Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 55, Number 161, Decatur, Adams County, 10 July 1957 — Page 1

‘ Vol. LV. No. 161 \

FACE LONG CIVIL RIGHTS FIGHT

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WITH ‘ROUND-THE-CLOCK debate in prospect, Sen, Richard Russell (D), of Georgia (right) and Sen. Allen J. EUender (D), La., discuss the controversial Civil Rights BiU which is before the Senate. President Eisenhower has endorsed GOP strategy to keep Congress at work until the bill is voted, but did not bar amendments to the measure.

Secret File On Girard Case Is Revealed Today Defense Department Secret Files Show Stories Conflict WASHINGTON (UP) — The secret Defense Department file on William S. Girard shows that the Army specialist third class claimed he fired from the hip and over the head ot the Japanese woman he killed. Girard also said he did not believe the empty cartridge he fired would hurt anyone even if it hit them. He acknowledged he knew the grenade launcher he used to hurl the cartridge like a missile was accurate and that it would fire an empty _ shell “quite But the ' file also contains * sworn statement by Girardis Army buddy, Specialist 3-c Victor M. Nickel, that Girard fired from the shoulder after aiming directly at the woman, JLNickel, who was with Girard when Girard fired the fatal shot, also said he and Girard first coaxed the woman and other Japanese civilians close enough so Girard “could take a shot at them.” A copy of the secret Defense Department file—lo pages in all—was made available to the United Press today. Other copies were given to the Supreme Court as part of the evidence on which it could base its decision on whether Girard should be tried by a U. S. Army court martial or a Japanese court. Eight Supreme Court justices conferred for two and a half hours on the case Tuesday morning and another two hours in the afternoon. There was no indication when the court will rule- The ninth justice, William O. Douglas, is on a tour of the near east. According to the Defense Department report, Girard also claimed he was ordered to get the Japanese away from a machine gun he and Nickel were guarding at the time of the incident. He said, however, he was not ordered to shoot at them. Army investigators said they could locate no evidence to support Girard's claim he was ordered to drive the Japanese away. Nickel said the Japanese civilians were just collecting empty brass cartridge cases “so there was no need of chasing them away. I Nickel, according to the report, said he threw some of the empty shells towards the Japanese to entice them to come closer. He said Girard did. not titrow any of the shells. “Girard did, however, beckon and call to the oeople," Nickel said, Continued On Page Five Local Man's Father " Dies In Marion, 0. Harry A. Snyder, of 607 West Monroe street, received word Tuesday evening of the death of his father, Earl Snyder, of Marion, Ohio. The elder Mr. Snyder suffered a fatal heart attack in a doctor’s office in the Marion clinic where he had gone for a checkup, at approximately 2 p.m. He had been in ill health for the past three years, but death was unexpected. A retired labored, Mr. Snyder had resided in the Marion community for more than 47 years. His wife. Gay Snyder, died March 17, 1947. Surviving besides the son residing in Decatur, are another son, Paul Snyder, of Jackson, Mich.; one grandchild, two brothers and three sisters. Funeral arrangements have not been completed. «a»

