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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Jul 06, 1936
Page
1
Despairing farmers in the drought belt hope for relief as heat blankets the prairies from the Rockies to western Kentucky. Forecasters predicted no immediate break in the heat, with all time records broken at Willis.
Heat worsens drought damage in the Midwest while relief projects prepare to aid thousands of resourceless farmers in five northwest states. Officials plan a detailed drought report and proposed assistance before President Roosevelt. In Lincoln thousands pray for rain to end distress.
High temperatures from North Dakota to Illinois set records with Yankton 112, Moline 105, and Des Moines 104. Secretary Wallace warns drought could rival 1934 as Catholic masses in Nebraska seek rain and Bishop Kucera calls for prayer amid crop failures. Navajo perform rain making rituals in Arizona as resources dwindle.
The nation tallies 446 violent deaths over the double holiday, the highest Independence Day fatality total since 1931, with 254 motor vehicle deaths, 103 drownings, seven fireworks deaths, and incidents from tavern brawls to plane crashes. National guardsmen patrolled Remsen, Iowa after a firecracker blaze caused about $500,000 in damage.
Two new infantile paralysis cases are reported as quiet Fourth of July in Decatur. A two-car crash on the Bee Line Highway near Flint injures Mrs. Grady Parker and Mrs. J P Anear, with others brusing. A drunken driving arrest follows at the scene. Firecracker injuries and a stabbing occur locally, but overall holiday casualties seem light.
Mor gan county reports two new infantile paralysis cases bringing the total to 14 in the area. Dr L R Murphree notes no deaths yet. The state tally rises to 48 with a Bullock county case. Dr J N Baker plans to panel doctors to confine the epidemic to a small area and urges limiting intermingling of children from infested and noninfested areas as cases rise in Morgan Colbert Lawrence Franklin Lauderdale Madison Winston and Limestone counties.
Allen P. Hodges, 32, of Birmingham, drowned Sunday morning at Lay Dam on the Coosa River near Clanton. Davis Hodges of Decatur is his uncle. Thomas A. McLane, also of Birmingham, died in the same fishing party accident when six boats with eight people capsized after water rushed from the dam. Hodges body had not been recovered Sunday night.
Oscar C. O'Neal 44 sub foreman at Goodyear Mills died after a fall from a West Church street stairway June 27. He died in a Birmingham hospital Saturday night. Last rites were to be held in Grantville, Ga. Survivors include widow two daughters Mildred and ImaJean and a son Jack. He had worked at the Decatur Goodyear plant for two years.
LAS ANGELES July 6. America's first peace time spy Harry Thomas Thompson, former United States Navy yeoman, was sentenced by Federal Judge Lekon Yankwich today to 16 years in prison. Other items include Monroeville water rate reduction petition by W M Brunson and a Tokyo court martial sentencing 17 February 26 rebellion leaders to death, plus steel industry output decline this week.
Police said another arrest was expected in their investigation of the beating of Miss Virginia Hollingsworth a 21 year old Anniston clerk Friday night. She was knocked senseless taken to a hospital and identified her assailant as a young Negro before the attacker fled when her screams drew neighbors.
Philadelphia manager Connie Mack announces he has decided to sell the Philadelphia American League baseball club. Harold Warstler has not played with the Athletics for more than a week.
A 30 man Alabama Power crew begins erecting two 128 foot steel towers on Limestone County side of the Tennessee river to replace the Wilson Dam Huntsville Gadsden pole line. Islands near the towers are prepared for access by boat. the south tower near Decatur is finished. Total project cost is about 75000 dollars.
The weather bureau reports a 94 degree temperature at 1:30 this afternoon. Over the past 24 hours the high was 90 degrees. The Fourth of July enjoyed pleasant weather after rains broke a week long heat wave with temperatures between 102 and 107 degrees.
Dr. Arthur Karl Greiser head of the Danzig senate calls for rapid termination of League of Nations oversight over the free city. He demands removal of Lester, the league high commissioner, and says Danzig will not appear again before the league if internal affairs are to be discussed. He notes reports of German troop movements and vows to participate in negotiations with Poland while rejecting further league mediation.
Six people died in Alabama during Independence weekend with three drownings, one gun wound, and two auto deaths. Notable fatalities include Mary Elizabeth Beatty, 20, of Eldridge, killed at Hillard Walker County, and Thomas A. McLare, 32, and Allen P. Hodges, 32, drowned near Clanton after a boat accident on Lay Dam.
Peggie Ratliff eleven, daughter of Mr and Mrs Tom Ratliff, nearly drowned in the Tennessee river while following her uncle Charles Hammond during a family outing. Hammond pulled her from four feet of water after she sank four times, and bystanders helped administer first aid as a crowd watched the rescue.
Kathryn Crawford Edgar testified under cross examination in Miami as she denied improper relations with Lewis Mallory in the 300000 suit by James Edgar Jr. A mysterious phone call and shadowing were reported as potential witness intimidation.
Marshall Singleton, 15, sustained a fractured skull after a mule kicked him at his home on Moulton route 2. He improved markedly at a Decatur physician’s office and recalled nothing of the kick. He had been unconscious for several hours but is now able to walk with little difficulty.
Edward Freed owner of the Nut House surrendered at Hudson Avenue station to be questioned about Audrey Vallette’s murder and his wife Ruth's whereabouts. He said he was with relatives since Thursday noon and would be held as a material witness. Police expect his wife to appear. attorney Abraham Marovitz said Freed may reveal details of the case.
Washington reporting that the National Labor Relations Board seeks a rehearing in New Orleans to enforce the National Labor Relations Act against Jones and Laughlin Steel Corp. as tensions rise over unionization of about 90 000 steel workers in a $5 billion industry. The board argues the act protects peace and commerce while employers oppose it citing states rights and prior court rulings.
Riverhead New York July 6 Mrs Pauline V Rogers widow of Col Henry Huddleston Rogers lost her surrogates court bid to set aside a waiver of dower rights valued at about 100000 cash and an estimated 125000 annual income from the Rogers estate. She testified she signed the waiver in January 1934 without reading it after trust in lawyer Adrian H Larkin. The surrogate refused to alter the waiver keeping the estate terms intact.
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