Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 May 1949 — Page 1

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FORECAST: Partly cloudy tonight and tomorrow. Continued warm and humid. Low tonight, 60-82; high tomorrow, 86, .

View of the "Thriller," Riverside Park roller coaster, condemned today after inspectors found

City Starts Record

score of rotten, termite-eaten pillars supporting the structure.

Circled above are wooden supports for the amusemen vice resting on concrete blocks on the surface of the ground.

A fermite-eaten roller coaster support sunk in the ground which, inspectors charged, did not have a concrete support.

t de-

Pillars Rotten, Termite Infested

Safety Walks Found Hazardous

roller coaster, “The Thriller,” was condemned today by city building inspectors after they found “at least a score of rotten, termiteeaten pillars” supporting the structure. The inspectors revealed the roller coaster has been in operation since April without inspection. ! In addition to the rotten pillars; inspectors found a number of mud sills (supports under the pillars) eaten. away by termites.

a safety walk alongside the track.

demnation order was tacked on the roller coaster,

fects found today were discovered at a routine inspection last year,

At that time Inspectors wers:ass O'Neal left the jail.

The Riverside Amusement Park

Rotten planks were disocyered ing

Following the inspection, a con-

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1049

to io

State Police Smash Up 25 Slot Machines

Want to Know When Sheriff Will Follow Suit

(See Photo, Page 14) J State police smashed the slot | machines they seized Friday in| an ax-swinging session at Stout | Field this morning and asked) Sheriff James Cunningham when he was going to break up the| country club machines he seized Saturday night. | The sheriff was unavailable for! comment this morning. The 30 country club slots with approximately $6000 in them were stored in the county jail basement. Club

Hoosier Makes Good One-Time Times Carrier Takes Over Sinatra's Spot

Rosenberg Dra On Dawson In Davi

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffics | Daily

kee

Knife d Feud

PRICE FIVE CENTS

Indianapolis, Ind. Issued

Bill Harrington, Who

And Sings 'Em,’ on Hit Parade June 4 By EARL WILSON, The Times’ Broadway Columnist NEW YORK, May 17—"I want to write a piece about | you for The Indianapolis Times,” I said to Bill Harrington, | the singer who's replacing Frank Sinatra on “Your Hit

Parade.” “Fine!” he said. “TI used And now the ears of the ing to the former Times carrier on June 4 when he takes over for Frankie. “I carried papers on the East Side starting when I was about 9 years old,” said Bill, whose

mother, Mrs. Al Greeno, lives at 227 8. Oxford St. Her husband’s a tool and dye engineer, Bill's father, the late William J. Harrington, had been a sales-

patrons have been demanding return of the slots which represent a sizable investment.

Read “It Happened Last Night,” Page 10.

Count Showed $835.11

At Stout field, first count showed $835.11 in pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters. These were machines seized in Ravenswood and the west side in raids state police made without notifying the sheriff, Meanwhile, friction over the Marion County gambling situation erupted into open warfare between the sheriff's office and state police after Sheriff Cunningham yesterday ordered State Police Maj. Robert O'Neal out of the County Jail during a “peace” conference. Irritated at the sheriff's state"me of yesterday “that state police raids Friday night were made to| embarrass Marion County author-| ities, Maj. O'Neal and State Police; Supt. Arthur Thurston went to

Inspectors said that certain de- see the sheriff at the jail.

man. He was a special policeman at the War Memorial when he died in '39. : Bill, a graduate of Arsenal Technical Schools with the Class ol 1936, was this year’s surprise to Tin Pan Alley, A lot of hep guys around Broadway had never heard of him when he was announced as Frankie's successor, though he's about 30. » » ” BUT BILL was known around the country, for he'd been singing on sustaining shows on Mutual network since ‘46. He has his own show, and he's also a composer. He calls himself, “The fellow who. writes ’em and sings 'em.” = 8o hing like 100 singers tried for the Hit Parade spot. Bill's recordings won out, He hasn't yet met Vincent Rig-

[Eye-Witness Foils Thrust of Weapon As 2 Lawyers Clash

Bailiff Orders ‘Battling Barrister’

Out of Court House After Incident By PHILIP E. CLIFFORD JR. { The courtroom verbal battles of feuding ex-law parts ners James Dawson and Louis Rosenberg broke into vio lence today as Rosenberg drew a knife and lunged at Dawe son in the corridor of Marion County Courthouse. A bystander jumped forward as the arc of the knife descended toward Dawson and deflected the blow by grab. bing Rosenberg’s arm. The knife episode came as a climax to a bitter word bat-

tle between the two opposing counsels in Probate Court this morning, in the accounting hear. ing of the earnings of child evangelist “Little David” Walker,