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

House Okays Barter Os Farm Surpluses Compromise Bill Is Approved By House WASHINGTON (UP)—The House has approved an administration request for authority to barter American farm surpluses to Iron Curtain countries for strategic materials. It took the action Thursday in passing a compromise $1,300,000,000 bill to revive and extend for another year the farm surplus disposal program which lapsed June 30. ' The legislation would permit such barter deals with all Communist countries except Soviet Russia, Communist China and countries controlled by Communist China. The measure was a compromise between a Senate bill which contained the new bartering authority . in somewhat broader form, and a House bill which did not. , The , bill now goes to the Senate ' for final congressional action. Senate approval would allow the administration to complete the second half of a controversial 95-mil-lion-dollar agreement to provide Communist Poland with loans and sale of American farm surpluses for Polish currency. The bill would authorize the Agriculture Department to sell an additional one billion dollars worth of American farm surpuses for foreign currencies and to give away an additional 300 millicm dollars worth to needy peoples abroad. , The foreign currency sales, officials said, would enable the gov- ; ernment to sell Poland 46 millicm i dollars worth of surplus American wheat and cotton for Polish zlottys, « as provided by the U.S.-Polish i agreement. The sale of surpluses for foreign currencies to Soviet - dominated areas will continue to be prohibited. Poland qualified only because the State Department ruled that country now qualifies as friendly since it has moved somewhat away from the Kremlin. First Polio Case Reported In County Jim Price Stricken, Non-Paralytic Type The first polio case for 1957 in Adams county was reported to the Indiana state board of health earlier this week. Victim of the disease is 23-year- , old Jim Price, son of Mr. and Mrs: , Roy Price, of route 6, Decatur. Price became ill June 28, with what was believed to be a bad cold and severe headache. His case 1 was later diagnosed as non-para- ’ lytic polio, and the youth was tak- ; en seriously ill Monday and Tuesday of last week. His temperature dropped to near 1 normal Wednesday of last week, and his mother reported today that ( it has stayed that way. A complete physical examination earlier this week showed that he is completely , normgl again, and no muscles were affected by the dread disease. Polio is nothing new to the well- , known Adams county athlete, i When 12 years of age, he contracted paralytic polio, which affected 1 his left leg for many months. Aft- ’ era great deal of therapy and treatment, he regained full use of the leg. Rome City Youth Dies In Accident AY 1 ROME CITY (UP) Nick / George, 17, Rome City, was killed , Tuesday night when a pickup truck he was driving went out of control and skidded off a Noble county road west of here.

Sen. Russell Meets Ike On Civil Rights Southern Leader In Civil Rights Battle - Confers With Ike WASHINGTON (UP)—President Eisenhower assured the South today that the administration has no intention of launching a “punitive expedition” under its proposed civil rights law. Sen. Richard B. Russell (D-Ga.), leader of the southern fight against the controversial rights bill, took the opposition's case to the White House today. • He apparently failed to win Eisenhower's agreement to any major compromise. But he said the President’s mind is “not closed” to a “clarifying” amendment. “I found no intention of purpose on his part to go on any punitive expedition against the South,” the Georgia senator said after the 50-minute meeting. Russell declined to go into details of what kind of amendment the President would consider. Senate Republican Leader William F. Knowland said after a White House session Tuesday that his party would oppose confining the bill to a simple protection of voting rights. I The meeting came as Senate Republicans tightened party discipline and sought to maintain a solid front in the face of Democratic disunity over the billThe GOP leaders, it was reported, think the Republican Party now has established its claim to sponsorship of the civil rights bill and will reap credit for its passage if it breaks through an expected filibuster and reaches the White House. After Negro Vote This in turn, they believe, will mean further gains for the GOP among Negro voters who began deserting the Democratic standard for the GOP ticket in 1956, In order to maintain this position they feel they must maintain outward unity behind the measure. The Senate today was debating a motion by Senate GOP Leader William F. Knowland (Calif.) to consider the House-approved version of the' administration’s civil rights bill. The bill provides for a bipartisan commission to investigate alleged violations of voting rights and study ‘legal developments which constitute a denial" of civil rights, a new civil rights division in the Justice Department, authorty for the government to seek injunctions or other civil court action against conspiracies to deprive persons of their civil rights, and the same authority to halt violations or threatened violations of Negro voting rights by private individuals as well as public ofContiiMied On Page Five Delay Arraignment Os Smith, Mogilner Legal Moves Delay Arraignment Today INDIANAPOLIS (UP)-Arraign-ment of former highway chairman Virgil (Red)- Smith and “Gio" salesman Arthur J. Mogilner on bribery charges in the Indiana highway scandal was delayed today by legal moves of their attorneys. Mogilner and his lawyer appeared in Marion Criminal Court this morning and asked for a delay to July 22 to give them time to prepare \ motions to quash a 12count indictment. The indictment was returned recently by a grand jury which said Mogilner sold more than a million dollars worth of equipment to the state during the administration of former Gov. George Craig and gave more than $41,000 of his profits to Smith. Judge Pro Tern Keith Reese granted the delay. Smith's attorney filed a quash motion Tuesday in a bid to throw out a 6-count indictment of bribery against the ex-chairman. Prosecutor John G. Tinder, who directed the grand jury investigation which resulted in the indictments as well as others, asked the court to rule as promptly as possible on the motions. Tinder said the prosecution “will beat down each move as fast as we can ” Injuries Fatal To Union City Resident UNION CITY (W — Merle Hart,. 63, Union City, died in Memorial hospital Monday night of injuries /sustained July 6 when he was struck tyy a home made trailer which broke loose from the back of a car. Hart was mowing the lawn at his home when hit by the runaway vehicle. 1

