The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas • Page 1

BLYTHEVILLE COURIER NEWS THE DOMINANT NEWSPAPKB OF NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI VOL. 220 Blythevllle Courier BlythevUle Daily Newi Mississippi Valley Leader BlythevUle Herald BLYTHEVILLE, ARKANSAS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1954 EIGHT PAGES Published Dally Except Sunday SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS Dr. Sheppard Faces State's Prosecutors Cross-Examination to Go Through Entire Story CLEVELAND (AP) Dr. Samuel Sheppard braced himself today for the state's attack on his emphatic assertion that he did not kill his wife, and that a thing." He says he was happily marriei to Marilyn Sheppard. But one still confronts the dark, good-look ing osteopath.

Miss Hayes, a boratory technician, has admittec having intimate relations wit! him. The affair went on for mor than a year, she said in court. For a day and a half, Shepparc testified in his own defense agains a charge of first-degree murder He made only brief references Miss Hayes. He said his wife wa: not disturbed when he told he. he had given Miss Hayes a watch.

Attorneys Ready attorneys are to cross-question Sheppard's whole story. The state contends he mur dered his wife, last July 4, and that his motive grew out of his extra-marital relations. Marilyn Sheppard, a 31-year-old expectant mother, was beaten to death in bed. The doctor, 30, tes tified he ran to the bedroom when he heard her cries, and was slugged unconscious by the killer He says Cleveland detectives ac cused him of the murder in the first stages of the investigation He described one grilling that lasted nearly 11 hours, conducted by four pairs of officers. They tried to break down his story, he told the Jury.

Sheppard said the detectives tried to confuse him, cursed him and insulted his family, and mentioned "accomplices." They expressed doubt, he said, that he was the father of his unborn child. And in trying to talk him into confession, he said, they discussed light prison sentences sometimes given for a plea of lesser charge than first-degree murder. "I told them I couldn't confess to something I didn't do," he said. In a graphic pantomime, at his attorney's urging, Sheppard showed the jury how a detective simulated the terrible blows that were rained on Marilyn Sheppard's head. He rolled a piece of long yellow paper into a cylinder and said of the officer: "He'd put his hands over his head like this Sheppard raised the paper club with both hands.

"And bring them down like this "And he would say, 'down, down, down, down, down!" Sheppard shouted the word five times, each time with a simulated blow. "I told him I didn't do it," he continued. "I told him I couldn't do it to any human or animal. I tbld him I couldn't possibly have done such a thing under any circumstances." Another officer, he said, asked him how he could go through the ordeal. "I told him that I still had faitn in the truth and I had faith in Red Chinese Add to Coast Defenses TAIPER.

Formpsa. China is adding new strength to its forces massed along coastal areas opposite Chiang Kai-shek's offshore the Interior Ministry's Tatao News Agency said today. Tatao, claiming information from underground contact? on the mainland, said the Chinese Communist 53rd Army was transferred last month from Kwangtung Province In southeast China to Fukien Province opposite Formosa. The agency said the troops were sent to Engteng, an island city in southwestern Fukien, relieving 30,000 Red soldiers subsequently transferred to coastal areas near Quemov, a Nationalist outpost 120 miles west of Formosa, Yesterday, the Nationalist De fense Ministry said the Rens were feverishly building a huge new air base on China's southeast coast 200 miles north of Formosa. The report said the base would threaten both Formosa and the big U.

S. Pacific bastion on Okinawa. I couldn't have done such God and Marilyn was with me," Sheppard says he replied. Earlier, he said he told a friend he felt sure "Marilyn is in my corner." The long discussion of the police See SHEPPARD on Page 8 USS Forrestal, Giant Atomic Age Carrier, Hailed at Launching By C. FAY NEWPORT NEWS, Va.

(AP) The Navy, launching its giant aircraft carrier Forrestal, today hailed the world's biggest warship as "the most versatile and most dispersable weapon in our nuclear arsenal." Secretary of the Navy Charle; S. Thomas said in a speech pre pared for the christening ceremonj that vessels like the Forrestal cat be used for many purposes, in eluding "massive phrase often used by high admin istration officials in connection with United States defense policy. The Navy used the christening of the Forrestal to dramatize its bid for a major combat role in this jet-atomic age. Replied to Critics In his speech, Thomas also seemed to be replying to ritics Goodfellows Need Food for Baskets Want to help the Goodfellows help unfortunate families of this area this Christmas? They need your help in getting together food for Christmas baskets for the needy. Many families will be turned away empty-handed Christmas eve if aid isn't forthcoming.

