Mt. Vernon Register-News from Mt Vernon, Illinois • Page 1

TEMPERATURE 98; low, 64, Last night's Noon MI VERNON REGISTER-NEWS MEMBER AUDIT BUREAU CIRCULATION SQUARE DEAL TO ALL SPECIAL FAVORS TO NONE A NON-PARTISAN NEWSPAPER WEATHER CLOUDY WUI a few soattciTci showers or thunder- sho tonight. Thureday part- Ij' cloudy with a shower likely in the forenoon. Not so cool tonight and wainier Thursday. Low tonight near 64. high Tliursday 80s, low Tliursday night near 66.

VOLUME XXXV NO. 251. MOUNT VERNON, SEPTEMBER 21, 1955 25c PER WEEK BY CARRIER PERON IN REBEL HANDS; FACES TRIAL UNCLE MOSE POINTS OUT ABDUCTORS Testifies J. W. Milam ond Roy Bryant Took Nephew Till at Gunpoint From Home.

STATE CLAIMS NEW EVIDENCE Prosecutor Says Witnesses Link Slain Negro With Accused Brothers Near Death Scene. By Aiioeiattd Pros Sumner, Wright pointed at J. W. Milam today and said "There he him as one man who abducted the sharecropper 's nephew in the early morning houi-s Aug. 28, Then the 64-year-old fai-mer pointed out 24-year-oId Roy Bryant, Milam's half-brother, as the second man who ixjused the Wright family from bed at 2 a.

m. and took Emmett Louis Till away. Bryant and Milam are accused of murdering the aiicago Negro boy because he allegedly whistled at Mrs, Bryant. Dist. Atty.

Gerald Chatham called Wright as the state's fii-st witness. Testimony began shortly after Chatham said he had six new witnesses who would place the defendants "with the Negro boy several hours after he was taken from Mose's Wright's shack." He also said the witness would place the accused men in the area where Till's body was pulled from the Tallahatchie River. New Evidence -Chatham said the witnesses have "absolutely newly discovered evidence" but did not elaborate further. Wright pushed his way firmly tiirough the crowded courtroom and sat down in tlie big witness chair. The back of the chair reached almost to the top of his head.

Chatham asked the neatly dressed farmer to describe the events of Aug. 28. "About two o'clock, someone was at the door. They said, This is Mr. Wright said the voice told him.

"I got up and opened the door." "Mr. Milam was standing at the door with a pistol in his right hand and a flashlight in the other," Wright declared. Wright started to continue, but Chatham interrupted: "Uncle Mose. do you see Mr. Milam in the courti-oom?" The little Negro rose from the big' chair and pointed at the defendant.

'There he is," he said. Wright then pointed out Bryant as the man stood in the darkness of the front porch with Milam. At first, the witness said he CENTRALIAN INJURED IN PLANE CRASH A crash landing and spectacular fire destroyed an Air Force nerlal tanker wnrlh more than two million dollars at Dow AFB at Bangor, Maine, Tuesday. Five of the 12 crewmen and two base firemen were hurt, none seriously The KC97, four engine, 78-ton plane of the Si)Ht Air Refueling Squadron was used to refuel Jets. The injured Included JIaJ.

Bert II. Lynn of Centralla, 111. Wireplioto) HIT AIR FORCE CONTRACT WITH TELEPHONE CO. Demo Leader Charges "Bon- Comptroller Holds Up Pay. Continued on Page Two) Bloomington OKs New Schools And Tax Rate Increase By Associatod Press BLOOMINGTON, voters turned out in record numbers Tuesday and approved two referendum proposals affecting the public school system.

They voted 4.078 to for two bond issues to finance a school e.vpansion program. The project includes a new high school casting an clementai-y school and an addition to an olonientary school. By a 4,092 to 3,720 count they approved a 12-cent hike in the school tax rate which will bring the rate to per of assessed valuation. The new rate is expected to take effect with tJie next tax hills. The total vole was about 500 more than the record cast on Uie same questions in March when the proposals lost.

DIXON RATE $1.35 By Assoclntcd Press DIXON, of the IDixon school district voted 1,496 to 853 Tuesday for an to $1.35 in the tax limit for educational purposes. Tlie old limit was 95 cents for eacli of assessed valuation. (Editor's Mt. Vernon educational rate limit is 75 cents on each $100 assessed valuation.) Moscoutah Pays Manager $9,000 By Associated Prtii MASCOUTAH, 111. Chester r.

