The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Page 1

F OKI -AIL r be Httsbn Pre TTD CLOSING STOCKS 52 Pages 5 Cents VOL. 68, 233 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1952 WEATHER Cloudy with some snow or sleet. nnn nn Stricken in Brookiine Home Commissioner Kane's Wife Dies Suddenly Active as Civic, Welfare Leader MM 7i w mm MRS. JOHN J. KANE Victim of heart attack. Murray Calls Policy Session Union Leaders To Meet Here NEW YORK, Feb. 14 (Special) Bitterness and tension have invaded the steel industry hearings before a Wage Stabilization Board's special wage panel here. Industry representatives and officials of the CIO United Steel Workers glared at each other after a name-calling session yesterday that exploded the sedate hearings into an uproar. Meanwhile, USW President Philip Murray called his inter national executive board and Wage Policy Committee to Pittsburgh on next Thursday, just two days before a strike deadline set by the union's special international convention. Severe Tongue Lashing Angered by the characterization of steel workers as "economic royalists" by Bradford B. Smith, economist for United States Steel, Mr. Murray yesterday loosed his most cutting tongue-lashing of the hearing. Tool," he shouted, after Mr. Smith had finished presenting his arguments against the guaranteed annual wage, in which he suggested that the steel workers should save some of their wages against period of possible unemployment. Today, however, Mr. Murray tempered his remarks somewhat and, in an off the cuff talk, tried to smooth the ruffled feelings of the industry leaders. Flushed in Kage The union leader sat impatiently through the long reading, visibly disturbed. When Mr. Smith finished, he rose, trembling with rage, his face flushed, and his voice rose to a pitch of violence as he shouted at the industry officials: "This piece of paper that your industry has presented here Is the most reprehensible, filthy, lying, deceiving presentation that has ever been presented to a government agency In 'my lifetime and I want it placed in that category. "It is beastly In every true, absolute, honest sense of the word and the gentleman who nresented It is either ignorant (Continued on Page 12, Column 1) Mrs. John J. Kane, wife of the Allegheny County Com missioner, suffered a fata heart attack at noon today in her Brookiine home. The well-known Democratic, civic and welfare leader col lapsed suddenly in an upstairs room of her home at 517 Ford ham Ave. Mr. Kane, chairman of the Board of Commissioners, rushed from a budget hearing with Dr, Gerald P. Hammill, head of the County Institution District. Arrived Too Late But they arrived too late to help her. Dr. Hammill, a friend of the family, had the sorrowful task of pronouncing her dead at 12:35. Only person in the house with Mrs. Kane when she was stricken was the housekeeper, Odessa Burte. All County budget hearings for the remainder of the week have been cancelled, along with Wie Thorn Hill hearings scheduled for next Monday. Mrs. Kane, 58, had been ill for several years, suffering from arthritis. She was forced to give up many of her activities last year, retiring as president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women and State Women's chairman of the March of Dimes campaign. She had been active with the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis since its inception. One of her sons. David, was fatally stricken with polio at the age of 11 in 1936. . Mrs. Kane was president of the Allegheny County Democratic Women's Guild since its incep tion and supported its political and education work. In 1946 she was the first wom an appointed a member of the City Planning Commission. Other activities were State executive committee member of the national Democratic Party; membership in the Women's Auxiliary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Women's City Club, American Red Cross, Catholic Daughters of America, Mar garet Brent Civic Club, Presi dent Roosevelt's 1941 Commis sion for inspecting U. S. coins. and Women's Democratic Club. Active Church Worker She also was active in work for the Resurrection Catholic Church in Brookiine and De Paul Institute for the Deaf. The former Elinor M. Houli han, daughter of the late David and Barbara Houlihan, she was born in Lawrenceville. She and Commissioner Kane were married in Holy Rosary Church, Homewood, in 1915. In addition to her husband, she leaves two sons, John J. Jr., employed by the Allegheny County Housing Authority, and Lt. Col. Francis X., serving with the Air Force in Washington; two daughters, Dorothy, and