E. A. Rice, who heads the American Legion-sponsored Goodfellow organization this year, pointed out today that perhaps as many as 100 needy families will miss out on their Christmas baskets unless some help from townspeople bolsters the regular program, Needed are canned goods, fruit, nuts and just about anything else which go into the traditional baskets prepared by the organization each year. Any monetary contributions will be used to purchase these things. Collection I'olnts Contributions of any sort are being accepted at P.

A. White anc Sons Shoe Store and at the Courier News office. If persons have foodstuffs at home and want it picked up. they may telephone Mr. Rice at The Goodfellows are seeking to avoid a repeat of the past few years' efforts when from 70 to 85 persons were turned away after all baskets had been given out.

This year, the group may not be able to give out as many baskets in the past when it has prepared about 220 baskets. AH donations must be received before the afternoon of Dec. 23 when packaging will begin at the War Memorial Auditorium. Packages will be given out on Dec, 24. D-Y Contract Estimates Under Fire at Hearing WASHINGTON (AP) Estimated engineering costs of supplying electricity under the Dixbn-Yates private power contract were due for fresh attack today before the Securi- and Exchange Commission.

Attorneys questioning the controversial agreement is a 'prudent contract" summoned a representative of Ebasco Services in engineering firm, for examina- ion on the accuracy of cost estimates. Ebasco is engineering rep- for Dixon-Yates. SEC is hearing an application by the Dixon-Yates group for approval of a capital stock issue to aunch financing of a proposed power plant at West Memphis, under contract with the At- mic Energy Commission. Joseph Volpe attorney for he Tennessee and some 40 other groups opposing the contract, told he commission yesterday he 'hoped" to prove the plant would cost more than the 104 million 'dl- ars set frth in engineering cn- iruction estimates. Cite Previous Error The projected plant would feed lower into the Tennessee Valley Authority system to replace cur- ent used In AEC installations.

Critics call it an a ttack on the mblic power principle in TVA ter- itory. Proponents contend it would jive taxpayers' money and say a worthy example of the working of free enterprise. Attorneys fighting SEC clearance of the stock financing plan contend that ha.sco engineering estimates on a plant constructed to supply power for AEC were nearly 50 per cent under actual costs. This was in the Joppa, District Scout Leaders Cited Czeschin Named; Others On Board Several members of North Mississippi County Boy Scout district crime in for honors when Eastern Arkansas Council had its annual meeting in Memphis this week. C.

C. Czeschin of Blytheville was re-elected vice president ol the council and is a member of the council's executive board. Other executive board members from the district include Jim Cleveland, J. D. Wells, Hays Sullivan and Jim Gardner.

Veteran awards went to Raymond Powers, 15 years; J. V. Gates, 15 years, and Cecil Lowe, 20 years. Twenty-two representatives from the district attended the meeting where it was pointed out this district leads the entire council in advancement and percentage of boys reached with the Scouting program. Chest Drive's Clean-Up Nears Final Stages With the clean-up phase nearfng Its climax, Blythevllle's Community Chest Drive stood 20 per cent short of its 125,280 goal today, according to campaign officials.

Drive officials this morning reported that $19,532.70 has been collected to date with some 800 prospective donors still unheard from. This figure represents 80.4 per cent of the 1954 quota, drive officials as they urged persons who have not as yet given to the drive to make their contributions soon ai powlble. Hi. plant of Electric Inc. The opposition lawyers said they would seek to prove that any such deviation between estimates and See D-Y CONTRACT on Page 8 Clean-Up Drive For TB Group Ten volunteer workers Monday hegin the cleanup drive of the Mississippi County TB Association's downtown solditatlon division.

Announcement of the final, two- day campaign was made today by Louis McWaters, chairman of thr- Blytheville campaign. carriers at home and abroad, including British Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery who said recently that the day of the aircraft carrier is approaching its end. Others have argued that a carrier task force can be located easily and destroyed. Thomas said: 1. "For the foreseeable future, nothing is in prospect which will diminish our need for the continuing 1 control of the surface of the seas by ships, the undo rseas by submarines, the air over the seas by Naval airpower.

