Hattiesburg American from Hattiesburg, Mississippi • 1

BURG AMERICAN VOL. LII-No. 21 HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI, SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1948 Associated Press and Wide World Leased Wire Report uy Savings Bonds mm SLEET BLANKETS HATTIESBURG Feet Hathorn, Dies Suddenly CVl! Wright Gets Action From Legislators ROD SPARROW JACKSON. Jan. 24 oTl Loiv Of 16 Forecast Tonight Coldest Weather in Eight Years Hampers City, Highway Traffic Snow and Ice blanketed Hattiesburg today, crippling street and highway traffic as a new Southwlde cold wave drove the temperature to eleven degrees above lowest recording In eight years.

J. O. McRaney, local observer, brothers, Claude V. Hathorn of Columbia and Nevin C. Hathorn of New Orleans; a sister.

Miss Ruth Hathorn of Columbia; and five grandchildren. Mr. Hathorn was born In Covington county Dec. 20, 1881, son of the late Nevin C. Hathorn and Susan Rebecca Cooper Hathorn, both of whom were members of pioneer families who settled In South Mississippi some years before the territory became a state.

On April 30, 1912, he married Alleen Camp, daughter of the late H. A. Camp, founder of the town of Lumberton and later ft leading citizen of Hattiesburg, and Mrs. Cornelia Maxcy Camp. Mrs.

Camp still resides In Hattiesburg. Mr. Hathorn graduated from the University of Mississippi law school in 1A07 and entered active practice in Hattiesburg the same year. For many years he was in partnership with E. B.

Williams at Poplarville, but since 1944 he and his son, Fleet, have been In partnership here. Mr. Hathorn was a Mason, a member of the Forrest County Bar association and of the Mississippi State Bar and American Bar Fleet Cooper Hut horn, 66, prominent attorney, died Friday night In a taxicab while en-route to a hospital In Jackson, after he suffered a heart attack on an Illinois Contra! passenger train. Mr. Hathorn was on his way to Jackson on business when he was stnckrn.

Funeral sen ices will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Quieley's Funeral chapel, with Dr. W. H. Mcintosh, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, olliciatlng.

Burial will follow in Highland Park cemetery. The body will be brought here from Jackson Sunday morning and will remain at Quigley's until time for the service. Senior member of the firm Hathorn and Hathorn. Mr. Hathorn had been a' practicing attorney here and In Foplarville for about 40 years.

He resided at 108 Thompson st. Survivors include his wile, Mrs. Allfen Camp Hathorn; two sons, Fleet C. Hathorn, his law partner here, and Herbert C. Hathorn of Arlington, three daughters.

Misses Alleen, Maxcy and Rebecca Hathorn, all of Hattiesburg; two crrv Woman Chained In House For 10 Years; Father Sentenced VI This Is how Main street appeared, looking south from a day-long sleet had blanketed the city. (Staff photo by GOSHEN. Jan. Samuel Hochstettler. 75.

a leader in a rural Amish church who had kept his 41-year-old daughter roped and chained in her room for 10 years because she refused to Join the religious sect, was sentenced to six months in the Indiana state penal farm yesterday. Sentence was Imposed by, Circuit Judee Aldo J. Simpson after Hoch-stettler pleaded guilty to a charge of assault and battery. Later three physicians who examined his daughter, Lucy, and said she is insane, were to submit a report to Judge Simpson. She was examined by two physicians appointed by Judge Simpson and by the family's physician.

Dr. H. E. Vander Eogart said they agreed Miss Hochstcttler was insane nd should be committed to an institution. He and Dr.

K. Lemon were appointed by the court and Dr. C. M. Hostettler represented the lamily.

Y-f-eens MeSp With March of Dimes Negro Goes Berserk on Train; Shoots Passenger and Flagman Mississippi's legislature was quick thia week to heed the. tnaumiral ad dress of Gov. Fielding L. Wright. in response to requests maae By the governor there have already been moves to: 1.

Create a permanent state po lice force. 3. Repeal the "black market" tax. 3. Create a labor department.

