Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 15 August 1946 — Page 1
isty.} Try today
a
TTR NN Pes res vy VT
F§° Aghgte™ e
{ { |
‘strike called at 12:01 a. m,
a
[Swrs=aowees] VOLUME 57—NUMBER 129
25 Caliber Cartridge Shell
Unearthed as
First Clue to
Murder of Louis Borgmann
First real evidence in the murder of Louis Borgmann, New Palestine farmer and father of five children was unearthed today by detectives. A shiny cartridge shell from a 25 caliber pistol, weapon used in slaying Mr Borgmann, was discovered in front of 25 Catherwood EL. a short distance from where Mr, Borgmann was found slumped Over the wheel of his car late Saturday night, Detectives also located a person who claims to have heard the shot that brought death to the model Citizen of Néw Palestine. Identity Not Disclosed Howard Sanders, chief of detectives, would not disclose the iden-| tity of the witness. He said, however, that the person admitted hearing a report from a gun’ about 10:30 p. m. but did not see the! Borgmann car. The shell was found a short dis- | tance from the east curb of Catherwood st., which is the first street West of Sheridan ‘ave. off East Washington st.
The Bullet and the Shell
Chief Sanders reconstructed the crime. Mr. Borgmann left home at 9:30 P¢ m. Saturday. He was driving
[south on Catherwood st. when he {was shot in the left side by his ratified at the con:
assailant. The well-to-do farmer fought to control his car which careened around the corner at Julian ave. Pain from the wound finally overcame him and his car swerved into a-vacant lot on Julian ave., coming
to a stop against a utility pole in| {the lot. !
22 'House of Horror" Patients
Will Be Moved to Julietta
Arrangements were to be made today for the
transfer of 22 patients
in the “house of horror” nurking home at 1828 N. Illinois st. to Marion
county’s Julietta infirmary, Care of the patients was taken ernmengs late yesterday when Ju-ge court 3 issued an injunction,
BYRNES BLASTS SOVIET BALKANS
U. S. Seeks to Prevent Area's ‘Enslavement.’
(Conference Details, Page 2)
By R. H. SHACKFORD United Press Staff Correspondent PARIS, Aug. 15—U. 8. Secretary of State James F. Byrnes charged at the Paris conference today that Russia has misrepresented the American position on treaties for axis satellites. He called for freedom of economic opportunity in the defeated states to save them from “economic enslavement.” Mr. Byrnes asserted that the United States resented misstatement of the American position by Russia. His assertions were greeted by loud applause and shouts of “hear, hear” from the British delegation, “Peace among the allies cannot be furthered by ignoring misstate-
ments leveled against the United States from this floor,” Secretary Byrnes said. “We object to mis-
representations of our position and motives. America has no apology | to make for the principles of lib-| erty, justice and freedom which we| have defended.” Russia for Germany? Mr. Byrnes clashed sharply with Soviet Foreign Minister V.-M. Molotov's economic ideas concerning the former axis satellites, noting that all of them had been systematically penetrated by Germany. He asked whether it was not proposed that
(Continued on Page 4—Column 6) | PRESIDENT WALKS | CAMERAMEN DQWN WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (U.P) .—| President Truman took his regular pre-breakfast walk today and for the first time permitted 25 photographers to accompany him. The photographers from the 30-minute? two-mile walk | perspiring and virtually exhausted | by the President's rapid pace of 120] strides a minute,
over by the state and county govEmsley W. Johnson Jr. of Superior
custing Mrs. Margaret Colvin and her! but many department leaders felt
son, Herschel Colvin, from management of the establishment. Judge Johnson also appointed Dr. Clifford L. Williams, director of the Indiana Council for Mental Health, as receiver for the institution. Dr. Williams took over management of the. home a few minutes after the injunction was issued.
Action Taken on Petition
Court action was taken on a petition filed by the state welfare department, which charged that several patients in the home had been beaten and chained to their beds amid fire hazards.
