Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 59, Number 144, Decatur, Adams County, 20 June 1961 — Page 8

PAGE EIGHT

New Castle Man Convicted Os , Slaying Wife NEW CASTLE, Ind. f UPD—A 12-man Henry County Circuit jury Monday night found New Castle barber Warren H. Byrd, 36, guilty of first degree murder in the March 12 arsenic poison death of his wife. The verdict in the ‘'week-long trial came after four hours and 35 minutes of deliberation and stunned the more than 200 persons packed into the stuffy courtroom. The jury recommended life imprisonment. When announced there was a loud cry of "Oh no!" from Byrd's daughter, Linda, 14, who sobbed openly. Byrd, who previously stated he didn’t have anything to worry about because “God is on my side,” stood with his head bowed and gave no outward sign of emotion. Byrd’s son, John, 16, and his mother, Mrs. Mary E. Byrd, also were in the courtroom. Mrs. Byrd wept. Judge Wesley W. Ratliff said he would sentence the handsome barber Friday and Henry County Sheriff Warren H. Davis said Byrd would be taken to the Indiana State Prison at Michigan City either Monday or Tuesday. Possible Appeal Indications were Byrd’s attorneys, Clarence Benadum of Muncie and Loys Green of New Cattle, would file an appeal for a new trial, according to Davis. Benadum was not present when the verdict was read, but Green rushed to a phone and apparently called him with the decision, he said. e Byrd was arrested three hours after the burial of his second wife, Lois, 33. and was subsequently charged with her death. He also faces a first degree murder indictment in the death of his first wife, Loretta, in 1959. Hie body of Loretta Byrd was exhumed following the death of Lpis and autjiorities said tests indicated she also had died from arsenic poisoning. After the jury foreman read the verdict, a group of Byrd’s friends crowded around him. But sheriff’s deputies quickly ushered him out of the courtroom. Davis said late Monday night several hours after Byrd was returned to his cell that “he hasn’t said a word since the jury came in.” Davis said Byrd was “a good prisoner and reads most of the time. But,” he said, “he’s like a Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. “One minute he is very religious acting, and the next he’s just filthy,” Davis said. “It’s like he

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Local Aviatrix In Powder Puff Derby

Mrs. Josephine Richardson, operatof of the Decatur Hi-Way Airport, east of Decatur, with her husband, A. W. Richardson, will compete again this year in the Powder Puff derby for women pilots of the United Mrs. Richardson wiU be flying solo in this year’s derby, the second time she competed in the cross-country flight. She will be flying a 1959 Cessna, under sponsorship of the airport. The Decatur aviafrix, who has logged 1,200 hours of flights, is a member of the Flying Farmers of Indiana and the National Flying Farmers. A week ago Sunday, Mrs. Richardson competed in the 12th annual air meet at Dupage county Airport- at West Chicago, 111., and finished second in the cross country race. Virginia Coffeen of Ldckpprt, 111., was he co-pilot in the event which had 30 women competing. Indiana Entrants Other Indiana entrants in the Powder Puff derby include: Helen Grahm and Pat Patterson, Indianapolis; Ethel Knuth and Delia Sanders, Indianapolis; Margaret Ringenberg and Berta Marolf of Grabill; Margaret Petty of Muncie and Jill McCormick of Lafayette; Sophia Paton and Rae Cawfell of Indianapolis. The 15th annual Power Puff derby wil get underway Saturday, July 8, with nearly 100 airplanes taking off from Montgomery field, San Diego, Calif. Flying during the race will be during daylight hours and under FAA visual flight rules only. The had a line down the middle and goes to extremes on either side.” Davis said he doesn’t know whether Byrd “is conscious of the change taking place.” He said if the judge sentences Byrd to life, “He’d stay in for the rest of his natural life ana wouldn’t be eligible for~'parole.” Byrd’s brother. Daniel, 35, had to be escorted from the courtroom after the - verdict was read fpr making “discourteous” remarks toward ftme of the officials. His mother and the children, both by his first marriage, were quickly returned to Mrs. Byrd’s home where they have been staying pending the trial. Byrd, appearing relaxed and confident dressed neatly in a white shirt, took the stand in his own defense Monday and said he was willing to take a lie detector test to prove his innocence. Agreed To Test Davis said this was contrary to his earlier decision that-he would not submit to a lie test. But Byrd said; he would take the-test to prove “I never gave arsenic to my wife or anybody in my life.” During the 30 minutes he was on the stand, he told of his great affection for his second wife. “All my life, dreams and hopes left me when Lois died,” he said in a broken voice. He said they often walked hand-in-hand in public and that he was devoted to her. Lois was buried in a New 7 Castle an empty grave away from Loretta. Byrd said the middle plot jwas for him. He said be- . fore the death of Lois, she told him she would “meet him in Heaven.” During the course of the trial the prosecution produced a bottle labeled “poison” which was found behind the furnace in Byrd’s home. It w-as found among 10 or 12 other bottles and was the only one without dust, ashes or soot on it, according to the testimony. The bottle allegedly contained arsenic. Byrd claimed he never purchased any arsenic “to my knowledge.” But under cross-examina-tion he admitted he had bought some ant poison which may have contained arsenic. Also introduced into evidence was a cup which Lois Byrd allegedly drank from shortly before she died. Dr. Robert Forney, Indianapolis, state toxicologist, testified that the s cup. had traces of arsenic poison. , Forney also testified that Lcjis Byrd’s body tissues bore up to 100 times the normal amount of arsenic. '

