Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 259, Decatur, Adams County, 2 November 1963 — Page 1

VOL. LXI NO. 259.

Military Leaders Take

Over South Viet Nam;

Diem And Nhu Suicides

Fighting Explodes Again Along Border

FIGUIG, Morocco (UPI) — Bitter fighting exploded again today on the Algerian-Moroccan border and each side charged the other with breaking the midnight cease-fire agreed on in Mali Thursday. The Moroccans accused the Algerians of launching a new offensive at 6 a.m. against this border oasis town, 37 miles northeast of the Algerian desert base at Colomb Bechar. The Algerians charged the Moroccans unleashed attacks at almost exactly the same hour against the village of Beni Ounif, about a mile from here but on the Algerian side of the border. The charges and countercharges were made after both Algeria and Morocco had announced that the cease-fire was being observed. Orders Firing Halted Algerian President Ahmed Ben Bella said late Friday night he had ordered his forces to respect the cease-fire. The Moroccan army commander in the Figuig area said he had given similar orders to his forces. Hours after the fighting should have stopped, however, both sides reported it had resumed. Mortar shells were falling in

Gerber Cites Future Needs For Decatur “With no more electric light plants to sell, the next city administration must tighten its belt and face the financial facts of life,” Carl Gerber, Democratic candidate for mayor told the Democratic city candidates and workers at a final meeting Friday evening in Democrat headquarters. . Gerber was introduced by Bernard Clark, Democratic city chairman and former city street commissioner. “After all bonds owed by the city are paid there will be less than 15 per cent of the money received from the sale of the electric light plant three years ago left in the city treasury, Gerber continued. In touching upon other points, Gerber said “regular working hours for the mayor is not a campaign promise but will be a necessity if Decatur is to operate on just tax money received during the next four years.” Need New Source "And if Decatur is to keep up with the Jones — the Jones being neighboring cities —a new water source must be located to attract new industry.” It is a shame that after paying for good

REDDY FEATHER SAYS: AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE 'TODAY'S DECATUR BOY SCOUTS v COMM TOTAL girl SCOUTS V $16,743.62 CRIPPLED CHILDREN SOC. LITTLE & PONY LEAGUES The Goal I? u s 0 528.993 SALVATION ARMY HH' YOUR MENTAL HEALTH W Community Fund COMMUNITY CENTER W Still Needs AMERICAN RED CROSS -*k $12,249.38." Give The United Way

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

downtown Figuig at 7 a.m., and Mqroccan sources said an estimated 3,000 Algerian troops about a mile outside of town were attacking with tanks, mortars and recoiless rifles. An Algerian spokesman at Colomb Bechar charged that the Moroccans were attacking in force at Beni Ounif. Artillery Bombards Town The Algerian spokesman said Moroccan artillery continued to bombard Beni Ounif for half an hour after the cease-fire was to have gone into effect, and that the attack was resumed at 6:15 a.m. He said the Algerian army had launched a counterattack and that “violent fighting” was going on. Two Moroccan battalions — upwards of 1,200 men — supported by 500 civilian volunteers were resisting the Algerians. Both sides were using heavy mortars, recoiless rifles and tanks as well as small arms. Moroccan sources said two Moroccan soldiers were killed and one wounded in an attack Friday in which they estimated the Algerians lost at least 100 men dead or wounded. Figuig's Moroccan mayor said there were “many” Moroccan civilian casualties in Friday’s attack. and expensive education for our children they have to go to another city to find jobs and homes. “An immediate investigation must me made into the cause of rusting out of plumbing, hot water heaters and boilers not only for the benefit of individual citizens but because Decatur now owns two large steel water storage tanks which can have the same problem.” Continuing, the present city councilman said that “fortunately, some improvements can be made without spending lots of money. The quarter of a million dollars plus, spent a couple of years ago to restore the city's fire insurance rating, can be salvaged by completing the details in the program. Can Use Facilities “Snow can be removed from city streets promptly with equipment already paid for, and a girl’s athletic program can be made as good as that of the boys by using city grounds and facilities. Safe winter ice skating can be had by flooding tennis courts built a couple of summers ago for that purpose and never filled with water,” Gerber explained. “When I announced by candidacy for mayor, I knew the job would not be easy. But by establishing regular working hours for the mayor, I know that it will be possible to do a good job, because if citizens and department heads can meet with the mayor at city hall, all of our problems can be solved. “I can promise this effort from the Democratic team with your support,” he concluded.

