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The Daily Item from Sunbury, Pennsylvania • 1

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The Daily Itemi
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Sunbury, Pennsylvania
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1
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

Ifew THE WEATHER Occasional showers tonight, probably ending early Thursday; cooler Thursday and in northwest portion tonight OF SERVICE TO ALL, CONTROLLED BY NONK VOL. NO. "108 Foil Leased Wire Serrice of the Associated Press and United Press SUNBURY, PENNSYLVANIA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1941. Complete Service of the Central Press and King Features riviuri 12c wh Life Imprisonment Jury's War Talk Stirs Capitol; Ready To Deliver-Knox S. URGED TO SEIZE SEVEN BASES Wife Slayer 4U Verdict 1 jVv'vj GREAT ft Isolationists Charge That Ail-Out Use of the Navy Proposed by Stimson Would Mean War.

Knox Announces Navy Taking Over Deep Sea Functions of Coast Guard. RAF AND NAZI PLANES BATTLE OVER ENGLAND b6J539'J 4, -AFRICA: --y CAPE VERDE SENTENCE CITY YOUTH TO TEN" FORBURGLARY Robert Henninger, 22, Given IVi to 5 Year Sentence For Lunch Room Robbery. Other Coses Before Criminal Court. 1 speech controversy, Sen. Arthur H.

Vandenberg, made public a letter from Chairman 'Emory S. Land, of the Maritime Com-mission disputing reports- that 40 per cent of British-aid shipping is being'sunk. Land informed Van-, denberg that only eight of 205 vessels sailing for British ports from the United States Between Dec. 30 and April 30 had been sunk. His figures showed that only 158 vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 781,914 had been sunk in all parts of the world in the first four months of this year.

Land's letter seemed to contradict the belief prevalent here that the Axis blockade was sinking merchant ships at the average rate of a year. On the Senator Claude Pepper, 'whose speeches often are regarded as trial balloons for the Administration, proposes that the United State3 "get tough" and occupy with Britain seven strategic bases to "close the exits of Europe, Africa and Asia." Points the Floridian says should be jointly occupied are: Greenland (1), Iceland (2), the Azores (3), the Canary Islands (4), the Cape Verde Islands (5), Dakar (6), and Singapore in the Far East (Central Prest), Washington, May 7 (UP) The capital was embroiled today in crackling dispute over- a cobinet officer's sensational 'summons for all-out use of the navy to assure munitionos delivery to Great Britain and Congressional isolationists' charges that such tactics would 'mean war." The proposal, uttered by Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, was a prelude to staccato developments here and abroad including announcement that the navy was taking over deep sea functions of the coast guard and revelation that actual sinkings of merchant Ships this year have been well under prevailing estimates. Nazi spokesmen and newspap ers in Berlin called Stimson a "war monger rather than a war minister." Unofficial Japanese re action was that Stimson speech was one of a series intended to win popular support here for' a convoy system. Tokyo expected convoys to begin soon.

Secretary of Navy Frank Knox, who is to deliver tonight an address generally expected to go at least as far as Stimson's, and perhaps further, said his colleague's address was "a forthright, courageous and high spirited utterance." "Secretary Stimson's words, when reduced to their lowest terms, mean war," said Sen. Chas. W. Tobey, N. one of the most active of the non-interventionist group.

In the midst of the Stimson John H. Hogendobler Hears Fate Sealed in Silence. First Degree Verdict Reached in One Hour. John H. Hogendobler, 50, was convicted by a jury in Northumberland county court Tuesday night a 8:20 o'clock for murder in the first degree, with life imprisonment, for fatally shooting his wife as she lay sleeping in their Lower Augusta township farmhouse on the morning of April 8.

Judge C. K. Morganroth, who presided at the trial congratulated the jury. "Your verdict is a proper one," he said, "and the only one warranted by the circumstances of the case." He then excused the jurors from attendance at the morning session of May term of criminal court today, instructing them to report at one o'clock this afternoon. This action was especially for convenience of those living some distance from Sunbury, who could not get home much before midnight.

The case lasted two days, the first being devoted to selection of a jury, and the second to the trial. By agreement of counsel it proceeded after the 12 regular jurors and a single alternate were secured from the regular panel. By eliminating the second alternate, it was not necessary to bring in a special venire. Commonwealth presented its case in the morning and in the afternoon up to 1:40 o'clock. Defense was completed at 3:50 o'clock.

After addresses by counsel Judge Morganroth declared a recess for dinner. He gave a short and concise charge to the jury at 6:30 o'clock. The jury retired to deliberate at 7 o'clock and at 7:55 o'clock sent word that it had reached a verdict The prisoner was brought' down from the counly jail at 8:10. Judge Morganroth received the verdict, and directed that it be read by Deputy Prothonotary Albright Hoch. His only comment was to express his full approval.

