The Daily Notes from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania • Page 1

THE DAILY Complete United Press Wire Service Western Pennsylvania: Highest 48 to 56. Occasional rain tonight. Low 34 to 38 north and 40 to 44 south portion. Tuesday cloudy and colder with occasional rain possibly becoming mixed with snow. MORE THAN NEWSPAPER A COMMUNITY INSTITUTION 5 Cents a Copy, 25 Cents a Week CANONSBURG, MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1954 Vol.

80, No. 100 Weather NOTES A PARTY FOR THE 'LITTLEST WITH THE LEASTEST' Owns Transformer Contracts Are Signed Agreements to Run For Two-Year Period As 37 Predicted Ufa I Worst Fatality One Traffic Fatality In County Over Weekend -w cgi-3 ft. MRS. PEARL MESTA (standing left). Washington's "hostess with the presents to homeless little girls, wards of St Vincent's home, at a with the leastest" in her apartment.

Helping her is Eva Manchester, program director. Christmas Shopping May Have Smashed All Records Pennsylvania High Among States With Many Fatalities By UNITED PRESS Pennsylvania today held an unwanted distinction of ranking among the states with a high traffic fatality total during the long Christmas weekend as motorists took to the road in mild weather. Twenty-two persons tost their lives on the highways. Eastern Pennsylvania led with 14 while Western Pennsylvania recorded half that number. Central Pennsylvania recorded a single death with Margaret E.

Bennett, 16, Maryland Line, Md. who was killed Christmas night in York County. Four others met violent death in other holiday accidents. A Philadelphia woman burned to eeath; a 16-year old boy was shot; a man homeward bound from a party fell in a stream and drowned, and a pilot died in a plane crash. The automobile toll included a two-year old boy and an 82-year old woman.

The boy, Edward C. Smith Junior, died in a crash at Philadelphia. The aged woman, Mrs. Ann Stigle, also of Philadelphia, was injured fatally when she was thrown against the dashboard of her grandson's car when he stopped suddenly to avoid a collision. The plane crash victim was David Benson, 28, Beaver Falls.

His light craft plunged into the Beaver River Christmas eve. James Crayne, 16, Lippincott, Greene County, was shot to death when a 14-year old friend whom he was visiting accidentally discharged a newly-purchased rifle Friday night. William R. Lyons, 73, drowned at New Castle early Christmas morning when he stumbled into Big Creek Run as he was walking home from a holiday party. Elizabeth Carr, 58, was burned fatally when a stove exploded in Turn to Page Number at Pope Reported Gaining Strength VATICAN CITY (UP) Vatican sources said today Pope Pius II made "very encouraging" progress over the Christmas holiday and is steadily gaining in strength.

The sources said the 78-year-old Pontiff's condition is now good enough to enable doctors to dispense with the blood and plasma transfusions he has been getting since his near-fatal collapse Dec. 2. Since Christmas eve there has been no trace of the hiccups that accompanied the Pope's gastritis. He is now able to digest increasing uantities of strength-building meat. The Pope achieved his own Christmas wish during the holidays when he was able to stand at his window high over St.

Peters Square Christmas Day and impart his apostolic benediction to a throng of 60,000 persons kneeling in the square. TREE' CAKE mostest," hands out Christmas party she gave for the "littlest District of Columbia orphanage (International Soundphoto) Frank W. Bedillion, Superintendent of Local Pottery, Dies Frank Wilson (Jack) Bedillion, 61, of 222 E. Grant Houston, superintendent of the W. S.

George Pottery, died Saturday, Dec. 25, at 6:15 p.m. in Washington Hospital, following a lingering illness. He was born Feb. 10, 1893, in Chartiers Township, a son of the late William and Caroline Schwab Bedillion, and lived in the Houston vicinity his entire life.

