Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 1

the State Journal The Weather ports of The Associated Press The night; Thursday increasing cloudi(See Weather Data, Page 14) News Service. United Press and The International ness, warmer; rain Thursday night. Receives deily the complete news THE STATE JOURNAL. Fair to cloudy and cool (U. S.

Weather Bureau, East Lansing) 1. EIGHTY-SEVENTH YEAR LANSING, MICHIGAN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1941 -24 Pages -THREE CENTS The National Observer The News Behind The Day's News THE UnitedeStates shows signs of falling into what economic experts characterize as a "defense boom slump." Every business indicator for the third quarter reveals the serious inroads which war production is making upon the nation's normal life, even though re-armament utilizes directly only 16 percent of industry's total capacity. Car loadings failed to advance strongly, because plant limitations and material shortages retarted the drive for larger output. Only agricultural shipments made greater than seasonal gains during September. Except for the beat-the-tax rush, retail trade is beginning to fall off.

The decline is attributed to anticipatory buyang in the early summer, higher prices, higher taxes, the spread "priority unemployment." Through July-August-September there was hardly a perceptible increase in industrial production, car loadings, electric power, income payments, factory employment, department store sales. OPM and OPACS experts are racking their brains in an attempt to prevent a more serious slide, fearing its adverse effect on aid-toBritain psychology. Thus far they have been unable to devise elfective controls. They shudder at the thought what may happen when defense production takes over 25 or 30 percent of industrial activity. Crisis FACTORY employment and that, moved inslightly, crease was confined largely to detense plants.

The rise offset declines in industries producing radias. phonographs, automobiles, leathers, textiles, air conditioning equipment, household appliances, farm machinery, even brewery equipment. "In view of the probably marked expansion in future defense needs." says a confidential memo warning of danger ahead, "it is clear that much more economic transition lies before us. Hence it is important, on the one hand, that this transition be made as quickly and completely as possible for the sake of our defense elfort. But on the other hand, nothing will be gained if civilian output be curtailed drastically before defense expansion can take up the slack.

"The key to the most effective economic transition lies in the ellective use and allocation of the scarce materials. In order to make this allocation in the most effective manner, adequate data on the supplies of scarce materids and on the demand for them are absolutely essential." Here is how a topnotch OPM-er views the present and prospective crisis: "We have got to do this defense job, yes, but we must try to preserve a comfortable balance between war and civilian production. For the best defense is always a happy people and sound economic system." Cancellation UNITED STATES shipping firms trying to promote tourist travel to South America have filed protests against any arming of their shins unless and until there is a declaration of war. These companies have invested more than a million dollars in an advertising campaign to develop this trade. were requested specifically, several government agencies, to make South America travel more attractive.

An interchange of visitors was relied on to produce greater understanding among the peoples of these continents. With Latin America suffering economically from the war and its participation in the hemispheric defense effort, it was arcued that tourists' funds would help to alleviate conditions. The companies' officials had one example of the disastrous effect the mere suggestion of danger in western waters exerted on their business. Two rears ago, at the request of the White House, they invested heavily in promotion. and anticipated a fine return.

Then the President announced that there was a submarine off the Florida coast. That warning See OBSERVER -Page 10 SURVEY LAUNCHED' BY MERIT BOARD Commission Ends 'Rigging' Inquiry, Begins Work on 'Streamlining' Program After summarily, disposing of a charge that state buyers' tions were "rigged." the state civil service commission Wednesday had launched a of state agencies designed to "eliminate certain departments and combine others." The commission Tuesday denied the petition of Howard C. Worden, former state paper buyer, for a new buyers' examination, after a lengthy hearing of his charges of irregularities in the buyers test given last See MERIT BOARD -Page 4 WOMAN'S FATE IN KNIFE DEATH GIVEN TO JURY Four Possible Verdicts in Murder Case of Mrs. Cox, Judge Carr Charges RESPONDENT IN DENIAL verdict of second degree murder was returned shortly before 1 o'clock by the jury deliberating the case of Mrs. Bessie Cox, accused of the knife slaying of her employer and 'sweetheart," David Westgate.

