Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 57, Number 115, Decatur, Adams County, 15 May 1959 — Page 1

Vol. LVII. No. 115.

Three Dead In Maine AsMan Goes Berserk LIMERICK, Maine (UPD — A berserk businessman despondent after going bankrupt, killed his wife, a police chief and wounded two state policemen before he died of a gunshot wound in his bullet-riddled home. Gordon G. Hamlin, 45, described as a “crack shot,” stood off more than 50 policemen who surrounded his home during a four-hour siege Thursday night. One of the wounded, state police detective Stephen Regina was near death early today at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Regina was hit with a shotgun blast in the stomach. Hamlin’s wife, Rose, 40, and ' Westbrook Police Chief Pierre A. Harnois, 34, were dead. Police said they were not immediately able to determine whether Hamlin committed suicide or was killed by a police bullet. The bloody outburst began shortly before 5 p.m. when Hamlin killed his wife with a single shotgun blast on the froQt porch of their house, situated in a quiet residential section in this town, 30 miles west of Portland. Felled By Blast Hamlin then barricaded hmiself in his large two-story house. Two squads of police arrived minutes later. State trooper Willard Parker kicked in the front door and was felled by a shotgun blast, which struck him in the right side. He was not seriously wounded and dragged himself to safety. Hamlin then barricaded himself the next four hours, dashing from window to window, spraying approaches to the swelling with a steady stream of slugs. He had two .30-.30 rifles, a 12gauge shotgun and a large supply of ammunition. Harnois and Regina decided to rush the house from different sides but with amazing speed. Hamlin first killed Harnois with one rifle slug, dashed through the house to the opposite side and cut down Regina with a shotgun blast. Regina was dragged to safety by two other policemen. Use Tear Gas Authorities -then threw tear gas shells into the house and firemen partially flooded the basement in a futile attempt to keep Hamlin on the upper floors. _ As darkness feu, firemen turned searchlights on the house. Some were shot out by the crazed man. About 9 p.m. the fungire from the home stopped and police cautiously moved forward. Hamlin was found dead in the basement, a bullet wound in his left side. His body was floating in a shallow pool of water. Police said neighbors told them ** Hamlin had been despondent since his furniture factory closed recently, forcing him-into bankruptcy. During the shooting, the demented man’s 16-year-old daughter, Judith, was at a sandlot baseball game, unaware of what was happening until the siege was -al-! most over.

Pravda Brands West K Plan As Propaganda

MOSCOW (UPI) — Pravda today attacked the Western peace plan at Geneva as “propaganda” but did not reject it outright. The Communist Party newspaper complained that the plan merely was a new version of old Western proposals. It said the “package" form mixed problems together so as to prevent solution of any of them. It followed statements by Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev and Moscow Radio commentators stressing again that Russia regarded a peace treaty with East and West Germany as the first essential stop toward ending the cold war. (The West has demanded unification of Germany before the signing of a peace treaty.) Pravda commented specifically on the 40-page document present-, ed to the Geneva ministers’ conference Thursday by secretary of State Christian A. Better. “This plan is a new version qf ideas and proposals of the west whose unsoundness already has been shown in the life and practice of international relations,” the party paper said. “Its main fault lies in the fact that various national problems, each one of which is complicated in itself, have been linked in it into one bundle which is quite impsosibie to disentangle.” Khrushchev spoke at Kishinev and his speech was broadcast by Moscow Radio Thursday night. It was not • direct comment on the

