Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 248, Decatur, Adams County, 21 October 1963 — Page 1

Vol. LXI. No. 248.

Hurricane Ginny Stalls Off Coast Os Carolina; First To Threaten U. S.

Operation Big Lift Begins At Midnight

FT. HOOD, Tex. (UPI) — The United States assembled troops, fliers and planes from Texas to Maine today to show the world that it can put 16,000 Army and Air Force men with supporting aircraft in Germany within 72 hours. The project, whose code-name is Operation “Big Lift,” begins one mfliute after midnight tonight when a C 135 jet transport takds off with 70 men from the 2nd “Hell on Wheels” Armored Division in it. The 2nd Division will supply 13,000 of the troops. Transport planes will take off from four air bases at intervals ranging from 35 minutes to an hour until a total of 14,500 troops-tankers and infantrymen from Fort Hood and artillerymen from Fort Sill, Okla., are in Germany. To Have Support The momept the first C 135 takes off from Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin. Air Force support planes will start taking off for Europe from Dow and Loring Air Force Base in Maine and Myrtle Beach AFB, - S.C. The Air Force contribution to “Big Lift” is 1,500 men. The support plan.es, including about 100 rocket-firing jet fighters, will ddver the 2nd division when it tries to stop an “attack” on West Germany by an enemy division. Another U.S. Division already.

Baumann New Radio Operator For Police William A. Baumann William A. (Bill) Baumann, 25-year-old resident of 828 N. 12th St., has been appointed by the local board of works and safety as Hie new civilian radio operator for the city police department. The appointment of Baumann, who replaces new patrolman Bat Nelson, was announced this morning. Baumann’s appointment is. effective Nov. 1, the beginning of a new pay period. He will take the desk job of Nelson who was recently moved up to the rank of patrolman, to fill the vacancy created by former officer Jay H. Minch’s retirement. Baumann, who is the manager of Bill’s Sunoco service station at 609 N. 13th St., will begin his radio operator’s duties Nov. 1, and according to the board of works policy will be first in line for any new appointments to the patrolman ranks. Decatur Grad The 5-11, 215 pound Decatur native is a 1955 graduate of Decatur high school. He is married to the former Jo Ann Jones, and the couple have a daughter,, five-year-old Debbie. Baumann has previously been employed by-the Central Soya and International Harvester, and has assisted his father in the wrecker service. He was a member of the Air

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT OHLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

> in. Europe will play the role of attacker. i In addition to the jet fighters, 42 other planes including reconnaissance air craft and Cl3O cargo planes with mechanics and repair facilities will fly to Germany. The troop-carrying transport planes will take off from Bergstrom FB, James Connally AFB at Waco, Tex., Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, and Gray Army Air Base, next door to Ft. Hood. Men Getting Prepared Second Division men assembled in battalion areas at Ft. Hood today, checking equipment and packing duffelbags. The personnel carriers they will use are already in Germany. The first units will start moving out by dusk at 10 p.m. EDT from Ft. Hood to the air bases. The troops will move out, board planes and take off by a schedule as precise as that which governs the launching of a man into space. When the troops arrive in Germany, they will have a couple of days to get tanks out of storage. An advance party of 472 men arrived in Germany Saturday to establish communications and set up a headquarters. It will take from 10 hours and 25 minutes to 31 hours and 25 minutes for troops to reach Europe, depending on the type of plane they ride and the route -it takes.

