Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 54, Number 299, Decatur, Adams County, 20 December 1956 — Page 1

Vol. LIV. No. 299.

SHOWS HIS SCARS 1 |O*' > -W; -1 ANTI-COMMUNIST resistance leader Lajos Ruff, 25, who survived torture in the same prison where Cardinal Mindszenty was held, shows Sen. Olin D. Johnson (D) of South Carolina his scars and missing teeth. He testified before the Senate Internal Security Commit- ; tee in Washington.

Three Dead In Shootings In Village Os Ray Neighbors Sought Previously To Have McNaughton Jailed ANGOLA, Ind. , (UP)—Authorities said today neighbors of a 40-year-oid bachelor who killed three persons in a shooting spree had asked long ago that he be declared insane. . - They said at least one neighbor of Merlin McNaughton, who surrendered Wednesday after bursting into three homes at the village of Ray, complained the "eccentric’’ man carried a 45calibre pistol and might be dangerous. But later the matter was dropped. McNaughton surrendered to a posse of 125 men after authorities found one man shot to death, a man and wife wounded, and their 4-year-old daughter kidnaped. - Then, as police tried to piece together the shootings, the bodies of two more victims—close neighbors of McNaughton—were found in their homes. _ The dead were Merwin Forrester, 48, Fred Peterson, 52 and his son, Roland, 24. The kidnaped girl, Katherine Bradley, was returned safely when police surrounded McNaughton’s house. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Preston Bradley, both 38, were wounded when McNaughton entered their bedroom and began shooting. Bradley told from his Cameron Hospital bed here how he “jumped up and got out of bed” when McNaughton burst into the bedroom where he and his wife were sleeping, shining a flashlight in their eyes. Took Away Gun "He pointed the gun at me," Bradley said. “I got scared; and got into a clothes closet," he said. "Then he shot my wife, and I came out and got ahold of him and took the gun aWay from him.” Bradley said he turned his back in the dark, believing his attacker disarmed. But McNaughton then shot him twice with a rifle, he said. Bradley said he staggered to a neighbor’s house and while he was gone McNaughton took the girl and escaped. State police Det. Sgt. Russell Huffman said McNaughton apparently attacked Forrester and the Petersons first, then came to Bradley’s house. All are close neighbors in the village which straddles the Indiana - Michigan border. Bradley said he had no idea why McNaughton should suddenly turn on his neighbors, but “he was always funny. He*d been off ever since he lived there.” Bradley said McNaughton shot at some boys last summer, but no action was taken against him. Others said he had a fear of being shot, and even wore pillows “to keep the bullet from hurting.’’ "We always were good to him,” Bradley said. “My boy delivered the newspaper to him every day. He paid him every week. I don’t know what was wrong with him." Bradley said McNaughton didn’t 'Continued on Page Seven).

Decatur Stores Open Evenings for Christmas Shoppers

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British Physician Charged In Murder Months Os Plodding Probe Bring Arrest EASTBOURNE, England (UP)— Dr. J. Bodkin Adams, 57, a pudgy, pink-faced bachelor physician, was formally charged today with the murder of an 81-year-old woman patient in the “cgse of the 20 wealthy widows.” The courtroom, spectators jamming every corner, let out an audible sigh when Bert Hannam, Scotland Yard’s ace criminal investigator, told of the conversation that ended his months of plodding investigation .and the arrest Wednesday of Dr. Adams. “Can you prove it was murder?” he said the doctor asked him. "I did not think you could prove murder, she was dying in any event.” And he quoted Adams as asking later, “Will there be any more charges of murder?” Trial was set for Jan. 14 and Britain was setting back for the most sensational case since a strange little man named John Christie hacked his neighbors to death several years ago and sealed them up in a wall of his dingy house on London’s Nottingham Hill Road. Started With Gossip The bowler-hatted Hannam, chief criminal inspector for Scotland Yard, nosed about this seaside resbrt for many months to check wild rumors of foul play in the deaths of 20 or more wealthy widows who changed their wills shortly before they died of “cerebral thrombosis.” Some of them were cremated. . ... - - .. ..2 — The woman Adams is accused of murdering was one of those. She was Mrs. Edith Alice Morrell, who died in 1950, an active gardener at the age of 81. Police were preparing to exhume the bodies of two other elderly women, presumably in an attempt to get further evidence. The story began with goodnatured gossip — “banter, you might call it,” said the town mayor, Aiderman Sidney Caffyn. It ended with vicious rumors and a list of 400 persons who died over a period of 20 years in strangely similar circumstances. Cat and Mouse Scotland Yard was called in Hannam began a methodical approach to the case, questioning residents of the town, seeking out relatives of the deceased, always searching. Often he passed Dr. Adams on the street but the doctor gave no sign he knew what the detective was seeking. Nearly everyone in this quiet and dignified resort town 60 miles from London knew that Hannam was tracking down one of the town’s most prominent residents. Dr. Adams’ picture appeared in nearly every British newspaper along with stories of Eastbourne and the wealthy widows. The gossip grew to such proportions that in September Dr. Adams’ lawyer issued a statement saying: “Dr. Adams has not been accused of any crime. His practice built up by 30 years of hard work, is in danger of ruin by irresponsible gossip, and equally irresponsible press sensationalism.” Good Fellows Club Previous total $141.90 Elks 25.00 Kocher Lumber Co. : —10.00 TOTAL * $454.90

