Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 4 March 1946 — Page 1

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. tions, ‘from Moscow,”

os VOLUME 56—NUMBER 307

es Spy Ring

ym

“On Russ Embassy

CANADA SAYS “ORDERS CAME FROM MOSCOW

Under Arrest.

OTTAWA, March 4 (U: P.).—Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King disclosed today that members. of the

...Soviet embassy at Ottawa,

: acting “under direct instrucs - were the ringleaders of an espionage con-

: spiracy which sought information

"on atomic” energy, radar and Canadian’ and United States troop

* movenients to the Pacific.

King disclosed the findings of an

Anterim report by a royal commis- ‘ ‘sion investigating

the espionage ring. . Three Danadian government employees and one girF employee of ‘the British high commissioner’s office at Ottawa were under arrest in connection with the investigation. Zabotin in Charge The report identified Col. Gregori Zabotin, recently recalled military attache of the Soviet embassy at Ottawa, as “directly in charge” of a “network of undercover agents.” « These agents, the report said, were organized and developed for the “purpose of obtaining secret

‘ and confidential information par-

_tigularly from employees of departments and agencies of the

Dominion: government, and from an employee of the office of the

wid, included plans of the secret Chalk river atomic energy piant, The ring also sought information on radar and troop movements. Held Incommunicade

Four of the persons being held incomimunicado at the royal Canadian mounted police barracks in Rockcliffe were named in the ih terim report. They were Emma Woikin, a cipher clerk in the department of external affairs; Capt. Gordan Lunan, a—captain—in- the Canadian army on loan to the Canadian in- _ formation service; Edward Wilfred Mazerall, an electrical engineer in the national research council working in the field of radar, and Kathleen Mary Willsher, employed in the office of the British high commissioner. Miss Willsher was: described as having “access to practically all secret documents in that office.” The four were charged by e federal department of justice shortly after the report's disclosure with “ violation of the official secrets act and conspiracy. Conviction carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment. Name Embassy Members The evidence revealed,"the interim report said, that the operations of the espionage ring “were carried on by certain members of the staff of the Soviet embassy at Ottawa under direct instructions from Moscow.” “The” person directly in charge of these operations was Col. Zabotin, military attache of the embassy, who had as his active assistants . in" this work, Lt. Col. Motinpv, chief assistant military attache; ‘Lt. Col. Rogov, assistant military attache for air; Major Sokolov of the staff of the commercial counsellor of the embassy; Lt. ‘Angelov, one of the secretaries of the military attache, as well as other members of the staff of the military attache, all of whom, as well as the agents whom they employed in the pursuance of their activities, were in the interests of secrecy, known by undercover names,” ‘the report said.

»-

MRS. TRUMAN VISITS SAILORS GREAT NECK, N, Y,, March 4 (U, P.).—Mrs.-Harry 8S. Truman and her daughter, Margaret, ,inspected the merchant marine academy at Kings Point on a ‘surprise visit yesterday. They were entertained at tea at the senior officers’ club. ¢

TIMES INDEX

See

Amusements.. 12 Labor Anderson ... . 11| La Moore ... 8 Aviation ..... 9| Ruth Millett,. 9 Barrows ..... 9 Movies ....... 12 Business ..:.. 14|Obituaries ~... 5 Classified. .15, 16 Dr, O’Brien. «9 Comics ....... 17|J. E. O'Brien. 6 Max Cook .. 11{Radio '........17 Crossword ...- 7 Reflections .. 10 Editorials .... 10 Earl Richert. 14 Fashions. .... 13 Mrs. Roosevelt 9 Forum ...... 0|Scherter ..... 10 GI Rights... "9 sports vee 6, .Meta Given. 13 Bob Stranahan 6 In. Indpls. 3 Washington . 10

Ipsfde Indpls. 9 Women's .... 13 - Jane Jordan.. 17I World Affairs, 10

. WE ARE 36 YEARS eke THIS WEEK. is ;uatiers Rejfurant, 24 :

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LONDON, March: 4 (U.

of their withdrawal. Spokesmen for the British foreign office said they had no knowledge of the alleged

Russian demands which were reported by the London Evening. News’ diplomatic correspondent. Existence of the demahds was tacitly confirmed by the Iranian embassy. The Evening News said the Iranian delegation to Moscow, headed by Premier Ahmad Ghavam, had left for Tehran to submit the Russian terms to his government and parligment. The Evening News said these were the terms which Russia wes demanding that Iran meet before Red army troops will be witndrawn: ONE—Iran to sign a treaty of alliance with Russia. TWO—The central Iranian government to recognize the autonomous “government” of Azerbaijan—

Report Russia Seeks: ‘Price’ to Quit Iran

P.) .~Britain asked formally

for an explanation of the continued Russian occupation of Iran today amid persistent reports that the Soviets were demanding five major concessions, including Iranian oil leases and recognition of the Azerbaijan “government” as the price

a rebellious regime which Iran already has charged was formed with Russian help. THREE—Iran to co-ordinate its foreign policy with that of the Soviet Uniou.