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY — —— « I ■ 1

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, July 10,1957

Over Million Acres Os X Indiana Crops Ruined By Floods, Heavy Rain

i ' ■ ... ■ - Jewish Couple Given Child's legal Custody Melvin Ellises Win Five-Year Fight To Adopt Young Hildy MIAMI Florida Circuit judge today awarded the Melvin B. Ellises legal custody of 6-year-old Hildy McCoy, ending the Jewish couple’s five-year interfaith fight to keep the child they have raised from infancy. Judge John Prunty ruled that the Ellises, who fled their home and business in Massachusetts, rather than give up the freckledfaced youngster, are "proper persons’’ to adopt Hildy, whose natural mother was a Roman Catholic. The Ellises were not in court when Prunty announced his decision. But Mrs. Ellis, reached by telephone, sobbed: “Our attorney just telephoned me that it is now Hildy Ellis. It has been a long time —six long years.” The Florida Welfare Department on Monday recommended that the Ellises be given the child. The I report said that to ‘separate the child from the only parents she has ever known . . . would ®r I serious damage to her emotional ’ security.” The report cited the » Ellises “excellent reputation, adequate income and better than avl erage home” in recommending the adoption. Prunty said the best interests of Hildy would be promoted by the adoption. He said that as of this date she is the legal heir of the Ellises and that hereafter “will be known as Hildy Ellis." The state of Massachusetts and the natural mother, Marjorie McCoy, had contested the adoption of the child, who was born out of wedlock in Boston. The Ellises got the child 10 days after she was born. But the natural mother began court action against the Ellises’ adoption petition in Massachusetts, claiming she did not know the Ellises were Jewish when she gave up Hildy. She said she wanted the child to be raised by a Catholic family, but expressed no desire to rear the child herself. , Bitter legal hassling over the child’s future in Massachusetts came to a climax when the state Supreme Court there ruled against the Ellises in 1955, when Hildy was 4 years old. ■Die Ellises fled the state with Hildy, living in several cities before settling in Miami Beach quietly a year ago. They were traced to Florida by Massachusetts thoritiesDisabled Vets Will Name New Officers To Elect, Install Officers Thursday Election and installation of new officers for the Disabled American Veterans, post 91, will be held at the D.A.V. hall Thursday nt 8 p. m., it was announced today. Only contested offices are for commander and the three-year trustee. Victor Steiner, of Berne, and Jerome Heimann, of Decatur, have both been previously nominated for the post of commander. Seeking the position of three-year trustee are Melvin Tinkham and Rufus Sommer. Others nominated for office Include Mel Tinkham, senior vicecommander; Vaughn King, first junior vice-commander; Rufus Sommer, second junior vice-com-mander; Herald Hitchcock, treasurer; Norman Buettner, chaplain; Fred Pomerenke, sergeant-at-arms, and Paul Wietfeldt,. officer of day. ■ ’ Installing officer will be A. L. Croy, past department commander of Ohio. A luncheon will be served following the installation ceremonies..