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

Russia Calls On West To Sign Peace Treaty For All Os Germany

GENEVA (UPD—Russia called . on the West today to sign a Ger- . man peace treaty that would take , West Germany out of NATO and \ keep 17 million East Germans t under permanent Communist control. [ The proposal was Moscow’s answer to Thursday’s Western cold war peace package plan. It was , presented to the fifth working ses- , sion of the Big Four conference ! by Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei . Gromyko, apparently after receiving new instructions from Premier , Nikita Khrushchev himself. The day’s session started at . 3:34 p.m. (9:34 a.m. c.d.t.), with British Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd in the chair. i The proposals contained in the new Russian draft treaty were not new. In fact, the Soviets published such a draft last Jan. 10 and it was quickly rejected by the West as unacceptable. It was not known immediately whether the present draft was identical or whether it contained some changes. But essentially it was the same Kremlin “package.” Gromyko made a long speech in presenting the draft. Soviet’s Mato Pitch But it was the Soviet Union’s main pitch for an East-West settlement, and Gromyko let it be known that for the record Russia wanted it put forward as an official Moscow proposal here. The January version of the draft comprised 21 articles. Its main points were: —Germany would undertake to refrain from force, settle all international disputes by peaceful means only and not take part in any military alliance which did not include all the Big Four powers. —West Germany would quit NATO and East Germany leave tire Communist Warsaw Pact. —All foreign forces and bases would be withdrawn from Germany within one year of the treaty coming into force. —Alternatively, an agreement would be concluded on the timing of troop withdrawls on condition that one-third were withdrawan within six months of the treaty entering into force. —Establishment of Germany’s frontiers within its present borders—in other words, recognition of the Oder-Neisse Line in the East. —Prohibition of a future Anschluss, or union, with Austria. —West Berlin to be converted into a demilitarized “free city” pening German reunification. Draft Not Acceptable The Soviet draft was completely unacceptable to the West then, ; because it was not based on re- | unification. The West also, always

western plan. He said it was “essential first of all to solve the most vital question. . .of concluding a peace treaty with Germany jointly with the two actually-existing German states.” He said again that if the West refused to sign an all - German peace treaty, the Soviet Union would sign one with East Germany alone, and he assumed other Communist nations and perhaps some non-Communist countries would do the dame. He insisted West Berlin must become a “free city” and that it must be left to East Germany to “guarantee communications between the free city and al countries wiht which its population would wish to deal.” Four Youths Admit Robberies In County A burglar ring operating in the Fort Wayne area for the past three months, and consisting of four youths from that city, have admitted to authorities to 27 burglaries, which included y two Adams county incidents. A Decatur burglary was admitted by the burglars, and a similar job supposedly occurred in Berne. Positive identification of the two business establishments has not been forwarded to the local authorities.

has insisted that a reunified Germany must have full freedom to decide its own alliances. The presentation—or re-run—of the Russian plan just 24 hours after Secretary of State Christian A. Herter handed Gromyko the West’s own peace plan offering Russia global troop reductions and European security in exchange for German reunification, beginning with Berlin. The two plans thus were diametrically opposed and there appeared little prospect of reconciling them. An East German Communist delegation member commented to United Press International that the Soviet bloc cannot accept Berlin reunification through free elections because East Berlin is the Soviet zone state’s capital. Set Up Mixed Commission The *• East German said oile “posiitve” element in th West’s plan appeared to be the proposal for setting up a mixed East-West German commission to arrange the elections. He said, however, that the Communists will reject the proposal that the West should have 25 delegates and the East only 10 delegates on the commission. Herter and his Western partners tried to draw out Gromyko when the Big Four met Thursday night in an informal dinner but he ducked their questions. It was apparent his orders had not yet arrived. The Communist newspaper Pravda and the Communist East Germans condemned the Western plan as muddled and tangled. This reaction was expected. Gromyko also was expected to reject the plan but only after studying the 4,500-word document. The Soviets betrayed their surprise when a Russian spokesman criticized the “secrecy” surrounding the plan. Some details had leaked out in advance at the foreign ministers conference here and the Russians pounced on them as unrealistic if not hopeless. Soviet press chief Mikhail Kharmalov complained that the Soviet Union did not keep its plan secret and said some period of time is required for consideratoin and study of the Western package plan. He also expressed suspicion more Western secrets might come later. Does Not Comment Gromyko did not comment when Secretary of State Christian A. Herter outlined the plan at Thursday’s session. He might do so at today’s meeting but some sources thought he would wait a day or two and meanwhile possibly introduce Russia’s plan today. The Western powers firmly braced against any Soviet effort to pick apart their tightly wrapped package tor Berlin elections. global troop cuts and reunification of Germany by the end of 1961. They had seized the initiative at last In the cold war and hoped to maintain it. (Continued on page eight) Carl Braun Is Head Os Community Fund Carl Braun, Decatur insurance agent, was elected president of the Decatur Community Fund, Inc., at the regular election meeting Thursday night. Ralph Habegger, of Habegger Hardware, is the outgoing president. Other officeft elected are: first vice president, the Rev. J. O. Penrod; second vice president, Deane T. Dorwin; secretary, Mrs. L. A. Cowens; treasurer, Ted Hill; executive secretary, Mrs. Robert Boch; budget committee, chairman Ralph Habegger, members, Leo Kirsch, Chalmer Bollenbacher, and M. J. Pryor; publicity committee, chairman, Dick Heller, Jr., cochairman, Robert Wall. Directors of the organization, which sets the budget and directs the campaign to raise funds for eight member agencies are: The Rev. J. 0. Penrod, ministerial association; Royal Friend, labor; Ralph Habegger, business; Mrs. L. A. Cowens, women’s organizations; Carl Brann, hiirinogg; Charles Morgan, labor; Ted Hill, fraternal; Deane Dorwin, schools; Wilbur Petrie, industries'