FOUR—Iran to grant concessions to Russia. FIVE—Soviet military advisers to organize the armed forces of the Azerbaijan government troops. to. be stationed at points of strategic interest to Russia, The Soviet demands as reported appeared so sweeping as to face certain rejection by the angry Iranian parliament. In that event, there was a strong possibility Iran would appeal again to the United Nations security council. But' the Evening News’ correspondent said the Soviets were taking an adament stand and had informed Ghavam bluntly that the

new oil

(Continued on Page 3—Column umn 1)

Truman Heads Drive to Save Housing Plan

WASHINGTON, March 4 (U. P). —President Truman today spearheaded a drive by the administration's top political and economic officials to save its housing program from defeat. House Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas Bon that “the President is very much interested in getting a real housing bill.” Mr. Rayburn made the statement following the regular weekly meeting between the President and his four congressional leaders. The speaker said President Truman wanted passage of the Patman bill with the so-called Wyatt program amendments. The President's request followed telegrams from Democratic. national Chairman Robert E. Hannegan to-every Democratic member

(Continued on Page 3—Column 8)

PLEA FOR FARE

G. M.-UNION TALKS DELAYED

Parley to . Prevent Phone

Tieup Also Stalled.

By UNITED PRESS General Motors and C. I. O. United Auto Workers representatives postponed negotiations in the ‘104-day G. M. strike today as the nation faced a telephone tieup and thousands were without transportation in western Pennsylvania because of a bus strike. The union asked that the Detroit conference be delayed until afternoon, although company negotators and a federal mediator already had convened. Mediator James F. Dewey said that both sides were meeting separately, that “they have had insufficient time to consider the situation.”

Earlier, the union turned down a G. M. proposal that a secret vote be taken among the 175,000 striking workers on the question of returning to work under the latest company offer.

Warren Not Optimistic

BOOST RESUMED

Transit Company Testifies Before PCC Here.

By ROBERT BLOEM

«Indianapolis Railways today renewed testimony before the public service commission in its plea for permission to raise streetcar and bus fares, Only witness to take the stand for the utility in the morning hearing was James J. Tretton Sr, vice

ernization in Indianapolis.

of more up-to-date types of busses end trackless trolleys to the present fleet, Photos Date to Mule Cars Basis of . the company's plea is the contention that, in addition to inflated maintenance and operating costs, continued modernization of services will require higher rates. Although. the pictorial ~ history dated back to the mule car day$ of

(Continued on “Page. J-telems 6)

Public transportation was operated on a normal basis here today following’ week-end settlement of :a wage dispute which had threatened to tie up street-car and bus service. Settlement, announced last night in a joint statement by officials of Indianapolis Railways, Inc, and the

Electric Railway and Motor Coach ‘Employees, provided for a 15-cent hourly wage increase, Under terms of the tentative agreement all other demands of company or union for. contract thangs were withdrawn. : Operators have’ until March 10

week basis and the increase brought the average hourly wage to $1.05.

president and general manager. Mr. Tretton introduced in. evidénce a series" of photographs arranged as a pictorial history of transit mod-

In keeping with thé buildup for higher rates, Mr. Tretton testified that further modernization was in Prospect with plans for addition

Edgar L. Warren, director of the U. 8. conciliation service, said today there was “no basis for feeling” that a nation-wide telephone

istrike could be averted.

