This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 22 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Jan 26, 1949
Page
1
Weather outlook for the state notes clouds and occasional rain with cooler spells in the northwest this afternoon and tonight. Beta Sigma Phi raised funds for the March of Dimes drive at a regular Tuesday night meeting.
A New York couple chose blindness for their two children over probable death. Surgeons removed both eyes of 11 month old Michael Goldstein and one eye from his 22 year old sister Karen at Presbyterian Hospital. Michael had retinoblastoma and Karen’s eye risked cancer spread. The father Abe Goldstein is a war veteran who lost one eye as a child.
The Municipal Utilities Board asks the Decatur Alabama City Council to raise water rates to fund about 1 million dollars in upgrades doubling purification capacity adding 2,000,000 gallons of elevated storage and new mains. The board cites study by Basenberg and Polglaze and notes demand has roughly doubled since 1939. A financing plan accompanies the request.
The Associated Press finds a 9.7 percent drop in seven staple items across 13 cities from last year. Women’s cotton dresses and nylon stockings fell 24.5 and 15.3 percent, while shirts were down 7.5 percent. San Francisco saw a local price rise with milk up and a half percent overall.
In Montgomery on January 26 1958 a group led by H J Banks urged Gov James E Folsom to spare Isaac Logan a Black inmate set to die in the electric chair for the killing of white man O Neal Bayne in Lawrence County. Logan denied involvement claiming he was asleep at home.
Bitter weather spans the nation as snow sleet and rain strain transport and power. Thousands of snowbound livestock face renewed danger while floods force evacuations in Southern Illinois and the Mississippi Valley. Highways close and trains run late as cold snaps reach from Utah to Texas and the central plains endure subzero temperatures.
Robert Long son of Judge and Mrs W H Long is reported to be excelling at Auburn University. He recently graduated from Decatur High in 1947 and is taking 20 hours in engineering with all A grades for the fall quarter. W T Jordan of the Decatur school system calls the record outstanding given the difficulty of the engineering program.
An expectant mother, Georgette Brucks, 21, who killed a prior child agreed to sterilization after birth and adoption of the new baby and another child. Superior Judge Ambrose said the court order was unprecedented and California law does not cover such a case.
Carl Hubbard, 49, is jailed without bond in Cullman county awaiting murder charges over the fatal shotgun shooting of Grover Cleveland Cummings, 51, at the latter’s Simcoe home. Coroner says the killing followed an argument about Hubbard’s sister and wife. Cummings died 45 minutes after being shot. Funeral set for Thursday at Fairview Baptist Church. Surviving are wife Lois Hubbard Cummings and seven children and grandchildren.
In Atlanta a traffic case escalated into a courtroom clash over the Ku Klux Klan. Police testimony named Ralph McGill and Dr. Sam Green amid claims Bettis shouted about the Klan during a parade. Bettis, a former salesmen leader, was arrested for DWI after protesting the event.
Senator Stennis urged unlimited debate with fast vote on emergency issues while Long warned Southern senators may filibuster to block Civil Rights changes. The fight centers on changing senate rules and ending the filibuster as Truman allies win a banking committee extension on voluntary materials.
In Birmingham on January 26 a negro plaintiff’s suit alleging discrimination by the county board of registrars was dropped on agreement. Federal Judge Clarence Mullins said the action will be dismissed, citing consent from both sides and an order to follow. The plaintiff, Eugene O Braxter, contended the board refused registration due to color while seeking voter status.
In a radio broadcast Chinese communists call for acting President Li Tsung Jen to arrest Chiang Kai Shek and other war criminals on their list. Li and the nationalist government flee from Nanking to Canton while seeking peace on communist terms, casting doubt on any peace prospects.
Otis Oden Bryant and Edward J. Smith prepared for trial in Morgan circuit court while a jury deliberated in Melvin Fletcher's case charged with receiving stolen tires. Fletcher linked to Roy Mooney shooting. Bryant and Smith face several charges including assault with intent to murder. Al Flanagan drew $499 fine for second degree manslaughter and appealed. Robert Varnell found guilty of assault with intent to murder William Pike. probation hearing set for Feb. 21. W W Walling perjury case postponed to Thursday.
Former Nazi radio official Hans Von Richter testified in a U S district court trial that Mildred Gillars known as Axis Sally spoke on the broadcasts. He identified recordings including Midge At The Mike and Home Sweet Home noting familiarity with her voice.
E. W. (Dick) Kennedy, Decatur businessman and former council man, arrives tonight on the Hummingbird from New Orleans after two months of treatment for a serious December illness. He will recover at home, accompanied by Mrs. Kennedy who has cared for him at his bedside.
Philip W. Jungesser, manager of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Decatur district, will attend a three day regional conference in New York City starting January 31. He joins Metropolitan's president Leroy A. Lincoln and other officials at the home office to discuss services to policyholders.
About 80 local businessmen, at a Morgan County Post American Legion meeting, push a 60 000 project with 37 000 in hand. Legion to raise the rest from the public for a city baseball program in 1949 and beyond. Eddie Glennon of the Birmingham Barons spoke at Why Not Eat Here Cafe.
A writ of habeas corpus delayed Pryor Roger’s transfer from Little Rock to Forest City. The 62 year old Draper escapee remains in Forest City custody awaiting action after the Arkansas judge issued an ex tradition order. Roger testified in his own defense in Little Rock and neighbors described a long pattern of reform. California officials have shown interest in bringing him to El Centro for alleged past activities.
Bernard White a 30 year old Negro fugitive alias Joseph Brooks must return to Alabama to complete a manslaughter and burglary sentence. Governor Warren approved Alabama's extradition request noting prior felony convictions in Florida and Mississippi. White escaped custody in Alabama and was arrested in Los Angeles last December amid opposition from CIO unions and others who questioned his constitutional rights.
Bond on a charge of immoral conduct with a girl under 12 led to a habeas corpus delay as Chancery Judge Hutchins handled another case. Royer, a former Moulton Baptist minister, was already sentenced to life for the 1934 shotgun slayings of Frank Pickens, chairman of his deacons. The extradition hearing in the governor’s office at Little Rock lasted three hours, ending with Governor McMath ordering extradition after deliberation. Mrs Royer and several children attended.
Decatur residents watched an unusual warm spell as temperatures climbed to 66 degrees by 1 PM and rainfall measured 0.2 inches in the prior 24 hours. Hourly readings showed a rise through the day with midafternoon temperatures around 65.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.