Janesville Daily Gazette from Janesville, Wisconsin • Page 1

'TANESVniE READERS Colt CaittU, 2500, hy 6 p. m. if your paper it not delivtred by that time. JANESVILLE DAILY GAZETTE VOL. 104.

NO. 184, 104th YEAR JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN, MONDAY, MARCH 21, 1 949. EIGHTEEN PAGES FIVE CENTS Bandits Raid Parker Pen; Big Haul tZ" photos SCEXE OF Holdup men crashed in the door bf Parker Pen Co. plant No. 2 here last night, bound and blindfolded the watchman, and made off with an estimated 20,000 pens and pencils.

rear view of the plant, corner of Western avenue and S. Franklin street. While one man shoved a pistol through a broken window (at arrow) and covered the watchman, James Broderick, two other men smashed a rear door and entered the building. After laying cardboard on the floor the men bound Broderick and ordered him to lie down. examines the chain used to bind his, legs, at the spot where the men left him while they loaded their loot in a car and disappeared.

The cardboard on which he was told to lie down appears near his feet. Body of Slain Recovered Mom and Graitima Within Six Days Stevens Point iJt) Mrs. John Adamski became a mother and a grandmother within six days last week. Mrs. Adamski, 43, gave birth to a seven pound, six ounce son last Friday on her own birthday anniversary.

Six days iearlier her daughter, Mrs. Rudy Gavin, 21, also had a son, who weighed eight pounds one-half ounce. Mrs. Adamski's son, although only three days old, is the uncle of his sister's nine-day- old son. Two Injured in Car Crashes Woman Hurt on Center Avenue; John Heller in Accident on Route 59 'Two persons were Injured in Janesville and rural Rock county automobile accidents over the week -end.

JSJary Krueger, 37, of 1423 Magnolia avenue, is in Mercy with a fractured verte- bra'and broken jaw, according to a pKysician's report to police. She was riding in a car driven by Herman H. Krueger, 40, of 523 Wall street. Police said Krueger was driving north on Center avenue Sunday night and struck the car of Albert Schumacher, 1239 S. Washington street, which was parked in front of 211 Center avenue.

Krueger told police he had slackened speed to allow a trailing car to pass him but the other driver did not pass. He said as he saw the parked vehicle he started to turn out and then, saw the trailing car starting to pass. He swerved back and hit the parked car, according to his report. He was questioned by police but definite charges had not been filed early this afternoon. John A.

Heller, 64. of 206 S. Frlmklin street, a plumber here, suffered cuts and shock at 12:55 Pi Satvu'day when his pick-up truck ran off the road near New- viUe-on Highway 59. He told sheriff's deputies that he thought he lell asleep while driving. Heller suffered an injury to his left shoulder, cut on the left thumb and cuts on the face.

Raymond D. Conway, 33, of 909 Galena street, complained that his sedan was sideswiped by another car Newville on County Trunk at 8:45 p. Sunday. The driver of the other air stopped about 1,500 feet away, but as Conway approached, drove away. Conway supplied the sheriff's department with a license number of the other car.

A car licensed to Robert A. Tuite, N. Jackson street, Janesville, was pulled from a ditch on U. Si Highway 14 west of Janesville Saturday night, where it had been abandoned. driven by Mrs.

Juanita Klukas, route 1, Janesville, aiid George H. Sholes, route 1, Beloit, were damaged in a collision in the 900 block of Center avenue at 8:56 p. m. Saturday. Police said Sholes told them he was driving north on Center avjenue when the Klukas car entered that street from Eastern He applied his brakes to avoid the Klukas car but skidded into the rear of it.

He said he could not pass because of'approaching traffic No one WIM injured, I Taken From Milwaukee Harbor During Hunt for Suicide BULLETIN teenage boys were booked on suspicion of murder today a few nours after the body of a year-old girl was found by firemen dragging for suicide. iJti report of a woman's suicide leap into the MllwauTiee river yesterday led searchers to the teen-age victim of a grisly slaying. Firemen, the harbor entrance for the body of a reported suicide, recovered instead the weighted body of Patricia Birmingham, pretty, 16-year-old suburban West Allis high school girl. The girl had been shot to death and then thrown into the river with a heavy, concrete building block tied to her feet with wife and strips of cloth. She was identified by her par ents, Mr.

and Mrs. Albert T. Bir mingham, who had reported her missing last Feb. 10. Assistant medical examiner Ray Gutowski said death was caused bullet wounds fired into her head at close range.