4. Give financial aid to cities nd counties. 8. Enact an oil and eat conserva tion law and create a new oil and gas board. 6.

Authorize use of an experience rating in figuring unmeploy- mem compensation taxes ana no-erallze benefits to Idle workers. Also seen as reflection of the Bovernnr's address was a bill to al low Mississippi Democrats to bolt tne party in national elections. inner iiema Other Items for whleh the anv ernor asked and on which Wis lators were Quick to start the wheel grinding. Included appropriation of additional iunas ior immediate use of the welfare deDartment. annro- prlatlon of $500,000 to restore Gulf uoasi oyster reers damaged by the Sept.

19 hurricane, and Improvement of the lot of state emnlnvee through a retirement svstem. me governor did not request the last item, but did ask the luintur. ta consider the plight of employees caugni oeiween static salaries and the spiral of Inflation. Neither house has acted nn anv of the Items, but bills to grant the governor's requests have been Introduced and referred to committees. The bill to create the state police force would make It a 25 man force which, at the governor's request, would not be "secret." It could be sent Into county only at the request of the sheriff, the circuit Judge, three of the five members of the board of supervisors, or on petition of 51 per cent of the qualified electors.

OppoaiUn Opposition to the force has already been evidenced. Shortly after the bill was Introduced Rep. J. A. Thlgpen.

of Bolivar county. Issued a statement contending that use of a state police force In county law enforcement was as much an Invasion of the principle of home rule as use of the army by the federal government to enforce anti-lynch law would be an invasion of state's rights. Bills to repeal the "black market" tax have been introduced in both houses but proponents of retention of the levy have also been busy drafting legislation. Labor Bill Creation of a labor department Is provided In a bill Introduced by Rep. Evelyn Gandy, of Hattiesburg, It authorizes the governor to appoint a labor commissioner who would have broad powers.

He would have a force of seven employees and, In addition to ascertaining that employers were providing safe working conditions, would strive to obtain arbitration, mediation or conciliation In labor disputes. Army Turns Thumbs Down On Camp Shelby WASHINGTON, Jan. 24. OP) Camp Shelby will not be put on a stand-by basis, nor will a portion of It be kept for training of the Mississippi National Guard, Secretary of the Army Kenneth C. Royall has announced.

Secretary Royall advised both Sen. Eastland and Rep. William M. Colmer of Mississippi Friday afternoon that It would be "too expensive to condition and maintain It." This means the Mississippi National Guard will train in the future at Fort McClellan, near Anniston, Ala. BOtn ben.

Eastland and Congressman Colmer said the action of the army appeared final. The Mississippi National Guard had requested sufficient facilities to train a division of men at Shelby, which was one of the army's largest wartime training bases. WOMAN'S COLLEGE BEGINS SECOND SEMESTER MONDAY The second semester, at Mississippi Woman's college begins Monday with classes starting at 8 a.m., Dr. I. E.

Rouse, president, said today. The first semester ended Friday and registration for the second semester began Friday afternoon and will continue through today. Late registrations can made Monday or Tuesday without penalty, Dr. Rouse said. Several new courses of study have been added, Including two in mathe matics, one nome economics.

four in education, three in sociology and two in religious education. MORE AUTO RING SUSPECTS NABBED NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 24. OV-FBI Agent Percy Wyly reported this morning the arrest In Brlstow, of two more suspects in a five-state auto theft ring. Sixteen were arrested yesterday in New Orleans and cities along tha MissUaippl Gulf coast.

said the reading was the lowest since January 26, 1940, when a record of eight degrees above zero was set Mr. McRaney recorded 1.29 Inches of melted snow ard sleet, and said there was approximately two Inches of unmelted snow and Ice on the ground this morning. Little relief Is in sight over tha weekend with a low of 16 degreea predicted tonight for Hattiesburg. Warmer Sunday forecast was for fair and continued cold tonight, partly cloudy and warmer Sunday. Just a week ago, the thermometer plummmeted to 17 degrees Sunday morning, leaving scores of homes with frozen and bursted water pipes.