No comment was made by counsel, all of whom were present District Attorney R. M. Fortney, U.S., Canada To Collaborate In Mobilization Twin Boards to Merge Continent's Resources and Speed Production for Defense and Aid. Churchill OK'd; Bares 500,000 Mideast Army Seize Over 100 German Seamen Stranded Here British Claim Total Of 19 Raiders Shot Down Admiralty Announces Warship Sunk By Luftwaffe. London, May 7 (AP) The Air Ministry announced today that 19 German planes had been shot down in 24 hours of bitter fighting over the western European front and acknowledged that seven British fighter planes had been lost.

"Since dawn today," an authoritative' statement said, "there has been continuous enemy activity by fighter aircraft near the southeast coast and the Thames estuary." One British fighter fell into the sea, it was acknowledged, in the clash of Channel patrols. (The Germans said six Spitfires were shot down against no Nazi Meanwhile the admiralty announced that the auxiliary warship Patia had been bombed and sunk by a German plane. Further. description of the ship and its tonnage were withheld. The Patia is not listed in naval reference books, and it was said she was not the, 5,355 ton freighter Patia listed in Lloyds.

The Admiralty announcement said the Patia shot down the attacking bomber before sinking. "The Board of Admiralty," a communique said, "regrets to announce that HMS Patia, an auxiliary vessel of the Royal Navy (Commander, D. M. Baker) has been sunk. The next of kin of casualties have been informed.

"HMS Patria was attacked by a German aircraft with bombs and machine gun fire. The enemy aircraft was shot down by HMS Patia but the ship was hit and sunk." While strong flights of German bombers centered a sharp assault rn the Clydeside shipyards of Glasgow and paid a return visit to Liverpool and Northern Ireland, Royal Air Force bombers made the North German port of Hamburg their main objective. A communique said a large force of--RAF bombers participated in the attack, starting large fires. Docks at Le Havre ana "other objectives on the coasts of enemy-occupied territory" also were reported bombed. Three ships were attacked, the communique said.

A 5,000 ton supply ship reported bombed off the Frisian Islands was "considered to be a total loss." In daylight attacks off the German and Netherlands coasts, a patrol vessel was reported sunk and another set afire. The British said these raids cost three planes. British planes also returned to the attack by daylight. Flying abrpast and escorted by fighterc. the bombers were seen roaring over the Strait of Dover toward the French coast this morning at barely 1,000 feet.

The government said the Nazis' second consecutive night attack on Clydeside was on "a fairly heavy i-cale," causing an undisclosed number of casualties and "considerable" property damage. The Merseyside dock area of Liverpool was blasted for the sixth straight night but the toll in lives and property was not expected to match that of the previous raids. Belfast authorities reported light attacks over Northern Ireland in the hours before dawn but added: "So far no news of serious casualties has been received." Merchant Indicted As Accessory In Fur Theft Clearfield, May 7. (AP) Reuben R. Robinson, Curwens-ville merchant, was indicted yesterday by a Clearfield county grand jury on charges of burglary and as an accessory in an $8,000 fur theft.

Three other men and two women, all of Altoona, have been arrested on charges of burglary. The. furs were taken from the Clearfield Taxidermy Company here March 31. The loot was recovered at an Altoona residence, where the women were apprehended. District Attorney Carl Belin said the suspects admitted taking the furs at Robinson's request.

NAZIS TO FACE FURY Reading, May 7 (AP). Declaring the British were tired of taking "terrible punishment," National Ccmmander Milo J. Warner, of the American Legion, pre dicted that when they come to grips with the Nazis "the Ger mans will feel a fury that has never been equalled." "We cannot ignore the conflict in Europe," he told the Rotary Club and the Gregg Legion Post yesterday, "Nor can we flinch from what we feel are our rights and duties." COME MEET MISS SETTEL, SPEED ACTION ON GOVERNOR'S FISCAL PLANS Entire Program Of State Revenue Raisers Expected To Be Cleaned Up In Next Two Weeks. Harrisburg, May 7 (UP) The remainder of the administration's $184,575,500 emergency tax program will be reported from committee rexf week, House Majority Floor Leader Leo A. Achterman said today, along with "many" appropriation bills.

The decision of House Democrats to speed action on revenue raisers and appropriations led to the belief that Gov. Arthur II. James' entire fiscal program will be cleared within two weeks. Democratic National Committeeman David L. Lawrence said at a political dinner last night that "we are passing across the hall from the House to the Republican Senate a program that will prove the Republican party is just as reactionary now as it was when we defeated it in 1934." While insisting there were "tremendous under-estimates" in James' budget, Achterman said he was still unable to say definitely whether the House majority would demand tax reducitons at this session.

