Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 260, Decatur, Adams County, 4 November 1963 — Page 1

VOL. LXI. NO. 260.

New Military Leaders Os South Viet Nam Call For • p Press, Religious Freedom

REDDY FEATHER SAYS: AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE "TODAY'S DECATUR BOY SCOUTS k COMMUNITY FUND V TOTAL IS GIRL SCOUTS X $17,810.12 CRIPPLED CHILDREN SOC. LITTLE & PONY LEAGUES Ajl The Goal Is u - 5 °- $28,993 SALVATION ARMY MENTAL HEALTH W jJ* K-nd COMMUNITY CENTER W Still Needs AMERICAN RED CROSS $11,182.88.” Give The United Way

City Election Here Tuesday

Some 4,290 Decatur residents will be eligible to go to the polls Tuesday during a 12-hour period to elect a mayor and five city councilmen to handle their city governmental affairs for the next four years, beginning Jan. 1, 1964, through 1967. The total registration is less than half of Decatur’s total population, which has grown some from the last census in early 1960, which showed 8,327 residents. Decatur has 11 precincts, which will open at 6 o’clock Tuesday morning and close at 6 o’clock in the evening. There is only one change in voting precincts for the election, as voters in precinct 1-D will cast their ballots at the garage at the Glen Rambo home, 404 S. Fifth. The Rambo home, which replaces the Psi Ote trading post that is not available this year, is located just south of the ErieLackawanna railroad tracks, one block east of Line St. On News Service The Decatur Daily Democrat will cover the election returns as they are received, and they will be available on the Democrat-Citi-zens Telephone Co. news service, 3-5171. Local voters are reminded that they vote for one council candidate in each of the four districts and an at-large candidate. Some persons are of the opinion they may vote only for a council candidate ip their district, which is false. People may cast their vote for either Dr. R. E. Allison, Democrat, or Clarence P. Ziner, Republican, in the , first district; Chalmer H. Deßolt, Democrat, or Charles H. Stonestreet, Republican, in the second district; Clyde E. Drake, Democrat, or George D. Mac Lean, Republican, in the third district; Harold B. Miller, Democrat, or Gerald G. Strickler, Republican, in the fourth district; and either Lawrence Kohne, Democrat, or Mrs. Winifred Spaulding, Republican, for coun-cilman-at-large. ' Also, of course, voters will cast ballots for either Carl G. Gerber, Democratic candidate for mayor, or Donald F. Gage, the Republican candidate for mayor. Mrs. Laura Bosse, present city clerk-treasurer, and John B. Stults, city court judge, are unopposed Democratic candidates for reelection. No more applications for absentee voter ballots may be made for the election, as Saturday was the final day to obtain them from the- county clerk’s office which closed at noon, along with other court house offices. Applications must be filled out and returned to the clerk’s office before a ballot will be mailed to the applicant. Rest of Workers All election workers have now been named, with Republican workers for precincts 1-C, 2-B, 3-B and Decatur-Root turned in to the county clerk Saturday. Republican workers for 1-C are Edith Nell Soliday, judge; Louis J. Pollock. clerk; Isabel B. Bowman, sheriff; 2-B: Mattie Fisher, judge; Faye Ahr, clerk; Barbara Sue Doan, sheriff; 3-B: Agnes E.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Sprague, judge; Mary L. Kunowich, clerk; Lessie O. Foreman, sheriff; Decatur-Root: Donna V. Snyder, judge; Mary June Christen, clerk; Raymond H. Snyder, sheriff. Democratic workers for the city’s eleven precincts and Republican workers for the other seven not mentioned above, were announced in Friday’s Daily Democrat. Operating Profit Shown By Hospital The Adams county memorial hospital showed a cash increase of $2,015.35 for the month of October, the sixth month of the past seven that the hospital has ceeded $2,000 gain, Thruman I.' Drew, hospital manager, announced today. The cash increase for the year now totals $14,912.39, the highest the hospital has ever at this time of year. Even if November shows a loss, as 'it has in three of the past four years, the year will show a profit. December always shows a profit, because the month’s bills and books are closed early, while deposits are made until nearly the last day. The hospital has been operating for several years without any tax rate to support the operations. Deposits $37,276.67 Deposits for the month of October totaled $37,276.67. Bills for the month were $13,478.58, while the payroll totaled $21,782.74. The hospital has more than 100 employes for the 24-hour service, seven days a week, that a hospital requires. Expenses for the month totaled $35,261.32. The operating cash balance going into November is $28,850.97, compared with $13,938.58 at the first of the year. - The hospital has been fairly crowded, with 61 adults and 10 babies as of October 31. This compares with 53 adults and 6 babies a month ago. It takes an average patient load of 45 adults for the hospital to break even. 221 Admitted During October 221 patients were admitted, and 65 babies were born; this compares with 197 patients and 49 babies last month, and 197 patients and 51 babies a year ago. Eight patients and one baby died during the month, compared to fjve deaths a month ago, and six a year ago. There were 205 patients and 60 babies dismissed during the month. , Os the 65 births, 28 were boys and 37 were girls, including one set of twins. There were 378 patients treated in the out-patient facilit es, including the laboratory, x-ray and emergency room. A year ago 334 outpatients were treated, and 244 two years ago; 365 were treated last month.