The murder trial of Mrs. Bessie Cox, 47, went to the circuit court jury of seven men and five women at 11:12 o'clock Wednesday morning and after having failed to reach verdict in about an hour the jurors were taken to a hotel to eat lunch before resuming deliberations. They were still deliberating shortly before 3 o'clock. Judge Leland W. Carr instructed the jury that it might find Mrs.

Cox guilty of first degree murder, second degree murder, or manslaughter or not guilty in connection with the death last July 2 of David Westgate, 45, with whom she had been residing at 4621 South Cedar street. The prosecution accused Mrs. Cox of having fatally stabbed Westgate during a fight at their home June 29. Mrs. Cox took the witness stand Tuesday afternoon to deny that she stabbed Westgate.

Dwight Wilson, defense attorney, rested his case late Tuesday afternoon after Mrs. Cox had told the jury of seven men and five women bizzare story of the fatal fight between her and Westgate last June 29, in which the latter suffered stab wounds in the forehead and left side. Victor C. Anderson, assistant the jury Tuesday and prosecuting attorney, delivered. the prosecution's opening to arguments by the defense attorney and Richard B.

Foster, prosecuting attorney, were made Wednesday morning before Judge Carr's charge to the jary. Denies Knowledge of Wound Although Mrs. Cox admitted that she grabbed a knife during a fight with Westgate she denied that she struck at him with the kntfe and insisted that she did not know how he was wounded. She testified that the fight started when she electric asked fan Westgate she to could arrange an so some of its benefit. Westgate failed to comply, she said, and she jerked the fan cord from the wall and threw the fan into another room.

Westgate struck her in the face and knocked her unconscious, according to her testimony, and when she regained consciousness she discovered that he was in the bath- room. Hurled Utensils Mrs. Cox said she hurled several kitchen utensils, including a coffee pot and tea kettle, at the bathroom door and asked Westgate to leave the house through the bathroom window because she was afraid of him. She added that she grabbed a knife and started to pick up the tea kettle when Westgate rushed at her from the bathroom. The next thing she remembered, she testified, she was lying on the kitchen floor and Westgate was standing over her with the knife in his hand and blood on his shirt.

"I'm sorry but have to turn you in, honey," she quoted Westgate as saying. The defendant denied testimony of prosecution witnesses that she had threats against Westgate earlier in the day. She also denied that she had expressed a wish that the knife had gone clear through his lung. On cross-examination she admitted she had a state trooper that she probably would have cut Westgate's head off if he had come out of the bathroom. Dog Owner Brings Fleas--in a Bag READING, Oct.

8 (AP)-Mrs. Florence Sidel, field secretary of the Berks county humane society, reports that a dog-owner a telephoned to say that several of his animals were "loaded with fleas." "What shall do with them." he queried. "Bring them in," Mrs. Sidel recommended. Some time later the man appeared, and placed a brown paper bag on her desk.

"I scraped off as many as I could," he said. "They're all in the bag." Where to Look Bedtime Stories .15 Believe It or Not 2 Comics 20 Crossword Puzzle .20 Daily Patterns .15 Dorothy Dix .15 Editorials ..10 Health Talks .15 Just Before the Deadline Looking Over Lansing Markets 21 New York Day by Day .10 Radio ..21 Serial Story 20 Society 16-17 Sports 19 Theater 18 Vital Statistics 21 Weather PROBE TO LEARN CAUSE Here's How Scene of Tuesday's Wreck Looked from Airplane 3 Nine Deaths Result from Tropic Gale ATLANTA, Oct. 8 (AP) -A small tropical storm, born in the West Indies four days ago, headed with diminishing force toward the Atlantic ocean off the South Carolina coast today after leaving at least nine dead and extensive property damage along its meandering course. Three deaths were reported in the Bahamas, five in Florida and one in Georgia in the wake of the storm that whipped across the southern tip of Florida early Monday, veered northward in the Gulf of Mexico and then cut a destructive path yesterday across a corner of northwest Florida and South Georgia. Coast guard planes planned to resume a search for 20 fishermen, reported missing in the gulf coastal section between St.

