Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 March 1947 — Page 1
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Eddie Ash.... 18|{Ruth Millett, 13 Boots ........ 22|Movies ....:. 10|at those centers to select the two best spellers for the semi-finals, Business .... 8 Obituaries .,. 9| At Northeast community center rp . Olassified ,.20-22|Dr. O'Brien.. 17|the fleld was spelled down to the Keystone community center, in School Cage ers rs FIP C, OUIAD lpr wits will represent that dise oat dir is Aad ko ot ave. Scions 11 Crossword ... 22|Radio ....... 23 Norihwestern community center, 400 Denny et “| Record Music 7|trict in the. semi-finals April 18 at |Negtizssiers ave.—8chools 33, Editorials .... 14| Reflections .. 14|the Indiana World War Memorial us community center, Wilking st. Fashions ..... 18] Mrs. Roosevelt 16| 8uditorium.” - ion apd" Si Ann (Mas " fii) ’ : Pay vig Tonight's matches, which start Atumplien” sch Forum ...... 4 Serial ....... 17 fley ached senter, 901 Ofiver ave. Meta Given .. 16 Spelling Bee. . 2 3 promptly at 7:30 o'clock, will be hools 16, 30, 47° a ports. . al held at the following centers for the _Iubermacie Prievrierian shure, wn % 12 Btraratan .. 18 X00 MEL, OS
FORECAST; Partly cloudy and ‘colder tonight with lowest temperatures 20 to 24 degrees.
Fair and continued cold tomorrow,
58th YEAR—NUMBER 12
ii MARCH 25,
1947
Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice Indianapolis, Ind. Issued daily except Sunday
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ested hy oo Experts
Mayer, Councilmen Confer on Proposal
By RICHARD LEWIS
City council leaders were to confer with Mayor Tyndall this afternoon on the advisability of seeking further reduction in electric power rates from the Indianapolis Power & Light Co. move toward lower rates has been suggested to the council by city experts on the basis of the utility’s 1946 profit of $3,361,221, which was $1,139,877 more than its net earnings in 1945. At the same time, the council has ended its informal truce with the Citizens Gas & Coke Utility and will renew its demands for a conference with officials there over the proposed introduction .of natural
Utility Plan Questioned The utility announced two weeks ago it would take bids for ‘a $lupply of natural gas for 20 years starting 1948. It proposes to mix this with the artificial gas it now profrom coal and serve mixed
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utility on natural gas prosnow question the advisability tying Indianapolis to mixed gas for a generation. : ve taken the position that tural gas might more solve the city's recurring fuel problems if it weré available on a non-interruptible basis.
They have not taken firm position on the desirability of natural gas. But they have decided to ask
questions. Behind this conference with the gas utility management is the feeling of several councilmen who don’ t want to express. it publicly that they have been “snubbed” by gas officials. The council opened an investigation last December into the utility's present operation and -its plans for |} additional gas supplies. It threatened to seize the utility's records by court order if the utility officials declined to answer interrogatories voluntarily. Court Action Withheld
The council's finance committee withheld court action, however, _ pending promises of co-operation from utility officials, While the investigation was hanging fire, the utility announced its decision to buy natural gas. : Councilmen fee] they should have been advised of the move prior to the utility's decision. They said privately that the utility's move eaught them with one foot in the,
door, Now they are determined to get
both feet in and determine to their q
own satisfaction how the future of the eoity will be served with mixed
gas May Decide Tonight.
