The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas • Page 1

BLYTHEVILLE COURIER NEWS THE DOMINANT NEWSPAPER OP NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AND SOUTHEAST MISSOURI VOL. 229 Blythevillf. Courier Blytheville Daily News Mississippi Valley Leader Blytheville Herald BLYTHKVILLE, ARKANSAS, FRIDAY, DECEMBER IS, 1053 SIXTEEN PAGES SINGLE COPIES FIVE CENTS Hall Planned More Killings Clergyman He Had Five Others Marked for Death EDITOR'S NOTE: The following: account of the execution of Carl Austin Hull and Bonnie Brown Heady was written at the invitation of Kansas City Star hy one of the eijlM clergymen who saw, talhcd to and gave spiritual counsel to the two in preparation for tlicir execution early today. The author insists on remaining' anonymous and lias written this in an effort to point out Christian values involved. It was made available to the Associated Press hy the Star.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) Carl Hall died a tremendous witness for Christ. And it saved the lives of five others. This he declared, for the world equally repentant? to know, just he and Bonnie Brown Heady were executed at 12:12 this morning for the kidnap- murder of little Bobby Greenlease. "I can see good in this, father," he said to one who was ministering to him.

only killed Bobby. If I had had just 12 hours more, I would have killed five more. God saved me from that." Did he mean five more from among those identified with the case? "Oh, no," said Hall, "I mean five that I've hated all my life. I'd have gotten them, too, with all that money, it would have been easy. See what I mean? I killed only one, and was caught.

It might have been more." He paused, and then said with emphasis: "That's the working of Christ. It had to be. 1 had murder in my heart. God knew, and saved those five others." He lit a cigarette. Whiskey Blamed "I'm glad," he added, "and you can do something for me, father.

Tell the world. Tell them that only God is important. I know now. And tell them that if it weren't for whisky, these penitentiaries would be closed. "Tell the world, father.

Christ could do this for me, a mean, drunken, miserable so-and- so, Christ could do it for anybody. I know. "Father, I'm an intelligent man." he said. "This isn't a conversion because I'm afraid of death. I've never been afraid of death.

All my life I've been wondering, thinking. And if it made sense to intelligent men all over the world, there must be something to it." Relaxed, poised, he repeated his wish to have the world told about it. "Why," he demanded, "do we have to wait so long? Why do we have to be so stupid? "Since I've been in jail, I know it was the will of Christ that I couldn't, kill those other He stopped me after killing Bobby. Ready for God "And now I'm ready for God, my judge, and I'm glad." But what about Bonnie? Was she Railway Wage Dispute Settled With Pay "Sure," said Hall. "She'll tell you.

She loves me and I love her. I know her better than anyone else. "Bonnie was drunk for a year I was drunk daily for months. After a while anything seems all right. I'm the guilty one.

She couldn't say no to me. The only sin she's guilty of was loving me." That was 9 p. m. (last night). Three hours to go.

Hall asked the time and laughed. "I haven't got long: to live father," he said. "Not here, anyway. And I'm looking forward to meeting my judge." In a. little move than three hours, coated and news at the prison's door, "That's all there is, ain't it?" said one man.

"That's all," said the last guard. Thirty-two men who had witnessed the double execution filed out into the night air. God," said Lawyer Marshall See GKEENLEASE on Page 7 ARMY'S FIRST PILOT Brig, Gen Frank P. Lahm (right) of Mansfield, Ohio, the nation's oldest living aviation pioneer, checks over the pusher type plane at yesterday's celebration of the anniversary of the first flight by the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, N. C.

Sitting at the controls of the plane is Billy Parker of Bartlesville, Okla. Wircphoto) French Deadlocked In Presidential Vote VERSAILLES, France (AP) France's badly divided Parliament failed again today to elect a President of the Republic in an unprecedented third round of voting. None of the three candidates left in the contest got anywhere enough votes for election. Premier Josepn Lanicl, wealthy foreign minister's staunch ad- industrialist, wound up with 358, Socialist candidate Marcel-Edmond 313, and Radical Socialist Yvon. Delbos 225.

