The Decatur Daily Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 20

TWENTY PAGES TODAY. Wednesday, February 25, 1948. THE DECATUR REVIEW DIES AIRPORT BUILDING PLAN APPROVED Builders Urge Enforcement of SLS Breckenridge Estate Valued An inventory of the estate of the Q.b A CO U.StL 71 i I I CI- J'i' pi mm TicvtesT comcouuse PUbLI S1 ftcc I I Clark Changes Plea, 2 Killers Get 199 Years Louis Clark. 40. of Niantic yesterday beat the electric chair for the murder of William -Lines.

Illiopolis tavern operator, and drew a sentence of 199 years in the Sangamon county circuit court in Springfield. Earlier in the day. Clark saw Eld red Terry, 34, of Decatur, a co-defendant under the murder in- dictment. plead guilty and received a 199 year sentence. Clark, who shot and killed Lines during an attempted holdup of his tavern on the night of Jan.

24, faced a question whether to allow a jury to decide his fate or to throw himself on the mercy of the court through a plea of guilty. HE ELECTED to stand trial and watched the selection of the first four jurors, all qualiffcd by the prosecution for a death penalty. John W. Currcn, Sangamon, county state's attorney, had declared in advtnce of the trial date that he would ask the death penalty for both defendants: During the selection of jurors, Clark appeared Ted Hitchcock Was in Prague At Last Report No word has been received in Decatur from E. B.

"Ted" Hitchcock, formerly of Decatur, who was living in Prague. Czechoslovakia at the time of the recent political upheaval. Mr. and Mrs. E.

B. Evans. 1480 West Macon street, recently received a letter from Mr. Hitchcock written on Feb. 14 and he made no mention of the trouble within that country.

Mr. Hitchcock has recently been employed as writer on a Prague newspaper and had served with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation administration there and in Rome before its termination. Mr. Hitchcock's book, "I Built a Temple for a biography of the Czechoslovakia president, Ed-uard Benes, who has capitulated to the Communists, was well received in that country and friends said that he was gathering material for another book. The U.

S. army in Frankfurt said today that a heavily armed Czech guard has sealed the Western border of Czechoslovakia, but' that "few Americans seem to be successfully leaving Czechoslovakia." The number of Americans stranded in the Communist country is not known. Mr. Hitchcock had planned to return to' the States for a visit in April. 1 lilding Codes Rewriting of Decatur's building code i is not the important thing.

The important thing is enforce-: ment of the codes the city has right Do that and the loopholes the things wrong with the present code the things that should be changed will soon be obvious. Those were the contentions of members of the construction industry committee of the Association of Commerce at their meeting today. THE COMMITTEE consists of' architects, building union business, agents, and contractors. They had gathered to discuss Decatur's building codes, but they decided that their first concern should be enforcement. They agreed that the present enforcement-staff of the city is poorly organized and under-manned.

The inspectors construction. electrical, and plumbing should be consolidated ino one depart ment with a responsible head. They should be field men, with clerical help available to handle the routine of issuing permits. ONE BUILDER of houses testified that he had not seen Decatur's building Inspector on a job of his in nine years. The permit system should be revised, committee members thought.

Some estimated that 50 per cent of the jobs in the city never are licensed, with a consequent loss of revenue as weU) as supervision. The present system also permits a man to get a building permit without the electrical inspector ever knowing about the proposed work, which may include re-wiring of the building. Salaries should be high enough to bring competition for the inspector jobs, committee members urged. The committee decided that it should try to meet with the city council to see what could be accomplished. (City council members have, in the past, expressed similar ideas about the building inspection situation.) WITH THE BEGINNING of a new fiscal year approaching, the city council will be drawing up a new budget, and an increase in the staff will have to be taken into consideration in writing the budget.

Secretary Henry H. Bolz of the A. of C. pointed out to the committee. Committee members said they thought an inspection department like the one they have in mind should be able to support itself from license fees, if all jobs were properly licensed.

