Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 62, Number 53, Decatur, Adams County, 3 March 1964 — Page 1

VOL. LXII. NO. 53.

■ «c" • ' , I g MKI J—lg 17 ' W iMBK w '-■' WMwOSißllfc Btt » ; RESCUED AT SEA— Greek fisherman, huddling in blankets, file off the Canadian destroyer escort Athabaskan at Halifax after being rescued from the wreckage of the Liberian tanker Amphialos. All but two of the 36 crewmen were saved.

Lenten Meditation (By Rev. Dolar Ritchey, pastor, Pleasant Dale Church of the Brethren) O come, let us sing to the Lord. Psa. 95:1. O come, let us worship and bow down. Psa. 95:6. To worship God is a great privilege. We need only to look about us to see the work of his hands. The beauties of nature, the beauty of the sky, the marvelous sunrises and sunsets all bespeak of God’s preparation for our joy. The gift of His Son, Jesus, and Jesus’ gift of His life on the cross all speak of His great love for us. It is fitting that we sing unto Him. To sing when things are well with us helps us to pray more effectively when our path is beclouded with troubles. To worship God helps us to realize that we “are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.” His love and care for us is beyond our comprehension. Let us turn our hearts in praise and thanksgiving for our manifold blessings. Silent meditation will help us hear the still small voice as it speaks peace to our souls. 0 what a joy to know that He loves each of us more than He loved His own life. During this Lenten season we can bring Him joy by expressing our gratitude through song and worship. We, too, will be so much happier and stronger.

Ruby’s Trial Judge Is 11l

DALLAS (UPI)-Judge J. Frank Wilson took over as substitute for ailing Judge Joe B. Brown at the Jack Ruby trial today and promptly cracked down on the talkative defense. When Brown went home with what appeared to be a heavy cold just before the session started, Wilson took over despite protests from flamboyant chief defense attorney Melvin Belli. “Take your seat, Mr. Belli,” Wilson said from the bench. Belli started talking again. “When the court tells you to take your seat,” Wilson snapped, * you’d better do it.” Belli did it. Shortly afterward, Mrs. Aileen B. Shields, a telephone company employe, was seated as the 11th and next-tolast juror. The 55-year-old Brown 'broke into a cold sweat and went home on the advice of his physician just before the session was to begin. Brown’s physician prescribed medicine and told him to go home. First reports said he had a cold and fever and that he might be out only a day. Belli protested that Wilson lacked background knowledge of the defense’s continuing motion for a change of venue to transfer the trial out of Dallas. Furthermore, said Belli, with Wilson on the bench, he will be missing evidence. “If he is gone a day. he will be called on to act on something that has happened in his absence.’ Wilson had been on Vacation. Brown was using Wilson’s district criminal courtroom for the trial of Lee Harvey Oswald's slayer because it is larger than his own. Dist. Atty. Henry Wade said, there was no reason Wilson could not take over. Wilson took the bench at 10:50 a.m. EST and produced an order from Judge Dallas A. Blankenship, presiding judge of the sth Judicial District, appointing Wilson substitute judge. A distinguished-looking man with a balding head and a gray mustache, Wilson said, “I’m interested in giving everybody a fair trial.” When Belli protested about the change of venue, Wilson told him; “I get your point, Mr. Belli. You can get it into the record. I want you to have it. But don’t keep repeating it.”

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

The judge was intent on moving jury selection along to fill the box—two more jurors are needed—so testimony can begin in the slaying of Lee Harvey Oswald. The selection pace has jelled since Friday, when the 10th juror was sworn. Saturday’s and Monday’s sessions failed to produce anythirfe except verbal fireworks by opposing attorneys. Sixteen panelists fell by the wayside Monday. The state gave the impression 'Continued on Page Two) Defendant Waives Jury Trial Right David Lee Beery, 19, of 510 Grant St., faced charges of rape and assault and battery with intent to commit a felony as his trial opened this morning in the Adams circuit court — without a jury. In a late development Monday afternoon, Beery, through his attorney Lewis L. Smith, requested the case be heard by circuit court Judge Myles F. Parrish, without intervention of a jury, thus waiving his right to a trial by jury. A total of 22 persons drawn some time ago for petit court jury had been notified last week to appear at 9 a.m. today for impaneling of a jury to hear the case. — ... Jurors Contacted With the# request filed 'by Beery’s attorney Monday, however, all 22 had to be notified not to appear this morning. Beery is alleged to have assaulted Mrs. Norma Bixler, 17-year-old resident of 13th street, who signed an affidavit charging him with rape on December 14, 1963. The trial the second rape case to be beard in the local court in less than a year, began around 9 o’clock this morning with two witnesses testifying. Mrs. Bixler First Mrs. Bixler was called to the witness stand first by prosecutor Severin H. Schurgqr. and related her story concerning the occurrences early the morning of December 14. After hdt testimony and crosse^am'nation bv defense attorney Smith. her husband. Roger Bixler, was called to the stand. Bixler was still testifying when the court, recessed at noon, and was to return to the stand when the trial resumed this afternoon.

