Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 56, Number 91, Decatur, Adams County, 17 April 1958 — Page 1

Vol. LVI. No. 91.

•r<-****<" ■ ■■• ■■■■■■> ,»/■..■ 1|? i,.k.,.,.w^ T Whb 1 Jk, '. ’ -IKjw ■ ■ - loor' 4 |rwPw SEES MANNED SATELLITES SOON — Lt. Gen. Donald E. Putt, deputy chief of staff for development of the Air Force chats with Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, director of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics before appearing at a House committee on astron* autics and space exploration. Gen. Putt told the committee the U. S. hopes to launch a moon rocket this year and manned satellites in an extremely short time.

Highway Bill Is Signed By “ Ike Wednesday Sen. Bridges Warns Os Possible Veto Os Public Works Bill WASHINGTON (UP) — Sen. Styles Bridges (R-N.H.) warned congressional Democrats today another of their anti-recession bills faces possible veto unless it is watered down before it reaches the White House. * Bridges, chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, referred to the measure passed by « 60-26 Senate vote Wednesday night Ufa sent to the House. The bill would provide a billion dollars in 3% per cent loans to Communities for public works projects, a House committee has been holding hearings on a similar measure which would provide two billion dollars in loans. "My guess is that if the bill goes on through in its present (Senate) form it might well be subject to a veto,” Bridges told reportersPresident Eisenhower warned publicly against going too far, too fast with “massive” public works programs and other big spending plans. The President reiterated at his news conference Wednesday that he was concerned about “uncoordinated and unwise operations" which would cost billions and billions of dollars without “necessarily" aiding the economy. The President vetoed a $1,704,028.300 river and harbor project authorization bill Tuesday on the grounds that it contained many unsound projects and would not yield anti-recession benefits. Despite "serious reservations” he approved Wednesday another Demo-cratic-sponsored bill to speed highway construction. He urged Congress to return to “sound principles" of highway financing in which the states bear a larger share, of the burden than the bill provides. But he said he was signing the measure because the $1,800,000,000 it would make available for roadbuilding this year would give “some impetus” to boosting employment. A high administration official told United Press several weeks ago there would be several major presidential vetoes after Congress returned from its Easter recess. Before the recess, Eisenhower vetoed a bill to freeze farm price supports, He signed a $1,850,000,000 “anti-recession” housing bill while criticizing some of its provisions. Both the farm and water project vetoes are hanging fire in the Senate,» awaiting the decision of Democratic leaders on whether to try to override them. A two-thirds vote of both houses is needed to overturn a veto. Two New Memberships Sold In Decatur C. C. Co-captains Dale Morrissey and Dr. R. E. Allison of the 1958 Chamber of Commerce membershship drive reported today two new memberships sold in the current drive. Worker Russell Owens of captain J. B. Margerum’s team sold a $25 new membership, to Dr. Richard K. Parrish. Dr. James Burk of the M. J. Pryor team reported a $25 membership sold to Dr. Gerald J. Kohne. Further memberships will be reported as soon as the new members have paid their dues. 12 Pages

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ' ’ , , ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER D» ADAMS COUNTY

Board Is Appointed On Tax Adjustment ‘ Board Completed By Judge's Appointees The seven-member tax adjustment board was completed today with the appointment of four members by Myles F. Parrish, judge of the Adams .circuit court. The sev-en-man board includes Mayor Robert D. Cole, Democrat, an automatic member by virtue of beI k ing the mayor of the largest city • In the county: William Linn, Dem- ; ocrat, the selection of the township > trustees: Leon Neuenschwander, : Democrat, the appointee of the county council; Louis Reinking, • Sr., Preble township Democrat, ■ Clarence Shepherd, Geneva Re- ' nuHican, Menno I. Lehman, Berne ’ Republican, and Charles Langston “ Decatur-Root township Republi- ; an, selections of judge ‘ n arrish. , TU tax adjustment board is ere- > M bv a statute in each county i ->f the state of Indiana, and is composed of seven members; one I member of the board is the mayor i of the largest city in the county, ‘ which is Decatur; one member of 1 the board is appointed by the county council; the third member is appointed by the board of educa--1 tion of the county, being the town- : ship trustees, and the remaining four members of the board are ap- ' pointed by the judge of the circuit . court, and all members must be citizens and free holders of the . county in which they serve. Not more than four of any one political party may be members of this board, which must be named on or before April 15. The members of this board serve without compensation, and the auditor of the county acts as the clerk of the county board of tax adjustment, and keeps a complete record of the proceedings, but has no vote in the deliberations of the , board. The board holds its meetings in the office of the. county auditor on , the second Monday of September : of each year from day to day, and as long thereafter as their business may require. At the first meeting the board will elect a chairman and a vice chairman, and at that meeting the county auditor.will lay before the ' board the budgets adopted and tax levies and rates fixed by proper officers or bodies of each municipal corporation of such county for , the ensuing year. ') It is the duty of the tax adjust- . ment board to examine, revise, or change, or reduce, but not increase, any budget, tax levy or -ate, and hoi'* such budget withir ■ ’he.total of he amount of revenue '•’be ra : d therefor from any 1 (Corf ued on pa<e five) I Two Men Are Injured When Plane Crashes NEW CASTLE — OP) — Fourpassenger, private plane crashed trying to takeoff from Muncipal Airport late Wednesday injurying two men. Pilot Robert Currier, 30, and Charles Randall, 38, both of Jackson, Mich., Were injured. But Don Blessinger, 25, and Charles Sanders, 53, both of New Castle, escaped unhurt when the plane crashed in a plowed field. INDIANA WEATHER Fair and continued warm tonight and Friday. Low tonight 45 to 52. High Friday 72 to 80. Sunset today 7:25 p.m. Sunrise Friday 6:04 a.m. Outlook for Saturday: Fair and mild. Lows Friday night around 50. Highs Saturday upper 70s.