SAIGON, South Viet Nam (UPl)—South Viet Nam’s victorious new military leaders today issued a program for this strife-torn nation calling for freedom of the press and religion and a quick return of the country to constitutional government. The official Viet Nam press agency, which disclosed the program in a broadcast declaration, also broadcast orders dissolving the national assembly, officially removing the late President Ngo Dinh Diem from office and imposing a 7 p. m. to 5 a.m. curfew in Saigon. The declaration was issued as the military leaders took precautions to keep t mobs from desecrating the bodies of Diem and his adviser brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu, who were reported assassinated in the wake of the armed coup that toppled their regime Friday. The military government declared that “the armed forces are not aiming at setting up a dictatorship because they- are well aware that the best weapon to fight communism is democracy and liberty.” “The armed forces are fighting for the sacred interests of our nation,” it said, “and will neither serve personal ambition nor cling to power.” Lists Proposed Reforms It listed a detailed program of internal and external reforms to be ’promulgated by the ruling military junta: Internally, it said the junta will:

—Authorize all non-Commu-nist parties “to operate within the framework of national defense security.” —Transfer political power to a popularly elected government “when the situation permits.” —lnvite all representatives of all social levels to participate in talks to prepare resumption of government under a democratic constitution. —“Maintain freedom of creed” and permit all religions “on an absolutely equal basis.” —Consider the release of “all non-Communist elements among those currently imprisoned” and give them “opportunities to participate in the building of a new social order.” Promises Press Freedom In addition, it said, “the armed forces will push ahead the promulgation of a freedom of press and expression system, so that the press could be itself conscious of its mission to lead public opinion in the antiCommunit struggle.” All constructive criticism will be “encouraged,” the government added. On the foreign policy front, the junta promised “to stand in the rank of free world nations,” to maintain diplomatic relations with all friendly countries, to honor all agreements and pacts previously signed by Viet Nam and to respect the property and lives of foreign residents in Viet Nam. “The armed forces,” it said, “have only one platform: to fight communism. ’’ The orders dissolving the national assembly and imposing a curfew were promulgated Sunday by Saigon’s military governor and broadcast today. They prohibited all meetings and demonstrations on pain of courts martial, ordered the armed forces and police to disperse any gathering of more than six persons, and said: “People caught burning houses or looting or distributing Communist propaganda will be killed on the spot.” Communist propaganda broadcasts called the military coup that overthrew Diem Saturday “a farce” and charged that the new leadership in South Viet Nam, like Diem’s, was controlled by “U.S. imperialism.” Diem and Nhu were reported assassinated Saturday by reliable military sources who contradicted a rebel version that their deaths came by suicide. The sources reported another key figure in the Diem regime was executed Sunday—Col. Le Quang Tung, commander of the special forces, which served as Diem's palace guard.