Ike And Nehru On Problems Joint Communique Cites Achievement Toward World Peace WASHINGTON (UP)—President Eisenhower and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of India said today their “full and frank talks” confirmed a “broad area of agreement” about world problems. In a joint communique issued by the White House as Nehru left for New York at the end of his four day state visit here, the two leaders predicted .that .their meeting of minds will speed achievement of “peaceful and frjendly relations among all nations of the world." He and Mr. Eisenhower conferred for some 14 hours Monday in the seclusion of the President’s farm at Gettysburg, Pa. They talked again at the White House Wednesday and at a formal dinner at the Indian embassy Wednesday night. Nehru told newsmen who saw him off at Washington National Airport that he is confident his talks with Mr. Eisenhowfer will lead to “closer bonds of the mind, bonds of understanding and of friendship” between the world’s two largest democracies. The 150-word communique was couched in generalities and did not purport to give details of the Eisenhower-Nehru talks. It was known, however, that the discussions ranged over East-West relations. Far Eastern policies, including the sticky issue of Red China, the Middle East, disarmament, and other crucial world issues. A crowd of about 50 persons and an armed guard were at the airport for Nehru’s departure in the presidental airplane, the Columbine 111. Nehru said he was grateful to the President who took the occasion to have long and fruitful talks, and said he also wanted to express his gratitude to Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, to Undersecretary of State Herbert, Hoover, “and to all the other people whom I have met and who, I hope, I can call my friends.” “I am happy I came and sad at leaving,” Nehru concluded with a smile. Intimates of both leaders said the communique accurately reflected their beliefs that the talks were a big success in promoting mutual understanding even though no specific agreements were reached on the problems discussed. A high administration official said, "We are very pleased with Mr. Nehru’s visit.” Local Post Office Sets Mail Record All-Time Record On Christmas Mailing Leo Kirsch, Decatur postmaster, reported today that the local post office set an all-time record for the Christmas mail rush Monday when 51,288 letters were deposited by Decatur mailers and 558 parcels were mailed. Letter mail, including two and three-cent Christmas, cards, is larger than ever before in the history of the local office, according to comparative figures through Dec. 18. These figures show 254,874 pieces of mail this year, an increase of 42,109 over the figure of 212,765 at the same date last year. The postmaster e x press e d thanks to the many persons who have started to use first class mail with return addresses on their Christmas cards 2 and an early survey indicates fewer “undeliverable” cards this year. Christmas cards mailed first class or air mail and with return addresses insure forwarding or return service if any are undeliverable, whereas with two-cent stamps, undeliverable mail must be disposed of as waste. During the next three days, all postal employes will be set for the final rush, and Kirsch stated the post office will attempt to have all Christmas cards and parcels delivered by Christmas. Volunteer employes will deliver Christmas parcels on Christmas morning. Letter carrier helpers this year are: Ed Jaberg. assisting Tom Noll; Jack L. Welch, assisting Jay Martin; Adrian L. Baker, assisting Norbert Bleeke; John D. Neireiter, assisting Robert Light; Carl E. Haviland, assisting Harold Thieme; Fred R. Isch, assisting Carl (Coikuium on Page Seven) 14 Pages