Williams, 44, fonnei' city manager of Salisaw, has been (lamed citv manager of Mascou- fcah. He will take over the post Oct. 1. By Asioelatid Prisi WASHINGTON The House Appropriations Committee launched an investigation today of what House Democratic Leader McCormack of Massachusetts called a 52 ,400,000,000 "bonanza contract" between the Air Force and private teleplione companies. The Air Force replied that tlie contract plans had been fully reported to congressional committees earlier this year, and that Congress has already appropriated "substantial" funds for sites and construction of facilities.

It said cancellation of the contract now might make the government liable for a penalty which could reach 222 million doDars. At issue is a contract for conversion of the present air defense communications system to a "semiautomatic ground environment (Sage)" system. The Air Foi-ce contract is with a group of private companies headed by the American Telephone and 'Telegi'aph Co. and the West- em Electric Co. The companies would build the communications system and lease it to the Air Force at regular toil charges for a 10-year period.

Engineering and construction work already is under way. Comptroller Balks Chairman Cannon fD-Mo) of tlie Appropriations Committee ordered the inquii-y after McCormack disclosed a inaling by Comptroller General Joseph Campbell that the contract lacked congressional authorization. The Air Force confirmed this, but Asst. Secretai-y Lyle Garlock said Campbell had agreed to reconsider the roling. The effect of the ruling by Campbell, the government's chief auditor, is to ban payments under the contract unless Congress specifically approves.

The fact that Campbell's ruling, made Aug. 15, was first made public by such a key Democrat as the House majority leader indicated that Democrats are hoijeful an investigation of the contract will provide fodder for next year's political campaign. Equip Dcfen Centers Under the contract, and the Westem Electric are to finance the necessary engineering, construction and installation of equipment at eight combat centers and 32 direction centers and to provide to the government at cost of as much as 240 million dollars annually. They will retain of the facilities. In New York, an spokesman said, "We were asked to do DIE TRYING TO BUY LUXURY ON EASYPAYMENTS Immigrants With Good Jobs Quarrel Over Debts, Kill Each Other.

(Continued On Page Two) By AitMlatid CHICAGO They died trying to buy a life of luxui-y in the United Sattes on the "easy payment" installment plan. That was the theory offered by investigators today for the deaths of Spasic, 48, and his wjfe, Olga, 47, recent immigi-ants froni Europe. They killed each other Saturday in a vicious butcher knife duel in their near Northwest Side flat. Investigators found a story of soaring debt, based on "low down payments and a few cents a day" in the contents of a cheap enameled strongbox in their flat. A niece, Ursula Kister, 16, said they had been quarreling over their debts.

"It's not hard to believe," said Robert J. Massett, chief investigator for the public administrator. George Parker, investigator for the coroner's office, put together tills story of the deaths: Week Take-Home Spasic, a Czech, came to Clii- cago in 1950 and got a job as a sheet metal worker with take- home pay of $109 a week. His wife, a Gemian, came to Chicago in 1952. She had a sewing machine and a few personal belongings.

They married in 1953 and she took a factory job at $35 a week. Soon they moved into their S93-a-month, three-bedroom flat and began to furnish it. They bought a stove and icebox on Feb. 2, 1954 payments a month. On June 1, 1954.

they bought a television set and other a month. Last December they bought a 1954 automobile for paying $,500 cash and payments ron- ning $78.54 a month for two years. There were scores of other purchases. "They bought two small radios for cash. American has hot summers, so they bought two fans.

They helped Mrs. Spasic's nephew and niece come to America. They each took out a $2,000 life insurance policy, with monthly premiums due. Spasic signed up for a small payroll deduction fo'- U. S.

savings bonds. But the pinch was too much. They borrowed $350 from a loan company last March 28. On April 26 they borrowed more. There was a third loan for $300 later.

