20 Feb 1950
Page 1
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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Feb 20, 1950
Page
1
The column reports a fair afternoon and night with a warmer Tuesday and scattered frost. temperatures tonight 28 to 36. It lists weekend visits, church activities, meetings, a draft office remark, hospital admissions, births, and discharges, ending with see diary on page 2.
The Alabama American Legion elected Hugh W. Overton of Wadley as commander replacing Arch Farrell of Phenix City who resigned to run for Russell County circuit solicitor. Overton had been named senior vice commander last summer and will serve until July 1950. New officers include George Huddleston Jr of Birmingham senior department vice commander John E Drinkard of Falkville junior department vice commander Lawson Lynn of Hartselle second district commander.
Four suspects, James Edward Baker Olen H Baker Lindsey Hyde and Hollis Richardson, are held in Morgan jail over the February 15 burglary at Lonnie Morris store in Pin Lee. They surrendered after a three day search ending in a cave hideout, and led officers to a Frontier pistol a 12 gauge shotgun and a 1938 Nash used in the robbery.
Decatur General Hospital reports Bill Freeman of East Lafayette and Alex Dunn of Florette among several injured in two Saturday accidents. Freeman and five others were admitted after a car skidded and overturned near Courtland, with Mrs. Freeman dismissed for shock. Dunn and his ten year old daughter Nancy were treated after a Priceville collision. Nancy lost several teeth and was discharged Sunday.
Leonard Allen a 25 year old fugitive from an Alabama state prison was sentenced in Baltimore to 17 years and six months for multiple burglaries and a woman’s assault. He escaped last November after eight years of a 25 year term and pled guilty to five burglaries two larcenies and was convicted of the assault in the rape indictment. Sentences for burglaries and larcenies and the assault were ordered to run consecutively by Judge Michael J. Manley.
A dazed motorman Jacob Kiefer 55 was ordered to court on a manslaughter charge for a Friday night wreck on the Long Island Rail Road that killed 29 and injured 105. Doctors said he was not in condition to arraign and might be delayed a week. Thirty eight remained in hospitals with 17 in critical condition. Kiefer’s son said his father is overwhelmed by grief and has only moments of lucidity.
The Associated Press reports eight people died in Alabama motor accidents over the weekend. Victims include Mrs. Ben Courtney of Mississippi in a Mobile two car crash and Greensboro teen Joyce Thigpen after a Saturday overturned vehicle near Selma.
The mercy killing trial of Dr Hermann Sander opened in Manchester New Hampshire with jurors to be selected. He is charged with first degree murder in the death of cancer patient Mrs Abbie Borreto 59 who died December 4 after allegedly receiving air injected into her veins. The court barred spectators and 162 jurors were brought to the building amid international press interest.
The trial of Rob ert A. Vogeler and six other defendants on spying and sabotage charges in communist Hungary nears verdict after Vogeler pleads guilty as a US intelligence spy. Prosecutors seek the most severe punishment. Vogeler asks for a mild sentence citing confession under no pressure.
Beef cattle show rules were formed at a Decatur County Club meeting with about 16 assistants and guidance teachers from six North Alabama counties. The event is set for April 7 at the North Alabama Coliseum west of Decatur with teams from Franklin Cullman Limestone Lawrence Madison and Morgan counties participating while Colbert counties sits out this year.
Senator Tydings said defense officials have studied the feasibility of a second U.S. capital to withstand enemy attack. Rep Holifield urged a seven member commission to study relocation and dispersion including underground facilities, with a report by January 31, 1951. Paul J. Larsen, new civilian defense head, outlined dispersal and underground installations as key defense measures.
House Speaker Rayburn quoted President Truman as saying he has no plans to ask Congress for authority to seize the nation’s strike-bound coal mines. He told legislative leaders he does not want such power.
Falkville senior W. P. Welling, turning 90 on March 23, renews his daily newspaper habit saying he has read it for many years and has no plans to stop. He notes he is prudent, honest, and abstains from cigarettes, and criticizes modern youths’ rough games. The piece also features a broader national politics roundup with Truman era issues and remarks on mining, commu nism, and foreign policy.
Weekend burglaries in Decatur yielded a slightly used jacket and $30 in cash. A Pure Oil station on Second Avenue was looted of $30, with a half-open cash register containing $3. Entry was via a wash rack window. Police report no arrests yet. Officers investigating were Sgt Broadrick, Charles Smith, Sims, and Price.
Valley counties reported limited weekend arrests with six law enforcement bodies totaling only two to three dozen arrests. Décatur led with 19 cases in recorder’s court including traffic violations public drunkenness assault and battery liquor laws disorderly conduct and DWI. Athens city police reported five arrests for reckless driving public drunkenness and no driver’s license. Morgan County logged three public drunkenness arrests plus one each for DWI and reckless driving. Lawrence reported four public drunkenness charges and Limestone one each for reckless driving DWI and three public drunkenness.
A bitter cold front spread across the eastern half of the United States with subfreezing lows reaching into Southern Florida and the Gulf states. Cities from Birmingham to New York report record lows and coal-reliant areas brace for further cold as forecasts show continuing frigid conditions tonight.
Roy F. Parker announced for the U S Senate on January 16 but said February 20 he would not run. He will seek re election to Alabama’s Democratic executive committee instead, citing difficulty building a strong anti Hill campaign and possible entry of other candidates.
A second federal injunction against John L. Lewis and the United Mine Workers, issued today, keeps in force to March 3 as miners largely refuse to return to work. Talks between Lewis and coal operators continue with slow progress, amid fuel shortages and portends of brownouts as railroads curtail operations.
Pittsburgh reports strike action continues into its seventh week with no contract, as 120000 UMW miners in West Virginia join in amid idle mines across Pennsylvania Indiana Ohio. Cantons Danville area workers receive food aid while Ford plans plant closures if coal supply remains halted.
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