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, December 20, 1956

United States Proposes Disarmament Talks Be Resumed Next Spring

Egypt Charge! French Deport 156 Egyptians Cancels Scheduled Prisoner Exchange With Anglo-French LONDON (UP)—Egypt accused France today of "deporting” 156 Egyptian officers ana men and called off a scheduled exchange of prisoners of war with the AngloFrench command. The accusation came amid indications of new delays in the United Nations assignment to open the blocked Suez Canal and get badly needed oil supplies flowing again to Western Europe. Authoritative sources in Cairo said Israel's refusal to give up the Gaza Strip may throw a major block in the negotiations for clearing the vital waterway. Postponement of the prisoner exchange scheduled for today was announced by an Egyptian government official in Cairo. He said the transfer of troops captured by both sides in the recent fighting was called off “because we have been informed that the French have deported 6 Egyptian officers and 150 soldiers.” The U.N. emergency force command was to act as the intermediary. Reports circulated in Egypt earlier this week that the French and (Continued on Page Seven) , Free Christmas Show Here Friday Afternoon The annual free Christmas show for Decatur school children will be held at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon at the Adams theater, Roy Kalver announced today. A full hour of the always popular cartoons and comedies will be on the program. While the management would like to entertain every kid in town, due to seating capacity the invitation to the show is limited to children from the first through the sixth grades, inclusive. No. tickets are necessary. Complete Evidence In Property Trial Rice Premises Are Visited By Jurors The eleven men and one woman on the jury for the land appropriation trial of the state of Indiana against Robert and Estella Rice were taken this morning to the Rice property on U. S. highway 27 north of Decatur to view the premises which figure in the trial. The presentation of testimony and evidence has been completed by both sides and the concluding arguments were to be given this afternoon by the counsels. The jury will then retire to study the evidence and to determine whether or not the original compensation awarded to the Rices by the appraisers is too high as is claimed by the state. The defendants claim that the compensation for the loss of 3.3 acres plus damage incurred during construction should be from $20,000 to $40,000. The trial is in its ninth day. A similar trial by the state against Mary Hobrock was originally scheduled to begin - Monday in Adams circuit court. It will be re-set for sometime in February. INDIANA WEATHER Mostly cloudy with little change in temperature tonight and Friday. Rain or drizzle tonight and in south and east portions Friday. Some fog again tonight. Low tonight 3240 north, 40-48 south. High Friday 38-44 north, 44-50 south. Sunset 5:23 p. m., sunrise Friday 8:02 a. m.

Retracts Confession To Murdering Boys Lie Detector Test Planned In Chicago CHICAGO (UP)— Police today planned a lie detector test for an alcoholic machinist who admitted taking part in the slaying of three Chicago boys and then retracted his confession when he sobered up. Erwin Staab, 32, wound up a three-day drunk Wednesday by stumbling into a police station to tell officers he was present when two drinking companions murdered the youths the night of Oct. 16, 1955. The murder of John Schuessler, 13, his brother, Anton, 11, and Robert Peterson. 13, touched off one of the most intensive manhunts in Chicago history. Staab dictated a three - page question and answer statement to authorities during hours of questioning. Police, who have run into a blank wall after months of investigation, called the confession “as hot as anything we’ve had in this case.” Authorities then gave Staab a tranquilizing drug and when he awoke four hours later, he recanted the statement and explained “I just talk that way when I’m drunk.” “We are going to let him rest as long as he wishes, with the hope that he can tell a clear 'Story” later today. Mor rig said. Half-Million Gift By Berne Resident Churches, Schools Benefit From Gift ; • - - - 1 ’ BERNE, Ind. TO — Mrs. Lucy Gilliom, widow of the late O. F. Gilliom, Wednesday announced a gift of a half-million dollars in stocks to be divided among religious organizations in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio. The gin is in the torm of 2,300 shares of stock in Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., Fort Wayne. Mrs. Gilliom’s husband was head of the Berne agency of the insurance company, a position now held by her son-in-law. Mrs. Gilliom stipulated that 1,000 shares of the stock be given to the First Mennonite Church at Berne, 500 to Cross Evangelical and Reformed Church at Berne, and the remaining 800 shares be divided between Bluffton College at Bluffton, Ohio, and the Meno, nite Biblical Society of Chicago. The gifts are to be used for building purposes only, Mrs. Gilliom said. Wafch Salesmen Fined Wednesday Pleaded Guilty To False Registration Theodore Braendle, 26, and Hans Ulrick Nydegger, 28, both of Switzerland, arrested on charges of false registration at a Decatur motel, changed their pleas of not guilty to guilty Wednesday afternoon in city court. Both were fined SIOO and given three montir’sentences, suspended. They were arrested after their sales of cheap watches at high prices aroused the suspicions of local authorities. They werre arraigned on the charges Tuesday afternoon after their arrest at a Decatur motel. They were released after posting SSOO bonds and then requested another appearance Wednesday afternoon to change their plans. They made a fabulous profit selling the cheaply purchased watches to Adams county residents, Most of their sales were made in the south part of the epunty where their ability to speak Swiss enabled them to gain the confidence of the people.

