The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 1

"he Pittsbmi Pre Closing Market Prices PRICE FIVE CENTS WEATHER Windy and colder with snow flurries today and tonight. Windy and colder tomorrow. cr) (COPYRIGHT 1949, by Pittsburgh Press Co. All Rights Reserved.) VOLUME 65, No. 207 TWO SECTIONS 36 PAGES PITTSBURGH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1949 Published dally.

Entered as second-claa matter October 12. 1887. at the Post Office at Plttsburth. under the Act ot Majrch 3. 1879.

2 mm mm McKinney Prefers Pirates To Envoy Post So far as at least one overseas post is concerned. American diplomacy will just have to stay on Premier Calls For Immediate Tm Going to Do Job' Just Ordinary Man, Truman Tells Friends Inauguration Fever Sweeps Capital OTHLK INAUGURATION NEWS Kane spccial capital-bound 3 Do not covet neighbor's Truman says By LYLE C. WILSON United Press Staff Writer MRS. DOROTHY HODGDON Halleron told her of his "exploits" as FBI agent. 10 Killed as Ships the back of the stove and simmer until the Pirates win a pennant.

Frank E. McKinney, the Bucs' co-owner and president, says so. Mr. McKin ney. president of the Fidelity Trust Co.

of I i anapolis and treasurer Mr. McKinney of the Indiana Democratic State Committee, recently was offered a diplomatic post by his close friend, President Truman. His answer, roughly, was "Thanks, but nothing doing. He said he would be glad to turn his attention to such matters "when the Pirates win the National League pennant." Obviously, he didn't want to be engaped In ironing out troublesome affairs of state in some faraway country and run the risk of missing the KiKht of his team In the World Series. Pittsburgh fans will note with delight that Mr.

McKinney didn't fay "if" the Bucs win he said "when." That's encouraging word from the boss. A position in the diplomatic corps would not only be a reward for Mr. McKinney's strong financial support of the party in his state, but also for his work as a colonel in the finance division of the War Department in World War II. Slaying Suspect Hunted as Fiend May Be Attacker Of Litsko Babies Police, are in the tlfird day ol a desperate cat-and-mouse game in the Homewood-Brushton area try ing to trap the assailant of the Lit sko babies. One suspect is known to police.

In 1946 he was accused of killing his wife in Oakland. His identity in Litsko case was confirmed earlier this week, but Police Supt. Harvey J. Scott asked that the information be withheld until he could be arrested. The man was seen in the Rose Bar, Collier St.

and Frankstown last Thursday, and on a porch in Homewood late Monday night. Evades Police But he disappeared each time before the swarms of police in the area could catch him. Homicide Lt. Peter A. Connors spent most of Monday night in the vicinity.

The man is still at large, and Supt. Scott fears he may "kill somebody else" unless caught. The suspect killed his wife in 1946 by slashing her throat, while his eight-year-old son stood terrified in the room. He was identified by Mrs. Mildred Litsko, 25, of 7135 Kelly from a snapshot in police photo files.

This came iust a few hours after Mrs. Litsko had fought off the man 5 attack on her two children. More than 50 officers then began searching the area. Suspect List Useless Meanwhile, police said that a list of Brushton-Homewood men, furn- i ished by a prison convict, is of little help in solving the Kcnsmger mur-! der case. I The convict said the list might lead police to the slayer of 12-year-i old Carole.

Lt. Connors insists the slayer is a tall Negro seen fleeing the vicinity (Continued On Page 11, Column 6) Michigan Hit By Winds at 100 Mi. Hour Kansas City Traffic Forced to Standstill Picture. Page 14. By THE UNITED PRESS Cold winds reaching gusts of 100 miles an hour whistled across lower Michigan today as the Winter's worst cold wave spread from the Pacific Northwest to the Great Lakes.

The cold wave sent temperatures plunging to 30 below zero in some spots. It followed a huge storm system which klckd up a tornado In Mississippi, a blizzard in the Dakotas and covered the Midwest with dangerous ice and sleet. The sleet changed to snow as the cold wave moved in. Four to eight inches of snow fell in Northern Missouri, Eastern Iowa. Northwestern Illinois and Wisconsin, which experienced its heaviest snowfall of the year.

