The Progress-Index from Petersburg, Virginia • Page 11

Classified Second News Gl Is Indicted For Shooting Young Couple Grand Jury Acts Within 8 Minutes In Barnett Case Gerald E. Barnett, 17, Fort Lee soldier, was indicted "today by a Hustings Court grand on two charges of felonious assault growing out of the shooting of a Petersburg couple October 2. Rarnett is accused of shooting i Miss Ann S. Wi'st, 20, of 509 W. Washington St.

and her date, E. Phelps. 2-1. of 318 i fis they sat in a car at the Lee House Diner on the Petersburg- llopewell Road. Miss "West's condition is listed as satisfactory.

The grand jury was called back into session today for this one case by Hustings Court Judge Oliver A. Pollard, at the request of Commonwealth's A Thompson It took the six-man jury, composed of Raymond W. Gill, fore- a J. Prince Robinson. Bernard Allen.

Herbert R. Jordan Louis and J. D. Tatum only eight, i to return true fHls of ielonious assault against Barnetl." Phelps, who was wounded in the arm by one bullet allegedly fired from a pistol by Harriett, was the first witness" to go before the jury. lie was followed liy Detective Sergeant C.

H. Slate. Detective Sergeant a i Slhreshley was sworn as a witness but was not called. Wyatt said after the true bills returned that a i extradition papers to the Governor's office this afternoon so a they would be there Monday. It has not been determined yet who will go to Chicago to return Barnett.

He was arrested there Saturday by FBI agents. A gun Identical to one Barnett purchased here the day of the shooting, was recovered in his possession, FBI spokesman said. FBI agents in Chicago said Barnett has admitted shooting into a car at the drive-in restaurant October 2 after the driver refused his request to be taken for a ride. The hit. Phelps in the right Trailways Workers Visit Historic Petersburg Sites Twenty-five employes of Trailwiys Bus Company visited historic sites here yesterday under the guidance of Robert F.

Nelson, managing director of the Virginia Travel Council. They had lunch at Annette's Restaurant in Colonial Heights, after which the group visited Centre Hill Mansion Museum. From there they went to The Crater and Fort Sedg- wlek (Port Hell). The party, which is touring the state, went from Petersburg to Little Creek where they spent the night. arm and then West's chest.

went into Miss Dinwiddie Classes Elect Officers Dinwiddie High School class officers for the 105-7 session been elected. Senior Class--president, Charles Chambers; vice president, Walter Hutcheson; a Harriet Feild Bullet-worth; treasurer, Hilda Lobb. Junior Class--president, Freddie Shultz; vice president, Richard Piecewicz; a Carol Barnes; treasurer, Wands Stalter. Freshman Cl a president, James Andrews; vice president, Franklin Hutcheson; Mary Fraser; Ride'out. treasurer.

Amos Eighth Grade--president. Harry Livesay; vice president, Herbert i secretary, Carol Abernathy; treasurer, Barbara Shultz. THE WEATHER I I I A Fair, low tonight -1764. Saturday warmer. Thermometer Readings TODAY 8 A 43 10 A.

59 Noon 1 63 SINCE NOON YESTERDAY Maximum 62 Minimum i 34 NORFOLK ZOO BUYS BUFFALO NORFOLK W--A pair of A i can buffalo, believed to he the first In Virginia in modern times, will take up residence at the city park 200 this month. Bond Sales Issue In 3 Localities RICHMOND in at least three Virginia communities will be asked to approve or reject the sale of bonds for municipal improvements when they mark i ballots in the Nov. 6 elections. Suffolk voters will decide whether they want to sell one and a half dollars in bonds for a new city hall. And llopewell, on the James River below Richmond, will vote on a $1,100,000 bond issue to fi- jiance the construction of a sewage disposal plant.

A one million dollar issue for the same purpose was defeated last November. Falls' Church will vote on three bond issues: for improving streets and storm sewers: $450,000 for a new city hall; and for a new library. Arlington- voters will vote on whether future bond issues must be approved by a majority of property owners participating in PETERSBURG-COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12 19S6 Check For Home Fire Hazards CARELESSNESS IN SMOKING OR WITH MATCHES CAUSED 1,376 DEATHS DEFECTIVE OR OVERHEATED HEATING' EQUIPMENT FIRES CLAIMED 3,698 LIVES IN 1955. CHILDREN AND MATCHES, SPARKS, OPEN FIRES AND FIRES OF MISCELLANEOUS CAUSES KILLED 516 IN 1955. FJRES OF INCENDIARY AND "SUSPICIOUS" ORIGINS CLAIMED 688 LIVES IN 1955.