Mrs. Colvin had been arrested last Saturday on charges of assault and battery on patients, malicious mayhem and operating a nursing home without a state 1li-
cense. She resumed management
of the home after being released under $3100 bond.
Her son, Herschel,
without a license. He was listed as the business manager. Under an informal agreement between state and county officials, space will be made available at Julietta where two floors are now unoccupied because of lack of personnel and equipment. Corps of Nurses Assigned State officials said they would make arrangements to provide some equipment and personnel to care for the extra patients, most of whom have been described as mental cases. Assisting Dr. Williams in the temporary management of the home are members of the nursing division of the Indianapolis Red Cross chapter. A corps of nurses was assigned to the home last night by Virgil Sheppard, executive secretary of the Red Cross chapter. The state welfare department's petition charged that if the “cruel and abusive treatment of the patients in the home is permitted to continue, it will result in irreparable injury to the physical and mental health of the patients therein.” * Judge Johnson set Sept. 11 as the hearing date to determine whether the injunction is to be made permanent,
WAC’s TRIAL POSTPONED FRANKFURT, Aug. 15 (U: P.).—
came back |The trial of WAC Capt. Kathleen
Durant, charged with larceny, embezzlement and conspiracy in the Kronberg jewel case, has been postponed until Aug. 19.
surrendered | yesterday to the sheriff's office on! a charge of operating the home|
The Indian
wy
© : Y 3
FORECAST: Mostly cloudy tonight; tomorrow partly cloudy, warm and humid.
YOUNGER MEN ‘TAKING OVER STATE LEGION
Election of New Veterans Is Hailed on Eve of Convention Here.
Hoosier Legionnaires, preparing for the American Legion's first postwar convention in Indiana, today hailed recent election of James M. Tucker to command in the ninth district as evidence that youth is “taking over.” As plans for the week-end con- | vention developed, it was announced from Indiana department headquar- | ters that Mr. Tucker, former secretary of state, is scheduled to be ‘ention as district
| commander. | The Paoli veteran, who also is a former leader in Indiana Republican politics, was a naval officer and was wounded off Salerno. He is the | first young veteran to attain a dis- | trict command. | Throughout the state organiza- | tion, department headquarters re- | ported, veterans of world war II are (taking the reins of the Legion. Some “Clean Sweeps” While a majority of the 3000 deleigates to the four-day convention | which opens Friday evening are veterans of the first world war, a number of posts have reported recent elections of officers a “clean sweep” for younger vets. ; | Candidates for top state office are all veterans of the first war,
|safe in forecasting that the state | commander to be elected next Tues{day would be a “last world war I | commander.” It was possible some new veteran | might be nominated from the floor | this time, but this was discounted on the basis of the prevalence of older men among the delegates. Candidates Named Candidates in the state races so far are W. I. Brunton of Scotts|burg for state commander; Harold E. Morris of Gary for northern vice | commander; James C. Ahren of Indiznapolis for southern vice com- | imander Harold Haines of Cedar! {Lake is the only candidate so far! | for grand chef de gare of the Forty! dnd Eight society, : Newest membership figures show 68 per cent of the states 121,784 legionnaires are veterans of world war IIL. Among the highlights of the fourday convention will be the memorial service at 5 p. m. Sunday at which {delegates will honor Hoosier dead of {all wars. The Rev. Joseph Jordan of Edwood, state chaplain, will conduct the service, which will be held at the Cenotaph on Memorial plaza, {and which will be open to the | public. ?
Drum, Bugle Contest
Finals of the drum and bugle corps contest will be staged at Vic-
THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1946
Hun
2
Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice Indianapolis, Ind, Issued daily except Sunday
- For Dupont | Say Case Wrap
&
oy 3
iy a:
An “extra special” letter . . .
ROOKIES’ HUNCH
Patrolmen Also Jewelry Store Loot.