Mrs. Rita Burns) six grandchildren. Other survivors include three brothers, Charles Houlihan. City, John J, of Detroit, and David F., of Philadelphia; four sisters, Mrs. Stella O'Brien and Mrs. Claire Dolan, City; Mrs. Barbara Lutz, executive secretary of the Pennsylvania Bar Assn. in Har-risburg, and Elizabeth Houlirain, ffdG3 vIK)0 - A'XSSijA ssr:;s V - fe - f IV C ' - - A-. . - . I A LX On Inside Pages GENTLE JULIA AND THE DOPE Teen-age undercover men of Carrick High used this hollowed-out copy of the Booth Tarkington novel to secrete the deadly looking props used in their hunt for drug addicts. Special Investigator James McKnight has branded the Corrick scandal a hoax. . Dope Tale Started 'Probe' By Junior G-Men in Carrick Students Risked Lives in Hill Haunts To Investigate Girl's Fanciful Story The shocking report of widespread teen-age drug ad diction at Carrick High School was revealed today as the fanciful tale of a cute bobby-soxer who wanted attention But as the tale unfolded before amazed police officials it became clear that it had more of Harrisburg. serious repercussions than a scandalized public. It touched off. among other things, a secret investigation by high school students themselves in which they risked their lives in drug haunts of the Hill District seeking "evidence. Inquiry Begun j Informed of this development, the Board of Education began an immediate inquiry to determine whether any of this dangerous Junior G-Man activity was sponsored by school officials. Principal Roy Mathias said lt most emphatically was not. Developments in the fantastic S4500 Taken, $ 1 0f 000 Missed By Lawrenceville Robbers Bandits Hold Up Men's Clothing Store, Money on Hand to Cash Workers' Checks Pictures on Page 2. Around the Town Business-Finance - Comic Pages Crossword Puzzle Death Notices Editorial Page Fashions Hollywood Home Front Jacoby on Bridge Obituaries Radio-TV Programs Sports News Star Gazer Theaters-Movies Vital Statistics Want-Ads Weather Map Women's - Society 39 23 49-51 49 43 18 21 49 49 50 "43 51 40-42 50 24-25 43 43-48 51 20-22 Press Telephones Wont-Ads COurt 1-4900 1 volver butt dazing him. Two bandits held up a Lawrenceville clothing store early this afternoon and escaped with $5000. But the proprietor talked them out of more than $10,000 add! tional which was in a safe. Police are looking for two slender white men, about five feet 10 inches tall, one wearing a pea Carrick "drug orgy" story opened along two lines today. One was the office of Juvenile Investigator James McKnight. The other was before a Federal grand jury investigating drug trade in Western Pennsylvania. Began Month Ago The lovesick, attention-seeking little 13-year-old who touched off the affair, was getting attention in doses she hadn't dreamed of. The strange case began a month ago. The girl, daughter of a broken home, told her mother with some pride that she was a drug addict. In fact, she added, she was known throughout the school as "The Dope Queen of Carrick High." Horrified, her mother took her to a priest whose church the family attends though they are not members. The priest prompt ly called in police. ine motner, a waitress, was called today to testify before the Federal grand jury. Following her hour and a half before the grand jury she granted a brief interview to reporters. She said her daughter was the .victim of an "emotional disturb- ( Continued on Page 2, Column 6) Wedding Bells Stilled in Greenfield Nuptials Called Off As Two Disappear A once-happy man who flew in from the West for a St. Valentine Day marriage sat alone in a hotel with only his dreams today. His bride-to-be, Lois E. Weiland, 24, of Greenfield, is nowhere to be found. And now her sister, Mrs. June E. Smith of Terrace Village is also missing. She went out early yesterday to hunt for Miss Weiland and disappeared. Miss Weiland vanished late Tuesday leaving the wedding ring on a pillow in her room, and two notes which read, "Forgive me ... I can't o through with It." Today her worried father. W. N. Weiland of 28 Winders St, said he believed Lois is still in the City. I think she Is hiding some where, at some friend's home. but I have no idea where. "We just hope that, wherever she is, she is in safe hands, and will come home; soon." Wedding Called Off If the pretty secretary is hiding until after the time for the wedding tonight she can come home now. It has been called off. Squirrel Hill Christian Church, which was empty at rehearsal time last night, has been notified not to expect the real thing tonight The florist was told to put the bride's white carnation bouquet I with