Foreign Minister Georges Bidnult withdrew just before the third round of voting began. A fourth ballot is required to try to break the deadlock. Though the presidency is largely a ceremonial post with almost no power, the candidates' views and beliefs were play ins a big parl in the corridor politicking. The Communists after the vocacy of the European army plan also ruled out Socialist support for him, but pained him strength in quarters which want to see Western defense strengthened by German troops and the advancement of European unity. Delbos favors the European army but his candidacy produced little excitement either for or against him in the early stages.

Lame! was the favorite of the rightist members. They hoped that if either Bidault or Delbos pulled out or lost votes, the Premier might gain strength and start a ballot threw their support to landslide. Nacgelcn because he and the There still was talk that a deadlock might bring out a compromise choice. Former Premier Henri Queuille, a Radical Socialist, and the retiring President, Vincent Auriol, tioned. Socialists, like l.he Reds, oppose the European army.

Some observers thought the Red switch might be the kiss of deain. Because Bidauit's parly is as close to a church faction as any in France, he was opposed by various groups, particularly the Radical Socialists. The many times One Last Cigaref A Kiss-Then By LARRY HALL JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) Lips reddened by a final kiss but silent on the missing (ransom) mystery, Carl Austin Hall and Bonnie Brown Heady died together in the gas chamber early Friday for the kidnap slaying of 6-year- old Bobby. Greenlease.

The notorious pair refused a final official request for a statement which might have shed light on what happened to half the record $600,000 collected from the millionaire father of the child th'ey stole and murdered last Sept. Instead they spent their last minutes in a brief conversation and farewell embrace, shared a final cigarette, bid their Missouri prison guards goodbye and died side by side amid swirling clouds of deadly cyanide gas. Mrs. Heady, 41, plump and dark- haired, mustered a parting jest at the leather straps that bound her to the death chair. Her 34-year-old wastrel lover had words for none but her after both had prayed with two ministers who attended the midnight execution.

Hall Died First Hall died first, gulping in the poison fumes as if eager to end a wasted life. His death was recorded at a. m. (CST.) Mrs. Heady seemed reluctant.

She appeared to hold her breath. I Although she was unconscious I after the first sniff, her lungs cents cm hour WF.S added to tne for two minu tes and 10 present wage rates. It also provides I seconds aftcr Hall's body had slumped motionless. CHICAGO wage dispute between the nation's railroads and a rail union was settled yesterday with an agreement providing for a pay raise for some 200,000 workers. Und'r the agreement between the carriers and the Brotherhood of i Railroad Trainmen, an additional 5 after thr.t another 13-cents added in the last two years under a cost of living erector clause came part of the baric Thus, the escalator provision which was put in effect in April.

1C51, was ended. An additional week's vacation for all union members with 15 or more r.f service also was provided, bringing their paid vacations to weeks. The cost of the wage boost was not immediately estimated by the carriers or the union. The unioi said about 200,000 members are affected by the new wage rates which become effective on Dec 16. Neutral Korean.

Officer Says PWs May Get Extra Chance to Decide By FORREST EDWARDS and STAN CARTER PANMUNJOM (AP) The top neutral officer in Korea indicated today that reluctant war prisoners including the 22 Americans may get one last chance to change their mind after the explanation period ends. Meanwhile hopes dwindled that Allied persuasions teams will meet the Americans before the deadline next Wednesday midnight. The Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission put off until Monday consideration of demands by pro- Communist South Korean prisoners which the Americans and one British prisoner say must be met before they will attend interviews. Lt. Gen.

K. S. Thimayya, Indian chairman of the repatriation commission, said in answer to written questions from newsmen that he might "laiie up at later date" the possibility oi" nil prisoners who rot sed to return to their homelands. Although Thimayya said he had "no plan, either concrete or tentative," there has. speculation he PO'w any coercion.