MISUSE OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS KILLED 946 PERSONS IN 1955, ELECTRICAL, EXPLOSIVE OR RUBBISH-STARTED FIRES KILLED U76 IN 1955. Man Gets 5 Years For Killing Son A 12-man Sussex County Circuit Court jury has found a "Wavecly man, charged with murder, guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced him to five years in prison. Henry Ricks. 54, Negro, a tried Tuesday in the shotgun slaying last month of his son Alcie 20. Testimony given in the case showed that Ricks and his son had been arguing prior to the shooting.

Ricks testified that his son went out of the house to give some car keys to a friend and that he (Ricks) picked up a gun and told him not to "go out that door. an election, as well as by major- oul lnat itv of all cmalified voters who Disregarding his father's warning, Ricks went. The elder man said he then fired through the door "to scare Algie." Police testimony disclosed that about half the younger man's head ity of all qualified cast ballots. no bond referendum rln the Newport News. Hampton, Warwick area but citizens in that lower Peninsula area will decide if they want to become one city.

Driver Is Injured In Crater Rd. Crash A collision between a passenger car and a truck at Wythe St. and Crater Road early las't night sent Jerome F. Flanagan, 37, of 2023 Richmond to Petersburg General Hospital to be treated for a fracture of the pelvis. He was reported in a satisfactory condition today.

Police said a car driven by Flanagan and a truck operated "by Coy 1 C. Vipperman, of Meadow of" Dan, collided. Both drivers will face reckless driving charges. The accident, was investigated by Patrolman S. N.

Su-ink. Vaughan Captain Of Safety Patrol The Midway Safety Patrol has organized for the year with i Vaughan as captain. Frank Lewis and Larry Williams Larry Stanfield is secretary-treasurer. Other members are: Billy Bass, Whelan, Charles Bench, Billy Winn, Coleman Boze, Donnie Williams, and Thomas Davis. .1.

H. Blankenship is sponsor of the club. The Safety Palrol assists with a i in the halls, getting children across the highways and to inri from buses, and a i a i i in assomblv and on buses. was blown Emporia Firm Wins Stay Of Execution In, $60,000 Penalty Cato Brothers, an Emporia cotton ginning firm, has won a stay of execution of a SGO.OOO civil penalty against the firm, pending results of an appeal. The stay was signed yesterday in Richmond by Federal Judge Sterling Hutcheson.

Tlie firm, and its three officers, Wilfred R. Cato, president, i liam R. Cato, secretary, and Magie L. Stone, treasurer, were assessed the a last June on charges of filing false cotton producers notes. The government, in its suit, charged they submitted 284 false notes to the-Commodity Credit Corporation in order to obtain loans under the 104S a price support program.

Judge Hutcheson assessed the penalty and it was appealed 1.0 the Federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond. Milk Price-Fixing Powers Curtailed RICHMOND Circuit Court Harold F. Snead today wiped out the State Milk Commission's powers in a retail lai-cc price-fixing portion of northern i i i a His decision could have a i repercussions. Pumpkin-Headed Harvest Hands Workers at the Jerome Forthofer Gardens produce stand near Avon, Ohio, harvest a load of fun along with the fruit of their fields. Small "girl" with her hands upraised in center of the wagon bed is overjoyed to be back with her family.

Someone, inspired to pre-Hallowe'en mischief by the display, the pumpkin-headed lass, later returned her, Southside Counties Among Top U. 5. Form Communities Four Southside Virginia counties are included in the list of 100 leading agricultural counties in the United States, according to the Virginia Cooperative Crop Reporting Service. Dinwiddie Dounty ranked 98th among the first 100 counties of the nation in number of chickens sold. Neighboring counties among the first 100 in production of peanuts and their rank are: Sussex, 15th; Surry, 19th; Greensville, 34th; Prince George, 54th, and Dinwiddie, 60th.