The light compihy issue may go into the decision stage tonight if Mayor Tyndall okays the proposal of Council President John Schumacher and Herman Bowers, finance committee chairman, that the city formally request an electric rate reduction, This could be done by petitioning the Indiana public service commis~ sion for the reduction. Councilmen admit it might lead to a knockdown, drag-out fight with the light company, Indianapolis Power & Light cut rates voluntarily by $775,000 per annum starting last June, at the suggestion of Governor Gates. The governor's suggestion was made on the basis of federal excess profits tax relief which the company enJoyed in 1946. The ‘reduction suggested by- the Sonne would be in addition to
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Times Index
Amusements . 10|{Charles Lucey 8
fashioned of all America’s great industries, coal production.
cation and liquefaction plant cost-
Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey
Seek Lower |
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ctricity Rates
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To Conve Into, Gas,
By W. L. PITTSBURGH, March
miracle was announced here today. Enormous deposits of western Pennsylvania coal are to be converted into gas, gasoline, diesel and fuel oil, and industrial alcohol. It means a revolutionary development in the most old-
Gigantic Plant _
Seripps-Howard Staff Writer
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rt Coal Fuel Oil
RUSSELL
25.—A gigantic industrial
Five Children Victims of Welfare Fight
Counties’ Bicker Over Use of Home
By ROBERT BLOEM In the midst of a battle over
Marion county's welfare administration, five small children today went into their eighth week as innocent victims of inter-department-
The Pittsburgh Consolidation Coal Co. announced it would start construction of a $300,000 experimental plant near here. This plant is to be followed by a giant gasifi-
ing $120 million. The project will be undertaken by the Pittsburgh Consolidation, world’s largest coal producer, and
biggest oil company in the world.
Melchior Has His Bloomingtons All Mixed Up
Times State Service BLOOMINGTON, Ind, March 25. —“Take me to Bloomington," said Lauritz Melchior to a Chicago taxi driver yesterday. Mr. Melchior was to sing a concert at Indiana university last night. He had intended to fly from Chicago, but bad weather grounded the planes. Auto seemed the only way to keep his appointment. In the Indiana university auditorium a capacity audience of about 4000 gathered. Extra seats were put into the orchestra pit to take care of the overflow. Then Mr. Melchior telephoned his regrets. The taxi had taken hm to Bloomington, Ill The Great Dane said he would sing at Indiana university on April 1—All Fools’ day. Last night's ticket stubs will be honored.
Red Cross Goal Not Yet Reached
Rumors that the Red Cross fund drive had reached its goal. today were branded as premature and untrue by High K. Duffield, general campaign chairman, “The campaign is short $101,000
go,” Mr, Duffield said. “We are holding nothing back in our reports. We simply have to get another $101,000 by tomorrow Night to 'meet our uota.” Residential workers were out: this mofning in a last minute effort to ¢dmplets their” asSigned calls, hun-} dreds gf which are still to he made, drive leaders said. An intensive effort to get reports from industrial and business firms also was to be made during these. final two days of the campaign. Mr. Duffield said the drive can meet its goal by the final report meeting tomorrow evening, if all teams complete their solicitation and gifts hold up to the level so far established.
e—————— ROOSEVELT TRIBUTE SLATED WASHINGTON, March 25 (U. P.).~President Truman wil make a briéf radio speech April 12—-sec-ond anniversary of President Roosevelt's death+-as part of a nation-
The commercial installation will be 25 miles south of Pittsburgh in the heart of vast untapped coal reserves. It is hoped that construction can be started in 1949, and it is estimated that the plant will take two years to build. The commercial plant, when operating, will consume 6 million tons of coal a year, or around 20,000
tons a day. It will Yield 96 billioA cubic feet of gas a year. Production would be
(Continued on Page S—Column 6)
Lockman Jury Nearly Completed
Chief Witness still in Hospital
By VICTOR PETERSON Times Stal Writer MADISON, Ind., March 25. Selec
tion of & jury was epected today for the “mercury and old lace” poison case which has kept Jefferson county tongues wagging since Au-
al bickering.
from their foster home near Zionsville in the middle of a birthday party Jan. 31. ordered by Arthur Wooden, Marion county director of welfare, because
use of the home “embarrassing.”
The five youngsters were snatched
The action was
the Boone county department found
They had been in the home nearly four years. The home was licensed and approved by the state welfare department. They were lodged, without explanation, in the Guardians Home here which has been denied a license pending “improvement to meet minimum standards?