Three Persons Hurt At Oreana Crossing Dr. John E. Madden, 605 South Crea street; his secretary. Miss Margaret Safford. 25.

of 2200 East Prairie avenue, and C. A. Beadles-ton, 62, of Oreana were injured at 7 p. m. yesterday in a collision on route 48, north of Decatur.

Mr. Beadleston was taken to the Decatur and Macon County hospital lor treatment of chest and neck injuries. Dr. Madden and Miss Safford planned X-ray examinations today. Robert Cahill.

state police officer, said the Madden car was stopped at the Illinois Central crossing while a train was passing. He said the Beadleston car hit the rear of the Madden car. Niantic Woman Leaves $2,500 to Charities Three institutional bequests totaling $2,500 are provided in the will of the late Mrs. Bertha R. Hill of Niantic in disposing of an estate valued at $28,000.

Bequests of $1,000 each are made to the Children's Christian home of St Louis and the Foreign Missionary society of Niantic. A bequest of $500 is made to the Old Folks home of Jacksonville. Her husband will receive the home in Niantic and a share in $7,000 of personal property. Two sisters, Fannie and Bessie Roberts, will receive a half-interest in a half-section of land and three shares' of stock of the Niantic Farmers' Grain Co. A niece.

Evelyn Bailey Ha gen of Mount Auburn, will receive one piece of real estate. Eight others will receive small bequests. Mrs. Alice Thompson Is Sought by Brother John Eaton, 1715 West Leafland avenue, has asked Sheriff A. Ammann for assistance in locating! his sister, Mrs.

Alice Thompson, of S18 East Leafland avenue. I Mrs. Thompson left her home onj Feb. 1. stating that she was going i to Chicago for hospital treatment She said she had employment in Chicago for the period in which she would be under treatment.

She did not visit the hospital, it was said, and efforts to communicate with her have failed. ASSESSMENT CUT Through agreement yesterday in county court, a proposed $8,900 assessment for Northeast Decatur Drainage district was reduced to $5,500. E. R. Tipsword and Charles Myers, district commissioners, said repairs of drainage facilities will be started as soon as weather permits.

The district covers 480 acres including properties ir the Homeland and Hcminger Heights additions. for the new administration building at the municipal airport. No snack bar was included in the final plans. Judge to Rule On Oak Grove Validity of a petition proposing the creation of a village in the Oak Grove area along the west side of Decatur will be considered in a hearing at 10 a. m.

Tuesday by County Judge Gus T. Greanias. petition proposes an election for the 1,300 residents of the two-mile-square area to determine whether they favor incorporation of a village. In the hearing. Judge Greanias will be called upon to decide whether 30 persons who signed a petition for an election may withdraw their names from the petition.

If they are allowed to withdraw, there may not be enough names remaining to meet legal requirements. If their request for withdrawals are denied, the court then will determine whether the petition as originally filed was prepared in legal manner. Judge Greanias ordered that any further objections to the petition must be filed with County Clerk Laurence Tangney before 10 a. nx Monday. Tickets on Reserve For Musgrove Concert Tickets for the concert recital to be given Sunday at 5:15 p.

m. in the Decatur high school auditorium by Miss Arluster Mustgrove, Negro contralto singer, are on sale at Stauber's store. A spokesman for the Usher board of the Church of the Living' God, which is sponsoring the program, said today that plenty of reserved seats are available. Tickets are $1.80. Miss Musgrove, who conducts a music studio in Tulsa, will sing 16 classical and semi classical numbers and Negro spirituals in the recital.

City, Fifth Army Plan Sewer Contract Meeting City officials and Fifth army officers are scheduled to meet here Friday to discuss the city's proposal for reopening the sewer contract with the Signal depot. City Engineer J. M. Weir said today. The council a little more than a week ago authorized the engineer to enter into negotiations with the army for a new higher-rate contract covering handling of sewage from the depot In a report to the council the engineer recommended a rate of .025 cents per 1,000 gallons in place of the present .0066 cents per 1,000.

Roy Howard, Former Resident Here, Dies Roy W. Douglas Howard, 41, formerly of Decatur, died early Monday in the Cook County hospital in Chicago. Mr. Howard was borrl in Sharon. July 10.

