Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 1

nuiD-uvKir Business omci IondT-SaturdiT :30 a. m. to 5 p. m. DECATCB STOKE BOUES Monday 12 noon to 8:30 o.

m. Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 m. to p. m. BANK HOCKS Monday-Friday 9:30 a.

m. to 1:30 p. a. Saturday 830 a. m.

to noon. Index to Today's Herald Editorials Page 8 Sports Pg. 13-14 Society Page 10 Comics Page IS Household Page 11 Radio Page 4 Vol. 70 No. 258 DECATUR, ILLINOIS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1949.

20 PAGES 5 CENTS DECATUR RAID da AMONG PLANE CRASH VICTIMS Secretary Congratulates Sherman All Dead Aboard Airliner; Fighter Pilot Survives (Pictures of Plane Crash on Back Page) Washington, Nov. 1 (AP) While an airnort radio man fran love Swindler Engel Found Guilty by Jury Chicago, Nov. 1 (AP) Sigmund (Sam) Engel, international love swindler who says he made a million dollars profit from Steel Pact Lifts Hope for Break In Coal Strike Pittsburgh, Nov. 1 (AP) Chances of a quick break in the coal strike developed tonight as peace hopes skyrocketed in steel. Beaming Philip Murray told the Tuesday after announcement that President Truman is appointing Sherman as the new chief of naval operations.

Sher man will succeed Adm. Louis E. Denfeld, ousted as an aftermath of the defense policy row. (AP WIREPHOTO) Truman Picks Sherman As Denfeld Successor REP. GEORGE J.

BATES HELEN HOKINSON These four prominent persons were among the 55 killed Tuesday when a giant Eastern Airlines plane crashed into the bank of the Potomac river near Washington after it was struck 300 feet in the air by a Bolivian fighter plane. They are. Rep. George J. Bates (R-Mass), serving his seventh term in Windy, Colder DECATUR AND VICINITY Cloudy, windy and colder Wednes day.

Thursday fair and cold. High Wednesday 52, low Wednesday night 28, high Thursday 50. North west to north winds 20 to 25 miles per hour, diminishing Wednesday night. LOCAL WEATHER Toes.Mon. Tues.Mon.

7 a. m. 30 30 Precip. Noon 51 35 Wed.Thurs. tically tried to keep them apart, a giant passenger plane and a fighter rammed together today killing 55 persons in the worst airplane disaster in history.

There was only one survivor, ana he was badly injured. He is Erick Rios Bridoux, 28, director of the Bolivian air force and pUot of the fighter plane. All 51 tiasseneers and four crew members of the Eastern Air Lines DC4 bound from Boston to New rirlpans are uresumed to have perished in the crash, although only about hall the bocues nave been recovered. a rnn pressman, a former con gressman, a well known cartoonist and other notables were on tne plane. The crash occurred about 300 feet in the air as the fighter and the airliner tried to land at Washing ton busy national airport at me same time.

GLEN. D. TIGNER, traffic con troller at the airport, said the radio man made urgent attempts to get the Bolivian plane to turn aside. But this failed. Then an effort was made to get the big airliner to swerve.

This came too late. The two aircraft hit, and the big plane plunged into the bank of the Potomac river spewing bodies into the water as well as on to the land. The fighter plane hit the water. Tonight rescue workers were busy dredging the Potomac, trying to find the missing. Thirty-nine bodies had been re covered seven hours after the crash.

Bridoux was in a hospital, too weak to give a coherent account of the crash. He said at one point that his radio had been working but that the power had failed. Among those aboard the airliner were: REP. GEORGE J. BATES (R- Mass), 58, serving his seventh term as a member of Congress.

Helen Hokinson, whose cartoons of plump club women have delight ed readers of "The New Yorker" magazine. Gardner W. Taylor, 60, president of the -First Savings Loan Association of New York. Michael J. Kennedy, 52, former Tammany hall leader and a mem ber of Congress for two terms.

The worst previous crash of a domestic airliner on a regular flight came on May 30, 1947. Fifty-three died then, near Port Deposit, Md. that, too, was an Eastern airliner. The Civilian Aeronautics admin istration (C.A.A.) gave this account of the crash. Bridoux was making a test flight in a P-38, a twin-engined fighter plane recently' purchased from the U.

