Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 54, Number 114, Decatur, Adams County, 14 May 1956 — Page 1

Vol. LIV. No. 114.

SAVED CHILD FROM BAY DEATH A "-x jit. MO ‘><l VERLIN SPEEKS, 29, looks through the oxygen tent in Bayonne, N. J., hospital at 18-month-old James Haslam, whom he saved from drowning in Newark Bay. Roused from his sickbed by Mrs. Haslam's screams, Specks swam out 30 feet to rescue the youngster. parently dead, the child was hauled back to shore and given artificial respiration by his rescuer and a workman. James is now doing Tine.

Tornadoes Hit Michigan And Kansas Sunday Flint. Cleveland Hit Saturday Night By Big Tornadoes CHICAGO (INS) — Tornadoes struck in Kansas and Michigan Sunday, causing considerable property damage but no deaths or injuries. At Yates uemer, ivas., eight farm homes and barns were destroyed by a twister. Damage was estimated at $30,000. Another tornado swept across an airport at Menomonee, Mich., Sunday night blowing over a hangar and destroying several planes. Tornado warnings were posted for much of the midwest but most of them failed to materialize. Meanwhile, citizens in the Flint, Mich., area and Cleveland dug out from Saturday’s freak storms which killed 13 persons and injured more than 250 others. Six persons were killed in Michigan and more than 200 others injured as 19 twisters swept over the central part of the state. Some 200 homes were destroyed "in the Flint area and about 500 families were evacuated because of flood threats of the rising Flint and Grand rivers. At Cleveland, a severe thunderstorm, accompanied by hurricane force winds, caused seven deaths and injured more than 50 others. The strong winds crushed buildings, tore off roofs and uprooted 600 trees. Meanwhile, cooler air and showers brought relief today from a weekend heat wave to an area extending from the Plaines states to the midwest. Temperatures plunged as much as 33 degrees overnight in the northern and central Plains, the upper Mississippi Valley and the western Great Lakes. Kansas enjoyed the greatest cooling as the mercury dropped from 77 to 44 at Goodland and fell 30 degrees at many other points in the state. It also was considerably cooler in Wisconsin, Minnesota, northwest Illinois, Missouri. lowa and most of the Central Plains. Flood Threatens " ■ FLINT. Mich. (INS) — Severe flood threatened today in Flint. Mich., in the wake of 20 hopscotching tornadoes which left four dead. 132 injured and over $5. million in damage throughout Michigan. About 250 families have been evacuated from low-lying areas around the Flint river which runs through the city. Army engineers reported the evacuation was a precaution against a dam burst. Anxious eyes were glued to the Halloway Dam. 11 miles northeast of the city which holds back 25 miles of reservoir containing billions of gallons of water. The 280-foot concrete ~ structure was “expected to hold” unless heavy rains Hit the river basin again. More than 250 homes were extensively damaged by tornadoes and flooding water. Gov. G. Mennen Wpiiams has asked President Eisenhower to label the wrecked communities disaster area. Suburban Detroit was also hit (Continued on Pare Five) INDIANA WEATHER Fair north, partly cloudy south tonlaht and Tuesday. Cooler tonight. Low tonloht 45-52 north. 52-58 south. High Tuesday 88-75.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Bloody Accidental Death Toll In State At Least Score Os Persons Are Killed . INDIANAPOLIS (INS) — At least a score of persons died accidentally in Indiana during the past week-end, one of the bloodiest in recent months. Five were in one airplane crash, at least four drowned and many other persons were killed in highway accidents. Five Hammond residents, flying to Cloverdale for a Mother’s Day visit, were burned to death when their light plane crashed and caught fire near the Greencastle Airport. The victims were Eugene Jones, plane owner and pilot; his wife, Ellen; John Davis; his wife, Orletha, a sister of,Jones, and Aurelia Mae Davis, five-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Davis. Clyde M. Hili, 28. Seymour city fireman, drowned in a lake near Scottsburg after saving Paul Fox, a Scottsburg friend who could not swim. They were fishing when their boat capsized. Hill grabbed Fox and started towing him to shore. Neal Surber, of Austin, who saw the accident from the shore swam afcout half way to the upset boat and brought Fox to the bank. He looked back into the lake but Hill had gone under. , ■ . • Nita Brewster, four, of Kokomo, drowned in Lake Shafer, four miles northwest of Monticello, when she was pinned in a motorboat that capsized. Also in the boat were her father, Horace B. Brewster, Jr„ 33; her ’brother, Ricky, seven, and her grandfather, Wallace Eikenberry, 69. Her father dived several times but did not find her. Fifteen minutes later, the child’s body was located inside the overturned boat. One of her legs had caught in the steering device. Billy Williams, 14, of Muncie, stepped in a 15-foot-deep hole wading in White River at Muncie with his brother, Charles, 10, and a neighbor. Bernard Meer, 13. John Stockwell, 21, of Terre Haute, who could not swim, drowned in a gravel pit northeast of Terre Haute. Vernie Cheese, his half brother, and two Indiana State Teachers College students, Sandra Van Allen, and Constance Renakerrfalled in rescue attempts. A eenter on the Terre Haute Schulte High School basketball team was believed to have drowned after his clothes were found in a, boat on Greenfield Bayou 15 miles southwest of Terre Haute. He was Paul Troth, 16, who had taken a boat out by himself. Also, Stephen Hitchcock, 12, of Decatur, died after being bitten by a dog owned by Chester Feasel, of Decatur, The boy had been bitten diractly under the chin and on the right side of the neck. A 17-month-old boy. Robert Joseph Collins, of Anderson, plunged through a second-story window to his death while trying to flee from a baby sitter. Crazed by fear, Barney McGowan, 50, knocked down three firemen trying to rescue him and was burned to death in a fire that swept the top four floors of the six-story Gateway Apartments in downtown dary. , Automobiles accounted for a large toll: Peter Subutus, 60; of Bass Lake, died when a car in" which he was riding left ißoad 35 three miles south of Knox and crashed. Injuries suffered late Friday caused the death of Albert Smith, eix, at Michigan City. He and a playmate were struck by an automobile on Road 12 in Gary. (Continued on Page Five)

