The Sandusky Register from Sandusky, Ohio • Page 1

Policeman, Grocer, Judge Provide Christmas For Family of Desperate 'Thief INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 24 husky Negro policeman, a judge and a kind-hearted grocer joined forces today to provide a happy Christmas for the family of a man who stole to provide them with food on Christmas Day. The story began two nights ago when Patrolman Jacques Durham was walking bis beat. He saw a man run out of a grocery store. The grocer, Lloyd Stanford, followed, shouting: "Stop that didn't pay for his groceries." Durham yanked out his pistol and fired twice into the air.

The man slipped on the ice and his box of groceries flew through the air spilling cans and bottles over the The officer collared the man, who identified himself as Walter Ballard, 35, a welder. Durham took him to a police station. Then the officer started home. But on his way, he thought over the story Ballard had told him while they were enroute to the police station. Finally he swung his car around and stopped at the modest two-room apartment where Ballard lived.

He found Ballard's wife, Darlene, 27, sitting up with their sick three-year-old baby, Diana. Their son, David, 7, was asleep on a couch. Mrs. Ballard told Durham that the family came here a year ago from Cleveland where Ballard had owned a garage nd was doing well. Hard times hit them after they moved.

became sick. First he had pneumonia. Then he lost part of a thumb when a welding torch burned him. Later the injury became infected. (Continued on Page 3.) THE REGISTER More Than a Century in Your USKV STAR-NEWS Institution of Progress and Tradition The Weather Partly cloudy weather tonight with low temperature about 18 degrees in city and 15 degrees away from Thursday mostly cloudy.

Pounded 1822. Vol. 125. 205. Copyright 1947, Sandusky Newspapers, Inc.

SANDUSKY. OHIO, WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 24. 1947 Associated Press United Press Price Five Cents White House Christmas Since Roosevelt WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 For the first time since the death of President Roosevelt, the White House was readied today for a real lamily Christmas celebration.

Five Christmas trees twinkled in colorful spendor. A sprig of mistletoe hung from the huge crystal chandelier in the lobby Cooks were busy in the kitchen getting a fat turkey ready for the oven. And for the first time since the Roosevelt grandchildren celebrated Christmas in the White House, youngsters were snooping in odd corners of the residential quarters in search of mysterious packages. President Truman, surrounded by his family and staff, will lead off the national Christmas ebration this afternoon when he lights the big community Christmas tree on the south grounds of the White House. For the past two Christmases, the Truman family observed the holiday at their home in Independence, with the President's aged mother, Mrs.

Martha E. Truman. Mother Truman died during the past summer, and the family decided to assemble at the White House for this Christmas. The President's daughter, Margaret, was home from a long concert tour. Mrs.

Truman's mother, Mrs. David W. Wallace, was here from Independence. The house guests also included three of Mrs. Truman's brothers and their wives Wallace, George Wallace and Fred W.

Wallace of Denver and his boy and girl. FRENCH PASS ARMY BUDGET, "FORCED" TAX PARIS, Dec. 24 (UP) The French national assembly today approved a 1948 military budget of $2,049,600,000 and a "forced loan" anti-inflation program to compel rich Frenchmen to invest from 25 to 50 percent of their profits in government bonds. The assembly adjourned for a two-day Christmas recess after approving the military credits by a vote of 414 to 183. Communists voted against the military budget.

Government spokesman disclosed during the military debate that, because of recent call-ups, France now has 708,500 troops under arms. Recent call-ups were made necessary by Communist- led i bances throughout France, but Communist deputies criticized the government for maintaining such a large army. Communist Deputy Alfred Mallert said the government was carrying out a policy "which corresponds only to the desire of the U. S. State department this policy consists of making the French army a sort of military force" Pierre Henri Teitgen, minister of armed forces, said Mallerat's concern about a future war "does more honor to his political imagination than to his military science." The assembly voted the two- day Christmas adjournment after five days of weary debate which resulted in approval of the gov- (Continued on Page 7.) COLUMBUS MURDER PROBE AT STANDSTILL COLUMBUS, Dec.

24 (UP) Police and county officials admitted today that their joint investigation of the murder of Elmo C. Rice, 26-year-old Columbus real estate dealer, had reached a standstill. Capt. Glenn C. Hoffman, chief of Columbus detectives, said a study of Rice's past life and business dealings had failed to uncover any clues.

A similar report came from Capt. Hugh Leggett of the sheriff's office. STATISTICS MAURI AGE LICENSES Herbert C. Temme, 24, student, Wayne, and Margaret A. Eger, 23, at home, Sandusky.