Ike Launches Campaign For Defense Plan All-out Drive For Public Support Os Reorganization Plan WASHINGTON (UP)—President Eisenhower said today national “safety and solvency” demand that more attention be paid “to America’s strategic requirements and less to individual service claims.” Opening an all-out drive for public support for his sweeping defense reorganization plan, the President said there must be complete unity in strategic planning, military command and in U.S. fighting forces. Modern weapons “have scrambled up traditional service functions” and resulted in interservice "controversy and confusion," he saidBut the President said he is sure that if Congress accepts his plan based on the “facts of modern military life,” the necessary unification will be achieved without taking from the Army, Navy or Air Force any of the power each "can usefully provide to support the mission of the command." —— “No Prussian Staff’ The President carried the fight for his reorganization plan to the public in a spdech before a joint lunch of the American Society of Newspaper Editors and the International Press Institute. He labelled as “at the least a misconception” the chief apprehensions raised by opponents of his plan. The President declared emphatically, in answer to critics of his plan, that “There will be: "—No single chief of state; “—No Prussian staff; “—No czar; “—No 40-billion-dollar blank check; <• —No swallowing up of the traditional services; “—No undermining of the constitutional powers of the Congress." Would End Bickering < The President spoke out in the face of a stinging assault against his plan by Rep. Carl Vinson (DGa.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. If Congress adopts his plan, the President said: “There will be a stop to un- - ” f eCoutlnued on page five) Civic Music Drive To Close Saturday Early Enrollments Reported Gratifying Mrs., Roy Kalver, organization chairman for the Adams county Civic Music association, stated today that membership enrollment for the 1958-59 concert has been very gratifying through the first three days of the current drive. AIL persons who wgre members during the past season have been mailed statements for the new series, and a large number have already renewed by mail. Mrs. Kalver urges all members who have not renewed to do so at once as this will assure them seats for all concerts and also enable volunteer workers to concentrate on securing new members. Any person interested in continuing to bring the finest in musical artists and attractions to the Decatur area is invited to join the association. It is not necessary to be personally contacted by a worker to join. The association headquarters is located in the Youth and Community Center and memberships may be secured there each day this week between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Those unable to ’•eport at the headquarters may ohone 3-3116, and a volunteer worker will be sent to the home. Membership dues for the entire series are $7.50 for adults and $4 for students. In addition to the Decatur concerts, the membership card will also be honored by similar associations for admission to concerts in Lima. 0., Huntington and Wabash, without Additional charge. The concerts will be chosen at the close of the membership drive Saturday evening, in accordance with the x talent ballots on which indicate their preferences. In a preliminary talent meeting, the possibility of including several concerts of a lighter nature, by artists of national and international reputation, was discussed. AU volunteer workers are reminded that the membership enrollment will close Saturday at 6 p.m., and that they should have their reports to headquarters either Friday or Saturday.

Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, April 17,1958

Jury Orders Death In Chair For Whitaker, Wife-Swapping Killer 1 - —= - ' —

Atlantic Pad Nations Pledge Strengthening Strengthen Allied Shield Forces By Nuclear Weapons PARIS (UP) — The defense ministers of the United States and 13 other Atlantic pact nations pledged today they would strengthen Allied “shield” forces in Western Europe with nuclear weapons. They made this pledge at the • close of a three-day conference which ended here this afternoon. The nuclear weapons aoe expected to be both tactical—like the Matador guidd missile which West Germany is soon to get—and the intermediate range ballistic missiles td be delivered to Britain this year and to continental nilies at the start of 1959. A communique issued at the end of the conference said the ministers heard reports from NATO military experts “on the progres - . sive introduction of the moe‘ modern weapons and equipment , and on the forces needed foi , NATO defense in the years ahead.” The communique said the 14 de- , sense ministers (Iceland, with no ; mUitary forces, was not represent- ' ed) discussed ways to build up . NATO military strength to meet the Russian threat. . It said Soviet leaders are continuing “to equip their large , forces with the most modern weapons. ■... : The ministers agreed Wednesday that NATO forces in Central Europe should be built up to 30 divisions from the present 16, These divisions, which include American, British, German and French troops, are to be equipped later with tactical‘’atomic firepower.--- — ■S --~ The ministers discussed, but made no attempt to decide, where IRBM bases would be established. Muncie Man Killed In One-Car Crash MUNCIE (W — Robert Anderson Haney 32, Muncie, was injured fatally Wednesday in a onecar crash on a Delaware County road one mile south of here. Haney was ridding with Walter Kyle, 26, Muncie, when Kyle swerved to avoid a road grader and the car smashed into a tree. Kyle and Palph J. Moistner, Muncie, were injured. Bomb Is Exploded Al U.S. Consulate Report One Moslem Injured At Algiers ALGIERS (IP) — A bomb exploded today in the entrance of the U.S. consulate here. First reports said one Meslem was injured. • The bomb was described as a trip-wire grenade placed at the fire exit of the building housing the consulate on the rue Michelet, one of the City’s principal thoroughfares. The device exploded when a Moslem charwoman opened the door about 8:15 a. m. She was reported seriously injured and was taken to a hospital for treatment. NO ’Americans were believed , inside the building at the time. Informed sources speculated that Algerian nationalists were behind the bombing. There were no indications rightwing French extremists were involved although French rightists sharply criticized the United States Tuesday in a Paris debate on French North African policy. Right-wing war veterans in Algeria have been threatening antiAmerican demonstrations this week in protest against what called Anglo-American “interference” in France’s North African problems.

Howard D. Beitler Critically Injured I ' Berne Man Is Badly Hurt This Morning BULLETIN Howard Beitler, of Berne, remained in critical condition at the Adams county memorial hospital this afternoon. Dr. Norman E. Beaver, physician, stated. Head and chest injuries, where he was crashed, have made.it impossible to fully evaluate the condition of the patient, he added. Howard D. Beitler, 31, 263 East Franklin street, Berne, is reported in critical condition at the Adams county memorial hospital following a collision this morning between his car and an underbody road grader owned by the Adams county highway department. Beitler suffered a crushed ■hest, and lacerations to the face, knees and hands during the collision which occurred at 7 o’clock this morning at the intersection of U. S. highway 27 and county •oad (Winchester street extended.) . . he large one-ton road grader, -iven by Lloyd Wendle Abbott, 1, route 3, Decatur, was traveling west on the Winchester road extended and pulled out into the intersection into the path of the northbound Beitler car. The Skitter auto laid a total of 32.4 ’ teet of skid marks before the impact. Beitler was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he was put into an oxygen tent. At the present time his condition was reported by the authorities-as not good. Abbott suffered facial cuts which required stitches. Damage was estimated at SI,OOO to the road grader and the Beitler 1957 Ford was a total loss, the damage being estimated at SI,BOO. The accident was investigated by sheriff Merle Affolder,- deputies Charles Arnold and Robert Meyer, and trooper Dan Kwasneski. No arrests have been made and the officers stated that the investigation will be continued until a statement can be taken frem Beitler, if possible. More Gas Heating Permits Are Sought File Petition With State Commission The’ Northern Indiana Public Service Corp, has filed a petition with the public service commission of Indiana for authority to serve 3,000 additional gas spdce-heatjng customers in the Fort Wayne area If the commission grants the request, permits will be issued here to thbse whose names are on the gas company’s Waiting list. The company has reported about B,oof names on Hie waiting list foe gas heat in this area, and permits wiP be issued on the basis of this list The company’s Fort Wayne division serves Decatur, Preble, Tocsin. Bluffton, Ossian, New Haven Waynedale, Roanoke, South Whit ley, Columbia City and adjacent -ural areas in addition to the city of Fort Wayne. < No date has been set for the public hearing. NIPSCO, in its petition, said that it had been unable to acquire additional volume of natural gas from its supplier, the Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co. However, the company has recently installed oropane manufacturing facilities at a cost of $500,000 and estimates that it will be able to take care o f 3,000 additional customers in this area during the coming winter heating season. Dean H. Mitchell, president of the company, said, “Illis is one more example of our unceasing efforts to bring the people of- the Fort Wayne area an adequate gas supply. The gas shortage in the Fort Wayne area has been brough’ bv an increasing demand and by the failure of the Panhandle Co. to extend their facilities and to sufficiently enlarge the ca(Continued <m ps-ge fly*)