2. The Porrcstnl with Its speedup to 40 miles per indeed be a phantom target for any enemy." Adm. Robert B. Carney, clue of Naval operations, snid ol the Forrestal that "by her mobility, she will be abje to bring air power to parts of the world where no comparable friendly force can be found or maintained," Secretary of Defense Wilson satd In the building of the Forrestal "we mark another milestone in the progress we are making to modernize and improve the readiness of our armed services." The setting for the ceremony was beside the looming shape of the still-unfinished ship, moored in the graving dock.where her keel was laid almost 2' years Mrs. Forrcslal Chosen Chosen to do the christening honors with the traditional bottle of champagne was Mrs.

James V. Forrestal, widow of the former Navy- secretary and the nation's first secretary of defense. Workmen opened valves and began flooding water around the ship long before the cere- nionny. Thus, by christening time, Lhe Forrestal was afloat a de- Mrture from the usual system whereby a ship down the ways Into the water after she i. 1 formally muned.

To carry out the "launching 1 ritual, workers and tractors "wa'k" the currier a few feet her dock at the end of the ceremony. Tomorrow, the Forrestal is scheduled lo be towed to an out- UUng pier. Only about threc-qunr- ers completed, the Forrestal is not expected to he ready for the sen or another year. Tons The big ship she will displace 59,600 tons without fuel, ammuni- -ion, planes or stores and probably Ions fully loaded is designed to carry atomic bombers on far-ranging missions. Her launching stirred memories of an Air Force-Navy row that more than five years it go shook top Pentagon echelons and extended nto Congress.

The dispute iround Air Force plans for large scale production of its now out- nodcd B3C long range heavy )ombers and rival Navy intentions build, a fleet of supercnrrlcrs. even bigger than the Forrestal. Air Force proponents charged he Navy was aiming at creating Is own strategic bombing force to challenge the primary mission of Air Force's Strategic Air Command. The Navy advocates contested Air Force claims to the effectiveness of the B36. The Forrestal began taking shape in July 1952.

Her flight deck is feet, long 252 feet at its widest. The flight deck area covers the equivalent of nearly four acres or almost four football fields. Although the Forrestal ranks as the biggest warship ever built, she stands third behind Britain's two latest transatlantic liners, the Queen Elizabeth 83,673 tons and Queen Mary 81,235 tons. The Forrestal also is the costliest combatant ship when fully fitted with antiaircrat weapons, electronic equipment and other gear. This does not include the estimated cost of planes for the carrier about $175,000,000.

25 Stories Tall These statistics give some Idea of the size and speed: From keel to top of masts, it Is Sec FORHESTAL on Page 8 Hammerskjold Said Bidding For Direct Talks on Airmen Traffic IV WALNUT AND FRANKLIN If you're approaching this intersection on Walnut from the west, look out. Building.at right obscures oncoming northbound vehicles. This is another good spot to watch to make Dec, IB a Safe Driving Day in Blythevllle as It will be over the remainder of the United Stales. (Courier News Photo) Plans Laid For Safe Driving Day R. M.

(Bob) Lottan. president of Blythevillc Chamber of Commerce, today cnllcd and pedestrian in the community to give personal support to national "Safe Driving Day" Wednesday. He said the community's goal will be to eliminate all traffic accidents for the 24-hour" period Wednesday. Safe Driving Day is being sponsored nationally by President El- senhower's Action Committee for Traffic Safety in cooperation with other national organisations. It is sponsored on a local level by the Junior Chamber of Commerce and Um Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with other civic clubs of the city, And today, C.

S. noble Grand of Blythcvillc'fe Odd Fellows lodge, said all lodyc members have been Instructed to offer their services in any way in aiding in safety drive. The Intermil.ionai governing body of the group originated a slogan being used over the nation no Odd Be Courteous and the local program is under direction of Gore Supports New Demo Stand on Ike WASHINGTON (AP) Son. Gore (D-Tcnn) said today every motorist he Is "tired of excusing" some of President Eisenhower's actions on grounds of "bad advice." Gore said thin In omlor.slntf a call by PniiI M. Butler, chairman-elect of the DemocratIr Nallonul Committee, for "legitimate criticism" 80 Men Die In Indian Coal Mine NEW DEDHI, India W) Union officials 80 men died today In an Imliiin eon I mine (lisii.sler and ultimed it on the supervisory Mr.

Birmingham and Earl McGregor, secretary. Plans for observance of Driving Day in Blytheville were completed this morning a meeting of various civic club rep re cr's scntntivcs ami Mayor R. Jackson in he Chamber of Commerce office. Plans coll for the proclaiming of Wednesday as Safe Driving Day by Mayor Jackson and the erect- C. P.

