Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 56, Number 140, Decatur, Adams County, 14 June 1958 — Page 1

Vol. LVI. No. 140,

' V* I w-Swj £s'' / 1 F ilwlli I nil I - *2jv “ -■— MMBH■M Yw 5 I ten ...dim —' Btet ‘ ROWING TO COURT— Police Chief Gib Underhill has to row motorist Delbert Wray to court in Delphi. Ind., to face a reckless driving charge during the flood. Incidentally, Justice of the Peace Lee Stone let Wray off with a $5 and costs Jolt. —~~T T7 «r":"..:r~T~ ~~

Heavy Rains Posing Added Flood Threat Heavy Rains Late Friday Posing New Threat In Indiana By United Press International Indiana closed out a week of violent weather today with temporary respite from cloudbursts and tornadic winds, but new threeinch rains late Friday posed new threats to the North Central floodlands. Downpours totaling up to 3.18 inches at Knightstown, 3.14 inches at Spencer and 2.10 inches at Muncie brought new flood hazards to a broad area already reeling from the effects of the highest river levels since 1943. It was the fifth day in the last six in which storms swept Hoosierland, venting their wrath chiefly on a 75-mile wide strip across the state in an area just north of Indianapolis. A Randoipn County child’s death in a rain-swollen ditch and an Indianapolis 15-year-old’s drowning in flooded White River helped hike the Indiana weather-con-nected deaths this week to 18. Most of them, however, were not due to floods but to traffic accidents occurring on rain-slick pavement. Drowns In Ditch Tommy Reynolds, 8, Farmland, drowned while wading in ditch water near his home, and Leonard Dunson, 15, Indianapolis, drowned when a home-made raft disintegrated in a swift river Friday. Ominous clouds and stiff wind accompanied the hew storms late Friday, but damage was negligible. Tornado funnel clouds were reported unofficially as seen near Dyer and Warsaw late in the afternoon, but if they were twisters they failed to touch ground. At Wabash, which rode out a flood crisis earlier in the week, ’< sfayor Robert Mitten declared a !/State 'of emergency as the Wabash River climbed from toe new rains of toe last 48 hours. National Guardsmen were called out to help evacuate families, nearly 200 of which moved out of their homes or were alerted to evacuate. At flood-stricken Marion, where toe Mississinewa River spewed upward again because of a 214 inch rain at Eaton, National Guardmen again were alerted and 5,000 more sandbags were ordered to strengthen levees. But officials believed the situation was under control. No Rain Seen Today There was hope in weather forecasts that one of the worst weather pummelings in Indiana history was tapering off. No rain was forecast for today. But showers and scattered thunderstorms were forecast for Sunday. The outlook for Monday indicated no rain. Rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches in toe last 24 hours were common over the state, but some of toe cities hit by high water reported less than an inch—some less than half an inch. Temperatures as high as 92 enveloped the state Friday amid oppressive humidity built up by the storm front. Evansville had the highest reading with Indianapolis getting an 86-degree high on Pase Plv«) INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy tonight. Sunday partly cloudy, becoming warm and humid again with showers and scattered thunderstorms likely. Lows tonight In the 50s. High Sunday 77 to 85. Outlook for Monday: Partly cloudy and a little cooler,