Center of Storm The storm center lashed across Michigan in a northeasterly direction. The auto center of Flint, was hit hard. One auto worker was killed when a tree fell on him as he left work. Store windows were smashed, roofs were torn from buildings and power lines were snapped. Winds up to 75 miles an hour uprooted trees and knocked down power and telephone lines in Ohio.

The mercury "was below or near zero as far south as Arkansas. Twister Kills One The fast-moving cold front caused a three-minute tornado at Caledonia, Miss. The twister killed one person and injured 13 others, two critically, as it ripped through the town of 1000 population. Half of Springfield, was darkened when sleet and snow broke power lines. In the St.

Louis area, 5000 homes were cut off from electric service for a time and a sheath of ice stopped all street cars for 40 minutes- Phone Lines Snap The sleet and icing conditions extended from Oklahoma, Southern Kansas and Missouri through Illinois and Indiana. Southwestern Bell Telephone, still trying to repair 231 long distance lines torn down by a storm last week, said the new load of sleet and ice slashed 151 additional lines and caused $250,000 damage. Five towns in Southern Missouri and four in Northern Arkansas were isolated. Snowplows and work crews at tempted to clear the streets of Kansas City where traffic was forced to a standstill yesterday by the heav'y snowfall. Schools were closed.

Chicago Spared Chicago, which had expected a five-inch fall, was saved by winds from Lake Michigan that staved off the storm's full brunt. The fourth blizzard in two weeks stalled buses and trains in huge drifts in the Dakotas. Passengers of two buses stranded between New Underwood and Wicksville in the South Dakota Black Hills region walked to safety at Wicksville. Rescuers drove their cars as neai as possible to a double-engined Chicago and North Western passenger train that stalled in a 12-foot drift near Wall, All passengers were removed safely. Captive Mine Union Shop Ruled Illegal Violates Taft Law, NLRB Examiner Says WASHINGTON, Jan.

19 (UP) Trial Examiner William R. Ringer of the National Labor Relations Board today ruled that John L. Lewis' union shop in the captive coal mines is illegal under the Taft-Hartley Law. Mr. Ringer recommended that the board order Mr.

Lewis and the United Mine Workers to cca? giving effect to the union shop provision of the 1948 contract which was signed last July after a week-long strike. Owned by Steel Companies The captive mines are owned by the nation's 10 biggest steel companies. The companies filed unfair labor charges after Mr. Lewis struck their mines to force thrm to sign the agreement which he had reached earlier with the nation's commercial coal opera- tors. The strike ended after Mr.

Lewis and the companies agreed to a stipulation that the union shop contract would continue until the disputed issue finally is determined. Labor experts count on this stipulation to prevent any work stoppage on the heels of the decision against the union. The decision, if upheld, would Jeopardize the union's contract with the commercial operators. That agreement contains the same forbidden union shop provision. The mine workers union has indi cated it will appeal the ruling to the full board.

If it loses there, the union said it will appeal to the courts. The courts have not yet ruled on the legality of the union shop provision in the controversial labor law. No Election, Ruling; Cites Mr. Ringer ruled that the union shop is illegal "because a majority of the employes as required by law had not authorized such a clause through a Government-conducted election." Such an election can be requested," Mr. Ringer said, "only by a union which has submitted cer tain union data to the Secretary of Labor and whose officers have filed non-Communist affidavits with the Labor Relations Board.

Neither of these conditions has been met by the United Mine Workers." Mr. Ringer recommended dismis sal of charges that the union had refused to bargain with the big steel companies with coal mining sub sidiaries. He also recommended dismissal of the charge that the union and Mr. Lewis had restrained and coerced the miners from the exercise of their rights guaranteed by the Taft-Hartley Law. Bill Would Extend Liquor Sale Hours From Press Harrisburg Bureau HARRISBURG, Jan.