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. '’ww J I Josephine Richardson t deadline to cross the finish line at Atlantic City, N. J., will be 1 p. m. EDT Wednesday, July 12. The race course of 2,709 statute miles will cover a route via Yuma and Tucson, Ariz., El Paso, Midland, Abilene and Dallas, Tex., Shreveport, La., Jackson, Miss., Montgomery, Ala., Greenville, S. C., Lynchburg, Va., and Hagerstown, Md. A purse of $2,500 will go to the five top winners, the pilot and co-pilot each receiving attractive trophies as well. Additional awards will be given for the best score made by each “class” or airplane, for the best score on different “legs” of the race and also for many special categories. “Love Potion” Fatal Lois Byrd’s mother testified that Byrd had given her daughter a malted in that cup when she was ill at her parents’ home, During his closing err ments, Henry County Prosecutor Dwight S. Beckner told the jury “your conscience will hurt you until the last day of your life if you do not bring in a guilty verdict. “Do not put this man back on the street with his charm,” he said, apparently referring to the cup Byrd gave to Lois which Beckner termed as a “token of love that contained a potion of death.” Green, in his final statement, said “nowhere has the state presented any indication of malice. The state is trying to make a mountain out of a molehill.” The prosecution concluded its case Friday and the defense presented its total case Monday. ; ’*l* ■ \ • iE I ’L 1 I H HEAVE-HO — Dick Hart shows the 12-pound sphere he used in topping his for- , mer shotput high with a throw of 60 feet, 11 inches. The Morrisville lad did it in PI AA . State Championship Meet, University Park, Pa.

THE DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT, DECATUR. INDIANA

Former Decatur Man Is Held In Wyoming John Lough, about 25, a former resident of Decatur, is in the custody of F. B. I. authorities in Wyoming, it was learned from the Indiana .state police this fnorning. Lough ha® been held for about three days, charged with the Dyer act, transporting stolen vehicles across a state line. Michigan City Man Is Named Manager INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) — The appointment of Vernon C. Jacks, Michigan City, as manager of the Dunes Park hotel and pavilion was announced today by Indiana conservation director Donald E. Foltz. Jacks was chosen to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Ted Peters of Gary after he was identified as a reluctant witness before a Senate rackets committee hearing on Lake County gambjin&in 1959. 45 Motor Vehicles Employes Dropped INDIANAPOLIS (UPl)—lndiana Motor Vehicles Bureau commissioner Alva H. Brewer today announced the discharge of 45 employes at the end of this month and said they were all Democrats. Brewer said the action was taken, effective June 30, in compliance with Democratic Governor Welsh’s request for a five per cent reduction in personnel as an economy move. Statement of Condition of the SKCI RITY I.IFR and ACCIDEVT COMPANY Denver. Colorado 810 14th Street On the 31st day of December, 1960. F. BURR BETTS, President WM. C. NEU Secretary Amount of Capital paid up | 1,000,000.00 ASSETS OF COMPANY Bond (Schedule » 15,816,512.00 Stocks .(Schedule— I 1 99,296.00 Mortgage Loans on Real Estate r „ 1 (Schedule B) $ 28,886,587.00 Real Estate owned S 1,902,596.00 Policy loans $ 3,679,694.00 Premium Notes $ o Collateral loans (Schedule C) $ o Cash and Bank Deposits $ 1,098,332.00 Agents’ balances or uncollected premiums .... J 1,824,304.00 Other assets $ 297,138.00 Total Assets $ 53.604,459.00 LIABILITIES. SURPLUS AND OTHER FI'NDS Aggregate reserve for life policies and contracts $ 39,683,325.00 Aggregate reserve for accident and health policies $ 1,468,095.00 Supplementary contracts without life 7 contingencies ’ $ 499,630.00 Policy and contract claims—Life $ 406,663.00 Accident and Health $ 210,148.00 Taxes, licenses and . _ fees due or accrued J '582,791.00 All other Liabilities $ 5,363,612.00 Total Liabilities . . $ Special Surplus Funds $ 2,000,0.00.00 Capital Paid up or Statutory Deposit $ 1,000.600.00 Unassigned Funds (Surplus) $ 2.390,195.00 Surplus as regards Policyholders $ 5,390,195.00 Total $ 53,604.459.00 STATE. OF INDIANA, Office of Insurance Commissioner. 1. the undersigned. Insurance Commissioner of Indiana, hereby certify that the above is a correct copy of the Statement of the Condition of the above mentioned Company on the 31st day.of .December;; original statement and that the said original statement is now on file in this office. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF. I hereunto subscribe . my ' name and affix my official seal, this May 15: 1961. - SEAL Hnrry E. McClain Insurance Commissioner June 20, 27.