He said she had not been the victim of a sex attack and that it was not possible to determine how long her body had been in the river. Firemen were alerted yester day by a truck driver, who said he saw a woman jump into the river. Two other said they tried to throw a chain to the woman, but she refused to grasp it and slipped under the water. The rescue squad began imme diate dragging operations. The body of the suicide victim was not recovered, but grappling hooks brought up the girl's weighted body and a boy's bicycle, which was lying near the body.

The detective bureau said three teen-age boy companions of the victim were questioned last night and more would be brought in today in an attempt to trace the girl's movements on Feb. 10. The bureau also said the bicycle was found to be one of a number of stolen bikes which were dumped into the river by a youthful gang. Dragging operations continued today for the suicide victim. Detectives said clothing found near the spot where the woman was reported to have Jumped has been tentatively identified as belonging to a Hammond, woman, who has been reported missing from her Milwaukee residence.

Meanwhile the Birminghams, who have six other children, have reported to West Allis polit 'e that their oldest daughter, Kathleen, 18, has been missing since Friday. The suburban detective bureau said the parents reported Kathleen left a note saying she was eloping with a local youth. Widow, Acquitted, Sues lor Custody lAM Angeles Ferreri, acquitted of the meat ax death of her husband, laid plans today for a new court fight to regain custody of her 4 -year-old son an to have his and her names changed. The attractive widow's in-laws, Mr. and Mrs.

Vincent Ferreri, have temporary legal custody of the boy, Vincent II. The dramatic six-weeks murder trial ended Saturday when the jury acquitted the 26-year-old car-hop of a charge of murdering her playboy husband, Jerome, last Oct. 26. Says Prices on Upward Swing Again Washington iJf) Senator O'Mahoney (D-Wyo) contended today that prices are going up again. He therefore urged congress to give President Truman the "mild powers" he said the administration seeks to fight inflation.

The Wyoming senator took indirect issue with Senator Taft (R-Ohjo), who said that the economy is in fairly good balance. O'Mahoney heads the senate- house economic committee, a johj cast mark. 1 1 ...1 Taft used to have when the Republicans controlled congress. Since Feb. 8, when Leon Keyserling, a member of the president's economic council, and other advisers testified before his committee, O'Mahoney said the curve of prices has been upward.

The senator said the pressure of government spending alone is contributing to keeping prices high. He mentioned the high military outlay as an instance of necessary spending which can't be cut much. He said he thinks it important for congress to boost taxes as soon as possible. Taft said in a separate inter view that he may support a tax rise if, there is any "substantial" government deficit on July 1. Temperatures in Tune With Season With a fine sense of the fitness of things, the first full day of spring brought Janesville the warmest temperatures of the year today.

But there was also a forecast that Tuesday will be cloudy, colder and accompanied by snow flurries. The mercury climbed to 64 here at noon today, the balmiest weather experienced here since Nov. 4, back in the year of 1948. The most welcome season of the year arrived at 4:49 p. m.

Sunday to the tune of 48-degree temperatures, about average for that date but high for this year. Warmer weather brought out early golfers who were anxious to play even though the links have not opened officially; and a bluebird, Hanover reports. Tomah Railroad Sliops Lay OH 125 Tomah Approximately 125 employes of the Milwaukee road today started a layoff that is expected to last at least two weeks. A skeleton crnw will operate stores and maintenance shops, Allies Outlaw Red Mark in Western Zone of Befrlin western powers have outlawed the Russian east mark in their sectors of Berlin, splitting the city's econ omy completely. The new Allied order yester day, declaring that the Russian currency no longer would be ac cepted as legal tender, had been expected for some time.

It means that western Berlin now has one west mark; and eastern Berlin has Soviet east mark. The west mark has been worth about four times as much as the The Russians earlier made it a crime to possess west marks in their area. The United States, Britain and France did not go that far. They just said the eastern currency no longer need be accepted in their part of the city. Adjourn Trial of Hiss to April 11 New York Federal Judge Simon H.

Rifkind today adjourned until April 11 the trial of Alger Hiss, former state department official indicted for perjury by a spy-probing grand jury. The Indictment accuses Hiss of testifying falsely when he told the grand jury he did not give secret government papers to Whittaker Chambers. Chambers is an admitted former courier for a Communist spy ring. Hiss is on leave from his OOO a year post as president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Surgery Improves King's Condition London King George's operation has imoroveci the circulation in his right foot so much that he can now get out of bed part of each day, his doctors said this morning.

Prof. J. R. Learmonth, a Scottish surgeon, performed the delicate nerve operation a week ago Saturday. Medical sources say it is too early to state whether the king will make a complete recovery from the ailment itself.

