16 Aug 1948
Page 1
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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Aug 16, 1948
Page
1
Cloudy with thundershowers this afternoon and tonight in East and South portions. cooler in North portion tonight. Huntsville office to open August 23. Local warrants list and ambulance moves cited. Residents visiting relatives in Huntsville, Sheffield, Hollywood. Arrest report includes seven drunkenness, two reckless driving, one DWI. Army enlistments and travel plans noted. Diary reference directs readers to Page 2.
Oma Laura Jennings of 1324 Ninth Avenue E. filed a $50,000 suit against Decatur Transit Cab Co alleging serious injuries from a July 11 cab collision at Ferry and Cain Streets while she was a nurse at the Hamil clinic. The Daily Sunday had reported the amount as $5,000 due to a typographical error.
About 34 Truman supporters formed an Alabama Branch of the National Democratic Party in Montgomery and voted to try to field Truman pledged electors in November. They scheduled a Birmingham meeting for Aug. 28 to pick a slate and named Joseph N Langan as chairman, John G Ward as vice chairman, and A L Hanks as treasurer.
The 17 year old Billie Jane Elms daughter of Savoy cafe chef Robert Elms died from injuries after a Texas auto crash just before she and her mother planned to relocate to Decatur. Billie Jane had been returning from Dallas with friends when their car was struck from behind and sent into oncoming traffic. Elms left for Texas to attend the funeral.
CADWELL Ga Rewards of 1000 dollars were posted today for information leading to the arrest of those who bludgeoned to death Mrs Kinch Smith 72 year old plantation owner. Her battered body was found on her estate Saturday night. A blood stained club was near the body and one arm bound with cloth. Laurens County Sheriff Carlos Gay said six negroes four men and two women were being questioned. They are tenants on the Smith plantation. Rewards of 500 dollars have been offered by the state of Georgia and Laurens county. Mrs Smith was a member of one of the county’s most prominent families and had lived alone since her husband’s death eight years ago.
President Truman warned the government will run a 1.5 billion deficit next June sparking GOP charges that he manipulated figures for political gain. Republicans expect a five to six billion dollar surplus and new room to cut taxes and reduce debt. Truman calls last year’s tax cut ill timed and says spending will hit 42 billion with a deficit financing outlook. He cites a paper surplus due to a bookkeeping shift and warns debt could expand despite high income.
United States Britain and France envoys met Foreign Minister Molotov in the Kremlin as part of a series begun July 31. They seek a basis for talks to resolve East West rifts and the Berlin blockade. Walter Bedell Smith Frank Roberts and Yves Chataigneau attended.
Maudie Jo Craig, 20, of 308 East Moulton, remains in critical condition at Decatur General Hospital after a Saturday automobile wreck near Hartselle. Four others were injured. driver Robert James Roberson and four passengers were treated at area facilities. The 1942 Chevrolet sustained $800 damage. Patrolmen Vinson and Weed investigated.
Four black suspects were detained for questioning in the fatal attack on a Georgia stenographer and her escort on a desolate Ormond Beach. The victims Mary Hucks 24 of East Point Ga and Gregory Blount 23 of Lexington Ky were found injured on a lonely stretch as investigators say two attackers acted as sex offenders. Rewards of 1000 were offered for information leading to arrests.
A Pennsylvania railroad troop train collided with a freight train near North Robinson Ohio injuring fourteen. The troop train carried 285 soldiers from Fort Dix New Jersey to Fort Riley Kansas. ten soldiers were among the injured. No critical injuries reported.
Coroner Bev T. Howell reported ongoing investigation into the death of 43 year old former Hartselle teacher Mrs. Lorene Fischer Gibson struck by a freight train on Friday. Witnesses say she removed her glasses and stepped onto the track directly before the train.
Washington reports that Moscow uses the Dreher espionage case to deflect attention from waning interest in the Samarine and Kosenkina-Samarine teacher cases. State Department says the charge against Lt. Robert Dreher is a deliberate frameup and notes Ambassador Bechtell Smith warned Vishinsky that the evidence seemed arranged with the MVD. The issue follows Moscow’s sensational coverage of Dreher’s April 23 arrest as he obtained secrets from a Soviet official. Dreher, 32, served in the chief of naval operations office after two years as assistant naval attache in Moscow. See RED on Page 2.
President Truman will speak at a Labor Day rally in Detroit to kick off his 1948 campaign with labor support. He may also visit Grand Rapids and Lansing, traveling by private railcar. details on times and additional cities were not yet released. The event focuses on inflation accusations tied to Republican tax cuts, likely fueling calls for spending cuts.
Dr A H Nabors district superintendent of the Decatur Methodist district was elected president of the district superintendents of the Southeastern jurisdiction last week at Lake Junaluska North Carolina. He will oversee work in nine southern states while continuing to serve his district and maintain his home in Decatur. The jurisdiction includes North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Georgia Florida Alabama and Mississippi with 140 district superintendents. The Decatur district comprises Morgan part of Lawrence all of Limestone and much of Cullman.
Berlin papers claim a communist purge list targets anti-communists if the Western Allies leave the city. Reports from Montags Echo say a fifth column operates in Western Berlin’s sectors, with Moscow directly dictating policy and the Soviet blockade blamed for rail accidents injuring 17.
A bus with 38 aboard and a truck trailer collided 18 miles east of Memphis, catching fire. Rex King, an ambulance driver, said the truck tried to pass as a passenger was being discharged. Gasoline spilled on both vehicles. Greek Harvey of Grand Junction, Tenn., was injured. extent unknown. Neither driver hurt.
The case against Bernice Brown charged in the stabbing of Charlie Bailey did not come up in city court as Bailey could not appear. A weekend of three knife stabbings left townsfolk anxious with police seeking John Coemathenes. Floyd Townsend was stabbed and hospitalized in fair condition.
Ed Donauer about 40 is in serious condition at Cullman hospital after a Saturday afternoon stabbing near Cullman. Sheriff Hyatt says no arrests and little information has been gathered. Donauer reached his mother's home two miles west of Cullman holding his stomach. the gash 8 to 10 inches long pierced the upper stomach and lung. a doctor was summoned around 5 PM.
Residents of a 100 acre section south of Decatur will vote on annexation to the city with polls from 8 AM to 6 PM at Hart's store. Qualified voters who have lived there three months may cast ballots. inspectors listed include Dewey Hughes C N Hart and L J Ward with clerks Aileen Johnson and Helen Childs.
The House committee expected accuser Whittaker Chambers and accused Alger Hiss to confront each other tomorrow in a dramatic session. Hiss agreed to appear. Chambers was excused until tomorrow due to business. A hush of potential revelations hovered as hearings could recess for new leads and an interim report was anticipated.
Dr. L R Murphree reports an 18 month old Limestone County boy from Athens to be ill with polio and admitted to Jefferson Hospital in Birmingham. The health officer said arrangements were made for admission this Saturday and that the child had been ill only a few days.
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