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Thousands Os Acres Os Crops Are Lost Damage From Water Surveyed In County Adams county farmers,-especial-ly those along the St. Mary’s and Wabash rivers, have lost another 14,500 acres of crops this year, a survey of damage shows. If crop loss per acre is figured at S2O, a very small figure, this means a loss of $290,000 to Adams county farmers. This*is very conservative; muck farmers estimate their loss at SSOO an acre, for their 3,000 acres. The St. Mary’s river flooded dozens of farms in four townships in toe north part of Adams county, but is about two feet lower than last year’s flood. Water did not cross the Piqua road between the Monmouth road and toe St. Peter’s church road at the Lawrence Beckmeyer farm, nor did it cross highway 224 W Monroe street extended at Bellmont Park. Farm damage was serious, however. About 60 acres of the Wayne Schnepf farm was lost. Much corn that has been drowned out will be retarded by the high water. The Burdette Custer farm where highway 101 intersects the St. Mary’s river at Pleasant Mills is also underwgter. A new tile drain was placed there this spring to help drain the farm area after floods. The farmland surrounding Stratton Place on three sides is mostly under water again this year. Creeks and ditches which run into the St. Mary’s were also overflowing. Blue Creek, one of the biggest tributaries, carried large quantities of water. Levee Holds Near the Wabash river, the LongAmstutz dam, built in 1947, held up well. The huge pump there forces 30,000 gallons of water a minute from the flood plain, and the dam prevents it from flowing back. While this raises the water level approximately 1.6 inches on the other side of the levee, it saves about 450 acres of fertile farmland that uSed to be a total loss year after year. The pump has worked night and day since Monday, and by 10 Friday had pumped 172,800,000 gallons of water from the 600-acre flood plain. Only about 150 remained under water. In 1950 the water from the Wabash river overtopped the dam, and the structure was threatened but, was saved by four truckloads of gravel. Last year the water reached the edge of the road. This year although‘'figures show more water has fallen onthe area, it has fallen over a broader period of time, and has only reached within a foot of the top of toe levee. About two months ago some sand in front of the pump house shifted, and settled around the huge culverts which carry the water back into the Wabash, leaving a sunken place. Several local people who arrived at the dam this week assumed that the dam was going out. For the Long-Amstutz ditch area, one inch of rain means 86 million gallons of water to be pumped from the fields. So, much water remains to be pumped next week. Members of the Long-Amstutz ditch group will meet June 26 to plan an organization under, public law .566, the small watershed and flood control act. Before the group can receive federal aid under this act, it must meet certain conditions. For example, 75% of the land must hhve desirable conservation practices, and 50% must have farm plans completed. This will assure orderly runoff, and al(Contlnued on page six) NOON EDITION

Mogilner Puls Fingers On Two Former Friends 1 Salesman Testifies To Sharing Profits From Highway Deals INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) — Salesman Arthur J. Mogilner, who adt mitted guilt in a colossal bribery scheme inv olvin g more than $1,600,000 worth of equipment contracts, has put the finger on two , former friends — Elmer Doc) Sherwood and William E. Sayer. Mogilner, testifying Frday as the prosecution’s No. 1 witness, i unfolded a story of rigged specifications and several thousand dollars in kickbacks allegedly paid to former state highway chairman ' Virgil Red) Smith. 1 The 46-year-old salesman produced several kickback checks ’ made out to Smith in toe name ’ “V. Wilson.” He said they were 1 paid with toe full knowledge and ! agreement of Sherwood, former Indiana adjutant general, and Sayer, administrative assistant i under former Gov. George N. Craig. Sherwood and Sayer claimed ‘ they acted as “public relatons” men for Moglner to help hm land state contracts. They contended f Smth was beng brbed they were unaware of it. Mogilner, accused with Sherwood and Sayer of bribing Smith, abruptly changed his plea to guilty earlier in the trial. In July or August of 1955, Mogilner told toe jury, Sherwood and Sayer agreed it 1 would be “just fine” if they would give Smith a third of their profits from sale of heavy equipment to the highway department by firms Mogilner ; represented. Split Three Ways Mogilner said profits were split three ways—one third each for Smith, Mogilner and Sherwoodl Sayer, operating as Sherwood Associates. He said toe scheme was nearly foolproof because Smith rigged specifications so that only toe firms Mogilner represented could . meet them in bidding on equip- . ment contracts. By tying down the specifications you could almost tie down toe sale to (me bid,” Mogilner said. In other rapid-fire all-day questioning. Mogilner testified: -Smith and Cecil McDonough, former highway purchasing director, were paid $2,000 each for their part in helping Mogilner sell $133,000 worth of “Gio” engine ' additive to the highway department. McDonough was paid, he said, for “burying” legal ads for the bids in an obscure newspaper and recommending purchase of “Gio." —When Mogilner’s price for the additive was under-bid by a rival , firm, Sayer used his influence to have both bids “knocked out." Mogilner then became a salesman for both firms, submitted two equal bids at $8 a gallon and ‘ landed contracts for both firms 1 at the higher figure. The low bid was $3.75. Avoid Detection —To avoid detection, all parties • to the kickbacks, decided Smith’s : checks from Mogilner should be I made but to “V. Wilson” and Mc- • Donough’s to a 9 law firm. —At no time did Sherwood and . Sayer claim they were working i for Mogilner as a “public rela- . tions man.” —Sayer helped Mogilner push i “Gio” sales introducing him highway equipment t supervisor, and Edmond Talucci, former director of prison industries. Tal(Contlnued on page nix)

ONLT DAILT NEWSPAPER 01 ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, June 14, 1958 —I, „ j, ■■ ii.il ,