1906 and lived in Decatur several years before going to Chicago 21 years ago. He had been employed with a Chicago post office for several years. Mr. Howard's mother. Mrs.

Ludie Henderson, died here last May 'and his wife, Ethel, died in Chicago in November, 1947. He leaves a son. Roy. Jr. of Chicago, four sisters, Mrs.

Lela Crosby. Mrs. Charlie Stubbs, Mrs. Hattic Lawrence and Mrs. Kathleen Mar shall; a half-brother, Bennie Bow ers, and an uncle, Edward Howard, all of Decatur.

The body will be brought to Moran Sons funeral home where friends may call after 9 a. m. Thursday. Funeral services will be at 3 p. m.

Thursday in the funeral home chapel with burial in Greenwood cemetery. late Joe H. Breckenridge, widely known in Decatur because of his (distribution of "pray" cards along city's streets, was filed today in county court showing a total value of $122,937.96. The figure is approximately greater than the value of the estate was estimated soon after his death last September. Most of the estate was left to hospitals and welfare institutions.

The inventory shows the estate holds purchase contracts for 89 pieces of real pstate, valued at $114,653. The remainder is in cash. United States, bonds and Postal savings certificates. Mr. Breckenridge owned no real estate.

Except for a large number of small bequests, including $10 to each of Decatur's churches, the Breckenridge estate will remain in trust for 25 years. During the period, J. Howard Helmick, trustee, is directed to use the trust estate in assisting families to buy homes in and near Decatur. After 25 years, the- remainder of the estate will be divided equally among the Salvation Army. Decatur Public library, St.

Mary's hospital. Decatur and Macon County hospital. Boys Opportunity home and Girls Welfare home. D. H.

S. Play Tickets Available at Corlett's More than 600 seats for both the Friday and Saturday night performances of the Decatur high school senior class play, "Every Family Has One." were reserved at Corlett's book store yesterday. Store employes reported this' morning that 175 seats were left for Friday night and 204 seats for Saturday night. Tickets will be on sale at the store until all seats have been reserved. The double cast of 24 seniors will hold their first dress rehearsal tonight, according to Miss Dons Crader, play director.

Another dress rehearsal is scheduled for tomorrow night. The play will begin both Friday and Saturday at 8:15 p.m. in the high school auditorium. New Assistant AtWardStore Gerald W. Ackerson has been appointed assistant to the manager of the Montgomery Ward ic Co.

store here. Announcement of the new appointment was made by Fred Wood-ard. manager of the store. Mr. Ackerson hac been an employe of the Ward organization for six years.

Most of that time he spent in the company's Chicago buying office. But for the last several months he has been training as assistant manager at the Danville store. He is married and has three children. He is living at the Hotel Orlando while he seeks a house. Herbert French Wills $35,000 to His Wife Under the will of the late Herbert W.

French of Warrensburg. his wife, Delia, will receive all of $7,000 in personal property and a life interest in all real estate, valued at $28,000. At the termination of the life interest, the estate will be divided equally among surviving legal heirs. There are two sons and two daughters, Oscar F. of Metamora, Russell L.

of Jacksonville, Myrtle Marie Brown of Pana and Ruth B. Collins of Peoria. 35 Union Members Taking Job Course Thirty-five members of the U. A. A.

F. of registered for the University of Illinois extension course in "Job Evaluation," which began at the Decatur high school last night according to union officials. The 16-week course is under the supervision of Lee Pigage of the university's Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations. Classes will meet each Tuesday from 7 to 9 p. m.

in room 122 of the high school. The course is the first of its type to be offered to union members here. GARAGE BURGLARY Theft of a carburetor, tractor scat, tires, tubes and rims having a total value of $336 from the Midway garage was reported to Sheriff A. C. Ammann.

The equipment was stolen from two large trucks. catur on radio station WSOY. The Emerson Piano house is installing equipment so that the program may be heard in the local church. In remote places where radio hookup is impossible the message will be given by electrical transcription or phonograph Fr. E.