If remaining emergency taxes come out without slashes, there will be no demand for reductions, it was understood. Meantie, two major levies those on cigarettes and gasoline were on the House' calendar for initial consideration. They were reported from the lower chamber's ways and means committee yesterday. It was likely the bills, estimated to produce $56,418,000 during the next biennnium, would not reach the Senate until tomorrow in view of brief sessions today by both chambers prompted by an organization meeting of the State Defenss Council. The tax bills, all sponsored by Rep.

Edwin F. Winner, Mont-(Continued on page 6) Robert Henninger, 22, of Sun-bury, was sentenced by Judge H. W. Cummings in county court Tuesday afternoon to a term pf two and a half to five years in the Eastern Penitentiary for burglary of Lee's Lunch Room in this city and theft of $10.25. The court noted that the young man had been in trouble before.

In imposing sentence he added costs and $2 fine and specified that imprisonment was to be at "separate and solitary confinement and hard labor." Henninger had the alias Robert Ray, having taken the name of the family who raised him. Lee Em-erick, proprietor of the lunch room at Penn and Second streets, was prosecutor. Henninger was first sentenced October 25, 1937 for six months by Judge C. K. Morganroth in the county court, for ripping 30 feet of copper spouting, vauled at $30 from the rear of the Crown store, and selling it as junk.

The robbery was perpetrated April 21 of that year. Henninger pleaded guilty September 22, 1937 before Alderman Clyde M. Smith to stealing copper wire from Pennsylvania Railroad property, July 21. He pleaded guilty also to robbing a railroad refrigerator car, July 25, and July 27 to stealing chickens from Lester Kiester. While in jail in March of this year, he admitted stealing metal markers from graves in the -Sun-bury cemetery and selling them as junk.

Not Guilty, Pay Costs James Walter, Milton, charged with illegal sale of malt beverages was found not guilty but sentenced to pay the costs. By direction of the court Ire was found not-guilty of sale of liquor. This case, which was started Monday, continued Tuesday, and the verdict was brought in Tuesday afternoon. Walter vigorously protested that he did not drink himself, that he did not rondone sale of drink, and that he happened to be on premises owned by his wife, simply because he had no other place to go to. Driver Fined $50 William R.

Sheppard, Shamok-in, charged with failure to stop at scene of an accident when his car collided with the-machine of A. N. Bealer, driven by Ralph Ferguson in Tharptown December 15 was found guilty, and was sentenced to pay costs, a fine of $50 and $25 damage to the other car. Jury Divides Costs Steve Borneorvie, Keiser, charged with making threats against John White, also of Keiser, was acquitted but sentenced to pay half of the costs. The prosecutor, White, was sentenced to pay the other half.

Quash Bigamy Case A bigamy charge against William -H. Bright, of Shamokin, was quashed for want of jurisdiction. He is free under $1,500 bail, approved by the Maryland court The (Continued on page 2) DuBois, May 7. (AP) A comely blonde, who inaugurated a new fashion among the fairer sex of DuBois of carrying a blackjack with her spring outfit, complained today the manufacturers of the weapon have shown an utter lack of style sense. Kathryn Rishell, who set the vogue that is being followed by some of her girl friends, got the idea, she says, when a man chased her on the street two weeks ago.

She outraced him but decided to carry a weapon next time. County Detective Morris Jones, who had received several complaints of women being molested, quickly agreed to permit Kathryn to take along a "But," said Miss Rishell, "I'm having a time. I've shopped everywhere trying to get, a red, white and blue jack to blend properly with my- suit. There just isn't one to be found around here." Los Angeles, May 7 (AP). It took a couple of Woodbury College co-eds to slip love-notes past Betty Linch, 18, and Helen Roberts, 19, used carrier pigeons.

