Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 3

Quote of the Day Senator Wiley "There is basically one force in all this world today which can save mankind from the horror of World War III. It is the force of enlightened American leadership. Let us all be happy and live within our means if we have to borrow the money to do it with. Fhilnew Monday, February 14, 1955 THE SECOND FRONT PAGE Tage 3 Widow of W. O.

Brisss Dies in Florida X. ft Today's Chuckle Death Follows Heart Seizure Was Prominent in Civic Affairs: Rites Wednesday a It 1,028 Suspects In Murder Hunt Police Heard 7 Checked Numerous Hoi Tips Detroit police have spent thousands of hours following hot tips, quizzed hundreds of suspects and listened to seven phony confessions in the two-year-old JoAnn Gillespie murder case. Yet their latest and hottest suspect No. 1,028 almost fell into their hands Sunday. Mrs.

Jane Elizabeth Briggs, wife of the late Walter O. Briggs, one of the city's leading industrialists, who owned the Detroit Tigers, died early Sunday at Miami Beach, Fla. 'V Old Bonanza Bill Is a Tightwad We have just come back from having a little chat with our sidekick good ole genial, generous Bonanza Bill and, well, he wouldn't lend us any money lunch, either. Made some "snide remark about having loaned us 35 cents in 1947 and his grandchildren still were going barefoot. And we thought we'd softened him up by saying, "Bonanza" and we'll tell you right now he got that office nickname because it is easier to strike gold in your backyard than to borrow a buck from 'Bonanza' by say'ng, "Bonanza, would you like to hear the cute story Forrest Cook, of Grass Lake, sent us? "Seems there was a feller working on our 'Xame-the-Car' contest in high hopes of winning a new car until Puzzle No.

47 came along. "And after he worked on It for two weeks, he finally got completely frazzled and decided to -end it all. As he perched on top the Ambas- i s- I i -v v-, i '2 She was 72. Mrs. Briggs suffered a heait attack about 8 p.

m. Saturday at her winter home in Miami Beach. She was taken to St. Francis Hospital and died less than six hours later. AT HER BEDSIDE when she xiied were a daughter and son-in-law, Mr.

and Mrs. Everell E. Fisher. Mrs. Briggs' only son.

Walter was preparing to leave Washington, D. to visit his mother when learned of her death. He and his wife returned immediately to Detroit. A family spokesman said Mrs. Briggs suffered an earlier heart attack Dec.

29, three weeks after arriving in Florida from her Detroit home at "00 W. Boston. The body will be returned to Detroit early Monday and lie in state after noon at the family home. Services will be held at 11 a. m.

Wednesday at the Blesed Sacrament Cathedral, 9844 Woodward. Burial be private. MRS. BRIGGS husband was also owner of the Briggs Manufacturing Co. He died Jan.

17, 1952. at the age of 74. The Briggs Manufacturing Co. and the Detroit Tigers are still owned by the family with Walter serving as president of the baseball club. The firm's automotive body plant was sold to Chrysler Corp.

Mrs. Briggs was bovn Jane Elizabeth Cameron Oct. 20, 1SS2. at Muskota. Ont.

She and her Free Tress Photo hj DM TKll'P husband were married here Nov. strike assistance only. 22, 1904. A quiet, gracious woman, Mrs. THE RESOLUTION" will be Briggs reared one son and four submitted to the national ton-daughters and was the perfect i vention of the union in Cleveland partner for a man destined to March 27.

sters tests the sliding at Balduck Park, E. Warren and Canyon, as the sun, looking more like the moon, peeks through the overcast. "GANGWAY 1" was heard on every snow-covered hill Sunday as crisp cold and plentiful snow added up to ideal weather for winter sports. Here a group of young- Richard Ballingall, 34, was undergoing routine questioning when he suddenly blurted out the most plausible admissions police have heard since they started working on the baffling' rape-murder case Jan. 3, 1953.

Few investigations have demanded as much manpower. In the first month after the shocking crime, investigators estimated they had spent hours overtime tracking down clues. BY THE END of the first year of a fruitless search, 502 suspects had been arrested and released, 4,000 other persons questioned, and 5,000 homes visited as detectives made a house-to-house canvass of the murder area. Since then, the questioning has continued relentlessly although on a smaller scale. Every sex deviate or suspect brought into custody has been checked against the Jan.