Severe Storms Hit Colorado And Kansas Fair Weather Over Most Os Country By UNITED PRESS Locally severe storms Mt sections of Colorado and Kansas toflhy to tnar an otherwise generally fair weather picture over most of the nation. A downpour early today flooded Sections of south and southwest ■ Topeka, Kan., farcing evacuation ’ of some families In the Knollwood . area. The rain blocked a highway . squth of Topeka and sent the , Shunganunga River climbing to , about three-quarters bankfull. A number of tornado funnels . were sighted in Colorado during the bight, but there were no reports of damage. However, the storm front piled hail stones a foot deep near Simla and Calhan, Colo., and LaJunta, Colo, was doused by three quarters of an inch of rain. Heavy rain also blocked roads at West Kanorado, Kan., and lightning accompanying the storm knocked out telephone communications in the community. Elsewhere, rainfall was scatI tered and mostly light, although locally heavier rain deposited 1.12 inches at Cape Hatteras, N.C., and '.38 inches at Memphis, Tenn. Cool temperatures prevailed 'north of the Ohio River from the > Mississippi to the Atlantic Coast. a fresh wave of hotj Jtiumfd : air penetrated North Dakbat and ■ western Minnesota and threatened to spread eastward. A layer of warm, muggy air also ! blanketed the South from Texas I through the Gulf States to the Mid- ' die and South Atlantic coastal : states. Cooler Air Brings Europe Heat Relief Heat Blamed For Over 400 Deaths LONDON (UP)—Cooling breezes from the north Atlantic today brought a measure of relief to Europe, which has sweltered in the grip of a 10-day heat wave that claimed more than 400 lives. Only in Italy, where police estimated at least 200 persons had died, were temperatures in the 90’s forecast Elsewhere weathermen reported temperatures dropping rapidly as the cool air front moved inland. - Italy was hardest hit by the scorching sun which sent the mercury soaring to record highs. The heat turned three homes for the aged in Milan into death pits for 65 men and women Tuesday. Shocked civic authorities ordered air conditioning equipment installed in the homes as soon as posComing after the deaths of 16 other aged in homes in Venice and Bologna, the Milan tragedy sparked demands for reappraslal of the buildings housing old folks. Vienna police reported 46 persons died from sunstroke, drownings or in accidents attributed to the heat during the past week. Millions of dollars of crops were burned in the fields by the blazing sun. In Vienna, which recorded a record 104 degrees Monday, temperatures dropped sharply during the night to 75. Temperatures in Switzerland also dropped, particularly in the Alpine regions. Police reported more than 35 persons drowned over the weekend while seeking relief. West Germany counted at least 25 dead as a result of the heat. Belgium reported at least 30 deaths. Other West European countries also reported deaths as a result of the heat. INDIANA WEATHER Fair, not quite so cool northwest tonight Thursday partly cloudy and warmer. Low tonight 54-63. High Thursday 84-90. Outlook for Friday: Partly cloudy and warmer. Low Thursday night 62-68. High Friday 88-94. Sunset tonight 8:14 p. m., sunrise Thursday 5:25 a. m.

