Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 55, Number 64, Decatur, Adams County, 16 March 1957 — Page 1

Vol. LV No. 64.

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HUNDREDS OF SACKS OF POTATOES were strewn over the Nickel Plate crossing at 13th street at 4:30 p. m. Friday when a'freight train art in two a semi-truck being driven by Paul Hammond, fruit market manager in Decatur*. Hammond and his eight-year-old nephew, Gary Hammond, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Hammond, were not injured in the wreck, except for a small cut near Gary’s right eye. A load of 800 sacks’ of potatoes had just been delivered to Hammond’s city market, and the driver, who was very sleepy, paid Hammond to drive the truck out to his market near Monroe. Hammond stated that the flasher signal was not working, and that he did not see the train until the train blew its whistle just a few feet from the truck. Hie semi was cut in two, and completely destroyed, but the cab was not damaged extensively* (Photo by Vernon Ginter)

Says Congress To Blame For Rising Costs Administration And Congress Seek To Blame Each Other WASHINGTON (UP)—Congress and the administration sought to day to blame each other for the rising cost of big government. Assistant Budget Director Robert E. Merriam said Congress was at fault because it kept creating costly new nrograms. He told a House Civil Service Committee Friday that the administration had cut to “rock bottom” the budget for its civilian agencies. Sen. Harry F. Byrd (D-Va), leader of the Senate economy bloc, charged the administration’s "luxury budget” was ’padded. . . all down die line” and would launch 24 new programs and expand 14 others. He called for a $5 billion budget reduction. Merriam said the only way Congress can deflate President Eisenhower’s record 71.8 billion peacetime budget was to stop handing the administration new programs and to quit enlarging others. __ Rep. Richard M. Simpson (RPa), chairman of the GOP House Campaign Committee, said he was “stunned” by the size of the budget. He said the people no longer look to the executive but to Odfigress to reduce spending and cut taxes. Other congressional news: FarmrChairman Jamie L. Whitten (D*Miss) of the House Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee predicted Congress would scale down the administration's farm budget for the first time since Mr. Eisenhower took office. He said he expected little help from * Secretary of Agriculture Ezra T. Benson in cutting the farm budget. He indicated the subcommittee would aim its economy knife at funds requested by Benson to hire additional workers. Rackets: Teamsters Union Presdent Dave Beck promised Senate rackets investigators they would have to wait until Wednesday for an answer on whether he will turn over his personal financial records. Beck said he wanted to confer with his lawyers first. The committee had called for an immediate answer. It has recessed until Tuesday Educational TV: Members of the Fed era 1 Communications Commission told the Senate Commerce Committee that legislation is needed for schools to retain unused television channels indefinitely. The FCC's present policy is to allow education institutions to keep the channels “as long as they express some form of interest in their continuation.” Housing: Federal Housing Chief Albert M. Cole told a House Banking subcommittee the government is considering whether to lower required downpayments on (CoattMoO Pare Fira) ,

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT • »■ « 1 .■ ■ .4 i- ’ 1 ' i. ~»■ I ’ <* •

Train, Semi-Truck Collide Here Friday Local Man, Nephew Escape Uninjured Ppul E. Hammond, 29, of 919 North Second street, and his nephew, Gary W. Hammond, of 263 Park Place, narrowly escaped death Friday at 4.25 p.m. when the semi-truck in which they were riding was struck by a train. * The accident occurred on 13th street at the crossing of the New York, Chicago and St. Louis (Nickel Plate) railroad. The truck, driven by Paul Hammond, was hit by a slow moving freight train. The impact cut the trailer of the truck in two, completely destroying a load of potatoes. Also destroyed was the north flasher signal of the railway crossing. Hammond told the investigating police that he approached the crossing, stopped and then started across He stated that the flasher signal was not in operation and that he did not see the train approaching. He alleged that the only signal was the train whistle which he heard after he was on the tracks. The engineer of the train, Charley Weaver of Frankfort, and other crew members stated that the flasher signals were working.-,The investigating police officer, Grover Odle, stated that the south signal was flashing wheh he arrived to investigate. The engineer stated that the train was moving at olny five I miles per hour. The engine hit the trailer in the mid-section. The cab of the truck was not damaged. Gary Hammond sustained a cut over his right eye but did not require hospitalization. The driver was not injured. Damage totalled several thousand dollars. Damage was estimated at $5,000 to the touch. $1,500 to the engine and S4OO to the one flasher signal. Marion Smith Dies At Michigan Home Friends have received word of the recent death of Marion Smith, 78, native of Decatur and member of a pioneer Adams county family. He died Feb. 28 at his home in Owasso, Mich. Survivors include three sister, Mrs. Charles Knapp, who is spending, the winter in Savannah. Ga., Mrs. Noradell Grumble of Paupac, Pa., and Mrs. John Ralston of Svannah, Ga. Evansville Harried By Safe Crackings EVANSVILLE, Ind. (UP) — A “state of emergency” was in effect here today in the wake of a string of safe crackings that netted buaglars more than $14,000 the past few weeks. Mayor Vance Hartke conferred with his Safety Board Friday, then ordered police leaves and days off cancelled. Police listed 35 burglaries. including five Thursday. "noon edition

