Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 54, Number 96, Decatur, Adams County, 23 April 1956 — Page 1

. Vol. LIV. No. 96.

HEADS DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

SAM RAYBURN (right), speaker of the House, was chosen by the Democratic National Committed to be permanent chairman of the party's national convention, which opens August IS in Chicago. Below, Paul Butler, chairman of Democratic i National Committee, and Mrs. India Edwards, vice chairman* confer on 1956 plans and problems at a strategy meeting in Washington. Butler warned the party leaders that they face a "financial crisis” in 1956 and that ,the GOP now has a "50 to 1” fund advantage.

Bl B I

snw i',* l 1 ~ ■ww— w Dulles Asserts Russia And U. S. Can Be Friends Secretary Speaks At Annual Luncheon Os Press Association NEW' YORK (INS) —Secretary of state John Foster Dulles declared today that it is "inevitable" that the day will come When the Russian and American people canlive together m friends. Ho told the annual luncheon of the Associated Press: "We seek, above all to advance the historic friendship between the Russian and American peoples. “Therefore, we take deep satisfaction from the fact that we can see signs dawning of that new . nay." . At the same time, Dulles called upon Russia to "repudiate two of the most outrageous lies ever perpetrated by any government.” He said these were "the lie that South Korea was the aggressor in the Korean war, and the lie that the United Nations forces in that war used germ warfare against the Chinese Communists.” Dulles also said that the changes inside Russia and in other parts of the world now require an advance into the second and complete phase of the development of the North treaty organization. He said the "totality" of NATO requires greater emphasis on rtepe to insure the political and economic well being not only of NATO countries but of countries everywhere. The secretary welcomed the changes in Soviet policy but warned that It Is still too early for the free nations to drop their military guard. Dullea observed that the changes In Europe, the Near East. Asia and Russia have created a "second post war decade.” He said it appears that this decade “will mark a new phase in the struggle between the forces of despotism and the forces of freedom.” . The cabinet member said that stable peace in Europe requires "that East Germany should be allowed to unite in freedom with the Federal Republic, and that the nations of eastern Europe should once again be independent.” 1 He defined the American attitude toward Russia by saying: "We are not dedicated to perpetual hatred of Russia. What we hate Is the evil that Russia's rulers do. "The arbitrary despotism of a police state, governmental intolerance and enforced conformity, the enslavement of people for the magnification of the state, the use of violence and the threat of violence in international relations, the use of fraud and trackery to corrupt and overthrow free governments—these are all things which we abhor and against which we stand." Dulles said the changes Inside the Soviet Union are of greater (Continued on Fags Five)

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ■ ' ' /* . ■ r \ 7 .

" ’jTO,'tf aHM fll B joH WWtli I

Boy Slays Parents And Older Brother Calmly Confesses Slaying Os Family MANSFIELD. Conn. (INS)—An 11-year-old farm boy who calmly admitted killing his father, mother and brother for “picking on me" is scheduled to undergo psychiatric testa today. Police said Bobby Curgsnven described without emotion or re- ■ morse how he picked off his family. one by one, on their Mans--1 field farm with a single-shot .22 caliber After sleeping soundly Saturday ' night they said, the bespectacled youngster, described by his grand--1 father as “a perfect kid," made ‘ out his “will" and gave himself up. - Victims of the nightmarish episode — one of the most shocking ‘ in southern New England history — were Richard Curgenven. 42; his wife, Beatrice. 41, and Rich- [ ard, Jr., 14. Authorities said Bobby first shot and killed his older brother in the family barn, then fired a ' single bullet through a bedroom window into his mother's heart and finally cut down his father as ' the latter tried to disarm him. With each shot, Bobby, who . said he had to “squinut out of one • eye to fire” because he has one ! bad eye, reloaded the rifle from . bullets clenched between his 1 teeth. The boy told police that occasional cuffings by his brother and ' a spanking by his father last i week prompted him to lay out an l elaborate plan for killing his ' family. Authorities were struck by Bobby’s composure and the terse, detailed description he gave of the events which began at 5:30 p. m. Saturday. " J ; After questioning, Bobby remarked as he was led away from the state police barracks for 30 days’ psychiatric observation: “I just hope they got fresh milk where I’m going." The boy blamed the slayings on his family's alleged abuse. ; telling officers "my brother kept picking on me, so did the others." Authorities skid, however, neighbors told them they never had heard of any abuse of the boys by either of the parents. Bobby, described by state police Capt. Robert Rundle as an “average fifth grader with no psychological background,” covered the bodies With quilts, hoppfed in the family truck and drove to town. It was while driving through Mansfield's quiet streets Saturday night that Bobby reflected, "I’ll probably go to reform school,” and decided to make out his ' “will.” The four-foot-five, 75 - pound youngster went to his room and put name tags on belongings he wished to leave in his “wiH.” The weird tale unfolded early Sunday when Bobby appeared at a neighboring farm house and calmly told them what he had done. Unbelieving at flrst, the neighbors decided to take the youngster home arid It was there they 1 found the proof of his story.