Victim of Accident Succumbs in fieloif Edmond F. Horner, 66, Roscoe, 111., died Sunday of injuries suffered when he was struck by an automobile March 3 near Rockton, 111. 20,000 Pens and Pencils Stolen in Night Holdup Bandit Trio Binds and Gags Watchman at Western Ave. Plant Armed bandits, at least three in number, bound, gagged and blindfolded a night watchman Sunday night and escaped with some 20,000 pens and pencils having a retail value of $161,000 in a raid on the Parker Pen company's shipping department on Western avenue at the foot of S. Franklin street.

Police Chief Jasper A. Webb and Detective Ralph Gregory were in Chicago late this morning checking what they described as a "hot lead" on the bandits. It was information obtained from a Walworth garage owner and two other Walworth residents who saw a five-car convoy stop on a Walworth street last night and shift cargo from one vehicle to another. A license number was obtained and descriptions of several of the men were given Chief Webb. Only three men were known to have taken part in the robbery but others may have been invol, ved, police here has announced.

The only story of the holdup was fold by James Broderick, 66, of 1138 Milton avenue, who was alone in the No. 2 plant at the time the bandits smashed in a rear door and covered him with pistols. Watchman Describes Entry Broderick told a Janesville Gazette reporter this morning thai he had just completed a check of the entire building and was walking to the boiler room when he heard a crash at the rear of the building. "As I looked up, two men camS running toward me," he said. "Both had their faces covered 1931 HOLDUP RECALLED The burglary at the Parker Pen Co.

Sunday night was the second major one within the last 27 years. But unlike the most recent robbery, the looters got nothing in the attempt on Sept. 26, 1931. At the time four men suddenly accosted Paul (Skelly) Hill and Charles Bowers, night watchmen at the main plant, relieved them of their guns and keys and placed them in an elevator on the second floor with their arms taped behind them and their legs taped together. The four men roamed about the plant for some three hours before leaving, failing to take anything.

It was believed at the time that the burglars were searching for gold. The attempted robbery was never solved. with handkerchiefs and were carrying pistols. At about the same time a gun was poked through a window in a door at the east side of the building straight across from where I was standing." He said a shot fired from the door window could have hit him. The two bandits who entered the rear of the building, ran to the side door and admitted a third member and the trio took Broderick into the boiler room where they bound him with wire, rope and a light chain they picked up in the boiler room.

They gagged and blindfolded him but did not handle him roughly, he said. Broderick said the men stood him against the wall at first but while binding him decided to let him lie down on cardboard they spread on the floor. They told him to be quiet and nothing would happen to him. Several Cars Used? The men then made a thorough check of the building and worked quickly in hauling dozens of large cases filled with Parker pens and pencils to their waiting vehicle, which was not identified as to whether it was a truck or automobile. Police and company employes were of the opinion that the bulk of the loot would have made it impossible to load into one auio- mobile.

It was believed either several cars or a truck were used. Broderick remained quiet in the boiler room until he heard the vehicle drive away and then freed himself and called police. The call was received at the police station at 9:51 p. m. and it was reported by Broderick that the bandits entered the building at abojtt 9:25 p.

m. Much of the most valuable loot was taken from a locked vault which the bandits entered by use of a key taken from Broderick. Another cage-like vault was not entered because the bandits noticed that pens in the cartons there did not have caps. "Rejects" Set A.side Police also discovered that the bandits carefully set aside three cartons of pens marked "rejects." Pens were taken from bins in all sections of the building and were carried out the rear door (Continued on rage 8, Col. S) Boost Pay for 16 Rail Unions In Settlement No Honor System Honor among cellmates? Not in Toronto.

Terrance Gordon, arrested for drunkenness, took himself a quiet snooze in his cell. When he awakened, his first excalma- tion was: "That guy over there is wearing my suit." Police charged two of Gordon's fellow prisoners with theft. They had managed without being observed by take off Gordon's suit and put him in an ill-fitting pair of old trousers. Frank Blodgett Dies at Age .82 Prominent in Milling Industry Here ior More Than 50 Years FRANK H. BLODGETT Frank H.

Blodgett, 82, for more than 50 years head of the Blodget milling enterprises, retiring Aug. 1, 1937, as president of Frank H. Blodgett flied at 10:30 a. m. Monday in his home, 825 Court street.