Exhibit Os Books At Decatur School A total of 410 library books, including a substantial number of adult fiction and) non fiction titles—of interest to grown-ups as well and junior and senior high school students—will be on exhibit at the Southeast elementary school, beginning Monday, March 9. *The exhibit will be open daily from 4 o’clock to 9 o’clock in the afternoon and evenings, March 9 through Thursday, March 12. The exhibit wil be set up in the school’s -gymnasium, and is supplied by Books on Exhibit, a national promotional operation. Sojne 50 publishers contribute Their best books to this collection, whose usefulness as a book selection resource for teachers, librarians. administrators, and interested parents, is demonstrated by its nation-wide circulation. It 4s a service supplied without cost or obligation. Many Subjects Covering more than 35 subject classifications at the junior high level, and more than 40 at the high school level, the collection is completely organized and curriculum related. It presents the new titles of early 1963 in all their wide variety and colorful appeal, from stories of adventure, humor, family life, interesting people, and romance, to literature, poetry and drama, on to history, problems of democracy, science and man, today’s world and careers and guidance. 1963 Books For every reader, teenage, young adult and adult, these new books of 1963 will be a challenge, a stimulus and rewarding reading. And this is the one opportunity to see them in a completely organized and representative collection, which relieves browsing and book evaluation of its usual frustrations. Curriculum - related catalogues, which are annotated and fully indexed, by author, subject and title, are free to teachers, librarians and other school personnel. The numbered books, both on the covers and in catalogues, make every tltje directly accessible whatever thi*- approach or interest. Books on Exhibit, the promotional operation supplying the books, neither takes nor fills orders, so none of the books on exhibit will be for sale. Decatur Lions Hear Exchange Student At Monday evening’s meeting of the Decatur Lions Club, members attention were directed to the following coming events: the Lions district convention at Albion, April 5, the Lions state convention at Evansville, May 1, 2 and 3, the joint meeting with other Decatur service clubs, March 19, and the club’s sausage and pancake supper next Monday evening at the Community Center. Serving for the latter event will be from 5 to 8 p. m. with prices $1.25 for adults and 75 cents for children 12 years or under. The. club extended a special welcome back to Mel Zoss who has been on the sick list for several weeks. The featured speaker for the meeting was Leo Gavilli, an exchange student from Florence, Italy, who is attending Decatur Catholic high school. Leo comes from a family whose father is employed by civil service as an accountant and whose mother is an elementary school teacher. Leo related many interesting (Continued on Page Eight)

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, 46733, Tuesday, March 3, 1964.