The threatened telephone strike and strike threats in the railroad and coal . industries cast a ‘dark shadow over government hopes for steady elimination of labor strife. At a press conference that followed breakdown of long lines telephone negotiations ‘in’ New York early today, Mr. Warren said he expected to know by nightfall what the government's next move would be. He said he planned to discuss the situation - today by telephone with spokesmen for the companies and with Joseph A. Beirne, president of the National Federation®of Telephone Workers. Bus Drivers : Strike

At Pittsburgh, a walkout of 138 Penn Transit Co, bus drivers tied up the firm's service in a score of western Pennsylvania communities in a dispute over the furloughing of two extra men. Mill workers, school children and office employees were without transportation. Meanwhile, 38,000 Ford Motor Co. workers went back to their jobs, ending a month's layoff caused by steel strike-imposed materials shortages. This reduced the ‘number of

Amalgamated Association of Street,|a

to pick runs oh a five-day, 40-hour]

(Continued on “Page 3—~Column 4)

Streetcar Dispute Settled | With 15-Cent Hourly Raise

are subject to approval by the national stabilization board. Harry Reid, president of the company, said the 48-hour week would remain in force during this ‘week until the new runs for operators could be set up. He estimated the wage bposts would cost the company between $500,000 and .$600,000 year, Sy Withdrawal of all otlier demands for modification of .the continuing contract virtually precluded further contract disputes until April 30, 1947, company and union officials sald” According’ to Raymond Harp, local business agent for the union, émployees of the’ company approved the terms of the tentative agree-

Tettns of the tentative aprepment | morning.

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ment by ‘a, majority vote Sunday

this |»

y FORECAST: Cloudy with. rain. Probably ihindershiowirs tonight and tomorow. Slightly colder tomorrow, a)

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MONDAY, MARCH

BODIES OF 25 PLANE CRASH

2 Brought Out but Storm In Mountains Balks Rescue Party.

SAN DIEGO, Cal, March 4 (U. P.).—A blinding blizzard and subfreezing temperatures today ime peded efforts to remove 27 bodies from a westbound American Airlines flagship which crashed into a fogshrouded mountain. The plane burned, killing 23 passengers—including two. babies, and the crew of four. Bound from Dallas to San Diego, on the final leg of a flight from New York, the big Douglas DC-3 yesterday smashed into the side of a rugged 6000-foot peak in the Mt, Laguna range, 60 miles east of here. Wreckage of the plane was scattered over a quarter-mile area. Both wings were sheared from the craft. Deputy sheriffs who reached the scene of the crash, approximately 100 feet below the peak’s crest, accounted for the bodies of 23 adults and the two babies. Beyond Recognition Two remaining bodies were believed buried in the fire- blackened wreckage. Eight bodies were thrown clear. But 15 of the adults were burned beyond recognition. Until early today, a rescue party worked with a bulidozer to clear a road through the rugged terrain to remove the bodies, But due to the blizzard, authorities believed ‘all bodies would not Ye recovered until late today. Before the blizzard started, bodies of the two babies were removed to ‘he San Diego sheriff's office. Passenger List American Airlines listed passengers of the ill-fated airliner as: Chief Petty Officer V. C. Berdine, U. S. N., San Diego. Pfc. Eugene Mills, U. 8. M. C, address unknown. L. J. Baker, Ft. Worth, Tex. J. H. Menge, San Antonio, Tex.

Cal. WAVE, South Pasadena, Cal. from Jacksonville, Fla. E. J. Lang, Zurich; Switzerland

address unknown.

Mrs. R. L. McCall, Tampa, Fla. and her 18-months-old daughter. R. L. Lamontagne, San Pedro, Cal, American Airlines employee riding as a passenger, - Mrs. W. F. Whittaker, College Park, Ga. wife of the assistant chief pilot, Delta Airlines. : Cmdr, R. V. Roblin, U. 8S. N, San Pedro, Cal. Lt. Milton L. Harvey, either army or navy, address unknown. Ensign Jack Eugene Selover, St. Simons Island, Ga. Lt. Easterday, navy, address unknown. Members of the crew were: Capt. Samuel E. Stoner, San Gabriel, Cal. Capt. Max Leonard Fife, Los Angeles. 1st Officer Emmett Edward Baker, Long Beach, Cal. Stewardess: Maxine Rickard, Detroit. :

pilot,

Spotted by Planes The airliner last. was reported over El Centro, Cal, at 7:53 a. m. The crash was believed to have come a few minutes later. Navy and coast guard planes spotted the wreckage through

(Continued on Page 3 —Column¢2)

16 KILLED, 250 HURT IN ALEXANDRIA RIOT

Anti-British Mobs Attack Police in Egypt.