Senate Leader To Answer Ike Vela Tonight To Recall Promises Made By Eisenhower For 1952 Campaign WASHINGTON (INS) — Senate Democratic leader Lyndon Johnson said today he plans to use recordings of President Eisenhower’s 1952 campaign promises tonight to answer the Chief Executive’s veto of the farm bill. The Texan speaks at 10 p.m. (BIST) over radio and television networks, which have given him free time to answer Mr. Eisenhower’s broadcast a week ago n>plaining his farm bill veto. Johnson said that if the networks csn find recordings of the President's 1952 campaign promises to farmers, he will rerun them as part of hts own presentation tonight. The senator said: "I am going to give the President some of my time tonight. I am oing to let him speak for himself. I am going to let him say tonight what he said back in 1952 if the networks can find the recordings. "I am not going to talk to the farmer. I am convinced be knows already that the farm bill Is a good bill. I am going to talk to city folks about the farmer." Johnson said he dees not plan to mention the name of agriculture secretary Ezra Taft Benson. Indicating that he is going to lash out at the President, Johnson told reporters: “Benson is not my target tonight.” Benson declared Sunday that Republican political stock in the middle west has risen as a result of the veto of the controversial measure. Benson, interviewed on the CBSTV program, “Face The Nation," said-be is certain that the American people believe the veto "was the wise stand—it was beet for agriculture." <* Rep. Jamie l chairman of the bouse sgrieultare appropriations subcommittee, charged that the administration is trying to "buy the farm vote” with advance soil bank payments to farmers. > President Eisenhower, In his radio-TV talk last Monday night, called for a soil bank with half of the payments to be made this year. Benson vehemently denied that the proposal was a "political bribe.” The soil bank is the principal part of the administration’s 1956 farm legislative program. Meanwhile, house Democrats have to push through the house Wednesday a fl billion, 200 million (Contuiuso on t-ars Ms/ Explains Tax Levy For County Bridges Public Hearing Is ’Set Here For May 7 At the request of the Adams counjy commissioners, liavid Macklin, county attorney, issued an explanation concerning the proposal of the commissioners to levy an eight-cent tax for a cumulative bridge building and repair fund. Further study of the proposal is scheduled at a public hearing which the commissioners have set for Monday afternoon, May 7, at the courthouse, .. While thei levy is actually a new tax, Macklfh explained, it is not actually a new expenditure of money. The present county budget, monies to be disbursed in 1956, contains an item of $35,000 for bridge repair and construction. This money must be used completely during 1956 or it will revert to the general fund. Under the new plan, which would eliminate any other appropriation for bridge repair or construction, the eight-cent tax would raise almost the same amount of money, but unexpended year would accumulate In the bridge repair and construction fund. This, Macklin said, would enable the commissioners to plan ahead if new construction were to be needed in the future. He also pointed out that if the eight-cent levy, which figures about a half cent less than the amount for bridges in the 1956 budget, money in the fund could be reverted at any time back to the general fund. The reversion could be initiated either by the commissioners or 10 or more taxpayers. Under tbs 1951 statute, tbs special levy eaa be for any amount not to exceed 20 cento bad the levy ts applicable Only for any period of five years.

ONLY DAILY NIWBPAPER IN ADAMB COUNTY

Decatar, Indiana, Monday, April 23, 1956.