Cost Os Living Edges Up Slightly In January To Reach New Record High

Change Plans For Sending Out Mail

Partially due to complaints I from Decatur Daily Democrat! subscribers in nearby Ohio towns; and cities, the Decatur post of-! fice has been ordered to change! its arrangements so rsending outs mail, ppstmaster John Boch an-; nounced today. Rural mail patrons in ing Ohio areas complained that: half the time it took two days for: mail from Decatur to reach: them. Former Method Formerly, mail from Decatur was separated for eastern points, including small Ohio towns, and then carried by contract truck to the Erie station, where an Erie employe loaded it on the midnight east-bound train for Lima. It arrived at Lima, 0., about 1 a. m., and then had to be separated into individual packages for Van Wert, Convoy, Ohio City, l Wren, and other offices. Apparently, about half the time the Lima se'ctional was unable to work the mail by 5 a. m., in time to make the 5:15 hypo to Van Wert. At least, -a postal check of numerous post offices showed it leaving Decatur on time, and arriving late in Van Wert, O. INDIANA WEATHER Cloudy and mild tonight. Tturning colder north portion Wednesday, with rain or snow likely. Low tonight in the 30s north, near 50 south. High Wednesday 38 to 44 north, 60s south. Sunset today 6:39 p.m. Sunrise Wednesday 7:14 a.m. Outlook for Thursday: Rain or snow north, gradually ending during day. Showers south. Lows upper 20s to 40s south. Highs 30s north to 60s south. Wm. Lichtenberger Is Taken By Death William H. Lichtenberger, 69, retired carpenter and farmer of Decatur route 5, died at 11:15 o’clock Monday morning at the Veterans hospital in Fort Wayne, where he was admitted earlier in the day. He had been ill for six months and in serious condition for two weeks. A lifelond resident of this area, he was born in Adams county Aug. 17, 1894, a son of John S. and Anna Jane Hindenlang-Lich-tenberger. His wife, Ina Mae, preceded him in death Feb. 11, 1960. Mr. Lichtenberger, a veteran of World War 1, was a member of Adams Post 43, American Legion, and attended the Calvary Evangelical United Brethren church. Surviving are three sons, Lloyd F. Lichtenberger of Berne route 2, Carl L. Lichtenberger of Decatur route 5, and Raymond L. Lichtenberger of York, S. C.; four daughters, Mrs. Herbert (Fern) Walker, of Van Wert, 0., Mrs. Raymond (Mary) Double of Monroe route 1, Mrs. Dale (Betty) Beer of Richburg, S. C., and Mrs. Fred (Kathryn) Sanders of Germany: 26 grandchildren: one brother, Dallas Lichtenberger of Wren, 0., and one sister, Mrs. Odes Gould of Monroe. One son died in Germany during World War 11. One brother is also deceased. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at the Calvary Evangelical Unit e d Brethren church, with the Rev. Albert Swenson officiating. Burial will be in East Salem cemetery. The body was removed to the Winteregg-Linn funeral home,, where friends may call after 7 p.m. Wednesday until 12 noon Friday, when the body will be removed to the church to lie in state until time of the services. The American Legion will hold military rites at the grave. *

S Change in Effect £ Orders came through lastT week, following numerous com-" g plaints, to stop sending the east-" 2 bound mail on the Erie at least-, S until the spring schedule change, g: Instead, the Decatur post office = will package the eastbound mail Efor Fort Wayne sectional, where 3it will be separated, and sent to ~ Lima on the Pennsylvania rail** Sroad, arriving at 11:21 p. m., giv- £ ing the Lima people an hour and ea half more in which to work the S- mail, and get it back to Van Wert ~ for next-day delivery. - If Fort Wayne is unable to work the mail in time to get it on the early train, another train on the Pennsylvania leaves and arrives in Lima at 3:49. In addition. Decatur will now separate only the Fort Wayne area mail, including most of the ■ 70 post offices in the counties surrounding Allen county, from the other Indiana mail when they send it to Fort Wayne. Previously, they worked the Indiana mail by sectional centers, ; which meant that they had to look up numerous small post Offices which only occasionally received letters from Decatur. Postal officials here in Decatur estimate that they will be able to handle 500 more letters an hour. Most To Indianapolis Now the Indiana sectionals, other than Fort Wayne, will be worked by personnel on the trucks during the four-hour run to Indianapolis. As now set up, mail to any place in Indiana should. reach there the next day. It all goes into Indianapolis by truck, then back out by truck for early morning delivery. Problems were also faced locally in that it took two days for some mail to arrive in the Ham(Continued on Page 3)