19 Taverns could sell drinks until 2 a. m. Sundays under a bill introduced by Rep. Warner M. Depuy, Milford Republican.

He also would permit take-out sales of 12 bottles of beer, instead of six as now. radio stars. a contract to switch from Columbia is known to be bargaining for Edgar Bergen and his Charlie McCarthy show. Bergen's NBC show stopped when he "resigned from radio" Jan. 1.

"I look forward with great pleasure to my return to the network which gave me my start in radio," Crosby said. "We should make a great team." CBS Board Chairman William S. Paley was credited with snaring the Crosby show. In New York, an ABC spokesman said that network does not have a contract with Crosby but with the Philco Radio which sponsors Crosby's present show. He said ABC's Philco contract runs until June and Crosby presumably will continue on that network until then.

Winds Winging Winter Back Here in Hurry Strong winds were bringing Winter back to Pittsburgh today. Snow flurries and sub-freezing weather are forecast. The mercury climbed to an unseasonal 65 degrees at 3:30 a. m. today.

Then cold air began filtering in. The temperature dropped grees by 8 a. m. The weatherman predicts a steady drop to 22 degrees overnight. He cxprcts sprinkles of rain changing to snow flurries late this afternoon and tonight.

Tomorrow Is to be windy and rather cold with a high of 27 degrees. Donnie Dingbat, who likes to keep the seasons straight, stuck his beak in the wind and tried to whistle up a snowstorm. Al Williams' Plane Burns in Crash Landing Gear Jams; Press Writer Unhurt Maj Al Williams' new Grumman "Gulfhawk," rated by its makers as the fastest propeller-driven plane in the world, was destroyed by fire after a crash landing last night in New Bern, N. C. Maj.

Williams, aviation writer for The Press and other Scripps-How-ard newspapers, escaped "without a scratch." "I ran into bad flying weather on my way from Miami to Roosevelt Field, N. Maj. Williams related last night by phone. "After a tussle with it, I decided to play safe and land at the first chance. Sparks Ignite Fuel "As I let down at New Bern, the landing gear apparently jammed.

"The belly of the ship scraped the runway, setting off sparks- But I managed to get out without a scratch as they ignited the fuel tank." Maj. Williams left Florida yesterday, after several days of exhibition flying in Palm Beach and Miami, when he learned of the death of a brother, Joseph. He had ignored warnings of bad weather. The flight meant an end for his beloved F-8-F plane which was completed in October. Maj.

Williams' son. Jack, said the new "Gulfhawk," which replaced his famous 12-year-old biplane of the same name, had been specially buiit. It was a first-line Navy fighter plane, stripped down 1200 pounds under standard weight. It was capable of 450 miles an hour at sea level and was 25 miles an hour faster than its Navy counterpart. Jack attributed last night's crash, to an exterior fuel tank used for long flights.

Last Crash 25 Years Ago The last crash landing for Maj. Williams was 25 years ago. While barnstorming in North Carolina, he came in for a landing, only to find spectators swarming over the field. He managed to squeeze his plane between two rows of parked autos. He was unhurt.

In World War I Maj. Williams became a flier after only three hours' instruction. Later he became a test pilot and shattered many U. S. speed records.

Maj. Williams has been manager of Gulf Oil Corp. aviation department here since 1933. He lives at the Royal York apartments. The one-third of the County where assessments were revised for this year takes in about 50 communities south and east of the City.

Included are Mt. Lebanon. Dor- mont. Homestead, East Pittsburgh, Munhall, Clairton, McKeesport, Du quesne, Rankin, Braddock. Cora opolis, Crafton, Baldwin Twp.

and Castle Shannon. Owners have a month in which to appeal. The board said assessments will be open for inspection at Room 329, County Office and in various municipal buildings in the affected communities. to 44 de- End to Fighting New Offer Provides For Peace Parley NANKING, Jan. 19 (UP) Nationalist China today asked the Communists for an immediate cease-fire and a peace conference.