Top Rank Republican Senator Says Adams Has Lost Usefulness

Senate Nears Final Vole On Labor Reform Saturday Session Held By Senate To Speed Bill Action WASHINGTON (UPI) — Democratic leaders hoped the Senate would reach a final vote today on a “moderate” labor reform bill. But they were not sure debate would end before next week. As the Senate met in its second Saturday session of toe year, administration forces girded for another probably fruitless effort to stiffen the measure with additional curbs on unions. Sen. H. Alexander Smith (RN.J.) was slated to offer another in a list of amendments to carry out administration recommendations.' It would deny unions the protection provided by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) tor failure to file required reports on union finances and procedures. The bill already permits fines and jail sentences for willful violation of these requirements. Another administration amendEent still to be considered would rbid picketing tor toe purpose of winning union recognition. , Labor Secretary James P. Mitchell Friday listed these and eight other amendments he said should be adopted before the reform bill will be acceptable to the administration. The Senate promptly batted down two of toe proposals, with most Democrats voting against them and most Republicans in favor. Senate Republican Leader William F. Knowland (Calif.) planned to offer two amendments today to insure that rank and file union members could get votes on recalling union officers, changes in union policies and strikes. The House was in recess today until Monday. Other developments in Congress Friday: Farm: The House Agriculture Committee approved an omnibus farm bill which would slap rigid controls on crop production in an attempt to boost farm prices. The bill, approved 21 to 10, would bring the most drastic changes in farm laws since New Deal days. Air Safety: The President sent toe House and Senate a special message demanding urgent congressional action to create an allpowerful air traffic agency with control over civilian and military flights. Pay Raise: The Senate gave its final approval to a compromise bill providing a retroactive 10 per cent pay boost for more than one million government white collar workers. The measure now goes to the House. Rivers & Harbors: The Senate Public Works Committee unanimously approved a compromise rivers and harbors bill to replace the “pork barrel” measure vetoed by the President last April. The iConunusd on paars tiva)

Recreation Program To Open At Field Monday

The summer recreation program willi.open at Worthman field Monday morning, it was announced today. Miss Dorcas Suman will be supervisor of craft work and games, with Miss Becky Maddox as her assistant. Miss Suman has served as assistant in the program for the past few years. . Steve Everhart and Bob Worthman will be in charge of the baseball field and related activities and the concession stand. The playground will be open daily, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Craft work will be conducted each afternoon from 1 until 4 o’clock. A number of new molds have been made and some highly interesting work is in store for the children. Included jin facilities tot the playground are swings, a merry-

Severe Weather Is Apparently On Wane Violent Rainstorms Hit Midwest Friday United Press International Severe thunderstorms and lowpowered tornadoes flailed toe nation again Friday, but there were signs of waning strength in toe week-long weather onslaught. The situation remained critical, however, in flood-stricken Indiana Where more than three inches of ‘ rain fell and caused receding, rivers to well up again. A state of emergency was declared at Wasbahs, Ind., and National Guardsmen assisted in the evacuation of 69 families. Farther South, grim-faced farmers awaited the arrival of possible floodwaters as swollen rivers cascaded towards downstate Indiana. Violent rainstorms pounded toe Midwest inflicting considerable damage. But it was nothing to compare with the week of tornadoes that scoured Kansas, killing 17 persons, or the cumulative wreckage of multiple hail-rain-and-wind storms since last Sunday. A mid-afternoon squall wracked Springfield, 111., and extensive damage was reported at the small community of Macon where barns and homes were hit. High-velocity storms also pounded Logansport and Markleville, Ind., flattening a carnival at the latter. The U.S. Weather Bureau report'Wd very heavy rain arid hail at Jafferson City, Mo., and damaged horhes at Concordia in the west central portion of toe state late Friday night. A small tornado struck about 50 miles south of Amarillo, Tex., damaging a few farm buildings. The weather map showed a vast shower and thunderstorm area early today ranging from Missouri to toe mid-Atlantic states. Providence, R.I. received almost two : inches of rain since Friday night in toe heaviest downpour recorded throughout the country. More than an inch of rain was reported at widely separated points such as Evansville, Ind.,. Cincinnati, Ohio, and Newark, N.J. --aire Six) Gerhardt Lehman Slowly Improving The condition of Gerhardt Lehman, injured in a June 4 two-car collision, remains serious but is gradually improving, attendants at toe Adams county memorial hospital stated this forenoon. St. Mary's River Is Near 19-Foot Stage Rising to 18.91 feet by 10:30 this morning, the St. Mary’s river continued, to climb toward an above flood-level crest, after rains that tapered off yesterday, with .60 falling from 7 a. m. Friday to 7 this morning. This was the second onslaught of heavy rains this week .in the county. The official total stood at 7.19 inches tor Decatur for the period from Saturday morning until Friday evening, when the rains generally ended.