S. As he headed back for the field. he was told by airport tower offi cials that he would be second to come down after the airliner had landed. BRIDOUX WAS INSTRUCTED to circle the fild again, and then follow the airliner in. But, said the C.A.A., Bridoux did not acknowledge the call, which was repeated.

Still he came on. The frantic tower officials told him to pull up, but he either failed to hear or to understand the order. His plane and the airliner hurtled down at a spot where the Potomac almost touches the highway between Washington and Mount Ver non, George Washington's old home. Less than a half mile away Was the objective of both planes the National airport The big plane, with its crew of four aboard, had left Boston this morning, and had stopped in New York on its way to Washington. Still ahead were scheduled stops at Richmond, Raleigh-Durham, N.

Charlotte, N. Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. It was due here shortly before noon. THE IMPACT of the crash was so great that bodies were hurled more than 150 feet Pieces of clothing hung from trees and bushes. A brief case had been broken open, and its contents were floating on the river.

On the river, too, floated the body of a baby. And it was from the river that Torn to Pace 2 "Plane Crash" romance, was convicted today of fleecing a Chicago widow of $8,700. The 74-year-old Romeo, who bragged he'd never have to spend another day in jail, faces a possible prison term of one to 10 years. A CRIMINAL court jury of six men and six women deliberated only an hour 'and 15 minutes before finding him guilty of operating a confidence game. Engel, who police say has courted and fleeced widows for more than 50 years, was visibly shaken by the verdict.

He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes, which appeared red and tired. Mrs. Reseda Corrigan, 39, who signed the complaint against Engel, jumped to her feet after the ver dict and said: "I'm grateful lo everybody." Then she slumped to the floor in a faint. A motion for a new trial was set for hearing Nov. 9.

Engel' new bond was set at $15,000. ALLAN R. BLOCH, defense at torney, said, "this conviction will never stand up in the Supreme courts" His remark indicated he in tended to appeal if a motion for a new trial is denied. He contended there was much prejudicial evi dence in the record. Mrs.

Corrigan testified that Engel, posing as a Hollywood movie producer, disappeared with her $8,700 after promising her mar riage and a singing career in movies. Four other women, called as wit nesses bythe prosecution, testified Engel took them for varying amounts of cash or jewels after marrying -them under assumed names. When Engel was arrested. Police Capt. Daniel said the Lothario had fleeced at least 58 wo men of more than one million dol lars during the last 50 years.

He operated in. Canada, England, France and Belgium as well as the United States. ODDLY ENOUGH, Engel's strat egy for beating the case against him may have proved to be his downfall. Following his arrest, he returned $5,000 to Mrs. Corrigan front of witnesses and claimed this was the exact amount he had taken.

She charged it was $8,700. One juror, Bruno Saunorus, 3d, said he voted for acquittal on the first ballot. The ether 11 jurors were for conviction. He changed his mind on the second ballot. i "When my attention was called to the judge's instruction to dis regard the amount of money in volved I changed my opinion," he told a reporter.

"The strongest part of the state's case, it seemed to me, was the fact that Engel returned $5,000. If there had been no money taken there would have been no money returned." Bail of Million Asked for Reds New York, Nov. 1 (AP) The government asked a flat million dollars security today to let the 11 convicted American Com munist leaders out of jail pending appeal of their convictions. Some of them be relied upon" to remain available to au thorities "if their convictions are confirmed when reviewed by the U. S.

Supreme court, a federal at torney said as the bail question was discussed in the U. S. circuit court of appeals. The court reserved decision on the question of bail for the Communist leaders. But the court did up hold the jail sentences imposed on six defense attorneys for contempt during the triaL The sentences ranged from 30 days to six months.

The government argued that' the 11 Communists should be kept in jail until their conviction has been reviewed by the U. court They were convicted under the Smith act which makes it unlawful to advocate the violent overthrow of the U. S. government. Judge Medina sentenced 10 of the men to five years in prison and fines of $10,000 each the maximum under the law.