Dawson Challenges It happened as parties and spectators to the law suit were filing out of Judge Dan V, White's Probate Court on the ‘|second floor of the courthouse for {noon recess. A few minutes earlier in his final arguments Mr: Rosenberg had remarked he would not “answer the remarks of this crackpot,” pointing to Mr, Dawson. “Mr, Dawson leaped to his feet and challenged: “Would you care to repeat that statement outside the court?” Mr, Rosenberg did not answer him at that time. A few mins utes later when court dismissed for noon recess Mr. Dawson repeated his challenge to Mr, Rosenberg as they filed out the door, ool ai Instead of answering, Mr. Ros senberg dropped his briefcase and swung at Mr. Dawson, eyewit-

‘Writes 'Em and

to carry it.” music businéss will be listen-

Bill Harrington . , . Hoosier replaces Sinatra.

Hint Court Action Over Beer Permit

"Evansville Firm Fights ABC Negative Move

Federal court:

Sherift Cunningham refused to} £10. head of Amezican Tobacco wholssslership dispute. discuss the. matter uth Ma «+ “1" hada meeting with {he the permit of the Vanco

advertising agency,” he sald. |Corp. expired without renewal by

action in a beer

Entertainer Who G

vlps Razor Blade

Street Pr 08raM (Gets Close Shave

Repairs to Run to

$2 Million This

By IRVING LEIBOWIT? The City of Indianapolis

Year sional entertainer, is going to be Planks and termite-eaten timbers {more careful about his razor throughout the roller coasters

is}

LONDON, May 17 (UP)— Harry - Langham, 26, a profes-

blade swallowing act. He al-

eurrently engaged in the biggest most killed himself by actually street repair program in its his-|SWallowing one.

tory, City Controller Phillip Bayt

announced today.

City Engineer M. G. Johnson and Street Commission-| er Tony Maio agreed that it] couldn’t have come at a more!

“opportune” time.

“The city’s streets are in de-|

plorable shape,”

said.

Mr.

Johnson nig rele

{ (Ole) |

| | i

During a performance last week, a member of the audience gave him a broken blade to swal-

» . » “WE CONJURORS usually press the blades against the palate and recover them afterwards,” Mr. Langham said after ase from the hospital, “But I really swallowed this

Last night City Council helped |, 0 to provide the funds necessary to launch the city’s street rehabilita- | tion program. Nearly $2 million | is expected to be spent this year, | which will include the operations) of the offices of the commissioner |

and city engineer.

A $150,000 appropriation for | approved |

street repair work was by the Council and another ordinance, appropriating $350,000 to |

the Works Board for repair work, |

was introduced.

$60,000 from Utility

New Action Comic

To this street repair program, City Council funneled an additional $60,000 from Indianapolis Railways, Inc., granted the city for the use of street cars and trolleys on city streets. Last year the city spent ap-

proximately $1,150,000 for street

its

of which $275,000 was made available for resurfac-

spring Commissioner

"Malo estimated

that he will be able to repair about 100 miles of unimproved

streets with his allotment.

City

Engineer Johnson said he expected to improve about 20 miles

of paved streets.

Two biggest projects under way at present are widening and

resurfacing on Alabama

Morris Sts,

and

Cancels Press Talk WASHINGTON, May 17 (UP)

—The White House announced to-| States, day that President Truman has| vy, 8 District Judge James W

canceled his usual Thursday press Morris also signed an order denyconference this week because of ing Mr, Eisler the privilege

the impending visit of President posting further bail when he is!

Gaspar Dutra of Brazil.

Starts Sunday

You'll love . . . and hate . .

day Times: CASEY RUGGLES , .

hero. place in Casey's heart. Casey’s bitter enemy.

ates a romantic conflict.

GLES.

the characters in the new fullcolor action comic, CASEY RUGGLES, which starts in the Sun-

. handsome ex-sergeant, the two-fisted

CHRIS . . . who strives for a BOLT . .. Army deserter and

an of worldly charms who cre-

Meet them in The SUNDAY {TIMES . . . in the brand new comic thriller, CASEY - RUG-

sured the defects would be cor asserted Maj. O'Neal's attitud¢|

rected, inspectors said. RE The inspection was carried out by Charles E. Bacon, building! commissioner, and Ivan Clark! and Robert Hilton, inspectors. |

Insurer Agrees !

