The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 2

PAGE 2 THE PITTSBURGH PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE II. 1943 Conscience Of Judge Spares Youth FOUR DISTRICT MEN WOUNDED, IGKES AWAITS AUTHORITY ON GAS RATIONING Dare Every Year About This Time From Death Chair For Child Slaying Navy Doctor's Bravery Draws Official Praise Lt. Good's Actions at Torpedoing Near Africa i I i ft 1 5 fJ sJ -4. Jl-f P1' Hoi Wit Mp 'MEMORIES OF HIS DEATH WOULD HAVE STAYED WITH Judge G. Malcolm McDonald, right, declared yesterday when he sentenced 17-year-old Earl Perry, left, to life imprisonment for murdering Theresa (Chi-Chi) Williams, 4-year-old Tustin St.

neighbor. Scramble For Shoes Is On As No. 17 Deadline Nears Stores Feeling Manpower Pinch As Customers Rush To Buy Supply Ample The scramble for shoes is on. And at the rate they're going it looks as though everyone in town will have a new pair before Coupon No. 17 expires next Tuesday.

This morning the shoe salesmen of- a downtown department store Nelson May Decide Today On Transfer of Power Held by OPA WASHINGTON, June 11 (UP) Production Chairman Donald M. Nelson was expected today to reach a decision soon on Oil Administrator Harold L. Ickes' request for authority over the' rationing of petroleum products a request which if granted would set a precedent for stripping the Office of Price Ad ministration of rationing powers. Food Administrator Chester H. Davis is reported to be anxious to have the food rationing authority- vested in his office.

A spokesman for Mr. Nelson said the Ickes' request is being "threshed out" and that the WPB chief would make a decision "without much de lay." Mr. Nelson, it is understood, has agreed not to take any action until Price Administrator Prentiss -M. Brown "returns from his home in Michigan. May Appeal to Byrnes As part of his campaign for au tonomy in the production and dis tribution of oil products, Mr.

Ickes is said to be prepared to carry his fight to War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes. Mr. Ickes also would like to have pricing power over oil, now vested in OPA. Any transfer of rationing power also would involve the Office of Defense Transportation, which now directs the distribution of gasoline to the nation's five million com mercial vehicles.

If Mr. Nelson accedes to Mr. Ickes' requests, it could be the beginning of the end of OPA as a policy-making agency. In any event, OPA still would perform the mechanical function of putting rationing decisions into effect. The conflict between Mr.

Ickes and OPA was underlined at a Congres sional hearing yesterday when Paul O'Leary, OPA's rationing head, indicated that the aim of his agency was to find some way to eliminate the pleasure driving ban. Mr. Ickes speculated on the possibility of extending the ban to the Middlewest sometime in the future. Greater Restrictions Foreseen Mr. Ickes later issued a statement saying that "we are approaching the time" when greater civilian restrictions on gasoline consumption in the Midwest may become necessary.

"When that time arrives," he said, "we shall without a moment's hesitation recommend the imposition of such additional restrictions." Mr. O'Leary testified that OPA was studying means of distributing gasoline without any strings attached to it. The controversy between Mr. Ickes and other interested agencies appeared to shape up this way: Mr. Ickes has reached the conclusion that the whole oil program can be stepped up by giving him sole authority over production, pricing and distribution.

His attitude is that under the present setup his agency is putting the money in the bank and other agencies OPA and ODT are drawing checks on it. U. S. Official Communique Navy No. 406 SOUTH PACIFIC (all dates east longitude) 1 On June 10: (A) During the morning Marine Corsairs (Vought F4U) and Army Lightning (Lockheed P-38) fighters intercepted and shot down four Mitsubishi bombers over the north end of Malaita Island.

