19 Jun 1939
Page 1
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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Jun 19, 1939
Page
1
Velma West, an inmate who killed her husband with a hammer, escaped from the Ohio reformatory for women in Marysville with three other prisoners. West had pleaded guilty to second degree murder and faced a five year to life sentence. she had previously been denied parole.
Amendment No. 1 would let any felon except capital cases plead guilty and begin serving sentence without waiting for grand jury indictment. It avoids jail delay and reduces costs, with safeguards requiring counsel and a 15 day waiting period after arrest. Adoption would curb coercion risks and shorten grand jury proceedings while easing state expenses.
Mobile authorities pursue a Black man after a Saturday night assault on a middle aged white woman in a wealthy city district. The victim lies in serious condition with bruises and shock as officers and the state toxicologist investigate at a bloodstained residence. A Coast Guard member fired at the suspect during the escape, and a $50 reward was posted.
A Cobb county coroner's jury ordered Dr. J. S. Freeman held for the Cobb county grand jury on murder charges in the burning death of Atlanta truck driver Aaron Saunders. The jury ruled Saunders died from burns inflicted by unknown parties and ordered Freeman kept without bond until July. Witnesses had seen Saunders in an abandoned truck near Smyrna as flames blocked his face. Freeman said he tried to rescue him but flames engulfed the cab.
Funeral services for Billy Joyce Schrimsher two year old daughter of Mrs Ruby Schrimsher were held at 1 pm at 511 E Wilson Ave Rev Edward V Ramage officiated Burial followed at Roselawn cemetery burial directors Mc Afee and Young The child died of colitis at Benevolent Society hospital at 9 am Sunday Surviving besides the mother is sister Mary Helen
Fremont Ohio June 19 P prosecutor A L Hyzer said Velma Baker Fink confessed she killed her 10 week old son Haldon known as Buster whose body was found in a Clyde ox creek after a lie detector test following the infant’s burial in Clyde cemetery The confession came in the presence of Sheriff Myers a deputy Mrs Oran Baker Edwin Baker and Howard G Robinson The divorced mother who quarreled with her mother over the child said she planned to get rid of it Prosecutor Hyzer to file first degree murder affidavit
A naval inquiry board led by Rear Admiral William T. Tarrant opened hearings into the May 23 sinking of the submarine Squalus off Portsmouth New Hampshire. The 33 crew members who survived the disaster attended the closed session, seeking answers about how water flooded the vessel at 240 feet.
A Sunday morning message by Rev. Earl Hotalen of the Alabama Temperance Alliance argued that the Alabama beverage control act failed to solve liquor problems. An offering supported temperance work. Evening services featured the Sunshine Gospel Trio and Miss Otilla Mauch delivering a faith driven message about forgiveness.
Ruth Marie Rubens, long labeled Soviet Russia mystery prisoner, visited the U S embassy in Moscow on business. She had been convicted June 9 for entering on a false passport and an 18 month sentence was ruled completed after an extra day, with release ordered.
Washington June 19 The House moves to pass a business tax revision urged by business groups. The bill would remove the tax on undistributed corporate profits and set an 18 percent rate for firms earning over 25 000 a year while keeping lower rates for smaller incomes. A separate fight targets an extension of presidential monetary powers to devalue the dollar and support a stabilization fund and silver purchases.
Senator Wagner of New York urged the Senate to extend the administration's emergency monetary powers for two more years, arguing the need to continue wartime financial authority.
A Senate commerce subcommittee advanced an omnibus rivers and harbors bill totaling 407,855,600 for projects including the Tombigbee Gulf of Mexico link and river improvements. The panel approved most Army Engineer proposals for navigation, power, flood control and incidental benefits while tabling separate consideration of the Connecticut River upgrade.
Prime Minister Chamberlain told the House of Commons Britain and Japan are in talks in London and Tokyo to resolve the Trentain blockade crisis. Removal of Britons from the blockaded concessions is under consideration as the siege nears six days. Admiral Yarnell arrived at Tientsin. electrified fences described in the British concession. Goebbels spoke of a Danzig plebiscite but gave no timing for return to the Reich.
British authorities weigh evacuation as the six day blockade of the British and French concessions in Tientsin continues. A possible water shortage prompts rationing while a British destroyer revisits Chinwangtao Peitaiho. Officials accuse Japan of food delivery restrictions and profiteering amid stalled trade and rising prices.
William F Patterson aged 60 a furniture salesman was found dead today hanging by an electric cord from a gas pipe in the basement of his Washington home His daughter Myrtle Patterson said he had suffered a nervous disorder Patterson who came here twenty years ago from Sheffield Alabama is survived by his wife and two daughters Myrtie and Eather Patterson
Frank Morgan testified in federal court about a proposed $6,000 funding plan to send William P. Buckner Jr to the Philippines. The goal was to manipulate Philippine railway bonds and cover Buckner’s travel and personal expenses. James W. Liddle of Buffalo, N C, also testified bonds Buckner sold him as a good buy fell in price afterward after similar funding offers.
The June term of circuit court reconvened under Judge W. W. Callahan after a recess. Glenn Butler goes on trial for assault to murder linked to the 1936 Buford Bennett knife slashing. Richard Brown faces second degree murder in the Lundy slaying, with Jack Hall also charged in a separate assault to murder. Three capital cases set for Thursday involve Will Lewis Jerry Middleton and Helen Strong all charged with murder.
The Decatur Rotary Club program led by the international relations committee featured Prof. O. B. Hagerman delivering a talk on world map changes and Europe. A 25 question true or false quiz followed, with good club participation and W. A. Cox of Athens present as a visitor.
John Wardlow at 903 Beach Street exhibited an odd egg laid by a hen. The brown shell features a white patchwork design showing an owl and a bluebird on a limb with an airplane at the opposite end. The egg is described as one of the most unusual in the area.
A posse pursuing Ray Olson, 35, the suspect in the killings of two volunteer deputies, was reported to be shooting it out with the fugitive in the Moose Lake area of Hayward Wisconsin as of late today according to the sheriff’s office.
R. W. Shepherd of WPA area one announced the agency will release every farm experienced worker on the rolls to farmers during the emergency caused by heavy rains and rampant weeds. Farmers in Morgan County should contact B. G. Hall at the county agent’s office in Hartselle to arrange labor needs with wage rates in line with local field hands. County agents warn the emergency is serious and every effort must be made within 10 days to save crops. WPA facilities are available to assist nationwide counties including Lauderdale, Colbert, and Franklin where calls for help have been light.
Alabama farmers face 50 percent crop damage from 36 straight days of rain. Forecasters predict more showers with a partly cloudy night. boll weevil reports rise and extension service notes oat and fruit damage around a third to nearly half in many areas. Garden vegetables and pastures benefit from the excess rainfall.
John A. Caddell of the Peach and Caddell firm is elected a member of the state bar commission representing the eighth judicial circuit. The commission forms the examining group for new lawyers and handles ethical conduct matters. His term runs until July 1, 1942.
A permit was issued to Rev. Glenn Tingley to erect a brick veneer church on Sixth Avenue and Sixth Street South. The project costs $1200 with an estimated three months to completion.
The river gauge measured 20.1 feet as temperatures reached a high of 90 and a low of 74 in the last 24 hours. Rainfall totaled 0.02 inch. Alabama forecast partly cloudy tonight with gentle to moderate rain Tuesday and slightly cooler conditions on the way.
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