Ninety minutes after they were released from the Woodbury campus, the pigeons delivered these messages to Bill Miller and Bernard Winger in Riverside, 40 miles away: "Dearest Bill: This pigeon is to let you know hfrw much I think of you. Betty." "Dearest Bernard: Too bad I see the pigeon so much and not you. I miss you terribly. Helen." TODAY'S GRINS Washington, May 7 (AP) The United States and Canada will set up closely collaborating economic defense boards in the immediate future, it was learned authoritatively toay, to step up mobilization of North American resources for aid-to-Britain and hemisphere defense. In the economic, industrial and financial fields, the new boards would complement the work of the joint U.

defense board set up a year ago to coordinate the military and naval defense preparations of the dominion and this country. The immediate task of the new economic boards, it was said, will be to expedite the program contemplated in the agreement for joint U. productive efforts which President Roosevelt and Prime Minister MacKenzie King announced on April 20. To this end, the twin boards will: Coordinate the interchange of raw materials and manufactured products required for speedy assistance to Britain and other embattled nations, as well as for the hemisphere republics now bolstering their defense: Synchronize the production of arms, planes and munitions so as to take full advantage of all present and planned manufacturing facilities, without duplication of effort; and Collaborate in solving economic, industrial and financial problems to achieve the maximum defense and British aid results for both nations. The twin boards, it was learned, will also make a long-range study of ways and means to "cushion" the economic aftereffects of the war.

President Roosevelt is expected to name the American board in the near future, but no names were available today. Working plans meanwhile were reported being drafted in discussions on progress here and at Ottawa, These working plans, it was said, probably would cover procurement and routing of strategic raw materials to factories ur-(Continued on page 6) JOHN H. HOGENDOBLER who had asked the jury for a life verdict was well pleased. Associated with him was Assistant District Attorney Wm. T.

Windsor. Defense counsel, Attorneys Louis Cohen, of Mt. Carmel, and J. Donald Steele, Northumberland, had asked acquittal on the ground that under Pennsylvania law the defendant did not know the difference between right and wrong. Hogendobler heard the verdict in silence.

He plainly did not have a full comprehension of what it meant. In fact, throughout the trial, he never seemed to realize just what was going on. Taking of testimony and addresses of counsel were concluded at 5 o'clock. Judge Morganroth asked the preference of the jury, whether they wanted to go into another day or finish the case in the evening. Three held up their hands and declared their preference to have the case go into another day.

Seven voted to go through with it. The court, therefore, declared a recess and permitted the jury to go out for dinner, reconvening in the evening for the formal charge. The case was colorless and lacking in the drama that marks (Continued on page 9) Detectives and Immigration Inspect ors Round Up Sailors, Planningto Send Them to Interment Camp. New York, May 7 (UP) Immigration agents and police rounded up German seamen on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts today charging them with overstaying their leaves in this country. Officials did not disclose the number taken into custody, -but detectives who participated in the early-morning raids on New York hotels, taverns, and rooming houses said they understood about 140 would be taken in custody here and 100 more elsewhere in the nation.

More than 100 seamen, described as former crew members of Standard Oil Company tankers, were arrested in synchronized raids which began at 4 A. M. in the metropolitan area. They were taken to Ellis Island. One immigration official said that they would be taken later "to a mid-western or western concentration camp." The men were arrested on warrants charging violation of the law permitting foreign seamen who have been laid off ships a 60-day time limit in this country.

Those arrested in New York had had their living expenses paid by the Standard Oil Company, which posted their immigration bonds. None resisted arrest and one told police: "we've been expecting something like this for a long time." Washington, May 7 (UP) The Justice Department said today that 160 German seamen taken into custody by the immigration and naturalization service in five cities were former crew members of Standard Oil of New Jersey tankers. An official said the department desired to question the seamen regarding their activities. At the outbreak of the war, the department explained the oil company placed its vessels under Panamanian registry and dismissed the German seamen. The immigration and naturalization service instituted deportation proceedings against them, but exe-( Continued on page 6) "Fight To the Death" Pledged by Prime Minister After Vote of Confidence! With Promise "We Will Come Through." London, May 7.

(AP) The British House of Commons gave Winston Churchill an overwhelming vote of confidence today after he had disclosed that nearly 500,000 Imperial soldiers stand guard against the Axis in the Middle East and that Britain expects enough new American merchant ships to see her through 1942 in the Battle of the Atlantic. The vote was 447 to 3, and thus ended a critical two-day debate on Britain's grave reverses on both shores of the Mediterranean. Itwas climaxed by a sharp duel of words between Churchill, this war's prime minister, and white-haired David Lolyd George, who carried the Empire through the World War. Confidently, Churchill declared, "we have every reason to believe we shall be successful" in holding the Valley of the Nile, Suez and the mid-Mediterranean Island Bastion of Malta. The prime minister after an hour of lashing by David Lloyd George, Britain's World War prime minister, who sharp-continued on page 2) oasis 01 smKings ior tne nrst lour months of 1941, the average annual rate of loss would be around 3,100,000 tons.