2, 1953. date of JoAnn's death. It was a case to stir the highest city officialdom. Three days after the slaying, Donald S. Leonard, then Detroit's police commissioner, lashed the department in an angry statement criticizing "slow" action.

INSPECTOR Edward Reilly. head of the Homicide Bureau, responded by callinig back all men on vacation and putting 26 on the streets to bolster a crew of 16 detectives already at work on the case. A month later, Leonard made a full-dress report to the common Council, an unusual action in a police investigation. Leonard said the public had become apprehensive over the sofety of Detroit's women as a result of the attack on JoAnn. Rewards for capture of JoAnn's slayer reached $13,400 within a month.

Police are not sure how much of the reward money still is being offered. A DEVELOPMENT which long puzzled the investigators was a threatening letter received by 17-year-old Shannon Sinnett, JoAnn's companion on the fatal night. Postmarked Buffalo, N. it warned the young girl to "keep mum" or suffer the same fate as her friend. Police traced the letter to a man who had been visiting in Detroit at the time of the slaying but nothing developed from the lead.

A number of have occupied the investigators, but all proved worthless. The latest was received last June. It was from an inmate of the Ionia State Reformatory. Another was from a Detroit-er who was found to have been in an Army hospital at the time of the slaying. Reports, statements and "confessions" all go into one of the biggest files in Detroit police history.

DETECTIVE LT. Glenn Col-ler, who has been in charge of the Gillespie case from the beginning, said only two detective teams have been consistently assigned to it under his supervision in the past few months. "We made it a hard and fast rule to check out any man held on a crime involving a woman on the aspects of the Gillespie case." Coller said. He said tips have never stopped coming in. The last one to be checked out before the arrest of Ballingall was run down Jan.

7, Coller said. libors i eii Dice Game Broken Up; 36 Seized State Police Raid River Rouge Club State Police arrested 36 men early Sunday in a raid on an alleged "barbut" house in River Rouge. Sgt. Carl Robinson, of the State Police Racket Squad, led the raid on the Midwest Independent Businessmen's Social Club at 178 Campbell. Kohinsort said by the time he and his men gained entrance to an inner room, the assembled men were playing checkers and drinking coffee.

But a search turned up a pair of dice, hidden in an oatmeal carton, and several dice cups. Police also confiscated $460 of what they said was "house money." This included some marked currency used by an officer "planted" in the game before the raid. BARBUT is a gambling game of Greek origin, played with dice. Police nabbed five of the men as ringleaders and said warrants charging them with operating a gaming- place will be sought Monday. They are George Burns, 35.

of 309 Burke. River Rouge; Glen Smith. 51. of 4031 XV. Jefferson, Ecorse; George Eugene, 60, of 417 Lowell, Pontiac; Harold Cozad, 49, of 35 Hill, River Rouge, and Alfred Varga, 39, of 7144 Larme, Allen Park.

Robinson said the other 31 will be charged with frequenting' a gambling establishment. All will be arraigned Monday before Randall Kohler, Redford Township justice of the peace. Suspect Fits Description Of Killer In general, Richard Balling-all, the current suspect in the JoAnn Gillespie murder case, answers to the description originally issued by police on Jan. 4. 1953.

the day after the killing. Police then said they were looking for a white man 23 to 25 years old; five feet, 11 inches; 150 pounds; Roman nose; sandy hair combed back; wearing light tan topcoat with belt. THE SUSPECT now in custody is white and is 34, five feet, eight inches; 165 pounds; narrow face with long, sharp nose and high cheek bones; ragged brown hair with part; small mustache; pasty complexion; shabby pants and brown topcoat and battered hat. It was pointed out that the original description was somewhat vague since it was based on a number of witness accounts. nam brides! Sunday Feb.

20, in ths i if BRIDES! As "Man of Many Facets Mrs. Walter O. Brigs Local 600 Ready for GAW Fiiilil ytes to Set Up Special Strike Fund Members of Ford Local 600 UAW (CIO) Sunday prepared to fight for a guaranteed annual wage. Almost unanimously they passed a resolution calling fnr payment of $23 a week to each union member on strike. Payments would come out of a union fund, proposed by the 'International UAW CIO leadership, of 25 million dollars, raised by upping dues to J7.50 a month.