Three of the enemy bombers were accounted for by Marine Corsair fighters and the other by an Army Lightning fighter. (B During the same day enemy positions on Vila, Kolombangara Island, were attacked by Army Liberator (Consolidated B-24) heavy bombers and Warhawk fCurtiss P-40) and Lightning fighters with unobserved results. Ball Player Falls Dead ERIE, June 11 While playing softball at an Erie playgrounds, William Cermak. 17, last night suffered a heart attack and died. The Tech High School student had just walloped out a base hit when he was stricken.

and find the customers had got SIX ARE MISSING Pittsburgher Lost In Action Is Sgt. Jorinscay, DuBois St. Six soldiers from the Pittsburgh district were reported missing and four reported wounded in action in lists released today by the War Department. Those reported missing were: Sgt. Andrew L.

Jorinscay, son of Mrs. Victoria F. Jorinscay, 807 DuBois St. Sgt. Gail V.

Burkett, 616 E. Sixth Tarentum. Sgt. James D. Donaldson, Hopewell.

Sgt. John Norrls, 1306 Center Turtle Creek. Sgt. Joseph R. Penfield, Brock-way.

Pvt. Dominick Raunikar, H'yano. The four reported wounded in action were: Pvt. Herman Jackson, 528 Dixon Homestead. Lt.

Henry A. Bruno, Burgetts-town. Pvt. Raymond P. McKinney, Rural Valley.

Sgt. Michael Zahratka, Jean-nctte. From Northern West Virgina. Corp. Dominick J.

Marino of An- moore was reported missinu and Lt. Charles F. Caskey of Martins- burg and Pvt. Mark Gillineham of Fairmont were reported wounded in action. RICE CASE GOES TO JURY TODAY CStaurant Uwncr UCnies Gambling Charges A jury of 12 women today deliberated on the guilt or innocence of Al Rice, restaurateur on trial, in Visiting Judge C.

D. Fetterhoofs courtroom on a charge of keeping a gambling house. Rice, who twice weekly visited a barber shop in the rear of the premises at 910 Fifth which he had leased, did not know there was gambling going on upstairs, according to his testimony. He was his own star witness. He admitted he had leased the entire building, but disclaimed knowledge of the gambling oper ations which led to a raid Feb.

20 on the second floor quarters of the American Social Club. The club in turn had been leased through a document bearing the name of Eli Wershbale, the organization's secretary. Wershbale and two others last! March 23 entered pleas of guilty to charges of keeping a gamblin house, following their arrest. The information naming Rice was not sworn out until early in March, De tective Sgt. George Kercher ex plained, because Rice wras out of town.

The restaurant owner, whose din ing rooms are on the first floor, also denied any knowledge of stairs lead ing from behind a door on the first floor to the club. Persons wishing to go upstairs according to the testimony, pressed buzzer. If the person were ad- missable, someone inside pushed the buzzer, permitting the door to open. Rice disclaimed knowledge of the buzzer. Isadore Morman, a nephew of the defendant, testified today that he had taken over the restaurant at 910 Fifth while his uncle retained the cafe at 908.

He declared that he had put in the stairs to the second floor, and installed the special door and buzzer. Publisher Pays 15-Minute Part Of Jail Penalty Mobile Editorial on Riots Brinss Court Charge Of Contempt MOBILE, June 11 (UP) Publisher Ralph B. Chandler, who elected to face the threat of crim inal prosecution rather than retract an editorial criticizing a Mobile udge. was fined $10 and sentenced to six hours in jail today for con tempt of court, but was free under $500 bond on a writ of habeas corpus after spending 15 minutes in custody of the sheriff. The editorial, appearing in Mon days Mobile Register, referred to Judge Tisdale J.

Touart's release on $2000 peace bond of G. T. willing- ham, one of four men arrested dur ing racial disorders at the Alabama Drydock Shipbuilding Co. Willingham was arrested on a warrant issued on complaint of com pany officials charging him with In citing white shipyard workers to drive Negro workers out of the yards. Judge Touart pronounced sentence on Mr.

