Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 280, Decatur, Adams County, 27 November 1963 — Page 1

VOL. LXI. NO. 280.

Deny County School Post Is Abolished

The county school superintendent’s office is “back in business” —according to a letter received today by county auditor Edward Jaberg from the state board of accounts. According to the letter seceivcd from B. B. McDonald, the office has not been abolished, and there are apparently no plans for abolishing the office. Just yesterday, Jaberg had released a letter from the social security division of the public employees retirement fund, a state agency, which said: "According to the state board of accounts, the office of county superintendent has been abolished in your county.” Tbe first paragraph of today’s letter from' the state board of accounts, however, says as follows: “TTais department has no authority to abolish the office of county superintendent of schools in any county, Therefore, no action has been taken by this department concerning the office of county superintendent of schools in Adams county.” The letter from the social security division was signed by Eugene Garrison, executive secretary of the public employees retirement fund. Jaberg had received the letter last Thursday and brought it before the county commissioners ,in their session Tuesday. ’ Sends Inquiry Upon receiving the letter. Jaberg addressed an inquiry to the state board of accounts, ing the information which was gained this morning. G. W. Vizard, county school superintendent, said yesterday that he had received no information about any abolishment of his cffice. He stated that “in other counties where reorganization has

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Sinister Motive By Jack Ruby Is Hinted

DALLAS (UPD — The district attorney hinted today that striptease nightclub owner Jack Ruby may have had a more sinister motive for killing accused presidential assassin Lee Harvey Oswald than vengeance for the Kennedy family. Henry Wade refused to accept Ruby’s story that he felt sorry for the widow and children and was emotionally overwrought. “It may have been a desire for publicity, or it may have involved something far deeper,” Wade said. “Our law enforcement agencies are still checking to determine if links exist between Oswald and Ruby. As far as I know, they haven’t found any. But I don’t know everything they’ve found.” Wade and counsel Tom Howard squared off over whether Ruby was insane when he shot Oswald as millions of Americans watched on television. \.. . < ■ To Plead Insanity Howard said he will have Ruby plead temporary insanity. He said a psychiatrist for the 1 defense will examine him in a few days to help prove that the baldish, 52-year-old self-appoint-ed executioner suffered an emotional shock from the Kennedy assassination and did not know what he was doing when he pulled the trigger. Ruby was indicted on charges of murder with malice Tuesday by a Dallas County grand jury. Wade said he would demand the ' a

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

been completed the superintendent’s office has not been abolished in this way ... it certainly seems « that the state board of accounts would notify us if our office had been officially ended.” When Adams county was officially divided into the three school districts July 1, Vizard was left with no schools under his jurisdiction. Previously the township schools and county board of education were under him. Will Continue It appears now he will continue to serve as county superintendent until his contract ends August 15, 1965, unless he resigns or accepts a new position. The board of accounts letter states that is the case, even though the county has been reorganized. According to the letter; the attorney general in an opinion dated January 9, 1961, 'stated In part: "The office of county superintendent of schools will continue to the end of the present incumbent’s term, regardless of the consolidation and regardless of whether the county board of education has functions to perform.” McDonald’s letter also states that the county attendance officer, Mrs. Mildred Foley, should be paid by the county for the 196364 school year, but according to chapter 393, Acts of 1963, each of the three reorganized school corporations 'shall appoint an attendance officer, or jointly • appoint one, and pay such officer from school corporation funds after January 1, 1964. The state examiner, in his letter, recommends that the county attorney (David Macklin) be conculted as to whether the county is obligated to pay the salary of the county attendance officer to July 31, 1964, or only to December 31, 1963, if attendance officers are appointed by the three school corporations. The letter concludes by stating: “In anj* event. a5.... long as the county continues to pay either the county superintedent of schools or the county attendance officer, reporting of salaries and deductions for social security purposes to public employees retirement fund should be made under the social security identification number assigned to the county superintendent of schools.” Auto License Office Closed For Two Days The Decatur auto license branch office will be closed both Thursday and Friday this week for Thanksgiving, Mrs. Ray Heller, office manager, announced today. The office will open as usual on Saturday morning.