It would be used for Local 600 President Carl Stellato told the meeting he uould propose a plan at the convention to prevent auto manufacturers from ctorkpil-ing cars as a weapon against the union. stellato said that by July 4. about 5,800,000 cars would have. been produced this year. He said layoffs would result, The nrnriOSPf, fllnf, would be jointly administered by the locals on strike and the international union.

The $5 increase in monthly 'dues would remain in effect until all 1955 contracts have been settled. Shrine Circus Opens Today At Coliseum The Shrine Circus will open a two-week stand at the State Fairgrounds Coliseum Monday. Reserve seats may be starting Monday at the Shrine Club in the Masonic Tem- pie. The Fairgrounds box office open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Shows at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily will feature 60 circus acts, including one headed by Clyde Beatty, famed animal trainer, Proceeds are used to help crippled children. Michigan Forecal (I Wtather ftnreaq) Detroit area: Mostly cloudy and a little warmer Monday, with a low of 14-18 and a high or 2S-C2. Gentle to moderate southwesterly winds.

On Tear mzn Monday: Low 31, huh 56. precipitation trar. ToeiaT' outlook: Lnw. 10; fcist. SO.

Mnatlv eloudT mith little rhanie in tentperature, fC rl l.owr ri'l'r rloudv and fot rold. Wind liaft to the -v miles. Low. 10-15: high. and 'W Isomer Mirh.t Prtl and eold.

We.t hrht tndi to 15 milev. Low. 6-12; hirh, 18-14. T. and.

Crrer Part' tlofffe and not eold. Wind to Low. 4-10: huh. Lorallr Ioet. amass one of Detroit's largest fortunes.

SHE WAS active in many 'civic enterprises, including the United Foundation, Detroit Sym- i phony Orchestra, Children's Hos- pnai ana uie ueLrun ui Art- Mrs. Briggs also was a mem- ber of the Garden Club of Amer- ica, Detroit Club and the Worn i i Ai en's City Club. Much of her time was spent on behalf of her church, the I Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. She was active in many par- i ish activities. Mrs.

Briggs matched her hus-I band in his enthusiasm for base-' ball. In earlier years, she rarely missed a game. Surviving, besides her son and Mrs. Fisher, are three other daughters, Mrs. W.

Dean (Grace) I Robinson, Mrs. C. T. (Elizabeth) i Fisher, and Mrs. Philip A.

(Jane) Hart, whose husband is Lieutenant Governor of Michigan. Also surviving are 24 grandchildren and a brother, Raymond Cameron, of 3275 Blaine. IjalKS WARREN, R. I. (U.R) Police Chief George W.

Lewis said his department needs some new police cars. He's tired of an- swering emergency calls in a truck. 1 inspect fifraid of violence of any sort. "He would confess to anything to escape a beating," she said. "He seemed absolutely harmless.

I doubt he killed the girl." She said that Ballingall had gotten SI. 300 from a real estate man for the home he once owned on Philip. ANDREW KIKZINGEB, 60, of 14601 Charlevoix, a carpenter, had roomed and worked with Ballingall for a year. "He was a generous man. He'd give you the shirt off his back," Kirzinger said.

"Then again he was shiftless. "I had him out on jobs with me. Sometimes he was a good worker. Went to church every week, too, but he wasn't right all the time." All of them described Ballingall as a neighborhood character. He did odd jobs for bars, gas stations, and sometimes shovelled snow in the neighborhood.

"Imagine." said a housewife, "he used to dig graves." sador Bridge, a sympathetic crowd gathered but no one could convince him to come down. "Finally, an optimistic puzzle fan said he would try his luck. He climbed up to the dejected man and talked to him like a Dutch uncle for 10 minutes and then they both jumped." "Bonanza" laughed and laughed until we asked him for that lunch money. He got so noisy about that 35 cents from 1947 we blushed everybody in the office looking at us and crept back to our own desk. We aren't even going to show "Bonanza" the other nice letters we got about the contest, from people saying that even if they didn't win car they were happy to be introduced to the "Friendly Free Press," in which they so rapidly felt at home, and had we heard the "story about the feller who Is He a Poet Or a 3Ioralist? Somewhere between a moralist and a poet rests our faithful Bud Starwas, of Flint, and so to encourage him in both directions we will run in our "Verse Worse BETTER EATING "When you speak, please.