West Sumatra Beach Stormed By Indonesians All-Out Attack On Rebel Strongholds By Loyalist Troops SINGAPORE OP) — Indonesian i loyalist commandoes stormed the beaches of western Sumatra at , dawn today, launching an all-out assault against the rebel strongholds of Padang and Bukittingi. Naval headquarters In Jakarta said the landing was successful, but did not indicate exactly where it occurred or how many troops took part. The open beaches stretching for 20 miles along the coast northward from Padang appeared to be a likely point of attack. Premier Djuanda, who also serves as defense minister of the Jakarta regime, said the attackers met only “insignificant” resistance. The Indonesian army confirmed the of Kilirandjao, which straddles A the vital rebel supply road into south Sumatra, thus cut- ; ting off the last major rebel life- ; line to the outside world. ’ The road to “neutral" north Suj matra was cut by Jakara troops Several days ago. On Celebes Island, the revolt’s , “second front” some 1,500 miles j east of Sumatra, the loyalist army . reported the capture of the coast- ’ al towns of Parigi and Balarak . in a drive to cut rebel supply routes. ( A headquarters communique . said troops entering the two towns "captured a quantity of equipment.” Numerous rebels either surrendered or desterted to the loyalists, the communique, said. An invasion fleet of 20 vessels—a destroyer, four corvettes and 15 small freighters or barges — lay off Padang Wednesday. The rebels believed that four loyalist infantry battalions, led by two commando companies, would take part in the attack. They expected a paratroop (Continued on page five) Summery Weather In Northern U.S. Nebraska Records * Top Temperature By UNITED PRESS Summery weather with temperatures soaring into the 80s enveloped much of the northern half 'of the nation today from the Plains to the Appalachians. The clearing weather extended to the East Coast early today, replacing a storm system that swept the East Wednesday with wind, rain and fog. The warmest readings of the year occurred Wednesday in the North Central states where Valentine, Neb., recdrded a high of 90, equalling the highest temperature recorded this early in the spring Rapid City, S.D., basked in a record high reading of 86 for the date. Overnight readings got no lower than the 60s through the Plains, the upper Mississippi Valley and east to the Appalachians as the warming trend extended its influence. The only remnants of Wednesday’s eastern storm wete confined to Cape Hatteras and the east central Florida Coast. The heaviest rain from the departing storm fell Wednesday night at Cherry Point, N.C., with .66 of an inch. Earlier, Wilmington, N.C., was . battered by 60-mile-an-hour winds and 24. - hour rainfall amounts measured more than three inches at Charleston, S.C- Thick fog closed down New York airports for periods up to four hours. Humid air in the desert Southwest brought showers and thunderstorms over much of Arizona and New Mexico Wednesday and spread into West Texas during the night. Rainfall continued in the Pacific northwest.