death penalty. He already has had a psychiatrist examine the former Chicago street brawler and gambler. He said he regarded Ruby’s trial as one of the most important in Dallas history. .X “Our whole judicial system will be on trial,” he said. “This trial will determine whether Dallas has a government based on the orderly processes of law or a government in which an individual can take the law into his own hands.” Confidence In Jury He said he had ’’full confidence" that a Dallas jury would return the “correct" verdict in the case. Wade said that he refused to accept Ruby’s “simple” explanation that he shot Oswald on the "spur of the moment” because he felt sorry for Jacqueline Kennedy and the two Kennedy children and because he believed the assassination was a Communist plot. ' « Tuesday Dallas police at the request of Wade turned over to the FBI all of the evidence they 1 had collected against Oswald. And at the same tfrne, at Wade's request, they opened their files on the Ruby case so G-men could also look at this evidence. . - . Ruby will ,be tried before Criminal Court Dist. Judge Joe B. Brown. The judge set Dec. 9 as the date of the trial, the earliest on his docket, but said it probably would be postponed until mid-January.

Accidents Lead To Change In Parking A pair of accidents that occurred at the Monroe and Second street intersection Tuesday has brought about a change in parking regulations on the southwest corner of Second. The parking ipeter in front of the site of the Democratic headquarters has been removed, and the previous parking area there will be a no parking zone as soon as thee urb is painted yellow. The change was brought about *by numerous accidents in recent months by large semi-trailer trucks and trucks pulling house trailers that have trouble turning south onto Second St. The trucks have very little room to turn at the intersection, and many times cars parked on the west side of Second St., at the Monroe intersection, have been struck by trucks, as was the case twice Tuesday within a period of less than four hours. Three Involved Two parked autos were damaged in a mishap at 10:37 a.m,, when a truck driven by Kenneth D. Gist, 27, of Minnesota, was eastbound on Monroe street and attempted to turn right onto Second street, struck one of the parked autos. Die truck hit the left rear of a car owned by Roy Strickler, 208 N. 16th St, and the impact shoved in into the rear of the car parked in front of it, owned by Ralph Parrish, of 521 S. 13th St. The truck was not damaged but the Strickler auto received an estimated S3OO damage and the Parrish c a r an estimated $l5O damage. At 2:14 p.m., a truck making the same right turn onto Second street struck a parked car owned by Leonard Morrison, 303 N. 16th St., which was parked on the west side. The truck war; not damaged, and damage to the auto was estimated at S4B damage. A tractor and a car were involved* in an accident at Elm and 13th streets at 2:28 p.m. The tractor, operated by Clarence Smitley, 62, of 115 N. Eighth St., was southbound on 13th and as he attempted to turn left onto Elm, a car operated by Ivan M. Roth, 47, route 5, Decatur, was passing on the left and the two collided. Damages were estimated at S4O to the car and $5 to the tractor. . ■ THREE SECTIONS Auction School To Open Here Monday The winter session of the world renowned Reppert school of auctioneering will open Monday, Dr. Roland Reppert, president said this morning. Classes will begin Monday morning at the school, located just east of the city, with between 45 and 50 students expected to be in attendance. Col. Q. R. Chaffee, of Towanda, Pa., will again serve as dean of instruction and manager of sessions, Dr. Reppert said. Students from many of the United States, provinces of Canada, and in some cases other countries, attend the three-week course each vear. Summer and winter sessions are held lyThis will be the 87th session of the Reppert auction school, founded in 1921 by Col. Fred Reppert, father of the now-president Dr. Reppert. Dr. Reppert worked with his father in the operation of the auction school for many years.Other Instructors Some of the school’s instructors include H. W. Sigrist of Fort Wayne; Dr.. R. B. Miller, also of Fort Wayne; Clyde M. Wilson, and Gene Slagle, both of Marion, O.; Ray Elliott, Portland, ,and many other top instructors. Local flavor is added by Robert S. Anderson, local attorfiey, and city attorney, who teaches a law class at the school. Every phase of the auction business is touched upon by the instructors during the three weeks, including real estate sales, livestock judging, voice building, personality, salesmanship, how to overcome stage fright, etc. Various Sales The .student is taught how to conduct sales or real estate, farm sales, household goods, registered livestock of all kinds, house sales, jewelry, merchandise,, tobacco, fruit, antiques, and many, many others. Col. Chaffee, the school’s dean, is a graduate of West Chaster State College and the Reppert hanna University. Pennsylvania State College and t he Reppert auction school, and has studied at the University of Pennsylvania and Bucknell University, prior to becoming an instructor.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wed nesday, November 27, 1 963.