The Nationalist government decided on the new approach to the Communists at its regular meeting under Premier Dr. Sun Fo today. A formal communique said: "The executive Yuan, at its regular meeting this morning, resolved to make the following statement: "The sovernment, in deference to the general wishes of the people for early realization of peace, hereby makes known its desire for both the government and the Communist forces cease fire unconditionally immediately and for both sides to appoint delegates to start peace negotiations." The proposals constituted the Nationalist government's reply to the eight conditions for peace proposed by Communist leader Mao Tze-tung and broadcast by the Communist radio. Reds Want to Punish Chiang The Communist condiUons included the punishment of "war criminals," presumably including Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, repeal of the Nationalist govern ment's Chinese consUtution and confiscation of "bureaucratic capital." In effect they would deliver China over to the Communists. The Nationalist government earlier today was disclosed to have announced to all foreign embassies and legations in Nanking that it intends to move to Canton because of the increasing Communist threat to the present capital.

Embassies Asked to Go Along It asked the foreign embassies and legations also to move to Canton immediately. The government's decision to ask a peace conference almost certainly foreshadows the resignation of Chiang as president. Chiang, who has refused to bargain with the Communists except on his own terms, already has sent his car and a number of other personal possessions to Formosa, where he is expected to retire. Peiping Truce Arranged Dispatches from Peiping said Communist armies besieging that north China city have agreed to 10-day truce to permit peace talks between Gen. Fu Tso-yi, the Nationalist commander, and Red Gen.

Yeh Chien-ying. Word of the truce was brought back to Peiping by a Nationalist truce team which went out from Peiping under a white flag. Shells still were falling in Peiping this afternoon. 'Pete' Henry's Leg Amputated WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 (Special) Wilbur F.

(Pete) Henry, athletic director of Washington Jefferson College, today suffered the lass of his right leg. Mr. Henry, all-time All-American tackle at W. had the leg amputated today in Washington Hospital as a result of a gangrene infection. The popular athletic director en tered the hospital last Jan.

7 with an infection in his foot. H13 con dition was described as "excellent." White Baby Rhinoceros Found, Worth $20,000 KHARTOUM, Jan. 19 (UP) Found: One white baby, abandoned in the Southern Sudan. Father and mother unknown. Baby flown to Khartoum.

Now in good shape, receivig daily feedings of milk. And no wonder he's being well cared for. Algernon, 150 pounds ot white rhinoceros, is only the second of his kind ever found. He's estimated to be worth Winter Baseball Fan Pitches, Steals January's balmy weather had a hypnotic effect on a baseball-minded brick thrower early today. He smashed a $75 window at the Samuel Yanks sporting goods store, 901 Fifth and took a $10 flrjfc baseman's mitt, a $10 fielder's glove and a blue and gray jacket valued at $12.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19; (UP) On the eve of his in-j auguration. President Truman said today there probably are a million Americans who could do his job better than he. But, Mr. Truman said.j he has the job now and he is so-ing to do it.

To guests at a luncheon in his honor. Mr. Truman described as "an ordinary human being, who has been lucky or unlucky, according to how you look at it." Fever Sweeps Capital As the President spoke, inaugural fever was sweeping the Capital. The President will be sworn at noon tomorrow, the 32nd President cl the United States. Already a carnival atmosphere tripped the Capitol.

Bunting and flajs flew from the buildings. Hawkers worked through the streets, selling Truman pictures and medals. The luncheon at which Mr. Truman spoke was given by the finance committee of the Demo-cratic National Committee. Mr.

Truman told the party lead- ere thai their job did not end v.ith the election victory. "Now you've got to help the party Implement that program for which i me stand," he said. Pretty Well Strapped were times in the cam-j paign when we were pretty well strapped." Mr. Truman recalled, "We couldn't buy radio time. We couldn't even pay for trans- -j portation to get the President from one end of the country to the other in his campaign." Thanks to the fund-raisers, he jaid, "we were able to overcome this and to tell the people of the United States what the issues really mere." In an appeal lor continued support, Mr.

