. They are part of correspondence which lead to a ruling that public agencies, rather than a private utility, should get first call on government-produced power from the Clark Hill Dam. The interior department had asked if a contract could be signed with Georgia Power Co. for disposal of the power. Two months after the ruling, the department wrote to Georgia cooperatives advising them that the contract which Brownell had rejected was “still available." Subcommittee sources expressed doubt the department would release the letters. They pointed out that assistant secretary Fred G. Aandahl had promised several days ago to deliver copies of them. If Chudoff’s demand Is not met, the subcommittee could issue a subpoena—but it is doubtful if the department would honor it. The Pennsylvania Democrat said Friday that hi a investigating committee will launch a full-scale inquiry next year into the Eisenhower administration’s dealings with private power companies. Hearings to date have been on charges that the Interior department is not giving public bodies, such as rural cooperatives, the preference the law entitles them to receive in distribution of government produced power. Last week the White House rejected a request by Chudoff for the dates and names of persons who attended top level conferences on disposal of the Clark Hill dam power. Gerald Morgan, special counsel to President Eisenhower, said that to comply with the request would “violate pplicy and practice” in effect for many years between the executive branch of the government and congress. j Princess To Meet With Church Heads Royal Family Will Dine With Leaders LONDON (INS) — Pretty Princess Margaret, reputedly torn between love for a commoner and a royal sense of duty, reminded a Highland regiment today of “loyalty to your queen and your country.” — Margaret dutifully performed at Bulford, Wiltshire, at a time wlren informants said that British prime Queen Elizabeth II had a long talk minister Sir Anthony Eden and Friday night about Margaret’s wish to marry RAF Group Capt. Peter Townsend, a divorced man. It is. fully apparent now, they said, that it is a question of Margaret’s possible marriage to Townsend Which is under discussion—not whether she wishes to marry him. No irrevocable decision has been made, however, and Sir Anthony will tell his cabinet Thursday that the situation still is not sufficiently advanced to warrant any public announcement , • Tonight love-troubled Margaret sits down to dinner with the archbishop of Canterbury and the men most unalterably opposed to her reported wish to marry the divorced Townsend. If the 25-year-old sister of Queen Elizabeth has decided she will wed the divorced RAF group captain, her determination will be put to its. sternest test when she faces the (Continued on Page Two)

Price Five Cents

200 Men Comb Scene Os Most Revolting Crime Three Teen-Agers Slain In Chicago Forest Preserve CHICAGO (INS)—Two hundred men combed a forest preserve today in a grim hunt for clues which might lead to the capture of- the wanton killer or killers of three-teen-age Chicago boys." One nunarea soiaiers from an anti-aircraft battery joined forest rangers, state. Cook county and city police in an inch-by-inch search of the woods on Chicago's northwest side. Chicago’s most revolting crime in modern history— the victims had been strangled and their nude bodies dumped In a ditch —brought into action every available scientific crime detection facility. The victims, Robert Peterson. .14, John Schuessler, 13, and his brother, Anton, 11. had been bound and tape pressed against their eyes and lips before they were choked to death by a tie dr a wire. Stunned citizens and policemen sought the answer to two questions: Who killed three model boys and why! * Deputy detective chief William ' Touhy pointed to the size and strength of the boys. Touhy said he believes there Was more than one killer. All the boys were 5 feet 2 inches tall and muscular. Touhy reasoned: "Why would the killers tape the boys unless they feared identification? I am convinced the victims knew their assailants.” The bodies of the boys had been slapped with a flat instrument, possibly a tire iron. Coroner Walter E. McCarron who will start the inquest today, said fingernail marks on the necks of the Schuessler brothers indicated they had been strangled by hand. He said the Peterson boy evidently had been choked with a necktie or something similar. The Peterson boy had beftn beaten violently about the head, indicating he had put up a futile struggle against his slayer. His scalp was marked by 14 cuts and two penetrating skull fractures, possibly inflicted by a revolver or tire iron. Veteran .police officials described the triple murder as possibly the most brutal in the annals of crime history. They cringed at the sight of the three bodies huddled together in a ditch bordering a parkink lot in Robinson’s Woods, a forest preserve district. It was in this forest scene of autumn color and beauty that a salesman made his .grisly And when he stopped lunch. The discovery tragically ended a hunt for the boys that had started Sunday night, hours after they had gone to see a movie in downtown Chicago. They last had been . seen at two bowling alleys. An autopsy revealed that none of the victims had been molested sexually. - - However, Dr. Harry R. Hoffman, an associate of the Cook county behavior clinic, said: "The person who could commit such an act as this is one to whom • the act itself is a gratification of the sex The psychiatrist stamped the triple slayings as the work of a person who had a previous record of sex offenses. He pointed out that all three youths had strikingly handsome features. A difference of opinion was advanced by Dr. Thomas Kennedy, associate professor of phychology at Loyola university. He said the' superficial evidence now available does not pinpoint the slayings as a sex crime. Sheriff Joseph Lohman said he thought the crime was the work of an older group of boys. He believes it was highly improbable for one person to have held the (Continued on Page Three)