Thompson got three years because of an heroic war record in the Pacific. entire steel industry to come on and join trail blazing Bethlehem Steel Co. in settlement of the na tionwide steel strike. Then John L. Lewis jumped into the picture by calling a war council of his United Mine Workers to consider coal strike developments.

Lewis summoned his policy com mittee to meet next Monday in Chicago to consider all aspects of the 43-day mine shutdown. Rumors have had an early settlement possible with Illinois coal producers. From Washington came hints of federal mediation Chief Cyrus S. Ching that he hopes to use the Bethlehem Steel settlement to force peace in both coal and steel. CHING THREW FUEL on the blaze of optimism over the strikes by predicting other steel company settlements soon." Favorable company reaction to the Bethlehem plan spurred hopes both coal and steel walkouts soon will crumble and loosen the strangehold on America's economy.

Several firms including the giant U. S. Steel Jones Laughlin and Youngstown Sheet Tube, stood ready to resume negotiations with the union immediately. Ching also hinted he may call coal operators and Lewis' mine workers to Washington later this week for talks aimed at ending the walkout of 380,000 soft coal diggers. Lewis war council call came after resumption of coal negotiations with Southern operators amid hopes the steel developments will spur progress.

SOME SOURCES thought more steel settlements might speed government intervention in the mine walkout. Negotiations for a new coal contract have been under way -for six months without any hint of a break. Several prominent Illinois operators have been reported impatient for a settlement. That's what makes the Chicago site of the policy meet significant. A settlement with the Illinois operators would create a coal situa tion just as developed in steel when Bethlehem, second largest producer, made peace with the steelworkers.

Lewis' announcement did not in dicate such a development is in prospect. Actually his language was nearer to a hint toward tightening of strike lines. Said the typical cryptic Lewis message to TJ. M. W.

district presidents: "THE POLICY committee will exercise its discretionary powers in the authorization of further procedures." There were a few more words but interest -centered on this state ment Lewis has hinted that 100.000 of his diggers still in the pits might join the strike in his fight for more pay and more welfare benefits yet unspecified. The agreement between Murray's I. O. United Steelworkers and Bethlehem, the second largest steel company, called for free pensions from $65 to $100, including social security at a cost of about nine cents an hour per man. It also provided workers and company each pay two and one-half cents toward a social insurance program.

THE TOTAL COST of about 14 cents an hour is four cents above the free pension and insurance -nAacck -naplrafTck Tppommended bv the presidential fact finding board. Murray made no lormat answer to a bid from industry Reader TInitpd States SteeL largest pro ducer, for new contract talks. But he told a cheering, 'hrong of C. I. O.

onnvpntinn delegates in Cleveland: "I use this platform to invite the re calcitrant steel companies to come along now and negotiate a Bethlehem agreement with us. It now is the duty, of the balance of the industry to settle. Jones Laughlin, the nation's fourth largest steel producer, said It would meet with the union to arrange new negotiations. SOME 80,000 strike-idled Bethlehem workers began a gradual return to work. It will take a week or more to resume full production by placing banked open hearth furnaces back in operatio; and supplying finishing mills with raw steel.

Coal supplies of tjje company are a secret but industry sources think Tnre to Psge "SteeL Coal" p. m. t3 oo Dun Highest 56 44 Rises 6:28 Lowest 25 30 Sets 4:57 4:56 MICHAEL KENNEDY GARDNER W. TAYLOR Congress; Michael J. Kennedy, former Tammany hall leader and tormer member of Congress; Helen Hokinson, cartoonist for New Yorker" magazine, and Cardner W.

Taylor, president of the First Savings Loan Association N. Y. (AP WD2EPHOTOS) Congressman, N.Y. Executives, Die in Crash New York, Nov. 1 (AP) "A woman cartoonist, a congress man, two leading New York finan cial executives and a former head Tammany hall were among the 55 passengers killed in an air col lision at Washington today.

Helen Hokinson, noted for her cartoons in New Yorker magazine and elsewhere depicting bosomy suburban matrons, was going to Washington to attend a Community Chest luncheon. Rep. George J. Bates (R-Mass) 58, also believed a passenger, was serving his seventh term in Con gress after 12 years as mayor. of Salem, Mass.