He had been ill since last fall. Mr. Blodgett was widely known in the milling industry, having served two years as presi dent of the Rye Millers Association of America; president of the Wisconsin Millers association and As president of the National Association of Rye Flour Millers during World War I. Frank Hodge Blodgett, son of William and Elizabeth Hodge Blodgett, was born in Beloit Dec. 12, 1866.

His grandfather, Caleb Blodgett, came to Beloit in 1836 and bought the rights of Thibault, the French Canadian pioneer settlor. With the assistance of the Indians he built a two room cabin on the banks of Rock river on what is now State street, Beloit. In March, 1837 Caleb Blodgett built the first sawmill on what is now S. Race street, Beloit. He had named the settlement New Albany but in the fall of 1838 the settlement was renamed Beloit.

In December, 1838, the First Congregational church of Beloit was organized in the Caleb Blodgett home. Business Founded in 1849 In 1857 William Blodgett and his father, Selvey K. Blodgett a half interest in the milnng business established in 1849 by William's uncle, John Hackett. William Blodgett acquired full interest in 1888 and in 1890 the business was incorporated under the name Blodgett Milling of which William Blodgett was president to the time of his death Aug. 27, 1901.

In July, 1893, the mill was destroyed by fire and in the fail the business was moved to Janesville. Frank H. Blodgett attended Beloit public schools, Bryant and Stratton Business college, Beloit, Northwestern university, Evanston and Beloit college. Mr. Blodgett became principal executive of the milling business in June, 1887, a position he held continuously until retirement, when his son-in-law Kenneth B.

Jeffris and his son, the late Frank C. P. Blodgett, took over management. Developed New Methods As general manager of the mill Mr. Blodgett developed new methods in business management as well as in milling practice.

For several years after 1887 his time was equally divided between office and mill. In connection with the Janesville business he also acted as general manager (for all the time they were under local lease), for the Pioneer Mill Plainwell, and the Colonial Milling Ashtabula, O. The two principal products of the company, rye and buckwheat are shipped to the principal cities of the United States. Mr. Blodgett and Helen North were married in 1889.

She died in 1893 and in 1896 Mr. Blodgett married Ethel M. Pickard who died in 1936. Mr. Blodgett is survived by two ICuiUinued on Ptia 8, Col.

$640,000,000 Yearly Involyed in Pact as Worked Out Chlcago Final terms on a $640,000,000 a year wage boost have been reached in the 11- month dispute between the nation's railroads and 16 non-operating unions. The settlement, worked out on a formula recommended by a presidential fact-finding board, was described by a union spokesman as the "most momentous" wage and hour movement in the history of American industry. It will extend the basic 40- hour week to the railroads for the first time and affects 1,000,000 employes. The 40-hour week at the same pay the workers received for 48 hours becomes effective next Sept. 1, but an additional wage boost of seven cents an hour is retroactive to last Oct.

1. Ex cepted from the general terms of the "third round" wage boost are the yardmasters, who will continue on a six-day week with an Increase of 10 cents an hour. Overtime Provisions Overtime in excess of eight hours in a day or 40 hours in a week will be paid generally at the rate of time and one half. OF BENEFIT HERE Approximately 75 to 100 Janesville employes will benefit from the wage increase and schedule granted members of 16 nonoperating unions, it was estimated here. They are members of the round house force, car department, station force, some yard office employes such as clerks and section forces.

Although Saturdays and Sundays will be considered ordinary work days, the carriers must arrange for a maximum number of ployes to have those days off. However, they have the privilege of staggering the work week, where necessary, to avoid overtime rates for those days. On a straight time rate, the average hourly wage is raised from $1.18 to $1.46. The unions' original demands were for a 40- hour week, Mondays through Fridays, at no pay reduction, time and a half for Saturdays, double time for Sundays, and an increase of 25 cents an hour. The roads refused the shorter work week and overtime rates and offered a 10-cent pay hike.

Five-Day Week Issued The case was submitted to the fact-finding board in September. 1948, after the unions had voted to strike. The board's recommendation of the five-day week was the toughest issue to settle and after several weeks of negotiations, the case was referred back for clarification. That time, both sides agreed to accept the recommendations on how the five-day week should be apt)lied. The clarifying recommendations were forthcoming within a week and the negotiators went to work immediately to incorporate them into contract terms.