Make it soft and sweet Cause your own words You might have to eat." Was It Bad Hearing Or Faulty English? Conversation, of course, rarely, can come to the point ewiftly. As when the prison chaplain went through the work shop and stopped before a prisoner stitching away at a pile of overalls. "Ah," said the chaplain. "I see you are sewing." "No, parson," said the prisoner, "I am reaping." a. Conflicting opinions of Richard Ballingall, 34, latest suspect in the JoAnn Gillespie killing, were given by persons in the neighborhood he frequented.

They ranged from a drunk, a shiftless gravedigger. a man who feared violence and would confess anything if threatened, tr a generous man and an absolutely harmless one. The neighborhood is an average one. It surrounds the intersection of Chalmers and Charlevoix, several blocks west of Grosse Pointe Park. The homes are usually 20 years old and lived in by working people.

MS FART-TIME employer. John B. Thibault. 56. owner of French Still Lack Cabinet PARIS (U.R) Pierre Pflimlin early Monday announced failure to form a new French government.

He said that he would withdraw as prospective premier. Pflimlin had selected seven of his top ministers, but his efforts to form a cabinet broke down in bickering over the remaining appointments. Pflimlin was designated to try to form a new government after Antoine Pinay had failed. Premier Pierre Mendes-France was ousted as premier recently on a vote on his North African poli- cies. Small Potatoes? Well, $130 Worth CHICAGO, f.P) Two youths asked for small potatoes and got $130.

Mrs. Rose Keye said the young men entered her neighborhood grocery and ordered potatoes. I When she bent down to get the i i youths pushed her into the no-' tato barrel and the other grabbed 1 the J. Thibault Beer Store at 14629 Charlevoix, felt" sorry for him. "Ever since I opened the place." Thibault said, "He has been hanging around off and on.

He never seemed to have any. money. I've got a bad heart, so Richard used to help me with deliveries. He was always around. "He was always willing to eat and always hungry.

He used to sweep up. straighten up bottles, and I'd give him a dollar or so and meals. He was always polite and seemed AN EX-CARETAKER of the apartment buildin? at 695-697 Continental. Clifton Gil-lock. 35, described him as a "constant drunk and a troublemaker." "He and 'Sis' (Ballingall's woman companion) were always drunk and fighting with each other while they were here two months ago.

They were here about six weeks. A barmaid at a tavern on Charlevoix, said that he was U.S. Temperature -M Roiirt Tt4t4 at P. Official oovernment Fisnrf MICHIGAN Low Hirh Battle Ok. -1 5 Marours DETROIT 2i 8 Mu-keron 11 Efcanaba 14 3 Saonaw 19 1 Flint 11 S.

Marie 14 Gd. Rapids 19 3 Traverse C. 23 -3 MIDWEST Fsmarck Chicago meinria'i Oeveland Momei Duluia 7 Ir.dia'po!;s 1" 4 :7 'I Kansas L. 14 1 Mranilii -n 5 3 Milwaukee C3 -1 3 Omaha -M 1 St. Louii 38 13 EAST 9 PViv.ipVj, IS 14 Washm.ton 17 S-OCTH 15 Miami 31 -4 55 34 CO "4 31 15 Br-'or New York A 'lama Memphis 41 46 rQVcr Ft.

Worth en 3 40 4i 41 4 2 an Frisco Auei? 3 Okia cmt pi S3 Tucson r- 11 Clouds and Chills over Michigan A 01 WlATHf tfAU MAP Cass City Woman Dies in Chicago CHICAGO Mrs. Anna VVojto-wicz, 73. of Cass City, died Sunday, apparently of a heart attack, in the home of her sister, Mrs. Agnes Wadas. Mrs.

Wojtowicz arrived in Chicago Friday to attend the 40th wedding anniversary celebration of her sister and brother-in-law, Walter Wadas, 61. Her husband. Stanley, remained In Cass City. Services will te held in Cass City. tttri Mentor JO -n id I 4P the day's receipts.

InreDoned.