3Ir. Bedillion had been employed for the past 36 years by the W.S. George Pottery where he was superintendent until a year ago when illness forced him to take a leave of absence. He is survived by his wife, Bessie Milligan Bedillion; three daughters, Flossie, at home; Ruth, wife of George Arnold, and Lillyan wife of Robert Blough, both of Houston; a son, Charles at home; two brothers, Clarence, of Houston and Henry, of Washington; four sisters, Mrs. Bertha Cummins, of Mc-Connells Mills; Mrs.

Georgia Rom-nes, of Burgettstow Mrs. Jane Koehler, of Washington RD 1, and eight grandchildren. Friends are being received at the Spcakman Funeral II where services will be held Tuesday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. in charge of the Rev.

F. L. Tee t.s, former pastor of the Houston Methodist Church. Burial will be in Oak Spring Cemetery. William E.

Speakman is the funeral director. Desertion Alleged Desertion is charged by Joseph Andrew Turco, Strabane, in a complaint in divorce filed against Wilma Mae Turco, 203 Wade Washington. They were married March 20, 1944, at Canonsburg, and lived together until May 5. 1952, the date of the alleged desertion. 'CHRISTMAS Record for Two-Day Holiday Weekend By UNITED PRESS The number of dead in Christmas weekend traffic accidents hit 370 today, exactly matching the pre-holiday estimate of safety experts.

With reports of deaths still coming in. a United Press tabulation showed that 370 persons died in highway crashes during the period from 6 p.m.. Friday to midnight Sunday. Fifty-one others died in fires, two in airplane mishaps and 44 in miscellaneous types of accidents to give the nation an overall total of 467 accidental deaths. California reported 35 fatalities in traffic, Texas 31, Illinois and Pennsylvania 22 apiece, Ohio 20, Michigan and New York 19, and Florida and North Carolina 15 apiece.

Estimate Proved Tragically Safety Council President Ned H. Dearborn said his organization "got a Christmas present it didn't want when the nation's drivers and pedestrians proved the council's pre-holiday estimate of 370 traffic deaths so tragically accurate." "This is a bloody way to celebrate a holiday dedicated to peace 'on earth, good will toward men," I he said. We can only hope that the shock of this toll will result in greater care, courtesy and common sense in traffic over the New ear's holiday." Toll Sets Record The traffic toll recorded today was the worst on record for a two-day Christmas weekend since the council began keeping records aft-Turn Paga Number 4 Bills Would Revise Election Procedure WASHINGTON UP) Rep. Frederic R. Coudert Jr.

R-NY) and Sen. Karl E. Mundt (R-SDi will sponsor companion biUs in the next Congress to revise the presidential election procedure. At present, a presidential candidate who gets the most votes in a single state gets all of that state's electoral votes. Coudert and Mundt want to change this make the electoral vote reflect the votes actually received by a candidate.

Coudert appealed to President Eisenhower, former President Truman, and Adlaj Stevenson Democrats' presidential candidate in 1952, to support his proposal. very basis of our freedom the two-party system can be in jeopardy if the present electoral college system is not regarded in its true light," he said. "In a presidential election, when a state votes all of its clectroal votes as one unit, reflecting only the winner, rather than the true voice of the people, there exists the grave danger of a minority candidate taking over the White The Lighter Side LOS ANGELES (UP) Hugh D. McCracken, 25, was arrested over the weekend on complaint of his wife, Therrance, 29. "lie cracked my head against the stove just because I went out to wish the neighbors a Merry Christmas," she said.

NEW YORK (UP) The heavily populated borough of Queens was filled with peace and goodwill on Christmas day. For the first time in the memory of court officials not one of the borough's 1,629,000 citizens was arrested on a felony charge and magistrate Albert Shanzcr had the day off just like everybody else for lack of business. Accident Damage Claim Filed By Local Couple A suit for less thau $2,500 by Bernard Zearfoss, and for more than $2,500 Dorothy Zearfoss, his wife, Caonsbufl? RD 2, has been filed against Francis J. Kelly, Cecil This suit is based on an automobile accident that occurred at about 1 a.m. August 29, 1953, on Route 19, one mile north of Donaldson's Crossroads.