1 go-round, sandboxes, washer • game, shuffleboard and tennis. The baseball diamond is a veritable beehive” of activity, day and • night. The Morning league, with four teams organized, plays dur- ' ing the morning hours. The Junl for American Legion team, with ' Worthman as coach, practices during the afternoons and also plays • home games in late afternoon. Adams County Pony league i teams play each Monday night, most of the time in double headers, i The Decatur Little League uses , the facilities each Tuesday and : Friday night and such other nights ■ as are necessary to complete their . schedule for six teams. i The Klenk’s baseball team, cur- ; rently In second place in the Senior Federation league, plays home games on Thursday nights, Satur- ■ day nights and Sunday afternoons.

Say Recession Hit Bottom In Month Os April Eisenhower Signs Bitt For Loans To States For Jobless WASHINGTON UPI) — Administration leaders expressed a ’growing conviction today that the recession hit bottom in April. Secretary of Commerce Sinclair Weeks said it flatly. Dr. Gabriel Hauge, President Eisenhower’s staff economic adviser, had no reason to change his late winter forecast that the bottom would be reached during the second quarter of the year. They were joined by directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce who met here Friday for a twice-a-year symposium on business conditions. The Labor Department reported Friday the nation’s jobless benefits rolls have fallen for the seventh straight week while initial claims ty newly laid-off workers have hit a 1958 low. Signs Money Bin The report came as President Eisenhower signed into law an emergency $665,700,000 money bill to provide loans to states to extend their unemployment compensation programs'up to 50 per cent as an anti-recession move. The Labor Department report showed the number of idle workers actually receiving jobless benefits fell to 2,827,600 in the week ending May 31, a decline of 65,300 from the previous week. New jobless claims declined to 321,600 in the week ended June 7, a drop of 16,500 from the previous week. In the comparable week last year, however, new claims totalled only 218,100. Dr. Emerson P. Schmidt, economic research director for the national chamber, was asked when he expected the country to “pull out” of the recession. Sees End This Year “Once the public is convinced that w'e are at the bottom and that there will be no more layoffs,” Schmidt said, “then they will start to buy and the recession will begin to end. This will happen before /the end of the year.” Harry A. Bullis, board chairman of General Mills and a chamber director, said “there is good reason to believe that we are near the low point of the current recession or that it is already behind us.” What made Weeks and others in the administration feel more optimistic than they had been in Lontinuel. v«, VMTS *ix> Weekly Children's Hour Al library No Summer Program* Due To Remodeling Although no children’s summer program is being offered because of remodeling plans, a weekly children’s hour is planned, Miss Bertha Heller, librarian of the Decatur public library, stated Friday. To be offered weekly, the story hour will be for first and second graders in the auditorium of the library in the afternoon. Miss Jeanette Hahnert will be in charge of the story hour, which may begin next week, Miss Heller explained. The library's summer program was modified for this year, as construction will begin on the new additions planned for the building. The architect is to come next week to work further on plans for changing the front of present library and for constructing an addition for storage space. The new books shelved this week are well in circulation now, Miss Heller reported, has remained about the same, with May’s total slightly higher than that of last year.