All highway traffic was halted north of Hattiesburg early Friday night and this morning, the State Highway Patrol reported critical highway conditions south of Hattiesburg. City streets were covered with Ice, and motor traffic was moving at a slow pace with police officers stationed at all downtown Intersections to heln nrevent accidents. ft Most of the downtown street Street Barricades Street barricades were placed on She slippery Inclines on E. Front W. Pine st.

in front of the ederal building and E. Pine st, bove the railroad tracks. The bus companies said this afternoon their traffic was still at ft standstill, although Gulf Transport expected to have ft schedule to Mo-iile during the afternoon, and Southern TraUways said It might et one trip from Jackson. The highway patrol said some traffic was getting through from Hattiesburg north, using chains, but the patrol still advised against travel, crossings were solid sheets of ice and bus traffic was being routed around some of the more dangerous areas. An especially unusual sight for Hattiesburg was that of Frank K.

Matthews of Polk Hardware company making his way about tha business section this morning on ice skates. Ruse Back On 6chedule Although the city buses were removed from the streets Friday about 6:30 p.m., and stationed In the garage with engines running all night, they were back on schedule this morning. Fewell Thompson, city street com. mlsstoner, said none of the clty'a automotive equipment was running, and that he expected rising temperatures during the day to clear the heavy street Ice. While all railroads reported their trafTlc moving on schedule, bus service had been stopped, pending Improved highway conditions.

The Greyhound schedules were halted early Friday afternoon, the last trip out of New Orleans to Laurel going through Hattiesburg at 3:15 pm. It was turned around and routed back to New Orleans. The New Orleans office advised Hattiesburg bus officials that they would not move any traffic northbound until advised by the local office. Southern Trailways aald its' northbound schedules were lndefl-( Continued on Page Five) Rallying From Sleeping Pills was necessary to convince stricken actress she must remain oft the boards for an indefinite period. "I've got to get to the theater to play that part tonight," she waa quoted as saying yesterday wnen she regained consciousness alter several hours.

Substitute a Hit A long-time friend, Mrs. Richard Barthelmess, wife of the former motion picture star, arrived in Columbus from New York by plane early today to be at Miss Francis bedside. Miss O'Brien-Moore was an Instant success in last night's performance of role the honey-voiced Miss Francis played since 1946. Miss O'Brien-Moore appeared last summer and fall in a special company of "State of the Union" In Chicago, Barnum Was Right BATON ROUGE, La Jan. 24.

Harklns, of Marin-gouin, dropped a cool $300 In a little con game called dropping." city police reported here today. Harkius told police he gave two strangers $300 for a share In the money in a wallet he had seen one of them find. They were to split the take at a later date. Harklns said he waited two hours before he realized the two had given him "the bird." Soviets See Attempt To Form a Western German Mate LONDON. Jan.

first Soviet pronouncement of the British proposal for a weRt European alliance Is that the apparent aim Is to get agreement on a western German state. The proposal was made bv British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin in the House of Commons Thursday. It was supported by Winston Churchill, opposition leader, In further debate yesterday. Tasa, official Soviet news agency, said in a Paris dispatch last muht the object of the plan "apparently" was to win the support of France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg "for the creation of a western German state." Bevin had Invited these nations to join the alliance. Tass.sald today in a London dispatch that Bevin's speech "was meant as a smokescreen for the creation of the so-called western bloc, the formation of which has already been started by Britain and France through negotiations with Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg." Reaction In western Europe to the speeches of Bevin and Churchill was cautious, although generally approving.

The United States, said the State Department in a statement on the proposal, "heartily welcomes European initiative in this respect. The department looked on the idea as a method of furthering the efiorts "which our two countries (Britain and the U.S.) have been makine: to lay the foundations for a firm peace." IKE FANS TO BACK STASSFN NEW YORK, Jan. 24- Leaders of the National Dr ft Eisenhower league announced simultaneously today that all state uni'c have been asked to and that the original six orptmiers of the league had pledged suptvt the candidacy of Harold E. Stassen. AMBRIDGE, Pa, Jan.