Chandler this morning in Inferior Criminal Court after commenting that he was taking the action because a phrase in the editorial "was absolutely untrue." The phrase referred to was to the effect that the judge's fixing of Willingham's bond was a "toss-up between conviction and acquittal." Probate Judge Nowell R. Leigh who obtained the writ of habeas corpus, set June 25 for review of the case. a in a bv on Killer Qets Life Term With No Chance Of Pardon Memories which Judge G. Mal colm McDonald said would "stay with me in the years to come" saved 17-year-old Earl Perry from death in the electric chair. The Judge, who had to make the decision atone, could not bring himself to order the youth's execution and because of his age.

sentenced him to lite imprisonment late yes terday. I know there are some who will say that I am a coward the judge said from the bench, "but don't know why I should have to worry all my life if he is sentenced to death." Earl Still. Smug Perry had placed his fate in the hands of judge by pleading guilty to Tirst degree murder after the state had presented its case. The testimony included a recording of the youth's confession that he stran gled four-year-old Theresa (Chi- Chi) Williams and buried her body in the basement of his Tustm St home last April 6. As smug and outwardly indiffer ent as ever.

Perry was led out of the courtroom while his mother. Mrs. Anna Perry, lone member of his family who stood by him all during the trial, sobbed: "I am thankful to God for sparing his life." Should Die, Mother Says But another mother. Mrs. Antoinette Williams, whose' child was slain, screamed: "No.

no, it is not just. He killed my baby and he should be made to suffer as my child suffered. It's not fair. He should go to the electric chair." wn, wno naa Doastea to nis guards that "I can take it," merely shook his head when Judge McDonald summoned him before the bench and asked him if he had anything to say. Extreme Youth Factor Then the judge began to talk: "Your crime justifies the extreme penalty of death.

No judge could be honestly censured for imposing such a sentence. I have analyzed my own conscience and my own con science discloses no conscientious scruples against such a course "At the same time I have thought oi sometnmg not mentioned by eimer prosecution or defense as an extenuating circumstance the extreme youth of the defendant. "I know there are some who will say he deserves death; some who may say I am a coward for not imposing such a penalty. No Pardon or Parole "I don't know why I should have to worry all my life if he is sentenced to death. A punishment just as severe will be imposed if he is incarcerated for life, sealed in prison, without pardon or parole, as long as he lives.

"That may be cowardly; if so, I cannot help it. The sentence of the court is that the defendant, Earl Perry, be sentenced to the Western Penitentiary for the balance of his natural life," the judge ended. Today Judge McDonald said he was writing a letter to be inclosed with the record of the case recommending that Earl never be paroled or pardoned. "I want this to be a life sentence and will do everything I can to see that he spends the rest of his life in prison," the judge declared. Mercy Asked Mercy was asked by Defense At torneys Charles D.

Coll and Robert H. Braun in their plea. Prosecutor George F. P. Langfitt asserted he held the state had shown the boy mentally responsible and the death penalty should be imposed.

"There has been no such crime, involving the ravaging of a tiny child, in 25 years here," Mr. Langfitt said. "The most severe penalty should be imposed. "Only by inflicting the most se vere penalty can we safeguard the other little 'Chi-Chis' against such fate. There is nothing to indicate his mind is the mind of any one but a real criminal.

He killed this child, carefully buried her body and planned to remove it at night, to throw police off the scent. He 'ran with the pack in hunting her, to avert suspicion; he cast aside her beads and then pretended to find them to mislead those seeking the girl." Authorities Warned Earl, in trouble four times before, had been paroled each time Juvenile Court. The last parole was granted despite a warning from the Child Guidance Center, a social service agency where Earl's case was studied. The boy's father had expressed fear that his son might commit murder and the Center, it was developed at the trial, so notified Juvenile Court authorities with this added comment: "There is some evidence tljat this might happen." It was last April 7, shortly after midnight, that Earl was awakened his sister, Gilda. 16, who said: "You killed Chi-Chi; you know where she is." "I killed her.