Two Ursula, who lived with them, scid they argued over their debts every few days and that her aunt took another job recently and MYRT ANSWERS $32,000 QUESTION ON TVPROGRAN Georgia Baseboll Expert Names Players With 3,000 Hits. Continued on Page Twol May Change Draft Rules -Army Wants Younger Men Bv Associated Press govorn- is considering a in draft regulation aimed at getting younger men into uniform. The proposed change is prompted by the rising age of up to about 23 and is coupled with the administration's new military program. Officials said the proposed changes, designed to be more "lenient" with older draft-age men, are being circulated among interested agencies for and comment. said they did not early action.

At present, the practice is to draft fz-om the top that to take the oldp.st men fii'st in the eligible lS'--26 group. However, a service official said that as things now stand, the average draftee will he alxDut 25 when he finishes his tu 'o year hitch and moves into thi' ready This is only a year under what this official said is the age at which most men reach their peak of military efficency. "We want younger men than the 25-year-olds going into that ready reserve," he continued. "We want men who can serve in the ready reserve several years before they reach 26." By Associated Pruss NI Myrtle Power, the baseball sage from Dixie, has kept up hrr perfect batting average by hitiing safely Myrtle Tower on the $32,000 question. Drawing on her amazing diamond lore again Tuesday night, she identified six major league players who collected 3,000 or more hits in their careers.

Hal March, master of ceremonies on The $64,000 Question CBS television show, gave her Ty Cobb as one of the seven who made that mark and asked her to name the others. Slovs'ly hut without missing a swing, she named Ihem Cap Anson, Tris Honus Wagner, Eddie Collins, Napoleon Lajoie and Paul Waner. The 70-j'ear-old baseball fan from Buford, who has been working as housekeeper, can keep the $32,000 or try for the grand slam $64,000 question next Tuesday night. If she goes to bat and strikes out. she'll get a Cadillac for a crying towel.

When the master eeremon- ios told her she had a week to make up her mind, she inquired with a smile; "Can I answer it now?" Mai'ch threw up his hands. "You almost blow a whole program," told her. It was the foui-th appearance on the show for Mrs. Power, a baseball fan for 60 years. Another baseball fan went to bat for the first time Tuesday night.

St. I.oulsan $2,000 Patrick J. Keough, St. Louis, got to the mark before time ran out. Keough, old assistant plant manager for the Louis crike plant of the Great Lakes Carbon can go for the $1,000 question next 'iupsday night.

After Tuesday night's show, Mi-s. flower told newsmen that she h.id a good lurk penny in her siiix' and v.itrc a lockel containing the lyjrd's Pr.iyer. Power, who wore the same black dross she had worn in appearances, e.vplained: "Ballplaj er don't change their when they're on a winning AL BLOWN DOWN By Press AMARILLO, Tex. A wind- stoim whipped lhr(jugh the Tii- night and levejf'd the rarni midway, in- Ljurmg at ieaet 28 persons. TO WIND UP WATER RATE CASE FRIDAY High Mt.

Vernon Rates Cited At ICC Hearing In Springfield Yesterday. Final Testiinony And Arguments Sclieduled On Company's Bid For $308,000 Per Year Boost. With another round over in Mt. 'Vernon's running battle with the Illinois Cities Water Co. oxer rates, final evidence and arguments are scheduled for this Friday in Springfield.

Evidence was heard in two phases of the water rate fight yesterday before 'Vilas Hicks. aminer for the Illinois Commerce Commission, in Springfield water company's request for "temporaiy" rates and a re- bearing of the case in which the ICC turned down the water company's request for big rate increases last February. After yesterday's session ended OPPOSED TO RAISE? WRITE A LETTER Are you opposed to the huge water rate increases asked in Mt. Vcnion by the Illinois Cities Water If so, write a letter voicing your protest to the Illinois Commerce Commission. Adress the letter as follows: Secretary, Illinois Com- meroe Commission, Centennial Building, Springfield, 111.

at 5 p. m. Examiner Hicks continued the cases, at the request of water company attorneys, until this Friday. Final testimony and arguments on the re-hearing is scheduled at 11 a. with final evidence to be given on the temporary rates case at 1:30 p.

m. The ICC is expected to take the case under advisement on Friday and will probably announce its decision within two weeks, Mt. 'Vernon authorities said. Mt. Rates Hlghept Albx Van Praag, of the WaiTon Van Praag engineering company of Decatur, testified that operating expenses of the water company here are already nearly three times as high as the average for the other privately owned companies in 16 Illinois cities of over 6,000 population.

