24 Dec 1940
Page 1
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Newspaper
Athens Messenger
Location
Athens, Ohio, United States of America
Date
Dec 24, 1940
Page
1
Sheriff Beards says Blanche Williams age 25 confessed the pistol discharged while she and Evelyn Cummings age 49 walked a Bashan road after a pint of moonshine. Williams says she was fooling with a repaired revolver and Cummings died shortly after.
Closer cooperation with Axis partners was forecast after Baron Kiichiro Hiranuma, pictured, was appointed Home Secretary. Hiranuma has been called Japan's leading Fascist.
Northrop Aircraft Corp to cut worker hours by 20 percent, reducing daily shifts from 10 to 8 hours with immediate effect. The Hawthorne plant, previously on a 20 hour day, will operate 16 hours as aluminum supplies shrink. Lamotte T. Cohn cites aluminum scarcity delaying defense work on bombers and tail assemblies.
Prolonged warm weather brings maple sap flow in Ohio's sugar bush region. Carl B. Wicks tapped 100 trees on Route 87 in Burton and reports ample sap for fresh syrup and candy for Christmas.
Common Pleas Judge Ralph Sugrue suspended a five day jail term but fined tavern proprietor Elgin G. Clemons two thousand dollars on a guilty plea to displaying slot machines.
President Roosevelt and family celebrate a quiet Christmas at the White House with a 30 foot spruce in view. The president will deliver his annual Christmas message at 5 11 p m over major networks. Mrs Roosevelt plans toy and gift basket parties for less fortunate families.
A court of appeals ruling in Youngstown declares multi colored marble boards with flashing lights and prize features illegal if they award free games. The verdict blocks city licensing of such machines and overturns a municipal ordinance that collected 13 000 in license fees this year.
Twenty five European refugee children aged 3 to 13 arrived in Jersey City aboard the ExCambion, the first group brought to the U S by the United States Committee for the Care of European Children. They will spend Christmas with American sponsors. Murray Shipley, a 46 year old Cincinnati ambulance driver once reported dead, accompanied by his French wife Madeline, shared brief remarks about his experiences in concentration camps.
The Ohio Supreme Court refused to enjoin Miami County officers from interfering with Troy Amusement Company bank night activities. It affirmed lower court judgments and held that an injunction was not the proper remedy, not ruling on the constitutionality of lottery prohibitions.
Lincoln Nebraska reports VP Chief Petty Officer Greenwell of the Navy Recruiting Station traced the disappearance of tree tinsel to a curious culprit. The family cat reportedly ate the decorative strands. The lighthearted item notes a holiday solution from a local official.
The Messenger wishes readers a Merry Christmas and reaffirms dedication to democratic principles. The note emphasizes holiday goodwill, Santa Claus tradition, and that no editions will be published on December 25 in observance of the holiday.
An earthquake shook the Northeastern United States and parts of Canada including Ontario and Quebec. It began around 8:43 to 8:44 am and caused minor effects such as toppled ornaments and rattled dishes. Harvard seismograph station logged it as severe as last Friday. Seismologists linked prior events to crustal movements related to ice masses. Some areas felt aftershocks for about thirty minutes.
Several additional United States submarines arrived in Manila Bay today increasing American underwater craft in Asiatic waters to at least 15. Navy men were reluctant to talk but sources say the Asiatic fleet is being strengthened on the surface and in the air as bombers from Hawaii reinforce the Philippines. The army is also being strengthened, especially in the air.
Billy Hill a 42 year old songwriter from New York and Hollywood known for Last Roundup was found dead in a hotel room. Dr Herman Schwartz said the death was from natural causes and listed several of Hill's songs. The Cincinnati investigation into a tenement explosion that killed 14 was recessed until after the holidays.
Athens Junior Chamber of Commerce reports record city wide Christmas lighting contest with 12 prizes across four classes. Judges praised widespread displays including Mrs. Alice Klingenberg’s standout porch and red light decor, Mrs. McKee’s candlelit windows, and Henry Garrett’s greenery and star motif.