Decatur, Indiana, Monday, November 4, 1963.

Politicians To Scan Votes In City Elections INDIANAPOLIS (UPD—lndiana voters will go to the polls in 111 cities and hundreds of towns Tuesday—perhaps in light rain—to elect mayors, council and board members and other local officials for four-year terms beginning next Jan. 1. Politicians will scan the returns , from the municipal election balloting for signs which might show any trends for the 1964 presidential-year elections. Interest was keenest in the 111 mayor races in the cities. Democrats now control twothirds of the cities and 28 of the 29 most populous, Kokomo being the lone exception. Barton-Drayer Fight Hot An Indianapolis mayoralty battle between Democrat John J. Barton, who resigned as Indiana State Police superintendent to run with Gov. Matthew E. Welsh’s blessing, and former state purchasing agent Clarence T. Drayer, a ’ Republican, highlighted the mayor races. Sam Unger was a strong-running indepAdent candidate.

Drayer led Barton in a newspaper straw poll in the Indianapolis Times, one of three such polls in the state, all of which showed leads for GOP nominees in cities now controlled by Democrats. The others were at Marion and Wabash. Issues seen most likely to influence voters were traditional local matters like bad streets and high property taxes, with the “ins” expected to suffer regardless of their politics in such local circumstances. However, state and national issues may play a part in the outcome, observers believed. The top state issue was the new two per cent sales tax, the state’s first in history, which went into effect 12 days before the election. Democrats sought to capitalize on the situation with radio-television commercials blaming the tax on the Republicans in the 1963 Indiana Legislature. Refuses to Take Blame However, the GOP refused to accept the blame on grounds it took many Democratic lawmakers’ votes to pass the tax bill and Democratic Governor Welsh signed it into law. The balloting also was likely to reflect national issues such as civil rights, the employment level, the general economy and the cold war situation. President Kennedy’s civil rights program and Welsh's implementation of Strong integration measures for public accommodations may sway some votes both for and against the Democrats. Local controversies bver “open occupancy” ordinance proposals for some cities also have stirred up many voters. In 1959, voters elected 72 Democratic and 36 Republican mayors. The next ear, Indiana gave Richard M. Nixon its presidential electoral votes by a 225,000-vote margin over President Kennedy but elected a Democrat as governor. Ballistics Missile Launched Saturday VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. - (UPD —The Air Force launched a Minuteman intercontinental ballistics missile Saturday from this Pacific Coast base. A spokesman described the operation as a routine training launch by, a Strategic Air Command missile combat crew, but in keeping with Air Force policy further details were not disclosed. It was the 20th Minuteman launch from the base.

Mrs. Anna Fuhrman Is Taken By Death t Mrs. Anna Fuhrman, 91, lifelong resident of Preble township, died at 8:20 a.m. Sunday at the home of her daughter-in-law. Mrs. Otto Fuhrman, Sr., following an illness of three days. Born in Adams county Feb. 25. 1872, she was a daughter of Fred and Marie Koomer-Decker, qnd was married to John F. Fuhrman June 26. 1892. Her tjusband preceded her in death in 1938. Mrs. Fuhrman was the oldest member of the Zion Lutheran qhurch at Fredheim. Surviving in addition to the daughter-in-law are one Mrs. Fred (Lorena' Wellensick of Fort Wayne; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Mary Buuck, of Preble township. One son preceded her in death. Funeral rites will be held at 2 pm. Wednesday at the Zwick Mineral home and at 2:30 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran church at Friedheim. The Rev. A. A. Fenner will officiate and burial will he in the church cemetery, triends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today until lime of the services. ,