Al Least Nine Are Killed In Wintry Storm Huge Snow Drifts Are Reported In Minnesoto-Today By UNITED PRESS A mass of wintriness huffed and puffed its way eastward today, following the Midwest to recuperate from a hetic tussle with ’h March storm. The heavens lit up in part of the South Friday night as temperatures began to tumble in the East. Residents in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama reported seeing a blazing meteor flash across the sky. Chunks of it reportedly fell in various parts of Louisiana. ' The chilly air touched off a line of showers from eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, northeastwards into New England. But the departing frostiness left at least nine persons dead in its wake in the Midwest. Minnesota reported five deaths and lowa had four, all due to traffic accidents. Snow, lashed by high winds buried towns and buffeted travellers; Snow drifts of 23 inches at Wadena, Minn, and 14 inches at Aitkin ,Minn., topped the height of pileups which started melting today. Icy air, which had accompanied the stdftn, was sucked down into the Ohio Valley, and stretched as far south as northern Alabama and Mississippi. Noah W. Fry Dies At Hospital Today Funeral Services Monday Morning Noah W. Fry, 78, who resided on South First street for many years, died at 6:15 o’clock this morning at the Adams county memorial hospital. He had been in failing health for the past year. rßorn at Willshire, 0., Aug. 31, 1878, he had resided in Decatur for many years. He was last employed as custodian of the Odd Fellows lodge. His wife, Jesse, died May 17, 1951. Only near surviving relative is a brother, Henry Fry of Rookford, 111. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 o’clock Monday morning at the Zwick funeral home, the Rev: Ray J. Walther officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p. m. Sunday until time of the services. INDIANA WEATHER Fair tonight and Sunday. Warmer Sunday. Law tonight 32-37. High Sunday 55-47. Outlook for Monday: Partly cloudy and mild.

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Decatur. Indiana. Saturday, March 16,1957

France, Israel Confer On Joint Strategy In Current Gaza Dispute

Beck To Delay In Answering Senate Demand Meet With Lawyers Tuesday, To Answer ‘ Senate Wednesday WASHINGTON (UP) — Defiant Teamsters Union President Dave Beck today planned a 96-hour delay in answering a Senate demand that he say immediately when he Will turn over his personal financial records. Beck said he will meet with his’ lawyers Tuesday and will inform the Senate Rackets Committee Wednesday whether he will surrender the long-sought records. The leader of 1.4 million Teamsters said Friday night at Seattle, Wash., that he had informed the committee of his plans in a telegram to Committee Chairman John L. McClellan (D-Ark). Beck issued his statement as a federal grand jury weighed FBI charges that Beck’s heir apparent —Midwest Teamster czar James R. Hoffa—bribed a Rackets Committee investigator to filch documents from secret committee files. Hoffa’s Secretary Testifies Nta. Dortthy DobresCu, Hoffa’s auburn-haired secretary, appeared before the grand jury for 30 minutes Friday. Afterwards, she told newsmen that she "answered everything.” The 36-year-old secretary, who Is under $25,000 bond as a material witness, returned to Detroit. So did her boss. In Chicago Friday night, AFLCIO Secretary-Treasurer William F. Schnitzler said organized labor will wipe out corruption in its own ranks "with stern action and without panic.’’ He told the National Council of Presbyterian Men that "we know that the number of corrupt individuals in the American labor movement is indeed tiny but we know as well that even one is too many.” The AFL-CIO Ethical Practices Committee put Schnitzler’s words into action earlier in the day by opening an investigation of corruption charges against the 160,-000-member Bakery and Confectionary Workers Union. McClellan demanded Friday that Beck notify him immediately when the beefy union president would turn over his personal records which the committee has been seeking for a month. McClellen said he would issue a subpena for the records if Beck did not produce them voluntarily. Beck, Duff To Confer Beck said in Seattle he would have no objection to a "legal and proper” subpena but wanted to confer with attorneys before giving up his records voluntarily. He said that among the attorneys with whom he will confer Tuesday will be former Sen. James H. Duff (R-Pa). If Beck wants, he could invoke the Fifth Amendment and refuse to produce his personal records. Witnesses have done that successfully in other congressional investigations. But it would require an admission that the records con(Caatinued Pace Five)