Many other Virginia counties rank high in agricultural production, according to the report, which is based on the 1954 Census of Agriculture, U. S. Department of Commerce. Among all counties of the United States, Rockingham ranked first in number of turkeys raised; Southampton was the leading county in peanut production; Accomack was second in production of sweet potatoes and fifth in acres of snap beans. Northampton was sixth in snap bean acreage and sweet potato production, ninth in acres of tomatoes and tenth in acres of all vegetables harvested for sals.

In production of peanuts, Nansemond was fifth and Isle of Wight ranked sixth; Rockingham was fifth in value of all poultry and Fatal Accident Driver Is Held Sam Pearson, Negro, 33, of Byrne driver of a car which struck and fatally injured Elder B. Hardy, Negro, in, of SOS Mingea September 2S at Wythe St. and Terrace was sent on to Hustings Court on a manslaughter charge after a hearing in Municipal Court today. It was testified that the 'c a driven by Pearson traveled 428 feet after the I a before stopping. Pearson did not was crossing the street and Pearson was travelling east on Wythe St.

when the accident occurred. Elder was dead on arrival at Petersburg General Hospital. The hearing of Thomas Hobbs, Negro, 68, of 209 Bollingbrook charged with feloniously shooting James Henderson, Negro, was continued until October 15. Robert A. of 766 Kirkham charged with theft of two gallons of gasoline from a parked truck on the parking lot of R.

G. Martz, was fined and sentenced to days in a i Anthony O. Ingle, of llopewell, was fined $25 on a charge of reckless driving. 4,942 Virginians Get Aid In Year I MVI'hc State partment of Education said today vocational rehabilitation assistance was rendered to i i i a men and women in the fiscal year ended 30. The department 2,250 of that number went to work and earned wages aggregating 54,737,100 for their first year of employment following rehabilitation.

Additionally, those 2,250 supported nearly 4,000 dependents, to R. N. Anderson, director of the department's rehabilitation and special education section. Anderson, in a report to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dowell J. Howard said that the wages reported did not in- clurie earnings of 208 rehabilitated poultry products sold, and ninth in number of chickens sold; Frederick was sixth in-number of apple trees.

Shenandoah was eighth in number of turkeys raised and Pittsylvania County was ninth in tobacco acreage. Out of the 100 loading counties in the United States in the number of apple trees; 13 are Virginia counties. Eight counties were included in the first 100 in peanut production, seven counties in tobacco acreage, six counties in number of turkeys raised, and five counties in the number of chickens sold. Accomack had nine commodities in the 100 leading counties of the "United States. They are chickens sold, value of all poultry and poultry products sold, potato production, sweet-potato production, acres of all vegetables harvested for sale, acres of snap beans, cabbage, tomatoes and strawberries.

Northampton placed seven commodities in the leading 100 counties. They are potato production, sweet potato production, acres of all vegetables harvested for sale, acres of snap beans, cabbage, tomatoes, and strawberries. Rockingham has five commodities in the top 100 counties. These commodities are chickens sold, turkeys raised, value of ali and poultry products sold, number of apple trees, and number of peach trees. United Fund Drive Slides Are Shown To Rotary Club The Rotary Club, at its weekly meeting yesterday, saw a series of slides designed to promote the United Fund Drive.

The pictures of Petersburg and the surrounding area were compiled by Henry T. Blankcnsbip, advertising director of The Progress-Index: to show the purpose and need of the UFD in this area. Members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, have shown this same series entitled "Your Town" to groups in the- area. Before the slides were precent- erl, Alfred H. Knight, chairman of th board, gave a short talk in which he explained the necessity of co-operation on the part of civic clubs.

He pointed out that the UFD budget was com- pnrorl with last year's- i Chest budget of SDfi.OOO. Pair Held For Thefts From Chester Firms Three Chester business i lost merchandise worth S57.34 and two Richmond men are being held on 'charges of larceny. Chesterfield county police yesterday arrested Everett M. Bagley, of the MOO block Greenville and Herman Otis Motley, 20, of the 1900 block Lakeview Ave. The merchandise was taken from tho Chester Variety Store, Chester Supply and Chesterfield Appliance Inc.

I i i a reported or housewives. as a Obituaries CHAULKS SKVI'fO Chalres Ruford Slate, 75, died Thursday in a Richmond hospital. A funeral service will bo held at 3 p. m. today at the Hamner- Hardin Funeral Home hero, with burial in Lakeview Cemetery.

Surviving are five daughters, Mrs. Gordon L. Cooke and Mrs. L. H.

