The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 1

WEATHER TODAY Fair, Mild Temperatures Yesterday High, 56; Low, 35 VOL. 44. XO. 1M i The Indianapolis tam TELEPHONE RI.7311 Irvington Br. IR.

0460 Fountain Sq. Br. FR.2221 fo) In) FAIR AND FIRST FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 6, 1946 FIVE CENTS i 4 The Day. In Indiana By Maurice Early Farmers Assemble View Grand Canyon Avced By Big Chasm Reach Coast Today Many Are Retired Coal Shutdown Layoffs Skyrocket 4 Desperate Kids. Face Police As Escapade Ends In Death State Conference Ordered As Union 'Feels For Peace' Teen-Agers Plotted Brutal Roadside Shooting, Police Say Two teen-age youths and their girl friends admitted last night that they deliberately had planned and executed the slaying in cold blood of an Indiana state trooper yes-; tcrday afternoon near Shelbyville.

an" 0 1 1 I Si Washington, Dec. 5 JP John L. Lewis' camp put out a peace feeler in the 'soft coal strike today even as the CIO rushed to join him in his appeal against his contempt conviction. Meanwhile, President Truman went to work on a major Sunday night broadcast, in which he is expected to appeal to the 400,000 striking miners over the head of their leader. William Green, president of the AFL, with which Lewis' United Mine Workers is affiliated, urged the government to arrange for negotiations between the union Detroit, Dec.

5 (PiThe Ford Motor Company laid off 20,000 men effective at midnight tonight and announced that 20,000 more will be released Friday night be cause of the coal shortage. and the private owners for a settlement which would end the walkout. HIS OVERTURE was delivered amid these prime developments: IThe White House announced the President will speak to the country on the coal crisis at 8:30 p.m. (CST) Sunday. It seemed certain he will urge the miners to return to work on patriotic grounds.

And he might have something to say on the negotiations Green proposed, 2 With Lewis bock in seclusion, union attorneys filed formal notice of an appeal from the civil and criminal contempt convictions. One of them, Henry Kaiser, said steps will be taken to get the appeal promptly before the Supreme Court, but today's action was a petition to the intermediate Fed eral Circuit court oi Appeals. There was no word on the status of the bond the union was ordered to post for payment of its whop ping fine. 3 Philip Murray, president oi the CIO. who broke with Lew is four years ago, announced that "we intend to take whatever steps are necessary to participate in the appeal.

THE FINE AND injunction against the miners thus pro vided a rallying point for labor's divided forces, while bringing no end to the bituminous strike. Murray, once a vice-president of the UMW but later Lewis' foe, declared the court action "a shocking attempt to force Ameri can citizens to work against their will through economic coercion." Green's appeal for negotiating sessions appeared highly significant in view of the current deadlock and its background. It seemed unlikely it would have been issued without the knowledge of Lewis, an AFL vice-president, but there was no immediate comment from him or from the government and the owners. The government sought union- operator negotiations from the start as a means of restoring tne mines to private ownership. After Turn to Page 19, Column 4 The trooper, Herbert Wade Smith, 20 years old, of Shelby-vlllo, died In his automobile on Ind.

9, three miles north of Shelbyville yesterday afternoon after having been caught by surprise when one of the youths opened fire. The teen-agers, captured by a huge posse, were: William Francis Price, 17, of Evansville, who signed the confession admitting firing the shot which killed the trooper. Pvt. William Johnson, 17, of uvansvme, wno said ne was AWOL from Camp Campbell, Kentucky. Vera Hornbeck, 15, of Anderson Mary Ruth Ward, 14, of Evans ville.

PRICE, A parolee from the In diana Boys' School, was freed from the Madison County Jail In Anderson 19 after having been arrested on a vehicle taking charge. The release order, which Another Picture on Page 20 from E. C. Owen, director of social service for the Boys' School, was criticized bitterly last night by Anderson police and Col Austin R. KUlian, state police su perintendent.