Truman said his election as only the beginning. "We made the issues, we expressed our convictions," he said. "We stated in the Democratic platform the things for which we stood. "It is the business of everyone ni you from now on to help the Vice President, the Speaker of the House, and the President to implement that program in such a way that the of the country will continue to be in the interest of all the people." Wants "to Get Things Done' The big doings began last night pt a $15-a-plate Truman-Barkley Club dinner at the Mayflower Hotel. Mrs.

Truman, daughter Margaret and some 2000 of the 10.000 who vouid have liked to have attended heard the President call for a vigorously active Democratic Party organization. He pleaded also for uruty of all Democratic factions "to get things done, to get the peace in this world and that we are going to have." The banquet was as happy as a circus full of kids. Most of the whooping cheering audience of men and women were in Mr. Truman's corner when the chances of victory looked Vice President-elect Alben W. Barkley spoke first.

"Some people feel that a political platform is something to get in on but not to stand on," he said, "but neither the President nor I can take such a supercilious view." Mr. Truman spoke off the cufl. This is a wonderful, wonderful tContinued On Page 11. Column 2) Important Features On Inside Pages Around Town Business-Finance Comic Pages Crossword Puzzle Death Notices Editorial Page Music Obituaries Radio Programs Serial Story 14 16-17 33-35 33 27 12 18 27 35 33 25-27 18 36 iporrs News Theaters-Movies Veterans' Funerals Vita! Statistics Want-Ads Weather Map. Table-Women's-Society 17 31 27- 35 22-24 Press Telephones Wcnt-Ads COurt 4900 Other Depts.

COurt 7200 Halleron Held For Impostor Trial Blackmailer Played G-Man, FBI Says Owen M. Halleron, convicted blackmailer, was held for a Federal Grand Jury today on a charge that he posed as a "very special FBI agent." The 39-year-old McKee sport man-about-town appeared before a U. S. Commissioner a few hours after he was ordered to begin serving a three-year sentence in the County Workhouse on the blackmail conviction. Mrs.

Dorothy Hodgdon, of Young-wood Mt. Lebanon, testified that Halleron came to her home "four or five times," seeking information about a "Pittsburgh businessman and his wife." Used Name 'George Dawson' She testified that Halleron used the name of George Dawson and each time stressed that he was an FBI man, working on a special case and not out of the local P'BI office. The name of the businessman was not disclosed at the hearing. Attorney O. Hicks Friedman asked for dismissal of 'the complaint on the grounds that Halleron had not identified, himself as an FBI man through a badge or other credential, but his motion was rejected.

Met on West Coast Mrs. Hodgdon testified that Halleron. using the name of Dawson. "called me and said he had met me on the West Coast, and he intimated that he was working for the Government." "He came out to the house and said he was working on- a case in Pittsburgh," she continued. "He told me of his exploits as an FBI agent.

Then he asked me about some friends by rather intimate questions about a businessman in Pittsburgh and his family. "Most of the questions were directed about the affairs of the businessman and his wife. They were very intimate questions about his personal life. "He mentioned, perhaps every time he came to the house, that he was a very special FBI agent. He asked me if this businessman and (Continued On Page 4.

Column 4) Postal Inspectors Recover $88,500 WAUKESHA, Jan. 19 (UPt Postal inspectors announced today that they have recovered $88,500, and that the thief who stole it from a registered mail shipment apparently disposed of it in fear of arrest. Post Office authorities said the theft "looks now like an inside job." The money, stolen last Thursday, was found yesterday dumped in a culvert in a park here. Police and postal inspectors recovered it seven minutes after getting an anonymous telephone call from a man who told them where to find it. Sofoulis Forms New Greek Cabinet ATHENS.

Jan. 19 (UP) Premier Themistocles Sofoulis announced today that he had succeeded in forming a new coalition cabinet, the fourth he had headed since the war. The new government will be sworn in before King Paul tomorrow morning, an official statement said. Burn After Crash Coast Guard Forced To Abandon Vessel NEW YORK, Jan. 19 (UP The Coast Guard icebreaker Eastwind, sw4ept by fire after colliding with an oil tanker a pre-dawn fog.

was abandoned in the Atlantic Ocean today. Ten of its crewmen were dead, 19 injured and at. least eight missing. Ships arriving at the scene 98 miles southeast of New York off Cape May, N. picked up 92 sur vivors from the" Eastwind.

which carried between 110 and 120 crewmen. Tanker's Bow Caved In No victims were reported from the tanker, the'S. S. Gulfstream, whose bow was stove in when it struck the Eastwind amidship near the chief petty officers quarters in the dense fog. Fire broke out around the bridRe.