Concentrate on Solution
And while they awaited action on whether or not they could be returned to the home of Urban Luttrell, which they have come to regard as their own, Boone and Marion county welfare directors concentrated on a “solution” to the problem of their embarrassment. One welfate hie
for the Boone iy department's sudden decision that the foster} home was unsatisfactory. She was| reinstated. after a hearing by the state personnel board. As an outgrowth of that hearing,
Defense Attacks eel Confessions
Defense lawyers attempted today to pick errors in the confessions
Move Delays State's Plan fo. Rest Today
COLUMBUS, Ind, March 25.—
gust. Mrs. Lottie (Tot) Lockman, the
The Times learned the federal government refuses to contribute wel-
attempted murder by poison.
of mercury is Mrs. Mayme McConnell, wealthy Dupont, Ind. gentleman farmer and Chicago dairy company representative.
household for three years, gradually assuming more and more responsibility until finally she managed even a small hardware store belonging to her employer.
as a feminine “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” she steadfastly has maintained her innocence.
dropped when scientists would not commit themselves that some of her previous wards died from poi-
with only today and tomorrow to|Son on’ organs of the exhumed bodies of Mrs. ‘Minnie McConnell, mother
of Mr, McConnell; Giddings and Mrs. Hattie Calhoun.
the three, all of whom had been ip We, care.of Mrs. Lockman. at one time. eight persons died from poison.
original panel of 74, remain to ‘be
12th changed the jury's complexion
state immediately will begin prose-
62-year-old “good samaritan” housekeeper, is on trial charged with
Her alleged victim of bichloride
wife of Forrest McConnell,
Tot worked in the McConnell
Maintains Innocence Described in neighborhood gossip
An earlier charge of murder was
Tests, however, still are being made
“Uncle Fred”
Mercury deposits were found in
The state. suspected that Fewer than 18 veniremen, of an
questioned for service. * A total of 37 prospective jurors paraded to the box yesterday. Eleven, of the 12-man jury temporarily had been passed. A challenge by the state on the
and others were excused. « With the selection of a jury, the
cution of the charge which carries a 2-to-14-year sentence on conviction. Chief witness for the state will
wide memorial ceremony.
Are Schedule
By ART
spell-downs tonight in the annual
Christian comm Sommunity oon of los an os and Holy Hl pts
8 District Spell-Downs
(Continued on “Page 6—Column 5)
d Tonight
WRIGHT
Eight more districts in Indianapolis were scheduled for preliminary
Times’ Spelling Bee.
The annual bid for championship laurels got under way last night with contests at Garfield community center and Emerson Avenue Baptist church ndtrowed. The survivors will meet again Monday, April 7
fare funds toward Mr. Wooden's salary. The reason: The state personnel board never has approved Mr. Wooden as a qualified welfare director. Charge Action Arbitrary In the case of removing the five children from the Luttrell home, Mrs. Mendenhall’s attorneys charged the’ action was purely arbitrary. ‘They held Mrs. Mendenhall, a professional child welfare visitor, was following the normal course of ace tion rather than doing something unusual when she investigated on her own initiative. Similar arbitrary actions by Mr. Wooden, it was learned, have resulted in the resignation of several key employees in the county department. Some of these.employees told The Times privately their reason was “the iron-handed way ia which Mr, Wooden runs the county departmént” that precipitated their resignations. Mr. Wooden told the :personnel board last Friday his action was based on a letter from Frank Long, Boone county director of welfare, outlining: complaints ' against the Luttrell home. - }
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The letter, Mr, Long told ‘The Times later, Was not based on investigation, but on information furnished his department by one citizen of Zionsville. He said his own board was “willing” to have Marion ceunty continue to use the Luttrell home as a foster hothe. Back in Marion county, Mr. Wooden declined to take any further’ action on the case of the five youngsters pending receipt of Mr. Long’s attitude in writing. Mr, Long dispatched a letter this morning indicating that a satisfactory solution could be worked out- by placing the foster , home under Boone county supervision but leaving the five Marion county youngsters “there. —s The Marion county department would continue fo pay expenses. Mr. Wooden said his action would have to wait until he received the letter but termed suggestion that it ‘probably would be restoration of the children to the home “a logical conclusion.” Mr. and Mrs, Luttrell have retained legal counsel to aid in their fight for ‘return of their foster children, :
45, and
29, a a pi le not yet
Richard Imel Back
In Juvenile Court Fourteen-year-old Richard Dale *| tmel, confessed shotgun - slayer of his “stepmother who has been the center of & court jurisdietional dispute, was turned back to ‘juvenile court “temporarily: today. The youth was - ‘turned back to juvenile court by Judge Joseph Howard after the Indiana supreme ‘court, issued a temporary writ, pro-.