Pres. Johnson Pledges In Speech To Congress U. S. To Keep All Commitments

REDDY FEATHER SAYS: E AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE 'LESS THAN $2,000 BOY SCOUTS T 0 G 0 TODAY'S girl scouts * jk T 527,553 CRIPPLED CHILDREN SOC. f LITTLE & PONY LEAGUES The Goal Is Js ° tfcßl $28,993 SALVATION ARMY MENTAL HEALTH W Comn , V °“ R Fu „d COMMUNITY CENTER Still Needs j AMERICAN RED CROSS $1,440.” Gin The United Way | E

INDIANA WEATHER Fair tonight. Thursday parity cloudy and mild with scattered showers likely in afternoon north portion. Low tonight 34 to 43. High Thursday 54 to 63. Sunset today 5:23 p.m. Sunrise Thursday 7:44 a.■a. Outlook for Friday: Pari- J ly cloudy and cooler. Lows | 25 to 35. Highs 53 to 62. r _ J Dorwin To Speak At Graduate Exercises Deahe T. Bor win, guidance director o fthe North Adajns community schools, will deliver the commencement address for the 40 graduates of the fall class of International College in Fort Wayne at 8 p.m.' Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Purdue University center auditorium in Fort Wayne. Dorwin will speak on “The Next Step,” according to the announcement by Harold L. Venis, vice president and admissions counselor of the college. Dorwin, lifelong resident of Decatur, received his bachelor’s degree at Franklin College and his master’s degree at Ball State Teachers College. He is a member of the Indiana personnel and * guidance association, American personnel and guidance association, the national education association, and the Indiana state teachers association. Associate bachelor of science degrees in commerce will be presented to the 40 International graduates enrolled in professional accounting, business administration, executive secretarial and business administration and finance. Diplomas also will be awarded graduates completing ■ courses in private secretarial and - general business. Chance Os Showers Forecast Thursday By United Press International A chance of showers on Thanksgiving afternoon or night crept into the Iddiana weather forecasts today to mar predictions of a fair and mild holiday. The showers, however, may come only in the northern third of the state while elsewhere the day will be dry but partly cloudy. ■ „ a Temperatures will climb from the upper 50s to the mid 60s during the holiday after hitting lows ranging from 35 to 47 tonight. v Hihs today will range from 55 to the low 60s. Highs Tuesday ranged from 54 at South Bend to 61 at Evansville and 63 at Louisville. Overnight lows this morning ranged from 31 at Lafayette to 36 at Fort Wayne. The five-day outlook indicated temperatures will average 8 to 12 degrees above normal through next Monday with only minor changes except in the northern portions where it Will turn colder late Thursday or Friday and warmer Saturday or Sunday.