Lenten Meditation “EPITAPH” •‘Hie wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be intreated, full of mercy.” —Jas. 3:17 I , An epitaph in Westminster Abbey may well serve as a modern witness to the truth of this ancient text. It marks the last resting place of an English poet. "Here lieth the ashes of Mr. John Gay, the warmest friend, the gentlest companion, the most benevolent of men: who maintained independency in low circumstances of fortune, integrity in. the midst of a corrupt and that equal serepity of mind, wnlch conscious goodness alone can give, through the whole course of his life.” These words speak of refreshing qualities of the human spirit that inspire the living and make the memory blessed. Few things that we leave behind can be more valuable than this. No inheritance can compare with a character that quietly withstands both adversity and corruption.. No estate’equals the respect of men •and the love of God. No wealth is like that of a good name and gentle, serene spirit The race in the end is not always to the aggressive or the successful. But to those who love God and their fellow men.

Art Exhibit, Music Program Given Here Good Growd Attends Exhibit On Friday A crowd of approximately 800 persons attended the art exhibit and musical program presented at the Decatur high school gymnasium Friday evening. Preceding the musical program numerous works of art were exhibited, including oil paintings, pictures in water colors, mosaics, casein, pastels, wire sculpture, and ceramics. - * Oil paintings on display were done by Miss Isabel White, Mrs. Roy Heller, Ruth Kiess, Wilma Andrews, John Sheets, Hubert Feasel, Katherine Anker, Jim Callow, Mrs. John T. Myers, Harry Brown, C. I. Finlayson, Jeannie Finlayson, Vivian McCammon, Mrs. Guy Brown, Mrs. J. Ward Calland, Justine Everhart, Mrs. Forest Murray, Mrs. Ervin Stucky, Kathleen Kiess, Ann Allison, Mary Jane Runyon, Janet Winteregg, Rosemary Baker, Maryann Zwick, H. R. Frey, Jeanne Agler, Mrs. Grace Burns, Paul S. Plikerd, Mrs. Julius Brite, Mrs. George Cramer, Martha McGeath, Mrs. Grace Allwein, Rose Bollinger, Thelma Bilderback and Mary Knittie. / Exhibits of water painting were fey Deanne turdette,’lsabel White, Hubert Feasel, Mrs. Grace Allwein, and Myra Black, and a mosaic was on display by Kathryn Morris. Hubert Feasel also had several casein works on dusplay. Mrs. John T. Myers displayed a picture in pastel, and Jim Callow exhibited unusul pieces of wire sculpture. Ceramics displayed were done by Paula Strickler, Betty Ann Haugk, Sandy Strickler, Sue Strickler, Helen Bair, Phyllis Jennings, Wanda Jennings, Kathryn Hott, Jane Jennings, Bess Boch, Mrs. Ned Myers, Mrs. Bill Heidenrick, Mrs. Arthur Girod, Dennis Girod, Terry Girod, Mrs. Bill Howell, Teresa Howell, Sherry Howell, Nancy Helm, Joyce Helm, Mrs. Dale Death, Joan Johnson, Mrs. Dick Jackson, Mrs. Dick Gehrig and Helen Howell. The junior band, directed by Clint Reed, opened the musical program which followed, by playing “Abide With Me,” and the "Meadowland March.” This was followed by the sixth and seventh grade choir, under the direction of Miss Helen Haubold, singing “I Like It Here,” and accompanied by the band, "Battle Hymn of the Republic.” W. Guy Brown, superintendent of schools, briefly addressed the group, after which a free will offering was taken, to help finance the band, ar* "lasses, and choir treasuries. The Decatur nigh school band presented the next part of the program. Here selections included "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue,” with Kay Wynn at the piano. Ann Kocher was vibra-harp soloist, and Jerry Kehr was the clarinet soloist. “How a fugue is written” was demonstrated by the band, with Jack Barlett and John Sheets doing the art work. Variations of the theme “Three Blind Mice” was presented, featuring happy mice, (Continued on Page Six) ■-