Ohio's pre Christmas death toll rose to 35 over a three day period with five more fatalities reported. Frank Benedict 57 died in Cleveland when a New York Central switch engine crashed through a roundhouse wall. Paul Smith two died after running from a parked car in Van Wert. Valentine Stoner 73 was killed while guiding a horse along Route 93 near Brewster. William H. West 44 fell into the Tuscarawas River in New Philadelphia. George Bertalan 55 was killed by a train near Akron while walking on tracks.
Funeral services for Mrs. Adair Elizabeth Norris aged 36 wife of C T Norris will be held Thursday at 2 PM at Letart Methodist Church with burial in Letart Cemetery She leaves husband a daughter Mildred Louise a son Thomas her parents G E Roush and five brothers and one sister. Friends may call after 6 PM today.
Blaine Evener 25 of Harmony Road faced Mayor Cliff Cornell after police said he fought two A and P Market employees with home made leaden knucks following a wine theft. He was fined 40 dollars plus costs, with 10 for fighting 5 for intoxication and 25 for larceny.
Fire caused about five dollars in damage at the Raymond Connett residence at 61 Morris Avenue shortly after 9 this morning. Fire Chief Harold Junod said a short circuit in a hot water pump wiring started the blaze in the basement and firefighters cut the wires to extinguish it.
Nelsonville Ohio Arthur Gilham 32 former clerk of the Athens County Board of Elections died this morning at Mt. Carmel Hospital Columbus after two months confinement. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Sam Gilham of Nelsonville. He attended Nelsonville High School and Ohio University and worked in the Athens office of the Division of Aid for the Aged. He served as election board clerk briefly this year, was appointed a census taker but illness halted duties. He belonged to Church of Christ and Eagles Lodge. Funeral arrangements not yet set.
A British bid to rally Italians against Mussolini was transmitted in Italian by various routes before Churchill aired his speech at 3 p m. yesterday an authoritative source said. Italy charges British agents spread unrest and aided distribution of the address in leaflets by airplanes.
Frank Larimer, son of former Sheriff Harold Larimer, was appointed as a second deputy by Sheriff-elect Floyd Duffy. Larimer is connected with the Godman Shoe Company. Forrest Keck of Laurel Township was announced as a deputy earlier for the new sheriff.
Field Marshal Walther von Brauchitsch urged German forces that they yearned to meet the English as Nazi radio marks Christmas talk from a Channel gun position. London cites invasion rumors while Britain and Italy deny Churchill’s appeal to split the Axis. In Africa siege at Bardia worsens water shortage. Manchester endures another bomb night. RAF raids Boulogne Dunkirk Ostend and Mannheim Ludwigshafen.
U S Senator Tydings suggests asking Britain and the Axis for a statement of end conditions to the European war He argues a just peace would restore sovereignty to Norway Denmark the Netherlands Belgium and France possibly create Polish and Czechoslovak states and require disarmament He says such knowledge helps shape defense and policy in case peace is unattainable Also two Republicans urge stronger Panama Canal defenses noting empty planes and questioning canal work force competence
The Associated Press reports wartime Europe still cherishes Christmas with carols gifts and decorations despite blackouts and debris. Pope Pius seeks a truce but none exists on fronts. Greek forces clash with Italians in Albania as Britain advances in North Africa.
Lancaster news notes H W Prentis Jr of the National Association of Manufacturers urging the National Defense Commission to define the term terrible urgency for defense needs. He cites a sudden shift in the defense picture as the word urgent appears and asks for government satisfaction with production rates.
Four boys are held for questioning in the fatal shooting of 16 year old Matthew Cornwell near the Scioto River bank. Cornwell was shot in the back as he ran to escape bullets from boys on the opposite river side.
Washington dispatch reports Mrs Dorothy Heinbuck 34 and her five children perished in a daytime blaze that leveled their home near Oxon Hill Maryland. The victims aged 6 to 15.
Ray Paris, steward of the William A. Reiss, a lake freighter docked in Sandusky, plans to play Santa for eight impoverished boys unable to go home for Christmas.
Evansville police report Detective Sergeant Paul Bonham dressed as Santa at a Junior Chamber of Commerce children’s party forgot to remove his pistol and holster. Leo Warren, assistant city attorney, quipped about Santa carrying a gun while Bonham joked that with the state the world is in, maybe he should.
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