Israel Reports Artillery Duel *■ Along Border Israel Says 10-Hour Artillery Duel Leads To Grave Situation JERUSALEM (UP)-Cairo Radio reported today the supreme Arab command had gone to the IsraeliSyrian border where Israeli officials said a 10-hour artillery duel had created a “grave situation-” Cairo Radio, broadcasting In Hebrew, announced that Egypt had “taken all steps' needed to go to Syria’s aid should such aid be required.” Syria and Egypt are linked by military pact and have a joint military command. The broadcast said the high command had taken over “personal supervision” of the border area. Sniping was reported along the border today but officials said the situation generally was quiet and that U.N. officials were investigating Tuesday’s clash. One of seven persons wounded in Tuesday’s battling was reported today to be in "very critical condition.” t Reports circulated in Jerusalem that the Soviet Union was urging Syria on to further attacks on Israeli villages, but there ; was no official confirmation here. But the officials said it was unlikely Tuesday’s 10-hour artillery duel would precipitate an all out war; observers thought it more likely Israeli troops might attack, occupy and destroy the Syrian positions then retire across the border into Israel. Syrian and Israeli troops bombarded each other for 10 hours Tuesday across their mountainous farmland frontier. The fighting did not end until United Nations truce observers ordered a sixth cease fire. Each side blamed the other. Israeli sources said the battle started when Israeli police attempted to investigate a strip of no man’s land illegally plowed up by Syrian farmers last week- They said Syrian troops opened up with artillery and mortars and that Israel was forced to reply. (The Syrian account was different. A spokesman in Damascus said the duel started when an Israeli force equipped with armored cars entered Syrian territory. He said Israel ignored a U. N. cease fire arter the Syrians obeyed it and that Syrian troops were forced to resume firing in self defense.) The Israeli army reported an Israeli civilian killed and seven Continued On Page Five Mrs. Cora Ramsey Pies This Morning Funeral Services Friday Afternoon Mrs. Cora Ramsey, 83, of Harrison township, Van Wert county, 0., died at 8:30 o’clock this morning at the home of Effie McGill on the Indiana-Ohio state line, east of Decatur. She had been in failing health for eight years. She was born in Harrison township Aug. 5, 1874, a daughter of William and Rachel Sheets, and was married to C. C. Ramsey in 1898. Her husband died June 12, 1937. Mi’s. Ramsey W|s a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran church in Harrison township, where she had resided practically her entire life. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. P. M. Cherry of rural route 2, Convoy, O.; a grandson, Charles E. Cherry of Convoy route 2, and a great-granddaughter, Deborah Kay Cherry. Two sisters preceded her in death. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p. m. Friday at the Zwick funeral home, the Rev. Guy Lubold officiating. Burial win be in Woodland cemetery at Van Wert. Friends may call at the funeral home'after 2 p. m. Thursday until time of the services. " -

Zhukov Is Emerging As Power In Russia Expected To Assume Top Position Soon LONDON (UP) — Red army Marshal Georgi Zhukov is rapidly emerging as the key factor behind the power shift in Sovietleadership, top diplomatic sources said today- He is expected to assume a top position soon—possibly the premiership. ’ The jut-jawed defense minister, 1 conqueror of Berlin and wartime ■ friend of President Eisenhower, ’ played an important role in saving 1 party boss Nikita Khrushchev In last week’s Kremlin revolt and 1 Khrushchev depends on his loyalty • for survival, the sources said. 1 Zhukov was not considered a 1 man seeking a military dictator- ' ship, and not a “Napoleonic type.” 1 But he is being pushed upward by the constant increase in strength i of the Red army over which he has unchallenged control, diplo- , mats said. I It was not known definitely he : would replace Premier Marshal Nikolai Bulganin. But Bulganin was believed under a cloud and on his way out because he sym- ; pathized with Vyacheslav M. Molotov last week when Zhukov saved Khrushchev from the would-be . Molotov coup. Diplomatic observers said to make the Khrushchev 1 * Bulganin • split less obvious Bulganin might i be kicked upstairs—that he might take the place of President Kli- ’ menti Voroshilov who would be , ' dropped. Voroshilov also backed 1 Molotov. ’ It was noted that Khrushchev • took protocol precedence over Bul--1 ganin today in Prague and was ! greeted—as he evidently expected to be greeted—as "leader” of the • ’ Soviet delegation. Bulganin played ! this role in their previous junkets abroad. I The diplomatic sources said that ’ Zhukov could topple Khrushchev J even now by withdrawing his sup- ' : port since the Red army has great power and apparently is the only ' ! major stable power factor in ‘ ’ Russia. : Appeal Issued For Clean Used Sheets Sheets Needed For Surgical Dressings An urgent appeal for old, soft, clean used sheets has been issued ; by Mrs. Wanda Oelberg, executive secretary of the local Red ■■ Cross. The sheets are badly needed for surgical dressings for , cancer patients in this county, j she stated. Persons desiring to give sheets to this project are asked to con- ; tact the locil office. Donations are still being accepted, also, for < disaster relief. To date, a total of 8332.11 has - been contributed, not counting the S9O Berne will give from its ; community chest fund. Individ- i ual contributions made here were : from Earl Fuhrman, J. L. Kocher, I. Bernstein, David Cook, i Wilbur Petrie, the Rev. B. G. < Thomas, Nellie Winnes, C. E. i Hocker, Grace Lichtensteiger, J. H. Sprague, and many who wish 1 to remain as annonymous friends ' of the Red Cross. 1 Mollie McGarth, Indiana state 1 nurse, visited in Decatur Tuesday, to observe damage done here and to talk with the persons j involved in the Preble disaster. ■ The Preble damage is being in- j eluded in the present disaster ] relief fund to aid stricken areas. < Funeral Held Today For Mrs. Shoemaker Funeral services were held this afternoon at Geneva for Mrs. Faye Zelpba Shoemaker, who was found : dead late Monday afternoon at her home in that town. Her nephew, , Max Juday Burdg, only near surviving relative, arrived from Cali- : fornia by plane this morning, and ‘ was met at Baer Field in Fort Wayne by his parents, Mr. and 1 Mrs. Dick Burdg of this city.