Statement of Condition of the I.IFECO INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA Seattle, Washington 43,47 Brooklyn Avenue On the 31st day of December, 1960. W. L. CAMPBELLpresident A. D. MERRITT Secretary Amount of Capital paid up $ 2,000,000.00 Assets of company Bonds (Schedule Di . ... $ 14,562,709.37 Stocks (Schedule Di $ 333.152.00 Mortgage Loans on Real Estate (Schedule Bi „ ..... $ 441,332.36 Real Estate , owned 0 0 Policy loans $ 2,549.48 Premium N0te5,,...... $ o Collateral loans (Schedule C) $ 0 Cash and Bank Deposits '$ 211,784.66 Agents’ balances or uncollected premiums . $ 350,790.5-3 Other assets $ 174,032.40 Total Assets $ 16,076,350.80 LIABILITIES. SURPLUS AND OTHER FUNDS Aggregate reserve for life policies and contracts ».. $ 1,495,524.00 Aggregate reserve for accident and health ’ policies „ $ 46.00 Supplementary contracts without life contingencies : $ 3,292.31 Policy and contract claims—Life $ - 13,000.00 Accident and Health $ 0 Taxes, licenses, and fees due or accrued ... $ 36,913.03 All other Liabilities $ 304,335.08 Total Liabilities .... $ 1,8 5 35110.42 Special Surplus Funds I» . 0 Capital Paid up or Statutory Deposit v 2,000,000.00 Unassigned Funds (Surplus? $ 12,223.240.38 Surplus as regards Policyholders $ 14,223,240.38 Total* $ 16,0767350.80 STATE OF INDIANA, Office of Insurance Commissioner. I, the undersigned, Insurance Commissioner of Indiana, hereby certify that the above is a correct copy of the Statement of the Condition of the above mentioned Company on the 31st day of December, 1960; as shown by the original statement and that the said original statement is now -bn file in this office. . IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, 1 hereunto subscribe my name and affix my official seal, this May 15, 1961. , SEAL Harry E. McClain Insurance Commissioner June 20, 27,