Moreland of Crewo Mrs. Charles A. Williams of Rolla, and Miss Charlotte and Miss Maye Slate of lilackstone; three sons, William E. and Charles H. Slate, of Crewo and James L.

Slate of and a brotlv t-r, John Slate of Petersburg. Flowers Every Occasion STAN'LEY l-LORIST A Call RE 2-3733 or RE 2-HS2 Mersel Insurance Ruling Upheld By Higher Court. Ike's Praised And Scored (By The Associated Press) The Eisenhower administration was alternately praised as the main hope for a continued peace and as ignoring the farmer until an election year as Democrats and Republicans intensified their campaigns Jast night. In Norfolk, Gov. Theodore R.

Me- Keldin of Maryland told 2nd District Republicans the administration's election campaign is crusade for a lasting freedom from the horrors of war a crusade to advance the cause of civilization On the other side of the state 9th District Rep. W. Pat Jennings charged the Eisenhower administration "failed to take any action to improve farm income until an election year." McKcldin compared Eisenhower with Gen. Robert E. Lee.

saying both came back from a great Wai- to head a university. But Eisenhower, he said, laid aside the academic robes to serve his country and is "the hope in the memory of living men for the establishment of a lasting peace and the relegation of war to a place in the dark annals of a barbaric past." On the other hand, McKeldin said, "we find Adlai Stevenson recklessly risking the position of trust in which we are held by al-, lied nations through his absurd insinuations that we might safely eliminate draft and through his confusing sugggestions that we could discontinue our testing of atomic weapons." Jennings charged farm income had declined 3.7 billion dollars since 1952 and that the administration had done nothing to improve the situation until the election year. "Perhaps we ought to amend the constitution to make every year a national election year if Mr Eisenhower and Mr. '(Agriculture Secretary) Benson stay in power Jennings said. Del.

John L. Whitehead in a television speech at Lynchburg, said the south must vote Democratic next month to maintain its influence in Congress. The South held the speaker of the House and 13 of the 19 outstanding committee chairmanships in the 84th Congress, which the party controlled, he said But, Whitehead added, if the Republicans gain control, the south will lose all these chairmanships. Whitehead's 6th District opponent, Rep. Richard H.

Poff, speak- four hours later over the same TV station, charged Whitehead has "camouflaged and subordinated" the vital issues "by stressing the necessity of electing a Democrat to the district seat. Poff said he voted against Republican legislation when it violated his personal convictions and supported Democratic legislation when he felt it was in the broad national interest. In Richmond, Democratic DeL FitzGerald Bemiss endorsed Eisenhower for re-election. Bemiss said the President serves "the best hopes and purposes of our country." Bemiss said he felt it was an injustice to blame the school segregation problems on Eisenhower and added: "This fire has been diligently built and fanned with wind from New and Fair Deal politicians both in the White House and on the Supreme Court for 20 years." Trio Of Young Bandits Elude Soufhsicfe Virginia Police KEYSVILLE, Va. (M Three young bandits apparently have eluded a Southside police net after staging two holdups yesterday, police said toda3 One of the trio is a brown- haired girl who wields a gun with the authority of a hardened criminal, officers said.

Capt. W. W. Blythe, commanding officer of the State Police's 3rd Division, said information received from Pennsylvania led local officers to believe the three were from that state. The bandits drove up to the general store operated by Mrs.

Charlie Bagby at Abilene, an isolated community without telephones in Charlotte County. In a subsequent argument over payment of gaso-' line, Mrs. Bagby was held captive temporarily and used as a shield from a pistol in the hands of her son, Loftis, according to police. The three drove off after taking the weapon. Later, they wrecked their auto, escaped without serious injury, and eluded police who searched 4 From PHS Attend Relations Session Four representatives from Petersburg High School attended a meeting at Lane High School in Charlottesvitle, Wednesday, to further school relations.

The representatives were: Russell B. Gill, principal; Dickie Spain, SCA president; Edwin Belts faculty advisor; and Martha Bryant, head cheerleader. All Group I schools in the Central District sent representatives to this meeting in order to coordinate activities between the schools and to improve relations within the district. witb bloodhounds and an airplane. Police said ''the auto bore Pennsylvania Jjcense.