Marks and Carrabelle, Fla. More than 350,000 soldiers on maneuvers in the Carolinas prepared for the tail-end of the storm, which, the weather bureau said, was still attended by strong winds and centered just west of Parris Island, 8. at 2:30 a. m. (E.

S. After whirling across southern Florida, the storm picked up renewed intensity on northward course in the gulf and smacked the coast line near Carrabelle with winds up to hurricane force of 75 miles an hour. It battered Tallahassee, capital of Floria, with gale winds and moved into southwest Georgia, disrupting communications, felling trees, and causing crop and property damage. The storm was accompanied by torrential rains. It was late last night before power WAS completely restored to the business section and close-in residential sections of Tallahassee, a city of 20,000.

Damage in southwest Georgia was estimated unofficially at several hundred thousand dollars. ATTEMPTED ASSAULT BRINGS YOUTH TERM Charles R. Barrett, 17, of Leslie, WAs sentenced Tuesday by Judge Charles H. Hayden of circuit court to serve from 2 to 10 years in Jackson prison on a charge of attempted criminal assault. Barrett was convicted by a jury.

FATHER OF HESS DIES BERLIN, Oct. 8 (INS) -Funeral arrangements were under way today for Fritz Hess, father of Rudolph Hess, former No. 3 Nazi party chieftain who is now a prisoner in England. The elder Hess died last night at his family home in Hidelang, Bavaria, at the age of 77. Hourly Temperatures did 51 12 P.

noon m. 57 10 58 Journal temperatures. U. S. weather, bureau temperatures.

OF WRECK Train Service Resumed After Rail Disaster Thousands Visit Scene of Demolition After Fast Freight Jumps Track, Crushes Depot; Lansing Boy Killed, 13 Hospitalized With Injuries; Question Trainmen a broken wheel on one of the cars might have been the cause. Freight's Speed Great The wreck occurred about 4:15 o'clock when the station was filled with persons waiting for a bound Grand Trunk passenger train, All of those killed or injured either were in the station or on the form when the freight train, speeding along at what witnesses mated was a speed of from 60 to 75 miles an hour, buckled and heavy Trains moved on schedule out of the Grand Trunk station here Wednesday afternoon where less than 24 hours earlier, Lansing saw the worst railroad wreck in its history. Railroad crews, working throughout the night, cleared the track of its littered freight cars and constructed temporary track. age to replace the ripped-up rails caused by the wreck of Tuesday afternoon that killed a Lansing boy and injured at least 13 other persons. Investigators Wednesday afternoon still were attempting to determine cause of the wreck.

Police advanced a belief that a split switch just west of the Washington avenue crossing might have brought about the disaster while others voiced opinion DECISION MADE ON NEUTRALITY Legislation in House Will Be Confined to Arming of Merchant Ships WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (AP)-Legislative leaders reported today they had agreed that neutrality legislation to be introduced in the house tomorrow-following a message from President Roosevelt- would be confined to permitting American merchant ships to carry arms. Those who attended a White House conference said it was agreed that such legislation could be sent through the house before the end of next week. It was said reliably, however, that the President, Secretary of State Hull and Harry L. Hopkins, the leaselend chieftain, still were hopeful that congress eventually would also amend the existing law to lift the present prohibition against American ships traveling to belligerent ports or designated combat areas.

Hopkins, who had been reported taking the lead in an effort to have the law revised to permit the arming of ships and to allow them to travel anywhere, was said to have expressed disappointment at the decision reached at today's conference. One.of those who attended the meeting told reporters that if the legislation providing for arming ships went through the house by a substantial majority it' was possible that the senate foreign relations committee would consider broadening the measure to eliminate the restrictions on ship movements. Barkley Gives Opinion Senator Barkley of Kentucky, the majority leader, told reporters he could not say in advance what the message would contain- or whether it would seek both the arming of merchant ships and allowing them to touch belligerent ports immediately. He said, however, that the arming of merchant vessels, now prohibited by Section 6 of the act, should be the least drastic change. "The arming of ships, as a matter of timing." he said, "might be the most urgent." Barkley said he personally favored repealing both sections which would permit the arming of ships and their travel to designated combat zones and belligerent ports, but emphasized that was "merely my personal opinion." Given Probation In Car Death Case Judge Charles H.