Melitii, president of the Madhyn Pradesh Mines Teehnlcnl Staff nnd Workers' Union, HO men died in a ronl.mme near Parsi sia in cent nil Imlfn when they were trapped by col lapsing mine eh In crmrgeo ma nag cm ent with "criminal neglect." Other un-j ion officials nothing was clone' about ventilating a pit that wasi nine Is 100 miles north ol The Kpur. George Lee Is ing of various traffic safety minders in the city. In appealing to the residents of Blytheville and surrounding communities for support of Drlv- Day. Mr. Logan pointed out that business and imlu.st.ry have nl direct interest in traffic safety, "or accidents increase the cost of George M.

i.t-c was mimed pres- traimportation and production. ident of Farmers Knybran the real cost of traffic ac- ration it I nil annual meeting of the cldcnls," Mr. Logun saW, "is the this week. lost precious thing we own other all leers include E. B.

human life." i Wnod.son, vice president, and John At this morning's meeting May- Candill, Jackson designated Frank Directors Indiidp Mr. Mr. ol tlie Blytho Junior Chamber of Com- YHiree, as local Safe Driving Day director. JET AGE an artist's conception of the USS Forrestal, America's newest aircraft" carrier. The huge floating air base took about three years to build and cost $218 million.

It is 1040 feet long, 252 feet wide and will accommodate some 3000 crew members. Up lop, the flight deck is made of 3'A acres of steel. According to experts, an airfield on land would require something like 140 acres to handle aircraft ot Uw number, size vut which a carrier must bandit. Legion Plans Victory Dinner A membership rlinner he Riven by the Blytheville American Legion Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Legion Post to cftlftbrnte Koinfi over the quota in the recent, membership drive, according to Gilbert Mann, post commander.

All members who have 105?) membership cards are eligible and those who do not have ft may pick i at the door, he said. Marshall Blackurd is in charge of the dinner arrangements. Montgomery Ward Hearing Is Set CHICAGO A hearing In Louis E. Wolf.son's suit against Chairman Sewell Avery and other directors of Montgomery Ward Co. has been set for Jan.

10. Wolfson, a Florida industrialist, has asked the court to declare Wards' method of electing directors illegal. Wolfaon has said ht will seek to gain control of Ward's at the annual shareholder meeting April 22. Wood.son, Alvin Huffman. William Wyatt, Jack Robinson, Onrge Dnltilmnty, C.

Ray Hall, Claud Duncan and B. R. Hays. of Elsenhower, but without "Viliflc tlon," Hutlcr, a South Bend, lawyer picked In New Orleans last week to succeed A. Mitchell as head of the Democratic committee, lolcl hl.s first Washington news conference yesterday: "I will never vlttty tho President, as Siin.

McCarthy (R-Wls) lia.s this week, but all the roars of Chairman Hall and oher Republicans will not deter me from calling attention to the failures of tlie President." Butler referred here to McCar- In which accused Elsenhower of displaying (i "shrinking show of weakness" in den ling with muni.st China. Fully Cmieiirs He iil.sn reterred to OOP National Chairman Leonard W. Hail's retort fif capneity" to Hall nakl that crlUcism meant tho Democrats had "thrown In tho ash can" (Heir plfMige to cooperate with tho I Yesterday after hearing of Huller's Itilp.sl statement on Eisenhower Hall "the American people won't think much of hi.s judgment In these attacks on he Uon; in an Interview he concurs fully in tho cour.se charted by IluVier. "Mo.st of us criticize the actloas and the record of the; President of the United Ktal.es with reluctance," Gore "but our of government will fail unless those hold- Ing office; arc held responsible for the actions of their administration. for nue, have reached the point where I am tired of excusing some of trm PvoshUjnL'a notions on the ground that he ha.s received bad advice.

He, himself, must be held responsible for what his administration does." Steered Clear DemocniUe candidates In tills year's political campaign See DKMOCKATS on Page 8 Ex-Convict Uses 'Flip of Coin' To Decide Method for Murder EVERETT, Wash. convict related yesterday how told hi-s pretty young girl friend several days In advance he was going to kill her and then, just before he carried out the threat, decided on the Hip of a coin how she wa.s to die. "Heads I'd strangle her; tails I'd cut her apart limb from limb," Earl C. Runyon said in a tape- recorded, signed confession. "It came up heads," the stocky ex-convict, ex-professional fighter and ex-carnival worker went on.