orchid center, the camellias, deep red and pale pink carnations all back in the showcases. The woeful groom-to-be, Edward II. Wiegner, 33, a Chicago insurance engineer, said: "I'd give anything to see Lois, and talk the thing out If only I knew where she was." lie recalled a hint Miss Weiland dropped Monday night about not going through with the wedding. But he said ruefully today: "I thought she was kidding." The conversation took place during an auto ride. Miss Wei-land's father recalled. His daugh ter told Mr. Weigner: "I just feel like walking: right out on it." "Do you mean that?" the husband to-be asked in sur prise. "I certainly do." But then they laughed a little, and the subject was changed, Mr. Weiland said. The new mystery of the sis-(ContinuedonPage6, Column 1) t I Z. J . 'I "7- - - : - ' ' - - ' BRIDE-ELECT STILL MISSING Mystery surrounding the disappearance of Miss Lois E. Weiland was heightened to- day when her sister, Mrs. June E. Smith, of Terrace Village, turned up missing, too. Mrs. Smith was to have served os matron of honor at the latter's marriage tonight. jacket and the other an Army jacket and blue jeans. The store was Cassel's Men's Store, 4315 Butler St. The bandits picked the afternoon when the store had on hand thousands of dollars to cash checks of employes of the nearby Heppenstali Co. when the 3 p. m. shift changed. Three or four customers were in the store when the two men, armed with long-barreled revolvers, entered. They waited until the customers left the store. One walked up to Leonard uoiastem, iWJ s. Facinc Ave., a clerk, and, without a word, struck mm on the head with his re- The Other Depts. COurt 1-72001 other went to the rear of the store and cornered the owner, Cassel Goldstein, 237 40th St., Leonard's brother. He announced it was a stickup and demanded that Cassel open the safe. "I can't," Cassel said. "I'm only an employe here. The boss is out and he doesn't trust me with the combination." The bandit took the money from the cash register while the other held the bleeding and dizzy Leonard at bay. Then the pair warned the Gold- stem Drothers not to give any alarm and fled in a blue sedan. It was the third time in recent years that Leonard had been slugged over the head in robberies. He is in St Francis HospitaL Attempt to Bribe Mayor Of Clairton Exposed by DA Two Councilmen Also Involved in Plot, Mullen Reports to County Official An attempt to bribe Clairton Mayor John Mullen was revealed today by District Attorney James F. Malone. Mr. Malone said that the mayor told him he had been offered $1000 to permit coal on city- House Hunting Made Easy In Pittsburgh The big Sunday Press carries more house For Sale" and "For Rent" advertisement than any other Pittsburgh newspaper. Whether you're looking for a home to buy or rent, or want to sell or rent the home you own, youll find a Press Want Ad your best bet Deadline on Press Want Ads for Sunday is 6 p. m. Friday. Just call COurt 1-4900 for Want Ad Headquarters. Please call early! v- , .. -in?-:. y A- ' - ' - f ' EDWARD IL WIEGNER The ring "but no bride. stripping operations owned property. The bribe, Mr. Malone said, was offered by a Clairton district contractor. The man was identified by the district attorney's office as Fred Fiore. No Explanation In addition, Mr. Malone said, informations are being drawn aeainst two members of the Clairton council. The district attorney did not explain, however, in what way they were involved. The two councilmen against whom informations are being drawn are: Ernest- Duquenne and Caesar Ricci. The $1000, Mr. Malone stated, was accepted by Mayor Mullen and then promptly reported to authorities. Money Impounded Now in the District Attorney's safe, the money will be used as evidence, Mr. Malone asserted. The District Attorney said that Mayor Mullen reported the story to him personally. Mr. Malone reported tnat Mavor Mullen gave him the fol lowing account ol the anegea bribe: The contractor, the Mayor claimed, came to his home some time ago and proposed to enter into a coal stripping agreement to permit operations on city property. According to the Mayor, Mr. Fiore gave him $1000 and said that there was a possibility of as much as $4000 m lt for him depending on the coal-strip ping profits. Mr. Malone said that the oper ations were' never actually started. The District Attorney's an nouncement came on the heels of a "rebellion" on the part of Clairton City Council last night The councilmen by a 3-to-2 vote fired City Solicitor Josepfl Recht over the Mayor's opposition. Named to replace . Recht was Assistant County Solicitor John Mamula, a former Clairton Councilman. The motion to dismiss Mr. Recht was made by Councilman Robert Baird who charged that he "has been giving opinons biased in favor of the Mayor." j Mr. Baird's motion was sup ported by Councilmen Ricci and Duquenne. Mr. Malone did not disclose the basis for the charges being brought against the two council-men other than to say they were being drawn as the result of statements made by Mayor Mullen. The District Attorney said Mr. Fiore was questioned last week but he refused to tell me any thing." 