Seek Truck Driver Who Hit School Bus Sheriff’s and state police officers continued their search this afternoon for a milk truck driver who crashed into the front of a school bus this morning and fled, the, scene. None of the children in the bus was injured. The crash occurred just seconds before another truck and a car collided to the rear of the bus, as a total of four vehicles, including ,< the unidentified milk truck, wbre damaged. The incident occurred at 7:30 a. m. today. The North Adams community school bus, loaded with children, was westbound on U. S. 224, two miles east of Decatur, and had stopped at the H. D. Irwin residence to pick up a passenger. Flees Scene Suddenly, an eastbound vehicle crashed into the left front of the bus, drove through the yard of the Irwin home, and continued down the highway, fleeing the scene of the mishap. Almost simultaneously, an auto j driven by Mrs. Louis Drake, ■ route 5, Decatur, which was fol- , lowing the bus, had stopped , when the bus stopped, and a truck driven by Everett D. Wickman, 33, of Sandusky, 0., was unable , to stop in time and rammed the rear of the Drake vehicle. No One Injured The Drake auto was heavily . damaged and Mrs. Drake was taken to the hospital for x-rays , ana later released. None of the ; children in the school bus was < injured, and damage to the bus ] was estimated at about >75. Wickman . was arrested and i charged with reckless driving « and was cited into justice of the 1 peace court. Meanwhile, the search continues for the milk truck that fled ] the scene. Kunkle and Wickman 1 both told, investigating officers 1 the vehicle was a milk truck. ■ <

WASHINGTON (UPI) — The cost of living edged up once again in January to a recordhigh, the government reported today in a streamlined version of the Labor Departments consumer price index. ’ The department said costs of food pushed up the new index to 107.7 per cent of average 1957-59 prices. This was a rise of one-tenth of 1 per cent over the old index for December. The new index, reflecting price changes for more than 400 goods and services purchased by the family of the average city worker, was published for the first time today. It showed sharply higher prices for fresh vegetables and eggs in January. Coffee, sugar and candy also were higher than in December. / Fresh vegetables prices rose by 7.5 per cent. The increases ranged up to 20 per cent or more for cabbage, green peppers and cucumbers. Fuel prices and gasoline also were up in January but seasonal “white sales’ reduced prices for clothing and house furnishings. The old index showed no change in the price level from December to January in contrast with the slight advapce in the new measuring rod of inflation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said this divergence resulted mainly because new items were priced in different kinds Os stores for the new index. The new index us expected to show results very close to the old index for the first few months it is used. It includes more items in the market basket of goods and services, more cities, new weights and broader coverage of retail stores. For these reasons, it is expected to give a more accurate indication of changes in the prices paid for basic living costs by average city workers. The old index stood at 107.6 in December —a record level. This meant it cost $10.76 to buy the same goods and services that were priced at $lO in the 1957-59 base period. The base period for the new index remains the same. But the ingredients and methods of computation have been streamlined as a result of a threeyear, $5 million refurbishing job performed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The government conducted many surveys to find out how American families were spending their money. This information on the proportion spent for food, clothing, housing and other items, together with data on what stores were patronized, was used to compile the framework for the; new index. Some items are being priced for the first time, including taxi fares, motel room rates and funeral expenses. The number of cities where price checks are made has been increased from 46 to 50.

Monroe Man's Sister Is Taken By Death Mrs. Nancy Jane Whitten. 26. of route U Albany, 0., sister of William Klinger of Monroe, died Saturday following birth of a child. The infant, Peggy Ann, died several hours after the death of the mother. Mrs. Whitten, born April 4, 1937, in the Dixon, 0., area, was the daughter of Michael G. and Florence Osborn Klinger. -She was a member of the 1956 graduating class of Convoy-Union high school , Surviving are her husband, John Whitten;^her parents, who reside on route I, Convoy; a daughter, Susan, and a son, Charles, at home; two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Yocum, Mendon, 0., and Mrs. Martha May Andrews, Chattanooga, 0., and two brothers, William, of Monroe, and Robert, of Hartford City. Funeral Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Emerson funeral home, Johnstown, O„ and burial will be in the Green Hill cemetery, Johnstown.

Begin Recovering Air Crash Bodies

TAHOE VALLEY, Calif. (UPl)—Authorities today began the task of recovering the frozen bodies of 85 Californians whose “fun flight” to Lake Tahoe ended just 30 feet below the summit of a snow-swept Nevada mountain. The passenger’s four-engine Paradise Airlines Constellation plane vanished shortly before noon Sunday while approaching the Tahoe Valley Airport in a blinding snowstorm. The tangled wreckage, partially covered by a mantle of white, was found early Monday near the top of an 8,700-foot Sierra Nevada ridge eight miles north of the airport. An Air Force helicopter made the first sighting shortly after a massive search for the missing airliner began at dawn. A second helicopter landed at the scene and confirmed that all of the 81 passengers and four crewmen were dead. Douglas County Sheriff George Byers led a jeep party into the crash scene and left two deputies to guard the wreckage throughout the night, while work crews cut a road through the rugged terrain.