He said sis weeks ago he planned on it. One Word At that time he suggested he would station an Indian officer in a hut. have all POWs remaining in neulrr.l custody file through individually, and express their desire in one or "nonrepair iaiion." Other Indian officers offered another simple plan: have the prisoners single file, a considerable distance from each other, down a narrow Y-shaped oath. One arm would lead to repatriation, the oth- back to the Indian-guarded com- were those most men- Auriol has said often and convincingly he to retire. Friends thought he might reconsider if needed to end a hopeless stalemate.

Ri told the guards: "It's not going anywhere." Then she called out to Hall: "Arc you doing all right, honey?" "Yes, mama," Hall replied. 300 Tour Four Osceola Homes Garden Club Holds Christmas Event (See Pictures 16) OSCEOLA Approximately 300 persons toured four Osceola Garden Club member's homes here last night when the club staged its annual Christinas holiday tour. Homes and their motifs seen! Cotton Accounts For Two-Thirds Total Crop LITTLE ROCK OP) First of This Type In N.E. Arkansas To Be at Osceola Northeast Arkansas' first rheumatic fever clinics will be conducted in Orceola next year, beginning Feb. 18, it WEIS announced today by the State Welfare Department.

Five clinics will be conducted in Orceola next sprinpr and summer for children suffering from this disease. Dr. Frances E. Brennccke, medical director for the Crippled Children's Divison, said the Osceola clinics will include children from Missisippi, Crittenden, Poinsett, Cross and Crnighead Counties. Other clinics will be held March April 15, May 13 and June 24.

Dr. Brennecke said there was a high incidence of rheumatic fever Northeast Arkansas. Mrs Harry Miller. public health nurse Osceola, will direct Arkansas lt clinics there. She was asked farmers generally produced more last Friday by the State agency to in 1953, but the monetary value conducl Northeast Arkansas' first the ajricullural commodities was clinics of his type.

Previously, the only rheumatic Dies Fighting Flames KANSAS CITY Fire developed in a Christmas tree on the fourth floor of the veterans of Foreign Wars building today and a building maintenance man died fighting the flames. The victim was Walker S. Thomas, about 35. He died of burns and. suffocation.

Inside Today's Courier News Chickasaws Seek Sixth Victory Tonljht Aealnst VVhite- Jiaven, Haley Field Gym Paddy Young 7-5 Favorite over Billy Graham Sports page 12 and 13 Courier News Picture Tour of Osceola Garden Club Homes Ifi Farm Newn paw 11 Opened hy Ike's Plan Beckons Men of Good Will Editorials pjgf. Red Purge Be Huge Spectacle 5 Dr. G. Donald Shull, a prison physician, commented that her breathing lasted longer than any person he had ever seen die in the gas chamber. No other woman has ever been so executed in this state.

The killers' final conversation- it lasted about ten in a detention cell near the gas chamber. The pair were not! visible to Ihe official witnesses as they sat side by side on a cot in this cell. As he stepped out of this cell to clamber into the death chamber, Hall's lips were reddened as if with lipstick. U. S.

Marshall William B. Tatman after the execution, confirmed the two had given each other a final embrace and kiss. Final Puff "You wouldn't want to deprive them of that," the marshal said. Hall was puffing on a cigarette just before they were blindfolded. He passed it to Mrs.

Heady who took a final puff. Tatman stepped into the gas chamber with the two. After guards had blindfolded them and strapped them to the chairs, the marshal asked: "Have you anything t6 tell me?" Witnesses sensed in this question a last effort to find out if either knew what had happened to more than $300,000 of the ransom money they collected in Kansas City on Oct. 4 and which was missing when they were captured in St. Louis on Oct.

fi. shook thoir heads in the negative and Mrs. Heady said aloud: "No." As the death chair strap was being lightened about her chest, Mrs. Heady, with a little Accent;" Mr. and Mrs, A.