“I will not go before a Coroner’'s jury and apologize for not having done my duty,” said Mr. Bacon after the inspection. i

“This place will be closed un-| til I am completely satisfied that it is safe. Every rotten board) must be taken out.” {

W. M. Watson Jr. of the engi- | neering department of American] Associated Insurance Co., which] has the account for Riverside Amusement Co., operator of the! “Thriller,” agreed ‘completely” with the findings of the inspec-| tors.

The roller coaster management | is not the same as the Riverside] Amusement Park, Inc., which op-| erates other amusement devices! at the west side park.

Ties Rotted Away

During the inspection, roller | {coaster cars were loaded with] sand bags and sent over the track. Inspectors said the weight {was equivalent to a full load. | | Armed with crowbars and ice picks, inspectors found rotten

supports. They also found that concrete bases for the supports were placed on the ground surface in some places. Roller ties under the track also were found to be rotting away. “It's not even safe for the employees,” Mr. Hilton charged.

Eisler Forfeits $20,000 Bail

WASHINGTON, May 17 (UP) —A federal judge today ordered Communist Gerhart Eisler’s $20,000 bail forfeited for fleeing this country and signed a bench warrant for his arrest-—if and when

was “belligerent.” Admits Difficulties i

Maj. O'Neal, one of the crack; officers of the Indiana state police, was reluctant to discuss the| fracas this morning, but said he| had difficulties with the sheriff. | Maj. O'Neal left the jail and the sheriff talked to Supt. Thurston) several hours. Details of their| conference were not disclosed.

But hardly had Supt. Thurston left the jail than both sides were firing broadsides of criticism at each other. ! Background of the controversy was the outbreak of miscellaneous gambling activities in Marion County disclosed by The Times | two weeks ago. {

Raid Country Clubs

State police toured county spots Friday night and seized 25 slot, which were broken] up at Stout Field Headquarters this morning. Saturday night, the sheriff’ and Prosecutor George Dailey replied with raids of their own. They! raided the Indianapolis, Hillcrest and Highland Country Clubs and! seized 30 machines. The prosecutor asserted his raids were made to “clean up” the| spots state police had overlooked. After a week-end of wrangling, the feud broke out into the open yesterday. The sheriff charged state police had broken their agreement not to come into Marion County unless they notified him. He as-| serted the Friday night raids were politically motivated and] hinted their purposes primarily was to embarrass him and Prosecutor Dalley.

German Elections |

Big Blow to Reds

Britain returns him to the United

| returned here. | This means that, when he is {brought back, Mr. Eisler will be clapped into jail. That will pre. vent a repetition of last week's {escape, when he stowed away aboard the Polish steamship

.|Batory, only to be seized Satur-

day when the ship docked at Southampton, England.

Times Index

{World Report, Page ") |

'| BERLIN, May 17 (UP)—Rus-| ‘/sia and the Communists suffered’

lone of their worst electoral set-|

of (backs in Eastern Europe in the

{East German elections Sunday and Monday, it was disclosed today. | Final figures showed that near{ly one-third of the voters defi|antly cast their ballots against) {the only slate of candidates that {appeared on the ballot—a list

{picked by German Communists jand backed by the Soviet Union.

Poll 6 Per Cent

| The Communist slate polled 61 {per cent of the vote. The other,

Amusements. 8|Mrs. Manners 5 Eddie Ash...15 Marriage .... 5 Bridge ...... 7|Movies ...... 8 Business ....14|Needlework .. 7 Classified .18-20 weseell Comics .....21|Pattern ..... 7 Counter Spy. 7|Radio ....... 9 Crossword .. 8/Ruark ......11 Editorials ...12|8ide Glances.12 Food .......: TSoclety ...... 8 Forum ......12| Weather Map 14 Gardening .. 7:8ports ....15-17

i i

39 per cent of the votes were| cast either aginst the slate or| were declared invalid. It marked one of the few times in Eastern Europe that a single slate of Communist-picked candidates has not won 90 per cent or more of the total vote. The Communists and Russian propaganda organs had touted {the vote in advance as a test of ‘German support for their pro-| |posals for an all-German state

Hollywood . 48 Earl Wilson. .10 and withdrawal of all egcupation’ Inside Indpis. §1, Women's .... 7(troops from the Reichs |

“They just wanted to make sure I don't wear zoot suits.” Bill's a conservative dresser, wears spectacles part of the time, and is a quiet, reserved sort of fellow who'll. probably never land on any front pages for getting in fights, . , oa