It is alleged that the defendant ran into the rear of the Zearfoss machine. It is alleged that Mrs. Zearfoss sustained severe injuries to her neck. She asks for more than $2,500. Her husband makes Halm for a repair bill of $13.50 and for -ray, hospital and medical (rcaUuL'Ut Vjv lii wife.

Long term unions have Pennsylvania contracts with two been announced by Transformer Corn- pany. They are with Lniteci Steel Workers" Local 39G8, which represents production and maintenance workers, and USW Local 4561, which represents electrical testers. The membership of the two unions includes all Pennsylvania Transformer employes represented by collective bargaining agents. F. L.

Huber, industrial relations manager, reports that the produc-, tion and maintenance workers' contract is for two years. It provides for a general increase of 7 cents per hour and additional insurance benefits, plus an automatic five cents per hour increase at the end of one year. There is no provision for reopening negotiations during the term of the agreement. The electrical testers' contract, which is to be in effect for three years, provides for an average increase of 5M cents per hour, participation in a company profit sharing plan, and additional insurance benefits. Negotiations may be reopened at the end of two years for possible wage adjustments only.

Both contracts, according to Huber, are the longest ever negotiated between Pennsylvania Transformer and the respective unions. "The negotiations wore conducted in a friendly, cooperative spirit," Huber reports, "and both union and company representatives are looking forward to a long period of peaceful, pleasant relations." For Christmas, the Transformer company distributed more than 1400 turkeys to its employes. Persons who since July 1 had temporarily left the firm received $10 checks with which to purchase turkeys, as did employes of the corn-pay now in the armed forces. Troops in Europe Are Combat Ready HEIDELBERG. Germany (UP) American troops in Europe are combat ready, a year end review released by the Army's headquarters here reported today.

The combat efficiency is due in great part to the Army's efforts to improve the soldier's life when he is not in the field training, the report said. As result, American soldiers in Europe went to church more often and spent less time in jail this year than ever before, the review said. Their combat readiness was increased by the arrival of several batteries of "Honest John" guided missiles capable of carrying atomic warheads, "Skysweepers" (radar directed anti-aircraft artillery) and "Atomic Annies," the 280 millimeter atomic cannon. The year also saw the end of segregation in barracks and duty assignments, a new high in reen-listments, more GI education and more marriages to German girls. Turn to Page 8, Number 8 Late Wews PITTSBURGH, (UP) Mayor David L.

Lawrence today declined an offer from George M. Leader to be secretary of commerce under the new Democratic state administration. PARIS (UP) Premier Pierre Mendes-France won important new support today in his all-or-nothing fight for approval of German rearmament. The National Assembly plunged into the final hours of its agonizing debate over West European unity WEU and German rearmament at 3 p.m. (9 a.m.

EST) with the outcome hinging on three votes of confidence in the Mendes-France government. Files Suit to Claim Damages for Injuries In a claim for more than $2,500 for injuries alleged to have been received in an automobile collision in Washington, Joseph Garrett, Buffalo Township, has filed a suit against Anastc Alcxiades, 401 Franklin Canonsburg. The alleged accident occurred at about 8:45 a.m., October 27, 1953, at the intersection of East Beau and College streets, Washington. The plaintiff was a passenger in an automobile operated by Gaylord M. Carothers.

The Carothcrs machine had stopped for the traffic liglit, and it is alleged the defendant ran into the rear. The plaintiff avers that he sustained injuries to liis acuk aud back. One traffic fatality occurred in Washington County over the holiday weekend. A Coal Center motorist, who had been shopping for toys for his children on Christmas Eve, died of injuries received in a highway accident. James W.