Soviet Leader Claims Russia Ahead Os U. S. H-Bomb Development - ■ ‘ -L- - _

— i.-.-W.,,,, Israel Renews Plea For Arms To Aid Defense Frontiers Remain Comparatively Calm As Quest Continues w JERUSALEM (INS) — Israel called today tor more arms as her frontiers remained relatively calm and, Dag Hammrskjeld continued his quest for a MiddreEast peace. The only report of actlvitity on the Israeli borders was an army announcement that Syrian positions had fired on an Israeli fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee Sunday night without inflicting casualties. Hammarskjold, meanwhile, flew to Damascus from Beirut today to confer with Syrian leaders on ending incidents along the IsraeliSyrfan frontier. Prime minister David Ben-Gur-ion set the stage for the arms appeal Sunday at the outset of an “emergency" session of the knesset (parliament) called to vote S3O million in new defense appropriations. Ben-Gurion called on the U. Pnot to send troops, but arms to Israel as the best means to k?ep peace, adding the warning: ‘ "External military intervention in the Middle East involves grave danger to world peace.” At the same time, commenting on Hammarskjoid’s peac emission, the chairman of the knesset defense and foreign relations committees, Meyer Argov, told International News' Service: "It would be unwise to believe that Hammarskjold has diminished the danger of war by securing a cease-fire. It is only a breathing spell. "He hasn’t diminished Arab hostility, propaganda or continued armament." Begin Conferences WASHINGTON (INS)— The U. S. ambassador to Israel began a series of conferences at the state department today as part of the American effort to find a formula for a stable Middle East peace. Now that United Nations secretary general Dag HammarskjoM apparently has succeeded in strengthening the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Egypt; the U. S. government is searching for ways to turn the truce into a peace. (Continues On Page Five) William Ehresman Dies At Fort Wayne Funeral Services Wednesday Morning William H. Ehresman, 72, of Fort Wayne, and a native of Adams county, was pronounced dead on arrival about noon Saturday at the St. Jdseph hospital in Fort Wayne. He had moved to' Fort Wayne in 1918. Mr. Ehresman retired in 1948 after 30 years of service with the General Electric Co. 7 He was i member of the C.at,hs--of the immaculate Conception, its Holy Name society and Converts club, and the Quarter Century club at the G. E. Surviving are his widow, Elizabeth; one daughter. Miss Mary Etta Ehresman, at home, and two sisters. Mrs. Edna Smitley and Mrs. Anna Bunner, both of Decatur. I Funeral services willjbe held at 8:30 a. m. Wednesday*’ at the Tom Mungovan funeral home And at 9 o’clock in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Rev. J. E. Zimmerman officiating. Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery at Fort Wayne. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 o’clock this evening until time of the services.

— - — Foreign Policy Os Eisenhower Scored Ad lai Stevenson, Harriman Speak WASHINGTON (INS) — Adlai E. Stevenson and New York Gov. Jtaerell Harriman hit back Sunday at President Eisenhower’s foreign policy program as explained by the Chief Executive Saturday night. » Stevensdn, on NBC’s “Meet The I Press,” declared that the U.S. and • the free world position has "deteri- ( orated." in sharp contrast to Mr. t Eisenhower’s assertion that the outlook for peace is “brighter." Harriman said his impression bf the President’s speech was that it. • represented “an apology for a dis- . astrous foreign policy." Stevenson, an active candidate • for the Democratic presidential nomination, declared that world leadership under the Eisenhower i administration has been “rattled L and uncertain.” Harriman, who has refused to declare himself a presidential can- • didate, but Is considered a fronti runner for the nomination, was in- , terviewed in New York on ABC, . TV’s "college press conference." I . - ; All Tax Schedules Are Due This Week p Will Winnes, Washington town- | strip assessor, issued at reminder Jto all taxpayers that tax sched- , ules are due this week. All persons I who have not yet been assessed are , urged to contact the assessor before the week Is over. - Graduates Listed ’ At Pleasant Mills f Annual Graduate > Exercises May 2 The graduate candidates at Pleasant Mills high school have ( been announced by Glen B. Custard, principal of the school. Baccaleure- , ate exercises for the school are slated for Sunday. April 29, at 8 p.m. at the school, and commencement will be featured Wednesday, May 2, at 8 p.m. also at the school. The senior class includes Norma Jean Bailey, Elinor Kay Bilderback. Judith Ann Brunstrup, Paul Allen Butler, Richard Byer, Ada Mae Foor, Beverly Sue Fortney, Robert Hirschy, Carolyn Sue King, Darvon ” Dee Light. Also Don Arnold Melchihg, Larry Randall Merriman, Larry Wayne Myers, Ellen May McAhren, Lester Lee Sheets, Carl Allen Sipe, John Henry Speakman, Gene Raymond Williamson, Charles Eugene Wolfe and John Clinton Wolfe. The Rev. L. T. Norris will deliver the baccalaureate sermon Sunday. Invocation will be given by the Rev. H. A. Davis and benediction by the Rev. ifTC. Setpie. The program will also feature selections , by the high school choir. Main speaker tor the commencement exercises will be the Rev. [ Ervin E. Petznik. G. M. Grabill, county school superintendent, will present the diplomas. Norma Jean (Continued qn Pare Five) ‘ Pre-School Roundup Thursday Morning Mrs.” James Burk, chairman of I the pre-school roundup sponsored • by the Lincoln school parent-teach-er association, issued a reminder . today that the round-up. examina- ■ tions for pre-school children of De- > catur will be held Thursday mornI ing at the Lincoln school. The examinations will be made by Decatur physicians and optom- : etrists with the assistance of memi bers of the P. T. A. All children i who will be five years pld on or i before Sept. 15 of this year wjll , take the examinations. Girlg,wUl be examined from 7:30 to 9:30 a. m. and boys will be taken from 9:30 to 11:30 a m. All parents are requested to-have their pre-school children at the school jat that time. .. •,