Hayden of circuit court Tuesday placed Carlton Anway, 21, of R. 1, Williamston, on three years' probation on a charge of negligent homicide in connection with the death of Mark Cheadle in an automobile accident in Wheatfield July 17. The court also assessed Anway fine and costs of $200 and revoked his driver's license for three years. Robert De Jongh, 35, of 1430 Sunset avenue, charged with drunk driving, second offense, was placed on probation for one year and ordered to refrain from use of liquor and from driving a cat for one year, MISSING BOY FOUND IRON MOUNTAIN, Oct. 8 (AP) Dennis Ludlow.

boy missing since late yesterday, was found today, alive and well, wandering in a marsh about a mile from his home. CHURCH CHAIRMAN NAMED GRAND RAPIDS, Oct. 8 (AP)-Rev. H. Ralph Higgins of Grand Rapids was elected chairman of the department of social relations for the fifth province of the Episcopal church yesterday in preliminary meetings of the provincial synod.

(Other Wreck Pictures on Pages 11 and 8) MUDDLE FACES LEGISLATORS Confused Picture Awaiting Returning Lawmakers as Recess Ends Thursday The Republican-dominated 61st legislature, reconvening Thursday after -down" recess directed at Governor Van Wagoner, will return to a capitol confused beyond precedent, it appeared Wednesday. Informed sources expressed belief that neither the Republican leaders of the legislature nor Governor Van Wagoner and his aides had a clear idea what course they would pursue when the law-makers meet again at 2 p. m. Thursday after a unique 90- day recess. Wednesday was expected to be "strategy day" on both sides of the political fence.

Van Wagoner, ill at See LEGISLATORS--Page 8 JEFFRIES, GILLIS RIVALS FOR MAYOR Detroit Chooses Incumbent, Veteran Judge for Post In City Nominations DETROIT, Oct. 8 (AP) Mayor Edward J. 1 Jeffries, over given a more to lead his closest rival, was nominated for a second terms in Detroit's non-partisan municipal primary election yesterday. Virtually complete returns today from a light vote gave Mayor Jeffries 109.179 votes to 49,793 for the veteran recorder's court judge, Joseph A. Gillis.

Halt a dozen other candidates were strung out behind with returns missing from only 15 of 1.015 precincts. Mayor Jeffries and Judge Gillis will be rivals in the final election November 4. The mayor, who first took office two years ago at the age of 38, appointed numerous young men to subordinate positions in the city government, and it came to be known popularly as a "boys' town" I government. The American Federation of Labor in Detroit endorsed Judge Gillis. The Congress of Industrial Organizations gave no endorsement.

in other offices led for renomination. In the city council in which 122 candidates sought 18 nominations, Charles E. (Gus) Dorais, University of Detroit athletic director and football coach, was nominated for a second term. William G. (Billy) Rogell, former shortstop of the Detroit Tiger baseball team and a newcomer to city politics, was nominated for the council.

Former Gov. William A. Comstock. running ninth in incomplete returns, appeared sure of council nomination. box cars were sent sprawling about the right of way, one crashing into the station, tearing out the west wall and caving in the roof.

F. P. Sisson, Detroit chief engineer of the Grand Trunk system, said an east-bound passenger train is due to arrive at the temporarily repaired station at 3:08 o'clock Wednesday afternoon and a west-bound passenger train at 4:20 p. m. Ticket sales are to be continued in the old ticket office as soon as the partially demolished depot can be made habitable.

Plans are under. stood to be underway for construc. tion of a temporary west wall until a permanent repair of the building Victim JAMES R. SMITH The 13-year-old Smith boy, was the lone fatality victim the Grand Trunk wreck Tuesday 'afternoon. was killed when struck by flying wreckage as he stood on the station platform.