Held on open charges, the four were taken last night from state police headquarters here to the Shelby County Jail. The posse, composed of 300 men, and one of the largest in Indiana history, captured the quartet In a cornfield about two miles from the scene of the shooting. The suspects fled Into the corn-Price's Confession on Page 28 field after driving about one-half mile from the shooting scene In their automobile. SEVEN AIRPLANES aided the posse in the manhunt, and the suspects were spotted from a plane by State Police Detective Earl Smith, who signaled the posse by mnklng a series of sharp turns directly above the quartet. After being wounded fatally, Trooper Smith returned the flro of Price and retreated to his police car for shelter and to call via radio for help.

BJt Price's shot had struck him Just above the heart, and he collapsed In the automobile, helpless to fire again or to summon aid. Trooper Smith died a few minutes after Ray Fox, a farmer living nearby, had reached his side. The trooper's revolver, its six cartridge chambers empty, was lying In the seat beside him. Examination later of a snub-nosed revolver used by Price showed that five shots had been fired from it. Events leading up to the shoot- Mud-Stained Girls Tell Sordid Story By MARY E.

BOSTWICK Two frightened, frowzy young girls, mud-stained and with their hands handcuffed behind them, stood in State Police headquarters late yesterday afternoon and told a sordid story of a three-day escapade with two boy friends In a stolen car, an escapade that ended in the fatal shootlhg of Trooper Herbert Wade Smith and their own capture in a Shelby County cornfield. Vera Hornbeck, whose home Is In Anderson, Is 15 years old. The other girl, Mary Ruth Ward of Evansville, is 14. The two boys William Francis Price and Pvt. William Johnson, both are 17 In all, a grand total of 63 for the quartet.

The Hornbeck girl, who said she Is a high school sophomore, wore a soiled and wrinkled blue gray coat, red bobby socks and scuffed saddle oxfords; her light brown Grand Canyon, Dec. 5. TTIOR THE first time since the more than 1,000 Hoosiers de perted from St. Louis Tuesday night on the four Indiana Farm Bureau special Pullman trains for the Golden Gate, they were all assembled at one spot here today to see one of the seven wonders of the world, the titan of chasms. FOR TWO NIGHTS and a day the four 14-coach trains ran sev eral miles apart through Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona, At times the No.

2 train would pull alongside of No. 1 when there were stops. But the persons on the last two trains were as remote to the groups on the first two as if they were in another world. MOST OF THE Hoosiers saw the Grand Canyon for the first time. One of the farmers, as the group approached the rim of the mile-deep wonder, guessed that it must be a mile to the other side.

The guide book says It is 15 miles. Lawrence Jackson, a Rush County farmer from Mil-roy, stood in wonder for a moment, awed by the spectacle, and then observed "and just to think the only thing it's good for is just what we are doing now." Carl Naylor and C. B. Crider, both from Greenfield, agreed that the spectacle was not disappointing. GEORGE W.

STOCKTON of White County said he overheard the best piece of "corn" about the gigantic chasm that nature has been making for untold millions of years. He said he overheard a woman ask "When did they make it?" "IT WAS A WPA job during the 1930s" the woman was advised. But it was agreed by the Hoosiers that man is just a pin point in comparison to the more than 200-mile long canyon which is so vast that even man cannot mar it. WHILE 1,000 persons make a sizable crowd, there was little congestion. The Hoosiers spread out during the day, taking bus side trips or walks along the rim of the canyon.

There were several hours of sightseeing for all members on the trip. The first train pulled to the rim of the canyon two hours ahead of schedule and the last train, which was held up for brake repairs at Albuquerque, was only one hour late, arriving before noon. AT 3 O'CLOCK this afternoon the journey to the West Coast was resumed. The trains are scheduled to arrive In Los Angeles tomorrow morning. There wiil be a day of sightseeing there and an overnight trip down to San Diego.

From that southern California city many of the tourists expect to take a sightseeing trip into Mexico. A GOODLY portion of the persons on the trip either are recently retired from farm work or are planning to turn their acres over to the next generation. For the most part they have worked hard during the war years and are relaxing now. TYPICAL OF this group jn the party is Daniel B. Wann of Chalmers.

He had been farming 300 acres, but decided to retire with the end of the war. Now his acres are being farmed by his son, who is a veteran of the Eighth Air Force. MR. AND MRS. Vernon Hinkle, conductors of the tour, find the Indiana farmers one of the best groups they have ever handled in their many years of experience.