Supreme Court Is Slated For Session Today Important Cases Await Rulings By } U. S. High Court WASHINGTON (INS) — The supreme court is slated to meet today and may decide whether the U.S. Communist party can be re? quired to register with the justice department as an agent of the Soviet Union. — —— : —— - The long-pending case bears on the constitutionality of the McCarran internal security act which provides that so-called Communist-ac-tion groups must file financial reports and membership lists with the attorney general. The high court heard arguments in November on the party’s appeal from a ruling by the subversive activities control board, that it was a Communist-action group, under the control of Russia. If the ruling stands, members of the party would be deprived of the right to hold elective office, apply for passports or hold jobs in the government or defense industries. Thirty other cases are awaiting ; >y the cougt which has! writing opinions. 1 Under advisement since last fall ! is the government’s important antitrust suit against the I. E. DuPont de Nemours and Co. ~ Receive Bids May 15 On Improvement On 27 The Indiana highway commission announced at Indianapolis today that it will receive bids May 15 for bituminous base widening and resurfacing of 2.770 miles on U. S. highway 27 in Adams county from : the north junction with road 224 at ■ Decatur to just northwest of Monmouth. Mrs. Alice Shaffer Dies Saturday Night fupprol Services T Tuesday Afternoon Mrs. Alice M. Shaffer. 90, who resided with a daughter, Mrs. Wayne Gaunt in Union township, died at 10:15 o'clock Saturday night at the Adams county memorial hospital. She had been seriously ill for the past six weeks. She was born in Lancaster, 0., May 3, 1865, a daughter of Silas and Mary Haines-Hedges, and spent most of her life in Adams county, including the last 70 in Union township. She was first married June 29. 1886, to Benjamin L. Beltz, who died Aug. 2, 1901. She then married Heririan Bittner Jan. 1, 1903, and he preceded her in death Dec. 12, 1909. She was married Oct. 8, t 1911 to Levi Shaffer, who died April 8, 1937. Mrs. Shaffer attended the Calvary Evangelical United Brethren church. Surviving In addition to Mrs. Gaunt are two other daughters, Mrs. William “Kelley of Washington township and Mrs. Katherine Bucher, of Decatur; six stepdaughters. Mrs, Emma Goldne'r and Mrs. Ollie I Baiigg of Fort W'ayne, Mrs. Sam Van Buskirk of Monroeville. Mrs. Herman Bieberich and Mrs. Ernest Ehlerdlng of Decatur, and Mrs. P. C. Walters of Fort Wayne; one stepson. Charles Bittner of Decatur; 24 grandchildren: 55 greatgrandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren. and two sisters. Mrs. Josie Morton and Mrs. Mary Waldo of Portland, Ore. Three sons and one daughter preceded her in death. , Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Zwick funeral home, the Rev. Albert Straley officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Tabor cemetery. Friends may , call at the funeral home until time of the services.