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Friday, May 15,1959.

Power Service Is Disrupted

Two malfunctions at the Decatur diesel power plant, one resulting in prolonged interruption to service on the north line, and the other causing a fire to oil-catch cans and oily rags that lined the intake manifold of the engine, occurred this morning at 10:30 o’clock. Electric service was restored in a matter of minutes to city residents, but a mechanical failure in the steam plant tie-in circuit breaker at the diesel plant, caused a delay to service in Root township and the sewage plant. I-M standby power was pressed into service to complement the power from the city steam plant. The diesel engine will remain inoperative until an inspection of the damaged area divulges the amount of repair necessary. No estimate was given on the time the engine would be out, nor was it known to what extent the interior was damaged. Jumper Lines Installed City employes began working on a jumper line from the steam plant and I-M lines to the north line and were expected to finish this afternoon. I-M standby power accounted for •bout 6,000 KV of power, and add'! ed to the 2,000 KV obtained from the steam plant, will adequately handle Decatur s normal consumption. The daily average for this time of year is about 7,800 KV. The first mechanical failure at the plant is believed to be a broken piston cylinder head. This malSeoul Leaders At Dislrict Meeting Training the nation’s youth is scouting’s greatest challenge, Lyle Cotton, of Bluffton, chairman of the south district of the Anthony Wayne Boy Scout council, told the district committee Thursday evening at the Methodist church in Bluffton. Attending from Decatur were T. C. Smith and Dick Heller, Jr., from Monroe, Orval Neuenschwander; from Berne, Luther Yager and Ray Beer. Cotton opened the meeting, explaining that Benjamin Franklin once said, "Nothing is of more importance tor the public well being than to form up and train youth. Wise and good men are, in my opinion, the strength of the statefar more than riches or arms.” The Boy Scouts have provided valuable leadership for the country, Cotton continued. Before World War II only one boy in ten was a scout; yet during the war two out of three of the citations awarded went to former scouts. Volunteer workers in scouting have made this possible, he pointed out. Cotton then introduced Ray Beer of Berne, south district commissioner, who brought up the fact that round tables by scouters are now well organized, but the commissioner staff needs men, especially in Jay and Wells counties, and in Decatur. The commissioners in the various neighborhoods will check closely on advancement of the scouts during the summer program, he added.- . - The district explorers will join the cave expedition to Cave River Valley park May 29-31. The next district meeting will be held at the Decatur Youth Center at 7:30 p.m. June 9. INDIANA WEATHER Clearing and quite cool tonight with scattered light frost most sections, locally heavy favorable areas. Lows mostly in the 30s. Saturday generally fair and. a little warmer with high temperatures 58 to 65. Sunset today 7:52 p. m. Sunrise Saturday 5:31 a. m. Outlook for Sunday: Fair and a little warmer. Lows generally low 40s. Highs mid 60s north to low 70s south.