Decatur Boy Is Killed By Bite Os Dog Stephen Hitchcock Is Fatally Bitten Sunday Afternoon Tragedy marred Mother’s Day for the Herald R. Hitchcock family of 1140 West Madison street. Stephen, 12-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Hifchcock, was fatally injured by the bite of 'a dog. The boy died at about 7 p. m. Sunday at Parkview memorial hospital in Fort Wayne six hours after a dog had lunged at his throat. The teeth of the animal punctured the boy’s esophagus. Several boys were playing near the Charles Feasel residence on Madison street at about 1:30 p. m. Stephen was among the group which was playing with the dog, which is owned by Chester Feasel of Adams street. Stephen leaned toward the dog, which lunged at his throat The boy sustained a single puncture wound under the chin and a second bite on the right side of his neck. Exact cause of death was not available this morning but it is believed that the puncture caused fatal interference vyith the boy’s breathing. After he was bitten, Stephen ran home and he was taken to Adams county memorial hospital for treatment. He was later transferred to the Fort Wayne hospital where he died. A local veterinarian examined the dog and stated that it was not rabid. The boy was born in Decatur Feb. 13, 1944. His parents are Herald R. and Clara Ellen Mumma Hitchcock. He was a student of the sixth grade at Lincoln school •He was a member of Lions Boy Scout troop 62 and Trinity Evangelical United Brethren church. Surviving in addition to the parents are a brother, Randy, and two sisters, Nancy and Marta, all at home; his grandmothers, Mrs. Blanche M. Muinma and Mrs. Fannie Hitchcock, both of Decatur, and an uncle, Harold F: Murnma. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 1:30 p. m. at the Zwick funeral home and at 2 p. tn. at Trinity E. U. B. church. The Rev. John E. Chambers will officiate and burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p. m. Tuesday. Western Scientists Arrive In Moscow May Get Look At Secret Processes ' MOSCOW (INS) — Western nuclear scientists may get a look into Russia's top secret processes for harnessing atomic power during a conference which opened in Moscow today. Atomic scientists from the U.S., Britain, France and other Western nations arrived in Moscow Sunday in preparation for the opening of the week-onl gscientiflc conference sponsored by the Soviet academy of sciences. Both Western and Soviet scientists will read papers on high energy processes, atom smashing machines and theoretical questions of physics. It was believed likely the Russians might use the Moscow conference to release more “classified” data in order to show the Soviet Union desires to cooperate (OUntiuueo on Fags Flv«) Montgomery Clift Is Injured In Accident HOLLYWOOD (INS) — Handsome Montgomery Clift was in the Cedars of Lebanon hospital today with a battered and cut face, the result of running into a power pole with a car over the weekend. In addition to the face injuries, he may have a concussion of the brain. Doctors s?id they would not be sure about that for a day or so. Games Superintendent Os Willshire School The resignation of Robert G. Lucas as superintendent of the Willshire, 0., school has been announced by the Wiltshire board of education. Luces asked to retire from the superintendent's position because of his health. The board also announced the appointment of Robert Games as superintendent, effective June 16. Games, in accepting the position, resigned as coach of the Willshire Bearcats.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, May 14, 1956.