M. Ringland, rector of St. John's church will tell of thevneed for raising the money after the bishop has told of the need as he has seen it in the war devastated countries. MRS. ANNA MARIE CLARK Mrs.

Clark, 29, Dies in Hospital Mrs. Marie Clark, 29, of 1725 East Cantrell street died at 1:30 p. m. Tuesday in Barnes hospital in St. Louis.

Mrs. Clark, wife of City Fireman William E. Clark, was taken to Barnes hospital Tuesday morn- ing, after being seriously ill in St. Mary's hospital since Saturday. She had lived in Decatur almost all her life.

She attended St I Thomas Catholic school and was graduated from St Teresa high school in 1936. She was born Dec. 7, 1918, in Macon, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William E.

Murray and was married to William E. Clark, on Oct. 5, 1939, in Decatur. She leaves her father living in Macon, her husband, a six-year-old son, William Gregson Clark, and her grandmother, Mrs. Anna Brown of Decatur.

The body will be brought to Moran Sc Sons funeral home and friends may call after 10 a. m. Thursday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Springer Skips Labor-Act Talk William L.

SDrineer. rhamnaim county judge, who is seeking the Republican nomination for Con gress in the 22d district, last night avoiaea a quiz on Jjis position re sardine the Taft-Hartlev hill At the close of his adrirpsa in Tuscola at a diner meeting of the uouglas county Republican central committee. Judge Springer was asked by O. R. Twiford, committee chairman, if he wished to open the meeting for general discussion and questions.

Judge Springer said he did not want such a discussion, it was reported. SOME of the committeemen attending the meetine belipvp that Judge Springer would have been asKea to state his stand on the labor act. if he had agreed to "opening" the meeting. Rep. Rolla C.

McMillen of Decatur, who is opposed by Judge Springer in the April 13 primary, has defended his vote in favor of the Taft-Hartley bill, but Judge Springer has offered no public statement of his position. In his Tuscola address last night, he made no reference to Representative McMillens voting reeord, but confined his talk to blasts against the Truman administration. HE CHARGED that Federal taxation and spending by the Truman administration are the causes of high costs of living and declared, "it is discouraging that Truman's plans do not include any reasonable curtailment of government spending." He said we must have "a sound effective foreign policy that -will function as well in times of stress and strain" as it will when there is "no pressure from proletarian governments outside the United States." if we are to avoid a third World war. DOOR FORCED Police found the front door of the Barrett sandwich shop, 152 South Main street, open at "12:40 a. m.

today. A cab driver said he saw a man force the door open, then run away without entering the place. MARY HART SERVICES Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Etta Hart of Cowden. who died I here yesterday, were conducted at Brintlinger's funeral home at 4 today The body will be sent tonight to Bixby, for burial.

ATTEND CREDIT MEETING Executive committee members of the Decatur Production Credit association -are attending a credit meeting today in Bloominston. They are Roy Kinser, president: L. R. Parish, director, atid Lawrence Hopkins, secretary-treasurer. Traffic Arrests Leonard Baker Rice, 702 East Grand avenue, was fined $17.20 for leaving the motor of his automobile running unattended.

PEACE CHARGE DENIED Ellis Meacham. 51, and Nell Meacham. 46, of 314 West Leaf- land avenue, pleaded innocent to charges of disturbing the peace and gave $200 bond each pending trial before Justice J. Carl Harry. Leola Brown made complaint for the warrants.

structed its architects to go ahead with the drawing of detailed plans and specifications $3J00 Radio, Even In These Times, Is Far Too Expensive It was about five minutes after closing time yesterday when an excited woman rattled the door at the Emerson Piano House. When the door was finally opened to her insistence, she asked to see her radio, which a repairman had picked up at her home yesterday morning. When she was shown it, she reached in and withdrew $3,500 three $1,000 bills and one $500 bill from its hiding place. "I forgot to take them out this morning," she said. Parks Funds Cut Studied Plans are being discussed to operate the Decatur parks on reduced funds during Jhe approaching season.