4
shooting of a state trooper,
Dobbins kept State Police Detective Price Cox, who took the confessions, on the stand in a prolonged crossexamination, mony yesterday,
holes” in the confessions,
shortly after the shooting of State ‘Trooper Herbert Smith Dec. 5 near Shelbyville,
bullets allegedly fired by Price have been accounted for. The other ‘was the contention that state police presented to the court a confession which they knew was not correct.
mitted that there was a “mystery” concerning the bullets. The confessions state 11 shots were fired, six by the dying trooper and five by Price.
dence only one slug, found 'in the:
body. The remaining three were not found and only one bullet hole |"
made by William Price and William Johnson, both 17, Evansville, to the
Defense Attorney William H.
He began his testi-
The defense tore at two “loopmade
Errors Pointed Out One was that only two of five
Under: questioning. Mr. Cox ad-
The state has introduced: as evi-
par. Another’ entered the troopers’
wos fougd in the windshield. Mr, Cox admitted that it would have been a “freak happening” for three bullets to pass through the same .hole.and disappear. Mr. Dobbins then asked’ the detective if Price had said there should be corrections made in his confession, The detective admitted Price had made such a -statement and that the corrections had not been made before the confessions were introduced. He also was asked if he had told the youths that anything they said
(Continued on Page S—Column 4)
Income Tax Cut Debate Tomorrow
WASHINGTON, March 25 P.).—Republicans said ‘today the government could cut taxes $3,840,000,000 this year and have enough money left to reduce the national debt $3 billion in fiscal 1948. Soon after the G. O. P. majority of the house ways and means committee made this “assertion, the house rules committee cleared the G. O. P. tax bill for house debate tomorrow. It ruled that no amendments could be offered without ways and means committee approval. The Democratic minority on the tax-writing committee. said the Republicans were scrapping “sound fiscal policy” in favor of “political expediency. " were certain of easy house passage
hibiting the michal ure from,
‘|summer weather, gradually become
(U.|,
. But the Republicans
of the -tax-reduction measure on |<
DIRTY STREETS — Last night's Windstorm added to_the debris that a Indianapolis streets. Near Leeds and Engli sh aves. this tipped-over garbage can had not been righted by midmorning, adding refuse to that already in the gutters,
Editor The question of Whether: President Truman’s few policy .by-passes the Nations drew major attention in Washington today amid
global repercussions and charges that it constitutes a step: toward war against Russia. 5
x
Hoosier Prophet Says I'l] Be Hot in August
i —————————————————
RUSHVILLE, Ind, March 25. (0. {P)~Indiwvna’s self-proclaimed weather ‘adviser made “his spring forecast . today and said Hoosietd * o6iild ®xpect stotching
heat in August. Mark = Purcell, who predicts weather for months ahead by studying winds. during the first three days of spring, said the first five weeks of summer would be “variable,” with high temperatures on July 4. The summer's only “really hot days” will be the last two weeks of August, Mr, Purcell said, » » » ’ “ABOUT the second week in August we will experience regular summer weather, gradually turning hotter during the month and remaining hot for the balance of the month. Come September, the temperatures will return to pleasant
ing milder during the last two weeks of summer, Rainfall is out of his line, Mr. Purcell said. Only temperatures can be forecast by the way the wind blows.