Defense Chiefs Warn Congress Against Big Military Budget Slash

Three Killed, Two Missing In Ship Collision Freighter Knifes Smaller Vessel Off California Coast MONTEREY. Calif. (INS) — The 10,000-ton freighter Marine .Leopard knifed through a smaller vessel with 29 men aboard under starlit skies early today, leaving at least three dead, one seriously injured and two missing and feared lost , p. The collision, likened to "an army truck hitting a light foreign sports car,” occurred just off Point Sur lighthouse on California’s sparsely populated central coast. All casualties were among crew members of the smaller ship, the 2.477-ton lumber vessel Howard Olson. Most of the men were asleep in the after section of the Olson, which sank shortly after being hit by the Luckenbach freighter Marine Leopard. None of the.so crewmen aboard the larger vessel was reported injured. The Marine Leopard, with two bodies and most of the survivors aboard, turned back to San Francisco, with ft 12-soots hole above the waterline. The Olson left Los Angeles in ballast at 5 p.m. Saturday for San Francisco and Coos Bay, Ore. Her owners In San Hateo, Calif,, said the crew was made up principally of Californians. Weather conditions in Monterey and along the often foggy coast to the south were unusually clear all night, the weather bureau said. There was no Immediate explanation of the cause of the accident. The coast guard was notified shortly before 6 a.m. that the Marine Leopard had picked up 22 survivors and one body. The S. S. John B. Waterman picked up an other body and a seriously injured man. Names of the casualties were not immediately available. Two hours after the collision the tanker "Flying A” standing by the scene reported a huge section of the lumber vessel’s bow floated by. No survivors were picked up from the bow section. It was unknown whether any members of the Olson's crew had been able to take to the ship’s boats. The Marine Leopard is more than 400 feet long and is registered as 10,000 tons. No casualties were reported aboard her. The Howard Olson, 2,400 tons was 243 feet long. ——— y Mrs. Mary Brauirgf Is Taken By Death Funeral Services Tuesday Afternoon Mrs. Mary Braun, 84. a resident of Decatur since 1914, died shortly before noon Saturday at the home of her son, Frank Braun, 1125 Nuttman avenue, after a week’s serious illness. She made her home at 315 Maple street until her illness became serious. Born at Berne March 22, 1872. she was a daughter of Samuel and Barbara Lora-Riesen, and was married to Fred Braun in 1890. Her husband preceded her in death May 24. 1951. Mrs 1 . Braun was a member of the Zion Evangelical and Reformed church. Surviving in addition to the son is a sister, Mrs. Lena Gove of Mun cie. Four sisters and three brothers preceded her in death. , Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Zwick funeral home, the Rev. William C. Feller officiating. Burial will be in the MRE cemetery at Berne, Friends may call at the funeral home until time of the services.

People's Party Is Winner In Austria Chancellor Raab Strengthens Hold VIENNA (INS)—The tree enter- , prise-minded People's party captured nearly half the seats in Sunday’s parliamentary election, Austria’s first since regaining her independence. ’ Chancellor Julius Raab’s party added eight -seats to its representation Sy capturing 82 of the 165 seats in the nationalrat. or lower bouse, and again will lead the government. The People's party and the Socialists are expected to form a coalition again, but with the Socialists losing at least one ministry post. The Socialist party, which had its sights set on more nationalization of industry and particularly oil production, claimed 75 seats, three more than it held in the outgoing parliament. Both the People’s party and Socialists made their gains at the expense of the Communists and Freedom party, the former Inde pendent party. Communists will occupy three instead of four seats in the new parliament, and the independents five instead of 14. Voter approval of a stronger People’s party administration was -regarded by observers faa motivated by traditional Austrian conservatism, coupled with a disinclination to make a change in view of the feeling that the present domestic stability, virtually full employment and solid interna! economy will continue under the People’s party as it has in recent years. Treasurer Reports On Spring Payments $971,969.46 In • Taxes Paid Here Receipts for the 1956 payment of county taxes totalled $971,969.46, Waldo Neal, Adkins county treasurer, announced today after reopening his office after a week’s shutdown to balance the books. Receipts the last day, Monday, May 7, totalled $131,101.79. one of the largest single days in the history of the local office. Total receipts were higher for this installment period than the comparable period a year ago. The 1955 spring payments totalled $849,386.06, and included a $35,000 delinquent pay ment. Neal’s office was closed last Tuesday morning while he and his assistants- completed tabulations and balanced the books. The balancing work was done in a week’s time, it was pointed out. while many northern IndAma treasurer’s offices take two weeks to complete the work. Regular hours were resumed this morning at the treasurer’s office. There are a few delinquents, Neal said, and it will be necessary to add the penalty to these bills. Payment is now due on the delinquent taxes and the sooner are paid, the less the penalty will be. * Savings Bond Sales Increase In County Sales of U. S. sayings bonds in Adams county for April were $96,639.42 compared with $73,996.27 for the like period of last year, according to a report made to T. F. Graliker, chairman of the county’s savings bond committee. Indiana sales of U. S. savings bonds for April were $14,001,366 and for the corresponding period of a year ago $15,233,004—a loss of 8 percent. The shrinkage in sales corresponded to the reduced sales nationally. Thirty-two counties reported bales gains over the like period of last year. As usual, industrial and farm communities were both included among the counties reporting sales gains. '