He WAS the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Smith, 1926 Harding avenue. LANSING TRAFFIC ADOS NEW VICTIM Jay McCarty, 57, Dies When Hit by Car; Two Drivers Held for Bad Brakes A pedestrian was instantly killed when struck by a car south of the city Tuesday evening, and the driver of the car was being held by state police on a charge of negligent homicide. The victim, Jay McCarty, 57.

of 3417 Southgate avenue was killed about 7:30 o'clock Tuesday evening when run down by a car while crossing South Cedar street at Cavanaugh road. He was the fourth person killed in traffic here since last Friday night. The driver of the death car, Robert Juenker, 19, of 3719 Lowcroft, was arrested by state police on a negligent homicide charge, after they said they had found that his car had defective brakes. Officers said that the accident might have been avoided had the brakes on the car been in good working condition. The body of the victim was removed to EstesLeadley home to await funeral arrangements.

McCarty is survived by the widow, Mrs. Edith McCarty; one See TRAFFIC TOLL--Page 8 PRINCE SOON TO WED TOKYO, Oct. 8 (A) -Prince Taka- hito Mikasa, youngest brother of Emperor Hirohito, and Miss Yuriko Takagi, daughter of Viscount Masanara Takagi, will be married October 22 in the imperial sanctuary in the emperor's palace. A vivid idea of the extent of the damage caused by the derailing of a Grand Trunk freight train shortly after 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon may be obtained from this aerial photograph showing cars piled like matchwood the vicinity of the wrecked depot on South Washington avenue. This unusual view was taken by E.

V. Minczeski, instructor with the Hughes Flying service. The plane, a low-wing trainer, was flown by Herman Colbeck. also an instructor. Nazi Armies Gain In Moscow Drive (By The Associated Press) German armies storming toward a Moscow in a great new offensive have breached Soviet defense lines, trapped several Red armies and now fighting a vast battle of annihilation only 125 miles from the Russian capital itself, Adolf Hitler's high command south, too, reported the the Russians, appeared the to hour.

be growing desperate by Nazi military dispatches said the entire south wing of the Soviet army had been broken by a Gerdrive which has engulfed Ossipenko and Mariupol, cn the Sea of Azov, and threatening! the Don river port of Rostov, gateway to the rich Caucasian oil fields. German battle flags were reported within 100 miles of Rostov after a 450-mile advance from the river boundary between Rumania and Russia where the Nazi onslaught started 15 weeks ago. Reds Admit Crisis The crisis in Russia's struggle on the central front was admitted by Red Star, Soviet army newspaper, which said the Germans had driven salients into Red defense lines by hurling great masses of reserves into an all-out offensive. Soviet dispatches, however, declared that Russian counter -attacks had inflicted bloody losses on the Germans in at least two salients -in the battle-scarred zones of Vyazma, 125 miles west of Moscow, and Bryansk, 220 miles southwest of Moscow. "The Fascist command has thrown into battle considerable forces of aviation, armored troops and infantry." Red Star reported.

"The fierce battle is raging unceasingly day and night." In a special bulletin, Hitler's field headquarters announced: "While offensive and pursuit operations in the Ukraine are in full swing, a breach on the central (Moscow) front begun October 2 has led to a new and vast series of battles of annihilation. "In the Vyazma area alone, several Soviet armies are encircled and their destruction is prooceding irrevocably." It was the first time the Nazi high command had mentioned the vast new onslaught toward Moscow, heralded last Friday by Reichsfuehrer Hitler's announcement that "gigantic developments" were gathering momentum on the eastern front. Germans "Shifting" Soviet front-line dispatches said the Germans were "shifting from side side" when blocked, stabbing to discover any soft spots in the Russian defense lines. in one sector." Red Star reported, "a large German tank column tried several times to break through our defenses, but all atI tempts failed. can be made.