Considering the high average age of the 1,075 persons, they regard it as remarkable that there has been no serious illness. Mr. Hinkle recalls that the first special train he took to the coast by way of the Grand Canyon, was the Hoosier special that went to the 19Z0 Democ ratio convention at Fraadaeas Squeeze of the Indiana coal shortage crisis idled hundreds more railroaders and industrial employes yesterday. Meanwhile, Charles W. Kern, state labor commissioner, was rushing homeward from Washington, D.C., with instructions from Governor Ralph F.

Gates to arrange a meeting tomorrow with Indiana officials of the United Mine Workers of America and key representatives of Indiana coal operators. The Hoosier coal conference was ordered by the Governor after he surprised the nation yesterday with his proposal to Interior Secretary J. A. Krug that mines be turned back to their owners, ending government operation, and that each state settle the controversy within its borders. ONLY HINT that Governor Gates planned his surprise move before leaving for Washington to attend a Republican National Committee meeting was revela- Whether the lights go on In Christmas decorations at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument will depend on the coal strike, but workers erecting the Yuletime displays there plan to be ready for that event.

Lights be strung among the Monument's foliage ready for illumination on a moment's notice. A Nativity scene, manufactured in Tyrol, Italy, is expected to arrive here for installation within a few days. tion by the State Labor Department that the Governor ordered Kern, in the capital attending a meeting of labor commissioners, to meet him Wednesday night In a Washington hotel. Kern expects to have answers from representatives of the miners and coal operators by 10 o'clock this morning on whether they will attend the meeting, and inform Governor Gates immediately of the results. Governor Gates will return from Washington to attend the meeting if it is arranged.

Latest developments were: IAt South Bend, Oliver Corporation officials said its plant will close today because of the fuel lack and rail embargo, bringing the layoff of nearly 2,000 employes there and about 10,000 others in plants in six other Midwestern cities. THE BEXDIX Aviation Corporation put its automotive section, employing 2,500 persons, on a four-day week, effective at once. Alva Phelps, Oliver president, said shipment of repair parts to the nation's farmers will be continued. 2 Two Terre Haute plants, the Stran-Steel Division of the Great Lakes Steel Corporation, will lay off more than 500, and the Highland Iron and Steel Cor- Turn to Page 16, Column 1 deputy solid fuels administrators would permit the use of National Guard troops either to protect miners in a return to work, or in the actual production of coal if it were deemed feasible. The disclosure came after a senator who had conferred with President Truman in an "off-the-record" session expressed an opinion that the President is determined to "fight this thing through to a finish." He defined "finish" as meaning until the miners return to the pits under the contract with the government THE INDICATION that the government might seek to use the powers of the state as well as those of the national government came as Solid Fuels Administration officials approved tentatively the proposal of Governor Gates that the state attempt a settlement of the mine strike within its Turn to Page 12, Column The Weather Jim Crow says: If you atked John L.

Lewis bow he feels, do you suppose be'd answer: Tine!" Indianapolis and Indiana Fair and fiia. The four youthful $uspecti held in connection with th fatal shooting of a state policeman near Shelbyville yesterday are shown at they were lined up at State Police Headquarter! here. Left to right: Vera Hornbeclt, 15 yean old, Anderson; Mary Ruth Ward, 14, Pvt. William Johnson, 17, and William Francij Price, 17, all of Eva ntville. The Price youth admitted firing the bullet which killed Trooper Herbert Smith, State Police said.

(Star Staff Photo.) Gates Hinted For President Governor Is Elected To GOP Committee INniANArOMK STAR, Bt'RfAU 1.17 tlonl ftHt Building Washington, Dec. 5 Governor Ralph F. Gates of Indiana Was formally elected Republican national committeeman today at the GOP National Committee annual meeting, amid Hoosier whispers of a "Gates for President" boom. The day seemed to belong to Indiana, for the speech of Representative Charles A. Halleck of Rensselaer at the opening session stole the show and overshadowed the statement of his most formidable opponent for the House speakership post, Representative Clarence Brown of The forceful Halleck was one of five speakers at the morning session, and followed Brown to the speaker's rostrum.