National Guard, and was honorably discharged in November of 1961. In his new job Baubann will handle the police radio, files and other operations of the department. The board of works and safety has established a policy of hiring new .patrolmen by moving up the # civilian radio operator, who has gained some valuable experience at the station’s desk. Aaron Steffen, Sr. Dies In Michigan Aaron Steffen. Sr., 53, former resident of Adams and Wells counties, died at 1:15 a. m. Sunday at his home in Byron Center, Mich., following a lengthy illness of carcinoma. A son of Tobias, Sr., and Magdalena Kohler-Steffen, he was born Oct. 19. 1910, and was married to Helen Foreman Aug. 1, 1936. A resident of Byron Center since 1938, he was employed at the General Electric plant at Holland, Mich. Mr. Steffen was a member of the Apostolic Christian church. ’ Surviving are his wife; three sons, Aaron Steffen, Jr., of Burnits. Mich., Carl Steffen of Byron Center, and Timothy Steffen, at home; three daughters, Mrs. Otto Schatter of Toledo, 0., and Kathy and Donna Steffen, at home; three grandchildren; five brothers, Cornelius of Bluffton. Amos of Milford, Ell of Spring Lake, Mich., Tobias, Jr. of Bluffton route 3, and Herman of Craigville, and four sisters, Mrs. Eli Geyer of Bluffton, Mrs. Calvin Rauch of Vera Cruz, Miss Hulda Steffen of Bluffton, and Miss May Steffen of Craigville, Brief services will be held at 11 a. m. Tuesday at the Beeler funeral home in Middleville, Mich. The body will be brought to the Goodwin funeral home in Bluffton, where friends may call after 7 p. m. Tuesday until services at 10:36 a. m. Wednesday at the funeral home. The Rev. Samuel Aeschliman will officiate, and burial will be in the Apostolic Chirstian church cemetery.

■ CAPE HATTERAS, N. C. tUPI) — Hurricane Ginny stalled 100 miles off the North Carolina coast today and battered a destroyer escort adrift with 10 persons aboard with howling winds and 40-to-50 Soot seas. Winds of about 90 miles per hour were reported near the center of the storm, seventh of the season and the first to threaten the eastern coast of the United States. Hurricane winds of 75 miles an hour extended out 60 miles in all directions from the center of the storm, which boiled up Sunday night and sent gale winds and high tides crashing against North Carolina’s storied Outer Banks. A late Washington Weather Bureau advisory located Ginny about 100 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras. In this same vicinity the disabled destroyer escort USS Fogg was adrift after its tow rope snapped two days ago. Ships and planes searched through blinding rain for the stricken vessel. “With just 10 men aboard they’re probably just doing their best to hang onto the rails in 40-to-50 - foot seas,” a Coast Guard spokesman at Portsmouth, Va., said. Storm Moves Slowly The Weather Bureau said Ginny would likely continue its slow progress during much of today. “Hurricane Ginny, is expected to' move very slowly during the next 12 hours, probably towards the east-northeast about 5 miles per hour. Intensity should remain about the same during the next 12 to 24 hours,” the Weather Bureau said. Gale force winds raked tlje Outer Banks ’ but the hurricanewise inhabitants of the sand spits off the North Carolina coast refused to move out until the hurricane took on a more definite pattern of movement. United Press International staff photographer Joseph Holloway Jr. reported from Manteo, ’ N. C. that strong winds almost toppled the phone booth from which he was talking. Heavy surf pounded the silvery dunes along the Dare County coast early today. Wind gusts up to 70 miles an hour were reported in the Nags Head area. Ship Is Hetoless The Fogg, a decommissioned destroyer escort, was bouncing helplessly in the hurricane with its engines and most of its equipment not operating. Two ships and two airplanes were in the area searching for the vessel. They were hampered by the heavy rain which cut visibility to zero. Tides from the Virginia Capes southward along the North Carolina coast were expected to continue 2 to 3 feet above normal today and tonight with some Continued on Page 8) Native Os Decatur Dies Sunday Night Mrs. Gladdess Lechlitner, 74. of South Bend, native of Decatur and member of a prominent Decatur family, died at 9 o'clock Sunday night at the St. Joseph hospital in Mishawaka. She had been in failing health for the past eight years. She was born in Decatur March 8, 1889, a daughter of John S. and Mary Laman-Bowers, and had lived in South Bend for the past 12 years. Mirs. Lechlitner was a member of the Methodist church. Surviving are her husband, S. R. Lechlitner; one brother, William S. Bowers of Decatur, and three sisters, Miss Esther Bowers and Mrs. Vida Kaough, both of Decatur, and Mrs. Richard (Ruth) Gill of West Palm Beach Fla. Funeral rites will be conducted rt 1:30 p. m. Wednesday at the Zwlck funeral home, with the Rev. A. C. Underwood officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7,p. m. Tuesday until time of the services.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, October 21, 1963.