Nixon Visits Austrian Camp For Refugees Vice President Os United States On Inspection Visit VIENNA (UP)— Vice President Richard M. Nixon journeyed today with a massive security escort to a camp for Hungarian refugees only 11 miles from the Communist frontier. The trip from Vienna to Neusiedl, where the thousands fled to freedom from the Red terror in Hungary last month, took Nixon and his entourage slightly more than an hour. Neusiedl was Nixon’s first stop on a tour of Austrian refugee camps that may lead to a new U.S. open door policy on refugees. He was shown a map of the border area on which were marked the escape routes used by the refugees from communism. Nixon shook hands with local district officials at Neusiedl, who welcomed him to the border town. The vice president carried to Austria a message from Presidept Eisenhower to Chancellor Julius Raab praising Austria foi* opening its borders to the heavy inflow of refugees. - • The message also contained a promise from the president that he will do everything possible to help the refugees. Informed sources said his inspection visit rpay affect not only the 144,285 Hungarians who fled to Austria but a forgotten legion of many thousands more who fled Communism even before start of the Hungarian revolt. Nixon left Vienna after a brief round of courtesy visits with Chancellor Julius Raab and other top Austrian leaders. His first stop was Neusiedl, just 11 miles from the Hungarian border where thousands fled to freedom across the desolate marshland. Stays Clear of Border If he wants, reluctant Austrian officials will take him right along the Iron Curtain, but they would prefer the safer inland route. Nix(Continued on Page Seven/ Mrs. Sarah Meyer Is Taken By Death Funeral Services Saturday Afternoon Mrs. Sarah Meyer, 92, lifelong resident of Wells county, died at 4:30 p. m. Wednesday at the home of a daughter, Mrs. William Troxel, in Bluffton, after an illness of two weeks. Her husband, Obed Meyer, to whom she was marrie’d Nov. 25, 1888, preceded her in death in 1908. Mrs. Meyer was a member of the Apostolic Christian church. Surviving in addition to Mrs. Troxel, are six other daughters, the Misses Sylvia and Sophia Meyer of Elgin, Hl., Mrs. Arthur Scharlach and Mrs. Charles Speheger of Bluffton, Mrs. Jess Gannon, in Illinois, and Mrs. Aaron,. Scharlach of Fort Wayne; five sons, Dr. Theodore O. Meyer of Fort Wayne, Alvie W. Meyer of Bluffton, Adam, Jacob C. and Charles D. Meyer of Bluffton; 23 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchil-dren; two brothers, Jacob J. Klopfenstein of Bluffton and Joel Klopfenstein of Florida, and two sisters, t Mrs. Emma Baumgartner of Decatur, and Mrs. Elizabeth Brazier of Silverton, Ore. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p. m. Saturday at the Jahn, Goodwin & Reed funeral home in Bluffton and at 2 p. m. at the Apostolic Christian church, the Rev. Samuel Aeschliman officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 o’clock this evening.

