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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 25, 1949
Page
1
Fair this afternoon and tonight with warmer Sunday as cloudiness increases. Northeast to east winds along the coast. Local events include visits, life insurance giveaways for January births, court appearances for drunkenness and traffic offenses, hospital admissions and births, and holiday arrivals. Temperature at 8 AM was 31 with Friday high 39 and low 25.
The Holiday toll climbs as cash registers ring across the nation with record unit and dollar sales. Department stores show strong results in major cities. Detroit reports 1948-like decline in some categories while markets in New York Chicago Boston Los Angeles San Francisco Dallas and others run highly satisfactory.
Frank M. Malone of Birmingham, longtime Southern Bell manager since 1945, will rise to general commercial manager of the Southern Bell system in Atlanta beginning January 1. He will oversee operations across nine-state territory from the Atlanta office, to be succeeded by Sam H. Youngblood of Charlotte.
Rain and mud mar the Christmas Eve pilgrimage to Bethlehem birthplace of the Prince of Peace. Two routes divided pilgrims with Arab-held Old City dwellers on the mired Northern road while U S diplomats and others from the Jewish-held southern area traveled the Roman road.
A 31018 state Aeronautics grant to Pryor municipal airport construction is confirmed to the Civil Aeronautics Authority. The approval completes the CAA file and a federal grant offer of 93054 is expected. Bid advertising will follow for a 4000 foot concrete runway 150 feet wide and related roadways and night landing facilities.
Johnnie Garrison, 26, of Dayton Ohio, known as the polite bandit in North Alabama, was arrested by FBI and Kentucky police and placed in Laurel County jail London Kentucky awaiting transfer to Alabama. He gained notoriety after a Christmas era New Market shooting spree where he allegedly shot at a victim’s hat. The arrest ends a series of robberies and holdups during which he earned the moniker gentleman bandit.
Decatur police report two minor injuries and heavy damage from two traffic accidents. In the first collision at Moulton Street and Ninth Avenue West a 1946 Plymouth driven by Mrs. Ratliff and a 1948 Chevrolet driven by Mrs. Portwood sustained heavy damage. a 1949 Dodge driven by L. P. Hill had medium damage. In the second incident on East Moulton Street a 1946 Ford driven by Oakley Rodgers collided with a 1942 half-ton Chevrolet pickup driven by Clifford Adcock, inflicting light damage. Investigating officers were Leon Posey and Horace Standridge.
Moscow reports that the Soviet Union charges Japan and Emperor Hirohito with secretly planning bacteriological warfare as early as 1935. The indictment cites former Japanese generals, Unit 731, Unit 100, and top secret Manchuria centers, claiming experiments on animals and humans and aimed at the USSR China Mongolia and other states.
A six day search for 15 year old James Camp ended with the discovery of his frozen body in a Tehachapi mountain canyon two miles from Weldon ranch. He had been missing since Sunday after a snow frolic with six friends. Twenty five searchers had scoured the area.
In Athens five bullets struck Dean John E. Drewry of the journalism school and his former secretary Miriam Thurmond after wife Kathleen Drewry, 45, fired at them. She was arrested at her home and treated for shock, both victims hospitalized with serious injuries but expected to survive.
A Daily story about Mr. and Mrs. Ennis Varnell of 4123 Fifth Avenue East and their five children, with a veteran father injured and pension denied due to a lost Army record, sparks holiday aid from kind readers after the feature appears.
Estes C. McDaniel of Union Hill announced today he will be a candidate for the Alabama House of Representatives. Bill Stewart of Hart said he does not plan to seek the seat again. Stewart, who held Morgan County seat No 2, filed no public pledge to return to the legislature this year.
Christmas gifts for President Truman arrived at the White House along with more than 12 000 Christmas cards. About 2000 cards were addressed to the President, the remainder to the family. Hams turkeys fruit cakes and bacon were among the gifts and much will be distributed to hospitals and institutions. Shirts and ties arrived in large quantities. An odd gift was a 72 inch candle from Tarpon Springs Florida.
Washington December 24 an emergency government order gave railroads first crack at coal produced in mines they normally receive supplies from. The Interstate Commerce Commission said the measure would avert a breakdown during the holiday travel season and the ensuing cold weeks. The order took effect minutes after midnight and runs until February 26.
President Truman, free from state burdens, will spend his Christmas holiday visiting relatives and friends. A single formal engagement is scheduled, a 5:15 P M EST address from his Independence home to extend Christmas greetings. He also plans to light a White House Christmas tree via a Washington switch as part of events.
Traffic fatalities headed the list of violent deaths as the nation began a long Christmas holiday. Fifty one of 60 tied to motor mishaps with a Texas family of five burned to death and a gas truck collision killing a driver. A six year old Newton boy electrocuted at a decorated tree. The National Safety Council estimates 435 will die in traffic during the period. State tolls include New York eight, California seven, Texas six, with multiple states reporting deaths. Fires caused eight fatalities.
Grace Purcell, born without arms, greeted by her year round Santa Henry L. Lee. He arrived by Central of Georgia locomotive to deliver presents and a nearly $500 gift to add to her $2,673 trust fund for operations and artificial hands. Grace has had one operation and will undergo more.
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