First Freight Goes Through "Then they retreated and drove in a different direction, making a wedge in our position. Fighters of the 'nth' detachment engaged the tank column. The Germans lost more than 1,000 killed. Our units destroyed 65 tanks." On the southern Ukraine) front, Marshal Semeon Budyenny's armies counter-attacking from the Donets river basin toward the Perekop isthmus, gateway to the Crimea, were reported in danger of encirclement by the German drive to Mariupol. British military quarters said that if the Germans were able to maintain themselves on 130-mile line between Mariupol and the Dnieper river city of Zaphorozhe, the Red army units could escape only by "forcing their way into the Crimea overcoming German forces attacking there." See -Page 8 INCUMBENTS WIN SOLE NOMINATIONS Niles and Starkweather of First and Fourth Wards to Be Unopposed Lynn C.

Niles and O. R. Starkweather, incumbent aldermen of the first and fourth wards, respectively, won the right to be the only nominees for re-election at the November 4 election when each received a clear majority of the votes cast Tuesday at the municipal primary, according to unofficial returns. In the first ward, Alderman Niles received four more votes than his two opponents combined and Starkweather received 170 votes, two more than his. combined opposition to become the only candidates on the tickets, through charter provision, if the unofficial return are confirmed by the canvass.

A city charter provision holds that a candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast in the primary shall be the only nominee. Niles received 196 votes, while Thomas J. Stevens got 112 a and Samuel Brown 80, in first ward race, unofficially. In fourth ward, the Starkweather garnered 170 votes, while Arthur Cranmer polled 97 and James E. Van Voorhis 70.

The election was confined to the two wards because of a lack of contests in other wards and the fact that several officials are unopposed for re-election. A total of 725 votes was cast in the two wards which has a combined registered vote of 8,942. The votes will be canvassed Thursday evening at 7:30 o'clock. Freight train service was resumed 11:10 o'clock when a Chicago to Port Huron train cleared the porary track construction, with seT. eral of the undamaged cars from the wrecked train included in the 50 cars.

Two other trains went through later. A crew of approximately 200 workmen rushed here by the Grand Trunk officials completed clearing the debris from the south track about 11 o'clock and hurriedly, but meticulously, installed a porary track. During the emergency trains had been routed from Detroit through Jackson to Battle Creek, where they connected with the main line of the Grank Trunk system. Sisson said it would be several days before the wreckage would be completely cleared from the rightof-way. He said some of cars could have their undercarriages replaced and placed back on the rails, but others would have to be hoisted atop flat cars and removed to repair shops in Durand or Battle Creek.

William J. Hogan, Detroit, general superintendent of the Grand Trunk said Wednesday morning an investigation of the cause of the disaster would start Thursday in Battle Creek, headquarters of the Chicago division of the road. Meanwhile Coroner Harry Leadley, who investigated the wreck, said members of the train crew would return here for questioning during the day and after statements are obtained he will determine if an inquest is necessary. Ed Huss of Battle Creek the engineer of the train and Cliff Edmonds, also of Battle Creek, was the conductor. Leadley questioned C.

B. Dove, Battle Creek, the fireman, who told him that the 18th car behind the locomotive left the rails just west of Washington avenue. He said the first derailed car was across Cedar street before the train could be stopped. Dove pointed out, according to the coroner, that 23 of the train's 50 cars were derailed and all but five of these were overturned or smashed. As wrecker crews from Durand and Battle Creek struggled to remove the twisted, battered and splintered freight cars from the right of way from a point about a block west of Washington avenue to' Cedar street, an aroused public was asking why something cannot be done to curb speed of trains moving through the city.

Witnesses indicated the train, which suddenly buckled as it neared the Grand Trunk passenger station, was traveling at a speed variously estimated at from 60 to 75 an hour. This was the second wreck at the Washington avenue crossing of the Grand Trunk railroad in the past four years. The first occurred June 9, 1937. It was similar to Tuesday's smashup but not as serious. Police advanced the theory of the split switch as the possible cause of the wreck late Tuesday night.

About 17 cars of the 50-car train had cleared the switch before it apparently opened, they said. A freight car buckled as it neared the station and slammed into the southwest corner See WRECK--Page 8 7.