Cole, 26, of Ferry Coal Center, died at 4:27 p.m. Saturday in the Brownsville Gen eral Hospital, where he was ad- mitted at 9:55 p.m. Friday, PoIice report that Colc bparent. lost control of his car as he rounded a sharp curve at Telegraph Hill, near Brownsville. It crashed into an embankment.

Police saw the automobile on a check of the district roads, and report that the acefdent apparently occurred about a half hour be- fore they found him. He suffered a fractured skull, severed tongue and chest injuries. Cole was an open hearth employe of the Jones Laughlin Steel Pittsburgh. He had left his home at 5:30 p.m. to purchase the toys for his two children, Rob- ert, age three, and Isabella, age three months.

Cole was born June 6, 1928, a son of John F. and Pearl L. Smith Cole. Besides his wife. Margaret Mitchell Cole, and his children, he leaves his mother, Mrs.

William Roberts, and a sister, Mrs. Thel-ma Jean Andler, both of Coal Center. A number of accidents occurred in the county over the weekend. John Stefko, of Coverdale, was treated at Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh, for injuries received in a one-car accident on Route 19, six miles south of Washington. Driver as Richard Powell, of Coverdale, whose machine rounded a curve and struck a guard rail at 2 p.m.

Saturday. Arthur Smedley, of Follansbee, W. was admitted to the Ohio Valley Hospital, Steubenville, following an accident at 6:45 a.m. Friday. His machine crashed into a barn owned by Russell Orenchuk, Hanhn Station, RD 1, Route 974.

The car was wedged so far into the barn it could not be removed Turn to Page 8, Number 2 Reservations Being Taken for YMCA Trip Reservations are still being taken for a special YMCA holiday vacation trip for boys 9 to 12 years of age of Canonsburg and vicinity for Thursday, Dec. 30, under the leadership of Gordon Wilson, chairman of the Health and Physical Education Committee of the Chartiers Valley YMCA and Harry C. Wardell, Southwest District YMCA executive. Plans call for the boys to participate in a holiday rally to be held at the YMCA in McKces-port. Those attending will leave by chartered bus from the Canonsburg Milling Co.

on Central Ave. at 9 a. m. on Thursday. The morning program will consist of registration, welcome by the leaders and boys of McKees-port, swimming in the Pool for both swimmers and non-swimmers, a demonstration by the slaff at McKecsport of rules of water safety, followed by a box lunch.

In the afternoon there will be an indoor campfire, song fest and movies to be followed by a gym period where the boys will take part in group games. The closing assembly will be held at 2:30 p.m. with adjournment scheduled for 3 p. m. The bus will arrive back in Canonsburg about 4 p.

m. All boys 9 to 12 years of age who have their parents' permission are welcome to attend. Parents may write or telephone Wardell, 344 Grace Ave. Ext. i.H 5-7576 to make reservations for their sons.

Boys arc to bring box lunch, towel, gym clothes and 50 cents. Milk or hot chocolate will be provided the boys at Mc Kecsport. Reservations will be limited to the capacity of the bus. Famed Botanist Dies ITHACA. N.

Y. (UP) Dr. Lib erty Hyde Bailey, 96, famed. botan ist who sailed and flew 250,000 miles to find died at his home here on Christmas night. Bailey, at the age of 85, drove across 6.000 miles of Meican wilds, and at 90 had a birthday alone on a Caribbean island, looking for palms.

He Avas planning a trip to Africa when 91 years old but broke a thigh and retired ij his Jje-uic here. Accidents Here Kept At Minimum Two persons were arrested as a result of four accidents which oc curred over the Christmas holiday weekend, police reported. Dorothy Talpas, Muse, was ar- resed on a charge of reckless driving alter ner car coumea wra a parked auto on S. Central Saturday at 4:25 p.m. Officers said the woman lest control of her auto as she rounded a curve, then went across the road, and struck a parked car belonging to Donald Sappa, 711 S.

Central Ave. The front ends both cars were damaged. of Paul W. Stankanick, California, was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of an accident after hitting a parked car early yesterday. Police said Stankanick hit a car owned by Charles Fragapane.