CAIRO, March 4 (U. P.).—AntiBritish rioting flared across Egypt again today and dispatches from Alexandria said 16 persons were killed and 250 or more injured in a ‘wild gun battle”in that British naval base. A United Press correspondent telephoned from Alexandria that frenzied mobs were racing through the streets setting fire to cafes and hotels and attacking British and Egyptian police squadrons. He reported that gunfire could be heard all over’ the. center of the city as native police patrols fired repeatedly into the mobs in an unsuccessful effort to disperse them. Farlier estimates on the casudlties said six rioters were killed and 168 injured, while four British military policemen were said to have been killed-and two wounded when

(Continued on Page 3 —Column 5) |

LOCAL TEMPERATURES

Gam. 4 10am... 63 on . 55. 1la.m..... 55 8 Mi, 5 12 (Neon) .. AW inom

VTS FOUND,

Mrs. C. C. Bradbury, Inglewood, Miss Gladys Delancey, discharged Miss A. Abernathy, believed to be William Battersby, Berkeley, Cal Sgt. L. A. Criswell, U. S. M. C.,

Miss Joyce Whitley, Atlanta, Ga.

Mrs. E. J. Upchurch, Jackson, Miss. Mrs. E. O. McGillivaray, Charlotte, N. C. ; = Mrs. Margaret Greener, Forest City, Ark, and her 3-months-old son;

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Entered as Becond-Class Matter at Postoffice Indianapolis 9 Ind. Tssued dafly except Sunday

Janitor Co Two Mill

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4, 1946

PRICE FIVE CENTS

seeaue

nfesses

arders

Killed Koontz With Blow - In Struggle, Then Choked Woman to Death, He San

By VICTOR PETERSON °

’ Times Staff Writer BLOOMINGTON, Ind, March 4.—Joseph Luther Woolridge, 29-year -old janitor, today confessed slaying Bloomington’s “choir Sweethearts” after he surprised them in an illicit love tryst in an old. stone mill, v A first degree murder charge was filed against Woolridge in Monroe circuit court, Woolridge confessed clubbing Russell Koontz. former Sunday school teacher, when the latter “lunged” ‘at him. Then, Woolridge said, he strangled Mrs. Phyllis Coleman because she was a witness to the crime. i] Woolridge asserted Koontz had ordered him to “scram.” Angered by Reply. Instead Woolridge stood there looking at them, Koontz then asked the Bloomington handyman if he recognized them. Woolridge answered yes. According to Woolridge's confession, Koontz was angered by this reply and warned him he wouldn't live to reveal the incident, -

The slayer said Koontz leaped at him. A former boxer, Woolridge swerved aside, grabbed a sashweight from the mill floor and clubbed Koontz in the back of the head as he hurtled by. : Woolridge said he then bound Mrs. Coleman, who offered no resistance. . Later, he also tied up Koontz and gagged him with Mrs. Coleman's slip, which he found on the mill floor. Feeling Koontz’'s heart, Woolridge realized his victim was dead. “At this point 1 was scared and didn't know. what to de,” his statement declared. “I walked around on fhe.

Confessed double murderer, Joseph L. Woolridge, 29-year-old Bloomington, Ind, Negro janitor, sits “handcuffed at state police headquarters. Woolridge signed the confession this morning after _ two hours of questioning. » 2

Confession by Woolridge Describes How Pair Died

Following a two-hour quiz at state police headquarters this morning, Joseph Luther Woolridge confessed to the double murder of Russell] Koontz and Mrs. Phyllis Coleman in a Bloomington stone mill. His confession statement follows: “I am 29-years of age and was born Jan..12, 1817, at Worthington; i I am married and have two children and reside at 1228 W. 12th , Bloomington, Ind. E—————————————————————————— yr. be Friday, March 1, 1946, at approximately 2:30 p. m. I started from my home at 1220 W. 12th st. Bloomington, Ind, toward the quarry northwest of town, with the intention of hunting groundhogs.

“I ducked and at the same time I picked up a window sash weight and swung at the man and hit the man on the back of the head when he went past me. “1. caught—-the man as he was

“While hunting, I walked approximately three miles until I came to the quarry known as the Hunter quarry. I arrived at this location at about .3:00 p. m. walked up to the mill and entered the building from the west side.

? pt

{While passing through the mill, &

noticed a man and a woman in a

fafiing” and noticed ‘that he -was knocked out. I then carried the man to a second small room located just east of the first small room already described and on the north

| side of the building.

“I laid the man on the floor and then returned to the first small room and proceeded to .tie up the

{At this point I was standing in the

|rusbed to the Sallen ‘Photographer's

woman. She gave me no resistance at this point. I left the woman in this room and went back to the second small rdom where the man was and tied his hands and feet. “After I had tied the man's hands and feet I felt of his heart and noticed that he was dead.

small room, located on the north side of thé building. “I stopped and was watching the couple, whén the man looked up and told me to scranmi. I stood én the spot for a short time and the man asked me if I knew him. I

inside of the building and it was at this time I decided I would choke the woman to death.