Shoppers Scurry To Cover During Fight Convict And Cabbie Wounded In Battle NEW YORK TO - Hundreds of Christmas shoppers in the Bronx scurried for cover Wednesday night during a running gun battle between police and an exconvict gunman. The ex-convict and a cab driver were wounded. More than two dozen shots were fired. One bystander was grazed by a bullet. The shooting spree began when the gunman and three accomplices tried to stick up the taxi driver, David Suro, 49. Suro got quick attention from two radio potrolmen when he rammed their prowl car. Suro was shot twice by the gunman. The gunman fled the cab with two policemen in pursuit. They exchanged shots in a two-block chase in the crowded shopping area of Tremont and Webster Avenues. Police felled the bandit with five hits. He was identified as Leroy Frisco Keith, 42, on parole from an Ohio killing conviction and wanted in Ohio in connection with two other killings. His three accomplices, a man and,two women, fled the scene in the opposite direction. Police captured James T. Morris, 22, of Riverhead, N. Y# cowering under a parked , car. ' - ~ -er— Police later picked up the two women, night club singer Dorothy Chaney, 23, and dancer Elizabeth Ward, 18, both residents of Harlem. Police quoted them as saying the tour planned to go toFlorida with the proceeds of the holdup. Police said Keith was wanted in Ohio in connection with the killing of tw’o grocery clerks in Uniontown, during a robbery last Nov. 23 and for killing another man in Akron on Nov. 21. Both Keith and his victime, SurO, were in critical condition from their wounds. Suro was shot twice in the back. Winteregg Resigns From Zoning Board City Post Resigned By Coroner-Elect The resignation of Elmer Winteregg, Jr., from the city’s board of zoning appeals effective Jan. 1, was announced today by Mayor Robert Cole. Winteregg has served on the board for a year. In his letter of resignation he expressed appreciation for the confidence bestowed on him and for the cooperation of other board members. He stated that he was resigning because of his new office of county coroner which he takes over in January. Other members of the board, which studies all appeals for variances to the zoning laws, are Deane T. Dorwin, Robert Gay, Robert Yost and Charles Cloud. Members of this board and of the city planning commission serve without compensation. The planning commission is composed 1 of Dorwin. Gay, Kenneth Hirschy and Charles Kent. - Mayor Cole stated today that an appointment of a successor to Winteregg will be made and announced before the first of the year. The new member will fill the unexpired three years of Winteregg’s term. Local Lady's Father Is Taken By Death Mrs. John Z. Drake has returned to her home in this city from Hutchinson, Kan., where she was called by the illness and death of her father, R. H. Morton, 73, who died Saturday. Other survivors include two granddaughters, Judy and Janet Drake, of Decatur; his wife, Mrs. Bertie Morton, and two sons, John Morion of Protection, Kan., and W. P. Morton of Coldwater, Kan.

Proves Five Great Atomic ' Powers "Meet Lodge To Propose Private Talks Be Resumed In March UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (UP)— The United States proposed today that the five great atomic powers resume private talks on disarmament next March. U.S. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. told the United Nations Disarmament Commission that later in the General Assembly he would move formally that the subcommittee comprising the U.S., Russia, Britain, France and Canada start a new rounds of secret talks. The talks would begin after the current assembly session ends. He gave no hint of proposals the U.S. might be prepared to make at such a meeting. Hints have leaked out of Washington concerning new American disarmament proposals and at least one delegate—Yugoslavia’s Joza Brilej—said today the latest U.S. position was awaited with interest. Propose to Add Seats Soviet Ambassador Arkady A. Sobolev, who requested today’s brief meeting of the 12-nation commission, spoke four minutes and referred only in passing to the latest disarmament suggestions of Russian Premier Nikolai Bulganin. “I take it these proposals will be . considered by the General Assembly with all the attention they deserve,” he said. -The General Assembly was meeting at the same time to debate a proposal by 19 Latin-Ameri-can countries and Spain to add two non-permanent seats to the 11member Security Council. Add New Members The Assembly added Iraq, Colombia and Sweden to the Security Council Wednesday as the latest of the six non-permanent members. The 20 powers sought to break down Soviet opposition to expansion of the council ;by proposing a charter guarantee of one nonpermanent seat for Eastern Europe. A Latin-American source said the United States and British delegations supported this and the Soviet Union was expected to go along. Members On Rotating Basis The Security Council is now composed of five permanent members and six non-permanent seats, occupied by other countries on a rotating basis. Under the new proposal, seven non-permanent seats in addition to the one for Eastern Europe would be allocated as follows: Two for Asia-Africa, two for Western and Southern Europe, two for LatinAmerica and one for the British Commonwealth. Also on today’s agenda was an election to fill a vacancy on the International Court of Justice. Shigiru Kuriyama of Japan and Wellington koo of Nationalist China battled to a deadlock Wednesday and the voting was ' suspended to today. Monroeville Priest Killed In Accident KNOX, Ind. (IP) — The Rev. Fr. Augustyn Kondziela, 60, Monroeville, died today in Starke Memorial Hospital of injuries suffered a week ago in a head-on auto collision on Ind. 421 at San Pierre. —_ ,■ „■> —......—.- [ •• Pc hrWntob?Grecfiiwto>!

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