Praag, who represents Mt. Vernon in the all-out fight against the water company's request for $308,000 annual rate boost in the King City, told the ICC that the cost per 1,000 gallons of water in Mt. 'Vernon is 52.7 cents. The average for other communities, he declared, is only 18.4 cents. For August this year, he said, the average rate charged per 1 ,000 gallons of water in the 16 cities surveyed was $1.34.

The cost in Mt. 'Vernon, under present rates, is $1.50. The proposed huge rate increase asked by the water company would make the Mt. 'Vernon rate $2.80. Mt.

'Vernon water costs, at the present rate, are already higher than in any other community in the stale where the water utility is privately owned. Van Praag's sui-vey showed. Last February 25th the ICC urned down the IlHnols Cities Water Company's request to boost rates a total of $488,000 at Nit. Vernon, Tuscola, Robinson and Palestine. The raise asked in Mt.

Vernon alone amounted to $308,000. At that time the Commi.ssion said the company failed to sustain its contention that higher expenses It claimed were reasonable. It was the second unsuccessful pplication by the company for rate boost in three years. The first, filed for a lesser amount in July, 1953. was dismissed by the company itself in April last year.

Tlion, in the same month, company filed the petition which was denied last February. Since that time the company and was granted, a rehearing on the water rates and later filed application for a temporary emergency rate increase in the same amount sought pre- viou.sly. Representing Mt. Vernon at the hearing yesterday were Attorney Frank Pfeifer of Harry A. Houston, Paris, 111., certified public accountant, Alex Van Praag, Decatur engineer.

City Attorney Alvin Lary Williams and Councilman Don Wood. Herrin Defeats Sewer Bonds By Atiociatad Priss HETiniN, III. A proptosed $957,000 water and seu-er bond i.ssup was defeated in a special elect in Herrin Tuesday by a margin of about 2-1. Unofficial totals 1,909 voters opposed the Lssue which would have brought extensive improvements to existing water and sewer facilities and refunded in outstanding Iwnds ar.ain.st the sy.stems. Yes totaled 972.

Election officials said 352 were spoiled NEW YORK FIRE CLAIMS LIVES OF 8 VIcfims Trapped in Sleep in Frame Rooming Houses Near Coney island. Arson Suspected. By Associotcd Press NEW YORK Wind-fanned flames swept through four frame nwming houses near New York's famed Coney Island amusement park early today and eight persons perished. Fifteen others, several rescued by firemen, were injured. The dead wei'e burned so badly that the sex of only man and a established.

The blnzo broke out only two hours after another fire in a bathhouse on the Coney Island boardwalk sevenblocks away. The coincidence arounsod suspicions of authorities. The more tragic fire is in a middlecla.ss residential and rooming house area heavily populated by persons of Italian extraction. Winds which buffeted the New York metrojxilitan ai'ca following passage of hurricane lone far offshore Tuesday made the firefighting more Fire Battalion Chief Charles Burhs gave a graphic description of the scene when firemeir arrived: "People trapped in their sleep stood at their windows in a terrible stale of shock. "Even when we got ladders up to the windows they seemed paralyzed.

"We had a great deal of difficulty persuading them to leave the burning buildings. Most of (Continued On Page Two) U. N. PRESIDENT Jose of Chile was elected unopposed ns prcKldnnt of Ihi! lOlli Ge.ni^nil AHsenibly of the IJiilled Nat Ions. Oi 'Ie- gafes giitlicred Sept.

20 for the opening of Ihf aHsr -mhly nt New Vork City. WItli the United States leading the opposition a hid to seat Communist China wiis defeated 42-12. Wirepholo) MURDER DEFENDANTS WITH CHILDREN IN COURT CAPTURED AT DOCKS ON GUNBOAT W. IMiiani, lett. In iiiiilor the chin IIIH five- yeiir-oUl Non, Hill, during an afternoon rceoHfi, td hlx firnt-dcgrce murder trial, at Sumner, Mllani Is holding another son, Ilnrvoy, two.