Hoffa Refuses To Comment On Bribery Charge Declines Comment On Bribery Charge On Senate Lawyer DETROIT (IF — James R. Hoffa, "crown prince” of the Teamsters union, was back in his own bailiwick today (blit refused to comment on charges he bribed a Senate committee lawyer in Washington to filch secret documents from the committee files. The Teamster vice president, free on $25,000 bail, flew back to Detroit Friday and smilingly announced “No comment,” or simply "No,” to most questions put to him by reporters who met him at Willow Run Airport. Hoffa and three other local labor leaders on the plane were met by three Teamsters bodyguards who drove them to Detroit in one of the Cadillacs in the Teamster fleet. When asked whether he had been called before the grand jury which is investigating the bribery charges against him, Hoffa said. "No, a«ri the less, said about it the better.” "I made a statement for the records,” Hoffa said. "I don’t want to discuss it any further because it is a court case and will be tried in court.” He said “to my knowledge” the Rackets committee has not issued any subpenas for either him or the union records in Detroit. Hoffa was arrested Wednesday night in a Washington hotel; ph charges of paying a Senate committee investigator $3,000 of jt promised 418,000 to spy on the committee’s investigation of Teamster affairs. (Continuea on Face Six) Two Are Killed As Car, Track Collide INDIANAPOLIS (UP) — Veachel H. Turner, 31, Indianapolis, and his nephew. Mervin Turner, 19, Thompkinsville, Ky., were killed today when their automobile and I a big truck collided at a city street intersection. Their cousin,-Homer Turner, 35, Indianapolis, was injured critically, and three other persons Htfing in the rear seat were hurt slightly. 1 Frank A. Jennings Dies This Morning Funeral Services Mdndoy Afternoon ■ Frank A. Jennings, 47, of Monroe street extended, and maintenance man for the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. for the past 13 years, died at 6:45 o’clock this morning at the Adams county memorial hospital. He had been 111 of complications for eight months. He was born in Panama, Hl., April 27, 1909, a son of William and Cora Hume-Jennings, and was married to Phyllis Highland Dec. 26. 1928. He graduated from Panama high school and moved to Decatur in 1930. He was employed at the city power plant and at the General Electric Co. before joining the gas company. Surviving in addition to his wife are his parents, who reside in Panama, Bl.; two sons, Kennetif D. Jennings of Decatur, and Larry E. Jnenings of Bloomington, Hl.; one daughter, Jane Kay, at home; three grandchildren, and one sister. Mrs. Jean Piazza of Chicago, 111. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at the Zwick funeral home, the Rev. Lawrence T. Norris officiating. Burial will be in'the Decatur cemetery. Friends may can at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Sunday until time of the services.