He was applauded three times during the course of his remarks to the gathering of political policy-makers, and most vigorously when he declared the Republican party would co-operate with President Truman during the next congressional ses- Turn to Page 17, Column' 4 Shelbyville Angered By Fatal Shooting By FAR WELL RHODES Star Staff Writer Shelbyville, Dec. 5 The peace and quiet of this southeastern Indiana city was rocked by the tragic, fatal shooting near here early this afternoon of one of its citizens, 29-year-old State Policeman Herbert Smith. Shelbyville's citizenry was literally up In arms, with merchants, farmers and high school youths shouldering guns and clubs and joining the 300-man posse which tracked down four youthful suspects in the crime. Grim-faced fellow stale policemen and townsmen of Trooper Smith crowded around the entrance of the Shelby County Jail as the four youths were led to two waiting cars late this afternoon for transportation to' State Police Headquarters at Indianapolis. PATROLMAN Smith and Ms wife, Mrs.

Virginia Smith, 31, had only lived here since last April, but have been well known and Turn to Page 16, Column 4 Carrier Boy Killed When Car Hits Bike Pictures on Page 15 Struck by an automobile as he was riding hig bicycle on his newspaper route, Willis Merle France, 12 years old, 827 South Coolidge Street, was injured fatally last night on U. S. 40, about five miles west of Indianapolis. Two other boys, his brother, Donald France, 15, and John Sturm, 14, 51.36 West Washington Street, were riding with him when the accident occurred. The victim was carried approximately 58 feet on the front of the car, and his bicycle was carried another 114 feet, state police reported.

THE AUTOMOBILE, westbound was driven by Byron Stanley, 32, of Greencastle, who told police he did not see the youth until the Impact occurred. He was not held. Leonard Cox, deputy coroner, reported that death was caused by a fractured skull, and that the youth also had suffered a pelvic fracture. The three boys had been riding on a shoulder of the highway, with Donald in front, and Willis riding alongside of the Sturm youth. State police said measurements indicated that the victim's bicycle was extending onto the highway when the crash occurred.

THE DEATH raised the 1946 Marion County traffic fatality toll to 41, and the combined toll for Indianapolis and the 'county to 98. Willis was a sixth grade student at Public School No. 14. Survivors, besides the brother, include his parents, Mr. and Mrs.

Phillip France; four other brothers, Phillip France Lewis France, Anthony France and Mark Wiyne France, and a lister. Mn. Laura GoattaJl oc 'todswaeoUM Vwrminr i i TROOPER HERBERT SMITH Killed In Line of Duty Ing were reconstructed last night by state police as follows; PRICB AND his companion! had been stopped by Trooper Smith after their car had made an Improper turn In the highway. He ordered them to drive the car behind his into Shelbyville, and meanwhile asked over hit police radio for. a routine check of the license numbers of their car, seeking to determine if It had been stolen.

The car had been stolen In Evansville, and as a result, Price stopped the car as he was driving along behind the state police car, and pretended he was having engine trouble. As the trooper walked back towards the stolon vehicle, Price suddenly opened fire with his revolver, and the gun battle ensued. All of the trooper's shots went wild. Trooper Smith was shot three times, two of the bullets grazing his neck. After the quartet's capture, which was effected without gunfire.

Anderson Dollce said Prlra was arrested, alone with nnnthor parolee, last Aug. 23 In Anderson on a vemcie-taking charge. AWAITING TRIAL, thev held In the Madison County Jail In Anderson until Sent. 39. whan they suddenly were released on, orders from Owen, Capt.

Fred V. Gossctt of the Anderson police department said, Owen emnhaslzed last nlirht that he had ordered Price's release on the basis of investigations made bv himself anil nthora Into the boy's activities. "His record has been good from the time he was paroled until he was arrested In Anderson," Owen said. Police Chief Morris Carter of Anderson declared, however, that neither he nor other members of his department had been consult Turn to Page 17, Column Coed Elevens To Battle In Powder Bowl Bloomington, Dec. 5 Spl.y, Two coed football teams, the Revlon Roughnecks and the Chanel Chargers, will square off In Indiana University's Memorial Stadium at 1:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon in the first Powder Bowl gridiron classic.