Gale Goes East; Damage Heavy
LOCAL TEMPERATURES
6am... 31 10am... 27 Ya m.... 30 11 a m. 28 $a m....2 12 (Noon).. 28 9am... 29 1pm... 28
Spring gales roared eastward out of Indiana this morning. They left in their wake an injured Indianapolis woman and a trail of broken windows, leveled utility wires and minor property damage’ Snow flurries and medium high winds this afternoon will diminish tonight, the weather bureau said. Partly cloudy with the mercury dropping to the low 20s was forecast, for tonight, with fair and continued cold weather tomorrow, Two Schools Closed Approximately - 1000 customers were still without electric power here .this morning, officials of the Indianapolis Power & Light Co. sald, Two grade schools” were closed this morning for lack of power. They were Schools 16, at 1402 W. Market st., and 77 at 400" N. Arlington ave. dependent on electrically operated heating systems. School 4 at 630 W, Michigan st., had no light, but held classes. It has hand-fired furnaces. 50 Poles Down iWork crews were résetting 50 broken poles and stringing wire at 80 other places where high winds whipped wires together, short circuited them and plunged entire neighborhoods into darkness. The winds which heralded a fastmoving cold front from the Great Lakes reached velocities as high as 70 miles per hour in central. Indiana. rad last night in Indianapo-
N, Sheffield ave.
Marshall Outlines German Treaty
Urges Citizens Abide
Through Pledge Vote
MOSCOW, March -25 (U, P)— Secretary of State George C. Mar-| shall proposed toddy that the whole German people be made responsible for fulfillment of the German peace
lis was Mrs. Clara Mills, 62, of 530 restrictive
treaty. This, he proposed, would be accomplished through incorporation of a pledge to abide by its provisions in the constitution ultimately submitted for Germany's approval. ‘Mr. Marshall advanced the proposal at a Big Four session on the procedure to be followed in drafting the German treaty of peace. He suggested that the German treaty be laid down by the victorious allies and that neither a German government nor any German officials be required to sign it. A constitutional provision—which would have to be voted by Germany as a Whole—should replace the normal treaty signing by the defeated nation, Mr. Marshall suggested. Described as ‘Reasonable’ Mr. Marshall recalled that after world war I the Germans sought to blame the officials who signed the peace treaty in Germany's behalf for the German defeat, rather than accepting a general share of responsibility. It was recalled that Mattias Erzberger, Centrist party member who signed the German treaty, was assassinated in the early 20’s.. The Socialist leader, Philip Scheidemann, also "refused to sign the doeument, declaring that his hand would wither away before he would put ‘his name to the Sogument. of defeat. French Foreign Minister Georges
and elegant ”
Bidault described Gen, Marshall's proposal as “reasonable, acceptable
be a “one-sided show” and must be considered as “an overall collective”
told Mr. Shith that Mr. program was Sinith that ME. Truss ee acne shin ah lem was so urgent that direct
Other developments: Senator Walter F. George (D. Ga.), obviously referring to Russia, : said that the United States must take the lead in “throwing up barriers - against J « « | powers.” He said the Unitéd NC must enlist the aid of other nations
i
tioning by Senator Arthur denberg (R. Mich.) that the States knew last October that
tf
Greece but did not know 4 that financial support sk off March 31.
world institutiense With Washington debate of aid to Greece and Turkey plan
(Continued on Page $—Onlumn 2)
' WASHINGTON, March 25 (U.
from Communists,
American democracy.” And Rep. Carl Fs Curtis (R. Neb.) told the house Attorney General Tom CO. Clark should prosecute the Communist party “forthwith” for failing to file a report with congress under the corrupt practices act.
Democratic party aré compelled to file reports of their receipts and expenditures under the law,” Rep. Curtis said. “Why shouldn't the Communist party also. Sotmpiy with the law?”
Tae
sory.
Thursday. The senate may be a|
She. Siftored| a Traciured left | Mal
Green ‘Sees Red Danger, Opposes Outlawing Party .
the American Federation of Labor said today there is “very real
But, he said, outlawing the Communist party would be be “tantamoting to a declaration of voluntary Wpkrugcy of of the ideas and ela ot :
P.) —President William ry. Green: of danger
“The Republican party and the Tess