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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Jun 29, 1949
Page
1
Partly cloudy weather dominates Alabama and Tennessee with scattered thundershowers. Local social news includes visits between families in Cleveland and Decatur, church events at Central Methodist Church, Kiwanis speaker Charles Gamble in Birmingham, and various visits and appointments across Alabama and neighboring states.
A federal jury must decide if Judith Coplon, 28, a former justice official, is guilty of spying for Russia. Prosecutors painted her as willing to sell out the United States, while the defense called her a victim of a frameup. If convicted, she faces up to 13 years.
A collision on the old Florence road near Moulton injured W. J. Lefever a 19 year old electrician. James C. Goodwin a 20 year old tractor operator and Robert P. Byars a 27 year old farmer drove into a curve obscured by tall grass. Property damage is estimated at about 400 dollars.
GUNTERSVILLE Ala June 29 One woman is dead and two others hospitalized after a collision six miles from yesterday in heavy rain. Mrs Doggette 57 died in the collision her husband a local tractor and farm implement dealer seriously injured Hershell Breedwell and Cirgil Shelton both of Guntersville also hurt Shelton treated for minor injuries Funeral services for Mrs Doggette set for 3 PM tomorrow in Guntersville
The senate judiciary committee postponed action on a bill to raise penalties for lottery operators. A subcommittee will report back next Wednesday. Some members warned the measure could affect veterans and charity raffles. Senator Boutwell said the goal is to crack down on policy rackets with fines up to 500 dollars and possible jail for first offenses, rising to 1000 with mandatory jail for subsequent convictions. Birmingham Police Commissioner Connor urged jail on first offense to disrupt ticket sales.
A writ of habeas corpus is requested by Ennis Loyd who seeks release from a 150 day sentence for assault and battery. He argues the May 23 conviction was void and seeks Chief Whitmire’s evidence. a hearing is set with Circuit Judge Newton B. Powell at 4 P. M. Loyd, held in city jail, was fined 75 dollars with 3 cents a day until served. Sherman Powell represents Loyd. Peach and Caddell Shanks represent the city.
City police reported slight damage and no injuries from two wrecks. One collision at Sixth Avenue and Sherman Street involved J. H. Ryan and John Robert McMillan. A second accident on Lee Street involved Lamar Penney and J. D. Hadley.
The house reduced its housing bill to senate size. It cut public housing from 1,050,000 to 10,000 units and the annual subsidy from 400,000,000 to 308,000,000, matching the senate’s action.
The AFL seeks to kill the administration labor bill while administration allies push a final vote on Truman housing measures. CIO general counsel Arthur Goldberg warns the Taft Hartley act looms unless elections alter the balance. Alabama reporter Clarke Stallworth testifies about night rider floggings before a House panel on federal civil rights legislation as Taft leads opposition to chief of staff plans. Senate mood shifts toward a final labor vote but prospects look bleak for the administration bill.
Morgan County high school principal Haywood I. Reams resigns to become state director of guidance and counseling for the Veterans Administration in Montgomery. John Harding of Sulligent will replace him, bringing 12 years in Cullman schools and advanced education degrees.
A Senate constitutional amendment proposal by Senator T. F. Burnside would authorize a 40 million dollar road building program over four years with 12.5 million to state and 27.5 million to counties. It requires no new taxes and falls short of Governor Folsom's 80 million dollar request.
Kenneth McLemore, convicted of first degree manslaughter for the Speake school knife slaying in 1946, was denied a new trial after an Appeals Court reversal. Robert and Charles Hubbard, both negroes, were denied new trials on grand larceny and calf theft convictions with four years and two and a half years respectively in the state penitentiary.
A survey of industrial and public figures sketches divergent views on the present slump. Some predict 18 months more, others see recovery by early 1950, while auto chiefs foresee a brief but pivotal 60 to 90 day window. Retailers and buyers estimate nine more months of weakness with prices stabilizing later.
Work started on the Westminster Presbyterian church education building planned in 1941. The two story brick addition, designed by Van Keuren and Davis Birmingham architects, will be built by Elton Reeves Decatur general contractor and finished by November. The project includes offices, classrooms, a memorial chapel, an auditorium with stage and fireplace, plus rear remodeling of the existing church.
The TVA transferred 14 000 acres to the Alabama Conservation Department for Guntersville and Wheeler reservoirs shoreland. One tract 8 193 acres at Mud Creek near Scottsboro, the other 6 242 acres at Swan Creek near Decatur. Land described as low lying and suitable for duck and goose shooting grounds.
The House Local Legislation Committee announced a July 13 hearing at 10 AM on a bill to permit annexation of outlying Jefferson County areas by the city of Birmingham. The measure would offer a referendum to decide which towns join the Birmingham Metropolitan area and would absorb unincorporated sections into the city if approved.
Low flying nationalist bombers attacked the Chapei district of Shanghai killing at least two and injuring more than 100. Rescue teams pulled the wounded from cratered buildings as ambulances ferried victims. Plane counts varied from two to six as bombs struck near Lunghwa airport and the Bubbling Well cemetery.
Decatur mayor says four dogs tested rabid since Friday prompting orders to muzzle pen or shoot any dog in Fairview and nearby areas. Health lab director confirms spike as state inoculation laws cited, with rabies fatal within days.
Birmingham News reporter Clancy E. Lake told a House Judiciary sub committee that night riding violence in Jefferson county Alabama may hinder the grand jury inquiry. He cited floggings lynch threats and hooded mobs near Birmingham and Dora in Walker county.
A Birmingham grand jury will begin a special session Friday to investigate mob violence by robed and hooded bands in Jefferson County. Solicitor Emmett Perry says all evidence from state and county officers will be presented, including floggings of an ex navy veteran and a coal miner, a woman manhandled at her home, and cross burnings at multiple locations. He did not discuss individual cases.
Clarke Stallworth, a 23 year old Birmingham Post reporter, testified before a civil rights sub committee about a June 3 assault four miles from Dora by about 150 men in white robes. He spoke of a mother and daughter lashed with a leather belt and threatened with hanging, and named a suspect as Oscar Lee Colvert.
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