Patrolman* Edward hasn't been on the police force) long enough to get a lot of ex- | # “4 perience, so he] = “played a hunch” | ~ on his first] - major case today. | As ‘a result of]
[tory field at 7:30 p. m. Sunday and! {the main parade through downtown!
| streets will begin at 7 p. m, Monday. |
The executive committee is scheduled to meet Friday evening for last- | minute committee appointments ke{fore registration opens Saturday | morning. The final business meeting of the convention, including election of state officers, will be held| Tuesday. : Other business on the agenda, in addition to the election, will be discussion of the question of raising | per capita dues to the department,
Important News On Inside Pages
Page Finland Appeals to Nations .... 2
Political Era Closes Slash Proposed Tax Rate ...... British Confer With Zionists .... 11! G. Is Still Pay in Pain .. ..... 19| Grid Profits Aid Education .... 25!
Round-World Black Market .... 25|
101st Airborne Reunion . er 25 (Col. E. R. Bradley Dies ...... 25 | Fewer Strike ‘Victories’ ...... +s 30] About Your Food Bill ........ 30
Strike Halts Great Lake Ships, Perils U. S. Industry and Europe's Food Supplies
il mands, not on modified demands.” cargoes of coal, oil, steel and iron
(Map, Page 30)
CLEVELAND! Aug. f5 (U. P).—| Joe Curran, president of the Na- | tional Maritime union (C. I. 0). said that all Great Lakes ships | with organized workers aboard have
ceased operation in answer to the
Mr. Curran, chairman of the strike strategy committee, said the ‘N. M. U, “stands ready to negotiate at any time on the original de-
~ TIMES INDEX"
Amusements ..24| Ruth Millett .19 Eddie Ash vss: 26] Movies ....... 24 Boots .........33| Obituaries ....35 Business ...... 30, Dr. O'Brien ..19 Classified ..31-33 Radio ....... Comics ....es. 34
Crossword ....35 Science ...... Editorials . 20; Serial .....:.. 21) Fashions 22! Sports .....26-27| Mrs. Ferguson 22 State Deaths .25 Forum ....... 20 Swindlers All G. 1. Rights ..34| Teen Talk Meta Given ..23 Washington Don Hoover ..20| Weather Map Indiana Saga 20 Joe Williams In Indpls, ; mere Indnle, 10% World Affairs 20
|
The union first asked for a 40hour week and preferential hiring, last night offered to compromise on a 44-hour week. The union head said “we are going ahead to make this strike 100 per cent effective.” He said United Auto Workers and the United Steel workers unions have responded with offers to help and that the longshoremen were also supporting the case. At Detroit, shipping was at a standstill after 000 seamen and dock workers joined the strike. A union spokesman said about 25 ships and all of Detroit's 30 docks were tied up.
In Cleveland, port operations were almost normal. No vessels involved 34|in the strike were in the Cleveland ; elt 19| Port and it was reported that crews Mrs Roosevel 1970f other lines were not heeding the
N.M. U, appeal to join the strike.
Eleven bulk freight fleets and six operating 59 19 ships in all, are directly. involved in ...23 the dispute, If A. F. of L. Seafaiers
tanker companies,
..20 union workers halt. their ships in 3| sympathy or refuse to cross C. I. O: 26 picket lines, there might be tied up 2, Women's .. 22-23 a total of more than 300 vessels 3 camouflage to get more money fo vita
> a
“hich normally transport
Xo
lore,
Numerous cargoes of grain for | European relief might also be stopped. Government officials said a prolonged strike would have the most adverse effect on American industry of any walkout since the coal miners dispute.
The strike was called after negotiations between officials and government and all management representatives except those of Standard Oil of Indiana broke down in Washington.