“ Strangled Woman TR a whlked into the first small room, where the WomAR. rs was tied up and placed a piece of rope around her neck. I held the rope around her neck until she quit breathing.” Woolridge told police blood bubbled from Mrs. Coleman's mouth after “five or 10 minutes.” Later he dumped both bodies in the sludge of the abandoned quarry pit, covering them with scrap timber. Footprints at the stone mill provided the important clue that eventually linked Woolridge to the double-slaying.

Casts of Bootprint Match

The morning after the murders, Woolridge and his brother, Cy, 31, a war veteran, were involved in an.automobile accident on the Beanblossom road near Bloomington. Their car left the highway. Afterwards, a nearby farm wife noticed huge bootprints in her front yard and, recalling that footprints had been found at the death scene, called police. Plaster casts of the two pairs of prints matched in every respect, down to the grilled grips on the soles and cross bars on the heels. Investigators later found the boots in Joseph Woolridge's home. Woolridge confessed after a two-hour quiz at state police headquarters between 4 and 6 a. m. today.

Says He Was Hunting Groundhogs

In his statement, Woolridge said he wandered into the old stone mill, four miles northwest of Bloomington, while “hunting groundhogs.” After signing the confession, he was asked if he felt better. “Some better,” he. replied calmly, Youthful and mustached, Woolridge was taken from state police, headquarters to Pendleton reformatory “for safekeeping,” state police said. Prosecutor Robert McCrea, at Bloomington, said the: case would be presented to.a grand jury as soon as possible. Meanwhile Mr, Koontz was buried this morning in the cemetery adjoining the Clear Creek Christian church where he served as superintendent of-the Sunday school and choir director. His attractive 32-year-old sweetheart and member of the choir will be buried in 1 the same cemetery at 2 p. m.

told him that I did. This man

< “At ‘thi int scared and then said that I would never tell it. AL his polit } was :

didn't know what to do. 1 walked all around on the inside of the!

doorway leading to this small room| and the man lunged at me. » " .

Photographer Knocked Down In Brawl! at Koontz Funeral

Times Special " BLOOMINGTON, Ind., March 4—Newspaper reporters and photographers mixed in a free-fqr-all brawl outside the Clear Creek Christian church here today as brothers of the murder victim, Russell E. Koontz, charged into assembled newsmen. The casket carrying the remains of Mr. Koontz had just been placed in the hearse when one of the ‘brothers charged into Ed Feeney, Chicago. Tribune photographer, who, was making a picture from a public road of mourners coming from the church. | Mr, Feeney was knocked to the ground and thrown across the tar road for about eight feet by the impact of the attack, His camera

| (Continued on Faas} 2 Column 3) |

dlso entered the fray while Noble J. Siscoe, deputy sheriff, and candidate for sheriff of Monroe county, stood by. His only effort in the fracas was to grab another néwspapermdn by the collar,

As the church doors opened at

tomorrow. For 10 hours yestérday sheriff's officers, state police and County Coroner Ray Borland grilled Woolkidge, Negro janitor for a Bloomington downtown cafe. Principal evidence was a pair of rubber boots which Woolridge admits are his. In a 1 a. m. sidewalk press conference in front of the county jail, newly elected Monroe County Prosecutor Robert McCrea said: “I am satisfied that Woolridge’s boots are the very ones that made the imprints at the scene of the crime in Hunter quarry. They are size 10 and fit the cast made of

(Continued on Page 2 Column 1)

NEW FLIGHT RECORD [Quick Fssesion ls Avslable = TO HONOLULU IS SET|'n Comparatively Few Homes" SAN FRANCISCO, March 4 (U, P.).—Pan-American Airways today recorded a new all-time commercial, airliner speed record from San Francisco to Honolulu, established

when the new “Constellation Clipper” flashed from the mainland to]

was smashed to the ground and |; damaged ‘and his equipment scattered about. » Other newsmen. Tepresenting papers. from all: over ' the country

the cibse of the service, Deputy Siscoe came out to newspapermen standing on the highway and said: “The family has requested that no pictures be taken of the casket.” Newspapermen acc to this ré-

“Ges : Other moukners tom the ® ehiireh

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Oahu in 9 hours 43 minutes. YT A The flight, a survey trip | prepara-|. token 1 oa “to inauguration of the- first} = He ; ow