Lacy Chandler, superintendent of the park district, said the main cut in expenses would be made in maintenance costs at the different parks. A $20,000 cut in revenue in funds to operate the parks was indicated last week when taxing officials reported certain tax changes, made by legislation, would give the park district less money than had been levied. Mr. Chandler said the cut woulu be prorated among the airport operation, general park maintenance and retirement pension funds. "It means that each park will have to be maintained with fewer summer employes and a restricted program of routine work" the superintendent said.

Warren Sappington Reported Recovering The condition of Warren A. Sappington of Decatur, who was injured in an automobile accident in Pennsylvania last week, is not as serious as was first thought, according to Mrs. Mae T. Sappington, the boy's mother, who lives at 1121 West Macon street Mrs. Sappington said today that she had received an emergency call from the Somerset, Pa, Community hospital Saturday, informing her that her son was in serious condition and not expected to live following an automobile accident near Somerset He was said to have suffered a broken back and a fractured skull.

A Pennsylvania relative of the family went to the hospital immediately and has reported to Mrs. Sappington that her son has a good chance to recover from his injuries. Although complete details of the accident have not been received, Mrs. Sappington said her son, who is stationed at the Bainbridge Naval Training base in Maryland, was traveling with a group of Navy friends, when the car in which they were riding crashed into a truck. She was informed that her son was the driver of the car and that the roads were slippery.

Mr. Sappington, who has been appointed to Annapolis Naval academy by Cong. R. C. McMillcn.

will be moved to the Navy Medical center in Philadelphia as soon as possible. Millikin Entertains Decatur Bar Group Millikin university entertained about 45 members of the Decatur Bar association with lunch at the Decatur Club this noon. Brief talks were scheduled by Howard Helmick. retiring "president of the association; C. C.

Le-forgee, veteran lawyer: and Dr. J. Walter Malone, president of the university. The luncheon was planned by the university to promote understanding between the university and the community. VANDEVENTER ESTATE An estate valued at $4,500 was left by the late Mrs.

Grace E. Van-Deventer of Decatur, according to' a petition for administration filed today in court Heirs are her husband, Clarence, 1630 Cantrell street, and two daughters, Mrs. Virginia A. Cobb of Decatur and Mrs. Lois C.

Hollier of Fay-etteville, Ark. After all parties had approved the proposed layout, the Decatur Park board has in Brush College Meets Tonight OnSchoolVote The boards of Brush College, Excelsior South and Eldorado school districts will decide tonight whether to start circulation of petitions calling for a Brush College area community unit school district vote. B. B. Burgess, Brush College board member, today said the three boards will meet with county school survey committee representatives in Brush College No.

1 school to get official word on whether the committee's final report on school reorganization is going to be filed soon, or whether it will be delayed still further. THE COMMITTEE'S report does not have to be filed until June 1, but about a month ago the committee thought it would be ready by March 1. Now indications are that the "report will not go into the state until later. Mr. Burgess said today that the school leaders in the area east of Decatur had planned wait for the filing of the committee's report about March 1, but now that there may be delay, the group is petitioning for an election on a unit proposal.

THE COMMITTEE in its tentative report recommended a Brush College unit, including Excelsior South and Eldorado territory. Should the same recommendation be included in the final report, a vote on the proposal would come automatically some time within nine months from the filing date. But should that be June 1, it would be more difficult for a unit to be organized for the subsequent school year than if established earlier. All unit districts formed during the current school year begin official action July 1. 175 Rural Students Get Disease Shots An immunization program was held today in Excelsior South school for approximately 175 pupils from Excelsior South, Sangamon.

Berry and Oakley schools. The program which offers immunization for smallpox, diphtheria and whooping cough is a part of the rural school health service of the Macon County Tuberculosis and Visiting Nurse association and was arranged through cooperation of the teachers and directors of each school. A Decatur doctor and Mary Powell, Visiting Nurse association nurse were in charge of the program. A similar program was conducted last week at the Salem school and another is planned for Eldorado and nearby country schools. Frank L.