Beside Milam Is his half-brother. Hoy and Mrs. Dryant: and their Ron, Jr. Bryant alfto on trial with Mllani, iiwiised of Hinying Emmett Louis Till, J4-year-old GlilcHgo Negro (AP GAVE MOLOTOV HELL ON YALTA, TRUMAN SAYS Worst Tafking-to Russian Ever Had, HST Reports In Book. By EKNEST B.

VAfJOARO Ar stuff Writer WASHINGTON Harry S. Truman says he bolioves his administration paved the way for preventing a third world war for "as far ahead as man can see." It did so, the former President contends, by making sure of this country's military strength, and by dealing with Soviet Russia on a "give-and-take" basis. Truman leaves for conjecture the exact language ho used in face-lo-face dressing down ho gave Russian Foreign V. Mol- olcv at the White House on April 23, 1945, for failure to carry out Russia's Yalta agreements on Poland. But he says it was so sharp that Molotov was slung to protect "I have never been talked to like that in my life." Truman recalls he retorted: "Carry out your agreements and vou won't get talked to like that." Jonathan Daniels, a one-time member of Truman's staff, once quoted one of tho.se present as saying Truman used I language unadorned by the polite verbiage of diplomacy" and "the natural language of a direct to men he recognized as politicians, too." The story of the nov; famous White House session is told in Life magazine's current issue in the first of five Instalments of the 'Truman Memoirs." The New York Times and the Louis Post-Dispatch are serializing them, too.

I'hc ments make up the first volume, which will be brought out in hook foiTn in November by Dou- hleday fit' Co, 'rniiiiitn Oetfi Truman is reportedly getting for this and a second volume, to be published early ne.xt year. Truman, writing of his first (Continued On Page Two) Believe America Con Hold Atom Bomb Lead Until 1960 By A.soclated WASiri.N'GTO.V Uniipd Stale.s chief.s decifl llial this hulds a houiid Ifad over Ru.ssia in the )inic arms I 'ace and can maintain it until 1960. They arc not at all sure what will hapiicn As a result, inforni said the findmt: of ways to pi-olong ihi.s superiority in design and production of nuclear wea()ons, including long- range rocket missiles, has become a major project. The While Mouse, thr and Defen.se departments and other government agencies are at work on it. A report recently completed for President Eisenhower by Dr.

James R. Killian president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is now in the hands of Eisonhowe)''s advise r.s. What the Joint Chiefs of SLaif and Eisenhower's leading seien- lifie aiivisers are re to fear most is the possibility that sometime hy or after 1960, the might develop a new wea- (jon which would give them for a lime a clear advantage over the ('S. This would break till' stalemate and upset the balance of (xiwer. TO.NS OF TNT lOR MA.

Oy WIUTE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. A nuclear scientist has called upon Eisenhower to tJie size of this nation's atom bomb stockpile in the belief that the revelation "could be a potent force for peace." Dr. Ralph E. Lapp in Washington and formerly with the World War II atom bomb agency.

District, said the stockpile already "amounts to several tons of TNT for every ijjjiabiiant our plaJiet." EDITORS TO BE W. FRANKFORT BEAUTYJUD6ES Will Select Milt Southern Illinois At Cclebrotion Saturday. Former Dictator Reported Token Off Paraguayan Warship Where He Had Taken Refuge. JUNTA SURRENDERS TO THE REBELS Maj. Gen.

Lonardi, Who Had Been Fired By Peron, Is Appointed New President. By liitstlatid NEW YORK. A Mutual Broadcasting System correspondent In Buenos Aires today reported today that Juan D. Peron "is now in rebel hands." The correspondent, Jack Comden, said Pei'on was taken oft the Paraguayan gunboat where he took refuge Tuesday. He predicted Peron would be tried as a war criminal by the new Argentine government.

UNCONDITIONAIy SURRENDER WEST FRANFFOUT, selection and coronation of Miss Southern Illinol.s, with candidates from a dozen cities competing, will climax a thi-ee-day Founder's Days celebration at West Frankfort September 22-24 In observance of the 141st annl- versaiy of the erection of the log stockade from which West Frankfort took its name, Mayors of the sponsoring towns will 1 )0 honored during a Queen's parade prior to the judging contests and editors of seven Southern Illinois newspaixirs will ns judges. Mi.ss Southern Illinois will be crowned hy Congressman Kenneth J. Gray In a public ceremony in the high school auditorium on the night of September 24. The judging will also be public. The Winner will receive from Southern Illinois Incorporated a scroll attesting her to "rule and reign" over Little Egypt- Winner of the Queen contest will also receive a "royal chest" of valuable gifts.