Last night, the three forced their way into a motel cabin two miles north of here and eight miles from the store and at gunpoint robbed two Sandston men, H. Flanangan Jr. and Theodore R. Crane, of a total of police said. The girl held a pistol while the men bound and gagged their victims, police said.

They left in Crane's car, which bore Illinois licenses. Authorities searched the area through the night but today Blythe said he believed the trio had left the area. Officers said the wrecked Pennsylvania car contained a picture they believe to be the girl. 65,000 Tax Bills Mailed In County Tax bills numbering 65,000 are being mailed to Chesterfield county taxpayers. Chesterfield Treasurer George W.

Moore Jr. yesterday said the mailing started two weeks ahead of last year's schedule. He also said the figure compares with 61,000 sent last year. Moore said the mailing is expected to be completed early in November. Bills being mailed show that 25G are for real estate; 23,273 for personal property, and an estimated 15,000 for state income taxes.

Mailed with the bills this year are schedules of planned "sittings" where taxes may he paid. Either the treasurer or a tlcputv will be present at each place listed. Widow Of Slain Merchant Sought Double Indemnify By JIMMY The Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has upheld a decision rendered by the Petersburg Hustings in an insurance claim filed by the widow of Hyman Merael, who was brutally murdered here February 5, 1954. Hustings Court Judge Oliver A. Pollard ruled March 9, of i year that Mrs.

Sylvia Mersel was not entitled to double indemnity from the Atlantic Life Insurance Co. for the death of her husband because of the language of the policy. The insurance company paid the face value of the policy which was 510,000 at the time Mersel was killed. In his order of March 9, Judge Pollard ruled that the plaintiff was not entitled to double indemnity because the policy excluded death by means 'of violence with the intent death. The insurance company claimed Mersel was murdered.

The high court rejected a petition by Mrs. Mersel for a writ of error to the order rendered by Judge Pollard saying that Uje court was of the opinion that the judgement rendered "is plainly right." The Supreme Court of Appeals ruling has been filed in the office of Hustings Court Clerk Richard T. Wilson III. Mersel died in the Medical College of Virginia Hospital February 1954 of head injuries inflicted with a hammer. The murder is still'' listed by police as unsolved.

Mrs. Mersel found her husband lying on the floor of his military goods store on E. Washington St. around 7:40 p. m.

A clawhammer, which police said was the weapon used, was on the floor near the victim. Detectives assigned to the case spent days running down leads; none of which have proved useful in solving the murder. Police surmised that Mersel was alone in the store and was showing a piece jewelry had leaned over to get another item out of the showcase when the slayer struck him on the head with the hammer. Mersel's assailant either locked the door when he left or slammed it with such force as to cause the door, which had a night latch, to lock itself. When Mrs.

Mersel arrived at the store she had to use a key to She found her husband lying on the floor behind a showcase. 5 Midwdy Students Attend FHA Meet Five Midway High School FHA students and their sponsor, Mrs. Joyce C. Morton, attended a meeting of the Virginia Dare Federation at Emporia yesterday. Anita Olgers and Beverly Watkins attended as officer candidates.

Barbara 1 Folke served on the federation nominatin gcommit- tee. Priscilla Stuckey served on the federation nomination committee. Priscilla Stuckey served on the program of work committee. Jean Wells served on the committee that planned the program for the fall federation meeting. The Virginia Dare Federation is composed of five schools: Lawrenceville, i a McKenney, Dinwiddie, Greensville.

Miss Sue Barbour, VEPCO home economist, will visit, Midwav Home Economics classes Tuesday and Wednesday. She will demonstrate to the Midway FHA Tuesday the use of small electrical appliances. She will demonstrate proper lighting for the home Wednesday. Those demonstrations will ther the FHA objectives for the year: home improvement, and saving time. CAMERA CLOSEUP--In lull swing at Fort Lee is a joint Quartermaster-Signal Corps pro-; gram for the filming of 10 kinescopes which will eventually be used to orient and bring current information to active and Reserve Army units throughout the nation and, perhaps, overseas installations on QM subjects.

A kinescope is simply a film which has been taken of a television program. Two officers and ten enlisted men arrived here with mobile television equipment in September to begin filming the kinescopes covering five different subjects. In the picture, a scene is being shot which demonstrates the operations and principals of and location. The camera operator is SP-2 Mil burn Mihlhauser. Performing the task of briefer at the blackboard is Lt.

Col. T. B. Mahone, Jr..