function caused overheating of the intake manifold, setting fire to the oil cans and oily rags on the structure. Nine 'Extinguishers Used Decatur firemen, who remained on the scene until 12:30, used nine CO2 fire extinguishers, controlling the blaze at the Seventh street power plant. Almost as soon as one fire would be extinguished a new one would start further along the exterior of the diesel. Damage to the exterior was regarded as light, but the inspection of the intake manifold had not begun. The casing had not cooled sufficiently to allow workmen access to the damaged area of the engine. A complete inspection will be made when the casing has cooled. Rural School Music Plans Are Discussed The music teachers of the Adams county high schools met Thursday afternoon with county Superintendent of schools, Gail Grabill, to discuss plans for music events for the 1959-60 school term. Plans for the county jnusic festival slated for November 19 were discussed and a chairman was selected. Peter Figert, Geneva music instructor, was selected to serve as chairman for. next year’s event. It was announced that the school music festival will feature the combined choruses and the county honor band. Hie director for the county music festival will be selected and announced later, according to Grabill. Attending the meeting were: Darryl Gerig, of Monmouth: Don Gerig, of Adams Central; Helen Ehrsam, of Pleasant Mills; and Leon Gerig, Adams Central. Temperatures Dip ■ Into 30s In State United Press International Forecasters issued cold weather warnings for the entire state today and said the mercury will drop into the 30s throughout Indiana tonight with “locally heavy frost in favorable areas.” The zone forecasts called for scattered light frost in all parts of the state, but the locally heavy warnings were mentioned only in the predictions for the northern and southern thirds. Temperatures fell into the 30s in parts of Indiana today for the second morning in a row, with lows of 36 at Fort Wayne and 38 at South Bend. But cloudy td partly cloudy conditions_ apparently spared the area crops for harm by frost. A slow warming trend was forecast to begin Saturday and continue through Monday. But cooler weather was expected Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the five-day outlook. Temperatures for the next five days will average 4 to 5 degrees below normal highs of 69 to 77 and lows of 49 to 56. Outside of a few sprinkles today, no rain was expected until Monday and Tuesday. Then, however, precipitation is expected to average one-half to one inch. Hie mercury had trouble rising into the 50s Thursday. It was 51 at South Bend and Fort Wayne at high points, 52 at Indianapolis and Lafayette, and 56 at Evansville. Overnight lows included 41 at Lafayette, 42 at Indianapolis and 48 at- Evansville. - The Chicago area recorded 39, Louisville 42 and Cincinnati 43. Today's highs will range from tile mid to upper 50s, and Saturday’s highs from the low to mid 60s. The outlook for Sunday was warmer.

PTA Certificate To Police Department A certificate of merit was awarded to the city police department Thursday afternoon by the Lincoln school P.T.A. for faithful service as protector and friend for the safety of school children. Judge Myles F. Parrish, past ! president, presented the award to police chief James Borders at ceremonies field in the school gymnasium. J|idge Parrish statl ed that tirt- of merit • was the first such award ever pre- [ sented in the state of Indiana to • a police department by a parent- ! teachers organization. This was • learned when Parrish conferred - with Dr. Christen Jung, president of the Indiana congress of par- . ents and teachers. Dr. Jung stati ed that no such award had ever . been authorized before, but sanc- . tioned the presentation. 5 The certificate reads as follows: “Lincoln P.T.A., Decatur, Ind., » This is to certify that the Deretur police department has earned its right to the certificate of merit because of its faithful services as protector and friend of our children at Lincoln School during the school year 1958-59. Signed, Myles F. Parrish, president; Mrs. D. B. Heller, vice presidept; Mrs. Hollis Bonifas, secretary; a n d ■ David C. Kaye, treasurer; and 1 sealed with the Indiana congress of parents and teachers seal.” a Other business matters included c the installation of officers for nex school year. Officers include: - the Rev. Carroll Myers, pastor ol e the Church of Christ, president; - Mrs. David Heller, vice presi- - dent; William Christen, treasurer; > and Mrs. Paul Wolf, secretary. : The final meeting was provided with entertainment by the kinder- [ garten classes. • Burns Prove Fatal To Jonesboro Girl MARION, Ind. (UPD—Valerie Croucher, 7, Jonesboro, burned to death while playing in a strawcovered dog house near her home Thursday. Authorities said her younger brother had been playing with her but left dog house before the fire started. Cause of the blaze was not immediately known.