r — t Schwartz Speaks To Historical Society David Schwartz, a resident of • near Berne, presented the prog gram at the Adams County HisB torical Society meeting Tuesday B evening at the Decatur public £ library, Schwartz, author of a book of economics dealing with the American farmer and entitled “The Sick of the American Economy,” presented a detailed his- „ * t*ry of French township, its early settlers, churches, cemeteries, schools, industry and insurance organizations. — ; ~ The first vvhite settler was Joseph French. ‘ who came-some-time before 1827, buying 1.000 acres of land south of the Wabash river. Other - settlors followed, people of many nationalities,, customs and dialects. Among them were the English, German. French and many from Switzerland. all of whomexperienced many hardships due to the heavy forests, swamps, poor drinking water supplies and bad roads. , Fine Cooperation However, Schwartz continued, the community was distinguished for the fine cooperation among all in building log cabins, clearing the land, etc. The watershed goes through the township, Schwartz said, following the Wabash river. The north part drains into the Blue Creek system. In religion, many professed some form of the Mennomte religion. One branch has churches in Indiana, lowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Michigan, he added. Schwartz also gave details concerning the early insurance organizations, the first schools. He gave many names and dates of burials listed on township cemetery tombstones, also, including the Huser cemetery where a child was buried in 1817-, and the Biberstine cemetery, where .one was buried in 1819. Rockford Man Dies I From Fall Injuries Victor Wade Huffman, 61, of Rockford, 0., died early Tuesd iy in Memorial hospital at Lima, 0., of injuries suffered a week ago in a fall from a ladder. An employe in the Rockfo <1 office of the Dayton Power & Light Co. for 28 years, Huffman was moving a' service wire to a new building when he fell backwards, striking his head on a cpment floor. Surviving ard his wife, Lucille; , two daughters, Mrs. Jean Luginbill of Rockford, and Barbara, at home; one son, Richard, at home; three grandchildrep; one brother, Norbert Huffman of Berne, and a sister, Mrs. Kenfie’h Kimmel of Rockford. _ Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p. m. Friday at the Ketchams funeral home in Rockford, with burial in Riverside cemetery, at Rockford- Friends may call at the funeral home aftpr 1 p. in. Thursday..

: WASHINGTON (UPll—Presl- ' dent Johnson pledged in a ; speech to a joint session of , Congress today that the United States under his administration « would maintain its peace commitments “from South Viet Nam to West Berlin.” , “We will be unceasing in the search for peace; resourceful in our pursuit of areas of agreement even with those with whom we differ; and generous and loyal to those who join with us in common cause,” the new President said in his first I major speech. The Chief Executive, in his ’ prepared address, was lavish in E his praise of the late President, t John F. Kennedy and promised | to pursue his policies, p He assigned top priority to c two immediate legislative requests: passage of a civil rights’ bill and the pending tax cut bill —both recommecded by his slain psedecessor. He recalled that in his 1961 inaugural address Kennedy had told the American people, “let us begin.” — “Today in this moment of new resolve, I would say to my fellow Americans, let us continue,” Johnson said. “Our most immediate tasks are here on this hill,” he told Congress. Demands Congress Act It was at this point, he demanded congressional action on rights bill as the first order of business under his administration. "No memorial oration or eulogy could more eloquently honor - President Kennedy’s memory than the earliest possi.ble passage of the civil rights bill for which he fought," Johnson said. “We have talkesl long enough in t hi.s country about equal rights*’\he continued. “We have talked for 100 years or more. Yes, it is time now to write the next chapter—and to it in books of law.” ' He fjrmly told the assembled senators and House members: “I urge' you again as I did in 1957 and again in 1960 to enact a civil rights law so that we can move forward to eliminate from this nation every trace of discrimination and oppression based upon race or color. There could be no greater source of strength to this nation at home or abroad.” *' Johnson then urged quick congressional action on the sl2 billion tax reduction bill and pending education bills. He called for a "new spirit of action” from Congress. He promised that as far as the cxecutice branch was concerned “expenditures of the government will be administered with the’utmost thrift and frugality.” “Prudence and Economy” “I will insist that the government get a dollar’s value for a dollar spent,” he said. “The government will set an example of prudence and economy. This does not mean we will not meet our unfilled needs or that we will not honor our commitments. We will do both.” In an unusual presidential gesture and mindful of his own background both in the House and Senate. Johnson assured Congress of his belief in the independence and integrity of the legislative branch. “I promise you that I shall always respect this,” he said. “It is deep in the marrow of my bones. With equal firmness, I believe in the capacity and -the of Congress, despite the divisions of oplnibh whieh characterize our nation, to act —to act wisely, vigorously and speedily when the need arises.” Cooperation and Speed,. Repeatedly the President asked .for congressional cooperation—and speed in passage of basic legislation ’’ which Kennedy had asked in his new frontier program. “Tills is no time for delay—it is a time for action, strong, forward-looking action. . he said. . . Concluding hi* address, he said, “The need is here. The need is flow. I ask your help.” In the wake of Kennedy's assassination last Friday, Johnsoij also took a strong stand against political extremism, right or Continued on Page 8)