Orders Voting To Be Allowed

INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) — The Indiana Supreme Court today ordered Madison County and Anderson City officials to permit about 8,000 voters in a recently annexed township area to cast ballots in the Nov. 5 municipal election. The court served notice that legal steps should be taken "to the end that all qualified voters within the city shall have the opportunity to vote” in the Anderson election. The court said that should include all the qualified voters in the city by reason of the annexation of rural areas of Anderson Twp. The order apparently ended a legal controversy which has prevailed in the Madison County seat city area for weeks, over the right of the voters’ in the annexed territory to cast ballots in the Anderson mayor and city council races. Mayor Ralph Ferguson, a Democrat, seeks a third term and Frank H. Allis is Kis~ Republican opponent. The squabble has had political overtones, according to observers who say the rural area which was annexed is largely Republican. — : The annexation was fought by a bloc of opponents. The Indiana Appellate Court held that the annexation was legal last May. On Sept. 3, the Indiana Supreme Court refused to hear the case, thus establishing the Appellate Court’s ruling as final. The high court decided in an apparently unanimous decision two basic issues—one, that the Indiana Constitution gives the , court authority to step into a situation in which the circuit court has not acted, where the :■ rights of citizens are involved .> and a time element prevails; two, that the rights of voters | cannot be abridged by a tech- j nicality over the date of finality 1 of the annexation. The judges decided that the date of Sept. 1 was not controlling in the case, thus rejecting a contention by a group of area residents who claimed the Sept, 3 denial of transfer of the case was two days too late to permit the township voters to cast ballots Nov. 5. The court cited several articles of the Constitution and laws enacted in 1881, 1899 and 1937, to support its contention it had the authority to step into the situation and grant relief to the area voters. Judges participating in the ruling included Judge Harold Achor, whose home is in Anderson. The Supreme Court’s Sept. 3 refusal to deny transfer of the annexation case from the Apellate Court touched off the dispute over voting rights. Legal maneuvers thereafter sent the case to a Grant County judge, and back to a Madison County judge, and Madison Circuit Judge Carl Smith eventually ruled the annexation ordinance unconstitutional. City Councilman Harry Blake two weeks ago filed a petition with the Supreme Court asking that Smith's ruling be invalidated. Later, he withdrew the petition. Then last week attorneys filed a petition asking the high court to “use its inherent and equitable authority” to enter the annexation fight and permit the annexed area voters to help select city officials. The petition said that since Grant Superior Judge Arthur A. Osborn had refused to serve as special judge in the case, "said j matter cannot be decided by a judge in the trial court in time J to permit election officials to J prepare for said election.’.*) ' fl'

Jeff Liechty Dies After Brief Illness fl ■BL;' J Jeff Liechty Jeff Liechty, 85, prominent Berne realtor and auctioneer, and a former Adams county treasurer, died at 3:10 o’clock this morning at the Adams county memorial hospital.. — —= - - Mr. Liechty had been active in his business until last Thursday, when he suffered a coronary thrombosis, and had been in crit- ; ical condtion since that time. H A lifelong resident of Adams ] county, he was born in Monroe township May 3, 1878, a son of , Samuel and Anna SprungerLiechty. He was married to Sarah Gilliom Oct-. 30, 1898, and ; Mr. and Mrs. Liechty- were pian- • ning to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary next week. Mr. Liechty operated a hardI ware and implement store at I Monroe for 14 years, and later worked as a salesman for A. J. Moser at Berne for 12 years. He served as Adams county treasurer for two terms, from 1936 until 1940, after which he entered the real estate and auctioneering business at Berne. Mr. Liechty was a member of the First Mennonite church. Surviving are his wife; one son, Clarence Liechty of South Bend; five daughters, Mrs. Orlo 'Esther) McCoy of Churubusco, Mrs. Howard (Florence) Lehman, Mrs, Agnes Reinhard and Mr;. Edison (Bernice) Lehmann, all of Berne, and Mrs. John (Edith) Gottschalk of Wellesley, Mass.; 14 grandchildren; 23 greatgrandchildren; one sister, Mrs, Adeline Lehman of Berne and a foster sister, Agnes Sprunger of Berne. One brother and three sisters preceded him in death. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p. m. Wednesday at the First Mennonite church, the Rev. -Gordon Neuenschwander and the Rev. Marvin Zehr officiating. Burial will be in MRE cemetery. Friends may call at the Yager funeral home in Berne after 7 p. m. today. INDIANA. WEATHER Partly cloudy tonight and Tuesday. Scattered showers or thundershowers likely north portion Tuesday. Little change tonight. Warmer Tuesday. Low tonight 57 to 63. High Tuesday 73 to 83. Sunset today 5:58 P- m. Sunrise Tuesday 7:02 a. m. Outlook for Wednesday; Partly cloudy and mild with chance of showers northern half of state. Lows in the 50a. Highs 75 to 80.