Sponsored by Sigma Delta Chi, national professional journalism fraternity, the game will be a benefit for the Community Chest drive and coins donated at the gate will be turned over to the local fund. There will be no admission fee. The coeds are students at I.U. -Lowell Nussbaum, columnist for The Indianaoolis Star, will serve as referee, and members of the Sigma Delta Chi chapter at Indiana will be Waterboys. A newsreei will be made of the game and.

the Indiana University Band may make an appearance between halves of the contest PR R- RHDH Truman Picks Group To Guard Civil Rights Gates Proposes Plan To End State Tie-Up hair was a frizzy mess, but she couldn't put It into any sort of order because of the handcuffs. THE WARD GIRL, who said she is a high school freshman, wore a wooly brown coat and a dark red baboushka kerchief tied around her hair. Her feet were bare. She had lost her shoes in the cornfield through which the quartet had fled like a covey of terrified quail after Trooper fcrnith had been kUJert. Both girls were mud-spattered Tiey were cold, miserable, fright ened and, as Mary Ruth Ward said, "sort of ashamed." They had no vanity left.

Without any oh Jegtion et all they faced a battery oi news pnotograpners, posing to gether, posing with the boys. The Hornbeck girl told a fan tastic story that may or may not have been culled from the pulp magazines or a movies. She said that last Monday night she went out back of her home, to "empty the scraps," and that two men came along in a car, forced her inside, and drove away, not stopping until they were near Evansville. She said she had known Price, and hunted him up Turn to Page 17, Column 1 money' which will provide the gifts, were 37 donors yesterday vhose contributions of $219.10 brought the Fund total to $690.60. Contributions to The Star Santa Claus Fund are received at The Star offices, 301 North Pennsylvania Street.

Santa Fund Donors .1. l. $1.00 In memory of my father and mother, Mrs. Charle Knotts 5.00 A friend SO.OO E. O.

I. 10.00 A friend S.00 In memory of grandparents from Edward and Donald Wall $.00 The Loyal Daughters 8un-, day School Class of the Manilla Christian Church, Scribbled Pleas For Dolls, Bubblegum Touch Star Santa Washlneton. Dec 5 (m Presl dent Truman, condemnine organ ized groups which fan "hatred and intolerance that cause mob violence, tonight set up a Civil Rights Committee to combat thpm. It was directed to study and recommend new civil rights legislation and other measures to nrn- tect "all parts of our population." As chairman, the president named Charles E. Wilson, nresi- dent of the General Electric Company and former executive vice-chairman of the old War Production Board.

THE PRESIDENT'S statement said that from time to time, in some places in this country, the freedom from fear r'has been gravely threatened." 'It was so after the last war." the. statement continued, "when organized groups fanned hatred and intolerance, until, at times, mob action struck fear into the hearts of men and women because of their racial origin or religious beliefs. "In some places, from time to Turn to Page 16, Column 6 Average Net Paid Clrculafloi November, 1946 Daily in Excess of 160,000 By JACK REED INDIANAPOLIS STAR BTKEAC 1397 National Pre Building Washington, Dec. 5 If the coal strike is not settled within a few hours after President Truman makes a radio appeal to the miners, drastic steps to mine coal in spite of John Lewis are in prospect, it was learned from authoritative sources tonight. Simultaneously Indiana's Governor Ralph Gates proposed to settle the mine dispute for Indiana independently of the Federal government.

The steps which have been suggested to President Truman and which are declared to have his serious consideration include: 1 Appointment of every Governor as a deputy solid fuels administrator with authority to "get out the coal." 2 Further prosecution of UMW President John L. Lewis under the Smith-Connally Act and possible extension of the prosecution to include other UMW officials. 3 Full utilization of the President's powers under the Second War Power Act to produce coaL THERE WAS no explanation of these latter steps, but the War Powers Act would permit the use of the Army if the President believed it necessary, and the appointment of the governors as "Bubblegum doll house coat color books." The scribbled letter requests received daily by The Star Santa Claus Fund tell of the anxiety of little children for things taken for granted throughout the year by the city's more fortunate youngsters. Poverty, sickness and death have made these children the year-around victims of want. But they plead that the gifts provided tnrough the fund will give them an answer to their faith in Santa Claus, the benevolent, whiskered gent who comes but once a year.

HUNDREDS OF requests have poured into the Fund from the boy or girl barely old enough to write and the destitute mother who apologizes for the "error" of a pencil enscribed letter on tablet rwn itmrnn tui Cmfl VA. I VA. 14J1 for Wntlmntwi. ft A.