Seventeen of the injured were aboard the freighter S. S. Suzanne, which left for New York. The S. S.

Junior, operated by the United Fruit started for New York later with 75 survivors, two ot whom were suffering from burns. Planes Hunt Survivors Two Coast Guard planes circled the area looking'for more survivors. The Coast Guard was short of search planes because of the large number sent to the Caribbean to hunt for a British South American Airways plane missing with 20 aboard on a fight from Bermuda to Jamaica. Scores of ships hastened to the area. The Eastwind was built at San Pedro, in 1944 for war duty.

Its nose was filled with concrete to break ice up to 15 leet in thickness, and if it had hit the Gulf-stream headon, it probably would have plowed through the craft. Truman Signs Bill Boosting Own Salary WASHINGTON. Jan. 19 (UP) President Truman with a stroke of the pen today boosted his salary from $75,000 a year to $100,000. In signing Senate Bill 103.

he also gave himself a new tax-free expense allowance of $50,000 a year for which he will have to account to no one. That gives him a total of $90,000 for expenses. Britain to Draft 150,000 LONDON, Jan. 19 Minister of Labor George Isaacs told the House of Commons yesterday that some 150,000 18-year-olds would be drafted this year. THE WEATHER Wednesday, Jan.

19, 1943 Lots) Windy ith occasional sprinkles ot rain today changing to snow flurries late tins afternoon. Much colder tonishl with licht snow flumps. Thursday considerable cloudiness, windy and cold. Fallins temperatures today, low tomsht 22 desrecs and lush Thursday 27. Temperatures at Pittshursh (last hours) Highest 6.s, lowest 39.

mean 52. inchest and lowest temperatures a year aKO. 25 and 4. Partly cloudy. Downtown temperature readings reported by ths United States Weather Bureau: Midnlrht f8 44 41 42 42 42 42 4 1 40 1 a.

m. 6 ft 82 fi 10 a. m. 1 1 a Noon 1 2 .1 4 3 4 5 7 8 m. m.

a. a. 4U Hlshest temperature thu date nincf 1S74. 69 in 1007. Lowest temperature this dte since 1S74.

9 In 104 0. Barometer readint at 3 p. 30 22, risin(. Humidity at 3 p. 66.

funrise 7-30 a. sunset p. m. River state at 3 p. 16 S.

pool. DtTAILED KtPORT ON PAGt 35 Crooner Bing Crosby Signs With Columbia Broadcasting 'The Groaner' to Return Next Fall to Network on Which He Got Radio Start HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 19 (UP) Columbia Broadcasting System today added Crooner Bing Crosby to its grow- County Raises Assessments On 20,000 Property Owners Change Affects Communities to East, South Of City in Regular Three-Year Review About 20,000 property owners in Allegheny County will pay higher real estate taxes this year as a result of increases in their assessments. The County's tax board announced today that notices stable of top Hollywood "The Groaner" signed American Broadcasting Co. to Co- lumbia for "an extended period" beginning next fall, CBS announced.

It did not say whether the show will continue transcribed or who will sponsor it. "All those details have 'to be worked out yet," a CBS spokesman said. The network lured Comedian Jack Benny away from the National Broad- Crosby casting Co. a few ago, continuing a talent war that began when CBS signed Amos Andy. I of higher property assessments are being mailed out to these owners The agency officially known as the Board of Property Assessment, Appeals and Review gave no estimate of how much these increases would total.

But in a previous assessment report to the County Commissioners, the board indicated property valuations outside the City of Pittsburgh would go up about $52 million this year. The board said the increases are due to: 1 New construction. 2 The regular review of property assessments which is carried out every three years. A.