Noel, 65, Dies in Champaign Frank L. Noel. 65. Champaign insurance agent, died at 6:45 p. m.

Tuesday. He suffered a heart attack at his home and died in an ambulance en foute to the hospital. Mr. Noel was born June 7, 1882 in Mt. Pulaski, and was married to Lina Selders in Decatur on Feb.

24. 1907. He had lived in Champaign since 1933 and had been a partner in an insurance firm there with his son. Jack. He is survived by his wife, his son and four grandchildren.

He also leaves two sisters. Mrs. Mabel Hamilton of Springfield and Mrs. Roma Cussins of Niantic. Funeral services will be at 2 p.

m. Friday in the Heath Memorial home in Champaign. Woman Plans to Go Gunning for Rabbit, Loses Left Thumb Mrs. Howard Ware, rural route 6, shot the thumb of her left hand off early this morning, while attempting to shoot a rabbit in the yard of her home near the intersection of route 36 and 121. She was taken to St.

Mary's hospital. Mrs. Ware told police that when she' got a 12-gauge shotgun to shoot the rabbit, she did not notice that the gun was not on safety and it fired as she lifted it. Her husband gave the same account of the injury. nervous and occasionally brushed tears from his cheeks.

Then, after a brief conference with S. Phil Hutchison, defense attorney, Clark made his decision to plead guilty. Attorney Hutchison asked Judge Dewitt Crow to spare Clark life. THERE WAS a tense moment be. fore the court pronounced sentence.

The imposition of a death, penalty under a guilty plea to murder is rare in Central Illinois courts, but the cold-hearted murder of Lines while he was pleading with Clark not to shoot, left no mitigating circumstances, and was recognized as a crime for which a mercy plea might fail. Before going into the court room. it was said, Terry told deputies of his worry about a possible death penalty and declared his Intention to "escape electrocution at.any cost of years in prison." Like Terry, Clark displayed no emotion when he received his 199 year sentence. Both "appeared only unhappy" as they were led from the court room, one witness reported. SANGAMON COUNTY authorities said Clark and Terry probably will be taken to the state penitentiary this weekend to start serving their sentences.

Under usual parole procedure, each will have no chance for parole until 66 years of his sentence is served. That means Terry must live until he is 100 years old and Clark must reach 106 to win freedom. Clark and Terry hatched their scheme to rob the Lines tavern while they sat drinking in a Decatur tavern. They borrowed a shotgun from a bartender, explaining they planned to hunt rabbits, then bought ammunition in a nearby hardware store. After reaching Illiopolis, Terry went to the rear door of the Lines tavern, armed with a hammer.

Clark entered through the front door, flourishing the shotgun, and ordered Lines to surrender his cashw DESPITE A MASK Clark was wearing, he was recognized by Lines. Clark said he fired when Lines plunged toward the gun. Other witnesses said Lines was shot while attempting to persuade Clark to lower the gun. The gun was within a few inches of Lines' abdomen when the shot was fired. One patron hit Clark with a beer bottle, before he ran out of the tavern, after dropping the gun.

Another patron recovered th gun and two more persons received minor wounds from shots fired during the attempt to capture Clark. Clark and Terry were caught a short lime after the shooting. Mr. Lines died one hour after he was wounded. Three Receive Minor Injuries in Car Crash' Mrs.

Lucretia Hadley, 43, and her daughters. Vera Lee, 14, and Frances, 3, of the Virginia addition were treated last night in St Mary's hospital for minor injuries received at 8 p. m. in a highway accident on route 51, near the Hickory Point school north of Decatur. Their car, driven by Richard Hadley, 43, ran into a ditch after a minor collision involving three cars.

They were brought to the hospital by Lester Perrine, 1445 North Edward street, who arrived soon after the accident Top Room of Penney Co. Is For Air Conditioning Steel for a 35 by 75 foot "pent-house' has been at the new J. C. Penney store construction. This space will be used for air conditioning equipment, R.