Minimum Tillage Day Tuesday

The five advantages of minimum tillage before corn planting on typically heavy Adams county soil will be seen graphically during the all-day northeastern Indiana minimum tillage field day next Tuesday. The event will take place on the Hugo and Raymond Bulmahn farm located IM miles north of Preble, [ and one-half mile east. Signs will , show the way from Preble. The event will draw a large crowd from all parts of Indiana as the Hoosier chapter of the soil conservation society of America will ! hold its annual spring field day in i conjunction witl> the local event. Approximately ten Purdue extension staff members will be present to witness the demonstration, including Charles McKee, extension soil conservationist. R. O. Cole, executive secetary of the state soil conservation committee, Howard Kraus, of the Purdue visual aids department. The event will be widely covered by the press, radio, and TV. - Saves Money And Time Local farmers who have tried different types of minimum tillage procedures have generally found five advantages to the system. First of all, there is a savins of cost, time and labor to the farmer. This is obvious, since plowing and planting becomes a one or two-step system, rather than four or five with discing and harrowing. But there are several other important advantages. Better, weed control in the field is one of them. Weeds capnot take root in the loosely plowed soil that is between the rows. This cuts down again on cultivation problems—weeds grow mainly in the xqw iiSdit rstner than through the entire field, as in conventionally planted corn fields. Conserves Moisture

' v* Wk w* ■ I I ~-13s . ONE DEAD IN BLIMP CRASH— The deflated skin of a Navy blimp, bigger than a football field, hangs from the Lakehurst, N. J., hanger into which it chrased in a heavy fog while attempting an instrument landing, Lieut, (j.g.) David M. Loyd, 2G, of Vega, Texas, died in the wreckage as rescuers, using heavy cutting equipment and endangered by gasoline fumes, attempted to free him. The 343-foot blimp was returning from a 24-hour submarine patrol when the accident occurred. ‘I

Jenner Heads Firm On Land Speculation

INDIANAPOLIS (UPD—A new real estate development firm . headed by former U.S. Sen. Wil- ’ liam E. Jenner with an eye on speculating on land in connection with the St. Lawrence Seaway today awaited state approval before ’ it can do business, ’ Incorporation papers for the St. - Lawrence Seaway Corp, were filed with the Indiana secretary of : state, and approval of an applica- , tion for permission to sell three r million dollars worth of stock now s awaits apprval of the Indiana t Securities Commission. s Jenner, who retired from the Senate the first of this year, is e listed as president. Other officers , and directors include a number of ’ Hoosiers well known in politics. '• The firm has petitioned for ap- '■ proval of its plans to sell a mil- “ lion shares of stock at $3 a share. ci Par value is listed as $1 a share, s The ISC, according to commissioner Lehman Safaler, has asked d the firm to provide copies of all ct options now held on land. Sadie: t: said the firm indioe.ted its willing>f ness to supply the copies. ; One of the directors and the i- firm’s secretary is Jack Brown, ; law partner of Jenner and a former federal district attorney. 1 Brown said the firm already has . purchased some land ip, northern Indiana, presumably in the general area of the proposed deepwater harbor on the southern tip of Lake Michigan. “We think there is going to be , a natural expansion in Indiana,” , Brown said. “It is our belief that there will be great opportunities in the state.” Brown said the firm plans to buy more land in northern Indiana, some in southern Indiana and “wherever we think we can make some long-term capital gains.” I