135 Adams which was parked in front of his home. Two cars collided at the Van Eman Jefferson Ave. intersection at 2:30 p.m. yesterday, officers reported. A car operated by William Alex Brown, 41 Payne Alley, was damaged in the left door and chrome.

Brown was crossing Van Eman St. when his car collided with one operated by Leroy Powers, 114 Richland Ave. Powers, whose car was damaged in the front bumper, was traveling on South Jefferson Ave. County Airport Closed to Traffic The Washington County Airport is closed to all traffic at present. Airport Manager C.

R. (Red) Breese posted official shutdown signs on the airport after a com bination of construction and wet weather created what he called hazard for any plane going in or out of the field. Temporary signs were placed on the airport Friday after Breese had notified the County Commissioners' office of the condition of the field, and it is expected that permanent signs will be placed early this week. The airport had previously been closed to transient traffic, but the new ban will cover all flying in eluding local plane owners who keep their planes at the South Franklin Township airfield. The former all-weather runway that permitted flying off the field through the winter was torn up necessarily because of the con struction program, Breese said, He pointed out that continued flying from the field would pos sibly lead to a serious accident because of the shortened and slip pcry runways.

Meanwhile, Breese reported, he will probably do what flying is necessary either from the Waynes- burg or Wheeling, W.Va. airports. Breese estimated that about 20 Turn to Page 8. Number Rain Predicted For Western Penna. Increasing cloudiness and milder weather was forecast for Penn sylvania today with rain in the west and central portions tonight.

A trough of rain throughout the central part of the country would move eastward, the weather bureau said. This will bring rain throughout the state on Tuesday and colder weather by Tuesday afternoon and night, with some snow over the mountains of west ern and central Pcnnsylvanai. The weather bureau said there would not be any snow in the southeastern portion of the state. Temperatures were forecast i a the upper 40 and lower 50's today with the lowest tonight above freezing throughout Pennsylvania. The high Tuesday will be about (he same as today, but temperatures will drop fairly rapidly Tuesday night.

Kiwanians to Hold President's Party Canonsburg Houstou Kiwaius Club will hold its President's parly at the home of Samuel Stabile, Spruce Tuesday at 8:30 p. tn. Games will be played and lunch will be served. Members arc to bring graMjag its. WASHINGTON UP)-hristmas shopping this year may have smashed all records, government experts report.

Preliminary reports to the Federal Reserve Board indicated a 2i per cent increase over 1953 figures for the first three weeks of the shopping season. Merchants had a multi-million dollar bonus this year in the form of one extra shopping day during the fourth week of Christmas. Sales for that week might well have climbed by five per cent. One expert said on the basis of the preliminary figures that he expects buying this year to approach and perhaps top therecord Christmas buying spree of 1952. Sales last year dipped to $16,400,000,000.

Government Economists Cautious The most pessimistic government economists conceded that last year's total buying had been topped. But they felt the preliminary figures are misleading and that buying fell short of a new record. The Reserve Board's figures are limited to department store sales, but these are a time-tested barometer of the Christmas trade. The more optimistic economists also take these factors into account: 1. People have slightly more money to spend than ever before.

2. Merchants have been trying to outpromote each other with San ta parades, community displays Turn to Page 8. Number 1 Ike Will Submit Budget January 17 Augusta. Ga. UP) President Eisenhower decided today to submit his new budget to Congress on Jan.

17. He will send his report on the national economy to the House and Senate on Jan. 20. As these decisions were made, the President kept close touch with the voting today in the French Chamber of Deputies. He talked by telephone with Secretary of Stat John Foster Dulles at 9:25 a.m.

The Chief Executive spent most of the morning in conference with Dr. Gabriel Hauge, his personal economic adviser, and Dr. Arthur F. Burns, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. Hauge and Burns came here Sunday night to confer with the President on the final draft of the economic report.