'Noses Are Red, Fingers Are Blue9 Donald (the Great Lover) Dingbat had his head and heart in the celebration of St. Valen tine's Day today. 'After friendly visit to the Weather Bureau, he penned the fol lowing lines to all his friends Noses are red, fingers are blue. The Weatherman's trying to freeze you, too. He got the Idea from the fore cast which called for cloudy with some snow or sleet today. It will be cloudy and continued cold to night and tomorrow. High today will be 32. Low tonight, 16. High tomorrow, 30. The snow or sleet will be light because a large mass of cold air over Hudson Bay is holding back a large low pressure storm area to the South, the forecasters say. Only Solution Financially, Mayor Advised But Committee Balks At $40,000,000 Tag Water system repair bill set at $30,000,000, Page 26. By DOUGLAS NAYLOR The Mayor's special com mittee on water supply to day recommended that an authority take over the crumbling City system, but looked askance at a $40,-000,000 price tag placed by engineers and investment firms. The long-awaited report frankly admitted the City wasn't capable of handling its water problems and couldn't borrow enough money to put the system m shape. To our minds," the committee concluded, "the fiscal situation compels the creation of a municipal authority to which the water system may be transferred, and which will have Independent borrowing capacity sufficient to finance and construct a sound and functioning water supply system for Pittsburgh." The 16-page report was submitted to Acting Mayor Howard B. Stewart today by a commit tee of businessmen and educators that has been studying the problem a year. lOn Jan. 17 The Press, in analyzing the condition of the City's water-supply system, outlined in detail the probable steps that would need to be taken as outlined in the committee's report today.1 The group was headed by Robert C. Downie, president of Peoples First National Bank and Trust Co. No Other Way The report, unanimously approved, could find no way out of the problem except the authority plan. "It Is our conclusion," it said, "that an authority operation, properly administered, has positive advantages in the operation of a publicly owned water system." The big argument, as in the case of Mt Lebanon's proposed purchase of South Pittsburgh Water Co., seemed to be on price. 'This commission does not accept with finality the figure of $40,000,000 which has been suggested by the engineers and Dond houses as a proper payment to the City of Pittsburgh . by the authority for the exist- . Ing water plant," the report said. "The authority oavment tn the City can only be decided when the City andor the authority nave engagea engineers for a complete study . . . Made Without Cost The preliminary survevs. on which today's report was based, were made without cost to the city by the Pennsylvania Econ omy, League, Inc., and the New York engineerine firm of Par- sons, BrinkerhofT, Hall and McDonald. The survey was paid for bv First Boston Corp., a giant financing firm that also handled the City Parking Authority (Continued on Page 2, Column 8) THE WEATHER Thursday, Feb. 14, 1952 Loral Cloudy with imnv m- iiMf aj4. Cloudy and continued cold tonight and Friday. iemprrLurc loaay degrees, low to-night 16 and high Friday 30. lemperaiures at riusDurKh 34 now ending at 7:30 a. m. today Highest 35. lowest. a i . mean o. Highest and lowest temperatures a year ago. 38 and 28. Cloudy. Downtown temperature readings reported by the United States Weather Bureau: Midnight 22 9 a. m 20 1 a. m. ...... 21 10 a. m. ...... 20 2 a. m. ...... 21 11 a. m 23 3 a. m. ...... 19 Noon ......... 24 4 a. m 19 1 p. m. ...... 24 5 a. m. ...... 18 2 p. m. ...... 26 6 a. m. ...... 17 3 p. m. ...... 29 7 a. m. ...... 18 4 p. m. ...... II 8 a. m 19 Highest temperature this date since 1874, 64 In 1918. Lowest temperature this date since 1874, 7 tn 1905. Barometer reading at 3 p. m., 30.09, tailing. Humidity at 3 p. m.. 37. Sunrise 7:16 a. m.: sunset 5:54 p. tn. River stage at 3 p. m.. 16.5. Pool. MAP AND DETAILED BEFOBT ON PAGE SI