Another important factor is the conservation of moisture. Two types of moisture are present in ’ the soil: one type is capillary ’ moisture, which is present in the dirt, and has a tendency to rise towards the surface of the field and evaporate. Minimum tillage leaves a loose, rough surface, which effectively prevents this moisture from escaping from the ground. At the same time, grouhd water passed through the loose soil to the drain tiles through the plowed land as readily as in conventional fields. This means that the water content of the soil is maintained at a level more closely normal in both wet and dry years, as well as average years, helping to prevent drouth and Water damage. Erosion loss in fields prepared by minimum tilage is also reduced. Since the soil is conditioned to absorb the rainfall, the fields do not erode as a conventionally tilled field erodes. Yields 10% Better Os greatest interest, because of the better weed control, better moisture conditions, and reduced erosion, yields are better. Ten-year ■ tests in Michigan indicated that a farmers can gain 10% in yields by using plow-plant systems rather than conventional methods. Six different tillage operations, including five types of minimum tillage, will be viewed by the spectators on the 18-acre field Tuesday. Os gr&at-interest will be the Bulmahn plow-plant system, which includes the tractor beside the plow in one operation with no tillage. The Internationla Harvester strip tillage method, with a 12-inch strip tilled in front of the planter, will be demonstrated. .Each system will plow-plant four rounds of the field, and each row

■—■ “Naturally, the directors are interested in the areas influenced by the completion of the St. Lawrence Seaway," he said. The firm has listed one real estate broker as associated with it. He is Durward McDonald, Lal Port, a frind of Govmor Hand- ' ly. Handley is a political associate of Jenner and has been f making a vigorous fight for use of 1 the Burns Ditch area in Porter i County for a harbor as a means of expanding the Indiana eoon- ‘ omy. ; Directors of the firm include f GOP state chairman Robert W. Matthews; GOP state committee . treasurer George Stark; Jack . Morgan of Austin, 9th District Republican chairman; Robert Dawson, son of state highway commissioner Charles M. Dawson, and J1 Mayor McClurg of Union City. iLlMoClurg is a.-Democrat. *1 Frank Pspe, secretary of the ’ |i Indiana Wholesale Liquor Assn. and husband of the 9th District e GOP vice-chairman, also is a di* ■ rector, along with Victor Boyer, • Indianapolis; William Goodwin, Frankfort; Roscoe Cobb, Hunting5 ton; Floyd Cook, Kokom; James 1 Winzeler, New Haven; R.C. Kerr, • Attica, and Charles Farrell, Fort ' Wayne. > Public Library To Be Closed Tuesday The Decatur public library will , be closed all day Tuesday, May 19, because of the district library meeting at Wabash. Miss Bertha Helelr, librarian, announced that all librarians at the local library I would* attend the annual meeting.

: will be marked. Later, a special » meeting to observe and compare i growth rates, population factors, will be held. Yields will be mea- ■ sured for each type. The John Deere strip tillage 1 method, with a unit planter, will be in action, as will a plow mulching tool directly behind the plbw. 1 Tractor wheel track planting, with ■ ,a Jractor and planter following the tractor and plow, and planter shoes directly in the tractor wheel tracks, will be demonstrated. Finally, the conventional method will be shown, in competition with the other methods. Actually, Michigan university has pioneered in minimum tillage 1 work, with little interest being shown by Purdue until recent years. t Much of the work done by the Bulmahn brothers Is in a new field, with special methods for the types of soils found in Adams county. The field which will be used Tuesday is especially suitable because it contains both Pewamo hilty clay loam and Blount Silt I loam, two of the most common types of soil found in the county. Wheat-Oats Seen From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. the work- will be in progress, and a lunch stand, operated by the Preble 4-H club under the direction of Mrs. Reinhard Selking and Mrs. Dale Brandt, will be on the grounds. Alsp of interest to the farmers will be the wheat and oats variety and fertilizer plots along the lane on the east side on the way back to the field demonstration. The 23 different plots, with 15 varieties of the two small grains in varying fertilization plants, will be marked for easy viewing.

Six Cents