City and Qiam- her of Commerce officials and their bands have been invited to escort the entries in the Queen's parade Saturday afternoon. West Frankfort's entry in the Mi.ss Southern contest will bo selected in a ballot contest during the week prior to the celebration. The Founder's Days celebration will open with the presentation of candidates in the local balloling contest at the Johnston City-West Frankfort football game on the night of Soj)tember 22. A variety show and coronation of Miss West as the city's candidate for the Southern Illinois title, will be staged in the high school auditorium "for free" on the night of September 2,3, Two Pii Tildes Saliirdn.y Two fiarades are scheduled for September 24, a pet parade at 10:00 a. m.

and the Queen's parade at 2 p. m. The Southern Illinois judging contest and coronation will he held in the high school auditorium at p. m. Founder 's Days is being celebrated in ohsen'ance of "almost loO yeai-s of growth and progress" since the erection, by Francis Jordon in 1809, of the block house tFi'ank Fort) from which We.st Fi'ankfnrt eventually took its name.

Frank's Fort was one of many stockades erected by early settlers in the Illinois territory as protection for their frontier families from rampaging Indians. Editors who will serve as judges in tlie selection of Miss Southern Illinois are: Edwin Rackaway, Mt. Vernon Register- News; Curtis Small, Harrisburg Register; William Dougherty, Carbondale, Southern Illinoisan: Jim Choisser, Benton Evening News; Homer Butler, Marion Dailv Republican; Lucius Smith. DuQuoin Call; W. Ewans, McLeansboro der.

AiiMlaltd BUENOS AIRES. Argentina's relwl today won a peace agreement apparently with unconditional surrender from the loyalist followers id Juan D. Peron, The rebels established Maj. Gen. Eduardo Lonardi as provisional (temporary) president of the nation.

A brief communique did not diisclose Peron's fate, but the rebels In their four-day revolt gave as one of their conditions of surrender the handing over the man who ruled Argentine for a decade. The last authoritative information had him aboard a Paraguayan gunboat in Buenos Aires harbor. The communique read over the state radio said the two sides had reached "complete accord" and the loyalist forces had "accepted the points stipulated by the rebels." The rebels had announced before peace negotiations began that they would accept only an unconditional surrender, Lonardi formerly commanded Argentina's 1st army. Peron retired him in 1951 on suspicion of plotting against the government. Again in 1952, Lonardi was mentioned In a group reported taken prisoner In an alleged plot against the Peron dictatorship.

Gunfire In Capital Gunfire sounded In Buenos Aires only a few hours before the peace was announced. Tank guns blasted apart the main headquarters of the Alianza Na- cionalista, Peron's strong-arm alliance. Later, serurity forces were reported to be occupying an Alianza branch eight blocks from the smoldering lieadquar- ters. Signing of the peace pact was announced in a communique from the junta which took control of loyalist-held areas after Peron fell. A broadcast from the rebel station at Cordoba earlier today proclaimed a provisional national government and said Lonardi would head it He will take over Thursday in his new post here.

He is a fonner military tache in Oiilc. The junta, which was headed hy Gen. Jose Domingo Molina, broadcast a warning that any violence would bo met sternly. The capital city had been tense but generally free of violence since the revolt began Friday. Tlie junta broadcast a warning before dawn that armed bands of civilians were roaming the streets "ti-j'ing to provoke trouble." The government said the army would take "severe measures of repression" against them.

Peron On Ship Peron was a refugee aboard a 636-ton Parauayan effect territory of the neighboring the Buenos Aires The rebels demanded his arrest and ordered their fleet to intercept the gunboat if it tried to run for home. The junta warning against civilian bands was preceded by a tank attack on the downtown headquarters of Peron's strong- arm Nationalist Alliance. The junta "claimed 400 to 500 heaN-ily armed Peronistas were holed up in the building. Let Building Burn Firemen generally stood by idly as the building went up in flames but kept the fire from spreading to the nearby home of the independent newspaper La Nacion. Athough there was no immedl- Continued on Page Two),.