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NEW PRESIDENT’S DESK — This is the desk of President Lyndon B. Johnson,.which has been placed in the newly refurbished White House office of the chief executive.

Jacqueline Attends Kennedy Gathering

WASHINGTON (UPD - MFs?' Jacqueline Kennedy made (dans today for a Thanksgiving gathering at Hyannis Port. Mass'. and a future life away from the White House. , The 34-year-old widow of the late President Kennedy has maintained a busy pace to keep her mind occupied in these days of sorrow following her husband's assassination. Tuesday night she and Caroline got into a station wagon and drove off, returning to the White House around 7:20 p.m. There were reports Mrs. Kennedy took Caroline to see the grave of her father in Arlington Cemetery for the first time. Carolyn did not attend graveside ceremonies for her father Monday. Going to Cape Cod She will ' take Caroline and John Jr.? to Cape Cod Thursday morning. They will arrive in time for the traditional Thanksgiving dinner of the Kennedy family. . Mrs. Kennedy planned to stay, at her own home in the Kennedy compound. She is. expected to . return to the White House Sunday or Monday. Caroline Kennedy, who is six years old today, and John Jr., who was three Monday, both

Army Colonel Is Kidnaped

WASHINGTON (UPII - An American Army colonel was kidnaped at gunpofnt by four men in Caracas, Venftuela early today, the Defence Department announced. He was identified as Col. James K. Chenault. There was no immediate indication whether the kidnaping of Chenault, assistant chief of the U.S. Army mission in Venezuela. was connected with a terrorist campaign now being waged against President Romulo Betancourt, who is up for reelection next month. Assistant Defense Secretary Arthur Sylvester, who made the announcement, said four unidentified armed men took Chenault at gunpoint frpm an official U.S. car. The colonel was en route from his residence to the US. Army mission headquarters in Caracas. Sylvester said that the De-

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wiTT have a birthday cake with - their small cousins at the compound Friday. ton. Mrs. Kennedy' will stay at ' the White House- for several days packing and winding up her personal affairs. That is ..the way President and Mrs. Johnson want it. Mrs. Johnson said Thursday that she did not even contemplate moving into the White House until Mrs. Kennedy had carried out her last chores. Talked Over Problems Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Johnson met Tuesday to talk about the problems of running the official household. Mrs. Johnson also was briefed by J. B. West, the head usher. She saw the fl<x>r plans of the House she" will soon call “home.” The Johnsons will be seeing Caroline and her playmates around the White House for at least a few weeks more? The White House school with its first grade and kindergarten will continue until Christmas. Letters and telegrams of condolence have poured into the White House for Mrs. Kennedy and. the children. Flowers also have come in as well as telephone calls from all over the world. The staff is doing all that it can just to open the mail.

sense Department had confirmed the circumstances via telephone calls to the unified U.S. southern command of Gen. Andrew P. O’Meara in Panama and through communications between the U.S. Embassy in Caracas and. the State Department. ' Sylvester said the kidnaping t<x>k place at 7 a m. At 9:30 am. Sylvester said, the U.S. Embassy in Caracas received a telephone calb from a man who said in Spanish, "don’t worry about Coh Chenault. The, kidnaping was for propaganda purposes only.” The State. Department has been advised that Betancourt ■ has "taken charge personally of the case,” Sylvester said. With an election " scheduled next month, an anti-Betancourt campaign has been underway in Venezuela. -