Honeymoon Couple Seriously Injured A local honeymooning couple were seriously injured in a cartruck accident in Indianapolis Sunday morning, it was learned today. Calvin Caston. 20, route 1, Decatur, and his bride of Friday night, the former Ruth Ann Beery, 17, route 2, Decatur, were injured in the Sunday mishap, and Mrs. Caston is listed as “serious.” Indianapolis Methodist hospital officials said this morning that Mrs. Caston is listed in "serious” condition, while her husband is "fairly good.” The new Mrs. Caston suffered injuries to the spleen, liver and other internal injuries, plus multiple broken bones including a fractured pelvis. She was rushed to the Indianapolis hospital and operated on immediately for the internal injuries. Caston suffered a compound fracture of the jaw and other injuries in the crash. Hit By Truck Details of the accident are sketchy, but it believed that the honeymooners were making a turn into a restaurant in Indianapolis when struck broadside by a truck. The couple were married Friday evening and had left for a short honeymoon trip. They were returning to Decatur Sunday around noon when the mishap occurred, for the funeral today oft Caston’s grandfather, who had died just two hours before the wedding Friday. Caston is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Caston, and his wife is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Beery.

Mayor Gage Speaks To Parly Workers Mayor Donald F. Gage. Republican candidate for mayor, spoke to over 40 enthusiastic workers at G. O. P. headquarters Saturday evening, and told them of needed improvements in Decatur. Mayor Gage stated that he was proud of accomplishments of the past four years, but that the items set out in Saturday's edition of the Daily Democrat in an advertisement are “items that- were needed immediately to bring our city up to standard, l»ut that we must make other improvements." ■ The mayor cited as two areas of future improvejnent garbage disposal and water facilities. The candidate for reelection informed the group that there is provision for sanitary land-fill disposal of garbage in the city’s budget for 1964. This method, which is recommended by the Indiana state board of health, will.make for a more efficient operation of the sewage treatment plant, where the garbage is now sorted an<t disposed. Funds Allocated It was also pointed out that although the bonds on the sewage treatment plant are not callable, there has been allocated $900,000 of U. S. government bonds from the light plant sale. to the treatment plant to pay the sewage bonds. The mayor also related plans for a new and better supply of water than should be considered for Decatur's future. The mayor, who spoke without notes, sprinkled his talk with interesting experiences and anedotes in regard to the past four years. He again emphasized that the light plant sale proceeds were not gone, but that there remained approximately $1,200,000 invested in U S. government bonds, which are drawing interest at approximately three per cent per year. Absent Voters David Campbell, manager of the” YL" O. P. headquarters in the Rice Hotel, gave a report on registration and absent voter ballots. He stated that the requests for absent voter ballots had been usually heavy, and 'if there were any persons who will be out of town on business, or is ill, and desires an application for absent voter ballot, he will handle their needs. The headquarters phone number is 3-2427. H. L. Lankenau. city chairman, presided and told of the precinct committee and election-day organization-, and thanked everyone for their “splendid cooperation and hard work.” G. O. P. city treasurer Robert S. Anderson reported that the finance committee of Carl Klepper, Clyde Butler and W. E. Petrie had done "a 1 marvelous job,” but that if any person had not been contacted, their donation would be picked up if they contact one of the three. Refreshments were served following the Saturday evening meeting.

■ liS ' "''X*" -.< SU; j i V '> <o||E aM aal wJ Vr|B y ttflil Kh '7l * «“W Ib »t*gj §. \T %■/?* .jK ’ ' ■n-. nM H ft ftkt ' ■ Or mJ ni •/i/ T j tmk .-•’ ■SMBt ® fl jHf eF* AIR BRIDGE TO EUROPE — Troops of the 2nd Armored Division from ht. Hood, Tex., board a C 135 Military Air Transport plane at Bergstrom AFB in "Operation Big Lift." The men are part of 15,358 combat troops flown to Europe in three days in the largest military air lift, ever carried out in such a short time.