Of the 158 vessels sunk in all the seas during the first four months of 1941, Land said only 12 had cleared the United States ports. that he had taken over the coast guard's deep sea operations, Knox said Great Britain had made a "general request" for further naval reinforcements in the shape of about 115 small boats. More complete congressional reaction to Stimson's speech and to Land's data on sinkings was (Continued on page twenty) SIX INJURED IN DUPONT BLAST: CASE PROBED Officials See No Hint Of Sabotage As Investigation Is Opened In South Philadelphia Powder Plant Blast. Philadelphia, May 7 (UP) Six men were injured, three of them seriously, in an explosion which demolished a large vat house at the South Philadelphia plant of the E. I.

DuPont de Nemours and Company today. Those seriously injured were: John King, 54, burns of the entire body, internal injuries and leg iractures. Anthony Poncelli, 32, cuts, burns and shock. Harold K. Gressange, 38, burns and shock.

The men, all Philadelphians, were taken to Philadelphia General Hospital. Poncelli told police that the trio was treating in a 1,000 eallon cooker when for some un known reason the gas feeding the burner exploded. This set off Continued on page 2 accompanied him on a visit to th Legislature and to the convention. Marts suggested that local defense councils divert activity into eight fields in which the Governor has proclaimed an emregency and public need: Agriculture, consumers' interests, housing, health, welfare, recreaiton, civil liberties and education. He identified "civilian morale" as the most important consideration facing the defense councils.

"One problem in civilian morale is that of the fifth columnists, who withhold cooperation deliberately and do every sly and sneaking thing they can to weaken America and pull our punches," Marts told the conference. "But right now there is a sixth column in Pennsylvania which is just as dangerous to us. The sixth columnists are the sleepy and stupid souls who just won't wake up to the kind of a world they are in their whole world is falling to pieces while they look at it, and it doesn't mean as much to them as the second inning in a baseball game." Marts Sounds Call For Solid Defense In State JUDGE DAVIS DENIED BILLOF PARTICULARS Court Describes Attempt As Fishing Expedition to Discover "How Much the Government Knows." Philadelphia, May 7 (U.R). Retired U. S.

Circuit Court Judge J. Warren Davis and Morgan S. Kaufman, Scranton attorney, lost their attempt today to obtain a bill of particulars in connection with their indictment on charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and defraud the United States. Judge Robert N. Pollard, of the Virginia District Court, specially appointed by the U.

S. Supreme Court to sit at the trial, starting May 19, refused the petition. Pollard described the attempt as a fishing expedition to discover "just how much the Government knows." The indictments were returned by a Federal Grand Jury March 28 in connection with the bankruptcy affairs of William Fox, former multi-millionaire motion picture magnate. Defense Attorney William A. Gray insisted that the motion was filed in good faith.

He charged that the indictments "are vague and impossible for the defense to answer." Davis was the presiding jurist in Fox's bankruptcy hearings, and Kaufman at the time was a bankruptcy referee. "I am of the opinion that all demands for a bill of particulars are without merit" Judge Pollard said. "All motions are overruled. "I will say, however, that I will be here on. May 19 prepared to sit as long as necessary to give the defendants a full and fair trial, and if at any stage it appears as thouph defense counsel taken surprise by any of the Gov ernment testimony, the trial will ie delayed long enough to give them time to meet such evidence." Gray, in his bid for a bill of (Continued on page New Silk And Oil Silk Shower Curtains S3 .25.

Paul E. St Clair. 1941 Refrigeration Week Turn to Pages 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 for news and pictures of the new models, brought to you by the following dealers: Harrisburg, May 7. (U.R) Hundreds of municipal officials were urged today by Dr. Arnaud C.

Marts, Bucknell University president and Executive Director of the State Defense Council, to create immediately local cooperating agencies to prepare Pennsylvanians "in mind and in plan for any peril that may come to us." The occasion for the appeal was the first conference of the newly created State Council with local officials empowered under an act of the current legislature to form agencies to cooperate in the national defense effort. Other conference speakers were Gov. Arthur H. James, chairman of the State Defense Council, and Federal Security Administrator Paul V. McNutt, recently assigned National Coordinator for Health, Welfare, Recreation and Related Defense Activities.

McNutt flew to Harrisburg from Washington to address the conference and the 40th annual convention of the Pennsylvania Federation of Labor. ANDREWS HARDWARE CO. NORTHUMBERLAND BECK ELECTRIC COMPANY SUNBURY B. O. DAUBERT LEWISBURG GHEEN BATTERY SERVICE SUNBURY J.

D. GREEN SUNBURY HOOVER FURNITURE STORE SUNBURY SAM KEEFER SUNBURY MONTGOMERY WARD CO. SUNBURY MUSSER HARDWARE CO MIFFLINBURG WERTZ ELECTRIC SERVICE. Corsctiere, at Bittners this Fri. Sat.

James met him at the airport and.

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