31 May 1939
Page 1
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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
May 31, 1939
Page
1
About 125 Boy Scouts from Morgan County join Decatur health officials in a summer mosquito survey. The city is split into five sections with four inspections planned. unaddressed issues will be referred to the health department for persuasion.
Albany, May 31. Rescuers hauled Lillian Hardy and John Cannon from a forested cliff on Helderberg Mountain after a fall from a picnic site. Hardy, 25, suffered a fractured leg and possible back injuries and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Cannon, 27, had severe injuries. The six hour rescue involved state troopers Albany police and firemen. Both residents of Albany, the pair toppled last night at a favored picnic spot miles west of Albany. Hundreds watched as rescuers worked amid ledges and trees on the sheer drop.
Morris Berber’s rag shop suffered a third damaging fire in two years. He already endured a severe injury from a 800 pound bale of paper and later a car accident that broke three ribs followed by a broken leg from a weight falling. Despite the setbacks, he remains undaunted.
Major General George Van Horn Moseley testified before the House committee on un American activities that he warned army officials of a plot to overthrow the government. He cited music scores sent by James Campbell as the source of the information and described meetings tied to New York and Atlanta figures.
Governor Frank M. Dixon accused a national advisory board plan to raise the wage-hour minimum as aimed at expanding Northern industry while curbing Southern growth. He noted dissent from Alabama’s P. O. Davis and said current 30 cents should stand. A hearing in Atlanta June 26 before Elmer F. Andrews could approve or reject the 32.5 cent proposal, effective July 1.
The Alabama Milk Control Board announced a new price schedule in Birmingham reducing retail milk costs by one cent per quart and authorizing cream price reductions while buttermilk prices stay the same.
Delano Park will launch its season Thursday with all three park areas active under WPA supervision. The opening program starts at 2:00 PM with Rev. L H Knight delivering the address, followed by a marionette show by the Lonesome Girl Scout troop. Boxing bouts and a softball game cap the afternoon. Areas include softball behind the armory, play areas and crafts, tennis, swimming and games. The park operates daily 1 PM to 6 PM through summer, with Decatur adding $200 for playground equipment.
John Smith a 50 year old farmer from Somerville route 1 was injured when his truck overturned on Priceville mountain at 430 pm yesterday causing a leg crush that necessitated amputation below the knee. He remained conscious and was taken to Baugh's Infirmary for treatment.
Dr Eduard Benes former president of Czecho slovakia dedicated the Czech pavilion at the New York world’s fair. He challenged the legality of the German protectorate over Czechslovakia and predicted liberty for the Czech people is inevitable.
Stephen Paine, former partner of Paine Webber and Co., one of the nation’s largest brokerage houses, was indicted by a federal grand jury on 17 counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy in New York.
Marie Watson 16 rushed seven blocks to a hospital with her 6 year old brother in her arms as four younger siblings collapsed after ingesting poison capsules given by their destitute mother Ida Watson 34. The mother fatally wounded herself with a knife after a note urged turning to death. sheriff to decide case.
Due to bad weather the Decatur Elks Lodge moved the half holiday barbecue to the Armory from the Peebles plantation near Mooresville. Lodge officers say ground would remain too wet for outdoors even if rain stops. Barbecue and Brunswick stew start at 1 p.m. and run to 5 p.m.
The Associated Press reports 372 lives lost during the four day Memorial Day holiday period from Saturday to Tuesday. Highway crashes led with more than 205 deaths, 85 drownings followed, plus airplane crashes shootings and accidents. States tallied dozens of fatalities with New York 34 Illinois 23 California 22 and Indiana 20 among the highest counts.
The United States asked ten major cotton exporting nations to attend a Washington conference on September 5 to discuss a possible world cotton marketing agreement. Invited countries include Egypt France Great Britain India Mexico Peru Sudan Soviet Russia Argentina and Brazil.
The Squalus rescue reveals two divers John Mihalowski and William Badders braved 40 fathoms in the rescue bell. For four hours and two minutes they cracked a hatch to determine if further life remained aboard, risking their lives to save survivors.
Montgomery May 31 A dire picture of municipal money problems was paired with a request for new city revenue sources. Alabama League of Municipalities spokesmen urged legislation to raise share of automobile license fees and liquor profits, gain sales tax receipts, and exempt fuel from state gasoline tax for municipal operations. They argued cities lack funds for a minimum service program and face increased debt costs due to rigid tax limits.
Roy C. Henderson 35 of 6514 Johnston Street, chief electrician at Goodyear Mills, is in critical condition at Benevolent Society Hospital after his clothing ignited from a shorted switch box. Fellow workers beat out flames with a mop and pulled burning cloth from him. Henderson sustained serious burns to the chest back and face with minor burns elsewhere. several days of observation are anticipated.
Hope Brewster, 24, the Memphis violinist who paddled 19 hours solo down the Mississippi to Helena two months ago, fractured her ankle yesterday during an outing with the Memphis Academy of Arts after tripping over a logging chain.
Bob Jones College awarded the Doctor of Divinity to Rev. John C Cowell Jr pastor of Central Baptist Church Decatur Alabama at convocation. Dr Cowell, since 1937, has added about 600 members to his church and previously worked as an assistant cashier in Fay etteville NC. He studied at Moody Bible Institute and joined evangelistic work. He is active in the Alabama Baptist convention and temperance groups.
An explosion tore through a two story frame schoolhouse in Barberton injuring 30 to 40 pupils from the first through fifth grades. Many children were led to Barberton Citizens Hospital and Barberton Clinic with facial cuts and bruises as rescuers cleared debris. Authorities suggested a natural gas ignition as a possible cause while U S Light and East Ohio Gas officials visited the site.
The United Mine Workers announce that Republic Steel Corporation’s Alabama coal mines will restart operations Thursday. Wages and hours will mirror those in effect before the April 1 expiration of the prior two-year contract. The union shop clause is not included.
In Moscow on May 31 Premier Foreign Minister Molotov rejected the latest British French peace offer as inadequate, warns Russia will guard its frontiers and Outer Mongolia, and signals possible resumption of talks with Germany. He critics reciprocity clauses and notes no progress on Baltic states while stressing Russian strength and resolve.
London reports Molotov's speech to the Soviet parliament as a rejection of Britain’s three power mutual assistance proposal. British and French officials express surprise and disappointment as expectations collapse.
In Baltimore on May 31 six people aboard the 37-foot cabin cruiser Wild Duck escaped death when an explosion 300 yards out in the Patapsco river set the vessel burning. Co-owner William Rickert was blown overboard. his wife Helen, Frederick Teffner and Dorothy Hanley and Harry Bigal jumped clear. Rescued by officers Eber and Harris, all suffered burns or shock. The blast was blamed on a back-fire.
The Tennessee river gauge stands at 20.3 feet with a rising level. Temperatures ranged from a high of 84 to a low of 170 for the past 24 hours, and rainfall reached 18 inches in parts of Alabama and the extreme north. Florida expected showers tonight and Thursday with moderate coastal winds. Tennessee also forecast showers on Thursday with a likely temperature change.
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