Youth Is Arraigned On Kidnaping Charge Entering Os Pleas Postponed Saturday Kenneth Thompson, 15-year-old Bluffton youth who was allegedly involved in the rape-robbery kidnaping of a young Decatur couple April 12, was arraigned Saturday morning in Adams circuit court before Judge Myles Parrish. Charged with kidnaping, Thompson heard the affidavit against him and then was instructed on his constitutional rights. Through his attorney, John Decker of Bluffton, he asked for a continuance of his arraignment so that he might have time to confer with his counsel before entering a plea. His bond was set at $5,000 and he was remanded to the Adams county jail. Also continued was the arraignment of Charles William Ostrander, 37, of Bluffton, who is also charged with the attack on the boy and girl. The affidavit against him is on three counts, kidnaping, jobbery and rape. His bond is $15,000 and G. Remy Bierly was appointed pauper attorney to represent him Saturday morning. He has also requested time to confer with his lawyer before entering a plea. Neither of the lawyers has indicated when the pleas will be entered but they ' USs'wwel." The pair were arrested last Wednesday night in Decatur as the result of alert nightly patrols of the city by the Decatur police department and the Adams county sheriff’s department. Their arrest cleared a series of raperobbery attacks in Marion, Fort Wayne and Decatur. A third man, Richard Kipfer, 24, of Fort Wayne, was implicated in the three Fort Wayne attacks. He is being held in that city on a charge of - Only the charge of kidnaping has been filed against Thompson since the other charges of rapd and robbery, in /he case of a minor, must be heard in juvenile proceedings. INDIANA WEATHER Mostly clear with frost or freezing temperatures tonight. Tuesday mostly cloudy and coot with occasional light rain. Low tonight 25-32. High Tuesday 45-50 north, SG-55 south. Tuesday Is Planting Day At Youth Center Volunteer Workers Plant Trees, Shrubs All is ready for planting day at the Youth and Community Center, scheduled to start Tuesday morning at 8:30 o'clock, Lowell Hgrper, general chairman of the event, stated today. Trees and shrubbery will be planted In the Center lawn and along the driveways under the supervision of Leo Seltenright, county agricultural agent, and two assistants from Purdue University. The project’s actual work will be done by volunteers including several young men from both Decatur high schools and personnel and equipment from Krick-Tyh4ali Co., city of Decatur, Central Soya, Leland Smith Insurance, Bag Service, Burk’s Elevator and others. A Bag Service truck went to Huntington today to bring back the trees and shrubs' and they will be taken immediately to the Center until planting time. Harper also pointed out that the Purdue men and Seltenright would be available to answer any technical questions of local people pertaining to planting and gardening problems. About 30 men already have volunteered to do the actual labor of .digging and planting. All work will be Completed M near noon as possible. it was stated?* i

Russian Parly Head Boasts Os Armed Strength Khrushchev Boasts Os Superiority In H-Bomb Development BIRMINGHAM, Eng. (INS)—Nikita Khrushchev claimed today that the Soviet Union is ahead of the U. 8. in hydrogen bomb developments and said "we will have a guided missile with an H-bomb warhead that can fall anywhere in the world.” The Soviet Communist p&rty boss, who spoke in Birmingham, gave the communist clenched fist salute to indicate that no one should attack the Soviet Union or J try to change it ideology. He boasted his nation led the U.S. in hydrogen experiments be ■" cause he said "We were the first to explode an H-bomb from an airplane." He said the United States has , not done this because its test was from a ground installation. , It was learned in London that , the Soviet leaders have agreed to w , a general news conference Wedness day. when they are expected to be , Questioned further on. Soviet hydrogen |ev P lopmenw. - i In reacting to British hostility 3 that has met him and premier B Nikolai Bulganin, Khrushchev also j told a Birmingham city hall recpp- . tion audience that “you must not r think we are behind you in the . production of airplanes." t The outspoken Soviet leader who is touring Britain with premier Nikolai Bulganin linked his warnI ing with a plea for peace. “Is It not time we became more j intelligent and did not shake our fists at each other? . . . ’"We ire engaged in serious talks 5 with the British government and ' while the general atmosphere is that of frankness, friendliness and ‘ mutual understanding we may be ’ blunt every now and then.” Khrushchev said that the Russians were the first to explode ah H-bomb from an airplane while “the Americans only are intending to do so because their previous explosion was not an H-bomb’but of a hydrogen installation.” Bulganin listened intently, arms folded across his chest, while Khrushchev spoke. Khrushchev detailed the number of times Russia has been attacked by various nations, Japan, Britain and France and then said: "Later on Hitler tried to attack us with a clenched fist and he is in his grave." After mentioning the hydrogen bomb being dropped from an airplane and the fact that Russia is on the way to production of a devastating long-range guided missile : Khrushchev smiled and became very eloquent in his “peace appeal." Bulganin told a civic reception in the city hall of industrial city that "people of all countries want a firm lasting peace . . . that is the reason.for our visit.” He then referred to the fact that some people “are not happy" at the visit of himself and Communist party secretary Nikita Khnv shchev. Khrushchev spoke to 300 guests without notes and constantly pl»ad- “ ed for increased trade with Britain and other nations. E. M. Clayson, president of the (Oonunuee on Pam Sight) Court House Offices Close For Funeral - . • ■- ■' fe Offices in the Adams county court house, with the exception of Adams circuit court and the dark's office, will close at noon Tuesday for the balance of the day so that personnel and officials may attend the funeral services of Mrs. Frank Kltson, wife of the epunty auditor. The court and clerk'* office will closest 1, o'clock Jn the afternoon unth,’thfteral’•!< cbjaifloted, it was announced. ...a .»«». ■ l-.r r

Six Cents