J. Florida, "A Plantation Christmas:" Mr. and Mrs. D. S.

Laney, "Christmas Getting and Mother-in-Law Apartment;" Mr. and Mrs. Harold Ohlcndorf, "Traditional Christias." Among those making the tour were Sen. and Mrs. John L.

McClellan. Those making the tour gathered in the Progressive Club rooms for refreshments and entertainment provided by Junior Garden Club members who sang Christmas songs. Mrs. H. J.

Levenstein. Mrs. Charley Hale, Mrs. Louis George, es Mrs. Harry Matlock and Mrs.

Applebaum presided at the refresh- speaxers ment tables. Mrs. Jess Cramer is compounds. Junior Garden Club sponsor. Proceeds from the tour will go toward helping the club beautify tlie grounds at Osceola's ial Hospital and for a plot on the elementary school grounds.

Mrs. Bruce Ivy was general chairman of the event. pound in the neutral zone. A South Korean prisoner who fled from the pro-Communist com- pound Wednesday said four cans and nbout 20 South Koreans might reiurn home if a chance. A tolal of 77 Koreans remain to be interviewed by the Allies.

Thimayya has estimated that as many as 2,500 Koreans and Chinese among about 20,000 Allied caplives who have not been interviewed would choose repatriation. With time running out on the stalemated explanations, the Allied command laid plans to reach the former U.N. soldiers in ways other than fnce-to-face meetings. Holiday Message U.S. officers said possibilities included loudspeaker broadcasts Christmas carols, holiday mes- fricnds and relatives "come home" appeals from down 3 per cent from last year.

Agricultural Statistician Miles conducted McPeek said today the value of Arkansas crops, with the cx- coption of strawberries, wns compared to the 1952 total value of McPeek said production generally was up 6 per crnt, but lower prices pulled down the overall value Cotton with a value of accounted for about two-thirds of the total. The 1932 crop totaled $275,335,000. Cotton production for 19. i3 was estimated at. 1.550,000 Farm, Atomic Issues Studied Ike, GOP Leaders Review Problems By JACK BELL WASHINGTON (AP) President Eisenhower plunged into two of the most controversial topics in his legislative program atomic development and farm price supports in his second round of conferences today with Republican congressional leaders.

In advance of the White House might be heavy. meeting. Sen. Hickenlooper (R- But whatever the drain, Rep. Iowa) said in an interview he sees no reason to change his consistent opposition to "giving away oui atomic secrets to any foreign countries." Eisenhower has said he will ask Congress to relax some of the present statutory provisions against transmitting atomic information to America's allies, although he said this would not include any of the technical secrets involved in mating: atomic weapons.

The President said last night his first day's conference with GOP congressional leaders and committee chairmen had reaffirmed his confidence that "the Republican party will continue to present successful, soune and productive program that will serve the wel fare of 160 million Americans." Cuts to Continue The President said the conferees agreed there zould be "a conlinu- a tion of the substantial progress this administration already has made" in cutting the federal budget. He added: "In fiscal 1955 (beginning nexl July 1) we will continue this progress by further reduction of expenditures and further reduction oi new spending authority." The first day's look by the Pres- advisers and the legislative leaders, he said, covered the proposed new defense program, foreign aid operations, absentee voting for overseas armed services personnel, housing, proposed labor lavv amendments, unemployment insurance benefits antl the government's budget. The over-all forecast of federal spending for the new fiscal year apparently was awaiting decisions not only on the whopping 1 defense budg-et but which may be Accessary for the farm program Eisenhower was expected to discuss today. If this program involves continuation of present crop price sup- fever clinics held in Arkansas were ports, as most lawmakers believed Little Rock. I if, would, the drain on the rcaesury Is i of C.