By DONALD JOHNSTON United Press International Pro-American military leaders in South Viet Nam ousted President Ngo Dinh Diem Saturday and took control of the embattled country. Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu were reported to have committed suicide after surrendering. The surrender of the two ruling brothers brought to swift conclusion a revolt started about 17 hours earlier by elements of the armed forces who said they struck “to save the country from a Comunist takeover.” Rebel-held Saigo Radio reported an end to the bitter fighting that raged through the streets of the capital Friday. The coup climaxed weeks of growing discontentment because of religious and political troubles which had their seeds in the Diem regime’s crackdown on Buddhists. Diem Regime Denounced Saigon Radio, in a series of broadcasts Saturday, denounced Diem for building up power for his family “under the cloak of fighting against communism,” but emphasized that South Viet Nam’s primary enemy still is the Communists. Reports that Diem and Nhu had killed themselves came in a Saigon Radio broadcast heard in Singapore and from U.S. military sources in neighboring Bangkok, Thailand. Saigon Radio said the suicides took place at 10:15 a.m. Saturday (9 : 15 p.m. EST Friday) shortly after another rebel broadcast said the two brothers had "surrendered unconditionally” in the basement bunker of the presidential palace in Saigon. Armed forces leaders, said to be staundily anti-Communist, set up a military junta to rule briefly while a provisional government is arranged. The new government is expected to get quick recognition from the United States. Palace Guard Falls Broadcasts said Diem and Nhu surrendered after 16 or 17 hours of fighting between the rebels and Diem’s palace guard, die only major unit believed to have remained loyal to the end. U.S. sources reported heavy casualties, but no Americans harmed. The United States, the principal supporter for the South Viet Nam government, has 16,500 troops in Viet Nam as “advisers” to Vietnamese forces fighting Communist guerrillas. There are 3,500 American civilians also. U.S. military and economic aid to the Diem regime has totaled $1.5 million a day. It was suspended when the revolt started. Ships of the powerful U.S. Seventh Fleet were steaming toward the Souty China Sea off South Viet Nam as a “precautionary measure.” Pentagon sources in Washington said the fleet has 125 ships and 64,000 men available if necessary to handle any big trouble. Troops Shell Palace Diem and Nhu were reported by the rebels to have been arrested by army troops following a bombardment, by rocket-fir-ing planes and a shelling by tanks. U.S. government sources in Washington said former vice president Nguyen Ngoc Tho was expected tow become premier in a provisional South Vietnamese government. He was described as honorable, able and well qualified to lead the nation through the interim period and to eliminate some of the abuses of the Diem regime. The provisional government, to be established under the protection of the military junta, was expected tp get U.S. recognition within a few days when President Kennedy feels certain that the new regime’s policies are what the State De. partment expected them to be. INDIANA WEATHER Fair and ooH tonirht Sunday fair and a little wanner. Low tonight 25 to 32. High Sunday mid 50s. Outlook for Monday: Partly cloudy and a little wanner.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER DI ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Saturday, November 2, 1963.