He had been men tioned as a possible candidate for governor. THE EXECUTIVES were Gard ner W. Taylor, 60, president of the First Federal Savings Loan Association of New York, and Theodore Martin Riehle, 58, whose firm is general agent here for the Equitable Life Assurance Society. Michael J. Kennedy, 52, resigned in 1944 as head of Tammany hall, the New York county Democratic organization, and went into the in surance- business.

His office said he was going to Washington today on business. Earlier in his career he was a congressman for two terms. Miss Hokinson, herself about the age of the middle-aged matrons she drew, had been supplying the New Yorker continuously with car toons since the magazine was founded in 1925. A NATIVE of Mendota, HL, she studied fashion drawing for five years before coming to the Parsons School of Design in New York. She said her studies of "dynamic symmetry" there led to such "un expectedly funny" results that she began doing a series of comic car toons.

Among her countless fan letters are frequent ones from the Helen Hokinson girls' club of Akron, Ohio a reducing class. Miss Hokinson's mother in New York said she had not heard of the plan to fly to Washington but added that "Helen knows how frightened I am of her Secretary of the Navy Francis Matthews (left) congratulates Vice Admiral Forrest P. Sherman in Washington U.S. Expecting Five and a Half Billion Deficit Washington, Nov. 1 (AP) President Truman today predict ed that federal spending this fiscal year will reach a peacetime record high of 43 billion, 500 million dollars and leave the government five billion, 500 million dollars in the red for the 12 months ending next June 30.

The President, revising his Jan uary budget estimates following completion of congressional action on his proposals, put the present budget picture in this basic light: EXPENDITURES, 43 billion, 500 million dollars; receipts. 38 billion dollars; deficit, (the amount by which spending will exceed income) five billion, 500 million dollars. The President's new figures re flected a one billion, 600 million dollar increase in prospective outlays since early January, when Congress was just starting. The revised estimate of income was three billion dollars less than the January total. The new five billion, 500 million dollar deficit estimate compared with a 900 million dollar deficit projected in the January budget message.

"The decline of seven per cent in anticipated receipts arises from the moderate drop i prices, money incomes, and corporate profits since the original estimate was made," said a statement issued by Budget Director Frank Pace by direction of the President. IN THE LAST completed fiscal year, ended June 30 this year, the government's was one billion, 800 million dollars and marks the second consecutive year in the red. The forecast deficit is greater than that of any peacetime fiscal year except the. one which ended June 30, 1941, when outlays on the defense program led to a deficit of six 159 million dollars. The biggest deficit before that was four billion, 425 million dollars recorded in the 12 months ended June 30, 1936, when the government was still "pump priming" to break through the depression.

In those days, the federal debt stood at about C6 billion dollars. The current deficit will increase a national debt already at the 256 billion-dollar leveL i Four Millions Left By Treasurer of U.S. Cincinnati, Nov. 1 (AP) William A. Julian, deceased treasurer of the United States, left an estate of $4,457,988.41.

The inventory was filed today with Probate Judge Chase M. Davies. Julian was killed in an automobile accident near Bethesda, last May 29. His wife, Mrs. Gertrude E.

Julian, died last March 25. Julian's only jewelry wristwatch valued at $35. TEMPERATURES High Low Boston 49 43 New York 49 43 Miami 79 72 New Orleans 62 45 Fort Worth 72 37 Chicago 54 25 Cincinnati 49 27 Detroit 47 26 Memphis 57 27 Milwaukee 52 28 Bismarck 52 45 Des Moines 66 37 Kansas City 70 .40 Indianapolis 53 24 St Paul 58 42 Omaha 68 39 Sioux City 64 34 Denver 63 39 Los Angeles 89 59 San Francisco 69 44 Seattle 64 37 Winnipeg 43 29 Phoenix 85 45 Washington, Nov. 1 (AP) Vice Admiral Forrest P. Sherman, known as a trouble-shooting "compromise expert," was named today to succeed Admiral Louis Denfeld as chief of naval operations in the row over national defense.