N. M. U. Vice Président Jack Lawrenson revealed after the strike got under way that the union had
creases, severance pay, sick leave and a preferential hiring and offered to accept a 44-hour week, A spokesman for the operators described the union demand for .a shorter work week ‘the equivalent of a 96 per cent increase in wages on top of the 15 per cent already granted in 1946.” A. T. Wood, president of the lake carriers’ association, said the union demand for shorter hours was cnly
dropped its demands for wage in-|,
the “hunch” the) rookie policeman and his partner apprehended a, jewelry thief and| recovered the loot! within a few)
hours after Aline |
Frank Lookabill
son's jewelry store, 47 Monument circle, was | robbed. A handful of watches, valued at]
$300 were taken when the jewelry io see the show and patronize con- | Sentatives” for his failure to pro-|
The Mail Goes Through to Infantile Paralysis
eh
SNARES THEF
It isn't often a postman turns onto a street and finds a whole delegation waiting to hand him one letter, That's what happened to Postman Norbert Kroucher, chosen by some East side children as their
Recover
Donative|
{was the proceeds of a talent show
a a Posiman Nearbert Kroucher to see that
Ry . These Fast side children chose : victims reached Riley hospital when they learned they couldn't deliver it personally.
By DONNA MIKELS
special courier. It isn’t that the children didn't have faith in the green mailbox on the corner. But their letter was “extra special.”
The letter contained a check for some $65, a gift from some 16 w GOMMITTEE CHARGES backyard over on N. Wallace last| Le week.
side children to the infantile paralysis victims at Riley hospital. It 200 Attend Show ‘Refuses for 4th Time to The children sparked the show a with a big parade Saturday morn- Produce Records. ing, with four motorcycle police] WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (U. P.). escorts provided by their neigh-|._A special house investigating bor, - Police Chief Jesse McMurtry. | committee today found Benjamin Some 200 persons crowded the back- | p pields “in contempt of this comyard of the Kenneth Powell resi-| dence, 317 N. Wallace st., that niglit, |
which the children staged in a
ittee and of the house of repre-
Victims at Riley Hospital
their donation to infantile paralysis
oison;
(F
Mrs. Lockman's La
‘to analyze a boxful of empty ‘bottles and cans salvaged
{from Dupont's house.” ; This development ca after | state police boasted the case against | Mrs. Lottie (Tot) Lockman in Dine pont's “mercury and old lace” mys« tery had been “clinched.” : They refused to reveal what thé “clinching” evidence might be, but Capt. Robert O'Neal, state police detective chief, flatly denied: ru~
been found. ; Police picked up the crate of refuse from the rear of the home of Forrest McConnell, where Mrs. Lockman was housekeeper and | where state police believe two aged {women were poisoned. i Search Lockman Home Searching Mrs. Lockman's homé, also in Dupont, authorities dredged up the following: One phonograph record, entitled “Sioux City Sue”; 17 pounds of popcorn (friends said {Mrs. Lockman “loved” popcorn);
Get Needed Share.
LOCAL TEMPERATURES
Sam ...08 10am... 171 Sam ...08 11am. . 1 8am. ... 68 12 (neon) .. 74 fam... 6 I... 18
Heavy rains flooded most of In{diana during the last 24 hours but {dry northern areas again failed to I'get their much-needed share. While central and southern cities | reported precipitation ranging upward from one inch last night and iearly today, South Bend recorded [only 01 of an inch. The weather bureau here said i Ms received a rainfall of {1.91 inches, heaviest officially re{corded in the state. The state still had an’ annual
store window was smashed at 2:30 cessions and a “white elephant” | duce requested books and records. |rainfall deficiency of nearly two in-
a. m. today. Two youths, Charles McDonald, 18, of 951 Middle dr., Woodruff Place, and John Anderson, 18, of 127': E. 22d st., saw
auction. | war contract “expediter,” for the
The children had planned to take the money to the polio victims |
themselves. Because of the,present |
Mr. Fields, former conviet and
iches and parched upstate crops | were threatened. | Additional showers were forecast
two gallons of perfume es
dren Send Polio Benefit RAIN HITS LARGE 2.5 = "= == heck by Special Postman PART OF INDIAN
ss SS A
her foster-aunt, who has stead
wi 4 * BY
Jeers at Completed =~
¥ 5
DUPONT, Ind., Aug: 15 |State police today prepared
fastly protested hér innocence. Tot
‘read a few chapters this morning. State Detective Graham Tevis de-
Dry Northern Areas Fail 0 ciaged:
“The case is all wrapped up. We closed it this afternoon (Wedneslday). We have enough to clinch it, | If she isn't convicted on the evidence we now have, she never will | be, Everybody can go home now, as far as we're concerned.”