Discuss Rules On Parking In Decatur

The city board of works and safety met with the head of the local retail division and the city’s parking meter officer Monday afternoon to discuss and establish rules and regulations on parking in Decatur. Attending were Mayor Carl D. Gerber, and councilmen Ralph E. Allison and Charlmer Deßolt, who make up the board of works, city parking meter officer Raymond Seitz, chief of police Grover Odle, clerk-treasurer Mrs. Laura Bosse, city attorney John L. DeVoss and retail division chairman Mrs. Kay Boch. The meeting was called to discuss any parking problems in downtown Decatur, and to establish any rules and regulations that were needed. i The first order of business was the appointment of Seitz to the post of parking meter officer, and the board then voted to return former-, meter officer Jim Cochran to regular patrolman duties. Cochran recently requested to be returned to a patrolman’s rank, and Seitz had applied for the meter job. Same Hours After some discussion, the board of works decided to retain the same hours the meters will be used, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m; on week days, with the exception of Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday. The meters will be in operation from 9 a.m. to 12 noon only on Thursday. Since the downtown stores are not open on Thursday afternoon, the time is devoted to any meter repairs or collection of money from the meters. In the discussion of the hours, Seitz said he attempts to make three “rounds” of the city’s meters each day. He added that on Saturdays, he will begin to stagger his hours, as an example working from 12 noon to 8 p.m., or from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., which the board of works agreed was a good idea* Load, Unload Zones The discussion then moved to rules for loading and unloading in the city's downtown area. Some contractors," electricians, etc., have asked for free parking spaces for their trucks, loaded with equipment, while working in a store. The board decided to have this matter handled by the police de-

SEVEN CENTS

The sheriff said they would not remove the victims until after this morning’s arrival of an official from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and another from the Civil Aeronautics Board. “It will be at least noon before we start working with the bodies,” Byers said. He added that they would be taken to Minden and Carson City, where the FBI will aid in identification. The CAB announced in Washington that an investigation team would attempt to determine the cause of the crash. In the last full radio report from the ill-fated aircraft, plane Capt. Henry Norris, 43, Alameda, Calif., said he was over the western edge of the high Sierra Lake making a visual approach to the airport, which does not have instrument landings. As the blizzard worsened and visibility decreased, Norris apparently turned to take his plapeload of weekend gamblers and skiers over the mountain to the Beno Airport His last radio transmission consisted of only two words: “Flight 901 .... ”

partment. If someone is working in a downtown store and will need a truck parked at the store all day, he should contact the city police who will mark the space with no parking signs, and allow the truck to be parked there. By asking the city police, the parking meter officer will know of the situation, and thus not ticket the vehicle. The board decided at the same time that effective Monday, March 16, all tickets will be paid at the city police station, at 521 N. Third St. Pay At Station In the past, persons were able to pay parking violations at the (Continued on Page Two) Mrs. Emesl Isch Dies At Bluffton Mrs. Elise Isch, 90, widow of Ernest A. Isch, died at 4:40 p.m. Monday at her home, 211 North Main street, Bluffton. She had been in failing health three years and seriously ill for one week. Born in Alsace-Lorraine April 18, 1873, she was a daughter of John A. and Marguerite RoehmMeiss, and was married to Ernest A. Isch March 17, 1897. Her husband preceded her in death Jan. 5, 1920. Mrs. Isch was a member of the Apostolic Christian church. Surviving are six daughters, Mrs. Joe Gerber of Bluffton, Mrs. John Yergler of Bluffton route 3, Mrs. Bertha Moser of Craigville, Miss Clara Isch and Mrs. Amelia Baine of Bluffton; and Mi-s." John Frank of Liberty Center route 1; three sons, Joe L. and Elmer J. Isch of Bluffton route 4, and Harold Isch of Bluffton route 3; 22 grandchildren; 29 great - grandchildren, and two brothers, Gustav Meiss of Illinois, and Ezra Meiss of LaCrosse. Four borthers and five sisters are deceased. Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. Thursday at the Apostolic Christian church, the Rev. Sam Aeschliman officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the Goodwin funeral home in Bluffton after 7 p. m. today. The body will lie in state at the church from 10 a. m. Thursday.