C. M. Kraabel. local Penney manager, explained, and is not a third, floor as some persons have thought. The building, according to present construction plans, will consist of a basement, first floor and mezzanine.

The first floor has a 20-foot high ceiling. WINGATE ESTATE All but $600 of the $11,500 estate of the late Thomas Hanson Wingate of Decatur is left to three nephews under provisions of his will, 'filed today for probate ft county court. The nephews are William. Ernest H. and Albert Lindamond.

all of Decatur. The remaining $600 is bequeathed in small amounts to Cousin Leaves $6,000 To Mrs. Emma Coffman Mrs. Emma Coffman of 462 West Macon street" will receive about $6,000 from the estate of her cousin, Charles A. Wolff, retired Chicago bank cashier, who died late ip December.

The will admitted for probate in Chicago lists an estimated $60,000 estate which was left to friends and relatives. Mrs. Frances Lipp of Lincoln, widow of Mr. Wolffs cousin, was also mentioned in the will, Mrs. Coffman said.

Mr. Wolff, born and reared in Evansville, Ind. was 80 old at the time of his death. Contractors to Meet, Talk Heating Code The Decatur Heating Contractors association will meet at 7:30 p. m.

Thursday in room 126 in the St Nicholas hotel, according to Clarence E. DeNoon, spokesman for the organization. Various recommendations for a heating code will be discussed at the meeting. The association plans to develop a heating code for pres entation to the city council some time in the future. Decatur Area Jobless Payments Show Decline Unemployment compensation paid in the Decatur area was less in the three-month period ended Jan.

31 than it was the year before. For the three months ended Jan. 31, 1948. it was $189,397. For the same period ended Jan.

31, 1947, it was $469,044. The Decatur area covers Macon, Piatt, Dewitt, Moultrie, and Christian counties. R. C. Mulholland is deputy-in-charge of the Decatur division office.

Harlan L. Smith Dies; 111 Several Months Harlan L. Smith. 71. farmer of rural route 4, died in his home at 2:40 p.

m. yesterday after an illness of several months. Mr. Smith was born in Rlup' Mound Oct: 1, 1876. the son of Robert H.

and Isabella Wil Smith. He married Gertrude Purdue in South Wheatland townshin Oct. 27. 1897. Mr.

Smith was a member nf ihp Bethlehem Presbyterian church. He lived his entire life in Macon county, working several years for tne Decatur Paper Co. He leaves his wife, two child ren, Mrs. Bessie Rhoderick of Har-ristown and Arthur Wayne Smith of Wichita, and two grand daughters. The body is in the Dawson Wikoff funeral home.

Arrangements are incomplete. 4-H Tractor Meeting Scheduled for Tonight The second in. a series of 4-H club tractor meetings will be held at 7:30 p. m. tonight at the Ten-ney Oliver Implement Co.

Kenneth Travis of Decatur and (Bill Loveless of Warrensburg will be instructors. RURAL YOUTH BANQUET Persons wishing to attend the annual Rural Youth banquet March 6 in the Warrensburg high school auditorium must get their tickets not later than tomorrow, according to Kent Alverson. assistant farm adviser. "They can be purchased from Rural Youth members or by calling the Farm HELD BY POLICE Jimmie Lee Perkins, 21, of 1562 East Sangamon street, was held today by police, charged with the theft of metal worth $100 from the Wagner Malleable Iron Products Co. on Feb.

18. Complaint for the warrant was made by G. E. Patrick. 965 East Moore street.

THREATS CHARGE Otto Lindley, 48, of rural route 8 was charged with threats in a warrant issued on complaint by Ethel Lindley. Million Dollars in a Day Decatur Church Taking Part in Fund Drive Members of St John's Episcopal church will hear the voice of Rt Rev. Henry Knox Sherrill, the presiding bishop, at 11:30 a. m. Sunday.

The bishop's address to be made from New York will be heard by radio in all Episcopal churches in the United States as he launches a program to raise one million dollars in one day for needy in Europe and Asia. Major radio networks and independent stations throughout the United States will carry the pro gram and it will be heard in De.