U. S. Army Convoy Blocked By Soviets BERLIN (UPl)—The Soviets today blocked passage of a U.S. Army convoy bound for Berlin in a new harassment on the vital highway link connecting the isolated city with the West. The Russians not only held up the convoy of 44 men in 12 vehicles but asserted they had the right to determine how convoys would be processed. Soviet troops halted the convoy at their Marienborn checkpoint, on the East-West German border at the western end of the 110-mile highway to Berlin. Today’s incident strengthened the belief held by Western officials here that last month’s holdup of American and British convoys was not the miscalculation of subordinate Russian officers as Washington officials said it was. As last month, the convoy was refused passage today because Soviet border guards insisted that soldiers leave their trucks to be counted. The Americans refused. The U.S. convoy commander said his convoy was not large enough for such a head count, but the Russians replied “It is the Soviet and not the Allied authorities who determine convoy processing z procedures.” This was considered a challenge to the Western Allied right of free access to Berlin. In another Berlin development, East German Communist guards . today- shot and killed a refugee trying to swim to West Berlin across the Spree River, which forms part of the border. The refugee Was the 55th killed by Communist guards since the Berlin wall was bujjt in August, 1961. 4-H Junior Leaders Presented Awards Recently at the 4-H junior leader banquet, key club awards were given to outstanding Adams county 4-H junior leaders. They are as follows: Diana Beer, Suellen Bentz, Sandra Kay Bransterter, Edith Dennison, Mary Ann Duff, Nancy Habegger, Rita Norquest, Judy Selking, Dean Beer, Wilfren Morrison, Steve Randolph,. Paul E. Rich, Ron Schwartz and David Swickard. The junior leader banquet is sponsored by the Adams county lions clubs. This year the Pleasant Mills Lions club was the host. Bill Marvel, of the Indiana Farm Bureau, gave an interesting talk on "Decisions, Decisions.”

Nine-Year-Old Boy Is Found Under Auto One of those stories “that only happens in other cities” turned up in Decatur Sunday evening, when a sickly nine-year-old boy was found under an automobile by five local young people. City police officers are still investigating the matter, and have located the mother of the young-1 ster. The five youths brought the youngster to the city police station immediately after finding him under a car at 846 N. 12th St., at 9:50 p. m. Sunday. Neither the mother or boy was identified by the police, as lhe investigation continues. The youths who found the boy had brought him to the police station. He was dressed in pajamas and wrapped in two light blankets. It was at first believed he had been abandoned there, but it was later discovered that he had left his home in this city a short time earlier. Found Very 111 While at the station, the boy said he was hungry and cold. He was taken to the Adams county memorial hospital and examined by a local physician. Following - the examination, the doctor said the boy had, among other things, a strep throat, a badly infected left ear, a case of rickets and was suffering from malnutrition. The youngster did not know his mother or father’s name, and did not have any idea of where* he lived. The only residence he could give was Fort Wayne, - which was false. - — He made other statements such as follows: he lives in one room; he is seldom allowed to play outside; both parents work during the day iit is believed the parents are separated); he-is paddled frequently with a paddle and tied with cords, and binders are put over his eyes. Crude Blinder When found, the youngster had a crude affair around him with cords for tying his hands, and a mask-type blinder which could be slipped over the top of his head and over his eyes. The boy gave the police the name of Ernie as his first name, which is believed wrong, and did not know his last name. It was reported his mother did not know his full name and exact date of ■ birth, but it is believed he will be ten years of age next month.