She's underneath the ground in the cellar," Earl told her and, leaping from bed, grabbed his clothes and rushed from the Tustin St. home. He was arrested by two officers shortly after at Milten-berger and Watson Sts. He confessed the Choked Her Half Hour Police, directed by Gilda, removed the body of the girl, the lower limbs unclad, from a grave in the cellar. In a verbal confession recorded a phonographic disc, the killer had described how he had lured her into the cellar with candy and cake, and had choked her to death when she laughed as he stumbled.

"How long did you choke her?" Mr. Langfitt asked the defendant when he took the stand for a few moments yesterday. "Half hour or so," he answered. "Why so long?" he was asked. He looked about the courtroom aimlessly, then replied, "I don't know." "Do you recall raping Chi-Chi?" Mr.

Langfitt questioned. Feeling flared into the boy voice for a second, and he replied, heat edly: I didn't rape her. I was told that I did, but I don't know if it is true." Before calling Earl for sentencing Judge McDonald said: "Please believe me when I say to in By FLORENCE FISHER PARRY Out on South Aiken Ave. there stands a house called The Florence Crittenton Home. In its behalf women will be standing on the street corners selling flowers, tomorrow.

Many passers-by will buy a flower out of the bounty of their own generous hearts, not bothering tr fcnnw Tvhat Mrs. Parry ers will feel that strange comfort that comes from having done themselves a vicarious service. They will be thinking, perhaps subconsciously, of their own daughter or even of themselves in that curious way that makes us say to ourselves, when we see an unfortunate: There but for the grace of Cod, I. For The Florence Crittenton Home is for young girls, nice young girls, girls like your daughter or mine, the only difference being that these girls out there, Waiting for their Hour, have been caught up in a fate our daughters have escaped: They are going to have babies without, benefit of marriage. Barriers Broken Down Particularly in War Time.

When there are many babies, and many tragedies and broken hearts and broken spirits. War is violent and importunate and time is telescoped and hearts beat faster; and there is so little time to think and weigh, when lovers meet but to part And this is no time to quibble or frown or be "delicate" about the pressing problem that confronts us. Already its complexion is changing. The Florence Crittenton Home is but a capsule, but embodies, in a small way, the universal picture. These unfortunate pirls used to draw from a neglected stratum of society.

Now they represent a much "higher" level, in both breeding and opportunity. Girls carefully brought up, reared in refinement and convention, find themselves today in the same plight as in a former day only their "frailer" sisters knew. War is a great leveler all up and down the scale! It would be fantastic to deal with this ancient problem in the same old way. "Disgrace" is a poor word to use; "unfortunate" carries with it a note of insufferable condescension. The fact tnat so many normally conventional, well-reared girls are having illegitimate babies, just because "the time is out of joint," calls for a new scrutiny of the problem: What shall be done to reinstate these young mothers and provide the proper protective future for their babies? Focnj New World The Florence Crittenton Home has operated on the policy and principle that these young unmarried mothers should be encouraged to keep their babies and face the responsibilities and drawbacks which their dubious status in society imposes upon them.

I have never endorsed this method. These babies are very much in demand for adoption by responsible and deserving childless couples. I believe they should be given this opportunity, and that their mothers, far from being discouraged from giving up their babies, should be encouraged to realize the full implications of tuch a sacrifice. No hard and fast rule can be fret up to govern the disposition of illegitimate babies. We all know of instances" to prove and to disprove the efficacy of adoption vs.

maternal upbringing. I have in mind two wonderfully fortunate adopted children, happy, uninhibited, with superior endowment and superior opportunities. I shiver at the thought of how tragic it would have been for them to have missed all this and been raised by their own mothers! On the other hand, I know an ingrowing, unhappy poor little rich boy who would have been infinitely happier and better off in every way if he had been kept by his humble mother. Much judgment must be used in regard to the disposal of the lives of these hapless children who do not know who their fathers were and often have no knowledge cf their mothers. Fortunately much judgment IS used.