Dr. T. C. J. Stellhorn to officiate.

Richard L. Hauglin, 23, as' sembler, and Dorothy E. Niehm, stock clerk, both of Sandusky. Rev. Theo.

J. C. Stellhorn to officiate. Howard W. Reer, 23, iron worker, and Wilma I.

Bennett, 19, secretary, both qf Avery. at BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Donald Wan gler, 910 Fourth-st, a son Good Samaritan Hospital. Mr.

and Mrs, John Warren, 100 Oakland-av, a son, at Memorial Hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Conklin, Collins, a daughter, at Memorial Hospital. DEATHS Henry Margard, 65, 122 Neil-st.

Mrs. Mame Cheshire, 82, at Los Angeles, Cal, MAN HELD IN FATAL BEATING OF STEPCHILD WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Dec. 24 Two-year-old Carolyn Faye Thompson was found beaten to death in her bed early today and Police Chief Vaiden Long said that her 21- year-old stepfather, an unemployed taxi driver, was being held for questioning. Long said that the child was beaten brutally at the home of Mr. and Mrs.

Elmer Downard and that her mother discovered the crime when she returned home from all night job at a drive in restaurant. The police chief said Carolyn's face and hips were covered with large bruises and that it appeared she had been beaten by fists. Another child was sleeping in the same room, Long said, adding that the mother told him Downard also was asleep when she arrived at the residence. Long said that Mrs. Downard summoned the fire department inhalator squad but that Carolyn did not respond to treatment.

The police chief said that he would file a first degree murder charge against Downard later today, probably following an autopsy by Dr. Nathan M. Rejff, Fayette- co coroner. Long would not disclose whether Downard had made any statement about the case. search is under way for Ralph Bly, 41, Air Force sergeant and father of three children, who has been missing since Dec.

14. He was enroute from his home in Tiffin to Wright Field, Dayton. His car was found abandoned in Columbus Dec. 20. (NEA Telephoto) Scooter And Auto Collision Results In Injury To Boy Raymond Pfleiderer, 17, Suffers Fractr.red Leg At Columbus-av, Washington-st Intersection.

Raymond Pfleiderer, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Pfleiderer, 2117 Sycamore Line, is in Memorial Hospital with a broken left leg received when his scooter collided with a car early Tuesday evening at the intersection of Co- lumbui-av and Washington-st. No one was injured in 'three other Sandusky accidents yesterday and today, police reported. Frank P.

Hovinetz, 21, Route 3, Elyria, a carpenter, was driver of the car involved in the scooter accident. Hovinetz was arrested by police for failure to possess a driver's license. He was released on a $10 bond. Hovinetz told police he was going east on ton-st and the traffic light at lumbus-av changed to warning while he was "under the light and that the scooter driver apparently thought he was going to stop and started through the light. Drivers involved in other acci dents were Donald Booth, Axtec and Robert Frissell, 1531 First-st, at intersection of Wayne st and Washington-rw; Joseph J.

Babcock, W. Perkins-av and Claude L. Conquest, Route 1, Port Clinton the intersection of Washington-rw and Wayne-st; Jack C. Parker, Route 2, Huron, and August E. Hemminger, Route 2.

Bellevue, at intersection of Adams and Wayne-sts. GARFIELD HT5. SOLICITOR'S HOME BOMBED CLEVELAND, Dec. 24 Sixteen windows were smashed and a doorway wrecked today as the home of Joseph L. Zelazny, solicitor for suburban Garfield Heights, was dynamited for the second time in nine months.

Zelazney 47, and his wife and two children were asleep in the home, but were uninjured. "I don't understand what these bombers want from me," the solicitor said. "Last time they came just before Easter and this time, the day before Christmas." The blast, heard a mile and a half away, was believed to have been caused by a single stick of dynamite placed on the front stoop of the home. Zelazny, who said he knew of no motive for the bombing, esti mated damage at $1,000 compared with $1,500 in the first explosion FBI agents joined police in the investigation. 71 MORE PUBLIC "TRADERS" ARE KNOWN, CLAIM WASHINGTON, Dec.

24 UP) Rep. Mackinnon (R-Minn) said to day the agriculture department knows of 71 local, state and federal employes who were trading on the grain markets in September. Mackinnon called on Secretary Anderson in a telegram to disclose the names of the 71. Mackinnon said in a statement that J. M.