Democrats To Lash Ike For Part-Time Job Favorable Medical Report To Pin-Point ■ Charge By Democrats , WASHINGTON (INS) — Democrats indicated today that President Eisenhower’s “good” showing in a head-to-toe physical checkup will pin-point more than ever their “part-time President” political charge. Sen. Mike Monroney (D-Okla.) one of the Democrats’ hard-hit-ting campaign veterans, had this to say about Mr. Eisenhower's record of good health: “I’m glad the President’s health ic improved. The question of his ability to devote more time to the constitutional duties of his office will be' a matter of record now that the examination appears to be so emphatic.” The White House medical report, issued after a two-day physical examination at Walter Reed 1 army hospital, showed no signs 1 -of any trouble from the President's heart attack. . His doctors found his general ’ condition “good” — while White Mouse news secretary Jamea C. Hagerty called it “excellent.” Democratic campaign strategists have made it plain Mr. Eis-| enhower will be their main 1956 target, as head of the GOP and his administration. The President himself said recently that was entirely proper. Some Democrats, nevertheless have resitated to* criticize the Chief Executive as long as he might be regarded as a heart patient. Neither had they any desire to criticize him for running in spite? of his heart attack, fearing a “sympathy vote” reaction. But the farther along the road to complete recovery Mr. Eisenhower moves, the stronger will become Democratic attacks on his self-improved work restrictions. New Y6rk Governor Averell Harriman declared that the nation cannot afford, “a part time semi-retired chairman of the board of directors.” Harriman, along with Adlai Stevenson and Sen. Estes Kefauver of Tennessee, had separate recorded interviews with commentator Elmer Davis for the ninth annual meeting of the Americans for Democratic Action in Washington. Sen. Robert S. Kerr (D-Okla.) mother sharp-tongued Democratic (Continued On Page Five) Martin Krueckeberg Dies At Fort Wayne - Native Os County Is Taken By Death Martin F. Krueckeberg, 69, a native of Union township, died Saturday at his home in Fort Wayne. He had lived in Fort Wayne for the past 20 years, and retired from the General Electric Co. in 1950. Mr. Krueckeberg was a member of the Emanuel Lutheran church and the men's club of the church. Surviving are the widow; Laura; three sons, Otto, Alfred and Ed ward Krueckeberg, all of Fort Wayne; five daughters, Mrs. Stanford Wagner, Mrs. Darrell Latham, Mrs. Roy Crawford and Mrs. Frank Vorich, all of Fort Wayne, and Mrs. Solhia Bohnke of Detroit; one brother, Henry Krueckeberg of Decatur; two sisters, Mrs. John Nahrwold of Fort Wayne and Mrs. Henry Kleinschmidt of Brainard, Minn., and 12 grandchildren. • > ? Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Klaehn funeral home in Fort Wayne, the Rev. Walter Schoedel officiating. Burial will be in Covington memorial gardens. Friends may contribute, if they wish, to the cancer fund. , - , - —

