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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Aug 02, 1966
Page
1
Charles Whitman, 25, a University of Texas student and former Marine, killed 16 people and wounded 31 from the library tower as witnesses described a 90 minute slaughter. Texas authorities and police shot him dead. the tower overlooks Austin campus.
New York AP reports the Austin sniper killings may rank as the worst mass murder in U S history with FBI noting few rival incidents. Historical cases cited include Howard Unruh in 1949 Camden and the 1958 two-state spree by a dungaree clad killer, Starkweather.
In Austin Texas 18 year old lifeguard Paul Sonntag 15 year old visitor Mark Gabour 22 year old Peace Corps trainee Thomas Ashton and 51 year old elevator operator Edna Townsley share a day of heat and routine nearly ends in disaster as a 90 minute nightmare unfolds at the University of Texas Tower. As witnesses describe a senseless sequence of events the campus begins to calm but the shock lingers as more details emerge and authorities investigate the incident.
Major overhaul in Red China signals a broad purge of senior military leaders. Lo Jui ching is replaced by Yang Cheng-wu as acting chief of the general staff, with reports that Hsiao Hua, Huang Mho xing, Hsiao-Ching kuang, Hsieh Fu chih, Hsu Shih-yu and others may have fallen. Yang vows to press the purge, linking it to Lin Piao’s November directive and hinting at military action in Vietnam against U.S. forces.
The Senate begins work on a bill to authorize President Johnson to order a halt to the 26 day air lines strike, with Congress potentially authorizing a six month delay. Labor opposes a back to work order and debate focuses on who should wield the power. The measure cleared the Senate Labor Committee by a 10 to 6 vote with the White House backing discretionary authority.
US infantrymen and North Vietnamese clashed near the Cambodian border in a series of running fire fights in the central plateau region. Four actions occurred 10 miles east of the border and 235 miles north of Saigon, with enemy size unknown. North Vietnamese regiments were said to operate in the Pleiku area. An earlier report counted 648 enemy dead in three months of Operation Paul Revere, with light American casualties. Ky pledged elected government by November 1967 and to focus on his air force role after. Air raids on nine depots and bridges cost unknown. See SIZE On Page 14.
New York Times military writer Hanson Baldwin cites Fort Bragg HQ as the source for a report deeming the 82nd Airborne the only U S division approximately ready for combat. Homer Bigart notes Soviet growth slows since 1958, with the economy at about 47 percent of the U S level. He also highlights U S frontier slums in Alaska as the worst urban poverty.
State and defense counsel chart habeas corpus strategy for Wednesday U.S. District Court session before Judge Frank M. Johnson. The death-sentenced Falkville suspect Billy Don Franklin Boulden faces possible retrial in Morgan County if the court denies the writ.
Local fruit vendor Brown's Fruit Stand on 4th Ave S lists peaches at 2.50 per bushel with sale notice.
AUSTIN Texas AP Charlie Whitman an engineering student 25 opened fire from 28th floor of the University of Texas campus killing 13 during noon hour sniping witnesses say he was well liked and the campus mourns.
A band of showers and thunderstorms was forecast to march across North Alabama with Decatur and nearby areas seeing scattered afternoon storms and higher winds. Temps should cool from a 91 high to 86 by Wednesday with 68 to 70 overnight. Gusts may rise near thunderstorm centers as showers spread from Michigan to New Mexico.
The Alabama Legislature returns to the capitol for an extra-long week aiming to pass a $44 million school aid package. Both houses hold six-bill versions as lawmakers debate meeting three days to avoid a pay delay and advance bills on education, administration funds, and jury service for women amid a federal court challenge. See ACTIVE On Page 14.
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