Lovesick Airman Is Arrested In Texas; Precipitated Huge Air, Land Search DALLAS, Tex. UPl)—Lovesick Airman 3-C .Donald Keeton, who took off from a Mississippi airport Thursday on a “suicide flight” and precipitated a massive three-state land and air search, was arrested today in his mother’s living room. “It was just a ruse,” he said. “I never had the slightest intention of killing myself.” He said he did it because he wanted to see pretty Doris LynnBowling, 17, who broke off a love affair with him and, since he was in Air Force training, “this seemed like the only way I could do it.” He landed the Cessna 120 plane that had been sought over Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi at Longview, Tex., Friday and came to Dallas on a bus without being detected. Folice arrested Keeton, 19, at 4:45 a.m. today, while making a routine check of his mother's home. His mother, Mrs. Anna Belle Keeton, is a widow. Tells of Plot Doris Lynn joined him at the police station. She didn’t fly into his arms but she said she was relieved to find him alive. “Until yesterday, I didn’t think he would make it,” she said. Is she still in Jove with him? “No,” she said. ‘Til still see him, but that’s all." Police said they will turn him over to the Air Force. Doris Lynn broke off with Keeton in May because, she said, he insisted that she marry him and she felt she was too young. Keeton wrote a note, saying he was going to kill himself, and left it in his barracks at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., where he is taking radar training. Then he rented a black and yellow plane and almost ran down Gulfport Airport manager W. H. Chevis as he took off. He stopped at Alexandria, La., to get gasoline but took off in a hurry when an attendant at the airport tried to stall him. That was when the search for him stciirted A jet plane, a B-25 bomber and a helicopter tried to make him come down. He eluded them by ivonunueo on P*tr» Six) Monroe Votes Sale Os Power Facilities Monroe Town Board Authorizes Sale The Monroe town board adopted a resolution Friday night to sell the town’s power distributing facilities to Indiana-Michigan, John De Voss, attorney for the town, said today. The decision followed a straW vote of Monroe residents, which is reported to have favored selling, 173 to 9. Indiana-Michigan, according to the resolution, will pay Monroe $50,000 for the system, and give the town free street lighting until 1960. The town board will now request the circuit court to appoint three disinterested freeholders to appraise the utility property. A copy of the resolution will be printed in two local newspapers, stating that if 100 taxpayers of the town file a petition within 30 days, a legal referendum may be required. If such a petition is not filed, the public service commission will review the sale and rule on it. If the sale is made, IndianaMichigan will continue buying power from the city of Decatur until July 1, 1959. This will be necessary because Monroe’s contract with the city of Decatur runs for yearly periods from the July 1 date, and 30 days notice must be given to terminate the contract. It is too late now to terminate the contract before next year, DeVoss explained. A ditch petition was also discussed with surveyor Walter Gilliom at the meeting of the town board.

Six Cents

Controversy On Ike's Top Aide Stirs Capital Senator Potter Os Michigan Assails Accepting Favors WASHINGTON UPI) -r Sen. Charles. E. Potter, a member pf the Republican Policy Committee today suggested Presidential Assistant Sherman Adams may have “lost his usefulness to the administration.” "I campaigned against the mink coats and deep freezes of the Truman administration, and that goes for vicuna coats and oriental rugs, too,” the Michigan Republican said in a statertent, “Unless Gov. Adams can present a fuller explanation than that in the letter published yesterday, he has tost his usefulness to the adminisration.” It was the strongest statement by a high-ranking Republican in the fast-building controversy surrounding Adams’ acknowledge acceptance of favors from a Boston textile executive who had troubles with the government. Picks Up Tabs The textile millionaire is Rus-sian-born Bernard Goldfine, who pciked up $2,000 in tabs for Adams and his family at the Sheraton-Plaza Hotel in Boston in the last four years. Adams admits he let Goldfine pay the bills but had understood the hotel suite was maintained on a continuing basis. Adams denied what he called "insinuations” he brought influence to bear on federal agencies on behalf of his long-time friend Goldfine. Adams’ statements were made in a letter Thursday to Chairman Oren Harris of the House subcommittee investigating federal regulatory agencies. The Subcommittee was scheduled to resume its inquiry Monday with testimony from Edward F. Howrey, former chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, who was contacted by Adams in behalf of Goldfine in 1953 and 1955. Meanwhile, questions arose whether Adams had accepted gifts from Goldfine of a $2,400 oriental rug two years ago and a costly wool coat made from the hair of South America’s rare Vicuna llama. Hagerty: “No Comment” The New York Post published the report concerning the rug, saying that Adams and Goldfine selected the rug together at Macy’s department store about two years ago. The White House refused to confirm or deny the report. Presidential Press Secretary James C. Hagerty had a crisp “no comment” when asked if Adams received the vicuna coat, worth S7OO. Hagerty did acknowledge he asked Adams about the coat, but he would not tell newsmen what he learned. The coat rumor had prompted a reporter to ask Hagerty Thursday to find out from Adams whether it was true. “I will,” Hagerty then replied. Adams, 59-year-old assistant to the President, continued to refuse to meet with newsmen. Hagerty also said Friday he hadn’t heard “any talk about his going up to Congress) to testify.” Township Line Case Hearing Wednesday The supreme court will hear the Monroe-Wabash township line case Wednesday afternoon, attorneys said today. Each side will have one-half hour of oral argument before the court. Briefs have been filed by both sieds. The case will be taken under advisement until the court can consider the briefs. A ruling may be made within a month or two. Anthony J. Bruggeman, of Fort Wayne, C. H. Muselman of Berne, and Hubert R. McClenahan of Decatur will represent Monroe township, and D. Burdette Custer and Robert G. Smith of Decatur will represent Wabash township.