No arm of our social service institutions is so strong and able as this one department. Infinite care, investigation, psychological research, surrounds every legal adoption. Of course if a young mother wants to keep her baby and can see or find any reasonable way in which to do so without sacrificing the child's destiny too much, this is the ideal solution. And after this War and all its bitter consequences come into clearer focus, it may be found that society is ready to look with a more tolerant eye upon the case of the illegitimate child, and withdraw the social penalties which have been his and his mother's to bear in times past. Your Stamps Today Here are the periods during which stamps in Ration Book 2 may be used: BLUE STAMPS (Canned.

Processed Foods) and Now through July 7. RED STAMPS (Meat, Butter, Etc.) and Now through June 30. Next Sunday through June 30. June 20 through 30. RATION BOOK I Stamps in Book 1 expire on the following dates: Shoes No.

17 one pair), June 15. Coffee No. 24 (one pound), June 30. Sugar No. 13 (five pounds).

August 15. Canning Sugar Nos. 15 and 16 (five pounds each), October 31. GAS BOOKS No. 5 A's (three gallons each) July 21 in Pittsburgh zone.

a Are Commended Burned and knocked unconscious when a torpedo struck his ship near battled for his life in a dark, debris-filled passageway below decks. The story of Lt. Ralph Duane Good. 29-year-old former interne at Allegheny General Hospital, came to light today when the Navy offi cially commended him for "out standing performance of duty and bravery." The story was told by his mother- in-law. Mrs.

A. I. Derr, 2723 Espy Dormont. Man With Broken Back "Duane was on a transport that landed men and equipment at Casa blanca last November," Mrs. Derr related.

"There had been two other ships torpedoed the preceding evening, when the 'submarine' alarm was sounded." Lt. Good remembered a young sailor with a broken back down in the "sick bay" of the ship. "Duane had rigged up a raft and had strapped the sailor to it." Mrs. Derr explained. "He wanted to go to him, so he darted down the passageway." Blast Knocks Him Oat Then the torpedo struck, and Lt.

Good was hurled unconscious to the floor of the passageway while debris crashed down upon him. "He told us it was pitch dark when he regained consciousness," Mrs. Derr said. "He kept coming to and fading out, but he knew the ship had been torjedoed." Lt. Good finally crawled on hands and knees to reach a door leading to the deck.

"The ship was listing at a 30-de-gree angle, and I suppose that naturally jammed the door." Mrs. Derr said. "At first, he couldn't get it open, but he persisted and finally forced it open. Cuts Loose Life Rafts in the water called to him to cut loose rafts, and he did. "Then he slid into the water himself," Mrs.

Derr recalled. "He was picked up half an hour later." Burned on the wrists, face and ankles, Lt. Good gave himself first aid from a kit in the small boat which picked him up. "He worked to help the others axid it wasn't 'till the next day that he found his ankles had become infected," Mrs. Derr related.

Only 50-50 Chance Placed in a hospital that formerly-had been a gambling casino, LtJ Good finally was put aboard a vessel with other wounded and shipped home. "He was given less than a 50-50 chance to live because of the shock," explained Mrs. Derr, "but he made it and then spent two months in a naval hospital in Virginia." Lt. Good, son of Mr. and Mrs.

A. C. Good of Rebecca was commissioned last year. He is a graduate of the medical school of the University of Chicago. The sailor with the broken back also survived, according to Lt.

Good's shipmates. Lt. Good married Virginia Lee Derr, daughter of A. I. Derr, vice president and secretary of tjie Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railways, last July 11.

He and his wife now are living in Washington, where Good is on duty at a naval hospital. FIRM RETURNS RATIONPOINTS OPA Aide Asks Ouster Of Board Officials DETROIT, June 11 (UP) Maxon. Detroit advertising agency headed by Lou R. Maxon, deputy director in charge of information for the Office of Price Administration, today surrendered nearly 20,000 red and blue ration points it had been granted for its 2000-acre sum mer camp near Onaway, Mich. Simultaneously, Butler Sumner, an official of Maxon.

announced the firm had petitioned OPA Administrator Prentiss M. Brown for removal of Paul Silver, chairman of Detroit Ration Board 35 and president of the Detroit Steel Products Local of the United Automobile Workers CIO), on charges of "misfeasance and malfeasance" in office. Another Ouster Asked The petition also asked removal of David P. Connery, another board member and secretary to R. J.

