24 Dec 1962
Page 1
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Newspaper
Raleigh Register
Location
Beckley, West Virginia, United States of America
Date
Dec 24, 1962
Page
1
In Elisabethville Katanga gendarmes and Ethiopian U.N. troops clashed near the Union Miniere mining site. A U.N. helicopter was shot down and nine aboard, three Swedes and six Indians, were captured with one minor injury reported. Tshombe denied casualties on Katanga’s side.
Federal Judge William E Miller declared a mistrial in the conspiracy case against Teamster leader James Hoffa after jurors reported deadlock. He ordered a grand jury probe into alleged bribery attempts, to begin in January, as Hoffa and aides faced payoffs charge. The mistrial followed nine weeks of testimony and three tampering reports, with Hoffa’s entourage guiding him from the Nashville courtroom.
The mercy airlift for Bay of Pigs prisoners resumes as Fidel Castro confirms delivery of the $70 million ransom in drugs, medical supplies, and food. The first planes carry 109 and 108 freed inmates, totaling 433 freed to date with 471 remaining. at Homestead, captives receive meals, clothing, and $100 checks before reuniting with relatives.
A feature discusses Jesus birth timing from Saint Matthew and Saint Luke, tracing Herod's death to 4 B C and narrowing Nativity to 7 or 6 B C. It surveys calendar changes, Roman taxation, and planetary alignments from Kepler to Burke Gaffney while noting shepherding lore and winter solstice traditions.
A holiday traffic death estimate for a 102 hour period from 6 p m Friday to midnight Tuesday ranges between 650 and 750 fatalities. Howard Pyle of the safety council predicts as few as 550 if trends hold, aiming for the safest Christmas on record. The United Press tally at 12 30 p m today reports 354 deaths in traffic accidents since Friday, with California leading at 29 and Illinois at 27, while Texas 24 and Florida 15 follow among the states.
United Press International reports a white Christmas across the Northeast and Midwest, with snow from Floydada Texas to New Mexico and New York’s Boonville tallying seven inches in nine hours. Strong winds, temperatures plummeting to minus 20 in several locales, and a Weather Bureau warning of a cold wave extending to Georgia and Mississippi set the mood for holiday weather.
Cloudy and cold conditions prevail in West Virginia with highs in the 20s and lows near 15. Snow spreads from the south to the north tonight with continued cold through Tuesday. Five day forecast shows below normal temperatures and light to moderate precipitation on several days. National note: Drummond Montana records 28 below and Fort Myers Florida 83 on Sunday.
West Virginia holiday traffic toll rose to four dead since the 6 p.m. Friday start, bringing 1962 highway fatalities to 414. Victims include Gans Ridgeway, 61, Morgantown. Robert S. Haga, 19, Cleveland. Richard L. Gammons, 36, Fairman Mercer County. and George H. Baxter, 51, Fleming.
In Broughton Nova Scotia a farmer and nine of his ten children died when fire destroyed their small home. Mrs Hazel Bateman escaped and was taken to hospital in shock. Snow hindered fire crews. neighbors had to report from a colliery. The dead included Robert Bateman and children Robert 11 Jean 9 Daniel 8 Norman 6 Addie 4 Kathy 3 Debbie 2 Nancy 1 Charlotte 5 months.
Two children, Steve Hyre eight and Helen six, burned to death when a two story frame house burned near Ireland in Braxton County, West Virginia. Parents Ralph and Mrs Hyre were asleep on the first floor and escaped to hospital with shock and burns. The blaze, likely from a defective chimney on a coal stove, started about 4 am and the home caved in soon after a passerby arrived. The victims’ father had just returned from Clarksburg VA hospital and used crutches after a fractured foot.
A lighthearted NEA note observes that a bright child stands out by sending his parents carbon copies of letters to Santa, highlighting a playful Christmas behavior.
Havana UPI reports the airlift to move Cuban invasion prisoners out of Cuba-cleared flights from San Antonio de los Banos to Miami ended after 20 months separation. The first of several planes arrived at Homestead Air Force Base at 8 48 p m, with prisoners greeted by families amid hopeful scenes. Officials planned continued shuttles to safety for remaining captives, despite prior delays and a $70 million ransom.
New York. A strike by 75,000 dockworkers paralyzed East Coast and Gulf of Mexico ports. ILA leaders rejected Kennedy’s 90 day truce, as 5 p.m. EST deadline ended the Taft Hartley cooling off period. Glory of the ILA predictions claimed a short strike while freighters completed loading before the deadline. Coast Guard to inspect ships for dangerous cargo as Ama freighter draws close scrutiny.
UPI reports the U S Air Force intercepted a high flying Russian TU114 transport about 50 miles east of West Palm Beach. F102 fighters from Homestead Air Force Base scrambled to intercept late Saturday and the jet was allowed to continue toward Havana. NORAD said the interception was routine.
Robert K. Burleson, 18, was arrested at the Johnny Dollar Super Market at 12:06 a.m. for a suspected attempt to commit a felony. Police found a hacksaw blade on him and two more in his car. He admitted trying to break in and was jailed at 2 a.m. to await arraignment and grand jury action after posting $500 bond.
Raymond S. Eaton urged authorities to “use all your planes” and evacuate, hoping Castro may release the 23 jailed Americans. He added that “after today Mr. Castro may be in a good mood” and warned that an unpredictable leader in a positive mood could ease the situation.
New York figure Thomas W. Gleason, known as Teddy Gleason, vice president of the International Longshoremen's Association, warned of a quick labor stoppage by dockworkers saying they are weak and that they will be “licked” swiftly.
A Veterans Administration spokesman notes many Civil War widows survive because late 19th century hardship made a veteran with steady income an attractive marriage prospect. This led some young women to seek inheritable pensions, extending widowhood beyond typical expectations.
The Hong Kong Times said about 50 Chinese Nationalist commandoes landed on the China mainland December 20 and blew up a people’s commune. They reportedly arrived from the mainland in four or five boats along the Guangdong Province coast.
In Bethlehem Jordan, more than 2,500 Israelis crossed the Mandelbaum Gate on a biannual break in the Arab-Israeli dispute for a Christmas pilgrimage. About 5,000 more were due, joining pilgrims from the United States and Europe as the border remains fortified. Israelis must exit Jordan by Tuesday and may not reenter until next Easter.
The Raleigh Register staff extends holiday greetings to readers. The paper will not publish tomorrow as employees observe Christmas at home with their families. Subscribers will receive a morning copy instead. Merry Christmas.
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