Won't Need Lie Test
He also announced the state “won't need a lie detector fest. Mrs. Lockman had previously effered to undergo the test if other members of the McConnell house~ hold also did. Detective Tevis sald it makes little difference now whether mercury is found in the organs of 90-year-old “Uncle Fred” Gidding whose body. buried since 1940, was exhumed this week. Dr. R. N. Har« ger, Indiana university toxicologist, is expected to report on a laboratory analysis of “Uncle Fred's” ore gans sometime today. Informed of Detective Tevis® re marks, Defense Counsel Joseph | Cooper scoffed, “that doesn't mean
fourth time told the commitee that in scattered parts of Indiana. The| anything. They wouldn't have are
the * window smasher dnd chased rise of polio cases, however, their|he did not have specific records to weatherman said warmed tempera-| rested her if they hadn't had some
him several blocks, losing him on| E. Market st. Patrolman Donahue and Loui
decided Postman Kroucher.
parents and authorities against the personal visit, They | of his associates the fee received who's |
a brief August “cold wave.” Other Hoosier cities and the rain-
i ® bro wire | i gi Gohman were cruising near the Cir- {their neighbor, would be the best | the sale” of scarce oe {fall they received during the past
cle when they heard the radio re-| port. As they drove through an alley near Loew's theater Patrolman Donahue spotted a fire escape | and told his partner to “let me out. I've got a hunch.”
Has Past Record
Stationing Constable Melvin Loge and Deputy Constable Ted Perry, who aided the search, at the foot of the fire escape, Patrolman Donahue climbed to the top. On a top step he found Frank Lookabill, 31, of 1238 Cottage ave. crouched. After a brief tussle the patrolman brought Lookabill to the ground at gun’s point. : Lookabill, who is held on a vagrancy charge, has a past record of" burglaries and larcenies, police said. Meanwhile Patrolman Donahue's partner “got & hunch” Iimself. | Driving through an alley near the | Circle theater he saw a straw hat. Turning it upside down he shook out four watches, valued near $250, and the case of a ‘third watch. They were identified as property of the jewelry company. Breaks Own Watch
A search in the vicinity failed to disclose the fifth watch. Several hours lates, however, Patrolman Gohman and Donahue made another search and found the watch, valued at $52. In the grapple with Lookabill Patrolman Donahue broke his own wristwatch. Today he accepted the invitation of Jack Ponzer, assistant
manager of the jewelry store, to “come in have it fixed--on the! house.”
8 GERMAN SAILORS KILLED | LUBECK, Germany, Aug. 15 (U, P).—Eight German seamen were killed last night when 250 tons of | Luftwaffe bombs exploded just
after they were dumped into the vacation the President has had this
the seamen.
Baltic gen,
-
'vear
screening obtained from the war assets administration.
substitute. Postmaster Takes Note Hearing of the incident, Post- : master Adolph Seidensticker sent sel, Hugh D. Wise Jr., to prepare a | temptuous action of the said Fields”
child : Judy d, § - x den A y Reed, Marilyn Swee | and to send the statement to House ney, Caroline Carraher, Genny Speaker Sam Rayburn.
Freeman, Karen Sue Hyde, Sue Ann| Since the house is in adjournand Donna Powell, Sandra and An- | ment, Rep. Rayburn can cerfify the drea Klingensmith, Rona Applegate, | action to the U. 8. attorney for the
Ronnie and Donnie Freeman, Bill | District .of Columbia to “be dealt|for the day. The mercury rose to
Morrison, Wendell Freeman, Donna | with according to law.” Weaver and Marily Morrison. | — . .