Never Attended School __ The., young boy also.lold police he had never been to school or a doctor. It was reported his mother said, however, that he has been under the care of a local doctor. The boy was ordered held at the local hospital by the police department, until the investigation is finished. It is believed the case will go to the grand jury which will convene later this month. Youngster Killed By Antique Weapon HAYMARKET. Va. (UPD — Two youngsters playing with a muzzle-loading shotgun accidentally ignited an old charge in the antique weapon this weekend killing one of the boys. William Howard Johnson. 14, the. victim, and his brother Roger were using the gun to shoot caps when the charge went off. William C. Rekeweg Dies Saturday Night William C. Rekeweg, 81, of 1114 Nuttman street, Fort Wayne, died at 10:50 p.m. Saturday at the Lutheran hospital in that city where he had been a patient five days. Mr. Rekeweg, a retired farmer, was a member of St. Paulis Lutheran church. Surviving are his wife. Katherine: seven sons, Herman and Richard of Fort Wayne, Ernst and Edgar Rekeweg. both of Decatur. Alfred of Beaverton, Mich., Lawrence of Ossian and Adelbert of Preble; seven daughters, Miss Elsie Rekeweg, Mrs. Gerda Dean, Mrs Loren Gerbers and Mrs. Robert Mock, all .of Fort Wayne, Mrs.- Herman Gerling of Bloomfield, N„ J. Mrs. Harry Steele of Kankakee, 111., and Mrs. Arnold Schueller" of Ossian; three stepchildren, ’Mrs. Theodore Rodenbeck, Mrs. Harold Rodenbeck and Mrs. Melipda Kroemer, all of Fort Wayne; three brothers,. Carl, Fred and Arthur, all of Woodburfi; four sisters, Mrs. Minnie Woebbeking, Mrs. Caroline Brennecke, Mrs. Herman Brennecke and Mrs. Carl j. Roembke, all of Woodburn; 39 grandchildren; five great-grand-children; nine step-grandchildren, and five stepgreat-grandchildren. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday -at the D. C. McComb & Sons funeral home, the Rev. Edwin Nerger officiating. Burial will be in Bethleham cemetery at, Ossian.

Indianapolis Blast Toll Grows To 68

INDIANAPOLJS (UPD — Investigators today attempted to reconstruct events leading up to the Halloween evening explosion in' the Indianapolis coliseum that killed 68 and injured more than 300 others. “It’s like a puzzle." said fire prevention chief Charles P. Hill, who said five bottle gas tanks believed responsible for the tragic finale to the “Holiday on Ice" show will be sent to Purdue University for laboratory tests today. Seventeen badly injured persons fought for their lives while 30 Indiana State Police troopers were scheduled to conduct an inch-by-inch search of the State Fairgrounds Coliseum for clues. The latest victims of the blast, which sent tons of concrete interlaced with the bodies of the victims flying as high as 50 feet and then crashing into the ice rink that held the gaily colored ice revue, died Saturday night and Sunday. They were James Turner, 60, Casey, 111., and Mrs. Bessie Ginns, 59. Muncie. Ministers Take Note Ministers here Sunday prayed with their congregations for the victims and survivors of the ex-, plosion, the second worst in Indiana history. Many of the victims were buried in Indiana Sunday. The tragedy was compounded by the fact that the ice show ’ drawing whole families to the coliseum year after year. Eighteen families lost two or more members in the holocaust: State Sen. D. Russell Bontrager, R-Elkhart, said Sunday the Indiana Legislative Advisory Commission would meet’ in Indianapolis to look into the disaster matter. He was critical of the state fire marshal’s office and said fire regulations were being violated across the state because “people don’t know about them." Bottled gas tanks were suspected in the explosion. State regulation prohibits such tanks from buildings such as the Coliseum. Early investigations showed a faulty or broken valve