Blast’s Death Toll May Grow

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (UPD— Investigators today worked on the theory that leaking gas ignited by a concession stand stove caused the Halloween evening explosion that killed 64 persons at an ice show here. A- total of 340 persons were injured in the disaster, one of the worst in the history of this city. Officials said there was a possibility the death toll would "rise." At least 18 of the injured remained in critical condition. State Fire Marshall Ira Anderson, who headed a four-man blue ribbon investigating team, said food heating equipment at refreshment counters in the coliseum may have ignited butane gas leaking through a broken valve. As cranes pulled apart the debris inside the big coliseum at the Indiana S'ate Fairgrounds, investigators found a half-dozen butane gas tanks. Two of them were ruptured. At least four were impounded. Rumors Run Rampant There were “wild rumors” galore, Anderson said. Some said no permits had been issued for the butane gas. Anderson said investigators were checking out reports a concession worker “discovered hissing gas, saw the fog and yelled ‘clear out’.” The explosion originated in or near the refreshment counters below the south tier of seats in the huge oval-shaped auditorium. It ripped through the concrete floor beneath a section of $3.30 seats, best in the houfce. The blast flung men, women and children, and chairs, and

Barbershop Show Here November 10 Adams county will present its first barbershop show Sunday afternoon, Nov. 10, at 2:30 o’clock at the Decatur high school auditorium. Eddie Ewell, general program, chairman, stated that the local “parade” of barbershop harmony will be sponsored by the local chapter and will include “The Adamizers,” local chapter chorus, and all local quartets. Guests will include the Hub City choruis from Union City, with two quartets, the Harmony Chaps and the Cardinal Chordsmen; the Summit City Serenaders chorus from Fort Wayne, with one quartet, the Wayne Beaus. Other talent has been contacted by definite arrangements for their participation have not been completed. Don Tobey, of Muncie, will be master of ceremonies. During the show presentation, Bill Terry, cardinal district president, will present the charter to the local chapter. Committee chairmen, in addition to Ewell, are Charles Kester, stage; Warren Lehman, house; H. J. Knapke, program ads, publicity; Al Lehman, tickets and finance; Loren Kruetzman, chorus and quartet assistance. Tickets are on sale from Bill Lose at the First State Bank, Holthouse drug stores; or any local chapter member. NOON EDITION BULLETIN WASHINGTON (UPI) — President Kennedy today cancelled plans to attend the Army - Air Force Acamedy football fame In Chicago and remained in Washington because of the troubled situation in Sooth VW Nam.

huge chunks.of concrete 50 feet into the air onto the rink where “Holiday on Ice” skakers were pirouetting in the grand finale before an audience of 4,600. Then came flames. The dead and injured contained the names of some of the most prominent persons in the community. Includes Prominent Names The victims included Dwight Kein. former mayor of West Lafayette. Ind.; Herman Schmitz, Former commandant of the Indiana State Soldiers Home, and his wife; Earl H. Myer, executive vice president of the Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance Co., and his wife; George Schumaker, an advertising executive for the Indianapolis News and Star; and Drs. Marshall McClung and Jesse Staten. One observer said shock followed the nightmare of the worst tragedy ever to hit Indianapolis. Then came the tears. Fred Kortepeter, 62, Indianpolis, collapsed and died while apparently looking for a relative or friend at the temporary"' morgue set up on the ice of the coliseum. The Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis planned. a memorial service for next Fri-. day in Christ Church Cathedral day in Christ Church Cathedral f’ag at the state capital flew at half-staff. The State Fair Board ordered the coliseum closed indefinitely. A board member, Robert Weedon, estimated damage to the structure at up to $1 million.