Orders Review Os Conviction

WASHINGTON (UPD — The Supreme Court today ordered reconsideration of the narcotics conviction of Vito Genovese, recently named as "boss of all bosses" of the Cosa Nostra underworld syndicate. The brief order vacated the 1959 convictions of Genovese and nine co - defendants. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was directed to look at the cases again in light of a Supreme Court decision last term. Genovese is now serving a 15year sentence at Leavenworth. Underworld informer Joseph Valachi has said that the 65-year-old crime figure is operating his criminal empire from prison through three lieutenants who dare not disobey him. It was Valachi who labeled TXenovese the "toss of all bosses" of the Cosa Nostra crime syndicate. The racketeer is now hospitalized for high blood pressure and a heart condition. Justices Tom C. Clark, John M. Harlan and Byron R. White disagreed with today’ll order for reexamination at the lower court level. They wanted to hear arguments and decide the case without further ado. Mrs. Elgie Simmons Dies Early Sunday Mrs. Elgie May Simmons, 76, of Decatur route 3, a resident cf this area moist of her life; died at 2 o’clock Sunday morning at the Wells county hospital at Bluffton. where she had been a patient one week. She was boro in Blackford county Aug. 13, 1887, a daughter of Columbus and Nancy CriteCroy. Her husband, Emory Simmons. preeethxl her in death Mrs Simmons attended the Church of the Nazarenc Surviving arc' three daughters, Mrs. Marie DeLong of. Decatur, Mrs. Bessie Ladig of New Haven, and Mrs. Audrey Spencer of Leesburg; two sons, William and Raymond Hus(pn, both of Decatur, and 10 grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p m. Tuesday at theGillig & DoaTi funeral home, with the Rev W R. Watson officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends piay call ..at -the„JUMtfllJioine until time of the services.

REDDY FEATHER SAYS: AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE "TODAY'S DECATUR BOY SCOUTS * . COMMUNITY FUND TOTAL IS \ $12,103.74 CRIPPLED CHILDREN SOC. IB LITTLE & PONY LEAGUES /jl The Goal Is U S ° PStf $28,993 SALVATION ARMY hgg MENTAL HEALTH fljO \ YO , UR - V*K«7 Community Fund COMMUNITY CENTER W Still Noods AMERICAN RED CROSS ' $16,889.26.” Give Hee United Way

SEVEN CENTS

Genovese and the others sought a new trial on the ground that one of the government’s witnesses, Nelson Cantellops, had recanted some of his trial testimony. They also contended that the government had erred in not making available to the trial judge certain interview notes by a Justice Department prosecutor. Set Report Date On Halloween Parade Floats, bands and masked persons in the Callithumpian parade are asked to report to the Adams county jail no later than 7:30 pm. Halloween night, Kenneth Shannon, chairman of the annualparade, said this morning. The parade will be held as usual on Halloween evening, which is Thursday, Oct. 31, this year. The floats, bands and numerous persons who will to in the parade must to at the jail no later than 7:30 p.m. They will to lined up there for the parade which Will begin promptly at 8 o'clock. As in the past, implements and other vehicles in the parade should line up on Winchester St., ■and should report about 7:30 p.m. Bill Bowers, parade marshal, who is assisted by Clyde Butler, Walter Elzey and Lyle Mallonee, said this morning that all floats entered in the parade must have some type of fire extinguisher, “just in case," to to in the parade. Three Float Prizes Three cash prizes will to given by the Midwest Record Store of Decatur in the float division, which is an addition to this year's parade Prizes will be SSO, $25 and sls for first through third places. Entry blanks may be picked up at the Record Store and must to ‘returned no later than 5.30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct 29 . Approximately a dozen bands from Adams county and area high schools have been invited to participate in the parade, and cash prizes will be given by the retail division of the Chamber of Commerce for the best bands, j Also included in the parade will to antique autos, trucks, implements, new automobiles and the usual variety of masked characters. ■ About S4OO will to awarded in cash prizes, by the retail division for the parade.