Battle In Algeria Despite Cease-Fire

RABAT, Morocco (UPI) — Heavily armed Moroccan and Algerian troops dug in today at the Moroccan desert town of Figuig, where fighting has flared despite a cease-fire between the two North African nations. Unconfirmed reports said both sides still were lobbing shells at each other around Figuig Sunday night in defiance of the two-day-old cease-fire in the undeclared border war over a strip of Sahara Desert land rich in iron ore and other minerals? Moroccan trofips still were holding Figuig. an oasis town of 8,000 persons 37 miles northeast of the Algerian command i»st of Colomb Bechar. Blame Each Other Other reports said fighting had broken out Sunday near the Moroccan town of Oujda, about 200 miles north of Figuig near the Mediterranean coast. Morocco and Algeria blamed each other for violating the truce by firing the first shots in the Figuig area. The cease-fire was signed by President Ahmed Ben Bella of Algeria and King Hassan II of Morocco last week in Bamako, Mali, and went into effect Saturday morning. Moroccan officials said Algeria launched an infantry attack on Figuig Sunday following an artillery boinbardment, but it was repelled. . (-An Algerian military spokesman in “Algiers said Morocco broke the cease-fire by shelling the Algerian-held village of Beni-Ounif, four miles south of Figuig. * Advise Against U.N. Diplomatic sources in Rabat said the United States and France advised Hassan against bringing the. border dispute before the United Nations and suggested he continue to seek a solution through the Organization of African Unity (OAU) dr some other arrangement among African nations. The sources said both the United States and France might be embarrassed by a UN. debate in which they would be pressured to take sides between Algeria and Morocco. (Reports from Algeria said a mixed commission from the OAU was in Colomb Bechar to attempt to police the cease-fire in line with the agreement

SEVEN CENTS

on a butane tank may have permitted a concession stand area under the grandstand to fill with the gas. Stove Sets Off Gas A stove used to warm popcorn could have touched off the gas, sending it through the stands overhead with, as one ixilieeman put it. “the force of a mortar.” Hill said he planned to question all persons who were working in the area of the explosion today. Robert Engle. 20, Indianapolis!, told UPI the night of the explosion he “saw gas escaping from the tank. I heard Shorty (a co-worker) yell to run. I did and that is all I remember.” Bontrager said “with the existence of such regulations and the wide use of the Fairgrounds Coliseum, it seems strange that someone from the state fire marshal’s office or the Indianapolis Fire Department didn’t bring this situation to light a long time ago.” Marion County Prosecutor Noble Pearcy said a grand jury Would be called to determine whether “crimes of commission or omission" were involved in the use of bottled gas and care of the gas containers. The explosion was the most severe test ever for the Indianapolis and state police, fire, rescue and civil defense and Red Corss organizations. . Identification Long As long as 30 hours after the explosion there were still unidentified bodies lying on the ice in the Coliseum. The last victim to be identified was Mrs. Laura Howell, 60. Rushville. The coroner’s office gave no indications why it took so long. Liquid petroleum gas industry engineers were scheduled to begin piecing together the bottled gas tank parts which were found in the explosion area of the coliseum. State Fire Marshal Ira Anderson said Saturday an “unauthorized group” was fotind digging in the rubble at the site of the blast. He said the group had taken debris from the blast crater and moved it to another part of the Coliseum. *

signed last week. (The commission reported Sunday night that the cease-fire had been strictly adhered to in the region where fighting first broke out Oct. 8, near Hassi Beida, 250 miles southwest of Colomb Bechar.) Mrs. Thos. Johnston Is Taken By Death Mrs Orel Johnston, 73, wife of Thomas W. Johnston of Decatur route 4, died at 4:15 p.m. Sunday at the Adams county memorial hospital. She had been in failing health for some time but her death was sudden. She was born in Adams county Feb. 22. 1890, a daughter of William and Margaret StoneburnerKitson, and was lifelong resident of the county. She was married to Thomas W. Johnston Jan. 15, 1911. Mrs Johnston was a member of the First Methodist church and the Adams county Home Demonstration club. ? Surviving in addition her husband are two brothers. Harvey Kitson of Fort Wayne, and Fred Kitson of Dayton, O.; and two sisters, Mrs. Ernest (Katherine) Turnblcson and Mrs. Ray (Georgia) McMichels, both of Decatur. Funeral services “will be conducted at 2 pm. Wednesday at the Winteregg-Linn 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 today until time of the services. ' INDIANA WEATHER Mostly cloudy with occasional rain likely tonight and Tuesday. A little warmer Tuesday. Low tonight 43 to 50. High Tuesday 53 to 63 north, In the 60s south. Siuiset today 5:40 p. m. Sunrise Tuesday 7:18 a.m. Outlook for Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with showers ending. No important temperature changes. Lows in the 4®s. Highs from the low 50s to the low 60s. v