Mehl, administrator of the commodity exchange told the joint congressional com-j mittee on the economic report oni Nov. 24 that as of Sept. 17 the 71 public employes were "long" on 384,000 bushels and "short" 131,000 bushels in the wheat futures market. (A long trader in wheat futures is nne who contracts to buy wheat at a certain price at a future date. A short trader is one who agrees to deliver it.) Anderson made public Monday a list of 711 market traders and promised more names later.

Only one federal government official Edwin W. Pauley, an assistant to Secretary of Army Royall appeared on the initial list The secretary said at the time (Continued on Page 1.) BOY CHOKES TO DEATH RAVENNA, Dec. 24' (ff) Darwin Hogle, 7, of New Milford, choked to death yesterday on an unidentified object, deputy sheriffs reported. SAFE TOO SAFE. OWNER IN TEARS JJEW YORK, Dec.

24 (UP) Pearl, a jewelry store owner, set up two tear gas bombs in his safe so they would explode if anyone tried to break into the vault. Pearl tearfully called police Jast night to say that he slammed the safe door too hard. Police cleared the store of fumes. Tiffin Army Man Ruled Legally Dead TIFFIN, Dec. 24 (UP) William Willoughby, Tiffin soldier of fortune, missing for 10 years, ruled legally dead today by Seneca-co probate court.

Willoughby foaght in revolutions in Mexico and Nicaragua after completing enlistment in the U. S. army. He went to Spain in 1937 as a volunteer in the Abraham Lincoln brigade. Last word received by relatives came early in 1938 when he wrote from Spain that he was in a hospital with wounds received in action.

A brother, Robert, asked that he be declared legally dead to authorize distribution of a $200 insurance policy. 'PAYS $20, NO GIFTS of Mi xko Havana JAMAICA BOMBER BASE IN U. CONTROVERSY Arrow fronj symbol locates the Rio Hato base for big bombers 70 miles northwest of Panama City, Panama. It is one of the 14 U. S.

military bases for the defense of the Panama Canal Zone which, it was announced in Washington, the U. S. will keep on using despite rejection by the Panama Assembly of new leasing agreement. (AP Wirepho' Map) Reds Set Up 'Government' In N. Greece ATHENS, Dec.

24 radio broadcasts proclaimed today the establishment of a Communist "government" in northern Greece under Gen. Markos Vifiades and called on members of the left wing elas to "take up arms." Premier Themistokles Sophoulis told newsmen the vaguely located rump state likely would be recognized immediately by the Communist-dominated northern neighbors of Albania and Bulgaria. All three have been accused by a United Nations commission of abetting the civil strife in Greece. The Athens and army radios which monitored the broadcasts said only vague details were given. Authorities in Salonika expressed belief the broadcast originated in Yugoslavia.

Vifiades, long-hunted chief NEW YORK, Dec. 24 Albert Jones, 52, an apartment house janitor, was fined $20 yesterday for disorderly conduct after he threatened tenants who refused to give him Christmas presents. HONORSANDUSKY DOCK OPERATOR FOR SAVING LIFE George H. Barrington, 602 Polk- st, a machine- haulage operator on the No. 3 coal loader at the Lower Lake Dock Co.

this morning was presented an engraved wrist watch during brief ceremonies in the dock shop. The presentation was made by S. W. Sexsmith, Clove land, on behalf of crew members of the freighter A. E.

Heekin. Sexsmith told the assembled workers that on May 6 this year Barrington was at work on the coal loader when he saw William Kronnich, 20, Roscommon, fall off a boat ladder into the bay and threw him a ring life preserver and line. The sailor, who was unable to swim, grabbed the bouy and was pulled to the 1 dock by Barrington. Sexsmith said that the Heekin crew wrote to the marine editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, expressing their, appreciation to Barrington for saving the life of their shipmate. They went further, by purchasing the watch and having it suitably engraved.

The dock workers gathered (Continued on Page 1.) the guerrillas, was reported to be the premier and minister of war. The broadcasts said John Ionnides, old line Communist in charge of undercover activities of the party for many years, was, to be deputy premier and minister of interior. P. P. Russos, one of the Communist leaders of the Greek army and navy mutiny in the Middle East during the war, was named foreign minister.

He is under a death sentence imposed by a Greek naval court. Miltiades Pophyrogennis, minister of labor in a liberation Greek cabinet which contained several avowed Communists, was named minister of justice. The audible parts of the guerrillas' broadcasts said state was "under guidance of the EAM and under action of the ELAS," the armed branch of the EAM party. The account said the aim of the rump regime was to reaffirm the rights and freedoms of the Greek people. Cemment Ji-W the A CHRISTMAS STORY By MRS.