Thomas, president of theUAW-CIO whose charges that the Maxon agency had made illegal applica tion for ration points prompted an investigation by Mr. Silver's board. Mr. Sumner, appearing at a hear ing conducted by Board 35. said the firm was returning the ration points tor the Onaway Lodge because it had learned the board "was entirely without jurisdiction to issue them." A new application will be filed at Onaway, he said.

File Removal Charged Mr. Sumner alleged that official Government records regarding the case had been "illegally extracted irum me mes ana lurnea over to Thomas," to whom, he added, Mr. Silver and Mr. Connery "are subservient." Mr. Thomas charged Mr.

Maxon's Onaway Lodge is used to entertain clients. Mr. Maxon insists it 13 used "almost entirely" for employe vacations. 4269 Cases During '42, Humane Group Reports In its annual report, the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society, estimates that during 1942 it investigated 3882 cases of cruelty to animals, some 324 cases of cruelty to children, and 63 cases of neglect and abuse to aged persons. In addition, officers made 823 routine visits to stockyards, inspecting 137,570 animals and 109,764 crates of poultry.

Workers to Hear Pope BY THE UNITED PRESS Pope Pius will address a meeting of workers in the Cortile San De-maso, Vatican City. Sunday. Presumably his talk will cover church and labor matters. were startled to arrive on the floor there first, and were sitting wait- ing to buy shoes before the store lights (had even been turned on. The rush has been increasing steadily over the last two weeks.

Most shoe stores have already dou bled their staff of salespeople, and are still looking for more. Business for June they predict will be at least double the normal volume. Supply Believed Ample Shelves are lined with "turned down" or empty boxes. But the stores are constantly getting in new shipments and feel they will be able to supply the demand, even though the range of styles and colors has diminished. The big demand now, is for white, but most customer are willing to take anything they can get.

The stores had stocked large quantities of low-heeled, "sensible" shoes feeling that customers having to do with fewer shoes would demand longer wear and comfort. The rush has shown that most women do not quibble over such things, but are quite willing to take open-toed. sling-heeled models if only they can get them. Long Waits Necessary People wait in line patiently. A customer who waits only an hour is lucky.

And although irregularities are at a minimum, there are those who try to chisel. All reputable stores are, in compliance with OPA regulations, requiring that the ration book be presented with the stamp, so there is little opportunity for customers to get away with anything on that score. Some customers are buying shoes with no regard to size, comfort or style and demand an exchange voucher good for 30 days. Their intention, the clerks say, is to return the hurriedly purchased merchandise anytime within that period and select another pair at leisure. Shoe Stamp No.

18 Good for Summer WASHINGTON. June 11 (UP) Office of Price Administration officials assured consumers today that they can use their new shoe stamp a a No. 18 for summer shoes without fear that they will be caught short in the fall. OPA decided, after analysis of shoe inventories and military and Lend-Lease needs, to set the expiration date of Stamp 18 for some time in the fall, probably mid-September. A new shoe stamp will become valid then.

Officials indicated that shoe ration periods will be about the same length as. the first period, at least for the time being. Prospects are good that Price Administrator Prentiss M. Brown's original hope for three-pairs-of-shoes-a-year quota will be carried out. Brief Strikes End In Two War Plants Brief strikes in war plants of two Pittsburgh firms, and of a third in Monongahela, ended today as full production was resumed.

Approximately 1000 employes of Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co. called off one-day walkout which arose because of dissatisfaction with wage rates involved in a change of work. President Ed Riegner of Local 613, United Electrical and Radio Workers, CIO. said the union expected to discuss the problem with a U.