"Too Pinna" In hi.s confession Runyon said he killed Mr.s. Violet Mae Wll- llarn.s, 26. mother of two children and a divorcee, because she was "too pious" and refused to Join him In a schomn to teal welfare chcck.s from the mails. Runyon he told Mrs. Vvil- llfims he wa.s going to kill her sevc-rnl days before the crime actually committed.

Runyon he decided la.st Saturday morning, after spending the PX-iniKhl at Mrs. Williams' home, that he he would kill her then. He flipped a coin to decide which he would end her life. When the coin came down heads hn grabbed Mr.s. Williams by the throat, the confession continued, and alternately choked and revived her to prolong the woman's nRony.

This went on, he said, for nearly an hour. "Finish Job" When Mr.s. Williams slumped to the floor dead, Hunyon said, he covered the body with a bedspread on It and then went on a round of taverns. He called police three hours after the slaying and blurted out that he had killed Mrs. Williams.

At the close of yesterday's confession, Runyon stated that he intended to "finish the Job" when he's released from prison and klH Mrs. Williams' mother. Mr.s. Betty Orr, and Mrs. Williams 1 ex-husband, Harlancl Williams.

He said he had "Just never gotten around to the other two kill- Ings." Red China Reported Contacted UNITED NATIONS, N. Y. (AP) U. N. Secretary General Dag Hammerskjold was reliably reported today to have made a bid to Red China for direct talks on the 11 American fliers held as spies.

A diplomatic source said the secretory general had sent a communication to Peiplng asking whether the Chinese Communists would be willing to discuss the case. He was understood to have Indicated he would make himself available for such talks if Peiplng would talk. This, It was understood, Included the possibility of a trip to Peiplng, if necessary. U.N. officials declined comment.

Hammarskjold had told associates, however, that he regarded the case of the fliers as the greatest challenge that office of Secretary General had ever faced. This led to the belief that he would not trout yesterday's Assembly directive as a routine matter. The Assembly resolution called upon Hammrtrskjold to make "continuing and unremitting efforts" to get the fliers released. Herts May Refuse Because of the condemnation, also Included in the Assembly resolution, theve was some belief here thnt the Chinese Reds might rofu.se to discuss the case with the Secretary General. The Chinese already had rebuffed efforts of India to get the filers released.

Hainmarskjold quickly nccepted Iho mission after the Assembly yesterday approved. 47-6, a resolution Introduced by the United States and its 15 Korean Allies condemning Peiplng for Jailing the filers and demanding their release. The vote was taken after two dny.s of bitter East-West debate. The only opposing ballots wore cast by the five-nation Soviet bloc which fought the item every step of the way. Yugoslavia and six Am Ij-Asian states abstained, apparently because of the clause condemning Pelplng.

The Assembly poll originally at 45-5, but delegates for Costa Rica nnd El Salvador who got, caught in a cross-town traffic jinn and missed the ballot later persuaded Assembly President Eelen N. vim Kleffens to record them us supporting the resolution. Hammnr.skjold is known to con- ETAQIN SHRDLU CMFW skier tin; tnsk entrusted to him as one of the greatest challenges to ftice a secretary general since the U. N. began work eight years He told the assembly "I will do nil in my power to serve the interests ol the organization." A snicl later Hammar- skjold was "taking immediate to carry out the mandate, "For the present," the spokesman said, believes it would not serve the purposes of the resolution In make any public pro- nrnmccment.s ns to what these steps fire.

Ifc hopes to be shortly In a position to say something further for publication." Several Avenues U. N. observers said Hammar- could use -several avenues to seek release of the airmen: 1. Send a personal emissary to Peiplng. 2.

Work through some neutral country such as his native Sweden, Switzerland or India, which served Ji.s principal mediator in the Korean armistice negotiations. ti. Authorize the head of the U.N. office In Geneva, Switzerland, to make representations to the Red Chinese ambassador stationed there. 4.

Try to persuade Russia to use her influence with Peiping to set aside the sentences levied against See U.N. on Page 8 Weather ARKANSAS Occasional rain this afternoon and east portion tonight; Sunday scattered showers and thunderstorms and turning colder. MISSOURI Cloudy through Sunday with occasional rain south and east portions this afternoon and over most of state tonight and Sunday, mixed with freezing rain or snow northwest portion late tonight or Sunday. Minimum tills Mnxltnum Sunrise Sunset eft temperature (midway between Ixli and Prerlpltation Inst 24 hours to 7 a.m. none.

Precipitation Jan. 1 to this datf 32.34. This Date Lust Maximum 55. Minimum this Precipitation January 1 to dtW.