24. 0P)-A woman passenger and a railroad trainman were felled by pistol shots during an hour of terror in a coach of a Cleveland-to-Pittsburgh passenger train last nlttht. A 25-year-old Cleveland youth was finally subdued by other passengers as a flagman, his left leg ripped by a shot, Jerked an emergency cord to stop the Pennsylvania railroad flyer at this western Pennsylvania community. Mrs. Mary Refici.

29, of Cleveland, was reported in critical condition in Sewickley Valley hospital with a .25 caliber bullet In her abdomen. Her husband. Sam, was one of the men who helped overcome the assailant. The wounded trainman Is Ira M. Crlder, 53, of Freedom, Pa.

Police Sgt. Walter Rosiak Identified the pistol-wielder as Kenneth Short, a negro, and said he had been jailed on a charge of assault with intent to kill. Rosiak quoted the youth as March of Dimes funds will be augmented by today's collections at table in downtown stores and theaters, John McGregor, Hattiesburg chairman said today. Tables In four stores were under the direction of the Hattiesburg High V-Teen club. Joan Stockstill.

president of the Y-Teen club, had the following members assisting her: Mary Margaret Holmes. Joanne Red. Jeanne Charbonneau, Ils Currie, Ruth Thompson, Joy Ross, Nancy nines. Pat I-ewis, Betty McCarthy, Catherine Delk, and Becky Tatum. Mrs.

Nollle Felts, chairman of the women's division of the March ol Dimes, supervised the booths. Theaters also will have March of Dimes booths, opening at 6 p. today, Mr. McGregor said. Today is the last day to deposit News APPROVE WRIGHTS PARTY BOLT PLAN SENATOHIA, Jan.

24. P) Gov. Fielding Wright's Inauguration proKsal to break with the national Democratic party if it continues to sponsor "Anti-Southern" legislation was backed yesterday by Mississippi's Democratic State Executive committee. Herbert Holmes, chairman of the committee, said a poll of committee members resulted in the adoption of a resolution which was telcgraped to Sen. James O.

Eastland In Washington. FAMED COLLECTOR OF BALLADS, ILL GREENVILLE, Jan. 21 John A. Lomax, famed collector of American folk songs, was danger The physicians questioned her at the family home In the presence of about IS relatives and neighbors, all Amish, Dr. Vander Bogart said.

The white-bearded Hochstettler, dressed In a black cape, round- crown hat and the hook-and-eye clothing of his sect, told Judge Simpson he had confined his daugh ter to her bed for seven years by rope and for the past three years by chains. "A man In your position and of your Intelligence should know bet ter than commit such an Inhuman act." Judge Simpson said In lmpos lng sentence. Sheriff Luther Yoder said Hoch stettler had restrained his daughter for 20 years because she "refused to become Amish" at the age of 21 The first 10 years she was locked In her room. Yoder investigated after receiving complaints from neighbors and filed the charges against the Amish leader. "Take It easy with me.

I have brothers and sisters and other re' ctives in Cleveland and they are going to suffer by me. 1 did no wrong." Rosiak pieced together this ver sion of the terrifying hour run: G. E. Walker, 45, of Pittsburgh said the youth sitting beside him had been drinking from time to time from a bottle filled with some dark liquid. Suddenly, he pul'ed gun, rammed It into Walker's ribs, and began muttering threats.

Walker said he sat motionless for fully 45 minutes, along with other passengers. Then the youth suddenly whirled, leaned over the seat back of him and fired the grun. This was apparently the shot which struck Mrs. Refici. Screams pierced the car.

Crider reached for the emergency cord and U'opped to the floor with sis wound Refici, J. J. Hoffer, of Monaca, and others then seized the assailant. Lawton police said his first report came from an excited man who burst into the police station shouting "an army tank Just smashed my car!" "I thought he'd flipped his lid," said Hennessee. "Then the phones started." Hennessee gave this running account from conversation with MP's and brother officers; The soldier, a wireless operator, drove the tank through a fort gate Military police gave instant chase, but could do nothing to stop the huge machine as It thundered the five miles to Lawton.