13 More Teamsters Invoke Amendment. Refuse To Answer On Taking Payoffs WASHINGTON (UP) — Thirteen more Philadelphia Teamsters invoked the Fifth Amendment before the Senate Rackets Committee today. They refused to say whether they received payoffs from an official accused of using strong-arm tactics to gain control of the local They brought to 27 the number of members of Local 107 who have refused in the past two days to answer questions on grounds of possible self-incrimination. Topical of the witnesses was Edward Walker, recording secretary of the local. He balked at saying whether he received payoffs from Raymond Cohen, secre-taay-treasurer and reputed boss of the local. I “What was your cut?” asked Chairman John L. McClellan (DArk.). “I am advised that I have a right not to be a witness against myself under the Fifth Amendment,’’ Walker replied, reading the statement from a slip of paper. Records produced by committee counsel Robert F. Kennedy indicated the alleged payoffs amounted to more than $1,500. — After disposing of Walker, the committee began calling the witnesses three at a time. McClellan told Kennedy he wanted the committee to check the income tax returns of the witnesses to find out if the fund transactions being investigated were reported to the government. Says Censorship Is As Alarming Degree Charges Dangerous Move By Eisenhower WASHINGTON (UP)— Rep. John E. Moss (D-Calif.), chairman of the House government information subcommittee, told newspaper editors today that censorship of Defense Department information "has reached an alarming degree.” ’ He charged President Eisenhower with a “dangerous” move to impose even tighter controls over the flow of defense information “to the public and the Congress.” Moss made the statements in a speech prepared for delivery at the opening session of the annual convention of the American Society of Newspaper Editors. Some 400 editors of daily newspapers in all parts of the country are attending the three-day convention. President Addresses Meeting President Eisenhower was scheduled to address the editors at a lunch meeting today. Hi s speech defending his defense reorganization plan was to be nationally broadcast and telecast. The society has waged a continuing battle for greater freedom of information about public affairs. Members were heartened on the eve of the convention by House passage of legislation, strongly endorsed by the society, to amend a 1789 “housekeeping” statute which many federal agencies have cited as authority for withholding information from the public. The amendment, which the House passed by voice vote and sent to the Senate Wednesday, states that the 169-year-old law cannot be used as authority for suppressing news to which the public is otherwise eatitled “This is a great victory for the people of the United States,” said ASNE President Virginius Dabney, editor of the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dsipatch. A Significant Victory Herbert Brucker of the Hartford (Conn.) Courant, chairman of the ASNE’s freedom of information committee, called the Hous® action “one of tire most significant victories in the battle for the people's right to know.” Dr. Harold Cross, the society’s freedom pf information counsel, (Continued on page five) ~

Wife-Swapper Convicted On Murder Charge Terre Haute Jury Orders Whitaker To Be Executed TERRE HAUTE (IP) — A jury ordered death in the electric chair today for Thomas Whitaker, 38, a truck driver who traded wives with a prosperous businessman and later killed his two young children and their mother. Twenty hours of deliberation produced a verdict of guilty of first-degree murder and a finding that Whitaker should pay with his life for shooting to death his 9-year-old daughter Regina while she screamed an appeal to spare her. The decision, by a jury of 11 men and a woman, meant that the jurors rejected defense contentions that Whitaker was innocent by reason of insanity. Whitaker's attorneys claimed their client intended to “scare” Stew-’ art Martin, the other man in the wife trade, but went berserk in an insane rage and wiped out Martin's newly acquired family. Whitaker and his wife Dorothy, • who was Martin’s ex-wife, showed no outward signs of emotion •’ as the verdict was read. Judge ! Herbert Criss postponed sentenc- ■ ing until May 2. Defense attorneys said they will p ask for a new trial and it it is denied they will appeal. Mrs. Doris A. Palmer, the only woman on the jury, was visibly shaken. She called the deliberations “an ordeal.” Jury foreman Thomas Rankin said the jury decided to divulge no information on the balloting. The verdict was read at 9:41 a. m. CST., 33 minutes after the jury informed a bailiff it had reached a decision. Whitaker learned his fate about 20 hours after a jury of 11 men and a woman received the case Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., following last-minute appeals by the state to find him guilty on grounds that he was sane and premeditated the slayings Defense attorneys contended that Whitaker, whp traded wives with prosperous photographer Stewart Martin a few months before the tragedy in Martin's $30,000 suburban home, was psychoneurotic and schizophrenic. They said he was insane when he entered the Martin home in a rage in the Huddle of the night and' sprayed it and its occupants with shotgun pellets. The crime last June 25 shattered the quiet of a beautiful wooded setting where Martin, owner of shops in three Indiana towns, built a native stone ranch-type home occupied by the former Mrs. Dorothy Whitaker and her children by her marriage with the truck driver-... . . ; j : - The Whitakers and Martins met around the kitchen table of the Whitaker home one night in 1956 and worked out a plan to divorce and exchange spouses. The plan backfired weeks after it was consumated. Whitaker wanted custody of his children, but Mrs. Martin got them. Whitaker testified his 11-year-pld son Jack told him stories indicating Martin, the boy’s stepfather, was a sex deviate. Martin’s ex-wife also testified Martin was a deviate. Whitaker said he became so concerned over what his boy told him on a fishing trip about mistreatment that he took the law into his own hands and determined to “scare” Margin with a shotgun. > Whitaker testified when he broke into the Martin home, Martin shot at him first and he lost his head and couldn’t remember whftt happened afterward, • Mrs- Alma Martin and her son Jack were killed outright. Witnesses testified * Regina screamed “Daddy, daddy, don’t shoot me, I’ll come and live with'you!” But Regina was shot. She died about three weeks later. ■=» Martin also was wounded by ■ gunfire but recovered. , The prosecution Wednesday de- • .uunued on’e*** **«▼•»

Six Cenb