18 Feb 1957
Page 1
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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Feb 18, 1957
Page
1
Smoke and steam rose from the smouldering ruins of an old folks home after a fast moving fire and explosion turned the building into a funeral pyre. At least 70 inmates were missing and 16 bodies recovered as investigators and 25 fire units scoured the debris for victims.
Community snapshots highlight local events and people. Short notes cover gatherings, volunteer efforts, school activities, and public projects shaping daily life in our area.
A stolen English bicycle was recovered by its owner, a 1950 Buick was stolen from Sims Edwards Used Cars, and two autos collided at Jackson and Fourth with injuries. Other wrecks include a 1951 Plymouth and a 1953 Oldsmobile at Church and Railroad. The fire dept reported no weekend alarms, PTA and VFW events slated, hospital recovery noted, and a girl scout meeting planned. Two traffic accidents were reported in Decatur yesterday. People mentioned include Mrs G H Nungester Edward Higdon Alex Ewell Brown James Daniel Henry Jack Baker Jones and Lonnie Hill Eldrid Gray. community groups include Moulton Heights PTA VFW Post 4190 and local police. See Diary on Page 2.
A Senate Judiciary subcommittee voted 4 to 2 to bring civil rights legislation to a March 5 vote. Chairman Hennings said public hearings could run six days a week, potentially daily, and sought 4 p.m. meetings to extend hearings. If approved, the measures would proceed to the full Judiciary Committee.
Two white men, Raymond C. Britt Jr and Sonny Livingston Jr, were indicted for bombing a Negro church and a taxi stand during Montgomery racial violence. Britt was charged for the First Baptist Church and People's Cab Co on Jan 10 and 27, respectively, while Livingston and Britt plus another man were linked to the Hutchinson Street Baptist Church bombing on Jan 10. Bond totals were 7500 for Britt and 2500 for Livingston. further arrests were sought but identities of other defendants kept secret.
Budapest today opened its biggest show trial against rebels who fought Russians last fall. Twelve defendants sit in the Budapest Municipal Court including Gizella Ilona Toth a 25 year old medical student and two writers Jozsef Gali 27 and Gyula Oberene 30. Toth is charged with killing a man believed to be linked to the Communist secret police.
The 7th morning river level stood at 18.14 feet with a 0.44 foot fall in 24 hours. Sea level reading was 552.44 feet. High temperature yesterday reached 51 degrees and the low was not provided in the fragment.
Democratic leaders at a West Coast meeting urged Congress to pass civil rights laws, denounced the Eisenhower Dulles policy, and pressed for quick statehood for Hawaii and Alaska. The resolutions, adopted by the national committee and advisory council, called for voting rights protections and access to occupations free from discrimination.
Fire destroyed the Phi Delta house at the University of Alabama injuring eight five students. Injured: Steve Wil foe Birmingham Jack Power Montgomery Breck Rodgers Eutaw Henry McCrary son of vis and Jones Montgomery. Survivors escaped via a third floor jump to the kitchen roof and down. Fraternity dent kept ringing a large to wake the sleeping students.
The Soil Bank program may pull $2 to $3 of economic impact from each dollar placed in the reserve for small farms in the old cotton belt. Department figures show as much as $212 million net potential out of the South’s economy, depending on signups and acreage productivity. Benson lowers the 1957 support level to 77 percent, prompting criticism from Rep. Abernethy. See BANK on Page 2.
An elderly Decatur man fell for a flim flam scam last Thursday losing 100 dollars. Police issued a warning as he recounted strangers converging on Second Ave and directing him to a house of ill repute while another pretended insurance salesman orchestrated the ruse.
The Alabama Committee launches a Soil Bank program for cotton allowing unlimited farmer participation. County fund allocations will be reviewed weekly to cover all listed cotton farmers on form CS-823. CS-628 farms are used where quotas are depleted. A 256 per cent floating fund and shifting unused quotas enable new farm agreements up to maximum limits. Corn allocations are not mentioned.
An autopsy was begun on the body of a 22 year old woman found dead on a floor around 7 30 am. Brown said investigators are examining whether death resulted from monoxide poisoning or other causes in this early morning incident.
The article notes a continuing American effort to support UN goals while Israeli officials, led by Abba Eban, say talks with U.S. officials will resume with no fixed date. Dulles remains central, and the overall stance emphasizes cooperation and fairness amid ongoing discussions.
Observance of George Washington's birthday on Friday will close state and federal offices in Decatur and area. A three day weekend follows with Morgan County National Banks and county courthouse offices closed except for the education department.
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