President speakers set up outside prison bales, compared to the 1952 crop of 1,366,000. Rice Increased Rice was another of Arkansas' money-making crops to show an increase, this year, compared to $54,824,000 in 1952. The state's rice farmers produced an estimated 11,763,030, ICO pound bags of, rice this year against 9,420,000 in 1952. Other crops with 1953 and 1J35J value and production respectively: Hay, $22,275,000, 810,000 tons, 775,000 tons. Corn $17,774,000, 849.0CO bushels, 13,935,000 bushels.

Soybeans, $17,556,000, 7,315,000, 13,856,000. Oats, $6,145,000, 7.315,000 bushels, $3,993,000 Commercial vegetables $6,482,000, No production figures. Peaches, $3,193,000, 336.QOOO bushels, 1,539,000. Cash receipts actual markct- W. J.

Pollard, secretary of Blytheville Federal Savings and Loan As- yesterday was elected 195-1 Chambi-r of Commerce pi csi- dcnt. Mr. Pollard succeeds Ray Hail. Other officers named yesterday at a meeting of the 1954 board of directors include R. A.

Porter, first vice president: R. M. tEobj Logan, second vice president; and J. W. Adams, treasurer.

Committee appointments are to be made soon and the board is due to begin working on a program for 1954. This program largely will be the result- of a polling of the membership in which each member asked his opinion on order of business for the new year. All who have not returned thfse ballots have been asked by Chamber officers to do so' immediately. Douglas to Run Again The Communists did this recently Indian anti- North Korean and Chinese POWs. A U.N.

spokesman said "oiher Cash receipts possibilities" are under corridors in ss touted about Eald Veste.day he will he a candi- tion, but cannot be revealed "for I down 12 ner cent from last year's i date for re-election to a second Sec POWs on Page 7 I six-year in 1954. CHICAGO S. Sen- Paul A. Douglas, 61, Chicago Democrat, wU1 $215 Is Added To Chest Drive Taber House (R-NY), chairman of the Appropriations Committee, See IKE on Page 7 Army Unveils Fabulous Guided Missile By ELTON C. F.AV AP Military Affairs Reporter WASHINGTON (AP) The Army took sonic of the secrecy wraps off its uncanny, guided missile last night and said the first battery of an eventual national system of such anti-aircraft weapons is being emplaced.

On the basis of official disclosures, an Army motion picture and other information available, it may he said the guided missile, named Nike, can: 1. Streak at an enemy bomber nt a speed of probably 1,500 miles an hour. 2. Locate and track the plane, despite evasive action, and dps- try it in flamtntr wreckage even though the missile contacts only an outer par( of a wintr. 3.

"Knock down a jet-powered aircraft of any known capacity" in speed or maneuverability. The first N'ike unit is being set up at Ft. Mcade. headquarters of the 2nd Arrny. From there missiles can provide protection for an area embracing the nation's capital, Baltimore's big industries and port facilities and a.

number of military Installations in the Chesapeake bay and Potomac River region. The Army calls the NiKe "(he first guided missile system to defend American cities against aerial attack." Taken literally, that appeared to be correct. It is the first missile antiaircraft system for protection of U. cities. But the Force and Navy have under test or on hand for operational use at least ciRht other guided missiles for various purposes.

Here are some of the misseles in use, in test or in development: By the Air Force: the Matador, an intermediate range bombardment missile of Rround-to-ground type, a tactical unit of which has been set up; the Bon-mark, an experimental ground-to-air antiaircraft, missile; the Falcon, launched from a plane against another plane: the snark, another 8round-to-srounri rieMRn, probably with Longer range than the Matador; the Rascal, to be launched from a bombnr flying outside and above the range of enemy Interceptors antl designed to "home In" on a target city. By the Navy: the Rciiiiliis, 'or launching from submarines, usr- face ships nr shore bases afsalnst enemy shipping, shore targets In an invasion operation or coastal manufacturing centers and harbors; the Terrier and Sparrow, two antiaircraft missiles. There is also a wide variety of research "vehicles" for aerodynamics, high-altitude conditions, cosmic radiation and other scien- tiiic problems. The Army revealed that the blueprints for the Nike were drawn eight years ago but not until two years HBO did a reliable guidance system evolve for the rocket. The Nike is about 20 feet lonfr, a loot thick over most of Its length, giving the appearance of a huge pencil wiih fins fore and aft to si per it in flisht.