S. Conciliator. The walkout halted the Bayard, Manchester, Juniata and River units of the firm. A demand by A. F.

of L. officials that the men return to work ended "wildcat" strike of 125 steam-fitters at the United Engineering Construction plant at Second Ave. and Brady St. late yesterday. "The strike is wholly unauthorized and the grievance was not handled in the regular way," said Leo Green, secretary of Steamfit-ters Local 449 in announcing that the men would resume work today.

A three-day walkout at the Combustion Engineering Monongahela plant, caused by hiring of Negro workers in the foundry, also subsided after a conciliator intervened. I I have given this serious considera tion and have worried for a month It has been my misfortune to have the case assigned to me. I had to take it; I couldn't do otherwise and still be a good judge. "The jury was discharged. With jury it would have been easier to share responsibility, rather than have to bear it all myself.

Why weren't other judges called in, you may ask? After the case started and the Commonwealth had presented its evidence, there was no recourse, no alternative but to assume responsibility." Believes Killer Sane "I don't know how I can ever get these horrible pictures out of my mind. Or the horrible facts of this case. I didn't sleep last night. thinking and worrying about it," he continued. "I want to say to you, having heard all the evidence, especially in view of the fact the defendant is over 14 and presumably sane and knowing right from wrong, the only hope of the defense was to prove him insane.

This burden has not been met to my satisfaction and the court must presume he is of sound mine. "With that question out of the way, I must adjudge the defendant guilty of the killing of the young girl while in the act of forceful rape." Juror Agrees There were indications today that even if Perry's fate had been left in the hands of the jury he likely would have escaped the chair. One juror, Clifton E. Beakes, of Vance Coraopolis, said that after hearing the state's case he felt that the boy was not altogether normal and should be put away for life. "As the evidence was being presented, I was given the feeling that he couldn't reason out right from wrong," Mr.

Beakes said. "Of course I would have had to wait until all the testimony was in to make up my mind finally but my feeling was that my verdict would have been life imprisonment," he added. Food Program Threatened By Poor Weather WASHINGTON. June 11 (UP) Unfavorable weather threatens the nation's 1943 food production program, War Food Administrator Chester C. Davis reported today.

He said "serious damage" already has resulted from excessive rainfall over a quarter of the nation's most productive farm land and from continued drought in the Great Plains. The situation, however, is not hopeless, he said. June is the critical month. Favorable weather the remainder of the growing season would enable farmers to produce normal crops. It already is too late, the Agriculture Crop Reporting Board said, hope for yields equal to those of last year, much less attain the seven per cent increase called for 1943 farm goals.

The Crop Board yesterday made production forecasts only on wheat, rye, oats, barley, peaches and pears. All showed sharp reductions from last year. Production prospects generally were the poorest in three years. Despite the prospect of reduced crops, total food production may approximate 1942 because of greatly increased livestock numbers, Mr. Davis said.

Food officials said no changes are contemplated in food distribution plans until after the Crop Board report of next month. If the July 1 report is equally unfavorable, reductions probably will be made in civilian food estimates. May rains, averaging about eight inches, inundated large sections of an area some 1500 miles long and 300 miles wide extending from Western Oklahoma to Northern New York and from Michigan to Kentucky. Farm work was halted on an estimated 90 million acres. i Lend-Lease Bill Approved WASHINGTON, 11 The Senate today gave final approval and sent to the White House for signature the $6,273,629,000 lend-lease appropriation for 1944, accepting a House amendment that prohibits use of any of the funds for payment of subsidies on food products.

fA1 I Even Train Crash Fails to Move OP A NEW YORK, June 11 (UP) Anthony J. Passera, called before the OPA for motoring to Atlantic City on Memorial Day, said he was visiting his son in the Army. Told that there was adequate rail service, Passera said, "But if I had gone on the train I would have been killed." The train that day crashed outside of Camden, N. killing 14 persons. His ration book was suspended until Aug.

21. COMES NOW THE SHOE RUSH as Pittsburghers hurry to cash in on ration coupon No. 17, good for one pair of shoes, and which expires next Tuesday. Here is a scene typical of Downtown shoe stores today..