124 hours included: Lafayette .23; { Marion .11; Indianapolis, 1.03; Terre sonville 1.13; 121; | Seymour 135;
Bloomington Shoals 1.13;
| cennes 1.19; Columbus 1.27;+*Shelby-
Ed-| his personal congratulations to the |Statement of the “willful and eon-| wardsport 1.04; Scottsburg 16; Vin-
decided | show how he had divided with three | tures would return tomorrow after| evidence before. We've still got as
much confidence in Lottie as ever * Noble Maddox, Hanover, Ind, paient drug salesman, told me today he frequently sold medicine to Mrs. Lockman, but said he didn't
The committee ordered its coun- | Haute M18; Evansville .56; .Jeffer-|(hink any of it contained mercury.
| He had not been contacted by state police. Meanwhile, Mrs. Mayme McCone nell, who survived mercury poison-
ville 120; Spencer 130; Peters-|ing, suffered a relapse last night, {burg 1.50; Noblesville 89. relatives said. She had been taken Temperatures today throughout|home earlier from the hospital here.
{the state were 15 to 20 degrees lower than the all-time high record
195 on Aug. 15, 1805.
He added that had he heard in| time, he'd have supervised the mail- | ing procedure personally, One of the postmaster's grandchildren infantile paralysis victim.
TRUMAN TO START CRUISE TOMORROW
Plans 17-Day. Vacation Off Maine Coast .
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (U, P). —President Truman will sail from Washington tomorrow for a 17-day cruise on the presidential yacht Williamsburg off the New England coast, the White House announced today. Mr, Truman will be accompanied by his immediate staff, The Williamsburg will ~ruise in the Naragansett bay area and off the coast of Maine. lor any other visitor in the house The President will ‘return to] wouldn't be able to detect anything Washington on Labor day, Sept. 2.|wrong—that is, unless they lived * This will be the first extended |there.
But beneath this peaceful ex‘terior seethed an undercurrent of
By EDWIN C, HEINKE Times City Editor DUPONT, Ind, Aug. 15. — Outwardly, the “poison house” is a pleasant place. | It has been occupied almost all the time entirely by women. It is a typical white Hoosier farmhouse with flowers blooming in the backyard, .shade trees and bushes in front and on the sides. It is quiet and has an unmistakable air of respectability. » ” » INSIDE it appears just as serene —with plenty: of windows, ‘a light interior and a comfortable - look. The conveniences are modern, the furniture good-—yet no better than in lots of other houses in Dupont, even though Owner Forrest McConnell is wealthy. on Members of the Ladies Aid society
on
hate, distrust, bitterness and jeal-
cupied the house. » ~ . THIS is the home, state police charge, where Minnie McConnell died of mercury poisoning. in her food; where somebody tried to murder Mrs. McConnell's daughter-in-law, Mayme, who survived, They blame Mrs. Lottie (Tot) Lockman. It 1s in this house that Tot Lockman, known in some quarters of Dupont as a kindly Good Samaritan and in others, a ruthless, profane tyrant, held forth as the boss. Tot Lockman, white-haired and 62, is in Jefferson county jail at Madison, charged with the murder of Minnie. At home again after a siege in the hospital is invalid, 56-year-old Mayme (pronounced by the neighbors to ryhme with fame).
Ld
~ » » . MINNIE'S body, exhumed, pro{duced mercury. The organs of the resident, Frederick (Uncle Fred) Giddings, are now being analyzed by toxicologists. Uncle. Pred, too,
$n ga
ousy among the womenfolk who oc- |
{body of another exhumed’ Dupont
It was her illness that resulted in {the arrest of 65-year-old “Tot"
| (Continued on Page 4—Column 1) ~ . »
Outward Serenity of 'Poison House' Did "| Not Hold for the Women Who Occupied It
| Was tan,” The spotlight of both the long
(Continued on Page 4—Column 4)
nursed by the “Good Samari-
Ultra Modern Suburban With Automatic Gas Heat
Very convenient to Municipal Airport and the varied shopping center in Ben Davis; near bus line, schools and churches . ... .
electric pump; trie . range; roof: beautiful kinds of fruit location, 3 large 60 Days
det, 24 In today’s
Times Classified Ads ®hone Riley 5551
¥
a
¥
“poison
{mors that the poison’ source had