A Sherman weighs about 16 tons and Is nearly 10 feet broad. Hennessee said military authorities told him the soldier had been drinking. When the tank hit town it swung down a residential street and struck the cars, then it entered the business section, leaving scars on the pavement. By that time Jeeps, command cars, black Marias and police cruisers ere In hot pursuit. Then the mechanized force turned back to the fort, like Patton heading for the Rhine.

MPs In jeeps tried to stop It by driving ahead and slowing down-but thought better of It when the mechanical monster relentlessly bore down on them. Finally, back on the post, they rigged a fake road block of painters" scaffolding and bluffed the driver to a halt. Then they seized him. "It's a good thing he could drive as well as he did," Hennessee said. "He could have gone right through tha ban with, that ng." home, Friday afternoon after Vandenberg Otters Separate Foreign Aid Agency Plan WASHINGTON, Jan.

24 -(TV-Senator Vandenberg (R-Mlch) made public today a new plan for handling the multi-billion dollar European recovery program "under a single administrator of cabinet status" In a new agency virtually free of any state department controls. The plan was prepared by the Brookings Institution and Chairman Vandenberg asked members of his foreign relations committee to give It careful study, referring to the proposal as a "highly Important service." Chairman Vandenberg did not Immediately indicate his acceptance of the- Brookings proposals although the plan was formulated at his request. Summarizing Its provisions, Vandenberg said the administrator would have full control both In this country and abroad, subject only to reversal by the president. Secretary of State Marshal would have the right to ask for information or question decisions but President Truman would umpire all disputes. Secretary Marshall and other state department leaders have asked for the right to control and supervise all orations of the recovery program but suggested a separate administrator.

The new operating plan was handed to senators as Paul Porter, (Continued on Page Five) Kay Francis Overdose of COLUMBUS. Jan. 24 t) Kay Francis, who was stricken by an overdose of sleeping pills and forced to give up her starring role in "State of the Union." was reported somewhat improved today. Although she was removed from an oxvgen lent during the night, White Cross hospital still listed her condition as "Just fair." She has an "upper respiratory infection," Dr. Maurice B.

Runoff, her physician, reported that leg burns which the 43-year-old actress suflered in a fall gainst a radiator in her hotel room were "superficial." Meanwhile Howard Graham. 37, her Mane manager, returned to his duties after being released by police who detained him five hours yester day for questioning. The piay "Stare of the Union." In which Miss Francis had been play lng. went on last night with Erin O'Brien-Moore doing the honors after a hurried plane flight from New York. Police released Miss Francis' stane manager, 37-year-old Howard Graham, alter she regained consciousness and confirmed his story of what happened to her.

Graham was taken into custody at White Cross hospital when police found Miss Francis had received second degree burns on her legs-burns they later decided came from radiators in her hotel' room during a fainting spell, A featured player In the "State of the Union" east reported argument Just above the W. S. F. Tatum Hob Waller.) dimes for the fund" In city parking meters. Mr.

McGregor said, and lie urged that shoppers drop a few dimes in (he meters when they pay their regular parking fee. A four-game basketball program, for the benefit of the March of Dimes, was postponed Friday night due to the weather. Hie games will be played Monday. Feature of the program will be contests between the McComb All-Stars and Hercules at 9 o'clock, and Hattiesburg High school and McComb High at 8 o'clock. The preliminaries will Include a Hattiesburg High-McCotnb High B-game at 7 o'clock, and another contest for members of the Hattiesburg High squad at 6 o'clock with an opixmeiit to be named latrr, All contributions in the March of Dimes may be mailed to o.