A carrier spokesman said the settlement gives the employes "just what the fact-finding board intended to give more, no less." The carriers had estimated cost of the awards at 000,000. In handing down its recommendations, the board said that the 40-hour week is "firmly a part of our national industrial policy," to which the railroads "now stand out as a striking exception." Two Rescued by Helicopter After Mountain Crash Maryville, Tenn. The first two of four injured persons, marooned three days beside their crashed plane in the Smoky mountains, were evacuated today. A helicopter set down at nearby Calderwood with James Hardy, 23, Detroit, pilot of the two- engined plane which crashed Friday. Hardy, nursing a brokeg leg and showing the effects of his long exposure, told reporters: "I feel great." He was placed in an ambulance for removal to a hospital.

The helicopter pilot, J. N. Newcomb, immediately took off again for the crash scene in wild mountainous country, 30 miles south of Marjo'ille, on his second rescue mission. An hour later he returned with Orville Rich of Detroit, who had back injuries. Boys' Club Week Is Proclaimed (Jf) Rennebohm today proclaimed the week of March 28-April 3 as Boy's Club week in Wisconsin.

He urged continued support of boy's club work and praised such organizations for their efforts in reducing juvenile delinquency. Toll Highways in State Urged; U. S. 12 Scanned Would Viih Burden of Cost on Users oi Turnpikes Only Madison A system of turnpike highways that would "throw the burden of the cost entirely upon those who use the roads" has been proposed by Senator Knowles (R-New Richmond). Knowles said Saturday he would introduce a bill asking for $1000,000 appropriation from highway funds to set up a state turnpike authority to study the express roads in other statc.i.

The authority would also determine the costs of acquiring lands, where the roads should be built and the anticipated use and potential revenue from them. A report would ba submitted to the 1951 legislature. Funds Arc Inadequate Knowles, G.O.P. floor leader In the senate, said present highway funds are totally inadequate to provide the kind of highways the public is demanding. "Toll roads would make possible a great improvement in thie highway facilities and throw the burden of the cost entirely upon those who use the roads," Knowles said.

"Out of state vehicles wear out Wisconsin highways but contribute a very small portion of the cost of constructing and maintaining them. If we are to have an adequate highway system for through traffic, toll roads appear to be a most logical answer to the problem. Suggests Highway 12 "Since toll roads are invariably constructed in accordance with the most modern engineering design, including long-sight distances, moderate grades and controlled access, they constitute the greatest advance in highway building. Traffic may move swiftly, smoothly and above all safely along such routes. If the investment iiv.

such roads Is amortized over a long period of years, the cost of such highways is very moderate." Knowles pointed to the need for rebuilding Highway 12 from the Illinois to the Minnesota border and suggested this might be the first project to be undertaken. Another project might be a limited access toll road from Green Bay down through the Fox river valley to the Illinois border. Two Arrests Solve Fort Burglaries Fort Ronald Gibson announced today that the burglaries of a Fort Atkinson grocery store and tavern about three weeks ago had been by the confession of two Hins- dalQ, 111., youths who were captured Sunday by police in La Grange, 111. The youth are Herbert DePas, 21, and Stephen D. Boyles, 18, both parolees from federal institutions.

La Grange police chased the pair, whb were driving a stolen car, at breakneck speeds through the city streets. The race, which achieved speeds of 90 to 100 miles per hour, ended when the car in which they were riding skidded and rolled over several times. Sheriff Gibson, who obtained a confession Sunday, said the pair also admitted breaking and entering about 25 other places in Soutiiern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, including a filling station at La Grange, one of their more recent jobs. The sheriff said warrants were being issued from Jefferson county but that it was undecided as to whether DoPas and Boyles would be returned to the institutions from where they were paroled. ROCKFORD MAN KILLED Rockford Colby, 41, Rockford, was killed yesterday in an automobile collision iicar Rockton, nortln of here.

raE WEATHER nisroRBln: nnin In nbuth nnd rain, (Iret or snoiv In nnrth; rhange la tpinpfrutiirp lonlvTtit. Ttifsdny cloudy And inldpr, with BIHIW In north and In south. In- dlcailoiiH flnnw uill hravy much tf north portion, 8tront( iitilfting windv Til sday. Barometric pressurr; 0 p. 30.08; 8 a.

il! noon, fi; dunspt. (1:07. -March 19 Hour 'i' 7i sr5 fern p. 37 34 lu Noon. March 20.

Hour 1' 2' 4 71 Temp. 'i Temperature a year "ago today, hlgheat 60; lowest S2. Barometric pressure: 6 p. 6 a. 12 noon, Sunrise, 8:03.

Noon to Mldnl -March 20. Hour I 11 -'t 4T sTSlc Temji. :51 5ii S3: to NiKin. il. Hour I 2- 3' 4 Temp, 15 1 mm.

17'i4n :54 ,56 a today, lilgheal lowest 54..