Abbott Execution Stirs Resentment Vain Effort Made To Stay Execution ’’ SAN QUENTIN PRISON, Calif. (UP)—A few tiny pellets of cyanide dropped in San Quentin’s gas chamber produced a splash of resentment today that could end capital punishment in California. The pellets loosed deadly gas that seeped up from a vat of hydrochloric acid to end the life of convicted kidnap-slayer Burton W. Abbott—at the same minute that Gov. Goodwin J. Knight, was trying vainly to delay his death. Knight, who was cruising off the California coast aboard the aircraft carrier Hancock, was attempting to stay Abbott's execution to give his attorneys time to raise a final question in the courts. A. telephone call to- the gas chamber came after the tiny pellets had been dropped. Chamber Must Stay Closed Prison authorities said that the construction of the gas chamber is such that it cannot ne opened after the dropping of the pellets until all gas has been pumped out —approximately an hour and a half later. Abbott, a 28-year-old University of California accounting student, went to his death calmly, insisting to the end he was not responsible for the kidnaping and murder of Stephanie Bryan, 14-year-old Berkeley, Calif., schoolgirl in 1955. The sequence of events in the prison was chilling. Abbott was strapped into the chair at 11:15 a.m. The pellets were dropped at 11:18 a.m. The call from the governor’s clemency office in Sacramento came at 11:19 a.m. • At that minute, Abbott’s battle to escape the executioner was over—but a new fight over California’s controversial death penalty broke out on several fronts. State Atty. Gen. Edmund G. Brown said that his observations led him to doubt that capital punishment has a deterrent effect on crime. Asks 5-year Moratorium “Rather than being a deterrent, capital punishment has given official approval to the taking of life (Coatißaed oa Face Ftve) Civic Musk Drive Ends This Evening Memhershio Drive r To Close Tonight The Adams Countv Civic Music Association enters the final dav of its current camnM<m for membershins to the 1957-58 series of concerts to be held at the Decatur Youth and Community Center between October and Aoril of next winter. The more than 100 volunteer workers are uraed to make final reoorts to the in the Communitv Center and turn in all memberships and kits before the 6 o. m. deadline todav. Interested persons wanting memberships are reminded that) they must get their checks to the Civic Music headauarters before the books are closed for another year. A call to headquarters, phone 3-3116, will have one of a corps of Volunteer workers call for membership dues prior to the 6 p. m. closing hour. Reports turned in to date, following the two report days, give all indications that the current drive will be as Successful as the initial drive last season, with a sizeable waiting list being established for those too late in turning their dues into the association. The artist series for the 1957-58 season will be announced immediately after the conclusion of the drive. Tabulations at the ballots and the number of memberships will be made following the drive Saturday evening at which time the artists will be contracted for and announced Monday. Concerts will definitely be on the same popular vein as they were this first year and all concerts will be the type everybody knows and loves, association lead- < ers assured. i

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Gaza Dispute Feared Near Boiling Point French And Israeli Officials Meet In Paris On Situation By EUGENE McLOUGHLIN United Press Staff Correspondent French and Israeli officials huddled in Paris today to plan joint emergency strategy in the Gaza dispute against their common enemy —' Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Israeli Foreign Minister Mrs. Golda Meir, en route from Tel Aviv to New York, interrupted her trip suddenly in Paris for talks with French Premier Guy Mollet and Foreign Affairs Secretary General Louis Joxe. France has been Israel’s most constant and enthusiastic support-' er in the Middle East crisis and there was little doubt Mrs. Meir would win renewed support today. It was likely she would ask Mollet to pressure the united States to give Israel similar support Continuing to New York She planned to continue from Paris to New York for talks with ; UN Secretary < Generai Dag Hammarskjold and U. S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles. There were no outward signs of trouble in the Middle East today but statements by Egyptian and Israeli officials over the Gaza situation indicated things were coming to a boiling point. In Jerusalem, Ishar Harari, a leader of Israel’s delegation to the United Nations, told United Press that Egyptian reoccupation of the "" Gaza Strip has given Israel the moral right to take back the territory — within 48 hours if it chooses. But Egypt was so firmly “back in” the disputed strip that the UN Emergency Force was looking for a new Gaza headquarters today. UNEF decided Friday night it would turn over the government building to Egyptian officials under Maj. Gen. Abdel Latif who weere sent in to assume civil administration. Arabia Challenges Israeli Ships An announcement broadcast by Cairo Radio that Saudi Arabia win “take all measures” to bar Israel from rights of free navigation on (Continued on Pago Six) Navy Blimp Sets Up Two World Records Blimp Shows Worth In Nation's Defense KEY WEST, Fla. (W — A cigarshaped Navy blimp ended its tedious 11-day journey here Friday night with two world records to its credit, but its commander said the new marks were just “Incidental” to the main purpose of the flight. Cmdr. Jack R. Hunt of Rolling Hills, Calif., said the long trip proved the ZPG-2 blimp’s worth as a first-line unit in the radar screen of defense around the borders of the United States. Hunt was presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross by retired Adm. William F. (Bull) Halsey when the blimp anchored here Friday evening to end a 264-hour and 12-minute voyage. "We were able to evaluate the ability of the air ship to operate under all weather conditions ... to show its worth as a first line in the radar screen defense of our country,” Hunt said. “The records were just incidental.” But two records did fall as a result of the historic three-conti-nent voyage from South Weymont. Mass., to Key West, which began March 4. The time aloft broke the record of 200 hours previously set by a similar naval dirigible which landed here in May, 1854. And the helium-filled ZPG-2 covered an official 8,216 miles in the 11-day trip, wiping out the record 6,890 miles set by the famed Graf Zeppelin in 1929.