Box 051, March of Dimes, Hattiesburg Briefs ously 111 here today after a heart attack suffered late Friday afternoon shortly after arriving here for ft Joint appearance tonight with his son and collaborator, Alan. Mr. Lomax Is HO years old. The son of a Confederate veteran, he was born In Goodman, but the family moved to Texas when he was an Infant, and It was his Interest In the cowboy songs of Texas and the Southwest that started his fabulous career as a ballad hunter. NEW TAX ASSOCIATION HEAD ELECTED CHICAGO, Jan.

24. op) Garner M. Lester, Jackson. was elected president of the National Tax Equality association at the groups annual meeting here yesterday. The association Is a nationwide tax research organization.

DEATH SENTENCE FOR TRIPLE Ml KDERS JASPB1R. Jan. 24. (A't Clavton Rushing was sentenced to death in the electric chair by a criminal district court here yesterday for the slaying of three relatives Hashing wap tried and found euil-ty the death of his U'-vear-oId i Continued on Poxe Five) I IMG ofs ART MONDAY OH WILDCAT NEAR NEW AUGUSTA RiKsmcr is up and drilling whed-iled to Mart Monday at the Salt Dome Oil corporation's No. 1 Mar.omte corporation wildcat in SWSW Section 2-3N-11W of Perry county, near New Augusta.

The risking is described as "very heavy" alio a deep test Is expected. iJriilinsc is to be done by Loff-land Bros. Drilling company. Cooperating with Salt Dome Oil in drilling the well are Union Pro-ducing company, a subsidiary of United Gas, and T. M.

Yett of Houston, Texas. They are said to be supported by several of the major oil eompanles. Tipsy joyride In Tank Turns Town Topsy-Turvy Current Events Ij LAWTON. Jan. 24 intoxicated Fort Sill soldier ran berserk in an army tank here shortly before midniaht leading frantic MP's on a dizy 12-mile chase through the heart of town before thev trapped him with a road-block.

The one man force crashed three cars on his stormy passage and started a near-panic in Lawton. a town of 20,000, where startled citizens jammed the police telephone board with queries and play-by-play reports. The provost marshal's office at the fort acknowledged the incident, but withheld the man's name and announced tersely "an investigation is going on now." Col. Andrew Plckard, night duty officer, that a platoon of five Sherman medium tanks is stationed at the post which is army's top artillery Desk Sgt. Al Hennessee of the Put Your Dimes In Parking Meters Parking meters In downtown Hattiesburg are serving as March of Dimes collection stations today for the last time.

All dimes found in the meters ill be turned over to the infantile paralvsis fund by the City. Don't forget that in addition co a 'nickel for an hour's parking, ou should add some dimes today a help in the fight against polio. The following events of general Interest are scheduled here: MARCH OF DIMES The March of Dimes, annual fund-raising campaign for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, Is underway. It continues through January 30. PRINT EXHIBIT The Mississippi Woman's college Art club is sponsoring a print exhibit of works of contemporary artists In the college art department.

The public Is invited to see the exhibit, which will remain open through tonight. POLL TAX Deadline for payment of poll tax Is Jan. 31. Persons wishing to vote in municipal, congressional and other elections during 19-18 must pay the tax by that date at the sheriff's office in the county courthouse. VIENNESE CONCERT Night In Old Vienna" will be presented under the auspices of Mississippi Southern Vesper choir at 8:15 pm.

Monday in the college auditorium. BASKETBALL Man of Dimes benefit games to be played Monday night at the Hi'ticsburg High school gym are: Hattiesburg High game, 6 o'clock; Hattiesburg High vs McComb High 7 o'clock; Hattiesburg High A vs McComb High 8 o'clock; Hercules vs McComb 9 o'clock. The Hattiesburg Laurel Junior H.orh game scheduled here tonight has been postponed until 5 p.m. Monday. tO.MML'MTV SINGThe regular semi-monthly community sing, by the Woodmen of the World, will be heid at 7:30 p.m.

Monday in the O. W. hall. All singers of South Mississippi are invited, YOl'T II FOR CHRIST The Rev. George Jones of Petal will speak at the Youth for Christ rally at 7:30 o'clock tonight at River Avenue Baptist church.

Several special musical numbers sio art included on the program..