Three Cars Damaged In Chain Collision Three autos were damaged m a chain-reaction collision on U. S. 27 at 7:05 p.m. Friday, two miles south of Decatur. Autos operated by John Edward Williams, 43, of Shipshewana, and Ernest Phillips Corley, 30, Dayton, O. were southbound on 27 and had stopped for traffic ahead. Emil Reiter, 49, route 1, Decatur, was also southbound and failed to see the stopped vehicles in time, and his auto skidded 33 feet and rammed into the rear of the Corley car, shoving it into the rear of the Williams auto. State trooper Al Coppes and deputy sheriff Warren Kneuss estimated damages at $275 to the Reiter car, SIBO to the Avis Rent-A-Car driven by Corley and $l6O -to the Williams vehicle. A freak mishap that occurred at 2:30 p.m. on the Monmouth road Friday, was investigated by sheriff Roger Singleton and troop» er Gene Rash. A dump truck was traveling south on the Monmouth road and after clearing the St. Mary’s river ' bridge,-'hit a hole in the road The jar caused the vehicle’s tail gate to dislodge, but it was still fastened by one chain. The chain swung the tail gate into a northbound car driven by Ervin Leo Schindler. 54. of Berne. Fortunately, the tail-gate swung into the grill of the Schindler car, inflicting S4OO damage, and not the windshfekl. 11-Year-Old Boy Is Bitten By Dog _ Mrs. Stanley Prator, of 518 Niblick St., reported a dog-bite case to the city police Friday evening. She said her 11-year-old son, Stanley, Jr., was bitten by a dog on the right wrist a short time earlier. She said the dog was owned by Donald Lee, of 516 Niblick St., and when contacted by city police, Lee said he would keep the animal tied up for two weeks to check for the possibility of rabies.

SAMPLE BALLOT CITY OF DECATUR ©ZT\ V ™ / REPUBLICAN TICKET DEMOCRATIC TICKET FOR MAYOR I" - ~1 FOR MAYOR BW. MM J DONALD F. GAGE CARL D. GERBER """1 FOR CITY CLERK-TREASURER I”””"! FOR CITY CLERK-TREASURER ■ar. nat |_J LAVRA A. BOSSE < ■ 111 ■ I ’ ■■■— . - ■ , JOHN B. STULTS FOR COUNCIIMAN-AT-LARGE. '■ FOR COUNCIIMAN-AT-LARGE up FIRST DISTRICT FIRST DISTRICT CLARENCE P. ZINER RALPH E. ALLISON FOR COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE. r““"“| FOR COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE, KKP SECOND DISTRICT lmt SECOND DISTRICT CHARLES H. STONESTREET L CHALMER H. DEBOLT “““I FOR COUNCIIMAN-AT-IJkRGE, FOR COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE. HIP IHIRD DISTRICT dsm. THIRD DISTRICT GERALD G. STRICKLER HAROLD B. MILLER ”1 FOR FO^TH T DISTrTcT^ RGE ’ FOR COUNCIIMAN-AT-LARGE. BEP . FOURTH DISTRICT FOURTH DISTRICT 1 GEORGE D. MACLEAN CLYDE E. DRAKE FOR COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE, I”"” FOR COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE Rfc "- MM WINIFRED L. SPAULDING LAWRENCE KOHNE

Be sure to vote Tuesday for the men and women of your choice, but please be sure your vote counts, city election officials cautioned today. In the city election four years ago, 3,412 Decatur people went to the polls — but the ballots of 582 of them, 17.1% — did not count. They were officially listed as "mutulated" by the precinct •election boards, recount ■•• board, and Judge Myles F. Parrish, of the circuit court, who was called to make final review of them. Many people have never received any formal instruction on voting, and anyone desiring to know hoW may ask the judges at his precinct to show him how. For 'those who would like to know the correct way. the following is taken from the election laws of Indiana. How To Vote , Upon entering the election room after passing the challengers, the voter must announce his name and sign beside his name on the poll clerk's list. It is not necessary at the general election to sign your party affiliation. The voter is then given his ballot and a bide pencil. The voters mult not accept the ballot unless the initials of the poll clerks are on the lower left hand corner of the back of each ballot in ink. To vote a straight ticket, for all members of a party, place an X within the circle of the party designation for whom you to vote-the rooster for the Democratic votes, the eagle for the. Republican votes. If you vote a straight ticket, do not place any other X's or marks on the ballot — if you then mark each square, you mutilate your ballot! Spitting Your Ticket If you wish to split your ticket, voting for some Democrats and some Republicans, do npt put an X in the circle. Place an X in the square in front of the name of the candidates for whom you wish to vote. The candidates on the same line across are running against each other, so do not put 2 X’s on the same line. This will mutilate your ballot, and your votes in that race will not be counted. In some races you may not wish to vote, and you do not have to vote in every race unless you desire to do it. Juist leave the line blank. Be c certain that you always use an X, and that it is within (he