Debate In Commons. J On Missing Frogman Showdown Debate Scheduled Tonight LONDON (INS) — Sir Anthony Eden conferred with his aides today in the hours of decision prior to opening of a showdown debate in the house of commons on the frogman case. Among tne chief decisions the prime minister had to reach was the baffling and highly embarrasshow much detail to reveal about ing mystery, Britain’s hottest spy scandal since the Burgess - MacLean affair. Debate was scheduled to start at 8 p.m. (3 p.pt. EDT). The Laborite opposition, giving every indication it will not let Eden off the griddlt easily, was planning to introduce a motion to cut the prime. minister’s salary, a strong act of censure. Speculation was that Eden would hot reveal too much about the fate and activities of Royal Navy Cmdr. Lionel Crabb, who vanished on a dive in Portsmouth * harbor near three Soviet ships which brought Nikolai Bulganin and Nikita S. Khrushchev to Britain last month. z Laborite leader Hugh Gaitskell 1 reportedly Intends to accuse Eden ‘ of withholding from parliament the fact that the foreign office had sent a note of “regret” to Russia last Wednesday, the same day Eden made a statement no Crabb in commons. Eden told commons then that Craßb's mission was undertaken without knowledge or permission of the cabinet and that the parties responsible for it would be punished. He made no mention of receipt of a Soviet note asking for an explanation of why the frogman approached the Russian ships nor of the British apology. Hebble, Essex Are Reelected Chairmen Political Parties Hold Conventions Dr. Harry Hebble, Democrat bounty chairman, and Harry (Peck) Essex, Republican chairman, were reelected to those posts at the county conventions of the two parties held Saturday afternoon. Democrat precinct committeemen and vice-committeemen met at the Decatur Youth and Community Center. To serve under Hebble for the coming two years will be Mrs. Elmer C. Beer of Berne-vice-chalrman; Mrs. Austin Merriman of Monroe route one, secretary, and O. W. P. Macklin of Decatur, treasurer. Mrs?’Beer replaces’Mrs“ Lorene Fenstermaker of Geneva, and Mrs. Merriman succeeds Mrs. Beer, who formerly held the post of secretary. All officers of the Republican central committee were re-elected at their meeting which took place at the Knight of Pythias home. They include, in addition to Essex, Mrs. Eleanor Snyder of Geneva, vice-chairman; Glen Neuenschwander of Berne, secretary, and Cal E. Peterson of Decatur, treasurer. One Pilot Killed In British Jet Crash HONG KONG (INS) — Two royal air force jets crashed during takeoff from a suburban Hong Kong airfield today, killing one of the pilots; Agence France Presse reported. The leading plane reportedly collapsed on the runway and the second attempted to pull into the air before reaching flying speed to avoid a collision. i The pilot of the second plane was' killed when' the craft crashed and burned. j

Six Cents

Sprjous Risks To Defense Os U. S., Allies Wilson And Radford Give Testimony To Senate Committee WASHINGTON (INS) — U.S. defense chiefs warned congress today that any substantial cut in the administration’s proposed military aid budget will “present serious risks” to the nation and its allies. Defense secretary Charles E. Wilson assured the senate foreign relations committee that “money spent at this time for military assistance to our partners in the defense of the free world is money spent effectively for the defense of the United States." Adm. Artnur W. Radford, chairman of the joint chiefs of staYf, testified: "The Soviets are making a great deal of noise about peace, but I find ample evidence that they are striving to the best of their ability to build their own military capabilities to the highest possible levels." The two officials appeared in support of a proposed $3 billion authorization for military aid. Al- - most two billions more are sought. for economic assistance to other countries. ' Wilson declared: “To cut military assistance materially at this time would present serious risks to the defense of the United States and the free world ...” He said it also “would require a complete re-evaluatiop of our International position and of our own military budgets.” The secretary particularly urged support of the proposed half billion dollar authorization for “advanced weapons . . . such as high performance aircraft and missiles, and supporting equipment, particularly early warning and communications equipment." Pilot Three Men Die In Plane Crash BLIND RIVER, Ont. (|NS) — A Canadian pilot and three Flint, Mich., fishermen were killed Sunday when their private plane crashed and burned near Blind Ontario, The dead were identified as Paul Pouffe, of Blind River, and Charles Alex, 35, Flint supermarket owner, Joseph Romley, 25, and Lewis Zerka, 28. Arraign Ostrander On Robbery Charge New Affidavit Is Filed On Ostrander Charles William Ostrander, 37, of Bluffton, was arraigned Saturday morning on the new affidavit charging robbery, which was ..filed Friday afternoon by prosecuting . attorney Lewis L. Smith. The affidavit was filed after Judge Myles Parrish sustained a motion by G. Remy Bierly, defense counsel, to quash the counts on rape and robbery for the reason that they were improperly joined in the single affidavit. Another affidavit which stands in Adams circuit court against Ostrander charges him with kidnaping. The two charges, now in separate affidavits, result from an alleged attack on a young Decatur couple April 12 when the boy and girl were taken at gunpoint out into the country where the boy was robbed and the girl sexually attacked.- . Keqneth Thompson, 15-year-old Bluffton youth, is also being held on a kidnaping charge arising from the same attack. Neither of the two has entered a plea to the charges against them.