Diane Franz First In Reading Program / Dianne Franz, daughter of‘ Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Franz, who reside at 803 N. Third street, was the first young reader to complete 12 books in the summer reading program at the public library. She will be a third grade pupil at Northwest elementary school this fall. Six others also completed the first step in the reading program Monday. They are Carol, Dennis, and Joan Shady, Margaret Smith, Sandra Andrews, and Stephanie Sutton. In keeping with the 125th anniversary of Adams county, a flag is placed on a township as soon as one book is completed. The next goal is to place stars on towns, earned at the rate of one star for every five books read. A total of 654 youngsters, ranging from pre-s choolers to eighth graders, have enrolled for the program, which this year stresses quality rather than quantity. Although the enrollment number is lower than in previous years, a larger percentage of children has started to read than ever before, in the 12-year history of the pro. gram. The summer reading extends until August 31. Statement of Condition of the JOHN HANCOCK MITI Al, LIFF. INSURANCE COMPANY IJoston 17, Massachusetts 200 Berkeley Street On the 31st day of December, 1960. BYRON K ELLIOT President GERHARD D. BLEICKEN Secretary Amount of Capital paid up Mutual .. $ “ ~ 0 ASSETS OF COMPANY Bonds (Schedule D) $ 3,703,977,269.46 Stocks (Schedule D) $ 348,169,597.36 Mortgage Loans on Real Estate (Schedule B> $ 1,564,955,947.57 Real Estate owned $ 103,301,822.03 Policy loans $ 194,350,858.09 Premium Notes .. . $ 0 Collateral loans (Schedule C) $ 0 Cash-and Bank Deposits ■-‘hr.-;43,330,951.78 - Agents’ balances or uncollected premiums $ 87,378,990.23 Other assets $ 81,857,067.93 Total Assets $ 6,127,322,504.45 LIABILITIES, SURPLUS AND OTHER FUNDS Aggregate reserve for life policies and contracts ... $ 4,773,994,809.00 Aggregate reserve for accident and health policies .... * 18.151ii549.00 Supplementary contracts without life contingencies $ 164,847,067.00 Policy and contract claims—Life $ 18,843,954.98 Accident and \ Health . .9.619.318.00 Taxes, licenses and fees due or accrued $ 25,197,511.00 All other Liabilities $ 581,057,747.70 Total Liabilities .. $ 5,591,711,956.68 Contingency Reserve for group « - insurance :.... $ 23,815,000.00 Contingency Reserve for Fluctuation in Security Values .... | 64,400,000.00 Special Surplus Funds $ 0 Capital Paid up or Statutory ■Deposit $ 0 Unassigned Funds a (Surplus) $ 44<,395,547.17 Surplus as regards Policyholders J 535,610,547.. 7 Total .....1 * 6,127,322,504 45 STATE OF INDIANA, Office of Insurance Commissioner I, the undersigned, Insurance Commissioner of Indiana, hereby certify that the above is a correct copy of the Statejnent of the Condition of the above mentioned Company on the 31st day of December. 1960; as shown by the original statement and that the said original statement is now on file in this office. IN...TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereuntflczKttbserlbe—my—name a h<T affix my official seal, this May 15, 1961. SEAL Harry E. McClain Insurance Commissioner June 20, 27.

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' Oil ■ WK v ’ 11 UA WF> f Riviu w! i a \ KwML U I ' • B F wk RAY FAGER (second from left) of Fager Maytag Sales, Decatur, is seen during a visit this week to the Maytag company’s Newton, lowa, headquarters by 32 Indiana appliance dealer representatives. Shown touring the company’s automatic washer and dryer plant, the appliancedealers also inspected the company’s wringer washer plant and new headquarters building.

New Storage Chests Look Custom-Made - By JOYCE SCHULLER United Press International CHICAGO (UPD—The new storage chests and cabinets at the International Home Furnishings Market look like custom-mades. Case goods of this quality and workmanship were once available only on a made-to-order basis. Cedar chests, for example, look like anything but the bulky, cratelike ones once relegated to the attic or a corner of the bedroom. One antique and salem maple model, styled like a colonial wagon seat, would make a handsome, occasional piece in the living room, den or foyer. The seat lifts up to reveal the cedar-lined I storage area. Another cedar chest, finished in oiled walnut, with a cut-out front pattern of half-ovals, is styled like a. buffet. - Other uniquely styled storage. pieces for the dining and living ■ room include a straight-lined contemporary teak triple buffet with' arcane front. It’s paired with a , hutch-type cabinet that hangs on the wall overhead instead of resting on the buffet. Among the special-purpose cabinets that now come ready-made are a low, deep-drawered model,: perfectly proportioned for under-j window or foot-of-bed use. The | same manufacturer’s line of spe- ■ cialized cabinet goods includes a louvered door storage chest that holds a TV set. P The first; State Forestry Com- 1 mission was created in California in 1885, followed Shortly by Colo-, rado, Ohio and New York. . -—-— The giant kelp in the fastest' growing plant on earth, accord-, ing to scientists at the University; of California at La Jolla. n._-i--—... gg * jaa ***" '■ : T The most northern point of the nation’s road system is Circle,: Alaska, acording to the Nation- i al Automobile Club.

DECATUR (Continued from page one) 10 feet of water. One body was found about 70 yards away, the other two closer. . .... Mrs. Bodiman told authorities she was the only person in the boat who could swim. Her daughter had been with them, but refused to go boating. She said the

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TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1961

boat sprung a leak in the bottom and went down quickly. Authorities, however, stated it appeared that the boat had overturned. There was no trace of a leak in the boat when it was found. It appeared that two of the men had gone swimming, as the bodies of Bell and Thomason were nude when found.