A PIANIST and accordionist, he helped form a trio while in high school, and worked at the Tic-Toc Club in Indianapolis. He worked with Henry (Bud) Davis, bass fiddler, and Leslie Zikes, clarinetist and sax player, an ex-tennis champ who now lives in Spencer. He had played, he says, “in a lot of beer joints,” so he wanted to do something better,

{ In Cincinnati he landed a job | as

staff singer with WLW, started studying seriously with a voice coach, and was doing very well when the Navy grabbed him. In the Navy he’ met Alvino Rey, and after the war, he sang for a while with Rey's orchestra. “From the time I came to New York, I've been pretty lucky,” he says. “I met a good agent right away, and I got on the radio almost immediately.” Bill has two sisters in In-dianapolis-——Mrs. Raymond Oyler and Mrs, Eugene Malloy.

. » . HE'S MARRIED to a Hoosier, the former Dorothy

Schneider of Richmond. They were back in Indianapolis last

Christmas, when Bill was in- |

spired to write a song called, “A Stranger In Mv Own Home Town.” “But I never submitted it to any publisher,” he says, “because I fond out that Mel Torme had written one with almost the same title.” BI *~t songs include “In Old Montana” and “A "Hoop and a Holler.” I guess it must be pretty obvious what his ambition Is just now . , , “To have the No. 1 song

which 1 sing on the Hit Pa- | rade be my own song,” he says, |

Hard Werker,. Says Mother

“WILLIAM'S always been a hard worker,” Mrz, Albert E. Greeno, 227 8. Oxford Bt. said of her singer-son, Bill Harrington. “He had a Times paper route and helped me raise his two younger sisters when his father was 111,” Mrs. Greeno said. What about Bill's musical successes? “I'm mighty proud and who wouldn't be?” sald his mother,

" ” » ONE OF her ‘biggest moments will come when Bill begins his singing duties on the “Hit Parade” program June 4 on the National Broadcasting Co. network.

She sald she would be sitting. |

on the front row in the radio studios on opening night in New York City. Many of her friends, she said, are planning parties here,

/ Andrews, 1828

| ‘Very Large Knife’

ithe Alcoholic Beverages Commis-! Mr. Dawson then pushed Mr. sion. {Rosenberg who staggered back Failure of the Evansville beer toward the doorway and reached distributing firm to toe the mark | into ‘his pants pocket, pulling on certain political requirements | forth a ‘very large knife Mr, was reported to be a reason be-| Andrews sald. hind failure to act on the permit| «q gaw the knife flash toward renewal. Details of the dispute ngweon and saw Mr, Rosenberg were not known and political |), ze forward,” the eyewitness sources declined. to comment ong,iq the case except to say it was | forward. being “investigated.” A or and |Hoekstra’s clerical help as ‘a License Expires |grabbed the arm of Mr. Rosen- fabric of lies and inaccuracies. However, an attorney for the berg, staying the knife thrust in : Mr, Dawson attacked what he Vanco firm was reported to be in afr. jared fo pening. 0 ow Indianapolis today exploring the Spectators then swarmed fore To ies of ihe Ivars possibilities of federal court &c-|...4 and separated the two law- Tabernarie Chrarch. 901 Fletener tion, When the wholesale beer yory who broke up their law parte [Are s license expired last night at mid- | ership over the bitter “Little | Ho charged that ibe {contained in the books controlled

Alorney James M. Dawson

ut dr Tats Yay SUH David” battle, | Grounds for any possible court, CHff Byers, bailiff in Probatehy the preacher were a “maze of laction, it was learned, would be a Court, said he saw the commo= lumped up figures with pointed \company contention that failure tion” and pushed through spec-idisregard to giving an. itemized lof the ABC to act promptly de- tutors just in time to see MI.izccount of moneys expended.” prived the firm of its business Andrews wresting the knife from ‘Glaring Perjury’ without due process of law, {Mr. Rosenberg’s hand. Mr. Dawson contended that Meanwhile, the ABC was in| The balliff said he ordered Mr. Little David earned approximate{session and there were hints that Rosenberg to put the knife back ly $67,000 from September, 1947, {action either to renew the license/in his pocket and to leave theito December, 1948, but actually {temporarily or to give a definite building. He sald he followed Mr. received only $700 in cash. {refusal might be takn before! Rosenberg into the elevator and| “His failure to keep an ade night. | refused to let him stop elsewhere quate and itemized bookkeeping Handled at Patronage {in the building, escorting him outisystem on Little David's income Beer wholesale licenses in the basement door, clearly indicates that Mr. Hoeks {past have been handled openly Propelled by spectators, Mr, stra had an eye for embezzle~ {as political patronage, Under the Rosenberg picked up his brief- ment,” Mr. Dawson said. inew Deffiocratic administration, case and moved toward a wait-| “His entire testimony from the |however, the policy has been to ing elevator. witness stand in this courtroom . {leave Republicans a share in Dawson Excited {has been nothing more than glare (wholesale establishments where. ur. Pawson who remained be- ing perjury,” he thundered. . ‘ | “His testimony regarding ths they would take in Democratic y.. 4 in the corridor, said he was | partners. ' : purchase of a plece of real estate