Mr. Eisenhower will deliver his State of the Union message to a joint session of the House and Senate on Jan. 6. He will send up a special message on tariff and reciprocal trade Jan. 10.

Press Secretary James C. Hagerty said this morning that as far as the French situation 'was concerned, it was a matter of "watching and waiting." The President expected other calls during the day from Dulles. Mr. Eisenhower was still prepared to fly back to Washington should the French chamber vote run contrary to the interests of the Western Allies, Teen-ager Caught Stealing From Meters A tccu-agcr is being held for juvenile authorities on a charge of malicious mischief after breaking open two parking meters early today. Officers said that a total of $4.38 was taken from the two meters.

24 Men to Report For Induction Twenty-four registrants of Local Selective Service Board 164 have been ordered to report for induction into the Armed Forces on Tuesday, Jan. 4. They are: Regis Adrian Brozier, Avella. John Morgan Enlow, Canonsburg Anthony Emilio Ornone, Houston Robert Albert Sheets, Houston Richard Dallmeyer Brow Washington. James Edwin Smith, McDonald Ronald Allen Lindley, Eighty- Four.

Robert William Stumpf, Wash- igton Vaughn Emerson Miller, Wash ington Jack Asdale Langston, Burgetts- town Theodore Roy Pratten, Canonsburg Bernard Carl Snock. Venctia. Paul DiSalle, Canonsburg. Harold Miller Brautigam, Avella Arthur Harry McCormick, Canonsburg. Leonard Carl Papetti, Canonsburg.

Waler Jaap Canonsburg Ralph Dwain Felton, Midway Thomas Walter Morrison, McDonald. Harvey Sherwood Lederstein, McDonald. Robert Mancinelli, Slovan. Donald Leroy Johnston, Houston John Albert Macik Washington. HOSPITAL NEWS ADMISSIONS Dee.

24 Vincent D'Amico, Mary Verna Dec. 25 Delores Lewis, Edward Mahoney, Denise Derrico, Mary Rcttinger. Dec. 26 Glenn Supinsky, Anna Corbin, Walter Surich, Mary Frances Kost, Vilma Refosco, Fotes Eleamos, Juliana Gouthier, Frank Kennel, Karen Tippenhouer, James Richard Stewart, Mary Quattro, William Crcighton, Larry Elcwski Dec. 27 Marie Pirillo DISCHARGES Dec.

24 Jesse Bortz, Joseph Peterson, Vilma Refosco, Floyd Hoffman, Sophie Braddock and' son, Carol Daugherty, Mildred Christoff, Jack Bracale', Mary Nestor Dec. 25 Evelyn Ciallelli and son Donna Haney, Joann Muller 'and daughter, Victoria Tutin, Mary Verna, Steve Krajicek BIRTHS Dec. 24 A daughter to Mr, and Mrs. Amedio Piccioni, Box 201, Lawrence. Dec.

25 A daughter to Mr. and Mrs. August Lewis, Canonsburg, R.D. 1. Dec.

26 A daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Refosco, Lawrence Dec. 27 A son to Mr. and Mrs.

Pete Pirillo, RD 1, McDonald. Baby Born Christmas To Local Parents One baby was born at the Canonsburg General Hospital on Christmas day, one of nine in the county. A daughter was born to August and Dolores Lewis, Canonsburg, RD 1. Washington Hospital reported three births, Monongahcla Hospital reported three, Cliarlcroi-Moncssen Hospital reported one, and Brownsville Hospital reported one. i iii'finriiMimii iiiiiiiiiMWr i iii.

i PRESIDENT EISENHOWER displays his hearty grin as he looks at a "Christmas tree" cake sent to him in the White House by the Young Men's Republican club of Niagara Falls, N. T. It's a 60-layer job five and one-half feet liigh. The President holds a coolda with name "Mamie" on it. Tha cake was sent to Walter Reed hospital, for servicemen.

(International Soundphoto).