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Fann Leaders Ready ToAsk Disaster Aid Dismaying Reports Os Destruction Are Studied By Leaders INDIANAPOLIS (UP)—lndiana farm leaders today studied dismaying reports of mounting crop destruction from floods and heavy rain and prepared to ask disaster relief to help cushion the worst weather-caused agricultural setback in Hoosier history. Reports from 26 of the state’s counties in a broad disaster area over the Indiana corn, soybean and grain belt showed nearly half a million acres rs crops were ruined. V Meanwhile, additional, reports from other counties were fribbling in amid indications more than a million acres of crops were wiped out by flash floods of small streams, overflows from big streams, hail and excessive rainfall. Meet With Governor A meeting of state and agricultural officials in Governor Handley’s office was set for Friday to discuss a request the state be declared a federal disaster area in the faee of millions of dollars in crop losses. L.N. Roberts, chairman of the State Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee, said the loss was far greater than officials anticipated when they ordered a county-by-county check last week at a prelimia nrmeetlast week at a preliminary meeting. “It certainly warrants disaster relief,” Roberts said. “These first reports indicate there is much disaster both at the farm level and for the economy as a whole. “The loss will run into millions of dollars for farmers, and that loss will be felt by businessmen who will miss the farmer's dollars. Never So Widespread “This is the worst I’ve ever seen- I’ve talked to various people with more experience than I and they say the same thing." Roberts Mid no weather-caused disaster affecting farmers in this important corn belt state ever before was so “widespread.” Only the northern third of the state was little affected, and the brunt of the damage was borne by counties in the White and Wabash River watersheds. Reports from the first 34 coin- _ ties to send in survey material showed 300,000 acres of corn destroyed, 125,000 acres of soybeans lost and 75,000 acres of small grains ruined beyond redemption. Among the big corn losses were Sullivan County, 36,000 acres, Posey 21,600, Montgomery 23,760, Greene 30,000, Clay 20,000, Fountain 26,350, Dubois 16,000, Hamilton 15,00. / Wheat losses included 15,000 acres in Greene County, 10,000 in Clay, 30,000 in Vermillion, 10,400 in Posey and 10,000 in Sullivan. Sullivan County also lost 18,000 acres of small grains, Montgomery 10,500 and Huntington 10,000 acres of hay alone. Roberts said business will be affected considerably by the reduced income of farmers who will have a few if any crops to sell next fall. 8 Report "Very Little” Less “We have been told that money from the sale of farm products will turn seven times in business," he said. “If we multiply the millions of dollars loss to farmers by seven, we can see what an effect it will have on business.” Although reports came from 34 counties out cd the state’s 92, the estimates of crop acreage lost actually came from only 26. Eight of the counties which reported gave no figures and said either that there was no loss at all or “very little.” --ZT: Noble and White were the only counties reporting no damage Whitely, Newton, Miami, Laporte, Lake and Cass reported "very little.” Two of the counties which reported were expected to revise ConttmiM On