{too excited to answer questionfi in Orlando, Fla.” Mr. Dawson Although theoretically anyone shout whether he would prose- roared. “4s a bold He.” :

|who can meet financial require- cute. | The two- 1 | | year long battle over ite ni 2D PR in the ma etal Suto oF il Davi 0d a a to 1mit the number to| Ase.” ha said. "When 1 salmial accounting of Ria colisetion [avoid cutthroat oom: titlo {down I'll consider prosecution.” [plate earnings was scheduled to palilon. | Mr. Dawson already has filed end Thursday when Judge White lone suit against Mr. Rosenberg, 18 expected to deliver his decision. | seeking damages. | Mr. Rosenberg was scheduled

4 {to complete his final arguments Their courtroom battles since|, ... today, fo be followed by res

3 - for the older lawyer to oo Ted Beard Back

outside.” |

The Court House corridor xnite ON Recall Basis

If You're Sticky Blame the Heat

LOCAL TEMPERATURES 6a m..65 10a m.. "1

1 66 11 " lIncident OVErShAAOWEE = EAH | wo tsi cmb coc cits moni s Re Mss 2 nsx | courtroom events in the “Little! ad Eddie ..sh, Page 15 | am... 71 12 (Noon) 52 { David " hearing [7m ou TO Beara pt 9am... 1p m.. 88 ’ : | “Teddy Bear” Beard, a Vie~ | Pp | As the hearing reached final yoo mia idol with In olis’ i

{arguments this morning, Mr, Dawson, guardian of the hoy esd Bin old SAR Er evangelist, lashed out with! It was announced today that {charges of “embezzlement” and| qo Pittsburgh Pirates are rel “ " i | “perjury” at the Rev. Raymond |, 0 Beard to the Tribesters on & | Hoekstra, the boy ‘preacher's ogy ur recall option. Under the | manager whom Mr. Dawson seeks | circumstances, that's the best the to remove. | Bucs could do, since they. are | As rains continue to bypass| ‘Battling Barristers’ |short of outfielders themselves. | Indianapolis, Mr, Miller said, a| Mr, Rosenberg is counsel for| Beard posted a remarkable recy minor spring drought which today|the Rev. Mr. Hoekstra. It was ord with the Indians last year and found the city with an anpual|while Mr. Rosenberg and Mr, is expected to give the 1940 team rainfall deficiency of .17 inches,| Dawson were partners that the| potent strength at bat, in the {will increase. latter was asked to be the boy's field and on the bases. | Today's rainfall shortage was| guardian, | The Indians’ 1948 regular start: the first on a yearly basis of more| Later as guardian he objected |ing outfield now is back together, than one-tenth of an inch since/to certain practices by the Rev, with Culley Rikard and Frank the first three days in January. Mr. Hoekstra and finally took his Kalin alternating in left, Tom On the monthly basis, however, objections to court. Saffell in center and Beard in Marion County had a deficiency! It was then that Mr. Rosen right, ; os iy of more than four inches since and Mr. Dawson split up and eommspta————— QUAKE JARS PERU

Mar. 1, launched the feud which won Floods in early January brought! them the nickname of “The Bat-| LIMA, Peru, May 17 (UP)<<An {earthquake shook the Lima area

rainfall levels to a, five-inch tiling Barristers.” i In his final argument, Mr. today, causing many frightened from their

Warm, sticky and partly cloudy {weather will continue in Indianapolis tonight and tomorrow with {very little possibility of relief {from occasional light showers forecast for other parts of the state, according to Weatherman {Paul Miller,

|yearly excess on Jan. 19. Bince! that date, Mr. Miller sald, rain- Dawson branded the accounting inhabitants to flee (fall has been relatigely light in figures taken from a. series of homes into the streets. There was i |this area. : {loose-leat books kept by the Bpv. no immediate Teputof off ie: ;