It is placed on a launching rail which is horizontal. The rail then Is elevated to a vertical position and the missile sent away by an initlsl booster charge. The rocket booster clear when the mis- Sec AKAIV on I'agc 7 The Blytheville Community Chest 5274,138,000. has obtained 84 per cent of its goal with the addition of 5215 collected by volunteer workers from seven contributors yesterday. Only 1,994 persons have contributed.

This is only 51 per cent of the 3,870 prospects contacted. The Uital collected to date is $21,774 as compared with the goal of $25,867. Corn Tops 1953 Crops In Nation Cotton, Second, Valued at Just- Over $3 Billion By EDWIN B. HAAKINSON WASHINGTON (AP) A corn crop valued at more than 4 1-2 billion dollars topped a list of this year's near-record crops reported late yesterday by the Agriculture Department. Cotton ranked second In value with a crop listed as worth just over three billion dollars.

Well over the two billion dollar mark were wheat and hay. Tobacco and commercial vegetables were valued at more than one billion dollars each. The crop values were obtained by multiplying: the estimated 1953 production by the estimated average prices received by farmers during the, year. The actual cash income to farmers was well below this "value of production" for such crops as corn and other grains fed or to be fed to livestock on the farms. The federal crop reporting board reported that this year's harvest, despite widespread drought, just about equalled that of 1952.

which was the second largest in history, The bumper yields were attributed to record and above average harvests per acre. The crop Board said farmers received an average of SI.45 a bushel for corn this year compared with $1.52 last year. It said this year's corn was valued at S4.605,- 423,000 compared with $4,988,554,000 in 1952. Lint cotton this year averaged 32.5 cents a pound compared with 34.59 last year and this year's crop was 'valued at $2,673,667,000 as gainst $2,617.644,000 last year. this year averaged 80 a ton and was worth 693,000 compared with $69.60 and $430,959,000 last year.

This year's wheat crop averaged 52.01 a bushel and was estimated be worth 62,348,852,000 compared with $2.09 a bushel and $2,714,404,000 last year. The 1953 hay crop was estimated a $2,318,367,000 based on an average of $22 a ton. Last year's ivas placed at $2,581,992,000 at 124.70 a ton. The 195" tobacco crop was estimated at $1,064,534,000 based on in average price of 52 cents a Last year's estimate was 1,124,473,000 at 49.9 cents a pound. The commercial vegetable mate was based on value of 28 rops for the fresh market at 752,445,000 and 11 crops canned processed at $274,347,000.

Sim- nates were $848,07,000 and Navy Bomber Said Missing LONDON OP) U. S. Air Force headquarters reported today that an American Navy bomber wilh nine men aboard ii missing off Iceland. The headquarters said the plane, a twin-engine Neptune P2V. was a trainlnp; fllRht, out of Kefla- vik Airfield, Iceland.

Heavy rain and snow brousht visibilty down. to zero In some places and heavy seas hampered the searchers. The Air Force said all nine men aboard were Navy tilers. The crop board did not total the value of its but a showed 153 crops worth less than 20 billion dollars and 152 crops well above that total. Weail uer ARKANSAS Partly cloudy anil continued cold this afternoon and tonight; a little warmer west and north Saturday; lowest ture 18-26 east; 26-32 west tonight; MISSOURI Increasing cloudiness this afternoon becoming partly cloudy tonight and mostly cloudy Saturday; occasional light rain or drizzle likely extreme south tonight or early Saturday.

Mnxlmuni Mlnlmvim Sunrise Sunset Precipitation lust 24 hours ta 7:00 a. m. Mean temperature hlqli and Precipitation to This Dale Last Year Maximum Minimum Precipitation January 1 to 42.18..