J. RAY HARRIS I was the night before Christmas. Michael and Ann Wayne stood hand in hand looking at the Christmas tree which stood majestically in the picture window of their living room. The tinsel, silver balls and blue lights gave forth the all desired Christmas look. Both were thinking of their son Timothy, who several hours before scampered to bed so old Saint Nick would not find him up beyond his bedtime.

Michael left Ann and walked to his son Timothy's room. He walked slowly to his bed and looked down at him peacefully asleep, and all unaware of the presence of his Dad who was saying softly: "Son, I am saying this to you as you lie asleep, one. hand crumpled under your cheek and your blond hair rumpled. I have stolen into your room, alone. Just a few hours ago, as 1 sat reading my paper in the library, a hot, stifling wave of remorse swept over me.

I could not resist ft. Guiltily I came to your bedside. "These are the things that I am thinking, son: I have been cross to you. I scolded you as you were dressing for school because you gave your face merely a dab with the towel. I took you to task for not cleaning your shoes.

I called out wearily when I found that you had thrown some things on the breakfast I found fault too. You spilled things, you gulped down your food. You put your elbows on the spread butter too thick on your bread, and as you started off to play, and I made for my train, you turned and waved a little hand and called: 'God-bye and I frowned and said in reply "Hold your shoulders "Then it began all over again in the afternoon; as 1 came up the hill, I spied you down on your knees playing in the snow. I humiliated you before your playmates and your cousin Jimmy by making you march ahead of me to the house. Pants were expensive.

and if you had to biiy them you would be more careful. Imagine that, son, from a father! It.was such silly logic. (Continued on Page 5.) No Snow Forecast For Christmas In Sandusky And Area Observer F. N. Hibbard Expects High Of 34 Degrees; Some Ohio Highway Conditions Hazardous Weather more for bikes and roller skates that Santi.

Claus will deliver to many good boys and girls is predicted for Sandusky and area on Christmas Day, according to Observer F. N. Hibbard. Overcast skies are forecast for with high temperature of approximately 34 degrees, and gentle variable winds. Partly cloudy weather is expected tonight.

No snow is expected until after Christmas, Hibbard said. High temperature in the city at 12:30 noon was 33 degrees. Low last night was 27.8 at 7 a. and the high Tuesday, 31.2 degrees at 4 p. m.

Highway conditions in some parts of Ohio, however, remained hazardous Wednesday as motorists (Continued 7.) Ohio Port Exports Exceed Imports, Report WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 The Department of Commerce reported today that exports through Ohio ports amounted to $16,100,000 in October, while imports totaled only. $3,100,000. Vessel entrances during the month amounted to 755,000 net registered tons, of which 137,000 registered tons were with cargo. Clearances were 931,000 net reg istered tons, of which 906,000 jwere vessels with cargo.

Register-Star-News fortunate in being able to serve the kind of people who comprise its readers all over the five- county area it serves. The chances are the old Register has been joining your family circle at the fireside for a good many years and for generations in many cases. We consider it a great privilege to carry on this relationship from year to year. In the past year we have tried to serve you a little better than the year before. Next year we'll try our level best to improve the efforts of this year.

We've tried to do our full part In the upbuilding of the community. We've tried to have the courage of' our convictions. (Nothing fails so rapidly as a cowardly newspaper unless it is a paper that confuses courage with noise.) We've tried to give our readers and our advertisers their money's worth. Welve appreciated these day-in- and-day-out relationships and we've friendships that have come from them. And with thoughts of genuine appreciation we reach out this Christmas eve, across this printed page, to you and yours with the sincere wish that you will have a Merry Christmas and that the fullest measure of health, happiness and good fortune will ccme your way in 1944 WO thousand years ago Augustus Caesar issued a decree that ali the world was to be taxed.

Thus Joseph took Mary, his betrothed, from the home of her mother Ann in Jerusalem and jorneyed to Bethlehem to pay their taxes. Now the way was six miles. Mary, seated sidewise on a small donkey, with their few belongings tied in a cloth hanging across the donkey's neck and Joseph trudging beside her, found their way through the narrow streets of ancient Jerusalem towards the city of Bethlehem. Midway on the plain they probably paused beside the road to drink from a well. They did not know this well would some day be called the Well of the Magi because the three Wise (Continued on Page No Holiday Paper Because of Christmas, there will be no publication by The Register-Star-News on Thursday.

The Register'-Star-News wishes its large family of readers arad friends a most happy, blessed and merry Christmas, i.