The White House said President Truman will give Sherman his commission as the navy's No. 1 admiral Wednesday. The promotion jumps Sherman over the heads of nine other admirals who rank him in seniority, including four who have full four-star status. Sherman, 53, a native of Merrimack, rates three stars at present. THE NEW UNIFORMED chief of the navy was graduated from the Cold Hits Gulf, Northern Plains By The Associated Press A twin surge' of cold air brought wintry weather to the Northern plains and Gulf states Tuesday.

Snow flurries accompanied the change to colder weather in Minnesota, North Dakota and the Lake Superior region. Far to the meanwhile, a high pressure area brought near freezing temperatures to the Gulf and Northern Florida. The weather bureau predicted the first frost of the season for the Gulf Coast and "possibly light frost" in Northern Florida. Temperature dipped to 38 degrees Monday night in Prichard, near Mobile, and to 30 to 35 in parts of Central Texas. High winds sunk two shrimping boats and battered numerous other craft in the Mobile bay area.

Except for the northern portion, the plains area had mild weather Tuesday, and it was rather warm in the Southwest, including Southern California. The Eastern -states had chilly weather, with temperatures as low as 30 degrees in Northern Maine. Rain fell in the Middle Atlantic coastal area from South Carolina into the Virginias. Bandits Take Two Fur Coats From Woman Chicago, Nov. 1 (AP) An Evanston woman reported two held her up at the en trance to her apartment tonight and took -her purse and two fur coats.

She is Mrs. Daniel Upp, wife of the Chicago sales manager for the investment firm of Halsey Stuart Co. Sgt Henry Ingstrom of the Evanston police said Upp had just taken two fur coats a mink valued at $4,000 and a beaver at $1,500 out of storage in downtown Chicago. U. S.

Naval academy in 1917. He was second man in his class of 203 midshipmen. During World War II, he commanded the carrier Wasp which was sunk in the Solomon islands battle in the Pacific in September 1942. He was the last man to leave the big flat-top before it sank under Japanese bombs and shell fire. Sherman had been rated the top prospect in Pentagon speculation ever since Denfeld was ousted by Mr.

Truman, on Secretary Francis P. Matthews' recommendation, last Thursday. The removal of Denfeld followed his outspoken criticism of top defense policies which he aired in testimony before the House armed services committee. AMONG OTHER THINGS, Denfeld charged that under the unified defense setup particularly under the increased powers given to the civilian Secretary of defense by Congress the navy was being cut down to a mere "convoy and anti submarine service." Recalled to Washington over the week end, Sherman flew home on a from his post as commander of the U. S.

6th task force in the Mediterranean. The comparatively youthful new naval chief won his reputation as a compromiser in 1946 at a time when large sections of the navy were opposing passage of a law to unify the armed services. With Lt. Gen. Lauris Norstad of the.

air force, Sherman helped frame the compromise legislation which eventually "became the unification act. SHERMAN WON out over older, higher-ranking admirals despite some criticism from Congress members in advance of his selec tion. Rep. Porter Hardy (D-Va), a member of the House armed serv ices committee, said last week that with Sherman as chief of naval operations 'I fear the navy hence forth will concede to the air corps even though its interests are ad versely affected." However, Sherman is known as a "flying admiral" because of his in terest in -naval aviation, and some navy men said they expect he will fight to keep the navy's air arm powerful. Sherman is one of the few top ad mirals who did not criticize the military high command's policies during the recent stormy hearings on Capitol hill.

He was present, but did not testify. Halloween Raiders Steal Pumpkin Crop From Prison Farm Moundsville, W. Nov. 1 (AP) Halloween raiders stole the entire pumpkin crop at the state penitentiary prison farm Monday night. The pumpkins were, grown so the 1,300 inmates could have pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving.

Nourse Quits Economic Post Washington, Nov. 1 (AP) Dr. Edwin G. Nourse, 66, outspoken foe of federal deficits, today stepped out of the chairman ship of the President's council of economic advisers. Although Nourse had pressed the White House since August to be re leased and finally succeeded 12 days ago no successor has been found.

Vice Chairman Leon Keyserling, former New Deal lawyer, thus became acting chairman. He has dis agreed on a number of issues with Nourse, a critic of deficit spending. Nourse, it was understood, will remain active here in economic re search and analysis. Nourse created a stir two weeks ago by voicing alarm at seeing "government slipping back into de ficits as a way of life.".