23 Dec 1953
Page 1
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This newspaper page contains 26 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Location
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Dec 23, 1953
Page
1
The government reports November living costs declined three tenths of one percent to 115 percent of the 1947-49 average, the first drop since February and signaling some stabilization. A sharp 1.4 percent fall in food prices mainly drove the decline, though December prices may edge higher.
New York AP reports the Dun and Bradstreet wholesale food index advanced to 6.72 this week from 6.66 last week and 6.15 a year ago. The continued climb marks the seventh consecutive weekly increase in the index.
Richard B. Looser, 34, amateur theater director in Grass Valley, died in an accidental hanging after a gallows prop malfunctioned. He built a mirror reflecting the scene and a breakaway knot as a precaution before stepping from the box.
Public Defender Homer Thompson sought to free a prisoner dubbed the forgotten man from county jail before Christmas. He visited cells and found Douglas Martin, 44, held 68 days for failure to pay 50 dollars in court costs in a dismissed child support case. A writ of habeas corpus was petitioned.
Kellogg Idaho reports Ron ald Patton and Irene Radar wed after meeting serving in the ground Corvette corps. The ceremony united two members of the same unit and marks a new life together for the couple.
Cedar Rapids retailers stay open tonight until 9 for Christmas shoppers. Stores will close at 4 p.m. Thursday instead of 5 30. The Cedar Rapids post office also closes at 4 p.m. Thursday after today’s usual closing time.
Richmond police captured the final two of 13 escapees from the Southern Michigan Prison in Jackson. Roman Usiondek and Robert Dowling admitted their identities after a hotel-room standoff. Dowling pulled a revolver. officers overpowered him and Usiondek.
Frank A. Nixon aged 75 father of the vice president was reported better in Phoenix after a gastric hemorrhage during a flight from Los Angeles. Doctors said his condition stabilized and he might rally though he remained in critical condition for 48 hours. Captain Joe Glass guided the American Airlines plane to Sky Harbor and an ambulance met the unplanned landing.
Vice President Nixon plans a nationwide address Wednesday night to discuss his Far East and Middle East tour. His mother said he would not visit Phoenix if his father's condition worsened, and networks will carry the half hour speech at 9 30 p m CST.
The weather forecast shows a slight chance of snow with mild Christmas temperatures in Iowa. Cedar Rapids logged 18 degrees at 2 30 pm while Elkader and Lone Rock hit 7 below zero. Northeastern areas may drop to 10 above, with highs Thursday and Friday in the 25 to 35 range.
Communist led postal workers strike disrupted Christmas bonuses dispute. Soldiers took over lower mail delivery duties in Paris on Wednesday, as the strike by postal staff affected routine mail service.
Atty Gen Leo A Hoegh said he has given thought to a Republican bid for governor but declared he is not a candidate for any office as of now He noted reports of possible entry and listed several potential rivals including William S Lynes William H Nicholas A B Chambers Stanley L Hart Ernest Palmer Jr and Henry W Wormley who recently announced a bid for attorney general.
Three long shoremen were stabbed Wednesday at a Brooklyn polling place during a fight between rival unions over waterfront representation. The clash pitted members of Pistol Local 824 and Anthony Anastasia supporters against the AFL ILA drive to represent about 22,000 workers. Police broke up the melee with club action. several men sustained cuts.
Laniel, the leading candidate, withdrew Tuesday night after seven of the first 10 ballots in a deadlocked race. An 11th and 12th ballot on Wednesday proved futile as the campaign collapsed without a clear winner.
Two New York businessmen sat on the nosewheel of an Eastern Air Lines Super Constellation to protest unavailable reserved seats. Theodore H. Silbert and Jack Lipow refused to move for over an hour, prompting police warnings for trespass. The Miami-bound flight was delayed three hours before finally taking off.
A group in Satindy braved a blizzard to save a puppy trapped nine days in a 50 foot abandoned well. Boy Scouts lowered a sack while a 13 year old trapped another pup with a wire burlap trap, as Mrs. Norvell Thacker of the Humane Society said the dog could be heard whimpering below.
Duane McLain twenty was sentenced to life in the Nebraska penitentiary after admitting the murder of Karen Talbot thirteen. A six twelve jury found him guilty of first degree murder and recommended life rather than execution by electric chair. Karen disappeared August twentieth while walking home from a movie and her body was found after seven weeks of investigation.
Cpl. Donald L. Wakehouse, sole returned prisoner in the Far East, pleads for home for Christmas after medical battle in Tokyo. He recalls brutal weeks in Korea and notes 22 prisoners refused last minute return to the United States. His Iowa family hopes for his recovery and a future Iowa Christmas.
The mother of Guy Burgess said she received a Christmas letter bearing a southeast London postmark and dated November. The missive, received for Christmas at Mrs Bassett’s home, gave no location but stated Burgess was alive and in good spirits. Burgess and Donald MacLean disappeared in May 1951 after traveling from Southampton to France.
Lt. Thomas Shepard 29 Korean War veteran received security clearance from the Air Force. Shepard, personnel officer for the 518th Air Defense Group at Niagara Falls, praised the decision as a Christmas present for his family. He urged proper investigation and rejected guilt by association, noting he would conduct his own security inquiry.
The government studies a shift from hand engraved plates to photogravure to produce multicolored stamps, aiming for artistic design. No gravure plant exists yet, so private printers may handle production. Scranton firm authorized to submit samples.
Portia Howe, living in Alden Minnesota, left Tokyo by plane after a 12 day trip to visit Pfc Richard Tenneson, held as a prisoner of war in Korea. She remains hopeful and believes in God’s promises, plans Christmas with family, and wants to show the Soviets that their family remains united.
New York report says Ernest Hemingway ran an underground crime shop in Cuba during World War II to aid counter espionage. Braden quoted Spruille Braden noting Hemingway organized a Spanish speaking network including aristocrats priests and locals to track saboteurs and spies in the Caribbean.
James Price played Santa at a Fort Lee supermarket when a police officer spoke to him. Price removed his suit and beard and left for a hospital where he identified his wife, 54, who had been struck and killed by a bus nearby.
The Haiti Sun reported five children died in a blaze at the home of Robert De Gagner in Port au Prince. The fire began around 6 a.m. as the family slept, with the father, mother, and another adult initially escaping before the home became engulfed.
At Panmunjom the 90 day window closed with 22 Americans paired with one Briton and 103 South Koreans choosing to remain under Indian guard rather than repatriate. They sang The Internationale and danced as the final homecoming plea ended, while officials vowed to interview them within 30 days and classify them absent without leave.
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