How To Vote

square or circle. A check-mark, or any other mark or writing, mutulates the ballot, and it cannot be counted. Don't Erase Never erase a mark on the ballot. Ask for a new ballot’ Never cross out, scratch out, or black out any mark on the ballot. If you mark the ballot in any way, other than a single X in a circle, --mr’X'R in the squares on different lines for the candidates you support (never the circle and any squares), it is considered a distingishing mark', and the ballot cannot be counted. If you spoil your ballot, and request a new one, the poll clerks make a minute of the fact on the poll list beside your name, and you destroy the mutulated ballot in the presence of the precinct election board. Fold Ballot After marking your ballot, and before leaving the booth, fold your ballot so that the face cannot be seen, and so that the initial letters of the poll clerks can be seen. The number of folds is not specified, but two or three will usually hide the face of the ballot. Return your pencil, and hand your ballot to the inspector, who shall at once and in your presence deposit it in the ballot box.' Check to be sure you don't have a pencil, and then leave immediately. You are subject to arrest if you leave the polls with one of the pencils, because they can be used to mark forged ballots! You may take up to three minutes to mark your ballot, but if you are really having trouble, most boards will allow you a little extra time within reason. You cannot speak with anyone except board members in the polling room. Don’t Show Ballot ■* If you display -your ballot to show how you voted, it cannot be placed in the ballot box, and you must immediately leave the room. If you mark your ballot with any other pencil than the blue pencil, it will be void. i If you cannot sign your name on the poll sheets, the poll clerk is to initial your mark. ' If you are physically-unable to i mark your ballot, or cannot read English, the two judges may enter the voting booth with you. and > . may assist you. Both judges must i be present, and they may ask for

SEVEN CENTS

an interpreter, but the interpreter may not mark the ballot or see it marked. The judge may mark your ballot, if necessary, but they may not tell anyone how you vote. Mrs. Elmo Smith Is Taken By Death Mrs. Pauline Smith. 65. of 334 North First street, wife of Elmo Smith, prominent Decatur druggist, died Friday afternoon at the Lutheran hospital in Fort Wayne following an extended illness. Mrs. Smith assisted for many years in operation of the Smith Drug store, managed by her husband. She was born in Bellevue, 0., Aug. 1, 1898, a daughter of Anthory and Theresa Ruffing-Ger-hardstein, and was married to Elmo Smith Aug. 7, 1922. Mrs. Smith was a member of St Mary's Catholic church, the Rosary society. Third Order of 'St. Francis, the St. Vincent de Patti soctey, and the auxiliaries of the Elks, American Legion and Knights of Columbus. Surviving, in addition to her husband: are two sons, Eugene F. Smith of Fullerton. Calif., and Paul A Smith of Fort W a yn e; one daughter. Mr.c Yvonne Moore of Fort Wayne; four brothers, Robert and Thomas Gerhardstein of Bellevue, 0., Atto Gerhardstein of St. Stephens, 0., and Herman Gerhardstein of Fort Wayne: one sister, Mrs. Nora Wurm of Bellevue, 0., and 10 grandchildren. One brother and one sister preceded her in death. A solemn requiem high mass will be said at 9:15 a m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic church, with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Simeon Schmitt as celebrat, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas Durkin as deacon and the Rev. John G'illig as subdeacon. The body was removed to the Gillig & Doan funeral home, where friends may call after 7 p. m Joday until time of the services. The Third Order of SC, Francis will conduct services at 7 p.m,. Sunday, following by the Rosary society at 7:30 p.m. Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery.